was erected in 1912, next door to The Lafayette. Post WWII to the end of the sixties (1946– 1969) Beginning in the 1960s, Jewish life in Old Orchard Beach began to reflect changes taking place elsewhere. Orthodox dietary observance was not as much in demand, hotels were quickly being overtaken by motels which offered more privacy, and families were no longer coming together for long stays. The large hotels were being razed or converted to motels. Old Orchard Beach’s heyday was coming to an end. In 1965 the Lafayette dining room was closed. End of the sixties to the end of the 20th century (1970 – 1999) By the 1970s, the number of summer visitors dropped, and the synagogue’s population dwindled. In 1970, the Goodkowsky family heirs sold the Lafayette Hotel. Beginning of the 21st century to date (2000 – present) The synagogue remains open for the High Holidays and for Shabbat services. There are no longer any Jewish run businesses or kosher establishments in the town. References and studies Greater Portland Jews arrived in Portland, Maine as early as 1866. Maine, a heavily rural state, attracted relatively few Jews during the mid-1800s and was home to only one city, Portland, whose estimated Jewish population in 1878 exceeded one-hundred. These early settlers were determined to learn English quickly, recognizing the importance of feeling a part of and thriving in a non-Jewish city. They worked quickly to build a Jewish community by addressing immediate needs: arrangements to hold religious services, access to and supply of kosher meat, and a burial ground in which to bury their dead. All of these arrangements were in place by 1880. During those early years and through the early part of the 20th century, most of Portland’s Jewish population resided in what is now known as the India Street neighborhood, what was then the most diverse part of the city. The relatively small area became home to three Orthodox synagogues, all of which had opened their doors by 1917. Current Jewish organizations B'nai Portland (Unaffiliated) Chabad of Maine (Chabad-Lubavitch) Congregation Bet Ha'am (Reform) Congregation Shaarey Tphiloh (Modern Orthodox) Etz Chaim Synagogue (Unafiliated) Temple Beth El (Conservative) Major events and milestones Early immigrant period (pre 1900) During the 1870s, the first Jewish settlers arrived in Portland from Eastern Europe, with 20-30 Jewish families living in Portland by 1874. By 1875, the first burial ground was purchased in