Volume XXIV, Issue III | www.jvhri.org Serving Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts
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17 Shevat 5778 | February 2, 2018
‘Humans of Tel Aviv’ at a glance The free exhibit will be shown Feb. 1–March 2 in Gallery (401) at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island’s Dwares Jewish Community Center, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. The collection of 36 photos and stories by Tel Aviv photojournalist Erez Kaganovitz illustrates Israel’s diverse society; the photographer sees Tel Aviv as a microcosm of Israel. Hours vary. Call 401-4214111 for more information or visit jewishallianceri.org/ israel-70 for a full list of Israel@70 events
Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ginsburg delights audience
BY FRAN OSTENDORF PROVIDENCE – The crowded room erupted in loud applause and cheers as Rabbi Leslie Y. Gutterman escorted Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg down the center aisle of the sanctuary at Temple Beth-El on the East Side the evening of Jan. 30. The 1,300 people in attendance rose to their feet. Ginsburg, who is on a speaking tour, had spent some time earlier in the day at the Roger Williams University School of Law, in Bristol. Now, the petite 84-year-old justice was at BethEl for a public conversation with U.S. Appeals Court Senior Judge Bruce M. Selya. Selya and Ginsburg have known each other since their days at Harvard Law School. GINSBURG | 4
Workshops
Erez Kaganovitz
Meet the ‘Humans of Tel Aviv’ in Gallery (401) at the JCC BY LARRY KESSLER
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hotojou r na l ist Erez Kaganovitz, the selfd e s c r i b e d “ hu m a n behind [the] ‘Humans of Tel Aviv’ ” exhibit at the Alliance’s Dwares Jewish Community Center this month, is a storyteller at heart. Speaking by phone from Tel Aviv, the Haifa native stressed that his goal in creating the exhibit is to highlight the inhabitants of the city of 400,000,
which he has embraced since moving there in 2009. “What I love most about this project is that I can reach people in a way that I’m not forcing my ideas upon others, but rather simply taking a photo, telling a story, and letting it speak for itself,” he said. “My goal is to give people around the world an inside look into the rich and remarkably diverse lives of Tel Avivians and showcase Israeli multiculturalism and [its] vi-
On Sunday, Feb. 25, Kaganovitz will lead three workshops at the JCC, with the fi rst geared toward teenagers.
• 11 a.m. “Telling Your Stor y t h rough Photography”: Each of us has the ability to tell a story using brant civil society.” Although he shot more than photographs. This workshop 1,000 photos for his “Humans gives teens the basic tools to of Tel Aviv” exhibit, the display show the world how it looks that people will see in Provi- through their eyes. dence will have 36 images that • 1 p.m. “Human Rights Kaganovitz said are represen- and the Public Sphere”: tative of the city. “Tel Aviv’s public sphere The people in the exhibit come is comprised of many diffrom diverse backgrounds. ferent social groups that Two of the images show Dov are able to live together in Moran, the inventor of the peace, respect and dignity. HUMANS | 5
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Oscar nominations 2018: 5 Jewish takeaways BY GABE FRIEDMAN JTA – If one thing jumps out about the nominations for the 90th annual Academy Awards, it’s the lack of big Jewish headlines to be plucked from them. “The Shape of Water,” Guillermo del Toro’s latest fantasy-tinted fi lm, about an amphibious creature housed in a government laboratory, led the pack with 13 nominations. Nevertheless, here are the Jewish nominations and storylines from another year of great cinema. “Call Me By Your Name” gets four nominations. “Call Me By Your Name” is
the biggest Jewish triumph in this year’s nomination slate. The fi lm, an adaptation of Egyptian-born Jewish novelist Andre Aciman’s book of the same name, traces a romance between two young Jewish men in 1980s Italy and is full of Jewish themes. It garnered nominations for best picture, lead actor (Timothée Chalamet, who is Jewish), adapted screenplay and best original song (“Mystery of Love,” written by indie rocker Sufjan Stevens). Was James Franco snubbed after #MeToo backlash? A few months ago, the Jewish actor was considered a shoo-in
for the best actor category. His comedic performance in “The Disaster Artist” as Tommy Wiseau, the eccentric (that word might be generous) director of the real fi lm “The Room” – considered by some to be the worst fi lm of all time – was almost universally hailed by critics. He won a Golden Globe for the role earlier this month. But less than two weeks ago, the Los Angeles Times published an article with accounts of five women who accused Franco of sexual misconduct. While the best actor category is loaded with talent this year (from Denzel Washington to Gary Old-
PHOTO | JTA, FRAZER HARRISON/GETTY IMAGES
Timothée Chalamet
man), multiple headlines called Franco’s exclusion a response to the misconduct reports –
and a snub. Israel’s best fi lm didn’t make the cut. “Foxtrot,” an Israeli drama about the aftermath of a military tragedy, had been on the shortlist for best foreign language fi lm after winning a prestigious prize at last year’s Venice International Film Festival, stoking hopes for what could have been Israel’s fi rst Oscar win. “In the Fade,” a German drama that centers on a neo-Nazi murder story and won a Golden Globe in this category, didn’t make the fi nal Oscar list OSCAR | 6
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INSIDE Business 21-22 Calendar 10-11 Camp 14-17 Community 2-6, 18, 20, 27 D’var Torah 7 Food 13 Nation 7 Obituaries 24-25 Olympics 12, 19 Opinion 8-9 Seniors 23 Simchas | We Are Read 26
THIS ISSUE’S QUOTABLE QUOTE “No mortal can know the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”
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The Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association officially opened the doors to its new office and archives Jan. 21 with a reception and the dedication of the donor wall. Now housed near the fi rst floor entrance to the Alliance’s Dwares Jewish Community Center at 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, the space was designed specifically for the organization. At the front is office space with glass-front cases to display some of the archives that the public might be interested in looking at, such as the mannequin from the Abramowitz family’s pushcart. Included are cases from the Temple BethEl library of long ago, now repurposed for displaying books at RIJHA. Hanging above these cases are framed items from the archives. The donor wall is to the right of the entrance.
Ruth Breindel
The Jewish Voice
It’s official!
Behind the office is the remainder of the archives of the RIJHA, organized for easy access by those doing research or with an interest in the history of the Jewish community in Rhode Island. Lighting is optimal for preservation of the collection. You can never have enough space and that is the case with the RIJHA archives. Some of the collection remains in storage. About 50 people took advantage of the opportunity to see the new space. To contact the RIJHA, call 401-331-1360 and leave a message or email info@ rijha.org. The RIJHA is operating on shortened hours until May. FRAN OSTENDORF, editor of The Jewish Voice.
Secretary Maxine Goldin with Past Presidents George M. Goodwin and Geraldine Foster.
PHOTOS | FRAN OSTENDORF
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MLK DAY activities On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, over 100 adults and children from the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island (JCDSRI) and the Islamic School of RI (ISRI) participated in a program led by educators from the GAMM Theater. The event is a kick-off to the Partners in Peace program - an innovative learning experience co-created a few years ago by JCDSRI and ISRI. This year, the program is
expanding with a partnership with BRIJ (Building Relationships: Islam and Judaism), a new initiative at Brown University committed to Muslim-Jewish collaboration on campus and across Providence. BRIJ facilitators have created an interactive curriculum that lays the foundation for direct action as college students, fifth graders and their families work together to support organizations in Providence.
Adults and children from both communities engaged in fun ice-breakers.
Working together to build a tower with cups.
PHOTOS | JCDSRI
4 | February 2, 2018
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A new, not-so-ordinary book club BY LEV POPLOW Have you ever joined a book club? Maybe you were thinking about how stimulating it would be to make new friends and engage in literary discussions. So you joined the book club, and tried to keep up with the reading. But life happened – your children, spouse, career, etc. needed your attention – and it became too much work. So in the end, and with a heavy heart, you left the group. The Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center (SBHEC) is pleased to announce a new book club for you and all who love to read. The “Not Your Average Book Club” will hold its fi rst meeting on Sunday, Feb. 25. The subtitle of this book club is the No Obligation Book Club, and while the organizers hope you will read the whole book, they have created a group where you will be able to fully participate even if you didn’t. The club will be led by SBHEC board members and volunteers Robin Kauffman and Maybeth Lichaa. “The idea behind the book club is that you don’t necessarily need to read the whole book,” Kauffman said. “Come because there is always something to learn. We hope to keep stories of the Holocaust relevant and alive, and that the book club will be a springboard for discussion and relationship building.” Lichaa added, “We don’t want to be just a Jewish book club, and hope to attract a diverse group of people. We’re not going to read books exclusively about the Holocaust, but will also read works of historical fiction built around genocide. The Armenians, the Cambodians and more have their stories to tell
as well.” In that vein, the second book to be read will be “The Sandcastle Girl,” by Chris Bohjalian, which is set in Aleppo, Syria, in 1915, in the aftermath of the Armenian Genocide. The fi rst book is “The Velvet Hours,” by Alyson Richman. In it, two women narrate a rich tale set in Paris during the 19th and 20th centuries. In 2010, a time capsule of sorts, holding treasures of a bygone age, was uncovered in a Paris apartment untouched since World War II. Richman fi lls in the details of this intriguing mystery by imagining the life and loves of the apartment’s real-life inhabitant. On the eve of WWII, Marthe recites her adventures in Belle Epoque Paris, where she began as an impoverished seamstress. Her granddaughter, Solange, a budding writer, has a story to tell, and her mother recently revealed her own Jewish heritage before dying. Hoping to understand her past, Solange sets out on a journey of personal discovery. Kauffman and Lichaa invite everyone to participate – they hope to create an inter-generational learning and sharing experience with a diverse group of participants. The club will meet at the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, on Sunday, Feb. 25, at 2 p.m. Refreshments will be served. As space is limited, SBHEC asks that you RSVP to mzeidman@hercri.org or 401453-7860. LEV POPLOW is a communications and development consultant writing for the Bornstein Holocaust Center. He can be reached at levpoplow@ gmail.com.
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.
Bruce M. Selya and Ruth Bader Ginsburg at Temple Beth-El. FROM PAGE 1
GINSBURG Selya told a story of how years ago, Rabbi Gutterman asked him to see if then-newly appointed Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg would speak at Beth-El. During a subsequent conversation with Ginsburg, Selya asked her about the biggest difference between being a District Court judge and a Supreme Court judge. She opened a drawer and said, “I must have 200 invitations from synagogues now.” Selya said he decided not to ask her at that time. On Tuesday, from the bimah, Selya asked questions that prompted Ginsburg to talk about various stages of her life and distinguished legal career, which has included teaching at Rutgers’ and Columbia University’s law schools and a stint on the U.S. Court of Appeals. One subject not on the table: the event in Washington that evening – the State of the Union address, from which she was widely reported to be absent. To the audience, Ginsburg would only say that her visit was planned before the date was set. There was laughter all around. On her life: growing up during World War II, “For Jews it was a very frightening time.” On becoming a lawyer: at Cornell University, she developed a love of writing. She
also watched lawyers during the McCarthy era stand up for people and advocate for their freedom to speak and write. “That gave me the idea to be a lawyer,” Ginsburg said. “I could make conditions a little better for our society.” On law school: she started at Harvard Law, while she had a young child, in a class of 500 that had only nine women. After her husband graduated from Harvard Law, they moved to New York City and she fi nished law school at Columbia. Years later she would get an honorary law degree from Harvard. On fighting gender discrimination and women’s rights: from the quota system for women in college to unequal pay for the same job and unequal treatment in those jobs, Ginsburg said she has experienced and fought gender discrimination throughout her life. She told stories about being active in women’s rights issues in the courts in the 1960s, and, in 1972, the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project started with Ginsburg as its director. “Times were right for the Women’s Rights Project,” she said. “By the end of the decade, all explicit gender-based classifications were gone.” On being Jewish on the court: The liberal justice was appointed to the Supreme Court by then President Bill Clinton. She was only the second woman on the court and
PERIODICALS Postage paid at Providence, R.I. POSTMASTER Send address changes to: The Jewish Voice, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, RI 02906. PUBLISHER The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, President/CEO Adam Greenman, Chair Mitzi Berkelhammer, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, RI 02906. Phone: 401-421-4111 • Fax 401-331-7961
MEMBER of the Rhode Island Press Association and the American Jewish Press Association
PHOTOS | ELAINE SANDY
the only Jewish person at that time. There had been five Jewish justices before her. Today there are three Jewish justices; Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan are the two others. On her friendship with other judges: Sandra Day O’Connor “told me just what I needed to know at the start” of her tenure on the court. O’Connor also offered support and advice during a bout with cancer in the late ’90s and was responsible for Ginsburg wearing gloves. Although she “disagreed with much of what he said,” Ginsburg said she shared a love of opera with the late Justice Antonin Scalia and they critiqued each other’s writing. Throughout the program, Ginsburg showed tremendous wit and knowledge and recall of cases and situations dating back to her law school days. She said she hopes that today’s divided Congress can unite and move forward with a bipartisan spirit. Selya drew applause and laughter when he mentioned Kate McKinnon’s portrayal on “Saturday Night Live” of Ginsburg as a vitamin-chugging workout fanatic determined to outlast this administration. Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman of Temple Beth-El echoed the sentiment in closing the program by telling Ginsburg, “we hope you live to 120.” FRAN OSTENDORF is the editor of The Jewish Voice.
COPY DEADLINES: All news releases, photographs, etc., must be received on the Wednesday 10 days prior to publication. Submissions may be sent to: editor@jewishallianceri.org. ADVERTISING: We do not accept advertisements for pork or shellfish. We do not attest to the kashrut of any product or the legitimacy of our advertisers’ claims. All submitted content becomes the property of The Voice. Announcements and opinions contained in these pages are published as a service to the community and do not necessarily represent the views of The Voice or its publisher, the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.
