Our Vision of Truth, Our Faith in Tomorrow

In his Rosh Hashanah sermon, “Our Vision of Truth, Our Faith in Tomorrow,” Rabbi Davidson reflects on the challenges and hopes facing Israel, America and the Jewish people as we enter a new year. Watch the sermon and download “Our Vision of Truth, Our Faith in Tomorrow” .

Temple Emanu-El in the News

Behind the Scenes of Temple Emanu-El’s High Holy Days Preparations Each year, our dedicated clergy, staff and lay leaders work behind the scenes to create a High Holy Days experience that is both spiritually enriching and memorable. From extensive choir rehearsals to thoughtful service planning, every detail is carefully considered. Recently, The Jewish Week highlighted …

Torah Commentary on Pinchas by Bettijane Eisenpreis

Bettijane Eisenpreis Parshah for July 26, 2024 Torah Commentary by Bettijane Eisenpreis And he Lord answered Moses, “Single out Joshua son of Nun, an inspired man, and lay your hand upon him. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and before the whole community, and commission him in their sight. Invest him with some of …

Torah Commentary on B’midbar by Bettijane Eisenpreis

Bettijane Eisenpreis Parashah for June 8, 2024 Torah Commentary by Bettijane Eisenpreis “And the Lord spoke unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt.’” Numbers 1:1 The quotation above …

Torah Commentary on Ki Tisa by Bettijane Eisenpreis

Bettijane Eisenpreis Parashah for March 2, 2024 Torah Commentary by Bettijane Eisenpreis “The Lord spoke unto Moses, ”Hurry down, for your people, whom you brought out of the Land of Egypt, have acted  basely….They have made themselves a molten calf and bowed low unto it and sacrificed to it, saying, ‘This is your god, O …

Rabbi Davidson’s Reflections on the Recent Congregational Mission to Israel

Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson, Peter and Mary Kalikow Senior Rabbinic Chair at Temple Emanu-El, offers his reflections on the January 2024 Temple Emanu-El Mission to Israel in response to the October 7 attacks.

Progressivism’s Breakdown Over Israel and Jews

Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson, Peter and Mary Kalikow Senior Rabbinic Chair at Temple Emanu-El, discusses how contemporary Progressivism has suffered a breakdown over Israel and Jews because of its binary sorting of peoples and nations into oppressor and oppressed.

Light and Unity: Reflecting on our Multifaith Chanukah Candle Lighting

For the first night of Chanukah, Temple Emanu-El’s Fifth Avenue Sanctuary steps became a beacon of interfaith harmony and joyous celebration. Rabbi Joshua Davidson and Rabbi Amy Ehrlich led the candle lighting service. Timothy Cardinal Dolan of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese, Rev. A.R. Bernard of the Christian Cultural Center, Muslim-American interfaith activist Sabeeha Rehman, author …

Together We Will Prevail

Rabbi Davidson’s Shabbat Message – November 10, 2023

Gili Roman, Brother of Hostage Yarden Roman-Gat, Addresses Congregation

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 …

Torah Commentary on Chayei Sarah by Bettijane Eisenpreis

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, …