January 30, 2015 by Jewish Rhode Island

Volume XXI, Issue III | www.thejewishvoice.org Serving Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts

10 Shevat 5775 | January 30, 2015

Finance & Philanthropy

WHEN ONE FAMILY GAINS THE EDGE A ‘Living on the Edge’ update BY KARA MARZIALI kmarziali@jewishallianceri.org Editor’s note: Some names have been changed for conﬁdentiality. Miriam, a 45-year-old woman from Warwick with a preteen son was suddenly widowed and lost her sole source of income. When her neighbor Shirley came to pay a Shiva call, she could see that Miriam needed more than her sympathies and a homemade kugel. Shirley EDGE | 16

PHOTO| FRAN OSTENDORF

Seniors at the Kosher Café enjoyed a festive meal and Hanukkah celebration in December. Jboost.org is currently raising funds to oﬀer meal vouchers to seniors.

A pilgrimage of modest dimensions Editor’s note: As we go to press, we are deeply saddened to learn of the death of our distinguished columnist, teacher and friend. His ﬁnal column appears here. May his memory be a blessing. BY STANLEY ARONSON M.D.

In the fi nal days of 2014, I had sent a brief letter to Fran Ostendorf, editor of The Jewish Voice, telling her of my intent to cease submitting columns to the paper for reasons of personal health. In return, I received a gracious letter of thanks with a suggestion that I may wish to offer, for some future issue, a brief closing commentary.

A closing commentary, I suppose, would require that I comment on something, perhaps what the world appeared to be doing – or avoiding – at the time of my fi rst column in The Jewish Voice, some 18 years ago. It might consider what subjects these columns shared with the readership. And fi nally, what was Providence, and the surrounding world, oriented to in November of 1997, the month when this inauspicious column appeared? The inaugural column explored what factors made a recurring disease to be categorized as “Jewish.” Certainly there were

Survivors return to Auschwitz determined to share their stories BY TOBY AXELROD

Stanley Aronson M.D. hereditary disorders that are customarily said to be Jewish and are transmitted from one PILGRIMAGE | 24

KRAKOW, Poland (JTA) – What kept you alive? Did your non-Jewish friends reject you? Could you ever forgive? Those were some of the questions posed by Jewish young adults to Holocaust survivor Marcel Tuchman on Jan. 26 at the Galicia Jewish Museum here. “What kept me alive was having my father with me,” said Tuchman, 93, a physician from New York who was born in Poland and survived several concentration camps, includ-

ing Auschwitz. “And another thing was the hope I had that one day I will be able to tell the story to the likes of you, so you can tell it to the next generation.” His meeting with young Jews was one of many such encounters taking place in and around Krakow on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Soviet army’s liberation of Auschwitz, where an estimated 1.1 million people were murdered – many of them gassed. On Jan. 27, in a tent set up around the gaping entrance to AUSCHWITZ | 27

2 | January 30, 2015

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INSIDE

Sisterhood event at Temple Beth-El is all about you

Business 22-23 Calendar 10 Classified 23 Community 2-6, 11, 14-15, 28-29 D’var Torah 7 Finance|Philanthropy 16-21 Food 12-13 Israel 29 Obituaries 26 Opinion 8-9 Seniors 24-25 Simcha | We Are Read 30 World 23, 27

THIS ISSUE’S QUOTABLE QUOTE COURTESY | PHDS

“The world is not ours alone; we are expected to share whatever we have with others.”

Providence Hebrew Day School salutes Dr. King To commemorate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., students in Grades 1-5 and 9-12 at the Providence Hebrew Day School created a quilt out of felt panels. Each quilt panel depicted (in pictures or words) something about Dr. King, including facts such as his name and the years he lived; words from his famous “I have a Dream” speech; and words or artwork that portrayed his ideals such as “peace,” “love” and “friendship.”

Students completed their quilt panels in art class under the direction of Beverly Hall. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, students in grades 1-8 visited the display of the completed quilt with their teachers and discussed the many lessons that we can learn from Dr. King’s life. The quilt will be on display until Feb. 2; please stop by the school and see the fi nished project that so aptly conveys Dr. King’s legacy of unity: all of the students’ work being put together to create a beautiful whole.

Chair massage, manicures and yoga are on the agenda during “All About You: An Afternoon of Relaxation and Fun” Feb. 8 from 3-5 p.m. hosted by the Sisterhood of Temple Beth-El. The program aim is to provide women with an opportunity to take time out for themselves and relax from their busy lives. The event will feature chair massage from Harmony on Hope Therapeutic Massage (Best of RI Award Winner for Best Place to Unwind), manicures from Paul Mitchell School Rhode Island and yoga and world dance workshops, and several vendors representing handcrafted jewelry, beauty products and other handmade crafts. The event is free to current Sisterhood of Temple Beth-El members and $10 to nonmembers. It will take place in the Temple Beth-El Meeting Hall at 70 Orchard Ave., Providence.

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A day of connecting, learning and enjoying Southern New England Conference for Jewish Women BY IRINA MISSIURO imissiuro@jewishallianceri.org PROVIDENCE – Deborah Kutenplon was excited to participate in the ninth annual Southern New England Conference for Jewish Women at Brown Hillel that took place on Jan. 18. “I’m here for inspiration. It’s a great chance to see all these Jewish women from all walks of life.” Shana and Diane Newman made the occasion into a mother-daughter outing. Diane was proud of Shana’s involvement in the community and happy with her daughter’s insistence on introducing her to its many members. Shana has gone to most of the conferences, saying she sees them as “a way for all women to come together, learn and elevate spiritually.” Rona Trachtenberg was thankful to her friend who reminded her about the event; otherwise she would have been devastated to have missed it. She said, “I have been attending these women’s Kollel seminars for many years, and I am so grateful for each pearl of wisdom I have learned. I look forward to the annual educational insights, the female camaraderie and the excellent lunch.” An out-of-state attendee, she sees the Providence Kollel as “an oasis of Yiddishkeit and Kol hakavod.” About 120 women attended the conference. Tichyeh Schochet, Judaic Studies principal at New England Academy of Torah, said that this year was “one of the largest signups in the past nine years.” Invited by the women’s division of the Providence Community Kollel, the participants gathered to study, converse and reflect on fundamental issues in their lives. The attendees collaborated with presenters through workshops, lectures and exercises to pinpoint their interests and concerns. The day’s sessions fell into five categories: Body & Soul (Zakah Glaser), Plumbing the Depths (Marsha Gibber and Tichyeh Schochet), Outlets (Janice Kaiden and Jordana Weisman), Entertaining with a Flair (Amy Schwartz Kellog) and Significant Tradi-

tions (Elissa Felder and Elisheva Bielory). In addition to the lessons and the company, the women enjoyed a gourmet kosher lunch and a dessert reception. Zakah Glaser, certified nutrition, wellness and weight management consultant, and associate director of SOVEYA, kicked off the program with a motivational speech that served as the theme for the day. Her message: find sweetness in life’s challenges, “little telegrams from God,” and withstand these ordeals with a positive attitude. During a session titled “Singing in the Rain,” Schochet reiterated that idea when she spoke about David, the powerful and charismatic king whose life was full of adversity. She said, “Everything is your perspective. What kind of eyes you’re looking out of tremendously affects your behavior.” Glaser suggested that the women take comfort in the knowledge that they are not the only ones facing difficulties. She compared life to an EKG machine, saying that it’s supposed to go up and down. To sustain hope that the challenge will ultimately end, Glaser promoted the idea of documenting the solutions to prior challenges to remind yourself that you will survive. “I’m a big fan of tracking your successes.” She advocated using hardship to help reach your potential by building on strengths and working on weaknesses. “We are supposed to use these opportunities to grow,” Glaser said. Schochet agreed, referring to the time David made a mistake but knew to apologize for it. “The soul can grow from being yelled at for doing the wrong thing.” Glaser implied that God presents us with challenges to give us a chance to develop trust in Him. Schochet also stated that a total rootedness in God eases hardship. She said, “Everything happens according to a schedule. We feel a sense of comfort that we’re not writing the script. We’re handling things to the best of our ability.” Glaser addressed two kinds of challenges – internal and ex-

PHOTOS | E. BRESLER

Tichyeh Schochet, Judaic principal at NEAT, speaks at her workshop on “Singing In The Rain.” ternal. To show how she battled the former, Glaser talked about her troublesome relationship with food. When she realized that she was not going to get anywhere until she had the assistance of some other power source, she asked God to help her help herself. Glaser was successful in part due to the kindness of others, who assisted her in her quest. She said, “God has messengers, and we need to utilize them.” Glaser said we’re not meant to handle challenges alone. Discussing David’s failure to rely on God at one point and, therefore, to succeed, Schochet also emphasized the crucial role God plays in our lives. “Passing a challenge is a miracle. You cannot pass it on your own. Unless God gets involved, it’s not going to happen.” To address the external challenge, Glaser spoke about her son’s malignant tumor diagnosis. The family was able to withstand the test from God with the help of kind people and with insistence on looking for the good everywhere. No matter what happened, they counted their blessings. Both Glaser and Schochet told the attendees not to worry about the ability to handle life’s tests because God gives every person the power to reach their potential. Schochet said, “The

harder Hashem pulls my strings, the more He reminds me He’s there, and the stronger my connection is with Him.” During “Eyes on Yoga,” as women contorted their bodies into the trying poses, Janice Kaiden, the instructor, echoed the sentiment. The teacher eased minds and limbs when she said, “If it doesn’t feel OK, don’t do it. Everybody’s different. There’s Zakah Glaser CNWC, CWMC, no competition at keynote speaker. all.” The women relaxed. Instead of worrying, reward in itself. The foundation they focused on smiling and for this trust is the understandbreathing. ing that everything He does The day’s presenters con- is good. Barbara Klein, one of veyed that the secret weapon at the yoga students, underscored our disposal is the knowledge that idea when, at the end of the that God is rooting for us. In yoga class, she said, “I spent times of trouble, we can call out three months in physical therato Him with a prayer, and He py that could have been avoided will come to our aid – whether had I known to keep everything to house us near a hospital, as aligned.” in Glaser’s case, or to “squeeze the toxins out of our kishkas,” IRINA MISSIURO is a writer as in the yoga class. According and editorial consultant for The to Glaser, trusting in God is a Jewish Voice.

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A Tangled Legacy: Being a Jew in France Temple Emanu-El offers gripping four-event series BY LINDA SHAMOON “If you have a David star over here, you can have a problem, or if you wear a kippa, some people come to you and say you are bad Jews, ‘We are going to kill you and put you in the sea.’ It’s frightening.” – Lohan Layane, a French Jew living in Paris, responding to acts of violence against Jews in Parisian suburbs and other areas of France. PBS NewsHour, Martin Seemungal “Natan Sharansky [Director, the Jewish Agency for Israel] predicted that up to 15,000 French Jews would emigrate this year, and that more than 50,000 French Jews would leave in the next few years.” – “Fear on the Rise, Jews in France Weigh an Exit,” Dan Bilefsky, the New York Times In response to such stories and statistics, we Jews of Providence and elsewhere are seeking to understand what is happening in France, the country with the third largest Jewish population in the world and, historically, the first European country to emancipate its Jews. But today we wonder, is there really a new wave of Nazi style anti-Semitism in Europe, with France at its center? Are most French Jews streaming out of France seeking asylum in Israel? What is really going on? On Feb. 10 at 7 p.m., Arts Emanu-El of Temple Emanu-El, Providence, will host the first of four important events dedicated to exploring these questions and to understanding what it means to be a Jew in France today and what it meant in the past. The Providence community is invited to all four events, titled A Tangled Legacy: Being a Jew in France. The four-event Tangled Legacy series begins with a sweeping documentary film, “Comme un Juif en France” – “Being a Jew in France.” This film, crafted from a huge trove of fascinating archival footage, memorable music and clips from classic French films, explores the rich and complex history of Jews in France from the Drey-

fus Affair to today. The original three-hour version of this documentary aired in three parts on French television in 2007. The segment that will be screened at Temple Emanu-El on Feb. 10 focuses on the end of World War II and on the return of incarcerated Jews to the cities and villages of France. It considers the impact that the state of Israel’s establishment and the influx of Sephardi Jews from liberated North African colonies had on France. The film continues into the 21st century, investigating the charges of rising anti-Semitism and the county’s shifting attitudes toward Israel. Throughout this compelling documentary, more than a dozen leading French politicians, intellectuals and artists contribute personal stories, analy-

ses and insights that richly enhance the film’s provocative portrait of the French-Jewish cultural and historical experience. A panel discussion in response to the film will follow the screening. Dr. William F. S. Miles, professor of Political Science, Northeastern University, will lead the talk, which will include the participation of Loiza Miles and Henri Flikier. Three more events open to the community will follow “Comme un Juif en France” – “Being a Jew in France.” They are: a book discussion, a French breakfast with guest lecturer and a major musical concert. The book discussion (Sunday, March 8, 10 a.m.) will consider Robert Harris’ 2013 book, “An Officer and a Spy!,” a gripping account of the Dreyfus Affair, told from the point of view of

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the French colonel who was intimately involved with its every occurrence. Then, at the French breakfast on Sunday, May 3, at 10 a.m., Prof. Maud S. Mandel, Dean of the College, Brown University, Associate Professor of History, former Director of the Program in Judaic Studies, will explain Muslims & Jews in France Today: History of a Conflict. Finally, on Sunday, May 17, at 7 p.m., A Tangled Legacy comes to a close with “The Jewish French Musical Connection,” the story of French Jewry told through music and narration. This major concert will include the world-renowned pianist Judith Lynn Stillman, members of the Boston Symphony

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Orchestra and mezzo-soprano Cantor Lynn Torgove. Tickets for these events go on sale three weeks prior to the event date. To purchase tickets for the Feb. 10 screening of “Comme un Juif en France” – “Being a Jew in France” at 7 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El, Providence, go to TEProv.org or send a check to Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft Ave., Prov., RI 02906. Note: “Being a Jew in France.” The $10 ticket price includes the film and panel discussion. LINDA SHAMOON is co-chair of Arts Emanu-El at Temple Emanu-El in Providence.

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

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Swim-a-thon raises money for cancer research The TigerSharks unite to work as a team

BY IRINA MISSIURO imissiuro@jewishallianceri.org Joey Gamm wanted to do a meaningful project for his bar mitzvah. A lifelong swimmer, he’s been with the Dwares JCC TigerSharks for seven years. The idea of combining swimming and raising money for a worthy cause seemed like a wonderful means to take advantage of his passion to accomplish a mitzvah. Swimming appeals to Joey because it allows him to maintain great health and engage in a fitness routine. He says, “I love it! I think it’s changed me for the better, both physically and mentally.” He consulted London Blake, his swimming coach, regarding possible bar mitzvah projects, and she suggested a lap-a-thon. “I thought it was a great idea,” the 12-yearold recalls. His parents, Marisa Garber and Dan Gamm, and sisters, Sandy and Tessa, helped him with raising money. Joey’s grandmother, Sandra Gamm, died of cancer, and he wanted to do something in her memory even though he never met her. Joey found out from his father where his grandmother received treatment, deciding to donate all the money to The Dana Farber Cancer Research Institute. Both of his sisters swam in the lap-a-thon, as well as many of his teammates. Currently, The TigerSharks boasts 23 swimmers. When

Joey Gamm swims for a cause. Blake took over as coach in 2014, she started the season with 19 teammates. She attributes the growth to a shift in the team’s approach to the sport. Encouraged, the kids are working hard not only to improve their individual times, but also to swim as a team. Joey says, “My favorite aspect of the team is cheering my teammates on.” Interestingly, his most challenging one is “getting everyone to work together as a unit.” Blake accomplishes this feat by emphasizing how crucial support is for the kids to reach their potential. She says, “Individually, they’re doing phenomenally,” but more importantly, they’re becoming friends and caring about their teammates’ performances. “The team is

about rebuilding and having the community support. I praise them on their times individually, but overall, I focus on the team,” Blake explains. She avoids pointing out when someone didn’t achieve a best time – that can be defeating. Instead, Blake chooses to reward kids for their successes. She has instituted two rewards systems. The first one recognizes the swimmer of the week. Each week, the coaches (Blake works with two assistant coaches – Marc Fontaine and Joey Tetreault) decide who has stood out by showing amazing sportsmanship and make an announcement to the entire team. The deserving teammate gets a TigerSharks swimming cap to wear in the pool for the

PHOTO | THE GAMM FAMILY

duration of that week. During the season, every swimmer will be recognized. The second reward system is more colorful. Blake doles out beads to those who deserve an acknowledgement. Every color has its own meaning. For instance, orange stands for sportsmanship, while olive green rewards team spirit. Other qualities the coach looks for include leadership, positive attitude and hard work. Blake gave each teammate a piece of gimp and a starter bead bearing ocean characters; the expectation is that they will add onto it. The kids usually hang their recognition on their bags or water bottles. Blake says, “I learned that when you have something to work toward, it’s

always better and more motivating.” She’s already seeing the results of the reward systems. Blake says that the more the kids get involved, the more attached they feel to the team. Now, she doesn’t have to remind them to wait until every person is done with the meet. The kids don’t leave after they are out of the water. Instead, they stand and cheer on their teammates. Joey appreciates the discipline that Blake has established. He says, “There is more dry-land training included in our workouts, which is really important. She has incorporated more exercises to help us work together as a team and support each other. Our sets are longer, which is more challenging, but they’re also more diverse than before.” Blake is focused on the team aspect of the training because swimming is so solitary in nature. She says, “There’s no music, no talking – only our thoughts. Seeing someone cheer for you can make you get that little last sprint of energy.” On Jan. 25, the TigerSharks supported their teammate in an important undertaking. Joey swam 244 laps in two hours, raising more than $2,000. Go, team! IRINA MISSIURO is a writer and editorial consultant for The Jewish Voice.

