Our History

In December 1967, four pioneers led in the organization of Peninsula Sinai Congregation, holding its first worship services in a San Mateo Church. The Congregation grew, until ultimately securing its own house of worship and learning in Foster City in 1979. We were led by our first Conservative ordained Rabbi, Marvin Goodman, from 1988 to 2007. Our current Rabbi, Adam Rosenthal, joined our congregation in July 2007. We have a fully accredited Hebrew and Sunday School, and we are affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

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Our Mission

Peninsula Sinai Congregation exists to maintain a Conservative synagogue, providing a place of public/open worship of God in addition to providing Jewish education for all. The organization strives, through its diverse programs, to sustain a warm, welcoming and involved community.

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Our Rabbi

was raised in San Diego. He was an active member of his synagogue and USY, and he spent many summers at Camp Ramah. After graduating from Washington University in St Louis, Rabbi Rosenthal earned his rabbinical ordination and an MA in Jewish Liturgy from the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. Having visited Israel frequently, including two separate years of study in Jerusalem, Rabbi Rosenthal is now a strong Zionist and represents the Conservative Movement in the American Zionist Movement and the World Zionist Congress. Rabbi Rosenthal’s other Jewish passions include ritual, education, history, culture, and literature. He and his wife Sarah enjoy raising their son Neriya near his grandparents and great grandparents in Davis and San Diego.

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Our Cantor

has been involved as a singer and percussionist in Jewish music since 1968, and active as a part-time cantorial soloist on the Peninsula and in Marin since 1990. The leader of Milk and Honey, a Bay Area based Jewish music band, Doron has also served as a youth programmer and Jewish educator (in Hebrew, history, and liturgy) for many years. He also continues to serve Peninsula Sinai by leading Junior Congregation Services and providing a musical component to our religious school.

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Our Executive Director

brings a wealth of non-profit experience to PSC. She worked for many years as the Regional Director for Young Judaea where she was in charge of supervising staff, fundraising, coordinating volunteers, general ledger accounting and budgeting. She oversaw all aspects of running the regional office including programming, marketing and logistics. Sharon graduated with honors from Notre Dame de Namur University with a Maters of Science in Systems Management. Her focus was on non-profit management and business through systemic thinking. She received her BA in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh and studied in Israel at Tel Aviv University emphasizing Middle East studies. Sharon and her husband have two wonderful children who attend Wornick Jewish Day School where Sharon is an active volunteer as a School Ambassador as well as chairing the book fairs. Sharon and her husband are originally from NY, they enjoy living in Northern CA, where they spend much of their free time hiking with their kids and dog.

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Our Education Director

holds a Master of Arts in Jewish Education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from the University of California at Santa Barbara. She has been working in Jewish education for nine years. Sabrina spent two years living in Jerusalem, Israel where she studied in a Yeshivah and a Hebrew language immersion program and completed the first year of her graduate studies. She also served as an international liaison to the World Union for Progressive Judaism in Israel and has volunteered in Ukraine as well as with the Ethiopian Jewish community in Israel. Sabrina is an alumna of AVODAH: The Jewish Service Corps, a program that “integrates work for social change, Jewish learning and community building.”

Sabrina most recently served as the Director of Community Programs at the Bureau of Jewish Education in Orange County for two years. She has experience in both formal and informal education including camps, religious school and day school and maintains a vision for bridging the various setting into congregational life through a stimulating, interactive learning experience. Sabrina believes that education is a partnership that is built on the relationship between home, synagogue and school. She hopes to inspire children and adults to find their own voices within the tradition, while exploring innovative paths to God, Torah, and a Jewish life of purpose and meaning.

In addition to her work in Jewish education, Sabrina is a classically trained clarinetist and is fascinated by integrative health studies and multicultural concepts in health and healing. Sabrina is very happily married to her bashert, Cody Bahir who is pursuing his PhD in Philosophy and Religion. They live in Burlingame and have a cat named Gilad.

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Our Rabbi Emeritus

was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1975. He studied at the seminary after having earned his BA from Indiana University in 1970. From 1975-1988 he was the Executive Director of the Northern California Region of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, as well as the Regional United Synagogue Youth Director. During that time, he was very instrumental in the development of Camp Arazim. From 1988-2007, he was the Rabbi of Peninsula Sinai Congregation. In 2007 he became the Executive Director of the Northern CA Board of Rabbis and the Rabbi-in-Residence of the San Francisco Jewish Community Federation. Upon his retirement as Peninsula Sinai’s Rabbi, he became Peninsula Sinai’s Rabbi Emeritus.

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Our Facilities

Our physical facility was completed in three phases. The education wing, containing four classrooms, a kitchen, and the Col. David J. Reina memorial library, was dedicated in 1979. The second phase, consisting of the sanctuary/social hall and administrative offices, was completed in 1984. In May 2000 a substantial remodel was completed, which included a dedicated sanctuary, additional classrooms, a lounge, expanded offices, library and a full catering kitchen. A copy of our Kashrut policy is available in the synagogue office.

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Education and Programs

Life long learning for members of all ages, from toddlers to seniors:

• A dynamic model Family Education Program funded initially by a grant from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
• Adult Education Programs featuring a variety of formats for all interests
• Family Holiday Workshops
• Religious School Program for children in Kindergarten - 7th Grade
• Hebrew School for 3rd - 7th graders
• Program for teens in the 8th - 10th grades
• Involvement in the Peninsula Academy for Jewish Education (PAJE)

Jewish experiences and traditions:

• Communal Holiday Celebrations
• Family High Holiday Service
• Family Holiday Workshops
• Family Sukkot Experience
• Learning Minyanim - services for beginners
• Pesach Community Seder
• Shabbat Programs for people of all ages
• Available cemetery arrangements and support for those losing loved ones

The home as a major vehicle for the expression of Living Judaism:

• Adult and Family "How To" Seminars about Shabbat and the Holidays
• Workshops using the Shabbat & Passover Seder as a text resource
• Teaching children as well as parents various home rituals and prayers
• Planned development of a voluntary Neighborhood Shabbat Meal program

Personal spiritual quests for God and meaning:

• Regular Shabbat Torah Discussions
• Shabbat and Holiday Services
• Classes and discussions related to a variety of personal spiritual issues

Connecting with one another:

• Shabbat Communal Meals
• Havurah Programs for Various Groups
• Parenting groups
• Men's & Women's Groups
• Kadimah Youth Group
• High School Youth Group
• Family Havurot

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Be a Part of Our Congregation

We are constantly reminded that "God helps those who help themselves." The strength of our congregation is the contribution the members make, and this strength has helped the congregation grow. Additionally, it has given back spiritual enrichment to our members while enhancing an understanding of our heritage and tradition. We warmly invite you join us in this endeavor.

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