Temple Sinai (dba First Hebrew Congregation of Oakland)

What Temple Sinai (dba First Hebrew Congregation of Oakland) does

Temple Sinai, operating as the First Hebrew Congregation of Oakland, is a 501(c)(3) Reform Jewish congregation founded in 1876 in Oakland, California. It functions as a religious and community-services organization serving Jewish families and individuals in the Oakland/East Bay region, with a primary campus at 2808 Summit Street that houses the Albers Chapel, Fischer Library, and the Temple Sinai David Pregerson Preschool. The congregation employs 17 staff and clergy, including an Executive Director (Terrie Goren), two rabbis (Rabbi Mates-Muchin and Rabbi Peretz Wolf-Prusan), and a cantor (Cantor Keys, currently on 2025 sabbatical), and is governed by an elected board of directors.

The organization's core products are weekly Shabbat services, High Holy Days observances, lifecycle rituals (B'nei Mitzvah, weddings, funerals, conversions), and a comprehensive education pipeline spanning preschool (Temple Sinai David Pregerson Preschool), K-12 religious school (Kesher program), adult Hebrew and Torah study, and an Introduction to Judaism conversion course. Auxiliary offerings include the Temple Sinai Family Center (postpartum support, Messy Makers, Baby Bilingual), the Wellness Center (mindfulness, Wise Aging), Camp Kesher, adult choir and music programs, and a network of affinity groups and committees. Technology infrastructure is built on the ShulCloud CMS for member management, donations, and event registration, with Vimeo for livestream and Zoom for online classes and Tuesday Morning Minyan, enabling a hybrid in-person/remote access model.

Revenue is generated through five streams: annual membership dues, donations and tzedakah (including stock gifts, car donations, and planned giving/Life and Legacy), educational program tuition (Hebrew classes at $100-$195, religious school fees), preschool tuition, and event revenue (auction tickets at $55 per person). Pricing is tiered between member and non-member rates. The congregation uses a community-led go-to-market model, relying on word-of-mouth referrals, the oaklandsinai.org website, an email newsletter (eNews), Facebook/Instagram social media, and the Sinai BackFence community platform (groups.io) for member acquisition and engagement. No revenue figure is publicly disclosed, and the organization has no parent company, no investors, and no M&A activity.

Name

Temple Sinai (dba First Hebrew Congregation of Oakland)

Legal name

Temple Sinai

Website

https://oaklandsinai.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1876

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Temple Sinai is a 150-year-old Reform Jewish congregation in Oakland, California, providing Shabbat services, lifecycle rituals, religious education from preschool through adult, and community programming to Jewish families and individuals in the East Bay, funded by member dues, donations, and tuition.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311), Other Schools and Instruction (6116)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Faith-Based Childcare Centers (EDACAAAN), Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

Keywords

• Reform Jewish congregation
• Religious education programs
• Hebrew language classes
• Early childhood education
• Lifecycle ritual services

Headquarters

HQ city

Oakland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership contributions from congregants with various giving levels
2. Donations and Tzedakah: General donations, special appeal donations, and humanitarian aid contributions
3. Educational Programs: Hebrew language classes, adult education, and religious school tuition
4. Preschool Tuition: Temple Sinai David Pregerson Preschool enrollment and tuition fees
5. Event Revenue: Auction parties, special events, and fundraiser ticket sales

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Temple Sinai operates as a Reform Jewish congregation providing weekly Shabbat and holiday worship services, lifecycle rituals (B'nei Mitzvah, weddings, funerals, conversions, confirmations), and a multi-tiered educational continuum including the Temple Sinai David Pregerson Preschool, K-12 religious school (Kesher TK-5, Middle School 6-8, High School 9-12), adult Hebrew and Torah study, Introduction to Judaism/conversion classes, and summer Camp Kesher. Member-supported community programming includes the Family Center, Wellness Center, Brotherhood, Women of Temple Sinai, Caring Community, Sinai Green, and Social Action initiatives, delivered in-person at the Oakland campus with livestream and Zoom access.

Product overview

Temple Sinai operates as a Jewish synagogue offering a comprehensive suite of religious, educational, and community services. The organization functions as a single unified offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Core services include weekly Shabbat and holiday worship with livestream options, youth religious education from preschool through high school (Kesher program), adult education including Hebrew classes and Introduction to Judaism, lifecycle ritual services (B'nei Mitzvah, weddings, funerals), and community programming through the Wellness Center, Family Center, and various affinity groups. The temple is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Temple Sinai David Pregerson Preschool: Preschool program operated by Temple Sinai for early childhood education.
• Temple Sinai Family Center
• Camp Kesher
• Wellness Center of Temple Sinai

