In this era of increasing antisemitism, it feels important to highlight the positive contributions that the eight honorees who were inducted into the Maine Jewish Hall of Fame this month have made to our state and country.

The Maine Jewish Hall of Fame was created in 2018 to bestow recognition upon outstanding Jewish leaders from throughout the state who have brought distinction and honor to the state of Maine or beyond. Those elected to the 2025 class by the nominating committee reflect the Jewish value of making the world a better place.

On Sunday, June 8, the Maine Jewish Museum, in addition to inducting the 2025 slate of honorees, also bestowed its first Affinity Award to retired music educators Kevin and Pam Rhein of Belgrade. In 2017, the Rheins collaborated with 400 choral students, the Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine and a professional producer and sound engineer to record and release an album: “Songs of Darkness and Hope.” This Grammy-nominated recording brings the music of the Holocaust to the general public.

The sold-out induction ceremony was held in the beautiful sanctuary of Etz Chaim synagogue in Portland and an elegant reception was held in the museum’s garden. As keynote speaker Harold Pachios noted, although Jews are a small minority in Maine they have had an outsized, very positive influence on our state.

More information about the honorees is available at mainejewishmuseum.org. You can also visit the museum to learn about all our Hall of Fame honorees, and view the ceremonies.

Amy Tinkle
Member of the Maine Jewish Museum’s board of directors
Portland