OUR COMMUNITY

O

ur claim to fame is 
that the Union for 
Reform Judaism has 
told us we’re the fifth old-
est Reform congregation in 
America. We’re very proud 
of that,” Rabbi 
Michael Schadick 
said. 
“We’re as wel-
coming as we can 
be to all people. 
We have a big tent 
kind of congrega-
tion, whether 

 
you’re Jewish and married to 
a non-Jew, whether you come 
from a more traditional back-
ground, whether you’re simply 
someone who is exploring 
Judaism, we have a diverse 
population here.” 
Temple Emanuel, Grand 
Rapids’ Reform congregation, 
was founded in 1857 and 
occupied two rented struc-
tures until 1881 when the con-
gregation built its first home 
on the corner of Fountain and 
Ransom streets.

Organized by five German 
families who fled the restric-
tive laws of Europe, its mem-
bership remained largely 
Germanic until the 1890s 
when Eastern European Jews 
began to move into the Grand 
Rapids area.
In 1952, the present 
Temple building was erected, 
designed by California archi-
tect Eric Mendelsohn. The 
1,000-square-foot mural in 
the sanctuary is the creation 

of painter Lucienne Bloch 
Dimitroff, daughter of the 
American composer Ernest 
Bloch and protege of Diego 
Rivera.
In 1992, the Congregation 
initiated Atid, which funded a 
major renovation of the sanc-
tuary and public spaces. The 
second phase of Atid renovat-
ed and expanded the library 
and classrooms.
Schadick has been the rabbi 
of Temple Emanuel since July 
2000. Cantor David Fair joined 
in 2021. Rabbi Emeritus is 
Rabbi Dr. Albert M. Lewis. 
Schadick says social action 
is at the congregation’s roots, 

Social Action 
Is at Its Roots

Rabbi 
Michael 
Schadick

18 | JUNE 23 • 2022 

SYNAGOGUE SPOTLIGHT

Watch “Ask the 
Rabbi” with 
Rabbi Schadick.

Grand Rapids’ Temple Emanuel does its best 
to meet the needs of a diverse population. 

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

