Sunday, October 19 2025
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Join us for a moderated book talk discussing Alex Kor and Graham Honaker’s A Blessing, Not a Burden, a powerful and poignant memoir that offers a unique perspective on the Holocaust and its lasting impact. Kor, the son of Holocaust survivors Mickey and Eva Kor, shares his personal journey of grappling with his unusual upbringing, his parents’ legacy, and his mother’s message of forgiveness. This program will delve into themes of intergenerational trauma, resilience, the power of reconciliation, and the ongoing importance of Holocaust education. Whether you’ve read the book or are simply interested in a meaningful discussion, this talk promises to be insightful and thought-provoking. Signed books will be available for purchase.
Thursday, October 23, 2025
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
The Maine Jewish Museum has a fresh look—and that calls for a party!
Join us as we celebrate our bold, refreshed logo with plenty of sparkle and style. We’ll kick things off with a toast (yes, there will be Prosecco—lots of it), along with a festive spread of handmade fall-inspired hors d’oeuvres and a signature cocktail crafted just for the occasion, plus wine, local beer, and non-alcoholic beverages.
Sunday, October 26, 2025
10:00 am – 12:30 pm
Discover Portland’s Jewish past — hidden in plain sight!
Join the Maine Jewish Museum for a special guided walking tour of our new Portland Jewish History Trail. From immigrant entrepreneurs and baseball moguls to social justice pioneers and quirky local legends, this tour brings to life the surprising stories that helped shape our city.
Sunday, October 26 2025
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
It’s baaaaaack — with a new twist! The MJM X Hadassah X Rimon Book Group now offers separate in-person and online sessions for each book selection. Whichever format you choose, lively discourse and warm camaraderie with fellow bookworms are guaranteed.
In October, we will discuss Tova Mirvis’s We Would Never, a powerful exploration of family dynamics, guilt, betrayal, and the complicated emotional aftermath of a tragic event. Based on a true story, the novel centers on Hailey Marcus, a woman who is reeling from the recent murder of her ex-husband, Jonah, a well-known writer and professor. Alongside her personal struggles, she also grapples with her complicated relationship with her mother, Sherry, and the deep-seated guilt that lingers over her family’s actions. As the story progresses, Hailey is forced to confront painful truths about her past, her family’s role in Jonah’s death, and the dark secrets that bind them together.
Monday, October 27 2025
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Raise a glass and dive into history!
This installment of Happy Hour with a Historian brings us something truly exciting: the brand-new Maine Jewish Community Study. Rabbi Dr. David Freidenreich, the Museum’s Historian-in-Residence, will share insights from this landmark report while placing the findings in the wider story of Jewish life in Maine over the past century.
Thursday, October 30 2025
6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
JCA of Southern Maine
The JCA and the Maine Jewish Museum are proud to present this special program for our community!
Beejhy Barhany, author of the Ethiopian-Jewish cookbook Gursha, will lead a workshop preparing a signature Ethiopian spice blend. Margaret Boyle, author of Sabor Judío, will lead a workshop on making Mexican salsas.
Afterwards, we’ll enjoy a community dinner featuring dishes from both cookbooks, lovingly prepared by chef extraordinaire and MJM Executive Director Dawn LaRochelle, who will add her own creative twist to the recipes. Dawn will also moderate a conversation with the authors as we explore two rich culinary traditions in the Jewish diaspora: Ethiopian and Mexican cuisine.
Thursday, November 13, 2025 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM
How can a single photograph change everything?
When an image discovered at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum revealed an unexpected personal connection, Portlander Ed Schultz and his sister found themselves drawn into a remarkable journey. Soon, they were invited to join a PBS film crew traveling through Lithuania and Belarus, documenting Holocaust survivors and descendants as they revisited long-vanished shtetls.
Sunday, November 16 2025
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Bookworms, take note: The MJM X Hadassah X Rimon Book Group now offers separate in-person and online sessions for each book selection. Whichever format you choose, lively discourse and warm camaraderie are guaranteed.
In November, we will discuss Sarah Tuttle-Singer’s memoir, Jerusalem Drawn and Quartered. On a night in 1999 when the author was barely 18, she was stoned by Palestinian kids just outside of the gates to the Old City of Jerusalem. In the years that followed, she was terrified to explore the ancient city she loved. But, sick of living in fear, she has now chosen to live within the Old City’s walls, right at the heart of the four quarters: Christian, Muslim, Armenian, and Jewish.
Back by popular demand!
We’re hosting a TWO-DAY JEWELRY POP-UP SALE on Thursday, November 20 and Friday, November 21 from noon-4 pm, featuring jewelers Lisa Gent, Laura Givertz, and Marilyn Pritikin.
We’ll stay open after museum hours on Thursday, Nov. 20 from 5-7 pm for a fun Jewelry Happy Hour.
Can’t make it or need a second look? Visit us on Friday, Nov. 21 from 2-4 pm for an Afternoon Tea & Jewelry Party. Both events will be catered by our own Executive Director and chef extraordinaire Dawn LaRochelle!
3rd Tuesday of Every Month at 2:00 pm
Join Ted Fleischaker, the Maine Jewish Museum’s “building specialist,” for a tour of the museum with a focus on our historic synagogue’s fascinating history. Ted is a journalist who has written for and owned newspapers in over half a dozen states, hosted a program on National Public Radio for over a decade, was a professor at University of Louisville, and served as PR Director at the United Jewish Campaign in Louisville.
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.
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