Welcoming Shabbat with V'Shamru at the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation

Originally named Nidche Yisroel (Scattered of Israel), the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation was founded in 1830, and for the first fifteen years of its existence, services were held in a small room above a local grocery in Baltimore. Rabbi Abraham Rice was the first ordained rabbi to serve in the United States and came to BHC in 1840. 

In 1845, the Congregation moved to Lloyd Street under the new name, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. That building, the Lloyd Street Synagogue, the third-oldest synagogue building in the United States, is now preserved as part of the Jewish Museum of Maryland. 

In 1891, BHC moved to Madison Avenue, where the Jewish community had begun to settle. The Congregation moved to its final home on Park Heights Avenue, on the border of Baltimore City and Baltimore County, following the Second World War in 1951.

Today we welcome Shabbat with Cantor Ben Ellerin, Cantorial Intern Leslie Goldberg, and the BHC Synagogue Choir singing V'Shamru, part of the Kabbalat Shabbat service.

From Exodus 31:16-17

וְשָׁמְרוּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּת לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּת לְדֹרֹתָם בְּרִית עוֹלָם׃ בֵּינִי וּבֵין בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹת הִוא לְעֹלָם כִּי־שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים עָשָׂה יְהֹוָה אֶת־הַשָּׁמַיִם וְאֶת־הָאָרֶץ וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שָׁבַת וַיִּנָּפַשׁ׃ 

V’shamru v'nei Yisrael et HaShabbat, laasot et HaShabbat l’dorotam b’rit olam. Beini u’vein b’nei Yisrael ot hi l’olam, ki sheishet yamim asah Adonai et hashamayim v’et haaretz, u’vayom hashvi-i shavat vayinafash. 

The people of Israel shall keep Shabbat, observing Shabbat throughout the ages as a covenant for all time. It is a sign for all time between Me and the people of Israel. For in six days Adonai made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day God ceased from work and was refreshed.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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