Philadelphia Jewish History Tours

Today we had another tour for the International Jewish Genealogy conference. This one was North Broad Street. We walked from Rodeph Shalom to the former Congregation Mikveh Israel - Synagogue of the American Revolution with many sites of Jewish historical interest along the way.

Today was the first tour in a series as part of the 44th International Conference on Jewish Genealogy held this week in Philadelphia. We saw the Jewish Quarter, ending with a serendipitous meet up with a lovely woman, Sarah, pictured with guide Michael below. Sarah's father is Jewish genealogy royalty, Harry Boonin, author of The Jewish Quarter of Philadelphia, founder of the local genealogical society chapter, and all around impressive historian.

https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/kosher-deli-lipkins-overbrook-park-philadelphia-20240809.html It's about time! Yasher Koach to the new owners of the new Lipkins Bakery- once a staple of Castor Avenue. I am so looking forward to checking this out and enjoying a corned beef special in an actual kosher deli restaurant in Philadelphia!

Kosher delis are an endangered species in Philly — but now there’s a new one There are Jewish delis all over — kosher delis, less so. The newly expanded Lipkin's Deli & Bakery is now one of the only sit-down kosher delis in the region.

Thank you Old Images of Philadelphia for this nice reminder of Governor Shapiro's lifelong commitment to our Jewish community.

13-year-old and future Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro (left) and longtime pen pal Avi Goldstein, an emigre from the Soviet Union, blessed by Rabbi Aaron Landes at the Beth Sholom synagogue in Elkins Park during Josh Shapiro's bar mitzvah ceremony.

As a teenager, Josh Shapiro formed a national group, 'Children for Avi,' galvanizing kids across the United States to write letters on behalf of Russian refuseniks. Shapiro recalled writing letters to a refusenik named Avi Goldstein, who lived in Tbilisi. The Goldsteins, a family of scientists, had been trying to leave the Soviet Union for 14 years without success. With the help of Senator Ted Kennedy, Soviet authorities finally relented and allowed the family to leave the country.

Rabbi Landes told the congregation that Josh carried himself with a unique dignity that was reflective of a young man with a purpose and a goal. Shapiro replied his work was not done and worried about the thousands of other Jewish children enslaved in the Soviet Union.

Some unique South Philly Jewish history. Thank you Old Images of Philadelphia!

The Philadelphia Sphas, a basketball team that existed from 1917 to 1959, had a rich Jewish heritage. The team was founded by Eddie Gottlieb, a Jewish immigrant's son, along with his friends Harry Passon and Hughie Black, all of whom were Jewish and from South Philadelphia. The team's name, SPHAS, is an acronym for South Philadelphia Hebrew Association, which initially sponsored the team.

The Sphas' Jewish identity was a source of pride, and they were often referred to as the "Jewish team." Many of their players, including Gottlieb, were Jewish, and they drew support from the local Jewish community. The team played at the Broadwood Hotel, which was a popular gathering spot for the Jewish community. After games, fans would often stay for dances and social events.

The Sphas' legacy continues to be celebrated by the Jewish community in Philadelphia and beyond. They are remembered as a source of pride and a symbol of Jewish excellence in sports. The team's Jewish roots are a significant part of their history and a testament to the important role that sports can play in shaping community and identity.

The YMHA Building on Broad Street- most recently part of the University of the Arts. What will be its next chapter? Thank you Old Images of Philadelphia.

The Gershman Y in Philadelphia is a cultural institution with a rich history dating back to 1875. Established initially as the Philadelphia Young Men's Hebrew Association, its history is deeply intertwined with the cultural fabric of Jewish Philadelphia, from Torah dedications and Israeli folk dancing, Isaac Bashevis Singer to Leonard Nimoy, Latkepalooza and Moo Shu Jew to "many a hilarious schvitz in the men's exec locker room," as writer Stephen Fried put it. Sadly, the Greshman Y vacated the building in 2018, leaving a void in Jewish Philadelphia.

