Volume XX, Issue XXXI | www.thejewishvoice.org Serving Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts
23 Iyar 5774 | May 23, 2014
Community needs a new vision to fight income disparity BY FRAN OSTENDORF fostendorf@jewishallianceri.org Rhode Island has the potential to lead the nation in change. That was the message that keynote speaker, Sister Simone Campbell, offered at the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty’s sixth annual Poverty Conference May 14 at Rhode Island College. “You can be a Petri dish for the nation,” she told the gathering of more than 200 who came together to examine the issues surrounding the effort to reduce poverty and help those in need. “We need a new way to move forward,” she said. Because of your size, “you have an amazing opportunity.” Campbell, author of “A Nun on the Bus,” a book that examines the social inequalities in society, gave the group a
PHOTO | R.I. COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS
Sister Simone Campbell
powerful illustration of wealth disparity in the U.S., using students from Sophia Academy as a human bar graph in the Donovan Dining Center. As she explained the facts and figures of how the upper, lower and middle classes have either gained or lost ground in the past 30 years, the girls took steps backward and forDISPARITY | 14
We are part of the 100 percent BY MARTY COOPER mcooper@jewishallianceri.org Last week Sister Simone Campbell, author of “A Nun on the Bus,” delivered a wonderful message to 200 plus people during the Sixth Annual Poverty Conference sponsored by the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty. While much of her talk was critical of inaction in Washington, Campbell had a clear message: To get things done in Washington, in our state and
in our towns, we must be part of the 100 percent. We must use our voice and advocate for issues important to us. Being a part of the 100 percent is crucial to the community in which we live. A democracy in our country is the great experiment. For this experiment to work and function properly, it requires all of our support. What roles are we the people supposed to play in this experiment? Getting out 100 PERCENT | 11
FATHER’S DAY SHAVUOT
SENIORS REMEMBER THEIR FATHERS “When a father gives to his son, both laugh; when a son gives to his father, both cry.” – Jewish proverb
BY IRINA MISSIURO imissiuro@jewishallianceri.org When I walked into the Dwares JCC social hall on a recent Monday, the seniors were fi nishing lunch. The week before, I had asked them to bring some photos and be ready to share stories about their fathers. Now, I came back to hear what they had to say. Hesitant to interrupt dessert, I suggested to Elaine Shapiro, assistant meal site manager, that I would wait. She vigorously shook her head, “Trust me, you won’t be disturbing them!” Pulling up a chair, I began an interview with
PHOTO | IRINA MISSIURO
John Pucher holds a photo of his father, John, that he always carries in his wallet. a cheerful lady who was eager to share her memories. I realized Elaine was right – they were thrilled to be talking.
Just as I was fascinated with the seniors and their tales, they became interested in me once REMEMBER | 16
Should Jews pack their bags for Detroit? BY JULIE WIENER JTA – Sure, the news from the city of Detroit seems endlessly grim: bankruptcy, crime and so forth. But the metro area, whose northwest suburbs host a panoply of Jewish amenities, is the most affordable place in the U.S. to raise a “committed Jewish family,” at least according to one graduate student’s ad-
mittedly “back-of-the-napkin” calculations.
In a widely shared April 28 post on his blog, Matthew Williams ranked the 10 most and
least affordable places that meet the following minimum criteria: a mikvah, an eruv, at least one synagogue for each major denomination, K-12 Jewish day school options and at least one kosher restaurant or kosher-friendly supermarket. Williams, a Jim Joseph fellow pursuing a joint doctorate in history and education in DETROIT | 6
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The Jewish Voice
INSIDE Arts 29 Business 21, 24-25 Calendar 8-9 Community 2-3, 5-9, 12, 14, 22-23, 28 D’var Torah 13 Father’s Day 16-18 Food 15 Nation 6 Obituaries 27 Opinion 10-12 Seniors 13, 26 Shavuot 20 Simchas | We Are Read 30 World 12, 18-19, 21, 26
THIS ISSUE’S QUOTABLE QUOTE “What an honor to raise children! And what a responsibility.”
Guitarist and singer Elad Vilk
Community participants gather for the latest sing-along.
PHOTOS | MATAN GRAFF
Community sing-along The last of four communal singing programs was held May 19 at the Dwares JCC. This was the first sing-along to attract children. Communal singing is a popular pastime in Israel, and it has become a popular program here in the past two years, thanks to Matan Graff, our community’s Israeli shaliach (emissary). Led by guitarist and singer Elad Vilk, and assisted by Michal Ben-Noah, dozens of Israelis and a good number of Americans attend each session, which
is usually held on Saturday night. Lyrics and transliterations are projected on a screen so that all may participate. Elad, Michal and Matan organize the singing according to themes, such as the music of Arik Einstein, songs of the Israeli military troupes and songs sung at campfires. FOR MORE INFORMATION, contact Matan at mgraf@jewishallianceri.org or 401-4214111. PHOTO | LARRY KATZ
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The R.I. group had the pleasure of visiting the Graff’s family farm where they planted cucumbers and tasted mint. Left to right: Elanah Chassen, Jesse Brenman, Makenna Kobrin, Mimi Heath, Candance Powning, Erin Moseley, Jana Brenman, Lexi Kutenplon-Rayess, Kevin Sock, Ben Harpel, Julie Penn, Matan Graff, Nili Levine, Alan Brenman
Reflections on March of the Living 2014 from some of the local participants The Rhode Islanders who participated in the March of the Living with the New England delegation returned from a powerful experience that included stops in Poland and Israel. Here are some of their comments about the trip. rom marching out of Auschwitz-Birkenau to smelling death in Majdanek, from experiencing Israel for the first time to never wanting to leave, March of the Living 2014 has been the best and most emotional two weeks of my life. I made so many new friends and strengthened the bonds of old ones as well. Thanks to the friends I have made who made this journey life changing. I am proud to be Jewish. Am Yisrael Chai.”
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*** hrough the tears and smiles I had an amazing time and will be forever grateful to all those involved.”
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*** oland is in a perpetual state of gray, but on the day of the March we will be immersed in a sea of blue, a new flame. The hottest part of a flame is blue, symbolizing a bright, hot and strong future of the Jewish people and the Jews of Poland.”
“P
*** or dinner and Havdallah, we got to meet with teens from the area and talk to them about how Jewish life in Poland is similar and different to that of our own. It felt so good to be singing and dancing in the courtyard of the Krakow JCC. We enriched the Jewish community of Krakow, and they enriched us.” *** here we stood, 300 of us marchers, all from different places, all quiet, still, listening to a survivor tell her story inside the gas chamber. Some broke out in tears, most stood in
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“T
unity and silence, looking at the scratch marks from the victims on the wall. Then as a united group, the mourner’s kaddish was recited, followed by ‘Am Yisrael Chai,’ that carried a melancholy overture. Words will never be able to sufficiently describe what everyone felt in the crammed concrete wall. I just want to conclude in saying that it is important to live life the way Siggy [Siegmund Listwa] does, ‘as if each day is a new life. ’ ” *** hen Siggy was held in Block 1 at Auschwitz, it was forbidden to sit on the front stoop. This morning [Sunday] as we stood outside Auschwitz Block 1, Siggy announced this to us, and then promptly sat down for a group photo. It was a very powerful and beautiful event for our entire group.”
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*** iggy’s powerful and detailed memory, his unaffected mobility [most of the time he just picks up his walker and carries it instead of leaning on it], and his constant positivity and ruach have enriched our trip immeasurably.”
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*** veryone started Yom HaShoah, the day of the March, with mixed emotions not knowing what to expect or feel, but once we got there the overwhelming amount of feeling of Jewish teens and survivors was comforting to us.”
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*** e can all agree that seeing the “sea of blue jackets” marching between the two camps was a meaningful and powerful experience. Between the march and the ceremony, we all felt really proud to be there, walking in the path that our ancestors walked years before us.”
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***
In Poland, the R.I. students eagerly wait to begin the march from Auschwitz to Birkenau with survivors and 10,000 high school students from around the world. Left to right, back row: Julie Penn, Ben Harpel, Kevin Sock, Jessie Brenman, Mimi Heath, Candance Powning, Makenna Kobrin. Left to right, front row: Lexi Kutenplon-Rayess, Nili Levine.
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here is something different about singing Eli Eli in America with tons of Jewish teens, versus singing it in Birkenau with survivors and other groups from around the world.” *** s we stood surrounded by thousands of Jewish teens, adults, police officers and diplomats — we realized how grateful we are to be Jewish.”
“A
*** o transform the experience into something personal, many of us found our first names or those of friends and family carved into the wall of victim remembrance. The day ended with a solemn, uni-
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fied moment before driving to Zamosc for some much-needed rest.”*** e went through the crematoria and then saw right before our eyes a mountain of ashes and nearby deep trenches where Jews executed by the thousands. It was chilling and horrifying. Yet through this we had each other to lean on and support. Our group never failed to reach out and comfort one another. Even our survivor Siggy reached out to one of our group members to give them a supportive and comforting hug. It was heartwarming for everyone to see.”
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*** oday I finally realized the meaning of all the
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monuments, memorials, and I understood. The meaning is not to mark the spots where these atrocities occurred, but to remember what has happened. These memorials are to help people remember but to also to help people heal.” *** am grateful to have my family, grateful that I get to stand up off the grass after crying and walk out, to share my experience, and to better my life and the lives of those around me. I am going to live a life that the 6 million people would be proud of. I am going to remember, honor and share the stories told to me. I will be an inspiration.”
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4 | May 23, 2014
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HERCRI recognizes art, writing and teaching BY MAY-RONNY ZEIDMAN More than 250 students, parents, teachers and friends attended the May 18 Awards Ceremony and Ice Cream Party for the Holocaust Education & Resource Center of Rhode Island 2014 Art & Writing Contest at the Dwares JCC. Awards were presented to 102 students representing Rhode
Island and Connecticut middle and high schools. The recipient of the Morris Gastfreund Writing Award was Maya Veldman-Wilson, a seventh-grade student from Block Island. The recipient of the Rita Singer Art Award was Danika Bebe, a seventh-grade student from Tiverton Middle School. One of the highlights of the ceremony was the presenta-
tion by Robert Starr who, with his wife Joyce, gives awards to teachers who have demonstrated outstanding Holocaust education to their students. This year, several educators have joined forces to teach the Holocaust through several disciplines. There are now English, Art and Social Studies teachers who work together to give their students a full picture of the events of the Holocaust. Starr presented awards to Lloyd Bochner and Rita Guadagno from Park View Middle School in Cranston and to Susan Kolenda, Eleanor McKenna, Grace Small, Casey Murphy, Megan Mania and Philip Magano from Lincoln High School. MAY-RONNY ZEIDMAN is Executive Director of the Holocaust Education & Resource Center of Rhode Island.
Some of the entries, shown here, from high school and middle school students in the Holocaust Education & Resource Center of R.I. Art and Writing Contest 2014.
PHOTOS | FRAN OSTENDORF
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COMMUNITY | NATION
6 | May 23, 2014 FROM PAGE 1
DETROIT
connection with Stanford’s Education and Jewish Studies program, came up with a list of 50 cities and towns that met the minimum criteria, then ranked them in order of affordability as measured by average real estate prices and average day school tuition. Just behind Detroit are Cleveland, Buffalo and Milwaukee. At the other end, the least affordable, according to the ranking, are Palo Alto, California (where Williams lives); Manhattan and San Francisco. The post has garnered more than 57,000 visits, according to Williams. Not surprisingly, the post generated comments galore, most of them of the “Why didn’t you include my community?” and “Every Jew should move to Israel” varieties, along with a few disses of the communities that the list did include. Others questioned Williams’ methodology, which he is the fi rst to concede is imprecise — more rough draft than fi nal product. “There’s never going to be a defi nitive list of what’s the most affordable,” Williams said in a phone interview with JTA. “If anything, I just wanted to provoke the conversation.” A former day school teacher at Melvin J. Berman Hebrew Academy in Rockville, Maryland – a Washington suburb that didn’t make the list (D.C. ranked 10th least affordable, while nearby Silver Spring, Maryland was 24th most affordable) – Williams said he was pleasantly surprised by the interest his list has gener-
ated. “People seem to really care about this issue,” he said. “It strikes a chord.” Jews searching for affordable places to live are being sought after by Jewish communities looking to bolster their numbers. The Orthodox Union organizes an annual Jewish Community Fair, a gathering highlighting affordable, Orthodox-friendly communities around North America. The O.U.’s last fair attracted 1,500 visitors, said Rabbi Judah Isaacs, the Orthodox Union’s director of community engagement. “There are defi nitely people looking for affordable options,” he said. Isaacs said that as a result of the O.U.’s fairs, he gets calls from communities eager to tout their affordability and other virtues. A number of smaller Jewish communities have, in recent years, not just promoted themselves at fairs and online but offered fi nancial incentives — such as mortgage help and day school discounts — to attract young families. Isaacs, a former professional at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, expressed skepticism that Detroit is the most affordable Jewish community in the country. Williams says he plans to redo his ranking to include additional factors, such as crime rates, percentage of day school students receiving fi nancial aid, income data and cost-ofliving indices. He’s also adding
The Jewish Voice
more communities to the list, incorporating some of the commenter suggestions and is limiting the real estate price data to neighborhoods within easy commuting distance of Jewish institutions, rather than the entire metro areas — something he did inconsistently in the current ranking. The redo may well topple Detroit from its No. 1 perch, since Williams used data for the entire metro area, rather than for far-posher Oakland County, where the overwhelming majority of area Jews live. The rock-bottom housing prices south of Eight Mile Road, the border between city and suburb, no doubt skewed the averages dramatically downward. Scott Kaufman, the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, told JTA that “the cost of Jewish life — housing and day school tuition — is very reasonable here.” Moreover, he said, the community of approximately 67,000 Jews is on the upswing. “We experienced population shrinkage for decades, but in the last few years, we have seen an uptick for the fi rst time in recent memory of both young adults and young families,” Kaufman said. And the growth is not just in the suburbs, he said, with 20- and 30-somethings increasingly moving to the city. “Now is a great time to take advantage of the value proposition,” Kaufman said. “We’re starting to see real estate prices go up, but compared to the East and West coasts, you get a lot more bang for the buck.”
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Where are you going to live? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Most affordable cities
Detroit, Michigan Cleveland, Ohio Buffalo, New York Milwaukee, Wisconsin Columbus, Ohio Kansas City, Missouri Memphis, Tennessee St. Louis, Missouri Baltimore, Maryland Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
401-640-0403
Least affordable cities
Palo Alto, California Manhattan, New York San Francisco, California Teaneck, New Jersey Lake View, Chicago Great Neck, New York Beverlywood, Los Angeles, California 8. Boston, Massachusetts 9. Englewood, New Jersey 10. Washington, D.C. SOURCE: matthewcaseywilliams.wordpress.com
Alliance ECC is recognized by BrightStars The Alliance JCC Early Childhood Center (ECC) has earned a three-star rating from BrightStars for its ongoing efforts to provide high standards in quality childcare. BrightStars, Rhode Island’s quality rating and improvement system, recognizes and supports quality in child care and early learning programs and identifies programs that demonstrate quality above and beyond state licensing standards. “We are passionate about providing high-quality childcare for children and the families we serve and are proud to be recognized for that commitment,” said Nicole Katzman, director of early childhood education. To achieve a BrightStars rating, programs are assessed across many quality standards and criteria. A BrightStars quality rating provides accurate, reliable information about childcare, early learning and
after-school programs. The ECC has continued to improve quality standards to become a school of excellence and continues to make a big difference in the lives of children. “BrightStars raises the bar for early childhood and schoolage programs in Rhode Island,” said Lisa Hildenbrand, executive director of BrightStars. “The Alliance JCC Early Childhood Center’s participation means that they are a key player in a statewide effort to ensure high-quality early childhood care and education for Rhode Island families.” The ECC is licensed by the Department of Youth and Family Services (DCYF) and is accredited by the National Association of Young Children (NAEYC). For more information about the ECC call Nicole Katzman, director, at 401-421-4111, ext.180, or email nkatzman@jewishallianceri.org
Steps you can take to help prevent tick bites STATEPOINT – More than 30,000 cases of Lyme disease are reported each year, making it the most commonly reported vector-borne illness in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Make sure your family isn’t part of that number. As the warmer months coax us outside, reducing the risk of tick bites is essential to protecting your family from Lyme disease and its potential longterm, devastating effects. Here are some steps you can take.
For People
5 Collins Ct-Barrington Nayatt: Well cared for home at the end of a cul-de-sac, 4 beds, 2.5 baths, home needs updating but well worth it in this location!
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
• Avoid wooded and busy areas with high grass and leaf litter. • Apply repellent to exposed skin and clothing before outdoor activities. • Bathe or shower right after spending time outdoors and conduct a full-body tick check. Use a mirror to see hard to reach places.
For Pets
• Check pets for ticks daily
and remove them as soon as possible. • Talk with your veterinarian about using tick preventatives on your pet. • Watch pets closely for changes in behavior or appetite. This may indicate Lyme disease infection.
