May 12, 2017

Volume XXIII, Issue IX | www.jvhri.org Serving Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts

SPORTS

16 Iyar 5777 | May 12, 2017

Community social service agencies to merge

BY FRAN OSTENDORF

fostendorf@jewishallianceri.org

After nine months of planning and negotiations, Jewish Family Service of Rhode Island (JFSRI) and the Jewish Seniors Agency of Rhode Island (JSA) have agreed to merge into one comprehensive agency called Jewish Community Services of Greater Rhode Island.

Talks of a merger are nothing new for the two agencies. They had entered into talks a number of times, but nothing had resulted. This time, though, a facilitator was hired, and a partnership committee formed, and the work of merging missions, goals, etc. was accomplished under a more structured framework.

In fact, many in the Rhode Island Jewish community might wonder why it’s taken so long for the agencies – with sometimes overlapping constituents – to become one.

“As we got to know each other

NOW PLAYING IN ISRAEL: LACROSSE!

Scope of the merger JFSRI Staff: 18 full time; 35 part time Budget: $2.7 million (2017) Location: 959 North Main St., Providence

BY SAM SERBY Lacrosse is taking Israel by storm, in large part due to Israel Lacrosse, an organization whose mission is to make lacrosse the national sport of Israel and connect Jewish Americans to the Holy Land through their shared love of the game.

Scott Neiss, executive director of Israel Lacrosse, says the sport is “the perfect product” for Israel.

“It’s a lot like basketball and soccer [the two most popular sports in Israel], with the same game flow, so it’s easy for Israelis to understand,” Neiss said in a recent interview.

Israel Lacrosse offers many programs to help Jewish-American lacrosse players get in-

JSA Staff: 57 full time; 52 part time Budget: $7 million (2017) Location: 100 Niantic Ave., Providence this time,” said Susan Bazar, executive director of JSA, “there was increasing awareness that both agencies were providing services to seniors.”

Erin Minior, CEO of JFSRI, agreed. “There was brand confusion, identity confusion,” she said. “People didn’t know who to call … who to give money to … .”

MERGER | 17

LACROSSE| 16

The men of Israeli Lacrosse play Spain.

Dwares JCC dedication festivities include activities for all ages

The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island will celebrate the reopening and dedication of the newly renovated Bonnie and Donald Dwares JCC, located at 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, on Wednesday, May 24, from 5 to 8 p.m.

This celebration is open to the public and will feature festivities for all age groups.

Families are invited at 5 p.m. to hear from special guest, Nate Ebner, U.S. Olympic Rugby team member and New England Patriots Second Team All-Pro and Special Team Player. He will talk about his experiences in the Super Bowl and Olympics. There will be a question-and-answer session with Ebner, a skills

competition for children, PJ Library stories and songs, a jumpy house, and more – all in the Nelson & Sapinsley Families Gymnasium. Light refreshments will be served.

Then, at 6:30 p.m., the building rededication becomes official with a ribbon cutting and mezuzah hanging in the newly

named Sandra and Richard Bornstein Entrance Way, followed by remarks and a dessert reception in the renovated Victor and Gussie Baxt Social Hall.

The Jewish Alliance’s Dwares JCC is a place where people of all ages and backgrounds can gather to connect, exchange ideas, learn and grow together. Building

improvements are ongoing, with a second stage of renovations starting in summer 2017. During all renovations, programs and services will continue for members and the community at large. Come see the transformation; everyone is welcome to attend this very special evening.

Submitted by the Jewish Alliance

COMMUNITY

2 | May 12, 2017

The Jewish Voice

A ‘Triumph of Memory’ at URI

INSIDE Business 21-22

BY AMY COHEN

Calendar 10-11

In a cold, unrelenting rain on April 26, students and faculty scurried across the plaza outside the University of Rhode Island’s Robert L. Carothers Library. I knelt on the ground and made the fi rst mark, in thick yellow railroad chalk, on the wet pavement.

I slowly completed a free-hand silhouette of a figure, reminiscent of those drawn by detectives at the scene of a crime. Where a concentration camp identification number would have been tattooed on an arm, I fi rmly printed the family name of a victim of the Holocaust. My list had 72 names – a tiny fraction of the number of lives tragically lost – men, women and children with connections to Rhode Island families. It was going to be a long day.

I had fi rst visited URI’s Hillel at the invitation of Executive Director Amy Ol-

Community 2-4, 6-7, 12, 17, 19, 20, 26 D’Var Torah 7 Food 11 Israel 9, 17 Obituaries 24-25 Opinion 8-9 Seniors 23-24 Simcha | We Are Read 27 Sports 14-16

son. Two students active in Hillel, Sydney Brown and Lindsay Denenberg, asked me to develop an art project to encourage participation by Jewish students, as well as those from URI’s broader community, in honoring and preserving the memory of Holocaust victims as part of Hillel’s Holocaust Remembrance Week 2017.

We felt, as did Nietzsche, that art would provide a valuable portal to understanding a painful subject like the Holocaust: “We have art in order not to die of the truth.”

And thus, “Triumph of Memory,” an allday installation and workshop, was born.

Denenberg and Brown were tireless as we worked on the pavement for hours to draw a commemorative silhouette for each of the 72 people who had perished at the hands of Hitler and his henchmen. Brittney Lief, a student fi lming the project for a documentary, also provided invaluable assistance.

Soon, we were all completely soaked and covered in chalk. In an effort worthy of Sisyphus, as we toiled on, the fi rst figures were being washed away by the rain. We agreed this was befitting of memory’s transience. It would have been wrong, somehow, doing the holy work of preserving the memory of 72 of the fallen if the day had been sunny and warm.

Responses from students and faculty were varied, from bewildered to intrigued.

Someone whispered “murderers,” and quickly walked away. Many walked right on top of the “bodies,” while others wanted to know more. Why yellow chalk? To reference the yellow stars Jews were forced to wear. Why 72 names? It has been 72 years since the end of World War II, and 72 is four times the Hebrew letter chai, which means life, and is equated to the number 18 in the gematria.

THIS ISSUE’S QUOTABLE QUOTE “A posture of growth is encouraged by Judaism and psychology alike.”

Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island Presents

&

Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island presents

GRANDREOPENING DEDICATIONCEREMONY

Bonnie & Donald Dwares Jewish Community Center Wednesday, May 24, 2017

Join the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island as we kick-off the opening of the new Bonnie & Donald Dwares Jewish Community Center 5:00pm Family Celebration with Nate Ebner in the Nelson & Sapinsley Families Gymnasium Q&A with Nate Skills Competition for children Jumpy House Light refreshments will be served The celebration continues 6:30pm Ribbon Cutting & Building Dedication in the Salmanson Famiy Upper Lobby & Sandra and Richard Bornstein Entrance Way 7:00pm Program & Donor Recognition in the Victor and Gussie Baxt Social Hall Dessert will be served For more information contact Michelle Cicchitelli at 401.421.4111 ext. 178 or mcicchitelli@jewishallianceri.org.

401 Elmgrove Avenue Providence

Nate Ebner

2-time Super Bowl Champ, New England Patriots & 2016 US Olympic Rugby Team

jvhri.org As I wrote the name on the arm of the last silhouette, the sun suddenly broke through – and stayed just long enough to warm us before the clouds returned.

After a change into dry clothes, we set up a workshop in the Memorial Student Union.

Arriving students were given one of 72 thick, black rustic paper cards pre-drawn with a silhouette and a family name.

Poetry by Yehuda Amichai, a former poet laureate in Israel, and other inspirational texts were at each table.

Using colored pencils and crayons, 35 student participants produced intriguing cards with messages of hope and promises to never to forget.

COMMUNITY

May 12, 2017 |

3

The students were visibly moved by their responsibility to immortalize the people whose silhouettes were already disappearing from the pavement.

The compiled cards were mounted and placed on display at the Hillel building as testimony to the fact that memories of the fallen cannot be vandalized, denied, eroded, defaced or forgotten.

AMY ART COHEN, of Providence, is an award-winning creativity specialist and teaching artist with expertise in cross-curricula innovation and community engagement for diverse populations. She can be reached at amyartcohen@yahoo.com.

The chalk outlines at the URI Library have now washed away but the colorful cards made by students at the Triumph of Memory Workshop will be crafted into a permanent art piece.

Pictured are three of the 72 cards that were made, memorializing family members of Rhode Islanders who perished in the Holocaust.

Unity Shabbat focuses on American-Israeli Jews 3 important Israeli holidays discussed.

BY SAM SERBY BARRINGTON – On April 28, Temple Habonim hosted a seasonal “Wine and Dine” Shabbat service, titled “Unity Shabbat,” which focused on the relationship between American and Israeli Jews.

The evening’s special guest speaker was Tslil Reichman, Israeli emissary (shlichah). She spoke to congregants about the importance of this relationship as well as the significance and symbolism of three of Israel’s most notable and recent holidays, Yom ha-Shoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), Yom ha-Zikaron (Israeli Memorial Day), and Yom ha-Atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day).

The Voice spoke with Reich-

man shortly after the service to hear more about these important holidays – how they are observed, and their significance to her and all Israelis.

Excerpts from our interview are below: On the eve of Yom ha-Shoah, all restaurants and shops close. The only things on TV are movies about the Holocaust and the broadcast of the official ceremony. The next morning at 10, there is a siren sounded through the whole country and everyone stops and honors that moment. For the past few years there has been a new tradition called Zikaron Basalon (a memory in the living room), where families invite Holocaust survivors into their homes to tell their personal stories. This has become very popular and last year over 1,500 homes hosted such an evening with thousands of people taking part.

Yom ha-Shoah is so important because it represents such a big part of our history. It is important to remember the Holocaust so we make sure nothing like this ever happens again. The survivors of the Holocaust built the State of Israel and fought the War of Independence and their story needs to be told.

On the eve of Yom ha-Zikaron, a siren is sounded at 8 p.m., and the whole country stops for that moment. Even cars stop on the highway, and the passengers will step out of the car to stand and honor those who lost their lives. Once the siren is sounded, TV broadcasts will stop, restaurants and shops will close, and radio stations will only play songs about fallen soldiers.

An official ceremony will take place in Jerusalem that night, while the next day, families and schools hold ceremonies all over Israel in memory of their

loved ones.

Yom ha-Zikaron is an intensely personal day for Israel. Everyone, it seems, knows someone who has died in battle, and nearly one in five citizens visits a military cemetery to mark the day. More than 23,000 soldiers have fallen in defense of the country, and more than 2,500 have died in terror attacks.

Twenty-four hours later, a ceremony marking the beginning of Yom ha-Atzmaut will start in Jerusalem. During the ceremony, 12 carefully selected individuals, symbolizing the 12 tribes, will be honored for their contributions to Israel. Each city will have its own festival and music concerts into the night. It’s the only night of the year that police are not allowed to shut down parties. The next day, celebrations continue, and barbecues and fairs will be taking place across the country.

Yom ha-Atzmaut is a unique day because it is right after Memorial Day. It is significant as we are celebrating our independence while being reminded of the price we pay to have this freedom, which we can never take for granted.

Reichman, a native Israeli, is spending two years in Rhode Island. She is proud to say that she already feels united with Rhode Island’s Jewish community.

“For the past nine months, the Jewish community in Rhode Island has welcomed me into their homes, synagogues, and schools. I enjoy sharing my story and getting to know the different members of the community,” she said.

SAM SERBY is a freelance writer who lives in East Greenwich. He previously worked at the Peres Center for Peace in Tel Aviv.

4 | May 12, 2017

COMMUNITY

The Jewish Voice

Celebrating Israeli Independence at CBS

BY ANDREW PESSIN The chilly weather did not affect the warm spirits Monday evening, May 1, at the annual Yom ha-Atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) celebration at Congregation Beth Sholom (CBS). More than 100 congregants, family members and friends gathered on the synagogue’s outdoor patio, enjoying Middle Eastern fare provided by a Clover Food Lab Food truck. The festivities concluded with a tefillah chagigit (a celebratory prayer) in thanks, said one congregant, for “the ridiculous miracle that is the State of Israel.”

But while Israel was the evening’s focus, many in attendance also expressed delight at the presence of the Kosher food truck. CBS Rabbi Barry Dolinger oversaw the kashrut certification of Clover in 2015, a process that included his taking a trip to a farm, milking cows and hauling giant blocks of cheddar.

“It was all great fun,” Dolinger said, “and absolutely worth the effort to increase the availability of high-quality, locally sourced Kosher food in the Providence area.”

“Celebrating Israel was great,” said synagogue President William Krieger, “and my girls and I also enjoyed celebrating the Chickpea Fritters and Lavender Lemonade.”

The festivities were partly subsidized by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

CBS is a modern Orthodox synagogue on Camp Street in Providence.

Everyone enjoyed Middle Eastern fare at Beth Sholom.

ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Chris Westerkamp cwesterkamp@jewishallianceri.org 401-421-4111, ext. 160 EDITOR Fran Ostendorf CONTRIBUTORS Leah Charpentier BouRamia Cynthia Benjamin Seth Chitwood Stephanie Ross Sam Serby DESIGN & LAYOUT Leah Camara

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

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Phone: 401-421-4111 • Fax 401-331-7961 MEMBER of the Rhode Island Press Assn. and the American Jewish Press Assn.

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All submitted content becomes the property of The Voice. Announcements and opinions contained in these pages are published as a service to the community and do not necessarily represent the views of The Voice or its publisher, the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. We reserve the right to refuse publication.

May 12, 2017 |

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The Jewish Voice

Luncheon presentation at Judy and Robbie Mann’s home on April 27.

Dor L’Dor event highlights investing with Jewish values

BY JENNIFER ZWIRN

jzwirn@jewishallianceri.org

The Dor L’Dor Society of the Jewish Federation Foundation of Greater Rhode Island hosted a luncheon presentation at the home of Judy and Robbie Mann on April 27, featuring Avi Deutsch, co-founder and CEO of LAVAN, a global community bringing together Jewish values and the power of business to repair our world. He addressed the group on “How to Change the World

by Aligning our Capital with Jewish Values.”

