06/16/2026
Message from the President
We must be doing something right. Last week we had our 21st Yiddish Food Festival, and the crowds continue to grow. For the last three years, we averaged close to 800 guests in a four hour period. We only have 50 members of our Synagogue… so it’s as if every single member brought 16 people to Mt. Sinai.
Best of all, they keep coming back. We don’t have numbers, but it feels like most of our guests are repeat visitors. That means they had a good time, got good food, and decided to come back, year after year.
So we have successfully created an event that hundreds of people look forward to and want to attend. And when we say “we”, it means “you.” Because none of this would happen without all of our volunteers. So take a victory lap – you earned it.
One of our guests this year was Marissa Russ, a reporter for KGWN-TV. You can see her story about the Festival here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cN2tm-36beY
Next up is our annual summer picnic. We usually call it the 4th of July picnic, unless the 4th of July falls on a Saturday, which is what happens this year. So it will be our summer picnic. It will take place on Sunday, July 5th, starting at 11 AM. Mt. Sinai will be cooking up lots of hot dogs.
This is going to be a potluck, so please bring something to share. Since we’re serving yummy Hebrew National hot dogs, make sure what you bring is suitable for a meal where meat is served (meaning please don’t bring any dairy).
We’ll be in the back yard of the Synagogue, enjoying the weather and relaxing after the hard work of the Festival.
We received word that Bonnie Scotto has passed away. Bonnie was a popular member of our congregation, but she and her husband Michael moved to Arizona. Bonnie died in late May. Our thoughts and condolences go to Michael and their family.
We have a quick correction to make. Last week we mentioned that Robert Georgio is ill. We incorrectly said that he was Jacqueline Georgio’s husband… he’s not. He is her brother. We apologize to the Georgio’s and Roz Baker and the family for the error, and wish Robert a speedy recovery.
We mentioned at the beginning that we must be doing something right. Here’s a sign of that. This time of year, sunlight hits the stained glass windows in the small sanctuary just right, and it creates a beautiful image. This was from a recent Friday night service:
Here’s our Yiddish Phrase of the Week:
Es vet geshen ven bay mir vet oysvaksn hor af der dlonye.
It will happen when hair grows on the palm of my hand.
Shalom!
Dave Lerner
President
Mt. Sinai Board of Directors
