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Jewish Travel Guide to Savannah
OverviewSavannah is a coastal city in Georgia famous for its oak-lined squares, antebellum architecture and Southern charm. It has a small but historic Jewish community that dates back to the colony’s...
Founded by mostly Sephardic Jewish immigrants of Spanish-Portuguese extraction from London (who had fled to England a decade earlier to escape the Spanish Inquisition) who arrived in the new colony in 1733, it is the third oldest congregation in the United States and the first built in Georgia.
The founders of the congregation brought with them a Sefer Torah, which is still used on special occasions at the synagogue.
Temple Mickve Israel was consecrated at its current location in 1878. It is the only Gothic Revival style synagogue in the United States.
The building's striking Gothic Revival architecture was the work of famous New York architect Henry G. Harrison. Harrison set out the synagogue in a typically Christian cruciform plan. In an unusual feature, the tower is topped with an open gazebo-shaped belvedere surmounted by an almost Islamic-inspired cupola. The sanctuary is magnificent, featuring beautiful stained glass windows. The exterior includes pinnacles, turrets, finials, and a central tower.
Congregation Mickve Israel is a Reform congregation and synagogue. The site also contains a Jewish history museum.
Named one of the “15 Most Beautiful Synagogues in the World” by Condé Nast Traveler and rated among the “15 BEST Things to Do in Savannah” by Trip Advisor.
The museum offers tours Monday through Friday at 10 am, 11 am, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm.
Tickets are $14.00 for Adults, $5.00 for Children under 12 yrs. Tickets are purchased at the gift shop.
