Old Orchard Beach
Old Orchard Beach has been Maine’s most popular summer vacation destination since the 1800s. During that time, the town became home to several kosher hotels, a kosher meat market and an Orthodox synagogue, all of which created a vibrant, mostly seasonal Jewish community for many years.
Old Orchard Beach Jewish Census
(year-round estimated)
1930-1940
Old Orchard Beach
Congregation Beth Israel
1912-present
Congregation Beth Israel
Affiliation
Rabbi
Location
Website
Phone
Orthodox
49 East Grand Ave, Old Orchard Beach
www.CBIsrael.me
(207)974-2973
Congregation Beth Israel
Congregational Timeline
1909
Joseph Goodkowsky built The Lafayette Hotel, the first kosher hotel in Old Orchard Beach. The hotel became so popular that it soon became too small to hold services. A committee was formed to launch the construction of a synagogue for summertime visitors.
1949
Congregation Beth Israel held a flag ceremony to celebrate their reopening, with clergy and dignitaries from Maine and greater New England.
1912
Congregation Beth Israel was erected next door to The Lafayette, its $3,500 construction paid for largely by people who vacationed in Old Orchard Beach. The synagogue was built to hold 200 congregants.
1970s
As airfare and other means of travel became more affordable, the number of summertime visitors dropped, and the size of the congregation dwindled significantly.
1946
Reconstruction completed, creating a central doorway to replace what had been separate entrances for men and women.
The Weinstein brothers (Eber, King, and Neal) have continued to maintain the synagogue, ensuring it remains open for the summer and the high holidays.
Congregation Beth Israel
Clergy Leadership Over the Years:
- Rabbi Morris Bekritsky, High Holiday and lifecycle event officiant as needed, 1948-1972. Also served Orthodox congregations in Portland
- Cantor Samuel Zimelman, officiant as needed.. Also served orthodox congregations in Portland.
- Matt Greenberg, visiting rabbi from Connecticut, ?- 2005
- Eber Weinstein, congregation president, lay leader, c2005- present
- Danny Levy, visiting cantor from Jerusalem, c2005