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Congregation Shearith Israel (Baltimore, Maryland)
Congregation Shearith Israel (; nicknamed ''The Glen Avenue Shul'') is a historic Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 5835 Park Heights Avenue, in Park Heights, northwest Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States. Shearith Israel is the oldest Baltimore congregation to remain Orthodox throughout its history. History Shearith Israel was the second congregation served by rabbi Abraham Joseph Rice in Baltimore who opened Shearith Israel following his departure from Nidchei Yisrael (known today as The Baltimore Hebrew Congregation). Rice resigned his post in 1849 following the board's decision to reconstitute and adapt certain reforms and their subsequent appointment of Henry Hochheimer. Rice founded the first synagogue in 1851 on Howard Street in a rented home; it is unclear whether they had a Minyan during the early years. The congregation was to later move to Greene and Redwood Streets (called German Street then, changed during World War I) after it ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism is a collective term for the traditionalist branches of contemporary Judaism. Theologically, it is chiefly defined by regarding the Torah, both Torah, Written and Oral Torah, Oral, as literally revelation, revealed by God in Judaism, God on Mount Sinai (Bible), Mount Sinai and faithfully transmitted ever since. Orthodox Judaism therefore advocates a strict observance of Jewish Law, or ''halakha'', which is to be Posek, interpreted and determined only according to traditional methods and in adherence to the continuum of received precedent through the ages. It regards the entire ''halakhic'' system as ultimately grounded in immutable revelation, essentially beyond external and historical influence. More than any theoretical issue, obeying the Kosher, dietary, Tumah and taharah, purity, ethical and other laws of ''halakha'' is the hallmark of Orthodoxy. Practicing members are easily distinguishable by their lifestyle, refraining from doing 39 Melakhot, numerous rou ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
World War I
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting took place mainly in European theatre of World War I, Europe and the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I, Middle East, as well as in parts of African theatre of World War I, Africa and the Asian and Pacific theatre of World War I, Asia-Pacific, and in Europe was characterised by trench warfare; the widespread use of Artillery of World War I, artillery, machine guns, and Chemical weapons in World War I, chemical weapons (gas); and the introductions of Tanks in World War I, tanks and Aviation in World War I, aircraft. World War I was one of the List of wars by death toll, deadliest conflicts in history, resulting in an estimated World War I casualties, 10 million military dead and more than 20 million wounded, plus some 10 million civilian de ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Talmid Chakham
''Talmid Chakham'' is an honorific title that is given to a man who is well-versed in Jewish law, i.e., a Torah scholar. Originally ''Talmid Chakhamim'', lit., "student of sages", pl. ''talmidei chakhamim'', "students of sages"; inaccurate reconstruction of the singular, which is invariably shortened to ת"ח in printings, led to modern ''talmid chakham'' "sage student". The feminine equivalent is ''Talmidat Chakhamim'', "student of sages" (pl. ''Talmidot Chakhamim''), or, by extension of the same error, ''Talmidah Chakhamah'', "sage student" (pl. ''Talmidot Chakhamot''). Expectations of a ''Talmid Chakham'' A ''Talmid Chakham'' is expected to uphold his rank and to not compromise his dignity. As in the case of a king, he is not permitted to allow anyone to omit the performance of any public act of reverence due to him, to the effect that the ''Talmid Chakham'' acts as a facilitator, because, in him, the Halakha is honored or slighted. A ''Talmid Chakham'' must avoid six acts ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aliyah (Torah)
An (; pl. , ; or ) is the calling of a member of a Jewish congregation up to the '' bimah'' for a segment of the formal Torah reading. One receiving an is called an (male) or (female). The individual receiving the goes up to the ''bimah'' before the chanting and recites a series of blessings specific to ritualized Torah chanting. After the portion of the Torah is read, the recipient recites another blessing. Babylonian Jewry completed the cycle of Torah portions annually, and Palestinian Jewry adopted a triennial cycle, according to '' Megillah'' 29b. The weekly chanting of the ''haftara'', a portion of the ''Nevi'im'' linked by the '' Tannaim'' to the week's Torah portion, originated during the Mishnaic era (''Megillah'' 24a). This practice probably began after the canonization of the Hebrew Bible and the ensuing effort by Jews to highlight the Jewish prophets. Process The Torah reading consists of a series of ''aliyot'': three on normal weekdays, seven on Shabbat, ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Yisrael Meir Kagan
Yisrael Meir ha-Kohen Kagan (February 6, 1838 – September 15, 1933) was an influential Lithuanian Jewish rabbi, Halakhist, posek, and ethicist whose works continue to be widely influential in Orthodox Jewish life. He was known popularly as the Chofetz Chaim, after his book on lashon hara, and was also well known for the Mishna Berurah, his book on ritual law. Biography Kagan was born on February 6, 1838 in Dzienciol (), Grodno Governorate in Russian Empire (today Dzyatlava in Belarus), and died on 15 September 1933 in Raduń (), Nowogródek Voivodeship in Second Polish Republic (now in Belarus). When Kagan was ten years old, his father died in a cholera epidemic at the age of 46. His mother moved the family to Vilnius in order to continue her son's Jewish education. While in Vilnius, Kagan became a student of Jacob Barit. Kagan's mother remarried and moved to Radin, taking the name of her new husband, Poupko, which the young Kagan adopted as well. At 17, he married the ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mikveh
