I love this synagogue and hope to spread the word to others looking for a caring community where…read moreyou can learn and grow your Judaism in whatever ways work for you. They come together not just for fun and social events but to support each other in times of need, illness and death. The clergy are amazing and you can get involved in many ways. Both adult and youth education are innovative and relevant. There are voluntary dues for young families and you should see the amazing new playground!

I grew up as a member of this is the synagogue. I have only the fondest of memories of this place,…read moreand on my very few returns since high school I have not been disappointed. Rabbi Weinblatt is an incredibly engaging and insightful speaker with a veritable command of Jewish humor. When my family joined in 1996 the congregation was less than 5 years old and thus featured a younger demographic. Since that time the congregation has aged a little bit and attendance on Saturdays is a bit lower because there are fewer Bar Mitzvahs. Nonetheless, there are a good 1000 people here on the High Holidays. Back in the day I believe the synogogue's membership included over 500 families. The pastoral Potomac campus features an absolutely beautiful building that I'd characterize as Mediteranean Postmodern. There is even a small stream on the back side of the property that is used to throw bread into the water on Rosh Hashanah (Tashlich). This is a Conservative Synagogue but the Rabbi speaks in english when delivering many of his thoughts on the Parsha. Men and women are mixed at this shul, but all of the Torah reading is done in Hebrew. This synagogue is noticably more conservative and slightly smaller than Washington Hebrew and Temple Beth-El. This very vibrant Jewish community is the bar by which I've always metered synagogues I've been to since.

Fantastic kiddish, welcoming congregation that really felt nice, with a lovely service and nice…read moreRabbis.

I whole heartedly agree with Jeff's review! The community…read moreneeds to know that the Sisterhood runs one of the best Judaica Shops in the area (2019 Winner of Best Judaica Shop by the Washington Jewish Week). The Shop is open now, even during the pandemic, but by appointment only. Call 301-770-7577 for more information.

My family joined Beth El way back in 1957, very shortly after it opened. My mother and aunt still…read morebelong to the congregation. My sister & I attended Sunday School there for eleven years/each and we were confirmed at Beth El. I adored Rabbi Scolnic & Judy and I've been very impressed with Rabbi Rudolph's kindness & humor. The staff - and there are many - have always been wonderful. In particular, I'm very fond of Ricardo; he's in charge of senior programs and my mother participates in those. The kitchen & the facilities staff are terrific and there's very little turnover (I fondly remember Dorothy Beverly, who ran the kitchen for eons). Cantor Lubin had an incredibly beautiful singing voice and "a heart of gold". I've also heard great things about the new cantor. The receptionist - Hattie - is very friendly. Beth El's Nursery School has always had a superb reputation. My sister & I belonged to Beth El's USY (youth group) and loved it. I have great memories of attending my sister's wedding and two of my close friends' weddings at Beth El (I met them via USY in 1965 and we're still friends). I have special memories of attending my late grandfather's 90th birthday party at the Morning Minyan, where the beloved (late) Max Cohen prepared the food. I spoke at his funeral service at Beth El....I have myriad memories of my association with Beth El throughout my life, both happy and poignant. The thing I love in particular about the congregation is that its large size doesn't detract one bit from its incredibly personal ambiance. In recent years the building has been expanded a few times due to increased enrollment and it's a beautiful place. I'm not a religious person, but I love Beth El in its entirety.

This is an odd review. I am not Jewish. I donated blood this morning through Inova Blood Donation…read moreServices at the Congregation Beth El in Bethesda. Members of the congregation were volunteering at various stations. I was so impressed with the kindness, courtesy & respect with which I was treated by the volunteering members. This was such a positive experience - I left with a warm feeling for these generous people who gave of their time to volunteer. Sincerely, Susie

I went to nursery school and Hebrew school at Har Shalom. I was Bar Mitzvahed here…read more I love our building. It is truly beautiful. Our sanctuaries and social hall are amazing. Our community has always been a very welcoming place. One Yelper Ana wrote about concerns about Rabbi Raskin. I share her concerns. The Rabi does not like to meet with people regardless of whether or not they're of his faith. I was in an awful car accident, through the fault of another driver, and am truly blessed to be alive, The Rabbi did not return my calls and would not meet with me in my home as I recovered despite my attempts to contact him. He finally called when I left a message for somebody else telling them how disappointed I was. The rabbi still would not meet with me despite my home being less than a mile from our synagogue and walkable for any healthy person. This was well before Corona. Months later, it is easily walkable for me. Why would I want to meet with such a clergyman? I saw an Orthodox Jew wearing a Yamika on the street and he gladly said the Mishaberach with me, when my Rabbi would not. I hope this review motivates the Rabbi to change the way he does his job for the good of our synagogue community.

