5 Best Synagogues in Los Angeles (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Fenris Morrow, Expert in Professional Services · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 7 min read

Finding a synagogue in Los Angeles that fits isn't just about denomination on paper. It's about whether a stranger walking in alone on a Friday night gets a hug or gets ignored, and that's exactly what shows up in the reviews for the congregations on this page. Between them, these synagogues have logged 258 Google reviews, and every one of them sits between 4.7 and 4.9 stars, so the real differences are in denomination, size and the kind of community each one describes.

Short answer: Santa Monica Synagogue holds the highest rating on this page (4.9 stars across 56 reviews) as a Reform congregation known for its close-knit community, while Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel stands out as a popular venue for weddings and simchas alongside its regular services. Congregations here span Reform, Orthodox, Conservative and Sephardic traditions, so denomination is the first filter, not rating.

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1. Santa Monica Synagogue
2. Congregation Bais Yehu…
3. Sephardic Temple Tifer…
4. Temple Beth Am
5. Young Israel of Centur…
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Los Angeles Synagogues, Compared

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	Santa Monica Synagogue	4.9 ★	56	Reform / newcomers	View ›
2	Congregation Bais Yehuda	4.8 ★	52	Orthodox / daily minyan	View ›
3	Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel	4.7 ★	56	Sephardic tradition / events	View ›
4	Temple Beth Am	4.8 ★	47	Conservative / families	View ›
5	Young Israel of Century City	4.8 ★	47	Orthodox / Ashkenaz	View ›

Our top picks, reviewed

#1 Overall🕑 Open 1 days/wk

Santa Monica Synagogue

4.956 Google reviews

The Santa Monica Synagogue is a Reform congregation on 18th Street describing itself as a warm, progressive community where members know each other by name. It offers Shabbat services, learning programs, membership and a full calendar of community events, from a Passover dinner to a baseball team and wine club. Reviewers consistently describe it as an easy place to walk into alone and immediately feel part of the community.

What people praise

Highest rating on this page, with reviewers repeatedly using the word 'welcoming'
Rabbi described as warm, funny and personally engaged with newcomers
Wide variety of community events beyond regular services
Post-service Shabbat gatherings with challah and wine build connection

Worth knowing

Limited posted hours, with services concentrated on Friday afternoons and evenings
Smaller review base than some of the larger LA congregations

Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles

Rating4.9 / 5

Review volume56 · 80th

Confidenceearly

Recency8 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown91% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The top-rated pick here and a strong fit if you're new to Los Angeles or new to synagogue altogether. Reviewers make clear this is a community built to draw newcomers in, not just tolerate them.

Website +1310-453-4276 Directions

1260 18th St, Santa Monica, CA 90404

Congregation Bais Yehuda

4.852 Google reviews

Congregation Bais Yehuda is an Orthodox synagogue on La Brea Avenue serving a Chassidic, Nusach Sfard community with multiple daily minyanim (prayer quorums) and shiurim (Torah classes). Reviewers describe it as one of the busiest daily-prayer hubs in the area, with an early minyan option and a men's mikvah on-site. It's built around frequent, structured daily worship rather than a single weekly service.

What people praise

Multiple daily minyanim, including one of the earliest in the area
Regular Torah learning (shiurim) alongside prayer services
Mikvah on-site for congregants
Reviewers describe a friendly, welcoming atmosphere

Worth knowing

The men's mikvah closes early on weekdays, so timing matters
No website listed, so details are best confirmed by phone

Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume52 · 73th

Confidenceearly

Recency5 years ago

Info completenessphone

Rating breakdown92% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A strong pick for observant congregants wanting frequent daily prayer options in a traditional Chassidic setting.

+1323-936-7568 Directions

360 N La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

#3🕑 Open 5 days/wk

Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel

4.756 Google reviews

Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel on Wilshire Boulevard is a Sephardic Jewish congregation offering religious services, educational programs and life-cycle events, alongside an event venue used for weddings and b'nai mitzvah celebrations. Reviewers who've hosted weddings there describe a full-service events team, an elegant sanctuary and ballroom, and on-site parking. It positions itself as a place where Sephardic traditions and modern community life intersect.

What people praise

Praised repeatedly as a wedding and simcha venue with a dedicated events team
Elegant sanctuary, ballroom and outdoor patio spaces
Free, secure underground parking noted by reviewers
Long-running Sephardic community with multi-generational family ties

Worth knowing

At least one reviewer raised concerns about event pricing and policies
The congregation does not perform interfaith ceremonies, which disappointed one reviewer

Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume56 · 80th

Confidenceearly

Recency4 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown84% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A distinctive pick for Sephardic tradition and a popular choice for life-cycle events, though ask directly about pricing and policies if you're planning a wedding or simcha there.

