Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Hosts Exhibit Featuring Artworks of the City’s Historic Shuls

Artist Karen Winston-Levin of Marriottsville hangs pieces for "Baltimore's Bygone Synagogues: History Captured" in BHC's Hoffberger Gallery. (Photo by Steve Ruark)

In a few weeks, Jews around the globe will embrace the future by welcoming the start of the Jewish new year of 5780. But why not occasionally pause and take a journey back in time?

The exhibition “Baltimore’s Bygone Synagogues: History Captured” will be presented in Baltimore Hebrew Congregation’s Hoffberger Gallery, 7401 Park Heights Ave., through Oct. 28.

The exhibition of 55 oil paintings showcases the works of 16 local plein air (outdoors painting) artists, featuring the interiors and exteriors of some of Charm City’s most historic, majestic and ornate synagogues, some of which remain Jewish houses of worship while others operate in different capacities. 

  • Baltimore's Bygone Synagogues: History Captured
  • Baltimore's Bygone Synagogues: History Captured
  • Baltimore's Bygone Synagogues: History Captured
  • Baltimore's Bygone Synagogues: History Captured

The exhibition was conceived by Roland Park-based artist Lissa Abrams, treasurer of the Maryland-based Mid-Atlantic Plein Air Painters Association. A Bolton Street Synagogue congregant, Abrams came up with the concept after attending a funeral at the former home of Beth Tfiloh Congregation at 3200 Garrison Blvd. (today the Wayland Baptist Church) in the Forest Park community. (Beth Tfiloh was located in the building from 1922 to 1966.)

A meet-the-artists reception was held Sunday, Sept. 15, from 2 to 4 p.m. Participating artists include Abrams, Bruno Baran, Lois Borgenicht, Ann Crostic, David Diaz, Joe Giordano, Janice Kirsh, Joyce Klavan Jandorf, Kathleen Kotarba, Michael Kotarba, Crystall Moll, Paul Moscatt, Brina Pintzuk, Tom Ritchie, Stewart White and Karen Winston-Levin.

The synagogue buildings featured include B’nai Israel, Ahavas Achim, the old Beth Tfiloh, the former Baltimore Hebrew (on Madison Avenue), the former Temple Oheb Shalom (on Eutaw Place), Shaarei Tfiloh, the Lloyd Street Synagogue, Beth Am (formerly Chizuk Amuno on Eutaw Place), and Har Zion.

The paintings capture and reveal the grandeur and glory of the city’s bygone synagogues, offering a stunning visual landscape of Baltimore Jewry’s rich past and migration through the decades.

For information about “Baltimore’s Bygone Synagogues: History Captured,” visit https://www.baltimorehebrew.org/about/hoffberger-gallery/, or call Marcia Bornfriend or Lauren Loran at 410-764-1587, est. 270, or email marcia410@comcast.net or laurenloran@mac.com.

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