My friend and I attended the Festival Sefardi at the Nahalat Shalom Synagogue last month and had a…read moreDELIGHTFUL time! Everyone was extremely welcoming and kind, and we felt immediately at ease. The first event we attended was the Shabbat service and vegetarian potluck on Friday evening. The service was almost completely sung, and the cantor (Stephanie Sofie Shefia Cohen) had a lovely voice and spirit. The synagogue is in the middle of a residential area and built in the traditional walled courtyard style, and the service and dinner were in the courtyard. There were lots of lovely flowers, and the evening was beautiful, just the right temperature. It was a full moon night, too. All the dishes served in the potluck dinner were homemade, and they were delicious! My favorites were the dolmas and vegetarian lasagna. Very yummy!! We attended the morning lectures on Saturday, which consisted of two panel discussions. The first was about the Ladino language (which is a derivation of Spanish spoken by Judaic peoples), and the second was about the effect on the language of the diaspora and evictions of Jewish communities from particular countries. We unfortunately could not stay for the afternoon sessions, but again, everyone was lovely and very welcoming to us. It was inspiring to note the high caliber of speakers present at the festival. One of the primary speakers was born in Turkey and came to the US in 1958; she has made it her lifetime mission to promote the Ladino language and Sephardic culture. The other speaker we met traveled all the way from Tucumán, Argentina, where she teaches at the National University. I had a delightful time and learned so much! I am grateful to the Nahalat Shalom Synagogue for providing this annual event, and for their amazing hospitality. Grasias!

This is an extremely limited review of a congregation I've never attended. Being a dad, I've had…read morethe pleasure of watching my kid perform her violin, guitar and voice recitals in these halls over the years, followed by the supreme displeasure of having to sit through every other kid's recital and feign interest. Such are the torments of the average parent. But anyway, the venue is adorable: handmade ornaments and decorations adorn the walls, the setup is truly simple (folding chairs, a very modest stage), good facilities. The people I've met who frequent the services have been friendly and inviting. Shalom, out.

My daughter attended preschool here for over 2 years and we loved it! Great curriculum and great…read morestaff. They really care about the kids. When she first attended she wasn't potty trained and they didn't have a problem with that at all. There was no extra fee for changing diapers. All we had to do was supply them with her own set of diapers and wipes for the month, and they put her name on them. It was a secure facility. Key cards are required to get in. If you forget your card you must buzz the staff to be let in. The school is at a Jewish Synagogue, but it is a non-denominational school. Several Christian and Hindu children attended, as well as children of other faiths, or children from non-religious families. They require the children to eat a vegetarian lunch and snacks while on campus. I thought this was great! It really helped her to expand her diet, and eat healthier foods. Lastly, it is probably the least expensive preschool/daycare in town but you definitely don't get discount service. They are great! They even welcome special needs children.

My daughter has been going to this daycare since she was 2. They are excellent, with affordable…read morerates, small class sizes and educational programming as well as decent before and after care. We will be sorry to have to leave when my kid enters preschool.

The first night of Chanukah was an exceptional night aw we shared in the warmth of the glow of the…read moregiant Menorah and the exceptional Hot Air Balloon Menorah. The Mariachi band was toe taping. The main attraction Tali Yess is a young man with a heart for our Jewish music. For a Sephardic Jew an evening of music to my Ears. The latkes were delicious as well as the cookies. With plenty of drinks, from warm, hot and cold. The gifts given to the children were robotically musical. The $2 bills are the high light. Thank you Rabbi Chaim Schmukler and Chabad Community.

Temple Beth Shalom is a beautiful Jewish community. We moved…read moreto Santa Fe knowing almost nobody, but we found a home at Temple Beth Shalom. The congregation is diverse and welcoming. There are always new lectures, classes and activities. The atmosphere is one of calm and unity--such a relief given the chaos of the world these days. My son has had a fantastic Jewish education and the Temple Youth Group is giving him a grounding in values that many teenagers don't get. Come for a visit and see for yourself.

Growing up in Philly, synagogue membership was never part of my Jewish life. I had attitude. But…read moreI also had identity, and a deep desire to learn and express. I walked in to TBS 30 years ago, and found in this community an acceptance I never knew growing up. I felt welcome and even comfortable in services, classes, rituals, celebrations, and events, tho I know no Hebrew. Learning and experiencing the joys of Judaism; struggling together through its challenges, replaces presumptions. My voice and questions are always respected - of course agreement is entirely optional! I've witnessed numerous acts of compassion and kindness - that's the heart of TBS. TBS is my spiritual home, and the TBS community my extended family.

Desiring to explore the Messianic congregation, to experience the Jewish side of Christianity I…read morevisited Adat Yeshua on Lomas and Jefferson. The website states everyone is welcome, with a meal and fellowship after the service. The building while old and musty, seemed adequate, not to large nor too small a gathering. Arriving early, we were privy to the worship bands practicing before service. Somehow things that day were not going well as the songs had to be repeated led by the cantor, Mrs. Shapiro. One immediately noticed who was in charge and that she indeed had strong voice and personality. The practice ran over the regular starting time, giving me time to scope out the congregants. The age groups were balanced from young to old, and spiced with hippy like members to conservatives. Once the service finally began with "worship" music, to my surprise a woman stood up in the main aisle and began to dance up and down swaying to the vibes. Conservative I am, it was quite distracting, but I tried to overlook it as her expression of worship. I couldn't help thinking that congruity was not the strong point in this church. The blending of Judaism and Christian message was not smooth, nor did I feel blessed by being there. The music was overdone, the sermon lacked relevance. Sorry to say, it is not meant as criticism. I truly wanted to experience the Jewishness of Jesus's presence. The congregation was friendly, it seemed quite difficult to meld with the membership even after visiting several times and breaking bread with the brethren. Apparently this congregation has no idea what they appear like to outsiders or should I say new combers. They behave as if all walking in the door will get their style of worship right away. Adat Yeshua could be a standard of measure for messianic congregations if they actually embraced the message of Paul that to be Christian does not mean keeping up with Jewish like traditions. We are after all made a new creation in Christ Jesus. Perhaps they ought to take a closer look at how to make outreach and new members feel more at home. I could be wrong, but after several visits and attempts to belong, I felt left altogether left out. Therefore, Adat Yeshua gets only ONE STEEPLE.