PHDS program to honor ‘pillars’ of the school

PROVIDENCE – The Providence Hebrew Day School’s Amudim Awards dinner will be held on June 19 in the Victor and Gussie Baxt Social Hall at the Alliance’s Dwares Jewish Community Center.

This year, the school is celebrating the successful conclusion of a five-year building campaign.  Under the stewardship of Rabbi Peretz Scheinerman and with a devoted team of lay leaders, major renovations to the school have been completed, including installation of a state-of-the-art science lab, energy-efficient windows, an HVAC system and a wheelchair-accessible entryway. In addition, security has been upgraded. 

PHDS will salute all the donors and volunteers, who, by virtue of their support for the school’s physical structure, have earned their place as “Amudim” (pillars) of Jewish day-school education in Rhode Island.

Also being honored on June 19 are Jeff and Marcie Ingber, who will receive the Community Service Award.

Jeff is a partner in Ahava Catering and Bubbie’s Market & Deli, both in Providence.  Marcie coordinates the Louis & Goldie Chester Full Plate Kosher Food Pantry, in Providence. Thanks to the Ingbers, Kosher food is more accessible in Rhode Island, both for purchase and for those who need a helping hand.

The Ingbers’ volunteerism for the Providence Hebrew Day School goes back many years.  Jeff has managed the PHDS Kosher Wine Room, baked pizzas for the PT pre-Passover fundraiser, and arranged Lag B’Omer barbecues and many other school events.  Marcie has served both on the PHDS board and on the school’s Education Committee.

The Ingbers’ generosity also extends to several local organizations, including the Providence Community Kollel, Project Shoresh and Yeshiva Ohr Yisrael, in Boston.  The couple has also opened their home to host classes and given their time to take students fishing. 

The Young Leadership Award for 2022 will be presented to Schabse and Aviva Chana Laks.

Aviva is the daughter of David and Amy Kaufman, of Sharon, Massachusetts, who are longtime supporters of the school.

Aviva is a 2012 graduate of the Providence Hebrew Day School/New England Academy of Torah.  After graduating from NEAT as class valedictorian, Aviva studied in Israel for two years at the Tomer Devorah Seminary, Institute of Advanced Studies for Women.  When she returned to America, she attended Touro College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science, with a minor in graphic design. Aviva sells her original Judaica papercuts and other artwork at AceArts.net.

Aviva’s husband, Schabse, is a software engineer at Google, working on Google Classroom, which is used by schools worldwide.  He received the Microsoft MVP award from 2010 through 2018 for community contributions in the C# programming language.  After hours, Schabse continues his IT work, as a volunteer for his synagogue and for a Kollel in Passaic, New Jersey.

Schabse and Aviva live in West Hempstead, New York, with their two children. 

The awards program and dinner, on Sunday, June 19, at 5 p.m., at the Alliance’s Dwares JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, is open to the public and everyone is welcome. Cost is $65. To RSVP or to make a contribution in honor of the event, call the school at 331-5327, ext. 21, or go to www.phdschool.org/amudim.

RUCHAMA SZENDRO lives in Providence. She is a member of the Amudim committee.