Volume XXI, Issue IV | www.thejewishvoice.org Serving Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts
PETS
24 Shevat 5775 | February 13, 2015
Adir Glick talks about his experiences in France BY FRAN OSTENDORF fostendorf@jewishallianceri.org
PHOTO | FRAN OSTENDORF
This snowman loves the weather at the David C. Isenberg Early Childhood Center playground.
As Jews around the world tried to understand the events in France in the past month, the local community got a snapshot of what’s going on through the eyes of Adir Glick. Glick, a rabbinical student in his last year at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, a Conservative rabbinical school in Los Angeles, spoke at Temple Emanu-El during Shabbat Feb. 7. “The French are very humanistic,” he said in an interview Feb. 6 in Rabbi Wayne Franklin’s office. It is a deeply secular society, he pointed out. “They look at things differently.” “Religion is a matter of personal choice,” he said.
Adir Glick Though he was wearing a kippah during our interview, GLICK | 18
Longtime Israel advocate Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi shifts focus to disabilities BY RON KAMPEAS WASHINGTON (JTA) – During this year’s State of the Union address, Jennifer Laszlo Mizrahi was in a place familiar to her from her years as a leading pro-Israel fundraiser and activist: Tracking the speech for her favored topic. It came just five paragraphs before the end, almost as an afterthought, and well after a substantial chunk of President Barack Obama’s speech addressed Iran and the threat it poses to Israel. “I want future generations to know that we are a people who see our differences as a great
gift, that we are a people who value the dignity and worth of every citizen — man and woman, young and old, black and white, Latino and Asian, immigrant and Native American, gay and straight, Americans with mental illness or physical disability,” Obama said. “At least he mentioned” disability, Mizrahi said the morning after in an interview with JTA. The experience has been a typical one for Mizrahi, who 2 1/2 years ago left The Israel Project, the pro-Israel media outreach organization she founded in 2002, to launch RespectAbility, which advocates
for individuals with disabilities. Raising money for Israel and pro-Israel activity was comparatively easy, Mizrahi says. “My last year at The Israel Project, we raised $19 million in two-year pledges,” she said. “I’m raising no money on this. The Israel Project had 85 staffers when I left.” Now she has three full-time staff, three parttimers and three fellows. Shelley Richman Cohen, a longtime activist for people with disabilities in the Jewish community and a member of RespectAbility’s board, describes an “ick” factor experiDISABILITIES | 18
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Some trees bloom in the snow
Tu B’Shevat, the New Year of Trees
Calendar 10 Classified 21 Community 2-7, 12, 18, 25 Food 11 Nation 10, 19 Obituaries 24 Opinion 8-9 Pets 13-17 Seniors 23
For Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish Arbor Day, the employees of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island participated in a challenge: fill the Dwares JCC with as many trees as possible. Each department constructed a tree with their own gear and elements. This year, Tu B’Shevat, the 15th day of the month of Shevat, fell on Feb. 4. Can you guess where each of the trees pictured were on display during the holiday?
Simcha | We Are Read 26 World 7, 19, 22
PHOTOS | FRAN OSTENDORF
THIS ISSUE’S QUOTABLE QUOTE “… we are a people who see our differences as a great gift …”
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Shalom: Hebrew for peace between two entities R.I.-Israel College Consortium holds joint conference in Israel BY EZRA STIEGLITZ AND GITA BROWN The Rhode Island-Israel College Consortium (Project RIICC), an inter-institutional partnership between Rhode Island College and two higher education institutions in Israel, Beit Berl Academic College (BBC) and Oranim Academic College of Education (OAC), is bearing fruit. The consortium organized an international conference in Israel that was held at BBC on Jan. 7 and at OAC on Jan. 8. OAC is the largest and leading college of education in North Israel. BBC is the largest college in number of students and range of programs. Titled “Not in My Backyard: Inter-Cultural Inclusion in Educational Systems and in Society,” the conference included presentations by RIC faculty from the Feinstein School of Education and Human Development: Professor of Educational Studies Ellen Bigler; Professor of Elementary Education Ezra Stieglitz; and Associate Professors of Elementary Education Elizabeth Henshaw, Maria Lawrence and Mary Ellen McGuireSchwartz. They presented original research and conducted workshops on teaching strategies. In some of the sessions, their presentations were held jointly with their BBC and OAC colleagues. Stieglitz delivered a keynote titled “Addressing Religious Diversity in the United States from a Multicultural Education Perspective.” This conference would not have been possible without the great support of the presidents of the two colleges, Professor Tamar Ariav of BBC and Professor Yaarah Bar-On of OAC. The members of the Rhode Island contingent certainly feel that the partnership with these Israeli institutions of higher education has been successful and valued. Project RIICC was initiated in 2011 by RIC President Nancy Carriuolo when she traveled to Israel on a group trade mission led by Gov. Chafee. The governor was originally supposed to accompany the trade mission. However, he was unable to because of pressing business in Rhode Island. “During my visits, I talked with Israeli faculty and administrators about the ways in which RIC and their own institutions might collaborate for the benefit of both,” said Carriuolo. “The trip unearthed numerous pos-
Ezra Stieglitz PHOTO | MARY ELLEN MCGUIRE-SCHWARTZ
sibilities.” A contractual partnership was established in 2012 and bore first fruit in 2013 when eight RIC faculty members flew to Israel to meet with their counterparts at OAC and BBC. There they discussed collaborative activities that would strengthen ties between the faculties at the three institutions. During their eight days in Israel, RIC faculty also had the opportunity to visit Israeli elementary schools and to tour important cultural and historical sites. The same year, faculties from BBC and OAC visited Rhode Island for a weeklong visit that included dialogue between the faculty, a dinner reception at RIC sponsored by Carriuolo, visits to Providence public schools and the city’s two Jewish day schools and tours of important cultural and historical sites. “The plan for the future is to expand the scope of Project RIICC,” said Stieglitz. This could include faculty exchanges and providing opportunities for faculty from other disciplines to participate in the project. According to Stieglitz, “Members of the consortium remain committed to continuing the relationship and to continuing efforts to foster international collaboration and cooperation.” For more information about Project RIICC, please contact Ezra Stieglitz at estieglitz@ ric.edu
This conference would not have been possible without the great support of the presidents of the two colleges.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is based on an article originally published on the RIC website on Dec. 31, 2014. EZRA STIEGLITZ is professor of Elementary Education and GITA BROWN is writer/ editor in the office of College Communications and Marketing at Rhode Island College.
Faculty from the three colleges listening to a lecture given by Professor Moshe Shner about the city of Acco.
4 | February 13, 2015
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STEAM comes to JCDS for a hands-on environmental lesson BY INGRID LANGE This past fall, students from the Brown/RISD STEAM club came to JCDSRI to give interdisciplinary lessons to tie together what the students were learning in different classes. Anthony Peer (RISD Industrial Design ’16) and assistant Soo Hyun Shin (RISD MFA Graphic Design ’15) led Avian Architecture, a workshop that gave the third and fourth grade students a hands-on look into the construction of a bird’s nest. Below are some thoughts from Anthony.
Gathering materials at Blackstone Park
A very important aspect of the lesson was to allow the students to get outside and experience what it is like to collect nesting materials. For this we took our first day of the workshop and went to Blackstone Park in Providence to collect some nesting materials and receive the field guide notebooks as guidelines for collection. To emphasize the difference between reading about the materials used and actually knowing what the proper size, flexibility and type of twig necessary to make the structure of a nest we looked at good and bad examples I collected. Being able to pick up a twig and recognize whether or not the twig they are picking up has the proper qualities for the making of a nest was vital to understanding the selection process that a bird goes through. The students in the class were able to have a learning experience, which was centered on creating something for the purpose of learning more about a topic in science rather than making for a standard arts and crafts-based lesson. A biologist or an archaeologist wouldn’t be able to learn about a topic from sitting in the library of a university his whole career, so in many cases he goes out into the field to experience the subject he is trying to learn more about up close and personal. Being able to learn in the field rather than a classroom was vital to showing the students the complexity in the development of a nest, as well as view the ef-
fects that our waste has on the environment through material collection.
Making their bird’s nest
Each of the students was given the materials that they had collected on our outing to Blackstone Park and were asked to make a nest using these materials. Before we began the making portion of the workshop we went over some of the materials we gathered, and using real bird nests borrowed from the RISD Nature Lab observed the individual construction process of multiple bird species. Interestingly enough, the children who decided to not use
Students gather materials in Blackstone Park.
The finished project.
Perfect for the bird’s nest. the wireframe structures provided for them made very convincing looking nests using the techniques shown in cup-andwoven nests. Students who had a little bit more difficulty in the development of their nests and who chose to utilize the wireframe were then able to quickly put together a nest in the same amount of time as those who did not use a wireframe. Being able to cater the learning experience to all of the students involved allowed for a pleasant and constructive time. Ultimately each student had an interesting approach to the making of their individual nests, and although not perfect representations of how a bird makes its nest, they
COURTESY | JCDSRI
were very intuitive responses to what they learned about nest construction.
What the students learned
In completion of the workshop the students were able to evaluate their own nests in relation to the actual nests. Having time for reflecting on the lesson and observing the work that they did during the workshop allowed the students to see how difficult it was to replicate a nest, as well as have a more in depth look into the different materials they used in making their nests. The students were asked to do a simple sketch of their nest as well as answer some questions about
the setting in which their nest could be found and to describe the type of bird that lives in it. Being able to sketch the nest and observe it from a different viewpoint allowed them to see the materials used differently. Many of the students had pieces of trash and plastic in their nest, which they hadn’t noticed prior to the completion of the nest. Enabling the students to take a step back from what they had made and sketch the product of the work they had done during the workshop allows for a broader understanding of the lesson as a whole. In asking the students what was the most difficult part of making their bird’s nest many
responded “not being able to keep the nest together” or “not being able to start the nest because they didn’t know where the starting point was.” In closing the lesson I wanted to try and get across to the students that our inability to replicate these pieces of avian architecture gives us that much more of a responsibility to protect the environment in which they are created. In addition to trying to replicate a bird’s nest I hope the students went home with greater appreciation for the environment and their ability to make positive change for the protection of the wonderful structures that nature displays. STEAM | 6
ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Tricia Stearly tstearly@jewishallianceri.org 401-421-4111, ext. 160 EDITOR Fran Ostendorf CONTRIBUTING WRITER Irina Missiuro
Karen Borger ksborger@gmail.com 401-529-2538
EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS Irina Missiuro | Judith Romney Wegner
COLUMNISTS Michael Fink, Rabbi James Rosenberg and Daniel Stieglitz
DESIGN & LAYOUT Leah Camara
MEMBER of the Rhode Island Press Association
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
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Women’s Alliance Endowment Fund seeks applications to fund innovative programs The Women’s Alliance Endowment Fund membership seeks proposals for the upcoming fiscal year, July 2015-June 2016, for innovative programs and services that benefit Jewish women and girls and have the potential for long-term impact. Educational, civic, cultural, religious and inter-group programs will be considered, as will services in the health and social services fields. This year, the Women’s Alliance Endowment Fund (WAEF) will make total grants of approximately $7,000 to be distributed by June 30, 2015. Over the last decade, the WAEF has awarded 72 local and overseas grants, totaling close to $70,000, to a wide array of programs and service providers. All Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts and overseas Jewish organizations, agencies and synagogues whose mission falls within the purview of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island may submit grant requests. “Since we are interested in programs that focus on women and girls, we have been more proactive about connecting with the grant applicants directly to ensure the programs and services fit our core mission. Most recently, we funded a smaller pool of programs in order to have a greater impact on them,” said Deborah Skolnick Einhorn, co-chair of the WAEF. Past programs that have received funding include Camp
JORI’s counselor training on female social development, academic and therapeutic service support at Beit Ruth Hostel for At-Risk Girls, and Haifa Rape Crisis Center’s support group for survivors of sexual abuse. The 100 members of the WAEF are entitled to participate in the annual allocations process. WAEF membership requires a minimum membership fee of $1,000, payable over three years. “We hope more women will be able to join the WAEF this year, or decide to renew their memberships, so we may have an even greater influence on funding programs and services. Every year the fund grows, and we are able to allocate more funding to those programs
seeking our support,” said Barbara Feldstein, co-chair of the WAEF. The WAEF request for proposals will be sent to local synagogues and Jewish agencies as well as Jewish organizations that have received funding from the Women’s Alliance in past years. Grant requests must be received by Friday, March 13. Funding recipients are identified at the WAEF annual meeting, which will be at the Jewish Alliance on May 19, and will be notified in late May 2015. FOR MORE INFORMATION about the WAEF grants available this year, contact Jennifer Zwirn at 401-421-4111, or jzwirn@jewishallianceri.org. PRESENTED BY
Help homebound seniors Now that the weather is reminding us of all the “joys” a typical New England winter entails, some people are affected more than others. Seniors who are homebound are unable to receive their food unless it’s delivered to them. Jewish Family Service, the Kosher Senior Café at the Dwares JCC, the Kosher Senior Café at Temple Am David and the elderly of our community need your help. Kosher Meals on Wheels allows the seniors to stay in their homes. The program ensures that no one goes hungry.
However, to offer the service, “Meals on Wheels” requires additional drivers for the Providence/Pawtucket area and for the Warwick/Cranston area to deliver meals between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. If you have a car and can spare one hour a week (or even one hour a month), please consider volunteering for the program, which offers gas reimbursement. Contact Neal at 401-421-4111, ext. 107, or 401-3383189. Email him at ndrobnis@ jewishallianceri.org.
