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.

Kol HaKavod! You really can't ask for much more in a congregation:…read more *Educated, kind, caring, dedicated rabbis and staff, *An incredibly talented cantor, *Inviting, inclusive, accessible Shabbat services, *Amazing Adult Education opportunities, *Extensive chldren/teen's programming, *An abundance of chances for volunteering/tzedakah/social action, *Interesting guest speakers *A well-stocked library... EVEN THEIR GIFT SHOP RULES! I really can't say enough good things about this synagogue. I have personally met with or studied with nearly every clergy member on staff, and it's true, they're amazing. I tried a bunch of congregations when I moved here, and this one tops them all. The community at Temple Isaiah is warm and you will seriously meet every type of (liberal-leaning) Jew here. Is it Shabbos yet?!?!

I grew up going to Temple Isaiah but haven't been there in 7+ years. I attended the Tot Rosh…read moreHashanah service there today with my mother (who's still a member and my two little girls). I cannot believe how much the Temple has changed/grown since I was there. Not only has the main sanctuary been enlarged and re-designed there are two new buildings on the campus-One, for the new Jewish Day School and one for the Hebrew School. It's absolutely beautiful! Rabbi Graetz did an amazing job at keeping the tot service short (30 min) while still getting across the important points of Rosh Hashanah to our children. My girls were mesmorized. There was a new song leader-and I'm kicking myself for not remembering her name-and she was fabulous as well. The kids had a great time! I can't believe there are now 4 rabbis serving the congregation. Growing up we only has one rabbi-Shelly Waldenberg and one cantor-Cantor Silverman. It warms my heart to see the congregation grow. I also have to commend Temple Isaiah for their welcoming of interfaith/interculture families. It's so nice to see so many different faces! Yeah for progress!

This is a nice synagogue. The new rabbi seems like a good fit for a typical reform community. If…read moreyou are looking for a mainstream congregation that is comfortable and familiar, this would be a place to consider, especially if you live nearby.

Synagog in my own backyard, for someone who's been wary of organized religion most of my life. This…read morecould be a good starting point, very friendly and welcoming to all, and they don't mind the husband is a gentile ( he was more into the Friday Shabbat service than me). I look forward to going to future events. Rabbi Mike spoke poetic words regarding the recent terrorist attack in Paris, and reference of freedom and lives lost. And the always lingering reminder that no matter where you live you are in danger of being targeted as long as you are a jew.

I spent most of my adult life avoiding synagogues mostly due to a chronic lack of compassion, or…read moreindifference, towards Palestinians that I experienced in almost every synagogue I've visited for the past thirty years. Kehilla does a brilliant job at holding an inclusive and welcoming space for Jews like me who do not align with the atrocities being committed by the government of Israel. They have a variety of social action groups and ways to get involved in local and global activism from a Jewish perspective. Our kiddo went through the hebrew school and B'nai Mitzvah program and it was an extraordinary experience for all of us. The program design is so rigorous and so special - you get to know other families and really go through the program as a cohort in a way that was mutually supportive, fun and fulfilling. The leadership of Kehilla is extraordinary. Rabbi Dev is a brilliant, soulful, deep and compassionate leader who I have learned so much from. Hazzan Shulamit is a beautiful spirit with a giant heart - the joy bursts out of her - it feels like the sun is shining every time I'm in her presence. There are so many other phenomenal people providing spiritual and musical direction - Debbie Fier, Beth Dickenson, Julie Nesansky, Avi Rose, Fresh Lev White, Sharon Grodin, and Rabbi Sam to name a few... Kehilla has a very deep bench of leadership. I look forward to Kehilla's high holy days every year. Instead of feeling like it is obligatory and boring, like I used to feel through my entire childhood, at Kehilla, I feel like I am on a profound journey into the depths of my own soul ... it is not a normal service. It allows space for transformation and growth - and it is just beautiful!

"Sigh...Don't you just LOVE Shabbat?" exclaimed Julie, who was leading Kabbalat Shabbat, after a…read morerousing rendition of "Rom'mu" on my first visit to Kehilla. Her expression of pure bliss and joy has stuck with me ever since. Yes, I do love Shabbat!! Kehilla is a renewal synagogue and, therefore, a bit on the non-traditional, earthy-crunchy side. This makes for a shul that is equal parts ecstatic and meditative; a warm, friendly congregation; a welcoming "come as you are" vibe; and a strong focus on social justice. I've been attending the monthly Kabbalat Shabbat and always leave feeling spiritually energized. The music is especially awesome. Thanks to percussionist Debbie Fier and cantor Shulamit Wise Fairman, it's not unusual for folks to to get up and dance! Other pluses include a scent-free seating area and a sizable parking lot. I recommend Kehilla to any and all who love Shabbat!

