Volume XXIII, Issue VI | www.jvhri.org Serving Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts
19 Adar 5777 | March 17, 2017
SPRING HOME & GARDEN PASSOVER
Jews of Rhode Island challenged to do good together BY FRAN OSTENDORF fostendorf@jewishallianceri.org
Isn’t there always time for mitzvot? That’s one of the ideas behind the community Good Deeds Day, coming on April 2. Good Deeds Day is an annual tradition around the world. Launched in 2007 in Israel by Ruach Tova (NGO), a part of The Ted Arison Family Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Arison Group, it has grown every year. The fi rst Good Deeds Day had 7,000 participants. It went global in 2011, with volunteers in 10 cities in four countries, including the United States. By 2012, residents of 50 countries were participating. In 2016, 1.5 million people in 75 countries joined in.
The number of projects to date: 14,000, totaling 4 million hours of service. “All over the globe, millions are trying to positively change the world,” said Kara Marziali,
PHOTO | CHUNG SUNG-JUN/GETTY IMAGES
Cody Decker of Team Israel holding team mascot the Mensch on a Bench after the World Baseball Classic game against the Netherlands in Seoul, South Korea, March 9.
Team Israel baseball gear a home run Control over Touro Synagogue with kvelling American Jewish fans GOOD DEEDS | 27
and its $7.4 million silver bells back in court
BOSTON (JTA) – Ownership of the country’s oldest synagogue and its valuable religious and ritual objects is being decided by a federal appeals court. The hearing of the case by a three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston is the latest development in a closely watched legal battle pitting New York City’s Shearith Israel, the oldest Jewish congregation in the nation, against
BY ANDREW TOBIN
Congregation Jeshuat Israel, located in Newport. At stake is control of Newport’s 250-year-old Touro Synagogue, the religious home of Congregation Jeshuat Israel and a pair of historically significant silver bells that are used to adorn Torah scrolls. The bells, called rimonim, are late 18th century filials handcrafted by Myer MyTOURO BELLS | 26
TEL AVIV (JTA) – A couple of weeks ago, Adam Atkins didn’t know Israel had a baseball team. But since the squad started winning games last week in the World Baseball Classic, he has become a fan. Atkins and his friends wanted team caps, but were frustrated to discover they were sold out online. “The only thing available was a youth size, and I considered if my head was small enough to fit! That’s how bad I want a hat,” Atkins, a 33-year-old renewable
energy consultant based in New York, told JTA. Israeli baseball “is defi nitely in the air.” Team Israel’s improbable five-game run in the international tournament has many American Jews kvelling, and looking to purchase a piece of their people’s baseball history. The supply of official caps has since been reupped and expanded, and the team’s “Jew Crew” T-shirts worn off the field are a mini-sensation. “I think the league probably underestimated the number of American Jews who would be interested in merchandise,”
Steve Adler, who owns the company that makes the “Jew Crew” shirts, told JTA. “You can’t really blame them. Who could have predicted this?” Israel was the lowest-ranked team to qualify for the World Baseball Classic, coming in at 41st. Yet the club, with seven former major league players and 20 minor leaguers, started the tournament last week by beating third-ranked South Korea, fourth-ranked Taiwan and ninth-ranked the Netherlands to win its pool in the fi rst round BASEBALL | 8
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2 | March 17, 2017
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UNITED AGAINST HATE
INSIDE Business 24-25 Calendar 9-10 Community 2-6, 14, 21-22, 27, 29, 30 D’Var Torah 6 Food 14-15 Home & Garden 17-20 Obituaries 26 Opinion 7-8 Passover 11-16 Purim 31 Seniors 23
Rabbi Sarah Mack spoke at the multifaith vigil.
PHOTOS | FRAN OSTENDORF
A variety of signs advocated unity and demonstrated against hate.
THIS ISSUE’S QUOTABLE QUOTE “All crimes are reprehensible but hate crimes carry an extra dimension …” At least 300 people gathered at the Rhode Island Holocaust Memorial in Providence March 5 to say “Never Again Means Never Again.” For more photos, go to jvhri.org/photos/.
SAVE the DATE
Bonnie & Donald Dwares Jewish Community Center
GRAND REOPENING & DEDICATION CEREMONY Wednesday, May 24, 2017 Dwares JCC 401 Elmgrove Avenue, Providence Family Celebration | 5pm Dedication Ceremony | 6:30pm
For 90 years, the Jewish Community Center has been the cornerstone of Jewish life in greater Rhode Island.
We are a place where Jewish culture thrives, families come together, and the future is shaped. We are your gateway to vast resources and lifelong connections.
with special guest
The finishing touches are going into place as we prepare to extend an extraordinary sense of welcome, accessibility, and security to everyone.
Nate Ebner
2-time Super Bowl Champ, New England Patriots & 2016 US Olympic Rugby Team
Details to follow.
Dwares Rhode Island
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Holocaust Through the Arts presents ‘The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler’ BY LEV POPLOW On April 4 and 5, the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center’s Holocaust Through the Arts Program will present the 2009 movie “The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler” to some 2,500 students from public, private and religious schools. Irena Sendler was a Catholic social worker from Poland, employed by the Welfare Department of Warsaw, who smuggled nearly 2,500 children to safety during World War II. At great personal risk, she devised means to get into the ghetto and help the dying Jews. Using forged identification papers, Sendler presented herself as a nurse and managed to obtain a permit to enter the ghetto to inspect the sanitary conditions. Once inside, she established contact with activists from the Jewish welfare organization and began to help them. Sendler was appointed director of Zegota’s (the underground organization) Department for the Care of Jewish Children and used her contacts with orphanages and institutions for abandoned children to send Jewish children to safety. Working with Zegota, she devised routes to smuggle the children out, some in boxes
hidden under bricks on wheelbarrows, others through the sewer system, and still others brazenly escorted through the front door of the city hall hand in hand with their saviors. Many of the children were sent to the Rodzina Marii (Family of Mary) Orphanage in Warsaw and religious institutions operated by nuns in nearby towns. On Oct. 20, 1943, Sendler was arrested by the Gestapo. She managed to hide incriminating evidence, such as the coded addresses of children in the care of Zegota and large sums of money to pay those who helped Jews. She was sentenced to death and sent to the infamous Pawiak prison, but underground activists managed to bribe officials to release her. Sendler was not deterred by her close encounter with death. After her release in February 1944, she continued her underground activities even though she knew that the authorities were keeping an eye on her. Eventually, she had to go into hiding. On Oct. 19, 1965, Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, recognized Irena Sendler as Righteous Among the Nations. The tree planted in her honor stands at
the entrance to the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations. The Hallmark movie stars Anna Paquin as Irena Sendler. May-Ronny Zeidman, executive director of the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center, says Holocaust Through the Arts “engages middle and high school students from all around Rhode Island in learning about the Holocaust by using a different vehicle, like a play, or a movie, or
music. We have found that it is a painless way to engage, connect with, and teach students.” Zeidman adds, “We only show fi lms that are truthful and do not portray the Holocaust in any kind of a fantasy way.” The program is free and open to the public, reservations are required. The fi lm will be screened at the Showcase Cinema in Warwick at 10 a.m. Stipends may be available for bus rentals. To make reservations for your
LEV POPLOW is a communications and development consultant who is writing on behalf of the Bornstein Holocaust Education Center. He can be reached at levpoplow@gmail. com.v
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The first Good Deeds Day began in Israel with 7,000 participants. Since its launch in 2007, the annual tradition has spread globally, uniting people all over the world. Last year, 1.5 million people in 75 different countries chose to volunteer and help others, putting into practice the simple idea that every person can do something good—be it large or small—to improve the lives of others and positively change the world.
oi n
Let’s Do Good Together Sunday, April 2, 2017
class or yourself, or to apply for a bus stipend, call 401-453-7860 or email May@BornsteinHolocaustCenter.org.
This year, the Rhode Island Jewish community will host a series of good deeds (mitzvot) in various locations throughout the state on Sunday, April 2, 2017. Programs and activities will include an e-waste recycling event, a nature preserve clean-up, students helping local families prepare for Passover, a community service brunch, bringing hand-made cards to the elderly, collecting Kosher foods for the needy, a panel discussion, and a blood drive—to name a few.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES & PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS E-waste Recycling at the Dwares JCC | Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island Collecting Kosher Foods | The Louis and Goldie Chester Full Plate Kosher Food Pantry Nature Preserve Clean-up | Barrington Land Trust and (401)j Community Blood Drive | Temple Beth-El Winter Mitzvah & Human Rights Day |Temple Habonim CBD Cleans the Beach | Congregation Beth David Kindness in the Kitchen | Judy’s Kindness Kitchen and Congregation Beth Sholom Rhode Island Welcomes Refugees | Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island Passover Preparation | Providence Hebrew Day School Sentiments & Songs | Touro Synagogue Day of Jewish Youth Service | BBYO New England & J-Serve Community Service Brunch | URI Hillel Camp JORI Family Mitzvah Day| Camp JORI
For details about each project, visit jewishallianceri.org/good-deeds-day
4 | March 17, 2017
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Stories of shame in the Talmud BY JOHN LANDRY Anyone who dips into the Talmud can be forgiven for closing the book quickly. The text jumps around from legal rulings to anecdotes, with arcane problems raised then forgotten, with rarely any resolution. Much of it reads like a series of terse lecture notes, and it’s often hard to tell what a passage is really about. How could this difficult-to-understand collection ever have become the foundation of post-Temple Judaism? To answer that question, says Rabbi Jeffrey Rubenstein, we have to think about what life was like in Temple times. Under Hellenistic rule Jews enjoyed a great deal of autonomy. They organized society around their family clans and the hierarchy of priests and local rulers. But
after devastating failed rebellions in 70, 117 and 135 CE, they were dispersed around the Roman empire, wondering how to serve God without the Jerusalem temple. And when Rome converted from paganism to Christianity, there was a real danger of Jewish communities falling apart, assimilating and losing their divine mission. In that context, says Rubenstein, a professor of Judaic studies at New York University, the post-Temple rabbis decided to reshape Judaism around Torah study and interpretation. Between 200 and 700 CE, they built the great academies in Babylonia and composed and edited the Talmud. Since they lacked formal hierarchies based on power, they needed people to engage willingly in the shared enterprise. That meant respecting
Rabbi Jeffrey Rubenstein multiple of points of view and resisting the urge to split into disparate sects. To get a foundational document that everyone would respect and work from,
PRESIDENT & CEO SEARCH The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island seeks a President & CEO who is an energetic, visionary, and passionate leader; a professional who possesses excellent strategic and management skills with a proven track record in fundraising, relationship development, and community building. The President & CEO will build on the successes of the past with its dedicated traditional donors while enabling the Alliance to enter a new era in meeting current and future opportunities. The President & CEO must be skilled at developing and leading a staff team as well as a cadre of devoted volunteer leaders; a strong communicator who can articulate a vision for the Alliance and express it in the community; and will demonstrate a passion for and commitment to Jewish life, Jewish values, and Israel. Interested candidates should email their cover letter and resume to Gail Putnam at gputnam@jewishallianceri.org.
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it was better to have a messy but inclusive text with diverse, even conflicting opinions. Rubenstein specializes in the stories of the Talmud, and he finds these passages an effective way to understand the rabbis’ creative achievement. From March 31 to April 2, he’ll be the scholar-in-residence at Temple Emanu-El’s educational weekend, “Talmudic Tales of Love and Darkness.” Besides giving the d’var on Shabbat morning, he’ll lead three post-meal discussions: Shabbat dinner (featuring Iraqi cuisine), Shabbat lunch (featuring Israeli food), and a Sunday brunch. Each discussion will tackle a different side of this challenge of authority. Shabbat evening’s “Love, Babylonian Style,” looks at tensions resulting from rabbis journeying to academies to study Torah and neglecting their wives and families. Sunday morning’s “Stories of Destruction” focuses on how the rabbis used the disastrous rebellions against Rome to teach moral and religious lessons, focusing not on political or military shortcomings but on spiritual and moral failings. Shabbat afternoon’s discussio, “Stories of Shame in the Talmuds,” tackles the problem of authority head on. The Babylonian Talmud includes different versions of stories that appear in its earlier and shorter counterpart, known as the Jerusalem Talmud. The latter’s stories say little about
shame, but in the Babylonian telling, it becomes the key moral consideration. That’s because those rabbis had seen how embarrassing a colleague led to division and discord within the academy. They faced a difficult challenge: how could they express strong opinions in vigorous debate, without dishonoring those who disagreed? They devoted enormous effort to figuring out how to prevent shame, and they told stories of those who went out of their way to show respect. Those efforts eventually led – as later rabbis turned the Talmud’s sprawling discussions into practical guides for living – to the Jewish values of dignity, respect for others and avoiding “lashon hara,” or damaging speech. At a time of division in our country – including our own Jewish community – and after a presidential campaign too often built on ridiculing opponents, this is still a struggle for us. Learn more about how the ancient rabbis met the challenge at Temple Emanu-El’s annual educational weekend. The discussions are free to everyone, but people attending the meals should register, either online at teprov.org/institute/edweekend17, or by calling the temple at 401-331-1616. Temple Emanu-El is at 99 Taft Ave., Providence. JOHN LANDRY lives in Providence and serves on Temple Emanu-El’s adult education committee.
Latin America’s largest synagogue welcomes first female rabbi RIO DE JANEIRO (JTA) – Latin America’s largest synagogue, the 2,000-family Congregacao Israelita Paulista in Brazil, has inaugurated its first female rabbi. Some 200 people attended the welcome ceremony for Rabbi Fernanda Tomchinsky-Galanternik held last week at the 80-year-old Sao Paulo temple, also known by the acronym CIP. Ordained in December in
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 Mitzi Berkelhammer, 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 Assn. and the American Jewish Press Assn.
Argentina, the Brazilian-born psychologist and mother of one also will coordinate the synagogue’s teaching department. “CIP began to tread a path that is possible only within Judaism and particularly within such a pluralist community,” Tomchinsky-Galanternik said. “But it can only be done with the presence and the action of all. I look RABBI | 27
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. We reserve the right to refuse publication.
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Annual Temple Beth-El film preparations fest features historical perspectives Purim of Temple Beth-El, the fi lm festival has taken place for 16 years and was originally co-chaired by Joanne Forman. Several years ago, it was named in her memory, according to current chair Ellen Silverman. “Joanne was a generous, giving volunteer,” Silverman said in a 2016 interview. “Everyone loved her.” And, Silverman said, she cared deeply about the temple.
All fi lms screen at 2 p.m. in the Meeting Hall of the temple, 70 Orchard Ave. Admission is free and refreshments are included. FRAN OSTENDORF is the editor of The Jewish Voice.
Temple Beth-El welcomes Rabbi David Ellenson, Ph.D.
BY FRAN OSTENDORF
fostendorf@jewishallianceri.org
The Joanne Forman Film Festival presents three Sundays of fi lms each year, with moderated discussions and refreshments at Temple Beth-El in Providence. This year’s theme is “Historical Perspectives: Creativity, Courage and Growth.” March 19 kicks off the festival with the 2016 fi lm, “In Search of Israeli Cuisine.” This fi lm follows chef Michael Solomonov as he presents the history and traditions of modern, multicultural Israeli cuisine. Solomonov is known for his landmark Philadelphia restaurant Zahav, which opened in 2008. The discussion following the fi lm will be led by educator Paula Davidson-Bodo. March 26 features “Above and Beyond” a 2014 documentary produced by Nancy Spielberg, youngest sister of director Steven Spielberg. It portrays the establishment of the Israeli Air Force after Israel became an independent state in 1948. Discussion after the fi lm will be led by fi lm editor Chris Callister. April 2 features “Once in a Lifetime” based on a true story, which depicts an inner-city French high school class as the group undertakes a research project regarding child victims of the Holocaust. This 2014 fi lm contains strong language and is not appropriate for those under age 17. Discussion with Holocaust educator Lilliane Birch. Sponsored by the Sisterhood
Scholar-in-Residence David Ellenson is currently the Chancellor Emeritus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) and is director of the Schusterman Center for Israel Studies and visiting professor in the Department of Near Eastern and Judaic Studies at Brandeis University.
Joint Reform Service Rabbi Ellenson will be offering the d’var Torah Friday, March 24, 7:00 PM Torah Study with Rabbi Ellenson Saturday, March 25, 9:00 AM
Shabbat Service Saturday, March 25, 10:30 AM
URJ Shabbaton Workshops Saturday, March 25th 12:00 PM to sundown
A scholar of modern Jewish thought and history, Ellenson is recognized for his writings and publications in these fields. He has written extensively on the origins and development of Orthodox Judaism in Germany during the nineteenth century, Orthodox legal writings on conversion in Israel, North America, and Europe during the modern era, the relationship between religion and state in Israel, the history of modern Jewish religious movements, and American Jewish life.
