August 2025

AUGUST 2025 | AV/ELUL 5785

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Local voices, global pain Think ahead to the fall theater season

Learn how East Providence is addressing hate

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2 | AUGUST 2025

Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

SERVING ALL IN RHODE ISLAND At JCS, we pride ourselves on leaving no one behind. If we don’t have the services you need, we will still help you find someone who does.

Call us at (401) 331-1244.

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JEWISH RHODE ISL AND

EDITOR Fran Ostendorf DESIGN & LAYOUT Alex Foster ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Peter Zeldin | 401-421-4111, ext. 160 pzeldin@jewishallianceri.org CONTRIBUTORS Bob Abelman, Ruth Marris Macaulay, Sarah Greenleaf, Robert Isenberg COLUMNISTS Michael Fink, George M. Goodwin, Patricia Raskin, Rabbi James Rosenberg, Daniel Stieglitz

VOLUME XXXII, ISSUE VIII JEWISH RHODE ISLAND

(ISSN number 1539-2104, USPS #465-710) is published monthly except twice in May, August and September.

PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID at Providence, R.I. POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Jewish Rhode Island, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, RI 02906.

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COPY DEADLINES: All news releases, photographs, etc., must be received on the Wednesday 10 days prior to publication. Submissions may be sent to: editor@jewishallianceri.org.

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tisements for pork or shellfish. We do not attest to the kashrut of any product or the legitimacy of advertisers’ claims.

ON THE COVER: PHOTO | GLENN

OSMUNDSON Debbie Dennis, of Providence, participates in an Aug. 4 rally, sponsored by Run for Their Lives and Rhode Island Coalition for Israel, to support the hostages still held in Gaza.

AUGUST 2025 | 3

Humming through summer in our backyard EARLIER THIS WEEK, we decided to eat our dinner outside you have any questions or suggestions for those publicaand enjoy the cooler temperatures and lower humidity tions, don’t hesitate to reach out: editor@jewishallianof a near-perfect midsummer evening. It seems as if we ceri.org. have been slammed by heat, humidity and more than Fran Ostendorf, our share of heavy rain during July.

Editor Temperatures keep rising. There is no denying that. And weather extremes are front and center for us all to see. Especially this year, we have witnessed more floods and fires and high heat than A MODERN ever before. I’ve written columns about the changTRADITIONAL ing climate in past summers. There are plenty of JEWISH DELI organizations that focus on climate change and offer things we can do in our personal lives to alleviate these changes.

BREAKFAST So it is especially nice to have a ∙ few days of what I remember LUNCH as more “normal” weather. ∙ Joining us on the deck were DINNER several hummingbirds. We ∙ have hanging baskets and CATERING pots planted with flowers ∙ specifically chosen to try to OPEN attract those tiny, fast-movEVERYDAY ing birds. My husband is in charge of the gardening, and he does a great job of choosing the flowers that they love. No need to put out feeders when you have gorgeous flowers just perfect for their long, 727 EAST AVE • PAWTUCKET, RI 02860 narrow bills.

(401) 205-8560 • MAVENSDELI.COM I recently learned that hummingbirds often return to the same feeders and flowers every year. What a nice thought! We have had baskets and pots on our decks for years. Now we have beautiful gardens with perennials, also thanks to my husband. Perhaps those hummingbirds enjoy our yard as much as we do! We certainly see more and more of them each year.

Of course, I had to do a little research to learn more about these extraordinary birds. Here are a few other hummingbird facts for those who are interested (thanks to the National Zoo and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service websites).

Hummingbirds are able to fly backwards and upside down. They are the only vertebrates who can hover in a sustained manner. Thanks to their small size, they are very agile.

They aren’t very social in human terms. Our hummingbirds seem to fly toward us and hover nearby. You’d think they were looking at us, but they aren’t. While it can be a sign of curiosity, it is more likely a sign of territorial behavior.

All hummingbirds are found exclusively in the Western Hemisphere; there are 366 species in the Americas.

It’s been nice to focus on some positive and peaceful aspects of our garden this summer. As we move toward the later days of summer and the upcoming back-to-school rush followed by the High Holy Days, let’s hope this will make us all a little calmer and fresher to face those busy days ahead.

Look for our electronic newsletter Aug. 21, our High Holy Days newspaper on Sept. 5 and the annual Guide to Jewish Living on Sept. 19. If

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D'VAR TORAH 5 | CALENDAR 6 | COMMUNITY VOICES 9 | FOOD 11 | OPINION 12 BOOK REVIEW 12 | ARTS 14 | COMMUNITY 17 | BUSINESS 24 | OBITUARIES 25 THE MISSION OF JEWISH RHODE ISLAND 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.

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

4 | AUGUST 2025

Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

UP FRONT Movies, Rhode Island and Feinberg: The journey is bashert

BY ROBERT ISENBERG

I

f someone made a movie about Steven Feinberg’s life, what would it look

like? At 61, Feinberg is widely known as the executive director of the Rhode Island Film & Television Office, and his professional bio is drenched in accomplishments. He’s credited with shepherding nearly $1 billion worth of film projects into the state since 2003, from “Moonrise Kingdom” to “Hocus Pocus 2,” and each year brings a new wave of Hollywood investment.

YET FEINBERG’S life has unfolded in many chapters, each with its unique themes and narrative arc.

Feinberg wears a beard and wide-brimmed cowboy hat, and he relates his tales in a chalky, gregarious voice.

His father frequently used the Yiddish word bashert, which roughly translates as “fate,” and Feinberg’s biography is filled with moments of cinematic kismet. Here are some of the ways a screenwriter could adapt Feinberg’s lifetime of experiences into riveting biopics.

The Coming-of-Age Story

Born in 1963, a young Feinberg grows up in a Reform Jewish family in Cranston’s Garden City.

He lives among diverse, first-generation immigrants in the newly built suburbs. Curious about their respective backgrounds, Feinberg’s friends visit each other’s temples and churches. Feinberg’s father, a sixth-grade teacher, shows footage of the Holocaust to a classroom, saying, “Democracy is fragile, and we have to protect it.” A 10-year-old

PHOTO | ROBERT ISENBERG

Steve Feinberg Feinberg is deeply moved and will remember this lesson for the rest of his life.

Feinberg starts making movies at the age of 8, borrowing his father’s 8mm Kodak Brownie. He covers his face in moist paper towels to mimic wrinkles or bandages. He punches holes in the film and draws around them in red marker to create gunfire effects, a technique he will later see in Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans.” Like Spielberg, Feinberg gathers friends to make short films, including animations, spy thrillers and a three-minute sketch about Charlie Chaplin transforming into

PHOTO | STEVE SARACEN

Mr. Hyde. He gets his film developed at the local pharmacy, funding his passion with his allowance and Bar Mitzvah money.

The Hollywood Saga

“I always said I’m going out to Hollywood,” recalls Feinberg. After a year at the University of Rhode Island, he scores a free flight to Los Angeles through the DHL courier service. Feinberg crashes with a friend of a friend, and he attends film classes at UCLA. In 1982, he enrolls at the USC School of Cinematic Arts and meets aspiring filmmakers from all over the world. Feinberg runs into Richard Gere,

who is filming the movie “Breathless,” and becomes friends with prolific director Joe Johnston.

Sometime in the late 1980s, Feinberg thinks about his many drives past the ACI Maximum Security Prison in Cranston. “I wondered, what is it like in there?” Feinberg remembers. “It was a mystery.”

He imagines a futuristic penitentiary where roboguards watch over the cells and bars are replaced with laser beams. As Feinberg writes his science fiction screenplay, he listens to Sting’s song “Fortress Around Your Heart,” and he names the work-in-prog-

ress “Fortress.”

Feinberg sells the script to Twentieth Century Fox, and Sean Connery is briefly considered to star. Eventually, Australian director Stuart Gordon takes on the project and heartthrob Christopher Lambert is cast as the lead. Feinberg spends three months in Australia; he oversees the shoot and learns to scuba dive. When the movie is released, Feinberg has lukewarm feelings, calling it a “C+” effort, but “Fortress” is a financial success and performs especially well in Europe and Asia. “There were so CONTINUED ON PAGE 5

AUGUST 2025 | 5

jewishrhody.org | Jewish Rhode Island

Beginning the seven weeks of consolation of the central sins committed by our ancestors that led to their exile and diaspora was sinat chinam, senseless hatred.

However, this Shabbat begins the period known as the “seven weeks of consolation” that escort us through the remaining wilderness of Av and the expansive field of Elul all the way to Rosh Hashanah.

We begin this journey with comfort and love.

Our Haftarah portion this week, drawn RABBI from the book of PRESTON Isaiah, instructs NEIMEISER the prophet to comfort God’s chosen people. How can we comfort one another following the psychological nadir of the Jewish calendar? Six days after Tisha B’Av, we celebrate a festival of love: Tu B’Av. Whereas Tisha B’Av represents the ultimate breakdown of our covenantal relationships, Tu B’Av honors and uplifts their holy potentiality. Likutei Halakhot, an expansive 19th century

Breslover Hasidic text, is even more explicit: Tu B’Av is a repair and sweetening of Tisha B’Av. If the bitterness of sinat chinam led to the calamities of Tisha B’Av, Tu B’Av offers the opportunity to repair the world through the sweetness of ahavat chinam, boundless love. To achieve this, we must approach one another with the same reverence with which we approach God. Just as in prayer we begin with praise and only then engage in petitions, so too we should seek opportunities to recognize one another’s unique contributions to this holy community as a prerequisite to our tendency to make demands of one another. If we wish to inculcate a communal sense of shared belonging and destiny, every one of us must feel the healing power of the knowledge that we are loved.

We feel loved when we are noticed, named and needed; these are the foundations of belonging in our community.

Over the next seven weeks and beyond, we have many opportunities to cultivate and express the love and belonging that make Rhode Island’s

Jewish community special.

Each one of us must play our part and heed the call to start to heal and feel a part of it all.

Our community’s investment in arts and culture unites us across our differences. The institutions of our great state pride themselves on nourishing our collective souls by providing a wide array of offerings to engage with the core of Judaism’s particular contribution to that which makes the world so beautifully diverse.

Our charge then is to make our community a model of tolerance and mutual celebration.

There are so many ways to be Jewish and to live our Jewish values in ways that are authentic and meaningful; ahavat chinam is our watchword for honoring the many ways each of us seeks to be of service as people created B’tzelem Elohim, in the image of God. May this Shabbat and every Shabbat henceforth be a clarion call reminding us that love is all we need. May the love that

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4

and flowed, and the future of his career is hard to predict. Meanwhile, Feinberg recently broke up with his fiancée. “That was probably the most painful time, because I actually cared,” he says, contrasting the engagement with more ephemeral courtships. At this surreal juncture, Feinberg considers a dramatic change.

In a flashback, Feinberg remembers being a kid in 1973, when “The Great Gatsby,” starring Robert Redford, was being filmed in Newport. One Sunday, as his parents drive a car down Route 37, Feinberg gazes out the window and thinks, “Maybe one day I’ll be in charge of all the movies of Rhode Island.” The memory comes flooding back, and he applies for the executive director position.

Feinberg resolves to move back to Rhode Island, and he transports 36 boxes of his possessions across the country on a train. He soon receives the official job offer from Randy Rosenbaum, then-executive director of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts. So begins a new career, which is now 22 years and counting.

“There’s been ups and downs,” says Feinberg. “Naysayers. People trying to beat up on the dream. But overall, I have had the most blessed love affair with the state of Rhode Island. I always tell people, ‘You can love Rhode Island as much as me, but you can’t love Rhode Island more than me.’ And I could say the same thing about movies.”

He learns how to canter and feels a life-changing thrill.

He suddenly remembers a blanket from his childhood, which was covered in the images of horses, and once again, horsemanship feels like a case of bashert. The sensation of destiny continues soon after, when a horse named Cruiz shows clear signs of affection. Smitten, Feinberg buys the horse, and they ride together regularly, as often as five times per week, from 2010 to 2021.

“I’m a horseman,” says Feinberg. “I know horses. I understand horses. Horses understand me. Those were my Super Bowl years, my time with Cruiz.”

When Feinberg is forced to put Cruiz down, he is crushed. He feels conflicted every time he rides another horse.

Yet in 2023, Feinberg learns that a horse named Rusty, who bears a striking resemblance to Cruiz, is scheduled to be destroyed somewhere in Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

Feinberg buys Rusty, saving him from the slaughterhouse.

He learns that Rusty is a former harness racer, but he suffers from an equine shoulder condition called

D’ VA

IN THE TALMUD (Berakhot 32a) Rabbi Simlai extrapolates a foundational maxim concerning prayer from Moses’ description of events at the beginning of this week’s Torah portion, Parshat Etchanan: One should always set forth praise of the Holy One and [only] then pray for one’s own needs. Gratitude is a central tenet of the Jewish ethos; we are compelled to resist taking anything for granted.

Even as Moses knows that his fate is sealed and that he will never cross the Jordan to enter the Promised Land, he warns that those who seek to claim it as an inheritance bear the responsibility of upholding the covenantal relationship between God and the Jewish people.

Calling heaven and earth as witnesses, Moses prophecies that the people will assuredly not endure for long in the land. As we reflected upon in the three weeks of mourning that culminated in our observances of Tisha B’Av at the beginning of this week, one

R

TO R A H

many thoughts and ideas that weren’t fully executed in the right way,” Feinberg reflects. “The director had a difference in taste. But it did get nominated for a Saturn Award, and we did do a sequel with Columbia’s Tri-Star.”

The film firmly establishes Feinberg as a screenwriter.

The Homecoming

In 2003, Feinberg returns to Cranston to spend time with a friend. The friend is finalizing a divorce, and he doesn’t want to face a family Christmas party alone. While there, Feinberg is disappointed to learn that the Providence Film Commission had been dissolved. Yet this vacuum piques Feinberg’s interest; within days, he is invited to a meeting with officials at Providence City Hall.

“I gave them a list of things I would do [for the local film industry], including tax incentives,” says Feinberg.

“They said, ‘Would you be interested in being head of the Rhode Island Film and TV Office?’ My hair stood up.”

At this point, Feinberg has spent 22 years in California.

Like so many people in the film industry, Feinberg’s opportunities have ebbed

The Horse Whisperer

Feinberg misses his days playing pickup basketball games in L.A., and he flirts occasionally with golf. One day in 2006 or 2007, while scouting for locations in Warwick, he spots a pair of horse riders on the bridle trail in Goddard Park. He’s mesmerized.

Feinberg learns of C and L Stables, which is relatively new at the time, and inquires about rides. Though he can’t ever remember mounting a saddle, he signs up for a $30 ride with a group of strangers. A half-hour later, “I get off, and my smile is so wide, I felt like a child. I was so happy. I went back the next Saturday, to see if I felt the same way. And I did.”

Inspired, Feinberg asks Lee Philips, co-founder of C and L Stables, about riding lessons.

pervades this community be a source of comfort to all who mourn and strength to those who are weary. Let our prayers begin with praise and our purpose take root in the soil of this land.

PRESTON NEIMEISER is a rabbi at Temple Beth-El, in Providence.

Candle lighting times August 2025

Greater Rhode Island August 8

7:35pm

August 15

7:25pm

August 22

7:15pm

August 29

7:03pm

sweeney. Feinberg decides that actually riding Rusty would aggravate the pain, so the two now walk side-by-side through the woods.

“I think of my temple as the natural trails of Goddard Park,” says Feinberg.

“I would be at peace with the world and nature and God and all of this spirituality in the park with my horse.”

The Comeback Story

Feinberg starts working on a new script, writing in the evenings and on weekends.

When the project is ready, he plans to submit a proposal to the Ethics Commission so he can produce it locally. “I don’t want to say anything until I get my ducks in a row,” he says. “But it’s a uniquely Rhode Island story. I don’t want to make it anywhere else. I think it’s super important, and super important to make now.”

ROBERT ISENBERG is a freelance writer and multimedia producer based in Providence. His latest book is “Mile Markers: Essays on Cycling.”

6 | AUGUST 2025

Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS FOR COMPLETE MONTHLY LISTINGS, VISIT JEWISHRHODY.ORG

Ongoing Kosher Senior Café and Programming. 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Monday – Thursday at the Bonnie & Donald Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence; most Fridays at Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. In-person (and on Zoom most Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays) programming from 11 a.m.-noon followed by lunch and discussion noon-1 p.m. On Wednesdays, programming is chair yoga. Friday, 8/29: “Senior” Prom will take place at the Dwares JCC – see separate listing. For seniors aged 60 and older as well as younger adults with a disability; all faiths and backgrounds welcome.

Suggested donation: $3 per lunch.

The Kosher Senior Café is a program of Jewish Collaborative Services and is supported by the Jewish Alliance of Greater RI and Blackstone Health. Information and RSVP, Neal or Sherri at neal@jcsri. org or 401-421-4111, ext. 114.

Colonial Jewish Walking Tours.

Daily Sunday – Thursday thru 8/31. 11 a.m.-noon. Loeb Visitors Center at Touro Synagogue National Historic Site, 52 Spring St., Newport. Trace the steps walked by the Jewish community in Newport in the 1700s. Tours are weatherdependent and not appropriate for young children. Tickets: $18.

