Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation is a synagogue located in the northwest suburbs of Philadelphia (Upper Dublin Township, southeastern Montgomery County, Pennsylvania), about a half mile from Exit 26 (Fort Washington) of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and about a 35 minute drive from either northeast or center city Philadelphia. (It is about 10 minutes from Arcadia University at Easton and Church Rds., in Glenside, PA.)
Please note that the directions below (taken from the Or Hadash synagogue website) have changed owing to drastic revision and reconstruction of PA Route 309 and the access around the Fort Washington Turnpike Interchange, and they do work. If you discover a more practical route, we welcome ideas for better work-arounds while the construction progresses. Contact Bill or Sue with ideas. Please note that the Oreland exit from 309 southbound has been permanently closed. For up-to-date information on the construction, see http://www.309online.com/
From the Pennsylvania Turnpike
From either direction, get off at Exit 339 (formerly 26) Fort Washington. After toll, take first right onto Route 309 North. Take first exit (Highland Ave) and turn right. Follow Highland to the dead end and make a right onto Camp Hill Road. Follow Camp Hill Road until you see the sign for Or Hadash on your right. (If you get to the traffic signal, you've gone too far.)
From Route 309 South
Take the Butler Pike exit and turn right. Turn left at the first traffic signal onto Susquehanna Road. Take Susquehanna Road to the third traffic signal (at Camp Hill Road). Turn right onto Camp Hill Road and follow until you see the sign for Or Hadash on your right. (If you get to the traffic signal, you've gone too far.)
From Elkins Park
Take Limekiln Pike (Route 152) North to Mt Carmel Ave. Mt Carmel becomes Pennsylvania Ave. Make a right onto Camp Hill Road. Almost immediately you'll see the sign for Or Hadash on your left.
Or Hadash is a synagogue located at 190 Camp Hill Road, Fort Washington, PA. It is the former Cadwalader Mansion. It was purchased by Richard M. Cadwalader, of a socially prominent Philadelphia family, and Emily Roebling, granddaughter of the designer and builder of the Brooklyn Bridge, when they were married.
The affluent couple spent weekends and summers in the mansion, built in 1888 with more than 20 rooms. In 1923, they added on to the mansion, which they had named Fairwold, because they thought it was too small.
When Emily died in 1942, Richard sold Fairwold to his real estate agent, George B. Gay. Gay lived in the building briefly, then divided it with a fire wall and donated half of it to the Oreland Baptist Church in the 1940s. Because of provisions made by Gay in his will, the mansion was to be forever used for worship.
The building boasts a beautiful sanctuary with an organ loft as well as a piano. Ten-foot French doors and windows open to a high-ceilinged solarium. The sanctuary was the ballroom of the original mansion, so it is perfect as a multipurpose room, and serves as a place of worship, synagogue social room, the venue for a performing arts series (it has superb acoustic qualities for music) and as a dance floor for folk dancers.