Temple Emanuel, an intimate, enthusiastic and diverse Conservative , is looking for a new Senior Rabbi to join our family. Founded in 1949, our congregation (127 units) is a blend of tradition and innovation; we are looking for a leader who will model Conservative Jewish practices in his/her lifestyle, teaching, worship services, and community building. Located just a few blocks from the Atlantic Ocean, Temple Emanuel is a ruach-filled and financially stable synagogue.

For far more information than you ever wanted, read on. To contact us, email Lawrence Weinstein ([email protected]), Rabbinic Search co-chair.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Rabbinic Search Questionnaire ...... Section 1: General Information ...... 2 Key Contacts for Search Process ...... 2 Section 2: Your New Rabbi ...... 2 Section 3: Your Jewish and General Community ...... 3 A. Jewish Community ...... 3 B. General Community ...... 4 Section 4: Your Congregation ...... 6 A. Your Story, Your Values, Your Mission ...... 6 B. Your Members ...... 9 D. Your Space ...... 9 F. Religious and Spiritual Life ...... 11 G. Synagogue Life, Learning, Outreach, and Programming ...... 14

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SECTION 1: GENERAL INFORMATION Temple Emanuel 424 25th St Virginia Beach, VA 23451 757 428 2591 tevb.org Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/templeemanuelvb/

Jason Lovitz, President, [email protected] Lawrence Weinstein, Search co-chair, [email protected] Stephanie Calliott, Search co-chair, [email protected]

SECTION 2: YOUR NEW RABBI In this section, we will ask for information that will help rabbis determine their potential fit as your rabbi. Are you searching for a Senior Rabbi, Associate Rabbi, or an Interim Rabbi? Senior Rabbi

Why are you currently searching for a new rabbi? After eight years, our rabbi is moving out of the area to help with family responsibilities.

What do you see as the top priorities for your new rabbi? Form strong relationships with existing members and deepen their involvement in our community. Partner with the board in finding ways of creative outreach. Help congregants at all levels of observance feel comfortable at and participate in services.

What role do you want the rabbi to play in leading the congregation? Teacher: Lead thought-provoking study sessions for adults; provide direction and be actively involved in our religious school; connect with children. Worship Leader: Help congregants connect with G-d through meaningful kavvanot, engaging sermons, and musically uplifting services. Community Builder: build relationships with and among current and prospective members in informal settings. Re-engage long time members and encourage newer ones.

What is the rabbi’s role at board meetings and in synagogue leadership? The rabbi is an ex officio member of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors and is consulted on all major synagogue decisions. Our lay-leadership team works collaboratively with the rabbi in envisioning, planning and executing decisions related to the Temple’s future. Many smaller decisions are made quickly by the rabbi and President without involving meetings and delays.

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What do you want your next rabbi to change? Expand the range of adult education programs; strengthen our relationships with the local Jewish Community.

What do you want your next rabbi to preserve? Interactive and participatory spiritual services; our strong sense of community; strong educational programs for youth; encouraging children to lead services; general informality (beach feel).

Based on who you are as a congregation and your goals for the future, what are some qualities, skills, and areas of expertise that you think your new rabbi would have or develop? Our new Rabbi sees creativity as a positive attribute and looks beyond “the way we’ve always done it”; is adaptable and flexible; connects well with children; is comfortable with technology; has a sense of humor; sings with ruach.

Please describe features or customs of your congregation that rabbis might find unique or particularly attractive. Creativity and willingness to try new ideas; occasional Kabbalat services on the beach; very participatory services (with congregants or B’nei Mitzvah students helping lead); rabbi encouraged to be involved in synagogue governance.

SECTION 3: YOUR JEWISH AND GENERAL COMMUNITY

A. JEWISH COMMUNITY Please describe your Jewish community (not just your synagogue), including population and key institutions. It’s helpful to add relevant websites so that rabbis can learn more. Are there Jewish day schools in your community? Yes.

