Rabbi Davidson’s Reflections on the Congregational Mission to Israel
Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson, Peter and Mary Kalikow Senior Rabbinic Chair at Temple Emanu-El, offers his reflections on the January 2024 Temple Emanu-El Mission to Israel in response to the October 7 attacks.
Progressivism’s Breakdown Over Israel and Jews
Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson, Peter and Mary Kalikow Senior Rabbinic Chair at Temple Emanu-El, discusses how contemporary Progressivism has suffered a breakdown over Israel and Jews because of its binary sorting of peoples and nations into oppressor and oppressed. Download PDF https://youtu.be/NJAR3ZDaApY
A Year of Success with Hebrew Programs for Young Families
A Year of Connecting Cultures: “Boker Tov, Baby!” and “Shiru Iti! Sing with Me!” Temple Emanu-El proudly marks the first year of our innovative Hebrew-language programming for Young Families, “Boker Tov, Baby!” and “Shiru Iti! Sing with Me!” Launched last year to meet demand from Israeli members and parents eager for early Hebrew education, these […]
Historical Illuminations: Origins of Hanukkah
Explore the historical origins of Hanukkah in this illuminating blog by Dr. Alyssa M. Cady, Director of the Temple Emanu-El Center for Interfaith Dialogue. From the Persian Empire to the Maccabean Revolt, discover how ancient events shaped the Festival of Lights. Written by Dr. Alyssa M. Cady Director, Temple Emanu-El Center for Interfaith Dialogue Revised […]
Light and Unity: Reflecting on our Multifaith Chanukah Candle Lighting
For the first night of Chanukah, Temple Emanu-El’s Fifth Avenue Sanctuary steps became a beacon of interfaith harmony and joyous celebration. Rabbi Joshua Davidson and Rabbi Amy Ehrlich led the candle lighting service. Timothy Cardinal Dolan of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese, Rev. A.R. Bernard of the Christian Cultural Center, Muslim-American interfaith activist Sabeeha Rehman, author […]
Israel’s Moral Measure: Rabbi Davidson’s Shabbat Message
We revisit the story of Jacob, our most complex patriarch, whose midnight struggle becomes a timeless metaphor for moral wrestling in an imperfect world. From ancient entanglements to the ethical dilemmas facing Israel today, this powerful reflection explores what it means to be called Yisrael: one who wrestles with God and humanity.
Together in Strength and Hope: Reflections on the March for Israel Rally
Yesterday marked a historic day for our community and the entire Jewish people. Nearly 300,000 of us gathered at the National Mall in Washington, D.C., for the March for Israel rally, surpassing the record set by the March for Soviet Jewry in 1987. Temple Emanu-El is proud to have played our part in this monumental […]
Together We Will Prevail
Rabbi Davidson’s Shabbat Message – November 10, 2023
Gili Roman, Brother of Hostage Yarden Roman-Gat, Addresses Congregation
On Friday, November 3, we were honored to be joined by Gili Roman and Yotam Polizer. They addressed the congregation to raise awareness about the more than 230 Israelis being held hostage and the critical efforts to support the survivors of the October 7 terror attack. Gili Roman is the brother of Yarden Roman-Gat who […]
Communal Shabbat Service in Solidarity with Israel
On Friday, October 13, the Temple Emanu-El community came together for a special Shabbat service in solidarity with Israel. We were honored to be joined by Ambassador Dennis Ross, New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Lt Governor Antonio Delgado. In addition to the hundreds in our sanctuary, we were more than 9,000 viewers from […]
