The Center for Small Town Jewish Life

08/31/2026

Our online Prayer Leader Training program empowers congregants to lead prayer in Jewish communities with minimal local clergy. We have classes coming up -- the next one starts Nov. 10, with applications closing Oct. 5. Learn more and apply today! https://jewishlife.colby.edu/shlichei-tzibur-training/

07/10/2026

Welcome to Congregation Beth El Bangor, Rabbi Alter! We are so excited to welcome you into the Maine Jewish community, and to learn and create vibrant Jewish life with you through our Makom program. Chazak chazak v'nitchazek! May you go from strength to strength!

Rabbi Daniel Alter started last week and will hold his first Shabbat service on Friday.

07/10/2026

It's time to apply to our newest round of Prayer Leader Training! Learn to lead your choice of Kabbalat Shabbat, Shabbat Shacharit, and Shiva services, while also delving into the meaning of prayer, the structure of the service, and the role of the leader—the shaliach tzibur. A stellar opportunity to study with the Center's musical director, Cantor Sheila Nesis, and other guest educators! Lay leaders nationwide are invited to apply for this online learning cohort. Learn more and apply here: https://jewishlife.colby.edu/shlichei-tzibur-training/

07/01/2026

Yasher Koach to Rabbi Scott Shalom Klein, one of our Makom fellows and the sole Jewish chaplain at the country’s largest military base. As the United States celebrates its 250th birthday, Rabbi Klein is carrying on a tradition of service that dates back to the Revolution—in one of the most unusual pulpits in American Judaism. He is the Army’s "only Jewish chaplain assigned to an airborne unit — which means that jumping out of an airplane, for him, is not a metaphor for faith. It’s a job requirement." We're honored to have Rabbi Klein in the Center's national cohort.

As America celebrates 250 years, Scott Klein — the sole Jewish chaplain at the country's largest military base — is carrying on a tradition of service that dates back to the Revolution

06/23/2026

Kudos to Sherry Pineau Brown and the the Central Maine Education Consortium (CMEC) for the great work featured in "Whatever The Problem Community is the Answer," in Colby College magazine. Pineau Brown heads CMEC, a network of educators and non-profit professionals in central Maine who work to meet the needs of multilingual learners. Caitlin Kincaid, the Center's interfaith programs manager, serves as a facilitator and a participant in the Multilingual Learning and Cultural Responsiveness group, allowing her to be in contact with ESOL teachers and giving her the opportunity to share information about the Center's Yad b'Yad mentorship program. Learn more about this inspiring initiative here: https://magazine.colby.edu/issue/vol-113-issue-1/whatever-the-problem-community-is-the-answer/

06/15/2026

What an incredible conference! We loved being with you this past weekend learning, singing, dancing, praying, hiking, and basking in three days of joyful Jewish celebration. Thank you, todah rabah, for the exuberance, curiosity, and ru'ach each of you brings to our Maine Jewish community. How good it is to be together!

06/14/2026

And, that's a wrap! Thank you to the over 300 people who participated in this year's Maine Conference for Jewish Life! This weekend was so full of joy, learning, and beautiful community. What a wonderful way to celebrate our bnei mitzvah (13th) year!

06/12/2026

If you can't make it to the MCJL in person, you can livestream tonight's service and my opening remarks! Once you register for Friday night, you'll automatically be sent a link.

Get tickets online for MCJL 5786/2026 here.