April 11, 2014

Volume XX, Issue XXIX | www.thejewishvoice.org Serving Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts

11 Nisan 5774 | April 11, 2014

PESACH GREETINGS

WENDY JOERING

More than 100 community members participated in the model Seder on April 4.

JFS BRINGS SEDERS TO SENIORS Senior Café celebrates one of the most widely observed holidays on the festival calendar

BY KARA MARZIALI kmarziali@jewishallianceri.org Why is this night different from all other nights?

It’s the question asked at every Passover Seder – usually by the youngest person at the table.

On April 4, at a model Seder sponsored by Jewish Family Service (JFS) and held at Temple Am David, it was asked instead by Wendy Joering, the community concierge for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. As a volunteer (and the youngest person) at the Seder, Joering knows that this

type of community Seder was different from most others.

For more than 25 years, JFS has been holding Seders for senior citizens and people with disabilities in greater Rhode Island. Families were encouraged to attend the Seder meal, so several of the elderly participants were surrounded by their children and even a grandchild.

Some modifications were made with the population in mind.

For example, the Seder lasted a bit more than two hours instead of the usual four or more.

COURTESY MATAN GRAFF

Yossi and Ilana Graff with their four sons (left to right) Nitsan, Omer, Matan and Nimrod

Passover in Israel

BY MATAN GRAFF mgraf@jewishallianceri.org Passover, or Pesach in Hebrew, is probably my favorite holiday (no offense, Purim). It is really hard to choose a favorite holiday. In a way, choosing your favorite holiday is like choosing your favorite child or your favorite sibling. You love them all, but there has got to be one little something that tips the scale toward one of them.

As a kid, I really liked Pesach (mainly because we got two weeks off from school). Like many other kids my age, I used to participate in many activities and trips with my youth group friends. I saw many places, hiked in many areas and slept under the sky. I absolutely loved the fact that I got to spend my time off from school that way.

Pesach also marks the unofficial beginning of the spring in Israel. It is the most beautiful time of the year.

Everything is green, and the weather

SENIORS | 19

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ISRAEL | 18

COURTESY DANI STIEGLITZ

In an Israeli market: “Pesach like you need it. (20 shekel) Products you need for the holiday table.”

The sign below “Kosher for Passover Products.”

“From our Jewish Home family to yours, best wishes for a Happy Passover” Howard Freedman, President

2 | April 11, 2014

INSIDE Art | Entertainment 20-21, 40 Business 34-35 Calendar 8-9 Community 2-6, 9, 14-15, 37, 40-42 D’var Torah 13 Food 16-17 Nation 8, 26 Obituaries 38-39 Opinion 10-11 Passover 18-19, 22-25, 27, 29-33 Seniors 36 Simchas | We Are Read 43 World 9, 12, 27, 33

THIS ISSUE’S QUOTABLE QUOTE “The message of Passover has always been one of faith and hope.”

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Rabbi Haim Isaac Carigal and the first rabbinical sermon published in the colonies

BY BEA ROSS From William Tennent to George Whitfield, itinerant preachers and clergymen are very much a part of colonial American history and folklore.

And, surprisingly perhaps, rabbis were among them. At least six rabbis visited Newport between 1759 and 1775, and one of them, Rabbi Haim Isaac Carigal of Hebron, delivered the first rabbinical sermon published in the colonies at Touro Synagogue on Shavuot in 1773. The publication is a collector’s item today, and Touro Synagogue is fortunate to have a copy of it in its archives.

Born in Hebron in 1733, Rabbi Carigal traveled extensively throughout the Near East, the Middle East and Europe before arriving in the colonies. He visited New York and Philadelphia first and arrived in Newport in March 1773. Ironically, while Rabbi Carigal traveled extensively outside the Holy Land, he never went to the Dead Sea, just a few miles from his Hebron home, because the Turks did not permit Jews to travel freely throughout the country.

In Newport, he made the acquaintance of Reverend Ezra Stiles, minister of the Second Congregational Church, and began a friendship and corre-

COURTESY TOURO SYNAGOGUE

Rabbi Haim Isaac Carigal of Hebron spondence with him that lasted until Rabbi Carigal’s death.

Reverend Stiles, an avid and

prolific diarist who later became the president of Yale University, was fascinated by Rabbi

Carigal’s intellect, scholarship and exotic dress. Reverend Stiles, who was very interested in Judaism and the Hebrew language, attended services at the synagogue often and recorded his observations in great detail.

(In fact, most of the information that we have about the dedication of Touro Synagogue at Hanukkah in 1763 comes from entries Reverend Stiles made in his diary.)

Rabbi Carigal stayed in Newport for four months. The two clergymen met often and amicably, engaged in lengthy discussions and “discoursed on many Things” ranging from mysticism, kabbalah and ventriloquism (witchcraft) to whether “Moses wrote all the Pentateuch” and if “Lot’s wife was still standing in a Pillar of Salt on the Shores of the Dead Sea.” Reverend Stiles attended services on Purim, Passover and Shavuot during Rabbi Carigal’s visit and described the rabbi’s demeanor and attire at each service. At Purim, he tells us Rabbi Carigal had “the appearance of an ingenious & sensible Man [who was] one of two persons that stood by the Chuzan…at the reading Desk while the Book of Esther was SERMON | 14

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Jews on First

BY DEAHN BERRINI LEBLANG Martin Abramowitz traces his love of baseball to his childhood in Brooklyn in the forties, where there were three teams to root for, and the landlord’s son wrestled Yankee loyalty in exchange for a spot in front of the neighborhood’s only TV. Now a member of Red Sox Nation, Abramowitz is quick to point out that his own passion for the game reflects a larger social transition.

“I think that the whole history of Jews in baseball touches not only ethnic pride, it touches the miracle of assimilation and identification with being American,” he said.

A retired V.P. for Planning at Combined Jewish Philanthropies (CJP) and currently consulting with CJP’s North Shore Advisory Committee, Abramowitz is founder of Jewish Major Leaguers (JML), a nonprofit organization that is part curator, part promoter and producer of the popular decks of Jewish baseball player cards.

Just in time for Opening Day 2014, JML will unveil its latest offering: The All-New 2014 Update Edition. The 50-card set, produced by Topps, includes 21 new Jewish players since the last deck was released in 2009.

It also includes “artifact” cards: which are cards of items on display at the new “What Baseball Means to Jews in America” exhibit at the National Museum of Jewish History.

Artifacts include a ticket stub to Sandy Koufax’s perfect game, and the Cleveland Indians uniform worn by Justine Siegal, the only woman ever to pitch batting practice to a major league team.

Abramowitz speaks of each card produced by JML like an old friend. Of the new deck, he said, “I love some of the tribute cards. Perfect for Boston are the ones of [Red Sox] pitcher Craig Breslow and catcher Ryan Lavarnway. They are the first all Yale [University] battery in history, and one of very few all-Jewish batteries.”

Other Abramowitz favorites are the “In Memoriam,” cards for players who have died.

The first JML deck – featuring every Jewish player who

The 2003 inaugural deck was a sold-out success. More decks followed, as well as various collaborations.

“These cards have touched a nerve in American Jewish life,” said Abramowitz. “The decade that just passed has seen a tremendous revival of interest of Jews in baseball. We gave it the biggest publicized boost, we were in some [Baseball] Hall of Fame programs, it led to oral history, and it led to a documentary movie, ‘Jews and Baseball:

PHOTOS | COURTESY JEWISH JOURNAL

Martin Abramowitz had ever played the game – appeared in 2003. The motivation was Abramowitz’s then 10-yearold son, who told his dad to create a deck of Jewish players because one did not exist.

The project required a surprising amount of research.

Abramowitz enlisted the help of Bernie Wax, retired director of the Jewish Historical Society. A big challenge was finding pictures of the 149 Jewish players Abramowitz wanted to feature.

After the Library of Congress, the Baseball Hall of Fame and Sporting News turned up nothing, Abramowitz scoured obituaries and college yearbooks. He hit the jackpot when an Internet search led him to a mother lode of photos in the basement laundry of a retired Chicago White Sox and Cubs photographer, George Brace, whose business had photographed every player who had come through Chicago from the 1920s into the 1980s.

As Abramowitz put it, “I went out to visit him. He was frail and sitting in the sunroom with a blanket over his legs. I told him why I was there and he said, ‘You may as well do Polish players or Italian players, but I’ll help you.’ ” For licensing purposes, he had to get Major League Baseball on board. “I was an eccentric almost-retiree. They were intrigued by [the project] and that it was not-for-profit.

It didn’t hurt that [Bud] Selig [the Commissioner of MLB] is Jewish. His office made several grants [to us] over the years,” Abramowitz said.

Nowadays, it’s a shortage of blood that’s really a plague.

Ancient Israelites fleeing Egypt may have felt differently, but today it’s essential that Israel have an ample supply of blood for all its people. That’s where Magen David Adom comes in — collecting, testing, and distributing Israel’s blood supply for civilians and the Israel Defense Forces. Every unit of blood is separated into three components and can save three lives. Can’t get to Israel to donate blood? You can still support MDA’s lifesaving blood services.

Make a gift today. Pesach kasher v’sameach.

AFMDA New England PO Box 600714, Newton, MA 02460 Tel 617.916.1827 • new-england@afmda.org www.afmda.org

An American Love Story.’ ” For Abramowitz, the cards are clearly a labor of love. But they signify something more as well.

“This project was also an obligation,” he stated. Although every athlete who plays even an inning is listed in the record books, “If you don’t have a card, you haven’t made it. I felt I owed it the memory of those players to give them that piece of immortality – to give them a baseball card gives them a sense of

completing the cycle, of closing the loop,” he said.

The 2014 deck is $36 for one set; $50 for two, plus $5 shipping.

To order, pay by check to JML, Inc., 104 Greenlawn Avenue, Newton, MA 02459, or visit jew i sh m ajorle a g uer s.or g.

The website is also a trove of information.

THIS ARTICLE ORIGINALLY appeared in the Jewish Journal Mass., and is reprinted with permission.

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Fran Ostendorf selected as new editor The search is over. For several months, The Jewish Voice has been seeking a permanent editor to pilot this beloved publication. It is with great pleasure that we announce the appointment of Fran Ostendorf as editor.

Ostendorf comes with a vast amount of newspaper experience. She attended the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and has worked at daily publications in Utah, Ohio and Rhode Island.

She served as a copy editor at the Providence Journal for nearly 20 years and spent the last five years freelancing. She has performed copy editing, proofreading, web research and writing for a variety of clients, including the Laureate Higher Education Group, Kaplan Aspect, Creative Circle Media Solutions, Brown University and financial consultants.

A resident of Seekonk, Fran is part of the NANCY DESROSIERS greater RI Jewish Community and sent her now-adult children to the Alliance JCC Early Childhood Center.

“I’ve been reading The Voice since we arrived in the Providence area. Now I’m looking forward to meeting and featuring the diverse Jewish community of Rhode Island in The Voice,” said Ostendorf. “This paper offers a unique opportunity to highlight events and people in our community in a way that other publications can’t.”

Matzah making with Rabbi Laufer

Rabbi Yehoshua Laufer helps Tate Mathieu and Jaxson Guadagni, Alliance JCC Early Childhood Center students roll out the dough at the matzah baking on April 8.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Rhode Island area schools seek part-time Hebrew and/or Judaica teachers, as well as music specialists for the 2014/15 school year.

For more information contact Larry Katz at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island at 401.421.4111 ext. 179 or lkatz@jewishallianceri.org.

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Considering ‘Next year in Jerusalem’?

BY DASEE BERKOWITZ On a recent trip to Jerusalem, my son decided that his favorite color was gold.

Whenever he’s asked why, he replies with a wry smile befitting a 5-year-old.

“Jerusalem is the city of gold, of course,” he says. When we told him our family was moving to Israel this summer, he was quite pleased.

“Ima, will we live there until I’m a grown-up?” he asked.

That’s the idea, we nodded.

While I know what my family will mean when we reach the end of the Passover Seder this year and say “Next Year in Jerusalem,” for those not making the trek to the Holy Land anytime soon, what do these words mean? Are we being disingenuous? Or, as the Rabbis encourage with every other part of the Haggadah, are we expounding, embellishing, interpreting and reading ourselves into the story of the Exodus from Egypt?

The end of the Haggadah, with the promise to arrive “next year in Jerusalem,” is just as ripe for exploration as the beginning.

I am always struck when Israelis, especially Jerusalemites, say “Next year in Jerusalem” with the same intention as their Diaspora brethren. Jerusalem surely cannot only represent a physical destination. It must represent more; an ideal, a hope, a possibility.

In the language of the Haggadah, the land of Israel and Jerusalem represent the final stage of redemption. When we lift the four cups of wine during the Seder, we are giving ritual expression to the four stages that the Jewish people move through, with God as their guide, to reach freedom and leave Egyptian slavery in the dust.

The Torah explains (Exodus 6:6-8), “I [God] will bring you out from under the burdens of Egypt” (cup 1); “I will deliver you out from their bondage” (cup 2); “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm” (cup 3); and “I will take you to me for a people” (cup 4). But there is a fifth mention of redemption just a few verses later in the narrative: “And I will bring you into the land (of Israel).”

Arriving to the land is the final stage of redemption and corresponds to the cup of Elijah, the prophet who is said to be the one who ushers in messianic times. The cup, untouched yet filled with wine to the brim, represents the future ahead, filled with possibilities and promises for peace on earth.

As the late Rabbi David Hartman writes in “The Leader’s Guide to the Family Participation Haggadah: A Different Night,” “The cup is poured, but not yet drunk.

Yet the cup of hope is poured every year.

Passover is the night for reckless dreams; for visions about what a human being can be, what society can be, what people can be, what history may become. That is the significance of Le’shanah ha’ba’a b’Yerushalayim’ [Next year in Jerusalem].”

Now that we are freed from the bondage in Egypt, we are called to embrace our biggest dreams, and our wildest aspirations for ourselves, for Israel and for the world.

Or when we say “Next year in Jerusalem,” are we referring to a more modest endeavor?

There is a midrash about the etymology of the word Jerusalem or Yerushalayim.

The Rabbis look at the word “Yerusha,” which means inheritance, and “ayim,” which connotes doubling, and understand that there are two Jerusalems – a heavenly one (“Yerushalayim shel ma’alah”) and an earthly one (“Yerushalayim shel ma’ata”). While the heavenly Jerusalem might refer to the possibilities of a world redeemed, an earthly one is rooted in the complexities of politics, economics and daily life.

In the late poet Yehuda Amichai’s terms, Jerusalem is a place where its inhabitants are longing for God’s presence.

Jerusalem, he writes, is “saturated with prayers and dreams like the air over industrial cities. It’s hard to breathe.” And according to the Midrash, the earthly Jerusalem is the place where God will arrive even before reaching the heavenly Jerusalem. As the Midrash imagines God saying, “I will not come into the city of Jerusalem that is above until I first come into the city of Jerusalem that is below.”

What does it mean to make earthly Jerusalem a place in which God – whatever God means for us – can enter and reside?

Let us create partnerships with Israelis that help let a sense of godliness, justice and love permeate the city. Let us devote more time to learning more about the complexity of life in Israel. Let’s partner with Israelis working on the ground to improve society through education, social and economic equality, and religious pluralism. Let’s read more Israeli literature and honor Israeli artists.

Or is Jerusalem a state of mind?

More than physical places, rabbis have noted that Egypt and Jerusalem represent two inner spiritual states. Egypt, or mitzrayim, has at its root “tsar,” or narrowness. Egypt represents the places in which we live in narrow places, where we feel constricted and confined. It is a state in which we are quick to anger, to react, to put our own ego needs before the needs of others.

Jerusalem, on the other hand, has at its root “shalem,” or “wholeness.” It is the feeling of expansiveness, when the disparate parts of ourselves weave together into a seamless whole.

As the Seder winds down, let the question of “next year” continue to echo, with all its hopes and the self-understandings, of where Jerusalem resides for each of us.

DASEE BERKOWITZ is a Jewish educator who has been making Jewish life meaningful for young adults and families worldwide for the past 15 years.

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Tamarisk holds Israeli flag dedication Sons honor Cantor Ivan E. Perlman and Mrs. Muriel J. Perlman

BY IRINA MISSIURO imissiuro@jewishallianceri.org Last December, Rabbi Richard E. Perlman was conducting the Mincha service with the children from Temple Am David in the community room of The Phyllis Siperstein Tamarisk RI Assisted Living Residence when they made an observation. Usually, the children light the Hanukkah candles and then sing the national anthem and the Hatikvah. As they were preparing to sing the Israeli anthem, one of the kids yelled out, where is the Israeli flag? Just as the children were dismayed that a Jewish living facility didn’t have an Israeli flag, so was Melvin Kahn, a Tamarisk resident who happened to be in the room.

Last summer, Kahn was responsible for dedicating and providing the American flag and the state flag of Rhode Island to Tamarisk. He and Rabbi Perlman’s mother, Muriel Perlman, also a resident at the facility, decided that something had to be done. The rabbi explained that his mother called him and announced that he, along with his brothers – Rabbi Eli B. Perlman, Cantor Emanuel C. Perlman and Cantor Josh C. Perlman – would be dedicating a flag. The rabbi jokes, “Honor your parents is one of the Ten Commandments, right?” He says that he and his brothers were excited about the opportunity and made it happen on Sunday, March 23.

Thanks to the generous donation of the Perlman family, the flag was dedicated during a ceremony honoring Rabbi Perlman’s parents. Kahn presided over the festivities.

Among the people present at the dedication were children from Temple Am David’s religious school and singers from Temple Sinai’s Shireinu chorus – they did a presentation earlier and decided to stay to sing Hatikvah at the dedication. Rabbi Perlman sums up, “It was a wonderful community opportunity.”

Because the rabbi’s father, Cantor Ivan E. Perlman, served in the Marine Corps during WWII, the ceremony included the Marine Corps Hymn and the

COURTESY | RABBI RICHARD PERLMAN

Left to right, Rabbi Eli Perlman, Muriel Perlman, Cantor Dr. Ivan Perlman, Rabbi Richard Perlman, Cantor Emanuel Perlman and Cantor Josh Perlman. presentation of the colors by the Color Guard. The rabbi shares that his father had been active in veterans’ affairs throughout the country. A Life Member of the Marine Corps League, the Jewish War Veterans and the Knights of Pythias, Ivan Perlman was the first cantor to serve as the National Chaplain of the Jewish War Veterans. Cantor Emeritus at Temple Emanu-El, he is proud of his four sons, all of whom are cantors as well.

Rabbi Perlman, member of the Oversight Committee of Tamarisk, offered some remarks and accepted the flag on behalf of the facility. At the flag presentation, the rabbi especially enjoyed seeing his brother Eli, also a veteran like their father, being accompanied by Ari, the youngest grandson. Afterward, they sang Hatikvah and the prayer for the State of Israel. The rabbi says, “I think Tamarisk is a much more beautiful place now that it has its homeland flag.” His mother was so happy with the proceedings that she was beaming. The rabbi shares, “She was so proud to know that the Perlman family has put a permanent mark in the community room and in the lives of the future generations at Tamarisk, who will now be able to see the Israeli flag as they’re

Happy Passover Flags that were donated by the Perlman family. singing.”

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

DESIGN & LAYOUT` Leah Camara

EDITOR Fran Ostendorf CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Kara Marziali, Alliance Director of Communications Brian Sullivan, Alliance Director of Marketing

from all of us at

ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Tricia Stearly tstearly@jewishallianceri.org 401-421-4111, ext. 160 Karen Borger ksborger@gmail.com 401-529-2538

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COLUMNISTS Dr. Stanley Aronson, Michael Fink, Rabbi James Rosenberg and Daniel Stieglitz

EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS Irina Missiuro | Judith Romney Wegner

MEMBER of the Rhode Island Press Association

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Funny Girl gets funny book

BY SHELLEY A. SACKETT Barbra Joan Streisand is a renowned singer, actress, director, songwriter, producer, political activist and philanthropist.

She has a mantle full of Grammys, Tonys, Emmys, Oscars and Peabody Awards. She is an officer of France’s Legion of Honor, and she even made it onto President Richard Nixon’s 1971 Enemies List.

