The Spanish – Portuguese Synagogue, also known as The Synagogue of the Revolution, is the oldest congregation in Philadelphia.

Kahal Kadosh Mikveh Israel, “The Hope of Israel”, is the oldest Jewish congregation in the city of Philadelphia, and the second oldest congregation in the United States. The precursor to the congregation’s formation was Nathan Levy’s 1740 application to Thomas Penn, Proprietor of Pennsylvania, for a land grant to consecrate a Jewish burial ground. At that time the only other Jewish congregation in the United States was Kahal Kadosh Shearith Israel in New York City, which had been formed by Sephardic Jews who were descendants of Spanish and Portuguese refugees of the Inquisition. Many of the founding members of Mikveh Israel of Philadelphia were also Sephardic so it was agreed to adopt the Spanish and Portuguese customs and rite. To the present time the service and customs remain largely unchanged.

Mikveh Israel is often called “The Synagogue of the Revolution” because many of its early members were very active in the activities that led to the Revolutionary War as well as serving in it. In the early years of our new Republic members of Mikveh Israel were in regular contact with Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Adams, and the other leaders who wrote the constitution and were instrumental in the formation of our country.

A statue of former congregation member Commodore Uriah Phillips Levy stands adjacent to the current synagogue. Born in Philadelphia in 1792, Levy was a fifth generation American. According to family stories, he left for sea at ten years of age, returning for his bar mitzvah at Congregation Mikveh Israel in 1805. He served with distinction in the U.S. Navy and became the first Jewish U.S. Navy Commodore, a rank equal to Admiral nowadays.

During his fifty-year naval career, Levy was court martialed six times and killed a man in a duel – all incidents related to rampant anti-semitism. He was dismissed twice from the U.S. Navy but was reinstated by Presidents James Monroe and John Tyler. He went to command the Mediterranean Fleet and was appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to head the Navy Court Martial Board during the Civil War. Levy played a key role in helping to repeal the flogging of sailors, making the U.S. Navy the first military organization in the world to abolish physical punishment.

In 1782 the Congregation purchased a lot on Cherry Alley and built its first synagogue. It is now in its 5th synagogue building which is very close to the original Cherry Alley site. In 1961 the prominent architect Louis Kahn was engaged to design the new 5th building. Kahn’s inspiring design received broad acclaim but unfortunately the projected cost was far greater than feasible. Eventually the building committee dismissed Architect Kahan and engaged the firm of Harbeson, Hough, Livingston and Larsen to design a more affordable project.

The new building was dedicated on September 12th, 1976 just two months after the Nation’s July 4th Bicentennial.