In the Yard
• Place a wood chip or gravel barrier between your lawn, patio and play equipment and any wooded areas. This will restrict tick migration into recreational areas. • Mow the lawn frequently and keep leaves raked. • Keep playground equipment and patios away from yard edges and trees and place them in sunny locations, if possible. • Pest control products can help protect your family from tick bites, according to RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment), a national trade association. On a seasonal basis, consult a professional to spray the perimeter.
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The 29th Annual Alliance Golf Classic Have fun and perform a mitzvah BY IRINA MISSIURO imissiuro@jewishallianceri.org In addition to the obvious reason to attend the 29th Annual Alliance Golf Classic – the joy of the game – plenty of other motives influence the supporters of this event, which will benefit the Dwares JCC. What are they? The numerous programs and services the Alliance offers to those in Rhode Island and beyond. Now it’s especially important to take part in initiatives of this sort because of the difficult economic situation in Rhode Island. Many more members of the community will be able to enjoy a fuller life thanks to your participation. Jeffrey Savit, president and CEO of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, thinks that “there is no better way to combine philanthropy and fun on a terrific June day at Ledgemont.” He says, “I am so elated that we will be having our annual golf tournament to benefit the programs and services offered at our Dwares JCC. What a wonderful day we will have to celebrate our community and announce initial plans about the renovation of the Dwares.” Here are some groups and individuals who will appreciate your devotion to the Jewish concept of tikkun olam: • The Early Childhood Center at Dwares JCC • The families who enjoy PJ Library, Mothers’ Circle and Shalom Baby • Jewish day school students in Rhode Island • Jewish campers benefiting from various grants and scholarships
• After-school J-Spacers • Special-education children at schools and synagogues • Teens in youth programs such as Harry Elkin Midrasha • Next generation adults enjoying diverse community engagement • High school students on educational missions, including March of the Living • Senior adults enjoying engagements programs • Adults in need of counseling • New immigrants to Israel • Families requiring economic assistance Convinced yet? Here are a few more incentives to attend. In addition to a fun day on the links, you’ll enjoy a luncheon, and cocktails and a dinner reception at the Ledgemont Country Club, one of New England’s premier golf courses, located at 131 Brown Ave., in Seekonk, Massachusetts. Carlene Barth, director of Health, Fitness & Aquatics at the Dwares JCC, is excited about the day. “I look forward to it every year. It is a wonderful event that brings our community together and serves such a great cause, our Dwares JCC! The golf, the food, the camaraderie, it is the best!” She knows what she’s talking about; after all, it’s Barth’s eighth year attending. She hopes to see you there! REGISTER At jewishallianceri.org/alliance-golf-classicregistration IRINA MISSIURO is a writer and editorial consultant for The Jewish Voice.
BROWN UNIVERSIT Y
Summer Sports Camps An exceptional camp experience for boys and girls of all ages and skill levels, led by Brown University’s varsity coaches, their staff and current Brown athletes. Baseball • Basketball • Diving Fencing • Field Hockey • Football Lacrosse • Rowing • Rugby • Soccer Squash • Swimming • Tennis Volleyball • Water Polo • Wrestling
Sponsored by the Brown University Department of Athletics and Brown University Continuing Education. BROWN UNIVERSITY SPORTS CAMPS ARE OPEN TO ANY AND ALL ENTRANTS.
PHOTO | FALL RIVER JEWISH HOME
Fall River Jewish Home dedication Cutting the ribbon at the dedication of the renovations to the short-term care unit at the Fall River Jewish Home are (left to right) Howard Freedman, president of FRJH, Rosalie Israel,
Mayor William Flanagan, Representative Carole Fiola, and Christine M. Vitale, administrator of the Fall River Jewish Home.
CALENDAR | COMMUNITY
8 | May 23, 2014
The Jewish Voice
CALENDAR 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. Know Your Candidates program through July: May 28, Michael Solomon, candidate for mayor of Providence; May 30, Brett Smiley, candidate for mayor of Providence; June 6, Jorge Elorza, candidate for mayor of Providence, Nellie Gorbea, candidate for secretary of state (at 1:30); $3 lunch donation from individuals 60+ or under 60 with disabilities. Neal or Elaine, 401-421-4111, 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.
Continuing through May 29
Local Artists Exhibit. Highlighting art from the community. Gallery (401) Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, Erin Moseley, emoseley@ jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 108.
Continuing through June
Three area artists in three media. Temple Habonim, 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington. Wednesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and by appointment. For information, 401-245-6536, or email gallery@templehabonim.org.
Wednesday | May 28
Shavuot at Wright’s Dairy Farm. 4-6 p.m. Learn about where real dairy products come from during a tour of a working dairy farm. Bring a picnic and listen to PJ Library stories about Shavuot. Outdoor tour, dress appropriately. Space is limited. RSVP required. $2 per person. Contact Michelle Cicchitelli (mchicchitelli@jewishallianceri.org) or 401-421-4111, ext. 178.
Thursday | May 29
Leisure Club Activities. 10-10:50 a.m. Christine Rose speaks on “Contemporary American Poetry: Two Poets and an Analysis of Their Work.” 11:10-noon. Miriam Abrams-Stark, director of Congregational Learning leads a program “God Talk Continued.” Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft Ave., Providence.
Friday | May 30
Shabbat on Broadway. 7:30 p.m. Temple Sinai. The music of the service will be inspired by Broadway melodies and Cantor Wendy Siegel will join Cantor Remmie Brown in singing. During the service, volunteers, new members and past presidents of the temple will be honored. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston.
Sunday | June 1
“The Strudel Lady” 7 p.m. presented by Temple Am David at the Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Musical comedy about tradition, friendship, love and one woman’s journey to selfdiscovery. Includes adult subject matter. Tickets $18. Visit www.grape-vine. com/offer/Temple_Am_David/The_Strudel_Lady or 401-418-1718. Temple Torat Yisrael Car Wash. 11 am to noon. $5. Come and get your car washed by our students in grades 2 and 3. 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich 401-885-6600, www.toratyisrael.org CBS Annual Honoree Gala. 4 p.m. Congregation Beth Sholom Social Hall. Live music and dinner by Andrew’s of Boston. Honorees are Barbara Sokoloff, Adam Bush, Sam Seidel and Sister Ann Keefe, all of whom have worked tirelessly to help transform the Broad St. Synagogue (affiliated with CBS) into a beacon of hope and progress for South Providence. They have fostered the preservation of the special Jewish community that once was, while preserving the values which it embodied for so long reinvigorating the holy space. Reservations and information, please call 401-621-9393 or email to officebethsholom@yahoo.com
Thursday | June 5
Shavuot Service/Yizkor. 9:15 a.m.Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich 401-885-6600, www.toratyisrael.org
Friday | June 6
Capturing Bialik’s Butterflies: Poet’s Voice Meets Camera’s Eye. Curator and photographer Henry J. Spencer. An interpretive art project by JCDSRI students accompanies the exhibit. Brown RISD Hillel Gallery, 80 Brown St. Providence Monday-Thursday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Opening reception June 12, 4-8 p.m. with remarks by Rabbi Dr. Marc Mandel of Touro Synagogue. www.brownhillel.org United Brothers Synagogue “Songs of Light.” 7:30 p.m. Annual musical service, celebrating “Torah orah/The Torah is light” with traditional favorites and unconventional selections. Oneg immediately following the service. All are welcome. RSVP to ubsbristol@ gmail.com. 205 High St., Bristol. Annual Get S’mores Shabbat. Temple Sinai. 6 p.m. Brief service and a picnic on the temple lawn. Members are invited to bring their own suppers and chairs, and the s’mores will be provided. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Third Annual Gay Pride Shabbat. Temple Habonim. 6:45 p.m. Celebrate Shabbat and LBGT pride. Max Chaiken will be song leader and guest speaker. For more information, contact Temple Habonim at 401-245-6536 or www. templehabonim.org. CALENDAR | 9
Calendar Submissions June 20 issue, HEALTH & WELLNESS – must be received by June 4 Aug. 1 issue, BACK TO SCHOOL – must be received by July 16
Send all calendar items to: editor@jewishallianceri.org with the subject line “CALENDAR.”
Left to right: Lion of Judah Chair Mitzi Berkelhammer, Cheryl Greenfeld Teverow, Camp JORI President Deb Salinger, Jonathan Salinger, Alliance President and CEO Jeffrey Savit, and Alliance Board Chair Sharon Gaines
Youth programs and an author, too BY HILLARY SCHULMAN hschulman@jewishallianceri.org
On May 13, Faye and Rob Stolzman hosted an evening at their home, sponsored by the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, featuring author B.A. Shapiro. Shapiro spoke about her new book, “The Art Forger.” Shapiro was
captivating and inspiring as she hilariously recounted her story and the process involved in writing the literary thriller that took her 20 years to become an “overnight success.” Community members involved in Jewish camping and those committed to ensuring a strong Jewish future for our children also heard Alliance
Director of Jewish Life Michelle Cicchitelli speak about PJ Library, J-Camp and other opportunities for children to develop a strong Jewish identity in Rhode Island. The evening highlighted what Alliance Annual Campaign dollars do to cultivate the future of Jewish youth in the state.
CALENDAR | COMMUNITY
thejewishvoice.org
FROM PAGE 8
CALENDAR
Sunday | June 9
Leisure Club Annual Meeting. 1 p.m. Luncheon and program with entertainment by Amy Olson. Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft Ave., Providence.
Wednesday | June 11
Cranston Senior Guild Annual Spring Installation of Officers. Noon. West Valley Inn, 4 Blossom St., West Warwick. $21 includes, soup, salad, pasta, entree, dessert and beverage. Entertainment by Scotch and Soda Music. There will also be raffles. Men and women 50 years and up welcome. You do not have to be a Cranston resident to join. Reservations for the lunch and information, call Natalie Palla at 401-615-9483.
Friday | June 13
Services at Temple Sinai. 6 p.m. Oneg Shabbat afterward honoring Rabbi Peter Stein, who will be moving with his family to Rochester, N.Y., during the summer.
Sunday | June 22
Retirement Luncheon for Cantor Remmie Brown. Noon. Crowne Plaza Hotel, Warwick. Adults, $36, Children 12 and under, $18. RSVP by June 5 to Dottie at Temple Sinai, 401-942-8350 or dottie@templesinairi.org.
Upcoming
JCC Summer Canteen Reunion. Sunday Aug. 24, 7-10 p.m. at the Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Everyone who attended JCC Summer Canteen dances in the fifties and sixties is invited. Entertainment by the Ghost Riders (Roy Cohen, Richie Cohen and David Katz) and our DJ (Jerry Chorney). Wine, cheese and fruit will be served. Dress is summer casual. $20 per person. Send checks payable to “Summer Canteen Reunion” to Summer Canteen Reunion, Box JJ, Chepachet, R.I. 02814. Contact Mark Rechter at mrech48@cox.net for more information and check out the East Side JCC Facebook page.
Jeffrey G. Brier CLU, ChFC, CASL Licensed Insurance Agent of Genworth Life Insurance Company Brier & Brier 245 Waterman Street, #505 Providence, RI 02906 jbrier@brier-brier.com · www.Brier-Brier.com 401-751-2990 Long term care planning options for businesses and individuals
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The Voice Classifieds Babysitter / Nanny College Student,- Jr. Psych Major – 7 years experience Flexible schedule For more information call 401-598-7084
Hawaiian Vacation Wyndham Ka’Eo Kai Resort Princeville, Hawaii, U.S. Length of Stay: 7 nights Available: Nov 22, 2014 Nov 29, 2014 Contact: Sharong956@ gmail.com Smoking: No– Pets: No Kitchen:Full Occupancy: 6 Bedrooms/Bathrooms: 2/2 Beds: 1 King, 2 Full/ Double, 1 Sleeper Sofa Amenities: BBQ, DVD Player, Deck or Patio, Internet Access, Jacuzzi Tub, Laundry , Refrigerator - Full Size, Stereo, TV, Telephone, VCR On the northern shore of
Kauai, there’s a beautiful plateau overlooking romantic Hanalei Bay. Amidst this splendor, you’ll find the smaller and more private paradise of Ka’Eo Kai. A stroll along its winding paths takes you past waterfalls, streams, gardens and ponds that complement the beauty of this remarkable natural setting.
Hebrew School Administrator Temple Torat Yisrael, East Greenwich, R.I. is seeking an Administrator to mentor teachers, develop curriculum, oversee lesson planning, execution and the daily operations of our K-7 Religious School (Sundays, 9-noon). Salary based on 10- 12 hours/ week. Aug 2014 - June 2015. Contact: Rachel Silverman at school@ toratyisrael.org.
TO PLACE A CLASSIFIED AD: Contact Tricia Stearly, tstearly@jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 160.
Hebrew School Teachers Temple Torat Yisrael, East Greenwich, R.I. is seeking Jewish educators for 2014-15 school year for our growing K-7 Religious School. Candidates should possess strong Judaic knowledge, experience with children, creativity and enthusiasm. Sundays, 9 am-noon. Compensation based on 4-5 hrs/week (includes additional planning/meeting/training hours). Contact: Rachel Silverman at school@ toratyisrael.org.
LICSW To provide therapy to adults, families children and adolescents. Part time and fee-for-service positions available. Flexible scheduling, office on the East Side of Providence. Send resume to Behiye@ jfsri.org EOE
9
10 | May 23, 2014
OPINION
The Jewish Voice
Haunted by the Holocaust
FROM THE EDITOR
Producing a community newspaper The Jewish Voice is a community paper. In the newspaper industry, we’re known as a “niche” publication. With a circulation of roughly 9,500, The Voice covers a diverse and vibrant Jewish community in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachus e t t s . T h at ’s a pretty hefty mandate for EDITOR a very small staff. Think about FRAN it. All of Rhode OSTENDORF Island… and about as far as Fall River. And let’s not forget those of you on the Cape, or wintering in Florida, Arizona and elsewhere. We’re trying to cover a little of everything that’s going on in our Jewish community. And, yes, we’re adding a sprinkling of national and international news that we come across and think you might be interested in (and may not have seen in your local or national newspaper). Every community paper faces the same challenges. How much can you cover with an often small staff and sometimes limited space? As a new editor here, I’m just beginning to sort through what is possible and what isn’t and how to best serve our community. So, I thought I’d answer a few of the questions/concerns that have come across my desk lately about putting out the newspaper. “Can you send someone out to take a picture and cover our event?” Yes, we would love to come and cover each and every happening. But, unfortunately, we have to turn down more events than we cover. In a wonderful robust commu-
nity like ours, there are many, many more events than there are resources for us to cover them. So, if we ask you to send in a picture or to send us your story or press release, please don’t be offended. We want all your news, we just can’t be everywhere at once. “Why did you ignore our e v e nt /c a l l / l e t t e r/e m a i l? ” Please believe me when I tell you that no one will be ignored. We can’t know about an event unless you send us the information. And that’s why we encourage everyone to send us news. That’s what a community paper is all about. But, again, we can’t cover everything, nor do we have room for everything that comes to us. “How can I get my information to you?” Email is your friend. And ours. Please send your information to editor@ jew isha l l ia ncer i.org. T hat saves us from having to retype any information and perhaps introduce an error. Be sure to include a contact name and phone number so somebody can reach you if we want to ask questions or arrange to cover an event. We do cover events as often as we can. We love getting your photos as well. Be aware that lowresolution photos often do not reproduce well in the newspaper. So use a camera if you can or a newer smartphone and send us the high-resolution version of your images. We’re exploring ways to expand our coverage. You’ll see our interns out and about this summer, and we hope to do more to rethink and improve our printed and web content in the future. A community newspaper is always a work in progress. Stay tuned. We appreciate all your help and support.
