Shaare Torah synagogue (Squirrel Hill)
The Jewish Encyclopedia
of Western Pennsylvania
A project of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center
Shaare Torah Congregation is an Orthodox congregation in Pittsburgh. It was founded in the Hill District around 1889 by a contingent of Beth Hamedrash Hagodol Congregation members who supported its leader Rabbi Moshe Shimon Sivitz against dissent within the congregation. Some of these supporters came from the vicinity of Rabbi Sivitiz’s hometown of Zitoyan in Kovno province in Lithuania.[1]Cooper, Charles I. “The Story of the Jews of Pittsburgh,” Jewish Criterion, May 31, 1918, p. 100 (online). [2]In the early 1950s, Shaare Torah began using 1880 as the dates of its founding and incorporation. Early records suggest a foudning in 1888 or 1889 and incorporation in 1890, although the 1880 date … Continue readingShaare Torah was incorporated in 1890 with charter members L. T. Avner, L. W. Avner, Max Epstein, S. R. Epstein, G. Friedman (Freedman), Max Goodman, Luis Kaminsky, Jacob Kriger, D. S. Osgood, Herris Pittler, Hyman D. Sachs, Harris Sigel, Max Sobel, and Mayr Pittler.[3]Shaare Torah (Gates of Wisdom) Congregation charter, 1890, Allegheny County Charter Books, Vol. 15, p. 325 (online).
Shaare Torah initially met in a rented room at the corner of Marion Street and Fifth Avenue. Other early locations included rented rooms and buildings on Washington Street opposite Epiphany Street, on Old Avenue at Fifth Avenue, and at 95 Logan Street.[4]Cooper, Charles I. “The Story of the Jews of Pittsburgh,” Jewish Criterion, May 31, 1918, p. 100 (online). By 1895 the congregation was occupying a renovated church at 35 Townsend Street.[5]Shaare Torah advertisement, Der Volksfreund, 1895 (online). Over the next 15 years, the congregation launched several campaigns to construct a synagogue at the location, eventually dedicating a new structure (D. A. Crone, architect) in 1909.[6]“Townsend Street’s New Synagogue,” Pittsburgh Gazette-Times, Nov. 3, 1907 (online-Newspapers.com). [7]“New Synagogue To Be Dedicated This Afternoon,” Pittsburgh Press, Sept. 5, 1909 (online-Newspapers.com).
Following the general migration of the Jewish population, Shaare Torah decided to relocate to Squirrel Hill in the mid-1940s. The congregation held services in its “Squirrel Hill Annex” at the Kaufmann Center at 5832 Forward Ave starting with the High Holidays in 1945 while simultaneously maintaining its Townsend Street synagogue for its members in the Hill District. [8]Shaare Torah notice, Aug. 30, 1946, American Jewish Outlook, p16 (online). The congregation purchased property on Murray Avenue in 1946, broke ground on its new synagogue in 1947, and dedicated of the first section of the building in 1948.[9]“Ground to Be Broken Sunday For Modern Synagogue,” Pittsburgh Press, April 18, 1947 (online—Newspapers.com). The congregation later expanded the building to include a beis medrash and a school wing and to incorporate stained glass windows design by Eleanor Fax.
Spiritual leaders of Shaare Torah include Rabbi Moshe Shimon Sivitz (1889-1936), Rabbi Baruch A. Poupko (1943-1996), Rabbi Daniel Wasserman (1996-2022), and Rabbi Yitchak Genack (2022-). Associate rabbis include Rabbi Moshe Kletenik and Rabbi Eliezer Schusterman.
References
| ↑1, ↑4 | Cooper, Charles I. “The Story of the Jews of Pittsburgh,” Jewish Criterion, May 31, 1918, p. 100 (online). |
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| ↑2 | In the early 1950s, Shaare Torah began using 1880 as the dates of its founding and incorporation. Early records suggest a foudning in 1888 or 1889 and incorporation in 1890, although the 1880 date might refer to initial meetings involving founding members. |
| ↑3 | Shaare Torah (Gates of Wisdom) Congregation charter, 1890, Allegheny County Charter Books, Vol. 15, p. 325 (online). |
| ↑5 | Shaare Torah advertisement, Der Volksfreund, 1895 (online). |
| ↑6 | “Townsend Street’s New Synagogue,” Pittsburgh Gazette-Times, Nov. 3, 1907 (online-Newspapers.com). |
| ↑7 | “New Synagogue To Be Dedicated This Afternoon,” Pittsburgh Press, Sept. 5, 1909 (online-Newspapers.com). |
| ↑8 | Shaare Torah notice, Aug. 30, 1946, American Jewish Outlook, p16 (online). |
| ↑9 | “Ground to Be Broken Sunday For Modern Synagogue,” Pittsburgh Press, April 18, 1947 (online—Newspapers.com). |
