Temple Bat Yahm - Newport Beach, California

Jasmine H.

I have been at this Temple for 7 events, over the past decade and I have recommended it to many clients and my own family even. For the first time ever, I was met with the most horrendous person at the doors.

JAMES the security guard was downright disrespectful, rude, and hostile toward 2 minors, myself, and my client who is paying the venue for a Quinceañera event.

Before I approached the gentleman, two of my students informed me that the security guard was not helpful and had an attitude with them when they asked about the rehearsal time we booked.

I make my way to the front and greet the security guard with a smile and "hello, how are you?" and he replies with a hard "what do you want". I maintain a polite tone and ask about our booked rehearsal time. He goes on to say that nobody told him anything and that we will not be going inside. I say " okay, let me speak to my client and find out what's going on. Thank you for your time." As I'm walking away he shouts at me "what's your name", and I let him know my name— All for him to just say "yeah you're not going in". I'm still smiling because I who have worked in customer service for decades, know better.

We call the coordinator who had booked our time slot and they let us know that we will absolutely be able to go in as it was already arranged. My client, myself, and her son make our way back to the security guard, on the phone with the coordinator. While the coordinator and my client are speaking on the phone, he interrupts and angrily declares "I don't speak that language". At this point I'm irritated with the hateful attitude, and I let him know "they weren't talking to you". He replies with " you need to calm your womanly attitude down" and I begin to dish him back the same energy. My client's son had to step in and let him know that he was being rude to a woman for no reason, and interrupted him to tell him "you need to be quiet!" I told them that we were not going to be silenced, and he really didn't like that. I noticed he had been on his phone for quite a while, so I mentioned to him "I saw that you have a phone, can't you call your manager?" And he replies " my manager is Efrain and he's out of town so I'm not going to call him." At this point he's even being rude to the coordinator on the phone as she is informing him that we in fact do have our time slot booked. The coordinator was speaking good english, but he pretended that he couldn't understand making somebody else have to step in for the coordinator on the phone even.

I let him know that he has been rude from the get-go, and that this is the first time I've ever encountered something like this at this location. He goes "do you know what security is? I protect!!!" As if we were posing a threat— even though we declared our intentions from the very beginning.

My clients are extremely kind and pacific, so I absolutely felt the need to stand up for them because James behavior was disgusting and not at all exemplary of somebody who works at a temple or religious location.

This venue was easily my top recommendation as I'm an event coordinator in Orange County and local to Newport Beach. I'm not sure I can ever recommend this venue to any of my Hispanic clients, as his behavior was reflective of somebody who was racist and hateful toward women, or maybe just women of color.

It was a shocking interaction and not at all what I expected from Temple Bat Yahm. I really hope that Efrain, his manager we'll see into why James was acting out in this way, as every single person that we met inside after was exceptionally kind and helpful and even felt the need to apologize for his behavior.

It was an extremely embarrassing display of hate on James behalf and my clients were intimidated and are now scared that he will work our event and display the same prejudice that he did to us, to their guests.

Gabriel M.

Nice venue for large gatherings.

India M. C.

A lovely summer day and a trip to South Orange County turned out be delightful and a visit to Temple Bat Yahm brought a sense of reverence and peace.

As on the temple website, this spiritual home has many programs to enhance, encourage and instill desire for study. During challenges we assist one another and embrace the community.

Knowledge is found in doing, interacting and becoming familiar with the Temples programs, services and worship. May your Jewish Life be centered here where a heart finds a home. Shalom.

Erica R.

Beautiful pleace I have a nice weeding celebrations with Gustavo productions party planer.. nice

Rhonda W.

Nice to see kids in school. Seashore Academy adds a great element to our community.

Nathan S.

It is a great place on Saturdays because they teach Russian there.

Shelsye’s B. A. B. A.

Shelsyes bridal

Dave S.

Beautiful wedding there of close friend