A House of Worship, Study and Gathering
AN OVERVIEW FOR OUR PROSPECTIVE MEMBERS
Temple Emanuel • 201 Oakwood Drive, Winston-Salem, NC 27103 • (336)722.6640 • www.templemanuel.com
A House of Worship, Study and Gathering
A Warm Welcome
From The Temple Emanuel Membership Committee
On behalf of the Temple Emanuel family, we extend to you a warm welcome to
the Winston-Salem Jewish community. Our membership spans a broad spectrum
of ages, professions, interests and Jewish backgrounds.
We are an inclusive community, welcoming all families and couples who seek to
create a loving, nurturing Jewish home. Our vibrant congregation of approximately 260 families
consists of young singles, seniors, one- and two-parent families,
young couples and empty nesters. We recognize that each individual has something special to
offer our Temple community and want all of our members to feel at
home in our congregation.
This booklet will acquaint you with Temple Emanuel and all that we have to
offer. We look forward to meeting you and answering any questions. Please contact our Temple
at (336) 722-6640 or by e-mail, frontdesk@templemanuel.com, to ask
to have a membership representative contact you. Also, feel free to review our
community and activities through our website: www.templemanuel.com.
Thank you for your interest in Temple Emanuel. We look forward to welcoming
you to our family.
Shalom,
The Membership Committee
A House of Worship, Study and Gathering
Shalom Aleichem!
From Our Rabbi
Hillel used to say: “Do not separate yourself from the community.” (Pirkei Avot, 2:4).
Participating and remaining connected with the community has long been one of the
most important values held by Jews. During the days when Jews were not accepted by
their local communities, remaining tight in cloistered circles was vital to the survival
of every individual. The Jewish community was a safe place for local Jews and for
those who were traveling abroad.
Today, we live in a world where we are far more integrated into the surrounding community than ever before. The benefit of acceptance has led to greater individual success than was ever available to our ancestors. However, the accompanying distance,
which has grown between many Jews and their own community, is staggering. The
synagogue is the home for establishing community and has been labeled “the epicenter” of one’s Jewish life. A synagogue in Hebrew has three names: beit midrash, beit
t’fillah, beit k’nesset—a house of study, a house of worship, a house of gathering. At
Temple Emanuel, over the course of a year, we are all of these things in a myriad of
ways for the Jewish community of Winston-Salem. Come, let us walk together as we
seek to forge a meaningful and soulful expression of our Jewish lives.
Rabbi Mark Strauss-Cohn
A House of Worship, Study and Gathering
Your Second Jewish Home
From The Congregation’s President
It’s my pleasure to welcome you to Winston-Salem and Temple Emanuel and to tell you about our
wonderful congregation.
Our temple is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). Although we follow the principles of
Reform Judaism, our membership is comprised of people from a spectrum of the larger progressive Jewish
world. This diversity has allowed us to continuously grow to meet the needs of our membership base.
It has also served as a source of our strength as a community.
Dedicated in 2002, our sanctuary and social hall provide us with both a beautiful place to worship and a
functional location to hold community gatherings. Our original building was renovated to provide ample
space for meetings, classrooms, administrative offices, a library and a Sisterhood Judaica gift shop.
Rabbi Mark Strauss-Cohn has been our spiritual leader since 2001. His dynamic guidance, compassion and
dedication are a source of pride both within and outside our congregation. Our religious school, under the
direction of our educator, Rebecca Platt, provides education to our youth, and our own preschool caters to
children beginning with age one. We are very fortunate to have two such talented professionals as our role
models and leaders.
Our Temple also has an active Sisterhood and Brotherhood. Members of our temple are actively engaged
in local chapters of Hadassah and BBYO as well as the Winston-Salem United Jewish Appeal.
Our Temple provides a warm and welcoming environment and strives to be a ‘Second Jewish Home’
for everyone.
Shalom,
Richard Gottlieb, President
A House of Worship, Study and Gathering
Temple Emanuel of Winston-Salem
A Brief History
Though Jews have passed through North Carolina since colonial days, to the best of our
knowledge, not until the 1880s did Jews come to settle in Forsyth County. The first Jewish
resident here is believed to have been Joe Jacobs, a men’s clothier who moved to Winston
from Baltimore with his wife and two children. By the end of the decade, there were enough Jews in
town to hire a rabbi, Mordechai Shapiro. Winston-Salem’s first formal Jewish religious services were
held in 1890 in an orthodox style.
