Beth Shalom Congregation (Columbia, Maryland)

Coordinates: 39°11′04″N 76°52′45″W / 39.1845534°N 76.8790482°W / 39.1845534; -76.8790482
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Beth Shalom Congregation
Beth Shalom synagogue, in 2019
Religion
AffiliationConservative Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusSynagogue
LeadershipRabbi Jennifer Romano Greenspan
StatusActive
Location
Location8070 Harriet Tubman Lane, Columbia, Maryland
CountryUnited States
Beth Shalom Congregation (Columbia, Maryland) is located in Maryland
Beth Shalom Congregation (Columbia, Maryland)
Location within Maryland
Geographic coordinates39°11′04″N 76°52′45″W / 39.1845534°N 76.8790482°W / 39.1845534; -76.8790482
Architecture
Date established1969 (as a congregation)
Website
beth-shalom.net
[1]

Beth Shalom Congregation is a Conservative Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 8070 Harriet Tubman Lane, in Columbia, Maryland, in the United States. It is the only Conservative congregation in Howard County.

History[edit]

When the town of Columbia was formed in the 1960s, in accordance with an idea of James Rouse, an Interfaith Center was created where all places of worship in the town would initially share a hall.[2]: 97 

The attempt to first organize a Jewish community in the Columbia area began in 1967. Temple Solel (now known as Temple Isaiah) became the area's Reform temple, and Beth Shalom became the area's Conservative congregation.[2]: 98  Both have since obtained their own buildings.

Beth Shalom was founded in 1969. It has since grown to approximately 250 families.[3]

Rabbinical leaders[edit]

The following individuals have served as rabbi of Beth Shalom:

Ordinal Officeholder Term start Term end Time in office Notes
1 Noah Golinkin 1978 1986 7–8 years [3]
2 Kenneth Cohen 1986 1997 10–11 years
3 Susan Grossman 1997 2022 24–25 years [1]
4 Jennifer Romano Greenspan July 1, 2022 incumbent 1 year, 271 days

Grossman was ordained in 1985 at a time when female rabbis in the Conservative movement were considered to be unusual.[4] Grossman is known for authoring works on the Conservative view of ritual purity.[5][6]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Meet Our Clergy and Programming Staff". Beth Shalom Congregation. Retrieved October 9, 2016.[self-published source?]
  2. ^ a b Mitchell, Joseph R.; Stebenne, David (2007). New city upon a hill: a history of Columbia, Maryland. Charleston, SC: History Press. ISBN 978-1-59629-067-9 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ a b Ross, Gabe (February 21, 2007). "Celebrating past, contemplating future, Beth Shalom marking 36 years". Washington Jewish Week. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  4. ^ Lampman, Jane (July 19, 2006). "Women clergy bring a new sensibility to an old calling". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  5. ^ Spence, Rebecca (September 22, 2006). "Liberal Rabbis Calling on Women To Take the Plunge for Ritual Purity". The Jewish Daily Forward. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  6. ^ Umansky, Ellen M.; Ashton, Dianne, eds. (2009). Four Centuries of Jewish Women's Spirituality. Lebanon, New Hampshire: Brandeis University Press. p. 194. ISBN 978-1-58465-730-9 – via Google Books.

External links[edit]