When Wendl K. first came to Temple Emanu-El over 50 years ago, she came for the music. Decades later, Wendl can still recall the cello from the early years she attended the Kol Nidre Yom Kippur service.
“It moved me,” Wendl said. “It spoke to me about what it means to be Jewish and part of Temple Emanu-El. No matter how many times I hear that piece of music, I still get that thrill.”
Since arriving at Temple Emanu-El for the first time, Wendl has been widely involved in temple life. She has guided hundreds of visitors from around the world through the Fifth Avenue Sanctuary as a docent. For over two decades she was a regular member of the temple’s Torah study group and a volunteer in the Sunday Lunch Program.
In 2014, Wendl helped launch Community as Family (CAF), a temple group for members who do not have a reliable local family member for support. CAF started with six people. It now has 85 members, who do everything from celebrating Passover together to helping each other navigate doctor’s appointments. Wendl has shared the story of CAF, and Temple Emanu-El’s support of the initiative, with the NGO Committee on Ageing in New York and many synagogues, churches and senior centers throughout the country.
Wendl notes, “Community as Family has helped build strong, supportive friendships. We are creating a family from our community.”
As Temple Emanu-El approaches its next 180 years, Wendl hopes the temple keeps the growth mindset that has fueled new projects that have improved members’ lives and the local community.
“I would hope Temple Emanu-El just keeps being strong, well respected, and well loved,” she said. “I want Temple Emanu-El to go for another 180 years and beyond, with more and more people eager to support it.”
