Temple Sinai (Portsmouth, Virginia)

Temple Sinai was founded on December 2, 1953, during the Jewish festival of Hanukkah. Its seven sponsoring members agreed on the congregation's name within a few days and held their first religious service at the Portsmouth Women's Club on January 8, 1954. Until the construction of its building, services were also held at the Portsmouth Coca-Cola Bottling Works and the Suburban Country Club. The cornerstone for the building on its site on Hatton Point Road was laid in 1956. Temple Sinai's fiftieth anniversary was in June 2004. ==Portsmouth United Religious School==

Temple Sinai and Gomley Chesed, a nearby synagogue also located in Portsmouth, formed a combined religious school program, Portsmouth United Religious School, also known as "Portsmouth Religious School", abbreviated as "PURS". The school runs a family education program and outreach for the Jewish community. ==Activities==

Temple Sinai emphasized religious education and service to the community through social action. in which 3% of the cost of the temple's holiday dinners and lifecycle celebrations were donated to MAZON. Temple Sinai engaged in pulpit exchanges with Gomley Chesed and with Ohef Sholom Temple of Norfolk. A pulpit exchange involves a visit of one congregation to the other congregation's facility for a special combined service. == References ==