Temple Emanu-El of Utica

06/05/2026

We have been so lucky to have Rita’s smiling face greeting us whenever we walk into Temple, and last week we celebrated her 20th anniversary of being with us! We were happy to have a chance to let Rita know how much we appreciate her.

05/24/2026

There was laughter at the cemetery last week! Our Religious School kids helped complete a special mitzvah as we buried obsolete and damaged sacred books. These books were given the respect they deserve after imparting their wisdom to us over the years. The kids participated very energetically in shoveling the dirt into the grave.

04/15/2026

Our top chefs, Linda Slavin and Eric Yoss made fresh matzah brei for our Passover Yizkor dinner. It was served with many fixings to satisfy those who like it sweet and those who like it savory. At the end of our meal, we segued into a meaningful Yizkor service as we sat around the table enjoying the good company.

04/14/2026

Jewishness is not simply a state of being; it is an invitation to realize our full potential as intellectually and spiritually engaged human beings. This particular opportunity to engage our minds features one of the foremost teachers of our time, Dr. Steve Windmueller. If you can be available at 9AM on Tuesday, I urge you to participate in this excellent learning opportunity.

As part of our 150th Anniversary celebration and Jewish Heritage Month, this four-part series will explore the unique relationship between Jews and America. Each session will be accompanied by one or more related articles, which may be shared in advance or following the program. Presentations will b...

04/05/2026

Hope you are having a Happy Passover! Our religious school kids made these creative depictions of Moses, either as a baby in the Nile or leading the Israelites through the Red Sea!

03/29/2026

Rabbi was asked to speak at the No Kings Rally in Utica. He imbued his words with Jewish values that were totally relatable to everyone there. It was great to see such a crowd and so many of our congregants come out even though it was sunny, snowy, cold, and windy all at the same time.

03/22/2026

We often have fun gathering to celebrate holidays, learn from each other and others and mark milestone life events.

But sometimes we also gather in sadness as we did last week, to support a grieving family who lost a beloved mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Those events may not be happy ones, but they bring us closer as a Temple family.

Thank you to all who cooked and baked, who showed up, set up and cleaned up. It’s times like these that make us all appreciate our caring community.

03/05/2026

Purim! What a celebration! So many people came in costume (sometimes dressing as each other), the food was great, the spiel (King Ahasuerus Swipes Right) was funny, the Family Feud game was a blast, and Rabbi S chanted an abridged English version of the Magillah in Torah Trope! We were so glad Temple Beth El members joined us for the fun!

03/01/2026

You can't shake your grogger unless you hear the Megillah! And you can't hear the Megillah unless you come hear it! See you on Monday night! (or at the Purim Carnival tomorrow!)

Download the track @ - http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/michellecitrin4*All proceeds will be donated to help feed the hungryWritten, Produced & Directed by Michelle ...

02/24/2026

Have you completed the survey for our upcoming Purim Family Feud game? If not, please, please, please take a few moments (that's really all you need!) to fill in your responses. It's a lot of fun, and the more responses, the merrier! Anyone can participate, so encourage members of your household, neighbors and out of town friends to do it as well!