2020 November 5781
INSIDE
Tourography: Jeffrey Stoloff page 3
Here Comes the Judge: Judge Frank Caprio page 4
Touro Golf page 5
Politics from His Kitchen: Jim Hummel page 6
3 Students Earn $5,000 Educational Grants By Ried Redlich, Chairman, Student Financial Aid Committee
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Elicia Ackerman
Alicia Blazer
ouro Fraternal Association is proud to announce the awarding of $39,500 in student financial aid to young men and women who are pursuing higher education degrees for the 2020-2021 academic year. After going through a rigorous selection process, conducted by Touro’s Student Financial Aid Committee, three applicants were each awarded a $5,000 educational grant. Touro
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Gabriel Cohen
grants are used to defray the cost of a college education and do not have to be paid back. Additionally, seven applicants received $3,500 each in interest-free loans from the Leo Greenberg Memorial Scholarship Fund. These loans do not accrue interest and are not repayable until six months after the student graduates or no longer is a full-time student. Continued on page 7 - GRANTS
Touro Provides Assistance for High Holidays’ Security
or the second straight year, Touro Fraternal Association made charitable contributions to congregations in Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts to assist them in the hiring of professional security protection for the High Holidays. While most congregations held virtual services this year due to COVID-19, the cost of security details was defrayed for the rabbis and cantors leading the prayers. A small number of congregations held in-person services inside or outside their houses of worship. “Even though the pandemic limited participation at most services, Touro felt it was still important to offer these security reimbursements to the Jewish community at this most sacred time of year,” said Stevan Labush, chairman of the Board of Directors. “Many temples have limited resources, particularly in these difficult times, and Touro was pleased to continue to offer this assistance.” Touro stepped forward to defray security expenses for the first time a year ago, in the aftermath of tragic shootings in a Pittsburgh synagogue and anti-Semitic instances closer to home. ~1~
is pleased to provide funding assistance for your congregation’s security details during the High Holidays. Touro Wishes you a Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year! L’Shana Tova Tikatevu V’techateimu For more information about our organization visit: www.tourofraternal.org
45 Rolfe SquaRe, CRanSton, RI
From the Desk of the Chairman
TOURO WELCOMES NEW BROTHERS
By Stevan Labush, Chairman Board of Directors
Several new brothers have been initiated at recent virtual meetings.
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hy is Touro so important to me? Well, since I was a young boy, I have always been involved with different organizations, but Touro was always special. Within one month of joining Touro, I was asked to step in as a lodge treasurer due to an immediate vacancy. This was only the beginning of moving up the ladder and being elected to a seat on the board. I am so honored now, 28 years later, to be serving in my first term as your chairman. I am telling you this because I have learned that the more you get involved, the more you get out of your membership. I have met so many people who have now become close friends. As you get to know your brothers, you develop a special bond. We have members from so many different backgrounds and occupations that can be helpful to you. Of all the organizations I have ever been involved with, Touro is the greatest! This is because of all we have to offer. We are the only organization that will never ask you to go out and raise funds. You will have a great sense of pride as we assist organizations in need through charitable giving, or provide scholarships and grants to the children of our members to pursue higher education opportunities. Once we return to a post-COVID world, we will again enjoy great in-person meetings and fun events for couples and families. Before long, we will enjoy delicious meals at most of our meetings and activities. Another great aspect of Touro is its ability to adjust and improvise. Although it saddens us not to meet in person, we haven’t skipped a beat. We held three virtual events over the summer, and have resumed holding monthly virtual lodge meetings with interesting speakers. Our board and officers, and our committees, still continue to meet virtually. Some of the committees, with less than 15 members, have begun to hold socially distanced meetings. The Board of Directors has recognized that Touro has not been quite the same since we cannot be in the hall due to the COVID restrictions. That’s why, at our October meeting, we voted for a 50% reduction in all annual dues for 2021. We can’t wait until we can safely be together again – and we hope to plan some big “welcome back” events. In the meantime, we encourage you all to hang in there with us. We hope that you will attend the virtual lodge meetings and other activities planned in the coming months. We ask you to keep this great organization growing and bring in new members. Even during the pandemic, Touro has so much to offer. We ask for your patience, and we’re confident that better days are just around the corner for Touro!
