Maine Memory Network

Each rabbi in Congregation Shaarey Tphiloh's more than 100-year history brought his own approach to negotiating the relationship of the synagogue and its congregation to the larger community and to its Eastern European Orthodox roots.

Isaac Marcus was the first rabbi. David Essrig, who served as rabbi from 1917 to 1926, stressed training Jewish youth in the traditions of the religion, but he also used English, in part to appeal to youth who did not use Yiddish.

Abraham Miller, who became rabbi in 1930, served all Orthodox congregations in the area, a tradition that continued.

Mendell Lewittes, who was born in New York, and who became rabbi in 1936, was trained at Yeshiva University, the first Shaarey Tphiloh rabbi not trained in Europe. He served until 1942.

Dr. Aaron Greenbaum, who was the rabbi from 1942-1944, succeeded him.

In about 1946, the congregation was invited to vote for a new rabbi.

The invitation is written in Hebrew and English.

Morris Bekritsky was installed as rabbi in 1948 and served until 1972, an era that saw numerous changes in American society and in American Judaism.

The 1954 Golden Jubilee program notes that Bekritsky had helped the synagogue "soar to new heights" but that he had "continued and strengthened all of the programs initiated by his worthy predecessors."

He started a weekly radio program, "Hear O Israel," oversaw the building of the new synagogue away from the center city, pushed for a day-school program at the Portland Hebrew School, and helped give women a larger role in the synagogue.

Historian Michael R. Cohen wrote that Bekritsky "implemented a series of changes to demonstrate Shaarey Tphiloh's compatibility with the modern, suburban lifestyle."

He held Friday night services after people had finished work, rather than at sunset and offered more non-religious social events, among other changes.

All the while, however, Bekritsky also upheld Orthodox traditions including dietary laws.

Lawrence S. Zierler was installed at Shaarey Tphiloh Synagogue on November 8, 1987.

Rabbis from other Portland congregations were present. Rabbi Steven M. Dworken of Linden, N.J. performed the installation ceremony.

The back of the program contains the words to the Israel national anthem, in Hebrew.

Zierler, a native of Ontario, was educated Yeshiva University, as were most of the contemporary rabbis.