Baltimore Jewish History

Woodmoor Hebrew Congregation

3605 Coronado Road, Windsor Mill

With the move of Jewish families to northwest suburbs of Baltimore city, shuls would follow. Woodmoor Hebrew Congregation was organized in 1956 in a new model home in the area, among neighbors meeting in homes, as a combined synagogue from two groups in the Lynn Acres and Woodmoor neighborhoods in Baltimore County.

By 1959, money had been set aside to purchase a home on the 3600 block of Coronado Road. Soon after, a hall was added to the home for “meeting rooms and social gatherings.” (Baltimore Sun, 6/30/1965)

In 1935, Ahavas Achim In 1962, merged with Moses Montefiore Emunath Israel Congregation (Incorporated: 5/15/1888) of 533 South Smallwood Street (2084 Wilkens Avenue, 1884-1894 then 533 S. Smallwood St., 1894-1962). Ahavas Achim Congregation, nearby, of South Pulaski Street was merged into the Montefiore Congregation in February 1935. In 1962, the synagogue merged with Woodmoor Hebrew Congregation of 3605 Coronado Road.

A banquet installing the new spiritual leader, Rabbi Phillip Labowitz, took place on December 23, 1962 at the Talmudical Academy of Baltimore.

The Shearis Hapleitah yeshiva (now known as Torah Institute of Baltimore), which was started by Rabbi Yitzchok Sternhell in 1951 as a school for the children of Holocaust survivors, was housed on Coronado Road in the late 1970s-early 1980s, as it used temporary housing for 50 years until building its own complex in Owings Mills in 2001.

Additionally, Bais Yaakov of Baltimore housed a satellite branch here in the 1970s.

The synagogue took on the name Moses Montefiore Emunath Israel-Woodmoor Hebrew Congregation. The synagogue would merge with Liberty Jewish Center (Anshe Emunah-Aitz Chaim-Tifereth Israel) at 7000 Rockland Hills in NW Baltimore County in 1998.

A second home next door was purchased and plans were made to build a new building which was completed by the High Holidays, 1965 at 3605 Coronado Road. While construction occurred, the congregation rented 5 trailers within which to hold services.

RABBIS

Rabbi Aaron Walden, 1958-1963. He had served as rabbi of Bnai Zion in Chattanooga between 1947-1956. Rabbi Walden was executive director of the Hebrew Education Association.

Rabbi Phillip Labowitz was installed on December 23, 1963.

Rabbi Bertrand (Beryl) Fink 1966-1974

Rabbi Lester Miller 1974-1978, who was of rabbi of Adas Yeshurun Herzlia Congregation (Winnipeg, Manitoba), Montefiore Woodmoor Congregation, and
Congregation Beth Israel in Metairie, Louisiana.

Rabbi Everett Ackerman 1978-1997

Rabbi Dr. Yehuda Frager, Rosh Hashana 1998- January 1999, during transition of merger with Liberty Jewish Center.

Rabbi Moshe Shuvalsky, 1999

CANTORS/OTHER NOTES

Rabbi Chaim Shapiro was a ba’al kriah from February ’77 until August ’77.

Ronnie Berman, Ritual Director/Shamash/ba’al kriah, August ’77 until October ’96

Yisroel Friedmann was cantor from the late 1960s until the late 1990s.

Mordechai Odwack, cantor mid 1960s.

Rabbi Stan Hochman, principal Talmud Torah.