Meet and Greet Open House

Temple Israel invites potential members to an open house, meet the Rabbi, Education Director, and learn about Alameda's only Jewish institution.

 A small congregation, heimish, if you will, we are comprised of around 135 families. Over half of our congregation is intermarried, and we warmly welcome those who were born into Judaism, those who have chosen it, and those who are connected to it through their personal relationships.

Our Religious School has almost sixty children. It is a setting of exceptional experiential learning where our children thrive as they learn about their Jewish heritage and identity. We have a mid-week Hebrew School for children in the fourth grade and up.

Our worship services are a mix of Reform and Conservative styles, reflecting our congregation's unique history. We use the Reform Movement's Shabbat and Festival Prayerbook, Mishkan T'filah, as well as the non-denominational On Wings of Awe for the High Holy Days. We offer traditional-style services, services in song, creative services, youth- and lay-led services, and others.

We offer interesting and innovative Adult Education programming, appropriate for Jews and non-Jews alike at all levels of Jewish knowledge and experience. And we have programs and services aimed at young families (with very young children) as well.

We welcome young and old (and everyone in between), married, single, partnered, LGBT, and curious folks at all of our services, programs, and events.

We strive to be a place where people can feel safe and welcome, where everyone can feel a sense of community, identity, and belonging. And despite our small size we try to provide all the services that far larger synagogues offer.

Temple Israel has been the Jewish address in Alameda for more than 90 years. And we are still going strong!