August 7, 2015 by Jewish Rhode Island

Volume XXi, issue XiV | www.thejewishvoice.org Serving Rhode island and Southeastern massachusetts

22 Av 5775 | August 7, 2015

BACK TO SCHOOL

cLicK oR cALL FoR HELP: AccESSJEWiSHRi.oRG iS HERE By JewiSh VoiCe StaFF

PHOTO | FRAN OSTENDORF

Two years ago, our community was shocked by a Brandeis University study, “Living on the Edge: Economic Insecurity among Jewish Households in Rhode Island,” commissioned by the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island with support from the Hassenfeld family. The study found that half of Jewish households in the Alliance’s community face economic troubles. The Living on the Edge (LOE) initiative, born of that study, has brought together

Alliance staff, leaders, partner agencies Jewish Family Service (JFS) and Jewish Seniors Agency (JSA), and area synagogues. Co-chairs Susan

Leach DeBlasio and Alan Hassenfeld are leading the effort to help community members, whether fi nancially vulnerable, in need of social services, or in need of information about

Jewish Rhode Island. Say hello to AccessJewishRI.org, an information and referral website debuting today. And this is more than a website; there’s a free confidential phone line offering p er son a l i z e d assistance to those who do not use a computer or who can’t fi nd what they are looking for online. “We think of ourselves as a warm hug on the other end of the phone,” says Kara Marziali, director of communications at the Alliance. aCCeSSJewiShRi | 24

What can iran hide in 24 days?

Answering the questions posed by the nuclear deal By Ron KaMpeaS

PHOTO | IRINA MISSIURO

Summer fun at camp

Campers at J-Camp at the Dwares JCC have been having a great summer of fun and activities. At top, the Big Nazo Puppet paid a visit and showed everyone the inner workings of those fun characters. The children got a chance to try out many of the life-size costumes. Above, carnival week ended with an all-camp carnival including a dunk tank and pie throwing. Can you guess who had more fun, counselor or campers?

WASHINGTON (JTA) – Congress has until mid- to late September to consider whether to reject the nuclear restrictions for the sanctions rollback deal reached by Iran and six major powers on July 14. Some of the debate is over the meaning of certain provisions in the accord. Here’s a breakdown of differences in how the sides interpret parts of the deal.

The 24 days

All sides agree that the deal has a rigorous inspections regime for Iran’s known sites: “24/7” scrutiny, as President Barack Obama has put it, with inspectors and video monitoring. But what happens when intelligence agencies suspect nuclear weapons activity at an unmonitored site? Under the agreement, Iran has 14 days to work out terms to check the site in question with

a joint commission composed of its own representatives along with those from the United States, Britain, France, Germany, the European Union, Russia and China. If after 14 days terms are not agreed upon, the commission has up to seven days for a majority of its members to decide on terms of inspection. Iran must comply within three days — a total of 24 days. Obama and his Cabinet have said that detectable signs of nuclear enrichment activity iRan | 13

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2 | August 7, 2015

The Jewish Voice

Challah for Shabbat – yum!

INSIDE

By Stephanie Manilow

Back to School 19-23 Books 25 Business 26-28 Calendar 10 Classified 27 Community 2-4, 7, 11-13, 15, 18, 24, 27 D’var Torah 7 Food 14 Israel 16-17

There is nothing quite as delicious as a freshly baked challah on Shabbat. If the bread has been kneaded and braided and glazed with egg by the eager hands of young children, it seems to taste even better. On a recent Friday afternoon in July, Laurie Kaufman, of Congregation Beth David in Narragansett, hosted a special afternoon for families in the community.

Obituaries 30-33

After gathering outside to hear the story of Sammy Spider’s First Shabbat, everyone moved into the kitchen, which had been transformed into a bakery! Assisted by loving grown-ups, the kids enthusiastically prepared the bread, then ran outside to play while it was in the oven. According to all reports, the challah was, in fact, delicious! STEPHANIE MANILOW is a member of Congregation Beth David.

Braiding the challah.

Opinion 8-9 Seniors 29 Simchas 35 We Are Read 34

THIS ISSUE’S QUOTABLE QUOTE “Our brokenness commands us to be humble and grateful.” Helping with challah.

Rolling the dough.

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The Top Drawer at the Brass at Temple Habonim Gallery The July/August show in the Gallery at Temple Habonim features works by The Top Drawer at the Brass, a nonprofit visual art center providing programs for adults with developmental disabilities. Through their work, the artists show their creative expression, individuality and self-empowerment. Top Drawer is one of the many vocational day programs operated by L.I.F.E. (Living Fulfi lling Environments). The exhibit includes a broad range of media and style, and emphasizes the voice and personal expression of each artist.

The use of color, composition and expression envelops the viewer as he or she enters. The exhibit continues through Aug. 20. There is a reception on Aug. 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. The Gallery at Temple Habonim is at 165 New Meadow Road in Barrington. Hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and by appointment. FoR inFoRMation call 401245-6536 or email office@templehabomin.org.

Top, Kayla Buja, acrylic on canvas

Far left, Brian Novasad, acrylic on canvas

Left, Tony Vallaro, marker on paper

2015-2016 Guide To Jewish Living Be part of the only publication that reaches more than 20,000 Jewish readers in Southern New England for a full year. This Guide will be mailed to Jewish households in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts with our September 18, 2015 issue of The Jewish Voice, the producer of this informative handbook.

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4 | August 7, 2015

COMMUNITY

The Jewish Voice

Ten questions with Jeffrey Savit By FRAN OSTENDORF fostendorf@jewishallianceri.org Editor’s Note: Are there people in our community whom you see or hear from often but you really don’t know? Have you wondered what makes them tick? Why do they choose to do the job that they do; what is their family like; what do they read? That’s the motivation behind our new feature. Once a month in The Voice, we’ll help you get to know an interesting person in our community by asking him or her a few questions. Let us know if there’s someone you’d like to see here, and we’ll add that person to our list. For our debut feature, we sat down with Jeffrey Savit, president and CEO of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, publisher of The Voice. Savit came to the Alliance in 2011, a few months after the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island, the Jewish Community Center and the Bureau of Jewish Education merged into one organization. The New Bedford native has a law degree and a master’s degree in social work. In a career that’s included more than 25 years with nonprofits, he’s been on the boards of directors of Jewish Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Massachusetts, the Jewish Community Center of Greater

nual campaign to the tune of roughly $4.2 million. Today we have 2,000 donors who made gifts exceeding $3.2 million. The problem is that we have roughly 18,000 Jewish community members, and that the $3.2 million raised does not come close to meeting the needs of the local and international Jewish communities we support. Hence these numbers are beyond distressing. We need our 2,000 loyal community members to continue to make gifts to our FYE 16 Annual Campaign. And we ask those who are not contributing to start doing so to ensure the success, cohesion and future viability of our Rhode Island Jewish community. Who should we depend upon if not for ourselves?

Boston and Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Greater Boston. He and his wife, Lori Barnet, have been married for 23 years; they have two daughters. Mollie, a sophomore in college and Chloe, a junior in high school. And, he adds, they have two dogs. Savit describes himself as a “tenacious, extroverted consensus maker who bleeds for the good of my family and the welfare of the members of our community, especially those less fortunate than I.” Why do you like what you are doing? I consider myself blessed to be the CEO of the Alliance. I am able to not only effect change in our Jewish community, but also to help others so directly and impactfully on both an individual and a macro basis. How lucky am I? What are the three most important lessons you’ve learned in life? Good health buys much more happiness than dollars do; follow your own internal compass and not anyone else’s; complacency leads to discontentedness. What would you like to be your greatest achievement in life? That my daughters live hap-

Jeffrey Savit py, healthy and fulfilled lives. What could you tell me about yourself that would surprise people? That Fred Astaire was my childhood idol, and I only wish that I could have followed his lead and become a great tap dancer. But I found my Ginger Rodgers in Lori so I suppose I did.

Holocaust exhibit at RWU Law School focuses on Jewish lawyers, judges Rogers Williams University Law School will present an exhibit about Jewish lawyers and judges who lived during the Nazi regime. “Lawyers Without Rights: Jewish Lawyers in Germany under the Third Reich” will be on display from July 30 to Aug. 31 at the law school in Bristol. On Aug. 26 at 4:30 p.m. there will be an event at the law school with featured speaker Prof. Richard Weisberg, the Walter Floersheimer Professor of Constitutional Law at Cardozo Law School, who will provide further details on information covered by the exhibit. Weisberg has helped litigate successfully

in American federal courts on behalf of Holocaust survivors and their heirs. He was also the founding director at Cardozo of the Holocaust, Genocide and Human Rights Program and the Floersheimer Center for Constitutional Democracy and writes widely in those areas, including his book “Vichy Law and the Holocaust in France.” RSVP for this event to Charlotte Ferris at cferris@rwu.edu. This is an international exhibit about how the Nazis purged lawyers in an early step that attacked the rule of law in Germany. It has been shown throughout the U.S. and in Germany. It will be on display

at Roger Williams University School of Law in the First and Second-Floor Atriums, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. After Aug. 31, the exhibit will move to the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island in Providence, where it will appear in the Courthouse’s Main Lobby from Sept. 8 through Oct. 2, Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. The showing is sponsored by Roger Williams Univeristy School of Law and the U.S. District Court, District of Rhode Island in conjunction with the American Bar Association and the German Federal Bar.

Advertising DEPARTMENT Tricia Stearly tstearly@jewishallianceri.org 401-421-4111, ext. 160 EDITOR Fran Ostendorf CONTRIBUTING WRITER Irina Missiuro Editorial Consultants Irina Missiuro | Judith Romney Wegner DESIGN & LAYOUT Leah Camara intern Israel Finegold

Karen Borger ksborger@gmail.com 401-529-2538 VOICE ADVISORY GROUP Elanah Chassen, Melanie Coon, Douglas Emanuel, Stacy Emanuel, Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser, John Landry, Toby London, Mindy Stone COLUMNISTS Michael Fink, Rabbi James Rosenberg and Daniel Stieglitz

What’s the most important thing on your desk right now? The picture of my father and me hugging one another from my bar mitzvah. If you could send a message to the community, what would it be? We are too small of a Jewish community to not collaborate with one another. We should attend and advocate for all of our agencies’ and synagogues’ programs and services. None of our institutions need be in competition with one another. We have accomplished so much during the past several years … the fundraising for and ongoing renovation of the Dwares JCC, the launching and implementation of the Living on the Edge Initiative for our community’s vulnerable, the heightened stature of our Community Relations Council, the late summer opening of our RI Holocaust Memorial. But so much more could be achieved moving forward if together we all partner with one another. It goes without saying that there is such strength in the collective. One decade ago we had 3,600 donors making gifts to our an-

THE JEWISH VOICE (ISSN number 15392104, USPS #465-710) is published bi-weekly, except in July, when it does not publish. PERIODICALS Postage paid at Providence, R.I. POSTMASTER Send address changes to: The Jewish Voice, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, RI 02906. PUBLISHER The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, Chair Sharon Gaines, President/CEO Jeffrey K. Savit, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, RI 02906. Phone: 401-421-4111 • Fax 401-331-7961 MEMBER of the Rhode Island Press Association

What are your favorite books and why? “Exodus” by Leon Uris formulated my lifelong commitment and unwavering feeling toward Israel as our land of milk and honey. “Winds of War” and “War and Remembrance” by Herman Wouk framed the Holocaust and World War II in such hauntingly and unflinchingly human terms for me that I will never ever take for granted how lucky all of us are to be alive today. In what ways do you consider yourself a Rhode Islander? That I now speak of what used to be and who used to live where even though I have only been here for four years; that I take great pride in our Jewish community and our accomplishments; and that I proudly proclaim that Massachusetts restaurants don’t hold a candle to those in Rhode Island! In all of history who would you most like to meet? Justice Louis D. Brandeis. I admire him so and could have learned so much from him were we contemporaries. Kugel or knish? Knish. Always reliable and never need a fork to eat one. FRAN OSTENDORF is editor of The Jewish Voice.

Copy Deadlines: All news releases, photographs, etc., must be received on the Wednesday two weeks prior to publication. Submissions may be sent to: editor@jewishallianceri.org. Advertising: We do not accept advertisements for pork or shellfish. We do not attest to the kashrut of any product or the legitimacy of our advertisers’ claims. All submitted content becomes the property of The Voice. Announcements and opinions contained in these pages are published as a service to the community and do not necessarily represent the views of The Voice or its publisher, the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

August 7, 2015 |

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6 | August 7, 2015

The Jewish Voice

2015 Jewish Voice Patron Honor Roll (gifts received as of July 7, 2015)

Thank you … Todah Rabbah … Grazie … Danke … On behalf of the Jewish Voice team, I want to thank every contributor to the annual Patron Campaign. We are grateful for your generosity. The Jewish Voice relies on advertising revenue and an allocation from the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island as well as your support to stay strong and viable. This year, 589 donors gave $26,408. We hope you like what you’re reading. If you do, please tell your friends and relatives. If you have ideas and suggestions, let us know. We can’t produce this paper without you! Again, we thank you for your donations. Fran Ostendorf, Editor Dr. William & Betty Abesh Debra B. Abeshaus James Abeshaus Mrs. Beverly Abowitt Helen Abrams Dorothy Ackerman (z”l) Marsha & Frank Addessi Cynthia Agronick Ruth ( Jaffa) Albert Cecilia Alkalay William Allen Allan & Herma Altman Mrs. Gertrude Antin Esta Avedisian in memory of her father, Ben Rabinowitz Robert & Norma (z”l) Baker M. Charles & Elizabeth Bakst Ms. Joyce Ball Esta Barcohana John J. Barry III Dr. Joseph Baruch Jerry & Gloria Baskin Howard & Nancy Bassel Amira Baum Gussie Baxt Beverly & Banice Bazar Jeanne Belovitch Karen Wasser Beraha & Nathan Beraha Francine and Stephen Beranbaum Elizabeth Berger Ida Bernstein A. Larry & Ellen Berren Shirley Berson Arnold & Ruth Blasbalg Mrs. Sylvia Blazar Dr. Neil L. Blitz & Roslyn Birke Stephan & Linda Bloch Rich Brandt Bart & Elise Bresnik Seymour & Marsha Brooks Rhoda Broomfield Dan & Lisa Brosofsky Phyllis R. Brown (z”l) Cantor Remmie & Marjorie Brown Sandra & Fred Brown Edward & Maureen Canner Deborah Josephson Catone Philip Charis and Leslie SternCharis Judy Chorney Dr. Elie J. & Mrs. Marcia Cohen Evelyn G. Cohen Lois Cohen Marshall Cohen Dr. & Mrs. Martin L. Cohen Dr. Robert & Mrs. Adele Curhan Franklin Curhan Eleanor & Professor Joel A. Dain Barry & Rosanne Dana David & Karen DeForest Ms. Elaine Dickstein Hilda Dinerman Sandra Bresler Dolan Marian Dressler Rona & Max Dressler Mildred Drucker Alice Eichenbaum Alexander and Mira Eides Benjamin & Marilyn Eisenberg Rita Eisman Helga Elsner Lynne & James Ende Bernard Engel Carol Engel Jerry Engel

Janet H. Engelhart & Rabbi Leslie Y. Gutterman Lois & Burton (z”l) Fain Rosalie Fain Mark and Joanne Faiola Barbara Feibelman & Kenneth Orenstein Alan & Doris Feinberg Lotte & Ross Feinberg David Feinman Fred Felder Barbara & Edward Feldstein & Family Gertrude & Morton Fine Jonathan & Judith Finkle Bruce Fischer Ms. Anne Fishbein Ruth Fishbein-Salkin Arlene Fishman Arthur I. Fixler Samuel & Susan Fleisig Henri Flikier & Ann Miller Alan and Renee Flink Herbert & Judith Fogel Joan & George Foley Geraldine Foster Donna & Harley Frank Linda (z”l) & Fred J. Franklin Mary & Gerald Franklin Seena Franklin Rabbi Wayne & Dr. Anne Presser Franklin Carl I. Freedman & Beverly Ehrich David & Florence Futtersak Mr. & Mrs. Harold Gadon Abner & Rosalyn Gaines Dr. Alan & Mrs. Sharon Gaines Michele Gallagher Celia & Stephen Gamm Dr. Perry & Mrs. Sharon Garber Joan & Stephen Garfinkel Reverend Betsy A. Garland Phillip & Sylvia Geller Irene Gerber Marcia Gerstein Norman Getz Lori Gibson Mrs. Alan Gilstein Helen Ginsberg Susan & Lawrence Ginsberg Leatrice & Seymour Glantz Evelyn Glatt Dr. Albert & Barbara Glucksman Professor Arthur & Dr. Marion Gold Esther M. Gold Linda Gold Mr. Sanford Gold Beverly Goldberg Elizabeth & Marshall Goldberg Goldberg Law Offices Robert & Beverly Goldblatt Gloria Golden Maxine Goldin Marian & William Golditch H. Herman and Carole Goldman Arlene Goldstein Arthur Goldstein Merle and Stanley Goldstein Richard & Donna Goldstein Sidney & Alice Goldstein Pearl Gorden Mark Gordon Lenore Gorodetsky The Graboys and Rudner Families: Lois and George Graboys Angela and Lewis Rudner

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Ruth Paige Levin Sylvia Levin Herma & Sidney Levine Lauren Levine Dr. Mayer & Judy Levitt Dorothy and Irwin Levy Elaine Levy Steven & Donna Levy Dr. David & Eleanor Lewis Lillian Lewis Elly & Eliyahu Leyman Albert (z”l) & Phyllis Lichaa Maybeth & Jacob Lichaa Mrs. Frank Licht Robert Lieberman and Peri Ann Aptaker Bernard & Barbara Lightman Bess Lindenbaum Jordan & Helene Liner Leonard & Barbara Linsky Sheldon Lipson Allen Litchman Mrs. Henry Litchman Michael & Jane Litner Hal Litoff Arthur & Sara Little Alan & Marianne Litwin Toby & David London Louis & Valerie Long Dr. Robert S. Luber Andrea & Alan Lury Rabbi Sarah Mack & Mr. Jeffrey Isaacs Martin Malinou Leona Malkin Alison & David Mandelbaum Leon and Inga Mann Sandra Marcowitz Mr. & Mrs. Ronald C. Markoff Ivy and Daniel Marwil Laura Mathes Howard & Sue Meyerson David Middlemiss Lewis & Janet Miller Dr. & Mrs. Murray E. Miller Sanford & Joyce Miller Mrs. Ida Millman Dr. & Mrs. Philip Mintz Ms. Elayne Moe Vicki Moss & Robert Raphael Robert Moyerman Hope Myerson Simon Nemzow Dianne & Martin Newman Linda Baer Nieberg Seth Novick Tina & David Odessa Paula Olivieri Ruth Oppenheim Ronna Orleck Sarah Osofsky Dr. Lawrence & Ruth Page Morton Paige Shirley & Victor (z”l) Palestine Beverly and Raymond Paris Laura Freedman Pedrick Rosemarie Pegueros-Lev Milton & Betty Ann Pierce James & Lezli Pious Paul E. Pisano Miriam and Arthur Plitt Dr. Bennett & Mrs. Juel Plotkin Jason & Jo-Ann Polsky Annette Port Esther Preiss Dr. Lawrence H. Price & Ann Back Price John Pucher, in honor of his friend Nickalas Warren & Susette Rabinowitz Robert & Larisa (z”l) Reider

Kenneth & Harriet Resnick Leon A. Resnick in loving memory of Beverly S. Resnick Roberta Richman Marcia S. Riesman, in loving memory of Robert A. Riesman Judy & Arthur Robbins The Robbins Foundation William J. Roberts Carole Robrish Peter and Beverly Rosedale Dorothy Rosen Wilma S. Rosen, M.D. Rabbi James Rosenberg & Sandra Mattison Rosenberg Mindy Rosenbloom, M.D. & Stuart Schwartz, M.D. Joyce Rosenthal and Sumner Alpert Fred & Marcia Rosenzweig Eleanor Ross Mark & Donna Ross Ruth Ross Dr. Fred & Sally Rotenberg Mark Rotenberg Hilarie Rubin Sandra L. Rubin Beverly Rudman Sylvia & Nat (z”l) Safferson Rose & Lester Sagan Ronald Salavon Jonathan & Deborah Salinger Alan & Laurie Salk Richard A. Saltzman Bernice F. Salzberg Mrs. Ruth Samdperil Jill Sandberg Elaine and Robert Sandy Jeffrey Savit & Lori Barnet Dr. & Mrs. Sanford Schatz Dr. Steven & Mrs. Naomi Schechter Ellen & Harold Schein Barry Schiller Claire J. Schleffer Rosalyn Schmelzer & Family Kenneth & Roberta Schneider Shula Schoenfeld Mark & Helaine Schupack Harold & Lillian N. Schwartz Dr. Ronald & Carol Schwartz Bernice and Saul Schweber Frances Scribner Paul & Roberta Segal Steven Z. & Judy P. Self Ronald and Enid Seltzer Hinda P. Semonoff Freda Shapiro Jacob & Hilde Shapiro Izya & Anna Shaposhnik Myra B. Shays Marilyn Friedman Shealey Arthur & Barbara Sheer Richard Shein Eleanor & J. Sidney Shepard In Loving Memory of Michael Shepard: Ellen & Barry Shepard and Sara & Robert Leach Anne & Gerald Sherman Robert & Mindy Sherwin Harry Shore Rula & Barrie Shore Peter & Jane Shuman Beatrice & Nathan Shwartz Susan Sikov A. Harvey & Jane (z”l) Silverman Ira Silverman Max & Ida Silverman Sinai Seniors

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Donors whose contributions were received between July 12, 2014, and July 7, 2015, are listed in this acknowledgment. Donors whose contributions are received after July 7, 2015, will be acknowledged in next year’s Jewish Voice Patron Campaign Honor Roll.