First, Lions of Judah (LOJ) Judy Mann and Susan Froehlich were honored. Both recently endowed their LOJ gifts and signed the Lion of Judah scroll of honor, which will remain on permanent display in the administrative hallway at the Alliance’s Dwares JCC. “Since Robbie and I are spending less physical time in Rhode Island, endowing my Lion of Judah gift serves as a way for the state and this special community to remain in our hearts,” said Judy Mann.

Jewish Alliance Board Chair Mitzi Berkelhammer and Jewish Federation Foundation Board Chair Sharon Gaines spoke about giving Jewishly and the Dor L’Dor Society, which recognizes and honors those in the community who have included the Jewish Federation Foundation in their estate plans or have established a permanent endowment fund.

“Dor L’Dor means generation to generation, because future generations will benefit from our generosity. If you haven’t already, I hope you’ll consider what you’d like your Jewish legacy to be, and join the Dor L’Dor Society,” said Gaines.

Deutsch then had the opportunity to share his experiences.

He is a former business development manager at Boundless Impact Investing. He spent a year in Rwanda working with atrisk, orphaned youth. Deutsch holds a bachelor’s degree from

Hebrew University of Jerusalem, worked at the Bank of Israel and served as an officer in the IDF. He discussed the reasons why social impact investing has recently boomed. Social investing refers to investments that are made with the intention of generating a measurable, beneficial social or environmental impact alongside a fi nancial return.

“People want to know they are giving to good, such as newly-developed public school technology, health initiatives or the high-tech industry in Israel,” said Deutsch. “We create the discussions and programming for communities seeking to engage members around impact investing with Jewish values.

Our content brings together impact entrepreneurs, experienced investors and the Jewish community to deepen their knowledge on impact investing with Jewish values. These can impact Israel, the global Jewish community, or non-sectarian causes related to Jewish principles.”

Investing can be a Jewish practice when guided and executed by intention, meaning and purpose. LAVAN takes a holistic approach to integrating Jewish values into all stages of the investment process. When considering how to integrate Jewish values into investing, many gravitate toward the final outcome of the investment process. This approach misses important opportunities that combine purpose and meaning into the various stages of the investment process. The fi nal investments are only one piece of the puzzle, and while certainly important, exploring why and how investment decisions are made is also crucial to fi nding purpose in investing.

LAVAN is piloting a fellowship experience with a select group of social investors as a way to engage the next generation of Jewish leadership in a hands-on exploration of the impact investing sector. Objectives of this program include identifying Jewish values relevant to fi nancial decisions, challeng-

ing participants to align assets with values and stimulating conversation around stewardship of communal assets.

“Millennials expect to make a difference and therefore throw meaning and passion behind their giving. This can be made more difficult when their parents and grandparents want them to give for the sake of giving. Impact investing is a way to bridge that gap between values-based giving and something they believe in,” he said.

How do Jewish values influence and align with your investment decisions?

For information about creating your values-based investments, contact Trine Lustig, vice president of Philanthropy, at 401-421-4111, ext. 223, or tlustig@jewishallianceri.org.

JENNIFER ZWIRN works in allocations and endowment for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. She also is the AccessJewishRI vocational services contact.

Lions of Judah Susan Froehlich, Judy Mann and Mitzi Berkelhammer, Alliance Board chair, sign the LOJ honor scroll.

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D’VAR TORAH | COMMUNITY

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May 12, 2017 |

7

On bonfires, hubris and the state of civil discourse Lag B’Omer – the Hebrew letters lamed and gimel represent the numerical equivalent of 33, and so Lag B’Omer is a shorthand way of referring to the 33rd day of the 50-day count between Pesach and Shavout. Many are familiar RABBI BARRY with the various customs DOLINGER of Lag B’Omer and take great pleasure in them. And why not? They’re fun. Some engage in archery or other outdoor

sporting events; bonfi res (and even s’mores) are common. But what of the mourning customs?

And what can these customs teach us about the absurdly broken state of civil discourse we’re currently living with.

Most Ashkenazic and Sephardic communities accepted a customary set of mourning restrictions during the fi rst 33 days of the count. The customary restrictions include a ban on weddings, shaving and haircuts, and live celebratory music. To the extent that folks are commonly familiar with the idea that this time of year is a period of mourning, it’s because weddings, as a rule, are

Grants and scholarships awarded to local teens The Israel Desk at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island is pleased to announce that 13 teens have been awarded grants and scholarships for their respective Israel travels this summer and the upcoming gap year, beginning in fall 2017.

The following students received grants and scholarships from the Leonard I. Salmanson Endowment Fund: Nuriya Coke, Raphael Felder, Sadie Gaffin, Chaya Kapilevich, Julia Keizler, Lieba Laufer, Sydney Miller, Penina Satlow, Hadassa Twersky, Forrest Walter, Avigdor Weiner, Rochel Weiner and

Yisroel Zalman Weiner.

Rochel Weiner received an award from the Graubart/Irving Scholarship Fund.

Kira Kapilevich and Hadassa Twersky received awards from the Lillian and Sidney Ross Scholarship Fund.

Penina Satlow was awarded the Rabbi Joel H. Zaiman Scholarship (funded by the Alperin-Hirsch family).

The Israel Committee of the Jewish Alliance was impressed with all of the young traveler’s applications, and wish the teens a nesiya tova, a good trip!

Memorial Day: A time to honor deceased veterans For many people, Memorial Day is the start of the summer season, but it is also the day that we honor our deceased veterans. While many are celebrating the beginning of summer, the Jewish War Veterans will be remembering and honoring those veterans who died

this past year. Please join us on Sunday, May 28 at 11 a.m. at Lincoln Park cemetery on Post Road in Warwick. We enjoy our freedoms because of the sacrifices so many veterans have made.

Submitted by Jewish War Veterans

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not scheduled during this time period. I dare say that the main interaction with these customs in the broader community is that of partners to be and their families attempting to select a wedding date with their rabbi of choice, and learning that these days are off limits.

What is the origin of these customs? The Talmud (Yevamot 62) recounts: It was said that Rabbi Akiva had 12,000 pairs of disciples from Gabbatha to Antipatris; and all of them died at the same time because they did not treat each other with respect. The world remained desolate until Rabbi Akiva came to our Masters in the South and taught the Torah to them. These were Rabbi Meir, Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Yose, Rabbi Shimon and Rabbi Elazar ben Shammua; and it was they who revived the Torah at that time. A Tanna taught: “All of them died between Passover and Shavuot.”

Rabbi Hama ben Abba or, it might be said, Rabbi Hiyya ben Abin said: “All of them died a cruel death.” What was it? Rabbi Nahman replied: “Croup.”

This account is remarkable; it truly strains credulity. Rabbi Akiva (50 C.E. – 132 C.E.) was known not only as Rosh HaChachamim, the scholar’s scholar, a name denoting his legal acumen, but also as a leading spiritual mystic. Surely, the profound spiritual connection with the master of the universe would have left an impression on his students. The Torah they

pined over night and day, from the lips of their saintly teacher, would have carried explicit and implicit messages regarding treating others with dignity. And yet the Talmud states that the reason a deadly plague killed them all was “because they did not treat each other with respect.”

My suggestion is that they died not in spite of the Torah they learned but because of it.

The very Torah that is the Tree of Life to them was also their poison. How? One of the fi rst pitfalls of any positive behavior is the sense of judgment and triumphalism that results naturally. Whenever a person takes on any positive change, be it in a religious sense or otherwise, it’s only natural that a sense of judgement can arise against others who haven’t followed this path.

In the Kabbalistic system of sefirot, divine emanation, this is represented by tiferet, balance and harmony, when achieved, breaking its homeostasis and tending fi rst toward netzach, victory. Victory has the positive connotation of pride and self-esteem. Whenever a person positively intervenes to change their lives, they should rightly feel a sense of pride and victory.

Positive affect and pride for accomplishments is healthy and worth fostering. But lurking always in the shadow of pride is the specter of arrogance. And this leads directly to the judgment and criticism of others,

not out of love, but out of an elevated sense of self.

For the Kabbalists, the balancing attribute is hod, recognition of what is, awareness, that leads naturally to gratitude for life’s blessings. First and foremost, we should remember that in the very recent past, we hadn’t yet made whatever positive change we’ve now made, hadn’t yet achieved whatever heightened sensitivity we now possess. And second, we should recognize that improvements exist now, but they are tenuous. Anxiety often arises as a result of this recognition; mainly, though, it should foster a sense of gratitude and appreciation for what is. We can transition, in the right moment, to balance away from a position of improvement and doing, if no longer pro-social, to one of appreciation of what is.

A posture of growth is one encouraged by Judaism and psychology alike. The dramatic death of Rabbi Akiva’s students reminds us that growth requires self-awareness and sensitivity.

Learn to notice when growth leads to judgement; let us learn to engage with others from a place of appreciation and humility.

BARRY DOLINGER is rabbi of Temple Beth Sholom in Providence. He is vice president of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island.

OPINION

8 | May 12, 2017

Please support our annual Patron Campaign Those pesky envelopes are back. Perhaps one fell out of your newspaper when you opened it to read this column.

If you’ve been reading us for a while, you know that the envelope m e a n s i t ’ s time for The Jewish Voice’s annual Patron Campaign.

EDITOR You can see the full-page ad this week FRAN on page 5.

OSTENDORF Stay with me now. I’m going to make a pitch. But it’s not the same one as last year!

Here are a few facts about your community newspaper, based on our 2017 Readership Survey: • You feel that the paper keeps you connected to the Rhode Island Jewish community whether or not you still live here.

• You overwhelmingly read The Voice for Jewish community news (86 percent) and events (79 percent).

• You often recommend reading The Voice to a family member or friend (66 percent).

• Most of you have been readers for 10 years or more (70 percent).

These are just a few of the things I learned from our survey. None are surprising. They just confirm what we already knew was true – that a lot of you rely on The Voice to stay informed about our community.

And the survey results helped us to renew our commitment to covering the community news that you think is important.

But we can’t do this without the support of you, the reader.

Here’s one fact that really surprised me: 60 percent of you are

aware of the Patron Campaign but only 35 percent said you had ever contributed. After all this time, and all my columns about the patron campaign (and those written by previous editors), and the pitches, and ads, I am shocked that some of you do not know about this oh-so-important fundraiser.

The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island makes a generous allocation to the newspaper – but they can’t and shouldn’t cover all our costs. There are many other needs in the community.

Advertisers are another key revenue source. As anyone who reads any newspaper knows, advertising sales have been on the decline, which makes other sources of revenue more important than ever.

And that’s where the Patron Campaign comes in.

Your donations are important. They are a key source of revenue. We’ve been reducing spending in recent years but continued cuts could mean fewer issues or reduced coverage.

We made a decision long ago to provide The Voice to Rhode Islanders at no cost. Would you pay a yearly subscription price of $18 or $36 or even $54 to get your community paper delivered to your home? Then I ask that you consider an equivalent donation. Your generous gifts go directly to The Jewish Voice.

Please consider contributing to the 2017 Patron Campaign between now and the end of June.

There’s a button on our website to donate online. Or you can use the envelope included with this paper. No gift is too small – or too big!

Your gift will help us continue to publish the high-quality newspaper that you are now reading. And it will help us bring you more of the community news that you want.

Thanks!!

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Make sure Fluffy and Spot have their day in print.

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OUR MISSION The mission of The Jewish Voice is to communicate Jewish news, ideas and ideals by connecting and giving voice to the diverse views of the Jewish community in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts, while adhering to Jewish values and the professional standards of journalism.

The Jewish Voice

In praise of the late Rabbi Saul Leeman Rabbi Saul Leeman died at the age of 100 this past April 5 – 9 Nisan, 5777, on the Hebrew calendar. His funeral was held the next day at Providence’s Temple Emanu-El; both Rabbi Wayne Franklin and Rabbi Alan Kaunfer paid tribute to him, as did members of his family.

Rabbi Leeman played IT SEEMS multiple roles during his TO ME long life. He was married RABBI JIM to Dr. Elsie ROSENBERG Leeman for 68 years. He was the father of three sons and a daughter, the grandfather of seven, the great-grandfather of three. He was also a fatherin-law, brother and uncle.

While Rabbi Leeman was involved in myriad ways with the Jewish community of greater Rhode Island, I knew him as my distinguished older colleague. Long after his retirement, Saul continued to attend meetings of what was then called the Rhode Island Board of Rabbis. Time and again he would astonish us younger rabbis with his enormous erudition. He appeared to have an almost photographic memory of the entire text of the TANAKH, our Hebrew Bible. In recognition of his mastery of Biblical Hebrew, the Jewish Publication Society appointed him to serve on their committee of translators for the third section of the TANAKH, Ketuvim (Writings).

On several occasions, Saul demonstrated a deeper grasp of the complexities of our Hebrew calendar than any person I have ever met. As many readers of The Jewish Voice are aware, the Hebrew calendar is essentially a lunar calendar – there is always a full moon on Passover and Sukkot.

However, unlike the Muslim calendar, in which Ramadan migrates through the four seasons, our Hebrew calendar borrows some aspects of the solar calendar to ensure that Passover is always observed in the spring while Sukkot is always observed in the fall. To keep our holy days in season,

from time to time our calendar adds a 13th month, Adar I. This extra Adar is added on the 3rd, 6th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th and 19th years of a 19year cycle.

At this point, one might be tempted to say, “Enough already!” But Saul, a man of infinite curiosity, felt the need to further explain the astronomical basis for this confusing state of affairs to help his colleagues understand precisely why these 19-year cycles must begin on one particular year and not another. I confess that at times Saul’s lucid explanations exceeded my ability to comprehend.

“Without the guidance of Saul Leeman, my rabbi and my teacher, I would never have learned how to swim in the sea of Talmud.”

I had the great privilege of studying Talmud privately with Saul for close to a decade during the years before I retired from Temple Habonim in the summer of 2007. By then, Saul was in his 80s, but still sharp as a tack. At first glance, we formed a most unlikely hevruta (study partnership). While Saul had a strong background in Talmud, beginning in high school at the Yeshiva Etz Hayim in Borough Park, Brooklyn, and continuing through years at the Conservative Movement’s Jewish Theological Seminary in Manhattan, my own exposure to Talmudic studies was thin, to put it politely.