Our family has had such an overwhelmingly positive experience at the Sherman Early Childhood Center…read moreand Congregation Har Shalom over the past few years. We feel so very fortunate to have found this beautiful place and could not recommend this unique community more highly to other families. The Sherman ECC at Har Shalom: We did a lot of research into the various preschool options in the Potomac-Rockville-Bethesda area before we found the Sherman ECC. This preschool is a magical place, a life-changing experience for your family and your child. We feel such an overwhelming amount of gratitude to the extraordinary teachers at the Sherman ECC for their dedication to our children. Beth Hoch is the Director of the Sherman ECC and she is simply spectacular. Beth has a genuine gift for educating young children and interacting with families. We interviewed dozens of preschool directors when we were researching the preschools in the area, and Beth truly stood out as someone inherently gifted in her role as Director of the ECC. Congregation Har Shalom: After joining the Sherman ECC, we started attending community events and prayer services at the Har Shalom synagogue. We had the same fabulous experience at the synagogue. Rabbi Adam Raskin fosters a true sense of community and friendship throughout the synagogue and his sermons are genuinely interesting and accessible to people at all levels of religious observance. He is also very approachable: the kids run up to him during services for a chocolate or many chocolates, he walks around shaking hands with congregants, and he also visits with everyone individually after prayer services. The prayer services and other community events are often also led by Cantor Henrique Ozur Bass, another spectacular member of the Har Shalom clergy. Cantor Ozur Bass is extremely approachable, supportive, kind, friendly and funny. It has been such an absolute pleasure to participate in his prayer services over the past few years. He leads the children in singing Jewish songs and melodies every Friday morning, and we used to love attending as a family before COVID. Rabbi Rachel Simmons recently joined the synagogue and has done a nice job with holding events that young families can attend, from rockin' Shabbat to ice cream socials to Yoga Shabbat.

Saturday night Trio Sefardi presenting La Nona Kanta, the remarkable life of Flory Jagoda. This…read morelive music venue offered history of the musical instruments used, the translation of the lyrics and wonderful harmony.

My wife and I found Adat Shalom when we were synagogue shopping prior to becoming parents. When we…read moremet the community, and the young rabbi at the time, Sid Schwarz, we knew there was no question, this was the right place for us. I personally loved the work of the social action committee like Sukkot in April, the principles that Reconstructionism stands for like ordaining LGBT rabbis, and ultimately a great place to raise my family -- where they felt connected to something much bigger. This Community is blessed with a diverse group of incredibly smart and good people.

Large modern orthodox shul, so many friendly people that I had to take rain checks for multiple…read moreoffers of hospitality on my first weekend there. Four adult minyanim on shabbos to choose from. Rabbi Tessler is very charismatic, warm, effusive. Rabbi Antine is a very inspiring and energetic teacher. Early Childhood Education Center has great reputation. Great shul if you don't mind large.

Very friendly sinagogue the rabbi is fantastic beautiful community love it going every Saturday…read moremorning

Absolutely amazing community! Very warm and inviting, the building is gorgeous yet very spiritual…read moreand cozy. uplifting prayer and beautiful prayers/tunes. And a great and complimentary Kiddush community lunch following services.

I want to kindergarten here in the early 60ies because we lived a The Berkshire around the corner…read moreon Mass avenue. The funny thing was the Kindergarten was run by Catholic Nuns, I guess that rented the place. I remeber have a small rug I brought with me that we would take naps on. They would not let you graduate unless you pass some test and one was skipping. I did not know how to skipp and maybe due to my dyslexia (diagnosed later) that added to the challenge. My Mom was determined that I would pass and learn to skip. I remember practicing and learning to skip on the sidewalk between this center and the Berkshire over and over. I finally learned to skip and graduated from Kindergarten but have the memory every time I pass that area of Mass avenue. Will have to stop in to the center sometime and see what I remember as a large room we had class in looks like today.

We have been members for over 3 years now and since day one, have always felt welcome in Shaare…read moreTorah. I recall on our first Shabbat how we were welcomed warmly before we ever got into the sanctuary and it gave us a sense of warmth and acceptance that has only grown since. We now have a new, vibrant, energetic young rabbi who is inspirational and conversational. He wants to know who you are so he can be the spiritual leader you need him to be for "you" as well as for the rest of the community. You will always feel safe and never alone in this synagogue from a security as well as a "family" point of view. Whether you become a member or not is up to you. This synagogue will embrace you whenever you are ready because you will always feel safe be special when you are in that building. Reach out and you will not be disappointed.

We love Shaare Torah! We've been members for about 2 years. Our daughter is in religious school and…read morewe've been very happy with their dedication to high quality Jewish education. We love Rabbis Annie and Yosef. They bring a fun, youthful, but enriching presence to services. This is such a gem and we really recommend it to anyone looking for a welcoming, vibrant Conservative shul.