Summer 2010

2010 JULY 5770

INSIDE This Issue

Touro Officers are in Place for this Year and Beyond

By Jed Brandes ouro’s leadership for the year ahead, and ing of the board of directors. perhaps many years beyond that has been At the lodge meeting, the installation team of set. The newly elected officers and board Alan Lury as Installing Officer and Jed Brandes, members were installed during a two-stage process, as Master of Ceremonies, launched the officers on which began with the annual Association meeting their new terms.

May 26. The second phase took place two weeks Harmony Lodge’s Adam Halpern begins his later, on June 9, at the annual organizational meetContinued on page 3 - Officers

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From the Chairman page 2

Ron Berman Keeps Plugging Away page 3

Once, Twice, Thrice page 4

Front row (l to r): Lester Nathan, Friendship Lodge vice president, Ed Deluty, director, Michael Smith, director, Milton Bronstein, director, Nathan Lury, director, Steven Waldman, director, Barry Schiff, director, Judah Rosen, Association Chaplain. Middle row (L to r): Manochehr Norparvar, Harmony Lodge treasurer, Ried Redlich, Friendship Lodge president, Adam Halpern, Harmony Lodge president, Adam Smith, Harmony Lodge secretary, Robert Miller, chairman of the board, Andrew Lamchick, vice chairman of the board, Jed Brandes, director, Rodney Locke, director, Benjamin Kaplan, Friendship Lodge treasurer. Back row (l to r): Marc Gertsacov, Friendship Lodge secretary, Barry Rotenberg, director, Steven White, director, Alan Lury, director, Stevan Labush, director, Jeffrey Davis, director, Bruce Weisman, director, Norman Dinerman, Harmony Lodge vice president, Barry Shaw, director, Howie Wasser, director. Not Pictured: Arthur Poulten, chairman of the board emeritus, Andrew Liss, Harmony Lodge faithful guide, Jeffrey Padwa, Friendship Lodge faithful guide, Alan Gerstein, Friendship Lodge inside guard

One Ship for Steven Silberfarb page 6

Touro Lodge Officers for 2010-2011 Pictured left -Friendship Lodge officers (l-r): Marc Gertsacov, Secretary; Ried Redlich, President; Lester Nathan, Vice President; and Benjamin Kaplan, Treasurer. Pictured right-Harmony Lodge officers (l-r): Adam Smith, Secretary; Norman Dinnerman, Vice President; Adam Halpern, President; and Manocher Norparvar, Treasurer.

Open House features Steve Krasner

Installation Highlights...page 4 ~1~

From The Chairman

By Robert Miller, Chairman of the Board

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ummer is approaching and all is well at Touro Fraternal Association. It has been a busy time for all.

Lots of events have been going on and many more are planned.

Our spring Two-Fer at the Radisson was well attended.

Our lodge meetings are drawing anywhere from 80-120 members on a regular basis. PPAC was well attended to see “Jersey Boys” and it truly was a wonderful performance.

We just had our annual dinner dance at the Venus De Milo and our attendance again in the hundreds. We also recently competed in the first annual RI Kosher Chili Cook off and all had a good time. We did not win, but it was a fun day and we participated in a worthy community event.

The deadline is approaching if you are interested in student loans and grants for your college bound children. These monies are welcome by our members given the high cost of college today. These are interest free loans and the grants are just that, outright grants. Each year we get more and more requests and watching the completion for the grants is also very exciting.

One of our recent lodge meetings in May was our annual installation of officers. We had a delicious kosher brisket dinner followed by our installation ceremony conducted by brothers Alan Lury and Jed Brandes. A good time was had by all.

I am extremely excited by the upcoming year. Everything is in its place for us to really continue building our organization founded on our three cardinal principles. HARMONY FRIENDSHIP and BENEVOLENCE.

Social Scene

By Manocher Norparvar

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s I always say, you should attend Social committee meetings to learn what Touro is all about. Meetings begin with suggestions, opinions and ideas, and then become discussions with pros-and-cons.

After the dust settles, it’s time to take a vote.

Everyone’s vote counts, regardless of whether or not one is an officer.

