Augusta
Augusta, Maine’s capital city, lies along the Kennebec River in Kennebec County. As early as the 1850s, a handful of Jewish families lived in the area and began conducting religious services in homes and in rented spaces.
Augusta Jewish Census
(estimated)
1930-2005
Augusta
Temple Beth El
1957-present
Temple Beth El
Affiliation
Rabbi
Location
Website
Phone
Reform
Rabbi Erica Asch
3 Woodlawn Street, Augusta
www.BethElAugusta.org
(207)622-7450
Temple Beth El
Congregational Timeline
Circa 1940
Temple Beth El began as the Augusta Hebrew Community in a rented space in downtown Augusta.
1973
Beth Israel in Gardiner made the decision to merge with Temple Beth El and brought its members and its Torah scrolls to Augusta.
1992-1996
Rabbi David Aaron served the congregation.
Circa 1950
Lipman Brothers moved their chicken processing plant to Augusta, resulting in more Jewish families moving to the area.
Circa 1977
Rabbi David Fairman served the congregation.
1997
The congregation hired their first full-time rabbi, Rabbi Susan Bulba Carvutto, who served the congregation for 16 years.
1957
The current synagogue was dedicated, with the Lipman family spearheading its construction.
1987
The combined community joined the Reform movement. Emily Lipoff, rabbinical student, served the congregation for just over a year.
2013
Rabbi Erica Asch hired to serve the congregation.
Temple Beth El
Clergy Leadership
- Rabbi David Fairman, c 1977
- Emily Lipof, Rabbinical student, c 1988-1989
- Rabbi David Aaron, 1992-1996
- Rabbi Susan Bulba Carvutto, 1997-2013, first full-time rabbi
- Rabbi Erica Asch, 2013- present