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Embracing our brokenness Parashat Ekev from the Book of Deuteronomy As summer is winding down and we begin to take a heshbon ha-nefesh, an accounting of our souls, in preparation for the approaching High Holy Days, I think that most of us are able to get in touch with a piece of ourselves that feels a little broken. d’VAr It’s a perfectly torAH natural feeling that we all have rabbi from time to andreW time. kLein And we begin to wonder, what do we do with our brokenness? How do we acknowledge

our pain without dwelling on it and letting it bog us down? This week’s Torah portion gives us a suggestion. The Book of Deuteronomy, the fi fth and fi nal book in the Hebrew Bible, is a retelling of many of the events that occurred in the fi rst four books of the Torah. Moses knows that he will soon die and not lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. In a series of discourses, he reminds them of all the lessons they learned on their 40year journey through the wilderness so that they will have a successful entry into the Land of Canaan without him. In this week’s portion, Ekev, Moses recalls receiving the commandments written on tablets of stone from God atop Mt. Sinai. When Moses returned to the camp, he discovered that, in his absence, the Israelites had built the golden calf, and he saw them dancing wildly around it.

Moses was so enraged to see the Israelites worshipping this idol that he hurled the tablets to the ground, shattering them into many small pieces. Later, God decides to give the Israelites another chance and decides to give Moses another set of tablets. This is how Moses tells it, “Thereupon God said to me, ‘Carve out two tablets of stone like the fi rst, and come up to Me on the mountain; and make an ark of wood. I will inscribe on the tablets the commandments that were on the fi rst tablets that you smashed, and you shall deposit them in the ark.’ ” The Midrash expounding on this story focuses on the very simple word, “them.” What is “them?” What do they deposit in the ark? A Midrash tells us that both sets of tablets were kept in the ark, side by side – the whole and complete tablets alongside the

broken pieces of the fi rst set. Our people’s story includes the Israelites’ carrying their brokenness with them on their journey through the desert. There was no attempt to deny their disgraceful lapse into idol worship, and there was no pretense that it had not happened. As a people, we Jews know that our brokenness is part of what makes us whole. We know that our painful and shameful experiences help form us and mold us into becoming the best human beings we can be. We have no delusions that we will never again make mistakes, and we know that while we may strive for perfection, we will never be able to achieve it. We need our brokenness as a precious reminder of where we come from and where we want to go. Our brokenness commands us to be humble and grateful; it encourages us not to judge others too harshly.

Each one of us has broken pieces in our own hearts, and while we don’t want them to be at the center of our lives and control our actions, we also don’t want to get rid of them. As we prepare ourselves for the sacred work that the High Holy Days require of us, let’s use this week’s teachings from the Torah portion, Ekev, to remind us that our brokenness is a valuable piece of our puzzle. As we embrace our brokenness, we are more able to learn and grow, to make better decisions about how we want to live, and to move freely forward in life. A peaceful Shabbat to all. anDRew Klein is rabbi of Temple Habonim in Barrington and secretary-treasurer of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island.

Candle Lighting Times greater Rhode Island

Aug. 7..........................7:37 Aug. 14 .......................7:27 Aug. 21 .......................7:19 Aug. 28 .......................7:07

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Rabbis at the June Kallah

Congregation Beth David Hebrew School! 102 Kingstown Road, Narragansett, RI!

Rabbis gather for study and fellowship A dozen members of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island gathered at Temple Sinai, in Cranston, on June 16 for a day of study and to strengthen the bonds that connect them in service to the Jewish community. Participants included rabbis serving Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist and unaffiliated congregations and rabbis serving as chaplains, educators and organizational directors. The Board of Rabbis is led by Rabbi Sarah Mack of Temple Beth-El, in Providence. The annual Kallah brings the rabbis together to learn with an invited guest speaker. This year’s speaker was Rabbi Jon-

athan Slater of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. Rabbi Slater co-directs IJS’s Clergy Leadership Program. He is the author of “A Partner in Holiness” (Jewish Lights, 2014) and “Mindful Jewish Living” (Aviv Press, 2004). Rabbi Slater received his ordination at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1979, and served as rabbi at Beth Am in Santa Rosa, California, for 19 years. Together, the rabbis studied Hasidic commentaries on the weekly Torah portions that reflect on some of the challenges of being a rabbi. The material prompted discussions among the rabbis about their own experiences and reflections on the rabbinate.

“Leading a Jewish community as a rabbi can be a lonely pursuit if it isolates you from your colleagues,” said Rabbi Jeff Goldwasser of Temple Sinai, who hosted the event. “It’s important for us to get together like this regularly to study our tradition, to share our experiences, and to draw spiritual strength from each other. I feel so fortunate to have such a gifted and generous group of colleagues here in Rhode Island.” The Kallah was funded in part by the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, which paid the speaker’s fees and provided a Kosher lunch.

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Sunday morning and Wednesday afternoon classes! For more information, please contact:! Miriam Cohen (miriam@energyah.com)! Stephanie Malinow (sjmalinow@gmail.com)

8 | August 7, 2015

OPINION

The Jewish Voice

Welcome back! What a difference a year makes. Last year at this time, we were planning an issue filled with news from Israel: Operation Protective E d g e w a s u n d e r w a y. Despite the i nt e r n a t i o n al nature of the story, our coverage was personal and editor lo c a l . T her e fran was news from our new ostendorf shaliach (emissary), Gilor Meshulam, who was serving with the IDF, news about our community rally, news from those among us who were either in Israel or who had connections to Israel, news about what each and every community member could do to support our Israeli counterparts. World events really hit home. The first issue after our publishing break is traditionally our back-to-school issue, but the new school year took a back seat to the conflict in the Middle East. This year, it isn’t war, but news from Israel is still front and center. The Middle East is in turmoil, with Turkey joining the fight against ISIS and civil war affecting a half-dozen Arab countries. Here in the U.S., we wait for Congress to formally debate and vote on the recently negotiated deal with Iran. Yes, it has an impact on Israel. And yes, there is tremendous controversy. And every advocacy group is formulating its own opinion and gearing up to make its voice heard. Some Jewish organizations have taken a stand on the deal. Many have not. As I’m sure you can predict, when you do see coverage in The Voice, you’ll see both sides of the story. Like most things involving the Middle East, the issues swirling around the Iran treaty are complicated and your perspective depends on many

The stain on T.S. Eliot

factors. As an informed, educated community, we hope you will listen, learn and debate with civility, as always. Within our own office, several things occurred while we were on our break. We moved. Same address, different part of the Dwares JCC. We’re upstairs now; it hasn’t been very long so we’re still settling into our new space. Moving can be frustrating. We’ve suffered computer problems, and we’re dealing with a smaller space. With all the packing and unpacking, we lost a lot of time we typically use to get ahead on the next few issues. But moving can be cathartic too; it helps with the housekeeping. We learned that we keep way too many back issues and too many pieces of paper. And perhaps we don’t need the publisher’s first drafts of books from several years ago. Our reporter, Irina Missiuro, went to Israel with a group of 10 area women and the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project. It was an eye-opening trip, and she writes about her experience in this issue. Our advertising staff and our intern, Israel Finegold, were hard at work this summer on the Guide to Jewish Living, our annual listing of all things Jewish in our area. Look for it in the Sept. 18 Voice. It will also be a new resource available on our website yearround. And we’ve been brainstorming new ideas. You’ll see one of them this week, when we ask a member of our community to answer 10 questions to give you, our readers, new insight into a person you might know but don’t really know. First to answer the questions? Jeffrey Savit, president and CEO of the Alliance. Our summer break is over, and we’re back in the office. Are you still on vacation? Let us know what you’re doing. We love to hear from you, and we always love seeing your vacation photos with The Voice.

letter Re: Mike Fink (June 19) I object strenuously to the article by Mike Fink titled “A story of a creative legacy.” The article was written hastily and thoughtlessly. It contained numerous factual errors: one egregious example is in the opening sentence. Mr. Fink describes my birth in the Negev when Palestine was still part of the Ottoman Empire. That would have made me at least 101 years old. He was clearly conflating my birth

with that of my mother. Mr. Fink took no notes of our conversation and confused all the personalities whom we discussed. He also included personal family matters that had no relevance to the subject of the article. This kind of writing is not worthy of publication in The Jewish Voice or any other reputable news media. Varda Lev Providence

“April is the cruelest month, breeding/Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing/Memory and desire, st i r r i ng / Du l l roots with spring rain.” So begins T. S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land” (1922), not infrequently citas the most IT SEEMS ed influential EnTO ME glish language poem of the Rabbi Jim Rosenberg 20th century. The poem is long – 434 lines plus additional pages of the author’s notes – difficult, confusing and filled with obscure references. Nevertheless, readers continue to be drawn to the compelling beauty of its language and imagery. Readers are struck as well by Eliot’s devastating critique of European culture in the wake of World War I – a culture then, as now, lost in a sterile wasteland of hollow men and women, forgetful of their past and staggering into a future of empty, ugly and soulless materialism. Literary critics have been quick to point out that F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940) drew deeply from Eliot’s poem in writing “The Great Gatsby” (1925), an equally harsh indictment of the shallowness and banality of the money-is-everything 1920s. While Eliot paints London as the “Unreal City,” Fitzgerald targets New York City and its environs as the focal point of a materialistic wasteland. I have been a fan of Eliot (1888-1965) since my college days. I have often quoted to all who would listen the opening verses of “The Waste Land”; and I have even more frequently quoted from “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”: “Let us go then, you and I,/When the evening is spread out against the sky/ Like a patient etherised upon a table.” Eliot’s brilliant use of language, the depth of his intellect, the breadth of his erudition and the acute sophistication of his literary criticism led to a Nobel Prize in Literature in 1948. That very same year – by then the poet, though born in St. Louis, had become a British citizen – King George VI honored him

with the Order of Merit for his many literary achievements. And yet … It cannot be denied that T. S. Eliot was a vile, vicious and unrepentant anti-Semite. In the opening stanza of his 1920 poem, “Gerontion,” for example, he writes: “My house is a decayed house,/ And the jew squats on the window sill, the owner,/Spawned in some estaminet (café) in Antwerp,/Blistered in Brussels, patched and peeled in London.” Even this mean-spirited stereotype of the Jewish landlord is not so unforgiveable as his portrayal of the money-grubbing Jewish businessman in another 1920 poem, “Burbank with a Baedecker: Bleistein with a Cigar:” “...On the Rialto once./The rats are underneath the piles. The jew is underneath the lot./Money in furs.”

youth. However, Eliot elected to reprint “Burbank with a Baedecker...” in “Selected Poems” in 1948 – that is, after the events of the Holocaust were widely known. Deeply distressed by Eliot’s unrepentant anti-Semitism even after the murder of 6 million Jews, Litvinoff attacked Eliot in his poem, “To T. S. Eliot,” which concludes with these words: “So shall I say it is not eminence chills/but the snigger from behind the covers of history, the sly words and the cold heart/and the footprints made with blood upon a continent?/Let your words/ tread lightly on this earth of Europe/lest my people’s bones protest.” Litvinoff read his poem of protest to a large crowd just after Eliot had entered the room. While most of those present erupted in displeasure, it is widely reported that Eliot himself said softly: “It is a good poem, a very good poem.”

“Eliot’s anti-Semitism complicates my appreciation of his work. When I share with others my admiration for Eliot’s words, am I not in some way his accomplice?” T. S. Eliot It would appear that in the young Eliot’s twisted scheme of things, the Jew’s place is the lowest of the low, mired in “protozoic slime,” even beneath the rats. What disturbs me even more is that, despite Eliot’s blatantly anti-Semitic and hurtful words, neither King George VI nor anyone on the Nobel Prize committee seemed to have taken notice when they chose to honor him in 1948. In 1951, the distinguished Jewish poet, Emanuel Litvinoff (1915-2011), was invited to participate in the inaugural public poetry reading at London’s Institute for Contemporary Arts. Litvinoff, a great admirer of Eliot, had for years dismissed his fellow poet’s anti-Semitism as a sin of his

Eliot’s anti-Semitism complicates my appreciation of his work. When I share with others my admiration for Eliot’s words, am I not in some way his accomplice? Am I not at some level using his literary genius to “excuse” his anti-Semitism? I know how to ask but do not know how to answer such questions. Part of me feels compelled to read and reread the best of his poems, to drink of their beauty and their wisdom; and part of me wants to assign Eliot’s soul to a permanent place beneath the rats, where he, in his icy dismissiveness, had assigned us Jews. JAMES B. ROSENBERG is rabbi emeritus at Temple Habonim in Barrington. Contact him at rabbiemeritus@templehabonim.org.

columns | letters policy The Jewish Voice publishes thoughtful and informative contributors’ columns (op-eds of 500 – 800 words) and letters to the editor (250 words, maximum) on issues of interest to our Jewish community. At our discretion, we may edit pieces

for publication or refuse publication. Letters and columns, whether from our regular contributors or from guest columnists, represent the views of the authors; they do not represent the views of The Jewish Voice or the Alliance.

Send letters and op-eds to: The Jewish Voice, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, RI 02906 or editor@ jewishallianceri.org. Include name, city of residence and a contact phone number or email (not for publication).

OPINION

thejewishvoice.org

August 7, 2015 |

Aliyah – 8 years later

From new immigrant to immigrant BY DANIEL STIEGLITZ When I first moved to Israel, my language skills in Hebrew were not great. I didn’t even know the words for “bank account” when I went to open my first Israeli

LETTERS HOME

DANIEL STIEGLITZ bank account. I brought along my roommate to act as my translator and to help me figure out the difference between the various forms I filled out. That was eight years ago. Whenever I need to deal with Israeli bureaucracy now, whether it’s going to an office to file some forms, speaking to a customer service representative about problems with my Internet account or something as simple as reading my electric bill, I think back to those first few months. In this last year, I’ve been reminded more than ever of how far I’ve come. It started when I needed to go to the Israeli Tax Authority to file some paperwork. Unaccompanied by friends or family members, I was able to fill out every form and ask every

question without any assistance. I walked out thinking, “Did I really just do all of this by myself without needing to speak a word of English?” It was a milestone moment. Languages have never been my strength; learning to navigate the language barrier is one key to a successful aliyah. With this new sense of confidence, I started paying closer attention to Hebrew documents that I’ve been ignoring for years. I have heard of friends here in Israel who hire people to go through their bills with them. Sometimes they find that they’re paying two bills for what should be one account. I needed to learn to have more faith in myself than “the system.” Paying closer attention to my credit card bills, I noticed a social security charge. That is something that is supposed to be deducted from my paycheck. I had a feeling that this problem went further back than just one credit card statement. Another thing I’ve learned after so many years in Israel is how to manage the bureaucracy and never trust anything to go smoothly. Before going to the social security office, I looked at their (Hebrew) website, downloaded every form that I needed in a situation like this and gathered every pay slip that I’ve received in the last few years. Each time the person I spoke with said I needed to come back another time with a certain document, I said, “Got it,” and plopped it down in front of him.

On the plane to Israel. There would be no brushing me off that day! He looked at the computer and said, “You’re right. We owe you over 4,000 shekels (the equivalent of about $1,000).” Even though it was money that I should have caught being taken away from me years ago, finally figuring it out and having it returned to me felt like winning the lottery. These language milestones are not the only hurdles I feel

that I’ve cleared this year. The other hurdle is my relationship with America. Eight years ago, I would have jumped at any opportunity to visit America. While I have never regretted my move to Israel, that doesn’t mean that I do not miss the country of my birth. This past winter my company asked me to do a month-long business trip around America. Eight years ago that would have been a dream come true – one

month traveling across the United States. By the end of the trip I had a great time; I went to California and Florida (my first time in America outside of the New York and Rhode Island areas since my aliyah), I saw family and friends and even had a little time to enjoy myself … but I missed Israel. When I first moved to Israel, America was naturally more familiar to me. This year it became the reverse – I understand Israel better than I understand America. When a person first immigrates to Israel, he is classified as an Oleh Chadash (New Immigrant). For eight years I’ve worn that label with pride. It reflects a decision I made to pack up my whole life and follow a dream. But now it’s time for me to drop the Chadash (New) from Oleh Chadash. Until the day I die I’ll be an Oleh/Immigrant to Israel, but I no longer feel like a new one. I’ve come too far, and learned and accomplished too much to feel that way any longer. DANIEL STIEGLITZ (dstieglitz@gmail.com), a Providence native, made aliyah in 2007. He holds a master’s degree in creative writing from Bar Ilan University; is the director of Staffing and Recruitment at Sachlav/ Israelonthehouse, a Birthright Israel trip organizer; is a certified Life Coach; does freelance content writing; and lives in Jerusalem.

To fight BDS, focus on teens BY STEVEN M. COHEN AND DAVID BRYFMAN NEW YORK (JTA) – In recent weeks, we have learned of further significant investments aimed at combating the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement on college campuses throughout North America. These endeavors are critical to combat an attempt to delegitimize Israel in the most virulent and often anti-Semitic ways. For these bold initiatives to truly succeed, however, they will need to focus not just on college students but on Jewish teenagers. While the recent Pew study of American Jews does not offer any explicit indicators of readiness to advocate for Israel, we have identified four elements measured by the survey that, taken together, seem to predispose people to stand up for Israel: 1) They feel very attached to Israel; 2) They feel Israel is essential to their Jewishness; 3) They see Israel’s leaders as sincere in their efforts to bring about peace with the Palestinians; 4) They reject the idea that the United States has been “too supportive” of Israel. We refer to these combined elements as

the Index of Israel Advocacy. It turns out that 16 percent of people over age 50 share all four characteristics. But among those 18-29, just 7 percent are so inclined (and of the non-Orthodox, it’s less than 5 percent). We also know from the Pew data that, for these young adults, prior investment in their Jewish education elevates their disposition to Israel advocacy. Those who have been to a Jewish camp are twice as likely to so qualify (10 percent vs. 4 percent for the non-campers). And those who have been to Israel are almost five times as likely to score high on the index (12.3 percent vs. 2.6 percent). These discrepancies are not surprising given much of what we know about young Jews. Much like their predecessors, this generation of young adults aspires to democratic values and human rights for all. The prevalent images of Israel offend this liberal mindset. In the minds of our young people today – as among their liberal parents and grandparents – occupations are inherently bad, human rights are unquestionably essential and military force should be used only as a last resort.

Given this context, it is understandable that our youth cannot comprehend why they are expected to combat all injustices in the world and yet, when it comes to Israel, told to toe the party line. Israel advocacy has often been lacking in nuance and incapable of dealing with political complexities and moral ambiguities. The standard “pro-Israel” pamphlets and talking points are bereft of the shades of gray to which this generation is accustomed. Highlighting Israel’s high-tech innovation and achievements is not only beside the point, but might be viewed as cynical attempts to distract students from the real and pressing issues. Barring a miraculous (or disastrous) turn of events, few if any Jewish college students will move from a place of little engagement with the Jewish world to becoming Israel advocates. After all, more than one-third of them did not have a bar or bat mitzvah, and half are offspring of mixed marriages. How likely are any of them to become, in Ariel Sharon’s words, “a foot soldier for Israel on campus”? But all is not lost. We know what it takes to engage young

adults in Jewish life and Israel-oriented activities. Decades of research have shown that teens who attend Jewish summer camp, participate in immersive Jewish experiences with their peers, attend Jewish day schools, participate in leadership and social action programs or belong to a Jewish youth movement are more likely to make Jewish decisions in their lives. Two recent studies – of alumni from The Anne Samson Jerusalem Journey of NCSY and the Youth to Israel Adventure of the Robert I. Lappin Foundation – report that the Israel experience results in higher levels of Jewish engagement, Jewish commitment, Jewish belonging and ritual observance. The greater the exposure of Jewish teens to positive Jewish experiences before college, the more likely they are to engage in Jewish activities and communal life in their college years and beyond. Jewish organizations on college campuses, in particular Hillel and Chabad, will be strengthened by forging greater connections with larger numbers of Jewish youth who have positive Jewish experiences in their teen years.

BDS might be the rallying cry and the impetus to mobilize millions of dollars of new resources. But the real issue is how to engage more Jewish youth and young adults in meaningful Jewish experiences with other Jews. So instead of pledging millions of dollars to fight the BDS movement on college campuses, invest more in Jewish teens before they get to campus. If we do our job right in the adolescent years, many more of our youth will engage in pro-Israel activities on campus – Shabbat dinners, service learning opportunities, broader campus politics and making the world a better place. DAVID BRYFMAN is the chief innovation officer at the Jewish Education Project, which develops innovative models to expand the reach of Jewish education. STEVEN M. COHEN is a research professor of Jewish social policy at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and director of the Berman Jewish Policy Archive at the Wagner School of Public Service at New York University.

10 | August 7, 2015

CALENDAR

Sunday | August 9

Saturday | August 22

119th Anniversary celebration. Congregation Sons of Jacob. 9-noon. 24 Douglas Ave., Providence. More information, sonsofjacobsynagogue.org.

(401)j Shabbat in the Park. 12:30 p.m. Lippitt Park, Hope Street and Blackstone Blvd. Come join us in Lippitt Park for a (401)j BYO picnic. (401)j is a group of dynamic Jews, ages early 20s to mid-40s, who are dedicated to building a thriving Jewish collaboration in the “401.” Through a variety of programs including social, cultural, educational and advocacy, young Jews like you are continuing the tradition of community. Whether you’re professionals, grad students, just starting your adult lives, or are married and have children, stop wandering… (401)j is your destination. For more information, contact Erin Moseley at 401-421-4111, ext. 108 or emoseley@jewishallianceri.org.

Crucial Issues of National Security & Foreign Policies. With speaker Harris Vederman of JINSA 6:30 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Open to the public at no charge. Kosher refreshments. More information: StandWithUsRI@yahoo. com. To register: www.arewetrulysafe. eventbrite.com West Bay Havurah Stunning Sunset Stroll in Roger Williams Park. 1000 Elmwood Ave, Providence. Relive family memories as you stroll the paths and byways of the “Jewel of Providence.” 6:30-8 p.m. Starting at the Casino, group will decide where and how long to walk. Open to all, including well-behaved dogs on leash. RSVP to Mark Sweberg at 401-248-5010 to sign up. Limited to 15. Bring water and hat.

