maine jewish museum

Spinmommie

If you are Jewish or interested in New England Jewry, you have to stop at this museum. The curator Nancy gave us our own little tour and they have rotating exhibits (the most recent (December) was about Jewish lawyers in Germany right before the Holocaust. The temple attached to the museum is interesting because it's unincorporated so they hold reformed, conservative AND orthodox services there. I was there with my husband and 2 kids (5&8). Really cool visit...thanks, Nancy!

mjmarland

There is something very special about this place. I don't know whether it is the beautiful historic building with the attention to detail in the restoration, or the stunning photograph subjects with their touching stories, all native Mainers. Awe is the right word to describe the experience.

pwdt

This small museum in a recently restored synagogue is a must see even if, like me, you're not Jewish. There are many art exhibits here over the course of the year to supplement the permanent exhibits. The synagogue in which the museum is located is Portland's oldest active synagogue.

KNV2013

We went here based on reviews from Trip Advisor and it did not disappoint. they have some wonderful exhibits. We went through on our own and then spoke with the administrator and she was full of stories and information about the history of Jews in Portland, it was fascinating. Well worth a visit! They are currently renovating and expanding the building.

Perestroika13

I visited a group that meets there and had the chance to view an exhibit of art inspired by Jewish spirituality. The building is beautiful, inside and out.

segoldb

By chance we happened upon this little gem. Never knew there was a large Jewish community at one time in Portland. The building is well preserved and the setting is lovely. We had an informative intro by the docent and then we were free to browse through the exhibition that gave a great overview of the history of the Jews in Maine. Well worth a visit.

RachelRaven

After a fact-filled talk by an enthusiastic docent who clearly loved and knew her subject, we took a self-guided tour through this still active temple. The woodwork, seating, arc and bimah were stately and well-preserved. In front is a simple but lovely garden blossoming with summer flowers. The bottom floor held work by artists with connections to Judaism and to Maine. If you find yourself walking by - as we did - it is worth a stop in to visit. There is no admission, although donations can be put discreetly into a box.

KManNewYork

The museum/synagogue is not very large so you can go through it quickly. There are very friendly and knowledgeable tour guides that are more than happy to show you around and answer your questions.

Barb413

The entrance to this museum is beautiful, flowers blooming, artwork on the lawn. Upon our arrival, we were greeted immediately by a woman offering information and insight. This museum is located in an old synagogue, with fascinating exhibits inside and wonderful artwork. Holocaust survivors, who were Maine residents, had their stories posted. Interesting and chilling at the same time. There was an entire exhibit about summer camps in Maine. The pictures showing the change over time were very revealing. Well worth the visit while in Portland...

suburbanmommy

This was such an amazing museum as they had stories posted about Maine residents who were Holocaust survivors. Their stories were so fascinating and really put life in perspective. Plus we had a wonderful intern as our tour guide who clearly loved her religion as well as history! Thanks for such a great tour.

lefty117

I am not sure that we would have found this without being told about it. It is housed in an old synagogue which still functions on the first floor. The upper floor is the museum and at the time of our visit was not handicapped accessible. they were placing an outside elevator so that all could read and see the exhibits about the early Jewish settlers of the area. Interesting and a great history lesson.

BBK1000

I loved the location, the facade, and then went in for an extraordinary experience. It's unpretentious, Maine style, while totally engaging, laid out thoughtfully, easy to maneuver, grasp, and had a fascinating exhibit when I visited. A Whole foods is a block away so I felt enlivened in more than one way.

Trailerking

What a great museum for the Portland area. A must if you visit this area. Old old synagogue and now part synagogue and museum. Open daily and services are performed on Saturday mornings.

GalwayGeographer

We stopped here following a local recommendation -- and were happy that we did. Portland is a great place anyway -- and the Jewish Museum fits right in. It's not big by any stretch but well worth the visit. We chatted amicably with the woman at the entrance who told us a lot about the building and the history of Jews in Maine -- really, this is how a museum ought to interact with its visitors. Thanks a lot!

918saraa

We stopped by not knowing what to expect. We found a beautiful old synagogue, very friendly and welcoming staff, top-notch art exhibit, and good information about the history of Jewish life in Maine and Portland. Small but very enjoyable.