February 16, 2018

Volume XXIV, Issue IV | www.jvhri.org Serving Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts

1 Adar 5778 | February 16, 2018

FINANCE and PHILANTHROPY

TAMID brings its innovative business program to Brown

BY SAM SERBY The TAMID Group, a unique organization that offers experiential learning through businesses in Israel, officially arrived at Brown University at the start of this academic year.

TAMID got its start in 2007, thanks to the efforts of two University of Michigan students, Sasha Gribov and Eitan Ingall.

Originally coined “TAMID Israel Investment Group,” it was offered as a club on the Ann Arbor campus for students who were interested in the Israeli business sector, minus the politics and controversy often tied to the Jewish state.

A year later, after Garrett Levenbrook joined with Gribov and Ingall, TAMID began to quickly spread – it is now active on 46 campuses nationwide, including all eight Ivy league schools.

Yoni Heilman The TAMID chapter at Brown, and at all affiliated campuses, is divided into two teams, “Consulting” and “Investing.”

Kyle Price, a sophomore from Scarsdale, New York, who is TAMID | 16

Israel, Iran and Syria just traded blows. Does this mean war?

BY BEN SALES JTA – Israel and Iran have been clashing for years. But on Feb. 10, their war of words briefly became an actual fight.

In short succession, Iran sent a drone into Israel, Israel shot it down and took out the drone launcher in Syria, Iranianallied Syria downed an Israeli plane, and Israel bombed Syrian bases.

Are Israel and Iran at war?

Will Israel be intervening more in Syria’s civil war? How will this affect Israel’s dormant but never-ending confl ict with Hezbollah, the Lebanese militant group and Iranian proxy?

Here’s a rundown of what happened, where it’s all coming from and what – if anything – it means for the future of Israel and its neighbors to the north.

WAR| 11

AN OPEN LETTER TO RHODE ISLAND’S JEWISH COMMUNITY Dear Friends, Seven months ago I had the honor of joining the Jewish Alliance as its President and CEO. Since that time our team has been busy talking to community members, examining our past, and working with our Board of Directors and other stakeholders to determine what our next few years will look like.

I have seen the wonderful things our organization does to grow and improve our community and I have also heard how and where we have fallen short. I’m excited to share with you what the Jewish Alliance is planning over the next few years, and also what you can expect from us.

At the Alliance, we believe our role is to help create a stronger, more vibrant Jewish community, and that means providing the tools for Rhode Islanders to engage with their Judaism on their own terms. It also means creating an atmosphere at the Alliance that welcomes everyone, regardless of how they celebrate the vibrant faith, traditions, or customs of Judaism. Thanks to the generosity of our community, the Dwares JCC has undergone significant renovations. As always, whether you are Jewish, Jew-ish, or not Jewish, you are welcome at the Alliance, and at our events and programs.

In an effort to demonstrate our commitment to

inclusiveness, we have already made changes to how we operate. We recently extended our hours on Saturday evenings in the Fitness Center so that Dwares JCC members who observe Shabbat have an opportunity to honor their commitment to personal wellness after Shabbat ends.

We are also participating in a year-long leadership training with Keshet, a national organization that works for full LGBTQ equality and inclusion in Jewish life. Led and supported by LGBTQ Jews and straight allies, Keshet cultivates the spirit and practice of inclusion in all OPEN LETTER | 9

OSCAR | 6

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COMMUNITY

The Jewish Voice

INSIDE Business 21-22 Calendar 10-11 Community 2-4, 12, 18-19 D’Var Torah 7 Finance & Philanthropy 14-17 Food 13 Israel 26 Opinion 8-9 Obituaries 24-25 Seniors 23 Simchas 25 We Are Read 25 World 6, 11, 22

THIS ISSUE’S QUOTABLE QUOTE “Communities are enhanced when they draw on the specific skills, resources and interests of their members.”

Sons of Jacob Synagogue

PC students inspired by R.I. Jewish Museum

BY SHELLEY PARNESS PROVIDENCE – Despite the snowstorm on Jan. 30, 11 enthusiastic Providence College students and their professor, Keith Morton, attended a tour of the “Artifact” at 24 Douglas Ave.: the Rhode Island Jewish Museum.

The museum, housed in the Sons of Jacob Synagogue, was selected as one of nine destinations to be explored in the course “The City and Its Artifacts.”

Most of the students said they had never before set foot in a

Jewish house of worship, although some mentioned Jewish connections via a Jewish relative or attending a Bar or Bat Mitzvah. However, they said that none of them had been in an Orthodox synagogue that was founded in 1896 and is the last of a dozen houses of worships that once flourished in the Smith Hill neighborhood.

During the tour, the students nodded in appreciation as they spotted items on their artifact list. But when the doors to the second-floor main sanctuary were opened, they let out a col-

lective gasp, their eyes literally widening at the immense, aweinspiring, brightly illuminated mural-laden room.

After exploring the incredible collection of murals, memorials and period furnishings in the sanctuary, a chronology of events leading to the building’s construction was shared, as well as information about the founders and the current use of the building. The unanimous sentiment was that the Sons of Jacob Synagogue building must be saved.

After the visit, the students

sent a group email asking to be involved in the preservation efforts. Professor Morton also sent an email, stating that the students “were really inspired by your stories, hospitality and wisdom. The physical space of Sons of Jacob made a big impression, too – seeing the beauty in the building, and something of the Herculean task you are undertaking to restore it. Such a labor of love.”

SHELLEY PARNESS is vice president of the Rhode Island Jewish Museum.

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All of our fundraising costs, including this ad, are paid by a trust.

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February 16, 2018 |

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‘I Am the Last Witness’ is newest collage from Holocaust Stamps Project

BY LARRY KESSLER FOXBORO – A project to educate people about the Holocaust continues at the Foxboro Regional Charter School, where students last fall capped a nine-year effort to collect 11 million stamps – one for every Holocaust victim, including 6 million Jews – by eclipsing that mark.

The goal of the Holocaust Stamps Project was met on the eve of last Yom Kippur, with stamps pouring in from across the United States and the world.

But reaching that milestone doesn’t mean the end of the project: the students’ efforts to get the word out about the Holocaust is continuing, according to the project’s founder, retired teacher Charlotte Sheer.

To mark the observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, on Jan. 27, students completed the project’s 14th collage fashioned from the stamps. The date was significant because one of the most notorious death camps, Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland, was liberated on Jan. 27, by

A student, above, at the Foxboro Regional Charter School works on the “I Am the Last Witness” collage.

Detail of the collage is at right. troops from the Soviet Union.

During the process of liberating the death camps, Allied soldiers discovered countless personal articles that had belonged to the Jewish victims. Out of respect for the memory of those people, many of the items were documented and are exhibited at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, in Washington, D.C.

One photograph in the museum shows a solitary worn-out shoe, scarred with wrinkles and rips, that was found at one of the camps. The powerful image, Sheer said, provided the inspiration for the Holocaust Stamp Project’s “I Am the Last Witness” collage.

Students used stamps from occupied countries to form the

PHOTOS | CHARLOTTE SHEER

artwork’s shoe. Surrounding it are hundreds of shapes that depict people, to honor the memory of the camp’s victims and survivors.

The collage was a four-year community effort during which students, senior citizens and guests donated stamps. Friends and family members of Holocaust survivors and victims who participated sometimes wrote the names of their loved

ones on the back of the stamps.

Hidden in the artwork are 18 images of doves, a symbol of peace that appears in each of the project’s collages.

The latest collage is among the pieces that will be displayed at the annual Holocaust Stamps Project Open House, to be held at the school in April.

LARRY KESSLER is a freelance writer who can be reached at lkessler1@comcast.net

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COMMUNITY

The Jewish Voice

Fall River rabbi’s new book explores differences between religion, spirituality

BY JUDY KAYE In his new book, “The Sacred Now: Cultivating Jewish Spiritual Consciousness” (Wipf & Stock, $18), Rabbi Mark Elber lays out a compelling case for engaging seriously with Jewish text and tradition while challenging the constraints of conventional religious belief and practice. He hopes the book will ignite a spark in readers that will help them feed the flame of their souls within a Jewish framework.

Elber is the rabbi at Temple Beth El in Fall River, and his wife, Shoshanah Brown, is the cantor. Raised in a Holocaustsurvivor family in Queens, New York, in a Polish Orthodox Jewish populace, he assumed this was the only authentic form of Judaism.

At age 16, as he relates in the book, he had a peak experience while walking up 43rd Street toward Queens Boulevard. Suddenly “[e]verything I looked at felt utterly alive, pulsing with Divinity. Everything seemed obviously and palpably part of God, part of the One, including myself ….” For the next several years, he could enter this state of consciousness virtually at will.

Elber concluded that this overwhelming sense of God’s presence was the goal and purpose of Jewish ritual observance, and must be familiar to his Orthodox friends. However, when he tried to tell them about his experience, they had absolutely no idea what he was talking about. Thus began the journey through which Elber discovered a vast difference between religion and spirituality, between strictly prescribed ritual observance and a more alive, personal, evolving relationship with the deity.

In college, Elber encountered Kabbalah and Lubavitch Hasidism, much of which resonated with his own yearnings. He became quite observant, while also engaging actively in the counterculture and progressive politics of 1960s America.

In the early 1970s, he moved to Jerusalem to pursue an advanced degree in Kabbalah at Hebrew University. While in Israel, he was deeply affected by radical feminism, and returned to the U.S. determined to incorporate these liberating insights into his Judaism.

Elber is a seasoned Jewish educator, as well as a poet, songwriter and rock musician.

While living in Nashville, Tennessee, in the late 1990s, he was invited to teach a class on Kabbalah, and was stunned at the level of interest. He began leading a weekly meditation group, and later became a certified teacher of Jewish meditation through Chochmat HaLev in Berkeley, California. In 2006, he published “The Everything Kabbalah Book.”

Rabbi Zalman SchachterShalomi, a key figure in the burgeoning Jewish Renewal movement, encouraged Elber to study for rabbinic ordination.

He then sent Elber on a mission to bring a more mystical, accessible, innovative, and egalitarian sensibility to various Jewish communities.

In “The Sacred Now,” Elber seeks “to present and explore a Jewish spiritual lifestyle that celebrates life and this world, in the here and now.” He sets out to propose techniques for experiencing “the Divinity that permeates and transcends all that exists.” But the book is less of a how-to manual than a passionate argument for challenging the status quo of establishment Jewish institutional and religious conformity.

Elber sees the codification of halakhah, Torah, ritual and prayer as having created a “petrification of Jewish practice,” where inherited beliefs, interpretations and observances become ends in themselves, rather than serving as tools for cultivating a direct relationship with God. This, he argues, turns ritual and prayer into a form of idolatry. He also critiques Jewish fundamentalism, where religious authorities insist on blind faith and obedi-

CONTRIBUTORS Cynthia Benjamin Seth Chitwood Stephanie Ross Sam Serby EDITOR Fran Ostendorf DESIGN & LAYOUT Leah Camara ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Chris Westerkamp cwesterkamp@jewishallianceri.org 401-421-4111, ext. 160 Karen Borger ksborger@gmail.com 401-529-2538

COLUMNISTS Michael Fink Rabbi James Rosenberg Daniel Stieglitz THE JEWISH VOICE (ISSN number 1539-2104, USPS #465-710) is published biweekly, except in July, when it does not publish.

ence, providing pat answers rather than encouraging the pursuit of wisdom and truth.

Without this freedom, Judaism cannot thrive, he writes.

Elber returns to both of these concerns – idolatry and fundamentalism – throughout the book, citing classic Jewish texts in expressing his views. While the content is engaging, the structure of the book is a little choppy, with some ideas restated in different chapters and sub-topics in a way that does not always flow smoothly.

According to Elber, Judaism provides powerful insights and techniques for experiencing holiness and sacredness in the everyday and mundane, for treating other human beings in ways that reflect our shared divine source, for making ourselves a living mishkan (sanctuary) for encountering God, and for leading us to a figurative promised land. However, he strongly disputes the notion that there is only one true and correct form of Jewish practice that has existed monolithically over time, and asserts that rigid adherence to prayer and ritual does not automatically result in a moral or meaningful life.

Elber is interested in spiritual substance over form, in entering wholeheartedly into worship and ritual (nich’nas and kavana) rather than focusing on compliance (yotzei).

He wants liberal Jews to be more serious practitioners of Judaism while pushing at its boundaries. He alludes to various techniques for nurturing Jewish spirituality, such as chanting, spending time in nature, davening without reading every word of the siddur, and crafting prayers that resonate more with 21st-century thought and sensibilities.

He sees Jewish meditation as a particularly effective means of cultivating spiritual consciousness – to transcend the duality of the universe and ego (yesh) and tap into the vast eternal presence or emptiness (ayin). I would have liked more concrete instructions or exam-

Rabbi Mark Elber ples of these practices.

Elber recognizes that spiritual exploration and growth requires both private and communa l effort. We are fortunate to have a variety of groups in Rhode Island and southeastern M assachu set ts, some within mainstream synagogues that are actively engaged in this journey.

JUDY KAYE is a lawyer, diversity consultant and officiant at alternative Jewish rituals.

She is a member of Temple Emanu-El, in Providence, where she coleads Soulful Shabbat and High Holy Day services. She can be reached at judykaye2@gmail.com.

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Phone: 401-421-4111 • Fax 401-331-7961

MEMBER of the Rhode Island Press Association and the American Jewish Press Association

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ADVERTISING: We do not accept advertisements for pork or shellfish. We do not attest to the kashrut of any product or the legitimacy of our advertisers’ claims.

All submitted content becomes the property of The Voice. Announcements and opinions contained in these pages are published as a service to the community and do not necessarily represent the views of The Voice or its publisher, the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

February 16, 2018 |

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For Valeriya Kvasha, an engineer and mother of three who fled war-torn Eastern Ukraine: The Alliance, through our core funding of JDC (American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee), afforded her a lifesaving support system. Her family received relocation aid including rental assistance, mental health services and a stocked apartment.

This allowed Valeriya to stabilize her life and she now works to help other at-risk Jewish youth and families transition to safety.

Jewish Alliance 2018 Annual Campaign: Donate. Volunteer. Make a difference.

The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island is dedicated to building a stronger and more inclusive community here at home, in Israel and around the world.

We are fueled by Jewish values and driven by tradition— reimagined for today’s world. Together, with your support, we are committed to strengthening lives and communities everywhere.

With your gift, we continue to bring renewed hope to those who experience hardship, vital assistance to those who have fallen ill, and compassion to those who suffer injustice. No matter our differences, what brings us together is the reality that everyone counts.

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WORLD

The Jewish Voice

FRAJDA Means Joy: The JCC Krakow Early Childhood Center

BY EZRA L. STIEGLITZ In the heart of the Jewish district of Krakow, Poland (Kazimierz), is a modern edifice. This is the home of the Jewish Community Center of Krakow The JCC Krakow was opened in April 2008 by His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales, and now serves as the focal point for the resurgence of Jewish life in Krakow. From the outset, Jonathan Orenstein, a native of Queens, New York, has been the executive director of this facility. He is the motivating force of the growth and success of the JCC Krakow. During our most recent visit to Poland in August of 2017, my wife, Varda, and I met with Jonathan (as we often have during each visit to Krakow). He was eager to take us on a tour of his latest venture, the Frajda Early Childhood Center that was scheduled to (and did) open in September of 2017.

It is the first Jewish preschool to open in Krakow since before World War II. (The purpose of this article is to provide information about this wonderful facility and program. Much of the information for this article was provided by Jonathan in correspondence with him in December of 2017.)

I will first provide the reader with some information about the JCC Krakow followed by Jonathan’s answers to questions about the Frajda Early Childhood Center.

According to Jonathan, the JCC is building a Jewish future in a city where Jewish presence was long believed to have seen its end. The 650 members can meet hundreds of other people with stories similar to theirs, and form a community. JCC Krakow endeavors to change the world’s perception of Poland by acting as a visitors’ center for over 100,000 visitors every year, many of them Jewish.

JCC Krakow’s primary goal is to establish an open, pluralistic, and inclusive community that welcomes all and provides innovative, quality programming at the highest level in a warm, optimistic, and lively atmosphere. At JCC Krakow, among the numerous services provided are: • Weekly Shabbat dinners and holiday meals and activities.

• A welfare-support program that helps our neediest senior members cover basic costs of living, medical bills, etc.

• Monthly meetings of the Child Survivors of the Holocaust Association.

• Film screening.

• Sunday school for elementary and middle school students.

• Language courses: Hebrew (six levels), Yiddish (two levels), Yiddish Club (eight participants), and Arabic.

• Yoga classes.

Children play at the Frajda Early Childhood Center of the Jewish Community Center of Krakow.

• Israeli dance classes.

• We e k l y r e h a b i l i t a t i o n classes for elderly community members.

