By Elias Taye
Inside the bustling hall of the Jewish Community Alliance (JCA) of Southern Maine, the atmosphere on May 28 was electric with warmth, shared stories, and deep community kinship. More than 150 people gathered in Portland for the second annual Jewish-Asian Friendship program, co-hosted by the JCA and the Maine Asian American Community Center, and their presence filled the venue. Guests sat at packed banquet tables, laughing and conversing while sharing a unique meal that featured Khmer/Cambodian, Filipino, and traditional Jewish delicacies.
The evening brought together a diverse tapestry of local groups, including the Chinese American Friendship Association of Maine (CAFAM), Khmer Maine, Watt Samaki Buddhist Temple, the Chinese Gospel Church of Portland, and several regional Jewish organizations. The event served as a vibrant cultural crossroads, allowing attendees to delve into unique cuisines and foster a deeper appreciation for local diversity. Beyond the food, the evening became a powerful venue for storytelling, as invited guests from various backgrounds took turns sharing poignant memories of growing up and becoming active leaders within their respective Maine communities.
Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) Director, Zach Schwartz, told Amjambo Africa that the central pillar of the initiative is cultivating meaningful connections across communities.
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“The theme is unity,” Schwartz said. “We strongly believe in bridge-building work. The Jewish and Asian communities have a lot in common. Family, education, honoring elders and parents, and ethics are very important. For us, it is sending a message to the world that the Jewish and Asian communities are friends.”
This friendship has already yielded tangible, real-world impacts that extend far beyond the dinner table. Schwartz revealed that the momentum generated from their very first friendship dinner directly translated into a powerful coalition for legislative action. The two communities successfully mobilized together to advocate for the newly enacted Maine Nonprofit Security Grant
Program.
This crucial piece of legislation secured a $200,000 state General Fund appropriation for the 2026–2027 fiscal year. The program provides vital security grants to tax-exempt, high-risk organizations to fund physical safety enhancements, surveillance infrastructure, and emergency protocols. For both communities, this $200,000 legislative victory represents a collective shield protecting houses of worship, community centers, and cultural spaces against hate crimes and potential terror attacks.
The spirit of cooperation fostered during the evening continues to spark ambitious plans for the future. Moving forward, the coalition plans to host more joint story telling events to keep the cultural exchange alive. Furthermore, the Jewish community is actively preparing to return the support by backing a major milestone for their neighbors.
During the night, organizers were already talking to the Jewish community about supporting the building of the upcoming Maine Asian-American Center.
The JCA also has no intention of stopping with this single partnership. Schwartz noted that similar collaborative programs are actively in the works to expand this network
of mutual support even further.
“We have upcoming events that we were hoping to have with the Baha’i, Azerbaijan, Filipino, and Muslim communities, to name a few,” JCRC’s Schwartz shared.
As the dinner concluded with vibrant applause, it was clear that Maine’s diverse communities are proving that solidarity is their greatest source of strength.
