WATERVILLE -- Beth Israel Congregation has a long and rich history dating back more than a century.

The oldest continuing center for Jewish life, tradition, education and culture in central Maine, Beth Israel was founded by seven men.

Julius Levine, William Levine, Louis Wolman, John Paikowsky, Philip Levine, Moses Silver and John Williams were peddlers who settled in Waterville and wanted their families to have a place to worship.

Initially, services were held at private homes in Waterville; High Holy Day services at a fire substation on Ticonic Street.

Beth Israel congregation was chartered on June 16, 1902. On Aug. 21, 1903, the congregation bought a barn at the corner of Kelsey and Ticonic streets, tore it down and built the first Beth Israel Synagogue in its place under the direction of Charles Fitzgerald of Winslow.

In 1905, the new synagogue opened and operated on dues of 10 cents per member, per week.

Silver was the first "Shochet" or ritual leader before the synagogue was completed, and Hyman L. Shenson later became spiritual leader until the first of many rabbis arrived in 1914. The mortgage on the synagogue was paid off 20 years after the structure was completed, by the prospering William Levine.

In the wake of World War II, the Jewish population in Waterville rose sharply and in June 1957, construction started on the current synagogue at the corner of Main and Kelsey streets.

It was completed in 1958, thanks to large donations from Waterville philanthropist Harold Alfond and his wife, Bibby, now deceased.

Over the years, the descendants of the original founders -- including the Levine family, which owned and operated a popular men's clothing store downtown for half a century -- remained stalwarts of the congregation.

Gradually, however, their sons and daughters started to move away.

Amy Calder -- 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com