In general, I am grateful for the rabbinical education I received at the New York School of the Reform Movement’s Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. In particular, I will forever be in debt to the late Rabbi Eugene Borowitz for introducing me to the world of modern Jewish religious thought. That said, I learned little Talmud during my five years at HUC-JIR. I was not surprised, then, that Saul seemed somewhat reluctant to study Talmud

with me on a weekly basis. I well understood that he did not suffer fools gladly. However, I made it clear to him that I would never enter his home, on Elmgrove Avenue, unprepared. Armed with a copy of the Adin Steinsaltz edition of the tractate Bava Metzia, which includes a clear Hebrew commentary as well as a Hebrew translation of Aramaic passages, and encouraged by Saul’s firm but welcome guidance, I took the plunge into the sea of Talmud: “Two men grab a single cloak. This one says, ‘I found it.’ The other says, ‘I found it.’ This one says, ‘It’s all mine.’ The other says, ‘It’s all mine.’…”

Week after week, Saul and I spent intense sessions wrestling with such questions as: What does it mean to own something? Does being the first to see a lost object make one the rightful owner? Or must one take physical possession of the object in order to claim ownership?

My weekly visits with Saul continued year after year. As he helped me become a more capable swimmer in the challenging cross-currents of Talmudic discourse, I came to view my hour with him as one of the high points of my week.

When we were engaged with the text, we were participants in a discussion that spanned the centuries. A Mishnaic text from the 2nd century investigates a Torah text from the 10th century B.C.E. A piece of Gemara from the 4th century challenges the Mishnah, while the great medieval commentator Rashi (1040-1105) puts a new twist on that piece of Gemara, only to be contradicted by his sons-in-law and grandsons in the Tosafot. All this on a single page of Talmud!!

Without the guidance of Saul Leeman, my rabbi and my teacher, I would never have learned how to swim in the sea of Talmud. Thank you, Saul, for helping me achieve a deepening sense of rabbinic authenticity.

JAMES B. ROSENBERG is rabbi emeritus at Temple Habonim in Barrington. Contact him at rabbiemeritus@templehabonoim.org.

COLUMNS | LETTERS POLICY

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fuse 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.

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Trump executive order allows campaigning from the pulpit

BY BEN SALES JTA – Jewish groups largely came out against a new executive order allowing clergy to endorse or oppose candidates from the pulpit, fearing that it will erode the separation between church and state.

The order, which President Donald Trump signed May 4, on the National Day of Prayer, effectively reverses a 1954 regulation called the Johnson Amendment that prohibited houses of worship and faith groups from endorsing or opposing candidates. Offending houses of worship would lose their tax-exempt status.

Trump has long promised to do away with the law, which he sees as restricting religious freedom, but Jewish organizations had urged him to leave it intact.

On May 4, several Jewish groups and leaders came out against the executive order, saying the amendment was a bulwark that prevents the mixing of prayer and politics. They noted that religious groups are free already to advocate for issues and political causes, if not candidates.

Last month, a range of major Jewish organizations was among more than 4,000 nonprofit groups that signed a letter in support of the Johnson Amendment.

“Clergy and communities of faith already raise our voices loudly on issues of political and social concern,” Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner, director of the Religious Action Center, Reform Judaism’s legislative advocacy arm, said in a statement May 4. “The prohibition against endorsing or opposing political

PHOTO | MARK WILSON, GETTY IMAGES

President Donald Trump greeting clergy members, including Rabbi Marvin Hier, right, in the Rose Garden at the White House, May 4. candidates from our pulpits simply prevents groups from being simultaneously tax-exempt ministries and partisan political outfits.”

Throughout his campaign and afterward, Trump has maligned the amendment as a muzzle on the free speech of clergy. In February, he vowed to “totally destroy” it.

At the signing ceremony, Trump invoked the history of church-driven social change movements in America, referring to the activism of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement. He called the amendment “very, very unfair” and told clergy that “you’re now in a position where you can say what you want to say, and I know you’ll only say good and you’ll say what’s in your heart.”

“Free speech does not end at the steps of a cathedral or a synagogue, or any other house of worship,” the president said.

“We are giving our churches their voices back, and we are giving them back in the highest form. The federal government will never, ever penalize any person for their protected religious beliefs.”

The executive order pledges to “vigorously enforce Federal law’s robust protections for religious freedom.” It also promises to “address” regulations that prohibit employers from denying coverage of contraceptives to employees on religious grounds.

At least one Jewish group, the Orthodox Union, applauded the order. The O.U. opposed the Obama administration’s requirement that religious or-

ganizations provide coverage of contraceptives for employees, and also came out against President Barack Obama’s support for same-sex marriage.

It welcomed as a change of course an order that also directs federal agencies to make it easier for employers with religious objections not to include contraception coverage in workers’ health-care plans.

“We are grateful that President Trump has made it clear that his administration will promote and protect the religious liberty of Americans of all faiths wherever possible,” Nathan Diament, the O.U.’s executive director of public policy, said in a statement on May 4. “We look forward to working with the White House, Justice Department and others to implement the principles laid out in today’s executive order.”

A full repeal of the Johnson Amendment can happen only through an act of Congress.

But Trump’s order directs the Internal Revenue Service not to prosecute violations of the Johnson Amendment by houses of worship, effectively ensuring that they won’t face repercussions from the law.

“The Founders envisioned a Nation in which religious voices and views were integral to a vibrant public square, and in which religious people and institutions were free to practice their faith without fear of discrimination or retaliation by the Federal Government,” the order reads. “For that reason, the United States Constitution enshrines and protects the fundamental right to religious liberty as Americans’ first freedom.”

Letters

T

‘The Settlers’

he Weaver Library in East Providence showed an anti-settler, anti-Israel movie on April 17.

The movie called “The Settlers” demonizes the settlers and settlements as the main cause of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians for the last 50 years. That obviously is not the case. We had requested that the movie be canceled or at a minimum be changed to another date since it was the last day of Passover. We were denied on both counts.

We did the next best thing and set up a table of pro-Israel material. Our presence assured that all attendees had the opportunity to hear about what a great country Israel is, and we could counter the negativity of the movie. If we were not there, 75 people would have left this movie thinking “those settlers and Jews are outright bullies.”

We all need to stand up for Israel at every opportunity. We all know anti-Semitism is on the rise, and we can’t sit idly by. During the movie there were lots of refreshments, including pastries, but nothing that an observant Jew could eat.

Roberta Schneider Ken Schneider Howard Brown Ron Katz

L

ast week [April 17], I attended the East Providence Weaver Library’s showing of “The Settlers,” a two-hour documentary by Israeli-American filmmaker Shimon Dotan. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2016. It traces the history and rise of the Jewish settler movement on the West Bank, focusing especially on the extremists who have driven the movement forward. It’s a terrific, often disturbing, documentary about religious extremism. The power of the film lies in showing the West Bank settlers in their own words.

Some of them are pretty scary, advocating violence against Arabs and a greater Israel that extends all the way to Iraq.

This is not just an Israeli problem. About 15 percent of settlers are Americans. According to Oxford University scholar Sara Yael Hirschhorn, approximately 60,000 Americans Jews live in Jewish outposts out of a total population of approximately 400,000 settlers in occupied territory, excluding East Jerusalem.

Kudos to the Weaver Library for showing this film and to East Bay Citizens for Peace for running a very respectful discussion afterward in which all viewpoints were expressed. People tried to prevent the library from showing the film, but fortunately they were unsuccessful. About 75 people attended the showing.

Nina Tannenwald Providence

Americans’ support for the order’s central action appears to be low. According to a March poll by the Public Religion Research Institute, only 22 percent support clergy making endorsements from the pulpit.

And the Pew Research Center found that such endorsements are relatively rare. A 2016 Pew study found that while nearly two-thirds of worshippers have heard clergy deliver a sermon about a social or political issue, only 14 percent have heard clergy endorse or oppose a candidate.

Rather than loosening the reins on churches, opponents of the order say defanging the Johnson Amendment could put houses of worship in a bind.

On May 4, testifying on the law before a House subcommittee, Reform Rabbi David Saperstein said congregants could now pressure clergy into endorsing candidates, creating the potential for divisiveness in congregations.

“What is a pastor to do if a congregant who is a major donor now makes his church gift contingent on an endorsement from the pulpit for his or her preferred candidate?” asked Saperstein, a former U.S. ambassador-at-large for religious freedom. “What if a congregant asks a pastor for an endorsement when the pastor has endorsed other candidates in other elections?”

“Once down that path,” he said, “painful pressure to endorse any congregant running for office arises.”

April tourism to Israel breaks monthly record since country’s founding JNS.org – In April 2017, a record-breaking 349,000 tourists entered Israel, a 38-percent increase from April 2016 and the highest-ever figure for any month since Israel’s establishment in 1948.

Additionally, between January and April 2017, 1.1 million tourists entered the Jewish state, an increase of 26 percent from the same period in 2016 and 22 percent more than those months in 2015.

“When there is clear policy, we see results. Every month, we are witnessing exceptional statistics that illustrate the progress we are spearheading in the tourism industry and its tremendous contribution to the Israeli economy and workforce,” Israeli Tourism Minister Yariv Levin said May 9.

“This important and exciting milestone is part of a positive trend that has been taking place over the last half year or more. I hope and believe that, with hard work, we will continue to reap the benefits of this investment,” Levin added.

The significant rise in tourism to Israel comes despite higher costs for travelers, due to the substantial strengthening of the shekel currency in recent months. Incoming tourism during the first four months of the year accounted for an estimated $1.7 billion being infused into Israel’s economy.

10 | May 12, 2017

Ongoing Alliance Kosher Senior Café. Kosher lunch and program every weekday.

Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft Ave., Providence. Noon lunch; 1 p.m. program. $3 lunch donation from individuals 60+ or under 60 with disabilities. Neal or Elaine, 401-3383189.

West Bay Kosher Senior Café. Kosher lunch and program every weekday.

Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston.

11:15 a.m. program; noon lunch. $3 lunch donation from individuals 60+ or under 60 with disabilities. Steve, 401743-0009.

Through June 29 Printmaking. Artists featured who participate in the Print Workshops at the Providence Art Club. Temple Habonim’s Bunny Fain Gallery, 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington. Gallery open Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and by appointment. Information, call 401-245-6536 or email gallery@ templehabonim.org.

Friday | May 12 K’Tantan. 5:30 p.m. Silverstein Meeting Hall, Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Open to all families with children newborn to age 5. Funded by The Frances & David Friedman Family Fund. Information, 401-331-6070.

Kollel/Project Shoresh Community Shabbat Dinner. 7:30 p.m. Kollel Center for Jewish Studies, 450 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. 6:10 p.m., Mincha; 6:30 p.m., Kabbalat Shabbat; 7:30 p.m., Dinner. Join us for a special Shabbat with Maccabi Gold medalist, “Rugby Rabbi” Rabbi Zev Kahn of Chicago (formerly of South Africa). Zev represented his country in international competition and played at the highest levels of amateur rugby in a rugby crazy country. He later spent six years studying and mentoring at Ohr Someach in Jerusalem and, in 2005, moved to Chicago to found the highly successful campus and young professional outreach program JET. Adults, $18; Children, $12; Family Max., $75.

Information, Kollel office at 401-3832786 or providencekollel@gmail.com.

Erev Shabbat Services with musical guests. 7:30-9 p.m. Temple Habonim, 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington.

Cantorial soloist Jodi Blankstein, accompanied by guitarist Adam Dehner, returns for an evening of music, community, tradition and strength.

Information, Jodi Sullivan at office@ templehabonim.org, or 401-245-6536.

Kabbalat Shabbat Services and Oneg.

7:30-8:30 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich.

Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@toratyisrael.org or 401885-6600.

Saturday | May 13 Shabbat School Honoring 7th Graders. 9 a.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. 9 a.m.,Torah discussion with 6/7 graders and congregants; 9:45 a.m., Shabbat service followed by a light Kiddush. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@ toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600.

Saturday Mornings Junior Kiddush Club.

9:30-11:15 a.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence.

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Shabbat morning activities include prayer, parshah, play time and special Kiddush. Age groups: Tots, Pre-K-1st grade, 2nd grade and up. No fee.

Information, office@bethsholom-ri.org or call 401-621-9393.

weekend of music, culture and food of the Sephardic Jews around the Mediterranean basin from Spain to Morocco. Sephardic service followed by an Oneg Shabbat. Information, Dottie at 401-942-8350.

Minyan Breakfast and Torah Study.

9:30-10:30 a.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Weekly breakfast and Torah study in the downstairs chapel. All are welcome. Information, Dottie at 401-942-8350.

Saturday | May 20 Classic Shabbat Service. 9-11 a.m.

Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Join us for Shabbat services followed by a Kiddush luncheon. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600.

Sunday | May 14 OROT Classes Winter & Spring 2017.

8:45-9:30 a.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence.

Led by Rabbi Barry Dolinger. Siyum/ season finale of study of Rav Kook’s revolutionary seminal work, a collection of challenging and moving essays that describe the religious significance of Zionism. Free. Information, rabbi@ bethsholom-ri.org.

Lag B’Omer Community Picnic and Parade. 5 p.m. Sessions Street Park (behind the Dwares JCC). Musical entertainment, outdoor games and races, “Five Star Show for all Ages, starring the Great Baldini.” Kosher food available. In case of rain, program will be held at Chabad House, 360 Hope St., Providence. Sponsored by Chabad of RI and Congregation Beth Sholom.

Information, 401-273-7238.

Monday | May 15 Conversion Class. 7:30-8:45 p.m.

Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Rabbi Barry Dolinger’s broad-based exploration of the biggest topics in Judaism, designed to give an overarching but detailed appreciation for traditional Judaism. Focus on increased personal study to increase the breadth of information while allowing for delving deeper through discussions during classes. Continuing study of Shabbat. Free. Through May 22. Information, rabbi@bethsholom-ri. org.

Tuesday | May 16 Yoga. 6-7:15 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich.

Cost: $30 for 3 sessions paid in advance; $12 per session at the door.

Open to all. Bring a mat. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@ toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600.

