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Welcome to our synagogue!
Magen David Sephardic Congregation (MDSC) is a Modern Orthodox synagogue founded in 1966. Our building is ideally located to serve worshippers from Bethesda, Rockville, and Potomac (Maryland suburbs of Washington, DC).
Our distinctive Sephardic character is a source of pride for us, but membership in MDSC is not exclusive. Visitors may hear not only “Welcome” but “Bienvenue” and “Bienvenidos” – and from our many Israeli members, a hearty “Shalom”. In this diverse and vibrant environment, a biseleh Yiddish is not out of place.
A more welcoming, caring congregation you won’t find. We think our energy and devotion will inspire you to share in our prayer services and learning sessions.
We invite people of all levels of Jewish knowledge and awareness to explore their personal growth here, supported by others in this warm, outgoing community. Magen David is the go-to gathering place for Jews of all ages, backgrounds, and perceptions.
We hope you will explore this website to learn about the life of our community and the breadth of our mission. If you're not already on our mailing list, it’s easy to sign up. Just send a request to our executive director, Andrea Choobineh, at office@magendavidsephardic.org.
Parashat HaShavuah Lech Lecha Genesis 12:1 - 17:27
HaShem tells Abram to go to a new land where he will be made a great nation. Abram and his wife Sarai accompanied by his nephew Lot, journey to the land of Canaan, where Abram builds an altar and spreads the message of one God.
A famine forces Abram and Sarai to depart Canaan for Egypt, where they pose as brother and sister, lest the beautiful Sarai be chosen for Pharaoh. A plague prevents Pharaoh from touching her, and recognizing Avram as her husband, gifts him with gold, silver, and cattle.
Lot separates from Abram and settles in Sodom, where he falls captive to the armies of Chedorlaomer and his allies, conquerors of the five cities in the Sodom Valley. Abram, with a small army, rescues his nephew and is blessed by Malki-Zedik.
HaShem seals a covenant with Abram, in which the exile of the Hebrew people is foretold, and the Holy Land is promised to them as their eternal heritage.
Still childless after ten years, Sarai tells Abram to marry her maidservant, Hagar. Hagare conceives but becomes insolent and flees when Sarai rebukes her. An angel convinces her to return, telling her that her son will be a great nation. Hagar gives birth to Ishmael in Abram’s eighty-sixth year.
God changes Abram’s name to Abraham, father of multitudes, and Sarai’s to Sarah, princess. He promises them a son, whom they should call Isaac, with whom HaShem will establish a special bond. Abraham is commanded to circumcise himself and his descendants as a sign of the covenant between himself and HaShem.
We recently celebrated a Bar Mitzvah at Magen David (socially distanced, of course). Mazal Tov to Shmuel and his family on reaching this beautiful milestone and for sponsoring a delicious Kiddush To Go!