Please describe them and note any relationship that your synagogue has with them. Strelitz International Academy is a coed Jewish Day School (K-5) https://strelitzinternationalacademy.org/

Toras Chaim is a coed Jewish Day School (pre-school-8th grade) https://www.toraschaim.net/

Bina High School is a school (9-12th grade) for girls. http://www.binahighschool.com/

Yeshivas Aish Kodesh Talmudic Academy is a boys high school (9-12th grade). http://yeshivasaishkodesh.com/

How many students from your synagogue attend those schools? Two.

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Are there other nearby? Please describe them and note any relationship your synagogue has with them. Our area consists of five cities, Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Suffolk. Kehillat Bet Hamidrash, a Conservative, lay-led shul with about 50 members and no religious school, is the only other Conservative congregation in Virginia Beach. Congregation Beth Chaverim, a lay-led Reform congregation, lost its building recently and is using our facilities for worship. A few of their students attend our religious school.

There are two Conservative shuls in the adjacent city of Norfolk: Temple with approximately 250 members (15 miles away), and Temple Beth El with approximately 500 members (17 miles away). Norfolk also has a Reform, an Orthodox and a Chabad congregation. Because of their proximity, and the intimacy of our local Jewish community, Temple Emanuel has an excellent relationship with all of the Temples in our area. We do programs and events together with all the Temples. Many families belong to multiple Temples.

Temple Emanuel and all area Congregations contribute funds to the Tidewater Jewish Foundation and to the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater. These donations help to bring in many guest speakers and our local Jewish book fair.

There is also a Jewish Community Center in Virginia Beach, serving the entire area. http://www.simonfamilyjcc.org/

Is there a mikveh in the community? The community has worked together to raise money and build a second upgraded mikveh. Located in Norfolk (less than 30 minutes from Temple Emanuel), the soon-to-be-completed mikvah is a comfortable and welcoming facility open to all Jews. It is conveniently located on the campus of B’nei Israel Synagogue. The mikvah is under the supervision of Rabbi Haber. http://bnaiisrael.org/mikvah/

Is there an in the community that includes your synagogue? No

B. GENERAL COMMUNITY Please describe your general community, including population, lifestyle, weather, economy, and relationships with local news, government, and law enforcement. It’s helpful to add relevant websites so that rabbis can learn more about what it’s like to live in your city.

Welcome to Virginia Beach, where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean! We are the largest city in Virginia with about 450,000 people, an area of over 400 square miles, over 20 miles of beaches, and an average temperature of 69 degrees (summer average 80o, winter average 41o). Together with Norfolk and other neighboring communities, the Hampton Roads area, population 1 million, hosts the world’s largest naval base and many other military installations. We are three hours from the nation’s capitol or the Blue Ridge Mountains, and only one hour from Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown.

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We have excellent relationships with local government and law enforcement and have had very positive coverage in local news media. https://www.pilotonline.com/life/faith/vp-nw-largest-lego-menorah-20191221- wk43wyr7gva45ntd3vlj5neeui-story.html https://www.pilotonline.com/life/faith/article_55172252-e699-11e8-bb75-234816217e7b.html

The region offers a wide range of museums, theaters, music, water sports, outdoor activities, festivals, golf courses, biking paths, higher education, and other wonderful activities. From the list below, you can see there is something for everyone!

2019 study finds VA Beach best big city to live in: https://wallethub.com/edu/best-worst-large- cities-to-live-in/14358

City of Virginia Beach: https://www.vbgov.com/ Chamber of Commerce: https://www.hrchamber.com/page/virginia-beach/ Virginia Beach Visitors Guide: https://virginiabeach.guide/ Beach Street USA: https://liveonatlantic.com/ Virginia Beach Recreation Centers: https://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/parks- recreation/recreation-centers “Things to Do”: https://www.vabeach.com/virginia-beach-things-to-do/

Higher Education Old Dominion University: https://www.odu.edu/ Virginia Wesleyan University: https://www.vwu.edu/ Norfolk State University http://www.nsu.edu/ Tidewater Community College https://www.tcc.edu/ Christopher Newport University https://cnu.edu/ College of William & Mary https://www.wm.edu/

