Jews have been living in Maine, a state in the northeastern United States, for 200 years, with significant Jewish communities in Bangor as early as the 1840s and in Portland since the 1880s. The arrival of Susman Abrams in 1785 was followed by a history of immigration and settlement that parallels the history of Jewish immigration to the United States.
The first recorded Jew in Maine was Susman Abrams, who arrived in the area in 1785. Abrams, originally from Hamburg, Germany, first settled in the town of Waldoboro and worked as a peddler. Abrams would later move to Thomaston and then Union, where he opened a tannery. In 1810, he married widow Mary Jones of the town of Friendship, a Christian. Abrams died on October 6, 1830, at about 87 years old.
Small Jewish communities began forming across the state, with German Jews settling in Bangor by 1829. The Jewish community in the city of Bangor would be the first to found a synagogue when they founded Congregation Ahawas Achim in 1849. Ahawas Achim would close seven years later, and its members left the state for other Jewish communities.
In 2012, the Jewish population in Maine was nearly 14,000 and spread out over several communities.
Auburn-Lewiston The first Jewish residents came to the Lewiston-Auburn area around 1865 and were largely merchants. It wouldn't be until the 1920s when the area would receive its first formal places of Jewish worship: Beth Jacob Synagogue in Lewiston and Beth Abraham Synagogue in Auburn. Prior to these congregations a more informal place of prayer and religious education called a shul, a Yiddish word derived from the German word for school, existed to cover the needs of the community. Beth Jacob, located at the corner of Shawmut and Sabattus Street in Lewiston, considered itself Orthodox in its religious practice, but allowed for mixed seating during services. In addition to the two synagogues, the community was served by the Jewish Community Center on College Street in Lewiston. In 1981, the Beth Jacob congregation merged with the Community Center to form a new institution: Temple Shalom Synagogue Center. Temple Shalom is an unaffiliated congregation.
Population data over the years First Jewish resident recorded in 1865 Highest population estimate 1955-1965 : 1400 Latest population estimate 2007 : 600
Current Jewish organizations Temple Shalom Synagogue Center (Independent) Jewish Student Union
Major events and milestones Early immigrant period (pre-1900)
The first Jewish family settled in Lewiston in the mid 19th century. While a synagogue was not built in the area before the turn of the century, early settlers to the area secured a hall in Lewiston to serve as a synagogue. Beth Abraham synagogue was founded in 1898, and Beth Jacob congregation established a cemetery by 1899. Several Jewish families moved to what became known as New Auburn, just across the Androscoggin River, making travel to the Lewiston congregation more difficult.
Later immigrant period (1900–1920)
By 1902, Beth Abraham Synagogue held services and Hebrew School in a rented building on Second Street, establishing the first synagogue in the Lewiston and Auburn area. That same year, the Beth Abraham Cemetery Association was formed.
Across the river in Lewiston, Beth Jacob leased a hall in 1904 to hold services for their 40 members. By 1907, the congregation was formally organized as Congregation Beth Jacob, and formally incorporated in 1914.
By 1909, both a Young Men's Hebrew Association (YMHA) and Hebrew Aid Society were established, the YMHA even boasting a championship basketball team in 1912.
In 1917, Beth Abraham had outgrown its space, and purchased what had been known as the Union Musical Society Building. However, just six months later, the building was destroyed in a fire.
End of WWI to end of WWII (1920–1945)
The area's mills continued to develop and prosper. Ways of earning a living diversified. Those who had begun as peddlers were beginning to find greater opportunities in areas such as carbonated beverage manufacturing, shoe manufacturing and furniture sales. Meat markets and grocery stores grew in number, and with the advent of the automobile came the businesses associated with its sales and upkeep. In addition, the area's second generation of Jews entered into the professional fields. Many became teachers while others entered law and medical schools.
By 1925, Beth Jacob Synagogue's construction was complete, and Beth Abraham was rebuilt following the fire in 1918. However, the number of institutions and organizations among the Jewish population of the area were extremely limited. Most existed as extensions of the synagogues which played a great role in the lives of Jews of both cities, filling social, educational and community needs. As both synagogues were largely in debt due to the construction and maintenance of their buildings, it was upon the Jews of the community – especially the women, with formation of sisterhoods - to help offset this debt.
By 1930, the Jewish population of Lewiston in Auburn had grown to over 750 people. By 1933 the two synagogues had established a joint cemetery. That same year, there was yet another fire, and Congregation Beth Abraham's building was destroyed a second time, and rebuilt in a new location by 1934.
In 1944, both synagogues were able to burn their mortgages. And in 1945, both synagogues offered membership to women.
Post WWII to the end of the sixties (1946–1969)
By the 1940s, shoe manufacturing came to Maine, adding a new industry to the mill town. Owners of these factories were Jewish, and came from mill towns in Massachusetts.
As early as the 30s there was a desire to create common bonds within the Jewish community. In 1950, a Jewish Community Center (JCC) was built. In 1960, the JCC hosted an American-Israeli Ball, with a guest list which included Senator Edmund Muskie, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, and the presidents of Bates and Colby Colleges.
