JEWISH
RHODE ISLAND
EDITOR Fran Ostendorf
DESIGN & LAYOUT Alex Foster
ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT
Peter Zeldin | 401-421-4111, ext. 160 pzeldin@jewishallianceri.org
CONTRIBUTORS Bob Abelman, Ruth Marris Macaulay, Sarah Greenleaf, Robert Isenberg
COLUMNISTS Michael Fink, George M. Goodwin, Patricia Raskin, Rabbi James Rosenberg, Daniel Stieglitz
VOLUME XXXII, ISSUE VI
JEWISH RHODE ISLAND (ISSN number 1539-2104, USPS #465-710) is published monthly except twice in May, August and September.
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of the Rhode Island Press Association.
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Keeping our culinary traditions alive
FOOD TRADITIONS play a huge role in our families. What we eat, when we eat and what we cook are a significant part of our earliest memories, and they follow us through our lives.
Many of us try to preserve and continue those family traditions and memories. It’s the reason that so many organizations compile favorite recipes into cookbooks, which are in high demand. The Sandra Borstein Holocaust Education Resource Center, right here in Providence, is putting together a cookbook of memories from families connected to the Holocaust (see page 16).
I’m pretty sure you have a cookbook on your shelf, from your synagogue or another group, that you turn to for some of your favorite recipes. And this interest in food traditions is one of the reasons that food influencers are a huge attraction on social media. They give you a peek into their lives and traditions.
A person’s heritage is often revealed by what foods he or she prepares and eats. And your meals are influenced by family and friends, of course. You may also prepare the foods of your youth. Or you may stay away from certain foods because you don’t enjoy them or were forced to eat them when you were young.
Families often merge their traditions, coming up with new ones or celebrating each in its own way. There’s a little of that in my own family. I still make my mother’s brisket recipe for each holiday, and sometimes for meals in between. I’m so glad we wrote it down a long time ago! And we have a video of my mom making matzoh balls with my niece from several years ago. She was over 90 at the time, but we still make them her way, creating fluffy nuggets of deliciousness (we are not a sinker family).
I also make a sweet noodle kugel I learned to prepare in high school. It’s simple. No cottage cheese. No pineapple. No crunchy bits on top. But it’s a hit whenever I serve it. My sister makes a grandmother’s kugel that’s completely different. We’re sisters, but we have our own traditions!
So, before Passover this year, when a close friend and I got out our calendars to decide when we would have time to bake mandelbread, I realized we’d started a new tradition. Actually, it’s not so new anymore. We’ve been baking this Passover treat for more than 30 years, through several houses and new kitchens. We’ve persevered through family emergencies, trips and last-minute illnesses. And on the rare occasions when we couldn’t bake together, one of us bakes and makes enough to share with the other’s family. It’s just not Passover without our mandelbread at the end
of the seder (and in my family, it is very much in demand with coffee or tea at breakfast).
Through the years, both families decided to forego the nuts in the original recipe. Now, we use tiny chocolate chips. A couple of years ago, I experimented with cinnamon chips (OK, not great). We ended up going back to our original. After more than 30 years, we aren’t inclined to do much more experimenting with the recipe.
We both have adult children, and I wonder if they will continue the tradition in their families. So far, they prefer to lean on our Passover contributions.
Food, cooking and recipes are an important part of family and tradition. What are your traditions? Have you taken steps to preserve them and pass them on to the next generation or the generations beyond? I’m very thankful we have managed to keep the culinary heritage of my family alive and as a vibrant part of our family gatherings.
Fran Ostendorf, Editor
UP FRONT
Northern Ireland’s lone synagogue engages Christian neighbors to stave off decline
BY ROSARIO DEL VALLE JTA
BELFAST, Northern Ireland – On Saturdays, the Jewish day of rest, there is barely a quorum of 10 for prayers at the old synagogue in Northern Ireland’s capital city. But every other Wednesday, the place is hopping. A gaggle of seniors gathers for lectures, conversation, lunch and socializing. Only some of them are Jewish.
“I come here mostly for company. I see my friends, and I enjoy the talks. It gets me out once a fortnight,” said Norma Simon, 94, one of the members of the synagogue, on a recent Wednesday.
Her Catholic companion, Eleanor Minahan, said she appreciated the company she finds at the Belfast Hebrew Congregation. “Most of the people that I meet here, I don’t meet in any other circumstances,” she said.
The neighborly vibes offer a contrast to tensions swirling outside and around the synagogue, the only Jewish house of worship in Northern Ireland. There, as in the Republic of Ireland to the
south, pro-Palestinian sentiment is strong – as exemplified by the Belfast band Kneecap, which projected the phrase “F–k Israel. Free Palestine” at the Coachella festival in April. Jewish leaders say antisemitism is on the rise.
Earlier this month, an object was thrown through the window of the synagogue, which is located in a mixed but predominantly Catholic neighborhood in North Belfast. Two girls were cautioned by the police, according to Michael Black, the congregation’s deputy chairman, and the damage caused will total over £600.
“My original thought was that this was inevitable,”
Black said. He added, “In my lifetime, I don’t remember so much open antisemitism.”
Black said the synagogue has received hateful emails and phone calls. He said it has been experiencing “more verbal abuse than physical fear,” and he does not currently believe there is a lethal threat to his community.
“There’s an awful lot of virtue signaling and a lot of useful idiots who swallow the propaganda coming. That’s all. It’s getting worse,” he said. But he added that he worried that verbal abuse could morph into something more dangerous, as happened in the Holocaust.
“It all started like this. It all starts with words. Then you get the blame,” he said, adding, “It’s worrying that there are signs that it could happen again.”
Yet the community’s safety concerns are only one of several pressing challenges imperiling the congregation’s future. It must also contend with a dwindling Jewish population, a deteriorating building, and a struggle to recruit a new spiritual leader.
David Kale, who has led Belfast Hebrew Congregation for six years, is leaving his role. Black and other community leaders are aiming to install a rabbi who is outgoing and “receptive to other groups of Jews” by next month – but they haven’t yet landed the ideal candidate. They are looking for someone who can lead prayers and teach classes as well as help the chevra kadisha, a volunteer group that helps prepare the dead for a Jewish burial. Additionally, the community hopes to reach out to Jewish students
at Queen’s University Belfast with the hope that they will use the space for meetings and Shabbat dinners on Fridays.
It’s a tall order for a community that is, by all accounts, a shell of its former self. Belfast was the pulpit of Isaac Herzog, a chief rabbi of Israel and the grandfather of the current Israeli president of the same name, from 1916 to 1919 before he moved to Dublin and became the chief rabbi of Ireland. The community swelled before, during, and immediately after World War II, thanks to the arrival of Jewish refugees from Eastern Europe, reaching a peak in the 1950s of more than 1,500 members.
The local Jewish population was already in decline when the Belfast Hebrew Congregation was built in 1964 as a house of worship with a capacity of 1,500. The exodus accelerated with the onset of the Troubles, the period of violent conflict
Michael Black of Belfast Hebrew Congregation shows off the synagogue's memorial wall in March 2025.
PHOTO | ROSARIO DEL VALLE
Parsha Naso: Working toward a better life balance
In this week’s portion, Naso, which means “count,” God instructs Moses to continue the census of the Israelites in the desert, this time, focusing on the families belonging to the tribe of Levi.
THE LEVIS, as we recall, were chosen to serve as caretakers of the sanctuary. In addition, their duties included carrying and transporting the various pieces of the disassembled sanctuary as the Israelites wandered from place to place in the Sinai Desert.
In this week’s portion, Naso, which means “count,” God instructs Moses to continue the census of the Israelites in the desert, but this time to focus on the families belonging to the tribe of Levi.
special gifts to the sanctuary –wine goblets, silver spoons, sacrificial animals and all sorts of other goodies.
The Levis, as we recall, were chosen to serve as caretakers of the sanctuary. In addition, their duties included carrying and transporting the various pieces of the disassembled sanctuary as the Israelites wandered from place to place in the Sinai Desert.
A LITTLE-KNOWN FACT is that the Levis were also responsible for sewing their own pants – it’s not something they wanted to do, but it was in their genes!
Anyway, as the portion unfolds, it tells us that at the conclusion of building the sanctuary, appointed princes from each tribe brought
Now, what was impressive is that although each tribe had an opportunity to shine by outgiving the other tribes, that did not happen; it seems that all the princes brought gifts of equal value. Thus, the dedication of the ancient sanctuary provided an opportunity for harmony, for balance and for spiritual holiness; by contrast, it could have been transformed into an occasion marred by negative competition, disharmony and unethical behavior. It was almost as if they all realized that as a people, as a new nation created from a group of used-to-be-slaves, the whole of the peoplehood could be much stronger than the strength found in each individual tribe.
For us, some 3,500 years later, the message is all too clear: Whether at work or play, and anywhere in between, we need to appreciate the wonderful power of balance, and the incredible beauty of harmony.
The statistics are deafening: divorce rates, family violence, gang wars, honest politicians who are not so much, wars that are won but are they really, social media, drug misuse, religious leaders who are not, hatred, too many anti-xxx-isms – the list is endless and seems to be growing.
The thread that may bind these and other issues is the notion that somehow our society missed the boat, if not the ship. And, worse, our children may be learning lessons we do not intend to teach them.
So, every once in a while, we need to stand back, observe, analyze and make decisions. The portion Naso can inspire all of us to strive for a better balance in our lives, and for more intentional control over the forces that may affect our lives. We can be inspired to work harder to create harmony by lessening our “push” to be “number one” and emphasizing the “pull” to be “at one” with our families, our friends and the world.
The lesson for us is to continue to appreciate the value of balance – a balance between what we want to do and what we should do, between doing for others and doing for ourselves, between what is truly important and what is not, and a balance between all our priorities that scream to take priority.
Our lives, our personal sanctuaries, are still under construction. Let us make sure we don’t wander too far from the blueprint that has helped us survive for 5,785 years.
ETHAN ADLER is the rabbi at Congregation Beth David, in Narragansett.
June 6 7:58pm
June 13 8:01pm
June 20 8:04pm
June 27 8:04pm
“Received warning message–drivetrain malfunction–on Saturday for my 430i; called Tracy first thing Monday, she and Gerry had me come right in, performed diagnostics, and Gerry and I discussed results and made a
IF YOU’VE SPENT ANY TIME on Wickenden Street in Providence, you may assume that this ad from June 1960 is for the famous Adler’s Design Center & Hardware, which recently celebrated its 106th birthday. Incredibly, though Adler’s once had a second location, on Westminster Street, this ad in the Jewish Herald was for a completely
different Adler’s Hardware, operated by one Irving Adler (no relation).
That other store eventually moved, recalls Harry Adler, co-owner of Adler’s Design Center, and finally closed, probably in the late 1970s.
So, what happened to Irving Adler when he was forced to shutter his business? He got a job at the first
Adler’s Hardware, where he became the second Irving Adler on the payroll. (Confused yet?) Harry adds that, until recently, his family would never have taken out an advertisement in any publication, describing the practice as “a waste of money.”
RABBI
CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS
FOR COMPLETE MONTHLY LISTINGS, VISIT JEWISHRHODY.ORG
Ongoing
Kosher Senior Café and Programming. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Monday – Thursday at the Bonnie & Donald Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence; Fridays at Temple Sinai, 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. In-person (and on Zoom most Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays) programming from 11 a.m.-noon followed by lunch and discussion noon-1 p.m. On Wednesdays, programming is chair yoga. 6/10: field trip to Wilcox Park (RSVP required); bus leaves Dwares JCC at 10 a.m. 7/4: No café. For seniors aged 60 and older as well as younger adults with a disability; all faiths and backgrounds are welcome. Suggested donation: $3 per lunch. The Kosher Senior Café is a program of Jewish Collaborative Services and is supported by the Jewish Alliance of Greater RI and Blackstone Health. Information and RSVP, Neal at neal@jfsri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 114.
Summer Hebrew Conversation Classes. 6-7 p.m. Tuesdays thru 7/29. Temple Emanu-El. 99 Taft Ave., Providence, RI. Three levels of in-person Hebrew conversation classes: Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced Hebrew. Cost: $100 per person plus cost of book. Scholarships available. Information, Toby Liebowitz at tobyaane@gmail.com.
Cape Cod Synagogue Family Shabbat Services and Dinner. Second Friday of the month 5:30 p.m. 145 Winter St., Hyannis, Mass. In-person and livestreamed services on website, Facebook, Cape Media, YouTube and Community Television Comcast channel 99. Followed by Community Shabbat dinner. Information, 508-775-2988 or capecodsynagogue.org.
Cape Cod Synagogue Shabbat Services. Fridays 7 p.m. 145 Winter St., Hyannis, Mass. With Rabbi David Freelund. In-person and livestreamed on website, Facebook, Cape Media, YouTube and Community Television Comcast channel 99. Information, 508-775-2988 or capecodsynagogue.org.
Temple Beth-El Torah Study. Most Saturdays 9 a.m. 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Delve into the weekly portion with Temple Beth-El clergy. Torah Study is in person only. Information, Jude Weinstein at jweinstein@temple-beth-el.org or 401-331-6070.
Temple Sinai Breakfast and Torah Study. Saturdays 9:30-11 a.m. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Breakfast followed by Torah study at 10 a.m. Information, Templesinairi.org, dottie@templesinairi.org or 401942-8350.
Temple Habonim Torah Study. Most Saturdays 10-11 a.m. 165 New
Meadow Road, Barrington. Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman leads Torah study on current portion. Via Zoom. Information, Adina Davies at office@ templehabonim.org or 401-2456536.
Cape Cod Synagogue Shabbat Services. Saturdays 10:30 a.m. 145 Winter St., Hyannis, Mass. With Rabbi David Freelund. In-person and livestreamed on website, Facebook and YouTube. Information, Cape Cod Synagogue at 508-7752988 or capecodsynagogue.org.
Friday | June 6
Jewish Alliance Hosts Blood Drive. 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Bonnie & Donald Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Donations by appointment. (Use sponsor code 1528.) Walk-ins welcome if availability permits at time of arrival. Eat, drink and bring photo ID. All donors will be entered to win one of two $200 gift cards to the RI Red Food Tours. Information, ribc. org or 401-453-8383.
Temple Torat Yisrael Youth Shabbat Service and Dairy Potluck Dinner. 5:30-7:30 p.m. 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Innovative, creative in-person service led by Rabbi Saks followed by a dairy potluck dinner. Intended for families with children of Hebrew School age. Information, Temple@toratyisrael.org.
Pride Shabbat with Julie Silver. 5:45-7:30 p.m. 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Join the Jewish Alliance, Temple Beth-El, Youth Pride Inc. and Keshet for this special gathering of inclusion, celebration and storytelling honoring LGBTQ+ Jews in our community. Julie Silver will lead us in song and share insights on fostering a true community of belonging for all. Information, Jude Weinstein at jweinstein@temple-beth-el.org or 401-331-6070.
Temple Torat Yisrael Virtual Kabbalat Shabbat and Torah Services. 5:45-6:15 p.m. Via Zoom only. Information, temple@toratyisrael.org.
Temple Sinai Evening Service. 6-7 p.m. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Service will be held in the Chapel. Information, Templesinairi.org, dottie@templesinairi.org or 401942-8350.
Saturday | June 7
Temple Torat Yisrael Saturday Morning Shabbat Services and Bat Mitzvah with Yizkor for Shavuot. 9:30 a.m.-noon. 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Led by Rabbi Saks. In person with streaming. Information, temple@ toratyisrael.org.
Temple Sinai Morning Service. 11 a.m.-noon. 30 Hagen Ave.,
Cranston. Shabbat service in the Chapel. Information, Templesinairi. org, dottie@templesinairi.org or 401-942-8350.
Temple Beth-El 7th-12th Grade Sky Zone Trip. 1:45-3:45 p.m. Sky Zone Providence, 70 Pawtucket Ave., East Providence. Pizza, drinks and jumping. Information, Carl at cshulman@temple-beth-el.org.
Kids’ Night Out: Pirates and Mermaids. 5-9 p.m. Bonnie & Donald Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Kids have fun while parents have the night off. Activities include gym games/ sports, art, board games, free play and a movie. Dinner and popcorn included. Cost: JCC member $40 | non-member $55 | additional siblings $25. Information, Rachel Accetturo at raccetturo@jewishallianceri.org or 401-4111, ext. 140.
Temple Beth-El Brotherhood Lindenbaum Dinner. 7-9 p.m. 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Choice of chicken, fish or vegetarian. Cost: Brotherhood Member/Guest $55; Non-Brotherhood Member $65. Information and RSVP (required), Jude Weinstein at jweinstein@temple-beth-el.org or 401-331-6070.
