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Eric "Howsitgoing.eh?" B.'s Profile
My Spirtual Journeys....To Be Continued
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1. Beth Israel Congregation
Portland, OR 97209
(503) 222-1069
Category:
Synagogues
Neighbourhoods: Alphabet District, Northwest
"Coincidence is God's Way of Remaining Anonymous" - Albert Einstein
My recent visits to the old Jewish Communities in Belmonte and Tomar Portugal has gotten me thinking lately about my own religious observance. I've fallen off the grid over the last…More »
2. First Unitarian Church of Portland
Portland, OR 97205
(503) 228-6389
Category:
Churches
Neighbourhoods: Southwest Portland, Downtown
Soon after my son moved to the Rose City from the East Bay, I asked him what he liked about Portland. His first and immediate answer was "No Blacks!" That unexpected answer was entirely inappropriate and I immediate told him so. His mother was glad…More »
3. Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley
INTOLERANT TOLERANCE
The view from the Church is stunning and the congregation is a really interesting and diverse bunch and with a plethora of activities to choose from. As a 3rd generation Unitarian raised in the Midwest, I find the place a little…More »
4. Hillel Foundation
The Unitarian Universalist Society and the University of Iowa Hillel are where I had my religious awakening after a somewhat unremarkable "Christian" upbringing as I was growing up in Northwest Iowa. I still fondly remember my chats and learnings…More »
5. Congregation Beth Judea
I attended the Bat Mitzvah of the daughter of my best friend from the University of Iowa on this Thanksgiving Day. This trip to stand with my friend for this key life cycle event was a mitzvah (good deed) I was happy to perform.
Beth Judea is housed…More »
6. Cathedral of Christ the Light
Oakland, CA 94612
(510) 832-5057
Categories:
Churches,
Funeral Services & Cemeteries
My family is a pretty diverse bunch religiously. I'm a convert to Judaism, while one of my brothers is a Buddhist, my other 2 siblings are Protestants, my parents are Unitarian, and my Uncle's family is Quaker. Gayle is a nonpracticing Catholic. I…More »
7. First Unitarian Church of Oakland
Different people. Different beliefs. One faith. The Uncommon Denomination
My family Unitarian history started when my grandparents took me to the Nora Church in Hanska Minnesota. Before my conversion to Judaism, I attended the Iowa City congregation…More »
8. Congregation Beth El
Berkeley, CA 94708
(510) 848-3988
Category:
Synagogues
Neighbourhood: North Berkeley Hills
I was a member of this congregation at its old location at Arch and Vine for a few years. This is where my stepdaughter had her Bat Mitzvah here and participated in Midrasha and Camp Kee Tov. My son also attended religious school for a time and his…More »
9. JDate.com
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(877) 453-3861
Neighbourhood: Beverly Hills
It's hard to believe that almost 5 years ago (and well before my ultimate success with Gayle via http://Match.com), I was first on JDate. It was perhaps too soon after my separation, and in many ways I was in way over my head. Heck, I didn't even…More »
10. Congregation Beth Israel
Houston, TX 77096
(713) 771-6221
Neighbourhood: Meyerland
A good Houston friend of mine refers in jest to this shul as Beth Jesus. However, based on my previous attendance here over the years (including this friend's daughter's Bat Mitzvah), I think the Beth Israel experience is closer to High Reform. It's…More »
11. United Orthodox Synagogues
Years ago, I attended UOS over the High Holidays with the family of a good friend from my Texas A&M days. I particularly remember driving to the shul just before Kol Nidre and then walking home (past the JCC) afterwards. The next day we would walk to…More »
12. St Mary Catholic Church
Even though I'm Jewish, I occasionally end up at Mass or inside a Catholic Church. Gayle has a continuing love-hate relationship with the Catholic Church, and I'm happy to tag along when the spirit moves her.
My most memorable Catholic moments during…More »
13. Holy Trinity Church
Toronto, ON M5G 1B1
Canada
(416) 598-4521
Category:
Churches
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
I was walking in the Eaton Centre last Sunday and this was the first time that I had noticed Trinity Square (including this Anglican church) which is located right up against the mall (on the opposite side from Yonge). The square also includes a few…More »
14. Unity Ev Lutheran Church
Milwaukee, WI 53207
(414) 744-6311
Neighbourhood: Bay View
Rod and Joyce B. were married here on September 3, 1955 and since then, not a harsh word has been spoken. And they are still a really neat couple!
