Our History

Established over 130 years ago, Congregation Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath Congregation (BCMH) is Seattle’s oldest synagogue and attracts families from all around the Puget Sound area.  An active youth program offers extensive activities for children of all ages throughout the year.

BCMH is the largest Ashkenazic Orthodox synagogue in the greater Seattle area, with a diverse congregation that includes members whose families have been with the congregation for over eighty years, as well as a thriving youth membership of infants, children and teens.

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.

BCMH offers its members a number of services, including:

  • Daily minyan morning and evening services 365 days a year
  • Shabbos and holiday services in the main sanctuary every week
  • Shabbos morning childcare and tefilah for youth 
  • Dynamic Youth and Adult and Family Programs

In addition, BCMH houses and maintains the 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.

For more information about the synagogue, please call (206) 721-0970 and press 0 when voice mail begins or  contact us here.