Beth Shalom Congregation (Columbia, Maryland)

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.

For similarly named synagogues, see Beth Shalom.
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
Location within Maryland
Geographic coordinates39°11′04″N 76°52′45″W
Architecture
Date established1969 (as a congregation)
Website
beth-shalom.net
[1]

History

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

The following individuals have served as rabbi of Beth Shalom:

OrdinalOfficeholderTerm startTerm endTime in officeNotes
1Noah Golinkin197819867–8 years[3]
2Kenneth Cohen1986199710–11 years
3Susan Grossman1997202224–25 years[1]
4Jennifer Romano GreenspanJuly 1, 2022incumbent1 year, 358 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

References
  1. "Meet Our Clergy and Programming Staff". Beth Shalom Congregation. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  2. 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. 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.
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