So you are considering or have just moved to Seattle, and are wondering about all that the Jewish community has to offer. You shouldn't have to figure it all out alone! Read on for words of wisdom and links that should help you navigate the dynamic and glorious Jewish communities of Seattle. Enjoy, and happy exploring!
For a Google map of the Jewish institutions, eateries, etc. in Seattle, please see bit.ly/jewish-seattle-map.
Any questions, comments, or feedback? Contact me here, or check out my website at dinalevitan.com.
There are a number of neighborhoods with Jewish communities in Seattle. For me, a lot of the decision about where to live was based on where I'd be spending most of my waking hours. The geography and traffic of Seattle make it tough to commute across the lake or across downtown. The greatest concentration of traditionally observant Jews are in the neighborhoods listed below.
The neighborhood of Northeast Seattle generally comprises the neighborhoods of Ravenna, Bryant, and Wedgwood close to the University of Washington (map of the Eruv). It's a safe, family-friendly and walkable neighborhood. It has a wide diversity of Jewish organizations, including:
Mercaz Seattle
Mercaz is a Modern Orthodox welcoming, growing "startup minyan" that meets on Shabbat and for other special events. It's got a homey feel (it meets outdoors/in a community member's basement) and a significant proportion of young professionals and families. Mercaz is known for its musical melave malkas and retreats such as the yearly Shavuoton.
Congregation Shaarei Tefilah Lubavitch
CSTL is a Chabad Orthodox synagogue that welcomes Jews of all levels of observance. Whether it's an authentic Shabbos experience with a delicious hot chulent, a classy event with the Seattle Jewish Women's Circle, family friendly Jewish holiday programming, or the only Men's & Women's Seattle Mikveh in town, CSTL has you covered!
Congregation Beth Shalom
Beth Shalom is a large Conservative shul with many programs specifically for young adults (FB group). They have a lot of innovative programming such as their 50th anniversary series of home-hosted dinner parties.
Temple Beth Am
Beth Am is a reform temple that welcomes the entire spectrum of Jewish community and enables each member to reflect the holy: people of all ages, races, and abilities; interfaith families; and people who are single, partnered, straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender.
Emanuel Congregation
Emanuel Congregation has been a presence in North Seattle for over 50 years. Emanuel approaches prayer using a traditional format while using an egalitarian minyan approach. More for everyone!
Selah Seattle Minyan
Selah Seattle is an independent Egalitarian minyan that meets monthly in people's homes for Friday night services and a vegetarian potluck.
JConnect Seattle/UW Hillel
The University of Washington Hillel has a beautiful facility with a kosher, supervised kitchen. It hosts events for young adults through JConnect, including holiday celebrations (kosher for Passover meals), social events, and guest speakers.
The Seward Park neighborhood is named after a beautiful park on a Lake Washington peninsula that is shaped like a cactus. It is the largest Orthodox Jewish community in Seattle and one of 3 with an eruv. You'll often find members of the Jewish community "walking the loop" of the park on holiday afternoons. The neighborhood has a strong Sephardic and Ashkenazi Orthodox presence. The community prides itself on its hachnasat orchim (welcoming of guests and visitors).
Sephardic
Seward Park is home to the oldest of the Jewish communities in Seattle. Seattle hosts a vibrant Sephardic population that moved to Seattle from Greece and Turkey at the turn of the century. The Seattle Sephardic Network organizes community events. There's even a department of Sephardic Studies at the University of Washington. Sephardic synagogues in Seward Park include Sephardic Bikur Holim (Turkish) and Ezra Bessaroth (Rhodesli). Hazzan Emeritus Ike Azose is an institution, having written the siddur and other holy prayer books used by both these congregations. They host awesome cultural events such as the Tu B'shvat Fruticas celebration and Bazaars where many homemade Sephardic goodies are sold.
Ashkenazi
Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath is an Ashkenazi Orthodox shul known for its extensive kids/groups programming. The congregation is over 100 years old and has beautiful stained glass windows in the synagogue. Minyan Ohr Chadash is a Modern Orthodox minyan where singing and group participation are integral parts of the services. These synagogues are very family-friendly.
Mercer Island is the "Beverly Hills" of the Seattle area. It's home to the Stroum JCC, which hosts lots of Jewish events including everything from concerts by Israeli musicians to the annual Challah Bake. There's an Orthodox Synagogue called Island Synagogue as well as a large Conservative synagogue, Herzl Ner-Tamid. Mercer Island has an eruv. The QFC on Mercer Island has a deli and a baked goods section.
Jews who live in Downtown often take part in the Chabad Young Professionals community. Additionally, there has sometimes been a traditional Orthodox service that takes place at the Summit at First Hill (retirement community) on Shabbat mornings.
Temple De Hirsch Sinai in Capitol Hill has events specifically targeted towards Young Adults with TDHS - The Tribe.
