Adat Ari El

This place gives me PTSD from my childhood growing up at a conservative synagogue back east. It is everything that’s wrong with temples today– all about the money and little care for the congregants.
We sent our child to the daycare there and he came home with scratches on his face many times. The ECC is a free-​for-​all, child-​led to a huge fault. We had meetings and conference calls galore, and Beryl made promises after promises to make the physical attacks on my not-​even-​two year old stop, but they never stopped. She promised his attacker would be shadowed but she never was. I go to birthday parties from his former classmates now, over a year later, and still see the children physically hurting each other. BAD VIBES HERE.
When we left for another preschool, they told me they would waive the remaining $ 160 balance on my temple dues for the year. It was the LEAST they could do to rectify the trauma my son had been through there (he cried every day for almost 6 mos). Well, not only didn’t they honor that promise, but they have called and harassed us about the stupid $ 160 ever since and we are now battling them over it through a collections firm. Obviously I could just pay it, but out of principle I don’t want to. I tell everyone to steer clear now and 2 more families that I know have left there for our new school. I am hearing the place gets worse and worse.

Beryl Strauss is beyond BEYOND AMAZING! She goes above and beyond to make sure the pre school runs the way it should! She is extremely sympathize to our families needs and truly takes a personal approach when dealing with each individual family! The amount of hard work and effort that she puts into the school, can not be described! We wouldn’t be there if it weren’t for her! That lady seriously goes above and beyond for her families! We are forever grateful for Beryl Strauss! She loves the kids and parents! If you are looking for a pre –k I would always follow Beryl wherever she may be.

Love the ECC for my daughter and eventually my son. The administration is a breeze to work with and everyone is very kind. I love all the teachers that my daughter has had and there are a few that I’ve got my eye on for the next two years (we will probably be doing Gesher with both kids)
A great place without a lot of fussiness some of the studio city/​sherman oaks preschools are known for. I keep recommending this place to friends who happen to agree with me!

Adat’s Early Childhood Center is a wonderful place to send your child for preschool. Our son has had thoughtful, smart and intuitive teachers both years he has been there. Beryl (director) and the staff have always been helpful and receptive to suggestions. Overall the preschool fosters a strong sense of community that we are really enjoying. We can’t wait until next year when our youngest son starts going too!

The preschool is terrible. Beryl Strauss should not be any place near children. she is a liar and does not care. The bullying here starts very young. Kids run the classroom. Teachers are ever changing. It’s really truly a nightmare. Stay away from this preschool!

Progressive, nurturing, stimulating idyllic preschool and a welcoming community.

After almost 2 years of attendance, and 1 year of membership, I feel that this conservative congregation has become my Jewish home.
Evening kabbalat Shabbat services are from 6pm-​7pm on Friday nights. Morning Shabbat services are at 9:30am-12pm Saturday mornings, followed by a kiddush lunch immediately afterward.
For those who attend a minyan services, morning minyan is at 7:30am, evening minyan is at 7pm Monday-​Thursday.
They have all kinds of additional tracks of service built into the morning Shabbat program– they have periodic Om Shalom Shabbat Yoga services, kids congregation Shabbat services and meditation Shabbat services. They all start at 9:30am, but the dates change, so check the website at
for the schedule.
There are many different levels of observance within the community, which helps most people feel at home, regardless of their traditions. The rabbis and cantors are all very approachable and genuinely friendly.
Adat Ari El also offers a preschool program, a day school, and a religious school (which my son attends on Tuesday afternoons and occasional Sundays).

Adat Ari El is a very haimish shul with a supportive community, great learning opportunities (infnat/​toddler, preschool, day school, religious school, and adult education), awesome clergy, and great services. If you’re looking for a Conservative congregation that is friendly and welcoming, Adat Ari El is your place. Try it out, you’ll be glad you did!
Shabbat services are held on Friday night at 6 p.m. and Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. You need not be a member to attend, all are welcomed and all will be welcomed at the door. Even if you’ve never stepped into a synagogue, you’ll get any guidance and help you need from the great team of volunteer ushers and greeters.

Fri night Shabbat services-​plenty of parking. Kid-​friendly, and you can sit near the door so you can make a quick kid-​escape if need be. Asst rabbi and cantor were at packed service in chapel. Friendly folks. Conservative shul– mostly no jeans, some women with headcoverings. Some Hebrew transliterations.

This review is for a Bat Mitzvah. My coworker sent me an invitation to her daughter’s Bat Mitzvah which was held at this conservative synagogue. I sped here with my guest, arrived at 9:25 with the service scheduled to begin at 9:30. As we pulled into the parking lot, there were only a handful of cars, the parking lot had plenty of space. The service started a little late.
My first impression inside a Jewish synagogue, was that the interior was beautiful and spacious. A high vaulted ceiling, long, dark wooden beams. At the front of the synagogue a humongous arched marble slab. It was shaped like an upside down U. Colored curtains with a painting on it in the middle. It made me curious, what was behind those curtains? Small, stained glass windows with bright lights around the synagogue.
My guest looked at his finest in his suit. A lady with a blue green colored yarmulke greeted us in the foyer. She handed my guest a black yarmulke (skull cap) and he was informed this was a requirement. He also donned a white tallis or tallit (prayer shawl) in a manner that a man in a locker room would put a towel around his neck.
I noticed that some men wore purple satin yarmulkes that were provided on site. The rabbis upfront wore a different type of prayer shawls, bigger blankets, at least it looked that way to me. They flipped it around their shoulders, draped in a specific manner.
The women wore folded up yarmulkes, that looked to me a bit like part of a French maid’s outfit. Some wore them folded up in a fan shape, attached with bobby pins at the back of their head. Others wore lace yarmulkes. Most were white, some were glittery.
I was entertained the first hour. I didn’t understand a word of Hebrew. It certainly kept me awake, as it was fast paced with lots of sitting, standing, clapping. The seating was varied. There were rows of pews, then other rows of seating, similar to movie theater type of chairs, all connected together.
The service consisted of mostly men reading from a book and simultaneously the congregation also read along. It was more like a combination of reading and singing. I did not see any musical notes which left me somewhat puzzled. Sometimes it seemed like they mumbled to themselves a little before and after reading a passage. They would also do a curtsy type of bow to the curtained area.
The 2^nd hour revealed what was behind the curtain. I thought maybe a statue of some sort. No, it looked like 4 finely decorated crème colored bags with doll’s legs that stuck out at the bottom. Maybe a fancy short golf or laundry bag. At the top it looked like the headstock of a guitar. It looked awkward to carry, as they passed it around to the girl who was honored in this Bat Mitzvah. She carried it through the aisles of the synagogue. Members of the congregation stood outside their pews and touched it as she led a procession. Quite a fanfare, a jubilant time.
Finally the cover was lifted off that mysterious embellished bag. It was the Torah, which is scripture. They rolled out the scroll on the podium. Men and women gathered around this Torah, plus the Bat Mitzvah girl read from it too. It looked as though they were gathered around a huge map laid out. In fact, from a kitchen perspective, more like gigantic rolling pins with parchment paper in between.
The 3^rd hour came, the novelty started to wear off. As part of the service, the Bat Mitzvah girl read/​sang long passages in Hebrew. The children threw candy at the Bat Mitzvah girl, a woman sang as she played the guitar. More prayers and we stepped out. I have to say I admire the stamina and endurance of this congregation. More blessings to them Shabbat Shalom.
Part 2 of Bat Mitzvah to be continued tomorrow — the party.