~2~ ~2~
Alexander Leach
Richard Polish
Daniel Pike
Aaron Schmier
David Schiff
Jordan Harpel
Gabriel Cohen
Paul Klawansky
TOUROGRAPHY
Jeff Stoloff is Always Willing to Help By Howard Wasser
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ctober 13, 1961 was a big day in American history. JFK was the president. We were watching Dick Van Dyke. The top song was "Hit the Road Jack" by Ray Charles. Doc Rivers was born and later went on to coach the Celtics. But most importantly for Touro, that was the day Jeff Stoloff entered the world. Jeff grew up in Needham, Mass., outside of Boston. He has two brothers and a sister who remain in very close contact. Jeff went to Needham High School, where he ran track. During this time he was a member of USY. He was also an active member of Demolay, where he was the regional president. He went on to UMass-Amherst, where he was especially interested in sports. This was the time of Marcus Camby and their great basketball teams. While at UMass, Jeff continued his Jewish connection at Hillel. Then it was time to go out into the real world. For many years he worked in the financial field. A few companies called out to him, such as Putnam Investments in Quincy, Mass., BDIS and John Hancock. The company he settled with the longest was Mass Mutual, working on employee benefits.
Then, there was a complete reversal of work. Jeff wanted to be a teacher. He has worked and lived in a variety of locations including: South Carolina, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Most prominent in his teaching career was the Holyoke Community Charter School and currently, the Providence Hebrew Day School. At PHDS, he teaches world history and geography in the sixth and seventh grades. His employer said parents and teachers all have given him positive reviews. Freddi Faye Moskowitz, his partner for the past six years, is also a teacher in Easton, Mass. Jeff keeps in close contact with his mother Harriet, who lives in Norwood, Mass. He now lives in Taunton, but there was a time when he lived in RI. That’s when he met Steve Labush, who convinced him to join Touro. Jeff jumped in with both feet. He is currently the president of Friendship Lodge and on the Board of Directors, and is also the chairman of the Investigation Committee. Jeff ’s devotion to the association is apparent to all as he routinely volunteers for whatever is needed. He is a true mensch and a total team player who is always willing to help out any time there is a need.
On-Going Maintenance, COVID Preparations Performed
Community Involvement Fulfills COVID-19 Requests By Barry Schiff, Chairman, Community Involvement Committee
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ver the last few months, with a great need evident due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Community Involvement Committee met four times to discuss funding requests. After careful review, the following donations were made: n $2,500 to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, which is being matched by an anonymous donor. n $1,000 to the Louis & Goldie Chester Full Plate Kosher Food Pantry to assist in obtaining warehouse equipment and food. n $1,000 to the Jewish Community Day School to assist in setting up a nurse’s station for the 2020-2021 school year.
n $1,000 to the Providence Hebrew Day School to purchase sanitizing products for classrooms.
We continue to field additional requests and hope to make additional donations in the current budget year.
By Barry Ackerman, Chairman, House Committee
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espite Touro Fraternal Hall being unavailable for lodge meetings during the pandemic restrictions, we are still handling maintenance and preparing for the day when the hall can once again be regularly used. Bruce Wasser, Lowell Lisker and I have gone into the building on a regular basis to check the various electric and mechanical systems to ensure they are operational. Adam Halpern has been helpful opening the building for service companies such as Big Blue Bug. Small repairs have been made. Touro is entering into a maintenance program with Mutual Engineering for our HVAC system. Considering the system’s intermittent use, ongoing monitoring and maintenance is critical. As for COVID-19 preparations, the House Committee has acquired electronic thermometers and sanitizer dispensers. We have also developed rules for committee meetings of less than 15 attendees. The hall regulations have been updated to mirror the state rules regarding gathering sizes. Hopefully, you have enjoyed the Trivia and Joke Off events that the Social Committee has organized, plus the uplifting talk by Frank Caprio at the restart of the lodge meetings. If you have any questions about using RingCentral, please email me at hanszuck@gmail.com ~3~
Here Comes the Judge (Caprio, That Is) By Howard Wasser