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HUMANS
FROM PAGE 1
FROM PAGE 1
WORKSHOPS
flash drive, and Dr. Danny Gold, who invented the iron dome missile defense system used in Israel. There is also a photo of a person who was born in Addis Abba, Ethiopia, and another in Manipur, India. There are Haredim, very secular Jews, and everyone in between. Arabs and Druze. Holocaust survivors and the captor of Adolf Eichmann. The adult child of an Israeli Jew and a Danish Christian and the adult child of a Jew and a Muslim. “You sense the diversity of the city,” Kaganovitz said of the exhibit. “I want people to see that I’m actually bringing Tel Aviv and Israel to Rhode Island.” Kaganovitz, 35, who has had other exhibits in the United States and Israel, said his impetus for the Tel Aviv exhibit was twofold: he was inspired by the “Humans of New York” project, and by his experiences traveling. While abroad, he said he’d be asked where he was from, and when he’d answer Israel, people would respond by saying such things as “That’s where there are a lot of explosions,” or “That’s where people are living in fear.” “I was angry that people had such misconceptions” of Israel, he said. Then, in 2012, Kaganovitz “stumbled upon ‘Humans of New York’ and thought it was an amazing project,” which led him to “documenting the lives of Tel Aviv residents that I meet
But the contrasts between different values are still felt within the streets of Tel Aviv and raise interesting questions about the boundaries of democracy. “Using photographs from this project, we will explore together the subtle but present tensions among the different social groups in Tel Aviv, and use this city as a laboratory to explore democracy,” Kaganovitz wrote. • 4 p.m. “Hu m a ns of Tel Aviv and the Social Fabric of Tel Aviv”: “In this lecture, I will share with you what I have learned after photographing 1,000 life stories, and what I have learned about Tel Aviv and Israel. 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. It’s actually ‘Tel Aviv 101’ for those who want to better understand why Tel Aviv is one the most liberal cities in the world,” Kaganovitz wrote.
on the street.” “I take their picture, conduct a short interview, and post their life story on social media,” which he said allows it to reach 500,000 people, including tens of thousands from the Arab world. The beauty of “Humans of Tel Aviv,” Kaganovitz said, is that it presents snippets of daily life in Israel in an unbiased format. “I’m only showing the reality in Israel as it is; I’m not trying to sugarcoat, pink wash or whitewash the reality,” he said. “I’m letting other people connect the dots for themselves. By
will be preceded by a 1 p.m. workshop, “Human Rights and the Public Sphere,” and by an 11 a.m. session, “Telling Your Story Through Photography,” which is geared to teenagers. The final session, Kaganovitz said, will be especially informative. “It’s mainly pictures and I’m actually telling the Israeli story” through the people of Tel Aviv, which he strongly feels is a “microcosm of Israel.” “Every social group of Israelis you can find in Tel Aviv,” he said, adding that if you walked the length of the city from south to north, about a 90-minute
showing the complexity of Israeli society, people understand how unique this place really is, and that is the power of the ‘Humans of Tel Aviv’ project.” What Kaganovitz calls the “social fabric” of Tel Aviv will be the subject of one of three workshops on Sunday, Feb. 25. He highly recommends “Humans and the Social Fabric of Tel Aviv,” which will be presented at 4 p.m. at the Dwares JCC, in Providence, in a session he calls “Tel Aviv 101.” That
jaunt, “every 10 minutes, you’d hear a different vibe. That’s what makes this place so interesting.” Kaganovitz said he also enjoys Tel Aviv because its residents are straight shooters. “They cut to the chase. They will tell you what they think. What you see is what you get.” He’s been a professional photographer for 10 years, but he always had an interest in photography. He started in video before his primary interest be-
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came still photography. A formative moment that helped decide his career came in the seventh grade, when his class went to see “Cinema Paradiso,” a 1988 Italian film about a boy falling in love with the movies. “Ever since I saw that movie, it grabbed me. I discovered my passion for photography,” Kaganovitz said. He spent five years as a journalist, mostly as an editor for two Israeli TV stations, Channel 2 and I24news. He also spent two years as a parliamentary adviser for several members of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. Kaganovitz studied journalism and received bachelor of arts degrees in international relations and political communications from Hebrew University, and a master’s degree in political communications, also from Hebrew University. He’s been married for four years. He and his wife, Reut, have two children, Berry, 5, and Arya, almost 2. The exhibit will be displayed in Gallery (401) at the Dwares JCC throughout the month as part of the Israel@70 celebration. There is no entrance fee. 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 Israel@70 events. LARRY KESSLER is a freelance writer who can be reached at lkessler1@comcast.net.
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Teach others what you need to learn My favorite phrase and my motto comes from the book “Illusions” by Richard Bach, who is perhaps best known as the author of the bestseller “Jonathan Livingston Seagull.” Bach wrote, PATRICIA “You teach best RASKIN what you most need to learn.” I have found that to be true in my own life. When you really need something that you also want, but are having difficulty motivating yourself to achieve it, try teaching it. It is the greatest way to reinforce it and make it part of you. As you teach it, you will be working with others who need and want the same lesson. There is so much power in a group. The roles often switch: the teacher becomes the student and the student becomes the teacher. A personal example is when my daughter was a child and I wanted to be a better parent, I
created parenting groups and taught parenting skills as part of my job as an elementary school counselor. Later, when I wanted to be more positive in my life, I created a cable television show called “Positive People.” (Over 30 years that has evolved into the radio show I currently host and produce.) I use those examples to ask you to examine what it is you need and want at this time in your life. How can you teach others at the same time? Can you create a group? Can you teach a class? Can you work with others who want the same thing? The best teachers are the best students of the subject. Doing this is not just a learning process: It’s inspirational for you and others and it can be a lot of fun. Every time I interview an expert on some form of positive living, I get my own questions answered. Surround yourself with what it is you want. Swim in that circle of fish. Learn and grow and teach others what you have gained. There is no greater personal satisfaction than knowing
that what you have passed on, whether through your personal experience or professional expertise, has helped someone or changed their life. The better you are at something, the more you have perfected it, the better position you are in to pass it on to others so that they can then teach what they have most needed to learn. It reminds me of the ebb and flow of the tides. So, as you learn and teach, you are perpetuating this flow and rhythm of life. You don’t always know who you are affecting. But teaching positive things, things you need to reinforce in your own life, and setting the example by teaching them, can have profound results. You are “casting your bread upon the waters.” PATRICIA RASKIN, president of Raskin Resources Productions Inc., is an award-winning radio producer and Rhode Island business owner. She is the host of “The Patricia Raskin” show, a radio and podcast coach, and a board member of Temple Emanu-El, in Providence.
High school students explore modern Jewish literature at Yiddish Book Center The Yiddish Book Center in Amherst, Massachusetts, is accepting applications for its 2018 Great Jewish Books Summer Program. Due to the popularity of the program in past years, the Center will offer two sessions this year: July 2227 and July 29-Aug. 3, 2018. Now in its 7th year, the Great Jewish Books Summer Program brings together rising high school juniors and seniors from across the country, to read, discuss, argue about, and fall in love with modern Jewish literature. Students read selections from important works of modern Jewish literature and consider how they speak to the opportunities and challenges we face today. Under the guidance of college professors, they consider how the rich legacy of modern Jewish literature can inform us in the 21st century. Although the program’s focus is on reading, this is not school in any conventional sense: Great Jewish Books is a lively program full of social, cultural and recreational opportunities – and no grades – for students who read for the love of reading and who are eager to discover the treasures of the Jewish canon. During the five-day program, participants read and discuss important works of
modern literature by writers such as Franz Kafka, Sholem Aleichem, Grace Paley, Philip Roth, and Isaac Babel. The program is taught by college faculty as well as prominent visiting writers (including, in
past years, novelists Allegra Goodman and Jami Attenberg, poet and critic Adam Kirsch, and graphic novelist and scholar Ilan Stavans). The program provides participants with the chance to develop skills for literary analysis and self-expression that will prepare them for college – and they get a taste of college life on the campus of Hampshire College, adjacent
to the Yiddish Book Center. The Yiddish Book Center is a nonprofit organization working to recover, celebrate, and regenerate Yiddish and modern Jewish literature and culture. In summing up the week an alum said, “I learned that Jewish literature is touching, profound, often funny, and always enjoyable.” And a parent shared, “When I picked up my daughter from the airport, she promptly exclaimed. ‘This was the best week of my life!’” Students at Great Jewish Books come from a wide variety of backgrounds, Jewish affi liations, and experiences. Anyone who has an interest in Jewish literature and culture is welcome to apply. Every admitted participant receives a scholarship for the full cost of tuition, room, board, books, and special events. Applications for the 2018 Great Jewish Books Summer Program are due by March 5. To learn more about Great Jewish Books Summer Program and to apply, please visit yiddishbookcenter.org/greatjewish-book Submitted by the Yiddish Book Center
A visit back in time Years ago when I had to go to my high school to obtain my records for a class I was taking, I really did not want to enter the school. I cherished my memories and did not want to MAY-RONNY see things changed from ZEIDMAN the way I remembered them. How pleased I was to see that no major changes had been made, and the changes that had been made improved the look of the building. When else and where else have I visited places of the past? On a rainy summer day, I attempted to take my children to a museum. The museum was closed so I rode around showing “the boys” different places from my childhood. I found myself on Hidden Street in Providence. Hidden Street was the early home of their father. As we started to pass the house, I saw a man sitting near a front window. I asked the boys if they would like to see the inside of the house? Yes, yes, they said. We got out of the car and rang the doorbell. When the gentleman answered, I told him who we were. He immediately asked if we wanted to see the house. Although the house was refurbished, it remained as I remembered it. My husband’s family had an apartment on the third floor. Up we went. Nothing had changed since the last time I had been there. The wallpaper and the paint were untouched. It was a FROM PAGE 1
storage space when I fi rst saw it and these people also used it as a storage space. Years later I passed the house I had lived in as a child, The front door was open, and I just could not resist the urge … so off I went. The owner was very pleasant and asked if I wanted to see the house. You cannot imagine how small the house looked to me. About a month ago, the librarian from the Smith Hill Library wanted to meet with me. He would come to my office, or I could go there. This was the library my mom took me to as a child. I had memories of the circular staircase and how beautiful the library was. What if, over the years, the library had changed and my memories were dashed? Being a curious person, I just had to see for myself. When the librarian opened the door to let me in, I was overwhelmed with memories. The library was just as I remembered it – only so much smaller. I understand that my home and the library are the same size as they always were. I, however, am not the same size as when I fi rst saw them. A couple of notes: Plum Nelly was Evelyn Katzman who passed away last year at 103. Thank you Sandy Finklestein for writing with that information. I also want to thank Arnold Max of Brooklyn, New York, formerly of Providence, for his memories of working for Dave and Julie. MAY-RONNY ZEIDMAN is the executive director of the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center.
OSCAR
either. Surprise! Two Jewish industry legends are nominated yet again. Yes, Daniel DayLewis has won the best actor award three times already – but he announced last year that he is retiring, so this might be our last chance to see the Jewish actor grace us with his presence at an awards night. The iconic method actor is nominated for his performance in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Phantom Thread,” in which he plays a famous dressmaker. Steven Spielberg’s latest fi lm, “The Post” – a drama about the Pentagon Papers starring perennial Spielberg collaborator Tom Hanks – is up for best picture. That seemed inevitable, but the one
relative surprise here is that Spielberg didn’t get another coveted best director nomination. He was passed over for talented newcomers Greta Gerwig and Jordan Peele, in addition to del Toro, Anderson and Christopher Nolan (for “Dunkirk”). It was another good year for a pair of Jewish composers. For the prolific Jewish composer Hans Zimmer, 2017 was business as usual. He wrote or co-wrote scores for three fi lms, including one for “Dunkirk” that earned him an Oscar nod. Benj Pasek, one half of the musical duo behind the score for the Broadway hit “Dear Evan Hansen” and the lyrics of “La La Land,” added to his rapidly growing legend with a nomination for best original song for “This is Me” from “The Greatest Showman” – a musical about P.T. Barnum.
NATION | D’VAR TORAH
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Our Torah readings these days focus on the wanderings of our ancestors in the desert on their way to the Promised Land. These peregrinations would take some getting used to. The RABBI lives they had SOL lived for so long in Egypt – GOODMAN difficult as they were – were safe and luxurious compared with the hardships of a desert trek. The very basic necessities of existence were supplied only by virtue of miracles: Manna and Miriam’s Well. Arguments abounded
The miracle that is camp
and elbows were rubbed the wrong way. Even Moses needed some outside help in the person of his father-in-law, Jethro, to soothe bruised egos, salve hurt feelings and keep a disparate conglomeration of tribes from spiraling into a maelstrom of dysfunction. Our sages have opined that the individual tribes only truly became a unified whole after the generation that had left Egypt was gone, and a new generation had been born. As preparations begin to send our children to camp, we might look upon the Israelites’ desert experience as a metaphor of sorts. We send our children off for a period of time, entrusted to the care
of various individuals whom we may or may not know. We expect that they will be provided with food, shelter and positive experiences. We hope that the letters they send home are filled with sunshine and not plaintive “come get me….” pleas. We hope that the counselors are patient, wise and loving, and are fully capable of quickly creating a functional social group out of a disparate bunch of personalities and needs, many of whom have never been to camp before, or who may be the “new kid” in the cabin or the tent. If you think Moses had his challenges, take a moment to be grateful for the camp counselor. So we send our children off,
Rabbi Isaiah Zeldin, founder of LA’s Stephen Wise Temple, dies at 97 BY TOM TUGEND LOS ANGELES (JTA) – Rabbi Isaiah Zeldin, a leader of Reform Judaism who founded and guided the Stephen Wise Temple in Los Angeles from modest beginnings to become one of the world’s largest Reform congregations, has died. Zeldin died Friday evening at his home in Palm Springs, California, surrounded by his family. He was 97. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, the son of a respected scholar and ardent Zionist, Zeldin moved to Los Angeles in 1954 to establish the California branch of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and served as the 11-state regional director of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. In 1964, he and a group of 35 families founded Stephen Wise Temple on an 18-acre mountain site located between the city’s two largest Jewish population centers, the Westside and San Fernando Valley. To prepare the site, contractors literally had to move a mountain by lowering its height, Zeldin said in a 2004 interview. “We had no place for the dirt, so I invited the University of Judaism (now American Jewish University), which was then on Sunset Boulevard, to buy the property next door. And we pushed a million cubic yards of dirt into the hole to make it a leveled piece of property,” he recalled. As his lasting legacy, Zeldin left a thriving congregation and school system now numbering some 4,800 members and students. The congregation is guided by five rabbis and two cantors. The impact of his personality and organizing skill ranged well beyond the Jewish community and the Los Angeles area. Close friends described Zeldin
as having the abilities of a committed educator, hard-driving business executive and nonpareil persuader who believed that a synagogue had to serve its members from pre-birth to post-death. After meeting Zeldin in 1981, then-California governor Gray Davis, though a Catholic, was so taken by the rabbi’s personality that he attended High Holiday services at Stephen Wise Temple for 34 years. Yoshi Zweiback, the senior rabbi at Stephen Wise, said he was “amazed and inspired by Rabbi Zeldin’s impact on the lives of so many members of our community … What he did for our congregation, for the Los Angeles community and, more broadly, for the Jewish people, was truly extraordinary.” One of Zeldin’s closest collaborators for half a century was Metuka Benjamin, now president of the Milken Community Schools, who joined the rabbi in establishing an extensive day school system in a Reform setting, consisting of a preschool, elementary school and community high school. Benjamin described Zeldin as possessing “an iron fist in a silk glove. He was, in effect, the head of a corporation as well as a prodigious fundraiser – nobody ever said no to him.” Zeldin was a committed Zionist, a friend of Israeli prime ministers and other leaders, who enjoyed impressing Israeli visitors with the Jewish knowledge and fluent Hebrew of his students. Financial patron Lowell Milken described the rabbi as “the most transforming individual I have met in my lifetime.” Milken added: “He was great at lightening your wallet, but in such a way that in the end you considered it an honor.” Zeldin transferred his acumen to his champion-level chess game (“I try to think
three moves ahead,” he used to say) and his vigor and enthusiasm to the golf course. Friends on a first-name basis with Zeldin always addressed hm as “Shy,” derived from Yeshayahu, the Hebrew name for Isaiah. Zeldin retired as senior rabbi at Stephen Wise Temple in 1990, but remained actively involved with the congregation throughout his life. His wife of 68 years, Florence, died in 2012. Zeldin is survived by two sons, five grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and a brother.
