ORTHODOX JUDAISM
Orthodox Judaism is based on the belief that both the written and oral Torah were revealed by God to Moses and the Jewish people at Sinai. This commitment to the Divine origin of the Halacha forms the basis for the Jewish response to the evolving changes of any given period. Thus, the unchanging loyalty to the Sabbath, kashrut and all other biblical observances are seen as the anchors of Jewish survival in changing times.
Chabad Center of the Maryland Region
11621 Seven Locks Rd.
Potomac, MD 20854
301-983-4200
www.chabadpotomac.com
Regional Director: Rabbi Shmuel Kaplan
Orthodox chasidic movement that provides a variety of services including Hebrew School, classes/courses and holiday celebrations open to all.
Chabad of NOVA
3939 Prince William Dr.
Fairfax, VA 22031
703-426-1980
Fax: 703-426-1970
www.chabadva.org
Regional Director: Rabbi Sholom Deitsch
Jewish outreach organization open to Jews of all affiliations. Offers services including synagogue services, Camp Gan Israel, Chabad Hebrew School, preschool, Midrasha teen learning program, other educational programs, mikvah, holiday celebrations.
Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America
Washington, D.C. Office
800 Eighth St., N.W., Suite 318
Washington, DC 20001
202-513-6484
Fax: 202-289-8936
[email protected]
www.ou.org
Executive Director: Nathan J. Diament
The central coordinating agency for American Orthodox Jewish congregations. Activities and programs serve as the Jewish lifeline to hundreds of thousands in the United States, Canada, Europe and Israel. The Institute for Public Affairs provides a strong Jewish voice in the halls of government.
Vaad Harabanim of Greater Washington – The Rabbinical Council
11161 New Hampshire Ave., Suite 402
Silver Spring, MD 20904
301-593-0336
Fax: 301-593-1115
www.capitolk.org
President: Rabbi Hillel Klavan
Director: Rabbi Dovid Rosenbaum
The only organization of Orthodox rabbis in the Metropolitan Washington area that is responsible for kashrut supervision in Greater Washington (the Washington Vaad). Maintains a beit din (religious court), which deals with matters affecting Jewish family status, i.e. adoption in accordance with Jewish law, marriage and divorce as well as with adjudication and/or arbitration of financial disputes, and provides all services essential to the traditional Jewish community. Maintains the citywide chevra kadisha (burial society, providing essential services for the deceased).
CONSERVATIVE JUDAISM
Conservative Judaism follows traditional patterns in worship, though with changes introduced through modern interpretations of the law. The movement uses the paradigm of a “ladder of observance’’ to encourage its members in the observance of kashrut, Shabbat and the mitzvot; where individuals start is less important than the direction in which they move. It also stresses education for both youth and adults as a path to religious behavior.
North American Association of Synagogue Executives (NAASE)
c/o Congregation Tifereth Israel
1354 E. Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43205
614-253-8523
President: Marc Neiwirth, FSA, ATZ
[email protected]
Association of Conservative synagogue executive directors.
Seaboard Region Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs (FJMC)
c/o Hal Freed
13329 Wye Oak Drive
Darnestown, MD 20878
301-987-2478
301-520-0557
[email protected]
The FJMC is one of the five branches of the United Conservative Synagogues. The Seaboard region supports the programs and goals of all affiliated synagogue men’s clubs in Maryland, Virginia, Southern Delaware and D.C. by implementing the policies, programs and objectives of the FJMC.
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism – Southeast Seaboard District
6010 Executive Blvd., Suite 705
Rockville, MD 20852
301-230-0801
Fax: 301-816-2931
www.sosea.uscj.org
Jo-Anne Tucker-Zemlak, Senior Kehilla Relationship Manager
International HAZAK Coordinator Southeast Seaboard
Cell: 240-988-1545
Director of Youth Activities: Shira Kaplan
Association of Conservative synagogues. Sponsors United Synagogue Youth (high school age), Kadima (middle school age) and Koach (college age) programs; assists affiliated congregational schools; provides guidance, materials, personnel placement and consultation assistance for all facets of synagogue life and operation.