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uring a normal year, we may have had a meal on Federal because of his gift of gab, so naturally, Frank would need to go Hill with a distinguished guest such as Judge Frank to college. Frank showed us an autograph book from about the Caprio. Unfortunately, we could not do that this year, time he was in seventh grade. There were many autographs but so some of us may have had a bowl of pasta prior to the meeting his father wrote a paragraph that has stuck with Frank his whole in his honor. life. The quote is: "The street is wide. The road is long and bumpy, The Providence Municipal Court Judge is the star of the but you will go with your head held high." well-known TV show Caught in Providence. There are many other Frank went on to Central High School. He worked as a dishwasher judge shows, but his is the most entertaining. and shoe-shiner, won a state wrestling title The meeting was held on Ring Central so we and managed to do well in school. He watched on our computers or smartphones. graduated from Providence College, then I was glad to see that even a famous judge is taught history and civics at Hope High as tech savvy as a lot of us over a certain age. School, coached the wrestling team, joined There was a spot on his computer that said the National Guard and went to Suffolk Law “David's I-pad” and the judge admitted that School at night. his son, former State Representative David He then practiced law and served in Caprio, helped him get on line from their local politics until 1985, when he became a law office. Judge Caprio was very natural and judge. His court was on local television for relaxed with this format. more than two decades, until 2018 when he He spoke quite a bit about his family became syndicated. The show is shown background, which was very interesting. He all over the world. He has started a charity, Judge Caprio displays a photo was born in 1936 to an Italian immigrant the Filomena Fund, named after his mother. of his dad, Antonio father and an Italian-American mother. His Much of the money is used to pay the court father Antonio was from a family of ten and his mother Filomena fines of people who can't pay and who have legitimate obligations was from a family of nine. Nobody in either family progressed towards helping other people. beyond seventh grade. Antonio was a fruit peddler in Providence Judge Caprio could have come with a political message but and on a cold day, he went into a coffee shop to get a hot cup he did not. Part of his message was that kids need hope and of coffee. His face was so cold that he said he wanted a “tup guidance. He said a cohesive family unit would go a long way in of toffee.” From then on he was known in the city as “Tup of achieving this end and that we are all immigrants and should all Toffee” or just “Tup.” help each other. One brother wrote "Caprio for President.” Not When Frank was 10, his father said he would become a lawyer a bad idea.
President’s Report
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By Larry Berman, President, Harmony Lodge
e may think it is tough now, living through this COVID-19 crisis. But just imagine what it must have been like for Jacob A. Eaton 102 years ago. He had barely founded Touro Fraternal Association, obtaining a charter from the Rhode Island General Assembly on April 17, 1917. His goal was to help needy Jews, many of whom were immigrants. By March 10, 1918, Jacob convened his first meeting at 128 North Main Street, Providence, and an influenza pandemic was already beginning to ravage the United States. Known as the Spanish Flu or the H1N1 virus, this was a severe epidemic. By the end of the year, worldwide deaths reached 50 million, with 675,000 occurring in the United States, plus 500 million people throughout the world had become infected.
The fact that a new Jewish fraternal organization survived this severe influenza epidemic, which devastated the Northeast, is amazing. So many members perished that Touro had to borrow funds to pay death benefits. Even as a fledgling organization, Touro had established good credit and met the needs of the emergency. Evolving from an organization that provided coal to heat homes and a burial society, our legacy has endured. We still provide bereavement assistance and an expanded list of other benefits; our financial status is incredibly strong. If Touro could survive the Spanish Flu of 1918, we can weather the COVID-19 storm. Touro will emerge from the latest pandemic as strong and powerful as ever. So let’s try to remember the hardships that they survived, and vow to come together for an even brighter future for Touro. Let’s attend virtual meetings on a short-term basis, recruit new members and remain active and vibrant. We owe that to Jacob A. Eaton and our other founding fathers. ~4~
Abe Strashnick Ensures Successful Golf Season By Jeff Davis, Chairman, Golf Committee
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he Touro Golf League finished up another great season on the links. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, we had a short season, but we still had a lot of fun. Sixteen brothers met every Tuesday in the late afternoon at Cranston Country Club for a chance at bragging rights. Again this year, we divided the season into two halves, and two divisions were formed based on the handicap of each player. For the first half, the first place finishers were Abe Stashnick, A Division, and Ralph Nathan, B Division. Secondplace winners were Rich Fain, A Division, and a tie between Jed Brandes and Ralph Orleck, B Division. In the second half of the season, the first-place prize in the A Division was shared by Jeff Davis and David Resnick, and the B Division was won by Jed Brandes, with Ralph Orleck finishing second. On behalf of the league, we extend our sincerest thanks to Abe Strashnick, the “commissioner,” for ensuring the season went off without a hitch. His hard work does not go unnoticed and is greatly appreciated. If any brother is interested in joining the golf league for the 2021 season, please contact me at info@tourofraternal. org. We always look forward to welcoming new members. Due to COVID, Touro did not hold its annual golf tournament. We hope that we can revive the tournament next year.
