Our son absolutely loves it here. He goes to MWF 2-year-old program with teachers Diane and Monica…read more He's obsessed. Wants to run out to school every morning. We go to a different school Tuesdays and Thursdays and he always prefers PTS -- he's very vocal about it. He literally saunters into PTS like a little movie star. Somehow the teachers and the staff are truly able to connect with my son, make him feel comfortable enough to blossom and explore the world here! He loves making challah bread every Friday and is always excited to eat his own handmade bread. He loves Shabbat Fridays where they have a dinosaur come. Anyhow, I can't say enough nice things about this school. The facilities are really nice and spacious and happy and bright. It's awesome.

My kids all attended PTS preschool and absolutely thrived there. The teachers care so much about…read morethe kids and really foster a love for school and learning. We're also members of the synagogue and the Youth Education program at PTS. We feel so welcomed and grateful for this community.

I have visited Beth Emek a few times, since my daughters were first invited to visit while…read moreattending Sunday School at a neighboring Unitarian Universalist church, as part of an interfaith effort to help young people experience faiths other than their own. Toward this same intent, I have attended a couple of times on my own. They have always been welcoming. Friday night was more oriented toward inclusion than Saturday morning, which attendees told me and I experienced. Saturday had more language that I didn't understand. On Friday, a couple of ladies invited me to join the choir. On Saturday, I joined the lunch after service, when the Rabbi sat next to me, included me in conversation and invited me to return, adding that I would always be welcome.

I sat down on the bench. Lady came out within 30 seconds to kick me off the property. Then proceeds…read moreto call in a police squad car after I had already left the premises. I see it as poor hospitality / unhappy staff. I would not bring my children here.

This is a wonderful synagogue with a very compassionate rabbi. I love the music. The sermons are…read morefantastic. Will definitely go there for services again.

I go there to learn Argentine Tango on Tuesday nights from Leslie and Rich. The dancers are…read moreusually nice, I try to help newcomers.

Members since 2004. We were immediately made to feel welcome on our first visit. Our kids…read moreattended religious school from K thru 12 and still keep in touch with their teachers. Beautiful building. Welcoming and inclusive congregation. Lots of fun and interesting programming with something for everyone. Happy to be part of this community.

Congreagation Sherith Israel is another congregation we had the pleasure of visiting the last time…read morewe were in San Francisco. Rabbi Jessica is a awesome and nice woman. We had the pleasure of introducing ourselves and talking about good things of our congregation back home. Lots of up and down stairs here inside the building. Parking structure is not bad either. Congregation Sherith Israel is a wonderful place, and beautiful place. People here are friendly and welcoming to all.

I grew up in a Catholic and Jewish background. This was my first Shabbat service since my family…read morepassed away. Everyone was very welcoming. The service was quite long ( 3 hours) and there was a lunch. The majority of the service was sung in Hebrew. My brain shut off at about an hour and a half but very nice service.

I was a Kol Shofar member from age 5 to age 23 (the last year I could go to high holiday services…read morefor free under my parents membership). My family has seen Kol Shofar change over the years from the leadership of Rabbi White to our current Rabbi, Rabbi Derby and now, Rabbi Levy as Co-Rabbi. High Holidays at Kol Shofar hold many cherished memories for me. Todd Silverstein's soulful interpretation of the holiday melodies is a delight to witness. Rabbi Derby's sermon's are always powerful yet accessible. And even though there are many people in attendance, the atmosphere is still warm and familiiar (probably because my mom *always* insists on sitting in the front row, even when we show up late!) There are truly some remarkable teachers here. Fred Cherniss, Rabbi Derby and Yetta Robinson to name a few. I'm not super fond of the Co-Rabbi, Rabbi Levy, but Rabbi Derby is an amazing spiritual leader who more than makes up for Rabbi Levy's shortcomings. If you are synagogue shopping in Southern Marin, I'd definitely recommend you take a look at Kol Shofar. Be advised that Rabbi Derby is on sabbatical for the next 9 mos.

22 year congregant. Our two kids grew up here. It was and is a second home. Can't imagine a more…read morewelcoming, stimulating, engaging, positive, and wonderful community.

My family and I are new to the neighborhood of San Mateo. We recently attended Rosh Hashanah…read moreservices at Peninsula Temple Beth El, and overall it was a very unwelcoming experience. It did not seem very community oriented from what we had observed or experienced in the past. The congregation was very solemn for the New Year. I was unhappy with the selection of staff as they were not friendly towards myself or my family. It certainly did not seem kid friendly whatsoever. Maybe it is luck of the draw? Although, I am skeptical whether or not to send my eldest son (age 8) to Peninsula Temple Beth El in the future to study for his Bar Mitzvah or my youngest son (age 4) for that matter. I believe we will look into Temple Shalom or Temple Sinai? We have heard good things about those synagogues from local friends.