Today, the building is home to the Gershman Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival (GPJFF), which showcases diverse films exploring Jewish culture, legacy, values, and experiences worldwide. Through the power of cinema, the festival celebrates Jewish heritage and inspires cross-cultural understanding.

Thank you once again Old Images of Philadelphia for sharing this classic picture of a classic cantor, Cantor Nathan Chaitovsky, who served Temple Sinai for fifty years.

Cantor Nathan Chaitovsky has a long history in Philadelphia, serving as the cantor at Temple Sinai in the West Oak Lane neighborhood from 1951 until 2000. An immigrant from Lithuania, Chaitovsky settled in Massachusetts before coming to Philadelphia.

Cantor Chaitovsky has been renowned for his beautiful voice and inspiring performances. He has also performed at various concerts and events, including a recent appearance singing Veharev Nu in February 2024. His contributions to the Jewish community in Philadelphia have been significant, and his legacy continues to be celebrated through his music and leadership.

One of Cantor Chaitovsky's students was screenwriter Josh Singer, best known for writing The Fifth Estate (2013), Spotlight (2015), The Post (2017), First Man (2018), and Maestro (2023). Singer won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for Spotlight and was nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay for Spotlight and The Post.

One of the prominent Reform rabbis of Philadelphia pictured and detailed below. Thank you Old Images of Philadelphia! Incidentally, Rabbi Berkowitz's sister was married to Rabbi Joseph Krauskopf who served Rodeph Shalom's counterpart congregation Keneseth Israel during much of the same period.

Rabbi Henry Berkowitz was a prominent Reform rabbi and educator in Philadelphia, serving at Temple Rodeph Shalom from 1892 to 1922. He was a champion of Jewish education and culture, founding the Jewish Chautauqua Society in 1893 to promote these values. Through his writings, teachings, and community engagement, Berkowitz advocated for social justice, humane treatment of animals, and community welfare.

Berkowitz's leadership and vision had a lasting impact on the Jewish community in Philadelphia and beyond. While he opposed Zionism, he supported the establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine. His commitment to interfaith dialogue and community involvement reflected his dedication to building bridges between different faiths and communities. Today, Rabbi Berkowitz is remembered as a pioneering figure in Jewish education and a champion of social justice.

Thanks Old Images of Philadelphia for more Jewish Philadelphia history. It is said that Har Zion Temple produced more rabbis and scholars of Jewish studies than any other Conservative congregation. Dr. Moshe Greenberg certainly fits this description.

Moshe Greenberg, a prominent Jewish scholar, was born and raised in Philadelphia. His upbringing in a Hebrew-speaking Zionist home, led by his father, Rabbi Simon Greenberg, shaped his academic journey. Rabbi Simon Greenberg, the rabbi of Har Zion Temple and one of the most influential Conservative movement leaders, instilled in Moshe a deep love for the Bible and Hebrew literature from his youth. Moshe Greenberg's academic journey was remarkable, marked by excellence and culminating in his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, a testament to his scholarly prowess and his father's influence.

Despite not serving as a congregational rabbi in Philadelphia, Moshe Greenberg's career was a unwavering dedication to academia. He taught Bible and Judaica at the University of Pennsylvania from 1964-1970. He later held a chair in Jewish studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, an institution he had participated in since 1970. His passion for teaching extended to other prestigious institutions such as Swarthmore College, the JTSA, the University of California, Berkeley, and the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies. Greenberg's commitment to his field was further demonstrated by his role as editor-in-chief of the Ketuvim section of the Jewish Publication Society of America's new English translation of the Bible. He authored ten books and numerous articles, leaving an indelible impact on Jewish studies. From 1994-1995, he held a fellowship at the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies, where he conducted research in Historiography.

He died in 2010.

We so appreciate Old Images of Philadelphia for their recent tributes to places and people of significance to Philadelphia's Jewish history. Do yourself a favor and follow their page for wonderful memories and to learn about our community's rich past- for all Philadelphians!

Congregation Mikveh Israel - Synagogue of the American Revolution building #3, no longer standing, at 7th and Arch Streets. Thank you again, Old Images of Philadelphia.