Israel Study/Travel Grants and Scholarships
GARDEN ADVENTURES
February 19 - 22, 2015 RI Convention Center
www.FLOWERSHOW.com Immerse Yourself in Spring and Leave Winter Far, Far Behind! Stroll through Breathtaking Garden Displays Including Tunnel Garden, Treehouse and other Interactive Gardens Check Out Special Guest Speakers & Demonstrations
We’re making it affordable for Jews in high school, gap-year, college, and post-secondary programs (through age 26) to experience meaningful trips to Israel. The Rhode Island Jewish community supports an Israel experience as an integral part of a student’s education and growing Jewish identity. Applications are available online. To find out if you’re eligible and to apply, visit jewishallianceri.org today. Submission deadlines: • March 16, 2015 for summer, fall, and year-long programs Applications received after the deadline may be considered, pending availability of funds. For more information contact Elanah Chassen at 401.4214.4111 ext. 140 or echassen@jewishallianceri.org.
RIEEA KID’S ADVENTURE ZONE Fun & Interactive Nature Activities - Touch Tanks Puppet Shows - Storytelling Roger Williams Park Zoo Zoomobile Live Animal Presentations - AND MORE!
Purchase Tickets: Online with Ticketmaster.com , FlowerShow.com , Charge by Phone 800-745-3000 or in advance at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center Box Office
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The Jewish Voice
Cookies and community: a perfect recipe BY KARA MARZIALI
presenTs 2 special evenTs Wednesday, february 18th 7pm
Why Has Israeli Public Relations Been So Mediocre?
The Media is the Message! with Prof. Sam Lehman-WiLzig Israel has suffered setbacks on the world stage trying to explain its policies. This talk will explain the reasons for its past failures and more recent change for the better. It will conclude with some concrete suggestions for what American Jews can do to support Israel’s public relations efforts.
Please RSVP to reserve your seat at:
Sam Lehman-WiLzig
chairman, school of communication Bar-ilan University
Lehman-Wilzig.eventbrite.com
Wednesday, february 25th 7pm
How to StoP the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Attack on Israel
Jon haber, Author: Divest This: How to Stop the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Attack on Israel
Jon Haber is is one of the world’s top authorities on the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, part of the global propaganda campaign to de-legitimize the state of Israel, its actions and supporters. He has battled divest-from-Israel programs nationwide and has written a book which has become a key resource for those fighting BDS within their communities.
Please RSVP to reserve your seat at:
Divest-This.eventbrite.com
Kosher refreshments will be served. Admission: $5 per event (free to students)
Dwares JCC Social hall
401 Elmgrove Ave, Providence, RI 02906
Members of the Rhode Island Jewish community will gather at the Phyllis Siperstein Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence at 3 Shalom Drive in Warwick on Feb. 15 from 1:30-4 p.m. for Purim Mitzvah Day. The purpose is to bake more than 500 hamentashen – a cookie recognizable by its triangular shape, stuffed with poppy seed or fruit fi lling – with the goal of delivering the baked goods to friends and neighbors throughout the state. This act is meant to ensure that everyone has enough food to enjoy the traditional Purim feast. It is also seen as an opportunity to strengthen relationships among people. “Our community works hard during Purim to ensure that Jewish residents in nursing homes receive a mishloach manot bag,” said Michelle Cicchitelli, chief program officer at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. Jews are obliged to give at
least one mishloach manot – a gift of food that contains at least two different types of ready-toeat items that Jews send to each other during Purim. The tradition comes from the biblical Book of Esther, where the Purim story is recounted. Esther 9:22 reads: “as days of feasting and gladness, and sending portions of food to one another, and gifts to the poor.” “Because of its overwhelming success, Purim Mitzvah Day has become one of our most popular activities – drawing dozens of volunteers of every age and ability,” added Susan Adler, director of Jewish Eldercare of Rhode Island, a program of Jewish Seniors Agency. In addition to baking, other activities will include decorating mishloach manot bags, a costume parade through the facility and stories read by the Tamarisk residents to young children. Purim is a festive Jewish holiday that commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from
extermination. This year, Purim is celebrated on Thursday, March 5 (beginning at sunset on March 4). Purim Mitzvah Day was started as a way to increase awareness and create a greater sense of community while helping others. It provides an opportunity for different generations to work collaboratively while preforming a mitzvah – a term that literally means “commandment” and is the general term for a good deed or act of kindness. This event is sponsored by the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, the Phyllis Siperstein Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence, Jewish Seniors Agency and University of Rhode Island Hillel. FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact Michelle Cicchitelli at mcicchitelli@jewishallianceri. org or 401-421-4111, ext. 178. KARA MARZIALI is the director of communications for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.
Reading with Robin back on the air After a two-year hiatus, Rhode Island book and author talk show host returns to radio. Robin Kall and her program, “Reading with Robin,” will now be hosted on 790 AM WPRV, each Friday from 4 to 5 p.m. “Reading With Robin” will also be streaming live through 790business.com and the iHeart Radio app. The fi rst program featured call-ins from favorite listeners and authors. During the 10 years Robin hosted “Reading with Robin” on another Rhode Island station, she spoke with such authors as Jodi Picoult, Adriana Trigiani, Jonathan Tropper, Ann Hood,
Gary David Goldberg, Tom Perotta, Chris Bohjalian, Jane Green, Alice Hoffman, Jenna Blum, Courtney Sullivan, and Steve Chbosky. Robin’s ease and salon-like interview style made her program a frequent stop for authors. In addition to the radio show, Robin has begun a bi-monthly online column called “WellRead,” and will continue to host her annual Breast Cancer Awareness month fundraiser, “An Evening With Authors,” as well as a variety of author events throughout the calendar year, in and out of Rhode Island. Upcoming “Reading with
Robin” programs will feature Jenna Blum on Feb. 20 and Holly LeCraw and AJ Jacobs on Feb. 27. Jenna Blum will appear at a fundraiser Feb. 24 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Panera Bread in East Greenwich. Money raised will go to the family of Benjamin to help secure a wheelchair accessible van. Benjamin has SMA Type 2, a type of muscular dystrophy. Holly LeCraw will appear at an author talk March 5 at 7 p.m. at the Willett Free Library in Saunderstown. Call 401-2942081 to reserve seats.
Can you use a laugh? Attend the Royal Flush Comedy Show at Beth-El Enjoy a much-needed break from the winter’s chill – join the brotherhood of Temple BethEl as they present Ace Aceto’s Royal Flush Comedy Show on Saturday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m. in Silverstein Meeting Hall. In addition to Gregg’s dessert buffet and coffee, you’ll sample some entertainment. Laugh FROM PAGE 4
along with Joker John Morris (Catch a Rising Star), Jack Jeremy Furtado (The Comedy Connection), Queen Mary Ellen Rinaldi (Cranston Native/Life Lessons Through Laughter), King “Rockin” Joe Hebert (The RI Comedy Hall of Fame founder) and Ace, the Good Catholic Boy.
All the money raised during the 21+ show will benefit the Brotherhood Scholarship Fund. Tickets are $15 for a Brotherhood member and a significant other, $18 for a non-members. Mail checks, payable to Brotherhood of Temple Beth-El, by Feb. 23 to 70 Orchard Ave., Providence, R.I. 02906.
of those structures. The ability to not only observe what is in nature from afar, but to put the student in a position to have a tactile relationship with the materials that are used encourages a broader understanding of the subject. Encouraging learning through making should be a necessary component to any teaching structure and this nest-building workshop is but one way to get students out into the field to experience the won-
ders of our natural world.
STEAM
How can this be used in other facets of teaching? Developing a learning experience that involves being able to have hands-on interaction with the materials used in nature is vital to a more practical understanding of structures found in nature. Being able to fully understand the process by which structures in nature are constructed needs to be an experiential aspect to the study
EDITOR’S NOTE: This was originally a blog post on the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island website. It is reprinted with permission. INGRID LANGE is the project leader for Brown/RISD STEAM and wrote this for the Jewish Community Day School.
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NERC celebrates 30th anniversary dinner BY MIRIAM LIPSON The New England Rabbinical College, located in the heart of the East Side of Providence on Blackstone Blvd, will host its 30th anniversary dinner on March 1. The college is geared to post-high school and post-graduate students pursuing Talmudic studies and is New England’s premier institution dedicated to this endeavor. Students engage in the study of the Talmud and classical commentaries in their original text while pursuing secular degrees at local colleges. The accomplishments of a select group of honorees are celebrated – individuals who have earned their respective awards because they exemplify the teaching of the Mishna (Pirke Avot 1:2) and represent “the three pillars upon which the world stands.” This year, the New England Rabbinical College will honor Rabbi and Mrs. Naftali Karp, of Providence. Rabbi Karp is well-known in the larger Jewish Rhode Island community as the director of Project Shoresh. Within and without the walls of Project Shoresh, Rabbi Karp embraces and teaches Jews of all levels of commitment. In this way he combines his passion for disseminating Torah with his devotion to the Jewish people. Rabbi Karp’s association with the New England Rabbinical College (the Yeshiva) began 17 years ago when he arrived, as a posthigh school student, to pursue advanced Talmudic studies. Rabbi Karp continues to maintain a rigorous learning schedule at the Yeshiva. He readily acknowledges that the Yeshiva’s values are the backdrop for his activities and projects. With his sig-
nature enthusiasm and the able assistance of his wife, Rachel, he continually forges strong connections with people from the broader Jewish community. The New England Rabbinical College will recognize Mr. and Mrs. Berish Edelman as the Alumni Achievement awardees. During his years at the college Edelman distinguished himself as an outstanding student. He continues to make his mark in ways too numerous to count. The Yeshiva is but one of the many institutions that rely on his expertise as a graphic designer, and he does not hesitate to share his many talents and energies with the Providence community. Together with his wife, Edelman has published a series of engaging and innovative children’s books. Rabbi and Mrs. Yitzi Weiner, of Sharon, Mass., are the recipients of the Marbitzei (Disseminator) Torah award. Rabbi Weiner has been the director of the community Kollel of Sharon for the past eight years. In that capacity he and his wife, a professional photographer, reach out to Jews of all backgrounds. Rabbi Weiner’s warmth and kindness have earned him the love of his community; his thought-provoking, entertaining lectures have earned him their respect. The Yeshiva feels particularly close to Rabbi Weiner, who for several years joined the morning studies program. A commemorative journal expressing good wishes and appreciation to the honorees will be presented at the dinner. MIRIAM LIPSON is director of the Ladies Auxiliary of the New England Rabbinical College.
Staying or Selling … Home Services made Simple
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CBS honors Jewish Disabilities Awareness month with “Accessibility Now!” fundraiser BY TAMMY LAFOREST SCHNEIDER In honor of Jewish Disabilities Awareness month, Congregation Beth Sholom (CBS), a modern Orthodox synagogue in Providence, is launching a fundraising effort to make the synagogue’s lower level entrance wheelchair accessible. Throughout February and March, CBS will be collecting donations via their online campaign named Accessibility Now! The goal of Accessibility Now! is to raise $30,000 – the amount that builders estimate is needed to alter the build-
ing so that all members of the community can participate in the communal events that take place on the lower level, which is currently only reachable by stairs. Rabbi Barry Dolinger speaks on behalf of the congregation, “At CBS, we strive to build a stronger community based on the notion that we are all created in the image of God. Making our building handicapped accessible to render our community more inclusive is an absolute moral imperative and an important statement for our community.” Marina Goodman, a CBS member and mother of a child
who uses a wheelchair, says, “With an accessible lower level, we will be able to fully participate as a family.” To learn more about this fundraising project and to see which perks you can earn from your donation, visit the online campaign at indiegogo. com/projects/accessibilitynow. You can also make donations via PayPal through CBS’s website at BethSholomRI.org or you can send a check with “Accessibility Now!” written in the subject line to Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence, RI 02906.
Pew survey: Europe’s Jewish population has plummeted in recent decades JTA — Europe has lost more than half its Jewish population since 1960, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center. Approximately 1.4 million Jews live in Europe, down from the 2 million in 1991, according to the Pew survey, which came out Feb. 9.
Great vocals and hockey, too Pastrami on RI performs Feb. 15 at the Providence Bruins game. They kick off the game with a few sweet sounds at 2:30 p.m. Get there early to support Rhode Island’s only coed postcollegiate Jewish a cappella group, sponsored by (401)j. Tickets for the game at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center in Providence against the Manchester Monarchs are $27-38 at ticketmaster. com.
In 1960, some 3.2 million Jews lived in Europe. European Jews now account for about 10 percent of the world Jewish population, while in 1939, the 9.5 million Jews on the continent accounted for 57 percent of the world Jewish population. The number of Jews has decreased most in Eastern Europe and areas of the former Soviet Union, according to the
survey report. Pew identifies multiple reasons for the postwar population decline, including immigration to Israel, intermarriage and other forms of cultural assimilation. The worldwide Jewish population of 14 million is still smaller than it was before the Holocaust, when it was over 16 million.
Candle Lighting Times
Greater Rhode Island Feb. 13 ............................ 4:56 Feb. 20 ............................ 5:05 Feb. 27 ......................5:13 March 6 .......................... 5:21
The D’var Torah is on a brief hiatus and will return soon.
