I was a member of this congregation at its old location at Arch and Vine for a few years. This is…read morewhere my stepdaughter had her Bat Mitzvah here and participated in Midrasha and Camp Kee Tov. My son also attended religious school for a time and his mother participated in a neat chorus group. Yet, with all this activity and the nice people associated with Beth El, and with exception of the Bat Mitzvah, I rarely felt a connection or an inspiration here. At times, I felt that our family and the congregation were all going through the motions. If G-d was in this place, I, i did not know...

I love Beth El, and am sad to be leaving…read more When I grew up in Miami, our reform temple had a choir of people on a tiered stage... in white robes. They sang to organ music. In comparison, the guitar seems almost orthodox. Still, Cantor Brian puts the guitar away for Saturday morning services, and the guitar is largely an institution for Friday night. So you can take or leave the stringed accompaniment, at your pleasure. That said, Brian is a much more "chant-er friendly" cantor than others I have experienced in the east bay. He is very encouraging of congregation participation (even if you can only hum along), and his melodies are all very accessible. I am not a gifted singer, and I feel very comfortable there. What has always made me a bit uncomfortable is some of the holding hands and swaying moments. But those are few and far between. Havdallah. They do that a lot at Havdallah. Some of the bar mitzvah's can be a bit overwhelming. But there is an active early service on Saturdays, followed by an intellectually stimulating gathering at Torah study. The Torah study group is a bit small, but very warm and welcoming. It is worth checking out. If you break out of your comfort zone, you will be rewarded. Rabbi Raj (pronounced Roy) is sadly leaving, and I have not met the new Rabbi. But I loved Ferenc more than I can say, and he will be the measure by which all future rabbi's will be measured. The dues at the temple are not insignificant. But I was briefly on the board, and I was also a partial dues paying member. The administration has always been flexible with dues. There are plenty of people who are members that are on reduced dues, and none (myself included) have ever been made to feel like second class citizens. I think I figured out once that if I took my reduced dues, and applied it to a weekly figure, and ate all the free food at every event I would make out ahead. Seriously, when is the last time you had creamed herring on grand bakery challah? Damn that's good... but you may have to be Jewish to appreciate it. If only they would serve more chopped liver and rye ends. Drool.

CBI is probably the best synagogue in the San Francisco Bay Area. Welcoming, friendly and…read moreenergetic. Come visit for a Shabbat and you'll see for yourself: you'll get a "CBI Shabbat welcome" and hosted meals for Friday night and Shabbat day. Kiddush is usually scrumptious - essentially a mini lunch with crackers, dips, vegetables, table wine and often cooked food too. Compared to most Orthodox Jewish communities, this synagogue is more egalitarian and women-friendly. They have womens prayer services and Torah readings, an accessible mechitza and a Maharat (along with the Rabbi). It's really a place where everyone can feel welcome regardless of background, religious level or gender.

Beth Israel is a super welcoming modern orthodox shul, someone found me a seat right away even…read morethough the shul was very crowded. The Rabbis speak very nicely and I liked the fact that the women get to take out the torah and parade it around their section - unlike many modern orthodox shuls, Beth Israel is a bit on the progressive and open side and I like that. They also had a very nice kiddush in honor of a Bar Mitzvah afterward and people at the kiddush were quick notice me as a guest and come over for a friendly chat.

I love Netivot Shalom. I have been a member for 13 years. Netivot Shalom is uplifting and…read morefulfilling. It has everything: inspiring services, diversity, great rabbi, interesting members of all ages, excellent learning opportunities for young and old, and many fascinating programs. It has great accessibility for various handicaps. Netivot Shalom has lunch after Saturday morning services and speakers or singing after lunch. The members and staff are warm and friendly. Netivot Shalom is gated and safe. I have found my Jewish home and I will never leave.

I've been a member for over 35 years. My three daughters became b'nai mitvot. I myself was…read moreSynagogue and Hebrew school Administrator. It's wonderful to see how much it's grown.

