Pasadena Jewish Temple & Center

The congregation is mostly much MUCH older, so we weren’t able to establish a community with anyone our age (30s-​40s.) If there were people that age, they never showed up. I found the Rabbi to be distant, aloof, disinterested, and cerebral. And even downright cold at times. He did not make me want to embrace Judaism at all. The cantor is an absolute gem, talented, warm, passionate. The memberships fees are pretty high, and we weren’t getting anything out of it, so we left and never looked back.

We joined PJTC in 2004 but started attending services here in 2000. When we attended our first Open House, right before we joined, I remember the «tour guide» telling my husband and me that her daughters LOVED attending Hebrew school. We couldn’t believe that. Who actually likes Hebrew school? But this member assured us that the religious school at PJTC was not like other religious schools. And she was right. The teachers are passionate and well-​trained. By the time my son started training for his Bar Mitzvah, he knew most of the prayers and was able to smoothly lead the service. The Bar Mitzvah experience could not have been better. The religious school director provides the parents with a notebook that guides them through the preparation for this important day. The tutors and teachers are gentle yet firm in their instruction. My son’s favorite part of the prep work was meeting with the rabbi and studying his Torah portion with him. Unfortunately, we lost my father-​in-​law three months before my son’s Bar Mitzvah. During this tragic time, we were able to really see what an amazing community exists within PJTC. The rabbi called me every day (from Washington, D.C.) to see how we were holding up. The cantor, who had just started, showed us, through her gentleness and kindness, her beautiful soul as she helped us through this difficult period. PJTC is now a second family to us.

If you are seeking a spiritual home and a welcoming community, you’ve found the right place. Since becoming a member, I’ve enjoyed great spiritual sustenance, wonderful intellectual stimulation and lots of fun.
If you are interested in nourishing your mind, your spirit and your stomach, too, please join us for a Shabbat service. You won’t be disappointed.