Your Gift, Our Community: How the JCA Allocations Make an Impact

Host An Israeli Counselor This Summer

Join us in Welcoming the New JCRC Director at the JCA

ADL's Never Is Now Conference & National Leadership Summit

By: Dr. Leslie Kirby, PhD CEO at JCA of Southern Maine As antisemitism becomes more and more accepted by the mainstream, on both sides of the political aisle, it is vital that the Jewish community band together to address this challenge. I was privileged last week to be part of the 2nd cohort of Navigating Israel and the Rise of Antisemitism at Brandeis University. This influential program, co-sponsored by JCC Association (JCCA) of North America and Boundless Israel, brought together 51 leaders from 25 communities across the US and Canada and equipped us with tools to address antisemitism and growing polarization in our communities. Coordinated by Rachel Fish, Ph.D., special advisor to the Brandeis University President’s Initiative on Antisemitism and co-founder of Boundless, the seminar was designed to empower JCC leaders to respond proactively to antisemitism, strengthen understanding and connection to Israel, and implement programming that effectively combats Jew-hatred in their local communities in the wake of the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel. “The seminar provides not only foundational knowledge but also practical strategies for JCC leaders to engage their communities around the complex intersection of antisemitism and anti-Zionism,” says Fish. “Clearly defining and addressing the challenges of Jew-hatred and anti-Zionism require a systemic approach, and it begins with leadership. By equipping JCC executives with the tools to navigate these issues, we are empowering them to lead with confidence, ensuring the work of countering Jew-hatred and strengthening connections to Israel continues to grow unabated.” The seminar included practical learning experiences, real-life case studies, and 12 world-class scholars and practitioners from institutions including Brandeis, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Constructive Dialogue Institute, Frieze Family Foundation, Hebrew College, JCC Association, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, National Black Empowerment Council, Scholars for Peace in the Middle East, Tufts University, and Wilson Center. One of the most interesting aspects to me was the idea of shifting from using the word “antisemitism” to using the phrase “Jew-hatred”. They presented a lot of really solid data showing that many people in the US don’t know what the word antisemitism means. Calling it Jew-hatred is a lot less ambiguous! It will take a while to break the habit of saying antisemitism, but I will be trying in communications with our community to switch to Jew-hatred. Similarly, a lot of people don’t know what the word Zionism means. Another study presented data that showed that simply defining the word for people increased the reported levels of pro-Zionist ideas. Just another reminder to be clear on defining our terminology in both internal and outward-facing ideas. We also learned a lot about the history of antisemitism (Jew-hatred), including the origins of tropes, the role of the former Soviet Union in propagating antisemitic views worldwide, and the recent role of Iran in antisemitic communications, especially on social media. It was fascinating to see how things have shifted, or sometimes cycled, over time. The content was heavy – it’s not an uplifting topic! But it was great to be there, to learn more about the historical and ongoing contexts of antisemitism, to meet so many other execs who are grappling with these issues and have a chance to brainstorm together, and just to sit with all this in a concentrated way. I left with a fabulous network of peers to draw on for ideas, with some strategies I look forward to trying out in our community, and with a lot of hope about the ability of us collectively to respond to the challenges of this moment.

Hamantaschen with Poppy Seed Filling

March Mitzvah Madness is Here!

The Hebrew Ladies Society by Marilyn Weinberg When we consider Women’s History Month, we often think of individuals who, through their acts of courage, really made a difference in our communities and our world. And yet sometimes we overlook the acts of a group of women, who through their commitment and hard work, also made a difference. In 1919 in Bath, according to a local newspaper, the Jewish men met and agreed to start the process of building a synagogue of their own after having used multiple venues throughout the city including a pool hall. What was not published in the newspaper was that the women of the budding Jewish community decided they would form their organization to raise money for this huge project. They called themselves the Hebrew Ladies’ Society and began a group that lasted for over 50 years. Women from Bath and Brunswick totaled over 30 members. Meetings initially were held weekly and soon moved to every other week. They paid 10¢ per meeting dues and raffled off homemade items at each meeting to make more money. Most of them had families and worked alongside their husbands in the family business. They were busy, but this was important for them. In 1920, after putting in hours of work, they were able to donate $500 to the building fund. They continued this work, organizing social events, rummage sales, and holiday events year after year. Without their efforts, the Beth Israel Congregation would not have survived. Beth Israel has amassed minutes of the Hebrew Ladies Society from 1919 until 1962. The minutes give us a slice of Jewish life experienced in our small communities over time. Some are funny and some very serious. My favorite is the constant battle of the women trying to get the men to clean up the kitchen. These anecdotes tell us a story of the importance of women in our Jewish communities. A sample from the minutes: Bath, Maine - December 31, 1921 Mrs M.S. Povich - recording secretary. The Hebrew Ladies’ Society held a social whist party…A large crowd attended...the whole Jewish population of Bath and Brunswick with only a few absent. Whist was enjoyed by all, and prizes were distributed including a necktie donated by Mrs. N. Povich and there was even a booby prize (a hairpin) donated by Mrs. M. Cohen. The food remaining was auctioned off. The party was a financial success having raised $21.60. You can find the full minutes of the Hebrew Ladies Society as part of the Judaica Collection at the Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity in Maine.

Gaza's Future is at a Crossroads