Sharon Gaines welcomed the crowd June 16 to
the third annual meeting of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island by
taking a moment to recognize the plight of the three kidnapped teenagers in
Israel. At the entrance to the Dwares JCC Social Hall was a table with iPads
so that the audience could sign a virtual message to the families of Eyal
Yifrach, Gilad Shaar and Naftali Frenkel from the Jewish Federations of North
America (JFNA). “We hope this will offer some comfort that we are supporting
these efforts,” Gaines said.
As a prelude to the annual awards
presentation, members of Pastrami on RI blended their voices for “The Star
Spangled Banner” and “Hatikvah” as well as “Bilvavi.”
Pastrami on RI, a post-collegiate coed Jewish a capella group, is a (401)j
cluster that performs locally.
Awards
presented
The Jenny Klein Memorial Teacher Award,
established by the Alperin-Hirsch Family Foundation to recognize outstanding
teachers who have excelled in teaching and demonstrated a commitment to
Jewish education in a synagogue religious school was presented to Nitza
Attali. Attali, who teaches second-, third-, fifth- and sixth-grade students
at Temple Beth-El in Providence, transmits her love of her homeland of Israel
to her students. “In Israel, our national treasure is our children. Keep on
loving our nation,” she said.
The Riesman Leadership Development Award,
created by Robert and Marcia Reisman to inspire and encourage emerging
leadership, is awarded to individuals who have demonstrated leadership and
commitment through significant service with the Alliance. Recipients attend
the General Assembly of the JFNA. Rabbi Barry Dolinger, spiritual leader of
Congregation Beth Sholom, is this year’s recipient. A member of the board of
directors of the Alliance, he served as lead educator for the New England
Region of the March of the Living and is a founding member of (401)j.
“Outside of your congregation,” presenter Doris Feinberg said, “you have embraced
our community. You are already on a path that will cement your leadership in
our community.”
Dolinger had particularly kind words for the
Rhode Island community where, he said, “Everyone gets along and cooperates …
more than anywhere.”
The Norma D. & Flo Tilles Community
Relations Council Award was established to stimulate and encourage leaders
and emerging leaders who have performed significant service to the Community
Relations Council (CRC) of the Alliance. Sharon Gaines, a previous recipient,
presented this award to Richard Glucksman, chair of the Government Relations
Council of the CRC and a senior staff attorney at Blue Cross Blue Shield of
Rhode Island. As the Government Relations Council chair, Glucksman reaches
out to government officials at the federal, state and local levels to raise
awareness of Alliance priorities and goals.
Glucksman thanked his high school teacher for
inspiring him and his mentors at the CRC for providing an unparalleled model
of service.
The final award of the evening, the Joseph W.
Ress Community Service Award, recognized an individual who has demonstrated
exemplary leadership at the Alliance, local or national Jewish agencies and
the general Rhode Island community. Joan Ress Reeves presented the award to
Alan Litwin, whom she deemed “a regular Joe Ress Junior,” referring to her
father, after whom the award was named. As she listed Litwin’s many
contributions to the community at large, she mentioned the similarities to
her father’s activities.
Litwin, managing partner of Kahn, Litwin,
Renza & Co. Ltd., has served on the boards of the Jewish Seniors Agency,
Jewish Home Corp., Jewish Family Service, Brown RISD Hillel, Temple Emanu-El,
Miriam Hospital and The Miriam Hospital Foundation. He is a past president of
the JCC and served on the board of the Alliance.
In accepting the award, Litwin said, “It’s
such an honor to be named in the same sentence as Joe Ress, let alone get
this award.” He said that the real reward is to be able to instill the same
values of service in his children.
Alliance report
Jeffrey Savit, president and CEO of the
Alliance, offered an encouraging report of growth and renewal at the
Alliance, highlighting several initiatives underway.
“I hope, a year from now, we’ll be sitting in
our renovated social hall,” he said, referring to the ongoing renovations to
the Dwares JCC. He said that fundraising has resulted in more than $2 million
so far, and that the result will be a “lovely inclusive user-friendly
community center.”
Savit also told the meeting about the Living
on the Edge Initiative, explaining that almost one-half of our community is
living on the edge of financial insecurity. “We are committed to helping
those in need in our community, “he said.
Fundraising has reached $1.4 million of the
initial goal of $1.8 million for this initiative. “We are beginning to raise
an army of people to help,” he said.
Commitment to community was the theme of the
evening as the meeting celebrated the American Jewish Joint Distribution
Committee’s 100 years of service and its impact around the world.
“It’s wonderful to share in this anniversary
with Alan Gill and Dov Ben-Shimon,” Savit said. “For 100 years, there’s been
one worldwide address for Jews in need. We cherish our relationship.”
“I’ve seen the depth of commitment you have in
this community,” the JDC’s Ben-Shimon responded. “I’m proud of the
partnership we have.”
In an earlier conversation, Ben-Shimon said
that he and Gill value the deep and meaningful tie that the JDC has with the
Jewish community of Rhode Island. “We see the impact that Jewish philanthropy
has around the world.”
Gill, CEO of the JDC, and Ben-Shimon,
executive director-Strategic Partnerships, are well-known to members of the
Rhode Island Jewish community, where support has been high for the work of
the JDC around the world. Ben-Shimon has accompanied many Rhode Islanders on
missions around the world.
From the JDC
Gill delivered a brief history of the JDC,
from its beginnings in 1914, and a “brief snapshot of the Jewish world
through the JDC lens. “Here we sit as brother and sister. We, as a Jewish
people, will be there to help. The 100th anniversary is a time to consider
where every dollar you give us is spent,” he said.
He explained that the JDC’s mission hasn’t
changed though the years.
He stressed that all Jews are responsible for
one another. “We are the only Jewish organization that holds itself
accountable.” The JDC is active throughout the world – in Russia, in Hungary
and Ukraine, in Greece, in Germany, and in Israel and in many other
countries. Wherever there are Jews who need food, medicine, financial help or
help staying safe, the JDC is there.
Israel is one example. Gill said that 36.5
percent of Israeli children are living below the poverty line. “We’re
fighting poverty. We can’t afford a social fabric that’s frayed.”
Ukraine is another example. Gill mentioned the
work that the JDC is doing there to make sure that Ukraine’s Jewish
population, which numbers more than 300,000, is getting the help it needs.
“I talk about the history to remind us of what
happens when we stay focused on our mission,” Gill said. “Our mission is our
business plan.”
His compelling stories of housebound elderly
in communities under stress, worldwide, held the attention of the crowd. They
were meant to illustrate the work done by the JDC, said Gill, so “am Israel
chai” … the Jewish people shall live.
Following Gill’s speech, Edward Feldstein
installed the newly elected boards of the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode
Island, the Federation Foundation and the Alliance Realty.
Gaines ended the evening with remarks echoing
those of Savit. “Change is never easy,” she said. But, showing what Feldstein
had termed her positive outlook, she said, “We will continue to move
forward.” She cited the Living on the Edge Initiative as a defining moment
and said that the Alliance is positioning itself for a great future.
FRAN OSTENDORF is the Editor of The Jewish Voice.
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