Beth El Congregation (Pikesville, Maryland)
| Beth El Congregation | |
|---|---|
| File:BethEl-b&w-logo-(2)-NEW 03.png | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Conservative Judaism |
| Leadership | Rabbi Steven Schwartz, Rabbi Dana Saroken, Cantor Melanie Blatt, Cantor Thom King[1] |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Pikesville, Maryland |
  Location within Maryland | |
| Geographic coordinates | 39°23′30″N 76°43′22″W / 39.3917595°N 76.7226783°WCoordinates: 39°23′30″N 76°43′22″W / 39.3917595°N 76.7226783°W |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Sigmund Braverman[2] |
| General contractor | Cogswell Construction Company[2] |
| Groundbreaking | June 7, 1959[3] |
| Completed | 1960[4] |
| Interior area | 91,000 square feet (8,500 m2)[5] |
| Website | |
| www | |
-NEW_03.png){kind=link}
Beth El Congregation is a synagogue located in Pikesville, Maryland. Established in 1948,[3] Beth El provides worship in the Conservative tradition.[6]
Clergy and leadership
Rabbi Steven Schwartz, Rabbi Dana Saroken, Cantor Thom King and Cantor Educator Melanie Blatt provide spiritual leadership at Beth El Congregation.
Josh Bender is the executive director.[7] Dr. Ed Mishner 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
- ^ "Our Clergy". Beth El Congregation. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ a b c "Beth El Synagogue To Cost $1,500,000". The Baltimore Sun. June 7, 1959. p. FC6.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Work to Begin on New Temple". The Baltimore Sun. June 3, 1959.
- ^ a b Breen, Robert G. "Architectural Historians: Society Plans Tour". The Baltimore Sun. January 24, 1963. p. 12.
- ^ "8101 Park Heights Av Baltimore MD 21208". Real Property Search. Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ "Our Mission". Beth El Congregation. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ a b "Our Staff". Beth El Congregation. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ "Services". Beth El Congregation. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ "Life Cycle Events". Beth El Congregation. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ "Children". Beth El Congregation. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ "Beth El Starts Youth Program". The Baltimore Sun. April 27, 1964. p. 12.
- ^ "Studies Set on Judaism: Institute For Adults Open January 29". The Baltimore Sun. January 20, 1963. p. 29.
- ^ "Adults" Beth El Congregation. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ "Jewish Laymen's Institute Planned". The Baltimore Sun. June 17, 1964. p. 25.
- ^ a b "Our History". Beth El Congregation. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
- ^ a b c "Modernistic New Synagogue To House Beth El Activities". The Baltimore Sun. May 11, 1948. p. 13.
- ^ Henry, Frank. "Churches Are Spending $30,000,000 Plus". The Baltimore Sun. September 20, 1953. p. RE1.
- ^ "Corbin Cogswell, Builder, is Dead: Construction Firm Founder Was Leader In Industry". The Baltimore Sun. November 8, 1956. p. 42.
- ^ Breen, Robert G. "Growth In Judaism". The Baltimore Sun. October 21, 1955. p. 20.
- ^ a b Williams, Carroll E. "21 Honored by Builders: Craftsmanship Awards Go to Top Mechanics". The Baltimore Sun. November 18, 1961. p. 20.
- ^ a b c d Anson, Cherrill. "Modern Temples for Modern Worship". The Baltimore Sun. March 5, 1961. p. M15.