May 8, 2015 by Jewish Rhode Island

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

19 Iyar 5775 | May 8, 2015

SPRING FASHION

Community celebrates teen accomplishments BY FRAN OSTENDORF fostendorf@jewishallianceri.org

PHOTO FROM THE FRED KELMAN COLLECTION HOUSED AT RIJHA.

Sisterhood annual meeting of Congregation Shavath Shalom (“The Howell Street Shul”) in Providence, circa 1940.

REMEMBER THE PAST From the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association

THE ANNUAL MEETING ENDURES BY GERALDINE S. FOSTER We have come to the season of the annual meeting, the year-end ritual that reviews and assesses the well-being of an organization. On this occasion the praiseworthy are praised and thanked, officers

BY URIEL HEILMAN NEW YORK (JTA) – Almost as soon as news of Nepal’s devastating earthquake reached the wider world, Jewish aid groups began mobilizing humanitarian efforts to help the victims. In Israel, that meant dispatching first responders to Nepal; in

installed and future progress envisioned. It is a pause for reflection, as well as a celebration of accomplishment and continuity. This past April, I was present at the annual meeting of one of my favorite organizations, the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Associa-

tion. With the photographs of the seven founders as a backdrop, the meeting began at the appointed hour. The secretary’s report was waived; other reports were remarkably brief. The board members – old and new – as well as TRENDS | 14

It was a night of celebration and recognition for Rhode Island Jewish teens. On May 3, the graduates of the Harry Elkin Midrasha Community High School and programs, along with other teens, were recognized for participating in Jewish learning programs, community service and other high school activities. The approximately 75 teens, family, friends and teachers were treated to the sounds of HaZamir, the local chapter of the international Jewish high school teen choir, along with speeches, awards and refreshments during the evening program in the Meeting House at Temple Emanu-El. Graduates of Midrasha this year are Mimi Heath, Nili Levine, Josh Levanos, David Mayer, Rachel Nassau, Noah Prizant, Eve Stein and Rachel Wasser. They were greeted by Jeffrey Savit, president and CEO of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and Jana Brenman, director of Teen Engagement. Rabbi Elan Babchuck

Where is the Jewish aid to Nepal going?

America, it mostly meant raising and allocating money. How is the Jewish aid being deployed in Nepal?

Israel

The biggest Jewish on-theground response has come from the Jewish state, which currently has more than 260 Israeli soldiers,

doctors and rescue experts working in the disaster zone — the largest of all the international aid teams on the ground, according to the Israeli Consulate in New York. The 170-person Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) delegation has been helping with search-and-rescue operations and setting up field

hospitals consisting of two operating rooms, four intensive-care rooms, 80 beds and neonatal care. Magen David Adom, Israel’s version of the Red Cross, also sent a group of doctors, paramedics and medical supplies to the country, and rescue and recovery workers from ZAKA and United Hatzalah are in Nepal. The Israeli

Rabbi Joshua Elkin of Temple Emanu-El congratulated the teens for getting up on Sunday mornings and making a commitment to study Torah. Rabbi Wayne Franklin of Temple Emanu-El offered a D’var Torah. Rachel Wasser gave the Resnik Scholar Address. Rabbi Joshua Elkin, son of Harry and Esther Elkin, addressed the crowd, speaking fondly of the collection of Hebrew books in his house as he was growing up. He concluded by reminding graduates that TEENS | 29

nonprofit Tevel b’Tzedek, which has had a presence in Nepal for eight years, is helping to provide emergency shelter relief and meet other urgent needs. IsraAid, a 14-year-old Israeli nonprofit that focuses on disaster relief work, made headlines on

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The Jewish Voice

YOM HA’ATZMAUT

INSIDE

PHDS students visit Israel via Skype

Business 23-25 Calendar 10 Community 2-5, 13-15, 28-29 D’var Torah 7 Food 11-12 Obituaries 26-27

On April 23, in honor of Yom Ha’Atzmaut, students at the Providence Hebrew Day School had the opportunity to visit Israel via Skype. The students and their teachers visited the home and gardens of Malka Abuloff, a licensed tour guide in Israel. Students were able to see the gorgeous view from her garden, including grapes that were growing in the valley below. They saw the many different types of plants growing in her garden, such as pomegranates, olives and figs from the seven species of Israel. She also explained some of the mitzvot, laws, that are applicable only in Israel. She specifically described the farming commandment relating to the sabbatical year. Abuloff’s enthusiasm about having the special opportunity to live in Israel was sensed by all who attended the program. Thank you to Miriam Lipson for arranging this assembly for the students.

Opinion 8-9 Seniors 26 Simchas | We Are Read 30 Spring Fashion 17-21 World 22-23

THIS ISSUE’S QUOTABLE QUOTE “The women behind our ancient communities began to pave the road for those who came after …” PHOTOS| FRAN OSTENDORF

Community members enjoyed food, music and fun April 23 at the Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration at the Dwares JCC.

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Brown RISD annual meeting includes awards At Brown RISD Hillel’s annual meeting April 29, the following awards and their winners were announced. Robert ’81 and Elana ’08 Goldberg Family Ruach Award: Alyssa Baum ’18, Annie Prusky ’18 Rabbi Alan C. Flam, Executive Director 1982-2000, Tzedek Award: Noah Fitzgerel ’17 John Blacher Astounding New Initiatives Award: Mika Gross ’17, Sydney Menzin ’17 for Chai on Life Retreat; Marli Scharlin ’16 for Holiday Videos; Natalia Ginsburg ’18, Amani Hayes-Messinger ’18, Rachel Leiken ’16, Hannah Liu ’16, Adam Waters ’15 for Hillel Initiative on Racial Awareness and Justice (HIRAJ) Senior Leadership Award: Sarah Abelman ’15, Alex Drechsler ’15, Natasha Freeman ’15, Rachel Kaplan ’15, Alex Kleiman ’15, Judah Schvimer ’15, Brandon Taub ’15, Samantha Weiser ’15, Shayna Zema ’15 Danny Warshay ’87 Outstanding Leadership Award: Shelby Centofanti ’15, Hannah Glickman ’15 President’s Award: Zach Ingber ’15

Student leaders at Brown RISD Hillel gather for a year-end celebration.

The Alef Beats entertain at Brown RISD Hillel’s Annual Meeting.

JWRP walk raises money for Israel trips In 2008, eight Jewish women from different walks of life, affiliations, observance and ages began an organization called the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project, designed to empower women with the rich beauty of their Jewish heritage. The JWRP seeks to inspire women to transform themselves, their families, their communities and the world. The flagship program is “Momentum” an eight-day journey through Israel. It is an opportunity to deeply explore oneself. Thousands of women from 19 different countries have already experienced this life-changing trip, paying only their own airfare, and returning home with a deep, eternal connection to Israel, a profound kinship with each other and a heart filled with Jewish values. Last year, the Providence Community Kollel partnered with JWRP, and 10 women experienced this trip of a lifetime. The local Kollel recruits the women, staffs the buses and continues the journey through evolving follow-up programming that keeps the inspiration going and helps to

create bonds that extend not only to communities but globally. This year’s trip will leave in July and is the second trip offered to Jewish mothers in this area. JWRP Walks is a global challenge to walk 100 miles in 28 days, in support of the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project and its partner organizations. Hundreds of men and women participate each spring. The walk is individual – you sign up, connect your tracking device to the JWRP website and walk with the support of family/friends sponsoring you and your local team. The next walk is May 18 to June 14, and registration is now open! The money raised allows the JWRP and the local community to send more participants on the Momentum trips to Israel Also this year, JWRP is participating for the first time in the Israel Day Parade May 31 on Fifth Avenue in New York City. Contact Laurie Tessier at 401-481-1964 or letessier@verizon.net if you would like to join or sponsor this year’s walkers.

PHOTOS | BROWN RISD HILLEL

4 | May 8, 2015

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PHOTOS | CHARLOTTE SHEER

“The Metamorphasis of the Pink Triangle” collage: The pink triangle, rendered in hot pink, is known as a gay pride and gay rights symbol and was originally rendered in pink and used pointed downward on a Nazi concentration camp badge to denote homosexual men. The collage design incorporates the inverted triangle to honor all those who wore this badge of “dishonor” during their incarceration, and many wore the pink badge to their deaths.

The fourth-grade from JCDS class stops for a photo. Below is an in-progress picture of “I Am the Last Witness.”

Jewish Community Day School class visits Holocaust Stamps Project BY CHARLOTTE SHEER AND JEWISH VOICE STAFF On April 1, fourth-grade students from the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island, and their teacher, Melissa Kranowitz, traveled to Foxboro, Massachusetts, to learn about the Holocaust Stamps Project, which has been underway for the past six years at Foxborough Regional Charter School. The kindergarten to grade 12 school serves a diverse student population of more than 1,200 students from 25 area communities. Only a small minority of those who attend are Jewish. The group met with the project’s facilitator, Jamie Droste, viewed the 11 one-of-a-kind postage stamp artworks already completed by the middle and high school students and got to work on the newest collage project, “I Am the Last Witness.” The design was inspired by a U.S. Holocaust Museum photograph of a Holocaust victim’s wrinkled, tattered shoe found within the confines of a concentration camp following the liberation. It is being used symbolically in the artwork to

represent “the last witness” to the human atrocities. Eventually an image of this shoe will be formed in the center of the collage using carefully fitted pieces of brown stamps. It will be completely surrounded by hundreds of little people shapes now being created by students and visitors to the project, including the JCDS class, using stamps from among the 5,405,761 that have been donated so far. Seeing the process of making the ar t was eye opening for the class. “I had no idea how they made the stamps into such beauti ful mosaics,” said Abby Schwartz. Fourth-grader Cooper Sock said, “It was fun helping out

with the art project.” Classmate Jared Weissman agreed. “I’m glad we got to see all of the cool mosaics made out of stamps,” he said. The completed collage will

be part of the 18-collage series being created to honor the lives of the 11 million Holocaust victims – 6 million Jews and 5 million others – whose diverse lives and beliefs made them

ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Tricia Stearly tstearly@jewishallianceri.org 401-421-4111, ext. 160 EDITOR Fran Ostendorf CONTRIBUTING WRITER Irina Missiuro EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS Irina Missiuro | Judith Romney Wegner DESIGN & LAYOUT Leah Camara

Karen Borger ksborger@gmail.com 401-529-2538 VOICE ADVISORY GROUP Elanah Chassen, Melanie Coon, Douglas Emanuel, Stacy Emanuel, Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser, John Landry, Toby London, Mindy Stone COLUMNISTS Michael Fink, Rabbi James Rosenberg and Daniel Stieglitz

targets of Nazis hatred and violence. The planned number of Holocaust-themed pictures is intentionally linked to the intertwined meanings of the Hebrew number 18 and the spelling of chai (life). “This was exciting to be a part of such a meaningful project,” said Kranowitz. “The children really got a sense of how large the number 6 million is by seeing the endless number of stamps.” “That was a great field trip,” said Alena Wiebe. T h e H olo c au s t Stamps Project began during the 2009-2010 school year as a curriculum-based enrichment activity in the fifth-grade classroom of Charlotte Sheer, now retired from FRCS. It has since become an important part of the school’s Community Service Learning program, serving as a springboard for lessons

THE JEWISH VOICE (ISSN number 15392104, USPS #465-710) is published bi-weekly, except in July, when it does not publish. PERIODICALS Postage paid at Providence, R.I. POSTMASTER Send address changes to: The Jewish Voice, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, RI 02906. PUBLISHER The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, Chair Sharon Gaines, President/CEO Jeffrey K. Savit, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, RI 02906. Phone: 401-421-4111 • Fax 401-331-7961 MEMBER of the Rhode Island Press Association

not only about history and civics, but also the importance of living a life of tolerance, acceptance and respect for diversity. Stamps have been donated from 33 states, Israel, Canada and the UK. Several Rhode Island synagogues and a number of the state’s residents are ongoing participants in the HSP. The goal is to collect one stamp for each life lost – a total of 11,000,000. Postage stamps in any amount and in any condition, unwanted stamp collections and albums are welcome by the Holocaust Stamps Project, FRCS, 131 Central St., Foxboro, Mass. 02035. For more information, please visit the HSP website: foxboroughrcs.org/studentsfamilies/frcs-holocaust-stampproject. Droste can be reached at jdroste@foxboroughrcs.org. CHARLOTTE SHEER, founder of the Holocaust Stamp Project, retired from teaching at Foxborough Regional Charter School in June 2012, but has remained actively involved as a volunteer and spokesperson for the Project.

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

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PHOTOS | HILLARY SCHULMAN

The Rosh Hodesh Committee: Cheryl Greenfeld Teverow (chair), Kit Haspel, Toby London, Professor Ross Kraemer, Judy Levitt, Judy Robbins, and Maybeth Lichaa (not pictured: Barbara Sheer, Marcia Hirsch and Sherry Cohen).

Professor Ross Kraemer speaks about women’s roles in ancient synagogues.

Breaking the glass ceiling is not a new trend Professor Ross Kraemer explains one of the most timeless debates in history BY HILLARY SCHULMAN On April 23, more than 40 community members gathered at the Jewish Alliance for a Women’s Alliance Rosh Hodesh luncheon presentation by Brown University’s Professor Ross Kraemer. The topic: women’s roles in ancient synagogues. Cheryl Greenfeld Teverow, chair of the Rosh Hodesh series, kicked off the program with

stories reminding the audience where programs such as Rosh Hodesh come from – the Jewish Alliance Annual Campaign. The funds raised through the campaign each year support overseas and local needs, providing quality programs and imperative social services, as well as allowing Jewish youth, both local and abroad, to develop and nurture a Jewish identity.

Kraemer, professor of religious studies and Judaic studies, then took the podium and began to explain certain inscriptions found in ancient synagogues. She showed some inscriptions that used the word for “head of the synagogue” in a masculine form but were used for a female. This brought up the question: how involved were women in antiquity, and were these ancient Jewish communi-

Donors won’t drive a wedge between golf and philanthropy BY HILLARY SCHULMAN hschulman@jewishallianceri.org For three decades, the Dwares Jewish Community Center has hosted an annual golf tournament. On June 8, the Jewish Alliance will celebrate a 30-year milestone at Ledgemont Country Club in Seekonk, Massachusetts, with the Dwares JCC 30th

Annual Golf Classic. Always well-attended, the golf tournament raises funds for the Dwares JCC’s vital programs and crucial services that benefit the entire Rhode Island Jewish community. Funds raised will also make scholarships available for children to attend the David C. Isenberg Family Early Childhood Center, J-Camp, and

J-Space after-school programs all housed within the Dwares JCC. If you are interested in sponsoring the Dwares JCC 30th Annual Golf Classic, or you are interested in playing in the tournament, contact Hillary Schulman at 401-421-4111, ext. 127 or hschulman@jewishallianceri.org.

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ties more progressive than we thought? The discussion was poignant and engaging, as the trend of trying to break the glass ceiling for women still applies in today’s world. Kraemer interspersed personal anecdotes to make her linguistics-based discussion more relevant, such as how she was rejected from rabbinical school because it was “better she become a rebbetzin.” The conclusion of the discussion resulted in different answers. As every Jewish community is different, each “head of the synagogue” was defi ned differently. Women could either be actual heads of the synagogues, or they were referred to as such because of their fathers or their husbands.

