RABBI MICHAEL A. DAVIS
A Rabbi committed to our congregation and our community.
A third generation Reform rabbi, Rabbi Davis has been the spiritual leader of Congregation Emanu-El since August 1995. He has extensive experience in Jewish education, communal activities, programming and multi-cultural work.
In addition to contextualizing Judaism for our congregation, Rabbi Davis is extensively involved in the larger community. While lecturing at Southwestern College, Wichita State University, Butler Community College, Bethel College, and Newman University or welcoming groups of students from local high schools and colleges as well as confirmation classes and youth groups from local churches - Rabbi Davis has a welcoming, engaging approach to understanding our faith, worship, traditions, and experiences.
Rabbi Davis is also a Chaplain for the local Police and Sheriff and is a leader in the Beyond Tolerance movement here in Wichita as well as an active participant in Diversity Kansas, the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ), Inter-Faith Ministries, and other community groups that focus on a mutual respect for all people, all religions, and all those who seek to make Wichita, Kansas, and the world a better place.
A graduate of Indiana University (B.A, Religious Studies) and ordained by the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York (a post-denominational rabbinical seminary), Rabbi Davis has also studied and furthered his formal training at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem, Israel, and Cincinnati, Ohio as well as the Center for Studies in Jewish Pastoral Care at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.
Originally from New York, Rabbi Davis served as rabbi of Temple Beth El in Port St Lucie, Florida and Temple Sinai in Forest Hills, New York before taking our pulpit.
A WORD OF WELCOME . . .
Welcome to Congregation Emanu-El. The Wichita Jewish community - specifically Emanu-El - has a long and rich history and a promising future. Founded in 1885, we are the oldest Jewish Congregation in Kansas and we are the home of Reform Judaism in southeast Kansas. For more than 130 years we've welcomed Jews and the curious to participate in our services and community.
Today, we have more than 100 families active in our congregation and we range in age from nine months to 90+ years. We have diverse backgrounds and perspectives and we have all arrived at and participate in our faith in unique ways. I'm proud of our congregation and the special community we have built.
Our Adult Education and Worship committees examine our past and traditions and our Youth Group and Religious School assure our future and evolution. Our Sisterhood and Brotherhood groups are tireless in their efforts to ensure our sanctuary and campus are always filled with joy and a welcoming dynamic. We are collaborative in worship and social activities and in our discussions of where we are and where we are going.
Deeply rooted in Tikkun Olam (repairing our broken world) we understand our mandate to live by Jewish ideals including welcoming the stranger, doing unto others and you would have done unto you, and appreciating the world around us.
I hope you'll join us for a service or class, to participate in our social events, or for a chat about your interests in our congregation and faith and how you might get involved. I am certain you'll find our congregation and community as welcome as my family and I have.
President
Scott Wagner
Scott Wagner was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and attended the Tree of Life synagogue in Squirrel Hill. He personally knew victims of the October 2019 massacre.
A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh’s AFROTC, he obtained his commission in the United States Air Force and attended pilot training in Columbus, Mississippi. After a twenty-year military career as pilot, instructor, commander, wing staff officer and commander he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel and went to work for The Boeing Company in Wichita, Kansas. As a technical writer, systems analyst, and business development professional he worked closely with the Boeing engineering team on preparing proposals and engineering technical documents for the USAF’s next-generation aerial refueling aircraft competitions.
After retiring from Boeing, he started his own proposal writing consultancy. He has a B.A. in English-Writing, an M.A. in Human Resources Development, and has served on the faculty of the Air Force’s Air Command and Staff College, the USAF’s mid-career leadership school for field grade officers. Scott has also served on the board of Big Brothers and Sisters of Sedgwick County, the board of The Independent School, is currently serving a second term as President of Congregation Emanu El, volunteers with the local International Rescue Committee, and helps the Read to Succeed program.
He is married to Tammy, a retired estate attorney, and has a daughter attending college. Their family has one beloved rescue dog and two lazy cats. His hobbies include fitness (“yeah, fit’ness pizza in my mouth”), reading history, automobilia, and gadgets.
WJCC Administrative Assistant
Hannah See
hannah.see@jsbwjcc.org
316-684-5148
WJCC Bookkeeper
Denise Bassett
Denise@jsbwjcc.org
316-684-5148