Grateful to be in this Community

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By: Gina Gonsalves Gabai

I have had the pleasure of initially joining the temple nine years ago. It is a remarkable community led by an incredible staff, in particular Rabbi Franklin and Rabbi Babchuck.

As a Jew by choice looking to marry an orthodox Israeli, I needed a fit for both of us. I began my search having many encounters with various synagogues- some pleasant and some not so much. It was important to incorporate the strong religious and cultural values that my husband had grown up with, while also having the ability for myself to grasp what Judaism was really about. I feel that Temple Emanu-El accomplishes this.
In today’s world we all know what a struggle it is to keep priorities into perspective. We all need a constant, something that grounds us, a place to bring us “home”.

My first meeting with Rabbi Franklin was nothing short of phenomenal. He was so welcoming, kind, gentle, intelligent, and trusting. I felt like we had found our place; our home.

Recently I had the pleasure of meeting with Rabbi Babchuck to get more involved with the temple. He, too, is such an amazing, caring, clever, and sharp-witted individual. He has extraordinary energy and is such a compliment to both Rabbi Franklin and our community. I am truly grateful to have these two exceptional people guiding us. To me, they represent what leaders and faces of a religious communities should stand for. The community as a whole is something I am also grateful for and am proud to be a part of.

You Can Go Home

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by Susan Landau.

I’ve heard it said that you can’t go home again- everyone from Thomas Wolfe to Bon Jovi has contemplated that reality.  We think we can’t go home because we change, while home remains the same.  Old familiar places shine a spotlight on all the ways in which we ourselves are now different.

But I have found that when it comes to Temple Emanu-El, I can go home.  I grew up at Emanu-El, often spending multiple days a week in the building that was my home away from home.  And now that I’ve been away for college and rabbinical school, one might imagine that it would be hard to return.  But Emanu-El has grown alongside me.

When I came back to the Meeting House this past Rosh Hashanah, I was comforted by everything that was exactly as it’s always been.  Familiar melodies, warm hugs from the people who have known me my entire life, those musty purple folding chairs, the over-air-conditioned space urging congregants to put sweaters over their holiday best.  But there were new things as well- beautiful white covers for the Torah scrolls, a new machzor that is full of interesting tidbits, and a beautiful new voice leading us in song.

In these past few years Emanu-El has been finding a balance between old and new, and so have I.

I am the same Susan Landau who spent countless hours singing and dancing on that Meeting House stage.  I am the same Susan Landau who used to rush up to lead Adon Olam at the end of services in the Main Sanctuary.  The same Susan Landau who used to whisper to her sister in the pews (and sometimes, still does).

But of course, I have also changed.  I knew returning to Temple Emanu-El in a leadership role would be different, and I was not sure how it would feel.  Is everyone ready to see that I’ve grown up?

Thank you, Temple Emanu-El, for letting me come home.  We have all grown, and we have all stayed the same.  I am an erev rav, about to be ordained, and you all watched me grow into the person I am today.  I am so grateful that one of the constant homes in my life will always be there for me, no matter where I am.  That is the best that Providence has to offer.

2014 in review

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The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here's an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 10,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 4 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Blessed to Find this Kehillah

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By: Jamie Faith Woods

My family recently joined Temple Emanuel in Providence, RI, which was a decision largely driven by my 8 and 10 year old daughters.  I few months ago I experienced my first Soulful Shabbat service.  I was profoundly moved by the whole program.  The last time I felt so moved during a t’fillah (prayer) experience was at a renewal shul in Berkeley, CA.  A decade ago I gave up on ever feeling a sense of belonging or a sense of spirituality in a temple. I am so lucky because finding your group feels like a blessing!  I’m relieved to know that I, myself, might get something out of this membership as well!  I look forward to being a part of this special kehillah (community).

“Forever a Temple-Emanu-El Kid”

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By: Abby Kaye-Phillips

I can clearly remember the moment when I realized that Uncle Seymour was not actually my uncle. This came as a shock to me and every other kid growing up in the 90’s and early 00’s who knew that a Shabbat afternoon wasn’t complete until Seymour Krieger gave you a handful of Sunkist fruit gems. Growing up as a true “temple kid” meant that every Shabbat, every holiday, and countless secular days in between were spent growing up within the context of a vibrant and ever growing shul that is a true gem of the Providence Jewish community. When I look back on any period of my life, I can remember the traditions that seemed so routine at the time, but are now memories of events and practices that not only shaped who I am as a Jewish adult, but also a human being. I remember the Saturday mornings in Jr. Cong, rushing to the Fishbein Chapel in the basement in order to beat the rush and get the best part to lead in the service. Not getting what you wanted was okay though, because by wearing red shoes, or a black bow, or having a favorite color, you were bound to be included in the masses invited up by characteristic to lead Ein Keloheinu or Adon Olam (which was always to tune of “Yankee Doodle” or “Rock Around the Clock”). I remember the excitement for my friends as they had their first torah readings, and the terror and adrenaline rush the first time I prepared for my own. I remember looking up to the teenage leaders as role models, and eventually becoming one myself. After the service we’d line up to receive our point cards, an extremely important piece of paper that tracked our weekly attendance and would decide our fate come Prize Day of whether we got a stuffed animal or plastic tchotchke at the end of the year. And of course, no Saturday morning episode was complete without those delicious green and pink cookies with the chocolate sprinkles, that along with the challah at the Jr. Cong Kiddush, were a great appetizer to the feast waiting upstairs. After lunch we would look on in awe as the “Jew Crew” of teenagers benched with such ruach that we would try to emulate later when we began to lead the Birkat Hamazon sessions ourselves. I remember religious school Mincha on Tuesdays, and always wanting to be the one to tell Cantor Mayer a special fact about the day that would warrant one of his famous high fives. Holidays were truly special; Wendy’s family service on Rosh Hashana, marching on stage with glowsticks (and sneaking extras to bring home) during Neilah to end Yom Kippur, meals in the Sukkah and of course, candy apples on Simchat Torah after Hakafot that left you with no voice and sore feet from dancing. Purim spiels were the highlight of the spring and the Rabbi’s song was always the best. Youth Theatre productions on the Meeting House stage helped build confidence, foster creativity and create lasting friendships. Even today, when I haven’t been to Saturday morning services in years, and many new families have come and gone, every time I walk through the doors of the temple it feels like coming home. I’m so grateful to the place that raised me with the support, love and sense of belonging that I hope will be available for a family of my own someday. Perhaps it will even be at Emanu-El.