Welcome to the Maine Jewish Museum, located in Portland’s historic East End neighborhood. The museum resides within the restored Etz Chaim Synagogue, a turn-of-the-century house of worship. The museum hosts rotating eight-week art exhibitions featuring Jewish-connected and Maine-connected artists, as well as topical themes relevant to the Maine Jewish community. The Museum also houses Jack Montgomery’s photo exhibition of Holocaust survivors who settled in Maine, temporary and permanent Maine Jewish history displays, the interactive exhibitions Maine Synagogues Past and Present and A Song and a Prayer: Cantorial Music in Maine, and the Maine Jewish Hall of Fame, established in 2018 and presented by Dorothy Suzi Osher in memory of Alfred Osher.
Most of the art we exhibit is available for purchase.
Hours:
Monday – 12pm – 4pm
Tuesday – Closed
Wednesday – 12pm – 4pm
Thursday – 12pm – 4pm
Friday – 12pm – 4pm
Saturday Closed
Sunday – 12pm – 4pm
We celebrate and honor the contributions of Maine’s Jewish community members, past and present. Through art exhibitions, historical displays, and diverse programming, we build on the Maine Jewish immigrant experience to foster appreciation and understanding among people of all backgrounds.
The Maine Jewish Museum maintains a robust schedule of events, most of which are free and all of which are open to the general public (the Maine Jewish Museum is by no means “just for Jews!”) . These Video Highlight Reels provide a glimpse into a select few of our goings-on. We hope they convince you to come check out our upcoming exhibitions and programs.
The Maine Jewish Hall of Fame , Presented by Dorothy Suzi Osher in Memory of Alfred Osher, was created in 2018 to bestow recognition on outstanding Jewish leaders from throughout the state who have brought distinction and honor to the State of Maine or beyond. Those elected into the 2018 , 2019, 2021, and 2023 Hall of Fame by the Nominating Committee reflect the Jewish value of making the world a better place through outstanding accomplishments and/or humanitarian and philanthropic endeavors. Inductees include leaders in medicine, law, business, the arts,the environment, philanthropy, politics, and life. The Maine Jewish Museum will induct a new class into the Hall of Fame on May 4h, 2025 and invites the entire community to nominate a deserving individual during the open public nomination period starting October 13th and ending on November 23rd , 2024.
“Delet” is the Hebrew word for “door,” and the mission of the Delet Program is to share our experiences and open a door to greater understanding of Jews and Judaism among diverse Maine middle and high school students. With the United States arguably more polarized than at any time in history, antisemitism increasing at an alarming rate, and brazen and hateful divisions playing out in almost every aspect of American life, this kind of bridge-building is more important now than ever — particularly among our youth, in whose hands our future lies.
As the before and after photos in this online exhibit show, the small but mighty Maine Jewish community ensured that the fire was but a chapter in the Maine Jewish Museum’s story, not the end of our story. For this, we are eternally grateful. May the fire inside us always burn brighter than the fire around us.
Maine Jewish Museum changes art exhibitions every 8 weeks, featuring Jewish artists with a Maine connection.
Permanent collections featuring: Maine Holocaust Survivors, History of Maine Jews, and Famous people attending Maine summer camps.
Our brick walkway, consisting of 4,000 bricks, leads from the street through our peaceful garden to the entrance of the building. The Maine Jewish Museum invites you to honor or remember special people in your life by inscribing their name(s) on one or more commemorative bricks. Funds raised will help with the upkeep and maintenance of our magnificent Museum garden… one of only two public gardens in Portland’s East End.
On the first Friday evening of every month, from 5-8PM the city’s artists,galleries, and arts venues (including MJM!) open up their doors for Portland’s First Friday Art Walk.
All images copyright of the artist, unless otherwise noted; reproduction not allowed without express permission
Website by WEBFIX STUDIO.