armed with all the amenities we can think of, to be given an immersive social, intellectual and spiritual experience in a very short time. If the experience is successful, our children will return to us broader minded, more socially savvy and having learned a host of new skills from music to language to arts to how to manage their own life situations differently. Like the manna, the well or the water-giving rock, these are the miracles which enrich our children’s lives. For many of our children, it will be the experience of an extended time without the electronics and other comforts (real or imagined) that will provide them with the greatest growth, so that they may return home with a greater appreciation for the real miracles, which surround them daily. Having been the Rabbi/ Chaplain at Yawgoog Scout Reservation for 17 summers now, I have seen these miracles occur. Despite every imagin-
February 2, 2018 |
able challenge, I have watched young people grow in the most amazing ways; perhaps the greatest of these is in learning to become a “mensch.” Despite everything their lives throw at them, they become wiser, kinder, more tolerant individuals by virtue of their journey through the world of camp. So, as you prepare your child for summer camp, take a moment to remember that we are all campers in this life. Give thanks for the guides and teachers you and your children have met – and will meet – along the way. Give thanks for the challenges, for they, too, teach and guide each of us. And give thanks for the nourishing “manna,” the sustaining wells, and all of the miracles great and small that accompany the journey. RABBI SOL GOODMAN is known around Rhode Island in many different roles. He writes here as Rabbi/Senior Chaplain at Yawgoog Scout Reservation in Rockville, RI.
Candle Lighting Times Greater Rhode Island February 2 February 9 February 16 February 23
4:44 4:51 5:00 5:10
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8 | February 2, 2018
OPINION
Breaking news: It’s all too much If you follow the news like I do, you know it’s been a busy couple of weeks. Just when I didn’t think it could get any more intense, we were hit with more rapid-fire reports. Government shutdow ns. Caucuses and negotiations in real time from the Senate f loor. Women EDITOR marching in impressive FRAN numbers naOSTENDORF tionwide. The p r e s id e nt ’s trip abroad. The State of the Union. The State of the State in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Plus tragic fires, more school shootings and a flu season that won’t quit. It’s almost too much, even for a news nerd. One of the commentators on I-don’t-remember-which-TV-station used that term, and I’m going to adopt it – it’s better than previously used terms, like news junkie. News nerd perfectly describes why, when I turn on the television at night and settle onto the couch, I just can’t get up. But being a news nerd also frequently leads to feelings of despair, depression and the “when is it going to stop” dismay that many people are expressing these days. It never used to be that way. Remember when you waited for the morning paper for your news update? Or maybe you got an afternoon paper with the latest news. And every evening, there was a news program on each of the three TV networks. In between, nobody expected an update. Sure, in times of tremendous breaking news, papers would put out
a special edition or regular programming would be interrupted on TV. That was a long time ago. Have you seen the movie “The Post”? For those who haven’t, it’s about the Washington Post during the time of the Pentagon Papers, in the early 1970s. For many, it brought back a lot of memories from an era when we waited to hear the latest – because there were no phones with continuous updates or on-screen 24/7 access to new developments. Recently, a millennial asked me what it was like to have to wait for the news. The concept was inconceivable to him. I’m dating myself now, but I remember the excitement at the start of CNN. The 24-hour Cable News Network was such a wonderful innovation for us news nerds because we could get our fix at any time of day or night. As I recall, it was all news – no programming with news “stars.” I guess I was a news nerd even then. But after months of such rapid-paced, nonstop news, I think I’m getting a little overwhelmed. I’ve used this space before to recommend that you consider all points of view when you get your news. But it has become so intense now, with multiple networks, social media, and hundreds of experts and talking heads disagreeing about just about everything. With the pace of the news and the availability of so many viewpoints, how do we cope? I’m thinking that occasionally unplugging may be the answer. I’m dialing down my news addiction. I’m going to try rationing. I’ll let you know how it goes. And maybe I won’t be up-to-date on the most current events.
Next time in The Voice He’s back!
After several weeks, Mike Fink returns with a column on his life. Don’t miss it.
More on the stamp project
The Holocaust Stamp Project has met its goal but the collages continue. The 14th collage was just completed and we have a report.
TAMID comes to Brown
The newest chapter of the organization that involves business and Israel comes to Brown University. Read about how students are getting involved.
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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
In search of the center
“Things fall apart, the center cannot hold;/ Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,/ The blooddimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere/ The ceremony IT SEEMS of innocence is drowned,/ TO ME The best lack all convicRABBI JIM tion, while ROSENBERG the worst/Are filled with passionate intensity.” These prophetic words of William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) are taken from his well-known poem “The Second Coming.” Written in 1919, these verses reflect the sense of loss and confusion in the wake of World War I, as well as the deeply felt uncertainty as the Irish begin their war of independence from British rule. But almost 100 years later, this poem speaks directly to us Americans, who are forced to face a similar sense of loss, confusion and uncertainty. Today the keynote of our Pledge of Allegiance, “one nation, indivisible,” rings in our ears as “two nations, deeply divided.” It seems to me that many of the issues over which the North and South spilled rivers of blood in our Civil War remain unresolved: the balance between individual liberty and communally enforced equality, states’ rights, and, of course, endemic racism. What makes matters so profoundly unnerving, even dangerous, for us as a nation, is that those of us on
one side of the divide do not talk to, do not know how to talk to, those on the other side. David Brooks, a longtime columnist for The New York Times, is in my estimation a significant voice for moderation in what needs to be a national conversation in search of a new center. We cannot let “things fall apart” any more than they already have. I find Brooks’ Aug. 22, 2017, op-ed piece, “What Moderates Believe,” to be a wise and constructive statement as to what a centrist position might look like, one that eschews the selfdefeating extremism at both ends of our political spectrum: “Moderates do not see politics as warfare. Instead, national politics is a voyage with a fractious fleet. Wisdom is finding the right formation of ships for each specific circumstance so the whole assembly can ride the waves forward for another day. Moderation is not an ideology; it’s a way of coping with the complexity of the world.” Among the core convictions of moderates is that “[t]he truth is plural.” No matter how rich and diverse our experience, each of us has no more than a partial view of reality. Our wisdom is to accept that we can never know everything and that we therefore need to be open to – though not blindly accepting of – the experience and considered views of others. It is admittedly often extremely difficult to “hear” the other, but unless far more of us Americans can learn to do so, then our democracy will fail – and sooner rather than later.
In addition to his affirmation that the truth is plural, I agree with Brooks’ assertion that for the moderate, “[g]overnment can create economic and physical security and a just order, but meaning, joy and the good life flow from loving relationships, thick communities and wise friends.” Political life should not, cannot, become a substitute for our spiritual, intellectual and aesthetic pursuits. Where I disagree with Brooks is over his insistence, consistent with his roots as a moderate Republican, that government is best when it’s as limited as possible. He is more skeptical than I, a lifelong Democrat, as to what government at its best can accomplish: “In politics, the lows are lower than the highs are high. The harm government does when it screws up – wars, depressions – is larger than the benefits government produces when it does well.” I would suggest that the most important statement in Brooks’ column comes near its conclusion: “Humility is the fundamental virtue. Humility is a radical self-awareness from a position outside yourself – a form of radical honesty.” No mortal can know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Only God, in God’s incomprehensible infinity, can be said to know everything.
JAMES B. ROSENBERG is rabbi emeritus of Temple Habonim in Barrington. Contact him at rabbiemeritus@templehabonim.org.
Letters Re: A Jewish forgetting of Ben Franklin (Jan. 19)
A few years ago, while reading Benjamin Franklin’s autobiography, I remember thinking what a mensch he was in describing his method of selfimprovement. After reading Afsai’s article, I recognized a parallel structure of thinking in the Boy Scout Law: Trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent. These points were inspired from Japanese Samurai, Native American, European Knights and southern African Zulu traditions. A similar Law is observed by the Girl Scouts: Honest, fair, friendly, helpful, considerate, caring,
courageous, strong, responsible, respectful, using resources wisely, making the world a better place and being a sister to every Girl Scout. The Jewish traditions of “Tikkun Olam (repairing the world)” and “Loving your neighbor as yourself” preceded all the rest. Throughout all times and in all parts of the world, Man has aspired to the best instincts for peaceful coexistence. Unfortunately, they have not always prevailed If each person applied him(her)self to these lofty goals, the world would be a better place. Marvin S. Wasser, M.D. Cranston, RI
Re: Jerusalem! Jerusalem! (Jan. 5)
Rabbi Rosenberg’s column edition explained the situation perfectly. Yes, there have been other people than Jews in Jerusalem for thousands of years and they should be part of the conversation if you really seek peace. I want to add that AIPAC, J Street and all the other lobbying organizations and individuals, instead of spending millions of dollars as they have done all these past years, should spend it on Jewish day schools and Jewish education. Arthur Fixler Cranston, RI
COLUMNS | LETTERS POLICY
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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
February 2, 2018 |
9
Scenes from the State of the Union address
State of the Union: President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan.
PHOTOS | MARSHALL H. COHEN
U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley greets colleagues at the annual State of the Union address on January 30 in the house chamber.
In the #MeToo era, these synagogues are banning Shlomo Carlebach BY BEN SALES NEW YORK (JTA) – When Rabbi Angela Buchdahl announced how her synagogue would respond to the #MeToo moment, she singled out a man. But he wasn’t one of her congregants, synagogue clergy or staff members. He was Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, perhaps the most prominent 20th-century composer of American Jewish music. Carlebach penned a vast body of songs and liturgical melodies heard in worship services and at summer camps and sing-alongs. His music is sung in synagogues from nearly every denomination. But in the years after his death in 1994, numerous women came forward to allege that he sexually assaulted them. In her Jan. 19 sermon to New York’s Central Synagogue, one of the largest congregations in the country, Rabbi Buchdahl announced that the synagogue would not sing his melodies for a year. The moratorium is taking effect across the synagogue – in services, in Hebrew school, in nursery school. “We hope this communicates to those who have been victimized by Carlebach that we hear you and we are not indifferent,” Rabbi Buchdahl said in the sermon. “In this coming year, we will see what new music emerges in the vacuum that is created with Carlebach gone.” Central Synagogue is one of several in the United States, across denominations, that has stopped using Carlebach’s name, his teachings or his melodies in a debate that precedes but has been intensified by the #MeToo moment. The decisions are mostly a response to the sexual assault allegations that first appeared in a 1998 article in Lilith, the Jewish feminist maga-
zine, and since have continued to surface. Because they were aired publicly after his death, he never responded publicly to the claims. Some of the women were underage at the time of the incidents. “Essentially it felt like it was time to listen and take a reckoning to people we ignored who came forward with their tales of sexual assault,” Rabbi Buchdahl told JTA. “We should not be in the business of banning any kind of art. I knew that was not the right option for us, but continuing to do nothing was also not an option.” To excise Carlebach is no easy endeavor. His melodies, recorded from 1959 until his death in 1994, are often the most recognizable tunes to common Jewish prayers – particularly the Friday night service welcoming Shabbat. Synagogues will host “Carlebach services” comprised largely of his tunes. For a time, Carlebach was in San Francisco, and his music, which combines Hasidic and folk influences, was a Jewish touchstone of the 1960s counterculture. His song “Am Yisrael Chai” (“The Nation of Israel Lives”) served as an anthem for the movement to free Soviet Jewry. He also developed a personal mythology and dedicated following, and at concerts would intersperse his songs with intimate stories. Recognizing the pervasiveness of Carlebach’s music, some synagogues continue to sing his songs but don’t refer to him by name or share his stories. The Modern Orthodox Anshe Sholom B’nai Israel Congregation in Chicago still hosts a Carlebach service but has not used his name for years. The synagogue’s rabbi, David Wolkenfeld, said the misconduct allegations
mean Carlebach should no longer be revered as a personal example. “The allegations about him were sufficiently credible and sufficiently serious and sufficiently numerous that he did not deserve to be treated as a rabbi, as a religious authority figure,” Rabbi Wolkenfeld said. “I also realized that if there were victims or their children or grandchildren in the congregation, what would it mean to them to hear someone who abused them being referred to as this great rabbi?” It’s also technically difficult to ban Carlebach’s music, said Rabbi Barry Kornblau of the Orthodox Young Israel of Hollis Hills-Windsor Park in Queens, New York. Rabbi Kornblau also has not used Carlebach’s name for years, but said people do not always know which tunes are Carlebach’s, and that it is difficult to manage every melody in Orthodox services, which are often led by lay members. These rabbis are, in a way, confronting the same question that has occupied the creative world since the wave of misconduct allegations against industry figures began last year: is it possible to separate the art from the artist? Some say yes. Other activists, however, believe that because Carlebach was a spiritual leader who wrote melodies for prayers – and worshippers use those melodies in the act of prayer – his work carries more moral weight than a movie. “I think there’s a huge difference between Woody Allen and someone who used spirituality and religion and God’s name to gain access,” said Sharon WeissGreenberg, executive director of the Jewish Orthodox Feminist Alliance, who advocates a total ban on using Carlebach’s music.
