Central Reform Temple of Boston
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      • Rev Pam Werntz Sermons
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    • Torah Study
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      • Ukraine Refugees
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Engaging   Inclusive   Spiritual   Community          

Welcome!

About Us

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Rabbi Shire leads the procession carrying the Torah scrolls to the new Ark on Rosh Hashanah followed by Michael Scanlon and Jill Silverstein. Photos by Jesse Kiefer
The word rabbi means "teacher" and our rabbi embodies that title in a very special way. Reading his sermons is a wonderful way to reach a deeper understanding of the ethics that support our faith tradition. 
Rabbi Shire's Sermons Now Posted
​in print and video

Wherever you are on your spiritual journey,
the focus of Central Reform Temple of Boston is to provide everyone
with a home for growth and new horizons.
We are a house of prayer for all people.

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click here to See photos, sermons, and REsources

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​Emmanuel Center Movie Night​

Thursday, January 15, 2026, 7:00pm
Our next Emmanuel Center Movie Night is THIS WEEK, Thursday January 15th at 7:00pm (note that this is a new day of the week). Our film will be Meet the Patels (2014), and Susan Frank will be our facilitator.
​SUMMARY: This is a documentary that follows Ravi Patel, a first-generation Indian-American approaching 30, allows his traditional parents to guide him through the Indian matchmaking process. 
All are welcome to the conversation.​
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
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Shabbat Service
​ONLINE ONLY

Friday , January 23, 6:30pm
During the months of January and February, our Shabbat Services will be ONLINE ONLY. As always, we will be led by Rabbi Shire and accompanied by our CRT musicians. Everyone is welcome. 

​Keep up with everything going on at CRT, including Zoom links to multicast services,  by reading our weekly newsletter "The Week Ahead." If you would like to be on the newsletter list at CRT, 
email 
​
info@centralreformtemple.org​​​​
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​​CRT Book Group on Zoom​​

Sunday, January  25, 6:00pm
Our next book  will be The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon 2000. This book is fun to read. Spanning continents and eras, by one of America’s finest writers remains one of the defining novels of our modern American age.
SUMMARY: A sensitive and soulful man earns a living by writing personal letters for other people. Left heartbroken after his marriage ends, he becomes fascinated with a new operating system which reportedly develops into an intuitive and unique entity in its own right. He starts the program and meets "Samantha", whose bright voice reveals a sensitive, playful personality. Though "friends" initially, the relationship soon deepens into love.​​​​
Available on Amazon
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Shabbat Service
​ONLINE ONLY

Friday , February 13, 6:30pm
During the month of February, our Shabbat Services will be ONLINE ONLY. As always, we will be led by Rabbi Shire and accompanied by our CRT musicians. Everyone is welcome. 

​Keep up with everything going on at CRT, including Zoom links to multicast services,  by reading our weekly newsletter "The Week Ahead." If you would like to be on the newsletter list at CRT, 
email 
​
info@centralreformtemple.org​

​Torah Study 
ONLINE ONLY

Saturday, February 14 at 10:00am
We will gather for Torah study on Saturday, February 14th, 10:00am.
We will meet ONLINE ONLY. Bring your coffee and bagel and settle in to some study time with Rabbi Shire. Everyone is welcome. ​
​Keep up with everything going on at CRT, including Zoom links to multicast services,  by reading our weekly newsletter "The Week Ahead." If you would like to be on the newsletter list at CRT, email 
​
info@centralreformtemple.org​​

Emmanuel Center Movie Night​

Thursday, February 19 at 7:00pm
Our next Emmanuel Center Movie Night will be on Thursday February 19th at 7:00pm (not that this is a new day of the week). Our film will be Her (2013), and Bob Frank will be our facilitator. We are ONLINE ONLY.
SUMMARY: A sensitive and soulful man earns a living by writing personal letters for other people. Left heartbroken after his marriage ends, he becomes fascinated with a new operating system which reportedly develops into an intuitive and unique entity in its own right. He starts the program and meets "Samantha", whose bright voice reveals a sensitive, playful personality. Though "friends" initially, the relationship soon deepens into love.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
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View Calendar Events

