For Iris W., volunteering with Temple Emanu-El’s numerous initiatives has brought satisfaction, community, and cherished connections. Whether through the Sunday Lunch program or her service on the board of Women of Emanu-El, giving back has defined her experience at the temple. “I have always felt that one of the missions of the temple is Tikkun Olam,” she said. “It’s always been meaningful to me.” One of Iris’s most cherished volunteer experiences at Temple Emanu-El was helping foreign students from the English-Speaking Union develop basic English fluency. It was an opportunity to explore different cultures, represent the temple, and build bridges. “We made some wonderful international friends,” Iris recalled.
Over the decades, when Iris and her family have needed support, Temple Emanu-El members and clergy have been there for them. The morning after Iris’s husband passed away, she, her daughter, Dena, and Dr. David M. Posner z”l, Senior Rabbi Emeritus, ran into a Women of Emanu-El member in a temple elevator. The interaction became a defining moment in her temple experience. “She turned to me and the rabbi and said, ‘We are going to take care of her.’ I’ll never forget that,” Iris said. “They really embraced me.” “Having Temple Emanu-El as a place that my mother could go to made a huge difference during her time of sorrow,” her daughter Dena said.
Today, Iris and her daughter, Dena, remain active temple members. Dena is also the Assistant Director of Temple Emanu-El’s Nursery School.
Iris has a deep appreciation for the music that greatly enhances the weekly services. When Iris walks into the Fifth Avenue Sanctuary, she enters a place that represents more than worship—it reflects a lifetime of family memories, lifelong friendships, and a commitment to Tikkun Olam.
