After two years of visiting Portland for weekends, Josh will be living in town for six weeks this summer! He will be teaching a couple of weekly classes at the JCA in addition to his work with Shaarey Tphiloh, and will be hosting classes and meals out of his summer apartment on Pleasant Street. Josh will be teaching a daily class on Tractate Brachot at his apartment in the evenings, and is also open to one-on-one or small group learning on a Jewish topic of interest to you! Please be in touch with any ideas of things that you would like to learn, programs that you would like to see happen or just to set up a time to talk about anything on your mind. He will be in Portland from the beginning of July until mid-August.
Sponsor a Kiddush!
Congregation Shaarey Tphiloh and Temple Beth El are partnering to offer Kiddush refreshments on Shabbat and holidays. Sharing a Friday night or Shabbat service and Kiddush is a wonderful opportunity to support our congregations, build community, share in the simcha of a birthday, anniversary or graduation, and offer comfort to those observing a yahrzeit. Please note, due to the increased cost of lox, premium level Kiddush sponsorships now cost $200.
All Shaarey Tphiloh members are encouraged to attend this meeting to voice their opinions, suggestions or concerns and help the Board plan for the upcoming year. Hope to see you there!
Zionist Organization of America
June 13th, 7 PM
Room 4A
All are invited to the first meeting in Maine of the ZOA. Learn more about the Zionist Organization of America in conversation with Rabbi Jonina Pritzker, ZOA Executive Director of the New England Region via phone and Dr. Michael Goldblatt in person. Find out why the Wall Street Journal stated, “The ZOA (is) the most credible advocate for Israel on the American Jewish Scene today.”
Israeli Desserts: Baklava to Babka
Monday, June 4 – 5:30 pm – RSVP Required
Temple Beth El
Israel is a diverse “pressure cooker” of history and culture. In few other ways is this more apparent than in the foods enjoyed by its citizens. Join Daniel Heinrich as he walks you through making Turkish/Israeli baklava and Polish/Israeli chocolate cinnamon babka. Parental supervision required for children under the age of 13. Includes a small plate of desserts to take home. $10 for members / $12 for non-members. RSVP by May 28
Hill 24 Doesn’t Answer
Jun 3, 2018, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Released in 1955, “Hill 24 Doesn’t Answer” (running time 1 hour and 41 minutes) was the first movie to be produced in Israel. Set during the Israeli War of Independence in 1948, four soldiers from the newly formed Israeli Army are assigned to hold one of the hills surrounding Jerusalem before the United Nations imposed cease fire. We learn in a series of flashbacks how each soldier came to fight for Israel. A discussion of the film will follow.Please contact Daniel at office@nulltbemaine.org or 207-774-2649 with any questions.
Third Annual Night of Comedy and Silent Auction
June 7th, Temple Beth El
Save the date for Temple Beth El’s Third Annual Night of Comedy and Silent Auction on June 7th featuring Juston McKinney! Proceeds to benefit Kadima Beth El. Free childcare with dinner available. Hors D’oeurves – Cash Bar – Age 16+ Tickets go on sale April 15th so keep an eye out for more information in the next few weeks! RSVP by May 31st!
Unlikely Harbingers: The Unique Message of Clergy from LGBT and Other Traditionally Marginalized Populations in Our Time Tuesday, June 12 – 5:30 pm
This event will offer an opportunity for dialogue, new connections, and reflection on the challenges the Jewish LGBT and other traditionally marginalized populations have faced and continue to face, both in the U.S. and in Israel. Rabbi Gadi Capela, the spiritual leader of Congregation Tifereth Israel in Greenport, NY will offer his unique perspective on what it means and how to create a welcoming and inclusive community. Rabbi Gadi was born and raised in Israel and moved to New York in 1995 after completing his military service as a lieutenant in a rescue unit.
As we seek to make old traditions new, Temple Beth El is creating a Rosh Chodesh group for women. Together, as a collaborative effort, we will explore our tradition and our identities as women. No experience is necessary, all are welcome.
Yoga Minyan
Sundays at 9:30 am
6 session pass-$36 members/$54 non-members, $10/session drop-in rate
Temple Beth El’s yoga minyan offers a moment of peace meant to nurture your heart, soul, and body through a centering, grounding yoga practice. The class opens with some words of Jewish philosophy, followed by stretching, gentle movement, and breathing. Please bring comfortable clothes and a yoga mat. Open to all, no prior experience necessary.
Bruchim Habaim Speaker Series:
New Mainers, Government, and Civil Service with Pious Ali
June 29 – 6:00 pm
Portland City Council member Pious Ali will present a talk on his experience as a new Mainer making it in local government and politics and the meaning of civil service to a diverse and growing community.
There will be 3 activities for participants to choose from: planting the garden, baking cookies for Preble Street, and providing entertainment (concert, reading, games) to either a senior living home or the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital (plans being finalized). We will meet at 1pm, break into groups to do our activity, and then meet back at 400 Deering for snacks. This is a great family-friendly way to do a mitzvah!
