A warm and loving community! The services are lovely . The pre-school brings great joy to the…read moresynagogue .

The congregation is so kind and warm. I feel truly blessed to have found this beautiful and vibrant…read morecommunity.

A small congregation of middle-aged and older congregants who enjoy a beautiful hour-long Friday…read moreeve service with oneg after. We love the people there and look forward to seeing them every week.

I would reccomend anyone looking for a small group in a local temple of the back bay location in…read moreNewport Beach, Ca. try Temple Issiah. This temple was founded by Flory A. Van Beek who recently passed away this year. She wrote a fabulous book named: Flory ... Survival in the Valley of Death Holocaust 1940-1945. (when I read this book, I couldn't put it down until it was finished!) acutally two days i read off and on until i completed it. It was on edge every moment and I feel like I wish so many more people would read it too. In Flory's memory, I would hope some people would help out for her temple is having extreme financial difficulties. It was her husband and her's greatest wish to help to keep the Jewish people together when the Holocaust was over. They vowed to do this if they ever did anything. It would be a great waste to stop her founded temple's growth just because she has left us. It's a small group but it is very sweet and personal. Leah Spalding

Pros: Beautiful facility…read more Cons: The Director Melissa basically accuses parents of abusing their children for self-defense behaviors like biting (yes, of course it's wrong, but it seems only one side is considered when these classroom incidents occur) the child exhibits once or twice. She also has a short fuse and, despite acknowledging she is not Jewish, pretends to know the intra-dynamics of the Jewish community, pushing the "intersectionality" (I support informed intersectionality, not passive aggressive hostility) narrative that "white Jews" oppress other Jews. This is not what we want to teach our children - they should make their own decisions based on observations, and our community certainly doesn't fit so neatly into the North American race-obsessed "oppressor/oppressed" binary.

Temple Beth El has been such a special place for me to connect with other Jewish people in south…read moreOrange County. They have both reform and conservative services and they do so much good for the community. I'm so happy to have found such an amazing Temple.

I've been going here since 2000, I continue to love this phenomenal community more and more the…read moreolder I get. The clergy are so amazing and they make you feel like part of the SHM family.

I really like this synagogue and the community. It's kind of hard being the new girl in town…read more.. moved here right before COVID. Finding a shul where most of the members are warm, welcoming, and kind is hard to find in general, but during COVID-19? Oy, it was a long process. Before moving to OC from LA, I belonged to Stephen Wise Temple up in Belair. We were the envy of all Shuls in the LA area... and at one point, I considered us the best... not due to the glitz and glam, but the dedication the clergy had for it's members. Esp. My cantor and one rabbi that is still there. It was so difficult to find a shul similar SWT in OC... until I decided to look into SHM It also helped that my teacher, mentor, friend, and arguably the greatest chazzan of our time, cantor Nathan Lam, pointed out that the LOVELY Rabbi Zive is now at SHM, in Irvine. (Where I live now), so that got my attention very quickly *it was kismet*. The words Rabbi Bryan Zive and Mensch are synonymous. He is a great leader- kind, compassionate, caring, WISE, and makes time for young people (like myself). I really appreciated the fact that he carved time out to meet with little 'ol me as he is such a busy man. With a little help from Nate, We started conversing, and finally scheduled a meeting as soon as it was good for us. Zive gave me the 411 on the temple and also put me at ease with respect to some concerns I had at the time. I also love the fact that SHM has an amazing musical program (& tons of things available for kiddos! Can't wait to bring my 1 year old as she deserves to be apart of a warm Jewish community and have the opportunities I had growing up). It seems like there's a program for everyone here. It's nice. I've been to this temple a couple of times before moving to OC (back when it was at the JCC), and really liked the vibe then. Their former Cantor, Arie, is such a dear and I love his Israeli flair with respect to music. Gotta love the lion from Zion. He's a very sweet man. I'm not sure if they have a full time cantor, yet... but I'm certain they will select a great one when the time is right. Big props to zive for being involved with the musical stuff + being a rabbi. I can't imagine it being easy to juggle both roles, but he definitely makes it look easy, lol. FYI:He was trained by the best and comes from great stock- just sayin'. My most recent experience at SHM was great. They had a lovely HHDs service, and everything was wonderful from the Classical chazzanut to the inspirational, educational, and insightful sermon. Truly fantastic from start to finish. Grateful to Zive for bringing me into the SHM community & I so look forward to some amazing "shecky" (Shehecheyanu) moments + making lovely memories with my daughter here in the future.

