November 24, 2017

In this issue

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  Beth Sholom enjoys successful shabbaton

  Friday, November 24, 2017

  Congregation Beth Sholom (CBS) held its first annual shabbaton Nov. 3-5, and it was, by all accounts, a smashing success. More than 70 synagogue members and supporters gathered on the …

• 

  5 amazing discoveries from a trove of documents hidden during the Holocaust

  Friday, November 24, 2017

  NEW YORK (JTA) – Last month, the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research made an astonishing announcement: the discovery of 170,000 Jewish documents thought to have been destroyed during the …

• Warsaw Ghetto museum planned for hospital

  Friday, November 24, 2017

  WARSAW, Poland (JTA) – The Polish government wants to create a Warsaw Ghetto museum in a hospital that had its patients and workers sent to the Treblinka death camp. “The creation of …

• Shirley Rappaport

  Friday, November 24, 2017

  BRIDGEPORT, CONN. – Shirley Rappaport of Providence died Nov. 9 at the Sadie House of Jewish Senior Services of Fairfield County in Bridgeport.  Born in Providence, she was the daughter of …

• Hope Kagan, 85

  Friday, November 24, 2017

  JOHNSTON, R.I. – Hope Kagan died Nov. 17 at Cherry Hill Manor. Born in Providence, a daughter of the late Edward and Eva (Broadman) Kagan, she had lived in Johnston for nine years, previously …

• 

  David Slitt, 87

  Friday, November 24, 2017

  EAST GREENWICH, R.I. – David Slitt died Nov. 18 at Rhode Island Hospital. He was the beloved husband of the late Catherine (Murphy) Slitt. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, a son of the late Harry …

• 

  Nothing better than a warm bowl of soup

  Friday, November 24, 2017

  Nothing says comfort like a warm bowl of soup on a cold day. As winter approaches, we look to make food choices that matter. Like the other “good book” says chicken soup is good for our soul.

• LimmudBoston festival celebrates Jewish life

  Friday, November 24, 2017

  In Hebrew, the word “Limmud” means study. In New England, LimmudBoston is an all-day, volunteer-driven festival of everything Jewish. For eight years, LimmudBoston has educated and …

• 

  Scott Fried to speak at URI on World AIDS Day

  Friday, November 24, 2017

  Scott Fried, an award-winning international public speaker, HIV/AIDS educator, and author, will be in residence at the University of Rhode Island on World AIDS Day, Friday, Dec. 1. Candidly …

• New Britain, Connecticut: The Rest of the Story

  Friday, November 24, 2017

  On Nov. 2, The New York Times ran a story, “Manafort Family Roots Run Deep in Connecticut City.” Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump’s former campaign manager, who was recently …

• 

  The Providence pugilist

  Friday, November 24, 2017

  Rhode Island can claim two champion boxers – at least to my admittedly imperfect knowledge –  George Araujo and Vinnie Paz. If I have slighted anyone, please let me know. Since …

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  Paws, the Pawtucket Red Sox mascot

  Friday, November 24, 2017

  Paws, the Pawtucket Red Sox mascot, recently visited the children from the Eides Family J-Space and took a few minutes to view Chasing Dreams: Baseball and Becoming American at the Dwares Jewish …

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  You CAN put a wise head on young shoulders!

  Friday, November 24, 2017

  Here’s a surprising fact: Researchers now consider baby boomers in their mid-70s to be middle-age. You could have fooled me! I can still recall how slowly and laboriously my …

• 

  Exploring a different Israel with the Merrin Fellowship

  Friday, November 24, 2017

  A year ago, I began an  18-month professional development program called the Merrin Fellowship for Teen Engagement. Together with 12 other JCC teen professionals we are learning from each other …

• 

  Inspired travel

  Friday, November 24, 2017

  Elissa Felder, an active and vibrant Providence resident, organizes two women’s trips to Israel each year. Momentum is an eight-day journey through Israel. It’s offered in July and …

• 

  Looking back: A journey thorough 2017

  Friday, November 24, 2017

  As 2017 draws to a close, it’s time once again for a look back at the highs and lows of the past year, as covered in The Jewish Voice. What follows are a few of the highlights. January …

• 

  Cookies for Thanksgiving

  Friday, November 24, 2017

  In a few days, it will again be Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a favorite holiday of mine. I have never “made” the holiday. I like to tell people, “I do not do …