Joint Reform Service
Each year, Temple Beth-El, Temple Habonim, Temple Sinai and Newport Havurah honor our common faith and heritage through music and prayer at Joint Reform Shabbat. We hope you can join us as we celebrate Shabbat with our extended Reform Jewish Family in Rhode Island! Guest Speaker: Rabbi David Ellenson, Ph.D.
URJ Eastern MA and RI Community Shabbaton
A wonderful Shabbat day of stimulating learning, spiritual worship and music, and exciting networking...featuring: Torah Study with Rabbi David Ellenson, Chancellor Emeritus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and Gila Hadani Ward, Union for Reform Judaism Director of Lay Resources, who will lead us in workshops that dive deeper into the idea of engagement.
Shabbatini Saturday, March 25th 6:00 PM to 7:30PM
Oneg and Scholar-In-Residence sponsored by TBE Benefactors’ Fund 70 Orchard Ave Providence, RI 02906 401-331-6070 www.Temple-Beth-El.org
6 | March 17, 2017
Parshah: Ki Tisa This week’s Torah portion is Ki Tisa, meaning, “When you count.” At this point in the weekly Torah narrative in the Book of Exodus, the Israelites have been RABBI traveling in the ETHAN Sinai wilderness, and are ADLER now encamped at the foot of Mount Sinai. Moses, meanwhile, is somewhere on the mountain, receiving instructions from God. “When you count” refers to the opening of the portion, when God says to Moses, “When you count” the Children of Israel – that is, when you take a census – you should instruct every male over the age of 20 to donate a half-shekel to the sanctuary. This was a neat method to figure out how many males over the age of 20 there were. And it was also a very clever strategy for fundraising! In addition, God imbued a man named Bezalel with the spirit of creativity, and chose him to design the sanctuary
D’VAR TORAH | COMMUNITY
Impatience is NOT a virtue
and all its accoutrements. (You may be interested to know that today there is a national art school in Jerusalem called the Bezalel Academy of Art & Design.) As the Torah portion continues, we find that the Israelites were worried that Moses had disappeared. Even though he told them he would be gone for 40 days and 40 nights, by the 40th day they had become restless. They begged Aaron to make an idol that would protect them in case Moses was really not coming back. Aaron tried to deflect their request by telling them he could only fulfill their wishes if they and their wives were willing to give up all their jewelry, so he could melt it and then fashion it into a golden idol. He figured that when they heard this, they might have second thoughts, and perhaps wait for Moses’ return. But, surprisingly, they were so anxious that they immediately gave Aaron all their jewelry, and he was forced to follow through on his words, lest pandemonium erupt. So now, here comes Moses, carrying the Ten Commandments, which are carved on huge stone plaques. When he gets to the bottom of the mountain, he sees the people dancing
JCDSRI students shine at annual Kabbalat Shabbat service BY HILLARY GUTTIN On Jan. 27, more than 240 faculty, students and community members joined the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island for its annual Kabbalat Shabbat service and dinner at Temple Emanu-El, in Providence. The evening began with the first-grade students leading the congregation in “Mi Ohev Shabbat” (“Who Loves Shabbat”). Each grade, including pre-K, led at least one prayer and showed off their Kabbalat Shabbat prowess. “It’s such a nice opportunity for the kids to showcase their learning of some of the Kabbalat prayers,” said second and third-grade Judaic Studies teacher Rhonda Mills. “They feel so proud to stand before the community and lead.” After the service, the community was invited to a delicious Shabbat dinner cooked by parent volunteers. Before dessert, the children enjoyed activities such as games of Red Light, Green Light and Hot Potato. Parent Alison Walter said,
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“The JCDSRI Shabbat dinner is always a highlight of the year for our community and my family. It is wonderful to see families, board members, teachers and staff come together and celebrate Shabbat. It warms my heart to see my own children so proudly lead the service and feel so warmly embraced by their kehillah.” Pre-K parent Lesley Bogad said, “The Shabbat dinner was a wonderful way to celebrate our first year at JCDS. I got so much joy watching my five year old on the bimah with all of his classmates, leading the Shema for our whole community. And it was lovely to share Shabbat dinner with new friends.” Principal Andrea Katzman added, “This event reflects the learning and leadership capacities of our students and the diversity, commitment and warmth of our families – we look forward to this every year.” HILLARY GUTTIN is a teacher at the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island.
and singing and moving and groovin’ around some object. He gets closer and sees that they are dancing before a golden calf, Egyptian style. And in his hands are tablets that contain words from the Lord, such as “Thou shall have no other gods before me,” and “Thou shall not make any graven images.” Moses may have said to himself, “Well, this isn’t working out too well.” The Torah records how, in utter disgust and frustration, he smashed the stone tablets on the ground. Later on, as the story continues, Moses and God eventually forgive the Israelites, and Moses rewrites the commandments on new tablets. By the way, Moses learns a very valuable lesson about making backups! At any rate, in time, life returns to some semblance of normalcy, and the Israelites continue on their journey towards the Holy Land. Now, some interpreters believe the sin of the Israelites was less about creating and worshipping an idol and more about extreme impatience. Had they waited just one more day, they would have welcomed Moses back into their midst and the entire golden calf episode could have been avoided. But nooo, they were impatient, and
became hotheaded and unreasonable. And this aspect of their personality, perhaps more than anything else, reflected their true colors as a people. And that they needed to learn the lesson of patience, a lesson that seemed to take 40 years of wandering in the desert. It seems that whenever there was any kind of challenge – not enough food, not enough water, attacks by other tribes – rather than being patient and waiting for God to provide for them, the Israelites’ first reaction was impatience. They would mutter, we at least had food and water in Egypt, why did Moses take us out? Why were we brought into the desert so we can perish? They would protest, saying let’s head back to Egypt, to a life we knew before. And so on and so on. Patience is a prominent theme in Judaism. The Talmud extols patience as a critical personality trait. The story of the prophet Micah, as an example, is that he suffers many challenging conditions and yet endures, saying, “I will wait for the Lord who will save me.” It has been stated that patience in God will aid believers in finding the strength to be delivered from the evils inherent
in their lives. The Book of Proverbs proclaims, “The patient man shows much good sense, but the quicktempered man displays folly at its height” (14:29). Also, “An illtempered man stirs up strife, but the patient man allays discord” (15:18). And, “A patient man is better than a warrior, and he who rules his temper is stronger than he who takes a city” (16:32). The Book of Ecclesiastes offers us the following: “Patience is better than pride. Do not be too quickly discontented in spirit, for discontent lodges in the heart of the fool” (7:8-9). And finally, from “Ethics of the Sages”: “There is no person that does not have his hour; and no thing that does not have its place” (4:3). Many of us today are overwhelmed with so many challenges – at home, in the community, with our government and world. We hope and pray that all of us do our best to endure difficult circumstances; to persevere in the face of delays and provocations; to exhibit restraint when under strain. In short, we hope and pray to learn how to become more patient. ETHAN ADLER is the rabbi of Congregation Beth David in Narragansett.
Hadassah fundraiser features stage performance of ‘Victor/Victoria’ Hadassah Rhode Island will hold its fourth annual “A Cause for Applause” fundraiser on Sunday, May 7, at the Ocean State Theater, in Warwick. The proceeds from this production of “Victor/Victoria” will support brain cancer research at the Leslie and Michael Gaffin Neuro-Oncology Laboratory at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. The Gaffin Center diagnoses and treats patients who suffer from primary or secondary brain tumors; neurological complications; and systemic tumors, both oncological and hematological. In their cutting-edge research, Hadassah scientists are focusing on developing advanced diagnostic tests for these kinds of tumors. Recent laboratory results show that the same drugs successfully used for treating prostate cancer can be effective in killing brain-tumor cells, a finding that may change the treatment of brain tumors and bring new hope to patients. “A Cause for Applause” honors the memory of Meredith Drench, who lost her battle with brain cancer in May 2013. Drench, of East Greenwich, was an author, a professor of
physical therapy, and a popular lecturer on physical therapy and behavioral sciences. She was known for her sharp wit and great sense of humor, and for her decades of service and devotion to Hadassah, where she served as president of the Rhode Island chapter and the Western New England Region. “Victor/Victoria” is a genderbending musical that is both hilarious and touching. Based on the hit 1982 Blake Edwards film, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards, “Victor/Victoria” tells the story of a down-on-her-luck singer in Paris who becomes the toast of the town as a female impersonator. Featuring a score by Henry Mancini, “Victor/Victoria” is an unforgettable song-and dance-filled show.
Hadassah Rhode Island extends a warm invitation to one and all to attend this musical theater event, which includes a dessert reception after the 2 p.m. performance on May 7. There is free on-site parking at the theater, at 1245 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick. Tickets are $65 per person, payable to Hadassah. Checks for ticket purchases and donations should be sent to Hadassah, c/o Judy Silverman, 50 Cindyann Drive, East Greenwich, RI 02818. For additional information, contact BarbaraPortney@ yahoo.com or call Hadassah Rhode Island at 401-463-3636. – Submitted by Hadassah Rhode Island
Candle Lighting Times Greater Rhode Island March 17 March 24 March 31 April 1
6:36 6:44 6:51 6:59
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The perils and positives of technology You gotta love technology. Or do you? Sometimes I don’t. I have to admit that I’m a little intimidated by the wide range of gadgets, gizmos and devices that have become essential to my life and work. But I live in the Age of T e c h n o l o g y, so I have to learn to play n i c e l y w i t h computers, smartphones, software and all their associates. Frustration EDITOR sometimes comes to a FRAN head as I try to t rouble sho ot OSTENDORF crashing computer software and programs that don’t do what I think they should. We work on Macs in The Jewish Voice office and mine is an all-Mac household, so I have a certain bias toward the easierto-use Apple products. But the software we use to produce the newspaper is quite complicated – and the frustration level mounts when we just can’t understand what has happened to a computer that suddenly refuses to work. It seems some sort of glitch happens almost every week. Last issue, we limped to press a day late. A couple of hard drives failed – and our ability to publish on time was stopped in its tracks. For a newspaper, that’s pretty frustrating since meeting deadlines is an essential part of putting out any publication. As a matter of fact, nobody can remember the last time we were late. But you probably didn’t notice the delay because our printer, Graphic Development Inc., of Hanover, Massachusetts, was able to make up for our missed deadline, and the paper made it
to the Providence post office in time to get mailed on Friday, as usual. And Special Delivery, the Rhode Island company that delivers the papers to synagogues and stores around the state, adjusted its delivery schedule. We rarely miss deadlines, and we have long relationships with these companies, so they helped us get the papers out on time. A shout-out to both companies: Thanks so much for your cooperative and can-do attitude! We can’t live without technology, but I wish I felt more comfortable with it. Like many of you, I didn’t grow up with computers and smartphones. I don’t have the comfort level of my children, who have used these devices since they could talk. Honestly, computers are neither logical nor intuitive to me. I’m on a learning curve. And sometimes you have to explain technical things to me more than once. But I push forward. After all, the advantages of all this technology almost always outweighs my struggles. I came to the smartphone world fairly late. Now I can’t imagine my life without one. It lets me stay connected to my family, my friends and my work world. There’s always a camera in my pocket, and a notebook, too. If I’m lost, I can look up directions, and the phone helps me find my way. And publishing The Voice is easier and faster as technology advances. So, new and better and more thoroughly backed-up hard drives are now in place – and we’re hoping to never miss another deadline because of technology issues. Of course, as I write this, a blizzard is on the horizon. Even technology can’t help us in the face of a good old-fashioned storm.
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OUR MISSION The mission of The Jewish Voice is to communicate Jewish news, ideas and ideals by connecting and giving voice to the diverse views of the Jewish community in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, while adhering to Jewish values and the professional standards of journalism.
March 17, 2017 |
OPINION
7
A nice young man, a promising future, and yet … and yet … While attending an Erev Shabbat service at Temple Habonim in Barrington on Feb. 17, I had the privilege of listening to Rodrigo Pimentel tell his story. Pimentel is a softspoken but extremely fo c u s e d a n d determined 19 -yea r- old who is enrolled in a computer science prog ra m at t he IT SEEMS University of Rhode Island. TO ME What makes P i mentel’s RABBI JIM story so comROSENBERG pelling and, in many ways, so troubling, is that, through no fault of his own, he is an undocumented immigrant. His parents brought him from Portugal to Rhode Island in 1998, when he was only 10 months old, and then they overstayed their visitors’ visas in order to pursue the economic opportunities available here. Pimentel told us that at first he was only dimly aware that he and his parents were living in the country illegally, in the shadows. Over time he began to realize that while his friends’ families took vacations, his family never traveled anywhere – but he didn’t ask why. Even when his parents first told him that they were ilegals, it was a word that held little meaning for him. By the time Pimentel became a teenager, he understood that being “illegal” carried severe social and economic consequences for his family; especially in the beginning, his father had to work long hours far away from home at subsistence wages. However, when President Barack Obama signed an exec-
utive order in 2012 that created Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), Pimentel’s prospects brightened considerably. As a result of DACA, even though he was undocumented, he would be allowed to work, to pay taxes and to obtain a driver’s license. With the election of Donald Trump as president, Pimentel’s future has darkened once again. Trump’s aggressive anti-immigrant rhetoric, as well as his early executive actions, do not bode well for the 11 million undocumented immigrants in our country – including those 750,000 individuals who, like Pimentel, are under the temporary protection of DACA. For Pimentel, the essential question can be expressed in five words: Will Trump kick me out? It is easy to feel sympathy for a young man like Pimentel. After all, he was only a baby when he entered this country; it would be absurd to hold him morally culpable for his parents’ decision to break the law by overstaying their visa. When some individuals, with hardness of heart, tell him to “go home,” what could that possibly mean? Home for Pimentel is here in the United States. The Portugal of his infancy is a foreign country; he doesn’t speak Portuguese, nor is he familiar with that nation’s culture or mores. Moreover, I can appreciate his attempts to validate his parents’ decision to stay in the United States and contribute to our economy. As he wrote in the Sept. 26, 2016, issue of The Guardian, “Many suggest that I should leave, that I should be deported, that my parents should be deported. It is assumed that we do not pay taxes. It is assumed that we do not contribute. But my par-
ents have built their lives here – they have invested in their own small business, created jobs and built up their own success by pursuing the American dream. The vast majority of undocumented immigrants have contributed to their communities.” And yet … and yet … the following facts cannot be denied: Pimentel and his parents are not refugees; they did not flee a tyrannical government that threatened their lives and limbs. His parents chose to live here as illegal immigrants. Essentially, they chose to cut the line, to avoid the lengthy and cumbersome process that legal immigrants must take on their path to eventual United States citizenship. What do undocumented immigrants have to say to those who have played by the rules? And yet … and yet …what can any of us say to a young man like Pimentel? Must he remain in the twilight zone like a forsaken character in a Franz Kafka story – waiting, waiting for that knock on the door? By what possible moral standard can we hold him accountable for a decision his parents made when he was an infant? Surely, there must be a reservoir of wisdom and good will somewhere in Washington officialdom that can find a pathway to citizenship for the 750,000 socalled Dreamers. Because Rodrigo Pimentel happens to be a dreamer in this uncertain time of Trump, there is no way of predicting in what new directions his dreams will take him. JAMES B. ROSENBERG is rabbi emeritus at Temple Habonim in Barrington. Contact him at rabbiemeritus@templehabonim.org.
We haven’t forgotten your pets!
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on’t worry. Our annual pet issue has moved. Look for it May 26. Deadline for photos is May 17. But you don’t have to wait. We keep your photos in our files, so feel free to send them to us when you have them. Email editor@jewishallianceri.org.
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The Jewish Voice publishes thoughtful and informative contributors’ columns (op-eds of 500 – 800 words) and letters to the editor (300 words, maximum) on issues of interest to our Jewish community. At our discretion, we may edit pieces for publication or re-
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OPINION
8 | March 17, 2017
The Jewish Voice
The surge in anti-Semitism? Here’s how to stop it BY DANIEL ELBAUM and MARC STERN JTA – Almost daily accounts of vandalized cemeteries, spraypainted swastikas and bomb threats to JCCs and other Jewish agencies have naturally evoked considerable alarm. Clearly, we must never reconcile ourselves to an America where this is considered normal. Yet we must not succumb to the opposite tendency to see these recent incidents through a 2,000-year-old lens and draw comparisons to darker days, when Jews felt powerless and alone in the fight against antiSemitism. There is no nation – other than Israel, of course – that has been more hospitable and welcoming to Jews than the United States. Indeed, there has been no generation of Jews in our people’s history more ingrained into the fabric of the nation in which it lived. A recent Pew Research Center report found that Jews are the most admired religious group in the country, and it will take far more than the incidents of the last few months to alter that fact.