Sunday | August 16

Screen on the Green End of Summer Party. “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” 1971 | Rated G. 6:30 p.m. Dwares JCC Fields. The movie will begin at sunset, around 8 p.m. Arrive as early as 6:30 p.m. to get a good seat, and enjoy the fun! Bring a picnic dinner and a blanket. Purchase treats from Like No Udder food truck, or nosh on free candy and popcorn. Bouncy house, bubbles, face painting and crafting. Play Foosball, pickle ball and gaga. Personal trainers to answer your fitness questions. Outdoor yoga and group ex classes. Games, prizes, membership specials, raffles. Attendees will be entered in a raffle to win “golden ticket” prizes valued up to $100. Must be present to win. Oodles of information about EVERYTHING the Alliance has to offer, especially things happening this fall. Recognition of the returning Maccabi team. RSVP by Aug. 12 to Michelle Cicchitelli and receive two chances to win! Contact Michelle Cicchitelli at 401-421-4111, ext. 178 or mcicchitelli@jewishallianceri.org.

Friday | August 21

Temple Beth-El Shabbat Barbecue and worship service. 5:30 p.m. Activities for children, ice cream social Oneg. $5 members, non-member guests free. Please reserve by Aug. 14. Send a check to Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence, or RSVP via phone 401-331-6070, or on Chaverweb. Include $5 for each Temple member, and your name and phone number. Indicate how many guests you will bring, and how many would prefer a vegetarian dinner option. Rain or shine.

Sunday | August 23

West Bay Havurah Relaxing Sunday Morning Jazz Brunch. Join us for a relaxing Sunday morning brunch with free jazz music at Theater 82/Characters Café, 82 Rolfe Sq., Cranston. 9:3011 a.m. The menu is reasonably priced, the service unhurried and friendly and the music most mellow. Enjoy good times and pleasant, engaging conversation with new and old friends. Seating limited to 14. RSVP to Mark Sweberg at 401-248-5010 by Thursday morning, Aug. 20.

Sunday | August 30

West Bay Havurah Pool Party/Potluck/ Live Music Bash. 1-5 p.m. Relax at an end-of-summer pleasant Pool Party/ Potluck/Live Music Bash in lovely Edgewood! Listen to a live musician perform from 2-3:30 p.m. Bring a pareve dish for five people according to the first letter of your last name: A-F: Cold Drinks (No alcohol), G-L: Main Dish, M-R: Dessert, S-Z: Appetizer. Bring bathing suits and towels; changing room available! Limited to 25 people; first come-first serve. RSVP to Mark Sweberg at 401-248-5010 for address. Donation of $5 requested at door. Check the forecast; rain, strong threat of rain, cancels event!

Thursday | September 3 Food for Families (Session 1). 7-9 p.m. Dwares JCC. Andrea Wool, a functional wellness practitioner specializing in fitness and nutrition, will give a two-part educational series aimed to help families answer the age-old question: How can I cook quick, healthy meals that the whole family will enjoy? Session One, will focus on what it means to eat “healthy.” What are the essential “go-to” foods that you should always have on hand? What do the food labels really mean, and what should you look for? Learn all this including serving sizes, dealing with allergies and more. Session Two, Thursday, Oct.15, will discuss healthy snack and meal ideas that your family will surely love. In addition, you will learn various recommendations about

The Jewish Voice how to find healthy recipes, how to shop for healthy products and how to transition your family into a healthier lifestyle. This workshop will provide you with practical tips that you can incorporate into your daily habits easily and quickly. Ages: 18+. Price each session: $10 | Dwares JCC Members: Free. For more information, please contact Michelle Cicchitelli at 401-421-4111 ext. 178 or mcicchitelli@jewishallianceri.org.

Wednesday | September 9 Fall Holiday Crash Course. 7-9 p.m. Dwares JCC. Autumn is filled with a variety of Jewish holidays, but do you know what they are and why we celebrate them? Join members of The Mothers Circle and the entire community as we prepare for all the fall holidays, including Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah. Learn the basics behind each holiday, or refresh what you already know. This workshop, appropriate for members of all faiths looking to learn more, will engage participants in a variety of hands-on activities including cooking, crafting and more. For more information, contact Sara Foster at 401-421-4111 ext. 184 or sfoster@ jewishallianceri.org. Ages: 18+. Free.

Friday | September 11 PJ Library Story and Play Time. 10-11 a.m. Dwares JCC. Come spend some time in the Alliance Family Room Parenting Center to hear stories, play games and make new friends. We will read various PJ Library books and sing songs about different Jewish holidays throughout the year. Children will also be able to make a craft. Ages: 5 and under. Free. To RSVP or for more information, contact Michelle Cicchitelli at 401-421-4111 ext. 178 or mcicchitelli@jewishallianceri.org.

Saturday | September 26 Kids’ Night Out. 5 – 10 p.m. Dwares JCC. Once a month on Saturday. Sept. 26 | Rock and Roll. Oct. 17 | Under the Sea. November 21 | Food Frenzy. Dec. 19 | Glow in the Dark Party. Kids’ Night Out is a chance for children to spend the evening with their friends in a fun and safe environment. Kids’ Night Out runs once a month on Saturday evenings. Each month children will be entertained with a variety of themed activities ranging from sports, crafts, swimming, and more. A pizza dinner and snacks will be served, and the evening will end with a movie. This is also a great opportunity for parents to have a night out “kid free!” Ages: 5 – 12. Price: $35 | Members: $25 | Siblings: $15. For more information or to register, contact Shannon Boucher at 401-421-4111 ext. 147.

Calendar Submissions AUGUST 21 issue, JEWISH WOMEN IN BUSINESS – must be received by AUGUST 12 SEPTEMBER 4 issue, ROSH HASHANAH – must be received by AUGUST 26 Send all calendar items to: editor@jewishallianceri.org with the subject line “CALENDAR.” Calendar entries may be edited for content, length and relevance. Please submit two weeks prior to issue of publication.

New community calendar is in the works

BY JEWISH VOICE STAFF

In an effort to better serve the greater Rhode Island Jewish community, the Alliance is redeveloping the online community calendar currently powered by GrapeVine. The new system will streamline the submission process and allow community members to add events to the calendar with greater ease and efficiency. “In a three-year partnership with GrapeVine, the Alliance has learned a great deal, forged meaningful professional relationships, and appreciated being their pilot city,” said Wendy Joering director of membership and concierge services. “However, looking toward the future and the specific needs of the Rhode Island Jewish community,” she said, “we have decided to discontinue our collaboration with them.”

By the end of August, instead of submitting events through GrapeVine, community members can simply visit the JewishAlliance website (jewishallianceri.org), click the community calendar button on the home page and be directed to a new, user-friendly calendar powered by The Jewish Voice. “You will be able to submit an event directly from that page, and there will be other special features you’re sure to like,” Joering said. Events currently listed on the GrapeVine calendar will be migrated to the new system. Any questions or concerns should be directed to Wendy Joering at 401-421-4111, ext. 169, or wjoering@jewishallianceri.org. Expressing enthusiasm about the upcoming improvements, she said, “I’m confident that the community will be happy with the new calendar.”

Apply now to exhibit at airport galleries BY THE R.I. STATE COUNCIL OF THE ARTS The gallery spaces at the Block Island Airport and T.F. Green Airport are accepting art submissions for their 2016 exhibitions. The gallery program, which includes Block Island Airport Gallery and GREEN SPACE, is a partnership between RISCA and the Rhode Island Airport Corporation that promotes outstanding work by artists living and working in Rhode Island. The spaces will present art to an ever-changing audience of local, national and international travelers. Works in all media will be considered. Note that the Block Island Airport Gallery is best suited to moderately sized works, while GREEN SPACE includes several large walls and open spaces that are particularly suitable for large scale works. All participating artists must be RI residents. No students please. Entry deadline is Oct. 1, 2015 Artists will be selected for the 2015 exhibitions by a review panel that will include practicing artists, arts professionals and community members. Artists included in the 2016 exhibitions will receive a $100 stipend for participating in the program. Artists are encouraged to submit for consideration to both galleries. Artists are encouraged to re-submit to the galleries, even if not selected in previous cycles. Artists who have exhibited previously are ineligible for new consideration for a period of two years. To apply, please submit the

following via email: •A link to your current web site that includes images with captions (title, year, media, size), a current bio and artist’s statement; or •A link to a Flickr page showing images of one’s artwork with captions (title, year, media, size) and attach to the email a current bio and artist’s statement. To apply, please email submissions to AirportArtsRI@gmail. com. Please note which gallery you are applying to in the subject line of the email. Note that GREEN SPACE exhibits three group shows per year, while the Block Island Airport Gallery hosts four solo exhibits. If selected, artists agree to suitably frame, wire or otherwise prepare their artwork for display at their own expense. Works for Block Island must be 34” x 46” or smaller, and packaged by the artist for safe transport via ferry. Artwork is hung at gallery coordinator’s discretion, and gallery coordinator reserves the right of final selection of artwork and approval of installation. Artwork is not insured by the galleries during exhibition; artists are encouraged to carry their own insurance. Artwork may be listed for sale if desired, and any sales are direct without commission to the galleries. To learn more about this opportunity and view photos of the exhibition space, please visit arts.ri.gov/public/airports/ Please address any questions regarding this call to Molly Dickinson, coordinator, at AirportArtsRI@gmail.com or 401845-0890.

August 7, 2015 |

COMMUNITY

thejewishvoice.org

United Brothers Synagogue welcomes a new rabbi BY IRINA MISSIURO imissiuro@jewishallianceri.org Carolan Glatstein, the new rabbi at the United Brothers Synagogue in Bristol, owes some prime treats to her dog Petunia. When she was studying in Jerusalem during the first year of her graduate program at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, she brought Petunia along. Afraid to walk the dog in the neighborhood where another dog had attacked them, Glatstein asked Eric Mollo, a fellow student, to walk with them. Long story short – the two are now married, and their baby girl is some serious competition for Petunia and Yeti, the family’s other dog. Since her husband is also a rabbi – he works at Temple Chayai Shalom in Easton, Mass. – Glatstein loves practicing questioning, her Jewish values and pursuit of knowledge with him. The two study side by side, pushing each other to grow. Glatstein’s job arrived as unexpectedly as her love – the contact was made through Etsy, the site where she sells her handmade kippot and prayer shawls. She plays bridge with one of her husband’s congregants, who informed a mutual friend at United Brothers to contact her through Etsy. The position appealed to her right away. She says, “It was clear our priorities were aligned, and the timing was right.” Glatstein appreciat-

Rabbi Carolan Glatstein ed the synagogue’s approach to interfaith issues, a topic that’s dear to her heart because of her upbringing. Rather than panic that Jewish people are dying out because of intermarriage, she prefers to acknowledge this demographic, welcoming them. The synagogue’s congregation is comprised of 50 couples from various Rhode Island and Massachusetts locations; the members are committed to their community, where they meet for services once a month. Even though the congregants

Photo | Carolan glatstein

are on “widely different levels,” Glatstein says they unite on common ground. Currently, the synagogue doesn’t offer a religious school. However, the new rabbi “would love to see kids at services.” She is looking to add new members to their “amazingly welcoming group of people,” who like one another so much that they get together outside of services to take part in activities such as mahjong night and book club. Glatstein says, “One thing that impresses me is how hard they are willing

to work to maintain this community.” After all, the synagogue has no staff – everything depends on the members and the board. Glatstein has been a believer in community from a young age. She says that her grandfather was the one who planted the idea for her to devote herself to Judaism. She and her parents lived together with her paternal grandfather in Denver. One day, when looking at his little granddaughter who resembled her Irish Catholic mother, he commented that she ought to know something about being Jewish with a last name like Glatstein. The girl and her parents started attending Stepping Stones, an educational program for interfaith families. Her mom converted, becoming “a Jewish powerhouse,” when Glatstein was 5. In high school, Glatstein took advantage of many learning opportunities, including a trip to HUC to attend a teaching assistants’ weekend. She now knows that her rabbi and educator encouraged the campus visit so that she would begin considering the rabbinate as a career path. In 2014, Glatstein achieved that goal. On June 5, she led her first service at United Brothers. Because Glatstein considers her presence to be a big change for the community – she is its first ordained spiritual leader, Glatstein is not looking to make any drastic transformations. She

says, “My job is to learn who they are.” Glatstein would like to get to know the community’s needs and desires, as well as meet the members. Right now, her focus is on worship, education and listening. Asked about the most important qualities for someone in her role, she responds with “patience and presence.” Glatstein says that her mentor, Rabbi Julie Schwartz, head of the pastoral care and counseling program at HUC, was instrumental in instilling these qualities and teaching her the importance of relationships over text, ritual and scripture. To fulfill her training requirement, Glatstein spent two years as a hospital chaplain. She considers this time to be absolutely critical to her skill as rabbi. “I learned so much about life, people, what matters most sitting in hospital rooms late at night.” During particularly difficult moments, Glatstein discovered that sometimes it’s best not to say anything and just be there with people, providing a shoulder to cry on and letting them take the lead. She says that powerful connections and stories inspire her. They are what drew her to the role that allows her to create bonds with people, to share with one another. IRINA MISSIURO is a writer and editorial consultant for The Jewish Voice.

12 | August 7, 2015

COMMUNITY

The Jewish Voice

David Perolman leads by example Habonim’s new education director and song leader BY IRINA MISSIURO imissiuro@jewishallianceri.org If you tried to find someone who plays more instruments than David Perolman, you’d probably fail. It’s not a dare – only a simple warning – don’t even bother. Perolman, the new education director and song leader at Temple Habonim in Barrington, boasts a wide range of musical knowledge. Growing up, he was always learning to

play a new instrument, including trumpet, horn and tuba. He played some of them in a marching band while in high school. Guitar was the next step, followed by piano, ukulele and mandolin. Oh, and don’t forget about percussion. He is a walking orchestra! At Towson University in Maryland, Perolman studied communications, advertising, electronic media and film. Learning multiple instruments and disciplines of study didn’t faze this young man, who was used to challenging changes. Because his dad was in the army, the family moved every two years. Yet, wherever they

Photo | David Perolman

David Perolman and family.

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ended up, they’d always find a Jewish community to join, even in Southwest Arizona, where they were one of 20 Jewish families. Perolman says that he was raised in an accepting atmosphere, with his parents believing in allowing him to choose his own path. All family members ultimately decided to pursue Judaism. His Catholic mother converted, and his sister became a rabbi. Both of his parents are members of a choir, and his dad is on the board of their synagogue in Maryland. Perolman says, “They led me by example.” Now he is doing the same not only for the congregation’s students, but also for his two daughters, Ariel and Sydney. Married to his high school sweetheart, Danielle, who is “over the moon” about his new role, Perolman is excited to be living close to the temple. He explains that his connection to Judaism stems from the morals and values found in the Torah, which he teaches to the congregation’s children. Perolman laments that many aspects of the modern world impede children’s connection to the texts. He sees that disconnect as his challenge, vowing to make religion more germane for the kids through hands-on learning. One of Perolman’s passions is social justice – he closely follows current events, using them to illustrate concepts, as well as exploring their depth in discussion and sometimes practice. He explains that awareness is usually followed by reflection, which often leads to action – striving for legislative changes. Perolman believes that his goal should be to instill the desire to do the right thing, to be the bigger person in all aspects of life. It’s not surprising then that he is looking forward to moving the religious school’s curriculum to a project-based one. Currently, the kids at the reli-

gious school follow the Union for Reform Judaism CHAI curriculum, based on the essential concepts of the Jewish life. Perolman aims to inspire the children to delve deep into texts by presenting readings in a way that would be relevant to the students. Sometimes, it means resorting to popular culture. For instance, Perolman teaches Livnot (building) to eighth and ninth graders. In a lesson about self-worth, he explains why the logic of the 10 spies who returned from Israel was flawed. They left because they were self-conscious about their small stature. Perolman brings up the movie “Pitch Perfect” to offer an example of confidence – the desired behavior. A plump character introduces herself as Fat Amy so that others can’t belittle her for her large size – she has already done that herself, proving that she’s OK with it. Perolman sums up, “Don’t live your life based on how others might see you.” He is also a big fan of lessons with an action component. To study media bias, he might take the children to a television station. There, they can observe how the program director will spin a news story. To witness food insecurity, Perolman would plan a trip to a soup kitchen or food pantry, such as TAPIN in Barrington. Taking these trips, the students will learn to do positive things, help others. Perolman acknowledges that it’s easy to stay in your bubble, but says that we should look beyond ourselves. He believes that, as Jews, we have a duty to explore and question. Perolman hopes that his students will connect to the social justice component of Judaism. He, in turn, will provide a modern take on our rich tradition. IRINA MISSIURO is a writer and editorial consultant for The Jewish Voice.

FRoM paGe 1

August 7, 2015 |

nATionAL | communiTy

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iRan

outlast 24 days – by centuries, even. But critics say there are other activities related to nuclear weaponization that can go undetected, such as computer modeling for nuclear devices, explosives testing and the building of nuclear warheads, said Mark Dubowitz, director of the Foundation of Defense of Democracies. “That kind of activity may not involve actual enrichment where there would be traces of uranium to detect,” he told JTA. Additionally, a small centrifuge plant with advanced centrifuges in a containment system could be rapidly moved without leaving traces, accord-

ing to Senate testimony given Aug. 4 by David Albright, a former U.S. nuclear inspector who is now president of the Institute for Science and International Security. Deal proponents say the mining and transportation of the uranium needed for a contained enrichment site would be impossible to hide, given the numerous monitoring and verification choke points. Additionally, Iran has little to gain from such small-scale cheating like testing explosives, said Alireza Nader, an Iran analyst with the Rand Corp.

Preventing sabotage

Among the agreement’s provisions aimed at ensuring nuclear safety is “cooperation through training and workshops to

strengthen Iran’s ability to protect against, and respond to nuclear security threats, including sabotage, as well as to enable effective and sustainable nuclear security and physical protection systems.” Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who is running for president, argues that this provision sets the United States and its traditional allies in the Middle East on a collision course by requiring the United States to help Iran defend itself against Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and other U.S. allies in the region. But Daryl Kimball, president of the Arms Control Association, says that is not the intention of the provision. Rather it’s meant to maintain security at civilian nuclear sites

so terrorists can’t access them or steal equipment for other countries. The provision does not oblige the United States to avoid sabotage operations like Stuxnet, the computer virus believed to have been designed by Israel and the United States that wrecked Iran’s centrifuges in 2010. But Dubowitz says the wording may give Iran legal cover to solicit assistance from other countries, such as China, in stopping cyber attacks. “It’s not clear from the agreement,” he said.

ghasan Soleymani

Soleymani, the general in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps whose Quds force is believed to have trained Hezbollah and helped carry out some

of the worst Assad regime atrocities during the ongoing Syrian civil war, has appeared on a broad array of sanctions lists since 2007. In the agreement, he appears on a long list of entities and individuals to be removed from “nuclear-related” sanctions lists. Critics say that this and other delistings open up the floodgates to global fi nancial activity by the Revolutionary Guard. Deal defenders note that Soleymani still appears on multiple lists, in the United States and elsewhere, sanctioning him for terrorist activity. “The United States has a lot of leverage on that person,” Kimball said.

JDc sustains Jewish renewal programs in Poland with thanks to the Annual campaign By JenniFeR ZwiRn jzwirn@jewishallianceri.org The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island impacts programs and services around the world as well as here at home. Each year, funds raised through the Annual Campaign are allocated to core partners overseas. The American Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) receives funding that greatly impacts Jewish renewal programs throughout Poland. These programs include Limmud-Keshet, an annual Jewish learning conference; Atid Jewish Summer Camp, a 2-week immersion in Jewish living and learning; and adult programming that takes place year-round. In October 2013, the JDC and the Jews of Warsaw inaugurated the fi rst-ever modern JCC in the Polish capital, home to 5,000 Jews. The building, located in one of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods, tells the story of the exciting re-emergence of Jewish life in Poland following decades of destruction and anti-Semitism. Like the Jewish Alliance, the Warsaw JCC is centrally located and serves as the hub for Jewish life and offers a vast array of Jewish cultural, educational, and community services and programs attended by thousands of Jews of all ages and backgrounds annually. Also like the Jewish Alliance, many activities and offerings take place beyond the JCC-Warsaw’s walls, and at-

tract Jews from all over Poland. Two of the Jewish renewal programs that we support are the Limmud-Keshet Jewish Learning Conference, which attracts hundreds of people, making it Polish Jewry’s largest annual event and Atid Jewish Summer Camp, bringing together dozens of campers, ages 7 to 17 from all over Poland for a 2-week immersion in Jewish living and learning. These and other Jewish revitalization programs are essential if Poland’s

Jews are to rebuild their Jewish community and ensure its future. They serve as a reminder locally of just how meaningful our dollars are across the world. “This was my fi rst time at the Atid and I made a lot of new friends, whom I know will be friends for my lifetime. I learned many Jewish prayers, and I sing them often now. I learned about Jewish leaders and that the Jewish people have a long history over struggle, but we continue to overcome. I definitely feel more Jewish and appreciate my Judaism now,” said Teo, a 13-year-old fi rst-time camper at Atid Jewish Summer Camp in Warsaw. The largest and most popular Jewish learning event in Po-

land, Limmud-Keshet, brings together hundreds of Jews of all ages and affiliations every year. During the most recent conference, held in November 2014, nearly 800 people from across Poland assembled to meet new people, connect with old friends, and participate in upwards of 100 lectures, workshops, and discussions all focused on Jewish history, identity, origin and beliefs. Speakers included Polish journalists, writers, directors, artists and a variety of

Jewish professionals with diverse interests and talents. The annual program includes all-inclusive Shabbat and Havdalah services as well as activities for children led by trained staff. “I had the pleasure of participating in this very special event. The quality of programming is extremely high. For me, one of Limmud’s biggest impressions is that it integrates all the Jews of Poland. Limmud is like a big ship that doesn’t drift but safely navigates to its goal, which is the future of Jewish life in Poland. It is a ship that can fit everyone, and I’m very grateful to have been there at the right place and time,” said Adam, a 2014 participant from Katowice, Poland.

Funding JDC’s Jewish Renewal Programs serves to engage Poland’s Jews in exciting and inspiring Jewish activities that strengthen Jewish knowledge and identity, deepen ties to the Jewish community, and build Jewish leadership, ultimately ensuring a stronger future for Jewish life in Poland. The JDC is the world’s leading Jewish humanitarian assistance organization and works to alleviate poverty and strengthen Jewish life in more than 70 countries and in Israel. JDC has been established in the United States, opening its activity in Europe in 1914 and has been working in Poland, almost without interruption, since 1918. In Poland, the JDC

supports local Jewish associations and institutions and organizes different cultural and educational projects, which play a major role in the renewal and re-integration of the Jewish community after the post-communist transformation. To contribute to vital Jewish programs and impact the Jewish community at home and abroad, today and tomorrow, contact Trine Lustig, vice president of Philanthropy at the Jewish Alliance at tlustig@ jewishallianceri.org or 401-4214111, ext. 223. JenniFeR ZwiRn is in grants and philanthropy at The Jewish Alliance.

