Do Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly
At the heart of Temple Bnai Israel, is our Congregation! Our members come from a variety of backgrounds, observe in different ways, and get involved when it’s right for them. To put it simply, we truly celebrate diversity and live by the statement…We embrace all who welcome Judaism into their lives!
Belonging
No matter your race, socio-economic status, lifestyles of all kinds, you are included here…we really mean it! We understand that some people have had less-than-perfect experiences in the past, so we want to help you change the way you think and get excited about being part of a Temple Community again. At Temple Bnai Israel, we live by a simple philosophy – Come as You Are! No matter what your religious background may be, we want to get to know you. The simple fact that you’re interested in learning more about our synagogue is good enough for us, and we can’t think of a better starting point for a conversation.
Our members are diverse and inclusive of all…LGBTQ, interfaith families, all racial backgrounds, and all those inquiring of Judaism. This is our strength and sustenance!
We’re an ever-evolving inclusive community that blends Jewish Tradition with modern life!
Purpose & Meaning in Jewish Life
About the Temple
Temple Bnai Israel was founded in 1909, and has continued to be a center for Jewish worship, education, and community since that time. We are proud to have passed a spark of Torah from generation to generation, and to be a center for Jewish life in our region.
Our Temple became affiliated with the Jewish Reconstructionist Communities (now named Reconstructing Judaism) in 2001 (RJ). The Reconstructionist movement considers Judaism an evolving religious civilization and views our religious traditions as reflecting our ancestors’ search for meaning, purpose, and values. For Reconstructionists, Judaism is more than Jewish religion; it is the entire cultural legacy of the Jewish people. As a Reconstructionist congregation, we value communal learning and democratic decision-making.
We come from a wide range of backgrounds, observe in different manners and choose varied ways to be involved in Temple life. As you will see when you join us for services and special events, we also have much in common: warmth, friendliness, and dedication to one another, the Temple Bnai Israel community, and the larger community we live in.
We embrace all who welcome Judaism into their lives. We support the commitment of interfaith couples who work together to raise Jewish children in an atmosphere of respect for all. Our non-Jewish family members are very much involved in a wide variety of Temple activities.
Temple Bnai Israel is a dynamic, caring community of people with close, diverse relationships to Judaism. We are an inclusive and democratic community with exceptional rabbinic leadership. We love being together. We offer a joyous learning experience for all ages, work to repair the world, grow our spiritual practice, and engage with music and art. These are all parts of the evolving Jewish civilization. And we evolve with it, always mindful of the ancient instruction to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).