PREFACE
We are proud of Congregation Shaarai Shomayim's rich historical legacy that dates back to the beginnings of colonial Lancaster. Joseph Simon, a shopkeeper, settled in Lancaster in 1740 and became a catalyst for early Jewish religious and social life. Simon held services in his home, acquired two Torahs, and deeded the cemetery. This cemetery is now owned by the congregation and is the fourth oldest Jewish burial ground in the U.S. and gives us the honor of being the fourth oldest Jewish community in North America.
In 1997, we celebrated our three-fold anniversaries: 250 years since the deeding of our cemetery, 140 years as a Pennsylvania chartered congregation, and 100 years of worshiping and celebrating in our beautiful building on the corner of North Duke and East James Streets in Lancaster.
We now find ourselves as a growing and vibrant Reform congregation of over 270 families. We have expanded our facilities to match our growth, commissioned and dedicated a new Torah, and continue to strive to help our members lead meaningful Jewish lives in the context of our modern world. We are truly a tapestry of Jewish tradition and dynamic Reform Judaism -- a tapestry woven with the strength of Torah, the richness of history and the warmth of a Temple family.
INTRODUCTION
The history of Lancaster’s Jewish community is an intriguing yet typical story of the arrival and gradual assimilation of generations of Jews. The immigrants of past centuries came from Europe and Russia. They spoke no English, practiced orthodox Jewish ritual, and over time adjusted their religious practices to meet their new lifestyle. Today’s new settlers tend to come from major cities along the Eastern seaboard. Well-educated, they are in business and in the professions, or are retirees. While earlier generations were escaping from economic limitations or religious persecution, today’s newcomers are escaping the fast-paced, hassle-ridden lifestyle of bigger cities. Unlike their forebears who had only one Jewish ritual style, today’s Jews pick and choose from a smorgasbord of Jewish practice and select a congregation that best suits their needs. Judging from recent patterns of membership, Shaarai Shomayim is the choice of many.
From its founding in 1856 until the late 1880s, Shaarai Shomayim was the only formal Jewish congregation in Lancaster. By the beginning of the twentieth century, however, other Jewish houses of worship and Jewish organizations had become established. Nonetheless, it is the congregation’s ownership of the colonial Jewish cemetery that makes Shaarai Shomayim heir to Lancaster’s 250-year Jewish tradition. Our congregation continues to grow and change as it has since its beginning. The challenge is to carry this tradition into the next millennium.
The pages in the history section of this site contain highlights of the history of Lancaster’s Jewish community and of Shaarai Shomayim’s. The story begins with the transient colonial community and continues through the establishment of a permanent congregation by the middle of the nineteenth century. It moves on to the building of our present house of worship and the continual evolution of our Reform Jewish ritual practice today. For a much more complete history, we urge you to read David Brener’s wonderful book, The Jews of Lancaster County. It is a treasure!
© 2006 Congregation Shaarai Shomayim. All rights reserved. All linked content is copyrighted by its respective owners unless otherwise stated. Questions or comments about this site should be directed to the Webmaster. Our sincere thanks and appreciation goes to all those who contributed written copy and photographs used in the content of this web site, including David Brener, Sherry Royce, Ellen Pike, Rosanne Selfon, Mindy Rosenberg, Laura Abrams, Debbie Mudrick and Sharon Randazzo.
