January 2021

The Voice of Greater Rhode Island’s Jewish Community

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Looking back

Stories that shaped our lives Tea cups from the past

Stay healthy in 2021

Advocacy in the COVID age

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The year 5780 was certainly a wild ride; we had to find new and creative ways of meeting people’s needs in an ever changing landscape.

In these uncertain times when so many people are finding themselves in need of assistance – many of them for the first time – we are providing programs that help the most vulnerable among us, both locally and globally.

With your support, we keep people safe and cared for. With your increased commitment to the Annual Community Campaign, you will provide continuity and the expanded services that people so desperately need right now.

We appreciate your past support and hope you’ll consider increasing your gift.

2021 ANNUAL COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN JEWISHALLIANCERI.ORG/DONATE

HERE FOR GOOD. 401 Elmgrove Avenue • Providence, RI 02906 • 401.421.4111 • jewishallianceri.org

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JEWISH RHODE ISL AND

EDITOR Fran Ostendorf DESIGN & LAYOUT Alex Foster ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT Peter Zeldin pzeldin@jewishallianceri.org 401-421-4111, ext. 160 CONTRIBUTORS Hannah Altman, Cynthia Benjamin, Larry Kessler COLUMNISTS Michael Fink, Geraldine Foster, Patricia Raskin, Rabbi James Rosenberg, Daniel Stieglitz

VOLUME XXVIII, ISSUE I 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.

PUBLISHER

The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, President/CEO Adam Greenman, Chair James Pious, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, RI 02906.

401-421-4111; Fax 401-331-7961 MEMBER of the

Rhode Island Press Association.

Renew your commitment to good health HAVE YOU MADE a commitment to your health and well-being? Are you keeping yourself healthy?

While your answers to these questions have always been important, they’ve taken on extra meaning since the start of the pandemic, as we moved from our workplaces to our homes, and in and out of lockdowns, closures and pauses. Not to mention masks.

Our health, both mental and physical, has been a topic of discussion for many of us since the pandemic began in March – but it isn’t being talked about enough.

It’s not easy to stay home all, or most, of the time. Nobody prepared us for this. And it may be affecting us in ways we aren’t even aware of.

On the one hand, we are doing the right thing by following the advice of responsible government officials, religious and lay leaders, doctors, scientists and others. Most of us are staying safe by staying away from others, who might be carrying and spreading COVID-19.

But, on the other hand, we are social beings. To not see family and friends, to eliminate group activities and to worry when we do go out all takes a toll.

So how can we mitigate ON THE COVER: People the effects on our mental and physical health until participate in a Jewish vaccines beat back COVIDsolidarity march across the 19? I’ve crafted a list to give Brooklyn Bridge on Jan. 5, you some ideas of how to 2020 in New York City. protect – and maybe even PHOTO BY JEENAH MOON/GETTY IMAGES enhance – your physical and mental health in 2021:

Don’t give up on staying safe. Isolating, or even keeping our “pod” small, is tough. We’ve already been through the hardest part – Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and school breaks – often without our loved ones or trips to warmer or beloved places. It’s easy to feel like you can’t take it anymore. But stay the course. You can do it. Stay home. Stay away from crowds. Don’t gather with crowds indoors. Wear a mask. Wash your hands.

We can do this – after all, it won’t be forever.

Don’t hesitate to reach out for help. If you are COPY DEADLINES: All news releases,

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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.

feeling down, depressed or chronically out of sorts, get help. Talk to someone. See a mental-health professional.

There are many options inside and outside the Jewish community. Jewish Collaborative Services is an excellent resource where you can get help or get pointed in the right direction for whatever help you need. Reach out to JCS at JCSRI.org.

There are many other options in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts for mental-health help.

Or turn to a friend or family member. Just remember, it’s OK to ask for help. These are unusual times and the added stress it is causing all of us is real.

Get some exercise. Getting up and moving does

wonders for your whole self. Often, I walk up and down the stairs and around my house. That really can be a cardio workout! I’ve also taken long walks outdoors; there are many trails that are accessible even in the winter. Or just do a lap around the block – any movement is better than nothing, and maybe you will

meet a new neighbor.

Another option is the endless supply of online exercise classes and videos. And the Alliance’s Dwares Jewish Community Center is now offering a wide variety of classes online, as well as a virtual membership to take advantage of all these classes.

Learn something new. Join a Zoom class. It will

do your brain good. Local congregations and Jewish organizations have a wide variety of online learning opportunities. And virtual recreational opportunities abound: cooking classes, book groups, armchair travel, music lessons. If you want it, you can find it online.

Pray. Don’t forget that you can still pray in a

congregational setting. Locally, there are plenty of opportunities for worshipping virtually with others.

Attend services at your own temple, or try something new: Find the schedule for services at a different temple on its website and join in. Or perhaps you are a transplant and want to reconnect with your childhood synagogue. Chances are you can do that through a streaming service, such as Zoom.

Rabbi Mark Elber, of Temple Beth El in Fall River, told our reporter Seth Chitwood that his synagogue is seeing people who have moved away join in online services. And it’s not the only congregation experiencing this. Virtual services are a way to connect, or reconnect, on a never-before-seen level.

You can read Seth’s article about virtual services on page 18.

Reconnect with what brings you joy. Back in

March, we heard a lot about bringing joy into our newlyisolated lives. But that’s faded. Let’s bring it back as we slog through the dark days of January.

You don’t usually have time to sit down and read a novel? Do it. Rarely have time to bake? Make cookies or a cake or bread. Do your closets need sorting? Take the time.

If you’ve been living and working at home for nine months, you may need to rethink some of your spaces to introduce more joy. I know I sure do. Anyone who has seen me at a video meeting knows that I have way too many piles of papers on my desk. These are on my to-do list for this month. Just writing about it should keep me accountable!

Statistics show that many people begin January with resolutions to exercise or diet or do whatever they think will help their health and wellness. But by mid-February, 80% of those resolutions have been abandoned.

Researchers say that has to do with failure to emotionally commit to the goal, as well as the fact that it takes 66 days for a new behavior to become a habit.

Of course, the statistics were collected during what we think of as normal times. This year, all bets are off.

But it is important to consider how you will keep yourself healthy for the next few months, until spring – with its promise of more outdoor activities and widespread vaccinations to knock down the virus that has so disrupted our lives.

If we can bear up this winter, and do our best to stay healthy mentally and physically, perhaps we can emerge from this stronger. We’ll certainly appreciate each other and the joy of a simple hug like never before. And that is a beautiful thing.

Fran Ostendorf, Editor

D'VAR TORAH 5 | FOOD 6 | CALENDAR 7 | OPINION 12 HEALTH AND WELLNESS 16 | COMMUNITY 18 | BUSINESS 23 | OBITUARIES 25

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.

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UP FRONT educate and train American rabbis to become advocates for human rights and U.S. policy] does incredible work around the world. The fellowship was an extraordinary opportunity to learn about advocacy and social justice both locally and internationally.

The trip to Guatemala with the fellowship was the last time I traveled before the pandemic, and it was a transformative eight days of learning from AJWS; their grantees who are working for justice have much to teach us about hope and the long game and finding joy amidst the struggle.

It was also a blessing to get to know wonderful colleagues from around the nation and across movements, and the AJWS’ staff, who are themselves powerful advocates for justice and teachers of Torah. As an institution, their attentiveness to mission and values is impressive and instructive.

PHOTO | GLENN OSMUNDSON

Breaking the glass ceiling:

Temple Beth-El’s Senior Rabbi Sarah Mack

BY HANNAH ALTMAN SARAH MACK IS the senior rabbi at Temple-Beth El, in Providence, where she has served since 2003, upon her ordination from the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion.

Rabbi Mack also spent a year studying at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, in Jerusalem.

Rabbi Mack has served as the president of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island, in addition to being a board member of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, the Chaplaincy Center, the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island, and the Center for Reconciliation. She is also on the executive committee of the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty.

A Seattle native, Rabbi Mack lives in Providence with her husband, Jeffrey Isaacs, sons Liam, 12, and Jackson, 9, and their dog Pippa and cat Bosco, both rescues.

Jewish Rhode Island recently caught up with Rabbi Mack to discuss her new role as senior rabbi at Temple Beth-El, which began in November, as well as her involvement in social justice and practicing Judaism during the COVID-19 pandemic. Here are excerpts from the interview, which was conducted by email:

Did your childhood influence your decision to become a rabbi?

I grew up in a Reform congregation and was involved in Reform youth groups and camps, and all of that very much influenced my decision to become a rabbi.

How has your time at Beth-El prepared you for being senior rabbi, and what are you looking forward to in your new role?

My career is anomalous in having spent the entirety of it at Beth-El. That is an incredible gift! Having the relationships and foundation, having served the congregation for 17-plus years, I am thrilled to be able to continue to walk with our members through joy and sorrow.

Longevity in a congregation means that I have the joy of officiating marriages for past students, and get to witness as some of my first B’nai Mitzvah students become parents and babies I have named are called to the Torah as B’nai Mitzvah.

The role of senior rabbi involves things I was already doing, and it is a delight to do them formally in this new capacity. It is exciting to work with our wonderful team to build a vision for the future.

Taking over in the middle of a pandemic poses its own challenges, and also possibilities.

I am fortunate to have received the

very best rabbinic mentoring anyone could have. Rabbi [Leslie] Gutterman has been a guide and a friend. As I look forward to serving Beth-El into the future, it is with a great deal of humility knowing that there are big shoes to fill. Following Les Gutterman and Rabbi William Braude is incredibly humbling, and I am abundantly aware of that mantle.

There has never been a woman who has served as senior rabbi of one of the larger congregations in Rhode Island. It is a moment to celebrate as we see glass ceilings breaking in all facets of leadership.

Temple Beth-El has a rich history that is the basis for all we do, and at the same time [it] is open to transformation and change. That is the most exciting thing for me entering the senior rabbi position – to honor our past and dream of how we can best serve 21st-century Reform Jewry.

I am grateful for our exceptional lay leadership, who have wisdom and vision as partners in this unprecedented moment to “turn into the spin” and try new things that are not without risk.

You were a 2019-2020 American Jewish World Service Global Justice Fellow. How will this fellowship influence your role at Beth-El? The American Jewish World Service [a program designed to inspire,

Why are social-justice issues important to you as a rabbi and a Jewish woman?

My social-justice involvement in Rhode Island has grown out of the relationships made throughout the years. The interfaith coalition, marriage equality, clergy against gun violence, religious coalition for choice – all are composed of stellar colleagues across faith traditions working for justice.

The Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom [an interfaith organization to promote relationships between Jewish and Muslim women] is the same story. As an organization, it has a wonderful model of dialogue that is based upon the premise that you can disagree and still love someone. That model is important in a climate as divided as ours.

How can we create more inclusive environments in Jewish spaces?

I think the way forward in creating inclusive spaces is to promote connections and conversation. To know each other provides a foundation to tackle challenges. Representation also matters. Making sure we have an eye to diversity in everything we do is important.

How did being president of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island impact the way you view our Jewish community?

Serving as the president of the BOR gave me the joy of getting to know a broad swath of the R.I. Jewish community, as well as faith leaders across the state. The size of our state means that we can know each other and have access to our state leaders, and that is a blessing.

After the tragedy in Pittsburgh, I was incredibly touched by the outpouring of support for the Jewish community from every corner of Rhode Island.

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Consider a blessing for the COVID-19 vaccine D' VA

“BE SURE TO FOLLOW the behaviors which the wise doctors prescribe, for walking in the light of their words is also our religious duty, thus upholding life in this physical world to be good and do good (l’tov u’lemeitiv).”

(Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, Ohr Yisrael, Letter 22).

Rabbi Yisrael Salanter, innovator of a movement to emphasize the ethical and behavioral dimensions of Judaism known as the Mussar movement, wrote these words in a letter as a direct response to the cholera epidemic of 1848.

While the notion that good medical advice is also good religious advice may sound innovative, his words should be seen as classic rabbinic commentary in the context of the commandment to “guard our lives very carefully” (Deuteronomy 4:15).

What emerges from this worldview is the beginning of a spiritual approach that fights against the numbness and nihilism of our present moment. First, a word on one shared human problem for this moment. While the pan-

R

demic has been accompanied by acute problems, death and illness, financial turmoil, the racial and socioeconomic disparity of its effects, and all the rest, the physical isolation of it all is perhaps the most ubiquitous and distinctly anathema to the human condition.

As evoluRABBI tionary sociolBARRY ogist Nicholas Christakis has DOLINGER demonstrated exhaustively in his book, “Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society,” the features shared by all human societies – what he’s termed the “social suite” – are a result of the fact that all humans have evolved as members of groups; human beings, even the introverts among us, are social creatures down to the very genes.

Collectively, our societies are designed to be just that, societies, not mere collections of individuals. In this context, online ordering, faceless interactions, and accentuated trends of a technological society, while convenient, cost-effective, safer and scalable, are also alienating,

TO R A H

maddening and violent. They lash out against our basic need, evolved and shared, to see and be seen. A stimulus check from the government might help the bank account, but without the interaction of a smiling banker who knows your name and shares your neighborhood, it won’t feel right.

What can be done? How do we shake feeling, to different extents but unfortunately shared, that we’re alone?

Fundamentally, the spiritual orientation advocated

by Rabbi Yisrael Salanter is based on integration and transcendence. Integration – that science and religion are not distinct. Just as vaccine researchers seek, efficiently and systematically, to produce efficacious vaccines to end the suffering, our religious tradition places the protection and enhancement of human well-being as its animating principle.

This is what it means to be a partner in God’s ongoing creation. Transcendence – l’tov u’lemeitiv, to do good and be good. Connection to our community, to our people, and ultimately to God, is a core aim of religious practice. In various places throughout the liturgy, God

Conspiracy, collusion part of American politics since the start

BY FRAN OSTENDORF TALK OF CONSPIRACY and collusion in politics may seem more rampant than ever before. But on Dec. 9, Jeff Rogg told a lively Zoom audience of congregants from Temple Shalom, in Middletown, that history shows this is nothing new.

It’s part of the political landscape, and it has been for most of the life of the United States, said Rogg, an intelligence specialist and a postdoctoral fellow in the National Security Affairs Department at the U.S. Naval War College, in Newport.

“I love intelligence,” Rogg said.

“What’s better than telling spy stories?”

He explained how the United States got its start with conspiracy and spies.

“Benjamin Church was the first real American spy. He’s the reason the battles of Lexington and Concord happened,” he said.

Then there was Benedict Arnold, who was channeling letters to the British.

One letter, lying on a shelf, was found and made its way to George Washington: The rest is history.

“Conspiracies are in our blood,” said Rogg. “They make us uncomfortable but curious.”

He told how Thomas Paine was the first to leak classified information, because of political disputes in the Continental Congress. And he pointed out that through-

out history, Americans have always been divided. He also said that allegations of collusion are as old as the U.S. “There were allegations of collusion between the Federalists and the British,” he said.

Rogg’s takeaways for today’s political atmosphere: “Intelligence and politics don’t mix.”

“There’s a long history of spying on your opponent in politics.”

“American politics is messy stuff and it always has been.”

“Politicians will be politicians. Intelligence officers have a job to do, and if they get involved in the mud, shame on them.”

Of today’s politics, he said, “It’s not irredeemable. The best way is to understand history.”

A lively discussion followed Rogg’s talk, with many of the more than dozen attendees commenting or asking questions.

