I attended services here for Shavuot 2012, the first day of the holiday. The synagogue itself is large, airy, spacious, and modern, with auditorium-style seating. The parking lot is massive, perhaps in concession to the fact that even though this is an Orthodox synagogue, many of the congregants are not personally observant of Jewish law. It's a diverse congregation in terms of the people and leadership on board. The worldview and style of its rabbinic leadership is dynamic, fully Modern Orthodox, and pastoral; its senior rabbi, Rabbi Wohlberg, was a signatory to the 2001 document Dabru Emet, a capstone on Jewish-Christian relations in the 21st century, and he is a moral voice on many other issues, including Israel advocacy. Services were conducted by Rabbi Wohlberg, Cantor Avi Albrecht, and Rabbi Wecker, a graduate of the yeshivish, very frum Ner Israel. He leyned from the Torah, and before services, there was a chevra tehillim, a group of individuals reading psalms together. An older woman present was wearing a tallis, and nobody said anything to her pr bothered her about it, which I found to be very remarkable! What a chiddush! On the other hand, she was as bald and bare as a Crenshaw melon on top, so maybe they thought she was gender-fluid. Who knows? I found it hysterical when she went on about how because it was hot outside, her supper the night before consisted of a wedge of watermelon and Scotch whiskey. Anyhow, the service went at a reasonable pace, only a little longer than had their not been an accomplished cantor. He had a pleasant voice, but didn't wow me. On the other hand, I found it to be a very dignified service, which is rare in American Orthodox circles, and the sermon was well-written and well-delivered. These are the things that should define a religious institution: good, solid preaching, decorum, an inclusive and welcoming attitude, and quality musical delivery. I loved that they had the old black DeSola Pool siddur, as well as the Hertz Chumash, and the people sitting near me were exceptionally friendly. It was an excruciatingly hot day outside, and the air conditioner was cranked up nice and high. The kiddush afterwards was plentiful and bountiful, and everything was delicious and beautifully presented. It was a dairy gala spread in honor of the day, with a variety of cookies, cheesecake, smoked salmon, tuna, sliced cheese platters, bagels, rolls, juices, sodas, and of course, blintzes. What's shavuos without blintzes and cheesecake? The gentleman sitting near me was from Morocco, and we had a lovely conversation. I walked with him back to his home, and because it was a hot day, he graciously allowed me to cool off in his gorgeous home, and gave me several bottles of cold water in a lovely tote bag from the Baltimore County Public Library. What a saint! I would love to come back and pray here next time I'm in town, and if I lived here, I'd strongly consider becoming a member of this pillar of Baltimore Jewish life. read more