Join the fun and come to the biennial Asian fusion dinner on Sunday, February 11th at 6:00 (snow date Feb. 25). This year’s event will take place at a new location – Tengda, 1676 Boston Post Road in Milford. In addition to a sumptuous dinner with friends, there will be wine, a silent auction, and grab bags. You don’t want to miss this TE fundraiser!
Space is limited, and there are only a couple of seats left. Please contact Caryn Shaffer if you are interested in attending.
Interested in going to Israel with Temple Emanuel in July 2018? Want to find out more? Come to this informational meeting on November 29 at 6pm to have all your questions answered! (Well, not ALL of your questions – but enough to get you ready for a trip of a lifetime!)
Please join the Faith Communities of the Town of Orange for this very special pre-Thanksgiving Interfaith Service. This year we are hosted by Congregation Or Shalom, 205 Old Grassy Hill, Orange CT.
The chagim (festivals) are over, the regular year is moving full steam ahead. The building is buzzing with learning: kids in Hebrew school, adults in Mishnah class and iEngage series, committee meetings, Men’s club, Sisterhood – TE is full of energy this fall!
This year’s Shir Magic will span an entire weekend of music with our Musician in Residence Alan Goodis, with Friday night and Shabbat morning services, special Hebrew school program on Sunday morning and especially the Saturday night concert (not to be missed), all in memory of our beloved Rabbi Jerry Brieger z’l – mark your calendars for Nov 10-12 and get the tickets for Saturday night November 11th concert online ahead of time!
5777: what a year at TE, with weekly services, Mussar, scholars in residence. Our TE religious school is thriving. Our membership is growing. Tikkun Olam projects supporting our greater community. Our grounds and gardens have never been more beautiful. Our Caring Community committee works tirelessly to offer outreach and support. We have an active Mens Club and Sisterhood. This was a fabulous 5777 inside our Synagogue – –
The year outside TE, in the larger community was less optimistic: a divisive national election with no coming together after the inauguration. Leaders of both major political parties little respected, and held in contempt by a majority of Americans. What a stark contrast in behaviors and attitudes – – comparing outside to inside our TE community.
At Shavuoth last May, Rabbi Farbman asked our 8 young men and women celebrating their confirmation, to write and speak about what Judaism meant to them. In an outside world of egos, ambition, unprecedented wealth, and division, these kids thought and talked about their Judaism. Here are some of their words. Sam Steigbigel said, “My Judaism is an obligation to myself and those around me to look at where I am, look at where I want to be as well as how I can get there without straying the path.”
Jonathan Schachter said, “Judaism is living in everlasting gratitude for the gift of life, the blessing of opportunity, and the task set before us of igniting the spark within each of us.” Micha Aviad said, “My Judaism is activism. The most important thing I’ve learned is that history repeats itself. Especially in times like these, our voices matter.” Skylar Korman said, My Judaism is my identity… It is important for me to hold onto my beliefs and stay strong in them.” Avital Sutin said, “Having a sense of Judaism everywhere offers me a moral compass in my daily life, from pursuing justice and peace, treating other people how they deserve to be treated, and being kind to my physical surroundings.” Julia Katsovich said, “Judaism’s values taught me and instilled in me the importance of being generous and kind, and I want to be able to say that I have made a difference in people’s lives somehow.” Sam Farbman said, “Life within these walls is vibrant and treasured, a rare commodity in a world that often seems bleak. The things I’ve learned from the Jewish people who surround me on a daily basis have expanded my understanding of humility, gratitude, and commitment.”
As I look to this new year, I will try to remember the inspiring words of our wonderful young congregants. At Temple Emanuel, exploring our Judaism together, we have the opportunity to recognize and share gratitude, to be generous and kind, to pursue justice and peace, and to remember that in times like these, our voices matter. May the example we set, and the lives we and our children lead, be models of what the world can be.
Join Rabbi Michael Farbman & Julian Resnick on this TE journey to Israel.
Acknowledging the fact that this is a community… Both with people who 
want to explore Israel for the first time and veterans of Israel travel who want to return and renew their acquaintance with the country.
Acknowledging the fact that this is a community… With diversity of opinion about the place of Israel in your lives and with a broad spectrum of political beliefs with regards to Israel, we have created an Israel Journey which will allow you to explore, to question, to embrace and to wrestle with your opinions, beliefs and understandings.
This will be an intellectual, emotional and spiritual Journey like no other Israel trip. And it will be fun! And it is with your community and your Rabbi.
