Etz Chaim Synagogue

{{Short description|Synagogue in Portland, Maine}} {{other uses|Etz Chaim}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox religious building | name = Etz Chaim Synagogue | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = Etz Chaim Synagogue Portland Maine - Exterior View.jpg | image_upright = 1.4 | alt = | caption = Exterior view of the synagogue, in 2015 | map_type = Maine | map_size = 250 | map_alt = | map_relief = 1 | map_caption = Location in [[Maine]] | coordinates = {{coord|43.662095|-70.252478|type:landmark_globe:earth_region:US-ME|format=dms|display=it}} | coordinates_footnotes = | religious_affiliation = [[Judaism]] | deity = | rite = {{bulleted list|[[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] [[Nusach Sefard]] {{small|(1917–{{circa|2003}})}}|[[Non-denominational Judaism|Non-denominational]] {{small|(since {{circa|2003}})}}}} | sect = | tradition = | festival = | location = 267 [[Congress Street (Portland, Maine)|Congress Street]], [[Portland, Maine|Portland]], [[Maine]] 04101 | country = United States | administration = | consecration_year = | organizational_status = {{ubl|[[Synagogue]]|[[Jewish museum|Jewish history museum]]}} | functional_status = | heritage_designation = | ownership = | governing_body = | leadership = Rabbi Gary S. Berenson | bhattaraka = | patron = | website = {{URL|etzchaim-portland.org}} | architect = | architecture_type = | architecture_style = | founded_by = | creator = | funded_by = | general_contractor = Louis Serota | established = {{start date|df=y|1917}} {{small|(as a congregation)}} | groundbreaking = | year_completed = 1921 | construction_cost = | date_demolished = | facade_direction = | capacity = | length = | width = | width_nave = | interior_area = | height_max = | dome_quantity = | dome_height_outer = | dome_height_inner = | dome_dia_outer = | dome_dia_inner = | minaret_quantity = | minaret_height = | spire_quantity = | spire_height = | site_area = | temple_quantity = | monument_quantity = | shrine_quantity = | inscriptions = | materials = | elevation_m = | elevation_footnotes = | nrhp = | designated = | added = | refnum = | footnotes = }} '''Etz Chaim Synagogue''' ([[transliterated]] from [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] as "Tree of Life") is a [[Non-denominational Judaism|unaffiliated]] [[Judaism|Jewish]] congregation, [[synagogue]], and [[Jewish museum|Jewish history museum]], located at 267 [[Congress Street (Portland, Maine)|Congress Street]], at the head of [[India Street]], in [[Portland, Maine|Portland]], [[Maine]], United States. The congregation is the only immigrant-era European-style synagogue remaining in Maine.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theforecaster.net/content/pnms-greatoutdoors-122910 |title=The Great Outdoors: A winter walk through history on Portland's Congress Street |work=The Forecaster |date=December 23, 2010 |access-date= }}</ref> It was founded in 1917 as an [[English-language]] [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] [[Nusach Sefard|Sefardi]] congregation, rather than in the [[Yiddish-language]] tradition; and the synagogue was completed in 1921.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://mainejewishmuseum.org/history/story-of-etz-chaim/ |title=The Story of Etz Chaim |work=Maine Jewish Museum |access-date= }}{{Dead link|date=March 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> In {{circa|2003}}, the dwindling Orthodox congregation became egalitarian and unaffiliated with any movement.

Gary S. Berenson is the congregation's [[rabbi]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.theforecaster.net/news/print/2014/03/25/retirement-will-wait-gary-berenson-portlands-newes/192327 |title=Retirement will wait for Gary Berenson, Portland's newest rabbi |work=The Forecaster |date=March 25, 2014 |access-date= }}</ref>

Located in the [[India Street Historic District]], the building has also housed the Maine Jewish Museum since 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/portland-fires-maine-dd6b3f22aa7d3f2124f73ec97786d093 |title=Restoration of synagogue complete for 100th anniversary |work=Portland Press Herald |date=January 12, 2021 |access-date=February 15, 2024 |via=[[Associated Press]] }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{official website|http://etzchaim-portland.org/}} * {{cite web |url=https://synagogues-360.anumuseum.org.il/gallery/etz-chaim/ |title=Etz Chaim |work=Synagogues 360 |date=2024 |format=panoramic still images }}

[[Category:1917 establishments in Maine]] [[Category:20th-century synagogues in the United States]] [[Category:Jews and Judaism in Maine]] [[Category:Jewish museums in the United States]] [[Category:Jewish organizations established in 1921]] [[Category:Religious buildings and structures in Portland, Maine]] [[Category:Synagogues completed in 1921]] [[Category:Synagogues in Maine]] [[Category:Unaffiliated synagogues in the United States]]