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Experts on hate crimes agree on two things. First, perpetrators are not always caught, and therefore the majority of hate-crime victims may not see the culprits brought to justice. Second, since hate crimes are “message” crimes, the public response is crucial in preventing them from happening again. Words matter. Condemnations matter. And leaders must step up and express solidarity with the victimized communities, sending the clear message that such acts will not be tolerated or ignored. We welcome the White House’s strong condemnation of recent anti-Semitic incidents and its promise to find ways to stop them. We also appreciate the Senate letter urging action against these threats spearheaded by Sens. Peters, Portman, Rubio and Nelson, and signed by all 100 members of the upper chamber. But still more can be done now. Here are three suggestions for concrete action: First, the White House should convene a conference on violent
extremism and hate crimes. The assault on the Jewish community is not occurring in a vacuum. There also have been widespread reports of crimes against other minority communities. Although reasonable
“All crimes are reprehensible, but hate crimes carry an extra dimension since they victimize both individuals and communities.” people can disagree about the causes, there can be little doubt that something ugly has been unleashed, and it needs to be examined and addressed. All crimes are reprehensible, but hate crimes carry an extra dimension since they victimize both individuals and communities. Recent polls reveal that a majority of European Jews do not feel comfortable wearing clothing or jewelry that identifies them as Jewish. The situa-
tion in Europe is very different, and tragically, more violent than what Jews in the U.S. have confronted. Still, the White House must elevate this issue in an effort to ensure that such sentiments do not take hold in our nation. Second, federal security funding for vulnerable religious and other communal institutions must be increased. The Nonprofit Security Grant Program, administered by the Department of Homeland Security, is currently budgeted at approximately $20 million, a figure simply inadequate to meet a pressing need. Hate crimes aimed at Jewish institutions threaten not only those organizations; they menace the very basis of our pluralistic society, and therefore every citizen should have an interest in stopping them. Governments at all levels need to make financial investments to that end. No doubt there are other steps that can be taken – a good example being the Federal Communications Commission’s waiver of certain privacy rules that will make it easier to track
phone threats. And finally, since other nations are watching, our reaction, in word and deed, can affect Jewish security abroad. The White House should act swiftly to dispel rumors that, as part of a wave of budget cuts, it plans to eliminate the State Department’s special envoy to monitor and combat anti-Semitism. Since 2004, when Congress created that post, the special envoy has been a go-to global address, an embodiment of our country’s commitment to fight anti-Semitism. It is needed today more than ever. Although the special envoy has dealt with anti-Semitism abroad, the position also sends a message here at home – and so does any talk of eliminating it. The upsurge of anti-Semitism will not abate on its own. We need concerted action to reverse it. DANIEL ELBAUM is the American Jewish Committee’s assistant executive director and director of regional offices and MARC STERN is the committee’s general counsel.
| BASEBALL
and become the only team to come out of the qualifying round and go undefeated. In the second round this week, Israel beat fifth-ranked Cuba before losing badly in a rematch with the Netherlands on Monday [March 13]. Before each game, the players have removed their caps for Israel’s national anthem, “Hativkah,” to reveal matching kippahs. Both headcoverings feature Israeli flag colors: royal blue embroidered in white with the team’s logo, a stylized Star of David with an “I” in the middle. The kippahs were still sold out online Tuesday [March 14]. Another Judaism-related option for fans is a life-size stuffed Mensch on a Bench, who Team Israel has adopted as its mascot. The toy, based on a character from a children’s Hanukkah book, was on sale as of Tuesday. Major League Baseball’s vice president of business public relations, Matt Bourne, told JTA that the Israel cap has outsold those of all the other teams in the WBC with the exception of the United States. He had not responded to a request for additional sales information as of Tuesday afternoon. The “Jew Crew” T-shirts are in demand, too. Adler, the owner of America’s Finest Apparel, said he had sold hundreds since the team started winning last week. There was a big spike after ESPN’s Darren Rovell tweeted an image of Cody Decker, an outfielder and designated hitter for the team and a member of
the Milwaukee Brewers, wearing one at a news conference. “After Rovell’s tweet, we went from selling one or two a day to being back-ordered,” Adler said. “We’ve sold hundreds at this point.” He said most of the orders have come from the American Northeast, with a few from Canada and one “very persistent” American woman requesting a shirt from Israel. In response to requests, the company has rolled out new styles, including for women and children. “We didn’t do this to make money, but more as a favor to Cody [Decker] and of course Team Israel,” said Adler, who is friendly with some of the players. “The amazing thing is that these guys aren’t even Israeli for the most part. They’re American Jews who are playing for a culture, not just a country. It’s easy to get caught up in the love affair of that.” Nearly all the Israeli players are American Jews. According to WBC rules, a player may compete for a country if he is eligible for citizenship under its laws. The grandchild of a Jew, and that grandchild’s spouse, have the right to become Israeli citizens. Many members of Israel’s small baseball community have American backgrounds, too.
PHOTO |MATT ROBERTS/GETTY IMAGES
Team Israel players lining up for the national anthem prior to their World Baseball Classic game against the Netherlands in Tokyo, March 13.
Otherwise, the sport is little watched or played in the country, which has just three baseball-specific fields and about 1,000 active players. And Team Israel’s success has not changed that. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week
tweeted his support for the team, the games have not been broadcast on Israel’s sports channel and have received only passing mention in the Hebrew media. Asked on the radio whether she would be attending the game in South Korea, Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev sounded confused and said, “Obviously, [baseball] is not one of the preferred fields we invest in.” Adler said he will donate a portion of the proceeds from the “Jew Crew” shirts to a Jewish National Fund project to
promote baseball in Israel. He also promised that if Team Israel beats top-ranked Japan on Wednesday [March 15] and qualified for the WBC semifinals in Los Angeles on March 20-22, he will produce a special shirt for the occasion – and drive supplies up from his company office in Mesa, Arizona, if necessary. “For people who are watching the team with a lot of pride, it’s gonna be perfect,” he said. “It’s not necessarily something you’d expect to see from a gritty little Jewish baseball team.”
thejewishvoice.org
Ongoing Alliance Kosher Senior Café. Kosher lunch and program every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft Ave., Providence. Noon lunch; 1 p.m. program. $3 lunch donation from individuals 60+ or under 60 with disabilities. Neal or Elaine, 401338-3189. West Bay Kosher Senior Café. Kosher lunch and program every weekday. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. 11:15 a.m. program; noon lunch. $3 lunch donation from individuals 60+ or under 60 with disabilities. Steve, 401743-0009.
Through April 27 Three Creative Approaches. Temple Habonim’s Bunny Fain Gallery, 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington. Works by Bunny Fain, Barbara Grace DeCesare and the children from the religious school (Mural 5777). Gallery open Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and by appointment. Information, call 401-245-6536 or email gallery@ templehabonim.org.
Friday | March 17 T.G.I.F. Thank G-D It’s Friday. 5:45-7 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Shabbat songs and story with the rabbi. Kiddush and free kid-friendly Shabbat dinner. (Donations welcome.) Open to all. RSVP, 401-885-6600. Kabbalat Shabbat Service. 7:30 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Shabbat service followed by an Oneg. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@ toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600.
Saturday | March 18 Shabbat Service and Bar Mitzvah. 9 a.m.-noon. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Service and Bar Mitzvah followed by a Kiddush luncheon. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600. Saturday Morning Junior Kiddush Club. 9:30-11:15 a.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Shabbat morning activities include prayer, parashah, play time and a special Kiddush just for kids. Age groups: Tots, Pre-K-1st grade, 2nd grade and up. No fee. Information, office@bethsholom-ri.org, call 401621-9393 or see Facebook page @ BethSholom-RI. Minyan Breakfast and Torah Study. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Breakfast followed by study of the Torah portion in the downstairs chapel. Everyone welcome. Information, Dottie at Temple Sinai, 401-942-8350. Kids’ Night Out: Hollywood. 5-10 p.m. Dwares JCC. 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Children participate in a variety of themed activities including sports, crafts, swimming and more. Pizza dinner and snacks. Movie. Price: $35 | Members: $25 | Siblings: $15. Information or to register, Maurisa Goldberg at 401-421-4111, ext. 147. Peach Hill Band: A Night of Rock. 6:30 p.m. Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Cocktails and food available at 6:30 p.m. Show starts at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $10 per person or $100
per table of 10. Cocktails and food not included. Information, Temple Beth-El @ 401-331-6070.
Sunday | March 19 Sunday Serenity. 9:45-10:30 a.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Meditation instruction for all levels. Thru April 2. Information, rabbi@bethsholom-ri.org. “In Search of Israeli Cuisine.” 2 p.m. Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Joanne Forman Film Festival presented by Sisterhood. See story, page 5. Kollel Jewish Unity Live. 7-9:30 p.m. Renaissance Hotel, 4 Ave. of the Arts, Providence. Annual signature event celebrating Jewish learning and community unity. Cost: $50 per person | $75 with a companion. Information, Raphie Schochet at Providencekollel@ gmail.com or 401-383-2786.
Monday | March 20 Conversion Class. 7:30-8:45 p.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Rabbi Barry Dolinger continues a broad-based exploration of the biggest topics in Judaism, designed to give an overarching but detailed appreciation for traditional Judaism. Ongoing study of Shabbat. Free. Thru May 22. Information, rabbi@ bethsholom-ri.org.
Tuesday | March 21 Congregation Beth Sholom’s Lunch & Learn. Noon-1 p.m. Offices of Rosenstein, Halper, & Maselli, 27 Dryden Lane, Unit #4, Providence. Study Mishpat Ivri – Jewish Civil Law – as it might be applied in the modern State of Israel in a five-part series. Cost: $15 per class, RSVP to Tammy Giusti at tgiusti@rhmllp.com. Information, rabbi@ bethsholom-ri.org.
based on his life as a gay youth growing up in a small town on the periphery of Israeli society. Dinner at 6 p.m. Sponsored by the URI Gender and Sexuality Center and URI Hillel with support from the Hinenu Department of Hillel International. Co-sponsors include The Jewish Voice, (401)j and the Jewish Alliance of Greater RI. Information, Yaniv Havusha at yaniv_ havusha@uri.edu or 401-874-2740. “Roots.” 7 p.m. Library Grand Reading Room, Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, University of MassachusettsDartmouth, N. Dartmouth, Mass. Ali Abu Awwad and Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger speak about their initiative to foster understanding between Palestinians and Israelis along with non-violent resolution to conflict. Al Abu Awwad, who finished “Painful Hope,” is a leading Palestinian activist. Hanan Schlesinger is an Orthodox rabbi and teacher, and a passionate Zionist settler who has been transformed by his friendship with Ali. Information, Rabbi Jacqueline Romm Satlow at 508-910-6551 or jsatlow@ umassd.edu. Moving from Stressful to Mindful Workshop. 7-8 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Amy Small, LICSW, Kesher social worker, guides participants through a variety of mindfulness experiences to help manage the stresses of daily life. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@ toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600.
StandWithUs Rhode Island Presents “68 Reasons for Optimism: Why American Jews Should be Confident About Israel.” 7-8 p.m. Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft Ave., Providence. Look at what happens behind the scenes of Israeli politics with Gil Hoffman, chief political correspondent and analyst for The Jerusalem Post, and host of Inside Israel Today on Voice of Israel Radio. Cost: $10. Information, Bracha Stuart at brachas@standwithus.com
“The Future of Jewish-Catholic Dialogue: How Global, Internal and Interfaith Dynamics Will Shape the Road Ahead.” 7 p.m. Part of the Theological Exchange Between Catholics and Jews Nostra Aetate – Fifty Years Later. Rabbi Gary BrettonGranatoor, D.D., rabbi of Congregation Shirat HaYam (Nantucket, Mass.) and former director of Interfaith Affairs, Anti-Defamation League and Rev. Dennis McManus, Ph.D. associate director, Center for Jewish Civilization, Georgetown University, and consultant for Jewish Affairs, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will speak in Aquinas Lounge. Private reception at 6 p.m. in the Center for Catholic and Dominican Studies. RSVP online for public presentation at prov. ly/pc-exchange. RSVP for event and the reception by emailing mmcneil4. ga@providence.edu or call 401-8652274. Sponsored by the Department of Theology, the Center for Catholic and Dominican Studies, the Office of Institutional Diversity, the Graduate Program in Theology, the Development of Western Civilization Program and the School of Arts & Sciences.
Tuesday Night Talmud (TNT). 7:308:30 p.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Study the Fifth Chapter of Berachot with Rabbi Barry Dolinger. Information, rabbi@ bethsholom-ri.org.
Mah Jongg. 7 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Open to members, non-members, men and women. Free. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@ toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600.
Yoga. 6-7 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Cost: $30 for 3 sessions paid in advance; $12 per session at the door. Beginner and intermediate levels. Bring a mat. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@toratyisrael.org or 401885-6600.
Wednesday | March 22 URI Hillel’s Photographs of an Outsider: An Evening with Israeli Photographer Adi Nes. 6-8 p.m. URI Gender and Sexuality Center, 19 Upper College Road, Kingston. Acclaimed Israeli photographer Adi Nes is the keynote speaker for the annual LGBTQ symposium. Nes’ dramatic photographs recall well-known scenes from art history and Western civilization combined with personal experiences
Thursday | March 23 Zumba. 7-7:45 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. $5 per person per class. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@ toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600.
Friday | March 24 Shabbat Services and Dinner. 5:30 p.m. URI Hillel, 6 Fraternity Circle, Kingston. Services at 5:30 p.m. Dinner
CALENDAR
March 17, 2017 |
at 6:15 p.m. Free for students, $15 for community members. Information, Yaniv Havusha at yaniv_havusha@uri.edu or 401-874-2740.
St., Providence. Meditation instruction for all levels. Information, rabbi@ bethsholom-ri.org.
Kabbalat Shabbat Service. 7:30 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Shabbat service followed by an Oneg. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@ toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600.
Saturday | March 25 URJ Regional Shabbaton. 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Day of learning, worship, music and networking with Rabbi David Ellenson, chancellor emeritus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and Gila Hadani Ward, Union for Reform Judaism director of lay resources. Information, Temple Beth-El at 401-331-6070. Taste of Shabbat. 9-11 a.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. 9 a.m. Torah discussion and 9:45 a.m. Shabbat service followed by a light Kiddush. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600. Saturday Morning Junior Kiddush Club. 9:30-11:15 a.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Shabbat morning activities include prayer, parashah, play time and a special Kiddush just for kids. Age groups: Tots, Pre-K-1st grade, 2nd grade and up. No fee. Information, office@bethsholom-ri.org, call 401621-9393 or see Facebook page @ BethSholom-RI. Minyan Breakfast and Torah Study. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Breakfast followed by study of the Torah portion in the downstairs chapel. Everyone welcome. Information, Dottie at Temple Sinai, 401-942-8350. Shabbatini. 6-7:30 p.m. Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Martinis, sangria, music, snacks and schmoozing. Spirited Havdalah service. Sponsored by TBE membership committee. $10 per person. Information, Judy Moseley at 401-331-6070.