From these ancient communities, we are reminded that just because you are female, does not mean that you cannot accomplish great things. The women behind our ancient communities began to pave the road for those who came after them, and we will continue to do so for our future generations. For more information on Rosh Hodesh programs, or to become more involved in the Women’s Alliance, contact Trine Lustig, vice president of philanthropy at tlustig@jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 223. HILLARY SCHULMAN is a Development Associate in Philanthropy for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

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Counting our days, counting each other BY RABBI MICHELLE DARDASHTI “Teach us to count our days rightly, that we may obtain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12 The essence of this verse from Psalms is reflected in countless Jewish blessings and teachings, encouraging movement through life with gratitude for our every day. There is no period, however, that more effectively captures its meaning than that in which we currently fi nd ourselves, that of the Omer. The verse is particularly apt here because the Omer is a period of counting daily, out loud from the second night of Passover, to the holiday of Shavuot, traditionally considered the day the Torah (and thus wisdom) was bestowed upon the Jewish people. But framing the Omer as a linear path from redemption to revelation belies notable nuances and enigmas contained within those seven weeks of travel from one festival to the next. While most commonly celebrated today as Z’man Matan Torateinu, Time of the Giving of Our Torah, Shavuot is spoken of in the Torah only as an agricultural festival, Hag HaKatzir, Festival of the Harvest. An omer is in fact a measure of barley that was waved in the Temple daily between the two major Pilgrimage Festivals of Pesach and Shavuot. Shavuot is a holiday on which we read of our obligation to leave portions of our harvest for those in need, and see those mitzvot reflected in the Book of Ruth’s story of love, hope and kindness. It’s not until

Talmudic times that the culmination of the Omer’s count on the 6th of Sivan becomes linked to the day on which the Torah was revealed. And as the destination – the precise nature of Shavuot – became complicated, so did the journey. So today, the Omer is a semi-mourning period on the Jewish calendar with wildly divergent reasons offered for its somberness. Are we grieving the death of Rabbi Akiva’s students during the Bar Kokhba Revolt? Losses from a plague brought on by their not treating one another with love? Is it about nervousness regarding the welfare of crops? Or just intense focus on the improvement of our character traits such that we merit the receipt of Torah and its fiery secrets, as revealed by Shimon Bar Yohai? The answer of course is a resounding YES to all – but it depends on which Jew you ask (a warrior, scholar, farmer or mystic) – and when. Beyond the historical realities that have lent themselves to the varied interpretations of this period, there is profound meaning in viewing this variety as a metaphor for the diversity of ways by which Judaism itself is understood and lived. Judaism, like the journey from Passover to Shavuot, is dynamic. Some connect through learning Torah and working actively on refi ning their middot (character traits), others through Israel or studying and honoring Jewish history, and still others through Judaism’s teachings on relationships, compassion, the environment and justice. Do I hope that each of these turns is taken in by

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travelers and that they delight in their winding overlaps? Certainly; but I know too that the full meaning of Judaism is yet to be revealed … and that revelation is dependent not only upon receiving, but what each soul contributes as well. The simultaneously top-down and bottom-up nature of the revelatory experience is conveyed by the two seemingly unrelated names for Shavuot: Time of the Giving of Our Torah (Z’man Matan Torateinu), and Festival of [Offering] Our First Fruits (Hag HaBikkurim). Our tradition is adamant that every Jewish soul that ever was or will be was gathered at Sinai; and yet while we all received the Torah together, the midrashim stress how very different the experience of revelation was for each individual present. The need for and relationship between these two names thus makes sense: while we receive as a collective, we must cultivate the ability to offer bikkurim as individual pilgrims. To take seriously the notion that each Jew has something quite distinct to contribute toward the end of revealing Torah is to embody the lessons learned by Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai, the sage most intimately associated with the 33rd day of the Omer, Lag B’Omer. One of the most famous tales about Rabbi Shimon recounts his emergence from years of study in hiding with a gaze so fiercely judgmental that it consumed any Jew whose Judaism differed from his own; he is sent back into the cave from which he’d emerged until he obtains a heart of wisdom with room for

Jews different from himself. This year I fi nd myself wanting to read Psalm 90 with a twist; instead of “teach us to count our days (yameinu),” I’m reading it “teach us to count our people (ameinu…).” We spend a lot of time bemoaning the disconnectedness of contemporary Jews from a sense of Jewish peoplehood – and we should – but perhaps we need to pause and have enough humility to ask and answer honestly the question of whether “their Judaism,” their contributions/ bikkurim, really “count” in our eyes, whether there is a way in which apparent rejection of some offerings thwarts feelings of connectedness to Am Yisrael, the Jewish people. I was moved to notice this year that the mystical attribute ascribed to the 33rd day of the Omer, is in fact profound humility (Hod ShebeHod). How fitting that this day is Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai’s yahrtzeit and the day on which the sadness

of the Omer traditionally gives way to joy. It’s a day of recalling that we are traveling along the path from redemption to revelation with many pilgrims whose understanding of that path differs from our own – and that we can’t afford to leave Israelites behind in striving for Sinai. The Omer reminds us that Judaism is more than a religion, more than any one thing. Its essence lies is the sum total of what Jews do and who Jews are, and we must journey together or risk losing something vital … of what the journey means ... of what it means to be a Jew. I pray that this year we arrive at Sinai prepared to stand, ever more intentionally together, humbly allowing for each soul to count. RABBI MICHELLE T. DARDASHTI (rabbi@brown.edu) is Associate Chaplain of the University for the Jewish Community and Rabbi, Brown RISD Hillel.

Candle Lighting Times

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May 8 ...............................7:31 May 15 .............................7:38 May 22 .............................7:45 May 23 (Shavu’ot) after ... 8:58 May 24 (Shavu’ot) after ... 8:59 May 29 .............................7:51

8 | May 8, 2015

OPINION

Spring has sprung, time for a little house cleaning Finally we are seeing prolonged signs of spring … c o n s i s t e n t ly warm temperatures, flowering trees ever y where, longer days. People are out in their yards cleaning up EDITOR and planting. CommuFRAN n ity gardens OSTENDORF a r e c o m i n g to life. I love being able to talk about these in the present tense, not just as winter dreams. It also helps me think about spring cleaning inside and outside the house. Some believe that the origins of spring cleaning lie within the process of ridding the house of hametz at Pesach, since it falls at the beginning of spring. I have to admit I do pay particular attention to the kitchen at that time of the year. It has always seemed like the right time to be thorough. We are not the only culture that practices a form of spring cleaning. The Chinese clean before New Year, sweeping floors and homes to rid them of bad luck. And it just so happens that the Chinese New Year, as you may remember, is in late winter. Regardless, I can’t think about seriously cleaning the house until the windows can be opened and the fresh air let in. I’m talking about a deep clean – reorganizing the closets, getting into corners where debris collects and sorting through those piles of papers I’ve been meaning to read all winter. The dust bunnies under and behind the furniture have to go. And so does the buildup of salt and sand tracked in dur-

ing our long, cold winter. This all seems more in alignment with those who argue that this is a simple case of biology. In winter, days are shorter, and we are sleepier. So we just don’t have the energy to thoroughly clean. Give us a little more light, and we awaken. Oftentimes, we can’t believe what we’ve let go during the long winter! Getting rid of all the stuff is liberating. Yes, I’m talking about de-cluttering. Not just the piles of stuff I’ve been meaning to read. But the papers I need to file and the receipts I just might need for some reason. And the clothes I haven’t worn in a year – or two? I’ve always been told to get rid of them. But doing that isn’t easy. Now is the time. I’m ready to load up the bags and donate. People I know who have done all this say that it’s a wonderful feeling afterward… totally worth it. I’m really looking forward to that. So when will I have time to do all this? Not really sure. There are three more papers to put out before spring ends. I’m planning to start a new tradition of summer cleaning. And now seems like a good time to remind you, our loyal reader, that we take a publishing break at the end of spring. So you have three issues to get us all your news and information on upcoming events. And don’t forget simchas, too. Our last paper before the break comes out on June 19, with a deadline for submitting news of June 10. We return to print Aug. 7. The deadline to submit news for that issue is July 22. We do love to hear from you. And I’ll be in the office during the month of July, and maybe I’ll have a cleaner closet or two here.

Join in the discussion about Israel The Israel Task Force of the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island invites you to participate in “Can We Talk About Israel?” on June 9 at the Dwares JCC from 6:30-9 p.m. Based on the successful “Israel Talks” program developed in New York and a local pilot program in February, the goal of this program is to promote civil dialogue and active discussion in the Rhode Island Jewish community about Israel-Arab issues and the role of the United States. Small, diverse groups are created and include a moderator. Each group will discuss important issues that will foster listening, dialogue and understanding for the wide range of per-

spectives that we know exist in our Jewish community. The purpose is to help strengthen our community by encouraging civil discourse, mutual respect and tolerance for our diverse points of view; to help ensure that our love for Israel unites us more than divides us; and to build more community participation on Israelrelated issues. It should also be an interesting, informative and stimulating experience. Coffee and dessert will be served. There is no admission charge. Space is limited, so we encourage you to reserve your place at the table. Please RSVP by June 2 by contacting Marty Cooper at 401-421-4111, ext. 171 or mcooper@jewishallianceri. org.

The Jewish Voice

What the photograph demands of us At the end of January, not long after returning from viewing an exhibit of 42 black-and-white photographs by Gordon Parks (1912-2006) at Boston’s Museum of Fine Arts, I had the opportunity to share my enthusiasm for Parks’ work with my IT SEEMS f r i e n d , P h i l Rosen. Rosen, TO ME a professor of RABBI JIM Modern Culture and MeROSENBERG dia at Brown, suggested two books – both classics in the field – to deepen my appreciation and understanding of photography: Susan Sontag’s “On Philosophy” (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1977) and Roland Barthes’ “Camera Lucida” (Hill and Wang, 1982), translated from the French by Richard Howard. Neither Sontag nor Barthes is primarily concerned with the methods of picture-taking; rather, each of them, in distinct but overlapping ways, focuses upon what the photograph means to those who view it. In many ways, Sontag’s is a book of questions. Is photography an art or “only” a craft? What is its relationship to painting? How does photography reconcile its sometimescompeting goals of creating beauty and telling the truth? Does the existence of the photograph negate Plato’s ancient philosophical argument concerning appearance versus reality? Sontag’s questions prompt my own question: What does she mean when she calls photography “a revolt against ordinary standards of seeing”? As I worked my way through Sontag’s book, I felt as if I were once again an undergraduate student at Columbia – intoxicated with compelling and competing ideas. Perhaps the most searching of all the questions bubbling up in Sontag’s text is this: What is the relationship between the photograph and death? What does she mean when early on she comments, “All photographs are memento mori (reminders of our mortality)”? Fifty pages later she adds: “Photography is the inventory of our mortality. A touch of the finger now suffices to invest a moment with posthumous irony.”

I understand Sontag to be saying that every photograph is a glimpse in the present of something frozen in the past for the sake of future viewers. It seems to me that this is the irony – “the posthumous irony” – inherent in the photograph. When I look at a picture taken during my childhood, part of me asks: “Is this me?” But shouldn’t I be asking: “Was that me?” The answer to both questions is identical: That little boy in the cowboy outfit standing next to the backyard swing set was me then and is the seed of the future man I am today, 65 years later.

“We are here. Our time is always NOW. Pay attention.” In “Camera Lucida,” Barthes probes even more deeply into the intimate connection between the photograph and death; more precisely, he explores how the very act of looking at a photograph profoundly alters our commonly held notions of time and mortality. For Barthes, the irreducible essence of a photograph is the subject at the moment the picture is taken, what he calls the “That-has-been.” When he is examining a photograph, he is forced to confront his own mortality; noting the date of a photograph leads him “to compute life, death, the inexorable extinction of generations ... I am the reference of every photograph, and this is what generates my astonishment in addressing myself to the fundamental question: why is it that I am alive here and now?” Barthes focuses upon Alexander Gardner’s 1865 “Portrait of Lewis Payne” to elucidate his approach to the questions of time and mortality posed by every photograph. This photograph of Payne was taken while he was in jail, soon to be hanged for his attempted assassination of Secretary of State W.H. Seward. Barthes comments: “he is going to die. I read at the same time: This will be and this has been; I observe with horror an anterior future of which death is the stake. By giving me the absolute past of the pose...the photograph tells me of death in the future... Whether or not the subject

is already dead, every photograph is this catastrophe.” Photography is a relatively new art form. Barthes reports that the first photograph was taken in 1823 (or thereabout) by Nicephore Niepce. Both Sontag and Barthes argue that photography calls upon us to see the world in a new way largely because it compels us to see time – and, by extension, our sense of mortality – in a new way: The “That-has-been” subject of a photograph was the NOW when it was taken, even as the subject’s FUTURE has been subsumed into the PAST of its viewer. Upon further reflection, I would suggest that such “tricks” of time are not so new, after all. Consider, for example, Psalm 126, chanted every Shabbat in traditional Jewish homes as the introduction to the Birkat Ha-Mazon, the grace after meals. The Hebrew text can be understood as referring to the future: “When Adonai will restore the fortunes of Zion, we will be like dreamers.” However, the very same Hebrew text can also be understood as referring to the past: “When Adonai restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like dreamers.” That is to say, our text is asking us to read it NOW as both FUTURE and PAST and, by so doing, to enlarge our vision of the boundaries of our mortality. In addition to a shared vision of the fluidity of time, what modern photographs and ancient Hebrew texts hold in common is their insistence that we pay close attention to what is before our eyes at this very moment. Thus, we read in Exodus 3:4: “When Adonai saw that he turned to take a (close) look, God cried out to him from the midst of the thorn bush, “Moses! Moses!” Numerous commentators have pointed out that only after Moses has taken the time to discern that the bush is not being consumed by the flames does God deem him worthy of the Divine encounter. Both the modern photograph and the ancient Biblical text make the same demand of us: We are here. Our time is always NOW. Pay attention! JAMES B. ROSENBERG is rabbi emeritus at Temple Habonim in Barrington. Contact him at rabbiemeritus@templehabonim.org.

COLUMNS | LETTERS POLICY 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, 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

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May 8, 2015 |

Making genocide and Holocaust education mandatory BY HERB WEISS With newspapers reporting an increase in religious and cultural intolerance and hate crimes, it is refreshing to see the Rhode Island General Assembly pass resolutions condemning the systematic and barbarous murder of Armenians and Jews. On April 24, Armenians across the nation stopped to remember the Ottoman authorities’ eight-year brutal campaign, taking place 100 years ago, to eliminate their ethnic group from its homeland in what is now Turkey. Both chambers of the Rhode Island General Assembly passed resolutions calling this day “Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day” and urging President Obama and Congress to officially recognize the genocide, which resulted in the estimated death of 1.5 million Armenians and to make restitution for the loss of lives, those who endured slavery, starvation, torture, unlawful deportations and confiscated properties.

Taking responsibility for your actions

On April 6, it was a personal and professional triumph for Rep. Katherine S. Kazarian, a fourth-generation ArmenianAmerican, to take the lead in sponsoring Rhode Island’s House resolution to commemorate the 100th anniversary of

the Armenian Genocide of 1915. “The only thing worse than trying to eliminate an entire generation and culture is to deny that such a genocide ever took place,” said Kazarian. “For the past 100 years, the government of Turkey has continually refused to acknowledge their part in the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian people,” she said. Until the Armenian genocide is recognized by the government of Turkey, Kazarian promised to return to the State House every year to keep the issue alive. Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin said, “On this 100th anniversary, it is more important than ever to remember the horror and tragedy that the Armenian people went through, and it is long overdue that as a nation, we recognize the Armenian genocide. Through recognition, vigilance and education, this type of history will cease to repeat itself. “There are many parallels between the Armenian genocide and the Holocaust carried out by Adolf Hitler, which ultimately killed 6 million Jews,” said the Attorney General, stressing that the Armenian genocide served as an example for Hitler, who used the lack of consequences for the perpetrators of the genocide as encouragement for the Nazis in planning the Holocaust

“When giving a speech to Nazi leaders one week before the invasion of Poland, which effectively began World War II, Hitler reportedly noted, ‘who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?’ ” said Kilmartin.

