Our History

Jewish communal life in Park City began in 1981 when a small group of women organized a Passover Seder. In the years that followed Shabbat services were held in homes, led by lay members. A pivotal moment came in March 1995, when over 100 Jews responded to a notice in The Park Record, uniting to create a vibrant Jewish community in Park City. By July of that year, the Park City Jewish Center was established.

In the late 1990s, the community welcomed part-time rabbis, while offices operated in Prospector Square and religious school classes were held at Miner’s Hospital and the Park City Library. By 2002, the congregation—now known as Temple Har Shalom—hired its first full-time rabbi. As membership grew to nearly 200 families by 2004-2005, the rented spaces no longer met the community’s needs, sparking plans to secure a permanent home.

Thanks to the dedication of several congregants land was purchased, designs were finalized, and construction began. In February 2008, the community joyfully carried Torah scrolls three miles from the rented space to the newly built synagogue, lovingly named “Our Mountain of Peace.”

Since its founding, Temple Har Shalom has been a center for religious services, community events, and celebrations. For many years, it even transformed into the Temple Theatre for the annual Sundance Film Festival. In 2020, Temple Har Shalom celebrated its 25th anniversary, though the gala was postponed until 2022 due to the pandemic—proof that good things are worth the wait!

Our most recent milestone came in 2023 when we proudly made the final payment on our mortgage. To mark this extraordinary achievement, the community gathered for a special Shabbat service where the mortgage was ceremonially burned—an unforgettable moment in our shared history.