Reservations (requested), tours@ tourosynagogue.org. Information, Meryle Cawley at tours@ tourosynagogue.org or 401-8474794, ext. 207.

Temple Emanu-El Mah Jongg.

Tuesdays (with the exception of holidays). 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 99 Taft Ave., Providence. Information, Shoshana Jacob at shosh@teprov.org or 401331-1616.

Hebrew Classes Fall Session at Temple Emanu-El. Tuesdays 9/2 thru 11/11. Beginner class 5-5:45 p.m. All other levels 6-7 p.m. 99 Taft Ave., Providence. Five levels of in-person Hebrew conversation classes offered: Beginner, Introduction to Prayerbook Hebrew, Advanced Beginners for Spoken Hebrew, Intermediate and Advanced. Cost: $100 per person plus cost of book; scholarships

available. Information (including which level is right for you), Toby Liebowitz at tobyaane@gmail.com.

Cape Cod Synagogue Family Shabbat Services and Dinner.

Second Friday of the month 5:30 p.m. 145 Winter St., Hyannis, Mass. In-person and livestreamed services on website, Facebook, Cape Media, YouTube and Community Television Comcast channel 99. Followed by community Shabbat dinner. Information, 508775-2988 or capecodsynagogue. org.

Temple Beth-El Shabbat Service.

Fridays 5:45 p.m. 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Information, Jude Weinstein at jweinstein@templebeth-el.org or 401-331-6070.

Cape Cod Synagogue Shabbat Services. Fridays 7 p.m. 145 Winter St., Hyannis, Mass. With Rabbi David Freelund. In-person and livestreamed on website, Facebook, Cape Media, YouTube and Community Television Comcast channel 99. Information, 508-7752988 or capecodsynagogue.org.

templehabonim.org or 401-2456536.

Cape Cod Synagogue Shabbat Services. Saturdays 10:30 a.m.

145 Winter St., Hyannis, Mass. With Rabbi David Freelund. In-person and livestreamed on website, Facebook and YouTube. Information, Cape Cod Synagogue at 508-7752988 or capecodsynagogue.org.

Friday | August 8 Story Time under the Gazebo with PJ Library and Temple Sinai.

11 a.m. -noon. Garden City Gazebo, 100 Midway Road, Cranston. Join Lyndsey from PJ Library and Rabbi Goldwasser and Cantor Deborah from Temple Sinai to celebrate Shabbat with PJ Library books, songs and a craft. RSVP (to ensure enough supplies) and information, Lyndsey Ursillo at lursillo@ jewishallianceri.org.

Temple Torat Yisrael Virtual Kabbalat Shabbat and Torah Services. 5:45-6:15 p.m. Via Zoom only. Information, temple@ toratyisrael.org.

Temple Beth-El Torah Study. Most Saturdays 9 a.m. 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Join Temple Beth-El clergy and delve into the weekly portion. Torah Study is in person only. Information, Jude Weinstein at jweinstein@temple-beth-el.org or 401-331-6070.

Temple Sinai Shabbat Service.

6-7 p.m. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston.

Service will be held in the chapel.

Information, Templesinairi.org, dottie@templesinairi.org or 401942-8350.

Temple Torat Yisrael Shabbat Services. Saturdays 9:30-10:30 a.m. No services 8/30. 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Join in person or via Zoom. Information, Temple@toratyisrael.org.

Temple Sinai Morning Service.

11 a.m.-noon. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Information, Templesinairi.org, dottie@ templesinairi.org or 401-942-8350.

Temple Sinai Breakfast and Torah Study. Saturdays 9:30-11 a.m. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston.

Delicious breakfast followed by the weekly Torah study at 10 a.m. In person or via Zoom. Information, Templesinairi.org, dottie@ templesinairi.org or 401-942-8350.

Temple Habonim Torah Study.

Saturdays 10-11 a.m. will resume on 8/16. 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington. Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman leads Torah study on current portion. Via Zoom.

Information, Adina Davies at office@

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100 Hoffman Avenue, Cranston | (401) 714-0622 www.KolbLaw.com | bill@kolblaw.com

Saturday | August 9

Temple Sinai Havdalah on the Beach. 6 p.m. Narragansett Town Beach, 39 Boston Neck Road, Narragansett. Join us near lifeguard chair number five by the North Pavilion. Bring your own beach chair. Information, Templesinairi.org, dottie@ templesinairi.org or 401-942-8350.

Sunday | August 10 Young Jewish Professionals' 1st Annual Community Summer BBQ. 2 p.m. Location given upon RSVP. All Kosher, and all the fun.

Open to members of the young Jewish professional community and to young families with kids.

Questions and RSVP, call or text Seth at 401-263-9932.

Understanding Krav Maga and Situational Awareness. 6-7:30 p.m. Join Rhode Island Coalition for Israel (RICI) and Bart Axelrod of EP Martial Arts for a Zoom seminar that will cover krav maga, situational awareness and safety in potentially violent situations. Free; donations to support RICI’s work are

encouraged. Information (including Zoom link), Maria Friedman at mariafrdmn@gmail.com or 952567-9315.

Thursday | August 14 PJ Library Story Time Stretches with Create Power Yoga. 10-10:45 a.m. Crescent Park, 753-779 Bullocks Point Ave., Riverside. Join other PJ Library families with children from 18 months old to 5 years old to explore movement. We will incorporate age-appropriate stories into our movements. RSVP (by 8/7) and information, Lyndsey Ursillo at lursillo@jewishallianceri.org.

Young Professionals Happy Hour.

5-7:30 p.m. Hot Club, 25 Bridge St., Providence. Happy hour where the cocktails are cold, the laughter flows easily and the summer breeze brings nothing but good times. Whether you’re unwinding after work or looking to meet friends, toast the season. Cost: $12 (includes 1 drink). Information and RSVP, Samantha Kaufman at skaufman@jewishallianceri.org.

Friday | August 15 Temple Beth-El Tot Shabbat in the Park. 4-5:30 p.m. Paterson Park, 15 Paterson St., Providence. Join us for a Kabbalat Shabbat playdate in the park with a little singing, a little nosh, PJ Library stories and lots of fun. For those with children ages 0-5. Rain location is Temple Beth-El (70 Orchard Ave.).

Information, Jude Weinstein at jweinstein@temple-beth-el.org or 401-331-6070.

Temple Torat Yisrael Virtual Kabbalat Shabbat and Torah Services. 5:45-6:15 p.m. Via Zoom only. Information, temple@ toratyisrael.org.

Temple Sinai Evening Shabbat Service. 6-7 p.m. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Join us in the chapel for the evening service and a discussion about divine reward and punishment. Information, Templesinairi.org, dottie@ templesinairi.org or 401-942-8350.

Saturday | August 16 Temple Sinai Morning Shabbat Service. 11 a.m.-noon. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Come to the chapel and experience the Mindfulness service. Information, Templesinairi. org, dottie@templesinairi.org or 401-942-8350.

Sunday | August 17 Touro Synagogue Foundation hosts 78th Annual George Washington Letter Reading.

1-2 p.m. The Old Colony House, Washington Square, Newport.

Reading of Washington’s 1790 letter

“To the Hebrew Congregation in Newport,” written after his first trip to Rhode Island as President, honoring our nation’s heritage of religious freedom. Free.

Livestreamed with limited in-person seating. Information, meryle@ tourosynagogue.org or 401-8474794, ext. 207.

Wednesday | August 20 Screen on the Green: “The Greatest Showman.” 7:30 p.m.

Bonnie & Donald Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Join us behind the building for an outdoor movie and snacks. The movie will begin at dusk. Free. RSVP and information, Samantha Kaufman at skaufman@jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 111.

Thursday | August 21 Roger Williams National Memorial 60th Anniversary Celebration. 5:30 p.m. 282 North Main St., Providence. Established in 1965, the memorial stands on land donated by the Hahn family, a prominent Jewish family, for the purpose of creating a public memorial to preserve the legacy of Roger Williams’s ideals of freedom of conscience and religious liberty.

Event hosted by the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association and the National Park Service. Free.

Friday | August 22 Temple Torat Yisrael Beach Shabbat. 5:30 p.m. Pavilion Porch at Goddard Memorial State Park, 1095 Ives Road, East Greenwich.

Rabbi Saks leads this informal, interactive family Kabbalat Shabbat Service followed by a potluck dairy picnic. Each family should bring a dish to share. Dessert provided.

Bring beach chairs, blankets, sunhats and flip flops. Information, Temple@toratyisrael.org.

Temple Sinai Evening Shabbat Service. 6-7 p.m. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Meet in the chapel.

The focus will be on preparing spiritually for the High Holy Days.

Information, Templesinairi.org, dottie@templesinairi.org or 401942-8350.

Temple Habonim Shabbat by the Sea. 6:15 p.m. Barrington Beach, 87 Bay Road, Barrington. Bring your own chair or blanket, and welcome Shabbat on the beach. In case of inclement weather, the services will be moved inside to Temple Habonim (165 New Meadow Road, Barrington). Information, office@ templehabonim.org.

Saturday | August 23 Temple Sinai Morning Shabbat Service. 11 a.m.-noon. 30 Hagen

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AUGUST 2025 | 7

CALENDAR Ave., Cranston. Join us in the chapel. Information, Templesinairi. org, dottie@templesinairi.org or 401-942-8350.

Sunday | August 24 Temple Torat Yisrael Adult Ed with Rabbi Saks. 10-11 a.m. 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Topic to be determined. Information, Temple@toratyisrael.org.

Open House at Congregation Agudas Achim. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. 901 N Main St., Attleboro, Mass. Annual Open House and Block Party to welcome potential members and those seeking to get involved with a Jewish community. Enjoy food, crafts for kids and live music, and learn more about the spiritual, school and community life at the area’s only Reconstructionist synagogue. Information, Office@ Agudasma.org.

Monday | August 25 Temple Sinai 10th Annual Golf Tournament. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Valley Country Club, 251 New London Ave., Cranston. 8 a.m. registration and continental breakfast. The format is a scramble with prizes in various categories. Cost: $190 per person (includes lunch).

Information, Templesinairi.org, dottie@templesinairi.org or 401942-8350.

Temple Habonim presents "Antisemitism: The Ongoing Struggle for Awareness and Action." 7:30 p.m. 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington.

Join us for a timely and vital conversation with U.S. Rep. Gabe

Amo on the rise of antisemitism.

Gain insight into the challenges we face and how we can respond as a united community. All welcome. Information, office@ templehabonim.org.

Wednesday | August 27 Happy Hour (45+). 5-7:30 p.m. Hot Club, 25 Bridge St., Providence. Join us for an evening filled with laughter, stimulating conversation and expertly served beverages. This event is for those 45+. Cost: $12 (includes 1 drink). Information and RSVP, Samantha Kaufman at skaufman@jewishallianceri.org.

Friday | August 29 “Senior” Prom. 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Bonnie & Donald Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence.

Enjoy a Kosher lunch, and dance to tunes from the ’60s. Wear tiedye, bell bottoms and mod looks or vintage prom attire. Photo station with props and groovy backdrops. Suggested donation: $5. Information and RSVP (by 8/18), Neal at neal@jcsri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 114 or Dorothy at dretting@jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 152.

Temple Sinai Evening Shabbat Service. 6-7 p.m. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Join with other members for a musical service led by Cantor Gelber. Information, Templesinairi.org, dottie@ templesinairi.org or 401-9428350.

After 53 years on the East Side, Cole Avenue Tailor is closing shop.

I would like to thank my friends, customers and neighbors for your trust, loyalty and of course friendships. I am deeply grateful!

Fondly, Julio Iannone

E TH T EE M F! AF ST

Get to Know temple Habonim

Join us at the Beach for a Meet & Greet Followed by Shabbat by the Sea Friday, September 5th Meet & Greet: 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM Shabbat Services: 5:45 PM Barrington Beach, Bay Road

Bring a chair, blanket and your beach essentials.

In the event of rain, we'll move indoors to Temple Habonim.

8 | AUGUST 2025

Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

September 14 | 11am–4pm Join us for the 2nd Annual Jewish Culture Fest!

This high-energy, family-friendly event is back with live performances from Nefesh Mountain, Ezekiel's Wheels and the Rachel Linsky Dancers, and Rock-a-Baby rocking the stage in our expanded KidZone!

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Schedule a visit today and discover the good life.

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AUGUST 2025 | 9

jewishrhody.org | Jewish Rhode Island

COMMUNITY VOICES

Some Southwestern houses of worship GEORGE M. GOODWIN OUR SON, MICHAEL, has lived in Houston for five years, and Betsey and I were again fortunate to visit him for a few days in April. While in the Southwest, we also journeyed to New Mexico for six days.

Aside from our family reunion, this trip was not a trip intended to demonstrate varying examples of religiosity. Inevitably, it did, but with surprising and glorious results.

When visiting Michael a year ago, Betsey and I wanted to learn about an impressive reform synagogue, Emanu El, which was built in 1949, only four years after the founding of its congregation. But when we dropped by on a Sunday morning, we were not permitted to enter its formidable gates opposite Rice University. During two intercom calls with security officers, I tried to explain that I am a student of synagogue architecture – not merely a curiosity-seeker. Religious school was in session, however, so we were turned away.

In anticipation of this year’s visit, I wrote to the temple’s executive director, also requesting permission to take photographs. I was amazed to discover Beryl Chernow, a native Rhode Islander, who graduated from Warwick’s Toll Gate High School. He would be away when Betsey and I planned

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to arrive but arranged for us to receive a guided tour from a senior congregant, who proudly showed us his confirmation class photo from 1962.

Emanu El’s original building, adorned with brightly colored brick, is a remarkable early example of postwar modernism. It was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright, but in a style that he launched in greater Chicago about 40 years earlier. Wright did eventually receive a synagogue commission, GEORGE M. in suburban GOODWIN Philadelphia, but not until the mid-1950s, near the end of his astonishing career. His Beth Sholom broke astonishing new ground, and it remains one of the most radical and impressive interpretations of Jewish tradition anywhere.

None of my colleagues among architectural historians has yet written a detailed study of Houston’s Emanu El, but I easily grasped its strength and beauty. I can also comprehend how the sanctuary’s uses have evolved. For example, it is no longer required to seat approximately 1,500 worshippers in five sections for High Holy Day services. For Shabbat services, the bimah’s monumentality has also been reconfigured, so lecterns and microphones are placed as close to congregants as possible. I do not know if a choir

has also descended from its airy loft, but a cantor and a pianist have also moved close to congregants.

Nevertheless, Emanu El’s main sanctuary, designed by a congregant, Lenard Gabert, Sr., with the firm of MacKie & Kamrath, remains extremely dramatic. Its towering, triangular space seems to resemble a pair of praying hands. Large, unadorned windows, flanking the bimah, offer abundant daylight and sweeping views of nearby treetops. Ironically, the main sanctuary bears some resemblance to another of Wright’s houses of worship, his Unitarian Meetinghouse in Madison, Wisconsin, close to his ancestral home, which was built in 1947.

Inevitably perhaps, some aspects of Emanu El’s stirring, original design have been compromised. For example, the 1975 addition of a chapel for small gatherings looks conventional, and the brightly colored stained-glass windows seem far too pretty.

A sequence of hallways, lounges and offices also feels labyrinthine.

In Santa Fe, Betsey and I visited more than a few historic churches, as we did on our visit there in 1999. We were particularly impressed by two neighboring Catholic shrines: the Loretto Chapel, dating from 1878, and San Miguel Chapel, approximately 160 years older.

Indeed, this abode structure, considered North America’s oldest extant house of worship, brought to mind

Newport’s Touro Synagogue, our continent’s oldest extant example, completed in 1763.

It’s unfair to consider one of Santa Fe chapels architecturally “primitive” or the other “refined,” for both do a marvelous job of expressing fundamental beliefs and values. If given a choice between these neighbors, however, I prefer the much older and bolder example. To me, it feels far more evocative, perhaps demanding a personal response.

Though unable to visit their interiors, I was also drawn to two adobe churches in Taos, which we had also previously visited. Their simplicity and boldness also preclude any notion of architectural quaintness or artifice.

But there was still another architectural complex that surprised and delighted me. I have always enjoyed Georgia O’Keefe’s paintings, so Betsey and I visited her art museum in Santa Fe. But we were far more astonished by her once remote home in Abiquiú, more than 90 minutes northwest. What a peaceful yet magnificent oasis!

In 1945, following the death of her New Yorker husband, Alfred Stieglitz, a visionary photographer, art dealer and a Jew, O’Keefe began to refurbish this hacienda, where she would live from 1949 to 1984 (before spending her final years in Taos). A tour of her compound’s grounds and interiors magically suggests her enduring presence.

O’Keefe’s full kitchen cab-

Bat mitzvah ties to past family SKE

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BAT AND BAR MITZVAH occasions pose the challenge of those eternal family questions: who does he or she look like or resemble? Well, with grandchildren, it’s a creative challenge. It is not always physical traits that we look for: shared passions and predispositions are also part of the mix. My granddaughter, a recent bat mitzvah, adores the horse that she devotes herself to.

My mother would be her great-grandmother, and what they have in common is their respect and affection for a horse. My mother took charge of and cared for a work horse up in Montreal, and her dad

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taught her to feed the household “car” (before they had automobiles) with courtesy. You don’t just toss the hay; you feed the noble beast with affection and courtesy!