Barbra was lacking one tribute, however, one already bestowed upon Madonna, Cher, Adele, Oprah and even Sarah Palin. Alas, there was no Female Force comic book sporting Barbra’s famous profile on its cover.

That humiliating slight was rectified by Bluewater Production’s February 2014 release of a comic celebrating La Streisand.

And not a moment too soon, according to Melissa Seymour, who researched and wrote the 32-page comic book with artist Manuel Diaz.

“Before doing my research on Barbra, I thought I knew a lot about her, but I actually had no idea she’s so accomplished and generous. I was really impressed by her dedication to human rights,” Seymour commented by email.

The comic covers a surprising amount of ground, starting with Barbra’s birth on April 24, 1942, and ending with her starring role in the 2012 movie, “Guilt Trip.” The list of “first woman who…” is long and overwhelming. Anecdotes about her

childhood are few but most interesting (such as the fact that she bartered babysitting for acting lessons).

Bluewater Productions, an independent production studio of comic books and graphics, is based in Beaverton, Ore. Its publisher, Darren G. Davis, was raised in New York by the strong, empowered Jewish women he credits as his inspiration and role models. He spoke by phone of the connection he feels between his business and his religion.

“I make sure we do comics on Jewish subjects, but I try to stay unbiased in what we do. It makes for better storytelling. My faith also guides me in my business dealings; it makes me a better person,” Davis said.

Female Force i s B l u e w a t e r Production’s biographical series that focuses on the lives of legendary women w h o have inspired generations and shaped today’s culture.

“I don’t sensationalize and I don’t want to humiliate or embarrass,” Davis continued. “I want to show how the events in these women’s lives made them stronger. I want the subjects to be proud of our books.”

BING.COM

Referring to the books as “edu-tainment,” Davis confessed that he was a reluctant reader as a child, and that comic books helped st r en g t hen his skills.

“One of the coolest things is that we found schools and libraries picking them up,” Davis enthused. Since its 2009 inception, the series has profiled almost 50 women.

Very few of these 50 are actually interviewed, however, although the company invites most subjects to participate.

Barbra was not among those who opted in.

Memory, Music and Hope

“Streisand did not authorize the comic, but I know she has been sent a copy by my editor.

I’m looking forward to hearing what she has to say,” Seymour said.

When asked whether actual interviews might have made her work harder or easier, she replied, “I think it would be much easier if I could interview her directly. It’s so hard to fit all the events of someone’s life into 32 short pages. Doing an interview would help me to see what’s most important to her.”

Manuel Diaz’s brilliantly colored panels are vibrant and lifelike, artistic oeuvres in their own right. Seymour detailed the Bluewater collaborative process.

“My editor pairs up a writer and artist for every comic. I write the book and explain how

I’d like each page/panel to look.

Then, Manuel runs with my comments and creates something incredible,” Seymour said.

While Seymour enjoyed Marvel Comics as a kid, what really captured her attention was the series’ message. At just 21 years old, she is a champion of female empowerment, hosting a Q&A website (fempowering. org) where she has interviewed such luminaries as Lois Lowry, Ingrid Michaelson, Katherine Switzer and Jane Goodall.

Her two younger sisters are her greatest motivators. “My baby sister is now 11, and I grew up wanting her to believe she could do anything,” Seymour shared. “I am very passionate about strong, complex girl protagonists with agency – both in fiction and nonfiction children’s books. I’m really lucky to write for a company that values women – such a radical notion, isn’t it?”

Although a few fanatical fans have posted their outrage over a few picky content errors, the comic is a fun read and hugely informative. At least it was for this reader, whose superficial knowledge about Barbra is superficial no more.

SHELLEY A. SACKETT (shelleya.sackett@gmail.com) This article originally appeared in the Jewish Journal, Mass., and is reprinted with permission.

Sunday, April 27, 2014 3 p.m.

30th Annual Rhode Island Interfaith Commemoration of the Holocaust

A remembrance event with personal narratives, music, and reflection Free and open to the public keynote speaker

Martin Goldsmith Sirius XM Radio host and author

Temple Emanu-El 99 Taft Avenue Providence, Rhode Island

Shir Emanu-El, Temple Emanu-El HaZamir Providence Beneficent Church Central Congregational Church Providence College Providence Gay Men’s Chorus Voices of Sophia, Sophia Academy For more information: 401 331-1616

April 11, 2014 |

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Secretary of State John Kerry issued a challenge to American Jews to rally a “great constituency for peace” behind the US-led initiative to achieve a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For the first time in five years, Israeli and Palestinian representatives are negotiating behind closed doors to shape an agreement central to realizing the shared vision of two states for two peoples.

There are solutions at hand to address the challenges long considered to be the conflict’s most intractable— from Jerusalem to borders, and refugees to security. Resolving these issues will require both parties to make difficult choices, and sustained US leadership to make sure they follow through.

To show our political leaders that we stand behind their doing what it takes to achieve a two-state solution, we have signed the following petition and invite you to do the same.

Dear Secretary of State Kerry: I firmly support bold US leadership to reach a two-state agreement ending the IsraeliPalestinian conflict that: • Bases borders on pre-1967 lines with agreed-upon land swaps and provides robust security guarantees; • Evacuates settlements outside Israel’s future borders while compensating the estimated one in five settlers who relocate to make peace possible; • Establishes the Jewish neighborhoods of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and Palestinian neighborhoods as the capital of the future state of Palestine. Holy sites would be internationally protected and accessible to all; and • Resolves the Palestinian refugee issue through resettlement in the future Palestine or third countries, compensation and a symbolic level of family reunification in Israel itself.

The compromises necessary for peace will not be easy for either side, but this is the best way for Israel to secure its future as a democratic homeland for the Jewish people and for the Palestinians to realize their national aspirations.

Join us. Join the Great Constituency for Peace.

Governor Lincoln D. Chafee

Ronald Florence

Daniel Marwil, MD

Stephen R. Schwartz

Roberta Aaronson

Rabbi Wayne Franklin

Ivy Marwil

Linda K. Shamoon

Stanley M. Aronson, MD

Sandra Gandsman

Cantor Brian Mayer, DSM

Samuel J. Shamoon

M. Charles Bakst

Suzanne Gilstein

Rita Michaelson

Deborah Siegel, PhD

Linda Barlow

Louis Gitlin

Senator Joshua Miller

Paula Sigal

Ruti Ben-Artzi, PhD

Alice Goldstein

Vincent Mor, PhD

Mark Suchman, PhD

Douglas Blum, PhD

Sidney Goldstein, PhD

Tom Padwa

Beatrice Swift, PhD

Howard Boksenbaum

Ellen Goodman, PhD

Lawrence D. Page, DMD

Robert Swift, MD

Rabbi Jonathan Brumberg-Kraus

Elizabeth L. Hollander

Ruth Page

Nina Tannenwald, PhD

Nurit Budinsky, PhD

Barbara Holtzman

Marjorie Pelcovits, PhD

Gerry Tyler, PhD

Joanne DeVoe

Carl Kaestle, PhD

Robert Pelcovits, PhD

Eli Upfal, PhD

Doris Stearn Donovan

Judy Kaye

Bruce Phillips, MD

Danny Warshay

Adele Geffen Eil

David Kertzer PhD

Philip Rosen, PhD

Rabbi Elyse Wechterman

Charles Eil, MD

Audrey Kupchan, MD

Rabbi James B. Rosenberg

Margaret Wool, PhD

Linda Fain

John Landry

Dietrich Rueschemeyer, PhD

Rabbi Alan Flam

David Lewis, MD

Marilyn Rueschemeyer, PhD

Heather Florence

Eleanor Lewis

Mark Schneider, PhD

Learn more and add your name: www.2campaign.org

7

8 | April 11, 2014

CALENDAR | NATION

The Jewish Voice

CALENDAR Ongoing

Alliance Kosher Senior Café. Kosher lunch and program every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. 12:00 p.m. lunch; 12:45 p.m. program. $3 lunch donation from individuals 60+ or under 60 with disabilities. Neal or Elaine, 401-421-4111, ext. 107.

Passover Model Seder for Families with School-Age Children. 11 a.m.

Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich, 401-885-6600, www.toratyisrael.org.

Tuesday | April 15

Am David Kosher Senior Café. Kosher lunch and program every weekday.

Temple Am David, 40 Gardiner St., Warwick. 11:15 a.m. program; 12:00 p.m. lunch. $3 lunch donation from individuals 60+ or under 60 with disabilities.

Elaine or Steve 401-732-0047.

Community 2nd Night Seder. 6 p.m.

Hosted by Rabbi Perlman and Paul Finstein, Esq. Services will be followed by a catered, traditional Passover meal and a luscious dessert. This is a communitywide event – bring the whole family. $38 Adult, $24 child 12 and under for Temple Am David and Temple Emanu-El members; $42 Adult, $26.50 child for non-members. RSVP by April 10.

Continuing through May 8

Tuesday | April 22

Lecture Series for cancer survivors and their families. Miriam Hospital: “Moving Forward When Cancer is the Diagnosis.” Thursdays from April 3, 2014 – May 8, 2014, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., The Miriam Hospital (unless otherwise noted). Hurvitz Board Room, 1st Floor, 164 Summit Ave., Providence.

This event is free and open to the public.

To register, please call 401-444-4800 or 800-927-1230, or visit miriamhospital.org. Different guest speakers will be featured each week: April 3 - “Ask the Doctor,” Rochelle Strenger, M.D., medical oncologist. April 10 -“Prescription for Hope: A Roadmap to Living without Fear of Dying,” Doriana Morar, M.D., staff psychiatrist. April 24 - “From a Survivor’s Perspective,” Panel of cancer survivors speaking about moving beyond the cancer diagnosis. May 1 “Food is Medicine”, “What about Olive Oil?” olive oil tasting. Mary Flynn, Ph.D., RD, chief research dietitian. Jennifer and Sal Fuccillo, owners, “Olive Del Mondo”, 815 Hope St., Providence.

May 8 - “What Does “Organic” Mean”: Meet at Whole Foods on North Main St., Bonnie Coombs, marketing team leader, Whole Foods, N. Main St., Providence.

Saturday | Apr 12

Family First Shabbat Morning Service.

Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft Ave., Providence 10:30 a.m. teprov.org/Shabbat_Family_First, ebabchuck@teprov.org

Sunday | April 13

Adult Education, “Time For Me” Series.

3:30 p.m. “Voices of Spiritual Resistance in Terezin” with David Mintz.

Temple Habonim. This concert will explore the significant impact that music had on the Jews of Terezin and the ways that music served as a mechanism for survival through satire, comfort, connection and defiance. The program is free and open to the community. 401245-6536. 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington, templehabonim.org.

Temple Beth-El Board of Trustees meeting. Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. 7 a.m., Judy Moseley, jmoseley@temple-beth-el.org.

Festival Morning Service Celebrating Passover. 9:15 a.m. (includes Yizkor), Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich 401-885-6600, www.toratyisrael.or

Wednesday | April 23

Touro Fraternal Association Open House. 6:30 p.m. Touro Hall, 45 Rolfe Square, Cranston. Special Guest Speaker, Will Gilbert, co-host of WPRI’s Rhode Show. Enjoy a kosher baked chicken dinner. RSVP to 401-7850066 or info@tourofraternal.org.

Moral Voices Keynote Lecture with UN Lieutenant-General Romeo Dallaire.

7:30 p.m., Friedman Auditorium, Metcalf Hall, Brown University. Dallaire led the United Nations mission in Rwanda during 1994 Genocide, where his efforts to avert human tragedy were thwarted by international political apathy. Since then he has continued his advocacy on rights of war-affected children, arms distribution and soldiers’ mental health. Appointed to the Senate of Canada in 2005, Dallaire is recognized worldwide as a leader in peacebuilding.

Thursday | April 24

“Six Million and One” Screening and Director Q&A. 7:30 p.m. Salomon 001, Brown University. Israel, 2011, Hebrew, English, German with English subtitles. Four siblings in search of history set out on a journey in this documentary about four adult children of Holocaust survivors. The film features compelling interviews with American WWII veterans who liberated Gunskirchen. Screening, followed by Q&A with the director, David Fisher Cosponsored by: Department of History, Program in Judaic Studies, Office of the Dean of the College, Holocaust Initiative at Brown University, and Brown RISD Hillel.

CALENDAR | 9

Calendar Submissions May 9 issue, GRADUATION | TEENS – must be received by April 16 May 23 issue, FATHER’S DAY – must be received by May 7

Send all calendar items to: editor@jewishallianceri.org with the subject line “CALENDAR.”

Jam-packed mission to Washington, D.C.

BY MARTY COOPER mcooper@jewishallianceri.org What can be accomplished during a day-and-a-half trip to our nation’s capital? On April 30 and May 1, a delegation of Rhode Islanders, as part of the Community Relations Council Washington D.C. Mission, will find out.

Upon arriving in Washington D.C., the mission delegation will meet with nationally recognized policy analysts and former congressmen to gain insight into issues facing the government, from healthcare and the Middle East, to the economy and other domestic concerns.

The mission will then visit the White House compound where they are scheduled to meet White House staff members at the historic Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The staff, which includes the president’s Jewish Affairs liaison, will explain a number of issues

including Israel and the Middle East as well as domestic affairs and matters facing the Jewish community nationally. Then it is on to the Israeli Embassy to meet with key consulate staff members. Discussions will most likely center on the peace negotiations as well as other current topics facing Israel.

The next day begins with a tour of the Holocaust Memorial Museum. The museum is a living memorial to the Holocaust, inspiring citizens and leaders worldwide to confront hatred and prevent genocide.

The visit comes just days after Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day. Capitol Hill is the setting for lunch with elected officials and dignitaries. After lunch, participants will meet with R.I.’s congressional delegation. This will provide an opportunity to discuss issues that are important to the community. Time permitting, a visit to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

will be included before departing for R.I. The purpose of the Mission to Washington D.C. is to increase Jewish advocacy in greater Rhode Island and to increase our presence with congressional delegations.

What can be done in a day and a half in our nation’s capital? The answer – a lot of learning about current issues and taking that knowledge to provide much needed advocacy for the Jewish community.

There is still time to register for this outstanding mission.

You are invited to make an impact and advocate for change.

For more information or to register, call 401-421-4111, send an email to mcooper@jewishallianceri.org or go online at http://www.jewishallianceri.org/mission-washingtond-c/.

MARTY COOPER is the Community Relations Director for the Jewish Alliance.

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CALENDAR | COMMUNITY | WORLD

thejewishvoice.org

FROM PAGE 8

CALENDAR

Friday | April 25

Yom HaShoah services at Temple Sinai. Shireinu, the community chorus, will participate at 7:30 p.m.

Dottie at Temple Sinai, 401-9428350.

Family First Friday Night: Early Kabbalat Shabbat Service. Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft Ave., Providence.

5:45 p.m., ebabchuck@teprov.org Rescheduled “Dreams for the Future” Shabbat Service. 7 p.m., Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. info@temple-beth-el.org Shalom Friends. 10-11 a.m. Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island, 85 Taft Ave., Providence.

Sunday | April 27

Mitzvah Day. Temple Beth El’s 19th annual event where congregants young and old participate in volunteer activities in the community. Contact info@temple-beth-el.org.

“Memory, Music and Hope.” The 30th Annual Rhode Island Interfaith Commemoration of the Holocaust. 3 p.m.

Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft Ave., Providence, featuring six Rhode Island choirs and guest speaker Martin Goldsmith of Sirius XM radio.

Yom HaShoah Annual Observance at Tifereth Israel Synagogue. New Bedford, Mass. Memorial service begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Holocaust

Monument to pay tribute to the victims of the Holocaust and the soldiers who fought in World War II, followed by a program at 7:30 at the synagogue, Hawthorn and Brownell Streets, New Bedford. Dr. Sharon Delmendo, professor of English at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, N.Y., will speak on “An Open Door: Holocaust Rescue in the Philippines.” Reception follows.

Monday | April 28

The Miriam Hospital Women’s Association April Open Meeting.

10:45 a.m. Hurvitz Board Room.

Guest speaker is Lori Polacek, M.D., board-certified Providence cosmetic plastic surgeon. Also, tour the newly completed emergency department.

RSVP, 401-793-2520 by April 21.

“A Somber and Durable Tapestry: Jewish World War II Service in Bataan and the Philippine Resistance,” a military lecture by Dr. Sharon Delmendo at the Low Tide Yacht Club next to the Fort Taber-Fort Rodman Military Museum, 7 p.m.

The Filipino American Community of Southcoast will provide refreshments following the talk at the military museum. Sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater New Bedford.

Friday | May 2

Yom Ha’atzmaut services at Temple Sinai. 7:30 p.m. Shireinu, the community chorus will participate at Temple Sinai, 401-942-8350.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT GRADUATION? It’s graduation season, and we’re interested in your thoughts as you watch your children or grandchildren achieve the milestone of graduating from college. What does it mean to you and your family?

Send us your comments, no more than a paragraph, along with your name and contact information, to editor@jewishallianceri.org.

Yom HaShoah concert

“Memory, Music and Hope” is the subject of the 30th annual Rhode Island Interfaith Commemoration of the Holocaust hosted by Temple Emanu-El. This year’s event on April 27 features six Rhode Island choirs honoring the memories of the 6 million Jewish victims and millions of others who perished in the Shoah. Special guest and keynote speaker is Martin Goldsmith of Sirius XM Radio.

The choirs represent a diverse group of voices celebrating the community’s diversity and collective commitment to understanding, empathy and compassion that is the foundation of peace and dignity on Yom HaShoah. They are from Temple Emanu-El, HaZamir Providence, Central Congregational Church, Providence Gay Men’s Chorus, Beneficent Congregational Church and Sophia Academy. Students from Providence College are also participating.

Martin Goldsmith, the voice of Symphony Hall at Sirius XM Radio and host of National Public Radio’s daily classical music program. His is the author of “The Inextinguishable Symphony: A True Story of Music and Love in Nazi Germany,” and a new book, “Alex’s Wake: A Voyage of Betrayal and a Journey of Remembrance,” being released this month. He will share the tale of his parents’ experience in the all-Jewish orchestra in Nazi Germany as well as the ill-fated journey of his grandfather and uncle on the infamous refuge ship St. Louis, the odyssey through French concentration camps to their murder at Auschwitz.

The program begins at 3 p.m. at 99 Taft Ave., Providence.

Admission is free.

April 11, 2014 |

9

Changes in store for Temple Sinai It is with great pleasure that Temple Sinai in Cranston, announces the appointment of Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser to be their next rabbi beginning in July. Rabbi Goldwasser began his rabbinical career at Congregation Beth Israel in North Adams, Mass.

After 11 years, he moved to Stuart, Fla., as the Rabbi at Temple Beit Hayam.

Rabbi Peter Stein, who has led the congregation for the past ten and a half years, will serve as senior Rabbi at Temple B’rith Kodesh in Rochester, N.Y.

Cantor Wendy J. Siegel will be Temple Sinai’s next cantor, also beginning in July 1. In addition to her beautiful voice, Cantor Siegel brings with her a long resume including several teaching positions and cantorial experience, including co-leading services, High Holy Day services, and working with choirs (for both adults and children) and instrumentalists.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Jewish Voice will announce rabbinical and cantorial transitions as they unfold, and plans on highlighting the new synagogue personnel in future issues.

Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser

Pope Francis’ first visit to the Holy Land confirmed JNS – Pope Francis anticipated trip to Israel in May will go on as scheduled despite worries over the effect of the Israeli Foreign Ministry strike.

In a statement, Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said the release of the schedule is confirmation that the visit is “continuing as planned.”

According to the trip’s schedule, Pope Francis will arrive in Jordan on May 24 to meet with Jordan’s King Abdullah, conduct a Mass in Amman, and meet with Syrian refugees.

The next day, Pope Francis will be in Bethlehem to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, conduct a Mass at Manger Square (the traditional birthplace of Jesus), and greet Palestinian children.

Later on May 25, Pope Francis will travel to Jerusalem to

Pope Francis have a private meeting with the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I, the head of the Eastern Orthodox Church, where the two will sign a joint declaration in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Jerusalem meeting between Pope Paul VI and Patriarch Athenagoras.