• Weekly mind training and technology classes for seniors.

And the Frajda Preschool Program.

Below are Jonathan’s answers to questions about this new and innovative program.

How did the need arise for establishing this program?

We have had an informal, twice-weekly nursery for some time and wanted to expand both the scope and depth of our offering to serve our growing population of young families with children. No pluralistic Jewish preschool option quite like Frajda existed in Krakow.

What are the major goals of this program?

At Frajda, our focus is on comprehensive Jewish education. Our program engages with Jewish history and culture, incorporates celebration of Shabbat and other Jewish holidays, champions Jewish values, and upholds traditions. We want our students to be knowledgeable about and proud of their heritage. Moreover, we want to raise them as confident and empowered Jews in contemporary Poland.

How would you describe the space in the JCC that this program occupies?

Frajda’s newly designed, state-of-the-art space can comfortably accommodate up to 22 children on an entire floor of the JCC. The center was created in consultation with leading Jewish early childhood experts from Poland, the United States, and Israel. Frajda’s space includes three modern classrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and an entryway with cubbies.

What were some of the challenges in progressing from the conceptualization stage to the opening of the program in September 2017?

How many years?

Once generous donors stepped in with funding, we were thrilled to be able to take Frajda from concept to reality.

The idea for a full time childhood education program came up more than five years ago when young families in our

community started having children and understood they they want to give those children a Jewish education. The concept for our Jewish Early Childhood Center specifically emerged three years ago with the help of international supporters and advisors.

Some of the challenges we had to face included building a community of young families committed to sending their children to our preschool, which is far from where many of them live, and are setting up highquality Jewish preschools in Poland, where there are incredibly limited resources in terms of Jewish educational materials and Jewish early childhood educators.

We consulted with Judy WolfNevid, Early Childhood Head at the Heschel School in New York City, along with other early childhood educators, to build the highest quality curriculum.

Finally, we faced a number of building codes and regulations related to Polish preschools that required us to upgrade the JCC Krakow building, where Frajda is located.

What kind of support was needed to make the creation of this program a reality?

A generous lead grant from Eric and Erica Schwartz of New York City made Frajda financially possible. Donations from Jeff and Janet Beck, as well as Alan and Cindy Goldman, all of Dallas, TX, allowed us to purchase the van with which we drive children to and from the JCC for Frajda each day.

Friends of JCC Krakow board member Elizabeth Szancer donated Frajda’s Szancer Family Reading Corner. The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation is covering the cost of Frajda’s security needs. Financial support for Frajda also comes from Susan Lerner and Michael Roffer. The entire Friends of JCC Krakow board had a hand bringing Frajda to fruition.

In developing Frajda’s physical space and educational curriculum, we consulted with Judy Wolf-Nevid, Michelle Ores, Agi Legutko, and Sam & Gina Rosenberg.

How many children are currently registered in this

The JCC Krakow building.

PHOTOS | JCC KRAKOW

Playtime at the early childhood center while the teacher looks on in the background. program? What are their ages?

Eleven children are currently enrolled. They range in age from eight months to six years.

What are the days and hours of operation?

Frajda operates five days a week between 7:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.

What are the requirements for participation in this program? Which children qualify? Are all participants Jewish?

All participants are Jewish (JCC Krakow typically operates according to the Law of Return definition of Judaism.) All students’ parents must be JCC members.

What are the staffing requirements for this program?

We have three full-time instructors, including Frajda’s director. All are certified educators. One of our teachers has degrees in both Jewish studies and education. Rabbi Avi Baumol, the Chief Rabbi of Poland’s representative in Krakow, assists with Frajda’s Jewish curriculum.

What are the short- and long-term objectives for the growth of this program?

The outdoor Taube Family Playground and the Shana Penn Garden to be opened in Spring 2018 will be sponsored by Taube Philanthropies and will augment Frajda’s activities. In the next couple of years, we aim to double the number of students from 11 to 22. Long-term, we’d love for there to be a full-time

Jewish schooling option after students age out of Frajda.

What are you most proud of in the creation of this program?

Frajda’s opening marked the first time in over half a century that a pluralistic Jewish nursery school had opened its doors in Krakow. Frajda’s children are able to connect with Jewish traditions, holidays, history, and values from the day they are born, an opportunity many of their parents never had.

I feel that the recent opening of the Frajda Preschool Program is a major accomplishment. This program is of great benefit to Jewish families living in and outside of Krakow.

Congratulations to Jonathan Orenstein and his colleagues for their commitment, vision and hard work in providing the residents of Krakow and its environs with a high quality early childhood program. This program definitely serves as a model to follow for other Jewish communities.

EZRA L. STIEGLITZ, PH.D. is Professor Emeritus of Elementary Education at Rhode Island College and is Chair of the Rhode Island Holocaust/ Genocide Education Committee. He can be contacted at estieglitz@ric.edu. JONATHAN ORENSTEIN is the Executive Director of the Jewish Community Center of Krakow. He can be contacted at jonathan@jcckrakow.org . The website for this organization is www.jcckrakow.org .

D’VAR TORAH

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February 16, 2018 |

A blueprint for building sacred communities Parashat Terumah This week, we read the first of five Torah portions dedicated almost entirely to the building of the mishkan, the portable Temple that the Israelites took with them throughout their desert wanderings. For the rest of the book of Exodus, we read about each and every RABBI little detail of RACHEL this sacred construction projZERIN ect: the materials to be used, the design, the precise dimensions, even the methods to be used in the carving and hammering.

The building of the mishkan is described with such detail that it seems almost like a manual for repeating the job.

Yet, this was a one-time project.

Why, then, would the Torah – a text that does not waste words or include insignificant details – spend so much time describing how to build something that will never again be built?

Perhaps the Torah spends so much time describing the building of the mishkan because this is not (only) a guide for this one particular construction project, rather, it is a guide for building sacred communities in any time or place. In the opening of this week’s Torah portion, God says: V’asu li mikdash v’shachanti b’tokham. “Make for me a sanctuary, and I will dwell amongst all of you” (Exodus 25:8). Perhaps the use of the word “you” in the plural is meant to indicate not only every Israelite within the community that left Egypt, but also all of us throughout all time. Just as the ancient Israelites were commanded to build the mishkan, so too should we create a holy center for communal life and worship, where a sense of the Divine can prevail.

The value of retelling the narrative of this sacred construction project in such detail, then, is not only for us to re-live the experience our ancestors had of building God’s dwelling place, but also for us to recognize the care, precision and detail that

must go into creating any community, and to glean wisdom from the process of building the mishkan that we can use in building our own sacred centers today.

For me, the most powerful lessons in these chapters are the lessons about who must be involved in creating a sacred community, and how they are to engage in this holy task.

First, there must be an element of equal, universal contribution. Later in the book of Exodus, we read that every head of household was expected to contribute exactly one half shekel to the building of the mishkan, no more, no less. This significant but minimal monetary contribution was used to make all of the silver fasteners, so that there was at least one tangible part of this holy building that everyone had contributed to in equal share.

At the same time, our sacred communities must be contributed to in ways that are personally meaningful. Our parashah opens with God asking Moses to “tell all the Israelite people to bring Me gifts. You shall accept gifts for Me from every person whose heart is so moved” (Exodus 25:2). As the story continues, we read of both men and women who willingly brought materials, gave of their time, and drew on their various skills to contribute to the construction of this holy space.

Those who were knowledgeable of metalcraft molded the metal vessels; women used their knowledge of fabric arts to create curtains and clothing for the priests; woodworkers carved, hammered and nailed.

Each person gave what he could, whether material goods or time and knowledge, whether his gift was large or small.

Although some may have given much and others may have given little, our Torah also teaches us that each person’s gift was equally valued. Repeatedly, we read a list of 13 types of materials that were used to build the mishkan, always in the same order. This list goes from precious metals such as gold and silver, to beautifully dyed yarns and animal skins,

different types of wood, oils and spices, and precious gems. The order of this list almost seems arbitrary. It is not the order in which materials will be used, nor is it organized by value. This led to a powerful interpretation offered by the Or HaChayim, who wrote that the order of this list teaches that “all of the thirteen kinds of materials should be equally welcome. Someone who contributed linen or skins was not to be looked down upon when compared to someone who contributed gold.” In other words, in order to build a dwelling place for God, everyone’s contribution had to be equally valued – not because of what it was worth, but because it was given with a desire to be part of creating something holy.

These are just a handful of the many lessons we can learn from reading the instructions for building the mishkan. In order to build holy communities, the entire community must take part. No one can simply sit back and let others give of their time, money and skills, and then take advantage of the results. However, that doesn’t mean that everyone should

donate the same things in the same way. Communities are enhanced when they draw on the specific skills, resources and interests of their members. Some are better at weaving, others at woodwork. Some have gold and jewels to give, others have time and energy. Each of these things is equally valuable, as long as these things are given willingly and for the sake of the community. It is only when all members of a community takes part in their own unique way, and when every person’s contribution is equally valued, that a holy community can be built.

RACHEL ZERIN is a rabbi at Temple Emanu-El, in Providence.

Candle Lighting Times Greater Rhode Island February 16 February 23 March 2 March 9

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OPINION

It could have been worse!

I’m not one to worry about falling. I try to walk at a quick pace – hampered only by fairly short legs – eyes ahead, head held high. No shuffling here. So when I found myself seeming to fly through the air two weeks ago, I had to wonder what happened (right after putting my hands out to catch myself).

There was EDITOR no ice to be found. It was FRAN a beautiful OSTENDORF chilly, clear day. What tripped me up? A pesky Providence city sidewalk. You know the kind: a couple of inches difference between one piece and the next. Obviously this one had caused problems before because it was marked with a red-orange stripe of spray paint on both sides of the break. But unless you are looking down while you walk (a no-no in my book) you aren’t going to see that marking!

And that is how I came to be sitting on the sofa at home, my leg dutifully resting on the cushion in front of me and cloaked in a rather imposing looking brace. Yep. I fractured my patella. For those of you who might be running to the dictionary, let me stop you. I broke my kneecap. Plain and simple. The doctor told me I did a good job of it too with two large cracks easily visible on my x-ray. Fortunately, no surgery needed; I’ll be fine in 6 to 8 weeks.

It took a few days for the meaning of that much time to sink in for me. No bending my left knee. Wearing this heavy, uncomfortable brace 24/7.

Having to sleep on my back.

Not being able to wear most of my clothes. And no driving!

I will admit, I’m not very good at “sitting around,” and I hate asking for help. I have a difficult time accepting help for things I know I should be able to do myself. Some would say I’m on the stubborn side.

My husband calls me a lousy patient. OK. Maybe I’m even cranky about it sometimes.

But in the short time I’ve been housebound, I’ve learned that I have no choice. Graciously accepting help is an art. And it’s a skill to learn to slow down.

Anybody who has experienced an injury like this, or been involved with someone who has been told to sit tight for a number of weeks, can tell you that reorganizing daily life is a challenge. I don’t think I appreciated the wideranging implications of that until two weeks ago.

I’m totally connected to the outside world (and The Voice).

There’s no reason why I can’t keep working on the paper.

But the computer is upstairs.

And stairs are on my do only infrequently list. Fortunately I own a laptop computer. For this issue, everyone has come together to get the paper out.

Phone calls, text messages, emails and even a few home visits have made it happen.

I am so grateful to the supportive people in my life.

So here’s my advice to you: despite what your mother may have told you about standing up straight and looking forward, maybe a glance downward every so often isn’t such a bad idea. Perhaps even walking a little more slowly might be a good idea: listen to the birds, look around.

And to the City of Providence: A few well-placed cones would surely help some of these sidewalks till you get around to fixing them!

Next Time in The Voice TAKE A TRIP

Charlie Bakst reports on the Jews of Key West and what he discovering during a fascinating day trip with a heritage bent.

PLAYING GAMES

Did you know that there’s a dedicated group playing bridge every day at the J? Find out who they are and why they do it.

COMMUNICATE WITH US

Have an idea or a comment? Sent it via email to editor@ jewishallianceri.org or regular mail: Editor, The Jewish Voice, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, RI 02906.

OUR MISSION The mission of The Jewish Voice is to communicate Jewish news, ideas and ideals by connecting and giving voice to the diverse views of the Jewish community in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, while adhering to Jewish values and the professional standards of journalism.

The Jewish Voice

The shaping power of Jewish memory “Memory believes before knowing remembers. Believes longer than recollects, longer than knowing even wonders ….”

So begins Chapter 6 of the 1932 novel “Light in August,” by Nobel PrizeWinning American author William Faulkner (1897-1972).

These words foreshadow the backstory Joe ChristIT SEEMS of mas, one of TO ME the central characters in Faulkner’s RABBI JIM narrative.

ROSENBERG Christmas’ life is marked and marred by an overpowering memory, which he believes to be true, even though he cannot know for certain. The persistence of this memory convinces him that, although he passes for white, he has Negro blood in him. He remembers that as a little boy in an orphanage, other little boys and girls called him “n *****.” Though he does not know why he was given this label, he comes to believe that it must be true.

This confusion about his racial identity torments him throughout his life.

As is true for Joe Christmas, most of us hold onto memories we believe to be true, whether or not they accurately portray what really happened. Such memories, for better or worse, partially shape our ever-evolving personalities.

And just as memories from our earliest days tell us, in part, who we are, so, too, do the collective memories of the Jewish people add form and texture to our identity as Jews.

Yosef Yerushalmi (1932-2009), a well-respected Judaica scholar, explores the deep paradoxes of Jewish memory in his book, “Zakhor: Jewish History and Jewish Memory,” first published in 1982 by the University of Washington Press. He would have us consider, for example, a central theme of the Pass-

over seder: “Avadim hayinu, we were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt; and the Lord our God brought us out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm.”

Few collective memories are more deeply embedded in the Jewish psyche than the assertion that we were slaves and God set us free; this memory of our journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land is an essential part of who we are.

Nevertheless, modern Jewish historians, careful practitioners of their craft, raise numerous questions regarding the Biblical story of the Exodus, which forms the core of our Passover Haggadah. How many Israelites were slaves in Egypt? Certainly far fewer than the hundreds of thousands reported in our Torah.

Did our ancestors cross the miraculously parted waters of the Red Sea, or did they plod through the marshy muck of the Yam Suf, Sea of Reeds?

What about the 10 plagues?

Can even a single one of them stand the scrutiny of historical analysis? What credence can the modern historian give to the story of the Angel of Death passing over the homes of the Israelites but slaying the firstborn sons of the Egyptians?

As Yerushalmi is quick to point out, the professional skepticism of modern Jewish historians regarding the Torah’s telling of the Exodus works against the life-affirming, morally uplifting collective memory of our people.

Sitting at the seder table, Yerushalmi would have to set aside his professional identity as a Jewish historian and enter into what Rabbi Jacob Neusner (1932-2009), a contemporary of Yerushalmi’s, termed the “mythic structure” of Jewish tradition. To put it somewhat differently, there is the truth uncovered by today’s Jewish historians, and there is the mythic truth that emerges from the collective wisdom and experience of the Jewish people.

Neusner’s notion of the “mythic structure” informs our worship services as well as our life-cycle rituals.

During my rabbinical career, I have had the privilege of officiating at many, many weddings. During the ceremony, I have almost always chanted the traditional Sheva B’rachot, the Seven Benedictions, the sixth of which translates as “Grant perfect joy to these loving companions, as you did to the first man and woman in the Garden of Eden. Blessed be You, O Lord, who grants the joy of bride and groom.”

I think it is safe to say that not a single person standing under the Huppah at any one of these weddings believed, in a literal sense, in the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Nevertheless, within the joyful context of the wedding ceremony, these words of the sixth benediction ushered those present into the mythic structure of our collective memory, pointing us toward the timelessness of the sacred event to which we were all witnesses.

Jewish memory, then, even when certain facts are misremembered, is a source of our most cherished affirmations – for our “memory believes before knowing remembers.”

Such memories – filtered through decades, centuries, millennia of our collective experience – nourish our souls and fortify the mythic structure that gives us the strength, the courage, the sense of meaning and direction that carries us through the chaos of these troubled times.

Jewish memory, empowered by myth but grounded in the history of generation after generation, continues to teach us that we were, we are, and we will always be slaves who have been liberated by God. JAMES B. ROSENBERG is rabbi emeritus at Temple Habonim, in Barrington. Contact him at rabbiemeritus@templehabonim.org.

Letter

Re: In the #MeToo Era (Feb. 2)

Shlomo Carlebach is dead and cannot defend himself against his accusers and their allegations, yet his music is being banned and his name declared unspeakable in some

synagogues. This points up one of the witch-hunt aspects of the so-calledMeToo movement, i.e. that accused is convicted.

While the court of public opinion is not a court of law, “inno-

cent unless proven guilty” is a worthy principle which we should all remember.

