HISTORY OF THE BALTIMORE HEBREW CONGREGATION (Madison Avenue Temple.)
THE
Baltimore Hebrew Congregation was incorporated under the laws of the This was the first charter granted to a Jewish organization in Maryland. Under the laws of the State the charter could not have been granted much earlier, for up to the year 1826 the Jew did not possess equal rights in Maryland with his Christian neighbor. This explains the buying of a piece of ground for a Jewish burial place by individuals. Thus ,in 1801, Charles Carroll of Carrollton sold to Levi and Solomon Etting a lot in Enson's town, near State of Maryland, January 19, 1830.
Jew Alley (near East Monument Street), to be used as a cemetery. This was the general Jewish burial ground up to 1832, when the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation bought three acres of ground on the Belair Eoad, in Baltimore County, for a congregational cemetery.
The first regular Minyan (public service) was established in the autumn of The service was held in the home of Zelma Eehine, on HalKday, near Pleasant Street. The Minyan, that met in tbe home of Eehine, led to the organization of the first Jewish congregation. Though "the Jew Bill," by which all disabilities were 1826.
removed, had passed both Houses, the granting of the charter to the congregation, In December, 1829, H. Hunt preas we shall see, brought forth some opposition. sented in the House of Delegates a memorial of "sundry citizens of the City of Baltimore," praying that they may be incorporated under the name and style of *'The scattered Israelites, for the purpose of building a synagogue." The bill, entitled "An Act to incorporate the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation," was favorably reported by a committee of three members and passed on its first reading. On its On motion of Mr. second reading the bill was rejected by a decisive majority. Thomas, of St. Mary's, the vote of the House was reconsidered, and the bill was passed January 19th.
A
few days
later the Senate acted favorably.
members were John Maximilian Dyer, Lewis Osterman and Moses J. Millem. :
Silver,
The
charter
Levi Benjamin, Joseph
In early years the congregation was familiarly referred to as "The Stadt Schul" The congregation outgrew its quarters every few years. At first it occupied a room, corner Bond and Fleet Streets, over a grocery; then in 1833 In 1835 the it moved to North Exeter Street, near what is now Lexington Street. congregation occupied an one-story dwelling on High Street, near the bend, between Fayette and Gay Streets. In 1837 a three-story brick dwelling, corner of Harrison Street and Etna Lane, was acquired by the congregation. The money for the building was raised by the members, and the ground was donated by its owner, Levi Benjamin, who was one of the charter members and served many years as treasurer. The congregation worshipped on Harrison Street until the completion of the synagogue on Lloyd Street, in 1845. The synagogue was dedicated on September 26th, and, being the first event of its kind that had ever taken place in Maryland, it attracted much attention. The services were conducted by Eabbis Samuel M. Isaacs, of New York City, and Isaac Leeser, of Philadelphia, and Abraham Eice, the rabbi of the congregation. In 1860 the synagogue had become too small and its seating Beginning about 1880, a number of Jewish capacity was materially enlarged. families had moved into the northwestern section of the city, and it became neces(the City Synagogue).
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