Maine Jewish Museum

10/14/2026

Betsy Cook, “A Quantum Leap into the Co-Creative Realm of The Mystical,” mixed media.

COFFEE WITH THE ARTIST: Stop by the museum for coffee with artist Betsy Cook on THURSDAY OCTOBER 22 FROM 10-11 AM. Betsy will be in the Spiegel Gallery to chat about her exhibition, “The 72 Names of God: How the Light Gets In,” on view until October 29, 2026.

10/13/2026

Last week, we asked you:

Who belongs in the Maine Jewish Hall of Fame?

Now it’s time to make your case.

Open nominations are officially underway for the next class of the Maine Jewish Hall of Fame, presented in memory of Dorothy "Suzi" Osher and Alfred Osher.

Who has made an extraordinary contribution to Maine or beyond?

Who has strengthened a community, broken new ground, built something that matters, changed lives, or made the world a little better?

Who deserves to have their story celebrated?

We want to hear from YOU.

Please send your nomination along with a detailed summary (but not to exceed 500 words) of the nominee's background and accomplishments to HOF Committee Chair, Steve Brinn, at [email protected].

And a reminder: If you nominated someone in a previous year who has not yet been inducted, you do not need to nominate them again. All previous nominees remain under consideration.

Nominations are open through November 21.

Now go nominate someone fabulous.

Presented in Memory of Dorothy "Suzi" Osher and Alfred Osher. The Maine Jewish Hall of Fame 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. Watch videos of the induction ceremoni...

10/12/2026

Today, on Indigenous Peoples Day, we honor the Wabanaki peoples — the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Mi’kmaq, and Maliseet — whose histories, cultures, communities, and connections to this land long predate the State of Maine.

As a museum devoted to preserving and sharing the stories of a people, we understand the importance of people being able to tell their own stories, in their own voices.

Today, we encourage our community to listen to and learn from Wabanaki voices.

10/08/2026

What happens when a Tony Award winner comes to Shabbat dinner?

We’re about to find out.

On Friday, October 16, Ari’el Stachel is pulling up a chair for a very special Yemenite-inspired edition of At the Table.

Ari’el is the son of a Yemenite-Israeli father and an Ashkenazi-American mother, and his story of family, heritage, identity, and learning to embrace all the pieces of himself runs through his work.

So we’re going to explore those ideas the way Jews have been doing it for a few thousand years:

Over dinner.

MJM Executive Director—and former restaurateur and caterer—Dawn LaRochelle is creating a Yemenite-inspired pescetarian fall feast, and Ari’el will join us for an intimate evening of conversation and storytelling about family, heritage, Jewish identity, belonging, his journey to Broadway, and what it means to embrace all the pieces of ourselves.

And because this is At the Table, the food is most definitely not an afterthought.

🍽️ At the Table with Ari’el Stachel
📅 Friday, October 16
🕕 6:00–8:00 PM

Come hungry. Come curious.

And maybe wear pants with a little give.

  Friday, October 16 2026 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm Pull up a chair for a very special edition of Maine Jewish Museum’s At the Table series with Tony and GRAMMY Award-winning actor, writer, and singer Ari’el Stachel. Ari’el’s own story spans cultures and continents. The son of a Yemenite-Israeli ...

10/07/2026

10/07/2026

Sara Crisp, “Untitled (White petals that I like),” (detail) 2026. Wax, petals, mica, pigment, 12 x 12 in.

“..When I look at flowers, I see more than beauty. I see resilience, adaptation, and transformation. I see living reminders that change can happen gently and persistently, reshaping the world over time. Flowers ask very little of us, yet they offer so much — food, wonder, beauty, connection, and hope.”

Sara Crisp: New Work is on view in the Fineberg Family Community Room until Thursday, October 29, 2026.

*Artwork shown at the Maine Jewish Museum is available for purchase. Proceeds benefit artists and the Museum.

10/06/2026

🏆 WHO BELONGS IN THE MAINE JEWISH HALL OF FAME?

No, really. We’re asking.

Since 2018, the Maine Jewish Hall of Fame, presented in memory of Dorothy "Suzi" Osher and Alfred Osher, has honored extraordinary Jewish Mainers whose work has made a mark on Maine—and sometimes far beyond it.

Doctors. Artists. Attorneys. Entrepreneurs. Philanthropists. Civic leaders. Community builders.

Basically, people who saw something that needed doing and, very Jewishly, got involved.

And soon, OPEN NOMINATIONS BEGIN for the next class.

Who built something that mattered?

Who changed a community?

Who made life better for other people?

Who has done something so extraordinary that you just assumed they MUST already be in the Hall of Fame?

Start thinking. This is your chance to make the case.

One important note: Past nominees who have not yet been inducted remain under consideration, so there is no need to nominate them again.

We’ll share the nomination form when nominations officially open.

Until then:

Whose story should Maine know?

Presented in Memory of Dorothy "Suzi" Osher and Alfred Osher. The Maine Jewish Hall of Fame 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. Watch videos of the induction ceremoni...

10/05/2026

Kvell (Yiddish): to burst with pride and delight over someone or something.

Not merely to be proud.

To be obnoxiously, irrepressibly, tell-the-person-next-to-you-whether-they-asked-or-not proud.

Your kid got into college? Kvell.

Your granddaughter scored the winning goal? Kvell.

Your challah came out looking just like the photo in the recipe? KVELL.

Your dog finally did the thing you have been attempting to teach her for six months?

Obviously, kvell.

It is Monday. We could all use a little good news.

Tell us something you’re kvelling about today.

10/02/2026

Just when you thought the Jewish holiday calendar might give you a minute…

Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah have entered the chat. 📜

Over the next two days, we mark the end of one cycle and the beginning of another: finishing the Torah and immediately starting again.

Because apparently, Jews looked at the concept of “The End” and said:

Absolutely not. Back to Genesis.

Chag Sameach from all of us at the Maine Jewish Museum!

10/01/2026

Okay. We have exercised enough restraint.

Tony and GRAMMY Award winner Ari’el Stachel is coming to the Maine Jewish Museum.

And apparently one night wasn’t enough.

🍽️ FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16: Ari’el joins us around the table for an intimate Yemenite-inspired Shabbat dinner exploring food, family, heritage, Jewish identity, belonging, Broadway, and what it means to embrace all the pieces of ourselves. Tickets:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/at-the-table-with-ariel-stachel-a-yemenite-inspired-shabbat-tickets-1999214091164?aff=oddtdtcreator

🎭 SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17: Ari’el takes the stage for a performance derived from his acclaimed autobiographical work, followed by conversation and a dessert reception. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/events/1999215174404/dashboard/?eid=1999215174404

Ari’el won the Tony Award for originating the role of Haled in Broadway’s The Band’s Visit and was a principal soloist on its GRAMMY-winning cast recording.

And for one October weekend, he’ll be right here on Congress Street.

This is a BIG one, friends.

Tickets are on sale now.