Tom Padwa Warren, RI

COLUMNS | LETTERS POLICY

The Jewish Voice publishes thoughtful and informative contributors’ columns (opeds of 500 – 800 words) and letters to the editor (300 words, maximum) on issues of interest to our Jewish community.

At our discretion, we may edit pieces for publication or

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

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

OPINION

jvhri.org

FROM PAGE 1

OPEN LETTER

parts of the Jewish community.

In addition to inclusiveness, you can also expect the Alliance to be more open in the future. The ideals of inclusivity and openness may seem similar, but we define them differently.

Moving forward, the Alliance will work to mobilize the Jewish community to better serve the community-at-large. The Community Relations Council will

continue to lead the way in this area, with a focus on grassroots organizing and local advocacy on issues important to our community and the larger Rhode Island community. Where our Jewish values dictate, you can expect the Alliance to take action on an issue, whether we are leading the charge or standing with others as an ally.

Our commitment to openness does not end with the Commu-

nity Relations Council. We will develop stronger partnerships with other organizations – secular and non – along with synagogues and congregations, creating a variety of programs for everyone to connect with the Jewish community. And you can expect us to be more visible throughout the state, whether in Westerly, Woonsocket, or anywhere in between.

Our promise continues beyond openness and inclusivity, to create a stronger more vibrant community. It includes

our obligation to make the Alliance as transparent an organization as possible. We have already made available our most recent audit and IRS return on our website, and in the coming months you will be able to find more information about the costs of our programs there as well. Additionally, we will continue to look for ways to involve more people in our work, in an effort to be even more community-driven.

I nclu sivene ss. O p en ne ss.

Transparency. These are the

February 16, 2018 |

9

tenets of our promise to you.

A stronger more vibrant Jewish community is something no single organization can create alone. It is only possible with you. We hope that you will join us in this journey, and I look forward to working with you to make this vision a reality.

Sincerely, Adam Greenman President and CEO Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island

Mike Pence’s faith drives his support for Israel. Does it drive Mideast policy?

BY RON KAMPEAS WASHINGTON (JTA) – When Mike Pence moved to Washington earlier this year, he and his wife took with them a framed phrase they had for years hung over the fireplace in their Indiana home, and then over the fireplace in the governor’s mansion in that state.

Now it hangs over the mantel at the vice president’s residence at the Naval Observatory in Washington D.C. The words, from the Book of Jeremiah, read: “For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope, and a future.”

The “you” is the people of Israel, and Pence, an evangelical Christian, makes that clear when he addresses pro-Israel audiences. “They’re words to which my family has repaired to as generations of Americans have done so throughout our history, and the people of Israel through all their storied history have clung,” Pence said last August at the annual conference of Christians United for Israel.

Pence took that message to Israel recently on a trip ostensibly aimed in part at reviving the prospects for Israeli-Palestinian peace. He is seen as a key Trump administration figure when it comes to Israel policy and reportedly helped nudge the president to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

Pence’s first visit to Israel as vice president led some to ask to what degree are his views – and the administration’s policies – shaped by the brand of evangelical Christianity that invests his faith?

Pence, a convert to evangelical Christianity from Roman Catholicism, has alarmed some liberals with his insistence on rooting his pro-Israel bona fides in faith as much as realpolitik considerations of the United States’ national security. Their fear is that a messianic outlook might run riot over one of the most delicate dilemmas facing successive U.S. governments, namely stability in the Middle East.

“Trump has handed Israel policy to evangelicals,” The Forward’s Jane Eisner wrote in an editorial as Pence headed

to Israel. “That’s terrifying.”

Like many liberals, she worries that policy will be driven by evangelical beliefs that certain conditions – like Jewish control over the West Bank and sovereignty in Jerusalem – fulfill biblical prophecies.

Republicans and conservatives say that it is reductive to believe that Pence shapes his views solely according to the tenets of his faith.

“They always highlight the fact that he’s an evangelical, as if that’s a pejorative when in fact [Pence and other evangelicals] are motivated first and foremost by shared values with Israel,” said Matt Brooks, the director of the Republican Jewish Coalition, who has known Pence for years. “And not just by the shared values, but the important efforts of collectively standing up to threats of Iran, pushing back on ISIS, and on radical Islam, or whether it’s being a critical democratic foundation in a very dangerous place. There are so many places where U.S. and Israel’s interests intersect.”

Pence began his speech to the Knesset by outlining the shared values Brooks described.

“We stand with Israel because your cause is our cause, your values are our values, and your fight is our fight,” he said. “We stand with Israel because we believe in right over wrong, in good over evil, and in liberty over tyranny.”

But he quickly pivoted to depict support of Israel as both biblical (Deuteronomy 30:4, to be exact) and rooted in an American strain of Christianity.

“Down through the generations, the American people became fierce advocates of the Jewish people’s aspiration to return to the land of your forefathers, to claim your own new birth of freedom in your beloved homeland,” he said to applause.

“The Jewish people held fast to a promise through all the ages, written so long ago, that ‘even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens,’ from there He would gather and bring you back to the land which your fathers possessed.”

Pastor John Hagee, the found-

er of Christians United for Israel, described a natural trajectory for evangelical supporters of Israel from biblical belief to the more practical modern reasons for supporting the state.

“The promises of the Hebrew Bible are the foundation of Christian Zionism, but our motivations for supporting Israel do not end there,” he told JTA in an email. “We see in Israel a democracy that shares Western values and is a force for stability in the Middle East. While standing with Israel is a Biblical mandate, it is also a moral imperative and in the national security interests of the U.S. I am confident that all three of these considerations inform the vice president’s approach to the Middle East and I believe that is perfectly appropriate.”

Pence has, since the outset of his political career, made it clear that his support for Israel is first grounded in biblical precepts. “My support for Israel stems largely from my personal faith,” he told Congressional Quarterly in 2002, a year after he was first elected to Congress.

“God promises Abraham, ‘those who bless you, I will bless, and those who curse you, I will curse.’”

Sarah Posner, a journalist who for years has tracked evangelicals, said Pence’s faith seemed to be preeminent in his consideration of Israel. “I don’t think he is thinking about that in terms of shared democracy or not shared democracy, he’s thinking about it providential terms, that these missions are God’s plans for Israel,” said Posner, a reporting fellow at The Nation Institute’s Investigative Fund.

It’s hard not to see Pence’s belief as an impetus driving Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem, said Daniel Seidemann, an Israeli expert on Jerusalem who advocates for including all the city’s sects and groupings in considering its permanent status.

“It would be fine for him to have those beliefs, if he weren’t the vice president and shaping policy,” Seidemann told JTA. “Jerusalem has been witnessing over the last 20 years the ascendancy of faith communities

that weaponize religion.”

Pence proudly stood with Trump in the White House when the president announced the recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, and he appears to have accelerated the planned move of the U.S. embassy. Trump said it would take at least three years to move the embassy, but Pence, in Israel ,said it would be in place before 2019 is out.

“The United States decided to go through these hollow gestures on Jerusalem rather than advancing its own interests and the interests of Israel and the Palestinians by engaging in a sober attempt to resolve the issue,” Seidemann said.

Pence’s trip, by including only Jewish sites and skipping meetings with other faith leaders, was contributing to the weaponization, Seidemann said.

Christian faith leaders declined to meet with Pence during his visits to Egypt and Israel; various reports framed their objections as a reaction to policies they feared put religious imperatives before meeting the needs of Arabs in the region, including the Christian minority.

Mae Elise Cannon, the direc-

tor of Churches for Middle East Peace, an umbrella group that includes most of the Christian denominations in Israel and the West Bank, told JTA that local Christians were wary of how Pence framed his support for Israel as a matter of Christian faith.

“They didn’t meet with him because they don’t view him as an honest broker or an unbiased broker,” she said.

Still, some conservatives charge liberals with weaponizing religion, and using Pence’s faith as a way to discredit otherwise normative policies.

“That vast numbers of Americans are inspired by the Bible to support Jewish rights in their ancient homeland isn’t so much a function of the left-right conflict as it is an integral part of the nation’s political culture,” wrote Jonathan Tobin, a former executive editor of Commentary and current editor in chief of JNS.org.

Those turned off by Pence’s rhetoric need to ask what exactly it is about a desire to respect Jewish rights and demand that Palestinians give up their century-old war on Zionism that annoys them so much.

Letter Re: Remember our roots (Jan. 19)

I read the article in last week’s edition of the Jewish Voice by Mr. Sales regarding the immigration ban.

It is really disturbing to hear people like him and other liberal Jews criticize President Trump with his immigration ban. Are they actually comparing the immigration ban on Jews in the 1920s and ’30s to countries now where many, many, terrorists come from?

Did the Jews back then commit terrorist acts on American citizens?

Trump isn’t picking countries for no reason. Trump has an obligation to protect the American people. Even President Obama recognized people from these countries as terror threats. He just wouldn’t do anything about it.

But why didn’t I hear Jews complain about Obama, who

clearly hated Jews. He denied access to the Jews’ holiest places. Or about the US/IRAN deal that he put together that would undeniably mean the genocide of Israel?

But instead all I hear in The Jewish Voice is Trump bashing. Yes Trump, who is the first president to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and announced the movement of the embassy there.

Jews in the U.S., should be praising Trump, not just the Jews in Israel. What is wrong with these liberal Jews in the U.S? Jews who stand up for people who hate Jews, and just bash President Trump who is doing more for Israel than any other president, is just plain sickening.

Ron Katz Lincoln, RI

10 | February 16, 2018

Ongoing Alliance Kosher Senior Café. Kosher lunch and program every weekday.

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, 401-421-4111, ext. 107.

West Bay Kosher Senior Café. Kosher lunch and program every weekday.

Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston.

11:15 a.m. program; noon lunch. $3 lunch donation from individuals 60+ or under 60 with disabilities. Steve, 401743-0009.

Duplicate Bridge. Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Mondays noon-2 p.m.: 0-20 masterpoint game.

For less-experienced players. $5 per day. Mondays and Wednesdays noon-3 p.m.: Open stratified game for experienced players at all levels. $7 per day. Tuesdays and Fridays 11 a.m.-2 p.m: Open stratified game for players at all levels. $7 per day. Thursdays 1:30-3:30 p.m.: Guided play. Beginners and those seeking to hone skills play under the guidance of nationally known instructor Bart Buffington. $6 per day.

Information, Bart Buffington at abarton295@aol.com or 401-390-9244.

Through March 8 Plein Air Artists. Bunny Fain Gallery at Temple Habonim, 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington. Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and by appointment. Annual exhibit of artists from the summer 2017 Lifelong Learning Collaborative Plein Air class. Information, 401-245-6536 or gallery@templehabonim.org.

Friday | February 16 Shababa Friday/PJ Library Story Time.

10-11 a.m. Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Welcome Shabbat with singing, dancing, jumping and celebrating as a community. Children and their caregivers are invited to listen to music, gather for stories, play games, create a craft, eat a snack and make new friends. PJ Library Story Time incorporates music and movement as Dayna Bailen, Shababa song leader, and Shlomo, the sloth puppet, entertain children ages 5 and under. Guest readers bring PJ Library books, and open art studio time is available. All are welcome.

Free. Information or to RSVP, Dayna Bailen at dbailen@jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 108.

Kabbalat Shabbat Service. 7:30-9 p.m.

Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Shabbat service followed by an Oneg. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@toratyisrael. org or 401-885-6600.

Saturday | February 17 Classic Shabbat Service. 9-11 a.m.

Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Classic Shabbat service followed by a Kiddush luncheon.

Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@toratyisrael.org or 401885-6600.

Children’s Shabbat Program and Jr. Kiddush Club. 9:30-11:15 a.m.

Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Weekly program and Jr. Kiddush Club for children. Activities include prayer, parashah, play time and a special Kiddush. Three age groups: Tots, Pre-K thru 1st grade and 2nd grade and up. Located in Kids Room,

CALENDAR Social Hall and Chapel on the lower level. Big kids of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to join prayer services in the main sanctuary. Information, office@bethsholom-ri.org.

Wednesday | February 21 Hamentash Bake Fest. 6-7:30 p.m.

Chabad of West Bay, 3871 Post Road, Warwick. Chabad Jewish Women of West Bay prepare a gift of food to share with someone on Purim. Desserts will be served. All are welcome. $10 donation. Information or to RSVP, Shoshanah at 401-884-4071 or Mrslaufer@gmail. com.

Canasta. 7-9 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich.

Learn to play. Open to all; coed. Free.

Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@toratyisrael.org or 401885-6600.

Mah Jongg. 7-9 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Open to members and non-members. Bring your friends and your Mah Jongg card. Free. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@ toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600.

“Bridging the Gap” with Rabbi Raphie.

8-8:45 p.m. Kollel Center for Jewish Studies, 450 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Explore the development and refinement of our personalities through the eyes of the Mussar movement. Text is “Bridging the Gap.” All are welcome for this fundamental and transformative journey. Free. Wednesday evenings thru 1/30/19. Information, Rabbi Raphie Shochet at rabbiraphie@gmail.com or 401-383-2786.

Thursday | February 22 Pre-Purim Extravaganza for Young Families. 3:30-5:15 p.m. Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence.

Make your own grogger, mask and signs. Enjoy games, story time with PJ Library, refreshments and much more.

Sponsored by Project Shoresh, JCDSRI and PJ Library. Suggested donation $5 per family. Information or to RSVP (appreciated but not necessary), Noach Karp at rnoachkarp@gmail.com or 401429-8244.

Delve Deeper: A Program of Intensive Jewish Study. 7-9 p.m. Temple Emanu-El, Bohnen Vestry, 99 Taft Ave., Providence. Thursdays thru 5/10.

New adult education initiative brings dynamic teachers who are experts in their fields to teach in-depth, universitylevel courses to a diverse group of adult learners. The third semester: “The Rabbis and Their Legacy: An Introduction to Rabbinic Judaism” with Professor Michael Satlow. Registration is required, and space is limited. $200 for the semester. Information, including a link to register: teprov.org/institute/ delvedeeper.

Friday | February 23 T.G.I.F. Thank G-D It’s Friday. 5:45-7 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Shabbat songs and story with Rabbi Aaron Philmus followed by a free kid-friendly Shabbat dinner. Donations welcome. Information or to RSVP, Torat Yisrael Office at 401885-6600.

Shabbat Hallelu. 6:30 p.m. Temple BethEl, 70 Orchard St., Providence. Light refreshments and sangria followed by 7 p.m. services. Experience the joy of Shabbat with Cantor Judy Seplowin and

The Jewish Voice the Hallelu Band as we open the doors to worship through musical presentation and congregational singing. Refreshments sponsored by the Benefactors Fund. Information, Temple Beth-El office at 401-331-6070.

Kabbalat Shabbat Service. 7:30-9 p.m.

Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Shabbat service followed by an Oneg. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@toratyisrael. org or 401-885-6600.

Saturday | February 24 Taste of Shabbat. 9-11 a.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. 9 a.m. Torah discussion and 9:45 a.m. Shabbat service followed by a light Kiddush. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600.

Children’s Shabbat Program and Jr. Kiddush Club. 9:30-11:15 a.m.

Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Weekly program and Jr. Kiddush Club for children. Activities include prayer, parashah, play time and a special Kiddush. Three age groups: Tots, Pre-K thru 1st grade and 2nd grade and up. Located in Kids Room, Social Hall and Chapel on the lower level. Big kids of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to join prayer services in the main sanctuary. Information, office@bethsholom-ri.org.

Purim Community Celebration for Teens in Grades 6-12. 7-10 p.m. Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence.

Annual Purim party. Hang out, meet new friends, make your own hamentaschen, play carnival games, sing karaoke and assemble mishloach manot. Cost: $15 per person | RSVP by 2/16 and pay only $10 | first 10 teens to RSVP pay only $5. Created for and by youth groups in greater Rhode Island, including USY, Junior USY, BBYO, NCSY, PROVTY, CRAFTY, Camp JORI and the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

Information or to RSVP, Seth Finkle at sfinkle@jewishallianceri.org or 401421-4111, ext. 146.

Sunday | February 25 Adult Education: Israeli Life. 9:15-10:30 a.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. February Topic: A Month in Israel, Best Things to Do and See. Information or to register, Torat Yisrael office at 401-885-6600.

Day-at-the-J! Kick the Winter Blahs.

9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Fitness Workshop: Commit to be fit for summer. This workshop will help you on your fitness journey. Participants will be eligible for a deeply discounted personal training package. Babysitting available (For children 6 months to 6 years, from 8:30 a.m. to noon for up to two hours on a first-come, first-served basis with 24-hour advance reservation. Staff are CPR/First Aid-certified).

10:30-11:30 a.m. PJ Library Story Time: stories about camp with a summer-themed craft (children under age 5). 1-3 p.m. Pool Party: Crank up the heat in the Dwares JCC pool. Family Swim will include swim toys, flotation devices, slides and games for children of all ages. All children under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult. Regular pool rules apply. 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

“Humans of Tel Aviv” Workshops with photographer Erez Kaganovitz. (See separate listing for more information.)

