We welcome guests and visitors to join our informal and personal worship services and holiday celebrations, where we always include time for sharing news about our lives. We have returned to in-person services and celebrations, and it has been wonderful. On the other hand, we have found that Zoom actually suits some of us, so we are trying to also include Zoom options for many of our in-person services, celebrations, and events. Whether in-person or online, we strive for connection and warmth. We’d love to have you join us.
For Temple Emanu-El’s Music YouTube channel that includes songs we sing during services, click here: music.
Friday Evening Shabbat Services
Our evening services are generally led by Rabbi Drorah Setel with cantorial soloist Charlene Sommers and one or more accompanists including Rabbi Sandra Katz, Bob Dietch, and Dave Schwartz. Our fall and winter services start at 7pm; on the last Friday of the month, we generally have a combined Shabbat service and potluck dinner that begins at 6pm.
Fifth Friday Shabbat Dinners beginning 2025: Jan 31, May 30, Aug 29, and Oct 31
On Fifth Fridays, small groups of Temple members gather in different homes to share a meal, reflect on Shabbat, and enjoy each other’s company. Each host provides a main course, guests bring a dish to pass, and hosts will have a suggested program to help guide the evening and create a warm, welcoming atmosphere. For more information and to express your interest in being a guest (or a host!), contact Jo-Ann, our office administrator (emanuelrochester@gmail.com, 585-461-2000, ex 203).
Fri, Dec 27: Our Shabbat Service, Hanukkah Candle Lighting, and Potluck Dinner will be held at 6pm in the TechAge room at the JCC. (Enter the building through the main entrance across from the main parking lot). Our service will be led by Rabbi Drorah Setel accompanied by Charlene Sommers. Participants are asked to bring a dish to share along with an ingredient list to help those with dietary concerns. [No meat, poultry, or shellfish, please, and vegan and gluten-free options are always welcome.]
Fri, Jan 3: Our Shabbat Service will be held at 7pm in the Lipson Lounge at the JCC. (Enter the building through the main entrance across from the main parking lot). Our service will be led by Rabbi Drorah Setel accompanied by Charlene Sommers and Bob Dietch.
Fri, Jan 10: Our Shabbat Service will be held at 7pm in the Lipson Lounge at the JCC. (Enter the building through the main entrance across from the main parking lot). Our service will be led by Rabbi Drorah Setel accompanied by Charlene Sommers and Bob Dietch.
[Photo: Temple Emanu-El’s Torah ark with member Judy Greenstein. The ark was handcrafted by Julius Dorsey.]
Hanukkah 5785 – 2024
Hanukkah Candle Lighting Together: Dec 25, 26, 28, 30, 31, and Jan 1, 6:15 pm – 6:30 pm via Zoom
Join us each evening during Hanukkah (except for Friday, Dec 27 and Sunday, Dec 29) at 6:15pm for a short but sweet Zoom gathering to light our candles together, sing a song, and share stories – about 15 minutes each night. For our Hanukkah blessings and song sheet, click here. To login by phone, call 1-929-205-6099 and use meeting ID 890 4915 1147 and passcode 284134. To login via Zoom, click here.
Shabbat Service, Hanukkah Candle Lighting, and Potluck Dinner: Dec 27, 6pm at the JCC (Enter the building through the main entrance across from the main parking lot).
Our service will be led by Rabbi Drorah Setel accompanied by Charlene Sommers. Participants are asked to bring a dish to share along with an ingredient list to help those with dietary concerns. [No meat, poultry, or shellfish, please, and vegan and gluten-free options are always welcome.]
Hanukkah Party: Sun, Dec 29, 4 – 7pm in the Erdle Lounge at the JCC. (Enter the building through the doors under the portico that faces Edgewood Avenue.)
Join us for our annual Hanukkah party! Bring your menorahs and candles, and meet with us us for communal candle lighting, songs, and stories. Our intergenerational party will be family-friendly and designed for all ages.
Here’s what you need to know to join services that feature Zoom:
For most services and holiday celebrations (except our High Holiday services and Hanukkah candle lighting), when we are on Zoom, you can join by phone by calling 1-929-205-6099 and using meeting ID 859 5479 0326, or by clicking on the Zoom link that follows.
We use the Reform Movement’s Mishkan T’filah prayer book for our Shabbat services. Temple Emanu-El members may check out a copy of the prayer book from our office (585-461-2000, ext 203 or emanuelrochester@gmail.com). Kindle and print versions of the prayer book can be purchased from the CCAR Press website – there are several options, eg Shabbat only, Shabbat + Weekdays and Festivals, transliterations included, no transliterations, etc.
We also sometimes use supplemental service handouts: Supplement1, Supplement2, Supplement3, Supplement4, Supplement5, Supplement6, Supplement7, and Supplement8. (For convenience, you may want to print these out and put them in order in a binder.) The service descriptions, above, will indicate if we’ll be using supplemental handouts.
[Photo: Temple Emanu-El’s reading desk with member Gary Horwitz, who designed and handcrafted it. Photo by member Carl Wetzstein.]