CRC and JFNA advocate in Washington for Jewish community BY MARTY COOPER mcooper@jewishallianceri.org The 114th Congress is now in session in Washington D.C., and a number of issues will be revisited that require reauthorization or simply were not addressed last session. While the 113th Congress was in session the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, through the Community Relations Council (CRC) and the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA) did considerable advocating on behalf of the Jewish community. Efforts are ongoing. The IRA Charitable Rollover Extension was passed through the 2014 calendar year. The extension allows individuals over the age of 70.5 to make annual tax-free gifts of up to $100,000 directly from their IRAs to eligible public charities. In slightly more than seven years, Federations nationally have received close to $40 million from such gifts. Since 2006 when it was first enacted, the Jewish community has been a leader among national charities to advocate for this program. It was hoped that the rollover would become a permanent fixture, not an extension. The JFNA

and CRC will continue to work for this to become permanent in 2015. The CRC and JFNA have been advocating to protect and oppose any reductions, adjustments or even the elimination of the charitable tax deduction. Nonprofit charities, like the Alliance, rely heavily on tax deductible donations. Another important piece of legislation that passed Congress last session is known as the ABLE Act (Achieving a Better Life Experience), widely viewed as the most important disability legislation to pass Congress since the Americans with Disabilities Act nearly 25 years ago. This legislation will permit the creation of tax-free savings accounts for millions of people with disabilities to cover qualified expenses, such as medical, post-secondary education, housing and transportation, without having to forfeit Social Security and Medicare benefits. Also passed was the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. This legislation provides funding for Rhode Island food pantries and shelter programs. The Louis and Goldie Chester Full Plate Kosher Food Pantry,

as well as the Kosher Café program and Congregation Beth Sholom’s food assistance program benefited from this program in 2013-14 and will be reapplying for funding when the new cycle is announced. The Jewish community also advocated for a number of other important issues. These included Medicare and Medicaid, behavioral health programs and Holocaust survivor benefits. Equally important was ongoing advocacy related to Israel. This included updating the Rhode Island delegation about the Gaza War, requesting additional funding and support for Iron Dome and voicing our concerns about keeping Iran from becoming a nuclear power. As it did last year, the CRC and JFNA will once again work with Congress on a number of issues. Chief among them will be the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act and the inclusion of a preference for specialized (kosher) food as well as access to transportation, affordable housing, supportive services and neighborhoods, homecare and increased support for family caregivers to promote aging in place, which would allow people to live at

home with appropriate services as they grow older. There will continue to be a role for the Jewish community to advocate strongly for Israel during the 114th congressional session. Among the issues will be Iran, Israel funding and promoting Israel as a democracy

and strategic trading partner with the United States. Similarly, there will be much discussion about the rapid rise of anti-Semitism in the world. MARTY COOPER is the Community Relations Director for the Jewish Alliance.

The only kosher butcher shop in Cuba BY ZACHARY SOLOMON JEWNIVERSE/JTA – For the kashrut-observant Cuban, there’s only one place to go for a piece of meat. Situated on Acosta Street in Old Havana is Cuba’s sole kosher butcher shop. For nearly 70 years, the privately run business has provided kosher beef to the country’s Jews, and only to the Jews – non-Jewish Cubans receive rations for pork, available in vastly limited supply elsewhere. The fact that there’s even one kosher butcher is improbable at best. After Castro’s 1959 Revolution, a precursor to the country’s stringent communism, virtually all private businesses were nationalized. But not that of Abraham Berezniak, the local kosher

meat man. Perhaps to avoid claims of anti-Semitism, the government allowed the butcher shop to remain open, and now goes as far as to make sure it’s stocked even when non-kosher ones are running out of meat. It’s not easy eating meat in Cuba. Cows are the property of the state, and Cubans claim it’s a far worse crime to be caught slaughtering a cow than a person. So who runs this place? Adath Israel, Cuba’s only Orthodox synagogue, sees to its upkeep. Really, though, it’s just one guy. Yakob Berezniak Hernandez is not just the cantor, or the entirety of the burial committee, or the treasurer. He’s also the country’s only shohet, or ritual slaughterer. That’s a lot of work for a nice brisket.

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Come for study, stay for dessert

Board of Rabbis invites community to learn together BY BOARD OF RABBIS OF GREATER R.I. “Two Jews, at least five opinions,” is the oft-repeated joke about the diversity of Jewish thought and belief on any given topic. While some may bemoan such a lack of uniformity, others, including the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island, see this diversity as a source of strength and something to be shared and celebrated. For this reason, the Board of Rabbis is holding to its second annual “Drash & Dessert” evening of study for the community on Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. at the Dwares JCC. The theme is “Elu v’Elu: Navigating Difference While Building Community.” The program begins with havdalah, features four learning sessions taught by pairs or trios of local rabbis and concludes with a dessert buffet. “We are a very diverse community,” said Rabbi Elyse Wechterman, member of the Board of Rabbis and coordinator of the evening event. “Often, it is hard for us to eat together or pray together, but we can always study together,” she said. “The members of the

Board of Rabbis enjoy learning together, and we want to bring that cross-fertilization and passion for learning to the entire community.” The Hebrew phrase Elu v’Elu translates as “These and these” and refers to a Talmudic passage in which the opposing viewpoints of two rabbis are

both considered holy, explained Wechterman. The entire quote reads “These and these are the words of the living God.” The evening of study is designed to explore this theme. Sessions will include “Is it better to be right or polite: a look at a playful but serious Talmudic text” with Rabbis Alan Flam, Wayne Franklin and James

Rosenberg; “Heaven, Hell and the Afterlife” with Rabbis Andrew Klein and Alvan Kaunfer; “Being JewISH Today: the place of Jewish Particularism in a Universalist World” with Rabbis Michelle Dardashti, Marc Mandel and Sarah Mack; and “Meditations and Spiritual Practices with Rabbis Barry Dolinger, Mark Elber and Aaron Philmus. There is no cost for this event and no prior Jewish knowledge is required. This program is a follow-up to last year’s successful Drash & Dessert, which also featured teachings by rabbis from different institutions and denominations throughout the region. This year’s event is cosponsored by the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and is supported by the Alliance’s William G. Braude fund, named for Rabbi William Braude, spiritual leader of Temple Beth-El in Providence from 1932-1987 and a strong advocate of Jewish learning and education. FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact Larry Katz, director of Jewish Life and Learning at the Alliance, 401-421-4111, ext. 179 or lkatz@jewishallianceri.org.

Experience Koleinu this Shabbat BY TOBY LIEBOWITZ Why is Koleinu different from any other Shabbat morning service in Rhode Island? Koleinu is a monthly Shabbat morning service in the hamish and inviting Temple Emanu-El chapel for children, young adults and their families who choose to pray in an intimate and warm setting. We welcome those who will benefit from an abbreviated service with lots of singing, plenty of movement, laughter and an abundance of participation. Our mission is to encourage all levels of ability, ranging from those who prefer sitting and observing the service to those who enjoy chanting and leading parts of the service. Jewish families throughout R.I. and surrounding towns are welcome to attend this community outreach program. When you walk into the chapel, one of our committee members will greet and invite you to join the group in a circle on one of the beanbag chairs. (Regular chairs are available.) We begin with a welcoming song during which everyone is introduced. We integrate percussion instruments throughout the service, and we have been known to march in and out of the chapel during our Torah processionals. Rabbi Elyse Wechterman leads the service. With the permission of Camp Ramah in New

England, we have adapted their Tikvah Siddur for our service. During our Torah service, various volunteers chant briefly and individuals and families are called up for an aliyah. Each month, a Koleinu committee member leads an engaging activity (D’var Torah) based on the portion of the week. At the conclusion of our service, we gather in a circle to share what we thank God for on that Shabbat morning. Immediately following our closing circle, we proceed to the adjoining breakfast room for a Kiddush and motsei. Then, those who are interested join the rest of the folks attending other services to head to a delicious lunch, where families are welcome to schmooze as long as they want. We are grateful to Rabbi Elan Babchuck, who brought this concept to Temple Emanu-El. His past experience in a similar program in California has been invaluable. We are proud that we are the first to offer such a service in R.I. If you are interested in our service, feel free to contact Toby Liebowitz at toliebo@aol. com or Rabbi Elan Babchuck at ebabchuck@teprov.org. The upcoming 10:30 a.m. services are planned for: Feb. 7, March 14, April 18, May 2 and June 6. All are welcome. Call Temple Emanu-El, 401-331-1616, for more details.

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Defining the ‘Corners of our Fields’ BY RABBI WAYNE FRANKLIN Sometimes, people leave us unwritten messages. But they expect us to pick up on the cues and act on those messages. Rabbi Judah the Prince signaled an important message to us simply by the way he organized the Mishnah’s law collections near the end of the second century C.E. The first group of laws discussed in this rabbinic work is B’rakhot, Blessings. These teachings lay the foundation for our prayers and worship

services to this day. The overriding theme is Gratitude; in the prayers we recite, we give thanks to God for the blessings we enjoy in this world. Immediately following the teachings about Blessings and Gratitude, we find instructions about Pe’ah, Corners of the Field. While some Jews have recently developed an interest in farming, most of us remain city dwellers. What could agricultural rulings teach us? A lot! Since our ancestors lived in agrarian communities, the rabbis’ guidance to them

was articulated in the context of their agricultural lives. Though the title of the second collection of rabbinic teaching is Pe’ah/Corners, as soon as we start reading, we discover that the real subject is how to provide for the poor in our communities. After learning how to express Gratitude, we learn about Philanthropy, that we are obligated to express our love for other people in a tangible way. Rabbi Judah’s message to us is that the world is ours to enjoy; that’s God’s incredible gift to us. But the world is not ours

Waking up with the trees: Tu B’Shevat BY RABBI AARON PHILMUS As my feet crunch through the frozen snow, it’s hard to imagine that anything will wake up and start growing soon. Yet I am still hopeful, because in a few weeks we will celebrate Tu B’Shevat, the hidden awakening of the land. As I walk down this country road, I can see sugar maples with tubes attached to their trunks. It reminds me that in New England we too celebrate this first promise of spring. When the maple sap starts a-risin’ up from the roots in New England’s trees, sugar shacks become filled with steam as they boil the sap down into sweet amber syrup. Our sages teach that on the full moon of Shevat the trees of Israel awaken from their winter dormancy. New leaf buds need sugar to grow, but they can’t make any new sugar until they grow their leaves back. To solve this annual dilemma, trees slurp up last year’s sap that was stored in their roots. The sap rises from roots to shoot, and nourishes baby leaf and flower buds. This is the very beginning of the fruiting process, so our ancestors called it, “Rosh Hashanah of the Tree.” Farmers used this date to divide the tithing of one year’s fruit crop from the next. When the Holy Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, Tu B’Shevat went underground, like a seed waiting to be germi-

nated. In 1492 Spanish explorers sailed the ocean blue, while hundreds of thousands of Jews were expelled from Spain. The center of the Jewish mystical tradition transplanted itself from Spain to the northern mountains of Israel. Since Tu B’Shevat was originally called, “New year of THE TREE” (not “trees”), the kabbalists developed rituals to celebrate the renewal of THE TREE, the great cosmic Tree of Life. On “Rosh Hashanah for the

“Every renewal in nature activates the power for renewal within a person.” People” we work on healing and sanctifying our relationships with people. On “Rosh Hashanah for the Tree” we work on healing and sanctifying our relationship with nature. During the seder, we recite blessings over fruit and practice eating more mindfully. Kabbalah was long kept hidden from the public out of fear that someone might use it for the dark arts or idolatry. In Jewish mysticism, nature is not worshipped separately from God. Rabbi A.J. Heschel once wrote, “When a Jew prays among the trees, the

trees are also facing God and shukeling (swaying) along with him.” Maimonides taught us to, “think of the entire earth as one individual being endowed with life, motion and a soul.” In Kabbalah, nature is likened to the turtle’s shell. Nature is the shell on the surface that hides and protects the Divine life within. We begin the Tu B’Shevat seder by peeling the dead husk off of a fruit to symbolically reveal the hidden life force within. If you want to experience this ritual firsthand, please join us at Torat Yisrael in East Greenwich. On Feb. 6 at 6 p.m., we will celebrate Tu B’Shevat as part of our musical Friday night service and dinner. Instead of eating apples dipped in honey, we will eat apples dipped in maple syrup (yum!). We will sing traditional Jewish songs about trees and the land of Israel, and with Torah, we will renew our connection to the Tree of Life. As Rabbi Shalom Noach Berzhovsky said, “Every renewal in nature activates the power for renewal within a person.... The Torah says, ‘a person is like a tree of the field.’ When the natural world is renewed in Israel, when our land wears a garment of newness, it also affects our bodies.” AARON PHILMUS is rabbi of Temple Torat Yisrael in East Greenwich.

alone; we are expected to share whatever we have with others. It’s an old message, but it’s as timely as the President’s recent State of the Union address. It’s as relevant to our Jewish community as the Alliance’s “Living On the Edge” campaign. While the Torah tells us to give from the “Corners,” it doesn’t say how much of a “corner” to leave. The rabbis addressed that question. They said that a minimum of 1/60th of a field had to be set aside. But there is no limit to how large a corner of the field we should leave unharvested, so that needy people can come and help themselves. Similarly, they said that there is no limit to the extent of kind deeds, Gemilut Hasadim, we can do for others, and there is no limit to how much Torah we can learn. In determining how large a “corner” had to be left, other factors have to be weighed: how

large the field’s yield is, how many poor people there are, and how extensive the poverty is. We don’t live on farms and don’t make donations from corners of crops, but our philanthropy should not be peripheral to our Jewish lives; it should be a central expression of who we are. We know very well that there are many poor people in Rhode Island, and in Jewish Rhode Island, in particular. So let us give thanks for the blessings we enjoy, and let us follow Rabbi Judah’s cue, leading us to a life of philanthropy, caring for those around us, some of whose needs we can meaningfully address by giving from the “corners” of our “fields.”

“… we are obligated to express our love for other people in a tangible way.”

WAYNE M. FRANKLIN is Senior Rabbi of Temple EmanuEl, Providence.

Candle Lighting Times

Greater Rhode Island Jan. 30.............................. 4:38 Feb. 6.................................. 4:47 Feb. 13.............................. 4:56 Feb. 20.............................. 5:05

8 | January 30, 2015

OPINION

The Jewish Voice

A name of majestic ambiguity

NWS predicts the perfect storm and sends the office into a frenzy As you read this column, we’ll be on the other side of what the National Weather Service predicted could be a “storm of historic proportions.” For most of us, that really didn’t happen, did it? On Sunday, a blizzard was predicted for Tuesday. Of course, the bread-andEDITOR milk people came out in FRAN full force. I OSTENDORF drove by a grocery store in Cranston at 8 p.m., and the parking lot was packed. Apparently, the crowds hadn’t let up all day. Someone I talked to in the early afternoon had been at another market in the morning; “chaos” was the word she used to describe the scene. Now, I didn’t grow up here, so I don’t quite understand the bread-and-milk mentality. But apparently, I missed something in my youth in Virginia. An acquaintance of my sister, now living in Israel, posted about “bread-and-milk buying” in Jerusalem before the recent storm there. Ahhh, that’s the Jewish tiein, you might be saying. Nope. So why is this storm worth a word in The Voice? Because, you should be receiving this paper pretty near to on-time despite a storm that shut down production for more than a day. And the day of the shut down is a critical one to our paper. If you follow The Voice and its deadlines, you know that we are geared up for produc-

tion on Tuesday of the week the paper comes out. The threat of a storm really sent us into frantic mode on Sunday when we still had many pieces of the paper outstanding. What would we do? How would we put it all together? Did we get the predicted monster storm? Not really. We got a huge storm with lots of wind. Snow totals fluctuated between cities and towns and proximity to the water. Governors in three states, our primary circulation areas, declared states of emergency and shut down everything – roads, businesses, travel, you name it. You may even still be digging out. But there didn’t seem to be the power outages predicted because the snow wasn’t nearly as heavy, and the winds were not quite as strong. And that was a good thing for us. Our offices at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island closed Tuesday. But we were able to work at home via computer and email. That wouldn’t have been possible without power. You may be reading a little more news from the JTA and JNS than you usually see. And a couple of articles in the works were moved to future editions. But our team adjusted, and for that, I thank everyone. Our paper usually goes to the printer Wednesday night. But even the printer was closed Tuesday, so all the other printing clients needed to be moved around, and that affected us a little. So, if you get your paper a day or two late, remember, in the end, the paper always comes out. Let’s raise a cup of cocoa to that.

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.

Throughout the Jewish world, Shabbat Shemot is the Sabbath on which the opening chapters of Exodus, verses overflowing with action and mystery, are read in our synagogues. I am particularly drawn to the first 15 verses of the third chapter, which tell of Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush. Moses is hephe r d i n g IT SEEMS sthe flocks of TO ME his father-inlaw Jethro; as he approaches RABBI JIM the edge of ROSENBERG the wilderness, Moses turns aside to take a close look at the marvelous sight of a thorn bush that is all ablaze, yet is not being consumed. God addresses Moses from out of the flames and instructs him to lead the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt to “a land flowing with milk and honey.” When Moses asks God for His name, He replies, Ehyeh asher Ehyeh, words of majestic ambiguity, which roughly translate to “I will be Who I will be.” Unfortunately, the King James Bible (1604-1611) – that masterpiece of English literature, whose stately rhythms and rich sonorities influence our language to this very day – fails to capture the Hebrew’s sense of a God whose very essence is change; the King James translation, “I AM THAT I AM,” emphasizes God’s rocklike stability rather than God’s divine dynamism. By way of contrast, Martin Luther’s 1534 translation into German, “Ich werde sein, der ich sein werde,” does manage to convey the sense of the ever-evolving and growing God embodied in the Hebrew original.

