Women’s Alliance welcomes community guests and writer Judith Frank

Marcia Hirsch, Mindy Sherwin and Sharon Gaines, Alliance Board chair /PHOTOS | ELAINE SANDYSEEKONK, MASS. – Empathy. Fairness. Awareness of something bigger than ourselves. All overarching themes of this year’s Women’s Alliance Annual Campaign celebration co-chaired by Lezli Pious and Robin Kall Homonoff and held Nov. 6 at Ledgemont Country Club.

A beautiful Lion of Judah dinner sponsored by Wesley Alpert in memory of Grace Alpert started the evening, followed by remarks from the event’s co-chairs as well as Board Chair Sharon Gaines and Vice Chair of the 2015 Annual Campaign Mitzi Berkelhammer.

“We represent hundreds of thousands of donors around the world. In fact, over $160 million is raised by women’s philanthropy in Federation campaigns every year. $160 million! Think about how much money that is. When we say we can change the world together, we mean it!” announced Berkelhammer proudly.

Allie Robbio, student at the University of Rhode Island, shared her story of growing up in Rhode Island with the benefit of Jewish programs that shaped her life. This summer, she participated in an Israel internship program sponsored by the Jewish Alliance and returned to Rhode Island more aware of who she is as a Jewish woman and what she wishes to accomplish for her community. She thanked the audience for making all of her Jewish experiences possible, through their donations to the Jewish Alliance.

The event’s guest speaker, renowned writer Judith Frank, read excerpts of her latest novel, “All I Love and Know,” and shared snippets of her life, offering further insight into the novel.

Having grown up outside of Chicago, Frank’s mother, a widow at 35, moved the family to Israel shortly after Frank’s father passed away. Judith and her twin sister were both 17. Their brother was 14. Acclimating was not easy. She did not know Hebrew. She did not know the customs and practices. She did not know where or who she was supposed to be. So she grew more aware of her surroundings, and she wrote about them in order to become them – the memories of light, the sounds of sandals slapping on the streets, the aromas of Shabbat cooking wafting from apartment windows. She lived in Israel for six years before returning to the states to attain a Ph.D. at Cornell.

“Part of the writing process is using what it is you know and are comfortable with to explore. I didn’t know anything about Israel prior to being moved to Israel. But the awareness of things became so clear to me when I left. It took me leaving Israel to be more aware of Israel. My viewpoint had shifted. And this novel had a range of those viewpoints. The power of art broadens peoples’ perspectives.”

Frank’s novel considers a variety of topics from gay marriage and adoption to the Middle East conflict. She illustrates humanity through each of her characters. “My hope is that my readers will empathically engage with characters who may be different than they are and that that engagement will open them up a little. We have all experienced the same things – love, loss. We are all the same. That’s what empathy is. My mother taught me this. She was difficult and formidable and wonderful. She’s in all of my stories, including this one.”

Frank, a mother of twin 6-year-old girls herself, is learning how to enjoy the ride. “Having children has taught me to slow down and love the moment.”

It was a successful event featuring women who have made great impacts on the local and worldwide Jewish communities. Gaines said, “We are able to put the Jewish values of generosity and responsibility into action every day. When Jews need our help, we are there for them. It is hard to believe that right here in Rhode Island, half of Jewish households face economic difficulties. We need to continue working toward better long-term solutions to the ever-increasing needs.”

JENNIFER ZWIRN is in grants and planning for the Jewish Alliance.