Our granddaughter Selma, deserves and merits our profound good will and thanks, and she depicted that horse on the costume she wore as hostess at her coming of age in her MIKE FINK school-synagogue in our nation’s capital. Her father has dual citizenship as an Israeli-American.

My first journey to our Holy Land was in 1981, the bar mitzvah of the homeland’s official acknowledgement

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among the postwar United Nations and the peak of its popularity in the postwar planet. That journey was, in a way, my own bar mitzvah!

One other minor coincidence: my mother’s favorite flower was the pink peony and not only was the bush in bloom in Selma’s yard, but she drew it on the guest T-shirts and gathered bouquets of the blossoms to decorate the dining room.

I know this is a bit of a stretch to sketch into a portent, but that’s what a family is, a strange and wondrous mix of genes, memories, hopes, prayers and multiple coincidences!

MIKE FINK (mfink33@aol.com) is a professor emeritus at the Rhode Island School of Design.

inets are visible, as well as those housing her somber yet exotic wardrobe. It’s also possible to see the spaces where she painted, relaxed and slumbered. She surely meditated everywhere.

And there are magnificent views from within courtyards and across distant horizons.

The desert landscape resembles the Negev. Alas, O’Keefe was never blessed with children or a second spouse, but she received much care from friends and servants. Sadly, her vision eventually weakened, but never her curiosity or imagination.

O’Keefe’s home somehow reminded me of the bold residence that the modernist, Walter Gropius, who led Germany’s Bauhaus movement, built for himself and his wife in rural Lincoln, Massachusetts, in 1938. Yes, the Gropius house is happily embedded within nature, but its basic form seems harsh, if not contrived.

I do not know if O’Keefe identified with any denomination, but she was, without question, a profoundly spiritual person. Her modest abode, placed within expansive surroundings, evokes a rare sense of hope and transcendence. An earthly heaven or perhaps a heavenly earth.

GEORGE M. GOODWIN, of Providence, is the editor of Rhode Island Jewish Historical Notes.

10 | AUGUST 2025

Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

COMMUNITY VOICES

I N DU LGE in Delicious Latkes work out.

Also serving Jewish Penicillin

THE FILM “The Woman in Gold” (2015), based on the book “The Lady in Gold” by Anne Marie O’Connor, is as an enduring symbol of Jewish resilience, cultural survival, identity, justice and historical memory. This really stood out to me when I first saw it.

A legal drama and true story, the film is centered around Holocaust survivor Maria Altmann and her quest, aided by lawyer Randol Schoenberg to reclaim Gustav Klimt’s famous portrait of her aunt, Adele Bloch-Bauer, which was stolen by the Nazis and later held by the Austrian government.

The painting, regarded as a national treasure although it was originally privately owned by the family, was often referred to as the “Mona Lisa of Austria.”

For Maria and her family, the painting, stolen during the Nazi regime, took on particular significance as part of their family identity and legacy. The film uses story and flashbacks to illustrate the close relationship that Maria had with her aunt and the deep personal connection she felt with the painting. It was both an important example of Klimt’s work but also piece of family and cultural legacy that was looted from them by antisemitic violence.

The painting’s return to Maria Altmann, Adele’s niece, endured a six-year struggle with the Austrian government and ultimately became a landmark in Holocaust restitution efforts. The restitution process confirmed the triumph of justice, even after profound loss, over Nazi efforts to erase the culture and personal legacy of the painting. It helped to restore the dignity, memory and narrative of Jewish families.

Helen Mirren, who played Maria Altmann, was honored by the World Jewish

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Congress for her portrayal, and for highlighting the story of the restitution issue. It reached beyond legal and art historical circles to a broad international awareness. The film also contributed to policy changes, discussions in legislative bodies and continuing calls for justice and transparency in art restitution.

Today, the painting is displayed at the Neue Galerie in PATRICIA New York, not as “Woman in Gold” RASKIN but as “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I” to honor the original intent of the artwork and acknowledge the historical context of its seizure and renaming.

I was really affected by the film “The Woman in Gold.”

It demonstrates Altmann’s belief and persistence against all odds and emphasizes the rewards of seeking justice. “The Woman in Gold” stands for more than a single artwork. It speaks to the survival of Jewish history, culture and identity. It demonstrates the resilience of the Jewish people and the essential role of memory and justice in art history and for Jews worldwide.

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a Matzo Ball Soup tradition!

Art restitution depicts Jewish resilience, culture and justice

PATRICIA RASKIN, owner of Raskin Resources Productions, is an awardwinning radio producer, business owner and leader.

She has served on the board of directors of Temple Emanu-El, in Providence. Her “Positive Living with Patricia Raskin” podcast can be heard on voiceamerica.com.

AUGUST 2025 | 11

jewishrhody.org | Jewish Rhode Island

FOOD

The season of sensational salads (FAMILY FEATURES) The warmer months mean one thing: salad season is officially here. With fresh flavors abounding, now is the perfect opportunity to tap into an unexpected veggie: celery.

Celery is packed with flavor and low in calories, making it a smart choice for snacking and cooking a variety of meals throughout the

day. Made up of 95% water, it’s also naturally hydrating and high in fiber to keep you feeling full and refreshed.

Available year-round, an option like Dandy Celery from Duda Farm Fresh Foods redefines what celery can be - crispier, sweeter and less stringy - through a legacy of quality, innovation and consistency in celery cultivation since 1926.

Fresh Salad with Grilled Strawberries and Celery, Berries and Burrata Recipe courtesy of Marie Reginato on behalf of Duda Farm Fresh Foods Servings: 2

INGREDIENTS

Salad: 4 sticks celery, divided 4 strawberries, cut in half 1 handful blackberries blueberries raspberries 1 medium burrata ball, cut in half 3 cups arugula 1 handful hemp seeds Dressing: 3 tablespoons orange juice 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup 3 tablespoons olive oil 1 pinch sea salt

DIRECTIONS

Using grill pan or directly on grill, cook two celery sticks and strawberries until soft with grill marks on either side.

While celery and strawberries grill, make dressing. In jar, mix orange juice, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, olive oil and salt.

Cut grilled and remaining raw celery sticks at angle into 1/4-inch pieces.

In mixing bowl, toss celery, strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, burrata, arugula and hemp seeds with dressing. Mix well.

This Fresh Salad with Grilled Strawberries and Celery, Berries and Burrata, for example, combines celery with other fresh, warm-weather favorites like strawberries, blackberries, blueberries and raspberries on a bed of arugula - topped with a sweet, citrusy dressing - for a refreshing, nourishing lunch or dinner.

Or for an Asian twist, try this

Thai Lime Chicken Salad, which features celery, carrots, cucumber and poached chicken breast over a jasmine rice base with an Asian-inspired dressing that brings a touch of heat to the table.

Find more recipes for salad season and beyond at DudaFresh.com.

Thai Lime Chicken Salad Servings: 4

INGREDIENTS

4 stalks celery, sliced on bias 1 cucumber, split, seeded and sliced on bias 2 carrots, peeled and julienned 2 cups jasmine rice, cooked and cooled slightly 1 bunch scallions, green section finely chopped and white ends julienned 2 cups poached chicken breast, shredded 3 tablespoons avocado seed oil 3 tablespoons rice vinegar 1 tablespoon palm sugar 2 tablespoons toasted sesame oil 2 tablespoons lime juice 2 tablespoons tamari 1 tablespoon fish sauce 1/2 teaspoon crushed chili flakes (optional) salt, to taste pepper, to taste

1 cup roasted peanuts or cashews, crushed 1 cup fresh cilantro sprigs 4 lime wedges

DIRECTIONS

In medium bowl, combine celery, cucumbers, carrots, cooked rice, scallions and shredded chicken.

In another bowl, whisk avocado seed oil, rice vinegar, palm sugar, sesame oil, lime juice, tamari, fish sauce and chili flakes, if desired, until sugar is dissolved. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper, to taste.

Pour mixture over celery and shredded chicken mixture; toss to mix.

To serve, portion out salad and top with crushed nuts, cilantro sprigs and lime wedges.

12 | AUGUST 2025

Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

OPINION

A proud American Jew

Richard Rose Warwick, R.I.

Butler strike I FEEL SORRY FOR THE Butler workers who are on strike. The root cause of the problem is that Rhode Island has Medicaid reimbursement that is often below cost, and private health insurance reimbursement about 30% below neighboring states. The whole health care system in Rhode Island is unravelling because of decisions made at the State House.

Farrel I. Klein Providence, R.I.

“Therefore choose life” LIKE MANY of my Reform rabbinical colleagues, I find a brief Hebrew phrase from Deuteronomy’s chapter 30 especially energizing: uvacharta bachayim, which translates to “Therefore choose life!” To put these words into the context of the full verse, “I call heaven and earth to bear witness to you this day, life and death I have set before you, the blessing and the curse: therefore choose life that you may live, you and your offspring.” (Deut. 30.19).

Throughout my entire rabbinical career, the Reform movement of Judaism has taken these words to heart by making them part of our prescribed Yom Kippur morning Torah reading.

Today it remains the primary reading, but alternative readings are suggested.

This past July 4, when I read Carlos Lozada’s op-ed piece in The New York Times, “America Is a Choice We Make” the very title called to mind this ennobling Biblical verse, which reinforces one of our primary obligations as American citizens to help choose our collective future; that is to say, we have the privilege and the duty of voting. As Lozada himself puts it, “America is also a choice, a hard one.”

Lozada’s op-ed piece is far more comprehensive than the usual newspaper column. To begin with, his essay fills up an entire Times opinion page.

Moreover, he reaches back in time to the very beginnings of our nation during our Revolutionary War and yet is as current as today’s news.

In his essay, Lozada interweaves three separate stories: the story of his personal life

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and the story told by John Jakes (1932-2023) in his eight historical novels of The Kent Family Chronicles, spanning our national history from just before our Revolutionary War to 1890. More significantly, Lozada uses his own life story and the many stories in The Kent Family Chronicles to offer a nuanced view of how we have arrived at the America of today – RABBI JAMES warts and all.

Lozada, now ROSENBERG in his mid-50s, emigrated as a little boy from Peru in the mid-70s. His family returned to Peru, where Carlos completed both middle school and high school. He came back to the “States” for college and then “made this place home.”

During his time back in Peru, Lozada, as an adolescent, read all eight of his father’s volumes of Jakes’ multigenerational saga.

From the young Lozada’s perspective, “That first book and the ones that followed offered me a romanticized and tantalizing history of the United States, one that appealed to my sense of adventure, of right and wrong, of longing for a country that was not yet mine.”

Such is Lozada’s first romanticized understanding of America that comes directly from his first reading of John Jakes’ bestselling series, published between 1971 and 1979 in recognition of our nation’s 200th birthday, the promulgation of our Declaration of Independence.

Fifty years after Lozada first read Jakes’ 8-volume saga of the Kent family, he came back to it to see if books “could offer some help for another apprehensive age. And selfishly, I wanted to read the Kent story, some 5,000

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I. We are proud American Jews. We love our people and Medinat Yisrael.

II. The people of Gaza are starving. Women, children and elderly lack food and potable water. They are sequestered and caged in a desolate territory, a hellscape, where images of their suffering have rightfully horrified US and world opinion.

III. Hamas is an evil terrorist group that is responsible for innumerable atrocities it afflicts on both Israelis and Palestinians. The Israeli government is justified in its mission to totally destroy this scourge.

IV. The attacks authored by Yaya Sinwar and Hamas on Oct. 7 have nullified all hope for a two-state solution for generations to come. This is because the two peoples utterly hate and distrust each other, teaching the hatred to their offspring. Also, internal and external political interests seek, for their own profit, to perpetuate this enmity. With such enormous mutual odium, no resolution of true peace and respectful coexistence is possible.

V. Zionism, the movement to return to our ancient homeland and maintain a Jewish state entity, is the valid, undeniable expression of self-determination for Jews worldwide.

VI. As American Jews, with our heritage of humanitarianism and tikkun olam, we must support and advocate for swift and complete material and medical aid to suffering Gazans.

VII. Im ein ani li, mi li. Uke’ani le’atzi, ma ani. Ve im lo akshav, imatai. “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? And if not now, when?” – Rabbi Hillel

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LETTERS

pages worth, to see whether my old fascination still endured.”

Lozada’s rereading of The Kent Family Chronicles has forced him to reconsider the many meanings of the stories we Americans have been telling each other. What are the choices we have made in the past and the choices we have yet to make today and tomorrow? The saga of the Kent family asks several questions about these choices: “Their choice for America is between status and duty, expediency and principle, an easy existence and a meaningful one. The Kents’ story…remains necessary because its protagonists understand that American ideals aren’t just what we profess to believe but how we live and the price we are willing to pay for our choices.”

In essence, Carlos Lozada’s thoughtful and thought-provoking July 4 essay is a plea to his fellow Americans to choose through our voting the life that we want for each other as we move to commemorate the 250th year – a quarter of a millennium!

– since the birth of our nation.

Let us reaffirm the dreams of our Declaration of Independence, our gifts of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” – not just for wealthy men of property, but for all of us – a full life for all Americans: men and women, Black and white, wealthy and not so wealthy, native born and immigrant. Let us come together in our pursuit of a collective future that will make all of us once again proud to call ourselves Americans.

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

IN-THE-NEWS East Providence community stands united against hate

BY EMILY GAUDREAU EAST PROVIDENCE – How are communities in East Providence – and throughout Rhode Island – experiencing and responding to the rise in hate incidents? That was the focus of the Tuesday night [Aug. 5] community program “Our United Community: Together Against Hate.”

The program was sponsored by the

Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island in coordination with the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias (established by the General Assembly to study and report on all forms of prejudice, bias and hatred within the state) joined with the City of East Providence, the East Providence Police Department and the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center.

It was held in response to a series of recent hate and bias incidents in East Providence targeting the Cape Verdean, Jewish and LGBTQIA+ communities. These incidents included the defacement of a public mural, swastikas spray-painted at a Dunkin’ Donuts and a particularly egregious act in which a man tore down and stomped on the Cape Verdean flag during a celebration of

Cape Verde’s 50th Independence Day at East Providence City Hall.

The panel discussion was moderated by Shane Lee, Director of Programs at the Nonviolence Institute. It featured East Providence Police Chief Michael Rapoza; Stephanie Hague, Chief Strategy Officer at the Jewish Alliance; Dr. Silas Otniel Rodrigues CONTINUED ON PAGE 18

Jewish Rhode Island publishes thoughtful and informative contributors’ columns (op-eds of 500 – 800 words) and letters to the editor (300 words, maximum) on issues of interest to our Jewish community. At our discretion, we may edit pieces for publication or refuse publication. Letters and columns, whether from our regular contributors or from guest columnists, represent the views of the authors; they do not represent the views of Jewish Rhode Island or the Alliance.

AUGUST 2025 | 13

jewishrhody.org | Jewish Rhode Island

BOOK REVIEW

Chaim Grade’s last novel finally published, translated

BY MICHAEL FINE WHEN I THINK of great Yiddish literature, I think mostly about the short fiction of I.L.Peretz, S. Ansky and I.B. Singer, and not about epic novels. Yiddish literature flowered in Eastern Europe between 1864 and Sept. 1, 1939, when Eastern Europe was overrun by the Third Reich.

Yiddish writers flourished in Russia-Poland (before 1918), Poland (the same geography but after 1918, when Poland became an independent nation), Lithuania, Belarus (then known as Byelorussia), and Ukraine, in the cities of Warsaw, Vilna, Bialystock, Minsk, Moscow, St. Petersburg, Krakow, Lublin, Lvov and Kyiv.

Some Yiddish writers – Sholem Aleichem, Anna Margolin, Abraham Cahan and Jacob Gladstein – lived in New York, which then became home to many of the surviving remnants of Yiddish literature – I.B. Singer, I.J. Singer and Chaim Grade, among others, who came to the US after the Holocaust. They survived until 1992, when I.B. Singer, the last of this group, died in Florida. Others, lesser known in the US – Avrom Sutzkever, Barahman Lev, Abraham Kapinowicz – made Aliyah.

Yiddish fiction in the US was often first published in the Yiddish newspapers of New York as short stories or serialized novels. Its audiences were the Yiddish-speaking immigrants who worked in the sweatshops and for the furriers, diamond cutters and installment brokers of the old Lower East Side. They eventually worked their way up and out, first to the Bronx and Brooklyn, and then to Westchester, Long Island and New Jersey. Their descendants spread across the country and around the world – eaving the Yiddish of their grandparents and parents behind.

‘Sons and Daughters’

by Chaim Grade.

Alfred A. Knopf, 2025 CHAIM GRADE (1910-1982) was born in poverty in Vilna, educated at the musar Novaredok Yeshiva and at other musar yeshivot in Bialystok, Bielsk-Podlaski and Olkenik. He then studied for seven years with Rab Avrohom Yeshaya Karelitz, the Hazon Ish, a noted scholar and later one of the leaders of the Haredi Community in Israel. Grade began to write secular poetry and left yeshiva life for a life of literature.

