We came to Temple Emanu-El for Seudat Havraah -- the meal of condolence -- following the interment…read moreof a friend's father a few weeks ago. The location is on a hilltop with easy access from College Drive, north of I-8. Understandably, we had to pass through security and metal detector before entering the Temple courtyard from the parking lot. The grounds are lovely, and the building interior is warm and well maintained. Rabbi Benj Fried was approachable, considerate, and attentive to the mourners who attended the luncheon.

Very caring,very clean,and people,were ,really nice people,would recomend this temple.read more

This is a welcoming place for traditional Jewish worship. The congregation is friendly with many…read morebilingual Spanish/English speakers. The service is done in Hebrew and English. Free parking is on the street in this residential neighborhood. There is a handicapped accessible entrance on Second Avenue and an accessible restroom in the fellowship hall with no stairs. Oneg after the service is a dairy meal with people bringing food to share, so a variety of main dishes, side dishes, drinks and desserts. The teaching is interesting, giving us something to think about. Lots of historical insight, including viewpoints of rabbis and philosophers from the past. The worship is inspiring, the people friendly, the atmosphere warm. Different traditions are welcomed here. It makes for great discussions.

I've been attending Temple Beth Shalom on and off. I was supposed to convert last year, but life…read moregot in the way. The congregation is very warm and welcoming; it's like my second home where I belong. My favorite classes, hosted by the rabbi on Zoom, are very informative. There's also a Hebrew class after Shabbat services on Saturday which helps alot with my learning with judaism.

Dynamic clergy, diverse programming and strong sense of communityread more

I was young and without a family 10 years ago when I last reviewed the shul. Very happy to write…read morean updated review of this wonderful congregation :) Now, with 2 young children and a wife, this is absolutely the best place to go with my family for any services. I have been several times for Bar/Bat Mitzvot and other services and it has always been an impressive and beautiful synagogoe focused on community and belongingness. The rabbis and other staff members are engaging, interesting, funny, musical and provide thought provoking insight that stays with me beyond those moments in the sanctuary. I truly love CBI and will gladly rave about it to anybody who asks!

My young family and I are loving this synagogue. We joined this year following the death of my…read moremother and for my daughter to start Hebrew school. Our littlest will likely start in the preschool next year. It's a very warm, friendly, diverse, and educational place. The rabbi is warm and so knowledgeable, and available to congregants. The program for kids is sweet and fun! I am loving this new community and feel so grateful we live so close.

I intend to move back to the Cardiff area and wanted to find a great reform synagogue to be apart…read moreof. I had the pleasure of visiting with cantor Billy Tiep (he took classes with my chazzan and dear family friend, Nathan Lam, at Stephen Wise and his best friend, Jackie Mendelson, who lives in NY.) Billy was so warm, kind, welcoming, and overall an über mensch. It was truly a pleasure to get to know him. I also love the fact that the synagogue has many programs for those of all ages. There are also many activities organized by the temple outside of services- classes, tikkun projects, etc. There's also a preschool on the property (always a plus)! Billy was truly a great conversationalist, informative, and very helpful... I admire his passion for cantorial arts, Judaism, and tradition. I got a little sneak peak of what he's planning for Purim, and let me tell ya, it's going to be exciting!!!! Overall, I love cantor Billy's his vision (yeah, yeah... i can kvell over the guy all day), and I can see myself raising a Jewish family at this shul. Thank you for the warm welcome, Temple Solel. I look forward to coming back! I also had a short chat Rabbi Wright! Apparently his best friend is a rabbi at my synagogue *ohhh, the jewish geography*.... such a sweet, sweet man. Birds of a feather truly flock together.

I felt so welcomed at this Chabad... Great Rabbi, his wife & family!…read moreI live in PB and thought it'd be nice to connect with Jewish neighbors. There are a lot of people of all ages & backgrounds - so welcoming. I plan to continue going for Friday Shabbat services.

This place is just phenomenal! I've been going to this…read moreplace for the last few years and can't say enough good things about it. The feeling this place have given me is Beyond words. Family oriented amazing Shabbat dinners and much much more. Very recommend!

Very warm and welcoming community!! They value diversity and welcome interfaith families.read more

I have served this wonderful synagogue for 10 years and it's a vibrant, engaging, innovative, and…read morecreative Jewish community! All are welcome!