Let’s cover some of our recent events.

During the last two months, we’ve had a variety of events, such as the Spring Two-fer on April 17th, April 21st’s Open House, Jersey Boys at PPAC, May 26th’s Installation Dinner, the annual Dinner Dance at the Venus de Milo, our June steak fry and on July 1st, Paw Sox night with fireworks.

Looking forward, we’ve planned the following:

Who are these 5 Touro "Bandito" Brothers? Name them in order, left to right, and you could be a winner! Send your entry via e-mail to info@ tourofraternal.org. One winner will be drawn from all our correct entries at our September lodge meeting. Your name and contact info must be included with your entry. Only one entry per person accepted. Good Luck!

Mazels, Mitvahs & Milestones To...brother Nate and Martha Lury on their 60th anniversary To...brother Marc Miller, son of Bob and Debbie Miller, upon his graduation from Temple University with a degree in accounting. Marc is going to begin his career working at Deloiite LLP, in Boston, a big four accounting firm.

To...brother Ried and Mindy Redlich on the graduation of their daughter, Alysa, from Harry Elkin Midrasha High School To...brother Jerry and Jan Lamchick who celebrated their 62nd anniversary on June 27th ~2~

• Touro’s annual Golf Tournament, Monday, July 26.

• Touro dads and sons return to McCoy Stadium on August 18th to see the PawSox play the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs. It will include guided tours of the stadium (see the article on Fathers and Sons).

• Our summer Two-fer is on August 21st in Newport. It features Don’t Dress for Dinner at the Newport Playhouse and Cabaret.

• Events for later months are on “the planning board.”

As you already know, the Social Committee endeavors to bring you the very best events and programs. We try to ensure that Touro remains a fun place for all members and their families. We appreciate your input about past programs and suggestions for future events.

Our meetings are on the first Wednesday of the month, at 7:30 PM in the Touro Hall board room.

Ron Berman: Helping Touro and the Community

By Lester Nathan family moved back to Rhode Island when he was 18. Ron first t’s in Ron Berman’s nature to care about others. During his attended Northeastern University and later graduated from UMass twenty-six years as a Touro member, he has assisted in new member orientation, contributed to student financial aid at Amherst. Eventually, he went back to school for his masters degree in rehabilitation counseling from Springfield decisions and given his input to the Community Involvement Committee. He has also provided valuable College. He’s been employed by the State of Rhode Island since 1976 and is currently a clinical social counseling to some of the less fortunate members of worker at the Eleanor Slater Hospital in Cranston. our local community.

Whether you attend a monthly lodge meeting Ron has had a long and happy marriage to his wife of 36 years, Jane, a retired teacher. They have or a social event outside the Hall, you’re likely to run into Ron, who likes the camaraderie, friendship a son, Marc, who lives in Warwick, and a daughter, Sarah, living in Florida. Ron and Jane live in Warand fellowship of our organization. He also enjoys insight provided by local speakers as well as the wick, with retirement plans for Pompano Beach.

Ron’s outside interests are the American Civil gastronomic offerings at the major social events.

War and Wild West history. Not only does he enjoy Ron joined Touro thanks to his late uncle, Sidney reading about it, but also he has visited many of the Gurnick. His first organizational office was as Inside battlefields, including Gettysburg, Antietam, FredGuard. A few years later, he served as Faithful Guide and then as Secretary of Friendship Lodge. He has ericksburg, Chancellorsville, Richmond, Petersburg and Perrysville. He also likes good fiction, citing Edgar Allen Poe, been a member of the Orientation, Social and Student Financial H G Welles and Steven King as his favorites.

Aid committees and currently serves on Community Involvement.

Ron sums up his personal philosophy succinctly: “Keep plugHe says his focus is on committees, which help people, a tie-in ging, don’t ever give up.” It has served him well all these years. with his professional career in social services.