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“You tumbled in the pit/your last strength wrapped around/ your youngest son/to shield him from/another mother’s son/who pulled the trigger.” These words are found in a poem by Laura Chakrin Cable, “Making Shabbos in the Line of Fire,” written in memory of the poet’s grandmother, who perished during the Holocaust. Cable wrote a number of poems ecting – IT SEEMS refl among other themes – her TO ME identity as the daughter of RABBI JIM Holocaust surROSENBERG vivors. After her death from cancer 10 years ago at the age of 50, members of her writing group chose 46 of her poems for inclusion in a collection titled “Crossing the Stream” (2005). Adam Cable, Laura’s son and great-grandson of the woman in the pit, read “Making Shabbos in the Line of Fire” in its entirety at the 30th Annual Rhode Island Interfaith Commemoration of the Holocaust, held at Providence’s Temple Emanu-El this past Yom HaShoah, 27 Nisan, 5774, April 27. Before entering the sanctuary, each of the hundreds of individuals attending this year’s Yom HaShoah service was handed a copy of Cable’s “Crossing the Stream.” I began reading the 46 selections that very Sunday evening and have been returning to them again and again ever since. Cable is a woman haunted by
LETTER Since early April a number of members of the community have been meeting to share their interest in Israel and to express concern about the policies and impact of J Street Rhode Island. In particular they have been interested in organizing a statewide showing of the movie “J Street Challenge,” which has been shown successfully in many Jewish communities in the country. “J Street Challenge” brings
images of the Holocaust. Thus, “It’s the Odd Times” begins: “It’s the odd times/thoughts drift in like gas/from a showerhead/on a lazy morning.” Even Shabbat candles take on an ominous suggestiveness, reminding her of her grandmother’s murder, evoking religious disquiet and doubt: “They stand like chimneys/ like barrels of rifles/that killed her…I yearn for her faith/but questions rise/like smoke from me./Where was he/this King who demands/his due?” (“The Candles Wait”) As the daughter of Holocaust survivors, Cable reveals an urgent need, an insistent demand to remember, to fi ll the “empty spaces” of lives cut short, lives spared but forever twisted by the horrors of the Holocaust. In “Mama in the Hospital,” – a poem made doubly poignant by the inclusion of the image of a “[muddy] teabag in a Yahrzeit glass” – the poet declares: “Our lives are marked/by which empty spaces we fi ll/with what,/and how we fi ll them.” Similarly, in “Simchas Torah, 1993,” Cable asks – while others “dance/as if flying on air/as if nothing to fear” – if she is the only one who hears the cry of absence: “Is it only for me/that all joy sheds tears/for the ones taken then/and absent today/from all joy?” In her title poem, “Crossing the Stream,” Cable seems to fi nd the answer to the central question she has posed to herself: How should she answer those spirits singing “in sadness, inside [her], incessantly – Remember us!”? Those spirit voices tell her: “Don’t drown!/ in blood/in bitterness” but rather “Delight!/in the forest/
in our memory/You will fi nd a true path!” Despite all the “noes” which scream out of the heart of darkness, the darkness of the Holocaust, Cable fi nds the courage to say “yes” to life, to cross the stream into a world of affirmation. Sadly, toward the end of her life, Cable was forced to face a different kind of darkness, the darkness of knowing that her cancer had returned and that she would die before her time. Many of the poems in the latter portion of her book reflect her wrestling with her fatal, and fateful, disease. Nevertheless, even when confronting the worst, Cable characteristically manages to project a vision of hope. In “Cancer; With Community,” she writes: “Even with body broken/my soul is whole./I know/the crocus will grow/to kiss the snow,/and I will walk barefoot/on the grass/again.” The fi nal poem in the collection, “Post Diagnosis,” tells the reader that “these words appear in various states/of deliverance and disrepair/and I cast up my nets to collect them /before I die.” In “Crossing the Stream,” Laura Chakrin Cable has left a precious legacy to her family, her friends and all of us who struggle with the meaning of memory and mortality. Even more precious is the legacy of her life so well lived! JAMES B. ROSENBERG, rabbi emeritus of Temple Habonim in Barrington, can be contacted at rabbiemeritus@templehabonim.org.
Re: J Street Challenge salient facts and well-known speakers together to ask important questions. The speakers include Alan Dershowitz, Carolyn Glick (Jerusalem Post), Ruth Wysse (Harvard University), Bret Stephens (Wall Street Journal) and others. It is a serious educational fi lm. This ad hoc group has requested support from the CRC’s Israel Task Force (for sponsorship) and from Brown RISD Hillel (for facilities). In
OUR MISSION
COLUMNS | LETTERS POLICY
The mission of The Jewish Voice is to communicate Jewish news, ideas and ideals by connecting and giving voice to the diverse views of the Jewish community in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, while adhering to Jewish values and the professional standards of journalism.
The Jewish Voice publishes thoughtful and informative contributors’ columns (op-eds of 500 – 800 words) and letters to the editor (250 words, maximum) on issues of interest to our Jewish community. At our discretion, we may edit pieces for publication or refuse publication. Letters and columns, whether from our regular contributors or from guest columnists,
both cases they were turned down. Interestingly, J Street initially worked its way into Jewish communities by pointing to the “big tent” philosophy to justify its inclusion Now it would appear that organizations controlled by J Street have shut down the tent and shut out free speech in our community. Is that who we have become? Howard Brown North Kingstown, R.I.
represent the views of the authors; they do not represent the views of The Jewish Voice or the Alliance. Send letters and op-eds to The Jewish Voice, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, RI 02906 or editor@jewishallianceri.org. Include name, city of residence and a contact phone number or email (not for publication).
OPINION
thejewishvoice.org
May 23, 2014 |
11
No justifications for justifications BY JOSH ROSENBAUM There are those whose love for Israel is comparable to a parent’s love for a child. Parental love is unconditional. Regardless of a child’s behavior, a parent seldom ceases loving the child, even in cases of abandonment. Others love Israel as one loves a lover. Romantic love is earned and conditional. Romances begin, and romances end. Longevity is the goal but not always the conclusion. Yet others love Israel as one loves a brother or sister. Sibling love is complicated and delicate. Siblings fight, sometimes to the point where the existence of the love is unclear, but they most often want the best for each other even if they are no longer involved in each other’s lives. The ideal love for Israel draws from each of these categories and puts it on a whole other plane entirely. Being a teenage Israel advocate, I often encounter a troublesome phenomenon in the world of hasbara. That is, people often feel that since they love Israel, they are required to defend her every aspect and action. Advocates, especially those on campus, feel that it is their job to explain and justify every Israeli decision that receives scrutiny. They have a tendency to hear the criticism and immediately, prior to researching the matter, defend Israel’s actions. “Clearly this person is misinterpreting whatever happened or maybe even didn’t happen,” they may think, without leaving open the possibility that Israel may have made a flawed decision. They fail to entertain for even the slightest moment that there could have been a point of disagreement between them and a historical or contemporary Israeli decision.
LETTER
I’m guilty of this as well in some regard. This past week, I heard Ezra Yachin, a veteran of Lechi, speak about his experiences prior to the establishment of the State of Israel. Yachin spoke with passion of his selflessness, dedication and sacrifice. He glorified and praised Lechi’s many operations, and he left the room of future leaders speechless and inspired. After he left, the students lauded and applauded his achievements. The conversation, however, quickly turned to the terrorism-based strategy Lechi employed. “How can we justify everything Lechi did?” a student enquired earnestly. The room went silent as people sifted through their thoughts and feelings to figure out how to justify it. That is, until one student spoke up. “We don’t have to,” he claimed. I’ve been studying in Israel for the past five months, and I’ve spent five shabbatot on Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Beyond the valuable research the topic deserves, I’ve spoken for hours upon hours with settlers about their religious ideologies and political beliefs. Settlement expansion is one of the paramount issues Israel advocates face today and one that is important for me to understand as firsthand as possible. When I speak with anti-Israel activists regarding my pro-Israel stance, I’m often asked, “How can you justify the expanding settlements in the occupied territories?” What the questioner doesn’t understand is that I don’t have to. I’m an outspoken advocate of the two-state solution, and I honestly believe that the settlements are an obstacle to peace and that the continued expansion is incomparably damaging to the process. “So how can you
support Israel?!” is the natural follow-up question. Israel advocacy is my passion, but truth and congruence are my passions as well. If these passions were in contradiction, my advocacy would need a serious reevaluation – but they are not. Israel advocacy does not demand unrestricted justification. Intellectual honesty does, however, demand giving every issue full, unbiased research
(as opposed to deciding to stick by Israel unequivocally). Israel is not flawless, and treating it as such is, beyond ignorant, detrimental to the cause. Not supporting Israel every time is a greater way to support Israel. Israel needs honest advocates. She needs passionate, emotional advocates, but she needs the same advocates to be intellectual and sincere. This is vastly different from the philosophy that encourages embracing Israel’s flaws as her defining characteristics. Neither is it the philosophy that encourages stifling Israel’s negative aspects by focusing on the positives. This philosophy entails focusing on the entirety – on the positives, the negatives and the big picture. The goal is to create a state that embodies everything we believe to be positive and moral. But in areas where we are not yet there, the
Re: Letters to the editor (April 25)
You published three letters commenting on a column by James Rosenberg. He criticized the demand of Prime Minister Netanyahu that the Palestinians explicitly recognize Israel as Jewish as a precondition for serious two-state negotiations. The letters correctly point out that the 1947 U.N. partition resolution calls for a division of the territory of Palestine into “Jewish” and “Arab” states. But as Rabbi Rosenberg notes, Israelis already live in a Jewish country. No previous Israeli government has ever demanded that Arab negotiating partners declare Israel Jewish. Those negotiations resulted in peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan that have been fundamental to Israel’s security for several decades. A negotiated two-state resolution with the Palestinians may be even more crucial to Israel’s long-term security and its character. This is attested by all six living former heads of Shin Bet,
Israel’s security intelligence agency, in the recent Israeli film “The Gatekeepers.” They came to this conclusion after their combined decades of trying to control the Palestinian population through what Ariel Sharon – hardly a leftist dove – said should end, in his words “holding 3.5 million Palestinians under occupation.” So isn’t there something a little weird about an Israeli prime minister demanding that Palestinians declare Israel Jewish? Isn’t that up to Israelis? All serious students of the negotiations between the parties have always known that a final twostate resolution would have to acknowledge the Palestinian sense of their own tie to the land, while including provisions that block a literal Palestinian “return” within the borders of Israel by substituting compensation, land swaps and so forth. The details would be a matter for the negotiators. This has been so
well understood for so long that one must wonder why Prime Minister Netanyahu publicly insisted now on his unprecedented precondition for continuing negotiations. Meanwhile, political pandering on this emotional issue has reached our own shores. Sen. Rand Paul, the Republican presidential hopeful, recently proposed to cut all U.S. aid to Palestinians unless they declare Israel a Jewish state. His bill was quickly shelved, and who does Paul blame for killing it? AIPAC, which certainly cannot be accused of indifference to Israel’s security or Jewishness. Israel’s long-term existence as a secure, democratic and self-defining state depends on the existence of a successful Palestinian state. This in turn depends on negotiations without emotionladen preconditions. Philip Rosen Providence,R.I.
solution is not to focus purely on the positives and brush the negatives aside. This methodology is transparent and induces claims such as “pinkwashing” or “greenwashing.” A dishonest advocate is a failed advocate. Rather, if we give the negatives their deserved attention as well, we stand a significant chance to change them. The ideal love of Israel draws from all three of the aforementioned categories of love. It is like the love of a parent; it involves loving Israel through thick and thin while being comfortable with disagreement. A parent does not say a child never does anything wrong, but rather a parent singles out and addresses the misbehaviors of his/her child. It is like the love of a lover; it involves understanding that our desire is to support Israel no matter what but simultaneously understand that some things need to be addressed for the relationship to continue. A true lover, through fight after fight, does everything he/she can to work things out. That doesn’t necessarily mean the disagreement must be forgotten or even forgiven; it means that the bigger picture is decidedly more valuable. Finally, it is like the love of a sibling; it involves being there for Israel, desiring only the best for her, and understanding that not standing
FROM PAGE 1
by her every action does not mean not standing by her as a whole. I stand by Israel because of the things I am proud of. I am proud of Israel’s social progression. You may be proud of Israel’s technological innovations, its democratic government in a hostile and tyrannic region, its historical or biblical significance, or the flourishing of its land. Dynamic and effective Israel advocacy involves a personal connection to the state. It does not, however, involve an all-around comfort with every aspect. Israel has acted and will act in ways that should make you uncomfortable. Lechi operations and settlement expansion are among the things that make me uncomfortable. As Israel advocates, we should not be justifying Israel’s faults. Rather, we should be allowing those who can make a difference to correct its faults. The good news is we can all make a difference. JOSH ROSENBAUM lives in Providence and is a recent graduate of Maimonides School in Boston, where he served as Student Body President and New England NCSY Regional President. He is currently studying for a year at Yeshivat Lev HaTorah in Ramat Beit Shemesh. While in Israel, he is participating in a program called Jerusalem U Fellowships. Next fall, he will begin studying at Tulane University, where he plans to double major in Political Science and Psychology.
100 PERCENT
to vote may be the simplest role. While important, voting is only the tip of the iceberg if we are to truly be a part of the 100 percent and make a difference in our community and society. Besides voting, be a voice to advocate for issues you believe are important to you and the community. For example, if you believe in gun rights, let people know it. If you are for a reduction in gun violence or support gun control, let your voice be heard. Write letters and emails, sign petitions and call your elected officials to let them know your position on an issue and why. Sister Campbell cited several issues important to her. As one individual and a small part of the 100 percent, she voiced her desire for our government to work toward reducing wage disparity. She also advocated for the proposed minimum wage increase presented by our president. As an advocate for the poor, she also wants government to do more to end homelessness and hunger and to improve education for our children among other issues. While we may believe Sister Campbell’s stature makes it easy for her to be an advocate and voice, that is not entirely
true. Like you and me, she had to start somewhere. You and I have that same ability. Actually it is imperative that we voice our concerns for democracy to work. Sister Campbell jokingly advised that we begin our advocacy efforts at the grocery store. While waiting in line, rather than saying to the person next to you, “How about those Boston Red Sox?” try saying something like, “You know, have you ever thought about donating a canned good to the food pantry?” The Community Relations Council (CRC) of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island is an excellent vehicle for your voice to be heard and your advocacy to be put into action. Recently while on a mission in Washington, D.C., I asked Sen. Jack Reed what we can do to move Washington, D.C., forward with our concerns. He said we should be a voice. Tell him and other elected officials where we stand on the issues. In other words, he suggested we be a part of the 100 percent. MARTY COOPER is the Community Relations Director for the Jewish Alliance.
12 | May 23, 2014
COMMUNITY | WORLD
Is this goodbye, Cantor Brown? BY IRINA MISSIURO imissiuro@jewishallianceri. org On Sunday, June 22, Cantor Remmie Brown, who dedicated more than three decades of his life to Temple Sinai, will be honored at The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick. It’s easy to see why the news of Brown’s retirement may be upsetting to the congregation. Brown has been part of the community for 45 years (11 as cantorial soloist and 34 as cantor). Now he is looking forward to spending more time with his wife, Marjorie, whose support and participation in congregational life has been a key part of his success. The cantor is ready to enjoy life without feeling “the Jewish guilt.” He explains that he could never stay away from his job; even on vacation, he would Skype with his students. “I’m always connected with them, no matter where I am.” While Brown is passing the mic to Wendy Siegel, the succeeding cantor, to enjoy the emeritus status the temple is bestowing upon him, he plans to remain involved. “I said to the congregation, ‘I’m not leaving – I’m just changing perspective. Instead of looking down on you, I will be sitting and looking up like everybody else.’ ” The cantor considers the temple to be his extended family, people who have been there for him and his wife during times of need, just as he and his wife have tried to be there for the congregants. He sums up, “You don’t just get up and say goodbye.” Brown is not planning to say goodbye to the cantorial craft either. He and his wife will be spending the next winter in Florida, where he attends another Temple Sinai. There, he’ll have an opportunity to engage the congregation, as he’s often asked to do during his visits. However, his goal is to relax and spend time with his 16 grandchildren. Family has always been important to the cantor. In fact, his roots influenced his choice of profession. On a wall in his house, a photo of Brown’s grandfather in cantorial garb hangs right next to one of him in a similar outfit. Brown shares that his grandfather – Reverend Mayor Smith, who served in Rhode Island for 60 years, – was eighth-generation hazen. Since the Kol Nidrei at Brown’s first Yom Kippur, he’s felt the connection with the generations that came before him. His uncle, Jack Smith, paved the way, working as cantor at Torat Yisrael. Brown deadpans, “I come by it somewhat honestly.” When asked what about the profession drew him in, the cantor replies, “somebody ringing the doorbell.” Temple Beth-El’s cantor, the late Norman Gewirtz, was going on
The Jewish Voice
Rabbi and sheik will be traveling companions on pope’s trip to Israel BY RUTH ELLEN GRUBER
COURTESY | CANTOR REMMIE BROWN
Cantor Remmie Brown a sabbatical. He stopped by Brown’s house to offer him his first congregational job. After serving as cantorial soloist until Gewirtz’ return from Israel, Brown accepted a post at Temple Habonim, where he stayed for nine years. In 1980, Temple Sinai rang his bell; Brown has been there ever since. The cantor, who also worked as math and science teacher, is glad that his life panned out this way, “It has been a wonderful career.” Brown made sure that, by the time the bar/ bat mitzvah child stepped off the pulpit, s/he would no longer see him as a stern mentor, competing for a time slot in an overcrowded schedule. Usually, the kids would hug him to share their joy and express appreciation. Referring to the congregation, Brown says, “I want to make them happy to be there. The job is to add beauty and meaning to services and experiences that families are going through. If a relationship comes out of that, it’s icing on the cake. That’s what makes it worthwhile.” Another fulfilling part about the position has been getting to know “amazing” people. Brown speaks glowingly of the rabbis, the choir, the organist, and the little children who helped him get up after a consecration lesson he conducted while sitting on the floor. If you are one of those people, or if you simply would like to meet the man whose kindness has touched so many, come to Temple Sinai on May 30, at 7:30 p.m. for Shabbat on Broadway. IRINA MISSIURO is a writer and editorial consultant for The Jewish Voice.