Sunday | March 26 Day-at-the-J! 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Dwares JCC. 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Monthly Sunday of fun, learning and relaxation. Lap swim (all day). 12:30-5:30 p.m. Family swim. 9:30 a.m.-5:55 p.m. Open gym for children and families. 10:30 a.m. Community Read Brunch with Ron Florence. (See separate listing.) 3 p.m. Jewish Culture through Film: “Sallah Shabati.” (See separate listing.) 3-5 p.m. Paint the Town with PJ Library and Jewish Book Council author Lisa Rose. (See listing.) Information, Michelle Cicchitelli at 401421-4111, ext. 178 or mcicchitelli@ jewishallianceri.org. Children in kindergarten or younger must be accompanied by an adult at all times. An adult must remain in the building for children in grades 1 and up. OROT Classes. 8:45-9:30 a.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Continue the study of Rav Kook’s revolutionary seminal work, a collection of essays that describe the religious significance of Zionism. Free. Information, rabbi@bethsholom-ri.org. Sunday Serenity. 9:45-10:30 a.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp
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Understanding Islam. 10-11:30 a.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Wendy Manchester Ibrahim will speak about Islam and the challenges facing the Muslim community. Information, Dottie, temple office, 401-942-8350. Community Read Brunch with Ron Florence. 10:30 a.m. brunch and 11 a.m. speaker. Dwares JCC. Culminating event of the Jewish book initiative. Novelist and historian Ron Florence discusses his book “Lawrence and Aaronsohn: T. E. Lawrence, Aaron Aaronsohn, and the Seeds of the ArabIsraeli Conflict.” Copies of the book are available in advance and at the door. Participants in the book initiative will be recognized during the brunch. $5 | Free for participants in the initiative who committed to reading a non-fiction book of Jewish content. RSVP to Lynne Bell at 401-421-4111 or lbell@ jewishallianceri.org. Adult Education: Cooking with Valerie Philmus. 10:30 a.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Hands-on demonstration. $5 per member | $10 per non-member to cover cost of ingredients. Information or to register, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@toratyisrael.org or 401885-6600. Bagel Brunch. Noon-1 p.m. URI Hillel, 6 Fraternity Circle, Kingston. Eggs, coffee and more. Free for students. $15 for community members. Information, Yaniv Havusha at yaniv_havusha@uri.edu or 401-874-2740. “Above and Beyond.” 2 p.m. Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Joanne Forman Film Festival presented by Sisterhood. Documentary, produced by Nancy Spielberg, portrays the establishment of the Israeli Air Force. See story, page 5. Paint the Town with PJ Library and Jewish Book Council Author Lisa Rose. 3-5 p.m. In the PJ Library book “Shmulik Paints the Town,” Israeli Independence Day is coming up and the mayor is planning a celebration. To prepare for the festivities, the mayor asks Shmulik to paint a mural and decorate the park around it, and Shmulik agrees. But then what? Come hear this story, presented by author Lisa Rose and her special guest. Participants will create a mural to hang in the Dwares JCC. Dress appropriately. Ages: 12 and under. Free. Information, Michelle Cicchitelli at 401-4214111, ext. 178 or mcicchitelli@ jewishallianceri.org. Jewish Culture through Film: “Sallah Shabati” 3 p.m. Dwares JCC. (Enter at 130 Sessions St.) Israeli film offers a comedic glimpse into the chaos of Israeli immigration and resettlement. In the midst of absorbing hundreds of thousands of Jewish refugees from Arab countries, one family tries to make money and obtain better housing in a country that can barely provide for its own. Admission: $5 | Members $3. Information, Tslil Reichman at treichman@jewishallianceri.org or 401421-4111, ext. 121. Project Shoresh Partners in Torah Night. 7:45-8:45 p.m. Center for Jewish Studies, Providence Hebrew Day School, 450 Elmgrove Ave., CALENDAR | 10
10 | March 17, 2017 FROM PAGE 9
CALENDAR Providence. Free, informal, partnerbased study group, where you study your choice of texts together, English or Hebrew, ancient or modern, with on-site facilitators available to answer questions. Information, Noach Karp at rnoachkarp@gmail.com or 401-4298244.
Monday | March 27 StandWithUs Rhode Island presents “Standing Up for Israel: The Fight for Israel’s Public Image” with Shahar Azani. 7-9 p.m. Dwares JCC (enter at 130 Sessions St.). Learn to translate passion and love for Israel into practical and effective tools that benefit and sustain the Jewish State. Shahar Azani, executive director of StandWithUs Northeast Region, served as consul for media affairs and spokesperson at the Consulate General of Israel in New York. He also served as deputy spokesperson at Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem; Israel’s consul for Culture, Media and Public Affairs in Los Angeles; and deputy ambassador at the Embassy of the State of Israel in Nairobi, Kenya. He writes a column for the Huffington Post and the Times of Israel. Cost: $10. Information, Bracha Stuart at brachas@ standwithus.com. Conversion Class. 7:30-8:45 p.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Rabbi Barry Dolinger continues a broad-based exploration of the biggest topics in Judaism, designed to give an overarching appreciation for traditional Judaism. Information, rabbi@ bethsholom-ri.org.
Tuesday | March 28 “Secrets of Passover.” 10-11:30 a.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Rabbi Goldwasser teaches a 2-session course in the chapel. Also on April 4. Information, Dottie at Temple Sinai, 401-942-8350. Yoga. 6-7 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Cost: $30 for 3 sessions paid in
CALENDAR advance; $12 per session at the door. Beginner and intermediate levels. Bring a mat. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@toratyisrael.org or 401885-6600. Tuesday Night Talmud (TNT). 7:308:30 p.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Study the Fifth Chapter of Berachot. Information, rabbi@bethsholom-ri.org.
Wednesday | March 29 Mah Jongg. 7 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Open to members, non-members, men and women. Free. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@ toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600.
Thursday | March 30 Zumba. 7-7:45 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. $5 per person per class. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@ toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600.
Friday | March 31 PJ Library Story Time: Passover. 10-11 a.m. Dwares JCC. Jeffrey Savit, president and CEO of the Jewish Alliance of Greater R.I., reads a Passover story. Children to age 5. Enjoy a story, craft and snacks with friends. Free. Information, Ruth Horton at rhorton@jewishallianceri.org or 401421-4111, ext. 117. Shabbat Services and Dinner. 5:30 p.m. URI Hillel, 6 Fraternity Circle, Kingston. Services at 5:30 p.m. and dinner at 6:15 p.m. Free for students. $15 for community members. Information, Yaniv Havusha at yaniv_havusha@uri.edu or 401-874-2740. Scholar-in-Residence Weekend. 7-8 p.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Rabbi Baruch Simon is scholar-in-residence through April 1. He is the Rosh Yeshiva at Yeshiva University/Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary. In the main sanctuary. Information, office@ bethsholom-ri.org.
The Jewish Voice Erev Shabbat Service with Jodi Blankstein. 7:30-9 p.m. Temple Habonim, 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington. Musical guest Jodi Blankstein, accompanied by Adam Dehner. Information, Jodi Sullivan at office@templehabonim.org or 401-2456536.
has partnered with Indie Cycle, a local e-waste collection company to collect waste. All of the e-waste is sent to a certified recycling company. Information, Kara Marziali at 401421-4111, ext. 170 or kmarziali@ jewishallianceri.org, or visit http://www. jewishallianceri.org/e-waste-recycling/.
Shabbat Services with Shireinu. 7:30-9 p.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Shireinu, the community chorus of Temple Sinai, participate in the service. Celebrating its 10th anniversary. An Oneg follows. Information, Dottie, 401-942-8350.
Guest Speaker Congressman Jim Langevin. 11-noon. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Langevin will speak to congregants about cyber security: DNC hacking, identity theft, protecting the nation and industry. Information, Dottie at temple office, 401942-8350.
Kabbalat Shabbat Services. 7:30 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Shabbat services followed by an Oneg. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@ toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600.
Saturday | April 1 Taste of Shabbat. 9-11 a.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. 9 a.m. Torah discussion and 9:45 a.m. Shabbat service followed by a light Kiddush. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600. Minyan Breakfast and Torah Study. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Breakfast followed by study of the weekly Torah portion in the downstairs chapel. Everyone welcome. Information, Dottie at Temple Sinai, 401-942-8350. Saturday Mornings Junior Kiddush Club. 9:30-11:15 a.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Shabbat morning activities include prayer, parshah, play time and a Kiddush for kids. Age groups: Tots, PreK-1st grade, 2nd grade and up. No fee. Information, office@bethsholom-ri.org, call 401-621-9393 or see Facebook page @BethSholom-RI. Saturday Night Movie with the Rabbi: “A Walk on the Moon.” 7 p.m. Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Havdalah, movie (rated R – not for under 17) and discussion. Information, Temple Beth-El at 401-331-6070.
Sunday | April 2 Good Deeds Day. R.I. Jewish community groups host a series of good deeds (mitzvot) in various locations throughout the state. Programs and activities include an e-waste recycling event, a nature preserve clean-up, Passover preparation help, a community service brunch, hand-made card delivery to the elderly, Kosher food collection for the needy and a blood drive. For information, go to jewishallianceri.org/ good-deeds-day. OROT Classes Winter & Spring 2017. 8:45-9:30 a.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Continue the study of Rav Kook’s revolutionary seminal work, a collection of essays that describe the religious significance of Zionism. Free. Information, rabbi@bethsholom-ri.org. Sunday Serenity. 9:45-10:30 a.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Meditation instruction for all levels. Information, rabbi@ bethsholom-ri.org. E-Waste Recycling. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Recycle unwanted electronics responsibly during Good Deeds Day. The Jewish Alliance
“Once in a Lifetime.” 2 p.m. Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Joanne Forman Film Festival presented by Sisterhood. Film, based on a true story, depicts an inner city French high school class as the group undertakes a research project on the Holocaust. See story, page 5. Project Shoresh Partners in Torah Night. 7:45-8:45 p.m. Center for Jewish Studies, Providence Hebrew Day School, 450 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Free, lively, informal, partner-based study group, where you study your choice of texts together, English or Hebrew, ancient or modern, with onsite facilitators available to answer questions. Information, Noach Karp at rnoachkarp@gmail.com or 401429-8244.
Monday | April 3 The Miriam Hospital Women’s Association Presentation. 6:30 p.m. The Miriam Hospital, 164 Summit Ave., Providence. Dr. Patrick Sullivan discusses the latest in defying gravity, the skinny on stem cells and current trends in non-surgical procedures. Membership: $36 Annual | $300 Life Member. Current and new members welcome. Information, MFerreira@ lifespan.org or call 401-793-2520. Conversion Class. 7:30-8:45 p.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Rabbi Barry Dolinger continues a broad-based exploration of the biggest topics in Judaism, designed
to give an overarching but detailed appreciation for traditional Judaism. Through May 22. Information, rabbi@ bethsholom-ri.org.
Tuesday | April 4 Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center presents “The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler.” 9:30-11:30 a.m. Showcase Cinema, Warwick Mall, 400 Bald Hill Road, Warwick. The story of a Polish social worker who saved the lives of Jewish children by secretly removing them from the Warsaw ghetto. See story on page 3. Open to the public. Information, May-Ronny Zeidman at May@BornsteinHolocaustCenter.org or 401-453-7860. “Secrets of Passover.” 10-11:30 a.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Rabbi Goldwasser teaches this course in the chapel. All are welcome. Information, Dottie at Temple Sinai, 401-942-8350. Tuesday Night Talmud (TNT). 7:30-8:30 p.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Study the Fifth Chapter of Berachot with Rabbi Barry Dolinger. Semester siyum. Information, rabbi@bethsholom-ri.org. Women’s Alliance Spring Rosh Hodesh Program: “Miriam: A Study of Courage and Controversy.” Noon-1:15 p.m. Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Features Howard VossAltman, senior rabbi at Temple Beth-El. Explore one of the ancient matriarchs as she helped lead us out of Egypt, across the sea and into the wilderness. Cost: $10 (includes lunch). Dietary laws observed. Information and to RSVP, Danielle Germanowski at 401-4214111, ext. 109.
Wednesday | April 5 Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center presents “The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler.” 9:30-11:30 a.m. Showcase Cinema, Warwick Mall, 400 Bald Hill Road, Warwick. See story page 3. Information, May-Ronny Zeidman at May@ BornsteinHolocaustCenter.org or 401453-7860.
PASSOVER
thejewishvoice.org
The 5 (or so) habits of successful Seder leaders BY EDMON J. RODMAN LOS ANGELES (JTA) – What kind of leadership style works best for a Seder? During a period when we are experiencing a shake-up in national leadership, you may want to re-examine the relationship that exists between leader and participants at the Passover meal. Though Seder leaders and participants are not elected, there is still a Seder mandate that governs your relationship: Everyone present – the wise, the wicked, the simple, and even the one who does not know how to ask a question – are all involved in the evening’s proceedings. Attending a Passover Seder remains an “extremely common practice” of American Jews, according to Pew Research Center, with approximately 70 percent participating. Despite its broad mandate, however, meaningful Seders rarely function as true democracies. The Seder is a complicated undertaking with symbolic foods, actions and storytelling, and on this night that is different from all others, the call is for an assertive leader who can guide a tableful of guests through a sea of ritual needs. Since Passover is an eightday holiday of freedom, and the Seder a celebration of the going out from Egypt, you may think the people are clamoring for a democratic free-form kind of dinner – from chanting the kiddush to singing “Chad Gadya.” After leading a family Seder for more than 30 years, my experience has been that if I give everyone a free hand to comment and question, and the Seder runs long, revolution erupts, with the guests vigorously chanting “When do we eat?” If I try to rule the table with an iron kiddush cup, my poll numbers plummet, especially among the restless, 20-somethings, who start texting under the table. Defying typical political alignment, I have found that on the nights when the Seder works my style of leadership has fallen somewhere between being a benevolent dictator and a liberal talk show host. I say benevolent dictator because it is part of the leader’s job to find a way for everyone to retell the Passover story and ultimately exit the slavery of Egypt – even though they may not necessarily feel the need. Going around the table urging guests to share the reading is one way, and calling up guests beforehand to discuss and assign a specific section of the Seder is another. Especially for whoever is going to lead the Four Questions it helps to ask them personally beforehand rather than springing the task on them on the night of the Sed-
er. Such quiet lobbying helps reorient one from being an audience member into one, as the Haggadah says, who can see himself as if he had left Egypt. As “liberal talk show host,” I get that the Haggadah is filled with questions that must be questioned as well. I once opened a Seder by asking, “What does it mean when the Haggadah says: ‘Let all those who are hungry come and eat with us?’ ” Especially in a year such as this one, where even benign conversation is abuzz with politics, there are going to be varying responses, from the bitter, like maror, to the sweet, like charoset. At the time, you may not think that these opposing points of view are what binds a Seder together, but recall that in the Haggadah, when the five rabbis are sitting in B’nei Brak telling and interpreting the story of the Exodus, each has something different to add, and it is the whole of their interpretations taken together that heightens our understanding of the text. Those not leading but participating in the Seder, don’t think that you are off the hook in setting its tone. In his book “Keeping Passover,” Ira Steingroot points out that being a Seder guest “doesn’t mean that you have to be the life of the party or a maven (authority), and you certainly do not want to monopolize the conversation, but you have a role to play in the drama of the Seder.” In fact, it is your responses and feelings that determine whether everyone at the table makes it past the plague of ennui. Whichever your style, Steingroot’s book is a great source, as well as “Passover: The Family Guide to Spiritual Celebration” by Dr. Ron Wolfson with Joel Lurie Grishaver, and “A Different Night, The Family Participation Haggadah,” by David Dishon and Noam Zion. Taking my own advice, a few nights before our first encounter with all things matzah each year, I go through the Haggadah and annotate, searching for my afikomen: a way to connect the story of traveling from slavery to freedom to the lives of my guests. This year to provoke discussion, before we open the door to Elijah, I plan on asking guests to imagine what would happen if the prophet, as we imagine him – a robed and perhaps turbaned man from the Middle East – was detained at airport customs? EDMON J. RODMAN is a JTA columnist who writes on Jewish life from Los Angeles. Contact him at edmojace@gmail. com.
March 17, 2017 |
Traditional Passover Menu 2017 Now accepting orders through Friday, April 7th, 2017 for pick up on Sunday, April 9th and Monday, April 10th Please note all items are only available at refrigerated temperatures
Gefilte Fish
$2.99 pc.
___________
House Horseradish
$7.99 lb.
Chopped Liver
$9.99 lb.
Chicken Soup with carrots
$3.49pt./$6.98 qt.
Matzoh Balls
$9.99 dz.
Roasted Brisket with Gravy
$18.99 lb.
Boneless Chicken Breast
$7.99 ea.
(Stuffed with Spinach, Roasted Red Peppers and Garlic)
Holiday Lasagna_______________________________$9.99 lb. Carrot Tzimmis
_$8.99 lb.
Traditional Charosis
_$7.99 lb. $7.99 lb.
Roasted Vegetable Medley
_
Potato Kugel
_____ $5.99 lb.
(Whole kugel approximately 5 lb.)
Sweet Potato Kugel
$6.99 lb.
(Whole kugel approximately 1.5 lb.)
Apple Kugel
$6.99 lb.
(Whole kugel approximately 1.5 lb.) Chef’s Suggestions to Complete Your Passover Meal-Whole Poached Salmon Side, Lemon Scented Asparagus, Green Beans Amandine, Stuffed Grape Leaves.
