Jewish Rhode Island, 401 Elmgrove Avenue, Providence, RI (2026)

06/19/2026

It was a busy and beautiful week recently at Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island (JCDSRI) with both Zimriyah and Special Visitors Day, two celebrations that offered such meaningful glimpses into the heart of the school community.

There is something incredibly moving about watching young children sing and dance with their whole selves in front of hundreds of people who are there for the sole purpose of loving and supporting them. Zimriyah never fails to leave us feeling hopeful in a world that can so often feel broken.

On Special Visitors Day, nearly 200 guests were welcomed into the school to experience the learning, joy and relationships that help students grow and thrive. Visitors had the opportunity to learn with and from 5th graders as they shared words of Torah at breakfast, spend time in classrooms seeing students proudly share projects, writing pieces, and new math concepts, and join in the kinnus (assembly), where everyone sang, celebrated, chanted, learned, and danced together with so much joy and ruach (spirit).

Moments like these reflect what makes JCDSRI so special: a community rooted in joyful Jewish learning, deep relationships and the belief that every child should be known, valued and inspired to grow.

Submitted by the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island

06/18/2026

If you feel as if antisemitism is coming at the Jewish community from all directions, Amy Spitalnick wants you to know that it is.

“It uniquely operates in conspiracy theories rooted in Jewish power,” said Spitalnick, CEO of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA). “It pits us against each other.”

And people are exploiting our fears, she said.

Spitalnick appeared May 12 in conversation with Cara Mitnick, Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island board member. More than 50 people listened carefully to Spitalnick’s reflections.

The event took place in the Baxt Social Hall at the Bonnie & Donald Dwares Jewish Community Center.

The JCPA is the national convener of Jewish coalitions working across communities to build a just and inclusive American democracy. Spitalnick has extensive experience in government and policy advocacy as well as working to counter hate such as that from the groups responsible for the 2017 Unite the Right Charlottesville rally that resulted in violence and death.

“The core tactic of extremism is to make you feel isolated.”

The JCPA is working with groups around the country to counter that. “We work closely with Community Relations Councils around the country. It is important to support local communities,” she said. [In Rhode Island, the Community Relations Council is part of the Jewish Alliance and works on social justice issues, government advocacy, antisemitism and anti-hate and Israel dialog.]

The JCPA is also involved in a partnership with teachers’ unions. “We need to do more to educate people as to who Jews are.”

“The only way to address antisemitism is to stay at the table and talk to people with whom we disagree,” Spitalnick said.

This is true across a wide spectrum of situations.

In politics we need to explain what Zionist really means, she said. “Zionism is not support for Israel politics. Zionism is a belief in self-determination.”

We can disagree about the Israeli government, Spitalnick said, but “religious freedom gives Jews a right to practice religion.”

In education, “We are working now to get to the point where teachers can report antisemitism, and the union is more inclusive.”

Despite it all, Spitalnick said she is hopeful. “A tactic of extremism is to make you feel hopeless. But Jews are building stronger communities and coalitions,” she said.

“We have no other choice but to do this work. Protecting Jewish safety matters,” she said.

Earlier in the evening, the Alliance hosted its annual Lion of Judah reception, bringing together community Lions – women philanthropists recognized for their leadership, generosity and commitment to strengthening Jewish life through charitable giving. The Lion of Judah program is an important symbol of women’s philanthropy and leadership within the Jewish community, honoring those whose support helps sustain vital programs, responds to challenges and ensures a strong future for Jewish organizations locally and around the world. The reception preceded remarks by Amy Spitalnick, whose national leadership in combating extremism and advancing democracy has helped shape important national conversations around community safety and inclusion.

Fran Denerstein, board chair of the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center, spoke to attendees, emphasizing the importance of collective action in doing what's right for the world. Wendy Joering, executive director of the Bornstein Center, highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the Alliance and the Center in addressing critical issues surrounding antisemitism across the state.

FRAN OSTENDORF is the interim editor of Jewish Rhode Island.

06/17/2026

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Temple Emanu-El will honor Cantor Dr. Brian J. Mayer for his 36 years of service with a joyful community-wide “Double Chai Weekend of Song & Celebration,” taking place Friday, May 29 through Sunday, May 31.

For nearly four decades, Cantor Mayer has filled Temple Emanu-El with music, mentorship, compassion and spirit, shaping generations through worship, education and community connection. The weekend-long tribute will celebrate his lasting impact through prayer, song, storytelling and musical performances featuring congregants, alumni, guest cantors and musicians from across the country.

All events are free and open to the public.

“Double Chai” symbolizes the number 36 in Jewish tradition – representing a double blessing of life – making this milestone especially meaningful for the congregation and community.

Reflecting on his service to Temple Emanu-El, Cantor Mayer said: “I have been blessed many times over during my 36 years at Temple Emanu-El. It has been the honor of my life to serve this sacred community – to teach, sing, celebrate, comfort and grow alongside generations of families who have become part of my own extended family. Every program, every tradition and every musical moment we’ve created together has been the work of our hands and hearts. I am profoundly grateful for the friendships, trust and shared spirit that have made this congregation my home and my life’s calling.”

