# DC Minyan

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Jewish congregation in Washington D.C

This article is about the congregation, an [independent minyan](/source/Independent_minyan). For the building in which the congregation worships and holds other events, see [Washington, D.C. Jewish Community Center](/source/Washington%2C_D.C._Jewish_Community_Center).

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DC Minyan The Washington, D.C. Jewish Community Center, where the congregation holds the majority of its worship services and other events. Religion Affiliation Judaism Rite Unaffiliated Ecclesiastical or organisational status Synagogue Independent minyan Leadership Lay-led Status Active Location Location Washington, D.C. Jewish Community Center, 1529 16th Street NW, Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C. 20036 Country United States Location in central Washington, D.C. Coordinates 38°54′39″N 77°2′10″W / 38.91083°N 77.03611°W / 38.91083; -77.03611 Architecture Established 2002 (as a congregation) Website dcminyan.org

The **DC Minyan** is a [lay](/source/Laity)-led [unaffiliated](/source/Non-denominational_Judaism) [Jewish](/source/Judaism) congregation that holds worship services and other events in the [Washington, D.C. Jewish Community Center](/source/Washington%2C_D.C._Jewish_Community_Center) (DCJCC), located in the [Dupont Circle](/source/Dupont_Circle) area of [Washington, D.C.](/source/Washington%2C_D.C.), in the United States.[1]

Founded in 2002, the congregation generally demonstrates the characteristics of an [independent minyan](/source/Independent_minyan), with a dual commitment to [*halacha*/Jewish law](/source/Halakha) and [egalitarianism](/source/Egalitarianism).[1] Its programs include [Shabbat/Sabbath](/source/Shabbat) and [Holy Day](/source/Jewish_holiday) worship services, education, social events, retreats, and opportunities for *[tikkun olam](/source/Tikkun_olam)*, improving and transforming the world.

The leaders and members of the community seek to create "a warm and intellectually engaging community for prayer and study."[2] Additionally, Beth Tritter, one of the group's four co-founders, stated that the minyan has been able to create worship services that exhibit "*ruach* [spirit] and *[kavanah](/source/Kavanah)* [spiritual focus]."[3] The DC Minyan is part of a growing number of similar lay-led programs within the national and international Jewish community, such as New York's *Kehilat Hadar*[4] and Jerusalem's [Shira Hadasha](/source/Shira_Hadasha) and *Kehilat Kedem*,[5] that are sometimes described as being part of the independent minyan movement.[6]

The name, [minyan](/source/Minyan) ([Hebrew](/source/Hebrew_language): מנין), means the prayer quorum traditionally required for a full Jewish prayer service.

## History

Members of the DC Minyan light candles in celebration of [Hanukkah](/source/Hanukkah).

The DC Minyan first began meeting in February 2002, at Luna Books, a bookstore in Dupont Circle. Its founders were a mixture of young [Conservative](/source/Conservative_Judaism) and [Modern Orthodox](/source/Modern_Orthodox_Judaism) Jews,[7] who wanted to re-set worship that combined traditional prayers and rituals with an egalitarian approach to the inclusion of women.[7][a]

As the congregation grew, in late Spring 2002 it moved to the Washington D.C. Jewish Community Center.[2] For special occasions, such as worship services for the [High Holy Days](/source/High_Holy_Days), when space requirements or scheduling needs make it impossible to use the Center, the congregation used a number of other nearby buildings, including the Westin Embassy Row Hotel.[8]

## Worship, education, and community life

DC Minyan programs include guided individual study; study group including the DC Beit Midrash[9] (co-sponsored by the DCJCC); celebrations of life-cycle events; and volunteer opportunities, often linked to programs at the DCJCC. The congregation's website offers audio files for individual prayers and prayer services, to help individuals learn "synagogue skills" that include leading the service or a portion of it, and reading from the [weekly Torah portion](/source/Weekly_Torah_portion) and [haftarah](/source/Haftarah) (the weekly portion from the [Prophets](/source/Nevi'im)).[1]

Hospitality is also stressed as a foundational concept for community, and programs offered in this area include initiatives that coordinate invitations for Sabbath or holy day meals between those seeking a place and those with a place at their table to offer.[1]

However, the goal of creating and offering vibrant worship services that combine tradition and egalitarianism remains at the core of the minyan's offerings. As of 2010[\[update\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=DC_Minyan&action=edit), Saturday morning worship services are held on the first and third Saturday of each month, and Friday night Sabbath evening services are held on the second and fourth Fridays of each month, in the DCJCC. Other locations are used when required, almost always in the [Northwest](/source/Northwest%2C_Washington%2C_D.C.) section of Washington, D.C.[1]

