Community has been at the heart of Judaism since the days when Abraham gathered a small band of men and women around him to w ... orship a single God. Over the centuries, the shape of our communities morphed from desert tribes to shtetls, from magnificent synagogues like ours to the State of Israel. But the power of community has never diminished. Community celebrates our joys and comforts us in our sadness. It grounds us in our values as we face an often-confounding world. It provides us the strength to cope when we lack the strength to do so alone. Community is a constant reminder that we belong. The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center is proud to continue the tradition of community-building, even with new ways of doing so. Since March 2020, our virtual community, over 100,000 strong, has shared laughter with Harvey Fierstein, sung along with Idan Raichel, studied the Book of Ruth with Dr. Avivah Zornberg, explored angels and devils with Tony Kushner, delighted in the kitchen with Michael Solomonov and discovered how much we have in common with the Shtisel family. As we face the challenge of simultaneously coping with a global pandemic and forging pathways to a more just society, and as we face a critical election, our fall programs will continue to offer you enriching opportunities to discover new books, meet Pulitzer Prize–winning authors, explore the latest in biblical archaeology, enjoy the music of the Orchestra of St. Luke’s and see how much Jews and Christians actually have in common. read more