You Belong Here

The more than 600 people who sit, dance, study, serve and otherwise move through our congregation each day include interfaith families, women whose husbands fought in World War II, newborns, LGBTQIA+ singles and couples, BIPOC members, Jews by choice, Jews who pray in Hebrew, and Jews who prefer English. Our original members founded the congregation in 1948. Our members live on our block, on the Lower East and Upper West Side, and in Brooklyn, Queens, and Westchester. Some folks who live as far away as California and Arizona remain members to join us remotely for worship. We sing several songs together, including original compositions, in a typical Shabbat service. Our cantor believes strongly in the transcendent nature of music, and its unparalleled ability to both convey and evoke emotion and spirituality. Our rabbi leads interfaith coalitions into protests, into testimony, and into action. Each service and class we host includes challenging questions, easy smiles, and of course, a nosh.

Visit our Shabbat & Worship pages to learn more about our musical, responsive and topical Shabbat and Holiday services. We offer engaging services and programs for young kids, middle-graders and teens—ways into worship for everyone.

In addition to our streaming options, services take place in our two-story, 200-seat sanctuary. Our historic and award-winning brownstone, designed in 1888 by Richard Morris Hunt, sits about four blocks from Union Square, across from Stuyvesant Square. It feels like home.

Read our East End Temple Brit for a Respectful Community

Community Commitment Membership

During most of our 72-year history, East End Temple relied on fixed dues categories, allowing for individual adjustments as needed. In 2019, East End Temple piloted a new membership model for better alignment with our core values of diversity, accessibility, and appreciation of all giving and receiving. This is what we are calling Community Commitment Membership. Since launching our new membership structure, new members have joined without financial burden; we are so pleased that it has been successful!  Please click here to learn more.

Want to learn more?

If you would like more information about becoming a member, please submit this Membership Information Form, and a representative of our membership team will be in touch.

Our Mission

Our mission is to cultivate relevant Jewish life through connected community. We seek to expand avenues into Torah (Jewish learning and practice), God (all forms of spiritual connection) and the Jewish people (locally and globally) to help one another live lives of meaning.

We do this through:

Our Diversity: Betzelem Elohim, In the Image of God

We welcome all in the Jewish community: young and old; single, partnered and married; LGBT and straight; interfaith families; Jewish-born or converted; those with and without mental and physical disabilities; financially struggling or well-off.  If you choose us, we choose you.

Our Accessibility: My House Shall be a House of Prayer for All People

We encourage full participation, enfranchisement and leadership through education and relationship-building.

Our Intimacy: Face to Face

We strive to know and care for one another through the cultivation of relationships between and among members. 

Our Giving and Receiving: As Your Heart Is So Inclined

We aspire to a high quality of synagogue life, and give of time and resources to create that quality.  Our members who derive the most from their East End Temple experience are often those who give the most. 

If you would like more information about becoming a member, please submit this Membership Information Form, and a representative of our membership team will be in touch.

EAST END TEMPLE

245 East 17th Street, New York, NY 10003
Tel: 212-477-6444
info@eastendtemple.org

CLERGY

Rabbi Josh Stanton: jstanton@eastendtemple.org
Cantor Olivia Brodsky: obrodsky@eastendtemple.org

STAFF

Sharon Shemesh, Temple Administrator: sharon@eastendtemple.org
Mindy Sherry, RJE, Director of Congregational Learning: educator@eastendtemple.org
Elyssa Mosbacher, Assistant Temple Administrator: info@eastendtemple.org

LEADERSHIP

Rebecca Shore, Co-President: rebecca@eastendtemple.org
Brian Lifsec, Co-President: info@eastendtemple.org
Sisterhood Leader Liaison Suellen Eshed: sisterhood@eastendtemple.org
Men’s Club President Patrick Roger-Gordon: mensclub@eastendtemple.org

We are a part of Community Board Six

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Now?

During most of our 75-year history, East End Temple relied on fixed dues categories, allowing for individual adjustments as needed. In 2019, East End Temple piloted a new membership model for better alignment with our core values of diversity, accessibility, and appreciation of all giving and receiving. This is what we are calling Community Commitment Membership. Since launching our new membership structure, new members have joined without financial burden; we are so pleased that it has been successful! 

What is Community Commitment Membership?

All members of East End Temple determine their own financial commitments for membership. We ask each new member to consider the sustaining amount of $2,200 per adult as a benchmark (this amount being the current average aggregate of membership and philanthropy per adult members that sustains our congregation). This amount is not a requirement for membership, but we ask that you consider it as more than a suggestion.

Fees for Religious School and Bet Mitzvah are fixed and separate from Community Commitment, so that we can plan and provide exceptional Jewish education for our children.

[For the current schedule of suggested Community Commitment amounts, Religious School tuition and Bet Mitzvah fees, click here.]

How does Community Commitment Membership Work?
If you are interested in joining East End Temple, please complete a membership application (see link below). You will be able to make your Community Commitment pledge within the application process.

Information is subject to change.

Click here to begin the application process.

We thank you for inquiring about joining East End Temple and hope to welcome you into our community.

East End Temple stands in solidarity with Jewish groups targeted in acts of anti-Semitism. We pray for the fulfillment of the vision of the prophets that “each person shall sit under their vine and under their fig tree and no one shall make them afraid.” (Micah 4:4)

Please visit the Anti-Defamation League web site, below, for reliable and up-to-the-minute information. And please be in touch with Rabbi Stanton or Cantor Ginsburg to discuss personal concerns. https://www.adl.org/