Information or to sign up, Michelle Cicchitelli at mcicchitelli@jewishallianceri. org or 401-421-4111, ext. 178.

Sandwiches at Sinai. 10-11:30 a.m.

Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston.

Led by the temple’s Social Action Committee, prepare lunches in the temple kitchen for the Be the Change Sunday meal program. Information, Dottie at 401-942-8350.

Purim Carnival. 10:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft Ave., Providence. Annual Purim Carnival at 10:30 a.m. for the under 5 crowd and at 11 a.m. for all others. Information, Shoshana Jacob at shosh@teprov.org or 401-331-1616.

“Humans of Tel Aviv” Workshops with photographer Erez Kaganovitz. 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. 1 p.m. Human Rights and the Public Sphere. Using photographs, explore the subtle but present tensions among the different social groups in Tel Aviv and use the city as a laboratory to explore democracy, human rights and the public sphere. 4 p.m. Humans of Tel Aviv and the Social Fabric of Tel Aviv. The amazing social fabric of Tel Aviv is unraveled by the life stories of the different Humans who participated in this project. It’s “Tel Aviv 10 for those who want to better understand why Tel Aviv is one of the most liberal cities in the world.

Free. Information, Larry Katz at lkatz@ jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 179.

Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center Book Club: “The Velvet Hours.”

2 p.m. Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. The first book club discussion. Information, May-Ronny Zeidman at May@BornsteinHolocaustCenter.org or 401-453-7860.

Java Café. 10:30 a.m. Temple Shalom, 223 Valley Road, Middletown. Temple Shalom resumes Java Café, initiating a series of conversations regarding community concerns, current events and social justice issues. Guest presenters on Feb. 25 will be Naomi and Norman Zucker, “The Guarded Gate: immigration today”. You are encouraged to bring your family immigration stories to share in the conversation. All are welcome.

Refreshments. RSVP to Karen Dannin klmdri@aol.com; 401-619-5969 or Fran Mendell franc2224@gmail.com.

Monday | February 26 Monday Night Meditation. 7:45-8:30 p.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Meditation instruction for all levels. If you are looking for accessible spiritual practices to help transform your life, consider this class. This series focuses on little-known classic and modern Jewish meditation techniques. Open to all.

Future dates: 3/12, 3/19, 3/26, 4/9, 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14. Free. Advance registration required. Information, rabbi@bethsholom-ri.org.

Wednesday | February 28 Purim Celebration, Megillah Reading and Spiel. 5:30 p.m. Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. 5:30 p.m.

K’tantan Purim party. 6 p.m. School Purim celebration. 6:30 p.m. Communitywide costume parade. 6:45 p.m.

Megillah reading followed by the Purim Spiel. The Totally Rad ‘80s Spiel is a wacky, funny and faithful take on the story of Esther. Featuring parodies of

your favorite ‘80s hits, this script and score will have you laughing and tapping your feet! You’ll love the parodies of songs like “When Queens Cry,” “Like a Villain,” “Save the Jews” and “The Eighties Purim Spiel.” Information, Temple Beth-El office at 401-331-6070.

Megillah Reading. 6 p.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. A Purim punch party follows the Megillah reading in the sanctuary. Awards for the best costumes. Hamantaschen will be served. Information, Dottie at 401-9428350.

Dinner and Purim Spiel: “Annie.” 6-8 p.m. Temple Habonim, 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington. Pre-spiel, optional macaroni & cheese dinner at 6 p.m. Dinner: $7 per person; reservations required (www.templehabonim. org/purim-dinner). 6:30 p.m. Spiel.

Information, Jodi Sullivan at office@ templehabonim.org or 401-245-6536.

“Bridging the Gap” with Rabbi Raphie.

8:00-8:45 p.m. Kollel Center for Jewish Studies, 450 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Explore the development and refinement of our personalities through the eyes of the Mussar movement. Text is “Bridging the Gap.” All are welcome for this fundamental and transformative journey. Free. Wednesday evenings thru 1/30/19. Information, Rabbi Raphie Shochet at rabbiraphie@gmail.com or 401-383-2786.

Thursday | March 1 Purim Bash. 10:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m.

Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Come in your best costume to celebrate with the community. There will be jugglers, balloons, live music, hamentashen and so much more. This replaces the usual Purim parade. Free.

Information, Noach Karp at provpurimparade@gmail.com or 401-429-8244.

Delve Deeper: A Program of Intensive Jewish Study. 7-9 p.m. Temple Emanu-El, Bohnen Vestry, 99 Taft Ave., Providence. Thursdays thru 5/10.

New adult education initiative brings dynamic teachers who are experts in their fields to teach in-depth, universitylevel courses to a diverse group of adult learners. The third semester: “The Rabbis and Their Legacy: An Introduction to Rabbinic Judaism” with Professor Michael Satlow. Registration is required, and space is limited. $200 for the semester. Information, including a link to register, can be found at https:// www.teprov.org/institute/delvedeeper.

Friday | March 2 Kehillah Kedoshah Freedom Shabbat.

5:30-8:30 p.m. Temple Habonim, 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington. 5:30 p.m. Tot Shabbat. 6 p.m. Pizza dinner.

Dinner: $5 per person; reservations required (www. templehabonim.org/ kehillah-kedoshah.) 6:45 p.m. Kehillah Kedoshah Freedom Shabbat service.

Grades 4-7 will lead prayers and songs.

Information, Jodi Sullivan at office@ templehabonim.org or 401-245-6536.

Saturday | March 3 Children’s Shabbat Program and Jr. Kiddush Club. 9:30-11:15 a.m.

Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Weekly program and Jr. Kiddush Club for children. Activities include prayer, parashah, play time and a special Kiddush. Three age groups: Tots, Pre-K thru 1st grade and 2nd CALENDAR | 11

WORLD | CALENDAR

jvhri.org

FROM PAGE 1

WAR

FROM PAGE 10

Israeli soldiers taking positions near the border with Syria, Feb. 10.

Since then, there have been no further clashes among Iran, Syria and Israel.

Israel has long been at odds with Iran and Syria.

It isn’t news that Iran and Israel are at each other’s throats.

Iranian leaders have called for

CALENDAR

grade and up. Located in Kids Room, Social Hall and Chapel on the lower level. Big kids of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to join prayer services in the main sanctuary. Information, office@bethsholom-ri.org.

Sunday | March 4 “Infusing Judaism into Your Family’s Life.” 9-10:30 a.m. Temple EmanuEl, 99 Taft Ave., Providence. Explore how you can infuse Judaism into your family’s life, enriching your own Jewish experience as well as the experiences of your children as individuals and your family as a whole. Program is designed for anyone who plays an active role in a child’s Jewish life, whether a parent or grandparent, single or partnered, Jewish or not. Babysitting is free of charge, but you must RSVP at teprov. org/form/jewishparenting if you would like babysitting. Information, Rabbi Zerin at 401-331-1616 or rzerin@teprov. org.

Breakfast and Presentation featuring Daniel M. Kimmel. 9:30 a.m. Tifereth Israel Congregation, 145 Brownell Ave., New Bedford, Mass. Breakfast and presentation. Daniel M. Kimmel’s reviews appeared in the Worcester Telegram and Gazette for 25 years and can now be found at Northshoremovies. net. For seven years he was the “Movie Maven” for The Jewish Advocate and later served as its editor. His book on the history of FOX TV, “The Fourth Network,” received the Cable Center Book Award. His other books include a history of DreamWorks, “The Dream Team, I’ll Have What She’s Having: Behind the Scenes of the Great Romantic Comedies” and “Jar Jar Binks Must Die… and other observations about science fiction movies,” which was shortlisted for the Hugo Award for “Best Related Work.”

His first novel, “Shh! It’s a Secret: a novel about Aliens, Hollywood, and the

11

that Hezbollah will use those weapons to attack Israel. An Israeli Air Force official said that Israel has conducted thousands of missions in Syria just in the past year.

Israel, Iran and Syria clash.

On the morning of Feb. 10, Iran sent a drone into Israeli airspace and Israel shot it down. While Iran sponsors groups and countries that have attacked Israel, this appears to be the first time it has directly violated Israeli territory.

In response, Israel bombed the drone launcher, which was in central Syria, near the city of Palmyra. Syria, an ally of Iran, retaliated by downing one of the Israeli F-16 jets that had struck the drone launcher. The Israeli pilots managed to eject over Israeli territory, evading capture. One has been released from the hospital and the other is recovering.

Israel responded to the downed jet by bombing a dozen Iranian and Syrian military targets in Syria. On Feb. 12, Israeli military officials estimated that the strikes had wiped out about half of Syria’s air force.

February 16, 2018 |

Bartender’s Guide,” was a finalist for the Compton Crook Award. His latest book is “Time on My Hands: My Misadventures in Time Travel.” He is a past president of the Boston Society of Film Critics and past co-chair of the Boston Online Film Critics Association. He has taught at Emerson College and Suffolk University, lectures on film to a variety of groups and served as emcee for the New England Region of the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs. Information or to register, 508-997-3171 or email office@tinewbedford.org.

Purim Carnival. 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Temple Habonim, 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington. Games and events for all ages. Basket and large stuffed animal raffle. Open to the community. Information, Jodi Sullivan at office@templehabonim.org or 401-245-6536.

Purim Carnival. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Purim carnival in the social hall. Information, Dottie at 401-942-8350.

Hadassah Rhode Island Chai Luncheon.

Noon-3 p.m. Wethersfield Commons, One Williamsburg Dr., Warwick. The annual Chai luncheon supports Hadassah’s work at its hospitals in Israel. This dairy potluck supports Hadassah’s Chai Society by urging members to become a part of the annual giving program. Guest speaker is Dr. Lisa Fishbayn Joffe, director of the Hadassah-Brandeis Institute. Cost: $36 minimum. Information, Sue Mayes at sue_mayes@cox.net or 401-849-2980.

A Conversation with Rhode Island’s Congressional Delegation. 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Temple Habonim, 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington. Join Sen. Jack Reed, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and Rep. David Cicilline for a discussion of issues facing Rhode Island and America. Free and open to the community. Information, Jodi Sullivan at office@templehabonim. org or 401-245-6536.

the destruction of Israel and bankroll militant groups that have been attacking Israel for decades – primarily Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Threats by Iran to wipe Israel off the map have fueled Jerusalem’s blanket opposition to Iran’s nuclear program.

Iran is also a major sponsor of Syrian President Bashar alAssad. Syria has been technically at war with Israel since their last conflict in 1973. Iran provides Assad’s regime with funding, and Hezbollah has been fighting on Assad’s side in his civil war against a range of opposition groups.

Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has made opposing Iran the singular focus

PHOTO | JTA

of his administration since he returned to office in 2009. He has focused most of his fire on the 2015 deal to curb Iran’s nuclear program, and has warned repeatedly that allowing Iran to obtain nuclear weapons threatens Israel’s existence.

But Netanyahu has also criticized Iran’s regional aggression, its human rights record and its role in Syria’s civil war.

His opposition to Shiite Iran has drawn him closer to Sunni Arab states like Saudi Arabia, which are also wary of Iran becoming too powerful.

And while Israel as a policy tries to stay out of the Syrian civil war, it has bombed weapons shipments between Syria and Hezbollah. The concern is

Iran’s drone suggests that it’s getting more assertive.

Since Syria’s civil war began in 2011, Iran and its proxies have been focused mostly on helping Assad fight opposition forces. But now that Assad looks like he’s going to win, Iran may be looking to set up bases on Syria’s border with Israel. Using those bases, either Iran or Hezbollah could attack Israel, opening up another front in their conflict.

“As the Assad regime gains the upper hand, Hezbollah probes the southwest and Iran seeks to augment its partners’ military capacities, Israel has grown fearful that Syria is becoming an Iranian base,” read a report by the International Crisis Group that was released days before the drone flight. “A broader war could be one miscalculation away.”

Netanyahu, in condemning the attack, said the Iranian drone validates his warnings about Iran’s aggression. He said Israel “will continue to do whatever is necessary to protect our sovereignty and our security.”

“Iran seeks to use Syrian territory to attack Israel for its professed goal of destroying Israel,” Netanyahu said in a statement Feb. 10. “This morning WAR | 23

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COMMUNITY

12 | February 16, 2018

The Jewish Voice

PHOTO | CHRISTINA MIA MORALES

Rep. Mia Ackerman (D-Dist. 45, Cumberland, Lincoln), center, poses with participants of the StandWithUs International Israel in Focus Conference, which took place in Los Angeles. Ackerman was invited, along with Rep. Phil King from Texas, to lead a panel discussion on legislation that prohibits the state from doing business with anti-Israel boycotters.

R.I. Rep. Ackerman speaks at StandWithUs’ international conference

BY BRACHA STUART Over 500 students and community members learned, shared and strategized with experts on the best ways to tell Israel’s story and combat antiSemitism, during StandWithUs’ annual International Conference, held Jan. 19-22 in Los Angeles.

Rhode Island’s own state Rep. Mia Ackerman, was one of two state legislators invited to address the “Israel in Focus” conference, which brought together high school and college students and community members from all over the world, including Mexico, Canada and the United Kingdom. Participants learned

best practices in confronting challenges on campuses and in the community, legislation, investments and religious institutions, and other areas. They also had an opportunity to network with other student leaders and discuss programming and strategy ideas.

“The students I met were so inspirational,” said Rep. Ackerman. “It was an extremely well-structured, educationbased initiative to train student leaders in how to deal with antiSemitism and other issues facing Israel today. I had the honor of sitting on a panel to discuss the bipartisan bill I sponsored – which was signed into law – along with Rep. Phil King, a Re-

publican legislator from Texas who did the same.”

In 2016, Ackerman sponsored a bill (2016-H 7736) that effectively prohibits the state from investing in or contracting with companies that engage in boycotts of allies and trade partners of the United States, including the state of Israel.

“We now have 24 states that have passed similar legislation,” said Ackerman. “It was gratifying to see so many people coming together – liberal, conservative and everything in between – to educate students from college and high school not only to recognize anti-Semitism and the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions

movement, but give them the tools to combat it.”

Keynote speakers at the conference included Sharren Haskel, a member of the Knesset, and Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, author of “Harpoon.”

Attendees left inspired, empowered and reenergized to continue educating their communities about Israel.

The Adam Gila Milstein

Family Foundation sponsored the conference, as in previous years.

Founded in 2001, StandWithUs is an international, nonprofit Israeli organization dedicated to educating people of all ages about Israel and to combating anti-Semitism and extremism.

BRACHA STUART is executive director of StandWithUs Rhode Island.

THE HISTORY OUR FUTURE THE PEOPLE THEIR STORIES

YemeNight Wednesday, March 7, 2018 7:00pm

Dwares JCC | 401 Elmgrove Avenue, Providence

“He who eats well is able to face an army.”

-Yemeni Proverb How have the Yemenite Jews influenced Israeli culture today? Learn about the fascinating history of Yemenite Jews, their immigration to Israel, and the difficulties of their assimilation. Discover what makes a Yemenite different from Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and other Jewish groups. Listen to music, discuss traditions, and enjoy traditional JewishYemenite food including malawach, a fried bread consisting of layers of puff pastry.

No cost to attend.

For more information, contact Tslil Reichman at treichman@jewishallianceri.org or 401.421.4111 ext. 121.

Visit jewishallianceri.org/israel-70 for a full list of events throughout the year.

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

NEAT performance On Jan 27 and 28, the students from the New England Academy of Torah showcased their annual production.

PHOTO | NEAT

This year’s show was titled “When You Believe.” Pictured are the girls in choir.

FOOD

jvhri.org

February 16, 2018 |

13

Paula Shoyer goes beyond baking in new cookbook

BY FRAN OSTENDORF I love a good cookbook, one with plenty of recipes that sound delicious, look tasty and have a lighter, contemporary feel.

Paula Shoyer, known as “the Kosher Baker,” has more than met my standards with her new cookbook, “The Healthy Jewish Kitchen: Fresh Contemporary Recipes for Every Occasion” (Sterling Epicure, 2017). You don’t need a Kosher kitchen to fi nd this book appealing, and it’s fi lled with vegetarian and gluten-free options as well.

Author of “The New Passover Menu,” “The Holiday Kosher Baker” and “The Kosher Baker,” Shoyer is venturing away from baking with this book. Her contemporary recipes include Red Quinoa Meatballs with Spaghetti Squash, Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup, Israeli Herb and Almond Salad. These recipes are simple enough for many beginning cooks. A nice added touch is the equipment list at the beginning of each recipe. That’s not our style at The Voice, but I’ve left it here so you can see how helpful it is.

