Friday, April 19, 2013  -  3:00pm

Because of a continuing policy advisory in Brookline, and an order by the state emergency management agency that Brookline residents continue to remain indoors, we are cancelling tonight's Shabbat services at Temple Sinai.  We are sorry to have to do so, because we value the opportunity to come together as a community, and because tonight, our Israel Committee had invited a speaker to celebrate Yom Ha'atzma'ut, but we want to be helpful to the Brookline Police, and are concerned for the safety of our entire community.

As of now, our Shabbat morning schedule is unchanged, with services planned for 10:30 a.m., including the Bat Mitzvah ceremony for Frannie Kass, daughter of Marilyn Kass and Marty Teicher.  Unless you hear otherwise, we will hold Shabbat morning services tomorrow.  (And we wish Frannie and her family a quiet evening, and a wonderful celebration tomorrow!  Please join us.)

Most of all, we hope that everyone in our community will remain safe.  The unexpected events of this entire week, beginning with the Marathon and continuing last night until now, remind us of our vulnerability as human beings, and, ultimately, of the precious value of human life.  Our thoughts are with those who are mourning, including the relatives of those who lost their lives on Monday, and the relatives of the two police and security officers killed in the last 24 hours.  We also add our prayers for those injured on Monday, that they may be blessed with renewed strength and healing, healing of body as well as of spirit.

As Shabbat approaches, we pray for protection and safety.  The words of our prayer book guide us: "Spread over us Your shelter of peace, over all we love, over Your Jerusalem and ours."  May all that we love be safe, may we lie down in peace, and wake up renewed.

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Andy Vogel

Sinai Update - Weds., April 17, 2013

Reflections on Our Jewish World – Rabbi Andy Vogel

We are all recovering in our own ways after the terrible events at Monday’s Boston Marathon. To start, I want to offer my prayer of gratitude that, as far as we know, all Temple Sinai members are accounted for as unhurt and safe.  Many of our community were running in the marathon, or cheering on family members and friends; others were overseeing medical stations, including some at the finish line, or were called into local hospitals to provide medical or psychological care once the explosions occurred.  A few of our Sinai members were at the scene and saw or heard the bombs explode.  Many others are deeply concerned about friends beyond Temple Sinai who were injured on Monday, and we offer our prayers for them.  But today, I am grateful to report that everyone in our community is physically safe.

   And yet, the stories and photos continue to be shocking and saddening.  As we continue to learn the details about the day’s horrifying events, as we learn more about who was hurt, whose life was taken, and how awful the scenes truly were, we learn about our own mortality and how fragile our lives are.  We learn about the unpredictability of life and how little control we have over life.  This is a traumatizing reality.  And yet, we also are hearing stories about the strength of the human spirit and our ability to overcome trauma.  Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav taught:  “The whole world is a narrow bridge, and the main thing is not to be afraid.”  Fear can paralyze us, or it can lead us off the course we envision for our lives, but we will not let it do so.  We are blessed with the qualities of perseverance – the true meaning in Judaism for the word “emunah,” often translated as “faith.”  As Jews, we acknowledge that the world is broken in many ways, but we are also a people that finds strength to keep moving forward.  

   Please also note that I am available to speak with you should you need rabbinic support; please just send me an email to set up a time to talk: rabbivogel@sinaibrookline.org.  

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Rabbi Andy Vogel

April 15, 2013

Dear Temple Sinai community:

We are all shocked by today's events at the Boston Marathon, even while we continue to learn more about the situation. At this moment, I can report that, as far as we know, all Temple Sinai members who were runners in the marathon, their family members, or medical care workers in the area are all safe. Some Sinai runners who had not yet reached the finish line were escorted home and are fine, and at least one Temple Sinai member who was overseeing medical stations near the finish line has been evacuated to the Boston Common. Many are still waiting to return home, but, as of now, we can be grateful that, at least so far, all members of our community are unhurt and are safe.

We would be grateful to hear from those Sinai members who were marathon runners today, or who were near the finish line at the time of the explosions -- if you were in the area, please send an email to confirm that you are unhurt.

Meanwhile, our hearts ache for the victims of these terrible events on this day. Our thoughts and prayers turn to the them and to their families. We reach out to those who lost loved ones, and we offer them our heartfelt consolations, and we pray for those who have been injured, that they and their families will be blessed with strength.

We all need strength at a time like this. Our community will gather for a brief prayer service, an opportunity for us to offer support to one another, and to seek comfort with one another through prayer and music in a short service, tomorrow, Tuesday evening, April 16, at 5:30pm, in the Sanctuary at Temple Sinai. I hope you can join us to gather as a community tomorrow at 5:30pm. (Stay tuned for more information.)

Tonight, we ask everyone to follow the safety instructions of Gov. Patrick, to get home safely and remain home, and to be in touch with your loved ones.

May God bless us all with strength and courage, and allow us to affirm what is good in our lives and the world, as we continue to cope with today's events.

- Rabbi Andy Vogel