Congregation Rodeph Shalom

Congregation Rodeph Shalom dates its founding to 1795 with the coalescing of the first Ashkenazic congregation in the Western Hemisphere. Because the congregation chose to follow the German/Dutch order of prayer, in 1803 it was chartered by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania as the “Hebrew German Society (Rodeph Shalom).” Records were kept in German until 1830, and was known as the congregation of “recent immigrants” until 1840.

From its founding, Rodeph Shalom was determined not to exclude members based on financial circumstances. The congregation differentiated itself from Congregation Mikveh Israel mainly by offering Philadelphia Jews of northern European origin membership at reduced rates and, in cases of hardship, no fee. Additionally, rabbis were permitted to extend aid of up to $5 to any sick or poor person. But there was a quid pro quo for this commitment: absence from Friday evening or Saturday morning services was punishable by fine, excused only by sickness or travel out of town. Additionally, in 1829, a rule about intermarriage was established: “Members who married non-Jews would not be expelled as long as they raised their children as Jews.”

For over fifty years, services were conducted in numerous locations throughout “Olde City Philadelphia.” The Board meetings were held in a tavern. Not until 1847, when a former church was purchased and refurbished, did Rodeph Shalom have its own building: the Juliana Street Synagogue. Rodeph Shalom was able to construct its first dedicated sanctuary in 1871 on its current site at Broad and Mount Vernon Streets. This striking edifice was designed by Frank Furness, considered the most exciting Philadelphia architect of his time. It was a showpiece of Moorish Byzantine-style architecture.

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