On May 26, he will visit the Western Wall, Mount Herzl, and Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.

He will also meet with Israel’s two chief rabbis, President Shimon Peres, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Latin Patriarch Fouad Twal, the top Catholic official in the Holy Land, told reporters Thursday that the meeting between Pope Francis and Batholomew, a sign of Christian unity, is one of the pontiff’s top priorities, and that he will also seek to promote peace between Jews, Muslims, and Christians.

“Pope Francis is coming to visit three political realities— Jordan, Palestine and Israel,” said Twal, the Jerusalem Post reported. “In each place he will meet with the heads of state, encouraging one and all in fair government for the benefit of all citizens and to work together to overcome all obstacles that stand in the way of the welfare and prosperity of all.”

Adult Education “Time For Me” Series Sunday, April 13, 2014 at 3:30pm “Voices of Spiritual Resistance in Terezin” with (soon to be ordained Cantor) David Mintz Between 1941 and 1945, approximately 140,000 Jews passed through the gates of the concentration camp Terezin, including some of Eastern Europe’s most prominent Jewish musicians. Even prior to the Nazis officially condoning cultural activities in the ghetto, these Jews began to create a musical life for themselves. They met in basements to sing Czech folk songs, listened to chamber music in attics and eventually created a cultural life full of choirs, cabaret, orchestras, operas and even a jazz band called the Ghetto Swingers. This concert will explore the significant impact that music had on the Jews of Terezin and the ways that music served as a mechanism for survival through satire, comfort, connection and defiance.

David Mintz is in his final year of cantorial studies at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and serves as the cantorial intern at Central Synagogue in New York. After completing undergraduate and graduate studies in Music at Boston University and Manhattan School of Music, respectively, David began serving as the cantorial soloist at Temple Judea, formerly of Massapequa, NY, and has been a student cantor in many venues. This past summer, David was a recipient of the Fischl-Kohn Memorial Grant to travel to Prague with the Defiant Requiem Foundation in order to research his thesis on the music of Theresienstadt. David is cantorial fellow in the Tisch Leadership Program, a fellowship meant to foster transformational congregational leaders in the Reform movement.

The program is free and open to the community.

Call 401-245-6536 for more information.

165 New Meadow Road, Barrington www.templehabonim.org

10 | April 11, 2014

OPINION

FROM THE EDITOR | PUBLISHER

Let’s all ‘play nice’ in the sandbox

BY KARA MARZIALI There has been a lot about bullying, anti-Semitism and power struggles in the news recently.

Most days I wish to remain blissfully ignorant to the uncivility and outright vitriol that takes place between people and nations.

I stay oblivious for two reasons. The first is that I don’t want to believe that 3,000 years after the Israelites were freed from slavery, oppression still exists. The second reason–and perhaps most important–is that deep down inside, I still have the spirit of a child, and I trust her instinct far better than I trust my adult self.

Anyone who knows me well understands that I have but one political conviction, and I discovered it long before Robert Fulghum authored “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.” My belief is that we all should just “play nice” in the sandbox. There needn’t be hidden agenda or power plays.

With the “play nice” principle, we don’t have to fear losing what we have or not getting what we want.

According to Fulghum, we already have within us the understanding about how to live and what to do. “Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sand pile at Sunday School.” Then he lists some simple but sage advice such as play fair, share everything, clean up your own mess, don’t take things that are not yours and apologize.

(He also recommends naps and warm cookies with milk!)

Most days, I try to adhere to these guidelines and live my life with integrity, grace and generosity–free from the bondage of insecurity, materialism,

jealousy and avariciousness.

Most days, I “play nice” and get along well in this world while recognizing I am not alone in the great big sandbox. I strive to seek justice, act mercifully and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8).

Other days, because I am human, I am no better than Pharaoh. The celebration of Pesach rejoices over Israel’s deliverance from captivity in Egypt. (It’s worth noting that the first chapter of Exodus, in which Pharaoh ordered that all the Jewish baby boys would be exterminated by throwing them in the river, was the first recorded account of anti-Semitism in history.) In the desert (the ultimate sandbox), Moses said to Pharaoh (the bully), “Let my people go.” When Pharaoh refused, plagues befell the people of Egypt. The pestilences that followed remind me of the consequences of my own actions when I forget the “play nice” principle. My ego, self-interest, inability to share, insatiability and desires can result in pandemonium. Suddenly my wilderness is afflicted with troubles brought on by my own selfish behaviors.

During this season of celebration from persecution, let’s remind ourselves to act with courtesy and kindness. To go the extra mile, smile an extra smile. To stand up for what we believe in. To protect the innocent, the marginalized and the oppressed. To trust that caring words can resolve all conflicts.

And (to paraphrase Fulghum) regardless of your chronological age, when you head out into the world, join hands, look out for traffic and stick together.

Chag Pesach Sameach!

LETTERS Re: Leaving Russia (March 28)

Dear Irina and Colleagues. Thank you for this lovely review. I would like to take this opportunity to say hello to all my friends in Rhode Island. In August 1987 the Jewish Community of Rhode Island welcomed our family, and my parents and I will always be grateful for that.

Maxim D. Shrayer Boston, Mass.

Re: What makes Israel Jewish? (March 28) With no disrespect to Rabbi Rosenberg, who I know and admire greatly for his excellent poetry, I cannot agree with his view that Israel should be more like the USA and accept that its citizens not be obliged to profess loyalty and allegiance to the Jewish religion and the Hebrew language. In the beginning the citizens of the USA waged war on the Native Americans and wiped out whole tribes.

Those who remained were forced onto reservations or sent into slavery in Florida. Many died of starvation and illness and those who survived were separated from their children who were forcibly baptized and sent to residential schools.

For us to criticize Israel for not being sufficiently Democratic, or for wanting all its citizens to speak Hebrew and accept Israel as a Jewish State is hypocritical and ignorant of our own history.

The solution to Israel’s problems is not a two-state train-wreck, but having everyone within Israel’s borders, regardless of race, religion, gender or creed accept to be full Israeli citizens respectful of Israel as the Jewish homeland.

George S. Burman Bristol, R.I.

The Jewish Voice

Sholem Aleichem – nostalgia with a bite Ever since it opened on Broadway in the fall of 1964, starring Zero Mostel as Tevya, “Fiddler on the Roof” has been part of Jewish consciousness here in America, throughout the diaspora and in Israel as well.

Not wanting to argue with the IT SEEMS success, 1971 movie TO ME version, with Topel as Tevya, sticks RABBI JIM closely to the ROSENBERG plotline of the Broadway version. What has maintained “Fiddler’s” popularity for the past 50 years is its warmly nostalgic vision of Eastern European Jewry – more particularly, the vision of shetl life in fictional Anatevka set in Tsarist Russia of 1905. A memorable musical score, catchy lyrics and energetic dancing serve to reinforce the nostalgia.

The musical comedy is based upon the Yiddish novel

by Sholem Aleichem (Sholem Rabinovich, 1859-1916), “Tevya the Dairyman” (composed 1894-1916); however, as Hillel Halkin asks in the introduction to his brilliant translation, “Can a work of fiction begun with no overall plot, written in installments over a twenty-year period, and ending more than once be called… a novel at all?”

While “Fiddler” follows the narrative arc of “Tevya the Diaryman” – basing the story upon chapters three, four, five and eight of the eight-chapter work – both the play and the film fail to capture Sholem Aleichem’s voice: the bite in his humor, his exuberant verbal inventiveness, his highly nuanced evocation of time and place. I would suggest that “Fiddler on the Roof” is to Sholem Aleichem’s writing as a glass of Manischewitz is to Lafite Rothschild. I am, of course, speaking only metaphorically and not from experience; but, “if I were a rich man,” I might have had the opportunity to actually taste this wine of wines.

“Fiddler” celebrates Jewish “Tradition, Tradition!

Tradition,” but it is tradition seen through rose-tinted glasses, a tradition perceived

to be overflowing with “Wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles!” The musical brings to its audience “the good old days:” the cozy, heimish, authentically Jewish life of the Yiddish-speaking shetl. However, in many ways the good old days were not all that good: grinding poverty, class conflict between “the one percent” of wealthy Jews and everybody else, rigidly enforced boundaries between men and women, parent and children, and the ever-present threat of a catastrophic pogrom. Ultimately, musical comedy is not the best fit for a realistic portrayal of precarious Jewish life in Tsarist Russia.

“The old God of Israel still lives…”

By way of contrast, Sholem Aleichem is well equipped to tell it like it is, warts and all; he has a pitch-perfect ear for his characters’ speech – a speech at once comic and profoundly bitter. While the writers of “Fiddler” toned down the talk of Tevye’s wife Golde, Sholem Aleichem lets his readers hear her really kvetch: “A lot he needed children – seven of them at that! God punish me for saying so, but my mistake was not to have taken them all and thrown them into the river.” Such sentiments do not play well to a Broadway audience seeking comfort in nostalgia for a world that is no more.

Nor is Tevye a man of constant sunshine; the darkness within him does not run silent.

When he encounters two women seeking directions home, he says to them, “If you are looking to buy something, I’m afraid I’m all out of stock, unless I can interest you in some fine hunger pangs, a week’s supply of heartache or a head full of scrambled brains.” Further along in the story, Tevya reflects upon the life of his eldest daughter, Tsaytl, her husband Motl the tailor and their brood of children: “He and Tsaytl – you should see what a whiz she is around the house – have a home full of little brats already, touch wood, and are dying from sheer happiness.

Ask her about it, and she’ll tell you that life couldn’t be better.

In fact, there’s only one slight problem, which is that her

children are starving…”

Though Tevye has big dreams, he is weighed down by poverty as well as by his own personal shortcomings: he has no business sense whatsoever and is easily hoodwinked. Despite his obvious love for his seven daughters, he is rigid in demanding obedience to his prerogatives as the one male in the family; the fact that he is continually repeating the mantra, “Tevya is no woman,” suggests a certain underlying, though not immediately obvious, misogyny.

In his introduction to “Tevye the Dairyman,” Halkin comments that, in addition to its many other achievements, the novel is “one of the most extraordinarily Jewish religious texts of our own, and perhaps of any, time.” He points out that Tevye is part of a long tradition of “God-arguers,” going all the way back to Abraham.

The Tevye of “Fiddler” offers only the merest hint of the religious complexity of the Tevye drawn by Sholem Aleichem. Though Tevye has the wit to confess, “A lot of good it does to complain to God about God,” he nevertheless carries on a Job-like argument with God throughout his life: “…[I] asked God an old question about an old, old story: what did poor Job ever do to You, dear Lord, to make you hound him day and night.

Couldn’t you find any other Jews to pick on?” As it turns out, Tevya and his family happen to be those “other Jews” for God to pick on: “Either way, there’s a great, kind, merciful God above. I only wish I had a ruble for every dirty trick He’s played on us.” Tevye carries this God with him to the very last words of his story: “Say hello for me to all our Jews and tell them wherever they are, the old God of Israel still lives…”

“The old God of Israel still lives…” Does Tevye believe this, or is he being bitterly ironic? Or is he believing and not believing at the same time?

We need to read “Tevye the Dairyman” carefully before trying to answer these questions.

JAMES B. ROSENBERG ( r a b b i e m e r i t u s @ templehabonim.org) is the rabbi emeritus of Temple Habonim in Barrington.

Re: Six degrees of memoirs (March 28)

So very well put, my friend! The thought put into the design and display of the exhibit is equal to the content indeed.

Danielle Germanowski Warwick, R.I.

YOU HAVE A VOICE … and The Jewish Voice wants to hear it. This paper is only as vibrant and robust as our readers make it, with comments, criticisms and other contributions such as: online comments, letters to the editor and op-ed submissions.

Letters to the editor: 250 words or fewer and must be signed.

Op-ed essays: 500 – 800 words and must be signed. Send to editor@jewishallianceri.org, subject line: OPINIONS. Questions? Call 421-4111, ext. 168.

OPINION

thejewishvoice.org

April 11, 2014 |

11

Pesach in Israel

BY DANIEL STIEGLITZ Back in 2007, I was sitting around the dinner table with my parents when I told them I planned on making aliyah (immigrating) to Israel that summer.

I didn’t know LETTERS how they would react. After a HOME few seconds of silence they DANIEL replied, “Fine, STIEGLITZ as long as you come back for Pesach every year. Can you pass the salt, please?”

Two things crossed my mind at that moment: 1) That they took the news of my impending move around the world so well and 2) that I would be fine with coming back for Pesach every year. At the time, the irony of this latter thought was lost on me. Pesach is one of the holidays where Jews are specifically supposed to go to Jerusalem, and not away from it. At the time my only thoughts were that I wouldn’t want to spend Pesach anywhere else than with my family.

This year will be my first time spending Pesach in Israel without family. The decision to stay, rather than returning to Providence where I have spent

almost every Pesach of my life, was a bittersweet one to make.

A lot of it has to do with the fact that my brother will be getting married in August. Besides for responsibilities that bind me to Israel, it’s not realistic for me to jet-set back and forth around the world for a vacation every few months. I need to treat Israel as my home, and not a base of operations.

So now comes the brand new experience of preparing for Pesach in Israel. That means doing my own Pesach shopping, doing a thorough cleaning of my apartment (with my roommates’ assistance, thank goodness), and maybe even buying new pots and pans for use over Pesach. And it doesn’t end there. There are aspects to Pesach which can actually, believe it or not, be more complicated in Israel.

In addition to the primary restriction of eating leavened products on Pesach, observant Jews of Ashkenazi descent do not eat kitniyot (legumes) on Pesach. Last year in Providence I had the fortune of hearing Rabbi Barry Dolinger of Congregation Beth Sholom speak about why Ashkenazi Jews should still follow this custom.

Buying non-kitniyot products may be straightforward when doing Pesach shopping overseas. In Israel, where a large percentage of the population is not Ashkenazi and therefore eats kitniyot on Pesach, it’s a

COURTESY | DANIEL STIEGLITZ

Stieglitz family at a past Seder. whole different story.

In Israel, we have not one but two special supermarket sections for Pesach – food that contains kitniyot, and food that does not contain kitniyot.

Eating out in restaurants will also not be a problem in Israel, as many become kosher for Pesach. Ashkenazi Jews must be careful to only eat in the non-kitniyot restaurants. The bottom line is that I’ll have to be more careful than usual when doing my Pesach food shopping.

Another major difference is that in Israel, only one day of the holiday is celebrated at the beginning and end of the holiday week, rather than two.

That means only one Pesach Seder (the traditional Passover meal held on the first night).

The Pesach Seder is a personal highlight for me among the many annual Jewish traditions.

I’ll miss having a second Seder, but then again I’ve never been the person slaving over a hot stove preparing this elaborate

meal which can go until the wee hours of the morning.

Perhaps I’m making it sound like Pesach in Israel is more complicated and less meaningful than it is elsewhere. That’s not the case at all. It’s two weeks before the start of the holiday as I write this, and I can feel Pesach in the air! In addition to making preparations for the holiday itself, people are making plans for what to do around Israel during Pesach’s Intermediate Days. Many people get off from work for all of Pesach, and use that time to enjoy all that the country has to offer as the seasonal beauty and warmth of spring first becomes apparent. A few hours before Pesach, massive bonfires will be lit so that everyone can burn whatever remains of their leavened products. The entire country is preparing for a holiday that, as I said above, is traditionally supposed to be celebrated in Jerusalem. To fulfill that age-old tradition this year, I don’t have to go anywhere.

DANIEL STIEGLITZ (dstieglitz@gmail.com), a Providence native, made aliyah in 2007. He holds a master’s degree in creative writing from Bar Ilan University and lives and works in Jerusalem. His short story “Haven” was recently published in FictionMagazines.com’s online magazine, eFiction.

Civility, respect at the Statehouse and beyond Intimidation and anti-Semitism are never acceptable

BY MARTY COOPER mcooper@jewishallianceri.org As children growing up, one of the first lessons our parents teach us is to be respectful of others. As we grow older we learn another valuable lesson: While others may disagree on an issue you think important, you should once again be respectful regarding the opinion of others. This is civil discourse at its best.

Recently, respect for others and civility became a Rhode Island state issue. Not only did it make radio, television and statewide press, it received national media attention as well.

Perhaps it is only fitting that the issue was brought on by legislation to curb gun violence.

Shortly after a news conference and a hearing on gun vio-

lence, state Sen. Joshua Miller was harassed by a member of the media. As everyone by now knows, Miller lost his cool and threw out an unnecessary expletive. Any use of foul language by an elected official is, of course, wrong. Community leaders, of any kind, should be held to a high standard and should not be given a free pass.

Miller acknowledged his error in judgment and issued an apology through the media. Knowing Miller, I do not believe his apology was politically motivated.

Certainly things at the Statehouse can get unnerving, especially during heated hearings when people and groups discuss issues about which they feel passionately. But only through civil discourse can a government and its people thrive.

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.

Rather than debating the merits of the issue at hand, and having discussions in a civilized manner, opponents are now frequently using well-organized and engineered methods to personally attack their adversaries. This is a moral problem as users of such tactics bring up the First Amendment that is used carte blanche and as a trump card.

Before, during and following this event, Miller, and others who share a different viewpoint, have been targets of bullying. Such bullying has included threats and upsetting phone calls. In Miller’s case, he has received numerous threats, emails and phone calls. He and his family have been subjected to anti-Semitic slurs and attacks on his business.

This method of intimidation,

attacks the very fabric of civility. This is extremely unfortunate. Even the term “political correctness” is used by bullies to get their point across. Only through debate and negotiation can issues be properly settled and have long lasting positive effects.

With the pervasiveness of the electronic media, bullying and a lack of civility has grown significantly. The Internet is now the method of choice for a finely tuned attack on the opposition as Miller experienced firsthand. Not only can a bully attack a person verbally and physically, a bully can now magnify hate in a controlled, venomous way. A bully can, and often does, attack a person where they are vulnerable. A business can easily be discredited by telling people not to

frequent the establishment or, worse, writing a negative comment on the website. And, a bully can attack an opponent’s social media network within moments as in this case with anti-Semitic attacks and more.

Cyberbullying can, and often does spread like the ugly virus it is.

Anti-Semitic attacks and other hateful language have no place in any civilized society, especially ours. And it makes no difference if the subject is a concerned citizen, groups, schoolchildren, or an elected official.

Our parents and our teachers taught us well. Be respectful of others.

MARTY COOPER is the Community Relations Director for the Jewish Alliance.

COLUMNS | LETTERS POLICY The Jewish Voice publishes thoughtful and informative contributors’ columns (op-eds of 500 – 800 words) and letters to the editor (250 words, maximum) on issues of interest to our Jewish community. At our discretion, we may edit pieces for publication or refuse publication. Letters and columns, whether from our regular contributors or from guest columnists,

represent the views of the authors; they do not represent the views of The Jewish Voice or the Alliance.

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

12 | April 11, 2014

WORLD

The Jewish Voice

In Crimea, a Karaite community carries on, and welcomes Russia

BY TALIA LAVIN JTA – Russia’s annexation of Crimea, the strategically critical peninsula that dangles from Ukraine into the Black Sea, has drawn international condemnation.

But for the leader of the AllUkrainian Organization of Crimean Karaites – a group with an unusual heritage that draws from Jewish traditions – joining Russia is a welcome development.

“In Crimea, the majority of Karaites support annexation to Russia, and voted for it,” Vladimir Ormeli, the group’s head, told JTA. “Culture and people connect us with Russia, more than Ukraine. But this is a complicated conversation.”

Complicated conversations are typical for the Crimean Karaites, a small group whose ethnic heritage and religious categorization has been disputed for hundreds of years.

Not in dispute, however, is their long history in Crimea, a region they consider their homeland.

Karaites, from the Hebrew word “Kara” (to read), are members of a sect that adheres to the Torah without the addition of oral laws – distinguished from “Rabbinic” or “Talmudic” Judaism.

For centuries, Karaites have lived alongside mainstream Jewish communities in variou s c ou nt r i e s . C u r r e nt ly, some 30,000 Karaites live in Israel, with much smaller communities in the United States and Eastern Europe.

In Crimea, around 800 Karaites remain, and their houses of worship are distinctive architectural monuments in several cities.

