# Shaarey Tphiloh

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Modern Orthodox synagogue in Portland

For similarly named synagogues, see [Shaare Tefila](/source/Shaare_Tefila_(disambiguation)).

Shaarey Tphiloh Religion Affiliation Modern Orthodox Judaism Rite Nusach Ashkenaz Ecclesiastical or organizational status Synagogue Leadership Rabbi Akiva Herzfeld Status Active Location Location 400 Deering Avenue, Portland, Maine Country United States Location in Maine Coordinates 43°39′55″N 70°16′53″W / 43.6654°N 70.2815°W / 43.6654; -70.2815 Architecture Established c. 1900 (as a congregation) Completed 1905 (Old Port) 1956 (Noyes Street) Website www.mainesynagogue.org

**Shaarey Tphiloh** is a [Modern Orthodox](/source/Modern_Orthodox_Judaism) [Jewish](/source/Jewish) congregation and [synagogue](/source/Synagogue) located at 400 Deering Avenue in [Portland, Maine](/source/Portland%2C_Maine), in the United States. The congregation says it is the oldest continuously operating synagogue in Portland.[1] The name of the synagogue literally means "Gates of Prayer" in Hebrew.

## History

### Founding the Shul, 1880-1910

Immigrant Jews started arriving in large numbers in Portland, Maine, from the [Pale of Settlement](/source/Pale_of_Settlement) at the end of the nineteenth century. In 1873, a ritual slaughterer visited Portland to perform [shehita](/source/Shehita)."[2]: 15 In the 1880s, the Portland Jewish community increased to sixty families.[2]: 16, 18 Over the next few decades, the Jewish population grew exponentially. In 1912, the Jewish population was 2000; in 1920, it climbed to 3000. Portland was referred to as the "Jerusalem of the north" because of its Jewish population.[3] In 1930, Jews were about ten percent of the city's general population.

In the late 1880s, two prayer congregations emerged: Shaarith Israel and Beth Midrash Hagadol from approximately 80 Jewish families. In 1890, Rabbi Chaim (Hyman) Mordechai Lasker (1864–1932) was hired as the rabbi of Shirat Israel. Rabbi Lasker came from [Łomża](/source/%C5%81om%C5%BCa), [Poland](/source/Poland). He had studied in [Kaunas](/source/Kaunas) (Kovno) and received ordination from Rabbi [Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor](/source/Yitzchak_Elchanan_Spektor). Among his achievements in Portland was the organization of Talmudic study groups that continued for years after he left the city.[4] Rabbi Lasker left Portland for Buffalo in 1895, and he was replaced by Rabbi A. Sharshafsky.[5] He was a rabbi from 1895 to 1897. After Rabbi Lasker left his role was filed by a Lazarus Druker, a learned immigrant from The Pale who also fulfilled the ritual duties of [shechita](/source/Shechita) for the community. Another [shul](/source/Shul) was started in 1890 on Fore St. in Portland, calling itself Beth Hamidrash Hagadol. This group, headed by Isaac Abrams, also ran a Hebrew school. In 1899, Sharith Israel brought in a new rabbi named Rabbi Solomon David Ha-Kohen Sprince (1846–1929). Rabbi Sprince was born in [Mezhirichi](/source/Mezhirichi). He studied in [Krynki](/source/Krynki) (Poland) and [Volozhin](/source/Volozhin), under [Misnagdim](/source/Misnagdim) teachers. He had served as a rabbi for a short stint in Paris and was friends with Rabbi [Zadoc Kahn](/source/Zadoc_Kahn), the chief rabbi of France. Meanwhile, in 1901, another small shul, Beth Judah, brought in a rabbi named David Feinstein, but they agreed to call Rabbi Sprince of Sharith Israel, the Chief Rabbi of Portland. Nevertheless, in 1902, Rabbi Sprince left Portland for Montreal.[2]: 22[6]

Following this changeover and division in the community, an effort was made to coordinate and establish one large synagogue to represent the community as a gathering place for all. In 1900 Sharith Israel and Beth Midrash Hagadol agreed to build a new synagogue together. It became known as Shaarey Tphiloh and was built on Newbury Street.[7]

The congregation's first building, a large, [neo-Classical](/source/Neoclassical_architecture) building, was constructed between 1901 and 1905 at 145 Newbury Street in the [Old Port](/source/Old_Port_of_Portland%2C_Maine) neighborhood of Portland.[8][2] At the cornerstone dedication on September 14, 1904, Dr. Elias Caplan, a prestigious member of the congregation, declared that the community not only honored its Jewish traditions but also was meant to be patriotic to the United States, "We are witnessing today in this great country the dawn of a new era… The institutions of this mighty republic are our institutions, its laws are our laws, its flag, the flag of the free and the brave, our flag."[9] In 1907, the congregation hired its first [Rav](/source/Rav), Chaim Nosson Shohet, a deeply religious scholar who had served as a rabbi to Jewish communities in the Russian Empire (modern day Estonia and Lithuania).[10]

### 1910–1930

In 1915 a dispute between the board of directors and their rabbi, Rabbi Chaim Shohet, took place. Rabbi Shohet had served as the av beit din, or head of court, in [Obeliai](/source/Obeliai), [Lithuania](/source/Lithuania) , in the Kovno region and before that as a rabbi in [Võru](/source/V%C3%B5ru),[11] the region of Livland ([Livonia](/source/Livonia)). He makes reference to his service to Jewish communities in the former Russian Empire in his scholarly work on Jewish law, "Zekher Chaim," which he published around this time.[12] Still, the congregation dismissed Rabbi Shohet from his position at Shaarey Tphiloh in 1916,[13] but he remained in Portland and became rabbi at Congregation Adas Israel on Middle Street. Eventually, that congregation became Congregation Etz Chaim and built a synagogue on India Street.[14] Also in 1915, Max Pinansky, a Harvard-trained lawyer,[15] asked the leaders of Shaarey Tphiloh to collaborate with him on a project to include more English in the prayer service and to permit mixed seating for men and women in the pews during the prayer service.[16]

