March 10, 2021 - 26 Adar 5781 |
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This week, together with those throughout Maine and the country, we mark the one year anniversary of last year’s COVID lockdowns. One of the hallmarks of the past year has been that though we are all sharing in the challenges of this time, the contours, dynamics, and specific circumstances have been different for each of us.
Together with the JCC Association of North America, we have been exploring ways to mark this date in a way that honors both our universal connections and our unique experiences. The concept of the digital Community Time Capsule resonated with us, and we are excited to launch this project here in Southern Maine to acknowledge and commemorate this milestone. This will be a place to remember and reflect upon what life was like for our community in 2020-21.
Please join this project by contributing a memory, photo, song, or quote/saying that captures something about the essence of this past year, or reminds you of how it has felt, together with a description of what it means to you. Please send your Time Capsule submissions via google form or by emailing us your memory! We are so excited to share this with our community, and to build something we can all reflect on in years to come.
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Butcherie Order
The Maine Pesach Butcherie Order will be delivered March 16; the deadline for ordering will be March 14 at 11:59 PM. Visit their Passover Store to place your order today! At check out, select “Pickup/Drop-off” and then select “Portland Maine” in the drop-down menu. Delivery cost is covered by the JCA. Click here for more info.
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JKids Radio MUSICAL PASSOVER SEDER EXPERIENCE
A FREE online event sponsored by PJ Library in Southern Maine, the JCA, Temple Beth El, and Congregations Bet Ha’am and Shaarey Tphiloh
Sunday, March 21st | 3 PM
Join us for a musical seder experience with the very top artists in Jewish kids music including Nefesh Mountain, Rabbi Josh Warshawsky, Eliana Light, Shira Kline, Ellen Allard, Rick Recht, Joanie Leeds, and Elana Jagoda!
Advanced registration required by Sunday 3/21 at 12 noon to receive the Zoom link.
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LISA SCOTTOLINE - Eternal: A Novel
In partnership with the JCC Literary Consortium and the Atlanta JCC
Sunday, March 21st | 8:00 PM EDT
Set in Rome during the ventennio, the twenty years of Mussolini’s rise and fall, Eternal centers on Elisabetta, Marco, and Sandro, who grew up as the best of friends despite their differences. Now, their relationships are changing - as is the world around them. Unfolding over decades, Eternal is a saga of loyalty and loss, family and food, love and hate—all set in one of the world's most beautiful cities at its darkest moment.
Tickets: $6 – virtual ticket, or $36 – one virtual ticket and one copy of the book
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SONGS OF FREEDOM: A Multi-Genre Musical Celebration of Passover
Presented with the National JCC Adult & Senior Alliance
Friday, March 26th | 2:00-3:15 PM EST
Commemorate the Exodus from Egypt and celebrate the Jewish people being led to freedom! Journey with popular San James Sokol through diverse music – Broadway, pop, opera, country – exploring the theme of freedom. Audio and video clips bring the beauty of music into our discussion!
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RECOVERY-ORIENTED SEDER
Presented by the JCA and co-sponsored by the Portland Recovery Community Center
Hosted on Zoom by JCA volunteer Rebecca Bass
Sunday, March 28th | 6 PM
During this special seder, we will explore how recovery from substance use disorder relates to the Israelites' liberation from slavery in Egypt. We will share our own journeys to personal freedom and how those journeys continue today. This intimate event is designed for people in the recovery community, regardless of background or beliefs. Event will be limited to 12 participants.
Free. Advanced registration required by Thursday 3/25 to receive the Zoom link and a digital PDF of the special Haggadah booklet we will be using.
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The Yellow Bird Sings – A book talk with novelist Jennifer Rosner
Thursday, April 1st | 7:00 PM EST
What did Holocaust survivors go through on a daily basis in order to stay alive, and how did these experiences shape their consciousness? Jennifer Rosner’s debut novel attempts to answer these questions as it follows Roza and her young daughter, Shira, who flee the Nazis during World War II.
The book will be available to order from our friends at Longfellow Books at this link:
Limited copies will include a signed bookplate.
Advanced registration required by Weds. 3/31
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AROUND THE JEWISH WORLD
*Local programs highlighted in light blue
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WOMEN INSPIRING WOMEN with Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton - In conversation with Abigail Pogrebin
A free event presented by the Temple Emanuel Streicker Center
Thursday, March 11th | 11:30 AM EST
A series of intriguing and multifaceted women from dramatically different backgrounds to answer that question, to explore the role of “heroines” in their lives and to talk about how they’ve helped them become the women they are.