This year Shabbat Shemot fell on Jan. 10, a morning on which I had the privilege of leading the Torah study held at Providence’s Temple Beth-El prior to their weekly Shabbat worship service. Though I had resolved to focus our discussion on the many ways of interpreting Ehyeh asher Ehyeh, I found myself wrestling with the question of how to approach such a complex and weighty subject. After considerable reflection, I decided to use a simple technique that has proved effective in a number of poetry workshops I have led over the years; as they gathered around the table, I asked the twenty or so students – among them, Rabbi Sarah Mack and Cantor Judith Seplowin – to write down a noun on a small slip of paper and to place their chosen word in a plastic bag. I then asked each student, who ranged in age from 11 to 84, to reach into the bag without looking and draw out a single word. The following nouns were in the bag: home, elephant, bird (twice), football, candle, bagel, whale, rabbit, Aruba, trader, book, frog, midwife, tree (twice), brick, child, mountain. For the final step, I asked each student to complete the sentence, “God is like (the noun) because...” As we shared the results of this simple exercise, we all felt drawn closer to the text of the Torah, to the limitless possibilities contained within God’s name, Ehyeh asher Eyheh, a name of majestic ambiguity. One student wrote with simple elegance, “God is like a candle in that both bring light to the world.” Another employed the metaphor of the humble bagel to touch upon the mystical notion of tsimtsum, God’s voluntary Self-withdrawal to make room for creation: “God is like a bagel, round as the world, with space in the middle for including all things.”

A third individual compared God to a midwife, “because He brings forth life” and “because He is a source of support for people in difficult circumstances.” The man who drew from the bag the word “football” exhibited both his wit and his unwitting theological acumen by declaring, “The name of God is kicked around like a football.” This “noun-in-the-bag” approach turned out to be so joyfully rewarding in part because the exercise forced all of us to rely upon our “right brain” imaginations rather than our “left brain” reasoning. The structure of this mini-lesson did not leave us the time to be reasonable, to figure out in orderly fashion the possible meanings of Ehyeh asher Ehyeh. We were only given a minute or two to place the nouns which came our way within a divine context – be the noun “candle” or “bagel” or “midwife;” or “Aruba” or “frog” or “trader,” for that matter. I would further suggest that rational “proofs” of God’s existence only provide proof to those who already happen to be believers. On the contrary, it is by the magic of metaphor, by comparing the Incomparable and Infinite One to a tree or a child or a book, that we come to experience God as a Presence of ever-changing possibility. I was a participant-observer in this exercise and had the good fortune to pick the noun “home.” Mindful of God’s Selfidentification as Ehyeh asher Ehyeh, I wrote: “God is HOME, bayit, HaMakom, The Place, the alpha and the omega, the beginning of all beginnings, the end of all ends.” JAMES B. ROSENBERG is rabbi emeritus at Temple Habonim in Barrington. Contact him at rabbiemeritus@templehabonim.org.

Reporter insists Argentine gov’t pursued him BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (JTA) — Damian Pachter, the Argentine-Israeli journalist who was the first to report the death of prosecutor Alberto Nisman, said he feels safe now that he has arrived in Israel. Pachter, a writer for the Buenos Aires Herald, said he felt “pursued by the Argentine government” and that his life was in danger in Argentina, he told Argentine journalist Adrian Bono in an interview from Tel Aviv via Skype.

Pachter, who has dual Argentine-Israeli citizenship, left Argentina on Jan. 24 following what he said were threats to his safety after breaking the story. He criticized Argentina’s Telam news agency and the Twitter account of the president’s office for publishing information about his plane tickets and wrongly claiming he planned to return to Argentina on Feb. 2. Pachter made similar comments in a column he published Jan. 25 in Haaretz titled

“Why I fled Argentina after breaking the story of Alberto Nisman’s death.” In the Haaretz piece, Pachter said, “I have no idea when I’ll be back in Argentina; I don’t even know if I want to. What I do know is that the country where I was born is not the happy place my Jewish grandparents used to tell me stories about. Argentina has become a dark place led by a corrupt political system,” he added.

COLUMNS | LETTERS POLICY

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

OPINION

thejewishvoice.org

January 30, 2015 |

Pro-Palestine vs. Anti-Israel BY DANIEL STIEGLITZ In my last article focusing on the attack of the Jerusalem synagogue, I touched on the way world media depicted the attack. How the media often depicts Israel is just part of

LETTERS HOME DANIEL STIEGLITZ a much bigger problem. This problem is that people purporting to be pro-Palestine are actually just anti-Israel. The most recent examples go back to the Jerusalem synagogue attack in November. Media outlets that were quick to demonize Israel for defending itself against the terrorist organization of Hamas just a few short months ago, seemed to go out of their way to misconstrue what happened at the Jerusalem synagogue. News agencies disseminated reports that ranged from vague (“4 Israelis, 2 Palestin-

ians killed,” and “[Israeli] Police shot, killed 2 Palestinians”) to blatantly wrong (“Deadly Attack on Jerusalem Mosque,” rather than synagogue). One newscaster went as far as to call the area of Jerusalem where the attack took place “disputed territory.” The attack took place in West Jerusalem, an area that has never been contested, unless of course you believe that Jews don’t have the right to live anywhere in Israel. Not referring to the terrorists as “terrorists” in the above headlines puts them in the same category as the victims. A popular image that circulated as a result of this was a fake Sept. 11 headline which, along with an image of the second plane hitting the Twin Towers, read, “8 Saudi men die in plane accidents.” Americans would have been outraged to see such a report in the press; those are the kinds of headlines that Israel saw after the Jerusalem attack. The anti-Israel propaganda goes beyond just the media. There are people in the world who try to fool others into believing that Israel is an apartheid state. Among them is the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) movement. Such

movements skew the true definition of apartheid. In Israel, we have Arab-Israeli citizens who hold high-ranking positions in the IDF, Arab-Israelis serving in Israel’s government and Arab-Israelis working side-by-side with Jewish employees in businesses across the country. In a video posted on the BDS Facebook page, the movement proudly takes credit for the shutting down of a Sodastream factory located

“When the EU removes Hamas from their list of terrorist organizations, that’s anti-Israel.” in what it calls an “illegal Israeli settlement.” Among the many facts the video does not mention – 900 Arab-Israeli employees who worked sideby-side with Jewish employees lost their jobs as a result of the factory’s closure. Good job, BDS! The action was not pro-Palestine; it was simply anti-Israel. When flotillas are sent to Gaza for supposed humani-

tarian reasons, but certain aid from Israel is rejected, that’s anti-Israel. When world outcry in support of the Palestinians is stronger than any support shown for places such as Syria, where civilians are still being killed by the thousands, then that’s people going out of their way to be antiIsrael. When the EU removes Hamas from their list of terrorist organizations, that’s anti-Israel. When people remain silent as Egypt demolishes Gazan homes and denies Gazans on a pilgrimage reentry at the border crossing, while Israel is condemned for even looking at Gaza the wrong way, that’s anti-Israel. Over the millennia, many people have been anti-Israel and/or anti-Jewish. Historically, the Jews have been the focus of world hatred in one fashion or another. In my 30plus years as a Jew on this planet, I still don’t understand why. One of the things that gives me faith in a higher being in the present is looking back on history and seeing how many times people have been anti-Israel and/or antiJewish. Many of them have either tried wiping the Jews off of the planet, or at least desired to see such a thing occur. The Roman Empire

and the Nazis are just two examples. In all of these cases, the nations or groups that tried wiping us off the planet are gone, and we’re still here. This fact defies historical statistics. It’s why I’ve given up caring what the rest of the world thinks about Israel and the Jews. It’s part of a historical trend that has always been doomed to failure. In the future, when I see antiIsrael headlines, I will not be shocked and surprised. I’ll simply accept that it’s part of the historical trend, and do my best to report and share the pro-Israel truth as I see it as both a Jew and a citizen of Israel. At least I am being honest about the true cause that I stand for. DANIEL STIEGLITZ (dstieglitz@gmail.com), a Providence native, made aliyah in 2007. He holds a master’s degree in creative writing from Bar Ilan University; works as a trip coordinator at Sachlav/ Israelonthehouse, a TaglitBirthright Israel trip organizer; does freelance content writing; and lives in Jerusalem. His short story “End” was just published in FictionMagazines.com’s magazine, New Realm.

Sister Ann Keefe was a mensch among leaders BY MARTY COOPER mcooper@jewishallianceri.org I first met Sister Ann Keefe eight years ago. The Jewish community, through the Community Relations Council, was in the process of forming an interfaith coalition to reduce poverty. We had recruited Rev. Dr. Donald Anderson and Linda Katz of the Poverty Institute (now called the Economic Progress Institute). They suggested we contact Sister Ann, not Sister Ann Keefe. Not being a Christian, I was not sure I could address a Sister by her first name only. Although uncomfortable, I called and asked to speak to Sister Ann. She said hello. And that was the beginning of a wonderful relationship. Dare I say there were a couple of times when I actually called her Ann? As many of you know, Sister Ann Keefe passed away Jan. 15. She had been ill for some time. Sister Ann had a passion for the civil rights of everyone. She deplored violence and poverty. She advocated for virtually anything that would make the lives of the disadvantaged better; education, homelessness, health care, food and nonviolence. She was a true champion of the people. Sister Ann always left a powerful impression on everyone she met and spoke to. Even if

you disagreed with her, you respected her. Even if you disagreed with her, you enjoyed her as a person. Simply said, Sister Ann was a mensch among mensches. Governors, senators, congressmen, mayors of great cities and leaders of all faiths respected Sister Ann. She was a Rhode Island icon to be proud of. On Jan. 6, Rhode Island swore in its first female governor, Gina Raimondo. The new governor spoke of a commitment to improving the lives of all Rhode Islanders, especially those people in need. She pointed out that we must fulfill the dreams and work of Sister Ann. The next day, Jan. 7, the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty held its Seventh Annual Vigil at the State House. Coalition Co-chair Maxine Richman asked the attendees for a brief moment of prayer for Sister Ann. She had been a strong voice and leading advocate of the coalition since its inception. Perhaps it was fitting that Sister Ann passed away during the weekend-long celebration of another civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. Throughout Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and the remainder of the week, every civil rights event paid tribute to two civil rights leaders – Martin Luther King Jr. and Sister Ann Keefe.

At the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship Breakfast, hosted by the Ministers Alliance, Rev. Jabulani McCalister of Calvary Baptist Church in Providence asked that everyone to give Sister Ann Keefe a

positive change happen. Mayor Elorza said, “She showed us that one committed person can change the world.” Certainly Sister Ann changed Rhode Island. Keynote speaker Rev. Dr. James Evans, professor of Systemic Theology at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School, spoke of racial tension in our country. He spoke about

“I felt her passion, devotion and dedication to helping people who needed help.” Sister Ann Keefe standing ovation in tribute to her inspiration. Every speaker took a moment to reflect on Sister Ann’s life and her legacy as it related to civil rights and the great Martin Luther King Jr. The speakers included Sen. Jack Reed, Rep. David Cicilline, Gov. Raimondo, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, Cranston Mayor Allan Fung and Rev. Dr. Anderson of the R.I. State Council of Churches. Speaker after speaker not only talked about her passion for social responsibility, but also how everyone can make

the oppression of minorities in America today citing the incidents of Ferguson, Missouri, and New York City. He called for the civil rights of everyone. “We should all be allowed to breathe freely.” While Evans spoke, I could only think of what Sister Ann might say or think. I believe she would have condemned the acts by the police. She would have marched right into the Public Safety complex in Providence as well as into the State Police headquarters and called for an end to racial profiling. First she would politely say hello to the commissioners. She may even

ask about their families. Next she might say, “You know you are doing a pretty good job.” Then she would say something like this: “Racial profiling, bullying and police brutality have got to stop. Too many innocent people are being injured and killed in our country. I do not want to see this happen in our great state. What can we do together to make sure this does not happen here?” It would be said firmly and with compassion for everyone involved. Sister Ann received her share of awards. I was honored to give her a citation for her dedication to helping make the vacant Broad Street Synagogue a place for the community in the Elmwood section of Providence. Unfortunately, Sister Ann was not well enough to attend the ceremony. I will always be grateful, however, that I got a chance to call her name and present her award to the community at Congregation Beth Sholom. Sister Ann was a friend. I felt her power when I attended meetings where she spoke. However, more important, I felt her passion, devotion and dedication to helping people who needed help. Sister Ann was a true civil rights leader. MARTY COOPER is director of the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Alliance.

10 | January 30, 2015

Ongoing Alliance Kosher Senior Café. Kosher lunch and program every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Noon lunch; 1 p.m. program. $3 lunch donation from individuals 60+ or under 60 with disabilities. Neal or Elaine, 401421-4111, ext. 107. Am David Kosher Senior Café. Kosher lunch and program every weekday. Temple Am David, 40 Gardiner St., Warwick. 11:15 a.m. program; Noon lunch. $3 lunch donation from individuals 60+ or under 60 with disabilities. Elaine or Steve 401-732-0047.

Through | Feb. 20 “Alive” by Liliana Fijman. gallery (401) at the Dwares JCC. What can plant ﬁber do? Liliana has a fascination with plant textures and their forms. When plants die, nothing is lost. Rather, they are transformed into visual expressions. 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. For more information, contact Erin Moseley, director of Arts & Culture, at 401-4214111, ext. 108, or emoseley@jewishallianceri.org

Through | March 5 21 Plein Air Artists. Temple Habonim Gallery. Thirty-six works by 21 artists, part of the summer Lifelong Learning Collaborative class. The show includes works from 2014 in oils, acrylics, pastels, pencil and ink. Instructors were Bunny Fain, Roberta Segal and Mary Snowden. 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington. Hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and by appointment. For information, call 401-2456536, or email gallery@templehabonim. org.

Saturday | Jan. 31 “Jews Embracing Jews.” 6:45 p.m. Rabbi Andrew Klein of Temple Habonim will speak at Congregation Beth Sholom. He will examine the beginnings of the Reform Movement in Germany in the late 1700s/early 1800s, how and why it came to be, how the movement changed when it came to the U.S. in the 1800s and how it has evolved over the years. He will discuss ways the Reform Movement has begun to embrace many of the traditions, which it had earlier rejected.

Sunday | Feb. 1 Winter Shireinu Concert. 1:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Sinai Seniors. Music of the community chorus of Temple Sinai, with refreshments. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Jewish Mediation. 9:30 a.m. First session of a new semester. Judaism has a long tradition of meditation and contemplation. Course is geared for beginners looking to try something new. Sessions are 30 minutes and will consist of education, discussion and 10-15 minutes of sitting as we build our practice together. Beth Sholom downstairs chapel. 275 Camp St., Providence. 401-621-939

CALENDAR

Monday | Feb. 2 Bridging the Gap. 7:30-8:30 p.m. Congregation Beth David, Narragansett. Each week, Providence Kollel continues discussions led by Rabbi Raphie Schochet. Topic involves how to align one’s spiritual essence with the activities of daily living. No previous studies required. Jewish Philosophy Reading Group. 7:45-9 p.m. Study important works of Jewish thought. Participants are asked to prepare short selections of reading in advance. This session is Maimonides introduction to the 10th chapter of Sanhedrin (Perek Chelek). Beth Sholom. 275 Camp St., Providence. 401-6219393.

Tuesday | Feb. 3 Jewish Disability Awareness Month. From Awareness to Inclusion: “NEVER EVER EVER.” 7-8:30 p.m. Dwares JCC. Written by Sivan Ben Yishai. Starring Jordan Ahnquist. Discussion led by Molly Tobin, Associate Producer. Produced by Israeli Stage of Boston. In this one-person show, audiences meet a young man on a journey. Yoni runs away from school, from home and from himself the moment he hears the words disabled and dyslexic. In this moving show, Sivan Ben Yishai reveals the experience of what it is like to feel like an outsider, to be diﬀerently abled and yet at the same time feel whole. Intended audience: 13+. Q & A after the show. Sponsored by Ruderman Family Foundation, Yachad, Jewish Family Service, Temple Emanu-El and Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. For more information, contact Larry Katz, Director of Jewish Life & Learning, at lkatz@jewishallianceri.org or 401-4214111, ext. 179. TNT! (Tuesday Night Talmud). 8-9 p.m. Open to men, women and teens of all levels and backgrounds. This is a collaborative group study of the ﬁrst chapter of Masechet Berachot, tractate dealing with blessings. Meets weekly in the rabbi’s study at Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. For information, 401-621-9393.

The Jewish Voice p.m. Dinner. A musical celebration of Shabbat with a theme. February’s Theme: Tu B’Shevat. Cost: $20.00 per person, children under 10, $10, family max.,$60. RSVP to the Torat Yisrael oﬃce at 401-885-6600 or www.toratyisrael.org. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich.

Saturday | Feb. 7 Drash & Dessert. 7 p.m. Dwares JCC. The Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island presents an evening of dialogue, learning and community. There is much conﬂict in the world and a decreasing opportunity for civil discourse, both in America as a whole and speciﬁcally in relation to how Jews talk about Israel. Join us for a look at how Jewish tradition treats disagreements and arguments and holds out the possibility of respectful yet passionately engaged argumentation. This free event includes dessert. For more information, contact the Alliance Member Services team at 401-421-4111.

Monday | Feb. 9 Bridging the Gap. 7:30-8:30 p.m. Congregation Beth David, Narragansett. Each week, Providence Kollel continues discussions led by Rabbi Raphie Schochet. Topic involves how to align one’s spiritual essence with the activities of daily living. No previous studies required.

Tuesday | Feb. 10 TNT! (Tuesday Night Talmud). 8-9 p.m. Open to men, women and teens of all levels and backgrounds. This is a collaborative group study of the ﬁrst chapter of Masechet Berachot, tractate dealing with blessings. Meets weekly in the rabbi’s study at Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. For information, 401-621-9393.

Wednesday | Feb. 11

The Mothers Circle. 7-9 p.m. Dwares JCC. Join the Mothers Circle to learn about Jewish rituals, holidays, ethics and how to create Jewish family life at home. This free 15-session course began in Jan. and runs through May 13. No experience necessary! All mothers welcome, and participants do not have to be aﬃliated with a Jewish institution. For more information, contact Sara Foster at 401-421-4111, ext. 184 or sfoster@jewishallianceri.org

Jewish Culture through Film: “Hunting Elephants.” 7 p.m. Dwares JCC. Hosted by Israeli Emissary Gilor Meshulam. “Hunting Elephants” centers on a 12-year-old Israeli boy named Jonathan, who is dealt a cruel doubleblow by fate. First his father is killed in a freak accident while working at the local bank. Then, not only does the bank deny fault, they also declare they’ll repossess the boy’s home. Pushed to the brink, the boy must ﬁnd money fast and so decides to rob the bank that’s oﬀended him. But he needs a team. Unfortunately for Jonathan, the only crew he has access to is three senior citizens. Admission $5, Members $3. For more information or to RSVP, contact Erin Moseley at 401421-4111, ext. 108 or emoseley@ jewishallianceri.org.