“There’s a difference between one’s choice to attend a movie screening and one’s showing up to services at shul and having the choice taken away from them.” Other clergy see a Carlebach music ban as an opportunity to expand their repertoires. A Facebook group called Anything But Carlebach, with more than 1,200 members, has banned discussion of his behavior and serves as a clearinghouse for new or obscure melodies to prayers. Large segments of American Jewry – including many Sephardic and Hasidic communities – have their own musical traditions that predate Carlebach. “Jewish music has a rich, varied and long tradition well before Shlomo Carlebach’s music,” said Cantor Jessica Leash, who runs Silicon Valley Jewish Meetup, an independent community in Northern California. “If we keep working in this material, not acknowledging its origin and not making any room for new material to come forward, we’re basically shutting a door.” Despite the allegations, some of Carlebach’s followers still see immense value in his teachings and music. His daughter Neshama, a singer who has carried on his legacy, wrote an essay in The Times of Israel in January in which she said she supports “the countless women who have suffered the evils of sexual harassment and assault” and acknowledged her father had hurt some women. But she defended her father as a kind and caring spiritual leader who advanced women’s rights. “I do not recognize the version of my father that some people describe,” she wrote. “To me, he was the kindest, most
respectful, most loving person to my friends and me. I myself witnessed him as a deeply passionate supporter of the role of women as leaders.” Another Carlebach follower, Aryae Coopersmith, believes the allegations and included them in his book on Carlebach’s movement. But he said it would be wrong to erase Carlebach’s music and stories, which for many have served as an inspiration. “His songs for so many people have opened our hearts to what our tradition, what our grandparents, have been teaching us for so long,” said Coopersmith, who co-founded the House of Love and Prayer, Carlebach’s Jewish synagogue-cumcommune in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district known for birthing the 1960s counterculture movement. “They open our hearts to connecting with Hashem, with Torah, with other human beings. They’re so much a part of who we are today as Jews.” Carlebach will endure as a major influence on Jewish music despite the allegations, said Joey Weisenberg, a Jewish composer whose Americana-inspired melodies are growing in popularity. Weisenberg said that “it’s not possible to ignore the melodies and the spirituality and the community empowerment and the beauty that Carlebach unleashed in the world.” “When we open our hearts in song, we have to take care of each other,” Weisenberg said. “The story we really tell is about the power of music and spiritual life in the world, and how we need to treat that power with extreme care. Shlomo Carlebach had an immense musical spiritual power, and clearly he misused and abused that power.”
10 | February 2, 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 2 Family Shabbat Dinner. 6 p.m. Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Family Shabbat dinner and worship service led by fourth-grade students. 6 p.m. Dinner in the Silverstein Meeting Hall; 7 p.m. Service in the Fain Sanctuary. Information, Temple Beth-El office at 401-331-6070. Get S’Mores Shabbat. 6-7:30 p.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Teens will lead. Information, Dottie at 401-942-8350. “Friday Night Live” Chocolate Shabbat. 6-9 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Musical Shabbat service with dinner following. Menu: mushroom barley soup, baked salmon and stuffed sole accompanied by garlic roasted potatoes and fresh vegetable salad and an array of chocolate desserts. Cost: Adults and children over 12 $20 | 12 and younger free | Family max. $60. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600.
Saturday | February 3 Taste of Shabbat Service. 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:
CALENDAR 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. Hollywood Havdalah. 5:30-8 p.m. Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft Ave., Providence. Celebrate the end of Shabbat with crafts, havdalah and a movie. Information, Shoshana Jacob at shosh@teprov. org or 401-331-1616. Teen Havdalah Event. 6-9 p.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. A lively evening of fun, pizza and discussion by and for teens from Temple Sinai, Temple Beth-El and Temple Habonim. Free. RSVP to the Temple Sinai office at 401942-8350 or just show up. Information or to RSVP (requested but not required), Dottie at Temple Sinai 401-942-8350. Havdalah and Game Night. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Table tennis, Mah Jongg, Battleship, etc. Bring your games! Donations of Kosher snacks are welcome. Free. Information or to RSVP, Torat Yisrael office at 885-6600.
Sunday | February 4 “Infusing Judaism into Your Family’s Life.” 9-10:30 a.m. Temple EmanuEl, 99 Taft Ave., Providence. Do you want to raise your child in a nurturing Jewish environment but don’t know where to start? Are you unsure of how to meaningfully introduce your children to Jewish rituals, practices and ideas in ways they can understand? An exploration of 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. This program is designed for anyone who plays an active role in a child’s Jewish life, whether you are 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 401-3311616 or rzerin@teprov.org. Adult Ed: Cooking with Val. 9:15-10:30 a.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. February theme: Pita and Laffa Bread Making. Cost (to cover ingredients): $5 members | $10 non-members. Information or to register, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@ toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600. Torah Sprouts. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Torat Yisrael’s program for preschool families. Children ages 3-5 sing songs, hear stories, create arts and crafts, and enjoy snacks. A parent must stay. Cost: $10 per session. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@ toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600. Preschool Music and Rhythm. 10:3011:30 a.m. Jewish Community Day School of RI, 85 Taft Ave., Providence. A musical morning designed specifically for 3-5 year olds. We’ll create a musical craft, enjoy a drumming circle with music teacher Mike Murdock and more. It’s a wonderful way to learn about JCDSRI while enjoying a musicfilled morning. All are welcome. Free. Information or to RSVP (requested but not required), Naomi Stein at nstein@ jcdsri.com or 401-751-2470.
The Jewish Voice
Monday | February 5
Thursday | February 8
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: 2/12, 2/26, 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.
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. This 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 in Rhode Island. 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 teprov.org/institute/ delvedeeper.
Tuesday | February 6 Introduction to Talmud. 10-11:30 a.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Rabbi Goldwasser offers a general introduction to the creation of the Talmud and its place in Jewish tradition and explores some famous passages from Tractate Berachot, which explores the meaning and limitations of prayer. Second of three meetings. Last meeting on 2/13 in the chapel. Information, Dottie at 401-942-8350. Yoga. 6-7 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Cost: $30 for 3 sessions paid in advance; $12 per session at the door. Open to all. Bring a mat. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600. Tuesday Night Talmud Classes. 7:458:30 p.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Join Rabbi Barry Dolinger’s class in the study of the fourth Chapter of Berachot: “The Timing of Prayer.” Free. Future dates: 2/13; 3/20; 4/3, 4/4; 5/1, 5/8, 5/15. Information, office@bethsholom-ri.org.
Wednesday | February 7 Israel at 70: “My Hero Brother.” 7 p.m. Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. In this film, a group of young Israelis with Down Syndrome embark on a demanding trek through the Himalayas with their siblings. As they deal with physical and emotional challenges, unresolved conflicts surface and heartwarming friendships develop. Follow their difficult trials and poignant relationships set against the richly colorful backdrop of India. Free. Information, Tslil Reichman at treichman@ jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 121. 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. An exploration of the development and refinement of our personalities through the eyes of the Mussar movement. Text is “Bridging the Gap.” All are welcome every Wednesday evening for this fundamental and transformative journey. Information, Rabbi Raphie Shochet at rabbiraphie@ gmail.com or 401-383-2786.
Friday | February 9 Sephardic Shabbat. 7:30-9 p.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Shabbat services will include participation by Shireinu, the temple’s chorus. Sephardic music is featured. Information, Dottie at 401-942-8350. 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 10 Taste of Shabbat Service. 9-11 a.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. 9 a.m. Torah discussion and 9:45 a.m. Shabbat dervice 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. Kids’ Night Out: Taste of Summer. Ages 5-12: 5-10 p.m. Ages 2-5: 5-8:30 p.m. (extended times available). Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. A chance for children to spend the evening with their friends in a fun and safe environment. Children enjoy themed activities including sports, crafts, swimming and more. A pizza dinner and snacks are served. For ages 2-5, make sure to send your child with PJs as each evening ends with a movie. Price: $35 | Members: $25 | Siblings: $15. Information for ages 2-5, Jo-Anne DeGiacomo Petrie at jpetrie@jewishalliance.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 180. Information for ages 5-12, Shannon Kochanek at skochanek@jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 147. Game Night. 7-10 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. For kids in Grades 5-12. Basketball, table tennis, games and snacks. Information or to RSVP, Torat Yisrael office at 401-885-6600. An Evening of Love Songs of the Beatles. 7-10:30 p.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Cantor Deborah Johnson and Raymond Buttero perform an evening of love songs by the Beatles. The evening includes dessert and other
surprises. Admission: $15 per person | $10 for students with IDs. Information or to RSVP, temple office at 401-9428350.
Sunday | February 11 Men’s Club Breakfast with Guest Speaker Fran Ostendorf, Editor of the Jewish Voice. 9-11 a.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. All are welcome. Breakfast at 9 a.m. Speaker at 9:30 a.m. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@ toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600. Israel at 70: “Golda’s Balcony: A Staged Reading.” 3 p.m. Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Featuring Bobbie Steinbach (Fiddler on the Roof, Collected Stories, The Clean House). Follow Golda Meir from her humble beginnings as a teacher to her meteoric rise through Israel’s early political system, becoming one of the world’s first elected female heads of state and one of the most influential women in Israel’s history. Cost: $10 | $8 for Members. RSVP to Lynne Bell at lbell@ jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111 or register online at jewishallianceri. org/goldas-balcony/. Information, Tslil Reichman at treichman@jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 121.
Monday | February 12 Two Composers, Three Opinions: What Makes Music “Jewish”? A Lecture Recital. 7:30-9 p.m. Temple EmanuEl, Bohnen Vestry, 99 Taft Ave., Providence. At the dawn of the 20th century, a group of young RussianJewish composers sought to develop a uniquely Jewish style of classical music. However, they argued over what could count as authentically Jewish. In this lecture-recital, musicologist Samuel Zerin will discuss his original research on two competing practices: arrangements of Jewish folk melodies and new works inspired by Torah chant. He will then perform a small group of piano pieces, which represent these different approaches to creating “Jewish” music. Cost: $5 donation. Information, Rabbi Zerin at 401-331-1616 or rzerin@ teprov.org. 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: 2/26, 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.
Tuesday | February 13 Introduction to Talmud. 10-11:30 a.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. In the last of three classes, Rabbi Goldwasser offers a general introduction to the creation of the Talmud and its place in Jewish tradition and explores some famous passages from Tractate Berachot, which explores the meaning and limitations of prayer. Held in the chapel. Information, Dottie at 401-9428350. Temple Torat Yisrael’s Lunch and Learn. Noon-1:30 p.m. Gregg’s Restaurant, 4120 Quaker Lane, North Kingstown. Each participant orders from the menu, CALENDAR | 11
CALENDAR
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CALENDAR and we study Jewish sources addressing current issues. Open to all. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@ toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600. Yoga. 6-7 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Cost: $30 for 3 sessions paid in advance; $12 per session at the door. Open to all. Bring a mat. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600. Art Workshop: Glass Painting. 7-9 p.m. Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Painting on glass is emerging as one of the most popular trends in crafting. Whether you want to add a stained glass look to a window or create a set of hand-painted glasses for your table top, this workshop will introduce you to the basics to get started. Participants will create a set of wine glasses to take home. Ages: 16+. Price: $20 | Members: $15. Information, Michelle Cicchitelli at mcicchitelli@jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 178. Tuesday Night Talmud Classes. 7:458:30 p.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Join Rabbi Barry Dolinger’s class in the study of the fourth Chapter of Berachot: “The Timing of Prayer.” Free. Future dates: 3/20; 4/3, 4/4; 5/1, 5/8, 5/15. Information, office@bethsholom-ri.org.
Wednesday | February 14 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. The text is “Bridging the Gap.” All are welcome every Wednesday evening for this fundamental and transformative journey. Information, Rabbi Raphie Shochet at rabbiraphie@gmail.com or 401-383-2786.
Thursday | February 15 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. This 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 in Rhode Island. 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. Eva Kor, Holocaust Survivor. 7 p.m. Rhode Island College, Sapinsley Hall, 600 Mount Pleasant Ave., Providence. Sponsored by the Division of Student Success and the Division of Community, Equity, and Diversity.
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.
February 2, 2018 |
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A staged reading featuring Bobbie Steinbach Sunday, February 11, 2018 at 3:00pm Dwares JCC | 401 Elmgrove Avenue Price: $10 | Members: $8 Golda’s Balcony, written by William Gibson and directed by Judy Braha, follows the trajectory of the life of Golda Meir. The performance is part of Rhode Island’s Israel at 70 celebration and is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.
For a full list of events and updates to programming, visit
jewishallianceri.org/israel-70
401 Elmgrove Avenue | Providence, RI 02906 | 401.421.4111 | jewishallianceri.org
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, Social Hall and Chapel on the lower level. Big kids of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to join prayer services.
