History Introduction

Lancaster, Pennsylvania may seem to be an unlikely landmark for Jewish American history.  Jews have been here since the early 18th century and our congregation’s cemetery is the fourth oldest Jewish burial ground in America.  The numbers then were small and fluctuating.  A hundred years later, Jews from Central Europe began making their way to Lancaster in numbers large enough to lead to the establishment of formal Jewish congregation.  Since 1856, Congregation Shaarai Shomayim has welcomed members whose family stories reflect the broad spectrum that is American Jewry today.  A vibrant and active congregation drawing members from throughout Lancaster County and beyond, Shaarai Shomayim remains hosed in its stately 1896 building at the corner of Duke and James Streets.  After more than one hundred and fifty years, we are proud of our long history in this community, our continued growth, and our desire to keep programming on the cutting edge of the best that Jewish life has to offer.

To read more about our history, view:

Colonial Roots
Establishing Our Congregation
Dedication of Duke Street Temple
Classical Reform Judaism
Tradition and Change