Rogg is finishing his Ph.D. at Ohio State University with a dissertation titled, “The Spy and the State: The History and Theory of American Civil-Intelligence Relations,” which details the evolution of American intelligence from the Revolutionary War to the present.

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

is referred to and defined as Chei Ha’olamim – Lifegiver of the worlds. Relating to God in this way, as the animating life force of all that is, relieves stress and dulls pain by diffusing it in a large context, but centrally it provides deep meaning, purpose and resilience that come from transcending the self.

All of it is nice, in theory, but it’s the practice, not reading it in the paper, that makes it real. The Talmud, expanding on the Mishna, rules that one should recite a blessing on occurrences that are exceedingly bad and exceedingly good. Let’s focus on the good. For things that are good for a particular individual, shechechyanu, gratitude and praise for making it to this time in life, is the name of the game. But for things that are good both for oneself and others, the Talmud mandates the blessing “hatov v’hameitiv, Who is good and does good.” “Good – for oneself. Does Good – for others” (Talmud Berachot 59b).

While there’s been rabbinic debate about which of these blessings is appropriate upon receiving one of the COVID-19 vaccines, we can definitely bring some of Rabbi Salanter’s sensibility of inte-

gration into our lives by making a blessing upon receiving the vaccine. In keeping with our tradition, the palpable relief and emotional release can help us express and even find catharsis in a bracha of praise before the Creator of the world. To me, it seems clears that the blessing hatov v’hameitiv fits well. A vaccine is good for the recipient, providing them needed immunity, while it is the very definition of good for others; herd immunity, collective action and eradication for all who dwell on earth, is the principal benefit. Crucially, these words, who is good and does good, are the very same words used by Rabbi Salanter in his letter.

When you have a chance to receive the vaccine, may it come soon, consider making it a spiritual practice and try reciting the blessing: Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech Haolam, Hatov v’hameitiv.

Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, Who is good and does good.

RABBI BARRY DOLINGER is rabbi of Congregation Beth Sholom in Providence and the president of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island.

Touro Fraternal provides meals for front-line workers TOURO FRATERNAL ASSOCIATION recently provided 160 healthy lunches for Rhode Island Hospital front-line workers who have been treating COVID-19 patients throughout the pandemic.

Touro previously provided meals for the front-line workers at The Miriam Hospital.

Through its community involvement committee, chaired by Barry Schiff, Touro has also provided assistance during the pandemic to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, the Louis & Goldie Chester Full Plate Kosher Food Pantry and the Jewish Community Day School and Providence Hebrew Day School to offset COVID-19 expenses.

The presentation to Rhode Island Hospital of boxed meals, purchased from Pranzi Catering, was made by Barry Schiff; Stevan Labush, chairman of the board of directors; and Larry Berman, president of Harmony Lodge.

“Touro truly appreciates the dedicated, tireless and brave work performed by front-line hospital workers on a daily basis since the pandemic

began in March, and this is a small token of thanks for their efforts,” said Labush. “Touro was founded 102 years ago and one of its primary missions was to help the less fortunate and those in need. We have never wavered from that commitment.”

Touro, headquartered in Cranston, is the largest Jewish fraternal organization in the Northeast with more than 500 members. The group has been meeting virtually throughout the pandemic. In recent years, Touro has supported many philanthropic causes, helping to defray the cost of security at synagogues throughout the state, purchasing defibrillators for schools and organizations, and cooking meals at the Ronald McDonald House to help the families of hospitalized children.

For more information on Touro Fraternal Association, call 401-785-0066 or go the website: http://www.tourofraternal. org.

– Submitted by Touro Fraternal Association

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Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

FOOD

This beety, beefy cabbage soup is perfect for quarantine For the broth: Vegetable oil 1-1 1/2 pounds flanken 2 carrots, unpeeled 2 celery stalks 1 head of garlic, unpeeled, halved crosswise 1 onion, unpeeled 1/4 cup fresh herbs of your choosing 10 cups water 2 1/2 teaspoons salt For the soup: 2 1/2 cups golden beets, peeled and diced 2 carrots, peeled and sliced Salt and pepper, to taste Fresh herbs, to taste (optional)

BY CRYSTAL RIVERA This recipe originally appeared on The Nosher.

THIS COMFORTING SOUP is a cross between a meaty borscht and my current obsession: caramelized cabbage. Both the flanken and cabbage lend a hand in its richness. You might just find yourself not needing any bouillon for this one.

If you can’t find golden beets, any beet will do. I just love the goldenness it promotes in the broth. Please do not, however, cut any cooking time of the cabbage. The longer you cook it, the better.

To make this vegetarian, add dried mushrooms for

umami and double the vegetables in the broth to make it heartier. A cup of pearl barley would be a nice addition, too.

INGREDIENTS For the cabbage: 1/3 cup olive oil 1 1/2 pounds green cabbage, chopped 1/2 cup leeks, halved and sliced 1/2 tablespoon kosher salt 2 teaspoons sugar (optional)

DIRECTIONS Start by making the cabbage: Set a deep, large pan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil.

Add the cabbage, leeks, salt and sugar. Immediately turn the heat down to low.

Stir every 8-10 minutes (be careful not to interrupt the browning process by moving the cabbage around a lot) until the mix turns a deep

brown, about 40 minutes. If at any point the pan looks too dry, gradually add a little more olive oil.

Once cooked, set the cabbage aside in a bowl lined with a paper towel. Pat down with more paper towel to remove any excess oil.

To make the broth, heat a large pot over high heat.

Brown the flanken in batches, returning all the meat to the pot when the last batch is done.

Add the vegetables, herbs, salt and water. Bring to a boil, cover with a lid and turn down to a simmer. For the first 15 minutes, check on the broth to remove any foam that rises to the top. I like to skim off some of the fat as the flanken simmers, but you may find it easier to do this once the soup cools down and the fat solidifies.

After 1 1/2 hours, discard the vegetables and herbs, and add the beets, carrots and caramelized cabbage. Continue to cook for another 30 minutes, or until tender. Add salt, pepper, herbs to taste.

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CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS FOR COMPLETE MONTHLY LISTINGS, VISIT JEWISHRHODY.ORG

Ongoing

Kosher Senior Café and online programming. Cold box lunch home delivery upon request while meal sites are closed due to COVID-19. Two lunches delivered on Mondays and Wednesdays; one lunch delivered on Fridays. Zoom programming includes yoga on Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m.-noon followed by lunch and a guest or discussion from noon-1 p.m. The second Thursday of the month is “Susie’s Corner” with Susie Adler from noon-1 p.m. The third Thursday of the month is a book chat with Neal Drobnis from noon-1 p.m. Suggested donation: $3 per lunch. Information, Neal Drobnis at neal@jfsri.org or 401-678-6464 or 401-331-1244.

Music with Raymond Buttero via Zoom. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 3-4 p.m. Temple Sinai's pianist performs. Link at templesinairi. org. Information, Dottie at 401-9428350.

Core Connects RI and The Sisterhood of Temple Beth-El: Torah Yoga with Diane Bloomfield via Zoom. Sundays 10-11:15 a.m. thru 1/31. Diane is a certified junior level Iyengar Yoga instructor and a Phoenix Rising Yoga therapist. No previous experience in Torah study or yoga necessary. Cost: $60 for 4 sessions. Information, coreconnectsri.com or Elissa Felder at CoreConnectsRI@gmail.com or 401-241-9631.

Conversational Hebrew via Zoom Winter Session. Mondays 7-8:15 p.m. thru 2/22. Three levels offered. Partnership of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and Temple Emanu-El. No class 2/15. $100 for 8 sessions. Information, Toby Liebowitz at TobyAane@ gmail.com.

Temple Habonim Lunch & Learn with Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman via Zoom. Thursdays noon-1 p.m. Torah Study on Pirke Avot: A Modern Commentary on Jewish Ethics. Information, Adina Davies at office@templehabonim.org or 401245-6536.

Temple Emanu-El Parashah HaShavua. Fridays 8:30-9 a.m. (after Z'man Kodesh: Daily Minyan Alternative Experience). Rabbi Alvan Kaunfer leads this study session on highlights from the weekly Torah portion. All welcome.

Information and Zoom link, Rabbi Alvan Kaunfer at akaunfer@cox.net or 401-331-1616.

Temple Sinai Morning Meditation via Zoom. Fridays 10-10:30 a.m.

Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser leads meditation that includes reflections

on Jewish wisdom and mindfulness. No prior experience required.

Information, templesinairi.org or Dottie at 401-942-8350.

Temple Sinai Shabbat Services via Zoom. Fridays 6-7:15 p.m. With Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser and Cantor Deborah Johnson. Link at templesinairi.org. Information, Dottie at 401-942-8350.

Temple Beth-El Remote Torah Study. Saturdays 9-10 a.m. Zoom led by one of Beth-El's clergy. No Torah study 1/9. Information, Kim Campbell at kcampbell@temple-beth-el.org.

Temple Habonim Torah Study via Zoom. Saturdays 10-11 a.m. Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman leads weekly Torah study on current portion.

Information, Adina Davies at office@ templehabonim.org or 401-245-6536.

Temple Sinai Torah Study via Zoom. Saturdays 10-11:15 a.m.

Interactive discussion with Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser. Zoom link at templesinairi.org. Information, Dottie at 401-942-8350.

Cohen at ocohen@jewishallianceri. org or 401-864-3786.

The Miriam Hospital Women's Association: “Mental Health: Tools for Putting 2020's Stress & Anxiety Behind You.” 7 p.m. Dr. Ernestine Jennings and Dr. Elena Salmoirago-Blotcher, both of The Miriam’s Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, will discuss via Zoom the state of mental health in America and provide information for a healthier 2021. Q&A follows. Information, Vickie Scott at vickie.scott@ lifespan.org or 401-793-2520.

Thursday | January 14

Temple Sinai Movie Discussion with Dr. Marvin Wasser: “The Little Traitor.” 7-8 p.m. Link at templesinairi.org. Information, Dottie at dottie@templesinairi.org or 401-942-8350.

Saturday | January 16

Temple Sinai Havdalah Service.

8 p.m. Find Zoom link on homepage of templesinairi.org. Information, Dottie at 401-942-8350 or dottie@ templesinairi.org.

Tuesday | January 12

Tuesday | January 19

Temple Sinai: “Religious Liberty... or Christian Nation?” 10-11 a.m.

Temple Sinai member Dr. Katharine Batlan on the history, politics and law of religious liberty in America with special attention to the role and concerns of Jews. Also on 1/19. Zoom link at templesinairi. org. Information, Dottie at 401-9428350 or dottie@templesinairi.org.

Temple Sinai: “Religious Liberty... or Christian Nation?” 10-11 a.m.

Temple Sinai member Dr. Katharine Batlan on the history, politics and law of religious liberty in America with special attention to the role and concerns of Jews. Zoom link at templesinairi.org. Information, Dottie at 401-942-8350 or dottie@ templesinairi.org.

Little States, Big Innovation, Rhode Island X Israel Monthly Webinar Series. Noon-1 p.m. Interactive session with some of Israel’s startup entrepreneurs. A collaboration of Rhode Island - Israel Collaborative (RIIC), District Hall Providence and RIHub. Information, info@districthallprovidence.org.

Temple Beth-El Book Discussion: "How To Be An Antiracist" by Ibram X. Kendi. 7-8 p.m. Betsy Shimberg and Diana Fox will facilitate this discussion via Zoom.

Information, temple-beth-el.org/ calendar or Kim Campbell at kcampbell@temple-beth-el.org.

Managing Your Child’s Digital World. 7 p.m. Zoom conversation with Dr. Justin Schleifer as he helps parents navigate strategies to manage the digital world of children. Q&A follows. Free.

Information, Michelle Cicchitelli at mcicchitelli@jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 178.

Temple Sinai Movie Discussion with Dr. Marvin Wasser: “Out in the Dark.” 7-8 p.m. Link at templesinairi.org. Information, Dottie at dottie@templesinairi.org or 401-942-8350.

Wednesday | January 13

Israeli Culture Night via Zoom: Under the Cover of Darkness: The Real Life Story of Mossad & the Exodus of Ethiopians to Israel. 5 p.m. In his book "Mossad Exodus," former Mossad agent Gad Shimron offers a firsthand account of the covert operation on which the Netflix film "Red Sea Diving Resort" is loosely based. Free. Register, jewishallianceri.org/shimron/. Information, Or

Behind the Book: “The Last Train to London" by Meg Waite Clayton.

7 p.m. Clayton will present her novel based on the Dutch resistance fighter “Tante Truus” Wijsmuller, who brought more than 10,000 Jewish children to safety before and during WWII in the Kindertransport. A Holocaust survivor will also discuss her experiences.

Free. Information, Lisa Maybruch at lmaybruch@jewishallianceri.org.

Wednesday | January 27

Temple Sinai Seder for Tu B’Shevat. 6-7 p.m. Zoom link at templesinairi.org. Information, Dottie at 401-942-8350 or dottie@ templesinairi.org.

Core Connects RI Tu B'Shevat Seder. 7:30-9 p.m. With Ellie Bass from Toronto and Lauren Shaps from Ottawa. In the 16th century, the kabbalists instituted a Tu B'Shevat seder in which the fruits and trees of the Land of Israel

were given symbolic meaning.

For women. Information, coreconnectsri.com or Elissa Felder at CoreConnectsRI@gmail.com or 401-241-9631.

Thursday | January 28

PJ Library Tu B’Shevat Celebration. 4 p.m. Celebrate the birthday of the trees and explore why this holiday happens in the winter. Enjoy a story, learn how to grow seedlings in a unique way, and share a treat. Supplies and directions provided in a kit available for pickup at the Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Information, Lyndsey Ursillo at lursillo@ jewishallianceri.org.

Temple Sinai Movie Discussion with Dr. Marvin Wasser: “The Band’s Visit.” 6 p.m. Link at templesinairi.org. Information, Dottie at dottie@templesinairi.org or 401-942-8350.

Thursday | January 21

Tuesday | January 26

A Jurassic Park Tu B’Shvat Miracle in Israel. Noon-1 p.m. Join Federation for Jewish Philanthropy of Upper Fairfield County CEO David Weisberg for a Zoom conversation with Dr. Elaine Solowey and David Lehrer of the Arava Institute in Israel. Learn how scientists brought back to life the extinct Judaean Date Palm and its biblical fruit. Free. Information, Or Cohen at ocohen@jewishallianceri.org or 401-864-3786.

Business Disputes

8 | JANUARY 2021

Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

COMMUNITY VOICES

When will we get back to our futures?

SPE A

K IN

● Health experts and governors stop constantly scolding and lecturing us during this seemingly never-ending health emergency that started with our leaders not only frightening us regularly, but also scarring our psyches to the point where we’ve become considerably less social, fairly isolated and afraid of living our lives. ● These expressions will mercifully

disappear from our lexicon: “new normal,” “we’re all in this together” (which has never been the case), “contact tracing,” “social distancing” and “flatten the curve.” ● I’ll be mask-free on my daily jaunts, in stores and at medical and dental appointments. ● I can resume doing things I once took for granted, such as shaking hands or high-fiving friends, having a conversation my neighbors LARRY KESSLER with without constantly checking whether we’re 6 feet apart, and holding meetings in person instead of on virtual platforms. ● It’ll be “Kosher” to have lunch with more than one friend, and we won’t be forced to restrict those infrequent get-togethers that we must hold outdoors – no matter how low the temperature dips. ● I’ll be able to take my wife on a date without worrying whether a potentially deadly virus is an unwanted guest at the dinner table, the movie theater or concert hall. ● I can resume volunteering for a local holiday drive, an effort that I

G OU

T

AS I WROTE this in December, the first COVID-19 vaccine had just been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and a second one wasn’t far behind. Although they won’t be ready for wide distribution to the public until spring, front-line workers and first responders are now being vaccinated.

