For Beth P. and her family, Temple Emanu-El is more than a synagogue. “It’s a second home,” she said. “Our family has a relationship with the leaders of the temple. We know them as people.”
Throughout their years of membership, Temple Emanu-El members and clergy have been present to help Beth and her family celebrate, mourn, and navigate complex challenges. When her son Matthew, who is autistic, had his Bar Mitzvah, the temple’s clergy and staff created a custom plan to help make his celebration meaningful and fit his needs. Throughout every step of Matthew’s educational and Bar Mitzvah journey, temple staff always found a way to make Matthew, Beth, and their family feel accepted.
“There was never a ‘no’ at Emanu-El,” Beth said. “Maybe someone said, ‘Can we try it this way?’ Families who have children who live life through a different lens are often told no at every turn. The fact that we were never told no at any point means a lot. On the contrary, it was, ‘No, come. Try. See, do.’ It makes our family more active.”
Beth has always been an active member of Temple Emanu-El. When her eldest son, Miles, was in Religious School, she served on the board of the Parents’ Association. She remains active in contributing to temple life as a member of the membership committee and as part of the team that makes phone calls to new members. For Beth, the calls help provide new members with a voice and a name to associate with the temple.
“These calls really do forge relationships,” she said.
In addition to her work on the membership committee, Beth runs a Gather group for parents and caregivers of children with special needs and learning challenges. Through the group, Beth helps members who are stuck or confused while navigating unfamiliar situations.
As Temple Emanu-El looks to the future, Beth hopes the temple continues to grow, expand, and help anyone who walks in the door. Most importantly, she hopes that future generations will discover the magic of Temple Emanu-El’s community.
“Temple Emanu-El is full of people who just want to try and help,” she said. “It really is a very warm place that has a lot of opportunities.”
