Our Mission
One of the first questions we pose to ourselves is ‘Why?’ ‘Why are we here as Temple Israel?’ Our mission statement forms our answer: Living Judaism together through discovery, dynamic spirituality, and righteous impact. Our strength is what happens by experiencing Judaism together. It is manifest in our attitude of curiosity and desire to discover all that we can learn. We look to the Torah, the first five books of the Bible, as the backbone of what we teach and understand. Our appreciation of a growing and developing dynamic spirituality opens new pathways of engagement. Commitment to righteousness and justice has allowed us to make tremendous strides in our efforts to impact the world in positive and profound ways. We welcome and embrace you to be part of our mission to live Judaism together to create a beloved community.
– Rabbi Elaine Zecher
Temple Israel strives to be a synagogue in which everyone feels a sense of belonging. We are engaged in a culture shift focused on diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. Read our full Board statement.
Our Values
Relationships.
We build community and encounter the sacred through relationships.
Torah.
We embrace Torah in all its dimensions as our enduring source for inquiry, discovery, and inspiration.
Spirituality.
We explore spirituality and innovate our traditions of ritual and prayer.
Justice.
We pursue justice, in partnership with others, to realize our vision of what the world ought to be.
Israel.
We are Ohavei Yisrael, Lovers of Israel, committed to the vitality, peace, and well-being of the Jewish people in Israel and throughout the world.
Diversity.
We draw strength from our diversity, and wisdom from all who walk through our open doors.