“The only thing worse than trying to eliminate an entire generation and culture is to deny that such a genocide ever took place.” Eradicating religious and cultural bigotry

Marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, Buchenwald, Dachau and Bergen-Belsen concentration camps, Rep. Mia Ackerman submitted a resolution commemorating Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) and the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943. The resolution was passed by both the House and the Senate. “The citizens of Rhode Island have a rich tradition of fighting those who would trample individual liberty and human dignity,” said Ackerman. “We must never allow anyone to

Recognizing acts of genocide BY MARTY COOPER mcooper@jewishallianceri.org Editor’s Note: This speech was delivered April to a gathering of the Armenian community commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide. I am honored to be a part of this historic program this evening. And, I am honored to represent the Jewish community. 100 years ago. 70 years ago. This week the world commemorates 100 years since 1.5 million Armenians perished in an act of genocide. Last week the Jewish community commemorated the 70th year of Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. More than 6 million Jews were killed. 1.5 million and more than 6 million. Plus the families that were lost and the surviving families whose lives would be forever changed. And, a long history lost and a new history began. Never Again. A phrase. Two words that have been synonymous with the Jewish community and the Holocaust. Never again will there be another atrocity or genocide. Yet it continues. Cambodia, Darfur, Rwanda and now perhaps Yemen. Why? Because we, our governments and world leaders have never said: Why did we allow the systematic atrocities

to happen to the people of Armenia one hundred years ago? Why did we allow the systematic atrocities to happen to the Jews over 70 years ago? And, why do we allow such atrocities to continue? The term “genocide” did not exist before 1944. Genocide is a very specific word. It refers to violent crimes committed against groups with the intent to destroy their existence, especially a particular ethnic group or nation. Today, according to the Armenian government, only 20 countries formally recognize the Armenian genocide. Uruguay was the first to do so in 1965, 21 years after the word was created. Only after Russia, in 1995, did a series of 17 countries like Canada, France, Poland, and Italy make similar declarations. Today, Germany is expected to make an announcement acknowledging that genocide in 1915, did take place in Armenia. Yet, our own country has still not formally acknowledged that an act of genocide took place against the people of Armenia. However, 43 US states have independently recognized Armenian genocide. If countries like ours do not recognize this took place, is it no wonder that 54 percent of the world population have also

never heard of the Holocaust? Is it no wonder that two-thirds of the world population either has no knowledge of the Holocaust, or denies that it ever happened? In 2011 the Community Relations Council of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island submitted legislation for genocide education to be mandatory in our middle and high schools. In order for the bill to pass, we agreed to change the wording to “encourage” rather than mandatory. Since the passage of the bill, hundreds of thousands of people have perished through continued acts of genocide. Genocide education in our state must become mandatory like it is in New Jersey. The media has the responsibility to inform and report acts of genocide. We must demand the world not only recognize genocide, but act against the aggressors. Our legislators must know that acts of genocide anywhere are simply not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Countries cannot turn a blind eye to atrocities when it is not in their best interests. We must never forget, and we must make the commitment of never again to anyone, anywhere. MARTY COOPER is the Community Relations Director for the Jewish Alliance.

forget the time when a handful of evil people tried to turn the earth into a graveyard by systematically exterminating an entire race of people.” According to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, by 2020 there will be only 67,000 Holocaust survivors left, 57 percent of whom will be at least 85 years old. How can the story of the horrific Holocaust be told to the younger generation when the eye witnesses are dying? Andy Hollinger, director of communications for the Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, makes an obvious comment. “No one who did not live through the Holocaust can experience its horrors, he says, noting that “Holocaust survivors are our best teachers.” Today, about 80 Holocaust survivors are still telling their stories and working to educate new generations about this history at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. “When they are no longer here we will rely on the collections – artifacts, documents, photographs, films and other materials to tell this story,” says Hollinger, noting that the museum is “racing to collect the evidence of the Holocaust.” “We’re working in 50 coun-

tries on six continents to ensure this proof [witness testimonies, artifacts and documents] is secured, preserved and made available through exhibitions and, increasingly, digitally,” adds Hollinger. Marty Cooper, community relations director of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode, believes it is “vitally important that the next generations learn about the Holocaust and other genocides and atrocities that have taken place and continue to take place.” He calls for genocide education to be mandatory in Rhode Island and part of the middle and high school curriculum. One of the great lessons we can learn from the Holocaust and Armenian genocide is that hatred cannot go unchallenged. It must be immediately confronted wherever it emerges, by governments, religious leaders, nonprofit and business organizations and most important by each and every one of us. We must avow that these horrendous atrocities will never happen again to future generations. HERB WEISS, LRI ’12, is a Pawtucket writer who covers aging, health care and medical issues. He can be reached at hweissri@aol.com.

Anti-Semitic incidents in Czech Republic rose sharply in 2014 PRAGUE (JTA) – The number of anti-Semitic incidents in the Czech Republic rose by more than 200 percent last year, according to an annual report on anti-Semitism. Prague’s Jewish community released the report May 4. In 2014, 46 such incidents were registered across the country, compared to 13 incidents the previous year. An escalation of the PalestinianIsraeli conflict, notably Israel’s military operation in Gaza last July and August, was seen as the main factor fueling the surge. “It is clear that the Czech Republic’s Jewish community becomes a target of anti-Semitism in relation to the situation in the Middle East,” the chair of the Jewish community of Prague, Jan Munk, said in a statement. “Czech Jews are perceived by some groups as envoys of the State of Israel and are blamed for its political decisions.” While the number of physical attacks against Jewish tar-

gets – persons or property – did not register any major change compared with previous years, the number of verbal attacks, hate mail and threats to Jewish people rose four times in comparison with 2013. The number of online anti-Semitic incidents increased by some 20 percent. In most cases, the perpetrators were not identified; those who were identified often had no ties to extremist groups. That suggests, according to the report, that anti-Semitic sentiments are increasingly gaining ground among individuals with no links to extremism. In a trend similar to Western Europe, the report noted a rise in anti-Zionist sentiments expressed in conspiracy theories such as those blaming the ongoing crisis in Ukraine on Jews and Israel. These were often shared by both far-right and far-left groups and reflected by some mainstream Czech news websites.

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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.

10 | May 8, 2015

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. $3 lunch donation from individuals 60+ or under 60 with disabilities. Neal or Elaine, 401421-4111, ext. 107. Am David Kosher Senior Café. Kosher lunch and program every weekday. Temple Am David, 40 Gardiner St., Warwick. 11:15 a.m. program; Noon lunch. $3 lunch donation from individuals 60+ or under 60 with disabilities. Elaine or Steve 401-732-0047.

Through | mid-May American Eyes on Israel. Exhibition features photographs by Brown students taken during their travels to Israel. Drawing from Taglit-Birthright Israel trips from the summer of 2014 and winter of 2015, the photographs show the way young, Jewish Americans see Israel and its people. Gallery at Brown RISD Hillel

Through | May 28

Mapping Rhode Island Community Art Exhibit. gallery (401) at the Dwares JCC. Maps are more about their makers than the places they describe. So, we invited Rhode Islanders to map who they are and where they are – to map the invisible, map the obvious and map their memories. The results are on display. Contact Erin Moseley at 401-4214111, ext. 108 for more information.

Through | June 10

Changing America: The Emancipation Proclamation, 1863 and the March on Washington, 1963. Changing America examines the Emancipation Proclamation and the March on Washington, two events separated by 100 years, yet profoundly linked together in a larger story of liberty and the American experience. Exhibition is on loan from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Museum of American History in collaboration with the American Library Association Public Programs Office. Sponsored by the Center for the Study of Slavery & Justice. Brown RISD Hillel.

Through | June 25

Spring Watercolor Florals, Photographs from Nigeria. The Gallery at Temple Habonim Nancy Godfray and Toni Peterson watercolors. Shai Afsai photographs from his trips to Nigeria to document the Igbo Jews. 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington. Hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and by appointment. For information, call 401-245-6536, or email gallery@ templehabonim.org.

The Jewish Voice

Sunday | May 10 Jewish Meditation. 9:30 a.m. Judaism has a long tradition of meditation and contemplation. Course is geared for beginners looking to try something new. Sessions are 30 minutes and will consist of education, discussion and 10-15 minutes of sitting as we build our practice together. Beth Sholom downstairs chapel. 275 Camp St., Providence. 401-621-9393.

Wednesday | May 13 The Mothers Circle. 7-9 p.m. Dwares JCC. Join the Mothers Circle to learn about Jewish rituals, holidays, ethics and how to create Jewish family life at home. This free course began in Jan. and runs through May 13. No experience necessary! Everyone welcome. For more information, contact Sara Foster at 401-421-4111, ext. 184 or sfoster@jewishallianceri.org.

Friday | May 15 Shalom Friends. 10-11 a.m. Jewish Community Day School of RI library. A monthly Jewish music and movement class geared toward children from birth to 5 years of age and their families. Sing, play with instruments, dance with scarves all while learning basic Jewish concepts. No charge.

Saturday | May 16 K’Tantan Havdalah & Dinner. 5:30 p.m. Temple Beth-El. K’Tantan is a wonderful way to celebrate Shabbat with children aged birth to 5. Gather for joyful singing and community dinner. For more info please email TBEK’Tantan@templebeth-el.org or rabbimack@temple-bethel.org. Dove’s Cry. 7:45 p.m. An Israeli film about a dedicated and beloved Israeli Arab teacher at a Jewish school in Israel. The film gives a unique and humane view of life in Israel. Discussion follows. Families welcome. Congregation Agudas Achim, 901 North Main St. Attleboro.

Sunday | May 17 Jewish Meditation. 9:30 a.m. Judaism has a long tradition of meditation and contemplation. Course is geared for beginners looking to try something new. Sessions are 30 minutes and will consist of education, discussion and 10-15 minutes of sitting as we build our practice together. Beth Sholom downstairs chapel. 275 Camp St., Providence. 401-621-9393. Sprouts Preschool Program in Partnership with the PJ Library. 9 a.m. May topic is Shavuot. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. 401-885-6600, www. toratyisrael.org.

Calendar Submissions

MAY 22 issue, GRADUATION – must be received by MAY 13. JUNE 5 issue, FATHER’S DAY – must be received by MAY 27.

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

From Mapping Rhode Island at gallery (401). Energy•Color•Light opens at the Providence Art Club’s historic Maxwell Mays and Moite´ Galleries. Reception from 2 to 4 p.m. Abstraction prevails with works by Theresa Girard, Michael Rich and Roberta Segal in the Mays Gallery and Eileen Horwitz in the Moite´. The work has been paired for their mutual love of color in abstract and energetic forms. Through June 4. The Providence Art Club is at 11 Thomas St. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m. Dove’s Cry. 3 p.m. An Israeli film about a dedicated and beloved Israeli Arab teacher at a Jewish school in Israel. The film gives a unique and humane view of life in Israel. Discussion follows. Families welcome. Congregation Agudas Achim, 901 North Main St. Attleboro. A Tangled Legacy: 1,000 Years of French Jewry in Words and Music. 7 p.m. Temple Emanu-El. The final event in the Arts Emanu-El 2014 arts and culture series. Tickets in advance, $50, $36, $15; at the door, $55, $40, $20. Go to teprov.org.

Monday | May 18 Jewish Philosophy Reading Group. 7:45 -9 p.m. Study important works of Jewish thought. Working much like a book club, participants are asked to prepare short selections of reading in advance to be discussed together. Contact Congregation Beth Sholom for more information. 401-621-9393

Friday | May 22 PJ Library Shavuot Storytime. 10-11 a.m. Dwares JCC. Enjoy a PJ Library story, songs, movement, crafts and a holiday-themed snack. All children ages 5 and under are welcome. To RSVP or for more information, contact Michelle Cicchitelli at 401-421-4111, ext. 178 or mcicchitelli@jewishallianceri.org.

Wednesday | May 27

Fashion for the Jewish Sole featuring Jane Weitzman. 7-9 p.m. Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Join the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island for a dessert reception featuring Jane Weitzman, author

of “Art & Sole.” Admission: $18 plus a gift of any amount to the 2015 Jewish Alliance Annual Campaign. For more information or to RSVP, contact Danielle Germanowski at 401-421-4111 ext. 109 or dgermanowski@jewishallianceri.org or visit jewishallianceri.org. RSVP by May 20. Pre-register by May 15 for a chance to win a pair of Stuart Weitzman shoes donated by Mel & Me, Ltd.

Friday | May 29 Shabbat on Broadway service. 7:30 p.m. Temple Sinai’s 2nd annual event with Cantor Wendy Siegel and Cantor Emeritus Remmie Brown leading the service and singing many of the Friday night prayers to the tune of Broadway shows – Fiddler on the Roof, Mary Poppins, Man of LaMancha, Les Miserables, and the Sound of Music. Shireinu, the Temple Sinai community chorus, will also participate. All are welcome.

Tuesday | June 2

gallery (401) Early Childhood Center Art Show. 12 p.m. Dwares JCC. Join us for the opening reception. Featuring works by children in our Early Childhood Center. This event is free and open to the community. For more information, contact Nicole Katzman at 401-4214111, ext. 180 or nkatzman@jewishallianceri.org.

Wednesday | June 3

The Miriam Hospital Women’s Association 118th Annual Meeting. 11:30 a.m. Honoring Robin Engle. Installation of officers and board members. Ledgemont Country Club. More information, 401-793-2520. Cranston Senior Guild Annual Spring Installation of officers. West Valley Inn, 4 Blossom St., West Warwick, at noon. The cost of the lunch is $21, which includes soup, salad, pasta, entre, and dessert. Men and women 55 or older are welcome to join the senior guild. Reservations for the lunch must be made by May 13. For information call Natalie at 401-615-9483.

Jewish Culture through Film: Seven Jewish Short Films. 7 p.m. Dwares JCC. In collaboration with the Rhode Island International Film Festival, the Jewish Alliance will be showing seven Jewish short films. Admission $10 | Members $6. For more information, contact Erin Moseley at 401-4214111, ext. 108 or emoseley@jewishallianceri.org

Sunday | June 7 PJ Library Pool and Popsicles Party. 3 p.m. Dwares JCC. Enjoy a dip in our pool followed by a snack of Popsicles in anticipation of summer. RSVP or for more information, Michelle Cicchitelli at 401-421-4111, ext. 178, or mcicchitelli@jewishallianceri.org.

Monday | June 8

30th Annual Dwares JCC Golf Classic. 11 a.m. Ledgemont Country Club. Hosted by the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. 11 a.m. Registration | 11:30 a.m. Lunch | 12:45 p.m. Shotgun Start | 5:30 p.m. Cocktails, Dinner & Awards. Register by May 19 online at jewishallianceri.org or by contacting Hillary Schulman at 401421-4111 ext. 127 or hschulman@ jewishallianceri.org.

Tuesday | June 9

Federal Benefits for Veterans and Their Surviving Spouses and Daily Money Management. Presented by Jim Goldman, CPA.ABV and President of ElderCare, RI, LLC. 6:30 p.m. Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence, 3 Shalom Drive, Warwick. RSVP to Dianne 401732-0037.