ROME (JTA) – With a rabbi and a Muslim sheik as his travel companions, Pope Francis is heading to the Middle East with what he hopes will be a powerful message of interfaith respect. It will be the first time that leaders of other faiths are part of an official papal delegation. The aim is to send “an extremely strong and explicit signal” about interfaith dialogue and the “normality” of having friends of other religions, chief Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi told reporters. Starting Saturday, the threeday pilgrimage takes the 77-year-old pontiff to Jordan, the West Bank and Israel. The packed agenda includes courtesy calls on government leaders; open-air Masses; meetings with Christian, Muslim and Jewish religious authorities; and visits to holy sites of the three religions. The two men joining Francis are friends with whom the pope frequently collaborated when he was the archbishop of Buenos Aires: Rabbi Abraham Skorka, former rector of the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary in Buenos Aires, and Sheik Omar Abboud, a former secretary-general of the Islamic Center of Argentina. “I don’t expect Francis to wave a magic wand and bring together Jews and Palestinians,” Skorka told the Italian Catholic newspaper Avvenire. “But his charisma and his great humility can give a powerful message of peace for the whole Middle East.” Since being elected to the papacy in February 2013, Francis, the first non-European pope in more than 1,200 years, has become known – and widely hailed – for breaking protocol, shunning the grand trappings of papal power and reaching out to the faithful on a personal level. On his upcoming trip, Francis has insisted that he will not travel in a bulletproof vehicle or special Popemobile. Rather, he’ll get around in “a normal car or open-topped Jeep” in order to be closer to the people who come out to greet him, according to the Vatican spokesman. Eric Greenberg, the director of communications, outreach and interfaith for the MultiFaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees, said Francis’ ability to captivate world media means every step of his visit will be watched closely. “There will be opportunities to deepen the important bilateral relationship between Catholics and Jews, and to boost the larger dialogue among Catholics, Jews and Muslims,” Greenberg said. Francis will begin his trip in Jordan and proceed the next
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) presents Pope Francis with a menorah during their meeting at the Vatican on Dec. 2, 2013. Pope Francis will visit Israel, Jordan, and the West Bank from May 24-26. day by helicopter to Bethlehem for a 6 1/2-hour stay. He will meet there with Palestinian officials, celebrate an open-air Mass in Manger Square and visit with children from Palestinian refugee camps. The official Vatican program says the pope will be visiting “the state of Palestine,” which has prompted rumors that the Vatican may announce recognition of an independent Palestinian state. From Bethlehem, Francis will fly by helicopter to Ben Gurion Airport and then to Jerusalem. He will visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust center and the Western Wall, where like his predecessors Benedict XVI and John Paul II, he will leave a message in a crack between the stones. The pope also will visit Christian sites and the Temple Mount, a site that is sacred to both Jews and Muslims and the locus of recent clashes between Israeli police and Palestinians protesting Jewish visitors. In recent years, the Vatican has made the state of Christians in the Middle East a priority issue. Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal, the top Roman Catholic clergyman in the Holy Land, said this month that the recent spate of anti-Christian graffiti attacks by Israeli Jewish extremists “poisons the atmosphere of coexistence” surrounding the papal visit. He chided Israeli authorities for not cracking down. Rabbi David Rosen, the American Jewish Committee’s international director for interreligious affairs, said the media attention resulting from the papal trip has prompted some action to be taken against the extremists. Francis will be the fourth reigning pope to visit Jerusalem. His trip marks the 50th anniversary of the first papal visit to the Holy Land, Pope Paul VI’s pilgrimage in Janu-
ary 1964. On the trip, Paul’s meeting in Jerusalem with Patriarch Athenagoras, the spiritual leader of Orthodox Christians, was a major first step toward reconciling the 1,000year rift between Western and Eastern Christianity. The centerpiece of Francis’ stay will be his meeting with Ecumenical Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew and an ecumenical joint prayer service with leaders of other Christian churches in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem. Paul’s trip, the first by a reigning pope outside of Italy, came in a vastly different context than today in terms of Jewish-Catholic and VaticanIsrael relations. The visit came one year before the Second Vatican Council promulgated its Nostra Aetate declaration, which opened the way to interreligious dialogue between Catholics and Jews. It also took place decades before the Vatican and Israel established diplomatic relations with a Fundamental Agreement signed at the end of 1993. During his stay in Jerusalem, Paul did not even pronounce the word “Israel.” For the past 20 years, Israel and the Holy See have attempted to reach agreement on several outstanding bilateral issues, including establishing the juridical rights of the Catholic Church in Israel as well as regulating property and taxation issues. Just ahead of the pope’s visit, Israeli officials quashed rumors that Israel planned to transfer the Cenacle – the site where Jesus’ Last Supper took place – to the Vatican. Francis is to celebrate Mass at the Cenacle, which is revered by Christians. Jews venerate the site as King David’s Tomb, and on May 12, hundreds of haredi Orthodox protested there demanding that Israel retain control.
D’VAR TORAH | SENIORS
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May 23, 2014 |
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D’var Torah
Bestowing blessings on our children BY RABBI MARK ELBER Though Naso in the context of the parashah that bears its name means to “take a census,” it literally means to “lift up” or “raise” the head. Nestled in this portion between the laws concerning Nazirites and final preparations for the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, are the wellknown verses of the Priestly Blessing (Bemidbar 6:24-26). There are different customs regarding the recitation of these blessings by Kohanim, priests, in the synagogue. In addition, these three verses are traditionally recited by parents over their children at the beginning
of the Friday evening Shabbat meal after singing “Shalom Aleichem” and before reciting the Kiddush. What an honor to raise children! And what a responsibility. What more would a parent want than to be able to bestow blessings upon his or her children? But – how do you bless someone? What does it mean? Is the recitation of a verbal formula, no matter how elegant, sufficient? The Priestly Blessing certainly is composed with striking literary qualities. Its mere 15 words manage to attain a crescendo effect partly because its three verses are con-
structed in a reverse pyramid of three, five and, finally, seven words, culminating with the blessing of peace (as, incidentally, both the Amidah and the Kaddish conclude with prayers for peace). If we look back at the verses of the Priestly Blessing, we notice that every verse evokes the presence of the Eternal One, whom our tradition understands, of course, as the source of all blessing. The priests are agents, or conduits, ideally, of divine blessing. I like to think of the utterance of a blessing as being a verbal means of focusing our consciousness and awareness on the transcendent and the eter-
Seniors can lead a vibrant lifestyle BY PATTY HARWOOD, LICSW What is the secret to leading a vibrant lifestyle as a senior citizen? In celebration of Older Americans Month, we offer the following insights into this topic. More than 60 years ago, psychologist Erik Erikson theorized that personality develops in a series of stages, which occur across the entire lifespan. Individuals continue to be affected by their social experiences as they age. Each life stage provides an opportunity to build competence in a specific area. Those between middle age and active senior years can choose whether they’d like to live in Generactivity or vegetate in Stagnation. These 40-somethings to 60-somethings fall into the seventh stage of Erikson’s development, that he termed Generactivity vs. Stagnation. Those who master this phase feel that they are contributing to the world by being active participants at home and in their community. Those who are unproductive and uninvolved in the world become stagnated and may become depressed, inactive and isolated during their senior years. Medical research supports the theory that active and socially connected seniors live longer, healthier and happier lives. An 18-year study by Sweden’s Karolinska Institute identified specific lifestyle behaviors that are associated with longer life, even for folks over the age of 80 and those with chronic medical conditions. Participants in the study who had a positive outlook on their lives, enjoyed rich social networks and engaged in regular physical activity lived longer than those lacking these factors. Upon reviewing this study, Gisele Wolf-Klein, M.D., who is the director of geriatric education for the North Shore LIJ Health System in New Hyde Park, New York, said that the findings add to the evidence that it is never too late to improve health and prolong life. Staying physically active does not mean going to the gym or doing sit-ups. People who stay active performing activities they enjoy have a much higher likelihood of sticking with them. Playing with your grandchildren, gardening, walking in nature, through a museum, or on the golf course are all activities that keep you active while you are doing something you like.
Coping with change and loss is an essential skill that helps older adults successfully navigate their later years. Resiliency is a trait that many healthy and happy seniors possess. Developing these skills takes time and patience, but speaking with seniors who have persevered through challenges and loss reveals that the benefits appear to be well worth the effort. Here are a few tips from the experts: Learn to accept what you cannot change and face your limitations with dignity and humor. Look at challenges as opportunities for personal growth and learn from previous mistakes. After a loss, reflect upon what you still have; appreciate the people who are positive influences in your life. Divide big challenges into small parts, addressing one at a time to feel less overwhelmed. Tackling a piece of the problem successfully will build your confidence and motivate you to address the next part of the challenge. Staying connected to your peers becomes more difficult as we age. We lose touch with people for a variety of reasons, including relocation, lack of transportation, illness, injury and death. How do we develop new, meaningful relationships in our later years? One way is to take a class or join a club on a topic or an activity that is of interest to you. Book clubs, line dancing, mah-jongg, computer skills and fitness are interests that can be cultivated at your local senior center or public library. Volunteering your time at a local food pantry, meal site, animal shelter or daycare center can promote a sense of purpose and productivity. At the same time, you will be interacting with new people and possibly forming lasting relationships. Don’t wait for the perfect moment to jump-start a more active and connected lifestyle. Take the first step by calling Jewish Family Service of Rhode Island at 401-331-1244 or the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island at 401-421-4111 to find a volunteer opportunity or social activity that’s right for you. Your interest and participation are vital to the Jewish community.
“Don’t wait for the perfect moment to jump-start a more active and connected lifestyle.”
PATTY HARWOOD, LICSW, is Director of Older Adult Resources at Jewish Family Service Rhode Island.
nal amid the ephemeral. Just as the priests function as agents of divine blessing to the people of Israel, similarly parents assume that role when offering their blessings to their children at the Shabbat table. One of the powers of the Torah is that many verses are expressed in broad enough language to be able to contain numerous interpretations that complement each other, that enlarge our understanding. That is clearly the case with the Priestly Blessing. Other than the specificity of the word Shalom, peace, the other blessings are less precise. Even “peace” itself could refer to peace of mind, living in security with the lack of external threats, etc., or all of the above. When offering this blessing to our children, which I find to be a particularly powerful, poignant moment in the week, there is room for our own personal Kavana, our individual intention. This weekly ritual is not the only way, however, that we bestow blessings upon our children. Probably the most potent means is by modeling the behavior and life that we would like them to emulate. As mentioned earlier, the name of the portion, Naso, literally means “to raise” or “lift up.” It is part of our role to lift up and raise the esteem of our child. By showing them esteem, we teach them to esteem others and foster a sense of self-esteem in themselves. As it says in Pirkei Avot (4:1) “Who is honored? The one who honors others.” Earlier
in that same passage in Pirkei Avot, one of my personal favorites, is the phrase “Who is wise? The one who learns from everyone.” Part of the way we learn from others is by listening, being attentive. Being attentive is another form of showing respect. As much as we may want to bequeath to our offspring the things we treasure, we need to allow them the room to find themselves, to find their own treasures. We can strive to give them the tools, education and values to be able to make our tradition their own, but we can’t expect them to do it the same way we have. They have to find their own way. The book of Ezekiel opens with the prophet’s description of the Merkavah, the chariot, above which he perceives a vision of the divine presence in the world. Eight hundred or so years later, in the third century of the common era, a great teacher, Resh Lakish, is quoted in the Talmud as saying “The Avot, the patriarchs, are the Merkavah.” I take this to mean that the exemplary lives of the patriarchs, the great early fathers, conveyed the sense of the divine presence into the world. Their lives were like a living Torah and thus a model for us. May we strive similarly to be a model for the next generations by living lives worthy of emulation. RABBI MARK ELBER is rabbi of Temple Beth-El in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Candle Lighting Times
Greater Rhode Island
May 23..........................7:48 May 30..........................7:54 June 3 Erev Shavu’ot........7:57 June 4 Shavu’ot ..............9:07 June 6 ...........................7:59
14 | May 23, 2014
COMMUNITY
The Jewish Voice
FROM PAGE 1
DISPARITY ward, illustrating how the top tiers have made strides forward while the bottom has fallen farther behind. Simone called the audience to action, saying that “we, together, need to fi nd a new way” to fight poverty and arguing that income-and-wealth disparity is lowering the quality of life for everyone. “Democracy by defi nition means community,” she said. “We cannot have the top and the bottom getting farther apart.” She admonished the crowd to develop new views together and voice their feelings to government leaders to make a change. “We need to imagine ourselves as a community,” she said. “In that imagination, we can create something new.” After the speech, she elaborated on her feelings about Rhode Island’s unique position. Because of its small size, Campbell said, “You know each other. You know everyone. You have an opportunity to try new things. You can work for the 100 percent.” The annual conference, which started with a breakfast study session, also heard a report on the state of poverty in Rhode Island, with facts and figures on conditions among children, families and seniors from Rhode Island’s Kids Count’s Elizabeth Burke Bryant and The Economic Progress Institute’s Linda Katz.
PHOTOS | R.I. COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS
A student from Sophia Academy, left, participates in the human bar graph. At right, Sister Simone Campbell with her book. Following the keynote, there were five workshops: The Segregation of Wealth: Race and Poverty in Rhode Island; Poverty and the Elderly; The Interfaith Coalition’s Advocacy Platform: An Agenda to Reduce
Poverty; Human Trafficking: The “Red Light” District; and Food Justice and Food Security: A Call to Action in R.I. The conference closed with a noontime wrapup.
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FRAN OSTENDORF is editor of The Jewish Voice.
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FOOD
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This Shavuot, step away from the same old cheesecake BY CYNTHIA BENJAMIN On Shavuot, to commemorate the exodus from Egypt to the Promised Land, “a country flowing with milk and honey,” we eat dairy. Traditional favorites include blintzes, cheesecake and cheese. More recent favorites, especially in the United States, include ice cream, quiche and macaroni and cheese. In Israel, artisan, or boutique, cheeses are all the rage for the holiday. But you don’t have to travel to Israel to partake – you can make your own tasty yogurt cheese right at home, and then use it as a spread or an ingredient in dozens of dairy dishes. And the best part – besides the creamy, tangy taste – is that it’s easy! Yogurt cheese, or labneh, is popular throughout the Middle East. This versatile cheese, which has a consistency and taste similar to gourmet cream cheese, is so easy to make that even first-time cheese makers should not feel intimidated. Here’s what you need: 1 quart whole-milk plain yogurt 1 teaspoon kosher salt White or black pepper (optional) Cheesecloth Here’s what you do: Empty the yogurt into a bowl and gently stir in the salt and pepper. Empty into cheesecloth or a cloth diaper (if your cheesecloth is long and narrow, cut into 2 pieces and overlap in the middle to form an X, and place yogurt in the center). Gather the ends of the cheesecloth together and hang over a bowl. Let the yogurt drain for at least 24 hours. Then test the yogurt to make sure it is thick and creamy – if it’s still watery, squeeze or let hang an additional day or until desired consistency is reached. Shape into loaves, balls or a brick and serve. Refrigerate leftovers. Now that you have your labneh, the real fun begins: In Israel, it is most frequently mixed with a spice blend called za’atar (typically, a mix of thyme, sumac, ground toasted sesame seeds, marjoram, oregano and kosher salt) and stored in olive oil, but you can spice, season or garnish labneh hundreds of ways or use it as an ingredient in everything from eggplant dishes to cheesecake. Here are a few options: Mix into the cheese or cover it with: * crushed dried hot chilies and dried mint * roasted garlic * fresh thinly sliced chives * fresh minced dill * black pepper and thyme * hot paprika * toasted sesame seeds Serve with raw cut-up vegetables, crackers, pita bread, bagels, or pita/bagel chips. Labneh can also replace sour cream as a garnish, so go ahead and use it to top blintzes or
Labneh cheese with a bagel latkes. Or mix it into soups to add creaminess and tartness. Labneh pairs particularly well with eggplant, creating an elegant dish that is simple to prepare:
Eggplant labneh bake
Eggplant, sliced, coated with egg and your choice of breading and spices, and shallow-fried in olive oil Labneh cheese, at room temperature. Tomatoes thinly sliced, tomato or pasta sauce. Cover the bottom of a glass pan with a thin layer of tomato sauce and a layer of fried eggplant. Smear labneh cheese onto the eggplant and top with a layer of tomatoes. Top with a second layer of eggplant, cheese and tomatoes. If enough ingredients remain, add a third layer. Top with a layer of tomato sauce. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated 350-degree oven until warmed through, 20 to 30 minutes. Remove foil and serve. Another option: remove foil, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and return to oven until cheese begins to melt – about 5 minutes. The following recipes are also wonderful choices for Shavuot:
Yogurt cucumber soup
3 large hothouse (English) cucumbers, divided 3 cups plain whole-milk Greek yogurt 1 garlic clove, or more, to taste, minced 2 tablespoons chopped chives or scallions 1/2 cup chopped fresh dill, cilantro or mint 2 tablespoons fruity olive oil Kosher salt White or black pepper 2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (optional) Peel 2 cucumbers, cut each in half, lengthwise, scoop out seeds and cut into chunks. Cut the last cucumber in half in the middle. Peel half, cut in half lengthwise, scoop out seeds, grate and set aside. Peel the remaining half cucumber in strips, leaving peel on the alternating rows. Cut in half lengthwise; scoop out seeds; cut the 2 halves again lengthwise, so you have 4 cucumber sticks, and then cut into 1/4-inch slices and refrigerate. Combine cucumber chunks, yogurt, garlic, herbs and olive oil in a blender. Puree until smooth (you may have to do this in batches). Pour soup into a large bowl. It should be the con-
Thai tea cheesecake
PHOTOS | CYNTHIA BENJAMIN
Yogurt draining for yogurt cheese, or labneh.