In 1917, Rabbi Yitzhak David Essrig, was chosen as the Rabbi of Shaarey Tphiloh. As a young child, he studied Jewish law and traditions under the tutelage of his father, Rabbi Nachum Etrog, who served as the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi in [Safed](/source/Safed), Palestine. Rabbi Essrig received his ordination from both Ashkenazi and Sephardic Rabbis from the Rabbinical Courts of Tiberias and Jerusalem, and from the first Chief Rabbi of Palestine, [Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook](/source/Abraham_Isaac_Kook).[17] As a young Rabbi, he began a lifelong passion to study the [Jerusalem Talmud](/source/Jerusalem_Talmud), which focused on the laws and traditions from the land of Israel. This culminated in the publication of a seven-volume Talmudic Encyclopedia based upon the Jerusalem Talmud called *Pri Etz Hadar*, which is studied today in Yeshivahs in Israel, America and around the world.[18] When he succeeded Rabbi Shohet in 1917, Rabbi David Essrig was fluent in Hebrew, English and Yiddish. While Rabbi Essrig continued as did his Orthodox Rabbinic predecessors to lead prayer services in the traditional Orthodox Hebrew liturgy with separate seating for men and women, he introduced English into the prayer service and taught religious studies in English in order to appeal to and help inform young American Jewish families and youth who did not know Yiddish or Hebrew .[19] In 1932, Rabbi Essrig published *The Fountain of Wisdom,* one of the earliest Jewish books written in English to teach America's youth how Torah, Jewish history and ethics, and the Jewish life cycle events can help youth and families live informed and meaningful Jewish lives in America.[17] The importance of Rabbi Essrig's *The Fountain of Wisdom* received much praise from the Chief Rabbi of Palestine, Abraham Isaac Kook in a personal editorial written in the Bnei Brith Messenger shortly after the book's release in 1932.[20]

In 1918 Shaarey Tphiloh and another congregation, Anshei Sfard, a breakaway congregation from Shaarey Tphiloh that had met in the basement of the building until moving to another location nearby, decided that they would share David Essrig as their rabbi.[21] In 1923, the Etz Chaim Synagogue under the direction of Rabbi Moshe Shohet, the son of Rabbi Chaim Shohet, introduced sermons in English on Friday night, a sign that the wider Portland Jewish community was in favor of this change introduced by Rabbi Essrig. In 1926, Rabbi Essrig left Shaarey Tphiloh and Anshei Sfard to become Rabbi of the Beth Israel Congregation (the Olive Street Synagogue) in Los Angeles. Then then returned to Palestine in the 1930s where he became the head of the Rabbinical Court in Haifa, before returning to America to become the Chief Rabbi in Utica New York.[22] In 1932, Rabbi Moshe Shohet moved to Quincy, Massachusetts and then made Aliyah to the land of Israel in 1939, where he is buried on the Mount of Olives.[23]

### 1930–1970

In 1929, a religious council in the city was formed by the different Orthodox synagogues that allowed them to pool their resources in order to hire one rabbi for the different congregations. In 1930, the Orthodox religious council selected Rabbi Abraham Miller to serve as the religious leader. Rabbi Miller was a social activist. In 1925 he was part of a small delegation of rabbis from Poland and the United States who met with President Coolidge to thank him for he speech on "Toleration and Liberalism."[24] In 1927–1928, before arriving in Maine, Rabbi Avraham Miller had also protested efforts in New York City to build the path of what would become the Jackie Robinson Parkway connecting Brooklyn and Queens through the Mt. Carmel Jewish cemetery.[25] The next rabbi to serve after Rabbi Miller was Rabbi Mendel Lewittes in 1936. Rabbi Lewittes (1912–1994), a graduate of [RIETS](/source/RIETS) was described as an "accomplished scholar and orator" despite being only 27 years old when he started his career at Shaarey Tphiloh.[26] Lewittes was rabbi for five years but then took a position in Dorchester, MA.[27] After Rabbi Lewittes, the position was filled by Rabbi Aaron Greenbaum in 1942.[28] Rabbi Greenbaum was a promising scholar and community activist, and the son-in-law of a prominent rabbi from New York, Rabbi [Menachem Mendel Kasher](/source/Menachem_Mendel_Kasher).[27] Around this time, Shaarey Tphiloh was in an adjustment period. The rabbi was responsible for serving the Woodfords neighborhood of the Jewish community and also the older community located around the shul on Newbury St. Rabbi Greenbaum was also struggling to establish a central Hebrew school for educating the children in the community.[27] At the same time, the congregation had aspirations to take on a more prominent role, as evidenced by the hiring a prominent cantor Samuel Zimelman, who had served as cantor of the Hochschule Synagogue in [Łomazy](/source/%C5%81omazy), [Poland](/source/Poland) and was brought on as cantor in 1945.[29] He stayed on as the cantor, until Martin Davidson followed him as cantor in 1972.[14]

In 1949 the congregation dedicated a new mahogany ark, or aron kodesh, for the synagogue on Noyes St. When the building on Noyes St. was sold in the 1970s the [Torah ark](/source/Torah_ark) or [aron kodesh](/source/Aron_kodesh) for the Torah scrolls was taken to a synagogue in [Lexington, MA](/source/Lexington%2C_MA).[30]

