This was a heart-warming read! Not the bits about Israel-ignorance, but your insights that yes, we still have all the things other people have thrown away, thinking they were being so clever and post-modern and are now wandering around the world, spiritually at least, looking for a replacement. Thank you for giving me another reason to love us. Am Yisrael Chai!
I think you are right. Israel has what a lot people are seeking. A real community with a culture that has existed for thousands of years and a religion that you can choose to a part of 100% or only when it suits.
The Jews reclaiming its land after 2,000 years is a miracle to be celebrated by all.
What a wonderful essay !!!!!!!.....and it's so true we have all these rituals and meditation too.....Your new friends should visit you in Israel.......in spite of EVERYTHING, is one of the. HAPPIEST countries in the world !!!!!!!!!.Am Israel Chai.......
99.99% YES to this whole piece! But not quite 100%… as a Jewish Mainer, I can say that Maine has had a small but thriving (and growing) Jewish community long before—and still here after— 1912. Jews were certainly not kicked out of Maine in 1912, and as a lifelong Mainer, that’s a fact worth getting correct. In fact, my congregation was founded in 1917. Yes, there is a guy running for Senate with a Nazi tattoo, but he’s a knucklehead, and there are lots and lots of “Good Mainers” who uphold and support Maine’s 28,000 Jews. The Jewish population in Maine in 1910 was roughly 10,000, so we’re still here and we’re doing just fine. In fact, our local JCA sent a delegation of us to Israel just two weeks ago and we deeply enjoyed eating the perfect food, as you accurately noted.
The one in Portland’s East End—the third-oldest in Maine. The oldest is in Bangor, founded in 1888.
The Jews have absolutely never been expelled from the State of Maine. We have a vibrant and continuous history here. We have experienced antisemitism, just like Jews everywhere, but never expulsion. However, there was a large expulsion of Jews in a territory called “Maine” in northwestern France around 1289 by Charles II.
Meanwhile, the State of Maine is actually nicknamed “Vacationland.” Lots of Jews vacation/summer here as well, and it’s home to dozens of traditional Jewish overnight sleepaway camps!
Wow, what an excellent article that completely encompasses who we are. I believe the word to “covet “ describes the world’s view of us. You wrote about it so eloquently, thank you.
Vacationing while Jewish can be “interesting.” I’m glad that you realized that we have it all as Jews, and they do resent that. I wrote about an incident I experienced on vacation, close to home, here in California:
Beautiful story and writing. I hope they do come to visit you. Take them to the Bahai centre, they will love it. It's got everything they crave for in Judaism (even if they don't know it) without the stigma! 😆
This was a heart-warming read! Not the bits about Israel-ignorance, but your insights that yes, we still have all the things other people have thrown away, thinking they were being so clever and post-modern and are now wandering around the world, spiritually at least, looking for a replacement. Thank you for giving me another reason to love us. Am Yisrael Chai!
I think you are right. Israel has what a lot people are seeking. A real community with a culture that has existed for thousands of years and a religion that you can choose to a part of 100% or only when it suits.
The Jews reclaiming its land after 2,000 years is a miracle to be celebrated by all.
What a wonderful essay !!!!!!!.....and it's so true we have all these rituals and meditation too.....Your new friends should visit you in Israel.......in spite of EVERYTHING, is one of the. HAPPIEST countries in the world !!!!!!!!!.Am Israel Chai.......
99.99% YES to this whole piece! But not quite 100%… as a Jewish Mainer, I can say that Maine has had a small but thriving (and growing) Jewish community long before—and still here after— 1912. Jews were certainly not kicked out of Maine in 1912, and as a lifelong Mainer, that’s a fact worth getting correct. In fact, my congregation was founded in 1917. Yes, there is a guy running for Senate with a Nazi tattoo, but he’s a knucklehead, and there are lots and lots of “Good Mainers” who uphold and support Maine’s 28,000 Jews. The Jewish population in Maine in 1910 was roughly 10,000, so we’re still here and we’re doing just fine. In fact, our local JCA sent a delegation of us to Israel just two weeks ago and we deeply enjoyed eating the perfect food, as you accurately noted.
Yes, the synagogue in Rockland, right? I have to dig more into the history - they did expel the Jews of Maine, but I might have the date wrong.
The one in Portland’s East End—the third-oldest in Maine. The oldest is in Bangor, founded in 1888.
The Jews have absolutely never been expelled from the State of Maine. We have a vibrant and continuous history here. We have experienced antisemitism, just like Jews everywhere, but never expulsion. However, there was a large expulsion of Jews in a territory called “Maine” in northwestern France around 1289 by Charles II.
Meanwhile, the State of Maine is actually nicknamed “Vacationland.” Lots of Jews vacation/summer here as well, and it’s home to dozens of traditional Jewish overnight sleepaway camps!
Yes I think it had to do with the rise of the KKK … I’ll keep digging. I know I read it and wrote it in my notes.
There's a nice little synagogue in Bath.
I should add that Vermont is actually the "whitest state." Maine has acquired Somalians who seem to have settled mostly in Lewiston.
A perfect place for a Polish American from Brooklyn to fight for the rights of p o c.
Beautiful Hana. I hope to share coffee and challah with you and let you know your humor is fantastic. It would certainly be wasted on the Irish. LOL
Fantastic article. I hope your new friends do visit. The world should visit. People need to see the facts, truth, love and diversity in Israel. 🙏🥰❤️🌺
Brava for schooling your retreat in an equitable way and for enlightening them. I love your writing!
Wow, what an excellent article that completely encompasses who we are. I believe the word to “covet “ describes the world’s view of us. You wrote about it so eloquently, thank you.
I loved this piece!!!
Vacationing while Jewish can be “interesting.” I’m glad that you realized that we have it all as Jews, and they do resent that. I wrote about an incident I experienced on vacation, close to home, here in California:
https://joshuanamm.substack.com/p/nazis-in-the-jacuzzi
This was good writing.
Thank you for sharing your experience .. Israel and the Jews are a wonder of the world.
Beautiful story and writing. I hope they do come to visit you. Take them to the Bahai centre, they will love it. It's got everything they crave for in Judaism (even if they don't know it) without the stigma! 😆
This is a thoughtful and important essay. Thank you for sharing all of it.
namaste sweetheart...
Loved this essay. A great read, thank you 🙏