2019 NOVEMBER 5780
INSIDE
Touro Provides Assistance to 18 Congregations for High Holidays' Security Protection By Larry Berman
T Trip of a Lifetime page 3
Fun on the Links page 4
URI is Booming page 6
ouro Fraternal Association made charitable contributions to 18 Rhode Island congregations to assist them in the hiring of professional security protection for the High Holidays. “Our assistance totaled tens of thousands of dollars,” said Board Chairman Alan Lury. “This funding provided protection for 4,000 to 5,000 congregants throughout Rhode Island this High Holiday season.” Touro reached out to every congregation in the state to provide a safe and secure environment for the community to pray together at the most solemn time of year. Touro fulfilled the request for security for every congregation that responded, and in most cases covered the entire security cost. “In the wake of the tragedy in Pittsburgh last year and the disturbing anti-Semitic events closer to home, we felt it was critical to provide this measure of security to synagogues in the state,” said Lury. “We wish we didn’t have to do it, but it is imperative that Jews are protected in their houses of worship.” Lury, Vice Chairman Stevan Labush and a committee of board members met with representatives of the synagogues that responded to a letter offering assistance. “With limited resources, some of the
is p provide leased to funding assista for your congregat nce ion’s security detail during th s High Ho e lidays. Touro W ishes you Happy, a Healthy an New Yea d Safe r! L’Shana Tova Tik atevu V ’t echateim For mor u e inform ation ab www.tour out our organiza tion visit ofratern : al.org
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Poster displayed in congregations temples had no plans to offer security and now they were able to do so,” stated Labush. “Others were having a difficult time getting funds together for security and utilized this assistance, enabling them to have additional resources to allocate during challenging times.” Community Involvement Committee Chairman Andrew Lamchick noted that the donation for security is an extension of Touro’s mission to provide assistance within the community for both Jewish and non-Jewish causes.
Credit Card Payment Available for Some Touro Events Steak Fry a Big Hit page 6
Out and About page 7
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ouro is now offering a “pay by credit card” option for nonrefundable events. As a convenience to members, this credit card option will be available for Two-fers and other social activities, such as plays and sports events. The option will also be possible for other non-refundable events like the annual February dinner meeting outside the hall, the Installation Dinner in May and the Steak Fry in June. Touro members may also opt to pay their annual dues by credit card beginning this November. “Many members have asked for this option, and we are pleased to make it possible,” said Board Chairman Alan Lury. Members can pay by credit card by visiting our website: www.tourofraternal.org. ~1~
Thoughts While Shaving
Social Scene
By Alan Lury Chairman of the Board
Fall 2019 By Jeffrey Harpel, Vice President, Harmony Lodge
opefully, you all enjoyed an easy Yom Kippur fast and are looking forward to the year 5780 with promise and hope. During the holidays, Touro was thanked publicly in many ways by the congregations across Rhode Island that received financial commitments from our organization to reimburse them for their security detail costs for the High Holidays. Unfortunately, we all know too well that the senseless acts of violence we have witnessed within the United States and beyond during the past year will not miraculously disappear overnight. Thus, our Strategic Planning Committee has recently met to discuss the initial steps to ensure that Touro will be able to both meet the ongoing needs of our Jewish Community into the foreseeable future, while also ensuring that we will be able to continue to provide to our members great programs inside and outside of our Hall at reasonable costs. I would like to conclude my thoughts with a topic that has been a “hot button” of discussion during most of the years that I have been a member of the Board of Directors- attracting younger men to join, become involved and become the future leaders of Touro. In any successful fraternal organization that lasts as long as Touro has, there has to be a pipeline of younger people in place. We as an organization cannot afford to take our eyes off the prize of attracting the next generation of leaders to Touro. Our Fall Open House at R1 Racing which was a huge success and enjoyed by all, was our first attempt to develop new programming to attract Generation Y and Millennials into the fold. You will see attendees of this event becoming initiates in the coming months. It is imperative that each of you, no matter what type of membership you hold, step forward and become actively involved planning activities with our Social Committee. This is especially true if you work or associate with 20- to 45-yearold Jewish men. You each have the right, opportunity and responsibility to help in this regard. It is through creative programming that we can best demonstrate to younger men that they need to join Touro. Your input can help us to understand what Touro needs to do in order to make our Hall a place where younger generations feel comfortable. With Harmony, Friendship and Benevolence… L’Chaim!!
