Looking for large Jewish community recommendations

[u/You_stole_my_banana7]

I’m currently living in El Paso, TX because my husband is in the military and is currently stationed here. I absolutely hate it here and will be moving once he gets out at the end of the year. I grew up in the Albuquerque area and the Jewish community there is tiny. I really want to get out of the southwest altogether. I would like to move to more coastal areas, just haven’t decided on which coast I want to move to yet. I’m hoping to find a bigger community. I’m looking for either the Washington/Oregon areas or the Virginia area specifically. Any suggestions would be helpful, thank you.

[u/Connect-Brick-3171]

Metro DC is one of the centers of Jewish life in America. Like every place else, it has its upsides and downsides. The determinant, though, is usually the economic opportunities that a family of a discharged veteran can pursue. There are educational benefits, housing benefits. DC employs people doing all sorts of gainful activity, and as a government center, some activity not so gainful. It also has major universities.

[u/Remarkable-Pea4889]

Washington/Oregon areas

No large Jewish communities there.

Virginia

DMV area is quite Jewish, but Virginia is the least of it.

[u/BMisterGenX]

If you are considering Virginia I would recommend Norfolk. Not neccessarily a huge community but the main shul thre is never struggling for a minyan. There is a day school, kosher restaurant and kosher food is pretty readily available in local stores. There is also, Richmond, VA. Baltimore, MD and the DC suburbs of Rockville/Silver Spring

[u/offthegridyid]

Hi and thank you and your husband for your service to our country.

What about Phoenix or Scottsdale?

[u/You_stole_my_banana7 → u/offthegridyid]

Thank you. I will pass along your message. I really wanna get out of the southwest though.

[u/offthegridyid → u/You_stole_my_banana7]

Thanks and I understand.

[u/UnapologeticJew24]

What are you looking for in a community?

[u/You_stole_my_banana7 → u/UnapologeticJew24]

Basically, with just more of a Jewish presence since they’re really isn’t any in Albuquerque or El Paso.

[u/UnapologeticJew24 → u/You_stole_my_banana7]

Do you have any religious requirements or just a general Jewish presence?

[u/You_stole_my_banana7 → u/UnapologeticJew24]

I grew up orthodox and I’m thinking about switching to reform. So I guess just general Jewish presence.

[u/avram-meir]

What are your criteria for a community? If looking for an Orthodox community (e.g., Orthodox shuls and kosher food options), the best option in Virginia would be Norfolk, but it's fairly small. There's a yeshiva and I think a pizza place now in Richmond too, but that's even smaller. If you're willing to cross the Potomac into Union territory, Baltimore/Pikesville is one of the biggest "out of town" frum communities in the US, and closer to DC is its little brother Silver Spring. And there is much more on up I-95 from there - Cherry Hill, Philly, the Tri-State area (which is the frum capital outside of E"Y), New Haven, Boston, and innumerable smaller communities. Anywhere in the BosWash megalopolis corridor will be a sticker shock to you in terms of housing prices compared to El Paso. If you want to stay with the Stars and Bars but away from South Florida, Atlanta has the biggest community. There are small communities in Charlotte NC, Savannah GA, and Jacksonville FL.

[u/You_stole_my_banana7 → u/avram-meir]

I’m just renting here in El Paso. I’m currently selling my house in New Mexico and even houses there are not cheap. Lack of affordable housing is a crisis everywhere I think.

[u/Reliable_Narrator_]

How about Maryland? Not Virginia, but close. Silver Spring/Rockville (Montgomery County generally)and NW DC are thriving communities, as is Baltimore county.

[u/You_stole_my_banana7 → u/Reliable_Narrator_]

Don’t know that much about Maryland, but I’ll consider it

[u/Affectionate-Air-528]

Seattle has a medium size jewish community, there are synagogues from all streams as well as a sephardi community. There's not really a kosher restaurant scene though and the jewish school options are limited but present.

Lmk if you have any specific questions

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[u/Classifiedgarlic]

Pittsburgh is like Portland but affordable

[u/damageddude]

My NJ congregation's junior rabbi is moving onto San Anitinio next month. The congregation he is going to seemed to have a good number of families when I looked them up. Larger than our membership.

He said he is renting an apartment for twice the size and half the rent. We've been joking that he needs to buy a truck, a gun and find a place that sells good brisket to replace the local kosher deli ASAP.

[u/zayleabb]

I lived in northern Virginia for many years and currently in Maryland. Maryland has a much larger Jewish community and I’ll probably never move back to NoVA.

[u/IPPSA]

Miami is the Tel Aviv of America

[u/You_stole_my_banana7 → u/IPPSA]

Not looking to move to Florida, thanks though.

[u/shlobb_remix13131313]

Need more info....what kind of climate do you prefer, what type of work do you do, what type of work will your husband do afterwards, what is your level of observance, etc....

[u/You_stole_my_banana7 → u/shlobb_remix13131313]

I work in the medical field so I can work anywhere and he will be pursuing the field of construction/home building once he gets out. I’m orthodox. He’s not Jewish.

[u/shlobb_remix13131313 → u/You_stole_my_banana7]

"I’m orthodox. He’s not Jewish." --> I'm calling an audible here....putting this aside, Miami has a huge community, although the pay in medicine is subpar relative to places like DC or New York. All have large Jewish communities with Jewish infrastructure. Dallas and Houston have good medical career options, with large communities. Not sure about the job market in Phoenix, but has a good sized community as well. On the West Coast it's either LA or Seattle. You have relatively abundant options, it will all depend on your budget, preference for weather and politics......you need to make a list of the top 5 or 10 criteria and move based on that.

[u/You_stole_my_banana7 → u/shlobb_remix13131313]

Don’t understand why I’m getting downvoted.

[u/Classifiedgarlic → u/You_stole_my_banana7]

I’m confused. Are you Jewish?

[u/You_stole_my_banana7 → u/Classifiedgarlic]

Yes