Congregation Mickve Israel
The Oldest Synagogue in North America
Congregation Mickve Israel was organized in 1735 and is known to be one of the oldest synagogues in the United States’ history. Also, the first synagogue to be built in Georgia, Congregation Mickve Israel is filled with a rich history dating back over 250 years.
Located in Monterey Square, Congregation Mickve Israel sits on Bull Street between Gordon Street and East Wayne Street. The original structure was outgrown by the evergrowing Jewish population, as Savannah was a part of the great wave of German-Jewish immigrants who began arriving in the United States in the 1840s.
This congregation building is the only Gothic-style synagogue in North America and has been carefully preserved through the years. Originally designed by New York architect Henry G. Harrison, the building boasts a Gothic Revival style that is apparent both in its exterior and interior architectural elements. The stained glass windows that adorn the building are a topic of conversation among visitors as they try to determine the significant meaning each window holds. The building in use to this day was erected in the late 1800’s, and for many decades sat just a few feet from the Presbyterian Church which was also a Gothic-style church. The Presbyterian Chuch, unfortunately, did not survive the city’s fire in 1929.
Congregation Mickve Israel was founded just a few short months after the City of Savannah when 42 Jews set sail from England just their Torah and a circumcision kit. Savannah was a border colony town that welcomed people of all religious beliefs to start anew in the land of the free. When these Jewish settlers first arrived, they would hold services in their own homes. That is until they got together and agreed to open this synagogue. Congregation Mickve Israel was named after the phrase “Mickva Israel” from the Haftara (Jeremiah 17:13). It also reflects the influence of Mickve Israel, a book written in 1648 by Amsterdam Rabbi Manashe ben Israel.
Despite the many wars, plagues, and catastrophes that the city of Savannah endured, the Congregation Mickve Israel persevered.
To this day, the congregation hosts over 400 members and continues to provide daily services and activities for the community. Visitors to the city are welcomed to take a tour through Congregation Mickve Israel, with several tours being held throughout the days, excluding during Jewish holidays. On the 4th Sunday of October, the congregation also hosts their annual Shalom Y’All Food Festival. This is a heavily trafficked event that welcomes over 10,000 participants each year as they taste different Jewish cuisings, and enjoy music and entertainment.
The congregation prides itself in being a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive place for both contemporary and mainstream Judaism as well as classical Judaism. Visitors today can enjoy the great original architectural details of the synagogue while learning about the Jewish history in the United States. It’s evident that Congregation Mickve Israel has contributed greatly to the greater community in the city of Savannah, and continues to be a religious center for the Jewish population.
