I started to read this article with the hope of reading about a real Jewish synagogue but when I saw the word 'reform' I realized that what I was reading had very little to do with Judaism and more to do with liberal-progressive activism. This so-called 'Temple' allows pets for Shabbat services, is more concerned with 'openness' and inter-faith dialogue than with Judaism.
I am sad to say that I cannot recommend this church, I mean 'temple', for anything but derision...
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_18578338?source=rssSanta Clara County's oldest Jewish temple turning 150
By Lisa Fernandez
Posted: 07/29/2011 02:57:34 PM PDT
Updated: 07/29/2011 03:04:59 PM PDT
Temple Emanu-El of San Jose celebrates its 150th anniversary Friday giving it the birthright as the oldest Jewish congregation in Santa Clara Valley, and among the oldest Reform congregations on the West Coast.
To honor the occasion, the 400-family congregation is having a scribe write a new Torah, which will take the year to complete.
"One hundred and fifty is really old," said Rabbi Dana Magat, 47, who has been the spiritual leader of the congregation since 1999. "This congregation walked and rallied when Lincoln and Kennedy were assassinated. I don't think many congregations can say that."
Magat is amazed by the congregation's place in Silicon Valley history, but he's more awed by its intangible
"It's hard to put into words," Magat said. "It's just inspiring to be here. At it's core, we have a connecting, loving, optimistic energy. The people are genuinely wonderful here. ''
Temple Emanu-El, which means "G-d is with us" in Hebrew, has come a long way since its birth in 1861, when a French Jew set up shop, first as a place to bury the dead and visit the sick, central Jewish commandments.
The original temple was located on Third and San Antonio Streets in downtown San Jose, when it was called "Bickur Cholim." It moved to its current University Avenue site in 1948.
Some of the outward practices of spirituality are different than in the early 19th century, too.
For instance, Temple Emanu-El is unusual among synagogues in that it offers semi-regular Pet Shabbats, initiated by the animal-loving cantor who wanted Saturday services to be a welcome spot, occasionally, where furry friends can tag along and nosh on biscuits during the kiddush.The temple boasts an award-winning preschool that also serves children with special needs, has an average of about two dozen 13-year-olds who become bar and bat mitzvah each year, offers
Jewish Confirmation classes for teens, and runs a vibrant adult education program.
Congregation members are also very proud of their efforts in "repairing the world," or Tikkun Olam, as it's called in Hebrew. The temple was recently named among 17 winners of a national honor, the Irving J. Fain Award from the Religion Action Center of Reform Judaism, for responsively recycling electronic waste.That kind of social responsibility is evident among younger members, too. For example, in 2007, Jordana Lilly of Los Altos raised $8,000 by taking part in an art auction for her bat mitzvah project. She donated the money to refugee children of genocidal fighting in Darfur.
Like many synagogues in the Bay Area, Temple Emanu-El is big on diversity, not only of people from varied ethnic backgrounds, but as the president of the synagogue said, a "significant" number of congregants are interfaith."We welcome people," said board president Mike Cahn, a 79-year-old physican whose father used to be president, and whose children and grandchildren are also involved at the temple. "The Reform movement welcomes interfaith families. We have many levels of observance here. That's what makes this a special place."
The temple's late rabbi, Joseph Gitin, who died last year at 104, was renowned for reaching across religions. He was close friends with the late Rev. Paul Locatelli, the former president of Santa Clara University. Decades ago,
Gitin also championed the civil rights of African Americans and homosexuals.Magat is following in these footsteps.
He is vice chair of the Interfaith Council on Economic Justice in Santa Clara County. He often dialogues with the Diocese of San Jose, and he and Imam Tahir Anwar of the South Bay Islamic Association have set up formal visits between each others houses of worship.But above all the accolades, awards and historical facts that are deeply woven into the fabric at Temple Emanu-El, it's the simple acts of kindness that take place there that Sharon Barowsky, 51, of Santa Clara believes embodies the true spirit of the temple.
She joined nearly eight years ago, and came to two Friday night services where she sat alone. On the third visit, an elderly woman came up to her and said, "You're not sitting alone anymore. Come sit with me."
Now, Barowsky sits on the welcoming committee of the temple, making sure that new guests, no matter their background, feel accepted at their new spiritual home.
"It didn't matter that I was a stranger," Barowsky said. "I was family. Temple Emanu-El has become my extended family."
This is a very big shame on the Jewish people when they set up a synagogue which is more concerned with non-Jewish things such as Islam, Dogs, African-American rights, and so-called 'tikkun-olam' {a liberal code-word for taking up any non-Jewish cause}...
SHAME SHAME SHAME on Temple Emanu-El... I bet the founders of this temple are spinning in their graves...
Notice that not a single word of the description discusses the congregation doing anything even remotely Jewish... Not a mention of any chesed for the Jewish state, only supporting blacks and muslims.... Very Jewish of them...
Topic: Sickening Example of the Stupidity of Reform 'Temples' (Read 1135 times)