December 17, 2025

Dear Chocolate Church-goers,

In the context of violence afflicting many disparate places and peoples over the course of just a few days, I write to insist that it is a small but powerful act to keep finding one another in community—to show up for traditions new and old, to be with old friends and encounter new faces, and to gather to sing, dance, and eat together in the steadfast belief in fellowship. While our species continues to struggle with our capacity to destroy, we remain an all-star species when it comes to expression, celebration, compassion, and tradition.

The last few days—and the days ahead—at the Chocolate Church exemplify our alchemical ability to animate an otherwise empty space with our collective spirit.

This Saturday brings our Second Annual Hanukkah Mexicana: Mariachi, Klezmer, Jewish-Mexican libations and small plates. And we’re also honored to welcome award-winning authors Ilan Stavans and Margaret Boyle. Hanukkah may be a minor holiday, but it remains an occasion to celebrate all the miracles.

On Monday, it's the 50th Annual Sing! It’s Xmas!, our free community singalong. Seats are technically full, but we’ll make room for as many as we safely can.

After a heartwarming run of holiday concerts, we’re taking a much-needed break—and already dreaming up a wonderful 2026. As always, you can reach out to me for anything at all.

Warmly yours,

Matthew

Matthew Glassman

Executive & Artistic Director

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Art & Community Updates

There is generally a LOT going on behind the scenes here to deepen our community collaborations and expand our artist and family programs. While these activities aren't always photographed or given the same spotlight as our live shows and events, they are just as important to who we are and how we engage with our community! Art Director Jeremy Eaton shares some recent highlights:

• We partnered with the Maine Jewish Museum in Portland for their Hanukkah Party family event. Inspired by a live reading of the Yiddish folktale of Zlateh the Goat, children and families created their own unique creature companions with a ton of cardboard, paint, and imagination!

• We've piloted some Artist Collaboration Nights, a sort of support group for local artists to create original material. Artists from a wide array of disciplines--theatre, dance, music, visual art---from around the region meet up for an evening of solidarity, skill sharing, support, and workspace use. Each artist is able to talk over ideas for feedback, try material and practices in real time with group involvement and support, and use our Art Lab and performances spaces to test ideas. More to come in the new year!

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