MARCH 23, 2020 UPDATE: The JCA’s Board and Executive Director have voted to extend the closure of the JCA and the Goldman Family Preschool through April 27th. Our teams are creating online opportunities for engagement and connection that we hope to maintain throughout the closure. In addition to those focused within the Goldman Family Preschool,…

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As we continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19 (the novel Coronavirus) in other parts of the country and across the globe, safety and health remain our top priorities at the J. Two weeks ago, our staff met to convene a task force focused on this area of emerging concern, and we have established cleaning…

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Chag Purim Sameach! Time to make masks, dress up, grog your groggers and eat delicious Hamentaschen 🙂 But where? When? How?! Here are 13 great ways to celebrate Purim in Southern Maine this year (2020/5780). Hamantaschen Baking w/ Rabbi Lisa Vinikoor of Beth Israel in Bath Bowdoin Multicultural Center 30 College Street, Brunswick, ME 04011…

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Today, the Portland Press Herald published a letter to the editor from JCA Executive Director Molly Curren Rowles and Portland City Councilor Pious Ali denouncing religious violence and affirming solidarity in the face of last week’s news of a mass stabbing at a Hanukkah gathering in Monsey, New York. Read the full text below or…

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Happy (almost) Hanukkah everyone! Time to spin the dreidel, eat some sufganiyot, stock up on candles, and get ready to make, and eat, a whole lotta latkes. As we prepare to celebrate, here are ten (make that eleven!) great ‘Hanukkah Happenings’ in Southern Maine communities that we’re sure you’ll want to attend. Chabad of Maine…

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Thank you so much to each and every one of you who participated in #GivingTuesday in support of the JCA’s Annual Campaign yesterday! We were fortunate to receive over $5,000 in online donations throughout the day – a really special feat considering that most of us were homebound due to the first major snowfall of…

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We are so pleased to welcome our new Center Day Camp Director, Chris Thurston, who is excited to bring the Maine camp experience to kids from near and far! Graduating from the University of Maine in 2011, and eager to make a difference, he moved to Massachusetts and joined AmeriCorps City Year, working with young…

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In case you don’t yet subscribe to the JCA’s bi-weekly newsletter (wait, you don’t?? Sign up here!), here is this week’s Community Newsletter in which we remind you to ‘Save the Date’ and celebrate the JCA on #GivingTuesday, Dec. 3rd. https://conta.cc/2r7jN87 We are so thankful for all your support during this Annual Campaign, and in…

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Back in July, the JCA and PJ Library of Southern Maine received word that we had been awarded an $8000 grant to launch PJ Library Ambassadors Program. We are now so pleased to introduce our new PJ Library of Southern Maine Ambassadors for York County and the Bath/Brunswick areas! Sheila Nesis PJ Library Ambassador for…

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Last week, we experienced a severe rain and windstorm that knocked out power to the JCA and many local businesses, schools, and homes for days.  Luckily, our office staff had a previously-scheduled retreat planned to visit Ten Apple Farm in Gray for a Goat Hike, which we highly recommend! On Friday we enjoyed time together…

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