165 Pitman Street Providence, RI 02906 Phone: 401-831-7771 Website: eastsidemarket.com Email: esidemkt@aol.com
*All prepared foods are Jewish-style and are explicitly not Kosher/Kosher for Passover*
11
12 | March 17, 2017
PASSOVER
The Jewish Voice
The art of Passover cleaning
DAYENU NEVER SOUNDED BETTER
For me Passover cleaning equates with spring cleaning. Te ch n ic a l ly, spring is almost here, but nature has its own timetable. This is a wonderful way to be gently inspired to clean out the PATRICIA cupboards, RASKIN wash the curtains and vacuum the hidden spaces. Passover cleaning – and spring cleaning – clears out the old and gets us ready for the new. This is a time to look at what you have with fresh eyes. You may want to rearrange what you have in a new way. Sarah Ban Breathnach, bestselling author of “Simple Abundance” and guest on my program, produced a beautiful CD of songs and music titled “Simple Abundance, Music of Comfort and Joy.” The lyrics in the song “Simplify” are alive in my head as I write this column: “I opened up the door today and looked inside my soul / Not sure of the things I’d find / So many boxes stored away / For some brave and rainy day / Full of lost and left behinds…/ (Chorus) Simplify this house / Straighten out this mess / Open up the windows / Air out my life / Simplify this house / Wash away my pride / Rearrange my heart / And let the light inside.”
Words for this time of year.
Duby Litvin writes a great article, on aish.com, “Duby’s Top 10 Passover Planning Tips,” which are very useful.
Here are some of mine which follow my 5 Ps to Success that are in my book, “Success Your Dream and You.” Purpose – Have a vision of how you want Passover to look in all ways. This includes your table, your food and the family and friends you will invite. Know the why of your choices and see them clearly in your mind’s eye. Plan – Put the vision on paper and write a detailed plan. Use your lists and memos and refer to them often. Ask for help from family or friends. This will reduce stress. Passion – This one is the driver and gets you through the tedious parts of preparation. Persistence – You don’t have to push through it. Following your plan persistently but with breaks and good time management. This will not only make it easier but also more enjoyable. Patience – Be patient with yourself. Follow the steps you outlined in your plan in an orderly fashion without pressure and pushing against the clock. Then you can watch your Passover planning unfold instead of being so involved and anxious that you miss the process. And, here, I add a sixth P: Prayer – We know that makes a difference. When you ask for help, you can include God. PATRICIA RASKIN hosts “The Patricia Raskin Show” on Saturdays at 3 p.m. on WPRO, 630 AM/99.7 FM and on Mondays at 2 p.m. on voiceamerica.com. Raskin is a board member of Providence’s Temple Emanu-El.
Celebrate shared history at annual Seder RHODE ISLAND’S BEST SELECTION OF DELIGHTFUL
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Share in the histories of Cape Verdeans and Jews at the 12th Annual Cape Verdean-Jewish Passover Seder on April 4, at 6 p.m. at Hibernian Hall (3rd floor ballroom), 184 Dudley St., Roxbury, Massachusetts. Passover recalls the Biblical story of the Jews’ deliverance out of slavery in Egypt to freedom more than 3,000 years ago. At this special celebration, we’ll explore the liberation stories and songs of Jews and Cape Verdeans. The evening includes
live Cape Verdean music (Vanuza), live Jewish music (Boston Workmen’s Circle Klezmer Jam) and Cape Verdean and Jewish food. The guest speaker is Rabbi Wayne Franklin from Temple Emanu-El, Providence There is no cost, but space is limited. RSVP to www. c ap everde a njew i sh se der. com/rsvp. For more information, w w w.c apeverdea njew ishseder.com or e-mail capeverdea njew ishseder@ gmail.com.
PASSOVER FOOD
thejewishvoice.org
March 17, 2017 |
13
New ‘Perfect for Pesach’ cookbook is that – and more finish up with Fudgy Chocolate Bundt Cake with Coffee Glaze or Frozen Red Wine Strawberry Mousse. And, if you’re not cooking yourself this Passover, “Perfect for Pesach” makes a, well, perfect gift for your hosts.
BY CYNTHIA BENJAMIN Whether you’re a gourmet cook or an amateur, an adventurous eater or a traditionalist, a family with young children or a fan of exotic ethnic foods, Naomi Nachman’s got you covered in her handsome new cookbook, “Perfect for Pesach: Passover recipes you’ll want to make all year” (Mesorah Publications, $29.99). Nachman, known as “The Aussie Gourmet,” knows how time-consuming and exhausting it can be to prepare for Passover: As a child growing up in Australia, it was her dad’s job to keep the children occupied while her mother and grandmother cooked, cooked, cooked for the upcoming holiday. One year, by the time the preparations were finished, her mother was so exhausted that she actually passed out at the seder. We don’t want that to happen to you. Nor do we want you to pass out from boredom as you prepare the same dishes you’ve made for decades, and eat the same dishes you’ve eaten for decades. New times and new access to fresh, wholesome ingredients call for new recipes – and “Perfect for Pesach” has them. These recipes are so tasty and easy that you’ll truly want to prepare them all year long. And Nachman has even included a “Year ’Round” page so you can
Charoset Salad pareve – yields 8 servings
Ingredients
Candied almonds 1 cup blanched, sliced almonds 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Dressing
1/2 cup cream Malaga or sweet red wine 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 3/4 cup oil 2 tablespoons sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon Pinch cayenne pepper
Naomi Nachman easily alter the recipes when the holiday ends. For example, “Crispy Flounder with Pickled Onions” makes for a memorable fish taco, and you can use spaghetti, instead of spaghetti squash, in the “Mock Sesame Noodles.” Cooks will appreciate Miriam Pascal’s dazzling 8.5-by-11-inch photographs of each prepared dish, the book’s large print, tips that accompany each recipe and the simple time-saving instructions for preparing the recipes in advance and freezing and defrosting the dishes. New cooks, or perhaps someone preparing a first seder, can use this cookbook to create an impressive meal. Nearly all the
Pavlova desserts that kids favor, like Vanilla Cupcakes, Betty’s Fruit Sorbet or Rocky Road Fudge. These recipes are so easy that the kids can even help prepare them! For more advanced cooks – and more adventurous eaters - you could start a Passover meal with the mouth-watering Cauliflower Sushi, or Seafood Cakes (which start with a defrosted gefilte fish loaf), or Hawaiian Poke, move on to Moroccan Salmon or Ultimate Pesach Cholent for the entrée, and then
recipes have fewer than a dozen ingredients, and staples – such as matzah balls and Sweet and Savory Brisket – are included. But don’t stop there: Guacamole Deviled Eggs combines two favorite and are an amazingly easy appetizer, Pesach Egg Noodles are a snap and will dress up your matzah ball soup, and “Winner Winner Chicken Dinner” – well, the name says it all. For households with young children, Passover can be a trial. Put a smile on the tykes’ faces with the simple, familiar
Salad
5-6 ounces baby spinach OR choice of lettuce 3 Granny Smith apples, with peel, diced 8 dried dates, pitted and diced
Method
Prepare candied almonds: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Heat a frying pan over medium heat. Add almonds, sugar and cinnamon; cook for approximately five minutes, stirring frequentCOOKBOOK | 14
Wishing you and your family a
HAPPY PASSOVER
5
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Kedem Grape Juice
Lilly’s Passover Assorted Cookies
4 oz. pkg. 2387827
12 oz. pkg. 2555441
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64 fl. oz. btl. 2522495
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Yehuda, Aviv or Osem Matzo
Manischewitz Matzo
5 lb. box 2462321
Mrs. Adler’s Gefilte Fish
Selected Varieties, 24 oz. jar 2522383
Manischewitz Tam Tams Crackers Selected Varieties, 8 oz. pkg. 2462115
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Streit’s Matzo Ball and Matzo Ball Soup Mix Selected Varieties, 4.5–4.75 oz. box 2462447
Terra Vegetable Chips
Selected Varieties, 9–11 oz. pkg. 2472705
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4
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Streit’s Potato Pancake Mix Selected Varieties, 6 oz. pkg. 2536760
Tabatchnick Chicken Broth
32 fl. oz. cont. 2462449
5 lb. box 2546460
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$ 9/e9a.
Acme Smoked Nova Salmon
4
Kedem Apple Juice
Selected Varieties, 64 fl. oz. btl. 2441678
/lb
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Lieber’s Macaroons Selected Varieties, 10 oz. cont. 2461877
Manischewitz Egg Matzos
12 oz. pkg. 2462404
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Use your Stop & Shop card and save on items on this page. We sell kosher and non-kosher foods. Not all products kosher for Passover. Not all items available in all stores. While supplies last. Prices effective 3/17–4/11/17
Selected Varieties, 33.8 fl. oz. btl. 2523809
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14 | March 17, 2017 FROM PAGE 13
PASSOVER FOOD | COMMUNITY
The Jewish Voice
| COOKBOOK
ly, until the sugar is dissolved – do not overcook or sugar will burn. Spread the nuts in a single layer on prepared baking pan; set aside to cool. Prepare the dressing: Combine all dressing ingredients in a container; cover tightly and shake to combine. Assemble the salad: Add spinach, apples, dates, and candied almonds to a large bowl. Just before serving, drizzle with desired amount of dressing (you will have extra); toss to combine. Prepare Ahead: Nuts can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for about a week. Dressing can be prepared ahead and stored in the fridge for about a week. Cook’s tips: Be careful when working with the candied almonds, as hot sugar can cause a painful burn. This recipe makes a large quantity of dressing. Keep any extra in the fridge and use it to dress salads all week.
2 teaspoons potato starch, sifted
Topping
1 (16-ounce) container nondairy whipped topping 6 strawberries, sliced 2 kiwis, peeled and sliced
PHOTOS | “PERFECT FOR PESACH,” WITH WITH PERMISSION FROM ARTSCROLL/SHAAR PRESS
Pavlova
pareve – yields 10 servings
Ingredients
4 egg whites 1 cup sugar 1 teaspoon vinegar
low the meringue to cool inside the oven for several hours. Prepare the topping: In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat non-dairy whipped topping until stiff peaks form. Assemble: Immediately before serving, spread whipped topping over the top of the cooled meringue shell. Top with fruit. Prepare Ahead: Bake meringue up to a week in advance and store airtight at room temperature.
Method
Preheat oven to 250°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. In bowl of an
electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Add sugar, vinegar, and sifted potato starch; beat until a soft and glossy meringue forms.
Pour the meringue mixture onto prepared parchment paper, shaping it into a large circle with a narrow rim. Bake for 90 minutes, or until crisp on the outside. Turn off oven and al-
Cook’s Tips: Feel free to replace the strawberries and kiwis with the fruit of your choice. To make a layered Pavlova as shown in the photo, double both the meringue and whipped cream. No need to double the fruit, as that only goes on the top layer. You can make these as mini pavlovas. Form meringue into 2-3-inch circles and bake at 250°F for 30 minutes. Recipes and photos reprinted from “Perfect for Pesach” by Naomi Nachman with permission from Artscroll/Shaar Press / March 2017. CYNTHIA BENJAMIN is an editor, writer and chef. She is a member of Congregation B’nai Israel, in Woonsocket.
‘If they were here: What would Holocaust victims think’? Holocaust Art & Writing Contest open for entries BY LEV POPLOW The Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center’s Art and Writing Contest is one of its longest running and most creatively inspiring programs. As Executive Director May-Ronny Zeidman said, “Using the lessons of the Holocaust to relate to what is happening in the world today directly ties into our mission of connecting today’s generation to the lessons of our past and giving them a voice to build a better future for everyone.” This years’ theme, “If They Were Here,” asks what Holocaust victims would think of recent genocides and the present state of bigotry and hatred in the world? If those who did not survive could come back, how would they view the world’s situation now through the lens of genocides that have happened or are happening now, since the Holocaust? The theme of connecting people who didn’t survive the Holocaust with what is happening today was chosen to both challenge and excite participants. Zeidman said, “Many of the students who win are firstgeneration Americans, and it is exciting to look at the parents who see that their children are living the American
Entries from years past. (Above and right) Dream. And, students who have come here from another country that is under siege, like Cambodia or Rwanda, really get it. They really identify with, and understand, what the Holocaust was all about.” “When a student gets it they do incredible things with the
yearly themes. What the students produce, the artwork in particular, never ceases to amaze us.” The annual contest brings in 300-400 entries from students across Rhode Island. Sometimes the entries are so good that two first prizes are
awarded. Often, the ice cream social awards presentation standing-room-only as parents and teachers come out to support the children. The entry deadline this year is Tuesday, April 25. The contest rewards students’ creative expression and awards prizes in a number of categories including: Art (both 2and 3-dimensional), Essays and Short Stories, Music, Photography, and Poetry. New this year is the opportunity for students to create TEDtalk-like videos. Entries will be judged by members of the board of directors of the San-
dra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center. Winners, their families and friends will be invited to the awards ceremony and ice cream party on Sunday, May 21. For entry forms and more category details, contact the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center at 401-4537860 or May@BornsteinHolocaustCenter.org. LEV POPLOW is a Communications and Development Consultant writing on behalf of the Bornstein Holocaust Education Center. He can be reached at levpoplow@gmail.com.
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PASSOVER
March 17, 2017 |
15
10 easy tips to avoid a boring Seder BY REBECCA ROSENTHAL (Kveller via JTA) – If your Passover Seder is anything like mine, it can resemble the world’s most difficult classroom: different ages, ranging from 3 to 93, and varying levels of interest. Some want to read and discuss every word in the Haggadah, some just want to get to the food – and everything in between. Designing a Seder that can work for everyone can feel like a challenge for even the most seasoned educator, let alone a busy parent. But there is magic in the Seder. Having loved ones around a table together can feel like a luxury in this day and age, so here are some tips for making the most of the festive meal. I hope these ideas will inspire you to be creative in a way that feels authentic to your Seder. The Seder’s purpose is to get people to ask questions, so the more you break the mold of the way you have always done it, the more likely you and your guests will be able to access the true meaning of the holiday. Here are 10 tips to perk up your Seder this year. 1. Put out some food earlier. Food is always important in Jewish events and never more so than in the Seder. It can feel like a long time until you get to dinner, but after karpas (the green vegetable that comes right at the beginning), you can serve appetizers. Veggies and dip or fruit are good healthy options, but my family also puts out candy, which keeps the kids busy for a little while. If you want to be thematic, there is fair-trade, slavery-free chocolate that is Kosher for Passover. 2. Play with your food. Along the same theme, there are fun ways you can incorporate food into the heart of the Seder. One friend of ours attaches the parsley to mini fishing rods and uses them to dip the parsley in the salt water. Another friend chops up lots of fruits and nuts (and even some chocolate) and allows the guests to make their own charoset, as long as it resembles the mortar. When it comes time to remember the plague of hail, I have heard of families throwing mini marshmallows at one another. Finally, there is a Persian custom of lightly (or not so lightly) slapping your neighbor with scallions during the song “Dayenu” as a reminder of slavery. 3. Use the table. Put something interesting on the table, either in the middle or at each individual plate. We have used different kinds of frogs, puppets and masks. Perhaps it will inspire a guest to ask a question about Passover, the story or the traditions of your family. At the very least it will entertain those at the table when they need a
break. 4. Don’t be a slave to the Haggadah. The Haggadah is meant as a guide, and you don’t have to read every word to fulfill your obligation to tell the story. Get many different haggadot and look for readings and retellings that speak to you and share those at the Seder. Or get the kids to write a play about the Passover story and perform it. Or ask your guests to bring something that represents freedom and tell the story of why. As long as your guests are engaged in the story of slavery to freedom, you have done your job. 5. Move around. This is the story of a wandering people. If you have the space, then wander! Do one piece of the Seder in the living room, one in the dining room, or even go outside if the weather is nice. Turn a few bed sheets into the sea and walk through it on your way to the Promised Land. Give your guests a chance to be in the story, not just talk about it. 6. Assign homework. People always do better if they are prepared, so ask your guests to participate in the Seder. Send a question in advance, ask them to bring something or even make decorations for the Seder table. Guests, bring a reading or an object that speaks to you. I guarantee your host will appreciate not having to carry the weight of the entire evening. 7. Give everyone a job. Before the Seder, make a list of everything that has to be done during the evening, from pouring the wine to serving the soup to clearing the table. Then, assign away. You guests will be happy to help, and you will be happier if you come out of the Seder not feeling enslaved. 8. Sing (or watch videos). There are tons of songs for kids and adults alike for Passover. Google around to find tunes or songs that you like and teach them at your Seder. Providing song sheets helps everyone sing along. And if singing is not your thing, a quick search on YouTube for Passover song parodies turns up videos that would be fun to watch before or during the Seder. 9. Make something. When I was about 10 years old, I spent hours creating a chart that outlined the order of the Seder. I made a small arrow that could be used to show where we were in the progression of the evening, and since then it has been used every year. My mother still brings out Elijah’s cups that my sisters and I made in Hebrew school, and my kids proudly show off their Seder plates, kiddush cups and matzah covers. If your kids don’t make them in school or Hebrew school, these are easy crafts to make at home.