Tuesday Night Talmud (TNT). 7:30-8:30 p.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Study the Fifth Chapter of Berachot with Rabbi Barry Dolinger. Through May 23. Information, rabbi@bethsholom-ri.org.

Wednesday | May 17 Rosalea E. and Newton B. Cohn Annual Meeting. 7 p.m. Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Elections, budget presentation, volunteers honored and year in review. Light refreshments served. Rona Nachbar, who is retiring, will be honored. Information, lwhite@ temple-beth-el.org or 401-331-6070.

3 Week Readers’ Circle Series. 7-9 p.m.

Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston.

Cantor Deborah Johnson leads this Readers’ Circle on Sephardim. Tonight, discuss the status of Sephardic Jewry in Israel with Israeli emissary Tslil Reichman. All are welcome. Information, Dottie at 401-942-8350.

Mah Jongg. 7 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich.

Lag B’Omer is celebrated May 14 with a community picnic and parade.

Bring your 2017 Mah Jongg card.

All are welcome. Free. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@ toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600.

Jewish Seniors Agency of Rhode Island Annual Meeting. 7-8:30 p.m. The Phyllis Siperstein Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence, 3 Shalom Drive, Warwick. Information, Diane Dowiot at ddowiot@jsari.org or 401-351-4750.

Thursday | May 18 Project Shoresh Dairy Delights & Doses from Ethics of the Fathers. 7:15-8:45 p.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. 7:15 p.m. dinner followed at 7:45 p.m. inspirational discussion. Sponsored by Shoresh Young Professionals, the place for Jewish YPs to get inspired in Southern New England. Thought-provoking discussions with great food and great friends. Thursdays through May 25.

Information, Naftali Karp at naftalikarp@ gmail.com or 401-632-3165.

Friday | May 19 PJ Library Story Time: Shavuot. 10-11 a.m. Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Children ages 5 and under hear stories, play games, make a craft, have a snack and make new friends.

Free. Information, Ruth Horton at rhorton@jewishallianceri.org or 401421-4111, ext. 117.

T.G.I.F. Thank G-D It’s Friday. 5:45-7 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Shabbat songs and story with Rabbi Aaron Philmus.

Kiddush and free kid-friendly dinner to follow. Donations welcome. RSVP and information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@toratyisrael.org or 401885-6600.

Shabbat Hallelu and 84th High School Graduation. 6:30-9 p.m. Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence.

Experience the joy of Shabbat with Cantor Judith Seplowin and the Hallelu band as we open the door to worship through musical presentation and congregational singing. Light refreshments and sangria served at 6:30 p.m. Services at 7 p.m.

Information, 401-331-6070 Kabbalat Shabbat Services and Oneg.

7:30-8:30 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich.

Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@toratyisrael.org or 401885-6600.

Sephardi Weekend. 7:30-9 p.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. A

Saturday Mornings Junior Kiddush Club.

9:30-11:15 a.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence.

Shabbat morning activities include prayer, parshah, play time and a special Kiddush. Age groups: Tots, Pre-K-1st grade, 2nd grade and up. No fee.

Information, office@bethsholom-ri.org or 401-621-9393.

Minyan Breakfast and Torah Study.

9:30-10:30 a.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Weekly breakfast and Torah study in the downstairs chapel. All are welcome. Information, Dottie at 401-942-8350.

Hope Street Spring Block Party. Noon-6 p.m. Hope Street North of Rochambeau, Providence. Hope Street Merchants Association (HSMA) Spring Block party.

Activities include a live music stage, fashion show, beer garden, children’s activities, food trucks, arts & crafts and street vendors. The street is closed to traffic.

Sephardi Weekend: “The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara.” 2 p.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Pulitzerprize-winning author David Kertzer will discuss his book “The Kidnapping of Edgardo Mortara.” An Italian dessert reception follows the discussion. Free.

Information, Dottie at 401-942-8350.

Kids’ Night Out: Harry Potter. 5-10 p.m. Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. A variety of themed activities include sports, crafts, swimming and more. A pizza dinner and snacks are served, and the evening ends with a movie. Price: $35; Members, $25; Siblings, $15.

Information or to register, Maurisa Goldberg at 401-421-4111, ext. 147.

Sunday | May 21 Congregation Beth David Spring Fling.

11 a.m.-1 p.m. North Beach Clubhouse, Narragansett Town Beach. Cookout, music and games. Featuring live music

by Tzibeles, Rhode Island’s premier klezmer group. Free. Information, Frank Prosnitz at frank.prosnitz@gmail.com or 401-935-9890.

Shavuot Family Funday. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Cost: $5 per family. Get ready to celebrate Shavuot with Shoresh/PJ Library/Kollel/Torat Yisrael. Holiday-themed activities: edible Torahs, flower crowns, rimon seed count, milk a goat, make your own ice cream sundae, bikkurim game and more. RSVP (requested but not necessary) or information, Noach Karp at rnoachkarp@gmail.com or 401-4298244.

Celebrate Jerusalem. 3 p.m. Touro Synagogue, 85 Touro St., Newport. Live musical performance by Trio Yemin Moshe. Remarks by Congressman David Cicilline. Co-sponsored by the Israeli

Consulate and the Touro Synagogue.

Sephardi Weekend: Malachei Mambo.

3-6 p.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Cool Caribbean cocktails followed by a performance by Malachei Mambo, a HOT 5-piece Latin band with lead singer Cantor Gaston Bogomolni.

Open to the community. Admission: $10 in advance; $12 at the door; free for children under 18. Information, Dottie at 401-942-8350.

Torah Celebration. 3-6 p.m.

Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. The CBS Torah Project’s Grand Finale with our Israeli Scribe begins at the synagogue at 3 p.m. A Torah Parade around the block with music begins at 4 p.m.

Hors d’oeuvres and drinks are at 5 p.m. at the synagogue for adults, and a meal with an activity is provided for kids. Information and sponsorship possibilities, office@bethsholom-ri.org.

Sunday Film Series: “Defying the Nazis: The Sharps’ War.” 3:30-5:30 p.m.

Temple Habonim, 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington. The story of Waitstill and Martha Sharp, an American minister and his wife, who left their children behind in the care of their parish and boldly committed to a lifethreatening mission in Europe. Over two dangerous years, they helped save scores of imperiled dissidents and refugees fleeing the Nazi occupation across Europe. The showing, which includes popcorn, is free and open to the community. Information, Jodi Sullivan at office@templehabonim.org or 401-245-6536.

Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center Art & Writing Contest Awards. 5-6:30 p.m. Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence.

Recognition of winners of the annual art and writing contest. Information, May-Ronny Zeidman at May@ BornsteinHolocaustCenter.org or 401453-7860.

Monday | May 22 Conversion Class. 7:30-8:45 p.m.

Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Rabbi Barry Dolinger’s broad-based exploration of the biggest topics in Judaism, designed to give an overarching but detailed appreciation for traditional Judaism. Last class of the semester. Free. Information, rabbi@ bethsholom-ri.org.

Tuesday | May 23 “Jewish Sacred Aging.” 10 a.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser teaches this course in the chapel. All are welcome to attend.

Information, Temple Sinai, 401-9428350.

Yoga. 6-7:15 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich.

Cost: $30 for 3 sessions paid in advance; $12 per session at the door.

Open to all. Bring a mat. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@ toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600.

Tuesday Night Talmud (TNT). 7:30-8:30 p.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. Study the Fifth Chapter of Berachot with Rabbi Barry Dolinger. Last session. Information, rabbi@bethsholom-ri.org.

Wednesday | May 24 Senior Fair. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. The Phyllis CALENDAR | 11

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FOOD | CALENDAR

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A unicorn challah straight out of your fantasies

BY SHANNON SARNA

The Nosher via JTA – I don’t know when the craze over “unicorn foods” became the trend, but it’s hard to scroll through Facebook or visit a Starbucks without seeing an explosion of pastel colors and sweet flavors.

My colleague Rachel Edelman created some eye-catching unicorn hamantaschen for Purim this year and another colleague, Naomi Elberg of TGIS challah (check out her crazy challahs on Instagram!), has been cranking out some gorgeous, unicorn-inspired challahs just in the past few weeks.

So it was time: Here is the unicorn challah you have been dreaming about.

Get crazy with your sprinkles, fillings or whatever decorations you want.

With unicorn foods, there are no rules because, let’s be honest: There is no such thing as a unicorn food.

Unicorn Challah

Ingredients 1 batch challah (can use any recipe you prefer) 1 egg, beaten for glaze Food coloring such as pink,

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PHOTO | JTA

purple, teal, yellow, baby blue Marshmallow fluff Sprinkles, colored candies, shredded coconut or other edible decorations 1 cup powdered sugar 2 tablespoons milk or almond milk 1-2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice Directions Prepare challah dough, but

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Siperstein Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence, 3 Shalom Dr., Warwick.

Information from a variety of senior resources including Moving Ahead RI, Keystone Real Estate Group, Personal Management Associates, Independent Benefit Solutions, United Way, 211, The Point, Respite Program: Diocese of Providence, Jewish Family Service: Lifeline Program, Jewish Community Center: Exercise Program for Seniors, Jewish Eldercare of RI, Blue Cross / Blue Shield of RI, Pure Haven Essentials, Blood Pressure checks

by Tamarisk Wellness Staff, Bayada Home Health and Holistic Heart Chair Massage. Door prizes include a tablet.

Information, Susan Adler at susana@ tamariskri.org or 401-732-0037.

What would mother think?

Baby boomers, whose parents looked askance at ‘moving in together,’ are doing just that as they age, according to the Association of Mature American Citizens.

The Pew Research Center reports that more seniors than ever before are cohabitating. In fact, Pew says that the number of unmarried seniors who are living together increased by 75 percent between 2007 and 2016. Reasons? Companionship and financial benefits.

Dwares JCC Grand Reopening and Dedication Ceremony. 5 p.m. Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence.

Celebrate with the community at the official reopening of the Alliance’s renovated Dwares JCC. Special guest Nate Ebner, New England Patriot and US Olympic Rugby player will talk about his experiences in the Super Bowl and Olympics at 5 p.m., followed by a question/answer session for families and a skills competition for children in the Nelson & Sapinsley Families Gymnasium. At 6:30 p.m., the JCC will be dedicated and the volunteers and donors honored.

Mah Jongg. 7 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich.

All are welcome. Bring your 2017

before adding all flour, divide liquidy dough into 3 even portions in bowls.

Add a few drops of food coloring (different colors) to each bowl.

Add remaining flour (divide into 3 parts) to each portion of dough. Knead until dough comes together. Dough should be slightly firm and bounce back when touched.

Mah Jongg card. Free. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@ toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600.

Thursday | May 25 Project Shoresh Dairy Delights & Doses from Ethics of the Fathers. 7:15-8:45 p.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence. 7:15 p.m. dinner followed by 7:45 p.m. inspirational discussion. Sponsored by Shoresh Young Professionals, the place for Jewish YPs to get inspired in Southern New England. Thought-provoking discussions with great food and great friends. Thursdays through May 25.

Information, Naftali Karp at naftalikarp@ gmail.com or 401-632-3165.

Friday | May 26 Kabbalat Shabbat Services and Oneg.

Cover each bowl with a warm, damp towel and allow to rise 2-3 hours.

Divide each piece of dough into 2 equal parts. (You are creating 2 medium-size loaves of challah, each with 3 colors.)

Roll out each piece of dough and press down to flatten slightly. Add approximately 1/4 cup of marshmallow fluff inside dough. Pinch up, closing fluff

7:30-8:30 p.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich.

Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@toratyisrael.org or 401885-6600.

Saturday | May 27 Taste of Shabbat. 9-11 a.m. Temple Torat Yisrael, 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. 9 a.m. Torah Discussion and 9:45 a.m. Shabbat service followed by a light Kiddush. Information, Stephanie Reinsant at stephanie@toratyisrael.org or 401-885-6600.

inside dough and roll each piece gently into a rope. Repeat with all dough.

Create two 3-braid challah loaves, and place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Allow to rise another 30-45 minutes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brush each challah with beaten egg.

Bake for 23-26 minutes, until challah is golden on top.

Allow to cool completely, at least 1 hour.

In a small bowl combine powdered sugar, milk (or almond milk) and lemon juice. Whisk until a thick frosting forms.

Spread frosting on top of each challah. Top with sprinkles, colored chocolate chips or candies, coconut or other decorations.

SHANNON SARNA is the editor of The Nosher. The Nosher food blog offers a dazzling array of new and classic Jewish recipes and food news, from Europe to Yemen, from challah to shakshuka and beyond. Check it out at TheNosher.com.

Saturday Mornings Junior Kiddush Club.

9:30-11:15 a.m. Congregation Beth Sholom, 275 Camp St., Providence.

Shabbat morning activities include prayer, parshah, play time and a special Kiddush. Age groups: Tots, Pre-K-1st grade, 2nd grade and up. No fee.

Information, office@bethsholom-ri.org or call 401-621-9393.

Minyan Breakfast and Torah Study.

9:30-10:30 a.m. Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Weekly breakfast and Torah study in the downstairs chapel. All are welcome to participate.

Information, Dottie at Temple Sinai, 401-942-8350.

12 | May 12, 2017

COMMUNITY

The Jewish Voice

PHOTOS | FRAN OSTENDORF

BY FRAN OSTENDORF fostendorf@jewishallianceri.org

A solemn gathering commemorated Yom ha-Zikaron on April 30 at the Alliance’s Dwares Jewish Community Center in Providence.

Since 1963, Yom ha-Zikaron, the Day of Remembrance for the Fallen Soldiers of Israel and

People crowded into the room at the Alliance’s Dwares JCC.

Yom ha-Zikaron program draws a crowd Victims of Terrorism, has been Israel’s Memorial Day. On Yom ha-Zikaron, all of Israel pauses to pay tribute to the thousands who have been lost. It is celebrated the day before Yom haAtzmaut, Israel’s independence day.

At the JCC, more than 75 people crowded into the board room to hear the writings, set

to music, of three soldiers who were killed while serving in the Israeli Defense Forces. The songs are part of the “Soon We Will Become a Song” project, an ongoing effort to preserve the memory of soldiers who were killed in the line of duty.

