Israel-Palestine Speaker Series
Mar
30
6:00 PM18:00

Israel-Palestine Speaker Series

We are teaming up with Beth Israel (Waterville), Temple Beth El (Augusta) and Adas Yoshuron (Rockland) for a four-part speaker series on Israel-Palestine.

We’ll meet in person at the Minnie Brown Center to engage with the speaker on Zoom together, then we’ll gather for snacks and discussion.

 Our first speaker will be Michael Koplow Chief Policy Officer at the Israel Policy Forum. The Forum’s goal is to build support for a secure, Jewish, democratic Israel and constructive U.S. policies that help to advance a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict based on two states. They do that by elevating the public discourse and advancing pragmatic U.S. policy toward the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, U.S.-Israel relations, and regional diplomacy among policymakers and community leaders.

Minnie Brown Center

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Grief Support Group
Apr
5
4:00 PM16:00

Grief Support Group

A monthly drop-in group to provide a space for any member of Beth Israel who is grieving a loss, be it for the death of a loved one or other types of loss and grief. This group seeks to create connection and support for participants wherever they are in their grief journey. Reach out to Rabbi Vinikoor with any questions.

Minnie Brown Center

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Yizkor Service
Apr
8
10:00 AM10:00

Yizkor Service

Yizkor means, “May God remember” and it is a series of prayers said in community on Yom Kippur as well as on the last day of Passover, Sukkot and Shavuot. This year, on the 7th day of Passover Rabbi Vinikoor will lead a morning service and lead us in reciting the Yizkor prayers for loved ones who have died in recent days and in years past. All our welcome.

Synagogue

Led by Rabbi Vinikoor


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Yom Hashoah Observance
Apr
13
7:00 PM19:00

Yom Hashoah Observance

Yom Hashoah marks the anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Join together for a meaningful and reflective program where we will share traditional prayers, heartfelt

poems and songs and light candles to remember those who we lost as well as those who suffered during the Holocaust.

Synagogue

Led by Rabbi Vinikoor


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Lecture by Ayelet Tsabari
Apr
15
7:00 PM19:00

Lecture by Ayelet Tsabari

Ayelet Tsabari was born in Israel to a large family of Yemeni Jews. She is the author of The Art of Leaving, winner of the Canadian Jewish Literary Award for memoir, finalist for the Writer’s Trust Hilary Weston Prize, and an Apple Books and Kirkus Review Best Book of 2019.

We are so pleased that Ayelet Tsabari will be coming to Maine and speaking at Bowdoin College. This event is free and open to the public.

Kresge Auditorium, Visual Arts Center, Bowdoin College

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Grief Support Group
May
17
4:00 PM16:00

Grief Support Group

A monthly drop-in group to provide a space for any member of Beth Israel who is grieving a loss, be it for the death of a loved one or other types of loss and grief. This group seeks to create connection and support for participants wherever they are in their grief journey. Reach out to Rabbi Vinikoor with any questions.

Minnie Brown Center

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History of Antisemitism
Mar
22
10:00 AM10:00

History of Antisemitism

What are we saying when we say that someone or something is antisemitic? Where did the term come from? And what’s the history behind the behavior and speech that we call antisemitic? In this 4-part course we will talk about history, going back to the time of Christ and moving forward to the contemporary world. We will talk about language, action and response. We will talk about our own experiences of antisemitism. 

This class will be taught by John Dunn, a faculty member of Midcoast Senior College and member of Beth Israel. 

Please register for the class by emailing office@bethisraelbath.org. In addition, please borrow or buy the book Antisemitism: Here and Now by Deborah E. Lipstadt.

Minnie Brown Center

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History of Antisemitism
Mar
8
10:00 AM10:00

History of Antisemitism

What are we saying when we say that someone or something is antisemitic? Where did the term come from? And what’s the history behind the behavior and speech that we call antisemitic? In this 4-part course we will talk about history, going back to the time of Christ and moving forward to the contemporary world. We will talk about language, action and response. We will talk about our own experiences of antisemitism. 

This class will be taught by John Dunn, a faculty member of Midcoast Senior College and member of Beth Israel. 

Please register for the class by emailing office@bethisraelbath.org. In addition, please borrow or buy the book Antisemitism: Here and Now by Deborah E. Lipstadt.

Minnie Brown Center

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Grief Support Group
Mar
1
4:00 PM16:00

Grief Support Group

A monthly drop-in group to provide a space for any member of Beth Israel who is grieving a loss, be it for the death of a loved one or other types of loss and grief. This group seeks to create connection and support for participants wherever they are in their grief journey. Reach out to Rabbi Vinikoor with any questions.

Minnie Brown Center

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History of Antisemitism
Feb
22
10:00 AM10:00

History of Antisemitism

What are we saying when we say that someone or something is antisemitic? Where did the term come from? And what’s the history behind the behavior and speech that we call antisemitic? In this 4-part course we will talk about history, going back to the time of Christ and moving forward to the contemporary world. We will talk about language, action and response. We will talk about our own experiences of antisemitism. 

This class will be taught by John Dunn, a faculty member of Midcoast Senior College and member of Beth Israel. 

