Welcome to Temple Emanuel
Welcome Rabbi Farbman and Family
After a year-long search and interview process, the Board of Temple Emanuel is excited to welcome
and introduce our new rabbi, Rabbi Michael Farbman, his wife Olga Markus and their sons Robert
and Samuel.
Learn more about Rabbi Farbman on the Rabbi's page.
About Temple Emanuel
Temple Emanuel is a warm, caring, and open community of approximately 170 households. As a small Reform synagogue, our members have the opportunity to know one another and to have meaningful input into how our synagogue 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 individuals and 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 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. Summer services usually start at 7:30 PM. Call the office (203/397-3000) or check the Shofar to confirm the starting time of a particular service.
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 observances, such as holidays, baby namings, Bar and Bat Mitzvah celebrations, and weddings. We have produced our own prayer book, combining the traditional components of Shabbat services with many meaningful prayers, songs and quotes to enhance the spirituality of Shabbat. Our services are participatory, and we are a particularly musical congregation. 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 that include Tzedakah projects, the Mitzvah Fair, and Family T’filah, among others.
Education
Synagogues are places of study, and ours is no exception. In addition to our religious school for children in grades Kindergarten through B'nai Mitzvah, there are numerous education offerings for adults. There has been a tradition of Saturday morning Torah study with the Rabbi, Adult Education with speakers on varied topics, and occasionally, 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 monthly bulletin) for upcoming events.
Social Action
Social Action plays a significant role in the Temple Emanuel community. Read about our current projects ranging from food and clothing drives to building houses through Habitat for Humanity to a Temple Delegation to Leon, Nicaragua, on our Social Action website page. We 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.