That was a rare bit of good news as 2020, the year of the coronavirus pandemic, drew to a close.

But the reality is that thousands of Americans continue to die of COVID-19, and that the pandemic will not be over any time soon in 2021, even with the vaccine.

With such a sobering outlook, I’m wondering whether it’ll be 2021, 2022, or even 2023, when:

declined to participate in this fall of scorn by residents of Maine, New due to the risks involved.

Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut ● We’ll see 65,000 fans packed into or other states that view tourists Gillette Stadium, and be able to as interlopers – and without being attend a Red Sox game at Fenway ordered to quarantine for two weeks Park and watch other spectator (as if anyone in their right mind sports with friends. would “vacation” in a place that ● I can run a road race with a few requires them to quarantine). hundred other runners, and chat ● The U.S.-Canadian border will with some of them after the race, as reopen, so my wife and I can visit I did in the “old days.” my close relatives in Ontario. ● I’ll be able to stop ● We can all stop worrying worrying about dodg- That was a rare bit about whether we have ing other runners, an insidious disease walkers and bikers every time our throats of good news as while on my daily get dry and scratchy, or jogs, or moving to the 2020, the year of we sneeze or cough from other side of the road. leaves, pollen or other ● The Boston Marathon the coronavirus allergens. will resume with ● I’ll be able to enjoy an 30,000 runners from in-person Relay For Life, pandemic, drew across the globe to benefit the American completing the 26.2Cancer Society, an event to a close. mile course from that normally draws Hopkinton to Boston. hundreds of partici(The race, usually held in April, has pants and volunteers, but which already been postponed in 2021.) went virtual in 2020 and won’t ● “Hybrid” will once again refer return to anywhere close to “normainly to a vehicle that runs on both mal” in 2021. electricity and gas, and not to students in grades K-12 attending classes LARRY KESSLER (larrythek65@gmail. in person only a few times a week. com) is a freelance writer based in ● We can plan a vacation in New North Attleboro. He blogs at https:// England without being the target larrytheklineup.blogspot.com.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 Is there anything unique about practicing Judaism in Rhode Island that you enjoy?

I love the porousness of our communities. There is rarely a celebration or a funeral where you don’t know someone in the congregation.

Walking on Shabbat means being able to offer greetings to folks from every corner of Jewish life.

I really missed tashlikh this year. That exemplifies the spirit of Jewish life in Rhode Island for me – a way to celebrate with friends and neighbors across denominations and congregations.

The collaboration and partnership of colleagues in working to bolster Judaism in the Ocean State (without an eye toward competition) has always been a joy. I am grateful to be surrounded by colleagues who have become dear friends over the years.

How do you stay connected to your congregation during COVID-19? Are there any facets of Judaism that can thrive in a pandemic?

COVID-19 has a way of distilling everything down to its essence. It is true of any ritual moment, and even holiday and Shabbat celebrations. It has forced us to really intentionally consider

what that is, and to build on it. I think that will serve us well post-COVID. While so much of our faith is about communal connection, we have found ways to do that in this moment that I suspect will carry forward.

We have stayed connected to the community not only through Zoom, but also through the good old-fashioned phone call, something that transcends time as an effective connector.

How have you found peace during this trying year?

I find peace with my family.

We have found new rhythms and routines that include pets and hiking and being outdoors with friends, and I am grateful. A daily run has also been crucial to my well-being.

I also really appreciate the seasons and how they manifest in my garden. Planting is a great metaphor for the work I do, and never fails to give me hope.

HANNAH ALTMAN (haltman@ jewishallianceri.org) is the content producer for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

JANUARY 2021 | 9

jewishrhody.org | Jewish Rhode Island

COMMUNITY VOICES

The beautiful tea cups nobody wants

BY GERALDINE S. FOSTER TO BE HONEST, I am not a fan of Facebook, nor do I know how to access the site. Email and the phone keep me in touch with family and friends, and with community and personal events.

Yet it was a post on Facebook that gave rise to this column.

Though I prefer other means of communication, my progeny enjoy Facebook contacts and comments from friends and former schoolmates.

Last November, Paul Formal, once a classmate of my daughter Judith, posted a photo of a stack of tea cups with the caption “… beautiful family things and the younger people don’t want or appreciate.” Judith, knowing what my reaction would be, sent it on to me.

Sitting in our storage unit is a red-zippered case with three-dozen hand-decorated English bone-china tea cups, each one different from the others. My mother, Chaya Segal, received most as gifts over the years from her family in Montreal, and our purchases augmented her collection of these “odd cups.”

Though they may admire them, none of my younger generation wants the delicate beauties; they do not fit

their lifestyle.

But back in the day, our tea cups were not mere ornaments on a shelf in the breakfront in the dining room.

I say “our” because we pooled and shared them, as occasions required.

The tea cups were present at family get-togethers and holiday celebrations, and they also had a larger purpose for my mother. Although she worked as a Hebrew teacher and studied Judaism, she still found time to volunteer her energy and her home on behalf of community causes.

Present at these gatherings, large or small, were the tea cups. They had a role to play in the meetings, be they on behalf of a visiting poet or scholar, or for emissaries from national organizations, or for planning a concert or fundraising luncheons, or for a bride in need of a wedding dress, or for touring women musicians in need of gowns, or for outreach to newcomers to Providence.

Two organizations were frequent guests in the Segal home. The Chug Ivri, or Hebrew Circle, brought together educators and laypeople fluent in Hebrew for programs, such as lectures and discussions, in that language. The other group, Pioneer Women (now Na'amat USA),

Behind the Book

a virtual visiting author series

supported scholarships and social services for women and at-risk teens, as well as child-care facilities of their sister organization in Israel.

The business portion of the meetings was followed by a social chat, along with a cup of tea in one of the odd cups arrayed on the side table and a cookie from the sweets arranged on a doily-covered tray. The distinctive, delicate cups added a festive air to the gatherings, and there were always enough to serve all present at even the largest meeting.

These days, sadly, most meetings are virtual. But even before the

pandemic, few meetings took place in homes. Coffee has replaced tea as the social beverage, and the remaining tea drinkers in my family prefer a mug to a cup. So the delicate odd cups languish in their red case in the storage unit.

How much we could learn if they could talk!

GERALDINE S. FOSTER is a past president of the R.I. Jewish Historical Association. To comment about this or any RIJHA article, contact the RIJHA office at info@rijha.org or 401-331-1360.

To learn more about the books and authors featured in this series, and to sign up, visit jewishallianceri.org/behind-the-book/

24/6 Giving Up Screens One Day a Week to Get More Time, Creativity, and Connection has been selected as a “COMMUNITY READ.”

The Last Train to London with Meg Waite Clayton January 26, 7:00pm

**Going Rogue (At Hebrew School) with Casey Breton February 17, 5:00pm

24/6 with Tiffany Shlain February 4, 7:00pm

We Saw Scenery:The Early Diaries of Merrill Markoe with Merrill Markoe February 18, 7:00pm

In 24/6, Tiffany Shlain explains how turning off screens one day a week can work wonders on your brain, body, and soul. Shlain is an internet pioneer and renowned filmmaker who will take us on a provocative and entertaining journey through time and technology, introducing a strategy for living in our 24/7 world. With humor and wisdom, Shlain shares her story, offers lessons she has learned, and provides a blueprint for how to do it yourself.

Learn more about this event and the Community Read at jewishallianceri.org/shlain.

We Walk: Life with Severe Autism with Amy S.F. Lutz February 23, 7:00pm

*Such a Library!: A Yiddish Folktale Re-Imagined with Jill Ross Nadler May 2, 4:00pm

The Berkshires Farm Table Cookbook with Elisa Spungen Bildner & Robert Bildner May 9, 7:00pm

This series is in partnership with the Jewish Book Council, with select events sponsored by PJ Library* & PJ Our Way**

10 | JANUARY 2021

Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

COMMUNITY VOICES

In celebration of the beauty of cousins SKE

T

SHE WAS THE family beauty, the winner of the prize for being the prettiest girl in her high school graduating class in Montreal. She was the only, lonely child of my mother’s eldest sister, Minnie.

Minnie had a talent for dressmaking, and dolled up her daughter in high style. Rhoda had the look of a Paris model or a postwar, mid-century movie star.

Youthful delicacy was the mode, and Rhoda fit that bill.

She had a steady beau in high school and married him even before she left her teens behind.

My roommate at Yale drove with me up over the border into the province of Quebec, took a look, and never forgot her elegant beauty.

At our recent 65th reunion, he brought up the subject of Rhoda’s stunning charm and quiet dignity.

Today, Rhoda is still lovely to look at, but she is now a widow, and a great-grandmother, and – although you wouldn’t know it by gazing at her – she is blind. Her son-inlaw adores her, but, although he is an ophthalmologist, he cannot rescue his beloved mother-in-law from the darkness.

To trace the history of my cousin’s time-travels, she bore a daughter and two sons – I was there at her wedding and at the marriages of her trio of children. (There is a Providence connection here: The Canadian branch of my family are graduates and admirers of Brown University. That son-in-law, in fact, served as a trustee of the university.)

CH

When I spent a year at the Sorbonne, in Paris, my Aunt Minnie and her husband visited me and treated me to a grand dinner in a fine restaurant – a break from my Left Bank quarters and its bistros.

My mother passed away MIKE FINK half a century ago and more, and it was my task to go through her things and determine what to do with her valuables, her souvenirs, even her costume jewelry, a few pins and kerchiefs.

Among the items in her purse, I found a photograph of Rhoda.

My mother had three sons but no daughters. During the World War II years of no-travels – which included gas rationing and trains that favored soldiers over families – my mother kept in touch with her Canadian nieces with cards, letters, snapshots (not so much by phone, because even its use was limited).

I liked that little image of Rhoda as a youngster, a child, and may have kept it.

But I like to believe that I am both a hoarder and a sort of gypsy, so I get rid of things for the sake of living now, not then. “You were nostalgic in the womb, before you were born!” a friend claimed, to mock my sentimental loyalty to yore!

Rhoda calls me from time to time, and tried to stay in touch with both my siblings, my elder brothers, who have since died, leaving me a survivor of Long Ago and Far Away.

BOOK

I went to Romania once upon a time, and to Toronto, and to London, to trace the migratory routes of both sides of my ancestry. And, maybe, to make up for the confinement

of my boyhood, the years of the Great Depression and “The Duration.”

Rhoda for me has not only a personal value for her kindly greetings and her stunning good looks, but also a sym-

bolic value as the embodiment of my extended family.

Despite the surface prosperity of her lifetime, there is somehow a melancholy quality of solitude about her

Rhoda in high school. odyssey.

Rhoda’s husband was somewhat estranged from the cousins and their households. He had some sort of shady connections that made it necessary for him to live abroad – and

yet, my father admired and liked him and seemed to understand how he had had to cope with the ruling economic classes of Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada, and its environment in order to provide the hospitality that he showed us during our visits to my mother’s past.

You see, my mother had been, in fact, a model in Montreal, at a shop called Darwin’s, and among the clutter on the back shelves of my closets, I keep the letters that my father wrote to the belle who became my mother.

I will close this account with a “philosophical” musing about what cousins come to mean to us. They are not our siblings, who totally share our genetic past and future. They are not our children, who grow up under our influence, if not our control.

They are not our spouses, or our parents, or even our friends or our pets!

Instead, they are variations on the destiny of our entire personal history, widening the skylines, the “firmament” above us. They are ever-more dear to us as the years go on.

We may have a great many cousins, but each one comes to us with a blessing and a boon!

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

Clergy gather online for annual anti-poverty vigil

BY FRAN OSTENDORF IN AN ANNUAL tradition, clergy of all faiths gathered Jan. 5 to call on Rhode Island legislators to fight against poverty. This year, rather than the State House rotunda, the venue was an online Zoom meeting, where more than 100 people listened to speeches, prayers and songs.

The Fighting Poverty with Faith Vigil, sponsored by the R.I. Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty, usually includes a reading of the names of the state legislators.

This year, the names were displayed for the audience to see on their computer screens.

In remarks to the group,

Gov. Gina Raimondo talked about the difficult past year and her hopes for a brighter 2021, with anti-poverty measures passing in the legislature.

State Sen. Maryellen Goodwin (District 1, Providence) said the Senate is focused on closing the gap for Rhode Islanders in need, including a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures.

The Rev. Chontell Washington, executive director of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches, said “the poor” now include more than homeless and hungry people who we don’t know; they are our neighbors.

In her closing blessing, Rabbi Rachel Zerin, of Temple Emanu-El, in Provi-

dence, pointed out that one of the central teachings of the Torah is that trauma should move us to empathy and action.

The R.I. Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty’s 2021 priorities include: Expanding protections against evictions and foreclosures; increasing the benefit paid to families receiving R.I. Works cash assistance; increasing staffing levels and pay for directcare staff in nursing homes; and expanding funding and resources for immigrant communities in need, including access to health care, food sustainability and COVID-19 relief.

FRAN OSTENDORF is the editor of Jewish Rhode Island.

JANUARY 2021 | 11

jewishrhody.org | Jewish Rhode Island

COMMUNITY

New program will help pay for a summer in Israel for teens Bryfman then cited studies showing the dramatic impact on Jewish participation and identity among those who participate in trips to Israel.

“And the effects are reciprocal,” he said. “Teens who go to Israel engage their parents and other family members in their decision and experiences. The trips generate numerous conversations in the home, deepening their impact and extending it to parents, siblings and beyond.

“Social experiences at this critical time in someone’s life are intensified with Israel as the backdrop. Having an existential conversation at an ancient Jewish site, playing on Tel Aviv’s beaches, crying together at the military cemetery at Mount Herzl and, yes, falling in love in a Bedouin tent are all memories that remain with teens throughout their lives.

“While not all teens who experience Israel will, or ought to, become Israel advocates on campus, all such participants will have begun to deal with Israeli politics and society in a safe and empowering environment well before their arrival on the turbulent campus.”

For more information on these programs, you may contact these groups directly or contact IsraelDesk@jewishallianceri.org.

For financial assistance from the Jewish Alliance, for Israel travel stipends or for needs-based scholarships, contact the Israel Desk.

LARRY KATZ (lkatz@jewishallianceri. org) is the director of Jewish life and learning at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

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Everyone at German Motors is attentive and accommodating.

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ROOTONE is an ambitious new initiative that aims to help bring tens of thousands of Jewish teens from the United States to Israel on immersive summer trips.

Seeded by a $20-million gift from The Marcus Foundation and powered by The Jewish Education Project, RootOne provides major subsidies for trip participants ($3,000 for summer 2021), invests in elevating trip curricula, and works with its partners to create deeper pre- and post-trip engagement opportunities to help strengthen participants’ Jewish identities and connections to Israel before they begin college.

“We want young people stepping onto their college campuses with deep connections to Israel and strong Jewish identities,” said Bernie Marcus, co-founder of Home Depot.

RootOne vouchers for $3,000 are available for Jewish teens who are entering 10th, 11th or 12th grade, or graduating high school in the summer of 2021. In addition, the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island has some stipends and scholarships available.

