Our Partnerships
Since 2004, Temple Israel has been home to Beacon Academy, a ground breaking education program, which is the first of its kind in the nation. Founded by Cindy Laba and one of our Temple Israel members, Marsha Feinberg, Beacon Academy is a 14-month “jump year” that prepares Boston area eighth graders for admission to and success in competitive independent high schools.
Our Neighborhood
Temple Israel is an historic, urban synagogue that’s easily accessible via public transportation, car, or by foot. We’re nestled between Riverway Parkway and Longwood Avenue, only steps from the many prestigious institutions in the Longwood Medical Area. Please come and visit us and experience our community first-hand!
Our continuous presence in the City of Boston for over 160 years distinguishes us as one of Boston’s iconic religious institutions. Throughout our history, which began before the American Civil War, we have sought to respond, in each era, to the question, how do we demonstrate our connection to, lead and serve the myriad communities to which we are attached? We first entered the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now, the Union for Reform Judaism) in 1894. For the past 88 years, we have had a presence on this corner of the Riverway and Longwood Avenue, in Roxbury; from this vantage point, we have built enduring relationships within the circles of Civic, Interfaith, Jewish and Reform Jewish organizational life. From this perch, we have united with others to actively express ourselves as rodfei tzedek, pursuers of justice, ohavei tzion, lovers of the people Israel, gomlei hesed, agents of lovingkindness, limudei Torah, students of Torah, and yirei Adonai, those who revere the Eternal. The connecting link between our congregation and the communities with which we affiliate are a reminder, in the words of an early Israeli folksong (Rad Halaila) “ki darkeinu ein lah sof, for our path has no end, ki od nimshechet hashalshelet, for the chain still continues.” We are engaged with and inspired by the partners that we have chosen.
Rabbi Ronne Friedman,
Rabbi Emeritus