Joe writes about the Valley shul:
Biggest Orthodox Synagogue in the Valley. Very crowded, lots of families and an average age in the 30s. Growing slowly, and the new building can hardly contain the membership.
Many young marrieds due to the relative affordability of homes in the area and the tendency of Valley kids to return home after marriage and the previous Rabbi and Rabbi’s wife really catering to the younger crowd. Has three minyons on shabbos with very different types of style:
8:00 – the early minyan – black hat, but a touch faux, a very noisy affair with horrible decorum, very good for guys who are black hat because they like to be seen in black hats and despise people who do not wear black hats. If you are black hat because you are serious, sit close to the center. If you want to futz around, sit towards the back. Tries to dominate the shul and is succeeding pretty much due to demographics of the larger families of the early minyan and the ability to put asses in the seats. A rabbi gives a speech about the laws against gossip, not some flimsy sermon on the portion of the week and how it relates to current events. It is downstairs in the social hall, which is the worst room because it is all "toe up" from constant use and the seating is on chairs, not traditional pews so people tend to meander around while davening. Fields the biggest crowd of males and kids (very few woman attendees, most are still in their shabbos robes taking care of the kids), and usually has the best food – most of the time it is a kiddush or sitdown and there is cholent (if your stomach can handle it at 10:00 a.m.). It is the most vibrant service in terms of the growth of the synagogue. I recommend you make a point to try this minyan. You will either swear by it or against it.
8:15 – the second minyan – held in a smaller room (about the size of a large classroom) a breakaway from the 8:00 for people who are black hat or non-black hat who want a more devotional service. No talking is allowed, and the Rabbi gives a very learned speech that sometimes does not make sense, but is still learned. Not for a casual visitor, more of an acquired taste, and the decorum is a vast improvement over the early minyan. If you went to yeshiva and liked the davening there (no melodies, no noise, but lots of bodies swaying, you will like it). A very small mini-kiddush afterwards and many of the attendees will learn with the Rabbi afterwards. About 5 women attend. Not quite sure how any of these guys get away with being absentee fathers for 3 hours plus on a saturday morning without telling their wives they are gambling addicts and have to play poker.
8:45 – the third minyan – this is the mainline service, replete with a cantor, a sermon from the head rabbi and a slightly older crowd. Very few black hats, mostly modern orthodox guys without the holier than thou chip on their shoulder. A while ago a Rabbi leading this service hectored the congregants to come earlier to the service, and one of the big guns in the synagogue took said Rabbi to the woodshed. A low key service, where guys tell dirty jokes, give stock tips and complain about their lives. Very few people will be talking about torah topics. The "evangelical" types of jews who are newly observant do not much like this minyan, there is very little fire and brimstone and too much chatting and gossiping. because less and less people are using this minyan, the food situation afterwards is paltry and there is often not a kiddush, just a mini kiddush.
Friendliness – Once you are in SZ, you have friends, but do not look to be invited for lunch just showing up off the street. There are lots of ways to get semi-involved – it is not like Young Israel of Century City where there is a committee on everything, but if you want to meet guys who learn torah, you can go to a class. You want to meet guys who play poker, hang out in the third minyan. You really have to make your own way at SZ, there is no outreach, and there is no need to do it. The membership grows a bit each year with no effort on anyone’s part.
Vibe – Again, it depends on which service you go to. Friday night services are actually the best in a way as there is only one service and it is packed (half of the woman’s section is closed and there must be 250 men praying. And it is very quiet and devotional. If you have kids, you cannot beat SZ because your kids have someone to play with, which might not be the case if you go to one of the offshoots in the Valley.
Singles – Very few. The singles there are either committed to be single, in the closet, or hideous. There are of course exceptions, but they prove the rule.
Rabbi – generally very good. The synagogue has had three in its existence. Rabbi Sugarman, very erudite but not too warm, but of high caliber intellect. Retired after about 30 years Next was Rabbi Aron Tendler, credited with growing the synagogue and brining a younger crowd (this might have happened anyways due to the affordable housing, but he certainly pushed the younger crowd to join and be active). Did about 20 years as associate Rabbi and 10 in the lead role. Left under a cloud regarding sexual misconduct issues. Rabbi Jonathan Rosenberg now, a superstar in the making.
Flaws – Lack of unity. Having three minyans means three shuls. They are just now starting to reunite behind a Rabbi and having a single fundraiser. Somewhat cliquish, which cannot be avoided, but you will find your clique. Somewhat unfriendly to the newcomer, but again, once you have arrived, you are family.
