Weekly Message from the Board President

It’s a boy!  Congratulations and Mazel Tov to Ben Thornell and Rebecca Slingwine on the birth of their son.  Toren Allen Sol Thornwine was born last Wednesday, December 3^rd, at 12:41pm. He is 7lbs 8oz and 20 1/4 inches long/tall.  He joins big sister Tirzah in their growing family.  Ben hasn’t scheduled the Bar Mitzvah… yet!

We held our Annual Congregation Meeting yesterday.  Georgia Young, Phyllis Bloomberg, and Noam Mantaka were re-elected to the Board of Directors.  The Board also re-elected its officers – Dave Lerner continues as President, Phyllis Bloomberg is Vice President, Jeff Weinstein is Treasurer, and Courtney Schlisserman is Secretary.

There was a lot of discussion about the Synagogue budget.  We’ve had extra expenses this year due to repairs on the building, but that doesn’t compare to what’s coming.  The Synagogue needs a new roof.  One estimate is more than $300,000.  We are getting more estimates.  We also checked with our insurance company, and since the change is due to normal wear and tear, and not hail or other damage, it’s not covered by our insurance policy.

We will have to take the money from the Endowment and Trust to pay for it.  That’s what those funds are for, but it is a big setback to their growth.

This is the time of year when we start thinking about tax deductions (and a great time, in light of the roof, for us to ask for money).  Steve Borin, the head of the Endowment Fund, says he will match any donations to the Endowment up to $500.  Donations are tax deductible, so if the choice is between giving your money to the government or to the Synagogue… well, you can guess our preferences.

A couple of events to add to the calendar.  Our annual Hanukah Party is coming up on Sunday, December 21.  We will meet at the Synagogue at 5 PM and load up our Menorahs with candles.  Then we’ll all light them together at 5:30 PM.  After that, it will be latkes, Noam’s amazing Sufganiyot, and fierce battles of dreidel, all trying for chocolate coins.

And our biggest Shalom Dinner of the year is on Christmas Eve at China Buffet.  Come celebrate that wonderful Jewish tradition of Chinese food.  We’ll meet at 6:30 PM.

Congregations all along the front range are celebrating Hanukah in a variety of ways.  We have a list in case you want to join our neighbors.

• Sun, Dec 14- Chanukah Wonderland at the Mall Family Event. 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. Fort Collins Foothills Mall
• Sun, Dec 14- Laramie Jewish Community Center. Chanukah Celebration & Latke Fest. 4:30 pm. 401 Ivinson Avenue, Laramie
• Sun, Dec 14 – Student Chanukah Party. 7:00 pm Chabad Jewish Center. 1121 W. Prospect Rd
• Sun, Dec 14- Beth Israel Congregation. Hanukkah celebration & white elephant. 5:30 pm. 1625 Reservoir Rd, Greeley.
• Mon, Dec 15 – CSU Menorah Lighting 5:00 pm. CSU Lory Student Center Plaza
• Tue, Dec. 16 – Estes Park Chanukah Celebration & Menorah Lighting. 5:30 pm. Estes Park Town Hall
• Wed, Dec. 17 – Greeley Menorah Lighting. 5:30 pm. Greeley Downtown, 9th St Plaza
• Thu. Dec 18 – Loveland Chanukah Celebration & Menorah Lighting. 5:00 pm. Loveland Museum, Loveland
• Fri, Dec. 19 – Military Chanukah Celebration. 10:00 am. JFHQ, Centennial
• Thu, Dec 18 – Chabad of Wyoming Capital Celebration. 1:00 pm. 200 W 24th St, Cheyenne
• Thu, Dec 18 – Greater Northern CO & Southern WY Jewish community online candle lighting. 7 pm. Zoom
• Sat, Dec 20 – Young Jewish Professional Chanukah Party, 7pm. Location provided upon registration.
• Sun, Dec 21 – Fort Collins Menorah Lighting. 5:00 pm. Old Town Square, Fort Collins
• Sun, Dec 21 – Mt. Sinai Congregation. 5:00 pm. gather.  5:30 pm light candles. Followed by latkes, sufganiyot, and fierce games of dreidel. 2610 Pioneer Avenue, Cheyenne

Here’s our Yiddish Phrase of the Week:

Fun a ganef iz shver tsu ganvenen. 
It’s hard to steal from a thief.              

Shalom,

Dave Lerner
President
Mt. Sinai Board of Directors

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December Birthdays

9              Rabbi Harley Karz-Wagman

9              Raizy Mendelsohn

11           Erin Vavra

19           Andi Coelho

20           Rabbi Moshe Halfon

20           Stephanie Sterling

21           Steve Borin

23           Jacque Georgio

28           Heather McLoud

28           Joe Golden