sistency of pea soup. If it is too thick, thin with milk. Gently stir in the grated cucumber. Taste and add salt and pepper. If desired, stir in fresh lemon juice. Chill thoroughly. Before serving, garnish with cucumber slices and a sprinkling of herbs. Serves 4. Did someone say dessert? How about a tart and some refreshing kiwi ice cream? This recipe, adapted from Rachael Ray, could not be simpler:
Kiwi ice cream
4 kiwi, peeled and cut into chunks 7 ounces marshmallow cream 1 cup heavy cream Puree the kiwi in a food processor or blender. Add the marshmallow cream and heavy cream; pulse to mix, then process until just smooth, about 30 seconds. Scrape into a bowl. Press plastic wrap onto the surface; freeze until firm, about 3 hours. Serves 4. And, finally, in acknowledgement that plain cheesecake is so same-old, same-old, a newfangled cheesecake recipe from Molly Katzen, via JNS.org:
Thai tea cheesecake
Serves 8 or more. Note: Brew and strain the tea well ahead of time. To get the proper strength for this recipe, steep 1/2 cup Thai tea in 2 -1/2 cups boiling water for 10 minutes, then strain, pressing out and saving as much of the water as you can. Chocolate crumb crust Ingredients: 6 to 7 ounces graham crackers (10 or 11 long ones) 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 tablespoon sugar 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted Chocolate crumb crust Directions: 1. Place the graham crackers in a food processor and buzz to
fine crumbs. You should have about 2 cups. 2. Transfer the crumbs to a bowl, stir in the cocoa and sugar, and pour in the melted butter. Mix to thoroughly combine and then transfer to a 9-inch pie pan. 3. Spread it out to cover the bottom completely and evenly, letting it begin to climb up the sides of the pan. Pat it into place, gently at first, and then firmly – turning the pan as you go and building a nice edge flush with the rim. Set aside. Filling ingredients: 1/2 cup sugar 3 tablespoons cornstarch 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 large eggs 1-1/2 cups strong-brewed Thai tea, strained and cooled (see note above) 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 8 ounces cream cheese Filling directions: 1. In a medium saucepan, whisk together the sugar, eggs and cornstarch until smooth. Stir in the tea and vanilla. 2. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking frequently. Cook and stir for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the custard thickens to the point where it starts to resist being stirred. 3. Remove from the heat and immediately add the cream cheese in pieces; it will melt in.
COURTESY | JNS
Whisk exuberantly until the cream cheese is completely incorporated and the mixture becomes uniform. This will likely take several minutes. 4. Pour the hot mixture directly into the crust and let it cool to room temperature. Then, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold. Make the topping in the meantime. Topping ingredients: 2/3 cups sour cream 2 tablespoons brewed Thai tea (optional) 1 tablespoon sugar 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract Pinch salt Topping directions: 1. Whisk together all the ingredients until smooth and uniform. 2. Spoon on top of the pie, spreading it to the edges of the crust. 3. Carefully (so as not to disturb the top surface) cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate or freeze until serving time. Serve at any temperature from very cold to partially (or even mostly) frozen. CHEF CYNTHIA writes widely about food and blogs at Cruisin’ Kitchen (cruisin-kitchen.com). She is a member of B’nai Israel in Woonsocket.
FATHER’S DAY
16 | May 23, 2014
The Jewish Voice
FROM PAGE 1
time together, “I used to sit with him by the house. We went to shul together, had seders together.” He is thankful to his father for bringing him up right. Silvia Burrier also spoke of her father in glowing terms. A Hungarian immigrant who arrived in the U.S. at the age of 2, Herman Fahn settled in New Jersey. Burrier remembers that he enjoyed smoking cigars and telling her and her brother
REMEMBER I mentioned that, like many of their fathers, I was from eastern Europe. They even tried turning the tables and interviewing me, but I caught on to the role reversal quickly. Many of them had yellowing photos – some creased, some wrinkled, some taped up along the tears. One proud owner showed off a framed family portrait. No one wanted to part with their artifacts even for a day – the photographs were too precious to hand over for a scan. They did agree to pose alongside the images, some of which exceeded them in age. Apologizing for not allowing me to borrow the photos, they handled them carefully, tenderly narrating the compositions I was looking at. They spoke of hard-working fathers, tradesmen who came home late at night, after a long day of toil. John Pucher shared that his immigrant father, John, after whom he was named, worked hard as a yeast maker for Standard Brands to support his family. “We didn’t have it too easy, but he wasn’t mean,” he said. Losing his father at a young age, Pucher chooses to focus on the pleasant times rather than dwell on the hardships. During World War II, Pucher Sr. was dismayed at his complete ignorance of his family’s affairs. The only member of his clan to live in America (after his birth, the family moved back to eastern Europe, but he returned to the U.S. at 16 since he was a citizen),
PHOTO |IRINA MISSIURO
Miriam Snell with a photo showing herself and her father, Abraham Kaplan. his father longed to hear from his close ones. He didn’t learn the news of their survival until 1945. After Pucher Sr.’s death at the age of 50, Pucher Jr., the oldest child, took care of his brother while their mother worked. Saul Newman also served as his mother’s helper after his father’s untimely death at the age of 61. The son shared that Samuel Newman died of heart trouble when he, Saul, was still a youngster. “It was hard,” he says of those years. “I took care of my mother. Took her shop-
ping. Always bought her kosher stuff.” Despite losing his father early on, Newman remembers him well. Arriving from eastern Europe as young adult with a family to support, his father worked as a tailor in the garment district in New York City. Newman describes him as “a good, hard-working man,” saying, “We were very close. He grew me up to be a mensch, a gentleman – to help whoever needed it, to live and let live.” Newman fondly recalls their
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numerous Bible stories. The one she enjoyed the most was about Queen Esther. When asked what type of father Fahn was, she replied that he was a kind one, emphasizing that he never spanked his children. What Miriam Snell remembers the most about her father is that he was funny. The life of the party, Abraham Kaplan always carried his accordion to liven up the mood. He also enjoyed playing piano, an unusual hobby for someone who fi xed automobile radiators for a living. Snell recalls that her father was respected in the community and always sat at the head of the table during parties, “next
to all the important people.” She remembers that he usually made jokes that everyone at the table enjoyed. Kaplan encouraged his daughter to be just as jovial, telling her, “Wherever you are, smile!” Robert Groh could relate – his father loved humor. Harry Groh, who “was bold as an egg,” worked as a traveling salesman, pitching hair tonic. One day, Groh says, his father ventured into a barbershop in Roanoke, Va., in the middle of summer. As he spouted the advantages of the tonic he was desperate to sell, the sweat was dripping from under his hat, which he didn’t dare to remove. When the observant barber figured out that the hair tonic salesman couldn’t personally demonstrate the wonders of his product, he asked the poor man to remove his hat. Groh complied, causing the shop to explode in howls of laughter. Robert Groh credits his father with instilling in him the habit to work hard and be dependable. Harry Groh dropped out of school to support his 10 siblings. When his son was having career problems, he recommended that he fi nd a stable job with a steady income. The advice turned out to be priceless – Groh served as postman for 30 happy years. Neil Drobnis’ father was also paramount in his choice of profession. Jack Drobnis was a self-employed accountant, who proved to his son that one can be successful on his own. Drobnis, a renowned glass artist, also serves as coordinator of kosher nutrition at Jewish Family Service. He, along with Elaine, ensures that the seniors receive a healthy lunch, provided by Accounting for Taste, during the Kosher Senior Café at the Dwares JCC. Watching Drobnis hold the seniors’ interest during an after-lunch Scrabble game, I can say with certainty that Jack Drobnis did a good job raising his son.
Most Jewish Israeli teens identifying as Zionist JTA – Approximately 70 percent of Jewish Israeli youth consider themselves Zionists, according to a survey released by the Zionist Council in Israel. The fi ndings were presented at the 33rd National Youth Zionist Congress this week in Gush Etzion, The Jerusalem Post reported. The survey of 501 Hebrewspeaking teens conducted via an Internet questionnaire found that 76 percent intend to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces, and 14 percent plan to do national service instead. Eighty-five percent of the
youths said they would not agree to divide Jerusalem, even if it meant achieving true peace with the Palestinians. The survey also found that one out of every 10 youths – and one out of every four secular respondents – would like to live abroad. The fi ndings indicated that 92 percent of boys read from the Torah on their bar mitzvahs, 87 percent have Shabbat meals with their families, 67 percent say Kiddush for Shabbat and 60 percent eat or try to eat at kosher restaurants.
FATHER’S DAY
thejewishvoice.org
May 23, 2014 |
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Father and son collaborate on short-story collection David Shrayer-Petrov’s new book
BY IRINA MISSIURO imissiuro@jewishallianceri.org On a recent Thursday, David Shrayer-Petrov spoke in a gentle voice with a charming Russian accent. At Books on the Square in Providence, he stood in front of an audience made up of literature lovers, and discussed “Dinner with Stalin,” a collection of 14 short stories. Featured in the prestigious Library of Modern Jewish Literature, it explores such themes as identity, acculturation and assimilation. Maxim D. Shrayer not only edited, PHOTO | KAREN E. LASSER but also coDavid Shrayer-Petrov and Maxim D. Shrayer translated his father’s third ple with such a remarkable team of translacollection of ficissues as anti- tors, among them his mother, tion in English Semitic per- Emilia Shrayer; the editor deand 25th book. It s e c u t i o n , scribes them as “great profeswas heartwarmc o n v e r s i o n sionals and enthusiasts” of his ing to watch the d i l e m m a s father’s writing. Judging from father and son and the en- the excerpts Shrayer read, I can interact lovingly d u r a n c e vouch for the top-notch translathroughout the of Jewish tion. Upon hearing a character evening. The son m e m o r y . make a Freudian slip, saying tenderly addressed Comment- “the kikes of you,” instead of his father as “papa,” ing on “the likes of you,” the listeners f o r e e cov om w o r k i n g wondered what the line read h t and the father ren o age is fr ferred to his son as The im with Stalin" nces," a with his in original. The father and son i r r e “my heart,” implying "Dinn ree P smani. f a t h e r , smiled, confessing that they are o t of Th to those in attendance "A Feas by Niko Pir S h r ayer very pleased with the English. g that the working rela- paintin explained that Shrayer shared with The tionship is secondary “ ‘Dinner with Stalin’ is simul- Voice readers that being intito the familial one. taneously a product of family mately involved in bringing the Shrayer read a number of love, love of language and litera- book to fruition “is very gratiexcerpts from two of the 14 sto- ture, and commitment to Jewish fying to me as a son and my faries, which are set in the for- culture.” ther’s friend and long-time colmer USSR, western Europe and In “English-ing” his father’s laborator.” He hopes that the America. Its protagonists grap- new book, Shrayer worked with American readers like the book
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as much as he does. If early reviews are any indication of the coming success, he may get his wish. Victoria Aarons, O.R. & Eva Mitchell Distinguished Professor of Literature at Trinity University and a leading authority on Jewish-American literature, says of Shrayer-Petrov’s new book: “This collection of richly constructed stories beautifully illustrates the intersecting worlds of Russian, Jewish and American lives.” Brian Horowitz, Sizeler Family Chair of Jewish Studies, Tulane University and an authority on Jews of Russia and eastern Europe, concurs, “Shrayer-Petrov has a gift of making the ordinary ‘strange.’ … The stories collectively bear a tranquil elegance like a Rubens still life, both of this world and somehow beyond it.” He goes on to compare Shrayer-Petrov to Maupassant and Chekhov, complimenting the way his characters interact. Shrayer-Petrov’s experience as a physician renders the similarity with Chekhov logical; as the Russian classic, ShrayerPetrov doesn’t need an ophthalmoscope to see what’s in his subjects’ eyes; he’s one of them. During the question and answer session, I wondered whether a story featuring a character with a history parallel to that of the writer was derivative of his own experiences. Shrayer-Petrov replied that all fiction is biographical, even when writing from the point of view of an animal – be it
a wild turkey or a hippo. Rhode Islanders might be interested to learn that the collection has a strong connection to the state. A number of stories are set in Providence, Little Compton and other Ocean State locations. After all, Rhode Island is where the writer and his family immigrated in 1987 and spent nearly 20 years. This volume reflects the writer’s roots and his adopted home not only in its themes, but also in its language. In his essay, “Voices of My Father’s Exile,” Shrayer writes, “Before me on the page were not only my father’s words; in my mind’s eye was my father’s life story. I wanted the translations to recapture his intonation, his breath and his silence, in the most fitting AngloAmerican idiom. And I wished for these translations to stand as a memorial to our ancestors, carrying on Jewish thought and spirit.” IRINA MISSIURO is a writer and editorial consultant for The Jewish Voice.
Title:
Dinner with Stalin and Other Stories Author: David Shrayer-Petrov Edited by: Maxim D. Shrayer Pages: 376, Hardcover Publication Date: March 15, 2014 Publisher: Syracuse University Press Price: $29.95
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18 | May 23, 2014
FATHER’S DAY | WORLD
The Jewish Voice
Help Dad perfect his grill skills this season BY STATEPOINT The seasoned griller commands an arsenal of experience and recipes, all having been painstakingly passed through the generations and perfected over time and temperature. The origin of these tasty traditions usually can be found in family, and the one often deserving the credit is dear old Dad. Southern grilling guru Fred Thompson, author of the new book “Williams-Sonoma Grill Master” a collection of back-tobasics tips and recipes, recalls the influence of his father as early as 9 years old. “Every Saturday night my father grilled rib-eye steaks. I wanted to keep up with daddy so I hung out at the grill,” he says. “I was fascinated with what my father could do.” This Father’s Day and barbecue season, try honoring Dad with delicious tradition. So light that fire! Take a page out of Thompson’s book and learn the secrets to grilling the perfect steak: • Buy good meat: Grass-fed and grass-finished beef tastes better and has a bolder flavor that holds up particularly well against the lick of the grill’s flames. • Simple seasoning: Sprinkle steak liberally on both sides with salt and pepper when you take it out of the refrigerator. Brush steaks on both sides with a little olive oil (not extra virgin). This facilitates the heat transfer, so you can get an
piece of beef as soon as it comes off the grill, you will lose precious juices. Give the proteins in the steak the opportunity to unwind a little bit from the heat they have just experienced. Let most steaks rest at least five to 10 minutes to give the juices time to redistribute evenly throughout the meat. Even experienced grillers need new tips, tools and tricks to perfect their steaks, ribs and
dry rub techniques. Consider gifting dad a successful grilling season with “Grill Master.” Grill tips, barbecue recipes and information about the book can be found at www.WeldonOwen. com. “There’s a mystique that happens with smoke and flame that you just can’t get any way else, and it’s pretty simple to create,” says Thompson.
Amid furor over draft, initiatives aim to put haredi men to work BY BEN SALES
evenly browned crust and a delicious steak house flavor. • Timing is important: There’s nothing worse than a rubbery, tasteless overcooked steak. Professionals use touch to gauge doneness, and so can you. Touch your index finger
to your cheek. When the meat feels this way, the steak is rare. Touch the tip of your nose. That firmness equates to medium. Your forehead is well done. “But please don’t go there,” says Thompson. • Let it rest: If you cut into a
TEL AVIV (JTA) When Moshe Friedman turned 31, he made what was for him a radical decision: He left school and launched a start-up. Plenty of Israelis jump from graduate school to the high-tech sector, but for Friedman the leap was longer. A descendant of rabbis, he had studied at leading haredi Orthodox schools where many of his peers would spend decades, never intending to work. Friedman soon found himself caught between two worlds. Largely secular venture capitalists were reluctant to fund his video editing company, he said, because the cultural gap between secular and haredi engendered a measure of mistrust. And he kept the company a secret from his extended family for fear they would disapprove. “What I discovered was to be haredi and enter ‘start-up nation’ is very hard,” Friedman said. “The start-up world is a very secular world. They looked at me as a stranger.” The question of how to better integrate a growing haredi population has long dogged Israeli leaders. Most haredi men never serve in the military, as is mandatory for other Jewish Israelis at age 18, and instead engage in religious study full time, living off public subsidies that have grown more controversial as the haredi population has expanded. Israel’s Taub Center for Social Policy Studies reported that as of 2011, fewer than 50 percent of haredi men worked. The call by secular politicians for haredi Israelis to more equitably “share the burden” became a rallying cry this year. But a recent law extending the military draft to haredim was met with strident opposition, with haredi leaders accusing the government of trying to secularize their community. Despite the protests, a steady stream of haredi men has joined Israel’s workforce. Some view work as merely a necessity to support their families, while others see the rising tide of haredi working men as a quiet force for increased understanding between them and the rest of the country. Friedman is among the latter.
