Temple History

Temple Sinai

In early 1991, five families with a common dream came together to establish a new Reform Jewish congregation in Sarasota, which became Temple Sinai. That March, over 180 people attended the new congregation's first function, a community Seder. Temple Beth Sholom graciously loaned the fledgling temple a Sefer Torah. In April, with 55 families, Temple Sinai held its "Service of Beginning" at the Jewish Community Center. By the time the "Charter Membership Service" was held, the temple had grown to 140 families. Aaron Koplin became the congregation's first rabbi in July. By October of 1991, the temple established its own cemetery, Sinai Memorial Gardens, on Fruitville Road in Sarasota.

Without a permanent home, the growing congregation, on a weekly basis, moved everything required for conducting a service in and out of various rental facilities. A dedicated group nicknamed the "Sinai Shleppers" faithfully performed this job. Through the graciousness of three different families over the next 15 years, the temple received three Sefer Torahs, which are still used today. By 1992, with over 300 families, Temple Sinai acquired a former church complex on Kenilworth Street and that became the temple's first permanent home.

The Sinai Men's Club, The Women of Sinai, the Religious School Committee and Horay Sinai (parents group) offer congregants the opportunity to become even more involved in temple life.

In December of 1993, Temple Sinai welcomed our new Rabbi, Geoffrey Huntting, and his family to Sarasota. By 1995, the temple was accepted for membership in the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC), today known as Union for Reform Judaism (URJ).

In September of 2005, after four years of planning and work, Temple Sinai moved into its new home on South Lockwood Ridge Road and held a dedication ceremony marking the occasion.

Temple Sinai hired its first cantor, Hazzan Cliff Abramson in 2006 and opened its new preschool, The Gan at Temple Sinai.

In its relatively short existence, Temple Sinai has become a well-established and respected Jewish institution in the Sarasota/Manatee area. Still growing, with almost 600 families and approximately 100 students in Religious School, it provides a place of worship, study, and gathering for its members. The congregation offers a wide variety of religious, educational, social, and cultural programs.