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14 | August 7, 2015

FOOD

The Jewish Voice

Serving up food at J-Camp J-Camp at the Dwares JCC, a program of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, is a sponsor of the Summer Food Service Program for Children. This program is designed primarily to provide meals to children at the day camp through Aug. 21. All campers are eligible to receive free meals while participating in the program. J-Camp at the Dwares JCC, at 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, runs from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Early arrival (8-9 a.m.) and extended day (4-6 p.m.) are available. Each week, campers participate in a variety of activities focused around specific themes. Campers are divided into groups by age, allowing them to fill their days with exciting, appropriate activities and challenging opportu-

nities to discover new interests, develop new skills and explore their surroundings. There are times when all campers are together as a group to help build community. The day starts outside on the fields with a morning huddle to hear news and activities and to set the tone for the day. Campers will also have the opportunity to be together during lunch and special programs planned throughout the summer. Limited space is available for the final weeks of camp. Camp prices vary and financial aid is available. Sibling discounts are offered and DHS is accepted. For more information or to register, please visit the website at jewishallianceri.org or contact Seth Finkle, camp director, at 401-421-4111.

Freshen up your summer party

Photo | family features

Family Features – Picnics and parties, good friends and good food – these are the things that make summertime special. Whether you’re hosting the soiree or participating via potluck, taking a unique approach to your go-to entertaining dishes is a simple way to freshen up the spread. Garden salad: A basic tossed green salad provides nearly endless options for variations, and borrowing ethnic flavors for inspiration is a great approach. Add Kalamata olives, feta cheese and red onions for a Greek-inspired side. Incorporate some Tex-Mex flair with roasted corn, black beans, chopped scallions and cheddar cheese. Enjoy an Asian adaptation with crispy wonton strips, cabbage, carrots, green onion and chopped nuts, such as peanuts or cashews. Stuffed eggs: A staple at many social gatherings, deviled eggs are an easy way to experiment with new flavors. Simple addi-

tions to the creamy yolk filling can completely transform the taste. One unexpectedly delicious twist is the addition of hummus. Upside-down cake: Summer is the perfect time to get creative with a basic upside-down cake, whether you make it from scratch or start with a boxed mix. A bounty of seasonal fresh fruit lets you explore new flavors for your cake’s topping: plump, juicy berries, plums and peaches are all excellent choices. Mix it up even more by combining some of your favorites, such as strawberries and blueberries, or switching out the traditional white base for a fruit-laden chocolatey delight.

Hummus Deviled Eggs

Recipe from Sabra Hummus Makes: 12 servings Prep Time: 25 minutes Assembly: 15 minutes

Ingredients

6 eggs 1/3 cup, plus 1 tablespoon hummus

2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 teaspoons relish Paprika for garnish

Directions

Place eggs in pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Turn off heat and let sit for 14 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon and run cold water over eggs. Cool eggs 10 minutes. Remove shells when cool. Cut in half and scoop out yolk and reserve in bowl of food processor. Repeat with remaining 5 eggs. Add hummus, olive oil, pepper, and salt to yolks; puree in food processor. Add relish and pulse 3 to 5 times to incorporate. Put yolk mixture in piping bag. (Use tall glass and fold edges of piping bag over glass to make it easier to transfer mixture.) Pipe about a teaspoon of mixture into each egg white half and sprinkle with paprika.

Sweet Potato Quinoa Veggie Burgers By Liz Rueven (The Nosher via JTA) – You’re back in your summer barbecue groove and have invited friends for a day of sizzling fun. Just as you’ve settled into your menu choices, you realize that one of your guests for that “easy” fete you’re planning is vegetarian. Now what? In these easy vegetarian burgers, sweet potato and quinoa lends structure while healthy walnuts ensure that they remain moist.

Sweet Potato Quinoa Veggie Burgers: Ingredients:

1/2 cup quinoa (use 1 cup cooked quinoa) 1 medium sweet potato (use 1 cup cooked sweet potato, lightly packed) 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed, drained and patted dry

"Helping to better the lives of others is the greatest of all achievements" – Alan Shawn Feinstein

with paper towel 3/4 cup whole walnuts 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 4 eggs 3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped 3 scallions, white and most of green, chopped 3 tablespoons parsley, chopped 1 teaspoon curry powder 1 teaspoon cumin powder 1/2 teaspoon turmeric 1/2 teaspoon salt ground pepper to taste 7 tablespoons whole-wheat breadcrumbs

Directions:

Rinse quinoa and cook according to package directions. Cool and set aside. Peel and slice sweet potato and place in steamer. Cook over boiling water 15-18 minutes or until fork tender. Drain, and set aside. Toast walnuts lightly in nonstick pan until golden and fragrant. Cool and set aside. In a food processor, combine chickpeas, walnuts, lemon juice and eggs. Whirl for 15-20 seconds, until combined (should not be perfectly smooth). Add garlic, scallions, parsley,

curry, cumin, turmeric, salt and pepper. Pulse until combined. Add cooked sweet potato and bread crumbs; pulse until combined. Add quinoa and pulse until combined. It’s better if your mixture is not too smooth. Notes: This mixture can be made a day in advance and stored covered in the refrigerator. The patties will feel a little loose as you’re forming them, but that’s OK. If you’re not sure, add a little more breadcrumbs. These veggie burgers may be grilled on the barbecue or pan fried with a little oil in a nonstick pan. Consider serving with sliced cheese, your favorite salsa, avocado, tomatoes or just about anything you can load on the bun. Yield: 10 medium burgers LIZ REUVEN is kosher on the inside, veg on the go and always on the lookout for the most scrumptious eats. Check out her blog, Kosher Like Me. The Nosher food blog offers an array of new and classic Jewish recipes and food news, from Europe to Yemen, from challah to shakshuka and beyond. Check it out at TheNosher.com.

COMMUNITY

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August 7, 2015 |

Join us

for a festive Shabbat Barbecue and a Worship Service where the birds sing along! COME AS YOU ARE to our Julie Claire Gutterman Patio and enjoy a family barbecue followed by a Shabbat Service Under the Stars. This beautiful evening is planned especially for current, new and prospective members — in other words, for everyone! Please invite friends to come and share the warmth and vitality of our Synagogue and the beauty of our biblical garden.

It’s happening on Friday, August 21, 2015. The barbecue will begin at 5:30 pm, followed by a 7 pm Worship Service. There will be activities for children and an ice cream social Oneg after the service.

PHOTOS | HILLARY SCHULMAN

Double Chai attendees enjoy the party (left to right) Rich Sutton, Jeffrey Isaacs, Lauren Zurier, Sam Zurier, Rabbi Barry Dolinger and Rabbi Sarah Mack.

Fun line-up for Double Chai Society On June 22, 25 young community members from all over Rhode Island gathered at the home of Double Chai Society co-chairs Steve and Emily Shalansky for a Double Chai Society cocktail reception. Attendees enjoyed food and drinks, and learned about upcoming events at the Alliance, including their very own mitzvah project on Aug. 30. They heard about the Aug. 7 launch of AccessJewishRI.org – the information and referral program for greater Rhode Island’s Jewish community through the Living on the Edge Initiative. Guests were also invited to the End of Summer Celebration

and Screen on the Green event on Aug. 16, and the launch of the Lenny K rayzelberg Swim Academy as part of Dayat-the-J on Oct. 25. For more information about the Double Chai Society, contact Hillary Schulman Double Chai Society co-chairs Steve and at hschulman@ Emily Shalansky. j ew i s h a l l i a n ceri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 127, jewishallianceri.org or Erin Moseley at emoseley@ or 401-421-4111, ext. 108.

community and family relations; and maintaining JORI’s ACA accreditation.

Camp JORI is a nonprofit overnight camp situated on Rhode Island’s largest lake and nestled among acres of protected land. Its mission is to provide a quality overnight Jewish camping experience to all families in a safe and supportive setting. In

Include $5.00 for each Temple member, and your name and phone number. Please let us know how many guests you will be bringing, and how many would prefer a vegetarian dinner option.

And do come, rain or shine!

Camp JORI begins national search for new director Camp JORI Board President Deb Salinger announced the start of a search for a new director. The camp will be working with the Foundation for Jewish Camping and the American Camping Association to identify potential candidates. A search committee composed of current and past JORI board members will review applications, conduct interviews and seek board approval for the hiring of the final candidate. The camp seeks to identify a dynamic leader to build on the camp’s long history of success to reach ever-higher levels of quality and enrollment. This is a fulltime, year-round position with responsibilities that include: camper recruitment and retention; staff recruitment, training, development and supervision; program design and implementation; facilities management;

The cost for dinner is a mere $5.00 for Temple members. All non-member guests are invited to join us free of charge. Please reserve by August 14th. Send a check to Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence, RI 02906, or RSVP via phone 401-331-6070, or on Chaverweb.

the camp’s 78-year history, there have been only three directors.

Interested Applicants

Camp JORI offers its camp director a competitive salary and benefits package. Yearround housing is also available. Anyone interested in further information about Camp JORI should visit campjori.com. Potential candidates for the position of camp director should send the following information electronically to lhchrs@cox.net: • Cover letter and resume outlining all relevant education and experience; • A statement of philosophy regarding the development of children and staff in the context of the camping experience; and • Names and contact information for three references who can be contacted regarding your qualifications and experience.

We welcome you. ■ Full Hebrew School and adult education programs. ■ The only Congregation Agudas Achim Reconstructionist synagogue serving northern Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.

OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, AUGUST 30, 10 am to 1 pm 901 North Main St., Attleboro, MA | www.agudasma.org

iSRAEL

16 | August 7, 2015

The Jewish Voice

PHOTOS | IRINA MISSIURO

Celebrating Nancy’s birthday with the Rhode Island women.

my ‘momentum’ trip to israel By iRina MiSSiURo imissiuro@jewishallianceri.org When I fi rst heard about the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project’s (JWRP) Momentum trip to Israel, I was underwhelmed. A distant relative gushed to my mother about the wonderful time she had on the trip last year, causing her to nag me to sign up as well. And we all know what happens

when your mother starts trying to make you do something – it’s the last thing you want to do. Then, I met Elissa Felder at the Southern New England Conference for Jewish Women, and she, too, raved about the trip. She went as one of the two city leaders in 2014 and was in the process of selecting a group of 10 for 2015. According to Felder, I was “perfect” for the experience. And when Felder,

a woman of boundless energy and enthusiasm, speaks, you listen. True, I did meet all the qualifications – I lived in close proximity to the Dwares JCC, I was raising my children Jewish, and I was not celebrating Shabbat (a practice the trip hopes to instill). However, I had reservations. In theory, the trip sounded wonderful – hang out with local moms, see Israel for free

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Bring a picnic dinner and a blanket Play Foosball, pickle ball, and gaga Outdoor yoga and group ex classes Personal trainers to answer your fitness questions Games, prizes, membership specials, and raffles* Recognition of the returning Maccabi team

Purchase treats from Like No Udder or nosh on free candy and popcorn Bouncy house, bubbles, face painting, and crafting Oodles of information about EVERYTHING the Alliance has to offer, especially things happening this fall

*Attendees will be entered in a raffle to win “golden ticket” prizes valued up to $100. Must be present to win. RSVP by Aug. 12 to Michelle Cicchitelli and receive two chances to win! mcicchitelli@jewishallianceri.org or 401.421.4111 ext. 178. Free programs such as these are made possible by the generosity of donors to the Jewish Alliance who deeply believe that there should be community places, spaces, and experiences that are accessible to everyone.

Near the Moroccan restaurant where our group dined to celebrate Meredith’s birthday. (just pay the airfare), abstain from cooking for a while. I did feel apprehensive that it would be not as wonderful in practice. More specifically, I was afraid of brainwashing. When I thought about the trip, I envisioned a group of observant women dumping my brain – spaghetti-like – into a colander, rinsing it a bit, then putting it back into the pot and adding some extra-spicy religion sauce. I am not a fan of extra spicy. In fact, I prefer mild. I couldn’t have been further from the truth. The purpose of the trip was not to turn you into a religious fanatic. It was to allow you to access your best self – friend, wife, mother – by teaching you about Jewish wisdom. Our group was extremely fortunate to have Adrienne Gold – past Canadian television host and current teacher at the Village Shul in Toronto – as the lecturer, and what a lecturer she was! Her teachings were peppered with snippets of personal stories, humorous anecdotes, and self-deprecating statements. Listening to her, I felt I was eavesdropping on an intimate train of thought, not attending a talk. Women around me nodded their heads, wiped away tears, smiled and nudged one another. They were relating, empathizing and understanding. They were feeling. Finally, someone was talking about the aspects of

life that are usually deemed unimportant. Here was a woman who recognized that they were worthy, that we wanted to know how to approach them, needed to be heard. Here was a woman who gave us voice – gracefully, articulately and kindly – all the while guiding us toward becoming Jewish Women 2.0. Gold was not the only captivating speaker on the trip. Rabbi Gavriel Friedman woke us up with his energetic lecture on Shabbat one morning. I almost hesitate to call it a lecture because it felt more like a standup act. I was amazed by this man’s chutzpah, charisma and ’90s song references. Rebbetzin Raizy Guttman taught us all about baking the perfect challah. Pamela and Aba Claman, founders of Thank Israeli Soldiers, personified philanthropy, welcoming all 200 of us, in addition to a group of soldiers, into their Old City home. Yossi Samuels inspired everyone who visited SHALVA, the association his parents founded for mentally and physically challenged children in Israel. Estee Yarmish awed us with her adoption story and the total number of children she now has – 14! Rachelle Fraenkel, mother of one of the kidnapped Israeli teens, stunned us with her strength and determination. Hillel and Chaya Lester illustrated superb parenting skills when they hosted some of us for lunch at MoMentUM | 17

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israel

August 7, 2015 |

PHOTO | CHLOE NEWMAN

Chloe Newman in the Negev

My year in Israel: A life-altering experience BY CHLOE NEWMAN

A seller at the Shuk. from page 16

momentum the Shalev Center, where they turn Jewish teachings into personal development tools. Besides trip leaders, hosts and speakers, we enjoyed the wisdom of our tour guides. Alternating to give us a chance to experience their individual styles, the guides shared their knowledge on all the sites we visited. We started the trip in gorgeous Tiberius, moved on to mystical Tsfat, toured the wrinkled Old City, explored the imposing Masada and floated in the hot Dead Sea. Other highlights included visiting Yad Vashem – Israel’s Holocaust Memorial, rafting on the Jordan River, meeting soldiers at an army base and watching the sunset at Kedma Hall in Neve Ilan. One experience that stood out for me among the rest was Shabbat – a truly magical celebration in Jerusalem. We all danced to Yitzchak Meir Malek’s music, lit candles (some of us for the first time) and walked to the Kotel, where we sang Jewish songs and danced some more with the soldiers. There was something extraordinary about the unity we felt on that day – there we were, in the holiest place on earth, among our own people – numerous challah strands melded into one delicious bread – the Jewish woman. We were observant and atheist, American and Israeli, mothers and daughters, short-haired

and long, skinny and portly, but we were one. We stamped our feet on the cobblestones cracking with history. We strained our voices to shout “Havah Nagilah,” “Oseh Shalom” and “Dayenu.” We gently touched the wall and leaned our heads against it, connecting to the past, the present and the future. We stuck little pieces of paper into the wall, wishing and hoping and praying. We hugged and laughed and cried. We cried some more and then laughed about crying so much. We became a whole. We shared stories from our lives, adversities we were overcoming, stumbling blocks we were anticipating. We celebrated birthdays and little victories. We encouraged one another with notes. We helped lug heavy suitcases up the stairs. We respected our differences, choosing to focus on the similarities, and engaged in discussions aimed at understanding the differing points of view. We did not blame or complain, and when we did, we switched our red plastic bracelets from one wrist to the other (the heat was a huge catalyst). We left inspired, thankful and rich. We had many new friends, and we couldn’t wait to find out what those friendships held in store for us. Awakened, we looked forward to sleep.

Returning to the States after a year abroad in Israel, family and friends have all greeted me with smiles, hugs and the same innocent question: “Well ... how was it?” The question comes automatically, as much as a standard “hi” is followed by “how are you?” None of the varying answers I’ve given of “amazing” and “unique” can represent my time in Israel, much in the same way that “I’m fine, thank you” cannot truly describe a person’s life. It strikes me as funny to ask for the sum of my transient yet life-altering experience. Living and working in the southern city of Ashdod, I immediately craved to be recognized by Israelis as a fellow community member. When I visited other cities and areas of the country, it was my top priority to avoid the label of “naive tourist.” However, I was frustrated by my limited knowledge of the language, my struggle to grasp new cultural facets, and how my physical appearance could give me away. This is not to say I felt unwelcome, but rather that my inevitable identity as an outsider constantly provided me with challenges. Even the simplest tasks and interactions could become exhausting, and I soon realized how much I had taken for granted in my American routines. It was only when I came to accept myself as a foreigner, one open and willing to

learn, that my perspectives changed for the better. I embraced my ability to see life with fresh eyes, observing and discovering as a fiveyear-old child would, enthralled with everyday sights and encounters. I became determined to learn and practice my Hebrew, and was no longer trying to hide from the

“It was only when I came to accept myself as a foreigner, one open and willing to learn, that my perspectives changed for the better.” mistakes I might make. The more courage I gained in approaching and speaking with others, the more I learned about the country and made genuine and memorable connections with those I met. In this way, I found rhythm and harmony for my American life in Israel. This positivity and freedom affected me deeply, and I spent many evenings during the work week researching and networking to plan my weekend destinations. Once I got the hang of using public transportation around closings in observance of Shabbat, I even came to appreciate Shabbat as beneficial to my travel experiences. Most shopping centers and

businesses would close for Shabbat, bringing me closer to my travel hosts, friends and the locals as we spent our time exploring outside or relaxing in new settings. I thrived on these excursions, finding that my efforts to seek out new experiences would snowball from people I met and places I visited. When my teaching program ended and I said goodbye to my life in Israel, I knew that my perceptions of myself and my surroundings would be forever changed. I simply fell in love with the land of Israel and its people. From them, I learned crucial lessons in matters of self, relationships and how to find happiness in life. Now I want to continue learning, living and exploring in new places. While my next destination is not yet set in stone, I’ve at least got a bit more confidence in the person I’ll be when I arrive. CHLOE J. NEWMAN grew up in Providence, attended The Wheeler School and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Having recently completed a 10-month teaching fellowship in Israel, she has returned to Pittsburgh to continue to pursue a career in the arts. Her trip was partially funded with a travel grant from the Salmanson Fund established at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and with funds accrued through the Gift of Israel program.

18 | August 7, 2015

communiTy

The Jewish Voice

Temple Am David makes plans for the future Cantor Jules Becker will lead High Holy Day services By FRan oStenDoRF fostendorf@jewishallianceri.org It’s a time of struggle for many area congregations and Am David, in Warwick, is no exception. The Am David temple, on Gardiner Street, has been up for sale since January. Several

months ago, Am David and its longtime rabbi, Richard Perlman, parted ways. Perlman has started a new congregation, the West Bay Community Jewish Center. But Congregation Am David leaders want the community to know that worship and programming are continuing.

PHOTO | AM DAVID

Am David. “Temple Am David is open,” declared Beth Veltri, president of the Conservative congregation. Some people may leave the congregation, says treasurer Michael Frank, as they do every congregation, but that doesn’t change the institution. “This institution is still in existence,” he says. “The building is still here; we still have our membership. We are going to grow from the membership we have.” “The people who are still here realize they can’t be passive,”

T KR A Z

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401 Elmgrove Avenue | Providence, RI 02906 | jewishallianceri.org

Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy offers a learn-to-swim program for children of all ages. Started in 2005 by four-time Olympic Gold Medalist Lenny Krayzelburg, its "core purpose is to teach and inspire children to be water safe." Since its inception, they have taught thousands of children water safety and the importance of knowing how to swim. Using the SwimRight® Method, they utilize the swimfloat-swim technique as a foundation and focus on providing children with the knowledge of confidence and safety in and around the water. Students progress from the beginning stages of swimming to learning all four strokes: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly.

said Aaron Weintraub, fi rst vice president. “They want to see it survive.” Last week, the congregation hired Cantor Jules Becker, of Newton, Massachusetts, to lead its High Holy Day services. Becker was most recently cantor and Torah reader at Or Yisrael, in Newton. He’s also served congregations in Millis, Massachusetts, and Auburn, Maine, and he taught at Providence Hebrew Day School while earning a master’s degree at Brown. Now, the congregation’s leadership is trying to get the word out that Cantor Becker has been hired to lead the High Holy Days services. The congregation has had monthly activities this summer

that have been well attended. Veltri said activities have included a breakfast and a dinner, and a comedy night is set for Aug. 13. Minyans on Friday nights and Saturday mornings have been no problem. A recent weekend saw Cantor Miriam Silva, of Foxboro, leading services. Visiting clergy will be the congregational model for now, the leaders say. As for the sale of the building, there have been three or four interested parties, said Veltri, but no offers yet. When asked, Veltri emphasized that the congregation can continue to maintain the building for now. If and when the building is sold, the Board of Directors will determine how much space is needed and explore where the congregation can relocate. As to the reports that its religious school might merge with another school, that’s not the case, Veltri said. The religious school is enrolling students for the upcoming school year and will meet on Sundays and Tuesdays no matter the number of students. Veltri said the Am David congregation is a close-knit family, a special group. “We are moving forward,” Frank added. eDitoR’S note: Night of Laughs will take place Aug. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at the West Warwick Elks Lodge. Tickets are $20 and benefit Congregation Am David. For more information and tickets, contact Paula, 401-3780719 or Beth, 401-418-1718. FRan oStenDoRF is the editor of The Jewish Voice.

