B'nai Israel Congregation

Story

B'nai Israel is a Modern Orthodox synagogue located in the historic Jonestown neighborhood, near downtown and the Inner Harbor of Baltimore. The synagogue is one of the oldest synagogue buildings still standing in the United States.ArchitectureThe synagogue is noted for its Moorish Revival architecture. The Aron Kodesh is an architectural fantasy in carved wood, with the cabinet in which the Torah scrolls are stored, surrounded by a pair of tall minarets.LeadershipRabbi Etan Mintz is the spiritual leader of B'nai Israel Synagogue.HistoryA group of members of Baltimore Hebrew Congregation believed that the congregation had become too liberal and modernistic. In 1873, they formed a new congregation, named the Russian Congregation of B'nai Israel. Most of the congregants were of Russian descent and a significant minority were of either Lithuanian or Polish descent.The building itself was built by Chizuk Amuno Congregation in 1845. Chizuk Amuno Congregation sold the building to B'nai Israel for $12,000 in 1895.