The Portuguese Synagogue is a stunning testament to the Jewish culture of Amsterdam. Completed in 1675, this place of worship was constructed after Jews from Spain and Portugal fled from religious persecution in the 1500 and 1600s. The Jews fled to Holland due to their understanding of religious freedom and general tolerance for all. During this time the Netherlands, also known as the Dutch Republic, and Spain were in conflict, so the Jews decided to name the synagogue after the neutral territory of Portugal. The …More

Philadelphia is full of synagogues but one synagogue visitors shouldn't miss out on is B'Nai Abraham; it was founded in 1874 by Russian Jews that were fleeing Czar Alexander II. The synagogue is particularly open to nonobservant Jews. The congregation is made up of a wide range of people ranging from young and old, singles and families, men and women—regardless of their background, affiliation, or level of knowledge. Services are traditional, which means that during prayer men and women are seated …More

The New Synagogue connects the past with the present. The synagogue that opened in 1866 was built to serve the growing Jewish population in Berlin; it could seat up to 3,000 and its size and Moorish dome reflected how full of life the area was. People used to come to the synagogue to hear public concerts. The Centrum Judaicum foundation located inside the synagogue aims to address the history of Jews in and around Berlin. The Center views itself as a bridge between East and West European Jewry, by formulating …More

Jew made up more than 10% of the population in Amsterdam up until the Holocaust. During the 16th and 17th century many Jews that faced persecution in other parts of the world including Spain and Portugal found refuge in Amsterdam. Synagogues gave them a sense of community. Gerald Dou is one of the oldest Ashkenazi shuls in Amsterdam. At the end of the 19th century, the first Jews settled in De Pijp, one of Amsterdam's newer neighborhoods at that time. One of the few reasons that the synagogue survived the Nazis …More

From the moment a visitor sees The Jewish Museum in Berlin, he knows he's about to have a unique experience. The museum opened in 2001 but even before it opened, the empty building drew an unexpected number of visitors. The museum is actually a building complex composed of the Collegienhaus, a former courthouse built in the 18th century and the latest addition is the Libeskind Building, a post modern masterpiece created by Daniel Libeskind. The museum is extremely popular and has had a record high number of over …More

Palm Beach is full of different synagogue for all different levels of observence. It doesn't matter if you're reform, orthdox or conservatives; there's a synagogue for every Jew. Temple Emanu-El of Palm Beach started as just an idea; it only had 45 charter members. The ideology of the synagogue is to encourage people to actively experience Judaism. Some of the "Jewish things to do while you're alive," include reading the entire Tanach, praying at the wall, and experiencing Mikvah. The rabbi Michael Resnick has …More

Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple Synagogue is a special synagogue and is one of the leading reform synagogues in the country. Back in 1842, it had only 30 members. It remains an active success in welcoming young adults and toddlers into synagogue life. The synagogue is open to Jews of all denominations including interfaith families. On 1912 Anshe Chesed Congregation moved from its building on Scovill Avenue at Henry Street to its new home at Euclid Avenue and East 82nd Street where it would be known as the Euclid …More

Congregation Beth Shalom was started more then 30 years ago in 1975 and now has more than 400 families. Members are really involved in the synagogue—the synagogue has one of the most active memberships in all of the city. The synagogue has been recognized for its excellence winning the Synagogue of Excellent Award several times. Rabbi Mark Zimmerman is a real part of the community and has been an integral part of the synagogue since 1988. He earned a degree in sociology from the University of Florida …More

Vancouver is a Jewish city; it has about seven percent of the Canadian Jews living in the Vancouver metropolitan area. The number of Jews has grown significantly in the last century. In 1891 there were only 85 Jews and in 2001 that number increased to 25,000. The Jews of Vancouver were among the first to join the Zionist movement and a Zionist association was founded in Vancouver already in the early 1900's. The Vancouver Shalom Bed and Breakfast is the perfect hotel for people looking for a kosher hotel. …More

San Juan is full of lots of different stores for every type of shopper. Old San Juan has lots of small boutiques and Candado is full of luxury stores. When planning your shopping schedule keep in mind that regular stores in town are usually open Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. In Old San Juan, to accommodate tourists most stores are open on Sunday, too, from about 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Crafts specific to San Juan include needlework, straw work, ceramics, hammocks, and papier-mâché fruits and …More

Amsterdam is full of hidden spots that tourists don’t want to miss out on. Become an insider and visit some of these in-the-know spots. Zen Gardens located in the Pulitzer Hotel is one of the most beautiful places to relax. People come here for peace of mind. The hotel has three gardens to unwind. Enjoy some pastries, lunch and an espresso. There’s nothing like peace and quiet. The hotel was recently been awarded for having the best terrace of Amsterdam, and the best hotel terrace of the …More

Magen David Square is perhaps the most interesting square in Tel-Aviv: Not only is it one of the busiest points in the city, where five major streets meet (Alenbi, King George, Sheinkin, Ha’Carmel and Nachalat Binyamin. Six in fact, if you count both parts of Alenbi, the same number as the points on a Star Of David, a “Magen David”). It is also where two very special markets meet: The Carmel Market, which offers food, cheap clothing and pirated DVDs and is active every day except Saturday, and …More