He married in 1937. He, his wife and mother remained in Vilna, which was occupied by the Soviet Union. After the German invasion of Poland, he fled eastward when the Germans invaded Lithuania in 1941, leaving his wife and mother behind, believing that the Germans were only interested in rounding up Jewish men. Grade survived the war in Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Moscow, and learned only later about the murder of his wife and mother, and about the liquidation of both the Vilna Ghetto which had occurred in September of 1943, and the Jewish population of Lithuania itself. He remarried in 1945 in Paris, to a woman 15 years his junior, Inna Grade, who had a Jewish doctor-father but spoke no Yiddish. They lived first in Lodz, in Poland, and then France, where Grade worked briefly as a rabbi in Heronville.

Grade and his wife came to the US on tourist visas in 1948. He lived the rest of his life in the Amalgamated Houses, a union-run housing development in the Bronx. He wrote

in Yiddish, publishing poems, stories and serialized novels in Yiddish newspapers, and books brought out

by Yiddish publishers. Some of his books were translated into English and achieved modest success. One, “Rabbis and Wives” (1974), was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.

His marriage was tempestuous and marked by the infidelities of both partners but also by a deep, complex and lasting attachment.

Grade’s last novel, “Sons and Daughters”, had a complex and difficult road to publication. Originally published in serialized form in the Yiddish newspapers Tog-Morgn Zhurnal and the Forvertz (known in English as the Jewish Daily Forward), Grade had not yet finished “Sons and Daughters” at the time of his death in 1982. His widow Inna, who was also his literary executor, did not allow Yiddish scholars or potential translators access to his papers, which included the typeset Yiddish galley proofs of “Sons and Daughters.” Inna Grade died in 2010. Even so, it took 15 years before the novel could be compiled from Grades’ papers and translated. It finally appeared in March of 2025.

All that said, “Sons and Daughters” is an epic, if unfinished, novel about Jewish life in the modern and postmodern era. Although set in northern Poland, close to both Lithuania and Belarus/Byelorussia (near Vilna and Minsk), it is about the lives and families of Orthodox communities in the 1930s. It struggles with the intergenerational meaning and value of Judaism, of observance, of Zionism, of family and community in a world that was at once loving and threatened. It tells of struggles that are recognizable in the post

Oct. 7 world of today, when families are divided by these issues and our politics. Many contemporary Jews will recognize feeling torn apart and left behind by events, new ideas and beliefs, and wrestle with the meaning of the values which shaped us.

In the novel, Bluma Rivtcha Katzenellenbogan, daughter of Rabbi Sholem Schane Katzenellenbogan, the rabbi of Morehdalye and his wife Hanna’le, herself the daughter of the Rabbi of Zembin, breaks off her relationship with Zindel Kadish. He is the grandson of the dayan, or judge, in the religious court of Morehdalye. Zindel tells her of his desire to become a rabbi in Canada, where his divorced parents now live, a place where people think rabbis have no beards. Bluma Rivtcha has different aspirations: she wants to move to Vilna for nursing school.

Bluma Rivtcha functions as our introduction to a group of interlocked rabbinic families and their struggles. A son moves to Switzerland, earns a doctorate in philosophy, marries a Swiss gentile woman with whom he has a child – and keeps all this hidden from his family.

Although he visits them, this keeps him distant from the observant life he pines for. A daughter marries a rabbi in another community in an arranged marriage but wishes she had married for love. The crazed narcissistic uncle wrecks businesses and yearns for his rabbinical father’s attention, if not his job, as a town rabbi. Then there is the Yiddish poet who becomes Bluma Rivthcha’s new fiancé. We hear too about the son of a brilliant Talmud scholar who becomes a revolutionary and is jailed. A grandson in another family becomes a Zionist and moves to a kibbutz in Palestine, which the rabbinic families see as a place where men and women live together and no one keeps Kosher.

And so we learn about the inner workings of the rabbinic families in the Misnagid Orthodox communities of northeast Poland, Lithuania and Belarus in the 1930s. It was a time when the community struggles to make sense of the Haskalah (enlightenment) that swept eastern Europe after about 1870, disrupting the traditional life of the shtetl. The impact of emigration to the US and Canada and other countries in the new world is also addressed. We understand the way Zionism affected those communities, which believed that any talk of a Jewish state before the Messiah comes was apocryphal. It was a period that saw the emergence of Marxism, which had many Jewish adherents, but was believed to be a Jewish conspiracy in Poland. It is

seen side by side with Polish nationalism which became more and more antisemitic. This culminated in Polish boycotts of Jewish merchants and a number of pogroms.

In addition, we learn about the lost world of Eastern Europe in the 1930s, a world that has been shrouded by the tragic mist of the Holocaust.

Few of us know about, and far fewer remember, a world in which two communities, Jewish and Polish, lived side by side in uneasy symbiosis. In Poland, Jewish law governed Jewish communities, which often had their own courts, schools and traditions. Jews were often dirt poor but still earned more on average than their Polish neighbors. Some were rabbis and grain merchants but others were saloon keepers, cobblers, tailors, storekeepers and the administrators of estates. Poles were both nobles and the children and grandchildren of serfs and lived alongside a small but secure German population of bankers and bureaucrats. This was a Poland that had been partitioned three times, that only won its independence in 1918 and struggled to make sense of its identity, split as it was between Polish, Jewish and German populations.

Is “Sons and Daughters” a good book? Is it a great book, or even, as some have claimed, one of the world’s greatest books? Remember it was unfinished: the novel we have was constructed after Grade’s death from the Yiddish galleys and his notes.

I’d rank “Sons and Daughters” as a great Yiddish novel, and among the best Yiddish novels yet written. It is the story of a people and a culture, in all its messy complexity. It’s a snapshot of the moral and ethical crosswinds buffeting human beings who tried as best they could to find a place for themselves in a changing world. I can’t know how it reads to people from other cultures. This is the story of my people and my culture, the story of how we lived in Europe, of the life my family left behind when they emigrated 10 to 30 years before – and which was then destroyed forever. I can’t know that part of my and our past. But “Sons and Daughters” let me see into that world for the first time. Chaim Grade helps his readers experience the inner lives of others across the arc of history, which is what great novels do.

Michael Fine’s books, short stories and commentary are available at www.michaelfinemd.com. You can sign up there to receive his short stories and commentary without charge by email monthly.

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Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

ARTS

Art outside the Judaica shop However, there’s so much

granted equal rights by the ruling Medici family centuries before, the pervasive antisemitism in Paris came as a shock. Though he spoke fluent French thanks to his mother and could have passed as a Frenchman, he never shied away from his identity and even introduced himself by saying “My name is Modigliani. I am a Jew.”

more to the history of Jewish

Lisette Model

BY SARAH GREENLEAF

W

hen most people think about Jewish art something like

a Judaica shop comes to mind.

artists in the larger art world, from prominent painters to early documentary street photographers and feminist installation artists. Below is a roundup of just a few of the many Jewish artists who have shaped the way we view the art world and Judaism within it.

Amedeo Modigliani Italian, 1884–1920 Amedeo Modigliani, best known for his paintings and sculptures featuring long oval-faced women, was born to a Sephardic Jewish family in Livorno, Italy. His mother, Eugénie Garsin, was born and raised in Marseille, France and descended from ancestors who were authorities on sacred Jewish texts and founders of a school for Talmudic studies. His father, Flaminio Modigliani, was born to an Italian Jewish family of entrepreneurs. His maternal grandfather claimed to be a descendant of Baruch Spinoza and introduced Modigliani to the philosopher whose teachings the artist took to heart.

Modigliani studied art in Florence and Venice before moving to Paris in 1906. He preferred to paint from live sitters, and they came from all walks of life, from fellow artists and patrons to a kitchen maid, poets, or a concierge’s daughter. Since he grew up in a Jewish community that was

(born Elise Amelie Felicie Stern) American, Born Austrian, 1901–1983 Lisette Model was born in Vienna and moved to Paris where she initially pursued a career in music before discovering photography through her sister. In 1938 she and her husband, the painter Evsa Model, immigrated to New York City.

Her photos appeared in Harper’s Bazaar, Cue, and PM Weekly. She primarily practiced documentary street photography and her most famous series are 35 -millimeter photos of people on the Promenade des Anglaise in Nice and on New York's Lower East Side. Her work was included in the inaugural exhibition of the Museum of Modern Art's Department of Photography and has been included in major exhibitions worldwide. She also taught at the New School (originally the Free School of Political Science) where she influenced the course and style of documentary photography including that of her (also Jewish) student Diane Arbus.

Lee Krasner American, 1908–1984

Lee Krasner was born in Brooklyn, New York to a Russian Jewish Orthodox family. She trained as a painter in New York and studied with the German abstract painter Hans Hofmann. During the 1930s she worked for the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project in the Mural Division. Though long overshadowed by her husband Jackson Pollock, Krasner was an established abstract artist well

before she met him and introduced him to many of the key figures who made his career.

Krasner and Pollock moved to Springs, Long Island where she developed her series of Little Image paintings which are now considered some of her most important contributions to Abstract Expressionism.

After the death of her husband, Krasner devoted her life to promoting Pollock’s art and ensuring his legacy. In 1978 she was part of the exhibition Abstract Expressionism: The Formative Years and in the last decade of her life was widely acknowledged for her work.

Marc Chagall

French and Russian, 1887–1985 Perhaps the most famous Jewish artist in recent memory, Marc Chagall, was born in Vitebsk, Russia in the Pale of Settlement. He studied art at the Imperial Society for the Protection of the Arts in Saint Petersburg and later moved to Paris. His first solo show was put on at a gallery in Berlin in 1914. He visited Russia that same year and the outbreak of WWI prevented him from leaving for almost a decade. As antisemitism mounted and Jews were expelled from their lands, Chagall painted these displaced Russian Jews in his home. Once he could he returned to Paris, then traveled during the 1930s across Europe and the Middle East.

Chagall fled to the United States during WWII and had a retrospective in 1946 at the Museum of Modern Art. In 1948 he settled in France permanently. Chagall painted subjects from his own life and childhood in a dreamy, surreal way. His farm animals playing instruments, flying people, and depictions of Jewish life created a visual vocabulary unlike any of his contemporaries.

He documented shtetl life as it was disappearing. When his hometown of Vitebsk was liberated from the Nazis the almost 170,000 residents had been wiped out.

In addition to painting, Chagall

created sculptures, stained glass windows including one for a synagogue in Jerusalem and one for the United Nations, a ceiling for the Paris Opera, and murals and windows for music halls and cathedrals.

He also created fantastical theater sets and costumes

Judy Chicago

American, 1939–current Though she was born Judith Sylvia Cohen, she later changed her surname to that of her hometown, Chicago. Her father Arthur was an active Marxist and Judy often participated in the political discussions in their home. Descended from 23 generations of rabbis, her father rejected Orthodox Jewish life.

Chicago’s mother was a dancer and encouraged her children to pursue the arts.

Chicago attended the Art Institute of Chicago and the University of California, Los Angeles. She taught at various colleges in Southern California and worked on developing a feminist pedagogy, co-founded the Feminist Art Program and created Womanhouse (1972) with her female co-teacher and students by transforming an abandoned house. In addition to her feminist works like the Dinner Party she created Jewish pieces like kiddush cups, matzah covers, and seder plates. In the mid-1980s she began working with Donald Woodman on the Holocaust Project: From Darkness to Light.

The exhibition combined painting and photography along with a tapestry and stained-glass installation, Rainbow Shabbat: A Vision for the Future. In 2018 she created “Cohanim” a series that commemorated Leonard Cohen and his lyrics with a nod to their shared last name.

SARAH GREENLEAF (sgreenleaf@ jewishallianceri.org) is the digital marketing manager for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and writes for Jewish Rhode Island.

Never forget the hostages MEMBERS OF Run for Their Lives and Rhode Island Coalition for Israel demonstrated Monday evening [Aug. 4] in support of the release of the hostages still held in Gaza. Run for Their Lives is a global network that holds walks on a regular basis. This is the fourth demonstration the two groups have held.

PHOTOS | GLENN OSMUNDSON

Nitza Attali, of Providence, sways to traditional Jewish music played over a speaker.

Roberta Schneider, left, and Michael Oelbeaum, of Providence, right, of Providence.

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jewishrhody.org | Jewish Rhode Island

ARTS

The new theater season:

It’s not just Mother Nature doing some of her finest work come autumn

BY BOB ABELMAN

F

all launches the 2025/2026 season for Providencearea professional theaters.

IT’S A SEASON shaped by a continuing post-pandemic drop in subscriptions and budgets marred by recent cuts in federal funding. But, in response, it’s a time for renewed artistic inspiration and adventurous creative vision, driven by mission statements that promise relevant, compelling and entertaining storytelling.

Here’s what our local theaters will be offering come Autumn:

Trinity Rep

201 Washington St., Providence. trinityrep.com.

“This lineup promises to inspire, engage, and connect us all, while returning us to the roots of what makes Trinity Rep’s brand of theater-making so uniquely captivating,” notes Executive Director Katie Liberman, regarding the company’s upcoming 62nd season. “Each story explores themes of connection, hope and forgiveness, narratives that resonate deeply with the world we live in today.”

The season begins with the world premiere of Roy Reddick’s “Cold War Choir Practice” (Sept. 4 - Oct. 5). A dark comedic thriller, the play follows a Black family’s unexpected foray into cults, espionage, the Cold War and choir practice as they deal with family tensions. “We are excited to introduce the exceptional voice of Ro Riddick to Trinity Rep’s audiences. Her plays are wildly intelligent, wickedly funny and inherently socio-political,” says Curt Columbus, Artistic Director.

Charles Dickens’s “A Christmas Carol” (Nov. 12 - Dec. 31) returns to Trinity Rep for its 49th year.

Emmy Award-winner, Academy Award-nominee and former Trinity Rep Artistic Director Richard Jenkins will co-direct alongside acclaimed choreographer Sharon Jenkins.

Throughout the first quarter of 2026, a contemporary play and a classic work will run in a rotating repertory. They are “The Roommate” (Jan. 28 - Feb. 5/Feb. 19 March 19, 2026) by Jen Silverman, which is a one-act comedy about sec-

ond acts in life, and William Shakespeare’s “The Winter’s Tale” (Feb. 12 - March 22, 2026), where redemption and reconciliation take center stage.

The Pulitzer Prize-winner “Primary Trust” by Eboni Booth (April 9 - May 10, 2026) is next. This play is a hilarious, heartwarming story about an isolated man who finds connection outside his comfort zone.

The season concludes with the Tony Award-winning rock musical “Next to Normal” (May 28 - June 28, 2026). The show explores a suburban housewife’s struggle with bipolar disorder, her loved ones’ journey in learning to see each other for who they truly are, and rediscovering what it means to be family.

Wilbury Theatre Group

WaterFire Arts Center, 475 Valley St., Providence. thewilburygroup.org.

“These aren’t ‘sit and watch plays’,” notes Artistic Director Josh Short when describing the upcoming season. “Each of these works are about pushing the form and creating opportunities for us to come together. Theatre doesn’t just ask for the audience’s participation, it relies on it, and we don’t take that for granted.”

The world premiere of Umberto Crenca’s “From Here to Where,” with music by the Gillen Street Ensemble, kick-starts the season (Sept. 18 - Oct. 5). Part lyrical sermon, part political exorcism and part late-night jam session, the production – structured less like a story and more like a reckoning – is an ensemble-driven living composition that confronts questions of existence, power and transformation.

“Octet” (Dec. 4 - 21) is a hauntingly original new musical about the search for human connection in the digital age. This hilarious, intimate and deeply moving regional premiere finds compelling human drama in our middle-of-the-night anxieties about the impact of technology on the nature of our relationships. “[Bess] Wohl isn’t afraid to let the ridiculous rub up against the sublime, and it makes ‘Small Mouth Sounds’ as entertaining as it is transcendent,” says Time Out New York.

Enjoying a Rhode Island premiere (Jan. 22 - Feb. 9. 2026), this new play finds six runaways from city life embarking on a silent retreat into the woods and confronting internal

From left, Allison Crews as Florence, Andrew Iacovelli as Charles, Jack Clarke as Thomas, and James Lucey as Perkins in last Fall’s “The One-Act Play That Goes Wrong” at Burbage Theatre Co. in Pawtucket, R.I. demons both profound and absurd.

2025 Pulitzer Prize winner Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’s “Comeuppance” (March 19 - April 5, 2026) finds the self-proclaimed “Multi-Ethnic Reject Group” reconnecting on the night of their 20th high school reunion. But amid the flow of reminiscing, an otherworldly presence forces these former classmates to face the past head-on and reckon with an unknowable future. This production is a regional premiere.

Conor McPherson and Simon Hale’s “Girl from North Country” (May 28 - June 21, 2026, in a Rhode Island premiere) reimagines 20 legendary songs by Bob Dylan to tell the Depression-era story of a group of wayward travelers whose lives intersect in a Duluth, Minnesota guesthouse. “Dylan’s music has rarely been more heartbreaking, his poetic storytelling rarely more beguiling, and the singing never less nasal” (Arts Fuse).

Gamm Theatre

1245 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick. gammtheatre.org.

The company’s 41st season is packed with reimagined classics and bold contemporary stories, and “picks up literally where our 40th anniversary season left off, with the epic conclusion of Tony Kushner’s “Angels in America,” notes Artistic Director Tony Estrella. The season gets underway with “Part Two: Perestroika” (Sept. 25 - Oct. 12), the

second half of Kushner’s two-part, Pulitzer winning masterpiece.

