{{Short description|Orthodox synagogue in Washington, D.C.}} {{for|similarly named synagogues|Ohev Sholom (disambiguation){{!}}Ohev Sholom}} {{Use American English|date=May 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2026}} {{Infobox religious building | building_name = Ohev Sholom Congregation | image = Ohev Sholom - The National Synagogue.JPG | image_upright = 1.4 | caption = Ohev Sholom synagogue | map_type = USA District of Columbia | map_size = 250 | map_relief = 1 | map_caption = Location in the [[District of Columbia]] | location = 1600 Jonquil Street, [[Shepherd Park]], NW [[Washington, D.C.]] | country = United States | coordinates = {{coord|38.9842|-77.0373|region:US-DC_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | religious_affiliation = [[Orthodox Judaism]] | rite = [[Nusach Ashkenaz]] | status = [[Synagogue]] | functional_status = Active | leadership = Rabbi David Wolkenfeld<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ohevdc.org/leadership|title=Leadership - Ohev Sholom Congregation|website=www.ohevdc.org}}</ref> | website = {{url|http://www.ohevdc.org}} | architect = | architecture_type = Synagogue | architecture_style = | groundbreaking = 1958 | year_completed = 1960 | construction_cost = | specifications = no | capacity = | length = | width = | width_nave = | facade_direction = | height_max = | materials = }} '''Ohev Sholom Congregation''' (previously '''Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah''' [<nowiki/>[[Hebrew Language|Hebrew]] for Lovers of Peace and Study of [[Torah]]] and '''Ohev Sholom – The National Synagogue''') is the oldest [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] [[synagogue]] in the [[Shepherd Park]] neighborhood of [[Washington, D.C.]], in the United States.<ref name="Post">{{cite news |first=Caryle |last=Murphy |title=A Rabbi's Unorthodox Revival |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21499-2004Sep14.html |work=The [[Washington Post]] |date=2004-09-15 |page=B01}}</ref>
The synagogue was formed from the merger of two synagogues, Ohev Sholom and Talmud Torah.
==History== Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah was formed in 1958 as a merger between Ohev Sholom Congregation, founded as Chai Adon Congregation in 1886, and Talmud Torah Congregation (the synagogue in which the father of [[Al Jolson]] once served as [[Hazzan|cantor]]), founded three years later. Ohev Sholom was previously situated at 5th and I Streets, [[Northwest Washington, D.C.|NW]], while Talmud Torah was previously situated at 14th and Emerson Streets, NW, having moved there from E Street in [[Southwest, Washington, D.C.|Southwest Washington]].<ref name=olitzky>{{Cite book |last=Olitzky |first=Kerry M.|authorlink=Kerry Olitzky |year=1996 |title=The American Synagogue: A Historical Dictionary and Sourcebook |publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]] |pages=92–93 |isbn=0-313-28856-9}}</ref> Their combined Shepherd Park building opened in 1960. Membership fell in the late twentieth century as Jewish families moved to the suburbs. The synagogue opened a branch composed largely of younger families in [[Olney, Maryland]], in 1994,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ostns.org/history.shtml |title=Synagogue History |accessdate=April 11, 2011 |publisher=Ohev Sholom – The National Synagogue |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727155250/http://www.ostns.org/history.shtml | archive-date=July 27, 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> which became the separate congregation [[Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah Congregation of Olney]] between 2002 and 2005.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ohev Sholom in name only: Ohev Sholom (Washington, D.C.) rift drags on, District Appeals Court sends synagogue factions to religious court |url=https://jewishwhistleblower.blogspot.com/2005/03/ohev-shalom-in-name-only-ohev-sholom.html |publisher=The Jewish Whistleblower |date=17 March 2005 |accessdate=April 11, 2011}}</ref> Only a few, mostly older families, were left at the Washington DC location.