This is the fourth religious organization I have reviewed in 15 minutes and I am *really* starting…read moreto think about how weird it is to rate something like this - how can one person rate or review something religious in a way that means anything to another person? You will most likely love Chochmat HaLev or hate Chochmat HaLev. So I gues that balances out to 3 stars? Here is my attempt to sum up Chochmat HaLev: (I can't believe I am about to be so irreverant..... ) "The center of the Jew-Bu universe" [thats Jewish Buddhism]

Is it OK for members to review their own house of worship? This is the first (and only) synagogue…read moreI've ever been a paying member of. I'm a big fan. It's as close as a congregation has ever come to feeling like my speed of Judaism. I love the contemplative silence, and the ecstatic dance and the focusing chanting. Friday night celebratory shabbat services are often exactly whatever I need that week: uplifting, calming, focusing me inwards. The first half of the service is the best part, between the chanting, dancing, and silence, so don't come late. High Holiday services are held elsewhere, because like virtually all other non-orthodox synagogues, they get a much bigger crowd than at any other time. Those services are even richer and deeper and more meaningful for me. And you can apply the ticket prices towards a membership.

rabbi yehuda ferris never gave my starving jewish elderly sisters or myself our inheritance,after…read moreour late brother died of cancer in 2020, our brother worked for rabbi yehuda ferris for 25 years , my brother was hospitalized 150 days at alta bates in a liver coma in 2019,rabbi ferris and his sufi muslim " attorney william jhon rogers, of petaluma,#law licence 154219, gave us a trust, claiming our brother had signed it, four months before he died but he was in a liver coma,. the trust gave my two sisters and i a total of $90k to spilt, and would be an automatic lien at 10% iinterest a year on my brother's property at 1810 grant st.berk.94703, which is two blocks from "chabad of the east bay." well, now it's been six years and we haven't gotten a penny mr ferris sold the $2m valued home for $82k, i was living with my brother as caregiver. and as soon as he died, covid exploded and everyone was directed to shelter and place for over 2 years. nevertheless, mr. ferris , his attorney and thr buyers started an eviction action against me in the middle of the pandemic. and told me if i didn't leave in 2 months. i would never get a penny,OF OUR LEGAL SHARE OF THE IRREVOCABLE TRUST nor would my 2 sisters. We had suffered 6 years of trauma brother brother having terminal cancer for 6 years. And this is how trustee ferris treat us after he died and the big lie is that they made me an " offer"that didn't exist. "Accept this offer" read a threatening email . there was never a offer. he never said verbally or in writing or email etc 'll give you $30k i'll give you sisters $30k let alone interest,he never said anything i called ferris & his lawyer a 100 times they never answered next , there's a 30 day notice on the door , i unexpectedly after my brother's death in which I took care of him for 6 years,had a pension fund from the hospital where my brother died , $25k i had to spend it all on an attorney who , like a guardian angel against the COVID virus. Stalled the eviction trial for an entire year, mr. Ferris's real estate magnate wife, miriam never got a single covid vaccine. Neither did any of their children, or in laws. So I ended up giving all the money to the lawyer over a year's time so I wouldn't die homeless from exposure to covid at 63 , in that was in 2022, ---- 100,000 covid deaths in california at the time---, i found $70k in cashier's checks in a wastebasket , in my brother's house, he took all his secret money out of the bank 3 weeks before he died and made out $70k in cashiers Checks to himself and I almost threw them away. I have photocopies in the court file, I gave them to TRUSTEE "rabbi" ferris. in good faith they just handed us a trust and it said $30k each. Guaranteed by a lein on the $2 million house. so i so what did he do? he kept every penny of the 70k + $15k that was in a safety deposit box which i found the key. and now 6 years later, my sisters are starving ,elderly ,and homeless, jewish , no money ,no income nothing and the same goes for me. and this guy's living in his $4 million mansion, asking YOU for a donation to his building fund. he bought a $1.1 million "second rider" property in cape cod!!!! it's a public record the same time. he's sold my brother's house for $82k this is financial abuse of the elderly . frankly it's (very) anti semetic, and they accuse me in the probate court where I don't have an attorney of being anti-semetic for wanting my inheritance and wanting my elderly sisters inheritece and no probate attorney takes any cases unless the trust is worth at least $3 million. They framed me up as a vexation litigant, in the probate court. so now i can't go out of court i can't even go to small claims court. I can't go to court anywhere in the state of California. Because i'm on this list they lied under oath about me .they told the judge I filed 30 lawsuits recently, but they lied included a in 1993 suit. my first lawsuit in life, they reprinted 5 lawsuits 30 times. I objected, but the judge has put me on this blacklist. No lawyer will represent anyone on that list. And I can't go to court myself. So they have attempted to completely silence me. And then they tried to get an order from the court that I'm not allowed to talk about this case to the media. If you wanna look it up it's case number RP221-20163, IN ALAMEDA, COUNTY. CALLED PROBATE DIVISION. DON'T DONATE TO THIS ORGANIZATION FOR THE LOVE OF G-D DO NOT DONATE A PENNY.