Unlike other Karaite groups, the Crimean Karaites (or Karaylar, as they call themselves), do not identify as Jews. Yet they consider the Torah their holy text and keep a religious calendar that includes Rosh Hashanah, Passover and Shavuot.

The oldest evidence of Karaite presence in Crimea dates back to 1278, and Karaite gravestones are scattered around Ukraine, in Crimea in particular. A pastry pioneered by the Karaites – the meat-stuffed kybyn – is sold all over Ukraine with its characteristic braided twist, and often called “Karaite dumplings.”

Ormeli’s enthusiasm for Russian annexation of Crimea stems from memories of a previous era of Karaite prosperity.

“Russia annexed Crimea in the 1700s,” Ormeli said, referring to Catherine II’s initial conquest of the peninsula in 1783. “Then, a Crimean Karaite intelligentsia appeared. There were rich Crimean Karaites, who lived in Moscow, [St.] Petersburg and worked in the tobacco industry. This all happened while Crimea was Russian.”

Such nostalgia for the Russian Empire may have something to do with the way Crimean Karaite self-conception changed under imperial rule.

PHOTO BY LEONID DZHEPKO/VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

A Karaite house of worship in Yevpatoria in Crimea.

In 19th-century Crimea, Karaites began to distinguish themselves from Jewish groups, sending envoys to the czars to plead for exemptions from harsh anti-Jewish legislation.

These entreaties were successful, in large part due to the czars’ wariness of the Talmud, and in 1863 Karaites were granted the same rights as their Christian and Tatar neighbors.

Exempted from the Pale of Settlement, which limited the mobility of Jewish counterparts,

Karaite communities sprang up in Russian cities and gave rise to a substantial body of unique scholarship.

The same tactic of distancing themselves from their Jewish roots and emphasizing, instead, purported Turkic origins, also gave the Karaites of Crimea an advantage during the Holocaust. While other Jewish communities in Crimea – including the Turkic-speaking Krymchak Jews – were nearly wiped out, the Karaites survived largely unscathed, considered non-Jews by the Nazis.

Asked about the current political situation, Ormeli described fear of the “lawlessness” that descended on Kiev during the clashes

between protesters and Viktor Yanukovych’s now-toppled government. “We were afraid of these wild events,” Ormeli said. “We were afraid that these would happen in Crimea.”

As Russian forces consolidate their control over Crimea, the region’s future remains in question.

But Viktor Zakharovich, a proprietor of the Karaite house of worship and museum in Yevpatoria, Crimea, sounded a note of confidence.

“Our community has lived under five or seven different governments in Crimea,” he said. “But here, we are always in our land.”

TALIA LAVIN is JTA’s editorial assistant.

Jewish groups resume dialogue with mainline churches JTA – Leaders of national Jewish groups resumed a dialogue with mainline Christian churches ruptured by a call in 2012 by some Christian leaders to consider cutting U.S. assistance to Israel.

“We affirm a strong commitment to continue working together on domestic and international issues of common concern,” said the joint statement issued March 27 by the groups following a meeting in New York.

“We will aspire to genuine and ongoing dialogue related to Israeli-Palestinian issues, seeking to identify and discuss, in respect and humility, areas of real or potential disagreement and of real and potential cooperation,” said the statement released through the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, the umbrella body for Jewish public policy groups.

“As people of faith we enter

the holy season of Easter and Passover to celebrate the gift of our renewed relationship and look to the future to enhance our closeness and our commitment to serve the common good.”

Jewish groups suspended the dialogue with the churches in October 2012 after church leaders wrote members of Congress asking them to investigate alleged Israeli human rights abuses and to cut assistance to Israel accordingly.

Jewish leaders at the March 27 meeting represented groups including the Anti-Defamation League, the American Jewish Committee, the JCPA, B’nai B’rith International, and the Reform and Conservative movements.

Mainline Protestant churches represented included the Lutherans, the United Church of Christ, Presbyterians, Methodists, Disciples of Christ and the National Council of Churches.

D’VAR TORAH

thejewishvoice.org

April 11, 2014 |

Dare to dream!

BY RABBI RAPHIE SCHOCHET Recently I was asked, “Why is it that we celebrate Passover and the Seder every year? The monotony and dread of that long, drawn out affair could surely be mitigated if we skipped a couple of years. Why go through the motions year after year?”

The assumption of this question, which I believe is a correct one, is that Judaism is not simply a set of rituals to be mindlessly carried out: there is actually significance to what we do and why we do it. That being said, this is something well worth contemplating. In order to address the issue, we will have to create or define a general framework, and then subsequently within it, we can perhaps explore the nuances of the specific query.

The overarching principle within which I view all of the Jewish holidays and their celebration is based upon a Jewish philosophical principle. Time is not linear, but rather it is cyclical. Within that cycle, there are different openings for the manifestation of spiritual potential.

Each part of the holiday cycle represents an opportunity, a specific energy that is there then, and, as that “window in time” opens up, we strive to ride that wave. Based upon this assumption, the question now is more sharply defined. What is the potential of this time, and how do I get to ride that wave?

There is a rabbinic aphorism based upon the main mitzvah (command) relating to Passover, the matzah and hametz (leavened items), that says “Mitzvot (play on the word matzot [plural

of matzah]) that come to your hand – do not allow them to become hametz (leavened).” What it means is that when you have the opportunity to do the right thing, do not procrastinate; rather act with alacrity and do it immediately.

“… when you have the opportunity to do the right thing, do not procrastinate.”

A closer analysis shows us that many of the themes of Passover revolve around this principle. Things that are left to sit and ferment are disqualified for use while those that are useful are what are acted upon right away. The process of exiting Egypt, which represents the bottling up of spiritual potential, had to be accomplished at great speed. They did not have time to let the bread rise!

Matzah must be baked at great speed in order that it not become leavened. In fact, if one looks at the Hebrew words for matzah and hametz, one finds they differ by only one letter– a heh for matzah or a het for hametz. Those two letters differ by only one spot of ink. The heh has a forward leg that is not connected, thus representing something in motion, while the het is sealed shut, thus representing something that is stalled in time.

This holiday manifests an energy that allows us to move ahead at a speed that is beyond the time dimension. We can

break out of our present cycle into a higher one. Break free of the things that shackle and enslave you and hold back your higher potential. In this time, you can be more than what you thought you were. This can only happen if you move forward with alacrity and do not stall in time, puff up and become leavened. The window is open now to ride that wave.

Just as the Jewish people manifested greatness by a family of slaves becoming a nation, each one of us can become something more, something better. Pass over many levels, and enter a new dimension of self because now the window is open. Dare to dream, and this year’s celebration can be both relevant and transformational Have a meaningful Passover.

RABBI RAPHIE SCHOCHET is Director of Providence Kollel: Center for Jewish Studies.

Candle Lighting Times

March 28...................6:48 April 4........................6:56 April 11......................7:03 April 14 erev Pesach..... 7:07 April 15......................8:09 April 18......................7:11 April 20......................7:13 April 21......................8:16 April 22 Pesach ends.... 8:20 April 25......................7:19

Wishing you

PEACE, HAPPINESS and all the

JOYS of

Passover 45 Rolfe Square, Cranston, RI 02910 www.tourofraternal.org

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14 | April 11, 2014

COMMUNITY

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COURTESY | JANA BRENMAN

HaZamir Providence teens before their Carnegie Hall concert

HaZamir Providence

BY BRIAN MAYER Remember the old joke about a tourist asking a New Yorker for directions: “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” Answer: “Practice, practice, practice!”

Well, there’s a new twist to this old joke. “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” Answer: “Join HaZamir!”

HaZamir, the International Jewish High School Choir, had their 21st Annual HaZamir Festival and Gala Concert on March 30, at Carnegie Hall.

HaZamir Providence, our own local chapter underwritten by The Sylvia Zimet Memorial Kol

FROM PAGE 2

Kesem HaZamir Endowment, in partnership with the Harry Elkin Midrasha Community High School, participated in the Festival for the 16th year. Thirteen of our teens have been rehearsing two to three and a half hours a week since October, learning 10 pieces of music and committing them to memory.

They learned the same music as 300 other teens in 24 HaZamir chapters, 22 in the United States and two in Israel.

HaZamir Providence teens together with 300 other HaZamir teens spent three nights in a Catskills hotel. (Yes, there is still a Kosher hotel left in the

Catskills!) These kids practiced, practiced, practiced!

Brought together because of music and being Jewish, they had an extraordinary bonding experience. That combination created magical moments during Shabbat, during rehearsals and during their free time.

And then on Sunday morning, we drove from the Catskills to Manhattan. Imagine 300 Jewish teens singing their hearts out on the stage of Carnegie Hall. Thrilling!

BRIAN MAYER has been the cantor at Temple Emanu-El for the past 25 years.

SERMON

read.” He further describes him as wearing “a red garment with the usual Phylacteries and habiliments, the white Surplice; [and] a high brown furr [sic] Cap.” At Passover, Reverend Stiles writes, “The Chocam Rabbi was there…was one called up to the Reading of the Law [and] behaved modestly and reverently.” He wore “A green silk Vest or long under Garment reaching down more than half way the Legs or within 3 inches of the Ankles…[with a] Girdle or Sash of different Colors red and green [that] girt the Vest around his Body… [and which had an] Opening above the Girdle [where] he put in his handkerchief and Snuffbox, and Watch.” He also had a “long black Beard, the upper Lip partly shaven–his Head shaved all over [and on which] he wore a high Fur Cap, exactly like a Womans [sic] Muff, and about 9 or 10 Inches high, the Aperture atop was closed with green cloth.” Reverend Stiles also informs us “Some part of the Singing in the Synagogue [that] day was exceeding fine & melodious.”

The Governor of Rhode Island

a Dignity and Authority about him, mixt [sic] with Modesty.”

The sermon, Reverend Stiles writes, described the suffering of the Jews but exhorted the congregation not to be discouraged, to love one another and to look forward to the coming of the Messiah.

The sermon was translated into English for publication by Abraham Lopez.

Rabbi Carigal left Newport for Surinam in July 1773 and died in Barbados in May 1777.

COURTESY | TOURO SYNAGOGUE

and other dignitaries attended the Shavuot service apparently to hear the visitor from the Holy Land speak and “were seated in the Seat of the Parness or President of the Synagogue.”

Rabbi Carigal “preached a Sermon about 47 minutes long in Spanish [Ladino] interspersed with Hebrew [in which his] Oratory, Elocution and Gestures were fine and oriental [and during which he] was very animated [and had]

BEA ROSS is president of Congregation Jeshuat Israel at Touro Synagogue in Newport.

She is the former Executive Director of the Touro Synagogue Foundation and a past president of the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island Women’s Alliance.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is part of a series about Hiddur Mitzvah (enhancement or beautification of the divine commandment). In appreciation of Hiddur Mitzvah, The Jewish Voice will highlight Judaica collections and treasures in our synagogues and museums throughout the state.

COMMUNITY

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April 11, 2014 |

15

(401)j presents: SermonSlam Providence

BY ERIN MOSELEY emoseley@jewishallianceri.org The most common question I get when I talk about (401)j’s SermonSlam event is “What is a SermonSlam?” to which I promptly reply what I learned from the Open Quorum website, “SermonSlam is a poetry slam, but for sermons, poems, stories, narratives, plays and anything else short and on topic.” Founder David Zvi Kalman, who is attending our Providence SermonSlam, explained the origin of SermonSlam.

“SermonSlam is part of a larger venture that I am working on with six other people, called Open Quorum. The idea was to create a forum where people could share their interpretations of Torah – and also to create a forum where Torah was front and center, rather than being one more element of an already-too-long Shabbat morning service. The idea for SermonSlam came up in a conversation between myself and Michal Richardson in October 2013 and the first SermonSlam was in November 2013. By June 2014 there will be 16 SermonSlam events, including two interfaith SermonSlam events (the first interfaith SermonSlam event was in Houston and drew 100 people)….”

In a post-Pew study world, it is more important for young Jews to connect Jewishly. (401)j, the collaborative organization that provides 22- to 45-year-old Jews a space and place to do just that,

is hosting its upcoming SermonSlam at The Salon, on Eddy Street in Providence. The SermonSlam allows anyone in the community to present, in five minutes or less, his or her own sermon for the gathered friends.

The topic of our SermonSlam is “A Passover Story.” The success of SermonSlam shows just how important being Jewish is to the NextGen community.

So, why attend a SermonSlam? Kalman said, “Well, beyond seeing your friends perform, which is always fun, I don’t think there are many other venues where Torah can be so freely shared. We are adamant that there are no rules about what can and cannot be performed, and that freedom means that you’re likely to find Torah which will surprise you– which is not something that you can say about a lot of religious institutions!

SermonSlam isn’t just for the seasoned performer or rabbi; it is for anyone who feels inspired to write his or her own sermon and perform it. At (401)j’s SermonSlam, our newly formed a capella group Pastrami on RI, the first post-collegiate Jewish a capella group in Rhode Island, performed its original piece.

Performances are recorded, and some do get highlighted on the SermonSlam podcast and YouTube channel.

ERIN MOSELEY is the Director of Arts & Culture and NextGen Engagement for the Jewish Alliance.

THE JEWISH DAILY FORWARD | COURTESY OF CONGREGATION BETH ELOHIM

SermonSlam audience members, left, form a mishkan (tabernacle) with their bodies.

GOOGLE IMAGES

16 | April 11, 2014

FOOD

The Jewish Voice

Counting down to Passover Last minute tips to help take the stress out of the holday

BY KARA MARZIALI kmarziali@jewishallianceri.org

You’ve done this dozens of times before. You watched your mom and bubbe prepare for Pesach when you were a child. So, chances are you’ve got things covered. But in case you don’t, food writer, lecturer and kosher cooking

instructor Joan Kekst has some great ideas to help ease your Passover anxiety. (Unfortunately, she has no advice on how to deal with crazy Uncle Leon!)

rots, dried fruits, nuts, soda pop.

Line storage cabinets and counters; clean refrigerator; reserve area for hametz. Wash Passover pots/pans, dishes, flatware, candlesticks, Seder plate.

Schedule and complete major cooking to freeze. Make extra ice. Purchase vegetable staples, potatoes, onions, car-

Consult your rabbi to sell your hametz. Purchase least perishable fruits, vegetables, dairy, eggs, Seder plate items. Make horseradish, bake cookies-freeze or store airtight; make fruit compote. Shift furniture to accommodate extra tables and chairs.

Prepare rooms for out-of-town guests.

One Week Ahead

Time spent during the Seder

Five Days Ahead

One to Three Days Ahead

Use up all open hametz, except crumbs for ceremonial search.

Let children place extra chairs, spread cloths on tables, set out dishes. Complete baking, partially prepare long-cooking items, chill to reheat, store airtight or freeze. Make gefi lte or other fish; mix batter for matzoh balls, chill overnight. Purchase last-minute perishable vegetables and fruits.

Fill and cork wine decanters; defrost frozen items in refrigerator.

Ritz bacon-flavored crackers may taste treif, but are kosher

BY ADAM SOCLOF JTA+ – Ritz has a new baconflavored cracker hitting shelves – with kosher certification.

The signature O.U.–Dairy symbol appears on the box of the Nabisco nosh.

“There was much discussion over the decision about this product,” acknowledged Rabbi Moshe Elefant, COO of the Orthodox Union Kashrut Department. “The reality is, there’s nothing close to bacon in this product – artificial bacon flavorings give it the ‘bacon flavor.’

“Nobody’s going to think this is actual bacon,” he added, noting the packaging, which has the words “Artificially Flavored” in large type right below the word “Bacon.”

On the Seder Day

Burn hametz; none should be eaten after 10 a.m. the Seder day.

Roast bone and egg for Seder plate, hard-boil eggs for salt water, make haroset. Prepare fresh vegetables and fruits, frost cakes, boil matzoh balls. Set food on platters, cover and refrigerate.

Plan oven timing to heat food.

Save one hour to bathe and rest!

Keep an inventory for next year.

“These actually taste too much like bacon,” commented Rina Raphael, style editor for NBC’s “Today” show, who sampled the new Ritz flavor before they hit shelves.

“We’re not in any way saying that it tastes like the real thing,” Elefant said. “That’s not at all what our certification represents.”

Kosher imitation-bacon products may be rare, but they aren’t new.

Elefant recalled another bacon-flavored product that nearly lost its O.U. certification for not

printing the words “imitation” or “artificial” prominently enough on the packaging. Ultimately, the manufacturer addressed the O.U.’s concerns.

Jeffrey Yoskowitz, who runs the website Pork Memoirs though he does not eat pork, pointed to beef fry, a postwar pork alternative, and Bac-Os Bits, certified kosher in the 1990s. He also cited the J&D product line of bacon-flavored mayonnaise and salt that bear the O.U. symbol.

Yoskowitz says he won’t be sampling the new crackers.

“This is a particular type of American item I don’t want to be a part of, specifically because of the artificial flavoring,” he said.

“I’d rather have beef bacon or lamb bacon on a cracker.”

He also has a specifically Jewish objection.

“To see a Jew eating kosher bacon-flavored crackers is just as confusing as a Jew walking into a non-kosher restaurant,” Yoskowitz said.

Elefant acknowledged that some Jews will feel uncomfortable with the product.

“I’m not saying I wouldn’t eat it,” he said, “but I could understand someone not eating it.”

Still, the rabbi sees no problem with issuing certification in this instance.

“Kosher law is kosher law,” he said. “If proper law, supervision and certification are followed, the law is the law; [there’s] no law that says you can’t have artificial[ly] flavored bacon.”

ADAM SOCLOF is JTA’s Associate Director of Outreach and Partnerships, and coordinates presentations and advertising/ marketing opportunities for the news agency.

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FOOD

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April 11, 2014 |

17

Don’t pass over the post-Seder meals Easy-to make recipes from breakfast to dessert Planning for Passover involves food-related tasks. For the Seder, many of us focus on traditional family recipes because they remain favorites. But the remaining six days also need to be considered. Here are some post-Seder recipes for the rest of the week.

BREAKFAST

COURTESY | IMP GROUP

Simply Pesadik Pecan Matzah Granola

BY ALISON GUTWAKS Serve over yogurt or eat by the handful 3 cups OSEM Israeli Matzah Farfel 1/2 cup Coarsely Chopped Pecans 1/4 cup Olive Oil 2 Tbs. light brown sugar 2 Tbs. maple syrup 1/2 tsp. salt 1/2 cup raisins (or any kind of dried fruit) Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

In a large bowl, stir together OSEM Israeli Matzah Farfel, pecans, oil, sugar, maple syrup and salt.

Spread on a baking sheet, lined with parchment or foil, and place in the oven for 30-35 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until toasted.

Remove from the oven and let it cool on the pan, enough to break into smaller pieces.

Transfer to a bowl and stir in dried fruit. Makes about 4 cups.

Can be stored in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

LUNCH Carrot-Ginger Soup

BY HELEN NASH The apple and the ginger give this creamy soup, which is made without any cream, a bit of a bite. The ingredients are always available, so you can serve it in any season at any temperature – hot, cold or room.

2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil 1 medium onion, sliced 2 garlic cloves, quartered 1 3/4 lb. carrots, peeled and sliced, plus 1 extra carrot for garnish 1 small Granny Smith apple, peeled and sliced 1-inch piece ginger, peeled and sliced 5 1/2 cups vegetable broth 1 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice Kosher salt Freshly ground black pepper Heat the oil in a medium saucepan. Add the onion, garlic, carrots, apple and ginger, and sauté for 3 minutes.

Add the broth, and bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat, and cook, covered, about 30 minutes or until the carrots are tender.

Cool a little.

Puree the soup in a blender, in batches, until smooth. Return it to the saucepan. Season to taste with lemon juice, salt and pepper.

To prepare the garnish: Steam the remaining carrot until just tender, and grate. Before serving, sprinkle each bowl with the grated carrot.

SNACK

JEWISHSTARJEWERY

Homemade Horseradish

BY ANDREW ESPOSITO | CATERING TO TRADITION

HEALTHYINSIGHTDAILY.COM

What says Passover more than horseradish? This one is guaranteed not only to make your eyes water but also to clear up your sinuses. Serve with matzah or crudité.