Museums and Activities Chrysler Museum of Art https://chrysler.org/ Museum of Contemporary Art https://virginiamoca.org/ Barry Art Museum https://barryartmuseum.odu.edu/ Hermitage Museum http://thehermitagemuseum.org/ Virginia Air and Space Center https://vasc.org/ Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center https://www.virginiaaquarium.com/ Nauticus Maritime Museum https://nauticus.org/ Norfolk Botanical Garden https://norfolkbotanicalgarden.org/ Virginia Zoological Park https://virginiazoo.org/ Elizabeth River Trail https://www.downtownnorfolk.org/go/elizabeth-river-trail

Historical Colonial Williamsburg https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/ Jamestown Settlement https://www.visitwilliamsburg.com/topic/jamestown Yorktown Battlefield https://www.historyisfun.org/visit/

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Theater and Musical Companies Virginia Symphony https://virginiasymphony.org/ Virginia Opera https://vaopera.org/ Virginia Stage Company https://www.vastage.org/ Virginia Arts Festival https://www.vafest.org/

Theaters and Concert Halls Sandler Center for the Performing Arts https://www.sandlercenter.org/ Zeiders American Dream Theater https://thez.org/ Seven Venues https://www.sevenvenues.com/ Veteran United Amphitheater https://www.livenation.com/venue/KovZpZAEAIdA/veterans- united-home-loans-amphitheater-at-virginia-beach-events

Within Driving Distance Outer Banks, NC https://www.outerbanks.org/ Washington, DC https://washington.org/ Richmond, VA (state capital) https://www.visitrichmondva.com/ Wintergreen Ski Resort https://www.wintergreenresort.com/ “Things to Do in Virginia” https://www.virginia.org/ThingsToDo Blue Ridge Mountains (no specific website for the region)

SECTION 4: YOUR CONGREGATION In this section, we’ll ask for information about your synagogue, including your story as a congregation, information about the diversity of your members, your physical space and financial resources, your staff members, and your religious and spiritual life.

A. YOUR STORY, YOUR VALUES, YOUR MISSION Who are you as a congregation? Please tell your story here. Temple Emanuel is an innovative, financially stable synagogue in an oceanfront community located in Virginia Beach: intimate, accepting, and open to all. Dating back to its establishment in 1949, Temple Emanuel has continually embraced its diversity and the many ways in which members express their Jewishness and spirituality. While there are tight bonds with the overall Jewish community, Temple Emanuel is self-sufficient with strong lay leadership, engaged volunteers, a high performing religious school, and a supportive, caring congregation.

Comments from our members are available at www.tevb.org/testimonials

What are the core values and principles of your congregation? If you have mission/values/vision statements, please include or link to them here.

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We embrace Jewish Diversity in theory and in practice. We have many interracial and interfaith families in our congregation and on our Board of Directors, and we have LGBTQ representation on both the Board of Directors and the Search Committee. Keshet’s middle school LGBTQ awareness curriculum is used for our religious school teens. We practice Olam by caring for each other through our G’mach committee, providing worship space to a Reform congregation, holding an annual blood drive, raising money for our local Beach Health Clinic, providing food for the needy via our Food Pantry, and feeding the homeless at the Judeo-Christian Outreach Center. We build bridges with area churches and mosques through interfaith programs. How is your synagogue different from other congregations in your city or region? We are one of four conservative synagogues in Hampton Roads, including two larger Norfolk synagogues and small lay-led synagogue in Virginia Beach. We are accepting, intimate, open to change, lay-involved, and informal. We live by our logo of embracing diversity.

Please share a recent example of your synagogue demonstrating one of its strengths. After the Pittsburgh tragedy, we came together with our neighbors for an interfaith rally against hate in all its forms, including members of minority and marginalized groups. It was incredible to experience the love in our community, with hundreds of people coming to our temple to demonstrate their compassion. The service, led by our rabbi, area ministers, and a local imam, was extremely powerful. Please share a recent example of your synagogue dealing with one of its challenges. When Covid-19 shut almost everything down, along with every other synagogue, we found ourselves in an unprecedented predicament. Like every other synagogue, we moved services on- line and reached out to help and reassure our congregants. However, we faced a less common challenge three years ago: A sudden, and very unexpected, major flood from a burst pipe in January 2018. Immediately, one phone call brought a large number of congregants to help control the water accumulating on the carpeted floor, and to carry our sacred objects, including our Scrolls, to safety. The next day meant dealing with our insurance company, removing all furnishings from the room, and figuring out where to hold services in the coming weeks and months while the room was dried out and restored. Over the next few months more members worked to turn this challenge into an opportunity by modernizing the seating and decor, and by uncovering a pair of long-forgotten stained-glass windows.

