Temple Programming
There are many wonderful programs that Temple Israel offers. Below is a list of ongoing events. Click the events for more information, or check our calendar for times and details.
Adults Seeking Knowledge - ASK Luncheon Series
Monthly luncheon series featuring a wonderful line-up of guest speakers.
Blessing of the Newborns
Newborns born to families of our congregation are invited to Passover morning services. They will be invited to the Bimah to be blessed by their parents/grandparents and our clergy. All other siblings are invited as well as extended family.
Birkat Yeladim, Blessing of the Children
We celebrate Sukkot and the beginning of our children’s Jewish education with a wonderful morning of study, song and blessings. Our 1st grade students will receive a special gift of a Torah and participate in a special Sukkot Blessing service.
Book Clubs - Adult and Children
Temple Israel offers a variety of book clubs for all ages. Our adult book clubs have professional facilitators and diverse selections to expand your mind, stimulate your intellect, and make for fun and enjoyable discussions. Our book clubs meet on Monday mornings and Tuesday evenings.
Book Fairs
Visit our book fairs during Chanukah and Passover.
Check back soon to download the Volunteer Sign Up form.
Check back soon to see the Volunteer Recruiting Letter.
Camp Imagine
Join us for Camp Imagine, a fun-filled night under the stars. Camping takes place on the Temple Israel lawn and begins at 4 PM. The evening includes family-fun activities, delicious dinner, Havdallah, s'mores, campfire songs, breakfast in the morning and MORE!
College Connection
Do you have a student going off to college? Make sure they stay connected with Temple Israel by signing them up for our College Connection. He or she will receive information on special events occurring in the Jewish world, an invitation to a dinner sponsored by Brotherhood, gift packages for Chanukah and Passover, and more!
Concert & Lecture Series
Daily Minyan
A wonderful way to start your day, to support fellow congregants in worship, and to bond with your community. Monday - Thursday 7:30 AM, Sundays and Holidays 9 AM.
Education Shabbat
Honoring our teachers for their years of service.
Family Camp
Fantastic, Fabulous Fun Family Weekend! Join the fun at the Butzel Conference Center in Ortonville. We'll celebrate Shabbat, sing, play games, eat, and take part in a variety of fun activites in an exciting, camp environment.
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Game Day
Join us to play your favorite game. . . Canasta, Bridge, Mah Jong, Pinochle, or Euchre. Bring your friends and your favorite game and we will provide the tables and lunch.
Garden of Mitzvot
Friendly volunteers with a love and passion for gardening are needed for planting, weeding, harvesting, and delivering donations. For more information contact Michelle Lichtman at michelle@temple-israel.org.
Gesharim
This educational support/discussion group will cover topics such as Jewish holiday celebration, Life Cycle events, and creating new family traditions. Participants leave each session with hands-on practical information for helping to create their Jewish homes. The sessions are taught at no charge by Temple Israel’s clergy and Jewish educators. Each class includes a support discussion allowing participants to share stories about their Judaic experiences. Gesharim meets once a month in the evening at a private home in the West Bloomfield area.
The Goodman Family Judaic & Archival Museum
Are you looking for a special way to honor someone you love? Consider dedicating a beautiful piece of Judaic artwork. By making a gift to the Museum in honor or in memory of a loved one, or in honor of a life cycle event, you will be part of the continuing legacy of a permanent Judaic collection which will be enjoyed by Temple Israel for generations to come.
Grandparents Club
Temple Israel’s Grandparents Club offers special programs for Grandparents to share with their grandchildren, including our annual fall outing to Upland Hills Farm!
Flavors of Fall
Join our clergy at the Franklin Cider Mill to sample tasty treats, enjoy good company and participate in festive fall activities. . .fun for the whole family!
Housing the Homeless
Each year, Temple Israel's Social Action Network sponsors The South Oakland Shelter Housing The Homeless Project. We host homeless men, women, and children for one week as part of Temple Israel's commitment to Tikkun Olam.
Imagine A Day at the Park
Join us for a spectacular fun-filled day the the park. Enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch, petting farm, bike trails, boating, canoeing, fishing, nature center, swimming, and more, followed by games and fun with your Temple Family.
Kever Avot
Temple Israel’s Robert Sosnick Family Life Center proudly presents it’s annual program, Kever Avot: The graves of our Ancestors, a Fain Award-winning program, sponsored by the Ira Kaufman Chapel. Volunteers accompany residents of area assisted-living facilities to local cemeteries, keeping with the Jewish custom of visiting the gravesites of loved. Without this special program, many of the participating senior adults would have no way to get to the cemetery or find the appropriate grave.