Thursday | Feb. 5

Thursday | Feb. 12

Leisure Club. 10 a.m. to Noon. Programming open to all adults. Temple EmanuEl, 99 Taft. Ave., Providence.

Leisure Club. 10 a.m. to Noon. Programming open to all adults. Seth Finkle will speak on a trip to Uganda working with the Invisible Children’s Project. Rabbi Wayne Franklin will speak on the process of conversion. Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft. Ave., Providence.

Wednesday | Feb. 4

Friday | Feb. 6

Temple Torat Yisrael’s Friday Night Live with Dinner. 6 p.m. Service. 7

Calendar Submissions Feb. 13, 2015 issue, PETS – must be received by FEB. 4. Feb. 27, 2015 issue, CAMP – must be received by FEB. 18.

SEND ALL CALENDAR ITEMS TO: editor@jewishallianceri.org with the subject line “CALENDAR.” Calendar entries may be edited for content, length and relevance. Please submit two weeks prior to issue of publication.

Sunday | Feb. 15 Purim Mitzvah Day. 1:30-4 p.m. The Phyllis Siperstein Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence. Hamentaschen making, costume parade, storytime, crafts and more…. All the Hamentaschen will be delivered to local nursing homes! Community service credits available. Sponsored by Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, The Phyllis Siperstein Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence, Jewish Seniors Agency, and URI Hillel. For more information, contact Michelle Cicchitelli at 401-421-4111, ext. 178 or mcicchitelli@jewishallianceri.org.

Monday | Feb. 16 Jewish Philosophy Reading Group. 7:45-9 p.m. Study important works of Jewish thought. Participants are asked to prepare short selections of reading in advance. This session is selections from Marc Shapiro’s “The Limits of Orthodox Theology.” Beth Sholom. 275 Camp St., Providence. 401-621-9393.

Monday | Feb. 23

Jewish Disability Awareness Month. From Awareness to Inclusion: “I’m Ready” & “A Pure Prayer.” 7-8:30 p.m. Dwares JCC. Two trigger ﬁlms from Ma’aleh Film School. In the ﬁlm “I’m Ready,” the special relationship between an elderly father and his son with Down syndrome breaks down when the father’s memory begins to fail due to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease. The collapse of their stable and happy routine forces upon the two a painful resolution of their problems. In the

ﬁlm “A Pure Prayer,” it is nearly Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement), and the synagogue is still short of a tenth man to make up the quorum for communal prayer. Schwartzman has no idea what to do. Rosa, his wife, has a solution—to bring Menachem, their son with special needs, to the synagogue. Menachem is 30, but he has never taken part in communal prayers. Sponsored by Ruderman Family Foundation, Yachad, Jewish Family Service, Temple EmanuEl and Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. For more information, contact Larry Katz, Director of Jewish Life & Learning, at lkatz@jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 179.

Friday | Feb. 27 PJ Library Purim Storytime. 10-11 a.m. Dwares JCC. Enjoy a PJ Library story, songs, movement, crafts and a holidaythemed snack. All children ages 5 and under are welcome. RSVP or more information, contact Michelle Cicchitelli at 401-421-4111, ext. 178 or mcicchitelli@jewishallianceri.org.

Sunday | March 29 Early Childhood Center Heroes Dinner. 6 p.m. Dwares JCC. Join us as we honor our David C. Isenberg Family Early Childhood Center Heroes David. C. Isenberg for his philanthropy and Ellen Judy Nagle for her 25 years of dedication. Dinner, dancing and auction. Sponsored by the David C. Isenberg Family Early Childhood Center Parent Committee. Admission $54. For more information, contact Nicole Katzman at 401-421-4111, ext. 180 or nkatzman@jewishallianceri.org.

Kosher halftime show streams on Feb. 1 NEW YORK – The Nachum Segal Network has announced the 2015 Kosher Halftime Show. Hosted by Jewish radio icon, Nachum Segal, the Kosher Halftime Show is a family oriented alternative to the pop culture musical and dance performance on broadcast television. The program will stream and be available during halftime of Super Bowl XLIX, Feb. 1 on w w w.n achumsegal. com. The program will feature Soulfarm, led by Grammy Award winning guitarist C Lanzbom and lead singer Noah Solomon Chase. Together with drummer Ben Antelis and Grammy Award winning bassist Mitch Friedman, Soulfarm will debut Shalom Lach Eretz Nehederet. This Hebrew song is a remake about wandering away from and then returning to Israel. “Featuring a band with the magnitude and talent of

Soulfarm makes the Kosher Halftime Show a real alternative for families during the Super Bowl,” says host Nachum Segal. “There are many families that enjoy watching the game together, but when the halftime show starts they are uncom for table. We’ve created a family friendly ent e r t a i n m e nt venue that can be enjoyed by everyone.” Last year’s inaugural show attracted tens of thousands of viewers during and in the weeks following the game. Soulfarm will perform two other tracks during the program. Following the game, the song Shalom Lach Eretz Nehederet will be available on iTunes, along with the rest of Soulfarm’s catalog, and the entire Kosher Halftime Show will be available on demand on NSN’s website and the NSN YouTube channel “NachumSegalNet”).

COMMUNITY

thejewishvoice.org

January 30, 2015 |

Congregation Am David’s new havuruh Congregation Am David in Warwick has formed a havuruh. Besides attending various activities, such as plays, movies, concerts and sporting events, the group is planning numerous cultural and educational activities, including a tour of early Jewish holdings in the Rhode Island Historical Society archives, a night under the stars from dusk to dawn at the Frosty Drew Observatory in Charlestown and a talk by National Park Service Ranger John Mcniff about Roger Williams and religious freedom. Monthly hikes are planned at local refuges, as well as walking tours of places of interest throughout New England. Social activities are planned, such as a monthly chess group, poker game and, when warmer weather arrives, golfi ng and chartering a sail boat for cruising Narragansett Bay. Nonmembers of Congregation Am David are welcome to join. Until a webpage is created to track the Am David Havuruh, consult The Jewish Voice, Grapevine, Providence Journal Online Calendar, WJAR TV Online Calendar, The Cranston Herald, The Warwick Beacon and other media outlets for events. Alternatively, contact either Mike Schlesinger at 914815-1002 or Mark Sweberg at 401-248-5010. Mark Sweberg will lead the following activities: Winter Wonderland Walk 2, Sunday, Feb. 15, 1:30-3:15 p.m. Get out and stretch your legs on this delightful winter ram-

THEY SEE COLOR WAR.

ble in Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge in South Kingstown. Two miles of wide trails at a gentle pace is a walk that children and their families can handle with ease. The water features are spectacular and scenery enticing. Dress for the weather. Meet directly at the Refuge at 1:20 p.m. The walk is limited to 15 people. Contact Mark at 401-2485010 to register, fi nd out more information and cancel at the last minute. Early Jewish Holdings in the Rhode Island Historical Society archives, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2-3 p.m.; Snow Date Tuesday, March 3, 2-3 p.m. Founded in 1822, the Rhode Island Historical Society is the fourth oldest state historical society in the United States. The archives have the largest and most important historical collections in existence relating to Rhode Island. We have arranged for a private tour of the archives, including a visit to the rarely accessible storage area, where historical collections are housed and processed. The curator has generously agreed to showcase items of Jewish interest, taken from the extensive holdings of mid 17thcentury Newport Jewry. Admission, payable at the door, is $7. The tour limit is 15 people. The strict registration deadline is Feb. 15. Contact Mark at 401-2485010 to register, fi nd out more information and cancel at the last minute. Afternoon under a Planetarium Dome, Sunday, March 8,

YOU SEE COLLABORATION.

Ziplining. Waterskiing. Shabbat under the stars. Jewish overnight camp is a chance for kids to explore who they are and who they want to become—while having the summer of their lives. Campers are bunkmates and team players, artists and athletes, creative problem-solvers and blossoming leaders. With more than 150 traditional and specialty options, there is a perfect Jewish camp experience for your child. First-time campers, get up to $1,000 off with OneHappyCamper.org or special rates through BunkConnect.org! For more information contact Elanah Chassen at 401.421.4111 ext. 140 or echassen@jewishallianceri.org.

2-3:15 p.m. The little-known Planetarium on URI’s Kingston campus is the second smallest freestanding planetarium in the world. Seating 21 people with a comfortable carpet for the younger set, it is both quaint and modern. Noted Rhode Island astronomer Francine Jackson has graciously agreed to offer a private showing of a dynamic, visually stunning program, along with a tour of the nighttime sky over Rhode Island. This will certainly appeal to kids and to the kid in all of us. Admission is $5, payable at the door. Contact Mark at 401-2485010 to register or fi nd out more information. Winter Wonderland Walk 3, Sunday, March 22, 1:30-3:15 p.m. The weather is moderating; walk off your late-winter blues in Warwick City Park. The 2.8 mile paved trail winds through the woods and past coves, fields and a beach. The walk is appropriate for all ages. Dress for the weather and bring water. Meet directly at the park entrance parking lot at 1:20 p.m. The walk is limited to 15 people. Contact Mark at 401-2485010 to register, fi nd out more information and cancel at the last minute. Roger Williams and Religious Freedom, Tuesday, March 24, 7-8:15 p.m. National Park Service Ranger John Mcniff will be offering a free and engaging talk at the Temple on this timely topic. An expert and well-informed

authority on Rhode Island history, Ranger McNiff will look at Roger Williams’ time in 17thcentury New England and at the end result of the struggle to establish the fi rst place in the New World with complete religious freedom. The talk will last about an hour, and there will be plenty of time for a Q and A. Please join the conversation. Contact Mark at 401-2485010 for more information. Singer/Songwriter to Warm up Cold Winter Day, Sunday, March 29, 2-4 p.m. Join us for a pleasant afternoon of music with Singer/ Songwriter Craig Sonnenfeld, of Brookline, Mass., at the temple. Born and raised a block from the Atlantic Ocean on the South Jersey shore, Craig grew up during the folk-boom of the ‘60s and was influenced by such artists as Bob Dylan, Gordon Lightfoot, Tom Paxton, Eric Andersen and Linda Ronstadt. Many have described Craig’s original songs as sounding like traditional folk songs; some are influenced by old classic country music, and some by old rural blues stylings. Craig tours throughout the east. Admission is $5, payable at the door. Visit craigsonnenfeld.com for a sample of his music and be prepared for a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon. Contact Mark at 401-2485010 for more information. Night Out Under the Stars, Saturday, April 18, Anytime, Dusk to Dawn Skilled astronomer and Director of the Frosty Drew Ob-

servatory, Scott MacNeill, has invited us to a free private viewing through the powerful telescope located at Ninigret Park, in Charlestown. The moon will be down most of the night, affording unsurpassed dark sky viewing of deep sky objects. We will observe planets and distant galaxies, nebula, star clusters, binary stars and constellations. We will look at objects tens of thousands of light years away. Knowing that there are 5.88 trillion miles in one light year, we’ll let you do the math. The Observatory will stay open as long as clouds, or the rising sun, will allow or until the last visitor falls asleep. The heated sky theater will be showcasing some of Scott’s astro-photography and providing a respite from the cold night. Dress for winter conditions. Call Mark at 401-248-5010 for more information. Early Spring Wonderland Walk 4, Sunday, April 26, 1:30-3:15 p.m. The warm breezes of spring are calling us outdoors to the Rhode Island Audubon Society’s Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge in Coventry. This moderate walk is about two miles long, winding past meadows and through the forest to Carr Pond. Bring water. Meet directly at the Refuge at 1:20 p.m. The walk is limited to 15 people. Contact Mark at 401-2485010 to register, fi nd out more information and cancel at the last minute.

12 | January 30, 2015

FOOD

The Jewish Voice

Sparkle up your Tu B’Shevat seder BY MOLLIE KATZEN JNS.org Winter fruit might seem less spectacular than the much more time-valued offerings of summer, but oranges and pears in particular, while quiet and “common,” can be the unexpected stars of simple savory dishes. This is perfect for Tu B’Shevat, the Jewish New Year for trees, which is a relatively unsung holiday. Sparkle up your Tu B’Shevat seder with an easy but surprising sweet potato-pear soup, which goes perfectly with a winter salad featuring crunchy, colorful leaves refreshingly coated with orange sections and a yogurty-orange vinaigrette, and exuberantly dotted with pistachios (also from trees). Finish the meal with an old-fashioned cake brimming with apples and walnuts, and studded with cranberries.

Cranapple Walnut Cake Servings: about 8 Back by popular demand from the original “Moosewood Cookbook,” this recipe now appears, adapted slightly, in “The Heart of the Plate.” You will likely want to serve this with some excellent vanilla ice cream. If you anticipate this need, be sure to have the ice cream on hand before you begin.

dish, herding it into light maindish terrain. You can wash and spin the salad leaves (keeping them cold and very dry), prepare the vinaigrette, and section the oranges well ahead of time. Dress and fi nish the salad immediately before serving. The tangy vinaigrette, freestanding, will keep very well – for weeks – in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator. Shake well, or stir from the bottom, before using.

The cake is quite sweet as is. If you are going to serve it with the ice cream, you might want want to reduce the sugar a notch or two—maybe to 1 1/2 cups. If you buy extra-fresh whole cranberries in season and freeze some, you can enjoy them year-round. No defrosting necessary. Use nonstick spray.

Ingredients: 1 3/4 cups (packed) light brown sugar 1/2 cup grapeseed or canola oil 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour (also called “white whole wheat” could also be unbleached all-purpose) 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 medium apples (about 1/2 pound) – peeled and thinly sliced 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (chopped to the size of peanuts) 1/2 pound fresh (or frozen) whole cranberries

Directions:

1. Lightly spray a 9 x 13-inch pan with nonstick spray. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. 2. In a medium-large bowl, beat together the sugar, oil and vanilla. Add the eggs, one at a

Vinaigrette ingredients:

Cranapple Walnut Cake time, beating well after each. 3. In a second bowl, combine the flour with the other dry ingredients until thoroughly blended. Add the dry mixture to the wet, stirring until combined, folding in the fruit and nuts as you go. The batter will be very thick. 4. Patiently spread the batter into the prepared pan (take your time spreading it in place) and bake in the center of the oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the cake pulls away from the sides of the pan, and the top surface is springy to the touch.

Winter Salad with Radicchio, Oranges, Pistachios and Yogurty-Orange Vinaigrette Servings: 4 Romaine and arugula join forces with radicchio and fresh orange sections, and an orangelaced yogurt dressing coats the leaves, allowing a scattering of pistachios to adhere at random. If you choose to form a bed of couscous or extra yogurt underneath each serving, you will be rewarded with an extra layer that both absorbs the delicious trickle-down juices and also boosts the volume of the

1 heaping tablespoon fi nely minced shallot 1 teaspoon agave nectar or honey 3 tablespoons orange juice 1 tablespoon cider vinegar 1/4 teaspoon salt (rounded measure) 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 1/4 cup plain yogurt (regular or Greek)

Salad ingredients: 1/2 pound very fresh radicchio (any type) Handful of small arugula leaves About 6 perfect, crisp romaine leaves 2 oranges, sectioned 1/2 cup lightly toasted pistachios

OPtional EnHanceMent: TU B’SHEVAT | 13

The Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island presents an evening of dialogue, learning, and community.

Elu v'Elu:

DRASH dessert

Navigating difference while building community.

February 7, 2015 | 7 pm Dwares JCC | 401 Elmgrove Avenue, Providence There is much conflict in the world and a decreasing opportunity for civil discourse, both in America as a whole and specifically in relation to how Jews talk about Israel. Join the Board of Rabbis for a look at how Jewish tradition treats disagreements and arguments and holds out the possibility of respectful, yet passionately engaged argumentation. There is no cost associated with this event and dessert will be provided.

7:00pm Havdalah and Introductory Session | 7:30pm Four Learning Sessions | 9:00pm Dessert Buffet Session 1 Is it Better to be Right or Polite? A look at a Playful but Serious Talmudic Text LED BY:

Rabbi Wayne Franklin Rabbi Alan Flam Rabbi Jim Rosenberg

Session 2 Heaven, Hell, and the Afterlife LED BY:

Rabbi Alvan Kaunfer Rabbi Andrew Klein

Session 3 Being JewISH Today: The Place of Jewish Particularism in a Universalist World LED BY:

Rabbi Sarah Mack Rabbi Michelle Dardashti Rabbi Marc Mandel

For more information contact Alliance Member Services at 401.421.4111 or memberservices@jewishallianceri.org.

Session 4 Meditation and Spiritual Practices: Judaism’s Diverse Offerings LED BY:

Rabbi Barry Dolinger Rabbi Aaron Philmus Rabbi Mark Elber

FOOD

thejewishvoice.org

Winter Salad with Radicchio, Oranges, Pistachios and Yogurty-Orange Vinaigrette FROM PAGE 12

TU B’SHEVAT

Spread yogurt and/or couscous on the plate underneath the salad, as a bed to catch the dressing (and to make this more of a light main course).

Vinaigrette Directions:

1. Combine the shallot, agave or honey, orange juice, vinegar and salt in a small bowl, and whisk to thoroughly blend. 2. Keep whisking as you drizzle in the olive oil, keeping up the action until it is completely incorporated. 3. Stir/whisk in the yogurt and mix until uniform. Cover and refrigerate until use.

Salad Directions: 1. Have the cleaned, dried salad leaves in a large-enough bowl. Break them into bitesized pieces as desired. 2. Add about 6 tablespoons of the vinaigrette, tossing as you go, to thoroughly coat all the leaves. Add the orange sections toward the end, mixing them in gently so they don’t break. 3 Sprinkle in the pistachios with the final toss, and serve pronto.