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8 | February 13, 2015
OPINION
The Jewish Voice
A letter from Paris chronicles events
My stay-at-home companion isn’t complaining I spent a number of years working from my home office. On snowy mornings, I could get up, walk into another room and never worry about who was going to clear the driveway or how I was going to get down the street. No such thing as cabin fever or feeling housebou nd because there was work to do. EDITOR Do you have cabin fever yet? Have you FRAN had it with OSTENDORF trying to navigate the badly plowed streets? I know I have. It’s been two weeks since our last paper, and we are on our third storm. I’m sensing a pattern here. I’m grateful that I have that home office so I can keep working in spite of the storms. My cat is pretty happy, too. The cat got used to having me around the house. It was an adjustment for both of us when I went to work for The Voice. Lots of you have pets as we learned one year when we first started featuring pets in a February Voice. And you don’t hesitate to share them with others. You’ll find some pretty good-looking pets starting on page 13. As for my furry friend, I can’t help but share a few antics. My cat has me quite well-trained. Breakfast is at 7 a.m. Not downstairs by then? No problem. The cat will stand outside the bedroom door and meow with increasing volume until you emerge. Dinner is at 6. At about 5, the parade starts. First, there’s the standing by the chair. Then, he jumps up on the desk. And if that doesn’t work, he walks
across the keyboard and stands in front of the screen. Sometimes, he stands on the keyboard. No, he’s not trying to help edit. I have way too many adorable pictures on my phone of my cat sleeping in various places. My almost 8-year-old niece doesn’t hesitate to remind me of this. He will often sleep nearby in whatever room I am in, keeping guard over me as I work. At some point during the day, he will likely show up with a toy and drop it nearby, expecting me to throw it or play with him. He sits and stares patiently at first. If he decides I’m not paying enough attention to him, he will reposition himself until I notice him, which can mean sitting down right on top of my papers or work. I was given a beautiful handmade quilt several years ago by my sister-in-law. It’s nice and warm on these cold winter days. The cat loves it. In fact, he loves it too much. I rarely get to use it when sitting on the couch, reading or watching TV. It happens to be his favorite sleeping spot. And since cats can sleep 18 hours a day . . . On the other hand, the cat is not allowed on the tables or counters. And people food is not part of his diet. So he’s capable of behaving. I guess we all spoil our pets to a certain extent. I certainly would have had a lonely workfrom-home life without the cat. And he’s been awfully happy to have me back on these recurring Monday and Tuesday snow days. At least he seems to be. I’m grateful that I can work from home when I have to. All of us at The Voice can. But somehow if you are supposed to be at the office working together, working from home isn’t quite as comfortable or relaxed as it used to be. Even with a cat.
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Last Jan. 15 my wife Sandy received a nine-page email from Tom Cohen, rabbi of Paris’ Kehilat Gesher, La synagogue franco-americaine de Paris. The email wound up in my wife’s inbox because Rabbi Cohen is a first cousin of our close friend, who happens to have stood as maid of honor at our wedding 47 years ago. Knowing that we would want to read IT SEEMS Cohen’s letter in its entirety, TO ME she forwarded it to us. RABBI JIM The press of ROSENBERG events compelled Cohen to compose his email, dated Jan. 14, in the form of what he calls “an impersonal group letter.” Writing a week after the 12 murders at the editorial office of the satirical newspaper, Charlie Hebdo, and just five days after the murder of four Jewish hostages at a kosher supermarket, Cohen’s words are filled with sorrow and pain as well as insight and affirmation. One of the most moving sections of his letter concerns his decision to hold Shabbat services on Friday evening, Jan. 9, just hours after the slaying of the four Jewish hostages. The power of the rabbi’s pen brought me into the crowd of worshippers at his synagogue on that fateful Shabbat: “I felt that it was very important for us to maintain our Shabbat services – even if other congregations might decide otherwise. We hired private guards, and heavily armed police in bulletproof vests were making the rounds between Kehilat Gesher and a neighboring Orthodox shul on the next street ... “My little shteibl was packed. The atmosphere at Kehilat Gesher was at once spiritual and electric. Fear and pride intermingle in our prayers ... “Everyone there felt to the depths of their Jewish soul that the simple act of praying together was an act of defiance – it was
an act of resistance and resilience.” Echoes of Barrington’s Jewish community coming together for Shabbat worship at Temple Habonim in the immediate aftermath of 9/11. While Cohen affirms his pride in being part of the French people, while he tells of his powerful sense of national unity in the spontaneous singing of the national anthem, la Marseillaise, during the huge rally in Paris on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 11, he remains clear-sighted in his criticism of those politicians who have “willfully overlooked creeping extremism in certain neighborhoods in France for expediency purposes, economic benefit and simply votes. They abandoned prisons to Islamists, creating a festering breeding ground for jihadists. They be-
“… what has happened in Paris can happen anywhere in the civilized world.” came wobbly and cowed when confronted by violence and racism in schools.” Cohen also points an accusing finger at those French journalists who have managed to dull the edges of a harsh and brutal reality by softening their language: “Extremists and their followers become the ‘youth from the suburbs’ ” – as if calling violent extremists “youth from the suburbs” somehow reduces the existential threat to the citizens of France. If any good can come from this recent carnage, Cohen suggests, it might be that these murders will serve as “a wakeup call that has aroused many to finally start realizing that Islamist fascist groups’ intimidation is real and its reach is widespread.” There is a major strand of Zionist ideology called in Hebrew shelilat ha-tefutsah, negation of the diaspora. To this way of thinking, Jews who live anywhere other than the State of Israel are living in galut, the Hebrew word for “exile.” There are those who would argue that
the current situation in which French Jews find themselves is indicative of the fundamental incompatibility of the realities of the diaspora environment with a healthy and fulfilling Jewish life; those holding this perspective argue that the Jews of France should go “home” to Israel. Cohen stands vigorously against this claim that the Jews of France are doomed and should therefore go “home” to Israel. Commenting on the warmly received talk by Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Paris’ Rothschild synagogue, the rabbi writes: “For me, a telling moment was Netanyahu’s appeal to French Jews that they ‘should’ come home ... with the diplomatic response of the Prime Minister Manuel Valls saying that ‘France without its Jews will no longer be France.’ “Yet at the end of that evening ceremony where Netanyahu was so warmly welcomed, those same attendees started singing la Marseillaise.” Clearly, Cohen does not subscribe to the notion of negating the diaspora. Rather, he favors that version of the Zionist idea espoused about a century ago by Ahad Ha-Am (1856-1927), a view which affirms the importance of both Israel and the diaspora, a view which stresses their mutual interest in supporting a strong Jewish identity the world over. As he draws his letter to a conclusion, the rabbi warns “what has happened in Paris can happen anywhere in the civilized world. The only real way to fight it is by sticking together. Giving up is not going to solve the problem, only perhaps compound it.” Having looked unflinchingly at the face of the enemy, Rabbi Tom Cohen remains firmly committed to remaining in France: “I’m not packing my bags yet. I still have too much work to do here.” JAMES B. ROSENBERG is rabbi emeritus at Temple Habonim in Barrington. Contact him at rabbiemeritus@templehabonim.org.
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OPINION
thejewishvoice.org
February 13, 2015 |
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Candidates go head to head on Israel’s future – and in English, too BY BEN SALES TEL AVIV (JTA) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Labor Chairman Isaac Herzog won’t be debating each other ahead of Israel’s March election, but English speakers in Tel Aviv who packed an event hall here got the next best thing: Candidates from five parties came out for a panelstyle discussion on topics ranging from negotiations with the Palestinians to Iran nuclear policy to strengthening U.S.Israel relations. (All the major parties were represented except for Netanyahu’s Likud, whose candidate arrived for the debate but had to leave before it began to attend a family event.) These are the candidates who appeared
Ayelet Shaked, Jewish Home
The candidate and her party: Shaked is a rising star in Jewish Home, a right-wing, religious Zionist party. At first blush Shaked, a secular Tel Aviv resident, would seem an odd fit in Jewish Home. But she has proved popular and ranks third after party chair Naftali Bennett and Housing Minister Uri Ariel on the party’s election slate. She has also been a vocal presence in Knesset debates and in the media — weighing in on relations with the Palestinians and Israeli policy toward African migrants — since be-
coming a lawmaker in 2013. Policy positions: Jewish Home believes that achieving a two-state solution through Israeli-Palestinian talks and territorial compromise is a losing proposition. Instead, the party wants Israel to annex 60 percent of the West Bank although Shaked acknowledged during the debate that the plan was “not realistic” in the short term. The party supports Netanyahu’s hard-line stance against Iran’s nuclear program. What she said: “We should manage the conflict and not give up on any centimeter of land. Yes, it’s not perfect, but it’s better than any other alternative.”
insists that Israel must tend better to U.S. relations and has called on Netanyahu to cancel his March speech before Congress that has stirred controversy. The prime minister has been criticized for agreeing to speak stateside two weeks before the Israeli elections and not following protocol by failing to check with President Barack Obama. What he said: “I’ve racked up more hours with Obama than any Israeli.... Irrespective of the difference between us, he is the elected representative of our most important ally in the world, and we have to learn to manage this relationship.”
Michael Oren, Kulanu
The candidate and his party: Peri, who is fifth on the centrist Yesh Atid slate, is a former head of Israel’s Shin Bet intelligence agency and served as science and technology minister until last year. Yesh Atid is the Knesset’s largest party but is middling in the polls. In this campaign, the party has targeted domestic issues like fighting government corruption and working on economic reform. Policy positions: Yesh Atid contends that bilateral IsraeliPalestinian negotiations have failed and has proposed a regional conference with willing Arab nations like Egypt and Jordan to advance Israeli-Palestinian (and broader Middle
The candidate and his party: Oren, Israel’s former ambassador to Washington, is running with the new centrist party Kulanu and ranks fourth on its slate. While the party is focused on lowering Israel’s cost of living, Oren is looking at improving Israel’s international relations. The New York native will likely be the next Knesset’s only American-born lawmaker. Policy positions: Oren contends that the peace process has failed but that Israel should leave the door open for future talks. In the meantime, he says, Israel should improve conditions on the ground for Palestinians in the West Bank. Oren
East) peace. Peri opposes Netanyahu’s scheduled March speech before the U.S. Congress. What he said: “Those countries are ready to sit with Israel. To reach a settlement is possible, and to [have] bilateral negotiations with the Palestinians is possible inside this regional conference.”
Hilik Bar, Zionist Union (LaborHatnuah)
The candidate and his party: Bar is the secretary-general of Israel’s left-wing Labor Party, which combined with the centrist Hatnuah in December to form the Zionist Union. Bar, seventh on the Zionist Union slate, is a vocal advocate for Israeli-Palestinian peace. He chairs the Knesset caucuses for promoting a two-state solution and strengthening Israeli-European relations. Tied with Likud in the polls, Zionist Union has pledged to improve Israel’s relations with its allies. Policy positions: Bar says Israel needs to achieve a twostate solution because the alternative is either apartheid or a binational state with the Palestinians. He admits that negotiations would be difficult but says a Zionist Union government would push hard for a peace accord. While his party supported Netanyahu’s stance on preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, Bar believes the con-
Yaakov Peri, Yesh Atid
gressional speech by the prime minister is not worth harming U.S.-Israeli relations. What he said: “A two-state solution is the only possible and viable solution for a true Zionist — a respectable divorce and not a Catholic marriage with them.”
Tamar Zandberg, Meretz
The candidate and her party: Zandberg, a former Tel Aviv city councilwoman and fifth on the Meretz slate, is an assertive advocate of women’s rights and religion-state separation in the Knesset. Her left-wing Meretz party has seen its poll position dip as Zionist Union’s has risen. To bounce back, Meretz is positioning itself as the “real left” and pledging to oppose any right-wing government. Policy positions: Zandberg was more optimistic than fellow candidates regarding Israeli-Palestinian peace. She says the blueprint for a peace treaty is well known and accepted internationally, and that a leftwing government could achieve a peace treaty. Meretz is dovish on security issues, and Zandberg opposes Netanyahu’s March speech in Washington. What she said: “If this government and the ones before it were very clear about their right-wing ideology in all aspects, the next one should be very clear in its left-wing ideology.”
LETTERS Re: Stanley Aronson (Jan. 30)
Stanley Aronson’s demise grieves me terribly. He was one of those rare individuals who made a truly great difference in this world, and in my world. He was a very good friend; we communicated frequently by email. In fact, he sent me every one of his columns before they were published, and asked for my opinion. My last visit with him, a few months ago, was filled with hours of uplifting, enriching conversation – and much laughter. Succinctly, he was a mentor, a kindred spirit, a true gentle-
man and scholar who will always be remembered as such. We all owe Dr. Aronson a great debt, as he was an incredibly affable and gentle man with a brilliant intellect and tender soul. He was a role model par excellence who earned the respect and trust of all who were lucky enough to meet and know him. He will never be forgotten!
It is with deep regret I read of Dr. Aronson’s passing. I certainly admired his articles here, but our paths crossed in many ways. We came from the same neighborhood in Brooklyn and many times when he wrote about his school days I would email him related bits of my childhood. We lived within one or two blocks of each other. In Brooklyn our paths did not cross because he was a few years older than I. However that did change in Rhode Island. I was the president of Washington County Hospice when the powers that be wanted to merge all with Rhode Island Hospital. Long story, and so many of the
players have passed on that I feel like a dinosaur. However, Dr. Aronson and I were honored at a dinner given at the Marriott Hotel in Providence where we were both awarded lifetime honorary membership in Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island. Dr. Aronson’s expertise in the medical field, his knowledge of the world we live in, his humanity in thinking of the frailty of humankind, and his strong belief in Judaism made him a most admired man. We will all miss him.