Sunday | June 8
Israeli Culture Series and Congregation Beth David present: Israeli Cafe. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Narragansett Community Center, 53 Mumford Road, Narragansett. Prepare a traditional Israeli meal, including shakshuka, while enjoying Israeli music. Then enjoy the meal and an Israeli trivia quiz. Free. Limited spots. RSVP and information, Gaya Dahan at gdahan@jewishallianceri.org.
Hadassah RI Chapter Membership Potluck Dairy Brunch and Board Installation. 11 a.m. Private Home, North Kingstown. Event honors Immediate Past President Yardena Winkler. Open to all members and prospective members. Information and RSVP, chapri@ hadassah.org.
Rhode Island Coalition for Israel and Temple Torat Yisrael: “October 8.” 6:30-9 p.m. 1251 Middle Rd, East Greenwich. Screening and discussion of film, produced by Debra Messing, exploring the rise of campus antisemitism and Jew-hatred on the streets since the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas. Free; donations to RICI encouraged. Light refreshments. Information, maria@ricoalitionforisrael.org.
Monday | June 9
Richard Bornstein Memorial Dwares JCC Golf Classic. 8:30 a.m. Registration. Warwick Country Club, 394 Narragansett Bay Ave., Warwick. 9 a.m. Breakfast. 10
a.m. Shotgun start. 3 p.m. Posttee Luncheon. New this year: Pickleball Round Robin and Tennis Clinic. Information, Brigitte Baum at bbaum@jewishallianceri.org.
Thursday | June 12
Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center presents “Holocaust in the Soviet Union.” 6 p.m. Bonnie & Donald Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Learn about the Holocaust in the Soviet Union. Refreshments, including alcohol, will be served. Free. RSVP (requested) and information, info@ hercri.org or 401-453-7860.
Friday | June 13
Temple Beth-El Tot Shabbat in the Park. 4-5:30 p.m. Paterson Park, 69 Paterson St., Providence. Rain location: Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Information, Jude Weinstein at jweinstein@ temple-beth-el.org or 401-3316070.
Temple Emanu-El Annual Meeting and Shabbat B’Ma’agal. 4:45-8:30 p.m. 99 Taft Ave., Providence. 101st Annual Meeting followed by Shabbat B’Ma’agal and dinner. Honor devoted volunteers, youth leaders and outgoing board members; install new board; and welcome Jeff Levy as incoming president. Information and registration, teprov. org/event/2025/annual meeting or 401-331-1616.
Temple Torat Yisrael Virtual Kabbalat Shabbat and Torah Services. 5:45-6:15 p.m. Via Zoom only. Information, temple@toratyisrael.org.
Temple Beth-El Shabbat Service. 5:45-7 p.m. 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Service outside in the Julie Claire Gutterman Biblical Garden. Information, Jude Weinstein at jweinstein@temple-beth-el.org or 401-331-6070.
Temple Sinai Evening Service. 6-7 p.m. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Service in the Chapel. Information, Templesinairi.org, dottie@templesinairi.org or 401-942-8350.
Saturday | June 14
RI Genealogical Society 50th Anniversary Conference. 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Crowne Plaza, 801 Greenwich Ave., Warwick. Presenters: Karin Wulf, professor of history at Brown University and librarian at John Carter Brown Library; Keith Stokes, 1696 Heritage Group; Traci Picard, public historian and researcher; Bonnie Wade Mucia, Mayflower Families Silver Books Project. Members $110; Non-Members $150; Livestream (Members Only) $75. Information, Maureen Taylor at photodetective@maureentaylor.com or 781-492-4354.
Temple Torat Yisrael Saturday Morning Shabbat Services. 9:3010:30 a.m. 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. In person or via Zoom. Information, Temple@toratyisrael. org.
Temple Sinai Morning Service. 11 a.m.-noon. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Shabbat service meets in the Chapel. Information, Templesinairi. org, dottie@templesinairi.org or 401-942-8350.
Sunday
| June 15
Temple Sinai presents the Rhode Island Gay Men’s Chorus. 7-8:30 p.m. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Formed in 1995, the volunteer group, led by artistic director Kim Kuda, is 61 members strong and ranges in age from 20 to 90. Refreshments will follow the performance. Cost: $30. Information, Templesinairi.org, dottie@templesinairi.org or 401-942-8350.
Monday | June 16
RIIC First Israel and Rhode Island Online Conference on AI and the Law: Navigating Legal Implications in Litigation, Contractual Agreements and Human Resources. Noon-1 p.m. With Israeli and Rhode Island legal experts, explore the impact of AI including its effects on litigation, contractual agreements and human resources. Free. Information and RSVP (required for Zoom link), info@theriic.org.
Wednesday | June 18
Jewish Alliance Fourteenth Annual Meeting. 7 p.m. Bonnie & Donald Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Featuring Michael Masters, national director & CEO of the Secure Community Network. Installation of Marisa Garber, incoming chair of the board; tribute to Harris Chorney, outgoing chair of the board. Presentation of Leadership Awards. Board Installations: Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, Jewish Federation Foundation, Alliance Realty, Inc. Reception to follow. Information, Gail Putnam at gputnam@jewishallianceri.org.
Thursday | June 19
Temple Sinai presents “Tal Shalev: Israel Policy and Politics.” 7-8:30 p.m. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Correspondent and activist Tal Shalev will share her perspective on what’s happening inside Israel’s political system today and the impact on Israeli society. Reception follows. Information and RSVP, Templesinairi.org, dottie@ templesinairi.org or 401-942-8350.
Friday | June 20
Temple Torat Yisrael Beach Shabbat. 5:30-7:30 p.m. Pavilion Porch at Goddard Park, 1095 Ives
CALENDAR
Road, East Greenwich. Join us as Rabbi Saks leads this in-person, informal, interactive family Kabbalat Shabbat Service followed by a potluck dairy dinner. Bring a dish to share. Dessert provided. Bring beach chairs, blankets, sunhats and flip flops. Information, Temple@ toratyisrael.org.
Temple Beth-El Shabbat Service. 5:45-7 p.m. 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Service outside in the Julie Claire Gutterman Biblical Garden. Information, Jude Weinstein at jweinstein@temple-beth-el.org or 401-331-6070.
Temple Sinai Evening Service. 7:30-9 p.m. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. During this service in the Sanctuary, Cantor Gelber will have her Installation Ceremony. Please note the later time. Service followed by an Oneg at 8:30 p.m. in the Social Hall. Information, Templesinairi.org, dottie@templesinairi.org or 401942-8350.
Saturday | June 21
Temple Torat Yisrael Saturday Morning Shabbat Services and Bat Mitzvah. 9:30 a.m.-noon. 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Led by Rabbi Saks. In person with streaming. Information, Temple@ toratyisrael.org.
Temple Sinai Morning Service. 11 a.m.-noon. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Meeting in the Chapel, this service will be using meditation. Information, Templesinairi.org, dottie@templesinairi.org or 401-942-8350.
Sunday | June 22
Temple Beth-El Virtual SJI Committee Meeting. 8:30-9:30 a.m. Via Zoom. Information, Jude Weinstein at jweinstein@temple-beth-el.org or 401-331-6070.
Rhode Island Coalition for Israel, CAMERA on Campus and Chabad of Providence: “October 8.” 11 a.m. 360 Hope St., Providence. Screening and discussion of film, produced by Debra Messing, exploring the rise of campus antisemitism and Jew-hatred on the streets since the Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas. Free; donations to RICI encouraged. Light refreshments. Information, maria@ricoalitionforisrael.org.
PHDS Amudim Dinner. 4:309:30 p.m. Providence Hebrew Day School, 450 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Celebrate the accomplishments of honorees who have positively impacted the school and community. Cost: $75 per person. Information, Rabbi Scheinerman at pscheinerman@phdschool.org or 401-331-5327.
Tuesday | June 24
Temple Beth-El In-person SJI
Committee Meeting. 8:30-9:30 a.m. 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Will meet in the library. Information, Jude Weinstein at jweinstein@temple-beth-el.org or 401-331-6070.
Screening of Movie “Torn” and Discussion with Director. 6:308:30 p.m. Bonnie & Donald Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence. Watch “Torn” followed by a discussion with the film’s creator Nim Shapira. Cost: $5. Information, Stephanie Hague at shague@ jewishallianceri.org.
Friday | June 27
Temple Torat Yisrael Virtual Kabbalat Shabbat and Torah Services. 5:45-6:15 p.m. Via Zoom only. Information, temple@toratyisrael.org.
Temple Beth-El Shabbat Service. 5:45-6:45 p.m. 70 Orchard Ave., Providence. Shabbat service outside in the Julie Claire Gutterman Biblical Garden. Information, Jude Weinstein at jweinstein@temple-beth-el.org or 401-331-6070.
Temple Sinai Evening Service. 6-7 p.m. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Service will be held in the Sanctuary. Information, Templesinairi. org, dottie@templesinairi.org or 401-942-8350.
Saturday | June 28
Temple Torat Yisrael Saturday Morning Shabbat Services. 9:30-10:30 a.m. 1251 Middle Road, East Greenwich. Join in person or via Zoom. Information, Temple@ toratyisrael.org.
Temple Sinai Morning Service. 11 a.m.-noon. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Information, Templesinairi. org, dottie@templesinairi.org or 401-942-8350.
Sunday | June 29
Temple Sinai People of the Book. 2-3:30 p.m. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Join us downstairs to discuss “The Book of Separation: A Memoir” by Tova Mirvis. Raised in an Orthodox household, she always questioned the subservient role of women. Information, Templesinairi. org, dottie@templesinairi.org or 401-942-8350.
Friday | July 4
Temple Beth-El Virtual Shabbat Service. 5:45-7 p.m. The Zoom link will be posted on the website as well as in the weekly Shabbat email. Information, Jude Weinstein at jweinstein@temple-beth-el.org or 401-331-6070.
Temple Sinai Biblical Garden Shabbat. 6-7 p.m. 30 Hagen Ave., Cranston. Join us for our yearly Garden Shabbat. Should it rain, we’ll move indoors. Information, Templesinairi.org, dottie@templesinairi. org or 401-942-8350.
INDULGE in Delicious Latkes work out.
Also serving Jewish Penic il lin a Matzo Ball Soup tradition!
Memories of my father
London, 1905: my father had his portrait made. That wee oval frame crossed the ocean with him to Harlem, New York, where his aunt Leah raised him after his mother died. It found a safe harbor here in Rhode Island among the Harvard Classics crammed together on the bookcase in my childhood parlor.
FOR THIS MONTH’S Father’s Day
I have an impulse to sum up his life: His own dad re-married, and he fell under the spell of his cousin, the child of that second marriage. So, my mother and father were thus a mix of cousins, aunts and uncles. Go figure. This snapshot tells its tale but also keeps its secrets. In time Moe needed to apply for a passport, to visit his actual birthplace, London. Among my travels I have contemplated this little antique image, but for this Father’s Day I seek to define his larger personality. Yes, he was indeed
KETCHB OOK
a Brit but also a Yank, and his respect for language, for tales and for poetry, came sometimes as a surprise but also a reassurance. A brief spell in Canada played a part in his life, too. This one single image will have to evoke his memory.
Once upon a time I spent a summer thumbing a journey across America and my father Moe handed me a camera hoping I could make creative use of the diverse images I would encounter. I recall one particular moment when I pitched my pup tent on a mountain-top.
After I built a small fireplace a wide range of wild companions, of various species arrived from chipmunk to toads, forming a magic circle! Alas the snapshot has long since vanished into the void.
My father might show up in an auditorium, alone in the back row, to listen to my speech, but our relationship was marked by many surprises and moods. When we discovered that my mother was mortally ill, she instructed me how to take care of my dad, from whom I had often been estranged. For almost a full decade we were housemates (one of my colleagues thought my dad worked for me as a house valet!). When I married, the ceremony took place at the fireplace in my/our home. Memories of my father travel backwards now to that little oval image of a motherless child.
MIKE FINK (mfink33@aol.com) is a professor emeritus at the Rhode Island School of Design.
The photo of Mike Fink’s father “Moe.”
MIKE FINK
COMMUNITY VOICES
My friend, Norman
BY TARZAN
NORMAN BOLOTOW and I were close to each other for more than a dozen years, but our friendship got off to a lame start when he named me “Tarzan.” Wouldn’t “Spot” or “Scout” have worked just fine? Instead, he had to continually remind me of one of his favorite movies, starring Johnny Weissmuller. In fact, I would have preferred “Johnny.” But Norman thought that “Tarzan” was cute. Perhaps it amused his numerous girlfriends.
I was in fact part Chihuahua, so Norman could have gone with José or Luis. But perhaps I should have been grateful, for I had friends in our Cole Avenue neighborhood with even worse names. You probably heard about “Brownie” and “Fido.” It seemed like such a cliché,
but there was a guy named “Cole.” Fortunately, I never met a “Blackstone,” a “Wayland” or a “Wickenden.”
Norman’s parents, Charles and Betty, were good to me, and so was his older sister, Barbara, but Norman and I became chums. Nevertheless, he and I seldom walked around our neighborhood together because, during the 1950s, there were few rules, so many of my four-legged buddies and I often roamed around by ourselves.
Most people were nice to us. Some even fed us snacks. Quite seldom did anybody make a fuss about our cleaning up after ourselves. Norman did have some mishegoss about teaching me tricks, however. You know- roll over or fetch the newspaper- that kind of stuff. He was particularly
proud of my standing at the top of the front stairs when the doorbell rang and then a visitor opened the front door. I was supposed to behave as if Norman were in charge. He would signal me to descend the stairs and smile and do something else stupid like pretend to beg. Norman didn’t like me to wander into the living room or dining room unaccompanied, but when he went out, I did whatever I darn pleased. This wasn’t rocket science!
During our years together, Norman spent most of his days in school. He went to Hope High School and then Brown University. Big deal! Didn’t he know about that place in Cambridge with a big yard?
As a matter of fact, I had a friend in our neighborhood named “Brunonia,” but I guess that his owners didn’t know that this mascot was a bear. By the way, every fall I could hear all the noise at Brown Stadium. There should have been some rules
about disturbing us neighbors.
I wish that Norman had more time for me because after school he spent many hours studying. His parents were determined that he become a success. Why couldn’t they have been happy if he went into their restaurant supply business? I thought that Charles and Betty did just fine. They so loved vacationing in Florida, for instance.
Norman and I liked cool music, so he tried a few times to take me to the Celebrity Club on Randolph Square. I think that Count Basie was performing. Unfortunately, I had to wait outside.
Only once in a while, but particularly during warm weather, did Norman and I go for a walk at the beach. He talked almost nonstop about wanting to buy a boat one day. I guess that he didn’t know that this would carry loads of responsibilities. And what would I do? Boat-owning wasn’t nearly as fun as it
looked. You probably know that stupid joke about a boat owner’s favorite two days. Yeah, the first is when he buys the boat.
I easily remember when Norman and I had the most fun. It was when we fooled around with his uncle, Harold Winstead. Now that guy knew how to have a good time! He had loads of friends, including many young ladies, who also knew how to forget about their routine responsibilities and live a little. Yes, on some of our beach trips with Uncle Harold, I was forced to do some foolish tricks about “fetching” this or that. What was the point? Like most humans, I just wanted to relax and do my own thing. And I too had new friends to meet!
I do think that Uncle Harold liked me. Often after a barbecue, he brought me some bones or other treats. That guy was so photogenic. He should have been named “Tarzan”!
At Wingate Residences on the East Side, experience Providence’s scenic Seekonk River and the renowned East Bay bike path right from your patio. Our curated selection of monthly programs and events cater to those with elevated taste, while our heated pool and fitness center keep you lively for years to come. Providing Independent Living, Assisted Living, and an innovative Memory Care program, The Neighborhood, we make it easy for our residents to access all the East Side has to offer.
a visit today and discover the good life.
June 23 – August 22
We’ve created the best Summer J-Camp experience at the Bonnie & Donald Dwares JCC!
Campers enjoy a diverse and welcoming environment with a theme and corresponding activities every week. J-Camp is built on four pillars of JAMS: Judaism, Arts, Movement (athletics), and STEM
In addition to our on-site programs, we have weekly field trips and specials guests! In the past, field trips included the zoo, local parks, museums and more.
FOOD For the love of Temple and Jewish cooking
Sandy Ross is a member of Temple Emanu-El and a Jewish cooking aficionado. She agreed to tell Jewish Rhode Island readers what brought her to Jewish catering and cooking.