19 Sivan
Jacob Mirochnick
Bernard Waterman
Edith Wiesenthal
20 Sivan
Milton Burke
Esther Cohen
Jeremiah Kamens
Samuel Reef
21 Sivan
Samuel David Berman
Rose Blumenthal
Etta Chase
Sheldon Cohen
Myer Shepard
Sadie Abrahamson Silverman
22 Sivan
Samuel Cohen
Abraham E Davidson
Charles Punsky
Saul H Sheriff
Bessie C Tallan
23 Sivan
Sarah Berman
Jacob Feldman
Max Rosen
24 Sivan
Ida Weisberg Dion
Harry Jacobs
Samuel Raplowitz
Mollie Seltzer
25 Sivan
Alfred Punsky
Fannie Shuman
Maurice I Widrow
Refuah Shleimah
Nicholas ben Alma
Akiva ben Sarah
Channah Bryndel bas Bluma
Yona ben Zlata Meryl
Aviva bat Rut
Dear Shaarey Tphiloh Community,
We need your help!
Every Saturday morning we say a prayer for Refuah Shleimah for members of our congregation and their loved ones who are in need of healing. We would like to include the names of all those in our community who would benefit from our thoughts and prayers so we encourage you to communicate with us. Please, let us know if there is anyone whose name you would like included in our service and announcements and keep us updated through their recovery.
Shabbat Shalom
Community Calendar
The Maine Conference for Jewish Life, June 8-10, Thomas College, Waterville, ME
This year at the Maine Conference for Jewish Life, Rabbinic Intern, Josh Pernick will be hosting a class Saturday, June 9th at 8:00 pm titled “Well-Rooted and Flourishing: Is Innovation Allowed in the Study Hall?” He is also hosting some children’s programming during Shabbat. This years conference, taking place from June 8th – 10th features speakers from around the state (and country) talking about Jews and Social Justice, #MeToo and women in the Torah, food, making a Torah, poetry and more. The early bird registration rate of only $50/day (no housing) ends this May 31st so please register now! For more questions contact Rabbi Erica Asch rabbiasch@nullgmail.com
We’re having a pre-camp cleanup day on Sunday, June 3rd, from 10 AM – 4 PM. Anyone interested in spending a morning or afternoon helping us beautify camp before we kick off for the summer is welcome to help. Projects will include raking, cleaning boats, planting flowers, and painting. Pack a picnic lunch to enjoy on the beach and join us for a day of laughs, camp stories, and summer prep. For more information please contact: dzimmerman@mainejewish.org.
Do you have a guest room? Two wonderful young women are coming all the way from Israel to Center Day Camp this summer, and each year we look for families willing to act as their “home away from home” and welcome them into their family for 2-3 weeks. They are wonderful houseguests, and it is a rewarding and enjoyable experience for all involved. A stipend or credit toward Camper weeks at Center Day Camp is available to hosting families. If you are interested in more information or if you know of another family who may be, please contact Dana at 772-1959 or dzimmerman@nullmainejewish.org! (Also, please let friends and family know about this opportunity – you do NOT have to have a child attending a CDC in order to host!)
Career Opportunity
JCA seeks New Hillel Director
The Southern Maine Hillel (SMH), a program of the Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine (JCA), seeks an energetic, outgoing and engaging Director to be a Jewish presence at the University of Southern Maine, University of New England, Maine College of Art and Southern Maine Community College – to reach out to students and connect them in meaningful ways to Jewish life and to participate in campus life as a Jewish voice. The SMH is affiliated with Hillel International, whose mission is to enrich the lives of Jewish students so that they may enrich the Jewish people and the world. Find out more
Sunday Simcha!
Sunday Mornings – 6:30 to 8:30 am
We welcome new hosts: Hillel, Marshall Tinkle, Barbara Merson, Natan Kahn.
Sunday Simcha is the only Jewish music program in Maine and northern New England and one of only a handful of Jewish music radio shows in the United States. Shows are wildly eclectic- one of the few Jewish shows to feature modern, diverse, and cutting-edge recordings in addition to traditional music.
Sunday Simcha features:
An eclectic blend of Jewish music from across the diaspora, including klezmer, Sephardic, Ladino, traditional, sacred, folk, rock, classical, kids’ music, and jazz – Live interviews – News and announcements for the Southern Maine Jewish community – Occasional Jewish humor
Jacob Cousins Memorial
Unveiled in September 1935, the Jacob Cousins Memorial was part of an ongoing nationwide effort to highlight both the patriotism of Jewish Americans and their contribution during times of conflict. The memorial is a key artifact in the history of the Jewish community in southern Maine linking past to present and inspiring visitors to remember, respect and contemplate the cost of war.
In its current state the memorial is difficult to view and appreciate as it faces directly onto Eastern promenade Drive. Friends of the Eastern promenade is raising funds to redesign this historic landmark.