Mel B. Yoken, Ph.D. Chancellor Professor Emeritus of French language and Literature University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
Rose Epstein Wakefield, R.I.
Re: Egyptian speech (Dec. 28)
Upon a world marred by Islamic turmoil, terror, and violence, a gift of inestimable value has been bestowed. On Dec. 28, 2014, in a speech directed at Islamic religious scholars and clerics, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi said, “It is inconceivable that the ideology we sanctify should make our entire nation a source of concern, danger, killing, and destruction all over the world. Honorable Imam (the Grand Sheik of Al-Azhar), you bear responsibility before Allah. The world in its entirety awaits your words, because the Islamic nation is being torn apart, destroyed, and is headed to perdition. We ourselves are bringing it to perdition. We need to revolutionize our reli-
Dani Stieglitz’s “Letter Home” misstates the EU position on Hamas. The EU court held that there were technical errors when Hamas was classified as a terrorist organization. On these procedural grounds the court held that Hamas’ classification among terrorist organizations should be delisted. However, the court issued a three-month stay so that current sanctions on Hamas could
gion…” The extraordinary, unprecedented courage of President el-Sissi in taking this position, endangering his life, stands in stark contrast to the misguided message of world lay, political and religious leaders, who deceive the public by denying that the atrocities, which President el-Sissi seeks to correct, are of Islamic origin. The significance to world peace of these momentous words, spoken not by our heads-of-state or religions, but, amazingly, by a leader of the Muslim world, and the head of the most populous Arab nation, preposterously, falls on deaf ears. It is incumbent on our President, Congress, their equiva-
Re: Letter Home (Jan. 30) continue while the EU foreign secretaries prepared an appeal against its decision. A Google search shows that the EU as an entity still regards Hamas as a terrorist organization. I think it is also important to dissociate the position of the EU from that of the anti-Israelis in the BDS crowd and their PC acolytes. The EU may not be vocal supporter of Israel on all issues, but it is not an enemy.
lents in the free world, and lay and ecclesiastic leaders, to express appreciation and support to President el-Sissi for his assistance. Criticism of harsh measures against Muslim Brotherhood, opponents of his regime, should be set aside. In any society, order must come before justice and freedom. In like vein, the Muslim community in the United States must be exhorted to openly and positively endorse and support President el-Sissi’s courageous action. To repeat President el-Sissi’s words, in his selfless move to bring peace to the world: “We need to revolutionize our religion.” Robert I. Lappin Swampscott, Mass.
Then again, since Hamas is the de facto government of Gaza, perhaps the court and the EU should now classify Gaza as a belligerent state, which has declared itself at war with Israel. That would at least clarify to Israel’s critics that aggression by Gaza draws a legitimate Israeli response, however sad the results. Michael F. Sheff Barrington, R.I.
10 | February 13, 2015
Ongoing Alliance Kosher Senior Café. Kosher lunch and program every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Noon lunch; 1 p.m. program. $3 lunch donation from individuals 60+ or under 60 with disabilities. Neal or Elaine, 401421-4111, ext. 107. Am David Kosher Senior Café. Kosher lunch and program every weekday. Temple Am David, 40 Gardiner St., Warwick. 11:15 a.m. program; noon lunch. $3 lunch donation from individuals 60+ or under 60 with disabilities. Elaine or Steve 401-732-0047.
Through Feb. 20 “Alive” by Liliana Fijman. gallery (401) at the Dwares JCC. What can plant fiber do? Liliana has a fascination with plant textures and their forms. When plants die, nothing is lost. Rather, they are transformed into visual expressions. 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. For more information, contact Erin Moseley, director of Arts & Culture, at 401-4214111, ext. 108, or emoseley@jewishallianceri.org
Through | March 5 21 Plein Air Artists. Temple Habonim Gallery. Thirty-six works by 21 artists, part of the summer Lifelong Learning Collaborative class. The show includes works from 2014 in oils, acrylics, pastels, pencil and ink. Instructors were Bunny Fain, Roberta Segal and Mary Snowden. 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington. Hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and by appointment. For information, call 401-2456536, or email gallery@templehabonim. org.
Saturday | Feb. 14 Kids’ Night Out. 5:30-8:30 p.m. Dwares JCC. Activities include swimming and a movie. $10 per child (kindergarten through 5th grade). For more information or to register, contact Shannon Boucher at 401-421-4111, ext. 147.
Sunday | Feb. 15 Jewish Meditation. 9:30 a.m. Judaism has a long tradition of meditation and contemplation. Course is geared for beginners looking to try something new. Sessions are 30 minutes and will consist of education, discussion and 10-15 minutes of sitting as we build our practice together. Beth Sholom downstairs chapel. 275 Camp St., Providence. 401-621-9393. Purim Mitzvah Day. 1:30-4 p.m. The Phyllis Siperstein Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence. Hamentaschen making, costume parade, storytime, crafts and more…. All the Hamentaschen will be delivered to local nursing homes! Community service credits available. Sponsored by Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, The Phyllis
CALENDAR | NATION Siperstein Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence, Jewish Seniors Agency, and URI Hillel. For more information, contact Michelle Cicchitelli at 401-421-4111, ext. 178 or mcicchitelli@jewishallianceri.org. Winter Wonderland Walk 2. 1:30-3:15 p.m. Get out and stretch your legs in Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge in South Kingstown. Gentle walk on about two miles of trails; appropriate for children and families. Spectacular water features. Dress for the weather. Meet at the Refuge at 1:20. Walk is limited to 15 people. Sponsored by Congregation Am David Havurah. Call Mark at 401-248-5010 to register, and last minute cancellation. Sunday Music at Bay Spring. 3-4:30 p.m. Michael Fishel Bresler and Phil Edmonds perform originals and traditional Irish and Jewish melodies at Bay Spring Community Center, 170 Narragansett Ave., Barrington.
Monday | Feb. 16 Jewish Philosophy Reading Group. 7:45-9 p.m. Study important works of Jewish thought. Participants are asked to prepare short selections of reading in advance. This session is selections from Marc Shapiro’s “The Limits of Orthodox Theology.” Beth Sholom. 275 Camp St., Providence. 401-621-9393.
Tuesday | Feb. 17 TNT! (Tuesday Night Talmud). 8-9 p.m. Open to men, women and teens of all levels and backgrounds. This is a collaborative group study of the first chapter of Masechet Berachot, tractate dealing with blessings. Meets weekly in the rabbi’s study at Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. For information, 401-621-9393.
Wednesday | Feb. 18
Why Has Israel Public Relations Been So Mediocre? 7 p.m. Prof. Sam Lehman-Wilzig, chairman, School of Communication, Bar-Ilan University, explains the reasons behind Israel’s setbacks in explaining its policies to the world and the recent changes for the better. Admission is $5; students are free. Kosher refreshments served. Dwares JCC Social Hall. RSVP to Lehman-Wilzig-eventbrite.com. Sponsored by StandWithUs Rhode Island.
Sunday | Feb. 22
Youth Improvisation Workshop with Providence Improv Guild. Dwares JCC. Ages 5-9, 1-2 p.m. Ages 10-13, 2-3 p.m. Ages 14-18, 3-4 p.m. Price per workshop: $10 | Members: $8. Participants will show what they have learned in the last 15 minutes of each workshop. For more information or to register, contact Seth Finkle at 401421-4111, ext. 146. Jewish Meditation. 9:30 a.m. Judaism has a long tradition of meditation and contemplation. Course is geared
Calendar Submissions FEB. 27 | Issue, CAMP – must be received by FEB. 18. MARCH 13 | issue, SRING HOME & GARDEN – must be received by MARCH 4.
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.
The Jewish Voice for beginners looking to try something new. Sessions are 30 minutes and will consist of education, discussion and 10-15 minutes of sitting as we build our practice together. Beth Sholom downstairs chapel. 275 Camp St., Providence. 401-621-9393.
Monday | Feb. 23 Jewish Disability Awareness Month. From Awareness to Inclusion: “I’m Ready” & “A Pure Prayer.” 7-8:30 p.m. Dwares JCC. Two trigger films from Ma’aleh Film School. In the film “I’m Ready,” the special relationship between an elderly father and his son with Down syndrome breaks down when the father’s memory begins to fail due to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The collapse of their stable and happy routine forces upon the two a painful resolution of their problems. In the film “A Pure Prayer,” it is nearly Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement), and the synagogue is still short of a tenth man to make up the quorum for communal prayer. Schwartzman has no idea what to do. Rosa, his wife, has a solution—to bring Menachem, their son with special needs, to the synagogue. Menachem is 30, but he has never taken part in communal prayers. Sponsored by Ruderman Family Foundation, Yachad, Jewish Family Service, Temple EmanuEl and Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. For more information, contact Larry Katz, Director of Jewish Life & Learning, at lkatz@jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 179.
Tuesday | Feb. 24 TNT! (Tuesday Night Talmud). 8-9 p.m. Open to men, women and teens of all levels and backgrounds. This is a collaborative group study of the first chapter of Masechet Berachot, tractate dealing with blessings. Meets weekly in the rabbi’s study at Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. For information, 401-621-9393. Early Jewish Holdings in the Rhode Island Historical Society Archives. 2-3 p.m. Founded in 1822, the Rhode Island Historical Society is the fourth oldest state historical society in the United States. Tour the Archives, including a visit to the rarely accessible storage area where historical collections are housed and processed. Items of Jewish interest, taken from the extensive holdings of mid 17th century Newport Jewry, will be showcased. Admission is $7, payable at the door. Tour limit of 15 people. Snow date March 3. Strict registration deadline of Feb. 15. Sponsored by Congregation Am David. RSVP to Mark at 401-248-5010 to register, for more information and last minute weather cancellation.
Wednesday | Feb. 25 Divest This! How to Stop the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Attack on Israel. 7 p.m. Jon Haber, an authority on the subject, speaks. Admission is $5; students are free. Kosher refreshments served. Dwares JCC Social Hall. RSVP to Divest-This-eventbrite.com. Sponsored by StandWithUs Rhode Island.
Friday | Feb. 27 PJ Library Purim Storytime. 10-11 a.m. Dwares JCC. Enjoy a PJ Library story, songs, movement, crafts and a holidaythemed snack. All children ages 5 and under are welcome. RSVP or more information, contact Michelle Cicchitelli
at 401-421-4111, ext. 178 or mcicchitelli@jewishallianceri.org.
Sunday | March 1
Purim Carnival. 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Fundraiser to benefit CRAFTY (Temple Sinai’s youth group). Prizes, games and food at this fun event. Come dressed in a costume – there will be a prize for the best dressed. There will also be a tzedakah component – bring a jar of plain, creamy peanut butter and receive a free prize ticket (one per family). Tickets for games and food will be sold outside of the social hall during the carnival. Please RSVP to Adam Cohen, CRAFTY adviser at crafty@templesinairi.org, or to Dottie in the temple office at 401-
942-8350. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston.
Sunday | March 29
Early Childhood Center Heroes Dinner. 6 p.m. Dwares JCC. Join us as we honor our David C. Isenberg Family Early Childhood Center Heroes David. C. Isenberg for his philanthropy and Ellen Judy Nagle for her 25 years of dedication. Dinner, dancing and auction. Sponsored by the David C. Isenberg Family Early Childhood Center Parent Committee. Admission $54. For more information, contact Nicole Katzman at 401-421-4111, ext. 180 or nkatzman@jewishallianceri.org.
Foundation for Jewish Camp launching four pilot efforts NEW YORK (JTA) — The Foundation for Jewish Camp is launching two pilot programs to benefit Jewish day camps, as well as two programs for overnight camps. The programs, funded with grants from various foundations, are demonstration projects that the Foundation for Jewish Camp, or FJC, hopes to expand and replicate in the future. They are a camp “accelerator,” an initiative to help camps be more inclusive of children with disabilities, a Hebrew immersion program and a “Jewish coaching” project. New Camp Accelerator, which provides consulting and funding to help establish new overnight camps, is currently working with URJ 6 Points Sports Academy West and Ramah Northern California, both of which plan to open in the summer of 2016. The FJC Ruderman Inclusion Initiative will help four camps hire and train inclusion coordinators to increase the number of children with disabilities participating there. The camps
are Camp Young Judea Texas, URJ Camp Harlam, Camp B’nai Brith Oregon and Camp JCA Shalom. Arevim Hebrew Immersion at Camp will help Jewish day camps add a Hebrew-immersion curriculum to their programming. The Jewish Coaching Project will provide coaches, cohort learnings and communities of practice focused on helping four New York-area day camps define their Jewish mission and maximize the Jewish outcomes they seek for their campers and staff. “FJC believes these four grants will have significant impact not only on the local programs but also in creating models for expansion across North America,” Jeremy Fingerman, the FJC’s CEO, said in a news release. The mission of the FJC, which works with more than 155 nonprofit Jewish camps in North America, is to increase the number of children participating in immersive Jewish experiences each summer.