SHE SAID, “It was never anything within my realm to be a Jewish caterer.” It happened by chance when in 2001 after she had retired, she became an event manager at Smithfield Elks Lodge. It was during that time that she met Andrew who was one of the caterers she worked with. He asked if they could work together in his catering business. He was not Jewish, but his dream was to become a kosher caterer.
Sandy agreed and they worked together several years. Her role was to plan the menu and provide the recipes, some of which were her grandmother’s. Andrew’s role was to do all the cooking. She said, “I did everything but cook.”
after that she approached the rabbi about doing something to enhance the kiddush lunches.
EALTHY LIVING
She left when the business was very successful because both she and her husband wanted more time together. She was already retired. For the next five years she was at home immersed in her husband and family and engaged in volunteer activities.
Sandy’s husband passed three-and-a-half years ago after a 56-and-a-half-year marriage. They met when she was 17. That was a turning point in her life. Sandy says, “For the first year and a half I was a mess. My husband just dropped dead one day.” Sandy joined a grief support group at the temple. After about a year and a half, Rabbi Fel asked Sandy if she would like to be in charge of a dinner at the temple. Following that, Sandy planned and catered the kiddush lunch after her grandson’s bar mitzvah. It was soon
The rabbi said to her, “Would you volunteer to be on the committee?
She said, “No, I want to run all of it!” Since that time Sandy now works with volunteers, at least 14, who are delighted to help, and they all cook in the Temple Emanu-El kitchen once a month for the enhanced kiddush lunches. She puts the ingredients for each recipe on the buffet table. Sandy never repeats a recipe. She said,” I find new recipes. That’s what is the most fun for me. Then I test them with my mahjong group, and they all share what they think.”
About next steps, Sandy said, “We’d like to put the recipes into a cookbook.” I asked Sandy, “Why do you do this? What does it bring to you? Her answer very poignant and meaningful. “When my husband was
PATRICIA RASKIN
Sandy Ross in the kitchen.
Balanced eating made simple
BY LEAH HALUNEN
Between busy work schedules, family responsibilities and the endless parade of food advice in our faces online and on television, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the idea of healthy eating. Should you cut out carbs? Cut out sugar? Go gluten free? Intermittent fast? The truth is, most of us don’t need a complicated diet plan, just a simple and balanced approach that feels doable and sustainable.
BALANCED EATING isn’t about dieting or depriving yourself. It’s about giving your body and your mind what they need to thrive in a consistent and kind way. Whether you’re cooking for one, feeding your family or grabbing a quick meal between work meetings, balanced eating can improve energy, mood, digestion and overall wellness. And guess what?! There’s no need to overthink it.
So, what is balanced eating really? Basically, it means including a variety of nutrient-rich foods from all the major food groups in your diet in reasonable proportions that support your health. No single meal must be “perfect”, and you don’t need to eat a salad at every sitting to be healthy and feel good about your food choices.
A helpful visual of a balanced plate looks like this:
• ½ vegetables and/or fruits
• ¼ lean protein like fish, chicken, tofu, eggs, beans
• ¼ whole grains or complex carbs like brown rice, quinoa, sweet potato
Healthy fats like olive oil, nuts, seeds and avocado and fermented foods like yogurt or sauerkraut also support balance especially for heart and gut health.
To have a balanced diet, you don’t need to overhaul your kitchen overnight. There are simple, realistic strategies you can start today!
1. Eat the rainbow! The more colors on your plate from fruits and vegetables, the more diverse the nutrients.
2. Add, don’t subtract! Instead of focusing on
what to eliminate, ask what you can add. Examples include an extra serving of vegetables, a handful of nuts, a little extra protein with your snack or a piece of fruit for dessert. Taking a positive approach to your eating habits is more motivating and sustainable than creating negative energy by cutting things out.
3. Don’t fear carbs and fats, choose smarter! Healthy carbohydrate foods like oats, brown rice, quinoa, whole wheat bread and certain fruits and vegetables provide the body with fiber and energy. There are healthy fats in nuts, seeds, fish and oils that can help you feel full and support brain health. Less healthy carbohydrates and fats don’t necessarily need to be avoided completely but should be minimized.
4. Plan ahead (just a little)! Even planning your meals loosely can reduce stress and help you make better choices. Keep a few balanced staples on hand like canned beans, frozen veggies, frozen meat or fish so you can throw together quick meals. When you see your favorite healthy staples on sale, buy in bulk so you have them next time you need them. As you run out of something, immediately put it on your grocery list so you don’t forget. Doing these things ahead of time
for yourself will ensure you’re always prepared for your next healthy meal or snack.
5. Hydrate and listen to your body! Sometimes we mistake thirst for hunger. Keep water nearby and sip regularly to prevent overeating. Being mindful of your thirst vs hunger will build healthier habits over time.
One of the biggest obstacles to balanced eating is the idea that we think we must get it exactly right all the time. But life just isn’t like that, and food doesn’t need to be either. Enjoying a slice of birthday cake or a pizza night is part of a healthy relationship with food. The goal isn’t to be perfect and eat “clean” 100% of the time but rather to find a rhythm for yourself that feels good and brings you joy and comfort. Balanced eating also means becoming aware of how your body feels after different meals. Which foods give you lasting energy?
Which ones leave you feeling tired and sluggish or hungry again after only an hour? Your body’s cues are your most reliable source of information about what is best for you, not some fad diet. Be patient with yourself and start with making one small adjustment at a time. Even one balanced meal a day is a significant step in the right direction.
What a wonderful time of year it is to start thinking about adding more healthy foods to your daily eating routine because here in the Providence area, we have several options for Farmers Markets where we can buy beautiful fresh locally grown produce. Some options include:
• Hope Street Farmers Market which is open every Saturday at Lippitt Park and offers a variety of local goods like fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy and seafood.
• Farm Fresh RI Farmers Market is open on
Saturdays also at 10 Sims Ave. Their selection varies depending on the season.
• Goddard State Park Summer Farmers Market in Warwick is open during the summer months and has a wide selection from local vendors.
• The South Kingstown Year-Round Farmers Market gives you options all year!
The bottom line here is that you don’t need to follow a strict diet or obsess over every ingredient or calorie to nourish your body well. Balanced eating is about flexibility, variety and giving yourself grace. It’s not the extremes but the everyday choices that shape your long-term health. Next time you’re wondering what to eat, remember that a little balance goes a long way.
LEAH HALUNEN is a personal trainer at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.
HALUNEN
ELLNES S WAY
COMMUNITY VOICES
Our embodied values are what we pass on
BY SARAH GREENLEAF
WHEN YOU BECOME a parent the number of decisions you must make each day explodes. The more children and people in your household, the more complex the family calculus becomes. I have found, many times, that there simply is no right answer to these choices, that there are many ways to raise a child and to be a family.
This is not what social media, or the media at large will tell you, however. There are countless people (and the algorithm WILL know, it WILL figure out you’ve had a kid) who will tell you what to do. The certainty is alluring, and the certainty is false. None of these people know your values or your kids or your dreams. They only know the prevailing attitudes of the time. They only know what will increase engagement and juice the algorithm.
Shavuot is a time to celebrate the giving of the Torah and, of course, dairy which in my house means ice cream. This year instead of only celebrating the Torah, the commandments on how we live our lives as a community given down from God, what if we took inspiration from it as well? I’ve been thinking about the rules I want my family to live by, spelling them out explicitly for everyone to grapple with, find loopholes in, and derive meaning from. As a
two-mom household we are unable to fall back on many of the “ways things have always been done” and have to decide based on our personalities and preferences, how we are going to run our household.
When I was a teacher, parents would often say that the thing they most wanted their kid to be was kind, but kids are never ever rewarded or celebrated for being kind. They are rewarded for achieving, winning and being top of the class. The way we talk about what matters to us as parents and the way we live out those values in the day-to-day is so at odds that it often makes what we say irrelevant.
So many of the ways we do things are inherited from family or culture, but they don’t work for everyone. Taking the time to get clear on our own values and how to live them is vital. Instead of letting the fear of other parents’ judgment guide us we can turn to the real reckoning, the eventual judgment of our children, the people we love most, and most want to empower.
Ice cream (and sugar in general) is much maligned in modern parenting culture, but I do not consider it to be that bad or care about having a hard stance on it. I give my daughter ice cream and don’t worry about it. I love watching her joy; I love how she says the words in her little voice; I love
how messy she is and how focused she is on eating. I’m not going to worry about being a good parent for my peers when I can just be a good parent for my daughter, which to me means teaching her how to enjoy the world, to experience deep pleasure, to say please when you ask and thank you when you receive, to love things without shame.
We all have the things we truly care about when it comes to raising our children. Much of the parenting advice we are bombarded with has little to do with them. Instead of stressing over my perfectly healthy child’s protein intake, I’m focusing on what I do care about: kindness, how to take turns, being brave and challenging yourself, knowing that just because you can’t do something right now doesn’t mean you’ll never do it.
Some family guidelines I’ve been considering are taking time to celebrate moments of kindness we see in our community and family, noticing the kind deeds of my child and documenting them, serving our community as part of a practice of kindness.
This year, I wanted to do more than celebrate the gift of commandments. I wanted to create the gift of values that shape my family’s life. When my daughter is older, she’ll have a say in what she thinks our values should be because creativity and participation are values of my family, too. This is
not an extensive list, but rather an invitation to think about a way to utilize the holiday of Shavuot in our modern landscape, for people of varying religiosity (or no religious feeling at all) who have their own opinions about the Ten Commandments writ large.
Family life can be so busy (another contemporary value we don’t often dissect) and there is real value in slowing down and taking stock of how you want your family life to feel and what values you want it to reflect. So many American parents are stressed and unhappy, so much so that it is now a public health crisis, but this is not the way things have to be. We can follow the joy in our family lives and create a guide to remind us, during the most stressful times, what we truly care about and what we believe most fervently matters.
SARAH GREENLEAF (sgreenleaf@ jewishallianceri.org) is the digital marketing specialist for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island and writes for Jewish Rhode Island.
Braiding Time is a new essay series exploring the nuances and beauty of Jewish family life from the practical to the profound.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
alive, every night at 5 we had cocktail hour, and we talked. And one night we talked about what we would do when one of us passed first. My husband said, “You’re going to get very involved in temple because temple is what you love.” She said, “I’m not super religious but the temple gives me this amazing, wonderful, warm feeling when I’m there. It also makes me happy when people tell me they love the food we cook at the temple.”
Sandy’s advice to someone who has lost a loved one after many years is: “You’ve got to find something that gives you purpose. Something that makes you want to get up in the morning, something that makes you smile.”
PATRICIA RASKIN , owner of Raskin Resources Productions, is an award-winning radio producer, business owner and leader. She has served on the board of directors of Temple Emanu-El, in Providence. Her “Positive Living with Patricia Raskin” podcast can be heard on voiceamerica.com
Broccoli Salad
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Serves 4 to 6
Sandy Ross: I took this recipe directly from recipeslady. com. Normally I keep nuts separately, but with this particular recipe, it needs to be mixed together.
INGREDIENTS
1 pound broccoli crowns
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
1½ tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon sea salt, more to taste
1/3 cup diced red onions
1/3 cup dried cranberries
Smoky tamari almonds
1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup pepitas
1 tablespoon tamari
1/2 teaspoon maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika, more to taste
DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Chop the broccoli florets into 1/2-inch pieces and any remaining stems into 1/4inch dice. Peel any woody or course parts from the stem first.
Whisk together the olive oil, mayo, apple cider vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, garlic and salt. You need to really mix these together. Add the broccoli, onions and cranberries and toss to coat. Place the almonds and pepitas on the baking sheet, toss with the tamari, maple syrup and smoked paprika and spread into a thin layer. Bake 10 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Watch carefully so they don’t burn. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. If serving immediately, toss the almonds and pepitas into the salad, reserving a few to sprinkle on top. Season to taste and serve. If not, keep them separate until serving.
Mushroom Quiche
This recipe is completely decadent. It received rave reviews.
Sandy Ross: I would guess this recipe is for a typical 9- x 13-inch baking pan. I figured out the quantities for Temple. Don’t be afraid to use more mushrooms and/or onions. They cook way down.
INGREDIENTS
Puff pastry
1-2 red onions
Butter and a little olive oil to sauté vegetables
1 1/2 pounds baby
Bella mushrooms
5/8 teaspoon salt
1/3 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
10 extra large eggs
2 1/2 cups heavy cream
2 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 1/4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
DIRECTIONS
Roll out dough. If necessary, sprinkle flour under and or over
crust for easier rolling. Can roll into circle and put in pie pan for traditional quiche or for large amounts use a rectangular pan. Make sure to put crust up the sides. If using a large pan, you can fit together 2 pieces of the puff pastry. Clean and slice mushrooms. Dice onions. Sauté onions and mushrooms in butter mixed with some olive oil.
Whisk together eggs, cream, salt and pepper. Spread mushrooms and onions over crust. Sprinkle cheese evenly over vegetables. Top with egg mixture.
Bake in preheated 375 degree oven for about 25 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
OPINION
Florida board blocks hiring of U of Michigan president
BY PHILISSA CRAMER
(JTA) – Florida officials have rejected the University of Florida board’s choice to helm the university, citing his record at the University of Michigan where his tenure included fierce pro-Palestinian protests.
Santa Ono drew criticism from both pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel camps in Michigan over his handling of the protests. Pro-Palestinian activists accused him of being heavyhanded when he ordered their encampment cleared and students arrested in the spring of 2024. Pro-Israel voices, meanwhile, said he had been too lenient in allowing the encampment to last as long as it did.
“This is the right decision for UF,” Florida Sen. Rick Scott said on X after the 10-6 vote Tuesday by the Board of Governors, which oversees the state’s public university system, to reject Ono’s candidacy. “UF’s students, faculty and staff deserve a president who will stand for Florida values and against antisemitism.”
Ono also faced scrutiny over his approach to campus diversity. Under his leadership, Michigan had a robust Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program – a bugbear for Republicans – until announcing in March that it would be dismantled.
In recent months, Ono sought to distance himself from the controversies of his tenure. He spoke at the Anti-Defamation League’s Never is Now summit in New York City in March, where the pro-Israel podcaster Dan Senor said his administration “seems to have gotten things under control.” But the Florida officials were not convinced.
“The public record completely contradicted what the nominee was telling us,” Paul Renner, a former speaker of the Florida House and vociferous DEI critic who voted against Ono on the Board of Governors, told The New York Times.
Don’t forget us!
Lenny and Jared (in the background) and Abbey and Tevya (in the foreground) live with Fred Felder of Providence. We didn’t want them to feel left out of our May Pets issue!
“The Road Not Taken”
“Two roads diverged in a yellow wood...”
SO BEGINS ROBERT FROST’S “The Road Not Taken,” written in 1915, one of America’s most familiar and most misunderstood poems. In his 2016 book, “The Road Not Taken: Finding America in the Poem Everyone Loves and Almost Everyone Gets Wrong,” David Orr, long-time poetry critic for “The New York Times Book Review,” develops the two themes suggested by his subtitle: what makes Frost’s poem so quintessentially American and what makes it so easy to misunderstand.
as for that the passing there / Had worn them really about the same.”
What seems to stick in the minds of most readers (or listeners) are the last three lines of the 20-line poem: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I / I took the one less traveled by / And that has made all the difference.”
These final lines make such a lasting impression that many devotees of Robert Frost misremember the title of “The Road Not Taken as “The Road Less Traveled.” Indeed, according to Orr, more than 200,000 Google searches have been for Frost’s non-existent “The Road Less Traveled”! Readers make this error so often because they see the poem as a celebration of American rugged individualism, an affirmation of that independent man whom we Rhode Islanders have proudly placed atop our State House. Many of us hear the narrator saying: “Early on I was courageous enough and wise enough to make the tough choice, to choose the road less traveled; now I have reaped the benefit of my choice, a choice that has made all the difference.” It is no accident that back in 1978 M. Scott Peck elected to title his bestselling self-help book, “The Road Less Traveled.”
The trouble with this common interpretation of Frost’s wellloved poem is that it is not supported by the text itself. The last two lines of the second stanza directly contradict the notion that one of the two roads diverging at the forested fork showed signs of being less traveled: “But
Moreover, the narrator of the poem, standing at a crossroads in the here and now, is obviously in no position to reflect upon the consequences of a decision he is yet to make; the consequences of his choice can only be known far in the future, “[s]omewhere ages and ages hence.” He wonders if on that distant day he might be tempted to reframe this present moment of choosing between two equally traveled roads by telling others “with a sigh” that he “took the one less traveled by.”
