Uwishunu.com

Under a light rain in a hallway packed with preview attendees, the Eastern State Penitentiary cut the ribbon on its newest renovation: The Alfred W. Fleisher Memorial Synagogue. The first synagogue of its kind (read as: in a prison), during its height served 80 inmates. Unfortunately, for the past 40 years, the synagogue has sat in disrepair under six inches of debris. And then, in 2004, UPenn grad student Laura Mass penned her thesis on the long forgotten religious center, assisting in the recovery of Jewish history at the prison and apparently igniting renovation efforts that lead to the reopening of the synagogue (along with the accompanying exhibition) this past weekend.

Visitors who attended opening weekend at the penitentiary were the first to visit the rehabbed space and had a chance to meet the curators and conservators who completed the work. Tours of both the exhibit and the worship space will continue throughout the season. Visit Eastern State Penn’s website for more information.

Eastern State Penitentiary
2124 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA”Ž
(215) 236-5111
www.easternstate.org