After 44 years as a house of worship, Shaar Shalom Synagogue will close its doors on June 30.

A perfect storm of circumstances conspired to bring to an end the life of the Markham synagogue, which was started in a house basement by several families living in the Don Mills Road and Steeles Avenue area.

Two hundred and sixteen members gathered in the shul March 9 to hear the Conservative synagogue’s officials describe the events that led to the announcement.

“It was a shock to a number of members,” said synagogue president Seymour Hersh. “A number of members were very sad. There were tears. There was some anger.”

While many were shocked, there were plenty of indicators going back several years to suggest the synagogue was facing an existential crisis.

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Four years ago, Hersh and other synagogue officials already saw disturbing trends emerge. Some 15 to 20 family units – membership varies from individuals to large families – were leaving each year. That, of course, impacted current and future revenues.

With membership and financial trendlines heading south, the shul embarked on a renewal project aimed at stopping the bleeding and salvaging a cherished institution, Hersh said.

The synagogue adopted a position on “relational Judaism” that focused on becoming more welcoming, open and inclusive.

At the same time, 325 members agreed to pay an assessment of $750 each to give the synagogue some financial breathing room and stability.

But over the years, the negative trends continued, and demographic realities suggested the future looked bleak.

Many children of original members left the synagogue’s neighbourhood, moving west toward Bathurst or south towards downtown. Often their parents moved with them to be close to their children, Hersh said.

Some of the older members downsized as well, leaving their homes and moving to condos in other parts of town. And as some older members retired on fixed incomes, their dues were subsidized by other members, adding to the financial strain.

“Our average age has been rising rapidly. It’s now 64 years old. It should be much younger,” Hersh said.

Over the years, membership dropped from a peak of 555 member units to 380 paying members, he said.

In January, Rabbi Steven Schwarzman, an American who was hired in 2014, informed the board he would be leaving, probably to a congregation south of the border.

“The red flag went up high,” Hersh said.

Then in mid-February, the synagogue received more bad news. Cantor Ben Silverberg notified the shul he would be leaving to take a similar position at Beth Torah Congregation.

“That was a seismic event for the synagogue,” Hersh said. “If you don’t have clergy, especially clergy that have taken you through birth, death and bar mitzvahs, that’s an important piece.

“That creates an emptiness for our members.”

With an absence of clergy, $545,000 still owing on a mortgage, declining membership and bleak prospects, the executive and board decided to close the institution, Hersh said.

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The synagogue has reached out to developers to determine what price the building might fetch, and Hersh said any proceeds available after satisfying liabilities will go to ensure the continued viability of the synagogue’s cemetery plots, which number more than 300.

As for the future, Hersh said the synagogue has reached out to other Conservative congregations to determine what options are available for Shaar Shalom members.

“We’re gathering information and having discussions,” he said.

He expects to have a better sense of the future in four to six weeks, and he will present options to the members at that time.

But given all the circumstances, it’s clear that Shaar Shalom as it has existed will come to an end.

“Shaar Shalom faced a perfect storm,” he acknowledged. “The only thing we didn’t have was an ark.”