Two hallowed Baltimore Jewish institutions, Chizuk Amuno Congregation and Beth Israel Congregation, announced this month they are considering a merger.

Chizuk Amuno first approached Beth Israel with the idea late last year, with the conversation becoming more “serious” early in 2026, according to Beth Israel President T.J. Casser. The congregations will hold formal votes on the decision in the next couple of months, with the proposed merger set to take place in June if the decision is approved by the two shuls.

Beth Israel would move to Chizuk Amuno’s campus in Pikesville at that point, with the two combining their names and becoming Chizuk Amuno-Beth Israel Congregation.

Casser said that the impetus for the potential merger is changing demographics in the local Jewish community.

The Pew Research Center found in 2021 that Conservative Jewry has shrunk after being the largest branch of American Jewry as recently as the 1960s. Pew says 57% raised in Conservative Judaism now identify another way.

“We’ve discussed a lot about [how] we picture the future of the community with [the] demographics shift and shifts in patterns of worship, and our two congregations happen to be fairly similar in our outlooks towards worship services and things of that nature, so it made sense to have those conversations. And over the last couple of months, it became very clear that there was an opportunity here to capitalize on something that could build something beautiful out of both congregations,” Casser said.

Chizuk Amuno President Harel Turkel said that their congregation is excited to build a new future on the very solid ground they have developed already.

“Chizuk Amuno has been part of Baltimore’s Jewish story for over 150 years. From every wave of change that this community has gone through, if that history has taught us anything, it’s that survival never comes from standing still, it comes from continuing to open your doors,” he said. “Beth Israel’s spirit and Chizuk Amuno’s history are two separate legacies, together they become one continuing story.”

Casser also noted that this isn’t the first time the two congregations have spoken about this possibility, although this is the furthest the talks have ever progressed. The next step is for Beth Israel to hold a number of town hall sessions to gauge interest and input from the members, Casser said.

“I think reactions are open-minded, which is the most important thing. A lot of people are obviously sad on our side … [but] people are looking forward brightly to the future … the reactions I got over Yom Kippur were leaning in that direction,” he said. “Beth Israel is planning, and I’m sure Chizuk Amuno is doing very similarly, a series of town halls, community conversations and smaller group chats to find out what is on people’s minds and to make sure we give people what they need.”

Casser added that both synagogues bring something to the table, and that they both would be gaining something by joining forces.

“I remember the heyday of packed synagogues, and the way the world is going today, I think it’s just not the same way. Here is an opportunity to revitalize both congregations. Beth Israel is known for being a congregation that loves to sing, a congregation with a lot of ruach, a lot of spirit … here’s an opportunity to bring more people into it, and share our spirit and share the type of worship we do,” he said.

For Casser, Chizuk Amuno’s thorough calendar is a major plus of the potential merger.

“There are certainly things on the Chizuk Amuno side in terms of practice, in terms of events and in terms of programming that we can’t possibly offer at Beth Israel, and this is an opportunity for everyone to get more,” Casser said.

Chizuk Amuno was founded in 1871, and Beth Israel in 1956. The two shuls each have their own storied history, and if they combine, they would be writing a new chapter. Casser said that it’s not the end of the road for Beth Israel but the continuation of its legacy in an exciting and necessary way.

“It’s a chance for us to make each other better, and that’s what makes me excited about this,” he said.

aguckes@midatlanticmedia.com