End of the sixties to the end of the 20th century (1970–1999)
Lisbon Street, Lewiston's shopping district, continued to thrive during the early 1970s, but the steady decline had begun.
In 1982, Beth Jacob closed its doors and merged with the Lewiston JCC to become Temple Shalom, and in 1992, Beth Abraham Synagogue celebrated their 90th anniversary.
From the beginning of the 21st century to date (2000–present)
Temple Shalom Synagogue remains as the only synagogue to serve the Lewiston Auburn communities. In 2004, they moved from being recognized as a Conservative temple to being independent, and today their membership includes 95 families.
In 2017, with membership significantly decreased and no regular rabbi for several years, Beth Abraham synagogue held a deconsecration ceremony and closed its doors. The building was sold for development.
References and studies Auburn: An analysis of the Jewish community of Lewiston-Auburn, A thesis presented to the faculty of the Department of Sociology, Bates College", Raymond Theodore Zelch. The Jewish Community of Lewiston, student paper for Bates Sociology 222, Rohna Isaacson.
Greater Augusta In the 1930 and 1940s, the Jewish population in Maine's capital city of Augusta was quite small with under 60 individuals. In those early days before a synagogue was built, the members of what was known as the Augusta Hebrew Community congregated in a third-floor space they rented in downtown Augusta.
In 1952, Lipman Poultry moved their chicken processing plant from Bangor to Augusta, resulting in more Jewish families moving to the area. It became clear that the congregation needed its own space. In 1957, Temple Beth El was dedicated, with the Lipman family spearheading its construction.
By the 1960s, the Jewish census in Augusta had grown to well over 200, and in 1973 the small congregation in nearby Gardiner made the decision to merge with Temple Beth El, bringing their Torah scrolls and their members to Augusta.
Population data over the years First population estimate in 1930: 59 Highest population estimate 1965-1985: 215 Latest population estimate 2005: 140
Current Jewish organizations Temple Beth El (Reform)
Major events and milestones Early immigrant period (pre-1900)
There is very little information known about the Jewish population of Augusta before the 20th century. The only Jewish family known to live in the area was Lewis Selbing, a Civil War hero, who moved to Maine in 1858, married Esther Bonne in 1860, enlisted in the Third Maine to fight for his adopted country, and returned to Augusta to raise a family.
Later immigrant period (1900–1920)
Augusta's Jewish population extended beyond the city of Augusta. Despite the small numbers, Ohaway Shalom synagogue opened in nearby Randolph, Maine in 1904, and in 1909, Tefereth Israel opened in Gardiner.
In 1906, Camp Kennebec opened in North Belgrade, one of the first Jewish summer camps to open in Maine.
By 1910, the Randolph synagogue had closed as most of the Jewish businesses had moved to Gardiner.
End of WWI to end of WWII (1921–1945)
The Jewish community of Gardiner rented several buildings during this time, moving their congregation from one to the next due to fire or because they had outgrown the space. In 1941, their membership was close to 14 families.
At the same time, nearby Randolph only had 11 Jewish residents, most of whom were traveling to Gardiner for religious services.
In Augusta, Temple Beth El had its beginnings as the Augusta Hebrew Community, renting space in the downtown area.
Post WWII to the end of the sixties (1946–1969)
Augusta's Jewish population grew after the war, as did the activities and organizations within the community. By the late 1940s, the Augusta-Gardiner Chapter of Hadassah was active, holding their first of what would become an annual style show at Chernowsky's Department Store, with proceeds to benefit the community.
In 1952, Lipman Poultry moved their business to Augusta, resulting in more Jewish families moving to the area. Augusta Hebrew Community outgrew their rented space, and the Lipmans led the charge to help build what would become Temple Beth El, dedicated in 1957.
End of the sixties to the end of the 20th century (1970–1999)
In 1973, Temple Beth Israel in Gardiner [closed its doors] and made the decision to merge with Temple Beth El in Augusta. By 1987, Temple Beth El joined the Reform movement, making it the only Reform synagogue in Central Maine. Ten years later, they hired their first full-time rabbi.
Beginning of the 21st century to date (2000–present)
As Maine's capital, Augusta has provided opportunities to connect to Maine's Jewish history and its widespread community. Beginning in 1995, Governor Angus King and his wife, Mary Herman, hosted a Hanukkah celebration at the Blaine House, a tradition that has continued. In 2018, the Maine State Museum opened a year-long exhibit, the first major exhibition in Maine to tell the history of the state's Jewish community. While the Holocaust and Human Rights Center (HHRC) came into being in 1985, they had no building until 2008 when the Michael Klahr Center opened on the campus of the University of Maine in Augusta. And Temple Beth El, opening their doors in 1957, is currently home to over 100 families in the Greater Augusta region.
Greater Bangor
In 1849, a small group of German Jews lived in Bangor. They voted to hire a slaughterer for access to kosher meat, and to purchase a piece of land suitable for a burial ground. Later that same year, they drew up bylaws for a congregation, and by 1850, they had organized the first synagogue in Maine, Ahawas Achim (Brotherly Love).