Temple Emanuel

What Temple Emanuel does

Temple Emanu-El is a Reform Jewish congregation founded in 1882 in Birmingham, Alabama, and is the oldest and largest such congregation in the state. It serves member families and individuals through weekly Shabbat services, High Holy Days observances, religious and Hebrew school (K-7), teen programming, adult education, lifecycle events (b'nai mitzvah, weddings, funerals), pastoral care via the Hineynu Caring Committee, four maintained cemeteries, and Tikkun Olam (social action) initiatives such as Family Promise hosting, Community Kitchens, and the Feeling Gelty Chanukah Toy Drive. The congregation operates from a historic facility at 2100 Highland Avenue South — built in 1912 and substantially renovated and expanded in a $17.5 million campaign completed in 2000 — with a sanctuary seating 720, a chapel seating 120, classrooms, social halls, a library, and a multi-level parking deck.

The congregation's technology footprint is limited to administrative and outreach tooling: a Shulcloud-based online member directory, registration, and form system; PayPal processing for online giving (with a 3% processing fee); and a YouTube-based live webcast enabling remote participation in Shabbat, High Holy Days, and Tot Shabbat services. It maintains the Rabbi Grafman Endowment Fund (est. 1979) with 175 Legacy Society members and stewards four cemeteries — Elmwood, Northside Jewish, Jasper Jewish, and Gadsden Jewish.

Temple Emanu-El operates as a member-supported non-profit. Approximately 70% of revenue derives from annual membership financial commitments, with a tiered structure that includes Affiliate ($500), Standard ($2,500 family / $1,250 individual), and six Torah Circle levels reaching $18,000+ for families. A mandatory security assessment ($300 family / $150 individual), religious school tuition, donations and tributes, Grafman Endowment gifts, and planned legacy gifts supplement dues. The temple is committed to never turning away members due to financial inability and offers graduated under-40 pricing that scales from $2,500 at age 39 down to a $36 floor at age 36, with the security assessment optional in this category. Sister congregation relationships (Bavat Ayin, Israel), joint programming with Temple Beth El Birmingham, and affiliations with WRJ, NFTY-SO, and URJ Jacobs Camp extend the institutional footprint.

Name

Temple Emanuel

Legal name

Temple Emanu-El

Website

https://ourtemple.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1882

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Temple Emanu-El is the oldest and largest Reform Jewish congregation in Alabama, founded in 1882 in Birmingham. It provides weekly Shabbat worship, religious education K-12, lifecycle services, pastoral care, cemetery stewardship, and social action programming to member families.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services (Reform Jewish Congregation)

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG), Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL), Faith-Based (Religious) K–12 Schools (EDAJABAC)

Keywords

• Reform jewish congregation
• Religious worship services
• Jewish education programs
• Lifecycle ceremonies
• Community social action

Headquarters

HQ city

Birmingham

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Annual Financial Commitment/Membership Dues: The primary revenue stream comes from annual membership dues. The temple uses a tiered membership model with varying contribution levels including Torah Circle categories (Tzedakah, Shalom, Simcha, Kavod, Berecha, Chai), Standard Membership, and Affiliate Membership. A Security Assessment is also required in addition to annual dues.
2. Donations and Tributes: One-time and recurring charitable donations made in times of joy or sorrow, acknowledged with cards to recipients and recognized in monthly bulletin unless requested otherwise. The temple manages gifts through PayPal.
3. Annual Endowment Gift Program: Annual gifts to the Grafman Endowment Fund supporting current programming and future safeguarding of the temple. Gifts can be designated to specific funds or the General Endowment Fund at the Board's discretion. Minimum suggested annual contribution is $36.
4. Religious and Hebrew School Tuition: Separate fees from membership dues covering expenses related to teachers, supplies, and meals for children. These fees do not completely cover school operating expenses, which are subsidized by the congregation's operating budget and Grafman Endowment Fund.
5. Legacy and Planned Gifts: Deferred gifts including bequests in wills, beneficiary designations of IRA or 401k, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and life insurance policy donations that provide long-term financial sustainability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Temple Emanu-El is a Reform Jewish congregation providing weekly Shabbat and High Holy Days worship services, religious and Hebrew education for K-12 students, youth and teen programming, adult education, lifecycle ceremonies, pastoral care, cemetery services across four properties, and Tikkun Olam social action programs. Membership is offered through a tiered annual dues structure and supported by a multi-million dollar endowment fund and online donation infrastructure.

