Touro Fraternal Association hosts open house

Learn, eat and be entertained at this free event

Every year, Touro Fraternal Association conducts an Open House to familiarize prospective members with the organization. The largest Jewish men’s fraternal association, it consists of nearly 600 members. On Wednesday, April 23, you can learn about the many benefits it provides while enjoying a complimentary full-course meal – Touro Fraternal’s famous K.B.C., or Kosher Baked Chicken.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and includes an appearance by “Charles in Charge,” the irreverent radio personality Geoff Charles. Charles is a radio veteran of more than 20 years; currently, he hosts an afternoon program on Providence’s 94 HJY. He’ll share his worldviews as well as speak about his love of Judaism and the Yiddish language.

The Voice asked Jed Brandes, Chairman of the Board at Touro Fraternal, and Andy Lamchick, Community Involvement Committee Chairman, about the organization and reasons to join. They shared that Touro’s original large-scale community effort was to provide coal for poor Jewish immigrants to heat their homes. Over time, as membership increased, the association added benefits and social events.

Now its calendar boasts lodge meetings that feature interesting speakers from multiple arenas, including politics, sports, entertainment and public service. In addition, numerous outside events keep life exciting for Touro Fraternal members and their families. These include trips to PawSox games and Foxwoods, golf league and tournament, fluke fishing, family game nights and Touro’s famous “Two-fers” (two-for-the-price-of-one dinner dances) at the area’s best function halls.

Besides filling up its members’ social calendars, the association offers significant advantages such as mortuary and sick benefits; graves at Lincoln Park Cemetery; grants and interest-free college loans; and discounts on long-term care insurance, Providence Performing Arts Center performances and BJ’s Warehouse Club membership. Current Touro members who sign up new “regular” members during the Open House will be entitled to other incentives.

Continuing with the established tradition, the association is dedicated to giving back–its Community Involvement Committee makes annual financial commitments to worthy charities that benefit the Jewish community and all residents of Southern New England. Some of the organizations that have gained from Touro Fraternal’s donations include the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, Jewish Family Services, Jewish Seniors Agency, Meeting Street Center and Ronald McDonald House.

For almost two decades, Touro Fraternal has been an advocate and a financial supporter of the March of the Living program that sends dozens of Jewish high school students on a life-changing visit to Poland to learn about the Holocaust and to Israel to experience the beauty of the country firsthand. Lamchick says, “Touro Fraternal Association is fortunate to be able to make this dream come true for students who will cherish this venture for the rest of their lives.”

Those interested in joining Touro Fraternal Association are encouraged to visit their website, TouroFraternal.org, and attend the Open House, which will be held at Touro’s headquarters, 45 Rolfe Sq., Cranston.

IRINA MISSIURO is a writer and editorial consultant for The Jewish Voice.