Renaissance Group

The Renaissance Group of Temple Emeth meets the changing social, educational, and lifestyle needs of "empty nesters" who no longer have children in religious school but who wish to remain affiliated with the congregation through other activities.



Over the years, we have seen the need to retain the ties to Emeth of those who are becoming less active in Temple as their children grow up and move away. Longtime members have wished for opportunities to explore new interests within the congregation. And many newer members without children in the religious school have expressed the need for activities that could help them get more out of the Temple's social, educational and religious life.



Activities are varied and have included theater parties, day trips to places of interest, pot-luck suppers, dinners at ethnic restaurants, New Year's Eve celebrations, lectures/discussion groups, and much more. These activities have helped to form and bond new friendships, often among those who previously were just acquaintances.



Since members of the Renaissance Group include some who are working full-time and some who are retired, most activities are planned during evenings and weekends. While some activities are reserved for Renaissance Group members, others are open to the Temple membership at large.



Membership is open to all members of Temple Emeth who are "fiftysomethingplus." Dues are $10 per per person, payable from September through August.



The Renaissance movement was started in 1990 at Temple B'nai Or in Morristown, NJ, as a way of retaining members whose children were no longer the ties that bound them to synagogue life. The idea caught on so rapidly that now there are more than 30 Renaissance Groups in the URJ New Jersey/West Hudson Valley Region alone. So far, this region is the only one that has embraced the Renaissance movement, although efforts are being made to encourage other regions across the country to establish their own Renaissance Groups.

Several synagogues, including Temple Emeth, have reported that membership has actually grown, thanks to the Renaissance Group, because fewer members are leaving when their children's religious school days are over and new members have actually joined in order to participate in the Renaissance Group.



The New Jersey/West Hudson Valley Regional Renaissance Coalition meets every year to share programming ideas and trade information. Temple Emeth's Barbara Kaufman is Regional Chairperson of the URJ-NJ/WHV Renaissance Coalition.



Please contact Temple Emeth Renaissance Co-Chairs Barbara Kaufman or Elaine Pollack or the Temple office at 201-833-1322 for more information and reservations.
.