Agudas Achim Congregation (Alexandria, Virginia)

In 1914, new Eastern European immigrants who were members of Beth El Hebrew Congregation did not like Beth El's classical Reform. The group left Beth El and established Agudas Achim Congregation.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IxQjiH6EeOIC&dq=%22Agudas+Achim%22+alexandria&pg=PA18867 |title=Congressional Record |publisher=Government Printing Office|date=September 21, 2004|author =Congress |isbn=9780160864599 |accessdate=June 25, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.agudasachim-va.org/images/pdf/EilehHaDevarimBrochure.pdf |title=Connect; Eileh HaDevarim |publisher=Agudas Achim Congregation |date= |accessdate=June 26, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web|url=http://www.agudasdev.org/programs/preschool/ |title=Jewish Preschool in Alexandria, Virginia |publisher=Agudas Achim Congregation |date=March 27, 2011 |accessdate=June 26, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323203450/http://www.agudasdev.org/programs/preschool/ |archive-date=March 23, 2012 }}

In 1927, the congregation acquired a large Italianate building at 508 Wolfe Street, built around 1850, for the synagogue.{{cite news|url=http://washingtonjewishweek.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=10601 |title=The big 1-5-0 |work=Washington Jewish Week |date=April 22, 2009 |author=Adam Kredo |accessdate=June 26, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006024605/http://washingtonjewishweek.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=10601 |archive-date=October 6, 2011 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.alextimes.com/news/2009/nov/05/out-of-the-attic-508-wolfe-street/ |title=Out of the Attic | 508 Wolfe Street |work=Alexandria Times |author = Office of Historic Alexandria|date=November 5, 2009 |accessdate=June 26, 2011}} In 1946, the synagogue sold the building to a post of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

In 1958, the synagogue's president, Murray J. Goldberg, joined other Virginia Jewish leaders in backing freedom of speech for rabbis. They spoke out after Jews in the Southern U.S. were threatened for supporting civil rights for African-Americans and after the bombing of the Hebrew Benevolent Congregation Temple in Atlanta.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Q_BOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=W0wDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6648,4117261&dq=agudas-achim+alexandria&hl=en |title=Fighting Mood Grows Among Southern Jews |work=The Canadian Jewish Chronicle |date= October 24, 1958|author =Milton Friedman |accessdate=June 25, 2011}}

A new synagogue building was dedicated on December 30, 1963, with President Lyndon B. Johnson as a speaker.{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/1910748162.html?FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Dec+31%2C+1963&author=&pub=Boston+Globe+%281960-1979%29&desc=Johnson+Keeps+Pledge%2C+Speaks+at+Synagogue&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107055000/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/1910748162.html?FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Dec+31,+1963&author=&pub=Boston+Globe+(1960-1979)&desc=Johnson+Keeps+Pledge,+Speaks+at+Synagogue&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 7, 2012|title=Johnson Keeps Pledge, Speaks at Synagogue|date=December 31, 1963|work=Boston Globe|page=2|accessdate=June 23, 2011}}{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=b2gzAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xzIHAAAAIBAJ&pg=2985,6987567&dq=agudas-achim-congregation&hl=en|title=Johnson Appeals For Brotherhood|date=December 31, 1963|work=Lodi News-Sentinel|page=3|accessdate=June 23, 2011}} The new building was designed by Joseph Miller.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4JlHAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Agudas+Achim%22+alexandria |title=Progressive architecture |author1=Eugene Clute |author2=Russell Fenimore Whitehead |author3=Kenneth Reid |author4=Elizabeth L. Cleaver |publisher= Reinhold|year=1958 |accessdate=June 25, 2011}}

In 1982, Gesher Jewish Day School of Northern Virginia opened as a kindergarten at Agudas Achim Congregation.{{cite news|url=http://washingtonjewishweek.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=7645&TM=118.021 |title=Late for the opening bell; Launch of new Gesher site tardy by four days |author=Richard Greenberg |work=Washington Jewish Week |date=September 5, 2007 |accessdate=June 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006024240/http://washingtonjewishweek.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=7645&TM=118.021 |archive-date=October 6, 2011 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/05/AR2005100500840.html |title=Jewish School Has Plans For a Place of Its Own |work=The Washington Post |date=October 5, 2005 |author =Maria Glod |accessdate=June 25, 2011}} It relocated to larger quarters in 1994, after outgrowing its space.{{cite web |url=http://www.jhsgw.org/exhibitions/online/jewishwashington/exhibition/growing-up-jewish |title=Growing Up Jewish |publisher=Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington |accessdate=June 23, 2011}}