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11
WINTER OLYMPICS 2018
12 | February 2, 2018
The Jewish Voice
What it’s like to be Jewish in South Korea BY JOSEFIN DOLSTEN JTA – Though the Jewish community in South Korea is small, Jews visiting the country to compete in or watch the Winter Olympic Games won’t have to skimp on Kosher food or Shabbat programming. The country’s Chabad emissary is setting up a pop-up restaurant in Pyeongchang County, the site of the 2018 Winter Olympics. During the Olympics, which start on Feb. 9, the temporary eatery will serve three meals daily, including Koreanstyle bulgogi beef, schnitzel, hot dogs and vegetarian items. Chabad, a Hasidic Orthodox outreach movement that sends emissaries to countries around the world, will also teach Torah classes and put on Shabbat programming for tourists, journalists and other visitors, as well as deliver food to athletes inside the Olympic Village. “We have big events that we host at Chabad with hundreds of guests, but this is our fi rst time to be able to cater for so many Jews all at once,” Rabbi Osher Litzman, told JTA from Seoul, where he has served as Chabad’s emissary since 2008. There are about 1,000 Jews living in South Korea, according to Litzman. Most are U.S. service members, English teachers, diplomats or students from the United States or Canada who come to the east Asian country for a year or two. Litzman and his family host Shabbat dinners
at the Chabad house in Seoul, drawing some 40-50 attendees we ek ly, a nd H i g h Hol id ays programming, which attracts over 200 participants. Chabad also operates a Kosher store and restaurant in Seoul and ships Kosher food all over the country via an online shop. For Litzman, the Olympics serves as a way to reach more people and expand Chabad’s work in the country. “It’s a great pleasure,” he said. “This is something that we have been waiting for. It’s a great opportunity for us to expand our services and to grow and to learn how to be able to host many people.” Until the Chabad house opened in 2008, the only Jewish services were at the U.S. Army base in the capital, according to a website for expats. Today, the Chabad house serves as a resource not only to Jews but non-Jews as well. “There are many Koreans coming here on a daily basis. They want to learn about Judaism, to buy Kosher food, ask questions, [receive] guidance,” Litzman said. “We invite them to come whenever they want during the weekdays.” Non-Jewish South Koreans have various reasons for wanting to learn about Judaism, he said. “Some are just astonished by the fact that we have so many enemies and we still survive and we thrive,” Litzman said, “and others are thinking about the fact that many Jews are suc-
cessful and in monetary areas they are trying to figure out how to do it.” Others, he added, want to learn about the Torah or Talmud, or come because they love Israel or have had positive experiences with Jewish people. South Koreans who want to learn about Hebrew and Israel have another place to go as well: the Israel Culture Center in Seoul. The venue teaches Hebrew and promotes Israeli culture, sometimes holding events with the Israeli Embassy. Founded in 2000, some 3,000 students have studied Hebrew
PHOTO | JTA, CHUNG SUNG-JUN/GETTY IMAGES
South Korea is hosting the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
PHOTO | JTA, COURTESY OF CHABAD OF SOUTH KOREA
Rabbi Osher Litzman, under the canopy in black, performing a Jewish wedding in Seoul, South Korea. – both modern and biblical – at the center, a representative told
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JTA in an email. The center also has a Jewish studies library that is open to the public. “Israel Culture Center will continuously work hard to be a place where Israel’s unique culture is introduced to Koreans and significant friendship is being birthed between Koreans and Israelis,” the representative said. South Koreans’ fascination with Judaism has been widely documented. “Each Korean family has at least one copy of the Talmud,” the country’s then-ambassador to Israel, Young-sam Ma, told an Israeli TV host in 2011. “Korean mothers want to know how so many Jewish people became geniuses.” (A New Yorker reporter who followed up on the claim suggested that he meant a one-volume popularization of the vast, multivolume compendium of Jewish
law and lore, and, indeed, found it at most of the bookstores he visited.) Many South Koreans have a positive view of Israel. Some 800 South Koreans live in the Jewish state, with many more going there to study Hebrew and the Bible. Most of these enthusiasts are drawn to Israel because of their religious beliefs as evangelical Christians. Christianity is the largest organized religion in South Korea, with nearly 30 percent of the population identifying as Christians. Unlike many Chabad emissaries, Litzman said he and his family do not have to deal with safety concerns and anti-Semitism. “We feel blessed to be in such a country that there is admiration to Jews and especially to Israel,” he said, “and in general Korea is a very safe country.”
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FOOD
jvhri.org
February 2, 2018 |
13
Cooking by the book gets easier ‘Real Life Kosher Cooking’ has recipes you’ll use over and over BY FRAN OSTENDORF Several new Kosher cookbooks have been published in the last few months. These are lovely books with beautiful photographs and recipes that sound delicious. And you don’t have to keep a Kosher home to enjoy these cookbooks. With a wide range of milk, meat and pareve recipes, there’s something for everyone and every family. In the next few issues of The Voice, we are going to write about new cookbooks that are generating buzz. If you have a new favorite, let us know! Internet sensation Miriam Pascal published her second cookbook, “Real Life Kosher Cooking” (Artscroll, 2017), in November. If you haven’t gotten your hands on a copy, make sure you do. It’s billed as “family friendly recipes for every day and special occasions.” And it is. Pascal, who has thousands of followers on her website Overtime Cook (overtimecook.com), has fi lled her new cookbook with recipes for everything from appetizers to sweets. According to her description of the book on her blog, it has more than 160 recipes, which are almost all never-before published. That’s a pretty amazing feat since Pascal also writes for Mishpacha Magazine’s Family Table and has authored another book, “Something Sweet.” All of the recipes were tested by Pascal and one other person, and the photo are real food, according to her posts. So, your recipes should look similar to the photos in the book. I especially like that every recipe in “Real Life Kosher Cooking” has a “Plan Ahead” note. And, in the back of the book, there is a list of recipes with adjustments for Passover, along with a separate section with recipes for year-round sauces and staples. Here are two recipes to try.
smooth. Pour dressing over salad; stir until all components are evenly coated. VARIATION If you can’t get fresh pomegranate seeds, use dried cranberries instead. You can also use sweet potato instead of butternut squash, and orzo instead of quinoa. PLAN AHEAD Salad can be stored in the fridge for up to two days. This salad actually tastes best after marinating for a day, when its flavors have had a chance to develop.
Baked Honey Barbecue Popcorn Chicken Meat
3 scallions fi nely sliced Seeds of 1 large pomegranate
Dressing
1/2 cup olive oil 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons honey 1 1/2 teaspoons Kosher salt
Directions
Prepare butternut squash: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Toss butternut squash with oil, honey, salt and pepper. Spread in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Roast for 40 minutes, stirring halfway through. Remove from oven and set aside to cool. Assemble salad: Combine quinoa with prepared butternut squash, scallions and pomegranate seeds. Prepare the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together all dressing ingredients until
Stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, up to overnight. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, coat with nonstick cooking spray, and set aside. Add flour to bowl with the chicken mixture; stir until all pieces are coated. Add eggs to chicken mixture; stir until all pieces are coated and sticky. Add 1-1/2 cups breadcrumbs to the bowl; toss to coat all chicken pieces. If needed, add up to 1/2 cup more breadcrumbs to coat all chicken well. Place chicken in a single layer on prepared baking sheets, leaving room between pieces so they become crispy. If necessary, use a third baking sheet to avoid overcrowding.
Spray the tops of the chicken with nonstick cooking spray. Bake for 10 minutes, or until cooked through. Meanwhile, prepare the honey barbecue sauce: Whisk all sauce ingredients together in a small pot over medium heat. Cook until it starts to bubble around the edges. Pour hot sauce over hot chicken immediately before serving. VARIATION Instead of the Honey Barbecue Sauce, you can use your favorite bottled sauce, such as barbecue sauce, teriyaki sauce, sweet chili sauce, or duck sauce. Heat sauce prior to tossing with chicken. PLAN AHEAD Chicken and sauce can be prepared individually and frozen separately. Reheat chicken, uncovered, at 350 degrees F; then toss with reheated sauce.
Yield 4-6 servings I often say that popcorn is my favorite food, so it’s no wonder that I enjoy this chicken dish inspired by that treat – tiny nuggets of crispy breaded chicken – that you’ll want to keep popping … like popcorn!
Ingredients
2 pounds chicken cutlets, cut into 1/2- to 1-inch pieces 1 egg white 2 tablespoons cornstarch 1/2 cup flour 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1 1/2 to 2 cups breadcrumbs
Honey Barbecue Sauce
1 cup barbecue sauce 1/2 cup orange juice 1/4 cup honey 1 teaspoon hot sauce 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
Directions
Combine chicken, egg white and cornstarch in a bowl.
Baked Honey Barbecue Popcorn Chicken
Roasted Butternut Squash and Quinoa Salad Pareve
Yield 6-8 servings I originally created this salad for Rosh Hashanah and fi lled it with symbolic Rosh Hashanah foods. It’s been a fan favorite ever since then – not just for Rosh Hashanah, but all year long.
Ingredients
1 small butternut squash, peeled, cut into small cubes 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1 1/2 cups raw quinoa, cooked according to package directions
Roasted Butternut Squash and Quinoa Salad
14 | February 2, 2018
CAMP
The Jewish Voice
Jewish summer camps changing with the times BY FRAN OSTENDORF Jewish overnight summer camp used to mean days spent in the woods, learning about nature, swimming, hiking, and arts and crafts, and sleeping in tents or maybe cabins. The whole experience was infused with Jewish values, observing Shabbat and eating Kosher food. If you weren’t an outdoorsy kind of kid, you either didn’t go or you went and weren’t too happy. Today’s children and their parents want more choices. They still want the Jewish part of the experience, but they want options in camp activities. So specialty camps are popping up at all levels of observance. Today, Jewish summer camp might still mean a trip to the woods of New England for a traditional experience. Or it might be a week or two on the campus of a private school, learning about science and technology, or practicing your cooking skills or your sports skills, or focusing on performing arts. It could mean a trip to the beach in Southern California for a surfing experience, or a stay on a farm in upstate New York, focusing on environmentalism. “We have Jewish experiential education across the spectrum, from Ramah camps to Reform camps,” said Michele Friedman, director of new camp initiatives at the Foundation for Jewish Camp (FJC). These camps offer programs for children through pre-teens or teens. Ramah camps are affiliated with the Conservative movement while many Reform camps are affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism. Friedman oversees a 10-year-old FJC project, funded by the Jim Joseph Foundation and the AVI CHAI Foundation, that acts as an incubator for new specialty camps. Since 2010, nine new camps have started. This summer, the third cohort of startup camps will open – six in all. The participating camps get training, professional development and support, as well as funding for the first three years. “The focus is to help the camp attract children and teens longer for something special,” said Friedman. “These are children who may have rejected traditional camps.” She also said that more than half the campers at these new specialty camps have never gone to a Jewish over-
URJ 6 Points Sports Academy North Carolina PHOTOS | FOUNDATION FOR JEWISH CAMP
JCC Maccabi Sports Camp
night camp. Or if they did, their parents reported that they didn’t intend to return. The Jewish-specialty camp trend reflects what is happening in the general camping world, where there are now plenty of specialty camps. And there are specialty camps that operate within existing Jewish camps (see story about JORI performing arts camp, page 16). “There’s something for all interests,” said Friedman. “Campers have an opportunity to specialize in something with Jewish experiential education, a love of Judaism and ruach infused in the program. “This is not just a way to stay relevant. It’s a way to respond to what’s going on in society. Why should we lose the kids who want something different?” And if past success is any indication, the specialty camps are here to stay: Friedman said some of the staff for the third cohort of camps opening this summer were campers in the first group, which opened in 2010. “We are keeping them engaged,” she said.
Camp Zeke For a searchable list of Jewish camps go to the Foundation for Jewish Camp website at: jewishcamp.org/onehappy-camper/find-a-camp/. FRAN OSTENDORF (fostendorf@jewishallianceri. org) is the editor of The Jewish Voice.
Camp JORI is a co-ed Jewish overnight and day camp that provides summer experiences for children in grades K-10. Our comprehensive program of sports, arts, adventure and special activities is enhanced by our Jewish and Israeli culture and our strong sense of “TACEO”- Taking Care of Each Other. Summer days here are actionpacked and an incredible value!
Register TODAY for an unforgettable summer! Camp JORI • Wordens Pond, Wakefield, RI WWW.CAMPJORI.COM • Email: sharon@campjori.com • Phone: (401) 421-4111x124
CAMP
jvhri.org
February 2, 2018 |
Camp is an investment in a child’s Jewish future BY STEPHANIE HAGUE Investing in the next-generation ensures that the values that make Jewish Rhode Island strong and vibrant today will be even more robust tomorrow. Supporting educational and Jewish cultural programs are critical priorities for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. With its supporters, the Alliance funds summer camp experiences that make Jewish life relevant and meaningful to hundreds of young people, as well as supporting local Jewish day schools, PJ Library, a local Israel shlichah, and enrichment programs. Last year, the Annual Campaign provided supporting funds for scholarships at Rhode Island-based Camp JORI in Wakefield, Camp Gan Israel in Warwick, and the Alliance’s J-Camp at the Dwares Jewish Community Center in Providence. Research shows the long-term positive impact of Jewish camp. In 2011, the Foundation for Jewish Camp released a study called Camp Works – the LongTerm Impact of Jewish Summer Camp that makes the case for Jewish summer camp as an
effective way to ensure Jewish continuity. The study analyzed recent population surveys in 25 American communities, comparing attitudes and behaviors of adults who attended Jewish overnight camps with adults who did not. The results were striking. Adults who spent summers at Jewish overnight camp were: 21 percent more likely to feel that being Jewish is very important, 25 percent more likely to give to Jewish charities, and 55 percent more likely to feel emotionally attached to Israel. In addition to data, the personal stories our camp professionals hear provide the human face and impact of campaign dollars at work. Last summer, close to 800 weeks of camp were attended by 116 children at the Alliance’s J-Camp. One parent shared, “As a family with two parents having full-time careers, it has been a blessing for us to have our son enrolled in summer camp at the Jewish Alliance. We know he was well cared for, safe and that he was continually learning and advancing. I am confident that our son is well prepared for his next chapter and challenge.” This is just one story
of hundreds who have a lifechanging summer experience thanks to the Jewish Alliance’s Annual Campaign. Dollars raised for the Annual Campaign help fund programs and services that are dedicated to enriching Jewish life in Rhode Island and ensuring that no one in need goes without – from battered communities overseas lacking food supplies and medicine to impoverished families in need of access, opportunity, and employment locally; from young families wanting a Jewish life for their children to teens traveling the world to strengthen their Jewish identity. For more information about the 2018 Annual Campaign, the Jewish Alliance or to make a gift, contact Michele Gallagher at mgallagher@jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 165. You can also make your gift online at jewishallianceri.org. For more information about JCamp contact Seth Finkle at sfinkle@jewishallianceri.org. STEPHANIE HAGUE (shague@jewishallianceri.org) is the philanthropy officer at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.
Summer J-Camp
Dwares Rhode Island
Scenes from Camp Gan Israel in Warwick during summer 2017
for all! A welcoming place
June 25 8 August 24, 201 WHAT MAKES J-CAMP AT THE DWARES JCC DIFFERENT? • Lunch and snacks provided daily • Coordinated Judaic themes that focus on universal human values • Swim lessons for all campers • Weekly field trips & special visitors • Lots of outdoor play • Activities including art, cooking, sports, science & nature, acting, travel and more!
