Re: Trying to get more connected to my Jewish roots - Sinai or Kehilla?

Have you been to Temple Beth Hillel in Richmond? We are neither large, nor political nor class concerned. We are about 100 families of all ages, interracial, interfaith, G/L. TBH is a very warm and friendly congregation. We have family shabbat services with pot luck dinners, a great religious school, adult ed, and much more. My husband is the ''new member'' chairperson. Please e-mail him if you'd like more information. His name is Dana Meyer,dmeyer2[AT]earthlink.net June

Temple Beth Hillel is in 'Richmond', but not actually so. It is really just at the Hilltop Mall exit at Route 80. From my Albany home I can be there in 10 minutes. The congregation is small, flexible, open and welcoming. At least half of the congregation with kids lives in El Cerrito/Berkeley/Albany.It is reform, with much singing and a standing invitation to join in with 'la la la' if you don't know the words.

When other synagogues were restricting High Holiday services to ticketholders only, I needed no ticket for TBH. And while I had attended many different services all around Berkeley/Oakland ,feeling rather anonymous, at TBH the Cantor and several of the congregants welcomed me personally. I have found a warm and supportive small community there, and my husband feels comfortable enough to join in when he can.

My older child is now studying for his Bar Mitzvah, and I am glad not to be part of a community that expects a wedding-like affair, but one that will be about the child who has done all the work,instead.

The building was recently upgraded and the mortgage is PAID (no building fund needed). It is hiding up there in Richmond, but please consider it and check it out before deciding. for directions see: http://www.templebethhillelrichmond.org/visit/index.html or email me if you have questions. h.c

Re: Jewish temple for agnostic non-Jew and family

To the 2 posters looking into Jewish synagogues - I'd love to invite both of you to Temple Beth HIllel in Richmond. We are a small, warm reform synagogue. Our membership is as diverse as the bay area. Some of us political, some not, some of us more religious, some less, we are of different backgrounds, some interfaith families, some traditional families - but what we do have in common is a love for the community we have at Temple Beth Hillel. One poster mentioned concern about income, what you wear and how much you make are not what we are concerned about (as long as you wear something!). Please check out our website - www.templebethhillelrichmond.org, look up our calendar and please come to a service.

Re: Seeking a diverse, open minded reform synagogue

I am the non-Jewish partner in an interfaith couple. We joined Temple Beth Hillel in Richmond almost a year ago and have been very happy there. It is an extremely warm and friendly Reform congregation of about 100 families. It's small enough to be very homey, but big enough to have an active religious school and tot Shabbat services. On our first visit to Shabbat services, we stood around talking to people we'd never met before for nearly an hour. As a non-Jew, I have felt very welcome there. The fact that I came in not knowing the songs or prayers didn't bother anyone but me. The congregation has quite a few interfaith families and several intercultural families. I have no doubt that you and your family would feel very welcome there too. The calendar of services is at http://www.templebethhillelrichmond.org. If you are interested in attending services and want to have someone to sit with the first time you go, please feel free to e-mail me. Good luck finding a place that fits your family. Pam

Another wonderful Jewish community is Kehila. They are also reform but much larger than TBH. Very diverse community.I have many friends who belong to and are leaders in the Kehilah community. Good luck in finding what you want June