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Five golden rules for kids using tech devices

August 7, 2015 |

Tips to supplement learning at home

(StatePoint) The next gener- and toy cars as children’s most ation of smartphone users prized possessions, we recis getting a head start on de- ommend that parents do their vice destruction. Children are homework on how best to deal breaking more smartphones, with at-home tech habits, or tablets and laptops than ever risk having their child on the before, say experts. device dishonor roll.” Their tech-forward parents SquareTrade suggests the folhave so far shelled out more lowing five golden rules to keep than $11 billion to repair or re- in mind before letting kids use place such devices, according to electronic devices: a recent report from SquareT • Don’t pack devices into rade, a protection plan for mo- overstuffed, heavy backpacks bile devices and other consum- without proper protective gear. er electronics. Tablets cannot handle the wear “Teaching tech etiquette and tear that a book can absorb. alongside the ABCs and 123s is • On rainy days or when you a smart idea for sanity at home. will be around water, use a zip And for the 89 percent of house- lock bag for your smartphone holds whose kids have damaged or tablet. devices, it makes great finan • No eating or drinking cial sense,” says Jessica Hoff- while using devices. Sticky liqman, vice president of global uids are the most dangerous. communications for SquareT • Limit screen time in the rade. “Kids as young as toddlers car. Siblings fighting can lead to are getting significant doses of devices flying out of windows. screen time and, as a result, ac • No matter what precaucident rates are climbing.” tions you take, accidents can The report also found that 70 still happen. Invest in a protecpercent of elementary school tion plan. kids own tablets and a whopRepairing a broken device can ping 55 percent of accidents often cost as much as buying happen from children acciden- a new one. A good protection tally dropping their devices. plan can cost just a few dollars Not surprisingly, 20 percent of a month and can buy priceless kids blame someone or some- peace of mind. So even if your thing else for the mishap. child breaks a device, there’s no “Kids and technology are as need to stress: you’re covered. popular a pairing these days as Don’t wait until it’s too late. peanut butter and jelly,” says Tweak habits at home, school Hoffman. “As smartphones, and on-the-go to prevent techtablets and laptops replace dolls11:02 nology breakage. Jewish Voice 8_15_Layout 1 8/4/15 AM Page 1

(StatePoint) – There’s no reason that learning should stop once the bell rings. When concepts are reinforced at home, not only do children learn faster, they are better prepared to excel in school. Whether your children are in preschool or are already in grade school, there are many bright ideas out there that can give kids an extra academic edge:

Explore your world

Your world is a classroom that can provide an abundance of lesson plans. Start in your own home by exploring key concepts around the house. From using measuring cups in the kitchen to identifying shapes in the playroom, there are lessons to be learned in every room. The new “Get Ready for School” series by DK includes “I’m Ready for School,” an interactive book that helps toddlers practice colors, numbers and more. Proceeds from the book series support PBS KIDS, which uses the power of media to help prepare children for success in school and in life. Once you’ve mastered the house, take the show on the road. Visit museums, the

aquarium or even the park around the block for learning opportunities.

Play games

Encourage the idea that learning is fun by introducing educational games into your child’s daily routine. Games are a great way to make lessons stick and help a child grasp new ideas. Check out “Get Ready for School Games: Number Memory,” a math card game that show numbers 1-10 arranged in set order with everyday objects and number words to help toddlers practice adding and taking away up to 10, sharing and grouping. It’s an easy-to-understand visual approach to real-life problem-solving. A companion game, “Color Match,” introduces kids to words and colors with timed memory challenges and activities. Also consider “The Incredible Math Games Book,” which blurs the lines between practicing math and play. With interactive games like “Find the Fraction,” “Subtraction Action” and Dancing Dice,” kids can learn key math concepts minus the homework.

ENGINEER LIKE A GIRL

Write a story

Help your budding writer find her literary voice by encouraging her to write fictional stories or report on “news” events from around the neighborhood for the house newspaper. Make sure she is well-equipped to handle her writing assignments with the help of a classic reference tool, DK’s Merriam-Webster Children’s Dictionary – now updated and revised to include modern words like “smartphone,” “MP3” and “graphic novel,” as well as new countries, borders, flags and cities. Music lessons Round out your child’s education with music lessons, which can improve motor skills, build self-confidence and help impart cultural values. Many music stores rent instruments, which can be a low commitment way to test out your child’s interest. Check out options for lessons in your area or even just find free tutorials online. When the school day is over, don’t let young minds go on strike. Through activities, music and even games, you can make stress-free learning happen round-the-clock.

ROCK LIKE A GIRL

COMPETE LIKE A GIRL OPen HOuse • sunDAY, nOVeMBeR 1, 2015 • 1-3 P.M. RsVP: www.lincolnschool.org/openhouse 301 Butler Avenue, Providence, RI 02906 • 401-331-9696 • www.lincolnschool.org

20 | August 7, 2015

BACK TO SCHOOL

The Jewish Voice

The high cost of back-to-school prep BY STEPHANIE ROSS From backpacks and notebooks to markers and pens, children and parents across New England have begun their back-toschool shopping. Or have they? In an effort to save money, many parents are reusing school supplies and stocking up throughout the year. Still, many families have difficulty purchasing vital supplies before the start of school. With the advance of technology, many school-supply lists now include items such as graphing calculators and flash drives, which can be a financial challenge for some families. According to the National Retail Federation, the average family will spend $630 this year on K-12 school shopping, down 6 percent from a year ago. Organizations such as the Boston-based nonprofit Cradles to Crayons and the Kids in Need Foundation work to help families in need. This year, Cradles to Crayons expects to distribute more than 70,000 backpacks filled with school supplies, up 18,000 from last year. Families are not the only ones gearing up for school; teachers also have to prepare their classrooms for the school year. Although the supplies provided to teachers vary from district to district, many students are now expected to assist with classroom supplies. Today’s back-toschool shopping lists are likely to include items such as tissues, hand sanitizers, staplers and

resealable bags. “Every teacher does supply lists differently,” said a Massachusetts high school history teacher who asked not to be identified. “As a high school teacher, what I care about is that students have a system that is organized and works for

them.” According to Forbes, teachers spent an average of $513 of their own money for school supplies in the 2013-2014 school year. According to the high school history teacher, items she typically buys are dry-erase markers, organizational supplies and research books. Some retailers, such as Michael’s, Staples and Apple, offer discounts to teachers. As summer winds down, virtually every retailer is advertising back-to-school deals, so parents can look forward to both saving money and the new school year. STEPHANIE ROSS is a freelance writer and marketing coordinator in Boston.

Prepare your young child for school

Transitioning to a new school, program or classroom requires adjustment on the part of both the child and the parents. Especially important for the young child is proper social and emotional preparation. The following tips from the National Association for the Education of Young Children, or NAEYC, website (naeyc.org/back-to-school) will help ready your family for the school year: • Visit your local library during a read-aloud time so your child gets used to hearing someone other than Mom, Dad or Grandpa read books aloud in a group setting. • Establish a routine of “early to bed” and “school wake-up time” several weeks before school begins so your child has time to adjust to the new schedule. • Find out about the toileting procedures at the new school or center so you can review them with your child and make sure he or she is comfortable. • Arrange play dates with children who will be in your child’s class. Usually moms or dads go along on these early play dates. Ask the teacher or school for a list of children who will be in your child’s class. • If there’s a home visit or school visiting day, make sure you and your child participate. If you aren’t able to participate, call the school to arrange for a visit and to meet your child’s teacher. • Make a book at home about the new preschool experience your child is about to begin. Perhaps take photos of the school or of your child in front of school and add text. “This is Sammy at school. This is her favorite T-shirt. This is Mommy picking up Sammy when school is over.” • Let your child pick out a new backpack and together write his or her name on it.

• Tell stories about when you were in school and share how you felt about it. Find childhood pictures of yourself and other adults in your child’s life and talk about the photos. • If your child has never before been cared for by someone else, start to leave him or her for short periods of time with friends or relatives. Reinforce the fact that you will return and that he or she is safe with others. • Give your child a personal belonging of yours, like a favorite scarf or bandana, so he or she knows you will come back to get it. • Read books about going to school and saying goodbye, such as: “The Kissing Hand” by Audrey Penn “David Goes to School” by David Shannon “Will I Have a Friend?” by Miriam Cohen “First Day of School” by Anne Rockwell “Take a Kiss to School” by Angela McAllister “It’s Time for Preschool” by Esme Raj Codell • Select a special object from home that your child can take to school, such as a lunchbox, a book to share or a small pillow for rest time. • Remember that separation is a process. Expect that your child (and perhaps you) will need time to feel comfortable in this new situation. EDITOR’S NOTE: The David C. Isenberg Family Early Childhood Center, in the Dwares Jewish Community Center, in Providence, recently earned its five-year reaccreditation through NAEYC. The school is accepting applications for the 2016-2017 year for children ages 3 months to 5 years. Waitlist spots are available for 2015-2016.

Before your child spends 826,000 minutes in school, spend 60 minutes to make sure it’s the right one. The 1,620 days your child spends from kindergarten through eighth grade could be 826,000 minutes of frustrating drudgery – or of exciting growth and achievement. It depends on which school you choose. Would you like your child to be in classes half the size of the public schools’? To develop enhanced critical thinking, logic, analysis and evaluation skills? To learn morality, kindness, civility, respect and other Jewish values, along with English, math, science and computer skills? Then please visit us. A tour takes as little as an hour – and helps you make sure that every minute of your child’s schooling really counts.

PROVIDENCE

HEBREW DAY SCHOOL 450 Elmgrove Ave. | 401-331-5327 | www.PHDSchool.org Ad made possible through a grant from Torah Umesorah.

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New school year at PHDS BY MIRIAM ESTHER WEINER While students think of the summer months as time off from school, those who work in the schools spend the summer months busily preparing for the new school year. Providence Hebrew Day School is no exception to this rule. Administrators and teachers are working hard to get ready for the exciting 2015-2016 school year. Innovations and changes planned for the upcoming school year include an interim high school administration, a new teacher in the elementary school and a focus on social skills across the grades. On the high school level, Providence Hebrew Day School welcomes Rabbi Aaron Lapin as interim principal of New England Academy of Torah, our high school division. Rabbi Lapin is no stranger to the Providence community. He originally arrived in Providence in 1992 to study at the New England Rabbinical College. After marrying and completing his undergraduate degree in Baltimore, Maryland, Rabbi Lapin, along with his wife, Shoshana, spent several years in Israel, where he received his rabbinic ordination. He has been back in Rhode Island since 2001, teaching and mentoring students at his alma mater, the Rabbinical College on Blackstone Boulevard. Central to Rabbi Lapin’s teaching philosophy is the notion that every question that

every student asks with sincerity is a good question. He brought his individual-affirming style of teaching to PHDS in 2008. Rabbi Lapin’s current position as interim principal at NEAT is his first position in administration. After a few months on the job, he hears a calling in it, which is something he did not expect. Partnering with the staff of PHDS/ NEAT, he perceives that there is significant opportunity to help make a difference in the lives of the students. His plan is to begin working on a master’s degree in educational leadership in the fall. In addition to Rabbi Lapin, the interim high school administration includes Ilana Weissmann as the general studies curriculum coordinator. Weissmann, who has an M.A. in curriculum development and has been a faculty member of PHDS/NEAT since 2009, has begun working with Rabbi Peretz Scheinerman, Rabbi Lapin and the faculty to make the existent NEAT general studies curriculum even better. One significant innovation that she is working on is enabling the school to offer an option for students to receive college credits. Kristin Pereira will be joining the faculty as the general studies third-grade teacher. Pereira has a B.A. in elementary education from Rhode Island College and Rhode Island teaching certification for grades 1-6. She has taught many elementary school

“At EXPO we went to several classroom sessions and saw ﬁrsthand how engaging the teachers are. Clearly, the teachers are great at delivering their expertise to the students.”

– MB upper school parent

expe r i enc e M B o ct . 1 7 , 1 0 a . m.– 2 p. m. L EARN M O RE AT MOS ES BROW N.ORG/A DMI S S I O NS

Moses Brown School

Early Childhood – 12th grade, co-ed | Where Quaker education builds confidence & character

grades over the years, both as a classroom and substitute teacher, and she says third grade is her passion. We look forward to her bringing that passion to PHDS. Social skills are pivotal tools that all people need to interact with others. When children are weak in this area, it affects their self-esteem and negatively impacts their academic success. To address this concern, the faculty and staff at the school will be focusing on becoming skilled at social skills training during the 2015-2016 school year. Shoshana Lapin, a member of the resource staff, attended a four-day training program in New York given by Rifka Schonfeld, a leader in the field, and will direct this initiative. Materials are being purchased from Opening Closed Doors and Strategies for Optimum Success, two organizations that focus on this area of academic – and life – achievement. Teachers of pre-K through grade 12 will work in focus groups to create age-appropriate programming to assist their students in developing these important skills. While social-skills training is an emphasis for this year, the intent is to integrate this critical element of education into the curriculum in future years as well. MIRIAM ESTHER WEINER is the principal of Providence Hebrew Day School.

August 7, 2015 |

What’s new At JCDSRI? BY ADAM TILOVE This has been a busy summer at the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island. As of the writing of this article, extensive work is underway updating the school’s Internet infrastructure to support wireless devices throughout the building in order to meet the needs of 21st century learners. In addition, we are constructing a shadow box fence around the play yard. This will give our students added privacy and security

while also serving as a creative vertical play space incorporating hanging gardens, musical instruments and more. JCDSRI is deepening its relationship with Brown/ RISD STEAM to help support active learning in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. During the 20142015 school year, we held our first STEAM week. College students from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines – from undergraduates in industrial design to post-graduates in applied mathematics

– conducted workshops with our students. This year, we will be building upon everything we learned and working with our partners at Brown and RISD to broaden our curriculum and continue to expand our unique and innovative STEAM program. We are always looking to solidify our community partnerships and provide value to the larger community. For example, building upon our relationship with the Islamic School of Rhode Island, we hope to create a joint program

to focus on mutual understanding, cooperation and community service. In addition, we have invited Ted Merwin, professor at Dickinson College and author of “Pastrami on Rye: An Overstuffed History of the Jewish Deli,” to come to Providence to present his work and do a book-signing this fall. This event will be open to the public; more information to follow. ADAM TILOVE is head of school at Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island.

22 | August 7, 2015

BAcK To ScHooL

The Jewish Voice

Torah Sprouts engages preschoolers and families By DoRi aDleR EAST GREENWICH – The Cohen School and Temple Torat Yisrael are very excited to announce the 2015-2016 year of Torah Sprouts. This preschool program is designed for young children ages 3-5 and their families. The program will meet the fi rst Sunday of each month, beginning on Oct. 4 and ending on May 1. Classes will be held from 9-10 a.m. in the temple’s library. Alyse Teitelbaum and Rabbi Aaron Philmus will be facilitating this amazing, authentic and hands-on learning time. Torah Sprouts will provide a positive, engaging experience with Judaism and will allow opportunities to create social connections with other young Jewish families. Torah Sprouts will inspire a lifelong love of Jewish learning and provide families with the opportunity to rehearse temple and at-home

PHOTOS | TEMPLE TORAT YISRAEL

celebrations. Children and families will be introduced to Jewish holidays and traditions through cooking, singing, playing, dancing, story time, and arts and crafts. Participants will learn about Purim and bake and eat hamantaschen. They will explore the High Holy Days and hear the sounds of the shofar. They will join in decorating the sukkah and enjoy latkes and sufganiyot

Preschoolers show off their projects at Temple Torat Yisrael. (doughnuts) for Hanukkah. All Jewish families in R.I. are invited to join in the fun to create precious Jewish memories

at Torah Sprouts. Registration and a minimal fee are required. Contact the temple’s office at 401-885-6600 for details.

DoRi aDleR is educational director at the Cohen School. For more information, contact her at school@toratyisrael.org.

make the most of the new school year By iSRael FineGolD I am sure that most of you enjoyed your summer, camping, traveling or participating in other fun activities. After a long year of taking classes, summer is a great time to renew ourselves: A break from academic routine really helps refresh students and get them ready for the next school year. The start of a school year gives students

a clean slate for new academic challenges at their schools or universities. And a clean slate isn’t just about academics – it also gives students an opportunity to make new friends and social circles. A new school year is exciting for every student but particularly for those beginning their fi nal year of high school or college. I, myself, will be starting my senior year of college this

fall, and I know it will be my best academic year ever because it will be my fi nal push toward my ultimate goal of graduating and obtaining my diploma. I know that once I have my diploma in hand, I will feel that all the work of my entire school experience was worth it, and I will be proud of the great education I received here in Providence. Every year, students make mistakes, but that’s part of the

Israel Finegold

empowering young minds

GORDON SCHOOL open house Saturday, November 7, 10 am

Affording a Gordon Education: Financial Aid Workshop, Tuesday, November 17, 5:30 pm

www.gordonschool.org Nursery to eighth grade • East Providence, RI • 401-434-3833

process: If you learn from your mistakes, you’ll grow as scholars and individuals. Some students struggle in school and give up because they’ve failed in some way or they’ve lost their confidence. However, they have not taken into account that they can actually grow from their past failures. When I was in high school, my rabbi discussed with our class the differences between “threats” and “challenges.” School is perceived as a threat by some students, causing them to lose confidence. These students often lose their battles. However, if a student views the “threat” as a challenge, then he or she will be more likely to search for strategies that will ultimately help them win their battles and succeed in school. Some students who fail in school do so because they feel anxious and overwhelmed. They need to learn the life lesson that there is always a way to grow, no matter what the circumstances. An analogy I often use to reinforce this idea is that of editing

a paper. Like editing, learning is a process that requires revisions, corrections and using one’s critical eye. This is a process that leads to intellectual and creative growth. Ultimately, the critiques we make of ourselves and our work help us become better, more self-aware individuals. Our success as adults is often defi ned by our ability to view ourselves candidly and make the necessary revisions. Some students do not understand how critical an education is for their careers and lives. Pursuing an education demonstrates to employers and society that the individual cares about their work and future. Employers perceive students with this work ethic as job candidates who are driven and motivated enough to face real-life and professional challenges. Most colleges offer summer courses to accelerate the process of earning credits. But even these motivated summer students need a break from coursework. Even just a few weeks of free time helps provide a fresh outlook on a new semester. Personally, I have been taking summer classes at Providence College, and although I won’t have the traditional student summer vacation, I will take a short break before the coming semester begins. To all my fellow students: I hope you have a great school year, enjoy your studies and learn a lot. Remember to take full advantage of the school experience: Face your errors and correct them so you can build the groundwork for strong and meaningful careers and lives. iSRael FineGolD is The Jewish Voice summer intern.

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August 7, 2015 |

Competing with teens’ ‘second family’ BY BETSY ALPER, LICSW Back to school for parents of adolescents can mean many things, both good and bad: A welcome return to some structure and order or a return to dreaded homework-filled nights and a struggle to find a free minute; a chance to get some much-needed space away from your teen or a struggle to pry your child away from the lure and pull of the “second family” as the school year brings much more contact with friends and peers. The “second family” is what author and child psychologist Ron Taffel calls the “collective power of the peer group and the pop culture.” He calls it “family” because it provides comfort in ways different from traditional nuclear and extended families. Understanding, em-

pathy, rituals and company are all part of healthy family life and are also what draws teens to spend as much time as possible with their “second family”: teens are still learning to differentiate the empathy and support they receive in the world of texts, emoticons and Instagram from what they receive at home from their “first family.” Teenage insecurity is not new. But today, accessing relief has many different paths. Now, adolescents can reach their friends 24/7 through texting and social media. A teen in need of empathy can tweet his woes and get immediate responses from peers. Those in need of reassurance can post a picture of their best-looking self and have 20 likes in two minutes – reminding them that they are indeed attractive. With the return to school and

increased contact with peers, the lure of the “second family” becomes even greater, and parents often struggle to compete. What are parents to do when the power of peers is so strong while the need for parental support and guidance still exists – and is not as irrelevant as a teenager might believe? Taffel has several ideas to help maintain the family home as a place that adolescents view as a comforting base to connect with family even while they are growing toward independence and adulthood. He suggests that traditional family rituals provide some of the predictability and routine that teens seek. Taffel says many parents mistakenly believe family time must always involve enrichment for their children. He says children, adolescents and adults can all take comfort in

simple activities that provide downtime with their families: Cheering on a favorite sports team, a traditional birthday routine with cake and balloons, family movie nights are all comforting rituals. Taffel also reminds parents that sometimes teens are uncommunicative because parents do not appear to value what is important to them. An adolescent who is prolific when tweeting and texting about who likes whom or what one should wear to watch a football game will usually provide a monosyllabic answer to Mom’s question, “How was school today?” Conversely, Mom’s eyes might glaze over as the topic turns to “What should I wear tonight?” A parent who expresses a bit of interest in a seemingly insignificant topic is actually helping to pry open the doors of

communication. It is important to remember that what might seem of little significance to an adult might be occupying a large portion of their teen’s thoughts. Maintaining routines and communication at home helps parents and teens bridge the gap that seems so wide during adolescence. Adolescents gravitating toward the company of their peers is nothing new and is perfectly normal. However, the roles of the first family and home base are still essential in providing the comfort, predictability and routine that teenagers need as they make their way back to the pressures and challenges of school. BETSY ALPER, LICSW, is clinical director at Jewish Family Service

Providence Hebrew Day School graduates Pictured left to right: Seated: Menachem Mendel Benjaminson, Shaul Golden, Joshua Tyler, Jack Goodman, Yehuda Schwartz, Yaakov Weiner. Standing: Miriam Esther Weiner (Principal), Chava Gittel Yudkowsky, Ayala Bielory, Yitta Taitelbaum, Hadassah Peromsik, Ester Kapilevich, Shayna Rochel Twersky, Bracha Leah Rosenthal, Rabbi Peretz Scheinerman (Dean).

