Baltimore Jewish History

Congregation organized 1865.

Bikur Cholim Congregation was also known as “The Polish Shul,” or The Polish Orthodox Hebrew Congregation, or Bikur Cholim Hebrew Friendship Congregation, and late in its life as Hebrew Friendship Congregation (not to be confused with Oheb Israel, Fell’s Point Hebrew Friendship Congregation, founded 1843).

Bikur Cholim Congregation was first organized in 1865 in a hall on Gay Street, “at the bridge” with 12 members, and spent “some years” there before purchasing a former schoolhouse at 26-28 N. Exeter St. north of Fayette, which was then remodeled and dedicated on Sept. 11, 1868.

This building was sold to B’nai Israel Congregation in 1878, when Bikur Cholim dedicated its new home on September 20, 1878, at 207 N. High St. (previously 53), between Low & Lexington. At this time, the congregation had 45 members. The sale of pews realized a “$3,098 premium, the choice seat bringing $127.”

A Sept. 6, 1888 Balt. Sun report on local holiday services noted that “Rev. Jos. Eisner, rabbi” led the services, and “the congregation was large.” It added, “This synagogue has just been repaired and the interior handsomely frescoed at a cost of $2,000.”

Moved to 135-139 N. High St. at Fayette in 1912.

The shul went defunct sometime around 1937. Tax delinquencies are noted in the Baltimore Sun, January 1939.

Locations:

• 113 North Gay Street (formerly 20), 1865-1868
• 112-116 North Exeter Street (formerly 26 1/2 N. Exeter), 1868-1878
• 207 North High St (formerly no. 53), 1878-approximately 1911
• 135-139 North High Street, approx. 1912-approx. 1937

Rabbis/Cantors/Readers:

• Rev. L. Kantrowitch, 1868 (died 1893)
• Rev. (Cantor) Isaac Marks, 1869
• Master (Cantor) F. Kaufman, 1875
• Rev. Joseph Eisner
• Cantor S. Rappaport, (reader) 1884-1886
• Rev. (Cantor) H.P. Diemenstein, 1885

Common misspellings:

• Beckur Cholim
• Bocker Cholim
• Bicker Cholim