We are members at Sinai. We looked at Micah and it did seem like a nice community. However, I have to say that I did several Tot Shabbats and not a soul spoke to me, except the rabbi's wife. It was weird.

Sinai is large and we belong because it is closer to our house and we already know some people there-- so when we do synagogue stuff we see people we know, and people we know introduce us to other people we know. I haven't met anyone new there. I have no clue who the other families are in my child's sunday school class. The clergy seem ok but no one has really spoken to me.

I know Micah is supposed to have this "warmer" vibe but I didn't feel it when I went (more than once). So I didn't feel compelled to join Micah over Sinai when we already knew people at Sinai.

Sinai does have many social justice programs- labor on the bimah, praying with our feet, did a BLM shabbat service in Baltimore during the Freddie Gray riots. It is nothing like Washington Hebrew Congregation, which is totally apolitical and focuses on non-controversial stuff like feeding the poor. I don't know that I would give Micah higher marks than Sinai on the social justice front.

I do think the standard dues at Micah are as expensive as Sinai-- both have waivers you can apply for if you can't afford standard dues.

Sunday school at Sinai is a pain, although it's probably a pain everywhere. The parking lot is small and the drop off line is long, so you end up parking on the street. There are only 2 options- 8:30 or 11:15 and all new families are placed in 11:15. Not sure how you get into 8:30 (it's too early for us anyway, but 11:15 is just a shitty time).

there is a great playground at Sinai so there's a nice recess during sunday school.

Anonymous wrote:Temple Sinai lacks a true community if you didn't start at the Nursery School and work your way through the rankings. It is far from warm and friendly and the Executive Director is kind of rude. Plus, the staff seems to change every time I turn around so I never know who to contact about anything. We're leaving as soon as my son is Bar Mitzvahed. Sadly, we're too deep now to leave.

If you dislike it that much why not leave? We switched shuls when I was 11 because my mom just couldn't get us to Hebrew school at the other place, and the new shul was walking distance from our school so my sister and I could walk there for the weekday classes. Had my bat mitzvah a year later, so only spent one year there. I didn't have any particular attachment to the old shul -- Hebrew school is torture no matter where you do it -- so it wasn't particularly difficult. It's true I never fit in to the classes nor my parents to the shul, but we didn't really do much with the old place either.

Micah is lovely and having 3 rabbis, all at different life stages, is nice. I like how there are people of all ages who are members. The religious school seems kind of scattered to me (in terms of its schedule, what activities the kids do each week, what rooms they meet in, etc.) and I am not sure how a kid with behavior/attention challenges would do in that environment, but I am someone who loves routine so maybe I'm just projecting.

Temple Sinai lacks a true community if you didn't start at the Nursery School and work your way through the rankings. It is far from warm and friendly and the Executive Director is kind of rude. Plus, the staff seems to change every time I turn around so I never know who to contact about anything. We're leaving as soon as my son is Bar Mitzvahed. Sadly, we're too deep now to leave.

Another Micah member here. Agree with PP across the board. Major difference is size of the congregation: Sinai is much larger and Sunday school goes in shifts and bar/bat mitzvahs are usually doubled up. Because of size, congregation divided into multiple HH day services. In my experiences, Saturday services at Sinai during school year are essentially bar/bat mitzvah only with little to no attendance by other members of the community. As a result of the smaller size, easier to get to know others at Micah, kids all in Sunday school at same time and parents hang out, single bar/bat mitzvahs, and regular attendance at Saturday services by the congregation (so its more of a bat mitzvah family and friends plus a congregation). Social action is very big at Micah both in terms of activities at Temple and the activism of many members outside of Micah itself. As PP said, can be hippy/dippy (although services often more in Hebrew than at Sinai) and leans very left (although less so on Israel issues).

I've been a member of Micah for 17 years. The place is warm and welcoming to everyone. Micah makes an effort to try to include everyone and get everyone involved. The best measure, in my opinion is that your dues are what you can afford. There is a suggested formula but from year to year you tell them what you are going to pay and they ask that 1/3 is paid by the High Holidays. There is a focus on getting people involved in the synagogue and they have a diversity programs, groups and volunteer opportunities to meet everyone's interests and skills. (or at least they try) They are also very welcoming to interfaith families. In fact, the rabbi calls all the non-Jewish spouses up to the bimah for a special blessing on Yom Kippur and has developed special parts for the non-Jewish parent to participate in his/her kid's bar/bat mitzvah.

The one "negative" that I've heard is that TM is a bit hippy-dippy. If you like your Judaism on the traditional side, TM might not be the place for you. The rabbis like to try new avenues to engage both the kids and the adults. For example, Sunday school is for both the parents and the kids. The parents have separate programs but the focus is that everyone is learning together. The parents don't get to just drop off their kids on Sunday morning.

I really don't know anything about Sinai. When I was looking for a synagogue I found Micah and never looked back.

I hope this helps.

Can anyone share their experiences with either synagogue, even if you can't compare them?

Are there significant differences between these two congregations? I'm particularly interested in the warmth and openness of the community, how engaging Sunday school is, and the commitment to social justice.