The audience heard Maayan Harel, who grew up in Barrington, sing the words of Omri

Celebration at the State House

Tal, Binyamin (Benny) Frank and Reuven Politi. Tal died in 2014. Frank died in 1974 and Politi died in 1973. Their writings were found after they died.

Tslil Reichman, Israeli shlichah (emissary), organized the program and shared her thoughts about the holiday. Because military service is mandatory in Israel, most Israelis,

including Reichman, have lost friends and family members.

Cantor Judy Seplowin of Temple Beth-El in Providence sang “El Maleh Rahamim.”

At the end of the program, those in attendance were invited to light memorial candles.

FRAN OSTENDORF is the editor of The Jewish Voice.

During ceremonies May 2 at the Rhode Island General Assembly, resolutions were introduced in both the House and the Senate recognizing the 69th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel.

Right, Rep. Mia Ackerman welcomes Israel Counsel General for New England Yehuda Yaakov to the floor of the House of Representatives.

Far right, Yaakov addresses the House of Representatives.

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14 | May 12, 2017

SPORTS

The Jewish Voice

PHOTOS | BILL OSTENDORF

Season 1 players gather before play on a Tuesday night.

It’s a dilly of a sport Pickleball league is a winner

BY DORI VENDITTI dvenditti@jewishallianceri.org

When we had the vision of creating a pickleball league at the Alliance’s Dwares Jewish Community Center, we had no idea how popular it would become.

It quickly turned into a favorite pastime for members and non-members alike, and the comaraderie which has developed between the teams is admirable. A huge bonus to the sport of pickleball is the way players of all ages can come together to not only socialize but compete on an equal basis.

Season 2 of pickleball at the

Dwares JCC is now well underway, and it’s bigger and better.

The Tuesday evening league has adopted a more advanced style of play, thanks to a blend of returning season 1 players and the addition of more experienced players. Meanwhile, the new Thursday afternoon league meets for a round-robin style of recreational play, and everyone is improving as the season progresses. Season 2 ends on June 13, and the league will not meet during the summer.

League play will resume in the fall.

DORI VENDITTI is general manager of J-Fitness at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. For more information on pickleball or the league, contact her at 401-421-4111, ext. 210.

Highlights of what we offer: • Functional-Style Classes including TRX, Kettlebells, Battle Ropes & Medicine Balls • Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy • Personal Training by Body Soul • Indoor Heated Pool • Group Ex • Indoor Cycling • Basketball Gymnasium • Sports Leagues • Pilates Mat Classes • Cardio Machines • Free-weight Area • Teen Fitness Certification • Fit Forever Classes for Seniors • TigerSharks Swim Club and much more!

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To learn more about Personal Training, Specialty Group Training or any of our fitness programs, contact Dori Venditti at 401.421.4111 ext. 210 or dvenditti@jewishallianceri.org.

401 Elmgrove Avenue | Providence, RI | jewishallianceri.org

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SPORTS

Scenes from season 1 pickleball play

May 12, 2017 |

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SPORTS

16 | May 12, 2017

The Jewish Voice

The making of a Jewish sports pro

Girls league play in Israel Lacrosse.

FROM PAGE 1

LACROSSE volved, including a lacrosse Birthright trip, a longer-term lacrosse program with Masa Israel, a service trip for high school lacrosse players, and B’nai Mitzvah-themed programs.

“We’ve had a lot of Jews in our programs who are passionate about lacrosse, and we’ve been able to use the sport to get them to reengage with Israel and their Judaism,” said Neiss.

“For the most part, for a high-level high school athlete who has ambitions of playing college lacrosse, Judaism takes a back seat. We’re giving them the opportunity to come back and participate in the development of the sport in Israel.”

The organization also holds tryouts for Israel’s women and

men’s national teams, under 19 teams, and even a men’s indoor team. Eighty of the best players from Israel and the United States are invited each year to try out to represent Israel on the world’s stage. Israel’s national team is now ranked No. 7 in the world, a major feat given how new the country is to the game.

In addition to the national teams, Israel Lacrosse has helped establish a professional club-level lacrosse league in Israel, called the Israel Premier Lacrosse League (IPLL), which debuted in 2015 with teams representing cities such as Haifa, Be’er Sheva and Ashkelon.

But it’s not always about competition for Israel Lacrosse. The organization also tries to make a positive impact on communities with initiatives aimed at addressing societal problems through sport. One of these

PHOTO | ISRAEL LACROSSE

initiatives is its coexistence program, using sport to build bridges between Jewish and Arab youth.

“We have a program in Jaffa where we have Jews and Arabs playing on the same team,” Neiss said. “I think we should do everything we can to use sport to do good, whether that be connecting Jews from abroad with Israel or building bridges in the region.”

While lacrosse isn’t the national sport of Israel yet, its future in the Jewish homeland is bright – it was recently announced that in 2018, the FIL Men’s Lacrosse World Championships will be heading for Israel, the smallest country to ever host the tournament.

SAM SERBY is a freelance writer who lives in East Greenwich. He previously worked at the Peres Center for Peace in Tel Aviv.

When the Alliance’s Dwares Jewish Community officially reopens on May 24, the featured s p e c i a l guest will be U.S. Olympic Rugby player and new England PatriPATRICIA ots Second RASKIN Team AllPro and Special Team Player Nate Ebner.

Jesse Bernstein wrote an inspirational story about Ebner that appeared online at tabletmag.com. We learn that “Ebner’s father was a religious school principal at Temple Shalom, in Springfield, Ohio. From a young age, Ebner’s parents taught him ‘the importance of being Jewish.’ ” Ebner played rugby in high school and became one of the best young rugby players in the country. Ebner’s father was killed in a robbery during this time.

As Ebner’s career grew, he won a Super Bowl ring and led the special teams unit. In his article, Bernstein offers a quote about Ebner from coach Bill Belichick: “His development has really been outstanding. I would probably put him in the, not the alltime top, but maybe in the top 5 percent all time of players that I’ve coached, from where they were in college to how they grew in the NFL.” So what makes a profession truly a professional? Here are my five steps: • Have a strong vision and

desire to make that vision a reality.

• Find the right support to help you make your vision a reality.

• Take the necessary steps to make the vision happen, and do them consistently.

This takes discipline and commitment.

• Honor each success and turn mistakes into lessons.

• Look for opportunities to expand and grow and immerse yourself in learning.

As important as Ebner’s amazing success is, it is equally important to understand how he got to where he is and how he overcame the obstacles along the way.

Ebner’s career and achievements are an inspiration for young Jewish athletes.

PATRICIA RASKIN hosts “The Patricia Raskin Show” on Saturdays at 3 p.m. on WPRO, 630 AM/99.7 FM, and on Mondays at 2 p.m. on voiceamerica.com.

Raskin is a board member of Providence’s Temple Emanu-El.

Splash into May, learn to swim today!

BY ALEX FRANCIS Aquatics staff at the Alliance’s Dwares Jewish Community Center, in Providence, are making waves this May to celebrate National Water Safety Month and National Learn-To-Swim Day, on May 20.

You’re never too old to learn how to swim – the aquatics staff works with all ages from babies to senior citizens.

Swimming is a gift for life: A relaxing, mood-boosting recreational activity that provides excellent health benefits for everyone.

Water workouts are a great way to exercise because the water naturally cools the body as the workout heats up. Exercising in water also significantly reduces the impact on your joints; fully immersed, 85 percent of body weight is off-load-

ed. Additionally, water’s resistance is about 44 times greater than air, providing strength and toning as well as a great cardio workout. Both lap swimming and aquatic fitness classes are excellent ways to achieve better fitness!

Swimming is also a valuable lifelong skill – it could even be the difference between life and death. Between 2005 to 2014, there were an average of 3,563 fatal unintentional drownings per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and drowning was the leading cause of death for children between the ages of 1 and 4.

Aquatics director Doug Immel and the Lenny Krayzelburg Swim Academy (LKSA) Team are collaborating to teach people of all ages everything from

essential water safety skills, such as treading water and floating, to improving their strokes for fitness routines and swim team. Many LKSA students go on to join the Dwares JCC swim team, the TigerSharks.

People looking to become water safe or to learn to swim for fun and fitness are encouraged to call, email or drop by the pool office to discuss their interest in swimming. Adults should contact Doug Immel, aquatics director, at 401-421-4111, ext. 153, or dimmel@jewishallianceri. org. Parents interested in lessons for their children should contact Lenny Krayzelburg’s coordinator, Victoria Breda, at 401-421-4111, ext. 162, or vbreda@jewishallianceri.org.

A water-walking class at the Alliance’s Dwares JCC. ALEX FRANCIS is on the LKSA staff at the Jewish Alli-

ance of Greater Rhode Island.

jvhri.org

FROM PAGE 1

COMMUNITY | ISRAEL

MERGER

The shrinking pool of funding and the overlapping services were just two of the reasons for the merger. In a conversation with Bazar and Minior, the two spoke about how the new social service landscape just makes sense for their agencies and for the community.

Said Bazar: “My hope is that we will offer a holistic, wraparound approach to the family and individual in need.” Both Minior and Bazar pointed out that often if a client is coming in for one service, such as food at the Louis & Goldie Chester Full Plate Kosher Food Pantry, there is also need elsewhere in his or her life.

This is part of the new agency’s mission statement: “… to sustain, nurture and strengthen the well-being of seniors, adults, children and families and to ensure access to a full continuum of care through the life cycle, within the framework of Jewish tradition and values.”

The staff at both agencies

have met and seem excited.

They are already planning for ways to integrate. “I think we will find that for the most part this will make it easier for everyone. Support staff will have help and there will be more people to service the community,” said Minior. There are no plans to cut staff positions.

And if there was ever a doubt about the two agency heads working together, rest assured: During the interview, they completed each other’s sentences.

When the new agency emerges, Minior will serve as interim CEO and Bazar will be chief strategy and development officer. Simultaneously, there will be a search for a permanent head of the combined agency.

The agencies will consolidate into one office. The location has yet to be decided. JFSRI currently has offices on North Main Street while JSA has offices on Niantic Avenue, both in Providence.

There will be a new board of directors, headed by Jeff Pad-

Susan Bazar

Erin Minior

wa, president of the Jewish Seniors Agency board.

The new board will include seven to nine members from each agency’s board of directors and four to six members from the community who are not now affiliated with either agency, for a maximum of 18-24 members.

“There is a legal process that will take some time to make us

a legal entity. But we can start the integrative process now,” said Minior. The legal papers should be filed sometime this summer.

The newly merged board and strategic planning will be the first public signs of the merger, she said.

The new agency will continue to oversee the Phyllis Siperstein Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence, and the Shalom Apart-

May 12, 2017 |

17

ments, both in Warwick, as well as the Kosher Food Pantry. The counseling component will remain in place, as will the senior nutrition program, which includes the Kosher meal sites in Providence and Cranston and Kosher Meals on Wheels.

In fact, while the agencies combine, all programs will stay intact, says Bazar. “Work doesn’t stop. The needy still are needy,” she said.

“All donated funds will continue to be used for their original purposes,” she added.

“We expect social services needs to continue to grow. This allows us to be poised to provide services to the greater Jewish community,” Bazar said.

JSA was formed in 1993 when the Jewish Home for the Aged closed, but has existed in some form since the 1890s. JFSRI was formed in 1929. The facilitation process was funded by a grant from the Rhode Island Foundation and financial support from the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

FRAN OSTENDORF is the editor of The Jewish Voice

The world can be thankful for these 7 incredible new things from Israel

BY ANDREW TOBIN TEL AVIV (JTA) – To build a Jewish state in the Middle East, Israelis had to be innovators.

Some of what they’ve come up with has been used mostly by their fellow citizens – think Hebrew slang, Bamba snacks and the Iron Dome missile defense system – at least so far.

But many other Israeli creations have changed the world: drip irrigation, the USB flash drive and actress Natalie Portman, among them.

Here are some incredible things Israel gave the world this year, its 69th year of independence.

recent years has promoted catchball in more than half a dozen other countries and helped launch a sister association in the U.S. At the July Maccabiah Games, an Olympics-style event for Jewish athletes held every four years, an exhibition tournament will feature dozens of teams from Israel along with squads from Boston, London and Berlin.

Richard Gere playing a Jewish schlub

A weed inhaler

Puff, puff, pass the inhaler.

In November, the Israeli pharmaceutical giant Teva announced it would begin marketing a medical cannabis inhaler in Israel that delivers precise doses of the drug. Rambam Hospital in Haifa had already been using the device for more than a year, making it the first medical center in the world to prescribe cannabis as a standard medical treatment.

Perry Davidson, the founder and CEO of Syqe Medical, which developed the inhaler, said his company plans to eventually offer it around the world.

“Israel is clearly just the start,” he told Bloomberg. “We expect to be approved for use in other countries in due course.

The U.S., as the biggest medical cannabis market, is an obvious target.”

The inhaler is far from Israel’s first marijuana-related innovation. In 1964, Raphael Mechoulan, a chemist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, discovered tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the main psychoactive constituent of cannabis. Last summer, the government approved a plan by Health Minister Yaakov Litzman to relax some requirements for obtaining medical cannabis. And in March, it decriminalized recreational marijuana use.

A binge-worthy TV series

The Israeli TV drama “Fauda” has given the world a compelling look inside the conflict at the heart of the Jewish state.

Nearly two years after the show became a mega-hit in Israel, Netflix in December began streaming the first, and so far, only season in 130 countries. In the U.S. and elsewhere, English subtitles were added over the Arabic and Hebrew dialogue.

“Fauda” – Arabic for “chaos” – was informed by the Israeli military experiences of co-writers Avi Issacharoff and Lior Raz. The show follows undercover Israeli soldiers as they pursue a fictional Hamas terrorist in the West Bank and also delves deep into the lives of the Palestinian characters.

Netflix previously bought the rights to other Israeli films and TV shows, including “Prisoners of War,” from which the hit U.S. show “Homeland” was adapted.

Reviewers and fans have lauded “Fauda” for offering an unusually complex and humane portrayal of Arab characters, even terrorists, and for capturing the reality of Palestinian life under Israeli rule. Loaded with Arab actors, the

show has won fans on both sides of the Green Line that demarcates the territories that Israel captured in the 1967 SixDay War.

