Chizuk Amuno Congregation
Encyclopedia
Chizuk Amuno Congregation (Hebrew
: ק"ק חזוק אמונה), also known as B'nai Israel Synagogue, is a large Jewish house of worship affiliated with Conservative Judaism
. It is located northwest of Baltimore, Maryland. The congregation's name comes from the Hebrew "Chizzuq 'Emunah", meaning "strengthening the faith". The word "Amuno" is a variant of the Ashkenazi Hebrew
pronunciation of "'Emunah".
(JTSA) and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
(USCJ). Currently, it uses as its guiding principle the three pillars of world as stated in Pirkei Avoth
1:2--"Torah
: Life-Long Learning," "Avodah
: Worship
and Observance," and "Gemilut Hasadim: Acts of Loving Kindness." Chizuk Amuno also seeks perform tikkun olam
, repairing the world and encourages its congregants to lead an ethical, Jewish life. http://chizukamuno.org/our_synagogue/mission.php
on April 1, 1871 in Baltimore, Maryland.
In 1876, the congregation moved into its first permanent home on Lloyd Street in central Baltimore. Under the spiritual guidance Rev. Dr. Henry W. Schneeberger, the "first American-born, ordained rabbi," the congregation grew greatly and soon moved to nearby McColluh Street.
The synagogue later split into the Shearith Israel Congregation, and the somewhat more liberal, though still strictly Orthodox, Chizuk Emunah Congregation, under the leadership of its president, Dr. Aaron Fredenwald. The synagogue was a supporter of the aforementioned JTS and the Jewish Publication Society (JPS) at their founding under Orthodox auspices, with Dr. Friedenwald being a Director, and Vice President, respectively of the two organizations.. Friedenwald remained orthodox all his life, but after his death, JTS and JPS became affiliated with the nascent Conservative Judaism movement, and the synagogue became a founding member of USCJ.
In 1920, the synagogue gained both a new rabbi, Rabbi Adolph Coblenz, and moved once again uptown to a building on Eutaw Place. After Rabbi Israel M. Goldman began his tenure at Chizuk Amuno in 1948, plans were begun to move the congregation to a "suburban campus...to house a Social Center, School Building, and Sanctuary
." The new synagogue was located on previously undeveloped land in the northwest suburb
of Pikesville and was in use by the 1960s.
In 1980, Rabbi Joel H. Zaiman became the congregation's rabbi. Under Zaiman, both Chizuk Amuno's youth and adult education
would be expanded. In 1981, a Solomon Schechter Day School (today called Krieger Schechter) was opened in conjunction with the congregation. Finally, Rabbi Ron J. Shulman was elected spiritual leader of Chizuk Amuno in 2004.
, and others) intended to enrich synagogue life and "promote the values and ideals of Conservative Judaism."
The congregation is administered by a number of committees over which its President and Board of Trustees presides.
Chizuk Amuno also operates the Goldsmith Museum, which strives to preserve Jewish history
through the visual arts
. It also features an extensive interactive timeline
of Jewish history and congregational archives.
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
: ק"ק חזוק אמונה), also known as B'nai Israel Synagogue, is a large Jewish house of worship affiliated with Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
. It is located northwest of Baltimore, Maryland. The congregation's name comes from the Hebrew "Chizzuq 'Emunah", meaning "strengthening the faith". The word "Amuno" is a variant of the Ashkenazi Hebrew
Ashkenazi Hebrew
Ashkenazi Hebrew , is the pronunciation system for Biblical and Mishnaic Hebrew favored for liturgical use by Ashkenazi Jewish practice. Its phonology was influenced by languages with which it came into contact, such as Yiddish, German, and various Slavic languages...
pronunciation of "'Emunah".
Principles
Currently, Chizuk Amuno, which defines itself as "a traditional, Conservative, egalitarian congregation" that strongly supports the Jewish Theological Seminary of AmericaJewish Theological Seminary of America
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
(JTSA) and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism is the primary organization of synagogues practicing Conservative Judaism in North America...
(USCJ). Currently, it uses as its guiding principle the three pillars of world as stated in Pirkei Avoth
Pirkei Avoth
Pirkei Avot , which translates to English as Chapters of the Fathers is a compilation of the ethical teachings and maxims of the Rabbis of the Mishnaic period. Because of its contents, it is also called Ethics of the Fathers. The teachings of Pirkei Avot appear in the Mishnaic tractate of Avot,...
1:2--"Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
: Life-Long Learning," "Avodah
Avodah
Avoda, or Avodah , is a Hebrew word, literally meaning "work".In a modern context, usually refers to business-type activities, it can also mean agricultural work and, more traditionally, serving God....