Wednesday | June 10 Jewish Alliance Annual Meeting. 7 p.m. Dwares JCC. Board Installations: Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, Jewish Federation Foundation, Alliance Realty, Inc. More information, contact Gail Putnam at 401-421-4111, ext. 158, or gputnam@jewishallianceri. org.

FOOD

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Lemon Chiffon Bundt Cake BY TAMI GANELES-WEISER (The Nosher via JTA) – This cake is inspired by the uber-popular Israeli sweet lemonade, that’s always punched up with fresh mint, called limonana. Limonana is really just a simple drink, but it has taken Israel by storm over the last 25 years. It’s a delicious, super sweet lemonade — tooth-achingly sweet — like a good Mississippi sweet tea. What makes it unique is the addition of a copious amount of bright, verdant, incredibly fresh mint leaves. It’s a snappy addition that takes the lemonade from good to great. Israeli Hebrew is often marked with anglicized words, but not this drink. Without even naming it through an official Ministry of Made-up Words (with apologies to Monty Python, it actually has existed), it’s a clear amalgam of lemon in Hebrew (limon) and mint in Arabic (nana), creating a drink word that even chefs Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi could love. But it’s all about the taste, which is bright and lively and endlessly refreshing. You can find limonana-flavored sorbets and sherbet, and the lemon and mint – or even a lime and mint – would be a great foil for a granita. Light and delicate, this lemony chiffon cake is lovely paired with a minted whipped cream and candied mint.

A few kitchen tips:

Superfine sugar, also called caster sugar, is granulated sugar that has been ground into very fine crystals. It dissolves quickly and is excellent for use in drinks, meringues, puddings, candies and lighter baked goods such as angel food cakes. If a recipe specifies superfine sugar, do use it; it makes a difference. If you don’t have any, just grind your granulated sugar in a food processor for 2 minutes until it is very, very fine. To make your own mint oil, heat 1 cup canola oil in a small saucepan set over medium-low heat, add the mint and cook for about 5 minutes until the oil is very warm (if you have a candy thermometer, it will read about 180 degrees). It should not boil or sputter; it is, essentially, poaching. Set up a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth over a medium-size mixing bowl. Remove the pan from the heat and let stand until the oil reaches room temperature. Then, using an immersion blender, blend until smooth. (You can also do this in a regular blender.) Pour the blended mixture through the sieve and let it slowly drip through. The oil can be used immediately, or kept refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. When beating egg whites, an impeccably clean bowl is a must; even a bit of grease can keep them from firming up to form soft or stiff peaks.

Limonana-Inspired Lemon Chiffon Bundt Cake Ingredients:

For the cake: 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda 1/4 teaspoon fine salt 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon superfine (caster) sugar (see Kitchen Tips) 4 large eggs, room temperature, separated 1/4 cup good-quality olive oil Zest of 4 lemons (about 2 tablespoons ) Juice of 4 lemons (1/4 cup) 1/4 cup lemon vodka or water Seeds scraped from 1 vanilla bean pod 1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar For the candied mint leaves:

2 bunches fresh mint leaves 1 egg white 1/2 cup superfine (caster) sugar For the mint whipped cream: 1/2 cup heavy cream or whipping cream 2 tablespoons superfine (caster) sugar, sifted 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste 3/4 teaspoon mint oil, store-bought or homemade

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Spray a 7-inch bundt pan with nonstick vegetable oil and dust it lightly with flour. In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, and 3/4 cup of the sugar and set aside. In another bowl, whisk together the egg yolks, vegetable oil, lemon juice, vodka or water, lemon zest and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and whisk for about 1 1/2 minutes, until smooth and thick. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment beat the egg whites at medium speed until foamy. Add the cream of tartar and beat for about 1 minute, gradually increasing the speed to high, until soft peaks form (see Kitchen Tips). Gradually add the remaining tablespoon of sugar and beat for about 2 1/2 minutes at high speed until stiff peaks form and the eggs are stiff and almost dry. Fold 1/3 of the egg whites into the batter and gently stir to lighten the mixture. Add the next 1/3, folding carefully, leaving some white streaks. Add the last 1/3 and fold gently until the last white streaks just barely disappear. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Using an offset spatula, smooth the top. Bang the pan on the kitchen counter once. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean and the cake is golden. While the cake is baking, make the candied mint leaves (see Kitchen Tips): Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the leaves on it in a single layer, With a pastry brush, brush the leaves lightly with the egg white. Sprinkle with half the sugar, allow to dry for 5 minutes. Turn the leaves over, brush with the egg white, sprinkle with the remaining sugar and allow to fully dry. Remove the cake from the oven and gently invert it, still in the pan, onto a cooling rack and let stand until fully cooled. Turn the pan right-side up. Run a knife between the cake and the side of the pan. Place a serving platter that is slightly wider than the pan over the cooled cake, so that the bottom of the platter faces up. Holding the pan with one hand and pressing the plate firmly onto the pan with the other, invert them so that the plate is on the bottom. Lift the cake pan to reveal the cake. Just before serving, make the whipped cream (see Kitchen Tips): Using a stand mixer, electric mixer or whisk, pour the cream into a mixing chilled bowl. Whip the cream until soft peaks form. (If using an electric or stand mixer, beat the mixture on high for about 60 seconds.) Add the sugar, vanilla and mint oil to the cream, and whip just to combine. Serve cake garnished with whipped cream and candied mint leaves. TAMI GANELES-WEISER is a writer and editor, recipe developer, culinary educator and caterer. She is a regular columnist for JoyofKosher.com, and contributes to Moment Magazine and TheHomeMonthly.com Recipe Box. The Nosher food blog offers an array of new and classic Jewish recipes and food news. Check it out at www.TheNosher.com.

May 8, 2015 |

12 | May 8, 2015

FOOD

The Jewish Voice

Asparagus is a perfect addition to spring meals BY FRAN OSTENDORF fostendorf@jewishallianceri.org

How to make dinnertime a priority for your family StatePoint – Do you have dinner with your kids? It’s become almost a luxury today, with our crammed schedules. And yet, numerous studies show that no other hour in your children’s day will deliver as many emotional and psychological benefits as the one spent unwinding and connecting over food and conversation. “A nightly commitment to family dinners can be transformative,” says Anne K. Fishel, Ph.D., therapist, cofounder of Family Dinner Project, and author of “Home for Dinner, Mixing Food, Fun, and Conversation for a Happier Family and Healthier Kids,” (AMACOM). Among finicky eaters, defiant teens and the lure of fast food, how can home cooking and family dinner be your household’s priority? In her new book, Fishel shares strategies for busy parents to overcome family

dinnertime hurdles. Here she shares a few parenting insights:

can provide fodder for talk about truth-telling.

Meaningful conversation

Don’t underestimate your child’s taste buds. The idea that young children and adults must eat different foods might be a myth created by food manufacturers and marketers. Your child might like chicken piccata as much as chicken fingers. Entice picky eaters by modeling adventurous eating. Eat the new food with gusto, and then ask, “Would you like to taste it? Can you describe the taste?” This focuses your child’s attention on the food, rather than on rejecting it. Avoid letting food become a power struggle. If your child refuses a particular meal, stay calm and offer an alternative such as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich – nothing that makes much extra work for you.

A family meal is an excellent opportunity to connect with your children. Foster dinner conversation by making the family table a technology-free zone. You may find that parents have a harder time than kids turning off their gadgets. Throughout your day, collect stories that might amuse your children, such as something mischievous the dog did. Starting by telling a story yourself can get the conversation rolling. Ask questions that demonstrate you’ve been paying attention. For example, “I know that today was your first art class. What was it like?” To deepen conversation, turn to daily media content. For example, elections can prompt discussions about how democracy works. Scandals

Trying new things

Have fun

Ask kids to help with meal preparation. Spinning salad greens and setting the timer are some of the many things young children can do. For older kids, do a role reversal one night a week and have them do the cooking. It can be fun to re-create meals kids have seen advertised on TV or eaten in restaurants. For example, most supermarkets offer ready-made pizza dough. Combined with tomato sauce from a jar, it’s simple to make pizza at home. Let teens choose music to listen to during dinner. On other nights, play music you listened to as a teenager. Family dinner offers more than just nutrition. Food may bring everyone to the table, but it is the fun and conversation that will keep them there.

Asparagus is one of the many foods that signal spring. Although you can buy it yearround in the vegetable section of your supermarket, it is never better than at this time of the year. Did you know that the Romans cultivated asparagus as far back as 200 BCE, eating it both in season and preserving it for later consumption? They valued it for its unique flavor, texture and reported medicinal qualities. The name derives from Greek meaning sprout or shoot. It’s a member of the lily family. It’s doubtful the Romans knew that asparagus is low in calories, sodium, fat and cholesterol. At less than 4 calories per spear, a typical serving is 5.3 ounces, about 20 calories. It is a good source of potassium and fiber as well as vitamin B6, thiamin and folicin (folic acid). So whether you roast, steam or sauté the spears, it’s a good time to try asparagus in a new recipe. Here are a few ideas. The first two are from the Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board.

Golden Asparagus Soup

4 cups chicken stock or canned broth 2 thin slices fresh ginger (1/4 teaspoon ground ginger may be substituted) 1/2 cup dry sherry 2 teaspoons sesame oil 1/3 pound fresh asparagus spears, cut into 1 1/4 inch pieces 2 ounces cellophane noodles, cooked and drained 2 green onions, thinly sliced Bring chicken stock and ginger to a boil. Stir in sherry and sesame oil. Reduce to a simmer and add fresh asparagus and noodles. Cook until asparagus is tender-crisp, 2 to 4 minutes. Stir in green onions and serve immediately. Serves 4.

Pesto Chicken Pasta

8 ounces uncooked farfalle (bow tie) pasta 2 cups cut-up fresh asparagus 3 cups (12 ounces) cubed, cooked chicken 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes 1/3 cup chopped red onion 1 (2.25-ounce) can sliced ripe olives, well drained 3/4 cup prepared pesto sauce Cook pasta according to package directions; rinse and drain. Steam or microwave asparagus until tender crisp. Drain. Combine cooked pasta and asparagus in a large bowl. Stir in chicken, tomatoes, onion and olives. Gently toss with pesto sauce. Serve warm. Refrigerate leftovers; they make a great lunch. Serves 6.

This recipes is courtesy the California Asparagus Commission.

Salmon with Orzo and Asparagus Salad

4 tablespoons coriander seed 1 teaspoon black peppercorns 2 teaspoons kosher salt 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice 1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil 2 pounds asparagus, trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces 1 pound orzo 6 salmon fillets, about 6 ounces each 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/4 cup minced parsley leaves In a medium sauté pan, over medium heat, toast the coriander seeds, stirring constantly, just until fragrant and beginning to brown. Immediately transfer the seeds to a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. Add the peppercorns and grind until fine. Stir in the salt. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine the lemon juice, lemon zest, salt and pepper. Whisk to combine. Whisk in the extra-virgin olive oil; set aside. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the asparagus and cook until tender crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer the asparagus to a colander, refresh under cold running water to stop the cooking and drain well. Set aside a few of the pretty tips for garnish. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain well. Allow to cool for 5 minutes then pour over the dressing and stir to combine. Heavily dust both sides of the salmon fillets with the spice mixture. In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the salmon and cook until golden brown. Turn and cook until golden brown and the flesh is opaque. To serve, stir the asparagus and parsley into the orzo salad. Divide the orzo salad evenly among 6 serving plates. Top each with a salmon fillet. Garnish with the reserved asparagus tips and serve immediately. Serves 6. FRAN OSTENDORF is editor of The Jewish Voice.

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‘A visit in Abuja with the Igbo Jews of Nigeria’ Next Adult Education Program at Temple Habonim BY LOIS KEMP Last August, Rabbi Barry Dolinger, his wife, linguist Naomi Baine, and writer/photographer Shai Afsai visited the Igbo Jews in Abuja, Nigeria. Their story is the topic of the next program in the Adult Education series at Temple Habonim, 165 New Meadow Road in Barrington. On May 21, at 7 p.m., Dolinger, Baine and Afsai will talk about this visit as well as the special relationship between Rhode Island Jewry and the Igbo Jews. The story of this

relationship is one of continuing friendship, of commonalities and differences, and of the primacy of identity. Dolinger received his ordination in 2011 from RIETS affiliated with Yeshiva University. He currently serves as rabbi and spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Sholom, the oldest operating Orthodox Synagogue in Providence. Afsai’s articles and photographs have appeared in many newspapers, journals and other publications, including The Jerusalem Post, The Times of Is-

rael and The Providence Journal. Much of his recent work has focused on the religious traditions of Jews from Ethiopia and on the Igbo practicing Judaism in Nigeria. His photography will be on exhibit at Temple Habonim. This program is free and open to the community. For more information go to www.templehabonim.org or call the temple office at 401-245-6536. LOIS KEMP is a member of the Adult Education Committee at Temple Habonim.

(Left to right) Dayan Ifeanyi, Shai Afsai, and Hezekiah Nwafor after morning prayers in Abuja. Photograph

PHOTOS COURTESY | SHAI AFSAI

Rabbi Barry Dolinger and Naomi Baine in Abuja, Nigeria.

Naomi Baine with Igbo Jewish women in Abuja.

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Kollel sponsors community learning program The Providence Kollel wants to help the community make learning a part of daily life. The new project involves studying the book “Let There Be Rain,” written by Rabbi Zechariah Wallerstein and Rabbi Shimon Finkelman. The book focuses on gratitude with short daily lessons that can be learned individually, with a friend or with one’s family. Each lesson should take 5-10 minutes. The project began May 1, but participants are welcome to join at any time. Each lesson can be learned separately. The book will take six months to fi nish, and plans are under-

way for a large siyyum (party to celebrate the completion of learning) at the end. This learning initiative was established in the merit of Rebbetzin Tichyeh Schochet. It is amazing what a little bit of daily learning can achieve. Books are available for purchase at $23 each. Contact Rabbi Dovid Schwartz, 475 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, or rds@ shaareitefi llaprov.org for more information, to purchase books or to be paired with a study partner. Contact Wendy Joering at wjoering@jewishallianceri.org to RSVP for the program.

COURTESY | RHODE ISLAND JEWISH HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION

Annual meeting of the oﬃcers and board of directors of the Touro Fraternal Association, 1923. FROM PAGE 1

MEETINGS the officers, were introduced, and with a word installed. The new president Ruth Breindel outlined plans, fresh directions she envisioned for RIJHA. The audience thoroughly enjoyed the presentation by Rabbi Josh Breindel, who gave the David Charak Adelman lecture. Rabbi Breindel arranged his talk to fit exactly into the allotted time slot. Perhaps an hour later we were helping ourselves to cookies and coffee. It was the essence of brevity and delightful. Over the past six decades, I have attended or participated in more annual meetings than I care to count. The occasion attracts members and supporters who share a sense of obligation, social kinship and loyalty to the organization and the community that engendered it. Looking back on those years and the convocations of RIJHA and others, I am struck by changes time has wrought. Still, the central premise of the annual meeting has en-

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dured. Though dates may change from year to year, the event itself is a fixture on the calendar of most organizations. Back in the day, 50 or 60 years ago, the formal agenda of the annual meeting followed a stylized pattern: opening remarks by the chairperson of the day; recognition of any present dignitaries or special guests who often had a few celebratory words to say; reports and reports until someone had the brilliant idea of compiling them in a booklet distributed at the occasion, a practice large agencies adopted. Then came time for the installation of officers, when the installing officer reviewed the duties of the board members and then the officers, admonishing each in turn (after a review of their responsibilities) “to discharge their duties faithfully and well.” The incoming president accepted the responsibility, and the speaker and the program were introduced. A “collation” followed the call for an adjournment.