Sweet Potato-Pear Soup Servings: 5-6

Fresh pears and sweet potatoes are puréed together and finished off with touches of cinnamon and white wine. This unusual combination is slightly sweet, slightly tart and deeply soothing. My original version (published in “Still Life with Menu”) included milk or cream. This version is veganfriendly, using oil instead of butter. Use any wine that you enjoy drinking. And perhaps serve the rest of the bottle with the soup. Be sure to use the moist, orange variety of sweet potato (not the drier, starchier white type).

Ingredients:

2 medium-sized sweet potatoes (1 pound) 4 cups water 1 3-inch stick cinnamon 1 1/2 teaspoons salt 3 large ripe pears (any kind but Bosc, which are too grainy) 1 tablespoon unsalted butter – or grapeseed or canola oil 1/4 cup crisp white wine 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh lemon or lime juice (to taste) Cayenne or white pepper (optional)

Directions:

January 30, 2015 |

1. Peel sweet potatoes, and cut into small (about 3/4-inch) pieces. Place in a large saucepan with water, cinnamon stick and salt. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer until tender (about 10 minutes). Remove the cover and let it simmer an additional 5 minutes over medium heat. Remove and discard the cinnamon stick, and let the sweet potatoes rest in their cooking water while you fix the pears. 2. Peel and core the pears, and cut them into thin slices (about 1/4-inch). 3. Melt the butter (or heat the oil) in a heavy skillet over medium heat, and swirl to coat the pan. Add the pears, and cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes, or until quite soft. Add the wine, cover and simmer about 10 minutes longer over lowest possible heat. 4. Transfer the pear mixture to the sweet potatoes-au-jus, then purée everything together until smooth with an immersion blender (You can also use a stand blender in batches, and then return it to the pot.). 5. Add lemon or lime juice to taste, plus a touch of cayenne or white pepper, if desired, and serve the soup hot. (It reheats well, if necessary.) MOLLIE KATZEN is listed by the New York Times as one of the best-selling cookbook authors of all time. Her book, “The Heart of the Plate: Vegetarian Recipes for a New Generation,” was published in September 2013 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

FISH TALES About 125 people enjoyed a variety of smoked fish from legendary Russ & Daughters in New York City along with bagels, babka and ruglech on Jan. 14 while Marc Russ Federman entertained with tales about

the store started by his grandfather. After the meal and a chance to buy a signed copy of his book, the crowd watched “The Sturgeon Queens” a documentary about the store.

TEMPLE HABONIM IS SEEKING AN

Education Director (Part-Time) Or Education Director/Songleader (Full-Time) Beginning June 2015

We are a Reform congregation of 210 families with about 120 students between the ages of 5 and 16. Our ideal candidate is committed to and experienced in: • Making Jewish education fun, relevant, experiential and accessible to students • Inspiring teachers to build a community of learners together • Developing and maintaining an inclusive atmosphere respectful of and responsive to the needs of diverse learners • Engaging students and parents together in a love of Judaism • Tutoring students for Hebrew proficiency and B’nai Mitzvah preparation • Supervising Youth Group advisor to support thriving Youth Group for teens Additional Songleading experience (for full-time option): • Songleading and guitar playing at worship services and school assemblies • Collaborating with the rabbi to create engaging worship experiences Optimal Qualifications Sought: A degree in general education or specialized training in Jewish Education, knowledge and experience with Reform Jewish education and curriculum development for pre-K – 10th grades, experience in youth and family Jewish programming, excellent communication and organizational skills, supervisory and administrative experience.

Resume to: Education Director Search Committee Temple Habonim 165 New Meadow Road Barrington, RI 02806 401 245-6536 www.templehabonim.org or email to: employment@templehabonim.org

COMMUNITY

14 |â&#x20AC;&#x201A;January 30, 2015

The Jewish Voice

Israeli Stage comes to Rhode Island, performing about a teen with dyslexia BY LARRY KATZ lkatz@jewishallianceri.org The English language premiere of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Never Ever Everâ&#x20AC;? is coming to the Dwares JCC. On Feb. 3, Israeli Stage will introduce the audience to Yoni, a young man on a journey during the onehour performance. This one-person monodrama, is a coming-of-age story. Yoni runs away from school, from home and from himself. He runs away the moment he hears the words disabled and dyslexic. In this moving show, the audience experiences what it is like to feel like an outsider,

to feel different, be differently abled and yet at the same time, feel whole. The play is of interest to adults who know someone with disabilities, to teens who would like to learn what many peers experience and to anyone interested in Israeli drama. The play will be followed by a questionand-answer period with the creators of the performance. The play, which won four Assistej Awards in 2013, was written by Sivan Ben Yishai, directed by Guy Ben-Aharon and translated by Natalie Fainstein. It features Jordan Ahnquist. Originally from Tel Aviv,

Ben Yishai studied writing and directing at theÂ University of Tel Aviv while studying acting at Nissan Nativ acting studio. In her 10 years of artistic work, she has directed, written and produced various projects that have been performed in venues and festivals across Israel. In New England, Ahnquist has performed at The Barnstormers, The Welfleet Harbor Actorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Theater, Speakeasy Stage Company, The Lyric Stage Company, New Repertory Theatre and is often found

â&#x20AC;&#x153;This one-person monodrama, is a coming-of-age story.â&#x20AC;? in the cast of the long-running comedy, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Shear Madness,â&#x20AC;? at the Charles Playhouse. Elsewhere, Ahnquist has worked with Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, The Utah Shakespeare Festival and Montana Shakespeare. He holds a B.A. in theater from Muhlenberg College. Israeli Stage (IsraeliStage. com) is dedicatedÂ to sharing the diversity and vitality of Israeli culture through theater and has presented more than 15 plays in translation at more than 25 different locations on the East Coast. Israeli StageÂ has been profiled inÂ Haâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;aretz,Â The Boston Globe,Â The Improper Bostonian,Â The Washington PostÂ and YediotÂ for the unique work it does to build cultural bridges

Kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Tickets $10! Ages 2-12. Limit of four (4) kidsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tickets with purchase of a full-price adult ticket. Restrictions, exclusions and additional charges may apply. Subject to availability. Excludes premium seats. Tickets $2 more day of show.

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between the United States and Israel. This is the first program for Jewish Disability Awareness Month. The following Monday, Feb. 9, Brown Universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Artists and Scientists as Partners program will host Elaine Hall and screen â&#x20AC;&#x153;Autism: The Musical,â&#x20AC;? in which Elaine stars. Two Israeli short films and a panel

discussion will take place on Monday, Feb. 23. All programs will take place at 7 p.m. in the Social Hall of the Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence . LARRY KATZ is director of Jewish Life and Learning at the Jewish Alliance.

COMMUNITY

thejewishvoice.org

January 30, 2015 |

‘Autism: The Musical’ at the Dwares JCC See the ﬁlm and stay for discussion BY BARRY M. PRIZANT

Online Jewish Newspaper Your Only Rhode Island

A screening of the film “Autism: The Musical” will be presented on Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. at the Dwares Jewish Community Center, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, followed by a family panel. The film chronicles a theater and musical arts program developed by Elaine Hall, author, international speaker, professional acting coach and founder of “The Miracle Project,” an award-winning theater and musical arts program for children with special needs. Hall is also a Jewish educator who has developed innovative programs in the Los Angeles synagogue community to support and include families who have members with special needs. She is the mother of a young adult son with autism, whom she adopted as an infant from Siberia. “Autism: The Musical” is a two-time Emmy-winning documentary that has been the catalyst for the development of “Miracle Projects” nationally and internationally. The film follows Hall, five children with autism and their parents over many months as they create an original stage production. Through trial and error and tears and laughter, these families learn to communicate their feelings, hopes and dreams as they observe their children participate in song and theater performance. The film speaks to the power and joy of participating in the expressive arts as a means of creating

community. Following the film, Hall will facilitate a discussion among a panel of family members who have children with a variety of special needs, ranging in age and type of disability. The film’s universal themes are relevant for all families that have a member with special needs; it cele-

brates the power of the human spirit in all individuals, despite the challenges they may face. This activity, along with other activities sponsored by the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island in February, will raise awareness of the issues faced by families that have members with special needs. The ultimate goal is to increase understanding and inclusion for all persons with special needs in religious and lay communities. Elaine Hall is also the author of two books. Her memoir, “Now I See the Moon: A Mother, a Son, a Miracle,” was selected as a recommended reading for Jewish Disability Awareness Month by the Jewish Federation of North America. “Seven Keys to Unlock Autism: Making Mira-

PRESENTED BY

Elaine Hall

GARDEN ADVENTURES

February 19 - 22, 2015 RI Convention Center

www.FLOWERSHOW.com Immerse Yourself in Spring and Leave Winter Far, Far Behind! Stroll through Breathtaking Garden Displays Including Tunnel Garden, Treehouse and other Interactive Gardens Check Out Special Guest Speakers & Demonstrations

cles in the Classroom” is her other work. She has addressed the United Nations two times as a disabilities advocate. The film and panel discussion is intended for families, educators, therapists, doctors, students and professionals who want to learn more about individuals with special needs, the experience of families and ways to integrate music, movement, and creative dramatics into a child’s life.

Elaine will sign her books, which will be available for purchase, as will her DVD. This free event is open to the public. It is sponsored by the Alliance, Brown University’s Artists and Scientists as Partners Group and Temple Emanu-El. BARRY M. PRIZANT is an adjunct professor at Brown University and director of Childhood Communication services in Cranston.

Your only online R.I. Jewish newspaper

jvhri.org

RIEEA KID’S ADVENTURE ZONE Fun & Interactive Nature Activities - Touch Tanks Puppet Shows - Storytelling Roger Williams Park Zoo Zoomobile Live Animal Presentations - AND MORE!

Purchase Tickets: Online with Ticketmaster.com , FlowerShow.com , Charge by Phone 800-745-3000 or in advance at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center Box Office

16 | January 30, 2015 FROM PAGE 1

FINANCE | PHILANTHROPY

EDGE

could hear the desperation in Miriam’s voice and encouraged her to call the community concierge at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. Just months earlier, Shirley – a frequent patron of the Senior Café at the Dwares JCC – had called Wendy Joering, the community concierge, seeking assistance. Shirley, 69, spent eight years providing care for her ailing parents. After her mother died, last summer, she was at a fi nancial breaking point. “You can be assured that Wendy will respond immediately,” Shirley explained to Miriam, “and everything will be confidential.” The following day, Miriam called and poured out her heart to Joering, whose role as community concierge has expanded. Once thought to be the go-toplace for obtaining information such as the best bagels in Rhode Island, or a resource to fi nd Hebrew tutors, the concierge’s role has developed into a more critical function since the Living on the Edge initiative. In Miriam’s case, that humble phone call to Joering triggered the coordinated efforts of the Jewish Alliance, Jewish Family Service (JFS), and The Louis and Goldie Chester Full Plate Kosher Food Pantry through Jewish Seniors Agency (JSA). Miriam had been out of the workforce since her son Adam

was born, so she needed some vocational guidance. This included help updating her resume, some computer training, as well as navigating state unemployment services. Ted, a former school teacher, volunteered to help Adam with homework, food from the Kosher food pantry was delivered to their home and JFS set up grief counseling for the family. When Joering found out that Adam was wearing a winter coat that was too small, she was able to offer Miriam a gift card to Burlington Coat Factory that was made available through the generosity of crowdfunding via Jboost. org. “The road ahead will be difficult, and Miriam is still in pain,” said Joering. “But she and her son are cared for, supported by a network of services, and they are in the hearts and on the minds of a caring community.” Calls from individuals like Shirley and Miriam have become commonplace for Joering, and the collaboration with partner agencies has become much more routine. During the past year, the Alliance, its community partners, rabbis and lay leaders have fashioned a response to the “Living on the Edge” study that identified the prevalence of social and fi nancial insecurity in the Jewish community of greater R.I.

A visual guide to the

The need:

The Jewish Voice

The programs, designed to help those affected by the economic downturn, include a broad array of coordinated services inspired by Jewish values. The goal of these endeavors is to provide a safety net, promote self-sufficiency and increase access to Jewish life. To date, the Living on the Edge Steering Committee, chaired by Alan Hassenfeld and Susan Leach DeBlasio, has authorized $47,500 for emergency assistance, and dozens of individuals have already benefited. Here is an update on the initiatives created as a result of this incredibly impactful endeavor.

Jboost.org

Jboost.org, the community’s crowdfunding platform, is designed to support local projects and better the lives of the economically vulnerable in the community. The current project, in partnership with JFS, encourages seniors to experience the warmth of a kosher meal site. Senior Café wants to promote its inclusive environment by offering fi rst-time attendees a $3 voucher for a free kosher meal, good at either of its two convenient locations – the Dwares JCC in Providence or at Temple Am David in Warwick. The crowdfunding goal through Jboost.org is $300, which will allow 100 seniors to enjoy a healthy meal, physical

activity and time with friends. “Another recent Jboost project called ‘Keep a Child Warm’ collected funds to help outfit children for winter,” said Simon Lichter, planning associate for the Living on the Edge initiative. “It was brought to our attention that many children in our community did not have warm winter coats, gloves, hats or scarves. With the help of the Jewish community, we identified dozens of children who would benefit from this project.” The power of crowdfunding raised nearly $1,500 and was a source of warmth for children in the community. Additionally, an anonymous donor matched each donation made to the ‘Keep a Child Warm’ Jboost project with a pair of winter gloves and a hat. By working with rabbis, Kesher social workers and school directors, the Alliance distributed 30 Burlington Coat Factory gift cards valued at $50 each. The response from the families was often emotional, as was the case with Miriam and her son Adam. “We are asking that you – our Jewish community – share Jboost.org with your network of family and friends on Facebook and other social media platforms to help us spread the word,” said David Leach, chair of the Jboost subcommittee.

“Be sure to check back regularly as new projects are posted to Jboost.org that will resonate with a variety of people.” The best part? A gift in any amount helps! Whether it’s $1, $5 or $18 – every gift counts, and making a donation in someone’s memory or honor is encouraged.

AccessJewishRI.org

The Alliance, JFS, JSA and local synagogues have been successful in linking people with resources by consistently and creatively responding to the community’s changing needs. However, in recent years economic instability has risen dramatically in the local community. AccessJewishRI.org, a soonto-be launched Information & Referral (I&R) website, will bring people and services together and will include a personalized, confidential phone line. It will be a user-friendly single point of contact to access the multitude of services, activities and resources provided by community, social, health and government organizations in greater Rhode Island. The creation of an I&R website is the result of collaborations that depend on the work of dozens of community-based organizations. It will be a resource for many at-risk individuals, such as the economically EDGE | 17

LIVING ON THE EDGE initiative

Summary of Findings on Economic Insecurity among Jewish Households in Greater Rhode Island: Economically Vulnerable: 30%

Households whose earnings appear to be sufficient but which are susceptible to becoming financially unstable

Near Poverty: 18%

Households who struggle to make ends meet, but earn too much to be eligible for most forms of public assistance

Poverty: 2%

Households which include four or more members with a combined income of less than $23,550

30% economically vulnerable

18% near poverty

2% living in poverty

50% economically insecure

The findings of this study make clear that even modest expenditures can be catastrophic for households teetering on the economic edge.

Goals:

Our response:

A crowdfunding website that funds local Jewish projects and encourages the participation of individuals from all income levels.

Jboost.org:

This information and referral portal will link users to a full array of communal and secular services with tools to help map out which services people are eligible for and how to access those resources.

Provide a Safety Net

AccessJewishRI.org: Vocational Assistance & Job Brokering:

Assistance with career and job search services for both the under and unemployed.

Volunteerism: Teaching the “Torah” of giving and receiving help:

Increase Self-Sufficiency Volunteers will be matched with opportunities in their field of interest, filling a crucial gap in our community. Our greater Rhode Island Rabbis are creating a framework for teaching the “Torah” of assistance that recognizes both giving and receiving help as integral to Jewish tradition and values.

Increase Access to Jewish Life

*Based on the report Living on the Edge: Economic Insecurity Among Jewish Households in Greater Rhode Island written by Fern Chertok, Daniel Parmer with Ellie Aitan and Joshua Davidson Steinhardt Social Research Institute at Brandeis University | commissioned by the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and Alan Hassenfeld | Published September 2013

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FROM PAGE 16

January 30, 2015 |

EDGE

vulnerable, non-English speakers, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities. “AccessJewishRI.org will be a simple and engaging way to find information most relevant to one’s own needs and interests,” said Joering, community concierge. “Whether for eldercare issues, mental health assistance, foreclosure, parenting resources or Jewish life, AccessJewishRI.org will help individuals access what they need, when they need it.” “By offering resources and compassion, we can remove the stigma often associated with economic vulnerability,” added Dick Silverman, committee chair of AccessJewishRI. Projected launch for the website is scheduled for the spring of 2015.

Vocational Assistance and Job Brokering

A staggering number of households in greater Rhode Island’s Jewish community are economically vulnerable due to under- or unemployment. The economic stability of these households can change month to month, and even modest, unexpected expenses or loss of hours at work can catapult a family earning a median income into hardship resulting in the need for external and immediate assistance. “There is a clear need for career and job search services for both the under- and unemployed,” said Susan Bazar, chair of the Vocational Assistance subcommittee. “It is our goal to assist in resume building, interview skills, networking and even wardrobe consultation,” said Jennifer Zwirn, coordinator of vocational services. “Let’s face it – the right outfit inspires confidence.” Influenced by existing communal organizations, including netWorkRI and Jewish Vocational Services from Boston, Bazar and Zwirn hope to see competent individuals like Miriam secure quality jobs. The intent is to foster self-sufficiency, professional confidence and safety measures against further economic insecurity. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, Rhode Island has one of the nation’s highest unemployment rates, and the state has taken longer to rebound from the recession. Therefore, the need for continued job training, networking and one-on-one support is critical. “We’ve already connected several people to potential employers through networking within the Jewish community,” said Zwirn. “One client has already secured a job.” Once launched, individuals seeking employment assistance will be able to use AccessJewishRI.org as a resource, or they may call the Alliance directly.

