Welcome
Mishkan Shalom, relevant, profound & progressive Judaism
Welcome to Mishkan Shalom, a synagogue dedicated to
repair of the world through prayer, study and acts of caring. At Mishkan Shalom,
you’ll find profound and dynamic services, life cycle events and Jewish
cultural celebrations, a vibrant congregational school and a shared commitment
to social justice that’s grounded in Jewish values and texts.
Traditions for today
People from a wide range of observance and backgrounds are drawn to the congregation’s
Reconstructionist approach to Judaism, Jewish holidays, Jewish ritual, and
life’s celebrations and sorrows. The Reconstructionist movement, founded
by Mordecai Kaplan in the early 20th Century, reexamines Judaism’s traditions,
texts and rituals to meet the needs of contemporary life.
Mishkan Shalom was founded in 1988 with a Statement of Principles that expresses
the synagogue’s commitment to integrating three areas of Jewish life:
Torah – study, Avodah – prayer and G’milut Hasadim/Tikkun
Olam – acts of caring and repair of the world.
Mishkan Shalom is rich in diversity — in Jewish observance, faith, family
structure, ethnicity, political viewpoints, income and where members live.
People from traditional Jewish backgrounds and families value the congregation’s
embrace of those who may have felt excluded or invisible in other Jewish settings
such as interfaith families, Jews by choice, Jews of color, single Jews, those
with little familiarity with Jewish practice, families formed by adoption,
single parent families, Jews with disabilities, Jews with limited means and
gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender Jews.
In its commitment to a feminist reconstruction of Judaism, Mishkan Shalom
integrates the experiences of women into the liturgy with new prayers and
rituals. Wherever you are in your journey to find meaning in Judaism, you’re
welcome at Mishkan Shalom to share your faith and doubts, to pray, learn and
teach.
Sanctuary of peace
The Hebrew phrase Mishkan Shalom means sanctuary of peace — reflecting
a core commitment to social justice and to creating an atmosphere of mutual
respect in which congregants may discuss different opinions about difficult
issues while remaining a community.
Tikkun Olam is the hallmark of Mishkan Shalom’s history and identity.
Ethical themes in Jewish observance, prayer and study inform congregants’
efforts to create meaning and healing in their own lives, and to work toward
healing what is broken in the world.
The congregation hosts homeless families in its building several weeks each
year and participates in the annual Philadelphia Interfaith Peace Walk. Every
year members of the congregation work together with parishioners from St.
Vincent de Paul Church in Germantown on community building projects in New
Orleans, Central America, impoverished areas of Philadelphia and elsewhere.
The synagogue’s public opposition to the war in Iraq in 2003 grew out
of a community process where Mishkan members had a chance to speak and be
heard.
Reflecting the important place of Israel in Jewish life, Mishkan Shalom hosts
speakers with a range of perspectives who encourage respectful dialogue and
explore topics related to Israel’s history and culture, and the shared
humanity of Israelis and Palestinians. Mishkan’s founding rabbi, Brian
Walt, and members were active in the peace movement in Israel. At that time
they provided sponsorship for speakers on the topic of peace in the Middle
East who could not find a hearing in the mainstream Jewish community.
Join us
Here are ways Mishkan Shalom can enrich
your life:
• Shabbat services that provide spiritual and intellectual nourishment
(Friday night and Saturday morning services, weekly Tot Shabbat, monthly meditative
and chanting services and more);
• Opportunities for activism integrated with Jewish values to repair
the world;
• Profound life cycle events — community support through life’s
difficult passages and shared celebration of happy occasions;
• Memorable Yomim Noraim (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur) holiday services
that are open to all;
• Spiritual mentoring and pastoral care
by rabbis;
• Lifelong Jewish education for adults offered by leading Jewish scholars
and rabbis, complemented by creative arts Midrash classes and self-directed
study groups;
• Innovative congregational school that engages diverse learning styles
and inspires children to lifelong Jewish observance;
• Down-to-earth b’nai mitzvah that enhance community observance
of Shabbat;
• Monthly ’Pajama Shabbat’ family
celebrations;
• Festive Jewish holiday celebrations and
special events (for all ages);
• Social events, trips and courses
for teenagers;
• Inspiring and welcoming congregant-led
choir; and
• Active interfaith families network.
Located in a renovated mill in the Roxborough–Manayunk neighborhood
of Philadelphia, Mishkan Shalom's architecturally striking building, and adjacent
outdoor amphitheater and gardens reflect simplicity and environmental stewardship.
The sanctuary features a solar powered ner tamid (eternal light), and the
building has received an Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star award
for energy efficiency.
