Synagogues in Washington State
Encyclopedia
Humanist Judaism Groups
- Secular Jewish Circle of Puget Sound, or "SJC" (SeattleSeattle, WashingtonSeattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
)- SJC, founded in 1994, is affiliated with the Society for HumanisticJudaismSociety for Humanistic JudaismThe Society for Humanistic Judaism, founded in 1969 by Rabbi Sherwin Wine embraces a human-centered philosophy that combines the celebration of Jewish culture and identity with an adherence to humanistic values and ideas....
. It holds non-theistic holiday and shabbat events, and a K-7 sunday school.
- SJC, founded in 1994, is affiliated with the Society for HumanisticJudaism
Conservative Congregations
- Congregation Beth Shalom (Seattle)
- Temple Beth Shalom (SpokaneSpokane, WashingtonSpokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
)- This merges the earlier Temple Emamu-El (who founded the state's first synagogue, opened September 12, 1892) and Keneseth Israel.
- Congregation Beth Sholom (RichlandRichland, WashingtonRichland is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, at the confluence of the Yakima and the Columbia Rivers. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 48,058. April 1, 2011 estimates from the Washington State Office of Financial Management put the...
)- Originally (1950) Richland Jewish Congregation, took current name 1957.
- Congregation B'nai Torah (OlympiaOlympia, WashingtonOlympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
) - Congregation Eytz Chaim (BellinghamBellingham, WashingtonBellingham is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is the twelfth-largest city in the state. Situated on Bellingham Bay, Bellingham is protected by Lummi Island, Portage Island, and the Lummi Peninsula, and opens onto the Strait of Georgia...
) - Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation (Mercer IslandMercer Island, WashingtonMercer Island is a city in King County, Washington, United States and the name of the island in Lake Washington on which the city sits. The population was 22,699 at the 2010 census....
)- Originally the Herzl Congregation was an Orthodox congregation in Seattle; in 1929, Congregation Machzikay Hadath split off, remaining Orthodox as the group that retained the name and the synagogue was realigning toward Conservative Judaism. The short-lived New Conservative Congregation, founded 1930 merged with Herzl in 1932 to form the Herzl Conservative Congregation. In 1970 they merged with Congregation Ner Tamid to form the Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation, which moved to a new facility on Mercer Island in 1971.
- Kehilat Shalom (Seattle)
Reform Temples
- Temple Adath Israel (CentraliaCentralia, WashingtonCentralia is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States. The population was 16,336 at the 2010 census.-History:In pioneer days, Centralia was the halfway stopover point for stagecoaches operating between the Columbia River and Seattle. In 1850, J. G. Cochran came from Missouri with his...
, defunct)- Orthodox 1928–1950s, then Reform. Temple sold 1994.
- Bet Chaverim Community Synagogue of South King County (Des MoinesDes Moines, WashingtonDes Moines is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 29,673 at the 2010 census. Property within the city has been the subject of land buyouts because of noise from aircraft landing or taking off from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport two miles to the north of...
) - Temple Beth Am (SeattleSeattle, WashingtonSeattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
) - Temple Beth El (TacomaTacoma, WashingtonTacoma is a mid-sized urban port city and the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. The city is on Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, and northwest of Mount Rainier National Park. The population was 198,397, according to...
)- This merges the earlier Temple Beth Israel and Sinai Temple. The latter, a Conservative congregation since 1938, traces back to the Orthodox Congregation Hevra Talmud Torah, founded 1909.
- Congregation Beth Hatikvah (BremertonBremerton, WashingtonBremerton is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States. The population was 38,790 at the 2011 State Estimate, making it the largest city on the Olympic Peninsula. Bremerton is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and the Bremerton Annex of Naval Base Kitsap...
) - Congregation Emmanu-El (Spokane) (merger of Congregations Beth Haverim and Ner-Tamid in 2009)
- Temple Beth Israel (AberdeenAberdeen, WashingtonAberdeen is a city in Grays Harbor County, Washington, United States, founded by Samuel Benn in 1884. Aberdeen was incorporated on May 12, 1890. The city is the economic center of Grays Harbor County, bordering the cities of Hoquiam and Cosmopolis...
