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OurHistory

Left to right: Cantor Emeritus Remmie Brown, Rabbi Emeritus George Astrachan, Cantor Deborah Johnson, Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser, Rabbi Peter Stein
OurHistory
August 2016
Cantor Deborah Johnson began her service to Temple Sinai

July 2014
Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser and Cantor Wendy Siegel began their service to Temple Sinai.

July 2003
Rabbi Peter W. Stein was installed as Rabbi.

July 1999
Rabbi David Lipman was installed as Rabbi.

1980
Cantor Remmie Brown began his 34 years of service to Temple Sinai.

July 1979
Rabbi George Astrachan was installed and served until retirement in 1999.

August 1964
Rabbi Jerome Gurland was installed.

June 4, 1961
Construction started and the formal dedication was on May 10, 1963.

September 1959
Rabbi Donald Heskins was installed as the first full-time Rabbi

March 7, l958
The first service at Greenwood Country Club, Warwick, was held with
Guest Rabbi Daniel L. Davis. A Torah was borrowed from Temple Beth El.

February 24, 1958
The name "Temple Sinai, Suburban Reform Temple," was officially accepted
by more than 40 member families.

January 1958
Ten families met to discuss the formation of a temple for the suburban area.

Temple Sinai's Presidents

1958-1960  Dr. Ablert S. Goodman
1960-1963  Philip A. Segal, Jr.
1963-1965  Nathan Ludman
1965-1966  Raymond Gertz
1966-1969  Allen J. White
1969-1971  Benjamin Hazen
1971-1972  Bernard S. Goldberg
1972-1973  Robert F. Bell
1973-1974. Herbert S. Galkin
1974-1977  Jerome Kaplan
1977-1979  Adrian Horovitz
1979-1980  Norman Brill
1980-1982. Irving J. Waldman
1982-1983. Junius Gertz
1983-1986  Eric Spitzer
1986-1988  Irving J. Waldman
1988-1990 Brian Messing

1990-1992. Frederick I. Berkowitz
1992-1994  Joel S. Chase
1994-1996 Joel K. Gerstenblatt
1996-1998  Richard T. Portno
1998-2001  Pamela C. Manekofsky
2001-2003  Lloyd Malin
2003-2005. Barry Rose
2005-2007 Irene Fordon-Abbott
2007-2009  Ellen G. Knasin
2009-2011  David L. Fried, MD
2011-2013  Sherry Kriss
2013-2015  Ellie Wasser
2015-2017  Ellen L. Jordan
2017-2019  Susan R. Oclassen
2019-          Gregg Rosen

"A Remembrance of Things Past"

PictureTemple Sinai Building Fund Committee, circa 1960. From left to right: Skip Weingeroff, Norman Bienenfeld, Al Goodman, Al Bensusan, Oscar Davidson. Note that the fundraising goal to build the Temple was $125,000.
On the occasion of the Temple's "Silver Anniversary" in 1983, Edith Grant created a book of memories from the congregation's first 25 years. The book includes this description of the Temple's founding:

It is our pleasure to ask you all to join us as we travel through a lane of recollection, with a nod of understanding to Marcel Proust as we refer to this yearbook as "A Remembrance of Things Past."

Some twenty-five years ago, the Jews of Rhode Island lived primarily in Providence. Those who did not, resided here and there in the communities of Cranston, Warwick, and East Greenwich. Many of these Jewish families were unaffiliated with any congregation. So, in essence, a vacuum existed. The need for Jewish personal relationships, as well as the need to express one's Jewish commitment were to be the prime considerations that dominated a soon to be evinced creative spirit.

As some of you reading this yearbook may recall, Dr. Al Goodman called his cousin Murray Miller, and said, "Let's start a Temple." Dr. Goodman had spoken with tribes at Beth Torah in Cranston, Temple Emanu-El in Providence, and to Rabbi William Braude of Beth-El. Barbara Miller wondered if a momentous undertaking of this kind were possible, as the winter of January 1958 loomed ahead.