Three years after founding his video company, he co-founded a new initiative to place more haredi employees at Israeli technology firms. The program, run by the Israel office of the telecommunications giant Cisco Systems, launched last year and has already placed 100 haredi employees at companies such as Google and Intel. “There’s a stigma that because secular Israelis don’t have [Jewish] laws and religion, they don’t have clear values,” said Zika Abzuk, who heads the Cisco program with Friedman. “What’s clear to us is that when secular and haredi meet one on one, they know each other as people and all the preconceived notions drain away.” The Cisco program, called Kama-Tech, is one of several initiatives aimed at giving haredim the education and tools necessary to find professions. Haredi primary schools teach little English and math, so graduates typically find themselves ill equipped to seek employment, often having to attend junior college and then earn a bachelor’s degree before they can hope to land a job. But employment counselors at Kemach, a Jerusalem-based organization that has helped 6,000 haredim find work, say yeshivas endow haredim with skills useful to companies. Talmud study in pairs teaches haredi men to collaborate on projects. Long hours at yeshiva give them a strong work ethic. And because haredim who enter the job market typically have wives and children, they’re more settled and less likely than young secular Israelis to bounce around jobs. “This generation of workers is always working, but people move to different places,” said Moshe Feder, an employment coach at Kemach. “What’s important to the standard haredi employee is the stability of his salary. While Cisco’s program aims for social cohesion, Kemach has no agenda beyond guiding haredim to gainful employment – an approach that has gained the tacit approval of leading haredi rabbis. Students at Mivchar, an allharedi college in Bnei Brak, said that rabbis sanctioned their earning a degree only after students said they needed one to HAREDI | 21
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May 23, 2014 |
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An Israeli Olympic equestrian? Danielle Goldstein aims for Rio Games BY BEN SALES YAGUR, Israel (JTA) – The crowd was sparse and admission was free. Pop music from 10 years ago blared from loudspeakers. A few families sat on bleachers near the athletes, who hopped over a low fence when it was time to compete. The Israeli Equestrian Championships wasn’t the most obvious place to look for an accomplished athlete with Olympic aspirations. But Danielle Goldstein, an American who speaks little Hebrew and spends most of the year in Florida, is Israel’s best hope to compete in equestrian show-jumping at the 2016 Rio De Janeiro Games. “It’s important to have a presence here,” said Goldstein, 29, as she surveyed the competition on a recent Friday. “I’m excited to be at the championship, in the community.” A native of New York’s Upper East Side, Goldstein fell in love with horses at an early age and later focused on show jumping, a discipline in which riders traverse a course of obstacles. In high school, she was active in jumping competitions across the United States, but felt drawn to the prospect of representing Israel after traveling there on a bat mitzvah trip. So her decision to apply for Israeli citizenship after going pro in 2010 came naturally to her, but it surprised the Israel Equestrian Federation. “It’s not something that was like, ‘Yeah, great,’ ” Goldstein said. “It was very much like, ‘Who are you? What are you doing?’ ” Goldstein says joining Israel’s horse riding scene has been “a little of an initiation,” but she feels welcomed. Since immigrating, she has qualified for this year’s International Equestrian Federation World Games, putting her on the verge of qualifying for Rio. But she isn’t content with carrying Israel alone on horseback. Goldstein and another New Yorker, Deborah Schultz, are working together to promote horse riding in Israel, both by getting more people in the saddle and by teaching skills to more experienced riders. Schultz’s nonprofit, The Equine Athletic Mission Israel – or TEAM Israel – organizes riding clinics hosted by Goldstein and other Israeli riders, and works to coordinate teams for international equestrian events. With the support of TEAM Israel, which was founded last year, Israel fielded a show jumping team in the 2014 FEI Nations’ Cup for the first time. “The more we do this, the more people who ride are popping out of the woodwork,”
Danielle Goldstein training on her horse. Schultz said. “Every time you bring a new sport to Israel, they’re typical Israelis, [saying] ‘Eh, no.’ But then it happens.” Immigrants have played a large role in boosting Israeli athletics over the years. Soviet immigration in the 1990s helped broaden Israel’s presence at the Winter Olympics, while North Americans have helped expand the state’s athletic repertoire beyond mainstays such as soccer and basketball. Associations promoting Israeli baseball, American-style football, lacrosse and even curling have been launched at the initiative of immigrants. But unlike those sports, Goldstein has a long tradition to draw upon in helping to push competitive horse riding to a higher level. The Israel Equestrian Federation, the organizer of Friday’s event, has promoted riding in Israel for 50 years, but the sport remains a niche interest. Federation committee member Noam Zered said the quality of Israeli riding has picked up in recent years as riders gained more access to the sport’s centers in Europe and the United States. “More of the young generation saw the world and want to have high quality,” Zered said. “People come back here with expectations. We’re building now.” One up-and-coming Israeli show jumper, Eyal Gat, moved from Israel to the United States at age 16 and has lived for the past year in Holland, which has better access to top horses. Israeli riders have formed a community in Europe, he said, joining last month for a Passover seder in Belgium. “It’s impossible to advance
“The Israel Equestrian Federation … has promoted riding in Israel for 50 years, but the sport remains a niche interest.”
without being there,” Gat said. “It’s clearly difficult to live alone in a country that’s not yours, but that’s part of the deal.” While a few Israeli riders lamented that the sport’s popularity is constrained by the high costs of accessing a horse, some Israelis are finding an al-
PHOTO | JNS.ORG
ternative to the saddle through therapeutic riding, which uses exercises on horseback to improve various conditions. Therapeutic riding is subsidized by the Israeli health system, making it more accessible than recreational riding for those who need it.
Yonatan Dresler, who was born with cerebral palsy, said therapeutic riding has helped him improve his balance and develop a relationship with his horse. Now 27, Dresler rode for Israel in the 2012 London Paralympics and is ranked 10th worldwide in paralympic dressage, another equestrian discipline. “The connection with the horse makes you feel like you have responsibility over another being,” Dresler said. “Whether the competition is paralympic or [regular] dressage, you need the same abilities.” Schultz’s goal is to make Israel a place riders can stay if they want to advance. Raised in a religious household in Brooklyn, New York, with little exposure to the sport, Schultz insists “the horse thing is in my DNA.” Now a high-tech consultant, Schultz comes to Israel occasionally to advise Tel Aviv technology companies and wants to bring her start-up mentality to equestrian. “It’s not part of the myth of Israel,” Schultz said. “But there’s a lot about horses that’s similar to Israel. They’re independent, spirited. This country is ripe for that. I want to get them hooked on horses.”
SHAVUOT
20 | May 23, 2014
The Jewish Voice
Sleepless in Israel: Shavuot all-nighter comes to life in the Jewish state BY DEBORAH FINEBLUM JNS.ORG – Regarding Shavuot – when Jews from around the world celebrate the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai – Rabbi Chayim Vital wrote on behalf of his master Rabbi Isaac Ben Solomon Luria (Ha’Ari), “Know that one who does not sleep at all on this night, even for one moment, but rather immerses himself in [the waters of] Torah the entire night, can be assured that he will live out his year; no injury will befall him during this year.” That level of protection is certainly a draw, but those who have experienced all-night Shavuot learning in Israel will testify that the experience brings with it other, less tangible rewards. Less than a week after making aliyah to Ma’ale Adumim, Tanya Gusovsky was handed a list of the local all-night Shavuot learning “ops” by her new landlady, who also offered to act as her guide for the night. Gusovsky says she will never forget the sight she beheld when, coming around the corner from her home, she spied “a river of people flowing in every direction, traveling from one shiur (lecture) to another.” Two years later, despite the late hour, she can still recall the take-away messages of many of the teachers she heard that night. In a way, the ancient tradition of all-night learning on Shavuot is designed to make up for some of our sleepy ancestors. The Midrash reports that, more than 3,000 years ago, our Israelite
PHOTO | MATANYA VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Torah study as pictured in this scene at the Kol Torah yeshiva in Jerusalem is typical of the first night of Shavuot. forebears slept in that morning when they were to receive the Torah. So in staying up all night learning Torah, we are trying to demonstrate their descendants’ level of excitement about – and gratitude for – the gift of Torah. The cheesecake, it seems, came much later. Also known as the Festival of Weeks (See Exodus 34:22, Deuteronomy 16:10 for the Torah origins), the Festival of Reaping (Check out Exodus 23:16), and Day of the First Fruits (as in Numbers 28:26), Shavuot is celebrated for just one day in
Israel, as opposed to two in the Diaspora. The holiday numbers among the Shalosh Regalim, the three pilgrimage festivals when Jews everywhere fi nish up their seven weeks of Omer counting, which begins on the second day of Passover. Tradition also teaches that on Shavuot, the Jews would bring their bikkurim (fi rst fruits of Israel’s Seven Species: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates) to the Temple in Jerusalem. The custom of all-night Torah study goes back, it appears,
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to 1533, when Rabbi Joseph Caro, author of the “Shulchan Aruch,” a guidebook to Jewish law, invited many of his Kabbalistically minded colleagues to learn with him at a Shavuot all-nighter. Besides Torah, Talmud, and Mishnah, many also learn the Tikkun Leil Shavuot (Rectification for Shavuot Night) with its excerpts from the 24 books of Tanakh. Legend has it that Rabbi Caro and others living in the Ottoman Empire at the time were able to keep awake thanks to the region’s fi ne – and potent – Turkish coffee. But although the Torah decreed it and the ancients pioneered its observance, Shavuot has made another mark on the Jewish psyche far more recently than the 16th century. In 1948, one month after the birth of the State of Israel, Jews were still banned from visiting the Kotel (Western Wall) by the Jordanians who were in charge of that part of the city. For 19 years, Jews would gaze across barbed wire fences at the Old City and Temple Mount they could not approach. But on Shavuot of 1967 – just six days after the Israelis took back the Old City in the Six Day War – the Kotel was officially opened to the Israeli public. For the fi rst time in nearly 2,000 years, Jews could visit the Western Wall and walk the ancient streets of the Old City. And some 200,000 of them poured in that day: religious and secular, Ashkenazi and Sephardi, all celebrating their newfound freedom to worship by those ancient stones. These days, tens of thousands of Jews re-enact that return when they make their way to the Kotel in time for morning prayers, feet barely touching the ground after a full night of Torah learning and no REM sleep. Among them will be the students at Orayta, a yeshiva located just up the steps from the
Kotel. “At dawn, we dance down to the Kotel to join upward of 50,000 Jews for the morning prayers,” says Orayta Rosh Yeshiva (dean) Rabbi Binny Freedman. “The intensity of Jewish unity as Jews of all shapes and sizes put aside their differences and come together is simply one of the most beautiful moments of the year. They may not have the Kotel, but other communities around Israel also share in the tradition of all-night learning. “There is an aura here around that night that’s unlike any other night of the year,” says Gabie Sykora of Ra’anana. “Women and men, teens and older people, religious and secular, everyone out all night learning in groups and chevrutas (pairs), in synagogues and in homes, like all Israel is learning Torah together. You know you are part of something bigger than yourself, and something in the air that night tells you that it’s time to take your own spiritual growth up a notch.” Now, Sykora says, she can’t imagine spending Shavuot anywhere but Israel. “In Israel, where our history took place, we are also participating in creating our people’s destiny because we’re still growing and learning. And where else in the world could you go to a shul for learning on Shavuot on a street named Har Sinai?” she says, referring to the Ra’anana street on which the Kehillat Shivtei Yisrael synagogue is located. In the weeks leading up to their fi rst Shavuot in Israel, the Sykoras witnessed a unique phenomenon: every imaginable variety of cheesecake blossoming in bakeries and supermarkets around town. Dairy foods such as cheesecake and blintzes among Ashkenazis, and other cheesy treats such as kelsonnes (cheese ravioli) among many Sephardis, are an integral part of the celebration – often washed down with the coffee in hopes of keeping the all-night learners conscious. Rabbi Avraham Sutton, author of “Spiritual Technology: On the Transition from Profane Technology to Sacred Technology in Preparation for the Great Shabbat” and many other books, says staying focused on the learning and skirting any off-topic chats helps keep him awake. Tanya Gusovsky’s fi rst Shavuot in Israel two years ago served as a potent reminder of why she had left the U.S. and made the Jewish state her home. “There I was, just days into my life here, and to be treated with this amazing feast of learning… It was such a feeling to be one of the people who felt strongly about where they belong, and thankful for that sense of unity and utter trust in our mission here,” she says.
BUSINESS | WORLD
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AVIVA Bikes – the embodiment of springtime BY IRINA MISSIURO imissiuro@jewishallianceri.org Mike Dressler, founder and CEO of AVIVA Bikes, is an avid cyclist. He loves riding so much that he commutes to the company’s showroom in Johnston from his home in Seekonk via an AVIVA electric bike. Besides a pleasing ride, he enjoys “getting a great workout. … I am having the time of my life.” Dressler would like to share this feeling of exhilaration with the readers of The Voice, and says now is the perfect time to venture outside for a joyride. The name AVIVA originates from Hebrew – it implies freshness and springtime. Why not change up your workout routine and enjoy the pleasant breeze? You no longer have to be trapped inside a sweaty gym – hop onto one of the company’s four models and choose your speed. The concept of an electric bike is simple – all bikes have seven speeds and can be ridden three ways: as a rugged but agile seven-speed bike, as a pedal-assist electric bike and as a pleasure vehicle not requiring pedaling. No matter what kind of a rider you are, there’s a bike for you. Dressler explains that the Electra model is a mountain bike geared to men; the Scout – a unisex cruisFROM PAGE 18
COURTESY | MIKE DRESSLER
Mike Dressler rides one of his AVIVA bikes. BUSINESS PROFILE ing bike; the Viper – a fold-up model that can fit into your car; and the Rebel – a tricycle for stability seekers. Riding an AVIVA model, you can feel proud of your ecologically friendly ways. With an electric bike, there are no pollutants, emissions or leaking fluids. All models operate on state-of-the-art lithium ion batteries that average 20 miles on
a charge. You can either charge them on the bike or easily slide them off to charge them at home or in a garage with any standard 110V outlet. Besides saving the environment and money, which you’d spend on gas and a gym membership, an AVIVA bike is useful when running errands. You’re not stuck in standing traffic and you don’t have to look for a parking spot in a busy downtown area. Give the trend a try – visit the showroom in Johnston, at 3 Carding Lane.
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support their wives and children. Elazar Oshri, 28, who was cramming for an entrance exam last week to a geoinformatics program, was attempting to gain admission to the college after years of religious study. Even if he was accepted, Oshri said, he hoped to continue to study Torah at night. “[My rabbi] didn’t make my life easy about this,” Oshri said. “But my conditions changed financially. This is a means, not a goal.” Knesset member Dov Lipman of the centrist Yesh Atid party said he also wanted to offer haredim an escape from poverty. Still, haredi leaders have lambasted Lipman, who studied in a haredi yeshiva, for betraying the community. But Lipman said his work encouraging large, government-funded companies to hire
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haredim would be hard for any rabbi to criticize. “It’s hard for any rabbi to say, ‘We don’t want you to sustain your family the traditional way everyone in most Orthodox circles does,’ ” Lipman said. At the Kfar Zeitim school near the northern city of Tiberias, haredi high schoolers spend the morning studying a religious curriculum and the afternoon learning a trade. Their school day runs from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Kfar Zeitim is one of five such schools run by the Israel Sci-Tech Schools, an organization focused on educating Israel’s minorities. Some 500 haredi students attend the network’s schools. Zvi Peleg, Sci-Tech’s director general, said the schools have avoided ruffling feathers among haredim by targeting students who are struggling in the yeshi-
va system. “There are adolescents who hang around in the street and don’t learn,” Peleg said. “Their ability to get into drugs and bad places is high.” A few haredim studying toward technical degrees said there was increasing acceptance of working men in the haredi community. Even with the premium placed on full-time Torah study, Friedman said haredim prioritize their families’ economic stability over strict ideology. “I didn’t want people to know I was doing a start-up,” he said. “But when I was already doing Kama-Tech, they were happy that I was helping people.” BEN SALES writes for the JTA from Israel.
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May 23, 2014 |
21
Israel, China agree to innovate together TEL AVIV (JTA) – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met in Israel with Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong to announce a binational agreement to foster innovation. Netanyahu in a statement last week also announced an agreement for the two countries to cooperate during emergencies. “There’s a natural affinity and friendship between the ancient people of China and the ancient people of Israel,” Netanyahu said in the statement. “We are both rooted in great traditions, but we also are absolutely determined to seize the future, and I welcome you in that spirit to Jerusalem and in the hopes of seizing the future together.”
The announcement was one one of several events in Israel during the week highlighting the China-Israel collaboration. Tel Aviv University announced the launch of a research and innovation partnership with Tsinghua University in Beijing. The partnership, which will have a budget of $300 million, will operate on both campuses and focus on scientific innovation and education, according to a news release. Also, Hebrew University launched the Confucius Institute, a center for the study of Chinese history, culture and current affairs, on its campus.
