WHO WE ARE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyYdj90pnQQ

Temple Sholom is purposeful about opportunities for Jewish meaning. We believe that there is a lifelong continuum to sacred living requiring ongoing attention and intention. Every congregant pursues an individualized Jewish spiritual path within the context of a nurturing, creative, and holy community. Through a holistic approach to congregational life, every encounter with the synagogue, worship, learning, and community are opportunities for sacred meaning and growth. We are not a congregation of consumers; we are a sacred congregation that deeply believes in the power of personal and communal connections to the Divine.

At Temple Sholom we…

  • Support the sacred process of the personal spiritual journey
  • Foster a community that is committed to the hachnasat orchim (hospitality) through our commitment to inclusion and diminishing social barriers
  • We are dedicated to K’lal Yisrael (Jewish peoplehood) and the unique relationship we have as individuals and as a group with the Divine.
  • Embrace that Jewish identity is broadly defined by culture, religious practice, relationships and/or through ancestry
  • Understand the vital need for genuine involvement of lay leadership
  • Are open to a culture of experimentation
  • See Gemillut Chasadim (acts of loving-kindness) as sacred acts of compassion that contribute to a more whole and peaceful world
  • Promote an environment of creative spiritual expression
  • Advocate for Tzedek (justice) in our world
  • Cultivate personal and family Jewish practice for the home
  • Encourage individuals to seek out the presence of a higher power/ God/ Adonai in their daily actions and relationships
  • Recognize that the changes we implement are substantive Jewish additions to our community, based in our sacred history and the values of our community

Temple Sholom is a sacred Jewish community that offers a meaningful framework for personal and communal connections with God, Torah, Israel, and Community.

These tenants are outlined in our formal Vision Statement, shown below:

Temple Sholom Vision Statement

Spiritual meaning and purpose are the center and focus of everything we do.

As a community, we aspire to…

1. SHALOM שָׁלוֹם Spiritual Welcoming

Just like Abraham and Sarah, Temple Sholom extends our welcoming hands, meeting all generations WHERE they are. We are proactive and inclusive.

2. SHEMA שְׁמַע Spiritual Communication

Communication is about trust. Transparency, accessibility, and engaging modalities are top priorities in the way we speak and listen as a community. Reaching demographics beyond the scope of our congregational walls promotes our central value of inclusivity.

3. KEMACH קֶ֣מַח Spiritual Spending

We are a group of people from all different walks of life – we turn no one away. When we spend, we spend smartly. Understanding that we need to invest our capital in staff and meaningful programs rather than infrastructure.

4. TZEDEK צֶדֶק Spiritual Engagement

We seek out meaningful, long-term social justice partnerships that further the goals of harmony, human rights, and well-being for all people in this world. Through education, meaningful prayer, and communal calls to action we seek to better our world with our unique gifts.

5. DERECH דֶרֶך Spiritual Journey

We understand that each of us is on our own journey of spiritual fulfillment. Individuals find that Temple Sholom activities, worship, and classes are directly relevant and connect to personal, articulated spiritual goals.

6. MAKOM מָקוֹם Spiritual Home

Our space reflects who we are as a congregation. Our house is welcoming, inspiring, accessible, and appropriate to our size. Our home extends to our online community, knowing that we exist both within and outside of our physical walls. Finally, our place of belonging is in the greater community where we engage in Tikkun Olam.