Sometime later, a group of people interested in a more liberal form of Judaism, most notably with
more English in the service, began laying the groundwork for a new congregation. Their original intent was to create a Conservative congregation but the reputation of one promising graduate from the
Reform movement’s rabbinical seminary in Cincinnati, the Hebrew Union College, had impressed
the local congregation. Rabbi Meyer Simon was hired in 1932 and Temple Emanuel was founded in
that very same year.
Worship was held in a remodeled storeroom downtown, over a paint store, for many years
until land was secured at 201 Oakwood Drive in 1949. The congregation raised funds, built
a modernist-style building that housed classrooms, offices and a sanctuary. The educational wing was
expanded in 1972 and eventually adjacent land was purchased and in 2002, Temple Emanuel dedicated a second building, which currently houses our Sanctuary and Social Hall. The congregation has
gradually grown over its 80 year history and currently boasts 250
families with approximately 150 children.
As the only synagogue in Winston-Salem, Temple Emanuel is at once a proud member of the
Reform Jewish movement but also has always been open to Jews of all backgrounds and works
diligently to make everyone feel comfortable in creating and being a part of a “second Jewish home”.
A House of Worship
A HOUSE OF WORSHIP
Our Worship Philosophy
Being the only synagogue in Winston-Salem, we have the pleasure and obligation to stretch to meet a
variety of needs. While our services are most certainly Reform, we worship from a Reconstructionist
siddur (prayerbook) on Friday evenings and a non-denominational siddur on Shabbat morning. Prayers
are often sung in Hebrew with interpretive and inspirational readings from leading thinkers of Jewish
life over the centuries, all read in English. Our High Holy Day worship includes a great range of music
that reflects the beauty and richness of Jewish creativity from the Renaissance to Modernity.
Participation is greatly valued in our congregation’s worship. From b’nei mitzvah students leading
Kiddush to High School students reading Torah, “Holy Rollers” who roll Torah on Simchat Torah to
Tot Shabbat sing-alongs on the first Friday of the month – all ages are welcome and encouraged to
come, sing, participate, learn, and engage with prayer. Exact service times are available from the Temple
office at (336) 722-6640 or on the Temple’s website: www.templemanuel.com.
Our Holy Days and Celebrations
Holy Days are special times when our congregants gather to enjoy the customs and heritage of the Jewish people. From Rosh Hashanah to Pesach to Hanukkah, our congregation observes our people’s festivals with meaningful reflection and celebration. We observe with both traditional ceremonies and innovative gatherings to help our entire membership find relevance and significance on these special days.
Feel free to review the “calendar” tab on our website (www.templemanuel.com) for upcoming events.
Our Music
Music is an integral part of our worship and community. Periodically, the Temple supports musical
performances and experiences that are participatory, fun and help elevate our spiritual lives. Temple
Emanuel supports both an adult and junior choir and the congregation is always encouraged to
participate in the music from our services and celebrations.
A House of Study: Educational Programs for All Ages
Our Preschool
Temple Emanuel’s highly acclaimed preschool is open to the entire Winston-Salem community. The
preschool is housed in our education/administrative building and is an integral part of the congregation.
It provides children from ages one through five with a quality early childhood experience within a Jewish environment. The preschool is committed to enriching children’s understanding of Jewish beliefs and
culture. The curriculum includes celebrations of Holidays and Shabbat, the teaching of Jewish values and Hebrew words and songs, as well as other activities.
For more information on the Temple Emanuel Preschool, visit the Temple Emanuel website, call the
preschool director at (336) 722-6640, or e-mail at preschool@templeemanual.com.
Our Religious School
Temple Emanuel’s Religious School provides our young people with an excellent foundation for becoming
informed Jewish adults. Our program incorporates music, art, community service projects and education
to provide enriching Jewish opportunities for our children.
The curriculum combines Judaic studies and Hebrew lessons for Pre-Kindergarten through 11th grade.
The goals of the school are: ~ to develop a strong and positive Jewish identity
~ to gain knowledge of Jewish facts, customs and the Hebrew language
~ to develop a sense of Jewish community and fellowship
~ to instill and nourish a sense of spirituality and a bond to Am Yisrael
Our Adult Education Programs
Adult Education programs are taught by the Rabbi, the Director of Education and other experts.
Courses range from Introduction to Judaism, the basics of Hebrew to Torah and Talmud study.
