Following are some of the questions that Temple Sinai members have about the proposed merger with Rodef Shalom. To add your questions, send email to sinai@cellio.org. For more background, see the open letter (March 2025).
We invite members of the executive committee to answer these questions. Send email to the same address and we will publish your responses. Let's help everybody be fully informed before the vote on June 8.
As of June 3, I have not received any answers for publication from Temple Sinai leadership. The steering committee has responded to some of these questions in other venues; notes in italics like this are my understanding of those answers. Sinai leaders are welcome to send me corrections if I have misunderstood anything.
Key unanswered questions
2.1: Did we (Temple Sinai) look for opportunities to rent space instead of continuing to own and maintain a building? If that was considered infeasible, can you explain more about that?
3.11: The combined membership of Sinai and Rodef is not much larger than Sinai's historical peak. The only time size mattered was high holy days, when we had double services and all fit. Why isn't our building good enough now when it was then?
3.14: How much necessary deferred maintenance, in dollars, is pending for each building? Use any method you like to estimate so long as you use the same method for both buildings.
(Combined: 4.4 and 4.5): How much does each synagogue have in restricted gifts and legacy donations that will not transfer to a new legal entity?
(Combined: 2.4, 1.9, 1.7, 1.12): While both congregations need to do something, Rodef is desperate and we are not. It feels like we are giving them everything they want and getting nothing in return, and we are being rushed to a premature commitment. Why are we letting Rodef drive the process? What are they giving up, in exchange for us giving up our building and presence in Squirrel Hill? Isn't our duty to Temple Sinai first?
3.6: How can we see the report detailing the evaluations and feasibility of each building?
4.7: What relationship will the new congregation have with Rabbi Bisno?
1. Process
1.1: For the vote, what will the quorum be and what majority of quorum must vote "yes" to proceed? (What does "nearly unanimous" mean?) (See also 1.11.) The vote will follow the rules for routine votes like electing directors, not the stricter rules for changing the bylaws. As announced at the May board meeting, quorum 40, simple majority.
1.2: How will we enable voting by people who cannot attend the meeting? Will we support mail-in votes? The email about the meeting included provisions for joining by Zoom.
1.3: Will we see the draft bylaws and financial analysis by the time of the meeting notice? No.
1.4: How much money have we spent so far on this project (for example, hiring consultants)? How much do we expect to spend in FY25 on the investigation and on implementation? So far Temple Sinai has allocated $105,000 and spent most of it. Further significant expenses will come.
1.5: Has the committee considered options if the vote is negative?
1.6: What exactly are we voting on in May? It was described as a "brit" but we also heard that many details are not settled. How can we sign a contract with big unknowns in it? "We are voting on the intent to unify and a commitment (a brit; essentially a memorandum of understanding) to the unification process and to each other, as well as to the additional steps during 2025-26 towards unification." (From the official site; see there for a longer summary.
1.7: The timeline seems rushed given the facts and data so many are requesting to review prior to any vote. Rumor has it that Rodef is pressuring this timeline and issuing ultimatums. Is this true? If so, why would we allow this?
1.8: What is the timeline? The May vote is not final but we will start to dismantle programs, reduce staff, relocate, and remodel. It seems like there is a "point of no return" before the final vote and registration of the new corporation. What happens when, and when are things locked in? The merger web site gives a timeline for the expected path ending with state approval by spring 2026. That timeline does not address lock-in.
1.9: As of July, Rodef doesn't have a rabbi, cantor, or executive director. They would have needed to do something about that anyway. What exactly are they giving up, in exchange for us giving up our building and presence in Pittsburgh's primary Jewish neighborhood?
1.10: At the April board meeting we heard that legal/financial/contractual issues with Rabbi Bisno were "mostly" handled. What obligations will Sinai, as part of this new congregation, be taking on?
1.11: At the April board meeting, we heard that the executive committee is planning for a simple majority vote (see 1.1). The bylaws require that a vote to change the bylaws be by a two-thirds majority. How does a vote to cancel the bylaws entirely by shutting down the organization not require at least that much of a supermajority?
1.12: I have heard that Sinai's members of the steering committee would like to be more transparent with our members but Rodef's members do not agree and ours want to work "in lock-step" with them. Why are we prioritizing the wishes of Rodef's leaders over our obligations to our own members?
1.13: Will members be permitted to speak at the meeting, or only the executive/steering committee? The last time we had a major vote members were barred from speaking, so I'm looking for a clear commitment.
2. Options (what else did Temple Sinai consider?)
2.1: Did we look for opportunities to rent space instead of continuing to own and maintain a building? If that was considered infeasible, can you explain more about that?
2.2: Tree of Life is constructing a new building and previously had tenants. Their plans were not yet final when our leaders began discussing this merger. Did we attempt to make an arrangement with them?
2.3: What other specific locations/options were researched? (We'd like a list.) In how much detail?