February 13, 2015 |
FOOD
thejewishvoice.org
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Book offers tips on eating real food for better health BY FRAN OSTENDORF fostendorf@jewishallianceri.org I’ve heard about several cookbooks in the last few weeks. But one, “Living a Real Life with Real Food: How to Get Healthy, Lose Weight and Stay Energized – the Kosher Way,” (Skyhorse Publishing, 2014) particularly appealed to me with its light fresh cover and promise to keep you healthy and energized. Beth Warren wants to help you improve your health. She hopes to accomplish that goal with her book. Her plan is fairly simple and the book includes 50 recipes and tips to do this while keeping kosher. Warren is a nutritionist and registered dietitian with a private practice in Brooklyn, New York. She offers advice and meal plans as well as a supermarket guide and tips on eating out. She includes seven essential steps to living a real life with real food. Everything is centered around what she calls “real food.” What is that? Fresh, whole and minimally processed ingredients, according to the book. And they come from all food groups. Nothing is forbidden because she’s an advocate of eating a wide variety of foods. In the journey through her book, there’s lots of practical advice and a lot of information on how the laws of kashrut apply. A number of illustrative stories feature real people from her private practice. If nothing else, you’re going to learn a little more about real food – what’s good and bad – and the latest information on healthy eating. Warren’s recipes include
some interesting and simple preparations like these. Recipes are reprinted with permission.
Mini Fish Sticks with Homemade Tartar Dipping Sauce (pictured on book cover)
Serves 10
Ingredients Mini Fish Sticks 1 tablespoon 1% reduced-fat milk 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 1 pound halibut fillets, cut into 20 (1-inch) strips 1 cup whole-grain panko breadcrumbs 1/4 cup flaxmeal 3/8 teaspoon kosher salt, divided 3/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided 3/8 teaspoon garlic powder 3/8 teaspoon onion powder 2 tablespoons canola oil, divided Dipping Sauce 1/4 cup light sour cream 3 tablespoons canola mayonnaise 2 tablespoons bread-and-butter pickles, finely chopped 2 teaspoons capers, minced
Directions
Combine milk and eggs in a large bowl: stir with a whisk. Add fish and toss gently to coat. Place flaxmeal, panko, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large zip-top bag. Add fish to panko mixture; seal bag. Shake bag gently to coat fish. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add half of fish; cook 4 minutes or until done, turning occasionally to brown all sides.
Repeat procedure with remaining 1 tablespoon oil and remaining fish. In the meantime, combine sour cream, mayonnaise, pickles, capers, 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper in a small bowl for tartar dipping sauce. Serve sauce with fish. Per serving (fish sticks) Calories 143.5; Fat 6.0 g (Saturated 0.7 g); Cholesterol 56.7 mg; Sodium 68.8 mg; Carbohydrate 5.8 g; Fiber 1.6 g; Protein 15.2 g. Per serving (sauce) Calories 31.5; Fat 2.3 g (Saturated 0.5 g); Cholesterol 2.5 mg; Sodium 98.7 mg; Carbohydrate 1.7 g; Fiber 0.0 g; Protein 0.5 g.
Salmon Burger
Serves 8
Ingredients
2 pounds wild salmon, ground 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped 1 scallion, chopped Juice from 1/2 of a lemon 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder 1 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Directions
Combine fish, spices and lemon juice. Roll one small handful of mixture in a ball and flatten into a patty. Grill on grill pan or broil, 4 minutes on each side. Per serving: Calories 165.6; Fat 7.2 g (Saturated 1.1 g); Cholesterol 62.7 mg; Sodium 340.7 mg; Carbohydrate 1.0 g; Fiber 0.2 g; Protein 22.7 g.
Brighten winter meals with vibrant seasonal ingredients StatePoint – Following a healthy eating plan doesn’t mean eating the same dish every day. In fact, as the seasons change, so should your meals and their ingredients, as each season offers a unique variety of fresh produce. A boost of nutrients is especially important during winter, when nearly half of Americans admit they feel less healthy and energetic, and fewer than 30 percent are consuming the daily recommended amount of fruit, according to recent research by Toluna on behalf of the Florida Department of Citrus. Salads provide a fun, delicious opportunity to experiment with produce at its peak. With this focus on seasonality and flavor, cookbook author Emily Richards is offering a recipe for Grapefruit and Jicama Vietnamese Salad, a nice addition to serve alongside your favorite protein for a balanced meal. “Including Florida grapefruit
stick size strips and place in a large bowl. Add cabbage, grapefruit segments, carrot and cucumber. In a small bowl, whisk together grapefruit juice, soy sauce,
PHOTO | THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CITRUS
Florida Grapefruit and Jicama Vietnamese Salad in this dish adds a welcome touch of natural sweetness,” says Richards. “Using in-season produce helps make this dish as fresh as it is flavorful.”
Grapefruit and Jicama Vietnamese Salad Yield: 8 (1-cup) servings
Ingredients
1 small jicama, peeled 3 cups shredded Napa cabbage 2 ruby red grapefruit, peeled
and segmented 1 carrot, shredded 1 cup diced English cucumber 3 tablespoons ruby red grapefruit juice 2 tablespoons each soy sauce and rice vinegar 1 large clove garlic, minced 2 tablespoons liquid honey 2 teaspoons Sriracha chili sauce
Directions
Thinly slice jicama and stack slices. Cut into 2-inch match-
vinegar, garlic, honey and chili sauce. Pour over salad and toss to coat. Let stand 10 minutes before serving for flavors to develop.
COMMUNITY
12 | February 13, 2015
The Jewish Voice
Double Chai Society looking for young leaders BY HILLARY SCHULMAN hschulman@jewishallianceri.org
Everywhere you look, you see an article or a blog post about the millennial generation. All of the focus is on those people who are in college or just leaving college. The pressure is on them because they are our future. But what about Generation X? What about the people between the millennials and the baby boomers? What is their impact on our communities? The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island recognizes their impact and is determined to do something with it. The Rhode Island Jewish community is aging; that’s a fact. But demographics show
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that young Jewish professionals and families are slowly but steadily moving to Rhode Island. So, why are they not engaged in their Jewish heritage? In the past year, new initiatives like (401)j have allowed a young Jewish community to emerge and engage with the rest of the community. To this end, the Jewish Alliance has launched the Double Chai Society. The Double Chai Society is a new initiative that will engage young, Jewish leaders between 30 and 50 years old and will allow them to become more invested in the Alliance and in the community. The Double Chai Society, donors who give at least $360 to the Alliance Annual Campaign, will focus
on engaging and expanding community connections with an emphasis on philanthropy and education about the Jewish community. Steve and Emily Shalansky are at the helm of this initiative and have formed a steering committee of Susan Gertsacov, David Soforenko, Bethany Sutton and Jeffrey Isaacs. The Double Chai Society will ensure the continuity of our Jewish leaders and our Jewish future. The goal is to help our commonly overlooked demographic fall back in love with the mission of the Alliance and what it can offer them and their families. “We are all excited that the Alliance is again focusing on this tremendously gifted but
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PHOTO | JEWISH ALLIANCE
Top row (left to right): Steve Shalansky and Jeffrey Isaacs. Bottom row (left to right): Bethany Sutton and Susan Gertsacov. Not pictured: Emily Shalansky and David Soforenko often underutilized community asset. The vision is to connect to disconnected Gen Xers or engage with the past constituents we believe are looking to re-engage with us,” said David Soforenko. Fellow Double Chai Society committee member, Susan Gertsacov, agrees with Soforenko. “I am excited to be a part of the Double Chai Society. I can’t wait to work with everyone to make this community more vibrant now and in the future,” she said.
Thank You! 7 projects
closed to date
Come join the Double Chai Society at their fi rst event on May 7 for a Double Chai cocktail party. For more information, contact Hillary Schulman at hschulman@jewishallianceri. org or Erin Moseley at emoseley@jewishallianceri.org. HILLARY SCHULMAN is the development associate in philanthropy at the Jewish Alliance.
t s b J raising funds to raise the community
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PETS
thejewishvoice.org
s part of our annual Pets issue, we asked you to send us photos of your pets. Due to recent winter weather “events,” we didn’t give you much time. But the photos came in. Beginning on this page, you’ll see a parade of Jewish Voice readers’ finest scattered throughout our Pets section. Don’t worry about which one is cutest. Nobody should have to choose one dog or cat over another. Just enjoy! And thanks for participating.
February 13, 2015 |
A
BRANDY AND MURRAY – Liz Fried, E. Greenwich.
COCO – Liz Fried, E. Greenwich.
FINN – Karen Clarkson, Pawtucket.
MOCHA – Liz Fried, E. Greenwich.
CHICHI AND MAURICE – Dave Schwartz, Coventry.
GRACIE – Judy Siegel, Providence.
13
PETS
14 | February 13, 2015
The Jewish Voice
The adventures of Tom Sawyer, whoever he may be BY IRINA MISSIURO imissiuro@jewishallianceri.org Hi, my name is Tom Sawyer, and I’m having an identity crisis. My mom was feral, according to those who knew her, but I don’t like to judge. After she abandoned me, I left the farm with a woman whose hair matched my fur. Maybe we were related? It’s not important though; the love I felt for her was unconditional. The woman was good to me, teaching me how to behave like a proper gentleman and feeding me wet food twice a day. Her husband was the best thing about her, though. He had the most comfortable stomach and always let me lie on it while he stared at the TV. Now that I’m with this other family, I miss that
stomach! But I’m getting ahead of myself. I don’t know who I am. If I come from feral stock, why am I not living in the wild? And if I’m domesticated, why do I frequently get the urge to go beyond the French doors and run around, dipping my paws into the wet white stuff that I like to lick off the shoes? It’s not as filling as giblets in gravy, but it’s still delectable. You have to be quick, though, because it doesn’t taste as good from a puddle on the floor. So, back to the crisis. The old couple used to call me Tom Sawyer. Personally, I always felt that the name was a bit long. Now, these new owners think they can do what they like. They showed up at Petco, removed me from my
cage and placed me on the boy’s lap. I attempted an escape, but they caught me. I was humiliated as they took turns holding me, as if I were some sort of a delicious tuna fish. When they signed the papers, I knew I passed the cuteness test. I’m not saying this to brag, simply stating the obvious. After all, there were other cages there on the table. That daring boy was the one who triggered the crisis. He was too lazy to pronounce my full name and kept calling me Sawyer. Then, the rest of them chimed in with their own versions. If these humans can’t make up their minds who I am, how am I supposed to? Am I Tom? Tom Sawyer? Sawyer? TomCat? Tomichka? Tomchik? Wait, am I Russian?! You see what I mean – it’s enough to send one to the catnip shop. Don’t get the wrong idea, please. I did try the stuff a couple of times, but I don’t indulge. Too much of a good thing; no need to mess with your head like that. There are other ways to find happiness. I prefer to look for spontaneous opportunities to amuse myself. For instance, I like to pretend that I’m a scarf when the mom is reading in bed. When I do that, she can no longer see the book and is forced to pet me. Let her think I wrap myself around her neck out of love. On the night she doesn’t give me enough attention, I jump onto the bed once she falls asleep; one has to stand up for himself … sleeping comfortably on a mattress doesn’t hurt either. Also, when the family is watching an Italian movie, I enjoy resting on the TV stand, so that the subtitles are out of view. It’s time to learn a new language, folks! But life’s not all fun and games. I do help around the house quite a bit. Whenever the mom is cutting up a roast chicken, I’m standing nearby, waiting to gather all the bits she doesn’t want. I don’t even mind eating the fatty skin – the sacrifices I make for this family! Not to mention my work on their furniture – what a difference I’ve made! Before, all their barstools were smooth and boring, just like their dining chairs. Now, they all have beautiful texture. You’d think the people would appreciate the effort I’ve put into adding
COURTESY | IRINA MISSIURO
Tom with his humans (top and bottom photos). distinguishing characteristics to their surroundings. You’d be wrong. The same goes for my typing assistance. When the mom is beginning to look as if she doesn’t know what to write, I sometimes offer help by climbing on top of her keyboard and typing for a bit. Do I hear thanks in return? Not unless “hooligan” is Russian for thank you. I’m not bitter though, just sad. Whenever I feel unappreciated, I like to sit on a windowsill and
MAGGIE – Judy Humphrey, N. Attleboro, Mass.
watch humans pass by. They too look like they don’t know who they are. Maybe I’m not having an identity crisis – maybe it’s our permanent state on this planet – to wonder and to question and to discover? Now I’m all verklempt. Wait, am I Jewish?! EDITOR’S NOTE: Tom Sawyer is a Providence resident. He has two siblings – Andrew and Sasha. Tom works as manager of the Missiuro household.
