November 15, 2023 Yesterday marked a historic day for our community and the entire Jewish people. Nearly 300,000 of us gathered at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for the March for Israel rally, surpassing the record set by the March for Soviet Jewry in 1987. Temple Emanu-El is proud to have played our part …
Rabbi Davidson’s Shabbat Message – November 10, 2023
On Friday, November 3, we were honored to be joined by Gili Roman and Yotam Polizer. They addressed the congregation to raise awareness about the more than 230 Israelis being held hostage and the critical efforts to support the survivors of the October 7 terror attack. Gili Roman is the brother of Yarden Roman-Gat who …
Bettijane Eisenpreis Parashah for November 11, 2023 Torah Commentary by Bettijane Eisenpreis “This is the line of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s slave, bore to Abraham. These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names in the order of their birth: Nabaioth, the first-born of Ishmael, Kedar, Abdeel, Mibsam, …
Tikkun Olam volunteers came together on October 19 to assemble 300 toiletry kits filled with 12 essential items for vulnerable populations across New York City. Our support to The Urban Outreach Center helps those facing food and housing insecurity have access to crucial items such as hygiene kits and other basic resources.
The Urban Outreach Center is an Upper Manhattan-based nonprofit with a vision to end the hunger gap in East Harlem and the Upper East Side. Working to ensure access to all types of material necessities beyond those found at many food pantries, The Urban Outreach Center provides healthy foods, personal hygiene items, clothing, and social services. The Urban Outreach Center helps more than 65,000 New Yorkers per year to find food, social services support, and many other critical necessities.
We would like to express our gratitude to our volunteers Jodi Weisel, Eileen Melniker, Susan Warren, Judith West, Miriam Reines, Rena Goldstein, Phyllis Brodsky, Roz Pretzfelder, Pete Webb, Mark Heutlinger and Eileen Ames. Their commitment to helping those less fortunate is a true Mitzvah.
Learn how you can get involved with Tikkun Olam at Temple Emanu-El.
Mazel tov to Rabbi Sapadin and her husband Dan Sapadin on being awarded the LifeSaver Award from ELEM. The LifeSaver Award is a humanitarian award given yearly to recognize an exceptional individual or individuals who exemplify dedication and commitment to alleviating suffering and inhumane treatment of youth, social inequality, and intolerance. The Sapadins have supported ELEM …
Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson is featured in The Times of Israel on October 24, 2023 It may have been a bit chutzpadik, but last Shabbat I welcomed worshippers, who include many non-synagogue members watching online, with these words: “Shabbat Shalom and good evening. Thank you to those with us here in our sanctuary, and to …
On Friday, October 20, the Temple Emanu-El community held a special Shabbat service in unity and solidarity with Israel. We are grateful for the presence and heartfelt support of our Christian clergy allies. Reverend Dr. Eric Park of Christ Church NYC, Pastor Jared Stahler of Saint Peter’s Church, and Reverend Ryan Muldoon of the Catholic …
Thank you to all of our volunteers who contributed their time and energy to a worthwhile mitzvah for the Emergency Supply Drive for Israel. We received hundreds of packages and had 35 volunteers from the Temple Emanu-El Nursery School Mitzvah Committee and Tikkun Olam Committee join us to pack 50 large duffle bags to be sent to Israel’s front lines and hospitals. The critical efforts were featured on CBS and included on Fox and NY1 in stories about the conflict in Israel.
During the five-day drive in which people could either drop off supplies in the temple’s lobbies or make purchases from an Amazon wish list, thousands of the requested items were donated, including more than 200 tourniquets, 350 QuickClot, 500 combat wound dressings, 300 vent chest seals, 200 pulse oximeters and more.
Through our members’ incredible support, Temple Emanu-El has:
In the face of conflict, our community embodies the ethos of shared responsibility, binding individuals together in a tapestry of empathy and compassion. Whether offering assistance to the affected families or lending a listening ear to those in distress, the power of communal unity remains a beacon of light in the darkest of hours.
We are so grateful to those who joined us for Emanu-wELcome, our first-ever community fair! It was a such a delight to see so many familiar faces and newcomers alike come together in celebration of our thriving community. Representatives from our cherished programming groups, including Tikkun Olam, Men’s Club, Women of Emanu-El, Streicker Cultural and Outreach Centers, among others, dedicated their time and efforts to welcome both current and prospective members, and shed light on the countless opportunities available for engagement and enrichment. Emanu-wELcome was a testament to the spirit of camaraderie and the power of human connection, even in challenging times. We look forward to the continued engagement and participation of each member, old and new, as we strive to create a vibrant, welcoming, and supportive environment for all.
Bettijane Eisenpreis Parashah for October 21, 2023 Torah Commentary by Bettijane Eisenpreis “The Lord smelled the pleasing odor, and the Lord said to Himself, “Never again will I doom the earth because of man, since the devisings of man’s mind are evil from his youth; nor will I ever destroy every living being, as I …
On Friday, October 13, the Temple Emanu-El community came together for a special Shabbat service in solidarity with Israel. We were honored to be joined by Ambassador Dennis Ross, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Lt Governor Antonio Delgado. In addition to the hundreds in our sanctuary, we were more than 9,000 viewers from …
