Har Sinai Congregation
Encyclopedia
Har Sinai Congregation is a Reform Jewish
synagogue
located in Owings Mills, Maryland
. Originally established in 1842 in Baltimore
, it is the oldest congregation in the United States that has been affiliated with the Reform movement since its inception.
Many of the original congregants of Har Sinai Congregation came from what was then the Orthodox Jewish
Congregation Nidchei Yisroel (later known as the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
), after Rabbi Abraham Rice
protested against the performance of Masonic
rites at the funeral service of one of its members. The synagogue was originally known as the Har Sinai Verein.
Rabbi David Philipson
, in his 1907 work The reform movement in Judaism, credited Har Sinai as "the first congregation organized as a reformed congregation" when it was established in 1842. The synagogue adopted the prayer book formulated by the Hamburg Temple
, the first reform synagogue in Germany
and services were led by the members. Abram Hutzler, founder of the business that became the progenitor of Hutzler's
department store, described Har Sinai's earliest practices as "almost orthodox, with covered heads, the separation of the sexes, and the use of 'a Shabbos goy' to light the fires." Later, as part of the congregation's rituals, services were conducted in both Hebrew
and English, music was played and women participated together with men. The first prayer services were held in May 1842 at the residence of Moses Hutzler on Exeter Street and Eastern Avenue, which was above the store that operated on the ground floor.
The synagogue purchased a 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) property in the northwestern neighborhood of Park Heights
from the Maryland Country Club, with a new synagogue dedicated in 1938. A $1 million fundraising program was begun in 1953 by Rabbi Abraham Shusterman. A design modeled on Cleveland's Park Synagogue
was created, and following groundbreaking in September 1957, the new structure which had seating for 600 and could accommodate 2,200 for High Holy Days
services was first used in June 1959 and was consecrated in ceremonies held that September. Owings Mill was chosen as the site of a satellite Hebrew school in 1988 and a 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) structure was completed ther in 2002, with opening ceremonies held in October.
. Einhorn formulated the Olat Tamid siddur
for use in services, which became one of the models for the Union Prayer Book
published in 1894 by the Central Conference of American Rabbis
. In 1861, Einhorn delivered a sermon in which he argued against the institution of slavery in the South as being inconsistent with Jewish values, noting the Jewish experience as slaves in Egypt, despite the fact that many were sympathetic to slavery in what was then a slave state. A riot broke out in response to his sermon on April 19, 1861, in which the mob sought to tar and feather
the rabbi. Einhorn fled to Philadelphia where he became spiritual leader of Congregation Keneseth Israel.
Solomon Deutsch served as the congregation's rabbi from 1862 to 1874. Reverend Dr. Jacob Mayer
was appointed as Rabbi in 1874, though he was forced to leave the congregation two years later amid allegations that he had previously converted to Christianity and been a missionary in Africa. Emil G. Hirsch, son-in-law of David Einhorn, succeeded Mayer as Rabbi, serving in the position in 1877 and 1878. Samuel Sale was hired in 1878 as the congregation's fifth rabbi and the first to be born in the United States. After receiving his rabbinic ordination in 1883 as one of the first four graduates of Hebrew Union College
, David Philipson was named as Har Sinai's rabbi in 1884, and served in the position until 1888.
Reform Judaism (North America)
Reform Judaism is the largest denomination of American Jews today. With an estimated 1.5 million members, it also accounts for the largest number of Jews affiliated with Progressive Judaism worldwide.- Reform Jewish theology :Rabbi W...
synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
located in Owings Mills, Maryland
Owings Mills, Maryland
Owings Mills is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Baltimore. The population was 20,193 at the 2000 census. Owings Mills is home to the northern terminus for the Baltimore Metro Subway and to Owings Mills Mall....
. Originally established in 1842 in Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, it is the oldest congregation in the United States that has been affiliated with the Reform movement since its inception.
Many of the original congregants of Har Sinai Congregation came from what was then the Orthodox Jewish
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
Congregation Nidchei Yisroel (later known as the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
Baltimore Hebrew Congregation
Baltimore Hebrew Congregation is a synagogue and Jewish community in Baltimore. It is affiliated with the Reform Judaism movement.Originally named Nidche Yisroel, the synagogue was founded in 1830, and for the first fifteen years of its existence, services were held in a small room above a local...
), after Rabbi Abraham Rice
Abraham Rice
Abraham Joseph Rice was the first ordained rabbi to serve in a rabbinical position in the United States.Rice was born in 1800 or 1802 at Gochsheim, near Würzburg, Bavaria. An injury in infancy left him with a limp. He studied at the Würzburg yeshivah, and was ordained by Rabbi Abraham Bing...
protested against the performance of Masonic
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
rites at the funeral service of one of its members. The synagogue was originally known as the Har Sinai Verein.
Rabbi David Philipson
David Philipson
David Philipson was an American Reform rabbi, orator, and author. The son of German-Jewish immigrants, he was a member of the first graduating class of the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. As an adult, he was one of the leaders of American Reform Judaism and a philanthropic leader in his...