Some programs have already met their voucher quotas. Among the programs that may still have vouchers are the Israel summer programs of NCSY/JSU, USY and Young Judaea, as well as some lesser-known programs, such as Chetz v’Keshet, offered by Israel’s boy/girl scouts; Big Idea, an English-speaking international Jewish summer camp that focuses on STEM, media arts and gaming; and Camp Kimama, an international camp located on the beach near Caesaria that offers a variety of water sports, including surfing and scuba diving, and photography.

David Bryfman, the CEO of the Jewish Education Project, which is administering RootOne, wrote a few years ago that, “as is typical of their age, many [teens] are dwelling in the trough of Jewish commitment.”

He continued, “Jewish ‘teenage-hood’ begins on a high note with two-thirds of American Jews having celebrated becoming bar or bat mitzvah. But by 12th grade, few teens have any formal connections to Jewish life, with the greatest drop-offs occurring immediately after stepping down from the bima on their bar or bat mitzvah day.”

BMW AUDI MERCEDES BENZ PORSCHE VOLKSWAGEN MINI COOPER

BY LARRY KATZ

MERCEDES BENZ VOLKSWAGEN MINI PORSCHE

A SPECIAL BEHIND THE BOOK EVENT 24/6: Giving Up Screens One Day a Week to Get More Time, Creativity, and Connection featuring Tiffany Shlain Thursday, February 4, 2021@ 7:00pm via Zoom with Robin Kall of Reading with Robin!

The Jewish Voice Rep: Peter Zeldin Color spot ad: 2" X 3" January 8, 2021 – Health & Wellness Deadline - December 28, Emmy-nominated filmmaker and 2020

Selected by the Jewish Alliance as this year’s Community Read*

“I’m won over to a day with people, not screens.”

—David Leonhardt, The New York Times

“Part of a pioneering movement.”

—Maria Shriver, NBC’s Today Show

This event is made possible by a partnership with the Jewish Book Council

author,Tiffany Shlain

In 24/6, Tiffany Shlain explains how turning off screens one day a week can work wonders on your brain, body and soul. Internet pioneer and renowned filmmaker Tiffany Shlain takes us on a provocative and entertaining journey through time and technology, introducing a strategy for living in our 24/7 world: turning off all screens for twenty-four hours each week. This practice, which she’s done for nearly a decade with her husband and kids, has completely changed their lives, giving them more time, productivity, connection, and presence. She and her family call it “Technology Shabbat.” Drawn from the ancient ritual of Shabbat, living 24/6 can work for anyone from any background and any religion. With humor and wisdom, Shlain shares her story, offers lessons she has learned, and provides a blueprint for how to do it yourself. *The Jewish Alliance has chosen the book 24/6, from our Behind the Book visiting author series, as a Community Read. It’s simple to participate! Grab a copy of the book, read it, and join us when we host author Tiffany Shlain for a virtual visit. And don’t worry if you don’t have time to read it, you can still join us for the event!

For more information, including resources, a discount code for purchasing the book, and to sign up for the event, visit jewishallianceri.org/shlain.

Questions?

Contact Larry Katz: lkatz@jewishallianceri.org or 401.421.4111 ext. 178.

12 | JANUARY 2021

Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

COMMUNITY VOICES | OPINION

The Seidman Family Cranston, R.I.

IN THE NEWS Warnock refers to Heschel

EM

an assortment of brownies and cookies, just in case we were not already stuffed.

Gabi, of course, was disappointed that the pandemic precautions kept her extended family away from our annual banquet. Nevertheless, RABBI JAMES she was ROSENBERG determined to cook a traditional Thanksgiving meal for her family of four: Gabi and David, and their two children: Charlotte, age 11, and Joey, age 9.

Since Gabi keeps a Kosher home, after teaching her class on the Monday before Thanksgiving, she set out to purchase the centerpiece of the holiday meal, a Kosher turkey.

Here is where the plot begins to thicken … a bit like holiday gravy.

Gabi drove, along with her son Joey, to the nearby Trader Joe’s, on Route 9 in Framingham, where she has never had the slightest problem in procuring a Kosher turkey. But there were no Kosher turkeys left in the store. She implored the store manager to call the Trader Joe’s in Needham.

No Kosher turkeys there either.

S TO M

By now Gabi was beginning to panic, to move into a full-fledged meltdown, as she admitted to me in a subsequent phone call. She was also being pulled in two directions: as she was begging the store manager to call other Trader Joe’s, Joey – a lovable but hyperactive boy on the autism spectrum – was impulsively pulling bags of candy from the shelves and putting them into the shopping cart, his eyes far bigger than his stomach and thrilled to discover seasonal specialties like hot chocolate spoons (pour hot water on them, and, voila: cocoa), and, miracle of miracles, Hanukkah gelt!

Finally, the store manager, his patience stretched thin, informed Gabi that there were a few Kosher turkeys at the Trader Joe’s in Brookline, and they were setting one aside for her to pick up no later than Tuesday morning … or else.

As it turns out, it was David who, after taking Joey to school and dropping off Charlotte at a friend’s house, arrived at the Brookline store at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. There, at the back of the store, sat a large brown paper bag stuffed with a 16-pound Kosher turkey, and labeled DAVID ROSENBERG VIP. A “team leader” came

A match made in Israel tiative to introduce himself, ask me my name and take the time to get to know me. Each time I WHEN I LIVED in New York City, bumped into Avi, he’d strike up a I worked on the fourth floor of conversation, ask me how I was Furst Hall, at Yeshiva doing. To be honest, it kind University. One of freaked me out a little. of the people Seriously – who is that who worked friendly in real life? on the other Avi turned out to be side of the the real deal, and we’ve fourth floor now been friends for 15 of Furst Hall years. was Avi NarAvi decided to make row-Tilonsky, aliyah a few years after I originally from DANIEL did. I was fortunate that a Cherry Hill, New room became available in Jersey. Although we STIEGLITZ my apartment in the Katoverlapped as students at amonim neighborhood of JerusaYeshiva University, we never lem around the same time. When crossed paths or took any discussing who should move courses together. Until we literinto the room, I politely told my ally crossed paths in the hallway of Furst Hall.

It was Avi who took the iniCONTINUED ON PAGE 13

BY DANIEL STIEGLITZ

ER

S HOM

E

(JTA) RABBI Abraham Joshua Heschel made the news Wednesday morning (Jan. 6) when Raphael Warnock, the Democrat who won one of two Georgia Senate elections Tuesday (Jan. 5), invoked the rabbi during an interview on CNN. “I think Abraham Joshua Heschel, the rabbi who said, when he marched with Dr. King, he felt like his legs were praying, I think he and Dr. King are smiling in this moment,” said Warnock, who will be Georgia’s first-ever Black senator.

Warnock was referring to the 1965 march by civil rights leaders from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Martin Luther King, Jr. invited Heschel to take a position of honor with him at the front of the march, and Heschel later said about the experience, “I prayed with my feet.”

At the time, JTA reported that hundreds of marchers wore yarmulkes out of respect for the rabbis who were participating in the demonstrations. Five rabbis were put in jail for participating in the march, and they recited Hebrew prayers from their cells.

Warnock referred to the march, and the supportive relationship between Jewish and Black Americans that it epitomized, multiple times on the campaign trail, including in an ad produced by the Jewish Democratic Council of America.

EVER SINCE I retired from Temple Habonim back in the summer of 2007 and we moved to our condo on the East Side of Providence, Sandy and I have been spending our Thanksgivings feasting in the Natick, Massachusetts, home of our daughter-in-law Gabi and our son David.

The multicourse meal, followed by an over-abundance of desserts, has been regularly attended by between 13 and 17 men, women and many children.

Given the spike in COVID-19 cases, this past Thanksgiving was a greatly reduced stay-athome affair for Sandy and me – and, I presume, for most of you.

To preserve the spirit of the day, our dinner-for-two featured two scrumptious turkey legs, prepared at The Butcher Shop in Providence, as well as such seasonal trimmings as cornmeal stuffing and jellied cranberry sauce.

Our modest dessert consisted of slices of pumpkin bread – a far cry from the usual sampling of apple pie, pumpkin pie and pecan pie, not to mention

E

THE FAMILY OF M. David Seidman would like to acknowledge many friends and family for reaching out during this difficult time.

The greatest comfort during our sorrow is the expressions of sympathy, love and support conveyed to us in many ways. We are thankful for all the wonderful memories shared and we deeply appreciate your thoughtfulness and thank you most sincerely.

We would especially like to thank Rabbi Fel of Temple Emanu-El for all of the kindness he showed our family during this unprecedented time. Being able to have friends and family all over the world be able to virtually “Zoom” in and share a story about Dave was especially comforting.

Dave would have been honored by all the tributes and love for him.

With love and appreciation,

The quest for a Kosher turkey IT S E

Heartfelt thanks

LE T T

LETTER

Atara, Ziv and Avi.

over to David, handed him the bag, and said, “Let me check you out at the service desk and then escort you to a side door. This is the last Kosher turkey in the store, and I don’t want you to get mugged.”

You can’t make these things up!

Now, you might ask: “What does a family of four do with a 16-pound turkey?” Answer: Leftovers. But, in truth, Gabi dropped off some turkey at her sister’s home in nearby Needham. She also dropped off some at her parents’ home in not-sonearby Norwood – a home that they had sold just before they took off to Florida, but on which they had not yet closed and in which their grandson, Gabi’s nephew, was quarantining because his college roommate tested positive for the virus. Got that? Oy, it’s complicated!

God willing, next Thanksgiving we will return to some semblance of normal – whatever “normal” might mean on Thursday, Nov. 25, 2021.

Let us hope that by then Kosher turkeys will not be so hard to find in eastern Massachusetts.

JAMES B. ROSENBERG is a rabbi emeritus at Temple Habonim, in Barrington.

Contact him at rabbiemeritus@templehabonim.org.

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jewishrhody.org | Jewish Rhode Island

COMMUNITY VOICES | OPINION

Advocacy in the age of COVID-19 voices heard.”

State leaders across Rhode Island and advocates for various causes shared with Jewish Rhode Island their advice and guidance on advocacy that is effective always – and especially now:

Use social media for good.

Find out who works for you.

an account at http://www.rilin. state.ri.us/billtracker to follow all proposed legislation. You’ll also learn about upcoming hearings here, and can submit testimony virtually or join in support of your top priorities.

Policy change happens across a number of levels and through many different change mechanisms, but the first step is learning who your local, state and federal officials are. Visit vote.sos. ri.gov and type in your address to see a full list of your representatives and their contact information.

Keep talking to your elected officials. While it In post-COVID advocacy, September 2020, community advocates gathered outside with masks and social distancing to rally for an equitable state budget.

BY STEPHANIE HAGUE ON JAN. 5, the Rhode Island General Assembly was due to begin a session unlike any other in the state’s history. In the midst of a global pandemic, and deep divides on the economy, race and climate change, Rhode Island lawmakers will be making crucial budget and policy decisions that will impact the state today and into the future – making it critical that Rhode Islanders continue to make their voices heard.

State Sen. Gayle Goldin said in a recent interview that in the last few

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12 roommates, “It needs to be Avi.” And so it was.

Just as Avi wanted to know everything about everyone he encountered, he wanted to become a part of everything in Israeli culture. So, in typical Avi fashion, he signed up for a Hebrew dating site.

It was through this site that Avi met Atara. Born and raised in Israel, Atara was a special-education teacher for children with autism. Their conversations were entirely in Hebrew, which Avi speaks well.

For Atara’s birthday, Avi planned a day trip. That night, he came into my room with a goofy smile on his face.

I asked him how the trip was, and he said it was great. Then he added, “Dani, I think I want to marry her.”

So, in 2017, the American from

years, “... many Rhode Islanders got more involved in political action than we’ve seen in decades. We still need that advocacy and enthusiasm, and I encourage people to stay involved with the organizations working on issues they care about.”

Kristina Contreras Fox, senior policy analyst at the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless, noted that while the “Rhode Island General Assembly/municipal governments will be in action … things will stay virtual for a while. That will make it hard to gather, but there are still ways to make our

Cherry Hill and the Israeli schoolteacher got married.

Many, but not all, olim (immigrants) gravitate toward people like themselves, people who also made the move to Israel. They also commonly gravitate toward someone who has the same mother tongue. But none of these differences got in the way of Avi and Atara merging their lives and bringing out the best in one another.

Although Avi is an ordained rabbi who served a community in Connecticut and taught at a Yeshivah in Israel, Atara also shares her Torah thoughts.

Atara proofreads Avi’s Hebrew writing, and he proofreads her English writing.

Avi has been an adopted big brother to a boy for many years. Now 17, the young man now spends time regularly with Avi and Atara.

They have also established some rules

may be difficult to see elected officials face to face, there are many virtual platforms to keep the lines of communication open.

Try Zoom, Google Meet or Facebook Messenger – or make phone calls.

Make sure they hear your message consistently and persistently!

There’s power in numbers.

Gather together with others who share your goals, or join one of the many robust coalitions and advocacy groups that have been involved in social justice and local policy work for decades.

These groups have found safe and powerful ways to continue to work to advance shared goals, including Zoom vigils and car rallies.

to merge their cultures. For instance, while they speak Hebrew at home, they only speak English in the car.

While I’ve been a huge fan of Avi and Atara for as long as I’ve known them, I became an even bigger fan of their son, Ziv, when he was born two years ago.

It is clear that instilling Ziv with the same shared values that brought them together is important to both of them.

And while Atara speaks to Ziv in Hebrew, Avi speaks to him in English.

(Occasionally I’ll mess up and speak to Ziv in Hebrew – and get a reminder from Avi saying, “Speak in English!”)

But it’s Avi and Atara’s shared values that they emphasize with their young son. It’s what brought them together as a solid couple from two different worlds – Ziv is the culmination and symbol of that union.

These days, Avi works at the Joint Distribution Committee, helping to

Follow organizations, elected officials and other leaders on social media. Engage with them on issues that are of concern, and thank them when they do something you support. Also use social media to learn about upcoming events and advocacy opportunities.

Track bills virtually. Create

Make a commitment.

Change is often led by grassroots organizations and leaders; commit money and time to local organizations whose causes you support.

Stay focused. It’s easy to get

frustrated with the long and grueling process of legislative change, but resilience is key to achieving your goals. Learn about the local issues you want to advocate for or against, and commit to finding ways to advance your goals incrementally.

The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island supports the following statewide coalitions and many of their policy issues: the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty; the Environmental Council of Rhode Island; the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence; the Immigration Coalition of Rhode Island; and the Rhode Island COVID Response.

STEPHANIE HAGUE (shague@jewishallianceri.org) is the director of Community Relations at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

collect funds for Israeli charities.

Atara is now the head of a nursery school just two buildings away from my home. And Ziv is busy being cute, while taking in everything his parents are teaching him.

In such a divided world, it’s inspiring to see that two people from such different backgrounds can fuse their lives together like Avi and Atara have. It’s a credit to them, their kindness, hospitality, shared values and open-mindedness. A lot can be learned from such a couple. Theirs is a symbol of what making aliyah has to offer.

DANIEL STIEGLITZ (dstieglitz@gmail. com) lives in Jerusalem, where he works as a Life Coach. His collection of short stories, “Tavern of the Mind,” is available for paperback and Kindle purchase on Amazon at www.amzn. to/2Izssrz.

