A Message from Rabbi Chester

Shalom. As you think about our capital campaign, I want to ask you to pause for a moment and think of what this Temple means to you and how it has touched your life.

Some of you have experienced life cycle events at Temple Sinai; others of you have educated yourselves or your children at our synagogue. Many of you have helped to make this a better world through Temple Sinai’s social action program. You have given food to the hungry, tutored through our Literacy Project, advocated for affordable housing and medicine for all, and made lunches for the Robinson Center. You have done this and so much more.

All of this points to the fact that we are a strong congregation with participation in and excitement about congregational life. To continue to be strong we must have the pride and vision to attend to our physical needs. Yes, I am talking about new buildings. But these buildings are not the ends; they are simply the means to ensure that Temple Sinai remains a vibrant and vital force for Jewish life in the East Bay.

Our new campus will provide the means for us to continue to live a strong Jewish life of prayer, study and action. This is my dream for Temple Sinai. This is my vision. Work with me to make this dream a reality.
   — Rabbi Steven Chester