Early in the new century, a number of families who preferred urban life decided to attempt to revive Orthodox Jewish life in [[Shepherd Park]]. Hiring a new [[rabbi]], [[Shmuel Herzfeld]] who was formerly the associate rabbi at the [[Hebrew Institute of Riverdale]] synagogue headed by Rabbi [[Avi Weiss]], was central to this effort.<ref>{{cite news |first=Aaron |last=Leibel |title=With rabbi's hiring, OSTT continues efforts to grow |newspaper=Washington Jewish Week |date=2004-01-22 |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-947162011.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105221330/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P3-947162011.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-11-05}}</ref> The decision to rename the synagogue "The National Synagogue" in 2005 drew a good deal of criticism, not least from among other Jews, who felt that the name was a marketing label inaccurately implying a special position of leadership in the [[American Jews|American Jewish community]].<ref name="Post" /> Rabbi Herzfeld defended the choice on the grounds that the name makes clear that the synagogue is welcoming and open to everyone.<ref>{{cite news |title=An Orthodox blossoming In District, traditional offerings grow, as do names |first=Paula |last=Amann |work=Washington Jewish Week |date=2005-03-03}}</ref> Herzfeld insisted that in spite of the copyright on the phrase, other synagogues should feel free to use the same label.<ref name="Post" />
Under Rabbi Herzfeld’s leadership, the synagogue was noted as a particularly vibrant and fast-growing institution.<ref>Andrea Useem. “Tradition for a New Generation, New Rabbi brings Life Back to 119 year old synagogue”. ''[[The Washington Examiner]]'' May 26, 2005</ref><ref>John DeSio. "[http://shalomriverdale.org/page.html?ArticleID=75646 Former Hebrew Institute rabbi now heads the 'National Synagogue']{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}". 2004-10-20.</ref> It also took a number of unusual initiatives, including advertising its services with leaflets and television and radio spots, holding free [[Yom Kippur]] services, and the installation of ramps and elevators to ensure that the synagogue is genuinely open to everyone.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1209933961.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Feb+3%2C+2007&author=Jacqueline+L.+Salmon+-+Washington+Post+Staff+Writer&desc=Barriers+to+Worship%3B+Congregations+Increasingly+Seek+Ways+to+Improve+Access+For+People+With+Disabilities+To+Participate+in+Services |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106160021/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/washingtonpost/access/1209933961.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Feb+3,+2007&author=Jacqueline+L.+Salmon+-+Washington+Post+Staff+Writer&desc=Barriers+to+Worship%3B+Congregations+Increasingly+Seek+Ways+to+Improve+Access+For+People+With+Disabilities+To+Participate+in+Services |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |title=Barriers to Worship; Congregations Increasingly Seek Ways to Improve Access For People With Disabilities To Participate in Services |newspaper=Washington Post |date=Feb 3, 2007 |accessdate=May 2, 2011 |pages=B9 |first=Jacqueline L. |last=Salmon |postscript=, }} reprinted [http://www.dpi.org/lang-en/resources/topics_detail?page=845 here] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110614214320/http://www.dpi.org/lang-en/resources/topics_detail?page=845 |date=2011-06-14 }}.</ref>
Herzfeld left to found a yeshiva at the end of 2021. In 2023, the synagogue was renamed to simply "Ohev Sholom", dropping "The National Synagogue".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/rabbi-david-wolkenfeld-brings-continuity-and-change-to-ohev-sholom/|title=Rabbi David Wolkenfeld Brings Continuity and Change to Ohev Sholom|first=Andrea F.|last=Siegel|date=September 7, 2023|website=Washington Jewish Week}}</ref>
==Today== Ohev Sholom Congregation advertises itself as a dynamic Orthodox community that values Torah, prayer, and good deeds. The congregation touts its location in NW Washington as easily accessible to surrounding neighborhoods in the District of Columbia and [[Maryland]]. The congregation counts in its membership a growing number of working professionals, families with small children, and others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ostns.org |title=OSTNS Home Page |publisher=ostns.org |date=|accessdate=2014-10-23}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
==External resources== {{Commonscat|Ohev Shalom - The National Synagogue}} * {{official website|http://www.OhevDC.org}}
{{Synagogues in the United States}} {{authority control}}
[[Category:Ashkenazi Jewish culture in Washington, D.C.]] [[Category:Ashkenazi synagogues in the United States]] [[Category:Colonial Village]] [[Category:Modern Orthodox synagogues in Washington, D.C.]] [[Category:Open Orthodox Judaism]] [[Category:Synagogues in Washington, D.C.]] [[Category:Jewish organizations established in 1958]] [[Category:1958 establishments in Washington, D.C.]] [[Category:Synagogues completed in 1960]] [[Category:Shepherd Park]] [[Category:20th-century synagogues in the United States]] {{DEFAULTSORT:Ohev Sholom Congregation}}