## Balancing egalitarianism and tradition

The founders of the DC Minyan were committed to a traditional approach to worship and Jewish life, and determined to push the limits of tradition to include women to the greatest extent possible. They began by studying ancient Jewish legal texts, with the goal of learning the position of traditional authorities, "with an eye towards including women in the services . . . even allowing them to take a leadership role."[8]

The congregation's commitment to both traditionalism and egalitarianism has resulted in a number of innovative policies and practices that sometimes reflect approaches of other groups, and sometimes are a hybrid of past approaches. So, for example, the worship setting includes separate seating for men and women (with a space in between the sections, rather than using a more traditional [mechitza](/source/Mechitza), or physical wall), but calling up women as well as men to lead worship and read from the [Torah](/source/Torah_Scroll).[3]

While precedent was found for prayer without a mechitzah, and even for calling women up to the Torah, no traditional source seemed to allow conducting certain portions of the worship service without a [minyan](/source/Minyan)—a prayer quorum—of ten adult men,[10] a situation that seemed to ignore and show a certain amount of disrespect for the women who had come to pray. The compromise agreed upon at the early DC Minyan services was that the portions of the service that did require such a minyan would not be conducted unless there were both ten men and ten women.[2][8] According to some sources, this approach, sometimes referred to as the "10-and-10 minyan," was originally crafted by the minyan, [Shira Hadasha](/source/Shira_Hadasha), in Jerusalem, inspiring a number of other groups around the world to follow the same example.[11][b] In 2018, after extensive [halakhic](/source/Halakha) study, DC Minyan decided to adopt a policy of simply counting any ten Jewish adults, regardless of gender, as a minyan.[12]

In addition to efforts to respect and accommodate egalitarianism, there are also obvious signs of pluralism in terms of the various movements within Judaism. For example, many of the worshipers use Orthodox prayer books, and others follow in prayer books created by the Conservative movement. Similarly, participants follow the Torah reading with various printed editions of [chumashim](/source/Chumash_(Judaism)), with commentaries on the readings from the [Torah](/source/Torah) and [haftarah](/source/Haftarah) (Prophetic readings) that sometimes offer divergent translations and interpretations of the text, depending upon the movement that published the book.[2]

## Independent minyanim

Main article: [Independent minyan](/source/Independent_minyan)

The DC Minyan is part of a growing[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] number of similar independent minyanim groups. There were other attempts to create settings for worship outside of the traditional structure, such as the [chavurah](/source/Chavurah) movement. However, Professor [Jack Wertheimer](/source/Jack_Wertheimer), an academic from the [Jewish Theological Seminary of America](/source/Jewish_Theological_Seminary_of_America), stated in 2010 that independent minyanim represented a different phenomenon:

...members of today's independent minyanim are not counter-cultural types in rebellion against their parents or committed to smashing existing institutions, but a generation that is at once self-sufficient and open to compromise. An example of the newer spirit is the DC Minyan's commitment to separate seating, an infringement on the principle of strict sexual egalitarianism that is maintained for the sake of accommodating the group's diverse population. In the present moment, pluralism is valued over purity.[7]

Rabbi Elie Kaunfer,[13] [rosh yeshiva](/source/Rosh_yeshiva) and executive director of Mechon Hadar[13] and on the [Talmud](/source/Talmud) faculty of Yeshivat Hadar,[13] defined, in 2009, an "independent minyan"—Jewish worshiping communities like the DC Minyan—as a congregation meeting three requirements:[14]

1. volunteer-led and organized with no paid clergy;

1. no denomination/movement affiliation; and

1. founded in the previous ten years.

Kaunfer added the goal of "spiritual prayer" to this list, noting that he often experienced worship services more as a "community experience" than as a "spiritual one."[15] Kaunfer noted that Kehilat Hadar began in New York as a result of a number of young Jews who were "looking for new ways to connect to the substance of their religion and tradition"—but instead of becoming "just a local minyan," ... "it became a model of grassroots religious community that spread dramatically across the United States and Israel. That model of community came to be known as an "independent minyan."[14]

Kaunfer emphasized that the word "independent" meant that many of these groups developed independently in terms of volunteers coming together to create and lead it, but—in agreement with Wertheimer's assessment of these minyanim—they are not, nor do they seek to be, independent of the larger Jewish community in terms of their vision or self-identity. "Quite the contrary," he stated, "they see themselves filling a need not being met by existing institutions, but operating within the larger Jewish map, not outside or against it."[14]

