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While I serve professionally as executive director of the Maine Jewish Museum, I write here in my personal capacity as a member of Maine’s Jewish community to publicly thank state Sen. Joe Baldacci for his leadership and moral courage over many years of public service.
Over the past several months, I — along with many Jewish Mainers — have experienced an atmosphere of growing hostility surrounding conversations about Israel, antisemitism, and Jewish identity. Regardless of one’s politics, it should concern all of us when people begin to feel that expressing grief, fear, or solidarity may carry social or professional consequences.
What I have appreciated about Sen. Baldacci is not simply his position on particular issues, but his willingness to engage in difficult conversations with seriousness, fairness, and humanity. He has acknowledged both the complexity of these issues and the very real pain many Jewish people are carrying right now. That matters.
It is easy to speak when there is no cost attached. It is much harder to do so when criticism, misunderstanding, and public pressure are likely to follow.
Healthy civic life depends on people who are willing to approach one another with empathy, nuance, and moral steadiness, particularly during emotionally charged moments. I believe Baldacci has consistently and thoughtfully modeled that kind of leadership over many years of public life.
Many of us noticed. Many of us are grateful.
Dawn LaRochelle
Portland