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hope everyone had a happy new year. Your resolution should be to attend at least one Social Committee meeting. They are held on the first Wednesday of every month at the hall. Since the last issue of the Tourogram, we ventured to Block Island for the second year in a row and a great time was had by all. Our annual dining and viewing experience at the Newport Playhouse was a smashing success. Tickets sold out quickly for “The Prince of Providence” at Trinity Rep, which received rave reviews. The two fall lodge meetings were a great success. URI President David Dooley and Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha were both very informative. We have great events planned for the coming months
November 24 – Channel 10’s Emily Volz The Harmony Lodge meeting will feature Channel 10 news anchor Emily Volz and a great brunch with eggs, lox, bagels, kugel and more. December 1 – Foxwoods Bus Trip Try your luck at the slots or the table games, and enjoy a free buffet or a $10 food coupon, as Touro takes you on a motor coach ride to Foxwoods Casino. December 15 – Chanukah Party Bring your children or grandchildren and enjoy our annual Chanukah Party at the hall. Rabbi Noach Karp, a Touro brother, will teach us how to make dreidels and menorahs, and everyone will enjoy a dairy lunch and a sundae bar. Gifts will be given to all children 12 and under. December 18 – State Police Lt. Colonel Joe Philbin Our speaker will be State Police Lt. Colonel Joe Philbin, who will inform us about his experience in Israel as a security trainer. Bring your appetites to the Friendship Lodge meeting as we try a new exciting dinner of shepherd’s pie. December 25 – Buffet and Movie Our Christmas Day excursion to the Hong Kong Buffet in Cranston will include two seatings, as well as tickets to a movie of your choice. January 29 – Musical Bingo The Harmony Lodge meeting will feature another new meal, Italian chicken, and musical bingo provided by WRIK Entertainment. Remember, the Social Committee meets the first Wednesday of every month and every idea is welcome!
WWII Veteran Howard Flamer Experiences Honor Flight “Trip of a Lifetime” By Larry Berman
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TF Green Airport, including a band and bagpipers, Boy Scouts oward Flamer, a World War II veteran, was overwhelmed and families and friends. After arriving in Washington and with emotions after his day-long Honor Flight visit to receiving a police escort wherever they went, the first stop was at Washington in September. the World War II Memorial, where they were welcomed by U.S. “The outpouring of gratitude from the public was truly Senator Jack Reed. amazing,” said the 92-year-old Flamer, a Touro They also toured the Korean, Vietnam, Iwo Jima, brother since 1950. “No matter where we went, Air Force and Lincoln Memorials. A highlight everyone thanked us for our service to the nation. was a visit to Arlington National Cemetery, where It was an awesome, inspiring and emotional they witnessed the Changing of the Guard and experience, and the trip of a lifetime.” participated in a public wreath-laying ceremony. Flamer was 17 years old when he enlisted in It was a stark and solemn reminder of the price the Navy in 1944. He served a 38-month tour of of freedom,” said Flamer. duty as a hospital corpsman during World War II, Flamer, who grew up in Pawtucket, had a career first doing medical research in Bethesda, Md. and in retail sales after returning from the war. He and then serving aboard a ship in the Atlantic fleet. his late wife, Kayla, raised two children, Marc and A non-profit organization called the Honor Anita. He now lives with Anita and her husband, Flight Network has not forgotten the sacrifices Mark Steiman, a Touro brother, in Attleboro. made by veterans like Howard Flamer. At a recent Howard is proud of his six grandchildren and four visit to the VA, Flamer learned about the program, great-grandchildren, and was surprised during which exists in 42 states and locally is coordinated Howard Flamer and his the Honor Flight when he was visited by one of by the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs. The granddaughter, his granddaughters, Rachel Steiman, who lives in intention is to honor “the many selfless ordinary Rachel Steiman Washington. people who saved our world.” “With