the women, with formation of sisterhoods - to help offset this debt. By 1930, the Jewish population of Lewiston in Auburn had grown to over 750 people. By 1933 the two synagogues had established a joint cemetery. That same year, there was yet another fire, and Congregation Beth Abraham's building was destroyed a second time, and rebuilt in a new location by 1934. In 1944, both synagogues were able to burn their mortgages. And in 1945, both synagogues offered membership to women. Post WWII to the end of the sixties (1946– 1969) By the 1940s, shoe manufacturing came to Maine, adding a new industry to the mill town. Owners of these factories were Jewish, and came from mill towns in Massachusetts. As early as the 30s there was a desire to create common bonds within the Jewish community. In 1950, a Jewish Community Center (JCC) was built. In 1960, the JCC hosted an American-Israeli Ball, with a guest list which included Senator Edmund Muskie, the Israeli ambassador to the United Nations, and the presidents of Bates and Colby Colleges. End of the sixties to the end of the 20th century (1970 – 1999) Lisbon Street, Lewiston’s shopping district, continued to thrive during the early 1970s, but the steady decline had begun. In 1982, Beth Jacob closed its doors and merged with the Lewiston JCC to become Temple Shalom, and in 1992, Beth Abraham Synagogue celebrated their 90th anniversary. From the beginning of the 21st century to date (2000 – present) Temple Shalom Synagogue remains as the only synagogue to serve the Lewiston Auburn communities. In 2004, they moved from being recognized as a Conservative temple to being independent, and today their membership includes 95 families. In 2017, with membership significantly decreased and no regular rabbi for several years, Beth Abraham synagogue held a deconsecration ceremony and closed its doors. The building was sold for development. References and studies Auburn: An analysis of the Jewish community of Lewiston-Auburn, A thesis presented to the faculty of the Department of Sociology, Bates College", Raymond Theodore Zelch The Jewish Community of Lewiston, student paper for Bates Sociology 222, Rohna Isaacson Greater Augusta In the 1930 and 1940s, the Jewish population in Maine’s capital city of Augusta was quite small with under 60 individuals. In those early days before a synagogue was built, the members of what was known as the Augusta Hebrew Community congregated