, in his 1907 work The reform movement in Judaism, credited Har Sinai as "the first congregation organized as a reformed congregation" when it was established in 1842. The synagogue adopted the prayer book formulated by the Hamburg Temple
Hamburg Temple
The Hamburg Temple was the synagogue of the Jewish reform movement in Hamburg from 1818 to 1938. It was the first reform synagogue in Germany....
, the first reform synagogue in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and services were led by the members. Abram Hutzler, founder of the business that became the progenitor of Hutzler's
Hutzler's
Hutzler's, or Hutzler Brothers Company, was a department store founded in Baltimore by Abram G. Hutzler in 1858. From its beginning as a small dry goods store at the corner of Howard and Clay Streets in Downtown Baltimore, Hutzler's eventually grew into a chain of 10 department stores, all of...
department store, described Har Sinai's earliest practices as "almost orthodox, with covered heads, the separation of the sexes, and the use of 'a Shabbos goy' to light the fires." Later, as part of the congregation's rituals, services were conducted in both Hebrew
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...
and English, music was played and women participated together with men. The first prayer services were held in May 1842 at the residence of Moses Hutzler on Exeter Street and Eastern Avenue, which was above the store that operated on the ground floor.
The synagogue purchased a 17 acres (68,796.6 m²) property in the northwestern neighborhood of Park Heights
Park Heights, Baltimore
Park Heights is an area of Northwest Baltimore, Maryland that is found mostly in zip code 21215. It is identified by Park Heights Avenue, the main street that runs through the community, and is best known to outsiders as the home of Pimlico Race Track....
from the Maryland Country Club, with a new synagogue dedicated in 1938. A $1 million fundraising program was begun in 1953 by Rabbi Abraham Shusterman. A design modeled on Cleveland's Park Synagogue
Park Synagogue
The Park Synagogue, or Anshe Emeth Beth Tefilo, is a Conservative synagogue with campuses in Cleveland Heights and Pepper Pike, Ohio, suburbs of Cleveland. It is one of the oldest congregations in Ohio. Senior Rabbi Joshua Skoff began his 22nd year with the congregation in August,...
was created, and following groundbreaking in September 1957, the new structure which had seating for 600 and could accommodate 2,200 for High Holy Days
High Holy Days
The High Holidays or High Holy Days, in Judaism, more properly known as the Yamim Noraim , may mean:#strictly, the holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur ;...
services was first used in June 1959 and was consecrated in ceremonies held that September. Owings Mill was chosen as the site of a satellite Hebrew school in 1988 and a 60000 square feet (5,574.2 m²) structure was completed ther in 2002, with opening ceremonies held in October.
Spiritual leaders
David Einhorn was named on September 29, 1855, as the congregation's first RabbiRabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
. Einhorn formulated the Olat Tamid siddur
Siddur
A siddur is a Jewish prayer book, containing a set order of daily prayers. This article discusses how some of these prayers evolved, and how the siddur, as it is known today has developed...
for use in services, which became one of the models for the Union Prayer Book
Union Prayer Book
The Union Prayer Book was a siddur published by the Central Conference of American Rabbis to serve the needs of the Reform Judaism movement in the United States.-History:...
published in 1894 by the Central Conference of American Rabbis
Central Conference of American Rabbis
The Central Conference of American Rabbis , founded in 1889 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, is the principal organization of Reform rabbis in the United States and Canada, the CCAR is the largest and oldest rabbinical organization in the world....
. In 1861, Einhorn delivered a sermon in which he argued against the institution of slavery in the South as being inconsistent with Jewish values, noting the Jewish experience as slaves in Egypt, despite the fact that many were sympathetic to slavery in what was then a slave state. A riot broke out in response to his sermon on April 19, 1861, in which the mob sought to tar and feather
Tarring and feathering
Tarring and feathering is a physical punishment, used to enforce unofficial justice or revenge. It was used in feudal Europe and its colonies in the early modern period, as well as the early American frontier, mostly as a type of mob vengeance .-Description:In a typical tar-and-feathers attack, the...
the rabbi. Einhorn fled to Philadelphia where he became spiritual leader of Congregation Keneseth Israel.
Solomon Deutsch served as the congregation's rabbi from 1862 to 1874. Reverend Dr. Jacob Mayer
Jacob Mayer
Reverend Dr. Jacob Mayer was a European-born American rabbi who served congregations in the Reform Judaism movement in the late 19th century. He obtained the pulpit in 1874 at Har Sinai Congregation in Baltimore, founded in 1842 and the longest continually functioning congregation adhering to...
was appointed as Rabbi in 1874, though he was forced to leave the congregation two years later amid allegations that he had previously converted to Christianity and been a missionary in Africa. Emil G. Hirsch, son-in-law of David Einhorn, succeeded Mayer as Rabbi, serving in the position in 1877 and 1878. Samuel Sale was hired in 1878 as the congregation's fifth rabbi and the first to be born in the United States. After receiving his rabbinic ordination in 1883 as one of the first four graduates of Hebrew Union College
Hebrew Union College
The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is the oldest extant Jewish seminary in the Americas and the main seminary for training rabbis, cantors, educators and communal workers in Reform Judaism.HUC-JIR has campuses in Cincinnati, New York, Los Angeles and Jerusalem.The Jerusalem...
, David Philipson was named as Har Sinai's rabbi in 1884, and served in the position until 1888.