~5~
Great Incentives Offered for Recruiting Members By Andy Lamchick, Chairman, Membership Committee
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don’t have to tell anyone how much COVID-19 has impacted our lives. Touro has felt the sting in its inability to hold in-person meetings. The Membership Committee had a spectacular year in 2019 with our very successful event at R1 Racing. We had another exciting Open House planned for April 2020, featuring a prominent member of the New England Patriots. Then, as an over-exposed local lawyer’s ad says: “Ba-Bam!” Touro has been continuing its activities through virtual meetings and various incentives that you’ve all received. We are doing what we can under these challenging circumstances. But we are unable to hold a typical Touro Open House. The Membership Committee met recently, and with the board’s approval, has developed an exciting plan for 2021. Beginning January 1st, Touro members will receive a special
incentive of a $25 Panera gift card for each new regular member that you bring in. After the new member is initiated, your name will be entered into a raffle, to be held in December of next year, for a grand prize drawing of a $250 Visa gift card. During these difficult times, as a way to encourage enrollment of new members, the $25 initiation fee will be waived for the entire year. This is also a great time to join as your dues have been reduced by 50% for 2021. This discount also applies to new regular members joining this year. We don’t know when the COVID restrictions on social distancing will end, but when they do, we look forward to having our new brothers join us for some spectacular events in the future. Now it’s up to you! Please bring in your sons or grandsons, your friends, neighbors or co-workers. Let’s keep Touro going and growing!
Jim Hummel Discusses Politics from His Kitchen By Howard Wasser
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ur guest at the Friendship Lodge virtual meeting on October 28th was reporter Jim Hummel. Considering all he knows about Rhode Island, you would think he was a native, but in fact he was born in La Grange, Illinois. Hummel moved to Barrington as a young kid. He attended the University of North Carolina, where he majored in journalism and political science and was the editor of the university paper, The Daily Tar Heel. After a summer internship at the Providence Journal, the newspaper hired him in 1982. How many of us end up with the career we pursued in college? After 13 years, he moved on to TV at ABC Channel 6 as an investigative reporter. Many of you probably remember his segment “You Paid for It.” He won the Edward R. Murrow Award in 2007, but chose to leave the station in 2008 over philosophical differences. Hummel struggled for a short time and then became his own boss, founding the Hummel Report where he could chose his own stories, many of which no one else would cover. It is a non-profit report, supported by donations. Some of these are from well-known Rhode Islanders, but none have any political
connections. He is also the host of the Lively Experiment on public TV. Jim talked to us from his kitchen and answered lots of questions from Touro brothers. He was pretty careful not to show any political leaning. He confessed that he did not vote for president in 2016 because he did not like either candidate. He also told us how impressed he was with Kristen Welker. She shadowed him as an intern at Channel 6, and later went on to NBC News. Welker received great reviews for her work as moderator of this year’s second Presidential debate. When asked who will run for Governor in 2022, he said Lt. Gov. Dan McKee, Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, Treasurer Seth Magaziner, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, and former Attorney General Patrick Lynch. All of them have spoken to us at Touro! Touro Chairman Steve Labush made everyone happy that all in attendance would receive a $10 Panera gift card. It is hoped that it will be used to purchase breakfast on November 22, when we meet again for a virtual brunch meeting.
Fantasy Football, Pro Pick ‘Em Contests in Full Swing
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ouro has 24 members playing in two separate Fantasy Football Leagues and 63 participants in the Pro Pick ‘Em contests, both of which are free to join. In addition to the season-ending prizes, gift cards are awarded to the weekly winners of the Pick ‘Em contest. At the midway point of the NFL season, the weekly winners have been: Evan Saltzman, Jeff Davis, Andy Lamchick, Jeffrey Stolzberg, David Nicolato, Jerry Chorney, David Resnick and Joshua Brandes. Congratulations! ~6~
Winners Crowned in Virtual Trivia, Joke Off Contests
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espite the COVID restrictions, Touro members remained safely at home and had a lot of fun participating in two contests. In July, brothers and their families took part in Virtual Trivia Night using the Kahoot app. The categories were sports, ‘80s pop culture and old-time TV shows. The winners of $100 first prizes were: Jed Brandes, Michael Pompili and Mia Ackerman. Second prizes of $50 each went to: Mindy Redlich, Jonathan Finkle and Barry Ackerman. The third place recipients of $25 apiece were: Ried Redlich, Brett Boisvert and Bill Scheraga. Our first Virtual Joke Off took place in August and was hosted by comedian Frank O’Donnell, the self-described “Touro Token Goy.” Winners were crowned in the funniest “clean” and “not so clean” categories and the prizes were $200, $100 and $50 respectively. The winners were: Andy Lamchick and Alan Lury, first place; Jeff Brown and Peter Hodosh, second place; and Jeff Stoloff and Barry Ackerman, third place. The “booby prize” for worst joke, with no monetary value, went to David Altman.