New England Academy of Torah graduates Members of the class of 2015 are (Left to right): Rochel Golden, Henny Teitelbaum, Yitta Rochel Adler, Chayale Schwartz, Tzippy Berkowitz, Rochel Lapin, Ronit Stukalov, Sarah Lerner, Chaya Faiga Taitelbaum. Administrators (left to right): Rabbi Peretz Scheinerman, dean; Rabbi Aaron Lapin, interim principal; Mrs. Laurel Silverman, general studies principal

24 | August 7, 2015

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Dick Silverman, chair of the AccessJewishRI.org committee, said, “Many of us learned through the Living on the Edge study that there were too many in our Jewish community who are economically insecure. The new website, developed as a result of the LOE study and recommendations, is a valuable resource through which information and referral can be accessed for those seeking assistance.” The site includes a database of services in the areas of employment, health and wellness, housing, nutrition and food assistance, and Jewish life, and other needs including childcare, counseling and transportation. “It’s one way our Alliance and partner agencies and synagogues are reaching out,” said DeBlasio, “to those moving into greater Rhode Island, those seeking engagement and affi liation within the Jewish community, and those experiencing a need for a little extra help in making ends meet to facilitate access to all of our available resources. Help is just a click or a phone call away.” Staff are available to help navigate the many resources available. There is also a vocational navigator to help with résumés and direct those who are looking for jobs. And there’s a volunteer coordinator to match volunteers with opportunities that fit their skills. The site will also have a directory of Jewish services. Each one was researched by the committee though they are not endorsed by the Alliance or their partners. Additionally, the site provides an access point to government, social and healthcare services in the greater Rhode Island area beyond the Jewish community. The categories are color-cod-

ed to help with navigation. The color palette includes bright, cheery colors to welcome and ease stressed visitors, says Marziali. And the logo, a key, was designed to symbolize doors opening to community opportunities and resources that someone in need might not otherwise be aware of. For those who want human contact, a phone line is staffed Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 401-4214111, ext. 411. “We hope that those in need of resources will be better able to identify what is available to them using the portal,” Patty Harwood, LICSW, director of Older Adult and Community Services at JFS, said of the website. “Those who need more personalized assessment and guidance will be directed to call the appropriate point person in the Jewish community for assistance.” The site is still evolving – the committee plans to address community needs as they crop up. Marziali said committee members have already made many excellent suggestions to enhance the site with subcategories. “AccessJewishRI.org will be a simple and engaging way to fi nd information most relevant to one’s own needs and interests,” says Wendy Joering, Alliance community concierge. “Whether for elder-care issues, health assistance, foreclosure, parenting resources or Jewish life, it will help individuals access what they need, when they need it.” eDitoR’S note: Even without a computer, you can access the services of AccessJewishRI. org. Synagogues and agencies in the Rhode Island community will receive an information kit. Area rabbis can connect you to the AccessJewishRI.org services.

August 7, 2015 |

books

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Book pitches WWII as lasting part of Jewish slugger Hank Greenberg’s legacy By Jacob Kamaras JNS.org Baseball fans might most vividly remember Hank Greenberg for his chase of Babe Ruth’s single-season home run record in 1938 and his other impressive exploits on the field. The smaller universe of Jewish baseball fans may remember him for sitting out a crucial game on Yom Kippur, decades before Sandy Koufax would do the same. But author John Klima wants readers of any background to know the unsung story of Greenberg’s World War II service. As indicated by its title, Klima’s recently published book – “The Game Must Go On: Hank Greenberg, Pete Gray, and the Great Days of Baseball on the Home Front in WWII” – is about much more than Greenberg. Yet the Hall of Fame first baseman and outfielder, who won two Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards and two World Series championships with the Detroit Tigers, is the centerpiece. “I had wanted to write a baseball and World War II book, and I didn’t like how any of them had been done before,” Klima says in an interview. “I thought they were all textbooks, or I thought they were rehashes of newspaper articles, and I didn’t think there was anything narrative. So if I was going to do something long-form and narrative, then I needed a character people could connect with, and that character was Hank Greenberg.” After an initial army stint of half a year, Greenberg was honorably discharged on Dec. 5, 1941, two days before Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor. In a statement of epic proportions, Greenberg voluntarily re-enlisted in the Army Air Corps immediately after the attack and did not return to Major League Baseball (MLB) until the summer of 1945. Baseball’s highest-paid player before the war, Greenberg was the first Major Leaguer to enlist and become the face of an era that – with conscription depleting baseball of much of its top-tier talent – forever changed MLB and the entire American professional sports landscape, Klima’s book argues. “What you found out about Hank Greenberg was that he really represented everything to everyone, and he represented everything to the Jewish people before the war, during the war, and after the war,” Klima tells JNS.org. “And then the rest of the country, even though they knew about him as an American League MVP and a big slugger, kind of embraced him, I think, the same way that the Jewish population had in the 1930s, in the sense that Hank suddenly represented the ballplayer who left the privileges of his life to go sacrifice and serve. That was Hank’s decision. Not only does

he end up representing the guy who served, but then he ends up representing the soldier who’s coming back and putting his life together.” Upon Greenberg’s return to baseball in 1945, he hit a grandslam home run that clinched the American League pennant on the last day of the season. The Tigers later defeated the Chicago Cubs in the World Series. But before his triumphant comeback, the absence of Greenberg and other stars like him opened the door for players such as one-armed outfielder Pete Gray – who shares the cover of Klima’s book with Greenberg – to realize their dream of reaching the Major Leagues. In an anecdote from “The Game Must Go On” that brings the book’s major protagonists together, Greenberg and Gray “stood arm in arm in the steady St. Louis rain, talking softly for a few moments” during the

same game Greenberg won with his historic home run. “This was the image of baseball in World War II,” Klima writes. “The serviceman was thanking the temporary worker for keeping the factory humming while he was on leave. The hero got his life back. The replacement was swept out the door. Hank seemed to realize what few others could, that both of them had helped win the war in their own different ways.” Indeed, while players such as Greenberg made their contributions on the battlefield, the likes of Gray kept the game alive on the baseball field and boosted both Americans’ morale at home and soldiers’ morale overseas. Greenberg’s gesture in the season-ending game against the St. Louis Browns – which was also Gray’s final MLB game – “was as grand as any home run he ever hit,” writes Klima. “That was a very symbolic moment,” Klima tells JNS.org. “I don’t like doing my baseball histories the way other people do. I like moments that tie things together.” Gray and Greenberg both endured hate, the former for his physical disability and the latter over his Jewish faith. On the field with Gray that day, Greenberg’s character shone through.

“Hank had a very deep integrity about him that transcended everything he did on the field,” Klima says. “When Hank found these moments of integrity, he just sailed above everything. … Hank is going to do what Hank knows is right. That’s really the essence of Greenberg, and I think that’s why people are still drawn to him. That’s why I’m drawn to him. He’s got tunnel-vision for the right thing.” Klima writes that Greenberg, after hitting the pennant-winning home run, “swore he heard one of the infielders mutter, ‘Goddamn that dirty Jew bastard, he beat us again.’ He savored the thought of the Washington Senators (who lost the pennant because of the Tigers’ win that day) sitting around a hotel room listening to his grand slam on the radio, calling him every dirty Jew name in the book, and he loved the thought of how angry his home run must have made them.” “Hank was hearing ‘dirty Jew bastard’ all the way through the end of his career. He didn’t talk about it after the 1930s, but he still heard it. The big leagues were a rough, nasty place,” Klima says, adding that the Washington Senators were a particularly “anti-Semitic bunch.” Klima believes Greenberg “took a lot of joy in triumphing over bigots,” but “would never say it to you” and “would always let his actions speak louder than his words.” Greenberg was also understated about his military service, which was highlighted by his time in the China Burma

India Theater (CBI) region with the first group of Boeing B-29 Superfortress aircraft during the bombing campaign against Japan. But one incident Greenberg did elucidate with a firsthand account was a dramatic story from June 1944, when he was part of a ground crew trying to rescue a plane that developed engine trouble and could not get airborne. The bombs on the plane exploded during the rescue effort, nearly killing Greenberg. “I was stunned and couldn’t talk or hear for a couple days, but was otherwise undamaged,” Greenberg says, according to the book. “The miraculous part of it all was that the entire crew escaped. Some of them were pretty well banged up, but no one was killed. That was an occasion, I can assure you, when I didn’t wonder whether or not I’d be able to return to baseball. I was quite satisfied to be alive.” While Greenberg would not “make a big deal” out of his military service publicly, Klima says, it “was something he cared about immensely.” “He took great pride in it,” says the author. “He didn’t need any adulation for it, and I actually didn’t write the book to hero-worship him. I wrote the book because it was a good story, and he’s the rock that you could build it around. So that’s sort of my compromise with Hank.” Reiterating how Greenberg’s actions spoke louder than words, Klima says, “If you walked up to Hank and said, ‘Tell me about how you’re standing up for the Jewish people,’ Hank would probably demur. But if you watched him in his everyday life, you would see him do that every day.” Klima says he cares about “the people who still look up to Hank,” and he hopes the book both preserves and accurately depicts the legacy of the Jewish ballplayer, who died in 1986. “Hank’s integrity allows that book to stand up, and he allows the story of the war to stand up,” says Klima. “I would want every Jewish person in the world to read it,” he adds. “I would want them to know. I would want kids to know. I would want Catholic kids to know. I would want everybody to know about Hank. I just think that they don’t make ballplayers like Hank Greenberg anymore, and I don’t think they make ballplayers who are people like Hank Greenberg anymore.” “The Game Must Go On: Hank Greenberg, Pete Gray, and the Great Days of Baseball on the Home Front in WWII,” by John Klima, Thomas Dunne Books, May 2015, 432 pages, $27.99, ISBN-10: 1250064791, ISBN-13: 978-1250064790.

26 | August 7, 2015

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BUSINESS

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Use your annuity to pay for long-term care insurance

The cost of long-term care can quickly deplete your savings and affect the quality of life for you and your family. Long-term care insurance allows you to share that cost with an insurance barbara company. But premiums kenerson for long-term care insurance can be expensive, and cash or income to cover those premiums may not be readily available. One option is to exchange your annuity contract for a longterm care insurance policy.

Generally, withdrawals from a nonqualified deferred annuity (premiums paid with after-tax dollars) are considered to come first from earnings, then from your investment (premiums paid) in the contract. The earnings portion of the withdrawal is treated as income to the annuity owner and is subject to ordinary income taxes. Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 1035 allows you to exchange one annuity for another without any immediate tax consequences as long as certain requirements are met. However, prior to 2010, an annuity couldn’t be exchanged for a long-term care insurance policy on a tax-free basis. But the Pension Protection Act (PPA) changed that, and as of January 1, 2010, both life insurance and annuities may be exchanged, tax free, for qualified long-term care insurance.

retirement plan. For example, a tax-sheltered annuity or an annuity used to fund an IRA would not qualify for tax-free exchange treatment. • The long-term care insurance policy must meet the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) and IRS criteria. Generally, the longterm care insurance policy must provide coverage only for qualified long-term care services; it must be guaranteed renewable; it cannot have a cash surrender value; refunds or dividends can only be used to reduce future premiums; and policy benefits cannot pay for expenses covered by Medicare (except where Medicare is a secondary payee). • The exchange must be made directly from the annuity issuer to the long-term care insurance company. You will not receive tax-free treatment if you withdraw funds from the annuity directly and then use them to pay the long-term care insurance premium. Presuming these criteria are met, exchanging an annuity for a long-term care policy can be done in one of two ways: a full transfer of the entire cash surrender value of the annuity in exchange for the long-term care insurance policy; or partial exchanges of the annuity’s cash value for the long-term care policy. Not all insurance companies allow long-term care policies to be funded with a single, lumpsum payment, so the more common approach may be to pay long-term care insurance premiums through several partial exchanges from the annuity.

In order for the transfer of the annuity to the long-term care insurance policy to be treated as a tax-free exchange, certain conditions must be met: • The annuity must be nonqualified, meaning it cannot be part of an employer-sponsored

Exchanging your nonqualified deferred annuity for a long-term care insurance policy may have several tax-related advantages. You can use annuity earnings to pay for long-term care insurance without paying income tax on those earnings. This allows you to use otherwise taxable annuity

Section 1035 exchange

Conditions for tax-free exchange

Potential tax advantages

Coldwell Banker honors Ziegler Rochelle Ellen Ziegler of North Kingstown, a sales associate with the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office in Warwick, recently received the International Diamond Society award. The president of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in New England, Pat Villani, said that Rochelle was given the award for her extensive knowledge of the local market, providing superior service to home buyers and sellers as well as satisfying customers. “The award is a testament to her professionalism, expertise and dedication. The award is given to the top 11 percent of 87,000 Coldwell Banker associates worldwide. Coldwell Banker is the largest real estate

Rochelle Ellen Ziegler brokerage company in New England.

earnings in a more tax-efficient manner. According to the IRS, Section 1035 exchanges from a nonqualified annuity to pay for tax-qualified long-term care insurance are pro-rated based on the comparative percentages of principal and earnings in the annuity. For example, say you have a nonqualified annuity worth $100,000, which includes your premium of $50,000, plus earnings worth $50,000, and you haven’t taken any previous withdrawals. You direct the annuity issuer to send $2,500 to the long-term care insurance carrier as a partial exchange to pay for insurance premiums. Your annuity cash value is reduced by $2,500, but half of that amount ($1,250) comes from earnings. As a result, not only have you withdrawn annuity earnings ($1,250) without paying taxes on them, but you have further reduced the taxable portion of your annuity by $1,250. By withdrawing earnings from your annuity to pay for long-term care insurance, you could reduce the taxable portion of your annuity, which can be important if you surrender the annuity later. Another advantage relates to the long-term care insurance policy. Generally, a qualified long-term care insurance policy is treated as an accident and health insurance contract, and the benefits are typically treated as tax free, subject to certain limits. In this way, you may be able to use tax-free annuity earnings to pay for tax-free longterm care benefits.

Other possible benefits

Aside from the favorable tax treatment, there may be other benefits as well. • Using an annuity to pay for long-term care insurance may lessen the need to tap other savings or income to pay for premiums. • You may still use any remaining cash surrender value of the annuity for other income

needs or expenses. • Exchanging the annuity for long-term care insurance may better meet your current needs, financial situation and preferences.

Some potential disadvantages

There are also some potential disadvantages to exchanging an annuity for long-term care insurance. • Annuity surrender charges might be incurred on the exchange of the annuity, thus reducing the annuity’s value. • Reducing the annuity’s value to pay for long-term care insurance premiums may reduce your ability to use the annuity to provide income needed in the future. • Some nonqualified deferred annuities might not be eligible for a partial Section 1035 exchange because the annuity contracts may not allow annuity payments to be made to anyone other than the annuity owner (e.g., annuity payments cannot be assigned to another payee). • If you exchange the annuity for a long-term care insurance policy, your survivors won’t have the annuity’s cash value for income or savings that otherwise would have been available at your death. • Generally, premiums for qualified long-term care insurance are deductible as qualified medical expenses subject to certain restrictions. The tax savings of using a tax-free Section 1035 exchange needs to be compared to available federal or state income tax deductions for long-term care insurance premiums. Depending on your situation, it might be more beneficial to deduct premiums and include annuity earnings as taxable income.

Frequently asked questions

If I am the sole owner of the annuity, can I exchange it for a long-term care insurance policy jointly owned by my spouse and me?

Generally, no, because the owners of both the annuity and the long-term care insurance policy must be the same. However, you may be able to change the ownership of your annuity to include your spouse. While changing ownership of an annuity is generally treated as a taxable event to the extent of gain (earnings) in the annuity, ownership changes between spouses are typically tax free, but be sure to consult your tax or financial professional before making ownership changes to your annuity. I’m receiving payments from a nonqualified immediate annuity. Can I exchange these payments for long-term care insurance? You may be able to assign the payments directly to the longterm care insurance company as a 1035 exchange, but the annuity payee must be the long-term care insurance company. If you’re listed as the payee, payments will not receive tax-free treatment. Also, be aware that if longterm care insurance premiums increase, the annuity payments may not be sufficient to cover the cost of the long-term care insurance premiums. Also, if the annuity payment exceeds the insurance premium, you may be able to split the annuity payment, where an amount equal to the insurance premium is sent to the long-term care insurance company and the balance of the annuity payment is sent to you, but this would be at the discretion of the annuity issuer. Can I use more than one annuity to pay for long-term care insurance? Generally, yes, because funds from one or more nonqualified annuities can be exchanged for a long-term care insurance policy. BARBARA KENERSON is First Vice President/Investments at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC and can be reached at BarbaraKenerson.com.

Air France ‘deeply regrets’ map snafu omitting Israel JTA – Air France said it “deeply regrets” the technical problems that omitted Tel Aviv and Jerusalem from in-flight map displays that showed Gaza and the West Bank. On Aug. 3, Air France wrote on its official Twitter account that it “deeply regrets this incident. It is due to a map scale and display problem which is currently being resolved.” The message was a reply to Twitter users who demanded an explanation for Israel’s absence from the map. The airliner’s tweet followed a query sent earlier in the day by the Simon Wiesen-

thal Center regarding photos of English- and French-language flight path displays that were taken last week between New York and Paris. The English-language map named Cyprus, Lebanon, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan and three Egyptian cities. The French-language one listed additionally the Black Sea, Turkey and the Turkish city of Mersin, as well as Syria and its cities of Aleppo and Homs. In addition to Israel, the maps displayed parts of Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Ukraine without listing them. Israel’s name is often absent from atlases, textbooks and

official publications by firms seeking to avoid angering Arab consumers over Israel. “We are asked whether Air France has succumbed to the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions) campaign to delegitimize the Jewish State by literally wiping it off the map,” Shimon Samuels, director of international relations for the Simon Wiesenthal Center, wrote in his letter to Air France CEO Frederic Gagey. On Aug. 4, Samuels called Air France’s regrets “feeble and totally inadequate.”

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Native son publishes ‘treasure of a book’ BY MIKE FINK “Denmark: A Photographer’s Odyssey” is a treasure of a book by our native son Marshall H.

sketchbook mike fink

Cohen, a handsome volume printed by Narayana Press in Denmark and available locally at the Brown University Bookstore or by email via Bigmarsh@verizon.net. Now, there is a kind of tension between an image and a word. Sometimes the explanation ruins the joke, the metaphorical picture, or the freedom of the viewer or reader to share the mix of meanings and moods. Other times, the verbal caption widens a context or invites conversation, collaboration. Marshall H. Cohen, a longtime resident of our nation’s capital community and a star of the National Press Club, is gifted in both contradictory camps, but labels his bright and cheerful masterpiece and memoir a “photographer’s” odyssey. Now here is my account of the back story of this unique publication, drawn from memory as well as a recent journey to visit my longtime friend. Marshall grew up in Pawtucket, graduated from Brown with a major in economics, and drove from Thayer along to Hope Street and on to Main Street in Pawtucket, where he worked for his father’s and grandfather’s business, Cohen’s Furniture. En route, he would stop at Madsen’s Bakery for a Danish pastry treat, or maybe meet me for a breakfast coffee at a diner, and then mull over his future. He could draw witty sketches, charm with his quick good humor, or – as he soon discovered – capture a telling moment with a camera. I remember that upon his first glimpse of Washington, D.C., he felt a kind of fear of the anonymous traffic. What could he do if and when he left that familiar pathway of his youth? Well, he put the pieces together. For him, the Danish sweetness wasn’t only in desserts, but also in its history, its literature and arts and crafts, and its economic status. So he mixed and matched and served as an attaché for our government to the land and language of his special enthusiasm. Along the road of his professional destiny, he met Victor Borge, the renowned Danish Jewish pianist and humorist, and sailed with him on the Danish Tall Ship Denmark on special personal assignment. He also took portraits of the Danish royals and became a star among the noble, darkly paneled chambers of our National Press Club. In the introduction, titled “The

Marshall H. Cohen Curtain Rises,” the author/artist claims that after his first visit, in 1959, he pledged “to return as a merchant ready to steer Cohen’s Furniture to greatness in that small, once-renowned manufacturing center ... but Denmark changed all that.” He adds, “I ordered shipments of Holmegaard glass and Kay Bojesen wooden soldiers, to decorate the windows, but sales were meager.” He went on with his life and his search and studies and after a 1960 report in the Pawtucket Times, rose to become, in time, the official U.S. photographer during the first visit of Crown Prince Frederik, heir to the throne. He concludes his preface with a simple “Thank you Denmark. Enjoy my photographic odyssey.” Marshall has gathered and organized 150 photographs in chapters or sections that range from the Viking period through the celebration of the folklore of Hans Christian Andersen and on to reminders of the heroic rescue actions of the Danish people of all classes during World War II. As we remember with gratitude and respect, fishermen hid the Jews of Copenhagen, and also refugees from elsewhere, in the holds of their simple ships and guided them – at real danger to themselves – to neutral Sweden. I am one of Marshall’s most loyal and devoted fans, even though his style with me is salted and peppered with mockery. That’s where he got the name “Big” on his email address, as a contrast to the “littleness” of my attachments to mere Providence! Or something like that. During my visit, he took me to lunch at his usual table at the National Press Club, we clinked glasses of draft beer (Danish of course), and then my excellent host and chum took me through the club’s galleries to explain how he was able to create dramatic close-ups of the world’s stars during the course of his long and varied artistic career. Elizabeth Taylor smiling broadly. Vice President Dick Cheney grinning warily, cautiously, ironically, hand gestures and settings contributing facets

worth a conversation. It is the very same technique that Rhode Island native Gilbert Stuart used in painting George Washington and the Touro family of early Newport. You have to talk, to share words, to bring out the inner thoughts of subject and student. This lovely and delightful book, “A Photographer’s Odyssey,” has enchanting, and also funny, things to say about Pawtucket and Providence, and those who have inspired and sustained Marshall. Those are some of my top favorite parts of the book, but I also admire Marshall’s persistence and respect for the past, present and future of his sort-of second homeland, a kind of alma mater. We all, I believe, create, in

Victor Borge a way, a personal and private “Shangri-La,” a country of the mind but also upon the planet, that draws us toward the sea and the prairie. For me it was at first Paris, and then Jerusalem. I left a part of myself in cafes in those places, and in my way also brought a bit of the time and space of those visited landscapes back home. For Marshall, it was Denmark. That mermaid is his miniature Statue of Liberty. I recommend his book with a reminder that since the great publishing houses prefer the guaranteed success of

crowd-pleasing clichés to experimenting with fresh ideas or kindly nudges to honor other climes and other times, this book becomes our opportunity to participate in the process of encouraging genius in any form. Any time a person of talent and intelligence offers a rich glimpse into his or her lifetime quests, it is very much worth the effort to order the book online or in a bookstore. So go for it. MIKE FINK (mfink33@aol. com) teaches at the Rhode Island School of Design-.

