The Conference Facilities and the Rockville Jewish Campus
B'nai Israel Congregation is located at 6301 Montrose Road, near Jefferson St, in Rockville, MD. The synagogue is part of a large Jewish campus in Rockville which includes the JCC, the Jewish Federation, the Hebrew Home, and the Jewish Day School.
B'nai Israel is a 76 year old Conservative Synagogue with 1200 member families. The synagogue was built in 1976 and can seat 1400 people when the social hall is fully opened. B'nai Israel is undergoing a $12 million dollar expansion, scheduled to be completed May 17, 2003, that will double their space. Clergy are rabbis Jonathan Schnitzer and Michael Safra and cantors Josh Perlman and Deborah Kogut. Key staff are Sandy Cohen, Executive Director, David Crenshaw, facility manager and Wendy Schloss, assistant to the Executive Director.
The synagogue opens into the Margolius atrium lobby. To the right is the Dweck sanctuary, that seats 600. Attached to the sanctuary is the Bimlich and Gudelsky social halls seating 350 in rounds. In the back of this wing is a large Kosher kitchen. In the wing to the left of the atrium lobby are the office suites, a gift shop, and the Stearman Rooms, which seat 300 theater style and divides into three rooms. Further to the left is the chapel which seats 160.
Immediately east of the synagogue is the Charles E Smith Jewish Day School, which has 800 students in grades K-6, and may be the largest K-12 community day school in the country with a total of 1400 students when the second campus is included.
Immediately to the north of the school is Ring House assisted living (part of the Hebrew Home) with 248 units. An Orthodox minyan is held in room 4 on non-Shabbat mornings at 8am. Diane Hersch at 816-5000 is the contact person.
Across Jefferson St. is the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington. Founded in 1923, the JCC has an extensive sports facility including an indoor and outdoor pool, a 2,500 square foot workout area, racquetball/handball and squash courts. In addition the JCC has a gift shop, a library, a computer resource center, an art gallery and a teen lounge. Major renovations are scheduled to be finished in Spring 2003.
Contiguous to the JCC is the Hebrew Home, housing 825 living units in the 5-story Wasserman building and in the Smith-Kogod building, in the Revitz house, an independent living building with 250 units and the Ring House.
The Research Institute on Aging is also on the campus at 6121 Montrose. Founded in 1984, they undertake studies on aging, using the perspective of caregivers. The work of the Research Institute results in discoveries that directly affect the practices of clinical and administrative professionals in the geriatric field as they seek to raise the quality of life.
Around the corner from the JCC is Kosher Mart.