The dedication of the Torah scroll was just one way that the congregation was displaying greater wealth and striving for greater respectability. Like other American Jewish communities, following World War II many Jews in the United States moved from the city to the suburbs.[3] In the case of Portland, the community center shifted from Munjoy Hill to Woodford's Corner. In 1956, as the Jewish community moved to the "suburbs" of Portland, the congregation moved to Noyes Street, not far from Woodford's Corner. Rabbi Moshe Bekritsky served as spiritual leader of the synagogue for 26 years, from 1948 until 1974.[31] As rabbi of Shaarey Tphiloh he was in charge of the elementary school Jewish education and also kosher certification in Portland. In 1952 he opened the first full-time elementary school in Portland with tuition set at $300.[31] At the early part of his tenure there was a daily [minyan](/source/Minyan) and gemara classes taking place in three Orthodox synagogues in Portland, at Shaarey Tphiloh on Noyes St. and at Shaarey Tphiloh on Newbury St., and also at the [Etz Chaim Synagogue](/source/Etz_Chaim_Synagogue). At the close of his rabbinate only at Shaarey Tphiloh on Noyes St. was there still a minyan and study classes.[31] In 1968 Rabbi Bekritsky noted in a Yom Kippur sermon that people still admired Shaarey Tphiloh even if their personal observance of Jewish laws had lapsed because they wanted their synagogue to be "above me, a goal toward which I can climb and towards which I can work."[31] But he added that people whose spouses were "social climbers" went to they synagogue around the corner.[31] Despite the trend toward greater attendance at the synagogue around the corner, Temple Beth-El, hundred of people still attended Shaarey Tphiloh during his tenure, especially on the holidays for the Yizkor service.[31]

### 1970–2000

In 1975 the congregation put its property on Newbury street up for sale.[32] From 1972 to 1976 Rabbi [Stephen Dworken](/source/Stephen_Dworken) served as rabbi of Shaarey Tphiloh. Rabbi Dworken was a popular rabbi in Portland who was naturally able to connect to people[33] and also connected with others because of his background growing up in a non-Orthodox community. Following his tenure at Shaarey Tphiloh he went on to national prominence in the Orthodox world, as an executive vice president of the RCA, or [Rabbinical Council of America](/source/Rabbinical_Council_of_America).[34] He was followed by Rabbi Leon Mozeson, 1977–79, Rabbi Asher Reichert 1979–1984, and then Rabbi Lawrence S. Zierler was installed as the congregation's rabbi in 1987.[35] Rabbi Zierler was a Yeshiva University graduate and was proud of "crossing bridges" in his rabbinate to create strong ties with non-Orthodox Jewish denominations in the city and also with the wider non-Jewish population.[36][37] In 1991, Rabbi Joseph Reifman was spiritual leader, in 1992 Marc Renner, who was followed by Rabbi Marc Mandel. Rabbi Mandel held the position for a number of years from 1992 on until he left for California.[38] Rabbis Isaac Yagod and Simcha Green held the title of rabbi from 1999 into the new millennium.[9]

### 2000–2020

In 2007 Rabbi Akiva Herzfeld from [Yeshivat Chovevei Torah](/source/Yeshivat_Chovevei_Torah) became the rabbi of the shul and served until 2014. Rabbi Aaron Shub, also from YCT Rabbinical School, followed him.[14] In 2015, the congregation decided to downsize and rent space in the building of Temple Beth El, around the corner from its previous home on Noyes St.[39] Rabbis from different denominations carried Torah scrolls from the building on Shaarey Tphiloh on Noyes St. to its new home.[39] The two congregations coexist in separate prayer spaces, and join each other for social and other community events. As for the synagogue building on Noyes Street, it became home to the Portland Community Squash, where squash players from 26 countries play in the space that was designed as the main prayer hall.[40]

### 2020-Present

The synagogue continues to conduct services and especially on the major holidays. Before Rosh Hashana in 2024, Rabbi Akiva Herzfeld wrote about the need to connect spiritually before the High Holidays.[41]

Rabbi Akiva Herzfeld came from Israel to read the Book of Esther for the congregation on [Purim](/source/Purim) March 2-3, 2026. His journey to the congregation was featured on Maine television, when he became stranded because of the [2026 Iran war](/source/2026_Iran_war).[42] The journey from Shaarey Tphiloh to Israel was also described by the rabbi in the Jerusalem Post.[43]

## In Fiction

The author [John Irving](/source/John_Irving) features the congregation and a fictional Rabbi Herzfeld in his 2025 novel, "Queen Esther."[44]

In his 2025 work "Queen Esther." Rabbi Herzfeld "reasoned" that the mother of the heroine of the novel "would likely have turned to Congregation Shaarey Tphiloh if she'd confided to a rabbi around 1905 or a little later."[44]

## Worship

A video of a Torah scroll dedication ceremony from 1955 has been preserved and prepared by the Maine Historical Society. In the video, one sees how treasured the Torah was to the Shaarey Tphiloh community. At the dedication, honored men from the community were invited to write the last letters in the Torah scroll and honored women were invited to add a stitch into the parchment of the Torah scroll to connect the final piece of parchment to the whole Torah scroll.[45]

Torah Scroll with excerpt from ten commandments

Until mid 1940s the congregation did not include prayer books with English translation. In the mid-1940s a congregant I. Edward Cohen insisted on buying prayer books, machzorim, in dual language for the High Holidays.[27]

### Mikvah

At the Newbury St. location of Shaarey Tphiloh the mikvah was located at the back end of the synagogue building.[46] In 2010 the Shaarey Tphiloh mikvah at Noyes St. was established as a community mikvah.[47] It was named Mikvat Shalom, an independent nonprofit organization. The mikvah was meant to represent the diversity of Maine's Jewish community, with representation from Chabad, Modern Orthodox, Conservative, Reform and non-denominational congregations.[48]

### Old Orchard Beach

In the twentieth century wealthier members of the synagogue had summer homes in [Old Orchard Beach](/source/Old_Orchard_Beach). Already at the beginning of the century Old Orchard Beach attracted visitors from Jewish communities in Maine and Canada. In 1909 Joseph Goodkowsky built the Lafayette Hotel "an all-kosher establishment." In 1912 they raised $3,500 to build Congregation Beth Israel.[49] The congregation built separate doors for men and women to access the sanctuary, but in later decades remodeled the building with an atrium at the entrance.[50] on East Grand Ave. and Cleeve St.[51]

### Eruv

No community [eruv](/source/Eruv) was ever built in Portland. Early Jewish immigrants used to tie their kerchiefs together to form a belt and then place a handkerchief in their pocket at synagogue on the Sabbath.[52]

