Rabbi Wolkow's letter from the September_October issue of "The Sinai Messenger"


From Helen and myself to all of you, best wishes for the New Year.  May God bless each of you with good health and sustenance.  I was so pleased to see so many of you over Labor Day.  It was really like coming home.  And now that we are starting a new year, with one together behind us, we should be able to build together utilizing our knowledge of one another.

It really thrills me to see so many of you who are actively participating in Temple Life in so many different ways.  I have no doubt that, except for a few (very few) clerical and educational tasks for which rabbis are specifically trained, you can (and do) do it all yourselves.  And, in the main, that is what all the current literature bout transforming the American Synagogue, renewing spirituality, regenerating synagogue life, etc etc is all about.

But - you do have a rabbi.  My schedule (there is a slightly revised schedule elsewhere in the bulletin) is now structured so that there is hardly a time when more than three weeks pass (and often much less) between the time I leave Lake Charles and the time I return. That enables us (with the help of Stuart Greenburg and committee) to have a consistent, scheduled program of EDUCATION ( and I'm sure you all recognize by now that that is my major priority as well as an area of considerable training and even some expertise.)  With Joe Leiberman's selection as the Democratic vice-presidential candidate there is a heightened interest in Judaism- even among Jews.  So take that step and get over to Temple Sinai for a class, discussion, etc.

                Leshanah Tovah, Tikatevu
                            Rabbi

P.S. My Tuesday October 3rd lecture "A LOOK AT JUDAISM IN THE LIGHT OF LIEBERMAN" is not for non-Jews only!

P.P.S.     I am in town from some time on September 27th (Wed) until Tues. Morning Oct 10th.  Sure there are the Holy Day Services, a Bat-Mitzvah etc. - but also a lot of daytime hours when I can meet with you - in the office, my hotel "office", your home or over a cup of coffee.  Call me at home  or in Lake Charles at the Temple or hotel to set up a time.

P.P.P.S. If you didn't meet our son Jason over Pesach, he will be joining us for Yom Kippur along with our daughter Lisa and her significant other Stephen Crafton.  Do take a moment to say hello.  Sorry, second daughter Rachel who conducts High Holy Day services for youth in her L.A. Temple obviously can't make it.

P.P.P.P.S. I urge you young (grade school, high school age) and old (no limit) to check the schedule of Hebrew classes and join us.  In 4 or 5 hours you can read Hebrew.