| Magen David Sephardic Congregation | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Modern Orthodox Judaism |
| Rite | Sephardi |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
| Governing body | Orthodox Union |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | North Bethesda,Maryland |
| Country | United States |
  Location withinMaryland | |
| Coordinates | 39°02′26″N77°06′47″W / 39.040676117°N 77.113151550°W /39.040676117; -77.113151550 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Synagogue |
| Established | 1966(as a congregation) |
| Completed | 1998 |
| Website | |
| magendavidsephardic | |
Magen David Sephardic Congregation-Beit Eliahu (abbreviated asMDSCBE) is aModern OrthodoxJewish congregation andsynagogue, located inNorth Bethesda,Maryland, in the United States. The congregation practices in theSephardirite.[1]
The first Sephardi Jews began to immigrate toWashington, D.C. in the 1910s and 1920s. Most early Sephardi immigrants to Washington, D.C. were fromTurkey andGreece. By the 1940s,Moroccan Jews began to immigrate to Washington, D.C.; immigrants fromAlgeria,Egypt,Iraq,Iran,Libya,Lebanon,Syria,Tunisia, and elsewhere soon followed. 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 ofAshkenazi congregations. The early years of the congregation had a heavilyMoroccan style, but gradually began to adopt a more broadlyNorth African andMiddle 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, aConservative synagogue in Washington, D.C. Later, services were held at Ohr Kodesh, a Conservative synagogue inChevy Chase.[2] By 1984, the congregation had purchased a building inRockville, and by 1987, had its firstrabbi. 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.[3][4]
The congregation is affiliated with theOrthodox Union.[5]
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