List of the oldest synagogues in the United States explained

Synagogues may be considered "oldest" based on different criteria such as oldest surviving building or oldest congregation. Some older synagogue buildings have been in continuous use as synagogues, while others have been converted to other purposes, and a few, such as the Touro Synagogue, were shuttered for many decades. Some early established congregations have been in continuous existence, while other early congregations have ceased to exist.

Oldest congregations

Sephardi congregations

All of the oldest congregations in the new world were founded by Sephardi Jews and followed the Sephardic liturgy.

Ashkenazi congregations

Until 1795, all documented congregations in the United States followed the Sephardic minhag. However, many included Ashkenazi members as well.

Oldest existing buildings

This list includes only buildings originally built as synagogues that are still standing. Some continue in use as Jewish houses of worship; others have been adaptively reused. Fewer than 100 purpose-built synagogues constructed prior to 1900 remain standing.[5] A portion of these are highlighted below.

By state

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kentucky

Kansas

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Puerto Rico

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

See also

Notes and References

  1. [Jonathan Sarna|Sarna, Jonathan]
  2. "Our History". Touro Synagogue.
  3. [Jonathan Sarna|Sarna, Jonathan]
  4. Book: Queen II, Edward L. . The Encyclopedia of American Religious History . Prothero . Stephen R. . Shattuck Jr. . Gardiner H. . Proseworks . 1996 . 0-8160-3545-8 . 2 . New York . 487 . Stephen Prothero.
  5. Gordon, Mark W., Rediscovering Jewish Infrastructure: Update on United States Nineteenth Century Synagogues. American Jewish History, 84.1, 1996, p. 11–27. 2019 article update.
  6. https://www.acreboot.org/sica
  7. Stolzman, Henry; Stolzman, Daniel Synagogue Architecture in America: Faith, Spirit & Identity. The Images Publishing Group Pty Ltd. 2004.
  8. "Shaarai Shomayim (Gates of Heaven)". Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation.
  9. "About Us". Congregation Beth Sholom. Archived from the original on July 26, 2011.
  10. "Stone Avenue Temple: Tucson AZ ". Jewish Postcards. National Museum of American Jewish History.
  11. Adler, Cyrus; Currick, M. C. "Arkansas". Jewish Encyclopedia. 1906.
  12. 'Arkansas Jewish History". Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation.
  13. [Jonathan Sarna|Sarna, Jonathan]
  14. Panneton, Judie. "History – How Beautiful is Our Heritage: 160 years and Still Going Strong". Congregation B'nai Israel. Archived from the original on September 2, 2012.
  15. Web site: Trinidad's Temple Aaron Looks to the Past to Secure Its Future . Grant . Kim . 2020-12-10 . History Colorado . 2021-08-26 .
  16. Web site: Temple Emanuel Pueblo. Our History. 16 October 2020. templeemanuelpueblo.net. en-US.
  17. News: Waller. Allyson. 15 October 2020. White Supremacist Pleads Guilty to Plotting to Bomb Colorado Synagogue. en-US. The New York Times. 16 October 2020. 0362-4331.
  18. [Kerry Olitzky|Olitzky, Kerry M.]
  19. "Ohabe Shalom – Lovers of Peace". Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation.
  20. "Illustrated History of 1876 Synagogue". Lillian and Albert Small Jewish Museum. Jewish Historical Society of Greater Washington.
  21. Web site: Yes, That Was D.C.'s Oldest Synagogue Moving Down The Street (Again). WAMU. en. 2019-07-03.
  22. "Pensacola, Florida". Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation.
  23. "A History of Jews in Hawaii & the Kalakaua Torah". Temple Emanu-El.
  24. Web site: Home. Congregation Anshai Emeth. Jan 1, 2021.
  25. "http://www.templebeth-el.org/history".
  26. "Oldest Synagogue in Indiana Celebrates 100th Anniversary; Special Sermons Scheduled". Jewish News Archives. February 27, 1948. Archived from the original on April 19, 2013.
  27. Baker, Deirdre Cox. "Temple Emanuel celebrates 150 years". The Quad City Times. April 14, 2011.
  28. "B'nai Israel Congregation – First Permanent Jewish House of Worship in Iowa". Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation.
