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.

I love Netivot Shalom. I have been a member for 13 years. Netivot Shalom is uplifting and…read morefulfilling. It has everything: inspiring services, diversity, great rabbi, interesting members of all ages, excellent learning opportunities for young and old, and many fascinating programs. It has great accessibility for various handicaps. Netivot Shalom has lunch after Saturday morning services and speakers or singing after lunch. The members and staff are warm and friendly. Netivot Shalom is gated and safe. I have found my Jewish home and I will never leave.

I've been a member for over 35 years. My three daughters became b'nai mitvot. I myself was…read moreSynagogue and Hebrew school Administrator. It's wonderful to see how much it's grown.

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.

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]

CBI is probably the best synagogue in the San Francisco Bay Area. Welcoming, friendly and…read moreenergetic. Come visit for a Shabbat and you'll see for yourself: you'll get a "CBI Shabbat welcome" and hosted meals for Friday night and Shabbat day. Kiddush is usually scrumptious - essentially a mini lunch with crackers, dips, vegetables, table wine and often cooked food too. Compared to most Orthodox Jewish communities, this synagogue is more egalitarian and women-friendly. They have womens prayer services and Torah readings, an accessible mechitza and a Maharat (along with the Rabbi). It's really a place where everyone can feel welcome regardless of background, religious level or gender.

Beth Israel is a super welcoming modern orthodox shul, someone found me a seat right away even…read morethough the shul was very crowded. The Rabbis speak very nicely and I liked the fact that the women get to take out the torah and parade it around their section - unlike many modern orthodox shuls, Beth Israel is a bit on the progressive and open side and I like that. They also had a very nice kiddush in honor of a Bar Mitzvah afterward and people at the kiddush were quick notice me as a guest and come over for a friendly chat.

I recently moved to Alameda and although I am not an observant Jew or a very religious person I…read morehave my rituals firmly planted since childhood, One of them is lighting the Hanukkah menorah. I was unable to find candles in the usual stores so I called the local synagogue to see if they could suggest where I could purchase them. The Rabbi answered the phone and when I asked him my question he responded by saying that if I could get there in 15 minutes he would give me a box. I made it in the allotted time and scored my candles. Nice touch for the holiday. I am not sure if I will attend services but the experience gave me a nice feeling.

I have been a member of Temple Israel since 2007. I am a part of an interfaith family raising our…read moredaughter Jewish and there are serveral other interfaith families at Temple Israel (in fact over half are interfaith families). I grew up at Temple Israel and am a 4th generation member. It has many multi-generational families as members so this place must be special. Temple Israel is a Reform congregation and is the only Jewish synagogue in Alameda. It has 130 families as members so there really is a chance to get to know everyone in this congregation. This year, 2010, Temple Israel is celebrating it's 90th Anniversary. Quite an accomplishment! The temple offers several programs, mostly geared towards families, such as Tot Shabbat (shortened Friday night service for little ones once a month), Little Latkes Playgroup (Thursday afternoon playgroup for children age zero through 4), Religious and Hebrew Schools, and for adults there's the fun Jewish Chef Series, Jewish Film Series, a Women's Seder during Passover, several other seders and congregation-wide potlucks observing other holidays, picnics, and a ton of other programming for children and their families that you can learn more about on the website. Like all places of worship, it's not perfect, but it has something for everyone in addition to regular services. There is room to grow here and a chance to become involved in the Jewish community instantly. I'm glad I joined and am active in the congregation. Come check it out!

