A Reform Congregation on North Clark Drive
Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills gathers on North Clark Drive in Beverly Hills, California, where a wide circle of congregants, families, students, and visitors come together around Shabbat, holidays, study, and service. The congregation describes itself as an intergenerational community that aspires to be a mezuzah on the many doors that open to a more meaningful Jewish life, welcoming members across every stage of life.
What distinguishes Temple Emanuel is the breadth of what happens under one roof: a thriving Early Childhood Center, a K-12 religious school, weekly Torah study, an extensive music program, and a hands-on social justice effort through its Mitzvah Corps that prepares two hundred lunches every weekend for the Hollywood Food Coalition. Members speak of the temple as a place to pray, learn, volunteer, and celebrate milestones together.
Weekly Shabbat Rhythms
Shabbat at Temple Emanuel offers several entry points across Friday evening and Saturday morning.
Friday nights open with Simply Shabbat, a one-hour service from 6:15 to 7:15 p.m. blending nostalgic and contemporary melodies with a d'var Torah, the weekly teaching. For those looking for a meal alongside prayer, Shabbat @ Factor's takes the community offsite to Factor's Famous Deli, where Rabbi Aaron and Cantor Weiss lead light Shabbat prayers, a spirited song session with printed lyrics, and a moment to honor loved ones with the Kaddish. There are two seatings: 5:00 p.m. reserved for families with young children, and 6:15 p.m. open to all. Twenty percent of the evening's proceeds benefit Temple Emanuel's schools. A short online alternative, Simplest Shabbat, runs on Zoom at 5:30 p.m. and is led by Rabbinic Intern Hannah Pomerantz.
Saturday mornings center on Shabbat Morning @Emanuel at 10:00 a.m. in the Corwin Family Sanctuary, led by clergy and frequently marked by B'nai Mitzvah celebrations. A light Kiddush Lunch follows at noon, and at 12:15 p.m. the Mitzvah Corps gathers to assemble that week's lunches for the Hollywood Food Coalition.
The High Holy Days
Temple Emanuel's High Holy Days programming spans multiple services, spaces, and audiences. Erev Rosh Hashanah begins the observance at 7:30 p.m. The first morning opens with a Rosh Hashanah Family Service at 8:45 a.m. in the Corwin Family Sanctuary, featuring Soul Singers from third grade and up, junior cantors, and clergy. A parallel High Holy Days in the Yard gathering runs from 9:45 to 11:30 a.m. in the Pavilion, and the main Rosh Hashanah Sanctuary Service follows at 11:00 a.m. with both choirs. The afternoon includes a meditation on the sand and the Tashlich ritual at 5:30 p.m. A second-day service is held the following morning.
Yom Kippur begins with Kol Nidre at 7:30 p.m. The Day of Atonement unfolds across an early sanctuary service at 8:30 a.m., the High Holy Days in the Yard option at 9:45 a.m., an afternoon service at noon, a Contemporary Issues Forum at 3:00 p.m., and a Jonah reading with meditation at 4:30 p.m., followed by additional observances through the evening.
Music at Emanuel
Music sits at the center of Temple Emanuel's worship life. The community describes worship here as shaped by music that resonates, and the musical program supports both traditional liturgy and contemporary arrangements. Both adult choirs perform at major services like the Rosh Hashanah Sanctuary Service, and a junior choir of Soul Singers in third grade and up joins the Family Service on the High Holy Days.
Services are livestreamed on YouTube, and a selection of past services, concerts, and reflections is also available through the congregation's Vimeo channel.
Mitzvah Corps and Social Justice
The Mitzvah Corps is one of the congregation's most visible acts of community service. For five years, volunteers have prepared lunches for the Hollywood Food Coalition, and in the months since the Los Angeles fires began, the effort has grown to two hundred lunches each weekend. Volunteers gather at Temple Emanuel at 12:15 p.m. on Saturdays following Shabbat services to pack meals. Those interested in joining are encouraged to email [email protected], and donations toward essentials like bread, condiments, and snacks are accepted through the congregation's giving page.
The temple also maintains a page dedicated to Supporting Israel and welcomes engagement with tikkun olam and other social justice initiatives through its Community Engagement work.
Education from Preschool through Teen Years
Temple Emanuel's education programs form a continuum from the earliest years through high school.
The Early Childhood Center, known as the ECC, operates as the congregation's preschool and is housed in the same complex at 300 N Clark Drive. Classrooms, a music room, and a playground support the program.
K-12 programming is delivered through the Religious School, which gathers on Sundays and includes a teen track. The B'nai Mitzvah journey is supported through a satellite program and weekly tutoring sessions on Wednesdays from 4:00 to 6:30 p.m. Teens have their own youth group, TemTy.
The Family Center serves young families, while Lifelong Learning offers adult education across the year. Recurring adult learning options include Tune in Torah, a weekly Thursday conversation on the Torah portion led by Rabbi Jonathan Aaron via Zoom, and Sages of All Ages, an intergenerational program that meets in Belle Chapel and at Roxbury Park.
Adult Learning and Wellness
Beyond Torah study, Temple Emanuel hosts a robust slate of adult classes and wellness offerings. Recurring yoga classes meet on the temple campus, including Restorative Yoga on Tuesday mornings and Yoga: All Levels on Friday mornings in two sessions. Elul Classes are scheduled in the weeks leading up to the High Holy Days, and other adult education classes run throughout the year.
Holistic Jewish practice is also offered through Sound Bath Havdalah and a Selichot Sound Bath as part of the High Holy Days lead-up.
Community Groups Across the Life Cycle
Temple Emanuel organizes community life around groups that meet people where they are. YoPro brings together young professionals in their twenties and thirties with events like Sukkot gatherings in the sukkah and an active social calendar. ChaiVillageLA serves boomers and beyond with programs for active older adults. Sisterhood hosts gatherings such as Sisters in the Sukkah, and the Men's Club organizes comedy nights and other community events.
B'nai Mitzvah tutoring meets weekly, and the temple supports families celebrating a bar or bat mitzvah through its satellite program. Lifecycle services are woven through the congregation's ministry, with dedicated clergy messages and a Mourning at Emanuel resource for those navigating loss.
Facilities and Spaces
The temple campus at 300 N Clark Drive includes the Corwin Family Sanctuary, which seats nearly three hundred and hosts major worship services, B'nai Mitzvah celebrations, and High Holy Days observances. Belle Chapel accommodates smaller services and programs. A central Courtyard, a Pavilion, the ECC Playground, and a Foyer support community gatherings throughout the year.
The building is also home to ECC classrooms and a music room, and the congregation makes its spaces available for life events and rentals. Wedding officiation by Temple Emanuel clergy is offered as a benefit of certain memberships. Pastoral care is provided through a dedicated team.
Becoming Part of the Community
Temple Emanuel offers several paths into congregational life. Adult Membership is the standard option for households. Young Professional Membership is available to adults age thirty-five and under at rates designed for individuals, two-adult households, and couples planning a wedding officiated by Temple Emanuel clergy. Pillar Membership offers recognition and benefits for those making multi-year commitments and additional philanthropic support.
Religious school families follow a separate membership structure, and a membership form is available for those ready to join. Giving is supported online with options for one-time donations, honor and memorial tributes, and legacy giving. The temple's newsletter, clergy messages, prayer cards, and Temple Topics blog keep the wider community connected between visits.
At its heart, Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills describes itself as a living, breathing, physical tabernacle that brings members to their community and their community to one another, a place where music lifts the spirit, study opens the mind, and shared service makes a difference far beyond the building itself.