Temple Emanuel Sinai () is a Reform Jewish synagogue located at 661 Salisbury Street in Worcester, Massachusetts in the United States of America. The congregation was formed in 2013 through the merger of Worcester's two Reform congregations, Temple Emanuel and Temple Sinai, and traces its origins to 1921. It is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism.

The synagogue is adjacent to the Worcester Jewish Community Center, on property acquired by Temple Sinai in 1962 for its permanent home. Temple Emanuel's former building at 280 May Street was sold in 2013 to the Worcester State University Foundation, with the sale allowing continued use of the building until 2015.O'Connell, Scott (June 25, 2015). "Worcester State completes purchase of former Temple Emanuel". Telegram & Gazette (Worcester). Planning for the congregation's final location concluded in 2014, resulting in a decision to expand and renovate the Temple Sinai facility at 661 Salisbury Street, rather than relocate to the campus of Congregation Beth Israel, also in Worcester.

Rabbi Matthew Berger, who became Temple Emanuel's rabbi in 2009, served as the first rabbi of Temple Emanuel Sinai following the merger.Kush, Bronislaus B (October 31, 2009). "New rabbi is installed at Temple Emanuel". Telegram & Gazette (Worcester). In 2014, Rabbi Valerie Cohen succeeded Berger.Anonymous (February 24, 2014). "Rabbi Cohen leaving Jackson's Beth Israel, 'J.C.' leaving Jacobs Camp". Southern Jewish Life.

Brief overview of history Temple Emanuel congregation

Founded in 1921, Temple Emanuel was the first Reform Jewish congregation established in Worcester, Massachusetts, and remained the city's largest synagogue from the 1940s until its 2013 integration with its offshoot, Temple Sinai. The congregation's third and largest building, located at 280 May Street, was completed and consecrated in 1949 and expanded in 1961 to accommodate a religious school enrollment of nearly 1,000 students."Worcester". Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved January 4, 2010. Membership reached its peak in 1957 with 1,340 families, making it one of the largest Reform congregations in the United States at the time. As of 1982, it was the second-largest Reform congregation in New England.Anonymous (November 17, 2010). "Nov. 21 concert at Beth Am Temple honors rabbi". NorthJersey.com By 2009, membership had declined to 425 families.Kush, Bronislaus (September 26, 2009). "Ready for challenges: Worcester Temple has faith it will survive". Telegram & Gazette (Worcester).

Temple Emanuel was led by two long-serving rabbis who played significant roles in both the local community and the Reform movement. Rabbi Levi Olan (1929–1948) became the first Jewish president of the Worcester Ministerial Union and oversaw membership growth from fewer than 200 to 610 families. Rabbi Joseph Klein (1949–1996) continued Olan's emphasis on interfaith engagement, serving as president of the Worcester Ministers’ Association and the Greater Worcester Clergy Association. During his tenure, membership increased from 610 families to 1,340 families in 1957 before gradually declining in subsequent decades.Feingold, Norma and Sadick, Nancy (1996). "Temple Emanuel 1921–1996 75th Anniversary". Published by Temple Emanuel, 280 May Street, Worcester, Mass.

Temple Sinai congregation

In a letter dated December 16, 1957, the Steering Committee of Temple Sinai—a group of Temple Emanuel members who believed that the congregation's close-knit character had diminished and that its religious practices had become more conservative—formally notified the secretary of Temple Emanuel's board of their intent to establish a second Reform congregation in Worcester. Temple Sinai's founding Statement of Principles included a provision limiting membership to 500 families.

Merger of congregations Facing declining membership and increasing financial challenges associated with demographic changes in Worcester's Jewish community, members of Temple Emanuel and Temple Sinai began discussions on re-integration in 2011. After 54 years as separate congregations—and following encouragement from the Union for Reform Judaism over a period of at least two decades—Temple Sinai leadership formally reached out to Temple Emanuel to pursue unification.Kush, Bronislaus B (May 11, 2013). "2 Jewish temples consider merger". Telegram & Gazette (Worcester).