BELLA – GM DeVecchis, Cranston
PETS
thejewishvoice.org
February 13, 2015 |
15
First Rhode Island winter is a hit BY SIMON LICHTER slichter@jewishallianceri.org My roommate loves her fi rst winter here in Rhode Island. Her name is Sugi, and she has Siberian blood running through her veins, making her nearly immune to the bitter cold of New England. She recently discovered the beautiful Lincoln Woods State Park, where she meets other people with their four-legged pals. Sometimes I can barely keep up with her as she explores the trails, always seeming to be in search of something grand. On less adventurous days, I get pulled to Blackstone Boulevard. Sugi taught me that running isn’t just fun when it’s nice outside, but it can be exciting in the pouring rain and in the freezing snow, too. When my roommate unpacked her stuff and chose that special spot for her bed, she immediately wanted to relax at a spa. My fi rst reaction was this girl was going to
be really high-maintenance, but I quickly learned it was just that she wanted to look her best when meeting all the dogs in our neighborhood.
boutique on Hope Street, is where Sugi loves to grab a bite or get a beauty treatment. At fi rst, Sugi was nervous about moving to Providence from her Boston home. From what I can observe though, the transition has been seamless. Rhode Island has all the bells and whistles of Boston in a less traffic-congested environment. When the snow melts and Sugi sheds her winter layers, you may catch her dipping her toes in the Atlantic or socializing at the many dog parks. If your dog is having anxiety and missing meals over whether or not Rhode Island will be a good fit, just remember this story about Sugi. As Maimonides is famous for saying, “the risk of a wrong decision is preferable to the terror of indecision.”
“Rhode Island has all the bells and whistles of Boston in a less congested environment.” My friends suggested she try Pooches Pet Salon on the East Side. I relayed the message and joined her for the trip. I must admit, the spa was well worth the money. After a pedicure, shampoo and brush, she was looking radiant. Sugi strutted around with a bandana around her neck, turning the heads of those dogs she was so eager to meet. Before the snow came, after work we would go for a ride to Gano Dog Park to play with the other dogs and
Simon and Sugi occasionally catch a glimpse of rowing teams practicing
COURTESY | SIMON LICHTER
in the Seekonk River. The Cheeky Hound, a fashionable
SIMON LICHTER is the planning associate of the Living on the Edge Initiative and coordinator of Jboost.org at the Jewish Alliance.
Take care of pets this winter, keeping them safe in the cold BY IRINA MISSIURO imissiuro@jewishallianceri.org
be bathed, use a moisturizing shampoo. Brush your pet often to get rid of dead hair, improve skin and stimulate blood circulation.
You love New England for all the beauty the region offers. However, living here entails withstanding its less-thanpleasant winters. And if you, the owner of multiple parkas, hats and scarves, are complaining, can you imagine what your pets would say, were they able to talk? Make their lives easier by anticipating their challenges during frigid weather.
Outside care
Skin care
Start with preventing chapped paws and flaking skin by humidifying your home. If your dog is long-haired, trim its fur to avoid the formation of ice balls. However, to keep them warm don’t shave your pets down to the skin. Before a walk, massage petroleum jelly into your pet’s paw pads; repeat the process after
toweling-off. If your pet’s paws get irritated, wipe them during walks. Afterward, wash and dry their feet. Steer clear of bathing your pet too often during the cold months. When your pet must
During below-freezing temperatures, keep your pets inside to prevent frostbite and hypothermia. If you must take your pet outside, help shorthaired ones retain body heat by dressing them in a sweater. De-icers are full of dangerous chemicals that can cause toxicity. Minimize pain from salt crystals and prevent poisoning via antifreeze and melting agents by putting booties on your pet’s feet. Better yet, invest in pet-friendly ice melt. Never leave your pet alone in the car during cold weather. Also, if you have an outdoor cat, chances are it’s sleeping under your car’s hood. If you start the motor, you can kill the cat with
the fan belt. Bang on the hood loudly before turning on the engine. Keep pets away from the garage and immediately clean up any leaks from your car’s radiator. Avoid ponds and lakes when walking dogs as the ice can be too thin to support their weight. Since snow and ice hide recognizable scents, your dog or cat may get lost easily. Don’t let your pet off the leash and ensure that it is always wearing ID tags. If you come across a lost pet, document all the relevant details and contact an animal control agency.
Everyday care
In the beginning of winter, take your pet to a veterinarian for an exam.
Prepare an emergency/disaster kit in case of a power outage. Stock up on enough food and water to last five days. Pet-proof your house by ensuring that your furnace is efficient and installing carbon monoxide detectors. If using space heaters, check on them once in a while to make sure that they haven’t been knocked down. If you have a puppy, papertrain it inside. Slightly increase your pet’s food and water intake to account for the extra energy pets burn to stay warm. Offer your pet a draft-free, above-the-floor place to sleep. CONSULTED SOURCES: aspca.org, avma.org, humanesociety.org.
“My dad makes my teeth sparkle, and Uncle Wes makes my coat shine.” – Saydee Rubinstein Fluffiest Daughter of Dr. Michael and Linda Rubinstein
Wes Goodno, owner of Classic Clips, is celebrating his 25th year as the groomer to the stars.
Classic Clips Pet Salon All Breeds Pet Grooming “Where Your Pet is Our Specialty” EVIE – Rachel and Lynne Bell
259 Waterman Avenue East Providence, RI 02914 401-438-3888 401-351-3310
16 | February 13, 2015
PETS
The Jewish Voice
Jane Linden, Providence River Animal Hospital owner, talks pets BY IRINA MISSIURO imissiuro@jewishallianceri.org If you ask Dr. Jane Linden, the owner of Providence River Animal Hospital, how her family of four manages to take care of their four dogs and two cats, she’ll shrug, “We just do. We have a routine down.” When you love animals as much as Linden does, you make it work – they are worth the trouble. For Linden, four-legged friends have always been more than pets. When she was still in elementary school, her family welcomed a Labrador named Tara, a dog that not only helped Linden cope with her father’s death, but also inspired her to eventually become a veterinarian. While Linden has been passionate about animals since the age of 9, when she met Tara, she hasn’t always known that they would guide her career choice. In 1981, the New Jersey native arrived in Providence to study Judaic studies at Brown University. She continued her education at Boston University, where she concentrated on social work for nine years. After receiving a master’s degree and witnessing insurance cutbacks, as well as little growth development in patients with chronic mental illness, Linden became disenchanted with the milieu of constant distress. She went back to school once again, taking pre-vet classes at the University of Rhode Island and ultimately attending Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine, where she studied for four years. After her 1999 graduation, Linden trained for a year in small animal medicine and surgery at Rowley Memorial Animal Hospital in Springfield, Mass. For the next five years, she worked in a private practice in Norton, Mass. Forced to wear a white coat, Linden felt she was asked to follow someone else’s idea of what an animal hospital should be. Determined to remain true to herself, Linden knew that she
NEKO – Diana Fortes
Jane Linden and friend. couldn’t be the kind of a veterinarian that she hoped to be in this clinic. She wanted to sit on the floor with her patients, to maintain a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere not only for the pets, but also for their owners. Linden yearned to open a calmnessinducing place that would beguile with care, knowledge and warmth. She also knew where she wanted to open her dream hospital – Providence; “I love this city.” Saddened that young people are beginning to leave due to a struggling economy, Linden is hopeful that the capital city will be great once again. Ten years ago, she saw a need for an animal hospital and, knowing that she was the type of person who wanted to own one, established Providence River Animal Hospital (PRAH). Now she gets to wear fleece, khakis and colored jeans to work. No more sterile scrubs! She believes that her practice differs from others. “It’s
the kind of place where people know that, when they bring their pet, we’re there to hear what they have to say.” Linden explains that they serve cli-
ents from every area of the city, and not everyone can afford all kinds of treatment. That’s why they offer a variety of options. The staff listens to the concerns their clients voice and fulfills those needs accordingly. Linden says that even though it’s an animal hospital, 90 percent of her job involves dealing with people. She considers the nurses to be the lucky ones – they’re performing patient
PHOTO | (ADD) VENTURES
care, while she is consoling the owners – people who have sick pets. They’re scared, anxious and upset, requiring a gentle approach. Linden admits, “Being able to help them through [their ordeal] is my favorite part of the job.” She feels that her experience as social worker benefits her daily interactions with clients. Linden guides owners’ choices regarding the type of care their pet needs, whether or not to put a pet to sleep. “All those conversations are hard and challenging, but it’s one of the things I’m good at – helping people make decisions they’re comfortable with,” she sums up. One way PRAH is able to get to the core of the clients’ needs is by booking longer-thanaverage appointments. Linden believes that people need time to talk about what’s happening with their pets. She laments the fact that hospitals lose their soul after they are acquired by large corporations. At PRAH, Linden tries to hold onto the raison d’être. “We don’t want
CHARLIE – Rhoda Strauss, Warwick
people to feel like they’re going to a factory.” Linden takes the time to learn about her patient. Only then does she advise certain measures, such as the Lyme vaccine – an unnecessary treatment for dogs that are not running around in an area with ticks. The extra appointment time comes in handy when Linden sees the need to dissuade her clients from blindly adhering to a breeder’s advice. This is her only gripe with pet owners, most of whom are well-informed about the best care for their pet, thanks to information available on the Internet. Linden wishes clients would realize that breeders’ recommendations are general, while her staff’s suggestions are personalized and backed by scientific evidence and years of study. She brings up the example of a client who put his dog on a specific diet that clearly was not working for the dog, despite the recommendation of the breeder. The situation calls for flexibility. The same goes for clients’ refusal to vaccinate their dogs against rabies until the dogs turn one. While breeders recommend such a course, she thinks that sometimes it’s best to vaccinate as early as 12 weeks. In addition to her extensive education, Linden continues to learn about the pet world by attending conferences. Twice a year, she joins other hospital owners at VSG – Veterinary Study Groups – as they get together to focus on client care, latest medical developments, management issues, as well as veterinary hospital and medicine trends. The organization’s website reads, “Coming together to help each other succeed.” Considering how busy PRAH is, and Linden says they regularly get swamped, the conferences – and her vision – are working. IRINA MISSIURO is a writer and editorial consultant for The Jewish Voice.
thejewishvoice.org
PETS
February 13, 2015 |
Where Your Four-Legged Family Members Get the Best of Care.
SAVEL – Daniel Birmingham, Danvers, Mass.
Providence RiverÊ Animal Hospital Providence RiverÊ Animal Hospital www.facebook.com/PRAHvet
131 Point Street · Providence, RI · Phone: 401-274-PRAH (7724) www.providenceriveranimalhospital.com
MIGUEL – Peter Neivery and Arthur Richter of Barrington.
I’M READY & A PURE PRAYER Two trigger films from Ma’aleh Film School
Monday, February 23 | 7:00-8:30pm Dwares JCC | 401 Elmgrove Avenue, Providence, RI In the film “I’m Ready,” the special relationship between an elderly father and his son with Down syndrome breaks down when the father’s memory begins to fail due to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. In the film “A Pure Prayer,” it is nearly Yom Kippur, and the synagogue is still short a tenth man to make up the quorum for communal prayer. Schwartzman has no idea what to do. Rosa, his wife, has a solution—to bring Menachem, their son with special needs, to the synagogue. Free programs such as these are made possible by the generosity of donors and sponsors: Temple Emanu-EL
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18 | February 13, 2015 FROM PAGE 1
DISABILITIES
enced by those not directly affected by disability. “People don’t think it will happen to them,” Cohen said. “Israel is much easier to rally around.” Mizrahi, 50, says the stigma is why she runs into walls among fundraisers, as well as politicians and the general public. “People who have children with disabilities, there’s a lot of stigma – parents blame themselves as opposed to saying this is a natural part of life, all of us have the spark of God,” Mizrahi said. “It’s where gay rights was 20 years ago; people are in the closet.” RespectAbility aims to bring disabilities out of the closet into two arenas: among employers and the Jewish community. Just as Mizrahi hopes to bring people with disabilities into every workplace and not just those identified as disabilitiesfriendly, she wants the Jewish community to stop ghettoizing its disabled in synagogues, in schools and at summer camps. “Everyone wants to say they’re inclusive,” she said of the Jewish community, “but when the rubber hits the road, we’re nowhere near there yet.” Mainstreaming the disabled
FROM PAGE 1
COMMUNITY | NATION
GLICK
he indicated that he does not wear one in public in France. Born in Israel, reared in France, Glick also studied in England, Canada and the U.S.
The Jewish Voice
involves much more than physical alterations, like ramps, but requires changes in attitude, Mizrahi says. Jewish summer camps tended until recently to “have their [special-needs] kids be in separate groups instead of the same bunk, peer to peer,” Mizrahi said, adding that campers with disabilities often were reduced to “mascots.” Now RespectAbility is involved, through the UJA-Federation of New York and the Foundation for Jewish Camp, in advising and training synagogues and camps on inclusion. In schools, she cites as an example, teachers can be trained to help children with learning disabilities with little or no disruption to the school day. “One of the most challenging things is transitioning from one project to another,” Mizrahi said. “One of the most important things is to give them time to prepare for a transition, give them 15 minutes, and once more five minutes before — that’s a free thing to do, it’s a very easy thing to do.” Training teachers to adapt lessons to the different learning styles and abilities of individual learners – what is known
in the field as differentiated instruction – has been shown to improve the school experience for all the children in the class, she says. Jewish communities are learning to listen, in part because of Mizrahi’s advocacy, says Steven Rakitt, the CEO of the Jewish Federations of Greater Washington. “We recruited two disabled members of the community” to serve on the federation board, he said. “We wanted to make sure they were at the table so we were talking not just about the disabled community but to the disabled community.” Mizrahi, whose training is in strategic communications, says her pro-Israel advocacy was a passion, but that she started The Israel Project only because she felt during the second intifada that it was desperately needed. “I did it for 10 years, and I’m very proud it,” she said, but toward the end, the long hours were “crushing my family life.” As one who is dyslexic, spent a year in university in a wheelchair after being struck by a car and is now raising a child with multiple disabilities, Mizrahi felt motivated to improve things for people with disabilities. “I started to think about what
I wanted to leave this world,” she said. “This is my role in life.” The pro-Israel advocacy background has helped. Years of interactions with federal politicos made it easy to transition to lobbying in state government, where most job creation occurs. Mizrahi contacted Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, whom she knew from when they both were members of the Young Leadership Cabinet of the United Jewish Communities, a predecessor to Jewish Federations of North America. Markell made employment for the disabled the signature theme when he was chairman of the National Governors Association in 2012-13. “He helped me meet with his peers,” Mizrahi said, noting that she has met with 33 governors. She is encouraging states to revamp employment programs for the disabled, saying that a lot of money is being spent with few results. Markell, who told JTA Mizrahi brings an “intense focus” to whatever she does, said targeting governors made sense because so much of their focus is on employment creation. “All governors want to be the ‘job governor’,” he said. “We ought to focus on being the job governor for everyone.”