How has your congregation changed over the last few years? We have always prided ourselves on our intimacy and inclusiveness. Over the last few years even more congregants have become involved, strengthening our community. For example, a

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large number of members volunteered to help organize our year-long 70th anniversary celebrations. When our long-time caterer retired, we chose to come together to prepare meals for each other (for the needy and for lunches), rather than hiring another caterer. And our members rallied to support each other during the pandemic, checking up on each other, delivering meals, and shopping for the vulnerable. We have grown stronger as a community by virtue of these opportunities to work together and support each other.

How do you think your congregation will change over the next few years? We expect to continue expanding our virtual services and activities, even after we can resume in- person meetings.

How would you like it to change? We would like to better engage the existing members, who will in turn help grow the membership.

Are there pieces of your congregation you do not want to change? Please explain. We want to maintain our ruach, inclusion of congregants in services, children participating in and leading services, and general informality (beach feel).

How does your congregation manage change? We are very open to trying new ideas, but we recognize that not all of them will work out. When our current rabbi arrived in 2013, we encouraged him to try many of his new ideas for our religious services. Some of these worked well and are still in use. These included new melodies, a more contemporary Friday night service (including instrumental music), occasional Friday night services on the beach, and a monthly Friday Light service with dinner and a program. Some of these did not work and were modified or discarded. We believe in successful failures, giving ourselves the opportunity to try new things.

How does your congregation process conflict? Our synagogue works to air and resolve disagreements before they become conflicts. This was profoundly evidenced in our recent August Board meeting where we had a lengthy discussion regarding whether to allow in-person attendance at virtual services for Shabbat and the High Holidays. Board members expressed strong feelings on both sides of the issue. The discussion was calm and professional, with each member speaking his or her mind - no short tempers, no raised voices. After the vote (in favor of only virtual services), we ended the meeting as one united body.

Who is involved in the change process? The Rabbi, the Executive Committee, the full Board, with feedback from the Congregation (where appropriate).

What is the process by which decisions are usually made? Who are the key players? Issues are brought to the Executive Committee and then presented to the Board with a recommendation. Key players: The Rabbi, the Executive Committee, the Board of Directors, with feedback from the Congregation (where appropriate).

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The Rabbi is included in all major decisions. The Rabbi is an ex officio member of the Executive Committee and of the Board of Directors.

B. YOUR MEMBERS We have 127 member “units” (e.g., singles, families, etc)

How are relationships built and maintained in your congregation? Welcoming strangers and greeting friends is a hallmark of our congregation. We celebrate holidays and festivals collectively with Kiddush meals after Shabbat Services, Burgers and Brews in the Sukkah, and Latkes and Lights during Chanukah. We host social activities such as Trivia Night and our 70th Anniversary festivities, and personal growth and wellness events such as yoga. We recognize individual milestones (such as birthdays, anniversaries, births, B’nei Mitzvot) in our newsletter and from the Bimah. Our all- volunteer Kitchen Krew, which replaced our recently-retired in-house caterer, makes purchasing, preparing, and delivering meals fun as well as delicious (these are meals for regular services and occasions as well as for members during times of crisis). Our G’Mach Committee comforts and cares for members in need.

How are new members welcomed and integrated into your congregation? We view building relationships with every prospective member as a sacred process. Every contact with a potential new member is logged, whether it happened at a community event, a Temple event or via direct inquiry. In each case, we gather as much information about the potential member as possible, to provide background for conversation, as well as to determine who is best suited to contact that person: In some cases it might be the rabbi, in others, a Board member of a similar demographic or with similar interests.

The rabbi will always invite the potential member out for coffee, or in for Shabbat dinner, as appropriate. We provide the rabbi with a stipend to cover the important work of building relationships with prospective and current members. Potential members are offered free High Holiday tickets and those with children are invited to try out the Religious School. Visitors to our worship services are met by a dedicated greeter, offered honors, and introduced to kindred spirits over our Kiddush lunch.