30 | August 7, 2015 Robert Baker, 92 SURPRISE, ARIZ. – Robert Baker died on July 30 after a short illness. He was the husband of the late Norma Baker. Born in Providence to the late Charles and Sarah Baker, he lived in Cranston for many years before moving to Florida, then to Arizona to be closer to his children. He was the owner of Baker Furniture Company in Providence for more than 40 years. He graduated from Hope High School and attended Providence College. His role as a photographer in the Air Force during World War II created a lifelong interest in photography. He was a past member of Temple Torat Yisrael and Temple Beth-El. He belonged to the Crestwood Country Club and Ledgemont Country Club for many years. He was a member of the Masons class of 1953. Devoted father of Yvette Kaplan and her husband Harvey of Ariz. and Susan Markus and her husband Michael of Ariz. Grandfather of David Markus. He was the last surviving sibling, predeceased by brothers, Louis, Morris, Benjamin, Isadore and Harry and sisters, Anna Melamut, Helen O’Malley, Hilda Horowitz, Ida Ennis and Rebecca Norman. He is also survived by his sisterin-law Marion Kenrick of Fla., and he was the brother-in-law of the late Martin Kenrick.

Albert J. Benharris, 92 CRANSTON, R.I. – Albert J. Benharris died July 19 at R.I. Veterans Home, Bristol. He was the beloved husband of Judith (Salk) Benharris and the late Rhoda (Stein) Benharris. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., a son of the late Moses and Rose (Braverman) Benharris, he had lived in Cranston since 1964, recently moving to Bristol.

obituaries He was a registered representative for McDowell Diamond Investments, Vice President for E.R. Davenport, partner for Wolfson Zalkind of Fall River and, most recently, a representative with Barrett Co. of which he was formerly a limited partner. He was a WWII Navy veteran, serving in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. He was a member of the Masons Redwood Lodge and Roosevelt Lodge. He was treasurer and vice president of Henry Friedman Lodge of B’Nai Brith. He was a member of Chabad of West Bay. He was a former member of Temple Ohawe Sholam, Temple Torat Yisrael and Temple Sinai. He wrote the bowling column for the R.I. Jewish Bowling Congress. Albert loved cooking, sports, statistics, musical live shows and Disney World. Devoted father of Neil Benharris of North Attleboro, Mass., and Steven Benharris of Hermosa Beach, Calif. Dear brother of Jeanne DiLella of Jersey City, N.J. and the late Justin Benharris. Loving grandfather of Ryan, Andrew, Melissa and Dylan. Contributions in his memory may be made to Make-A-Wish Foundation of R.I., 757 Park Ave., Cranston, R.I. 02910 and Chabad of West Bay, 3871 Post Road, Warwick, R.I. 02886.

The Jewish Voice She was the sister of Maynard Shusman of Barrington and the late Tevis Shusman of Springfield, Mass. She was born and raised in Bristol. She loved reading and was the valedictorian of her Colt Memorial High School class. From there, she went on to earn a B.A. in English from University of Rhode Island and then began her career working for the State of Rhode Island. Soon after that, she started her own family in Warwick but eventually moved, in the early 1960s, to Enfield, Conn. As a community activist, she was instrumental in getting public transportation established in this small town. After her husband died, she moved back to Rhode Island, settling on the East Side of Providence. She worked as a Benefit Specialist for Textron and ended her career there in the mid 1990s. In retirement, she enjoyed reading, travel, playing Scrabble with her friends, luncheons with a group of retirees and special occasions that brought many of her nephews, nieces and cousins together. But her biggest joy was being with her grandchildren and spending time with the extended family that grew around them. Donations can be made to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation online at pdf.org/en/index.

Barbara D. Brosofsky, 86

Ernest I. Chorney, 93

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Barbara D. (Shusman) Brosofsky died on June 30. She was married to the late Joseph Brosofsky of Providence and is survived by her two children Eric Brosofsky of North Providence and Daniel Brosofsky of Providence, two grandchildren, Jillian and Sarah Brosofsky, and a daughter-inlaw, Lisa Brosofsky. She was the daughter of the late Philip Shusman and the late Augusta (Eisenberg) Shusman.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Ernest I. Chorney died July 8 at Kent Hospital, Warwick. He was the beloved husband of the late Ann Chorney for 34 years. He leaves behind Lucille Hopkins, his loving partner of 32 years. Born in Providence, son of the late Daniel and Ethel (Katzura) Chorney, he was a lifelong Providence resident and owner of Chorney Upholstering in Warwick for more than 35 years. He was a member of Congregation Am David.

Devoted father of Robert Chorney and Bruce Chorney and his wife Paula, all of Warwick. Brother of the late Anne Kempner and Abraham, Samuel, and Sidney Chorney. Contributions in his memory may be made to your favorite charity.

Gary M. Coken, 67

WARWICK, R.I. – Gary M. Coken died July 9 at Mass. General Hospital, Boston. He was the beloved significant other of Nancy Gillman. Born in Providence, a son of the late Barney and Florence (Goldstein) Coken-Hanzel, he was a lifelong R.I. resident. He was an operations manager for Bridge over Troubled Waters, previously working in the jewelry industry. He was a Navy veteran of the Vietnam War. Father of Freda Coken and her significant other, George Reed, of Warwick, and Bradford Coken of Warwick. Brother of Loraine Schulman of Cranston. Grandfather of Steven, Elizabeth and her husband Fred, Donaven, William, and Laney. Cherished great-grandfather of Mason. Contributions in his memory may be made to Bridge over Troubled Waters, 47 West St., Boston, Mass., 02111.

Sanford Cotton, 92

WARWICK, R.I. – Sanford Cotton died July 11 in Warwick. He was the husband of Marion J. (Zeldis) Cotton of Warwick. They were married for 65 years. A lifelong resident of Greenfield, Mass., and son of the late Henry and Ruth (Lachance) Cotton, he had lived in Warwick for the past two years. He was the owner of Cotton’s Clothing in Greenfield and Brattleboro, Vt. He joined his father in the family business following World War II. During the war, he served in the

European theater, earning two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star. He was also a lifelong member of Temple Israel in Greenfield and was its past treasurer and Sunday school teacher. In addition, he was a past member of the DAV, the Republican Lodge of the Masons, and B’nai Brith. As a young man, he enjoyed playing piano and violin in the Pioneer Valley Orchestra and loved classical music. Throughout his life, he was an avid gardener, growing beautiful roses around his home. He was also a stamp and coin collector. He was the devoted father of Cheryl Cotton Garfinkel and her husband, Wayne, of Atlanta, Ga., and Beth Salk and her husband, Jeffrey, of East Greenwich, R.I. He was the grandfather of Joshua, Kiernan, Seth, Benjamin, Allie and Adam. He also leaves behind a brother, Maurice Cotton, of Springfield, Mass., and a sister, Lorraine Cadran, of St. Petersburg, Fla. He was predeceased by his sisters Elizabeth Appel, Bernadine Newcomb, Eleanor Newcomb and Shirley Harsip. Contributions in his memory may be made to Temple Israel, 27 Pierce St., Greenfield, Mass. 01301.

Celia Dunder, 92

WARWICK, R.I. – Celia Dunder of Warwick died June 23 at Greenwich Farms Senior Living. She was the wife of the late Fred Dunder. Born in Providence, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Clara (Ulonofsky) Reichin, she had lived in Cranston since 1958, before moving to Warwick more than six years ago. Celia was a WWII Navy veteran, serving stateside as a Yeoman 2nd Class. She was a founding member of obituaries | 31

OBITUARIES

thejewishvoice.org Temple Sinai and was a member of its Sisterhood. She was a life member of Hadassah and a member of the National Council of Jewish Women. Mother of Barbara Dunder of Cranston and Pamela DunderMann and her husband Ron of East Greenwich. Loving grandmother of Ryan Forman, Evan and Ashley Galkin and Jason Galkin and his fiancée Amy. Great-grandmother of Hadley and Beckett. She was predeceased by seven siblings. Contributions in her memory may be made to Mazon, 10495 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 100, Los Angeles, Calif., 90025 or Home and Hospice Care of R.I., 1085 North Main St., Providence, R.I. 02904.

Bernice H. Engle, 79 CRANSTON, R.I. – Bernice H. Engle of Cranston died July 1 at home. She was the wife of the late Robert “Bobby” S. Engle. Born in Providence, a daughter of the late Isaac “Chuck” and Lillian (Alberts) Chorney, she had lived in Cranston for 55 years. Bernice was a member of Temple Sinai and its Sisterhood, ORT and Miriam Hospital Women’s Association. She was the mother of Howard (Milly) Engle and Susan (Edward) Odessa. Grandmother of Brooke, Benton and Bianca and step-grandmother of Mark and Miranda. Step-great-grandmother of Myles and Dasani. Contributions in her memory may be made to Temple Sinai Minyan Breakfast, c/o Temple Sinai.

Jeanne D. Feldman, 85

CRANSTON, R.I. – Jeanne D. Feldman died June 22 at Rhode Island Hospital. She was the wife of George Feldman. They were married for 65 years. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., a daughter of the late George and Rose (Lightman) Diamond and step-daughter of Sylvia (Holster) Diamond, she had lived in Cranston for 17 years, previously living in Pawtucket. She was a member of Temple Sinai. She was the mother of Richard Feldman and his wife, Elizabeth, of Gaithersburg, Md.; Ruth Feldman and her partner, Romaine Macomb, of Madison, Conn.; Lisa Eichen and her husband, Eduard, of Voorhees, N.J.; and Lois Kurtz and her husband, Robert, of Apex, N.C. Sister of Harriet Adelberg and her husband, Arnold, of Grinnell, Iowa. Grandmother of Sara, Rebecca, Debra, Adam, Ian, Bryan and Maxwell. Contributions in her memory may be made to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, 106 Towerview Court, Cary, North Carolina, 27513.

Melvin L. Feldman, 91 PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Melvin L. Feldman of Providence, adjunct professor of Urban Studies at Brown University from 1970 -1991, died June 10 at Epoch Assisted Living at Blackstone Boulevard. He was the husband

of Paula Libby Feldman. Born in New York City, a son of the late Philip and Ann (Friedman) Feldman and brother to the late Phyllis Shirley Feldman, he lived in Providence since 1956, except for one year in Palo Alto, Calif., in 1967. He previously lived in Norwich, Conn., where he had graduated from Norwich Free Academy in 1941. During World War II, he served in the Army Medical Corps. A graduate in 1947 of Brown University, where he was named to Phi Beta Kappa and where he served as the first president of Hillel, he started his graduate work at the University of Chicago. After an interruption of his academic career in the early 1950s when he became the owner/manager of the family’s grocery and bakery supply firm in Norwich, he resumed his studies and received his graduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1961. During his professional practice in the field of urban planning, he served on the staff of the Providence Redevelopment Agency, later with the firm of MKGK (San Francisco, California) and then as principal of his own consulting firm, INSTITUTE-EDUCAP. In 1970 he participated in the development of Brown University’s urban studies program, where he taught for more than 20 years. Governor Sundlun appointed him chairman of the Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage and Finance Corporation in May 1991. He was a charter member of the American Planning Association, a charter member of the American Institute of Certified Planners and a past president of the New England Chapter of the American Institute of Planners. He chaired the Mayor’s Oversight and Review Committee in Providence during the mid-1970s and for almost two decades served on the technical (planning) committee of the State of Rhode Island. In 1986, he served as a member of the Downtown Strategy Implementation Committee. In 1990, The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston named him to the Advisory Committee of its Affordable Housing Program. Besides his wife, he leaves twin daughters, Karen Sue Feldman of Providence and Linda Ruth Feldman and her husband Evan Kwerel of Annandale, Va., and his twin granddaughters Jessica Ann Kwerel and Laura Rose Kwerel, of Washington, D.C.

Morton S. Fine, 87 WARWICK, R.I.– Morton S. Fine died July 27 at Rhode Island Hospital. He was the husband of Gertrude (Kramer) Fine of Warwick. They were married for 56 years. Born in Providence, a son of the late Harry and Rose (Goldstein) Fine, he had lived in Warwick for 52 years, previously living in Providence. He was a machinist for Imperial Knife

Company for 27 years, later working for Grossé Jewels for 10 years and retiring in 1997. He was a Korean Conflict Army veteran, serving overseas. He was a graduate of Central High School and a former member of Temple Beth Am and its Men’s Club. He was the father of Richard G. Fine of Warwick and Robert M. Fine and his companion, Pamela D. Pandapas, of Rockland, Mass. Brother of Lillian Metz of Wakefield. Uncle of many nieces and nephews. Contributions in his memory may be made to your favorite charity.

Lillian “Lakie” S. Freeman, 82 WARWICK, R.I. – Lillian “Lakie” S. Freeman died June 26 at Kent Hospital. She was the wife of the late Gerald E. Freeman. Born in Baltimore, Md., a daughter of the late Hyman and Tillie Slater, she had lived in Warwick for 55 years, previously living in Providence. She was a secretary for 20 years for Lyn Contracting Co. She was a member of Congregation Am David and Hadassah. She was a volunteer for O.S.C.I.L. She was an avid walker, tennis player and loved mahjong. Mother of Ronald Freeman and his wife, Lisa, of West Warwick and Marjorie Breton and her husband, Marco, of Hooksett, N.H. Sister of Jay Slater, Shirley Ravitz, Rhona Block, Judy Cohan and Harriet Goldberg, all of Baltimore, Md. Grandmother of Brian (Karen), Stacey, Taryn, Justin and Daniel. Great-grandmother of Chanel. The family would like to thank Tamarisk for their care of Lakie. Contributions in her memory may be made to VNA Hospice of Care New England, 51 Health Lane, Warwick, R.I. 02886, Alzheimer’s Association of R.I., 245 Waterman St., Providence, R.I. 02906 or Congregation Am David, 40 Gardiner St., Warwick, R.I. 02888.

Gerald Friedman, 83 CRANSTON, R.I. – Gerald Friedman of Hoffman Ave. died June 17 at Miriam Hospital. He was the husband of Sandy (Block) Friedman. They were married for 61 years. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., a son of the late David and Sara (Siegal) Friedman, he had lived in Cranston for six years, previously living in Warwick for 38 years. He retired in 1993 after a 33-year career as a sales manager for Admiral and Quasar companies. In his younger days, Gerald was an avid athlete. He was an All State and New England Champion wrestler at Hope High School in Providence. He was an avid handball and tennis player and a long-time member of the Businessmen’s Athletic Club of the Greater Providence YMCA,

where he made many lifelong friends. In his later years when he faced several health issues, he never let them curb his zest for life. He found new activities to enjoy, including swimming and golf and learned how to use his own computer. His favorite saying was “Life is Good,” and he often commented on what a great time it was to be alive as he was amazed with all the new technology. He truly loved life. He was a devoted, husband, father and Papa and was blessed with many friends. He enjoyed the simple pleasures in life, including numerous family get-togethers with his children and grandchildren, his weekly card game with his friends, golf, Twin Rivers and a good cigar. He was the father of William Friedman and his wife, Karin, of Warwick, Linda Palazzo and her husband, Andy, of Cranston and Scott Friedman and his wife, Beth, of West Warwick. Brother of Arnold Friedman of New York City, NY and the late Louis Friedman. Grandfather of Lauren, Andrew, Amy, Allison, Jason, and Jordan. Cherished great-grandfather of Matthew. Contributions in his memory may be made to Colin Myers Memorial Fund, c/o R.I. Foundation, 1 Union Station, Providence, R.I. 02903.

Sherlee S. Gershman, 92 NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. – Sherlee S. Gershman., of Scalabrini Villa Health Care Center, died June 28 at Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center, Providence. She was the wife of the late Leo Gershman. Born in Providence, a daughter of the late Samuel and Edna (Silverstein) Orenstein, she had lived in Barrington for 20 years, before moving to North Kingstown four years ago. Mother of Geoffrey Gershman and his wife Judy of Cranston and Richard Gershman of Sunrise, Fla. Sister of the late Martin Sheridan. Grandmother of Stacey, Michael and Eric. Great-grandmother of Kyle. Contributions in her memory may be made to Home & Hospice Care of R.I., 1085 North Main St., Providence, R.I. 02904.

Florence Golden, 88 HOLLYWOOD, FLA. – Florence Golden passed away on July 18, in Hollywood, Fla. Born in Providence on December 23, 1925, a daughter of the late Martin and Ida Golden. She was the sister of the late Anita Lazarus and the late Harvey Golden. She is survived by the family of Howard and Diane Lazarus, Barry and Ellen Golden, Ronnie and David Engle and Cheryl Golden. She was a lifelong resident of Providence and in her later years, Hollywood, Fla. She was known for her kindness and generous spirit, always available to lend a helping hand. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Dwares

August 7, 2015 |

Jewish Community Center, 401 Elmgrove Ave. Providence, R.I. 02906

Bernard S. Goldberg, 85 BOYNTON BEACH, FLA. – Bernard S. Goldberg passed away surrounded by his family. He was the son of the late Al and Tillie (Gerstein) Goldberg. He is survived by his wife, Beverly (Halpern) of 56 years, son Alan and Amy Goldberg of Sharon, Mass., and daughter Nancy and Gene Rubenstein of Sudbury, Mass. He adored his grandchildren Jennifer, Michelle, Kenneth, Heidi and Dana. He is also survived by his brother Shelly Goldberg and wife Sandra and was the brother of the late Elaine London. He is also survived by Robert and Marcia Halpern, and Marjorie and Norman Bean. He was very fond of his many nieces and nephews. He was a graduate of Brown University and Boston University School of Law. He practiced law and was an executive with United Restaurant Equipment Company (TriMark-UE). He was a past Worshipful Master of the Masonic Lodge, past president of Touro Fraternal Lodge and past president of Temple Sinai, Cranston, R.I. He resided in Boynton Beach, Fla., and enjoyed spending summers in Narragansett, R.I. Donations may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation or the Jewish Alliance of R.I.

Erolle J. Haas, 97 DELAND, FLA. – Erolle J. Haas passed away July 18. He was the husband of the late Constance (Devereaux) Haas. Born in Providence, a son of the late Simon and Rachel (Potter) Haas, he lived in Providence and Warwick for many years before moving to Martha’s Vineyard in 1979. He had been a winter resident of Deland, Fla., since 1990. He was a graduate of Hope High School. He was a former New England wrestling champion and played semi-pro football for several years, known as “Mule Haas.” He served in the Army Air Force during World War II. He was a mechanical engineer with Jay Printing Company in Warwick before retiring in 1981. He was the plant superintendent at Rosbro Plastics for many years. He was a founding member of the Olympic Club at the former Jewish Community Center on Benefit St. in Providence. He was a member of the American Legion, Clam Harbor Yacht Club, a life member of the United States Power Squadron and past commander of the Greenwich Bay Power Squadron. He was also a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He was very active in recreational boating on Narobituaries | 32

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OBITUARIES

ragansett Bay and taught Power Squadron Boating and Navigation courses for many years. He was the father of William Haas, Meredith Cox, Kenneth Haas, Steven Haas, Sheila Sepe, Georgia Rossi and Jeffery Haas; a grandfather of 19 and great-grandfather of 26. He was the brother of the late Meyer Haas, Ethyl Crovitz and Evelyn Minken. Contributions in his memory may be made to the charity of your choice.

Israel and a proud Jew. She is survived by her children, Gershon Levine and his wife Rabbi Andrea M. Gouze; and her grandchildren Eitan, Daniella, Nili and Aurora. Contributions in her memory may be made to Temple Emanu-El.

Robin (Koeppel) Karofsky BARRINGTON, R.I. – Surrounded by her loving family, Robin (Koeppel) Karofsky, of Barrington, passed away with grace and courage and a heart filled with gratitude, at the age of 51. She was the beloved wife of John, devoted mother of AJ, cherished daughter of Susan and Howard Koeppel, adored daughter-in-law of Ken and Joan Karofsky, dear sister of Seth and his wife, Stacy Koeppel, and Jody Flaxman; sister-in-law of Rob and Ann Karofsky. She is also survived by many nephews and a niece, and several dedicated and loving cousins. She had no greater joy than being with her husband, son and dogs, especially on Sebago Lake or Long Sands Beach. For many years, she was a much respected and supported member of the Human Resource department at Hasbro Inc., where she created an internship program. She leaves many caring friends there, and in her personal life. Contributions may be made to Hasbro Children’s Fund (Robin Karofsky on memo line), 1027 Newport Ave., Pawtucket, R.I. 02861.

Eleonora S. Krasnova, 77 SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Eleonora S. Krasnova of Overlook Circle, Smithfield, died July 19 at home. She was the wife of Vladimir Vilner for almost 60 years. Born in Minsk, Belarus, a daughter of the late Sergey Krasnov and Khaya Dinaburskay, she had lived in Riga, Latvia, before immigrating to the U.S. in 1992. She was a civil engineer. Devoted mother of Sergey Krasnov of Cranston and Oleg Vilner and his wife Elina of Oldbridge, N.J. Sister of Inessa Krasnova of Smithfield. Grandmother of Matthew, Nicholas and Valeriya. Contributions in her memory may be made to your favorite charity.

Marilyn “Mickie” Levine, 80 PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Marilyn “Mickie” Levine died July 18. Born in Haifa, the daughter of the late Nisson and Leah (Schwartzbardt) Bober, she had been a resident of Rhode Island since 2007. She was a graduate of Yeshiva University High School for Girls in Brooklyn, N.Y. She was a member of Temple Emanu-El, a lifelong Zionist and supporter of

Roberta Nahigian Cohn, 63 CRANSTON, R.I. – Roberta Nahigian Cohn died July 23 at Eleanor Slater Hospital, Cranston. She was predeceased by her husband, the late Ralph Nahigian. She was born in Providence, daughter of Shirley E. Cohn of Warwick and the late Jerry Cohn. She was a graduate of Cranston West High School and attended college in Boston. Prior to her illness, she was an area manager for Princess House in California. Besides her mother, she is survived by her sister, Susan (Edward) Sweeney of Wakefield and a brother, Larry (Mary) Cohn, of Menlo Park, Calif., and several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. Upon her return to R.I., she was an active participant in and recognized artist by the United Cerebral Palsy Adaptive Arts Program. Contributions can be made in Roberta’s memory to the United Cerebral Palsy Adaptive Arts Program, 200 Main St., Suite 210, Pawtucket, R.I. 02860.