Reviewing the data, Mizrahi saw that 70 percent of people with disabilities – 20 million people – are not in the workforce. “I realized there had been zero progress for employment outcomes since the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act 25 years ago in July,” she said. Mizrahi knows how to get politicians to listen, says Rep. Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), who was on The Israel Project’s board. “Jennifer understands politics both in the sense of what it takes to get a message across nationwide and to get people who hold office and leaders in the community to focus on the right thing,” he said. Through Mizrahi, Sherman says, he now understands that he’s a “TAP” – a temporarily abled person. “The fact is, at some point, everyone is going to face challenges,” he said. Editor’s note: This post is a part of the JTA partnership with the Ruderman Family Foundation. Guided by Jewish values, the foundation advocates for and advances the inclusion of people with disabilities throughout the Jewish community. Learn more at rudermanfoundation.org.
He started out as a journalist, earning a graduate degree in journalism before settling on a career in the rabbinate. This was not an unusual career choice for him. His family still lives in southern France,
where is father is a rabbi. Although he now lives in Los Angeles, he said he understands what the country is going through, and he looks at events in the country with a French point of view.
When the terrorist attacks took place in France, Glick was interviewing for a job at a synagogue in Marseille. When he arrived in Marseille, shortly after the news of the hostage-taking, he and his hosts watched news reports instead of completing the planned interview. The community briefly considered canceling services for security reasons, he said. They did not and twice as many people as usual showed up. And the parshat for the week was Shemot, the beginning of the book of Exodus. Glick said that he talked about fearlessness to the congregation. “This is not that different than walking out of Egypt … not going to live in fear,” he said. “Though I’m not sure fearlessness is the right image anymore,” he said. But the general consensus was that people were not afraid. From Marseille, Glick went to Paris to participate in the march for unity on Jan. 11. He said it was a moving experience. “Hearing la Marseillaise gave me goose bumps,” he said. The people were marching for an idea, he said, for something great that they couldn’t quite express. “You could see it in the signs. ‘Je suis Charlie’ – that meant freedom to me,” he said. “People were chanting ‘We are not afraid.’ People were applauding the police. That was unusual.” “You have to understand that this was a huge, shocking moment for the French,” he said. “In France, you [individuals] don’t have guns, so there is a lot less gun violence.
“This was particularly barbaric act for that reason. The scene of the police car retreating down the alley is practically unheard of.” As he explains it, the chronology of events in France is unique. Because free speech is so important, it was no surprise that the magazine Charlie Hebdo would publish again so quickly. The French people demonstrate and proclaim they are not afraid because they believe in the idea of freedom. According to Glick there is anti-Semitism and anti-Israeli feeling in France. But Jews have lived in France since the time of Napoleon and are an integral part of society. Today, there is a small but growing Conservative Jewish movement there – that brought Glick to Marseille in the fi rst place. There are also approximately 6 million Muslims in the country; many of them have come from north Africa, and some feel disenfranchised. What does he hope will come of all that has happened so far? “I hope there is concrete change, that they [the French] can come to grips with religious extremism. I hope this serves as a wakeup call. I hope that French Jewry will survive. That the French can go forward and fi nd out who they are within a new society, that they can go forward and be dynamic.”
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FRAN OSTENDORF is the editor of The Jewish Voice.
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Britain must act immediately to halt soaring anti-Semitism JTA – Instituting measures to deal with hate crimes on social media and a government fund to protect synagogues are among 35 recommendations offered by a British parliamentary inquiry into rising antiSemitism. Britain must take immediate action to quash the rise in antiSemitism in the country, the All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry said in its report, which was released Feb. 9. “Whilst the Jewish community is diverse and multifaceted, there is a palpable concern, insecurity, loneliness and fear following the summer’s rise in incidents and subsequent world events,” the report said. “A more sophisticated understanding of anti-Semitism is needed, together with better defi ned boundaries of acceptable discourse.” In response to the report’s recommendations, Prime Minister David Cameron said, “This is a hugely important cross-party report. Tackling anti-Semitism goes right to the heart of what we stand for as a country. “This report has a vital role to play. There can be no excuses.
No disagreements over foreign policy or politics can ever be allowed to justify anti-Semitism or any other form of racism, prejudice or extremism.” The Community Security Trust, Britain’s Jewish security watchdog group, reported last week that it had recorded 1,168 anti-Semitic incidents for 2014, the highest annual total ever and more than double the previous year. A poll conducted in conjunction with the inquiry, also released Feb. 9, found that 55 percent of Britons felt that they would be able to explain to someone else what anti-Semitism was, but only 37 percent of those aged 18 to 24 felt that they could. Some 80 percent believed the murder of four Jews at a kosher supermarket in Paris was anti-Semitic. The survey of 1,001 British adults in the third week of January also showed that Britons believe there are about 2.7 million Jews living in Britain, though the real number is about 250,000, and that 15 percent felt Jews “talk too much about what happened to them in the Holocaust.”
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Women should start planning for retirement sooner rather than later Women face special challenges when planning for r e t i r e m e nt . Because their careers are often interrupted to care for chilBARBARA dren or elKENERSON derly parents, women may spend less time in the workforce and earn less money than men in the same age group. As a result, their retirement plan balances, Social Security benefits and pension benefits are often lower. In addition to earning less, women generally live longer than men, and they may face having to stretch limited retirement savings and benefits over many ears. To meet these financial challenges, a woman will need to make retirement planning a priority. This column is aimed at the women in the audience.
Begin saving now
To help improve your chances of achieving a financially comfortable retirement, start with a realistic assessment of how much you’ll need to save. If the figure is substantial, don’t be discouraged – the most important thing is to begin saving now. Although it’s never too late to save for retirement, the sooner you start, the more time your investments have to grow.
The chart shows how just $2,000 invested annually at a 6 percent rate of return might grow over time. Note that this is a hypothetical example, and does not reflect the performance of any specific investment. Results assume reinvest-
you’ll need to work for the company before you’re vested in, or own, your pension benefits. by leaving their jobs before they become vested in their pension benefits. Keep in mind, too, that because your pension benefits will be based on your earnings
Age you begin saving for retirement:
Amount you'll have saved by age 65:
20
$451,016
30
$236,242
40
$116,313
50
$49,345
60
$11,951
ment of all earnings and no tax.
Save as much as you can – you have many options
If your employer offers a retirement savings plan, such as a 401(k) or a 403(b), join it as soon as possible and contribute as much as you can. It’s easy to save because your contributions are deducted directly from your pay, and some employers will even match a portion of what you contribute. If your employer offers a pension plan, find out how many years
and on your years of service, the longer you stay with one employer, the higher your pension is likely to be. Most employer-sponsored plans allow you to choose from several investment options (typically mutual funds). If you have many years to invest or you’re trying to make up for lost time, you may want to consider growth-oriented investments such as stocks and stock RETIREMENT | 22
February 13, 2015 |
21
Worship with Hadassah Hadassah Rhode Island is sponsoring a Shabbat service on Feb. 27 at 7:30 p.m. at Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Rabbi Aaron Philmus has coordinated with the members of Hadassah Rhode Island to offer a meaningful service for Shabbat Zachor, to honor and celebrate the 103rd anniversary of the founding of Hadassah by Henrietta Szold. Shabbat Zachor was chosen because of its particular importance to Hadassah, provider of medical care in Israel to patients regardless of race, religion or nationality, and in international disaster relief. “Hadassah is an organization which inspires passion for
the land of Israel, the health and wellness of people worldwide, and Jewish education. Hadassah Shabbat will celebrate and connect our many goals and missions back to their origin, the Torah,” explains Hadassah National President Marcie Natan. Hadassah Shabbat Zachor will strengthen old memories of these teachings while welcoming new connections during the celebratory and reflective time of Purim. All members of the community are invited to worship with Hadassah. For further information, please contact Hadassah at 401-463-3636 or at rhodeislandchapter@hadassah.org.
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22 | February 13, 2015 FROM PAGE 21
The Jewish Voice
RETIREMENT
funds. Historically, stocks have outperformed bonds and shortterm instruments over the long term, although past performance is no guarantee of future results. However, along with potentially higher returns, stocks carry more risk than less volatile investments. A good way to get detailed information about a mutual fund you’re considering is to read the fund’s prospectus, which can be obtained from the fund company. It includes information about the fund’s objectives, expenses, risks and past returns. A fi nancial professional can also help you evaluate your retirement plan options.
Save for retirement – no matter what
Even if you’re staying at home to raise your family, you can – and should – continue to save for retirement. If you’re married and fi le your income taxes jointly, and otherwise qualify, you may open and contribute to a traditional or Roth IRA as long as your spouse has enough earned income to cover the contributions. Both types of IRAs allow you to make contributions of up to $5,500 in 2015 (unchanged from 2014), or, if less, 100 percent of taxable compensation. If you’re age 50 or older, you’re allowed to contribute even more – up to $6,500 in 2015
(unchanged from 2014).
Plan for income in retirement
Do you worry about outliving your retirement income? Unfortunately, that’s a realistic concern for many women. At age 65, women can expect to live, on average, an additional 20.5 years. In addition, many women will live into their 90s. This means that women should generally plan for a long retirement that will last at least 20 to 30 years. Women should
“Women struggling to balance work and family sometimes shortchange their retirement savings …” also consider the possibility of spending some of those years alone. According to recent statistics, 36 percent of older women are widowed, 14 percent are divorced and almost half of all women age 75 and older live alone. For married women, the loss of a spouse can mean a significant decrease in retirement income from Social Security or pensions. So what can you do to help en-
sure you’ll have enough income to last throughout retirement? Here are some tips:
Estimate how much income you’ll need.
Use your current expenses as a starting point, but note that your expenses may change by the time you retire. Find out how much you can expect to receive from Social Security, pension plans and other sources. What benefits will you receive should you become widowed or divorced? Set a retirement savings goal that you can work toward and keep track of your progress. Save regularly, save as much as you can and then look for ways to save more – dedicate a portion of every raise, bonus, cash gift or tax refund to your retirement savings. Consider how you can help protect yourself and your family from potentially substantial long-term care expenses. By planning ahead, you could help preserve your choices for care and may avoid becoming a burden on your family. BARBARA KENERSON is First Vice President/Investments at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC and can be reached at BarbaraKenerson.com
Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales named Dan David Prize laureate JERUSALEM (JTA) – Wikipedia co-founder Jimmy Wales will receive the Dan David Prize and $1 million for his contribution to the information resolution. Tel Aviv University on Feb. 10 announced the recipients of the international prize, which annually makes three awards for outstanding achievement in the categories of past, present and future time dimensions. Each award in a category is $1 million. Wales was recognized in the Present Time Dimension: The Information Revolution. His stated motivation for creating Wikipedia was to create a world “in which every single person on the planet is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge,” according to a statement from the prize committee. In the past category, Retrieving the Past: Historians and their Sources, Peter Brown and and Alessandro Portelli share the prize. Brown is a historian from the late antiquity period whose “groundbreaking studies have reshaped the way we understand social and cultural change,” according to the
THEY SEE COLOR WAR.
prize committee. Of Brown, the committee said his “studies of the interaction between private and collective memory have challenged the way we understand recording the past.” Three scientists – Cyrus Chothia, David Haussler and Michael Waterman – were awarded the prize in the future category of Bioinformatics. Chothia pioneered the understanding of the relationships between protein sequence, structure, function and interaction. Haussler was a leader in assembling the fi rst draft of the human genome sequence and leads the development of the UCSC Genome Browser used worldwide for interpreting genome sequences. Waterman has contributed significantly to biological sequence analysis. The Dan David Prize is named for the late international businessman and philanthropist. The laureates, who donate 10 percent of their prize money toward 20 doctoral and postdoctoral scholarships, will be honored at a May 17 ceremony at Tel Aviv University.
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REMEMBER THE PAST From the Archives of The Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association
The A. Abramowitz photo.
PHOTOS | RHODE ISLAND JEWISH HISTORICAL ASSN.
Capturing the moment, keeping it for the memories
enior are
once ts Inc.