Products and services

• Shabbat and Holiday Worship Services Weekly Shabbat services (Friday evening and Saturday morning), High Holy Days observances (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur), and lifecycle ritual services including B'nei Mitzvah, weddings, funerals, and confirmations. Services are offered in-person with streaming/livestream options for members and the wider community.
• Adult Education Programs Jewish learning programs for adults including Hebrew reading courses (beginner through advanced), Torah study, Introduction to Judaism, Conversion classes, and Adult B'nei Mitzvah preparation. Classes are offered in-person and via Zoom for congregants and community learners.
• Youth Religious Education (Kesher K-12) Religious school programs for children from TK through 12th grade, including Kesher (TK-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12) programs. Covers Hebrew language, Torah study, Jewish values, and preparation for B'nei Mitzvah milestones.
• Temple Sinai David Pregerson Preschool Early childhood education program for young children, including summer camp sessions. Focuses on nurturing young minds with Jewish values and play-based learning. Currently enrolling families with young children.
• Temple Sinai Family Center Family programming including Postpartum Support Group, Messy Makers, Baby Bilingual, and other classes for families with young children. Offers community-building activities for families across the East Bay.
• Wellness Center of Temple Sinai Health and wellness programming including Jewish Mindfulness Meditation, Wise Aging programs, and other wellness-focused classes and support groups for community members.
• Camp Kesher Summer camp program for children, part of the youth education offerings. Provides Jewish-themed summer programming and activities.
• Music Programs Musical offerings including Adult Choir, Friday Night Live services, High Holy Day music, and various music workshops. Cantor Keys leads musical programming including Shabbat melodies and special musical events.
• Membership and Donation Services Member portal for dues payments, donations, annual giving, gifts of stock, car donations, and life and legacy planned giving programs. Also includes Trees of Life and tribute journal offerings tied to the 150th anniversary.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Krakow JCCminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2022Partnership with the Krakow Jewish Community Center coordinating humanitarian mission trips to Poland to support Ukrainian refugees. Temple Sinai members participated in this interfaith effort.
• First Presbyterian ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Interfaith partner organization whose members, including Lexine Alpert, participate in refugee humanitarian aid efforts including work in Greece helping refugees from Sudan and other countries.
• ShulCloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationShulCloud provides the proprietary content management system powering the temple's website, member login, online donations, event registration, and member management functionality. All website operations are powered by ShulCloud technology.
• ZoomcoreTechnology or IntegrationZoom video conferencing platform is used for online classes including Hebrew language courses, Torah study, adult education, and the Summer Hebrew Class program. Tuesday Morning Minyan also uses Zoom.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Jewish Community Federation of the East Bay: Regional Jewish community federation serving the East Bay including Oakland. Operates broader community programs, philanthropy, and social services that overlap with Temple Sinai's social action, humanitarian aid, and community-building work.
• Union for Reform Judaism (URJ): North American denominational body for Reform Judaism that oversees and supports member congregations including Temple Sinai. Provides programmatic resources, camps, and youth engagement infrastructure leveraged by Temple Sinai's programs.

Direct peers

• Congregation Beth Am: Large Reform Jewish congregation in Los Altos Hills serving the Bay Area Peninsula. Comparable across preschool, religious school, adult education, and family programming with a multi-generational engagement focus similar to Temple Sinai.
• Temple Sinai (San Francisco): Reform Jewish congregation in San Francisco with a parallel mission set including worship services, religious school, adult learning, and community programming. A same-name peer operating in the same regional market with overlapping member demographics.
• Congregation Emanu-El: Historic Reform Jewish synagogue in San Francisco, also founded in the 19th century. Operates the same worship, religious school, adult education, lifecycle, and community programming model that mirrors Temple Sinai's structure across the Bay Area.
• Shir Hadash: Reform Jewish congregation in Los Gatos, California offering worship, education, and community programming for the South Bay Jewish community. Mirrors Temple Sinai's service mix and congregation-centered operating model.
• Congregation Kol Emeth: Reform Jewish synagogue in Palo Alto providing worship, religious education, and lifecycle services to the mid-Peninsula Jewish community. Comparable Reform congregation serving a similar demographic profile in the Bay Area.
• Peninsula Sinai Congregation: Reform Jewish congregation on the Bay Area Peninsula offering worship, religious education, and family programming. Similar size and structure to Temple Sinai Oakland as a community-centered congregation serving a defined local geography.
• Beth Sholom: Reform Jewish synagogue in San Francisco offering Shabbat services, religious education, lifecycle support, and community programming. Direct comparable in denomination, geography, and service mix to Temple Sinai Oakland.

Others

• ShulCloud: Technology vendor whose CMS powers Temple Sinai's website, member portal, online dues, donations, and event registration. An enabling-infrastructure peer whose product stack underpins synagogue digital operations across many Reform congregations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/oaklandsinai
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/first-hebrew-congregation-of-oakland

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Temple Sinai (dba First Hebrew Congregation of Oakland)