According to Orr, Frost – whom he describes as a “complex, sensitive, vain, depressed, difficult man” – cannot accept the fact that most of his readers fail to see the irony in “The Road Not Taken,” fail to understand that neither road is “less traveled by.” Frost himself suggests on more than one occasion that he has intended the poem to be a kind of parody of “romantic longings for missed opportunities” – whichever road an individual happens to take. This sense of “what might have been,” so palpable in this poem, is an essential element in the personality of the Englishman Edward Thomas (1878-1917), Frost’s close friend and fellow poet. Lawrence Thompson, one of Frost’s biographers, recalls that “Frost had been inspired to write the poem by Thomas’ habit of regretting whatever path the pair took during their long walks in the countryside.”
An exchange of letters between Frost and Thomas during the spring and summer of 1915 reveals that Thomas was the first in a long line of readers who failed to grasp Frost’s irony. On June 26 Frost writes to Thomas that “the sigh [in line 16: “I shall be telling this with a sigh”] is a mock sigh, hypo-critical for the fun of things.”
In his response to Frost on July 11, Thomas confesses that he still doesn’t get the joke and that he suspects that no one else will get it without an explicit explanation: “I doubt if you can
get anybody to see the fun of the thing without showing them & advising them which kind of laugh they are to turn on.”
Perhaps, in his crafting of “The Road Not Taken,” Frost is being, as the British put it, too clever by half. However, I would argue that this difficulty, this complexity, this ambiguity is precisely what defines the poem’s brilliance. I would agree with Orr that it is not helpful to see the poem as either “a hymn to stoic individualism” or as “an ironic comment on romantic self-absorption;” rather, “it is helpful to imagine “The Road Not Taken” as consisting of alternate glimpses of two unwritten poems.”
The great strength of Orr’s book is that he encourages the reader to experience “The Road Not Taken” in all its richness and tension: to read it both as a paean to American individualism and as an ironic portrayal of willful self-deception. David Orr has helped me to discover in the poem treasures I never knew were there. “And that has made all the difference.”
PS: We are living in a time when “Things fall apart; the center cannot hold, / Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,” as the poet William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) puts it in his oft-quoted poem, “The Second Coming” (1920). Chaos here in America, chaos there in the Middle East, and chaos everywhere throughout the world at large.
Why, then, should I devote a column to the seemingly “disengaged” subject of a close-reading form of literary criticism? A writer, David Orr, writing about what another writer, Robert Frost, has written. I answer that in a deep sense, the majority of our poets and other artists of all types are working to bring us together through the unifying force of beauty, to recreate the center which has failed to hold. If only we could, we should go back in time 2500 years and ask our Biblical Psalmists what prompted them to compose 150 Hebrew poems which continue to nourish us to this very day.
JAMES B. ROSENBERG is a rabbi emeritus at Temple Habonim in Barrington. Contact him at rabbiemeritus@templehabonim. org.
RABBI JAMES ROSENBERG
OPINION
A Response to Rabbi Rosenberg: History, Morality, and the Reality of Gaza
BY DAVID HIRSCH
While I share many of Rabbi Rosenberg’s deep concerns (May 2025), they do not fully explain both the existential and moral dilemma we and our Israeli brethren face. But in an extreme existential situation, our tradition demands of us to choose life: "I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live.”
1. The Value of Innocent Life
Even amid War, Jewish ethical tradition prohibits rejoicing in the death of enemies. A striking example occurs in the Talmud, where God rebukes the angels who celebrate the drowning of Pharaoh’s army during the Exodus: “My creatures are drowning in the sea, and you sing praises?”
2. Hamas’ Genocidal Intentions: Not merely antiIsrael, but anti-Jewish
The 1988 Hamas Charter clearly articulates a genocidal objective—not only against Israelis, but against Jews as a people. Article 7 reads: “The Day of Judgment will not come until Muslims fight the Jews and kill them;
until the Jew hides behind rocks and trees, which will cry: O Muslim, there is a Jew hiding behind me, come and kill him.”
3. The State’s Moral Burden in Existential Conflicts Henry Kissinger once observed: “The statesman does not have the moral right to risk [the state’s] survival on ethical restraint.”
In existential situations like the one Israel faces, leaders must prioritize survival, especially when adversaries reject all the laws of war.
4. IDF: A Military Recognized for Its Restraint Military assessments from international observers, including British Col. Rich-
between Protestants and Catholics between the late 1960s and 1998.
“That was our future generation – gone,” said Ivonne Danker, an active member of the Belfast Jewish Community.
Today, the synagogue serves only 54 active members, mostly retired people with no children. Services are held weekly on Saturday and on major holidays. Over the years, the synagogue was renovated so that there is less room for worship and more space for meetings and social activities.
“When everybody left, we condensed it, we built this wall, and we turned this into a functions room,” Danker said, gesturing around the space.
There is little possibility of a rebound. Only 439 people identified as Jewish in the latest Northern Ireland census, taken in 2021, out of a total population of nearly 2 million. The neighboring Republic of Ireland has more than 2,000 Jews among a population of around 5.3 million.
Those small numbers leave neighbors as the best option for keeping
(Deuteronomy 30:19)
ard Kemp, state: “There is no military in the world that does more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than the IDF.”
5. Hamas’ Strategy: Gaza as a Human Shield
According to Maj. Andrew Fox’s report for the Henry Jackson Society, Hamas has built weapons depots under schools, mosques, and hospitals, fired rockets from playgrounds, and used civilians as shields, characterizing their deaths as propaganda victories.
6. Gaza Since 2005: “Freedom” Under Hamas Israel unilaterally withdrew from Gaza in 2005. In 2006, Hamas overwhelmingly
the building in use. While many in Northern Ireland are sympathetic to the Palestinians, the local sectarian history has led others to staunchly support of Israel, as well. The evangelical Christian community and other churches have also expressed solidarity with the members of the Belfast Hebrew Congregation, including after the recent vandalism.
About 30 seniors, in their 70s, 80s and 90s, join the biweekly meetings of what is called “Wednesday Club.”
Common activities include lectures on a wide range of topics such as Irish history, playing trivia games, listening to music and sharing a meal. By talking about topics that are common to adherents of any faith, the community tries to find common ground with its non-Jewish neighbors.
won Palestinian elections and soon seized power from Fatah. Since then, no promised further elections have been held, and Hamas has ruled Gaza with repression and militarization and with barbarism not seen since the ritual sacrifice of children for Moloch or Baal.
7. Gazan Celebrations After 9/11: A Sobering Moment
Images of Gazans celebrating the 9/11 attacks were broadcast globally. While not reflective of every Gazan, it underscored the deep radicalization propagated by Hamas and its Iranian funders.
8. Post-World War II Precedents (and lessons?): Germany and Japan After World War II, the Allies dismantled the regimes of Nazi Germany and imperial Japan, executed war criminals, and rebuilt civil society through occupation and reform. Within 15 years, both nations had become completely peaceful democracies and key allies of Western tolerance. We should learn
feel very welcome, and it’s nice to be with friends.”
The Belfast Jewish Community & Hebrew Congregation started the meetings in 2009 to encourage people to spend more time together and connect with those outside of the Jewish community.
The goal was “to stop just being inward-looking, to be more outward-looking,” said Jane Danker, the organizer (who is not closely related to Ivonne Danker). “And as you can see, we all mix and match.”
‘The synagogue gets visitors from Northern Ireland and abroad who are interested in learning about Judaism.’
“[The meetings] are informative, entertaining, sometimes boring,” said Hilary Shields, who attends an Anglican church. “They make us
In addition to the Wednesday Club program for seniors, the synagogue gets visitors from Northern Ireland and abroad who are interested in learning about Judaism. On a recent spring day, Black gave a tour to a group of 21 American students visiting from Middlebury College
from history, not forget it.
9. Conclusion: Toward a Just Peace, not a False Symmetry Civilian suffering in Gaza is heartrending and tragic, but its origins are fueled primarily from Hamas’ strategy of genocidal ideology and using civilians as human shields. True peace and reconstruction of Gaza will require the complete and utter rejection of Hamas’ genocidal vision and embracing reconstruction through accountability and moral clarity.
And yes, we should be absolutely outraged at what has, and is continuing to be, an unconscionable and tragic situation: but our outrage should not be against its Jewish victims, it should be aimed precisely at the perpetrators: Hamas and its siblings: Iran, Hezbollah, the Houthis and all who supply weapons and funding to them.
DAVID M. HIRSCH lives in Providence.
in Vermont. He showed them the sanctuary, which faces Jerusalem, and the Holy Ark, which contains the Torah scrolls.
The visit of the group, composed of students and professors from the class “Conflict: Transformation in Northern Ireland,” ended at the Yahrzeit Wall, where the names of the deceased are commemorated by the community. There, Black explained that on the anniversary of a loved one’s passing, a memorial light is lit in their memory.
Soon, he understands, the entire congregation could go the way of those it remembers. Black imagines the synagogue could become a cultural center, a museum and an educational center – though because it is deemed a historic site, it requires government permission for alterations.
“I think it’s only a matter of time before we disappear as an Orthodox community,” said Black. “I would like to leave a legacy.”
Stories from the table: A Holocaust cookbook project
BY LAURA AUKETAYEVA
Some of our most powerful family stories don’t begin with words – they begin with smells.
THE STEAM AND WARMTH rising from a pot of soup. The sound of a wooden spoon scraping the bottom of a pot, just like your grandmother used to do. These are the quiet details we pass on— because in families shaped by the Holocaust, it’s not only the food that remains, but also the strength of descendants who continue to cook, remember, and celebrate a life that could not be erased.
At the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center, we’re creating a cookbook made from memory – gathering recipes from families connected to the Holocaust. Some of these recipes were carried across borders and oceans. Some were scribbled on the back of postcards. Some were never written down at all but passed from hand to hand, from heart to heart.
Take kartoffelsuppe or potato soup. Audrey Weinreich recalls how her father, Irving, fled Danzig in 1939 with his parents, arriving in the U.S. on the last ship out. Her grandmother made soup with what little they had – potatoes, broth – and sometimes, on a good week, a single sliced hot dog. It was simple, filling, and deeply comforting. Audrey still makes it today, honoring the resilience that helped her family begin again in a new world.
Or Zwetschgenknoedel –plum dumplings. Jeanne Gottfried remembers watch-
ing her Omi, a Hungarian-born Jewish refugee from Vienna, carefully peel boiled potatoes while they were still hot, then wrap the dough around small Italian plums. The dumplings had pits inside, so you had to eat them slowly and carefully – but the aroma filled their tiny apartment in Washington Heights and left a deep, lasting impression. Her Omi arrived in the U.S. in April 1945 and helped raise Jeanne while her parents worked. She was Jeanne’s confidante, protector and second mom – the kind of person who showed love through food.
Jeanne also shared Vanillekipferl, a delicate vanilla crescent cookies her mother made regularly – the kind of go-to cookie recipe that lived in memory the way chocolate chip cookies do in so many American homes. As her mother grew older, Jeanne asked for the recipe, but by then, Alzheimer’s had already begun affecting her mom’s handwriting. Still, Jeanne put it together, comparing notes and recreating the cookies that once filled their home. In baking them now, she honors not only her mother’s memory but also the creativity and devotion that shaped her childhood.
This cookbook is about
more than food. It’s about connection—to people, places, and Jewish traditions that can’t be forgotten. Through recipes, we remember how our families cooked and how they lived, loved, and endured.
Now, we invite you to add your story. If your family was affected by the Holocaust and you have a recipe with memory, meaning, or love, we would be honored to include it. Whether it’s a holiday dish or a humble weekday meal, if it carries the spirit of someone you loved, it belongs in these pages.
Please send your recipe, along with a short note about the person or story behind it, to cookbook1@hercri.org with “RECIPE” in the subject line. Photos are welcome. Help us preserve these tastes, memories, and lives.
PHOTO | FORWARD ASSOCIATION
A 1948 Forverts ad for coconut pumpkin chiffon pie wasn’t just about dessert—it was a sign that Yiddish, Jewish life and the act of sharing recipes had survived. Even in a new country, families kept cooking, remembering, and speaking the language of those they lost.
Help us tell the stories that must never be forgotten. We also warmly invite you to visit the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center, in Providence, to learn more and connect with our work.
LAURA AUKETAYEVA, PH.D is the Director of Education and Programs at the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center
A page from the handwritten cookbook of Robert Sandy’s mother, preserved by the family. Robert Sandy is a second-generation survivor and a board member of the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center.
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COMMUNITY
BUSINESS 28 | OBITUARIES 29
Uncovering the Wisdom in Others: A Collaboration between American Baptists and Orthodox Jews
BY RUTH MARRIS MACAULAY
PROVIDENCE – An interfaith effort to examine and reflect on shared values is a spark of hope and a respite in these times of political polarization. It is encouraging ongoing listening and productive discourse as well as offering support and solidarity.
WHEN RABBI Emily Goldberg
Winer of Congregation Beth Sholom came to First Baptist Church in America (FBCIA) on Jan. 19, she engaged in a public conversation with Rev. Dr. Jamie Washam during the church’s usual sermon time. She introduced the congregation of American Baptists (who separated from Southern Baptists over the issue of slavery in 1845) to the practice of chavruta (friendship), the traditional Jewish method of text-study in which a pair of students read/translate a classical Jewish text aloud and debate its meaning and merits. The texts they were considering came from the writings of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
After being introduced by Rabbi Barry Dolinger of Congregation Beth Sholom, Pastor Jamie and Rabbi Emily began meeting for coffee and “had a dream” around a program for MLK Day that could be meaningful for both their congregations. Together they studied a packet of readings from MLK and Rabbi Heschel. “They were both swimming in the same water” said Pastor Jamie when I spoke to her about the collaboration, and “they were using the same language of faith and justice.” Unknown to some of the Baptist congregation, MLK and Heschel marched together at Selma [Alabama]
Congregants study together.
on March 7, 1965.
Planning began during the presidential campaign in the fall of 2024 as they sensed people were looking for meaningful ways to connect. They wanted to give their congregations something substantive from both their traditions to form what Pastor Jamie says could be “pathways between and among our communities to prepare them for whatever might be coming, ahead of anything that might be difficult for them.”
They focused on what has served people well during hard times – and hoped to look at the way people organized and showed up for each other in the past.
ology, she told them, comes from Heschel.
She also noted that some tension remains in the Jewish community about visiting Christian churches and about intermarriage but that “we can learn a lot from our friends in the pews.”
This fear, she said, may have made some members of the Jewish community miss the fact that FBCIA was one of
‘There was much to say and a great deal of participation from this intergenerational group.’
Rabbi Emily noted that Jewish teachings are about inclusion and belonging, and that it was important for her to collaborate with Pastor Jamie in drawing attention to both MLK and Rabbi Heschel. At Pastor Jamie’s request, she explained to members of FBCIA that Heschel was known for being unorthodox: when he marched with MLK at Selma, he said his legs were praying even though prayer outside the synagogue was unusual. A lot of Jewish the -
the first to respond after Oct. 7 with “Bring them home” on its wayside pulpit. “This church was an ally” she said, “and this needs to be acknowledged.
“It’s important,” she went on, “to slow down and get to know your neighbors.”
She then introduced the FBCIA congregation to chavruta, adding that this was something Heschel taught – the idea of uncovering the wisdom in others – and which he and MLK practiced together. It doesn’t always come naturally, she said, but we can make it happen. Dialogue with each
other can deepen our understanding of each other.
As a result, FBCIA hosted members of Congregation Beth Sholom on March 9 – close to the 60th anniversary of the Selma march.
A booklet of writings by Heschel and King was circulated to both congregations after Rabbi Emily’s visit to the church. A good crowd attended, and animated conversation soon began. The first things that gained attention were King’s words, “Our priorities are mixed up, our national purposes are confused” and Heschel’s question, “Where does moral religious leadership come from today,” both resonating with the times we currently live in. These important ideas in their work are a call to action and a challenge for us now.
The notion of the “creative extremism” which King and Heschel both promoted was also discussed. “Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue.” – this summary of the words of Cicero used by Sen. Barry Goldwater as well as by Malcolm X – was introduced into the discussion for consideration. Acknowledging that one person’s freedom fighter can be another person’s terrorist, the group also
considered radical love as a creatively extreme position.
Moving on to the polarization of the nation today, the possibility of a third way forward was introduced. “‘I told you so’ is not a good recruitment technique,” Rabbi Emily noted, for “it doesn’t bring people together. We must see where we can find common ground.” Hearing those who may not agree with us is an important first step. This means staying connected and being intentional – freedom for some is not freedom for all.
