Welcome to Temple Emanuel
Temple Emanuel is a warm, caring, and open community of approximately 170 households. As a small Reform synagogue, all of our members have the ability to know one another and the opportunity to have serious input into how our congregation operates. Temple Emanuel is a participatory, diverse, non-judgmental, and intellectually vibrant congregation. Our membership comes from many towns in the greater New Haven area, and the Valley, adding to the diversity of our congregation.
Membership
Temple Emanuel welcomes all families. Whether you are single or coupled, with or without children and/or grandchildren, new to the area or a long-time resident, interfaith or not, we believe being a member of Temple Emanuel in the next few years will prove exciting and rewarding. If you would like more information on joining our synagogue, please give us a call at 203-397-3000, or email us, and we will send you a packet of information. Non-members are welcome and encouraged to attend our regular Friday night Shabbat services. They usually begin at 8:00 PM except for times when we have special services for families with young children, which begin at 7:30 PM.
Rabbinical Search
Our long time and beloved Rabbi (Rabbi Jerry Brieger) has recently retired after thirty-two years of leading our congregation. This is an especially exciting time for our congregation, as all will have the opportunity to participate in the selection process for a new Rabbi and thereby shape the future of Temple Emanuel.
Shabbat and Life-cycle Events
Probably the highlight of Temple Emanuel is the warm and special feeling our congregants experience during Shabbat services and other religious milestones, such as baby namings, Bar and Bat Mitzvah, and weddings. We have written our own prayer book, combining the religious aspects of Shabbat with many meaningful prayers, songs and quotes to enhance the spirituality of Shabbat. Our services are participatory and music plays a large role. We invite you to come to our Shabbat Services, held on Friday evenings, usually at 8 PM. Several times each year we enjoy Shabbat dinners before services. Families with children especially enjoy our holiday parties at Chanukah and Purim, and various Religious School activities.
Education
Synagogues are places of study, and ours is no exception. In addition to our religious school for children in grades Kindergarten through Bnai Mitzvah, there are numerous education offerings for adults as well. There has been a tradition of Saturday morning Torah study with the Rabbi, Adult Education with speakers on varied topics, and Hebrew language classes (with the option for an Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah). Our Scholar-in-Residence Program takes place yearly with a visiting educator who focuses on a topic relevant to our congregation. Keep your eye on the Shofar (Temple Emanuel's Bulletin) for upcoming events.
Social Action
Social Action plays a big part of Temple life. Read about our many ambitious projects ranging from food and clothing drives to building homes through Habitat for Humanity on our Social Action website page. We also sponsor Shabbat dinners before our Friday night services several times a year. Families can come and relax as they enjoy a delicious meal, sing Shabbat songs, and enjoy the festivities.