D. YOUR SPACE Please describe your synagogue space, including where you meet for services and other activities (feel free to include photos). Temple Emanuel consists of two buildings nestled in the Old Beach residential neighborhood of Virginia Beach, just three short blocks from the ocean front and resort area and within walking distance of many restaurants, grocery stores, and entertainment venues.

Our Administration/Education Building houses the Rabbi’s Study, the Temple Office, a Food Pantry for the needy, a library, a prop room with a “green room” for video productions

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(http://www.tevb.org/videos-tevb/), and Religious School classrooms. In addition, there is an inviting lobby area with comfortable seating and a beverage nook.

Across the street our main building holds our Sanctuary and our Social Hall. The sanctuary (pictured below), which seats approximately 200, was recently redecorated. We now enjoy a warm setting with comfortable chairs that may be configured in a variety of ways. We often sit on three sides allowing us to feel, figuratively, embraced by the community during services. Our Sanctuary is bordered on two sides by beautiful floor to ceiling stained-glass windows. On either side of the rear of the sanctuary are our Memorial Boards, with additional stained-glass windows on the rear wall.

At the other end of this building is our Social Hall (pictured below), which doubles as a Sanctuary when we need a larger space. The Social Hall has a brand-new professional audio- visual system with three cameras, two monitors, and an automatic video-follows-audio controller to focus on either or both prayer leaders. We are using this very successfully for our virtual High Holidays and Shabbat services. Adjacent to the Social Hall is a full-service Kosher Kitchen. This is where our Kitchen Krew prepares weekly (pre-COVID) as well as meals for the needy and various other Temple events. Just outside the Social Hall and kitchen areas is an inviting and spacious lobby area with comfortable seating.

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Please describe the rabbi’s office space. The rabbi's study, located in the Education/Administration building is comfortable, warm and inviting. There is ample room for small meetings and counseling sessions. Bookshelves line one wall, next to which is a closet for hanging garments and/or storage of personal items.

Describe any plans (or dreams) to change your space. Our dream is to enlarge our kitchen to easily accommodate both meat and dairy meal preparation.

F. RELIGIOUS AND SPIRITUAL LIFE Please describe prayer and spiritual life at your synagogue. We want prayers to touch us spiritually and to speak meaningfully to the joys and difficulties of life, as well as addressing the emotions present. On Shabbat, we enjoy a mixture of traditional and modern creative melodies, as well as spiritual kavvanot to help us understand and connect with the liturgy.

Shabbat services are led by the rabbi assisted by knowledgeable lay leaders. Supplementary prayers may vary each week as well as melodies used for the main liturgy. Additional meaning and relevance are added to our services by reading a variety of English poetic readings, commentary and kavvanot.

We appreciate brief, engaging and meaningful sermons, or thought-provoking discussions with congregants. Our service typically runs from 10am to 12:15. The rabbi usually introduces the and , which provide additional opportunities for making the service resonate.

Our Friday evening services are less formal with more singing and with musical instruments.

What are services like for regulars? For newcomers and visitors? Services for regulars are often the highlight of their week. They are a chance to decompress from a busy week and to connect with G-d. Our core group is diverse and supportive of one another. Our participatory services are made more uplifting by hearing the voices of friends in prayer together. Congregants and children are invited to lead individual prayers or even the entire Torah service or Musaf.

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We are a small synagogue in a resort area. All newcomers and visitors are welcomed by a greeter as they enter our services. The rabbi welcomes them to our community during the service and the gabbai offers them aliyot. Visitors are invited to join us for Kiddush lunch, prepared by our Kitchen Krew, where congregants introduce themselves and invite the visitors to join them at their tables.

What siddurim/mahzorim do you use? • Weekdays: A booklet based on Siddur Lev Shalem (Rabbinical Assembly) with supplementary songs and readings • Shabbat: Siddur Lev Shalem (Rabbinical Assembly) • High Holidays: Machzor Eit Ratzon (Independent - Parallel Transliteration)

Do you have a sermon or Torah discussion? It is at the rabbi’s discretion as to whether to give a sermon or lead a Torah discussion. Topics discussed may relate to communal or current issues, to the Torah portion, or to general interest/spiritual topics unrelated to the Torah portion.

