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Beth Am

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Beth Am
Hebrew: בת' אם
The Beth Am synagogue building in 2019.
Religion
AffiliationConservative Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusSynagogue
LeadershipRabbi Daniel Cotzin Burg
StatusActive
Location
LocationReservoir Hill, Baltimore, Maryland
CountryUnited States
Beth Am is located in Baltimore
Beth Am
Location in Baltimore, Maryland
Geographic coordinates39°18′53″N 76°38′16″W / 39.31472°N 76.63778°W / 39.31472; -76.63778
Architecture
Date established1974 (as a congregation)
Completed1922
Website
bethambaltimore.org

Beth Am (Hebrew: בת' אם, lit. 'House of the People') is a Conservative Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in the Reservoir Hill community of Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States. It is one of two non-Orthodox synagogues in Baltimore's inner city.[1] The current congregation was formed in 1974 by Dr. Louis L. Kaplan and other congregants after Chizuk Amuno put the building up for sale.

Beth Am is an urban, egalitarian congregation affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.[2]

History

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The building currently known as "Beth Am" was first founded as Chizuk Amuno Congregation.[3] The Byzantine-Moorish structure at 2501 Eutaw Place, built in 1922, was designed by renowned local architect Joseph Evans Sperry.[4] The stone, triple-arched building was reportedly modeled after Tempio Maggiore, the Great Synagogue of Florence.[5] Chizuk Amuno first occupied the building in 1922 and moved to a new location in Pikesville in 1958.[6]

Following the move of Chizuk Amuno, services continued in the building, led by Cantor Abba Weisgall. Then, in 1974, the current Beth Am congregation was founded as "Kaplan's Shul" by Dr. Louis L. Kaplan, retired president of Baltimore Hebrew University, and other congregants who wanted to remain in the neighborhood.[3] Kaplan's wife Etta Jenkins suggested the name Beth Am, which translates to "House of the People".[7]

Kaplan served informally as the congregation's spiritual leader until 1981, when the congregation hired its first full-time rabbi. The first rabbi was Efrem Potts, Louis L. Kaplan's son-in-law through his marriage to Deborah Kaplan Potts.[8][9]

The congregation had no full-time rabbi in the years 2000–2002, when they were served part-time by Rabbi Sheila Russian, who in 1979 had become the first female rabbi in Baltimore.[10]

In 2019 the synagogue underwent a major $5.5 million renovation that added new classrooms, a grand new staircase, and a redesigned sanctuary.[11] The renovation was awarded the 2020 Baltimore Heritage Preservation Award.[12]

Leadership

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The rabbi as of October 2024 is Rabbi Daniel Cotzin Burg, who joined the congregation in 2010. The Rabbi Emeritus is Jon Konheim,[13] who has been with the congregation since 2002.

The associate rabbi and director of Beth Am's educational programs as of 2024 is Tyler Dratch who joined the congregation in July 2021. The Cantor Emeritus is Ira Greenstein who served as hazzan from 2000 to 2020.[14]

The congregation is administered by a number of committees over which its executive director and board of trustees presides. The executive direct as of October 2024 is Alex Pomerantz.[15]

Services and programs

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Religious services

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As of 2024, Beth Am holds weekly services on Shabbat including a kiddush lunch. The synagouge also hosts once a month services on Friday evenings. [16] Additionally, Beth Am holds services for all Jewish holidays. [17] Beth Am also hosts both B'nai Mitzvahs and Weddings. [18][19]

Education

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Beth Am operates a Jewish education program for students in Kindergarten through the seventh grade called Jewish Discovery Lab. Students explore Hebrew, Jewish prayer, and other topics. [20]

Beth Am also offers an advocacy program for ninth and tenth graders in which students collaborate on legislative campaigns in Baltimore City or at the Maryland State House.[20]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Weiss, Anthony (February 13, 2008). "The Shul that Stayed in Baltimore". The Forward. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  2. ^ "I'm New Here | Beth Am Synagogue | Conservative Synagogue in Baltimore, MD". June 5, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  3. ^ a b Sandler, Gilbert (2000). Jewish Baltimore: A Family Album. JHU Press. ISBN 0801864275.
  4. ^ Report, Staff (November 2, 2020). "Baltimore Heritage Offers a Look at Beth Am Synagogue and Baltimore's Jewish History". JMORE. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  5. ^ Report, Staff (November 2, 2020). "Baltimore Heritage Offers a Look at Beth Am Synagogue and Baltimore's Jewish History". JMORE. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  6. ^ Olitzky, Kerry M. (1996). The American Synagogue: A Historical Dictionary and Sourcebook. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 161–162. ISBN 0313288569.
  7. ^ "Our History | Beth Am Synagogue". June 5, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  8. ^ "Forty years later, an urban synagogue celebrates its birth". The Baltimore Sun. December 16, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  9. ^ "Beth Am's Gem: Efrem Potts". The Baltimore Jewish Times. November 2017. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  10. ^ "File unreadable" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 19, 2008. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  11. ^ "Beth Am celebrates $5.5M overhaul in city - Baltimore Sun". digitaledition.baltimoresun.com. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  12. ^ "Baltimore Heritage 2020 Preservation Award Winners - Baltimore Heritage". May 21, 2020. Retrieved October 7, 2024.
  13. ^ "Conservative Judaism Thrives in Baltimore, but Troubled Nationwide". The Baltimore Jewish Times. p. 1. Archived from the original on October 26, 2009.
  14. ^ "Our Clergy | Beth Am Synagogue". April 2, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  15. ^ "Our Community Leadership | Beth Am Synagogue". June 5, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  16. ^ "Celebrate Shabbat | Beth Am Synagogue". April 17, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  17. ^ "Holidays/Festivals | Beth Am Synagogue". June 5, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  18. ^ "B'nai Mitzvah | Beth Am Synagogue". June 5, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  19. ^ "Weddings | Beth Am Synagogue". June 5, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  20. ^ a b "Youth Education | Beth Am Synagogue | Conservative Synagogue in Baltimore, MD". April 17, 2021. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
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