GRANTS - continued from page 1
n Gabriel Cohen, son of Richard and Marcy Cohen of
The three winners of the grants are:
Cranston, a freshman at Brandeis University studying chemistry and biochemistry. While at Cranston High School West, he played saxophone in the band and participated in Model UN and mock trial. He volunteered weekly at Temple Beth-El, assisting teachers in the religious school and is involved with the North American Federation of Temple Youth. After graduation he hopes to be a researcher performing experiments in a lab at the FDA.
n Elicia Ackerman, daughter of Barry and Representative Mia Ackerman of Cumberland, a senior at the University of Rhode Island studying economics. Her interests include Spanish language and culture, being a mentor to younger students and volunteering at sporting events and the Cumberland Food Pantry. She hopes to use her degree in economics and her marketing skills to improve healthcare access to vulnerable people. n Alicia Blazer, daughter of Steven and Deborah Blazer of Providence, a senior at the University of Rhode Island studying pharmacy. Her interests include being a USY advisor, having previously been a USY chapter president. She participated in a study abroad trip in Greece, and also traveled to several countries, learning about Jewish history and various cultures.
Frank O’Donnell was the Master of Ceremonies for the Virtual Joke Off
Since the establishment of the student grant and loan program in 1981, Touro has made financial awards to ease the cost of higher education. Regular Touro members, their children, and the children of deceased Touro members, who are enrolled full time in an accredited institution of higher learning, are eligible to apply for interest free loans of $3,500 each. Regular Touro members and their children who are enrolled full time in an accredited institution of higher learning are eligible to apply for a one-time $5,000 grant. In both cases, regular Touro members must be members in good standing for at least two years to be eligible.
Touro Board Continues to Meet and Plan Every Month The Board of Directors and lodge officers meet virtually every month to keep Touro vibrant throughout the pandemic. We all hope to meet in-person again as soon as it is safely possible. ~7~
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Providence, RI Permit #719
P.O. BOX 3562 CRANSTON, RI 02910
2 0 2 0 NOVEMBER 5 7 8 1 Bruce Weisman, Production Editor Larry Berman, Content Editor Columnists: Brett Boisvert Jed Brandes Lester Nathan Jeffrey Stoloff Bill Troberman Bruce Wasser Howard Wasser Staff Photographers: Jeffrey Davis Edward Deluty Stevan Labush Touro Fraternal Association 45 Rolfe Square, P.O. Box 3562 Cranston, RI 02910 Phone: 401-785-0066 E-Mail: info@tourofraternal.org Website: www.tourofraternal.org
HARMONY LODGE Larry Berman, President Jeffrey Harpel, Vice President David Altman, Secretary Jonathan Finkle, Treasurer Ried Redlich, Faithful Guide
TOURO BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2020-2021 Stevan Labush, Chairman Jeffrey Davis, Vice Chairman Jonathan Finkle, Treasurer Bruce Wasser, Secretary Barry Schiff, Chaplain Mitchell Cohen, Inside Guard Jed Brandes, Chairman Emeritus Alan Lury, Chairman Emeritus Robert Miller, Chairman Emeritus Barry Ackerman Larry Berman Jed Brandes Jeffrey Davis Andrew Gilstein Max Guarino Stevan Labush Andrew Lamchick
Alan Lury Robert Miller Ried Redlich Barry Schiff Michael Smith Jeffrey Stoloff Bruce Weisman
FRIENDSHIP LODGE Jeffrey Stoloff, President Adam Halpern, Vice President Lester Nathan, Secretary Peter Silverman, Treasurer David Weisman, Inside Guard
HARMONY • FRIENDS HIP • BENEVOLENCE
Wednesday, December 16 • 7 PM Let’s Talk About All Sports with the Dean of RI Sportscasters ON RING CENTRAL FRIENDSHIP LODGE MEETING
Watch for invitation
HAPPY
CHANUKAH
FRANK CARPANO
Sports Director Celebrating 40 Years at NBC 10
3PMGF 4RVBSF t $SBOTUPO 3* W W W. TO U RO F R AT E R N A L . O RG
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