1 large horseradish root, trimmed and peeled 2 medium beets, peeled 1/2 to 1 cup vinegar 4-5 tsp. salt 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar Shred horseradish on food processor grater. Then shred beets directly on top.

Remove from food processor.

Remove grater attachment, and attach blade.

Dump grated horseradish and beets in, and process adding vinegar, salt and sugar to make a pasty sauce. Taste and adjust seasonings.

Chill before serving.

Flavor will mellow as horseradish matures. It is very strong when it comes out of the processor.

DINNER

COURTESY | IMP GROUP

Passover Potato Gnocchi in 4 Easy Steps (Dairy)

BY ALISON GUTWAKS These “potato pillows” are a Jewish adaptation of an Italian culinary delight.

1 - 4.6 oz. package of OSEM heat & serve mashed potatoes 1 cup boiling water 1 large egg 1/2 cup OSEM Israeli cake meal Pinch of cracked black pepper Place a large pot of lightly salted water on the stove and turn on high. While waiting for the pot of water to come to a boil make the gnocchi.

Open the package of OSEM Heat & Serve Mashed Potatoes and pour into a clean mixing bowl.

To the potato mix, add one cup of boiling water, egg, OSEM Israeli Cake Meal and cracked black pepper and stir until everything is incorporated and the dough is smooth.

With your hands, form the dough into a ball. Using a knife or scraper, cut dough into 1/2 inch strips and roll into rods about 1/4 inch in diameter.

Cut the rods of dough into uniform small pieces, using the first joint of your index finger

COURTESY | IMP GROUP

as a guide to ensure consistent sizing.

Transfer to cake meal dusted cookie sheet and repeat until all dough is cut into small gnocchi pieces.

Add a handful of gnocchi to the boiling pot of water.

Once the gnocchi have risen to the surface, they are done, about 1 to 3 minutes.

Serve with tomato basil sauce and sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese and garnish with fresh basil. Serves 4-6.

Wine Pairing: Yarden Pinot Noir, a medium-bodied fruitbased wine, matches the rich tastes of homemade gnocchi, adding a crisp tang to the meal.

DESSERT Gluten-Free Chocolate Dipped Passover Biscotti

BY ALISON GUTWAKS These crunchy faux Italian treats will make you wonder whether it’s really Passover!

The creamy chocolate coating has a silky texture that melts with perfection when dipped in a steaming hot cup of tea. You will love these as an on-the-go

sweet snack or to impress your guests when you serve them for a holiday dessert.

1 - 8.8 oz. package of OSEM Passover pound cake [Gluten Free], any flavor; sliced 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips 2 tsp. vegetable oil 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds* (optional) Preheat oven to 250°F. Cut the OSEM Passover pound cake into 10 slices and lay on a foil lined baking sheet.

Bake for 1 hour until the cake feels dry and looks very lightly toasted. Cool.

Melt chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl stirring every 30 seconds until melted.

Keep an eye on the chocolate so it does not burn.

Add in the oil and stir until creamy and shiny.

Dip half of the biscotti in the chocolate and place on parchment paper to dry.

If desired, sprinkle chopped nuts on top of melted chocolate.

PASSOVER

18 | April 11, 2014 FROM PAGE 1

The Jewish Voice

ISRAEL

is usually beautiful. A lot of people like to go out and enjoy nature before it gets really hot.

You will see families having a picnic in the park, children playing everywhere and even people swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. But it’s not only the weather that makes Pesach such a great time of the year. There is one word we use often during Pesach in Israel – and also here in the United States – food. My family’s Seder is gigantic. I really don’t know how my grandparents manage to fit everyone in the same room and how we manage to fit all the food on one

table. I really enjoy the fact that outside of Israel, the Passover Seder is celebrated twice (maybe because I’m not the cook).

“You will see families having a picnic in the park, children playing everywhere…”

It’s another opportunity to see your family and friends from the community. During Pesach in Israel, every res-

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COURTESY | MATAN GRAFF

Graff family Seder taurant, fast food place and coffee shop will serve kosherfor-Passover products. Even the non-kosher places will offer matzah or alternatives for those who keep kosher.

My favorite hummus restaurant in Nazareth, owned by an Israeli Arab, also offers matzah as a gesture to their Jewish customers. Now imagine how hard it is to “wipe” hummus with matzah.

A few weeks before Pesach,

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the supermarkets are fi lled with kosher-for-Passover products. For me, as one with celiac disease (gluten intolerance), it’s like a kid walking into a candy store. There are so many gluten-free options. It’s defi nitely something to look forward to.

Passover is also a very busy time on my family’s farm. Our workers and my father work hard to make sure we send enough herbs and spices to the market so people can buy items

for their Seder plate or for other delicious dishes.

Pesach is a wonderful time to visit Israel, and I invite you to come and celebrate it with my family in the near future.

Whether or not Pesach is your favorite holiday, I hope we will all have a great, warm and beautiful Pesach!

MATAN GRAFF is the Israeli Shaliach (Emissary) for the Jewish Alliance.

J-Fitness at the Dwares JCC

Our team of health & wellness professionals are committed to providing fitness for everyBODY - people of all ages and abilities - in a friendly and approachable environment.

At J-Fitness, you have access to: • Certified Personal Trainers • Indoor heated pool • Water Fitness Classes • TigerSharks Swim Club • Cardio machines • Free-weight area • Fit Forever classes for Seniors • American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim program • Spinning™ • Zumba™ • Yoga • Pilates mat classes, and much more!

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Contact our Membership Office for details.

The Alliance JCC is a division of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

401 Elmgrove Avenue | Providence, RI 401.421.4111 | jewishallianceri.org

PASSOVER

thejewishvoice.org

FROM PAGE 1

April 11, 2014 |

19

SENIORS

“The seniors enjoy having a place to go, being part of a model Seder as well as a part of the community,” said Joering.

“They love coming together at Passover and are happy to be with friends. We are grateful that JFS provides this service every year.” The JFS Senior Nutrition Program is funded by community support to the Jewish Alliance Annual Campaign.

This year’s theme “Celebration of Freedom” was poignant for many in attendance. For many who were served by JFS, this meal might be their only Seder and offers them freedom to celebrate with peers.

“It’s a paradox to talk about being free,” said one man who uses a cane to move around. “I can hardly walk and would like to be liberated from this cane, but I am glad to be here.”

Cantor Steven Dress, of Temple Israel of Sharon, Mass., has been leading model Seders for nearly 30 years. As Cantor Dress was “warming up the crowd” and walking around saying hello, he announced, “It’s nice that we all come together – we are a community.”

This gained a huge round of applause from the more than 100 seniors and adults with disabilities who were in attendance.

Tille Orleck of Cranston, who attends the JFS Am David meal site, told the Voice, “I [light] the candles every Friday like I did

today. It’s my job! I live alone, so [going to the meal site] gets me out of the house. We have all become friends – we are one big family.”

In addition to the Seder meal, the “family” joined together in singing “Happy Birthday” to Myron Winoker, who was celebrating his 90th birthday.

Many of the participants are “regulars” and wouldn’t miss out on the fellowship that the meal site provides. Sophie Tragar has been attending the site for more than 15 years. She started coming with her husband, but now widowed, she attends because she enjoys the company of her peers. Trager says she loves to be with people.

“It’s like my second home,” she says. Trager’s daughter, who accompanied her, said she is impressed with the activities provided for the seniors in our community.

The model Seder isn’t the only event that helps the Jewish members of greater Rhode Island. In general, more than 4,000 people are served through JFS. In addition, Jewish Seniors Agency is expected to distribute kosher-for-Passover food to approximately 115 households this holiday season.

As one Seder participant put it, “We were once strangers in a strange land, but today we are family in a thriving community.”

Sophie Tragar has participated in Senior Café for years and considers it her “second home.”

Tillie Orleck lit the candles while Sam Buckler and Sid Weintraub said the Motzi and bracha alongside Cantor Dress.

Myron Winoker celebrated his 90th birthday

Nearly a dozen volunteers and JFS staff served the meal, ensuring that everything ran smoothly.

Program Spotlight: where you can learn more about exciting programs the Jewish Alliance offers the Greater Rhode Island community.

Summer J-Camp

CC! J s e r a w D at the Find the right camp for your child at the JCC (for children ages 2 - 15).

Summer J-Camp has been a consistent source of high-quality programming for many years, and this summer, we have made changes to enhance the experience of all campers.

To learn more about what’s new this summer, visit jewishallianceri.org!

For more information visit jewishallianceri.org, or contact Michelle Cicchitelli at mcicchitelli@jewishallianceri.org or 401.421.4111 ext. 178.

401 Elmgrove Avenue, Providence RI 02906

ART | ENTERTAINMENT

20 | April 11, 2014

The Jewish Voice

Torat Yisrael’s Dueling Artists: Everyone won!

Torat Yisrael raised a record amount at the congregation’s first major fundraising event in their new East Greenwich building. Some 130 people gathered in Temple Torat Yisrael’s social hall on March 8 for a unique evening of creativity, good food and community support.

The center of the room was set up with three easels and two tables with child-size wooden Adirondack chairs. As guests

sipped wine and the evening’s signature “Artini” cocktail, five local artists created floral still-lifes, an iconic Rhode Island landscape scene and two charming children’s chairs.

Channel 10’s Barbara Morse Silva conducted a live and lively auction for the artwork and a few selected items, including a reserved parking space by the door for the High Holidays.

Saul Krasny

Kim Markarian & Susan Kolenda

Mary Ann Rossoni

PHOTOS COURTESY TEMPLE TORAT YISRAEL

How is Passover different at the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island?

Critical thinking Analyzing texts

Inspiring Creativity • Developing Character • Embracing Community

Creative Writing Second Language Acquisition Artistic Expression Problem solving Math and Science Social Emotional Development

At JCDSRI, every holiday is a springboard for deep thinking, skill building, and creative expression. l Aid Financia vailable is still a –15 for 2014

For more information, contact Naomi at 401 751-2470 or nstein@jcdsri.org.

For children in Pre-K through 5th grade

ART | ENTERTAINMENT

thejewishvoice.org

April 11, 2014 |

21

My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy!

One-man show comes to Providence for a limited engagement

BY KARA MARZIALI kmarziali@jewishallianceri.org The award-winning comedy show “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy!” premieres in Providence on April 23. Inspired by playwright Steve Solomon’s own family dynamics, this side-splitting one-man show has met with rave reviews and has toured internationally in more than 100 cities.

The play has been billed as “one part lasagna, one part kreplach and two parts Prozac.” The best part is you don’t have to be Italian or Jewish (or in therapy, for that matter!) to enjoy this show. The only experience you need to bring to the theater is an appreciation for dysfunction and hilarity.

Solomon, a Brooklyn native, discovered at an early age that he had a knack for comedy, a talent for mimicry and a flair for writing. He applied those gifts as a physics teacher by using humor and dialects in the classroom. Later he became a school administrator on Long Island but eventually put his academic career behind him to pursue his “latent love of making people laugh.” As Steve puts it, “I decided to follow my heart and become an impoverished comedy writer and performer.”

The Jewish Voice had an opportunity to interview Steve Solomon.

Do you consider yourself a comedian or writer?

You left out actor. [I am] all three, and I’m good to my momma!

How did you go from physics teacher and school administrator to comedian/writer?

After 18 years in the education business, my brain turned to Jell-O… I fol-

lowed my heart and starved for a few years. Now it appears my heart was right!

What’s harder–being a teacher or comedian/writer?

I think the question should be “What’s more important – teaching or comedy?”

Teaching! Good education is the recipe for a good life. And yes, I taught with a sense of humor. My former students come backstage and tell me how they loved me as a teacher – even after I gave them an “F.” You’ve been compared to some great comedians – Alan King, Billy Crystal and Don Rickles among them. Does this put a lot of pressure on you?

No, it’s just wonderful company to be in.

What are the best parts of growing up half Italian and half Jewish?

I got beaten up by both sides of the family. Also, between the Italian and Jewish holidays, I hardly ever went to school!

Boy, did I get shoved around by my Italian cousins after my bar mitzvah.

Are you really in therapy, and if so, has it helped?

Life is my therapy.

Do you tour with the show?

I perform over 175 times a year. My wonderful actors handle the other 200 shows in the U.S. and overseas.

Peter Fogel plays your alter ego in the show. Who else besides Peter Fogel has played Steve?

Peter is a gem of an actor and comic and… the audiences love him. I can’t wait to see the audiences’ reaction to him in Providence. There have been (and still are) three other actors who do my shows.

What’s next for you?

With four hit shows – the newest being “Cannoli, Latkes & Guilt: The

Therapy Continues” – I think I’ll stick to performing and producing. No more writing (for now). The original show, “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy,” is on its way to 3,500 performances making it one of the longest running one-man comedies in history! So, yes…I’m quite content.

KARA MARZIALI is the Director of Communications for the Jewish Alliance.

THE SHOW: “My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish & I’m in Therapy!,” written by Steve Solomon, directed by Andy Rogow and starring Peter J. Fogel, runs from April 23 through May 18. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays with additional 2 p.m. matinees on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets are on sale now at trinityrep.com, by phone at 401351-4242 and at the Trinity Rep box office at 201 Washington St. in Providence.

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22 | April 11, 2014

PASSOVER

The Jewish Voice

PHOTOS | KIT HASPEL

Left to right, Samantha Faria, Rebecca Bak, and Andrea Pepin

Seder Survival

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The Passover Seder Survival Guide, a program of the Jewish Outreach Institute and funded locally by the Alliance with additional funding from the Women’s Alliance Endowment Fund, took place on Thursday, April 3.

Kit Haspel, the Director of Interfaith Outreach at the Jewish Alliance offered Passover information and ideas to parents of other religious backgrounds raising Jewish children. She also shared two recipes for haroset.

Ashkenazi Haroset

From “The Book of Jewish Food” by Claudia Roden 4 medium-sized tart apples 1 cup walnuts, chopped 1-2 tsp. cinnamon 4-6 Tbsp. sweet red wine 2 Tbsp. sugar or honey or to taste Peel, core and fi nely chop or grate the apples. Mix with the rest of the ingredients.

Sephardic Haroset

Adapted com.

from

Epicurious.

20 pitted dates, preferable Medjool 3 bananas 1/2 cup golden raisins 1/4 cup sweet red wine such as Manischewitz Extra Heavy Malaga 3 tablespoons date syrup or honey 3/4 cup unsalted shelled pistachio nuts (not dyed red), toasted 3/4 cup whole almonds, toasted 1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp. ground ginger 1 tsp. ground nutmeg In a food processor, puree dates until smooth. Add bananas, raisins, wine and date syrup or honey, and process to combine. Add nuts and spices and process until smooth. Store, covered, at room temperature until ready to serve.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Mothers Circle, contact Kit Haspel at 421-4111, ext. 184, or khaspel@jewishallianceri. org.

Andrea Pepin and Rebecca Bak perusing some of the haggodot available for viewing

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23

PHOTOS | WENDY JOERING

COURTESY | JCDSRI

Left to right, Sam, Yaakov, Alison, Yael, Aviva, Nadav, Ari (Pharaoh), Eli, Ruben, Daniel in the 2013 JCDSRI Passover play.

Pre-K Passover play A family Passover celebration Each year the Pre-K children at Jewish Community Day School perform a Passover play. Dramatic play increases learning and is so much

ic_JVH_Apr_14_Layout 1 4/2/14 11:00 AM Page 1

fun! After the play, family and friends join them for a Seder with much of the food prepared by the kids. Happy Passover from JCDSRI!

Drop-in Passover crafting Members of the community in the Alliance Family Room Parenting Center at the Dwares JCC for a drop-in Passover craft.

Children made a Candy Land-type Seder game, complete with 10 plagues!

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PASSOVER

24 | April 11, 2014

The Jewish Voice

From farm to home: How leading dairy producers prepare for Passover Kosher manufacturers use technology, expert planners to provide high quality Passover foods

BY DANIELA BERKOWITZ

Scrupulous preparations

When it comes to planning, there are three major compo-

At the plant

TNUVA.COM

nents. First, Tnuva needs to order and coordinate the needed products such as cultures, enzymes and stabilizers. This includes analyzing products to determine which elements may need altering for Passover. Second, all milk requires fi ltering to ensure that there is no trace hametz from the farm. Finally, production lines need to be thoroughly cleaned and “kosherized.”

“For every Tnuva product, we come out with a Passover version,” explains Borow. “Many products are virtually accept-

able for Passover all year while other products require altering the stabilizers or other ingredients used. We work with Tnuva’s technologists to change product recipes accordingly so that they meet high quality assurance and kashrut standards.”

The whole development requires extreme attention to quality and details as well as meticulous coordination with s uppl ie r s , m a nu f ac t u r e r s , kashrut authorities and marketers. The actual ordering

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The milk way

All year, pure milk, unlike its derivative products, is automatically considered kosher for Passover, says Borow. But as Passover approaches and manufacturers are preparing the holiday lines, fi ltering

FARM | 30

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of materials and preliminary production can begin as early as October and is complete by January, Borow says. Certain products for Passover already are made by January, especially in the case of those requiring a longer aging process.

The computerized system not only ensures that milk is hametz-free but it also is the quality control indicator for freshness. With decades of experience, Tnuva has engineered remarkable and advanced methods to uphold quality, freshness and taste standards. The dairy production plants are designed with detailed structures and methods to make milk for consumption or for an array of cheeses, yogurts, puddings and other milk byproducts.

Everything at each Tnuva production facility is streamlined using technology. Production lines are “kosherized” in shifts in order to produce favorite dairy products in a timely and organized way. For Pass-

e

Some have preparing for Passover down to a science as a means to stay organized despite all the stress amid locating and buying food that is kosher for Passover, cleaning the home, preparing for Seders and keeping the celebrations up for eight days. It’s no easy feat.

For food manufacturers, the science of Passover preparation means tremendous logistical work. At Tnuva, the world’s largest kosher food manufacturer, the ancient and complex laws of kashrut meet the most modernized food production techniques unlike at any other place. The company delivers top-notch dairy products that meet a high standard of quality and freshness in Israel and North America.

“The whole process starts immediately after Passover, for the next Passover,” says Rabbi Yaakov Borow, manager of Tnuva’s ingredient kashrut approval department. “Passover is basically always on the mind of Tnuva’s development, marketing and kashrut teams.

A committee of representatives from nearly every department sits to discuss all the issues and prepare throughout the year,” Borow explains.

is checked to ensure that any remnants of hametz from the farm are not detected in the milk, which if present would cause milk to be prohibited for consumption on Passover. A computerized system verifies that properly fi ltered fresh milk is received at the dairies and indicates whether it is acceptable for Passover before it even leaves the farm. The kosherfor-Passover milk is funneled to the Passover production lines at the plant, with a mashgiach (kosher inspector) supervising the whole process.

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PASSOVER

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April 11, 2014 |

25

My most memorable Passover celebration Forging a lifelong bond at Seder

BY IRINA MISSIURO imissiuro@jewishallianceri. org The story starts in 1990, when my little cousin Rita and her mother Anna were shopping in Douglas Drug. There, they encountered Mrs. Rosen, Rita’s teacher, who invited them to her house for Passover. Since my relatives had just arrived in the United States from the former Soviet Union (FSU) and were “strangers” not only to the Rosen family, but also to the new country, that Seder was a difficult one. Everything, including the food and the culture, was unfamiliar. During the celebration, the Rosens learned that my uncle’s parents and brother (my father) had also immigrated to

Rhode Island from FSU, and extended the invitation for the next year’s Seder to us as well.

However, the Seder that stands out in my memory occurred not in 1991, but a year later. For the second time, we sat around the two long tables at the hospitable home of Dr. and Mrs. (Rick and Jani) Rosen.

This year, though, the Seder included the last branch of our extended family – my uncle, his wife and two daughters.

The last group of relatives to immigrate, they had just arrived from Belarus to join us (my grandparents and their two sons, along with their wives and four daughters), and their presence caused the holiday to take on a more significant meaning.

That Passover was the first

At the 1992 Seder Bunya Goman with her sons (from left to right): Isaak, Yakov, Boris and Sam.

PHOTOS COURTESY | IRINA MISSIURO

The Goman cousins: from left to right, Tanya, Irina (Missiuro), Irina, Elina and Natasha time the entire mishpucha had a chance to celebrate together.

