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2025 Maine Jewish Hall of Fame Nominations

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 18th, 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.

Current members of the Maine Jewish Hall of Fame are attached below:

Presented by Dorothy Suzi Osher in Memory of Alfred Osher

* Indicates of blessed memory

- Joel and Linda Abromson* - Portland
- Jim Abrahamson*- Portland
- The Adelman family* (including Hiram and Katherine, Milton and Gloria, Yale and Mary and Jack and Elizabeth Mazer) - Aroostook County
- Dorothy and Harold Alfond* - Waterville
- Dr Albert Aranson* - Portland
- David Astor* - Portland
- Rabbi Gary Berenson - Cape Elizabeth
- The Bernstein Family* (including Israel and Rebecca, Selma and Louis, and Sumner and Rosalyne) - Portland
- Dr Joel Bloom* - Otisfield
- David Brenerman - Portland
- Judge Morton Brody* - Waterville
- Sam L Cohen * - Biddeford
- Lawrence & Kay Cutler* - Bangor, ME
- Julius (Yudy) & Frances Elowitch* - Portland
- Sidney Epstein* - Bangor
- Gerald Fineberg* - Boston
- Rabbi Tuvia Ben Shmuel Yosef (Donald Gellers)* - Eastport
- Al Glickman* and Judy Glickman Lauder - Portland
- Norman Godfrey* - Portland
- Jerry and Susan* Goldberg - Portland
- Gerda Schild Haas* - Lewiston
- Max and Irving Kagan* - Bangor
- Linda Lavin - Los Angeles


- Abraham and Fannie Levey* - Portland
- George I Lewis* - Portland
- Bernard Lown* - Lewiston
- Philip Lown* - Lewiston
- Peter and Paula Lunder - Waterville/Scarborough
- Judith Magyar and Irving Isaacson* - Lewiston
- Cantor Kurt Messerschmidt* - Portland
- The Minsky Family (Including Meyer and Bess*, Leonard and Renee *and Norman) - Old Town
- Katherine Morgan* - Portland
- Harold and Millie Nelson* - Falmouth
- Kenny and Mary Nelson - Falmouth
- Leonard and Merle Nelson - Cumberland Foreside
- Louise Nevelson* - Rockland
- The Osher Family (including Peggy* and Harold, Bernard and Barbro, Alfred* and Suzi, and Harold and Marion Sandler*) - Portland
- Nathan Povich*-Bath
- Roxanne Quimby - Schoodic
- Benjamin Stern* - Biddeford
- Rabbi Harry Z Sky* - Portland
- Nancy and Charlie Shuman - Augusta
- Jack Spiegel* - Portland
- Melvin Stone* - Portland
- Howard Trotzky - Bangor/Caratunk
- The Unobskey Family* (including Joseph and Sarah and sons William, Arthur, and Charles) - Calais
- Rita Willis* - Portland

Please note that all past nominees who have not been inducted will be considered for induction every induction year going forward. Last year, three nominees put forth by the public in this open nomination period were inducted into the HOF by the Nominating Committee.

The Nominating Committee consists of the following individuals:

Toby Adelman, Rabbi Gary Berenson, Steven Brinn, Harris Gleckman, Jody Sataloff, Aaron Shapiro, Miles Theeman, Jenny Aranovich, Abe Peck, and King Weinstein

Please send your nomination along with a detailed summary (but not to exceed 500 words) of the nominee’s background and accomplishments to

Thank You!