Temple Israel is a dynamic community that encourages members to explore and share their passions. Our diverse Tribes offer a unique opportunity to meet with others who share similar hobbies and creative pursuits to encourage inspiring conversations and lifelong connections.
*Group in formation means that the group will launch once we reach a critical mass of signups.
Click the name of the group to sign up!
∆ Indication that a group is full. You can still click the link to be added to the waitlist. Faith Ruch will be in touch.
Shabbat Supper Clubs
Shabbat Supper Clubs – Let us help you find a group of friends to light candles and break bread with each month. If you already have a couple of friends who are interested, bring them along and we can help you form a full group.
Food & Culture
Tandoori Tribe – This group of foodies gets together once a month to enjoy Indian food for lunch! Led by Faith Ruch
∆Grape Expectations – L’chaim! Join old friends and make new ones to explore wines across the world from Napa Valley to Sicily to Chile, grape varietals from Cabernet Sauvignon to Chenin Blanc, and wine budgets from sippin’ on the back porch to special occasions. Led by Cary & Wendy Rotter
Barley and Brachot– Beer lovers, this is the group for you! Tour local breweries, sample beers, and explore their profiles, and learn to make our own beer together! Led by Aaron Kanowitz
Global Jewish Cooking (NEW) – Interested in trying Jewish food outside of your (or your bubbe’s) traditional recipes? Global Jewish Cooking is a four-part series planned around Jewish holidays that meets on Sundays from 2-4 PM at the home of Melissa & Rich Faber, beginning Dec. 15 through June 1, 2025. During these sessions, participants will travel the culinary byways of Morocco, Central Asia’s Silk Road, Mexico, and of course, Israel. Join them to explore, nosh, and enjoy! Limited to 8 members. Led by Melissa Faber
Israeli Cooking Comes to Memphis (NEW) – On the third Thursday of each month at 6 PM, from January to April, Eleanor Tallie Steinberg and Judy Bearman will lead cooking enthusiasts on an adventure from the streets of Israel to our southern roots in Memphis at the home of Judy & David Bearman. We invite those who love making food to join us as we explore the interwoven cuisine that makes Israel the crossroads of Mediterranean food culture. Limited to 10 members. Led by Judy Bearman & Eleanor Steinberg
Shabbat Lunch Bunch (NEW) – This TI Shabbat Supper Club is for members who don’t drive at night! Join them at noon on the third Saturday of each month at a different restaurant chosen by Tribe members for a filling and fulfilling Shabbat lunch with your Temple friends! They aim to form new friendships, deepen existing ones, and try some great new spots around town over even better conversation as they lean into the comfort and community innate to Shabbat. Led by Russell Strauss
Wandering Jews (NEW) – This Tribe of travelers, whether single or coupled, will meet monthly to plan trips taken in a safe group with the shared goals of adventure, exploration, and connecting with fellow Temple wanderlusters. They’ll start with smaller field trips and day trips, building up to larger group trips guided by seasoned trip planner Michele Buring. Whether the destination is ten, fifty, or a few hundred miles away, the itinerary for this group always includes enhancing joy, facilitating lifelong learning, and building memories! Led by Michele Buring
Sports, Health, & Wellness
TI Tennis Team – Calling all tennis lovers! This group meets for fun, recreational, match play and round robins at local courts. Singles, doubles, and mixed doubles, all levels of play welcome! Let’s get out there and play some good, friendly tennis! Led by Cathy Poulin
Rock Climbing – You’re never a stranger in a climbing gym. Join other climbers of all levels to connect, learn new skills together, and have fun through monthly climbs at High Point. Challenge yourself to achieve new heights in a safe environment. Community starts with a climb! Led by Rachael Brill and Kate Basar
Golfing Dads – Grab your clubs, leave the kids at home, and enjoy a day on the course with the guys! This group for dads who golf aims to connect men in the community through love of the sport, good conversation, great weather, and maybe even a cold one or two. We play on public courses in the Memphis area and look forward to meeting you on the green at tee time! Led by Adam Saslawsky
Outdoors
Outdoors Enthusiasts – This group will participate in a variety of outdoor activities in and around the Midsouth area, from hiking and camping to boating. This group is best suited for those able to complete intermediate + levels of activity and exertion. Led by Jason and Kayla Salomon
Temple Trail Walking (Young Moms) – Enjoy the company of friends and your little ones, and get some exercise while in the presence of peace and nature on our very own newly renovated Temple Israel nature walking trail and other local trails in the East Memphis and Germantown area! Please note for dates scheduled on-site that the Temple Israel trail is natural/unpaved and is unsuitable for strollers that are not “all-terrain.” Led by Sophie Samuels
Weekday Walkers (NEW) – Need to stretch your legs? Then join the Weekday Walkers each Wednesday morning at 9:30 as they walk the 2.25 miles around Patriot Lake at Shelby Farms. The walk starts at the Shelby Farms Visitor Center next to Belltower Coffee. All are welcome, including strollers! Led by Cindy Finestone
Music
Concert Crew – Do you like/love all types of live music? Our tribe sets out to discover new and old bands and different types of music to explore, listen, and engage our souls to the sounds and songs of music as a whole. Led by Ross Meyers
Arts & Crafts
Hooks & Needles – Join us monthly for great conversation paired with the therapeutic art of knitting, crocheting, and needlepoint. Whether you’re more of a needle or hooks person, this is the group for you to build friendships while exercising your creativity. This Tribe also participates in mitzvah projects like making hats for the homeless and lap blankets for nursing home residents. Led by Rebecca Belz and Marlene Siegel
Games
Board Gamers – This is a group for people in their 20s and 30s to get together and play [not just] board games. Whether it’s old classics like Monopoly or Taboo, or new games with fun twists, we are ready to play! Led by Courtney & Sam Charney
Board Gamers (40s plus) – This is a group for people 40 and older to get together and play [not just] board games. Whether it’s old classics like Monopoly or Taboo, or new games with fun twists, we are ready to play! Led by Megan Rubenstein
∆Beginner Bridge – Beginner Bridge for people who have never played bridge before. Three reasons to play bridge – enhance your memory skills, interact with other people, and unlike other activities that require physical ability, it’s a game that you can play throughout your life. Led by Leslie Brucker
∆Intermediate Bridge – Intermediate Bridge for people who have played bridge previously and want to take their game to the next level. Not only will you improve your bidding skills and play of the hand you will also learn defensive techniques that are especially important since you are on defense 50% of the time. Led by Leslie Brucker
Spirituality/Jewish Learning
Say Chai Chavurah – Say Chai Chavurah is a bi-monthly fellowship initiative that will provide not only Jewish learning opportunities focusing on Judaism and Israeli culture but will also provide a space for checking in with one another. Join us virtually every other week on Thursdays at 10 AM to learn, laugh, and “say Chai!” Check the calendar for specific dates.