A popular sport for middle-aged women

Popularized by Israeli moms in 2005, the women’s sport of catchball has recently gone global.

Catchball is like volleyball but easier because catching and throwing replaces bumping, setting and spiking. Israeli women adapted the sport from Newcomb, which some Americans may know from summer camp or gym class.

Meanwhile, catchball leagues in Israel boast more than 12,000 female members, almost all of them over 30. That is twice as many adult women as belong to basketball, soccer, volleyball and tennis leagues combined, according to data from Israel’s Culture and Sport Ministry.

“It’s like a disease among middle-aged women here,” said Naor Galili, the director-general of the Maccabi sports association in Israel. “We like it. We love it.

We fully support it.”

The Israeli Catchball Association in

Richard Gere, a famously suave gentile, stars as a schlubby Jewish schemer in “Norman: The Moderate Rise and Tragic Fall of a New York Fixer.”

Perhaps only Israeli director Joseph Cedar could have given the world such a gift. The bitingly funny film follows Norman Oppenheimer as he aspires to serve as a fixer between New York’s Jewish community, into which Cedar was born, and Jerusalem, where he was raised.

Cedar knowingly – and often humorously – navigates the gaps between the two worlds. As NPR’s pop culture critic John Powers put it, “Cedar cheerfully skewers Israeli politics and its emotional relationship to American Jewry in a way that U.S. directors dare not.”

The director doesn’t worry whether the film is “good for the Jews,” Powers noted.

For better or worse, Gere apparently has no such hang-ups either. In Jerusalem last month for the local premiere of “Norman,” Gere told Haaretz that Israel’s settlements in the West Bank are “an absurd provocation” and “this occupation is destroying everyone.”

Treatment for wounded Syrians

Officially, Israel has maintained a policy of non-intervention in the Syrian war and has not taken in any refugees. But the Jewish state has still managed to offer some help to its northern neighbors.

Since early 2013, the Israeli army has taken in some 3,000 wounded Syrians for treatment. Generally working at night, soldiers have provided initial medical NEW THINGS | 23

18 | May 12, 2017

The Jewish Voice

2017

ANNUAL MEETING Thursday, June 8 | 7:00pm Bonnie & Donald Dwares Jewish Community Center Victor & Gussie Baxt Social Hall 401 Elmgrove Avenue | Providence, RI

“

If we truly believe that each person is created in God’s image, then we must create a community in which each person is valued. We do not merely accept differences.We seek them out as necessary for building our community. He who occupies himself with the community is as though he occupies himself with the Torah.

“

—J.Talmud, Berakhot 9:12

Board Installations: Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island Jewish Federation Foundation of Greater Rhode Island Alliance Realty, Inc. Reception to follow

2017 - 2018 Proposed Slate of Officers and Board Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island Chair Mitzi Berkelhammer

2017 - 2018 Proposed Jewish Federation Foundation of Greater Rhode Island Board

2017 - 2018 Proposed Alliance Realty, Inc. Board Ronald C. Markoff, Chair Robert Stolzman, Vice Chair Sharon Gaines, Secretary/Treasurer Jeffrey K. Savit, President & CEO

Sharon Gaines, Chair Robert Sherwin, Vice Chair Melvin Alperin Robin Engle H. Jack Feibelman Mark Feinstein David Hirsch Marilyn Kaplan Scott Libman Richard Licht Michael Nulman Ralph Posner Jay Rosenstein Steven Shalansky, Treasurer Mathew Shuster Herbert Stern Cheryl Greenfeld Teverow, Secretary Mindy Wachtenheim

Vice Chairs Susan Odessa Froehlich, Philanthropy Marc Gertsacov, Community Development Robert Landau, Governance James Pious, Philanthropy Oswald Schwartz, Jewish Life & Learning Richard Silverman, Communications Treasurer/Secretary Neil Beranbaum Board of Directors Harris Chorney Daniel Cohen Susan Leach DeBlasio Rabbi Barry Dolinger Michael Eides Mark Feinstein, Leadership Development Harold Foster, Chair Appointee Marisa Garber Richard Glucksman, Community Relations Council Janet Goldman Richard Licht Jamie Manville Cara Mitnick Vincent Mor

Mara Ostro Ralph Posner, Chair Appointee Robert Sherwin Barbara Sokoloff Richard Sutton Miriam Esther Weiner Faye Wisen Rabbi Rachel Zerin, Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island Honorary Directors Melvin G. Alperin Alan G. Hassenfeld Sharon Gaines, Immediate Past Chair Jeffrey K. Savit, President and CEO

jvhri.org

COMMUNITY

May 12, 2017 |

19

Diane Lazarus to receive annual Recognition Award

PHOTO | FRAN OSTENDORF

Dayna Bailen and friend.

Coming to the JCC this fall: Shababa!

BY JEWISH ALLIANCE STAFF The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island will host a new engagement program called Shababa starting in the fall.

This award-winning approach to intergenerational, transformative Shabbat experiences was born in 2007 when Karina Zilberman brought her guitar and puppet Coco to the lobby of the 92nd Street Y, in New York City, to engage families in singing and celebrating Shabbat.

“When I started, I just wanted to make myself available,” she reflected in a recent interview.

“I had nothing to lose. So I sat in the hallway, and I tried to draw people in.

“If you make yourself available, you open yourself up to hearing what people want. But if you have an agenda in your head for what ‘should’ happen, that will come across clearly and stymie the natural process.”

This was just the beginning for Shababa, which is now a network of communities around the country that share strategies, programs, ideas and more.

Here in Rhode Island, Shababa will be led by Dayna Bailen, Jewish educator and cantorial soloist, who attended the Shababa Network Summit in New York City in January. At the summit, she participated in a training program that provides Jewish leaders and their organizations with an array of

resources to share ideas and strategies for community engagement, all informed by the Shababa approach.

Attendees are encouraged to shift away from a “playpen mindset,” which Zilberman characterizes as safe, enclosed and predictable, to a mindset that is open to expression and spontaneity.

“When I think of a holy playground,” Zilberman says, “I turn to the Jewish philosopher Martin Buber, who says: ‘Play is the exaltation of the possible.’

In my own words, play is the celebration of everything for all ages.”

One of Shababa’s signature props is a sloth puppet, and the Jewish Alliance is looking to name it. Send your name ideas to Dayna Bailen at dbailen@ jewishallianceri.org, with the subject: Sloth.

You can also come meet the puppet at the next PJ Library story time, at 10 a.m. on Friday, May 19, at the Alliance’s Dwares Jewish Community Center. The winner will be revealed at the Dwares JCC Reopening Family Program on Wednesday, May 24, at 5 p.m.

Look for new Shababa programming to formally begin in the fall. For more information about Shababa, contact Dayna Bailen at dbailen@jewishallianceri.org.

For more information about the Dwares JCC Reopening Family Program, contact Michelle Cicchitelli at mcicchitelli@jewishallianceri.org.

The Miriam Hospital Women’s Association (TMHWA) will present its 33rd Annual Recognition Award to Diane Lazarus at the association’s 120th Annual Meeting and Luncheon. The event will be held at Ledgemont Country Club on Wednesday, June 7, at 11:30 a.m. The commemoration of the 120th celebration

by Rabbi Sarah Mack, and the installation of the officers and board, as well as the volunteer recognition award presentation, will take place after the luncheon.

Lazarus grew up in New York and met her husband on a day trip to Newport in 1984.

There was an instant connection, and she moved to Rhode Island a year later and married Howard (who is now also her business partner in her real estate business with Coldwell Banker).

Rhode Island has benefited from her presence. Besides her involvement with The Miriam for almost 10 years, Lazarus

Diane Lazarus was the top fundraiser for the year (in the early 2000s) for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, has been involved with the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island (now the Jewish

Alliance), and is a life member of Hadassah, and TMHWA. At The Miriam, Lazarus has volunteered at the reception desk once a week for nine years. She says, “I find the job rewarding. I think people find it comforting to get assistance when they come in and may be in an emotional state. I get personal satisfaction from knowing I’ve helped someone.”

Her roles at TMHWA also have included helping with program development, the recognition award, the cookbook, the donation cards, and the equipment event. Lazarus’ mother, who lives in New Jersey, will attend the event to see her daughter receive this honor.

For information on TMHWA 120th Annual Meeting and Luncheon, contact TMHWA at 401-793-2520.

Submitted by The Miriam Hospital Women’s Association

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR 2017 PATRON CAMPAIGN WE NEED YOU

20 | May 12, 2017

COMMUNITY

The Jewish Voice

Jewish Motorcyclists Alliance gearing up for R.I. visit

BY LEV POPLOW Hundreds of motorcyclists will roar into Rhode Island in June for the 13th Annual Jewish Motorcyclists Alliance’s Ride 2 Remember, which will support the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center in Providence.

A motorcycle parade from Precision Harley-Davidson, in Pawtucket, to the Alliance’s Dwares Jewish Community Center, in Providence, on June 9 is among the highlights of the three-day event, which will include many activities open to the public.

The Jewish Motorcyclists Alliance is a worldwide organization with about 6,000 members.

“We ride to support Holocaust education because a lot of our members are relatives of survivors and victims,” says JMA’s Ride 2 Remember Coordinator Betsy Ahrens. “We do this because we want to make sure the younger generation is aware of what went on and to teach them the truth of what happened so that it never happens again.”

Selma Stanzler, a longtime advocate for the Holocaust center, will be the grand marshal for the Ride 2 Remember.

Stanzler said she’s thrilled that the JMS is coming to Rhode Island because she wants “to leave my grandchildren a legacy of responsibility as a Jew and as an adult.”

She added, “The JMA is not an organization of old people reliving the horror of the Holocaust, and this will not be a

sedate dress-up event. They are an atypical group of Jews committed to educating about the Holocaust, which is the only way to prevent it from happening again. Hate leads to violence and, today as much as ever, it is imperative that we teach people not to hate.”

As part of the festivities, Richard Pilavan, owner of Precision Harley-Davidson, is sponsoring a raffle for a 2017 Harley-Davidson Black Street Glide motorcycle.

“An event like this brings together two of the most important things in my life – my Jewish identity and love of motorcycles. Where else could I hang out with bagel-slicing, cream cheese-spreading, yarmulke-wearing bikers? So I said yes to helping before I even knew the details,” Pilavan said.

Raffle tickets are $100 each and only 500 will be sold. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ride2remember.com/ raffle. The drawing will be held Friday, June 9.

If you, or someone you know, would like to join the parade on June 9, you can register to ride, as well as for any of the events, at www.jewishmotorcyclistsalliance.org.

LEV POPLOW is a communications and development consultant who writes for the Bornstein Holocaust Education Center. He can be reached at levpoplow@gmail.com.

One of the photos from the exhibit.

Holocaust Center plans day trip to experience Lodz exhibit

BY LEV POPLOW The Polish city of Lodz was occupied by German forces in 1939. The Nazis brought the area’s Jewish population, over 160,000 people, into a poor industrial section of the city and sealed it off from the outside world, making the Lodz Ghetto second in Jewish population only to the Warsaw Ghetto in

German-occupied Europe.

Photographer Henryk Ross (1910-1991) was among those confined to the ghetto in 1940, and he was put to work by the Nazi regime in their Jewish Administration’s statistics department.

Ross took official photographs for Jewish identification cards, as well as images for propaganda that promoted the ghetto’s efficiency. At great personal risk, Ross also documented the brutal realities of life under Nazi rule, culminating in the deportation of thousands to death camps at Chelmno and Auschwitz.

Hoping to preserve a historical record, Ross buried his negatives in 1944. He returned for them after Lodz’s liberation, discovering that more than half of the original 6,000 had survived.

From March 25 to July 30, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts presents “Memory Unearthed,” showcasing more than 200 of Ross’ powerful photographs, which together create a moving, intimate visual record of the Holocaust.

The images are accompanied by artifacts, including Ross’

own identity card, and ghetto notices. An album of contact prints, handcrafted by Ross and shown in its entirety as the centerpiece of the exhibit, serves as a summation of his memories, capturing his personal narrative.

The Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center, in Providence, and Stop Iran Now invite you to view this extraordinary rare glimpse of life inside the Lodz Ghetto on Sunday, June 4. A group will depart from the Alliance’s Dwares Jewish Community Center, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, at 9:30 a.m. and return at 3:30 p.m.

The cost of the day trip is $42, which includes transportation and museum admission. Reservations must be made by May 21.

For more information, contact May-Ronny Zeidman, executive director, at 401-453-7860, or Esta Barcohana at 401-714-7193.

LEV POPLOW is a communications and development consultant writing on behalf of the Bornstein Holocaust Center. He can be reached at levpoplow@ gmail.com.

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The Jewish Voice

Five steps to tame financial stress Do you sometimes lie awake at night thinking about bills that need to be paid?

Does it feel as though you’re drowning in debt? If this describes you, you might take BARBARA solace in knowKENERSON ing that you’re not alone.

A recent report released by the American Psychological Association (APA) shows that 72 percent of adults feel stressed about money at least some of the time, and 22 percent said they are extremely stressed.

The bad news is that stress can lead to multiple health problems, including fatigue, headaches and depression. Over time, stress can contribute to more significant health issues, such as high blood pressure and heart disease. The good news is that there are some simple

steps you can take to reduce or eliminate your fi nancial stress.

1. Stop and assess The fi rst step in reducing financial stress is to look at your situation objectively and create a snapshot of your current fi nancial condition. List all of your fi nancial obligations. Start with the items that are causing you the most stress. For debts, include the principal due, the interest rate and the minimum payment amount. Review your bank account and credit-card statements to track where your money is going. The goal here is not to solve the problem; it’s to determine and document the scope of the problem. You might fi nd that this step alone significantly helps alleviate your stress (think of it as facing your fears).

2. Talk to your spouse If you’re married, talk to your spouse or partner – it’s important for several reasons. First, you and your spouse need to be

on the same fi nancial page; any steps you take to improve your situation are going to be most effective if pursued jointly. Second, not being on the same page as your spouse is only going to lead to additional stress. In fact, the APA report showed that 31 percent of spouses and partners say that money is a major source of confl ict or tension in their relationship. Additionally, your spouse or partner can be a valuable source of emotional support, and this emotional support alone can lower stress levels. If you’re not married, family or friends might fi ll this role.

