Temple Sinai of Las Vegas - Union of Reform Judaism - Synagogue in Summerlin Las Vegas

Dear Friends I will be speaking about the Boston this Friday night at services. I hope to see many of you there. In the meantime, I wanted you to be aware of the following message from the Union for Reform Judaism. Best wishes Rabbi Malcolm Cohen   Dear Friends: Following yesterday’s tragic bombing at the Boston Marathon, the Boston community remains in our hearts and prayers. We pray for the victims of this senseless crime and for everyone’s safety and healing. Throughout the Boston area, Reform Jewish synagogues are planning special services to allow the local Jewish community to grieve and pray together.  The URJ has resources that may be useful for congregations at this time, including:  Resources for healing a community following tragedy Resources that address synagogue safety and security Prayers and articles on our blog, such as: A Prayer for Those Affected by the Boston Bombings A Prayer in the Aftermath of the Boston Marathon Bombing All of Us Are Boston Marathon Runners For all those who escaped harm we pray Birkat Hagomeil, a blessing for giving thanks: May the One who has bestowed goodness upon us continue to bestow every goodness upon us forever.  Just as Moses cried out to God on behalf of Miriam to heal her, so do we call upon God. We are reminded that the Holy One has implanted within us the power of healing. As individuals and as communities, may we be sources of God’s healing presence. May we heal each other. May we heal this world.

L’shalom, Rabbi Rick Jacobs President

http://templesinailv.posterous.com/resources-for-responding-to-the-boston-marath  …

Dear Friends

Please see below the message from the Union for Reform Judaism regarding Friday’s events. In particular, you can find resources to use with your children when and if you have discussions with them about what happened.

Best wishes

Rabbi Malcolm Cohen

Dear Friends,

Although it has been several days since the horrific events in Newtown, CT, our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the families and community members whose losses seem to be more than we can contemplate.  Even before the healing begins, we know that it will be a long time until the raw, open wounds close and that for many, the scars of trauma and loss will remain forever.

The URJ has resources available that can help you and your entire synagogue community address the many facets of this tragedy.  We encourage you to use this information and to return often for updates:

• The caring community section of our website provides materials about coping with communal tragedies, bereavement and the death of children. Included are prayers and meditations, as well as suggestions for explaining such tragedies to children;
• As you consider your facilities’ safety and security policies and procedures,  our website’s congregational security page may prove helpful;
• Finally, the Reform Movement’s statement in the face of this senseless shooting, “reinforces the need to ensure that common-sense gun control laws are in place to help reduce these incidents…and call[s] on members of Congress, the President and people committed to the well being of all Americans to find shared values on gun control measures that will help ensure the safety of us all.”

May the souls of those lost find eternal peace in the shadow of God’s wings and may their loved ones, the citizens of Newtown and the surrounding communities, and, indeed, all who mourn with them, find comfort, strength and healing in the days and weeks ahead.

L’shalom,

Rabbi Rick Jacobs
President
Union for Reform Judaism
633 Third Avenue
New York, NY, 10017-6778

http://templesinailv.posterous.com/responding-to-the-tragedy-in-newtown-ct-fromDear Friends Please see below the message from the Union for Reform Judaism regarding Friday’s events. In particular, you can find resources to use with your children when and if you have discussions with them about what happened. Best wishes Rabbi Malcolm Cohen   Dear Friends, Although it has been …

Before Chanukah ends I wanted to give you links to two great gems for the holiday. Both of them were brought to my attention by various congregants. 

The first is an amazing video from the Technion in Haifa, Northern Israel, an innovative way of lighting the Chanukiah and a great example of Israeli technological innovation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=We-KRSy64r4

The second is from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, an academic lesson on Chanukah by one of their teachers. This link is more highfalutin than the first but no less worthy:

http://learn.jtsa.edu/content/video/lecture/topics-talmud-hanukkah

Enjoy and Happy Chanukah!

Rabbi Malcolm Cohen

http://templesinailv.posterous.com/two-chanukah-gems-from-the-desk-of-rabbi-coheBefore Chanukah ends I wanted to give you links to two great gems for the holiday. Both of them were brought to my attention by various congregants.  The first is an amazing video from the Technion in Haifa, Northern Israel, an innovative way of lighting the Chanukiah and a great example of Israeli …

Dear Friends

Please take advantage of this opportunity outlined below. The Jewish Theological Seminary is one of the foremost Jewish learning organizations on the planet and we can learn there even in Vegas. Enjoy!

