Shaarey Tphiloh

Shaaray Tphiloh is a Jewish congregation in Portland, Maine. It is "Portland, Maine’s oldest continuously operating synagogue".[1]

For similarly named synagogues, see Shaare Tefila.

History

The congregation's first building, a large, neo-Classical building, was constructed between 1901 and 1905 at 145 Newbury Street in the Old Port neighborhood of Portland.[2][3]

In the 1950s, as the Jewish community moved to the "suburbs" of Portland the congregation moved to Noyes Street, not far from Woodford's Corner. In 2015, it moved into the building of the neighboring Conservative synagogue, Temple Beth El. The two congregations coexist in separate prayer spaces, and join each other for social and other community events.

In addition to serving the local Jewish community, the congregation welcomes many Jewish travelers who visit Maine for vacations.

Historian Michael Cohen wrote of the congregation's history in the journal Maine History. His article "Adapting Orthodoxy to American Life: Shaarey Tphiloh and the development of Modern Orthodox Judaism in Portland, Maine, 1904–1976" describes the changes that took place within the congregation as its congregation acculturated over the decades since its founding.

Shaarey Tphiloh is currently under the rabbinic leadership of Aaron Shub, who is also the director of Jewish life and learning at Levey Day School.


References
  1. Shaarey Tphiloh website. Accessed June 26, 2019.
  2. Maine's Jewish Heritage, Abraham J. Peck, Jean M. Peck, Arcadia Publishing, 2007, p. 36.
  3. Portland Jewry, its growth and development, Benjamin Band, Jewish Historical Society, 1955.


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