Mikveh Israel - Timeline Event
Time Period
1740
Description
Congregation Mikveh Israel traces its roots to Jewish settlers who found a welcoming home in Pennsylvania, a colony known for its religious tolerance.
In 1740, Nathan Levy received permission from authorities in Philadelphia for a Jewish cemetery. Mikveh Israel regards that event as its official beginning.
After holding services in homes and rented space, the congregation built its first synagogue in 1782. Members of other faiths -- including Benjamin Franklin and William Bradford -- would later help pay off the construction loans.
As the Jewish population of Philadelphia grew, Mikveh Israel would move four more times. The congregation opened its current home at Independence Mall on July 4, 1976, America’s Bicentennial. It is known as "The Synagogue of the American Revolution" because its leaders signed protests against the Stamp Act, a major cause of the war for independence.
The synagogue still operates today.
In 1740, Nathan Levy received permission from authorities in Philadelphia for a Jewish cemetery. Mikveh Israel regards that event as its official beginning.
After holding services in homes and rented space, the congregation built its first synagogue in 1782. Members of other faiths -- including Benjamin Franklin and William Bradford -- would later help pay off the construction loans.
As the Jewish population of Philadelphia grew, Mikveh Israel would move four more times. The congregation opened its current home at Independence Mall on July 4, 1976, America’s Bicentennial. It is known as "The Synagogue of the American Revolution" because its leaders signed protests against the Stamp Act, a major cause of the war for independence.
The synagogue still operates today.
Interactive Timeline(s)
Browse Related Timeline Entries
Religious Groups
Timeline Entries for the same religious group: Judaism FamilyJudaism Family: Other ARDA Links
Judaism Family: Religious Family Tree
Photographs
Mikveh Israel synagogue, 1825- Hathi Trust- from Dedication of the New Synagogue of the Congregation Mikve Israel at Broad and York Streets on September 14, 1909
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Congregation Mikveh Israel- Wikimedia Commons- photo by Beyond My Ken (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Mikveh Israel synagogue interior- Hathi Trust- from Dedication of the New Synagogue of the Congregation Mikve Israel at Broad and York Streets on September 14, 1909
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Mikveh Israel cemetery- Flickr- photo by Cle0patra (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)
Mikveh Israel synagogue, 1909- Hathi Trust- from Dedication of the New Synagogue of the Congregation Mikve Israel at Broad and York Streets on September 14, 1909
Book/Journal Source(s)
Olitzky, Kerry M., and Marc Lee Raphael, 1996. The American Synagogue: A Historical Dictionary and Sourcebook Westport, Conn: Greenwood Publishing Group.Web Source(s)
https://www.mikvehisrael.org/our-history/Congregation Mikveh Israel website
http://pluralism.org/landscape/philadelphia/ (Link no longer online)
Web Page Contributor
Sandi DolbeeAffliated with: Former Religion and Ethics Editor, The San Diego Union-Tribune