Camp Yeladim: ages 3 - 4
More info coming soon!
jewishallianceri.org/ summer-j-camp
Camp Haverim: grades K - 6 Counselors-In-Training (CITs): grades 7 - 10
David C. Isenberg Family
Early Childhood Center
401 Elmgrove Avenue | Providence, RI 02906 401.421.4111 | jewishallianceri.org
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16 | February 2, 2018
CAMP
The Jewish Voice
Camp: A growth experience for both children and parents BY RONNI SALTZMAN GUTTIN Camp! What a lot of emotion is contained in that short, innocuous-sounding word. I have been a camp director for 23 years, since my youngest child was 2. I often tell families that I was a mother long before I was a camp director, so I get it. Sending your child to camp is an emotionally charged experience for the entire family. It’s true that at camp, they will not get the same kind of attention that you give them at home. They will, however, get a chance to try new activities that they choose and to eat foods that you didn’t prepare and serve. They will also choose their own clothes … according to their ideas, instead of your carefully colorcoordinated outfits. And while they may come home with no socks, shaggy hair and really dirty clothes, they will also have gained independence, learned problem-solving skills and made new friends. At Jewish overnight camp, they will also gain an appreciation of Shabbat spent with friends, learn new prayers, and use Jewish values to guide their decision-making. And they will accomplish all these things while they are at camp and you are at home. Often, the only people crying on open-
This summer, performing arts comes to Camp JORI in a “camp within a camp.” Open to teens in 7th to 10th grade, JORIPAC is for those who want to immerse themselves in performance while enjoying all that traditional overnight Jewish summer camp has to offer. A hands-on performing arts program of theater, dance and circus arts is enhanced by the Wakefield camp’s strong sense of “TaCEO” – Taking Care of Each Other. Unplugged and open to new
ing day are parents. Sometime they really don’t believe me when I tell them that their kids will not only be OK, but will thrive. But, when I check in with them after the summer, their views have often changed. The term “helicopter parent” has received quite a bit of press in the last few years. It describes overprotective parents who hover over their children. I am not a big fan of that term. It is hard to let go of a day-to-day relationship with your child, even if it is only temporary. It is also hard for children to let go of the day-to-day checks and balances that a parent provides for them. Why, then, do I encourage families to choose camp for their child? Because it is good for everyone. In a good camp-family relationship, parents are partners, not adversaries. Camping professionals care about the well-being of every camper in their care. Each is seen as a unique individual who comes with unique needs and unique talents. Camp is the perfect place to uncover hidden abilities and develop important life skills. Children become more resilient when parents are not there to present a solution for every challenging moment. It is amazing what campers figure out for
Ronni Saltzman Guttin themselves. They gain problem-solving skills, learn to navigate social relationships, and even figure out what to eat. They gain self-confidence. They learn to trust their instincts and use the good examples of older campers and counselors to guide them. They also make relationships with campers and counselors that will last well beyond the camp sea-
son. In short, camp provides an opportunity for children to grow and develop with a bit of privacy. Meanwhile, at home, parents are learning to live their days without constantly talking to their children or looking out for them. Perhaps some of the greatest benefits of a camp experience are only apparent after campers return home. While they often bring home dirty laundry, rocks, broken projects, weird little bracelets and mementos, they also bring some new habits: they get along better with siblings (at least for a while), may sing or hum new tunes (perhaps repetitively), have new skills and interests to show off, and have lots of stories to tell. Camp gives both parents and children an opportunity to practice independent living skills. Campers gain empathy, new skills and an appreciation for the parents who provided them the camp opportunity. Parents gain newfound appreciation for their children’s quirks, senses of humor, long stories and thoughtful actions. And they have more of those at the end of the summer! RONNI SALTZMAN GUTTIN is director of Camp Avoda and education director of Temple Emanu-El, in Providence.
Performing arts at JORI
experiences, teens will act, sing, dance, walk on stilts, tumble, juggle, and perform at exciting all-camp shows. Under the guidance of professionals in the fields of circus, musical theater, set design and dance, campers will discover more about who they are as artists and individuals while making lifelong friendships. “In addition to our traditional camp experience, Camp JORI staff and board wanted to offer teens a more in-depth creative performing arts experience as
an important change of pace from physical activities that
make up much of an average camp day,” says Everett Hoag,
performing arts director at Camp JORI. Hoag has experience in costume design, producing and creative consulting. He’s taught at Brown, the 92nd Street Y and served as artistin-residence at St. Andrew’s School in Barrington. He also is involved in the afterschool program at Nathan Bishop Middle School in Providence. “We are thrilled to offer our campers a setting in which to hone their creativity and express themselves in a safe nurturing environment,” says Ricky Kodner, Camp JORI director. JORIPAC runs from July 19-30. For more information please contact Sharon Sock at Sharon@campjori.com. Submitted by Camp JORI
CAMP
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February 2, 2018 |
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Improved CIT program coming to J-Camp this summer it takes to be a great counselor. Topics will include introductions, behavior development, programming and putting plans into action. Senior CITs will also spend time working with campers, and they have a free period. We want all the CITs to work together and learn from each other, regardless of their age. Therefore, all CITs will work on a “time to give back” mitzvah (social action) project at the end of each day. The CITs will pick the project during the fi rst
week of camp and continue it throughout the summer. For example, the project could be beautifying the JCC. The CITs will also help plan the annual camp reunion that takes place in December. They will work as a group to plan the activities as well as create a flyer for the event. This new and improved CIT training program will be more focused on the needs of the CITs, based on their age. We want them to learn what being a counselor means, but also
have time for some camp fun. This new program will lead to more responsible, dedicated and better-prepared future leaders of J-Camp. The CITs of this summer are the counselors of tomorrow. SETH FINKLE is director of Camp Haverim at J-Camp and teen programming at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. For more information on the CIT program, please contact him at sfi nkle@jewishallianceri.org.
Campers dressed as counselors during J-Camp 2017. BY SETH FINKLE It’s hard to believe that in just under five months, J-Camp will begin at the Alliance’s Dwares Jewish Community Center, in Providence. Every year, once camp is over, I get asked when we start planning for next summer. The simple answer is the day after camp ends! We start in the fall by evaluating the past summer and thinking about ways we can improve. This includes all aspects of camp: activities offered, lunches, the CIT program and our Israel programming. As a result of this reflection, we have added a fourth group to our growing camp, brought back specialty camps (we are even adding a second sports specialty camp this coming summer), changed when we hold the camp carnival and improved our staff training and professionalism. One area of camp that we are always striving to improve is our Counselor-In-Training program. This ever-changing program is a source of pride since it helps to train our future
J-Camp leaders. Every summer, I hear that campers who are aging out of regular camp are excited to continue as CITs. Camp families also hire our CITs as babysitters and hosts for children’s parties. It is very rewarding to know that some of most beloved counselors started out as CITs at the Dwares JCC. Our CIT program has always been for campers entering grades 7-10. This year is no different. However, now we will split the CITs into two age-appropriate groups that will get different training. Our Junior CIT (7-8th graders) program will continue to run in two-week sessions. Junior CITs will start each day with a training period to learn various skills. They will also have time to participate in a camp activity of their choice, followed by an afternoon working with the campers. The Senior CITs (9-10th graders) will have a new four-week program that provides more in-depth training on the skills
PHOTOS | JEWISH ALLIANCE
Fun activities included making snow.
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18 | February 2, 2018
COMMUNITY
The Jewish Voice
LIVING WELL
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After a year of writing a column called “Living Well,” Erin Minior or Jewish Family Service of Rhode Island, and Susan Bazar of Jewish Seniors Agency are introducing a new question-andanswer format to the column. Each month, they will respond to one or two questions relevant to social and senior services. Submit questions via email to sbazar@ jsari.org. I have been my husband’s primary caregiver for years. My granddaughter is making her Bat Mitzvah this spring out of state. Travel for my husband at this juncture is not an option. I would very much like to go but am uncomfortable entrusting his care to other family members/friends for more than a couple of hours. Do you have advice. Family caregivers need respite from caring for their loved ones. In order to be the best version of themselves and provide essential care, it is important they eat, sleep and make self-care a priority. There are a variety of caregiver support groups that meet regularly. With a facilitator, participants share stories and resources. In addition, some assisted living residences offer respite care. Respite is defined as a reprieve for the caregiver. The Phyllis Siperstein Tamarisk Assisted
Living Residences offer respite services where guests can stay and be cared for in a safe, caring environment while caregivers travel, celebrate grandchildren’s birthdays, etc. Respite care is an underutilized resource worthy of strong consideration. Adult day services also provide a break for caregivers. Celebrations Adult Day Services at Tamarisk is an adult day program that operates 24/7. Periodically or routinely, care is provided for guests by day (or evening) where a state of the art supportive environment and life enriching activities are offered. Adult day services allow loved ones to maintain their work/ life balance and provide peace of mind. While this may not be a viable option in cases where care-
givers travel overnight, it may be suitable in cases of day travel. Home health agencies, such as Home Care Solutions, are another resource. Once staffing needs are determined, 24/7 care or partial care can be coordinated. The advantage of using an agency, as opposed to family/neighbor or a friend is that there are built in coverage redundancies. If your family member commits but then cancels, you can keep your plans. We hope you will have an opportunity to attend your granddaughter’s Bat Mitzvah. These family celebrations are remarkable. ERIN MINIOR is the CEO of Jewish Family Service. SUSAN BAZAR is executive director of the Jewish Seniors Agency.
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WINTER OLYMPICS 2018
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February 2, 2018 |
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Winter Olympics 2018: 5 Jewish storylines to watch BY GABE FRIEDMAN JTA – The world is about to revolve around Pyeongchang, a mountainous county in the northern half of South Korea, for the upcoming Winter Olympics. Jewish fans won’t have quite as many standout athletes to cheer for this year as they did in 2016, when multiple American members of the tribe won medals at the Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro. But there are several compelling Jewish stories to catch up on before the action starts.
Israel is sending its largest team ever.
Before this year, the largest Israeli delegation at a Winter Olympics was five. That shouldn’t sound too surprising, given that over 60 percent of the country’s landscape is desert, and it isn’t the best place for winter sports training. This year, however, the record will double. Seven of Israel’s 10 representatives will compete in figure skating. That group is anchored by Alexei Bychenko, who in 2016 became the first skater to earn a medal for Israel at a European Championships event. Bychenko, 29, who skated for Ukraine until 2009 and has been ranked as one of the top 10 male skaters in the world, is likely Israel’s best chance to win a medal (and like U.S. Jewish gymnast Aly Raisman, Bychenko has been known to perform to “Hava Nagila”). The Jewish state is sending another kind of skater, too – the faster kind. Vladislav Bykanov, who won a bronze medal earlier this month at the European Championships, will compete in speed skating. Itamar Biran, a 19-year-old born in London, will represent Israel in alpine skiing.
This American never thought she’d do pairs skating – or compete for Israel.
Paige Conners is having her Olympic dream come true in about the last way she expected. According to a video by 13WHAM, the ABC affiliate in Rochester, New York, the 17-yearold Conners was ill when she was supposed to try out for the U.S. figure skating team. With her hopes of competing in peril, her mother, who has Israeli citizenship, pointed out another o p p o r t u n it y : skating for the Israeli team.
Jonathon Blum playing for the Nashville Predators at the Tennessee city’s Bridgestone Arena, Feb. 19, 2013.
Conners jumped at the opportunity, but Israel offered her a spot only if she competed in the pairs competition. She had never tried it before and figured she never would. But she quickly connected with Evgeni Krasnopolski, a 29-year-old pairs veteran, and in barely six months after Conners adopted the new style, the duo performed well enough at the Olympic qualifiers in September to make the cut. “No one really believes it,” she told 13WHAM.
Israel’s first skeleton Olympian calls himself the “Hebrew Hammer.”
A few years ago, A.J. Edelman was an MIT graduate who worked as a product manager for Oracle. Now the Brookline, Massachusetts, native will get a chance to make history for Israel as he becomes the country’s first skeleton Olympian next week, steering a flimsy sled down the track at the Pyeongchang Sliding Center. “I want to challenge the perception of what Jews and Israelis can do in sports,” he told the Forward. He is also clearly a fan of the comedy film “The Hebrew Hammer,” since he goes by the protagonist’s nickname. While his teammates and friends love it, his mother apparently doesn’t.
A former NHL player gets another chance to play for the U.S.
Jonathon Blum probably longs for the time he spent playing in the NHL. These days, the Jewish 29-year-old plays for a team in Vladivostok, Russia – a city so remote that flights of six hours or more are required to play 24 of its 26 opponents. It is closer to Alaska than it is to St. Petersburg. Blum, a former first-round NHL draft pick, played for the Nashville Predators from 2010 to 2012, again in 2012-13, and for the Minnesota Wild for stints in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. Those cities are just a little closer to where he grew up in Southern California. This year, the NHL decided that it would not let its players participate in the Olympics to protect them from injuries. That opened the door
(FREDERICK BREEDON/GETTY IMAGES)
QUINN ROONEY/GETTY IMAGES
Short track speed skater Vladislav Bykanov, lower left, leading the Israeli Olympic team at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Feb. 7, 2014. for non-NHL players like Blum, a 6-foot-2 defenseman who has played on the U.S. team before, to represent his native country in South Korea.
Israel isn’t the only country sending Jewish skaters.
On the U.S. squad, look out for
Jason Brown if he gets a chance to skate. After a disappointing performance at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships this month, Brown is the U.S. team’s first alternate. But on the ice, the 23-year-old is known for skating to music from “Riverdance” and “Hamilton.”
And who would have thought that a certified Krav Maga instructor would skate for Canada and not Israel? Dylan Moscovitch helped Canada win a team silver medal in Sochi four years ago, and he’s back competing in the pairs contest with partner Liubov Ilyuschechkina.
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.
