Congregation Adas Yoshuron has been a beacon for Jewish life in Midcoast Maine since its founding by Russian immigrants in the late 19th century. Originally an Orthodox congregation, our synagogue is now unaffiliated and serves a broad geographical range and philosophical array as the only synagogue within 50 miles.

Jews have lived in the Midcoast since before the Civil War and there is a rich history of Jewish life throughout the state of Maine. Today, the Midcoast Jewish community is small but tightly knit and has grown significantly in recent decades. Through the leadership of Colby College’s Center for Small Town Jewish Life, Adas Yoshuron is a part of a strong network of engaged congregations and Jewish leaders. We are supported by the eager participation and generous contributions of the Midcoast Maine Jewish community.

Our community includes doctors, lawyers, businesspeople, farmers, educators, artists; young families, mature adults, singles, and couples; those who were raised or self-identify as Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative, Orthodox or Unaffiliated; full time residents and those who come to the Midcoast to vacation or to live some part of the year. All of these are important members of the Adas Yoshuron community, many of whom are involved in Rockland and Midcoast Maine as business and professional leaders and all of whom engage with the political and community life of our region. Though small in number, our membership has a strong presence in Midcoast Maine and is a meaningful voice in the social and political life of our broader community.

When asked about Adas Yoshuron and what attracts congregants to the synagogue, we often hear that our Shul is more than a community—it is an extended family with a sense of belonging; “my Jewish family in a place that feels like home.” The warmth, familiar faces, mutual care for one another’s wellbeing, and the connected nature of our small Shul all support the vibrant and caring nature of our community. This community includes and celebrates members with interfaith marriages and marriages of all genders, many of which have been conducted in our sanctuary. We are committed to integrating and welcoming spouses and partners who are not Jewish into all aspects of our observances.

In terms of religious observance, there must be something for everyone. The membership of Adas Yoshuron ranges from the traditional who would attend daily minyan if such existed to those who come only at the High Holidays. An array of religious services are offered that address a wide variety of observances and customs designed to support the needs and interests of full and part-time residents in our geographically widespread area. The opportunity to participate in services and programming remotely has been beneficial to congregational engagement in the past years, not only allowing connection during times when it has not been safe to gather, but also affording ongoing engagement to members who may be far from Rockland or unable to travel.

In addition to providing a setting for religious services and needed support to those facing or celebrating life-cycle events, Adas Yoshuron is the locus of opportunities for learning and connection for culturally and ethically engaged Jewish residents of Midcoast Maine; those who simply want to gather with like-minded souls to share a meal or to discuss the events of the day, study and learning about great books, the challenges we face as Jews, opportunities for expanding our diversity, equity and inclusion and social action activities, and much more. Accordingly, our synagogue also fills a role as a Jewish community center with cultural programs for the entire family and Jewish education for children ranging from pre-school to post-Bnei Mitzvah.

We are eager to attract young families with children to enliven our services and celebrations, attend Hebrew School, and participate in family programming. We envision a robust youth program that involves our teens with Jewish experiences that provide nurturing and fun opportunities to cultivate their Jewish identity. We anticipate the presence of a spiritual leader will provide a strong center from which to grow our membership and expand and deepen the breadth of educational opportunities for children, B’nai Mitzvah, and teens.

We believe that dedicated spiritual leaders perform critical leadership functions in congregations. They help shape and communicate vision, lead prayer, teach, administer, manage, and offer pastoral care. They build community and connect individuals and groups to one another. Through vision and example, they engage their community in social action endeavors. Spiritual leaders are critical in building the vitality that we envision for our synagogue. Vital congregations are unusually active, inspiring, and engaging and they stimulate feelings of belonging—features that help members grow and learn as Jews. Vital congregations perform critical functions—for their members, Jewish life, and their local communities, and the larger society as well.

Over the next three years, a principal goal of our Board is to encourage a steady increase in involvement from a new generation and demographic of members. This would be a time of passing on the collective wisdom and institutional memory to a new generation of leaders. We will consider it a success when we have recruited, trained, and retained new community leadership to participate on synagogue committees, our Board, and volunteer opportunities. Our commitment to cultivating a pipeline of vibrant, knowledgeable leaders is intended to lead to seamless leadership transitions and help ensure the vitality of our congregation’s future.

Finally, we envision our Shul community filled with spirited opportunities for connection, engagement, and learning. We envision Shabbat and holiday services of meaningful prayer, beautiful music, and thoughtful meditation. We envision a spiritual leader who respects and honors the history of our synagogue community, celebrates and encourages lay leadership and the tradition of community involvement while bringing their own strengths, knowledge, and questions and offering us new perspectives and the joy of discovery.

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