Welcoming community, excellent preschool and summer camp. Many opportunities for personal growth…read moreand community involvement. The clergy and staff are wonderful.

I spent a great deal of time at Temple Rodef Shalom Nursery School. I worked as an aide for one of…read morethe children enrolled, so I was not employed by TRSNS but spent several days there a week observing staff and their preschool program. I was continually impressed with the professional and caring teachers, who have great approaches towards educating children. TRSNS focuses on exploratory learning, creative play, kindness to others, and respect for others and the environment. Many of the children are not Jewish- this is a great preschool for anyone!

My first visit was with a group from the NVJCC. There was a group of 55 plus dancers performing…read more They were energetic and fun to watch. Afterwards a lovely free lunch of deli was served with chips, coleslaw, drinks, and desert. The people were very friendly. The 2nd time was last Sunday to view the movie 'It's All About Friends'. The organization ARC came to discuss the film and how their organization provides support and contacts to families who may know someone with special needs. It was a charming, funny and touching program, thanks.

Back in 2016, we were looking for a synagogue to join. We visited Beth El and fell in love with the…read morewarmth of his congregants. Four years have passed and we feel we did the right choice.

I have to pile on to the previous review. You can't find a warmer, kinder or more progressive…read morecongregation. It is filled with caring souls who reflect the light shed by their wonderful clergy, all under the leaderships of their most wonderful senior rabbi, Danny Zemel. I would not have found the need to even comment about this nationally renowned rabbi and this congregation were it not for a totally unfounded, ill informed review posted by someone else previously. It is sometimes hard to overcome negative comments, but this derisive one, to which I refer, should be dismissed by anyone with even the least degree of discernment.

Temple Micah is an extraordinary place. Welcoming, open-minded, spiritual and fun. A great place…read moreto check out if you're looking for a non-judgmental, spirited synagogue environment!

How do you review a synagogue? Here goes:…read more The good: Kesher has a really nice building (small, intimate, cozy). It is located well, right near the Georgetown scene. I've never been too regular, but, I know from their announcements that there's a wide variety of classes and events to be involved with. A lot of young people (20s, 30s) go to Kesher and some of them are friendly. DC is a transitory community, so there's usually new friends to make. There's a weekly kiddush after lunch, so socializing is encouraged. For new people to DC, Kesher offers a way to become part of the community. Religiously, Kesher falls within Modern Orthodox. Women do not participate in services, but are able to be active members of the shul. There is a women's "study group" that meets regularly. The middle: First, if you're looking for egalitarian, look elsewhere. The women's "study group" is fashioned like a prayer group (with a torah reading) but does much to emphasize that it is not one (such as changing prayers for the torah). Some like it, but a true egalitarian probably won't. Second, the rabbi has very strong opinions and is not afraid to express them. The rabbi is also heavily involved in Jewish politics. This could be good or bad depending on how you feel. Third, expect lots of speeches during shabbat prayer. If you like your prayers short and sweet, this is not the place for you. The bad: I mentioned that some people are friendly. Unfortunately, some people are not. I don't want to point to any specific person, but I think that some of those on the top of the synaguge hierarchy are more "cliqueish" than friendly and don't emphasize the importance of being welcoming to newcomers. I've heard from a number of people new to Kesher that the atmosphere can be downright insulting at times. Many a person has tried Kesher only to go elsewhere because of the general snobbery they've encountered. Moral: Give it a try, make your own decision. If you're looking for a community, make sure to check it out first before signing a lease in the area.

I attended this synagogue for four days (not Shabbat) while vacationing in DC in August 2019. It's…read morean okay shul if you, like me, need a minyan to daven. Nobody bothered to greet me, but nobody asked me to move because I took somebody else's seat either. On second day I told the gabbai that I needed to recite Gomel and was given the opportunity to do so. On my last day I mentioned that to the gabbai and he called me for aliyah on his own. The shul was always packed. I mean it as a positive thing, that the minyan was strong and reliable, not that there wasn't enough room. The only minor negative thing I can say is that there is no bulletin board with service schedule, although that information is available on their website. Overall, a nice place to daven.

I visited this venue for the first time recently to attend an author talk with Kelly Bishop, famous…read morefor her matriarch role in Gilmore Girls. Despite having to go through security, attending this event was seamless; you could tell they were a well-oiled machine. I was quickly through security, scanned my ticket, picked up my book, and found a great seat--although, I don't think there were any bad seats. It's a rather intimate venue, and it seemed like there was a great view from everywhere. It was easy to hear Kelly and her conversant, and it was so cool to have them walk down the aisle right next to me. I did not get a drink, but they do have beverages, including alcoholic ones like White Claw, available to purchase and to bring into the event space.

I've been here a few times to see some of my favorite creators. Once for The Minimalists and once…read moreto see Joshua Weissman. There's so much space for viewers to see the talks and - even sitting all the way in the back - you can hear all the conversations and interviews. The check in process is smooth and both experiences were different based on the creators personality. It's a beautiful venue with very intentional design to accommodate guests.

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.

A most welcoming congregation. Interfaith families and everyone are welcomed. The pre-school is…read moreamazing!!!

I came to celebrate Purim. The children in costume looked cute. My favorite was the snail on a…read morescooter, very creative. I ate a mun (poppyseed) hamentashen. I heard the story of Esther and booed at the mention of Haman, a tradition. There is a young Rabbi here and Cantor. A preschool is on the premises. They also have an active 55 an over group that meets almost monthly, has lunch, a movie or other musical entertainment.

Founded in 1975 as Washington's gay synagogue, Bet Mishpachah is an excellent worship space for…read moreboth LGBT Jews and those seeking a small, independent Jewish congregation close to DC's city center. Weekly Friday night services at 8 pm are led variously by the congregation's part-time rabbi and lay leaders. The liturgy is first-rate -- the congregation wrote its own prayer book -- although the performance of the service leaders can vary. The congregation prides itself on its close-knit family spirit; although it sometimes takes a bit of effort, newcomers are often quickly welcomed into the community. There are regular congregational dinners and educational programs.