The seminal, modern American classic “Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune” (Nov. 6 - 10) comes next. Terrence McNally’s bittersweet comedy combines poignancy and laughter as it traces the unlikely romance that begins to develop between two middle-aged “losers."

In the new year, the Gamm jumps to the 21st century with Jonathan Spector’s “Eureka Day” (Jan. 8 - Feb. 1, 2026), which received the 2025 Tony Award for Best Revival. “This scorching comedy took Broadway’s most recent season by storm with its daring script holding a fun house mirror up to the absurdity of pandemics, vax wars and living life in a far too digital world,” says Estrella.

In the spring, two of the Gamm’s favorite playwrights come to visit.

A new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s “Ghosts” (Feb. 26 - March 22, 2026) takes a fresh angle on this masterful work, exposing the destructive consequences of generational guilt and the bravery required to exorcise the ghosts of our past. The dark comic stylings of Martin McDonagh follows this with “The Cripple of Inishmaan” (April 9 - May 3, 2026). Set in 1934, this hilarious play dissects the culture clash that ensues when a Hollywood movie brings its charms and delusions to the desperate inhabitants of a small island off the west coast of Ireland.

To close the season, there’ll be CONTINUED ON PAGE 16

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Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

ARTS

Seniors, students learn together at Hattie Ide Chaffee

BY FRAN OSTENDORF EAST PROVIDENCE – On a bright June day, a group of seniors gathered in the dining room at the Hattie Ide Chaffee Home eagerly awaiting the fourth graders from the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island (JCDSRI).

The two groups had spent several visits getting to know each other through activities and socializing as part of the home's Jewish Culture series, funded with a grant from the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

When they arrived, they were greeted by the staff and residents.

After some introductions, they paired up with tables of seniors for an exercise to learn more about each other by drawing hands and writing about what each person's hands had done in their lifetimes. The students and seniors had a great time learning about each other. The students shared

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15 Tennessee Williams’ American classic “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” (May 28 - June 28, 2026). This sexy, searing play examines the consequences of self-deceit with the playwright’s distinctive lyrical language and emotional intensity.

The Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC)

220 Weybosset St., Providence. ppacri.org.

Come September, PPAC’s touring Broadway Series kicks off with “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” (Sept.

19 - Oct. 4). Based on the novels of J. K. Rowling and winner of six Tony Awards including Best Play, this work finds Harry Potter’s headstrong son Albus befriending the son of his fiercest rival, Draco Malfoy. It sparks an unbelievable new journey for them all, brought to life with astonishing theatrical magic.

In the winter, “Water for Elephants” (Dec. 2 - 7) comes to town. After losing what matters most, a young man jumps a moving train unsure of where the road will take him and finds a new home with the remarkable crew of a traveling circus, and a life—and love—beyond his wildest dreams. Seen through the eyes of his older

some songs and music with the audience and at the end they enjoyed a delicious snack of rugelach.

This visit was part of an intergenerational program at the home, one part of the Culture Series. The seniors were also treated to matzah ball soup and challah from Shoshana Laufer of Chabad of West Bay. They learned to bake challah and discussed baking when they were young.

Fishel Bresler, Providence area musician and music teacher, led several music programs themed around the holidays of Purim, Shavuot and counting of the Omer.

And Rachel Balaban, dancer and teacher, taught Israel folk dance adapted for those who must remain seated.

Several middle school students accompanying a teacher from Providence Hebrew Day School helped the residents make matzah for Passover and then they shared their memories

self, his adventure becomes a poignant reminder that if you choose the ride, life can begin again at any age.

Direct from Broadway comes “Suffs” (Jan. 20 - 25, 2026). This acclaimed 2024 Tony Award-winning musical is about the brilliant and passionate American women who fought tirelessly for the right to vote. From the singular mind of history-making artist Shaina Taub, this “thrilling, inspiring and dazzlingly entertaining” (Variety) show boldly explores the triumphs and failures of a struggle for equality.

“Wicked” returns to Providence (March 4 - 22, 2026).

Long before Dorothy arrives, there is another young woman, born with emerald-green skin – smart, fiery, misunderstood, and possessing an extraordinary talent.

When she meets a bubbly blonde who is exceptionally popular, their initial rivalry turns into the unlikeliest of friendships…until the world decides to call one “good,” and the other one “wicked.”

Adapted from S.E. Hinton’s seminal novel and Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic film comes the musical “The Outsiders” (April 14 - 19, 2026). It takes place in Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1967, where Ponyboy Curtis, his best friend Johnny Cade and their Greaser family of “outsiders” battle with

of the holidays. Susie Adler, community outreach manager at Hattie Ide Chaffee, led a seder for interested residents.

Barry Marshall, a drama specialist, helped guide the seniors with prompts and discussion, especially during the JCDSRI visits. On that final visit for the JCDSRI students in June, which was the culmination of the grant-funded Culture Series, Marshall had the students hang the drawings along the windows so all could see their handiwork.

From the intense discussions during this visit to the reports by the staff and residents of the home, you could tell that the participants – Jewish and not Jewish – were enriched and heart warmed by the culture series.

"The seniors really enjoyed the program," said Adler, who was in charge of overseeing the project. "They really engaged with the children."

their affluent rivals, the Socs.

This musical navigates the complexities of self-discovery as the Greasers dream about who they want to become in a world that may never accept them.

Closing out the season is “Kimberly Akimbo” (May 5 - 10, 2026). The winner of five 2023 Tony Awards, the musical tells the story of a lonely teenage girl who suffers from a condition that causes her to age rapidly. According to Playbill, Kimberly is “determined to find happiness in a world where not even time is on her side.”

Teatro ECAS

679 Valley St., Providence. communications@teatroecas.org.

“Our upcoming season features an eclectic mix of plays that reflect the rich diversity of voices from Brazil, The Dominican Republic, Australia, Uruguay, and Spain,” says Francis Parra, artistic director of Teatro ECAS, the leading Latino theater in New England.

The season starts with “La Zorra y las Uvas” (“The Fox and the Grapes”) by Guillherme Figueiredo (Oct. 16 - 26). The play, which owes its name to the Greek fable, addresses the theme of the dignity of the human spirit through the struggle for freedom.

Later, in the new year, the

PHOTO | FRAN OSTENDORF

Students and seniors had intense discussions during a recent program at the Hattie Ide Chaffee Home.

This six-month program was partially funded by a grant from the The Jewish Alliance Community Microgrants Initiative. It’s aim was to reconnect seniors with Jewish culture and create a sense of community with children. Barry Zeltzer, CEO of the Hattie Ide Chaffee Home, said that the staff is working on getting additional funding to continue this kind of programming at the facility.

FRAN OSTENDORF (fostendorf@ jewishallianceri.org) is the editor of Jewish Rhode Island.

theater offers “Prima Facie”

by Suzie Miller (Jan. 8 - 18, 2026). This dramatic onewoman play is about a young lawyer who specializes in defending men accused of sexual assault, and whose view of the legal system changes after she is sexually assaulted herself.

This production is followed by “Radojka, Si Te Mueres Te Mato” (“If You Die, I Will Kill You”) by Fernando Schnidt and Christian Ibarzábal (Feb. 26 - March 8, 2026). It features two women tasked with being caregivers, who unite to survive and keep their employment upon discovering the octogenarian's passing. Their unexpected choice leads to uproarious circumstances.

The season ends with “El Cianuro... ¿Solo o Con Leche??” (“The Cyanide…

Only With Milk?”), a furiously funny, fast-paced, and thrilling play by Juan José Alonso Millán (April 16 26, 2026). On a cold winter night, Laura and her wheelchair-bound mother, Adela, are faced with the possibility of ending their grumpy grandfather's grumbling life. Then cousin Enrique, a doctor by profession, appears, changing the course of events. Yes, it’s a comedy.

Burbage Theatre

59 Blackstone Ave., Pawtucket. burbagetheatre.org.

“Burbage Theatre is still finalizing the final three productions in its schedule,” notes artistic director Jeff Church, but the season will open (Sept. 11 – 28) with “Every Brilliant Thing”

by Duncan Macmillan and Johnny Donahoe. An uplifting one-man play about depression, it features a child who, in response to their mother's attempted suicide, starts a list of everything wonderful about the world.

This will be followed by “Witching Hour Social Club” (Oct. 16 – Nov. 2), a world premiere horror anthology

by Burbage Theatre company member James Lucey. The play is in the style of “Creepshow” and “Are You Afraid of the Dark,” and just in time for Halloween.

Also included this season will be a limited (Nov. 13 – 23) return engagement of “An Iliad,” the OBIE and Lortel Award-winning compressed, contemporized, and intensely compelling two-person take on Homer’s nearly 3000-yearold epic poem.

The season promises something for everyone. See you at the theater.

BOB ABELMAN is an awardwinning theater critic who also writes for The Boston Globe. Connect with him on Facebook.

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jewishrhody.org | Jewish Rhode Island

COMMUNITY

BUSINESS 24 | OBITUARIES 25

Summer at Camp JORI

Working on the set is a group activity.

Getting out on the water at Worden's Pond.

Painting scenery for the next show.

Campers make use of the new soccer nets.

Camp JORI's waterfront.

JEWISH RHODE ISLAND STAFF TRIP 2 IS IN FULL SWING at Camp JORI on Worden’s Pond in Wakefield.

This summer’s counselors include many former JORI campers as well as international counselors from Israel, Mexico, Australia, the Netherlands

Camp JORI's waterfront.

Pool games! and the UK. Activities have included a performance by campers from ages 7-15 of “Shrek! The Musical,” complete with beautiful costumes, and special programs such as Bubble Soccer and Axe Throwing. JORI favorites such as All Camp Clue, the Fourth of July

Carnival and Color Run made their annual appearance.

Israeli staff organized Israel day with dancing, games, crafts and delicious Israeli food. And the Trip 1 banquet was planned by the LIT (high school) campers with the theme “Around the World,” featuring world

PHOTOS | GLENN OSMUNDSON

flag decorations and different foods from around the world.

There are new soccer nets, which have been a hit. The JORI soccer team hosted Camp Avoda for a game followed by a waterfront barbecue.

18 | AUGUST 2025

Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

COMMUNITY

78th reading of Washington’s letter slated for Newport’s Old Colony House

N

EWPORT – On Sunday, Aug. 17, Touro Synagogue Foundation will host the George Washington Letter Reading,

an annual event honoring our nation’s heritage of religious freedom. This year marks the 78th anniversary of the reading of the famous letter.

GEORGE WASHINGTON’S 1790 letter “To the Hebrew Congregation in Newport” was written after his first trip to Rhode Island as President. In his eloquent reply to a letter

by Moses Seixas, warden of the local Jewish congregation, Washington attested to the new government’s commitment to freedom of religion, an entitlement he regarded as an “inherent natural right.” The federal government, Washington stated, “gives to bigotry no sanction,

to persecution no assistance” – borrowing the now-famous phrase from Seixas’ letter that expressed their shared vision for America’s government.

The program will commence at 1 p.m. at the Old Colony House at the head of Washington Square in the heart of Colonial Newport.

While in-person seating is limited, the event will be livestreamed, and all may attend virtually via a link on Touro Synagogue Founda-

tion’s Facebook page: facebook.com/TouroSynagogue.

The annual event has a long tradition of distinguished keynote speakers and letter readers, including Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan.

Rebecca Bertrand, Executive Director of the Newport Historical Society, has been selected to read the George Washington Letter this year.

Meryle Cawley, Executive Director of Touro Synagogue Foundation, will read the letter to President Washington from Moses Seixas of Newport’s Hebrew Congregation, which inspired Washington’s famous response.

Crystal Williams, President of The Rhode Island School of Design, will deliver the keynote address.

To learn more about President Washington's 1790 letter to the congregation that worshiped in Touro Synagogue, our nation's oldest surviving Jewish house of worship (dedicated in 1763), visit tourosynagogue.org/touro-synagogue-foundation.

For more information or

to inquire about the possibility of in-person attendance, please email meryle@ tourosynagogue.org or phone 401-847-4794 ext. 207.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

presence of East Providence police at the event. While this may have been unfamiliar for some attendees, she pointed out that for the Jewish community, this level of security has become a daily reality, resulting in locking synagogue, school and community center doors not by choice but out of necessity.

The evening concluded with a community Q&A session. Attendees voiced concerns about the rise of hate-fueled content on social media, the impact of disinformation on young people and the spike in disruptive incidents involving motorbikes and scooters. Community members and leaders alike engaged in constructive dialogue about how best to respond and support one another.

The event brought together residents from across East Providence and beyond, sending a clear and unified message: the community stands together against hate in all its forms.

Pinto of RI Cape Verdean Heritage; and Rock Jocelyn, a member of East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva’s LGBTQIA+ advisory council.

Mayor DaSilva opened the evening with a strong condemnation of the recent hate crimes and emphasized his administration’s and police department’s swift, proactive response. The mayor spoke unequivocally; East Providence is a place that welcomes everyone.

Jen Stevens, coordinator of the Rhode Island Commission on Prejudice and Bias, gave a detailed presentation on hate crimes covering why they should be reported, when to report and how to do so effectively.

This was followed by an informative panel discussion featuring community leaders and experts who spoke candidly about their personal and professional experiences confronting hate and bias. Topics included the growing role of social media in spreading disinformation, the need for coalition-building across diverse communities and the vital role of education in combating prejudice and hate.

Hague noted the visible

Submitted by the Touro Synagogue Foundation

EMILY GAUDREAU (egaudreau@jewishallianceri. org) is director of Community Advocacy and Engagement at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

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COMMUNITY

RIC honors Herb Weiss with archive RINEWSTODAY.COM

O

n Friday, June 27, 2025, more than 55 people gathered at the James P. Adams Library at Rhode Island College (RIC) to

honor lifelong advocate and journalist Herb Weiss as the College officially announced the archiving of his 45-year body of published work. His older brother and sister, James Weiss and Nancy Coplin, traveled all the way from Texas to join the festivities.

THE HERBERT P. WEISS Papers document Weiss’s extensive reporting on healthcare policy, aging services and government programs affecting older adults. Housed permanently at RIC’s Adams Library, the collection provides researchers, students and the public with an invaluable record of how healthcare and aging policy has evolved in Rhode Island over the decades.

The morning celebration opened with remarks from Marianne Raimondo, Dean of RIC’s School of Business.

“We are here today to honor Herb Weiss’s generous donation of his entire 45 years of writings to Rhode Island College,” she said.

With a smile, she affectionately described him as relentless, drawing laughter from the audience. Raimondo emphasized how Weiss’s work has helped shape public discourse on aging, both locally and nationally.

“This special collection, which will be archived here at RIC, includes more than 1,100 pieces – editorials, newsletters, articles and three books,” she continued.

“It will serve as an enduring resource for students, faculty, scholars and public policymakers for years to come.”

“You simply can’t attend a gathering, event or meet-

ing on aging issues without knowing that Herb Weiss will be there,” Raimondo added.

Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos, who chairs the state’s Long-Term Care Coordinating Council and is a proud RIC alumna, also praised Weiss for his dedication and willingness to share his expertise. “RIC is a gateway to opportunity for so many in Rhode Island,” she said recognizing the value of the college’s new archive.

“Thank you for your dedication and persistence.” She described the collection as highly relevant and invaluable for shaping future policy.

Carol Anne Costa, Executive Director of the Senior Agenda Coalition and a fellow RIC alumna, highlighted the impact of Weiss’s weekly commentaries in advocating for older adults.

“His writings are essential to getting our message heard by the Rhode Island General Assembly,” she said.

“As an alum, I consider this repository of knowledge and resources priceless for current students striving for academic success.”

Costa affectionately called Weiss a “lovable nudge.” She added with a laugh, “When Herb calls, I may not always get to it right away – but I try. His persistence tells the whole story. I am confident

that the messages he shares will continue to influence policy and amplify the voices of older adults.”

Maria E. Cimini, MSW, Director of the Rhode Island Office of Healthy Aging and another RIC graduate, stressed the value of Weiss’s consistent voice amid an often confusing media landscape.

“He has consistently, diligently and passionately paid attention to the issues that affect all of us – whether we are older adults ourselves or care for someone who is,” she said. “Rhode Island has 249,000 older adults, and we rely on Herb’s insights to help shape effective policies and programs.”

Pawtucket Mayor Donald R. Grebien praised Weiss, who serves as the city’s Deputy Director of Senior Services, for his tireless advocacy. “He’s passionate about his work and cares deeply about what he does,” said Grebien, describing Weiss as both a friend and a valued colleague.

Robert Weiner, Chief of Staff for the former U.S. House Select Committee on Aging under Chairman Claude Pepper, traveled to Rhode Island with his wife, Pat, to celebrate the occasion.

“It’s a big day for Herb – and so well deserved,” he said, calling the collection a vital public resource.

“Herb is incredibly substantive. There isn’t an aspect of aging he hasn’t studied or mastered. His knowledge is deep, and he shares it in ways that truly make a difference,” added Weiner, who later served as a senior White House spokesman.

Elevating the Conversation on Aging in Rhode Island

In its announcement, AgeFriendly Rhode Island called Weiss “one of the state’s most

Herb Weiss and his wife, Patty. respected voices on aging and healthcare,” noting that his career has been dedicated to shedding light on the challenges facing older adults and their families.