Muriel J. Perlman WARWICK, R.I. – Muriel J. Perlman of Tamarisk died July 24 at Tamarisk surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of the late Cantor Dr. Ivan E. Perlman. They were married for 67 years. Born in New York, N.Y., an only child, and daughter of the late Thomas R. and Sophie (Adelstein) Herman, she had lived in Boca Raton, Fla., and Providence, before moving to Warwick eight years ago. Muriel was a charter member of West Bay Community Jewish Center, a former member of Temple Emanu-El in Providence and its Sisterhood, Temple Beth Kodesh in Boynton Beach, Fla., Tifereth Israel Synagogue in Des Moines, Iowa, and the former Jewish Home for the Aged in Providence. She was past president of the Jewish War Veterans Women’s Aux. in Des Moines. Devoted mother of Rabbi Eli Perlman and his wife Lynne of East Brunswick, N.J., Cantor Emanuel Perlman and his wife Janice of Baltimore, Md., Rabbi Richard Perlman and his wife Kit of Coventry, and Cantor Josh Perlman and his wife Sherri of Germantown, Md. Loving grandmother of 13 and great-grandmother of eight. The mitzvah of giving a charitable contribution can be fulfilled by donating to: The Jewish Seniors Agency of R.I., 100 Niantic Ave., Providence, R.I. 02907;

The Jewish Voice The Phyllis Siperstein Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence 3 Shalom Drive, Warwick, R.I. 02886; West Bay Community Jewish Center, 2 Brenda Drive, Coventry, R.I. 02816 or the charity of your choice.

Otilia “Tanya” Plungyan, 101 PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Otilia “Tanya” Plungyan passed away July 10. She was the wife of the late Aron Plungyan. She was born in Romania, a daughter of Ilya and Betty Copolovich; she had been a resident of R.I. since 1979. She was a member of Temple Emanu-El, the Jewish Community Center, and for many years served as president of the former Golden Age Club. She was an active volunteer for the elder Jewish community in R.I. She was recognized for her volunteer services by both Mayor Paolino and Mayor Cicilline. She is survived by her daughters Sophia Friedman and Ella Levin; grandchildren Ilya, Judy and Gabriella; and great-grandchildren Zachary, Aaron, Talia and Sarina. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Jewish Community Center, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, R.I. 02906.

Frances B. Pomarantz, 86 POMPANO BEACH, FLA. – Frances B. Pomarantz died June 5. She was a graduate of Hope High School in June 1946. Born in Providence, she was the beloved wife of the former Norman Pomarantz, the daughter of the late Jack Berman and Ruth (Mayberg) Berman. She lived in Florida for more than 25 years after leaving Hyannis, Mass. She is survived by her daughters, Joyce Snelgrove of Charlotte, N.C. and Brenda Stern of Bedford, N.Y. She also leaves four grandchildren: Jason, Rachel, Sarah and Zackary. She was the sister of the late Shirley Bartleman. She is also survived by beloved cousin, Florence L. Delerson of Pompano Beach, Fla.

Ira J. Port, 97 WEST WARWICK, R.I. – Ira J. Port died July 11 at West View Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, West Warwick. He was the beloved husband of the late Sally (Silverman) Port. Born in Providence, a son of the late Louis and Sadie (Chorney) Port, he had lived in Warwick since 1984. He was the owner of Port Press for more than 25 years, retiring in 1984. As a child, he enjoyed being a member of the Boy Scouts and became a Life Scout. Devoted father of Sharon Birenbaum of Alpharetta, Ga., and her late husband, Sheldon, and the late Myron and Barry Port. Dear brother of the late Mary Zisserson and Estelle Goldman. Loving grandfather of Rhonda Birenbaum and Fredda Schwarz. Cherished great-grandfather of Benjamin and Samuel. Contributions in his memory

may be made to your favorite charity.

Dr. Richard Allan Robin, 78

JAMESTOWN, R.I. – Dr. Richard Allan Robin, “Lucky 13”, died surrounded by those who love him in the home he loved in Jamestown, R.I., on the 4th of July. He is survived by the great love of his life, his wife Loretta, to whom he had been married for 48 years; the children he adored, Seth I. Robin, Jeremy T. Robin, Allison S. Robin; his daughters-in-law Michele Wisch Robin and Allison Simon Robin; and grandchildren Alec, Hunter, Mia and Grant Robin. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. to Ben and Lily Robin alongside brothers Noel, David and George, he forged a path as a selfmade man, perpetual student, and lifelong learner and lover of life, and did everything with his famous sense of humor. After putting himself through medical school, he spent the next 20 years building a private practice as a doctor of internal medicine before going back to a residency at Harvard University to become a psychiatrist and establish a private practice in Westerly. He possessed a deep love of learning and returned to school in his 60s to get a master of public health from Boston University and an MBA from University of Tennessee. He was a clinical assistant professor at Brown Medical School for 19 years. Donations may be made to the Rhode Island Cancer Society.

Esther Rothberg, 102 PHOTO WARWICK, R.I. – Esther Rothberg of Warwick and Cranston died at Cherry Hill Nursing Home, Johnston, on July 13. She was the wife of the late Maurice Rothberg. Born in Providence, the daughter of Samuel and Etta (Pollack) Millman, she attended Rhode Island College, graduating in 1934 with a bachelor’s degree in education. She taught in the Providence and Warwick school systems for 32 years before retiring in 1979. She was a member of Temple Torat Yisrael, World Jewish Congress, Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C., Retired Teachers of R.I., Warwick Retired Teachers, Cranston Senior Guild, and Warwick Social Seniors. She was predeceased by her husband of 37 years, Maurice Rothberg; her son, Dr. Kopel Rothberg; sisters, Rose Millman Freedman, Beatrice Millman Fishbein; and brother, Max I. Millman. She is survived by her son, Rabbi Samuel Rothberg (Sharon), of Hollywood, Fla.; daughter-in-law, Sharron Rothberg, of Smithfield, R.I.; grandchildren, Elana Helring (Lance) of Miami Beach, Fla., Hilary Rothberg of Miami, Fla., Jeremy Klein (Lani) of Plantation, Flor-

ida, Zachary Rothberg (Sara) of Jerusalem, Israel, Marcus Rothberg of Jerusalem, Israel, and five great-grandsons and four great-granddaughters. Contributions can be made to The Parkinson’s Foundation.

Nina Pearl Scheftel Salter, 95 PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Nina Pearl Scheftel Salter died July 24. Beloved wife of Lester Herbert Salter, who died in 2013, and sister of Vera, who also died. She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. to Russian immigrant parents Frances and George. She was married to Lester on September 15, 1951. Her life was defined by her generosity, creativity and her vivacious personality. She loved the arts and read and wrote poetry her entire life. She volunteered at Rhode Island Hospital for many years and also worked in advertising. She was a member of the Barker Players and performed in Guys and Dolls, Burlesque, and Kind Lady, among others. She also performed at the Green Room, where members of the Players tried out innovative acts, radio plays, cabaret or pieces written by other members. She produced the show “Artists Rhode Island” on local access cable TV. She chose her subjects and interviewed a wide range of artists, from painters and visual artists to actors, designers and musicians. Her work for this program was recognized with an award. She is survived by daughter Ellen Lee Salter Wallstrom and her husband Petter Wallstrom. Donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Foundation or Providence Animal Rescue League.

Marilyn Smith, 89 HAGERSTOWN, MD. – Marilyn Smith died July 12. She was the beloved wife of the late Jack I. Smith. She was born in McKeesport, Pa.; a daughter of the late Joseph and Bertha Goldblatt. She was a 1948 graduate of Temple University, with a degree in marketing and business. She is survived by her children Shella Katz and her husband Bruce and Morris L. Smith and his wife Catherine; siblings Sidney Goldblatt, M.D. and David Goldblatt; grandchildren Abby, Jacklyn, Celia and Jerry; and four great-grandchildren. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Talmudical Academy of Baltimore, 4445 Old Court Road, Pikesville, Md. 21208 or Bikur Cholim of Baltimore, 2808 Steele Road, Baltimore, Md. 21209.

Dr. Edward Spindell, 87 PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Dr. Edward Spindell died at Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center. He was the beloved husband of Judith OBITUARIES | 33

OBITUARIES

thejewishvoice.org (Kay) Spindell of Providence. They were married for 30 years. Born in Providence, a son of the late Simon and Jeanette (Sokol) Spindell and brother of the late Dr. Lloyd Spindell, he was a lifelong Providence resident. He was a summa cum laude graduate of Classical High School and a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Brown University. In 1953, he received an M.D. degree from Boston University, eventually becoming board certified in orthopedic surgery. From 1955 to 1957, he served as captain in the U.S. Air Force at Chanute AFB in Illinois. Returning to Providence, he began a private practice that covered a span of nearly 40 years. During this time, he was a senior attending physician at Miriam, Rhode Island, Memorial and Roger Williams hospitals. He became chief of orthopedic surgery at Miriam Hospital from 1992 to 1997. Before retiring, he was honored by an evening of recognition for his many years of service to the hospital. A member of Temple Beth-El for more than 50 years, he served on the temple board and was chairman of the religious school committee. He also served as president of the Bureau of Jewish Education from 1994 to 1997. He

leaves his loving children, Marcia Spindell and her husband, Jonathan Lentz, Ahvi Spindell and his wife, Jane Gabbert, and Stephen Spindell and his former wife, Blanche; grandchildren: Joshua and Aaron Lentz and Jessica Spindell and Simon Spindell. He also leaves step-children, Dr. Faith Tobias, Chaim Cohen and his wife, Michal, Julie Corwin, and Pamela Greiner; step-grandchildren: Yonah, Shira and Yair Cohen, and Mason and Kaden Tobias, all of whom were dear to his heart. He will be fondly remembered by his friends and patients, and held in cherished memory by his family. Contributions in his memory may be made to The Holocaust Resource and Education Center, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, R.I. 02906 or Home & Hospice Care of R.I., 1085 North Main St., Providence, R.I. 02904.

Jonathan L. Stanzler, 60 CRANSTON, R.I. – Jonathan L. Stanzler of Cranston died unexpectedly, on July 13 at Rhode Island Hospital. He was an attorney in private practice in R.I. for more than 30 years. In addition to his legal career, he had many other interests. He had a lifelong interest in politics, working for numerous Democratic candidates on the local and national level. He gave back to his community with his involvement in Jewish causes. He was a talented writer and a member of the editori-

al board of the Jewish Voice and Herald. At the time of his passing, he was actively involved in the Landmark Forum Team Management and Leadership Program. In addition, he had been working closely with the R.I. Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association to plan a fundraising walk in August in memory of his parents, Milton and Phyllis Stanzler. He was an avid theater goer throughout his life, and particularly loved Trinity Rep, a theater he enjoyed since its inception. He was a graduate of Providence Country Day School, University of Rhode Island, and Western New England School of Law. He was a member of the Rhode Island Bar Association. He was the beloved son of the late Milton and Phyllis Stanzler. He leaves his sister, Jill Stanzler-Katz and brother-in-law, Jeff Katz of Boston, nieces Alexandra and Samantha Katz, and his stepmother Selma Stanzler of Chicago. Please send donations in Jon’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, R.I. Chapter, an organization that he cared deeply about: alz.org/ri

Harvey Waxman, 77 N O R T H KINGSTOWN, R.I. – Harvey Waxman died July 15. He was the husband of Judy (Fogel) Wax-

man. Born in Chelsea, Mass., a son of the late David and Ann Waxman, he had been a resident of Worcester before moving to North Kingstown He was a graduate of Swampscott High School, Tufts University, Medford, and Tufts School of Dental Medicine, Boston, where he received a D.M.D degree. He initially practiced dentistry as a U.S. Army captain, and then established his practice in general dentistry for 40 years in Worcester, Mass. For many years he was a clinical instructor at Tufts and Harvard Dental Schools. Beyond his dental practice, he was known for his work on property tax reform in state and local government, and was interviewed by the Wall St. Journal and CNN. He enjoyed sailing, woodworking, electronics, photography, and being actively involved with issues concerning public welfare. Besides his wife, he is survived by his children, Ellen Waxman of North Kingstown, and Debbie Staw and her husband Michael of Westport, Conn.; his grandchildren, Benjamin and Joshua; and his brother, Ernie Waxman of Cincinnati. He was the father of the late Shelly Waxman. Donations in his memory may be made to the Rhode Island Foundation, Civic Leadership Fund, (memo: Harvey Waxman) 1 Union Station, Providence, R.I. 02903.

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Gordon H. Wolfe, 90 SOUTH DARTMOUTH, MASS. – Gordon H. Wolfe passed away June 28 surrounded by his loving family. He was the husband of Irma (Lipsitt) Wolfe; they had just celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. He was born in New Haven, Conn., the son of the late Yale and Alice (Ringold) Wolfe. He was a member and past president of Tifereth Israel Congregation in New Bedford. He was also active in New Bedford civic affairs, sitting on the council of the New Bedford Economic Development Council. Before retiring, he, through his financial public relations firm in Manhattan, Gordon H. Wolfe & Co., Inc., was also instrumental in expanding the corporate sector of the State of Israel. Besides his wife, he is survived by his son Stephen H. Wolfe of Dartmouth; sister Ann Wolfe of Boone, N.C.; grandchildren Elizabeth Rehman and Michael Hauptman; and great-grandchild Kavi Rehman. He was also the brother of the late Iris Levitsky. Contributions in his memory may be made to Tifereth Israel Synagogue for the Rabbi Kanter Discretionary Fund or to the Biblical Garden of Israel, Neot-Kedumim, neot-kedumim.org.il.

National obituaries Author E.L Doctorow dies at 84

JTA — American Jewish author E.L. Doctorow, who wrote the novel “Ragtime,” has died at age 84. Doctorow died of complications from lung cancer July 21 in Manhattan, according to the New York Times. Author of a dozen novels as well as assorted other works, Doctorow primarily wrote historical fiction. “Ragtime,” published in 1975, is set in New York in the leadup to World War I and includes characters like Sigmund Freud and the anarchist Emma Goldman. His works spanned periods from the Civil War to the present day. Doctorow won the PEN/ Faulkner Award for Fiction and the National Book Critics Circle Award for fiction. He was a finalist for the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize. Among his other prominent works are “Billy Bathgate,” “The Book of Daniel” and “The March.” Several of his books have been adapted into films. Doctorow was born in 1931 in the Bronx to Jewish immigrants from Russia. He told the Kenyon Review that he grew up surrounded by talented Jewish refugees who had fled Nazi Germany. He attended Kenyon College and published his first nov-

el, “Welcome to Hard Times,” in 1960. He lived in New York City. Doctorow is survived by his wife, three children and four grandchildren.

Grooveshark co-founder Josh Greenberg found dead at 28

JTA — Josh Greenberg, co-founder of the early music streaming service Grooveshark, has died at 28. Greenberg’s girlfriend found him in his bed July 19 in Gainesville, Florida, the Gainesville Sun reported. An autopsy found no evidence of drug use, foul play or suicide, and the cause of death is not yet known. A toxicology report will reveal more information in two to three months. His mother, Lori Greenberg, told police that Greenberg was never sick and said that medical examiners were “as baffled as I am,” according to the Gainesville Sun. Greenberg founded Grooveshark with Sam Tarantino in 2006 when the two were freshmen at the University of Florida. The site, which allowed users to stream music uploaded by other users for free, shut down on April 30 after a protracted legal battle with several of the largest record companies, including Universal, Sony and Warner Music. At its peak,

Grooveshark boasted some 40 million users and 145 employees in Gainesville and New York City. Greenberg’s mother said her son was not troubled by the result of the lawsuit because he was working on a series of new ventures, including a new mobile music app.

Burt Shavitz, Jewish co-founder of Burt’s Bees, dies at 80

JTA — Burt Shavitz, the Jewish beekeeper and co-founder of the Burt’s Bees cosmetics company, has died.  Shavitz, born Ingram Shavitz in Manhattan in 1935, died of respiratory problems in Bangor, Maine, July 5 while surrounded by family and friends.  He grew the Burt’s Bees company with business partner, Roxanne Quimby, and his scraggly, bearded image became the face of the brand. Quimby bought out Shavitz’s share in the company for an undisclosed sum in the mid-1990s before Burt’s Bees was sold to Clorox for $925 million in 2007.  Shavitz has said that he was forced out of the company because he had an affair with an employee. In addition to the buyout money, Shavitz received 37 acres of land in Maine.  “In the long run, I got the land, and land is everything. Land is positively everything. And money

is nothing really worth squabbling about. This is what puts people six feet under. You know, I don’t need it,” he said last year.    After spending time in the U.S. Army and working as a photographer for TimeLife, Shavitz left New York and moved to Maine in 1970, where he began making honey. In the 1980s he met Quimby, who made new products from Shavitz’s beeswax and moved the company to North Carolina in 1994.  “Burt was an enigma; my mentor and my muse. I am deeply saddened,” Quimby told The Associated Press.   Shavitz was the subject of the 2014 documentary “Burt’s Buzz,” which delved into his unusual career and eventually reclusive life in Maine.  “Roxanne Quimby wanted money and power, and I was just a pillar on the way to that success,” Shavitz said in the film.  Shavitz owned three Golden Retrievers and had a reputation for being a quirky, straight-talking hippie.  “We remember him as a bearded, free-spirited Maine man, a beekeeper, a wisecracker, a lover of golden retrievers and his land,” the Burt’s Bees company said in a statement.

Nicholas Winton, Kindertransport organizer, dies at 106

JTA – Sir Nicholas Winton, who

organized the Kindertransport that rescued 669 children from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia, has died. Winton, known as the “British Schindler,” died July 1 at 106. The baptized son of Jewish parents, Winton was a 29-yearold stockbroker when he arrived in Prague in December 1938. He was planning to go on a skiing holiday in Switzerland, but changed his plans when he heard about the refugee crisis in Czechoslovakia, which had just been occupied by the Nazis. In the following nine months, he organized eight trains that carried children, the vast majority of them Jewish, from Czechoslovakia to safety in the Britain. Winton’s heroism was unremarked until the 1980s, when his wife found evidence of the rescues. Britain’s chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis, praised Winton for his “exceptional courage, selflessness and modesty.” Winton received many honors in his later years, including a knighthood. Last year, the Czech government flew him to Prague in a military plane to receive the country’s highest honor.

34 | August 7, 2015

WE ARE READ

The Jewish Voice

CHINA – Avi Nevel of Pawtucket and daughter Noga visited the the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda; Dujlanguyan Base in June as part of a trip to China. Czech Republic – Joyce Juda with Marilyn and Larry Katz on a recent trip to Prague.

We Were There – Wendy Garf-Lipp and Steven Stein at Soldier Field in Chicago at the last Grateful Dead concert on July 5. Fare thee well and thanks for taking us along!

Hungary – Adrienne and Steve Kirschner of Pawtucket at the Dohany Street Synagogue, Budapest. This is the world’s second largest synagogue.

Bermuda – Left and above, Kevin and Barbara Dwares celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary in Bermuda on St. George’s Island on July 7. They traveled from Boston on the Norwegian Dawn and, once docked, took the Rhode Island high speed ferry that stays in Bermuda all season long.

thejewishvoice.org

New Baby – Michael and Terry Schuster, together with Bob and Ronda Smith, are thrilled to announce the April 6 birth of their granddaughter, Ava Danielle Schuster, daughter of Andrew and Jessica Schuster of Pawtucket. Ava Danielle Schuster is also the granddaughter of Stuart and Elise Nadel of Far Rockaway, New York.

SIMCHAS

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Wedding – Ashley Blake Neider and Michael Richard Wolpert were married March 21 at the Woodfield Country Club, Boca Raton, Fla., with Cantor Ann Turnoff officiating. Janice and Michael Neider, of Boca Raton, are the bride’s parents and Marlene and Bruce Wolpert, of Providence, are the parents of the groom. Matron of honor was Emily Neider, sister-in-law of the bride. Bridesmaids were Julie Krell, Ashley Danow, Cara Stoll, Stephanie Goldberg and Ariel Roth. The best man was Jonathan Wolpert, brother of the groom. Groomsmen were Brian Neider and Jason Neider, brothers of the bride, Samuel Bromberg, Ghian Yap and David Presby, and the ushers were Andrew Davidson, Rodrigo Castillo and Christopher Gingrich. Flower girls were Molly Neider and Rebecca Neider. The ring bearer was Brandon Neider. The couple graduated from Emory University. The bride is employed by J.Crew and the groom by Macy’s Inc., both in New York City. The couple makes their home in New York City.

BIRTH – Mrs. Anne Schwartz (and the late Charles Schwartz) of Providence happily announce the birth of a great-granddaughter, Noam Tehilla on June 15 in Afula, Israel, Parents are Shira and Eitan Kenig of Jerusalem, Israel. Maternal grandparents are Vicki (Schwartz) and Ya’cov Mandelkorn of Naveh, Israel. Paternal grandparents are Naomi and Ya’cov Kenig of Kibbutz Tirat, Beit Shean Valley, Israel.

graduation – (right) The 63rd graduating class of Maimonides School in Brookline, Mass., celebrated with more than 450 parents, relatives, teachers and friends at June 21 commencement exercises in Judge J. John Fox Athletic Center. The graduating class of 44 students included Providence resident Zohar Kapach.

36 |â&#x20AC;&#x201A;August 7, 2015

The Jewish Voice

Thank

YOU for making a difference

Because of YOU, the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island raised $3.215 for the 2015 Annual Campaign and $1M for designated giving opportunities* from over 2,000 gifts. These funds supported more than 300 programs and services worldwide. A full donor report will be available at jewishallianceri.org, starting August 21, with excerpts published in the next issue of The Jewish Voice. *Designated projects include Dwares JCC Capital Campaign, Living on the Edge initiative, and the Holocaust Memorial.

For more information about the Alliance Annual Campaign, contact Trine Lustig at 401.421.4111 ext. 223 or tlustig@jewishallianceri.org.

401 Elmgrove Avenue | Providence, RI 02906 | 401.421.4111 | jewishallianceri.org