We have a special shorter monthly service, “Short Word Every Third”, with more of a focus on discussion.

Do you read Torah on the annual or triennial cycle? Triennial

Who normally reads Torah (congregants, paid Torah reader, rabbi, cantor)? The rabbi reads Torah most weeks, with a lay-leader reading once a month. Haftarot are read by a variety of lay-leaders. Other congregants occasionally chant individual parashot, and when permitted by the Rabbi, congregants have chanted from a Tikkun as another congregant followed along in the Torah. Congregants chant the Torah readings for our virtual services.

How do you balance congregational singing with familiar tunes and traditional nusah? Our congregation enjoys singing as a form of spiritual practice. We sing a mix of new and traditional tunes, including many new melodies and niggunim introduced by our current Rabbi. We believe that music allows us to express emotions in ways that words cannot.

What is the balance of Hebrew and English used? Our regular Shabbat morning service (our most traditional) is roughly 80% in Hebrew and 20% in English, either in translation or substituted with the creative translations and poetry found in Siddur Lev Shalem. This varies based upon those present (for example, at B’nei Mitzvah).

How many people usually attend services (weekday morning, evening, Shabbat evening, Shabbat morning)? Weekday minyans are by request. We have about 12-15 attendees Shabbat evening and about 25 on Shabbat mornings.

Please describe High Holy Day services in your congregation, including any parallel, family, or other special services?

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Our High Holiday experience is designed over the course of several months as part of a collaborative relationship between our rabbi and a visiting co-officiant (often a rabbinical student or ordained rabbi). They choose a theme that is both inspirational and relevant. Previous themes have included techniques for thriving in our personal and professional lives, as well as ways to cultivate the specific personality/spiritual traits that each of us might wish to work on. This theme is then worked into the kavvanot and sermons that frame the High Holidays. The rabbi also produces a very popular and well-received booklet containing relevant articles to provide inspiration and advice. This year, there were virtual resources for congregants to explore during services.

Lay leaders chant the Torah service, the Torah readings, and the Haftarah.

Children are always welcome in our Main Service. However, we also have a parallel, contemporary, family service for congregants with children fifth grade and younger. This provides a “lighter” way for parents to worship alongside their young children. This service is led by an expert in early childhood Jewish education with assistance from parents and teens. We take advantage of our beach location with our Taschlich service where we throw our sins into the ocean (although they are often intercepted by seagulls).

Because we are always trying new elements in our High Holy Day services, we survey our congregants annually to determine what worked and what did not.

What religious service is the synagogue most proud of and why? We are proud of our monthly “Friday Light” experience, geared towards bringing our young families and mature adults together. The worship service is led by the rabbi with infectious song and percussion. During the Summer, we offer our “Friday Light” experience as a spirited Kabbalat Shabbat on the beach, three blocks from the Temple. Against the backdrop of the Atlantic Ocean and with the setting sun at our backs, our rabbi leads a profoundly meaningful worship service, open to the public and often attracting tourists.

Friday Light is designed to be exceptionally interactive, with students called up to lead prayers and with storytelling to engage children and adults. Services are followed by a community Shabbat dinner, a speaker for adults, and games for the children. Friday Light is well attended by our religious school families and we have frequently and fruitfully collaborated with other congregations to open the experience to the entire Jewish community.

Do your services include instrumental music? Our congregation has a wide range of views on this topic and we try to satisfy everyone’s needs. Djembe drums, egg shakers and other instruments are often played during Friday night services, but rarely on Shabbat morning.

Virtual minyans with Zoom or Livestreaming? All our services are currently virtual on Zoom. We expect to continue making services available virtually for the foreseeable future.

What are your practices regarding kashrut? We have a kosher kitchen that temple policy requires be supervised by our rabbi.

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What are your practices regarding egalitarianism? Women participate fully in all aspects of ritual life, leading services and chanting Torah. We use the most gender-egalitarian forms found in Siddur Lev Shalem (i.e. the square brackets). Additionally, there have been several female Temple Presidents and our Board of Directors is gender balanced.