Ron was born in Providence, but grew up in Worcester. His

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From the President

By Ried Redlich, President of Friendship Lodge

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hat is it that Touro Fraternal Association has to offer the membership? What is my incentive to join an organization like Touro? These are questions one might hear from a prospective member, and at first, you might be inclined to tell them about all of the great tangible benefits of belonging to our organization. For example, free gravesites, mortuary benefits, sick benefits, interest-free student loans, Two-fer dinners and an annual Chanukah party to name a few. The prospective member may even be impressed by all of the philanthropic things that we do. Whether it is providing funds for March of the Living participants, support for Camp JORI, the RI Food Bank, Jewish Family Services, donated heart defibrillators, or a myriad of other causes and organizations we have supported over the years. But how often would you mention the less tangible benefits of Harmony, Friendship, and Benevolence?

For many of us, Touro is much deeper than what seems obvious at first glance. When you take the next step and join Touro, you also gain the benefit of belonging to an organization that will provide you Jewish camaraderie. Especially for men who may no longer or never have, belonged to either a synagogue or Jewish oriented organization, Touro provides a way to stay connected. Many members develop lifelong friendships with their fellow brothers and have come to know the joy of helping others.

So, the next time you are asked, “Why should I join?” or about the benefits of Touro, consider a response which includes Harmony, Friendship and Benevolence. ~3~

Officers - continued from page 1 second term as president. Norman Dinerman last year’s treasurer steps up to vice president; Manocher Norparvar, will serve as treasurer, and Adam Smith remains as secretary.

Ried Redlich begins his first full term as Friendship Lodge president, after ascending to the post midterm.

Lester Nathan is the new vice president. Marc Gertsacov and Benjamin Kaplan return as secretary and treasurer, respectively.

Five board members were installed for three-year terms. Stevan Labush, Howie Wasser and Barry Shaw are all incumbents. Steven White and Steven Waldman begin their first terms. Ed Deluty will serve a one-year term on the board.

At the June meeting of the Board of Directors all the officers were re-elected for one-year terms. They include Robert Miller, chairman; Andrew Lamchick, vice chairman; Marc Gertsacov, secretary, and Steven Waldman, treasurer. Chairman Miller re-appointed for one-year terms Association Chaplain Judah Rosen and Association Inside Guard Barry Shaw.

Also appointed by Chairman Miller were Harmony Lodge Faithful Guide Andrew Liss and Inside Guard Barry Schiff, as well as Friendship Lodge Faithful Guide Jeffrey Padwa and Inside Guard Alan Gerstein.

This year’s events are more significant than just the installation of new officers and board members. Touro continues on the path toward its milestone 100th anniversary.

With this group, only eight more election cycles are ahead until Touro reaches the century mark. The Association isn’t waiting for the last minute: a committee already has been established to plan the events for the Touro Fraternal Centennial.

A Night at the Installation

By Howard Custis

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Installed for 3 year terms on the board of directors were (l to r) SteveWaldman, Stevan Labush and Barry Shaw.

n the evening of Wednesday, May 26, the Touro membership gathered at the brotherhood’s Rolfe Square headquarters to install a new group of lodge officers and Board members.

Past President Alan Lury acted as Installing Officer with Past President Jed Brandes as Master of Ceremonies. Following the installation ceremony, a fully catered, sumptuous kosher dinner with all the accoutrements provided by The Butcherie was served to the membership.

The installation ceremony itself was full of tradition, pomp & circumstance. It was laden with humor and levity gladly provided by brothers Jed Brandes, Alan Lury, Bob Miller, the newly installed lodge officers and Board members, as well as Touro brothers in the audience.

Using the trading price of Wells Fargo stock as a chronological measure to indicate the amount of time the individual brother/honoree had been a Touro member, Brothers Lury and Brandes expedited the installation process with nary a lapse of decorum amid the numerous, well-intended, send-ups of the Brotherhood.

Board members installed were Steve Labush, Barry Shaw, Steven Waldman, Howard Wasser, Ed Deluty, and Steve White. Officers for Harmony Lodge are: Adam Halpern (President), Norman Dinerman (Vice-President), Adam Smith (Secretary) and Manochehr Norparvar (Treasurer). Officers for Friendship Lodge are: Ried Redlich (President), Lester Nathan (Vice-President), Marc Gertsacov (Secretary) and Benjamin Kaplan (Treasurer).

