In the 1950s, Sisterhood began its most famous fundraiser, the baking of hamentaschen, and in its first year sold 100 dozen. In the warm, noisy kitchen, experienced cooks teach the novices how to roll dough, shape balls of fruit, knip, egg wash, bake, and pack. In past years, our Sisterhood made over 2,500 dozen with the help of over 100 volunteers.  They are shipped all over the world.

Congregation Shaarie Torah’s tradition of making Hamentashen for Purim was featured in the Wall Street Journal! Read the article and watch the accompanying video here. 

Excerpt from 2014 Wall Street Journal Article

“‘We have records for every dough we’ve made since 1980,’ says Marje Jacobson, 73, who wears a T-shirt emblazoned with the title “Dough-Maven.” Mrs. Jacobson’s hamentaschen debut was in 1961.

Frieda Cohen, 93, has a hamentaschen streak dating back to 1948. ‘As far as I’m concerned, the knipping is the hardest,; she says, solemnly. ‘Turning a circular piece of dough into a triangular cookie is a very deliberative process.’

To say the Shaarie Torah Sisterhood rules the Purim pastry business here is an understatement. To say it has intimidated rival Portland temples to back off is not.”