3. Take control Go back and take a look at where your money is going. Are there changes you can make that will free up funds you can save or apply elsewhere? Even small changes can make a difference – and exerting control over your situation to any degree can help reduce your anx-

iety level. Start building a cash reserve, or emergency fund, by saving a little each paycheck.

Think of the emergency fund as a safety net; just knowing it’s there will help reduce your anxiety. Work up to a full spending plan (yes, that’s another way of saying a budget) where you prioritize your expenses and set spending caps – and then stick to them going forward.

4. Think longer term Look for ways to reduce debt long term. You might pay more toward balances that have the highest interest rates. Or you might consider refi nancing or consolidation. Beyond that, though, you really want to identify and prioritize your long-term fi nancial goals. Then calculate how much money you would need to fund those goals, and implement a savings plan.

5. Get help Always remember that you don’t need to handle this alone.

If the emotional support of a

spouse, friends or family isn’t enough, or the level of stress that you’re feeling is just too much, know that there is help available. Consider talking to your primary-care physician, a mental health professional, or an employee-assistance resource. A fi nancial professional can also be a valuable resource in helping you work through some of the steps discussed here, and can help direct you to other sources of assistance, like credit- or debt-counseling services. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you have the ability to control the amount of fi nancial stress in your life.

BARBARA KENERSON is fi rst vice president/Investments at Janney Montgomery Scott LLC and can be reached at BarbaraKenerson.com.

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SENIORS

jvhri.org

May 12, 2017 |

23

REMEMBER THE PAST From the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association

The Jacobi Medical Club

BY GERALDINE S. FOSTER Have you ever wondered how many medical associations there are in the United States?

Probably not. It is not a topic usually discussed at the dinner table or at parties. But if you Google the subject, you will be informed that the list covers 270 pages.

The top entry is the venerable American Medical Association.

Under the “A” heading, there are also the various branches of medicine, specialties and subgroups you’d expect. Included as well are groups based on ethnicity or country of origin.

Two examples caught my eye: the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America and the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association. The purpose of these groups is continuing education through conferences and meetings, with, no doubt, social and networking components.

Ninety-four years ago, a similar organization, one anticipating the idea of an ethnic-based educational and social medical group, was established in Providence. The Jacobi Medical Club was not national, but strictly local, and brought together the city’s Jewish physicians. It was named in honor of the late Dr. Abraham Jacobi, a pioneering physician in pediatric medicine. Among his many outstanding accomplishments in several fields of medicine, Jacobi opened the first children’s clinic in this country.

The exact date of the founding of the Jacobi Medical Club is unknown as the early records were lost. From outside sources, we know that at some point in 1923, the Jewish doctors met and elected Dr. Max Gomberg president and Dr. Joseph B. Webber secretary-treasurer.

PHOTO | FROM THE MIRIAM HOSPITAL COLLECTION, ON PERMANENT LOAN TO THE RIJHA.

This photo of the first medical staff of The Miriam Hospital (1925) has one glaring omission. Dr. Anna Topaz, the first Jewish woman licensed to practice medicine in Rhode Island, was a member of the original staff of The Miriam. Her practice was mainly in obstetrics and gynecology and she was known as a warm and sympathetic physician by her patients and associates.

During the war years, she undertook the arduous responsibility for the obstetrical ward service at The Miriam. She died in 1945 as the result of a street car accident while on her way to The Miriam.

The first reference to the organization occurs in the minutes of The Miriam Hospital Association on Dec. 1, 1923.

The organization was established, according to Dr. Seebert Goldowsky, “to satisfy a need for a fuller academic life and to foster closer social ties.”

With one exception, Jewish doctors did not have full privileges at Rhode Island Hospital, the largest general hospital in the state, although several received appointments early in the 1920s to the “externe” (clinic or outpatient) staff.

The formation of the Jacobi Medical Club also anticipated the founding of a Jewish-sponsored hospital, The Miriam Hospital, which opened in 1925.

The members assisted in the planning and staffing of the new hospital and worked closely with the sponsoring agency.

They also offered their services

Cranston Seniors schedule installation, summer trip The Cranston Senior Guild will hold its installation luncheon on June 7, at noon at the Mesa Café & Grill, 100 Rolfe St., Cranston.

The luncheon will include a choice of chicken Marsala or baked fish, plus rolls, chicken escarole soup, salad, pasta, green beans and carrots. For dessert, the choice is tiramisu or fresh fruit cup, and coffee or tea. Cost is $25, including tax and tip. A raffle will follow the luncheon.

Payment must be received

by May 23. Make check payable to Cranston Senior Guild.

Please include entrée and dessert choice on the memo line of the check. For more information call Lois at 401-944-2761 or

Sylvia at 401-944-6812.

A bus trip to Foxwoods is planned for July 12. The cost of the trip is $24 per person.

Make check payable to Cranston Senior Guild. The price includes round-trip motor coach, buffet or $10 food coupon to any restaurant at the casino, and $10 bonus slot play (subject to change).

The bus makes two pickups, 9 a.m. at the Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, and 9:15 a.m. at the Rhode Island Mall near Sears Auto Center.

The bus will depart Foxwoods at 3:15 p.m. Payment must be received by June 21. For more information call Sunny at 401785-0748.

to the Jewish Home for the Aged, on Orms Street in Providence.

In fulfillment of its commitment to seek “a fuller academic life,” speakers “of reputation” from Providence, Boston and other major medical centers were invited to address the Jacobi Medical Club’s members.

Often the meetings combined an educational component with “a good dinner.”

FROM PAGE 17

The club met regularly for 17 years, until the onset of World War II, when many of the members joined the Armed Services.

By then, The Miriam Hospital had begun an academic program, and Jewish physicians had received appointments to the visiting staff at Rhode Island Hospital and other hospitals in the state.

The R.I. Jewish Historical Association is indebted to Dr.

Seebert Goldowsky for his meticulous research and comprehensive survey, titled “Jews in Medicine in Rhode Island,” in the 1957 issue of RIJHNotes.

GERALDINE S. FOSTER is a past president of the R.I. Jewish Historical Association. To comment about this or any RIJHA article, contact the RIJHA office at info@rijha.org or 401-3311360.

NEW THINGS

care and then evacuated the wounded to nearby hospitals.

The numbers are a tiny fraction of the hundreds of thousands who have been killed and wounded in the fighting between soldiers loyal to President Bashar Assad and rebel groups. But they are significant to those whose limbs and lives have been saved, including hundreds of children.

During a visit this month to the Western Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin promised the country would «continue to do everything it can with responsibility and wisdom in order to alleviate the suffering of the people who experience daily slaughter here on the other side of the border.”

Self-driving cars

Your next car may very well come with an Israeli driver, though it won’t be human.

The U.S. chipmaker Intel last month bought Israel›s driverless technology company Mobile for $15.3 billion, the largest-ever purchase of a high-tech company in this country. In a joint announcement, the companies said the deal “is expect-

ed to accelerate innovation for the automotive industry and position Intel as a leading technology provider in the fast-growing market for highly and fully autonomous vehicles.”

Founded in 1999, Mobileye has supplied integrated cameras, chips and software for driver-assist systems – the building blocks for self-driving cars – to more than two dozen vehicle manufacturers. The company has already taken over 70 percent of the global market for driver-assistance and anti-collision systems.

Mobileye was a supplier of vision systems to Tesla until the companies broke up last summer after a man died in a crash while his Tesla Model S was on autopilot.

Co-founder and CEO Ziv Aviram has said Mobileye, with its 660 employees, will remain centered in Israel, from where it will develop Intel’s first driverless car.

A Wonder Woman with training

After first playing Wonder Woman in last year’s “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice,” Israeli actress Gal Gadot will appear in her own DC Comics

film this summer.

As a former Israeli soldier, Gadot has brought some unique skills to the role of Amazonian superhero. In March 2016, she talked to Jimmy Kimmel about her army service, saying, “The military gave me good training for Hollywood.”

In her previous “Fast and Furious” appearances (in which she plays an ex-Mossad agent), the one-time Miss Israel impressed director Justin Lin with her knowledge of weapons and performed her own stunts for the franchise. While Gadot’s films haven’t exactly been critically acclaimed, she has remained a national hero. Israelis have widely admired her for fulfilling her mandatory military service while fellow Israeli swimsuit model Bar Refaeli has taken some heat for avoiding enlistment.

Gadot is the first to play Wonder Woman on the big screen.

Since superhero franchises never seem to end, Gadot – who has two daughters with husband Yaron Varsan, an Israeli real estate developer – is set to play the character in at least two more films this year.

24 | May 12, 2017

SENIORS | OBITUARIES

The Jewish Voice

God cares about every living thing The first matinee at the Providence Place Cinema on a very rainy day. I dislike the lower parking garage, I can’t figure

SKETCHBOOK MIKE FINK out how to get in and out, so what do I do? I leave my car at the Marriott and hike under my umbrella along the littered bank of the tracks by the shining State House and on to the mall.

I had to catch “The Zookeeper’s Wife” after reading two reviews, one in The Providence Journal and the other in The Wall Street Journal.

“We” – that is, our local newspaper – gave it a good grade, while Joe Morgenstern of The Wall Street Journal detested it. He thought it sentimentalized and trivialized the Warsaw tragedy.

I sought to make up my own mind.

One thing that Morgenstern did like was the opening sequence, in which a kind and beautiful young woman rides her bike with a troupe of grateful and amiable beasts, who affectionately and peacefully trot behind her. It was not my favorite scene.

The rest, of course, is hor-

ror. The Nazi occupiers not only strip the menagerie and ship its best specimens to Berlin, but then they shoot the poor creatures that are left.

Then the real plot starts: Our lovely heroine thinks up a trick. She flirts with the German commandant to distract him while her husband gathers up garbage, which he uses to secretly rescue scores of doomed Jews, hiding them in the swill piles. Then both zookeepers, man and wife, clean them up and give them safe space in their cellar, where they thrive and survive!

“It’s a Jewish tradition to be kind to animals….”

It is an endearing and wondrous exception to the fate of the vast majority of the inmates of the Polish prison world of Warsaw, which is problematic. I mean, the purpose of Holocaust “art” should not be to make audiences feel good, nor to give the impression that the Polish people went out of their way to help their Jewish neighbors!

So, why am I going on about this movie? As an excuse to bring up the subject of the plight of animals among us, including the pets who are

EAST SIDE

|

our companions, the poultry we eat and the working beasts of burden. And what about the rights of God’s “children” in his oceans, above us in his “firmament,” doin’ their thing in God’s Edens, the wilderness areas of the planet? They keep busy mending and healing the mess we have made wherever Cain and his descendants, all of us, in fact, roam with blood on our hands and faces. That’s why I didn’t approve of that serene scene that The Wall Street Journal liked.

What I did like about “The Zookeeper’s Wife” was simply the reminder that God cares about every living thing; that is the essence of Genesis, indeed the entire Torah, if we know how to look for it. We see it in the Old Testament story of Balaam and the Burro. In Jonathan Safran Foer’s “Eating Animals.” Among the short stories of Isaac B. Singer and Bernard Malamud.

It’s a Jewish tradition to be kind to animals – this is a point I make in two overlapping courses I am teaching at the Rhode Island School of Design this semester, “Jewish Literature” and “Birds in Books,” or “Birds and Words.”

MIKE FINK (mfink33@aol. com) teaches at the Rhode Island School of Design.

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OBITUARIES

Medeiros and Paula Chace, by her side.

Ira Bazar, 92 Valerie was a WARWICK, R.I. – Ira Bazar longtime resdied May 1 at Tamarisk Assistident at Waed Living in Warwick. He was terview Villa the beloved husband of the late Rehabilitation Evelyn (Katz) Bazar. Born in and the oldest Providence, Ira was a son of the resident of the late Samuel and Jenny (Bloom) city of East Providence.

Bazar. He was the owner and Born Aug. 17, 1911, in Orange, president of AS Manufacturing, New Jersey, to Alma AuClaire retiring in 1989. and John A. Deary, Valerie was Ira was a WWII Navy veteran, married to the late Sumner A. serving in the South Pacific. He Cohen. Her brothers were the was a member of the late Richard Deary and the late former Hebrew Free Raymond Deary. Valerie was Loan Association. Ira the mother of five children, was an avid boater and fisherincluding the late Patricia Beman. He was an active member langer, Suzanne Frost and of the East Greenwich Power Stuart David Cohen, and the Squadron. surviving Gloria Ledoux (CanHe was the devoted father of ada) and Margaret Decoteaux Joel Bazar and his wife, Randie, (Maine). She is also survived and Kenneth Bazar and his by 16 grandchildren, includwife, Pamela. He was the dear ing Sandra Medeiros (Rhode brother of Banice Bazar and his Island), Paula Chace (Rhode wife, Beverly, the late Meyer Island), Valerie McKenney Bazar, Martin Bazar and Paul (New Hampshire), and Susan Bazar and Doris Gordon and Belanger (Rhode Island), 31 brother-in-law of June Bazar. great-grandchildren, five greatHe was the loving grandfather great grandchildren, and severof Justin Bazar and his wife, al nieces and nephews, includMeghan, and Lauren Bazar and ing Kenneth Blumberg, Alan her fiancé, John Tatum.

Weinberg, Donald Weinberg, Contributions in his memoand Hilary C. Zwicker. ry may be made to the AlzheiValerie was a cosmetologist mer’s Association, 245 Waterin Rhode Island and in Florida man St., Providence, RI 02906. in the 1970s and early 1980s.

Jason Broomfield, 40 She loved art and made time to WEST WARWICK, R.I. – Ja- enjoy oil painting and illustrason Broomfield passed away tion. Her personal art gallery on April 26. was her collection of paintings He was born over many years. Many of her in Providence, paintings are now cherished a son of Mi- by her family members. Valchael Broom- erie’s life was one based on a field and Lori positive attitude. Always dis(S i lve r s t e i n) playing a kind smile and offera n d D a - ing great conversation, Valerie would end a visit with memoravid Dorsey.