## Leadership and guidance

Ongoing leadership for the DC Minyan is provided by the members of the Steering Committee and the Leadership Council, with frequent input from all participants, and proactive efforts to receive input and ideas from the outside community. The DC Minyan website described "The DC Minyan Dialogue" as "an effort initiated by DC Minyan's leadership to take the pulse of the community by soliciting ideas and feedback on DC Minyan's programming, leadership structure, and decision-making processes." Additionally, a "[kashrut](/source/Kashrut) task force" was convened to "study Jewish source texts on kashrut, research the policies of other communities, consider relevant teshuvot (halakhic [responsa](/source/Responsa)) relating to communal kashrut standards, and solicit feedback from community members about the current policy."[1]

The Leadership Council include special volunteers for administration, the Beit Midrash, Chinuch, community relations, finance, [gabbai](/source/Gabbai), hospitality, parents and kids, social action, and special events. In addition, there are special voluntary positions that include representatives or coordinators for the "Dvar Tefillah and Torah", the Friday Night Oneg [collation](/source/Collation_(meal)), "greening"/ecological issues, happy hours, [Shabbat morning "kiddush"](/source/Kiddush#Kiddush_reception), life cycle events, technical/website support, and a liaison for [LGBTQ](/source/LGBT) issues.[1]

Although there is no rabbi officially affiliated with the congregation, one rabbi who is consulted on a regular basis is rabbi [Ethan Tucker](/source/Ethan_Tucker),[2] the co-founder, rosh yeshiva, and Legal Chair of [Hadar](/source/Yeshivat_Hadar), in New York. Rabbis in the D.C. area also offer assistance on an needs basis, including support for [life-cycle events](/source/Judaism#Life-cycle_events) and [pastoral care](/source/Pastoral_care).[1]

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** The four founders were "raised" within [Orthodox](/source/Orthodox_Judaism), Conservative, and Reform; movements and at the time of their meeting, two were attending Conservative synagogues, and two were attending Orthodox synagogues.[2]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** The [Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance](/source/Jewish_Orthodox_Feminist_Alliance) uses the term, [Partnership minyan](/source/Partnership_minyan), for lay-led worship groups that consider themselves to be part of [Modern Orthodox Judaism](/source/Modern_Orthodox_Judaism), while trying to increase the role of women in services through practices like the 10-and-10-minyan.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-web_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-web_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-web_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-web_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-web_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-web_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-web_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-web_1-7) ["Home"](http://www.dcminyan.org). *DC Minyan website*.[*[self-published source?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Self-published_sources)*]

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-FAQ_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-FAQ_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-FAQ_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-FAQ_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-FAQ_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-FAQ_2-5) ["Frequently Asked Questions"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100920164956/http://dcminyan.org/CommunityDocs/FrequentQuestions.pdf) (PDF). *DC Minyan*. Archived from [the original](http://www.dcminyan.org/CommunityDocs/FrequentQuestions.pdf) (PDF) on September 20, 2010. Retrieved May 19, 2010.[*[self-published source?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Self-published_sources)*]