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Central Reform Temple of Boston is a uniquely welcoming community that embraces the richness of the Jewish tradition. Our worship, conducted primarily in English, is inclusive and accessible. We offer a warm, unconditional welcome to all who seek to join us in worship, study, and service, without regard to religious background or beliefs. One need not be born Jewish, be able to read Hebrew, or convert to Judaism to be a full, participating member of Central Reform Temple. Interfaith families and people of all faiths, including the unaffiliated, are fully embraced. Members of the LGBTQ community are a vibrant part of our Temple family.
With a focus on adult programming and social justice, we strive to be engaged with each other both within and outside our Shabbat, Festival, and High Holy Day Services. Our one-of-a-kind covenant relationship with Emmanuel Episcopal Church with whom we share our spiritual home, integrates us both physically and ideologically within the Back Bay interfaith community.
Membership & Donations
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Our Rabbi

Rabbi Dr. Michael Shire joined Central Reform Temple of Boston as part-time rabbinic leader on July 1, 2022. Rabbi Shire also holds the title Rabbi in Residence at Emmanuel Church in the city of Boston. He is Professor of Jewish Education at Hebrew College.
More About Rabbi Shire
View and Read Rabbi Shire Sermons
Link to Press Release for Publication

From the Rabbi's Study

Perhaps the single most practical thing Judaism has offered to the world, is the distinction between the working week and a day of rest. This concept of Shabbat first conceptualized in the Hebrew Bible and then spun into a myriad forms has been applied by every Civilization through the ages to provide a cessation in the unceasing drive to have, to own and to obtain more! 
For as Abraham Joshua Heschel stated in his Classic work, ‘The Sabbath’, Shabbat is rather a time to be, to become, to be open to wonder...
Continue reading
Rabbi Dr Michael Shire leads the evening service on Erev Rosh Hashanah to welcome the New Year with prayers and songs and his thoughts on the meaning of the season. Our High Holy Day quartet with organ accompaniment by Andrew Mattfeld once again provides the beautiful music to enhance our prayer. Enjoy this opportunity to enjoy this service for the first time or revisit again. Service documents for this service available at https://www.crtboston.org/service-pdf-links.html. Music covered by JLicense.
We invite all to come home to their Jewish family at the High Holy Days - whether friends, relatives, or new connections made as we pray together in our magnificent sanctuary. Raise your voice in song and words throughout this sacred time. We begin the penitential period in the Hebrew month of Elul with Selichot. This meditative and beautiful service prepares us for the coming season, with its familiar melodies of the High Holy Days and ancient and contemporary liturgy. Visit CRTBoston.org if you would like to join Central Reform Temple of Boston this holiday season.
​Register to ensure you can access the services online or in person for any of our High Holy Day services. Security is paramount for all of us in these troubled times. Be sure to register as early as possible.

Subscribe to this channel for notifications when new services are posted. Music :JLicense # A-700671 #CRTBoston

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Subscribe to Central Reform Temple YouTube Channel

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Enjoy CRT Shabbat Services “on demand” on the temple YouTube channel. When you subscribe you will be notified by email each time a new video is uploaded. Experience CRT services for the first time, review a service you missed, or relax into prayer and meditation in the middle of the week. Enjoy!

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​Central Reform Temple of Boston meets at our home in Lindsey Chapel at Emmanuel Church,
​15 Newbury Street in Boston, Massachusetts.  We welcome you to join us!

Guests who would like to receive our weekly email with information on service dates, activities, and more please email us at [email protected].
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CRT members lighting shabbat candles on Simchat Torah at The Ark - Pinner and Northwood Liberal Synagogue in UK
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CRT members study ancient Jewish manuscripts at The Bodleian Library in Oxford, UK
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Many photos courtesy of Jesse Kiefer.
6172621202    15 Newbury Street, Boston MA 02116     [email protected]

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Site by Standing Forward
  • Home
  • About
    • Mission & Values
    • Our History
    • Our Officers and Board
    • Our Rabbi >
      • From the Rabbi's Study
      • Sermons
    • Classical Reform Judaism
    • CRT & Emmanuel Church >
      • Rev Pam Werntz Sermons
    • Emmanuel Center
  • Worship
    • CRT YouTube Channel
    • Shabbat Services
    • High Holy Day Services
    • Holy Days & Festivals
    • Service PDF Links
  • Learning
    • Torah Study
    • Shomrei Adamah
    • Social Action >
      • Ukraine Refugees
      • Climate Action
      • Racial Justice
      • Serving Our Community
    • Interfaith Dialogue
    • Emmanuel Center
    • Reading List
  • Events
    • Calendar
  • Donations
  • Membership