Stephanie Markoff Cohen, chair of the Double Chai Weekend celebration committee, reflected on Cantor Mayer’s enduring impact on the congregation and community: “For more than three decades, Cantor Mayer has helped shape the soul of Temple Emanu-El through music, mentorship and an unwavering devotion to our community. His ability to honor tradition while inspiring new generations has created a lasting impact that will continue l’dor v’dor – from generation to generation. This weekend is both a celebration of his extraordinary career and an expression of gratitude for the love, wisdom and joyful spirit he has shared with all of us.”

The celebratory weekend begins on Friday, May 29, at 6 p.m. with “Shabbat Chai: A Klezmer Shabbat Experience,” an uplifting and spirited one-hour Shabbat service led by Cantor Mayer and the Shabbat Chai Band. Featuring a blend of contemporary and traditional melodies infused with klezmer energy, the service invites worshippers of all ages to sing, celebrate and welcome Shabbat together. Complimentary dinner to follow with rsvp.

On Saturday May 30, at 9:30 a.m., Temple Emanu-El will host the Torah Tutor Alumni Shabbat & Community Kiddush Luncheon, honoring generations of Torah Tutors and students whose Jewish journeys were enriched through the congregation’s beloved Torah Tutor program. Alumni participants will help lead the Shabbat service in tribute to Cantor Mayer’s enduring educational legacy.

The weekend culminates Sunday, May 31, at 3 p.m. with “Ma’aseh Yadeinu – The Work of Our Hands,” A Tribute to Cantor Dr. Brian J. Mayer, a large-scale musical celebration featuring more than 60 singers, musicians and soloists. The concert will include performances by Shir Emanu-El (Choral Club), HaZamir (Teen Choir), the Temple Choir and a 16-piece chamber orchestra.

Special guest performers include cantors Lynn Torgove, Hinda Eisen Labovitz and Maayan Harel Silverman, alongside musical director Cantor Joseph Ness, pianist Dr. Judith Lynn Stillman and organist Patrick Aiken. The program will highlight music that shaped Cantor Mayer’s life and career and reflect the many ways his leadership has inspired the community through the years.

All events are free and open to the community! The Double Chai Weekend is generously supported by the Dr. Joe & Bea Fishbein Fund, Charles C. Heller Fund, Cantor Jacob Hohenemser Fund, Gladys & Sherwin Kapstein Fund, Jerrold & Barbara Lavine Torah Tutor Fund, Leonard Mandell Music Fund, and Benton & Elaine Odessa Cantorial Fund. For more information, contact 401-331-1616 or teprov.org.

STEPHANIE TRACHTENBERG is Vice President of Membership Outreach at Temple Emanu-El in Providence.

06/15/2026

BOSTON, MASS. – On May 27, the Boston Red Sox hosted their annual Jewish Heritage Night at Fenway Park in recognition of Jewish American Heritage Month. The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island was proud to organize a group outing for the event, selling more than 100 tickets to community members, many of whom sat together in bleacher section 43.

Each attendee received a special commemorative jersey featuring “Red Sox” written in Hebrew, designed in the style of the team’s City Connect uniforms inspired by Fenway Park’s iconic Green Monster.

This marked the second consecutive year that the Alliance organized a group for Jewish Heritage Night. As in the past, transportation to and from Fenway was provided by bus, which played an important role in making the event accessible and appealing for many attendees. The shared experience of traveling together and cheering side by side at the game helped foster a strong sense of community throughout the evening.

Fans created a vibrant sea of green as they proudly wore their jerseys across the stadium. The night began with a meaningful on-field acknowledgment of Jewish Heritage Night, followed by a moving performance of the National Anthem by a Jewish musical group. The game itself remained competitive before the Red Sox ultimately secured an impressive 8–0 victory over the Atlanta Braves. More than just a baseball game, Jewish Heritage Night at Fenway served as a celebration of community, heritage and shared pride.

BRAD SWARTZ ([email protected]) is Partnerships and Fundraising Manager at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

06/10/2026

PROVIDENCE – The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island announced Monday that it has hired Steven A. Baker as the next President & CEO. Baker, who was selected after a national search, will begin his tenure on July 1.

According to the news release, Baker is an accomplished nonprofit executive with 19 years of leadership experience in philanthropy, community programming, and organizational development. He has a proven track record of building high-performing teams, driving transformational fundraising results, and advancing impact across both the Jewish and broader nonprofit sectors.

“We are thrilled to welcome Steven to Rhode Island,” said Marisa Garber, board chair of the Alliance. “His visionary leadership, deep commitment to Jewish values, and proven record of strengthening communities make him the ideal person to guide the Alliance into its next chapter.”