Rabbi Mintz and his wife Channi are both one of a kind. Kind and generous with there time and love…read morefor all. They are literally the type of people to give you the clothes of their backs and the food from their table. They run the largest volunteer program in Orange County for children with special needs and their families through the friendship circle, offer uplifting services Saturday morning on Shabbas, and all Jewish Holidays. Have recently added a Monday morning 7:30AM service to start your week with positive energy as well. I cannot recommend them and this place enough.

As its name implies, this is a cool shul! It's an egalitarian, conservative synagogue that meets…read morein the Central Library in Huntington Beach at Talbert and Golden West. It features friendly people and a co-founder who tells me "It's all about the music and the kids!" Friday night services start at 7:00 in the Talbert room on the upper level. Don't miss the Musical Service on the second Friday! Their rock band features professional musicians who are members of the Tribe! The only Saturday morning service offered is after the second Friday, and it is traditional. The third Friday is skipped, but a lovley Havdalah service follows on that Saturday, meeting at members' homes before sundown. The atmosphere is hip and casual, although someone occasionally shows up in a suit! Come prepared to sing, smile, and sample all the goodies afterwards at the oneg! Their Hebrew School features an Israeli principal!. Check them out at www.surfcitysynagogue.org or call (714) 596-2220

Temple Beth David had a fundraiser with a tribute band that played Beach Boys and Eagles music. I…read moreenjoy Beach Boys music, and the Eagles are my favorite band , so it's a no-brainer that I came. The optional lunch was served with a choice of a hamburger or a hotdog, coleslaw, and a slice of delicious cheesecake. Also a soda in a can. The musicians did not sound like the original band, but they did the songs really well and it sounded great. Everyone had a good time and I enjoyed all of the music.

Temple Beth David is always welcoming and friendly. You feel like you're part of a family. The…read morerabbi is inspiring and her sermons are very informative. The Cantor's beautiful voice gives me a feeling of comfort. There are many different events for all ages. Diversity is important as is kindness and understanding.

This is a very authentic community of really nice, genuine people. We felt very welcome on our…read morefirst visit. The rabbi is wonderful and very kind. Beautiful synagogue.

As a reform temple they are working to improve constantly . They hired a new rabbi recently. Rabbi…read moreSobel is sweet, understanding and working to make TBS great again. Loved rabbi Cohen also, but politics are politics. If your looking for a revitalized synagogue Temple Beth Shalom is a perfect choice.

Congregation B'nai Israel has become a home for me in so many ways. I came seeking education and…read morelearning in my Jewish journey. I have received so much more - a deepening knowledge and understanding of the struggles of my ancestors and what they endured while never losing faith in the one true G-d. The connections I am making with fellow Jews of all ages, genders, ethnicities and sexualities, is another unexpected gift. What has been the most surprising is the truly welcoming hearts and humility that the clergy and leadership embody. As a queer person who was raised in a church that didn't accept all of who I am, it has been amazing to have found a spiritual community that not only accepts me, but embraces me and other members of the synagogue who identify as LGBTQIA+. Rabbi Adam Greenwald and Cantor Amy Robinson Katz, along with synagogue administration and board leadership and members, have created a place were all belong. Their spiritual walk matches their actions in the world. This is exactly what I have been seeking in a place of worship, and to find it while also finding my place in the story of the Israelites and in my identity as a queer Jewish person, has been a gift beyond measure.

This amazing pre school has provided the best education for my two grandchildren…read more My eldest grandson Kai will graduate in a week and is ready for his adventure into kindergarten in great part due to this school Thank you

I think the lead pastors had a nice vision for this place...but being that they came out of…read moreHillsong, means that they don't preach about the true need for repentance that much and it is very elementary. I went here for over a year, attending the life groups, the whole thing. I felt that the pastors wife was a better speaker. What made me leave? The week they had a psychologist and supposed theologian come in a give a message that was pop psychology and contradicted scripture in a very obvious way. No word from the pastors about how what he said wasn't Biblical, etc. Very off.

Love this place! My life has forever changed since walking into this building!…read more If you're looking for a church home give Newport Church a visit!