Beirut synagogue to reopen
JTA – Beirut’s only synagogue is set to reopen following a five-year renovation. The Magen Avraham synagogue, located in the former Jewish quarter of the city, was opened in 1926 but partially destroyed at the beginning of Lebanon’s 15-year civil war in 1975, according to the Times of Israel, via an Arabic report in London’s A-Sharq al-Awsat. The Lebanese Jewish community now has 100 members, and Isaac Arazi, the community’s leader, said Jews, Christians and Muslims all donated to the project, estimated to
cost $1 million. The renovation began in 2009. Arazi hopes the synagogue will rejuvenate Jewish life in Lebanon. He said he is proud to be Lebanese, and conveyed antipathy toward Zionism and Israel. “You can rest assured that if I was a Zionist-Israeli, I would not stay in Lebanon for a second,” said Arazi, according to the Times of Israel. The Lebanese Jewish community “has no connection to those who wanted to live in Palestine and kill innocent people. We identify as Lebanese 100 percent.”
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22 | May 23, 2014
The Jewish Voice
REMEMBER THE PAST From the archives of the R.I. Jewish Historical Association
The not-so-mysterious story of the doll BY GERALDINE S. FOSTER Among the memorabilia, photos, minute books and assorted ephemera found in the collections of the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association is a doll, a gift from Joyce Schreiber Tesler. It had belonged to her mother, Ethel Cohen, but she knew nothing more about its provenance. The doll stands about 16 inches in height, her long blond hair tied back away from her face. The arms and legs move; her eyes open and close. An ordinary doll, you may say, like so many others. Nothing remarkable, yet she is quite unusual. What makes this one worthy of mention? The way she is clothed and the woman who originally owned her. The doll wears a beige dress, light blue cape pinned back on one side so that the beige lining shows, and a garrison cap – light blue with beige piping. It is the uniform worn by officers of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Jewish War Veterans. Affixed to the cape are two decorative pins, and they tell at least part of the role played by Ethel Cohen on behalf of the JWV – Auxiliary, locally and nationally. One pin attests to her membership and leadership role in the Ladies Auxiliary of JWV Post 23 in Providence. The Post and its Auxiliary were founded
in 1928. Charles Hoffman was the fi rst Post Commander; Fannie Davis the fi rst Auxiliary President. Although a national organization of Jewish War Veterans had existed since 1896, the women did not have a comparable association until 1929. Fannie Davis, a founding member, was elected the fi rst national president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Jewish War Veterans. The women took as their mission fostering patriotism, fighting bigotry, assisting veterans and their families in case of need, honoring veterans and shielding their graves from neglect. Many of the statements mirrored the mission of the JWV itself. Ethel Cohen succeeded Fannie Davis as president of Post 23 JWV Auxiliary for the customary one-year term. On leaving that office, she was voted “Junior President” (vice-president) of the national organization, and in 1932, she was elected the third national president, a position she fi lled with distinction for three years. The pin attesting to her service remains in the possession of her daughter. One may think of an Auxiliary as playing a supporting role, secondary to the main organization. This was not the role these women in Providence envisioned for themselves. Although they cooperated with the men on a number of activi-
ties, they embarked on projects in their own right, particularly those having to do with assisting veterans’ families and patients in VA hospitals. One measure of their independent spirit may be found in how they listed the names of their leadership both on the national and local level from the onset. It was Fannie Davis, not Mrs. Herman Davis; Ethel Cohen, not
Remmie Brown touched so many of our hearts and lives in different ways during his thirty-four years of dedicated service. His signature voice, with which we have identified during services, High Holy days and B’nai Mitzvah, will forever be embedded in our minds and entwined in stories and memories we tell our children and grandchildren. Cantor Brown has been more than just a Cantor to us. He has been a friend during happy and not sohappy times in our lives. He has been a teacher and story teller to so many of our children and a guiding light to the path of B’nai Mitzvah. His knowledge of Judaism and life and his willingness to listen has enabled him to mentor so many. Cantor Brown’s reach goes beyond our Temple walls. His impact on the Rhode Island community and his humanitarian service leave a gap which will be hard to fill.
Mrs. Max Cohen. The program for the dedication of Jack Cleinman Square in 1938 found in the RIJHA archives confi rms this was the practice. (Note: The square at the intersection of Olney and Hope streets memorializes the fi rst Jewish soldier from Providence to die in World War I.) When Ethel Cohen ended her term in the national organization, she undertook a major role in the important fundraising activities of Post 23 Auxiliary. She oversaw weekly bingo games at the Post’s headquarters on Niagara Street in Providence. She became adept at soliciting businesses for new merchandise to sell at the rummage sales she regularly chaired. The proceeds of both were used to further Auxiliary projects in behalf of veterans and their families. She used her talents of persuasion to fi nd donations of gifts and holiday wrap to be distributed at the Christmas party sponsored by the Auxiliary in the VA hospital. This is part of the story behind the second pin: Hospital Volunteer, Ladies Auxiliary Jewish War Veterans of U.S.A. The rest of that story has to do with the countless hours she volunteered her services at the VA hospital as well as a personal action she undertook. Joyce Tesler recalled that her mother felt that the VA Hospital needed
an organ for the chapel. She took it upon herself to raise the needed money. In recognition of her many activities on behalf of veterans she received an award in 1959 from AmVets. During her life, Ethel Cohen’s energy and good works included other community endeavors. However, as we commemorate Memorial Day, we celebrate her dedication and the devotion of the JWV Auxiliary on behalf of the men and women we remember today. And what about the doll? According to Joanne Blum, national president of JWV Auxiliary, for many years, a lady by the name of Claire Newman presented a doll clothed in similar fashion to the reigning National President of JWV Auxiliary during her official visit to Claire Newman’s home state of Florida. Since the doll cannot talk, we do not know if Ethel Cohen went to Florida during her presidency, or if the doll was presented on another occasion. GERALDINE FOSTER is a past president of the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association. TO COMMENT about this or any Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association article, email info@rijha.org
You and Your Family are invited to Celebrate the Retirement of Cantor Remmie Brown Sunday, June 22nd Crowne Plaza Hotel Warwick, RI 12 pm Luncheon Adults: $36 Children (12 & under): $18 Checks payable to Temple Sinai
To purchase tickets, please contact Temple Sinai at 942-8350 or dottie@templesinairi.org. RSVP by June 5th. Kosher meals available upon request
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JEWISH WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS
Madame Alexander was the queen of dolls BY TOBY ROSSNER In the late 19th century, high-powered businesswomen were a rarity. But Bertha Alexander defied the odds. Driven by creativity and ambition, Bertha established her own business, changed her name to the more sophisticated “Beatrice,” and became known to the world as “Madame Alexander.” Beatrice grew up on New York’s Lower East Side. Her stepfather owned America’s first doll hospital; his customers were the elegantly dressed women from uptown. Beatrice was envious of these women; she wanted to emulate them when she grew up. During World War I the doll hospital was near bankruptcy. Beatrice and her sisters sewed dolls at their kitchen table to help out. Their first dolls, dressed as Red Cross Nurses, flew off the shelves. In 1923, on her own signature, Beatrice borrowed $1,600 to establish the Alexander Doll Company. She realized that she needed someone she trusted to manage her company; she asked her husband, Philip Behrman, to quit his job to take on the position. He was afraid to stake his family’s financial future on an unproven business, but Beatrice threatened to divorce him if he refused. “I meant it,” she later asserted. “It seem(ed) to me I (could) always get another man.” Madame Alexander kept a sharp eye on popular books, movies and public events for ideas for new dolls. For the coronation of Queen Elizabeth, Abraham & Strauss ordered a set of “Coronation” dolls. After lengthy research and consultation with the British Mu-
Beatrice Alexander (1895-1990) seum of Costume, the Alexander Doll Company created a 36-doll set that included the queen, maids of honor, archbishops, choirboys, royal relatives and honor guards. Cloth for their outfits was purchased from the same mill that manufactured the real coronation robes. The resulting set – valued in 1953 at $25,000 – was so accurate that CBS used it to recreate the coronation on television. Alexander’s insistence on high standards and meticulous detail, her use of innovative materials and her sense of drama led her to become the largest producer of dolls in the nation. TOBY ROSSNER (tobyross@cox.net) was the Director of Media Services at the Bureau of Jewish Education from 1978 to 2002. EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the seventh in a series on the history of Jewish women entrepreneurs. Information for this article was taken from the “Jewish Women’s Archive Women of Valor, 2001”
A collection of Madame Alexander dolls.
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The Jewish Voice
A Hungarian immigrant’s gift to humanity What’s in a name? A heritage, possibly; an identity, certainly; and, perhaps, something more precious than gold, especially if the name is Goldberg. In the last few centuries, many Ashkenazi Jewish names have achieved p r o m i nence, but G oldberg, more than most, has b e c ome an iconic symbol of OF SCIENCE W e s t e r n a d h e r e nt s & SOCIETY to Judaism, despite the STANLEY M. reality that ARONSON, M.D. Goldberg was also the name inherited, or adopted, by many who were not Jewish. For example, neither the harpsichordist, Johannes Goldberg, in whose honor J.S. Bach wrote his immortal “Goldberg Variations,” nor that wondrous comedienne, Whoopi Goldberg, who has added enduring luster to her adopted surname, is Jewish. The family name, Goldberg (or Goldberger), is not unfamiliar to American newspaper readers, whether it be attached to a Supreme Court Justice, a professional athlete, or a cartoonist whose name (Rube Goldberg) has evolved into the generic title for any overly complex gadget cobbled together
haphazardly. Consider now Joseph Goldberger, born in Giralt, Hungary, in 1874. The family immigrated to the United States, where young Joseph attended Manhattan public schools, City College of New York and, later, New York University School of Medicine, receiving his M.D. degree in 1895. Incidentally, four decades later, Jonas Salk (19141995) matriculated through the same sequence of academic institutions. Rather than enter private practice, Goldberger chose to enlist in the United States Public Health Service (USPHS), undertaking epidemiological studies on typhus, yellow fever and dengue in the Caribbean, Mexico and the southeastern states Pellagra was widespread in the early decades of the 20th century, affecting the poor in every nation, including the United States, where it was endemic among sharecroppers and others with impoverished diets. Its onset was marked by redness and peeling of the skin, sore mouth, intense diarrhea, staggering gait and confusion, sometimes leading to dementia. And, before the etiology of pellagra was fully understood, many of its victims ended their days in insane asylums. The disease had been endemic to the peasantry of the southern European nations, particularly those whose diets were confined essentially to cornmeal
and corn products. Most physicians believed pellagra to be a communicable disease, much like typhus. A minority of physicians thought that a toxic contaminant in corn might be the cause. No treatment had been shown to be effective.
“Fame can be such a capricious thing, extending itself randomly to the extremes of vilification, sanctification or anonymity.” Goldberger assembled a team of scientists and initiated extensive epidemiological studies on thousands of pellagra victims in the southern states – those still ambulatory and those in mental institutions. Their studies confirmed what some had intuitively believed: Pellagra was somehow caused by a diet confined largely to cornmeal. Yet, could pellagra still be an infectious disease? Biologic fluids from pellagra victims were then repeatedly injected into healthy volunteers, including Goldberger and his wife. No pellagra ensued. Might a toxin, perhaps a contaminating fungus, be the cause? If there had been some poisonous agent within corn, supplementing the diet would not neutralize the putative toxic agent. Goldberger discarded this possibility by allowing pel-
lagra patients to continue eating cornmeal products while supplementing their diet by various food additives. Their pellagra vanished. Goldberger then reached the only possible solution to the mystery of pellagra. The disease was not an ailment caused by a pathogen or a toxin; it was an outcome of something missing in the pellagra victims’ diets. And, thus, he placed the disease among malnutrition ailments such as scurvy or rickets. He speculated that a missing dietary vitamin was the underlying cause. And, within a decade after Goldberger’s untimely death in 1929, scientists had isolated a substance called niacin, the dietary absence of which caused pellagra. By the end of World War II, niacin and other B vitamins became inexpensive to produce, and a federal program to enrich all breads with vitamin B complex, which includes niacin, was accepted by the baking industry. Pellagra, at least in the United States, then receded into history. Perhaps because of his premature death in 1929, widespread acclaim never touched Goldberger. Fame can be such a capricious thing, extending itself randomly to the extremes of vilification, sanctification or anonymity. The eradication of pellagra, at least in the United States, remains Goldberger’s pioneering work and everlasting memorial. STANLEY M. ARONSON, M.D. (smamd@cox.net) is dean of medicine emeritus at Brown University.
Israel sends aid to flood victims JTA – Israel has sent aid to help rescue efforts in flood-ravaged Serbia and Bosnia. Local media reported that Israel sent a first shipment of emergency aid this past weekend, including medicine, food, blankets and rain gear and will soon send pumps. The aid was delivered by helicopter because submerged cities were cut off by the floods, which have left more than two dozen dead and thousands homeless. The town of Doboj in Bosnia’s Republic of Serbia region, which has a small Jewish community, was especially hard hit, with the city center totally under water and at least 20 dead, the mayor
told local media. Doboj’s Jewish community building, which has a synagogue on an upper floor, is located in the town center. Jasna Ciric, the president of the Jewish community in Nis, Serbia, said she understood that all members of the Doboj Jewish community were safe but some were trapped in their homes without electricity, water or telephones. Aleksander Nikolic, the assistant chief representative of the Republic of Serbia in Israel, said the Israeli aid was a “very human gesture” and “proof of friendship in a most difficult moment,” according to local media.
OBITUARIES
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Eleanor Fine, 91
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Eleanor (Oberfield) Fine died on May 8. She is survived by her husband of 67 wonderful years, Alfred Fine. Ellie, as she was known, is also survived by her children, Stephen (Ellen), Nancy and Robert (Susan), five loving and loved grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Class of 1944, Ellie worked alongside her husband in interior design and, in 1972, she and her husband founded Fine Travel Inc., of which she was president. She was also a former board member of Temple Beth-El and the Gordon School and was active in many community organizations, including Miriam Hospital, where she was a Miriam Friend, the Girl Scouts and the Boy Scouts. A daughter of the late I. Frank and Beatrice (Drucker) Oberfield of Philadelphia, she was predeceased by her brother Richard J. Oberfield. In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Ellie and Alfred Fine Scholarship Fund at the Gordon School, 45 Maxfield Ave., East Providence, R.I. 02914, or the charity of your choice would be appreciated
Stanley A. Foster, 90
WARWICK, R.I. – Stanley A. Foster, of Tamarisk, died May 14 at Epoch on Blackstone. He was the beloved husband of Bella (Woled) Foster for 64 years. Born in Providence, a son of the late Harold and Rebecca (Schneider) Foster, he had lived in Cranston for 48 years before moving to Tamarisk. Stanley was a postal service employee and an interior designer. He was a World War II Army veteran serving in the European Theater. He served as chairman of the Central High School Class of ’41 Reunion Committee. He was a member of Temple Torat Yisrael and was a volunteer there. Having attended Pratt Institute, he possessed many artistic
skills. He designed storefront displays for the former Susan’s Clothing Store on Hope Street, Martin Barnes in Wayland Square and Murray’s Appliance Store. He loved the arts. and was a great fan of film, opera, plays and music and a huge fan of Judy Garland and Barbara Streisand. He enjoyed watching tennis. He was a voracious reader of fiction and was a frequent visitor at the William Hall Library in Edgewood. He was an avid knitter and hook rug artist. He was the devoted father of Harris Foster of Franklin Park, N.J., and Jon Foster (Dianne Middlemiss) of Scituate. Brother of the late Frederick and Ruth Lillian Foster. Grandfather of Hannah and Ari. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Ave., Boston, Mass. 02215.
Fania Gross, 101
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Fania Gross died May 9. Born in Bialystock, Poland, she moved to Providence in 1938 where she was a Jewish educator for more than 50 years. Fania taught Jewish history, Judaism and Hebrew in the former Temple Beth Israel, Temple Beth Am, Temple Beth-El, Temple Emanu-El, and the Providence Hebrew Day School. Fania was the loving mother of Bernice (Haim), Libby (Richard) and Norman; grandmother of Rona (Kevin), Adina (Rick) and Dan (Cookie); and greatgrandmother of six. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to, Temple Emanu-El, Providence Hebrew Day School or Tamarisk Assisted Living.
Nancy Krasnoff, 74
Nancy Gail Krasnoff died May 13. She graduated from secretarial school and continued to get together with friends and worked as a volunteer in the
East Providence school system. She was a rabid Red Sox fan and was devoted to her dog, Munchkin. She had an unbelievably loyal group of friends with whom she stayed in touch until her final days. She is survived by her sister, Judith; two nieces Robin (Arnie) and Karen (Dale); and two grandnieces Rachel and Jinny Pollinger. She was grateful to have wonderful caregivers: Dorothy, Phyllis, Terry and Sis. In lieu of flowers, contributions in her memory may be made to The American Cancer Society, 931 Jefferson Blvd, Suite 3004, Warwick, R.I. 02886.
