Maine Jewish Museum

06/23/2026

What's the most Maine Jewish thing you've ever seen?

A lobster boat with a mezuzah?
A Shabbat dinner featuring whoopie pies?
A synagogue trustee in Bean boots?

For the past year, we've been collecting stories, photographs, and oral histories from Jewish Mainers across the state.

One thing we've learned:

There is no single way to be Jewish in Maine.

And that's exactly what makes this community so interesting.

Tell us: what's the most Maine Jewish thing you've ever experienced?

👇 Bonus points if there's a lobster involved.

06/22/2026

🚨 LAST CALL! 🚨

What do Vietnam, Judaism, and lemon poppy seed challah have in common? Find out this Thursday night at the Maine Jewish Museum.

Join author and TEDx star Nhi Aronheim for an unforgettable evening of storytelling, conversation, and a Vietnamese–Jewish fusion dinner inspired by her extraordinary journey from war-torn Vietnam to a new life in America.

Just a few seats remain, and we expect to sell out.

🎟️ Grab yours now: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/at-the-table-with-author-nhi-aronheim-a-vietnamesejewish-fusion-dinner-tickets-1989010489918?aff=oddtdtcreator

P.S. Can't make dinner? Join us for a FREE Lunch, Listen, Learn with Nhi from 12–1 PM. Registration required.

06/21/2026

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY ❤️

Today, we're celebrating the dads, grandfathers, stepfathers, fathers-in-law, honorary dads, mentors, coaches, and father figures who taught us how to ride a bike, tie a tie, change a tire, grill something questionable, and tell the same story at least seventeen times.

Thank you for the wisdom, the humor, the patience, and the occasional unsolicited advice.

We'd love to hear about a father or father figure who made a difference in your life. Share a memory in the comments.

Happy Father's Day from all of us at the Maine Jewish Museum.

06/19/2026

Today, we recognize Juneteenth, a day commemorating the end of slavery in the United States and celebrating Black freedom, resilience, culture, and achievement.

06/18/2026

MJM Executive Director Dawn LaRochelle believes that laughter really and truly is the best medicine. Read all about it in the June edition of "Third Thursday Thoughts."

When you're a new parent, you discover that everyone in the world is an expert on child-rearing. Except, apparently, you. Most of the advice I received as a first-time mom earned an inward eye roll ("Cover him up; he'll catch a chill!"). Occasionally, it turned out to be painfully true ("Enjoy this....

06/18/2026

Pearl Amsel, “A Monument to the Six and the Six Million,” cast bronze, 10 x 11 x 21 in.

Maine Jewish Museum thanks Drs.Harold and Larry Amsel for the generous gift of this sculpture to the museum’s garden. The meditative work reflects the artist’s personal experience as an Auschwitz survivor, and is a memorial to her six family members and the six million Jews killed in the Shoah.

Born in Czechoslovakia in 1931, Pearl Amsel was an extraordinary sculptor and academic, who drew inspiration for her work from biblical and mythological themes, combining her contemporary avante-garde approach to form with familiar classical iconography. Her works have been shown worldwide.

06/17/2026

Abdur Rahman Muhammad, “IMG_0004.JPG,” 2026. Oil on canvas, 50 x 70 cm.

Last chance to see our spring exhibitions before they close June 25, 2026:

“ACCRA!” Guest curator Myron M. Beasley
“Transversals: Reverberations Across Contested Lines,” Paula Gerstenblatt
“Drawn By Nature:New Photographs,” Gary Green

We look forward to seeing you soon Maine Jewish Museum! Myron Beasley Gary Green Paula Gerstenblatt Abdur Rahman Muhammad (ARM👑)

06/16/2026

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO

Every exhibition.
Every school visit.
Every oral history.
Every concert.
Every book talk.

At its heart, the Maine Jewish Museum is about stories.

Stories that connect generations.
Stories that connect neighbors.
Stories that help us better understand one another.

Thank you for helping us keep those stories alive.

❤️

06/15/2026

😂TRAGEDY TOMORROW, COMEDY TONIGHT! 🎭

This year's Maine Jewish Museum fundraiser is getting a glow-up.

Join us on August 6 for Comedy, Community & Catskills Classics, featuring nationally acclaimed comedian Cory Kahaney, the hilarious Rubin Brothers, auction fun, and an upscale summer BBQ buffet that just might be worth the price of admission all by itself.

We're trying something new this year: professional performers, a fresh event format, delicious food, and plenty of opportunities to laugh, connect, and support the Museum's exhibitions, educational programs, and statewide initiatives.

Whether you come for the comedy, the community, the auction, or the BBQ, we promise a memorable summer evening.

🎟️ Don't be late to the party of the year. Grab your tickets now!

👉https://mainejewishmuseum.org/programs-and-events/comedy-community-catskills-classics/

An Evening Benefiting the Maine Jewish Museum Thursday, August 6, 2026 Dinner: Cocktail Reception at 5:00 PM • Dinner at 5:30 PM Show: Doors Open at 6:30 PM • Performance Begins at 7:00 PM Join the Maine Jewish Museum for an unforgettable evening of comedy, music, vaudeville, circus arts, and co...

06/12/2026

Think you know Portland?

Sure, you know where to find a (kosher! 😜) lobster roll. You know where to park... or at least where not to park. You probably even know a few ghost stories.

But do you know where Portland's Jewish immigrants built businesses, founded community institutions, shaped local politics, and helped transform the city we know today?

Starting June 17, join us for Hidden in Plain Sight: Portland's Jewish History Trail Tour — a journey through the streets of Portland that reveals the remarkable stories hiding behind familiar buildings, sidewalks, storefronts, and street corners.

You'll hear about immigrant dreamers, entrepreneurs, community builders, social justice advocates, baseball connections, local legends, and the generations of Jewish Mainers who helped shape Portland's past — and continue to shape its future.

Warning: Side effects may include:
✔ Getting your steps in
✔ Pointing at random buildings and saying, "Wait, THAT happened there?"
✔ Upping your Maine Jewish trivia game

Space is limited, so grab your walking shoes and reserve your spot today!

🎟️ Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/hidden-in-plain-sight-portlands-jewish-history-trail-tour-tickets-1991112549234?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true

Join the Maine Jewish Museum for a special guided walking tour of our new Portland Jewish History Trail.