Dear Shaarie Torah Kehillah,

For the past year, we have been celebrating Congregation Shaarie Torah’s 120th Anniversary and the legacy of our shul in the Portland community. At this time, I want to share some important updates as we look ahead to the future: A future that builds on our growing membership, our robust community participation in services, our many impactful programs, and our strong staff and lay-leadership.

When we started our 120th year journey at the end of 2024, we kicked off a kehillah-wide survey that captured valuable data and insights from you. Your feedback helped us understand what was most important in our shul: Our sense of community, education and children’s programming, having a warm and secure building, financial stability, and a location that is in an intersectional neighborhood of the city.

As stewards of our beloved synagogue, we recognize the deep history and emotional significance our building holds for so many in our community. Over the past months, the Board has been working diligently to address some of the most pressing needs of our aging building, including major upgrades to our internal electrical system as mandated by our insurance carrier. We are pleased to share that the electrical upgrade project we notified you of in December is nearly complete, with modern, UL-rated breaker panels now in place – and accomplished with minimal disruption to our daily life together.

Like any cherished space that has served generations, our building requires additional ongoing care and maintenance (beyond just the electrical panels). With this in mind, the Board embarked on a comprehensive study of our property and assets, carefully considering deferred maintenance projects, associated costs, and how our current location serves our membership. We formed the “Next 120 Years Committee” taskforce, made up of more than a dozen shul members with expertise in real estate, property management, architecture, engineering, project management and other professional services.

The Committee examined the challenges we face, prioritized needed repairs, compared building alternatives (including the possibility of moving into a new building more commensurate with our current needs), and consulted a commercial real estate group to understand the market outlook and what potential relocation might entail.

After many months of detailed research and data collection, the Committee presented its findings to the Board. Their recommendation was to remain in our current building with a phased approach to addressing our maintenance and space planning needs.

Following additional financial modeling and fiduciary review, the Board voted on January 26, 2026 to accept the Committee’s recommendation and commit to preserve our building while continuing to create a safe and welcoming prayer space for future generations. 

We want to thank the Next 120 Years Committee for their thorough research and measured recommendation. We also acknowledge the many concerns and uncertainties that have been brought up within our congregation – and these uncertainties will continue as we move forward. This is why we wanted to share openly about the thoughtful process we’ve undertaken. The work ahead will require patience, shared commitment, and the collective strength of our kehillah, but we are confident that together, we can honor our past while shaping a vibrant tomorrow in the heimish home that we know and love.

You may recall that during Kol Nidre/Yom Kippur, I spoke about operational costs vs. needs of our membership, while Rabbi Oren addressed our building, cemetery and financial obligations. We purposefully chose that sacred moment in the Jewish calendar, and in our 120-year history, to lay the groundwork for what would unfold in 5786. 

Over the coming weeks, you’ll receive invitations to join “Shaari-ing” Sessions, guided conversations where we will discuss our future needs and how we can support the ongoing care and financial needs of our cherished home for years to come.

Please watch for opportunities to:

    • Attend Shaari-ing Sessions to provide input and learn more about our future
    • Participate in Town Halls and group discussions
    • Have conversations with Board members and leaders

Finally, and as importantly, continue showing up! Your participation in services and events is vital to our shul’s growth.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, Rabbi Oren, and Executive Director Jemi Kostiner Mansfield, we can’t thank you enough for your unwavering dedication. Let us move forward united in purpose as we care for our sacred home and continue the legacy of Shaarie Torah in the Portland Jewish Community.

Kul Tov and Shabbat Shalom,

Raphi Rosenblatt
President, Congregation Shaarie Torah
President@shaarietorah.org