As I find spirituality comforting in my darkest moments, I knew that a healthy acceptance of faith…read moremay put me past negative family dynamics. Rabbi Bridget Wynne did that ever so gently by selective Torah studies reflecting families' values at Growing Together. She has a way for adults to share disparate upbringing and experiences and to weave together our human connection. When she explains her intellectual and spiritual discourse, it is eye-opening and reassuring. Growing Together has become a form of therapy for my personal growth. This section of Jewish Gateways is so aptly named! Our family struggled with finding initiation into Judaism as we looked how to intentionally shape our young family values. My partner was raised Jewish. His parents for whatever reason displayed lukewarm action towards passing Judaism to subsequent generations. But they laid down guilt trips when it came to attending their Passover dinners. Religion used for personal convenience and near coercion has always left a strong distaste. But I could not let the bad apples (ok...maybe I am still not quite yet letting that one go...LOL), even in my own family, ruin that. Being a second generation immigrant, I strongly felt a need for my child to have a deep understanding of all his heritages as a way of being, a proud sense of identity without geographic bounds, and an ambassador of his background. We "Shul shopped," attending different Tot Shabbats and holiday functions, and nothing felt like an immediate or consistent draw. When we attended Jewish Gateways Tot Shabbat at Totland, we liked the idea of learning more at Growing Together, which meets twice a month. With our hectic weekends, this felt like the right amount commitment and family accountability. Like all Shabbat, there is music, singing, and light prayers. The best part is when the children go into their classes, have tons of fun, and show-off their long-lasting creative projects. My child's strongest lesson thus far is bal tashchit (Hebrew: ) or "do not destroy." All I have to say is bal taschit, and he immediately conserves without me having to nag about recycling or composting, picking up neighborhood trash, turning off lights, conserving water, or finishing his meal. Stories that come from faith seem to move my child's intrinsic motivation more than modern day development and child-rearing guidance. Every Friday evening, he is very proud to use his DIY challah cover and Shabbat candle holders. He also has a pleasant attachment to his homemade Havdalah Spice Bag. The parents' bandwidth frees up tremendously to have thoughtful discussions around how faith plays a role in opening our U.S. borders and welcoming strangers, presenting easy opportunities to make Shabbat a habit, and loving the environment. We built a Sukkot and waved a Lulov. This was the first time I felt comfortable enough as a non-Jew to host Passover myself and invest in a beautiful Seder Plate. I have moved on from the family guilt trips and made this special holiday meaningful for my family. More importantly I yearn to do more Torah studies. I feel like I missed out a more vibrant and intentional life by not using religious relevancy to support my day-to-day actions and values. Lastly, I feel connected to more young families at Jewish Gateways with kind and empathetic smart discussions. Being in these families' presence melted away day-to-day mentally-draining conversations we have in the intense SF Bay Area. So grateful to have this special and unique form of Judaic support group!

My wife Laurie and I are in our 70s and adult children in later 30s. We began attending High…read moreHolidays at Jewish Gateways in 2016. Our attendance has continued and the family commitment and participation at Jewish Gateways grows. I am not Jewish, I am a spiritual seeker, and was immediately attracted to Rabbi Bridget's reference to Mussar in the sermon that year. Mussar is an ancient tradition that facilitates exploration of spiritual qualities and has enabled me to become more of a mensch. This was incorporated into our daily practice at home where we inventory and examine our previous 24 hours. Rabbi has been facilitating a series of Mussar 2 hour sessions for a diverse group of Jews and non Jews. Laurie and have participated in Mussar for the past 11 months. I have become more conscious of my impact on the family, friends and volunteer organizations I attend. I have been assisted to reach and choose how I want to be. Gateways is "WELCOMING: wandering Jews * wondering Jews * those of Jewish heritage * non-Jews * multiracial relationships * families * interfaith relationships * couples * adult children of interfaith families * Jews by choice * people of color * singles * LGBTQ folks" We feel welcomed and embraced by Rabbi Bridget and the Jewish Gateways community. This year my daughter will complete the Adult Bar and Bat Mitzvah class and we will join others to celebrate her bat mitzvah. We look to continue our participation and support of Jewish Gateways.

I brought my friend's kids here for their Purim festival and everyone was warm and friendly, even…read morethough they'd never met me before. I was very pleased to see a lot of racial diversity as well. The kids had a great time and seemed to be part of a wonderful community. If I lived in the area and had kids, I'd bring them here for some wholesome religious exposure.

"Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name...."…read more Temple Beth Sholom is a small, caring, tolerant place for East Bay Jews. Rabbi Manhoff is extremely dedicated to his congregants and to the greater community. He is involved in interfaith dialogue and teaches a class on Christianity at a local college. His worldview is reflected in his sermons and in the temple's welcoming atmosphere. His sermons are often are often controversial - but that is to be expected in a very diverse, conservative congregation lead by a reform rabbi. Temple Beth Sholom is in many ways, a blank canvas. The benefit of this is that if you are looking for something in your Jewish community that you haven't yet found, this is the place to create it. If you have an idea, this is the place to bring it to fruition. The membership is small but committed, and open to new ideas and programs. Rabbi Manhoff offers several weekly adult education classes, but invites suggestions for new classes based on what participants want to learn. The new President seems full of ideas and energy. Cantor Hirschorn is passionate about Jewish music and brings a lot of knowledge to the pulpit. This is a homey, little community where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came.

I have just gone to UU and after three times, I liked the services and the people. The…read morecongregants are warm and friendly. I am comfortable that there are no set belief/s you need to possess. .

We went to cupcake and muffin top a yearly fun clothing shoes jewlry day. So much fun! I will have…read moreto visit the church in yhe near future.