Temple Sinai honors Rabbi for 25 years of service

Rabbi Jeffrey Bennett, of West Hartford, one of the longest serving rabbis in the Hartford area, will be honored by the Temple Sinai Congregation in recognition of his 25 years of dedicated service at 7 p.m. on Saturday, November 3, at the temple, 41 West Hartford Road, Newington.

The public is invited to attend the event, which will include a Havdalah service, a tribute to Rabbi Bennett, refreshments, and music by Peri Smilow, a nationally recognized singer/songwriter. Ms. Smilow is a co-creator of the Freedom Music Project, which brings together Jewish and African-American singers who perform music of the Passover tradition and the Civil Rights Movement. For more information: www.perismilow.com

Master of ceremonies will be Brad Drazen, weekday morning co-anchor of NBC Connecticut News Today and the station's education correspondent who produces the weekly "Making the Grade" series.

Tickets are $36 and may be ordered by calling the temple at 860-561-1055 by October 26.

"We're delighted to honor Rabbi Bennett for his spirited, dynamic and energetic leadership over the past 25 years," said Carol Benjamin, president of the congregation.

"Under Rabbi Bennett's guidance, Temple Sinai has grown and flourished as a vibrant, welcoming, inclusive congregation," Benjamin said. "He is known for bringing a historical and educational perspective to our services and temple events while nurturing our spiritual growth – all with warmth, wit and good cheer."