Jewish Space+Place

The Jews attracted by the Columbia experiment may have shared an idealistic outlook, but they came from a variety of religious backgrounds, from Orthodox to secular. They strove to build an inclusive Jewish community. The Columbia environment shaped their efforts, from the use of interfaith centers for worship space to the spirit of innovation that inspired their early activities.

Columbia Jewish Congregation’s portable ark. Because the interfaith centers housed many congregations, religious accessories had to be movable.

Ark designed by Bob Tennenbaum, photo courtesy of Columbia Jewish Congregation

Organizing the Community

Columbia was the impetus, but the Jewish community took its first critical steps before any Jews actually lived there.
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Creating Congregations

How many congregations can trace their origins to a psychedelic rock band? In Howard County, the answer is three.

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Educating the Kids

While committed to the Columbia ideal of diversity, parents were determined to give their children a Jewish upbringing.

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Jewish Spaces, Jewish Values

Columbia welcomed Jews, but they were still a minority. They found ways to make space for themselves and assert their values.

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All three of Howard County’s original congregations built portable arks, which they moved in and out of the interfaith centers where they held their services. Noting that the original, biblical ark was also portable, Bob Tennenbaum consulted the Torah when he designed CJC’s ark, trying to replicate the form and even the dimensions (in cubits). CJC members built the ark in the Fagans’ basement—but when they tried to move it, the biblical replica got stuck in the doorway. It had to be disassembled and reassembled in the backyard. It is still in use today.