Historic Synagogues of Philadelphia & the Delaware Valley

by Julian H. Preisler

In 1740, Nathan Levy--one of the first Jewish residents of Philadelphia--requested a plot of land to give his child a Jewish burial. This plot on Spruce Street became the first Jewish communal cemetery and marked the beginning of organized Jewish life in the colonial city. Throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, floods of Jewish immigrants came to the United States from Europe and settled in Philadelphia and throughout the Delaware Valley. As a result, hundreds of synagogues were organized and flourished. Today, Philadelphia's myriad synagogues are like living museums of architectural history. From small wooden structures that evoke Eastern Europe to the sharp angles, modern lines and soaring sanctuary space envisioned by Frank Lloyd Wright, these synagogues reflect changing trends in style, design and function. With this comprehensive collection of images, Preisler helps record the region's unique religious and cultural history and captures in time its architectural treasures.

128 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

Researcher, documentarian and author with a concentration on synagogue architecture and history; American Jewish history and Jewish genealogy. Experienced archivist and genealogist.

Reviews

[Charissa]

This is not just a pretty coffee table book. This collection of beautiful shots of synagogues in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas includes a great introductory history of synagogue architecture and the Jewish community in said areas. Well written and carefully put together, these histories are concise and easy to digest.

Each photograph (lovely in person but still quite nice in the Kindle version) includes a short history of the synagogue pictured. Most of the photographs are credited to the author himself. The pictures show a wide range of aesthetics and the great diversity that is found in the architecture of synagogues in the Philadelphia area.

Preisler's love of synagogue architecture shines through in ever page of this book. It is a beautiful piece for anyone with a love of synagogues, history, architecture, or any combination of the aforementioned. This book grew out of one person's love of American synagogues and was adopted into publication by the History Press for its historical value. This is a great addition to any home, both for the educational value and the sheer beauty of it.

[Dan Gorman]

The book provides many photographs, diagrams, and illustrations of synagogues in the Delaware Valley. Preisler includes old Sephardic congregations like Mikveh Israel and many Reform & progressive congregations formed in the twentieth century. Each photograph comes with a solid annotation. The one drawback to the book is that there isn't a lot of text providing broader context or background on Judaism in Pennsylvania. Extra essays would have given the book more depth. Still, it's a valuable reference work!