This month I’d like to take a slight swerve away from our usual literary topics to celebrate two of my favorite cultural institutions in Portland, who anchor either end of the peninsula. The Maine Irish Heritage Center and the Maine Jewish Museum came together this month to celebrate their commonalities, mostly corned beef!
This year I was able to join in the fun for the Shalom and Shamrocks evening of dinner and music, which some of us were eager to dance to. Celtic music opened the evening and klezmer music closed our time together, with some less than nimble middle aged women trying their best to dance the hora and other Jewish dances.
The menu included several variations of corned beef, as well as potatoes, Irish soda bread, and my favorite dish of the evening, “The nice Jewish grain salad,” which included tabouli with farro, chickpeas, and herbs. The brownies and cookies were divine!
The Maine Irish Heritage Center is housed in the beautiful old St. Dominic’s Church located on the corner of Gray and State Streets in the West End. When it was dedicated in 1833, it became the first Roman Catholic Church in Portland, and the third in Maine. While it sadly closed in 1997, it has found new life as the home of the Maine Irish Heritage Center. This amazing institution has a dizzying array of events and activities for all to enjoy, even those of us who aren’t Irish, but love all things Celtic. My favorite part of the organization is the wonderful library, which is a lovely place to enjoy books, and perhaps a cup of tea. (See the July 2012 blog for more information)
The Maine Jewish Museum is also housed in an old house of worship, although still in use, the Etz Chaim Synagogue, which was established in 1921. The museum opened in the space in 2008, and offers several floors of exhibit space, including a space on the top floor that overlooks the synagogue, as well as windows out into the nearby Munjoy Hill neighborhood. While the museum mostly features contemporary artists, there are historical displays to read. There is also a gorgeous garden to sit in, and contemplate this quiet space off of Congress Street, while looking down India Street towards the bay. The museum is free and the staff and docents offer a warm welcome. There are even a variety of gifts for purchase. The Maine Jewish Museum, like the Maine Irish Heritage Center, offers many wonderful events and gatherings.
How fortunate we are to have these two institutions in Portland, who continue to celebrate their ethnicity, and come together once a year to align their heritages in such a fun and delicious way.