There was much to say and a great deal of participation from this intergenerational group – the discussion could have gone on for longer. An opportunity to do this is already in the works for members of FBCIA to come and meet with Congregation Beth Sholom later in the spring. Rabbi Emily believes there is an opportunity for more exchanges to keep both communities “alert to the goings-on in the world” through the further study of texts together.
RUTH MARRIS MACAULAY, a retired educator and freelance writer, is copy editor for Jewish Rhode Island.
PHOTO RUTH MACAULAY
Israel trip offered an opportunity to experience a nuanced Israel
BY STEPHANIE HAGUE
EVERY SEVERAL YEARS the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island invites a group of civic leaders from across our state to travel to Israel. The goals of the trip are to provide a deeper understanding of the Israel-Palestinian conflict, a chance to learn about the global Jewish community, an opportunity to engage with Israeli and Palestinian thought and political leaders and a chance to experience Israel’s vibrant culture and history.
The trip was immense and packed full of experiences, both painful and inspiring, thought-provoking and jarring. As someone who has travelled to Israel many times, I had the unique opportunity to experience Israel with many non-Jewish leaders from our state who were first-time visitors to Israel, as well as learn from speakers and scholars who added to the complexity of this moment both in Israel and for global Jewry.
The participants approached each experience with curiosity and empathy, not shying away from difficult conversations or topics. Participants came from across Rhode Island, in various professional and leadership roles, including elected officials from Newport, Narragansett, Pawtucket and Providence; non-profit and corporate leaders from the Non-Violence Institute and Amica Insurance; state employees; and representatives from the Jewish Alliance Board of Directors and Community Relations Council.
There were many highlights of the trip, including a visit to Roots/Shorashim/ Judur in the West Bank, an organization that focuses on solution-oriented approaches to peace and coexistence between Israelis and Palestinians. Our hosts, Shaul and Noor, both had difficult personal stories to tell, however, both were able to make space for other narratives, and build upon a mutual vision of land shared by many. Following this visit, the group also went to Bethlehem with a Palestinian guide, not only
to visit the Church of the Nativity, but also learn about life in the West Bank from a Palestinian resident.
There were sobering moments as well, including a conversation with Rachel Korazaim, a noted Holocaust scholar, who framed our powerful and emotional visit to Israel’s Holocaust Museum, Yad Vashem. Although I’ve traveled to Israel since Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, this was my first visit to communities in the south that were affected. The group dedicated a day to visit Netiv Asara, a moshav infiltrated by terrorists on October 7 that lost 20 members. In addition, the group went to the site of the NOVA music festival and met directly with a survivor of the attack. We experienced a historic opportunity to be in Israel during the release of American-Israeli, Edan Alexander, who was held hostage in Gaza since Oct. 7. For those living in Israel since Oct. 7, 2023, the country’s immense pain began that day and continues as a country and people are forever changed by it. The hostages are a painful and personal reminder for the people of Israel, and every street corner and major building, as well as many homes are adorned in yellow ribbons, images of the hostages and counts of the days they remain in captivity. We were able to join in this movement and speak to families at Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square, at the same time US Envoy to the Middle East Mark Witkoff, had just arrived to meet with families.
Learning deeply about Jewish culture and the global Jewish community was also a priority of this trip, and participants were able to do so firsthand, including attending Kabbalat Shabbat at the Western Wall on Friday night, among the many sects of Judaism. We also dined at Balinjara in Tel Aviv and spoke with Tashager Araro about the history, emigration and culture of Israel’s Ethiopian Jewish community. Our trip concluded with a visit to the ANU Museum of Jewish Peoplehood at Tel Aviv University, which covers the breadth and diversity of
the Jewish people, including an exact replica of Newport’s Touro Synagogue as well as other historic synagogues. Participants also had a chance to learn about Israeli thought through leaders and commentators, including Rhode Island native and Israeli journalist, Allison Kaplan Sommer.
Karen Alzate, who represents Pawtucket and Central Falls, shared, “My trip to Israel was a deeply transformative experience that brought history, faith, and current events vividly to life… At the same time, learning about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from people directly affected on all sides gave me a more nuanced understanding of the region’s complexities and the human cost of division. The journey not only deepened my appreciation for my own beliefs but also challenged me to reflect on the role of empathy, justice, and hope in my spiritual path.”
In this particular moment, rife with division and often lacking human empathy, this trip was a reminder of the importance of personal narratives, nuanced education and individual relationships, and despite how difficult this time may seem, there are many who are open to being partners in this crucial work.
STEPHANIE HAGUE (shague@ jewishallianceri.org) is the chief policy officer at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.
Top: Participants visit Roots/Judur/Shorashim, an organization that builds partnerships between Palestinian and Israeli communities
Bottom: Images of hostages still being held in Gaza as part of a weekly protest in Jerusalem
COMMUNITY
Israel experience impactful for mayor
BY FRAN OSTENDORF
Providence Mayor
Brett Smiley’s recent experience in Israel was quite different from his first trip in 2017.
ISRAEL HAS CHANGED and so has he. Smiley has since converted to Judaism and the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and subsequent Israel-Hamas war has affected daily life in the country.
Smiley and hi s husband Jim DeRentis traveled to Israel this time with the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island’s latest mission for local leaders.
“For me, this felt like a very different trip,” Smiley said in an interview after the trip. “Daily life has changed. During dinner in Tel Aviv, a siren went off. We had to stand up and go to a shelter. When the sirens stopped, people went back to dinner, picked up their forks and took another bite. It was very matter of fact.”
His visit to the Kotel was different this time as well. “My first trip as a Jew to celebrate Kabbalat Shabbat at
the Kotel,” he said. “That was very meaningful.”
The group traveled to Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Bethlehem, the site of the Nova Music Festival and to a farm near the Gaza border. The mayor found conversation with a member of the farming community particularly poignant.
The man was part of the community’s security team on Oct. 7. Twenty members of the community died in the attack, yet he is still an advocate for peace, according to the mayor, who marveled he could still find charity and hope.
“No amount of news stories that you consume can put into perspective the lived experiences of the people,” he said. “We [in the U.S.] take for granted what we experience every day.”
His takeaway from the trip? “I hope it will help me better serve my community. It helped me understand why Jews in the Diaspora have such a relationship with Israel even if they don’t or never will live in Israel. I hope it will help me better explain to the non-Jews in the community this relationship and why it is important to our Jewish neighbors.”
The trip, Smiley said, gave DeRentis a whole new appreciation of how com-
plicated, difficult and challenging the peace situation is.
The mayor hopes to be able to listen better and have the more nuanced conversations necessary to build some bridges in order to be able to protect all Providence’s residents.
“I’m proud to live in a city and country that allows freedom to speak. All our hearts should break for human suffering,” he said.
Smiley returned to Providence’s controversy surrounding the raising of the Palestinian flag at city hall and a Palestinian flag in the City Council Chambers. At the time, he said he was disappointed in the decisions made, given the possibility of exacerbating tensions.
During this interview, he told Jewish Rhode Island “The city has no flag policy and it's never come up. I expect to be issuing one via executive order in the coming days.” A flag policy was issued on May 23 requiring a more stringent approval process, while also aiming to support inclusion and diverse opinions.
Meanwhile, Smiley said that he has been happy to see his fellow travelers embrace a taste of Jewish joy and culture after the trip as they try to recreate some of the food they tried on the
trip. “Sharing with our neighbors…it’s wonderful,” he said.
FRAN OSTENDORF (fostendorf@ jewishallianceri.org) is the editor of Jewish Rhode Island.
Red Sox Jewish Heritage Night 2025
Fenway remains a safe and inclusive venue for Jewish Heritage Night
BY BRAD SWARTZ
On May 19, the Boston Red Sox hosted the annual Jewish Heritage Night at Fenway Park, celebrating May as Jewish American Heritage Month. The Jewish Alliance was proud to sell over 120 tickets to local people for this game, most of whom sat together in section 43.
EACH ATTENDEE received a special commemorative jersey with Red Sox written in Hebrew in the style of the 1975 season jersey; this year celebrates the 50th anniversary of that Red Sox American League Championship victory.
Attendees commended the Red Sox for ensuring Fenway remains a safe and inclusive environment for this evening game. In what is otherwise a very contentious time for Jews worldwide, any large gathering in a public spotlight can be scary. Security and law enforcement were present but were not overwhelming. Fans were kind and respectful
to each another. Fenway Park was, as it always has been, a safe and inclusive venue.
When looking at the crowd, there was a sea of white throughout, as people wore their jerseys with pride. On the field, recognition of Jewish Heritage Night, along with the National Anthem being sung by a Jewish group, started the game on a great note. In what was a tightly contested game, the Red Sox emerged victorious, beating the New York Mets by a score of 3-1. Jewish Heritage Night at Fenway was more than just a baseball game – it was a powerful expression of community, identity and belonging.
Jim DeRentis and Brett Smiley in Israel.
Two fans and their hot dogs!
Two happy fans. PHOTOS | BRAD SWARTZ
COMMUNITY
The Alliance welcomes a new board chair
BY FRAN OSTENDORF
MARISA GARBER , the incoming chair of the board at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island is a familiar face to many in the Jewish community.
She’s been active in organizations throughout the community for years.
“I’ve been here for 28 years. We’ve made this community our home. We have friends here; it is our happy place,” she said in a recent interview.
The New Jersey native moved to Rhode Island with her husband, Dan Gamm, in 1997. They met in graduate school where they both studied physical therapy. Now, Gamm is a financial advisor, and Garber works in his Cranston office.
When they arrived in Providence, they reached out to the Jewish community, joined Temple Emanu-El and settled in. Their three children attended what is now called the David C. Isenberg Family Early Childhood Center [those children – two daughters and a son – are now adults.] and the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island. Garber and Gamm lived first in Providence and have since moved to Newport.
In addition, she was chair of the board of Jewish Family Service and helped guide its successful merger with the Jewish Seniors Agency. She was the second chair of the board of Jewish Collaborative Service as well.
She’s said she is a firm upholder of the idea that “if you want change, you have to be part of the change.”
This belief has led her to agree to chair the Alliance board having previously served as vice chair of Philanthropy.
her a unique perspective into the opportunities and challenges facing our community, and I'm excited to begin our work."
Garber starts a three-year term as board chair after she is sworn in at the Alliance annual meeting on June 18. She says she wants to get the word out about the Alliance and all that it does. She recognizes that Jewish communities are changing as society itself shifts mode. People don’t automatically join organizations these days and young parents are busy. “I still can’t believe that in such a small community, people don’t know about us and what we do,” she said. Clearly, she is going to change that.
Part of this fresh approach will be greater outreach to all of Rhode Island. As a Newport resident, she hears the community there ask for activities on their grounds without having to travel to Providence. “They want partnership and assistance to have events in their area.”
their dollars.” She understands that neither donors nor the Alliance are immune to the uncertainties of today’s economy.
“The best plan of action is to surround yourself with brilliant people,” she said. “Having a well-rounded board that represents as much of your community as you can is key.”
She hopes community members find her approachable and that they will reach out with advice – or criticism. “I’m not bringing ego to the table. I’m doing this because I love the community.”
FRAN OSTENDORF (fostendorf@jewishallianceri. org) is the editor of Jewish Rhode Island.
So, she has experienced and been connected with the broad swath of Jewish Rhode Island.
Garber’s experience with local Jewish organizations is considerable. She has served on a variety of boards including at the Alliance.
Of course, Norman had plenty of his own girlfriends, and they would try to tickle me or teach me new tricks. Enough already! Couldn’t they be happy tickling him?
Fortunately, Norman did have a sense of humor. He often told me silly stories about friends and acquaintances who embarrassed him. The moral was often, “Now don’t try doing any of this.” Yeah, as if I didn’t know. I too liked Groucho, Uncle Miltie, and Jerry Lewis, but I didn’t exactly waste my time by watching too much TV. I had plenty of my own thoughts. More often than not, I was merely pretending to nap.
Adam Greenman, president and CEO of the Alliance said he is looking forward to working with her as the new board chair. Greenman has now interacted with three board chairs during his eight years at the Alliance. The new perspective each chair has brought has been revitalizing.
"I'm so excited for Marisa to become our new Chair of the Board," Greenman said. "Her experience on the Alliance Board and her leadership in so many of our agencies gives
As I recall, even while still in high school, Norman was a sharp dresser. He probably spent a lot on fancy clothes and shoes. This also meant that he took me too often to be groomed or try on a new collar. Enough already! On a few special occasions, Norman and I had some deep, philosophical conversations. You know, about the purpose of life and whether we would meet again somewhere. I found such conversations rather tedious, but I think that they helped Norman a lot. He wanted to do the right thing, and he appreciated when creatures were good to each other. Yes, he complained a lot about going to religious school and services,
She also believes that engaging with the younger Jewish population is vital. “Social media has changed the communications landscape, and we have to reach people where they are,” she said. Making use of social media to reach this younger population while at the same time telling the Alliance’s story is an important way forward.
Philanthropy is an area in which she sees challenges. “People think differently about philanthropy now,” she said. “People think long and hard about where they put
but I think that they had a nurturing effect.
Norman seldom scolded me, and I think that we tried hard to help each other. I easily recall that he was especially kind to me once I began to slow down and needed an extra hug or a smile.
Yes, Norman and I became soulmates, and it got easier for me to overlook his foibles and eccentricities. Too bad that he always loved that stupid name, “Tarzan,” but “Rin Tin Tin” would have been worse!
TARZAN is a beloved dog. George M. Goodwin, who enjoys writing more than pets, helped me with this article.”
Marisa Garber
SBHEC annual meeting honors mission, recognizes student art, writing
BY LAURA AUKETAYEVA
ON MAY 29, 2025, the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center held its 37th Annual Meeting and Student Art & Writing Contest Awards Ceremony, gathering students, teachers, and community members in a moving celebration of remembrance and education.
Incoming board members were also installed during the program. The event reaffirmed the Center’s mission to support Holocaust and genocide education across Rhode Island. Chairman of the Board Dr. Michael Bryant emceed the evening and laid out his timeline for a 3-5-year strategic plan, for which meetings will begin convening this summer. Wendy Joering, Executive Director, reflected on the Center’s growth over the past three years and emphasized the vital work that lies ahead with the new team in place. The team includes Laura Auketayeva, Ph.D., Director of Education and Programs, and Lexi Kutenplon-Rayess, Program Coordinator and Office
Administrator.
The Honorable Melissa A. Long, of the Rhode Island Supreme Court, was the Installing Officer. New members of the board include Ross Frank, Harold Foster, Lisa Davis, Chaim Brown, Andrew Fink, Jane Jacober, as well as Barbara Wahlberg who returns to the board.
The Center recognized outstanding student submissions exploring the theme “What’s in a Name?” Through both visual art and writing, Rhode Island middle and high school students reflected on the power of names, memory and identity in the context of Holocaust history.
Awardees included: Morris Gastfreund Award: Carmella Mae Pega (12th Grade, Pilgrim High School)
May-Ronny Zeidman Award: Jules Velazquez (12th Grade, Pilgrim High School)
Honorable Mention with Distinction (Writing): Mae Clarity (7th Grade, Monsignor Clarke School)
Honorable Mention (Writing): Mary Guidera (8th Grade, Monsignor Clarke School)
Honorable Mention with Distinction (Art): Kalaivani Cholan, Patrick Wingate, Mia Mendelsohn (8th Grade, St. Augustine School)
Classroom Art Awards: Stephan Annaldo, Lizeth Aquino, Ella Brothers, Jayden Brunchae, Maximo Castro, Cristiano Fernandes, Jehlivia Fernandes, Olivia McNeil, Hannah Sousa, Isabella Vaca (8th Grade, St. Augustine School)
Singer Award: Kehan Tian (Barrington High School)
Alice and Ray Eichenbaum Award: Sean Skinnard (Pilgrim High School)
Classroom Award & Silverstein Educator Grant: Mrs. Donna Vescera (St. Augustine School)
In addition, a new award was established in honor of former Congressman and Mayor of Providence, David N. Cicilline. The recipient of this award stands as a true role model among their peers—someone who reflects the very values that David has championed throughout his career. We are proud to recognize Caleb Isenberg as the
Are you composting?
BY LYNNE BELL
DID YOU KNOW THAT the Johnston landfill is expected to reach capacity in less than a decade? The Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation reports that this will occur by 2034.
There is something that everyone can do to help delay this – compost!
