America’s 25 Most Vibrant Congregations

I am certain they meant to say that Central Reform Congregation is the only synagogue in the City of St. Louis. The other synagogues are in St. Louis County. The City seceded in 1876 and formed its own separate entity but the shared name still confuses locals and non-locals today.

To have a list of the 25 most vibrant congregations and leave out the Young Israel of Woodmere is like listing the greatest sports franchises and leaving out the Yankees and the Celtics. There are thousands who attend each weekend and hundreds if not thousands each day. Between the daily services, and activities and classes for all ages - make this one of the Hallmark congregations in the world and it taints your list that it wasn't included. Their announcement of services sounds like a listing of train stations on the LIRR. What's even more impressive is the decorum that is maintained throughout the services - something to be experienced.

Temple Israel Center is a fully engaged synagogue with a host of opportunities for all ages.

As a Beth Am congregant, I was thrilled to see my synagogue included. However, it is in Los Altos Hills, Calif., not in Palo Alto, which it borders.

East and West coast seem well represented..There are Jews in the Midwest much to the chagrin of those coasts mentioned...we thrive, we arn't very theatrical like the rest nor do we get the press that the theatrical ones get..We know who we are, we know our traditions..and it may surprise those living in LA LA Land but I believe we do as much for Jews as those ego-mainiacs.We have a husband and wife rabbinical team at Congregation Bethel Zedeck in Indianapolis..They not only are they inspirational but intellectually probably have it over 90% of most rqabbis.

While I certainly neither intend to demean nor to negate any of the congregations (or rabbis) in your lists, I am most fascinated by a couple of things. First, there is no indication of what criteria were used to "rank" or otherwise choose the particular institutions or individuals, the latter of which you even deigned to partially list in your print edition. However, the most fascinating aspect is your admission that the lists were compiled by entertainment moguls. I fail to see their credentials to rank synagogues and rabbis--movies, theatre or television programs maybe, but rabbis and congregations.....surely, you jest. This is akin to an entertainment or sports figure publicly supporting a particular political candidate--interesting but of no intellectual value. How many synagogues, temples, rabbis in how many cities were interviewed, visited, compared, contrasted, or otherwise objectified for these inane lists? What criteria were used; how were the various criteria weighted; did your three "experts" do individual research or sit in a room together with a Ouija board? Did any choose a synagogue or rabbi of his own; i.e., conflict of interest? And, finally, what on earth does "vibrant" mean and how do you measure it.

My name is David Birkenfeld and I live in Boynton Beach Florida. The largest growing are of Jewish residents in the World
There are numerous Congregations here. I am a member of Temple Shaarei Shalom (A Reform Temple) Our Rabbi Anthony Fratello is a dynamic personality. We are undergoing an an expansion which will triple our size. We are not just a community retirees, but also a community of young families

Great list... but, what about congregations without walls? Check out www.OurJewishCommunity.org - a virtual synagogue designed for the 21st century. It's the first progressive Jewish online congregation and it reaches thousands of Jews around the world.

Correction, please: In St. Louis, we are proud Central Reform Congregation made your Top 25 list. Your copy states "CRC is St. Louis's only congregation..." Actually, there are 26 congregations serving the 60,000 Jews of St. Louis.

This list reflects the Coast-centric view of the American Jewish community. At best this is oversight, at worst, cultural elitism.

Central Reform in St. Louis, for example, is a fantastic and lively congregation, but it is not the only congregation in the STL Metro area. In fact, St. Louis has an over abundance of congregations.

Show a little more love (and care) towards the 'fly-over states' in the future.

www.thestloujew.com