Coming Up

Wednesday, September 18 – 7 PM – Board Meeting. 

Thursday, September 19 – Noon to 2:00 PM – Library Open. Other times by request. Call Tim Solon, 632-4105

Thursday, September 19 – Noon – 1 PM – Torah Study.  We will be studying the upcoming Torah portion. (This is NOT the same program as Torah Thursday).

Friday, September 20 – 7 to 8 PM – Shabbat services  followed by Oneg sponsored by the Sisterhood.

Sunday, September 22 – Noon to 2 PM – Library Open. Other times by request. Call Tim Solon, 632-4105  

Thursday, September 26 – 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM – Library Open. Other times by request. Call Tim Solon, 632-4105

Thursday, September 26 – Noon – 1 PM – Torah Study.  We will be studying the upcoming Torah portion. (This is NOT the same program as Torah Thursday).

Friday, September 27 – 7 to 8 PM – Shabbat services  followed by Oneg sponsored by the Sisterhood.

Sunday, September 29 – Noon to 2 PM – Library Open. Other times by request. Call Tim Solon, 632-4105   

Sunday, September 29 – 7 to 8:30 PM – Erev Rosh HaShanah Services

Monday, September 30 – 9 AM – Rosh HaShanah Services start.    Tashlich follows service. 

Thursday, October 3 – Noon to 2:00 PM – Library Open. Other times by request. Call Tim Solon, 632-4105

Thursday, October 3 – Noon – 1 PM – Torah Study.  We will be studying the upcoming Torah portion. (This is NOT the same program as Torah Thursday).

Friday, October 4 – 7 to 8 PM – Shabbat services  followed by Oneg sponsored by the Sisterhood.

Sunday, October 6 – Noon to 2 PM – Library Open. Other times by request. Call Tim Solon, 632-4105

Tuesday, October 8 – 7 PM – Kol Nidre. 

Wednesday, October 9 – 9 AM – Yom Kippur services start.                                      Yizkor about 11:15 AM   Mincha 5:00PM.  Ne’ilah 6:00 PM.  Tekiah G’dolah 7:00 PM.    Followed by Break the Fast. 

Thursday, October 10 – Noon to 2:00 PM – Library Open. Other times by request. Call Tim Solon, 632-4105

Thursday, October 10 – Noon – 1 PM – Torah Study.  We will be studying the upcoming Torah portion. (This is NOT the same program as Torah Thursday).

Weekly Message from our Board President

Yesterday, we held a special Memorial Service to honor Uri Neil, who passed away on September 5.  Those in attendance shared many fond memories of Uri.  We also had a brief biography of Uri, and its worth sharing for those folks who couldn’t attend the Memorial.

Uri Neil passed away on Friday, September 5.  His wife says he wanted to be cremated and did not want a public funeral.  He was 81.  Uri was born on May 5, 1938 in Haifa, in what was then the British Mandate of Palestine. His early schooling included singing in a Synagogue choir with his brother.   Uri was raised Orthodox. His family moved to the United States in 1954, and he became an attorney.  He practiced law until 1976.  He moved to Denver and became the Cantor and Education Director at Temple Micah.  He also taught at the University of Denver and the Hebrew Academy.

In 1990, Mt. Sinai Board President Howard Gallensky hired Uri as our Cantor and Religious Leader.  Uri served our community from 1990 to 2007. Every year at Yom Kippur, Howard would announce that Uri would be serving us for another year.  It was always great news.

In his music Uri blended modern and traditional melodies, Israeli, Chassidic, Popular and self-arranged cantorial pieces. His warmth and enthusiasm were contagious.

When Mt. Sinai celebrated its centennial a few years ago, a book was written telling our history.  Here’s an excerpt from that book about Uri.  “Cantor, mentor, historian, linguist, lecturer, Torah reader, Zionist, family counselor, attorney – this list could continue for many more paragraphs to adequately acknowledge Mt. Sinai’s religious leader for 18 years.  Uri Neil became well-known in Cheyenne in many circles. These included his frequent trips from Denver for happy events as well as the twice monthly religious Sabbath, the festive Seders at Passover, the funerals of some of our older citizens, and the highly enjoyed Saturday afternoon discussion groups – no matter the topic.”

Here’s what the book says when Uri began his service at Mt. Sinai, “Uri was welcomed with great enthusiasm and only once in all the years of commuting was he unable to conduct Sabbath services because of inclement weather.  His enthusiasm was addictive, whether working in a class schedule or setting up the Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony at the State Capitol.  His chores were done with compassion, kindness, intelligence, and integrity.  He had no patience for argument, took directions as a building tool, and had a side of humor and wit that made him an easy friend.“

Following the 2007 Seder, he suddenly collapsed from a massive stroke. After a lengthy hospital stay and intensive therapy he made progress, though slowly.  He is greatly missed.

I believe that was written in 2010.

The Mt. Sinai Board of Directors meets this Wednesday at 6:30 in the Synagogue.  The Board will be doing a lot of planning, including working on the budget for next year, and discussing negotiations to renew Rabbi Moldo’s contract.  Members of the Synagogue are always welcome to attend.

In other news, it’s time for our next Shalom Dinner.  We’ll get together and enjoy each others company at Perkins Restaurant on Dell Range Blvd.  The dinner will be Thursday, September 26, starting at 6:30 P.M.  We look forward to seeing you!

The High Holy Days are coming up next.  Erev Rosh Hashanah is Sunday, September 29, from 7 to 8:30 PM.  Rosh Hashanah services start at 9 AM, Monday, September 30.

And the Mt. Sinai Library is adding to its collection of children’s books with a couple about our holidays.  There’s “Ask Another Question – the Story and Meaning of Passover” by Miriam Chaikin, and “Chanuko – The Festival of Lights” by Sophia N. Cedarbaum.

Here’s our Yiddish Phrase of the Week:

Az me gait gleich, falt men nisht.
If you walk straight, you won’t stumble.

Shalom!

Dave Lerner
President
Mt. Sinai Board of Directors

Rabbi’s Column

I need to express our gratitude to the Cheyenne Jewish Community. You have been supportive, willing to step up and pitch in as needed. You have also done me the favor of presuming that I will heal within the coming year and will be able to return to work.

This is a very different route than the Wyoming Interfaith Network took at its last annual meeting this past week. I have been functioning Chairman of that group since May of 2018 (so, with the medical issues I had this summer, I have really only been Chair for one year). I expressed my willingness to continue as Chairman for the 2020-2021 years. The group decided that the best way for me to focus on my health was to re-elect the previous chairman for those two years, instead of me.

Nothing is certain, but if there are no medical surprises then all the parts of this continuing saga will be completed by Hanukkah or slightly thereafter.

The past few weeks I have been able to meet with students in-between medical procedures and appointments, so I have felt a tiny bit productive.

In the meantime, may God open up the storehouse of healing to all those who need it: the sick, the injured, the medical professionals dealing with them, the caregivers filling in the gaps, and the rest of us who may not be sure how to help other than continuing to pray.

Community Partner with Family Promise of Cheyenne

September Birthdays

3              Cathy Berdan

5              Liz Wolf

9              Pewaubek Reid

10           Shira Michael

10           Craig Michael             

12           Michael Sherman

13           Navit Reid

19           Rich Nolan

Mt. Sinai Movie Nights

All movies are shown at Mt. Sinai on the “big screen” and with surround sound. Refreshments and drinks provided. Come join us for any or all of our upcoming movies.