401 Elmgrove Avenue | Providence, RI 02906 | 401.421.4111 | jewishallianceri.org
COMMUNITY
20 | February 2, 2018
The Jewish Voice
Jewish culture of Eastern Europe is alive and well BY JOAN WEBB My four grandparents immigrated to the United States from Poland and Romania around 1900. My desire to stand on the ground where they grew up increased as I worked on my mother’s family’s history (“Feits and Breitowiches: from Galicia to Chicago,” 2017). In July, my sister, Ruth, my daughter, Rosanna and I set out to visit their hometowns. We knew that the Holocaust had wiped out almost all the Jews of the region, but we wondered: had it also wiped out Jewish culture there, or were the survivors able to reestablish their communities? We wanted to be awake to the region’s deeply rooted anti-Semitism, which affected our grandparents, as well as the World War II victims. At the same time, we wondered if we could find ways to heal from those traumas, for ourselves, our ancestors and our descendants. Finally, we wanted to know what is happening now, especially in the Jewish communities. In Iasi, Romania, the Jewish Community Center includes an office with old handwritten records, a museum, and an active synagogue and one used as a social hall and a Kosher restaurant. We learned that from a peak of 44,000 in 1900, only about 300 Jews remain, but they are determined to revive their community. We were the only patrons at the Kosher restaurant and were served chicken soup. After one taste, my sister exclaimed, “This is Nana Rose’s soup!” We were both brought to tears. Throughout Romania, the number of Jews is very small. Our guide at the Jewish Community Center said most of her family emigrated to Israel – like most of the Jews who survived the Holocaust – but she was determined to stay and rebuild the community here. She also told us that the small Jewish communities through-
The cemetery in Poland. out Romania are in touch with one another; they get together twice a year for a shabbaton. They rotate the venue so that all the communities feel equally important. We were touched by the prayer books created for these events. In Bukowsko, Poland, we got lost looking for the cemetery and ended up on a hilltop outside the rural village. It’s just a hilltop, with fields rolling on all sides with the forested Carpathian Mountains about 10 miles to the south. Some of the fields had sunflowers in bloom, bright yellow and dazzling. The village is nestled to one side and seems small in proportion to the miles and miles of fields. The air was sweet; it was quintessential summer; green everywhere, crops reaching their peak, ripening under the warm sun. There was stillness, a gentle breeze, obvious growth, fertility, blue sky, wispy clouds. It was one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been. Eventually, we found the
Prayer book.
cemetery in a forest. At last we were among the Jewish headstones, with a mystical light in a clearing. I focused on how lovingly the cemetery had been restored, but I could also feel the echoes of trauma from desecration and murders that occurred there. I held these opposites as we created an improvised service and recited the Kaddish. I thought of Zlota (my grandfather’s mother, who died in childbirth), her dead baby, and my grandfather’s two brothers, who died young. In Budapest, on the day of our arrival, a Friday, we hurried to the Aurora Community Center to attend a kabbalat Shabbat service. We knew from our rabbi, Leora Abelson of Congregation Agudas Achim, in Attleboro, that this is a progressive community of young people. They had use of some property and had set up a beer garden and charitable offices in the building. Profits from the beer garden make it possible to give
PHOTOS | JOAN WEBB
free rent to the charities, which help refugees and work on LGBTQ issues. Just two days before our arrival, the Romanian government had closed down the beer garden – after raiding it two weeks previously and arresting about 100 people without clear cause. The service was basically a long sequence of prayer-songs, most of which were familiar to us, as well as to almost everyone present. Loose-leaf notebooks served as prayer books and held the words to songs and prayers in Hebrew and transliterated into Hungarian. The singing was with gusto and ruach (spirit)! We went around the circle, saying our names and where we are from. More than half the people were Hungarian, but some were from Israel, European countries and the U.S. I sat next to a young woman from Budapest who spoke English and told me that the young people have a renewed interest in Jewish traditions. Their
grandparents either perished or barely survived the Holocaust, and their parents didn’t want anything to do with being Jewish. But now this new generation is curious, and when they ask questions and explore their Jewish heritage, they are drawn into taking part. In this particular community, they want to continue the traditions, but make them more egalitarian. They emphasize giving women full voice. In Krakow, Poland, the Jewish quarter was lively, full of restaurants, hotels, bookshops and synagogues, and sprinkled with Jewish schools. We saw many tour groups and realized that there is a substantial tourist industry for people like us who want to see their homeland or learn about the Holocaust. At the Jewish Community Center, we saw a restored synagogue, with a courtyard separating it from the community center. The receptionist told us that the community center offers many social events, and attendance has increased dramatically over the last few years. She echoed the woman in Budapest in saying that this new generation wants to connect with its Jewish heritage. Each year there is a Jewish festival in Krakow, and we saw posters for musical events, including a Progressive Jewish quartet. The Hasidic community, including Chabad, is growing very fast, and a whole spectrum of Jewish groups is emerging. Everywhere we went on this trip, reminders of the Holocaust were obvious. Despite facing that horror, we came away with renewed optimism. Taking a long view, it seems clear that the Jewish culture of Eastern Europe simply cannot be wiped out. The traditions that we cherish are alive and thriving today. JOAN WEBB is a member of Congregation Agudas Achim in Attleboro.
Chicken soup in Romania.
BUSINESS
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The Jewish Voice
Financial mistakes people make through the years There’s a saying that with age comes wisdom – but this may not always be true in the financial world. As people move through different life stages, there are new opportunities – and potential pitBARBARA falls – around KENERSON every corner.
In your 20s
Living beyond your means. It’s tempting to want all the latest and greatest in gadgets, entertainment and travel, but if you can’t pay for most of your wants up front, then you need to rein in your lifestyle. If you take on too much debt – or don’t work diligently to start paying off the debt you have – it can hold you back fi nancially for a long, long time. Not saving for retirement. You’ve got plenty of time, so
what’s the rush? Well, why not harness that time to work for you? Start saving a portion of your annual pay now and your 67-year-old self will thank you over and over. Not being fi nancially literate. Many students graduate from high school or college without knowing the basics of money management. Learn as much as you can about saving, budgeting and investing now so you can benefit from it for the rest of your life.
In your 30s
Being house poor. Whether you’re buying your fi rst home or trading up, don’t buy a house that you can’t afford, even if the bank says you can. Build in some wiggle room for a possible dip in household income that could result from switching jobs, going back to school or leaving the workforce to raise a family. Not protecting yourself with life and disability insurance
Life is unpredictable. What would happen if one day you were unable to work and earn a paycheck? Let go of the “itwon’t-happen-to-me” attitude. Though the cost and availability of life insurance depends on several factors, including your health, the younger you are when you buy insurance, the lower your premiums are likely to be. Not saving for retirement. Okay, maybe your 20s passed you by in a bit of a blur and retirement wasn’t even on your radar. But now that you’re in your 30s, it’s critical to start saving for retirement. Wait much longer, and it can be hard to catch up. Start now, and you still have 30 years or more to save.
In your 40s
Trying to keep up with the Joneses. Appearances can be deceptive. The nice homes, cars, vacations and “stuff ” that others have might make you wonder whether you should be
buying these things, too. But behind the scenes, your neighbors could be taking on a lot of debt. Take pride in your savings account instead. Funding college over retirement. In your 40s, saving for your children’s college costs over your own retirement is a mistake. If you have limited funds, set aside a portion for college but earmark the majority for retirement. Then sit down with your teenager and have a frank discussion about academic options that won’t break the bank – for either of you. Not having a will or an advance medical directive. No one likes to think about death or catastrophic injury, but these documents will help your loved ones immensely if something unexpected should happen to you.
In your 50s and 60s
Co-signing loans for adult children. Co-signing means you’re on the hook –completely
– if your child can’t pay, a situation you don’t want to fi nd yourself in as you’re getting ready to retire. Raiding your home equity or retirement funds It goes without saying that doing so will prolong your debt and/or reduce your nest egg. Not quantifying your retirement income. As you approach retirement, you should know how much you can expect from Social Security (at age 62, at your full retirement age and at age 70), pension income and your personal retirement savings. Not understanding healthcare costs in retirement. Before you turn 65, review what Medicare does and doesn’t cover, and how gap insurance policies fit into the picture. BARBARA KENERSON is fi rst vice president/Investments at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC and can be reached at BarbaraKenerson.com.
JCDSRI receives prestigious Covenant Grant Congratulations to the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island (JCDSRI) which has received a prestigious three-year Signature Grant from the Covenant Foundation. It will be used to fund a new initiative to help graduates (and other teens in the community) stay connected to Jewish learn-
ing and life as they enter into the world of middle school – and beyond. T h i s h i g h ly- c o m p e t it iv e grant sees hundreds of organizations apply every year, although only a few are chosen. The Foundation explains its goal is to support “those with the creativity and passion to be
catalysts for change and innovation in Jewish education [and to provide them with] recognition and support.” JCDSRI says it is proud to be recognized as a change-maker in the landscape of Jewish education. The Tikkun By Design Program will expand to include all students in preK through fi fth
grade and a supplementary program for post B’nai Mitzvah students will be designed with this funding. Tikkun By Design Director, Tiferet Rose, is in the process of designing a Jewish educational experience that will engage young people in Jewish learning, connect them to the
JCDSRI community, and utilize the 21st century skills of design thinking and problem solving. The program will be designed this spring, to begin with a full launch in the fall of 2018.
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February 2, 2018 |
23
REMEMBER THE PAST From the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association
The mystery of the three tablecloths BY RUTH BREINDEL When you move or clean out a closet, you often fi nd things you didn’t expect, or didn’t even know you had (on the other hand, I’m still looking for a 4-by-8 sheet of plywood that went missing in the 1970s! When cataloging our collection on the new shelves at the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association, I found a box labeled “RIJHA Tablecloths.” Thinking that these were tablecloths for use at RIJHA meetings (although I had never seen them used), I opened the box, only to fi nd that it held three embroidered cloths. Since I had no idea what the tablecloths were for or where they came from, I called Anne Sherman, who was the office manager at RIJHA for 25 years. She told me that they were there when she fi rst arrived, and she didn’t know what they were. We both then turned to our guru, Jerry Foster, who not only writes wonderful articles for The Voice, but also knows about all things Rhode Island. After telling her that the initials “JCRS” were appliqued on one of the cloths, she told us that it had belonged to the Jew-
ish Consumptive Relief Society. The families had their names put on the fabric as a fundraiser. The Jewish Consumptive Relief Society, based in Denver, was the second organization to open a sanatorium for Jewish people with tuberculosis. The fi rst, National Jewish, opened its facility in 1899, in Denver, and did not charge patients. However, it did not offer Kosher facilities until around 1920. The Jewish Consumptive Relief Society was established in 1904 by men from Eastern Europe who had tuberculosis. They hired Dr. Charles Spivak, a Russian immigrant, to run the place. A Talmudic saying, “He who saves one life saves the world,” became its motto. To make the patients feel more at home, which was considered an aid to their healing, there was a Kosher kitchen and the staff understood Yiddish. The hospital’s therapy was scientific, with patients receiving lots of fresh air and healthy food. For spiritual needs, a synagogue was built in 1911. In addition, there were other medical facilities and even a school and a small business. The patients
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also put out a monthly magazine, The Sanatorium, with a Yiddish section and articles written by patients. Over time there were many other sanatoriums, including in California and New Jersey. The only mention of Rhode Island in connection with Jewish fundraising for tubercular pa-
tients is found in a newspaper article on April 9, 1929, which is reproduced on the website of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA). It states that delegates from many states, including Rhode Island, attended a meeting and voted to fund the expansion of a sanatorium near Lakewood, New Jersey, called
Brown Mills in the Pines. However, that sanatorium is not related to the Jewish Consumptive Relief Society, which is so clearly marked on one of the tablecloths. By 1954, the incidence of tuberculosis was much lower and JCRS’s Denver hospital became the American Medical Center and changed its focus to cancer. In the RIJHA Notes (13.138), it says that the JCRS tablecloth came from Helene Bernhardt and was made in Cranston; it was used at RIJHA’s Annual Meeting on April 18, 1999. Since that time, it has stayed in its box. If you or your family have a relationship with the Jewish Consumptive Relief Society, or if you think that your name is embroidered on the tablecloth, please come and see it. While RIJHA will have shortened hours for the next three months, you can make an appointment by calling us at 401-331-1360 or emailing info@rijha.org. Over the next few months, I hope to fi nd out more about our two other tablecloths. RUTH BREINDEL is president of the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association.
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OBITUARIES
24 | February 2, 2018
ASK THE DIRECTOR BY MICHAEL D. SMITH F.D./R.E. Shalom Memorial Chapel
Question: Why do some sections of Lincoln Park cemetery require a liner and others do not? P.S. Providence Dear P.S., I spoke to the cemetery and was told that all land owned by the Chassed Shel Emes Association requires a liner. Sharon Memorial Park has a similar policy, as does Sinai Memorial Park. The liner helps the land above it to remain flat and withstand some erosion. Holes are drilled in the bottom of each liner so they are in keeping with Halakhah. 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.
With 12 years experience in the community, we continue to create personalized, meaningful memorials. Wording, both in Hebrew and English. Relevant etching can be included.
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The Jewish Voice
Rosalea Cohn, 90
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Rosalea (Elowitz) Cohn of Providence died Jan. 16. She was married to the late Newton B. Cohn for 56 years. Born in Boston, she was the daughter of the late Joseph J. and Celia (Weinfield) Elowitz. She was a graduate of Hope High School and the University of Rhode Island. As an accountant, she worked in the CPA practice of her late husband. She also served in many philanthropic capacities: secretary of The Miriam Hospital Women’s Auxiliary, treasurer of the Silver Haired Legislature and president of the Sisterhood of Temple Beth-El. She served as president of Temple Beth-El: the fi rst woman to hold the position. Later she was honored as a lifetime trustee of Temple Beth-El. She is survived by her daughters Ellen S. Cohn and her partner Robert Schwell of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Anne Martha Pitegoff and her husband John G. Pitegoff of West Hartford, Connecticut; grandchildren, Erica Sugarman and her husband, Jeremy Seavey, Curtis and Molly Pitegoff; sister Dorothy Kosto and her husband, Morton Kosto, brother Murray Elowitz and his wife, Phyllis Elowitz, and her brother-in-law Howard Rosenberg. She was predeceased by her sister Charlotte Rosenberg. Donations can be made to the Newton B. Cohn Fund at Temple Beth-El or the charity of your choice.
Elaine Elias, 90
ST. LOUIS, MO. – Elaine Elias, formerly of Alice Street, North Dartmouth, passed away on Jan. 27 in St. Louis. She was the wife of the late Charles “Chuck” Elias, to whom she had been married for 50 years. She was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, daughter of the
late Harry and Esther (Berman) Shapiro, and had lived in New Bedford for 62 years. Mrs. Elias and her husband were honored by the State of Israel Bonds for their service to the community and the State of Israel. A member of Tifereth Israel Congregation and Ahavith Achim Synagogue, she was active in the New Bedford Jewish Convalescent Home and was past president of the New Bedford National Council of Jewish Women. She has two daughters, Sheri O’Gorman (Sean) of St. Louis and the late Carol Kaner (Marc) of Mattapoisett. She has four grandchildren, Harry and Charlie O’Gorman and Andrea and Adam Kaner.
