Over 100 years of Sephardic history, right here in Portland |
Today, Ahavath Achim is a proud Congregation with over 100 years of continuous operation and with a broad membership which includes not only Jews of Spanish and Portuguese decent, but Jews with roots in Greece, Turkey, Israel, Yemen, Persia, Morocco, and many countries of Ashkenazi heritage. “Everyone is welcome under our tent” as we Sephardim express all over the world. Sephardic Judaism, unlike Ashkenazi Judaism, does not divide observance between Reform, Conservative and Orthodox streams of adherence. We are simply Sephardim, with a traditional synagogue service, conducted mostly in Hebrew, with Sephardic pronunciation and with complete oral recital of the liturgy.
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History of Congregation Ahavath Achim
Compiled by member Richard Matza with additional details by Andrew Morse for the Oregon Encyclopedia entry on CAA, William Kramer from “The History of Congregation Ahavath Achim of Portland.” In Sephardic Jews in the West Coast States: Volume III and Jonathan Singer from “The Sephardic Jews of Portland.” Honors thesis, Ponoma College, 2003.
Life in Rhodes and Turkey: Pre-1910
Jews have lived in Rhodes since at least the 2nd century B.C., with their presence recorded in ancient texts and seen today in the medieval Juderia quarter. By the 12th century, traveler Benjamin of Tudela found a community of 400–500 Jews, which grew when Jews from Aragon arrived in 1280. After a devastating Turkish attack in 1480, only 22 Jewish families remained, but the community rebuilt with new arrivals from Thessaloniki in the 16th century. Over the next few centuries, Rhodes became an important Sephardic center, known for its synagogues, rabbinical schools, and merchants who thrived in trade, textiles, and craftsmanship.
At the same time, Sephardic Jews flourished in the Ottoman Empire, particularly in cities like Izmir and Istanbul, where they maintained Ladino language and traditions. Many of these Jews had ancestors who were expelled from Spain and Portugal in 1492 and found refuge in Turkish lands. By the 19th century, Jewish life in both Rhodes and Turkey was influenced by the Alliance Israelite Universelle, which brought modern education while preserving Sephardic heritage. Wealthy merchants, scholars, and artisans formed strong communities, continuing their traditions while adapting to changing times.
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, economic hardship and political instability led many Jews from Rhodes and Turkey to seek new opportunities abroad. Some immigrated to the United States, including Portland, Oregon, where they established a Sephardic community.
At the same time, Sephardic Jews flourished in the Ottoman Empire, particularly in cities like Izmir and Istanbul, where they maintained Ladino language and traditions. Many of these Jews had ancestors who were expelled from Spain and Portugal in 1492 and found refuge in Turkish lands. By the 19th century, Jewish life in both Rhodes and Turkey was influenced by the Alliance Israelite Universelle, which brought modern education while preserving Sephardic heritage. Wealthy merchants, scholars, and artisans formed strong communities, continuing their traditions while adapting to changing times.
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, economic hardship and political instability led many Jews from Rhodes and Turkey to seek new opportunities abroad. Some immigrated to the United States, including Portland, Oregon, where they established a Sephardic community.
Above: image of the Jewish quarter of Rhodes courtesy of the Jewish Museum of Rhodes
Founding and B'nai B'rith: 1911-1921In 1911 a small minyan of Sephardic men met to worship on the High Holydays. Five years later, a congregation was constituted and given the name Ahavath Achim, meaning “brotherly love”. We were listed with other congregations in the local Jewish press indicating that were of the Sephardic tradition and held services at the B’nai B’rith building located at SW 13th and Mill St. The ritual committee consisted of Isaac B. Hasson, and Jacob Piha. Services were conducted by Joseph Notrica, who acted as Hazzan. Founding members were Turkish and Greek immigrants who descended from Jews of Spain and Portugal. The B’nai B’rith building was a fine venue for us since we would not acquire a site for our own sanctuary until 1921.
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1636 SW 13th Ave - Order of B'nai Brith, February 1964
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3rd and Sherman: 1921-1960As the years passed, our Sephardic community grew to the extent that we required our own place of worship. Property at SW 3rd and Sherman was purchased in 1921 and it would take the next seven years to collect sufficient funds for construction. The synagogue was designed in the Moorish architectural style, which recalled the community’s Spanish roots. On October 13, 1929, the Honorable Ben Selling broke ground for the new building and on August 31, 1930, our first synagogue was dedicated in the presence of our Sephardic members and friends in the Portland Jewish community. Throughout the 1930s, the congregation remained small, with about eighty-five mostly working-class families who met for prayers. After World War II, Ahavath Achim became involved with philanthropic causes, especially those that supported the State of Israel, and the synagogue hosted talks by political Zionists and leaders of the Mizrachi religious Zionist movement. For the next 30 years the Congregation enjoyed varied and interesting religious, social, educational and cultural programs on that site.
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Congregation Ahavath Achim, orig. building. Congregation Ahavath Achim, orig. building Courtesy Oreg. Hist. Soc. Research Lib., neg. no.48750
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Barbur Blvd: 1961-2022In 1961, the Urban Renewal Commission of Portland requested that we remove the synagogue building to make way for a freeway project. Rather than construct a new building, the decision was made to move the existing building. During the move however, the building collapsed and was later condemned. “Ah Dio”.
