Central Reform Temple of Boston
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Engaging   Inclusive   Spiritual   Community          

Welcome!

About Us

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click here to See photos, sermons, and REsources
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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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Emmanuel Center Movie Night​
​Online​

Sunday, May 18, 7:00pm
The next Emmanuel Center Movie Night will be Sunday May 18th at 7:00pm. We will be discussing the documentary film The State of Texas versus Melissa. We are pleased to have Northeastern University Distinguished Professor Dan Medwed as our facilitator. He is a leading authority on criminal law and focuses his research and pro bono activities around the topic of wrongful convictions. His book, Barred: Why the Innocent Can’t Get Out of Prison (Hachette/Basic Books, 2022), explores the range of procedural barriers that so often prevent innocent prisoners from obtaining exoneration. Professor Medwed is a founding member of the board of directors of the Innocence Network, a consortium of innocence projects throughout the world, and a former president of the board of directors of the Rocky Mountain Innocence Center. He currently serves on the board of the New England Innocence Project.
SUMMARY: Filmmaker Sabrina Van Tassel follows the life journey of Melissa Lucio, a Texas death row inmate who's facing her last appeal.
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
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Multicast Shabbat Service ​​

Friday, May 23, 6:30pm
Services in Lindsey Chapel and on Zoom. The service will be led by Rabbi Shire, The Rev Pam Werntz from Emmanuel Church will share some reflections with us, and music will be led by our Music Director, Andrew Mattfeld, joined by our talented cantorial soloists. 
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
​Zoom

Sunday, June 1, 7:00pm
We will be discussing Sarah Hurwitz's Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life - in Judaism
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After a decade as a political speechwriter—serving as head speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama, a senior speechwriter for President Barack Obama, and chief speechwriter for Hillary Clinton on her 2008 presidential campaign—Sarah Hurwitz decided to apply her skills as a communicator to writing a book . . . about Judaism. And no one is more surprised than she is....
​Sarah Hurwitz is on a mission to close this gap by sharing the profound insights she discovered on everything from Jewish holidays, ethics, and prayer to Jewish conceptions of God, death, and social justice. In this entertaining and accessible book, she shows us why Judaism matters and how its message is more relevant than ever, and she inspires Jews to do the learning, questioning, and debating required to make this religion their own." 

AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
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Rabbi Shire  at Emmanuel Church​
​In Person and YouTube

Sunday, June 1, 10:00am
Services at Emmanuel Church and on YouTube.  Rabbi Shire will be preaching.  

​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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In Person in the Public Garden

Sunday, June 13, 6:30pm
Services in the Public Garden. We will not be live streaming on ZOOM this week. An informal service using the Mishkan Tefila will be led by Rabbi Shire. There will be singing, storytelling, and kiddush.

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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In Person & Online​​​​ ​

Sunday, June 14, 10:00am
Rabbi Shire will lead Torah Study on Shabbat morning. Spending Shabbat morning in study and conversation is a wonderful way to learn more and relax in the true spirit of the sabbath.
No prior reading or previous attendance is require. ALL are welcome to attend.
​

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
More events
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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 service from Mishkan Tifila. Very special service celebrating the Bar Mitzvah of John Lissner, son of founding members Dan and Adrienne Penta-Lissner. Music provided by music director Andrew Mattfeld with cantorial soloist Amy Lieberman. Documents to support this service can be found at crtboston.org/service-pdf-links. Choose Mishkan Tifila Service 1 05092025. Music for this service covered by Jlicense. Support these services by visiting crtboston.org/donations.
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Rabbi Dr. Michael Shire lead the service with a reading by Rafe Ellinson and reflections by Boston City Councilor Benjamin Weber. Music is provided by music director Andrew Mattfeld with cantorial soloist Fausto Miro. Service text can be found on the CRT website under Worship https://www.crtboston.org/service-pdf-links. Use A Time to Reflect Shabbat Evening Service and CRT Songbook. 

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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