Temple Emanuel Sinai (Worcester, Massachusetts)

Temple Emanuel Sinai
Hebrew: עִמָנוּאֵל סִינַי
Temple Emanuel Sinai, in 2022
Religion
AffiliationReform Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusSynagogue
LeadershipRabbi Valerie Cohen
StatusActive
Location
Location661 Salisbury Street, Worcester, Massachusetts
CountryUnited States
Temple Emanuel Sinai (Worcester, Massachusetts) is located in Massachusetts
Temple Emanuel Sinai (Worcester, Massachusetts)
Location in Massachusetts
Geographic coordinates42°17′44″N 71°50′25″W / 42.295517°N 71.840358°W / 42.295517; -71.840358
Architecture
Architect(s)Charles R. Greco (1949)
TypeSynagogue
StyleColonial Revival (1949)
Date established2013 (merged Temple Emanuel Sinai)
  • 1921 (Temple Emanuel)
  • 1957 (Temple Sinai)
CompletedTemple Emanuel:
  • 1921 (Suburban Road)
  • 1923 (Elm Street[note a])
  • 1949 (May Street)
Temple Sinai:
Temple Emanuel Sinai:
Site area42 acres (17 ha)
Website
emanuelsinai.org

Temple Emanuel Sinai (Hebrew: עִמָנוּאֵל סִינַי, lit.'God is with us Sinai') is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue located at 661 Salisbury Street, Worcester, Massachusetts, in the United States.

A product of the 2013 integration of Worcester's two original Reform congregations (Temple Emanuel and Temple Sinai),[1] the synagogue traces its history from 1921 and is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism.

The synagogue is located adjacent to the Worcester Jewish Community Center, where Temple Sinai acquired property for its permanent home in 1962. Temple Emanuel's former synagogue building at 280 May Street was sold to the Worcester State University Foundation in 2013, with the terms of the sale allowed the congregation to use the building until June 2015.[2] Planning to determine a final siting for the synagogue concluded during the Fall of 2014, resulting in a plan to expand and renovate the Temple Sinai facility at 661 Salisbury Street (rather than share a campus with the Conservative-aligned Beth Israel congregation at their synagogue on Jamesbury Drive).[3]

Temple Emanuel Sinai's first rabbi, Matthew Berger, also served as the last rabbi of Temple Emanuel, who hired him in 2009.[4] In February 2014, Rabbi Valerie Cohen, spiritual leader since 2003 at Jackson, Mississippi's Beth Israel Congregation accepted an offer to replace Berger at the end of his contract in June 2014.[5] A near-unanimous vote in favor of ratifying Rabbi Cohen's contract was held during a special congregational meeting at the May Street campus on March 9, 2014.

  1. ^ Dresner, Mara (July 25, 2013). "Reform synagogues in Worcester 'integrate,' form new entity". MA Jewish Ledger. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  2. ^ O'Connell, Scott (June 25, 2015). "Worcester State completes purchase of former Temple Emanuel". Telegram & Gazette (Worcester).
  3. ^ Porter, Laura (June 13, 2018). "Hanukkat Habayit - Beth Israel to rededicate its newly renovated home". MA Jewish Ledger. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  4. ^ Kush, Bronislaus B (October 31, 2009). "New rabbi is installed at Temple Emanuel". Telegram & Gazette (Worcester).
  5. ^ Anonymous (February 24, 2014). "Rabbi Cohen leaving Jackson's Beth Israel, 'J.C.' leaving Jacobs Camp". Southern Jewish Life.