Videos Archive

Join Pious Ali as he shares his inspiring journey from photographer/photo journalist in Ghana to become actively involved a number of programs in Maine:

– Leading programs, with our own Sarah Rubin, at the Seeds of Peace Program in Otisfield, Maine, and presently on their Board of Directors

– Holocaust Human Rights Center Board member

– Created an interfaith youth program – Works with unhoused youth and those in conflict zones A dedicated public servant (city councilor) in Portland, Maine.

Presentation & Discussion with Rabbi David Fox Sandmel, Ph.D.

Discussion of anti-Semitism has been a central component of the global response to the unfolding of events on and after October 7. In America and around the world, reports of anti-Semitic incidents are up. Jews are feeling afraid: For many, this is a new experience. Has something fundamentally changed, or is this a momentary spike that will eventually subside?

Should we be afraid, and, if so, how afraid should we be? Rabbi David Fox Sandmel, Ph.D., is an independent scholar specializing in interreligious/interfaith relations. He is past chair of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Relations, served for seven years as director of Interreligious Engagement at the Anti-Defamation League; held the Crown-Ryan Chair of Jewish Studies at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago; and was the Jewish Scholar at the Institute for Christian & Jewish Studies in Baltimore. While working in Baltimore, he directed the publication of “Dabru Emet: A Jewish Statement on Christians and Christianity.” Rabbi Sandmel presently resides in Portland and is currently serving as Scholar in Residence at the Maine Jewish Museum.

He will be a visiting professor at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome this spring.

This event is sponsored with Community Education funds from the Sam L. Cohen Foundation.

Rosenstein is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Mathematics at Rutgers University and a founding member of New Jersey’s 50+ year-old Highland Park Minyan — a peer-led, egalitarian, post-denominational and inclusive chavurah (prayer group). He is the author of the Siddur and Machzor (prayer books) used by Congregation Etz Chaim for Shabbat and High Holidays, respectively; and Reflections on Pirkei Avot, used in our Pirkei Avot class.