Torah Study – Join us weekly on Saturday morning at 10 AM for Torah Study with Temple Israel’s greatest teachers! Find the schedule on our calendar.
Israel
Israel Book Club – Do you wish that you knew more about Israel and its history? Hungry for context on Israel’s current war? Join our new Israel Book Club led by Rabbi Jeff Dreifus. Books and meet-up dates will be sent to the registrant upon sign-up. If you have any questions, please reach out to Faith Ruch, faithr@timemphis.org.
Run for Their Lives (NEW) – Run for Their Lives is a community-based, grassroots movement in over 220 cities globally whose purpose is to call for the immediate release of all hostages held in Gaza. Run for Their Lives Memphis gathers to walk for 18 minutes every Sunday at 9 AM in Sea Isle Park. The walk is open to all who are aligned with the mission — regardless of religion, race, or identity. It is a non-political, non-sectarian event meant to maintain focus on the plight of the hostages, thereby not allowing the situation to become “normal,” and to provide a weekly, global outpouring of support for the families of those held captive. This Tribe will gather with Run for Their Lives Memphis every Sunday morning until all of the hostages come home! Please enter your mobile number when signing up so that the Tribe leaders can add you to the WhatsApp group where they manage communications and updates. We meet next to the playground at Sea Isle Park. Led by Hannah Chanin, Eleanor Steinberg
Book Clubs
Modern Jewish Authors Book Club – We will select various books by modern Jewish authors to discuss over snacks or meals at TI Crosstown. Led by Sara First and Alex Sunshine
Identity Groups
Pride Tribe – This group is designed for and by members of our LGBTQ community. By signing up, you will receive updates on the group, events, and other exciting information. Led by Jason Ring
Diaspora: Jews of Color – Where vibrant cultures and diverse narratives converge to create a tapestry of shared experience! This dynamic Tribe, for those who identify as Jews of color, provides a nurturing space for individuals with diverse backgrounds to celebrate their unique identities, foster meaningful connections, and collaboratively elevate awareness of the multifaceted Jewish diaspora. Join us in weaving together stories, traditions, and aspirations to enrich our community and nourish the spirit of inclusivity. Led by Lulu Abdun
Tikkun Olam Groups
Community Engagement and Empowerment
Team Glean -Team Glean is a nationwide effort to end hunger and reduce food waste through gleaning, the practice of redistributing quality produce that otherwise would be discarded. Every Thursday afternoon, Temple volunteers, ages 21+ or children with a guardian, gather at the Agricenter Farmer’s Market to collect fruit and vegetables generously donated by the vendors there, then organize and deliver the produce to Plough Towers for the residents. Led by Jan Reisman and Rebecca Fox
Team Read – The mission of the Team Read tutoring program is to help students improve the academic achievement of second graders in reading by pairing each participating student with a caring volunteer tutor. Led by Penny Lewis
Room in the Inn – Room in the Inn-Memphis is a ministry that serves people experiencing homelessness. The program provides emergency shelter and meals during the coldest months of the year—November through March. There are many ways to get involved, including setting up, greeting, providing or serving a meal, staying overnight with our guests, and cleaning up on Monday mornings. Led by Marcy Stagner
Green Team (NEW) – The Green Team will meet on the fourth Sunday of each month at 11:30 AM in Temple Israel’s adult lounge for educational discussions on topics of sustainability, recycling, and other methods of fostering the health of our planet and those who inhabit it with the goal of sharing ideas on ways to benefit Temple, ourselves, and the broader community. Led by Carolyn Mizne
Social Justice
Gun Violence Prevention – Help reduce gun violence in our city! We will partner with organizations in Memphis that aim to prevent gun violence by supporting youth (mentoring, school supply or toy drives), participating in community events to raise awareness, and contacting our leaders to advocate for ways to stop the killing. Led by Rochelle Fenton and Susanne Landau
Temple Community
Temple Cares – Temple Cares is a network of congregant-led committees in the business of serving our fellow members when and where they are most in need. Our current committees include the Meals, Bereavement Calls, and Transportation. The Meals Committee provides and delivers a home-cooked or purchased meal to Temple members and families in times of need. The Bereavement Calls Committee makes caring phone calls to grieving members who have recently lost a loved one. The Transportation Committee provides rides to our members to and from medical appointments. If you are interested in being a part of Temple Cares, email Faith Ruch. Led by Debbie Jackson
If you have an idea for a Tribe that is not listed, let us know!
Other Ways to Get Involved
We want to hear from you! If you have an idea for a new group or would like to lead a group, please let us know. We are always looking for new ideas and ways to enhance our community. Click here to share your idea.