BY GERALDINE S. FOSTER Ah! The selfie, that ubiquitous symbol of our digital age and desire for instant communication. All you need is a camera phone and an arm long enough to put YOU in the picture. One click and your photo says, “Look where I am! Look at what I am doing! Look at who is with me!” Serious or funny, it instantly captures a moment in time to be sent immediately over the Internet to friends everywhere, and perhaps posted on a Facebook wall. Of course selfies are not a new phenomenon. Recently the astronaut Buzz Aldrin laid claim to having snapped the first selfie in space, while earlier that year his colleague Michael Collins took the first selfie in a capsule. For years, one of my cousins has set up a camera on a tripod, set the shutter on delay and then scooted around to a place in the scene. There is a major difference with these selfies. A snapshot, despite the name, required some planning. It also had to be developed before you knew if you had a photo or a blur. Only then could it be shown to others, pasted on the pages in a photo album or framed as a permanent record of the moment captured. Before cameras became small enough to be easily portable in space or on land, before they became instant, the professional photographer was there to capture life’s important moments: the recent graduate holding a diploma, a gentleman with an air of substance, young ladies with huge bows in their hair. The archives of Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association, I am told, boasts some 5,000 photos – portraits of individuals, synagogues past and present, major public events or celebrities who came to our community, brides in lace gowns and grooms standing stiffly by, elderly couples, confirmations, early street scenes, seders … I could go on
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Herman’s Dairy Lunch photo.
Photos welcome!
Do you have any old photographs that you would like to donate to the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association? They have to be from Rhode Island and they have to be from the Jewish community. These can be photos of synagogues, organizations, people or businesses. Their subjects must be identified. The date of the photos or even an approximate date would be very helpful. Contact Ann Sherman at 401-331-1360. and on. They are all interesting visual testaments to the history of the Jews in Rhode Island. Some of the earliest photographs date back to the late 19th century. They include family groups formally posed by the photographer. The parents are seated, surrounded by children of all ages, the youngest ones sitting or lying on the floor. The mother, her head covered by an obvious wig, is dressed in her best shirtwaist and skirt. The bearded father wears a shiny black gabardine coat, a tall yarmulke atop his head. No smiles – it is a serious occasion. In all the earliest photos, of individuals or groups, the faces had serious expressions because getting the image was a lengthy procedure. It required the subject(s) to remain in rigidly posed positions for a long time. Maintaining a smile was not possible. Besides, having a photograph taken in that era was a momentous occa-
sion. Then there is Henry Green who stands proudly in front of his clothing store on North Main Street in Providence in a photo taken circa 1870. Green sports a bowler and cutaway, proper attire for the owner of an establishment, while his clerk wears a suit. At the turn of the 20th century, A. Abramowitz advertises his tailoring skills with a horsedrawn wagon containing four female figures. Each is dressed in an intricately detailed garment. (One of these figures is now a resident of the RIJHA office.) Red, white and blue bunting adorns the windows and doorway of Herman’s Dairy Lunch in the North End. The two Hermans (Swartz and Komensky) show their patriotism during the citywide celebration of Old Home Week in 1907. Before there were supermarkets and drug store chains, there were the peddlers and mom and
pop grocery stores and pharmacies. Their photos now reside in our archives. They tell a story beyond what words can describe. Not all the photos in our archives depict “ancient history.” Some are as recent as last month. I just chose some of my favorite treasures to highlight. Yet I wonder – in this era of the computer and the cloud, where digital
photos are now stored without a hard copy to share, what will our future archives resemble? GERALDINE FOSTER is a past president of the R.I. Jewish Historical Association. To comment about this or any Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association article, email info@ rijha.org.
24 | February 13, 2015 Ruth Blustein, 88 EAST GREENWICH, R.I. – Ruth Blustein died Jan. 30 at St. Elizabeth Home. She was the beloved wife of the late Sheldon Blustein. Born in Providence, a daughter of the late Nathan and Jennie (Ettienne) Gilden, she had lived in East Greenwich, previously living in Warwick and wintering in Boynton Beach, Fla. She was an administrative assistant for the RI Department of Health for 20 years, retiring 28 years ago. She was a former member of Congregation B’nai Israel in Woonsocket and of Temple Emanu-El. She was a life member of Hadassah, an avid knitter, needle-pointer and Mah Jongg player. Devoted mother of Howard Blustein and his wife, Amy, of Cranston, Neal Blustein of South Weymouth, Mass., Diane “Dee” Meisler Boehmer and her husband, Les Teed, of Linconville, Maine, and Judi Hochman of Cranston and her late husband, David. Dear sister of Hilda Hanzel of Cherry Hill, N.J. and the late Charlotte Salk and Sylvia Gordon. Loving grandmother of Adam and his wife, Angie, Robin and her husband, Nick, Nathaniel, Eric, Craig and his wife, Laurie, Drew, Mitchell, and Rachel. Cherished great-grandmother of Jacob, Hannah, Andrew, Hannah and Sasha. Contributions may be made to St. Elizabeth Home, 1 St. Elizabeth Way, East Greenwich, R.I. 02818.
Jacqueline Feinstein, 91
WAKEFIELD, R.I. – Jacqueline “Jackie” Jeanette (Jackvony) Feinstein, of East Greenwich and Marco Island, Fla., died on Feb. 1 at the Scallop Shell Nursing Home in Wakefield. She was born in Providence to the late Clotilde (Zambarano) Jackvony and former Attorney General of Rhode Island Louis V. Jackvony
OBITUARIES Sr. on July 17, 1923. She attended Marot Junior College in Thompson, Conn., and Pine Manor College in We l l e s l e y, Mass. She became a librarian at Rochambeau Library and also worked for several years as a medical assistant to Dr. Gilbert in Providence. She married the late Saul Samuel Feinstein on Sept. 24, 1948; they were married for 61 years. She was a longstanding member of Academy Players in East Greenwich, where she acted and worked on set designing. She was an avid reader and a talented watercolor artist. She is survived by her brother Louis Jackvony Jr. of North Providence, sister Alma (Jackvony) Fontana of East Greenwich, daughters Shoshana Feinstein of North Scituate and Janice Beth (Feinstein) Buros of Fitchburg, Wisc., son Jay Lewis Feinstein of West Roxbury, Mass., grandchildren Rachael Khara Studley of East Greenwich and Leilah Jane Feinstein of Oakland, Calif., and two great-grandchildren Michael Aaron Studley and Torin Olivia Studley. Contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.
Abraham Horvitz, 103 PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Abraham Horvitz, of Providence, died on Jan. 27 at his home at Laurelmead. Son of Jacob and Fanny Horvitz of Providence, he was a graduate of Classical High School and Brown University. He earned his M.D. at Columbia Medical School in 1936, then went to Washington University in St. Louis to do his residency, he was joined by his wife, the for-
The Jewish Voice mer Eleanor Feldman. He was working at Harlem Hospital in New York when Pearl Harbor was attacked and, although exempted from the draft because he was a doctor, he felt that it was his obligation to enlist. By the end of 1942, now a lieutenant in the Third Army Surgical Corps, he was on board a transport ship headed for England. On June 7, 1944, on Utah Beach in Normandy, he was in a surgical tent, operating on wounded American and German soldiers. Months later, he would come under fire in the Battle of the Bulge but nothing could have prepared him for the horror that awaited him when he witnessed the liberation of a concentration camp, a searing experience that almost certainly strengthened his identity as a Jew and made him an ardent supporter of Israel. What he remembered most especially was an ambush of U.S. battleships by U-boats in the English Channel during a practice run for the DDay invasion. His ship, however, went untouched. God, he believed, had saved him for some purpose, a belief that thousands of his patients would come to share in decades to come. After three years working at Brooklyn Jewish Hospital, he returned to Providence where he opened his surgical practice in 1948. He was affiliated with the Miriam Hospital for 41 years. In 1966, he was named Medical Staff President of the Hospital. By the time he retired at the age of 79, he had performed countless surgeries. He went on to become a clinical associate professor emeritus of surgery at Brown University Medical School and for many years regularly attended medical conferences at Miriam Hospital. He was a longtime member of Temple Beth-El. He is survived by his only child Leslie. Donations in his memory may
be made to the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association or to a charity of your choice.
Elizabeth Kriss, 92 EAST GREENWICH, R.I. – Elizabeth “Betty” Kriss died Feb. 5 in Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center, Providence. She was the beloved wife of the late Seymour Kriss. Born in Providence, a daughter of the late Joseph and Rose (Less) Wilk, she had lived in Warwick for 38 years. Betty was a co-owner, with her husband, of S. S. Kriss Enterprises in Providence. She was a member of Temple Sinai and its Sisterhood and Hadassah. Devoted mother of Sherry Kriss of Cranston and the late Earle Kriss. Dear sister of Shirley Brandt of Cranston and the late Sam Wilk. Loving grandmother of Scott and Alexandra Kriss and Justin and Alexander Connor. Cherished great-grandmother of Myer Kriss. Contributions in her memory may be made to Temple Sinai.
Irma Shuster, 90 NEW BEDFORD, MASS. – Irma Shuster died Feb. 6 at St. Luke’s Hospital. Born in New Bedford, shse was the daughter of the late Louis and Bessie Shuster. She was a bookkeeper until her retirement. She was a member of Tifereth Israel Synagogue and the New Bedford Jewish Convalescent Home. Survivors include Robert and Tina Lipman, Joan and Robert Mann, Robert Papkin and nieces and nephews. She was also blessed with many great and great-great-nieces and nephews, including Beth Singer, Jennifer Segal and Jay Lipman.
Jack Wilkes, 90 PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Jack Wilkes of Providence and Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., died on Jan. 27 at Hallworth House. The son of the late Sarah D. (Berson) and Morris J. Wilkes, he was predeceased by his wife of 43 years, Barbara J. (Mallack) Wilkes.
A graduate of Hope High School, he was enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He graduated from Bryant College in 1948 with a degree in finance and began his professional career in the City of Providence Controller’s office, heading the Employee Retirement System prior to becoming city controller. He became vice president/general manager at Eclipse Food Products in Warwick in 1970, retiring in 1991. He was active in many organizations and boards, including the Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Rhode Island Board of Directors, the New England Municipal Finance Officers Association, Jewish War Veterans, Jewish Seniors Agency, Jewish Federation of Rhode Island, Plantations Lodge Bnai Brith, Cranston ARC and Redwood Lodge AF&AM. He was the longtime treasurer and board chair for Congregation Mishkon Tfiloh in Providence, past president of the Hillel Foundation Board at the University of Rhode Island and a member of Temple Emanu-El in Providence. He is survived by his sons, Alan Wilkes of Johnston and Richard Wilkes of Washington Township, N.J.; his brother and sister-in-law David and Ruth Wilkes of Calif.; and his niece and nephews. The family would like to thank Christina and Sal Caetano, Caroline Smith and the staff at the Phyllis Siperstein Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence in Warwick and Hallworth House in Providence for their expert care. Contributions may be made to West Bay Residential Services, 158 Knight Street, Warwick, R.I. 02886 or Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft Ave., Providence. R.I. 02906.
COMMUNITY
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Trip to Montreal celebrates learning BY YISROEL YAVNER On Jan. 22, 26 boys from the Providence Hebrew Day School (from Pawtucket and Providence, and Sharon, Massachusetts) traveled to Montreal, Quebec, Canada for the annual Siyum Mishnayos. This weekend event, organized by Pirchei Agudath Israel of Montreal, is a celebration of learning. All of the boys who attended had studied the prerequisite amount of mishnayos, which varies based on age, in order to join the trip. Students from across the eastern coast of the United States and Canada gathered together for a fun weekend culminating in a gala melave malka celebration on Saturday night. Providence’s participation in this trip is facilitated by the students of the New England Rabbinical College; this year the trip was coordinated by Yisroel Yavner and chaperoned by students Avrohom Menachem Bachrach, Ephraim Seiff, Yehoshua Shepherd, and Yisroel Yavner, as well as members of the community, Nadav Minkin and Aaron Rubenstein. The participants enjoyed bowling, snow tubing, singing, festive Shabbat meals, a visit to a pizza store and candy store, and of course, learning Torah. Students were hosted by members of Montreal’s Jewish community. Many of the hosts and hostesses commented on the boys’ fi ne behavior. One hostess called the families of the boys who had stayed at her house on Sunday to compliment the boys on their exemplary behav-
PHOTOS | YISROEL YAVNER
ior, offers of assistance and fi ne manners. Although the trip was long and the boys came home exhausted, they are already counting the days to next year’s Siyum Mishnayos. YISROEL YAVNER, a student at the New England Rabbinical College, is a graduate of PHDS and Maimonides.
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Above, the Rhode Island delegation to the Siyum Mishnayos after a fun game of hockey.
Right, participants enjoy hot pizza after bowling in Montreal at the Siyum Mishnayos.
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NEW BABY – Bonnie and Jerry Gold from Pawtucket are proud to welcome the newest member of their family. Oliver Solomon Tillinghast was born on Jan. 22 to Rebecca and Adam Tillinghast of Pensacola, Florida.
SHARE YOUR JOYFUL EVENTS AND TRAVELS by submitting them for Simchas or We Are Read publication in The Jewish Voice. Email to: fostendorf@ jewishallianceri.org or mail to: The Jewish Voice, 401 Elmgrove Ave. Providence, R.I. 02906. KEEPING UP WITH THE NEWS – In January Ken Schneider spent three weeks volunteering on a military base in Israel. This is his ninth year working with Volunteers for Israel.
WE ARE READ – INDIA – Ellise Wolff of East Greenwich traveled to Kerala, India, this past summer. She is pictured in front of the Vadakkunathan Kshetram Temple in Thrissur. It is one of the largest temples in India and allows only Hindus inside. She toured the Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue in Mumbai and the Paradesi Synagogue in Cochin, but she was unable to take pictures at either synagogue due to security regulations.
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