His work spans more than four decades and multiple platforms – from early reporting roles at the Providence Journal, to contributions to RI News Today, the Pawtucket Times and Woonsocket Call (merged into one paper, the Blackstone Valley Call & Times), Kent County Times, Narragansett Times, East Greenwich Pendulum and Senior Digest, a monthly publication.

Weiss holds a Master of Arts in Aging Studies and a Specialist Certificate in Aging from the University of North Texas. According to Age-Friendly Rhode Island, he brought both rigor and heart to his storytelling, producing work that shaped public understanding of aging, long-term care and health equity.

“This archive represents

more than a personal achievement – it’s a public resource,” the organization noted.

James Connell, Executive Director of Age-Friendly Rhode Island, added, “Herb’s voice has been instrumental in elevating the conversation about aging in Rhode Island.

His work not only informed – it empowered.”

By ensuring that Weiss’s extensive body of work is preserved and accessible, RIC honors a career rooted in public service, storytelling and advocacy. The archive stands as a lasting legacy – and a powerful reminder of how journalism can drive awareness, understanding and change.

To learn more about Herb Weiss’s three published books, “Taking Charge: Collected Stories on Aging Boldly,” (Volumes 1-3) visit herbweiss.com.

This article appeared previously at RINewsToday.com. It is reprinted with permission.

Temple Habonim hosts book talk with Bob Abelman BOB ABELMAN WILL discuss his funny, pandemic-inspired fictionalized memoir “All the World’s a Stage Fright: Misadventures of a Clandestine Critic,” and how being Jewish has impacted his career and this book’s publica-

tion. This is a fundraising event, so sales of all copies of the book – available in advance at the Temple at a discounted price, go toward Temple Habonim.

The novella places its protagonist, the theater critic for the Cleveland Jewish

Chronicle, in a professional production of Shakespeare’s “As You Like It” so he can write about the experience. There, he discovers a mind-numbing fear of iambic pentameter while sharing the stage with the classically trained actors

he has panned in the past and fearing getting panned himself by fellow critics.

The talk will take place Sept. 9 from 7-8:30 p.m. at Temple Habonim, 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington.

Please RSVP to office@ templehabonim.org.

20 | AUGUST 2025

Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

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Touro Fraternal selects new leaders

PHOTO | TOURO FRATERNAL ASSN.

Bar/Bat Mitzvahs & Weddings glenn@osmundsonphotography.com www.osmundsonphotography.com 401-257-9619

Touro Fraternal Association’s board members and officers for 2025-2026 are, front row from left, Ralph Orleck, Jeffrey Stoloff, Larry Berman, Michael Smith, Norman Dinerman, Max Guarino and Barry Schiff. Middle row, Ried Redlich, Barry Ackerman, Jed Brandes, Jeffrey Davis, Stevan Labush, Robert Miller, Alan Lury and Bruce Wasser. Back row, Peter Hodosh, Stuart Solup, David Weisman, Michael Frank, Larry Winkler, Joshua Jasper, Bruce Weisman and Andrew Lamchick. Absent were Mitchell Cohen, Scott Halsband and Steven White.

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We Are Read in Southern France – Earl and Sharon SchwartzVanderhoff and took a Viking River cruise to Southern France in April and visited Lyon, Vienne, Tournon, Viviers, Avignon and Arles. They report that the cruise was amazing as well as the various cities they visited!

AUGUST 2025 | 21

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COMMUNITY

Experiencing amazing moments in Israel

BY ARI YELLIN-LEVINE WAKING UP in the mornings can be difficult. The days on TRY, Ramah’s semester in Israel program, were long and action packed. However, one day, something happened that woke me up instantly. I woke up around 6 and opened my phone to check the news, a habit I have developed since Oct. 7. Normally, all I see is bad news: hostage deals rejected and fallen soldiers.

However, this day was different. The news wasn’t focused on the bad stuff. For the first time in weeks, we had some good news. Two hostages had been rescued.

Finally, the nation had something to celebrate.

For the first time since the beginning of the war, the IDF managed to save hostages. No terrorists had to be released, no deals had to be made, but two of our people were back.

That morning, my joy was on a level it has rarely been on since October. Now, when I look at the hostage number, 134, I remember, we got two back; we can get the rest.

Will all of the hostages be rescued? Almost certainly not. Sacrifices will have to be made, but there is hope.

No matter where I was, this would have been an amazing moment but having it in

Israel made it so much better.

Going to tefillah that morning felt different. The entire country wants the hostages home, and you can’t take two steps without seeing Bring Them Home signs. In America, hostage posters are taken down as an antisemitic act of hate. Here in Jerusalem, I got to see signs taken down because the people had come home. This wasn’t just my joy, it was the joy of an entire nation – a nation I got to physically be a part of. Over the next four months, I would experience this joy multiple times when hostages were brought home.

Hope is a powerful thing,

the entire people of Israel have been down since Oct. 7, but when good things happen, we are able to see the hope, and the hope can get us through the rough times.

I spent four months in Israel with TRY (Tichon Ramah Yerushalayim) thanks to a very generous Israel Travel grant from the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island. Along with doing my schoolwork, I got a taste of life and Israel and was able to have many meaningful expe-

riences such as this one.

ARI YELLIN-LEVINE traveled to Israel in 2024 on the Ramah TRY semester program for 10th-12th graders. He is a student at Gann Academy.

Bradley Hospital 'Bravo' Gala a success

Left to right: Henry T. Sachs, MD, President, Bradley Hospital; Rick Granoff, Bravo co-chair; Kosta Bitsis, Bravo co-chair; Jeff Hirsh, Chair, Bradley Hospital Foundation Board of Trustees; and Daniel J. Wall, Bravo co-chair mittee, and the outstanding contributions of Title Sponsor Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation; Premier Sponsor Susan O. and David

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“Once again, Motors includes tickets to the con-German our congregation holds firm proven that theytoare thedeepest values of our gregation's Highhas Holy Days the reliable and capable services for Roshmost Hashanah tradition,” says Goldwasservice venue ser. in “We are a community and Yom Kippur. New memSouthern New England.” bers still need to pay tuition where it is safe to stand up for Religious School for Jewish values and to feel – Barryfor J., their Mercedes-Benz E300 children from the beginning included among the Jewish of the school year. Regular people.”

G E will R M Abegin N M O T O RFor S I N Cmore information on membership dues at the start of 2026.

Temple Sinai, contact the Sales & Service “At a time when many congregation at 401-942-8350.

879 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904 people are feeling disaf401-272-4266The Temple's email address us at: germanmotorshelp@gmail.com fected from theEmail Jewish is dottie@templesinairi.org. communities of their past, MERCEDES BENZ VOLKSWAGEN MINI PORSCHE

“Received warning message– drivetrain on Saturday WITH THE High Holy Daysmalfunction– and in our own country, for my 430i; called Tracy first thing approaching, many unaffilmany Jews are just hoping Monday, she and Gerry had me iated Jews are wondering if for a safe place to affirm come right in, performed there will be a place where their identity,” says diagnostics, and GerryJewish and they will feel safe to celeTemple Sinai's Rabbi Jeff I discussed results and made brate Rosh Hashanah and plan. That Goldwasser. a game is service!” “I know that Yom Kippur. Temple Sinai many Jews want to con– Jay G., BMW 4 Series is providing an answer nect with an inclusive and G E Rby M A N M O T O R S INC reaching out to unaffiliated accepting Jewish commuSales & Service Jews with an offer of free nity, but just doing that feels membership. daunting right now.”

879 North Main Street, Providence, RI 02904 “Jews are going through401-272-4266 a The offer of free memat: germanmotorshelp@gmail.com difficult time. WithEmail all usthat bership is from now to the is happening in the world end of December 2025, and

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shared his experience with Bradley’s adolescent inpatient program, which he credited with helping him overcome a mental health crisis. Today, Ignacio is thriving, attending college and paying forward the hope and healing he received at Bradley.

Inspired by how Bradley’s care can transform not only a crisis situation but the course of a young person’s future, guests brought high energy to the evening’s live auction and special fund-a-need. Among the extraordinary auction items to generate spirited bidding were a private dinner hosted by James Beard Award-winning chef Johanne Killeen and travel packages to Antigua, Croatia and Italy.

Bradley Hospital extends its appreciation to its 2025 “Bravo Bradley” event com-

PORSCHE

greatest need.

“We simply could not do the work we do without the incredible generosity of our donor community and those so deeply committed to helping young people and families stuck in the painful grip of mental illness,” said Henry T. Sachs, MD, President, Bradley Hospital. “As the stress on our young people continues to mount, Bradley remains as steadfast as ever in our mission to provide the best care possible, ensuring that no child or family walks this journey alone.”

With the theme, “The Future Starts Now,” this year’s Bradley Hospital gala invited guests to envision a brighter tomorrow for children’s mental health. The night featured 20-year-old patient speaker Ignacio, who

MERCEDES BENZ VOLKSWAGEN MINI

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Bradley Hospital illuminated the Wyndham Newport Hotel on Friday, June 13, when it hosted 400 friends and supporters for its annual “Bravo Bradley” gala, raising an impressive $1.2 million to support patient care at New England’s only psychiatric hospital devoted exclusively to children and adolescents.

Co-chaired by Daniel J. Wall, Rick Granoff, and Kosta Bitsis, Bradley’s signature event brought together the hospital’s community to celebrate courage, compassion, and the bold belief that the future begins now for child and adolescent mental health.

Of the total raised, $465,000 was generated through the night’s special fund-a-need to benefit Bradley Hospital inpatient programs with the

MERCEDES BENZ VOLKSWAGEN MINI PORSCHE

22 | AUGUST 2025

Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

COMMUNITY

Supporting Jewish identity and values through scouting

BY BRAD SWARTZ THE JEWISH COMMITTEE on Scouting (JCOS), in partnership with the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, promotes scouting within the Jewish community, encourages participation in scouting’s Jewish life, and offers programming for Jewish Scouts at Yawgoog Scout Reservation. These efforts fulfill a tenet of the Scout Oath and Law: to be reverent to God. JCOS offers a Jewish perspective within the broader scouting experience. At summer camp, the chaplaincy program strengthens the connection between Jewish and scouting values and fosters a sense of belonging and community. Homesickness is common at camp – for both scouts and staff – and having a trusted mentor or group to turn to during difficult moments makes a difference.

One highlight of the JCOS calendar is Scout Shabbat, held each February

near the anniversary of the founding of Scouting America. Hosted by different synagogues and Jewish organizations, this annual gathering brings together scouts and leaders from across the region. Participants take part in the Shabbat service, leading prayers, sharing reflections and exploring how the values of scouting align with Jewish teachings, especially the commitment to tikkun olam, or repairing the world.

Peter Shore of the Jewish Committee on Scouting, Narragansett Council, Scouting America, said: “You may wonder why the Alliance has supported a Jewish chaplaincy program at a Scout camp for 40 years.

After all, Scouting America isn’t a Jewish organization.

“Founded in 1915, Yawgoog is the sixth-oldest scout camp in the country and ranks among the top ten traditional scout camps in the U.S. Each summer, it hosts eight weekly ses-

sions, welcoming 800 to 1,200 scouts and adult volunteers from across the country, especially the Northeast.

Typical attendance at the rabbi's "everything you want to “The chaplaincy program offers daily know about Judaism in 45 minutes" at Camp Yawgoog worship, Shabbat serfamiliar with our faith. This kind of vices, and counseling – most often for understanding is essential to building homesickness or personal challenges bridges and combating antisemitism.” faced by young staff members ages 16 The Jewish Committee on Scoutto 24. Just as importantly, it provides ing’s work is made possible by conweekly training for volunteer leaders tributions to the Jewish Alliance on what it means to be “reverent” – a Community Campaign. Your support scouting value defined as following your own religious beliefs and respect- helps strengthen Jewish life – locally and globally – through emergency aid, ing those of others. education and transformative pro“Each week also includes a 45-mingramming for all ages. ute session on the basics of Judaism To learn more or make a contribuand Shabbat, helping foster undertion, visit the Jewish Alliance’s donastanding and interfaith respect. The tion page or contact Brad Swartz, Alliance saw from the beginning how Fundraising and Partnership Manimportant these programs are – not ager (bswartz@jewishallianceri.org). only in supporting Jewish scouts but Together, we make a difference. also in helping others become more

From the Jewish Federation Foundation

A legacy of commitment: planned gifts strengthen our Jewish future OVER THE PAST YEAR, the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and its endowment, managed by the Jewish Federation Foundation (JFF), has been honored to receive more than $460,000 through planned gifts—lasting expressions of generosity arranged by donors to be distributed after their passing.

While many of these gifts were designated for specific JFF funds, several were given without restriction, allowing them to be added to the general endowment and used where the need is greatest. Each contribution reflects a donor’s commitment to ensuring that Rhode Island’s Jewish community remains strong and supported for generations to come.

These meaningful gifts come from

diverse individuals—some lifelong Rhode Islanders, others who joined the local Jewish community later in life and some who had since moved beyond the Ocean State. Among them are longtime community leaders, dedicated supporters who quietly gave for decades and newer donors who recently embraced the mission of the Alliance and JFF. Though their stories differ, they are united by a shared vision: to invest in the future of Jewish life. The Alliance and JFF are proud to recognize and honor the following planned gifts received over the last year: BENNETT BERMAN To provide unrestricted support for the Jewish Alliance.

MARCIA RIESMAN For annual support for a rising lay leader's participation in the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America.

SELMA STANZLER To provide annual support for the Jewish Alliance, Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center, Trinity Repertory Company’s Stanzler Society, and the University of Rhode Island Hillel.

JEFFREY WEBBER To provide unrestricted support for the Jewish Alliance.

MATILDA WOILER To provide unrestricted support for the Jewish Alliance.

MELVIN ZURIER To benefit nonprofit charities by recommendation of the donor’s family.

The Jewish Alliance’s Dor L’Dor Society recognizes and honors individuals who have informed the Alliance of their intention to include the organization in their estate plans.

The phrase “dor l’dor,” Hebrew for “generation to generation,” reflects the values of continuity, legacy and shared responsibility that these planned gifts embody.

Community members who have made this meaningful commitment are encouraged to notify the Jewish Federation Foundation, so they can be recognized as part of the Dor L’Dor Society. To share your plans or learn more, contact the endowment team at endowment@jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111.

Awareness, safety seminar Aug. 10 RHODE ISLAND Coalition for Israel (RICI) and Bart Axelrod of EP Martial Arts are offering a Zoom seminar on Sunday Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. which will cover Krav Maga, situational awareness and safety in potentially violent situations with individuals, groups or crowds. About The Instructor:

Bart Axelrod brings an extremely broad martial arts experience to the classroom. As the head Krav Maga instructor at EP Martial Arts, he has been teaching Krav Maga since 2013.

He holds a black belt from KAMI, the largest Krav Maga association in Israel, as well as a Level 2 Instructor Certification from The Academic

College at Lewinsky Wingate in Israel. Prior to Krav Maga, Bart trained in a variety of other martial arts, including traditional Okinawan Uechi-Ryu Karate (3rd degree “Sandan” black belt) and Judo (brown belt “Nikyu”). He also trained in Sanda Kickboxing under fellow EP Martial Arts co-founder Ariel Tyre Wesley, as

well as Wing Chun Kung Fu. Outside of martial arts, Bart worked as a 911 paramedic in the Boston area for 12 years and is now retired.

This program is free, but donations to support RICI's work are encouraged. Information (including Zoom link), Maria Friedman at mariafrdmn@gmail.com or 952-567-9315

AUGUST 2025 | 23

jewishrhody.org | Jewish Rhode Island

COMMUNITY

Delve deeper into the land of Israel this fall

BY SUZANNE M. DE LA MONTE

T

his fall, join Professor Michael Satlow on an intellectual journey through time that explores how Jews, Christians and Muslims

have understood the religious meaning of the “Land of Israel.” Who considered it “holy,” and when and why did they do so? What does it even mean for a land to be “holy,” or “promised”? Is the establishment of the State of Israel in the Land of Israel a divine act? What is behind religious Zionism and Jewish anti-Zionism?

“THE LAND OF ISRAEL in the Religious Imagination from Antiquity to Present” is a timely course that will help students grapple with these questions while gaining a richer understanding of some of the issues bubbling beneath the current conflicts in the Middle East. We will take a deep dive into historical texts to learn how Jewish, Christian and Islamic religious texts think about the status of, and name, the “Land of Israel.” The focus is

on the diverse views found in Jewish texts, drawing from various sources, including the Bible, Talmud, siddur, Zohar and the law codes.

We will also incorporate archaeological evidence and authoritative texts from both Christian and Muslim traditions.

Toward the end of the course, we will see how these ideas have informed the Zionist movement and the modern State of Israel.

The course presumes no

background, but it does require a willingness to learn, an open mind and some limited preparation for each class. The class will combine lecture with close readings of texts (in English!) and robust, and respectful, discussion.

Said Satlow, “What I love most about teaching in Delve Deeper is the student engagement. They are always teaching me!”

