History
Congregation Etz Hayim has deep roots in Arlington. Organized as Ohev Shalom Congregation in 1940 for High Holy Day services, we met in the Jones Building on Wilson Boulevard in Clarendon. In June of 1947 ground was broken on a single-floor structure located on Arlington Boulevard, our present location. In 1952 we became the Arlington-Fairfax Jewish Center, and expanded our physical structure between 1954–1955 to accommodate our growing membership.
Rabbi Noah Golinkin z’’l, serving from 1950 to 1965, led our congregation. Rabbi Marvin Bash succeeded him and served as spiritual leader until August of 2001, when Rabbi Lia Bass took the helm. We adopted our current name, Congregation Etz Hayim, in the spring of 2002. We were the only synagogue in Arlington County until 2000, and today remain the only Conservative synagogue in Arlington.
Throughout our history, our members have been key leaders in Northern Virginia and Washington area synagogue life, Jewish Federation, Northern Virginia JCC, Gesher Jewish Day School, State of Israel Bonds, United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Women's League for Conservative Judaism, Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs, B'nai B’rith, and Hadassah.
We are proud to be involved in the life, strength, and history of Arlington!