BATH

On the morning of Sunday, July 20 (10:30 a.m. to noon), the Beth Israel Congregation hosts an exhibition and panel discussion tracing Bath Jewish history from the late 19th century. The project is being carried out under the auspices of the non-profit Documenting Maine Jewry. The program will take place at the Beth Israel Synagogue, 862 Washington Street in Bath.

The exhibition features historic photographs and documents and unique period advertisements that show the impact of Bath’s Jewish citizens and merchants on the city’s growth, prosperity, and character. It also reveals the determination that was needed for this minority community to build a house of worship and sustain itself through the decades.

Additional exhibition panels presenting aspects of the Jewish experience in other parts of Maine will also be displayed.

A lively roster of past and present Bath residents will contribute additional memories and anecdotes about family businesses, life-cycle events, and holiday gatherings. Among the participants will be Nathan Cogan, Owen Greenblatt, Janice Povich, Richard Smith, and Fred and Marilyn Weinberg.

Subsequently, the exhibition will be available to visit on a by-appointment basis. For further information on seeing the show, visit www.bethisrael- maine.org or emailinfo@bethisraelmaine.org. A selection of the panels will later be on display on DMJ’s website (www.mainejews.org) and at the Maine Jewish Museum, Portland.

Support for this project has been provided by the Cogan Family Trust and the Wein Family Foundation.