| Congregation Beth El | |
|---|---|
 Stained–glass window byDavid Ascalon | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Conservative Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership | |
| Status | Active |
| Notable artwork |
|
| Location | |
| Location | 8215 Old Georgetown Road,Bethesda,Montgomery County,Maryland 20814 |
| Country | United States |
  Location inMaryland | |
| Coordinates | 38°59′34″N77°06′25″W / 38.992778°N 77.106944°W /38.992778; -77.106944 |
| Architecture | |
| Established | 1951(as a congregation) |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | 1,500 standing(total):
|
| Interior area | 60,000 square feet (5,600 m2) |
| Website | |
| bethelmc | |
Congregation Beth El, officiallyCongregation Beth El of Montgomery County, is aConservativeJewish congregation andsynagogue, located at 8215 Old Georgetown Road, inBethesda,Montgomery County,Maryland, in the United States. Located adjacent to the synagogue is aK–12 religious school owned by the congregation that, as of January 2024[update], had approximately 500 students. The congregation's pre-school had approximately 100 students.[1]
The congregation was founded in 1951 with 16 families and had grown to approximately 1,000 families.[when?][2]
As of February 2025[update], the congregation was led byRabbi Greg Harris and Rabbi Deborah Megdal, and Asa Fradkin served asHazzan.[3] Prior to his passing, Bill Rudolph, Rabbi Emeritus, and Harris and Lubin were each featured on thePBS television programReligion & Ethics Newsweekly.[4][5][6]
Congregation Beth El synagogue building is a modern structure of approximately 60,000 square feet (5,600 m2), situated on Old Georgetown Road.[7] On thebimah of the mainsanctuary are two large tapestries, installed in September 1997. Created by local artist Tamar Fishman and executed by British weaver Pat Johns, the tapestries are inspired by two narratives from theBook of Genesis that envision episodes in the life of the patriarchJacob. One tapestry, named Beth El, reflectsGenesis 28:10–19, and the other, named Israel, reflectsGenesis 32:25–32.[8] The tapestry Beth El was dedicated by former congregation PresidentWalter Arnheim.[8]
Congregation Beth El has received recognition for its award-winning adult education program, the Saul Bendit Institute.[9] Beth El's adultb'nai mitzvah ceremony received special notice in 2010 when 94-year-old Esther Isralow became the oldest of 19 congregants to complete the 18 months of study led by Rabbi Harris that culminated in the service.[10] And Congregation Beth El has held interfaith seminars, such as a 2010 seminar on leadership with perspectives from theHebrew Bible, theNew Testament, and theKoran.[11]
In 2008, Congregation Beth El received a grant from the Pathways Awareness Foundation recognizing its actions to include worshippers of all abilities.[12] In 2009, theUnited Synagogue of Conservative Judaism gave Beth El an award for the quality of its bulletins.[13]
In May 2001The Washington Post reported that Jonathan Z. Maltzman, Beth El's senior rabbi sincec. 1998, had allegedly transferred almost $230,000 from the congregation's charity fund to his personal account; and that of the $400,000 in funds donated, only $20,000 had been directed towards the charity's beneficiairies. Montgomery County officials were invited by the congregation's leaders to investigate the matter.[14] Rabbi Maltzman resigned in July;[15] and, in September, county officials ceased their investigations.[16]
