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Welcome to Beit Chaverim of
Calvert County, Maryland
PO Box 1867
Prince Frederick, MD 20678
(410) 586-0090
Beit Chaverim History and Religious Committee
History
Beginning in the late 1990s, a group of Jewish people in Calvert County, Maryland began to celebrate Passover Seders and the Hanukah Festival together culminating in the formation of Congregation Beit Chaverim (House of Friends) in the year 2000. Soon thereafter, the Congregation began holding volunteer-led Services, and in 2002, the first professionally led High Holy Day Services were held. About that time, the Religious School and Adult Education group were formed. For the past two years, Cantor/Rabbi Arnold Saltzman has been our spiritual leader conducting Services and serving as Director of our Religious School.
As the only Jewish Congregation in Calvert County, we are well recognized as representing the Jewish Community. We participate in the Interfaith Council and the Daughters of Abraham organizations, and serve patients as needed at Calvert Memorial Hospital.
Religious Committee
Beit Chaverim Congregation is not affiliated with any of the denominations of Judaism. Services are warm and friendly, welcoming of children, and include English as well as Hebrew prayers. Participation by congregants is encouraged. The venue for our Services usually is St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Prince Frederick, Maryland, who have welcomed us with open arms. Services are held at least once a month, either on a Friday evening combined with a "pot-luck" dinner or on a Saturday morning. High Holy Day Services are held on Rosh Hashana, Kol Nidre, and Yom Kippur and are usually attended by close to 100 individuals. Yiskor, memorial prayers, are said on Yom Kippur as well as on Saturdays during Sukkot, Passover, and Shavuot. All Services are led by Cantor/Rabbi Arnold Saltzman. Services are also held in the home of a mourner. The Committee also participates in Bar/Bat Mitzvah Services, and together with the Religious School has prepared a manual for congregants looking forward to a Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
© Congregation Beit Chaverim 2008