Trip Highlights: Israel is magic. Filled with great stories, beautiful views, meaningful moments. It is a place to truly grow. Experience this all as you stand on the heights of the Golan, in the depths of the Dead Sea, as you contemplate what makes Jerusalem holy, grapple with the challenges Modern Israel faces in Gush Etzion and the Gaza envelope, shed a tear in Yad Vashem or as you lie on the beach in Tel Aviv. The list goes on and on. And if you feel you have seen and felt all of this before, we have prepared special treats for second timers at the points in which we split into our two sub groups, first and second (or more) timers. And the food, oh the food, and the wine, the wine. This will truly be a time to remember!
*$3,200.– LAND ONLY price includes:
· Accommodation in 4 star hotels and Kibbutz Guest houses
· Daily breakfast plus 10 meals
· Deluxe, fully air-conditioned touring bus.
· Exceptional English speaking tour guide educator Julian Resnick
· Entrance fees and activities as per the program
· Third person sharing in one room reduction available
· Optional group flights offered at $1,495 from JFK on El Al.
*per person sharing a twin room. This is the cash/check discounted price. Single supplement available.
Based on minimum of 20 paying participants. A minimum number of first time visitors is needed for the 2 tracks to be offered. Fuel charges and air taxes are subject to change. Tips to guides/driver/ hotels ($175 per person) are collected in addition.
For registration assistance contact Joyce at Joyce@israelexperts.com
or call: 305 932 8120
Share a potluck Shabbat meal with family and friends! Unwind at the end of the week, and welcome Shabbat with your extended Temple Emanuel Family.
A Tot Shabbat service for families with kids under 5 is at 5:30pm, and a main Shabbat service will begin at 7:30pm – you are welcome to either, or just come and share the meal! Please sign up for potluck – follow the link!
Shir Magic: Remembering Rabbi Jerry Brieger z’l, Featuring Alan Goodis and a Special Appearance by the Temple Emanuel Band – Saturday, November 11, 2017 at 7:30 pm
Tickets: adults $20, kids $10, families $40 (max of 2 adults and unlimited kids)
Looking for fun with your little one? Come to the Tot Shabbat at Temple Emanuel! Friday, October 27 at 5:30 pm Tot Shabbat, followed by Dairy Potluck dinner.
To sign up for the potluck, please follow this link!
Shortly after my daughter Rebecca was born in 1971 and my family moved to Orange Connecticut, I finally found a synagogue that I loved going to and coincided with my Jewish philosophy. I volunteered for many different projects at TE. Among them was remodeling the barn, remodeling the house, serving in many different ways such as; committee member, committee chairperson, helping run Friday night services and the ultimate commitment was becoming president in 1989.
My vocation is in general dentistry and since I like working with my hands as well as my mind in a very confined space, when the opportunity came along to use the art part of art and science and to work in a large format, I decided to attend the Creative
Arts Workshop in New Haven. I took up metal sculpture with my teacher and mentor Ann Lehman.
In 1989, Temple Emanuel started to knock down the barn and build a new sanctuary. When it was basically completed and the interior was being finished, I offered to make the Eternal Lamp. My project was accepted by the aesthetic committee. Subsequent to this project, in my free time I started my Jewish artifact phase of metal sculpture which included many menorahs (one donated to TE) and mezuzahs.
Rita Brieger came to me before Rabbi Jerry Brieger’s z’l birthday and asked if I could create something for the Temple relating to the Rabbi’s favorite passage from the Prophet Micah, addressing the relationship of what a good Jew would do in his daily life. I designed , built and constructed in copper, the words of this quotation and affixed them to the walls of the sanctuary.
It was brought to my attention that there was no outside sign on our new sanctuary building. I went back to my workshop, constructed more letters and attached them to the outside of the building.
Niomi Klotz, after her husband passed away, gave me a copper tray that reminded me of a ten commandments tablet and asked if I could make something of that in honor of her husband, Alan. At the time, people complained that the Shabbat candle wax was getting on the table so I re-purposed the tray to hold the candles. I decorated the tray with cast bronze figures of Torah, candelabra, wine glasses and a challah.
My last project occurred after the free standing house was eliminated and new offices and school were added to the sanctuary. Anne Eisner, who was designing and planting a garden in front of the structure asked if I could create a sculpture for this garden. I built and “planted” a copper and brass flower that never needs watering.