In keeping with the importance of the meeting, an unspoken dress code prevailed, whether the audience was strictly male, female or mixed. No casual clothing here. Men wore suits and ties. Women dressed in lovely frocks or well-tailored suits (no pants) and HATS. Hats were a must, a vital accessory for the well-dressed woman. The collation table had its own formal etiquette. Flowers and trays of pastries graced the table. Unless no women were invited, ladies in lovely hats presided over the urns of hot beverages – tea at one, coffee at the other. Actually it was fun greeting your patrons and chatting a bit while you poured and added the cream or sugar requested. Much has changed in six decades. But the annual meeting has endured. Though sometimes a bit tedious, it has endured for all the right reasons. GERALDINE FOSTER is a past president of the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association.

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Time to think summer camp at the Dwares JCC BY SETH FINKLE sfinkle@jewishallianceri.org Summer vacation will be here before we know it, so now is the time to start thinking about your plans. Summer J-Camp at the Dwares JCC offers everything you’d expect from a great summer experience – sports, music, nature exploration, swimming – all within a warm and welcoming community. JCamp, which enrolls campers from ages 5 to 11 and Counselors-in-Training (CITs) from ages 12-15, is managed by nurturing staff that includes educators, child-care professionals, artists, coaches, an Israeli shaliach (emissary) and qualified counselors. Each week at J-Camp, there is a dedicated theme that ties in both secular and Jewish educational components. Elective activities, field trips and special guests make J-Camp a new adventure each week. One of the great benefits of J-camp is the fact that we run for 9 weeks while other camps only run for 8 weeks. In addition, as part of the USDA-funded Summer Food Service Program, J-Camp offers lunch and snacks daily at no extra charge to campers. Camp takes advantage of the warm New England summer, and we spend as much time outside as possible. Each morning we will have a morning circle

meeting where we sing songs and learn a Hebrew word of the day. This morning ritual reenforces the strong community that’s important at J-Camp. New this year is music as a class and an elective for campers. Our summer schaliach, Nave, specializes in music and will be sure to add a great new component and energy to camp!

Weekly themes, ﬁeld trips and special events

Week 1: Sailing the Oceans/ Connection to Other Cultures. Our field trip this week will be to Spring Lake Beach, and our special guest will be from Save the Bay. Week 2: Party in the USA/ Welcoming of all Guests. Our field trip this week will be to Camp JORI, and we will have a special visit from the Providence Fire Department Week 3: Heroes/Honor and Respect. We will visit RISPCA this week and have a special visit from the Burrillville Police Department. Week 4: Under the Big Top/ Strong Family Bonds. We will head to the EcoTarium this week and have a special visit from the Big Nazo puppets. Week 5: Creepy Crawlers/ Caring for the earth and environment. On field trip day, we will spend the day at the Roger Williams Park Zoo and will

have the opportunity to spend some time with snakes, rabbits, tree frogs and an alligator when animal expert Dave Marchetti visits us. Week 6: Monsters/Acceptance of Others. Help cheer on the Pawtucket Red Sox this week and then enjoy a fun performance by award-winning performer, Keith Munslow. Week 7: Construction/Repairing the World. Travel to Boston this week as we visit the Boston Children’s Museum. Play curator Linda White will visit on Friday, and show us how we can create awesome projects with recyclable material. Week 8: Olympics/Maccabi/ Sportsmanship and teamwork. We will travel to South County and spend the day at the Rhode Island Rock Gym. We will make our own sundaes to celebrate Olympics week! Week 9: Wild Things/Kindness to Animals. Our fi nal field trip will be to Douglas State Park. We will end camp with a dance party and extra-special Shabbat celebration.

May 8, 2015 |

Am David concert canceled The Cantor Ivan Perlman Memorial Concert scheduled for Sunday, May 17, has been canceled. Reports from Congregation

Am David cite unforeseen circumstances as the reason. The rest of their gala weekend – May 15-17 – will proceed as planned.

Please Join

David and Elly Lewis Ed and Barbara Feldstein Arthur and Judy Robbins

For a fundraiser in support of

Mayor Jorge O. Elorza Tuesday, May 26, 6:00- 8:00 pm The Home of David and Elly Lewis 165 Blackstone Boulevard Sponsor: $1,000 | Friend: $500 Supporter: $250 | Individual: $100 To RSVP go to Elorzaformayor.com/mayfundraiser or contact Andrew at 401-400-2294 or Andrew@elorzaformayor.com Paid for by Friends of Jorge Elorza

SETH FINKLE is the director of Camp Haverim at the Alliance. For more information, contact him at 401-421-4111, ext. 146.

Event Co-Chairs

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First-time campers, get up to $1,000 off with OneHappyCamper.org or special rates through BunkConnect.org! For more information contact Elanah Chassen at 401.421.4111 ext. 140 or echassen@jewishallianceri.org.

Join the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island for a dessert reception featuring Jane Weitzman, author of Art & Sole

For more information, or to RSVP, contact Danielle Germanowski at 401.421.4111 ext. 109 or dgermanowski@jewishallianceri.org or visit jewishallianceri.org. Kindly RSVP by May 20, 2015. Pre-register by May 15 for a chance to win a pair of Stuart Weitzman shoes donated by Mel & Me, Ltd.

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Wednesday, May 27, 2015 | 7:00pm Temple Beth-El | 70 Orchard Avenue, Providence Admission: $18 plus a gift of any amount to the 2015 Jewish Alliance Annual Campaign Books will be available for purchase

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4 Annual Meeting Wednesday, June 10, 2015 | 7:00pm Dwares JCC 401 Elmgrove Avenue, Providence

2015 - 2016 Proposed Slate of Officers and Board Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island (in formation) Chair Sharon Gaines Vice Chairs Mitzi Berkelhammer, Philanthropy Stacy Emanuel, Communications Marc Gertsacov, Community Development James Pious, Jewish Life & Learning Robert Landau, Governance Secretary Susan Leach DeBlasio Treasurer Neil Beranbaum

Board of Directors Sheila Alexander Rabbi Barry Dolinger Mark Feinstein Harold Foster Susan Froehlich Daniel Gamm Richard Glucksman, Community Relations Council Janet Goldman, Chair Appointee Hope Hirsch Marcia Hirsch, Chair Appointee Rabbi Sarah Mack, Board of Rabbis of Greater RI Vincent Mor Tina Odessa Ralph Posner Jay Rosenstein Steven Shalansky, Leadership Development Robert Sherwin Lisa Shorr Barbara Sokoloff Robert Stolzman Richard Sutton Cheryl Greenfeld Teverow Honorary Directors Melvin G. Alperin Alan G. Hassenfeld Richard A. Licht, Immediate Past Chair Jeffrey K. Savit, President and CEO

2015 - 2016 Proposed Jewish Federation Foundation Board (in formation) Jay Rosenstein, Chair Melvin Alperin Mitzi Berkelhammer H. Jack Feibelman Mark Feinstein Susan Froehlich Sharon Gaines, Ex-officio David Hirsch Marilyn Kaplan Scott Libman Richard Licht Michael Nulman Ralph Posner Steven Shalansky, Treasurer/Secretary David Sheer Robert Sherwin, Vice Chair Mathew Shuster Herbert Stern Cheryl Greenfeld Teverow Mindy Wachtenheim 2015 - 2016 Proposed Alliance Realty, Inc. Board Ronald C. Markoff, Chair Robert Stolzman, Vice Chair Sharon Gaines, Secretary/Treasurer Jeffrey K. Savit, President and CEO

SPRING FASHION

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Put on your best heels for philanthropy Jane Weitzman puts the ‘ heel’ in ‘ healing’ BY HILLARY SCHULMAN hschulman@jewishallianceri.org Do you have a pair of party shoes? Do you find that there aren’t enough chances to wear them? Well put them on and join the Jewish Alliance for an evening with Jane Weitzman, wife of shoe designer Stuart Weitzman, on May 27. Weitzman will speak about her new book, “Art and Sole,” which demonstrates the different designs that she has discovered and incorporated over the years. Shoes are a major aspect of Weitzman’s life; she believes that shoes connect a mother to her daughter. In a recent interview, Weitzman remarked that, “I think that little girls love to dress up in their mother’s clothes and that her shoes are a part of this. All things considered, the bedtime stories and the reading that they lead to are, of course, more important. Beautifully illus-

trated children’s books are so important, because they are a child’s first introduction to art.

Conference highlights growing economies for Rhode Islanders The Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty hosts its seventh annual conference on May 13 from 8 a.m.– 12:30 p.m. at Rhode Island College’s Donovan Dining Center. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. This year’s conference theme is “Growing an Economy That Works for All Rhode Islanders.” The conference’s special guest keynote speaker is Rev. Sekinah Hamlin, director of The Ecumenical Poverty Initiative in Washington, D.C. In addition to the keynote, the conference will feature a Faith

Breakfast Study, various faith and advocacy workshops, and a Q-and-A with Hamlin. Tickets are $25 per person and include breakfast. Register and purchase tickets online at http://fightpoverty15. eventbrite.com. The Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty organizes Rhode Island’s faith community to connect the common threads of faith and tradition in order to build awareness of, advocate for, accompany and empower poor communities.

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It is still important for girls to have fun dressing up, though.” In addition to designing shoes, Jane Weitzman was the executive vice president of Stuart Weitzman and the founding vice president of Stuart Weitzman retail. She spearheaded philanthropy for the company by generating funds to support breast and ovarian cancer research and awareness, after losing two friends and her mother

to these diseases. Her efforts were brought to life through innovative charity events in the brand’s stores and on its website such as the Stuart Weitzman Celebrity Breast Cancer Auction. She serves on the executive committee and boards of Greenwich UJA, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and JTA. She is on the Trust Board of Boston Children’s Hospital and the boards of the Jewish

Book Council and the Greenwich JCC. Jane and her husband Stuart have two daughters, Elizabeth and Rachael, and a granddaughter, Eva. The Jewish Alliance welcomes Weitzman to the Rhode Island community for the first time to learn about her philanthropic endeavors as well as her involvement in her husband’s business. The event, cochaired by Marisa Garber and Marcia Hirsch, will feature shoe-themed desserts and a chance to win a pair of Stuart Weitzman shoes from local retailer Mel and Me Ltd., as well as Weitzman’s book. The book, “Art and Sole,” highlights 150 of the more than 1,000 shoes that Jane Weitzman has incorporated into her husband’s retail stores since the mid-1990s. Each shoe is accompanied by an introduction by Weitzman along with a descriptive caption. The collection is then repeated in smaller images but accompanied by longer descriptions and biographies of each shoe’s artist. Copies of Weitzman’s book will be for sale at the event. For more information about the event, or to RSVP, visit jewishallianceri.org or contact Danielle Germanowski at 401421-4111, ext. 109. HILLARY SCHULMAN is a Development Associate in Philanthropy for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

SPRING FASHION

18 | May 8, 2015

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From Providence to NYC BY STEPHANIE ROSS “It was a happy accident,” Brooke German said as she recollected the moments between growing up in Providence and working in the fashion industry in Manhattan. The George Washington University alum began her career with several political internships focused in communications and public relations. However, upon deciding to move to New York, German found herself in the lifestyle sector of public relations and in love with the endless opportunities New York provides. “I was able to blend my skill set with my desire to be on the forefront of trends,” she said. “Once I dug my heels in, I knew fashion was my sweet spot because it afforded me the opportunity to conceptualize partnerships and programs that touch other creative sectors.” Now, years later, German is the director of public relations for Intermix, a multi-brand fashion retailer that offers a curated mix of trendy pieces across the United States and Canada. Reflecting the style of Intermix, German’s edgy wardrobe contains a mixture of white vnecks, striped tees, structured blazers, leather jackets and ripped denim. “I like basics that are anything but,” she said. “It’s all in

the detail. My favorite trends this season are updates on classics: New nauticals with a slightly ’70s vibe and soft separates as a carefree take on typical suiting.” Working in fashion in Manhattan seems like a dream. Brooke German believes her ideology has helped her get into the fashion industry. “For me, the trick has been to approach every project with curiosity, determination and respect,” she said. “That ethos

“As the grandchild of Holocaust survivors, it’s my duty to help those in need.” has enabled me to do good, smart work for good, smart people. It’s simply a matter of talking to people and making authentic connections which lead to incredible experiences and symbiotic relationships.” In order to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, German relies on her strong Jewish identity to remain balanced and maintain perspective. She maintains her sense of tikkun olam through her involvement with the Joint Distribution Committee, the world’s leading

Accessorize your spring lifestyle StatePoint – Spring is in the air and whether you’ll be enjoying the sunshine or traveling on an outdoor adventure, your accessories should match your lifestyle. Here are three great ways to gear up for a season of outdoor fun.

water resistant and feature a backlight for easy-reading in the sun. For runners, bikers and anyone up for a timed personal challenge, the stopwatch feature will come in handy.

Sleek shades

Brooke German Jewish humanitarian assistance organization. “As the grandchild of Holocaust survivors,” she said, “it’s my duty to help those in need, and The Joint’s work across the globe: repair, rescue and relief, speaks to me. I’ve traveled on service trips to Cuba and Ethiopia with the organization, and in August I’ll lead a group to Rwanda where we’ll be with teen orphans at the The Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village, modeled after those set up in Israel following the Holocaust.” Between juggling the success of her career, spirituality, and personal life, German’s “happy accident” was no accident at all. STEPHANIE ROSS is a freelance writer and marketing coordinator in Boston.

Defend your eyes from the sun with a great pair of shades that feature both UVA and UVB protection. Test several pairs of lenses with visual contrast in mind, as you won’t want to sacrifice your depth perception when you’re playing sports or out on a nature hike. If you wear glasses regularly, you may also want to consider transition lenses, which are a convenient feature for an active lifestyle, eliminating the need to switch between pairs.

Great timepieces

A great watch should be not only stylish, but also functional for the season. For example, the versatile Ladies Solar Easy Readers series from Casio features solar-powered operation as well as water resistance up to 50 meters. That means wearers can go fishing, hiking or swimming and not worry about damaging their watch. It comes in four designs for every occasion. For a timeless look that never goes out of style, check out Casio’s Vintage Series, which are

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The go-everywhere bag

Accessorizing for the warmer weather should be all about simplicity. Pare down your wardrobe and stick with one eclectic, multifunctional bag you can take with you everywhere. Ideally, it could serve as both tote or sling bag, be useful for work and play and, for light packers, even work as a weekend bag. Lots of compartments can help you keep your items organized and your valuables dry. For patterns, think bright colors, tropical flowers, nautical stripes and other themes evocative of the season. This season, don’t just accessorize for style, accessorize for your lifestyle.

Some things never change. Like the way each generation plans and builds for the next, ensuring that the foundation of Jewish life remains strong. When you leave a bequest or a planned gift at the Jewish Federation Foundation, you touch each one of us. You leave your children and grandchildren a precious inheritance and a lasting testimony to your love and values.