The first order of business was to seek out like-minded Jews – whose religious, social, and educational needs would be served by a Reform synagogue. After initial discussions between Dr. Goodman and Dr. Miller, their respective friends were called to a meeting at Allen White's house. Where aspiration, conviction, and enthusiasm are concerned, the idea of a Reform congregation in the suburbs took hold with alacrity, and these couples decided to actively pursue their collective dream. An advertisement was placed in the Herald on the 7th of February 1958, and this ad requested all those interested in a new Reform synagogue to call Allen White and attend a meeting at the Nelson Aldrich School in Warwick, where Rabbi Albert Baum, Director of New Congregations of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations was the main speaker.

PictureTemple Librarian, Mrs. Edith Grant
From whence came the support? This Temple did not grow fully-formed as the mythological goddess Venus painted by Botticelli. No, not at all. Sources of support sprang forth from many quarters. Temple Beth-El lent the Torah and prayer books. Rabbi William Braude gave advice, the UAHC sent written recommendations, rabbis for services and gave invaluable guidance. Churches in Cranston and Warwick offered the use of their facilities, and school space was rented at the Garden City School. Baking for the Oneg Shabbats and other functions was done by a constantly supportive and rotating group of women soon to become the Sisterhood, while carrying chairs, setting up for services, and bringing the Torah fell to the men who became the Brotherhood. An ark was needed for the Torah and Arnold Fellman built it and carried it to Greenwood Hall for the services over the years Sinai used those facilities.

Within that first year, a part-time rabbi was engaged, Rabbi Robert Schenkerman who came each weekend from New York. According to various reminiscences, Rabbi Schenkerman advised that he could purchase a Torah in New York for $300. Oscar Davidson and Arnold Fellman were to be a committee to raise these funds to defray the cost of Sinai's first Sefer Torah. However, they both contacted twenty-eight members and said "Give me $10 for the Torah." To this day I understand, they both have heard the question "Why didn't you ask me?"

By March of 1959 the Board of Trustees was granted the right to not only seek a full-time rabbi, but to negotiate for a site for the establishment of a building to become Sinai's permanent house of worship.

In May of 1960 an option on 11.6 acres of land at Meshanticut Green was taken. The location seemed most suited to the present and future members living in the Cranston, Warwick and East Greenwich communities.

It took just three Rosh Hashanahs of prayer for good years to reach the auspicious date of the fourth of June 1961 when ground breaking ceremonies, attended by state and civic officials and rabbinic leaders took place.

Senior Spotlight by Sukey Denniss

A series of "Senior Spotlight" articles ran in the Temple Sinai Scroll in the late 90s and early 2000s
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Affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism
30 Hagen Avenue • Cranston, RI 02920 • 401-942-8350
Office: dottie@templesinairi.org
Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser: rabbi.j.goldwasser@gmail.com

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  • Home
  • About
    • COVID-19 Updates
    • Past Event Videos
    • Our Clergy
    • Professional Staff
    • Lay Leadership
    • Calendar >
      • Monthly Calendar
    • Our History
    • Inclusion
    • Directions
    • Contact Us
  • Worship
    • Shabbat
    • Holidays
    • Life Cycle Events >
      • Visiting a Shiva House
    • Mi Shebeirach List
  • Learn
    • Religious School
    • B'nei Mitzvah
    • Confirmation
    • Adult Education >
      • Minyan Breakfast
    • Jewish Family Life
  • Gather
    • Sisterhood
    • Brotherhood
    • Kosher Senior Café
    • Shireinu (Adult Chorus)
    • Tikkun Olam (Social Action) >
      • Prayer is Not Enough
    • Biblical Garden >
      • Biblical Garden Blog
    • Kesher Social Worker >
      • Here's To Your Health!
    • Kashrut at Temple Sinai
    • Israel Trip 2023
  • Join
  • Give
    • Golf Classic