We're proud to be Jewish.
To [the Jews] we owe the idea of equality before the law, both divine and human; of the sanctity of life and the dignity of the human person; of the individual conscience and so of personal redemption; of the collective conscience and so of social responsibility; of peace as an abstract ideal and love as the foundation of justice; and many other items which constitute the basic moral furniture of the human mind. Without the Jews, it might have been a much emptier place.
Paul Johnson, A History of the Jews
We have 4000 years of vibrant history, amazing food, groundbreaking thought, adventure, survival against the odds, overcoming tragedy, stellar humor, and more to celebrate.
We don't think being Jewish makes us better than everyone else, but we do think it's pretty great. Whether you're rediscovering, discovering, or affirming your Judaism, we want to nurture your delight in it and promote a positive Jewish identity.
We offer myriad ways for adults, children, and families to engage with Judaism and our community, from meaningful ritual and holiday observance, to robust education programs, to social action, ways to socialize and build leadership skills, and just having fun together.
Jewishness is something to celebrate.
OUR VALUES
We welcome everyone.
May the door of this synagogue be wide enough to receive all who hunger for love, all who are lonely for friendship.
May this synagogue be, for all who enter, the doorway to a richer and more meaningful life.
Mishkan T'filah - A Reform Siddur
We welcome everyone who walks through our doors, and affirm the dignity and worth of every human being. We're not interested in limiting ourselves to "tolerance" of people who are different than we are: we view your identity and your family bonds as sacred. We cherish our members and guests: straight, lesbian, gay, and bi; cis, trans, genderfluid, and nonbinary; Jewish and interfaith families; those steeped in Jewish tradition, those alienated from it, and those exploring it for the first time; neurotypical people and those who aren't; and everyone who makes up the great tapestry of humanity.
You are welcome here, you are wanted, and you are worthwhile just as you are.
We are here to heal the world.
Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world's grief.
Do justly, now.
Love mercy, now.
Walk humbly, now.
You are not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.
Rabbi Rami Shapiro, The Wisdom of the Jewish Sages
Jewish tradition says two things about the state of the world that seem to conflict:
The world is broken from some sort of original wholeness.
It's in need and in pain, and it's our job to repair it.
And the world isn't finished being created yet.
Human beings are partners with the divine in creating it.
But are they actually mutually exclusive? We believe in both repairing what we know to be broken, and building what we haven't seen, or even fully imagined, yet.
Social justice and community involvement are essential parts of Judaism's DNA, and a core value of our community.
Tradition has a vote, not a veto.
My brother and I were at Sinai
He kept a journal
of what he saw
of what he heard
of what it all meant to him
I wish I had such a record
of what happened to me there
If we remembered it together
we could re-create holy time
sparks flying
Merle Feld, We All Stood Together
We love Jewish tradition. We pray in Hebrew. We celebrate Jewish history. We study and wrestle with Torah every week.
We love knowing that each time we face challenges and uncertainty and vexing questions, we have 4000 years of Jewish thought and tradition to turn to for ideas and guidance. It's comforting to know that we stand among wise, compassionate, and brilliant people struggling with the same questions.
But we're also always thinking about whose voices didn't get recorded and aren't being heard. And we believe our own voices are important, too. We delight in scientific discovery and other advances that increase our understanding of the wonder of the universe. The values and aspirations of Judaism are timeless; the details of Jewish practice must serve the needs of the Jewish community.
We strive to apply the timeless values of Jewish tradition in ways that honor everyone's voices and the realities of the times we live in.
Learning is worship.
Merle Feld, We All Stood Together
Reading, reflecting, studying for Jews may be the primary religious act. Study is a meditative and transformative act. The sacred text becomes, as it were, a kind of refractive lens through which we discover who we are.
We're committed to spiritual and intellectual wholeness, and provide education for all.
Our outstanding religious school offers K-7 students creative programming in all aspects of Jewish learning, from Hebrew and history to ethics and culture. We offer tutorial support to B'nai Mitzvah students, and a variety of social, religious, and educational programs through our affiliation with the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY).
Rabbi Kinberg and the Adult Education Committee introduce challenging, lively, and sometimes controversial topics from Hebrew scriptures to current events, applying principals and knowledge from a Jewish and ethical perspective.
Learning makes us happier, brings communities together,
and gives us the tools to navigate our lives.
Judaism is more than a spiritual practice: it's a civilization.
Jonathan Sacks, Radical Then, Radical Now: On Being Jewish
I am a Jew because, knowing the story of my people, I hear their call to write the next chapter. I am a Jew because only if I remain a Jew will the story of a hundred generations live on in me.
Judaism is more than worship. It's history. It's food. It's culture. It's a way of being,
and a way of knowing. It's people.
We don't believe in reducing being Jewish to a religion, something that's compartmentalized, something you do once a week. Wonder, gratitude, and spirituality are the foundation of a bounteous life. Community is vital to human health and happiness. We're a community seven days a week.
We're part of a bigger story.