Sisterhood Memoir Group  |
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Join us for Shabbat Across America Friday, March 5
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 FREE Film Screening & Director Discussion
"Almost Home" |
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A new weekly kinder kef class has begun this fall for pre- k and kindergarten age children ( ages 4-5) . The class meets every Sunday morning. If you are interested in registering please contact the office or Ann Landowne at ann.landowne@hotmail.com for further information. Click for MORE on our Religious School
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A Special Place by Elizabeth Zelma, NY Family Brooklyn Magazine MORE
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Members of both consist of diverse and dedicated individuals who come together to serve the temple, share experiences, and learn. In the course of activities ranging from Sukkah building and educational programs we find friendship and connection.
The Brotherhood of Union Temple
Annual Sukkah Building
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Tickets for High Holy Day services
Union Temple Preschool Discount
School of Religion Discount
Pastoral Counseling and Services
Eastern Athletic Club Discount
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The congregation of Union Temple is a diverse, yet closely knit group of thoughtful and compassionate people who draw together in times of joy as well as times of sorrow. It has been a privilege for me to serve as Rabbi since 1992. On behalf of our congregational family, I invite you to celebrate our past, share our present, and be a part of shaping our future. Dr. Linda Henry Goodman Click here to read the Rabbi's Message
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Parashat HaShavua: Yitro
This week we will read the Ten Commandments, often identified as the most fundamental laws of Jewish life, and indeed, of basic human decency. The seventh commandment is "Lo Tin'af," "You shall not commit adultery."
With the revelations that have come to light in recent years regarding the extramarital affairs of various political figures and celebrities, our sense of shock at such things has probably worn off to some extent, and we've almost come to expect such news at regular intervals. Perhaps it is no accident that in the past few weeks HBO has been showing Fatal Attraction - a stark reminder of the potentially disastrous results of a seemingly inconsequential extramarital affair.
While the notion of marital fidelity might seem outmoded to some, particularly amid the permissiveness that pervades our society, I assure you that Jewish tradition does not agree. Biblical and Talmudic law define adultery a bit more narrowly than does American law, with the burden of responsibility falling primarily upon the woman who is either married, or not considered properly divorced according to Halakhic procedure - a source of aggravation to feminists and egalitarians. Nevertheless, the contemporary mainstream Jewish community does also understand and acknowledge the broader definition of adultery as any married person, man or woman, engaging in sexual relations with someone other than his/her spouse. The moral responsibility remains the same. Jewish marriage is based upon the principle of kiddushin - consecration - in which spouses set each other apart from all others for a unique, private, exclusive, holy relationship. The Jewish marriage vow is a pledge - that spouses can depend on each other's faithfulness. When we "cheat," we violate the most basic level of trust that exists between two people. We also violate our own personal integrity, and thus, lose a fundamental part of ourselves.
As realists, we know that things can go wrong. Marriage is complicated, to say the least, and good people can lose their way and make destructive decisions; and it is equally destructive to brand people for life, as though modern-day Hester Prynnes. Nevertheless, this does not release us from whole-hearted commitment to the highest standards of trust between ourselves and our spouses. Each of us bears personal responsibility for faithfulness, and keeping ourselves far from inflicting hurt on our partners. This responsibility is profoundly serious, and one that Judaism endeavors to impress upon us at every turn.
Lo Tin'af - the seventh commandment.
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Our Religious School students, our junior choir, and our Brotherhood and Sisterhood, all assist in conducting the services at various times during the year. Music is an organic part of our services in the gifted hands of Dr. Jonathan Hall, in addition to our wonderful cantorial students, as they encourage congregants to participate actively in the musical life of the congregation.
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Dear Friends:
With the support and approval of our Board of Trustees, I am pleased to announce our participation in an exciting new program of partnership with the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services of UJA. Some six other synagogues in the general Brownstone Brooklyn area also are participating in this partnership. It will provide all the rabbis and temple officers with much needed support for our older adults. I have inserted the announcement from the JBFCS below. We will be talking more about it in the coming months. If you have any questions at all, or know immediately that you would like to avail yourself of this program for yourself, a parent or relative, or someone you know, please call me at the temple: (718) 638-7600 or e-mail me at rabbigoodman@uniontemple.org. - Rabbi Linda Henry Goodman
A FREE SYNAGOGUE ‐BASED PROGRAM FOR JEWISH OLDER ADULTS IN NORTHERN AND CENTRAL BROOKLYN
Through a generous grant from the Weinberg Foundation provided by UJA Federation of NY, the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services is able to offer the expertise of our geriatric social worker to area synagogues, free of charge .
We can provide your congregants with:
∙ Innovative programs and workshops addressing the needs of older adults
o Health education
o Caregiver resources
o Social and recreational programs
∙ Emotional support for older adult life issues
∙ Support, consultation, and education for volunteers helping older adults
∙ Individual and family assessment and counsel by our on‐site geriatric social worker.
∙ Home Care oversight and advocacy
∙ Access to the full range of services of JBFCS, and other community agencies.
Partnering Synagogues will:
∙ Develop an ongoing working relationship with our project social worker.
∙ Work with our program staff to identify, plan and host activities to address the needs of older congregants.
∙ Identify and refer older congregants in need.
∙ Market and publicize the program workshops, groups, and services to the congregation and community.
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Beginning Sept. 7 and thereafter, all Friday services will begin at 6:30 PM, except for the 4th week of each month, when they will begin at 8:00 PM. The first Friday of the month we will have our potluck dinner following services as usual. Saturday morning services remain at 10:30.
Chick here for our Shabbat Service Schedule
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Union Temple is an egalitarian, inclusive Reform Congregation, spanning the generations. Founded in 1848 by a small group of German and Alsatian Jewish immigrants living in Williamsburgh, since 1929 Union Temple has been located in a magnificent building at Grand Army Plaza. We are a house of worship, a house of study, and an intimate community of mutual support for our members. We reach out to the diverse communities of Brooklyn and warmly welcome individuals and all types of families to join us. As a congregation we are dedicated to Tikkun Olam, the repairing of our world, through the pursuit of social justice and active participation in the larger Jewish and general communities. Union Temple is a member congregation of the Union of Reform Judaism
Read more about the History of Union Temple...
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Open to all children in the community, the Union Temple Preschool is a morning program for two, three, and four year olds with some extended day options. Our dedicated, nurturing staff provides a child-centered environment with a curriculum enhanced by a Jewish perspective, and enrichment programs.
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We join together through Adult Education, Brotherhood, Sisterhood, and the Social Action Committee for a wide variety of educational, social, and cultural activities including:
- Shabbat Morning Study Hevre
- Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah Class
- Shabbaton with Notable Speakers
- Concerts * Films * Lectures
- Book Discussions * Game Nights
- Dances * Theatre Outings
- Walking Tours of Jewish New York
We view all our programs as opportunities to bring our congregational community together to socialize, to learn, and to celebrate our heritage.
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