Shaarey Tphiloh was founded by and home to many Yiddish-speaking Eastern European immigrants who brought with them Orthodox traditions.
One early, active family was Ellis and Bella Waterman and their children, Arthur, Sadie, and Harriet.
Ellis Waterman emigrated from Russia in 1889 when he was about seven. His wife was a Maine native whose parents were Russian immigrants.
Arthur, who chaired the 1956 Golden Jubilee of the synagogue wrote that the occasion brought "Joy that comes from the knowledge that the spark of orthodox Judaism which was kindled in our community fifty years ago burns more brightly than ever before."