Melvin N. Lash, 86
NEWPORT, R.I.–Melvin N. Lash, formerly of Fall River, Mass., and Barrington, passed away May 6. He leaves his wife of 62 years, Sheila M. (Lyth) Lash. He was born in Fall River, the son of the late David and Florence (Levine) Lash. A graduate of Tabor Academy, Class of 1945, he went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Boston University School of Management in 1949. He served in the U.S. Air Force, attaining the rank of Colonel. He entered the family finance business, Lash Acceptance Corp., working with his father in both Providence and Fall River. The business changed to automobile and home lending. Retiring in in 1994, he continued his military career in the Reserves, staying active as an Air Force Academy liaison for the Fall River area. He was a member of the Board of Directors at the Quequechan Club and a past President and Chairman of the Board at the Fall River Marine Museum.
He was an avid mariner and served as Commodore of the Goat Island Yacht Club in Newport and later as an active member of the Coasters Harbor Naval Yacht Club in Newport. He was a well-known character on the Newport waterfront, always seen with a small poodle, named either Pooh or Annie, by his side. Survivors, in addition to his wife, Sheila, include his two daughters: Gillian Lash Perlinski and her husband Chester (Pearl), of Alexandria, Va., and Alison R. Rode and her husband Mitchell, of Berryville, Va.; his two grandchildren: Nathan and Amelia Rode; his sister: Irene Olsen of West Palm Beach, Fla.; his three nephews: Richard Licht, and Larry and Andrew Polin; and his niece: Andrea Finkel. He was preceded in death by his dear son, Jonathan D. (JD) Lash, and his sister, Dorothy Polin. Donations in Melvin’s memory may be made to the Seaman’s Church Institute, 18 Market Square, Newport, R.I. 02840.
Rodney Locke, 73
WARWICK, R.I. – Rodney Locke, of Diamond Hill Road, died May 6 at home. Born in Providence, a beloved son of the late Jacob and Tilly (Goldenberg) Locke, he had lived in Warwick for 21 years, previously residing in East Greenwich and Cranston. He was a stockbroker with Janney Montgomery Scott Inc. for over 40 years. He was a Vietnam Era Army veteran, serving stateside from 1965 to 1967. Rod was a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, where he received his BA degree in 1962 and his BS degree in 1971. He was a board member of Touro Fraternal Association, past president and
May 23, 2014 |
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board member of the Chased Schel Amess Association, former board member of Temple Torat Yisrael and past president of its Men’s Club. He leaves a brother, Dr. Murray S. Locke and his wife Phyllis of Boynton Beach, Fla.; his former wife, Patricia Locke Little; three stepchildren, James Almagno and his wife, Bethany, Ann-Maria Almagno and Tricia Almagno; six grandchildren, William, Lauren, James, Benjamin, Caroline and Emma; two nieces, Rebecca and Deborah and a nephew, Dr. Jacob “Jay.” In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to your favorite charity.
Irwin “Shane” Olshansky, 76
HOLLYWOOD, FLA. – Irwin “Shane” Olshansky passed away April 25, after a long illness. He was born in 1938 and grew up in Providence. He graduated from Classical High School in 1956 and later attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and the University of Miami. After completing military service, he settled in Philadelphia, where in 1972 he married Myra Unterberger. In 2005, they moved to South Florida to be closer to their son, Victor. He was active in politics and veterans affairs, and he remained an avid booster of West Point throughout his life. He is survived by his sister, Carole, a long-time Providence resident, his wife, Myra, his son, Victor, and his grandchildren, April and Alex. Donations in his memory may be made to the Alexander Nininger State Veteran’s Nursing Home, c/o Oscar Correale, 8401 W. Cypress Drive, Pembroke Pines, Fla. 33025.
COMMUNITY
28 | May 23, 2014
The Jewish Voice
NFTY-EIE high school semester in Israel program One mother’s journey
BY MAUDE WEISSER The NFTY High School in Israel–Eisendrath International Exchange (EIE) is a semester long (four-month) program for high school students in grades 10-12. I am the proud Rhode Island mother of two sons who both attended the program, one went three years ago and one is still there now (until May 30). I can’t say enough about the program. Both of my sons, Dylan and Simon, participated during their 10th grade year of high school, and both left home with some trepidation. It is a big decision for a kid at age 16 to leave home and go halfway around the world with a group of kids from all over the United States whom they have never met (except on a Facebook page). Even for my sons, who are both Israeli citizens due to their Israeli father and who have been going back and forth to Israel since they were very young, this was a big decision. But once they got to Israel, met the other students and settled down, even they will tell you what a life altering, interesting, fun and exciting program NFTY-EIE is/was. They both made very close friends whom I am certain they will continue to keep in touch with, since they have shared such an extraordinary experience. Since Dylan’s return 3 years ago, he has visited friends in California, Wisconsin, San Antonio and Boston and to this
day is still in touch with many of them. Although he is still in Israel, Simon has already told me that he will be going to Dallas and Chicago to visit his new friends this summer. The students come from all over the United States, Canada and sometimes even Britain and South Africa, and they are housed dormitory style on Kibbutz Tzuba, which is a beautiful spot nestled in the Judean Hills about 15 minutes outside of Jerusalem. The Kibbutz runs a motel style guesthouse, and it is these rooms that become dormitories, housing three or four students to a suite. There are counselors (madrichim) who also stay on the Kibbutz 24/7 to handle any problems that may arise.
“Although difficult, this trip proved to be very meaningful for both of my sons.” The students study Hebrew and Jewish history in the morning, and the afternoon is devoted to their general studies classes, which are tailored to meet the needs of their individual schools and grades. I had to meet with the principals of my son’s respective schools (South Kingstown High School and The Wheeler School) to have the program officially ap-
COURTESY | MAUDE WEISSER
Simon Weisser and two friends on top of Mt. Masada after an early morning climb in February 2014. Simon is on the right side, in the middle is his friend Na’aime (from California) and Jeremy is on the left (from Chicago). proved; both schools were very amenable. The general studies portion of the program is con-
densed in order to leave room for all the traveling, so at times the school day can seem rather long, but the kids seem to adapt to this very easily. In addition to regular studies, the program includes extensive travel all around Israel from Crusader Castles to the resort of Eilat, including a week in Gadna, a simulated Israeli army training experience. When the Jewish history class reaches the Holocaust period the group travels to Poland to visit Auschwitz as well as many other historic sights. Although difficult, this trip proved to be very meaningful for both of my sons; Simon’s group just returned back to Israel from Poland a few days ago. After Pesach, they go on a weeklong hike from the Sea of Galilee to the Mediterranean coast (Yam L’Yam), which in addition to being a blast, also emphasizes to the students how narrow the country of Israel really is, and what a big security concern this is. I just returned home from the parents’ visiting week, which occurs halfway into the program, and offers the parents a chance to come and see classes in action, go on a few excursions with the group and visit sons and daughters. Although I did not stay with the group on Kibbutz Tzuba due to family obligations, I did have the opportunity to travel with the group to the mystical city of Safat and to the Israel Museum to look at Jewish ritual items from many different parts of the world.
The teachers were extremely knowledgeable and it was fun to meet some of the other parents whose kids are participating with Simon. After my experience, I cannot praise the dedicated staff of this program enough, including the principal, Baruch Kraus; the assistant principal, David Solomon; and all of the engaged teachers. Whenever David Solomon is in the Boston area my son Dylan is sure to visit with him and feels connected in a way he never did with his “regular” high school educators. The EIE Staff manage to keep the kids busy, engaged, working hard and positive. They connect in a way that is not easily possible in a traditional large classroom setting. Neither of my sons was a student who loved sitting in the classroom all day in the traditional high school setting. Both flourished on EIE, as they studied history and then actually went out and visited the various sites where the events happened. The hardest part was/ is returning home and finding “regular” school boring again by comparison. The experience of NFTY-EIE not only gave my sons a stronger connection to Israel and their Judaism, it also boosted their self-confidence, maturity, study habits and sense of independence. It is truly a great program worth stepping out of your comfort zone for, worth pushing and nudging your kids to try. Your 11th and 12th graders can take their SATs while at EIE and get college counseling. In fact there is even an SAT prep class offered. We decided that 10th grade was the ideal time for our sons to participate because 11th grade can be difficult due to college preparation and many students choose to spend their last year of high school at home with their school buddies. Each session has a mix of grade levels. All are well accommodated and friendships develop among students no matter what the age or grade level. FOR MORE INFORMATION check out the NFTY-EIE website: www.nftyeie.org EDITOR’S NOTE: Simon Weisser received grants from the Salmanson Fund and Graubart/Irving Fund toward his study in Israel. Thanks to the generosity of several donors, grants and need-based scholarships for travel in Israel are available to teens, college and graduate students and Jewish educators living in the greater Rhode Island Jewish community. To learn about Israel travel and study opportunities or to apply for any of these grants and scholarships, contact Elanah Chassen (echassen@jewishallianceri.org) at 401-4214111, ext. 140.
ARTS
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May 23, 2014 |
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Wilbury Theater’s ‘Cabaret’ features talented cast, a chance for discussion Post-show talk-backs feature guest speakers on the Holocaust BY SETH CHITWOOD PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The lights are low. The sounds of periodstyle music echo through the small auditorium and invite the audience to take a seat as if they are in the famous German nightclub The Kit Kat Club. Soon you’re taken on an entertaining journey of love versus politics by the clever cast of the Wilbury Theater Group’s interpretation of the classic Kander and Ebb musical “Cabaret.” Sitting in what has the feel of the club adds to the amusement. For this performance, there is very little fourth wall as the actors sit alongside you during their dialogue and sing their incredible ballads directly to audience members. The cast, especially Katie Travers in the role of Sally Bowles, is full of talent. She is a powerhouse performer who could quite possibly be on Broadway tomorrow. Natasha Richardson, Brooke Shields and, of course, Liza Minelli are famously known for playing this role. Travers manages to bring a fresh interpretation while dazzling the audience. Maria Day-Hyde delivers another notable performance. She is spot-on as Fraulein Schneider and is a pleasure to watch in all of her scenes. However, the most interesting part of the show is how the narrative sheds light on the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany.
Several relationships are put to the test during the course of the musical as you see the progression of political change. The major focus is on Schneider and her boyfriend Herr Schultz (played by Roger Lemelin), whose association becomes troubling because Schultz is Jewish. It’s hard to watch Schultz being so naïve about the pending events. It is chilling when he delivers his famous line “After all, what am I? A German.” Although for mature audiences, the show is a piece that everyone should experience in his or her lifetime. “Cabaret” is a frightening story that truly captures the diminishment of German livelihood as Hitler rises to power. The Wilbury Theater Company encourages further exploration of the show’s message by inviting audiences on Thursday nights to take part in special 20-minute, post-show, talk-back sessions featuring special guest speakers discussing the Holocaust. On May 22, Rabbi Barry Dolinger from Temple Beth Sholom discussed the importance of Holocaust education. On May 29, Yvonne Towah will relate her experience of immigrating to America in the early 1900s. On June 5, Alice Goldstein will discuss her survival story of escaping Germany in 1930. In addition, audience members are allowed to attend the
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talk-backs even if they have already attended a show on a different night. The education director for the company, Seth Finkle, explains why the company wants to feature the “after-show conversations.” He said, “It brings you into what is going on, and there is so much going on with everything in the world, so it makes sense to discuss these moments.” The theater holds Thursday post-show, talk-back sessions featuring guest speakers for all their seasonal shows. Overall, the performance was engaging and powerful and featured some terrific performances. Some actors were better than others, but the show was still engaging and enjoyable. Everyone should come and experience this musical not only for the energetic cast and noteworthy direction but also for the interesting narrative and conversation this musical encourages. “CABARET” runs May 15 – June 7 at The Wilbury Theatre Group, 393 Broad St., Providence, RI. Tickets are $15-$25, with discounts available for subscribers, seniors and students. Tickets at 401-400-7100 or thewilburygroup.org. SETH CHITWOOD is a graduate of Rhode Island College with a dual degree in Musical Theater and Film Studies. He is the creator of multiple awardwinning web series including
PHOTO | BRIAN GAGNON
Katie Travers is Sally Bowles in the production of “Cabaret.” “Lungs,” which recently premiered a new season. Learn more about his fi lm work at www.angelwoodpictures.com
or email him at sethchitwood@ gmail.com.
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WE ARE READ | SIMCHA
The Jewish Voice
WE WERE THERE – Karen Borger, independent sales representative for The Jewish Voice, took her work with her on a 45-mile, five-day trek to Machu Picchu with elevations as high as three miles, basic tent accommodations and no amenities! She returned tired, albeit full of pride and self-satisfaction for her accomplishment. TRAVELS – George and Betsey Goodwin recently visited the American Military Cemetery in Normandy, France, with The Voice. Betsey is behind the camera.
GRADUATION – Blake A. Coren, of Cranston, graduated summa cum laude with a Master’s of Architecture from Northeastern University on May 5. A graduate of Cranston High School West, Blake has joined the firm of Fennick McCredie Architecture in Boston. She is the daughter of Richard and Carrie Coren of Cranston, and the granddaughter of Sanford and Esther Coren also of Cranston.
BACKSTAGE – Gabi and Sami Shorr were invited to dance with the international dance company at Festival Ballet during their recent “Up Close on Hope” series. They performed in a beautiful memoir, “Two Sisters,” the story of company dancers Jennifer Ricci (sitting in between Gabi, left, and Sami, right) and her late sister Jacklyn and the poignant moments of separation from each other culminating in Jacklyn’s death a short time ago. Gabi and Sami portrayed the Ricci sisters as young children. The Voice was there!
May 23, 2014 |
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Caring and Social Responsibility: Helping our Local Community in Need
with your help, we can do more. People of all ages need help these days – including seniors, many of whom are living alone and struggling quietly to manage life’s logistics and make ends meet. Our Caring and Social Responsibility initiative is there for home-bound seniors – making it possible for volunteers to deliver more than 10,000 kosher Meals on Wheels, and some very welcome conversation and critical social support, to people who may not have other visitors or social support. We also partner with the Jewish Seniors Agency to send volunteers to nursing homes, assisted living residences, hospitals, and private homes – making 4,000 visits annually to keep elders company and help them celebrate Shabbat and continue other Jewish traditions.
Please support our 2014 Annual Campaign.
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Senior Café, a program of Jewish Family Service
Last year’s Annual Campaign $408,000 donor dollars helped support our local community including 10,000 Kosher Meals 4,000 Annual Visits
offering critical social support to those that need it most
more than 160 people received food and a sense of community from Kosher Nutrition/ Meals-on-Wheels
with your help, we can do more.
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The Jewish Voice
A special invitation from the Jewish Alliance
Third Annual Meeting Monday, June 16 | 7pm Dwares JCC | 401 Elmgrove Avenue, Providence
Board Installations: Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island Jewish Federation Foundation Alliance Realty, Inc. Edward D. Feldstein, Installing Officer Presentation of Leadership and Community Service Awards Reception to follow
Hear from our overseas partner
Join us at 6pm as we honor Israeli Emissary Matan Graff
Celebrate 100 Years of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) Speakers: Alan Gill, Executive Vice President and CEO & Dov Ben-Shimon, Executive Director of Strategic Partnerships
The JDC is the world’s leading Jewish humanitarian assistance organization. Since 1914, JDC has exemplified that all Jews are responsible for one another and for improving the well-being of vulnerable people around the world. Today, JDC works in more than 70 countries and in Israel to alleviate hunger and hardship, rescue Jews in danger, create lasting connections to Jewish life, and provide immediate relief and long-term development support for victims of natural and man-made disasters.
2014 - 2015 Proposed Slate of Officers and Board Chair Sharon Gaines Vice Chairs Mitzi Berkelhammer, Financial Resource Development Stacy Emanuel, Communications Vincent Mor, Community Development James Pious, Jewish Life & Learning Barbara Sokoloff, Governance Treasurer Richard Sutton Secretary Susan Leach DeBlasio
Board of Directors Sheila Alexander Melvin G. Alperin Neil Beranbaum, Leadership Development Rabbi Barry Dolinger Mark Feinstein Harold Foster Susan Froehlich Daniel Gamm Marc Gertsacov Alan G. Hassenfeld Hope Hirsch Robert P. Landau Scott Libman, Community Relations Council Rabbi Sarah Mack, Board of Rabbis of Greater RI Tina Odessa Ralph Posner Jay Rosenstein Steven Shalansky Robert Sherwin Lisa Shorr Robert Stolzman Cheryl Greenfeld Teverow Richard A. Licht, Immediate Past Chair Jeffrey K. Savit, President and CEO
2014 - 2015 Proposed Jewish Federation Foundation Board Melvin G. Alperin Diane Ducoff H. Jack Feibelman Mark Feinstein Susan Froehlich Sharon Gaines, ex officio David Hirsch Marilyn Kaplan Richard A. Licht Alan Litwin Ralph Posner Jay Rosenstein, Chair Steven Shalansky, Treasurer David Sheer Robert Sherwin Mathew Shuster Herbert Stern Cheryl Greenfeld Teverow Mindy Wachtenheim, Vice Chair Proposed Alliance Realty, Inc. Board Ronald C. Markoff, Chair Robert Stolzman, Vice Chair Sharon Gaines, Secretary/Treasurer Jeffrey K. Savit, President and CEO