five hundred World War II veterans Three times a year from Rhode Island, the passing away every day, I feel blessed to be able to have my health Honor Flight provides an all-expenses paid trip to the nation’s and to take part in this wonderful trip,” he concluded. “After such capital. Flamer was one of 25 veterans, ten of whom served in a memorable experience, I asked how I could help. They told me World War II. Each veteran is assigned a volunteer escort for to spread the word, which I’m proud to do.” the day – Flamer was accompanied by Colleen Perry, a physical For more information on the RI Honor Flight, visit therapist. rifirechiefs.com. The group had a heroes’ sendoff from a few hundred folks at
President’s Report By Jeffrey Stoloff , President, Friendship Lodge
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am honored and humbled to be addressing you in my first President’s Report. I joined Touro about six years ago as a way to meet Jewish men, as I was a transplant from western Massachusetts. Ever since brother Steve Labush sponsored me, I was hooked. I grew to love the friendships I developed, the social events, the work the Community Involvement Committee does to spread Tikkun Olam and even the
ritual. I have met many of my brothers, but there are still many I have not. As a way of further introducing myself, I am sharing part of my speech from the Installation Dinner. I hope my words inspire all of you to give back to our organization in whatever way you can to help keep Touro the treasure that it is. This is what I said: “As I stand here, I am honestly so humbled by the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of so many tremendous past presidents ~3~
who have made Touro the amazing organization that it is. Don’t fix what is not broken. Touro is a great organization with strong leaders, and we wouldn’t be here if that wasn’t the case. I have tried to learn from all of them. “I will be asking all of you to help me as we strive to keep Touro strong and to meet our challenges in the years ahead. Think about what Touro has meant to you and to give back in whatever way you can, whether that is going to meetings, volunteering for committees or simply introducing Touro to potential new members. It will take all of us to keep Touro the incredible fraternity that it has been for over 100 years and continues to be. “While change is always inevitable in every organization, we do not need to fear it. Change for change sake is not productive, but if we work together, we can make Touro even stronger in the decade ahead. With your help, my goal is to be able to look back in two years and see us in a strong position to continue to fulfill our mission to the community and to ourselves.”
Another Successful Golf Season, Tournament By Jeffrey Davis, Chairman, Golf Committee
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he Touro Golf League had another great season at Cranston Country Club. The league begins in the middle of April, or when it gets a little warm out, and runs through the first week in September. We have two divisions populated according to the players’ handicaps and ability. And we divide the season into two sessions. We had some new golfers in the league this year and everyone had a great time. The winners for the first session, which was shortened due to a number of rainouts, were: A Division, 1st place, Joel Bazar; 2nd place, Abe Strashnick, and the B Division, 1st place, Ralph Orleck, and 2nd place, Jed Brandes. In the second session, the winners were: A Division, 1st place, Rich Fain; 2nd place, Barry Rappoport, and the B division, 1st place, Joel Cohen; 2nd place, Bob Silverman. Congratulations to all our winners! We returned to Crestwood Country Club in Rehoboth, Mass. for Touro’s Annual Golf Tournament on August 19. With perfect weather, we couldn’t have asked for a better day. The course was in great shape and all had a great time. We played a scramble best ball format and Abe Strashnick and his team were the winners. This year we teed off in the afternoon after a delicious deli lunch. After the round of golf, we all sat down for a great dinner and tournament and raffle prizes were awarded. We are looking forward to another great year in 2020. If you are interested in joining us on the links and having fun with your Touro brothers, please contact Jeff Davis at info@tourofraternal.org.