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

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

SPRING FASHION

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May 8, 2015 |

Abby Rogol creates memories Unique jewelry designs

BY IRINA MISSIURO imissiuro@jewishallianceri.org Abby Rogol is a study in opposites. At first glance, you might assume that she’s a bit of a rebel – someone who’s not afraid to throw on a jean vest or paint her lips with bright lipstick that’s probably called Tangerine Tango. But then she’ll buy you a tea, despite your insistence that you’re fine, and offer you some of her banana (who knew Starbucks sells fruit?), and you will begin to understand her essence. The hip vibe of an artist complements her smart, considerate and articulate manner. Yet, despite her friendly and garrulous nature, she loves her somewhat solitary job – that of a jewelry designer. It’s easy to see why her craft appeals to Rogol. Just listen to her describe her style. She alternates between vintage boho and clean minimalism, preferring to shop secondhand stores and antique shops. Somehow, she makes both looks work; after all, she’s as tough as a fringed leather bag and as classy as a white sheath dress. Her jewelry designs are similarly diverse – a combination of gentle beauty and fierce strength. Despite – or because of – the wide range of stylistic elements and inventive material pairings, Rogol’s work is cohesive, uniting the unexpected in gorgeous harmony. Rogol has always been interested in jewelry – her first job was at the now-extinct Beadworks on Thayer Street, and her senior-year in high school independent study was with Renee Moore Brooks, a jewelry designer who “opened [her] eyes.” Yet, she didn’t have a clear direction in mind when she applied to college. As an undecided major at Quinnipiac University, the freshman realized that the art electives, such as photography and product design, were the classes to which she gravitated. She decided to transfer to Syracuse University to major in jewelry design and metalsmithing. Right away, she loved everything about the program – the back-to-back four-hour studios and the instructional classes. She considers her professors some of the most influential mentors in her life. Rogol is particularly thankful to Barbara Walter and Lori Hawk. A selfidentified visual learner, Rogol especially enjoyed the handson part of her education. Work with various materials, including ceramics and fibers, appealed so much that she didn’t even mind the tight deadlines. The effort paid off – Rogol made the Dean’s List every semester, graduating summa cum laude. That’s quite an honor for someone who had doubts that she could succeed among the artists with large portfolios. Feeling a bit out of place when she first arrived, Rogol struggled to fit in. In retrospect,

she now thinks it’s funny that she brought computer paper and Crayola markers instead of the professional materials her classmates used. In fact, it wasn’t until her first critique in a metalsmithing class that she finally understood that she was not only “doing it” but also becoming proficient in the craft. If you log onto her website, AbbyRogol.com, you’ll see proof of her cleverness during those college years. Among more current jewelry pieces is one from her Experimental Materials and Processes class. Since she couldn’t use any traditional textures in the laminated paper project, Rogol came up with the idea to construct a “necklace” using a fork hinged to a spoon. True to her preference for abstract jewelry with a sense of humor, she connected the resulting collar with a representation of spaghetti and meatballs. While in college, Rogol studied conceptual design that focuses on the meaning behind the visually interesting aesthetic; in the workplace, she pays more attention to fashion. Knowing how fashion-forward our readers are, Rogol shared some trends to expect this coming summer. Those who grew up in the 1960s will appreciate the resurgence of pastels and iridescence. Fun and funky is the theme, so make a statement with some retro looks on your next outing. Since she designs a year in advance, adhering to companies’ requests for certain collections, Rogol can predict the fashions that will be popular in 2016: expect to see rose gold and Western prints and textures on the pages of style magazines. Faced with designing a new collection, Rogol does a great deal of research. For inspiration and ideas, she browses international forecasting blogs, Pinterest boards and magazines. She also watches fashionfocused television programs that feature looks she can translate into jewelry designs. Even though she works on assigned projects, Rogol takes advantage of the opportunity to interpret the collection. She sees the role of a jewelry designer as one that encourages experimentation. Fitting this position snugly, Rogol construes the design in a way that’s interesting to her. She loves collecting components of her favorite finds in her home studio. There, she spreads out the knick-knacks she picked up during her travels and in bead shops. Then, she can easily determine which colors and materials work together. After nearly five years at Arden Jewelry Manufacturing, Rogol has recently changed jobs. She’s now working at F.A.F. Incorporated (Fashion Accessories First) in Greenville. Rogol says that she absolutely loves her job. She doesn’t dread Mondays; instead, she

Abby Rogol looks forward to brainstorming the next project. Weekends and evenings allow Rogol to visit the gym, travel and spend time with friends and her boyfriend, Adam. Once in a while, she invites friends and family to jewelry shows. Rogol loves receiving their support. When she saw Lisa Bergman, a family friend, wear one of her pieces to temple, it made her happy. In her artist statement, Rogol writes that it is her “goal to allow two individuals to come together energetically to a place of connection and timelessness.” Unsurprisingly, her favorite jewelry items are the ones with which she has a history. She likes borrowing a couple of her grandmother’s pieces to wear on special occasions. Likewise, Rogol favors the jewelry her boyfriend gave her. Considering how beautiful Rogol’s work is, he must have a hard time selecting the pieces that not only look great, but also break the boundaries. Rogol herself is a master of using organic and feminine materials, such as pearls, in combination with metal. In her designs, the elements are foils highlighting each other’s strengths.

Some pieces of Rogol’s design.

IRINA MISSIURO is a writer and editorial consultant for The Jewish Voice.

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SPRING FASHION

20 | May 8, 2015

The Jewish Voice

Stylish spring and summer How to look your best BY IRINA MISSIURO imissiuro@jewishallianceri.org Fashion is a conundrum. It changes constantly. By the time you fi gure out what’s in style, it’s already out. Except black and white – that’s always in. So, when you see a particularly enchanting dress on that sale rack, beware that it’s past its expiration date. Yet, if you are willing to wait, you and your wallet will be rewarded – since fashion is cyclical, the trend will reappear sooner or later. If, however, you are a creature of the moment, you might be used to the dilemma familiar to all fashionistas – should you splurge on a piece of clothing that will become irrelevant in no time?

The trick is to fi nd items that have some elements of the trend while maintaining a classy and timeless look. For instance, a number of 2015 spring designer collections show dresses with feathers. If you can’t envision yourself pulling off a black swan look, you can always substitute fringe. Fringe is huge at the moment, and you don’t have to listen to any teasing clucking sounds from loved ones. The same goes for the floral motif – the pattern is extremely popular right now, but it doesn’t mean you have to wear something that looks like a sheet. Find a dress with large, abstract-looking flowers that

n Fine y at Mila la p is d n so Accessorie

Clothiers

evoke the Mad Men era. So, if you are leafi ng through fashion magazines and fi nd yourself getting nervous that you can’t pull off the crop tops that are on nearly every page, put your mind at ease. You don’t have to follow each trend. Every professional interviewed for this story expressed in one form or another this bit of advice: wear what looks good on you! Jiro Darakian, owner of Milan Fine Clothiers on Wayland Avenue in Providence, dismisses the idea of trends altogether, relegating the practice of following the latest fashions to the younger crowd. Who else is going to wear baby doll dresses, mesh tops and industrial jumpsuits that were all over the runways? Instead of letting the designers dictate your outfits, he suggests modifying the current trend to remain true to yourself. He believes that your outfit has to work with your complexion, eyes and hair – otherwise, you’re not doing yourself any favors. “If something doesn’t fit you, it’s going to take attention away from you.” Darakian points out that clothes shouldn’t overpower you. The way to recognize that’s happening is to wait for someone to compliment an item in your wardrobe. That means that the clothing looks better than you. Aim for “You look

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An example of ﬂoral motif at F. Bianco. great!” instead of “Your jacket is great!” In Darakian’s store, you can fi nd plenty of impeccably sewn lightweight suits and separates in tropical wool to wear this spring and summer. All women’s suits are handmade

in Portugal, and all men’s – in Montreal. After 38 years of tailoring, Darakian knows what makes a high-quality suit. When he opened the store nine years ago, he stocked it with his favorite items. Browsing the accessories, you’ll stumble upon touches of the latest trends to enhance your look. The leather bracelets, colorful ’60s-inspired cuﬄ inks and whimsical pocket squares and boutonnieres will complement your stylish image. Franklin Rogers on Westminster Street in Providence is another store where you’ll fi nd elegant suits to wear this season. This shop is also big on the details. Since bowties are trendy again, the place stocks multiple styles and colors. Can’t fi gure out which bright spring tie goes with which shirt? Check out their prepared pairings. Accustomed to rocking a hat in the summer? Find one among the Stetson and Bailey gentleman’s selection. More importantly, the store offers free tailoring so that you will look your best self. Remember, perfect fit is always in style! Florence Voccola, owner of F. Bianco, a boutique on Waterman Street in Providence, also provides custom tailoring. She thinks that a woman should only wear clothes she’s comfortable in, saying that by dressing right for your body, you are making your clothes TRENDS | 21

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Shades of blue at Clad in. trendy. You will look and feel great, inspiring others to wear similar outfits. Voccola likes minimal jewelry, believing that less is more when it comes to accessories. She thinks that a clean, basic look is always fashionable and considers hair to be a woman’s most important accessory. F. Bianco’s offerings reflect this ideology. The clothing looks not only timeless but also multiseasonal. For example, Voccola carries stylish gaucho pants in various lengths, fabrics and colors. She also has Joe’s boyfriend jean – her biggest seller. The stretchy mate-

rial and the ideal 9-inch rise might have something to do with the item’s popularity. A couple of doors away, Asa Orsino, individual style consultant at Clad in, Providence, concurs that denim is back. While they don’t sell jeans, the store is full of blues, “the new neutral.” She says that fashion is becoming stricter, with women abandoning unconstructed and casual styles and favoring more upscale classic selections in natural fabrics such as a blazer with nautical influences. And don’t forget the accessories! A glass cabinet displays

PHOTOS | IRINA MISSIURO

statement jewelry that can make the outfit. Orsino advises that scarves, earrings, neck-

“You don’t have to follow each trend. Wear what looks good on you.” laces and belts are a crucial part of enhancing your look because they allow you to express your individuality. She says that women should always make sure that they are wearing the clothes and not vice

A lightweight suit at Milan Fine Clothiers. versa. Elizabeth Day Lawrence, Clad in’s co-owner, buyer and merchandiser, agrees. “At Clad in, we curate and offer designer fashion throughout the world to help women develop their own personal style. Our emphasis is less on the ebb and flow of the latest seasonal trends and more on helping women of all sizes and shapes develop an individual look that is timeless with an imaginative flair.” Don’t worry, we didn’t forget about shoes – the most loved items of a woman’s wardrobe. Why? Because they always fit! They make your legs look more

May 8, 2015 |

A bold necklace from Clad in. elegant; they show off your new pedicure and they cushion your tired soles. Or should we say souls? Brenda Bedrick, co-owner of Mel & Me in Garden City, suggests we celebrate the warm weather with shoes. “We waited, and we can finally see the ground and blooming flowers. It’s time to be playful with the colors and shapes, and shoes are a way to express that playfulness. Lace it, wedge it, color it, fringe it. Spring has sprung.” IRINA MISSIURO is a writer and editorial consultant for The Jewish Voice.

22 | May 8, 2015

WORLD

FROM PAGE 1

million for the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.

NEPAL April 30 when its workers helped lead an international aid effort to rescue a woman in her 20s who had been buried in debris since the earthquake hit five days earlier. Some of the Israeli groups receive American Jewish support – IsraAid, for example, is funded by a few North American Jewish federations, the American Jewish Committee and B’nai B’rith International – but most of the American Jewish money dedicated to Nepal is not going through Israeli groups.

Jewish Federations of North America

The federation umbrella organization, based in New York, is the central address for the fundraising efforts of individual Jewish federations around North America. (Donors also can give to the umbrella group directly.) Since the Nepal quake, nonfederation Jewish institutions such as the Orthodox Union also have appealed to constituents to make Nepal relief donations through the Jewish Federations. Most of the money raised for humanitarian aid goes to the Jewish federations’ overseas partner organization, the JDC. Totals raised from federations for other recent major disasters overseas included $1 million after the Philippines was struck by Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, $1 million after the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami, $5 million after the 2010 Haiti earthquake and $10

The Jewish Voice most destitute; a group that focuses on health care, education and employment for poor communities in remote mountain villages; and a women’s rights organization providing pregnant mothers with shelter and other basic necessities. AJWS is also supporting International Medical Corps’ work providing earthquake survivors with first aid and psychosocial support. AJWS became a major Jewish aid organization after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, for which it collected nearly $11 million. It also collected $6.6 million after the Haiti earthquake, $1 million after the Philippines typhoon and over $1 million for Ebola relief. Some of AJWS’s money has come from the Jewish federations.

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC)

The JDC collects money for special disaster relief appeals from North American federations and individual donors and foundations, and spends it on a variety of needs ranging from the immediate to the long term. After the Nepal earthquake hit, JDC, which did not have a presence in the country, sent some medical equipment to the IDF field hospital that departed for Nepal on April 27, including two neonatal incubators. The JDC also sent funds to Magen David Adom to assist the Nepalese Red Cross, to UNICEF to provide emergency supplies for children including water and sanitary materials, and to Tevel b’Tzedek to assist with providing shelter. Meanwhile, the JDC dispatched several staffers to Nepal, including a disaster relief expert who is also a field medic, JDC’s India country director and others with experience in disaster relief and work in the developing world. Typically, JDC disaster relief efforts last for years. For example, of the $2.7 million JDC raised for Philippines relief, as of last September $1.5 million of it had been allocated along the following lines: 34 percent on emergency response and relief, 25 percent on restoring jobs and livelihoods, 15 percent on disaster risk reduction programs, 14 percent on rebuilding schools, 11 percent on psychosocial support and posttrauma care, and 1 percent on

Chabad

Israeli soldiers during rescue attempts of injured and trapped people from the ruins of buildings in Nepal, following the deadly earthquake, on April 28. public health initiatives. JDC’s disaster relief efforts included $2.8 million after the Japanese earthquake, $8.8 million after the Haiti earthquake and $19.6 million after the Indian Ocean tsunami. The JDC also coordinates the Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief, a collection of 49 Jewish agencies that have raised funds for various disasters and in some cases have implemented their own disaster relief programs.

American Jewish World Service (AJWS)

AJWS works in six countries

in Asia but not Nepal. Following this week’s earthquake, however, the organization sprung into action, raising $800,000 for Nepal disaster relief in just five days and beginning to distribute the funds to local recipient organizations. AJWS’s focus is on rural communities, minorities, women and gays. To that end, the first round of AJWS grants to Nepal are going to a group providing medical support and earthquake relief to HIV-positive LGBT people; an organization that provides free and low-cost medical care to Nepal’s

With outposts around the world, Chabad emissaries often are the first Jews to respond in person to disasters in far-flung places. After the earthquake struck Nepal, Rabbi Chezky Lifshitz of Chabad of Nepal began bringing hygiene supplies, hot meals, fresh water and fruit to clusters of Nepalese citizens whose homes had turned to rubble. This included distributing some 2,000 meals per day, according to Chabad. The rabbi also borrowed a helicopter on April 29 to hitch a ride to the mountainous region of Dhunche, where some 25 Israeli hikers were stranded and later were airlifted out. The hikers will be sheltered in the Chabad house, which has turned into a crisis hub according to Chabad.

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May 8, 2015 |

Is it smarter to pay off your mortgage or invest your extra cash? Owning a home outright is a dream that many Americans share. Having a mortgage can be a huge burden, and paying it off may be the first item on your financial todo list. But competing with the desire to own you r home free and clear is your need to invest for reBARBARA tirement, KENERSON your child’s college education or some other goal. Putting extra cash toward one of these goals may mean sacrificing another. So how do you choose?