In 1985, Agudas Achim Congregation and Reform Beth El Hebrew Congregation co-founded a pre-school named Keshet Child Development Center.{{cite news|url=http://washingtonjewishweek.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=7153&TM=52527.73 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006024201/http://washingtonjewishweek.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=7153&TM=52527.73 |archivedate=October 6, 2011|title=Keshet finds a homeJCCNV, Beth El gear up for new preschool |work=Washington Jewish Week |date=May 16, 2007 |first= Debra |last=Rubin|accessdate=October 12, 2015}} The synagogue took an active role, sitting on the school board. In 2001, however, Agudas Achim withdrew because of issues regarding non-Jewish lay leadership at the pre-school.{{cite news|url=http://washingtonjewishweek.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=6464&TM=3.371 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314112744/http://washingtonjewishweek.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=6464&TM=3.371 |archivedate=March 14, 2012|title=JCCNV, Beth El Hebrew team up for day care centerDecision leaves Keshet center without a home |work=Washington Jewish Week |date=December 27, 2006 |first=Debra |last=Rubin |accessdate=October 12, 2015}} The synagogue's rabbi said: "Our congregational charter did not permit the representation by non-Jews, and Keshet's experience was that some of the best leaders were the non-Jewish parents," the synagogue's rabbi Jack Moline said.

On September 21, 2004, Representative Tom Davis of Virginia commemorated the 90th anniversary of the synagogue in the United States House of Representatives.

In 2005, Agudas Achim Congregation opened a start-up Preschool for the Performing Arts for children ages two to four.{{cite news|url=http://washingtonjewishweek.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=4593&TM=244.126 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006024330/http://washingtonjewishweek.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=4593&TM=244.126 |archivedate=October 6, 2011 |title=Founding director of Agudas Achim's preschool leaves |work=Washington Jewish Week |date=December 28, 2005 |first=Debra |last=Rubin |accessdate=October 12, 2015}} The synagogue ended its relationship with the school three months later by mutual consent, as a result of different visions as to how to run the school. The synagogue's president said that he wanted the preschool to be integrated better into the synagogue, with regard to programming and a summer camp program. That same year, the school received a $38,165 grant from the federal government in homeland security funds approved by Congress to "harden targets" at its facility, which it used to purchase security equipment.{{cite news|url=http://washingtonjewishweek.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=4236&TM=82970.13 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006024530/http://washingtonjewishweek.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=4236&TM=82970.13 |archivedate=October 6, 2011 |title=Jewish groups get homeland security money |work=Washington Jewish Week |date=October 12, 2005 |first=Eric |last=Fingerhut |accessdate=October 13, 2015}} The synagogue's rabbi, hazzan, and religious school director regularly participate with the children.

In 2006, Agudas Achim Congregation changed the time that its Friday night services began from 8 PM to 6:30 PM, to increase the number of its congregants attending the services.{{cite news|url=http://washingtonjewishweek.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=5561&TM=113.119 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314112756/http://washingtonjewishweek.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=5561&TM=113.119 |archivedate=March 14, 2012 |title=What does it take to pullmembers into services? |work=Washington Jewish Week |date=December 7, 2006 |first=Aaron |last=Leibel |accessdate=October 12, 2015}} According to Mirza Lopez, its executive director, early results were encouraging. At the same time, its Saturday morning services were typically attracting 250 congregants.

In 2006–07 Agudas Achim served as the temporary home of the Westminster Presbyterian Church of Alexandria during the church's renovations. In a sermon in 2007, Senior Pastor Dr. Larry R. Hayward of the church said that the synagogue's rabbi had told him that when the church performed its renovation: "not only would we be welcome at Agudas Achim, but we would probably cause great collective disappointment to their congregation if we did not worship here."{{cite web |url=http://wpc-alex.org/worship/sermons/sermon%20page/2007%20Sermons/03.25.07.LRH.pdf |title=What Have We Learned from our Stay at Agudas Achim? |author=Larry R. Hayward |publisher=Westminster Presbyterian Church |date=March 25, 2007 |accessdate=June 26, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120326014317/http://wpc-alex.org/worship/sermons/sermon%20page/2007%20Sermons/03.25.07.LRH.pdf |archive-date=March 26, 2012 |url-status=dead }} He reminisced that in 2006, the rabbi and several members of the synagogue joined church members at the church, to process to the synagogue, and that: "Then, when a hundred or more of their members formed a line outside their door and welcomed us with handshakes and applause, we were overwhelmed. There wasn't a dry eye on the sidewalk".