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Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

Jewish life in 2020:

A year in pictures

PHOTO | IRA L. BLACK/ CORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES

BY SHIRA FEDER

F

(JTA)

or the Jewish community, 2020 has been historic, turbulent and revelatory. The year began with 25,000 people, Jews

and non-Jews, marching across the Brooklyn Bridge to take a stand against anti-Semitism, and it seemed this could be a year of growing awareness of the fight against Jew hatred – a year of possibility during which America’s

In spite of everything, Jewish life continued. Here’s what the year looked like in photos.

January BEFORE THE COVID-19 pandemic prompted citywide shutdowns, some 25,000 people marched across the Brooklyn Bridge to protest rising anti-Semitism in and around New York City. It was a historic march that symbolically started in Lower Manhattan and crossed the bridge.

February AT THE OSCARS, one of the last big events before social gatherings became verboten, Maori Jewish director Taika Waititi won best adapted screenplay for “Jojo Rabbit,” his film about a boy growing up in Nazi Germany with Hitler as his imaginary best friend. Jewish actors Natalie Portman and Timothée Chalamet presented Waititi with the award.

political landscape could change.

Then COVID-19 hit and the community moved indoors. By April, most colleges and synagogues were closed. By June, Zoom had become a staple for most Jewish households. By September, some rabbis were doing High Holy Day services on Zoom, while others were praying alone in their homes.

PHOTO | STEVE GRANITZ/WIREIMAGE

JANUARY 2021 | 15

jewishrhody.org | Jewish Rhode Island

March

PHOTO | LEV RADIN/PACIFIC PRESS/LIGHTROCKET VIA GETTY IMAGES

AS THE NUMBER OF COVID-19 cases rose, some members of the haredi Orthodox community flouted social distancing rules, walking on the streets of Williamsburg without masks. The ensuing criticism caused some friction between the Hasidic communities and Mayor Bill de Blasio. Pictured are two Satmar Jewish men walking in the Brooklyn neighborhood on March 21.

April

PHOTO | ILIA YEFIMOVICH/PICTURE ALLIANCE VIA GETTY IMAGES

PHOTO | MATT MCCLAIN/THE WASHINGTON POST VIA GETTY IMAGES

PHOTO | MARK MAKELA/GETTY IMAGES

IN APRIL, Jews around the world planned for a Passover they never expected.

The holiday saw a new range of small, virtual and solo Seders, and in Israel, socially distanced Passover prayer at the Western Wall.

May

BY MAY, parts of New York and other cities had begun to reopen. Jewish life resumed, with people in masks going outside, attending synagogue and even going to small, socially distanced gatherings. Pictured, New Yorkers wait in a line on May 18.

PHOTO | ALEXI ROSENFELD/GETTY IMAGES

PHOTO | RACHEL SUMEKH

June IN JUNE, a wave of protests over the death of George Floyd swept across America, and many Jews joined the millions protesting racial injustice. “We understand the urgency of the moment and stand against police brutality and white supremacy, and silence is not OK right now,” said Rachel Sumekh, who marched on June 3.

July AS COVID-19 began to spread, those who planned to complete their conversion to Judaism with a ceremonial dunk in the mikveh realized doing so indoors would be impossible. So Alexa Rae Ibarra, a 29-year-old yoga instructor, traveled to Camp Ramah in the Berkshires to finish her conversion.

PHOTO | ALEXA RAE IBARRA

PHOTO | UNC-CHAPEL HILL HILLEL

PHOTO | DAVID PERLMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

September

November

AS THE WEATHER cooled, it became clear the pandemic would upend traditional holiday services, leaving rabbis to find other, virtual ways to connect with their congregants. Some rabbis, like Rabbi Aaron Potek, even took to TikTok for their daily shofar-blowing.

IN NOVEMBER, Kamala Harris made history as both the first woman and the first woman of color to be elected vice president, and her husband, Doug Emhoff, made history as the first Jewish “second husband.” Together they presented to the public a picture of what a prominent interfaith family could look like.

October IN 2020, more Orthodox rabbis began officiating same-sex weddings, signaling a growing acceptance of LGBTQ Jews, as well as a sea change in Orthodoxy.

“Clearly some in the Orthodox community are ready for this,” said Jeremy Borison, who married his husband in 2020.

Pictured, Nadiv Schorer, on right, married Ariel Meiri in 2020 with Orthodox Rabbi Avram Mlotek officiating.

December FOR HANUKKAH, people celebrated by lighting menorahs in hospital wards, on Zoom and outdoors in places as varied as Dubai, Australia and Casablanca. In Tel Aviv, at the Ichilov Hospital’s COVID-19 isolation ward, medical staffers lit Hanukkah candles.

August

BY AUGUST, many colleges and universities had gone completely virtual, taking away Jewish campus life.

“It’s definitely not the same because we’re not having one-on-one and smaller conversations,” student Abigail Adams said. Pictured is the last in-person Hillel event at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill before the school went all virtual.

PHOTO | GIL COHEN-MAGEN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES

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Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

HEALTH AND WELLNESS

How to feel calm, connected and hopeful during the pandemic

HEA

Y L I VI TH

clutter, will help you to feel in control and can bring a sense of calm and safety.

Listen

Communication is the key to keeping us connected during the pandemic. The secret sauce here is to listen from another person’s point of view, setting aside your own biases/ filters. When you do this “empathic listening,” you hear things very differently – even if you do not agree, it allows you to connect with the other person and to engage in possibility thinking.

Also consider a pandemic project of recording your elders’ stories and then transcribing them to create a family legacy.

Self-care

Most of us know that exercise, good nutrition and sleep are essential to keeping our brains and bodies alert and vital. In addition, I would add prayer, meditation, breathwork, laughter and visualization.

Exercising releases serotonin in the brain, creating a natural high.

Eating fresh foods, eliminating processed foods, and reducing caffeine, alcohol and sugar can also make a big difference in how you feel.

Sleep is an often-underrated factor

NG

L

COVID-19 HAS BROUGHT most of us in health. Check out your sleep envisome level of anxiety and stress, and ronment for mattress comfort, temthat’s because anxiety is a byprodperature, light, noise and breathing uct of uncertainty. In addition to comfort. the pandemic, four other crises and Speaking of breathing, deep uncertainties – the economy, polibreaths help the parasympathetic tics, race and climate change – are nervous system, calming us in a happening simultanecrisis. ously.

In her article in the Jewish I have been conJournal, “A Jew’s Duty: Healducting corpoing Oneself and Others,” rate webinars Rabbi Nancy E. Epstein around the writes, “According to the country almost historical Jewish tradition, daily on coping our bodies (and everything in uncertain else) belong to God. They times, stress are on loan to us during our management, lifetimes. Upon our deaths, resilience, overPATRICIA they return to God. During our coming burnout and lifetimes, we have an obligation, RASKIN workplace performance. a religious duty, to live lives of In all these industry sectors, I have holiness and maintain our health as found that the common denominaa way of taking good care of God’s tor is the human need to feel safe, property. Taking good care of our connected and hopeful. bodies is central to Judaism.

Having said that, here are five “Maimonides, the great medieval ways to protect and enhance our physician, rabbi and philosopher, health and wellness during this outlined obligations we would clasdifficult time: sify as health-preservation strategies: A proper diet, getting sufficient Routines and boundaries exercise and sleep, maintaining Our brains are wired to be “plangood hygiene and having a healthy ners”; being organized, having mind.” schedules and routines, cleaning out

Limit your news consumption

Get the facts and leave the rest.

There is endless spin on what we hear or read about in the news, and the repetition alone can cause anxiety.

Have hope

We now have vaccines and are at the beginning of the end of the pandemic. We can see the light at the end of the tunnel – and that should bring us hope that this too shall pass.

PATRICIA RASKIN, owner of Raskin Resources Productions, is a media host, coach and award-winning radio producer and business owner. She is on the board of directors of Temple Emanu-El, in Providence.

She is a recipient of the Providence Business News 2020 Leaders and Achievers award.

PHOTO | PROSTOCK-STUDIO

Homebound?

Tips for working out safely

BY HANNAH ALTMAN WINTER IS in full swing here in Rhode Island, and while this is the perfect time to stay under the covers, it is also the perfect time to refresh your at-home workout.

Check out our tips for staying active and COVID-19-safe at home this winter:

Create a workout space

Designate an area in your home to be your gym. Storing everything you need in one readily available, designated spot is a great way to focus and get the most out of exercising. The space doesn’t have to be large; just make sure there’s enough room to stretch out on a yoga mat, lift weights and exercise without knocking anything over.

Purchase key equipment

You do not need to transform your space into a full-blown gym; instead, invest in equipment that is suitable for a variety of workouts.

A set of heavy and light weights, a yoga mat and resistance bands are versatile workout tools that do not take up much space.

Eliminate distractions

These days, we do everything at home, so the lines between work, parenting, relaxing and working out can easily blur together.

To limit distractions during your workout, put the phone aside, hang up a sign on the door reminding family members that you are exercising, and silence your work email.

Warm up and cool down

Preparing your body for a workout enhances muscle strength and ability, so don’t skip the warmup. End your workout by cooling down to stretch your muscles and boost recovery.

A quick workout is okay

Resist the urge to skip your workout because you are short of time.

Even 20 minutes is enough time to get

moving and improve your mental and physical health. Keeping focused on your workout is just as important as the length of the session.

Stream free workouts

A simple search of YouTube will yield endless workouts, at any skill level, that you can follow along with. There are also a slew of apps, such as Aaptiv and Volt, that can guide your at-home workout. And an added bonus is that, unlike in an in-person group class, you can pause the videos at any point for a water break!

Morning workouts start your day right

It can be hard to face the long “commute” from your bedroom to your home office. Starting your day with a pre-work workout can help wake you up and refresh your spirits before you get to work.

Work all muscles each week Vary your routines so you do not overwork some muscles while neglecting others. A variety of routines helps with posture and flexibility, too, and switching it up allows some muscles to recover while others are put to work.

Increase intensity Already working out at home? Up the ante by increasing the intensity of your workout with either more weight, more reps or new goals.

Continuously challenging yourself is a great way to stay engaged in your workout.

Crank up the music

Dori Venditti, director of J-Fitness at the Alliance’s Dwares Jewish Community Center, in Providence, says music can pump up your workout.

“For a spark of motivation, set a timer for 15 minutes and turn on your favorite playlist,” she says.

“Commit to any kind of movement you can think of (dancing counts!) without interruption until the timer goes off. You may be surprised to find how fast it goes by – and that you end up doing more activity.”

HANNAH ALTMAN (haltman@ jewishallianceri.org) is the content producer for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

jewishrhody.org | Jewish Rhode Island

COMMUNITY

Speaker at Dor L’Dor event discusses aging well

BY SARA MASRI RABBI LAURA GELLER gave an entertaining talk about her book, “Getting Good at Getting Older,” during the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island’s Dor L’Dor Society’s online event on Dec. 1.

Geller’s book, which she co-authored with her late husband, Richard Siegel, is divided into chapters that deal with several aspects of aging, and features tips and challenges for the “young older” – people who are still leading vibrant and active lives. During her talk, she discussed the importance of not just the legacy one leaves behind, but also the legacy one lives – things done to make the world a better place.

Geller also commented that people are often focused on passing on things, instead of stories and memories. For example, she said that since none of her children wanted her grandmother’s dresser, she instead focused on telling them stories about her grandmother and the memories she had of the dresser in her grandmother’s home.

Sharing such memories builds a deeper connection to family history, she said.

During the event, there was a

lively sharing of stories among the 40 program participants.

Geller, who is rabbi emerita of Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, spoke as part of the Jewish Alliance’s Behind the Book series, made possible by a partnership with the Jewish Book Council. Those in attendance were greeted by Mitzi Berkelhammer, chair of the Jewish Federation Foundation; Rich Glucksman, vice president of Philanthropy; and Adam Greenman, president and CEO of the Jewish Alliance.

Membership in the Dor L’Dor Society is open to people who have informed the Jewish Alliance that they have committed to a legacy gift to benefit the organization. This can include establishing a bequest or living trust, designating the Jewish Alliance as the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, or creating a charitable remainder trust or other planned gift that will provide for the future of the Jewish community.

If you should be considered a member of the Dor L’Dor Society, or would like more information about establishing a planned gift at the Jewish Alliance, contact Sara Masri at 401-421-4111, ext. 223.

SARA MASRI (smasri@jewishallianceri.org) is chief philanthropy officer at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

JANUARY 2021 | 17

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Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

COMMUNITY What we missed in 2020 BUSINESS 23 | OBITUARIES 25

– and what we hope for in 2021

BY LARRY KESSLER

After a year dominated by the coronavirus pandemic, Jewish Rhode Island asked several people what they missed most in 2020 and whether they’re optimistic about 2021.

The answers had a common theme: People can’t wait to resume visiting friends and relatives, and they missed the little things in life, such as shaking hands and hugging loved ones. Our respondents also missed live concerts and theater, traveling and attending Shabbat services.

On the second question, many said they’re cautiously optimistic about 2021 being marginally better than 2020, citing the arrival of the first vaccine doses, but most are skeptical that 2021 will bring us closer to our pre-pandemic existence.

The emailed responses, listed alphabetically and edited for space, follow. More comments can be found at www.jewishrhody.org.

MIM BROOKS FAWCETT,

58, of Pawtucket, executive director and chief curator of the Attleboro Arts Museum.

She misses: “The Attleboro Arts Museum’s Flower Show. It’s a highlight of the year and the darling of the community. The event was scheduled to begin March 18.

We were all dressed up and ready to go, but were forced to cancel the four-day and one-night event, and to close our doors the day that we typically have our largest flower show audience. I’m

hopeful that we can pull off a modified flower show in 2021. Our loss was substantial this year – in both spirit and revenue.”

Outlook: “I’m an eternal optimist, so absolutely.

There’s such a high demand for art, color, community and positivity. 2021 should deliver. We can only go up.”

RABBI JEFFREY GOLDWASSER, 57, of Temple

Sinai, in Cranston.

He misses: “Just being with other people, in person, face to face, with no computer screens in between.

I miss being in the temple and shaking hands with people as they come into the building. I miss giving a friend a warm hug. I miss kissing people on the cheek.

I miss holding the hand of someone who is in pain. I miss laughing with friends.

I miss talking with people over scrambled eggs and a cup of coffee.”

Outlook: “I don’t expect 2021 to be like 2019. I don’t think we’re ever going back to the world the way it used to be. But I do believe that with the coming of vaccinations, we will eventually return to a time when we can gather in groups, pray together, study together, eat meals together, and do the things that fill a community with warmth and human touch. I am also hopeful that this era of anger and distrust will slowly thaw into a time of greater kindness and tolerance. I think people are tired of being so angry all the time.”

director of FirstHand Theatrical in Rhode Island.

He misses: “So hard to pick just one ... besides visiting other people and teaching in person, I missed attending live performances the most.”

Outlook: “I am oh so cautiously optimistic about 2021.

While the pandemic will be with us for most, if not all, of the year, and our political and social realities will be marginally improved, mostly my optimism relies on the hope that our empathy and compassion for others will increase if we want 2022 to be a really better year.”

CHARLOTTE SHEER, 69, of KEVIN OLSON, 62, of Cran-

ston, a theater teacher at three Rhode Island colleges and the founder and artistic

Plymouth, Massachusetts, a retired educator and founder of the Holocaust Stamps Project at Foxboro Regional CONTINUED ON PAGE 21

Services are Zoom-ing along at area congregations

BY SETH CHITWOOD ALMOST A YEAR INTO the COVID-19 pandemic, most congregations in the greater Rhode Island area are still holding services on Zoom or a similar streaming platform – and they report mixed results.