Composting – defined by the Environmental Protection Agency as “the managed, aerobic (oxygen-required) biological decomposition of organic materials by microorganisms” – is an ongoing way to practice/perform tikun olam (repair the world).
In addition to reducing household waste that would go into the landfill, composting has important benefits for the environment.
Buried food waste in landfills produces methane due to the lack of oxygen and thus presence of anaerobic bacteria. In contrast, aerobic
bacteria break down composted food waste and produce carbon dioxide.
And a wonderful benefit of composting is the result –nutrient-rich soil.
Adding compost to our gardens enriches the soil without adding chemical fertilizer. Fertilizer pollutes the environment and harms beneficial microorganisms in soil.
The most common way to compost at home is using a backyard bin.
In Rhode Island, you can buy a compost bin from Rhode Island Resource Recovery or the Department of Public Works as well as from commercial sources.
Those who are handy could even build a bin. Instructions can be found online. https:// www.homedepot.com/c/ah/ diy-compost-bin/
Once your bin is in place, add to it a combination of “greens,” rich in nitrogen, and “browns,” rich in carbon. “Greens” include vege -
table food scraps and coffee grounds. “Browns” include leaves, grass, tree trimmings, cardboard and shredded paper.
Aim for about three parts of “browns” for every one part of “greens.”
Note that when composting in your backyard, you must not add any meat or dairy products, which require an industrial composter.
You will need to turn the pile to keep everything “cooking.”
Vermicomposting (worm composting) is another option for composting at home. It requires that the worms not be exposed to extreme temperatures, so it’s usually best done indoors. Sources suggest various acceptable ranges but no colder than 55 degrees and not warmer than 80 degrees.
There are many types of containers that you can use when vermicomposting. You will need to punch holes in the bin to allow for air circula-
first recipient of the David N. Cicilline Leadership Award.
Every student honoree received a copy of “Survivors: True Stories of Children in the Holocaust,” by Allan Zullo. Several outstanding submissions were also recognized with additional age-appropriate books, including “Maus” and “Hidden.”
Participants in the Center’s Leadership Institute for Teens (LIFT), a six-month program bringing together high school students from Rhode Island and Massachusetts to study Holocaust history, genocide, and the challenges of ethical leadership were also celebrated.
The event reaffirmed the power of learning, art, and storytelling to carry Holocaust memory forward.
AUKETAYEVA PH.D., is the Director of Education and Programs at the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center
tion and line the bottom with “bedding.”
The items that can be added to your container are more limited than when using a backyard composter. Vegetables, fruit, tea bags (minus any staples) and coffee grounds are all fine. As with backyard composters, do not add meat or daily products.
Red wigglers, the usual worm of choice, reproduce quickly and can be watched at work on the surface. Do not use earthworms from your yard. You may buy red wigglers at many pet stores and garden centers or even online.
The earthworms’ finished product, vermicompost, will enrich your garden soil.
For those who do not compost at home, try to find a convenient drop-off location for your “greens.” Suggestions are available on line. My local library is one such location.
In many locales, there is the option to pay a company to come to your home or busi-
ness to pick up food scraps, including meat and dairy products. And later you will be rewarded with compost.
Here at the Bonnie & Donald Dwares JCC, we started a composting program in May 2023. Staff are encouraged to put their food scraps in the compost collection bins located throughout the building. Harvest Cycle picks up the food scraps from the Dwares JCC, however, it is not the only company that does this. Find more information regarding all areas of composting online at epa.gov/ recycle/composting-home and, more locally, at zerowasteprovidence.com.
No matter whether you choose to compost by using a backyard bin, vermicomposting, dropping-off or having your food scraps picked up, the result will be nutrient-rich soil.
And more importantly, you will be helping to keep the planet healthy!
LAURA
David Cicilline speaks.
Some of the student winners. PHOTOS GLENN OSMUNDSON
COMMUNITY
RITN first Lag B’Omer barbeque a success
BY NOAH BERGER
“IT WAS NICE TO SEE all the temples coming together as one,” was the enthusiastic response of one longtime member of the Rhode Island Jewish community, Susie Adler. She shared her impression after spending a couple of hours at a barbecue with other community members, myself included, last Sunday [May 18] at Lincoln Woods State Park. Rhode Island Torah Network hosted its first annual barbecue to celebrate Lag B’Omer to build on all the work they have been doing to unify and expand the Rhode Island Jewish community. There was something for everyone to enjoy: bubble wands for the kids to play with, frisbees and baseballs to toss around in the field, and people in lawn chairs talking to each other on a beautiful spring day.
“Baruch Hashem, the Lag B’Omer barbecue was a huge success. Dozens of people came from all different parts of the community. Seeing everyone coming together, connecting, and enjoying was so nice. This is what RITN is all about – creating spaces for all Jews to come together, connect, explore and enjoy our Judaism and grow together as one nation,” said Rabbi Yehoshua Singer, director of RITN.
A number of other attendees also shared their thoughts:
“Life can keep us so busy. Taking a couple of hours off in the woods together was really peaceful and relaxing. (Plus, someone else was doing the cooking.) I got to meet and hang out with some nice new community members. I hope RITN does it again,” said Elianna Bresler.
“I liked that people from the entire community participated,” said Janice Adler.
“I got to see old friends that I have not seen in some time,” said Marc Adler.
“We thank the RITN team, who worked hard to unite our community. Their efforts were appreciated by all who attended this friendly and inclusive event!” said Esta Yavner.
“It was nice seeing people from several different pockets of the Rhode Island Jewish community at the same cookout. Can’t wait for the next one!” said Yosef Rosenfield.
NOAH BERGER is a young Orthodox Jewish reporter who recently moved to Providence upon marrying his wife, Malka, in December of 2024. He spent most of his life living with his family in Miami. He has previously worked as a journalist covering the Miami Marlins baseball team and other sports and transit-related news, such as the grand opening of the Brightline Aventura station and Team Israel’s participation in the 2023 World Baseball Classic.
Rhode Island Torah Network’s Lag B’Omer festivities.
There’s a rich and robust crop of RI summer theater awaiting you
BY BOB ABELMAN
It’s the season of splendor, abundance and vibrancy. We are, of course, referring to the summer theater scene in Rhode Island and its varied, homegrown bumper crop of entertaining and thought-provoking local productions and not just sweet corn, summer squash and an abundance of berries.
HERE’S A LIST of community and professional playhouses, straw hat theaters and outdoor venues where local theater artists are creating something tasty for everyone.
Academy Players
180 Button Hole Dr., Providence. academyplayersri. org. Celebrating 70 years of community theater staffed by volunteers from Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.
“The Wedding Singer.” Set in New Jersey in the 1980s and based on the popular 1998 film of the same name, a wannabe rock ‘n’ roller finds his true self when he finds true love. Aug. 14 - Aug. 24
Arctic Playhouse
1249 Main St., West Warwick. thearcticplayhouse.com.
While COVID kept many from attending the theater, an impressive 10,000 tickets were sold at this community playhouse in 2023 alone.
“Harvey.” This chestnut features Elwood P. Dowd, who has a six-foot rabbit that nobody else can see for a best friend. It won the 1945 Pulitzer Prize for drama, beating “The Glass Menagerie.” Tennessee Williams was robbed. Aug. 28 - Sept. 14
Burbage Theatre
59 Blackstone Ave., Pawtucket. burbagetheatre. org. This company strives to excite and engage with socially relevant and compelling stories, both classic and contemporary, told by an inventive professional cast and crew.
“The Legend of Georgia McBride.” Casey has just been fired from his gig as an Elvis impersonator in a rundown, small-town Florida bar. When the owner brings in a B-level drag show to replace his act, Casey finds
that he has a whole lot to learn about show business – and himself.
Through June 8
Contemporary Theater Company
327 Main St., Wakefield. contemporarytheatercompany. com. Founded in 2005, this community theater produces scripted and improvised work as well as smaller shows, concerts and community events.
“Noises Off.” The ultimate farce, this play follows the making of a play amidst a confused late-night rehearsal, a backstage backstabbing and a performance where everything that can go wrong does. June 20 - July 26
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” This Shakespeare comedy is a dreamy charade where mortals mingle with pixies and all sorts of absurdities are commonplace. Here, this reverie takes place under the stars and on the banks of the Saugatucket River. July 6 - Aug. 3
“The Last 5 Years.” Jason Robert Brown’s intensely personal chamber musical is a simple story about a singular event: the failed marriage between Cathy and Jamie. Their respective timelines careen in opposite directions until they cross and converge. Aug. 8 - Sept. 13
Gamm Theatre
1245 Jefferson Blvd., Warwick. gammtheatre.org. Now in its 40th season, The Gamm is one of the region’s premier and most dynamic professional theaters.
“Angels in America (Part I).” This Pulitzer Prize- and Tony Award-winning masterpiece is set in 1980s New York City at the height of the AIDS epidemic. Part II will open in September. Through June 15
Granite Theatre
1 Granite St., Westerly. granitetheatre.com. This community theater is run by a former professional who performed in, produced and directed off-Broadway and touring productions for the better part of 20 years.
“Kiss Me, Kate.” Passions run high in Cole Porter’s 1948 backstage musical comedy as the leading lady and her ex-husband actor/director battle onstage and off in a production of Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew.” July 11 - Aug. 3
Head Trick Theatre
AS220, 95 Empire St., Providence. headtricktheatre.org. Known for staging some of the more controversial, challenging and politically fueled scripts written by and about marginalized and repressed sectors of our society.
“Dr. Korczak and the Children.” A metatheatrical drama about four actors who try to tell the story of a Jewish doctor killed by the Nazis after refusing to abandon the orphaned children in his care. Aug. 15-24
Newport Playhouse
102 Connell Highway, Newport. newportplayhouse.com. Everything is prepared on the premises at this professional dinner theater, which has been in operation since 1983.
“Just a Dinner.” Single and in their 50s, Candace and Oliver prepare to enter the internet dinner dating scene
much to the chagrin of their adult children. Through June 18
“It’s Your Funeral.” This funeral home farce finds the new owners breaking into the business amidst bad news from a doctor, threats from their shady silent partners and a surprise visit from a former bookie. June 15 - Aug. 7
Theatre by the Sea 364 Cards Pond Rd., Wakefield. theatrebythesea.com.
A Rhode Island institution offering a summer season filled with professionally produced musicals, concerts and kids’ shows.
“Always…Patsy Cline.” This jukebox musical follows the country music icon’s longtime friendship with a fan from Houston. The story is over-simplified, and the down-home humor is an acquired taste, but the work is heartfelt, and the music is country classic. throughJune 21
“Waitress.” Adapted from the low-budget 2007 film, the story is a blue-plate special. It offers marginally nutritious fare about a talented piemaker trapped in a troubled marriage with an unexpected pregnancy while working at a small-town diner. It comes with a side of gorgeous songs by Grammy-winning composer/lyricist Sara Bareilles. June 25 - July 19
“Hairspray.” Based on the high-camp, low-budget 1988 cult film, this Broadway musical offers the lightweight story of a heavy-set
girl with big dreams against a backdrop of the civil rights movement in 1962 Baltimore. July 23 - Aug. 16
“Heartbreak Hotel.” This biographical musical chronicles Elvis Presley’s rise to fame, featuring over 40 of his iconic hits and a pedestrian script that explores his journey from humble beginnings. Aug. 20 - Sept. 14
Trinity Rep 201 Washington St., Providence. trinityrep.com. This company of resident artists has been a standard-bearer for vibrant professional theater since 1964.
“Blues for an Alabama Sky.” In the summer of 1930 in Harlem, New York, the creative euphoria of the Harlem Renaissance has given way to the harsher realities of the Great Depression. This play looks at the lives of five characters trying to hold onto their idealism amidst racism and sexism. Through - June 29
West Bay Community Theater 25 Dillon Ave., North Kingstown. wbctheater.org. Six years as “West Bay’s performing arts entity.”
“Chicago – In Concert.” A dazzling, satirical look at fame, justice and the media machine, set in 1920s Chicago and performed at the NK Town Beach Bandshell, in Wickford. Aug. 16
Wilbury Theatre Group WaterFire Arts Center, 475 Valley St., Providence.
The cast of “A Chorus Line” at Theatre By The Sea, in Wakefield.
PHOTO | MICHAEL DER
COMMUNITY WAEF announces grant awards
FORMED IN 1993, the Women’s Alliance Endowment Fund (WAEF) has allocated more than $165,700 to diverse organizations serving Jewish women and children in Rhode Island and overseas communities.
WAEF members convened on May 21, 2025, to consider submitted grant proposals to be awarded for the next fiscal year. The group, chaired by community member Susan Leach DeBlasio, awarded grants totaling $10,850 to the following programs:
LOCAL
Chabad of Southern RI –$1,000 for Interactive Children’s Holiday Workshops
Community Beit Midrash of RI – $800 for Quarterly Intergenerational Learning
Jewish Collaborative Services – $1,000 for Hanukkah Gifts for Seniors
Jewish Community Day School – $1,000 for Social-Emotional Learning Lunch Bunches
University of Rhode Island Hillel – $1,050 for “Tastes from Home: Transmitting Jewish Food Traditions from Generation to Generation”
ISRAEL
Beit Ruth Educational and Therapeutic Village – $1,000 for Promoting Physical and Emotional Health for At-Risk Girls Through Sports
ELEM – $1,000 for Outreach to At-Risk Haredi Girls
Emunah – $1,000 for “Emunat Ha’em” (Mother’s
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24
Self-Confidence)
Ethiopian National Project – $1,000 for Leadership Program for Girls
Haifa Rape Crisis Center – $1,000 for Sexual Trauma Support Group
Jaffa Institute – $1,000 for Welfare to Wellbeing
To date, the WAEF has 105 living members. Each one contributed $1,000 to the fund to join. The fund is invested with the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island’s endowment and relies on donations from new members to increase the income available to distribute each year.
A gift of WAEF membership is a meaningful way to introduce adult children and grandchildren to com munity philanthropy, and several WAEF members have included the next generation in membership. Member ship to the WAEF allows the Rhode Island community’s women to directly impact women and youth around the globe in meaningful and crit ical ways, through programs and services necessary for a strong Jewish future.
If you are interested in becoming a member of the WAEF, or gifting a member ship to a daughter, grand daughter, ether family mem ber or friend, or would like to discuss giving to your Jewish future, contact the Jewish Federation Foundation at 401-421-4111 or endowment@ jewishallianceri.org.
Submitted by the Women’s Alliance Endowment Fund
they did not. In 2004, the boys produced the Grammy Award-winning anti-hero concept album “American Idiot,” which was turned into a 90-minute punk rock opera that opened on Broadway in 2010. Through - June 15
• Senior Apartments in Providence and Warwick Neck •GREEN HOUSE Homes in East Greenwich thewilburygroup.org. This professional company inspires thought-provoking conversation through new works, reimagined classics and adventurous playmaking.
“American Idiot.” In 1994, Rolling Stone magazine dismissed the underground band Green Day as “cheeky monkeys who came to raid the bar and disappear.” Raid they did but disappear
See you at the theater.
BOB ABELMAN is an awardwinning theater critic who also writes for The Boston Globe. Connect with him on Facebook.
• Adult Day Centers in Apponaug, Bristol, South Kingstown and Warwick Neck
• Assisted Living in Providence and East Greenwich
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Rhode
Karmey Machol: Bridging cultures through dance
BY GAYA
In April, during Israel’s national days of remembrance and celebration – Yom
HaZikaron and Yom Ha’Atzmaut – the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island had the privilege of hosting the Israeli dance troupe Karmey Machol, from the city of Karmiel in northern Israel. Their visit brought with it not only beauty and energy, but also a powerful sense of connection.
KARMEY MACHOL is a beloved and well-established dance troupe that has shaped the cultural fabric of Karmiel for decades. Known for its rich Israeli and contemporary choreography, the troupe trains young dancers to perform with excellence, creativity and pride – both in Israel and on international stages.
The six dancers who visited were all young adults who had recently completed their mandatory military service.
The delegation also included a choreographer. They took time off from work, studies and life to participate in this cultural delegation. Their dedication and passion were evident, and their performances left a lasting impression on everyone who experienced them.
During their stay, the dancers were hosted by three families from the Rhode Island community, who opened their homes – and
their hearts – to them. In just a few days, meaningful personal connections blossomed, creating bonds that extended far beyond the performances. The generosity of these hosts and their interactions with the dancers became a true highlight of the visit, reminding us of the power of hospitality to build bridges across oceans.