Happy Chanukah

Rabbi Malcolm Cohen

The Jewish Theological Seminary presents Livestream Lunch and Learn at learn.jtsa.edu Announcing Livestream Lunch and Learn* from JTS: grab a bite to nourish your body and a few bytes of Jewish knowledge to feed your soul. On one Tuesday each month, a distinguished member of the JTS faculty will teach a live course online atlearn.jtsa.edu/live. You can join the class discussion by writing your thoughts and questions in the chat box, or by commenting via Facebook and Twitter. Our first Livestream Lunch and Learn:  Finding Meaning in the Festival of Lights:  A Hasidic Understanding of Hanukkah Tuesday, December 11, 12:30–1:30 p.m. (EST) learn.jtsa.edu/live Taught by  Rabbi Daniel Nevins Pearl Resnick Dean of The Rabbinical School and dean of the Division of Religious Leadership, JTS Future Livestream Lunch and Learn dates are: Tuesday, January 15, 12:30–1:30 p.m. (EST) Tuesday, February 12, 12:30–1:30 p.m. (EST) Tuesday, March 12, 12:30–1:30 p.m. (EST) Tuesday, April 16, 12:30–1:30 p.m. (EST) Tuesday, May 7, 12:30–1:30 p.m. (EST) Learn with friends or on your own with the greater JTS virtual community. All you need is a computer with an Internet connection. JTS provides the learning, you provide the lunch. A new project of the Department of Community Engagement at JTS, learn.jtsa.edu is home to over 2,000 lectures, Torah commentaries, classes, and podcasts that bring the richness of Jewish learning at JTS directly to you. Log on and explore the amazing resources learn.jtsa.edu has to offer.   We look forward to lunching and learning with you. Rabbi Marc Wolf Vice Chancellor Director of Community Engagement The Jewish Theological Seminary (212) 678-8933 mawolf@jtsa.edu

http://templesinailv.posterous.com/amazing-chanukah-lifelong-learning-opportunitDear Friends Please take advantage of this opportunity outlined below. The Jewish Theological Seminary is one of the foremost Jewish learning organizations on the planet and we can learn there even in Vegas. Enjoy! Happy Chanukah Rabbi Malcolm Cohen …

Dear Friends

In preparation for the holiday of Chanukah, please find below some wonderful resources from the Reform Movement:

http://urj.org/holidays/chanukah/

These resources will help you prepare for the holiday spiritually and intellectually while also instructing you how to celebrate the holiday practically. 

This time of year at Chanukah is a chance for us to rededicate ourselves to certain things, just like our ancestors rededicated the Temple in Jerusalem. As we enter the dark days of winter, let us take the time to think of those projects which fell by the wayside at the beginning of the Jewish year and to which we need to devote more energy to make them happen. 

Chag Chanukah Sameach/Happy Chanukah Holiday

Rabbi Malcolm Cohen

http://templesinailv.posterous.com/how-to-do-chanukah-from-the-desk-of-rabbi-cohDear Friends In preparation for the holiday of Chanukah, please find below some wonderful resources from the Reform Movement: http://urj.org/holidays/chanukah/ These resources will help you prepare for the holiday spiritually and intellectually while also instructing you how to celebrate the holiday …

Dear Friends

You have probably heard me make a lot of noise about the importance of joining the fight against human trafficking recently. Some of us at the congregation are working with Nevadans for the Common Good, a local organization of churches, synagogues and mosques, who have formed a coaltion to fight issues such as this one. It turns out we’re not alone. Please see the link below to see how our movement is part of this key struggle. Watch this space for how you can be involved.

Shabbat shalom

Rabbi Malcolm Cohen

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Reform-Rabbis-Seek-Congressional-Passage-Act-Ensuring-Human-Trafficking-Remains-1730012.htm

http://templesinailv.posterous.com/reform-rabbis-support-new-human-trafficking-lDear Friends You have probably heard me make a lot of noise about the importance of joining the fight against human trafficking recently. Some of us at the congregation are working with Nevadans for the Common Good, a local organization of churches, synagogues and mosques, who have formed a coaltion …

Dear Friends

I’m sure you have heard about the ongoing rocket attacks from Gaza against Israeli civilians and Israel’s response. Please keep yourself informed about this extremely worrying situation. Speak to your fellow Jews and also those outside the Jewish community to put across Israel’s point of view. It is incumbent on us to be there for Israel in the arena of public opinion. There are young Jewish boys on the ground in Gaza, fighting on our behalf as we speak.