The Brotherhood wishes all of our Board members and officers a hearty mazel tov coupled with many happy years in service to Touro.

Installing officer Alan Lury (l) with master of ceremonies Jed Brandes.

Chairman Bob Miller shares a light moment during the meeting.

Installed on the board of directors for a one year term was brother Ed Deluty. ~4~

Installed for 3 year terms on the board of directors were (l to r) Steve White and Howard Wasser.

May 26 2010 Installation "Rogues Gallery"

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Steve Krasner at Our April 21 Open House

by Ried Redlich uring our open house, we had Steve Krasner, former Providence Journal sports writer and current author, as our speaker for the evening. Steve was raised in Cranston and attended Cranston West High School. He went to Columbia University where he was sports editor of the daily paper. As captain of the university baseball team, his real desire was to play professionally. Not being good enough to play pro ball, he “was paid for 33 years to watch games” and write for the Providence Journal. Other sports he covered over the years included: football, tuna tournaments, polo matches, trap shooting and women’s rugby. However, the Boston Red Sox were by far his favorite to watch and write about.

Steve enjoyed writing in a way that analyzed the game and skills of the players instead of just reporting nonconsequential things or the specifics of what happened. Every game to him was like a chess match and he wanted to provide the reader a more in-depth analysis of what he saw. His career spanned a time when he and other reporters would exclaim, “Who has white-out?” to “Oh no, the Internet is down.”

Though Steve has retired from the Providence Journal, he has not stopped writing. He has written several books, which include children books called “Play Ball Like the Pros” and “Why Not Call It Cow Juice?”

A book that everyone would enjoy, “The Longest Game,” was written about the 1981 Pawtucket Red Sox. Because of his many years as a baseball sports writer, he is a voter in Baseball’s Hall of Fame forever. Everyone listening to him was enthralled by what he said about the games he has seen and the players he has met over his career.

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The Federation’s Stephen Silberfarb Visits Touro

By Barry Schiff

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n March 17th, Friendship Lodge welcomed the Executive Vice President of the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island, Stephen Silberfarb. Stephen told the membership that this is a time of great promise and opportunity in reaching out to the Rhode Island Jewish community. In general, there is an ongoing change in the position of Jews in America.

Jews are no longer forced to live together like they were early in the 20th century. Economic opportunities and religious freedom in the United States connect Jews and Gentiles in different ways than ever before. As a result, there has been a spike in interfaith marriages and we, as Jews, must decide how we will treat this issue as we all share the same core Jewish values. Stephen left our members with the mantra that the Jewish Community is ONE SHIP, and we must all work to keep that ship’s course straight and level.

Fathers and Sons: A Breath of Fresh Air for Touro

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By Jed Brandes

ext time you’re at a lodge meeting look around. Do you see the same Brothers who were there when you joined? Or are they heavier, balder, greyer versions of the young men you once knew? These are rhetorical questions, of course. While Touro keeps us young at heart, it cannot turn back the affects of time. The result is an aging population.

After much discussion amongst its committees, the Board has decided to focus on youth. Our ability to offset the aging of our membership may well depend upon attracting and retaining men in the 18-29 age bracket.

But, is that realistic given all the events and organizations competing for young men’s time? Moreover, with many in that age range away at college, or seeking graduate degrees, how can they be sufficiently schooled in all Touro has to offer?

And so, a new effort is under way. The Social Committee has been charged with developing and implementing a series of Father and Son events. We may not have the opportunity to school men once they reach 18, but we surely can get them involved and excited about Touro before then! The Father and Sons events are not only a great opportunity to expose your sons and grandsons to Touro, but also a chance to spend

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quality time with your loved ones.

This past June, Touro held its first Father and Son event. Twenty-five brothers, their sons and grandsons (and one daughter!) gathered at the field behind the Jewish Community Center on Providence’s East Side for softball. A truly great time was had by all! In a closely contested match, the sons took on the fathers (who batted backwards to even the playing field). This was followed by a pick-up game, with the teams selected by two sons who served as Captains. And to make sure that everyone was clear that this was a Touro event, the games were followed by a trip to Casserta Pizza. By day’s end, everyone’s bellies were filled and their hearts brimmed with Harmony, Friendship and Benevolence.

