Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Synagogue

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 19, 2022

1. Synagogue Marker

Inscription.
Eastern State Penitentiary may have had the first prison synagogue in America. It was built around 1924 in a set of workshops down this alley, and has been restored to its 1960 appearance.

[Caption:]
The Jewish congregation presents volunteer Joseph Pauli with his inmate-painted portrait. They are standing in front of the Torah ark in the Alfred W. Fleisher Memorial Synagogue at Eastern State Penitentiary. The photo was taken on May 24, 1959.

Erected by Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Law Enforcement • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Synagogues series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1924.

Location. 39° 58.092′ N, 75° 10.361′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Eastern State Penitentiary. It can be reached from Fairmount Avenue west of Corinthian Avenue, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2027 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia PA 19130, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

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this marker is in Southeast Pennsylvania. It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Notable Inmate: Clarence Klinedinst (within shouting distance of this marker); A Prison Calisthenic Class (within shouting distance of this marker); Eastern State in Ruin (within shouting distance of this marker); Born at "E.S.P." (within shouting distance of this marker); Sports at ESP (within shouting distance of this marker); Punishment Area: Cellblock 13 (within shouting distance of this marker); Death Row Exercise Yard (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Morgue (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 19, 2022

2. Synagogue Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 26, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 223 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 26, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.