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About Us

About Mishkan Shalom

Mishkan Shalom is an activist, progressive Reconstructing Judaism synagogue. We are a radically welcoming, deeply caring Jewish community that seeks to live our values through prayer, learning, acts of caring, and repair of the world. Our members come from around the greater Philadelphia region—and also from the Manayunk/Roxborough neighborhoods. We are straight, LGBTQIA+, interfaith, interracial, multigenerational, faithful, and questioning.

Mishkan Shalom is a rare Jewish community that expects our membership will include people with varying approaches to faith—and to challenging issues such as the conflict in Israel/Palestine. We share a deep belief in the value of all human life, and the need for all to live in peace, security, dignity, and health.

We invite those who seek a caring, passionate Jewish community to join us in living out our values of caring for each other, for Jewish tradition, and for the world in which we live.

Mission and Values

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). These are deeply connected with our care for Israel/Palestine as well as our love for our home city of Philadelphia. The Hebrew phrase "mishkan shalom" means "sanctuary of peace," reflecting our core commitment to social justice and to creating an atmosphere of mutual respect in which congregants may discuss difficult issues while remaining a community.

About Our Building

Located in a renovated mill in Philadelphia's Roxborough-Manayunk neighborhood, Mishkan Shalom’s architecturally striking building and adjacent outdoor amphitheater and gardens reflect simplicity and environmental stewardship.

Our grounds, the Arboretum, is a place of respite for Mishkan Shalom members, for students who attend the school for at-risk youth on our property, and for the public.

The building has received an Environmental Protection Agency Energy Star Award. By the end of 2025, we will have completed the process of adding solar panels to our roof.

Tue, February 10 2026 23 Sh'vat 5786