The Delve Deeper Program of Intensive Jewish Study, which began in 2017, is a cooperative venture of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and area synagogues, including: Congregation Beth Shalom, Congregation Jeshuat Yisrael, Temple Beth-El, Temple Emanu-El, Temple Habonim, Temple Sinai, and Temple Torat Yisrael and the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island. Financial support is provided by the Joseph and Jacqueline Teverow Memorial Fund at the Jewish Federation Founda-

tion of Greater Rhode Island.

Since 2017, the program has sponsored 16 Fall and Spring Courses covering periods of Jewish history or a specific Jewish theme, text or personality. Classes for the 10-week courses are held on weekday evenings for two hours. The professor leading the class is responsible for developing the course description, syllabus and reading assignments.

Satlow is professor of religious studies and Judaic studies at Brown University, where he has taught for over 20 years. A specialist in early Judaism and the rabbinic tradition, he has taught in the Delve Deeper programs many times. He has a blog (www.mlsatlow.com) and podcast and a forthcoming book, “An Enchanted World: The Shared Religious Landscape of Late Antiquity.”

“The Land of Israel in the Religious Imagination from Antiquity to Present” will be offered in hybrid format.

Participants can meet for

this 10-session course either in person at the Jewish Alliance or join the class via Zoom [Dates: Oct 9, 16, 23, 30; Nov 6, 13, 20, Dec 4, 11, 18] from 6:30-8:30 p.m. To learn more and to register, visit www.delvedeeper.org or https://www.teprov.org/ delvedeeper/registration/ Fall2025.html. All are welcome to join!

SUZANNE M. DE LA MONTE is a Delve Deeper Planning Committee member and regular Delve Deeper course participant. A Physician-Scientist and a professor of Neurosurgery, Neurology, and Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at Brown University Health and the Alpert Medical School of Brown University, she spends countless late-night hours studying ancient and medieval Jewish history, but there's never enough time to capture it all. She says Delve Deeper has been great for filling her knowledge gaps.

Fall Hebrew classes offer something for everyone TEMPLE EMANU-EL and the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island will roll out their Fall Hebrew Conversation sessions, starting Sept. 2.

Five levels will be offered in person on Tuesday evenings at Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft Ave., Providence. All but the advanced requires purchase of a book. The 8-week sessions are ongoing throughout the year.

These are the classes being offered:

Beginner – 5-5:45 p.m. Introduction to reading and writing the Aleph Bet. Taught by Toby Liebowitz.

JEWISH

RHODE ISLAND's

This Month in

History

Introduction to prayerbook Hebrew – 6-7 p.m.

Begin your journey toward understanding prayerbook Hebrew. This course assumes that you can read Hebrew. Taught by Rabbi Daniel Kripper.

Advanced Beginners for spoken Hebrew – 6-7 p.m. This course is offered to those who can read and write Hebrew and are interested in learning how to speak modern Hebrew. Taught by Janice Kaiden.

Intermediate – 6-7 p.m. This is for those who can speak some basic Hebrew using the present and

some past tense and are interested in improving their vocabulary and fluency. Taught by Toby Liebowitz.

Advanced – 6-7 p.m. Fluent Hebrew speakers who enjoy speaking in Hebrew about literature, poetry and Israeli music. Taught by Rita Braude.

Cost: $100 per person per semester plus cost of book. Scholarships are available. To register: https://www.teprov.org/hebrewatte. For more information regarding which level is right for you, contact Toby Liebowitz: tobyaane@gmail.com

Got milk?

A CHEEKY AD in the Jewish Herald from 1958 promotes home dairy delivery, courtesy of Garelick Bros. Farms. The family farm was started 27 years earlier in Franklin, Massachusetts. Brothers Israel and Max Garelick specialized in cattle and dispatching bottles of milk to area doorsteps. The business has endured highs and lows, but today Garelick Farms employs 1,600 workers and sells everything from sour cream to eggnog. Their slogan: “Local milk. Lotta good.”

Newspaper courtesy Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association

of Greater Rhode Island’s Jewish Community 24The |VoiceAUGUST 2025

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AUGUST 2025 | 25

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OBITUARIES Samuel Bender, 109

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Samuel Bender died on July 8, 2025, at Laurelmead, in Providence.

He was the beloved husband of the late Shirley (Meiselman) Bender. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, a son of the late Jacob and Lena (Arria) Bendersky. He had lived in Providence for more than 10 years but lived in Yonkers, New York, for much of his life.

Dr. Bender, aptly called the Centenarian Veterinarian, was the owner and head veterinarian for the Bender Animal Hospital on Riverside, in Bronx, New York, and retired over 50 years ago.

He was the devoted father of Joel Bender, Andrea Joseph and the late Mitchell Bender. He was the dear brother of the late David Bendersky, Emmanuel Bendersky and Florence Meisner.

He was the loving grandfather of five. He was the cherished great-grandfather of 10.

Contributions may be made to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Division of Alumni Affairs and Development, 130 E. Seneca St., Suite 400, Ithaca, NY 14850 [www.vet. cornell.edu/giving/memorial-giving] or Laurelmead Employee Education Fund (LEEF) at Laurelmead, 355 Blackstone Blvd., Providence, RI 02906.

Arnold Friedman, 82

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Arnold Mor Friedman, of Providence, passed away on July 29, 2025, at Rhode Island Hospital due to pneumonia.

Born on Nov. 20, 1942, in Norwich, Connecticut, Arnold was the son of Dr. Emerick Friedman, a psychiatrist, and Dorothy (Fagelman) Friedman, a homemaker. The family relocated to Albany, New York, where Arnold graduated from the Albany Academy.

He then went to Cornell University, graduating Phi Beta Kappa with a Woodrow Wilson Fellowship in Philosophy at Harvard University. After leaving graduate school, Arnold decided to pursue a career in law and graduated from Harvard Law School in 1968 with a Juris Doctor.

Arnold’s legal career began at the Boston law firm of Widett and Kruger (later Widett and Widett), where he

eventually became a partner.

In 1975, he joined Textron Inc. in Providence, as a staff attorney, becoming Assistant General Counsel in 1977 and Vice President and Deputy General Counsel in 1984.

During his tenure at Textron, Arnold was responsible for managing the corporate staff and overseeing all legal matters except for litigation. His primary areas of focus included mergers and acquisitions, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) compliance, corporate finance, antitrust, compliance, international, intellectual property, government contracts and real estate.

Arnold was also a member of the enterprise-wide Legal and Engineering and Technology Councils and led the enterprise-wide e-Business Legal Team.

Arnold was a strong advocate for the value of Textron’s intellectual property. When the company expanded globally, he played a key role in implementing the company’s global anti-corruption initiative. After retiring from Textron in 2011, Arnold spent two years at Edwards Wildman.

Arnold married his beloved wife, Florence Dunn Friedman, also of Albany, in 1967. They have one daughter, Rebecca Friedman of Boulder, Colorado, and two granddaughters: Maggie Friedman Laurence (husband Luke Laurence) of Shokan, New York, and Katya Friedman-Bush, also of Boulder, Colorado, and one great-granddaughter, Lucy, all of whom survive him. Arnold was predeceased by his older sister, Harriet Arline (Friedman) Eisenberg.

Alan G. Hassenfeld, 76

Alan G. Hassenfeld, former chairman and CEO of Hasbro, Inc., and a global philanthropist, passed away peacefully in his sleep on July 9, 2025, in London. He was 76.

Born Nov. 16, 1948, into the founding family of Hasbro, Hassenfeld became CEO in 1989 following the untimely death of his brother, Stephen.

Though initially reluctant to lead, he transformed the company into an industry powerhouse. Under his stewardship, Hasbro acquired Tonka Parker Kenner bringing iconic brands Play-Doh, Monopoly and Nerf into its portfolio and elevating it to

#169 on the Fortune 500.

Hassenfeld’s true legacy, however, lies in his profound humanitarian spirit. He championed corporate social responsibility, product safety, and he worked to eliminate the use of child labor in toy industry manufacturing. His compassion was most vividly expressed through philanthropy. He spearheaded the founding of Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence (1994), a landmark achievement funded partly by his leadership and a $2.5 million personal donation.

In 2008, he established the Hassenfeld Family Initiatives, supporting countless causes focused on children, education, health and social justice worldwide. His guiding principle was simple yet profound: “Bring sunshine where there’s darkness.”

Dr. Ashish Jha of Brown University School of Public Health, home to the Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Initiative, noted “He pushed us to make sure our work was relevant to the people of this state and constantly focused on impact, an extremely funny and warm person.

Personally, I will miss his late-night phone calls railing against the injustices of the world and ask what we were doing to make things better.

His passing is a huge loss to the world.”

Hassenfeld was also a civic force. He founded “Right Now!,” a successful Rhode Island ethics and campaign finance reform movement. He fostered a culture of giving at Hasbro, pioneering employee volunteer programs like “Team Hasbro” and “Global Day of Joy.” Alfred J. Verrecchia, former Hasbro chairman and CEO and a longtime friend of Hassenfeld, said “He devoted himself to making the world a better place. He was happiest when he was helping people. He wasn’t afraid to put his name and reputation on the line for something he believed.”

Tributes poured in from global leaders, colleagues and beneficiaries.

Rabbi Leslie Y. Gutterman said “He gave generously and selflessly of his time, his treasure and his love.”

The Toy Association hailed his “visionary and passionate leadership” and tireless advocacy for children.

Hasbro stated his “enormous heart” remains the company’s guiding force.

Alan Hassenfeld is survived by his wife, Vivien; stepchildren Karim and Leila

Azar; sister Ellen Block; nieces Susan Block Casdin and Laurie Block; nephew Michael Block; grandchildren Chloe, Talullah, Kaia and Khalil; and grand-nephews Kinsey and Blaisdell Casdin.

Donations in Alan’s memory may be made to Hasbro Children’s Hospital – Greatest Needs Fund or The Miriam Hospital – Centennial Campaign Fund. Both can be accessed at https://giving. brownhealth.org/Hassenfeld An irreplaceable loss to Rhode Island, the toy industry, and the world’s children, Alan Hassenfeld’s legacy of compassion, innovation and joyful generosity will endure.

Steven Horowitz, 75

NARRAGANSETT, R.I. – Steven Dean Horowitz passed away at his home in Narragansett on June 28, 2025. He was the beloved partner and husband of Cynthia (Slucha) Horowitz for 25 years. Born in Providence, a son of the late Jerome and Irene (Garber) Horowitz, he was a Narragansett and Saint Simons Island, Georgia, resident.

Steven was a dedicated employee, specializing in precious metal recycling.

He later enjoyed a career in automotive executive recruitment. When he managed to escape work, he was found with his loving wife by his side while they enjoyed expe-

riencing the rich art communities of music including jazz concerts, art galleries, travel and his personal favorite, college basketball. A lifelong Providence and Rhode Island resident, he was proud to root for the Providence Friars.

He was the devoted father of Jeremy Horowitz and his wife, Megan; and Jaime Terenzi and her fiancée, Jason Sartini. He was the dear brother of Robin Bautista and her husband, Robert Whitacre. He was the loving grandfather of four incredible children, Adam, Ryenne, Nolan and William.

Contributions may be made to Temple Beth Tefilloh, 1326 Egmont St., P.O. Box 602, Brunswick, GA 31520.

Joseph Joel, 100

CRANSTON, R.I. – Joseph A. Joel, a beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, greatgrandfather, friend and proud WWII Veteran, passed away on July 17, 2025, surrounded by his loving children.

Born on Oct. 5, 1924, in Brooklyn, New York, Joseph was the son of the late Joel Joel and Leah Meyer Joel.

From a young age, he was guided by a strong sense of family, respect, responsibility and perseverance - qualities that defined his extraordinary life.

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OBITUARIES Joseph was a 1942 graduate of Brooklyn Technical High School. Joseph also attended and graduated from Johnson & Wales Business School with a degree in accounting and management, in 1954.

Professionally, he was the devoted director of the Providence Civic Center Box Office for 30 years.

In addition to his beloved wife of 72 years, the late Sandra Waldman Joel; Joseph is survived by his devoted and loving children, Linda (Joel) Licker, Steven (Judith),

Nancy (the late Barry DeSaint) DeSaint, Paula Joel, James Joel, and a brother, M. William Joel.

He was the cherished grandfather of Elizabeth, Jeffrey, T.J., Jennifer, Stacey, Jo-Ellen, Jonathan and Andrew, and the adored great-grandfather of Gian, Lillian, James, Jolie and Gia, who will carry forward the lessons he taught by example: integrity, respect, humility and kindness.

Joseph was pre-deceased by his siblings, Frances Lieb-

ling, Bette Pesacov; Julius Joel and Marilyn Schonfield.

Joseph was a decorated WW II veteran who served his country with honor and bravery. He was awarded both the Bronze and Silver Stars for his heroic service; recognition that spoke to his courage, leadership and unwavering dedication.

Joseph will be remembered for his immense love for family and friends, his infectious smile and laughter, his wisdom, caring nature and his harmonica songs which delighted everyone he played for. “You are my Sunshine,” “Oh! Susanna” and “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” were his favorites.

Contributions can be made by accessing The Rhode Island Fire Chiefs Honor Flight Hub website at www. rihonorflight.com

Dr. Edwin Mehlman, 89

Certified by the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island Jacquelyn Aubuchon, Funeral Director

BARRINGTON, R.I. – Edwin S. Mehlman, D.D.S. was born on Nov. 30, 1935, in Hartford, Connecticut, the son of Sol A. and Rose (Slitt) Mehlman. He grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts, and graduated from Classical High School, in Providence. He went on to attend Wesleyan University, in Middletown, Connecticut, and the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. Following dental school, he served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force. He then continued his education at the Boston University School of Graduate Dentistry, where he received a Certificate in Endodontics (root canal therapy).

In 1965, he opened his practice limited to endodontics in Providence, becoming the first endodontist in the state. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of nearly 45 years, Lesley (Lunin) Mehlman; his brother, Michael; and his grandson, Caleb.

Dr. Mehlman often said that because both his profession and the Rhode Island community had been so good to him, he felt an obligation to give back – and he lived by that principle. He served as president of Temple Habonim, in Barrington; area vice president of the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island and president of the Bureau of Jewish Education of RI. He also served as president of the Lifelong Learning Collaborative.

From 1965 to 2013, Dr. Mehlman taught at various dental schools in Boston and in the General Practice Residency Program at Rhode Island Hospital’s Samuels-Sinclair Dental Center. He was elected to three honorary dental societies: the International College of Dentists (ICD), the American College of Dentists (ACD) and the Pierre Fauchard Academy (PFA). He served the Rhode Island Chapter of the ICD as Deputy Regent.

He was also president of the Rhode Island Dental Association (RIDA), chaired the Rhode Island Dental Political Action Committee, led RIDA’s Council on Legislation for 15 years and served for many years as president of the Rhode Island Association of Endodontists. After attending an American Dental Association (ADA) conference, he proposed to the RIDA Board the creation of a Donated Dental Services program, which provides free dental care to needy and disabled Rhode Island residents who do not qualify for Medicaid.

To date, this initiative and its volunteer dentists have provided over $1 million in free dental care.

Dr. Mehlman also served on the board of the American Association of Endodontists, as first vice president of the ADA and as First District Trustee on the ADA board, representing the six New England states.

Over the course of his career, Ed received numerous honors and awards including the Harvard-Forsyth Faculty Award for outstanding contributions to dental education; citations from both the RI and CT chapters of the PFA for contributions to the art and science of dentistry; the ADA Award for Increasing Access to Comprehensive Dental Care for Special Population Groups; the James W. Etherington Award – the highest honor given by the six New England states; the Humanitarian Award from the Indian Dental Association, USA; the District 1 ICD Distinguished Fellow Award; the District 1 ACD Volunteer of the Year Award; the Boston University School of Dental Medicine Distinguished Alumni Award; and the A. James Kershaw Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Community, the highest award of the RIDA. He also published scholarly articles in several dental journals and contributed a chapter to a book on dental implants.

Outside of dentistry, Ed served on the Barrington Building Committee for the renovation of the high school.

After retiring in 2010 at the age of 74, he became known in the local community as an accomplished bridge player and a frequent contributor of Letters to the Editor in the Providence Journal.

As much as Ed gave to his community, his greatest love was his family. To have known him was to experience something far greater than any curriculum or career could teach. His deep caring, generosity, humor and optimism earned him the admiration of many and the unwavering love of his children and grandchildren.

Holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Passover, were particularly meaningful to Ed. They reflected the values he held most dear: family, love and laughter, always shared with good food.

He is survived by his three sons: Jeffrey and his wife, Lynne (Bono), of Lowell, Massachusetts; Brian and his wife, Andrea (Berger), of Wilmington, North Carolina; and Erik and his wife, Kelly (Braun), of Durham, North Carolina. He is also survived by his dear friend and companion, Fran Lourie; five grandchildren: Jacob (and his wife, Isabel Watts), Sarah (and her partner, Jay Bettis), Julia (and her partner, Jon Findlay), Kyle (and his partner, Isis Rivera), and Eleanor; and three great-grandchildren: Saul, Astrid and Louis.

Donations in his memory may be made to: Lesley Lunin Mehlman Religious School Library Fund, c/o Temple Habonim, 165 New Meadow Road, Barrington, RI 02806; Lifelong Learning Collaborative, P.O. Box 603126, Providence, RI 02906; or Lesley Mehlman Carpe Diem Scholarship (for the top Latin student), East Greenwich High School, 300 Avenger Drive, East Greenwich, RI 02818.

