Saturday, February 21, 2009

Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah Synagogue

Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah--the National Synagogue

Located at 1600 Jonquil Street NW, Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah Synagogue describes itself as "the National Synagogue." The synagogue is a merger of two congregations whose respective histories date back to the late 1880s and early 1890s.


Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah is a merger of two congregations originally founded in the late 1800s

Founded in 1886, Ohev Shalom was formed by a group of Russian Orthodox Jews who fled their homeland under the despotic rule of Czar Alexander III. The congregation originally met on the second floor of Myer's Clothing store in the 1100 block of 7th Street NW. Established in 1892, Torah Talmud was a group of 28 families in southwest Washington who gathered daily to hold minyans. They first met in Isaac Levy's clothing store at 4 1/2 Street SW. In 1958, the two congregations merged and in 1960, they dedicated the Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah Synagogue at 16th and Jonquil, where they've gathered ever since.

The synagogue is located directly across the street from last week's featured church--the Tifereth Israel Congregation.

Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential

4 comments:

Cele said...

Wow, staring at the first picture I wanted to know what it looked like at a farther distance. It is amazing the difference distance makes. I hope I would have finally figured they were one in the same, but from a distance it look so very different. Interesting doors.

Rob said...

An inspiring entrance into this Synagogue.

Maya said...

It's amazing how much of an impact a close-up can have. That first shot really catches one's attention. The second one, you hardly notice the interesting entrance!

Janet Kincaid said...

Cele: The top photo has been modified somewhat to make the doors pop more, but it definitely stands out more than the normal shot. Glad you liked these!


Rob: Isn't it, though?


Maya: I agree! Ironically, I took these photos nearly a year ago, before I'd really figured that out.