The key, for Shoyer, is fresh, wholesome ingredients. As she writes in her introduction, “Most Jewish cookbooks still have too many recipes with processed ingredients, not enough whole grains, too much salt and fat, and too much sugar.” She writes that her goal was to use only natural ingredients.

I had a hard time picking out recipes to share. Because it’s almost Purim, I chose an interesting Pumpkin Hamentaschen.

And I was attracted to her Gluten-Free Challah recipe because I’m always searching for tasty gluten-free bread. Then I realized that, despite the fact that Shoyer has written a book not centered on baking, I’m sharing baking recipes.

Well, her book is readily available, so let me know what else you’ve tried!

Pumpkin Hamantaschen

Parve • Makes 3 dozen cookies Purim is one of my favorite Jewish holidays, and I love to invent new flavors of hamantaschen every year. These taste best when they are baked until fi rm.

PREP TIME: 10 minutes; 1 hour to chill dough; 15 minutes to roll out and shape BAKE TIME: 14 minutes ADVANCE PREP: May be made 2 days in advance; avoid freezing EQUIPMENT: Measuring cups and spoons, can opener, large bowl, electric mixer, silicone spatula, plastic wrap, medium bowl, 2 jelly roll pans or cookie sheets, parchment paper or silicone baking mats, roll-

Gluten-Free Challah

ing pin, small drinking glass or round cookie cutter (2 to 3 inches [5 to 7.5cm] in diameter), long metal flat-blade spatula

Ingredients

DOUGH 3 large eggs 1 cup (200g) sugar 1/2 cup (120g) sunflower, safflower, or canola oil 1/2 cup (113g) pumpkin purée 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 3/4 cups (220g) all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting 1 1/4 cups (163g) whole-wheat flour Dash salt FILLING 1 cup (225g) pumpkin purée 1/4 cup (55g) light brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon maple syrup 1 large egg yolk

Directions

In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to mix together the eggs, sugar, oil, pumpkin purée, and vanilla and mix well.

Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, all-purpose flour, whole-wheat flour, and salt and mix until the dough comes together. Form the dough into a round, then cover it with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for 1 hour or overnight to fi rm up.

Prepare the fi lling. In a medium bowl, place the pumpkin purée, light brown sugar, cinnamon, maple syrup, and egg yolk and mix well. Cover and refrigerate until you are ready to roll out the dough.

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line 2 to 3 cookie sheets or jelly roll pans with parchment or silicone baking mats.

Divide the dough in half.

Cut off 2 pieces of parchment paper and sprinkle all-purpose flour on one. Place a dough half on top of the parchment paper, then sprinkle flour on top of the

dough. Place the second piece of parchment on top of the dough and, using a rolling pin, roll over the top of the parchment paper. Roll out the dough until it is about 1/4-inch (6-mm) thick. After every few rolls, peel back the top parchment and sprinkle a little more flour on the dough. Once or twice, fl ip over the parchment-dough “package” and peel off the bottom parchment. Sprinkle a little flour on top of the dough, place the parchment back on top, and then fl ip it over.

Lift off the top parchment.

Using a small drinking glass or a round cookie cutter, cut the dough into circles. Use a long metal flat-blade spatula to lift the cookie circles and place them on a piece of parchment paper sprinkled with a little flour. Place 3/4 to 1 teaspoon of fi lling in the center of each dough circle, and then fold in the three sides toward the middle to form a triangle, leaving a small opening in the center. Pinch the three sides together very tightly. Place the cookies on the prepared baking sheets. Repeat the process with the remaining dough. Roll and cut any extra dough scraps, making sure to sprinkle a little flour under and over the dough before you roll it out.

Bake the cookies for 14 minutes, or until they are lightly browned. These cookies taste best when they are crunchy.

Slide the parchment and cookies onto wire cooling racks.

Parve, Gluten-free • Makes 1 large loaf I probably receive a message or email every week from someone asking if I have a good gluten-free challah recipe. I finally have a recipe that is good enough to publish, thanks to Orly’s gluten-free flour blends, which you can buy in stores and online. I use Orly’s Manhattan mix. You can use your favorite gluten-free flour mix. I tried braiding this recipe or making it into a round shape but was never satisfied with the result, so I highly recommend the silicone challah molds you can purchase online. This recipe was inspired by Orly’s recipe.

PREP TIME: 15 minutes; 1½ hours for fi rst rising; 45 minutes for second rising BAKE TIME: 30 minutes ADVANCE PREP: May be made 2 days in advance or frozen.

EQUIPMENT: Measuring cups and spoons, silicone spatula or wooden spoon, mixing bowl, whisk, pastry brush, 1 silicone challah mold, jelly roll pan, or cookie sheet

Ingredients

2 envelopes (1/2 ounce [15g]) active dry yeast 1/3 cup (80ml) warm water 1/4 cup (50g) plus 1 teaspoon sugar, divided 1/3 cup (80ml) plus 1 teaspoon sunflower or safflower oil, divided 1/3 cup (80ml) honey 2 teaspoons salt 1/2 cup (120ml) boiling water 1/4 cup (60ml) cold water 2 large eggs, beaten 1/2 cup (45g) gluten-free oats 3 1/2 to 4 cups (440 to 500g) gluten-free flour mix Cooking spray for greasing

pan

Directions

In a measuring cup, dissolve the yeast in the warm water.

Add 1 teaspoon of the sugar and mix it in. Let the mixture sit for 8 to 10 minutes, or until it is thick.

In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, remaining 1/4 cup (50g) sugar, honey, and salt. To dissolve them, whisk in the boiling water. Add the cold water and mix again. Beat the eggs in a separate bowl and add them to the oil mixture, reserving 2 to 3 teaspoons to brush on the loaves before baking. When the yeast bubbles, add the yeast mixture to the bowl and whisk.

Add the oats and 1 cup (125g) of flour and whisk well. Add another cup (125g) of flour and mix well. Add a third cup (125g) of flour and mix. Add 1/2 cup (65g) of flour and knead it in.

Turn out the dough onto the counter and add more flour and knead gently until the dough is mostly soft. Place the remaining teaspoon of oil into the bowl and rub it all around the bowl and on top of the dough. Place the dough in the oiled bowl and cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let the dough rise for 1 1/2 hours.

Use cooking spray to grease the challah mold. Shape the challah into an oblong piece and then place into the mold. Let the dough rise for 45 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the challah for 30 minutes. Remove it from the mold onto a cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. Add a teaspoon of water to the reserved egg and brush it over the challah. Bake it for another 10 minutes or until it is golden brown.

FRAN OSTENDORF is the editor of The Jewish Voice.

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FINANCE & PHILANTHROPY

14 | February 16, 2018

The Jewish Voice

Teens give back while learning about leadership

BY SETH FINKLE There’s nothing like hands-on experience to give our teens a lesson in leadership and meaningful philanthropy.

In September, the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island launched a program to do just that. The Teen Leadership and Philanthropy program was designed to offer teens in grades 8-12 an experiential learning program that incorporates intensive leadership symposiums, group volunteer experiences, social programming and philanthropy skills in a fun, eight-month adventure.

Pa r t icipa nts engage i n monthly meetings where they learn about philanthropy. They also are actively planning a local fundraiser to help raise money for a nonprofit of their choosing. Each teen has chosen a different nonprofit that she is interested in and passionate about. The goal is to raise at least $300 for the chosen organization. These activities have involved commitment on each busy teen’s part as many meetings are held on Sunday.

Kiley B. is raising money for Higher Ground International.

Higher Ground International is a forward-thinking and culturally grounded intergenerational social service nongovernmental organization (NGO)

that advocates for and provides programs to West African Immigrants, refugees and marginalized communities in Rhode Island and rural villages in Liberia, West Africa. Kiley volunteered with this organization for her Bat Mitzvah project. As an extension of her project, she wanted to raise money for the NGO. Kiley will be holding a bake sale at her school where she will be selling homemade meringues and cookies.

Milly A. was inspired by a “Grey’s Anatomy” episode where the doctors were helping children overseas. She wondered how she could do the same from Rhode Island. In researching different organizations, she came across Save A Child’s Heart in Tel-Aviv, Israel. Save a Child’s Heart (SACH) is an Israeli-based international nonprofit organization with special consultative status granted by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (ECOSOC). SACH was founded in 1995 at the Wolfson Medical Center in Holon, Israel, with the mission of improving the quality of pediatric cardiac care for children in developing countries and creating centers of competence in these countries.

SACH’s goal is to improve the health and welfare of all children, regardless of the child’s nationality, religion, color, gen-

Kiley B.

Violet W.

Milly A.

der or fi nancial situation To date, Save a Child’s Heart has saved the lives of more than 4,400 children from 55 countries in Africa, South America, Europe, Asia and throughout the Middle East, and trained more than 100 medical team members from these countries.

In order to raise $300, Milly is organizing a basketball freethrow-a-thon. She has asked her friends from school to shoot free throws for 30 minutes.

Friends and family can sponsor at $1/per basket. Sponsors can

choose which teen to cheer for.

Violet W. noticed animals on the street and began to think about how they were being treated. Because she hated to think about how many animals don’t live in loving homes and aren’t being treated kindly, she decided she wanted to raise money for the ASPCA by making scarves for dogs and cats.

She will also be selling her paintings.

All the teens involved are energetic and passionate about the organizations they chose. They

are eager for the fundraiser on Sunday, March 18, when they will try to raise as much money as they can. The program will conclude on Sunday, April 15 with a celebration where we will congratulate everyone involved and we will announce how much money was raised.

SETH FINKLE is director of teen programming and Camp Haverim at the Jewish Alliance.

If you would like to donate any amount to help the teens reach their goal, please contact him at sfi nkle@jewishallianceri.org

ESTABLISH YOUR LEGACY TODAY.

Invest in our Jewish community tomorrow.

Creating your legacy shows the ones you love most just how important they are to you because you are committing to their future. A legacy gift—such as an endowment—promises that your generosity and vision will have an impact far beyond your lifetime.

With a Jewish Federation Foundation legacy, you guarantee that the most vulnerable among us know they are not alone. You support community programs and services that welcome everyone.

You show your children and grandchildren how precious they are to you.

Through your Jewish Federation Foundation legacy, you have the power to ensure Jewish families will not just survive—they will thrive.

And that is timeless.

Your investments should grow with you—and for you.

For more information on ways to leave your Jewish legacy, please contact Trine Lustig, Vice President of Philanthropy, at tlustig@jewishallianceri.org or 401.421.4111 ext. 223.

Let’s grow together.

FINANCE & PHILANTHROPY

jvhri.org

February 16, 2018 |

15

Women’s Alliance Endowment Fund seeks grant applications

BY JENNIFER ZWIRN The Women’s Alliance Endowment Fund (WAEF) membership committee is excited to announce a request for proposals for the upcoming fiscal year, July 2018-June 2019, for programs and services that benefit Jewish women and children and have potential for positive longterm impact. Educational, cultural, religious and inter-group programs will be considered, as will services in the health and social services fields.

All Rhode Island, Southeastern Massachusetts and over-

seas Jewish organizations, agencies and synagogues whose mission falls within the purview of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island are encouraged to submit funding applications.

This year, the Women’s Alliance Endowment Fund will make total grants of nearly $7,700, to be distributed by June 30, 2018. Over the last decade, the WAEF has awarded 88 local and overseas grants, totaling nearly $90,000, to a range of programs and service providers.

The 120 members of the WAEF are encouraged to participate in the annual allocations process. Membership re-

quires a contribution of $1,000, now payable monthly over up to four consecutive years.

“What sets the WAEF apart is that it offers women in our community a direct voice in the allocation of funds. As we evaluate each opportunity at our allocation meeting held each spring, the discussion is lively and generates a sense of purpose as well as sisterhood,” said Margaret Lederer, WAEF chair.

The committee is proactive in directly connecting with local and overseas grant applicants to ensure the programs and services fit the core mission of the fund. Programs that have recently received funding

include Camp JORI, for counselor training in female social development ;C on g r e g at ion Beth Sholom’s Women, Torah and Scholarship Series; a multirisk mother and child group therapy program with NITZA, the Israel Center for Maternal Health;ELI: Israel Association for Child Protection’s Safe Parenting Schools for Mothers for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect; and therapeutic getaways for breast cancer patients through Rafanah Healing Holidays.

The WAEF’s 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 16. Funding recipients will be announced at the WAEF annual meeting, scheduled for May 23, and will be notified in June 2018.

For more information about the WAEF grants, contact Jennifer Zwirn at 401-421-4111 or jzwirn@jewishallianceri.org.

JENNIFER ZWIRN works in allocations and endowment for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. She is also AccessJewishRI vocational services contact.

The virtues of conducting business in good faith In my book “Pathfinding,” my father tells this story: “A very wealthy man in town approached a poor carpenter who had been struggling all his life. He says, ‘I’m going away for a year and I want you to build me a PATRICIA house. I am goRASKIN ing to give you all the money you need to do it right. I want the best of everything that you can get to build the house.’

“As the carpenter began building the house, he says to himself, ‘The owner isn’t going to know the difference. Why should I use all this expensive stuff when I can put in cheap imitations and pocket the difference.’

“So he builds the house as cheaply as he can. The rich man comes back and the carpenter gives him the house key.

The rich man says to the carpenter, ‘No, here. The key is for you. I wanted to build the house for you, so I am giving you the house as a present.’”

After he told the story, my

father said, “The moral of the story is to be careful, don’t cheat others because you may be cheating yourself.”

The wealthy man had been performing a hidden act of kindness for the carpenter all along. The carpenter took advantage of the wealthy man – but his plan backfired. In deciding to cheat the wealthy man, the carpenter diminished a generous gift that would have greatly improved his financial situation.

David Weitzner reinforces this story in his outstanding article at Chabad.org, “Radi-

Paul McCartney wins prestigious Wolf Prize JERUSALEM (JTA) – Paul McCartney is one of nine laureates announced for Israel’s prestigious Wolf Prize.

McCartney is one of two recipients of the 2018 Wolf Prize in Music, Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin announced Feb. 12.

Each year the Wolf Foundation awards $100,000 prizes in five fields. More than 30 winners have gone on to receive the Nobel Prize.

The announcement called McCartney “one of the greatest songwriters of all time.

His versatility underlies an extraordinary wingspan, from the most physical rock to melodies of haunting and heartbreaking intimacy. His lyrics have an equally broad range, from the naive and the charming to the poignant and even desperate. He has touched the hearts of the entire world, both as a Beatle and in his subsequent bands, including Wings.”

McCartney shares the prize with conductor Adam Fischer, who the prize committee called an “eloquent defender of human rights,” particularly “his protest against the political developments in his native Hungary.”

Seven other prizes also were announced in the fields of

mathematics, chemistry, physics and agriculture.

According to the Wolf Prize, the prizes will be presented to the winners by Rivlin at a special ceremony to be held at the Knesset in Jerusalem, at the end of May. The Associated Press reported that the prize foundation had notified McCartney representatives of the prize, but that it was not immediately known if the former Beatle would attend the ceremony.

McCartney has appeared once in Israel, for a concert for over 50,000 fans in Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park in 2008.

cally Jewish Business Ethics.”

He states, “Business ethics in classic Judaism is not about charity and altruism (which are absolutely moral goods in themselves) – they are about real business activities and the holiness and moral goodness found in those particular acts.

The Chassidic masters taught that holiness can be found anywhere, so why should we be surprised to find that engaging in the seemingly mundane activities of business is an authentic path to righteousness?”

In short, it’s the good that we do every day that counts. It may seem repetitive and boring at times, but what we do emanates in the world and has a collective positive effect.

Weitzner continues, “An authentically Jewish approach to business ethics believes that businesses can do well while being good. Be mindful of your strategy, and be mindful of the greater narrative that you will one day have to relay. Are you

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creating more opportunities for business, opening doors for more people to join the transactions? Are you playing your role as authentically as possible, whether you are a buyer or a seller, a lender or a borrower? The moral good that comes from business activities done well is as real and meaningful as the moral good that may come from anywhere else. That is business b’emunah [faith].”

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16 | February 16, 2018

FINANCE & PHILANTHROPY

The Jewish Voice

FROM PAGE 1

TAMID majoring in economics and political science, has been a member since the chapter was first beta-tested last year.

He has since been appointed director of the Consulting team.

Members of the Consulting team are assigned to Israeli startups and given tasks in areas that include strategic marketing and market research. At Brown, the Consulting students worked on behalf of two Tel Aviv-based companies during the fall semester. The first company, “NoTraffic,” is described as a “smart city, plug & play, infrastructure solution for reducing congestion and accidents using AI and real-time optimization.” The second firm, “Pitaya,” is “a business-to-business company which serves to facilitate the discovery and booking process for organizations seeking employee-enrichment and team-building activities.”

Both companies asked the students to help them solve a particular problem. The teams checked in regularly with their Israeli superiors to report on their work throughout the semester.

The Investing team is tasked with looking at Israeli companies within an assigned sector and deciding whether to invest in them based on factors such as financial statements and sector performance.