Rich Fain's team, tournament second-place finishers
Abe Strashnick's team, tournament winners
Rich Fain
(l-r): Eric Rose, Barry Rose, Joel Bazar
(l-r): League second-session winners: Barry Rappoport, Rich Fain, Joel Cohen, Bob Silverman
League first-session winners: Abe Strashnick, Joel Bazar, Ralph Orleck, Jed Brandes
Touro's New Members
(l-r): Elliott Pritikin, John Catania, Sanford Reich, Samuel Zwetchkenbaum, Seth Finkle, Daniel Ronkin, David Couture
Evan Davis ~4~
Jed Brandes
Helping Those in Need in the Community
Attracting New Members is Vital
By Andy Lamchick, Chairman, Community Involvement Committee
By Max Guarino, Co-Chairman, Membership Committee
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he Community Involvement Committee has the best job in the organization. We get to help people in need, while making Touro members proud at the same time. As you can imagine, there are endless organizations that would like to be recipients of our funds, so it is with praise that I recognize the members of our committee who analyze and scrutinize all of the requests we receive for funding. Over the last few months, we have helped fund campers at Camp JORI, students at URI who reach out to Hillel to connect to Judaism and families in distress who are living temporarily at Ronald McDonald House while attending to their sick children. At our most recent meeting, we supported the Friendship Walk for Best Buddies which took place at McCoy Stadium. About 400 to 500 people participated in the walk to support young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We also helped sponsor eight “Young Dads” on a trip to Israel through the international organization called Shoresh. At least two Touro members will attend the trip, helped in part by our donation. We also gave $1,000 to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank which will be included in a “matching funds” program. That translates to hundreds of meals to needy Rhode Islanders. Fortunately, we still have money remaining in this year’s budget due to the generosity of Touro’s Board of Directors, who doubled our requested budget. We expect to provide Chanukah gifts, kosher food to Rhode Islanders in need, and heating assistance to Jewish and non-Jewish Rhode Islanders.
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s we enter into the new year, the Membership Committee has new leadership. I am co-chairman, and our committee is working to bring as many new members into this great organization as possible. At the time you receive this Tourogram, we will have just finished the Fall Open House at R1 Indoor Karting in Lincoln. Touro members and prospective members had the opportunity to race against each other, as well as bowl, play billiards and enjoy a buffet catered by Jacky’s Galaxie. This was easily a $100 value for each of the Touro members, but Touro charged only $15 for its members, and prospective regular members were free! This is the type of event we would like to run over the next few years to entice prospective members to join our wonderful organization. We need to grow our membership and are pulling out all the stops to try and get this done. If any of your male Jewish friends or family aren’t yet Touro members, please let them know about us. There are incentives for sponsoring members. Not only can you enjoy the benefits of these incentives, but your experience as a Touro brother will be enhanced by the presence of more friends and relatives at our events. We are always looking for new ideas for Open House events or other activities. If you have any suggestions, please get in touch with me.
Touro Awards College Grant, Interest-Free Loans By Ried Redlich, Chairman, Student Financial Aid Committee
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riel Finkle of East Greenwich was awarded a $5,000 grant from Touro to defray her college expenses. A freshman at the University of Rhode Island who is studying writing and rhetoric, Ariel is the daughter of Jonathan and Judy Finkle of East Greenwich. She was a member of the East Greenwich High School Drama Club and has been active in dance. The Student Financial Aid Committee also awarded $14,000 in interest-free loans to four college students from the Leo Greenberg Memorial Scholarship Fund. Repayment of these loans is not due until six months after the student graduates or is no longer a full-time student. 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 in an accredited institution of higher learning are eligible to apply for a one-time grant of $5,000 and for the interest-free loans. A maximum of $12,000 may be borrowed by the student over the course of their studies. The Touro member must belong to the organization for at least two years before he or his children may apply. ~5~
Ariel Finkle
President Dooley Offers a Close-Up View of URI By Bruce Wasser