The Chabad House in Berkeley has been a blessing for me and my family. Their services have always…read morebeen heart felt, spiritual and all so welcoming with a great community feeling. Every one was very nice to me and my daughter. My daughter most certainly enjoyed the greatest summer ever when she participated in Camp Gan Israel Summer Camp. They had all kinds of activities and the greatest young kind and caring camp counselors. Then we went to the Chabad's Passover Dinner, another wonderful community affair with wonderful food and a lovely friendly community. I cannot wait for another community and family event at the Chabad House.

Rabbi and Rebbetzin Bell are wonderful. They have hosted me several times for Shabbat dinner. Rabbi…read moreBell is always there for me if I have any questions about Judaism. Do not be worried that the rabbi will try to "make you religious." Chabad is famous for meeting people where they are and giving them access to real Jewish practice. In addition, Rabbi Bell knows that people are looking for real answers to deep questions, and is happy to sit down with you and answer whatever questions you may have. Chabad of El Cerrito is a real gift to El Cerrito, bringing a Judaism that is warm, friendly, joyous, and practical. If you are interested, just call them and tell the rabbi you want to meet at Starbucks and Rabbi Bell will be there for you. The rebbetzin is also very accessible (and makes great challah!).

Founded in 1974 with historian Fred Rosenbaum as its first director, Lehrhaus took its name…read more(meaning "house of learning") and inspiration from a school for Jewish studies founded by philosopher Franz Rosenzweig in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1920. Attracting scholars such as Martin Buber, S.Y. Agnon, A.J. Heschel, Gershom Scholem, and Erich Fromm, the original Lehrhaus -- until its closure by the Nazis -- was the focal point of a Jewish intellectual revival between the wars. Dialogue between the student and teacher was the primary method of learning, which, according to Rosenzweig and Buber, "could restore something genuinely Jewish to the Western intellectual." I've taken several Lehrhaus classes over the years including the old Lessons for Leaders series and a number of current events and Hebrew Language classes. I love learning and Lehrhaus does a good job feeding that hunger. They're located "Downstairs" from the Hillel and their door to learning is always open.

I took Introduction to the Jewish Experience with Rabbi Ruth Adar and it was an amazing experience…read more Rabbi Adar is such a wealth of knowledge and an amazing professor and person. I recommend this course to anyone who wants to learn more about Jewish history, culture and Jewish living.

I have attended and graduated from 3 Universities (Iowa, Texas A&M, and Cal) and was involved with…read moreeach of their Hillel activities. This one is both the most interesting one. After I graduated, I would still stop by during the High Holy Days as a prayer option. And when you combine the services of Lehrhaus Judaica "Downstairs", it's a Jewish learning combination that can't be beat.

For some cosmic reason, almost all my friends I made in the dorms were Jewish. Perhaps its that my…read moremother is and they seem more familiar. So I wound up being invited regularly to Friday night shabbas. I'm a rather strict agnostic, so I wasn't sure what to expect. What I like about the atmosphere at hillel was that it was incredibly open and welcoming and not at all preachy (even though we were at a service). They have all 3 services for students (orthodox, traditional and reform) and then all eat together. I've been to all the various types of services and me being the total blonde schicksa had the best time in orthodox. When we came together for a meal it was wonderfully friendly and warm and welcoming. Anyways, Hillel gets 5 stars for being great, funny, welcoming, kind and generous to strangers. If only we could all be such menschen.