History

The concept for the Maine Jewish Museum was hatched in 2005, when a small group of people led by Founding President Jody Sataloff and Founding Executive Director Rabbi Gary Berenson got together to discuss restoring the Etz Chaim Synagogue facility to its original grand condition and creating a museum of Maine Jewish history, art, and culture within its walls. Etz Chaim had, at that juncture, fallen on hard times. Its membership had declined precipitously over the years and was reduced to just a handful of community elders. Additionally, the physical condition of the building had deteriorated, particularly on the third floor, where the Women’s Balcony was closed and shut off by a dropped ceiling that housed more pigeons than the number of congregants who came to the Synagogue for High Holiday services!

Out of this initial meeting, the Tree of Life Foundation was formed in April 2006 with the mission of not only restoring the building to its original condition but also improving it with the addition of art galleries, an elevator, a new heating system, and a reopened third floor, all with the overriding goal of housing the Maine Jewish Museum within its renovated walls and bringing Etz Chaim Synagogue back to its former glory.

The Museum was created to celebrate and honor the contributions of Maine’s Jewish community members, past and present, and build on the Maine Jewish immigrant experience through art exhibitions, historical displays, and diverse programming to foster appreciation and understanding among people of all backgrounds.

By 2008, the Museum had opened to the public in the newly renovated Synagogue.

In 2018 the Museum established and now houses the Maine Jewish Hall of Fame, with the mission of bestowing recognition on outstanding Maine Jewish leaders who have brought honor and distinction to the State of Maine and beyond. The Hall of Fame, which is sponsored by Dorothy Suzi Osher in Memory of Alfred Osher, inducts a new class into the Hall of Fame biannually.

Etz Chaim Synagogue has flourished through its partnership with the Museum and celebrated its hundredth anniversary in 2022 with great fanfare. No longer on life support, the Synagogue now hosts upward of 250-300 people during High Holiday services. Weekly services are also held on Mondays and Saturdays, and a Friday night service occurs once a month. Services are varied to appeal to different levels of observance and are open to all regardless of membership.

Thanks to our Generous Donors

The Tree of Life Foundation which operates the Maine Jewish Museum, would not exist without the generosity of its donors.

In our history, we have been the benefactors of many generous donors who continue to provide grants and other support.

We thank all of our amazing donors including but not limited to:

the Sam L Cohen Foundation
the Dorothy Suzi and Alfred Osher Foundation
Donald Sussman
the Bernard Osher Jewish Philanthropies Foundation
the Spiegel Foundation
the Wein Foundation
Jerry Fineberg, Jody and Ruth Sataloff
Judy and Al Glickman
Charlie and Nancy Shuman
King Weinstein, Kenny and Mary Nelson
Merle and Leonard Nelson
Irwin Singer
Andy and Linda Brenner and Harold and Peggy Osher
Daniel and Julie Kagan
Robert Willis and Nancy Winslow
The Roxanne Quimby Foundation
Glickman Lauder Family Foundation
Bernstein Shur
Yankee Ford

We would also not exist without the multitude of generous donors who have given selflessly to our Annual Appeal, Hall of Fame events, and other fundraising activities that provide the lifeblood of our day-to-day activities. Thanks to all of you!