Temple Emanuel
About Us
Welcome to Temple Emanuel, so glad you stopped by! A warm, participatory Reform community serving greater New Haven since 1962.
Welcome to Temple Emanuel
Temple Emanuel is a vibrant Reform synagogue that is warm and welcoming. We pride ourselves on being a participatory, diverse, non-judgmental, and intellectually stimulating congregation, serving the greater New Haven Jewish community.
It is best to experience Temple Emanuel for yourself: join us for Friday evening services or any of our events. We hope to meet you in person soon!
Get to know us
Explore Temple Emanuel
Our People
Our Rabbi, staff, musicians and the volunteer leaders of our board, plus the Rabbi’s and President’s columns.
Our History
From a living room in 1962 to a barn turned sanctuary, plus our 50th and 60th anniversaries.
Contact Us
Find us at 150 Derby Avenue in Orange, call the office or send us a message.
Who we are
A participatory, diverse, non-judgmental and intellectually vibrant congregation
Participatory
Services “in the round” with movable chairs, a congregation that sings, and members who lead services, chant Torah and give the D’var Torah.
Diverse
Founded in diversity and individualism. Members from every background, Reform to more traditional, find a home here.
Non-judgmental
Some of our long-time members call us “B’nai Warm.” New faces are greeted, welcomed and quickly feel like friends.
Intellectually vibrant
Scholar-in-Residence weekends, adult B’nai Mitzvah classes, interfaith learning and lively debate.
Tikkun Olam
Our concern for others extends far beyond our own walls. We collect food for local pantries, staff a New Haven soup kitchen every third Sunday, and our Religious School children run Tzedakah projects all year.
Our story
Growing together since 1962
1962
Lois and Paul Levine gather a group of Reform Jews in their home. They call themselves the New Haven Jewish Association.
1977
Rabbi Gerald Brieger begins a 32-year “marriage” with the congregation, bringing song, Hebrew and strong lay leadership.
1991
Our new sanctuary is completed. The old cattle shed, “the barn”, had been our home, cleaned and remodeled by members.
2009
Rabbi Michael Farbman becomes the rabbi of Temple Emanuel.
2012
We celebrate 50 years with members’ stories, a video and a history booklet.
Today
Still “never inside the box”: the same spirit, warmth, diversity and lively debate.
Our people
Meet our Rabbi and leaders
Rabbi Michael Farbman
Rabbi
Lindsey Sussman
President
Olga Markus
Religious School Director
Susan Pinsky Bleeks
Cantorial Soloist
Our cemetery
Temple Emanuel’s Cemetery
Our cemetery is on Ladas Place in Shelton, just off Route 110, high above the Housatonic River behind a small, quiet neighborhood. Because it is our own section, our more liberal interment rules allow families of mixed faiths to be laid to rest together.
There are more than 200 plots, and many are still available to Temple members and their families. A plot is currently $1,500, including perpetual care. For details and the rules, call the Temple office at (203) 397-3000 or email Anne Eisner at cemetery@tegnh.org.
Directions: take Route 15 (Merritt Parkway) or Route 8 to Route 110, then Hawthorne or Wright Street (river side). Ladas is the second street; the cemetery is across from #15 Ladas Place. Open in Google Maps
Come visit us
Temple Emanuel of Greater New Haven
150 Derby Avenue, Orange, CT 06477
tel (203) 397-3000
Join us for Friday evening services. Times and events are on the calendar.