Volunteerism

Why do people get involved as volunteers in an organiza-

Volunteerism brings personal satisfaction and is critical to the community. tion? Every person has his or her own motivating force. Most people volunteer because of their passion for a cause, because they have a strong level of commitment or because they have something valuable to offer. Whatever the reason, the fact of the matter remains: Volunteerism is crucial to our success as a community. “There is power in volunteering – in lending a hand and sharing a skill,” said Ted, who meets with Miriam’s son Adam once a week at the local library. “Volunteerism doesn’t have to be time-consuming or overwhelming, but it is critical.” The time and tasks vary, but there is something for everyone. Robyn Goldstein, Living on the Edge navigator and Jewish volunteer corps coordinator, explained, “It could be as simple as or as impactful as you want it to be. Want to proof someone’s resume from home twice a month or transport Kosher meals to isolated seniors? There are opportunities for teens, stay-at-home-moms, retirees and everyone in between. We recognize everyone has something unique to give in the way of volunteerism. We encourage people to ask how they can help; we will match volunteer opportunities that align with your time and talents.” One volunteer, who wishes to remain anonymous, expressed it in this way: “Volunteering allowed me to connect with people in the community. This has become really enjoyable for me, and I feel like I am helping the most vulnerable members of our community.”

Teaching the Torah

When the “Living on the Edge” study was released in 2013, greater Rhode Island rabbis reported many of their congregants were facing fi-

nancial challenges: 78 percent struggled to pay bills, were under- or unemployed, had a lack of adequate food, and/or had no access to healthcare, while 18 percent experienced housing instability or homelessness. “There is urgent need in our community,” said Rabbi Barry Dolinger of Congregation Beth Sholom. “It is a Torah imperative for us to respond swiftly and generously.” “There is nothing Jewish

about poverty – but our response can be Jewish,” said Susan Leach DeBlasio, co-chair of the Living on the Edge initiative. Teaching the Torah of giving and receiving help will create a new framework for teaching Jewish traditions and values. This might take the form of rabbinic messages from the pulpit, one-on-one pastoral care or educational units in supplementary and day schools. The message to be conveyed is that reaching out and caring for others is a basic tenant of Judaism and is an integral and ongoing part of Jewish life. Just as important, the receipt of help does not make one a less valued or less welcome member of the community. There need not be a stigma about asking for and receiving help. During one of Adam’s tutoring sessions, he told Ted that someday he wanted to volunteer and give back to the Jewish community because they’ve given him and his mom so much. That’s not living on the edge, that’s gaining the edge. N EED AS SISTA NCE? Contact Wendy Joering, community concierge, at 401421-4111, ext. 169 or wjoering@ jewishallianceri.org. KARA MARZIALI is the director of communications for the Jewish Alliance and is actively involved with AccessJewishRI.org.

n the current economy, many of us find ourselves in need of support – even those who never expected to need assistance. There are no stigmas attached. The message is: the Jewish community is here. Partnering with agencies and synagogues, the Alliance can leverage our combined strengths to offer coordinated services. We stand with our neighbors because that is what caring Jewish communities do; we take care of one another. We are mindful of what we can do together, of what we can make possible. JEFFREY K. SAVIT president & CEO, Jewish Alliance of Greater R.I.

18 | January 30, 2015

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The Jewish Voice

Cohen school students inspired to ‘fill a bucket’ BY DORI ADLER Inspired by the book “Have You Filled a Bucket Today? A Guide to Daily Happiness for Kids” by Carol McCloud, the Cohen School at Temple Torat Yisrael spent Jan. 18 improving the well-being of others in the Rhode Island community. Through acts of tzedakah, the students could feel how rewarding it is to help those in need of food and toiletries. The book uses the metaphors of “bucket filling and dipping” to explain the effects of our actions on the well-being of others and their positive impact on ourselves. When we are kind and do nice things for others, we fill their “invisible bucket” and our own, which enables them to feel loved and valued. When we use mean words, or do unkind things to others, we dip their “invisible bucket” and cause harm to them and ourselves. Combining this concept with the Jewish value of tikkun olam (repairing and healing the world) we, at the Cohen School, have accepted the challenge and responsibility as a community to heal and repair the world and its people through human actions. Each one of our students can work toward the betterment of himself, others and, most important, the lives of our future generations. Encouraging positive behavior, such as acts of loving kindness, and providing opportunities to feel how rewarding it can be to change, improve or fix someone else’s day or life story are Jewish values that we re-

Sixth graders, Jordan Kalinsky, Jennifer Berman and Samantha Finder play Hebrew Bingo. spect and honor. This is why the Cohen School, this year, has developed a new monthly Community Tzedakah/Mitzvah program, facilitated by Barbara Dwares, that focuses on social action and meeting the unique needs of the community in Rhode Island. This month was dedicated to helping the East Greenwich

St. Luke’s Food Cupboard and the Warwick Family Shelter. The school day, with assistance from the teachers, was filled with many exciting activities. Students made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches as part of “Max’s Lunch Bunch program,” and decorated beautiful brown bags for each sandwich. This personal touch was ap-

COURTESY | TORAT ISRAEL

Jake Evans and Brayden Stanger make sandwiches. preciated by the recipients at St. Luke’s Food Cupboard. It brought a smile to their faces to see the artwork of the students. Students played Hebrew bingo, Hebrew number basketball and bean bag toss to win small toiletries that would be donated to the Warwick Family Shelter. This MLK Day program also provided students with the opportunity to create thank you cards for the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) and make delicious Israeli salad in the kitchen. Rabbi Aaron Philmus and Education Director Dori Adler

engaged in discussions about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his similarities to Moses, including what we, as Jews, can learn from his passion, struggles, life vision and bravery. To complete this amazing day of tikkun olam and “bucket filling,” many families enjoyed a school lunch that included the delicious Israeli salad prepared by the students. DORI ADLER is Education Director of the Cohen School at Temple Torat Yisrael in East Greenwich.

FINANCE | PHILANTHROPY

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Dor L’Dor Society widens its reach BY JENNIFER ZWIRN jzwirn@jewishallianceri. org Until recently, the Dor L’Dor Society included only individuals who established a bequest or a planned gift with the Jewish Federation Foundation. Now, the Jewish Federation Foundation announces a modification to those criteria to include those who have established endowment funds as well. “We would like to thank those who believe in our Jewish community. By opening up the Dor L’Dor Society, it gives us the opportunity to include even more of those who recognize the important work we do to secure our Jewish future,” said Jay Rosenstein, chair of the Board of the Jewish Federation Foundation. The Foundation was established in 1945 as the endowment fund of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. Key to the success of the future of the Jewish community is planning ahead. By establishing a bequest or endowment, donors ensure and preserve the community’s vibrant Jewish future by contributing to the Jewish Federation Foundation in perpetuity and leaving a legacy, thereby becoming Dor L’Dor Society members. Each year, the Jewish Federation Foundation publishes a celebrated honor roll of Dor L’Dor members in the annual donor report to mark their foresight and to inspire others. Dor L’Dor members demonstrate commitment to the Jewish community and are celebrated throughout the year. Members are also honored guests at the Jewish Federation Foundation special annual event.

This year’s program will be held on April 30 at noon and will feature Martin Greenfield, author of “Measure of a Man: From Auschwitz Survivor to Presidents’ Tailor,” a memoir of a man who suffered unimaginable horror yet emerged with dreams of success. Now 86 and working with his sons, Greenfield has dressed the famous of Hollywood and powerful of D.C., including Presidents Eisenhower, Clinton and Obama. Greenfield was seized from his Czechoslovakian home at age 15 and shipped to the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz with his family, where he was separated forever from his parents and siblings. In haunting reflection and powerful prose, Greenfield remembers his desperation and fear as a teenager alone in the death camp and how an SS soldier’s shirt dramatically altered the course of his life. Greenfield learned how to sew and when he began wearing

the soldier’s shirt under his prisoner uniform, as he shares in his book, he learned that clothes possess great power and may even help save his life: “Of course, receiving your fi rst tailoring lesson inside a Nazi concentration camp was hardly the ideal apprenticeship. I would have much preferred to hone my craft on Savile Row or in the mills of Milan. Looking back, though, that moment in the camps marked the beginning of the rest of my life. Strangely enough, two ripped Nazi shirts helped this Jew build America’s most famous and successful custom suit company. God has a wonderful sense of a humor.” The account of Greenfield’s life inspires hope and renews faith in the resilience of man, and reinforces the timeless strength of Jews. This is the very reason becoming a member of the Dor L’ Dor Society is vital today. There are many ways to make a planned gift to the Jewish Federation Foundation and to become a member of the Dor L’Dor Society. Contact Trine Lustig, vice president of Philanthropy, to discuss creating a lasting legacy within the community at 401-421-4111, ext. 227 or tlustig@ jewishallianceri.org. JENNIFER ZWIRN is in grants and philanthropy at the Jewish Alliance.

January 30, 2015 |

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Kosher food pantry fill plates of Jews in need BY SUSAN ADLER The Louis and Goldie Chester Full Plate Kosher Food Pantry is truly a family affair. Family by household, family by working together closely and family because as Jews we know it is our responsibility to take care of each other. We cannot put into words how unassuming all our volunteers are. The volunteers, who shop, bag the food, deliver, clean and help those in need do this for all the right reasons. When asked to be in a picture for this article, these volunteers requested a photo of the pantry only. They do not want recognition or glory. What they say they really want is to get the word out to the community about The Louis and Goldie Chester Full Plate Kosher Food Pantry, a program of Jewish Seniors Agency of Rhode Island. Since opening our doors as the first-ever kosher food pantry in Rhode Island, The Louis and Goldie Chester Full Plate Kosher Food Pantry has given out close to 193 tons of food to those in need of kosher food. Yes, Jewish people across the state of Rhode Island are in need of assistance to fill their plates. We serve an average of 115 households each month and we see new faces each month. When they receive food, we at

the pantry take away their worries as they do not have to compromise their beliefs, values and traditions. A team of volunteers delivers food to those who are not able to drive to the pantry, and people are welcome to come to pick out food themselves. Some people might have plates that are full but not from food. They are full with worry and situations that are hard for others to grasp.

Imagine living in an apartment that is less than desirable. Imagine living in a place of filth, bugs and mold with a ceiling that is ready to collapse. At the pantry we can understand this because we rescued someone facing these challenges and helped this person move into another much more habitable facility. It was a situation that afforded us the opportunity to reach out to Wendy Joering at

the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and Jewish Family Service for assistance. As an agency, it is reassuring to know that we have a community at large that truly cares. We have been blessed to have our temple families across the state, along with the Jewish Community Day School and the Providence Hebrew Day School, who have done an incredible job of collecting food for us. As we

are counting down to our sixyear anniversary, our wishes are quite simple: make sure that our shelves are always filled with food and that if people need the pantry that they reach out to us for assistance. People can always contact their rabbi for assistance and the rabbi will call us. If you need food or know of someone who does, you can also contact Wendy Joering or Robyn Goldstein at the Alliance, 401-421-4111. How wonderful it is that as a family we truly have each other’s backs when it comes to helping out. The pantry is serving the needs of the community, and we get to reap the benefits knowing we are helping those in need. If you would like to donate food to the pantry, if you are interested in volunteering, if you have any question about how you can help fulfill this mitzvah or if you know someone who needs help to fill their plate, please contact Susan at sadler-jeri@ jsari.org or at 401-621-5374. The pantry is a partner agency of the Alliance SUSAN ADLER is coordinator of The Louis and Goldie Chester Full Plate Kosher Food Pantry and director of Jewish Eldercare of Rhode Island.

Connecting Rhode Islanders to services through 2-1-1 “I always thought 2-1-1 was just for people who were struggling, but now I know it’s a resource I could call if I was looking for information to help my aging parents.” — Colleen Dickson, Chair of United Way of Rhode Island’s Women’s Leadership Council

United Way’s 2-1-1 in Rhode Island provides the connection that helps everyone find assistance with everything from childcare needs to mental health issues, food and rental assistance, gambling problems and elder care services. This free and confidential service is available 24 hours a day, every day.

When Rhode Islanders help Rhode Islanders, we get results. United Way of Rhode Island’s fundraising and administrative costs are covered by the Rhode Island Charities Trust, allowing donations to support people and programs.

www.LIVEUNITEDri.org

JewishVoice_Jan2015_halfpg_2-1-1.indd 1

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Security in retirement On Aug. 14 1935, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. In 1937 Earnest Ackerman earned the very first Social Security payment RETIREMENT of 17 cents. A lot has CAFE changed since 1937. ANDREW Accord i ng MILLER to the Social Security Press Office, in 2013 alone: 57 million people received a total $68.5 billion every month, yet the foundation behind FDR’s vision has not wavered, “Help individuals and their families meet the fundamentals of survivorship.” Deciding when to begin taking retirement benefits from Social Security is a personal decision, yet the concerns shaping your options have changed significantly. Financial resources, spouse’s needs, your current health, and family history must factor into your decision when to begin collecting. However these factors play a role, understanding your decision to begin collecting Social Security and the role it plays in retirement income planning may be the most important financial decision you make in retirement. Let’s address a few opportunities available to help enhance your Social Security payments in harmony with your retirement income streams. Beginning payments too early may cost you tens of thousands of dollars. Worse, pulling the trigger too quickly may hurt you significantly in your final years, when it’s too late to do anything about it. While you may begin receiving your Social Security benefit at age 62, the amount of your benefit, in many cases, is 25 percent less than what you would receive at your full retirement age (66 years old for anyone born before 1960; 67 years old thereafter). Furthermore, if you are able to delay receiving your benefits until the age of 70, you will receive additional “retirement credits” every year between your Full Retirement Age and age 70, which currently amounts to an increase of 8 percent each year, according to the Social Security Administration. Therefore you may be significantly rewarded for waiting until you reach the age of 70. This advanced level of payment offers relief for other income streams earmarked for your core expenses in retirement, in the end maintaining more available assets to fulfill your legacy planning goals, retirement dreams and wishes. A communal benefit to help married couples enhance their retirement income planning is

a strategy called “Claim-andSuspend.” This strategy offers a way for married couples to maximize their social security benefits throughout retirement, and makes a lot of sense for couples in a situation where one spouse was the traditional breadwinner and the other earned substantially less. Beginning at full retirement age, a spouse has the choice of filing relative to his or her own work record or the work record of the spouse. Any decision to collect spousal benefits rather than your own from ages 66 to 70 is part of this strategy designed to increase the couple’s cumulative lifetime benefits. Bear in mind, the ability to “Claimand-Suspend” is only available to people who have reached full

retirement age, so filing at age 62 takes this option off the table. Each person and family situation is unique; do not assume that generalities apply when it comes to you and your family. Furthermore, do not allow negative commentary about the future of the Social Security system interfere with your need to understand the role it plays in your retirement income goals. Be informed and meet with your retirement planner. ANDREW S. MILLER is a Chartered Retirement Plan Specialist with the College of Financial Planning. Send your questions to amillerri@gmail. com.

January 30, 2015 |

22 | January 30, 2015

BUSINESS

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Auschwitz Foundation close to endowment goal JTA – In advance of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the AuschwitzBirkenau Foundation said it has nearly reached its approximately $156 million campaign goal. The total of $140 million includes $9 million in newly announced donations from six leading philanthropists, the foundation announced last week. The campaign was created in 2009 by the independent foundation to fund a perpetual endowment to preserve the authentic remains, buildings, ruins, artifacts, documents and artworks at the Auschwitz Memorial, which includes the Auschwitz I and Auschwitz II-Birkenau Nazi camps. Jacek Kastelaniec, director general of the Auschwitz-

Birkenau Foundation, calls Auschwitz a symbol of the Holocaust. “It is also a one-of-a kind educational facility where young people may learn about the terrible outcomes of anti-Semitism, racism and hatred,” he said. “The Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation’s sole purpose is to make sure that the authenticity of this unique memorial will survive so next generations will be able to understand what the words ‘never again’ mean.” More than 1.5 million people from around the world visited the memorial in 2014. The number of visitors has continued to rise over the last decade. To date, 34 countries have donated $136 million, with the largest contribution from Germany, followed by the United States and Poland.

The private donors include Melinda Goldrich and Andrea Goldrich Cayton and the Goldrich Family Foundation; Elly Kleinman; Frank Lowy, a Holocaust survivor; Lily Safra and the Edmond J. Safra Foundation; Steven Spielberg’s Righteous Persons Foundation; and Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, whose prior funding modernized the memorial’s conservation laboratories. Several hundred survivors are expected to attend the 70th anniversary commemoration on Jan. 27 along with donors and many heads of state. Auschwitz Memorial leaders say it is likely the last time that such a large number of survivors will be in attendance due to their advanced ages.

Politician who said Greek Jews don’t pay taxes tapped as defense chief ATHENS, Greece (JTA) – Panos Kammenos, a right-wing politician who said Jews don’t pay taxes, was appointed the defense minister of Greece. Kammenos, who heads the ultranationalist Independent Greeks, was appointed to the post in the new government Jan. 27 after joining the coalition of the newly elected far-left Syriza party, which won handily in the Jan. 25 national elections. While the parties are far apart on most issues, they are united by a common rejection of the harsh terms imposed on Greece in the financial bailout.

Kammenos drew condemnation from Greece’s Jewish community in December after he said on television that Greek Jews don’t pay taxes – a remark denied publicly by a government official, who called it “conspiracy theories, lies and slander” that had become a part of “the dark side of the Internet.” As defense minister, Kammenos will oversee the military ties with Israel that have become much closer in recent years. Even considering the taxes statement, he is still likely to be more pro-Israel than the Syriza lawmakers, who have taken part in protests against

Israel, with some even participating in the flotillas to Gaza. Conspiracy theories are rife in Kammenos’ ultranationalist party, which frequently blames outsiders for the economic woes befalling Greece. A recent Anti-Defamation League poll found that antiSemitic stereotypes are widespread in Greece and that the country had the highest percentage of anti-Semitic views in Europe. In the elections, the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party retained its position as the third-largest party in Greece.

