As historian Michael Cohen has written, Shaarey Tphiloh from its beginnings attempted to balance being "American" and being "Jewish."
While the congregation has held onto many Orthodox beliefs and traditions, it also has integrated into the larger community and modernized some of its practices.
Rabbi Steven Dworken, who came to Portland in 1971, urged the congregation to remain observant and stressed the difference Orthodox and Conservative Judaism.
He used the phrase, "ReJEWvinate It's Not Too Late."
