[2][3] Congregation Shaar Hashomayim was founded by a group of English, German and Polish Jews, who had previously attended the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue.

[3] The first synagogue was built on Saint Constant Street (now Rue de Bullion) in the Mile End in 1859.

The members of the clergy of Congregation Shaar Hashomayim are robed for every Shabbat, Festival and High Holy Day service, with the Cantor and Ritual Director wearing traditional cantorial hats.

Male congregants typically wear business attire and women are required to cover their shoulders.

Shaar Hashomayim's choir performed on Leonard Cohen's Grammy and Juno Award-winning album You Want It Darker.