Jillian Manko is the director of engagement at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation in Pikesville, but her relationship with the synagogue goes back much further than her start there as a professional. When Manko was growing up in Charm City, the synagogue always drew her in.
“I was always struck by the impressive entrance on Park Heights Avenue,” she said. “A few years later, I remember driving by on Sunday mornings and noticing church services letting out of BHC’s historic sanctuary through those same striking doors I remembered from years before. When I asked a friend who was a member what was going on, I learned that BHC had opened its doors to a church whose building had burned down while they rebuilt. That story stayed with me. It felt like a powerful example of living Jewish values and caring for the entire Baltimore community.”
Decades later, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation still abides by those same values. And now, Manko is helping to contribute to that mission for the more than 1,000 member families who belong.
“People who join BHC often share how struck they are by the warmth and openness of the community. Many are new in some way. They may be new to Baltimore, new to Judaism, new to synagogue life or simply new to BHC. We intentionally create many entry points so people can connect in ways that feel comfortable and meaningful,” Manko said.
The entry points at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation are indeed varied. There is an early childhood center and a Sunday school, as well as events that appeal to folks of all ages and backgrounds.
One of the shul’s signature events is its Rosh Hashanah Under the Stars celebration, where the community gathers at Oregon Ridge and takes in the Jewish new year in nature. The intersection between religious life and the natural world is important at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. This year, the congregation held its annual Sunrise Shavuot Service in the synagogue’s new Bernstein Garden, an outdoor space specifically designed for prayer and reflection among the congregants.
Another addition to the community that Manko said everyone is particularly excited for is the Studio at BHC, a creative space for art and other hands-on experiences.
“It is a wonderful example of how BHC integrates learning, creativity and community in meaningful and accessible ways,” she said.
Baltimore Hebrew Congregation is also regaining its former cantorial intern, Becky Mann, as the congregation’s artist-in-residence for the last week of January. In this role, she’ll get to return to the shul, play music and work with members across a variety of projects.
“Our congregants appreciate the opportunity to experience her music, leadership and creativity once again,” Manko said.
BHC recently founded a group for young professionals, too, called YoPro, through which 21 to 36 year olds meet for social and professional gatherings where they can build relationships and get to know other young Jews.
The community at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation also makes sure that it contributes to the greater good outside of its walls, too. BHC Justice is a group that participates in “education, advocacy and hands-on service,” said Manko.
“This work focuses on equity, compassion and caring for the wider Baltimore community,” she said.
That manifests in service days, fundraisers and other projects that help advocate for Baltimore as a whole.
Baltimore Hebrew Congregation is in a great place and has a bright future, but its past is also worth celebrating. The congregation is the oldest synagogue in Maryland, tracing its roots back to 1830. BHC takes its connection to the past seriously, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some jokes to be made, too.
“There is a running joke that our first rabbi, Rabbi Abraham Rice, might be a bit shocked by us today,” Manko said. “And yet, at our core, so much remains the same. Our commitment to Jewish learning, community connection and helping individuals build meaningful relationships with Judaism continues to guide us.”
The BHC community is so confident in its programming that it offers optional dues for the first year, which allows people to learn more about what it means to be a member before committing financially to the shul.
For Manko, the mystical, beautiful shul that she saw when she was younger has turned into a place in which she and her family have grown. Since the first day she joined the team, she has had a deep appreciation for all that Baltimore Hebrew Congregation has to offer.
“What struck me immediately was how deeply committed the congregation was to caring for both its internal community and the wider world around it. What ultimately drew me in, and what keeps me here, is seeing those values lived out every day, not just talked about,” she said.
Today I’ll be baking chicken to deliver to BHC which will then be delivered to Our Daily Bread. Our synagogue has made it easy to participate in a Mitzvah that serves the greater Baltimore community. I have been doing this fairly easy task for 30 years, and while it doesn’t feed everybody, it always feeds somebody. I appreciate the connection and the opportunity to serve in some small way.