FAQs

Where do your members live?

The Temple Emunah community includes over 550 families in the towns of Lexington, Arlington, Bedford, Waltham and almost 50 other towns in Boston’s northwest suburbs.

I’m not that religious; would Temple Emunah be a good fit for me?

Temple Emunah welcomes a diverse population of Jews and those partnered to Jews. We embrace a wide variety of religious practices. In the synagogue we observe Kashrut and Shabbat, in accordance with Conservative Jewish practice. This pluralistic approach allows people across the spectrum of Jewish observance to feel at home in the Emunah family. Those who are not coming from Jewish backgrounds, those who are Jews by choice, Israelis, and those coming from Reform or Conservative or Orthodox backgrounds enrich our community and make Emunah their spiritual home.

We are an interfaith couple. Will we feel welcome?

Temple Emunah prides itself on being an engaging, inclusive, and welcoming community. We welcome the participation of interfaith couples and families. To support this commitment, we have a Keruv (Outreach) Committee, which works with our rabbis to:

Identify issues and establish inclusive practices for communal life and rituals while maintaining standards of halakhah (Jewish law).
Raise awareness and educate the synagogue’s membership regarding contemporary issues of concern to the community within the context of Conservative Judaism.
Provide a forum to discuss topics related to interfaith couples, extended interfaith families, and other matters pertaining to the Keruv mission.

We are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Will we feel welcome?

Temple Emunah prides itself on being an engaging, inclusive, and welcoming community. We welcome the participation of people of all abilities, backgrounds, sexual orientations and gender identities. To support this commitment, we have a Keruv Committee, which works with our rabbis to:

Provide a forum to discuss topics related to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender living, and other matters pertaining to the Keruv mission.
Dedicate an all gender bathroom in our synagogue
Host pride Shabbat programming and special speakers

How accessible is Temple Emunah?

The Disability and Inclusion committee helps create a community that welcomes and includes children, teens, and adults with invisible and visible special needs.

Temple Emunah provides these helpful items to all of our guests:

Handicapped accessible entrance
Braille siddur & large print siddur
Music stands to support your siddur or humash as needed
Audio aids
Individual and gender neutral accessible bathrooms for those who have a family member or caretaker or use a wheelchair or walker
Specially marked seats for wheelchairs & walkers to fit next to the seats. Some pews have space to sit with family and/or friends with your wheelchair or walker

Click here to learn more.

Do I need to know Hebrew?

Absolutely not. All materials used in religious services feature Hebrew and English translations. Our members cover the entire spectrum of Hebrew knowledge. We offer a variety of courses in conversational Hebrew and Hebrew prayer skills. What is particularly exciting is when members of various ages participate in a Hebrew ritual for the first time. If you would like to learn more about the Hebrew classes we offer for adults, please click here.

Do I have to be a member to come to your events?

We welcome ALL to join our events. Temple Emunah’s daily and Shabbat services are always free and open to the public. The majority of our programs are free of charge to our members and may have a small, nominal fee for non-members.

What is Temple Emunah's COVID policy?

Masks are optional, welcome anytime, and recommended when local rates are high (visit the CDC website for Middlesex County rates). Well-fitting KN95/N95 masks provide good protection for people who choose to wear them.

We recommend staying up to date on all vaccines.

We also ask that you please be considerate of others and use the online option for services/programs/meetings if you have symptoms of Covid or other communicable illnesses.

Temple Emunah’s social hall and sanctuary have excellent air ventilation, per the CDC recommendations.

Temple Emunah does not do contact tracing.

Useful websites: cdc.org, whentotest.org