Ohev Shalom Talmud Torah--the National SynagogueLocated 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 1800sFounded 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
