Travel

Historic Philadelphia
Has A Jewish Focus

RUTH ROVNER
Special to The Jewish News

T

he narrow cobblestoned
street with modest brick
row houses is called
Elfreth's Alley. It's the oldest
continuously occupied street in the
entire United States, with the first resi-
dents living here in 1702. Because of
its historic significance, it's a popular
site for tourists exploring the historic
area of Philadelphia.
Our tour group was on the street
for a less typical reason. It was the first
stop on a walking tour focused on the
Jewish sites and themes in historic
Philadelphia. We began here because a

Take The
Magic Of Disney
And Just Add Water.

founding of the first congregation,
Mikveh Israel, which is still function-
ing as the second oldest congregation
in the country. The present sanctuary
of Mikveh Israel is the fifth home of
this historic congregation. Opened in
1976 in honor of the nation's bicenten-
nial, it is located just across from
Independence Mall at 55 North Fifth
Street.. It's in the same building as the
National Museum of American Jewish
History, the only museum in the
United States devoted exclusively to
the American Jewish theme.
The museum, with its well detailed
exhibits and varied cultural events, is
well worth a separate visit.
The sanctuary of Mikveh Israel was

7-DAY WALT DISNEY WORLD AND
DISNEY CRUISE LINE VACATION

Disney Magic is part of an unforgettable 7-day Walt
Disney World and Disney Cruise Line vacation. Stay
at a Walt Disney World® Resort hotel, visit the
Disney Theme Parks, and come aboard for an
nforgettable cruise to Nassau in The Bahamas
and to Disney's very own private island.

Auburn Hills
Birmingham
Lathrup Village
Farmington Hills

248-377-2350
248-433-8211
248-443-8989
248-553-3337

1
6/9

114?

949*

BEST PRICES
TO EUROPE!

ELITE

Tours & Travel

striking in its dignity and simplicity.
Services are held regularly, in
Sephardic style, and members take
great pride in the history of their con-
gregation.
Across the street in Independence
Mall is the Liberty Bell Pavilion,
where crowds of tourists were in line
to see one of the nation's most trea-
sured landmarks. Shipping magnate
Nathan Levy, the founder of Mikveh
Israel, and his partner David Frank,
both owned the Myrtilla, the ship
which carried the Liberty Bell to
America in 1752.
Colonial Jews also were part of
events at our next stop, Carpenter's
Hall, near Fourth and Chestnut
Street. Besides serving as a meeting
place for carpenters, it was used as a
general meeting hall where many ideas

czizs-

Travel

www.aaa.com

Departure by
Mar. 31st

629

WINTER SPECIAL

*+ TAX RESTRICTIONS APPLY. PRICES
SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE

GROUP TOURS • AIR FARES

(800) 354-8320

(216) 514-9000

REMEMBER
s*N TO BUCKLE UP
FOR SAFETY!

Elfreth's Alley was an early residential street for Jews.

number of Colonial Jews were living
here in the 1700s.
The tour proved a novel and inter-
esting way to enjoy this very compact
and walkable area which is rich in his-
toric sites and Colonial architecture.
A walking tour titled "Colonial
Judaic Philadelphia" is offered six
times a year; it's given by the Founda-
tion for Architecture, which offers
over 50 tours of Philadelphia, all by
well-trained guides.
On the narrow street we were
shown several houses where Colonial
Jews lived: Moses Mordecai, a promi-
nent merchant, lived at #118, and
Rabbi Jacob R. Cohen lived a few
houses away at #113.
These and other Colonial Jews
lived in an environment of religious
tolerance. In 1740, there was the

-1:

41
S:1-12
14 :6: SPe Q

Round Trip
From Detroit

ISRAEL TO DETROIT R/T PASSOVER
SPECIAL
■ •
*
AS
0
1:
LA
APRIL 7-20

\Am*

-e4:i ti - OZ41/y/y

Prices are per person, based on double
occupancy. Subject to change and availability.
Port charges extra. Other restrictions may
apply. MA Travel is not responsible for
printer ommissions and errors.

ISRAEL

FR 133 ÷ insurance

74)
4 A „ a;

248-666-2600
Pontiac
248-399-7100
Royal Oak
Troy/Rochester .... 248-879-5604

(DUIS{ linE

CAR RENTAL per week

II

Hebrew Memorial Chapel

Ill•=111•111
‘.."
•11•11 ■
A V'

r.. 7r Ion

26640 Greenfield Rd. Oak Park MI 48237
248-543-1622 • Outside MI 1-800-736-5033

For the Ultimate
One-Of-II-Hind Gift...
Your Rolm Wedding Glass
CIFTWORLD Made into a Mezuza or
In Sugar Tree Plaza
Frozen in Lucite!
On Orchard Lake Road Just North of Maple

I-

mu

248-932-3377

2/6
1998

113