What? No reviews? It's the best unaffiliated synagogue in the metrowest area! What other place has…read morea rabbi that's been with the congregation since its inception? If you just moved to Acton and you're Jewish, send your kids to Hebrew School here. Come on, people...

This community is family for me. I have a home for my heart, my mind, my spirit and my music. It is…read moretruly a blessing!

Joyous music filled Friday night and bar/ bat mitzvah services. Inspiring high holy day observance…read more Young compassionate rabbinate and cantor. Exceptional education program for children and adults. A strong community that will enhance your connection to Judaism and Israel and Jewish families in metro west.

Rabbi Goldstein is fantastic and has a way with children that helps to create a warn and inviting…read moreenvironment. Cantor Idan is an iconic musician who has a few cds out as well as leading all in house music. It is exciting to come to services and watch they two ordained officials work their magic. The temple has a very large sisterhood and brotherhood both of which host tons of events during the year which in many cases are opened to non members of the temple.

I love this Temple! They have a great preschool program with 3 grades. They have Hebrew Sunday…read moreschool which is on sundays, Monday's, and Wednesday's. They have a program for older children to do fun activities. The rabbi is very funny. The cantor is a great singer and is from Israel. They have a beautiful synagogue and a great temple. They are very accepting and is open to anyone who wants to come. The high holidays are always packed so get your tickets early! The building itself is beautiful, and is in a beautiful place. Although I only go during the holidays, I love this temple overall.

Love the relaxed atmosphere . High Holiday services were wonderful. Great community of all ages.read more

From the owner: We are a Synagogue serving the Jewish community of greater Newburyportread more

This synagogue is awesome! Services are joyful and participatory...lots of singing. And the people…read moreare open and welcoming. The congregation is lively and egalitarian. This is the real deal!

Yeah, I'm reviewing a shul on Easter. So?…read more This is the only temple in Burlington. Many people go to the larger, 'prettier' Reform synagogues in Lexington or Newton. It's true the grounds of Temple Shalom Emeth are not much to look at and all three buildings are in desperate need of a huge cash injection to the capital fund. Please G-d, at the very least do something about that bathroom; your worshippers are freezing. But it isn't about that, is it? It's about the rabbi, the cantors, and the community. And that's why this temple gets five stars. A published author children's books, Rabbi Dr. Susan Abramson was one of the first fifty women ordained and is the longest-serving female Rabbi in Massachusetts, has founded an all-encompassing Jewish and interfaith adoption information & support network, is involved in many progressive political organizations, and much more. She is a deeply impressive human being and a thoughtful, truly inspiring Rabbi. Although I am most familiar with the exceptional creative talents of Don Levey, both cantors are fantastic. Every synagogue has 'temple politics' and Shalom Emeth is no exception, but the community is great. It was too many years ago that I was in pre-Hebrew school or Hebrew school to comment on them but the option of three years continued education post-Mitzvah with the Rabbi is an amazing experience (and I believe they have another two-year program following that now). The youth group, SEFTY, is fantastic. There is adult education, interfaith groups, and special events. While some shuls are better for young single people or families etc, this temple has an unusually wide demographic range and seeks the involvement of both old and new members. I am very fond of this synagogue. Try it! You'll like it.

Amazingly welcoming and open Temple. The community here is warm and quick to welcome new members…read more The Rabbi writes awesome kids books and is wonderfully nice. They have a great Hebrew school program with some of the nicest teachers I've ever met! My son has loved it since day 1. Lots of events and lots of chances for the children to participate in various activities and services. This temple could never be described as stuffy or uptight and everyone is clearly accepted and welcomed. It's a great place for families who want to be involved in community events. For me a big plus was that my young sons are welcome at service and no one glares at us if the baby babbles a little.

The little 'shul' that could - and does! This is the awesomest place! Everyone welcome! Check it…read moreout! Try us out! The nicest, warmest, most inclusive people! https://jewishcentralmass.org/directory/congregation-shaarei-zedeck https://www.facebook.com/shaareizedeck/ https://www.telegram.com/news/20160909/little-shul-that-could---and-does

From the owner: Belonging with Shaarei Zedeck is a truly welcoming and inclusive experience. The individuals and…read morefamilies that make up our membership come from varied religious backgrounds, including Conservative, Reform, and secular. All are embraced by The Little Shul That Could, including interfaith families, Jews by birth, Jews by choice, and those who are interested in exploring Judaism. We value each and every member of our community and appreciate that they have chosen to belong here.