The synagogue has about 550 member units. Rahm Emanuel and his family attended this congregation while he worked in the White House."[http://www.thejewishnews.com/community/entry.php?74-Rahm-Emanuel-s-Son-s-Bar-Mitzvah-amp-Religious-Pluralism-in-Israel Rahm Emanuel's Son's Bar Mitzvah]{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}," June 15, 2010, Detroit Jewish News, retrieved June 23, 2011."[http://www.tabletmag.com/news-and-politics/67608/forward-and-back/ Forward and Back]," May 17, 2011, Tablet Magazine, Rachel Shteir, retrieved June 23, 2011."[http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/01/03/the-jewish-kennedys.html The Jewish Kennedys]," Jan 3, 2010, The Daily Beast, Rebecca Dana, retrieved June 23, 2011 In 2008, as a financial incentive to attract congregants, the synagogue offered newlyweds dues of $500, and full-time students younger than 30 a dues price of $180.{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/print.asp?ArticleID=8206&SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927061456/http://www.washingtonjewishweek.com/print.asp?ArticleID=8206&SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4 | archivedate=September 27, 2011 |title=The sanctuary sweepstakes |work=Washington Jewish Week |date=January 9, 2008 |first=Richard |last=Greenberg |accessdate=October 12, 2015}}

File:Jack Moline.jpg, rabbi of Agudas Achim Congregation since 1987]]

The current rabbi of Agudas Achim, Steven I. Rein, joined the congregation in 2014. Originally from Fairfield, New Jersey, Rabbi Rein received his rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary where he also earned an M.A. in Talmud and Rabbinics from the Graduate School at JTS. Prior to joining Agudas Achim Congregation, Rabbi Rein served five years as the Assistant Rabbi of Park Avenue Synagogue in Manhattan.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

Outside of his synagogue responsibilities, Rabbi Rein is a reserve chaplain in the United States Air Force.

The previous rabbi is Jack Moline, who was the synagogue's rabbi from 1987 till 2014. Rabbi Moline was named by Newsweek magazine as one of the 50 most influential rabbis in America, placing 26th on the list.{{cite news|last=Moline |first=Jack |url=http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/jack_moline/2009/12/just_and_holy.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313050024/http://onfaith.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/jack_moline/2009/12/just_and_holy.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2012-03-13 |title=Just and holy |work=The Washington Post |date=December 2009 |accessdate=June 25, 2011}}{{cite news |url=http://www.newsweek.com/2010/06/28/the-50-most-influential-rabbis-in-america.html |title=The 50 Most Influential Rabbis in America|date=June 28, 2010 |accessdate=June 23, 2011 |work=Newsweek}} The synagogue's executive director notes the popularity of Moline's Saturday morning dvar Torah. The rabbi was noted by The New York Times for praising Inglourious Basterds and its portrayal of Jews.{{cite news|last=Vitello |first=Paul |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/18/nyregion/18basterds.html |title=At Jewish Seminary, 'Basterds' Prompts Reflection on Revenge |work=The New York Times |date=December 17, 2009 |accessdate=June 25, 2011}}

Rabbi Theodore Steinberg was rabbi of the synagogue in the late 1950s and early 1960s.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OjLnAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Agudas+Achim%22+alexandria |title=The National Jewish monthly |publisher=B'nai B'rith |year=1962 |accessdate=June 25, 2011}} Rabbi Sheldon Elster became the synagogue's rabbi in 1968.{{cite web|url=http://washingtonjewishweek.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=5105&TM=8255.016 |title='Schoolmarm at heart' readies to retire; Elster prepares to leave Partnership for Jewish Life and Learning |author=Eric Fingerhut |work=Washington Jewish Week |date=April 5, 2006 |accessdate=June 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006024540/http://washingtonjewishweek.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=5105&TM=8255.016 |archive-date=October 6, 2011 }}

The Agudas Achim Congregation Cemetery, founded in January 1933 after the synagogue purchased the property from the City of Alexandria on November 30, 1932, at a "spirited" auction for $250 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|250|1932|r=-2}}}} today), is located on Jefferson Street in Alexandria.{{cite web|url=http://www.iajgsjewishcemeteryproject.org/virginia-va/alexandria-fairfax-county.html |title=Alexandria: Fairfax County | Virginia |publisher=International Jewish Cemetery Project |date= |accessdate=June 26, 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.agudasachim-va.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=48&Itemid=71 |title=Cemetery |publisher=Agudas Achim Congregation |date=November 30, 1932 |accessdate=June 26, 2011}} A section that has become a "Meditation Garden" was added by the City Council in November 1943, for the use of the synagogue, "so long as the premises is used, kept and maintained by said religious congregation as a cemetery chapel without any manner of excavation."

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website|http://www.agudasachim-va.org/}}

{{Synagogues in the United States}}

Category:1914 establishments in Virginia

Category:Buildings and structures in Alexandria, Virginia

Category:Cemeteries in Alexandria, Virginia

Category:Conservative synagogues in Virginia

Category:Synagogues completed in 1963

Category:Jewish organizations established in 1914

Category:Cemeteries established in the 1930s

Category:20th-century synagogues in the United States