Kehillat Ma’arav

Kehillat Ma’arav and its Rabbi, Michael Gotlieb, brought me to Conservative Judaism, a place that I never thought that I could go because of my lack of a Jewish education. Upon meeting Rabbi Gotlieb, I instantly knew that I had a home in this welcoming and warm community. Saturday services are the highlight as it is common for large numbers of families to linger over lunch well past 1 p.m. as the kids play and the food digests. I can’t say enough wonderful things about this place. Rabbi Gotlieb is a fixture for many years to come and the community is excited to welcome a new cantor, Sam Cohen, in August 2012. If you are looking for a synagogue on the west side, it would be hard to do better.

Since the moment we walked into Kehillat Ma’arav (KM) we felt welcomed by the whole community. Everyone was eager to get to know us and all members went out of their way to makes us feel at home. The Rabbi and Cantor were equally amazing, and we felt that each of their unique talents truly made our Shabbat’s memorable. Needless to say, we found our spiritual home in KM.
After Shabbat services, KM also offers a beautiful and delicious luncheon which provides an excellent opportunity to socialize with the membership. Additionally, they offer special lectures and events every month for all members to participate in. We would highly recommend that you give KM a try as you can rest assured that you will not be disappointed.

I’ve been a member almost since the synagogue started, a bit more than 30 years ago. It remains today what it was then; a community (the name literally means the community of the West). The synagogue is a reflection of the members, not the professional staff. It is easy to get involved, with some people joining the board of directors after only a year or two of membership. Saturday morning services are always well attended; this is not a shul that relies on bar/​bat mitzvahs to get people to show up. People stick around after services to smooze and meet. The programming is comparable to what you’d find in a synagogue ten times the size, but the relatively small membership means that it is easy for forge relationships and meet people. People come to worship; it is not a fashion show. Shabbat services always feature an «interactive drash» where members engage in dialog with the rabbi or darshan. There are lots of adult education programs, so people with little background in, or enormous study of, Judaism can find appropriate classes. The membership ranges from young singles and recently married couples, to families with young kids, to seniors.

This is has become my home Shul because I love the experience. It’s a small conservative Shul with a good mix of ethnic backgrounds in the congregation. The Rabbi and Cantor are two of the most kind hearted men I have ever met and are a great duo. While the Rabbi provides the community with excellent topics, discussions, and Torah commentary the Cantor’s voices is beautiful as he leads the congregation through the blessings and prayers.
KM really provides a comfortable, spiritual and intellectual environment for the entire Jewish family. It’s quite fun to watch the children run around after services during Shabbat lunch and everyone is just amazing. It feels like a second home and is far from the cold worship environment I had previously become accustomed to at other temples. Besides services, they have many other programs and events that cater to every individual regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey. I most enjoy Torah study with the Rabbi on Thursdays (we are on break for summer hiatus at the moment) and Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat services. I bring all my friends here and we always feel spiritually nourished and welcomed.

My family has belonged to this synagogue for years. KM is a conservative synagogue that takes religion seriously, while being open to the realities of the modern world. The congregation is as warm and as friendly as any that you will ever attend and there is a «haimish» feel to everything we do. From our shabbat services — usually held «in the round» but we also follow other formats including abbreviated services followed by discussions — to the holidays to our special events, our congregants are deeply and happily involved in both planning and execution. And our clergy have always been exceptional. Our Rabbi is not «just» our rabbi; he is as welcoming, warm and caring a person as you will ever meet. If you are looking fro a conservative synagogue where you can be an active participant and not just another member of the congregation, you cannot do better than here.