Statement from the Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine on Today’s Ceasefire Agreement

October 10, 2025

The Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine joins Jewish communities around the world in welcoming news of a ceasefire agreement that will bring all the remaining hostages home and move toward an end to the war. While this is cautiously being referred to as a “first phase,” it is the most optimistic development since the war began.

For two long years, our hearts have ached as we watched this war. We have seen firsthand the pain and grief it has brought to our own community, and the extraordinary resilience and compassion of Jewish people around the world. Hamas’ terrorist attacks on 10/7 started a conflict that swallowed the entire region in blood and fire. Today, we pray, we finally begin to move forward towards lasting peace for all.

We especially send our love and prayers to the families of the captives. May G-d comfort the families of the bereaved and support the healing of the wounded.

We will remain devoted in our mission to support Maine’s Jewish community. We will continue our steadfast support for our brothers and sisters in Israel. And we will continue to pray for a future in which Israelis and Palestinians can live in safety, hope, and peace.

Statement From Israel's President Isaac Herzog:

“This is a morning of historic and momentous news. I give my full support for the agreement reached in Egypt. I express my thanks to Prime Minister Netanyahu and the negotiating team, the mediators, and all those involved in this vital effort…This agreement will bring moments of indescribable relief to the dear families who have not slept for 733 days.

This agreement offers a chance to mend, to heal, and to open a new horizon of hope for our region. This is a time to honor the heroes among us: our sons and daughters who fought bravely to bring the hostages home; the bereaved families; the wounded in body and spirit; and all who have paid an unbearable price for this historic and vital moment.”

What to Know:

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a comprehensive end-of-war and hostage release deal, which is set to be signed in Egypt on Thursday afternoon.
Israel’s security cabinet is meeting to vote on the prisoner release and a number of other aspects of the agreement, which are expected to pass.
Following the government vote, the agreement will go into effect, halting all fighting and triggering the beginning of the 72-hour period during which all hostages must be released.
All hostages—both living and deceased—are to be released within 72 hours of the signing. It is understood that the 20 living hostages will return home to Israel by Monday at the latest (and possibly as early as Saturday). Hamas has agreed to release the hostages without the humiliating ceremonies it held with many of the previously released Israelis.
Hamas has cautioned that it may take additional time to locate and return the 28 bodies of those hostages who are no longer alive. There is speculation that the location of eight or nine of those bodies is not currently known to Hamas.
The deal also includes the full disarmament of Hamas and the demilitarization of Gaza, including the destruction of tunnels, weapons factories, and military infrastructure under international supervision. There will also be amnesty for Hamas fighters who lay down arms or can be given safe passage to third countries.
Under the agreement, Israel will maintain temporary security control of a security envelope until Gaza is declared “free of terror.” Later today, IDF forces will begin withdrawing from numerous Gazan population centers, but for now will continue to hold about half of the territory.
The deal will also include the release of approximately 2,000 Palestinian prisoners, including 250 serving life sentences (mainly for murdering Israelis) and at least 1,700 who were detained since October 7, among them women and minors. Israeli officials have indicated that the deal does not include members of Hamas’s Nukhba Force who took part in the October 7, 2023, massacre, nor the most prominent commanders described as “symbols of terrorist organizations,” such as Marwan Barghouti.
As soon as the deal begins, there will be immediate and large humanitarian aid efforts for Gaza, including the restoration of water, electricity, hospital support, and a US- and UN-backed economic development plan.

Oseh Shalom: A Jewish Prayer for Peace

עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו

הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם

עָלֵֽינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל

וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן

Oseh shalom bimromav

hu ya'aseh shalom

aleinu v'al kol Yisra’eil

v'imru Amen

May the one who creates peace on high

bring peace to us and to all Israel.

And let us say: Amen.

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CEO Announcement

May 4, 2026

After a four-month, intensive search, we are thrilled to announce that the JCA’s new Chief Executive Officer will be Susan Cohen, presently of London, England. After growing up in Massachusetts, Susan has spent the last 30 years of her career in Italy and the UK, with extensive senior leadership experience in the nonprofit and Jewish communal sectors. We were immediately struck by Susan’s relevant professional experience, but also her thoughtfulness, steady leadership style, clear sense of compassion, and her deep and enduring ties to Jewish life in Maine. Her father was born in Portland and raised in South Portland, and her grandparents were active members of the local Jewish community, where Susan enjoyed visiting regularly throughout her childhood. When considering this opportunity, Susan shared: “The JCA’s mission, especially its commitment to radical inclusivity and cultivating a thriving Jewish community, resonates deeply with me. I am inspired by the JCA’s growth, vibrant programming, and role as a convener across a diverse and expanding population. Uniting people across synagogues, agencies, and the broader community has been a defining feature of my leadership. I would be honored to help lead the organization into its next phase.” In addition to regularly visiting her family in Portland and Bangor as a child, Susan attended Bowdoin College for a year–and volunteered at the Hebrew School at Beth Israel Congregation in Bath!–before finishing her undergraduate degree at Georgetown University. She went on to receive a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard University, and then moved to Europe for international work opportunities. Susan raised her three adult children in London, and is now ready to make the move back to New England to be closer to her parents in the Boston area. We are confident that Susan’s meaningful experience in Jewish communal and social service nonprofit organizations will have a significant positive impact on the entire JCA community. As Executive Director (Chief Executive) of Six Point Foundation, she led a Jewish grantmaking organization supporting Holocaust survivors from inception through successful spend out, building partnerships across the Jewish communal landscape and designing initiatives with long-term impact. She then worked as a member of the senior leadership team at Nightingale Hammerson, a 350-person Jewish eldercare organization based in London. She is currently a senior leader at Oxfam, a global confederation of over 20 independent organizations working in 70+ countries to fight inequality and end poverty through humanitarian aid, long-term development, and campaigns. Throughout these roles, she has exhibited strategic and empathetic leadership, organizational excellence, keen financial oversight, and a deep commitment to inclusion and community building. The JCA Board of Directors would like to thank the Search Committee for all the time, energy, and professionalism that they brought to this process. We’re indebted to Rachael Alfond and Stefanie Levenson, who have been volunteering so generously as Acting Co-Directors during this transition, as well as the entire JCA staff for their ongoing commitment and hard work. We also want to thank JCC Association and our search consultant, Steve Engel, for their incredible support and guidance. Susan will take the next few months to wrap things up in London and make the big move to Maine, starting as CEO of the JCA in early August. We are all excited about welcoming her to our community this summer and to the work ahead under her leadership. Stay tuned for opportunities to meet Susan and help her settle into her new role and life here in the coming months!

2026 Mitzvah Day

April 22, 2026

On behalf of the entire team at the JCA, thank you to everyone who participated in the second annual JCA Mitzvah Day! This year, 87 volunteers gave back across 8 service sites, making a meaningful impact in our community. We are truly grateful to all who took the time to be part of this special day. We hope you’ll stay connected with us as we offer a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the year. Thank you for being part of this shared effort of Tikkun Olam—repairing our world, one act at a time. Your presence and energy made a real difference.