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| Adas Israel Congregation | |
|---|---|
 The current Adas Israel synagogue | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Conservative Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership |
|
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 2850 Quebec Street NW,Washington, D.C. |
| Country | United States |
  Location withinWashington, D.C. | |
| Coordinates | 38°56′13″N77°03′27″W / 38.9369°N 77.0575°W /38.9369; -77.0575 |
| Architecture | |
| Architects |
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| Type | Synagogue |
| Established | 1876(as a congregation) |
| Completed |
|
| Website | |
| www | |
The Adas Israel Synagogue is the place of worship for the Adas Israel Congregation, located in theCleveland Park neighborhood of Washington, D.C. It is the largest Conservative Jewish synagogue in the city.[1] The name of the synagogue translates to "The Community of Israel" (Hebrew:ʿAdat Yisra’el, עדת ישראל).[2]
In 1869, about 30 Jewish immigrant families resigned fromWashington Hebrew Congregation (WHC), which at the time was the only Jewish congregation in Washington, D.C. The founders of Adas Israel wanted to form an Orthodox synagogue as an alternative to theReform Judaism practiced at WHC. While most of Adas Israel's founders came from variousGerman andCentral European states, around one-quarter came fromPoland or other parts of theRussian Empire.[citation needed]
Adas Israel moved into a new building in 1908. In the late 1920s, Adas Israel affiliated with the Conservative movement[3] and has remained a Conservative congregation since that time. Initially, Adas Israel followed Orthodox tradition with separate seating for men and women but discontinued the practice in 1951 when they moved to another building.[4]
In 1963, Adas Israel was the first synagogue to be addressed by civil rights leaderDr. Martin Luther King Jr.[4] The building underwent renovations in 2013.
Adas Israel established a cemetery at 1400 Alabama Avenue, SE, in 1869, the year of the congregation's founding.
Adas Israel runs Gan HaYeled, a nursery school for children younger than five years old. The Melvin Gelman Religious School teaches students in grades K–12, with Ma'a lot D.C. allowing teenagers to continue studying following their bar and bat mitzvahs.[citation needed]
The Adas Israel Ladies’ Auxiliary, officially organized in 1898, elected Julia Oppenheimer, wife of congregation president Simon Oppenheimer, as their first president. Today the organization is known as the Sisterhood.[citation needed]
Adas Israel's Brotherhood first formed in 1941, with Irvin Goldstein serving as its first president. It later took the name Men's Club, which it holds today. Three Adas Israel members, Max Goldberg, Jacob Lish, and Mark Berlin, have served as national Men's Club presidents.[citation needed]
Adas Israel held its firstHavurah (self-led) service in 1972, the first at any Conservative Jewish congregation. It also held its first self-led study group that year. Since then, Adas Israel has had a wide variety of lay-led groups, including theegalitarianminyan,Ruach Minyan, and groups for young professionals and senior citizens.[citation needed]
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