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South Philadelphia Shtiebel

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Coordinates: 39°56′01″N 75°10′00″W / 39.9335049°N 75.166696°W / 39.9335049; -75.166696
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South Philadelphia Shtiebel
Hebrew: סאוט פילאדעלפיא שטיבל
The synagogue in 2022
Religion
AffiliationJudaism
Rite
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusSynagogue
LeadershipHadas Fruchter
StatusActive
Location
Location1321 South Juniper Street, East Passyunk, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19147
CountryUnited States
South Philadelphia Shtiebel is located in Philadelphia
South Philadelphia Shtiebel
Location in Philadelphia
Geographic coordinates39°56′01″N 75°10′00″W / 39.9335049°N 75.166696°W / 39.9335049; -75.166696
Architecture
Date established2019 (as a congregation)
Completed2021 (current location)
Website
southphiladelphiashtiebel.org

The South Philadelphia Shtiebel (Hebrew: סאוט פילאדעלפיא שטיבל) is a Jewish congregation, synagogue, and community center, located in the East Passyunk neighborhood of South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States. The congregation is led by Hadas "Dasi" Fruchter, and offers educational, community, and religious programming.

History

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South Philadelphia's Jewish community flourished between the 1880s and World War II. Between Third and Eighth Streets, and from Spruce Street south to Oregon Avenue, the Jewish community numbered 150,000 at its height in the 1940s. South Philadelphia was home to more than 150 "rowhouse Shuls" — small synagogues located in rowhouses where often the rabbi lived upstairs, and prayer took place downstairs. The Shtiebel picked its organization's name in homage to this history.

The number of South Philadelphia shuls decreased in the late 1960s and early 1970s with changes in neighborhood demography. In 2019 there were approximately ten active synagogues in Society Hill and South Philadelphia, with only two south of South Street.[4] In recent years, South Philadelphia neighborhoods have attracted new residents including a growing number of Orthodox Jews.

The synagogue's former location at 1733 East Passyunk Avenue in June 2019

Hadas "Dasi" Fruchter was ordained by the Open Orthodox-affiliated Maharat in June 2016 upon completion of the Maharat Semikha Program. She served three years as assistant spiritual leader at Beth Sholom Congregation and Talmud Torah in Potomac, Maryland. With initial funding and support from Hillel International's Office of Innovation, private donors, and Start-Up Shul, an Open Orthodox-affiliated organization that builds institutions,[1] Fruchter announced her plans in July 2018 to move to Philadelphia and open her own synagogue that "will look like a typical modern Orthodox congregation".[5][6]

Seeing the growing Jewish community in South Philadelphia and interest in additional local Jewish programming, Fruchter founded the South Philadelphia Shtiebel in 2019.[7] The synagogue moved into a space at 1733 East Passyunk Avenue in March 2019,[8] previously Philadelphia Scooters.[9]

The synagogue held its first prayer services on Friday night, July 19, 2019 with 80 in attendance.[10]

The synagogue was unable to hold indoor gatherings in its storefront following Purim in March 2020 and through the COVID-19 pandemic in Philadelphia. Programming was offered online and limited services held in open outdoor spaces.[2] In closing its Passyunk Avenue location, the synagogue announced its plans to move into a larger physical location when indoor activities proved safe to resume.[11]

The synagogue relocated in 2021 to a building on South Juniper Street in the same neighborhood and continued its community activities including hosting an annual public Hanukkah lighting.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Schere, Dan (August 9, 2018). "Fruchter Not Fazed By Uncertain Future". Washington Jewish Week. Gaithersburg. ProQuest 2099414199. Retrieved March 7, 2022. (subscription required)
  2. ^ a b Katz Connelly, Irene (August 7, 2020). "No Streaming, No Singing: Here's How High Holidays Will Work in Modern Orthodox Synagogues". The Forward. New York City. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
  3. ^ Shimron, Yonat; Ben Zion, Ilan (December 14, 2021). "More Orthodox Jewish Women Are Ordained; Change is Uneven". Associated Press. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  4. ^ Silverman, Erica (July 1, 2019). "Synagogues of Philadelphia Traces Jewish History Through Synagogues". Jewish Exponent. Philadelphia. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
  5. ^ Kohn, Rachel (August 2, 2018). "One of DC area's two orthodox female clergy to lead synagogue in Philadelphia". KolHaBirah. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
  6. ^ Zighelboim, Selah Maya (August 9, 2018). "Rabbanit to Start Orthodox Synagogue in Philadelphia". Jewish Exponent. Philadelphia. ProQuest 2097566984. Retrieved May 6, 2024. (subscription required)
  7. ^ Zighelboim, Selah Maya (February 7, 2019). "Rabbanit to Launch South Philadelphia Shtiebel". Jewish Exponent. Philadelphia. ProQuest 2191762972. Retrieved May 6, 2024. (subscription required)
  8. ^ "Community Briefs: South Philadelphia Shtiebel Celebrates New Space on Passyunk Avenue". Jewish Exponent. Philadelphia. March 28, 2019. ProQuest 2207912323. Retrieved May 6, 2024. (subscription required)
  9. ^ "Genuine My Buddy, WOW! Part 2". Philadelphia Scooters. August 27, 2006. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  10. ^ Bernstein, Jesse (July 24, 2019). "South Philadelphia Shtiebel Debuts". Jewish Exponent. Philadelphia. ProQuest 2272181484. Retrieved May 6, 2024. (subscription required)
  11. ^ Bernstein, Jesse (August 6, 2020). "South Philadelphia Shtiebel Closes Prayer Space, Looks Ahead". Jewish Exponent. Philadelphia. ProQuest 2453906762. Retrieved May 6, 2024. (subscription required)
  12. ^ Zimmaro, Mark (November 29, 2021). "Holiday cheer on East Passyunk Ave". South Philly Review. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
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