Our Synagogues

The East Bay Mikvah at Beth Jacob

We visited the East Bay mikvah recently, the ritual bath used in conversion in almost all cases, at Beth Jacob synagogue in Oakland. As Beth Jacob's rabbi, Rabbi Dardik tells us, the synagogue was really built around the mikvah, and after its construction, because "you can study anywhere." All East Bay synagogues -- Reform, Conservation, and Renewal -- use this mikvah.

Here are three photos showing the mikvah. The first (far left) is the anteroom, where the members of the beit din will wait, as well as family, when you immerse yourself under the water three times and say the blessings. In that photo, and especially in the 2nd photo (center), you can see the bathroom straight ahead; if undergoing conversion, you will wash yourself thoroughly before entering the water. And finally, the 3rd photo (far right) shows the mikvah itself. The waters of the mikvah are warmed so that it's not an unpleasant experience -- and it takes two days to warm it properly. (The mikvah is shown with the cover still on, a cover which will be removed prior to your entering the pool of water.)

Our Synagogues
Synagogues in the San Francisco Bay Area

The best way to learn about a synagogue is to go there. But you can also explore via the internet by looking at their websites. Just remember that synagogues are run primarily by volunteers, so a website may be beautiful or quite simple and plain. That is no reflection on the people who go there. If you are a computer whiz, you can help your congregation when you join.

In the meantime, how do you find their websites? Go to the online version of RESOURCE (it's sort of the Jewish Yellow Pages for the Bay Area) you can search through all the synagogues and Jewish organizations.

You can also use a search engine and look for "Jewish" + the name of your city. So you can enter Jewish Walnut Creek and you'll uncover the synagogues in Walnut Creek - B'nai Tikvah and B'nai Shalom.

Or you can email us at becomingjewish1@yahoo.com and a member of the synagogue you are interested in will email you back to tell you about their congregation.

There are many activities, many things going on at any given synagogue. There are over 60 synagogues in the greater Bay Area; it would be impossible to list them or feature photos from all of them. However, the photos in this section are representative of what you will find, and what activities congregants are engaged in.

Lighting the Hanukkiah (or menorah) at Hannukah

Passover 101

This photo shows "Passover 101," a class about the basics of Passover. Rabbi Mates-Muchin of Temple Sinai is shown explaining the origin of each piece on the table.

Classes

Every synagogue offers adult education classes on such subjects as prayer, shabbat songs, interfaith family issues, and many other wide-ranging topics.

Community help

Serving food to the needy.

Get-Togethers

Jewish Heritage Night. Several synagogues joined together to celebrate Jewish Heritage Night and baseball at AT&T Park.

Cooking together

Making Hamentaschen together.