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Good morning. Rest assured that the overcast sky will give way today for ample sunshine by midday. But the shadowed clouds hanging over Maine’s U.S. Senate race aren’t going anywhere. Democrats are scrambling to pick a replacement for Graham Platner before the deadline of 5 p.m. on July 27. Meet the 16 Democrats from across Maine assembling delegations for this month’s unprecedented party convention.
Bangor’s newest rabbi wants to bring playfulness to religious life
Rabbi Daniel Alter has many shoes to fill when he gives his first Shabbat service today at Bangor’s Congregation Beth El.
For the last 18 months, eastern Maine’s only Reform synagogue was leaderless. During that time, more than 70 congregants stepped up to give sermons and lead services, music, and Torah study.
“My question is, how do I maintain that? How do I continue to cultivate and empower that now that I’m here?” Alter told the Bangor Daily News this week.
In his past work, the answer has been to embrace change. A self-described geek who once created a Harry Potter-themed escape room for Passover and assigned students biblical stories based on their favorite contemporary genres like zombie fiction or romance, Alter said religion doesn’t hold the same cultural sway that it once did, “and that’s OK.”
Among other things, he suggested that lay-led services might continue one Friday per month with the new rabbi participating as a regular member of the congregation.
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From the Opinion Page
“Platner can then turn towards societal repair, through advocacy for policies, programs and funding to help boys and young men grow into safe, responsible members of our communities, as well as to address gender-based, sexual, and domestic violence.”
Opinion: Graham Platner’s tale of repair and redemption need not end here