Mikveh Israel's Cherry Street synagogue was replaced in 1860 by a building at 117 North 7th Street designed by architect John McArthur Jr., who would later design Philadelphia City Hall.

Sabato Morais served as the minister of Mikveh Israel for an impressive forty-six years, from 1851 to 1897. His tenure was marked by his strong opposition to slavery, even before the Civil War, and his active encouragement of the creation of the Ladies' Hebrew Association for the Relief of Sick and Wounded Union Soldiers in May 1863. After the Civil War, Morais donated $300 collected from Mikveh Israel members to construct the Lincoln Memorial.

Mikveh Israel was a center of Jewish education in America during this time. The first U.S. Jewish teachers' college, Gratz College, established under the provisions of the will of Hyman Gratz (1776-1857), began in 1897. Mikveh Israel members started Dropsie College, the world's first post-graduate institution for Jewish learning, in 1907.

Congregation Mikveh Israel - Synagogue of the American Revolution building #4, still standing, at Broad and York Streets between the Temple University Main Campus and North Broad Station. Thank you Old Images of Philadelphia

The construction of the fourth building, a significant milestone in Mikveh Israel's history, was undertaken in 1909 at the intersection of Broad and York Streets. This location, once the site of Forepaugh Park, where the Philadelphia Athletics played in 1890 and 1891, was chosen strategically by Mikveh Israel and Dropsie College to follow the Jewish population's migration up North Broad Street in the early 1900s.

During the tumultuous times of WWI, the Mikveh Israel Association demonstrated its commitment to service by applying for a Red Cross Auxiliary in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter in May 1917. With their unwavering dedication, the leading women of the congregation established a workroom in the adjoining Gratz College building. Here, one day a week, they diligently crafted surgical garments and collected supplies, a testament to their selflessness and community spirit.

Dr. Abraham A. Neuman was a rabbi from 1927 to 1943. David Jessurun Cardozo succeeded Dr. Neuman. Reverend Alan D. Corre came to Philadelphia from Manchester, England, at age 24 in 1955 and served as rabbi until 1963.

Among the esteemed members of Mikveh Israel is the renowned professor Noam Chomsky. His father, Dr. William Chomsky, ran the Hebrew school, served as the president of Gratz College, and taught at Dropsie College. Their contributions to the community and the field of education are a source of great admiration.

The 2321 N Broad Street building, a part of the Mikveh Israel complex, was sold for $825,000 in 2015. This decision was made as part of a strategic plan to adapt to the changing needs of the congregation and the community. The building was subsequently opened as a retail clothing store in 2017.

And here is the original 1782 building of Philadelphia's original Spanish and Portuguese synagogue, Congregation Mikveh Israel - Synagogue of the American Revolution.

In 1782, Mikveh Israel laid the foundation of its first synagogue at Third and Cherry Streets. This significant event was made possible by the generous contributions of prominent Philadelphians, including Benjamin Franklin and Robert Morris. The building, with a seating capacity of 200 and accommodations for the clergy, was a testament to the growing religious community. During the dedication, American native-born Jewish religious leader Gershom Mendes Seixas invoked heaven's blessing upon 'the members of these states in Congress assembled and on His Excellency George Washington, commander general of these Colonies.'

The following was quoted from the address which was presented to the Governor and Executive Council of Pennsylvania:

“The Congregation of Mikve Israel (Israelites) in this city, having erected a place of public worship which they intend to consecrate to the service of Almighty God, tomorrow afternoon, and as they have ever professed themselves liege subjects to the Sovereignty of the United States of America, and have always acted agreeable thereto, they humbly crave the Protection and Countenance of the Chief Magistrates in this State, to give sanction to their design, and will deem themselves highly Honored by their presence in the Synagogue, whenever they judge proper to favor them.”

We want to thank Jacob Oslick, a board member of Mikveh Israel, for the recommendation.

A few images of the second building of Congregation Mikveh Israel - Synagogue of the American Revolution.

