Faces and Facets of Jewish Life in Maine offers a vivid, contemporary portrait of a Jewish community unlike any other. Israeli photographer Hedva Rokach traveled more than 7,000 miles across Maine, capturing nearly 300 people in the places where their lives unfold — from coastal towns to forest backroads. Her natural‑light portraits reveal a diverse, authentic tapestry of Jewish Mainers: lifelong residents, newcomers, interfaith families, seasonal locals, and those who simply feel connected to Jewish identity. Paired with insights from the Maine Jewish Museum, the project broadens the story of what Jewish life in America looks like today.

More than a photography book, it’s a journey of discovery and human connection — a celebration of a community that is constantly evolving, deeply rooted, and full of unexpected stories.

Faces and Facets of Jewish Life in Maine is a sweeping, intimate portrait of Jewish life in Maine — a community defined by contrast, connection, and constant reinvention. When Israeli photographer Hedva Rokach first arrived in 2025, she stepped into a world that would reshape her art and her understanding of identity. Over two seasons and more than 7,000 miles, she photographed nearly 300 people in the places where they truly live: kitchens and workshops, forests and coastlines, bustling towns and quiet backroads.
Her natural‑light portraits reveal a vibrant, diverse tapestry of Jewish Mainers — Jews by birth and by choice, interfaith families, seasonal residents, and those who simply “feel Jewish.” Each image captures authenticity, trust, and the everyday beauty of real lives. Paired with insights from Dawn LaRochelle, Executive Director of Maine Jewish Museum and co-curator Melissa Martens Yaverbaum, the project challenges assumptions and expands the narrative of what Jewish life looks like today.

More than a book of photographs, Faces and Facets of Jewish Life in Maine is a journey of dialogue, discovery, and human closeness. It invites readers to wander, to listen, and to meet a community that is both deeply rooted and endlessly evolving. A celebration of identity in motion — and the many stories that live between this & that.