{"nrhp_refnum":"07000797","name":"Rodeph Shalom Synagogue","other_names":[],"category":"building","location":{"address":"607-615 N. Broad St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Philadelphia","county":"Philadelphia","state":"PA","lat":39.96550906700003,"lon":-75.16059620299995,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"2007-08-07","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A five-story Reform synagogue at 607-615 N. Broad Street at the southwest corner of Broad and Mt. Vernon Streets in North Philadelphia, built from 1926 to 1928 for Rodeph Shalom Congregation.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the building is an outstanding local example of Art Deco design with Byzantine Revival elements, and an important work by the firm Simon & Simon with decorative work by D'Ascenzo Studios. It is also significant as a religious building whose importance rests on its architectural merit and retained integrity.","narrative":"Built between 1926 and 1928 on Broad Street in North Philadelphia, this five-story synagogue is faced in light gray limestone with white terra-cotta and marble accents. Designed by Simon & Simon, it combines Byzantine Revival forms with Art Deco ornament, including a fortress-like west façade with stepped crenellated parapets and watch-tower corners. Three bronze doors sit beneath mosaic panels, and the interior contains work by D'Ascenzo Studios, which executed stained glass, mosaics, stenciling and vestibule flooring. The building replaced an 1868-1870 Moorish-style synagogue on the same site, required because the congregation had outgrown its seating and needed classroom space for hundreds of religious school students. Dedicated in September 1928 at a cost of about $1.5 million, it is regarded as an outstanding local Art Deco building. Rodeph Shalom Congregation, which adopted Reform Judaism in 1892, continues to worship here.","period_of_significance":"1928","architect_builder":"Simon & Simon, architect","architectural_style":"Byzantine Revival and Art Deco","criteria":["C"],"status_note":"The synagogue was altered from fall 2004 through 2005 for barrier-free access, fire egress, lighting and restoration of decorative finishes, and it continues in religious use.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-haiku-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.1-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 17:10:27.534624-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_PA/07000797.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/07000797/f3e1b5237c-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/07000797/f3e1b5237c-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Smallbones","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rodeph_Shalom_Synagogue.JPG\" rel=\"noopener\">Smallbones</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rodeph_Shalom_Synagogue.JPG"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71996996","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregation_Rodeph_Shalom_(Philadelphia)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5160663"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/pennsylvania/philadelphia/rodeph-shalom-synagogue-07000797/"}