Take a Step Back into Georgia's History with a Tour of Congregation Mickve Israel
As the third oldest Jewish congregation in America and the first synagogue built in Georgia, Congregation Mickve Israel has a rich and unique history. Your guided tour of the synagogue will begin in our magnificent sanctuary where an experienced, enthusiastic docent will take you on your journey into Mickve Israel’s unique past. In our award-winning Lawrence & Nancy Gutstein Museum, you will find artifacts, documents, and other historical items that tell Congregation Mickve Israel’s fascinating story. There are items going back to the founding of Savannah and Congregation Mickve Israel in 1733, the American Revolution, the Civil War, the founding of the Girl Scouts of America as well as congratulatory letters from many presidents
(including George Washington) and a 15th Century Torah (the first five books of the Bible), the oldest Torah in North America.
Congregation Mickve Israel was 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. In 2016, our museum won the Coastal Museums Association’s “Excellence in Exhibition Award.” Every year, over 10,000 people from around the world come to take a guided tour of our synagogue.
Whether you are coming to Savannah on your own, or you are traveling with friends and family, we invite you to visit this special place. Tours last approximately 45 minutes, but we recommend allowing extra time for browsing and visiting our Judaica & Gift Shop.
Museum & Tour Highlights
During your tour of Congregation Mickve Israel, you will have the opportunity to:
- Explore our neo-Gothic building and magnificent sanctuary
- View the two oldest Torah scrolls in North America
- Learn about our Holocaust Torah and its ties to our congregation
- Learn about the critical role early Jewish settlers played in the founding of Savannah
- Read letters to the congregation from George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and 10 other presidents
- Learn about congregation members who were leaders of the American Revolution, spies during the Civil War, the first Girl Scout Troop Leaders, and who have always played key roles in the Savannah community.
- And more!
Museum and Gift Shop Hours and Ticket Information
Monday through Friday: 10 am, 11 am, 1:30 pm, 2:30 pm; Closed for Lunch 12:00pm-1:15pm
Our Docent-guided tours last approximately 45 minutes and include guided access to the Sanctuary and the Museum.
Tours begin at the start of the hour. Please Call to make reservations for desired tour time: 912-233-1547
Please arrive 10 minutes prior to the beginning of your tour for admission.
If you will be visiting Savannah during a period that includes a Jewish or Federal holiday and would like to find out if we’ll be open, please read below or call the Temple for assistance.
Ticket Information
$14.00 for Adults, $5.00 for Children under 12 yrs.
Tickets are purchased at the synagogue when you arrive. Tour funds are used for the upkeep and maintenance of our historic sanctuary.
Current Covid protocols: Masks are optional.
Closures:
Our museum is closed to the public on Saturdays and Sundays (excluding Super Museum Sunday, when it is open from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.). It is also closed in observance of all public holidays, including Jewish holidays when services are being held in the sanctuary.
Follow our Instagram to stay up to date on any closures or changes in our normal schedule!
2024 Jewish Holiday Closures:
The museum and gift shop is apart of the active synagogue of Mickve Israel. In order to accommodate worship services during the Jewish High Holidays, the Museum and Gift Shop will be closed to the public on the following dates:
- Friday, October 11th: CLOSED after 12:00PM for Yom Kippur
- Thursday, October 17th: CLOSED all day for Sukkot
- Thursday, October 24th: CLOSED all day
If you have questions about our hours, your visit, or our services, please call the temple at (912)-233-1547
Group Tours:
Mickve Israel is happy to host group tours. However, in order to tailor our tours for your group, we require advance arrangements.
Group Leaders should call us ahead of time at (912) 233-1547 or email Deanna Sorrells for reservations.
Please give us information about the number of guests, names, ages, areas of interest, etc. of your group. Special rates are available for all LOCAL school groups and all girl/boy Scout groups.
Directions & Parking
Congregation Mickve Israel’s physical address is 20 East Gordon Street, but the entrance for tours is at 20 Wayne Street. Please note that our facility does not have a parking garage or lot so you must use on-street parking. There is ample on-street parking around Monterey Square and other nearby streets. Parking rates are generally $1.00 per hour, payable at parking meters (coins), parking payment kiosks (cash or credit card), or the “Park Savannah” app (info here: https://www.savannahga.gov/2340/ParkSavannah), which makes paying for parking while you visit Savannah very easy.