Fortunately, the building was insured and with the insurance proceeds, the congregation began construction in July 1965 at a site on Barbur Blvd. The eye-catching building was designed by renowned architect John Storrs who also designed the Oregon College of Art and Craft as well as Portland’s Central Catholic High School. Storrs explained that the unique dome design “also allowed for services to be conducted without amplifying speakers’ voices, in keeping with Orthodox rules.” It was completed and dedicated in 1966. That same year Rabbi Michel Albagali was hired as our Rabbi, but due to poor health, he served only one year through October of 1967, and as Rabbi Emeritus until his death in 1988. From 1933 to 1983, Mr. Jack Maimon of Seattle acted as our Hazzan for High Holyday and Purim services in the Sephardic tradition or 50 continuous years. Mashalah! Hazzan Sam Nechemia z''l, followed him from 1986 to 1989. Beginning in the 1980s, the congregation experienced a period of diversification. Individuals in the Ashkenazic community became members of the congregation, and there was an influx of Sephardic Jews from North Africa and the Middle East. Between 1989 and 1994, we had no formal Hazzan and relied upon the able members of our congregation to perform services. Weekly Friday evening and Shabbat services were conducted by Sol Varon, Yossi Malka, and David Boussi, as well as others. In the fall of 1995, the Board contracted with Hazzan Nechemia z''l to return to Portland and lead services with his beautiful voice and Sephardic Hazzanut. The congregation elected its first female president, Renee Ferrera, in 1995. Mrs. Ferrerra still serves as Vice President and head of our kitchen committee In 2002, the congregation helped begin the Sephardic Cultural Center of Oregon, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting and educating the public about Sephardic culture. The center hosts an annual film festival, which highlights films with a Sephardic theme. The congregation also holds an annual picnic and shabbatons (weekend workshops or retreats), and it occasionally cosponsors community events with the Kesser Israel synagogue. Though small, Ahavath Achim remains a pillar of the Portland Jewish community. In 2005, Rabbi Truzman was retained as our religious leader and served four years in that position. Then, in 2012, Rabbi Michael Kaplan, a New Yorker with a degree in medieval history from Yeshiva University, was retained as our spiritual leader and he served with distinction until 2018. In 2014, the Congregation celebrated its 100 year anniversary with a gala dinner event, photographic show, exhibit at the Oregon Jewish Museum and a year of other celebratory events. A historical book was published and a DVD was produced to mark the milestone achievement. Hazzan Nechemia z"l retired in 2015 and passed in 2021. Rabbi Kaplan and his family made Aliyah. Rabbi Gadi & Eve Levy joined as the Rabbi/Rabissa and Program director from 2018 - 2020. Rabbi Sholom Skolnik was hired in 2020 and served until 2022 as our congregational Rabbi, moving onto Kesser Israel at the end of his tenure. |
Preparing for the building to move, 1962. Preparing for the building to move, 1962 Courtesy Oreg. Hist. Soc. Research Lib., photograph by Al Jessen
Crack from move (arrows). Crack from move (arrows) Courtesy Oreg. Hist. Soc. Research Lib., photograph by Al Jessen
Construction of new building, 1965. Construction of new building, 1965 Courtesy Oreg. Hist. Soc. Research Lib., OrHi105558
Photo of the "Beehive" on Barbur Blvd. Courtesy of Synagogues 360.
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SW Capitol Hwy: 2022-todayIn 2022 we moved to our current location on SW Capitol Hwy. Rabbi Devin Maimon-Villareal joined us in 2023 and served as congregational rabbi until mid-2024. We were led by Yosef Rosen as Hazzan in 2024 and are currently led by Eli Falk as Hazzan. We are searching for a new Rabbi at this time, and are actively working to revitalize Sephardic life in Portland.
One hundred years of continuous operation as Oregon’s authentic Sephardic community has created renewed interest in our little kahal and practices of Sephardic rituals. We at Congregation Ahavath Achim are extremely proud of our Sephardic heritage, realizing we are a minority within a minority, and invite Jews of all backgrounds and ethnicity to join us, because we Sephardim have a big tent that welcomes all Jews. |
Our beautiful hand-crafted ark
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Laws and Customs (Minhagim)
Both Sephardic and Ashkenazic traditions are rich in culture and observance. They both should be cherished and prolonged. Here at Congregation Ahavath Achim we ask you to observe the Sephardic minhagim and to help us preserve the original bastion of Sephardic culture in the State of Oregon. We are a minority within a minority and we ask for your support and your help in preserving what we have as our cultural heritage. Learn more about some of our minhagim below.
You are so welcome to be here, and we sincerely appreciate you.
Thank you very much for your kind consideration and for your participation.
Compiled by Victor Ferrera z"l, and Mark Abolofia:
You are so welcome to be here, and we sincerely appreciate you.
Thank you very much for your kind consideration and for your participation.
Compiled by Victor Ferrera z"l, and Mark Abolofia:
6686 SW Capitol Hwy. Portland, OR 97219
Mailing address: 5150 SW 85th Ave. Portland, OR 97225
Phone: 503.227.0010
[email protected]
Mailing address: 5150 SW 85th Ave. Portland, OR 97225
Phone: 503.227.0010
[email protected]
