Our Mission

Temple Israel, Salisbury, NC welcomes those seeking Jewish worship, learning, and fellowship. Our worship format is based on Reform Judaism, enriched by the entire Judaic fabric of culture and history. We strongly believe in creating a place and space for spiritual growth, drawing upon the many rich and varied traditions of Judaism. We honor the values, education, tradition, and culture that are contemporary as well as historical… responsive to our lives in the 21st century.

Our practice of Jewish values is encouraged through diversity and exploration in learning. All individuals and families who are interested in Jewish practice are welcomed. We promote a sense of belonging and acceptance within the congregation and the community at large.

Would you like to learn more about Judaism? Maybe you’ve been away for a while and are searching for a new home? Would you like for your children to have a religious background steeped in history and Judaic culture? Come and join the community in Salisbury and surrounding areas. We would love to welcome and meet you.

New Year's Greeting
As we look ahead to the new year of 5770 and I begin my 20th year as Temple Israel’s spiritual leader, we are planning a wonderful variety of services and activities, including two bar mitzvahs in addition to our holiday celebrations.

I’m also eagerly anticipating the publication of my new book (the fourth), which should be available from Amazon in paperback this fall. The Service of Beauty casts a contemporary light on the artistic and ethical dimensions of Jewish rituals and prayers. You’ll hear a good bit more when it appears.

I’m happy that we are now linked to the website of InterfaithFamily.com. This is a non- profit online resource for interfaith families exploring Jewish choices. Please see our Links page for more information.

On a more serious note, though we understand that life is always unpredictable, we know that this past year has been a troubling one for countless people worldwide because of the economy. As human lives are braided together like a havdalah candle, even those who have not been directly affected by a financial crisis can sense meltdowns around them.

It’s all the more important that we cultivate and celebrate the strength and beauty that we find in family, friendship, traditions, rituals, music, community and prayer. May Temple Israel provide an oasis in which we and others find comfort, sustenance and cause for celebrating.

L’shanah tovah tikateivu,
Rabbi Dr. Andrew Vogel Ettin

Journey Beyond Our Website
As Temple Israel’s spiritual leader, I am glad of your interest and I hope that you will want to be part of our congregational community. We are inclusive: we welcome Jewish and interfaith couples; singles and families; students and retirees; seekers interested in learning about Judaism or wanting to experience it more deeply. And we are glad to have visitors. Our services blend the traditional and contemporary; we strive to offer enjoyable, content-filled Jewish learning and inspirational paths to spiritual growth.

Our synagogue has a variety of services and activities each month. Our religious school, run by dedicated parents and teachers, is designed to engage students' minds and imaginations. I welcome opportunities to offer stimulating adult education and provide beautiful life-cycle ceremonies that respect Jewish traditions yet are appropriate to individual circumstances.

Our officers and committee heads as well as I will be glad to hear from you if you have questions or particular interests. We look forward to meeting you and sharing with you our plans for an exciting year of activities..

Shalom,
Rabbi Dr. Andrew Vogel Ettin

About the rabbi:

Ordained by Aleph—The Alliance for Jewish Renewal, Rabbi Ettin has been the Spiritual Leader of Temple Israel, Salisbury, NC since 1990. He served two one-year terms as interim religious leader of Temple Emanuel, Winston-Salem, NC (a Reform congregation) and has been the Jewish chaplain at Wake Forest University and formerly at the Blumenthal Home for the Aged, as well as visiting religious services leader for Congregation Emanuel, Statesville, NC. He is experienced in leading Reform, Renewal and traditional services.
He is a member of the Clinical Ethics Committee of Wake Forest University School of Medicine. A former regional Board member of the Union for Reform Judaism and former board member of its national Committee on Interreligious Affairs, Rabbi Ettin participates actively in interfaith and interracial community social and religious programs throughout central North Carolina.
His academic degrees include A.B., Rutgers College (English); M.A. and Ph.D., Washington University, (English); and M.S.J.S., Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies (Religion). In addition, he has earned a certificate in Clinical Pastoral Education from Baptist Hospital.
Dr. Ettin is Professor of English at Wake Forest University, where (in addition to English literature) he has taught Jewish studies in the departments of English and Religion and the M.A.L.S. program, the Wake Forest Divinity School and Shaw University Divinity School. In 2002 he was awarded the university’s Alumni Award for Community Service.
He is the author of three published books: Literature and the Pastoral; Betrayals of the Body Politic, a study of the South African Jewish writer Nadine Gordimer; and Speaking Silences: Stillness and Voice in Modern Thought and Jewish Tradition. He is also the author of “That Troublesome Cousin” in Jesus Through Jewish Eyes) and several articles and reviews in the area of English literature. A fourth book, The Service of Beauty: Finding Artistry and Ethics in Jewish Worship, is forthcoming in 2009.

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