Temple Emanu-El

About

A kind, warm and loving Conservative Synagogue on Staten Island. We welcome families, couples, and individuals from across the diverse spectrum of Jewish life.

Story

Shalom!

Since 1907, Congregation Temple Emanu-El has been a Conservative synagogue serving the spiritual and social needs of Staten Islanders.

A welcoming, inclusive and family-friendly congregation, we worship together on Friday nights at 8:00 pm and Shabbat mornings beginning at 9:00 in our historic 1907 sanctuary. Our popular junior congregation service begins Shabbat morning at 10:30 in the adjoining educational building.

We also co-sponsor a morning minyan, open to men and women, held on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:20 am in our sanctuary, and on Mondays and Thursdays at 7:20 am, and on Sundays at 9:00 am, at our neighbor, Congregation B’nai Jeshurun.

Temple activities include active Sisterhood and Men’s Clubs, Hebrew School and extensive adult education, including adult Bat Mitzvah classes. Members are also encouraged to serve on our various temple committees.

Temple Emanu-El is also active in the wider Staten Island community.We sponsor a Boy Scout troop, host the Jewish War Veterans, host events for the Staten Island Jewish Historical Society and are the founding organization of Staten Island Community Days. The Staten Island Council of Jewish Organizations (COJO) food pantry operates from our building.

Our History

Temple Emanu-El was founded in 1907. There are various versions as to its founding. One is that it started as a Sisterhood interested in Judaism. The other version is that it began with a group of mostly young, immigrant businessmen on Port Richmond Avenue, then the main street of Staten Island. The story goes that when they began to have children they were concerned for the children's Jewish education and upbringing and started a fund based on the winnings of their Saturday night poker games.

Temple Emanu-El was typical of many synagogues of this period that were founded in small towns by the Jewish "Main Street" merchants. Temple Emanu-El was the grand synagogue of Staten Island of its day. Much larger and more elaborate than any of the others.

Its congregation was composed of the business and professional elite of the local Jewish community among others. The Port Richmond Jewish community was a tight-knit community of people who lived in the neighborhood, worked and worshiped together. In 1928 the Educational Building was erected in order to provide more space for educational and social activities.
The building of Temple Emanu-El, which has been nominated for the National Register for Historic Places, is a distinguished, classical revival structure which is said to have been modeled after the great synagogue of Warsaw. It is one of the best preserved synagogues of its period in the New York area. The architecture creates an uplifting feeling appreciated by those who come to worship.

The first Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El was Dr. Isaac Millner who was a student of Solomon Schechter, one of the founders of Conservative Judaism in the U.S. He served from 1912-1948. Rabbi Benjamin Wykansky served with distinction from 1950-1982. Rabbi Wykansky, who was a native of England, was greatly admired for his work in the community. Since 1982 Temple Emanu-El has been served by Rabbi Gerald Sussman, a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary.
At present the congregation draws its membership from the whole of Staten Island.The members of Temple Emanu-El are a diverse group regarding age, Jewish background and social & economic status.They nevertheless feel comfortable in the warm and accepting atmosphere of the Temple.

To donate to the synagogue: https://www.gofundme.com/2ekxgac4