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View this post on Instagram The earliest reference to a Jewish house of worship in Rumford dates back to 1898 to the Temple Israel Congregation. At its peak in the 1920s, the Rumford Jewish community probably numbered no more than 30 families. But by 1952, the Temple Israel Congregation included only 5 Jewish families with children, for a grand total of 9 youths. While the temple never had regular Shabbat services, the congregation was always able to afford a rabbi for High Holy Day services. But by the mid 1950s even that had become beyond their modest means, and from then until the late 1960s when they were forced to close, the high holiday services were conducted by the few remaining congregants. In 1969, only a couple Jewish families remained and they were forced to sell their building. The proceeds were donated to the Jewish Home for the Aged (now Cedars) in Portland. Photo: Boys in front of Temple Israel in Rumford. #rumfordmaine #jewishhomefortheaged #highholidays #jewishhistory #jewishmaine #jewsinmaine A post shared by Documenting Maine Jewry (@mainejewishhistory) on Sep 22, 2017 at 4:45am PDT
The earliest reference to a Jewish house of worship in Rumford dates back to 1898 to the Temple Israel Congregation. At its peak in the 1920s, the Rumford Jewish community probably numbered no more than 30 families. But by 1952, the Temple Israel Congregation included only 5 Jewish families with children, for a grand total of 9 youths. While the temple never had regular Shabbat services, the congregation was always able to afford a rabbi for High Holy Day services. But by the mid 1950s even that had become beyond their modest means, and from then until the late 1960s when they were forced to close, the high holiday services were conducted by the few remaining congregants. In 1969, only a couple Jewish families remained and they were forced to sell their building. The proceeds were donated to the Jewish Home for the Aged (now Cedars) in Portland. Photo: Boys in front of Temple Israel in Rumford. #rumfordmaine #jewishhomefortheaged #highholidays #jewishhistory #jewishmaine #jewsinmaine
A post shared by Documenting Maine Jewry (@mainejewishhistory) on Sep 22, 2017 at 4:45am PDT
Stanley and Israel "Jack" Shalek of Shalek Bag Company in Presque Isle, 1947, standing with a 2,000 yard burlap bale used for manufacturing potato bags. They started their business in Boston, when Aroostook farmers were shipping their potatoes there by railroad for packaging. In the 1930s the farmers decided it would be a better business practice to package the potatoes themselves. Jack Shalek realized his business future was in Presque Isle and moved there in 1939. See more by following the link on our profile. #presqueisle #mainepotatoes #potatobag #shalek #mainehistory #jewishhistory #jewishmaine
A post shared by Documenting Maine Jewry (@mainejewishhistory) on Sep 19, 2017 at 4:58am PDT
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