Because it encompassed everyone, that 1992 Seder is the one that stayed with me. The memory is strengthened by the fact that the Rhode Island Jewish Herald – an independent paper that later merged with a prior iteration of The Jewish Voice – wrote about our attendance at the Rosens’ Seder in its April 23, 1992, issue.

Last week, I called Mrs. Rosen to ask her about the ordeal of hosting a Seder for 28 people, 14 of whom barely spoke English. The first thing she said to

me was – I have the newspaper with that article on my desk.

Mrs. Rosen explained that she didn’t just pull it out of a drawer because she was expecting my call; no, she always keeps it in plain view. This small idiosyncrasy might have something to do with the fact that she considers the Gomans part of her family now. My extended family sees the Rosens the same way, inviting them to any major celebration. Nineteen years ago, the Rosens were the only Americans at my grandparents’ 50th anniversary party. When my cousins and I were getting mar-

ried, the Rosens, who now live out of state, flew in for the weddings. This August, we will see them again to celebrate Irina Goman’s – my cousin’s – wedding (she and I shared the name until I got married in 2001).

I asked the bride, who is currently teaching at a Jewish school in Florida, about her memories of that Passover celebration. She said, “The Rosens’ Seder was warm and welcoming. It was my first connection to Judaism, which really helped spark my desire to want to know MEMORABLE | 31

Let all who are hungry come eat.

Let all who are in need come share our Passover.

As we partake in our bounty, acknowledge our blessings, and invoke the meaning of the exodus, may we be inspired to ease the affliction of both the stranger and neighbor.

Wishing you a happy Passover, Board Chair

President & CEO

NATION

26 | April 11, 2014

The Jewish Voice

JULIE PELC ADLER

Rabbis’ mass head-shaving inspired by ‘Superman Sam’ raises nearly $600K

BY JULIE WIENER

©2013 Feld Entertainment

JTA – Seventy-three North American rabbis will be missing something when they go to Shabbat services: their hair.

As part of a campaign that raised more than $570,000 for pediatric cancer research, approximately 60 male and female rabbis voluntarily shaved their heads at the the Reform movement’s Central Conference of American Rabbis convention in Chicago.

Many of the shaved were inspired by the death last December of Samuel Sommers, the 8-year-old son of Rabbis Phyllis and Michael Sommers, from refractory acute myeloid leukemia. Phyllis Sommers, an associate rabbi at Am Sha-

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lom in suburban Chicago who had documented her son’s struggle on a blog called “Superman Sam,” came up with the idea for the shaving campaign along with a fellow rabbi shortly before Samuel’s death.

While Samuel inspired the shaving campaign -- done in partnership with St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a group that funds pediatric cancer research – it inspired a new Jewish ceremony.

Originally called “36 Rabbis Shave for the Brave,” the campaign that culminated in the group head-shaving on Tuesday night ultimately recruited twice that many rabbis and raised more than triple its original fundraising goal of $180,000.

According to Rabbi Charles Briskin, one of the newly bald rabbis, the campaign brought in more money for St. Baldrick’s Foundation than any other single head-shaving event this year.

Founded in 2000, St. Baldrick’s coordinates group shave-a-thons in which volunteers shave their heads to show solidarity with cancer patients who have lost their hair to chemotherapy, raise awareness and solicit donations.

Afterward, Briskin said, “we just hugged one another, admired our new looks, and of course rubbed one another’s heads.”

JULIE WIENER is a features writer for JTA

PASSOVER | WORLD

thejewishvoice.org

April 11, 2014 |

27

Next year in the White House: A Seder tradition The staff of the Office of the President of the United States have held Seders since at least the late 1990s, during the administration of President Bill Clinton. In April 2009, President Barack Obama included a second-night Seder in his official schedule.

This was the fi rst time that a sitting President is known to have hosted and observed a Seder at the White House. President Obama participated in his fi rst Seder while on the presidential campaign trail in 2008 and has hosted one each year since moving into the White House.

PETE SOUZA | WHITE HOUSE

President Obama hosts a traditional Passover Seder dinner in April 2009. Some friends and White House employees and their families joined the Obama family.

U.S. soldiers getting first new siddur since World War II JTA – A prayer book developed for use by Jews in the U.S. military was released in March.

Reform, Orthodox and Conservative rabbis cooperated in creating the prayer book, which was commissioned by the JWB Jewish Chaplains Council. The prayer book is the fi rst of its type published since World War II. The chaplains council, a program of the Jewish Community Centers Association of North

America, which is holding its conference this week, received permission to reprint Hebrew and English texts from other prayer books in the new siddur.

“We had the ability to move freely through their prayer books, allowing us to create a book that each rabbi can use differently,” said retired Rear Adm. Rabbi Harold Robinson, director of the council. “Yet for each soldier, sailor or Marine, it will be the same, no matter

where he or she is stationed.”

In recent years, Jewish chaplains and lay leaders leading services have used a variety of books, according to their personal preference, which meant that service personnel had to adapt to a new prayer book when moving to a different base.

The book includes a foreword

by President Barack Obama.

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PASSOVER

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April 11, 2014 |

The meaning of freedom in America today

BY RABBI MARC S. JAGOLINZER The message of Passover has always been one of faith and hope. This wonderful holiday reminds us of our experience in which we emerged from slavery in Egypt some 3,300 years ago.

The story of the Exodus has become a symbol of determination and courage from which many oppressed people, individually and collectively, down through the centuries have drawn strength and inspiration. The meaning of Passover has become universal.

Passover is the season in the Jewish calendar when the past and the future merge.

Over and over again, we live the great drama of our ancestors’ liberation from Egyptian bondage. We continually pray for freedom for all oppressed people as we give thanks for the miracles shown to our ancestors in days gone by. We pledge to dedicate ourselves to the unfi nished task of redemption. By doing so, we acknowledge that the past is alive within us and that it inspires our vision for the future and strengthens our will to achieve it.

As a child and throughout my adult years, I have always loved Pesach because of its great ideals and profound values. It is such a personal holiday marked

by families gathering around the Seder table replete with rituals and symbols. When we sit down at the Seder table to retell the story of the going out of Egypt and say, “In every generation, one must look upon himself/herself as if he/she had personally come out of Egypt,” I am moved and inspired. And at the same time, I am concerned about our Jewish people. What

is happening to our American Jewish community? Have we used our freedom to cultivate our own resources and to emerge stronger, more knowledgeable, more responsible as Jews? Or has our freedom contributed to a downturn in Jewish life? Have we integrated “too well” into American life and lost our uniqueness as members of a historic faith?

On this Passover 5774, we need to ask ourselves how meaningful and how relevant is the message of “going out of Egypt.” We need to concern ourselves with

freedom as it relates to our roles as Jews, Americans and citizens of our world. What is the meaning of freedom in America today when there is still bigotry, hatred, censorship, poverty, inequality and the denial of the rights of all people? As Jews and Americans, we must put forth effort and sacrifice to rid our world of these illnesses.

The Jewish people have lived through many perilous periods throughout our long and glorious history. We have been sustained by our faith in ourselves and in the ideals that our religion proclaims as well as by our faith in God. Passover comes with its message to look forward to the future with hope, to work for tikun olam and to fulfi ll our responsibilities of noble human achievement.

Pesach and the Seder are precious gifts given to us each and every year. Let us celebrate them in all their beauty with all who are precious to us.

Let this time be one of renewed spirit. May each of us celebrate this festival in a truly meaningful and mutually beneficial way.

  and  

     

Thursday, April 24 | 7:30 pm | Salomon 001 

Office of the Dean of the College

Department of History

RABBI MARC S. JAGOLINZER (rabjag@earthlink. net) is the spiritual leader of Temple Shalom in Middletown, R.I., and is also the principal of the Samuel Zilman Bazarsky Religious School.

May the traditions of

Pesach

bring joy to you and your family!

From The Board of Directors and Staff of

Jewish Seniors Agency of Rhode Island Paul Barrette Executive Director

Jeffrey Padwa President

Jewish Seniors Agency “Putting life into living” sm

Celebrations Adult Day Services Center at Tamarisk, *Jewish Eldercare of Rhode Island Outreach Program, Jewish Seniors Agency Women’s Association, Shalom and Shalom II Apartments, The Phyllis Siperstein Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence, To Life Center Adult Day Services at JSA, *The Louis and Goldie Chester Full Plate Kosher Food Pantry

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*partially funded by Jewish Alliance of Rhode Island

29

30 | April 11, 2014

PASSOVER

The Jewish Voice

Jewish Women Entrepreneurs Matzvah Queen Regina Horowitz Margareten

BY TOBY ROSSNER In 1885, “The Matzah Queen” Regina Horowitz Margareten baked her first batch of commercial matzot to sell in her family grocery store on New York’s Willett Street. In an interview, Regina later wrote, “I lit the fires, worked the dough, and found the customers.”

Within a few years, Regina’s matzot were so popular that they became the sole product of the family business. In the early years, Regina “baked through the night; for weeks at a time she saw the light of day only on Shabbat.” When her husband Ignatz died in 1923, Regina took the title of Treasurer of the Horowitz Brothers and Margareten Company.

She grew the business steadily; in 1931, the company used 45,000 barrels of flour and grossed the then-considerable sum of $1,000,000. She was a one-woman quality control department; she tasted the matzah when she arrived at the plant at 8:30 a.m. each day and had samples sent to her office throughout the day.

Regina was the company spokesperson to the community. During the ’40s and ’50s, she

FROM PAGE 24

BING.COM

broadcast an annual Passover radio greeting in Yiddish that she would then repeat in English “for the sake of the children who may be listening in.”

Regina Margareten continued to work at the factory, including tasting the matzot and checking on the price of flour, until two weeks before her death at age 96.

Source: Shulamith Z. Berger: American Jewish Historical

FARM

over products, production lines that make cheeses are cleaned scrupulously and examined to guarantee that no non-Passover particles remain. However, for products made using high temperatures, the “kosherizing” is a more exhaustive process that includes detailed cleaning and using heat to make the line kosher. A logistics team consults with kashrut authorities to assure this is done properly.

For the consumers

The kosher symbols and the “Kosher-for-Passover” identification make it official and tell the public that they can trust the product for consumption during the holiday. In North America, Tnuva products bear the Orthodox Union’s Kosher for Passover certification and authorization for consumption on Passover from the Vaad Mehadrin, a strict hashgacha that represents a diverse group of rabbis from various factions of Orthodox communities. The Vaad Mehadrin works closely with Tnuva on all kashrut is-

sues to ensure that a high standard of kashrut is met.

The extensive process to make cheese kosher for Passover is in honor of giving consumers fresh, tasty and kosher options for Passover. “Passover production improves every year based on solving the problems of the previous year and repeating the successes of prior years,” Borow says. “It takes lots of attention to detail and commitment to quality and the customers’ needs.”

This is especially true because the Jewish holidays are an important time for families to celebrate together, and Passover, like nearly all holidays, is concentrated on food and traditions.

“During the Jewish holidays, we experience an increase in sales, particularly from consumers who do not observe a kosher diet on a daily basis, but look for kosher items for major holidays, like Passover,” says Yoram Behiri, president and CEO of Tnuva USA. Typically,

Society Chapter 97.

TOBY ROSSNER (tobyross@ cox.net) was the Director of Media Services at the Bureau of Jewish Education from 1978 to 2002.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the fourth article in a series on the history of Jewish women entrepreneurs.

TNUVA.COM

Tnuva sees a major increase in sales during Passover.

“During Passover, our core consumers eat matzah, and they look for the perfect matzah companion – such as Tnuva’s Cheese Spreads and Tnuva’s Quark Creamy Soft Cheese,” Behiri says. “These are easy to spread onto matzah without it breaking and provide a great taste for adults and children alike. Tnuva’s Light Edam and Swiss pre-sliced cheeses are excellent for those looking to balance their diet during Passover.”

Fresh and tasty from the Land of Milk and Honey, you can find Tnuva’s kosher-forPassover products at local kosher specialty shops, major chain grocery stores and select Costco branches across North America.

DANIELA BERKOWITZ is a native Floridian who now resides in Israel. She enjoys cooking, traveling in Israel and writing about Jewish issues.

PASSOVER

thejewishvoice.org

April 11, 2014 |

Love, marriage, motherhood and other uncomfortable Seder table talk

BY MELANIE NOTKIN

JTA – We had just closed our Haggadahs to begin the dinner portion of the Passover Seder when the conversation abruptly, yet not surprisingly, turned to my singlehood.

There is a curiosity to some about a single, childless woman in her early 40s, and a guest at the table, a married mother of three, couldn’t hold hers in. The Four Questions all single women of a certain age know by heart were about to begin: “You’ve never been married?” the woman asked as the youngest of her three children tugged on her sleeve and she sat him on her lap.

“No,” I responded, hoping my frank, curt answer would shorten the conversation.

No luck.

“Were you ever engaged?” she continued, as if a broken engagement might validate my ability to commit and marry.

“No,” I said, now with a bitter taste in my mouth.

“But you want kids, right?” she asked.

“I’ve always wanted children,” I replied. She had no idea of the amount of salty tears I’ve cried over my childlessness.

My new friend fastened the yarmulke on her son’s head, reminding me of the expectations of a Jewish woman to bear Jewish children. She looked up at me with the final question: “So is it you or is it them?”

She wanted to know who was to blame, but I wouldn’t take the bait.

“I just hasn’t happened, yet.” I said. “It’s no one’s fault.”

FROM PAGE 25

I know this is true. Childlessness at a later age is a growing trend in America, and certainly among Jewish women. Nearly 50 percent of American women are childless, up from 35 percent a generation ago in 1976. Jewish women are more likely than the average American woman to remain single and childless until their mid-30s.

Jewish women are also more likely to have a college degree and, like most college-educated American women, we are more likely to marry later. And just like our non-Jewish peers, we are also more likely to become mothers only once married.

I never expected I’d be one of those who wouldn’t marry during my most fertile years. And while I hold no judgment on those who marry outside of Judaism, it was always a deal-breaker for me.

Jewish women carry the Jewish babies, and we carry the Jewish guilt of keeping our heritage going.

Those of us, among the most well-educated, most financially independent Jewish women, who remain single and childless as our fertile years wane, are often made to feel like we’ve broken a promise to all Jews. It is our mandate: Get married to a Jewish man and have Jewish children. The unwritten promise of our having children works both ways; we expected it to happen, and others expect it of us.

Back at the Seder table, the married mother still wasn’t satisfied. “Were you too focused on your career?” she asked.

“I have to work, of course,” I told her, adding that I always found time for meeting men and

dating. “Besides, we women are pretty good multi-taskers,” I said, nodding toward the Seder hostess, a married mom who is also partner at her law firm.

“Then you must be picky,” the woman insisted. “There is no such thing as Prince Charming, you know.”

“It’s enough, dear,” her husband said, perhaps wondering if his wife thought she hadn’t been very picky in choosing him. I thought it gallant of him to try and save me from his wife’s inquisition.

“I think that if a woman is smart and attractive, she should be married and have children,” she argued like I was no longer in the room. Turning back to me, she added: “I’m sure you have lots of dates. I hope you find one you can settle down with soon.”

“I promise,” I said. But my promise wasn’t for her. It was for me. I promise to never settle to settle down. Love isn’t a gift for those who deserve it, but a reward for those who wait for it.

And while the unmarried, childless woman of a certain age waits for the right relationship, she isn’t waiting for life to happen to her.

Love and marriage is a promise I will always keep for myself.

And as I look out over the future, I see it waiting for me there.

MELANIE NOTKIN is the author of “Otherhood: Modern Women Finding A New Kind of Happiness” and “Savvy Auntie: The Ultimate Guide for Cool Aunts, Great-Aunts, and Godmothers, She’s the founder of the lifestyle brand Savvy Auntie.

MEMORABLE

more. I am happy to say that, looking back, these were the moments that helped motivate and inspire me to connect to my Jewish roots. I will always be grateful to the Rosens for opening their doors to my family and me.”

But let’s return to the Seder of ’92 – to the day when the bond between the Rosens and the Gomans was just forging. During that evening, we were all impressed with the Rosens’ knowledge of Jewish history and traditions. After all, we hadn’t been able to embrace our heritage until immigration. Now, we were attempting to model our behavior on that of our gracious guides. Our family matriarch, Bunya Goman, had the easiest time blending in. She made herself at home by chatting in Yiddish with Mrs. Rosen’s mother, Bobbie Lun. The cousins and I kept up with her by reciting the four questions along with Toby, the Rosens’ “baby.” Russell, the oldest, explained the story of Joseph to us, and Dr. Rosen said a prayer for the freedom of Soviet Jews who were still hoping to emigrate.

Using the Russian haggadot,

which were donated by the Jewish Federation, we read Hebrew sentences formed by Russian letters. Despite the transliteration, one of my uncles had a hard time pronouncing the unfamiliar words during a solo reading. In fact, he sounded so funny to us that my cousin Elina and I burst out laughing, embarrassing ourselves in front of everyone, yet unable to stifle the giggles.

I wanted to know Mrs. Rosen’s impressions of that Seder. She told me that the experience “felt wonderful,” emphasizing, “We were thrilled!” Mrs. Rosen shared that, for years, they talked about how lucky they

were that their grandparents had decided to come to America around 1900; otherwise, they would have been in the same predicament. Their daughter Leslie had gone to the March on Washington to give a speech and, every year, they read the “Matzah of Hope” prayer to free the Jews of the USSR. Now, we were at their house: “You can’t abandon people whom you prayed to get out. For us, it was a natural thing, and we loved it,” Mrs. Rosen said. Dr. Rosen chimed in, “It was a mitzvah.”

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

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ANGEL TAVERAS, MAYOR CITY OF PROVIDENCE

Chag sameach!

CHAG SAMEACH FROM MY FAMILY TO YOURS!

SENATOR

Happy Passover!

31

32 | April 11, 2014

PASSOVER

The Jewish Voice

Four cups for four types

BY RACHEL STERN SIEGMAN

HVAC LOCATIONS Avon, MA ∙ Woburn MA ∙ E. Hartford CT

Every year families all over the world unite to enjoy the Seder. While calling all members of the family together may feel like the ingathering of the exiles, it is the laughter and discussion held around the table that all will remember for years to come. Many households are made up of a range of personalities reminiscent of the four sons we discuss during the Seder and whose placation may at times feel like a balancing act. This Passover, the Golan Heights Winery presents fun recommendations for wines to fit each type so that the differing personalities do not create havoc worse than the 10 plagues.

Type 1: The Firecracker – The Evil Son

This boisterous personality is not always the “evil son” but rather the family member who enjoys being the antagonist and who often leaves us in fits of laughter. This rabble-rouser has a tendency to take things too far and often can turn an evening into the unexpected.

Appease this “evil” one with a glass of an sparkling wine such as the Gilgal Brut, a method champagne that is the perfect match for such a bubbly personality. The Gilgal Brut raises spirits and offers the perfect opportunity to toast to the evening’s celebrations. The wine opens with a pop and will begin the Seder with an energetic fizz fitting to placate this guest’s malevolent (albeit loveable) demeanor.

Type 2: The Favorite – The Wise Son

The “wise son” may at times be too smart for his own good, and it is usually a treat for the rest of the family to find those rare moments he gets surprised or stumped. While sometimes the favorite and other times the antagonist himself, this fellow’s siblings relish putting this “son” in his place. Test this know-it-all’s wine knowledge with the Yarden 2T, a Portuguese-style dry red wine made up of two less familiar varieties, the Touriga Nacional and the Tinta Cao, and exhibiting a rich, fruity and complex body. The Yarden 2T will reward all guests both as a perfect accompaniment to the meaty dishes of the Seder and with precious few moments of silence as this “wise son” tries to ascertain the appropriate varieties within.

BING.COM

Type 3: The Quiet One – The Simple Son

We all know this personality, who seems to repeat his contributions year to year.

(Is this night really different from all other nights?)

Though his observations may seem, well, obvious, we can try and add some points to this son’s IQ by giving him a wine that is anything but simple: the Galil Mountain Meron.

