The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Our Sukkah has found a house! Continuing our outreach with Ronald McDonald House, Temple Emanu-El generously donated our upcycled Sukkah materials after the conclusion of Sukkot, adding beautiful flowers and pumpkins to help welcome the fall season. Special thanks to Phyllis Hahn. View the full photo gallery below!

Tikkun Olam & Streicker Center Celebrate Sukkot

In honor of Sukkot, and in the spirit of giving, the Tikkun Olam Committee and Streicker Center organized a sweet and educational community trip on Sunday, September 19. The first stop? The Orchards of Concklin, where the descendants of a single family have been growing apples for more than ten generations. Over 550 pounds of …

Sukkot 2021: A Sweet Sunday of Apples, Honey and Repairing the World

Sunday, September 19 Meet at temple at 8:45 AM | Return around 2:00 PM. Free. Advanced Reservations required. Space is limited. This event is open to temple members only. All adults must show proof of vaccination, children who are taking the bus require a negative PCR Covid test and all must wear a mask throughout …

Children’s Village Project Update

After a long hiatus due to the need to remain socially distant, our Tikkun Olam volunteers joyfully came together last week in person to share in the mitzvah of assembling 240 backpacks for the Children’s Village. Each one was filled with all of the school supplies a child needs to set them up for academic …

‘175 Years Ago Today’: A Message from Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson

Dear Friends, One hundred seventy-five years ago today, April 13, 1845, thirty-three German immigrants, refugees of the despotism surging in Western Europe, founded Temple Emanu-El in a small rented facility downtown on the corner of Clinton and Grand streets. It was the city’s first Reform synagogue, and soon became the model for Reform congregations around …

Sunday Lunch Program Welcomes Young Members & Young Families

Last weekend, Young Families of Emanu-El and Young Members of Emanu-El, our 20s and 30s community group, joined in with our Sunday Lunch Program in making and distributing lunches. For over 25 years, Temple Emanu-El’s Sunday Lunch Program has been preparing meals for those in need, whether they are homeless, underemployed or food insecure. Click …

Behind the Scenes With Emanu-El’s Volunteer Thanksgiving Turkey Carvers

“Just follow Norden’s instructions.” That’s the most important turkey carving tip from the seasoned volunteer carvers at Temple Emanu-El’s Thanksgiving Dinner. The Dinner isn’t for our members, but for those less fortunate who have nowhere to go on Thanksgiving. Our members coordinated volunteers, delegated, and prepared an entire meal for 200 guests — which involved …

Mitzvah Day 5780

A huge thank you to everyone: Wise Hall looked abundantly full on Mitzvah Day, when we all came together as one Temple community to volunteer, side by side. In the space of a morning, we accomplished an amazing mitzvah: 2,200 gift packages were assembled with love, ranging from dignity kits to Purim treats for the …

Thanksgiving Dinner 5780

From the appetizer to the delicious desserts, which included Thanksgiving cupcakes festively decorated by our volunteers, cinnamon doughnuts and a chocolate and vanilla parfait topped with fresh blueberries and raspberries, this Thanksgiving meal was a special way to share the warmth of the holiday with those who would otherwise be alone. All of our guests …

The Children’s Village Holiday Party 2019: A Success

Dear Friends, On Friday, December 27, Temple Emanu-El hosted the Children’s Village Annual Holiday party in I. M. Wise Hall. What a truly wonderful and festive celebration as over 280 children and their foster parents enjoyed a delicious meal and scrumptious desserts. 80 staff members from the Children’s Village also attended, as many of them …