See below for some useful links and feel free to call me in the office on 702 254 5110 to discuss this issue further:

http://www.israelemb.org/washington/pages/default.aspx

http://urj.org/about/union/pr/2012/?syspage=article&item_id=96080

www.aipac.org

http://blogs.rj.org/rac/2012/11/15/reform-movement-israels-security-paramount/

www.theisraelproject.org 

Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Malcolm Cohen 

http://templesinailv.posterous.com/the-situation-in-israel-from-the-desk-of-rabbDear Friends I’m sure you have heard about the ongoing rocket attacks from Gaza against Israeli civilians and Israel’s response. Please keep yourself informed about this extremely worrying situation. Speak to your fellow Jews and also those outside the Jewish community to put across Israel’s point o …

Please see this message from the Jewish Federation about the devastation on the East Coast:

TO:                   Jewish Community of Las Vegas

FROM:              Dr. Hugh Bassewitz, Chairman of the Board

                        Audrey Plotkin, Chair, Crisis & Emergency Management Committee

                        Elliot B. Karp, President & CEO

RE:                   Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund

The road to recovery for our fellow Americans affected by Hurricane Sandy will be long, difficult and costly.  The same will be true for those Jewish communities in the path of the storm, their members and communal institutions. 

The most immediate and important need is for cash donations so that materials and services can be provided to those affected by the storm.

The Jewish Federation of Las Vegas has joined a nationwide effort, led by the Jewish Federations of North America, to seek donations to assist in the recovery of those communities and individuals impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

All funds collected by the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas will be directed, 100%, to the Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund of the Jewish Federations of North America.

Please share this information with your leadership and members.  Those wishing to make a donation can do so by:

·         Mailing their check (payable to the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas) to:

Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund

c/o Jewish Federation of Las Vegas

2317 Renaissance Drive

Las Vegas, NV 89119

·         Online at our secure donation website at www.jewishlasvegas.com. 

·         Telephone credit card donations by calling the Jewish Federation at 732-0556.

If you have any questions please contact Elliot Karp at 732-0556.  Thank you for your support.

http://templesinailv.posterous.com/from-rabbi-cohen-hurricane-sandy-reliefPlease see this message from the Jewish Federation about the devastation on the East Coast:   TO:                    Jewish Community of Las Vegas   FROM:               Dr. Hugh Bassewitz, Chairman of the Board                         Audrey Plotkin, Chair, Crisis & Emergency Management Committee    …

I hope you had an easy fast and a meaningful Yom Kippur. My sermons from Yom Kippur are attached. Any comments would be welcome.

Best wishes
Rabbi Malcolm Cohen 

Guilt_When_Dealt_With_Properly_Can_Transform_Our_Lives.doc Download this file

Our_Mission.doc Download this file

http://templesinailv.posterous.com/from-the-desk-of-rabbi-cohen-my-yom-kippur-seI hope you had an easy fast and a meaningful Yom Kippur. My sermons from Yom Kippur are attached. Any comments would be welcome. Best wishes Rabbi Malcolm Cohen    Guilt_When_Dealt_With_Properly_Can_Transform_Our_Lives.doc Download this file Our_Mission.doc Download this file …

Shana tova everyone. I hope you have a sweet new year. My sermons from Rosh HaShanah are attached. Any comments would be welcome.

Best wishes
Rabbi Malcolm Cohen 

We_Have_To_Have_A_Clear_Purpose.doc Download this file

Decide_What_You_Need_To_Do_So_You_Have_No_Regrets.doc Download this file

http://templesinailv.posterous.com/from-the-desk-of-rabbi-cohen-my-rosh-hashanahShana tova everyone. I hope you have a sweet new year. My sermons from Rosh HaShanah are attached. Any comments would be welcome. Best wishes Rabbi Malcolm Cohen  We_Have_To_Have_A_Clear_Purpose.doc Download this file Decide_What_You_Need_To_Do_So_You_Have_No_Regrets.doc Download this file …