)- An antecedent was the Grays Harbor Reform Hebrew Congregation that met in a F.O.E.Fraternal Order of EaglesFraternal Order of Eagles International is a fraternal organization that was founded on February 6, 1898, in Seattle, Washington by a group of six theater owners including John Cort , brothers John W. and Tim J. Considine, Harry Leavitt , Mose Goldsmith and Arthur Williams...
hall 1913–1928. Serves both Reform and Orthodox.
- An antecedent was the Grays Harbor Reform Hebrew Congregation that met in a F.O.E.
- Congregation Beth IsraelCongregation Beth Israel (Bellingham, Washington)Congregation Beth Israel is a Reform synagogue located at 2200 Broadway in Bellingham, Washington. Formally established in 1908, the congregation consisted mostly of Jewish immigrants from Lithuania. Originally Orthodox, it became more liberal following World War II, and in 1987 joined the Union...
(Bellingham)- Founded 1906, officially affiliated as Orthodox 1908–1986, Reform since then.
- Temple Beth Or (EverettEverett, WashingtonEverett is the county seat of and the largest city in Snohomish County, Washington, United States. Named for Everett Colby, son of founder Charles L. Colby, it lies north of Seattle. The city had a total population of 103,019 at the 2010 census, making it the 6th largest in the state and...
)- In 1987, Temple Beth Or absorbed the former Congregation Moses Montefiore, Orthodox.
- Temple B'nai Torah (BellevueBellevue, WashingtonBellevue is a city in the Eastside region of King County, Washington, United States, across Lake Washington from Seattle. Long known as a suburb or satellite city of Seattle, it is now categorized as an edge city or a boomburb. The population was 122,363 at the 2010 census.Downtown Bellevue is...
) - Congregation Kol Ami (VancouverVancouver, WashingtonVancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
) - Olympic B'nai Shalom Havurah (Port AngelesPort Angeles, WashingtonPort Angeles is a city in and the county seat of Clallam County, Washington, United States. The population was 19,038 at the 2010 census. The area's harbor was dubbed Puerto de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles by Spanish explorer Francisco de Eliza in 1791, but by the mid-19th century the name had...
) - Temple De Hirsch SinaiTemple De Hirsch SinaiTemple De Hirsch Sinai is a Reform Jewish congregation with campuses in Seattle and nearby Bellevue, Washington, USA. It was formed as a 1971 merger between the earlier Temple De Hirsch and Temple Sinai and is the largest Reform congregation in the Pacific Northwest.The old Temple De Hirsch...
(Seattle)- This merges the earlier Temple De Hirsch (Seattle) and Temple Sinai (Bellevue)
- Congregation House of Israel, Everett (defunct, 1915–1920)
- Congregation Kol Ami (WoodinvilleWoodinville, WashingtonWoodinville is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 10,938 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Seattle metropolitan area. There is also a much larger population with Woodinville mailing addresses in adjacent unincorporated areas of King and Snohomish counties...
) - Kol HaNeshamah—West Seattle's Progressive Synagogue Community (Seattle)
- Congregation Kol Shalom (Bainbridge IslandBainbridge Island, WashingtonBainbridge Island is a city in Kitsap County, Washington, United States, and the name of the island in Puget Sound on which the city is situated...
) - Temple Shalom (YakimaYakima, WashingtonYakima is an American city southeast of Mount Rainier National Park and the county seat of Yakima County, Washington, United States, and the eighth largest city by population in the state itself. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 91,196 and a metropolitan population of...
)
Orthodox Synagogues
- Ahavath Ahim (Seattle, defunct)
- Founded by Marmara Jews, built a synagogue in 1922 at 17th and Fir. After 1929, lost members to Sephardic Bikur Holim (consequently known from 1929 into the 1960s as Sephardic Bikur Cholim-Ahavath Ahim) and to Congregation Ezra Bessaroth. Dissolved 1939.
- Beth Israel (Aberdeen)
- Serves both Reform and Orthodox.
- Bikur Cholim Machzikay HadathBikur Cholim Machzikay HadathCongregation Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath is a synagogue in the Seward Park neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. It is the oldest synagogue in Washington state.The rabbi is Moshe Kletenik.-History:...
Congregation (Seattle)- A merger of several earlier congregations: Chevra Bikur Cholim, Yavneh Congregation, Seattle Congregation Machzikay Hadath.
