I am a conversion student at Temple Beth Shalom and I have felt welcomed since the beginning. Rabbi…read moreFreedman, Rabbi Steinman, and Cantor Gostein are fantastic. All of my instructors have been very helpful and have really made this experience even more special. Even though we've been dealing with the effects of social distancing and the restrictions of Covid-19, Temple Beth Shalom has still maintained a strong connection with it's congregants and students, whether it's through classes or events or Shabbat service or High Holidays. When my Aunt passed from Covid-19 this year, Rabbi Freedman called to comfort me even though I was only a conversion student. I felt so grateful. The congregation also came together to unofficially sit Shiva for my Aunt. Temple Beth Shalom is a wonderful community. I can't wait to take my beit din at the end of Spring so I can officially be a part of this community.

I honestly didn't want to write this review but I just had to get this off my chest. My family and…read moreI joined this synagogue because we wanted to help our children identify with Judaism more closely and it was important to us that they celebrated their Bar/Bat Mitzvahs in a friendly and loving Jewish environment. Rabbi Freedman even came to our house for a naming ceremony when our third daughter was born. We enrolled our eldest daughter in Bat Mitzvah classes and started attending services. When we joined we couldn't afford to pay the full membership fees and the synagogue allowed us to pay a lower rate. About six months later we started getting regular calls from the finance person at the synagogue wanting to discuss our membership fees and to see if we could start paying more. Needless to say this was stressful and embarrassing and ultimately we just couldn't find the extra money. Sadly we had to cancel our membership. Never once did we receive a call from the synagogue asking about our leaving. It was difficult explaining to our kids why we left. As a Jew I am extremely aware of and sensitive to the stereotypes regarding Jews and money. It was heartbreaking to see that what we could provide financially to the synagogue was more important than us being a part of their community.

In 2013, the female rabbi and her congregation welcomed me with open arms. The rabbi surprised me…read moreby actually inviting me to participate in the Torah ceremony. I first declined saying I only saw the ceremony once or twice, but they didn't mind, so I accepted. I feared doing things wrong, but everything went okay. I learned some fascinating new things. The rabbi told me their particular congregation blended Reformed and Conservative Judaism. I found it particularity edifying when they contrasted Judaism with Christianity. The rabbi said many people have converted from Christianity to Judaism. She said unlike Christianity, Judaism "does not teach we have a stained soul, but a pure soul."

We are a URJ Reform Jewish Congregation Synagogue and Temple located in Cedar Park, TX (northwest…read moreAustin). We are a diverse, inter-generational and multicultural community, celebrating that there is more than one way to be a Jew. We strive to create and nourish a kehillah kedoshah, a sacred community. To enhance the meaning of our lives as Jews, we strive to foster the reciprocal connections between the Temple and its congregants. Children and adults, individuals and families create a multigenerational community participating in traditional religious and social activities, lifelong Jewish learning, and the larger Jewish community. The vision of Congregation Shir Ami is to be a beacon of Torah, a spiritual home, and a loving community, infusing the presence of God into our congregants' daily lives. Our services and classes meet at 3315 El Salido Pkwy, Cedar Park, TX. Contact: communications@shir-ami.com or 512-585-2895

Welcoming community, stimulating programs, services, for folks of all ages, interests.read more

The nicest and kindess Rabbi and Rebbetzin. Truly wonderful people. Needed to say Kaddish. So I…read morestopped in for Shabbos Day. The Rabbi insisted that I and my wife stay for lunch. Wow the Rebbetzins challah/ salads / chulent and deserts all homemade and amazing. A fantastic center. Thank you for everything.

