Temple Sinai of Roslyn invites you to enhance your holiday this year by giving back to our community and bringing light to our world. Temple Sinai is proud to continue its important “8 Nights of Giving” Chanukah program, which offers an opportunity to help “heal the world.”

Each day there will be opportunities to give tzedakah, drop off a donation or join with others to do a hands-on activity.

Our hope is that by practicing #8NightsOfGiving, we can help our greater community on Long Island and beyond.

First Candle – Dec. 12: Helping the Homeless

Homelessness continues to be a major problem not only in New York City, but also across Long Island. This first night of the campaign is dedicated to helping the homeless. As the prophet Isaiah teaches in Isaiah 58:7: “Take the homeless poor into your home.”

Temple Sinai will be collecting new and gently used children’s books to be donated to children who live in the New York City Department of Homeless Services Shelters. Many of our teens have an ongoing relationship with children who live in these shelters, through our Hand-in-Hand program.

All donations can be dropped off in the large bins located in the Temple Sinai lobby at 425 Roslyn Road in Roslyn and will be accepted until Dec. 17.

Opportunities to help the homeless include donations to the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless at addressthehomeless.org/donate and supporting Temple Sinai’s Hand-in-Hand Program, one of Temple Sinai’s outstanding Teen Programs. Teens from our Temple lead social and educational activities for children currently living in homeless shelters. Our partner, NYC Department of Homeless Services, busses children to Temple Sinai for this program.

Second Candle – Dec. 13: Supporting Israel

On this night of Chanukah, our thoughts turn toward the State of Israel. As Yehudah HaLevi reminded us in the Middle Ages, “My heart is in the East, even though I am in the West.” Israel is always in our prayers and in ourhearts.

Donations can include supporting AIPAC, whose mission is to strengthen, protect and promote the US- Israel relationship to enhance the security of Israel and the United States. Donate at aipac.org.

Other opportunities include helping ARZA, the single largest supporter of the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism and the Israel Religious Action Center. ARZA strengthens and enriches the Jewish identity of Reform Jews in the United States by ensuring that a connection with Israel is a fundamental part of that identity. To donate to ARZA, please visit arza.org/donate.

This February, Temple Sinai will be sending teens to Israel to explore the sights, connect with Israelis, and do Tikkun Olam (Repairing the World). No teen will be turned away due to financial hardship.

Third Candle – Dec. 14: LGBTQ Inclusion

Temple Sinai is committed to being a safe and welcoming space to people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. We strive to create a safe space for all LGBTQ adults and teens and their families. As the Torah teaches in Leviticus 19:18, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Donation suggestions include helping Keshet, a national grassroots organization that works for the full equality and inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Jews in Jewish life. Keshet partners with clergy & educators to equip them with the tools and knowledge they need to be effective agents of change. Support Keshet at keshetonline.org/about/supportkeshet.

Kulanu, which is Temple Sinai’s LGBTQ and Allies Club, works to make Temple Sinai an inclusive and welcoming space for all members of our congregation.