About Us
TEMV is:
- Sustaining for everyone, during both joyful and challenging times.
- Interfaith-friendly and welcoming to all.
- Musical, celebratory, and reflective in our worship.
- Communicating Jewish values through education for children and adults.
- Honoring diversity without judgment.
- Active in working towards social justice in our community and around the world.
We attract down-to-earth people seeking a Jewish home for ritual, cultural, or social reasons. Many of our families include interfaith couples looking for a temple where they will be welcome and a place to educate their children. We do not, nor have we ever, charged for High Holy Day seats. (We rely on voluntary donations by those who attend.)
Inclusion is a core belief of the members of Temple Emanuel, and we put that belief into action. Membership is open to all who are committed to or are exploring Judaism: singles, couples, parents and their children, people of all sexual orientations and gender identities, couples where both are Jewish and couples where one — or both — is not, people with extensive Jewish knowledge and beginners. Our current membership reflects that diversity. We welcome everyone who wants to find community with us.
TEMV was one of eight winners from across North America of the Union for Reform Judaism’s 2019 Belin Awards for “audacious hospitality.” TEMV won the award for its “LGBTQ Uninitiative”—the collective things we do to help LGBTQ members and their families feel welcome and supported. Rather than being a specific initiative or program, LGBTQ inclusion at TEMV is simply, in the words of one LGBTQ member, “How we roll.”
Our mission is to provide a welcoming atmosphere that encourages Jewish spirituality, learning, and community and celebrates the many ways to be Jewish. We hope you will join us in that journey.
TEMV belongs to the Union for Reform Judaism, the principal affiliating association of Reform Judaism in North America. Other affiliations include the Synagogue Council of America and the Greater Lowell Interfaith Leadership Alliance.
This Week
2020 / 5781 High Holiday Schedule and Registration Links
Erev Rosh Hashanah – Friday, September 18
6:00 p.m. Kabbalat Hashanah
Welcoming in Rosh Hashanah with a seder online, including blessings, candle-lighting, prayers and songs for the New Year; continuing offline with provided materials at your dinner table.
Rosh Hashanah Day One – Saturday, September 19
10 a.m. Morning service and Torah reading
Rosh Hashanah morning services, including prayers, music, sermon, text study and interactive discussions, and time for meditation. Torah reading with healing prayers and aliyot available for all.
2:00 p.m. Family Service
Interactive, joyous, welcoming service for all ages, including traditional and contemporary music, interactive worship, story, and prayers for healing and for mourners.
Tashlich
At your convenience with provided materials.
Rosh Hashanah Day Two – Sunday, September 20
6:15 a.m. Plum Island Sunrise Service
Meet at Plum Island at 6:15 a.m. for sunrise and an informal service, followed by a potluck breakfast.
Erev Yom Kippur – Sunday, September 27
8:00 p.m. Kol Nidrei service
Kol Nidrei service including cello accompaniment by Cameron Sawzin.
Yom Kippur – Monday, September 28
10 a.m. Yom Kippur Morning service and Torah Reading
12:15 p.m. Study and reflection with Dayne Samuels
Dayne will lead us in study appropriate to the day.
Register here: https://zoom.us/
2:00 p.m. Family Service
Interactive, joyous, welcoming service for all ages, including traditional and contemporary music, interactive worship, story, and prayers for healing and for mourners.
5:00 p.m. Yizkor Service of Memory and Reflection
Our yizkor service is about an hour and includes music, prayer, candles, and periods of quiet contemplation. Please note: we no longer read aloud a list of those we wish to remember. Instead, all who are present are invited to share the names of their loved ones aloud. You may wish to bring a written list along to help you recall everyone. You are also invited to submit photos of your loved ones for inclusion in a photo montage during the service.
6:15 p.m. Neilah – Closing Service
We approach the close of the day with renewed energy and commitment, and conclude at about 7:00pm with Havdalah and New Year blessings.
Shabbat Services This Week at TEMV
Please join us for Shabbat services this Friday—and mark your calendars for our upcoming Passover Community Seder!
Lay-led Shabbat Services
Here’s Why
TEMV is:
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Supportive of our members in both joyful and challenging times
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Inclusive across all aspects of identity
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Musical, celebratory, and reflective in our worship
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Contemporary and open-minded in our thinking about what it means to be Jewish
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Heartfelt in our welcome of interfaith families
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Active in working towards social justice in our community and around the world
