Our building is a beehive of activity. On Sundays, our school-age children study in our Religious School, and adult congregants attend courses led by the Rabbi, Cantor, Educator, and outside scholars. On Tuesdays, following Hebrew School, our newly reorganized Upper School enjoys dinner followed by programming led by our clergy and senior staff. Adult learners also come together for enrichment throughout the week, while the Early Childhood Center extends learning opportunities to our youngest members.
In 1958, after a successful capital campaign, the first stage of our present building was completed on our beautiful five acre site, just south of the Kensington town line.
With expansions and renovations in 1974, 2002, 2008, and again during the summer of 2011, we completed the building you see today. It was designed to meet the needs of our congregation for spiritually inspiring worship space, lifelong learning, and nurturing a welcoming and caring community. Our commitment to the environment was reflected in our plans and construction. One of our innovations is a solar powered Ner Tamid (eternal light). We also made certain that every part of our building and sanctuary is accessible to those in wheelchairs or with a physical disability so we can indeed live our values as a caring community.
The Leon Adler Sanctuary, named in memory of our first Rabbi, has won national recognition, with its large windows opening onto natural surroundings and the embodiment of its theme, the ancient image of the Tree of Life, the metaphor for Torah. Under the leadership of Rabbi Stone, a visionary leader for the environment, our Temple was recognized as a green Temple and it has been given the Green Menorah Award.
Seeking the perfect site for your bar/bat mitzvah or wedding reception, special birthday or anniversary party, or retirement celebration? Temple Emanuel is there for life’s happy occasions. Whether it be a baby naming or a wedding, a Bar/Bat Mitzvah or just a private moment you would like to mark in a special way, our clergy and administrative staff are there for you.
Rabbi Adam and Cantor Lindsay will be delighted to conduct your ceremony, or in case of a personal ceremony, help you design one which will mark life cycle events in a meaningful way.
Our renovated Temple is available for social events and includes our refurbished and spacious social hall, which holds about 200 guests seated at tables, as well as our new, more intimate space, HaMakom, which seats up to 70 guests at tables. Both rooms accommodate additional guests for stand-up buffet receptions. Celebrating with your family and friends at your Temple can make an important occasion even more meaningful.
The Temple administrative staff is happy to assist with the planning and organization of your event. We have several rooms in varying sizes which can be rented, and we can also offer our kitchen and outside facilities. Please feel free to contact the office for any rental inquiry. Contact the Temple office today for all the exciting details at 301 942-2000 or office@templeemanuelmd.org.
By Car
Temple Emanuel is located at 10101 Connecticut Avenue, approximately one mile north of the Beltway (Rte. 495, exit 33) on the right.
By Public Transportation
The Montgomery County #5 Ride on Bus runs between the Twinbrook and Silver Spring stations on the Red Line. Get off at the stop on Connecticut Avenue and Knowles, across from the Safeway in Kensington. Walk south on Connecticut Avenue for about 5 minutes to get to the Temple.There is also a WMATA bus, the L8, which runs between the Friendship Heights metro station and the Glenmont train station that stops about a block from the Temple in either direction. There is a “trip planner” on the WMATA website you can use to plan a trip.
