There’s a place for you here.
Congregation Beth Israel is a Jewish community in Bangor, Maine, where we pray, learn, celebrate, question, laugh, and show up for one another.
THIS SHABBAT
Friday Evening
5:30 PM
Kabbalat Shabbat
Saturday Morning
10:00 AM
Shabbat Morning Service
Everyone is welcome.
No prior experience necessary.
VIEW THIS WEEK’S DETAILS
New to synagogue?
You don’t have to know what you’re doing.
Maybe you’ve never been to a synagogue. Maybe it’s been thirty years. Maybe you grew up Jewish but haven’t been particularly connected lately. Maybe you’re visiting Bangor. Maybe you’re simply curious.
You don’t have to know the Hebrew. You don’t have to know the choreography. And you don’t have to know anyone before you walk through the door.
We’ll help you find your way.
Ways to be a part of Beth Israel
Pray
Shabbat • Holidays • Torah • Music
Come together for worship, reflection, tradition, and the occasional good argument.
Learn
Torah • Talmud • Classes • Conversations
Judaism has been arguing with itself for thousands of years. We intend to keep it up.
Celebrate
Holidays • Life-Cycle • Food • Community
Jewish life isn’t just something we study. It’s something we do together.
Connect
Families • Adults • Community • Friendship
A congregation is ultimately about people knowing and caring about one another.
Repair
Social Action • Tikkun Olam • Community
Being Jewish means showing up for our community and the world around us.
Judaism is a conversation.
Come join it.
At Beth Israel, we take Judaism seriously without taking ourselves too seriously.
We value tradition and questions. We value prayer and scholarship, community and individuality. We believe that Jewish life should have room for the person who knows every word of the service, and the person who is still figuring out what the first word means.
We’re a small congregation in a small city, and that’s part of our strength. Here, it’s possible to actually know one another.
Meet some of the people who make Beth Israel
Rabbi Bill Siemers
Random Horse Mask People
President Brian Kresge
Head Gabbai Billy Miller
Coming up
Getting to Know the Hebrew Calendar
All your questions about the Hebrew calendar and how it differs from the Gregorian will be answered.
Sunday, August 16th
9:00am following minyan
UMaine’s Hebrew Course
Beginning Modern Hebrew on Zoom! This course is a part of UMaine’s Judaic Studies Program created by Norman Minsky.
Starts Tuesday, September 1st, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30-10:45am
Learning the Hebrew Bible
Rabbi Siemers holds a shiur on the Tanakh every Shabbat morning. Some Hebrew required!
Saturdays at 9:15am
Days of Awe
Rosh Hashanah starts at sundown on September 11th. Contact the office for service tickets.
Selichot is after sundown on September 5th
Jewish life in the heart of Maine.
Our story is rooted in this community, and we’re grateful to build Jewish life right here in Bangor.
Come as you are.
You don’t have to be a member to join us.
You don’t have to know anyone.
You don’t have to know the prayers.
You just have to walk through the door.