Why, one may ask, would anyone choose to respond to a review dated 10/08/2013?…read more That Steven M. chose a public form, such a yelp, to launch a defamatory and personal attack on Rabbi Johnson and his wife as well as on the mission of Austin's Chabad Jewish Student Center, is the reason. One must question the motive of such a youth and those who chose to vote with him to post such a diatribe. Whatever their motive, I invite you to consider the tale "Feathers in the Wind." A nineteenth-century Jewish folktale tells of a man who went about town slandering the rabbi. One day, realizing that many of the things he had said were unfair, he went to the rabbi's house and begged for forgiveness. The rabbi told the man that he would forgive him on one condition: that he go home, take a feather pillow from his house and scatter the feathers to the wind and after he had done so to return to the rabbi's house. Though puzzled by the request, the man was happy to get off with so easy a penance. He quickly cut open the pillow and scattered the feathers to the wind and returned to the Rabbi's house. "Am I now forgiven?" he asked. "Just one more thing," the rabbi said. "Go now and gather up all the [disbursed] feathers." "But that is impossible. The wind has already scattered them." Precisely," the rabbi answered."And though you truly wish to correct the evil you have done, it is as impossible to repair the damage done by your words as it is to recover the feathers. In all fairness, I call upon yelp to include the second (not currently recommended) posting by Chana S. Her posting is an alternative view to that of Steven M. et al. Personally, my interactions with Chabad-Lubavich centers have been welcoming and positive. Charlotte C.

As I continue to fill in the blank spots of my religious past (and present and future for that…read morematter), we come to the t.u. Hillel. As a proud Aggie, I would occasionally visit the "tea sips" in Austin and check in with my good friends at Hillel. Seriously though, Austin is a great city in so many ways! The 3 most interesting Hillel memories: A person from the Israeli embassy telling our group adamantly that his government had absolutely no role in training members of the then Shah of Iran's secret service (!!!). Dating Sharon L. who I ended up running into her a few years later at a Bucks County (Pennsylvania) shul with her husband. And on top of that, her husband worked for the same company and location that I did. Small world..... Going to a Kinky Friedman (and the Texas Jew boys) concert fundraiser with Sharon L. Kinky was shit faced drunk in fine Jerry Jeff Walker style that night. At times, the Rabbi had to hold him up or retrieve him from back stage. What was also interesting was his "impressive" repertoire of anti-Semitic jokes. Yet, if I had lived in Texas, I would have voted for him as Governor! His books are very good too.

I love Texas Hillel. I don't think there is anything about Hillel that I don't like. The people are…read morefriendly and wonderful, the services are great, and the food is yummy. Hillel is a wonderful place for students. The library is a great place to study and the "people" chairs are the best places on campus to take naps. (I know, I know. The chairs at the Union are great, but always full.) Moreover, the high holy day services are the best at Hillel. I can tell you that the reform services are lively, wonderful, and all around fabulous. If you are looking for Jewish life at Texas, Hillel is the place to find it. Hook'em!

Apparently you can be an agnostic or an atheist and still be a Jew but not continue to be a Jew if…read moreyou believe that Yeshua was and is the Jewish Messiah. Interesting.

Again. Another church trying to pretend they are "Jewish". They are not. As the Torah states and…read moreevery Reform, Conservative, and/or Orthodox Jew will tell you - you cannot be "fish and fowl" at the same time. Their protestations to the contrary...their "spiel" only works on Jews who are fairly uneducated. Or Christians who are wanna-be Jews. Sorry guys - slapping a Hebrew name on an organization (or a building) doesn't change who you are - Christians. And that's fine - but at least follow your own religion and be honest about who you are.

2 hours ago It's been at least a year since I had been here…read more I came today very much looking forward to starting up my meditation practice again. The meditation was happening in the smaller Ayala room this day. As I approached I noticed there was a walking meditation taking place. Not sure if I should go inside or wait until the group was seated again I asked a woman who has just exited if it was ok for me to enter. She tried her best to avoid eye contact with me and stated "I don't know you!" With a straight face. I felt so offended by her lack of compassion and basic kindness I immediately left. What a negative energy this woman brought into the place. I didn't feel comfortable there. I won't be back.

It's been nine years that I've been attending the Austin Shambhala Center, and have felt no…read morepressure to do anything. It's all a personal path, and the sangha (community) is your support along the way. Everyone is so supportive if you voice your need to learn more. Chogyam Trungpa was a messenger. The teachings he gave have been passed down for thousands of years. Regardless of his imperfect nature, the teachings still stand firmly rooted in basic truth. Please come by and see how wonderful this group is.