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WE ARE SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE!

Whether you are visiting for a short time or live in the area, we welcome you! As a growing and evolving community, we value your presence and participation!

Are you planning a first-time visit?  A prospective member? Someone looking to connect with your Jewish roots? Have you been asked to visit a synagogue as part of your Religion 101 class?  Are you looking for a new spiritual home or just curious about Judaism?

YOU are invited!

Temple Emanuel of Tempe is a vibrant, LGBTQ+ friendly Reform Jewish community that honors tradition and provides a safe environment that is both meaningful and helpful to people of all ages. Everything we do is driven by a desire to help people take their next step spiritually.  Temple Emanuel focuses on building life-long relationships, excellent educational opportunities, and spirited fellowship. 

Who are we?

We are older families, and younger families.  
We are singles, doubles, singers, listeners, pray-ers, do-ers, learners.

We were born Jewish.
We live with Jewish people we love. 
We chose to become Jewish, we are on the path to becoming Jewish.  

We are differently-abled, we are neurodiverse, and we are whatever “normal” is.

We think both inside the box and outside the box.
We are passionate about Judaism and the Jewish people.

 

We are a great Jewish family in Tempe/the East Valley ...
and we want to welcome you soon!  

Come meet the membership of Temple Emanuel ... 

when we learn together in a class ...

when we come together to worship ... 

when we volunteer in the community ...

when we advocate to make this world better ...

when we get together to socialize.

Become part of something special here in Tempe/the East Valley.  

Help us create meaningful Jewish experiences for you and for our entire community.  

Find your Jewish home with us.  

We look forward to meeting you!

Preparing for your visit...

All the things you need to know and more! 

Our Temple is conveniently located in Tempe between Baseline and Guadalupe on Rural Road. 
Our address is 5801 S Rural Road Tempe, AZ 85282
Our office is open
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m
Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Our office is closed on Federal Holidays and on Jewish holidays.

 

Our friendly staff and volunteers would be happy to answer any questions for you. 
We can be reached by phone at 480-838-1414 or by emailing us here.

We strongly encourage an RSVP for our in-person events and worship services. 

Please check out our Events page and our Calendar for the most updated information and to register for an event or worship service.

When you arrive...

Help Us Get to Know You with a Nametag ... Joining us for a Shabbat Service? One of our friendly Board members will greet you as you enter our main entrance.  Please introduce yourself and let them know that you are new.  They will check you in and offer you a nametag... we encourage you to fill out and wear a Visitor Nametag while you are with us so we know to say a special hello to you.  You will also be asked to fill out a first-time visitors form.  This is so we can keep in touch with you and let you know about our upcoming events.  Our Board member will also answer any questions that you may have so please don't hesitate to ask for any information you need! 

We have a “mask optional” policy inside and outside.  We have surgical masks available for anyone who would like to one ... and ask anyone who feels sick to please refrain from joining us in person.  (While not every single event, we offer a Zoom option for almost all of our programs and worship services.) 

It is important to note that there are still people in our congregation who are not able to, or who are uncomfortable, not wearing a mask. We pride ourselves on being an accepting and inclusive congregation and want to make sure everyone's personal choice is respected. 

If you come a little early, please take a moment to check out our Judaica shop, located right outside our Sanctuary main entrance. The Temple Emanuel Judaica Shop brings together the old and the new as well as the traditional and the modern Judaica items.  All sales from our Judaica shop support Temple Emanuel's activities. Take a moment to come and check out our current merchandise or call us to make an appointment to visit our shop during the week!

Finding Your Way Around ...  Once you enter our lobby our Sanctuary and Social Hall are located directly ahead and to the right.  As you enter our Sanctuary, you will notice a wooden box that holds some of our kippahs. For those new or just visiting our Temple, a kippah, also known as a yarmulke, is a head-covering traditionally worn by Jewish men and boys as a sign of reverence and respect.  Both Jewish men and Jewish women are invited to wear a head covering in the synagogue, but it is not required. Additionally, hanging on the wall as you enter the Sanctuary, you will find tallitot (ritual fringed shawls).  If you so choose, you are welcome to borrow a tallit to wear, however, please note that they are traditionally only worn during morning/daytime worship services.  As you enter the sanctuary, feel free to select a seat wherever you are comfortable.  Our COVID protocols do allow for social distancing while still providing a comfortable and meaningful worship service space.

Our main restrooms are located in the hallway directly across the lobby from the Sanctuary doors. Just outside of the restrooms is a water fountain. Please note the water fountain is currently closed due to COVID protocols.  A second, more private, set of bathrooms is located in the hallway, just past the library as you enter the main entrance. 

What About Hebrew ...  Our siddurim (prayer books) are found in the seat pocket in front of you.  Every word in our prayer book, Mishkan T'filah, is translated and transliterated to assist those who are not familiar with Hebrew.  Additionally, our Rabbi works hard to create worship services that are 50% Hebrew and 50% English and easy to follow along to keep our worship accessible to all.  Page numbers to reference during the service are located in the upper left corner of the slides to assist you in following along during the service. 

Healing Prayers ... During our Friday evening worship, Rabbi Olshein invites the congregation to include the names of their loved ones who are in need of a prayer for healing of the body, mind, or the spirit within our Mi Sheberach for healing.  Please feel free to share your loved one's name with our community during this time. If there is a friend or loved one that you would like to be added to the list, feel free to have them added by submitting the request here. 

Remembering a Loved One ... If you are observing a recent passing of a loved one, or observing the anniversary of a loved one's passing, please feel free to include their name when Rabbi Olshein asks for names before the recitation of the Mourner's Kaddish.  

After the service ... Please introduce yourself to some of our congregants.  We have an amazing group of people in our community!  And don't miss out on the opportunity to introduce yourself to Rabbi Olshein, as a recent transplant to Arizona, and Temple Emanuel, she knows how it feels to be the new face and loves to meet new people!  

Attending Events and other Programs ... In addition, to worship services, we offer a variety of events and programs ranging from social justice groups, an array of educational opportunities for both children and adults alike as well as many fun community events.  Additionally, we are always looking to develop new programs and events in response to our evolving community. We are here to support you on your Jewish journey and believe that coming together to learn and celebrate enriches everyone. We hope to see you more often!

Keeping in Touch ... In addition to sending out announcements about special classes, events, and programs in the community, we send out our electronic newsletter weekly.
Click here if you would like to be added to our email list and be kept updated on all of our upcoming events!

Temple Emanuel of Tempe is the only Full-Service Reform Congregation in the Southeast Phoenix Valley.

Mon, March 18 2024 8 Adar II 5784