  29. "Temple B'Nai Jeshurun". Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation.
  30. "Shangarai Chasset: Gates of Mercy Synagogue: First permanent Jewish House of Worship in the State of Louisiana". Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation.
  31. Wilson, Samuel and Bernard Lemann. New Orleans Architecture, Volume 1: The Lower Garden District. (New Orleans: Pelican Publishing, 1990): 129.
  32. Ponchartrain, Blake. "New Orleans Know-It-All: Where is the Oldest Synagogue in New Orleans?" Gambit. February 8, 2010.
  33. http://www.jewish-american-society-for-historic-preservation.org/completedprgms1/bangormaine.html Bangor, Maine: Congregation Beth Israel 1897
  34. "B'Nai Israel to Unveil Historical Marker". The Clarion-Ledger (Jackson, Mississippi). April 28, 2006. Archived from the original on May 8, 2012.
  35. "Temple B'Nai Israel: Natchez, Mississippi". Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation.
  36. "Site of Mississippi's First Synagogue Dedicated". Goldring-Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life. 2006. Archived from the original on May 8, 2012.
  37. "Temple Beth Israel – Jackson, Mississippi". Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation.
  38. Web site: National Register . 2014-02-13 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130220204509/http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natregsearchresult.do?fullresult=true&recordid=0 . 2013-02-20 .
  39. Web site: American Jewish History, markers, articles. www.jewish-american-society-for-historic-preservation.org. Jan 1, 2021.
  40. Web site: American Jewish History, markers, articles. www.jewish-american-society-for-historic-preservation.org. Jan 1, 2021.
  41. Web site: American Jewish History, markers, articles. www.jewish-american-society-for-historic-preservation.org. Jan 1, 2021.
  42. Web site: Who We Are Barnert Temple - Franklin Lakes . barnerttemple.org . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140914154922/http://barnerttemple.org/Our_Community/Who_We_Are . 2014-09-14.
  43. Schwartz, C., 2007, An American Odyssey: American Religious Freedom and The Nathan Barnert Memorial Temple. Jersey City: KTAV Publishing House.
  44. TBJ website http://tbj.org/about-us/temple-history/ accessdate=2011-05-17
  45. Web site: HOME. Congregation Albert. Jan 1, 2021.
  46. Web site: ABQjournal: Congregation Albert City's Oldest. www.abqjournal.com. Jan 1, 2021.
  47. Web site: American Jewish History, markers, articles. www.jewish-american-society-for-historic-preservation.org. Jan 1, 2021.
  48. Web site: Daytonian in Manhattan: The Quiet Little Synagogue at 53 Charles Street. Tom. Miller. Jul 1, 2011. Jan 1, 2021.
  49. Web site: Home. Greenwich Village Synagogue. Jan 1, 2021.
  50. Web site: Congregation Orach Chaim. orachchaim.org. Jan 1, 2021.
  51. Book: Synagogue Architecture in America: Faith, Spirit & Identity. 9781864700749. Stolzman. Henry. Stolzman. Daniel. 2004.
  52. Web site: Ardmore, Oklahoma - Temple Emeth Records . www.americanjewisharchives.org . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090220055852/http://www.americanjewisharchives.org/aja/FindingAids/TempleEmeth.html . 2009-02-20.
  53. http://www.synagogues.com/article/view/jewish-synagogues-in-oklahoma-city2 Jewish Synagogues in Oklahoma City
  54. Web site: Temple Israel – Temple Israel. Jan 1, 2021.
  55. Web site: The Temple. The Temple. Jan 1, 2021.
  56. Web site: American Jewish History, markers, articles. www.jewish-american-society-for-historic-preservation.org. Jan 1, 2021.
  57. Web site: American Jewish History, markers, articles. www.jewish-american-society-for-historic-preservation.org. Jan 1, 2021.
  58. Web site: HISTORY. THOI. 14 January 2015. en-US. 2020-04-01.
  59. Web site: American Jewish History, markers, articles. www.jewish-american-society-for-historic-preservation.org. Jan 1, 2021.
  60. Web site: Gates of Heaven Synagogue | Jewish Federation of Madison. www.jewishmadison.org. Jan 1, 2021.
  61. Web site: Find a Park – Madison Parks – City of Madison, Wisconsin. www.cityofmadison.com. Jan 1, 2021.
  62. Web site: History | Congregation Emanu-El B'ne Jeshurun. Jan 1, 2021.
  63. Web site: American Jewish History, markers, articles. www.jewish-american-society-for-historic-preservation.org. Jan 1, 2021.