Jewish Rhode Island received nine responses to a questionnaire recently sent to congregations statewide and in nearby Massachusetts asking about their experiences with virtual services. Here is a summary of what they reported: While several congregations, including Temple Habonim, in Barrington, began streaming Shabbat services in the months

and years before the panFor the most part, the surdemic, every responding vey found that online particcongregation now streams ipation was about the same, them – with the exception or sometimes a bit higher, of Orthodox congregations, than at pre-pandemic in-perwhich cannot son services.

“If you count do so because Reported particit would violate ipation in online total viewers on Shabbat services halakhah (although they ranged from 10 to offer pre-Shab- Shabbat, more 40 worshippers. bat sessions Over subsequent and education people are able days, another programs via 30 to 200 memZoom). to attend online bers viewed the “During recorded service. the pandemic, than in person” “If you count they [streamed total viewers on services] have been essenShabbat, more people are tial in maintaining a sense able to attend online than of connection and commuin person,” said Habonim’s nity,” said Rabbi Mark Elber Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman. of Temple Beth El, in Fall Streaming the services River. also had an unanticipated

perk: “We have congregants who no longer live in the area or had not returned able to participate,” said Rabbi Elber.

But the improved attendance was not universal.

At Congregation Agudas Achim, in Attleboro, Rabbi Alex Weissman said he has seen a significant decline in participation, even among those who regularly attended in-person services.

“For some of our members, it has become less accessible – whether it’s because they don’t use technology on Shabbat or don’t have internet access, some people come significantly less to services than they otherwise would,” Rabbi Weissman wrote.

For the High Holy Days

services, participation ranged from 50 to 250 people, with the exception of Providence’s Temple Beth-El, which reported that about 1,000 people had tuned in.

Some congregations found the switch to online services didn’t make much of a difference. For example, Abigail Anthony, president of the board of Temple Shalom, in Middletown, said, “Just like in-person services, participation and attendance makes the experience meaningful for everyone. I actually don’t see much difference between our in-person and Zoom challenges.

Judaism is a communal experience.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

TEMPLE EMANU-EL PROVIDENCE JEWISH FILM FESTIVAL MOVIE DATES & SUMMARIES: A Picture of His Life Thursday, December 31, 2020, evening – Sunday, January 3, evening Israeli Amos Nachoum is an internationally renowned deep-sea diver with a career-long dream of photographing a polar bear while swimming Canadian Arctic!

PM .

Look for zoom link in our Eventive site.

Shared Legacies Thursday, January 28, 2021, evening – Sunday, January 31, evening The crucial historical lessons of Black-Jewish cooperation are revisited and revived in this utterly fascinating, urgent call to action.

Q&A to be announced.

Crescendo Thursday, February 18, 2021, evening – Sunday, February 21, evening When a world-famous conductor tries to create an Israeli-Palestinian orchestra, it takes all his skill and resources to overcome the discord and Based on a true story.

Q&A to be announced.

The Keeper Look for dates and times in future temple newsletters and e-mails The Keeper tells the incredible true story of Bert Trautmann, a German soldier and prisoner of war who, against a backdrop of British post-war protest and prejudice, secures the position of Goalkeeper at Manchester City, and in doing so becomes a footballing icon. His signing causes outrage to thousands of fans, many of them Jewish.

Q&A to be announced.

A Spectacular Double Feature: Holy Silence & Syndrome K Look for dates and times in future temple newsletters and e-mails Holy Silence tells the dramatic story of the Vatican's actions – and inactions – during World War ll and the years leading up to it. The presidents – who worked behind the scenes in hopes of persuading the Holy See to be a strong moral voice against Hitler and fascism.

Syndrome K titious disease created by three Roman Catholic doctors during the Q & A to be announced.

A seventh outstanding, SURPRISE movie to be announced.

Stay tuned!

PURCHASE ONE TICKET: WATCH.EVENTIVE.ORG/TEPROV PURCHASE SEVEN MOVIE BUNDLE: TEPROV.EVENTIVE.ORG/PASSES/BUY/BUNDLE

20 | JANUARY 2021

Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

COMMUNITY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 But at other congregations, Zoom services were seen as a pale imitation of the real thing.

“It’s like the difference between hearing music on an album or a CD versus hearing it live at a concert hall or an arena,” Rabbi Voss-Altman said. “There’s something magical about experiencing worship with other people, especially people you know.”

The other downside of online communal prayer is glitches in the technology.

“There were major issues with our provider for the High Holy Days. We definitely run into sound, video issues occasionally,” said Judy Moseley, executive director of Temple Beth-El, in Providence.

But Moseley said Beth-El has since solved many of those problems by upgrading its equipment. “It gets better and better,” she said.

Some, including Habonim, reported that they have hired technology experts to run their streaming services.

Not many of the congregations that responded offered any in-person services, although a few, such as Congregation Beth Sholom, in

Assisted Living | Memory Care

Providence, and Touro Synagogue, in Newport, offered outdoor services that strictly followed COVID-19 safety rules. No positive cases were reported after the services.

Finally, when asked if virtual services would continue after the pandemic, everyone responding said most likely – at least some of the time.

“I imagine that we’ll use Zoom during inclement weather (snow), or if we have members who specifically request it,” said Temple Shalom’s Anthony.

The congregations that answered the questionnaire were: Temple Beth El (Fall River); Congregation Agudas Achim (Attleboro); Temple Beth-El (Providence); Temple Shalom (Middletown); Temple Habonim (Barrington); Congregation Beth Sholom (Providence); Touro Synagogue (Newport); Congregation Sons and Daughters of Ruth (Block Island); and United Brothers Synagogue (Bristol).

SETH CHITWOOD is a freelance writer from Barrington and the creative director of the production company Angelwood Pictures. Reach him at www. sethchitwood.com.

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COMMUNITY

Emanu-El film fest to feature ‘Shared Legacies’

BY PAMELA HANZEL PROVIDENCE – The new Temple Emanu-El Providence Jewish Film Festival will show its second film, “Shared Legacies,” about the bond that grew between Blacks and Jews during the civil rights movement, beginning Jan. 28.

“Shared Legacies” revisits the turbulent 1960s, when Blacks and Jews marched together, went to jail together, and died together. The film can be viewed beginning on Jan. 28, at 7 p.m., until Jan. 31, at 7 p.m., through the Eventive website. You will be able to pause the film and continue watching again at your convenience. In addition, paid ticket-holders will have access, on Emanu-El’s Eventive site, to a Zoom Q-and-A session.

On Feb. 18-21, at 7 p.m., the festival will present the powerful film “CreCONTINUED FROM PAGE 18 Charter School, in Foxboro, Massachusetts.

She misses: “Besides missing a friend’s wedding and extensive family time, including a Bar Mitzvah and a milestone birthday celebration, we were forced to cancel five months of camping plans, which would have included a four-day music festival and travel outside of New England.”

Outlook: “Taking a wait-and-see approach to all things 2021. The promising prospect of a COVID-19 vaccine becoming available is, of course, cause for optimism, but it’s hard to be overly joyful since human nature (and grumblings already being heard) suggests that a large number of people will want to opt out of taking the preventative action of getting inoculated, even as it becomes more accessible. This could unnecessarily delay an end to the pandemic.”

LAWRENCE GOODMAN, 50, of Provi-

dence, a playwright.

He misses: “I miss sitting in cafes and writing. I miss hearing kids play when I walk through the park near my home. I miss handshakes and hugs.”

Outlook: “Yes, I’m optimistic (very unlike me). Though we’re undoubtedly going to pass through a horrific and tragically avoidable winter, by spring science will come to the rescue.

There’s every reason to believe that, unprecedented in human history, we will have come up with a vaccine for

scendo,” about a famous conductor who tries to form an Israeli-Palestinian orchestra. The event will include a Q-and-A. Dates and details for other festival movies, including “The Keeper,” “Holy Silence,” “Syndrome K,” and a surprise movie, will be listed in Jewish Rhode Island, as well as in the Temple Emanu-El bulletin, Kol HaShabbat, as soon as they are available.

Prior to the pandemic, Arts Emanu-El provided a dessert buffet during its events. This year, recipes will be offered instead, so viewers can prepare snacks ahead of time to enjoy during the screening.

For prices and tickets to a single movie, go to: https://watch.eventive. org/teprov. To purchase a seven-movie bundle, go to https://teprov. eventive.org/passes/buy/bundle.

For questions, call Temple Emanu-El, at 401-331-1616, or email Pamela Hanzel at pamhanzel@cox.net. If you want to receive recipes, e-mail pamhanzel@cox.net or jshushansky@ gmail.com.

PAMELA HANZEL is the chair of Arts Emanu-El at Temple Emanu-El.

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Rabbi Eli Bohnen (the first Senior Rabbi at Temple Emanu-El), with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

an infectious disease in record time and be able to distribute it to hundreds of millions of people in the United States effectively and efficiently. My one big worry is how the vaccine will be distributed in the developing world.

We won’t be safe in this country until the whole world is safe.”

of which are life-changing opportunities. I hope that camps can reopen.

Long-term programs in Israel have continued. However, many students who had planned on short-term programs last summer may not have the chance to go on them again unless Israel allows them this summer.”

LARRY KATZ, 66, director of Jewish

SHERRI DRESSLER KLEIN, 61, of

life and learning for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

He misses: “I most missed visiting my mother. I celebrated her 99th birthday with her just before the pandemic lockdown. We drove down to Virginia Beach in August, but we could only peer at her through a window and talk on a cellphone. It was nothing like the usual visits in her apartment and family gatherings for dinner. And now we missed our Thanksgiving with her, and will not be with her for her 100th. Besides that, we missed a couple of weddings, baby-namings and traveling.

“Professionally, I had some big ideas for in-person activities – that I hoped might be transformative – that just won’t happen this year. You just can’t do some of these things online and have the same impact. However, we are offering online programs that are engaging, very accessible, and even possibly life-changing.”

Outlook: “I doubt we will be anywhere near normal until 2022.

For the Jewish Alliance, I deal with young people who travel to Israel or go to summer overnight camps, both

Cranston, a wedding and event planner who runs Sherri Dressler Klein Events, in Cranston.

She misses: “As a wedding planner, I missed the excitement and adrenaline rush that I would get prepping for and carrying out a wedding.

Unfortunately, this year brought lots of uncertainty and disappointment surrounding changed/altered plans.”

Outlook: “I am optimistic for what this next year will hold. I cannot wait for my brides and grooms to experience their special days just as they had always dreamed. There is always a big bright blue sky hiding behind dark clouds. Here’s to dreaming and celebrating together again soon.”

STUART SKERKER, 65, of Attleboro,

a retired computer analyst and freelance reporter.

He misses: “What I miss the most about 2020 is going out to stores and just browsing. I also miss going to shul. I miss seeing everyone on Shabbat morning and the togetherness of praying together. Yes, Zoom has been terrific, but it’s just not the same as being together. I also miss being able

to go visit my parents at will.”

Outlook: “No, I’m not optimistic for 2021. The pandemic has done tremendous damage to the economy, and there will need to be a lot of give and take on both sides of Congress before the healing can begin. The anti-vaccine movement appears to be stronger than I care to realize, which means COVID isn’t going away anytime soon. What I really want for 2021 is for the world to go back to its pre-COVID normal state.”

RABBI ALEX WEISSMAN, 37, of Providence, spiritual leader of Congregation Agudas Achim, in Attleboro.

He misses: “Personally, I really miss having people at our Shabbat table. Cooking for two means fewer dishes to clean up, but it also means that we don’t get to engage in hachnasat orchim – the practice of welcoming guests. I look forward to welcoming people into our home with food, song and the joy of Shabbat.”

Outlook: “The news about vaccines certainly seems promising, and at the same time, nothing is certain. It’s a delicate balance of staying present with what is and being hopeful about a better tomorrow. In Lamentations 3:29, we read ‘Maybe there is hope.’

As long as there’s a maybe, I can stay hopeful.”

LARRY KESSLER (larrythek65@gmail. com) is a freelance writer based in North Attleboro. He blogs at https:// larrytheklineup.blogspot.com.

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BUSINESS

Tips for easing tough financial discussions with aging parents RS & S

1. Enlist a financial professional to facilitate and offer guidance. Most parents and children have not been down this road before. What’s more, cross-generational discussions involving aging and family dynamics can be emotionally charged. It’s not always easy to approach

SE

DO

LA

issues like these, especially if the parents don’t bring them up, which is why it makes a lot of sense to find a financial professional to facilitate these conversations.

The financial professional can help mediate if the need arises, and they can be the ones asking the tough questions, sort of taking on the “bad guy” role.

Get a referral JASON E. SIPERSTEIN from someone you know to find a Certified Financial Planner with experience in elder care and family issues, or check out the Financial Planning Association’s searchable national database of personal finance experts, at www.

PlannerSearch.org.

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L

FOR MANY FAMILIES, it is the elephant in the room: the necessary but potentially awkward discussions between aging parents and adult children about issues like where the parents envision living as they grow older and more dependent on others; the role family members are willing – or not willing – to play in caring for an ailing parent; and, of course, how the potentially weighty financial responsibilities associated with elder care will be handled.

While many families avoid talking frankly and openly about sensitive issues such as these, the best outcomes tend to be for those who address the “what-ifs” proactively, discussing the issues before a crisis forces their hand.

Here are five suggestions to help initiate and frame the discussions:

2. Hone in on housing.

Find out where your parents want to live as they age. Do they envision staying in their own home? Do they expect to move in with a family member? If either of these options appeals to them, how might the home need to be modified to accommodate an older person with restricted mobility and other limitations? Is assisted living an option? Do the parents have the financial means to pay for home modifications, or for assisted living, or for nursing-home care, should that become necessary?

3. Dare to discuss health care. Contemplat-

ing the possibility that you, your spouse or a parent will encounter a serious health issue that requires some form of long-term care is hard. But not only should families discuss the real possibility that parents will need long-term care at some point in their lives – the U.S. government puts the chances at about 70% – but they also need to dig deeper into the issue by discussing expectations, roles and finances.

Are parents expecting a family member, or family members, to assume a caregiver role if the need arises?

Are family members willing to serve as caregivers? If so, who, in what capacity and for how long? What impact would taking time off to care for a parent have on the caregiver’s finances and career?

If they don’t expect to rely on family members, where will the parent get care if it’s needed? Does the parent prefer in-home care? Another care option? What might the various care options cost,

who will be responsible for covering those costs, and how? Would it be wise and financially practical to invest in some form of long-term care insurance, and if so, what kind?

The issues are myriad and complex. This is an area where guidance from a financial professional with elder-care expertise can be especially valuable.

4. Be forthright about your financial picture.

In working through the family dynamics of elder care, it’s important that the parents and their adult children be upfront with each other about their financial situations. It is important to get answers to these questions: Do the parents have the means to cover their expenses in retirement? If not, what resources (government programs, etc.) might be available to help?

And to what extent are the adult children willing and able to provide financial assistance?

Being organized should also be a priority: Are the

parents’ assets properly titled? Is information about assets, accounts and beneficiaries (retirement, bank, insurance, etc.) up-to-date, well-organized and readily accessible to the children, should they need it?

5. Ensure that your parents’ estate and affairs are in order.

In the same organizational vein, it’s vital that parents have the legal documents related to their estate in order and up to date. That includes wills specifying how assets will be distributed, powers of attorney (over financial, medical and other decisions, should one or both of the parents become incapacitated), and a living will specifying their end-of-life wishes.

