Presidential Message

As we enter the month of January, I want to extend my warmest wishes to each of you for a joyful, healthy, and peaceful New Year. I hope your holiday season—whether marked by the lights of Hanukkah, the warmth of Christmas with family, or the simple blessings of time together—brought meaning and renewal to your home. The turning of the calendar invites us to reflect, reconnect, and look ahead with optimism for all that 2026 will bring to our Temple community.

This past month, our leadership took an important step in strengthening the safety and preparedness of Temple Emanu-El. We conducted a Table-top Security Exercise with participation from our Board of Directors, staff, and key members of our congregation. This exercise was guided by our partners at the Secure Community Network (SCN), including Michael Shanbrom, whose expertise and steady approach helped us evaluate real-world scenarios and refine our response plans.

We were also joined by Rachel Levy, Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of Eastern Connecticut, whose insight and support continue to be invaluable, as well as representatives from the Waterford Police Department, who offered practical guidance to help ensure our building and community remain as safe as possible.

I want to extend a very special and heartfelt thank-you to our Security Chairman, Rich McCaffrey. Rich has dedicated countless hours—much of it behind the scenes—to making sure Temple Emanu-El is prepared, protected, and aligned with best-practice security standards. His leadership made this exercise not only possible, but highly effective.

These efforts reflect our shared commitment: that Temple Emanu-El remains a welcoming, vibrant home for worship, learning, and community, while also being a place where every member, every visitor, and every child feels secure.

As we begin this new year together, I am filled with gratitude—for your participation, your generosity, your trust, and your continued partnership in building a strong and resilient congregation. May 2026 bring blessings of health, joy, and peace to you and your loved ones.

Warmly,

John Murphy

president@tewaterford.org | 860-608-0774