Our next event will be on August 18th. Touro will be going to McCoy Stadium for a PawSox Game. Attendees will receive an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the stadium’s facilities led by Michael Gwynne, PawSox VP of Marketing.

Can we overcome the perception that Touro is a haven for bald, pot-bellied alter kakhers? Time will tell. But don’t sit back. Do your part! Take your sons and grandsons to one of these great upcoming events!

Helping Kids and the Hungry

By Andy Lamchick, Chairman, Community Involvement Community Involvement sponsors what would be the cost of he Community Involvement comone complete trip. That money is then divided among students mittee has given out a lot of money requesting aid. to the community over the years, The other kids we have helped so far this year are those who but perhaps the most rewarding donation will go to Camp Ruggles this summer. Ruggles is a camp for we make is to the semi-annual March of the emotionally disturbed children. Like so many other organizaLiving program. tions, Camp Ruggles finds itself under financial stress. The The March of the Living is a worldwide proCommunity Involvement Committee voted to donate the cost gram that brings Jewish high school students of a full week’s tuition. together to celebrate the survival of Judaism We rounded out our donations by committing to the Rhode after the holocaust. These students meet in Poland during Yom Island Community Food Bank. We are planning to make our Hashoa, to tour and experience several of the concentration camps donation when Alan Shawn Feinstein is matching donations for themselves. As this is an incredibly emotional experience, each for the hungry. student is extremely touched by it. After this experience, they head There is a lot of need in our community, and we’d love to be to Israel to celebrate life and freedom together. The highlight for able to help them all. We obviously can’t do that, but we will us is when they share their experiences with us at our June Steak continue to maximize our available dollars as much as possible Fry meeting. on your behalf.

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Spring Two-fer at the Radisson

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Touro Fraternal Association

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UPCOMING TOURO EVENTS TOURO GOLF TOURNAMENT

PAWSOX NIGHT TOUR McCOY STADIUM

MONDAY JULY 26, 2010

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 18, 2010

Visit Touro's Website at www.tourofraternal.org

2010 Bruce Weisman, Editor Columnists: Jed Brandes Howard Custis Edward Deluty Andrew Lamchick Lester Nathan Arthur Poulten Ried Redlich Barry Schiff Adam Smith Touro Fraternal Association 45 Rolfe Square, P.O. Box 3562, Cranston, RI 02910 Phone: 401-785-0066 Fax: 401-941-8781 E-Mail: info@tourofraternal.org Website: www.tourofraternal.org HARMONY LODGE Adam Halpern, President Norman Dinerman, Vice President Adam Smith, Secretary Manocher Norparvar, Treasurer Barry Schiff, Inside Guard Andrew Liss, Faithful Guide

JULY 5 7 7 0

TOURO BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2010-2011 Robert Miller, Chairman Andrew Lamchick, Vice Chairman Steven Waldman, Treasurer Marc Gertsacov, Secretary Judah Rosen, Chaplain Barry Shaw, Inside Guard Arthur Poulten, Chairman Emeritus Jed Brandes Milton Bronstein Jeffrey Davis Edward Deluty Stevan Labush Rodney Locke Alan Lury Nathan Lury

Don't Dress for Dinner

Barry Rotenberg Barry Schiff Barry Shaw Michael Smith Howard Wasser Bruce Weisman Steven Waldman Steven White

(Yes, and it's a Touro Two-fer)

Newport Playhouse Newport, RI

FRIENDSHIP LODGE Ried Redlich, President Lester Nathan, Vice President Marc Gertsacov, Secretary Benjamin Kaplan, Treasurer Alan Gerstein, Inside Guard Jeffrey Padwa, Faithful Guide

HARMONY • FRIENDSHIP • BENEVOLENCE ~8~

Saturday August 21, 2010 $48 per Touro couple $80 per Non-Touro couple Ticket price includes buffet dinner, play and caberet after the show.

Watch for the flyer in the mail or go online to: www.tourofraternal.org