Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah Congregation of Olney
Encyclopedia
Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah Congregation of Olney , commonly known as OSTT, is a modern orthodox
synagogue
located on Georgia Avenue in Olney, Maryland
.
), it became independent in 2001–2005. Due to the growing Jewish community, and the growing number of members to the congregation
, they found the need to expand in 2004. They began their expansion by demolishing the Rabbi
's house which was next to the home used as the synagogue. Construction was carried out from 2004 until it was finished in 2005.
s focused on supporting young jewish people and teaching them about Jewish history
and practices as well as supporting them throughout the different stages of life. They also offer many programs that support adults in various ways.
One of the adult programs they run is known as the OSTT Sisterhood which supports women with many different facets of their lives as well as supporting and running fundraising
s and from which the profits go to support their youth programs which continues to enrich their programs with more support and funding.
Currently they offer various youth programs for ages K through 12 and separate the groups often by age and grade, sometimes by gender. "Kiddush" is focused on children under the age of 9 regardless of grade or gender. Currently they offer active youth programs for ages 18 months to high school
, and Shabbat
groups for children 2 to 11 years old.
Outside of the normal programs they also offer a summer camp
for children called JEWel, it is run and staffed by girls on the SEED program (volunteer young women from all over North America
.) The camp does not discriminate between any Jewish sects or for Jewish children outside of the Olney congregation.
Modern Orthodox Judaism
Modern Orthodox Judaism is a movement within Orthodox Judaism that attempts to synthesize Jewish values and the observance of Jewish law, with the secular, modern world....
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 on Georgia Avenue in Olney, Maryland
Olney, Maryland
Olney, a census-designated place and an unincorporated area of Montgomery County, Maryland, USA, is located in the north central part of the county, twenty miles north of Washington, D.C. It was largely agricultural until the 1960s, when growth of the Washington suburbs led to its conversion into...
.
History
The OSTT was founded in 1995 by fourteen families in the Olney community, they began by holding services in a small home on Georgia avenue. Started as a branch of Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah Congregation of Washington, D.C. (now National SynagogueNational Synagogue
The National Synagogue or Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah ; OSTT is the oldest Orthodox synagogue in Washington, D.C.The synagogue is located in the neighborhood of Shepherd Park...
), it became independent in 2001–2005. Due to the growing Jewish community, and the growing number of members to the congregation
Local church
A local church is a Christian congregation of members and clergy.Local church may also refer to:* Local churches , a Christian group based on the teachings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, and associated with the Living Stream Ministry publishing house.* Parish church, a local church united with...
, they found the need to expand in 2004. They began their expansion by demolishing the Rabbi
Rabbi
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...
's house which was next to the home used as the synagogue. Construction was carried out from 2004 until it was finished in 2005.
Current activities
The OSTT currently offers many different youth programYouth program
Youth programs are particular activities designed to involve people between the ages of 10 and 25. Activities included are generally oriented towards youth development through recreation, social life, prevention, intervention, or education...
s focused on supporting young jewish people and teaching them about 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...
and practices as well as supporting them throughout the different stages of life. They also offer many programs that support adults in various ways.
One of the adult programs they run is known as the OSTT Sisterhood which supports women with many different facets of their lives as well as supporting and running fundraising
Fundraising
Fundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
s and from which the profits go to support their youth programs which continues to enrich their programs with more support and funding.
Currently they offer various youth programs for ages K through 12 and separate the groups often by age and grade, sometimes by gender. "Kiddush" is focused on children under the age of 9 regardless of grade or gender. Currently they offer active youth programs for ages 18 months to high school
High school
High 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....
, and Shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
groups for children 2 to 11 years old.
Outside of the normal programs they also offer a summer camp
Summer camp
Summer camp is a supervised program for children or teenagers conducted during the summer months in some countries. Children and adolescents who attend summer camp are known as campers....
for children called JEWel, it is run and staffed by girls on the SEED program (volunteer young women from all over North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.) The camp does not discriminate between any Jewish sects or for Jewish children outside of the Olney congregation.