Evaluating the opportunity cost

Deciding between prepaying your mortgage and investing your extra cash isn’t easy, because each option has advantages and disadvantages. But you can start by weighing what you’ll gain financially by choosing one option against what you’ll give up. In economic terms, this is known as evaluating the opportunity cost. Here’s an example. Let’s assume that you have a $300,000 balance and 20 years remaining on your 30-year mortgage, and you’re paying 6.25% interest. If you were to put an extra $400 toward your mortgage each month, you would save approximately $62,000 in interest, and pay off your loan almost 6 years early. By making extra payments and saving all of that interest,

you’ll clearly be gaining a lot of financial ground. But before you opt to prepay your mortgage, you still have to consider what you might be giving up by doing so – the opportunity to potentially profit even more from investing. To determine if you would come out ahead if you invested your extra cash, start by looking at the after-tax rate of return you can expect from prepaying your mortgage. This is generally less than the interest rate you’re paying on your mortgage, once you take into account any tax deduction you receive for mortgage interest. Once you’ve calculated that figure, compare it to the aftertax return you could receive by investing your extra cash. For example, the after-tax cost of a 6.25% mortgage would be approximately 4.5% if you were in the 28% tax bracket and were able to deduct mortgage interest on your federal income tax return (the after-tax cost might be even lower if you were also able to deduct mortgage interest on your state income tax return). Could you receive a higher after-tax rate of return if you invested your money instead of prepaying your mortgage? Keep in mind that the rate of return you’ll receive is directly related to the investments you choose. Investments with the potential for higher returns may expose you to more risk, so take this into account when making your decision.

Other points to consider

While evaluating the opportunity cost is important, you’ll also need to weigh many other factors. The following list of

questions may help you decide which option is best for you. • What’s your mortgage interest rate? The lower the rate on your mortgage, the greater the potential to receive a better return through investing. • Does your mortgage have a prepayment penalty? Most mortgages don’t, but check before making extra payments. • How long do you plan to stay in your home? The main benefit of prepaying your mortgage is the amount of interest you save over the long term; if you plan to move soon, there’s less value in putting more money toward your mortgage. • Will you have the discipline to invest your extra cash rather than spend it? If not, you might be better off making extra mortgage payments. • Do you have an emergency account to cover unexpected expenses? It doesn’t make sense to make extra mortgage payments now if you’ll be forced to borrow money at a higher interest rate later. And keep in mind that if your financial circumstances change – if you lose your job or suffer a disability, for example – you may have more trouble borrowing against your home equity. • How comfortable are you with debt? If you worry endlessly about it, give the emotional benefits of paying off your mortgage extra consideration. • Are you saddled with high balances on credit cards or personal loans? If so, it’s

often better to pay off those debts first. The interest rate on consumer debt isn’t tax deductible, and is often far higher than either your mortgage interest rate or the rate of return you’re likely to receive on your investments. • Are you currently paying mortgage insurance? If you are, putting extra toward your mortgage until you’ve gained at least 20% equity in your home may make sense. • How will prepaying your mortgage affect your overall tax situation? For example, prepaying your mortgage (thus reducing your mortgage interest) could affect your ability to itemize deductions (this is especially true in the early years of your mortgage, when you’re likely to be paying more in interest). • Have you saved enough for retirement? If you haven’t, consider contributing the maximum allowable each year to tax-advantaged retirement accounts before prepaying your mortgage. This is especially important if you are receiving a generous employer match. For example, if you save 6% of your income, an employer match of 50% of what you contribute (i.e., 3% of your income) could potentially add thousands of extra dollars to your retirement account each year. Prepaying your mortgage may not be the savviest financial move if it means forgoing that match or shortchanging your retirement fund.

• How much time do you have before you reach retirement or until your children go off to college? The longer your timeframe, the more time you have to potentially grow your money by investing. Alternatively, if paying off your mortgage before reaching a financial goal will make you feel much more secure, factor that into your decision.

The middle ground

If you need to invest for an important goal, but you also want the satisfaction of paying down your mortgage, there’s no reason you can’t do both. It’s as simple as allocating part of your available cash toward one goal, and putting the rest toward the other. Even small adjustments can make a difference. For example, you could potentially shave years off your mortgage by consistently making biweekly, instead of monthly, mortgage payments, or by putting any year-end bonuses or tax refunds toward your mortgage principal. And remember, no matter what you decide now, you can always reprioritize your goals later to keep up with changes to your circumstances, market conditions and interest rates. BARBARA KENERSON is first vice president/investments at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC and can be reached at BarbaraKenerson.com

Why April’s Women of the Wall drama was a big deal — and why it wasn’t BY BEN SALES TEL AVIV (JTA) – A man was trampled. A raucous protest broke out, restrained only by police. The Western Wall’s mechitza – a partition between men and women considered sacrosanct – was breached by those who ostensibly care about it most. The brouhaha that erupted in April at Women of the Wall’s monthly service brought back memories of the violence the group suffered in 2013. Month after month, crowds of haredi Orthodox Jews packed the plaza to block out the women’s section, with a small minority hurling stones, eggs, coffee, water and Nazi-themed epithets at the women’s prayer group. A second women’s group formed to galvanize opposition to Women of the Wall. Now the brawls are back. This time, violence broke out after male supporters of Women of the Wall passed a full-size Torah scroll into the women’s section of the Kotel, allowing the group to read from it for the first time ever. Haredi Orthodox men knocked down and trampled the man who passed

the scroll, and broke through the mechitza in a failed attempt to stop the women from reading Torah. For Women of the Wall, this is a double victory: Not only did they read from a proper Torah, they also drew renewed attention to Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz’s 2010 ban on Torah scrolls in the women’s section. While the Wall boasts more than 100 Torah scrolls, they’re all on the men’s side, preventing women from using them and making a full women’s holiday service next to impossible. If this incident creates enough pressure to remove Rabinowitz’s ban, it will be a win for Women of the Wall. But really, Women of the Wall won its war two years ago. For decades, the group’s prayer was prohibited, its activists were detained and arrested, and their cause became a rallying cry for liberal Judaism – especially in the United States. But that ended in April 2013 when a Jerusalem district court judge ruled that their services were, in fact, legal. Overnight, the police

switched from the praying women’s arresters to their protectors, surrounding them with a cordon. The mass protests that followed the court ruling – while dangerous and disturbing – were just trying to forestall the inevitable. And as those protests faded away, Women of the Wall’s issue faded from the public agenda. The group’s challenge, as Chairwoman Anat Hoffman told JTA after the ruling, became “taking yes for an answer.” Since then, the group’s calls to remove the Torah ban haven’t gotten as much attention – even as the women succeeded in reading from a miniature, but still kosher, Torah scroll they smuggled in. Last week’s incident shows that women still don’t have equal rights at the Wall and that Women of the Wall’s supporters face physical harm. It also put the group back in the public eye. But no matter what happens next, Women of the Wall will still be able to conduct a worship service each month at the Western Wall – the goal the group pursued for decades and achieved two years ago.

24 | May 8, 2015

BUSINESS

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May 8, 2015 |

Bloomberg’s Genesis Prize money goes to work BY GABE FRIEDMAN NEW YORK (JTA) – During a ceremony announcing the winners of the Genesis Generation Challenge, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg wanted to set aside any confusion: “No, the [Genesis Prize] award will not go only to a ruggedly handsome international heartthrob named Michael,” he jested. Bloomberg last year won the inaugural $1 million prize, bestowed by the Genesis Prize Foundation for “engagement and dedication to the Jewish community and/or the State of Israel.” This year’s prize went to another Michael, the movie star Michael Douglas. Of course, neither Bloomberg, a self-made billionaire, nor Douglas, who commands millions per movie, need the money from Genesis, a charity founded and funded by a cadre of Russian billionaire philanthropists. And the foundation’s choices have left some scratching their heads. When it was announced in January that Douglas was going to be this year’s recipient, critics were quick to point out that Douglas’ mother is not Jewish and did not embrace his Jewish roots (from his father, the legendary actor Kirk Douglas) until later in life. Fittingly, Douglas told the Los Angeles Times that he is going to use his prize money to help groups that “work with interfaith marriage and other tolerance issues” – a point he reiterated at the

PHOTO | GENESIS PRIZE FOUNDATION)

Genesis Prize recipients Michael Bloomberg and Michael Douglas awards ceremony, held at the Bloomberg Foundation Manhattan offices. Douglas will travel to Israel in June to officially accept the award from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Jewish Agency Chairman Natan Sharansky. “For me this is just a wonderful surprise in my 70th year,” Douglas told JTA. “I am continuously discovering just the breadth and the depth of the interfaith issue, and I’m looking forward to addressing it.” Even though Bloomberg referenced the Genesis Prize, that award is not to be confused with the Genesis Generation Challenge. Bloomberg launched the latter competition last summer with his Genesis Prize money, announcing in August that his winnings would be split into 10 $100,000 awards for innovative projects “guided by Jewish values to address the world’s pressing issues.” It was stipu-

lated that each team be led by someone aged 20 to 36. Bloomberg’s prize money will fi nally go to work, as the nine winners of his competition, listed below, were announced at last week’s event. (The last $100,000 was used to fund the competition’s overhead.) • Build Israel and Palestine (United States) – This organization brings American Jewish and Muslim millennials together to build water infrastructure in Israel and the Palestinian territories. • Building Up (Canada) – This nonprofit installs energy-efficient technology in affordable housing complexes in Toronto. • eNable 3D Printed Prosthetic (United States, Haiti) – This initiative provides free prosthetic limbs produced by 3D printers, advanced machines that create objects designed on computers, to people in countries affected by natural disas-

ters, such as Haiti. • Lavan (Israel) – This Israeli organization will create a community of American angel investors to focus on projects that strengthen Israeli and Jewish values. • Prize4Life (Israel) – This existing nonprofit is developing an app to help monitor ALS disease markers, which could lead to a better understanding of the rare degenerative condition also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. • Sanergy (Kenya) – This project aims to produce a sanitation plant for the Mathare district in Nairobi, Kenya. • Sesame (Israel) – As JTA reported in February, Sesame is producing a smartphone that can be used by disabled people who have no or limited use of their hands. • Spark (Burundi) – Spark provides poor, rural communities with micro-grants to design and implement their own social impact projects, such as the building of schools or health centers.

• Vera Solutions (United States, India) – This program trains fellows in the U.S. and India in how to improve data systems for social impact organizations around the world. “Some of the projects will exceed every expectation. Others will not – they may be dismal failures,” Bloomberg said at the event. “But every one of them deserves a shot.” Before handing the microphone over to other speakers, such as Stan Polovets, co-founder and chairman of the Genesis Prize Foundation, and the author and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, Bloomberg – who famously showed his support for Israel by flying to Tel Aviv at the height of last summer’s Gaza War – took a moment to talk U.S.-Israel relations. “To see the truth about Israel and America, you have to look beyond the headlines and beyond the politics,” he said. “The fact is the economic and philanthropic ties between our countries is stronger than ever.”

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SENIORS | OBITUARIES

The Jewish Voice

Ruth E. Blasbalg, 88

Much to say about ‘Woman in Gold’ I l i k e u n p o p u l a r m ov i e s . “Woman in Gold” kept me deeply interested despite, or because of, its negative reviews. Helen

SKETCHBOOK MIKE FINK

Mirren did a superb job of portraying inner turmoil. The camera gave the viewer plenty to think about, not just to gawk at. There wasn’t a wasted word or glimpse – either at Los Angeles or at the museums, mansions and airports of Austria. There was nothing amiss in this remarkable tale rendered almost silently, with the ironic images and the tiniest little humorous lines that packed a lot of information and implication with every syllable. Yes, this was a motion picture, and it resisted easy “action” in favor of mood and meaning. What IS a painting, or a portrait? The theft of art belonging to the Jews of Vienna was the stripping away of the authenticity of a treasure, its claim and its hidden truths.

The “woman in gold” stood for the fragile success of the Jewish rise to a degree of security and poise in a sophisticated city to which they contributed, culturally and socially. The “Mona Lisa” of Vienna lost her identity and her context until the niece of the golden girl reclaims it and herself as well, as an American, rescued and redeemed. It is a fascinating commentary, poetic and philosophical, about how to look at an object in a gallery or museum, thoughtfully and knowledgeably, and honorably. In the role of Maria Altman, the star looks at an old photograph and “hallucinates” their youthful lives: the camera metaphorically has to project her musings visually, not verbally. While the actors must say this or that, their faces, costumes and surroundings do the explaining, not their speeches. If the critics missed the point, at least they should not agree so universally in their condemnation. The purpose of movie criticism is not to entice or repel the potential audience but to give us all something to say about it, like a Frenchman after sipping a glass of wine! MIKE FINK (mfink33@aol. com) teaches at RISD.

COVENTRY, R.I. – Ruth E. Blasbalg, of Coventry, died April 8. Born in Providence, a daughter of the late Hyman and Jean (Hassenfeld) Blasbalg, she had lived in Coventry for 41 years. Beloved sister of Helene (Jordan) Liner, Arnold (Ruth) Blasbalg and the late Dr. Melvin Blasbalg. Loving aunt of Dr. Richard (Karen) Liner, Dr. Thomas (Judith) Liner, Robin Liner, Michelle (Scott) Hammer, Dana (Steven) Schneiderman, Julie Malinow and Stacey Blasbalg and friend Mathew Rothstein. Cherished great-aunt of 12 great-nieces and nephews. She was a former member of the Summit Club of R.I., the Marionettes Club and Temple Am David. Contributions may be made to The Meeting Street School, 1000 Eddy St., Providence, R.I. 02905.

Selma Ginsberg, 85 CRANSTON, R.I. – Selma Ginsberg died April 23. Born in Fall River, a daughter of the late Max and Mollie (Zidenberg) Ginsberg, she was a graduate of BMC Durfee High School, and had been a resident of Cranston since 2002. She is survived by her sister Ida Katt of Ga.; her nieces Sheila Beck, Esta Katt and Sandra Gross; and her nephews Steffen Beck and Mark Gross. She was the sister of the late Beatrice Ginsberg, who was her twin. Contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.

Jay S. Goodman, 75 PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Jay S. Goodman, Ph.D., J.D., of Providence, died on May 2 with family at his side following a year-

long battle with lung cancer. Despite his illness, the renowned political science professor continued to teach throughout his entire 50th year at Wheaton College in Norton, Mass. Goodman was a gifted teacher with an encyclopedic knowledge of American politics. During his half-century at Wheaton, he taught more than 10,000 students. His unstinting mentorship extended over post-class chats in his office, at campus dining halls and nearby Italian restaurants. Known for taking promising students under his wing, he guided hundreds of students into careers in government, law and politics. He loved sharing his passion for politics with all students and was proud of those he helped to pursue national scholarships, including Trumans, Rhodes, and Marshalls. Goodman was also accomplished in three other fields: as a Democratic political strategist, as a volunteer leader in civic service and as an attorney. He served in campaigns including Robert F. Kennedy’s 1968 presidential campaign; Ed Muskie’s 1972 presidential campaign; and the successful Rhode Island campaigns of Gov. Frank Licht, Lt. Gov. Richard Licht, Gov. J. Joseph Garrahy, Providence Mayor Joseph R. Paolino, and U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse. Goodman also relished his role as a civic leader. Under Gov. Garrahy, he served as the volunteer head of the R.I. Emergency Management Agency during the Blizzard of 1978.