In addition to ongoing classes, the Adult Education and other committees organize several programs
a year on topics of interest to the community.
A House of Gathering: Life Cycle Events and Community
Becoming a Bar or Bat Mitzvah
Typically at the age of 13, the congregation’s young people commemorate becoming a son or daughter
of the commandment with a Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebration. The young congregants study Hebrew,
Jewish traditions and Torah in order to assist with the Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat service and to
assist in leading the service on Saturday morning. Congregants are always welcome at services when
there is a Bar or Bat Mitzvah celebration as this is an important part of Temple life for the entire
community. The students create a tzedakah cooperative with one another to fund local and Israeli
charities. Parents help prepare an oneg on Friday night and often a Kiddush lunch on Saturday morning
– all for the community as a whole. We also encourage adults wishing to become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah
to discuss options with our Rabbi.
Our Sisterhood
Temple Emanuel’s Sisterhood, an affiliate of the Women of Reform Judaism, is a group of women who
join together in friendship for programs that benefit the Temple and the community for social activities,
study and for the growth of the individual. The Sisterhood gift shop offers a variety of religious and
Israeli-made objects and gifts for purchase.
Our Brotherhood
Temple Emanuel’s Brotherhood provides a center for the men in our congregation to socialize and
participate in community service projects for both the Temple and our community-at-large. The
Brotherhood is designed for men of all ages and meets periodically for education, information and
leisure programs concerning Judaism, business, sports and other areas of interest.
Our Mavens
The Temple Emanuel Mavens is a special group of our congregants aged 55 and older who meet monthly
for a “Lunch and Learn” program. The Mavens also host social gatherings, education and field trip.
The Mavens have toured and visited the American Hebrew Academy, Old Salem, the North Carolina
Museum of Art, held book talks, and have guest speakers.
Additional Opportunities & Philosophies
Our Service Opportunities
We encourage all our members to participate in Temple activities and lead as they are willing and able.
Temple Emanuel’s Social Action Committee provides year-round opportunities for volunteering, community
service and activism. In addition, the Sisterhood, Brotherhood, youth and Maven groups participate in
service activities that help our Winston-Salem community and Jewish people in our area.
Our Regional, National and International Affiliations
The Temple supports participation in the Winston-Salem United Jewish Appeal and Hadassah which
support Jewish causes and needy individuals in our own community, Israel and worldwide. In addition,
our congregation serves as an information center for other international Jewish experiences including
travel to Israel, Jewish youth camps, continuing education, mission activities and more.
Our Blended Families and Conversion Philosophies
Temple Emanuel affirms the central beliefs of our Reform Judaism by embracing diversity while asserting
our common values. As stated by the URJ, “we believe that all human beings are created in the image of God,
and that we are God’s partners in improving the world. Tikkun olam — repairing the world — is a hallmark
of Reform Judaism as we strive to bring peace, freedom and justice to all people.”
We consider all Jews as “Jews-by-choice” but for those in our community who are not Jewish but would like
to convert, our Rabbi is ready to receive you and guide you along that path of study and spiritual growth.
Introduction to Judaism courses are open to all our members.
We embrace our interfaith families, encouraging them to participate in the life of our congregation.
We are proud to welcome all types of families to our congregation.
Our Other Lifestyle Events
As Temple Emanuel members, our education staff and Rabbi can assist your family with all
Jewish lifecycle events from birth to end-of-life.
HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER
How to Become a Member
Dues
Like most Reform congregations, Temple Emanuel of Winston-Salem is financed through membership
dues paid annually and through voluntary donations and community fundraisers.
You do not have to be a member of our Temple to worship with us, but if you do have the means, we ask
that you help us finance our building, employees and programming through your dues donation.
There are two important factors to note about synagogue dues:
(1) enable us to create a vibrant synagogue.
(2) they are negotiable through the finance committee if one is unable to afford the stated dues,
and such negotiation are kept private. We do not turn anyone away because of inability to pay.
Membership Application
Please contact a member of the Membership Committee or the Temple Office for a membership
application and additional new member information. Our Membership Committee members will be
happy to answer any questions you may have and provide additional membership benefit details.
We look forward to welcoming you as a new Temple Emanuel member!
Contact Information
Phone: (336) 722-6640
Concept and design by
The Bloom Agency.
Life event photography by Lilana
Hines of Lilana’s Photography.
Stained-glass window photography
by Lindsey Lobree
Email: frontdesk@templemanuel.com
Web: www.templemanuel.com