Southern Maine Seders and Passover Programs 2022

Happy Pesach everyone! Time to clean house, stock up on matzah, rid yourself of pesky chametz, and rehearse your Da-Dayenu‘s. As we prepare for Passover, here are 13 great Passover Events to help you celebrate with your community here in Southern Maine. CHOCOLATE SEDER Presented by Etz Chaim, Biddeford Thursday, April 7th | 5:30 –…

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JCA Proposed Slate of Board Members for 2021-2022

In advance of our Annual Meeting on October 7th, the JCA is pleased to announce the proposed slate of Board Members for 2021-2022!  Join us on Thursday, October 7th at 5:30 PM, where we’ll honor new and retiring Board members, celebrate our community award winners, review the past year, and share our vision for the…

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Purim Programs 2021

It will be a different Purim this year but we’re still going to get dressed up, grogg our groggers, and nosh some Hamentaschen! Here are 13 great Purim Programs to help you safely celebrate with your community here in Maine. HAMANTASCHEN BAKING DEMONSTRATION Presented by Beth Israel Congregation in Bath Thursday, February 18, 5:00 PM…

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Joe Bornstein Winter Warmth Drive

For the last seven years, the JCA’s Michael Klahr Jewish Family Services (KJFS) has worked with local families to make sure children who visit our pantry receive support for weather-appropriate clothing as we head into a cold Maine winter.  This program has grown from serving a small group of 25 children, to reaching over 200…

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May Update Regarding COVID-19 & Reopening

Dear JCA Family, Over the past 9 weeks, we have learned so much about our community and about its resiliency and capacity for change. As difficult as the last two months have been, all of us have proven capable of far more than we might have anticipated when this began. The JCA’s programmatic structure and…

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KJFS Diaper Distribution Effort Featured on WCSH6

Last Thursday, the JCA’s Michael Klahr Jewish Family Services welcomed the arrival of a Tractor Trailer Truck containing a donation of 267,958 diapers (enough to provide diapers to 4,000+ babies over the course of the next two months).   The effort was highlighted this morning on WCSH6 – News Center Maine:    Before this pandemic…

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Greater Portland Purim Parties 2020

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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#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…

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Goat 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…

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PJ Library Southern Maine Receives $8,000 Grant to launch PJ Library Ambassadors Program

PJ Library Helps Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine/PJ Library Southern Maine Connect Jewish Families and Celebrate Jewish Life For Immediate Release July 9th, 2019 – Portland, ME York County and Bath/Brunswick area families raising Jewish children will now have more opportunities to participate in Jewish life, thanks to a grant recently awarded by PJ…

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