### Mt Sinai Cemetery

The congregation maintained its own [chevra kadisha](/source/Chevra_kadisha) for many decades.[53] It also has its own cemetery for its members at Mt. Sinai Cemetery on Hicks Street in Portland.[54] Some Shaarey Tphiloh members are also buried at the Mt Carmel cemetery adjacent to Mt Sinai. Some Shaarey Tphiloh members also were buried at the Temple Beth El Memorial park.[55]

## Rabbis

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The following individuals have served as rabbi of Shaarey Tphiloh:

Name Years Notes Chaim Shohet 1904–1916 David Essrig 1917–1926 Abraham Miller 1930–1936 Mendel Lewittes 1936–1942 Aaron Greenbaum 1942–1947 Morris Bekritsky 1948–1972 Stephen Dworken 1972–1976 Leon Mozeson 1977–1979 Asher Reichert 1979–1984 Lawrence S. Zierler 1987–1990 Joseph Reifman 1991–1991 Marc Nenner 1992-1992 Marc Mandel 1992–1997 Isaac Yagod 1999–2003 Simcha Green 2003–2006 Akiva Herzfeld 2007–2014 Joshua Pernick 2015-2017 Aaron Shub 2018–2021 Akiva Herzfeld since 2023

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["Home page"](http://www.mainesynagogue.org/wp/). *Shaarey Tphiloh website*. n.d. Retrieved July 5, 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-band_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-band_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-band_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-band_2-3) Band, Benjamin (1955). *Portland Jewry: Its growth and development*. The Jewish Historical Society of Portland – via Publications of the AJHS Vol. 37, p. 38.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-lip_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-lip_3-1) [Jewish secular institutions of Portland](https://web.colby.edu/jewsinmaine/files/2011/04/Lipez-Jewish-secular-institutions-of-Portland.pdf) Lipez, p.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** The Talmud study groups were led by Michael Rubinsky, Abraham J. Bernstein, and Joseph Modes. In "Portland Jewry" p. 21. See online at: [https://www.mainejews.org/docs/BenBand/Chap5.pdf](https://www.mainejews.org/docs/BenBand/Chap5.pdf)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** See his work on Portland, Shershevsky 1896 (Aronson: New York)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** See also, at kevarim.com [Rabbi Shlomo David Sprince](https://kevarim.com/rabbi-shlomo-dov-sprince/) After serving in Maine, Rabbi Sprince served in Montreal at the Austro-Hungarian Synagogue, (1901-1904), B’nai Jacob (Associate 1902-1905), Chevra Shaas (Associate 1903-5), and Temple Solomon Ahavash Achim (Associate 1906-1908). Shortly thereafter he moved to Boston. In 1912, he published a book, Kerem Shlomo.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Synagogue Building Association record book, Portland, ca. 1902"](https://www.mainememory.net/artifact/53999). *Maine Memory Network*. Retrieved June 17, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Peck, Abraham J.; Peck, Jean M. (2007). *Maine's Jewish Heritage*. Arcadia Publishing. p. 36.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Cohen_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Cohen_9-1) Cohen, Michael. *Adapting Orthodoxy to American Life: Shaarey Tphiloh and the Development of Modern Orthodoxy, 1905-2005*. pp. 14–15.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Rabbi Chaim Nosson Shohet"](https://kevarim.com/rabbi-chaim-nosson-shochet/). *Kevarim*. October 24, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** For history of Jewish residence in Võru, see Yodaiken, Len. "The Estonians" at [https://muuseum.jewish.ee/stories/The%20Estonians.pdf](https://muuseum.jewish.ee/stories/The%20Estonians.pdf)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["רבי חיים נתן שוחט"](https://isheiisrael.wordpress.com/2019/04/25/%d7%a8%d7%91%d7%99-%d7%97%d7%99%d7%99%d7%9d-%d7%a0%d7%aa%d7%9f-%d7%a9%d7%95%d7%97%d7%98/). *אישי ישראל* (in Hebrew). April 24, 2019. Retrieved December 7, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Rabbi Shohet tried bringing in his son as his successor, but some members did not want that. See oral history of Maurice Rubinoff, in digital commons Portland Public Library.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-current-portland_14-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-current-portland_14-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-current-portland_14-2) ["Current Portland – Jewish Congregations of Maine"](https://mainesynagogues.mjmexhibits.org/current-portland/). Retrieved June 17, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Judge Max Pinansky and Family, ca. 1937"](https://www.mainememory.net/artifact/22435). *Maine Memory Network*. Retrieved June 17, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** [Liberating Visions: Religion and the Challenge of Change in Maine,1820 to the Present](https://digitalcommons.usm.maine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=event_catalog) maine.edu p.23

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_17-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_17-1) Essrig, Isaac David (1932). [*The fountain of wisdom*](https://openlibrary.org/books/OL6772971M/The_fountain_of_wisdom). Los Angeles: [s.n.]

1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** Essrig, Isaac David. [ttps://www.amazon.com/ספר-פרי-עץ-הדר-Hebrew/dp/B08B2HVNJ1 "Sefer Pri Etz Hadar - Volume 7"].

