Beth El Congregation (Pikesville, Maryland)

For other synagogues called Beth El, see Temple Beth-El (disambiguation).
Beth El Congregation
Logo of Beth El Congregation
Location within Maryland
Basic information
Location Pikesville, Maryland
Geographic coordinates 39°23′30″N 76°43′22″W / 39.3917595°N 76.7226783°W / 39.3917595; -76.7226783Coordinates: 39°23′30″N 76°43′22″W / 39.3917595°N 76.7226783°W / 39.3917595; -76.7226783
Affiliation Conservative Judaism
Status Active
Leadership Rabbi Steven Schwartz,
Rabbi Dana Saroken,
Rabbi Faith Cantor,
Cantor Thom King[1]
Website www.bethelbalto.com
Architectural description
Architect(s) Sigmund Braverman[2]
Architectural type Synagogue
General contractor Cogswell Construction Company[2]
Groundbreaking June 7, 1959[3]
Completed 1960[4]
Interior area 91,000 square feet (8,500 m2)[5]

Beth El Congregation is a synagogue located in Pikesville, Maryland. Established in 1948,[3] Beth El is a synagogue providing worship in the Conservative tradition.[6]

Clergy and leadership

Rabbi Steven Schwartz, Rabbi Dana Saroken, and Rabbi Faith Cantor provide spiritual leadership at Beth El Congregation.[1] Thom King serves as cantor.[1]

Josh Bender is the executive director.[7] Michael Rubenstein is Beth El's president.[7]

Religious programs and activities

Beth El hosts twice daily religious services, Shabbat services, and Jewish holiday services.[8]

Beth El holds brit milah and baby naming ceremonies for newborns, b'nai mitzvah ceremonies for students, and aufruf ceremonies for engaged couples.[9]

Beth El operates a preschool and an after-school program with a religious curriculum.[10] Beth El's youth group for teenagers began in 1964.[11]

Beth El has hosted classes and religious study groups for adults since 1949.[12][13][14]

History

Founding

In 1948, a group of nine lay leaders of Beth Tfiloh Congregation advocated for holding mixed-gender religious services and expanded b'nai mitvah ceremonies.[15] Their advocacy was unsuccessful, and instead they formed Beth El Congregation.[15]

Beth El Congregation was established in 1948 as the first Conservative congregation in Maryland.[3] Beth El's establishment was announced at an inaugural dinner held at Baltimore's Sheraton-Belvedere Hotel on May 10, 1948.[16]

First synagogue

Located on 3 acres (12,000 m2) of land at the corner of Hilton Road and Dorithan Road[17] in the Ashburton neighborhood of Baltimore, Beth El's original synagogue included a 1,500-seat chapel, an auditorium, social rooms, a gymnasium, a kitchen, and preschool classrooms.[16][3] The synagogue was designed by architect Erich Mendelsohn[16] and built by Cogswell Construction Company.[18]

New synagogue

When Beth El's membership increased from 97 families to 1,100 families between 1950 and 1955, Beth El needed a larger place of worship.[19] Groundbreaking on the new synagogue in Pikesville began on June 7, 1959.[3] Rabbi Jacob B. Agus and Cantor Saul Z. Hammerman were present.[3]

Built on 23 acres (93,000 m2) of land with a construction budget of $1,500,000, the synagogue was designed by architect Sigmund Braverman and built by Cogswell Construction Company.[2] The masonry work was done by McCullough Brothers.[20]

The main synagogue was designed with a 1,500-seat sanctuary, religious school classrooms for 600 students, an assembly hall for 350 people, a social hall designed for 1,000 people, and dining facilities with a capacity of 600 people.[3] The main entrance was surrounded by two large granite pillars, representing pillars built by King Solomon at the First Holy Temple.[21] The main entrance was built with three brass and ceramic plaques that use the Hebrew letters for the word truth, symbolizing creation, revelation, and redemption.[21] The sanctuary was built with ten stained glass windows symbolizing the Jewish festivals.[21] The sanctuary's 24 narrow windows symbolize the 24 books of the Tanakh.[21]

The synagogue was dedicated in 1960.[4]

In 1961, the Building Congress and Exchange gave an award for craftsmanship for the design and construction of the synagogue.[20]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Our Clergy". Beth El Congregation. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Beth El Synagogue To Cost $1,500,000". The Baltimore Sun. June 7, 1959. p. FC6.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Work to Begin on New Temple". The Baltimore Sun. June 3, 1959.
  4. 1 2 Breen, Robert G. "Architectural Historians: Society Plans Tour". The Baltimore Sun. January 24, 1963. p. 12.
  5. ↑ "8101 Park Heights Av Baltimore MD 21208". Real Property Search. Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  6. ↑ "Our Mission". Beth El Congregation. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Our Staff". Beth El Congregation. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Services". Beth El Congregation. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Life Cycle Events". Beth El Congregation. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  10. ↑ "Children". Beth El Congregation. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Beth El Starts Youth Program". The Baltimore Sun. April 27, 1964. p. 12.
  12. ↑ "Studies Set on Judaism: Institute For Adults Open January 29". The Baltimore Sun. January 20, 1963. p. 29.
  13. ↑ "Adults" Beth El Congregation. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Jewish Laymen's Institute Planned". The Baltimore Sun. June 17, 1964. p. 25.
  15. 1 2 "Our History". Beth El Congregation. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  16. 1 2 3 "Modernistic New Synagogue To House Beth El Activities". The Baltimore Sun. May 11, 1948. p. 13.
  17. ↑ Henry, Frank. "Churches Are Spending $30,000,000 Plus". The Baltimore Sun. September 20, 1953. p. RE1.
  18. ↑ "Corbin Cogswell, Builder, is Dead: Construction Firm Founder Was Leader In Industry". The Baltimore Sun. November 8, 1956. p. 42.
  19. ↑ Breen, Robert G. "Growth In Judaism". The Baltimore Sun. October 21, 1955. p. 20.
  20. 1 2 Williams, Carroll E. "21 Honored by Builders: Craftsmanship Awards Go to Top Mechanics". The Baltimore Sun. November 18, 1961. p. 20.
  21. 1 2 3 4 Anson, Cherrill. "Modern Temples for Modern Worship". The Baltimore Sun. March 5, 1961. p. M15.

External links

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