Congregation B'nai Tikvah

"This was my congregation when I lived in California. I had a review and pulled it because I have had the hardest time in Manhattan finding as good of a community. When the neo-nazis attacked this place had my back and they didn't even know it. There are good places which deserve more and bad places which have too much. This is a good place and it was because of it and others that I refuse to let the bad places define the community at large."

"Been a member for 20 years and love the people, Rabbi Lienow and Cantor Larry Kornit. You will love it, too!"

"This is a welcoming and loving spiritual community. I feel at home here"

"Immediately after moving to North County I reached out to three temples. Of the three, B'nai TIkvah was the first to respond to my query -- and multiple people reached out to welcome me. (Of the other two - one never responded, and the other did make an effort, but not as welcoming.) This was just the beginning of the warmth I encountered with this group. I have gone to two services to "test" them out. I immediately felt like I was coming home to family I hadn't yet met. Everyone was warm, caring and open-minded. I was accepted for who I am, and quickly established a rapport and joking demeanor with everyone. North County San Diego is the third place my family has lived in the last 1.5 years. I greatly miss the community-oriented and family atmosphere at our first temple, and at our second shul I learned that not all synagogues offer that. I am thrilled that now, in our permanent location, I have once again found that spirit. I am excited for my daughters to learn what it means to be Jewish in this environment."

"Congregation B'Nai Tikvah welcomed me with open arms. I had long wanted to convert to Judaism, but a previous attempt (in the UK) was unsuccessful; that congregation wasn't friendly toward potential converts at all. Having moved to San Diego, and then to North County, I wanted to try again and an internet search brought me to Congregation B'Nai Tikvah. Of the websites I looked at, B'Nai Tikvah came across as maybe not the wealthiest or most sophisticated Schul, but definitely the most attractive to me. My first tentative email enquiry brought an almost immediate response and an invitation to the next Friday evening service. Over the past few months my (non-converting) husband and I have found warmth, friendliness and a true welcome from the congregation, and from Rabbi Ben Leinow. I am looking forward to finally becoming a Jew by Choice in the midst of this fantastic bunch of people."