1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** ["Rabbis"](https://www.mainememory.net/sitebuilder/site/2101/slideshow/1208/display?use_mmn=1&prev_object_id=3466&prev_object=page). *Maine Memory Network*. Retrieved March 14, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** ["Rabbi Kook Praises Rabbi Essrig's Book, The Fountain of Wisdom. In B'nai B'rith Messenger 6 May, 1932"](https://www.nli.org.il/en/newspapers/?a=d&d=bbh19320506-01.2.110). *The National Library of Israel*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ["Portland – Jewish Congregations of Maine"](https://mainesynagogues.mjmexhibits.org/portland/). Retrieved June 17, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** Bnai Brith Messenger. 23 June 1950. archived at www.nli.org/en/newspaper. In 1926 Rabbi Essrig moved to Los Angeles to become rabbi of the Beth Israel Congregation (the Olive Street Synagogue). After his move to LA, he moved to Palestine and then was rabbi in Utica, NY.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** [https://mainesynagogues.mjmexhibits.org/current-portland/](https://mainesynagogues.mjmexhibits.org/current-portland/) Rabbi Moshe Shohet moved to Quincy, MA in 1932 and then emigrated to Palestine in 1939, where he is buried on the Mt of Olives. His son, Rabbi Dovid Menachem, was the Rabbi at Agudas Achim, Yonkers, New York.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** In Yiddish Forward, Nov 1925. and in The Sentinel, 7 May 1926. Cited in "Sefer Toldoth Adam," [http://sefertoldothadam.blogspot.com/2017/03/rabbis-thank-president-coolidge-for.html](http://sefertoldothadam.blogspot.com/2017/03/rabbis-thank-president-coolidge-for.html)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** From the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, January, 1928. Cited in [https://www.boropark24.com/news/memory-lane-rav-avraham-miller-zt-l](https://www.boropark24.com/news/memory-lane-rav-avraham-miller-zt-l)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** His first pulpit was in Buffalo: See Jewish Telegraphic Agency March 19, 1934. In his rabbinate, he advanced efforts for greater inclusion in the synagogues for people with hearing impairments by advocating for the permissibility of the microphone on Shabbat. He also created a rabbinic council of all Jewish denominations during his tenure as rabbi at the Young Israel Synagogue in Montreal. After his service in Montreal, Rabbi Lewittes made [aliyah](/source/Aliyah) and became editor of shana b'shana, the literary publication of the chief rabbinate of Israel. In "Gate of Heaven" p.125,339 at google books [https://books.google.com/books?id=9mIBBAAAQBAJ&dq=lewittes+rabbi&pg=PA189](https://books.google.com/books?id=9mIBBAAAQBAJ&dq=lewittes+rabbi&pg=PA189) He is the author of "Jewish Law: An Introduction", Jason Aronson Inc., 1994

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-band_maine_27-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-band_maine_27-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-band_maine_27-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-band_maine_27-3) Band, Ben. ["Maine Jews"](https://www.mainejews.org/docs/BenBand/Chap14.pdf) (PDF). pp. 82–88.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** See the website of the Maine Jewish Museum, Shaarey Tphiloh

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** ["Composer | Jewish Music Research Centre"](https://jewish-music.huji.ac.il/keywords/composer). *jewish-music.huji.ac.il*. Retrieved June 17, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** ["Holy Ark dedication program, Portland, 1949"](https://www.mainememory.net/artifact/53997). *Maine Memory Network*. Retrieved June 17, 2023.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-auto1_31-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-auto1_31-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-auto1_31-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-auto1_31-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-auto1_31-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-auto1_31-5) Scarr, Cindy (October 10, 2019). ["The Grandfather I Thought I Knew"](https://mishpacha.com/the-grandfather-i-thought-i-knew/). Retrieved June 17, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** ["Ad for sale of synagogue building, Portland"](https://www.mainememory.net/artifact/54186). *Maine Memory Network*. 1975. Retrieved June 17, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** Segal, Nachum. ["Remember Rabbi Dworken"](https://nachumsegal.com/nachum-and-nomi-rotblat-remember-rabbi-steven-dworkin-obm-on-jm-in-the-am/). *JM in the AM*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-34)** Berkofsky, Joe (January 14, 2003). ["Rabbi Steven Dworken dies at 58"](https://www.jta.org/2003/01/14/lifestyle/rabbi-steven-dworken-dies-at-58). *[Jewish Telegraph Agency](/source/Jewish_Telegraph_Agency)*. Retrieved June 17, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-35)** ["Rabbi installation program, Portland"](https://www.mainememory.net/artifact/54105). *Maine Memory Network*. 1987. Retrieved June 17, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-36)** ["Rabbi Zierler proud of crossing bridges"](https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/archives/rabbi-zierler-proud-of-crossing-bridges/article_db708e24-98b1-5c6d-9c18-b74eee5cc4e4.html). *The Cleveland Jewish News*. August 22, 2002.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-37)** ["Conservative shul slated to make Orthodox choice"](https://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/conservative-shul-slated-to-make-orthodox-choice/). *Jewish Standard*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-38)** ["Rabbi"](https://tourosynagogue.org/congregation-jeshuat-israel/rabbi/). *Congregation Jeshuat Israel, Touro*. Rhode Island.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pressherald_39-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pressherald_39-1) Forecaster, The (August 22, 2016). ["New home for Portland synagogue"](https://www.pressherald.com/2016/08/22/new-home-for-portland-synagogue/). Retrieved June 17, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-40)** ["In Portland, Maine, One Community of Immigrants Welcomes Another - Tablet Magazine"](https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/community/articles/portland-maine-across-jewsa). Retrieved June 17, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-41)** ["Searching for connection at Rosh Hashanah"](https://www.pressherald.com/2024/10/02/opinion-searching-for-connection-at-rosh-hashanah/). *Portland Press Herald*. October 2, 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-42)** [https://wgme.com/news/local/im-worried-about-them-former-portland-rabbi-unable-to-return-home-to-family-in-israel-iran-war-iraq-maine-middle-east](https://wgme.com/news/local/im-worried-about-them-former-portland-rabbi-unable-to-return-home-to-family-in-israel-iran-war-iraq-maine-middle-east)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-43)** Herzfeld, Akiva. ["Coming Home"](https://www.jpost.com/travel/article-891608).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Irving2025_44-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Irving2025_44-1) Irving, John (2025). *Queen Esther* (Fiction). New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 60. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-5011-8944-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-5011-8944-9).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-45)** ["Shaarey Tphiloh (Portland) Torah dedication – Maine Jewish History Project"](https://web.colby.edu/jewsinmaine/videos/shaarey-tphiloh/). Retrieved June 17, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-46)** Cummings-Lawrence, Susan. "Anshe Sfard: Portland’s Forgotten Chassidic Synagogue" at MHS blog. [https://mainehistory.wordpress.com/tag/shaarey-tphiloh/](https://mainehistory.wordpress.com/tag/shaarey-tphiloh/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-47)** ["Reopening of ritual bath celebrated"](https://www.pressherald.com/2010/07/26/reopening-of-ritual-bath-celebrated-_2010-07-26/). July 26, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-48)** International, Taharat Hamishpachah. ["Mikvat Shalom Opening in Portland - Mikvah.org - Mivtza Taharas Hamishpacha"](https://www.mikvah.org/news/5). *www.mikvah.org*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-49)** See Documenting Maine Jewry [Old Orchard Beach](https://mainejews.org/photo.php?photoid=1067&camefrom=/indextoallcitations.php?city=OOB&location=Old+Orchard+Beach) mainejews.org Retrieved June 22, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-50)** [CB Israel](https://web.archive.org/web/20160608063017/http://www.cbisrael.me/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-51)** Silverman, Israel. [Jewish Oral History](https://digitalcommons.portlandlibrary.com/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1034&context=jewish_oral_history) portlandlibrary.com p.15