He was the proud owner of ble warm embraces. She loved Better Personal Training, LLC. being with her family. Music, Jason loved making people dancing, great movies, and smile. He was known for his Broadway musical productions sharp wit, big heart and love were her favorites.

Donations may be made to o f h i s f a m i l y, e s p e c i a l l y his daughter Gianna. He al- the Valerie D. Cohen Memoriways made himself available al Fund, c/o Waterview Villa Residence Council, Waterview for anyone in need.

Besides his parents, he is sur- Villa Rehabilitation, 1275 South vived by his daughter, Gianna; Broadway, East Providence, RI fiancé Leana Balasco; brother 02914.

Eric Broomfield; sister Kyla Isabelle F. Dickens, 98 Broomfield; sister-in-law SherWARWICK, R.I. – Isabelle F. ry Broomfield; loving nephew Dickens died April 26 at Kent Mason and niece Jennie; and County Hosfamily and friends too numerpital. She was ous to name. He was the grandthe beloved son of the late Myron and Honwife of the ey Silverstein and Marshall late Robert and Alice Broomfield.

C. Dickens.

Contributions in his memory Born in Cenmay be made to the college fund tral Falls, a for Gianna Del Monico. Make daughter of checks payable to UBS Fithe late Harnancial Services (Reference ry and MarGianna Del Monico), 500 Extha (Sigal) Fruit, she had lived change St., Suite 1210, Proviin Warwick for 12 years, previdence, RI 02903. ously living in Pembroke Pines, Valerie D. Cohen, 105 Florida.

She graduated from EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Valerie Delores Cohen, 105 Pawtucket High School, Class and eight months, died in East of ’36 and Rhode Island College Providence on April 24 with of Education (now RIC), Class of her granddaughters, Sandra OBITUARIES | 25

OBITUARIES

jvhri.org FROM PAGE 24

OBITUARIES ’40. Isabelle was an elementary school teacher and junior high math teacher in Pawtucket, Seekonk and Attleboro. She was a life member of the National Council of Jewish Women and the Jewish Seniors Agency Women’s Association, as well as a member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association. Isabelle enjoyed knitting, cross-stitch, reading, mahjong, and sudoku puzzles.

She was the devoted mother of Michael Dickens and his wife, Kathy, of Preston, Connecticut; and Harold Dickens and his wife, Linda, of Brentwood, California. She was the dear sister of the late Gertrude Pansey. She was the loving grandmother of Katie, Molly, Benjamin, Rebecca, Daniel, Rachel and Leah. She was the cherished great-grandmother of Donovan, Ethan, Ripley, Ezra and Iggy.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 245 Waterman St., Providence, RI 02906.

Selma Dubey, 96 FREEHOLD, N.J. – Selma Dubey died May 7 at Wedgwood Gardens. She was the beloved wife of the late Harold Charles Dubey. Born in Providence, a daughter of the late Morris and Gertrude (Broomfield) Kaufman, she had lived in New Jersey since 1978, previously living in Rhode Island for 50 years and California for four years.

She was an expediter at Brown & Sharpe in Providence for 20 years, retiring in 1978.

Selma was an avid knitter, reader and storyteller.

She was the devoted mother of the late Steven H. Dubey and Barbara J. Bergen. She was the dear sister of John Kaufman of Coventry and Florida, Melvin “Marty” Kaufman of Cranston,

Frances Rodynsky of Boca Raton, Florida, and the late Leo Kaufman, Sadie Shanfield, Evelyn Goldberg and Florence Cannon. She was the loving grandmother of Hillary Bergen, Alexander Dubey and Christina Morgan.

Joseph L. Mal, 96 SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Joseph L. Mal died May 6 at Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center. He was formerly married to Marjorie Martin.

Born in Providence, a son of the late Hyman and Rebecca (Hershkowitz) Malachowsky, he was a longtime resident of Providence and Pawtucket until moving to Smithfield eight years ago. He was the owner of Mal’s Auto Seat Covers in Pawtucket for 18 years and an electrician at Rhode Island Hospital for 13 years, retiring in 1983.

Joseph was a WWII Coast Guard veteran, serving in Seattle and Florida. He graduated from Central High School in Providence. Joseph was a member of the Jenks Masonic Lodge #24 and Touro Fraternal Association.

He was the devoted father of Jason Mal of Smithfield and April Mooney and her husband, James, of Lincoln. He was the dear brother of the late Frances Dress, Abraham Mal, Leo Mal and Hannah Grossman. He was the loving grandfather of Logan and Nolan Mooney.

Contributions in his memory may be made to Hope Hospice & Palliative Care, 1085 North Main St., Providence, RI 02904.

Rachel Leah Schechtman, 74 BROOKLINE, MASS. – Rachel Leah Schechtman passed away suddenly from an aggressive cancer on April 28, surround-

ed by loving family members. Rachel was born on Sept. 6, 1942, i n B o s t o n .

She was the daughter of the late Dr. Harold I. Schechtman and the late Harriet K. (Cohen) Schechtman.

She is survived by her brothers Joe and Mike; sister Judy; sisters-in-law Lauren (Gibber) Schechtman and Holly Bander; and brother-in-law Ed De Vos. She delighted in her nephew, Noah Schechtman and his fiancée, Kathryn Raskin, and her nieces Leah Schechtman, Erica De Vos, and Sarah De Vos and her husband, Jeff Drouin, as well as her great-nephews and great-niece.

Rachel graduated from Boston University School of Education and embarked on a lifelong career as an outstanding elementary school teacher. Rachel was known for her joyous devotion to students and for nurturing their untapped capacities.

Her greatest loves were family, flowers and gardening, the arts, and captivating the minds and igniting curiosity in children everywhere.

Donations honoring Rachel’s legacy may be made in her name to the Boston Museum of Science, www.mos.org/make-agift.

Jerome B. Spunt, 88 PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Jerome B. Spunt died April 30 at Rhode Island Hospital. Born in Providence, a son of the late David and Reva (Riscin) Spunt, he was a lifelong resident of Rhode Island. He was an attorney for many years. Jerome was a Navy veteran. He was a member of Temple Emanu-El, and active at the Jewish Community Center. Jerome also sat on the Board of Directors of The

Providence Center.

He was a kind man who was always willing to act as a host to visitors and give to others, even when he had little himself. He was the dear brother of Barbara Bernstein of East Providence.

May 12, 2017 |

25

He was a loving uncle to two nieces, one nephew, one greatniece and three great-nephews.

Contributions in his memory may be made to a charity of your choice.

ASK THE DIRECTOR

BY MICHAEL D. SMITH F.D./R.E. Shalom Memorial Chapel

QUESTION: Why do we cover the mirrors in the house of shivah?

R. A., Providence

Dear R.A., There are several different reasons for this custom. Here are three: First, we have been told not to be concerned with our appearance during the mourning period. By covering the mirrors, we are unable to look in the mirror, see ourselves, and try to look “nicer.” We set aside vanity at this time. This is so we can focus of the mourning process and not be distracted.

Second and third are mystical or superstitious beliefs. One is that the soul of the person in the home might be “caught” in the mirror and snatched away by the ghost of the deceased and the other idea is that the angel of death might see your reflection in the mirror, which could cause your own life to be in jeopardy.

QUESTIONS ARE WELCOMED AND ENCOURAGED. Please send questions to: ShalomChapel@aol.com or by mail to Ask the Director, c/o Shalom Memorial Chapel, 1100 New London Ave., Cranston, R.I. 02920.

Finding new worlds

The man some call the smartest man alive, Stephen Hawking, has a dire warning for us: leave the planet before it’s too late, reports the Association of Mature American Citizens.

The renowned wheel-

chair-bound physicist and cosmologist has concluded that the world will end in 100 years and we need to “evacuate” the Earth and become a “multi-planetary” society if the human race is to survive.

COMMUNITY

26 | May 12, 2017

The Jewish Voice

BDS

At the lecture on BDS were, left to right: Dr. Ezra Stieglitz, professor emeritus at Rhode Island College; William A. Jacobson; Jeff rey Gladstone, president of the board of StandWithUs RI; Bracha Stuart, executive director of StandWithUs RI; and Mia Ackerman, state representative and deputy majority leader.

BY SAM SERBY PROVIDENCE – On May 7, StandWithUs Rhode Island presented “The Real History of the BDS Movement,” a talk that focused on one of the biggest threats facing Israel today: Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions.

BDS started in 2005 with the goal of putting economic and political pressure on the Jewish state. Supporters of the movement disapprove of Israel’s actions toward Palestinians in what some call the occupied

PHOTOS | IRVING SCHILD

Prof. William A. Jacobson of Cornell Law School gives the presentation.

BDS examined in StandWithUs talk

territories and often stage anti-Israel demonstrations. Many Jewish organizations, including StandWithUs, believe that the true motive of BDS is to delegitimize the State of Israel, calling into question its very existence.

The speaker, William A. Jacobson, a clinical professor of law and director of the Securities Law Clinic at Cornell Law School, broke down the BDS strategy into three categories for an audience of about 50 peo-

ple gathered at Congregation Beth Sholom.

The fi rst category is a boycott of Israeli goods, academia and culture. The second is boycotting those who do business with Israel.

“You will notice that the push on college campuses is the secondary boycott. They want to divest from companies that are doing business with Israel,” Jacobson explained.

The third is boycotting those who do business with black-

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listed people or entities. One example of this is the boycott of Sabra Hummus, which is majority-owned by Pepsi but partially owned by the Strauss Group, which is Israeli. For this reason, supporters of BDS vehemently oppose the brand.

The boycott also reaches into the occupied territories, Jacobson said.

“There is a blacklist currently being created of companies that do business with Israel, by a U.N. entity, with the help of Human Rights Watch. But they don’t call it a blacklist of companies that do business with Israel; they are blacklisting companies that do business in the West Bank as well,” he said.

According to Jacobson, BDS is far from the fi rst boycott campaign against the Jewish people. As an example, he cited the former grand mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, who, when speaking about his plans to drive the Jews out of Palestine, said, “We will win through an economic boycott.”

Jacobson believes pro-Israel

students are often intimidated by their pro-BDS counterparts and says it is vitally important for organizations like StandWithUs to be on the ground helping students in this fight.

StandWithUs’ mission is to support Israel around the world through education and fighting anti-Semitism. The group works vigorously to combat BDS, including through social media campaigns and anti-BDS events held across the country. As part of this effort, StandWithUs is now working, along with other groups, to implement mandatory Israel and Holocaust education in elementary schools.

In 2106, Rhode Island became the fi rst state in New England to pass legislation requiring Holocaust-genocide education in the state’s middle and high schools.

SAM SERBY is a freelance writer who lives in East Greenwich. He previously worked at the Peres Center for Peace in Tel Aviv.

Repair the World to help One America bridge divisions JTA – The One America Movement, a faith- and community-based initiative to bridge growing divisions in U.S. society through community service and dialogue, is launching in cities across the United States with the help of the Repair the World Jewish service organization.

The idea for One America was formed last year by Jewish, Muslim and Christian faith leaders in response to the escalation of divisive rhetoric and behavior during and after the 2016 presidential campaign.

Repair the World will connect One America with multiple ser-

vice program networks across the country as well as bring the One America model to the cities where Repair the World operates on the ground with local partners: Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Detroit, New York, Baltimore and Miami.

One America’s work will begin with pilot projects in Minneapolis-St. Paul and rural Pennsylvania, moving on to service networks across the country. Participants will share a meal and conversation after the service project, and One America will keep them in touch afterward.

SIMCHAS | WE ARE READ

jvhri.org

May 12, 2017 |

27

WE ARE READ IN ARIZONA – Seth Finkle stands in front of a plaque at the Valley of the Sun Jewish

Community Center in Scottsdale. He participated in the second seminar of the Merrin Fellowship for Teen Engagement, where he spent three days learning with a cohort of 13 other young Jewish professionals who work with teens.

WE ARE READ IN ISRAEL – Aaron Guttin and Mataan Graf, former Is-

raeli shaliach (emissary) at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, were together in Israel recently when Guttin attended training there.

WE ARE READ IN MARTINIQUE – Ida and Tom Brown of Hopatcong, New Jersey, recently celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary on a 12-day Southern Caribbean cruise aboard the Anthem of the Sea. When they travel so does The Jewish Voice.

Here they visited the beautiful island of Martinique. Ida-Bochner Brown is from Rhode Island.

Dwares Rhode Island

Summer J-Camp

A welcoming place for all!

, 2017

25 June 26 - August

WEDDING – Nava Winkler and Reuven Goldberg were married Dec. 18, 2016, in Kibbutz Hulda, Israel. The bride, from Pawtucket, is the daughter of Eli and Yardena Winkler. The groom, from Columbus, Ohio, is the son of Gene Goldberg and Cheri Papier.

The groom graduated from Brandeis and The New School for Social Research. The bride graduated from Brown University. The couple lives in Bet Hakerem, Jerusalem, Israel, where they are studying.

He is at Shapell’s Darchei Noam and she is at Midreshet Rachel V’Chaya. He is working at an educational start-up. She is working in translation.

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28 | May 12, 2017

The Jewish Voice

Building community and making the world a better place.

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PROGR AM S & S E RVIC ES MADE P OS S I B LE B EC AU S E OF YOU R GE N E ROS IT Y

We do it every day.

As part of the Jewish Federation system, we touch more Jewish lives on the planet than any other organization.

In places like Ukraine, elderly Jews with no pension would have to choose between buying medicine and heating their homes — if we weren’t there to help them.

Or in Cuba, without us, there would be no Jewish learning opportunities, rabbis, or holiday celebrations.

Wherever there is need — when a family in Rhode Island can’t afford to pay for Jewish camp, when a single mother loses her job, or a senior needs human warmth and help around the house — we are there to sustain and strengthen Jewish life.

THE POWER TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE Through our own programs and services, and those of our partners both locally and globally, we do so much to strengthen Jewish life...

But there’s so much more to be done.

Contribute to the Annual Campaign and you’re helping to care for our entire Jewish community—at home, in Israel, and around the world.

To learn more or to donate today, visit us at jewishallianceri.org or call 401.421.4111.

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