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-WJW_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-WJW_3-1) ["New D.C. minyan Traditional group aims to offer 'welcoming space for women'"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100920164011/http://dcminyan.org/inTheNews/washjewishweek.html). *The Washington Jewish Week*. April 25, 2002. Archived from [the original](http://www.dcminyan.org/inTheNews/washjewishweek.html) on September 20, 2010. Retrieved May 19, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Kehilat Hadar"](https://www.kehilathadar.org/). *www.kehilathadar.org*. Retrieved February 4, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Welcome to Kehilat Kedem!](https://web.archive.org/web/20100204222353/http://www.kehilatkedem.org/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Empowered Judaism: What Independent Minyanim Can Teach Us about Building Vibrant Jewish Communities"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100727141431/http://www.jtsa.edu/x12731.xml). *JTS Panel Discussion Press Release*. April 12, 2010. Archived from [the original](http://www.jtsa.edu/x12731.xml) on July 27, 2010. Retrieved May 26, 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-JI_7-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-JI_7-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-JI_7-2) Wertheimer, Jack (April 29, 2010). ["Vital Signs: A Minyan Grows in Washington, D.C."](https://web.archive.org/web/20100503174411/http://www.jewishideasdaily.com/content/detail/continue-reading-a-minyan-grows-in-washington-dc) *Jewish Ideas Daily*. Archived from [the original](http://www.jewishideasdaily.com/content/detail/continue-reading-a-minyan-grows-in-washington-dc) on May 3, 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-YK_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-YK_9-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-YK_9-2) ["At Yom Kippur, Tradition Leavened With Equity"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100920170130/http://dcminyan.org/inTheNews/washpost.html). *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)*. September 15, 2002. Archived from [the original](http://www.dcminyan.org/inTheNews/washpost.html) on September 20, 2010. Retrieved May 19, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Home page"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161202122434/http://www.dcbeitmidrash.org/). *DC Beit Midrash website*. Archived from [the original](http://www.dcbeitmidrash.org/) on December 2, 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Practices: Minyan"](http://www.myjewishlearning.com/practices/Ritual/Prayer/Prayer_Music_and_Liturgy/Minyan.shtml). *MyJewishLearning.com*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["An egalitarian synagogue, on both sides of the mechitza"](https://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/news/an-egalitarian-synagogue-on-both-sides-of-the-mechitza-1.277484). *[HaAretz](/source/HaAretz)*. June 7, 2009.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** ["DC Minyan 10-and-10 Committee Recommendation"](https://images.shulcloud.com/442/uploads/dcmDocs/10-and-10CommitteeRecommendation-2018-04-23.pdf) (PDF). April 23, 2018. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20200630021548/https://images.shulcloud.com/442/uploads/dcmDocs/10-and-10CommitteeRecommendation-2018-04-23.pdf) (PDF) from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved June 26, 2020.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto_15-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto_15-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-auto_15-2) ["Home"](https://hadar.org/). *Hadar Institute*. n.d. Retrieved February 4, 2024.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-EK_16-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-EK_16-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-EK_16-2) Kaunfer, Ellie (November 9, 2009). [*Independent minyanim*](https://web.archive.org/web/20110524001620/http://allianceforcre.org/acre-conferences/20089-acre-conference/conference-summary/independent-minyanim) (Speech). Alliance for Continuing Rabbinic Education (ACRE) Conference. Archived from [the original](http://allianceforcre.org/acre-conferences/20089-acre-conference/conference-summary/independent-minyanim) on May 24, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** Kaunfer, Ellie (April 7, 2010). ["Get Serious About Your Jewish Life: An Interview with Elie Kaunfer"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100413212230/http://www.thejewishweek.com/arts/books/get_serious_about_your_jewish_life_interview_elie_kaunfer). *The New York Jewish Week* (Interview). Interviewed by Gary Rosenblatt. Archived from [the original](http://www.thejewishweek.com/arts/books/get_serious_about_your_jewish_life_interview_elie_kaunfer) on April 13, 2010. Retrieved May 26, 2010.

## External links

- [Official website](https://www.dcminyan.org)

- ["Bylaws"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100920164001/http://dcminyan.org/CommunityDocs/bylaws_2009_12_19.pdf) (PDF). *DC Minyan*. December 19, 2009. Archived from [the original](http://dcminyan.org/CommunityDocs/bylaws_2009_12_19.pdf) (PDF) on September 20, 2010.[*[self-published source?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability#Self-published_sources)*]

- ["Compilation of information on independent minyans in the U.S."](http://www.jewishemergent.org/survey/documents/NatSpirComStudy_HomepageCompendium.pdf) (PDF). *Jewish Emergent*. n.d.

- ["Recordings of selected sessions at *Minyan Project* conferences"](http://www.mechonhadar.org/web/guest/minyan-conferences). *Mechonhadar*. n.d.

- ["Synthesis Outside the Synagogue"](https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/28/AR2009042803584.html). *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)*. April 29, 2009.

- ["An Orthodox blossoming In District, traditional offerings grow, as do names"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100920165734/http://dcminyan.org/inTheNews/wjw-03-03-2005.html). *The Washington Jewish Week*. March 3, 2005. Archived from [the original](http://dcminyan.org/inTheNews/wjw-03-03-2005.html) on September 20, 2010 – via DC Minyan website.

- ["Any Old Shul Won't Do for the Young and Cool: Post-Boomers Have It Their Way at Spate of New Prayer Groups"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100920165516/http://dcminyan.org/inTheNews/forward08-10-01.html). *[The Forward](/source/The_Forward)*. April 10, 2001. Archived from [the original](http://dcminyan.org/inTheNews/forward08-10-01.html) on September 20, 2010 – via DC Minyan website.

- ["Independent Minyanim Growing Rapidly, and the Jewish World is Noticing"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100610114737/http://www.jta.org/news/article/2008/11/11/1000894/minyanim-growing). *[Jewish Telegraph Agency](/source/Jewish_Telegraph_Agency)*. November 11, 2008. Archived from [the original](https://www.jta.org/news/article/2008/11/11/1000894/minyanim-growing) on June 10, 2010.