2.4: While both congregations need to do something, Rodef is desperate and we are not. We're in the stronger bargaining position, yet it feels like we are giving them everything they want and getting nothing in return. Why not proceed alone and increase our outreach and marketing? We'll probably attract more people who are fed up there and like us. It might be "now or never" for them, but it's not for us.
3. Buildings
3.1: Do we have confirmation that building renovations at Rodef will be allowed to proceed (zoning, complaints from neighbors, etc)? If not, which parts are at risk? (Related: 3.8.) We don't anticipate problems. Plans have not been developed yet.
3.2: Which building changes at Rodef will we require before moving in? How will they be paid for? Accessible arks and clergy offices on the first floor. We do not anticipate high expenses for this.
3.3: What will happen to Temple Sinai's memorial plaques and donor plaques? Will Sinai and Rodef commemorations be equally prominent? It'll all be combined somehow, TBD.
3.4: What will happen to Temple Sinai's vegetable garden, which is a tikkun olam project to feed the hungry? There will be a vegetable garden.
3.5: How can we make the new building look less like a church, especially from the outside? It's very uncomfortable and does not feel Jewish.
3.6: How can we see the report detailing the evaluations and feasibility of each building?
3.7: Is Rodef pressuring us to use their building, or is it actually the best space? If the latter, specifically why?
3.8: Are any building changes deal-breakers if not done? (For example, accessibility.) If so, what are they and how will the timing work to ensure they're done before we commit? (Related: 3.1.)
3.9: Where will everybody park for big events (high holy days, major speakers/performers/events)? Rodef doesn't fit in their parking lot for HHD now and doesn't have our ample street parking. The city grants permits for streets near Rodef. We assume this will suffice.
3.10: All the big things in Rodef's building have donors' names on them and we'll lose ours. How do the Lebov, Barnett, Krieger, Falk, etc families feel about that? How will this be "all of us" and not "them" if half of "us" gets set aside for "them"?
3.11: The combined membership of Sinai and Rodef is not much larger than Sinai's historical peak. The only time size mattered was high holy days, when we had double services and all fit. Why isn't our building good enough now when it was then?
3.12: What would be done with our stained glass windows, especially those that are in the chapel? And what would happen to the ark doors in the main sanctuary?
3.13: If we move in, where do Dor Chadash and Tree of Life go? (ToL will have a new building eventually, but not in 2025.) We'll honor existing leases and negotiate new ones as desired.
3.14: How much necessary deferred maintenance, in dollars, is pending for each building? Use any method you like to estimate so long as you use the same method for both buildings.
3.15: Follow-on from 3.14: Rodef has a $30M endowment and has building problems extensive enough that they cannot fix them on their own. How is this a good investment for Temple Sinai? If our assets are enough to fix all the building problems, then they already could do that on their own.
4. If we merge...
(Building issues are in section 3.)
4.1: How many current Temple Sinai members do we expect to lose?
4.2: Is J-JEP currently set up (legally, financially) to add a third member? If J-JEP gets replaced by a new Rodef-Sinai school, what happens to Beth Shalom? It will be replaced by a new combined school, details TBD, and Beth Shalom will be invited to participate.
4.3: According to the slides at the March board meeting, Sinai and Rodef have similar membership sizes, but this year Rodef has more than double the spending and triple the deficit. How should we understand those differences?
4.4: How much are we currently depending on Legacy Circle in our long-term financial planning? (Those designations will not automatically carry over.)
4.5: Are there any restricted gifts (donations made for specific purposes) that will no longer apply if we move to another building or dissolve Temple Sinai? If so, how much money are we talking about?
4.6: Where there are duplicate resources, thinking of the Torah scrolls, how many would be retained? How many and from which congregation would be donated to another congregation in need of them? Who would make that decision? Also applies to the breast plates, rimonim, and yadaim, plus anything else of significant value and donated in memory or honor of someone. We'll combine things somehow TBD.
4.7: What relationship will the new congregation have with Rabbi Bisno?
4.8: If we merge into Rodef, what role will ordinary congregants have in decision-making? Rodef is way more top-down (directed) than Sinai is; how will our rights be protected?
5. Pending questions from board members
The minutes of the February 2025 board meeting record some questions from board members. In some cases the minutes record responses from the steering committee. The following questions appear to still be pending. (I attended the March, April, and May board meetings, but if I missed an answer being given, I welcome correction from any board member.)
5.1: Would Temple Sinai be protected from assuming any debts that may be held by Rodef Shalom?
5.2: Has sufficient work been done on the unified budget to know if it will be a surplus or deficit budget?
5.3: Would insurance rates of the unified entity be affected by past issues at Rodef Shalom?
5.4: Were we to unify and move to RS building, would there be architectural changes? Eventually, if we raise funds, maybe.
5.5: How will the cultural gap between the two congregations be bridged, especially regarding involvement and volunteerism?
5.6: What will staffing look like and how will it be determined which present staff members will be retained?
5.7: What process is in place to decide which building should be used? (Editor's note: we know that the steering committee decided on Rodef's building, but this question was about whether/what processes were in place.)