With more than 410 member households, Congregation Bet Ha'am is one of the largest Reform congregations in northern New England. Our name means "House of the People" and reveals much about our approach to Judaism and the synagogue. The congregation, founded in 1985,  involves its members in all aspects of synagogue life, and fosters a love for worship and learning in the Jewish tradition, complemented by a "Fair Share" dues policy and open-door High Holy Days services.

Congregation Bet Ha'am welcomes interfaith households, and is fully egalitarian. We welcome gay and lesbian Jews. We are a member of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), the largest Jewish movement in North America, with more than 900 congregations representing an estimated 1.5 million Jews. This affiliation provides a wealth of additional resources for our members.

Bet Ha'am is housed in the extensively renovated Alice Sawyer School, one of the oldest public school buildings in South Portland, Maine. We're near Exit 7 of the Maine Turnpike, convenient to Portland, Old Orchard Beach, and all of southwestern Maine. The Portland International Jetport and Maine Mall are nearby, and we're only a 90-minute drive from Boston.

The Bet Ha'am experience -- blending religious tradition with a friendly, caring community on the scenic coast of Maine -- provides our members with a warm and spirited connection to Judaism.

Directions:
From the North
Take I295 South
Take exit #3 towards Broadway (US 1)
Turn left off the offramp on ME-9 - go 0.7 mi
The synagogue is located on the left just before Route 1