The visit was especially
Conversation and cooking
ON MAY 8, the Women’s Alliance, part of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, chaired by Janet Goldman, welcomed home chef and author of “The Jewish Holiday Table,” Naama Shefi, and local caterer Tova Yarmush of Tova’s Catering for an evening conversation and a cooking demonstration. The pair celebrated traditional Jewish cooking with a twist, together preparing a cheese souffle, “dunce pie,” for Shavout. Prior to the main event, members of the Lions of Judah dined together and enjoyed a private chat and book signing with Shefi.
meaningful to me. I grew up in Karmiel and danced with Karmey Machol as a child. Dance training is offered from kindergarten through high school and beyond. Each of my sisters also took part in Karmey Machol at different times. My sister Adi, who danced there for many years, met her husband through the troupe. Dance was a important part of our family’s story,
so having Karmey Machol visit Rhode Island felt like welcoming a piece of home. Although their visit has ended, the memories they created and the spirit they shared continue to resonate deeply in our community.
GAYA is the Israeli shlichah (emissary) at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.
Sewing bags for foster kids
AN ANNUAL PROJECT at Congregation Beth David, Narragansett, where some 16 volunteers made 65 cloth tote bags that are given to children in foster care when moving to a new foster home. The bags replace plastic bags that would normally be given to the child. In addition, the congregation’s Tikun Olam committee collected personal toiletries. Amy Denhoff spearheaded the event for CBD.
Brown graduation
OVER MEMORIAL WEEKEND, the Rhode Island Coalition for Israel (RICI), together with Brown alumni and parents, organized an aerial banner to fly overhead during Brown’s graduation. The banner flew in the sky for 4 hours and read “Brown for Israel” with an Israeli and American flag. The group also held a peaceful, nondisruptive presence during graduation in order to make Jewish students and their families feel safe and celebrated.
Members of the dance troupe perform at the JCC.
PHOTO GLENN OSMUNDSON
PHOTO WOMEN’S ALLIANCE
Books on the Beach returns for 10th year
BY JEWISH RHODE ISLAND STAFF
HADASSAH RHODE ISLAND
(Roberta Schneider, president) and Hadassah Southern New England Region (Jody Fredman, president) have again worked to invite two well-known and recently published authors to the area of Newport for our summer reading enjoyment! Books on the Beach will be held for the 10th time this year, and the authors who will join us on Aug. 6, 2025, are Marilyn Simon Rothstein (most recently the author of “Who Loves You Best”) and Tova Mirvis (most recently the author of “We Would Never”). Books on the Beach will begin on 11 a.m. with a sponsor reception hosted by Region and Chapter members, Lorraine Rappoport, of Cranston, and Sue Mayes, of Middletown, and by Kathy Hershfield, of Boston, Massachusetts. Kathy, a past Hadassah national vice president, is a member of the board of the
Hadassah Foundation and is a past president of the Southern New England Region and a member of the Hadassah national board. Currently she serves in the Advocacy Division of Hadassah and as an antisemitism and anti-Israel specialist. She strives to empower girls and women in Israel and in the US through various leadership roles and by confronting gender-based violence. This pre-event offers those who pledge a sponsorship a personal meeting with featured guests, including the authors.
Tova Mirvis is also the author of several previous novels, including “The Book of Separation,” “The Ladies Auxiliary,” “Visible City” and “The Outside World.”
According to a review in Hadassah Magazine, “We Would Never,” is the perfect read for a beach vacation.
Marilyn Simon Rothstein is the author of “Crazy to Leave You,” “Husbands and Other Sharp Objects,” “Lift and Separate” and, most recently,
“Who Loves You Best.”
Her books blend humor with heart-touching memories.
A luncheon at noon will follow the Sponsor Reception, and an introduction to and conversation with Mirvis and Rothstein will immediately follow the luncheon.
The event will take place at the Wyndam Newport Hotel, in Middletown. To learn more about the importance of being a sponsor of Books on the Beach, and to be invited to the reception, please contact chapri@hadassah.org or call 857-404-0599.
With over 300,000 members and supporters (including male Associates), Hadassah is strong across the generations. Hadassah supports women’s health and equity in the U.S. and in a strong Israel, and instills Jewish values in future generations of leaders. Hadassah helped to create the medical system in Israel through the hospitals that it imagined and constructed – Mt. Scopus and
Ein Kerem. To save lives, Hadassah assists the Israeli population with treatments and scientific breakthroughs, and through connections to Israel, Hadassah helps to bring healing and justice to the world.
The Books on the Beach event supports the continued construction and the use of the Gandel Center, which opened in January 2024, just three months after the horrific events of Oct. 7. There had been a severe shortage of rehabilitation beds in Jerusalem, and the decision to accelerate construction of the Center, which had already been planned, became a national necessity.
Treatment for soldiers, security personnel and civilians has helped many of them to return to their pre-injury lives and to demonstrate inspiring recoveries.
According to the Mayor of Jerusalem, the Gandel Center, Jerusalem’s only acute rehabilitation provider, has already become the
largest and most advanced rehabilitation center in the Middle East, with over 300 war-wounded patients having been (and continuing to be) treated, along with a daily treatment rate of over 75 outpatients. Using numerous advanced rehabilitation services, hope can be restored, and the unbreakable Israeli spirit survives.
The fund-raising goal for Books on the Beach 2025 is to provide equipment that will enable a patient to be able to stand, which is a meaningful step in the rehabilitation process, paving the way to build physical skills and capabilities, and thereby building confidence and independence.
To register for this exciting Books on the Beach event, please contact chapri@hadassah.org or call 857-404-0599. The deadline for registration is Wednesday, July 23. Groups for table seating may be pre-arranged, and book clubs are encouraged to attend and register to be seated as a group.
Volunteers make Alliance’s Campaign a success
THE SUCCESS OF the Jewish Alliance’s Community Campaign relies not only on generous donors but also on the passion and dedication of volunteer solicitors. After all, volunteers are the heart and soul of the Alliance’s fundraising efforts, playing a critical role in building relationships, sharing the Alliance’s mission and inspiring others across the community to give. Without them, the Alliance’s ability to sustain vital programs and services for the local and global Jewish community would be signifi-
cantly diminished.
Volunteer solicitors bring a personal touch that no brochure, text or email can match. One-on-one conversations and peer-to-peer connections allow for sharing personal stories and anecdotes about how the Alliance directly changes lives –whether by supporting Jewish education, aiding vulnerable populations or strengthening Jewish identity and continuity. These personal appeals are powerful and effective, often inspiring deeper and more meaningful commit-
ments from donors.
Volunteers like you serve as ambassadors for the Rhode Island community. When a peer asks for support, it resonates differently than a request from a paid professional. Donors are more likely to give – and give generously –when they see others stepping up, not just financially but with their time and effort. This peer-to-peer model fosters a culture of collective responsibility and reinforces the idea that everyone has a role to play in sustaining our community.
Helping to identify and cultivate new donors is also a role played by volunteer solicitors. Their focus is on expanding the reach and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the campaign. They create opportunities for engagement that go beyond fundraising, helping people feel more connected and invested in the Alliance’s mission.
To make the Community Campaign a true success, the Alliance needs you – a committed volunteer – who is willing to solicit for its Community Campaign. You
already believe in our mission, understand the power of Jewish connection and are willing to use your voice to bring others into the shared vision. Your work is essential, impactful and transformative. To learn more about the many ways you may contribute to this meaningful cause and get involved, contact Jennifer Zwirn, chief development officer: jzwirn@jewishallianceri.org.
Submitted by the Jewish Alliance Philanthropy Department
Summer food program feeds campers at no cost
PROVIDENCE – With summer right around the corner, it’s time to think about keeping children healthy while school is out. The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island provides free meals to children during the summer.
This summer, meals will be served at 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, RI 02906 on Mondays through Fridays at noon. There are no income requirements or registration.
Any child who is enrolled in Alliance programs under age 18 may come to eat. For more information, contact Rachel Accetturo at 401-421-4111, ext. 140.
Each year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture partners with local organizations like the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island to provide free meals to children when school is out for the summer. For more informa-
tion about the national Summer Food Service Program, visit www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/ summer. For more information on summer feeding sites near you including locations and serving times around the state, contact the United Way by dialing 211. In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this
institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity.
Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to
obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. The Jewish Alliance is an equal opportunity provider.
OBITUARIES
Sam Abram, 74 BARRINGTON, R.I. – Sam Abram passed away at his home on April 23, 2025. He remains beloved by his wife Dorothy, son Daniel, and daughter Arianna.
Sam was born on June 12, 1950, in Thessaloniki, Greece, to Joseph and Matilda Abram. Growing up as a middle child between older brother, Izo, and younger sister, Doris, Sam found his place in the world through curiosity and humor. He graduated with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts, where he met his wife. The couple married in 1976 and moved back to Sam’s hometown in Greece. Eventually, the couple returned to the United States and settled in New Hampshire where they had two children: Daniel in 1991 and Arianna in 1994.
Sam spent the next decades working as an engineer while teaching his kids how to plant tomatoes, raise bees and chickens and building Dorothy’s professional art exhibits. In 2003, the family moved to Rhode Island where Sam pursued his interest in real estate. Sam lived happily with his family in Barrington for the remainder of his life.
Sam is fondly remembered as a generous jokester, bringing gifts and humor into all of his interactions. Sam could be found around town presenting homemade baklava to the tellers at the bank and keeping dog treats in his pocket for when he made a furry friend on the sidewalk. In classic Greek fashion, and much to his children’s embarrassment, Sam believed that everything could be fixed with duct tape.
Sam’s affinity for connecting with people saw him become a kindhearted landlord who wouldn’t hesitate to drive across town to water a tenant’s garden or unlock the door if they forgot their keys in the middle of the night. Sam shared his two decades of knowledge and experience in real estate with his son who followed in his footsteps. Sam was also a spiritual person with a deep curiosity for various cultures and beliefs. He practiced yoga every morning for many years and would often go head-to-head with his daughter in headstand challenges.
Above all, Sam’s delight
in life was his marriage of almost 50 years to his wife, Dorothy.
Sam is deeply missed and will be forever remembered.
A Celebration of Life will be held for close family on his birthday in June.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Save The Bees Foundation at savethebees.com/donate or via USPS to P.O. BOX 278656, Sacramento, California 95827
Harriet Bomzer, 100 CRANSTON, R.I. – Harriet Bomzer died on May 11, 2025, at Sunny View Nursing Center, Warwick. She was the beloved wife of the late Norman Bomzer. Born in Brooklyn, New York, a daughter of the late Abraham and May (Bernstein) Harris, she had lived in Cranston for 68 years, previously living in Brooklyn. Harriet was a former member of Temple Torat Yisrael and a member of Crestwood Country Club. She was the devoted mother of Jeffrey Bomzer, of Coventry, and the late Aline Miller. She was the dear sister of the late Natalie Tanenbaum. She was the loving grandmother of Jackie (Dan), Jamie (Chris), Samantha (Matthew), Danielle and Joshua (Rachel). She was the cherished great-grandmother of Allie and James.
Contributions may be made to Parkinson’s Foundation, www.parkinson.org.
Sandra Cerel, 83 BOCA RATON, FLA. –
Sandra P. (Gratt) Cerel, of Boca Raton, passed away on May 11, 2025. Born in Providence on Sept. 9, 1941, she was the daughter of the late Benjamin and Anna (Young) Gratt.
Sandra was the sister to her late siblings, Herbert Gratt, of Cranston, and Jean (Gratt) Malvin, of Boynton Beach, Florida.
Sandra was the beloved wife of the late Murray I. Cerel, also of Providence. Together, they were the proprietors of the former Cerel’s Jewelers. Sandra was an active member of several organizations, including Ledgemont Country Club, the Boca Raton Resort, Temple Beth Am, Temple Sinai and Temple Beth-El. She was also involved in the Women’s Association of The Miriam
Hospital, Hadassah and ORT. An avid canasta player, Sandra cherished her time spent with friends and family. She is survived by her daughters, Randy (Cerel) Rubinstein and her husband, Benjie, of Cranston; and Susan (Cerel) Steinman and her husband, Michael, of Boynton Beach, Florida. Her grandchildren include Joshua Rubinstein and his wife, Hayley, of Sandy Springs, Georgia; Jamie Rubinstein, of Boston, Massachusetts; Erica Steinman and her husband, Tyrees Smith, of Washington, D.C.; and Brooke Steinman, of New York City.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association or a charity of your choice.
Diana Cohen, 91 EAST GREENWICH, R.I. –
Diana (Dede) Kane Cohen, of East Greenwich, died on May 28, 2025, at Kent Hospital. She was the wife, friend and devoted partner of Jules Cohen for 39 years before his passing in May 2024. Dede was born and raised in Providence by her parents Sydney and Edythe Kane. She spent her life in Rhode Island, attending the Lincoln School and Brown University before marrying her first husband, Donald Barrengos, and building a family together.
After 25 years, four children – Ann, Julie, Andy and John – and one divorce later, Dede reunited with Jules. They had dated in high school and, following their respective divorces, began dating again. They engaged and married soon afterward in the backyard of her mother, Edythe’s, home in Providence. She and Jules spent almost four decades enjoying each other and the life they shared together. An avid garden “viewer,” Dede loved planning the beautiful garden they created at their home in East Greenwich and then telling Jules where she thought the plants should be placed. She was fortunate for Jule’s patience and his unconditional love for her.
In addition to gardening and time at home – Wimbledon was a TV favorite for years – Dede loved travel and theater. France, the United Kingdom and Portugal were overseas favorites along with the East and West Coasts of the U.S. And whether on a plane, in a hotel or at Trinity Rep for a play, she always met a new person. Her ease in engaging with strangers was part of her larger love of life and people.
This was especially true of the family and friends whom she held close. Whether in person or on what seemed like hundreds of brief phone calls each day, Dede was loving and supportive. She wanted to know about the big and little things in our lives and enjoyed the detail of it all. “How is work? Have you been traveling? Where? What was it like? What did you eat? What about the kids?” The topics didn’t matter as much as the picture her questions and your answers painted of your life in that moment.
Dede lived a long and happy life and left her loved ones with many wonderful memories and laughter. She is survived by her four children, nine grandchildren, and three step-children – Joanne Hayes, Stuart Cohen and Peter Cohen.
Contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Richard Ducoff, 75 CORAL SPRINGS, FLA. –Richard Barry Ducoff died on May 24, 2025, at the Florida Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale. Born and raised in Teaneck, New Jersey, Richard was a graduate of Farleigh Dickenson University. Prior to his move to Florida, 30 years ago, he served as the town treasurer of Creskill, New Jersey. For several years he was employed by the Florida Department of Revenue.
For the past 5½ years, Harbor Chase Senior Living in Coral Springs was Richard's
home. He was a very good friend to fellow residents and staff. Richard was a passionate sports fan. He particularly enjoyed following college basketball, and his favorite time of year was during “March Madness.”
A beloved son of the late Dr. Morris and Lillian Ducoff; Richard is survived by his brother, Dr. Robert Ducoff (Diane) and his three nieces, Michelle Miller (Andrew), Patti Ducoff, and Lynn Belkin (Matthew). He was the great-uncle of Sydney and Adam Miller and Ysabel and Dylan Albert.
Contributions may be made to Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence, RI 02906 (The Frances and David Friedman Family Fund or The Larry Friedman Memorial Fund) or to the National Brain Tumor Society, 55 Chapel St., Suite 006, Newton, MA 02458.
Sanford Gold, 86 DELRAY BEACH, FLA. –
Sanford “Sandy” C. Gold, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, passed away peacefully on April 1, 2025. Born and raised in Providence, Sandy was the cherished son of Joseph and Lillian Gold and a devoted brother of Victor, Gretta Labush, Enid Ross and Trudy Peake.
Sandy met the love of his life, Estelle, in the game room of the Jewish Community Center, in Providence. They were married on April 8,
OBITUARIES
1962, at Temple Beth-El and spent 62 joyful years together – dancing, traveling, sharing ice cream sundaes and simply enjoying each other’s company. After marrying, Sandy and Estelle moved to Warwick, where they raised their two daughters, Susan and Lyn.
In 2014, they retired to Delray Beach, where they spent their days surrounded by warmth, friends and family. Sandy worked as a photographer for an ad agency and had a deep passion for social connection. He was actively involved in the Jaycee’s adult leadership program, helped organize beauty pageants and played an integral role in running bingo nights at Temple Am David. In Florida, he enjoyed playing bocce and cheering on his favorite football team, the New York Giants.