In 2012, Temple Emanuel listed its May Street campus for sale after both congregations determined that Temple Sinai's property at 661 Salisbury Street would serve as the site for the combined congregation. In May 2013, Temple Emanuel members voted to approve the sale of the 280 May Street building to the Worcester State University Foundation.Eckelbecker, Lisa (June 1, 2013). "Members OK Sale of Temple Emanuel to WSU Foundation". Telegram & Gazette (Worcester). The following month, members of both congregations voted in favor of re-integration and the establishment of a unified Reform congregation under the name Temple Emanuel Sinai.

Rabbinical leaders

The following individuals served as rabbi of the merged Temple Emanuel Sinai: OrdinalNameYearsNotes Matthew Berger 2013–2014 Served as rabbi of Temple Emanuel from 2009 to the 2013 merger Valerie Cohen 2014–present

Temple Emanuel history

Early history (1920–1948)

In 1920, sixty men whose families had relocated from Worcester's Union Hill neighborhood on the East Side to the wealthier West Side met at the Bancroft Hotel to plan the establishment of a synagogue in their new community. In 1921, the group began holding services in a Modern Orthodox style above Easton's Tea Room at Harrington Corner in downtown Worcester.Shaw, Kathleen A. (March 24, 1993). "WSC may Buy Temple". Telegram & Gazette (Worcester). B.3. The same year, it incorporated as the Worcester Modern Congregation and in 1922 opened its first synagogue, known as the West Side Community House, in a converted residence at 22 Suburban Road.Olitzky, Kerry M.; Raphael, Marc Lee. The American Synagogue: A Historical Dictionary and Sourcebook, Greenwood Press, June 30, 1996, pp. 173–175. By 1923, the congregation had outgrown that facility and moved to the former Bancroft School building at 111 Elm Street, adopting the name Temple Emanuel."History . Temple Emanuel. Under the leadership of Rabbi Levi Olan, the congregation gradually adopted Reform practices and officially affiliated with the Reform movement in 1937.

The congregation played an active role in civic and social affairs, including the Civil Rights Movement. In 1931, its Brotherhood hosted a symposium titled "Foundations of the Race Problem" featuring lectures by several speakers, including W. E. B. Du Bois.

Joseph Klein era

In 1949, Temple Emanuel moved to a new building at the intersection of May and Chandler Streets.

Rabbi Joseph Klein, who began his tenure in 1949, served until his retirement in 1977 and continued as Rabbi Emeritus until his death in 1996."Rabbi Joseph Klein, 84; leader in Reform Judaism, served Temple Emanuel". Telegram & Gazette (Worcester) September 30, 1996, Massachusetts Newsstand, ProQuest. Klein mentored several future Reform leaders, including Rabbi Alexander M. Schindler, who served as Temple Emanuel's assistant and associate rabbi from 1953 to 1959, and Rabbi Eric Yoffie.Aron Hirt-Manheimer (Fall 1996). "Rabbi Eric H. Yoffie: Teacher of Living Torah". Reform Judaism.

Rabbi Klein later served part-time as the first rabbi of Temple Beth-El in Las Cruces, New Mexico, before returning to Worcester in 1984."Temple Beth-El History" He was the great-grandfather of Alisan Porter.Richard Duckett (June 8, 2006). "Following in mother's dance-steps; Worcester native Alisan Porter scores with Chorus Line'" Telegram & Gazette (Worcester).

By 1957, Temple Emanuel had reached a peak membership of 1,340 families, including 42 who also belonged to Congregation Beth Israel in Worcester. At that time, Worcester's ten other Jewish congregations had a combined membership of 1,410 families.

