Inclusive
Congregation Etz Chaim (“Tree of Life” in Hebrew) is a relatively small congregation of about 100 families who are primarily from York County, the southernmost county in Maine. Our beautiful and historic synagogue, located in the city of Biddeford, is a community hub for Jewish religious, cultural, social, and educational activities.
Led by Cantor Beth Strassler, who is often accompanied on the bimah by synagogue President David Strassler, keyboardist Dr. Morton Gold, and the Congregation Etz Chaim choir, we hold three Shabbat services per month, High Holiday services, B’nei Mitzvot, and other religious services. We use a gender sensitive prayer book, Siddur Eit Ratzon, with transliterated prayers so that everyone can participate in prayer and song, regardless of Hebrew comprehension level.
Congregation Etz Chaim is a non-denominational synagogue, meaning we serve all types of Jews, from Orthodox to secular. Most members say they are “something in between.” As York County’s only full-service synagogue, we offer a wide range of services and welcome everyone who is interested in joining us.
Full-Service
From our religious, educational, life cycle, and pastoral care services to our holiday, social, and community outreach programming, Congregation Etz Chaim is York County’s only full-service synagogue. Our community comes together weekly for Shabbat services or Torah Study and gathers frequently for various Jewish holiday celebrations, potluck dinners, and social events throughout the year. We encourage you to check out the Events and Religious Services section of our website for more information about our offerings and to take a peek at our Community Photo Album for a glimpse at our past celebrations and gatherings.
We emphasize the importance of Jewish education and offer an array of educational services, including those available via our in-shul Samuel Osher Memorial Library. Through our educational programs, which include customized Hebrew education and B’nei Mitzvah tutoring, we enable members of all ages to become lifelong Jewish learners. View the Education section of our website to learn more about our educational programming.
Community-Centered
With an extremely dedicated Board of Directors and members who give generously of their time and talents, we are largely a volunteer-driven organization that provides services in response to our community’s needs and wishes. Our close-knit members are the backbone of the synagogue, and we do all that we can to foster and nurture the special sense of community that we have created at Congregation Etz Chaim. Please visit the Community Outreach section of our website to discover all the ways in which we prioritize and care for our members and to learn how you will be supported as a new member of our community.
Please feel free to send us an email to request additional information and/or a tour of the synagogue.
Our History
Congregation Etz Chaim was founded in 1907 when a small number of Jewish families in the Biddeford area pooled their money for a down payment on a former Episcopal church, built in 1874, on Bacon Street. (Yes, Bacon Street!) The Orthodox congregation flourished throughout the 1950s when it served more than 125 families in Biddeford and Saco alone. However, by the 1970s, membership had dwindled to about 25 families, and the synagogue no longer had a rabbi or offered Hebrew school.
Things started looking up at Congregation Etz Chaim around 1980 when lifetime member Arnold Shapiro of Biddeford became president of the synagogue. He nudged the congregation away from its Orthodox traditions, thereby attracting more people to the congregation, especially interfaith families.
Shapiro also founded the York County Jewish Community Council (YCJCC), which helped to reach more than 250 families from all over York County. Membership grew, and Congregation Etz Chaim began to flourish once more.
In November of 1999, Congregation Etz Chaim, in collaboration with the YCJCC, opened the synagogue’s Samuel Osher Memorial Library, which offers nearly 4,000 items for loan, including Jewish books, music, videos, and educational materials.
In 2017, longtime community leader Beth Strassler became an ordained cantor and officially became employed as the spiritual leader of Congregation Etz Chaim, the first the synagogue had had since 1967.