Our Campus
Centrally located in eclectic Northwest Portland, our campus reflects the Congregation’s commitment to Jewish learning, worship and community.
Click Here for Information on Visiting CBI
Our Main Sanctuary
Our Historic Main Sanctuary, completed in 1928, is one of the finest standing examples of neo-Byzantine architecture. Designed by Morris H. Whitehouse, Herman Brookman, and Harry A. Herzog, the temple’s design concepts were derived from Essen, Germany’s Steelerstrasse Synagogue and is known for its impressive dome.
While some construction materials came from as far away as Norway, exterior stone was quarried in Olympia, Washington and the terracotta shingles came from California. Its eighteen stained glass windows detail aspects of both Judaism and interfaith cooperation, as one was gifted to CBI by Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and St. Mary’s Cathedral.
The Sanctuary is:
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places 1972 under Criteria A: Broad Patterns of History and C: Architecture
- Listed by Sacred Spaces International as one of ten such spaces in Portland, 2010
- Listed as one of ten Sacred Places in America by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2015
- Featured in the Public Broadcasting Service documentary “God in America”, a co-production of American Experience and Frontline, 2016
The Sherman Education Building
Opposite the historic Temple, the Sherman Education Building houses the Congregation’s URJ-accredited Religious School, as well as the Jennifer Barnum Luria Early Childhood Center (“The Jennie”), which provides child-led, play-based, Reform Jewish early childhood education for students aged six weeks to prekindergarten.
The center spans twenty classrooms, the cozy Amy R. Goldsmith Library, Shemanski Chapel, Blumauer Auditorium, Miller Room and art room where over three hundred students study and worship each year. The WRJ/Beth Israel Sisterhood Judaica Gift Shop is located next to the Education offices.
The Schnitzer Family Center
The Schnitzer Family Center, located just across Flanders Street, was built in 1993 to meet the growing needs of the Congregation. The distinctive red brick structure features the beautifully-designed Pollin Chapel, Lipman Foyer, Goodman Reception Hall, Robert P. Weil Administrative Offices and the Shirley & Herbert Semler Board Room.
The Jennifer Barnum Luria Early Childhood Center
Located at located at 428 NW 20th Avenue within the Sherman Education Building, The Jennie provides full time child-led, play-based Reform Jewish early childhood education for students age six weeks to prekindergarten. The center features a dedicated art room, community gathering space, indoor gross motor room (perfect for rainy Portland days!), and ten brand new classrooms specifically designed for little ones to play, learn, and grow. We invite you to learn more, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or to apply now!
The Beth Israel Cemetery
In addition to our downtown campus, Congregation Beth Israel maintains a beautiful cemetery with ground burial and four mausoleums for vault entombment and niches for urns. Landau Chapel, located on site, is available for funeral services.
Both cemetery and chapel are located in nearby Southwest Portland at 426 SW Taylors Ferry Road.
Call 503-222-1069 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for advance planning or time of need support.
You may also click here to find the location of a loved one’s plot, or to research available ones.