Page 38 - Jewish News_December 2021

2B December 2021 COMMUNITY FOCUS

Kehillah Collaborative: Temple and Organization Spotlight NCJW’s 40 Women In Power luncheon
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In each issue of The Jewish News, we will spotlight one local temple and one local organization that are participating in the Kehillah Collaborative initiative.
For more information, contact Trudi Krames at tkrames@jfedsrq.org or 941.706.0037.
Temple Sinai Sarasota-Manatee ORT

By Andrea Eiffert, Temple Sinai Program Director By Kim Sheintal
emple Sinai serves Reform and al learning for K-12 with a vibrant teen n 1922, the American ORT Society, Jewish institution in diaspora Jewish
Progressive Jews with diverse engagement program including B’nai forerunner of ORT America, was communities around the world. ORT
Tbackgrounds and families of Mitzvah, confirmation classes and a Iformally established in New York was founded in St. Petersburg, Tsarist
all kinds. Together, members joyful- NFTY-affiliated youth group. The Gan City. In 1972, the first ORT chapter Russia, in 1880 to provide employable
ly share in living Jewish life. Tem- at Temple Sinai, our early childhood in the Sarasota area was established. skills for Russia’s impoverished Jews.
ple Sinai was founded March 1991, program, exceeds all the requirements In 2022, we are celebrating 50 years ORT now reaches 200,000 annually in
and soon after, with over 300 family of the State of Florida and is fully ac- of ORT in Sarasota-Manatee and 100 five continents.
memberships and a growing Religious credited as an early learning center. years of ORT in the United States! ORT is building a better world
School settled into its early home on Adult learning includes a full range ORT chapters have formed, dis- through education. In 2008, Sarasota What makes Sarasota Sister City,
Kenilworth Street. With continued of programs to engage a wide variety banded and merged in Sarasota-Man- resident and ORT America member
growth, a new larger space became of interests. From beginner Ulpan-style atee. Today, there is one local chapter, Betty Schoenbaum donated $5 million
necessary, and in the fall of 2005, the Hebrew class to Jewish Genealogy, Sarasota-Manatee ORT. ORT has made in support of World ORT programs in Tel Mond, Israel, so special
congregation moved to its current lo- there is something for everyone. The an impressionable mark in Saraso- Israel, to develop the center of the sea-
cation at 4631 South Lockwood Ridge active Women of Sinai and Men’s Club ta-Manatee. ORT opened a Sarasota side town of Kiryat Yam into a multi-
Road, Sarasota. sponsor a full calendar of social and office in the early 1980s on Pineap- purpose science, education, culture and
On July 1, 2019, Temple Sinai was meaningful events. For those looking ple Avenue. In 1996, the office moved sports campus.
delighted to welcome Rabbi Saman- to connect with small groups, there is to Tamiami Trail. From 2009 until Sarasota-Manatee ORT is current-
tha Kahn as our spiritual leader. Rab- a thriving chavurah program. 2012, ORT was given office space at ly raising funds for the Kfar Silver
bi Kahn and Chazzan Cliff Abramson Temple Sinai values Tikkun Olam. The Jewish Federation of Sarasota- Youth Village, which is a rural board-
blend uplifting Jewish music with The annual Mitzvah Day offers Temple Manatee. The ORTique Resale and ing school in southern Israel. It edu-
contemporary liturgy at Erev Shabbat Sinai members a special opportunity to Consignment shop opened in Sarasota cates 700 students, grades 7-12, most
services on Fridays at 6:00 p.m. Rabbi perform community service on behalf in 1982 and did not close until 1996. of whom are considered at-risk and
Kahn has added recurring programs to of those most in need. Collections for Sarasota-Manatee ORT raised thou- 218 of whom live in the dorms full-
engage congregants and members of food, clothing and school supplies are sands of dollars each year at its Holiday time and consider Kfar Silver their
the community, including Torah Trails, coordinated throughout the year. The ORT Gift Wrap booths from the 1970s only home. Kfar Silver is considered
talking Torah while walking on Sies- temple also has an annual blood drive until 2016 at local shopping malls. their “last stop” for succeeding aca-
ta Key Beach; Word by Word, week- and periodic social justice programs. For more than 140 years, ORT has demically and in life.
ly Torah portion; and Rosh Chodesh, Temple Sinai is a place where re- offered access to educational programs For more information about ORT,
a monthly gathering of women for a lationships develop and friendships in under-resourced communities. To- call the ORT Florida Region office at
spiritual and intellectual exploration of follow, while enjoying meaningful and day, ORT also serves as a foundational 561.997.1071.
Judaism and womanhood. spiritual services for Shabbat and the
Temple Sinai offers Jewish learn- holidays. For more information, visit Look for information on Temple Beth Israel and the Sarasota
ing for all ages. The ARJE-accredited templesinai-sarasota.org. Jewish Chorale in the January 2022 issue of The Jewish News.
Religious School facilitates exception- Temple members, Sister City members, and community leaders enjoyed learning about Tel Mond

Kehillah Collaborative
Building Jewish Life Through Community

In Hebrew, the word Kehillah
means community.

The Kehillah
Collaborative
brings together
Jewish organizations in
Sarasota-Manatee to share ideas, Sarasota-Manatee
work together Chabad
on programming
and host
collaborative events.

For more information, contact Trudi Krames at
tkrames@jfedsrq.org or 941-706-0037.