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Letter to the editor: Religious violence demands action
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…
Read MoreSouthern Maine Hanukkah Happenings
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…
Read More#GivingTuesday Recap and Photos
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…
Read MoreNew Center Day Camp Director
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…
Read MoreCelebrate the J this #GivingTuesday ❤️
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…
Read MoreMeet Our New PJ Library Ambassadors
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…
Read MoreGoat Hike/JCA Staff Retreat at Ten Apple Farm in Gray
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…
Read MoreSouthern Maine Services for the High Holidays 2019/5780
Looking for High Holiday Services in Southern Maine? Look no further! Here are the schedules for eight local congregations. For more information, click the name of each congregation to visit their website and find full schedules including Sukkot and more.* * Did we miss any? Email JCA Marketing Director Trevor Geiger at tgeiger(at)mainejewish.org Congregation Bet…
Read MoreJCA Annual Meeting 2019 – Executive Director’s Remarks & Photo Recap
This month marks the JCA’s two-year anniversary on Congress Street! Our time here has been fantastic, challenging, and exciting, and the organization has grown in so many ways. And the past year has been particularly full. Full of sorrow, as we experienced unprecedented violent attacks on American Jewish communities and the rise of antisemitism both…
Read More225,263 Diapers Arrive at KJFS to Assist Refugees & Asylum Seekers
Several months ago, Portland, ME welcomed over 400 asylum-seekers from Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo that came to the city from the southwestern border. As the city mobilized to help find them temporary/permanent housing, the JCA and Michael Klahr Jewish Family Services started a fundraising effort to bring an entire TRACTOR-TRAILER truckload of diapers…
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