Congregation Rodeph Shalom

Congregation Rodeph Shalom, founded in 1795, is the oldest Ashkenazic synagogue in the Western Hemisphere. The current building was constructed in 1928 and is the only synagogue in this country to retain its Byzantine-Moorish architectural style. The sanctuary's stained glass windows are a rare collection of D'Ascenzo design and the foyer houses the Obermayer Collection of Jewish ritual art. More than 500 international objects dating back to the 1700s are on display. The Congregation's Philadelphia Museum of Judaica features three original exhibits a year.