Anonymous wrote:Pp's, I know BI is B'nai Israel but what is TI?

Tikvat Israel

Isn't Sinai in transition? Long term Rabbi is semi-retired. Transitions are a rough time to join a congregation. You don't know what it is going to look like when its done.

What do people think of Temple Sinai? I know they have a great nursery school but it doesn't work for working parents. I went to a tot Shabbat but it wasn't very friendly.

Pp's, I know BI is B'nai Israel but what is TI?

Etz Hayim Arlington.

Conservative, so the services are pretty traditional (which I like), but in other ways, we are not traditional at all. Very inclusive. It is a small congregation, which has advantages and disadvantages.

I love Temple Shalom in Silver Spring. The religious school is creative and NOT boring. The people are down to earth and welcoming and lovely and inclusive.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:B'nai Israel is conservative yet down to earth. There's a wonderful comradery between the members and they have a wonderful preschool program with very special teachers.

I find Mini Minyan to be nuts. I walk out of there feeling stressed and unhappy. Not the way I want to spend shabbat morning.

They're like that at most synagogues-don't like it? Don't go.

Anonymous wrote:B'nai Israel is conservative yet down to earth. There's a wonderful comradery between the members and they have a wonderful preschool program with very special teachers.

I find Mini Minyan to be nuts. I walk out of there feeling stressed and unhappy. Not the way I want to spend shabbat morning.

Anonymous wrote:I LOVEd Ohr Kodesh in Chevy chase/silver spring for much the same reasons as pp listed. I moved to Rockville recently, and that shul is now too far away for us. Desperatley searching for one we like as much... TI and BI aren't doing it for us

I live in Rockville and found the same to be true about BI. I haven't tried TI yet. But I've found my children and I are most comfortable at Ohr Kodesh. So we drive 15 min on Sat even through we could walk to BI. I'm also giving some thought to Beth Shalom but that's Orthodox so it's a big consideration. I will say the few times I've attended it has been wonderful.

OP--what are you looking for in a shul? For me I need great little kid programming, a warm rabbi, a friendly community, and a good social scene. Whenever I move, I find most of my friends through the shul so social is important to me.

B'nai Israel is conservative yet down to earth. There's a wonderful comradery between the members and they have a wonderful preschool program with very special teachers.

We send our daughter to Hebrew School at Kol Shalom in Rockville and it is a wonderful program.

I LOVEd Ohr Kodesh in Chevy chase/silver spring for much the same reasons as pp listed. I moved to Rockville recently, and that shul is now too far away for us. Desperatley searching for one we like as much... TI and BI aren't doing it for us

Anonymous wrote:I love ours. The food after the Friday night service is good, it's not too expensive, the rabbi is approachable and available, and people are inclusive without pressuring. It feels like a community - if you need to use the bathroom during a service and your child is asleep in their chair, even if you don't know the person next to you they will absolutely keep an eye on your child. Everyone drives very slowly in the parking lots to watch out for kids. We like it.

And the name is?

I love ours. The food after the Friday night service is good, it's not too expensive, the rabbi is approachable and available, and people are inclusive without pressuring. It feels like a community - if you need to use the bathroom during a service and your child is asleep in their chair, even if you don't know the person next to you they will absolutely keep an eye on your child. Everyone drives very slowly in the parking lots to watch out for kids. We like it.

Trying to find the right fit.