South Philly Review

Congregation Adath Shalom, Marshall and Ritner streets

Denomination and tenets of faith: Jewish; members follow the Old Testament and Ten Commandments; high holidays are Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).

Rabbi: None
Size of congregation: N/A
Founded: 1930
Origins and history: The synagogue, now closed for renovations, opened as orthodox congregation Beth Samuel 75 years ago. By 1950, two synagogues merged to form the conservative Congregation Adath Shalom.

Orthodox Jews are the most traditional sect and follow many dietary and lifestyle restrictions, while conservatives observe the Sabbath and all religious holidays but are generally more secular.

The inside of Adath Shalom's temple is adorned with original woodwork and hand-painted ceilings and walls. Congregants would sit on wooden chairs facing the bimah, or altar, on the lower level. The backs of each of the chairs and many of the armrests are affixed with a brass plaque memorializing a member of the synagogue. The upstairs balcony holds additional wooden seats from its days as an orthodox synagogue, when men and women were required to sit in separate sections.

Congregation Shivtei Yeshuron-Heysiner-Ezras Israel, Fourth and Emily streets

Denomination and tenets of faith: Jewish
Rabbi: Yadidya Dogovitz died in October at age 97. Congregants now take turns leading services.
Size of congregation: Sixteen active members. Recent Saturdays have included turnouts of more than 20 people.
Founded: 1876
Origins and history: South Philadelphia's oldest synagogue is also its last Orthodox one. The building predates Emily Street, and its history as a synagogue traces back 200 years to the Sephardic Jews, who immigrated to Philadelphia from South America seeking religious freedom. The temple managed to survive because of several mergers, most recently in 1968 with Congregation Ezras Israel, formerly at Sixth and Cantrell streets.

Congregation Shivtei stands out from other rowhomes on the block because of its pillared entrance, but otherwise has no outward markings of a worship site. The synagogue seats about 150. Upstairs seating used to be reserved for women, as in all traditional orthodox synagogues. Two sections of floor on the second level can be removed, allowing women to see the altar below. Because many congregants are in their 90s, the rule of separating the genders for prayer has been somewhat relaxed; the women are spared the climb upstairs and instead sit in the back rows on the synagogue's main level.

The walls, made of tin, are adorned with tapestries and memorial boards honoring synagogue members. The shelves are stocked with old Hebrew books covering topics from how to deal with witchcraft to proper hairstyles for women and dietary rules. Many of the prayer books date to the 1800s.

Following Shabbat services, the congregants are provided a smoked-fish lunch by the synagogue caretaker.

Special causes/ministry: The synagogue takes up a collection of clothing and food for needy groups.

Young People's Congregation Shari Eli, 728 W. Moyamensing Ave

Denomination and tenets of faith: Jewish
Rabbi: Israel Wolmark
Size of congregation: 100 (for high holidays)
Founded: 1916
Origins and history: This rowhouse synagogue originally opened as orthodox congregation Shaare Torah. In 1948, a new group consisting of younger members from the orthodox synagogue Shari Eli, formerly located at Eighth and Porter streets, bought the building and started South Philadelphia's first conservative synagogue. The English translation for Shari Eli is "gate of God."

In 1961, the owners remodeled most of the building, including replacing the removable ceiling opening to the second-floor balcony with a permanent one.

Wolmark became the congregation's part-time rabbi in 1973, and recalled a time when more than 200 people attended Saturday services. There would be dances, bazaars and other activities for members.

Today, it's a struggle to get the 10 men - or minyan - needed to hold Shabbat services on Saturdays. Wolmark noted that many former congregants who have moved out of the community return for the high holidays.