Congregation Bet Ha’am, South Portland’s Reform Jewish synagogue, was recently noted as one of “50 Stunning Synagogues From Around the World” by Huffington Post.

In 1985, a small group of visionaries came together to bring to southern Maine a synagogue that would provide inspirational, joyful worship and religious education in the Reform Jewish tradition. During the next 24 years, Congregation Bet Ha’am had many “homes” as it held Shabbat worship services, High Holy Days observances, and conducted religious school in a variety of disparate places.

In 2008, they broke ground on a permanent home at 81 Westbrook St., South Portland, for all services and programming.

The honor is bestowed in the company of work by Frank Lloyd Wright, Renzo Piano, Phillip Johnson, and Petro Belushchi, some of the greatest architects of the 20th and 21st century.

The synagogue was designed by Canadian architects Brigitte Shim and Howard Sutcliffe, who transformed the spirit of the “House of the People” into an innovative and striking home for the congregation, which has grown to about 350 household members. The combination of modern utility, state-of-the-art design, and natural lighting results in a landmark not only in southern Maine but across the world as described in the Huffington article.

For more information on Congregation Bet Ha’am, or to set up a visit or tour, contact kris@bethaam.org, 879-0028 or www.bethaam.org. All are welcome.

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