Describe what diversity and inclusion looks like in your congregation.

Our synagogue family mirrors the wider Jewish community; everyone is welcome. We welcome interfaith families and invite the non-Jewish spouse to join their family on the bimah. We welcome non-Jews interested in conversion and have established a “transitional” membership category to encourage those in the process of choosing Judaism.

As one of our members (now on the Board) wrote: “When I first attended Temple Emanuel, I had barely been to a synagogue since my transition. The rising antisemitism in America made me feel the need to go back again. I was very nervous about being visibly queer in a religious space. However, not only was I welcomed by our Temple Emanuel community, I was embraced. Attending Temple Emanuel has been one of the best decisions of my new life.”

G. SYNAGOGUE LIFE, LEARNING, OUTREACH, AND PROGRAMMING Describe one or more synagogue events of which your congregation is most proud. Each Purim, a new story of Esther is debuted in cinematic form, often with a bizarre thematic twist. We possess a full-service four-wall green-screen studio, and so are able to set each movie anywhere from ancient Persia to outer space. The “premiere” screenings are typically accompanied by an abbreviated reading, costume contest and Purim carnival. However, it’s the production of these films that bring congregants of all ages together for fun and comradery. (All of our movies can be viewed via our website under the “Videos” tab, see especially “Rise of an Empress”)

We celebrate every year with Burgers and Brews in the Sukkah, with hotdogs and hamburgers and a beer tasting featuring local microbreweries.

We planned our first community-building weekend for this past April, five hours away at a Capital Camp in Rockville MD, complete with intergenerational social events, a scavenger hunt for kids, and many other activities. We will reschedule it as soon as we can and hope to make it an annual event.

Describe your current adult education program, participation, and its goals.

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These are the courses we have offered over the past eight years: • A Pluralistic Introduction to Judaism • Hebrew Reading Crash-Course

Our most successful continuing education programs have been three-part courses taught in congregants’ homes: • The Rabbinic Revolution • Judaism as a Spiritual Practice • Meet the Rabbis • Jesus the Jew

Our goals are to increase participation and programming.

Describe your synagogue’s involvement in the larger Jewish and non-Jewish communities. We participate as a congregation or as congregants in regional Jewish Community events, including the annual Jewish Book Fair, Jewish Film Festival, Israel Fest, and Tidewater Together (https://federation.jewishva.org/tidewater-together).

We participate in the larger community in a several ways. These include the yearly Oceanfront interfaith Thanksgiving service (alternating hosting with other Oceanfront houses of worship). We also participate in the Interfaith Alliance at the Beach, which meets monthly. We provide and serve several meals each year for the homeless at the Judeo-Christian Outreach Center. We are an approved provider for Virginia Beach Social Services providing food for the needy through our Food Pantry, including Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets.

What does your congregation do to reach out to the unaffiliated? Our congregation tries many approaches to attract the unaffiliated. Several years ago we started offering religious school to our members at no extra cost in order to help attract young families. We offer a stipend to our rabbi to cover the costs of building meaningful relationships with both members and potential members over coffee and dinner. We offer conversion classes and have established a transitional membership, providing a sense of belonging to people in the process of conversion.

More recently we have adopted strategies suggested by Uram in “Next Generation Judaism” that involve both “getting out of the building” and peer-to-peer networking. Our “Girls’ Night Out” is one such activity, involving an open-invitation to a fun activity such as learning to paint on canvas. Congregants are encouraged to bring friends. Many of our continuing education opportunities are also open to congregants and their friends. Naturally, we also ask congregants to invite friends to our Religious School Open House and social events. We also advertise on Facebook and via Google Adwords.

Cross-communal events are good in and of themselves, but recent research also suggests that Temples seen as open to co-hosting events with others are more likely to win the hearts and minds of potential congregants. We have co-hosted at least ten such events over the last two years.

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What committees and programs should the rabbi know about? Our G’mach committee assists the rabbi with the pastoral care of congregants by helping cook and deliver food to those recovering from illness or surgery. Our Kitchen Krew provides meals for Shabbat morning Kiddush lunch and for other needs. Our Food Pantry provides food for the needy in the community. Our Temple has its own Chevra Kadisha for both men and women, ensuring that our congregants who pass on receive the care they deserve prior to burial.