Labor Day Picnic
Annual picnic on Labor Day, opened to the entire community at Temple Israel. Volunteers are needed to help at the various stations throughout the day.
Magic Hugs
Temple Israel's Social Action Netwrok invites you to get out your knitting needles and help us warm the hearts of sick children as we create Magic Hugs. Magic Hugs are tiny blankets that are wrapped around Beanie Babies and delivered to children in hospitals.
Motor City Mitzvah Day
Volunteers will help revitalize a Detroit neighborhood. For more information contact Michelle Lichtman at michelle@temple-israel.org.
New Member Reception / Shabbat
New Members are welcomed and integrated into the Temple Israel community. Each fall, new members are invited for a dessert reception and visit to our sukkah to meet Temple’s staff, clergy and Executive Committee. The New Member Initiative begins in February and is a three-session series which allows new members to learn more about Temple, meet other new members and get involved in various programs and volunteer opportunities.
New Member Tree Dedication
Temple Israel Families. . .Still growing. The Temple Israel New Member Initiative has a Tree Dedication each year.
A tree will be planted honoring all new members who joined Temple Israel during theat calendar year.
No Temple Family Without Holiday
Temple Israel's Robert Sosnick Family Life Center needs your help at Chanukah! As part of our "No Temple Families Without Chanukah" we are in need of volunteers and donors to be "Shamas" or "Chanukah Helpers" (a shamas is the candle used to light all other candles in the menorah.)
Oakland County Sheriff's Derby Day
The Oakland County Sheriff's Office hosts it's Annual Derby Day at Dodge Park on Cass Lake. Our Caring Community and other Temple volunteers are needed to help the mentally and physically challenged children have a fun-filled day fishing, boating, and playing games.
Pajamas, Pancakes, and Prayer
Together, we’ll enjoy a delicious pancake dinner in our pajamas, celebrate the end of Shabbat with Havdallah and learn about special Jewish bedtime rituals!
Play Groups
Enjoy Temple Israel's fun play groups, perfect for the youngest members of your family!
Shabbat Tisch
Immerse yourself in the texts of Jewish tradition. We meet in the Executive Conference Room. Saturdays 9:30 - 10:30 AM. Everyone is welcome! Please join.
Relay for Life
Volunteers will help us man our tent and/or take turns walking the track for this American Cancer Society annual event.
Rosh Chodesh
Join Rabbi Marla Hornsten to celebrate the new moon and a new month. For details and to RSVP, please contact Linda Newman.
Schulze Elementary Literacy Program
Temple Israel partners with Schulze Elementary School as part of our literacy program. Dedicated volunteers give their time during the school day to help struggling readers in grades K-3. Originally constructed in 1925, Schulze was torn down and reopened in 2002 as a state-of-the-art learning facility in the Detroit Public Schools. For more information contact Michelle Lichtman at michelle@temple-israel.org.
Senior Adult Programming
The Robert Sosnick Family Life Center in conjunction with the Caring Community presents offers a fabulous series of Senior Adult Concert Programming.
Shabbat Mishpacha
A family Shabbat experience for parents and their children. Join us for a service of music and movement followed by a family friendly Shabbat dinner. For more information and to RSVP for dinner please contact Sandi at 248-661-5700 or sandi@temple-israel.org.
Shabbat Unplugged
It's outdoors and unplugged! Experience Shabbat like never before - join us for a joyful, prayerful, song-filled, rocking, jumping, moving, spiritually soothing Shabbat worship experience for everyone.
Summer Shabbat Picnics
Senior Shabbat Luncheon
Join us for a warm, friendly religious experience followed by a light lunch. We welcome and encourage all to attend.
Shelter Parties
Yad Ezra
Volunteers will meet at the Yad Ezra offices to help deliver food to the homebound. For more information contact Michelle Lichtman at michelle@temple-israel.org.
Young Adult Cooking Classes
Classes for our Imagine Young Adults that will enliven your taste buds and teach you to create meals that will have your friends and family raving.
Youth Programming - JYFTI and YFTI
Temple Israel offers several activities for our youth to participate in. Our youth organizations are split into age groups, JYFTI 456 (Junior Youth Federation of Temple Israel) 4th - 5th grade Hevrah, 6th grade Avodah, JYFTI 78 and 7th & 8th grade Mechinah. And, YFTI, Youth Federation of Temple Israel, a Temple Affiliate and a member of NFTY - the National Federation of Temple Youth, is an organization comprised of all Temple Israel High School youth.
Annual Alicia Joy Techner Memorial Parenting Conference
Purim Spiel
Teen Mission to Israel
Click here to Register Online for the July 2012 Teen Mission To Israel