JASON E. SIPERSTEIN, CFA, CFP, is the president of the Financial Planning Association of Rhode Island and president of Eliot Rose Wealth Management. He can be reached by email at jes@eliotrose.com.

Summing Up Super Sunday and Giving Week Although we had to be physically apart during this year’s Super Sunday, on Dec. 6, it was gratifying to see the community come together and pitch in for the common cause. Starting with Giving Tuesday on Dec. 1 and culminating in Super Sunday, the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island was able to have a really successful fund-raising week. Here are some of the important numbers!

$80,000

146

The amount raised during Giving Week from all of our amazingly generous donors.

The number of gifts made during Giving Week.

$22,000

The number of volunteers who made successful calls on Super Sunday.

The amount raised on Super Sunday not including the gift match that was donated by the Bazarsky Family.

$10,000

The amount of the generous, Bazarsky Family gift match, with half used on Super Sunday and half with the Alliance’s December direct mail fund-raising effort.

20

15

The number of volunteers who wrote Thank You notes to our donors.

200

The number of thank you cards written and sent to donors.

Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island

ON

LAND

IN

WATER

OR

ONLINE

Contact us to learn more

401.421.4111

JewishAllianceRI.org | 401 Elmgrove Avenue, Providence

24 | JANUARY 2021

Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

COMMUNITY

The Alliance’s COVID-19 relief campaign is helping the hardest hit

BY SARA MASRI

“It is a very warm feeling to know that people around us care and are concerned for our well-being.”

— Jewish Collaborative Services’ client WHEN THE COVID-19 crisis began, the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island stepped in to coordinate relief and recovery efforts for the community. Over 400 generous donors gave more than $250,000 to the COVID-19 Relief and Recovery Campaign.

The Alliance has worked with community leaders to determine the best ways to allocate these funds for maximum impact. To date, $105,000 has been given to individuals and organizations in the community, according to Jennifer Zwirn, director of Community Investment at the Jewish Alliance.

“Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, we had seen tremendous need in our community from those out of work or who have unexpected expenses because of the pandemic,” said Adam Greenman, president and CEO of the Jewish Alliance. “I’m so proud that the Alliance could coordinate this community-re-

lief effort, and humbled that our community raised over $250,000 to support community members in need.”

In the weeks and months ahead, these funds will continue to be used to help the community. Here are a few ways community members have already benefited from this generosity: HELPING THE VULNERABLE: When the pandemic hit, many more members of the community found themselves in need of help. COVID-19 campaign funds have helped clients of Jewish Collaborative Services (JCS) in many ways, including restocking the Kosher food pantry, delivering food, case management, transportation assistance and gift cards for essential services. The funds, along with in-kind gifts from community partners, have also helped pay for funeral and shivah costs.

MAINTAINING JEWISH CONNECTIONS: The COVID-19 campaign funds ensured that families could continue to provide Jewish opportunities for their children, even if they found themselves in a challenging financial situation. Scholarships helped offset the costs of camp and other opportunities.

Funds also provided cleaning supplies at Jewish facilities; upkeep of Camp JORI; and upgrades to the physical space at Brown RISD Hillel and the University of Rhode Island Hillel to ensure spaces were safe for people to gather and engage

in Jewish life.

SUPPORTING CONGREGATIONS: Working closely with the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island and synagogue leadership, COVID-19 campaign donations were used for grants to rabbinic discretionary funds in order to give congregations the ability to help individual congregants in need. In addition, money for extra security was provided for over 50 High Holy Days services, and for pandemic safety measures, such as upgrades to air filtration systems. And funding was increased for JCS’ Kesher program, to support synagogue-based mental health and case-management services for people affected by COVID-19.

Alvan Kaunfer, rabbi emeritus of Temple Emanu-El, in Providence, and a distribution committee member, said, “Neighbors supporting neighbors is the foundation of all strong communities, and we are fortunate that so many people stepped up to help each other.”

As one grateful beneficiary put it, “Thank you very much for the assistance we received.

We appreciate the money just as much as the gesture itself.

It is a great feeling to know we are part of a community that is looking out for everyone.”

SARA MASRI (smasri@jewishallianceri.org) is chief philanthropy officer at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

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Students get a lesson on Zionism and anti-Semitism

PHOTO | STANDWITHUS

Top row (left to right): Stephanie Margolis, StandWithUs New England high school coordinator and Carly Gammill, director StandWithUs Center for Combating Antisemitism.

Bottom row: Eliza Kanner, StandWithUs New England campus coordinator HIGH SCHOOL and college mitic – and 100% said yes. students explored the Gammill then encourtruth of the oft-repeated aged the Jewish students phrase, “I’m not anti-Seto share personal stories mitic, just anti-Zionist,” with communities and at a Dec. 9 webinar orgaindividuals who haven’t nized by StandWithUs had an opportunity to New England in partnerlearn about the expeship with Israel Campus riences of the Jewish Roundtable people.

“True or false: The webiand Alpha Epsilon Pi. nar was part Gathered anti-Zionism is of the ongoing on Zoom, Antisemithe stuanti-Semitic.” tism Training dents were Speaker Series, first asked to answer which aims to educate this question: “True or high school and college false: anti-Zionism is students about anti-Semanti-Semitic.” A second itism, the Holocaust, and poll asked the students, where legitimate criti“What is Zionism?” cism of Israel and ZionCarly Gammill, direcism crosses the line into tor of the StandWithUs anti-Semitism. StandCenter for Combating WithUs New England Antisemitism, then told High School Coordinator the group that Zionism Stephanie Margolis and is “an integral compoCampus Coordinator nent of Jewish identity Eliza Kanner hosted the expressed in terms of talk. religion, culture, ethThe next webinar, nicity and/or national “Understanding Diverse origin.”

Jewish Narratives,” on It is important for Jan. 20, will be led by Zionists to understand Sarah Levin, head of the definition of Zionism JIMENA: Jews Indigin order to explain why enous to the Middle anti-Zionism is an attack East and North Africa. on someone’s identity, Register at https://bit. making it discriminaly/3odgWmo. tory, Gammill said.

At the conclusion of – Submitted by the webinar, the stuStandWithUs New dents were again asked if England anti-Zionism is anti-Se-

JANUARY 2021 | 25

jewishrhody.org | Jewish Rhode Island

COMMUNITY | OBITUARIES Harvey Benatovich, 87 EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Harvey Benatovich passed away Dec. 11, 2020. Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, he graduated from Nichols School and Yale University.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years Lorelei (Fox) Benatovich; daughters Penny Benatovich and Lisa (Benatovich) Brosofsky; son-in-law Dan Brosofsky; and granddaughters Sarah and Jillian Brosofsky; as well as Eric Brosofsky; sister Roz Newman; along with many friends, in-laws, nephews, nieces and cousins. He was the son of the late Eva (Schrutt) and Harry Benatovich, and brother of the late Ted Benatovich.

After college and a brief stay in New York City, he served in the Army in Korea. Upon his return, he married Lorelei, and they settled in Buffalo. He acted in a number of plays at Buffalo’s Studio Arena Theatre, played some characters at the old Fantasy Island and landed a job in an advertising agency. With the advertising experience, he took over all of the advertising for the growing family supermarket chain, Park Edge. Harvey ran the advertising and managed the Transit store. (Every Park Edge store had a Benatovich in it.) Later, he enjoyed rewarding work managing the Broadway Market and with the Job Corps of Western New York.

He will be remembered as the best Dad and Papa ever, great joke teller, fabulous singer, dancer, snappy dresser and die-hard Buffalo Bills fan.

We would be remiss not to thank our extended “family” of superheroes who kept him so safe and happy over these last few years: RI VA Geriatric Team, Providence; Winslow Gardens, East Providence; Sister M&M of Sacred Heart “Club” Care Center, East Providence; Saint Elizabeth Community/The Cove, East Greenwich; the entire Butler Hospital Geriatric Senior Care Unit, Providence; and The HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center, Providence. Donations to any of these organizations would be appreciated.

David Cohen, 96 MELBOURNE, FLA. – David Ira Cohen passed away on Dec. 15, 2020, at Viera Hospital, after contracting COVID-19. He was the husband of Alice (Grosso) Cohen, married for 13 years, living in Melbourne. He had also been married to the late Harriet

(Kilberg) Cohen and the late Gloria (Wein) Cohen. Born in Providence, he was a son of the late Robert and Sophie (Gabrilowitz) Cohen.

David was a WWII Army veteran, serving as a private in the 29th Infantry Division.

He was combat wounded in the Normandy Invasion and received a Purple Heart. After the war and returning to Providence, he attended the YMCA Institute, now Roger Williams University, and graduated with an associate degree. He then became a letter carrier in Providence, working for 39 years and retiring in 1986.

He was the father of Stuart Cohen and daughter-in-law Sandra of Cranston and Jacqueline Baptista and sonin-law Robbie of North Providence. He was the brother of the late Sydney Cohen and Irma Silverman. He was the grandfather of Cara, Kyla, Rebecca and Danielle. He was the great-grandfather of Kyle, Alyssia, Isabella and Leonardo.

Contributions may be made to Hope Hospice and Palliative Care of Rhode Island, 1085 North Main St., Providence, RI 02904.

Mildred Field, 100 SARASOTA, FLA. – Mildred Robinson Field passed away at her home in Sarasota on Dec. 8, 2020. She was born in Providence on Aug. 4, 1920, to Celia (Hassan) Robinson and Ira Robinson.

Mildred was pre-deceased by her younger brother Harold and older brother Albert and her grandson Andrew Merrill Pastor.

Mildred was a 1937 graduate of Hope High School in Providence. She attended Pembroke College at Brown University and graduated cum laude in 1941.

In 1945 Mildred married Dr. David Field. She was a devoted wife to her husband and a loving mother to her children Joyce (Pastor), born in 1946, and Steven, born in 1948. They lived in Providence on the East Side where the family was active at Temple Emanu-El and Mildred was a president of The Miriam Hospital Women’s Association. Joyce married Bruce Pastor in 1967, and Steven married Deborah Langburd in 1978. She leaves grandchildren Carrie Morenberg and Lauren Abrams, Michael Field and Joanna Brine and great-grandchildren Sarah and Juliet Morenberg, and Jordan and Taylor Abrams.

Mildred and David retired to Sarasota in 1973 where both

became active members of their community. They volunteered at The Senior Friendship Center, where adults receive affordable medical and dental care. Mildred was dedicated to her alma mater, Brown University, and served as co-president of the University Club.

Mildred and David joined the Longboat Key Club, where they played tennis and socialized, and Mildred served as a president of the tennis association. Mildred was also a volunteer at the Sarasota Visitor and Convention Bureau.

Contributions should be made payable to: “Senior Friendship Centers Inc.,” 1888 Brother Geenen Way, Sarasota, FL 34236.

Norma Goodman, 95 CRANSTON, R.I. – Norma B. Goodman passed away on Dec. 19, 2020. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, a daughter of the late Bertram and Ann (Insoft) Bromberg, on Dec. 28, 1925, she was the devoted wife of Professor Elliot R. Goodman.

She graduated from Brookline High School and then attended the University of New Hampshire, Simmons College and Indiana University, before graduating from Sarah Lawrence College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

During WWII, in Washington D.C., she was an assistant to William Donovan, head of the Office of Strategic Services, the predecessor to the Central Intelligence Agency.

After the war, she married Elliot R. Goodman in New York City while he completed his doctorate at Columbia University. During that time, she and Elliot had daughter Laura and son Jordan. They moved to Providence in 1955 where Elliot began a long tenure as a Political Science professor at Brown University. They moved to Cranston in 1958 where son Roger was born in 1961.

Norma was actively involved in many community activities for decades, including serving on the board of the YMCA of Cranston, as vice president of the Council of Jewish Women, as president of the board of the Council of Community Services, as a charter member of the Providence Preservation Society, on the board of United Way of Rhode Island, on the board of the League of Women Voters and as the founder of the community services agency Volunteers in Action.

She is survived by her children Laura Goodman Humphrey of Portsmouth, Jordan

Goodman of Elmsford, New York, and Roger Goodman of Kirkland, Washington; sister Ruth Singer; and grandchildren Graham Humphrey, Leah Humphrey and Jason, Vivian and Felix Goodman.

Contributions may be made to the United Way of Rhode Island, 50 Valley St., Providence, RI 02909 or www.uwri.org.

was a son of the late Max and Eleanor (Spitz) Greenstein.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughters Jacqueline Casey and Susan Greenstein; brother Neil Greenstein; and grandchildren Nichole and Peyton Casey.

Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org.

Linda Gordon, 79

Dianne Isenberg, 73

WARWICK, R.I. – Linda D. Gordon died Dec. 3, 2020, at Roger Williams Medical Center, Providence. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late Maurice and Doris (Kalish) Rubin. She previously lived in Cranston and Newton, Massachusetts.

She was the mother of Billy Gordon and Joanne Evans and her husband, Kevin, of Cranston. She was the sister of Barbara Viselman and her late husband, Ronald, of Boca Raton, Florida. She was the grandmother of Madison, Samantha, Brett and Drew.

She was the aunt of Kenneth and Jeffrey and the late Lyle Viselman. She was the greataunt of Rachel and Noah.

Contributions may be made to Hope Alzheimer Center, 25 Brayton St., Cranston, RI 02920.

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Dianne Leshay Isenberg passed away Dec. 22, 2020.

Born in Newton, Massachusetts, she was the daughter of the late Leon and Janice Leshay.

Dianne was a graduate of Newton North High School in Newton and Boston University. She was dedicated to raising her children in their early years. Dianne served as the director of marketing and territory sales manager at Chex Finer Foods, where she built many relationships over a 25-year career. She was active in leadership capacities in various organizations throughout the community, including The Jewish Federation, where she served as the president of the Women’s Division; Jewish Community Day School; The Wheeler School and Laurelmead Cooperative.

She is survived by her children Michael Isenberg, Jeremy Isenberg and Rachel Isenberg; daughters-in-law Karen Isenberg and Amanda Isenberg and son-in-law Adam Scales; grandchildren Sophie, Caleb, Lily, Samantha and Madeleine.

She was the former wife of the late David Isenberg and the sister of the late Mark Leshay.

David Greenstein, 83 CRANSTON, R.I. – David M. Greenstein passed away Jan. 1, 2021. He was the beloved husband of Deborah (Smith) Greenstein; they were married for 59 years. Born in Providence, he

26 | JANUARY 2021

Jewish Rhode Island | jewishrhody.org

OBITUARIES Contributions in her memory may be made to the Parkinson's Foundation, 200 SE 1st St., Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131 or via their website: http://bit.ly/HonoringDianneIsenberg.

Betty Jaffe, 90 PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Betty Joy Rossyn Jaffe passed away Dec. 18, 2020.

She was the wife of the late Dr. Alfred Jaffe; they were married for 54 years. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, she was a daughter of the late George and Dorothy (Alpert) Rossyn.

Throughout her life, Betty demonstrated a strong intellect and curiosity. Whether it was current events, history, literature or crossword puzzles, Betty was quick with an answer, yet open to new ideas.

After graduating from Smith College, she married the love of her life and moved to Providence, where she spent her time nurturing her family.

She served on the board of directors of the Bureau of Jewish Education and the Temple Emanu-El school board and served a term as president of the Smith College Club of Rhode Island. Once her children were all school age, she earned a master’s in history from Brown University and worked for the Mayor’s Office of Community Development as an architectural historian. After retiring, she volunteered as a counselor at Planned Parenthood, tended her garden, joined a book club, played bridge, watched tennis religiously, served as a board member for the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center and reveled in her grandchildren’s activities and

successes.

