Wilmington in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Delaware's Jewish Community

Photographed by Carl Gordon Moore Jr., February 9, 2021

1. Delaware's Jewish Community Marker

Inscription. This building, once known as the Morrow Building, symbolizes the founding of an organized Jewish community in Delaware. Jews have been present in Delaware since the 1650's. Until the late 19th Century, the Jewish community was too small to maintain a house of worship. During the 1870's Jews began to gather on the third floor of this building to conduct religious services. In 1880, Delaware's first Jewish organization, the Moses Montefiore Mutual Aide Society, established the state's first synagogue Ohabe Shalom (Lovers of Peace). Adas Kodesch (Congregation of the Holy) was organized in 1885, becoming the first state - chartered Jewish congregation. Both Ohabe Shalom and Adas Kodesch continued to hold services from time to time in the Morrow Building. Efforts to establish a permanent house of worship bore fruit in 1898, when Adas Kodesch dedicated a building then standing at 6th and French Streets as the first structure in Delaware for use exclusively as a synagogue.

Erected 2004 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number NC-141.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures.

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In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives, and the Synagogues series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.

Location. 39° 44.348′ N, 75° 33.139′ W. Marker is in Wilmington, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is on North Market Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is located between West 2nd and West 3rd Streets. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 211 North Market Street, Wilmington DE 19801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Philadelphia.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic,

on the Delmarva Peninsula,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: "Sign of the Ship" Tavern (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Old Farmers Bank (about 300 feet away); Lincoln's Speech (about 500 feet away);

Photographed by Jerry Klinger, circa September 2004

2. Delaware's Jewish Community Marker

Howard Krystal, DJHS., Russ McCabe, State of Del., Toni Young, DJHS. & Jerry Klinger, JASHP at the marker dedication.

Thomas Garrett (about 500 feet away); Women's Suffrage Parade (about 800 feet away); Freedom Lost (about 800 feet away); Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Railroad Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Great Railroad Boom (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wilmington.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Freedom Lost (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Jewish American Society for Historic Preservation. (Submitted on February 24, 2011, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida.)

Additional keywords. Jewish American History

Photographed by Carl Gordon Moore Jr., February 9, 2021

3. Delaware's Jewish Community Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 11, 2021. It was originally submitted on February 24, 2011, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,128 times since then and 22 times this year. Last updated on February 10, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1. submitted on February 9, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. 2. submitted on February 24, 2011, by Jerry Klinger of Boynton Beach, Florida. 3. submitted on February 9, 2021, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.