General Info

Congregation Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath began with the founding of Chevra Bikur Cholim in 1891. The congregation moved to Seward Park in the early 1960s, and merged with Congregation Machzikay Hadath in 1971. On January 22, 1972, Congregation Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath celebrated the official opening of its newly constructed Seward Park building with the bar mitzvah of a fourth generation member of the original Bikur Cholim. Today, BCMH is the largest Ashkenazic Orthodox synagogue in the greater Seattle area, with nearly 300 member families. The diverse congregation includes members who have been with the congregation for more than eighty years, as well as a thriving youth membership of more than two hundred infants, children and teens. In addition to its primary Seward Park location, BCMH operates a satellite minyan on Shabbos and holidays in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle. In addition, BCMH houses and maintains the newly refurbished Seattle Mikvah and the Seattle Jewish Chapel and Chevra Kadisha, and owns the Bikur Cholim and Machzikay Hadath cemeteries. BCMH also maintains the Seward Park community eruv. If you would like to visit BCMH for Shabbos or Yom Tov, please contact Hospitality Coordinator Bracha Swigard at ( 206 ) 722-9219. For more information about the synagogue, please call ( 206 ) 721-0970 and press 0 when voice mail begins or email office bcmh.comcastbiz.net. The Rabbi of BCMH since 1994 is Rabbi Moshe Kletenik, a highly respected scholar and authority on Jewish law. Rabbi Kletenik received semicha from Rabbi Aharon Soloveichik and Yeshivas Brisk in Chicago, and is a frequent lecturer on a wide variety of Jewish topics including Halacha and contemporary society with a specialty in Jewish Medical Ethics. He is currently President of the Rabbinical Council of America, Chair of its Semicha Standards Committee, and serves as Rosh Beis Din and Menahel of the Pacific Northwest Regional Beis Din of the RCA/Beis Din of America. Rabbi Kletenik also serves on the Faith Advisory Board to Governor Christine Gregoire of the State of Washington, and is an integral member of the Vaad HaRabanim of Seattle. He is married to Rivy Poupko Kletenik and is the proud father of four children, Pesha, Shya, and twins Gilah and Eliezer. Seattle Mikvah BCMH owns and operates the Seattle Mikvah, which is discretely and conveniently located on the corner of the synagogue property. In 2006, with contributions from other area synagogues and the greater Seattle Jewish community, BCMH undertook an extensive renovation of the facility. The newly rededicated Rivkah Gamel Building features both a men's and a women's mivkah, four preparation rooms ( including a handicapped-accessible room ), and tasteful waiting and finishing rooms. The Seattle Mikvah serves women from all over Washington State and is the primary facility for area conversions. Appointments may be made by calling ( 206 ) 721-0970 Press 7 then 1. For more information, call ( 206 ) 721-0970 or email office bcmh.comcastbiz.net. Jewish Chapel and Cemetery BCMH also owns and operates the Seattle Jewish Chapel funeral home. The Seattle Jewish Chapel operates out of the Mel Wolf Memorial Tahara facility, which is located next to the Mikvah on the synagogue property. The Seattle Jewish Chapel is a full service funeral home, and caters to all members of the greater Seattle Jewish community who want their loved ones prepared in the traditional Orthodox fashion. The Seattle Chevra Kadisha operates out of the Tahara facility, providing such services as Shomer ( guarding ) of the deceased and the Tahara ( ritual washing ). The Seattle Jewish Chapel handles all the details around the passing of a loved one from the initial time of death through the completion of the funeral. In addition, the Chapel provides pre-arrangement services for those interested in pre-planning for their funeral. BCMH members enjoy special pricing for both funerals and cemetery needs making the p