Southern Maine Services for the High Holidays 2019/5780

Looking for High Holiday Services in Southern Maine? Look no further! Here are the schedules for eight local congregations. For more information, click the name of each congregation to visit their website and find full schedules including Sukkot and more.*

* Did we miss any? Email JCA Marketing Director Trevor Geiger at tgeiger(at)mainejewish.org

Congregation Bet Ha’am

81 Westbrook Street, South Portland, ME

Since its founding in 1985, Bet Ha’am has committed to being a house of worship where all feel welcome. We invite you to join us for any Bet Ha’am service or event, including High Holy Day worship. There is no charge to join us and no tickets. We hope that you–Jewish or non-Jewish, Mainer or guest visiting from away–will join us at this time of community celebration

Rosh Hashanah

Sunday, September 29:

8:00 PM – Erev Rosh Hashanah Service

Monday, September 30:

8:30 AM – Children’s Service: The children’s service is designed for children in third grade and younger, with their families.

9:00 AM – Torah Study

10:00 AM – Worship Service

12:30 PM – Tashlich: Time approximate following service.

Yom Kippur

Tuesday, October 8:

8:00 PM – Kol Nidre

Wednesday, October 9:

8:30 AM – Children’s Service: The children’s service is designed for children in third grade and younger, with their families.

9:00 AM – Torah Study

10:00 AM – Worship Service

12:45 PM – Meditation and Healing Service

2:30 PM – Afternoon Study

3:30 PM – Afternoon Service

5:00 PM – Yizkor Service

6:00 PM – Neilah

6:30 PM – Break The Fast Potluck: Time approximate after the service.


Beth Israel Congregation

862 Washington Street, Bath, ME

The story of Beth Israel Congregation rests on the energy and dedication of a few Maine Jews and their welcome in Bath by the non-Jewish community in 1886. Today, we are an active congregation serving midcoast Maine and beyond. Please join us; all are welcome!

Rosh Hashanah

Sunday, September 29:

5:00 PM – Erev Rosh Hashanah Service with Bowdoin College Hillel. Followed by Apples & Honey. Led by Rabbi Rabbi Vinikoor

6:30 PM – Catered Dinner at Moulton Union, Bowdoin College

Monday, September 30:

9:30 AM – Rosh Hashanah Service

12:30 PM – Community Potluck Luncheon @ Minnie Brown Center

1:30 PM. – Tashlich @ the Waterfront

4:00 PM – Family Service Led by Rabbi Lisa Vinikoor @ Minnie Brown Center

Tuesday, October 1:

9:30 AM – Rosh Hashanah Service

Yom Kippur

Tuesday, October 8:

7:00 PM – Erev Yom Kippur Kol Nidre Service

Wednesday, October 9:

9:30 AM – Yom Kippur Morning Service

12:30 PM – Yizkor Service

1:00 PM – Afternoon Break

4:00 PM – Family Service @ Minnie Brown Center

5:00 PM – Mincha and Neila Services

6:30 PM – Shofar Blowing and Havdalah. Followed by Potluck Break-Fast


B’nai Portland

Lunt Auditorium, 74 Lunt Rd, Falmouth, ME

Our High Holiday services are held at the Lunt Auditorium, located in the Lunt Professional Building, 74 Lunt Road in Falmouth. There is plenty of parking in the lot next to the building. We hold High Holiday services for Rosh Hashanah, Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur/Yizkor. Services will start promptly at the designated time. Please see our Calendar Page for details.

Please come join us. There is no fee for High Holy Day services and they are open to members and non-members. Donations are encouraged to help offset costs. Any amount is appreciated.

September 30, 2019, 9:30 AM – 12:00 PM – Rosh Hashanah Service

October 8, 2019, 6:30 PM- 7:30 PM – Kol Nidre Service

October 9, 2019, 9:30 AM- 1:00 PM – Yom Kippur Service, includes Yizkor

October 18, 2019, 6:30 PM  – Simchat Torah Service, unwind the entire Torah


Chabad of Maine

11 Pomeroy Street, Portland, ME

Celebrate the High Holidays among friends and connect with your inner self. Services will be interspersed with explanations a page guidance. In short, you will feel at home. Wishing you and yours a very happy and sweet new year! There is NO charge for seats; your donation is greatly appreciated. RSVP for Community Holiday Dinner with chana@chabadofmaine.com

Rosh Hashanah

Sunday, September 29:

6:00 PM – Community Holiday Dinner

Monday, September 30:

10:00 AM – Shacharit Morning Services

12:00 PM – Shofar blowing

4:45 PM – Mincha, followed by Tashlich

Tuesday, October 1:

10:00 AM – Shacharit Morning Services

12:00 PM – Shofar blowing

5:00 PM – Mincha

7:05 PM – Holiday ends

Yom Kippur

Tuesday, October 8:

5:52 PM – Candle lighting

5:52 PM – Fast begins

6:10 PM – Kol Nidrei

Wednesday, October 9:

10:00 AM – Shacharit

12:30 PM – Yizkor

7:06 PM – Fast ends



Congregation Etz Chaim (Biddeford)

36 Bacon Street, Biddeford, ME

There is no charge to attend services.  Members and Non-members are encouraged to donate to Etz Chaim.

