Belonging is at the core of who we are. At Temple Chai, we work to create a place where everyone who walks through our doors not only feels welcomed but truly seen, valued, and known. We begin with the belief that every person carries innate dignity. With that as our foundation, we strive to ensure that our community is free of bias and open to all.

We welcome you as you are. Your abilities, age, appearance, economic status, ethnicity, gender, marital status, national origin, parental status, race, religion, or sexual orientation are never barriers to being part of our community. Each of us brings a unique story and each individual and family is beautifully different. There is no single “Temple Chai family.” There are many ways to belong here.

Interfaith and Diverse Faith Backgrounds

Temple Chai embraces Jews, members of Jewish households, and families of different or no faith backgrounds. Our practices reflect this value in many ways.

• Family members from different or no faith traditions are included fully unless they ask for a different level of participation.
• Our clergy officiate at weddings for interfaith couples and celebrate baby namings, brit milah (bris ceremonies),  B-mitzvah for children of interfaith families, and confirmation.
• We build relationships with other faith communities through shared programs and ongoing partnerships.
• Parents, grandparents, and caregivers of any faith background are welcome to take part in their family’s Jewish learning.
• Anyone who shares our mission and values can participate in all Temple Chai programs and may serve in leadership roles within our community.

Accessibility

We are committed to making Temple Chai accessible, supportive, and welcoming for people of all abilities. Our goal is to help every person participate with dignity and independence. Current accommodations include:

• Livestream access for services and programs
• Large-print prayer books
• Wheelchairs available onsite
• A ramp to access our bimah
• Staff assistance from your vehicle when needed
• Individualized support in our Religious School and throughout the B-mitzvah journey

LGBTQIA+ Community

Temple Chai welcomes individuals and families of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Whether single or partnered, with or without children, LGBTQIA+ members are invited to participate fully in every aspect of congregational lifeand are important and valued members of our community.

Weddings

We joyfully support all who choose to sanctify their union through Jewish ritual. Our clergy officiate at same-gender weddings as well as weddings between Jews and partners of other faith backgrounds.

B-Mitzvah

We are committed to creating a meaningful, welcoming, and personal B-mitzvah experience for every learner. This includes honoring each person’s full identity.

Gender Identity

We honor each person’s right to be called by the name and pronouns that best reflect who they are. We also believe that every individual should have access to restrooms where they feel comfortable. Temple Chai’s new building offers separate all-gender restroom.