Where Warmth and Majesty Meet

Established in 1845, Temple Emanu-El is more than an architectural landmark, a storied synagogue, and leader within Reform Judaism. It’s also a caring community whose members are devoted to lifelong learning, spiritual growth and social justice.

Link to: Our History

A Foundation for Reform Judaism

“It has been said that there are two ways of spreading light—by being the candle or the mirror that reflects it. Temple Emanu-El has kept aflame the candle of the Jewish faith. And its membership has reflected the highest traditions of your heritage.” ~ President Lyndon Johnson, 1965

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Message from our Senior Rabbi

“At Temple Emanu-El, we encourage our members, young and old, to gather in an atmosphere both warm and awe-inspiring, as we share our moments of joy as well as our times of sadness, immerse ourselves in the richness and beauty of our tradition, and act upon our tradition’s values in the world around us.”

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Message from our President

“Without forsaking our important heritage, Emanu-El’s mission today is to build upon it, adopting the changes needed to remain relevant to the values and needs of our members and community.”

Our Vision

Considering membership at Temple Emanu-El? You should know what we stand for.  Our vision statement, adopted in 2015, provides the overarching principles that guide our congregation.

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Who We Are

Maintaining the Emanu-El experience for our members is a priority. Meet the dedicated people who work hard to keep our temple majestic, our services moving and meaningful, and our many programs in motion.

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Tour Emanu-El

Considered one of the world’s most majestic synagogues, Temple Emanu-El hosts thousands of visitors from across the globe each year. Take a self-guided tour or let a docent lead you. Admission is free.

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Hildreth Meière & the Emanu-El Mosaics

Vibrant mosaics adorn Emanu-El’s Fifth Avenue Sanctuary. Designed by the muralist, mosaicist and painter Hildreth Meière, they feature stylized representations of Jewish imagery on the multi-story arch that encases the bimah. (Link off-site.)