The Meron evolves during the meal as new flavors are expressed with every sip and is the ideal engagement to begin wine discussion. This strong and well-balanced wine, exhibiting a silky texture and a long velvety finish that fills the palate with its rich tastes, is the perfect companion to the Seder plate’s lamb. Not only will this wine greatly aid the “simple” son’s wisdom, after a cup or two of the Meron, you may find the brilliance of all the guests gathered round the table enhanced.

Type 4: The Youngster – The One Who Does Not Know How to Ask

While this guest may usually give a “deer in the headlights” look when asked a question, the Seder is ultimately about engaging all of our company and thus securing the links in our tradition. Studies have shown that the glazed-over look can be recharged with a good glass of fine, sweet wine.

For “the one who does not know how to ask,” choose the Yarden Heights wine. This award-winning wine is truly a dessert wine with a difference and will compel your guests to ask, “Why can’t all other wines be like this one?”

The Yarden Heights wine is a delightful and rich vino comprised of an aromatic mix of tropical fruit flavors layered with honeysuckle, jasmine and a hint of spice, and is truly

described as the “taste of Gan Eden.” Keep all your guests awake and alert by the end of the Seder without engaging in the search for the afikomen but simply by filling their glasses with this delectable choice.

Next year in Jerusalem!

With all personalities satisfied by wine, bring a unifying close to this wonderful evening. Anticipation (and attendance) for the year to come can be ensured by providing a vino to which the whole table can raise a united glass and toast “next year in Jerusalem.” The Yarden Cabernet Sauvignon, a rich wine with complex flavors and a full body, is an Israeli classic. Containing all the elements of a quality and elegant Cabernet, this, Israel’s favorite Cabernet Sauvignon, is the perfect choice to bring together the whole family.

RACHEL STERN SIEGMAN (pr1@impmedia.co.il) made aliyah four years ago from the United States. She works in public relations in Jerusalem and lives in Petah Tikvah with her husband.

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WORLD | PASSOVER

April 11, 2014 |

News Briefs

33

A joyous and meaningful Pesach for everyone.

Next year in Jerusalem!

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS STAFF STRIKE LIFTED On April 4, the Consulate General of Israel to New England announced that a strike action undertaken by staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Israel as well as in the external services of the ministry has been lifted. Normal services have therefore resumed at the embassy of Israel in Cameroon as well as in all other Israeli embassies around the world.

Samuel D. Zurier Providence City Council

CASE AGAINST HEBREW NATIONAL RETURNED TO ORIGINAL STATE COURT

JTA – A lawsuit alleging that Hebrew National foods are not strictly kosher has been returned by a federal appeals court to the Minnesota state court which fi rst heard it.

The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that the lawsuit – Wallace et al v. ConAgra Foods Inc., fi led by 11 kosher consumers, should not have been heard in federal court and returned it to a state court in Dakota County, Minn., Reuters reported.

The lawsuit against ConAgra, the packaged food conglomerate that owns the Hebrew National brand, was originally fi led in May 2012 by 11 customers who accused the company of consumer fraud for claiming products sold under the label were kosher.

Hebrew National carries the symbol of the Triangle K kosher certifier, an agency that is considered insufficiently reliable in certain Orthodox circles.

The complaint alleged that Triangle K and AER, which does the slaughtering, did not abide by “objective” standards of kosher slaughter. In particular, they claim the company did not inspect, clean or segregate the meat in a manner “required to be considered kosher.”

In February, 2013, U.S. District Court Judge Donovan Frank ruled that because kosher is a religious standard, it is a subject for rabbinic debate – not a federal court ruling.

The appeals court said Frank dismissed the case “with prejudice,” and because of that it should be heard again in the original state court.

KERRY: U.S. TO EVALUATE NEXT STEPS IN PEACE PROCESS

JTA – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States planned to evaluate its approach to Israeli-Palestinian peacemaking in light of recent setbacks, which he blamed on both sides.

In response to a question while visiting Morocco, Kerry said that he would return to Washington to confer with President Obama before deciding on the next steps. He said it was “reality-check time.”

Happy Passover ~ from ~

Attorney General

HAPPY PASSOVER HAPPY PASSO Peter F. Kilmartin Wishing you happiness, peace, prosperity and all the joys of Passover!

Wishing you happiness, and all the joys of

HAPPY PASSOVER Passover Services April 15 at 9:00 AM April 21 at 9:00 AM

Passover Ser April 15 at 9: April 21 at 9:

Synagogue serving SE Mass &peace, RI A Reconstructionist Synagogue serving WishingA Reconstructionist you happiness, prosperity and all the joys of Passover!

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Congregation Agudas Achim, 901 N. Main St., A

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Congregation Agudas Achim | 901 N. Main St., Attleboro, MA 02703 Wishing you happiness, peace, prosperity Wishing you happiness, A Reconstructionist Synagogue serving SE Mass & RI and all the joys of Passover! and all the joys of Passover Services April 15 at 9:00 AM April 21 at 9:00 AM

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Congregation Agudas Achim, 901 N. Main St., A A Reconstructionist Synagogue serving

HAPPY PASSOVER

HAPPY PASSO

Wishing you happiness, peace, prosperity and all the joys of Passover!

Passover Services April 15 at 9:00 AM April 21 at 9:00 AM Congregation Agudas Achim, 901 N. Main St., Attleboro, MA 02703 A Reconstructionist Synagogue serving SE Mass & RI

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April 11, 2014 |

35

APRIL IS FINANCIAL LITERACY MONTH

Smart tips for your tax refund

BY STATEPOINT If you’re fortunate enough to receive a refund this tax season, it’s time to think about sensible uses for the extra income so, as Grandpa used to say, “it doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket.”

The smartest thing to do with a little extra money, say experts, is to use it in a way that benefits your budget, generates extra income or helps you achieve financial peace of mind.

This can be accomplished in several ways, including putting the money into a savings account with a competitive interest rate, investing in energy saving improvements for your home or paying down debt. Or, if these options don’t move you, consider donating your refund to a charity of your choice.

“There’s an old saying that

money can’t buy happiness, and while this may be true, our research shows that saving money can impact our sense of well-being,” says Diane Morais, Ally Bank deposits and line of business integration executive.

In fact, among those with a savings account, 38 percent of respondents surveyed report feeling extremely or very happy versus 29 percent of those without one, according to a recent Ally Bank survey.

Beyond a savings account, another smart move is to make a deductible IRA contribution.

Not only will you earn interest, your contribution may be eligible for a tax deduction. Depending on the size of the refund, you may need to fi nd a bank that has no minimum deposit requirement or monthly maintenance fees that can quickly

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eat away at your principal.

While few people will regret saving money, another walletfriendly option is to invest your tax refund into money-saving projects, such as energy effi-

cient home improvements. In addition to helping reduce utility costs, you may qualify for a tax credit, called the Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit, on such projects as solar

What to know before buying or leasing a vehicle

BY STATEPOINT Buying or leasing a vehicle is an exciting decision. For many consumers, it’s the fi rst “big ticket” item they acquire.

Knowing what to expect before making this important fi nancial commitment will help you feel confident about your decision for years to come.

“To make wise decisions, it pays to understand the tools available to educate yourself on fi nancing a vehicle,” says Mike Kane, vice president of Consumer Credit Operations at Ally Financial. “The internet has made it easy for shoppers to access these tools, which can

help you get the most for your money during the fi nancing process.”

This April, which is Financial Literacy Month, Kane is offering some auto fi nance tips to help you make sense of the process.

• Ways to Pay. There are a few different options when it comes to buying or leasing a vehicle, such as paying cash, getting a loan from a bank or credit union, or negotiating a retail contract or lease through a dealership. It’s important to choose the option that works best for you. Visiting different dealerships is a way to learn more about the options avail-

able.

• What to look for. When fi nancing the purchase of a vehicle, the total amount you pay during the term of the retail contract will depend on several factors including the price of the vehicle, the amount you finance and the Annual Percentage Rate (APR).

• The length of your retail contract matters. Retail contract terms range from two to six years, or longer. The longer you take to pay, the lower your payments will be, but your total cost to fi nance will increase.

The length of your retail contract may also impact your options to trade in your vehicle,

should you have an outstanding balance. Choose the terms that best fit your fi nancial situation.

• Negotiation may be part of the transaction. The terms of the fi nancing – such as the APR, vehicle selling price, down payment, monthly payment amount and term – may be negotiable with the dealership.

Ask about any incentives the dealership offers, such as cash rebates or low APRs. • Do your homework. Using free online tools like payment calculators or vehicle valuation guides will give you the information you need when it comes to negotiating with the dealer.

power and wind turbine upgrades.

Also consider paying off credit card debt to save on the interest expense and improve your credit score to help you obtain better terms for big ticket items like a car or a home.

And fi nally, you may also want to consider making a donation to a charitable cause, which in some instances may reduce your tax liability. Always check with a tax professional if this is a concern Regardless of how you spend your refund, remember that it’s your hard-earned money, not a windfall – so be sure to use it wisely.

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36 | April 11, 2014

SENIORS

The Jewish Voice

Public health and the limits of private rights If human illness were strictly a private matter, never impinging upon the health, freedom or affairs of others, there would be little ambiguity or dispute concerning the need for health regulations; indeed, there would be no need for any public health leg islat ion since each person’s health, just as each person’s bank a c c o u n t or sex life, would then remain a OF SCIENCE strictly permatter. & SOCIETY sonal But, medically speakSTANLEY M. ing, no man ARONSON, M.D. is an island entire unto himself. And, to paraphrase Donne still further, any man’s illness diminishes us because we are involved in mankind.

The origins of the fi rst regulations defi ning community response to individual health must necessarily be obscured in early history. But if the Bible provides us with some dim vision of these early public health efforts, then the earliest regulations probably reflected their ill-defi ned appreciation that certain diseases, which moderns now call contagious, were capable of affecting some and then disabling still others within the immediate community.

How best, then, to decontaminate the tribal space when confronting a potential threat to tribal health? Ritual killing, undertaken by certain primitive groups, must have been regarded, sooner or later, as excessive; hence, a compromise was reached, allowing the infected person to live – but to live ostracized beyond the tribal area. Experience taught the nomads that, after a set interval, the person set apart either died of the disease or was no longer infective; and hence, the interval of segregation was limited to some observable time frame such as a lunar cycle. It was later extended to 40 days (hence the Italian word for 40, quarantina).

Quarantining, the physical separation of the sick from the healthy, operated in two ways: fi rst, the expulsion of a newly sick person from within the community. And second, the prevention of a sick foreigner from entering the tribal confi nes. Sovereign nations learned that immigrants might bring in communicable disease. And, therefore, ports of entry became sites of medical vigilance, with maritime officials provided with the authority to bar those with visible disease. The United States Immigration Service, beginning in the 19th century, had its own corps of physicians who examined all incoming aliens to detect such illnesses as pulmonary tuberculosis and an eye infection called trachoma.

In truth, trachoma continues to be a public health threat: It is highly communicable and, if left untreated, will eventually result in blindness. It is estimated that there currently are 146 million cases of trachoma, mainly in Africa and southern Asia.

Diseases perpetuated by physical contact, particularly those associated with sexual intimacy, became the fi rst to be internally regulated. And thus, the Book of Leviticus declares that males with urethral discharges are to be ostracized until declared to be clean by the priest-physicians. In the primitive nomadic world of the wandering Israelites, cleanliness then became an abiding watchword and things were simplistically declared either clean or unclean. Amongst the unclean were such states as menstruation, bodily discharges, skin rashes and death.

Confl ict necessarily arose between the unwritten rights of privacy and the need by the greater community to know where threats to its public health might lurk. Sexually transmitted diseases, essentially diseases of intimate contact, were viewed as a serious threat to the community and, in many modern nations, physicians were required to report all cases of venereal disease to public authorities who then interviewed all cases, required them to undergo therapy and seek out all of their sexual contacts. The public weal was

considered of greater importance than the citizen’s right to sexual confidentiality.

By the 19th century, the scope of public health authority expanded considerably. In the interests of the well-being of the greater community, public health officials planned sewage systems, garbage disposal plants and even access to uncontaminated drinking water.

The earliest of public health efforts were to separate the

“Yes, vaccination is a worthy intervention, but let it be a voluntary act…” sick from the well; to bar new communicable illnesses from entering the community from without; and then to aggressively pursue those within the community infected with those infectious diseases transmitted by physical contact. The second public health phase represented efforts to prevent new disease by recognizing that unregulated water supplies regularly infected large numbers of people with diseases such as cholera, typhoid and dysentery. And if a person who consistently shed the germs of one of these water-borne infections was found, the authorities were then granted police powers to arrest and indefi nitely detain such carriers (such as Typhoid

Mary).

The transition from quarantining to prevention and, fi nally, to preemption was inevitable; yet, it took many centuries before the state, through its public health arm, declared its right to prevent a person from acquiring an infectious disease since he or she, if infected, might then represent a palpable threat to the community. Vaccination against the viral disease called smallpox, despite known complications, was declared a necessary intervention. After 1820, many nations not only paid for the vaccine but demanded that all children be vaccinated by a certain age. In some American states, for example, children are barred from the public school system unless they show documentary proof of a series of preventive vaccinations.

Obligatory vaccination programs have been a point of considerable debate, with some civil libertarians claiming, “Yes, vaccination is a worthy intervention, but let it be a voluntary act since the sanctity of one’s own body is not to be violated by intrusive state regulations. First it will be smallpox control and next thought control.” Clearly, there exists a delicate balance between civil liberty and community health.

STANLEY M. ARONSON, M.D., (smamd@cox.net) is dean of medicine emeritus at Brown University.

Ascent from Hell Patricia Allen, a graduate of Hope High School, RISD and Brown, married Jim Weiss, who grew up in the orphanage at the site of the Miriam Hospital, and among foster homes.

SKETCHBOOK MIKE FINK

They now live in Florida throughout the winter months.

Patricia sent me a remarkable Holocaust memoir written by their neighbor and friend, Simon Birnbaum, “as told to Richard Skolnick.” Every word of this testimony, subtitled “The Remarkable Journey,” is sharply carved, even the dedication, foreword, introduction and prologue. I offer here brief excerpts from each section.

From the dedication: “Evil, while unconquerable, must always be opposed and contained.” From the foreword by Chabad rabbi Mendel Mangel: “It is both humbling and inspiring to be in the presence of those who went through

the horrors.” From the introduction by Richard Skolnick: “Grandson Jason provided the driving force and the spark that kept us at our task, with his love and admiration for his grandfather.” And from the prologue: “I lived each day with the fear that at any moment I would be murdered. I was witness to barbarisms so extreme, to sights so cruel, as to make the blood freeze and cease to flow.

Somehow, I managed to keep from being pushed over the edge, from being fed into the killing machine that the Nazis had unleashed upon Europe.”

I have collected many accounts of the slave laborers, the hidden children, the partisans, those rescued and risen from the dead, but each one has its unique quality and individual value.

“Ascent from Hell” is true to its promise and fi nds its special focus upon the courage to come back up, and those are the passages I

will cite here.

Simon Birnbaum was born in Poland but remained in the postwar world in Germany until, in 1949, he and his wife Dora left for Israel. They relocated to Canada and later settled in New Jersey before he retired to Florida. Of the chapter as a displaced person, he says, in his own words, as a footnote:

“I was a bit brazen at this point, the attitude that had enabled me to survive. With two friends, at a local German bar, we overheard a remark made about how Jews were animals ... by a guy probably drunk at the time.

Nevertheless, it infuriated us, and we proceeded to punch everyone within reach and also to break up the place, using chairs and smashing everything in sight. We then walked out unharmed, having,

I’m sure, made our point.”

And I thought, he sure did!

This is the straightforward tone of Simon B i r n b au m’s frank, freespirited and fabulous – but also poignant and even poetic – autobiography, a moving summation on this, his 90th birthday year.

The book sells for $19.95.

“Evil, while unconquerable, must always be oppposed and contained.”

MIKE FINK (mfi nk33@aol. com) teaches at RISD.

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Dr. Plumb’s pet tzedakah project Veterinary care with a Jewish perspective

37

Wednesday, April 23, 2014 7:30 pm, Friedman Auditorium Metcalf Hall, Brown University

 

BY NAOMI GELLER LIPSKY Dr. Paige Plumb’s pet tzedakah project is just that. She is a veterinarian who treats the pets of people who cannot afford to pay standard prices. Animal rescue groups, social service agencies and standard pay clinics also refer patients to her. Although Plumb only opened CAWS (Companion Animal Welfare Society) in West Warwick in January, she has already seen as many patients as she expected to see by October. Her only announcements have been through Facebook (CAWSforPaws) and a local circular.

Plumb had wanted to be a vet for as long as she can remember. After graduating from Moses Brown and the University of Rhode Island, she got her DVM at Oklahoma State in Sweetwater, Okla. Plumb ran a practice for 12 years, then returned to Rhode Island and worked for another clinic. She realized the pressing need for pet care among those with a low income and found she could no longer turn away indigent patients.

So she opened CAWS. Meredith Rawlings, receptionist, and Denise Spender, vet tech, LPN and acting practice manager, came onboard. Brenna Giroux and a few part-time helpers supply hands-on assistance.

“We do everything,” Plumbs says. In addition to the sunny waiting room, the facility, which is located in a little mall, has two exam rooms, an office, an outpatient treatment room, a surgery, a recovery room, boarding areas, storage and more. On this day, Plumb is treating two rescue dogs, which will be returned to their organization to be adopted. Giroux figures their patients are mostly cats and dogs, with a few rabbits and ferrets.

Plumb relates, “A lot of people say, ‘If they can’t afford it, they shouldn’t have a dog,’ but the reality is that they do have dogs, and some of the people could afford it when they got the dog.” Plumb recalls her own

April 11, 2014 |

 Keynote Speaker

Roméo Dallaire Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire led the United Nations mission in Rwanda during 1994 Genocide, where his efforts to avert human tragedy were thwarted by international political apathy. Since then Dallaire has continued his advocacy on rights of war-affected children, arms distribution and soldiers' mental health.

COURTESY NAOMI GELLER LIPSKY

Dr. Paige Plumb checks on a resscue dog experience: “I was a single parent through vet school, and I’m a single parent now, so I know what it’s like not to be able to pay bills or to have to choose which bill to pay.”

Many of her clients can’t afford even the simplest procedures such as spaying and neutering. State and nonprofit organizations provide these services at low cost but only for young, healthy animals. In fact, those groups refer a lot of patients to CAWS, where older, unspayed animals with infections and other issues, will be treated.

CAWS has two payment tiers – those whose income is less than or equal to 150 percent of the Federal poverty level and nonprofit rescue groups; and those who can afford the standard fee, which is still lower than that of most private care. As Plumb explains, “We do things for low cost, but we don’t cut corners.

Because of the tax benefits of being a nonprofit, and some of the drug companies – we’re able

to get drugs at a lower cost.”

And Plumb says she tries to work efficiently while following established standards of veterinary care in order to keep costs down.

Plumb’s Magen David pendant is visible on her scrubs.

She shares with Judaism “the whole philosophy of giving back and that we have an obligation to improve the world.” The clinic’s appointment hours reflect her commitment. They’re open Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.; Friday until 1 p.m.; and closed on Shabbat and Jewish holidays. Sunday hours are variable.

“We’ve got a small crew, we’ve got a good crew and they’re dedicated to being here,” Plumb says. Of course, they always appreciate donations of money, cleaning supplies and laundry detergent. Contact CAWS at 401615-2200 or cawsri.com.

NAOMI GELLER LIPSKY (lipskyart@gmail.com) is a Judaic artist in Johnston, R.I.

Appointed to the Senate of Canada in 2005, Dallaire is recognized worldwide as a leader in peacebuilding.

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38 | April 11, 2014 Marc David Abrams, 26

LINCOLN, R.I. – Marc David Abrams, passed away March 24 in Lincoln, R.I. He was loved by all those around him and brought happiness to everyone he met. He was a natural at everything; he loved playing tennis, golf, cooking and more than anything time with his family. He worked in medical research at Neurotech, in R.I., and looked forward to his work helping others. His desire to help others led him to Ghana to build schools for the local villagers.

He leaves behind his parents Joy and Bob, his sister Dana and her husband Steve. He is the cherished grandson of Joyce and Burt Abrams and the late Zelda and Robert Kudish.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund or Projects Abroad/Ghana Fund in memory of Marc Abrams.

