This is honestly one of the warmest and most welcoming synagogues I've been to. It's a…read moreReconstructionist synagogue in West Roxbury, part of the Greater Boston Jewish community, and it just feels real. I love that in the Greater Boston area there are so many synagogues and Jewish communities to choose from, but Temple Hillel B'nai Torah is the one that gets my thumbs up. The events and services I've been to have had a great mix of people and energy. When I walked in people said hi right away, not in a pushy or fake way, just nice and natural. It felt open and comfortable and like I could actually belong here. If you're anywhere in the Boston area and looking for a Jewish community that's down-to-earth and welcoming, give it a try.

I have been a congregant here for a long time and always have felt welcomed. My children have grown…read moreup at this Temple and I continue to make new friends. The congregation strongly believes and practices inclusiveness and strives to welcome new members and strengthen the ties between current members. I strongly recommend this synagogue to anyone seeking a warm and accepting community.

I grew up in a Conservative-oriented family, but I have the spiritual sense of a (modern…read moremachine-cut) brick and no interest in practicing Judaism, but the loss of my wife to cancer earlier this year and some things surrounding that got me feeling more culturally Jewish, and I started looking at synagogues. Temple Israel hadn't even been on my list, but they were hosting Tisha b'Av this year (the Reform synagogues in that area rotate it annually) and I decided to check it out. I found that I really liked the larger size, active and varied (in age and other characteristics) community, and inclusive approach. "Inclusive" in this regard doesn't simply mean diverse -- Temple Israel certainly is -- but also the participatory atmosphere. For example, they called all new members up -- quite a few of us -- for the aliyah on Yom Kippur morning (and followed that up with the entire congregation during the afternoon). Rabbi Elaine Zecher, the senior rabbi, is very influential in the Reform movement, and listening to her and talking with her it's very apparent why, but one wouldn't necessarily know that the way the clergy interact. I've seen synagogues where the assistant rabbi(s) would better be described as rabbi's assistant or even apprentice, filling in only as needed, but that is not the case here. They rotate who delivers the sermon and tag team during services such that all of the rabbis lead for roughly equal amounts of time and don't "specialize". They are all very approachable and have their own distinct personalities. Despite (or not) it being a large synagogue, I find it very easy to talk with people, which isn't something that comes naturally to me. The clergy is very innovative indeed, but I cannot think of anything that we do that I can say is fundamentally out of line with Jewish tradition. It likely would not be to the taste of someone familiar and comfortable with Orthodox practice. They do use different (and varying) melodies for many of the usual prayers and songs, but that makes it more interesting. As far as the building and location goes, it's historic but well-maintained and updated and fully accessible. Fully validated parking in an enclosed garage right across a street that's really a driveway, along with convenience to the Longwood T stop, make it very easy to attend.

In the hunt for a synagogue in Boston, there were many to choose from! I think I made a good choice…read morewith Temple Israel for many reasons: + It is very accessible via bus or car, and they validate parking in a secured garage. + The facility is old and historic, and very very beautiful + The congregation is the most diverse and varied I've ever, ever experienced. They are open to interfaith, homosexual, young, and old. + Very affordable dues and payment options. The only downsides to this synagogue is that despite the fact that I love the inclusion and diversity, it is a little too "modern", I guess. They break away from the usual "Gates of Repentance" book that most of us are familiar with, using different melodies for standard prayers (sh'ma, viahavta, avot, etc.) that, unless you have always gone to this temple, you won't know.

Welcoming congregation. All seeking a spiritual home should try a service. Hold services twice a…read moremonth and have many other events. Open to interfaith couples and rabbi performs interfaith weddings. LGBT community welcome.

Very welcoming, liberal congregation. Services are currently only held once a month (it's a very…read moresmall, new congregation) at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Boston. Rabbi Berman is also the rabbi-in-residence there and offers sermons during the church services, while members of Emmanuel often come to services at Boston Jewish Spirit. It's a good congregation for people coming back to Judaism - there are no assumptions made about how much you know or don't know/remember about Jewish worship services. It's also a very welcoming congregation for interfaith couples and lgbt people.

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 :-)

Great place, very inclusive. The amazing Rabbi regularly talks about racial justice and queer…read moreinclusion during sermons and religious school. The synagogue vocally and actively supports BLM, anti-deportation efforts, transgender rights legislation, and other progressive causes. A wide range of religious practices, from atheist/cultural Jews to fairly traditionally observant Jews, is represented and included here.

Reyim helped my family to successfully navigate a very difficult situation with my father over a…read morelong period of time. They helped us in many different ways and for that, we are forever grateful.

A beautiful, loving congregation who supports one another through good times and bad. A learned…read moreRabbi who gives wonderful classes for congregants. A wonderful Limmud program with many wonderful programs. An active social action committee who support many important causes. An important B'Nai Mitzvah program with parents and children involved. The school uses experiential learning to enhance learning.

A beautiful large building with a big parking lot and well spoken rabbis and a great cantor. There…read moreis a guitar player if you are into that. The service was mostly in English with some Hebrew.

Nice Minyan, lots of welcoming faces. They are moving though- so you should check in for the new…read moreaddress! lots of great learning going on here.