Beth Hamredrash Hagodol - Beth Jacob Congregation (Pa.)

The oldest existing Orthodox Jewish congregation in Pittsburgh, Beth Hamedrash Hagodol was funded in 1869 as B'nai Israel by Lithuanian Jews. The congregation split in 1883 by a faction of members who formed Beth Jacob. In 1892, the congregation of B'nai Israel built a sysnagogue on Washington Street to accomodate the congregation's increased size. The congregation was renamed Beth Hamedrash Hagodol and was known as the "Washington Street Schul." In 1960, the building was destroyed by fire. Beth Jacob and Beth Hamedrash Hagodol reunited in 1964. Following the clearing of the lower Hill during the 1960s, a new sysnagogue was built on Colwell Street.