June 1, 2026

Hachnasat Orchim is the Jewish value which calls on us to not merely invite people in, but ensure they feel honored, comfortable, and at home. This value is the core of our newly formed Welcome Committee dedicated to welcoming Senior Rabbi Matt Reimer into our community.

We are Amy Landis and Keith Gross, the Co-Chairs of Temple Israel’s Welcome Committee. We have served in various ways to the temple over the years and are very excited to help usher in the sixth rabbi in our temple’s history.

Though Rabbi Reimer officially starts on July 1, 2026, the committee’s work is well underway. A diverse group of members has started to discuss and organize opportunities during the summer and throughout Rabbi Reimer’s first year so that he and the congregation can truly get to know one another. As the year goes on, we invite all who are interested to work collaboratively with the Welcome Committee to generate ideas for events and find ways for members to interact with Rabbi Reimer.

Starting the week of July 6, we are coordinating Roundtables with Rabbi Reimer at members’ homes in New York City and the Hamptons. A goal of the Roundtables is to facilitate direct communication between Rabbi Reimer and members in a small group setting. Members can volunteer to host or register to attend a summer Roundtable.

Tuesday, July 7 (NYC)
Wednesday, July 15 (NYC)
Tuesday, July 21 (NYC)
Saturday, July 25 (Water Mill)
Thursday, July 30 (NYC)
Tuesday, August 4 (NYC)
Saturday, August 8 (Southampton)
Wednesday, August 19 (NYC)

REGISTER HERE

Specific start times and home addresses for a Roundtable will be shared with members soon after registration. Please be on the lookout for periodic emails from the Welcome Committee with additional event details as the planning continues.

In addition to the Roundtables, the Welcome Committee is putting together a variety of content featuring Rabbi Reimer to share with members just after July 1. This content will help introduce Rabbi Reimer to our community and allow members to start getting to know our new Senior Rabbi no matter where they may be this summer.

In the fall, the Welcome Committee will offer members the opportunity to organize intimate Shabbat dinners with Rabbi Reimer in their homes, join further Roundtables, and attend larger events at the synagogue – all while ensuring our regularly scheduled events with Rabbi Reimer are filled with enthusiasm and joy.

We are entering an exciting next chapter in Temple Israel’s storied history and welcome your support in making Rabbi Reimer’s first year at Temple Israel a tremendous success.

If you would like to learn more about the Welcome Committee or ways in which you can help welcome Rabbi Reimer to Temple Israel, please do not hesitate to contact us at welcomecommittee@tinyc.org.

Warmly,
Amy Landis & Keith Gross
Co-Chairs, Temple Israel Welcome Committee