• Winter squash makes a rich dish

  Friday, November 24, 2017

  (The Nosher via JTA) – I recently fell in love with honey squash, a new variety of hearty winter squash bred specifically to be concentrated in flavor and adorable in appearance. OK, maybe it …

• Memories of Mohn cookies

  Friday, November 24, 2017

  One of my favorite childhood memories was arriving at my grandparent›s apartment to the smell of freshly baked Mohn Cookies. That smell reminds me of a wonderful time because it would fill the …

• 

  Summer with Golden Leaves: a Jewish experience in China

  Friday, November 24, 2017

  While the majority of my time and experiences in the last 10 years have taken place in Israel, this country has also been my springboard to other worldly adventures. The most recent one took place in …

• Re: The pull of the plaque (Nov. 10)

  Thursday, November 23, 2017

  I just reread Charles Bakst’s excellent article on growing up in Fall River, and would indeed be remiss if I didn’t add a few comments. After all, similar to Proust’s madeleine, his …

• 

  How 1666 helps explain 2017

  Thursday, November 23, 2017

  Sept. 16, 1666, was a dark day for the tens of thousands of Jews who considered Sabbatai Zevi (1626-1676) to be their Messiah; for on that day, in order to avoid the death sentence imposed upon …

• 

  Let’s talk about gratitude

  Thursday, November 23, 2017

  Each Thanksgiving, my family uses our time around the dinner table to say a few words about gratitude. There are only a couple of times each year that the extended family comes together so it’s …

• Finding blessing and wonder in our world

  Thursday, November 23, 2017

  Imagine this: Jacob, fleeing from the wrath of his brother Esau, notices that it is getting dark and realizes he should camp for the night. Although it isn’t the most comfortable location, he …

• Canada’s new Holocaust memorial will stay open for winter

  Thursday, November 23, 2017

  MONTREAL (JTA) – The Canadian government backed off a decision to close the newly opened National Holocaust Memorial for the winter, apparently relenting to complaints from the Jewish …

• Movement adds new meaning to tefilah at JCDSRI

  Thursday, November 23, 2017

  Every Thursday at the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island (JCDSRI), third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students gather to join their voices in a rousing Shacharit (morning) service. A joyful …

• Al Silverstein’s journey: Holocaust survivor focuses on education

  Thursday, November 23, 2017

  Professor Al Silverstein’s journey begins with an early childhood in Graz, Austria, and culminates with his retirement in Pawtucket. It is both a harrowing tale of survival and the story of a …

• Yes, women played baseball

  Thursday, November 23, 2017

  Women and baseball is the subject of the next program in the Chasing Dreams series. Richard Harris, a local baseball expert, will present, “Women and Baseball: A Short Story?!  Nov. 27 at …

• Uganda is 100th outpost for Chabad-Lubavitch

  Thursday, November 23, 2017

  JTA – Uganda has become the 100th country to have a Chabad-Lubavitch outpost. Rabbi Moishe and Yocheved Raskin established the Chabad of Uganda in the capital city of Kampala in October, …

• Large audience turns out for exhibit and panel on aliyah from Rhode Island

  Thursday, November 23, 2017

  On Nov. 5, the Cranston Public Library hosted a panel discussion on aliyah (the Hebrew term for Jewish immigration to Israel) from Rhode Island. The discussion coincided with the opening of a …

• Holocaust Torah Scroll: A living breathing document

  Thursday, November 23, 2017

  This year, during the Erev Simchat Torah celebration, I had the honor of being the first person called to the bimah of Temple Emanu-El to cradle a rescued Czechoslovakian scroll and dance it around …

• The 5 weirdest Kosher foods you’ll be eating in 2018

  Thursday, November 23, 2017

  SECAUCUS, N.J. (JTA) – “Caution: Meat and dairy sampling on show floor,” read a sign at the entrance to Meadowlands Exposition Center. That may seem like an unusual warning …

• Food was the star of Board of Rabbis event

  Thursday, November 23, 2017

  The buzz was all about food Nov. 18 as the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island served up Saturday Night Flavor. Close to 200 people indulged in this evening of learning, with a liberal …

• Women learn about happiness at Kollel conference

  Thursday, November 23, 2017

  PROVIDENCE – Close to 100 Jewish women from different parts of New England gathered Nov. 19 for a stimulating day of study, dialogue and reflection. The occasion was the annual Tichyeh Schochet …