Product overview

Temple Emanu-El is a Reform Jewish congregation providing religious services, worship, and spiritual community programming. The organization offers a comprehensive portfolio including weekly Shabbat services, High Holy Days observances, religious education from kindergarten through adulthood, youth programming through TEFTY and Kesher, cultural events, social action initiatives, and cemetery services. The congregation operates a gift shop (Temple Traditions), live webcasting for remote participation, and various membership engagement programs through Brotherhood, Sisterhood, and Temple Circles small groups. The synagogue does not operate as a technology product company with software offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Religious Services and Worship (Shabbat and Holy Days) Reform Jewish worship services including weekly Shabbat services (Friday evening Erev Shabbat at 6:00 PM, Saturday morning Shabbat at 10:00 AM), monthly Tot Shabbat for families with young children, and seasonal High Holy Days services for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Purim, Passover, and other holidays. Available to congregants and the broader community, with live webcast support for remote participation.
• Religious and Hebrew Education (K-12) Formal Jewish education for kindergarten through 12th grade, including Religious and Hebrew School for K-7th grade, teen programming (8th-12th grade), Bar/Bat Mitzvah and Confirmation preparation, and engagement with URJ Jacobs Camp. Tuition is set separately from membership dues and is partially subsidized by the Grafman Endowment Fund.
• Adult Education and Torah Study Continuing Jewish education and learning opportunities for adults, including bi-weekly Torah Study (Saturday at 9:00 AM at the LJCC), cultural programming, book discussions, and adult education classes. Designed to support lifelong Jewish learning among congregation members.
• TEFTY Youth Group and Teen Programming TEFTY (grades 8-12) functions as the congregation's youth group, affiliating with the North American Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) and the NFTY-Southern region. Activities include local events, regional/national conventions, social programming, and leadership development.
• Brotherhood and Sisterhood Membership Programs Affiliated auxiliary membership organizations: Brotherhood for men's engagement (President David Reese for 2025-2026) and Sisterhood (President Ginger Brook for 2026-2027), which is a member of Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ). Sisterhood supports rabbinical students, youth programs, and progressive Judaism worldwide, and runs the Temple Traditions gift shop.
• Live Webcast Services Live-streamed Shabbat services, Tot Shabbat, High Holy Days, and special events enabling remote participation for members and visitors unable to attend in person, with archived video content accessible via the Temple's YouTube channel.
• Cemetery Services Maintenance, administration, and provision of burial rights across four Jewish cemetery properties (Elmwood, Northside Jewish, Jasper Jewish, and Gadsden Jewish cemeteries), overseen by the Cemetery Care Committee. The Jasper Cemetery was transferred to Temple Emanu-El's stewardship in the year 2000.
• Hineynu (Caring) Committee Pastoral Care Pastoral care and congregational support during times of illness, bereavement, and significant life change, coordinated by the Hineynu Caring Committee and the clergy team. Supports members and families through shiva, b'nai mitzvah planning, lifecycle transitions, and other pastoral needs.
• Tikkun Olam Social Action and Mitzvah Day Social action program including the annual Mitzvah Day (100+ volunteers), Family Promise of Birmingham hosting four times per year (homeless families housed in converted temple classrooms), Community Kitchens Project serving holiday meals through Grace Episcopal Church, and the Feeling Gelty Chanukah Toy Drive serving approximately 200 children.
• Temple Traditions Gift Shop Online and in-person Judaica gift shop operated by Temple Emanu-El's Sisterhood, offering items for home ritual observance, family lifecycle celebrations, and gift-giving. Proceeds support Sisterhood programming, youth education, and camp scholarships.
• Temple Circles Small Group Connections Small-group engagement program connecting congregants around shared interests, life stages, and demographics to foster community within the larger congregation.
• Grafman Legacy Society and Planned Giving Program Formal planned-giving program offering legacy-gift vehicles including bequests in wills, IRA or 401k beneficiary designations, charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, and life insurance policy donations, providing long-term financial sustainability for the congregation.
• Membership and Annual Financial Commitment Program Tiered annual financial commitment program for congregant membership ranging from Affiliate Membership at $500 family/individual up through Standard Membership, Berecha, Chai, Kavod, Simcha, Shalom, and Tzedakah Torah Circle levels (the highest at $18,000+ family / $9,000+ individual). Under-40 members receive graduated reduced rates and optional security assessment.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serving approximately 200 children annually through the Feeling Gelty Chanukah Toy Drive
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bavat AyincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBavat Ayin is the sister congregation of Temple Emanu-El in Israel, representing a meaningful partnership that connects the Birmingham congregation with Israeli Jewish community life and spiritual resources.
• South Highland Presbyterian ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterfaith partner that joined Temple Emanu-El for a special Shabbat of Comfort, Community, and Unity service following October 7, 2023 events.
