Become a Member
Temple Emanuel of Tempe is a membership-based community. Our members have a voice in shaping this community, and demonstrate their commitment to its future, to the future of Reform Judaism, and to progressive Jewish values in the world.
Our Community
Temple Emanuel of Tempe is an inclusive and welcoming community. We encourage participation from all who seek a connection to Jewish life and want to be part of our sacred community regardless of religious background, race, ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, ability, age, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Faith Backgrounds
We are a proud Reform Jewish congregation and a member of the Union for Reform Judaism, but members and visitors from all Jewish denominations find their spiritual home at Temple Emanuel. We welcome all people regardless of their expression of faith, including those who consider themselves agnostic, atheist or questioning. Jews by birth, Jews by choice, and non-Jews are all welcome at our services and programs.
Interfaith Families & Non-Jews
Temple Emanuel holds the religious responsibility of welcoming the stranger among the most significant principles of our faith. We welcome interfaith couples and families and non-Jewish parents raising Jewish children, just as we welcome all singles and families. People with faith backgrounds other than Judaism or with no faith background are welcome to pray with us, study with us, share in holiday celebrations, and participate in lifecycle events. Interfaith couples and families are eligible for membership on the same basis as all other couples and families.
Every adult member has the same voting rights, regardless of their faith background. In all life cycle events, such as welcoming newborn babies and bar/bat mitzvahs, all family members are invited to the bima (pulpit) to join in celebration, offer congratulatory remarks, and lead English readings from the siddur (prayerbook). Synagogue honors expressed as commandments to Jews (blessing candles or wine, or reading from the Torah) are offered to Jewish family members.
We encourage participation in our worship, regardless of knowledge of Hebrew or Judaism. Page numbers are frequently announced and Hebrew prayers are transliterated (written in English letters) so that all can sing along.
For those interested in learning more about Judaism, we offer a Discovering Judaism class that begins every August. Following conversion, class participants will have the opportunity to become a member of the synagogue.
Members must be Jewish, or be a member of an interfaith family where one partner is Jewish.
Benefits of Membership
The goal of the Temple Emanuel community is to facilitate the creation of relationships: with each other, with our clergy, and with Judaism.
Members have the opportunity to:
- Meet with our clergy for pastoral care
- Attend High Holy Days services
- Enroll children in Religious School (K-12 program), including our B’nei Mitzvah program
- Hold life-cycle events such as weddings and funerals in our Sanctuary
- Rent our spaces for other purposes such as brises, meetings, and parties
- Travel with us on trips to Israel and other Jewish communities around the world
- Attend members-only events such as our Chanukah Party, Pop-Up Shabbats and more.
- Join our Chavurot and Minyanim Groups