Family meant everything to Sandy. He found his greatest joy in his daughters; sonin-law, Bob; grandchildren, Kara, Curtis, Andrew and Haylee (his favorite); and his dear cousins, Mel and Arleen. He was a man who never missed a chance to check in, always starting phone calls by asking about the weather and the kids or pets. Sandy’s life was one well-lived and full of laughter, love and lasting memories. He will be
deeply missed and forever remembered.
Howard
Holland, 92
BARRINGTON, R.I. – Howard Jerome Holland, affectionately known as Howie, passed away peacefully at home on May 23, 2025. A lifelong communicator, innovator and beloved family man, he leaves behind a legacy as rich and vibrant as the airwaves he once commanded.
Born in Providence, and a longtime resident of Barrington, Howie made his mark early as a charismatic television and radio personality. His warm voice and dynamic presence earned him a loyal audience, and his creativity led him to found and run a successful advertising agency, where he helped shape the public image of countless brands and businesses.
From 1956 to 1958, Howard served his country in the U.S. Armed Forces. During that time, he traveled throughout Europe as a performer with the USO, serving as both vocalist and emcee, bringing connection and comfort to the troops stationed far from home.
Howard was the devoted husband of Temma Holland, with whom he shared a life
filled with travel, music, theater and time on the water. In his later years, Temma was also his steadfast caregiver, providing loving support through every stage. He was a loving father to Lisa Friedman and her husband, Joseph Friedman, and to his son Keith Holland. He took pride in his grandchildren. Danielle Sands (and her husband Hayden Sands), Jonathan and Grant Friedman, and Itai, Kaiana, Nainoa and Alina Holland, and was also blessed with a great-granddaughter, Jackilyn. Though distance shaped some of these relationships, his pride and affection never wavered.
Howard was featured in “We Were Pioneers: Memories of CH 12 Television and WPRO Radio,” a book honoring early innovators in Rhode Island broadcasting, a fitting tribute to his role in shaping the media landscape during a formative time.
Like his desk at the end of every day, Howard left nothing undone. His legacy lives on not only in the lives he touched but in the values he embodied, creativity, follow-through, devotion to family, and quiet excellence.
Donations may be made to Temple Habonim, in Barrington, or HopeHealth.
Bennett
Katz, 89 NEWPORT, R.I. – Bennett D. Katz, captain, United States Navy Retired, a long-term resident of Newport and Portsmouth, passed away on May 18, 2025.
A native of Brooklyn, New York, Bennett was born on May 25, 1935 and was the loving son of Fannie and Benjamin Katz and loving brother of Irma Treff and his brother-in-law Saul. Bennett graduated from the United States Naval Academy in June 1957 and served our nation with honor, valor and distinction on active duty for over 27 years. During Bennett’s US Navy career, he made numerous overseas deployments, served in Vietnam where he was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat V, commanded the USS Dyess (DD-880), the US Naval Communication Station Keflavik Iceland and the United States Defense Communications Agency Operations Center. Post retirement Bennett devoted time to his mother Fannie, numerous volunteer activities, the Naval Academy Alumni Association, his extended family and his canine companions.
Bennett had many friends and neighbors who he enjoyed
spending time with and enjoyed, among other things, playing golf, dog walks and reading. Bennett will be remembered as a friendly, engaging and generous person, a good classmate, shipmate and beloved uncle, great uncle and great-great uncle. Bennett is survived by his nephew, Gary Treff, and his wife, Shirley, of Milton, New Hampshire; nephew and godson, Bruce Treff of Beverly, Massachusetts; great niece, Dr. Sarah Pike, and her husband, Robert, of Londonderry, New Hampshire; great nephew, Joshua Treff, and his wife, Michaela, of Salem, Massachusetts; great niece, Melanie Treff, of Arlington, Virginia; great niece, Samantha Treff ,of Nahant, Massachusetts; great-great niece, June Pike, of Londonderry. Donations may be made to the charity of your choice.
Luisa Miller, 65
TIVERTON, R.I. – Luisa Isabel Miller died on May 10, 2025, at Rhode Island Hospital surrounded by her loving family. She was the treasured wife of Robert E. Miller for nearly 40 years and devoted mother to her children, Daniel Louis Miller and his wife, Cadence Banulis, and Rebecca Rose Miller and her husband, Stefan Weiss. Luisa was a proud, doting grandmother to two grandsons, Mason and Ellis.
Born in Coro, Venezuela, daughter of the late Romulo Rodriguez Campos and Carolina Sanchez Amaya, Luisa immigrated to the United States as a child, growing up in Brooklyn, New York. She had lived in Rhode Island since 1987.
Luisa was a brilliant and dedicated physician. She was an attending doctor in the emergency room at Roger Williams Hospital, in Providence. She then went on to work at an in-patient unit for chronically ill patients at Eleanor Slater Hospital, in Cranston. Luisa was a talented artist and a voracious reader. She loved the beach, drinking coffee in the sunshine and tending to her plants. Luisa will be remembered for her resilience, sense of humor, intellect and boundless love for her family and friends. Contributions may be made to Tk2 Deficiency & Mitochondrial Disease & Research Fund, Department of Neurology, Columbia University –“In memory of Luisa I. Miller,
M.D.”
To make a donation by check, please make your check payable to Trustees of Columbia University, indicate on the memo line “in memory of Luisa I. Miller” and mail to: Columbia University Irving Medical Center Office of Development Attn: Matthew Reals, 516 West 168th St., 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10032.
Donald Salk, 94 CRANSTON, R.I. – Donald Salk, of Cranston, passed away on May 10, 2025. He was the devoted husband of Beverly (Gilman) Salk, with whom he shared nearly 74 years of marriage.
Donald was the son of the late Louis and Belle (Feingold) Salk. He was born in Providence and had resided in Cranston since 1951. Donald attended the University of Rhode Island and the RCA Institute, in New York City. He served as chief electrical engineer at G.T. Scheldahl, where he received a U.S. patent for one of his many electro-mechanical designs. Later, he founded and operated Delta Plastics and subsequently took over Salk’s Hardware, the family business, after his father’s passing. In his later years, he was a familiar presence at the Cranston Senior Center.
Donald was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving in the Air Force in Tripoli and North Africa, where he was responsible for establishing radio installations. An avid HAM radio operator in his early years, he used the call sign W1ZQN, transmitting from Tripoli during his military service and later from Cranston.
He was involved in his community, serving as president of the Cranston Rotary Club, where he was honored as a Paul Harris Fellow, and he was active in Rotary International. He also served as president of the Cranston J.C. Organization. Donald was the last surviving member of the “Tripoli Trotters Association,” a group of lifelong friends who served together in Tripoli, holding monthly “board“ meetings, consisting of poker, beer and pizza at midnight, along with publishing a newsletter to keep up on the life events of each other’s families.
He was a devoted father to Michelle Sammartino, of Warwick; Lori Cassin and her husband, Damian, of Gallo -
Certified by the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island Jacquelyn Aubuchon, Funeral Director
OBITUARIES
way, New Jersey; and Alan Salk and his wife, Laurie, of Cranston. He was the dear brother of Judith Fuchs, of Boynton Beach, Florida; Harriet Simon, of Stamford, Connecticut; and the late Norton Salk. He was the loving grandfather of Daniel, Michael, Nicholas, Erica, Julius, Laurel and Augie, and the cherished great-grandfather of Maya, Henry, Luca, Sadie and Theo.
Contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice.
Cynthia Schwartz, 92
PAWTUCKET, R.I. – Cynthia Schwartz died on May 23, 2025, at HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center in Providence. She was the beloved wife of the late Norman (a/k/a Nathan) Schwartz, and daughter of the late Isador and Rose (Cohen) Dworkin. Originally from the Bronx, New York, she grew up in Providence and was a graduate of Hope High School.
After raising their family in Rhode Island, Cynthia and Norman moved to Delray Beach, Florida, where they lived for a number of years, before returning to Pawtucket in 2017. She was a devoted homemaker, and raising her children was her upmost priority. She was a former member of B’nai Brith and Temple Emanu-El. She was the devoted mother of Leonard Schwartz of North Providence, Gail Kelley of Pawtucket, and Rhonda Schwartz of Narragansett. She was the dear sister of the late Marcia Perry. She was the loving grandmother of Jessica and her husband, Shane; Michael and his wife, Chelsea; and Erika and Matthew and his wife, Molly. She was the cherished great-grandmother of Brady, Ezra, Eisley and Davi. Contributions may be made to the American Parkinson’s Disease Association, P.O. Box 61420, Staten Island, NY 10306 or to the HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center, 1085 North Main St., Providence, RI 02904, attn: philanthropy.
Ruth Winograd, 94 PROVIDENCE, R.I. –
Ruth Winograd passed away on May 9, 2025, at South County Hospital, in South Kingstown. Born in Providence, a daughter of the late Maurice and Etta (Godfrey) Winograd, she had lived in Providence for her
entire life. Ruth was a spitfire of a woman who fiercely loved her family; she was believed to be the inspiration for Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.”
Ruth was a member of the WACRI, the Women’s Advertising Club of RI, and a founding member of and on the board of directors for the Association of Marketing Professionals of Rhode Island, AMP-RI. She was a dedicated mahjong and bridge player, playing bridge with the same nine women for 50 years. She was a proud board member of the Mental Health Association for over 27 years. She was a former member of Temple Emanu-El. Ruth was a frequent visitor to Narragansett Beach, often referring to it as her happy place.
She was the devoted aunt of Anna Winograd-Vranker and her husband, Tom, and Lauren Gabrilowitz and her husband, Alvin, all of Narragansett; and Stuart Winograd and his wife, Debbie, of Alamo, California.
She was the loving greataunt of 10. She was the cherished great-grand-aunt of 20 and the great-great-grandaunt of one.
She was the dear friend and sister-in-law of Lila Winograd.
She was the dear sister of the late Gerald, Albert and Marshall Winograd.
James Winoker, 93
CRANSTON, R.I. – James Robert Winoker passed away on May 14, 2025. He was the son of the late Sarah (Levenson) Winoker and Israel Winoker and brother of the late Myron Winoker.
James was the devoted husband of the late Marilyn H. Winoker, his loving wife of 66 years. James is survived by his three children: Susan L. Winoker, David M. Winoker (Kristin) and Steven E. Winoker (Nina). He is also survived by six grandchildren of whom he was so proud: Joshua Resnik (Desire), Alissa Rubin, Zachary Winoker, Alexander Winoker, Elliot Winoker and Charlotte Winoker, and two great-grandchildren, Aiden Resnik and Ezra Rubin. A U.S. Army veteran, James was a distinguished business and community leader, known for his support of many Rhode Island and national institutions that
benefited from his insight, integrity and dedication. He will forever be remembered for his gracious loving-kindness, welcoming nature, entrepreneurial spirit, sharp wit and the positive impact he had on those around him, especially in his relationships with family and friends.
James graduated from Classical High School, where he was awarded magna cum laude, and later received the Honorary Alumnus Award. He graduated from Brown University, earning honors in economics, was a member of the Tower Club and president of Hillel. Later he served as an emeritus member of the Brown Corporation, honorary trustee and former member of the committee of the Medical Corporation and the Medical Board of Overseers. After graduating from Harvard Business School, his leadership extended to the Harvard Business School Association of Rhode Island and the National Alumni Board. He also received an Honorary Doctor of Public Service from Roger Williams University and an Honorary Award from Northwood University. He was vice-chairman of the President’s Council of Providence College and a Brandeis University Fellow. From 1955-1958, James served in the U.S. Army and was an honorary faculty member of the Army Management School, a Pentagon activity where he taught at the Fort Belvoir educational base.
James began his professional journey at the age of 7 selling Colliers Magazine door-to-door and remained active professionally and as a civic leader, investing in historical preservation and advocating for the State of Rhode Island into his 90s. James co-founded the B.B. Greenberg Company, manufacturing jewelers, where he received numerous accolades in the jewelry industry and was a former member of the 24 Karat Club of New York. He later co-founded Belvoir Properties, where he was the first developer to help establish the Providence Jewelry District more than 30 years ago. The historical district, now called the Innovation District, was initially home to the manufacturing company for whom he worked at a young age (Briar Manufacturing) and now home to many thriving businesses andmedical and educational institutions, including leading life science research
groups.
His contributions to the community included working with his family to develop many commercial buildings around Rhode Island, including as former owner of the Biltmore Hotel. In 2008, James received the Rhode Island Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission Award for Belvoir’s renovation projects, including Union Station in downtown Providence and Rosedale Apartments in Edgewood. In 2011, James and his late wife, Marilyn, received the “Rhody Award” for their lifetime of achievement in historic preservation.
James was a former board member of the Narragansett Electric Company, New England Electric System and National Grid. He was also a former board member of the Original Bradford Soap Works and RI Hospital Trust National Bank.
James was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame in 2023. James was named Businessman of the Year in 1986 by Ocean State Magazine and honored by Providence Business News. He was the first president of the Jewelry District, former president of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, founding president of the Providence Industrial Development Corporation and member of the board of the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council. He was the first chairman of the Providence Review Commission, vice chairman of Science and Technology of RI, vice chairman of the Business Development Company of RI, chairman of the Providence Foundation and Honorary Admiral of the RI
Commodores.
James was active in support of his faith and heritage. He was past vice president and an honorary trustee of Temple Emanu-El, in Providence, and trustee and former board member of the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island. He was a co-chairman of the first Holocaust Museum Campaign, in Washington, DC. He was an honorary board member and National Trustee of the National Conference for Community and Justice (formerly the National Conference of Christians and Jews).
James was an honorary director of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra, a recipient of the Rotary International Paul Harris Award and involved with many philanthropic fundraising activities. He was an active member of several clubs including the Hope Club, University Club, Dunes Club and the Brown Faculty Club as well as The Harvard Club of New York. He has been a loyal lifetime fan of the Boston Red Sox, the New England Patriots and anyone competing anywhere who represents the State of Rhode Island.
Donations can be made to the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School, 667 Waterman Ave., East Providence, RI 02914 (https://donate.riphil.org/ give) or to Temple Emanu-El, 99 Taft Ave., Providence, RI 02906 (https://www.teprov. org/payment.php).
ANNUAL MEETING
Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island 14th Annual Meeting
June 18, 2025 at 7:00pm
Bonnie & Donald Dwares JCC 401 Elmgrove Avenue, Providence
Presentation of Leadership Awards:
Melvin G. Alperin Award for Excellence in Jewish Communal Leadership, Edward D. Feldstein
The Norman D. and Flo Tilles Community Relations Council Award, Rabbi Preston Neimeiser
The Riesman Leadership Development Award, Amy Page DeBlasio
The Riesman Leadership Development Award, Katie N. Ziegler
The Gail A. Putnam Award, Michele Gallagher
Installation of Marisa Garber, Incoming Chair of the Board
Tribute to Harris Chorney, Outgoing Chair of the Board
Board Installations:
Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island
Jewish Federation Foundation
Alliance Realty, Inc.
Reception to follow
2025-2026 Proposed Slate of Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island Board of Directors
Chair
Marisa Garber
Vice Chairs
Reza Breakstone, Co-Chair Philanthropy
William Krieger, Jewish Life & Learning
Sara E. Miller, Community Development
Mara Ostro, Governance
Avi Rosenstein, Communications
Katie Ziegler, Co-Chair Philanthropy
Treasurer
Jill Padwa
Secretary
Mara Ostro
Board of Directors
Hadley Bazarsky
Chair Appointee
Lauren Charness*
Harris Chorney, Immediate Past Chair
Richard Glucksman
Janet Goldman
Robert Landau, Community Relations Council
*Incoming board members
Jeremy Licht*
Rashmi Licht
Sara Meirowitz
Cara Mitnick
Rabbi Preston Neimeiser, Rabbinical
Representative
Sally Rotenberg
Eric Rotkow*
Eric Shorr
Neil Steinberg
Bethany Sutton*
Honorary Directors
Melvin G. Alperin
Alan G. Hassenfeld
President and CEO
Adam Greenman
2025-2026 Proposed Jewish Federation Foundation Board
Harris Chorney, Chair
Jerrold Dorfman
Robin Engle
Mark R. Feinstein
Harold Foster
Susan Froehlich*
Sharon Gaines
Marilyn Kaplan
Richard A. Licht
Michael B. Nulman
Ralph Posner
Jay Rosenstein
Sally Rotenberg
Robert Schloss
Robert Sherwin
Herbert B. Stern
Robert Stolzman
Cheryl Greenfeld Teverow
2025-2026 Proposed Alliance Realty, Inc. Board
Robert Stolzman, Chair
Sharon Gaines, Vice Chair
Marc Gertsacov, Secretary/Treasurer
Adam Greenman, President and CEO