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10. Let loose. The point of the Seder is to engage people in the questions, both ancient and contemporary, of slavery and freedom. The way you do that is up to you. Try to find a balance between preparing for the
Seder and obsessing about every detail. And if your kids run screaming circles around the table while everyone else is trying to talk, as mine have done on more than one occasion, those are memories, too. Don’t beat yourself up about it.
RABBI REBECCA ROSENTHAL is the director of youth and family education at Central Synagogue in New York City. Rosenthal and her husband live in the city with their three children.
16 | March 17, 2017
PASSOVER
The Jewish Voice
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BY DUBY LITVIN (My Jewish Learning via JTA) – Passover requires a great deal of preparation, especially if you are making your home Kosher for Passover. These 10 tips will help you organize and prioritize, so you can enjoy the holiday. 1. Don’t wing it, plan it Planning is imperative. Think of your house as your corporation and you are its CEO. You are in charge. Just like a big company would plan out its functions, you also want to work on “Project Passover.” When you have a plan in place, things will go much more smoothly.
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2. Delegate to your team, including children. As CEO it is your job to delegate and supervise all the tasks. The more you delegate the better off you will be. If you can afford it, hire a cleaning person to help. Have your spouse or a teenage son or daughter take care of the shopping. Even if you think the job is small and easy, the less on your plate the better. The best thing with children under 6 is to have someone else take them out of the house, so you can clean without them underfoot. Older children can handle small jobs, such as wiping down toys and surfaces. In the kitchen, these little helpers can do peeling, juicing, cracking nuts or other introductory jobs. Know what your child can or can’t handle and let him or her feel important. 3. Passover cleaning versus spring cleaning. Imagine sitting down to a beautiful Passover Seder – the house is sparkling clean, the chandeliers are glistening, the windows are sparkling – and you’re falling asleep. While it’s lovely to have them sparkle and shine, chandeliers and windows are not imperative to making your home Kosher for Passover. Passover cleaning is any place
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that there’s a very good chance that food was brought in. If you know there was no food brought there, then it doesn’t have to be cleaned. Even food that’s been stuck on the wall, if it’s more dirt than food, it doesn’t have to be scrubbed. For something to be considered chametz, it needs to be edible and accessible. 4. Poor man’s bread or bread that makes us poor. For those buying only foods certified Kosher for Passover, the holiday can be expensive. But you don’t have to make matzah or other processed foods mainstays of your meals. Instead, focus on in-season fruits and vegetables. Before heading to the supermarket, create a menu and shopping list, and stick to it. 5. Don’t buy an entire kitchen your first year. If you are making your house strictly Kosher for Passover, you will need to pack away your year-round dishes and cookware and replace them with Passover ones. However, you can build up your Passover collection gradually. Start with just the few crucial items the first year and each year buy a few more things. 6. Your list is your friend. From a cleaning to-do list to detailed shopping lists, from lastminute reminders to menus, lists will save your life. Don’t let the mental to-do list overwhelm you – get it all down on paper and rest assured nothing will be forgotten. Keep everything in one place (or on your smartphone). 7. Passover doesn’t have to be Pinterest worthy. While many people believe everything has to be picture-perfect, simplifying can make your life much easier. Plan a new and fancy dish here and there if it gives you pleasure, but don’t feel like you must. Where possible, cook things in advance and freeze them. 8. Leave the bitterness to the maror. The last thing you
want is to have a chip on your shoulder when it comes to holiday traditions. If you do feel resentful about the amount of work that goes into holiday preparations, then something needs to change ASAP. Try to shift your thinking from “yet another thing I have to do” to a place of “we have an opportunity here.” Focus on what’s most important about Passover: the Seders, time with family and loved ones. 9. Have fun and create new traditions. My mother-in-law makes a special orange soup for Passover, and all her grown children now make it as well, because it’s a beloved tradition. You may think, who cares, it’s just soup … or it’s just the annual Passover week trip to the park. But these are exactly the things that make Passover special. Here are some ideas to make holiday prep more fun: putting music on when cleaning, giving out prizes (to yourself as well as others) for accomplishing specific tasks, special new toys for the holiday, create photo contests with friends or family members of “funniest items found while cleaning for Passover.” 10. When all is said and done, get it in writing! Passover is over, and the last thing you want to do is look at one more list, let alone go through it. But hang in there and jot down what worked, what didn’t, if you bought too much matzah or not enough. Write down that new trick you came up with to help the kids enjoy the Seder. You will thank yourself next year. DUBY LITVIN lives in Louisville, Kentucky. When she is not making lists, she owns a small Kosher bakery and dabbles in writing children’s literature. Connect with her at MrsDuby@gmail.com or go to www. DubysPesachLists.com.
HOME & GARDEN
thejewishvoice.org
March 17, 2017 |
17
PHOTOS | TEMPLE SINAI GARDEN BLOG
Temple Sinai's Biblical Garden at the lower entrance to the synagogue beautifies the building and is a Bible lesson written in soil, stem, root and flower. Planted and maintained by member volunteers, the garden is filled with markers that show how each plant is connected to Jewish tradition, the Bible, and the Land of Israel.
Ancient grains come full circle in Temple Sinai’s Biblical Garden BY CATHERINE WALTERS In the Biblical Garden at Temple Sinai in Cranston, religious school students will soon sow three ancient cereal grains that are native to the Near East and were fi rst domesticated by farming communities over 10,000 years ago: einkorn wheat, emmer wheat and barley. Ancient strains of barley and wheat were grown throughout the Fertile Crescent and into Egypt, providing forage for sheep and goats. The ability to sow and harvest these grains facilitated the transition from
nomadic herding to settled communities throughout the biblical world. Ancient Israelites depended on cereal grains – mostly consumed as bread – for the majority of their calories. Making bread was a central activity of the household, requiring intensive labor to harvest, thresh and grind the grains into meal or flour. Barley meal or wheat flour was usually mixed with oil, and sometimes fruit, to make flat cakes, which were baked on a hot stone or in a clay oven. The grains could also be boiled into a porridge,
sometimes supplemented with legumes and spices, or steeped in water and fermented to make beer. The secret of leavening – allowing the dough to rise before baking – was discovered by the Egyptians well before the Israelites arrived in the region. Dough could be leavened in two ways, either by setting the dough in the open air to be exposed to spores of wild yeast, or by adding a bit of “starter” dough from a previous batch of leavened bread. The production of leavened bread was a time-consuming process,
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passed down through generations as an important cultural and economic element, tied to the land and the crop cycle. Shepherds, however, relied on unleavened bread. Tova Dickson of Neot Kedumim, the Biblical Landscape Reserve in Israel, writes on Neot Kedumim’s website (http://bit.ly/2lVaP6t): “Nomads cannot carry a heavy oven with them as they travel from place to place, nor can they wait for dough to rise, as was the case when the time came for the Israelites to flee from Pharaoh and the Egyptians.” And the Passover story relates: “The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, ‘We shall all be dead.’ So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders.” (Exodus 12:33-34.) “The key word in understanding the matzot that the Israelites baked when leaving Egypt is ‘haste’,” Dickson writes. “Matzah is a coarse, basic food
that by its very nature symbolizes liberty and freedom. … This helps us understand the severity of the prohibition against eating hametz on Passover. Eating matzot on the eve of the exodus was in and of itself symbolic of the transition from slavery to freedom; from the culture of slaves whose lives depended on the Egyptian leavened bread to the culture of matzot – the bread of free shepherds, our early forefathers.” During this coming season of liberation, we have the opportunity to tell the Passover story once more, to consider what freedom means in our own lives. Matzah might just suffice to remind us that we can cultivate lives of greater authenticity, simplicity and ruach if we choose. C A T H E R I N E WA L T E R S tends the Biblical Garden at Temple Sinai. For information about the garden, contact Walters at 401-419-7698 or margalit_ rut@hotmail.com.
HOME & GARDEN
18 | March 17, 2017
The Jewish Voice
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AN EVENING WITH ISRAELI PHOTOGRAPHER, ADI NESS Acclaimed Israeli photographer, ADI NES, is the keynote speaker for URI’s Annual LGBTQ Symposium. Nes’ dramatic photographs recall well known scenes from Art History and Western Civilization combined with personal experiences based on his life as a gay youth growing up in a small town on the periphery of Israeli society. FREE and open to the public For more information contact Amy at amyolson@uri.edu or Annie at anniem@uri.edu
Wednesday
March 22
7pm
There will be a dinner before the presentation at 6pm. URI Gender and Sexuality Center 19 Upper College Road, Kingston
(401) J This event is sponsored by the URI Hillel and the URI Gender and Sexuality Center with support from the Hinenu of Hillel International. Additional sponsors include the URI Student Entertainment Committee, Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island,The Jewish Voice, and (401)j.
STATEPOINT – You may not realize it, but the average residential property can be hazardous to local wildlife without proper precautions. An estimated 98 million birds are killed annually in the U.S. when colliding with windows, according to Western Ecosystems Technology, making your home a potential death trap during migratory season. However, there are steps you can take to not only protect the birds whose fl ight path traverses your yard and garden, but also offer them a safe place to rest and feed – adding natural beauty for your garden. Start by making glass visible to birds by applying safety decals to window exteriors every few feet. Remember sliding glass doors as well. To maintain the look of your home and your own view out the window, use decals that are unobtrusive to the human eye, but contain a component that reflects ultraviolet sunlight. Those from WindowAlert have proven in studies to be an effective visual barrier that only birds can see, particularly when combined with WindowAlert UV Liquid, a gel which can be applied between decals for greater protection. “Everyone can help contribute toward making migration safer for birds,” says Spencer
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Schock, founder of WindowAlert. Because the UV reflectivity may fade over time based on exposure, replace the decals every four months and reapply the liquid every three months. Schock also points out that if you want migratory birds to stay awhile, you may want to consider avoiding the use of pesticides that kill insects which are the birds’ natural food source. A strategically placed bird feeder – either within three feet of a window or over 30 feet away in order to prevent bird strikes – can provide nourishment and energy to hungry birds. Ideally, bird feeders will be placed well away from where prey may be lurking, such as bushes and trees. If you own cats, you should also be mindful of their danger to birds and monitor your cats’ time spent outdoors to ensure they are not hunting feathered friends. More tips for turning your yard into a safe haven for birds can be found at windowalert. com. “Birds play a valuable role in our ecosystem,” says Schock. “Protecting them from the hazards humans have created will not only save lives, but will improve your local environment, too.”
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HOME & GARDEN
March 17, 2017 |
19
On-Trend Home Design Make sensational style the focus of your home makeover FAMILY FEATURES – If a home makeover is on your horizon, it’s the perfect time to take note of design trends that may help shape your project. Today’s hottest looks leave plenty of room for personal interpretation, so it’s easier than ever to incorporate the latest looks for a home that seamlessly blends your personality with on-trend decor and design elements.
Eye-catching detail
Understated elegance, a look that many designers have favored in the past, is losing ground to more prominent design features that make no bones about attracting attention. Colorful woodwork in the kitchen, vibrant patterns such as marble countertops, jeweltoned textiles and bold details like nail-head patterns on furnishings are all evidence of a bolder style. The trick is to blend elements carefully and avoid competing pieces that create more of a mish-mash than a stylish statement. Bright colors once reserved for subtle accessorizing are now fair game for larger palettes – even walls. Many experts agree: among this season’s top picks are shades of green, ranging from soft, subtle tones to vibrant, luxurious hues. Similarly, much as the clothing fashion world has embraced the idea of combining patterns for a cohesive look, the same applies to home decor. Far from looking disjointed, this approach can actually make for an on-point style statement.
The “fifth wall”
The least noticed aspect in every room – the ceiling – can actually be more than a surface for tired old ceiling fans. Recognizing this underutilized element as an unexpected design space with a direct connection to the great wide open, some designers are exploring ways to extend design to that “fifth wall.”
The ceiling represents an untapped design opportunity with the power to completely transform spaces from top to bottom. Incorporating the fifth wall into your design allows you to set your sights higher than the average wall. Current interior design trends show an increased use of vibrant colors, creative wallpapers and even wood cladding on ceilings, aiming to make a statement that places the fifth wall at the center of a room’s overall decor. Another must-have for a stunning fifth wall design is skylights, which provide a connection to nature, whether it’s a view of the sky on a sunny day, treetops, a passing rainstorm or a starry night sky. Skylights provide balanced, natural light that can make colors appear truer while enhancing interior decor. In addition, strategically introducing natural light from above can free up wall space for cabinetry or artwork and make small rooms feel larger. “Skylights bring much more than natural light into a space. They give occupants the feeling of being outdoors with elements like a sky view, gentle breezes and the smell of fresh air,” said Ross Vandermark, national product manager for Velux America. “By fully incorporating the fifth wall into a room’s decor, homeowners can create beautifully designed rooms that engage all of the senses.” Beyond the aesthetic benefits, special features can enhance the practical use of skylights. For example, for added flair and light control, homeowners can add blinds to skylights, and many models also offer remote control operation for convenience in raising and lowering the blinds and even opening skylights to let in some fresh air. Learn more about making skylights the focal point of your fifth wall design at whyskylights.com.
A fresh way to shine
When it comes to metallic design elements, the ultra-sleek and modern look of stainless steel and brushed nickel is becoming quickly outdated. The warmth that bronze and brass bring to the overall aesthetic makes these popular choices in the kitchen and bathroom alike. For the latest take on this look, avoid blingy, shiny finishes and instead opt for a softer brushed look. Considering shine from another perspective, lighting is an area where homeowners can make easy upgrades for a trendy new look. Forget bulky overhead lighting and instead give your room a boost with
a series of funky task lights. Skip traditional bases and look for fun shapes and colors that lend some visual interest to the space.
Texture, texture, texture
With everything from wallpaper to linens to artwork, texture brings added dimensions to the room. As with color and patterns, don’t be afraid to mix and match for a unique look that blends different tactile elements for a space that is as pleasing to the fingertips as it is to the eye. If you’re not sure where to begin, start with textiles such as the window treatments or bedding. Look for options that take texture beyond a traditional
cotton weave and integrate different materials or construction for a distinct look and feel. More daring choices include furnishings such as a satiny armchair or a velvet-covered settee.
Smart enhancements
No modern home makeover is complete without the consideration of technology. Smart features and devices bring added enjoyment and convenience to nearly every aspect of modern living. Be sure to consider which electronic features can be integrated into your smart home network, so once the renovating is done you can simply flip a switch and sit back to enjoy the stunning results of your effort.
20 | March 17, 2017
HOME & GARDEN
The Jewish Voice
A simple spring cleaning checklist
Creative gardening tips STATEPOINT – Gardeners often focus on the science of their hobby: how much water and sunlight their plants need and how to improve soil quality and keep pests at bay. But there can be a lot of artistry behind the craft as well – from how you harvest and enjoy flowers to how you convert unused spaces in your home into a viable indoor edible garden. Put your creativity to good use this spring season by gardening with style.
Indoor Gardening
For those who don’t have an outdoor garden or yard, the dream of enjoying your own freshly picked fruits and vegetables may seem out of reach. However, the nooks and crannies of your home can be creatively rendered into productive growing zones. And experts say that nearly all homes can support indoor gardening. “Whatever the size of your home, there will be a selection of edible plants you can grow indoors, as long as you have some natural daylight fi ltering in,” says Zia Allaway, author
of “Indoor Edible Garden: Creative Ways to Grow Herbs, Fruit and Vegetables in Your Home.” “The areas where plants will grow can be windowsills, beneath a skylight or even in a dark, unlit area if you install grow lights.” In “Indoor Edible Garden,” a highly visual guide full of practical tips and stylish ideas, Allaway offers step-by-step directions for everything from creating suspended shelves and hanging jars for growing herbs to mounting edible orchids onto bark and displaying them on walls. She points out that those embarking on indoor gardening should fi rst evaluate the level of time they can commit. “Just remember that unlike other projects in the home, such as decorating and cooking, all gardening projects require some aftercare. So, if you have a busy schedule, choose crops that will tolerate less watering and feeding.”
Flower Arranging
While your flower garden is likely a beautiful work of art in and of itself, you can spread
the joy by harvesting your flora and bringing the beauty indoors. Floral arrangements add vitality to any interior space. “For me, every arrangement starts with the container. Think about what mood or style you want to evoke, and remember, anything can be a container as long as it can be made watertight,” says Rachel Siegfried, author of “The Flower Book: Natural Flower Arrangements for Your Home,” which explores 60 flowers, bloom-by-bloom in portraiture, including quickreference profi les and tips. Siegfried recommends that, when selecting flowers for your arrangement, you pay attention to shapes, textures and colors to achieve good balance. Start with a primary focal flower and build out with a couple of secondary focals, a fi nal flourish, and foliage. For her part, she relies on instinct. “I get a ‘buzz’ when I fi nd a good combination,” she says. From flowering bouquets to spicy pepper plants, apply creativity to your gardening this spring.
