Etz Chaim Synagogue

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Etz Chaim Synagogue
Etz Chaim Synagogue Portland Maine - Exterior View.jpg
Exterior view of the synagogue, in 2015
Religion
Affiliation Judaism
Rite
Ecclesiastical or organizational status
LeadershipRabbi Gary S. Berenson
Location
Location267 Congress Street, Portland, Maine 04101
CountryUnited States
USA Maine relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in Maine
Geographic coordinates 43°39′44″N70°15′09″W / 43.662095°N 70.252478°W / 43.662095; -70.252478
Architecture
General contractor Louis Serota
Date established1917 (1917)(as a congregation)
Completed1921
Website
etzchaim-portland.org

Etz Chaim Synagogue (transliterated from Hebrew as "Tree of Life") is a unaffiliated Jewish congregation, synagogue, and Jewish history museum, located at 267 Congress Street in Portland, Maine, in the United States. The congregation is the only immigrant-era European-style synagogue remaining in Maine. [1] It was founded in 1917 as an English-language Orthodox Sefardi congregation, rather than in the Yiddish-language tradition; and the synagogue was completed in 1921. [2] In c.2003, the dwindling Orthodox congregation became egalitarian and unaffiliated with any movement.

Gary S. Berenson is the congregation's rabbi. [3]

Located in the India Street Historic District, the building has also housed the Maine Jewish Museum since 2010. [4]

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References

  1. "The Great Outdoors: A winter walk through history on Portland's Congress Street". The Forecaster. December 23, 2010.
  2. "The Story of Etz Chaim". Maine Jewish Museum.
  3. "Retirement will wait for Gary Berenson, Portland's newest rabbi". The Forecaster. March 25, 2014.
  4. "Restoration of synagogue complete for 100th anniversary". Portland Press Herald. January 12, 2021. Retrieved February 15, 2024 via Associated Press.