The Jewish Federation is located downtown, and has an organization called PAVE for Jews in their 30s-40s. The Federation hosts volunteer and other social events for the greater Seattle community.
There are many Chabad communities throughout Washington state. In Seattle, there are Chabad houses in Queen Anne, Shoreline, Northgate, Ballard, etc., while on the East Side there are in Bellevue, Kirkland, Issaquah, and I expect more to come in future.
Housing in Seattle is tough -- both to rent and to buy. There is simply not much availability in desirable neighborhoods and the prices are high. In neighborhoods with denser housing such as apartment complexes (Ravenna, Columbia City, downtown), it can be easier to find a place to live. Many young professionals go with the "in-law" unit approach of living in a separate unit within another family's house. Zillow is a personal favorite for finding available housing, e.g., an approximate map of rentals in the North End eruv.
If taking a dip in Lake Washington isn't your jam (my favorite spot is Magnuson Park Boat Launch), there are mikvaot in the North End, Seward Park, Bellevue and Issaquah.
The Seattle Vaad maintains an updated list of kosher establishments at http://seattlevaad.org/kosher-portfolio/. The Mary Schwartz Summit at First Hill (retirement living) has a Kosher dairy cafe that offers takeout during weekday lunch hours (11:30AM-2PM).
QFC and Trader Joe's both provide many kosher fixings, including meats, cheeses, and other products. QFC in University Village has an in-house meat cutter who often posts discounts on the Kosher Deals in Seattle FB group. It also features kosher rotisserie chickens, sushi, and a kosher Einstein Brothers bagel shop where you can pick up fresh challah. Safeway locations on Rainier Ave near Seward Park and on 35th in Wedgwood have a growing supply of fresh meat, cheeses, and more. PCC, a local upscale natural food store, carries an assortment of kosher products including cheeses.
Seattle Kosher delivers online purchases of many kosher brands.
Costco (originally founded in the Seattle area!) and Grocery Outlet are good places to find bargains.
DK's is a huge warehouse market in Renton that carries a number of kosher imported products and lots of excellent produce.
Leah's Catering: https://www.leahcookskosher.com/catering.php
Dalia Amon caters delightful Israeli and Sephardic menus out of Seward Park: Dalia’s Catering
Epic Eats by Eli: https://www.epiceatsbyeli.com/
Francine's Desserts sells custom cakes/pastries as well as holiday/Shabbat catering: https://www.instagram.com/francinesdesserts, https://www.facebook.com/FrancinesDesserts/
The Summit: https://www.klinegalland.org/our-care/the-summit-at-first-hill/culinary-services/
There's an active community of Facebook groups serving the Seattle Jewish community.
Ask for favors or offer help to others at Seattle Chesed and Refuah.
Use the Kosher Deals in Seattle to find kosher food bargains across town. Every year for Pesach there's a group dedicated to Passover deals.
Seattle Jewish B/S/T is a place to give away/sell items within the Jewish community.
Moishe House Seattle offers many programs for young professionals. As of November 2021, there is a Shomer Shabbat/Kashrut Moishe House in NE Seattle.
There are a number of organizations targeted towards the Israeli community such as IAC Seattle and the "Israelis in Seattle" Facebook page.
Buy Nothing is a cool organization where you can give and receive loads of free stuff. It's recycling to the next level and super convenient for giving away that extra desk that doesn't fit in your apartment.
There's a group dedicated to growing the observant Jewish community in Seattle called Seattle Orthodox Jewish Community Growth Initiative.
If you're into Jewish meditation, we have a group for that too! See the Seattle Jewish Meditation Initiative.
The private Seattle Jewish Recent Grads (& Interns) is another good resource for folks new or moving to Seattle.
The Cholent is Seattle’s only source for Jewish news, delivered straight to your inbox. Run by former Jewish in Seattle editor Emily Alhadeff, The Cholent provides reporting, analysis, and interviews on issues as they pertain to our little Jewish corner of the planet.
Seattle has a number of Jewish educational institutions ranging from daycare to high school.
The Samis Foundation is a local supporter of Jewish Day Schools, and maintains a list here.
This guide is not targeted towards visitors to Seattle. To address a common a question received from folks traveling to Seattle, the Silver Cloud Hotel in University District is inside the North End Eruv and has proximity to Orthodox congregations.
Especially during the summer, we are blessed to have many visitors looking to take advantage of the beautiful nature, weather, cruises, etc. If you are not intending to move to Seattle and still want to ask an individual question beyond what has already been addressed here, please consider making a donation to a Seattle Jewish institution of your choice to support the local infrastructure & community. Feel free to ask for recommended organizations in your outreach.
This is an unofficial guide targeted at young Jewish professionals, and only reflects the opinions of its author. For alternative guides, see:
The Jewish In Seattle magazine publishes its "Guide to Jewish Washington" yearly, which provides a comprehensive guide of nearly every Jewish organization in the area.
Samis Foundation description of the neighborhoods: http://samisfoundation.org/seattle-jewish-communities/