January 30, 2015 |

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The Jewish Voice

Meet Stefan Zweig, the Jewish novelist who inspired ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’ BY GABE FRIEDMAN JTA —Wes Anderson’s whimsical film “The Grand Budapest Hotel” was nominated for nine Academy Awards last week, just days after winning the Golden Globe for Best Comedy or Musical. Named one of the best films of the year by several top critics, it could earn Anderson, a director whose cult following has steadily grown over the past decade, his first Oscar. It will also likely raise the profile of Stefan Zweig, the Austrian Jewish novelist who, Anderson has said, inspired the film’s quirky Eastern European setting and several of its characters. Indeed, a new book about him, “The Impossible Exile: Stefan Zweig at the End of the World,” just won the Jewish Book Council’s National Jewish

Book Award for Best Jewish Biography. During the 1920s and ‘30s, Zweig was one of the world’s most prominent novelists. Born to wealthy Jewish parents in 1881, he earned a doctorate in philosophy at the University of Vienna in 1904 and fell in with the Austrian and German literary intellectual crowds of the time. Although he was not a practicing Jew, he became friends with Theodor Herzl, who published some of his earliest essays in the Neue Freie Presse, then Vienna’s leading newspaper. Later, during his peak decades of popularity, Zweig became close to Sigmund Freud, whose psychoanalytic theories influenced his fiction. (Zweig even gave a eulogy at Freud’s funeral in 1939.) In 1942, after years of unhappy emigration through England and South America forced upon him by Hitler’s rise to power, Zweig and his wife committed suicide by overdosing on barbiturates. It is unclear why Zweig’s faFROM PAGE 1

mous works, such as “Beware of Pity” and “Confusion of Feelings,” fell into such obscurity in the years after World War II. Some critics, such as Adam Kirsch writing in The New Republic, have noted that Zweig symbolized a liberal prewar state of mind and was intensely nostalgic. Perhaps it was not a coincidence that Zweig’s autobiography was called “The World of Yesterday.” “The Grand Budapest Hotel” and the awardwinning biography are not the only examples of Zweig’s recent re-emergence. The New York Times has reported that new translations and editions of

Zweig’s work have gradually reappeared over the past few years before Anderson’s film (which was released in March

2014). New editions of his fiction, including his collected stories, are being published, with some appearing in English for the first time. Movies are being adapted from his writing; a new selection of his letters is in the works; plans to reissue his many biographies and essays are in motion; and his complicated life has provided inspiration for new biographies and a best-selling French novel. Some of these examples include the 2013 French film “A Promise,” which is based on Zweig’s novella “Journey Into the Past” and the Swiss film “Mary Queen of Scots” from the same year, which is based on Zweig’s novel “Maria Stuart.” Publishers such as the Pushkin Press have published editions of over 20 of Zweig’s fictional works in recent years. So regardless of how “The Grand Budapest Hotel” fares at the Oscars, we could be seeing (and reading) a lot more of Stefan Zweig in the years to come.

PILGRIMAGE

generation to the next either by recessive or dominant genes. And then there are nonhereditary illnesses which arise more readily in Jewish populations by virtue of some religion-oriented idiosyncrasy in diet or lifestyle. The subsequent columns, well over 100 of them, touched upon the professional lives of members within the local

Jewish community (e.g., Beck, Goldowsky, Hamolsky, Lichtman), those beyond Rhode Island but within a century (e.g., Sachs, Jacobi, Koplik, Touro, Sanger, Baruch, Metchnikoff, Galton, Sabin, Lewis/ Clark, Salk, Axelrod, Ehrlich, Wald, Goldwater), and those in the mythical or historical past (e.g., Hippocrates, Maimonides, Esau, Moses, Asaph).

And then there were columns paying homage to the Jews of the European ghetto, those in transit to the Western Hemisphere, and the onset of Jewish life in these United States. And finally, what was the world like, and what was it responding to, in November of 1997? A beleaguered Bill Clinton was in the White House, Bibi Netanyahu was prime minister in Jerusalem and Lincoln Almond was governor of Rhode Island. Major working-class disputes paralyzed much of France; Mary McAleese was elected as President of Ireland; communal massacres took place in Algeria; Pakistan and Egypt initiated a subsequent decade of a pandemic of terrorist acts of assassination; the capital of Kazakhstan was moved from

Almaty to Astana, much to the chagrin of countless adolescents who consider data memorization to be the equivalent of creative learning. And the highest ever grossing of a film, Cameron’s “Titanic,” appeared at this time. Given the many events disrupting some adjacent years, 1997, in retrospect, was a relatively quiet 12 months. So these many columns served a purpose: they documented, sometimes simplistically, the lives of a few of our coreligionists and the many historical happenings which impacted upon them and, in general, yet other Jewish enclaves. For this privilege, I am most thankful to a succession of gifted and committed editors of The Jewish Voice. Thank you, thank you.

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January 30, 2015 |

A tribute to a great lady: Luise Rainer She was a delicate beauty, a refined refugee from the rise of Nazism who took flight to stardom in the dreamland over the

SKETCHBOOK MIKE FINK

rainbow: Hollywood, USA. Luise Rainer played poignant variations on the theme of her own early life: the loss of, and longing for, a safe home. “The Great Ziegfeld” left his lady love (Luise) for a bride with higher status; Paul Muni in Chinese make-up as a peasant who rises, prospers and takes a second wife in “The Good Earth” leaves his first, his early, love, bereft. That was the role that the lovely but melancholy Luise Rainer presented to poignant perfection. She earned Oscars for both performances, but then she drifted downward from brilliant acclaim. And yet, there was, there is, a third, and later, movie, less renowned, but worth the mention. In 1943, Luise Rainer starred in “Hostages,” with a distinguished cast including Oscar Homolka as her father, in a studio-bound Prague during the Occupation. These “propaganda” movies

were produced on the proverbial shoestring, but they served an urgent purpose. They engaged us on the homefront in the hopeful belief that the nations compromised, divided, collaborating with the German invaders, also resisted the oppression, drawing on reserves of courage and nobility. We claimed them as our allies, who would welcome us as their liberators. By now, we are a more cynical audience, and the reviewers recall this movie merely as a trivial melodrama. I believe that it merits and deserves a closer look and consideration, and that the presence of the lovely actress already familiar to us as the fragile and tragic heroine faithful at least to her own personal honor adds distinction and dignity to “Hostages.” I was able, with the help and support of the woman I love – my wife, that is – to pull this miniature masterpiece from YouTube onto her trusty computer in our little knotty-pine den/theater. Oscar H. is a collaborator and a person of wealth with oil and coal investments to contribute to the Nazi cause. He is mistakenly arrested along with a group of partisans, and his charming and elegant daughter, Luise R., does the best she can to rescue him and secure his release. Until, that is, she begins to unravel the tangled web that holds the various hidden members of the underground, the army of the

Luise Rainer invisible, the existential troops than our reassuringly familiar without uniforms. Sometimes William Bendix, seems to be a a hero pretends to be a villain foolish fellow, but in truth he or a coward, but only for cover. is the leader of the brave band Now, she faces a dilemma of loy- of maquis men. Paul Lucas, alties. who could be a good guy or a bad The anonymous critic in my one, is the weak Nazi in charge, movie dictionary claims the who loses his self-serving game plot is obscure and cluttered, at the last moment, leaving Lubut he must be younger than I ise free to join the Free Czechs am. I found all the elements of in their devotion to the causes the duration era in clear cat- of freedom and liberty and soliegories. The working class darity with the allies in their character, played by none other united front against fascism.

The tentative expressive face and figure of Luise Rainer enhances and convinces. I believe it was the Cold War that confused the postwar generation, and that HUAC rendered these films a disservice. Luise in person lived, as we have been reminded at this juncture of 2014 and 2015, a very long life. She passed away at 104, or perhaps even beyond, at 106 or even 107! In my volume of movie memorabilia her birth year is listed as 1909. She was interviewed not long ago by Robert Osborne of Turner Classic Movies, and her only challenge was her poor hearing, or inadequate hearing aid. I pen or tap these words to share my appreciation for her artistry, her excellent taste, her intelligence and the part she played in bringing comfortable American movie-goers into some degree of understanding of the plight of those trapped in Europe, under the dark skies, upon the trembling earth, in the fires and among the restless oceans of the 1940s. I hope her soul finds refuge as a star among the stars overhead! I also read, and noted, that MGM’s L. B. Mayer confronted her with the statement, “I made you and I can un-make you!” to which she replied, with admirable and almost Chassidic poise, “No, Mr. Mayer, it was God who made me.” MIKE FINK (mfink33@aol. com) teaches at RISD.

REMEMBER THE PAST From the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association

American-born Dr. Rosalyn S. Yalow makes history BY TOBY ROSSNER “We still live in a world in which a significant fraction of people, including women, believe that a woman belongs and wants to belong exclusively in the home; that a woman should not aspire to achieve more than her male counterparts and particularly not more than her husband … The world cannot afford the loss of the talents of half its people if we are to solve the many problems that beset us.” – Rosalyn Yalow upon receipt of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine “A Jewish woman whose father-in-law is a rabbi, who keeps a kosher home, who invites her lab assistants to Passover Seder (and who made sure that she was home to feed her children lunch when they arrived home from school) … is not the typical image of a Nobel Prize winner. But it is the image of Rosalyn Yalow, the first woman born and educated in the United States to win a Nobel Prize in a scientific field.” The daughter of immigrant

COURTESY | NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE

Dr. Rosalyn S. Yalow. parents who urged her to get the education that had been denied them and to do anything that boys can do, Rosalyn planned to become a teacher until, at age 17, she read a biography of Marie Curie and found her role model. She studied physics at Hunter College. When she was denied entrance to graduate schools because, as one admissions office was honest enough

to admit, they believed that she would never get a job in the field, she planned to become a secretary at Columbia University so that she could take advantage of the university’s policy of allowing its staff to take courses. Fortunately, in the summer of 1941 she was accepted to University of Illinois at Urbana, with an offer of a teaching assistantship (most likely because the draft

caused low enrollment). In 1947 she was offered laboratory space at the Bronx VA Hospital to explore the use of radioactive substances for the diagnosis and treatment of disease. This research led to the discovery (with her partner Dr. Solomon Berson, who died in 1972) of radioimmunoassay (RIA), an ingenious application of nuclear physics to clinical medicine that made it possible to use radioactive tracers to measure minute amounts of pharmacological or biological substances with radioisotopes. RIA became a widespread tool for measuring hormones and for diagnosing conditions that had previously been difficult to locate and treat; it garnered

Yalow the Nobel Prize in 1976. She continued to work in her modest laboratory in the Bronx until 1991 and then used her prestige to work for improved science education and child care. QUOTE SOURCE: Emily Taitz, “Jewish Women in American: An Historical Encyclopedia.” EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part of a series on Jewish women scientists. TOBY ROSSNER (tobyross@ cox.net) was the director of media services at the Bureau of Jewish Education from 1978 to 2002.

Cranston seniors next meeting Cranston Senior Guild Meeting will take place Wednesday, March 4, at 1 p.m. at Tamarisk Assisted Living, 3 Shalom Drive, Warwick. The meeting will be fol-

lowed by bingo, refreshments and a raffle. All men and women age 55 years plus are welcome to join. You do not have to live in Cranston.

26 | January 30, 2015 David Brandt, 84 CRANSTON, R.I – David Brandt died Jan. 25 at Rhode Island Hospital. He was the beloved husband of Shirley (Wilk) Brandt of Cranston for 54 years. Born in Breslau, Germany, son of the late Max and Julia (Elsner) Brandt. He lived in Cranston for 54 years. He was former owner of Beau James Restaurant and in the restaurant business for 40 years. He was a Korean Conflict Army veteran, avid golfer and member of Touro Fraternal Association, Temple Sinai, Cranston Country Club, Commander of Jewish War Veterans Post 406 Reback-Winston and past President of R.I. Jewish Fraternal Association. Devoted father of Richard, Maxine and Karen Brandt. Dear brother of Lilly Flatow and the late Nelly Fine and Heinz Brandt and loving grandfather of Rachel, Jordan, and Benjamin. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Norman M. Fain Hillel Center, 6 Fraternity Circle, Kingston, R.I. 02881 or your favorite charity.

Peggy S. Charren, 86 DEDHAM, MASS. – Peggy Sundelle (Walzer) Charren, of Dedham, passed away Jan. 22. She was born March 9, in New York City, to Maxwell and Ruth Walzer. She graduated from New York’s Hunter College High School, and Connecticut College, where she received her B.A. in English. Her first job was as head of the film department at WPIX-TV in New York City. She started several businesses; an art gallery, Quality Book Fairs that organized children’s

OBITUARIES book fairs in schools in New England. In the 1960s, Peggy became a member of the Creative Arts Council of Newton, Mass., and worked to incorporate artists of all kinds into programs for city schools. While home, caring for her children, Peggy found herself disturbed by the “wall-to-wall monster cartoons” on television for children. She invited friends with similar concerns to meetings in her home. Out of these meetings, Action for Children’s Television (ACT), a national child advocacy organization, was formed. She went on to lead ACT for more than 25 years, ACT’s culminating success was the passing of the Children’s Television Act of 1990 into law. In 1992 she dissolved ACT and donated ACT’s materials and papers to the Gutman Library at Harvard University. She was named a visiting scholar at Harvard and continued to lobby, testify and serve on Presidential commissions and national committees until her retirement in 2005. She held many academic honors and honorary degrees. She received numerous awards for her work, including a Peabody Award and a Trustee’s Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. In 1995, she was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Clinton. She is survived by her husband, Stanley, of Dedham, her daughter Deborah Charren and her husband Timothy Diehl of Northampton, her daughter (Claudia) Sandi Moquin and her husband Kyle Moquin of Feeding Hills, her sister and brother-in-law Barbara and Rolf Korstvedt of Redondo Beach, Calif., her brother-in-law Burton Charren of Providence, her grandchildren, Hannah and

The Jewish Voice Zachary Charren-Diehl, Corey and Veronica Moquin and Matthew and Andrew Diehl and seven great-grandchildren. The family is grateful to the staff at NewBridge on the Charles and Always Here Home Care for their caretaking, to Katelyn McNeil for her excellent nursing support, to Hebrew Senior Life Hospice workers for their care, and to Emily Saltz for her expert guidance during Peggy’s journey through vascular dementia. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to WGBH-TV in Cambridge or the Clinton Global Initiative/Clinton Foundation at www.clintonfoundation.org.

Joseph Chandler M.D., 92 PALM BEACH FLA. – Joseph Chandler M.D. died Jan. 2 in Palm Beach. He had lived there for 28 years. He was born in Boston and grew up in Providence. He graduated from Classical High School, Brown University and Emory Medical School. He lived in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., and practiced in the Detroit area, including Royal Oak and Southfield. He was a World War II veteran who served stateside in Kansas. After he retired to Florida, he served as a consultant to the state of Florida as an expert witness in medical and disability cases. His interests included reading, playing chess and bridge as well as tennis and golf until his later years. He swam on a daily basis until the last nine months of his life. He was proud of his independence. He was predeceased by wife Betty (Berko), brother Dr. Douglas Chandler (Mich.), and sister Ann Chandler (Calif.). He is survived by son Mitchell (Shelley) Fla., daughter Elissa (Ralph) Chandler Pa., son Elliot (Debbie) Mich., sisters Nada Chandler (Texas) and Elaine Hoffman (R.I.).

Contributions in his memory may be made to the Melvin D. Hoffman M.D. Fund at Rhode Island Hospital.

Molly Cohen, 86 EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Molly Cohen, of Tockwotton, died Jan. 17. She was the beloved wife of the late Martin Cohen. Born in New York, N.Y., a daughter of the late Irving and Freida (Dolisky) Kahn, she had lived in Warwick for more than 60 years before moving to East Providence. She was an eligibility technician for the Rhode Island Welfare Office for 15 years, retiring in 1992. She was a member of Congregation Am David. Devoted mother of Kenneth Cohen and his wife Linda of Amherst, Mass., and Jacqueline Fish and her husband Robert of Providence. Dear sister of Rhoda Mossberg of Warwick and the late Norman Kahn. Loving grandmother of Dara and her husband Barry and Leah. Cherished great-grandmother of Layla. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to Congregation Am David, 40 Gardiner St., Warwick, R.I. 02888.

Esther ‘Estelle’ Goldman, 91 PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Esther “Estelle” (Port) Goldman passed away on Jan. 19. She was the wife of the late Sanford (Sonny) I. Goldman, and mother to Sandra G oldschei n, of Arizona, Samuel, of Warwick, Jonathan, of Cranston, Louis and Nancy (Triedman), of Providence. She is also survived by her sister, Mary Zisserson, brother Ira Port, of Warwick, and her grandchildren, Brian Schul-

man, Rachel Goldman Graves, Michael Goldman and several great-grandchildren. She was the daughter of the late Louis and Sadie (Chorney) Port. She lived most of her life in Warwick. While Sonny worked long hours running Greylawn Poultry, Esther worked long hours raising their children. Besides spending most of her life child rearing, she was a true horticulturist raising beautifully ornate gardens both inside and out. She her husband owned and operated Golden Heart Antiques store in Warwick. Her passion for antiques kept her operating the store into her mid-eighties. She was a mom and a friend and will be so missed. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to the charity of your choice.

Sandra E. Levine, 78

CRANSTON, R.I. – Sandra E. Levine, of Cranston, died Jan. 18 in Florida, surrounded by her loving family. She was the beloved wife of Marvin Levine for 58 years. A lifelong Rhode Island resident, she was a daughter of the late Milton and Bertha (Saunders) Schoenberg. She was a secretary for the Dean of Admissions at Rhode Island College for many years, retiring in 1999. She loved to cook, needlepoint, the beach, bingo and Broadway plays, but most of all she loved her family. Devoted mother of Debra Weissman and her husband, Paul, of Windsor, Conn. Dear sister of Anita Bailey of Boynton Beach, Fla. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to The Sandra Levine Alumni Endowment Fund, Rhode Island College, 600 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Providence, R.I. 02908 or The Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Ave., 5th floor, Norwalk, Conn. 06851.