I'm an entertainer and over the course of many years from time to time I've done shows at the…read moreChabad of Poway. I've always felt like I'm family there because everyone is so nice. This passover I decided to go as a "civilian" -- just have my seder there. And once again the Chabad of Poway stood out as a wonderful place: that turned out to be the BEST seder I've ever gone to and I've had many wonderful seders growing up with my family in New Haven, CT, and then over the years in San Diego and Tijuana. Rabbi Mendel Goldstein is a superb and charismatic rabbi and educator. With his joy and energy he truly made the story of Passover come alive (often at seders it can zzzzzzzzzzzzzz someone as it's almost done by rote), peppered with audience participation, and lots of humor. The food was the most deliciious I've had at a seder. Instead of the (dreaded) Manischewitz wine you could choose between several wines on the table, kosher American wines and Kosher Italian wines (and maybe one I missed). One of the Italian kosher wines was so great that I ordered some online. Add to that the wonderful family atmosphere. I was raised Reform and my sister and I often talk about how when we were growing up services almost seemed to be done by rote. Not here. In every way this was a joyous, vibrant, delicious Passover. What better way to keep Passover's meaning, tradition and celebration alive?

Free food/clothes moved to parking lot at Island Ave. & 3rd St near Gaslamp every Friday 10a-12pread more

If you want to be in a welcoming community and learn about our Jewish faith this is the place to…read morecome. Be a part of the community. So many nice events and opportunities to meet new friends. Hope you see you for the new year.

We enjoy attending the synagogue for Shabbat and holidays. There is Tot Shabbat that is geared…read moretowards the younger kid that is fun for our family. As an interfaith family we feel very welcomed. We enjoy meeting other interfaith families like ourself as well as people from varying levels of Judaism. We sent my daughter to the Ganon Gil Preschool from ages 2-5. The teachers were kind and nurturing. She had a great experience. Pre-K helped prepare her for kindergarten. We plan on sending our daughter to Mosad Shalom for Hebrew school.

This is a very welcoming congregation. A few years ago I walked through the doors and remembered…read moreimmediately feeling very at ease with the open non pretentious vibes. I had been to a few area temples and this one was the one that really drew me in. The services are a mix of classic Reform sings and even some traditional tunes with a non judgmental tone. Even though I live in Oceanside, the beautiful sanctuary, warm people and services brought me back and won my full membership. Congregants are interested in you, and are engaging. The Rabbi and Cantor love kids and welcome families and don't mind if the children want to run around and be themselves. The Rabbi is very relaxed but also has a depth of understanding of classical Jewish texts and subjects for those who want to study. Its a modest size Reform Jewish synagogue with alot to offer relative to the size of the congregation.

You know, I never think to review a shul bc we tend to Yelp about restaurants or businesses and not…read moresynagogues. But reviews are important for congregations too, and we've had a great experience at Beth Am over the years. I know choosing a home for Jewish spiritual life and community is very personal and subjective, and I know people who are indifferent, others who love it, and others who belong here and also have affiliate memberships elsewhere. What you can expect is a supportive congregation of welcoming neighbors with a huge emphasis on family, life cycle events, community, learning, love of Israel, tzedakah, and simply sharing in the joy of yiddishkeit. Rabbis Kornberg and Earne are compassionate, enthusiastic, engaging, and dynamic, and they put in maximum effort on many fronts each week. There's a tremendous breadth of offerings these days. On some Shabbat mornings, we might have the traditional service in the sanctuary, a separate family service for those with young kids, and another lay-led minyan in our beit midrash. There's also a monthly outdoor campfire Shabbat with music and singing, daily minyan, lecture series, learning opportunities, guest speakers, community events, women's circle, men's club, preschool, Hebrew school, and a youth lounge. Really a lot to offer. There are a lot of congregants, so even though everyone is super welcoming of new faces, it might take a while to get to know people. Come regularly, not just for holidays, to get a more heimish experience. Security is always important, and Beth Am puts tremendous efforts into minimizing vulnerabilities. The entire property is like a fortress with heavy gates, fences, and armed security, and staff is trained to coordinate with local emergency police response. It feels very very safe inside. If you're shul shopping for a conservative congregation, it's definitely worth taking a look and deciding for yourself.

Our local SHUL:Warm and welcoming home to over 600 Jewish families mainly from the Carmel Valley…read moreneighborhood. Just came back from an awe inspiring Rosh Hashana services.... I have been a member there since 1998....and loving it...and so do my two kids who have BOTH graduated the JLC-(Sunday School program)