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he September Harmony Lodge meeting was heavily populated with University of Rhode Island graduates as the speaker was the President of URI, Dr. David M. Dooley. Before his arrival, hamburgers and hot dogs were cooked outside by brothers Steve Labush and Steve Waldman. Dr. Dooley gave us a short bio of his life prior to taking over as the 11th president of URI in 2009. After receiving a PhD in chemistry from California Institute of Technology, he has spent his entire adult life in higher education. He was a chemistry professor for 15 years at Amherst College and spent the next 15 years at Montana State University, where was the head of the Department of Chemistry before becoming the provost and vice president. He covered many topics regarding URI. Money seemed to be the common denominator. He described the recent donation of $35 million by Thomas and Cathy Ryan for the Ryan Neuroscience Center, scholarships, and a basketball practice facility. Additionally, Michael and Elizabeth Fascitelli made a $10 million gift to create the Fascitelli Center for Advanced Engineering. With so many windows in the center, Dr. Dooley advised us to take out stock in Windex, which got a loud laugh. Dr. Dooley was very proud of the following statistic: the average graduation time for 4-year students is 4.2 years. He also mentioned that 45 to 60 nations have students enrolling at one time or another at the university. Another large project in the works for the Narragansett Bay Campus is the building and delivery of the research vessel Resolution, which will be docked at a new 200-foot pier. It is
being built to centralize marine operations and serve as an academic facility. A new pier road will be built to easily access the campus. All the measurements consider the rising sea level. Dr. Dooley finished by offering everyone a tour of the campus. A question-and-answer period followed with many well thoughtout questions that covered security, a health plan, free tuition offered at CCRI and how it affects URI, the impact of international students, why we need three presidents of state institutions, the marine college, the new URI Board of Trustees, URI Graduate School of Oceanography Professor Robert Ballard, and finally, athletics. At Dr. Dooley’s request, Touro made a donation to Rhody Outpost, an on-campus food bank for needy students. The 50/50 raffle was won by Howard Shapiro and the RI Community Food Bank will receive the other 50%. Before the desserts were brought out, a group picture of all the URI grads was taken with Dr. Dooley.
Touro members who are URI graduates gather around President Dooley
Touro Sponsors Adult March of the Living By Howard Wasser
T (l-r): Seth Finkle, Adam Cable
ouro has sponsored high school students participating in the March of the Living for the past several years. These students returned and have spoken to us in June at the annual Steak Fry about their experiences visiting Poland and Israel and studying the history of the Holocaust. This year was a bit different because Touro sponsored participants in the adult program of March of the Living. The age difference, compared to the youth version of the program, contributed to a more meaningful meeting. The presentation by Seth Finkle and Adam Cable, was well thought out, and we got a more genuine sense of how the experience impacted their lives. The Steak Fry itself was the usual hit. The steak filled the entire plate and there were plenty of fixings too. Instead of the usual healthy watermelon, we enjoyed brownies and other goodies for dessert. ~6~
Fun on Block Island
Enjoying Newport Playhouse
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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Providence, RI Permit #719
P.O. BOX 3562 CRANSTON, RI 02910
UPCOMING TOURO EVENTS: November 24 Channel 10's Emily Volz
December 1 Foxwood's Bus Trip
NEW Pay for Touro Events by Credit Card!
December 25 Chinese Buffet and Movie January 29 Musical Bingo Visit Touro at www.tourofraternal.org
2 0 1 9 NOVEMBER 5 7 8 0 Bruce Weisman, Production Editor Larry Berman, Content Editor Columnists: Brett Boisvert Jed Brandes Lester Nathan Jeffrey Stoloff Bill Troberman Bruce Wasser Howard Wasser
TOURO BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2019-2020 Alan D. Lury, Chairman Stevan Labush, Vice Chairman James Goldman, Treasurer Bruce Wasser, Secretary Barry Schiff, Chaplain Mitchell Cohen, Inside Guard Jed Brandes, Chairman Emeritus Robert Miller, Chairman Emeritus
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 Fax: 401-941-8781 E-Mail: info@tourofraternal.org Website: www.tourofraternal.org
HARMONY LODGE Larry Berman, President Jeffrey Harpel, Vice President David Altman, Secretary Jonathan Finkle, Treasurer David Weisman, Inside Guard
Barry Ackerman Larry Berman Jed Brandes Jeffrey Davis Andrew Gilstein Richard Glucksman Max Guarino
Andrew Lamchick Robert Miller Ried Redlich Barry Schiff James Sinman Michael Smith Bruce Weisman
FRIENDSHIP LODGE Jeffrey Stoloff, President Adam Halpern, Vice President Lester Nathan, Secretary Peter Silverman, Treasurer David Weisman, Inside Guard
Ried Redlich, Faithful Guide
HARMONY • FRIENDSHIP • BENEVOLENCE ~8~