• St. Mary's-on-the-Highlands Episcopal ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterfaith partner that joined Temple Emanu-El for a special Shabbat of Comfort, Community, and Unity service following October 7, 2023 events.
• Southside Baptist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterfaith partner that welcomed Temple Emanu-El during their 18-month facility renovation in 2000 and later joined for interfaith solidarity services.
• Highlands United Methodist ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterfaith partner that joined Temple Emanu-El for a special Shabbat of Comfort, Community, and Unity service following October 7, 2023 events.
• Family Promise of BirminghamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFour times a year, Temple classrooms are converted to bedrooms to welcome homeless families for a week of housing, meals, and activities. Congregants actively provide time, money, and meals, and serve food and stay overnight with guests.
• Grace Episcopal ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuring Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, congregants volunteer to prepare and serve meals to the homeless through the Community Kitchens Project.
• Grace Klein CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Mitzvah Day service projects, including community clean-up activities.
• Temple Beth El (Birmingham)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint programming with Temple Beth El including shared religious school classes, Kesher teen programming, combined High Holy Day efforts, and interfaith community events.
• Glen Iris Elementary SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity partner for Mitzvah Day service projects including community clean-up.
• Children's of AlabamaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMitzvah Day partner receiving special gifts created by Temple volunteers for pediatric oncology patients.
• UAB OncologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMitzvah Day partner receiving special gifts created by Temple volunteers for cancer patients.
• URJ Jacobs CampcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTemple Emanu-El hosts an annual Jacobs Camp recruiting event and Jacobs Camp Shabbat. The temple provides guest faculty each summer and supports camp attendance through financial assistance scholarships.
• NFTY (North American Federation of Temple Youth)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTEFTY, the Temple's youth group, functions as a member of NFTY and the NFTY-SO (Southern) region, participating in local, regional, and national youth events.
• Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSisterhood membership includes membership in WRJ, which supports rabbinical students, youth programs, and progressive Judaism worldwide. WRJ offers Torah education, podcasts, travel opportunities, book club, and other programming.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Temple (Hebrew Benevolent Congregation, Atlanta): One of the oldest Jewish congregations in the American South, located in Atlanta. Comparable in historic significance, worship and education programming, and community-facing social action mission within the regional Reform Jewish landscape.
• Congregation Emanu-El (San Francisco): One of the oldest and largest Reform Jewish congregations on the West Coast. Shares the "Emanu-El" naming convention and comparable programming mix of worship, education, social action, cultural events, and endowment-supported operations.
• Temple Emanu-El (Dallas): A large historic Reform Jewish congregation in Dallas, Texas, with a similar name, comparable multi-tier membership model, endowment structure, and programming breadth (religious school, adult education, social action). Operates at a similar scale and serves as a useful operational benchmark.
• Temple Emanu-El (New York): One of the largest and oldest Reform Jewish congregations in the United States, sharing the same name convention. Comparable in offering worship, religious education, cultural programming, social action, and a substantial endowment — though at significantly larger scale.
• Stephen S. Wise Temple (Los Angeles): Large Reform Jewish congregation in Los Angeles where Rabbi Jonathan Miller (Temple Emanu-El's Rabbi Emeritus, 1991-2017) previously served. Comparable in congregational scale, religious school operations, and broad programming portfolio.
• Wilshire Boulevard Temple (Los Angeles): Large historic Reform Jewish congregation in Los Angeles with comparable worship, education, and cultural programming. Operates an early childhood center, religious school, and broad social action portfolio at similar congregational scale.
• Temple Israel (Atlanta): Large historic Reform Jewish congregation in the Southeast. Comparable in congregational scale, religious school operations, adult education, and social action programming — operating in the same regional Reform Jewish ecosystem.
• Temple Sinai (New Orleans): Reform Jewish congregation in New Orleans where Temple Emanu-El's Director of Congregational Engagement (Monika Singletary) previously worked at the local JCC. Comparable in congregational programming and Gulf-South regional context.
• Temple Beth El (Birmingham): The other major Reform Jewish congregation in Birmingham, Alabama. They explicitly partner with Temple Emanu-El on shared religious school classes, Kesher teen programming, combined High Holy Day efforts, and interfaith events — making them the most directly comparable local peer.

Others

• Levite Jewish Community Center (Birmingham): The local Jewish Community Center in Birmingham, listed as a community resource on Temple Emanu-El's website. Complementary rather than competitive — provides athletic, cultural, and educational programming for the same Birmingham Jewish community.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCjoduOi-Y0_ux4afLRMJHfg
• Facebookfacebook.com/templeemanuelbhm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rabbi-grafman-endowment-fund

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Temple Emanuel