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    Congregation B'nai Israel

    5.0 (1 review)

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    9 years ago

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    Temple Sinai

    Temple Sinai

    4.3(16 reviews)
    35.5 mi

    Very well organized programming, rich array of services, social activities etc but never felt very…read morewelcome so did not renew my membership after 1 year. As a newcomer I experienced a lot of clickishness, and a lack of feeling welcome at, for instance the oneg shabbats, which is where such bonding as a newcomer would take place. Interestingly I did witness, on a couple occasions, an AA person, who also appeared to be new or in process of considering whether to join, being shown great attention with a well organized welcomong committee response laying out the red carpet. I was also surprised to find one of the rabbis not to be very warm and friendly as was described in the other reviews. Whenever I saw her at an event and happened to make eye contact, her response was never warm and inviting. With such a large congregation I did not expect anything more than a smile or a hello but this did not happen-- not surprising however since this appears to be the cultural norm for Sinai's congregation as a whole. Now if I was a different demographic.... that might have made a difference!

    Sinai writes they are a diverse community. Yet, at times, they lack people skills training and…read moresystems to work with diverse emotions and demonstrate skillful leadership. Sinai lacks a fair and skilled complaint process to investigate their own staff's harmful behavior and self-protective conduct to find the facts. Like a dysfunctional family, based on the cantor's fabrications, the rabbi and leadership did not hesitate to take manipulate perception, and take brutal, and unexpected punishment actions with me. Believing only the cantor, the rabbi spread false allegations about me to their board and failed to speak with me about my experience. Result? Many people know I am a long-term cancer patient. Clergy's unexpected aggression and ostracism led to my ongoing health damages and more medical oversight. Their hubris in leadership is demonstrated by their refusal to take responsibility, apologize to me, and model unity and caring for their own congregation. I had been at Sinai as long as the rabbi and cantor have. Fortunately, now, I am in a much smaller congregation, close to my home, and doing fine.

    Photos
    Temple Sinai - Summertime Shabbat lunch in the courtyard.

    Summertime Shabbat lunch in the courtyard.

    Temple Sinai - Tot Shabbat

    Tot Shabbat

    Temple Sinai - Temple Sinai Clergy

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    Temple Sinai Clergy

    Congregation Kol Shofar

    Congregation Kol Shofar

    4.0(5 reviews)
    24.0 mi

    I grew up in a Catholic and Jewish background. This was my first Shabbat service since my family…read morepassed away. Everyone was very welcoming. The service was quite long ( 3 hours) and there was a lunch. The majority of the service was sung in Hebrew. My brain shut off at about an hour and a half but very nice service.

    I was a Kol Shofar member from age 5 to age 23 (the last year I could go to high holiday services…read morefor free under my parents membership). My family has seen Kol Shofar change over the years from the leadership of Rabbi White to our current Rabbi, Rabbi Derby and now, Rabbi Levy as Co-Rabbi. High Holidays at Kol Shofar hold many cherished memories for me. Todd Silverstein's soulful interpretation of the holiday melodies is a delight to witness. Rabbi Derby's sermon's are always powerful yet accessible. And even though there are many people in attendance, the atmosphere is still warm and familiiar (probably because my mom *always* insists on sitting in the front row, even when we show up late!) There are truly some remarkable teachers here. Fred Cherniss, Rabbi Derby and Yetta Robinson to name a few. I'm not super fond of the Co-Rabbi, Rabbi Levy, but Rabbi Derby is an amazing spiritual leader who more than makes up for Rabbi Levy's shortcomings. If you are synagogue shopping in Southern Marin, I'd definitely recommend you take a look at Kol Shofar. Be advised that Rabbi Derby is on sabbatical for the next 9 mos.

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    Congregation Kol Shofar
    Congregation Kol Shofar
    Congregation Kol Shofar

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    Congregation B'nai Israel - synagogues - Updated May 2026

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