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June 2024 by Norma Barajas
Beautiful organization
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April 2024 by Rose Chambers
Nice people, and I felt warmth and love.
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April 2024 by Deirdre Bramberg
Hamentaschen yummy
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January 2024 by Ehud Chaim
More of a cult for the State of Israel than a religious institution. They should lose whatever tax exemptions they have since they are more political than anything else. I tried a few services and they're straightforward and simple, but this temple seems to be more devoted to promoting Israel's interests than principles of Judaism. It seems they aren't educated enough to separate out Am Israel, Eretz Israel, and Medinat Israel.I should have known something was wrong when the first thing you see when you walk in is a giant poster of the Israeli declaration of independence. You see this shrine to a foreign government before you even see anything dedicated to actual Judaism. It's a shame to see this place turned into a cult.
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December 2023 by A J
Terrible experience. The rabbi characterized Bedouins as women-beating homophobes and that they were basically being gently brought into "modernity" by benevolent Israelis. Then spent an hour saying she supported Palestine but then dehumanied them over and over. Most racist temple I've been to in a long time. I'm so glad I didn't bring my mother because she would have made a scene.
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December 2023 by Barrett Holman Leak
Overall the congregation is warm, supportive and friendly. I think visitors get a good greeting and are welcomed well. There is good Jewish education from tots to senior adults and Rabbi Benj Fried is flexible and creative that I have experienced thus far, in terms of encouraging congregants to take leadership with different topics and ideas. His mind is sharp. He is very much a scholar and I can see him teaching at university one day.If you want to simply attend service you can. If you want to be involved and engaged you can. There is a lot of lifecycle support. They do an excellent job of supporting people when someone dies. From the moment of death through shiva and the entire year following, there is support in a number of ways. There are multiple groups using the site. The WRJ women's group is active - and even better now that there is weekly mahjong!Jewish holidays are well observed and there is ample space and time to learn the prayers and songs. Hebrew is taught. Interfaith couples are embraced and those who find that this is who they REALLY are, there is a conversion process that involves a long course and engagement. The Purim carnival, Artisan Fair, Sukkot, and high holy days observances - can I give a 10-star? Things are well organized, meaningful, educational, spiritual, welcoming.Rabbi Devorah Marcus, the senior rabbi, is very human and humane, warm, intelligent, good at pastoral care, a connector of people and very supportive of the LGBTQ+ community. The congregation is too. Rabbi Marcus has a lot to do! She could use another half of herself!Diversity, equity and inclusion is developing within the congregation. If you are a Jew of Color then you know Ashkenazi Jewish synagogues can be a harsh and unwelcoming place full of microaggressions where people tell you that you are not experiencing what you ARE experiencing. Ideally Black Jews and other Jews of Color are centered throughout a Jewish congregation and it is coming into full flower in TEESD. There was recently, for the first time, Saturday afternoon Kwanzaa shabbat that was attended by a few but enthusiastically received. Rabbi Benj Fried brilliantly tied together the cultural observance of Kwanzaa and the religious observance of Hanukkah with the Torah. When Kwanzaa shabbat moves into Friday night family shabbat with a packed social hall eating dinner together as part of it, that will reflect a movement away from the fringe to centering of Black/Jewish. The congregation participated in Juneteenth in 2023 in a very centering move. The congregation eagerly got behind that educational and social justice work. There are interfaith events for MLK Jr Day and a schedule of relevant films like "Shared Legacies". There is also a good sense of humor and Jewish values incorporated in the community as reflected through, for one example, conversation and insight about films like the Mel Brooks/Richard Pryor comedy "Blazing Saddles" and its use of satirical comedy to address and call out racism. The rabbi emeritus and his wife are beautiful souls who have reflected and been living examples of justice, peace and love, serving through civil rights action, and preaching and teaching about not only that but antisemitism and discrimination against LGBTQ+.Saturday morning Torah study is where you want to be if you want to delve deep into Torah. We often barely make it through two verses in an hour. But a good bagel with schmear and lox and some coffee helps energize your learning abilities.Board members are approachable and work hard to keep the congregation thriving.The admin to the senior rabbi reminds me of my horrible mean 4th grade math teacher, like something you see in a comedy movie. It won't change and could be offensive but it is moreso humorous. However the receptionist/front office person is cheerful, always friendly and helpful. The remainder of the staff are also professional, friendly people.Did I mention there often food and a lot of it? It lends to the warmth and the tradition.Be ready to go through security!
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November 2023 by Helaine Hanson
Feel extremely safe. Guard at the entrance. These days you can never be too careful.
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November 2023 by Alan N.
This reform Jewish Community Temple Emanuel is welcoming and has a strong sense of community. We invite new members with open arms. Family's with children may avail themselves of our Sunday School as well as preparation for Bar and Bat Mitzvah's.We look forward to meeting you and your family. We are located on S. South Street in Gastonia. We are the oldest continually operating Reform Synagogue (1913) in Gastonia, NC.
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October 2023 by Cecile Fleetwood
I love this place! Feels like my 2nd home. Been a member for over 20 years. I have made many friends here! The Rabbi's are wonderful!
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October 2023 by Janice Levitt
Very comforting to be there with othersConcerned for Israel .Warm & Welcoming.
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September 2023 by Caleb White
Witnessed the most disturbing Yom Kippur service I've ever had at this temple.I'm new to the city and decide to check out this temple for Yom Kippur services. After paying $180 for a ticket, I went to the morning service where the rabbi chose to use the holiest day of the year to discuss drag queens for his hour sermon.In his sermon he:- vitriolized states that don't allow children (who still believe in Santa Claus) to permanently mutilate their bodies- compared dressing up the torah to drag- showed multiple drag queens performingSafe to say, it was the most bizarre service I have ever been to.I completely agree with free speech and support his right to share this message. I disagree, however, with using the holiest of days to discuss this very controversial topic. There was no talk about self reflection and being a better person, it was all to discuss clearly his inward insecurities. For the first time, I had to leave a sermon early because of how grotesque it was.I'm paying it forward because I wish I had read a review like this that prepped me for this temple, and prevented me from wasting $180 and my valuable time on Yom Kippur.
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April 2023 by Sheryl K.
Wonderful, welcoming, haimish congregation!
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December 2022 by Morning Owl Fine Art Photography San Diego CA
I recently photographed a Bar Mitzvah here and was met with such kindness, compassion, and respect by service members, employees, and especially Rabbis. They were able to recommend portraits with the family in the Synagogue prior to service to ensure time and even had ideas with posing or positioning that they know work well. I am very honored and feel blessed to have also watched and enjoyed the entire service as well.
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December 2020 by Nick Silverstein
A beautiful, loving, accepting place. Amazing Rabbi's, amazing atmosphere, and amazing congregation!
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December 2020 by Connie Perez
Very nice person helped us out on the bank food thank you