From 1959 to 1962, Temple Emanuel hosted the "Temple Forum" lecture series, featuring speakers such as Hubert Humphrey, Martin Luther King Jr., Theodore Bikel, and Eleanor Roosevelt.Temple Emanuel (Worcester, Mass.), et al. Forum Series Lectures. [audiorecording] 1959–1962. American Jewish Archives."A dream alive; Nation continues to pursue King's legacy". Telegram & Gazette (Worcester) January 15, 2007"Old, Tired and Timid Men Run Nation, Humphrey Says." Boston Globe. April 13, 1959. In 1965, the synagogue hosted the recording of Hear O Israel: A Prayer Ceremony in Jazz, conducted by congregant Jonathan Klein with performances by Herbie Hancock and other musicians.Hear, O Israel: A Prayer Ceremony in Jazz [review of the CD Hear O Israel: A Prayer Ceremony in Jazz]. New Internationalist, (416), 30–31. Retrieved April 16, 2010, from CBCA Complete. (Document ID: 1591114401). The synagogue was the site of the funerals for Gregory G. Pincus in 1967 and Abbie Hoffman in 1989."Dr. Pincus, Developer of Birth Control Pill, Dead; Funeral Services to Be Held Friday". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. August 24, 1967.Anonymous, Associated Press. (December 14, 2011). 'New Hollywood' producer Bert Schneider dies".Philip Lentz (April 20, 1989). "'Abbie's free,' and pals say goodbye". Chicago Tribune. p. 3.Judith Gaines (April 20, 1989). "Friends Recall Abbie Hoffman's Radical Wit". The Boston Globe.

Post-Klein era

Rabbi Stanley Davids served as Temple Emanuel's fifth rabbi from 1977 to 1986.

Temple Emanuel celebrated its 70th anniversary on October 25, 1991.Shaw, Kathleen A. (October 25, 1991). "Temple Emanuel to mark 70 years". Telegram & Gazette (Worcester), p. A2. In 2003, the congregation installed Carlton Watson as president.Mark Melady (June 13, 2003). "Adopted faith is put into service; Watson becomes temple president". Telegram & Gazette (Worcester).Carlton Watson (July 12, 2004). "The Dream". Reform Judaism Vol. 32 No. 3. Spring 2004.

Rabbi Matthew L. Berger served as the congregation's ninth and final rabbi from 2009 until the 2013 merger with Temple Sinai, and continued as the first rabbi of the combined Temple Emanuel Sinai until 2014, when he was succeeded by Rabbi Valerie Cohen.Temple Emanuel

Education

In 2012, Temple Emanuel's religious school joined with Congregation Beth Israel and Temple Sinai to create PaRDeS, the Worcester Jewish Community Religious School, which operated until 2016.

Facilities

The synagogue building at 280 May Street, designed by architect Charles R. Greco and completed in 1949 in the Colonial Revival style, included a sanctuary, a 1,000-seat auditorium, and educational spaces. It was expanded in 1961 with a classroom wing and clergy offices. As enrollment declined, the classroom wing was leased to various educational institutions, including Worcester State University, the Abby Kelley Foster Charter Public School, and Quinsigamond Community College's Training and Education center.Pilon, Matt (December 16, 2011). "QCC Seeks Downtown Expansion". Worcester Business Journal.

Dedicated spaces Dedicated spaces within the building included the Abraham & Mae Persky Sanctuary, the Philip & Mary Rose Chapel, the Stacy A. Cohan Youth Center, and the Joseph and Sophie Cohan Nursery School Playground. A renovation of the Persky Sanctuary in 2011 lowered and extended the bimah, reducing seating capacity from 918 to 626.Temple Emanuel BY-Lines, Vol. LXXVI No. 5, June–July 2011.

Worship

Daily Minyan Temple Emanuel maintained a daily lay-led minyan from 1954 until 2011 and continued to offer regular Shabbat and weekday services throughout its history. Temple Emanuel Sinai later maintained the tradition with Monday evening services at its Salisbury Street location.

Rabbinical leaders

The following individuals served as rabbi of Temple Emanuel: