Mother-to-Mother Unity Mission to Israel

duda • April 26, 2024

The first step toward hope, is taking action.

Dear JCA Community,


A group of six Jewish mothers from Maine, a Momentum Partnership Manager, a Brandeis professor, and the J’s Executive Director walk into a home during Pesach may sound like the start of a great joke, but it was actually the scene in Falmouth on Wednesday night. The moms and I are two weeks away from departing on a Mother-to-Mother Unity Mission to Israel. Gila, our Momentum Manager, and Sara from Brandeis traveled from Massachusetts to ensure we are emotionally and physically prepared for the journey we are about to embark on together, as well as to share their own experiences as Israelis living in the diaspora who were personally affected by October 7th.


We are scheduled to arrive just in time to commemorate Yom Hazikaron (Memorial Day) and to mark Yom Ha’atzmaut (Independence Day).  We know it will be incredibly powerful to be there for these events, to honor and cement our shared connection to the land of Israel, our peoplehood, our values and our commitments. Above all this trip will be an opportunity to express our shared belief that as mothers in the diaspora, we are called to stand in unity and in support of Israeli mothers. In a time when so many are turning away or staying quiet, it is ultimately our shared desire to turn toward these injustices, to act in the service of humanity, and the desire to do something, anything, to stand against anti-Zionism, anti-Semitism and terror, and to bear witness to the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7th.


We all have additional, more personal “why’s” as well. Gila shared her own story of waking up in Israel on October 7th to the sound of sirens, and how she rushed to her 23-year-old daughter’s side immediately. Gila recalled her insistence that no matter the risk to herself personally, she was committed to personally delivering her daughter to her military base, praying it wouldn’t be their last moments together. Thankfully, she just celebrated her 24th birthday, with our group over Zoom (see photo below!) Sara talked about her immediate family member, Mia Shem, an Israeli hostage who was released on November 30th. One Maine participant discussed her experience of living as a teacher in Jerusalem, and that two of her former students were directly affected on October 7th, one was killed in the Nova massacre, and the other two days later as part of the first IDF unit to enter Gaza. The rest of us talked about our own connections to Israel, to the Holocaust, and about our fears right here in our own country. We echo one another’s sentiments that we no longer feel safe or free to express our religion or commitments to Israel publicly. All of us do so loudly and proudly anyway. The topic that aligns us in the most resounding way, though, is our children. Our number one priority as parents is to ensure their safety. What must it be like to be an Israeli mother right now?


We all agree: “If I am not for myself, who is for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? If not now, when?” – Rabbi Hillel, 1st Century B.C.


What will this mission look like? To start, we will be meeting with families of hostages, bearing witness by visiting a kibbutz destroyed by Hamas, as well as the Nova Music Festival site, where we will hear from a survivor. Later, we will harvest fruits and vegetables on a farm, ensuring fresh food reaches the markets. We will donate our time, learn, listen, offer support and solidarity.


As the Community Leader for this mission, I feel a personal responsibility to not only share what we hope our time volunteering in Israel does mean for us, and hopefully for those we interact with on the ground, but I also want you to know what this mission does not mean. Our connection to and support for Israel does not negate the clear suffering and massive loss of innocent lives of Gazans. Our choice to engage in this mission does not mean we are against a Palestinian statehood. On the contrary, every single one of us prays for a peaceful future and two-state solution. We’ve seen (in alarming detail) what happens when there is no viable path forward for Israeli and Palestinian statehood existing peacefully side by side. We’ve been told it’s impossible. But look where that belief has led us. Unnecessary death, destruction, and trauma that will be felt for generations to come by millions of people in the region and worldwide. This is exactly the right moment to adopt a new way of thinking—to practice our ability to hold multiple truths at one time. To have tikvah—hope. And the first step toward hope, is taking action.


We hope you follow along at the J’s Facebook and Instagram for daily updates; and for a more comprehensive update when we return. Tonight is Shabbat Chol Hamoed Pesach. From my family to yours, I hope you marked this holiday with more curiosity than criticism, and I leave you with these words from Elie Wiesel: “I love Passover because for me it is a cry against indifference, a cry for compassion.”


Am Yisrael Chai.


Ashley Inbar

Chief Development Officer

JCA Member Tapped for Hadassah Leadership Program

February 4, 2026
Hadassah Welcomes Its Fourth Group of Future Hadassah Leaders The 11 women from 7 states are the latest to be chosen for Hadassah’s Evolve Leadership Fellows program NEW YORK, NY — Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America , is proud to announce its new class of Evolve Leadership Fellows . The 11 women comprise the fourth group chosen for the two-year leadership development program, which the organization launched in 2022 to identify and nurture the next generation of Hadassah leaders. The fellows, a diverse group of women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s from California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Texas, i nclude professionals working in cybersecurity, education, healthcare, social work, and the arts as well as several part and full-time homemakers. As befits a group participating in a leadership development program run by an organization with a strong focus on healthcare and a public hospital system, Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Organization , among the fellows’ specialties are academic coaching for neurodivergent children, therapy for autistic children, healthcare consulting, donor recruitment for blood banks, and locating housing for doctors working in underserved communities. Carol Ann Schwartz, Hadassah National President , welcomed the new fellows, saying she was "delighted to see younger Jewish women eager to take up the mantle of leadership to help advance Hadassah’s mission." During the first year of the Evolve Leadership Fellows program, the fellows meet with Hadassah's national leaders and learn about the organization’s programs and initiatives in Israel and the US. They also participate in a series of workshops led by Hadassah's senior management team, which focus on developing the skills needed to inspire and lead their fellow Hadassah members. In the second year, each fellow is paired with a Hadassah mentor and asked to take on a leadership role in her local Hadassah chapter or region based on the community’s needs and interests. Among the roles taken on by past fellows are the presidency of their Hadassah region, representing their regions at meetings of the World Zionist Congress and the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations, and chairing a Hadassah Evolve symposium. The Evolve Leadership Fellows program is part of Evolve Hadassah: The Next Generation , a Hadassah initiative that seeks to build community among younger members and empower them to take action so that Hadassah’s mission remains life-changing for generations to come. About Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America: Hadassah, The Women’s Zionist Organization of America, is the largest Jewish women’s organization in the United States. With nearly 300,000 members, donors, and supporters, Hadassah brings women together to effect change on such critical issues as ensuring Israel’s security, combating antisemitism, and promoting women’s health care. Through its Jerusalem-based medical center, the Hadassah Medical Organization , Hadassah helps support exemplary care for more than 1 million people every year as well as world-renowned medical research. Hadassah’s hospitals serve without regard to race, religion, or nationality and earned a Nobel Peace Prize nomination in 2005 for building bridges to peace through medicine. Hadassah also supports two youth villages that set vulnerable youth in Israel on the path to a successful future. Visit hadassah.org and follow Hadassah on Facebook , Instagram , LinkedIn , and Threads . Carly Wittman has been selected as a member of Hadassah’s newest cohort of Evolve Leadership Fellows. Carly, a second-generation Hadassah member, was encouraged to apply to the Fellows program by longtime Hadassah member Leslie Gonzalez, who knew Carly wanted to develop leadership skills, was committed to Israel, and was active in the Fellows’ umbrella group, Evolve Hadassah: The Next Generation . Carly has been involved in Jewish life since she was young. She attended Congregation Beth Israel in Old Orchard Beach, the Hebrew school of Congregation Etz Chaim in Biddeford, and Jewish summer camps in Portland (Camp Gan Israel) and Windham (the JCA’s Center Day Camp). In her senior year at the University of Maine, Orono, she was Hillel president. Today, in addition to her activity with Hadassah, she sits on the JCA’s Intercultural and Government Advocacy committees and is proud to have testified at the Maine State House against a BDS bill. She hopes to form Maine’s first Hadassah chapter with the help of the JCA’s Young Jewish Professionals group, of which she’s also a member. For now, she’s happy to be part of New England’s Hadassah Northeast chapter, joining meetings by Zoom and sometimes traveling to Boston for events. Carly is a senior research analyst with Portland’s Crescendo Consulting Group , which works to improve life in the communities it serves by advising local healthcare organizations, public health departments, and tribal nations. It’s another way in which her interests complement the mission of Hadassah, which operates a public hospital system in Israel.

Guided by Jewish Values, Committed to One Another

January 30, 2026
Guided by Jewish Values, Committed to One Another The JCA reaffirms our unwavering support for every member of the community. Guided by the core Jewish value of pikuach nefesh - the preservation of life - and a deep respect for human rights, we remain committed to being welcoming and safe for everyone. This value states that life is a gift from G-d that must be protected. Every aspect of human life is sacred - physically, mentally, and emotionally - regardless of religion or race. Our tradition teaches us the immense weight of this responsibility. The Torah speaks passionately about our obligation to build a society that is just. The call to actively pursue justice, צדק צדק תרדף - tzedek tzedek tirdof - (Devarim 16:20), is presented as a central and fundamental component of Jewish life. Our tradition is clear: Jews must work for a world in which all people can live in dignity. In alignment with these values, we stand in solidarity with our immigrant community, who deserve to live free of fear, oppression, and discrimination. We believe in the inherent dignity of every individual. We remain dedicated to serving you and upholding the values that define us. B'yachad - together, Stefanie Levenson & Rachael Alfond Acting Co-Directors

No-Cost Security Support for Maine's Jewish Community - Communal Security Initiative at Combined Jewish Philanthropies

January 27, 2026
Maine’s Jewish communal organizations have access to no-cost security support through Combined Jewish Philanthropies’ (Greater Boston’s Jewish Federation) Communal Security Initiative (CSI) and its partnership with Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine (JCA). A product of CSI’s expanded service area, these additional resources can strengthen overall safety for our community. As a hub for Jewish life in the region, JCA has hosted CSI trainings and been a key partner in the provision of security grants and relationship development with rabbis, board members, and educators. Paired with CSI Regional Security Advisor Mark Atlee’s extensive law enforcement and community engagement experience, JCA’s connections with federal, state, and local law enforcement have been streamlined to ensure easier access to shared resources. Through 2027, CSI’s services are available to organizations within JCA’s catchment area at no cost through the Jewish Federation of North America’s LiveSecure grant program. CSI focuses on four mutually reinforcing communal security pillars known as PACT: P hysical security infrastructure, A ccess to CJP-provided and federal physical security grants, security consultations, and incident response support, C yber threat preparedness and response, and T raining to help partners balance being open and welcoming with creating a safe and secure environment. Our grants and services are designed to empower our partners’ improvement of life-safety decision-making and investments. We take pride in the time we’ve spent establishing connections and better understanding Jewish communities and congregations across Maine, as well as the relationships we’ve built with law enforcement officials. Together, we can support a thriving Jewish community and strengthen our network to respond to community organizations’ needs, both proactively and in times of uncertainty or crisis. To access support and explore training offerings, visit https://ma.cjp.org/communal-security-initiative .
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