15. Jewish Community Center
Trenton, NJ 08628
(215) 750-6676
Categories:
Gyms,
Elementary Schools,
Preschools,
Child Care & Day Care
I lived in Lower Bucks County in the early 1980s and often went to this JCC for weekly Jewish singles volleyball. I made some nice friends here, including one relationship (Andrea S.) that heated up quickly and crashed and burned almost as fast.
16. Jewish Community Centers of Greater Philadelphia
Philadelphia, PA 19116
(215) 338-9800
Neighbourhood: Somerton
I lived in Lower Bucks County in the early 1980s. I joined this JCC mostly for the gym. I also took some photography classes here (including basic darkroom) and attended a few social gatherings. That included a few forgettable dates, mostly because…More »
17. Katz Jewish Community Center
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
(856) 424-4444
Categories:
Swimming Lessons/Schools,
Preschools,
Religious Organizations
I lived in Lower Bucks County in the early 1980s and came here once for a Community Passover Seder.
I still remember an older Jewish Yenta who was hell bent on getting me fixed up with a single Mom across the table. "What's the matter, you don't…More »
18. Tifereth Israel of Lower Bucks County
I lived in Lower Bucks County in the early 1980s and this was the synagogue I joined at one time. And within those sometimes small Jewish circles, I actually knew someone there - An old Texas girlfriend and her husband. And the husband worked at the…More »
19. Contemporary Jewish Museum
Last Tuesday was Remembrance (Veteran's) Day. Since there was no school for my son, I took the day off and we headed into SF on BART. We did our usual "Westfield Center - Blondie's Pizza - SF MOMA - Yerba Buena Gardens Playground" loop and this very…More »
20. First Christian Church
Estherville, IA 51334
(712) 362-3711
This is the Church my Grandparents belonged to for many years. Alma, my Grandmother was the Treasurer here during most of that time and no one kept a more detailed, quality, and honest set of books than she did! I only attended this Church…More »
21. United Methodist Church Estherville
Estherville, IA 51334
(712) 362-2357
As the "Days of Awe" approach, I suppose it's time to fill in more of my "religious journey" time line and Yelp list. Maybe it's also some sort of a non-linear Ben Sisko-ish "Emissary to the Prophets" kind of thing.......
Anyway, this is the church I…More »
22. The Chosen
This is a book that I have read over and over and will continue to recommend frequently. It's a book that will always be in my library and one I will teach with my son. It's as timeless and relevant today as it was when the book was first published…More »
23. Los Alamos Jewish Center
I worked as a graduate student at the Los Alamos National Laboratories back in the 1979-1980 time frame. The Los Alamos Jewish Center (LAJC) and Temple Beth Shalom in Santa Fe were my spiritual homes during that time. Here's what I remember:
Living…More »
24. Temple Israel
I came here one Erev Shabbat during the summer I worked as a student intern for the Dow Chemical Company. I was troubled over life in general and one relationship in particular.
Rabbi Jossef Kratzenstein must have seen it too and approached me after…More »
25. Temple Beth Shalom
When I lived in Northern New Mexico circa 1980, this WAS as good as it got Jewish Community-wise! This was when the entire Santa Fe Jewish Community met in the old building and davened together under one roof. It was our special Northern New Mexico…More »
26. Laura And Alvin Siegal College Of Judaic Studies
The mission of Siegal College is to promote the study of Judaism by transmitting the best of classical Jewish learning and modern scholarship, preparing Jewish educators and other communal professionals, facilitating the Jewish journey of adult…More »
27. Cleveland Hillel Foundation Inc
Cleveland, OH 44106
(216) 231-0040
I rented a room at a Fraternity (whose name escapes me) in the Case Western Reserve University area during the summer I worked in downtown Cleveland for the old Standard Oil Company of Ohio (SOHIO). It was an easy walk to the Rapid station down to…More »
28. B'nai B'rith Hillel Foundation
Austin, TX 78705
(512) 476-0125
Category:
Synagogues
Neighbourhoods: West Campus, University of Texas
As I continue to fill in the blank spots of my religious past (and present and future for that matter), we come to the t.u. Hillel. As a proud Aggie, I would occasionally visit the "tea sips" in Austin and check in with my good friends at Hillel.…More »
29. El Santuario de Chimayo
I'm not Catholic, but I have a supply of the "holy dirt" at home. It can't hurt!
