n 1929, when Temple Emanu-El was completed, the rabbis and congregants stood together in awe of its beauty. More important, however, was the reaffirmation of the community that was started with the Temple’s founding in 1845. Not only did they create our magnificent structure, but in the process, they sustained and built upon the traditions of the generations that preceded them. In 2006, Temple Emanu-El completed a two-year restoration that has brought our sanctuary back to its original splendor—an undertaking made possible through the efforts and devotion of so many of our congregants. Similarly, through this act of community, we too have fulfilled our obligation to the past while also proclaiming a mandate for the future.
The beauty of our restored sanctuaries reflects the glorious history of a congregation that has served Judaism and the community. It summons us today to use that legacy as a stepping stone to serve a new generation.
We are many individual families, but it is the sanctuary and our worship together that transform us into the “Emanu-El family”—that intangible value that is a source of strength for each of us. As president of Temple Emanu-El, I look forward to greeting you at our services, at study, and at various programs and activities. We will continue to preserve our community just as we have preserved our sanctuary. We have a partnership, and it is your participation that is the lifeblood of our beloved Emanu-El.
— Marcia Waxman, President
