Congregation Emanu-El is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 2 Lake Street, in San Francisco, California, in the United States. Founded in 1850, the congregation is one of the two oldest Jewish congregations in California, and one of the largest Jewish congregations in the United States. A member of the Union for Reform Judaism, Congregation Emanu-El is a significant^{[clarification needed]} gathering place for the Bay Area Jewish community.

Quick Facts Temple Emanu-El, Religion ...

Temple Emanu-El
The synagogue building, in 1999
Religion
Affiliation	Reform Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Synagogue
Leadership	Rabbi Beth Singer Rabbi Jonathan Singer Rabbi Sydney Mintz (Associate) Rabbi Ryan Bauer (Associate) Rabbi Leo Fuchs (Educator) Rabbi Sarah Joselow Parris Rabbi Noah Westreich Rabbi Dr. Stephen S. Pearce (Emeritus)
Status	Active
Location
Location	2 Lake Street, San Francisco, California 94118
Country	United States
Location in San Francisco Bay Area, California
Geographic coordinates	37°47′14″N 122°27′35″W
Architecture
Architect(s)	Arthur Brown Jr.
Type	Synagogue architecture
Style	Byzantine Revival
Date established	1851 (as a congregation)
Completed	1926
Specifications
Dome(s)	One
Dome height (outer)	150 feet (46 m)
Website
emanuelsf.org

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During the Gold Rush in 1849, a small group of Jews held the first High Holy Days services in a tent in San Francisco; it was the first Jewish service on the West Coast of the United States.^[1] This group of traders and merchants founded Congregation Emanu-El sometime in 1850, and its charter was issued in April, 1851. The 16 signatories were mostly German Jews from Bavaria.

In 1860, Reform rabbi Elkan Cohn joined the Emanu-El congregation; in 1877, he led the congregation as the first in the West to join the Reform movement.^[1] As the Reform movement spread in the United States during the early twentieth century, the synagogue became affiliated with this framework.

In 1884 Julie Rosewald became America's first female cantor when she began serving in Emanu-El, although she was not ordained; and served as cantor until 1893.^[2][3]

Among its major programs today,^[when?] the congregation includes worship, youth and adult education programs, and also a major emphasis on social justice.^[4]

This section needs additional citations for verification. (January 2024)

The following individuals have served as senior rabbi of Congregation Emanu-El:

In addition, the following rabbis currently serve in supporting roles in the congregation: Sydney Mintz (Associate, since 1997), Lawrence Kushner (Scholar in Residence, since 2002), Ryan Bauer (Associate, since 2007), Jason Rodich, (since 2015), and Sarah Joselow Parris (since 2019). The following rabbis have served in supporting roles, yet are no longer in current roles in the congregation: Mark Schiftan (from 1987 until 1994), Peretz Wolf-Prusan (from 1990 until 2010), Helen Cohn (from 1993 until 205), Jonathan Jaffe (from 2007 until 2014), and Carla Fenves (from 2011 until 2020).