Joan Feldman, 87
DELRAY BEACH, FLA. – Joan P. Feldman died Jan. 17 in Delray Beach. Born in Connecticut, the daughter of the late Helen Goldis, she had lived in Boca Raton since 2002, previously living in Cranston and Pawtucket. She was an art teacher at Shea High School in Pawtucket for over 20 years, retiring 28 years ago. Joan earned a bachelor of fi ne arts degree from Rhode Island School of Design, and master of arts in teaching degree from Brown University. She was a member of the Providence Art Club, the Boca Raton Watercolor Society, and the Artist Guild of Boca Raton. She was an accomplished artist, working as a painter, and watercolorist. She was the devoted mother of Donna Feldman of Denver, Colorado, and Linda Solomon and her husband, Marc, of Boca Raton. She was the loving grandmother of Ilana Solomon. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 96011, Washing-
ton, DC 20090-6011.
Dr. Perry Garber, 82
CRANSTON, R.I. – Perry Garber, M.D., passed away on Jan. 23. Husband of the late Sharon A. Garber for 51 years, Perry is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Stacy and Adam Bozek of Rye, New York. Perry was the father of the late Jolie Savdie and the brother of the late Dr. Martin Garber. Also surviving Perry are cherished granddaughters Katherine and Abby Bozek of Rye, sisterin-law Molly Garber of Cranston, brother-in-law Joel Licker of Cranston, son-in-law Marc Savdie of Miami, Florida, and dear nieces and nephews. Perry was born on June 3, 1935, in Providence to the late Louis and Carrie Garber. He put himself through Providence College and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, established his own medical practice in Cranston and trained himself to be a shrewd investor in the stock market. Perry had a huge impact on his community. He improved the lives of his many patients for over 50 years and was affiliated with the Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence. Perry loved traveling throughout the world with Sharon, especially to exotic, off-the-beaten-path locations, and was conversant in over 10 languages. He loved meeting people from diverse cultures and was extraordinarily knowledgeable about world history. In lieu of flowers, donations in Perry’s memory can be made to the RI Community Food Bank, www.rifoodbank.org, 200 Niantic Ave., Providence, RI 02907.
Kitt y Gottfried, 91
EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Kitty Gottfried, 91, passed away Jan. 22. She was the wife of the late Jerry Gottfried; they were married for 63 years. Born in Vienna, Austria, she was a daughter of the late Josef and Charlotte (Neuman) Frankl. She is survived by her daughters Suzanne Rothstein and her OBITUARIES | 25
taking care of each other is what community is all about. For over a century, we’ve proudly served our Jewish community with personal, compassionate care.
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OBITUARIES
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FROM PAGE 24 |
OBITUARIES
husband, Richard, of Newbury, New Hampshire, and Jeanne Gottfried and her husband, William Kirtley, of Providence; grandchildren Caitlin and her husband, Andrew, Ethan and his wife, Christina, Rachel, and Lilia and her husband, Ryan; and great-grandchildren Isaac, Gabriel, and Grace. She was the sister of the late Gertrude Hirsch. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the Holocaust Memorial Museum, 100 Raoul Wallenberg Place SW, Washington, DC 20024 or www.ushmm.org or Tockwotton on the Waterfront, 500 Waterfront Drive, East Providence, RI 02914.
Adele F. Kay, 83
CRANSTON, R.I. – Adele F. Kay died Jan. 27 at the Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center. She was the beloved wife of the late Irwin Kay. Born in Haverhill, Massachusetts, a daughter of the late Percy and Hannah (Gordon) Finberg, she was a longtime resident of Cranston. She was an auditor for the IRS for 13 years, retiring in 1997. Adele was a member of the Cranston Senior Center and member of Temple Sinai. She volunteered for Consumer Reports and the attorney general. Adele was also an avid Mah Jongg player. She was the devoted mother of Paul Kay of Cranston and Lisa Goncalves and her husband, Jorge, of Huntington Beach, California. She was the dear sister of Billie Lee Fischer and her husband, Charles, of Cranston and the late Lois Silver. She was the loving grandmother of Joshua. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Hope Alzheimer’s Center, 25 Brayton Ave., Cranston, RI 02920.
Stephan E. Kolitz, 70
SHARON, MASS. – Stephan E. Kolitz died Jan. 18 at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He was the beloved husband of Ann F. Taubman for 10 years. Born in Jacksonville, Florida, a son of the late Harry and Ruth (Moed) Kolitz, he had lived in Sharon for over 10 years, previously living in Wakefield and Andover, Massachusetts. He was a distinguished member of the technical staff in operations research at Draper Laboratory in Cambridge,
Massachusetts where he was a member of the Quarter Century Club and had also served as director of education. Stephan was also a professor at UMASS Boston and Harvard Extension School. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale and Northwestern. Stephan was a dedicated mentor to many students over the years and received the Howard Musoff Student Mentoring Award. He was the devoted father of Sarah Kolitz (Jonathan Mintz) of Cambridge and stepfather of Andrew Taubman (Jenny) of Westport, Connecticut, and Lisa Blount (Jason) of Plymouth, Massachusetts. He was the dear brother of Byron Kolitz (Starr Silver) of Clearwater, Florida. He was the loving grandfather of Rachel Lily, Ethan and Zachary. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to The Dana-Farber Institute, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, MA 02115.
Adabelle Komros, 86 PAWTUCKET, R.I. – Adabelle Komros, 86, passed away Jan. 22. She was the wife of the late Leonard Komros. She was born in P r ov id e nc e , a daughter of the late Frederick and Mildred (Parker) Berick. Adabelle graduated from the Beth Israel School of Nursing in 1953 and also attended some classes at Simmons College. She was a registered nurse and volunteer at The Miriam Hospital for many years. She was a life member of Hadassah and a board member at Congregation Ohawe Shalom in Pawtucket. She enjoyed art, painting, music, sewing, and playing the violin. Adabelle will be remembered as very charitable and a good friend to all. She is survived by her son Robert Komros; sister Sara Weiss (Norton); and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Alzheimer’s Association Rhode Island Chapter, 245 Waterman St., Suite 306, Providence, RI 02906.
Barbara Cohen Miller, 91
DELRAY BEACH, FLA. – Barbara Miller died Jan. 20. She was the loving wife of the late Dr. Murray Miller for almost 68 years. Born in Providence, she was the daughter of the late William E. Cohen and the late Rose (Blackman) Cohen. She was the mother of the late Steven B. Miller. Barbara lived in Cranston for almost 50 years and then lived in DelRay Beach for the past 15 years. She was a graduate of Classical High School and went on to get a bachelor’s degree from Pembroke College at Brown University in 1947. She was a social worker for the City of Providence for four years. She was a founding member of Temple Sinai and a long-time member of Temple Beth-El. Barbara is survived by her devoted daughter, Judith Gail Miller, of Cambridge, Massachusetts. She was predeceased by her sister, Claire Cohen Cath. She will be missed by all who knew her. Contributions in her memory may be made to the charity of your choice.
Robert Roy, 79
SOUTHBOROUGH, MASS. – Robert (Bob) Roy, of Southborough, Massachusetts, formerly of Brookline, Massachusetts, passed away on Jan. 29. He was the husband of the late Ann (Shrefler) Roy, and long-term companion of Gail Esposito. Born in Providence, he was the son of Nathan and Hannah Roy. Bob founded Jofran in 1975, a wholesale furniture distributor of imported goods, in Norfolk, Massachusetts. He was seen as a leader and visionary in the furniture industry. He graduated from Classical High School in 1955. During high school, he won the state junior golfing championship several times. Bob received a bachelor’s degree from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1959. He was the father of Joffrey Roy (Farley Sullivan) of Brookline and Randi Roy of Westport, Connecticut; grandfather of Max Cutler and Jordan Cutler; “Popa Bob” to Griffin and Shaylin Harding; brother of Maxine Roy Richman; uncle of Wendy (Richman) Levinson and Bruce Richman. He will also be missed by Nicole Esposito and Michael Esposito, and many
other family and friends. Those who wish may make a donation in his memory to the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty, and mail it to Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, RI 02906.
Staci R. Sachs, 45
CLEARWATER, FLA. – Staci R. Sachs 45, of Clearwater, Florida, passed away peacefully Jan. 23. Staci previously lived in Providence, and moved to the Clearwater area in 1979. Staci was a certified paralegal and graduated from the University of Florida. Staci was very active in politics and she was also extremely passionate about her cancer survivors group with Mease Hospital. She especially enjoyed her time at Camp Living Springs with her cancer survivors group. She will be missed by her parents, Paul and Elaine Sachs, of Clearwater; her daughter, Morgan (Stephen) Green, of Riverview, and her sister, Kyli Sachs. Donations in her memory can be made to Suncoast Hospice.
Gerald Shaulson, 87
CRANSTON, R.I. – Gerald (Jerry) Shaulson, long-time resident of Cranston and Providence, died on Jan. 20. Jerry is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Sheila Gerstenblatt Shaulson; his three sons, David Shaulson and his wife, Jacalyn, of Stamford, Connecticut, Joseph Shaulson and his wife, Beth, of Stamford, Connecticut, and Sam Shaulson and his wife, Karen, of Briarcliff Manor, New York; his nine grandchildren, Ariel, Evan, Shaina, Becca, Eliana, Drew, Erica, Kaela and Brett Shaulson; and his two step-grandchildren, Misty and Lainey Sidell. He is predeceased by his parents, Rose and Samuel Shaulson, and eight siblings, Freda Mayberg, Dora Luff, Bertha Raphael, Joseph Shaulson, Philip Shaulson, Ruth Israeloff, Sessile Goren and Martha Kapnick. He was a longstanding member of Temple Emanu-El and Congregation Mishkon Tfiloh in Providence. Jerry was a fixture in Rhode Island’s jewelry industry both as owner/ operator of Beacon Jewelry & Novelty Co. and as a successful manufacturer’s representative through his company Dynamic Concepts, Inc. He served as president of the MJSA and the
February 2, 2018 |
25
Fashion Jewelry Association of America from 1983-1985 and was recognized over the course of his career for numerous contributions to the industry. Jerry was a graduate of Hope High School and Bryant College. He was very active in high school sports, with a varsity letter in track, and also played in local baseball and softball leagues. Jerry was an avid golfer, a longstanding member of Valley Country Club in Warwick and an eight-time club champion at Crestwood Country Club in Rehoboth, Massachusetts In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association or to his grandson Drew’s charity Discover Your Hero, P.O. Box 294, Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. 10510.
Barbara Sock
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Barbara Jane Sock, passed away Jan. 29. She was born in Providence, the daughter of the late James and Grace (Brown) Sock. She is survived by her brothers Dr. Harold Sock and his wife. Lynda Venet, and Alan Sock and his wife, Joyce; 9 nieces and nephews; and many lifelong friends. She was the sisterin-law of May-Ronny Zeidman, wife of her brother, the late Robert Sock. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to The National Kidney Foundation, New England Chapter, 209 West Central St., Suite 220, Natick, MA 01760.
Arthur Spingarn, 65
PAWTUCKET, R.I. – Arthur Spingarn passed away Jan. 16. He was born in Flushing, New York, a son of the late Burton and Lenore (S chwa r t z) Spingarn. He is survived by his brother Andrew Spingarn and his wife, Sophia; sister Marjorie Hugel and her husband, Richard; nephews Justin and Brett; and niece Lindsay. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Congregation Ohawe Shalom, 671 East Ave., Pawtucket, RI 02860.
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SIMCHAS | WE ARE READ
WE ARE READ IN ISRAEL – (Left to right) Marvin and Miriam Stark and their daughter and son-in-law
Tova and Evan Levine, visited the Gush Etzion Winery in Israel. Tova is holding her newborn son Meir. The Levines live in Israel.
The Jewish Voice
WE ARE READ IN NEW ORLEANS – Melissa and Rhonda Weiss on a recent mother/daughter trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, stopped at Touro Synagogue there.
IN ISRAEL – Professor Mary O’Keefe, of Providence College, and Professor Samantha Meenach, of the
University of Rhode Island, recently joined 23 professors from across the U.S. on a Jewish National Fund and Media Watch International winter faculty fellowship program in Israel. They are pictured in front of the aqueduct in Caesarea.
MAZAL TOV – Susan and Michael Rodrigues of Cranston, and Fort Lauderdale, Florida are pleased to announce the engagement of their son, Jay Alexander Rodrigues, to Annette Ariel Kiviat, daughter of MJ and Douglas Kiviat of Jericho, New York. A June 2019 wedding is planned.
MAZAL TOV – Lisa and Ron Freeman of West Warwick are proud to announce the engagement of their son Justin of Alexandria, Virginia, to Sharon Lebovic of Alexandria, daughter of Agnes and Gabriel Lebovic of Warminster, Pennsylvania. An August 2018 wedding is planned.
COMMUNITY
jvhri.org
February 2, 2018 |
27
Helping in Houston
PHOTOS | LARRY KATZ
The first floor of the JCC in Houston was flooded with 10 feet of water during Hurricane Harvey.
When the shlichim (Israeli emissaries) who work in Jewish Community Centers in the United States met recently in Houston, Texas, with their local and Israeli supervisors, they spent an afternoon rehabilitating the home of an 83-year-old woman. The building had been inundated during Hurricane Harvey in August, leaving the owner homeless. Tslil Reichman and Larry Katz of the Jewish Alliance are painting, after having fi rst scraped old paint from the wall and priming it.
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 Foundation Federation 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.
28 | February 2, 2018
The Jewish Voice
Jewish Alliance 2018 Annual Campaign: Donate. Volunteer. Make a difference.
How does faith fit into my life? What does being Jewish mean? There are thousands of young people asking important questions—and every one counts. Through Jewish day schools and camps, Birthright and gap-year trips to Israel, and PJ Library books, the next generation is connecting with their history and with one another. As young people awaken to the power and promise of their Jewish identity, our legacy is strengthened—and our world becomes kinder and more compassionate. 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.
everyONE counts
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