Interfaith Lecture: Tolerance and Persecution in Ancient Rome
For a people famed for throwing Christians to the lions and destroying the Temple in Jerusalem, the Romans were often surprisingly welcoming of foreign gods into their city and their prayers. This talk traces Roman attitudes towards the religious practices of other peoples throughout their history, asking: Did the Romans view other religions as legitimate? […]
“Zohran Mamdani and NYC’s Jews: Conceding the election but not the concern”
“For many New Yorkers, Election Day was cause for celebration: the anticipation of a new mayor with new ideas on how to address longstanding challenges from affordability to crime. “But other New Yorkers, including many (though not all) Jews, were rattled by the decisive victory of Zohran Mamdani, whose anti-Israel rhetoric has frightened them in […]
A Season of Giving with Tikkun Olam
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Temple Emanu-El’s annual Mitzvah Day on Sunday! Together, we made a meaningful impact by assembling 1,500 packages filled with essential items for New Yorkers in need. As we move through this season of giving, we are grateful for the compassion and generosity that define our community. In […]
The Sacred Chickens Aren’t Eating – Divination and Piety in the Roman Republic
The Temple Emanu-El Center for Interfaith Dialogue presents a special conversation with Dr. Brahm Kleinman, professor of Classics at McGill University, on religion in Rome. This talk will focus on Roman practices of divination, the art of discovering the will of the gods. The Romans consulted the gods before committing nearly any political or military […]
Atonement in Antiquity
The History of Kippur Yom in Earliest Israel Adapted from a lecture given on Yom Kippur, October 12, 2024. Figure 1 Afternoon prayer on Yom Kippur, Leipzig Mahzor, Germany, Ca. 1310, Vol. 2. 164v. Leipzig University Library In modern times, Yom Kippur is a day of elevated holiness, of reflection and seeking forgiveness, and of […]
Reading for Renewal: A High Holy Days Book List
As the Days of Awe approach, many of us seek ways to prepare our minds and hearts for the season of reflection, repentance, and renewal. Prayer and worship are central to the journey, but so too is the quiet act of study: sitting with words that challenge, inspire, and comfort us as we look inward […]
Rising Leaders: Celebrating Our Teen Executive Board Elections
We’re excited to share that this year’s Teen Executive Board elections have officially wrapped—and what a process it was! From thoughtful applications and campaign speeches to peer voting and community discussions, our teens stepped up with passion, purpose, and vision. Each candidate demonstrated a deep commitment to creating a stronger, more inclusive Jewish teen community here at Temple Emanu-El. We wrapped our first year […]
Tikkun Olam in Action: Serving with the Bowery Mission
The Bowery Mission. With warm smiles and open hearts, volunteers helped serve dinner, connected with guests, and supported an organization that provides care and dignity to some of New York City’s most vulnerable neighbors. In addition to the hot meal, every person who attended received a care package filled with essentials: razors, shaving cream, deodorant, […]
Tikkun Olam Co-Chair honored as a Woman of Distinction
Susan Kaufman, a champion of Temple Emanu-El’s Tikkun Olam Committee and community service efforts, was honored as one of the “Women of Distinction” by New York State Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright. Kaufman was one of 23 women from the Upper East Side Seawright recognized during an April ceremony at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. As […]
Sprit of the Galilee: A Conversation on Shared Society in Israel
The Temple Emanu-El Center for Interfaith Dialogue presents a special conversation with Rabbi Leora Ezrachi-Vered and Father Sabah Haj, co-leaders of Spirit of the Galilee. Based in northern Israel, Spirit of the Galilee brings together Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze, and Baháʼís to foster pluralism, mutual understanding, and cooperation. Rabbi Ezrachi-Vered, rabbi of Nigun Halev in […]
