OUR History
THE STORY OF TEMPLE EMET: 2010
Sometimes, the only way to get exactly what you want is to start at the very beginning and build it carefully, one piece at a time. That's exactly what about 31 like-minded spiritual people did during the summer of 2010. Building on the idea that they wanted to start a new Reform Synagogue in the South Bay with Rabbi-Cantor Didi Thomas as its spiritual leader, this talented, hard-working group set about the task of making it all happen.
At the first meeting the new temple was named. TEMPLE EMET- the Temple of Truth - was suggested by Rabbi Didi and was immediately adopted. The first goal was to find a place to meet and hold High Holy Days services. The talented Robin Zimmer soon designed a beautiful logo and Temple Emet began to take shape.
When Temple Rodeph Shalom lost their revered Rabbi Kahane, their congregation joined the Temple Emet community. They blended seamlessly with the budding congregation of Temple Emet, where they were welcomed with love and gratitude.
In September of 2010, at the Hacienda Hotel in El Segundo, more than 50 congregants celebrated their first High Holy Days as Temple Emet! Later that month, on September 21, Temple Emet became an official Jewish Congregation!
TEMPLE EMET: 2013
Today, Temple Emet continues to grow by leaps and bounds. More than 200 people participated in High Holiday services in 2013 at Temple Emet’s home at The Pacific Unitarian Church in Rancho Palos Verdes.
The PUC is a warm, welcoming environment, where the congregation of Temple Emet celebrates and worships in harmony. Shabbat evening services are held the first and third Fridays of the month, and Saturday morning services take place on the second Saturday of the month. A lively lay-led Torah study group meets three times a month to learn and discuss each Parsha of the Torah.
Temple Emet also celebrates special holidays with dinner gatherings and parties, such as Sukkot service and dinner, a Chanukah party, and a Kosher Passover Seder. A thriving Sisterhood and Men’s Club provide additional support and activities for Temple Emet. B’nai Mitzvah classes for both youths and adults are on-going and Religious School classes began meeting once a week in September, 2013.
Led by the beloved and spiritually gifted Rabbi-Cantor Didi Thomas, Temple Emet is a welcoming, spiritual, inclusive congregation, serving the entire South Bay and Palos Verdes Jewish communities.
TEMPLE EMET: 2014
We are pleased to announce that 2014 was a year of FIRSTS! We had our very first B'nai Mitzvahs as a congregation in February 2014 with the bar mitzvahs of Quinn Robinson and Cole Allyn. We had our very first Adult B'nai Mitzvah in April of 2014. AND most exciting - we acquired a place to call our own to become officially be the first Reform Jewish Temple in Torrance. Construction started on the building as we made our way into 2015!
TEMPLE EMET: 2016 CURRENT & FUTURE
We could not be happier that we are in our beautiful new facility in Torrance. Please come visit us on February 5th, 2016 for services and a meet and greet with Rabbi/Cantor Didi Thomas.
Please join Temple Emet for services or contact the Temple for more information: 310.316.3322 or info@templeemet.org.
Sat, July 27 2024
21 Tammuz 5784
Upcoming Events
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Sunday ,
JulJuly 28 , 2024Lunch Bunch
Sunday, Jul 28th 11:30a to 2:30p
Join your Temple Emet family for Lunch Bunch! Details TBA -
Wednesday ,
JulJuly 31 , 2024Temple members bagging groceries for those in need!
Wednesday, Jul 31st 5:30p to 8:30p
We are assisting Calvary Presbyterian Church in Hawthorne in bagging fresh fruit and vegetables on the Wednesday before the 1st Saturday of the month from 5:30-8:30 PM. That is so all is ready for the first Saturday food ministry which hands out the food to about 160 families. All are welcome to join us. If interested, please contact Pat Alexander at patrn49@yahoo.com for more information Calvary Presbyterian Church 13560 Hawthorne Blvd. Hawthorne -
Wednesday ,
JulJuly 31 , 2024Dan Spector's Music Appreciation Class
Wednesday, Jul 31st 7:30p to 9:30p
Shalom Musicologistas! The time is approaching once again to talk Jewish Composers. We are nearing the end of a long cycle of Musical Movies which will culminate, for now, in two classes with the Zaida of them all, Fiddler on the Roof. But for this coming (in two weeks) Wednesday, July 31st, at 7:30pm, let's prepare to talk about Paint Your Wagon and Hello Dolly. See the ZOOM link below. Released in October of 1969, Paint Your Wagon features yet another score by Lerner and Loewe, and, other than Ray Walston, a star cast that we're not used to seeing in this kind of fare: Clint Eastwood, Lee Marvin and Jean Seberg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mp02qa5Zi8Q&pp=ygUbcGFpbnQgeW91ciB3YWdvbiBmdWxsIG1vdmll Paint Your Wagon A raucous western comedy, is punctuated with a classic Lerner and Loewe musical score, including "They Call the Wind Maria" and "I Talk to the Trees." The st... Hello Dolly, with a score by Jerry Herman, really needs no introduction, other than to remind us all that this is Barbara Streisand's second film lead role, and that it is directed by Gene Kelly!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrJtuDzs0s8&pp=ygUWaGVsbG8gZG9sbHkgZnVsbCBtb3ZpZQ%3D%3D Hello, Dolly! Barbara Streisand is a knockout as Dolly Levi, and Hello, Dolly!, is the blockbuster musical you'll want to see her in again and again. The famed plot involv... See you there! -Dan Spector is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Dan Spector's Music Appreciation Class Time: This is a recurring meeting Meet anytime Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85645612861?pwd=bkYvRzBzc0d3V0cxU1g3R1Y2cktqdz09 Meeting ID: 856 4561 2861 Passcode: 327542 -
Saturday ,
AugAugust 17 , 2024Havdalah Service
Shabbat, Aug 17th 7:00p to 8:00p
Havdalah and Learning! Start the week with a bisl music. musings and more! With Stacey Abigail Morse, or course! Including Misheberach and Kaddish -
Saturday ,
SepSeptember 14 , 2024Havdalah Service
Shabbat, Sep 14th 7:00p to 8:00p
Havdalah and Learning! Start the week with a bisl music. musings and more! With Stacey Abigail Morse, or course! Including Misheberach and Kaddish
Eastern Meditation Class
Roger Peterson has a zoom meditation class every Monday evening at 7 PM. If interested, please contact him at rolipeters@mac.com
Sponsor an Oneg or Flowers
We welcome sponsorship of and contributions toward Shabbat kiddush on Saturdays and Friday night oneg on Shabbat. Honor a person, remember a loved one, celebrate a simcha!
Contact Natalie for available dates
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LiveStream Link
Now streaming live on our own Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCacR2VE18CvFkyCZ6m9xOlQ
Please subscribe to the channel to help Temple Emet by clicking the Subscribe button at the link above.
Purchase a Flashdrive
Purchase our Logo Flashdrive
for $18.00 and have your favorite sermon, service, photos
added at no extra cost.
Contact judi@templeemet.org
for information
"Everything Emet Eats"
Cookbooks are here and available for purchase. Each book is $18.00
Call, text, or email judi@templeemet.org
at (310)612-2031
Make check payable to
Temple Emet Sisterhood.