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From Election to Inauguration and Beyond:
JEWISH IDENTITY AND CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY
Presented by the Shalom Hartman Institute
Thursday, March 11th | 12 Noon EST
Tal Becker and Erica Brown of George Washington University will explore Jewish peoplehood and how we can move forward and heal, in conversation with Gil Preuss, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.
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KITCHEN EXPLORATIONS: A Culinary Journey Through Historic Boston - Passover Favorites with Chef Michael Leviton
Presented by JArts Boston and the Vilna Shul
Thursday, March 11th | 5:30 PM
Waves of migration in and out of Boston neighborhoods can be traced through the kitchens, food traditions, and related stories. Chef Michael Leviton cooks and discusses some of his favorite Passover recipes including krimsel, a sweet latke-like Ashkenazi dish, from the archives of the Jewish Heritage Center at the New England Historic Genealogical Society.
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HAVDALAH TOGETHER
with Rabbis Lisa Vinikoor and Jared Saks
Organized by the Center for Small Town Jewish Life
Saturday, March 13th | 7 PM
Our March Havdalah comes at the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the pandemic. Grounded in story, reflection, and song, we’ll lift our voices to bring comfort, gratitude, and hope.
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The Jewish Youth Connection Teen Program – GO LOOK!
With the Center for Small Town Jewish Life
Sunday, March 14th | 7:00 – 8:30 PM
Connect with friends from across the state! Learn about bedikat hametz—the search for leavened items that takes place right before Passover. Then sharpen your searching skills with a scavenger hunt!
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FOR THE LOVE OF OPERA: Celebrating RBG’s 88th Birthday
Presented by the National Museum of American Jewish History, the Milken Center for Music of the American Jewish Experience, and Opera Philadelphia
Monday, March 15th | 8 PM EST
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was notoriously passionate about opera. It's no surprise that the plots of her favorite operas often paralleled her professional pursuit of justice. To mark her 88th birthday, the first since her passing, we are celebrating with performances of some of her favorite opera arias.
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WHO COUNTS & WHY IT MATTERS with Ilana Kaufman
Understanding our multi-racial Jewish community
Presented by the Center for Small Town Jewish Life
Tuesday, March 16th | 7:15 PM
Ilana Kaufman, Executive Director of the Jews of Color Initiative, will discuss growing racial diversity in the Jewish community and the implications for the Jewish now and the Jewish future.
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MJFF WEEKEND EDITION – Free Film Streaming & Program
Presented by the Maine Jewish Film Festival
Sponsored by David's Restaurant and Rose Foods
Shiva Baby - Streaming March 19 – March 21
A young Jewish woman anxiously juggles an accumulation of mishaps and potentially disastrous encounters, each threatening to expose her messy multitude of secrets, all at the same family gathering. A sharp-witted satire. (Sexual content.)
Ottolenghi and the Cakes of Versailles - Streaming March 19-23
Via London, Versailles, and Instagram, follow celebrity chef Yotam Ottolenghi on his quest to bring the sumptuous art and decadence of Versailles to life in cake form, at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC with the assistance of five renowned pastry chefs.
Tues. March 23 at 7 PM - Ottolenghi director Laura Gabbert joins MJFF for a live discussion about making the film.
Both films are free, but you must reserve your ticket for access.
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Employment Opportunities at the JCA
The JCA’s mission is to enhance and promote Jewish life and continuity locally, in Israel and throughout the world, and to generate the financial resources to develop, provide and support diverse programs, education and services in order to accomplish these goals.
To view all current employment opportunities CLICK HERE.
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JCA Community Time Capsule 2020-21
Friday, March 13th, 2021 will mark one year since the JCA first closed its doors due to COVID-19. As we commemorate and reflect on the past year, we hope you will add your memories and experiences to our digital Community Time Capsule for 2020-21, which will be published on our website here.
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' Hannaford Helps' Reusable Bag Program benefitting KJFS
For the month of March, every time a reusable $2.50 Fight Hunger Bag is sold at the Hannaford store located at - 415 Philbrook Avenue, Hannaford Plaza, So. Portland - Michael Klahr Jewish Family Services will receive a $1 donation. Please join us in helping to reduce waste, while also supporting KJFS this March!
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1342 Congress St. Portland, ME 04102 | 207-772-1959
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