About Us

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Located just minutes from Baltimore's spectacular Inner Harbor on the Herbert Bearman Campus of the Jewish Museum of Maryland, historic B'nai Israel is one of the longest continually-operated synagogues in Maryland. Our congregation was chartered in 1873, and we have held services on Lloyd Street since 1895. The unique architecture of our main sanctuary inspires and uplifts us in prayer, and is the focus of docent-led tours that attract scores of people.

We are a friendly and inclusive Modern Orthodox congregation that welcomes everyone, regardless of their background, to join in services, ask questions, and explore our wide range of Jewish educational, spiritual, and social programs. While catering to the entire greater Baltimore Jewish community, many of our congregants are residents of downtown waterfront neighborhoods such as Canton, Patterson Park, Fells Point, Harbor East, and Federal Hill. Whatever your Jewish background, we invite you to come worship, study, socialize, and engage with us in a welcoming, supportive, and comfortable atmosphere.

Included in our membership is a rich diversity of generations, from those who have attended and maintained the congregation from their youth in the early 1900s to young families, empty-nesters, and students recently relocated to Baltimore City. Young professionals find B’nai Israel an ideal place to meet others their own age and take part in programs especially designed to meet their social needs. We're proud to house B'nai Israel Young Adults (BIYA) -- one of the largest synagogue-based young adult groups in Baltimore.

We are close to hotels, offices, hospitals (including the world-renown Johns Hopkins Hospital), and universities. Our unique downtown location enables us to meet the needs of business people, those visiting the sick, national and international tourists, conventioneers, and students, as well as our diverse core membership. We are, in a unique sense, the gateway to Jewish Baltimore for visitors to our city.

Join us for prayer services, attend one of our enjoyable Friday evening Shabbat dinners featuring terrific speakers, come to one of Rabbi Mintz’s stimulating adult education classes, or bring your child to any of our family events.

Wed, December 10 2025
20 Kislev 5786