- ChabadChabadChabad or Chabad-Lubavitch is a major branch of Hasidic Judaism.Chabad may also refer to:*Chabad-Strashelye, a defunct branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism*Chabad-Kapust or Kapust, a defunct branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism...
of Whatcom County (Bellingham) - Chabad of Snohomish County (Edmonds) http://www.JewishSnohomish.com
- Chabad of Central Cascades (IssaquahIssaquah, WashingtonIssaquah is a city in King County, Washington, United States. The population was 30,434 at the 2010 census.Based on per capita income, Issaquah ranks 25th of 522 areas in the State of Washington to be ranked....
) - Chabad of the Pacific Northwest (Seattle)
- Chabad at the UW (Seattle)
- Chabad of Evergreen State College and Olympia (Olympia)
- Chabad of Spokane County (Spokane)
- Chabad of Pierce County (Tacoma]) http://www.chabadpiercecounty.com
- Chabad of Clark County (Vancouver)
- Chai Center of Greater Seattle (Seattle)
- Eastside Torah Center (Bellevue)
- Emanuel Congregation (Seattle)
- Congregation Ezra Bessaroth (Seattle)
- Sephardic Bikur Holim CongregationSephardic Bikur Holim CongregationSephardic Bikur Holim Congregation is a Sephardic congregation with a synagogue in the Seward Park neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. The name Bikur Holim means visiting or comforting the sick, an important mitzvah...
(Seattle) - Congregation Shaarei Tefilah-Lubavitch (Seattle)
- Congregation Shevet Achim (Mercer Island)
- West Seattle Torah Learning Center (Seattle)
Renewal Congregations
- Bet B'rachot (Bellingham)
- Congregation Eitz Or (SeattleSeattle, WashingtonSeattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
)ref>. - Chavurat Shir Hayam (Also Reconstructionist) (Bainbridge Island)
Reconstructionist Congregations
- Temple Beth Hatfiloh (OlympiaOlympia, WashingtonOlympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
)- After being unaffiliated since its founding in 1937, the congregation officially aligned with Reconstructionism in 2000.
- Chavurat Shir Hayam (Also Renewal) (Bainbridge Island)
- Kadima (Seattle)
- Founded in 1978 as a progressive Jewish social action group, it became a Reconstructionist congregation in 2005.
Unaffiliated Synagogues & Groups
- Bet Shira (Port TownsendPort Townsend, WashingtonPort Townsend is a city in Jefferson County, Washington, United States, approximately north-northwest of Seattle . The population was 9,113 at the 2010 census an increase of 9.3% over the 2000 census. It is the county seat and only incorporated city of Jefferson County...
) - Congregation Beth Israel Myer Youdovich Memorial(Walla WallaWalla Walla, WashingtonWalla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
) - Fort Lewis Jewish Chapel (Fort Lewis)
- Havurat Ee Shalom (Vashon Island)
- Hillel: Jewish Student Organization of WSU & UI (Pullman, WashingtonPullman, WashingtonPullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
& Moscow, IdahoMoscow, IdahoMoscow is a city in northern Idaho, situated along the Washington/Idaho border. It is the most populous city and county seat of Latah County and the home of the University of Idaho, the land grant institution and primary research university for the state...
) - Jewish Community of the Palouse (Pullman, Washington & Moscow, Idaho)
- Congregation Tikvah Chadashah (Seattle)
- A gay and lesbian congregation.
- Greater Wenatchee Jewish Community (Wenatchee, WA)
- Ravenna KibbutzRavenna KibbutzThe Ravenna Kibbutz is a nondenominational Jewish intentional community located in the Ravenna neighborhood of Seattle. Its three rented houses and one apartment are home to 15 resident-organizers, who plan public programs such as Shabbat dinners and Jewish movie nights...
(Seattle) - Ohaveth Sholum CongregationOhaveth Sholum CongregationOhaveth Sholum Congregation was the first synagogue in Seattle, Washington, USA. Described by the Washington State Jewish Historical Society as "a quasi-Reform temple," it was the Seattle's first Jewish congregation...
(Seattle, defunct)- Described by the Washington State Jewish Historical Society (WSJHS) as "a quasi-Reform temple," it was the Seattle's first congregation (1889) and synagogue (1892).