Thank you once again Old Images of Philadelphia for sharing a few pictures of Congregation Mikveh Israel - Synagogue of the American Revolution. Here's the current building's interior. More to come.

The Congregation Mikveh Israel קהל קדוש מקוה ישראל is the oldest synagogue in Philadelphia and the longest-running in the United States. Its roots date back to 1740; the Sephardic Orthodox Jewish synagogue is located within Philadelphia's Old City Historic District and adjacent to Independence Mall.

The congregation, a vibrant tapestry of cultures and histories, was formed by Dutch Sephardic Jews who were descendants of Spanish and Portuguese refugees of the Inquisition. Among the early founding members of Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia were individuals from prominent Sephardic families in New York, Charleston, Richmond, and Savannah. However, the congregation's diversity extended beyond Sephardic Jews, with many Ashkenazi Jews also joining. This rich blend of cultures led to a broad agreement to adopt the Spanish and Portuguese customs and rites that prevailed in the country then, a testament to the congregation's commitment to unity and shared heritage.

Nicknamed "The Synagogue of the Revolution," the congregation's founding members were very active in the activities that led to the American Revolution, with many signing the Non-Importation Act of 1765. Many of its members contributed to the war effort that ensured the Americans' victory. After the war, members of Mikveh Israel were in regular contact with George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, John Adams, and many framers of the Constitution.

The clergy is led by Cairo native Rabbi Albert Gabbai and Rabbi Yosef Zarnighian.

One of the congregations still around, still Orthodox, from the immigrant period. There aren't too many left in Philadelphia!

The Congregation Raim Ahuvim, one of Philadelphia's oldest Orthodox Shuls, was founded in 1892 by a group of Austro-Hungarian immigrants in the Society Hill section. Since its inception, it has played a significant role in the community, providing a spiritual home for many and contributing to the rich tapestry of Philadelphia's Jewish history.

By the end of the 19th century, there were 30,000 Jewish Americans in South Philadelphia by the south of Spruce Street, sometimes referred to as Philadelphia's "Lower East Side." The majority of these immigrants came from Russia and the Ukraine. By now, 45 synagogues of various fraternal "landsmannschaften" had sprung up in Society Hill and South Philadelphia.

Raim Ahuvim moved to West Philadelphia in the late 1920s as the need for mutual support chavurah waned, and many congregants fled in favor of better economic opportunities. Members of Raim Ahuvim came from many different European countries and had diverse backgrounds. In the 1950s, because of the changing demographics in this neighborhood, the congregation relocated to Wynnefield, a thriving Jewish neighborhood. Raim Ahuvim continues to serve the Jewish community of Philadelphia today.

Uhr’s, along with The Colonial and Himmelstein’s, formed a Jewish cafe district on 5th St between Lombard and South. Also on this block were Bogoslavsky’s bakery and the Hungarian Shul, and the Philadelphia office of the Yiddish newspaper The Forward.

At 509 South 5th Street in Society Hill, Uhr's Original Romanian Restaurant was the heart of Philadelphia's Jewish Quarter. As Uhr's opened in 1919, trolleys transported patrons from many neighborhoods, including Strawberry Mansion and other Jewish enclaves like Logan. Everything was homemade. Everything was fresh. Yiddish actors from the Arch Street Theater and wedding parties flocked there.

Uhr's Original Romanian Restaurant, later a victim of local crime and the shifting Jewish population to the suburbs, was compelled to relocate to an old theater in the Wynnefield section. Today, the name 'Uhr's' may be a memory, but it leaves an indelible mark on the greater Philadelphia community.

Who remembers the Ambassador?

The former Ambassador, once a famous vegetarian and dairy restaurant at 7th Street and Girard Avenue, was highly regarded for its Jewish specialties, including cold beet borscht, smoked fish, baked flounder, and its surly waiters who could cut wise in Yiddish.

The quintessential dairy restaurant item was blintzes, a crepe filled with sweet cheese, topped with sour cream, and served with warmed, pitted tart cherries. In these establishments, you didn’t tell the waiter what you wanted to eat; the waiter told you.

