Jewish Legacies: The Two Synagogues Tour

Tour Overview

Your experience begins with private pickup from your downtown hotel, where you’ll settle into a premium SUV and enjoy a scenic drive as your certified guide introduces the layered history of Charleston’s Jewish community.

At Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (KKBE), you’ll step into the nation’s oldest synagogue in continuous use and the birthplace of American Reform Judaism. Inside its elegant sanctuary, you'll hear how Charleston’s early Sephardic Jews shaped both their city and American Judaism, pioneering new forms of worship that emphasized enlightenment values and civic integration.

Next, you’ll visit Brith Sholom Beth Israel (BSBI), the oldest Ashkenazi Orthodox synagogue in continuous use in the United States. Here, the story shifts to a new generation of immigrants — German and Eastern European Jews who arrived in the 1800s with deep-rooted traditions and a desire to preserve ritual and community in a new land.

This tour offers a rare opportunity to compare and contrast two distinct expressions of Jewish faith and identity — from the design of their sacred spaces to the symbolism in their ritual objects, such as the contrasting styles of their candelabras. These differences tell a broader story of how Charleston became a crossroads of Jewish tradition, innovation, and adaptation.

Along the way, you'll see historic Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jewish sites downtown, as well as hear stories of innovation, perseverance, and complexity — including the intersections of Jewish and African American life, and the community’s grappling with its own role in the history of slavery.

This is a meaningful, immersive journey through history, guided at your pace. Cold bottled water, thoughtful extras, and deep local insight are all included to ensure a seamless, elevated experience.

Tour Note:

Tours operate rain or shine, so please dress accordingly. In cases of severe or unsafe weather, we will contact you to reschedule or issue a refund.

Vehicle Note:

This private tour is conducted in a premium SUV with one front passenger seat and two bench-style rows in the back. It’s most comfortable for up to 4 adults, but can accommodate up to 7 guests total (ideal for families with children). Please contact us if you have questions about seating or group size. See our fleet here.

Cancellation Policy:

We understand plans change. Cancellations made at least 24 hours before the tour are fully refundable. Within 24 hours, tours are nonrefundable.

*Not sure if your hotel qualifies for pickup and dropoff? Please reach out with any questions — we're happy to help confirm.