Philosophy
Our Mission
The mission of Congregation Shaarie Torah is to establish and maintain
a synagogue within the context of Traditional Judaism. Shaarie Torah shall
strive to fulfill and enhance the charitable, cultural, educational, religious
and spiritual needs of its members and community, as well as to affirm
our relationship with the State of Israel.
We invite you and your family to join our synagogue:
- where you can feel completely at home
- where the people are warm and welcoming
- where Jewish tradition and the observance of Jewish Law is encouraged as the way to achieve a fuller, more meaningful life in the modern world
- where we work to bridge the gap between the observant and the not-yet-observant Jew and break down artificial barriers and movement labels that separate us
- where Jewish study by adults and children is encouraged, strengthening the Jewish family as we learn and share common rituals and values
- where we encourage men and women to serve complementary roles in religious life and as synagogue leaders
About Shaarie Torah
History
In early 1905, a group of Portland Jewish men began meeting in stores
and homes throughout the city to hold minyanim. Eventually, the topic
of organizing a synagogue came up. After months of organizing and fundraising,
this group founded Shaarie Torah in 1905. Under the able leadership of
Joseph Nudelman, of blessed memory, the group purchased a Presbyterian
Church located at S.W. Third Ave. and moved it to First Avenue, just south
of Hall St. The building was refurbished and became the first official
home for the congregation. Shaarie Torah was the first Orthodox synagogue
in the Pacific Northwest, predating any such synagogues in Seattle, Vancouver,
or San Francisco. The congregation grew in size and activity. Its services
were well attended and it had members who were leaders in the Portland community,
scholars from European Yeshivos, and congregants who taught classes in
Talmud and Mishnayoth. In the early thirties, Rabbi Joseph B. Fain, a renowned
Lithuanian scholar, was called to the pulpit and served Shaarie Torah
as rabbi until his retirement in 1949. Also in the early thirties, Cantor
Yonia Glantz was brought to Portland as a young man. He married and reared
a family in Portland, and served the congregation with distinction until
his untimely death in 1962.
Before World War II, the desire to build a new structure was discussed,
but the war intervened and construction and planning for the new building
was postponed. In 1952, the city designated the First Avenue location
of the synagogue as an urban renewal area and planned to raze the synagogue.
The synagogue's leadership then established a building fund campaign to
purchase and construct a new facility. It was a glorious day for Shaarie
Torah when, on May 15, 1960, the new, modern and beautiful structure on
Park Avenue was dedicated. The Torahs were brought into the new sanctuary
with pride and happiness. At the dedication service on Park Avenue, it
was announced that Rabbi Yonah H. Geller had been elected as the new spiritual
leader for the congregation and would soon move to Portland. Within six
months of Rabbi Geller's arrival, the synagogue was faced with a new crisis.
The synagogue was in the path of a planned freeway.
After many meetings with the state highway commission, an agreement for
compensation was reached. Land was then purchased, an architect engaged,
and the plans drawn for a new synagogue. Groundbreaking for our current building took place during the week of the High Holy Days in September 1963.
On October 1, 1964, the Park Avenue building was vacated and the congregation
moved into the present building on N.W. 25th and Lovejoy St. The dedication of
the synagogue on June 13, 1965, represented the labors and love of many
devoted and dedicated men and women…characteristics attributed to
Shaarie Torah's membership to this day. The first renovation since the
synagogue's dedication in 1965 began November 2001 and was completed in
May 2002. Congregation Shaarie Torah has had only eight Rabbis in the
last 102 years. Beloved Rabbi Yonah Geller led our congregation from 1960
until his retirement in July of 2000. Rabbi David Rosenberg served as Rabbi from 2000 until 2006. Rabbi Arthur Zuckerman is now at the helm and under his direction Shaarie Torah continues to thrive.