Website +1310-475-7000 Directions

10500 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Temple Beth Am

4.847 Google reviews

Temple Beth Am on La Cienega Boulevard is a Conservative synagogue offering Shabbat services and livestream, daily minyan, a Jewish day school (Pressman Academy), and a range of learning and community programs. Reviewers describe a multigenerational congregation with members who've stayed for decades. It positions itself as a dynamic center for Conservative Judaism rather than a smaller neighborhood shul.

What people praise

Multigenerational community, including families with members for 25+ years
Attached day school (Pressman Academy) for families with children
Livestream option for Shabbat services
Praised for organized, safety-conscious event planning during COVID

Worth knowing

One reviewer wished for more musicality in the cantorial offerings
Larger congregation size may feel less intimate than smaller shuls on this page

Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume47 · 65th

Confidenceearly

Recency7 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone

Rating breakdown89% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A well-rounded Conservative option, especially for families looking for an attached day school and a long-running, multigenerational community.

Website +1310-652-7353 Directions

1039 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035

Young Israel of Century City

4.847 Google reviews

Young Israel of Century City on Pico Boulevard is an Orthodox Ashkenaz synagogue with daily minyanim, serving the Pico-Robertson Jewish community. Reviewers repeatedly describe the building itself as gorgeous, and several highlight the rabbi's warmth. It's a traditional, prayer-focused congregation rather than an events-heavy venue.

What people praise

Reviewers consistently call the sanctuary beautiful
Rabbi described as friendly and approachable
Frequent daily minyanim for regular worship
Visitors of other faiths report feeling welcomed during services

Worth knowing

One reviewer felt congregants could be less reserved toward newcomers, given how welcoming the space itself feels
No website listed, so service times are best confirmed by phone

Reputation scorecardrank in Los Angeles

Rating4.8 / 5

Review volume47 · 65th

Confidenceearly

Recency3 years ago

Info completenesssite · phone

Rating breakdown81% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A solid Orthodox Ashkenaz option in Pico-Robertson, especially for regular daily prayer. First-time visitors may want to call ahead to ease into the community.

Website +1310-273-6954 Directions

9317 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035

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How we score

Every number on this page comes from public Google data on the date shown, not opinion or payment. Rating is the congregation’s live Google star average. Review volume is how many people have rated it, ranked against other Los Angeles synagogues. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume. Recency reflects how recently people are still leaving reviews. No congregation can pay to change these numbers, and this page reflects publicly reported experiences, not a religious judgment of any tradition.

What does synagogue membership cost in Los Angeles?

Membership dues, High Holiday tickets and event-hosting fees vary widely by congregation size, denomination and whether you’re a member or a guest, and none of the synagogues on this page publish a fixed public price list.

Serving Los Angeles’s Jewish community

The synagogues above span Santa Monica, La Brea, Wilshire, La Cienega and Pico-Robertson, giving Reform, Orthodox, Conservative and Sephardic options across the Westside. Searching for a synagogue near me? Every listing shows a live phone number and directions so you can reach the closest congregation directly.

What to ask before you join or visit a synagogue in Los Angeles

What denomination does the congregation follow (Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Sephardic)?
What are the membership dues, and are there options for newcomers or young families?
Does the synagogue livestream services or offer a daily minyan?
Is there a day school, youth program, or adult learning track attached?
If hosting a life-cycle event, what does the venue rental include and what does it cost?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these synagogues?

We started from synagogues in Los Angeles with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency, and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from the public Google data in the scorecard. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another congregation’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (August 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

What’s the difference between Reform, Conservative and Orthodox synagogues here?

The congregations on this page span the major branches of American Judaism: Santa Monica Synagogue is Reform, Temple Beth Am is Conservative, and Congregation Bais Yehuda and Young Israel of Century City are Orthodox, each with its own approach to prayer style and observance.

Which synagogues on this page host weddings and other events?

Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel is specifically noted by reviewers as a popular wedding and simcha venue with a dedicated events team and on-site catering.

The bottom line

Santa Monica Synagogue is the standout for newcomers on rating and warmth, while your denomination, Reform, Orthodox, Conservative or Sephardic, should drive the final choice more than the star rating. Call ahead before your first visit so someone can walk you through what to expect.

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