Rosh Hashanah

Sunday, September 29:

6:30 PM – Evening Service

Monday, September 30:

9:15 AM – Morning Service

10:15 AM – Torah Service

11:15 AM –  Hine’ni

12:15 PM – Service Concludes, followed by Tashlich at 12:30 PM

Tuesday, October 1:

9:15 AM – Morning Service

10:15 AM – Torah Service

11:15 AM –  Hine’ni

12:15 PM – Service Concludes

Yom Kippur

Tuesday, October 8:

6:00 PM – Kol Nidre

Wednesday, October 9:

9:15 AM – Morning Service

11:15 AM –  Yizkor

4:30 PM – Afternoon Service

6:15 PM – Community Break Fast


Etz Chaim Synagogue

267 Congress Street, Portland, ME

You are warmly invited to attend holiday services at Etz Chaim. Services will be conducted by Rabbi Gary Berenson.

Rosh Hashanah

Sunday, September 29:

7:00 PM – Evening Service

Monday, September 30:

9:00 AM – Morning Service, address by Hon. Jon Levy

Tuesday, October 1:

9:00 AM – Morning Service

Yom Kippur

Tuesday, October 8:

6:00 PM – Kol Nidre

Wednesday, October 9:

9:00 AM – Morning Service, address by Hon. Kermit J. Lipez

4:30 PM – Yizkor Services

6:45 PM – Final Shofar


Shaarey Tphiloh

400 Deering Avenue, Room 4A,  Portland, ME

We will hold High Holiday services in the education wing of 400 Deering Ave, Portland, Maine. Come join us to usher in the year 5780 with contemplative prayer and a warm community. Seating is limited so please reserve as soon as possible. Services are FREE and all are welcome!

Rosh Hashanah

Sunday, September 29:

6:07 PM – Candle Lighting

6:10 PM – Mincha/Maariv

Monday, September 30:

8:30 AM – Shacharit and Holiday Services

10:45 AM – Shofar,  Tashlich after Kiddush at Back Cove

6:45 PM – Mincha/Maariv

7:05 PM – Candle Lighting

Yom Kippur

Tuesday, October 8:

5:51 PM – Candle Lighting

6:00 PM – Kol Nidre

Wednesday, October 9:

8:30 AM – Shacharit

11:00 AM – Yizkor

4:30 PM – Mincha

5:30 PM – Ne’ila – Concluding Service

6:49 PM – Final Shofar, Maariv, Havdalah and Break Fast


Temple Beth El

400 Deering Avenue, Room,  Portland, ME

Please join us for High Holiday Services. Egalitarian. Welcoming. No tickets required.

Rosh Hashana

Sunday, September 29:

6:00 PM – Erev Rosh Hashanah Service

6:07 PM – Candle lighting

7:30 PM – Ma’ariv Evening Service

Monday, September 30:

8:30 AM – Shacharit

9:45 AM – Torah Service

10:50 AM – Shofar Blowing

11:10 AM – Announcements and Sermon

11:45 AM – Musaf

5:00 PM – Tashlich service at Jewell Falls

7:13 PM – Candle Lighting

Tuesday, October 1:

8:30 AM – Shacharit

9:45 AM – Torah Service

10:50 AM – Shofar Blowing

11:10 AM – Announcements and Sermon

11:45 AM – Musaf

7:11 PM – Havdalah

Yom Kippur

Tuesday, October 8:

5:45 PM – Kol Nidre Service

5:51 PM – Candle lighting

Wednesday, October 9:

8:30 AM – Shacharit

9:45 AM – Torah Service

11:05 AM – Announcements and Sermon

11:40 AM – Musaf

3:15 PM – Limmud (Study) and Yoga

4:30 PM – Yizkor

5:00 PM – Mincha

6:00 PM – Ne’ila

7:00 PM – Blowing of Shofar/End Fast

7:05 PM – Ma’ariv

For Families

High Holiday Childcare
Free childcare is available in Room 3 for ages 2+
9:30am -1:30pm – Rosh Hashana Day 1 & 2
5:30pm -8:30pm – Erev Yom Kippur
9:30am -7:30pm – Yom Kippur

High Holiday Family Program
9:40am – 10:50am* (*times are approximate)

Family programming will begin around 9:40am on both days of Rosh Hashana and on Yom Kippur. We will
begin in the sanctuary where children will be invited to the bima for the beginning of the Torah Service. Then
families will parade with Rabbi Braun to the school wing for family services.

Family Services for children ages 6+ will be held in Rooms 1A &1B. Parents are encouraged to attend.
Minyan Katan for children under 6 will be held in Room 2. Parents are required to attend.

On Rosh Hashana families return to the sanctuary where children are invited back on the bima for the Shofar
Service. Families are also encouraged to participate in the Tashlich Service at Jewell Falls at 5:00pm on 9/30.

1 Comment

  1. peter rubin on October 8, 2019 at 4:59 pm

    pls think about hosting students, interns , residents from Maine Med Center , who are training here and have no opportunity to go home.

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