YEAR IN REVIEW: What a year it’s been: Highlights of coverage in Jewish Rhode Island

JANUARY

The Voice turns a new page

The Jewish Voice became Jewish Rhode Island. The modernized newspaper features an updated format and a brand-new electronic newsletter. This was the first major change to the paper since 2013, when its name changed from The Jewish Voice & Herald.

Community members “Sing the Dream”

On Jan. 27, a multi-faith group of singers came together at Providence’s Temple Emanu-El for “Singing the Dream,” a program honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The chorus, led by Emanu-El’s cantor, Dr. Brian J. Mayer, was joined by Joshua Nelson, “The Prince of Kosher Gospel.”

FEBRUARY

Hebrew Free Loan associations merge

We reported on the October merger between two Providence-based Hebrew loan associations. The two groups, founded in 1903 and 1905, came together as The Greater Providence Hebrew Free Loan. The merger has allowed the group to streamline its application process and become more accessible to the Jewish community in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Local couples find love at summer camp

Our “Camp” issue featured the stories of three couples who met at New England Jewish summer camps. Natasha Rabinovich and Jeffrey Buckler, as well as Dana Labitt and Andrew Quackenbush, met at Camp JORI; Asher Fink and Merisa Vinick met on a Camp Ramah trip to Israel.

MARCH

Adler’s Hardware celebrates 100 years in business

Adler’s Hardware, a fixture on Providence’s Wickenden Street, celebrated its centennial. The store was opened in 1919 by Jewish Romanian immigrant Fred Adler and is today run by Fred’s grandsons, Harry and Marc.

 Jeffrey Padwa recognized with Extraordinary Leadership Award

For his work in addressing Rhode Island’s human service needs, attorney Jeffrey Padwa received the Network of Jewish Human Service Agencies’ Extraordinary Leadership Award. Padwa was lauded for his passion and vision, and credited as instrumental in creating Jewish Collaborative Services from Jewish Seniors Agency and Jewish Family Service.

APRIL

Brown University students vote to divest from Israel

On March 21, students at Brown University voted to divest the school from holdings connected to companies doing business with Israel. University president Christina Paxson responded to the majority vote in favor of divestment by stating that “Brown’s endowment is not a political instrument to be used to express views on complex social and political issues.” Paxson has previously spoken out against similar efforts at Brown.

New England Rabbinical College honors Providence College dean

Judith Jamieson, a former dean at Providence College, was honored on Feb. 24 at the New England Rabbinical College’s 34th Anniversary Dinner. Jamieson was instrumental in building a partnership between the two schools, which made it possible for NERC students to transfer their rabbinical school credits to PC’s secular degree programs.

MAY

JCDS Celebrates 40 years of Jewish education

The 40th anniversary gala of the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island (formerly the Alperin Schechter Day School), was held in April. Almost 200 people reunited to celebrate the milestone.

Rabbi Franklin prepares to retire

Rabbi Wayne Franklin was feted by testimonials and music at a dinner in his honor, in acknowledgement of his pending retirement and celebrating his 38 years as Temple Emanu-El’s senior rabbi. Franklin served longer than any other rabbi in the congregation’s history.

JUNE

The community packages meals for those in need

In April, the community gathered at Temple Beth-El to aid The Outreach Program in assembling 40,000 meals for those in need. Hundreds showed up to help, including members of Johnson & Wales University’s Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity and a cadet class from the Providence Police Academy. The event raised $9,800 in donations.

Celebrating the new Jewish Collaborative Services

Members of the community celebrated the merger of Jewish Family Service of Rhode Island and Jewish Seniors Agency of Rhode Island into Jewish Collaborative Services, which consolidates the work of its founding agencies. As part of the celebration, several individuals were honored for their work in the community.

JULY

Rhode Island reflects on 50 years since the first moon landing

We asked seven people to comment on the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing. They shared memories of the moment and reflected upon its meaning; the rabbis who participated in the panel also shared their thoughts on the spiritual implications of the historic event.

Forty years of Congregation Beth David

In June, Narragansett’s Congregation Beth David marked its 40th anniversary as a year-round synagogue. The congregation celebrated by honoring its past presidents and joining for a dinner, which included a screening of congregants’ filmed testimonials and a visit from Ethiopian refugee Yarden Fanta, Ph.D.

AUGUST

Help complete Holocaust Memorial inscriptions

We published an appeal on behalf of the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center. The Rhode Island Holocaust Memorial features an incomplete list of the names of Holocaust survivors who came to live in Rhode Island after the war; SBHEC hopes that the community can help to complete the list.

Neal Drobnis celebrates a milestone with the Kosher Senior Cafes

Neal Drobnis, Jewish Collaborative Services’ Coordinator of Kosher Nutrition, marked 10 years as part of JCS’ Kosher Senior Cafes program. Drobnis’ achievement was celebrated with cake and accolades from the community.

SEPTEMBER

Rabbi Fel takes over for Rabbi Franklin

We interviewed Rabbi Michael Fel, who replaced Rabbi Wayne Franklin as Temple Emanu-El’s senior rabbi. Rabbi Fel was a Schuster Rabbinic Fellow at Jewish Theological Seminary; he has a master’s degree in Midrash and Scriptural Interpretation, and a Rhode Island connection.

The Conversation begins

Jewish Rhode Island began its new feature, “The Conversation,” which presents two community members’ perspectives on topics of importance to our community. The first Conversation explored the topic of “Guns in the Synagogue.”

OCTOBER

Ari Melber visits Providence

We interviewed journalist Ari Melber prior to his November speaking engagement at the Jewish Alliance. Melber, who won a 2016 Emmy Award for his reporting on the Supreme Court, had a few comments about the current state of the country’s judiciary.

Eight must-read stories

“The 8 must-read Jewish news stories of 5779” highlighted articles from the JTA on such issues as the increase of anti-Semitic incidents, U.S. and Israeli politics, and matters of public health.

NOVEMBER

Loeb Visitors Center celebrates 10 years

The Loeb Visitors Center, on the campus of Touro Synagogue, celebrated its 10th anniversary. The Center highlights the history of religious freedom in the United States; it is marking the event by offering free admission to all Rhode Island residents through the end of the year.

The Jewish Alliance welcomes a new shlichah

We interviewed the Jewish Alliance’s new shlichah (Israeli emissary), Or Cohen. Cohen is a champion swimmer and a veteran of the Israel Defense Forces; she was the first female commander of an Israeli patrol boat.

DECEMBER

Jewish Rhode Island completes one year as a monthly newspaper.