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Postcards start page Temple Emanuel: Birmingham, AL Temple Shaarai Shomayim: Mobile, AL Temple B'nai Israel: Little Rock, AR Stone Avenue Temple: Tucson, AZ Temple Sherith Israel: San Francisco, CA Temple Emanuel: Denver, CO Temple Beth Israel: Hartford, CT Miami Beach Jewish Center: Miami, FL Hebrew Benevolent Congregation: Atlanta, GA Temple Sholom: Chicago, IL Washington Avenue Temple: Evansville, IN Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation: Indianapolis, IN Temple Adath Israel: Louisville, KY Temple Sinai: Lake Charles, LA Touro Synagogue: New Orleans, LA Temple Israel: Boston, MA Congregation Agudas Sholem: Chelsea, MA Temple Beth-El: Lynn, MA Oheb Shalom Synagogue: Baltimore, MD Temple Beth El: Detroit, MI Congregation B'nai Jehudah: Kansas City, MO Temple Israel: St. Loius, MO Zedek Israel: Greenville, MS Temple of Beth Israel: Meridian, MS Temple B'nai Israel: Natchez, MS Temple Israel: Omaha, NE Temple B'nai Jeshurun: Newark, NJ Temple Beth Zion: Buffalo, NY Congregation B'nai Israel: Fleischmanns, NY Keneseth Israel: Gloversville, NY Landfield Avenue Synagogue: Monticello, NY Temple Emanu-El: New York, NY Temple Israel-Bikur Cholim: New York, NY Temple Berith Kodesh: Rochester, NY Plum Street Synagogue: Cincinnati, OH Wilson Avenue Jewish Temple: Cleveland, OH B'nai Israel-Bryden Road Temple: Columbus, OH Temple Israel: Dayton, OH Temple Beth Israel: Portland, OR Temple Beth Israel: Altoona, PA Adat Shalom, Cheswick, PA Beth Israel: Honesdale, PA Temple Shaarai Shomayim: Lancaster, PA Beth Sholom Synagogue: Philadelphia, PA Keneseth Israel: Philadelphia, PA Mikveh Israel: Philadelphia, PA Rodeph Shalom: Philadelphia, PA Rodeph Sholom Synagogue: Pittsburgh, PA Anshe Chesed Synagogue: Scranton, PA Temple Israel, South River St.: Wilkes-Barre, PA Touro Synagogue: Newport, RI Temple Beth Elohim: Charleston, SC Temple Beth Elohim and Cemetery: Georgetown, SC Mizpah Temple: Chattanooga, TN Temple Beth-el: San Antonio, TX Ohef Sholom Temple: Norfolk, VA Beth Ahabah: Richmond, VA Rutland Jewish Center: Rutland, VT Temple De Hirsch Sinai: Seattle, WA

Souvenirs of Community

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American Synagogue Postcards from the Collection of the National Museum of American Jewish History

The exhibit you are about to see features 61 American synagogues from 30 different states. Some of these synagogues have been remodeled or demolished since these postcards were printed. In image and story, however, these spiritual buildings remain in memory.

These buildings all served their communities in a number of ways. Many synagogue stories began with the purchase of a cemetery. Oftentimes these plots of land dictated where the community built its first, and many times subsequent, synagogues. While a formal edifice of communal worship, the American synagogue was not only a house of prayer. Many of these synagogues brought scattered families together to build strong communities. They are also houses of learning, symbols of dedication to the teachings of Torah, and emblematic of ancient times and lands. Architectural designs of Spanish, Moorish, classical and Byzantine influence emphasized connections to Middle Eastern and Biblical ideas. These large, ambitious buildings were constructed deliberately in contrast to Gothic style cathedral exteriors. Exemplified by these postcards, American synagogues are also landmarks, places for traveling Jews to attend worship services, or connect with family and friends.

Some of the following postcards were printed regionally or even locally to promote tourism. Inexpensive souvenirs, used both as collectibles and as vehicles of communication, these cards portray inspiring sites. Sending and receiving postcards keep people connected. As gifts, they can foster social relationships and strengthen communities. Synagogues were extremely popular subjects for early Jewish postcards.

Many of these cards memorialize buildings and communities that have moved on or vanished. If you have any information about a synagogue in the exhibition, please email us.