Old Images of Philadelphia has featured another of our beautiful and significant Jewish buildings. Here is the original Temple Sinai on Washington Lane and Limekiln Pike.

Pictured here is the Temple Sinai synagogue in West Oak Lane during the 1950s. In 1942, Temple Sinai rented a former food market at Ogontz Avenue and Washington Lane. Together, congregants transformed the facility into a place of worship for Temple Sinai’s first High Holy Day services. Over 250 congregants attended and worshiped with the congregation’s new spiritual leader, Rabbi Sidney Greenberg. It didn’t take long for the Temple Sinai family to outgrow that building.

Following a campaign that included selling “bricks” door-to-door, a groundbreaking ceremony was held in 1947 at the Washington Lane & Limekiln Pike synagogue, pictured below.

By the 1960s, as the suburbs developed, Temple Sinai families became residents of Upper Dublin Township. When many of Temple Sinai’s families continued their exodus outside Philadelphia, a new seven-acre site at the corner of Limekiln Pike and Dillon Road was chosen in 1971. Seven years later, a sanctuary was built, and the synagogue moved to its present location in Dresher.

The congregation is currently led by Rabbi Adam Wohlberg.

Here's a close up of Rosen's Bakery in Logan. We recently shared the website created by the Rosen's daughter, Rita, to remember her parents' bakery.

Rosen’s Famous Bakery, located at 4755 N. 11th Street in the Logan section of North Philadelphia, flourished for four decades as a destination for traditional European Jewish bread and cake delicacies.

Owners Samuel and Ida Rosen and, later, their son, Martin (Marty), transmitted a love of their heritage to a broad community through fondly remembered savory breads, sweet pastries, renowned wedding cakes, and ceremonial hallahs.

For more information on their story, please visit https://www.rosensfamousbakery.com/.

We appreciate Old Images of Philadelphia sharing places of interest to the Jewish community. Beth Sholom has been featured many times on our page and in other venues. Worth a visit! We can add on to our Jewish Neighborhoods North trolley tour.

The Beth Sholom Congregation is a Conservative Jewish congregation located in Elkins Park. Designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1959, the building is considered by critics to be the "most expressive" design drafted in Wright's career for any house of worship. In 1960, the American Institute of Architects listed it as one of the 17 buildings to be preserved as an example of Wright's contribution to American architecture.

The congregation established a synagogue in the Logan neighborhood of Philadelphia in 1919. In the 1950s, it was one of the first congregations to move to the suburbs, where it currently lives. The current clergy is led by Rabbi David Glanzberg-Krainin and Cantor Jacob Agar.

Notable members includes Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, and the late Bernard Wolfman, Dean of the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

We had a Jewish Quarter Walking Tour this morning with the high school students from Temple Beth Shalom, Needham, MA. Here they are in front of the Vilna Shul, now the Center City Mikvah. Plus it was great to catch up with my colleague Sara Berk!

https://www.rosensfamousbakery.com/ Please enjoy this wonderful site dedicated to the memories of one of Philadelphia’s finest bakery traditions and the family behind it.

HOME | Rosen's Famous Bakery From the mid-1940s to the mid-1980s, Rosen’s Famous Bakery at 4755 N. 11th Street in the Logan section of North Philadelphia flourished as a destination for traditional European Jewish bread and cake delicacies. Owners Samuel and Ida Rosen and, later their son, Martin (Marty) transmitted a love of...

Spring is in the air, and its a great time to schedule a Philadelphia Jewish History Tours! Message us here or check out our website www.phillyjewishhistory.com Dates are filling for spring and summer.

https://www.inquirer.com/arts/weitzman-museum-jewish-history-smithsonian-bill-20240320.html Interesting proposal. This gives tremendous national attention to the story of the Jews in America, and though the article says the museum would stay in Philadelphia, what does it say to the Jewish donors who built it? I imagine Museum leadership is supportive. What do you think?

Philly’s Jewish Museum may become part of the Smithsonian Institution Legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House and Senate to establish a commission to make a recommendation on the transfer.