: Worship
Worship
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship — to give, at its simplest, worth to something, for example, Christian worship.Evelyn Underhill defines worship thus: "The absolute...
and Observance," and "Gemilut Hasadim: Acts of Loving Kindness." Chizuk Amuno also seeks perform tikkun olam
Tikkun olam
Tikkun olam is a Hebrew phrase that means "repairing the world." In Judaism, the concept of tikkun olam originated in the early rabbinic period...
, repairing the world and encourages its congregants to lead an ethical, Jewish life. http://chizukamuno.org/our_synagogue/mission.php
History
Chizuk Amuno descended from the "Green Street synagogue", founded by a small group of JewsJews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
on April 1, 1871 in Baltimore, Maryland.
In 1876, the congregation moved into its first permanent home on Lloyd Street in central Baltimore. Under the spiritual guidance Rev. Dr. Henry W. Schneeberger, the "first American-born, ordained rabbi," the congregation grew greatly and soon moved to nearby McColluh Street.
The synagogue later split into the Shearith Israel Congregation, and the somewhat more liberal, though still strictly Orthodox, Chizuk Emunah Congregation, under the leadership of its president, Dr. Aaron Fredenwald. The synagogue was a supporter of the aforementioned JTS and the Jewish Publication Society (JPS) at their founding under Orthodox auspices, with Dr. Friedenwald being a Director, and Vice President, respectively of the two organizations.. Friedenwald remained orthodox all his life, but after his death, JTS and JPS became affiliated with the nascent Conservative Judaism movement, and the synagogue became a founding member of USCJ.
In 1920, the synagogue gained both a new rabbi, Rabbi Adolph Coblenz, and moved once again uptown to a building on Eutaw Place. After Rabbi Israel M. Goldman began his tenure at Chizuk Amuno in 1948, plans were begun to move the congregation to a "suburban campus...to house a Social Center, School Building, and Sanctuary
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
." The new synagogue was located on previously undeveloped land in the northwest suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Pikesville and was in use by the 1960s.
In 1980, Rabbi Joel H. Zaiman became the congregation's rabbi. Under Zaiman, both Chizuk Amuno's youth and adult education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
would be expanded. In 1981, a Solomon Schechter Day School (today called Krieger Schechter) was opened in conjunction with the congregation. Finally, Rabbi Ron J. Shulman was elected spiritual leader of Chizuk Amuno in 2004.
Education
Chizuk Amuno offers a wide array of education centers for both youth and adult education:- The Goldsmith Early Childhood Education Center (preschool)
- Krieger Schechter Day School (K-8 day schoolDay schoolA day school—as opposed to a boarding school—is an institution where children are given educational instruction during the day and after which children/teens return to their homes...
, member of the Solomon Schechter Day School AssociationSolomon Schechter Day School AssociationThe Solomon Schechter Day School Association is the organization of Jewish day school that identify with Conservative Judaism. The association provides guidance and resources for its member schools in the United States and Canada...
and accredited by the Association of Independent Maryland Schools) - The Rosenbloom Religious School (bi-weekly program for secular school students)
- Chavurah and Netivon (evening high schoolHigh schoolHigh school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
programs) - The Florence Melton Adult Mini-School
- and The Melton Parent Education Program (designed for parents of young children)
Activities
Chizuk Amuno features many groups (Brotherhood, Sisterhood, PTA Council, United Synagogue YouthUnited Synagogue Youth
United Synagogue Youth is the youth movement of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. USY operates in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The goal of the movement is to bring Jewish teenagers closer to Judaism and Israel through learning and social interaction...
, and others) intended to enrich synagogue life and "promote the values and ideals of Conservative Judaism."
The congregation is administered by a number of committees over which its President and Board of Trustees presides.
Chizuk Amuno also operates the Goldsmith Museum, which strives to preserve Jewish history
Jewish history
Jewish history is the history of the Jews, their religion and culture, as it developed and interacted with other peoples, religions and cultures. Since Jewish history is over 4000 years long and includes hundreds of different populations, any treatment can only be provided in broad strokes...
through the visual arts
Visual arts
The visual arts are art forms that create works which are primarily visual in nature, such as ceramics, drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, design, crafts, and often modern visual arts and architecture...
. It also features an extensive interactive timeline
Chronology
Chronology is the science of arranging events in their order of occurrence in time, such as the use of a timeline or sequence of events. It is also "the determination of the actual temporal sequence of past events".Chronology is part of periodization...
of Jewish history and congregational archives.