Alvin Ackerman, 92

CRANSTON, R.I.– Alvin Ackerman died on April 8, at Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center, Providence. He was the beloved husband of Sylvia (Pockar) Ackerman. They were married for 59 years. Born in New York, N.Y., a son of the late Morris and Beatrice (Fuchs) Ackerman, he had lived in Cranston for 49 years. He worked for the federal government and for the State of R.I. for nearly 50 years, retiring in the early 1990s. Alvin was a

OBITUARIES World War II Navy veteran. He loved sports and the beach. Devoted father of Michael Ackerman of Charlottesville, Va. Dear brother of the late Harvey and Andrew Ackerman and Sylvia Thau. Cherished uncle of several nieces and nephews. Graveside services will be held Friday at 10:30 a.m. in R.I. Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 301 South County Trail, Exeter. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Disabled American Veterans, 380 Westminster Mall, Providence, R.I. 02903. Shiva will be private.

Harold Cohn, 70

COVENTRY, R.I. – Harold Cohn, died March 26 at R.I. Hospital. He was the beloved husband of Elizabeth (Nulman) Cohn. They were married for 45 years. Born in Providence, a cherished son of Nellie (Goldman) Cohn-Lobello of Warwick, he had lived in Coventry since 1980, previously living in Warwick.

He was a member of Temple Am David. Devoted father of Matthew Cohn and his wife, Jennifer, of Easton, MA and Jared Cohn and his wife, Jennifer Lynn, of Coventry. Dear brother of the late Paul Cohn.

Loving grandfather of Matthew, Jacob, Benjamin, Ella, and Abby.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to your favorite charity.

The Jewish Voice

Irwin B. Hamin, 75

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Irwin B. Hamin, died on April 2. He was the husband of Judy (Leonard) Hamin. Born in Providence, the son of the late Samuel and Edythe (Siegal) Hamin, he was a lifelong resident of Rhode Island.

He attended Boston University. He was President of the former McGrath-Hamin, Inc. and an executive of several other jewelry companies. He was a member of Temple Beth El. Besides his wife, he is survived by his children, Susan Hamin of Cranston and Deborah Hamin of East Greenwich; his sister, Roberta Hamin of Providence, his nephew, Samuel Fleet of East Greenwich; and his grandchildren, Scott and Lily. He was the father of the late Leslie Hamin.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA 02115.

Bruce J. Jacober, 87

BOYNTON BEACH, FLA. – Bruce J. Jacober died March 24.

He was the husband of Joan B. (Rosenfield) Jacober. Born in Providence, a son of the late Solomon & Bertha (Blau) Jacober, he had been a resident of Providence and Narragansett before moving to Florida in 1996. He was a manufacturer’s representative before spending 30 years in retail. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII and was a former member of Congregation Beth Shalom in Prov-

idence and Congregation Beth David in Narragansett.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his children, Scott Jacober and his wife Juliana of Chicago, Steven Jacober and his wife Beth of Potomac, Md., and James Jacober of East Greenwich; his grandchildren Dana, Mallory, Rachel, David, Benjamin, Matthew, Amanda and Alexis; and his great-grandchildren Liam, Ryan and Brynn.

He was the brother of the late Henry and Harold Jacober.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the charity of your choice.

Phyllis S. Kapstein, 95

WARWICK, R.I. – Phyllis S. Kapstein died April 2 at Tamarisk, Warwick. She was the beloved wife of the late S. Archie Kapstein. Born in Portland, ME, a daughter of the late Morris and Hattie (Edelstone) Silverman, she had lived in Cranston and Warwick since 1949.

She was a vice president for C. Rosenbach Co., Inc., Providence. She graduated from Pembroke College in 1939. She was a member of Temple Sinai and its sisterhood, Women’s Association of the Jewish Seniors Agency, Hadassah, National Council of Jewish Women, The Miriam Hospital Women’s Association, and Potowamut Golf Club.

Mother of Fredda Brennan and her husband, Timothy, of New Paltz, N.Y. and Martha Swaggart and her husband, Scott, of Boulder, Colo. Sister of the late Bertram Silverman.

Grandmother of Ivan and Lorraine.

Contributions in her memory may be made to Tamarisk Assisted Living, Renaissance Unit or Temple Sinai, Cranston, RI or Brown University Alumni Association.

Cecilia (Stein) Katz, 93

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Cecilia (Stein) Katz died March 25. She was the wife of the late Dr. Joseph Katz. Born in Germany,

a daughter of the late Solomon and Klara (Koenig) Stein, she had been a resident of Rhode Island since 1960. She attended Moses Mendelsohn School in Berlin. She was a member of Temple Emanu-El, its Social Action Committee and its Choral Club, and Naamat.

She is survived by her children, Deborah Katz and her husband Ruben Lamdany of Potomac, Md. and Dr. David Katz and his wife Rachel of Oakton, Va; and her grandchildren Lyana, Madeline, Maia, Dina, Noah, Daniel, Zachary, Jonathan, Ezra and Hannah. She will also be remembered fondly

by Gail and her husband Garry, Ira, her other nieces and nephews, family and many close friends. She was the sister of the late Siegfried, Arnold and Max Stein, and Gretchen Kaiser.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Temple Emanu-El or Jewish Community Day School of R.I.

Morris J. Levin, 83

NARRAGANSETT, R.I. – Morris J. Levin died on March 28 in Del Ray Beach, Florida. He was the beloved husband of Roberta (Abedon) Levin, to whom he had been married for 57 years. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, he was the devoted son of the late Benjamin and Rose (Wolk) Levin.

He lived in Narragansett, Rhode Island, having previously lived in Chevy Chase, Md. He was the loving father of Carl Levin and his wife, Brenda, of Narragansett, R.I., Bari Levin and her husband, Massi, of Costa Rica, and Sean Levin and his wife, Susan, of Chestnut Ridge, N.Y. Cherished grandfather of Eliecer, Gabriella, Rebecca, Benjamin and Alina.

OBITUARIES | 39

OBITUARIES

thejewishvoice.org FROM PAGE 38

OBITUARIES He was a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, received his law degree from The Boston University School of Law, and his Masters of Law from Harvard University Law School. He served in the Counter Intelligence Corps of the United States Army, and was awarded the National Defense Service and the Good Conduct medals. He was counsel for the United States Department of Justice and the U.S. Postal Service. He also served as staff counsel for Senator John O. Pastore (R.I.), and was counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce during the hearings on the Civil Rights Act of 1964. He was a lobbyist before the United States Congress and an author of the Newspaper Preservation Act of 1970.

He was also a speechwriter for Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey. In addition to his work as a lobbyist, he was a trial and appellate attorney. His clients included newspapers, trucking companies, railroads, airlines, and the State of Israel.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Hospice of Palm Beach County, 5300 East Ave., West Palm Beach, FL 33407-2270.

Reuben Marks, 91

CRANSTON, R.I. – Reuben Marks died March 30 at R.I. Hospital. He was the beloved husband of the late Rose (Levin) Marks. Born in Providence, a son of the late Aaron and Lottie (Lasker) Marks, he was a lifelong resident of Cranston.

He was a TV technician until retirement and a WW II Army veteran.

He was a member of Temple Am David and the Handyman Club. He loved woodworking and enjoyed classical music.

He was the devoted father of Lois Ginsberg and her husband, Howard, of Cranston and David Marks. Dear brother of the late Isreal Marks. Loving grandfather of Leanne, Andrew, William, and Nikolas.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to The Miriam Hospital Center for Professional Practice Development, 164 Summit Ave, Providence, RI 02906 or Temple Am David, 40 Gardiner St., Warwick, RI 02888.

Leslie Popkin, 66

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Leslie Popkin died April 4 at The Miriam Hospital. She was the beloved wife of the late Lawrence “Larry” Popkin. Born in S pr i n g f ield , MA, a daughter of the late Sol and Sally (Rosen) Kamin, she raised her family in Rehoboth, Mass. She helped her husband run the family business, Rhode Island Aquarium and Pet Center in Providence, she worked as an executive assistant at Bradley Hospital and was a real estate agent with Century 21.

She was a graduate of Cranston High School East, Class of 1965 and Katharine Gibbs School, Class of 1967. She was a former member of Temple Emanu-El. She was a woman with fine taste in fashion, food and film, she had a passion for travel, and was a celebrated storyteller with an acute memory for vivid details and excellent comedic timing.

She was the devoted mother of Marc Popkin of Providence. Dear sister of Fred Kamin and his wife, Elaine, of Naples, Fla. Cherished aunt of Erica Kaiser and Jonathan and Michael Kamin.

In lieu of flowers, contribu-

tions in her memory may be made to COPD Foundation, 3300 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Miami, FL 33134.

Jane Silverman

SARASOTA, FLA. – Jane Silverman, of Sarasota, Fla. and formerly Providence and Warwick, R.I., passed away peacefully on March 28 at home. She was the beloved wife of Alfred H. Silverman. Devoted mother of Peter Silverman of Cranston, Julie Steiner and Laurie Moretti (David) of Sarasota, Fla. and Amy Edelkind (Shane) of Bradenton, Fla. Loving grandmother to Sara, Kati, Jordan, Emily, Eli, Joshua, Jason and Ephram.

Dear sister of Arlene Pollock of Warwick.

She was a graduate of Hope High School and lived in Warwick as a homemaker prior to retiring to Sarasota. She was a past member of Temple Beth Am, as well as a past Sisterhood President.

Erwin Strasmich, 89

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Erwin Strasmich passed away on February 19 at the Cardinal Cook Rehabilitation Center in Manhattan.

Born in Providence, he attended Hope High School and graduated from Brown University, where he was the president of the track team. He was the vice president of Ross Matthews Corporation in Fall River, where he was also active in real estate. A member of Temple Beth-El in Providence, he was a past president of the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association. He had lived for the past several years in Manhattan, and is survived by his wife Pauline (Polly) and sons Andrew of New York City and Michael of Costa Rica.

Donations may be sent to the R.I. Jewish Historical Association, 130 Sessions St., Providence, RI 02906.

April 11, 2014 |

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James Schlesinger, U.S. defense secretary during ’73 Yom Kippur War, dies JTA – James Schlesinger, the Jewish-born U.S. defense secretary who played a role in the emergency shipment of arms to Israel during the 1973 Yom Kippur war, has died.

Schlesinger, 85, of Arlington, Va., died March 27 of complications from pneumonia at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, his family said.

He was born and raised in a Jewish home in New York but converted to Lutheranism after a visit to Germany in 1950.

Schlesinger rose through the Nixon administration to become CIA director and then defense secretary, a role he had just assumed when the Yom Kippur War erupted.

Egypt and Syria launched the war on Oct. 6, 1973, Yom Kippur, with surprise attacks.

The United States airlifted arms a week later.

Some media reports at the time blamed Schlesinger for the delay, suggesting he was bowing to the oil lobby, but he vehemently denied it in an interview with JTA, saying he relayed the order as soon as he got the go-ahead from the White House.

Years later, government papers would show that Henry Kissinger, then the secretary of state, favored a delay in part to hand the Arab states a victory that would restore pride crushed in the 1967 SixDay War and enable their leaders to make peace. President Richard Nixon, alarmed at the Egyptian and Syrian successes, eventually overrode Kissinger.

Schlesinger did not get along with President Gerald

Ford, who succeeded Nixon after his 1974 resignation.

Schlesinger quit in 1975 and became a critic of Ford’s policies on a number of issues, among them Israel, telling the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in 1976 that Ford and Kissinger were wrong to blame Israel for not advancing toward a peace agreement.

Although he was a Republican, Schlesinger backed Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, against Ford in the 1976 elections. Upon his election, Carter named Schlesinger to the new post of energy secretary. Carrying over a member of the opposite party to the Cabinet was rare then, although it has become more commonplace in recent years.

Schlesinger lasted in the position until 1979, when he left in part over differences with Carter on nuclear energy, which Schlesinger favored.

ART | ENTERTAINMENT

40 | April 11, 2014

The Jewish Voice

Community members showcase their artistic spirit

BY ERIN MOSELEY emoseley@jewishallianceri.org Gallery (401) housed at the Dwares JCC will present a local artists exhibition. This show, opening April 17, highlights the diversity and rich talent of our arts community, featuring eight Jewish Rhode Island artists. They range in age from early 30s to late 80s and showcase a variety of media and styles, ranging from watercolor and abstract to photography, Judaica and more. Works are featured from Heather Adels, Shannon Boucher, Eddie Bruckner, Judi Dill, Marcia Kaunfer, Russ Kushner, Jesse Smolover and Lila Wonograd.

Artist Marcia Kaunfer says, “The works that I have cho-

sen to exhibit highlight visual Midrashim (commentaries) in which I have combined Hebrew calligraphy of biblical texts with watercolor illustrations.

In the past few years, I have had the pleasure of working on this concept with a small number of local artists in a course that I have been teaching at the Temple Emanu-El Adult Institute.

“This will give my work a wider audience and will put it in the context of other kinds of art.

I hope this exposure will make my own work better known and will also encourage others to think visually about the text of the Bible and prayer book.”

Shannon Boucher says she is excited to be a part of this year’s show. “Being the Director of Jewish Programming, I

rarely have time to do art on my own. This opportunity inspired me to finish a painting that my mother started but has been sitting unfinished since her death on April 2, 2009. I am going to show this piece, as well as another by my mother, and one by me, both of parrots in the rain forest.”

An opening reception will be held from 7-9 p.m. Kosher-forPesach snacks are anonymously sponsored in honor of one of the artists. Wine will also be served. The exhibit continues through May 29.

ERIN MOSELEY is the Director of Arts & Culture and NextGen Engagement for the Jewish Alliance.

DAVID C. LEWISH

“Creation” by Marcia Kaunfer is a watercolor, ink and gold leaf, overlay of an image from the Hubble Space Telescope.

COURTESY EDDIE BRUCKNER

“Close your Eyes” by Eddie Bruckner

COURTESY JUDI DILL

“Breaking Away” By Judi Dill

Happy Passover!

Michael Solomon www.SolomonforPVD.com | Michael@SolomonforPVD.com 401-285-4130 Paid for by Friends of Michael Solomon

COMMUNITY

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April 11, 2014 |

41

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Milestone for Providence Hebrew Day School PHDS welcomes first third-generation student

BY MIRIAM ESTHER WEINER On April 2, a new student began school in the second grade at Providence Hebrew Day School (PHDS); while every student is special, this student’s arrival heralded a milestone for PHDS. Binyamin Cohen and his family moved from Israel to Providence at the end of March. While change is hard, Binyamin was very excited to join PHDS, the school both his mother and maternal grandmother attended.

Thus, Binyamin is the fi rst-ever third-generation PHDS student, which makes this a historic moment for the almost 70-year-old school.

“Binyamin is the firstever third generation student … for the almost 70-yearold school.”

Binyamin’s mother Abby Cohen, nee Winkleman, attended both the elementary and high school divisions of PHDS, and all of her siblings are PHDS graduates. Abby began PHDS as a pre-kindergartener in September 1987. She has fond memories of her time in PHDS and is very confident and pleased that her children will have such a special experience. When she brought her son to school for the fi rst time, Cohen was pleasantly surprised to discover that several of her teachers from her time in PHDS are still teaching in the school. She looks forward to her second child Yaakov joining Binyamin at PHDS next year and is thrilled that one of Yaakov’s teachers will be one who taught her when she was in the early childhood program at PHDS. While Abby and her husband Reuven have lived outside of Providence, most recently in Israel and previously in Teaneck, N.J., Abby’s parents Joseph and Roberta Winkleman have been part of the Providence community for many years. Roberta Winkleman, formerly Zeltzer, is a Providence native who attended PHDS from kindergarten in 1954 through eighth grade and

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Roberta (Zeltzer) Winkleman graduated in 1963. Roberta attended PHDS at the school’s fi rst site at 151 Waterman St. through third grade. When she was in fourth grade, classes were held in Temple Beth El, and then, for the next few years, at Temple Emanu-El, while the school’s current site at 450 Elmgrove Ave. was under construction. Roberta remembers that a hot lunch was served every day except Friday. On Friday, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches were served because the students were dismissed at an earlier time. Every year, kindergarten through third-grade students went on a field trip to Roger Williams Park, and fourth- through eighth-grade students traveled to Fenway Park in Boston for their field trip.

Roberta’s parents were active supporters of PHDS because they wanted their four children to receive a religious education.

Roberta’s father Abraham Zeltzer spent long hours after work and on Sundays going door to door to collect money for the Day School; he had many doors slammed in his face because residents on the East Side didn’t want any religious schools in their neighborhood. Zeltzer was on the school’s board of directors and helped out with custodial jobs and maintaining the grounds. His hard work and hours of devotion, as well as that of other volunteers, helped lay the groundwork for the thriving school that exists today.

MIRIAM ESTHER WEINER (meweiner@phdschool.org) is the principal of the Providence Hebrew Day School.

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42 | April 11, 2014

COMMUNITY

The Jewish Voice

Rabbi Dardashti says ‘Dayenu ’ (enough) at Women’s Alliance program

BY TRINE LUSTIG tlustig@jewishallianceri.org The 60 women who attended the Women’s Alliance Rosh Hodesh program on April 1 were eager to hear from Michelle Dardashti, the new associate chaplain of the university for the Jewish community at Brown and rabbi of Brown RISD Hillel.

Rabbi Dardashti, the daughter of an Iranian hazzan (cantor) and an American folk-singer of Eastern-European descent, is married to an Australian Jew, so the audience was eager to find out how her unique background has shaped her approach to text study.

Rabbi Dardashti did not disappoint.

She spoke about the importance of the Passover story and the song “Dayenu.”

This very familiar song from the Seder Cheryl Greenfeld Teverow and Rabbi Michelle Dardashti talks about the many kind acts, starting with bringing the Jewish people out of Egypt and ending with leading them to the land of Israel, that God has performed for the Jews. Rabbi Dardashti explored the themes of the song, including gratitude, self-reflection and the meaning of the word “dayeynu.”

Her engaging and witty manner, combined with her Judaic expertise, was praised by the audience.

TRINE LUSTIG is Senior Development Officer of Financial Resource Development for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

Rabbi Dardashti shares on the real meaning dayenu.

More than 50 women celebrated Rosh Hodesh.

SIMCHA | WE ARE READ

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COURTESY | KELLY LOPES

COURTESY | INA LAND

BIRTH – Alexandria Lynn Lopes was born on Feb. 4. She was welcomed home by her big sisters, 3 year-old Ava and 16 yearold Victoria and Mom and Dad Kelly and Farron Lopes. Mom, Kelly Lopes, is employed at the Jewish Alliance of Rhode Island’s Accounting Department.

ALL IN THE FAMILY – This photo was taken on the Carnival Valor cruise ship during February school vacation. The ship cruised to the Caribbean Islands of St. Thomas, Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Maarten, and St. Kitts. Pictured are (on the top row) Sheila, Rick, and Ina Land, and (on the bottom row) Josh and Ali Land, and Arlene and Ed Bochner.

44 | April 11, 2014

The Jewish Voice

Jewish Life & Learning: Experiencing Judaism for Life

with your help, we can do more.

Camp JORI Summer 2013

Our children are growing up in a world in which Jewish values compete with millions of other influences.

Our Jewish Life & Learning initiative offers scores of programs that help people of all ages to explore and celebrate their Jewish identity and find their place in our community.

Through the Annual Campaign, the Jewish Alliance supports early childhood education, summer camp, teen engagement, adult programming and more.

These are just some of the many ways in which the Alliance fosters community and Jewish continuity within the next generation.

Please support our 2014 Annual Campaign.

THE STRENGTH OF A PEOPLE. THE POWER OF COMMUNITY. 401 Elmgrove Avenue Providence, RI 02906 401.421.4111 jewishallianceri.org

Last year’s Annual Campaign $1,065,056 donor dollars helped support experiencing Judaism including Capacity-building programs for 200 educators in 16 schools 25 Incentive grants for first-time campers

fostering a long-term connection to Jewish life more than 1,500 Brown RISD Hillel & URI Hillel students experienced Shabbat programs, arts & culture, and community

with your help, we can do more.