Temple Beth Elohim

Temple Beth Elohim Wellesley
This unusually special building was just built in 2009. While it is an active Reform Jewish Temple, it is open to all to individually visit, meditate and reflect (and/​or to join in a service.) The photos on the web site will give you a very good idea of its uniqueness and the welcoming community it houses. The building, which is situated in a wooded area, is designed to seamlessly fit into the landscape; light woods and stone and large window expanses achieve that goal beautifully. And every season is ‘the best season’ to see it.
We spent most of our time in the glorious sanctuary, sitting and taking in all the design details and outside views, and in the courtyard garden which serves as a lovely transition space to welcome you into the main building. The communal spaces in the atrium lobby’s two floors– have a number of worthwhile displays and sculptures, and further opportunities to appreciate the wealth of architectural details, and think about the wise choices that were made in creating them. Pay special attention to the color palette and the woods, stones and textiles used to all complement each other and to bring the outside in.
The Boston architects of William Rawns have received numerous awards for the Temple:
2013 AIA New England Honor Award; 2012 Faith & Form, Religious Architecture; 2012 Chicago Athenaeum, American Architecture Award; 2011 BSA Honor Award
The Temple is located only 5 minutes off Rt. ⁹⁵⁄₁₂₈. Wellesley has many architectural treasures further west in the town– including the Romanesque Town Hall, and the charming mélange of the Wellesley College campus. Leisure exploring in Wellesley will take you down some of MA’s prettiest country roads, past 18^th and 19^th c. clapboard houses and woodlands.