I attended a wedding (I'm not Jewish). I can't speak to the religious subtleties, but I was very…read moreimpressed at the building - it's clearly been well-maintained, and it has a much better airiness and feel than European cathedrals that I've visited. I was also impressed at the education level of the Rabbi, the Cantor's enthusiasm was obvious (even if I didn't understand the words), and everyone clearly had a strong sense of what I would call a joyous sense of community. Something that Christian churches rarely have, unfortunately. People were really happy to be there, and to see and help each other. An inspiration.

This is a wonderful Jewish synagogue in the heart of Brookline, MA. A beautiful, large building,…read morewith a gorgeous main sanctuary, function hall, large daily minyan, and Hebrew School. They are open to interfaith couples who choose to raise their children Jewishly; they are open to gay and lesbian Jews; Jews of any ethnic background; Jews by birth and Jews-by-choice (halakhic conversions to Judaism); they are open to Jews who range from the very observant to not-so-observant. Their all-night Tikkun for the holiday of Shavuot is something to be experienced; the best that I have ever gone to. Make no mistake about it, this is a Conservative Jewish synagogue, in the broadest and most traditional sense of the term "conservative Judaism". Conservative Judaism, as it was intended by those who developed it, is trans-denominational, or if you prefer, non-denominational Judaism. They do not hew to a strictly rigid and narrow set of beliefs (theology) and practices (halakha), like so much of the Orthodox. Nor do they jettison all beliefs and practices, as did most of the Reform. As Reform Rabbi W. Gunther Plaut admitted, "there is no such thing as a [Reform] Jewish theological principle, policy, or doctrine", robbing people of the very thing people seek when they become part of a community, or religion. Instead, this synagogue follows the classical rabbinic Jewish path of acknowledging there are Jewish principles of faith, but recognizes that no one code of them ever developed canonical status, thus encouraging members to study many Jewish texts on the subject, and approach them intellectually; the same is true for halakhah (Jewish law and custom); Jewish law is considered to be normative (what one is supposed to do, as opposed to a mere suggestion), yet at the same time following the classical rabbinic Jewish path in which more than one interpretation of the law may be considered valid. This worldview is the basis of classical rabbinic Judaism in the Talmud, and of Conservative Judaism itself, whether or not a synagogue is formally a member of the Conservative movement. By the way, this definition also includes most of the Chavurah movement, the Union for Traditional Judaism, and the more liberal Partnership minyans which are nominally Modern Orthodox :-)

Temple Beth Abraham (called TBA by members) is a neighborly, welcoming, Conservative Jewish…read moresynagogue. It follows the religious practices of Conservative Judaism: traditional Jewish law interpreted in a non-fundamentalist fashion. Given its location in the suburbs, many of TBA's members aren't fully observant; the community is sensitive to the needs of all members, from secular and Reform, to Conservative and Traditional. It is welcoming to interfaith couples, and has great outreach to couples who wish to raise their children Jewish. Unlike many suburban synagogues, TBA's membership is large and holding it's own, perhaps even growing. It has a vibrant, fun Hebrew School, for students from kindergarten up to high school. It has an adult education program, and an active men's club and sisterhood. Their services are primarily in Hebrew, following the Ashkenazi liturgical tradition, and using many of the traditional melodies that I grew up. Services also have a generous amount of English readings and are accessible for newcomers. In addition to Shabbat services every Friday evening and Saturday morning, and services for all the Chagim (holidays/festivals), they have daily Ma'ariv (evening) prayer services at 7:30pm; very good for building a sense of community, and for those saying kaddish or yahrzeit, The Shabbat services could use more Shlomo Carelebach-type melodies and harmonies. But that's true of nearly all synagogues nowadays. This is a community worth visiting and joining.

We were members for several years, then decided to leave after my children's B'nai Mitzvah. The…read moreexecutive director made me feel uncomfortable (often gazing down at my chest when talking with me), was minimally accommodating when we were dealing with the B'nai Mitzvah logistics, and in general, conveyed a rude and controlling tone via email. Upon checking their website recently, I thought this person had retired (as he's not listed on the website). Unfortunately, that's not the case. To add to our experience, on the day of my kids' B'nai Mitzvah, the cantorial soloist's husband (& former synagogue president) allowed our photographer to enter the building earlier than when we were allowed in. Upon opening the door for us, he glared at me. Very strange behavior.

A tremendously welcoming community with more activities than you can imagine. We moved here just 2…read moreyears ago and now many of our friends are from this community. The Rabbi is very creative in making everything interesting and adding something a little unusual to many of the programs. Rabbi and many members of the congregation started a local Interfaith group inviting everyone to learn about other faiths and to all work together to make a better community. My grandkids love the Sunday School and look forward to going every week. A terrific place for all ages.