I've been attending services here since I was 7, and I have to say I would never want to join any…read moreother temple. Such a warm and welcoming environment. The Rabbi and cantor are absolutely fabulous and everyone is extremely nice and welcoming to new memvers .

Each shul has a personality depending on the rabbi and staff as well as its members. Our experience…read moreat PSC has been of warmth, friendship and most of all inclusion. No one is left alone. Yes, there are larger and wealthier congregation. But, having been president of a larger shul back in NJ, it is a breath of fresh air to feel like being greeted at your own home.

Although demographically I don't feel like I totally "fit" (single, early 30's) this is home to me…read more The congregation is warm and welcoming, Rabbi Schulman is everything you'd want your Rabbi to be, and despite moving and trying other congregations I still travel from Dublin back to Fremont when I need to re-center myself. If you're over the age of 50 or have a young family you'll fit in nicely. After attending services here off and on for 15 years this is home. Compared to other reform congregations TBT seems a bit on the conservative side, which I personally like. This is a culturally diverse, open minded community that still is very strongly attached to its heritage and tradition, a perfect blend. I don't have kids yet, but I can very much see myself raising them in this community.

From the owner: Temple Beth Torah is a Reform Jewish synagogue dedicated to serving the spiritual, intellectual,…read moreand cultural needs of the Tri-City Jewish community. We offer innovative worship services, preschool through adult educational programs, and social events. We deeply value our community and embrace the diversity of our Temple family.

This synagogue is very welcoming, especially to young children! They have Tot Shabbats and the…read morecantor is very lively and fun. They make Shabbat services fun as well. Though we live 35 minutes away by drive so it's tough to get there for us for Shabbats, I love it when we are able to go for the High Holidays and other events. I am looking into Hebrew schools for my three children and I am happy to say that this synagogue is a strong contender!

I cannot say enough good things about Congregation Beth Am. Rabbi Marder is the best teacher I've…read moreever had (and I went to school for 29 years!). Her sermons are a work of art. I have seen no better master of the art of public speaking. I have rarely been so moved and inspired as I am when I listen to her. The highlight of my entire week is going to Torah Study at Beth Am at 9 am to hear Rabbi Marder. The group is progressing through Genesis, having recently started over after a 10 year cycle or so, I understand. (This class does NOT do the Portion of the Week). This class is positively addictive, which may explain why it keeps growing and now seems to have 150 people who come regularly. Come early for bagel breakfast at 8:45 am. Friday services begin at 6:15 pm. It is hard for a working full time person to get to, but worth the effort. This shul has a wide variety of activities for people of all ages. In addition to the usual bar and bat mitzvah education, and in addition to traditional Sunday school, it has an excellent educational program for families of young children on Saturday afternoons (the Shabbaton program), where my daughter and I have gone for three years now. In Shabbaton, there is a joint educational activity first, then separate classes for adults and children, and then a reunion for havdallah at the end. There are also Hebrew classes beginning in third grade. Beth Am has many volunteer activities to get involved in, including a program for visiting the homebound sick and elderly (Yad L'Yad), and is a site for the Jewish Family and Children's Services Chicken Soupers program, a volunteer activity in which congregants make and deliver meals monthly for disabled people between 18 and 60 in the community. There is an affiliated hiking club (Torah Trekkers), an alternating shabbat salon and film series at 4 pm on Saturday afternoons, a club with monthly events for people in their 50s and 60s (Club 5/6), singles events, and an active teen group. The temple also has a men's group which hosts poker nights for charity, a yearly ski trip (Slalom Rav), and a family camping trip each year on Father's Day weekend. The more traditional women's group hosts monthly Rosh Chodesh events, a Passover dessert seder, and an annual dinner, and leads many other volunteer activities. The clergy, including Rabbis Janet Marder, Sarah Wolf (a recent rabbinical school graduate), Jennifer Clayman, and Adam Rosenwasser are all innovative, knowledgeable, and nice human beings. The cantor, Lauren Bandman sings like an angel and has incredible mastery of Hebrew and the liturgy in general. The temple is welcoming to interfaith couples, converts, LGBT and everyone else.

Very friendly and outgoing people. The Rabbi is a dear! Not to mention her 'angelic' voice!read more

Lana is right about the setting at CBT. It is peaceful and understated with a beautiful big tree…read morethat you glimpse from the pews and that shades the sweet little outdoor amphitheater. Though more importantly to me, it is a welcoming community of friendly and down to earth people. Our family has made many good friends at CBT over the years. When we were "temple shopping" the friendly manner and helpfulness we encountered from the front office was an immediate plus. Adding to that, the Cantor has a beautiful voice, the Religious School Director is full of positive energy and the Rabbi always greets you with a smile (and usually by name). Though we have friends at several local synagogues, CBT feels like home to us.