1. **[^](#cite_ref-52)** Rubinoff, Maurice. Oral Interview on October 18, 1976 at Digital Commons Portland Public Library, p.4

1. **[^](#cite_ref-53)** Isenman, Morris. "Oral History."

1. **[^](#cite_ref-54)** ["Mt. Sinai Cemetery – the Portland Jewish Funeral Home"](https://www.portlandjewishfuneralhome.org/cemeteries/mt-sinai-cemetery-association/).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-55)** ["Temple Beth El"](https://www.tbemaine.org/memorialpark). *TBE Memorial Park*. Retrieved December 3, 2023.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.mainesynagogue.org/)

v t e Synagogues in the United States By state Alabama Beth-El (Anniston) Knesseth Israel (Birmingham) Beth-El (Birmingham) Emanu-El (Birmingham) B'nai Sholom (Huntsville) Sha’arai Shomayim (Mobile) Agudath Israel Etz Ahayem (Montgomery) Beth Or (Montgomery) Alaska Arizona Beth Israel (Scottsdale) Emanuel (Tempe) Kol Ami (Tucson) Arkansas Shalom (Fayetteville) California Los Angeles Stephen Wise Temple (Bel Air) Beth Jacob (Beverly Hills) Emanuel (Beverly Hills) Valley Beth Shalom (Encino) Beth Israel (Highland Park & Eagle Rock) Temple Israel (Hollywood) Beth Am IKAR (LA) Wilshire Boulevard (LA) Beth Chayim Chadashim (Mid City) Ahavat Shalom (Northridge) Kehillat Israel (Pacific Palisades) Ner Tamid (Rancho Palos Verdes) Jewish Temple and Center (Pasadena) Pacific Jewish Center (Venice) Sephardic Temple (Westwood) Sinai Temple (Westwood) Bay Area Beth Israel (Berkeley) Beyt Tikkun (Berkeley) Peninsula Temple Sholom (Burlingame) B'nai Israel (Daly City) Beth Am (Los Altos Hills) Kehilla Community (Oakland) Temple Sinai (Oakland) Am Tikvah (San Francisco) Beth Sholom (San Francisco) Emanu-El (San Francisco) House of Love and Prayer (San Francisco) The Kitchen (San Francisco) Sherith Israel (San Francisco) Rodef Sholom (San Rafael) Kol Shofar (Tiburon) Beth Israel (Fresno) Chabad (Poway) B'nai Israel (Sacramento) Beth Israel (San Diego) Temple Israel (Stockton) Colorado Beth HaMedrosh Hagodol-Beth Joseph (Denver) Temple Emanuel (Denver) Temple Sinai (Denver) Temple Emanuel (Pueblo) Temple Aaron (Trinidad) Connecticut B'nai Israel (Bridgeport) Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek (Chester) Knesseth Israel (Ellington) Ahavath Achim (Fairfield) Mishkan Israel (Hamden) Beth Israel (Hartford West) Tephereth Israel (New Britain) Beth Israel (New Haven) Agudath Sholom (Stamford) Israel (Westport) B'nai Jacob (Woodbridge) Hebrew Congregation of Woodmont Delaware District of Columbia Adas Israel Bet Mishpachah DC Minyan Kesher Israel Machar Ohev Sholom Rosh Pina Sixth & I Temple Micah Washington Hebrew Florida Ahavath Chesed (Jacksonville) Bal Harbour (Surfside) Bet Shira (Miami) Edmond J. Safra (Miami) Beth Sholom (Miami Beach) Cuban Hebrew (Miami Beach) Emanu-El (Palm Beach) New (Palm Beach) Beth-El (Pensacola) Georgia Beth Jacob (Atlanta) Shearith Israel (Atlanta) Temple (Atlanta) B'nai Israel (Augusta) Beth Israel (Macon) B'nai Torah (Sandy Springs) Mickve Israel (Savannah) Hawaii Aloha Jewish Chapel (Pearl Harbor) Emanu-El (Honolulu) Idaho Ahavath Beth Israel (Boise) Illinois Chicagoland Anshe Emet Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel Beth Shalom Emanuel Congregation KAM Isaiah Israel Loop Synagogue Makom Solel Lakeside Mishkan North Shore Congregation Israel Beth El (Highland Park) Temple Sholom Sinai Tzedek Moses Montefiore (Bloomington) Jewish Community Center (Mattoon) Anshai Emeth (Peoria) Indiana Achduth Vesholom (Fort Wayne) Indianapolis Hebrew Iowa B'nai Israel (Council Bluffs) Beit Shalom (Davenport) United Orthodox (Sioux City) Kansas Beth Israel Abraham Voliner (Kansas City) B'nai Jehudah (Overland Park) Kentucky Adath Israel Brith Sholom (Louisville) Anshei Sfard (Louisville) Keneseth Israel (Louisville) Adath Israel (Owensboro) Temple Israel (Paducah) Louisiana B'nai Israel (Alexandria) Gemiluth Chassodim (Alexandria) Anshe Sfard (New Orleans) Beth Israel (New Orleans) Sinai (New Orleans) Touro (New Orleans) B'Nai Zion (Shreveport) Maine Beth Israel (Bangor) Etz Chaim (Portland) Shaarey Tphiloh (Portland) Maryland Baltimore B'nai Israel Hebrew Beth Am Shearith Israel Shomrei Emunah Tiferes Yisroel Naval Academy (Annapolis) Beth El (Bethesda) Bethesda Jewish Congregation Beth Shalom (Columbia) B'er Chayim (Cumberland) B'Nai Israel (Easton) Beth Sholom (Frederick) Kol Ami (Frederick) Emanuel (Kensington) Oseh Shalom (Laurel) Magen David Sephardic (North