Price said being a member of TAMID is a unique and invaluable experience.

“The hands-on experience is TAMID’s best selling point.

Being able to work with Israeli startups and help create value for them is an opportunity that you can’t get many other plac-

es,” he said.

Price believes Brown is a perfect fit for TAMID because of its students’ entrepreneurial spirit.

TAMID members gain a rich experience working with a wellrespected and internationallyrecognized organization that teaches them the ins and outs of the business world from both an American and Israeli perspective. In addition, they have something special to list on their CV. Yoni Heilman, executive director of TAMID Group, has witnessed the benefits firsthand. He recalled attending a conference where a representative from Citigroup was asked by a student what he could do to be considered more hirable.

The Citigroup executive simply said, “Join TAMID.” TAMID offers many opportunities for its members to get even more involved, from nationwide networking events with students at other universities to its immersive eight-week summer fellowship in Tel Aviv, where select students learn from Israeli business leaders.

These fellows have an opportunity to understand the Israeli business sector on a nuanced and intimate level through a rigorous summer internship that challenges them in areas from business to computer science to the liberal arts.

TAMID also offers a program known as “TAMID Pro,” which allows former on-campus members to continue their work

with the organization after graduating.

“TAMID is not just something students did in college,” said Heilman. “There continue to be advantages and opportunities for them by working with the organization after graduating as well.”

Price said, “TAMID offers u np a r a l l e l e d p r o fe s s io n a l training through opportunities to help innovative Israeli startups solve problems. There is no organization on campuses that can say the same.”

Also integral to the success of the TAMID chapter at Brown are sophomores, Max Sopher, director of the investing team and President of TAMID at Brown, Kobi Weinberg He said the Brown chapter currently has about 30 members, and welcomes new members.

SAM SERBY is a freelance writer who lives in East Greenwich. He previously worked at the Peres Center for Peace in Tel Aviv.

How to land your first job after college Perhaps no question irritates college seniors more than this query: “What are you going to do after graduation?”

Liberal arts majors who don’t have a defined career track in mind may be the most anxious about their job prospects.

But recent data collected by Brandeis University, a mediumsized research university outside Boston, belies that fear.

In figures collected on the school’s 2017 graduates, liberal arts majors fared as well, if not better than, their peers in highdemand fields like science or technology. In fact, every one of the university’s 2017 graduates who majored in comparative literature and creative writing is currently employed, according to the data. For English majors, the figure is 97 percent, with the remainder in graduate school.

“A liberal arts degree can afford you may opportunities,” said Andrea Dine, executive director of the Hiatt Career Center at Brandeis.

“English majors, for example: the industries they go into range from education to consulting, computer science, journalism, advertising, marketing and PR,” she said. “One of the lessons that we want to tell our graduates is that they are most likely not going to get a job directly related to their major.

That’s the norm. One’s career path is not a straight line.”

The data on recent graduates comes from surveys conducted annually by the Hiatt Career Center, which provides lifetime career counseling to alumni.

The data is publicly available on the center’s website, Beyond Brandeis, and allows users to filter results by major and graduation year to see how alumni fare after leaving Brandeis.

PHOTO | JTA, MIKE LOVETT/BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY

A recent survey found that 97 percent of Brandeis University’s class of 2017 is either employed, in graduate school or engaged in other meaningful activities.

The most recent survey found that 97 percent of Brandeis’ class of 2017 is employed, in graduate school or engaged in other meaningful activities.

Nearly two-thirds have jobs, some at top companies like Amazon, Google and Goldman Sachs. Another 27 percent are in graduate school.

Nevertheless, Dine cautioned, college seniors should not be complacent about searching for a job.

“Even in a good economy, a full-time job search takes time and persistence,” Dine said.

“No matter how vibrant the economy and labor market, a dream job will remain a dream until you take action.”

Alexandra Stephens, who works with Dine as associate director of alumni career programs and engagement at Brandeis, shared seven tips for those looking for their first job after college: Be open-minded. Liberal arts majors should not assume they’re ill-suited for work in

an advanced economy whose major growth industries are related to information technology, engineering and construction. As long as you’re willing to consider all possibilities, even if they’re not directly related to your major, you have a good chance of landing a job. “Don’t box yourself into any one path,” Stephens says. “Stay open.”

Your first job is not your forever job. The days when workers enjoyed lifetime tenure at a company and retired with a comfortable pension are long gone. In 2016, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that workers had been with their current company for an average of just 4.2 years. But graduates still tend to approach their first post-college job with significant anxiety, fearful that the initial employment decision will determine their entire career. “Take pressure off yourself,” Stephens says. “That first job is not your final decision. It’s really just the first of many you will make.”

Do your research. Employ-

ers routinely tell career centers that students are unprepared, both for interviews and – if the job offer comes – for the actual work they are expected to do.

So find out as much as you can about your prospective employer and that industry. Determine what salary is appropriate for a given position. Be ready to ask specific questions to demonstrate that you’ve done your homework and know what awaits you if the offer comes.

When applying, go for quality over quantity. Submitting job applications takes time, and it’s tempting to draft form letters and send them out widely.

That’s a mistake. Tailoring a cover letter to a specific job and employer offers a chance for you to make a compelling case for why you’re the optimal candidate for that job. Don’t pass it up.

Practice, practice, practice.

You might be able to gloss over your inexperience in a resume or cover letter, but it’s hard to fake it in an interview. Many

career centers offer mock interview sessions as practice for those entering the job market. Stephens even suggests recording your answers on your smartphone so you can evaluate your performance. Interview prep is a chance to rehearse your story so it’s compelling and seamlessly delivered.

Use your network Virtually every college and university makes its alumni networks available to job applicants. Brandeis alone has a roster of more than 50,000 living alumni. Take advantage of them. Alumni often are willing to meet you personally to share knowledge and advice.

They might have a lead on a job opportunity. But that shouldn’t be your ultimate goal in reaching out to alumni. “The primary purpose is building relationships and building knowledge,” Stephens says.

Visit your college career center. Do it early and often, Stephens advises. Career centers can help you identify your strengths and interests, polish those all-important resumes and cover letters, develop a job search strategy and connect you to recruiters who visit campus. “Doing a job search in a vacuum will probably not serve you well,” Stephens says.

“Surround yourself with a team that’s going to be able to help you with these decisions.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was sponsored by, and produced in partnership with, Brandeis University, a university founded by the American Jewish community dedicated to academic excellence, critical thinking, openness to all and tikkun olam. This article was produced

by JTA’s native content team.

FINANCE & PHILANTHROPY

jvhri.org

Trump adviser Schwarzman donates $10M to Israel’s library JTA – American billionaire investor Stephen Schwarzman, an economic consultant to President Donald Trump, has given $10 million to the National Library of Israel in what reportedly is the philanthropist’s fi rst major donation in the country.

The gift by Schwarzman, CEO of the global private equity fi rm Blackstone, will go to the Jerusalem library’s landmark building for the Stephen A. Schwarzman Education Center, according to The Times of Israel.

The center will include a multi-purpose space for up to 100 people for classes, lectures and performances; three distinct spaces for activities and workshops; and state-of-the-art

technology and infrastructure to connect with peers in Israel and around the world, the National Library said in a statement.

The new National Library of Israel campus is under construction adjacent to the Knesset building.

Schwarzman, who has an estimated net worth of $13 billion, has given major gifts in recent years to Yale University, the New York Public Library and Tsinghua University in Beijing for the Schwarzman Scholars Masters’ program. In 2015 he and his wife Christine gave a record $40 million to the Catholic Archdiocese of New York for its Inner-City Scholarship Fund.

British foundation unveils map of Europe’s synagogues

BY CNAAN LIPHSHIZ JTA – Europe has 3,318 synagogues, according to a new British organization that unveiled what it said was the fi rst-ever pan-continental study of Jewish houses of worship.

The Foundation for Jewish Heritage, which was registered in the United Kingdom in 2015 and aims to help preserve and restore endangered European synagogues, commissioned the Center for Jewish Art at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem to tally and document Europe’s synagogues ahead of the foundation’s launch Feb. 14 in London, the foundation’s chief executive, Michael Mail, told JTA. The results of the study, which took a year and a half to complete, are on display on an interactive map accessible on the foundation’s website. The map’s database includes a detailed classification for each registered synagogue, including such categories as its current condition, ranging from bad to excellent, its significance as a monument and its current status: used, disused or converted to serve as any one of a dozen purposes, including police station, mosque, garage and funeral parlor.

One synagogue mapped by the foundation in Poznan, Poland, is today a swimming pool.

Another in Krakow, Poland, is a bar, Mail said.

Beyond providing researchers a continental overview that Mail said did not exist prior to the study, it also aims to serve as a reference point for philan-

thropists, added Mail, whose foundation identified some 160 synagogues in imminent risk of being ruined beyond the point of restoration.

“It allows for restoration efforts to become strategic,” Mail said. “Donors can see where they are most needed.”

Before World War II, Europe had some 17,000 synagogues, Mail said. Less than a quarter of the synagogues mapped

by The Foundation for Jewish Heritage are now being used as such.

“We are quite simply losing our history,” said Mail, an author.

Mail said the foundation has made progress on two preservation projects: one in the Merthyr Tydfi l Synagogue in Wales, and another in the Great Synagogue of Slonim in Belarus. The foundation aims to empower local authorities to restore or preserve synagogues rather than perform the works itself, he said.

At the Merthyr Tydfi l Synagogue, a striking Gothic structure that became a gym following the local Jewish community’s disappearance in the 1980s and is now for sale, Mail’s foundation is in talks with authorities on opening a museum of Welsh Jewry. In Slonim, the foundation is conducting a feasibility survey to devise a preservation strategy with the mayor’s office.

The foundation has raised more than to $150,000 for these projects, the study and another program for preserving synagogues in Syria and Iraq.

February 16, 2018 |

17

How to spend your money with companies that share your values STATEPOINT – From small one-time purchases to monthly service fees, you may not think much about what happens to your money after spending it.

But beyond the typical considerations, such as price and product features, many savvy shoppers are starting to pick their brands and services based on new criteria like ethics.

An ethical company treats both its employees and customers fairly and practices environmental sustainability.

Luckily, there is some guidance out there for those consumers who want to spend their money with companies that share their values.

Your Wardrobe

Patagonia’s mission statement is to “build the best product, cause no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.” A leader in social and environmental responsibility efforts in the fashion industry, the company is fair-trade certified for all its sewing production and is dedi-

cated to transparency. Consider shopping here if you want to look good and feel good.

Your Wireless Provider

One good resource to check out is “The World’s Most Ethical Companies” list, released annually by the Ethisphere Institute. It offers a quantitative assessment of a company’s performance in corporate governance, risk, sustainability compliance and ethics, and knowing a company or brand has scored high on this particular assessment can help set your mind at ease.

For the 10th year in a row, that list includes T-Mobile, which, among other initiatives, committed to move to 100 percent renewable energy by 2021, the only major wireless provider to do so. As one of only five honorees in the telecommunications industry to receive recognition from the Ethisphere Institute in 2018, they also landed on Best Place to Work lists for parents, diversity, the LGBTQ community and more. T-Mobile was also given a perfect score of 100 per-

cent on the Corporate Equality Index by the Human Rights Campaign.

For the full list of the 2018 World’s Most Ethical Companies, visit worldsmostethicalcompanies.com.

Your Glass of Wine

Red or white? The next time you imbibe, consider going beyond the wine’s flavor and potential pairings, seeking a bottle from a company that you know treats its employees well.

Included in Glassdoor’s 2018 Best Places to Work Employees’ Choice list was E. & J. Gallo Winery, a family-owned company with a strong internal program to foster diversity and career development among underrepresented communities.

Whether you’re shopping online, hitting the mall or choosing services that help you connect with friends, family and the world around you, consider doing a bit of research before making your next consumer decision to ensure you’re comfortable with where your money is headed.

Humans of Tel Aviv The “Humans of Tel Aviv” photography exhibit is on display from February 1 through March 2.

Also join us for special “Humans of Tel Aviv” workshops with photographer Erez Kaganovitz Sunday, February 25 Dwares JCC | 401 Elmgrove Avenue, Providence 1:00pm Human Rights and the Public Sphere

Using photographs, explore the present tensions among different social groups in Tel Aviv.

4:00pm Humans and the Social Fabric of Tel Aviv

The amazing social fabric of Tel Aviv will be unraveled for you by the life stories of the different Humans who participated in this project, and you’ll discover why Tel Aviv is one of the most liberal cities in the world.

Visit jewishallianceri.org/israel-70 for a full list of Israel at 70 events.

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18 | February 16, 2018

The Jewish Voice

For Rabbi Yossi Laufer, it’s all about L’Chaim

BY SAM SERBY Rabbi Yossi Laufer grew up in the East Side of Providence, the son of Rabbi Yehoshua Laufer, who still serves at Chabad of Providence/Chabad of Rhode Island, on Hope Street.

Laufer attended a rabbi-prep high school, Oholei Torah, in Brooklyn, New York, and studied for eight years at Yeshivas in both Miami and New York.

He was ordained in 1997.

In 1998, Laufer moved back home to the Ocean State, bringing with him his new wife, Shoshana, and became the rabbi at the Chabad of West Bay Chai Center, in Warwick.

Rabbi Laufer lives next to the Chabad house in Warwick with his wife and children.

Q: Favorite Jewish food?

A: Cholent [A traditional Jewish stew that is often simmered overnight and eaten for lunch on Shabbat].

Q: Favorite Jewish holiday? Why? A: Hanukkah. Because the message of Hanukkah is religious freedom. I like that message the most [of all the holidays]. Over thousands of years, when did the Jewish people have religious freedom? In America, I am 100-percent free to walk around with a big beard and a yarmulke and fringes hanging out of my pants. There is nothing to be afraid of; this country was built on religious freedom.

Rabbi Yossi Laufer Q: Favorite Jewish song?

A: “Havenu Shalom Aleichem” – I love that song. It’s so positive and welcoming, and the whole mission of Chabad is to be welcoming. I like the tune as well.

Q: Favorite Jewish book?

A: “The Tanya” [written in 1797 by Rabbi Schneur Zalman, the founder of Chabad Hasidism].

Q: Favorite Jewish celebrity?

A: The Lubavitcher rebbe [Menachem Mendel Schneerson]. He brought what Chabad is today to America.

Q: Favorite Israeli city to visit? Why? A: Jerusalem. Because it is the capital of Israel and, according to Judaism, Jerusalem is the center of the world. God started the cornerstone of the world with the Temple Mount and everything else on planet Earth is an extension of that cornerstone. So, physically,

spiritually, culturally – it’s all Jerusalem.

Q: Favorite Israeli city to live? Why? A: Kfar Chabad [a Chabad village]. It is right in the center of Israel and can be seen from the highway that connects Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. It is built with the “770” building shape concept, meaning it replicates the shape of the Yeshiva headquarters located at 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, New York. It is a beautiful town to live in and there is great camaraderie amongst its people.

Q: Favorite Hebrew word and why?

A: L’Chaim [to life]. I love this word because I love life. I am an enthusiastic guy, and I like to be an excited, happy person, full of life. It fits my personality.

Q: Favorite Yiddish word and why?

A: Zei gezunt [be well]. I am always saying this to people.

The most important thing to have is good health. I visit hospitals and nursing homes, and I see how important it is to have health. Being happy and mental health is very important, too.

Q: Best part of keeping Kosher, most difficult part of keeping Kosher?

A: Best part: Judaism is not an “all or nothing” religion. If someone keeps their milk and meat separate [in storage], and does not eat them together, they are keeping most of Kosher.

It’s a lifestyle. You tell certain people they can’t have a cheeseburger, and they say, “what?” …

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“I can’t have a cup of milk with my chicken dinner?” But, you get used to the style and it’s not so hard. There are other kinds of milks, including soy, rice, coconut and almond. We have a lot of rice milk in our house.

It’s very easy to substitute milk in recipes, and it makes keeping Kosher so much easier. I think keeping Kosher is one of the best ways for the soul and body to work together.

Most difficult part: It is difficult to make people realize that Kosher is not a restriction, it is a privilege.

Q: Favorite part of being a rabbi?

A: Being a support for people in their time of need. This is one of the main things that rabbis do. Eighty percent of Jews in West Bay do not belong to a temple. If you don’t go to temple, what is your community? It’s sad. Human beings need a community. We’re a social creature, and because of this lack of community, people are lonely. When people have a rabbi to support them, you can see a difference in their personality.

Q: Favorite Jewish memory?

A: All four of my grandparents survived the Holocaust, in four different ways. My father’s parents ended up in a displaced persons camp that America set up after the war. They were homeless. My father’s parents both ended up in the same DP camp and met there, gave birth to my father and got married all while in the camp in Munich, Germany. My mother’s parents had the same situation. They met, married and gave birth to my mother in a DP camp in Vienna, Austria.