Describe your educational program and goals for children. Our Religious School program includes Judaic Studies, Hebrew, and Bar/Bat Mitzvah instruction. For Judaic Studies, we strive to provide a meaningful and experiential values-based curriculum that stresses Jewish literacy, critical thinking, and emotional resilience. Each teacher integrates Hebrew language instruction with Judaic Studies. Additionally, we have a specific curriculum of traditional prayers that is taught and built upon at every grade level leading to Bar and Bat Mitzvah. (All students have access to our unique, Rabbi-created, online syllabus for studying these traditional prayers through any mobile device.)

This program has three student-centered goals: (1) We want our students to have a great time and to associate Judaism with positive experiences; (2) We want our students to have memorable and spiritually meaningful experiences of learning and ritual. (3) We want our students to learn skills that they will find useful in their everyday lives.

We encourage our highly experienced teachers to develop their own approaches to realize these goals in each of their classes.

Does your congregation have a preschool or early childhood program? Yes. Our religious school starts at the Pre-K Level. Our teacher for that program is specifically trained for that age group.

In previous years, we had an additional Little Mensches group for 2 to 3-year-old children. This year we are not working with these youngest children because a zoom environment does not fit their needs.

If so, does it meet onsite? Is it shared or independent? Our preschool program/early childhood program is integrated into our religious school. This year is meeting virtually but will be onsite when we can resume onsite learning. As mentioned above, our 3 and under program is not meeting this year.

Does your Hebrew school meet in person or virtually? What role does the rabbi have in the school? Our religious school meets on Wednesday (grades 3 and up) and on Sunday (all grades). At present, all classes are virtual.

The Rabbi has a dual role in the school. He collaborates with the lay-leader Principal of the school and with the Religious Education Committee in the everyday running of the school.

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Previous to this year, the Rabbi also served as Director of the School. His collaboration with the current Principal is essential and appreciated. The Rabbi also teaches our 6th and 7th grade class, building important relationships and instilling important life skills in our students as they prepare for Bar or Bat Mitzvah. The Rabbi sees Bar or Bat Mitzvah instruction as an important responsibility and privilege. In addition to preparation that takes place in the classroom, the Rabbi works with each student privately to assist with writing their speech/teaching as well as to deepen each student’s understanding of Judaism.

How many students are in each grade? PreK – 2nd grade: 6 3rd – 5th grade: 4 6th – 7th grade: 8 Post B’nei Mitzvah: 7

How many B’nei Mitzvah does your congregation celebrate on average per year? About four per year.

What is your congregation especially proud of in its B’nei Mitzvah program? The close relationship the students develop with our rabbi. That relationship is born out of mutual respect - each student being treated as a unique individual.

The rabbi helps students to relate their Torah portion to the reality of life as a middle-school student. Through this process, students learn to look to Judaism as a source of knowledge and wisdom.

Whether our B’nei Mitzvah choose to further their Jewish education and lead a Jewish life will significantly depend upon their rabbinic role models and the relationships they have built with them. Bar/Bat Mitzvah is a crucial step in that process.

Does your congregation have a Post Bar/Bat Mitzvah Program? If so, please describe and indicate how many teens are involved. Yes. Post Bar/Bat Mitzvah students meet bi-weekly on Sunday mornings. They discuss the ethics of Judaism and the framework that it provides to help them become better people. Seven students are currently enrolled.

Please describe your youth program and indicate what you are most proud of in it. Teenagers can join the local BBYO, and some do. This lets them meet other local Jewish teenagers and get involved in the larger Jewish community.

How many children in your congregation go to Camp Ramah/Noam Camp? About three.

How many children in your congregation are involved with USY/Noam? About two.

What other youth movements and camps are popular in your community?

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Some of our children attend Capital Camps, an official provider of resident camp services to six flagship Jewish Community Centers in the mid-Atlantic region.

How does your congregation connect to the college age population? We reach out to the local college Hillels when we offer appropriate programming.

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