Bethesda) Ohev Sholom Talmud Torah (Olney) Beth El (Pikesville) Beth Tfiloh (Pikesville) Har Sinai – Oheb Shalom (Pikesville) Beth Sholom and Talmud Torah (Potomac) Beth Israel (Salisbury) Young Israel Shomrai Emunah (Silver Spring) B'nai Israel (Rockville) Massachusetts Temple Israel (Boston) Ohabei Shalom (Brookline) Kahal B'raira (Cambridge) Agudath Shalom (Chelsea) Beth Israel (Malden) Adams Street (Newton) Shaarei Tefillah (Newton) Beth Israel (North Adams) Beth Israel (Onset) Anshe Amunim (Pittsfield) Sinai Temple (Springfield) Ahavath Torah (Stoughton) Beth Israel (Worcester) Emanuel Sinai (Worcester) Michigan Beth El (Alpena) Beth Emeth (Ann Arbor) Beth Israel (Ann Arbor) Beth El (Detroit) Birmingham Temple (Detroit) Isaac Agree Downtown (Detroit) Temple Emanuel (Grand Rapids) Temple Jacob (Hancock) Beth Sholom (Marquette) Beth Israel (Jackson) Temple Israel (West Bloomfield) Minnesota Beth Jacob (Mendota Heights) Temple Israel (Minneapolis) Adath Jeshurun (Minnetonka) Beth El (St Louis Park) Mount Zion (St Paul) Or Emet (St Paul) Mississippi Adath Israel (Cleveland) Beth Israel (Jackson) Beth Israel (Meridian) B'nai Israel (Tupelo) Missouri United Hebrew (Chesterfield) B'nai Amoona (Creve Coeur) Shaare Emeth (Creve Coeur) Temple Israel (Creve Coeur) Beth El (Jefferson City) Montana Nebraska B'nai Jeshurun / South Street (Lincoln) Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey Beth Sholom (Cherry Hill) Kol Ami (Cherry Hill) Synagogue of Deal Beth Hillel (Deerville) Ahavath Torah (Englewood) Barnert (Franklin Lakes) Agudath Achim (Freehold) Etz Ahaim Sephardic (Highland Park) United Synagogue of Hoboken Beth-El (Jersey City) Adas Emuno (Leonia) B'Nai Abraham (Livingston) Shaari Emeth (Manalapan) Marlboro Jewish Center B'nai Israel (Millburn) Beth Hillel Beth Abraham (Millville) Morristown Jewish Center Beth Israel (Ridgewood) Rosenhayn Synagogue Oheb Shalom (South Orange) Beth El (Voorhees) New Mexico Albert (Albuquerque) B'nai Israel (Albuquerque) New York The Bronx Adath Israel Hebrew Institute Riverdale Center Riverdale Temple Brooklyn Magen David (Bensonhurst) Chevra Anshei Lubawitz (Borough Park) Shomrei Emunah (Borough Park) Young Israel Beth El (Borough Park) Kane Street/Baith Israel Anshei Emes (Cobble Hill) 770 (Crown Heights) CAY (Crown Heights) Kol Israel (Crown Heights) Beth El (Flatbush) Khal Hisachdus Yirieim Veretzky (Flatbush) Shaare Zion (Gravesend) Edmond J. Safra (Homecrest) Ocean Parkway (Kensington) Manhattan Beach Jewish Center B'nai Yosef (Mapleton) East Midwood (Midwood) Kingsway Center (Midwood) Sephardic Center (Mills Basin) Beth Elohim (Park Slope) Kolot Chayeinu (Park Slope) Park Slope (Park Slope) Beth Jacob Ohev Sholom (Williamsburg) Yetev Lev D'Satmar (Hooper St, Williamsburg) Yetev Lev D'Satmar (Rodney St, Williamsburg) Long Island Jewish Center (Atlantic Beach) Jewish Center (East Hampton) East Meadow Beth-El Jewish Center North Country Reform (Glen Cove) Beth-El (Great Neck) Tifereth Israel (Greenport) Jericho Jewish Center Emanu-El (Long Beach) RSNS (Plandome) Beth Israel (Port Washington) Adas Israel (Sag Harbor) Aish Kodesh (Woodmere) Manhattan Altneu Sixth Street (East Village) Meserich (East Village) Beth Israel (Garment District) Millinery Center (Garment District) Old Broadway (Harlem) Actor's Temple (Hells Kitchen) Fort Tryon (Hudson Heights) Lincoln Square (Lincoln Square) Bialystoker (Lower East Side) City Congregation for Humanistic Judaism (Lower East Side) Chasam Sopher (Lower E. Side) Eldridge Street (Lower E. Side) Kehila Kedosha Janina (Lower E. Side) Shul of New York (Lower E. Side) Stanton Street (Lower East) Talmud Torah Adereth El (Midtown East) Lab/Shul (Lower W. Side) Beit Simchat Torah (Midtown) Central Synagogue (Midtown) Sutton Place (Midtown) TriBeCa Synagogue (Tribeca) Temple Emanu-El (Upper E. Side) Fifth Avenue (Upper E. Side) Temple Israel (Upper E. Side) Kehilath Jeshurun (Upper E. Side) Or Zarua (Upper E. Side) Park Avenue (Upper E. Side) Park East (Upper E. Side) Edmond J. Safra (Upper E. Side) Shaaray Tefila (Upper E. Side) TUJ (Upper E. Side) Ansche Chesed (Upper W. Side) B'nai Jeshurun (Upper W. Side) Habonim (Upper W. Side) Jewish Center (Upper W. Side) Kol Zimrah (Upper W. Side) Ohab Zedek (Upper W. Side) Ramath Orah (Upper W. Side) Rodeph Sholom (Upper W. Side) Romemu (Upper W. Side) Shaare Zedek (Upper W. Side) Shearith Israel (Upper W. Side) SAJ (Upper W. Side) Stephen Wise (Upper W. Side) Hebrew