People’s

the temple’s president. “Our members have always cared about giving back.”
Since Union Temple was founded, tikkun olam, or social action, has been a vital
component of its mission. During World War II, for example, the temple’s sisterhood

the turned its focus from sewing for themselves to producing surgical dressings for soldiers,

special
and the temple itself was ready to serve as an emergency disaster relief center. Today, the
temple encourages acts of charity, kindness, and justice year round, whether through
semi-annual food drives, letter-writing campaigns to local legislators, or volunteering
a place opportunities at the Hebrew Union
College soup kitchen. May 17 marks the
“The reform temple’s annual Mitzvah Day, which in
movement is not a past years, has included a blood drive

temple
and clothing donations. “Our sisterhood
B y E l i z a be t h Ze l m a sect; it’s a stream. has always been active,” says Rabbi Linda
There’s more that Henry Goodman, who has been with the
temple since 1992. “Their programs are
binds us all together socially conscious as well as just social.”
than separates, but Union Temple is strongly commit-
ted to arts and culture, too. The temple’s
we’re more about dinners, lectures, music, and film series
Union Temple, personal autonomy are open to anyone in the community,
and there’s no shortage of opportunities
Brooklyn’s Oldest than following for neighborhood children. “Kinder Kef,”
strict rules.” a monthly activity group for 4- to-6-
Jewish Congregation, year-olds, uses games, stories, and crafts
to teach kids about their Jewish heritage,
Thrives As A Center including traditions and blessings. A “Tot Shabbat” is hosted on the third Saturday of
each month for parents and their little ones to enjoy a morning of singing, art, and sto-
Of Social Action And ries, along with a challah snack.
The temple’s membership pool reflects the diversity of its surrounding community.
Education, Uniting The congregation is made up of an assortment of musicians, writers, and artists, as well
as lawyers and MBAs, among other professionals, many in interfaith marriages. Some
Families Of All venture to Brooklyn from Queens and New Jersey. “I’d say about 70 percent of our mem-
bers are from Prospect Heights and Park Slope, but we have very committed people who
Backgrounds don’t let geography get in their way,” says Rabbi Goodman.
The temple incorporates traditional elements into its services and programs, but
Rabbi Goodman says “progressive Judaism” is what distinguishes Union Temple from
other institutions. “The reform movement is not a sect; it’s a stream,” she says. “There’s
more that binds us all together than separates, but we’re more about personal autonomy
NT
than following strict rules.”
A T E RFRO E
W NG
For both member families and non-members from the surrounding community,
U N ! EDGE WIDE RA IES
F A IT
however, one of the biggest draws to the temple remains its popular preschool. Rabbi HAVE S OFFER LY AMEN
I U M E N D
Goodman says the school incorporates Jewish content in a way that doesn’t alienate the IN RI
DOM FAMILY F
CON
Andrew Schwartz

Students at Union Temple’s preschool.
school’s Christian and Muslim students. Fewer than half of the students are Jewish, and OF © Brown & Bigelow, Inc.,
St. Paul, MN
there is no religious education beyond the focus on holidays. “Even the non-Jewish par-
ents participate in the holiday-themed events,” like Passover potluck luncheons, Sporer
says. Parents tend to be very involved (even if their contribution to the potluck is store
bought). Three of the school’s four directors have been Christian—for Rabbi Goodman,
what’s most important is not their religious background, but that they’ve been “wonder-

O
n a recent afternoon, the students at Union Temple’s preschool in Prospect Heights celebrat-
ed their 100th day of school. To mark the occasion, the class held a party. Each child brought
in 100 objects, including individual pieces of candy and Cheerios, to decorate festive paper
hats. They even created a chain with 100 links and counted 100 bites of pizza as they hunted
for 100 hidden pom-poms.
“Kids get a sense of the passing of time as they realize how long it takes for 100 days to pass,” says
preschool Director Susan Sporer, who taught at the preschool for 10 years before taking on the role of
director in 2001. “They compare the 100 items their peers bring in and delight in counting all the way to
100.”
Emily Burke
ful educators.”
Like with any great preschool, the curriculum works to promote creativity and
individual responsibility while preparing students for kindergarten. The chickadees (2-
year-olds), sparrows, swallows, robins (all 3-year-olds), and hummingbirds (4-year-olds)
in Sporer’s care are taught by a staff of five teachers supported by aides, yoga and music CALL • VISIT • LEARN
teachers, and education specialists who ensure students are progressing on schedule. ABOUT OUR JOB CONTINGENCY & OTHER BUYER INCENTIVES
Beyond preschool, Union Temple also offers after-school religious education for chil- STUDIOS TO 3 BEDROOMS FROM $420,000 TO $2,835,000
dren in grades 1-7. Modern Hebrew and Jewish history are taught, so students acquire a
thorough understanding of customs and rituals. Drama, music, art, cooking, and writing
OPEN HOUSES AT THE EDGE SALES CENTER
are incorporated into the religious school to allow kids the opportunity to express them-

SATURDAY & SUNDAY 12-3PM

From left to right: Rabbi Linda Henry Goodman,
preschool director Susan Sporer, and president
Doris Kleuger.
While the students were reveling in the notion that they’d spent 100 days at school, the adults at
Union Temple were celebrating an even bigger anniversary. This year marks the temple’s 160th “birth-
day”—founded in 1848, it’s Brooklyn’s first Jewish congregation. While this is an important opportu-
nity for the temple’s leaders and members to reflect on the synagogue’s unique past, if there’s one thing
that makes Union Temple stand out, it’s a forward-thinking attitude and ability to reflect the needs of
its ever-evolving community. With a preschool and summer camp program popular with Jewish and
non-Jewish families alike, cultural events and classes open to the public, and an ever-expanding roster of
social outreach programs, Union Temple remains an integral part of Prospect Heights and beyond.
selves and develop their strengths. The program echoes the temple’s mission of service to
OFFICE HOURS MON-FRI 10:30AM-6:30PM, SAT & SUN 11AM-5PM
the community, so students are involved in many social action activities, including this
135 KENT AVENUE @ NORTH 6TH STREET, WILLIAMSBURG
month’s Mitzvah Day.
The temple’s summer camp is also a popular choice among Brooklyn families. De-
signed for kids between ages 2½ and 5, the camp experience includes plenty of indoor
718.222.0211 • WILLIAMSBURGEDGE.COM
and outdoor play, weekly swimming lessons, and field trips—often to the nearby Brook-
lyn Museum. (Registration for summer 2009 is still open.) Sponsor: EDGE 11211 LLC. Offering by prospectus only. The com-
plete offering terms are in an offering plan available from the spon-
“Year-round, we provide a truly vibrant, wonderful experience for the kids,” sums up sor. File #CD06-0840. Artist rendering. Equal housing opportunity.

“Above all, we are committed to education, social justice, and the community,” says Doris Klueger, Klueger. “In terms of educational opportunities, we offer families a great option.”G

20 New York Family Brooklyn | May 2009 May 2009 | New York Family Brooklyn 21