A mikveh or mikvah (, ''mikva'ot'', ''mikvot'', or (Ashkenazi Hebrew, Ashkenazic) ''mikves'', lit., "a collection") is a bath used for ritual washing in Judaism#Full-body immersion, ritual immersion in Judaism to achieve Tumah and taharah, ritual purity. In Orthodox Judaism, these regulations are steadfastly adhered to; consequently, the mikveh is central to an Orthodox Jewish community. Conservative Judaism also formally holds to the regulations. The existence of a mikveh is considered so important that, according to Halakha, halacha, a Jewish community is required to construct a kosher mikveh even before building a synagogue, and must go to the extreme of selling Torah scrolls, or even a synagogue if necessary, to provide funding for its construction. Etymology Formed from the Semitic root ק-ו-ה (''q-w-h'', "collect"). In the Hebrew Bible, the word is employed in the sense of "collection", including in the phrase מקוה המים (''miqwêh hammayim'', "collection of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Mechitza
A ''mechitza'' (, partition or division, pl.: , ) in Judaism is a partition, particularly one that is used to separate men and women. The rationale in halakha (Jewish law) for a partition dividing men and women is derived from the Babylonian Talmud. A divider in the form of a balcony was established in the Temple in Jerusalem for the Simchat Beit HaShoeivah ceremony, a time of great celebration and festivity. The divider was first established to preserve modesty and attention during this time. During the mid-20th century, a substantial number of Orthodox synagogues did not have mechitzot. However, the Orthodox Union (OU), the main body of Modern Orthodox synagogues in the United States, adopted a policy of not accepting as new members synagogues without mechitzot, and strongly encouraged existing synagogues to adopt them. Men and women are generally not separated in most Conservative synagogues, but it is a permissible option within Conservative Judaism; some Conservative sy ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Druid Hill Park
Druid Hill Park is a urban park in northwest Baltimore, Maryland. Its boundaries are marked by Druid Park Drive (north), Swann Drive and Reisterstown Road (west and south), and the Jones Falls Expressway / Interstate 83 (east)."Druid Hill Park" Baltimore City Department of Recreation and Parks. Retrieved 2010-10-04 Inaugurated in 1860, under the administration of city Mayor Thomas Swann, Druid Hill Park ranks with (begun in 1858) in New York City, [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Streetcar Suburb
A streetcar suburb is a residential community whose growth and development was strongly shaped by the use of streetcar lines as a primary means of transportation. Such suburbs developed in the United States in the years before the automobile, when the introduction of the electric trolley or streetcar allowed the nation’s burgeoning middle class to move beyond the central city’s borders. Early suburbs were served by horsecars, but by the late 19th century Cable car (railway), cable cars and electric streetcars, or trams, were used, allowing residences to be built farther away from the inner city, urban core of a city. Streetcar suburbs, usually called additions or extensions at the time, were the forerunner of today's suburbs in the United States and Canada. San Francisco's Western Addition, San Francisco, Western Addition is one of the best examples of streetcar suburbs before westward and southward expansion occurred. Although most closely associated with the electric streetc ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Suburbanization
Suburbanization (American English), also spelled suburbanisation (British English), is a population shift from historic core cities or rural areas into suburbs. Most suburbs are built in a formation of (sub)urban sprawl. As a consequence of the movement of households and businesses away from city centers, low-density, peripheral urban areas grow. Proponents of curbing suburbanization argue that sprawl leads to urban decay and a concentration of lower-income residents in the inner city, in addition to environmental harm. Suburbanization can be a progressive process, as growing population pushes outward the zones of the concentric zone model that move outward to escape the increasing density of inward areas. For example, Kings County, New York served New York City as farmland in the 18th century, with boats carrying produce across the East River. The steam ferry later made Brooklyn Heights a commuter town for Wall Street. Streetcar suburbs spread through the count ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chizuk Amuno Synagogue
B'nai Israel Synagogue is a Modern Orthodox synagogue located in the historic Jonestown neighborhood, near downtown and the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States. The synagogue is one of the oldest synagogue buildings in the United States. The spiritual leader of B'nai Israel Synagogue is Rabbi Etan Mintz. The synagogue building was listed as a Baltimore City Landmark in 1977; and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Architecture The synagogue building is a subdued Victorian Gothic Revival structure that synthesizes Romanesque Revival and Moorish Revival elements with traditional Jewish symbols. The architect was Henry Burck, whose design was supposedly based on that of the Schiffschul in Vienna. The carpentry was done by E. F. Hausen and the interior frescoes by F. Moore. The building was completed in 1876 as a place of worship for the Chizuk Amuno Congregation, founded in 1871 as an Orthodox congregation. This congregation o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Gabbai
A ''gabbai'' (), sometimes spelled ''gabay'', also known as ''shamash'' (, sometimes transcribed ''shamas'') or warden ( UK, similar to churchwarden), is a beadle or sexton, a person who assists in the running of synagogue services in some way. The role may be undertaken on a voluntary or paid basis. A ''shamash'' (literally 'servant') or ''gabbai'' can also mean an assistant to a rabbi (particularly the secretary or personal assistant to a Hasidic rebbe). In '' ma'amad'', the Council of Elders (or "the board of directors") of the communities of Sephardi Jews, the position of ''gabbai'' was that of the treasurer. Etymology The word ''gabbai'' is Hebrew and, in Talmudic times, meant "collector of taxes or charity" or "treasurer". The term ''shamash'' is sometimes used for the ''gabbai'', the caretaker or "man of all work" in a synagogue. Duties While the specific set of duties vary from synagogue to synagogue, a gabbai's responsibilities will typically include ensuring th ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