STATEPOINT – It’s the time of year to roll up your sleeves and do some spring cleaning. Experts point out that it’s helpful to streamline the tools you use to do the job and the tasks you seek to accomplish. “An all-purpose cleaner and a tough degreasing agent can be used in so many areas of the home,” says Jeff Devlin, a licensed contractor who’s appeared on several home improvement television shows. Devlin’s fi rst tip: look to reduce the number of products in your cleaning arsenal. “Along with high-quality sprays and cloths, I use one all-purpose cleaner that also contains degreasing ingredients.” Devlin, along with Mean Green, offers these different strategies for critical areas of your home. • Stove and range hoods: While you should be cleaning these areas regularly after food preparation, take this opportunity to conduct a more thorough cleaning. Spray cleaner directly on the mess for up to two minutes. Wipe clean with a sponge or cloth. Then rinse thoroughly with clean water. • Sinks and countertops: Sinks and countertops can be a trap for food, grease, grime and soap scum. Spray nonporous surfaces with your cleaner then rinse. • Stove exhaust fi lter: The grease buildup that collects on the stove’s exhaust fi lter can be a tough nut to crack. In a sink, mix 8 ounces of a concentrated multi-surface cleaner and 1 gallon of hot water and submerge the fi lter. Place the fi lter in a sink
or dishpan and pour in concentrated cleaner to cover. Allow the fi lter to soak for 30 minutes. Drain the dishpan and rinse thoroughly with hot water. • Floors: Give your floors a mopping. Mix 4 ounces of cleaning solution with 1 gallon of warm water. Apply with mop or sponge. • Garbage cans and diaper pails: Bags often leak nastiness into the bottom of the garbage can. Turn your cleanser’s nozzle to spray and generously cover the can. Wipe or brush any areas that have any residue. Rinse. • Showers, tubs and tile: Use your cleaning agent at full strength and generously spray surfaces directly. Allow it to penetrate the soap scum for up to two minutes. Do not allow to dry. Wipe away with a coarse sponge or cloth. Rinse thoroughly with clean water. • Toilets: Let’s face it. This isn’t anyone’s favorite job but it has to be done. Turn that nozzle to spray and generously spray the outside of the toilet. Wipe clean with a paper towel, then rinse. • Patio: For patios, outdoor furniture, concrete, vinyl fences and siding, use the same cleaner outdoors: spray, then wipe clean with a cloth or sponge and rinse surfaces. While you’re at it, consider removing grease and grime from tools, tires, sports gear and lawn equipment. “Make spring cleaning simple and effective by using smart strategies on every surface of your home,” said Devlin.
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Annual gala a success at Congregation Beth Sholom BY ANDREW PESSIN On Sunday, Feb. 26, Congregation Beth Sholom (CBS) celebrated its “Annual Gala” in its East Side of Providence building. By all measures it was a tremendous success – the event sold out, with well over 100 people attending. “It was wonderful to look around our festive social hall and see people from all sectors of the Jewish community,” CBS President William Krieger said. “That reflects both the great diversity and the great unity of our community, as well as people’s support for our really impressive honorees this year.” This year’s honorees were synagogue members Donny and Rena Jurkowitz, and Michael and Ruth Forstadt, all of whom, Krieger noted, devote themselves tirelessly to the shul. Also honored was Eric Taylor, director of operations at Bottles Fine Wine in the Eastside Marketplace complex in Providence, a generous supporter of CBS. All gave memorable remarks; the Forstadts had the additional distinction of being introduced by a video sent from Israel by Alan and Laura Krinsky. The evening began with cocktails in the upstairs lobby, outside the main sanctuary. Moving downstairs to the social hall, there were welcoming remarks by Krieger and CBS Rabbi Barry Dolinger, followed by a delicious dinner prepared by Catering to Tradition. Music was provided by The NonPareil Excelsior Ensemble, led by Fishel Michael Bresler. Over dessert the band was joined by shul member Dr. Steven Stein on guitar, and Dolinger on the drums.
The Jurkowitz family. “I knew Rabbi Dolinger had a great way with words,” said one shul member who preferred not to be identified, “but I didn’t know he had a great way with drums too.” “You really could feel the energy,” Krieger added. “The shul has been growing quickly the past couple of years, with a lot of younger families, thanks to our children’s programming, and we were pleased to see that reflected in this successful event.” Dolinger echoed the sentiment. “Seeing the room fi lled to capacity was a reminder of how much Modern Orthodoxy has to offer the community.” CBS, a Modern Orthodox congregation, is located at 275 Camp St., Providence. ANDREW PESSIN is a member of Congregation Beth Sholom.
The Forstadt family.
“Historical Perspectives: Creativity, Courage and Growth” Presented by the Sisterhood of Temple Beth-El SUNDAY, MARCH 19 “In Search of Israeli Cuisine” This film follows chef Michael Solomonov as he presents the history and traditions of modern, multi-cultural Israeli cuisine. Discussion with Paula Davidson-Bodo, Educator SUNDAY, March 26 “Above and Beyond” This documentary, produced by Nancy Spielberg, portrays the establishment of the Israeli Air Force after Israel became an independent state in 1948. Discussion with Film Editor, Chris Callister SUNDAY, April 2 “Once in a Lifetime” This feature, film, based upon a true story, depicts an inner city French High School class as the group undertakes a research project regarding child victims of the Holocaust. Note: This film contains strong language and is not appropriate for those under 17 years of age. Discussion with Holocaust Educator, Lilliane Birch
PHOTOS |JESSICA POHL
Congregants at the gala
Sundays at 2:00 PM in March and April, 2017
Everyone is welcome to join us in the Temple Beth-El Meeting Hall, 70 Orchard Avenue, Providence, RI, for our exciting Film Festival. Come and enjoy our films, inspiring moderators, and refreshments. Admission is free.
21
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22 | March 17, 2017
The Jewish Voice
Summer J-Camp
Dwares Rhode Island
A welcoming place for all!
, 2017
25 June 26 - August
Pick up a copy of the guide!
Camp Yeladim: ages 3 - 4 Camp Haverim: grades K - 6 Counselors-In-Training (CITs): grades 7 - 10
David C. Isenberg Family
Early Childhood Center 401 Elmgrove Avenue | Providence, RI 02906 | 401.421.4111 | jewishallianceri.org
Women’s Alliance
of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island
Rosh Hodesh
Tradition tells us that Rosh Hodesh, the marking of the new moon, was once celebrated by both Jewish men and women. In later years, Rosh Hodesh became primarily a women’s holiday – a day for women to be together to enjoy meaningful introspection, dialogue and study.
Celebrate Rosh Hodesh with us! Tuesday, April 4, 2017 | 8 Nisan 5777 12:00 - 1:15pm Temple Beth-El 70 Orchard Avenue, Providence Miriam: A Study of Courage and Controversy Featuring Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth-El The cost to attend Rosh Hodesh is $10 and includes lunch. For more information or to RSVP, contact Danielle Germanowski at 401.421.4111 ext. 109 or dgermanowski@jewishallianceri.org or visit jewishallianceri.org/rosh-hodesh
IDF stories from the front lines
BY BRACHA STUART
Israelis Shai, 24, and Nir, 26, told compelling stories as StandWithUs’ “Between the Lines: Voices of Israel – Stories Untold” visited Rhode Island on Feb. 25 and 26. Their presentation was part of the ninth StandWithUs tour, which features reservists who tell about their personal experiences serving in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), as well as about their backgrounds and lives in Israel. Chabad of West Bay, in Warwick, and Laurelmead, in Providence, were hosts to the young Israelis, who told their stories to an audience of nearly 700 people at Praise Tabernacle in Cranston. Their appearances in Rhode Island concluded a two-week East Coast tour, including stops at the U.S. Military Academy and the Coast Guard Academy. Last names are withheld for security purposes. Nir grew up in a house of opposites – his father was from a secular Dutch family and his mother from a religious Persian family of nine children. During the 1950s, the anti-Semitism and pogroms against Jews living in Arab countries increased and intensified, and Nir’s mother’s family left behind everything when they fled. Meanwhile, his father’s parents were dealing with the horrors of World War II and the Holocaust. After years of living comfortably in the Netherlands, they were running for their lives – and survived thanks to some of the Righteous Among the Nations, who hid them in a secret room under the stairs in their house. If this seems similar to another famous Holocaust story from Holland, Nir revealed that prior to the war, his grandmother had been a close friend of Anne Frank. Although their backgrounds are very different, Nir’s parents had something big in common: they fled persecution and came to the only Jewish country in the world. He compared his mixed household to the ingathering of the exiles of the Jewish people. Military service is mandatory in Israel for men and women at age 18. Nir joined the elite Paratroopers Brigade as an officer and a deputy company commander. He told the audience that Israel, situated in the middle of “a tough neighborhood,” has been under attack for each of its 68 years of existence. In addition to the Palestinian terrorist attacks within Isra-
el, the West Bank and Gaza, Nir said ISIS is threatening Israel’s northern border, the terrorist group Hezbollah targets civilians from Lebanon, and the Syrian civil war spills across the border. During Operation Protective Edge, Israel’s 2014 war against Hamas in Gaza, Nir was horrified to see children’s bedrooms turned into weapon storage areas and kindergartens converted into control centers for Hamas commanders. Despite the enemy’s use of its own people as shields, Nir said Israel does its utmost to protect civilians by dropping flyers, making telephone calls and texting to alert them to an imminent attack so they can take cover. Shai grew up on a kibbutz and served as a drill sergeant in the Israeli Air Force’s Pilot Cadet Course. A half-Australian and half-Indian Jew, she is religiously mixed as well, having both a Christian and a Muslim grandparent. Shai shared a harrowing story of training her soldiers in the desert in 2012 when suddenly the flash of the Iron Dome alerted her to an attack. With no warning and no shelter, they waited for six hours as hundreds of rockets passed over their heads. The stress of being in mortal danger, combined with her deep sense of responsibility for her soldiers, resulted in PTSD, which she suffers from to this day. Shai said every Red Alert throws her back to those moments of terror. One day, after her service ended, Shai received such an alert on her phoneat work, causing her to hyperventilate. Her Palestinian Muslim coworker questioned why she was so distressed, and Shai sadly disclosed the reason. Later, he told her that he had prayed for forgiveness. For Shai, this reinforced her hope in the possibility of mutual understanding. The reservists concluded by saying that despite their many different backgrounds, Israelis have a natural brotherhood that will hopefully lead to the end of the confl ict – that knowing how to talk to “the other” among themselves will eventually lead to success in dialogue with ‘the other’ outside themselves. BRACHA STUART is executive director of the Rhode Island chapter of StandWithUs, a nonprofit Israeli education and advocacy organization.
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March 17, 2017 |
REMEMBER THE PAST From the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association
Come volunteer at Camp JORI with staff, families, friends and alumni on National Good Deeds Day 2017
Sunday, April 2nd • 1pm-3pm
Legacy for a firehouse BY GERALDINE S. FOSTER The Rochambeau Avenue Fire Station is now history. It housed its last shift on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2017. Passersby on Sunday morning saw the once lively station closed and dark. Although I have not lived on the East Side for a number of years, the news of the fi rehouse’s closing left me with a feeling of sadness akin to a dear friend moving away. The Fire House and Engine Company 4 were part of the fabric of the East Side I knew. Opened in 1929, the brick station fit neatly into the neighborhood. It did not intrude. The building was not so large that it overpowered the nearby houses, and, like many of them, it had a small yard that was always kept neatly mowed. In the warmer months, when not answering a call, the fi refighters played horseshoes in the yard – and took the time to demonstrate the skills required for the game. At noon each day, the sound of a siren emanated from the fi re station. Originally installed as a civil defense measure to warn of possible airstrikes during World War II, the siren’s purpose changed after we entered the nuclear age: It had to be in good working order to warn of atomic bomb attacks. As this threat receded, the daily test at noon lost any tinge of fear and became part of the normal day. Siren? It meant time for lunch. Or, time to check your watch to see if it was running fast or slow (that was before the digital age made timekeeping simpler). Or, just the feeling that we were all OK. The nearby neighbors also heard another regular alarm. On Saturdays, “like clockwork,” one said, at 7 a.m., the fi refighters tested the siren, horn and lights on their equipment. It was a quick intrusion and over quickly enough so one could go back to sleep or get up and face the world. The fi rehouse was also our voting station. It was appropriate, in a symbolic way: The fi re company was a visible facet of the government’s role in keep-
ing the citizenry safe, and we came to their house to select the representatives who would make up that government. The fi re company and the voting process were important lessons in civics for the children who regularly accompanied us when we voted. For the children who lived nearby, the fi re station was a place of wonder – the bright red truck, the hoses and gear, the shiny pole in the corner, and the bubbler that always spouted cold water. It was a welcome oasis for youngster Lee Teverow after working up a sweat playing outside, and much more fun than going home for a drink. Occasionally, the children were welcome to sit in the truck and pretend to be speeding to answer a call. Two of the people I contacted for this article, now parents of children of their own, remembered the joy and thrill of the one time they were allowed to climb the ladder to the upper story and slide down the shiny pole. And they all remembered kindness, never cross words. When the fi refighters noticed a boy who was always outside by himself, they took the time to play ball with the lonely child. Philip Teverow recalled running to Captain Farmer for help in tying his tie as he got ready for Shabbat services on a day when his father was not at home. And when Joseph Teverow suffered a heart attack, the fi refighters came over to plow after a snowstorm. Those who lived in the shadow of the Rochambeau Avenue Fire Station knew fi rsthand the fi refighters, who were friends in word and deed. For 87 years, the station was an integral strand in the fabric of a Providence neighborhood in which our Jewish community was and still is a part. GERALDINE S. FOSTER is a past president of the R.I. Jewish Historical Association. To comment about this or any RIJHA article, contact the RIJHA office at info@rijha.org or 401-3311360.
Outdoor Camp Beautification Projects of all kinds planting • raking • spring cleanup • refreshments tours • crafts • give-aways • fun for the whole family
For more info and to volunteer contact: sharon@campjori.com Camp JORI, Wakefield, Rhode Island • www.campjori.com
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24 | March 17, 2017
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Intel to acquire Israeli tech firm JERUSALEM (JTA) – The U.S. chipmaker Intel will pay $14.7 billion to acquire the driverless technology fi rm Mobileye in what reportedly is the largest-ever purchase of an Israeli high-tech company. In a joint announcement Monday [March 13], the companies said the combination “is expected to accelerate innovation for the automotive industry and position Intel as a leading technology provider in the fastgrowing market for highly and fully autonomous vehicles.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel called Mobileye CEO Ziv Aviram to congratulate him, calling the deal in a tweet a source of “Israeli pride.”
March 17, 2017 |
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“This deal proves that the vision we are leading is coming true. Israel is becoming an international technological powerhouse. Not only in regards to cyber, but in regards to vehicles as well,” Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office. Aviram reportedly told Netanyahu that the company and its research would remain based in Israel. Mobileye was founded in 1999 with a mission to help cut the number of injuries and fatalities caused by vehicles. It employs 600 people. Mobileye and Intel already are collaborating with BMW on a project that will see the production of 40 self-driving test cars. They are scheduled to hit the road later this year.
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26 | March 17, 2017 Harry M. Katzman, 86 EAST GREENWICH, R.I. – Harry Morton Katzman died March 9 at Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center. He was the beloved husband of Paula (Lazar) Katzman for 26 years, and his late wife Frances. He was the son of the late Jacob and Cora (Berk) Katzman. He had lived in East Greenwich, previously living in Cranston and Warwick. Harry was a Master Sergeant in the U.S Army and a member of the 2nd Infantry Division Band. He was the owner of Katzman Plumbing for more than 60 years. He belonged to the Shriners and was a Mason. He was a member of WBCJC. He was the devoted father of Gayle Katzman of Warwick; Dr.
OBITUARIES Gary Katzman and wife, Nicole, of Lincoln; Nancy LaPrairie and husband, Roger, of Los Angeles, California; Mark Resnick and wife, Kim, of San Francisco, California; and Debra Geller and husband, David, of Logan, Utah. He was the dear brother of Linda Rosen of Delray Beach, Florida, and the late Ruth Winniman. He was the loving Poppa to: Jeremy, Kole, Cyrus, Tori, Ari, Dylan, Jenny, Ben, Jacob, Nathan, Steven, Lindsey, Chloe and Noah. He was the uncle to: Michael, Bruce, Tracy and Sara. He was the brother-inlaw of Cindy Lazar. Contributions in his memory may be made to Hope Hospice & Palliative Care Rhode Island, 1085 N. Main St., Providence, RI 02904 and WBCJC, P.O. Box 7538, Warwick, RI 02887.