She is survived by her children Miriam Jaffe and her husband, Martin Browne, David Lewis Jaffe and his wife, Cori Miller, and Sarah Jane Jaffe and her husband, Richard Eisert; and grandchildren Edward Browne, Zachary and Sydney Jaffe, and Alexander and Nathaniel Eisert.

Contributions may be made to the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, RI 02906 or Planned Parenthood, www.plannedparenthood.org.

Arlene Kaplan, 87 PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Arlene Kaplan passed away Dec. 5, 2020, with her daughter Hillary by her side. She was the wife of the late Stanley S. Kaplan, who passed away just five months ago. Born in Providence, she was the daughter of the late Harold and Sadie Rosen and the sister of the late Simon Rosen. Arlene was a lifelong resident of the city.

She was a high school graduate but should have been awarded a doctorate in common sense. Everyone appreciated her wisdom, wit and keen observations of life.

She was a quiet person, but those who knew her felt her kindness and love. Dedicated to her loved ones, Arlene was the cornerstone of her family.

She enjoyed cooking, reading and spending time with her grandchildren. She, Stanley and Hillary shared weekly breakfasts and dinners and every Sunday made Kosher chicken together. This time was very much loved and will be greatly missed.

She is survived by three daughters, Melissa Katz and her husband, Phillip, of Concord, Massachusetts; Idelle Kursman and her husband,

Michael, of Rockaway, New Jersey; and Hillary Kaplan and her partner, Michael Andrews; and four grandchildren Noah, Sarah, Benjamin and Kaleb.

Contributions may be made to The Louis and Goldie Chester Full Plate Kosher Food Pantry, www.jcsri.org/ our-services/kosher-food-pantry.

Dorothy Klein, 88 WARWICK, R.I. – Dorothy Ruth Klein died Dec. 28, 2020, at Tamarisk. She was the wife of the late Ruvain Klein. Born in Providence, a daughter of the late Henry and Clara (Rubin) Oelbaum, she had lived in Warwick for 55 years. She was a school librarian for Lincoln High School, retiring 30 years ago. Dotty was a member of the former Temple Am David.

She was the mother of David Klein and his wife, Mindy Gellin, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Honna Sheffield and her husband, Bob, of Stevenson, Washington; Pearl Holloway and her husband, Bradford, of Warwick; Shulie Klein of Warwick; Yonaton Klein and his wife, Chana, of Israel; and Barbara Wilmot and her husband, David, of Saunderstown.

She was the sister of Sruel Oelbaum and his wife, Phyllis, of Providence. She was the grandmother of Scott, Naomi, Rachel, Ben, Aaron, Chaim, Cameron, Josh, Zachary, Jacob, Rueban and Samuel.

She was the great-grandmother of eight.

Contributions may be made to the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, RI 02906 or Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Ave., Providence, RI 02907.

Marsha Pansey, 76 PHOENIX, ARIZ. – Marsha Pansey died on Dec. 9, 2020, at Boswell Hospital in Sun City, Arizona. She was the wife of Joseph Pansey.

She was born in Providence to the late Louis and Gussie (Beckler) Goodman on March 31, 1944. She graduated from Hope High School in 1962 and graduated from Bryant College in 1964 with a degree in accounting. She worked doing what she loved. Being a part of many organizations throughout her life was important to her, and she dedicated her life to them. Some of these included Jewish Women International and ORT. Over

the years, in many places where she lived, she was also very active in temple sisterhood. Most of all, her family was very important. She will always be remembered as a loving wife and mother and friend.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Joseph; two children, Glenna Pansey of Providence and Iris Shreiar (Andy) of Las Vegas, Nevada; two grandchildren, Daniel Shreiar and Becca Tolman (Braden) of Utah; and her brother, Norman (Judy) Goodman of Warwick.

Contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Sidney W. Paull, 82 THE VILLAGES, FLA. – Sidney W. Paull died Dec. 8, 2020, at Leesburg Hospital. He was the husband of the late Janice (Dress) Paull. Born in Providence, a son of the late David and Faye (Kotler) Paull, he had lived in The Villages for nine years, previously living in Cranston and Warwick.

Sidney was a graduate of Providence College and earned a law degree from Boston University Law School.

He opened a private practice in Warwick, serving the legal needs of Rhode Islanders for 44 years.

In retirement Sid happily traded in his car for a golf cart, playing multiple rounds each week. He took great pride in the success of his two children and was happy to tell anyone of his grandchildren’s latest accomplishments. Sid also was a longtime member of Kiwanis and an avid and savvy card player, and made friends wherever he went.

He was the father of Lauren Paull Kastner and her husband, Michael, of Great Falls, Virginia, and Gary Paull of North Kingstown. He was the brother of Selene Fishkin of West Palm Beach, Florida. He was the grandfather of Matthew, Sarah and Braden.

Contributions may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, 51 Blossom St., Boston, MA 02114 or www.lovetotherescue.org.

Beatrice Porrazzo, 98 PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Beatrice Porrazzo, lifelong resident of Providence, passed away on Dec. 23, 2020, at Roger Williams Medical Center after a brief illness.

She was a devoted wife to Peter Porrazzo, who survives her, and with whom she shared over 60 years of marriage.

Beatrice was a loving stepmother to the late Linda Singer. She is also survived by her two granddaughters, Danielle and Rebecca Singer.

Beatrice was a talented businesswoman and worked for many years as a bookkeeper at her husband’s vending company.

Ruth Rogol, 100 PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Ruth R. Rogol died Dec. 11, 2020, at Roberts Health Center, North Kingstown. She was the wife of the late Ralph Rogol. Born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, a daughter of the late Morris and Nettie (Fliegelman) Ruden, she had lived in North Kingstown, previously living at Laurelmead in Providence for 15 years, Delray Beach, Florida, for 17 years, and Scituate, Massachusetts.

Ruth was a member of Temple Beth Shalom and its Sisterhood in Hull, Massachusetts, and Hadassah. She enjoyed cooking and entertaining with her husband, playing mahjong and bridge, and was very involved in her condo community while in Florida.

Her greatest pleasure was spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.

She was the mother of Dr. Alan Rogol (Diane) of North Falmouth, Massachusetts, and Dr. Neal Rogol (Arlene) of Narragansett. She was the grandmother of Michael (Susan), Robert (Kate), Mark (Karen), Joshua (Michelle) and Abby (Adam). She was the great-grandmother of Myer, Brooks, Olivia, Henry and Dylan.

Contributions may be made to Congregation Beth David, P.O. Box 3299, Narragansett, RI 02882.

Barbara Rubinstein, 72 CRANSTON, R.I. – Barbara J. Rubinstein died Dec. 8, 2020, at home. Born in Brooklyn, New York, and raised in Glencoe, Illinois, a daughter of the late Sidney and Edna Fink, she had lived in Cranston for 13 years, previously living in Lincoln and Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Barbara was an adjunct professor of English at the Community College of Rhode Island for 15 years and a counselor at Southeastern Massachusetts Comprehensive Treatment Centers in Fall River and maintained a private psychotherapy practice in Wellesley for 10 years. She was an art enthusiast with a broad collection, needlepointing complex designs herself.

Barbara also loved cooking,

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OBITUARIES catering and hunting for the perfect wine. She enjoyed watching British television and speed-reading books and was a champion of retail therapy.

She was the mother of Adam Rubinstein of Merrimac, Massachusetts, and Beth Rubinstein of Denver, Colorado. She was the grandmother of James and Ben. She was a friend to many.

Contributions may be made to PAWS New England at www.pawsnewengland.com.

Merton Sapers, 99 WEST YARMOUTH, MASS. – Merton Myron Sapers passed away on Dec. 19, 2020, at his home at Maplewood at Mayflower Place. He was the husband of Frances M. (Wax) Sapers for 72 years.

Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a son of the late Maurice and Anne (Benjamin) Sapers, he had lived on Cape Cod for 23 years, previously living in North Andover, Massachusetts, and most of his life in Newton, Massachusetts.

Mert was a WWII Army veteran, serving in the Pacific Theater. He was a graduate of Boston University, Class of ’48, and a member of Phi Alpha Fraternity. Mert owned his own business as a hardware distributor for most of his life, working in Boston, Massachusetts and New Hampshire.

Mert was passionate regarding his Jewish heritage. He was a former member of the Falmouth Jewish Congregation and its Brotherhood and served as a board member. He was a member of the Mason’s Dewitt Clinton Lodge. Mert was also an active member of numerous organizations after his retirement, including the Mashpee Men’s Club, Mashpee Senior Center, TRIAD and the Citizens Police Academy. He received great joy from volunteering in the local elementary school, reading to children.

He was the father of Mark Sapers (Joanne) of Merrimack, New Hampshire; Ronda Smith (Robert) of West Warwick and Boca Raton, Florida; Joanne Sapers (Dave) of Warwick and Karen Rozell (Ralph) of Sandwich, Massachusetts.

He was the brother of the late Elayne Lofchie. He was the grandfather of Julianne (Greg), Andrew (Jessica), Alisa (Kevin), Brianna (Brian), David and the late Daniel. He was the great-grandfather of Ava, Sadie, Charlie and Benjamin.

The family wants to express appreciation to the staff of

Maplewood at Mayflower Place, Bayada and hospice for the support that they provided.

Contributions may be made to the Disabled Veterans of America (https://secure. dav.org/site/Donation2?df_ id=18792&18792.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T) or Daniel Schuster Endowment Fund, c/o Camp JORI, PO Box 5299, Wakefield, RI 02879.

Morris Schwartz, 94 GREENVILLE, R.I. – Morris P. Schwartz died Dec. 23, 2020, at HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center. He was the beloved husband of Barbara (Amber) Schwartz for 68 years. Born in Providence, a son of the late Samuel and Rebecca (Rosenberg) Schwartz, he had lived in Greenville for 14 years, previously living in Providence.

Morris was a WWII Army veteran. He was a 1949 graduate of Brown University and a member of the Tower Club.

Morris was also a member of Temple Emanu-El and the RI Jewish Historical Association.

Morris, a diehard Red Sox fan, held eternal optimism each February as spring training began. When the Sox broke the curse of the Bambino in 2004, Morris was ecstatic and even more so after three more titles. He was famous for his banana bread, which he happily shared with everyone, including his lifelong friends who attended the weekly nickel-and-dime poker game.

He loved taking photos of his children and grandchildren.

He was a father to Judy Flaxman and her husband, Bill, of Nassau County, New York; Bill Schwartz and his girlfriend, Sheryl Rich-Kern, of Nashua, New Hampshire and Steven Schwartz and his wife, Gail Agronick, of Greenville. He was predeceased by his siblings Blanche Revkin, Abraham Schwartz and Roslyn Applebaum. He was a grandfather to Jonathan, Samantha, Michaela, Jordan, Zoe and Adeline.

Morris was kind, gentle, compassionate and a great listener. He adored his wife Barbara from the time they met in 1947 and loved his children and grandchildren unconditionally.

Contributions may be made to RI Jewish Historical Association, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, RI 02906 or the charity of one’s choosing.

M. David Seidman, 81 CRANSTON, R.I. – M. David Seidman died Dec. 14, 2020, at home.

He was the husband of Elaine (Phillips) Seidman of Cranston for 58 years. Born in Providence, a son of the late Pinchus and Ida (Golubchik) Seidman, he had lived in Cranston for over 60 years, previously living in Providence.

He was the owner of M. David Seidman Agency for over 40 years. In 2016, David proudly partnered with his granddaughter, Taylor, as she continues the family business.

David was a graduate of Hope High School and Bryant College. He was a member of Temple Emanu-El, a former member of Temple Sinai, serving as a past treasurer and president of its bowling league, and a former member of Congregation Sons of Jacob.

David was also a former writer for the Jewish Herald. He was a member of the Summit Club and Metacomet Country Club and previously sat on its board of directors. He enjoyed bowling, was a member of the RI Jewish Bowling Congress and was an avid golfer.

He was the father of Reneé Petrone and her husband, Tony, of Cranston, and Jill Martin and her husband, Stephen, of Carmel, California.

He was the brother of Michael Seidman and his wife, Betty, of East Hartford, Connecticut, and the late Harriet Lake and brother-in-law of Charles Phillips of Jamestown. He was the grandfather of Taylor and her husband, Ben, and twins Ava and Sara. He was the uncle and great-uncle of several nieces and nephews.

Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 931 Jefferson Blvd., Suite 3004, Warwick, RI 02886.

Jerome Tesler, 99 MYSTIC, CONN. – Jerome Joseph Tesler died Dec. 11, 2020, at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital.

He was the husband of the late Lenore (Feldman) Tesler. Born in Providence, a son of the late Charles and Sophie (Pritsker) Tesler, he had lived in Providence, East Providence and Boca Raton, Florida, before moving to Mystic.

He was a salesman for R & G Manufacturing Company in Rhode Island and Massachusetts for 35 years, retiring in 1985. Jerome was a WWII Army veteran, serving in the Pacific Theater. He was a graduate of Providence College, Class of ’42. Jerome was

an avid golf and tennis player and was a member of the Crestwood, Boca Teeca and Ocean Breeze country clubs.

He was the father of Susan Tesler-Telford of San Rafael, California, and the late Michael Tesler. He was the brother of Hinda Jagolinzer of Cranston. He was the grandfather of Rebecca, Amie, Jyl and Sarah; seven great-grandchildren and millions of jokes.

Contributions may be made to Hospice by the Sea, 1531 West Palmetto Road, Boca Raton, FL 33486-3395 or the Wounded Warrior Project.

Harold Webber, 96 WARWICK, R.I. – Harold S. Webber died Dec. 27, 2020, at Rhode Island Hospital. He was the husband of Lorraine (Cramer) Webber of Warwick for 75 years; the father of David Webber and his wife, Karen Jenkins, of Dobbs Ferry, New York; and Jeffrey Webber of Ardsley-on-Hudson, New York; the brother of Frances Weiss of Warwick; Marlene Fink of La Mirada, California; Brenda Grosch of Portland, Oregon and the late Marshall, Arnold and Robert Webber, and the grandfather of Althea Webber, and her husband, Michael Gruen, and Jeremy

Webber, and his wife, Jean Bingham. He had 16 nieces and nephews.

Born in Providence, a son of the late Meyer and Rachel (Rubin) Webber, he was a lifelong Rhode Island resident.

He helped support his younger brothers and sisters during the Great Depression, joined the Navy on his 18th birthday, served in nearly every theater of World War II and returned home to marry his childhood sweetheart and raise a family that gave him constant pleasure and pride. He worked much of his life in the costume jewelry industry, including many years as general manager of Foster Jewelry Co., before retiring over 30 years ago. He and his wife traveled after retirement, but his greatest pleasure remained the quiet enjoyment of his home and garden.

Harold listened more than he spoke and, when he did, liked to tell stories in which he was more often than not a large part of the joke. He enjoyed reading, crosswords, his wife’s excellent cooking, the vicissitudes of the Red Sox and the seeming certainties of the Patriots. He never stopped marveling over his children’s and, later, his grandchildren’s travels and achievements. He adored and cherished his wife.

Contributions in his memory may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

taking care of each other is what community is all about. we’ve proudly served our Jewish community with personal, compassionate care. As your Dignity Memorial professionals, we are dedicated to helping families create a personal, meaningful memorial that truly honors the life it represents.

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Certified by the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island Sarah Lavendier-Colon, Funeral Director