Dear Members and Friends of Congregation P’nai Tikvah,

I am writing to you today with much gratitude.  After much thoughtful exploration and debate, Congregation P’nai Tikvah has decided to join Temple Sinai.  We will be able to function as a havurah within the synagogue structure and avail ourselves of this congregation’s rich array of programs and services as well as its welcoming heart.  Temple Sinai is providing immediate full membership to all CPT members of record for the 2021-2022 year, and they have demonstrated an eagerness to make our family a part of theirs.  

As Temple Sinai President Roy Berger has said:

“We are thrilled to be able to offer Congregation P’nai Tikvah members a spiritual home.  This is a great and exciting time for Temple Sinai with new programs, committee opportunities and an emphasis on Jewish education.  We hope the former P’nai Tikvah will feel our warmth and feel at home”

I want to thank CPT’s Board of Directors and committee members for their tireless efforts on behalf of CPT.  It would be hard to find a more dedicated team.  We have already thanked our fantastic clergy team of Rabbi Jamie Hyams, Cantor Marla Goldberg, and Maestro Tim Cooper, and most especially the wise counsel and leadership of our Rabbi Emerita, Yocheved Mintz, who helped open the door to this new venture, as she had led us so well for so very long.  

Rabbi Jamie has given us the following note:

Dear P’nai Tikvah Family,

As we begin 5783, we also begin a new chapter at Congregation P’nai Torah (CPT). Our community has made the decision to merge with Congregation Sinai, which has welcomed us with open arms. Sinai offers a full range of vibrant spiritual programs and wonderful clergy including a full-time rabbi and a cantor.

As we begin this new phase, I will be moving on from CPT at the end of October. It has been my pleasure to serve, first as the rabbinic intern, then the student rabbi, and for the past 18 months, as the rabbi. The CPT community is the Jewish community that I had been looking for – ritually adventurous, intellectually curious, and fiercely caring. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your lives. I can continue to be reached at rebjamie1@gmail.com.

May we be blessed as we go on our way, may we be guided in peace. May we be blessed with health and joy, May this our blessing, amen.

May we be sheltered by the wings of peace, May we be kept in safety and in love.

May grace and compassion find their way to every soul, May this be our blessing, amen.

Rabbi Jamie

Cantor Marla shares the following words:

It is hard to find the words to say “goodbye” to a congregation that has been a part of my life for the last decade.  Yes, there will be a piece of CPT going on at Temple Sinai, and the Ya Ya’s will still be going, but it will be different. At our last Shabbat I talked about how welcoming I always felt to be a part of CPT. In the emotion of the moment I couldn’t think of the word I also wanted to say: “appreciated”.  So thank you all for also making me feel appreciated.  That has always meant so much.  I loved singing, dancing, shaking our ‘clangy things’, and praying with everyone on all our Shabbats and Holidays.  I will miss that. Knowing that some version of CPT will live on does give me joy. As we had our final Shabbat together I also thought of the words of the song, “Bless This House” by my colleague Steve Sher. I feel it sums up everything I want to say, “Think of all the happiness we found here.  Take it home and share it with a friend. Come along, sing a song, and we’ll never say goodbye.  And you’ll see, and agree, friendships won need never die.”Our friendships will go on.

L’shalom,

Cantor Marla

We so appreciate the home we had found at the Adelson Educational Campus for the past several years, and the staff’s kindness to us.

Finally I want to thank the Las Vegas Jewish Community, and especially Jewish Nevada, for their support —both spiritual and financial —over the past nearly 30 years.

Temple Sinai is creating a Service of Welcome for CPT members and friends on Friday evening, November 18, at 6:30 pm.  I hope to see you all there for what promises to be a most uplifting evening.  A new beginning for the New Year.

B’Shalom,

Judi Stotland, CPT President

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