- ["Minyan Man"](http://www.tabletmag.com/life-and-religion/26047/minyin-man). *Tablet*. February 19, 2010.

- ["Partnership Minyanim: Orthodoxy on the Edge (Or Maybe Even a Little Bit Over)"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110713104000/http://jewishvoiceandopinion.com/pdf/200707.pdf#page=8) (PDF). *Jewish Voice and Opinion*. July 2007. p. 8. Archived from [the original](http://jewishvoiceandopinion.com/pdf/200707.pdf#page=8) (PDF) on July 13, 2011.

- Kaunfer, Rabbi Elie. ["Book Review: "Empowered Judaism: How Independent Minyanim Can Teach Us about Building Vibrant Jewish Communities""](https://web.archive.org/web/20110208031557/http://www.thejewisheye.com/ek_empower.html). *The Jewish Eye*. Archived from [the original](https://www.thejewisheye.com/ek_empower.html) on February 8, 2011.

- ["Egalitarianism, Tefillah, and Halakhah"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110111155609/http://www.mechonhadar.org/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=8e2def5c-17b6-4160-9fe3-874c9c9c3587&groupId=11401). *Open Source: A Halakhah Think Tank*. Archived from [the original](http://www.mechonhadar.org/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=8e2def5c-17b6-4160-9fe3-874c9c9c3587&groupId=11401) on January 11, 2011.

