Block Island congregation celebrates its 28th birthday

A proud history on the island

Seth Draper, Justin Abrams, Rita Draper and Ross Draper. /Abrams | Draper familyIn 1980, a handful of Jewish residents of Block Island came together to consider a shared idea: hold regular Shabbat and High Holy Day services. They eventually did this throughout the summer months. This first simple step eventually led the group, which had grown to a dozen or so participants, to formalize their common vision to create a temple on the island.

Against all odds, their dream became a reality, and the Congregation Sons and Daughters of Ruth was born, and later incorporated in 1987.

The founders had no building. As current vice president Shirley Kessler recalls, summer resident “Marvin Salzburg offered a barn on his land” – off in a remote part of the island. All they had were two Torahs and the desire to formalize their Jewish presence within the community.

The original Torah, for which a small ark was built, came to them through late member Haida Ginsberg, who lived on the island six months a year. Later, the Abrams/Draper family (Justin and the late Joan Abrams and their children) offered the congregation a Torah belonging to their family. They have continued to be the caretakers of the Torah.

Without a building to call their own, members invested their moveable Torahs with a special and growing attachment as they literally became both the physical and spiritual foundation of the new “Temple.”

Sources of historical memory

Serving as its spiritual leader from the Congregation’s inception, Elliot Taubman was present at the earliest meetings and willingly shares his memories of the temple’s origins.  Over the years, he began sharing leadership responsibilities with Richard Weisbroat, with whom he has alternated in conducting Shabbat services. The two collaborate for the High Holy Days.

Taubman says, “The first service on the island (as far as I know) was [held] in 1980 for Rosh Hashanah. Rita [Abrams] Draper knew my background as a trained cantor and talked me into doing a service.”  He adds, “We met thereafter at various places but mainly at Haida’s … until Father Randall [of St. Andrew Church] offered the use of the Parish Center on an ongoing basis.”

Recalling that there were nine people present at that service, Taubman notes they included Draper, Kessler, himself, his wife Jennifer Taubman, his mother Miriam Taubman and their daughter Rebekka Kai Taubman.

Kessler, too, has early recollections. She says, “I recall a meeting at Haida’s house with a family called the Martins – he was a mathematician – and with Jack and Esta Gray, an early island family. I also remember having Passover Seders at the Harbor Baptist Church.”

Of those present during another founding meeting in the mid 1980s, only a few counted themselves among the full-time residents. Others lived on the island for short periods of the year. Still others – including my husband and me – were seasonal visitors spending just a few weeks and as many weekends as possible on the island. We all were thrilled to discover plans afoot to incorporate the congregation.

Roots on the island

Our personal history with Block Island had its roots years earlier when we were a dating couple and took a day trip to the island. Leaving on a ferry from India Point in Providence, we spent four hours sailing out and four back, with just two left for exploring.

However, that was enough for the seeds of love to be planted irrevocably, drawing us back again and again after we were married – first to spend weekends at a Victorian hotel, later to stay a week or two in a summer rental. 

By the time we decided to settle on the island permanently, the congregation had been incorporated and had grown to include a hundred or so members – mostly drawn from summer visitors. The presence of the Congregation became the key for us: we needed to have a Congregation to belong to if we were to make the island our home – which we have for the last 21 years.

A seasonal temple

Congregation Sons and Daughters of Ruth is still predominantly a seasonal temple though the 20 or so full-time or six-month residents of the island attempt to keep holiday and Shabbat services going throughout the year. Membership dues are $18 for an individual and $36 for a family.

Friday evening services for summer 2015 will begin on June 19 at 8 p.m. at the St Andrew Parish Center on Spring Street.

In celebration of the congregation’s birthday, a series of special events is being planned; details and dates to be announced.

This year’s High Holy Day schedule is not yet finalized. For more information on the congregation, call Shirley Kessler at 401-466-5486 or Elliot Taubman at 401-466-2861.

GLORIA REDLICH is a full-time Block Island resident who can be reached at gloryb311@gmail.com.