Magen David Sephardic Congregation
Religion
AffiliationModern Orthodox Judaism
RiteSephardi
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusSynagogue
Governing bodyOrthodox Union
StatusActive
Location
LocationNorth Bethesda, Maryland
CountryUnited States
Magen David Sephardic Congregation is located in Maryland
Magen David Sephardic Congregation
Location within Maryland
Geographic coordinates39°02′26″N 77°06′47″W / 39.04067611694336°N 77.11315155029297°W / 39.04067611694336; -77.11315155029297
Architecture
TypeSynagogue
Date established1966 (as a congregation)
Completed1998
Website
magendavidsephardic.org

Magen David Sephardic Congregation is a Modern Orthodox synagogue located in North Bethesda, Maryland, in the United States that practices in the Sephardi rite.

History

The first Sephardi Jews began to immigrate to Washington, D.C. in the 1910s and 1920s. Most early Sephardi immigrants to DC were from Turkey and Greece. By the 1940s, Moroccan Jews began to immigrate to DC, followed by immigrants from Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Lebanon, Syria, Tunisia, and elsewhere. By 1966, these immigrants and their descendants had formed a board of directors for what would become Magen David Sephardic Congregation and a charter was enacted. Due to a lack of a permanent space, the congregation was hosted by a variety of Ashkenazi congregations. The early years of the congregation had a heavily Moroccan style, but gradually began to adopt a more broadly North African and Middle Eastern style as other immigrants joined. Magen David welcomed Ashkenazi visitors and members and embraced European influences, but maintained its Sephardi traditions.

During the 1980s the congregation met at Tifereth Israel, a Conservative synagogue in Washington, D.C. Later, services were held at Ohr Kodesh, a Conservative synagogue in Chevy Chase.[1] By 1984, the congregation had purchased a building in Rockville and by 1987 they had their first Rabbi. Due to surging membership, the congregation needed a larger space. By 1998, prayers were being held in a new synagogue that was built in North Bethesda.[2][3]

The congregation is affiliated with the Orthodox Union.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Sephardic minyan eschews gender roles". Washington Jewish Week. March 20, 2019. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  2. ↑ "A Place Sephardim Call Home". Magen David Sephardic Congregation. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Washington's Sephardic Community". Capital Jewish Museum. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Magen David Sephardic Congregation". Orthodox Union. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
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