Temple Emanuel News

What makes a sanctuary special? At Temple Emanuel, is it the beautiful stained-glass windows or the imposing ark? Is it being surrounding by almost 2000 other Jews when you pray or is it the beauty of the ark being opened and displaying our Torahs? It is all those things, but even more important, it is the memories we have in that space. Perhaps it is a departed parent taking your hand during a High Holy Days service or watching your child read a speech at their B’nai Mitzvah. The power of memory, both those we have and those we make for others, is an important part of our tradition.

As you may be aware, we had to replace the carpeting and seats in the sanctuary due to flooding. It will still be the sacred place that means so much to us, but it will have a new look to it. This is an opportunity to make new memories in there.

You might be wondering what happened to all the plaques on the back of the seats that you have donated over the decades. The plaques could not be reused on the new seats, so we have taken all the names from those plaques and put them in a piece of art that will hang outside the sanctuary. 

We are offering you the opportunity to purchase plaques for the new seats in the sanctuary. Plaques will be $1,000, but if you are replacing a plaque that previously was in the sanctuary, you will get a discounted rate of $900.

Buy a plaque now.