Rosalie Rice
MIAMI, FLA. – Rosalie “Rosie” Rice died in her home March, 1. A long-time resident of Miami and Sunny Isles, Rose was born
ASK THE DIRECTOR BY MICHAEL D. SMITH F.D./R.E. Shalom Memorial Chapel
Question: I have noticed a set of five Hebrew letters at the end of the Hebrew phrasing on many monuments. What do these letters stand for? I.G., East Greenwich Dear I.G., Often we see a combination of the Hebrew letters tav, nun, tsadi, bet, and hay inscribed on a monument or a marker. These Hebrew letters are an abbreviation for t’hay nafsho/nafsha tzrurah b’tzror hachairn. The English translation is roughly “May his/her soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life.” QUESTIONS ARE WELCOMED AND ENCOURAGED. Please send questions to: ShalomChapel@aol.com or by mail to Ask the Director, c/o Shalom Memorial Chapel, 1100 New London Ave., Cranston, R.I. 02920.
The Jewish Voice a twin in 1924 in Providence to Benjamin and Bessie Pulner Rice. Beginning her career in Providence and New York City, Rose came to Miami Beach in 1948 to work at the Miami Daily News. Advancing rapidly, she became a secretary at Paul M. Braun Amusements and a columnist for the Miami Beach Sun, as well as overseeing amusements advertising. In 1960, she launched her independent career in advertising founding Adam Advertising for the Aztec Group of hotels in Sunny Isles, and in 1964 launching Rose Rice Associates, Inc. Rose was the first woman to own her own ad agency in Greater Miami. She was a member of the Advertising Federation of Greater Miami since 1960, rising to president in 1979-1980. She was the recipient of many “first” awards, including the first person from Miami to receive the Jack Phillips Gold Medal from the State of Florida for her outstanding contributions to ad-
FROM PAGE 1
vertising; the 1971 Advertising Personality of the Year and in 1981 the Ad Fed’s first woman to receive the Silver Medal Award. A lifelong member of Temple Beth Sholom, she was active in the Jewish Museum of Miami Beach, the Holocaust Museum of Washington DC, and the Children’s Cancer Caring Center. Survivors include her nephews Sanford Gorodetsky (Barbara) and Ira Rice (Sharon) and nieces Lenore Gorodetsky, Marilyn Daniels and Barbara Ramsey (Ted). Donations may be made to the Ad Federation Scholarship Fund and the Children’s Cancer Caring Center.
Donald Robbins, 81
MASHPEE, MASS. – Donald M. Robbins died March 13. He was the husband of Esther (Sharp) Robbins. He was born in Woonsocket, a son of the late Robert and Nancy (Medoff) Robbins, and younger brother to Arthur Robbins. Donald was devoted to his family, enjoying a beautiful 57-
year marriage to his beloved Esther. In addition to raising his two sons, Jeff and Ben, he was a loving “Big Brother” to two boys, who remained in his life until the end. He doted on his grandchildren. A man of tremendous vitality, Donald pursued a successful career as vice president and corporate counsel at Hasbro. He also devoted his time to many community organizations including Big Brothers of Rhode Island, Temple Emanu-El, Jewish Federation of RI, Israel Bond Campaign, and the Boston Lyric Opera. He was passionate about community service and made a marked difference in everything he pursued. Donald was also an accomplished runner and completed more than one marathon. But most of all, he cherished the time spent with his adoring wife Esther. Contributions in Donald’s memory may be made to either Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ocean State or Hope Hospice Massachusetts.
| TOURO BELLS
ers, one of the most prominent silversmiths of the Colonial era. The rimonim are valued at $7.4 million. The panel heard arguments last week in an appeal filed by Shearith Israel challenging a lower court ruling that held the Manhattan congregation is not the rightful owner of the synagogue, The Associated Press reported. Shearith Israel has served as trustee of the Touro Synagogue dating back to the early 19th century. Last May, U.S. District Court Judge Jack McConnell ruled in favor of Jeshuat Israel, granting it control of the Touro Synagogue, including its claim of ownership of the silver rimonim. In his decision that traced the history of the Newport Jewish community and its relationship
with Shearith Israel, McConnell revoked Shearith Israel as the trustee and instead named Jeshuat Israel trustee of the building. The appeals court panel seemed unpersuaded by the lower court decision and the arguments by the Touro Synagogue that relied on centuriesold events and history between the two congregations, according to the AP. ‘‘You keep going back to history, but we’re dubious it has anything to do with this case,’’ Judge Sandra Lynch told a lawyer for the Newport congregation, AP reported. Instead, Lynch referred to legal agreements from the 20th century that established Shearith Israel as the lessor of the building and the Newport congregation as the lessee.
The panel also includes retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter, who occasionally sits as a judge on the court. The current dispute began in 2012, when Congregation Jeshuat Israel, which holds regular services at Touro, attempted to sell its valuable set of silver Torah bells to establish an endowment to maintain a rabbi and care for the building, which was designated a national historic site in 1946. Shearith Israel sued to stop the sale and attempted to evict the 120-family congregation from the building. The rimonim have been on loan from Touro Synagogue to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, which had made an offer to purchase them. The museum has since rescinded its offer.
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thejewishvoice.org
March 17, 2017 |
RHODE ISLAND
PRESENTS 2 SPECIAL EVENTS
Tuesday, March 21st 7pm
FROM PAGE 1
GOOD DEEDS
communications director of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. Here in Rhode Island, programs and activities already scheduled include an e-waste recycling event, a nature preserve cleanup, students helping local families prepare for Passover, a community service brunch, delivering handmade cards to the elderly, collecting Kosher food for the needy, a panel discussion and a blood drive. Many of the events involve partnerships. For example, The Louis and Goldie Chester Full Plate Kosher Pantry will collect donated Kosher food. All food donated on April 2 will be matched by Sugarman Sinai Memorial Chapel as part of its annual Chametz Collection. (401)j is working with the Barrington Land Trust to help clean the Osamequin Nature
FROM PAGE 4
Preserve in town. The Jewish Alliance is partnering with an e-waste recycler to collect and recycle e-waste. The public is invited to participate in these events and many more scheduled for April 2. Other good deeds are taking place at synagogues and religious schools in the area. Providence Hebrew Day School students are helping area families with Passover preparations. Touro Hebrew School students are making cards and delivering them to area seniors. And teens from BBYO New England are partnering with JServe in the International Day of Jewish Youth Service. For more information on volunteer opportunities and projects, go to jewishallianceri.org/ good-deeds-day. FRAN OSTENDORF is the editor of The Jewish Voice.
RABBI
forward to working with everyone in many different ways.” “Rabbi Fernanda,” as she has been commonly called, is the third female rabbi to serve at a Brazilian synagogue. Rio’s Reform temple ARI was the pioneer, hiring Rabbi Sandra Kochmann of Paraguay in 2003. Brazilian-born Luciana Pajecki Lederman has been the rabbi at the Conservative Comunidade Shalom in Sao Paulo since 2005. “We believe that women can perform mitzvot and participate in an equal position in religious services,” CIP President Sergio Kulikovsky said to open the ceremony. “Nothing is mandatory, but women are allowed to participate in an egalitarian way.” Indeed, the synagogue founded by German immigrants in 1936 and affiliated with both the Reform and Conservative movements took several years to assume an openly progressive attitude, although it was led for decades by emeritus
Reform Rabbi Henry Sobel, an iconic voice for interreligious dialogue and human rights in Brazil. “Fernanda is the symbol of a very special moment of the Latin American Rabbinical Seminary – she is the fi rst Brazilian woman to be ordained a rabbi,” said Rabbi Ariel Stofenmacher, CEO and vice president of the Marshall T. Meyer seminary. “She joins CIP to continue the construction of the Brazilian Jewish identity.” Founded in 1962, the institution is the New York Jewish Theological Seminary’s educational affiliate in Argentina and the academic, cultural and religious center of the Conservative Jewish movement in Latin America. “In line with all Conservative and Reform synagogues around the world, CIP assumes a clear egalitarian position by receiving Rabbi Fernanda as a full member of the rabbinate,” said CIP Rabbi Michel Schlesinger.
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28 | March 17, 2017
The Jewish Voice
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March 17, 2017 |
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Nature meets Judaism in Torat Yisrael’s Mitzvah Garden BY SAM SERBY When prospective congregants take a tour of Temple Torat Yisrael in East Greenwich, they are greeted by both expected and unexpected beauty. Inside the new synagogue, guests encounter a feeling of openness that seems to reach outside to the property’s impressive grounds. And it is outside where unexpected beauty is found. Rabbi Aaron Philmus has a passion for nature and the outdoors that manifests in places like the Mitzvah Garden, where he grows tomatoes, peppers, salad greens, spinach, green beans, squash and spices that are donated to local food shelters. “My mother taught me how
to think creatively and get others to interact and connect with nature in new ways,” says Philmus. The rabbi’s garden yields a beautiful bounty for the needy. “When you go to the food pantry, it’s all dried and canned goods,” he said. “It really is an incredible thing to be able to add just a little bit of local fresh produce into their food.” Philmus also keeps honey bees on the grounds, which provide honey for Rosh Hashanah, and he gathers fresh eggs from his hens, and milk from his two goats, which will be used to make cheese and yogurt for Shavuot and other holidays. Philmus’ goats are due to give birth the week of Passover and he is excited by this coinci-
Questions for Rabbi Philmus BY SAM SERBY Rabbi Aaron Philmus, 39, grew up in Matawan, New Jersey. He studied ecology and anthropology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, before attending the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. Before becoming the rabbi at Temple Torat Yisrael, in East Greenwich, Philmus was the rabbi at Brothers of Israel, in Newtown, Pennsylvania, and Beth Sholom, in San Francisco. Rabbi Philmus’ wife, Valerie, is the baker at the Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence in Warwick. They have two children, Sophie, 9, and Aeden, 6, who both attend the Jewish Community Day School in Providence. The family lives next door to Torat Yisrael. Q: What’s your favorite Jewish food? A: Cholent. Q: Favorite Jewish holiday? A: Pesach. Q: Favorite Jewish song? A: “Gesher Tzar M’od” [Very Narrow Bridge]. Q: Favorite Jewish movie? A: “Fiddler on the Roof.” Q: Favorite Jewish celebrity? A: Jon Stewart. Q: Favorite Israeli city to visit? A: Jerusalem. I spent a lot of time there when I was studying in rabbinical school. There are so many magical places there. It’s living history and I love it. Q: Favorite Israeli city to live? A: Pardes Hanna. A friend lives there and I’ve heard it’s nice. Q: Favorite Hebrew word? A: Adamah [Earth], because of its connection to Adam. Q: Favorite Yiddish word? A: Geshmak [delicious]. Why? I don’t think anyone else would think of that.
Q: Best part of keeping Kosher, worst part of keeping Kosher? A: Best part: It makes me pay attention to what I’m doing with my food. Worst part: I don’t get to eat meat outside in restaurants very often. Q: Favorite part of being Jewish? A: I appreciate the ancestral connection to the ancient past in Judaism. There is a sense of a connection to something of a bigger destiny.
Rabbi Aaron Philmus and congregants in the temple garden. dence, given that in the story of Passover, goats and lambs were selected for the Passover meal. The rabbi’s focus on nature, food and giving is a family affair. His wife, Valerie Philmus, is the baker at Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence in Warwick. Together, they teach congregants about environmental and social ethics related to food, all in a Jewish context. Philmus says his focus on nature helps give congregants some perspective on what has – and hasn’t – changed over time. “Though our lifestyle has changed over the years, human
beings have not changed that much. Nature is part of who we are,” he says. Philmus sees many connections between Passover and the approaching spring season. “Spring is a time of rebirth and renewal. As a Jewish people, with Passover, it’s a time where we’re renewing our sense of ‘Jewishness’ and connection to this fundamental story that defines who we are. “The story of leaving Egypt is tied into this idea of renewal and rebirth and liberation from slavery. In many ways, leaving the death of winter behind feels
like an exodus from slavery.” Looking toward the future, the rabbi says his goal “is to integrate nature even more, through Torat Yisrael’s school and day camps, and hopefully involving our community with the Mitzvah Garden project, which would give us the opportunity to feed more people while including more people in the process.” SAM SERBY is a native of East Greenwich and attended Temple Sinai, in Cranston, for many years. He is a recent graduate of Johnson & Wales University.
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Q: Favorite part of being a rabbi? A: Connecting with people of different ages and at different stages in their lives. Q: Favorite Jewish memory from your life? A: Going to Israel with my family when I became a Bar Mitzvah. Q: Greatest piece of advice someone has given you, and who gave it to you? A: Family is everything. Without your family, you’re alone in the world [from his grandfather]. Q: If you could have any three dinner guests, living or from history, who would they be? A: Moses, Abraham and Moses Maimonides, a.k.a. the Rambam. SAM SERBY is a reent graduate of Johnson & Wales University.
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The Jewish Voice
Hadassa is second from right and Chana Devora Peromsik is second from left
Ulpaniada completion results in first trip to Israel BY HADASSA TWERSKY
Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island’s
Classic
32nd Annual Dwares JCC
GOLF
Monday, June 5, 2017 Ledgemont Country Club 131 Brown Avenue | Seekonk, MA
When I decided to take part in the Ulpaniada competition, going to Israel was only a dream. Two wins and one generous grant from the Alliance later, I was on my way. The Ulpaniada competition is a program for Jewish high school girls. The program consists of math-logic tests, where strong math skills and much common sense are necessary to succeed. The fi rst test, which is comprised of multiple choice questions, was open to all the girls in my school. Whoever passed that test continued on to the next level. This second test included some long-answer questions in addition to the multiple choice questions. Two girls from my school, Chana Devorah Peromsik and I, passed the second test and were invited to Israel for the fi nal exam. Fourteen American girls took part in the contest. We stayed at Michlala College in Jerusalem and went on numerous tiyulim (trips) around Israel. We went to the north of Israel and waded through an old aqueduct. We toured the Old City of Jerusalem from the rooftops and walked through the underground tunnels, where the foundation of the Kotel is visible. We explored the excavations in Ir David, the City of David, which dates from the First and Second Temple Eras.
Our group visited Machane Yehuda Shuk, the outdoor marketplace, where we tasted a wide range of Israeli foods, from chocolate techina to etrog juice. The Ulpaniada event itself was a major highlight of my trip. The Israeli Minister for Education spoke at the event. There was a written exam and a hands-on mathematical puzzle. It was great to meet a variety of Jewish girls from many different places who all have a passion for math. Perhaps most of all, I appreciated having the opportunity to get to know my family in Israel. I feel privileged to have been able to spend time with my great-grandmother, whom I had not seen in a number of years, and was excited to have the opportunity to get to know my cousins in Israel, whom I rarely see. I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to the Alliance and the Salmanson Foundation. If not for their generous grant, I would never have been able to go on this trip. I am thankful for this amazing experience that gave me my fi rst trip to the Holy Land! HADASSA TWERSKY is a student at the New England Academy of Torah. She enjoys academic challenges and jumped at the opportunity to participate in the Ulpaniada program. Her favorite subjects are math and literature.
Dwares Rhode Island
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Hadassa is third from the right and Chana Devora Peromsik is on the far left
PURIM
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March 17, 2017 |
PURIM at JCDS DANCING at PHDS
PHOTOS | PHDS
The students at Providence Hebrew Day School celebrated the arrival of the month of Adar by dancing.
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PHOTOS | JCDSRI
The Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island prepared for Purim with a week of fun, beginning with Crazy Hat/Hair Day, and continuing with Backward/Inside Out Day. The rest of the week included Crazy Sock Day, Clashing Clothes Day and Pajama Day. The Pre-K has also worked hard to transform their classroom into the city of Shushan, where the Purim story takes place. The room included a palace and the cast of characters from the story.Â
For more Purim photos go to jvhri.org/photos.
Because she deserves a
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Fewer Jews say they are attached to Judaism and Israel. Yet 97% of American Jews state that they are “proud to be Jewish.” Our critical challenge is to transform Jewish pride into true participation in Jewish life. And we are already on our way. Locally, the Alliance subsidizes costs so children and teens can connect with their Jewishness at school and summer camp. Birthright trips transform young adults’ relationships to Israel. Around the world, in places where Jewish life has almost been wiped out, we’re nurturing the efforts of a core of inspiring young people who are reinventing Judaism.
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YET
OF NORTH AM ERIC AN JE WI S H CHILDREN DO NOT RECE IVE ANY KIN D OF JE WI S H E DUC ATION .
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