The story of Jewish Baltimore and the evolution of the city are integrally bound up with Shaarei Tfiloh, as its location has served as a crossroads for the Jewish community and greater Baltimore since the synagogue’s founding a century ago. The building was constructed between 1921 – 1927 and from its inception, Shaarei Tfiloh embraced diverse traditions and a commitment to learning in community. The synagogue was founded by Jews primarily of Eastern European descent, yet many of these families practiced Judaism according to Spanish (Sephardic) traditions. The building, designed by Stanislaus Russell, integrated these two traditions into a unique and inspiring architectural landmark that fuses distinctive characteristics of Sephardic influence with that of early twentieth-century American synagogue design. The building’s prominent dome and stunning stained glass have been Baltimore landmarks since the synagogue’s opening, and it has been on the National Register of Historic Places for over two decades.
From its founding, Shaarei Tfiloh has had an explicit mission to serve as a gathering place specifically for communal learning. For its first century, Shaarei Tfiloh embraced these principles primarily as a traditional Orthodox synagogue. In August, 2023, the building transitioned to its next chapter, relaunching as Third Space at Shaarei Tfiloh. Third Space adds a new layer to the building’s legacy and is dedicated to its historic principles, but reimagines the space as a new, non-denominational, inclusive locale for learning, life, and community involvement
Shaarei Tfiloh recognized that as their model changed, they no longer had the infrastructure to maintain their historic cemetery. In 2024, they approached the JCA about transferring ownership of the cemetery. This type of acquisition fits exactly within the JCA mission statement. The board voted and unanimously approved the acquisition. The JCA has been successfully operating the cemetery since.
An Outline History of the Shaarei Tfiloh Congregation