I had unbelievable grandpar-

ents who survived with miracles. They would tell me their stories, and they blew me away.

Q: Greatest piece of advice someone has given you?

A: “When you get married, you are meant to be different.”

According to Jewish teachings, Adam was not created as a man.

God put him to sleep and did an operational procedure and took one side [of his body] and created Eve. So, according to basic interpretations of the Torah, after the procedure where God created Eve, Adam woke up and was suddenly a man, and Eve was a woman. The lesson is that Adam was one half and Eve was the other half, and they got married and became one again.

People talk about it all the time.

Human beings are attracted to marry their opposite, or their “other half.”

Q: If you could have three dinner guests, living or from history, who would they be and why?

A: The Lubavitcher rebbe. He passed away a couple years ago and we [Chabad] miss his physical presence, even though his spiritual presence is alive and well. It would be great to have his physical presence join us again.

Abraham. I have always wondered what it would be like to have been in Abraham’s tent.

He had a big hospitality tent, with doors on each side. Everybody was welcome and I wonder how it would have been to be there.

Sam Serby. When are you coming to dinner?

SAM SERBY is a freelance writer who lives in East Greenwich. He previously worked at the Peres Center for Peace in Tel Aviv.

Apply now for Slom Scholarship The Aaron And Rita Slom Scholarship Fund For Freedom And Diversity provides a minimum of two college scholarships for high school seniors.

Students must submit an interpretive work focusing on the George Washington letter to the Hebrew Congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, in context with the present time.

Application materials are available at www.tourosyna-

gogue.org/Touro Synagogue Foundation. Applications and interpretive works must be received by April 20, 2018.

Only complete applications will be considered.

Questions regarding the scholarship program can be directed to the Touro Synagogue Foundation office at: tours@ tourosynagogue.org or 401-8474794, ext. 207.

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jvhri.org

1976, the year of the Tall Ships

BY MAY-RONNY ZEIDMAN In 1976, the Tall Ships came to Rhode Island for the U.S. bicentennial. My hu s b a n d h a d an opportunity to purchase and sell books that had been printed for this event.

MAY-RONNY The book was ZEIDMAN called “Tall Ships 1976.” It had beautiful four-color front and back covers. There were sepia pictures and a history of each ship that would be in Newport Harbor. Over 100,000 books were printed. All that was needed was a plan to distribute the books.

Bob enlisted the help of his friend David Doyle, and the two of them put together a point-ofsale plan. Crews of young people were hired to sell the books at all the locations where they felt people would be entering Rhode Island to view the ships. They believed that most people would be coming over the Mount Hope Bridge and were prepared for an onslaught of traffic.

My friend Angela and I had our own book-selling crew, which consisted of her oldest daughter, my oldest son, David Doyle’s two daughters and other neighborhood children. We were stationed at the corner of Boston Neck Road and Route 138, which brought traffic into Jamestown.

(That corner does not exist today.)

Who knew! Most of the visitors came through Route 138, and most had to stop at the light. It was the week before the Fourth of July, the 200th anniversary of our country. The teenagers walked miles in the heat selling Tall Ship books to people stuck in traffic.

It was all very exciting, but we were ill-prepared for the amount of people coming to view the ships. There were no cellphones or car phones so we were unable to let Bob and David know we needed help.

After the first day, we regrouped. The crew was larger and stronger the second day.

We also realized that we had to leave our homes by 5 a.m. to avoid the traffic.

I truly do not remember how many days we did this. It felt like a month.

On the day the ships departed Newport, we packed ourselves up and secured a ride into Jamestown to see the ships leave.

As the ships began moving, we realized that we didn’t have a copy of the book, and had to ask people around us, “What ship is that?” Sounds a little like the old proverb about the shoemaker’s children.

Half the departing ships went to New York for the Fourth of July and the other half went to the Navy pier in Boston. Angela and I spent the next week in Boston selling books.

Maybe someday I will tell you about being escorted off the Navy pier, or about trying to sell books in Virginia in 104-degree heat. I will tell you this … being used to Rhode Island weather, which usually cools down in the summer after the sun sets, I was not prepared for the answer I received when I asked a person in Virginia, “When does it cool down?” She answered, “Around November.”

MAY-RONNY ZEIDMAN is the executive director of the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center. Your memories of this Rhode Island happening are most welcome; email to Mayronnyzeidman3@gmail.com.

URI Alpha Epsilon Pi Chapter to hold reunion

Calling all alumni of Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity Rho Chapter at the University of Rhode Island. A reunion weekend is being held from Fri., March 23, to Sun., March 25, in honor of the 90th anniversary of the chapter’s original charter.

All events will be held in the South K ingstown /K ingston area including the reunion din-

ner Saturday night at George’s of Galilee. All AEPi alumni and their spouses are invited to attend.

For more information, access the reunion webpage at aepiuri. org/alumni-2/the-rhotator/ or contact Richard Wilkes at 201383-0140 or NJArachis@gmail. com or Josh Plotkin 774-279-4607 or josh.plotkin08@gmail.com.

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19

Congressman visits On Friday, Feb. 2, Rep. David N. Cicilline paid a visit to the Dwares JCC. His fi rst stop was the Lower Lobby to meet some preschoolers from the David C. Isenberg Family Early Childhood Center. The U.S. Representative was quite comfortable sitting on the floor and talking with the children before reading a book about Shabbat.

Following story time, Cicilline went upstairs to the Social Hall to greet the adults who were dining at Senior Café and those playing Duplicate Bridge.

20 | February 16, 2018

NATION

The Jewish Voice

This 99-year-old is the oldest former member of Congress

BY BEN SALES MUTTONTOWN, N.Y. (JTA) – Lester Wolff served eight terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, which is slightly above average for lawmakers.

But he has a distinction few of his colleagues share: he was targeted for death five times.

Once, Wolff says, a Burmese militia of 5,000 spread out across that country to shoot down his helicopter in order to stop his efforts to curb the Burma narcotics trade. A Thai assassin, foiled by intelligence, had the same goal. Two Palestinian terror groups, upset at his support for Israel, tried to kill him, he says – one by hijacking a plane he was supposed to be on. And the father of a soldier who died in Vietnam sent a death threat to Wolff, angry about his opposition to the war.

The threats earned him a nickname from one local newspaper columnist: “The 007 of Congress.”

“I carried a weapon, which was meaningless,” Wolff told JTA in an interview in his Long Island home. “Then I had a bodyguard assigned to me. This bodyguard said to me, ‘I want you to know, if someone is trying to kill you, I can’t stop them. But you can be happy in knowing that I got the man who killed you.’ That’s hardly compensation.”

But Wolff survived all of them, and plenty more, too. Now, at age 99, he’s the oldest living former congressman. And he isn’t slowing down. More than three decades after he left the chamber, Wolff is writing three books at once, runs a website and collects Asian art. And he tweets.

“I live, basically, for the future,” he said. “I am working on projects that are

five years out in front. You have to have some sense of God being with you. That protected me.”

Wolff was 44 years old and a successful businessman and television host when President John F. Kennedy convinced him to run for Congress against a conservative Republican on Long Island.

Wolff won the election in 1964 (following Kennedy’s assassination), which swept a wave of Democrats into office. He served until 1981, at one time chairing the Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control and the Subcommittee on Asian and Pacific Affairs.

Along the way, he worked and sparred with the names that defi ne the politics of the 1960s. The walls in his office are crowded with photos: Wolff talking with JFK, pinning a campaign button on Robert Kennedy, having an intimate conversation with President Lyndon Johnson in the Oval Office, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir. A campaign sign from Kennedy’s election is leaning in one corner, still attached to a stick.

“They were just people,” he says of the political leaders he knew. “People get a different view of these individuals in bolded positions … but the fact is they’re just people, and if you get to them in terms of their interests, they open up and become someone you’re talking to in ordinary conversation.”

One of Wolff ’s fiercest fights was against Johnson, a fellow Democrat. In 1967, ahead of what would become the Six-Day War, Wolff sought to add an amendment to a military spending bill that would provide Israel with Phantom jets. Support for Israel was not nearly as widespread in Congress as it is now, and the president opposed the measure.

PHOTO | JTA, DREW ANGERER/GETTY IMAGES

Lester Wolff But Wolff managed to push it through by working with a Republican congressman from an adjacent district. He later met with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat as part of the effort to reach a peace treaty between Egypt and Israel.

“I am not overly religious, but I wonder why I ended up in the Congress, and that’s one of the things that came to me – because of my relationship with Israel,” he said. “That stands out in my memory as one of the occasions because it was kind of a political fight to get it done.”

Wolff laments how rare that kind of bipartisanship is now. He recalled that as a committee chairman, he appointed Republicans as heads of subcommittees.

But today, he said, the opposing parties infrequently fi nd common ground.

And while his era saw its share of polarizing politicians, Wolff reserved special opprobrium for President Donald Trump, whom he called “un-American” and regularly tweets about at @RepWolff. He said that unlike the antiwar

movement of the 1960s and 1970s, the marches happening now do not seem to be gaining traction.

“I think they’re great, but there must be something that goes beyond that,” he said of the anti-Trump protests. You can’t just be against Trump, but you have to be for something. There is a lack of focus upon the part of those people who oppose Trump.”

Wolff ’s memory remains sharp, and his house is like a museum of memorabilia that goes far beyond political swag.

A corner of his basement displays an exhibit of stone fragments from the Egyptian pyramids, the Parthenon in Athens, the Arch of Titus in Rome and Jerusalem. On the opposite wall is a blown-up photo of him with former Chinese Premier Deng Xiaoping, whom he worked with to formalize relations between the United States and China.

But Wolff isn’t living in the past. He credits his longevity to God, genes and a serving of lox on a bagel (sans cream cheese) every morning. He has two children, four grandchildren and six greatgrandchildren.

And his work goes on. There’s the Twitter account, as well as a website, AskCongress.org, that lists contact information for every parliamentarian worldwide. In 2014, he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal.

And then there are his three books: One is on the secret to long life. The second is on his role in U.S.-China relations. And the third is on all those death threats. But he isn’t worried for his life anymore.

“Look, I’m 99,” he said. “They tried to shorten that period. I don’t think they’re after me anymore.”

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David Grossman named 2018 Israel Prize for Literature winner JERUSALEM (JTA) – Author David Grossman was named the winner of the 2018 Israel Prize for Literature.

“Since the early ’80s, Grossman has taken center stage in the Israeli culture scene. He is one of the most profound, moving and influential voices in our literature,” the prize committee wrote.

The Israel Prize is awarded each year in a special public ceremony on Independence Day. Grossman, 63, is the author of more than 17 books of fiction and nonfiction, including “See Under: Love” and “To the End of the Land.” His novel “A Horse Walks Into a Bar,” about the day in the life of a failing Israeli standup comedian, won the 2017 Man Booker Prize.

Grossman is a left-wing peace activist, and his political lean-

ings come through in his writing. His son Uri was killed in the 2006 Lebanon War between Israel and Hezbollah when the tank he was commanding was struck by a rocket.

In a statement after announcing the prize, Israel’s education minister, Naftali Bennett, called Grossman “one of the most moving, profound and influential voices in Israeli literature. With great wisdom, human sensitivity and a unique language he became a worldrenowned author.”

Bennett acknowledged Gross’ left-wing politics, adding that “no dispute – as harsh as it may be – can take away from the magic of his books.”

“In his writing, Grossman has honored all of Israel, not just one political camp,” Bennett said.

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BUSINESS | WORLD

The Jewish Voice

Indict Netanyahu for bribery, breach of trust, Israel Police recommend JTA – The Israel Police recommended that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu be indicted on bribery and breach of trust charges in two alleged corruption cases.

The recommendation, made public the evening of Feb. 13, comes after yearlong investigations into the two alleged corruption cases.

State prosecutors must now decide whether or not to fi le indictments.

Netanyahu in an address to the nation maintained his innocence, saying the recommendations “cast a dark shadow” and “have no place in a democratic state.”

“I will keep working for the good of the country, not for cigars from a friend and not for better media coverage,” he said in reference to the accusations.

During his tenure as prime minister, some 15 investigations have been opened against Netanyahu to “topple me from power,” he said. The prime minister said he is sure he will be

re-elected in the next national elections, which are scheduled for November 2019.

Netanyahu has maintained his innocence over the course of the investigations, saying on more than one occasion, “There will be nothing because there is nothing.”

In December, Netanyahu told Likud party supporters at a convention that “there will be recommendations, so what?

Here’s a fact you probably don’t know: Over 60 percent of police recommendations are thrown out and never result in indictments.”

Netanyahu is at the center of two probes. In one, known as

Case 1000, he allegedly received expensive gifts from supporters in return for advancing their interests, including expensive

cigars and champagne from the Israeli-born Hollywood producer Arnon Milchan. In the other, Case 2000, Netanyahu is alleged to have conspired with Arnon Mozes, the owner of the Israeli daily Yediot Acharonot, to advance legislation hobbling the free and pro-Netanyahu tabloid Israel Hayom bankrolled by American billionaire Sheldon Adelson.

Milchan and Mozes also will be charged.

Police reportedly said that Yair Lapid, head of the opposition Yesh Atid party, was a central witness in the Milchan case.

Stuart Weitzman gives $1M to American Jewish history museum JTA – The National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia received a $1 million donation from the family of shoe designer and entrepreneur Stuart Weitzman.

The museum’s First Families gallery, which explores the lives of early Jewish settlers in colonial America, will be named in honor of the Weitzman family.

The family was drawn to the gallery through the company’s connection with Spain, where the Weitzman company’s factories have operated for decades, and Weitzman developed a special kinship to the stories of Sephardic Jews, according to the museum.

“American Jewish history should be a source of pride for all American Jews, many of whom don’t know these stories,” Weitzman said in a statement issued Feb. 6. “Learning this history can inspire a greater appreciation for the diversity of the American experience – and have a meaningful impact on reducing prejudice and antiSemitism.”

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February 16, 2018 |

23

The importance of things both great and small I was born in the first year of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidency. “This generation has a rendezvous with destiny” he declared in one of his fireside chats.

SKETCHBOOK MIKE FINK I was in kindergarten when the 1938 New England hurricane swept away my safe summertime beach world and left a trail of broken glass in its wake. All I recall is a smashed window and a fallen lamp in the vestibule of our home.

I remember the campaign of 1940 and, of course, the 1941 announcement that we were at war. At the least, I understood that there was trouble and evil in the world beyond Rhode Island and that we were now committed to fighting for

FROM PAGE 11

WAR

Iran brazenly violated Israel’s sovereignty. They dispatched an Iranian drone from Syrian territory into Israel. And this demonstrates that our warnings were 100% correct.”

Will this mean (another) war?

The Israel-Syria border quieted down after Saturday’s conflict, and Israel and Hezbollah haven’t meaningfully fought each other since 2006. But were this weekend’s strikes the opening shots of another war?

Both the International Crisis Group and Naomi Chazan, a left-wing former Israeli lawmaker, called on Israel to take diplomatic steps to reduce the chance of a war on the Lebanese and Syrian borders. Hazan wrote in The Times of Israel that a war with Hezbollah could draw in Hamas, who control Gaza, leading Israel to fight a war on multiple fronts at the same time.

“The danger of military escalation on several fronts simultaneously increases exponentially,” she wrote. “If [Israel] is to be a major player – and not just a spoiler – it has to consider striking diplomatic, economic and political alliances throughout the region.”

But Emily Landau, a senior research fellow at Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies and an opponent of the Iran deal, said the events should make Europe and the United States do more to counter Iran.

“Time for Western world to recognize Iran for the regional menace that it is, and Europe

freedom.

The declaration gave me a sense of security: my uncles and cousins joined up … to protect me? I wrote to them. They wrote to me.

I traced the D-Day events on the blackboard at grammar school in 1944, and can summon up my distress at the news of the death of FDR in 1945, the ironies of the Cold War, the House Un-American Activities Committee years, and the birth of Israel in 1948.

I certainly could not picture myself draining swamps. I was made for a world of words, not weapons. How, though, did these huge events affect a boy in Providence watching the newsreels at the Hope Theatre or taking home books from the Rochambeau Library to keep up with changing literary tastes, both popular and classical?

They were all events I would return to again and again as the decades whirled by. New York and Paris, the dignified styles of the Ivy League ... must sharply change course – toward Iran’s regional aggression and its nuclear aspirations,” she tweeted. “Continuing to appease this regime will drag the region to war.”

The U.S. supports Israel’s actions, but some say it should do more.

As it usually does, the United States is backing Israel’s strikes over the weekend. The White House tweeted a statement of support and Defense Secretary James Mattis said that Israel shouldn’t have to wait until its people are killed to defend itself.

“Israel is a staunch ally of the United States,” the White House statement said. “We support its right to defend itself from the Iranian-backed Syrian and militia forces in southern Syria.

