Shaaray Tefilah Congregation

Shaaray Tefilah Congregation was an Orthodox congregation founded by immigrants from various parts the Russian Empire and known locally as “the Russian shul.” The congregation was created in 1906, when Rabbi Moshe Shimon Sivitz meditated a merger between Beth David Congregation and Beth Zedeck Congregation.^[1]Feldman, Jacob. “The Jewish Experience in Western Pennsylvania,” Pittsburgh: Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, 1986 (catalog record). Shaaray Tefilah was incorporated that year using the spelling Sahro Tefilah.^[2]Sahro Tfilo Congregation consolidation notice, Pittsburgh Gazette-Times, May 11, 1906 (online—Newspapers.com). The new congregation immediately occupied the recently completed Beth David synagogue at 21-23 Miller Street in the Hill District. A segment of Shaaray Tefilah Congregation broke away in 1908 to found Beth Mogen David Congregation, which ultimately built a synagogue next door on Miller Street. For a time, Shaaray Tefilah was colloquially known as the “big Russian shul” and Beth Mogen David was known as the “little Russian shul.”^[3]Feldman, Jacob. “The Jewish Experience in Western Pennsylvania,” Pittsburgh: Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, 1986 (catalog record).

The Miller Street synagogue was damaged in a fire in October 1917^[4]“Fire in Synagogue,” Pittsburgh Daily Post, Oct. 17, 1917 (online—Newspapers.com). and again in early 1933.^[5]“Two Fires Damage Synagogue on Hill,” Pittsburgh Press, April 4, 1933 (online—Newspapers.com). ^[6]“New Synagogue Dedicated,” Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, Sept. 11, 1933 (online—Newspapers.com). Shaaray Tefilah left the Hill District in 1947 or 1948 and relocated to a renovated house at 5741 Bartlett Street in Squirrel Hill. The congregation added a social hall wing (Hymen Rosenberg, architect; I. Neistein, contractor) onto the Bartlett Street building in 1955. Shaaray Tefilah entertained but ultimately rejected a merger proposal from Chofetz Chaim Congregation in the early 1970s.^[7]Shaaray Tefilah Congregation minutes (online). The new Kollel Beis Yitzchok began using the Shaaray Tefilah synagogue as its original meeting place in 1978. Shaaray Tefilah disbanded in the early 1990s and sold its Bartlett Street synagogue in 1993.^[8]5741 Bartlett St. sale notice, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Nov. 6, 1993 (online—Newspapers.com). The synagogue was later demolished to accommodate construction of Weinberg Terrace.

By the early 1920s, membership totaled around 136 people.^[9]Congregation Shaarey Tefilah membership list, Pittsburgh Jewish Community Book, 1921 (online—Historic Pittsburgh). By the second half of the 20th century, the relocated congregation had declined to around 60 members.^[10]Shaaray Tefilah Congregation membership list, undated (online).

Shaaray Tefilah never established a cemetery but instead maintained a long-standing relationship with the Beth Abraham Cemetery Association. Beth Abraham rented rooms at the Miller Street synagogue in the Hill District and followed Shaaray Tefilah to its new Bartlett Street synagogue in Squirrel Hill in the 1940s. Beth Abraham became the preferred burial ground for members of Shaaray Tefilah Congregation. Shaaray Tefilah was also the preferred synagogue for members of the Shpikover Hilfs Verien.

Spiritual leaders of Shaaray Tefilah Congregation include Rabbi Moses Kramer, Rabbi Julius Bloom, Rabbi I. Weiss, Rabbi Yisroel Pfeffer, and Rabbi Shimon Silver.

Bibliography

Rauh Jewish Archives

• Shaaray Tefillah Congregation records [MSS 361] (catalog record).
• Shaaray Tefillah Congregation oversize records [MSO 361] (catalog record).
• Shaaray Tefillah Congregation synagogue photographs, Gerald Sapir Papers and Photographs [MSS 775] (online).
• Congregation Shaarey Tefilah membership list, Pittsburgh Jewish Community Book, 1921 (online—Historic Pittsburgh).
• “The Local Communal Scene: Shaaray Tefillah Congregation,” The Pittsburgh Tri-state Pinkas, Jewish National Fund of America, Pittsburgh Council and Tri-State Region, Pittsburgh, 1949 (online-Historic Pittsburgh).
• Feldman, Jacob. “The Jewish Experience in Western Pennsylvania,” Pittsburgh: Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, 1986 (catalog record).

Newspapers

• Sahro Tfilo Congregation consolidation notice, Pittsburgh Gazette-Times, May 11, 1906 (online—Newspapers.com).
• “Oppose Church Merger,” Pittsburgh Daily Post, May 18, 1906 (online—Newspapers.com).
• “Lively Battle Over New Rabbi,” Pittsburgh Gazette-Times, April 21, 1907 (online—Newspapers.com).
• “Fire in Synagogue,” Pittsburgh Daily Post, Oct. 17, 1917 (online—Newspapers.com).
• Rabbi Moses Kramer obituary, Pittsburgh Press, July 1, 1918 (online—Newspapers.com).
• “Synagogue in Hill District,” Pittsburgh Gazette Times, Oct. 12, 1923 (online—Newspapers.com).
• “Two Fires Damage Synagogue on Hill,” Pittsburgh Press, April 4, 1933 (online—Newspapers.com).
• “New Synagogue Dedicated,” Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph, Sept. 11, 1933 (online—Newspapers.com).
• 5741 Bartlett St. sale notice, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Nov. 6, 1993 (online—Newspapers.com).
• Levin, Steve. “Clerical studies don’t always lead to ministry,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, June 13, 1999 (online—Newspapers.com).

Exhibit History

• Author: Eric Lidji
• Created: July 8, 2022
• Current: July 8, 2022