Readers’ Choice 2016
- Readers’ Choice 2016 | Eat, pray, shop — locally
- Community
- Culture
- Seniors
- Have a Nosh
- Time to Celebrate
- Shop Till You Drop
- Health, Beauty & Fitness
- Business & Professional
Innovative Programming
Congregation Beth Sholom, a Conservative San Francisco synagogue in the Richmond District founded in 1904, offers twice-daily egalitarian minyans, a family preschool and a meditation center. Adult programs explore such topics as Jewish mysticism and psalms, and include small-group learning opportunities in private homes.
Founded in 1850 in San Francisco, Reform Congregation Emanu-El, the Bay Area’s largest, offers courses with resident scholar and author Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, programs for interfaith families and a commitment to social justice. Its museum features exhibits by local and internationally known artists.
Lafayette’s Reform Temple Isaiah calls itself a Jewish neighborhood, with playgroups for babies and toddlers, plus day camps, family Shabbats and activities for youth, empty-nesters and seniors. It also offers a thriving mental health program, havurahs, Mussar, yoga and meditation.
Oakland’s Reform Temple Sinai, founded by immigrants in 1875, offers programs for boomers and empty-nesters, interfaith families and LGBTQ Jews as well as lifelong learning. Social action initiatives include the People of the Book Literacy Project and a commitment to green energy.
In Los Altos Hills, Congregation Beth Am is working with the Reform movement to re-envision the b’nai mitzvah process. Continuing programs include Torah study, drawing some 200 weekly; Oneg Israel, combining cultural presentations with Israeli food; and the Equal Start initiative, supporting high-quality early learning.
San Mateo’s Reform Peninsula Temple Beth El offers a family education program integrating study, Shabbat and social action, and youth programs in the evening. Its Sunday Sandwich Hevre helps feed the hungry, and its Green Team champions environmental action on the synagogue campus and the wider community.
In Tiburon, Conservative Congregation Kol Shofar offers creative worship opportunities, from traditional to contemplative, including an award-winning Center for Jewish Spirituality, a Judaism 101 series, lunch and breakfast learning sessions with the rabbis and a robust youth program.
San Francisco
Congregation Beth Sholom
(415) 221-8736
www.bethsholomsf.org
Congregation Emanu-El
(415) 751-2535
www.emanuelsf.org
East Bay
Temple Isaiah
Lafayette
(925) 283-8575
www.temple-isaiah.org
Temple Sinai
Oakland
(510) 451-3263
www.oaklandsinai.org
South Bay/Peninsula
Congregation Beth Am
Los Altos Hills
(650) 493-4661
www.betham.org
Peninsula Temple Beth El
San Mateo
(650) 341-7701
www.ptbe.org
North Bay
Congregation Kol Shofar
Tiburon
(415) 388-1818
www.kolshofar.org