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Shaarei Tfiloh Synagogue (
. ''The Baltimore Sun''. July 9, 1921. p. 5. The cornerstone of the Shaarei Tfiloh Synagogue was laid on July 10, 1921. Constructed from 1921 and 1927 for $285,000, it is one of the oldest functioning synagogue buildings in Maryland. It holds 700 men and 300 women. The synagogue has a turquoise dome, stained glass windows, and a sanctuary with a balcony for women's seating.Feiler, Alan H.
'It's Part Of Our Heritage': Shaarei Tfiloh's listing on a landmarks registry may attract new members, and dollars, to an old shul
. ''Baltimore Jewish Times''. January 10, 1997. p. 28. Its first president was Louis Cordish, father of state politician Paul L. Cordish. Rabbi Nathan Drazin was installed as Rabbi in 1934.
At the time the synagogue was built, the surrounding "Park Circle" area was a thriving Jewish community. However, the Jewish community moved away from the neighborhood during the 1960s, primarily to Upper Park Heights, Randallstown, Pikesville, and
Shaarei Tfiloh Congregation Cemetery
transliterated
Transliteration is a type of conversion of a text from one writing system, script to another that involves swapping Letter (alphabet), letters (thus ''wikt:trans-#Prefix, trans-'' + ''wikt:littera#Latin, liter-'') in predictable ways, such as ...
from Hebrew
Hebrew (; ''ʿÎbrit'') is a Northwest Semitic languages, Northwest Semitic language within the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family. A regional dialect of the Canaanite languages, it was natively spoken by the Israelites and ...
as "Gates of Prayer"), also known as the Shul in the Park, is a former Orthodox Jewish
Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...
congregation and synagogue
A synagogue, also called a shul or a temple, is a place of worship for Jews and Samaritans. It is a place for prayer (the main sanctuary and sometimes smaller chapels) where Jews attend religious services or special ceremonies such as wed ...
located on Druid Hill Park at 2001 Liberty Heights Avenue, Baltimore
Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...
, Maryland
Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...
, in the United States. Completed in 1927, in September 2023 it was reported that the synagogue had closed.
Shaarei Tfiloh Synagogue was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
in 1996. The synagogue is significant due to its association with the immigration of Russian
Russian(s) may refer to:
*Russians (), an ethnic group of the East Slavic peoples, primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries
*A citizen of Russia
*Russian language, the most widely spoken of the Slavic languages
*''The Russians'', a b ...
and Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is a subregion of the Europe, European continent. As a largely ambiguous term, it has a wide range of geopolitical, geographical, ethnic, cultural and socio-economic connotations. Its eastern boundary is marked by the Ural Mountain ...
an Jews to Baltimore. It is a rock-faced stone structure with large arched stained glass windows and a pedimented roofline surmounted by a central copper-clad dome.
History
The synagogue was designed by architect Stanislaus Russell and built on a budget on $250,000.Will Lay Cornerstone: Ceremony At Shaarei Thloh Synagogue Site Tomorrow. ''The Baltimore Sun''. July 9, 1921. p. 5. The cornerstone of the Shaarei Tfiloh Synagogue was laid on July 10, 1921. Constructed from 1921 and 1927 for $285,000, it is one of the oldest functioning synagogue buildings in Maryland. It holds 700 men and 300 women. The synagogue has a turquoise dome, stained glass windows, and a sanctuary with a balcony for women's seating.Feiler, Alan H.
'It's Part Of Our Heritage': Shaarei Tfiloh's listing on a landmarks registry may attract new members, and dollars, to an old shul
. ''Baltimore Jewish Times''. January 10, 1997. p. 28. Its first president was Louis Cordish, father of state politician Paul L. Cordish. Rabbi Nathan Drazin was installed as Rabbi in 1934.
Religious services
At the time the synagogue was built, the surrounding "Park Circle" area was a thriving Jewish community. However, the Jewish community moved away from the neighborhood during the 1960s, primarily to Upper Park Heights, Randallstown, Pikesville, and Owings Mills
Owings Mills is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. It is a suburb of Baltimore. Per the 2020 census, the population was 35,674. Owings Mills is home to the northern terminus o ...
. Eventually the synagogue ceased regular Sabbath (Saturday) services and only conducted services on the Jewish High Holy Days
In Judaism, the High Holy Days, also known as High Holidays or Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim; , ''Yāmīm Nōrāʾīm'') consist of:
#strictly, the holidays of Rosh Hashanah ("Jewish New Year") and Yom Kippur ("Day of Atonement");
#by extension, th ...
.
Beginning in the mid-2000s, the synagogue started conducting one "weekday" service a week, on Sunday mornings, in an effort to re-invigorate it, although Sabbath services are still not conducted. The synagogue is also occasionally used for special events (such as weddings) and as a location for "period" photography. It appeared in the 1999 movie '' Liberty Heights''.
The synagogue conforms to Orthodox teachings and practices, and welcomes all as worshipers and members, regardless of personal affiliation.
Howard Perlow and David Cordish were the co-presidents and David E. Herman was the rabbi
A rabbi (; ) is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi—known as ''semikha''—following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of t ...
.
Cemetery
The Shaarei Tfiloh Congregation Cemetery is located on 5800 Windsor Mill Road.See also
* History of the Jews in MarylandReferences
External links
*, including photo from 1994, at Maryland Historical Trust 2023 disestablishments in Maryland 20th-century synagogues in the United States Former synagogues in Maryland Lithuanian-Jewish culture in Maryland Neoclassical architecture in Maryland Neoclassical synagogues Orthodox Judaism in Baltimore Polish-Jewish culture in Baltimore Properties of religious function on the National Register of Historic Places in Baltimore Russian-Jewish culture in Baltimore Synagogue buildings with domes Synagogues completed in 1927 Synagogues in Baltimore Synagogues on the National Register of Historic Places Ukrainian-Jewish culture in Baltimore {{BaltimoreCityMD-NRHP-stub