He was later appointed by then Providence Mayor Paolino to serve as chairman of the Providence Civic Center Authority, from 1984 to 1992. In 1992, he was appointed by then Providence Mayor Buddy Cianci to the Capital Center Commission that oversaw the building of the Providence Place Mall and Waterplace Park and served until 2005. While serving as the pre-law advisor at Wheaton, Goodman was persuaded by his students in 1975 to attend law school himself. He enrolled in the evening program at Suffolk Law School, and received his J.D. in 1978. He was admitted to the Rhode Island and Massachusetts Bar Associations and served as a federal clerk to the Hon. Francis J. Boyle, Chief Judge, United States District Court. He went on to become a founding partner in a major R.I. law firm, and later established his own small law and lobbying practice. He was born on Jan. 16, 1940 in Saint Louis, Mo., to Harold and Minnie Goodman. He attended University City High School, graduating in 1957, and went on to attend Beloit College in Wisconsin. The personal attention he received from Beloit professors later inspired him to become a teacher. A member of Beloit’s Young Democrats, he grew active in political campaigns. After Beloit, he received a Woodrow Wilson Foundation Fellowship and attended Stanford for his M.A. in political science. Goodman received his Ph.D. at Brown University, and was hired at Wheaton in 1965 at the age of 25. Within a few OBITUARIES | 27

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OBITUARIES

years he became the youngest tenured professor in the college’s history. He is the author of 9 monographs and books on politics, including the textbook “The Dynamics Of Urban Government and Politics.” Goodman’s friends and family knew him as uniquely caring, gregarious and loyal. He was often seen strolling around the East Side of Providence with his wife, Gail Berson, and one of their beloved and large canine companions. Goodman also spent time each summer on Nantucket. Goodman is survived by his wife of 25 years, Gail, his son Bob Goodman (Naama Goldstein) and stepdaughter Jessica Weaver; grandson Amishai Goodman-Goldstein; and siblings Fay Cohen (Michael) and Suzanne Liss (Michael), as well as nephews, a niece and cousins. Contributions may be made in memory of Jay Goodman to support lung cancer research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, P.O. Box 849168, Boston, Mass. 02284, or online at dana-farber.org/gift.

Annette Horowitz, 92

FALL RIVER, MASS. – Annette (Dondis) Horowitz died April 30. She was the wife of the late Bernard Horowitz. She was born in Fall River, a daughter of the late Philip and Emma (Loeff) Dondis. She is survived by her children, Catherine Saltzman, Sheila Horowitz, Philip Horowitz and Stephen Horowitz; her sister Arlyne Dondis; her brothers Nathan Dondis and Eli Dondis; her grandchildren Emily, Kaylie, Noah, Alex, Joshua and Kelsey; and her great-grandchildren Samantha and Jake. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Bernard Horowitz Building Maintenance Fund at Temple Beth-El, 385 High St., Fall River, Mass. 02720.

Lorrain Kaplan, 88

BOYNTON BEACH, FLA. – Lorrain Kaplan died April 29 in Boynton Beach. She was born in Taunton, Mass., daughter of Elizabeth and Harry Levine and beloved wife of the late Robert Kaplan. She attended Beaver College in Pennsylvania and lived in Providence until the late ’70s, when she and her husband relocated to Boca Raton, Fla. She later moved to Boynton Beach. She enjoyed working in retail – especially her time as the hosiery buyer for the New York Lace Store, playing tennis, going to art festivals and spending time with her children and grandchildren. She was predeceased by her daughter, Rhonda Kaplan and is survived by her two daughters, Sandy Hertzberg (Paul Epstein) and Donna Miller (Charlie), and her grandsons, Jonathan and Matthew Hertzberg. She is also survived by her brother, Irving (Elaine) Levine, and her sister, Natalie Weiner. Donations in her memory may be made to Hospice of Palm Beach, 5300 East Ave., West Palm Beach, Fla. 33407 or Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, 1500 Rosecrans Ave., Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, Calif. 90266.

Charlotte S. Labitt, 79

CUMBERLAND, R.I. – Charlotte S. (Myers) Labitt, of Cumberland, formerly of Mashpee, Mass., Conn., and Needham, Mass., died April 29. Beloved wife of the late Bernard Labitt. Devoted mother of Howard Labitt and his wife Lisa of Warwick, Steven Labitt and his wife Chris of Lexington and Adam Labitt and his wife Shirley of Ill. Loving sister of Phyllis Wilensky of Fla. and Kenneth Myers of Conn. Cherished grandmother of Dana Labitt, Gabrielle Labitt, Alec Labitt, Rebecca Labitt, Griffin Labitt and Willow Labitt.

She was an accomplished artist and floral designer who attended Mass College of Art. She started the first Girl Scout Troop in the U.S. Marshall Island. She was an officer in the Danbury, Conn., Garden Club. and was very active in various temple sisterhoods. Expressions of sympathy may be made in her memory to Jewish Falmouth Congregation, 7 Hatchville Road, East Falmouth, Mass. 02536 or to the Leukemia - Lymphoma Society of America: Mass. Chapter, 9 Erie Drive, #101, Natick, Mass. 01760.

Ruth Marks, 97

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Ruth (Adamsbaum) Marks died April 30. She was the wife of the late Leo Marks. Born in Bronx, N.Y., a daughter of the late Harry and Mary (Rubinstein) Adamsbaum. She had been a resident of Rhode Island for 80 years. She was a member of Temple Beth-El, Hadassah and the Women’s Association of Miriam Hospital. She is survived by her children, Richard Marks and his wife Phyllis of Woodland Hills, Calif., Dr. John Marks and his wife Judy of Raleigh, N.C., and Meredith Thayer and her husband Dr. Walter of Riverside, R.I.; her brother Warren Adamsbaum of Fla.; her daughter-in-law Maxine Marks; her grandchildren Adam, Allison, Jameson, Daniel, Juli, Mark, Marianne, Dina and Lisa; and 14 great-grandchildren. She was the mother of the late Michael Marks and sister of the late Edith Margolish. Contributions may be made to Home and Hospice Care of Rhode Island, 1085 North Main St., Providence, R.I. 02904.

Norman Rappaport, 86

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Norman Rappaport died April 23. A son of the late Joseph and Anna (Rakatansky) Rappaport, he was a lifelong resident of Rhode Island. He worked for Thom McAn shoes for many years, starting

as a salesman and moving to assistant manager and eventually manager. He is survived by his sisters, Mildred Seligman and Shirley Rappaport. He was the brother of the late Kenny Rappaport. Contributions in his memory may be made to Jewish Family Services, 959 North Main St., Providence, R.I. 02904.

Terry Robin Sokoll, 57

Terry Robin Sokoll died April 21 after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in New Bedford, she was the daughter of the late Bennett and Dorothy (Shwartz) Sokoll. She graduated with honors from Dartmouth High School. A graduate of Duke University, she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. She was a fitness instructor and loved the outdoors. She enjoyed going for walks along the beach. She is survived by her children, April (Dawson) Fasel and husband Peter of Lakeville, Mass., and Jennifer Dawson of Portsmouth, R.I.; and her grandchildren, Colin and Luke Fasel. Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society (http://main.acsevents. org/goto/Terry_Sokoll).

William E. Wolf, 65

CRANSTON, R.I. – William E. Wolf, beloved husband of Sherri (Gorodetsky) Wolf for 41 years, died surrounded by his loving family on April 17. He was the devoted father of Danielle (Mark) Fraenza, Ilesha (Edward) Senna and Jessica (David Kolibaba) Wolf. Grandfather of Maya and Devon Fraenza and Alexa Senna and Brother of Cynthia Feldman. Born in Providence, a son of

May 8, 2015 |

Charlotte Gorodetsky and the late Isadore Wolf, he had lived in Cranston for many years. He was an automobile salesman for 30 years, retiring five years ago. He and his wife previously owned Movies and More for four years. He was a former vice president at Temple Torat Yisrael and president of the Under 30s Bowling League. Contributions in his memory may be made to Colon Cancer Challenge Foundation, 10 New King St., White Plains, N.Y. 10604 or Congregation Am David, 40 Gardiner St., Warwick, R.I.

Eleanor Zettel, 86

CRANSTON, R.I. – Eleanor (Factor) Zettel died April 23. She was the wife of the late Coleman Zettel and the late Louis Marrocco. Born in Providence, a daughter of the late Benjamin and Jennie (Singer) Factor, she had been a lifelong resident of Rhode Island. A loving mother, her family was her life. She is survived by her daughter, Paula Mattera and her husband Paul of Cranston; her brother Alfred Factor of Cranston; and her grandchildren Robert and Jennifer Mattera and Craig Zettel. She was the mother of the late Steven Zettel; mother-in-law of the late Gerrie Zettel; and grandmother of the late Heather Zettel. Contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.

COMMUNITY

28 | May 8, 2015

The Jewish Voice

Writer, tailor Martin Greenfield featured at the annual Dor L’Dor event Jewish community comes together to celebrate foresight and long-term giving BY JENNIFER ZWIRN jzwirn@jewishallianceri.org

PHOTOS | JEWISH ALLIANCE

Members of the community attend the Dor L’ Dor event on April 30.

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Those who attended the Dor L’Dor Society event on April 30 were reminded of the importance of a Jewish legacy. The gathering, at the home of Ron and Karen Markoff, featured Martin Greenfield, world-renowned tailor and author of “Measure of a Man: From Auschwitz Survivor to Presidents’ Tailor.” This is a memoir of a Holocaust survivor who suffered unimaginable horror but emerged with dreams of success. Now 86 and working with his sons, Greenfield dresses Hollywood’s finest and Washington, D.C.’s most powerful, including Presidents Eisenhower, Clinton and Obama. He exemplifies the faith, courage, and hope that keep each of us going during difficult times, and shared memories of his resilience and stories of his strength with those who attended. “I believe in God, whether I’m right or wrong. I believe there is someone or something God gives me whenever I need help,” said Greenfield. Greenfield went on to share that speaking at the Dor L’Dor event was the first time he’s been invited to speak in a private home, and how pleased he was do so. “I’m used to speaking to large crowds across the country so you don’t know if they are paying attention. It is such a delight to join you today. You have to pay attention. And I thank you, and I thank America for liberating me. It’s the reason I wrote this book.” Alliance President and CEO Jeffrey Savit spoke about the Dor L’Dor Society, which recognizes and hon-

ors those in our community who have included the Jewish Federation Foundation in their estate plans or have established a permanent endowment fund. “Dor L’Dor means generation to generation” because future generations will benefit from our generosity. If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll consider what you’d like your Jewish legacy to be, and join the Dor L’Dor Society,” said Savit. Sharon Gaines, Jewish Alliance board chair said, “The Jewish Federation Foundation endowment, established decades ago, has significantly shaped our future and has benefitted our community here in Rhode Island and abroad. As a result of our endowment and annual campaign, I’m proud to say we are able to educate our youth about the Holocaust by sending them on the March of the Living program, 2-week experience sponsored by the Jewish Alliance every other year. The program allows teens from around the world join together in Poland and Israel to remember the past and ensure the future.” The Dor L’Dor event concluded with Greenfield signing his books for guests and answering questions about his life, the importance of young people learning about the Holocaust and giving back to one’s community. For more information about creating a Jewish legacy, contact Trine Lustig, vice president of philanthropy at 401421-4111, ext. 223 or tlustig@ jewishallianceri.org. JENNIFER ZWIRN is in Grants and Philanthropy at the Jewish Alliance.

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For more information or to hold your spot at the Shabbaton, please contact Erin Moseley at emoseley @jewishallianceri.org or 401.421.4111, ext. 108.

Martin Greenfield signs books after the Dor L’Dor event at Ron Markoff and Karen Triedman’s home.

PHOTO | JANA BRENMAN

After the ceremony (left to right), Penina Satlow, David Mayer, Emma Benun and Raphael Mayer. FROM PAGE 1

TEENS

“Hebrew is there – a living language.” He and Brenman then presented the graduates with their certificates and with a variety of awards. The Nathan Resnick Memorial Award went to Rachel Wasser from the Harry Elkin Midrasha, Rachel Turner from Temple Beth-El, Rachel Sheinberg from Temple Habonim, Rochel Golden, Rochel Lapin and Chaya Faiga Taitelbaum from New England Academy of Torah. The Resnick Award honors graduating seniors for superior academic accomplishments and for school, synagogue and community involvement. The Eliezer Ben Yehuda Award, honoring excellence in the study of Hebrew language, went to David Mayer as did the Harry and Esther Elkin Memorial Award,

May 8, 2015 |

COMMUNITY

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presented annually to a graduate who shares Harry and Esther’s love for and commitment to the State of Israel. It is a tribute to the legacy of the Elkins – Harry was the former director of the Bureau of Jewish Education and Esther was a master Hebrew educator. The Rabbi and Mrs. Israel S. Rubenstein Memorial Award for excellence in Contemporary Jewish Studies went to Noah Prizant. Also honored during the evening were participants in the March of the Living, the Maccabi Games and HaZamir Providence; Israel travel grants were announced as well. In several emotional moments during the evening, Miriam Esther Weiner, principal of Providence Hebrew Day School paid tribute to the memory of Rebbetzin Tichyeh Schochet by sharing thoughts of some of her students.

Harry Elkin Midrasha graduates (left to right) are Eve Stein, Josh Levanos, Rachel Nassau, Noah Prizant, Rachel Wasser, David Mayer and Nili Levine. Not pictured, Mimi Heath. And Cantor Brian Mayer, who directs HaZamir Providence, offered a surprise tribute to his son David who has served as choir manager for two years. “He gets the job done without drama, fan-

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fare and moodiness,” he said. The evening concluded with words offered by Franklin who congratulated the students for their community service and showing their love for neighbors

and told the students to cherish their love of Jewish self. FRAN OSTENDORF is editor of The Jewish Voice.

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SIMCHAS | WE ARE READ

The Jewish Voice

BIRTH – Judi and Sy Dill of Providence, formerly of New York City and Tenafly, New Jersey, are proud to announce the birth of their granddaughter Sadie Rose Mate-Dill to their son Mathias and his wife Jenna Mate-Dill of E. Quogue, New York. Aunts and Uncles Pnina and Marc Ardizzone of Barrington, Joshua and Jennifer Dill of Baltimore, Maryland, and cousins Dahlia, Ezra, Yaacov, Basya and Sarah-Leiba are very happy to welcome the new addition.

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Tricia Stearly at 421-4111, ext. 160 or tstearly@jewishallianceri.org Karen Borger at 529-2538 or ksborger@gmail.com

WE ARE READ – ITALY – Steve and Pam Tesler Howitt took The Voice with them to Italy to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary in April. Among the many sites they visited was the small Venice synagogue (circa 1516), above, one of five in the ghetto. All were within blocks of one another, and all had their ‘sanctuaries’ on the top floors of the buildings. They also visited the ghetto in Tuscany, in Siena.

Steve and Pam Tesler Howitt

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You have the power to make a difference in the world. Serve a hot meal to a poor child in a village in Ukraine. Deliver medicine to a fragile Holocaust survivor in Israel. Build a roof over the heads of a homeless family. Give a local teenager her first Israel experience. When you connect with the Jewish Alliance, you put the Jewish values of compassion, generosity, and responsibility into action. Contribute to the Annual Campaign and you’re helping to care for our entire Jewish community—at home, in Israel, and around the world. To learn more or to donate today, visit us at jewishallianceri.org or call 401.421.4111. Be part of our vibrant and thriving Jewish community by donating to the 2015 Annual Campaign.

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