Tabernacle of Washington Heights K'hal Adath Jeshurun (Washington Hts.) Mount Sinai (Washington Hts.) Queens Center of Israel (Astoria) Etz Hayim (Bayside) Tifereth Israel (Corona) Free Synagogue of Flushing Georgian Jews (Forest Hills) Queens Center (Forest Hills) Rego Park (Rego Park) Beth Emeth (Albany) Beth David (Amenia) Beth Zion (Buffalo) Beth El (Chappaqua) Beth Shalom (Clifton Park) B'nai Israel (Fleischmanns) Hunter (Hunter) Kerhonkson Synagogue (Kerhonkson) Loch Sheldrake Synagogue Agudas Achim (Livingston Manor) Hebrew Congregation (Mountaindale) Jewish Center (Norwich) Beth Israel (Plattsburgh) Kneses Tifereth Israel (Port Chester) B'rith Kodesh (Rochester) Beth Tzedek (Getzville) South Fallsburg Hebrew Association Emanu-El (Staten Island) Anshei Glen Wild (Sullivan Co.) Bikur Cholim B'nai Israel (Swan Lake) Society of Concord (Syracuse) Berith Sholom (Troy) Beth Joseph Synagogue (Tupper Lake) Spring Glen Synagogue (Wawarsing) Ulster Heights Synagogue (Wawarsing) West Point Jewish Chapel Temple Israel (White Plains) B'nai Israel (Woodbourne) Ohave Shalom (Woodridge) Lincoln Park (Yonkers) North Carolina Beth Israel (Asheville) Temple Israel (Charlotte) Temple Israel (Kinston) Emanuel (Statesville) Temple of Israel (Wilmington) North Dakota B'nai Israel (Grand Forks) Ohio Tifereth-Israel (Beachwood) Agudas Achim (Bexley) Golf Manor (Cincinnati) Rockdale (Cincinnati) Wise Temple (Cincinnati) Anshe Chesed Fairmount (Cleveland) Oheb Zedek Cedar Sinai (Cleveland) Park Synagogue (Cleveland) Silver Sanctuary (Cleveland) Temple Israel (Columbus) Temple Israel (Dayton) Beth Israel (Hamilton) B'nai Israel (Toledo) Oklahoma B'nai Israel (Oklahoma City) Temple Israel (Tulsa) Oregon Beth Israel (Eugene) Beth Israel (Portland) Havurah Shalom (Portland) Neveh Shalom (Portland) Shaarie Torah (Portland) Pennsylvania Philadelphia Beit Harambam Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel B'nai Abraham Frank Memorial Germantown Jewish Centre Keneseth Israel Kesher Israel Mikveh Israel Rodeph Shalom Shivtei Yeshuron-Ezras Israel Society Hill South Philadelphia Shtiebel Vilna Congregation YPC Shari-Eli Beth Israel (Altoona) Beth Israel (Chester Co.) B'nai Shalom (Easton) Anshe Hesed (Erie) Beth Shalom (Elkins Park) Kesher Israel (Harrisburg) Ohev Sholom (Harrisburg) Beth Israel (Honesdale) Beth Israel (Lebanon) Beth Or (Maple Glen) Adath Israel (Merion) B'nai Jacob (Middletown) Har Zion Temple (Penn Valley) Rodef Shalom (Pittsburgh) Tree of Life – Or L'Simcha (Pittsburgh) Kesher Zion (Reading) Beth Israel (Washington) Main Line Reform Temple (Wynnewood) Beth Israel (York) Rhode Island Touro (Newport) Beth-El (Providence) Sons of Jacob (Providence) South Carolina Beth Israel (Beaufort) Beth Elohim (Charleston) House of Peace (Columbia) Beth Israel (Florence) Beth Elohim (Georgetown) Kol Ami (Fort Mill) Sinai (Sumter) Tennessee Adas Israel (Brownsville) Mizpah (Chattanooga) B'nai Israel (Jackson) Baron Hirsch (Memphis) Temple Israel (Memphis) Ohabai Sholom (Nashville) Sherith Israel (Nashville) Texas Agudas Achim (Austin) Beth Israel (Austin) Emanuel (Beaumont) B'nai Abraham (Brenham) Emanu-El (Dallas) Beth Jacob (Galveston) B'nai Israel (Galveston) Beth Israel (Houston) Beth Yeshurun (Houston) Sinai (Houston) Beth-El (San Antonio) Utah B'rith Sholem (Ogden) Kol Ami (Salt Lake City) Vermont Ohavi Zedek (Burlington) Old Ohavi Zedek (Burlington) Rutland Jewish Center Virginia Agudas Achim (Alexandria) Beth El (Alexandria) Beth Israel (Charlottesville) Rodef Shalom (McLean) Sinai (Newport News) Commodore Levy Chapel (Norfolk) Beth Ahabah (Richmond) Kol Emes (Richmond) Beth Israel (Roanoke) Adath Israel (Rutland) House of Israel (Staunton) Beth El (Winchester) Washington Beth Israel (Bellingham) Bikur Cholim Machzikay Hadath (Seattle) Ezra Bessaroth (Seattle) Kavana Cooperative (Seattle) Sephardic Bikur Holim (Seattle) De Hirsch Sinai (Seattle and Belleview) West Virginia Ohev Sholom (Huntington) Shalom (Wheeling) Wisconsin Beth El (Madison) Beth Israel Ner Tamid (Milwaukee) Emanu-El B'ne Jeshurun (River Hills) Wyoming Mt Sinai (Cheyenne) Territories Virgin Islands Oldest U.S. synagogues History Category People US places of worship

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Shaarey Tphiloh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaarey_Tphiloh) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaarey_Tphiloh?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.