Please register for the class by emailing office@bethisraelbath.org. In addition, please borrow or buy the book Antisemitism: Here and Now by Deborah E. Lipstadt.

Minnie Brown Center

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Grief Support Group
Feb
15
4:00 PM16:00

Grief Support Group

A monthly drop-in group to provide a space for any member of Beth Israel who is grieving a loss, be it for the death of a loved one or other types of loss and grief. This group seeks to create connection and support for participants wherever they are in their grief journey. Reach out to Rabbi Vinikoor with any questions.

Minnie Brown Center

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History of Antisemitism
Feb
8
10:00 AM10:00

History of Antisemitism

What are we saying when we say that someone or something is antisemitic? Where did the term come from? And what’s the history behind the behavior and speech that we call antisemitic? In this 4-part course we will talk about history, going back to the time of Christ and moving forward to the contemporary world. We will talk about language, action and response. We will talk about our own experiences of antisemitism. 

This class will be taught by John Dunn, a faculty member of Midcoast Senior College and member of Beth Israel. 

Please register for the class by emailing office@bethisraelbath.org. In addition, please borrow or buy the book Antisemitism: Here and Now by Deborah E. Lipstadt.

Minnie Brown Center

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Community Read
Jan
22
7:00 PM19:00

Community Read

The selection for the next Community Read is Songs for the Broken Hearted by Ayelet Tsabari. For the first time we will be sharing the discussion with Bowdoin College students. We will meet at Thorne Hall, order dinner and then gather together to share a meal and thoughts about the book. The big follow-up is an in person visit with author Ayelet Tsabari on April 15.

RSVP to office@bethisraelbath.org for location information at Bowdoin College.

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Grief Support Group
Jan
18
4:00 PM16:00

Grief Support Group

A monthly drop-in group to provide a space for any member of Beth Israel who is grieving a loss, be it for the death of a loved one or other types of loss and grief. This group seeks to create connection and support for participants wherever they are in their grief journey. Reach out to Rabbi Vinikoor with any questions.

Minnie Brown Center

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Creating Connection in Challenging Times
Jan
15
7:00 PM19:00

Creating Connection in Challenging Times

In today's fraught climate, it can be intimidating to navigate conversations with family, friends, and colleagues—especially when you don't see eye to eye—while maintaining respect and curiosity rather than defensiveness. But understanding someone doesn't require agreeing with them.

Creating Connection in Challenging Times is a four-part reading and discussion series designed to help Beth Israel members navigate hard conversations about Israel/Palestine with empathy and openness. Each session explores one of four themes—home, safety, people, and obligation—through a shared text or short film, followed by guided practice in active listening. By focusing on how we hear one another, even when we disagree, this program offers practical tools for building understanding and strengthening relationships.

Each session will be at the Minnie Brown Center on the following dates and times:

November 13, 7:00 pm
December 11, 7:00 pm
January 15, 7:00 pm

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Creating Connection in Challenging Times
Dec
11
7:00 PM19:00

Creating Connection in Challenging Times

In today's fraught climate, it can be intimidating to navigate conversations with family, friends, and colleagues—especially when you don't see eye to eye—while maintaining respect and curiosity rather than defensiveness. But understanding someone doesn't require agreeing with them.

Creating Connection in Challenging Times is a four-part reading and discussion series designed to help Beth Israel members navigate hard conversations about Israel/Palestine with empathy and openness. Each session explores one of four themes—home, safety, people, and obligation—through a shared text or short film, followed by guided practice in active listening. By focusing on how we hear one another, even when we disagree, this program offers practical tools for building understanding and strengthening relationships.

Each session will be at the Minnie Brown Center on the following dates and times:

November 13, 7:00 pm
December 11, 7:00 pm
January 15, 7:00 pm

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Creating Connection in Challenging Times
Nov
13
7:00 PM19:00

Creating Connection in Challenging Times

In today's fraught climate, it can be intimidating to navigate conversations with family, friends, and colleagues—especially when you don't see eye to eye—while maintaining respect and curiosity rather than defensiveness. But understanding someone doesn't require agreeing with them.

Creating Connection in Challenging Times is a four-part reading and discussion series designed to help Beth Israel members navigate hard conversations about Israel/Palestine with empathy and openness. Each session explores one of four themes—home, safety, people, and obligation—through a shared text or short film, followed by guided practice in active listening. By focusing on how we hear one another, even when we disagree, this program offers practical tools for building understanding and strengthening relationships.

Each session will be at the Minnie Brown Center on the following dates and times:

November 13, 7:00 pm
December 11, 7:00 pm
January 15, 7:00 pm

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Fall Shabbaton
Nov
7
to Nov 8

Fall Shabbaton

The Fall Shabbaton is an annual event that brings together the Maine Jewish community and friends from farther afield for a weekend of Torah study, soulful music, Shabbat meals, and invigorating connection. What started out as a Friday gathering has evolved into a full Shabbat of learning and singing, with intergenerational programs for college students, children and teens, and community from across the state. The Shabbaton is a partner program to the Maine Conference for Jewish Life, sustaining our community with Jewish learning and music as we enter the winter months.

To register click HERE

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