We call on Iran and its allies to cease provocative actions and work toward regional peace.”

But Republican and Democratic former officials are criticizing the administration because Secretary of State Rex Tillerson isn’t visiting Israel on a trip to the Middle East. A visit to Israel, wrote former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro, could be a chance to both bolster and coordinate with a key ally.

“But oddly, Israel does not appear on the itinerary,” Shapiro wrote Feb. 12 in Haaretz. “Tillerson’s stops include Amman, Ankara, Cairo, Kuwait City, and Beirut, but not Jerusalem.

That made little sense before the Iranian incursion yesterday. It would be malpractice now. The Secretary needs to come to Israel.”

and then, the first of my many journeys to Jerusalem.

I first set foot in our Holy Land in the summer of 1961, the Bar Mitzvah year of the nation-state of Israel. I wrote a piece for the Rhode Island School of Design’s alumni magazine about my impressions.

I was nervous about its reception … but I was rewarded with a continued contract at a major art college.

I worked for a bit on a kibbutz, taught English for a while in Tel Aviv, and saw as much of Jerusalem as was possible at that time.

Why am I thinking about, reliving, the contrast between the great world experiencing enormous events and the private world of a small child safe and sound, if also worried and uncertain about that rendezvous with destiny? I guess this is a kind of reductive review of how big things affect little people.

Jerusalem changed me from a Jewish American boy glad to be part of a fine college (Yale)

and comfortable with a family that provided room and board and the company of an older brother with whom to share, for a while, hopes for happiness ahead.

My brother was a likely lad who could fulfill the ambitions of our parents. I, on the other hand, had a long trail ahead of me. But after 1948, and then 1961, my Jewish identity changed from accepting the American dream of being a normal neighbor who agreed, mostly, with the values of the mid-20th century, into a haunted soul who could not stop dwelling on what was later labelled “the Holocaust.”

I brooded about the triviality of my concerns versus the enormous challenges facing Jews everywhere!

What makes one “Jewish”?

Does that not include a very, very special interest in Israel’s welfare and the pursuit of justice for the survivors who had lost everything?

Well, that’s how I’m thinking of late about those of my

generation, who may share my story. Yes, we lived through the Great Depression, but you could survive and get beyond it. We had our loyalties to the comic strips and the Hollywood of our times. We learned the enormous impact of “small things”: children, grandchildren, friends, spouses. And we looked beyond our pursuit of wealth and personal comfort … to Jerusalem. We realize that whatever happens in Jerusalem also happens to us.

Our families came here mostly for a safe haven and a chance to prosper and fit in. We have our own Jerusalem here in Rhode Island. But Jerusalem, Israel, gives our Judaism grandeur, courage, defiance, an existential philosophy par excellence, and an explosion of beauty and rebirth. Happy three score and 10!

MIKE FINK (mfink33@aol. com) teaches at the Rhode Island School of Design.

Tommy Tunes at Cranston Senior Guild Cranston Senior Guild’s next meeting will take place Wednesday, March 7 at 1 p.m. at Tamarisk Assisted Living, 3 Shalom Drive, Warwick.

After a short business meeting, Tommy Tunes will enter-

tain with music and songs.

There will be refreshments and a raffle. All men and women, age 55 years and over are welcome to join the Guild.

Cranston residency is not required.

Make sure to mark your calendar for the next meeting, which will be held on Wednesday, April 4.

24 | February 16, 2018

OBITUARIES

The Jewish Voice

Madeline Asher, 100

ASK THE DIRECTOR

BY MICHAEL D. SMITH F.D./R.E. Shalom Memorial Chapel

Question: Are funerals allowed during holidays?

J.C. Smithfield Dear J.C., The answer is both yes and no. It really depends on the holiday. For example, you can have a funeral on Tu B’Shevat or Hanukkah, but not on Shabbat, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, or on the fi rst and fi nal days of the festivals of Pesach, Sukkot, and Shavuot.

QUESTIONS ARE WELCOMED AND ENCOURAGED. Please send questions to: ShalomChapel@aol.com or by mail to Ask the Director, c/o Shalom Memorial Chapel, 1100 New London Ave., Cranston, R.I. 02920.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Madeline “Mickey” Asher died Feb. 6.

She was the wife of the late Lester Asher. She was born in P r ov id e nc e , a daughter of the late Joseph and Bena (Liebster) Sharp.

She was a member of Temple Beth-El, B’nai Brith, Hadassah, and the Temple Beth-El Bowling League.

She is survived by her daughter Charlene Asher Terino and her husband, Robert; granddaughter Wendi Terino-Barricelli; and great-grandchildren Isabella and Alessandro Barricelli. She was the sister of the late Hattie Botvin, Minna Strauss, Bessie Wolf, Pearl Lovit and Anne Snow.

Contributions in her memory may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association RI Chapter, 245 Waterman St., Suite 306, Providence, RI 02906.

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WARWICK, R.I. –Irma Beranbaum died Feb. 2 at Kent Hospital. Born in Providence, a daughter of Lenore (Kwasha) Beranbaum and the late Nathan Beranbaum, she was a longtime resident of Warwick. She was a hairdresser for 40 years and owner of Meme Frizzae.

She was the sister of Sheryl Rothermel of Providence and Holly Elkins and Donald of Coventry. She was the aunt of Dillon and Callie Rothermel. She was the cousin of several.

Contributions in her memory may be made to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02115.

Sylvia Denhoff, 99

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Sylvia Brooklyn Denhoff was born in Passaic, New Jersey, on May 6, 1918. She died Jan. 2 at her home in Providence. She was 99.8 years old, and proud to reach her centennial year.

Her parents, Alice Zacharevitz Brooklyn and Alexander Brooklyn were Russian Jew-

ish immigrants. They had four children; Mil, Syl, Lil and Ed. Millie, the eldest sister, set the standard that they should all, regardless of gender, become educated. Sylvia went to Syracuse University, and graduated from the College of Home Economics in 1940.

A professor recommended her for a job with the Providence Gas Company as the “Girl in White.” She hadn’t a clue where Providence was, but packed her bags and got on the train from New York to Providence to begin her new life, living in a boarding house on Olney Street for $3 a week. Her job was to teach new brides how to cook on their new gas stoves. She also instructed a Food and Nutrition course for the Red Cross.

In 1941, she met her late husband, Dr. Eric Denhoff on a blind date. Expecting a visit from her sister, she almost cancelled, but later changed her mind – it was Beshert. After seeing one another three times, Eric left for the South Pacific to serve as a medic in the war. While away, the two corresponded by letter and she mailed him fruitcakes– “because fruitcakes don’t go stale.”

During WWII she worked as a food columnist for the liberalleaning daily newspaper, PM Magazine, providing recipes for nutritious meals on a tight budget, explaining how to efficiently use leftovers.

Eric and Sylvia married in New York City on July 8, 1945.

The bride picked a blue dress from her wardrobe; wearing a new dress was considered unfashionable during wartime.

Over their 36 years together, they traveled the globe. They had three children; the late Donald “Beagle” Denhoff, Joseph Ira Denhoff and Barbara (Bidi) Denhoff.

Sylvia pioneered a cooking course at Governor Center School. She felt strongly that boys should have confidence in the kitchen. She was a longtime board member at Meeting Street School which was cofounded by her husband Eric.

There she taught sewing class-

es and read to children in the library until recently.

She was a member of The Miriam Hospital Women’s Association, Temple Emanu-El and The National Council of Jewish Women. She swam three times a week at the JCC – well into her nineties. She was revered for her signature cookies, kugels and cakes (recipe below).

She is survived by brother Edwin Brooklyn and sister-in-law Carol, son Joseph Denhoff and daughter-in-law Amy, daughter Bidi Dworkin and son-in-law Jeremy, daughter-in-law Joie Denhoff, and her grandchildren Erica, Leah, Eli, Chase, Scott, and Dakota. She cherished her extended family and friends, including those at Wingate on the East Side.

When asked how she’d managed to age so gracefully she said “I roll with the punches.”

She celebrated the arrival of 2018, her centennial year, at a New Year’s Eve Party.

Recipe from the kitchen of Sylvia:

Almond Cookies

1 ⁄2 cup butter or margarine 1 cup sugar 1 egg 1 teaspoon almond extract 2 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking powder Salt to taste Cream butter and sugar. Add egg and almond extract, sift together dry ingredients and add. Mix well. Form into 2 or 3 rolls. Wrap in waxed paper or plastic wrap. Chill in refrigerator overnight or up to 3 days.

May freeze for longer duration.

Slice, and place on a greased cookie sheet, top each cookie with 1 ⁄2 blanched almond. Bake about 15 minutes or until lightly browned at 350 degrees. Enjoy!

Contributions in her memory may be made to: The Sylvia Denhoff Library Fund at Meeting Street, 1000 Eddy St, Providence, RI 02905 or www. meetingstreet.org.

Milton Pierce, 89

BOYNTON BEACH, FLA. – Milton “Mickey” Pierce founder of Colorlith Corp., passed away peacefully at home OBITUARIES | 25

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February 16, 2018 |

25

Jason Eliot Siperstein and Dr. Dana Rosenfarb MAZEL TOV – Dr. Dana Rosenfarb and Jason Eliot Siperstein were married Aug. 26, 2017, at the Providence Public Library. The bride is the daughter of Dr. Jack Rosenfarb and the late Dr. Ada Schwartzbard of Randolph, New Jersey. The groom is the son of Mynde and Gary Siperstein of Warwick. The wedding was co-officiated by Karen Siperstein, the groom’s aunt, and Rabbi Leslie Y. Gutterman.

The bride is a graduate of The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and received a medical degree from The George Washington University School of Medicine. She is a psychiatry resident at Harvard Longwood Psychiatry Residency Training Program. The groom is a graduate of Emory University’s Goizueta Business School in Atlanta, Georgia, and is vice president of Eliot Rose Wealth Management in Cranston.

MAZEL TOV – Robert Gold and Linda Brown honeymooned in Saigon, Vietnam, in the fall. Brown was

born there and was visiting for the first time since she and her family left for the United States about 42 years ago.

OBITUARIES

in Boynton Beach. Formerly of Warwick, he is survived by his wife, Betty-Ann, daughter Mindy Pierce of Greenville, son Larry Pierce, daughter-in-law Jennifer Pierce, and grandson, Max Pierce of Scituate.

Mickey was born in Providence and graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School. He attended the University of Rhode Island and earned a bachelor’s

degree in business. He was on the URI wrestling team and won several competition medals. In 1963, he founded the successful printing and photography business, Colorlith Corp., in Johnston.

Mickey was a tireless man with vast interests and accomplishments. He was an entrepreneur, builder, investor, yachtsman, skier, sculptor, pho-

the upcoming marriage of their son, Joshua David Kirschner to Dr. Jodie Leigh Eisner, daughter of Joan and Neil Eisner of Boca Raton, Florida. A May 2018 wedding is planned in New York City.

Ken Schneider, Baruch and Paul Schneider WE ARE READ IN ISRAEL – Ken Schneider and his brother Paul recent-

Robert Gold and Linda Brown

FROM PAGE 24

Joshua David Kirschner and Dr. Jodie Leigh Eisner MAZEL TOV – Adrienne and Steven Kirschner joyfully announce

tographer, golfer, traveler and foremost a pilot. His greatest passion was flying, and he was a highly skilled aviator. He was happiest when in the air. Mickey will be most remembered for his relentless drive and his dedication to providing for his loved ones.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Indian Spring Hadassah, c/o Iris Werber, 11602/1 Briarwood Cr., Boynton Beach, FL 33437.

ly spent three weeks volunteering on two different military bases in Israel. One base was in Samaria and the other was outside Tel Aviv. Ken says it was a great opportunity to help support Israel.

They are pictured with Baruch who was their warehouse boss.

Barbara L. Shulkin, 85

CRANSTON, R.I. – Barbara L. Shulkin died Feb. 2 at Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center. She was the wife of Irwin Shulkin for 62 years. Born in Lynn, Massachusetts, a daughter of the late Michael and Frances (Litvack) Tobin, she was a longtime resident of Cranston.

She worked as a social worker for the City of Lynn Department of Elderly Affairs but her most important job was being a full-time mother. Barbara was

a former member of Temples Torat Yisrael and Sinai.

She was the mother of Lori Lowinger and her husband, Daniel, of Cranston and the late Nancy Shulkin Rabinowitz.

She was the sister of the late Richard Tobin. She was the grandmother of Nicholas. She was a beloved aunt and friend to many.

Contributions may be made to Hope Hospice & Palliative Care, 1085 N. Main St., Providence, RI 02904.

26 | February 16, 2018

ISRAEL

The Jewish Voice

My kids live in Israel. Should I follow them?

BY SUSAN HORNSTEIN (Kveller via JTA) – I have three children. Three healthy, wonderful, grown-up children. I have a wonderful husband. And I have a father, a brother and sister-in-law, and other friends and relatives whom I love.

Sounds good, no? It is good. It’s very good.

Yet I often say that I live between a rock and a hard place.

Here’s why.

My husband and I live in New Jersey, where we settled when we married 28 years ago and raised our children. We raised them with a love of family, a love of God and Torah, a love of humankind and a love of Israel.

All three have embraced those loves and express them in their own individual ways.

Our oldest daughter, who is 25, lives a few hours away and teaches at a Jewish day school.

She is known as a tough and loving teacher, a loyal friend and an integral part of her community. We see her every few months. She is far away, but not too far.

Our second daughter lives in Jerusalem. At 19, she moved to Israel and joined the Israel Defense Forces. Other caring adults – relatives, friends and members of a support network for foreigners serving in the Israeli army – parented her in our absence. Now 22, she has fi nished her army service and is in college, spending Shabbat with

friends, working in a bookstore and living her dream.

Our third child, a son, lives in Israel as well. At 19, he also made aliyah recently and will enter the IDF in the spring. He, too, has caring adults in his life, some of those same relatives and friends, and his yeshiva community who have their eyes on him.

When I was their age, I was sure that I would spend the bulk of my life in Israel. But I didn’t. I found life, love and employment here in the U.S. – and then I stayed. In fact, the topic of living in Israel barely came up again, as my husband, an only child, was not free to leave his parents.

But now, everything is different. My in-laws have passed away. My nest is empty. My father is still relatively healthy.

And my kids span the ocean.

My kids call every Friday.

During these weekly conversations, I ask them for a snippet, something I can have at the ready when people ask me, “How are the kids doing?”

Something along the lines of, “She’s loving her job” or “He went on a hike in the Judaean hills.”

Lately, however, no one asks for snippets. They just ask, “So when are you going?” They mean, “When are you moving to Israel?”

I fi nd the question deeply troubling – hence the rock and

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the hard place.

I have always wanted to live in Israel – and at the same time, I’ve always wanted to live right here in the U.S. I want to be near ALL my kids. And, in the future, please God, I’ll want to

did it – I was very nervous about this aspect of the trip because it made me confront the question of moving yet again. And there is no good answer.

I have a good job in the U.S., with a salary and health insur-

They just ask, “So, “When are you moving to Israel?”

be near all my grandchildren. I want to be near my father and his wife, to be close when they will inevitably need me. I want to be near my family, the ones here and in Israel, and near the friends who have become like family, in both countries.

My husband and I just returned from a long trip to Israel, where we spent quality time with both kids, dear cousins and old friends. We also spent a few days looking around at communities to see where we’d feel at home. Even though that part was my idea – and I’m glad we

ance. My husband has a good job, too. We are comfortable.

We might be able to get jobs in Israel; we might not. As we get a little older every year, those transitions become more difficult.

But recently, I’ve been thinking about Tzur Yisrael, which means “Rock of Israel” – or God. Rocks are a recurring theme in the Bible: In the book of Genesis, Jacob puts his head down on a stone and has a prophetic dream of the protective angels ascending and descending a ladder between heaven

and earth. The Ten Commandments were created of stone.

Rocks can be hard and uncomfortable, but like God, they are steady, reliable and persistent.

Gems are made of stone. And as the book of Psalms reminds us, “The stone that was spurned by the builders turned out to be the cornerstone.”

What I’ve realized is when I say I’m between a rock and a hard place, what I really mean is that I’m squeezed between two good things. So, for now, I will continue to live between my precious rock and my steady hard place.

Both my rock and my hard place are very good, even when they leave me a little bumped and bruised. I need to have confidence that the balance will sort itself out. I need to be able to answer, “We’ll see,” and believe it. And if I can create a space for myself between the rock and the hard place, the answers might have room to become clear.

SUSAN HORNSTEIN is an Orthodox Jewish Zionist feminist living in Highland Park, New Jersey. She holds a doctorate in cognitive psychology and works as an information architect and website designer. She is the director of the Central Jersey Chapter of HaZamir, the International Jewish teen choir, and sings and gives divrei Torah around New Jersey.

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