I went to a large shul for years. Then I found Beth Abraham. WOW! So friendly. I love the services…read morewhich range from peaceful to wild/energized. The kids really do whoop it up. Lots of well educated young kids and teens. Sometimes the rabbi just calls out, "Julie/Sam/Aviva (some kid's name) come lead the next part." Up the kid(s) pop and with a big smile shows off their stuff. Rabbi Bloom is funny, tender, easy to talk to. Lots of Jews by choice here too. LBGT members. Jews of color. Feels very Oakland. I love that the rebbetzin (Rabbi's wife) is so involved with the congregants. She's a big reader, plays (and will teach anyone) mahjong, leads spontaneous dancing at Rock n' Roll Shabbat and Israeli folk dancing at various holiday celebrations - like in the Sukkah. A trans friend wanted to convert and I took him there for his very first erev Shabbat dinner and service. He asked, "Am I going to feel like I landed on Mars?" I answered, "You sure are! There will be kids dancing in the aisles." We are located on a busy street right off the freeway so we do a quarterly street clean up. The photo is from one of those days.

Warm and vibrant, lots of kids, top notch preschool and religious school, great Kiddush lunches…read moreevery week.

This is the fourth religious organization I have reviewed in 15 minutes and I am *really* starting…read moreto think about how weird it is to rate something like this - how can one person rate or review something religious in a way that means anything to another person? You will most likely love Chochmat HaLev or hate Chochmat HaLev. So I gues that balances out to 3 stars? Here is my attempt to sum up Chochmat HaLev: (I can't believe I am about to be so irreverant..... ) "The center of the Jew-Bu universe" [thats Jewish Buddhism]

Is it OK for members to review their own house of worship? This is the first (and only) synagogue…read moreI've ever been a paying member of. I'm a big fan. It's as close as a congregation has ever come to feeling like my speed of Judaism. I love the contemplative silence, and the ecstatic dance and the focusing chanting. Friday night celebratory shabbat services are often exactly whatever I need that week: uplifting, calming, focusing me inwards. The first half of the service is the best part, between the chanting, dancing, and silence, so don't come late. High Holiday services are held elsewhere, because like virtually all other non-orthodox synagogues, they get a much bigger crowd than at any other time. Those services are even richer and deeper and more meaningful for me. And you can apply the ticket prices towards a membership.

New to me. Near my home and a smaller congregation than I am used to. I found very welcoming…read moreleaders and a warm congregation. I felt at home right away, my first Orthodox temple. Even better for me, the rabbi is a New Yorker.

Another "First to Review" and on Shabbes!…read more This is a highly regarded and welcoming left coast Modern Orthodox shul with a popular and scholarly rabbi. But my fondest memory of this place was holding my son in the Mikvah here and performing the ritual "dunking" and blessings as part of his Conservative conversion when he was just over 6 months old. He also had his Bet Din here and I am still grateful to Rabbi Stuart Kelman for making this all possible. A letter to my son descibing this event is safely tucked away in my safety deposit box for his future enjoyment.

Located inside St Mary's College. To my surprise, it was open and sat in there for a few moments of…read moresilence.

Even though I'm Jewish, I occasionally end up at Mass or inside a Catholic Church. Gayle has a…read morecontinuing love-hate relationship with the Catholic Church, and I'm happy to tag along when the spirit moves her. My most memorable Catholic moments during the last few months were the Pilgrim's Mass at the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral (led by Archbishop Julián Barrio Barrio wearing a nice red kippah) and visiting Fatima Portugal. But perhaps the best example of religious Ying and Yang on that trip was visiting the Convent of Christ (Knights Templar Castle) and the old synagogue in Tomar during the same afternoon. Gayle's daughter-in-law regularly attends St. Mary's, although her son isn't a big fan of going to an occasional (and long) healing Mass in Spanish. So when we read on her Facebook page that they were going to Christmas Eve Mass, we offered to go along. We also went to Christmas Eve Mass at St. Cecilia (Ames Iowa) last year, but this time there would be no magical snow storm as we left. We arrived at 10 PM where we were treated to reflective readings and some pretty decent choir music (accompanied by cello, guitar, and piano). I particularly enjoyed a woman's trio singing Hallelujah. There's also a lot to admire about the architecture of St. Mary's, complete with a high vaulted ceiling, nice dark woods, good acoustics, and a main "welcoming" Jesus in the Sanctuary. And by the time the Mass started at 11 PM, this house of worship was full and festive. As it was way past my bed time, I had trouble staying awake during Mass. I enjoyed the style of the Senior Priest, but his homily didn't really inspire. However, I appreciated the warm and friendly nature of the congregation, the participative nature of the service, and that cute and smiling baby sitting right next to us. Best of all was leaving into the evening and enjoying that community Silent Night that you really only experience but once a year.