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AUSCHWITZ

the Auschwitz-adjacent Birkenau concentration camp, survivors and their companions were joined by dignitaries from more than 40 countries for ceremonies that may well mark the final time that so many Auschwitz survivors are together here again. Halina Birenbaum, who survived Auschwitz as a child, described to the crowd, her impressions of the Nazi camp 45 miles east of Krakow, calling it “a bottomless pit of hell that I could not get out of.” “All around us was electric barbed wire. Rows of barracks, stinking mud ... a disgusting mass of people all in lousy wet rags, with numbers and shaved heads,” she said. “Those gray faces with legs like sticks, wearing those muddy clogs. Nothing reminded you of anything human.” Roman Kent, president of the International Auschwitz Committee, which was founded by a group of Auschwitz survivors, said his experience in the camp was “more than enough to keep me awake at night until the end of time.” He added: “How can I ever forget the smell of burning flesh that permeated the air” or “the cries of children torn from their mother’s arms.” While survivors cannot forget, others simply must remember. Otherwise, Kent said, “the conscience of mankind would be buried alongside the victims.” The Jan. 27 memorial was sponsored by the World Jewish Congress, the USC Shoah Foundation and Discovery Communications, whose subsidiary, Discovery Education, is working with the Shoah Foundation to develop digital teaching materials about Auschwitz. The event also featured the screening of a short documentary, “Auschwitz,” co-directed by the famed filmmaker Steven Spielberg, who started the Shoah Foundation. In a moment of disequilibrium, survivors watched the film about their former place of imprisonment, sitting in front of the very gate through which cattle cars once passed, delivering so many Jews to their deaths. Ronald Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, addressed the crowd. “Auschwitz never goes away,” he said. “This awful place stands as a reminder that propaganda leads to anti-Semitism ... that anti-Semitism will grow if nobody speaks out.” Anti-Semitism, he said, “leads to places like Auschwitz.” He added: “After the recent events in Paris and throughout Europe and around the world, I cannot ignore what is happening today. Jews are targeted in Europe once again because they are Jews.” The ceremony was the culmination of several days of events and meetings attended in total by some 300 Holocaust survi-

vors. Few of them were actually liberated at Auschwitz. But all passed through its gates. Today they are in their 80s and 90s, and fit enough to have traveled from Israel, America, Argentina and elsewhere. A group of survivors who was to visit the Auschwitz exhibit on Jan. 26 never got beyond the infamous gate, marked “Arbeit Macht Frei” — so crowded was this threshold with eager journalists who had come from around the world. And yet the hubbub didn’t seem to faze them a bit. In fact, most of the visitors seemed determined to tell their stories to all who inquired. “I know that we’re getting old and have to make sure that the memory doesn’t die with us,” said Irene Weiss, 84, of Fairfax, Va., who traveled with her daughter Lesley. Her key message to today’s youth: “[Don’t] be deceived by demagogues.” At a ceremony for visiting survivors, Spielberg, whose Oscar-winning movie “Schindler’s List” was filmed partly in Krakow, told the survivors, “I found my own voice and my own Jewish identity thanks to you.” Spielberg, whose USC Shoah Foundation has interviewed more than 50,000 Holocaust survivors since it was founded 21 years ago, said he was first confronted with the Holocaust as a child reading the numbers on his grandfather’s arm. Edgar Wildfeuer, 90, came here this week from Argentina with his daughter, Doris Wildfeuer, wanting to show her both the camp he survived and city where he grew up: Krakow, with its parks and market squares, its church spires and streetcars. They planned to visit the street where he had lived and the synagogue where he had his bar mitzvah. Wildfeuer, who was deported to Auschwitz in 1944, lost 32 relatives. “I was the only one left,” he said. Still, his daughter said, “He wanted to show me not only that place but the place where he grew up and was happy.” Tuchman, too, recalled a happy childhood in Poland. But when the question of forgiveness came up before the youthful crowd, he paused. “Forgiveness is a very complicated thing,” said Tuchman, who came with his son Jeffrey. After the war, he testified on behalf of a German engineer who had overseen slave laborers, including Tuchman himself, in Auschwitz. But Tuchman also dealt out his own justice. In postwar Germany, he and a fellow survivor spied a man who had tortured them. “He was a sadist: He pounded on our stomachs when we were sick with diarrhea,” Tuchman recalled. “We recognized him on the street and grabbed him, and beat the hell out of him.”

January 30, 2015 |

Popular radio host tells his family’s Holocaust stories through the written word BY MATT ROBINSON JNS.org Best known as a popular radio host on Sirius XM’s Symphony Hall channel, Martin Goldsmith has a deeper and darker tie to music. As the son of the famed German musical couple of flutist Gunther Goldschmidt and violinist Rosemarie Gumpert Goldschmidt, Goldsmith has highly personal ties to Classical music and defines the genre as “an exciting and moving expression of what’s best about humanity.” But through that same genre, his family was exposed to an example of the worst humanity has to offer. In 2000, Goldsmith published “The Inextinguishable Symphony: A True Story of Music and Love in Nazi Germany,” a book detailing his parents’ experience performing in the “Jüdischer Kulturbund,” an allJewish orchestra maintained by the Nazis from 1933-1941. “Even though I lived with certain aspects of the story my entire life, I did not know many of the details until I was well into my 40s,” Goldsmith tells JNS. org in an interview conducted ahead of this year’s International Holocaust Remembrance Day (Jan. 27). More recently, in April 2014, Goldsmith released another book on his family’s story, “Alex’s Wake: A Voyage of Betrayal and a Journey of Remembrance,” which chronicles a trip he took with his wife to retrace the steps of relatives who were killed by the Nazis. Though his parents, like many other Holocaust survivors, did not speak much about their past, Goldsmith says he did learn “the basic outline” of his family history piece by piece. His uncle and grandfather were among the passengers on the infamous MS St. Louis – a ship carrying more than 900 Jewish refugees that was denied entry into Cuba, the U.S., and Canada, forcing the refugees to return to harm’s way in Holocaust-torn Europe. Goldsmith’s grandfather, Alex Goldschmidt, was a World War I veteran who made a name for himself selling women’s clothes in Oldenburg, France. As World War II was erupting, Alex took his son Klaus on the ill-fated St. Louis, hoping to find freedom across the Atlantic. Instead, upon returning to Europe, Alex and Klaus spent three years in France before being deported to the Auschwitz death camp in 1942. “I had long been interested in this story of my grandfather and his son trying to escape Europe and then being brought back,” Goldsmith says. While Goldsmith had been able to put together pieces of their story, completing the puzzle took years. “I knew, for instance, that they had been passengers

carcerated and killed. Spending about two to three days in each spot, Goldsmith was able to get a sense of place. He says that some of the locations were “really quite horrific,” but that he would look forward to returning to many others in order to spend more time with local residents. “We met people who had known my father and uncle and

Popular radio host Martin Goldsmith. who had been returned to France,” Goldsmith says of his grandfather and uncle. “I knew they returned to France in 1939 and entered the French [concentration] camp Rivesaltes in 1941, but there was an 18-month gap I did not know about.” After conducting research at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., Goldsmith found individuals in France to help guide his investigation. Eventually, he took a 6,000-mile journey with his wife from the U.S. to France, Germany, and Poland that would retrace the steps his uncle and grandfather took to their deaths during the Holocaust. That trip is the subject of his latest book, “Alex’s Wake.” Goldsmith says that, as is the case with great music, categorizing the book is nearly as complicated as composing it. “On the one hand, it is an act of bearing witness and a travelogue, and the story of a second-generation American Jew trying to come to terms with his emotional past and to deal with the feelings of guilt and shame that he thought was his emotional inheritance,” says Goldsmith. “It is also a history of the voyage, and of France and Germany during the years 1938 through 1942. It’s all those things. It fits in so many categories.” Goldsmith’s father and brother both recently died, and he says the grief from those losses propelled him away from the radio microphone and back to the writer’s desk – where he sought to explore the story of different relatives, his grandfather and uncle. The author’s trip with his wife began in his grandfather’s birthplace of Saxony, Germany, after which point the couple traveled to Oldenburg, where Goldsmith’s father was born, and then to Hamburg, from where the St. Louis sailed in 1939. Goldsmith and his wife also traveled to the French port where the boat docked after its ill-fated mission, before visiting the sites where Goldsmith’s uncle and grandfather were in-

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The cover of SY | DA CAPO PRESS M Goldsmith’s artin book grandfather, and who shared their stories of dealing with the after-effects of the Nazis and the Vichy period in France,” Goldsmith says. “It was quite illuminating.” Though his ancestors boarded the St. Louis in 1939, while Goldsmith and his wife took their journey in 2011, the author had difficulty shaking a strange feeling that he had “missed” his relatives by only a few days. “It was always a little odd pulling into a new place,” he says. “I remember a particular stop at [the French port of] Boulogne-sur-Mer, which looks across the English Channel. I got the strong impression that we had just missed [my uncle and grandfather] by a couple of days… that we had literally missed the boat.” “The journey was always haunted by the ghosts not only of my family, but of the other people who had taken the trip [on the St. Louis],” he adds. “Every day brought the joy of discovery and the sorrow over having missed them, and over what had happened to them and so many others.” Goldsmith’s European journey ended with the placing of a plaque on his grandfather’s former home that described the family’s fate. “The people who live there now did not have to do that, but they wanted to,” he says. Such an action, Goldsmith says, proves that “it is possible to remain hopeful in the face of cruelty.” Regarding “Alex’s Wake,” the author adds, “A lot of today’s sorrows have roots that can be learned about through reading this book.”

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The Jewish Voice

COURTESY | RABBI SARAH MACK

The adults on the trip, overlooking the Kotel Plaza.

Beth-El Israel trip provides a journey of discovery BY RABBI SARAH MACK We discovered much about Israel in our 10-day trip: the beautiful, the perplexing and the wondrous. Our mantra was often “it is complicated” as we discovered the layers of history and the depth and diversity of our connections to Israel. We hope that this trip is the first of many from Temple Beth-El. Sharing this journey has deepened our ties to Israel, to each other and to our Jewish community in Rhode Island. Here are some perceptions of our journey from some of the participants:

Lynn Taylor and Boris Bally

Boris and I feel a renewed and deeper

commitment to Israel as a result of this trip. We feel a greater sense of responsibility toward disseminating all of the positives and wonders of Israel and are better equipped to work against the negative propaganda. We are overjoyed to hear our children share that they feel so at home and so much a part of Israel. They both look forward to returning.

peace loving, focus on community, family and growth/planting, but at the same time a toughness, seriousness, strength and resolve to support and defend the country, its ideology and way of life! (Whether in the army or at home) a lifechanging, eye-opening and moving trip!

Brendan Weiner (10 years old) I loved learning the word of the day from Fifi, our youth counselor! My favorite word so far was Sababa, meaning awesome! That pretty much describes the trip.

Etai (14 years old) and Aila (12 years old) Taylor Bally

We are eager to learn Hebrew after our trip!

Lewis and Vanessa Weiner

Everywhere there was a warm, loving welcome, kindness and caring,

Mara and Ellie Feldman at an archeological dig near the Temple Mount.

Getting ready to plant a kiwi tree on Kibbutz Malkiyya with Brendan Weiner, and Seth and Jacob Feldman.

COMMUNITY | ISRAEL

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January 30, 2015 |

Coexisting cultures make for fascinating holidays BY CHLOE NEWMAN While this holiday season didn’t resemble the traditions of my youth, it was still very special for me. With my new friends and communities here in Israel, I took part in multicultural celebrations across the country. The saying here goes that Israelis will take any excuse to celebrate, eat, drink and be merry with the ones they love ... and especially without the bombardment of superficial, commercial holiday stresses, why not? In past years on Hanukkah, my family and I lit candles and exchanged gifts. I remember dreidels, latkes and chocolate gelt sales and displays becoming more and more aggressive in our local markets. This year, I celebrated in Israel, where all of the holidays seem much less commercialized. Even a holiday like Hanukkah seemed hardly present (no pun intended), save for the three days off from school and the overflowing abundance of freshly baked jelly doughnuts. When I did spend one special evening sharing a holiday meal with a soldier friend and her family, it far exceeded America’s month (or more) of in-your-face advertisements and pressures for holiday shopping. Just after Christmas, I caught a train to Haifa. There I was able to see the last of the annual “Holiday of Holiday’s” celebration, where, for two weeks, festivities and special events occur throughout the city’s museums, restaurants and streets. Despite the many ticketed events available, I spent my weekend visiting the public celebrations and sites, exploring the beautiful landscape, architecture and little pockets of art and nature scattered across the city’s mountainside. Though Israel is most often recognized for its Jewish population, in Haifa I found many Christian, Jewish and Muslim symbols, not to mention the

breathtaking Baha’i Gardens. When I came upon the “UNESCO Square for Tolerance and Peace,” I could feel what a powerful and extraordinary promotion the site represents for the peaceful coexistence of these overlapping religious populations. Haifa’s multiculturalism was also apparent as I moseyed through the large crowds of people, ducked in and out of shops, and watched the festival’s daily mid-afternoon parade of soldiers, students and Santas. Every day, the streets were filled with the smoke and smells of

UNESCO Square for Tolerance and Peace. cooked treats, many of which I didn’t recognize. The few colorful stands of popcorn and cotton candy seemed all too American in the midst of the now commonplace falafel and humus vendors. The “Holiday of Holidays” usually spans Hanukkah, Id alAdha, and Christmas, although my friends and I visited Tel-Aviv for the latter. I had not expected much to be seen; I was, after all,

living in the Jewish State. There was the occasional decorated window, a few pedestrians wearing Santa hats ... and that was about it. As we found out, Christmas festivities are mostly reserved for New Year’s Eve, which Israelis call “Sylvester.” The history of this day is complex for Jews, but the opportunity for a celebration was certainly seized in Tel-Aviv. So, my friends and I returned here for New Year’s Eve, and the bars and clubs were overflowing. We journeyed in and out of different venues, and when midnight hit, we all turned to each other expecting the announcement. No one else looked up. No one seemed to notice the time, except for us. We shrugged and laughed, and agreed that this New Year’s (as opposed to that of the Jewish calendar) was truly just an excuse to party. Reflecting on these holidays, I realize that I did miss seeing my family and old friends, to uphold the little traditions we had. Yet, I’m hopeful that this year’s experience of Israeli holiday culture is having a positive influence on me, one I can bring with me when I return. I am fascinated by this particular mix of secular and religious celebrations and the many coexisting cultures. It certainly sparks my curiosity about what other internationally significant days of gratitude for family, friends and “excuses to party” I’ve been missing. CHLOE J. NEWMAN grew up in Providence, attended The Wheeler School and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. While currently volunteering in Israel, Chloe continues to pursue her career in the arts. Her trip was partially funded with a travel grant from the Salmanson Fund established at the Jewish Alliance of Greater R.I. and with funds accrued through the Gift of Israel program.

Eric Goldberg floats in the Dead Sea.

Reflections on a transformative Birthright experience BY ELANAH CHASSEN echassen@jewishallianceri.org

“Amazing” and “life-changing” is what many participants call a Birthright trip. But I didn’t realize that as a Birthright staff member, I too would have my own transformative experience. Seeing participants on my trip explore Israel for the first time was incredible. On the last day of the trip, all 40 participants, or as they called themselves, the “Chai Life Family,” gathered and reflected on the 10-day journey. As I listened to each participant share their experience, I felt a sense of pride and reflected on my first Israel trip. I explained to the group how I had the same thoughts and feelings on my first trip as they were experiencing. I told them to hold on to those feelings and their desire to return because like hundreds of thousand other young Jews, they too can make it happen. I’m grateful to have staffed Birthright as it has enhanced my professional and personal life. Since the first Taglit-Birthright Israel trip in the winter of 1999, there have been more than 400,000 participants from 66 countries. Taglit-Birthright Israel provides the gift of a free, educational 10-day trip to Israel for Jews ages 18-26. Now, eligibility requirements have changed! Even if you have been on a teen trip, you are eligible. Trips are available in the spring, summer and winter.

Each group consists of 40 participants, two staff members, an Israeli tour guide and an Israeli medic/security guard. The group travels throughout the country, exploring sites of historic, cultural and religious significance. They are accompanied for a significant part of the trip by Israeli peers, a major highlight for participants. “The trip allows for a person to have an opportunity of a lifetime to do things they never imagined, with people they’ve never met, in a place that they’ve never been. It opens your eyes to what is really going on over there without the fabrication of the media. Most importantly, the experience really allows you to understand that Judaism is both a culture and a religion, which is an idea that most people struggle with, including myself, until this trip,” said Eric Goldberg. The 24-year-old from West Warwick participated in a 2013 trip. “I plan on not only returning, but owning property in Israel in the future and also having duel citizenship.” Taglit-Birthright Israel Registration for spring/summer trips opens Feb. 2 for returning applicants and Feb. 3 for new applicants. Visit birthrightisrael.com to learn more. ELANAH CHASSEN, is the education and planning associate at the Jewish Alliance. She is available at 401-4214111, ext.140.

Pets on Parade

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SEE THE PETS AT www.JVHRI.org

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SIMCHAS | WE ARE READ

MUMBAI, INDIA – In January, Prof. Frederic Reamer visited the Keneseth Eliyahoo Synagogue in Colaba, Mumbai, India, built in 1884 by Jacob Sassoon. Reamer was in Mumbai teaching at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

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SUMMER IN THE SOUTH – Jay and Sandy Strauss are pictured in Torres de Paine National Park in Chile during a recent trip to Patagonia.

ENGAGEMENT – Lisa Shainberg and Yosef Chodakiewitz were engaged on Nov. 7, 2014. He is a fourth year medical student at Brown University. She is the lead clinical social worker for older adults at an outpatient medical firm in Providence. Both are from Los Angeles, California, and will marry there in August.

LONDON – Harlan Rich, left, Bev Waldman Rich, Richard Graves and Hazel Graves at the Roundhouse in London. They attended an Association of Jewish Refugees presentation of “Last Train to Tomorrow,” the story of the Kindertransport. Bev’s mother and aunt road to England aboard the Kindertransport and she wrote a poem, “Mutti,” about her mother’s experience.

Let him be the

reason

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

There are many ways to create your legacy. Let us show you a few.

January 30, 2015 |

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