Attended a bat mitzvah here…read more I will admit (1) I do not believe in organized religion (2) I have never been in a Jewish Synagogue before (3) I do not know anything about being Jewish or the true significance of a bat mitzah (4) I step into a house of worship on average once every 5 years. With all that being said, I was pleasantly surprised by my experience. The rabbi was warm and welcoming. She understood that many in the audience were not Jewish. She explained things along the way. What we were doing. Why we were doing it. She told us to join in if we felt comfortable. Most of the service was in Hebrew. So she gave the English translation. The prayer books - she explained that you read them backwards! They have lots of music which helped make the experience extra relaxing.

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.

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!

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...

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.

Ansha Sholum is like a beautiful flower that is growing out of a cement sidewalk. It is in one the…read moregrittiest neighborhoods in Lawrence, yet is not "just OK" inside. It looks and feels like a museum, like you have stepped back in time, or maybe outside of time entirely. It feels very peaceful. It's a very small, cozy congregation of older believers, more like a gathering of aunts and uncles than a typical congregation experience.

This is a great place to go if you are interested in the close, warm relationship that comes from a…read moresmall congregation. It is perfect for unaffiliated adults who are NOT looking for a synagogue with a school, or who are empty nesters. All are welcome, everyone participates, and (bonus) there is a very low almost nonexistent membership. Nervous about the location? It's considerably safer than it looks, gets an unnecessarily bad rap. If you are interested in an experience that feels like a chavurah that happens to have a building, this is the place!

Over the past few decades, in some locations, Jewish communities declined. Yet some places offer…read morenew life to the community. Chabad of the Nashoba Valley is one many Chabad outreach centers that reaches out to Jews of all backgrounds and observance levels. It is a small, haimish Chabad outreach center, which double as the community synagogue. They provide Orthodox Jewish prayer services on Shabbat (Friday night and morning) and holidays. Out here in the burbs its great to find a meaningful shul for Jewish people to come to. They have community Passover Seders, and services for the Yamim Nora'im (High Holy Days, Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur) Also a Kids'n Krafts hands-on Jewish educational program for kids 4 to 9. Chabad has a point of view, like any group worth respecting does. It's an open-hearted Orthodoxy that meets Jews where they are, offering pathways to a meaningful Jewish life. They're not missionaries; rather, they inspire Jews to become educated about their own heritage, and to take a step up the ladder of observance, from wherever they are. The Shabbat service could use more Shlomo Carelebach-type melodies and harmonies. But that's true of nearly all synagogues nowadays. It also could use a few more brief readings in English, which helps keeps people involved if they don't know the format. This is a place very much worth coming to, and a worthy addition to the Jewish community of the Meerimack Valley/Metrowest area, If you're looking for a synagogue where a larger percent of the services are in English, and/or which is helpful to intermarried couples looking to raise their kids Jewish, nearby is Congregation Shalom (Reform) in Chelmsford, or a bit further north, Temple Beth Abraham (Conservative), in Nashua NH.

Felt like I received a giant hug the first time I walked into Shabbat morning services. Services…read moreare beautifully done with Conservative liturgy. There are Friday nights with an assist from Bashert, the in house band. True community with a range of activities from dairy pot luck dinners, book discussions, guest speakers, and giving back to the larger community. The Purim Spiel is pure joy.

Ive visit this synagogue last shabbat morning and it was a special service for a baby naming. I was…read moreinformed it is the synagogue of andover inwhich, moved hoping to meet its members in the middle of Andover and Lawrence. The members and visitors were very friendly. I even gave aliyah and, thats a 2nd time experience in a conservative synagogue I do not belong to. Very friendly people, the sanctuary and social hall is in one large space but, well seperated. To me it was nice and its definetly complamented by the Ark. As far as location, it wasnt hard to find however, GPS may label it as Cube3 studio because its in the same building 5 on the 3rd fl.

Etz Hayim ("tree of life") is warm and welcoming.read more

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

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.