Mildred Moverman, 100

WARWICK, R.I. – Mildred Moverman passed away with her loving family by her side on July 14, 2025, in Providence.

She was the beloved wife of the late Gerald Moverman for 67 years. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, the daughter of the late Herman and Gertrude (Goldstein) Zelman, she had lived in Warwick since 1952.

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OBITUARIES She was a lover of nature, art and lifelong learning. A symphony and opera aficionado, she was spiritual, humble and kind-hearted.

Milly also was a self-taught gourmet cook and baker whose kitchen magic brought enthusiastic smiles to all her extended family. Her sweet, warm heart and infectious smile endeared her to all.

Milly graduated from Boston University, College of Practical Arts & Letters in 1946. Following her marriage in 1950, Milly and Jerry took over the ownership and operation of The Rainbow Store, in downtown Providence, which they ran for many years.

While her own children were in school, Milly volunteered countless hours at the Lakeside Children’s Home, in Warwick. Following the closure of The Rainbow Store and as her children went off to college, Milly worked for many years as the managing editor of the Laboratory Primate Newsletter published by Brown University.

The devoted mother of Paul Moverman, of Milford, New Hampshire; Robert Moverman and his wife, Barbara, of North Andover, Massachusetts; David Moverman and his wife, Hagit, of North Easton, Massachusetts; and Judy Moverman, of Reston, Virginia. She was the dear sister of Elsie Robinson, of Canton, Massachusetts. She was the loving grandmother of Rebecca Moverman (Peggy), Carla Sato (Hiro), Hannah Moverman, Sadie Moverman, Michael (Christine) Moverman, Sharone Moverman (Michael Ely) and Daniel Moverman. She was the loving great-grandmother of Gavin and Sydney Sato, and Simona and Martin Moverman. Mildred is also survived by numerous nephews, nieces, grandnephews and grandnieces. She was predeceased by her sistersin-law, Jean Jaffa, Mollie Blumenthal, Estelle Friedman, Shirley Dauer, Evelyn Finger and Phyllis Salk.

Contributions may be made to the World Wildlife Fund, 1250 24th St., N.W., Washington, DC 20037 or to your favorite charity.

Ethel Rubinstein, 105

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Ethel Rubinstein, of Providence and formerly of Warren, passed away Aug. 1, 2025, at

Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Providence. She was the wife of the late Myer Rubinstein.

Born in Portland, Maine, a daughter of the late Louis and Annie (Seavey) Mack, she had lived in Rhode Island for the past nine years.

Ethel was an office manager at a local department store for many years before retiring. An avid reader, she enjoyed doing crossword puzzles, playing mahjong, watching tennis on TV and following her beloved Boston Red Sox. Above all, she loved spending time with her family.

She is survived by her son, Stuart Rubinstein and his spouse, Randy, of Sharon, Massachusetts; her daughter, Janet Shansky of Warren; her sister, Helen Hoffman, of Pembroke Pines, Florida; four grandchildren, Lani Harrison and spouse, David; David Rubinstein and spouse, Jessica; Rebecca Shansky and spouse, Jesse Schomer; and Sara Kaye and spouse, Adam; seven great-grandchildren, Shaindel Rivka, Zevy, Hillel, Jordan, Jonah, Miles and Ruby and several nieces and nephews. She was the mother-in-law of the late Joseph Shansky, and sister of the late Betty Press, and Sidney, Bertha and S. Richard Mack.

Ethel’s family gratefully appreciates the outstanding care she received at Steere House Nursing and Rehab Center.

Memorial contributions in her honor may be made to a charity of your choice.

Ruth Salloway, 93

BOCA RATON, FLA. – Ruth Salloway, of Boca Raton and formerly of Marblehead, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2025.

Ruth was born in Boston, the daughter of the late Julius and Eva (Wiener) Levitan and was raised in Newton, Massachusetts.

She graduated from the Cambridge School and left Bennington College to marry her sweetheart, Dr. Seymour I. Salloway.

Seymour and Ruth built a beautiful life in Marblehead, and they were married for 55 years until his death in 2007.

She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She enjoyed lifelong friendships and made new friends wherever she went. She was an avid bridge player, earning Life Master status in her 40s.

She participated in regional

and national bridge tournaments and continued to play bridge many times per week until her last days, achieving the level of Gold Life Master.

Ruth was one of the first young women to celebrate a Bat Mitzvah at Temple Emanuel, in Newton. She also attended the March on Washington in 1969 to help end the Vietnam War. Following an MS degree from Antioch University at age 48, she worked as the outpatient clinical supervisor for Project COPE and ran a successful counseling practice in Salem, Massachusetts, for many years. After retirement, she continued to volunteer as a counselor in nursing homes in Boca Raton. She was also the past president of Hadassah of the North Shore and a member of B’nai Torah Congregation, in Boca Raton.

Ruth is survived by her children, Dr. Stephen and Diane Salloway, Carol Salloway and Mark Zuroff, and Elaine and Perry Reader. She was beloved “Nana” to her grandchildren, Avi Salloway, Rachel Salloway and Jonny Bicknell, Dr. Leah Zuroff and Dr. Ari Wes, Julia Zuroff, Danielle and Adam Fulep, Nicole Monast, Evan and Kristin Monast, Stacy Reader and Sara Quin, and Jeff and Mary Kate Reader. She was the proud great-grandmother of Milo, Ruth (her namesake), Max, Olivia, Noah, Charlotte, Annabel, Luelle, Ari, Annabelle and Sid. She was the dear sister of the late Dr. Harold Levitan and his surviving wife, Connie Levitan.

Ruth was kind, compassionate and a great listener who lived a life full of connection and purpose. She was truly an Eshet Chayil, a Woman of Valor. The family greatly thanks Jona Hilliare, Marie Vincent and Dr. Joanne Yi for their devoted care.

Donations may be made to the charity of your choice.

Bernice Sklar, 100

WARWICK, R.I. – Bernice Feinstein Sklar, of Warwick, passed away on May 24, 2025, at the Sunny View Nursing home.

On Nov. 25, 1924, she was born to Rose and Louis Feinstein, in Manhattan, New York, the middle child between siblings Cal and Lucille. She attended Theodore Roosevelt High School taking classes in typing,

steno and bookkeeping. When she graduated at 18 years of age, she went to work as a secretary for a series of different firms in NYC for about 10 years until her son, Richard, was born, and she moved to Pennsylvania. Her daughter, Susan, was born in Scranton in 1954. She was married to Donald Sklar from 1947-1979.

In 1965, she started taking college classes at the University of Scranton – one of the few older women who returned to school at that time. She got an associate degree in religious studies and achieved the top honor in that major. She went on to get a B.A. in sociology, taking 1-2 classes at a time and graduating in 1976.

For several years, Berne worked at the Scranton Jewish Community Center nursery school and later at the Keystone School teaching special needs children.

She also worked part time as a secretary at Temple Hesed for a number of years. When Bernice was 52 years old, with her new college degree in hand, she was hired as a manager at the Jewish Home of Scranton as its executive housekeeper. She supervised 20 women, purchased supplies, helped to create institution-wide systems and oversaw laundry operations. She retired in 1999 at the age of 75. In addition, she taught religious school classes at Temple Hesed on the weekend for 40 years.

In 2008, Bernice moved to Rhode Island to live near her daughter and resided in the Shalom Senior Apartments, in Warwick, for 15 years. She was a member of Temple Sinai, in Warwick, and attended Torah study there for over a decade and participated in a community book club. In February 2023, she moved into the Sunny View Nursing Home, in Warwick, where she passed away peacefully at the age of 100.

Berne is survived by her son, Richard, and his wife, Therese Sklar; grandson, Adam Sklar; grandson, Eric Sklar, and his wife, Breanne Brown; and great-grandchildren, Fiona and Keira; daughter, Susan Sklar, and her husband, Rink Dickinson; and granddaughter, Savanna Dickinson Sklar. In addition, she is survived by nieces, Lyn Ofrane, Lee Casher, Cali Spohrer, Laurie Malcom and Jodi Malcom; and nephew,

Roy Weinberg.

Contributions may be made to HopeHealth Hospice, 1085 N. Main St., Providence, RI 02906.

Dorothy Solinger, 102

EAST GREENWICH, R.I. – Dorothy F. Solinger, a longtime member of the Saint Elizabeth Community, passed away on July 23, 2025, 3 days before her 103rd birthday, with her devoted and loving daughter by her side. She was the beloved wife of the late Samuel I. Solinger for 53 years.

Born in Providence, she was a daughter of the late Joseph and Lillian Leavitt.

She had lived at Saint Elizabeth in East Greenwich for the last 20 years, previously living in Cranston. She was a bookkeeper with Solinger Distribution Co.; however, she devoted her life to caretaking.

She was a super-mom who was absolutely and wholly committed to the support and empowering of her daughter, Lori. She was a proud mother who made sure to include Lori in everything she did.

Whether it was throwing lavish gatherings for holidays, dinner parties for the experience or just spending a quiet day reading or in the car between appointments, practice and rehearsals, she made sure to include her daughter. Dorothy was clever and quick, she was a skilled mathematician and enjoyed the simple things in her life like reading and, at one point in her life, painting.

She was the steadfast and earnest mother of Lori Solinger, of Cranston. She was the loving sister to Nathalie Kossove of Gainesville, Florida. She was the loving aunt to Pamela Schneider of Gainesville, Florida.

Contributions may be made to Saint Elizabeth Community, 2364 Post Road, Suite 100, Warwick, RI 02886 [https://stelizabethcommunity.org/giving-support/ donate-now/].

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2025

2021 Patron PATRON Honor Roll HONOR ROLL O

Carol Knopf Charles Fischer Marsha Addessi n behalf of the Jewish Rhode Island Dr. Lon Kopit Natalie & Melvin Fleischer David A. Adelman team, I want to thank every Hope R. Krichmar Judith Fogel Cecilia Alkalay contributor to the annual Patron Sherry Kriss & Richard A. Fred J. Franklin William & Amabel Allen Saltzman Laura Freedman & David Quentin & Emily Anthony Campaign. We are grateful for your Bernice & Richard Kumins Pedrick Paul & Esta Avedisian, in generosity. Jewish Rhode Island relies on Dr. Audrey Kupchan & Mr. Sam Alvin & Lauren Gabrilowitz memory of Ben & Hannah Havens Rabinowitz your support, along with advertising Shelley Katsh & Mark Gabry Tamara Labush M. Charles & Elizabeth Bakst Howard & Sheila Galitsky revenue and an allocation from the Jewish Jeffrey & Elaine Land Esta & Fred Barcohana Gail & Jim Galkin Federation Foundation, to stay strong and Jerrold L. & Barbara S. Lavine Francine & Stephen Michele D. Gallagher Beranbaum Freda Lehrer viable.

Phillip & Sylvia Geller Moshe & Ilona Berman Sandra Levey Norman Getz Andrew & Barbara Berner Mitchell & Shirley Levin This year, 271 donors gave $18,651. We hope Mrs. Alan Gilstein A. Larry & Ellen Berren Dr. Mayer & Judy Levitt Roberta & Barry Gilstein you like what you are reading. If you do, Michael & Vicky Bharier Phyllis Lichaa in memory of Susan & Lawrence Ginsberg please tell your friends and relatives. If you Albert Lichaa Amy Dworman Bianco Professor Arthur & Dr. Marion Moshe & Toby Liebowitz Arnold & Ruth Blasbalg have ideas and suggestions, let us know.

Gold Allen Litchman Raena Blumenthal Esther M. Gold Karen Borger Carol Golden & Stuart Einhorn Mrs. Henry Litchman – Fran Ostendorf, Editor Alan & Marianne Litwin Sandra Bornstein / Koffler Ellen & Barry Golden Bornstein Family Foundation Toby & David London Lee & Janice Golden Rich Brandt Bradford Louison Marcia Szymanski & Sharon Leon J. Rubin Alice & Sidney (z"l) Goldstein Bart & Elise Bresnik Friedman Jerome (z"l) & Frances Magner Noel & Amy Rubinton Mrs. Charlotte Gorodetsky Seymour & Marsha Brooks David Talan Jamie & H. B. Manville Alan & Laurie Salk Lenore Gorodetsky Rhoda Broomfield Cheryl Greenfeld Teverow Sandra Marcowitz Hilary & Stephen (z"l) Salk and Joan Gray Ida & Tom Brown Joshua & Cindy Teverow Ruth Ross (z"l) Sara Meirowitz & Daniel Janet Greenberg Herchenroether Jeffrey & Barbara Horovitz Stephen & Eleanor Thal Elaine & Robert Sandy Livia Greenberg Brown Howard & Sue Meyerson Jill & Michael Thaler Dr. & Mrs. Sanford Schatz Robert & Robin Greenberg Cantor Remmie & Marjorie Ann Miller & Henri Flikier Rabbi Herb & Suzy Tobin Dr. Steven & Mrs. Naomi Dr. Samuel & Mrs. Judy Brown Schechter Janice & Stanley Miller Jeffrey & Deb Trust & Family Greenblatt Sandra & Fred Brown Schein Family Foundation Lewis & Janet Miller Mark & Zoya Tseytlin Michael Burk & Seena Franklin David Greene Barry & Libby Schiller Ms. Elayne Moe Rosa & Victor (z"l) Tulenfeld Ronald & Roslyn Guarnieri Edward & Maureen Canner Dr. Ronald & Carol Schwartz Sharon & Michael Monsour Lynn & Bruce Vinacco Gary & Jeanette (z"l) Gurwitz Deborah Josephson Catone Betty & Michael Seidman Ann Moskol & Robert Ericson Joyce & Larry (z"l) Wacks Janet H. Engelhart (z"l) & Rabbi Leslie Stern-Charis & Philip Evelyn Seigle Elinor Nacheman Leslie Y. Gutterman Ellis & Debbie Waldman Charis Dr. Aaron J. & Rochelle Shatkin Dianne & Martin Newman Lawrence Hershoff & Eleanor David & Ann Weiner Marshall Cohen Mulford Arthur & Barbara Sheer Ruth Oppenheim Ruth, Audrey, & Deb Weinreich Dr. & Mrs. Martin L. Cohen Dr. & Mrs. James K. Herstoff in memory of Irving Weinreich Neil & Charlotte Sheer Tillie Orleck Pauline Cohen Eleanor & Robert Hoffman David & Jing Weisberg Nancy & David Sheinberg Stephen Ostrach & Linda Dr. Donald & Terri Coustan Eisenmann Walter & Dodi Horowitz The Weiss Family: Howard & Ellen & Barry Shepard Arline Cusick, in memory of her Elaine Weiss and Jonathan David Houghton & Linda Levine Beverly Paris Linda & Richard Silverman grandparents, Lillian & (z"l) & Aleen Weiss Marjorie & Robert Pelcovits Daniel J. Iam Charles Bresler Rita Slom Robin Weiss Sheela Percelay Professor Jeffrey Jarrett & Barry & Rosanne Dana Mayor Brett Smiley Beverly Wexler Mrs. Ruth Jarrett Dov and Cynthia Pick Michael Deaett Sheri & Zachary Snow Phyllis G. Williams Marilyn D. Kagan Bonnie Houle Piszcz David & Karen DeForest David & Kristin Soforenko Jerrold & Rita (z"l) Winer Steven G. Kagan Miriam R. Plitt Jane A. Desforges & Michael J. Edwin S. Soforenko Foundation Stuart & Fredda Yarlas Dr. Charles Kahn in memory of Barbara Portney White Ronald & Marcia Sohn Sue Carol Yarnel Sally T. Dowling Ellen & Lloyd Rabinowitz Mara Sokolsky & Don Kieffer Lisa Yorra Cantor Steven & Myrna Dress Mr. & Mrs. Fredric S. Kamin Ried & Mindy Redlich Phyllis B. Solod Sanford & Esta Karp Charles & Rochelle Ziegler John R. Duhamel Linda Reich David Spitzman Barbara Kaskosz & Nancy Faye Zuckerman Alexander & Mira Eides Marvin Stark & Miriam Abeshaus in memory of Mr. & Susan & Michael Rodrigues Dr. Samuel Zwetchkenbaum & Helga Elsner Abrams-Stark Dr. & Mrs. Neal Rogol Mrs. James Abeshaus Deborah Carr Bev & Jerry Engel Dr. Penney Stein David Rosen Lawrence & Marilyn Katz Anonymous (50) Michael Entin Dr. Ezra & Varda Stieglitz Rabbi James Rosenberg & Norma & Bob Kaufman Sandra Mattison Rosenberg Barbara Feibelman & Kenneth Joan Kelaghan z”l (of blessed memory) Jeff Stoloff Orenstein Fred & Marcia Rosenzweig Faye & Robert Stolzman Marty Kenner Contributions received after Lotte J. Feinberg & Family Gladys Rosofsky Martha E. Stone Dr. Martin J. Kerzer July 11, 2025 will be Fred Felder Susan & Darrell Ross Marie & Arthur Strauss Rabbi Andrew Klein & Adam recognized in next year’s Cynthia Feldman David & Holly Rothemich Mastoon Sylvia Strauss Patron Honor Roll.

Barbara & Edward Feldstein & Helene Klein Hilarie Rubin Brian Sullivan & Justin Foster Family