v t e Synagogues in the United States By state Alabama Beth-El (Anniston) Knesseth Israel (Birmingham) Beth-El (Birmingham) Emanu-El (Birmingham) B'nai Sholom (Huntsville) Sha’arai Shomayim (Mobile) Agudath Israel Etz Ahayem (Montgomery) Beth Or (Montgomery) Alaska Arizona Beth Israel (Scottsdale) Emanuel (Tempe) Kol Ami (Tucson) Arkansas Shalom (Fayetteville) California Los Angeles Stephen Wise Temple (Bel Air) Beth Jacob (Beverly Hills) Emanuel (Beverly Hills) Valley Beth Shalom (Encino) Beth Israel (Highland Park & Eagle Rock) Temple Israel (Hollywood) Beth Am IKAR (LA) Wilshire Boulevard (LA) Beth Chayim Chadashim (Mid City) Ahavat Shalom (Northridge) Kehillat Israel (Pacific Palisades) Ner Tamid (Rancho Palos Verdes) Jewish Temple and Center (Pasadena) Pacific Jewish Center (Venice) Sephardic Temple (Westwood) Sinai Temple (Westwood) Bay Area Beth Israel (Berkeley) Beyt Tikkun (Berkeley) Peninsula Temple Sholom (Burlingame) B'nai Israel (Daly City) Beth Am (Los Altos Hills) Kehilla Community (Oakland) Temple Sinai (Oakland) Am Tikvah (San Francisco) Beth Sholom (San Francisco) Emanu-El (San Francisco) House of Love and Prayer (San Francisco) The Kitchen (San Francisco) Sherith Israel (San Francisco) Rodef Sholom (San Rafael) Kol Shofar (Tiburon) Beth Israel (Fresno) Chabad (Poway) B'nai Israel (Sacramento) Beth Israel (San Diego) Temple Israel (Stockton) Colorado Beth HaMedrosh Hagodol-Beth Joseph (Denver) Temple Emanuel (Denver) Temple Sinai (Denver) Temple Emanuel (Pueblo) Temple Aaron (Trinidad) Connecticut B'nai Israel (Bridgeport) Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek (Chester) Knesseth Israel (Ellington) Ahavath Achim (Fairfield) Mishkan Israel (Hamden) Beth Israel (Hartford West) Tephereth Israel (New Britain) Beth Israel (New Haven) Agudath Sholom (Stamford) Israel (Westport) B'nai Jacob (Woodbridge) Hebrew Congregation of Woodmont Delaware District of Columbia Adas Israel Bet Mishpachah DC Minyan Kesher Israel Machar Ohev Sholom Rosh Pina Sixth & I Temple Micah Washington Hebrew Florida Ahavath Chesed (Jacksonville) Bal Harbour (Surfside) Bet Shira (Miami) Edmond J. Safra (Miami) Beth Sholom (Miami Beach) Cuban Hebrew (Miami Beach) Emanu-El (Palm Beach) New (Palm Beach) Beth-El (Pensacola) Georgia Beth Jacob (Atlanta) Shearith Israel (Atlanta) Temple (Atlanta) B'nai Israel (Augusta) Beth Israel (Macon) B'nai Torah (Sandy Springs) Mickve Israel (Savannah) Hawaii Aloha Jewish Chapel (Pearl Harbor) Emanu-El (Honolulu) Idaho Ahavath Beth Israel (Boise) Illinois Chicagoland Anshe Emet Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel Beth Shalom Emanuel Congregation KAM Isaiah Israel Loop Synagogue Makom Solel Lakeside Mishkan North Shore Congregation Israel Beth El (Highland Park) Temple Sholom Sinai Tzedek Moses Montefiore (Bloomington) Jewish Community Center (Mattoon) Anshai Emeth (Peoria) Indiana Achduth Vesholom (Fort Wayne) Indianapolis Hebrew Iowa B'nai Israel (Council Bluffs) Beit Shalom (Davenport) United Orthodox (Sioux City) Kansas Beth Israel Abraham Voliner (Kansas City) B'nai Jehudah (Overland Park) Kentucky Adath Israel Brith Sholom (Louisville) Anshei Sfard (Louisville) Keneseth Israel (Louisville) Adath Israel (Owensboro) Temple Israel (Paducah) Louisiana B'nai Israel (Alexandria) Gemiluth Chassodim (Alexandria) Anshe Sfard (New Orleans) Beth Israel (New Orleans) Sinai (New Orleans) Touro (New Orleans) B'Nai Zion (Shreveport) Maine Beth Israel (Bangor) Etz Chaim (Portland) Shaarey Tphiloh (Portland) Maryland Baltimore B'nai Israel Hebrew Beth Am Shearith Israel Shomrei Emunah Tiferes Yisroel Naval Academy (Annapolis) Beth El (Bethesda) Bethesda Jewish Congregation Beth Shalom (Columbia) B'er Chayim (Cumberland) B'Nai Israel (Easton) Beth Sholom (Frederick) Kol Ami (Frederick) Emanuel (Kensington) Oseh Shalom (Laurel) Magen David Sephardic (North Bethesda) Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah (Olney) Beth El (Pikesville) Beth Tfiloh (Pikesville) Har Sinai – Oheb Shalom (Pikesville) Beth Sholom and Talmud Torah (Potomac) Beth Israel (Salisbury) Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Silver Spring) B'nai Israel (Rockville) Massachusetts Temple Israel (Boston) Ohabei Shalom (Brookline) Kahal B'raira (Cambridge) Agudath Shalom (Chelsea) Beth Israel (Malden) Adams Street (Newton) Shaarei Tefillah (Newton) Beth Israel (North Adams) Beth Israel (Onset) Anshe Amunim (Pittsfield) Sinai Temple (Springfield) Ahavath Torah (Stoughton) Beth Israel (Worcester) Emanuel Sinai (Worcester) Michigan Beth El (Alpena) Beth Emeth (Ann Arbor) Beth Israel (Ann Arbor) Beth El (Detroit) Birmingham Temple (Detroit) Isaac Agree Downtown (Detroit) Temple Emanuel (Grand Rapids) Temple Jacob (Hancock) Beth Sholom (Marquette) Beth Israel (Jackson) Temple Israel (West Bloomfield) Minnesota Beth Jacob (Mendota Heights) Temple Israel (Minneapolis) Adath Jeshurun (Minnetonka) Beth El (St Louis Park) Mount Zion (St Paul) Or Emet (St Paul) Mississippi Adath Israel (Cleveland) Beth Israel (Jackson) Beth Israel (Meridian) B'nai Israel (Tupelo) Missouri United Hebrew (Chesterfield) B'nai Amoona (Creve Coeur) Shaare Emeth (Creve Coeur) Temple Israel (Creve Coeur) Beth El (Jefferson City) Montana Nebraska B'nai Jeshurun / South Street (Lincoln) Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey Beth Sholom (Cherry Hill) Kol Ami (Cherry Hill) Synagogue of Deal Beth Hillel (Deerville) Ahavath Torah (Englewood) Barnert (Franklin Lakes) Agudath Achim (Freehold) Etz Ahaim Sephardic (Highland Park) United Synagogue of Hoboken Beth-El (Jersey City) Adas Emuno (Leonia) B'Nai Abraham (Livingston) Shaari Emeth (Manalapan) Marlboro Jewish Center B'nai Israel (Millburn) Beth Hillel Beth Abraham (Millville) Morristown Jewish Center Beth Israel (Ridgewood) Rosenhayn Synagogue Oheb Shalom (South Orange) Beth El (Voorhees) New Mexico Albert (Albuquerque) B'nai Israel (Albuquerque) New York The Bronx Adath Israel Hebrew Institute Riverdale Center Riverdale Temple Brooklyn Magen David (Bensonhurst) Chevra Anshei Lubawitz (Borough Park) Shomrei Emunah (Borough Park) Young Israel Beth El (Borough Park) Kane Street/Baith Israel Anshei Emes (Cobble Hill) 770 (Crown Heights) CAY (Crown Heights) Kol Israel (Crown Heights) Beth El (Flatbush) Khal Hisachdus Yirieim Veretzky (Flatbush) Shaare Zion (Gravesend) Edmond J. Safra (Homecrest) Ocean Parkway (Kensington) Manhattan Beach Jewish Center B'nai Yosef (Mapleton) East Midwood (Midwood) Kingsway Center (Midwood) Sephardic Center (Mills Basin) Beth Elohim (Park Slope) Kolot Chayeinu (Park Slope) Park Slope (Park Slope) Beth Jacob Ohev Sholom (Williamsburg) Yetev Lev D'Satmar (Hooper St, Williamsburg) Yetev Lev D'Satmar (Rodney St, Williamsburg) Long Island Jewish Center (Atlantic Beach) Jewish Center (East Hampton) East Meadow Beth-El Jewish Center North Country Reform (Glen Cove) Beth-El (Great Neck) Tifereth Israel (Greenport) Jericho Jewish Center Emanu-El (Long Beach) RSNS (Plandome) Beth Israel (Port Washington) Adas Israel (Sag Harbor) Aish Kodesh (Woodmere) Manhattan Altneu Sixth Street (East Village) Meserich (East Village) Beth Israel (Garment District) Millinery Center (Garment District) Old Broadway (Harlem) Actor's Temple (Hells Kitchen) Fort Tryon (Hudson Heights) Lincoln Square (Lincoln Square) Bialystoker (Lower East Side) City Congregation for Humanistic Judaism (Lower East Side) Chasam Sopher (Lower E. Side) Eldridge Street (Lower E. Side) Kehila Kedosha Janina (Lower E. Side) Shul of New York (Lower E. Side) Stanton Street (Lower East) Talmud Torah Adereth El (Midtown East) Lab/Shul (Lower W. Side) Beit Simchat Torah (Midtown) Central Synagogue (Midtown) Sutton Place (Midtown) TriBeCa Synagogue (Tribeca) Temple Emanu-El (Upper E. Side) Fifth Avenue (Upper E. Side) Temple Israel (Upper E. Side) Kehilath Jeshurun (Upper E. Side) Or Zarua (Upper E. Side) Park Avenue (Upper E. Side) Park East (Upper E. Side) Edmond J. Safra (Upper E. Side) Shaaray Tefila (Upper E. Side) TUJ (Upper E. Side) Ansche Chesed (Upper W. Side) B'nai Jeshurun (Upper W. Side) Habonim (Upper W. Side) Jewish Center (Upper W. Side) Kol Zimrah (Upper W. Side) Ohab Zedek (Upper W. Side) Ramath Orah (Upper W. Side) Rodeph Sholom (Upper W. Side) Romemu (Upper W. Side) Shaare Zedek (Upper W. Side) Shearith Israel (Upper W. Side) SAJ (Upper W. Side) Stephen Wise (Upper W. Side) Hebrew Tabernacle of Washington Heights K'hal Adath Jeshurun (Washington Hts.) Mount Sinai (Washington Hts.) Queens Center of Israel (Astoria) Etz Hayim (Bayside) Tifereth Israel (Corona) Free