I enjoyed the intimacy of this small church and of course all those discarded crutches.
The Sanctuario was a welcome stop on the High Road to Taos from Santa Fe. The…More »
30. Unitarian Church of Edmonton
This is a very nice Unitarian Universalist Congregation. It's very welcoming and in an understated and genuine way. And the pedantic psychobabble factor that you sometimes find in some Bay Area congregations was almost non-existent. It was almost…More »
31. Beth Shalom Synagogue
As the High Holidays approach, it's time to take stock of what went right (or not) in the last year and to consider how to make things better. So for those who I have hurt either intentionally or not, please accept my apologies.
I visited Beth Shalom…More »
32. Beth Ora Reform Synagogue
Awhile back, I was on a relatively long business trip in Edmonton. And during that time there, I did a religious trifecta of sorts - 2 Synagogues and a Unitarian Church! And if you know anything about Unitarian "beliefs", this isn't really an odd…More »
33. Hillel Foundation-B'nai B'rith
This Hillel didn't provide the early formulative experiene that it's counterpoint at the University of Iowa had. And although I didn't always have the best experience with the Executive Director, I had a lot of fun here, learned a lot, and met some…More »
34. Congregation Beth Yeshurun
Houston, TX 77096
(713) 666-1883
Category:
Religious Organizations
Neighbourhood: Meyerland
This is the shul in which I converted to Judaism back in January of 1979. I was a student at Texas A&M at the time and drove down to Houston every week for conversion classes that I had started a few years earlier at the University of Iowa (thanks…More »
35. Congregation Beth Jacob
Oakland, CA 94610
(510) 482-1147
Categories:
Funeral Services & Cemeteries,
Churches,
Synagogues
Neighbourhood: Lower Hills
Another "First to Review" and on Shabbes!
This is a highly regarded and welcoming left coast Modern Orthodox shul with a popular and scholarly rabbi.
But my fondest memory of this place was holding my son in the Mikvah here and performing the ritual…More »
36. Congregation Netivot Shalom
UPDATE - Yom Kippur - 10/09/2008
I did receive a very nice phone message a few days ago from Board member Karen B. wishing me a warm "Shana Tova". However, I'm not in shul for this High Holiday since (per Rabbi C) my son is not welcome at Netivot…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
3/30/2007 First to Review
The most egalitarian of the egalitarian synagogues. Very welcoming to the gay/lesbian community,… Read more »
37. Temple Beth Abraham
Oakland, CA 94610
(510) 832-0658
Category:
Religious Organizations
Neighbourhood: Lower Hills
WARM ON THE OUTSIDE AND SOMETIMES CHILLY AND SOMETIMES JUST PLAIN MEAN ON THE INSIDE.
There are a lot of nice and warm people here, and the Rabbi has really energized the place and the excitement is real (especially amongst young families). It's nice…More »
38. Unitarian Universalist Society
Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 337-3443
The Unitarian Universalist Society and the University of Iowa Hillel are where I had my religious awakening after a somewhat unremarkable "Christian" upbringing as I was growing up in Northwest Iowa. I still remember the bust of Ezekiel up front,…More »
39. Nora Unitarian Universalist Church
Hanska, MN 56041
(507) 439-6240
More Light! The Nora Unitarian Church was the congregation my grandparents took me to on occassion to give me a perspective on thinking for myself religiously. Growing up "Christian" back in my Iowa home town didn't always lend itself well to that.…More »
40. Tehiyah Day School
El Cerrito, CA 94530
(510) 233-3013
Categories:
Elementary Schools,
Middle Schools & High Schools
A welcoming community Jewish Day School. My step daughter went here from 5th through 8th grade and I thought it was an excellent experience (and education) for her all the way through.
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Recently updated lists from Eric B.
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My ROTDs! (18)I'm a prolific writer and enjoy telling stories. It's an honour to receive an ROTD as recognition, although I have no idea how they are reallly picked. |
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Ashland Oregon (105)Gayle and I come up to Ashland in April for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and a great time away....Please also refer to the excellent Ashland lists by Jen K. and Toni M. |
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Independent Book Stores (42)In this world of http://Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble, these gems are becoming more rare. |
See all 24 lists »
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Albany, CA
Yelping SinceMarch 2007
Things I LoveMy Son, Gayle, My Parents and Siblings, My Home, My Work, My Dogs and Cats, Iowa, and Canada.
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