Synagogue of Flushing Georgian Jews (Forest Hills) Queens Center (Forest Hills) Rego Park (Rego Park) Beth Emeth (Albany) Beth David (Amenia) Beth Zion (Buffalo) Beth El (Chappaqua) Beth Shalom (Clifton Park) B'nai Israel (Fleischmanns) Hunter (Hunter) Kerhonkson Synagogue (Kerhonkson) Loch Sheldrake Synagogue Agudas Achim (Livingston Manor) Hebrew Congregation (Mountaindale) Jewish Center (Norwich) Beth Israel (Plattsburgh) Kneses Tifereth Israel (Port Chester) B'rith Kodesh (Rochester) Beth Tzedek (Getzville) South Fallsburg Hebrew Association Emanu-El (Staten Island) Anshei Glen Wild (Sullivan Co.) Bikur Cholim B'nai Israel (Swan Lake) Society of Concord (Syracuse) Berith Sholom (Troy) Beth Joseph Synagogue (Tupper Lake) Spring Glen Synagogue (Wawarsing) Ulster Heights Synagogue (Wawarsing) West Point Jewish Chapel Temple Israel (White Plains) B'nai Israel (Woodbourne) Ohave Shalom (Woodridge) Lincoln Park (Yonkers) North Carolina Beth Israel (Asheville) Temple Israel (Charlotte) Temple Israel (Kinston) Emanuel (Statesville) Temple of Israel (Wilmington) North Dakota B'nai Israel (Grand Forks) Ohio Tifereth-Israel (Beachwood) Agudas Achim (Bexley) Golf Manor (Cincinnati) Rockdale (Cincinnati) Wise Temple (Cincinnati) Anshe Chesed Fairmount (Cleveland) Oheb Zedek Cedar Sinai (Cleveland) Park Synagogue (Cleveland) Silver Sanctuary (Cleveland) Temple Israel (Columbus) Temple Israel (Dayton) Beth Israel (Hamilton) B'nai Israel (Toledo) Oklahoma B'nai Israel (Oklahoma City) Temple Israel (Tulsa) Oregon Beth Israel (Eugene) Beth Israel (Portland) Havurah Shalom (Portland) Neveh Shalom (Portland) Shaarie Torah (Portland) Pennsylvania Philadelphia Beit Harambam Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel B'nai Abraham Frank Memorial Germantown Jewish Centre Keneseth Israel Kesher Israel Mikveh Israel Rodeph Shalom Shivtei Yeshuron-Ezras Israel Society Hill South Philadelphia Shtiebel Vilna Congregation YPC Shari-Eli Beth Israel (Altoona) Beth Israel (Chester Co.) B'nai Shalom (Easton) Anshe Hesed (Erie) Beth Shalom (Elkins Park) Kesher Israel (Harrisburg) Ohev Sholom (Harrisburg) Beth Israel (Honesdale) Beth Israel (Lebanon) Beth Or (Maple Glen) Adath Israel (Merion) B'nai Jacob (Middletown) Har Zion Temple (Penn Valley) Rodef Shalom (Pittsburgh) Tree of Life – Or L'Simcha (Pittsburgh) Kesher Zion (Reading) Beth Israel (Washington) Main Line Reform Temple (Wynnewood) Beth Israel (York) Rhode Island Touro (Newport) Beth-El (Providence) Sons of Jacob (Providence) South Carolina Beth Israel (Beaufort) Beth Elohim (Charleston) House of Peace (Columbia) Beth Israel (Florence) Beth Elohim (Georgetown) Kol Ami (Fort Mill) Sinai (Sumter) Tennessee Adas Israel (Brownsville) Mizpah (Chattanooga) B'nai Israel (Jackson) Baron Hirsch (Memphis) Temple Israel (Memphis) Ohabai Sholom (Nashville) Sherith Israel (Nashville) Texas Agudas Achim (Austin) Beth Israel (Austin) Emanuel (Beaumont) B'nai Abraham (Brenham) Emanu-El (Dallas) Beth Jacob (Galveston) B'nai Israel (Galveston) Beth Israel (Houston) Beth Yeshurun (Houston) Sinai (Houston) Beth-El (San Antonio) Utah B'rith Sholem (Ogden) Kol Ami (Salt Lake City) Vermont Ohavi Zedek (Burlington) Old Ohavi Zedek (Burlington) Rutland Jewish Center Virginia Agudas Achim (Alexandria) Beth El (Alexandria) Beth Israel (Charlottesville) Rodef Shalom (McLean) Sinai (Newport News) Commodore Levy Chapel (Norfolk) Beth Ahabah (Richmond) Kol Emes (Richmond) Beth Israel (Roanoke) Adath Israel (Rutland) House of Israel (Staunton) Beth El (Winchester) Washington Beth Israel (Bellingham) Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath (Seattle) Ezra Bessaroth (Seattle) Kavana Cooperative (Seattle) Sephardic Bikur Holim (Seattle) De Hirsch Sinai (Seattle and Belleview) West Virginia Ohev Sholom (Huntington) Shalom (Wheeling) Wisconsin Beth El (Madison) Beth Israel Ner Tamid (Milwaukee) Emanu-El B'ne Jeshurun (River Hills) Wyoming Mt Sinai (Cheyenne) Territories Virgin Islands Oldest U.S. synagogues History Category People US places of worship

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [DC Minyan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_Minyan) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DC_Minyan?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.