Baker will relocate to Rhode Island from Minneapolis, where he served as chief philanthropy officer for the Minneapolis Jewish Federation and Minnesota Jewish Community Foundation. His work in the Jewish community began in 2007 as regional director for BBYO in Phoenix, Arizona, before he went on to serve as a program officer at the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona. He then went to Colorado, working with education and environmental nonprofits before finding his way back to Jewish communal leadership at JEWISHcolorado, the statewide Jewish Federation there.

“This is an enormous opportunity for the Alliance and the greater Rhode Island Jewish community,” said Harris Chorney, interim CEO. “Steven will champion the Alliance’s mission of supporting and cultivating a connected, strong, and inclusive Jewish community while helping to shape its future growth and impact.”

Baker earned a Master of Business Administration from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, with a specialization in nonprofit management. He is a fellow of the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Foundation’s Executive Leadership Program and a Certified 21/64 Family Philanthropy Advisor, reflecting his deep commitment to leadership development and philanthropic excellence.

“My commitment to Jewish life, peoplehood, and Israel is both professional and deeply personal,” Baker said. “Jewish community is where I have found meaning and belonging—from BBYO, summer camp, and Israel experiences to a career devoted to strengthening Jewish life locally, nationally, and globally. I am honored by the opportunity to partner with the Board, professional team, and community to guide the organization into its next chapter of growth while honoring its values, legacy, and central role in Jewish life in Rhode Island.”

06/08/2026

On May 28, approximately 100 people from across Rhode Island gathered at Rhode Island College to discuss the state of hate nationally and locally. Over the course of more than six hours, members from a wide range of communities shared their experiences, their hopes for the future, their struggles and their wins.

The morning began with a welcome from Emily Gaudreau, director, Community Advocacy and Engagement at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island: “We are all here today because we recognize that what we are seeing in Rhode Island and across the nation is unacceptable. People are being targeted because of who they are, how they pray, who they love. Language that dehumanizes gives rise to hatred which grows when it is ignored or minimized. None of our communities exist in isolation. The safety of one community depends on the safety of all.”

What is at stake, according to keynote speaker Eric Ward, is whether we can still recognize ourselves in one another before fear tears apart this country entirely. “This is how democracy survives,” Ward said. “When we choose love, dignity and shared humanity even when fear would be easier.”

The Anit-Hate Summit was hosted by the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island in partnership with Youth Pride Inc., RI Commission on Prejudice & Bias, City of Providence, Center for Southeast Asians - CSEA, Nonviolence Institute, and Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center.

05/29/2026

Even MORE pet friends to celebrate!

05/26/2026

The Miriam Hospital Women's Association held its successful spring education
program on April 30. The featured speaker, Dr. Mariah Stump, spoke on the topic of
Healthy Brain, Healthy Life: Keep Your Brain Strong at Any Age. Over 60 guests heard
her speak on a variety of subjects involving brain health, including nutrition, sleep,
exercise and social connection.

Mariah Stump, MD, MPH, FACP, DipABLM, ABIOM is an attending physician and an
assistant professor of medicine/clinical educator at the Warren Alpert School of
Medicine of Brown University. In addition to many other appointments and
accommplishments, she is the president of the RI Medical Women's Association and
president elect of the Rhode Island Medical Society.

For more information about the Women's Association, go to
https://www.brownhealth.org/locations/miriam-hospital/miriam-hospital-womens-
association

05/21/2026

Celebrate Shavuot with this delicious treat! Recipe adapted from MilkMeansMore.org.

05/19/2026

Here are three responses from rabbis about their beloved pets. The responses have been lightly edited for publication.

R' Emily Goldberg Winer, Director of Spiritual Engagement at Congregation Beth Sholom in Providence, and Barley Goldberg Winer HaLevi Shlit"a

Barley (unless it's Passover when she goes by Quinoa) is our lovable, friendly, 75 pound Golden Retriever who has blessed our lives since October of 2022.

Barley is a font of goodness. She offers only love, licks and a compassionate presence to people of all ages. She has floppy ears that pull back when she sees any other dog to befriend. She runs on adrenaline, the presence of literally any dog or toddler, and blueberries. Hugging Barley is like embracing a human being – she just knows when people need some extra love and she shares it freely without limits.

I love it when Barley sighs on our couch. I always look at her and ask, "What ails you, our sweet golden freeloader??" She'll just mosey on over to the living room, ascend the coziest nook of our couch, and then sigh like every day is Tax Day. I also once saw a child crying outside and Barley just walked directly over to her and licked her face. Despite having likely no brain activity in that head of hers, Barley just shows up in her four-legged fashion and makes people smile!

In addition, Barley was the mascot for our East Side Goldens at Golden Hour gathering, which sounds exactly as ridiculous and wonderful as its title.

When I visit congregants at hospitals, I watch as therapy dogs bring a sense of peace and ease to patients' and staff teams' lives. While Barley is by no means licensed to actually provide trauma therapy, I have found that our dog has mastered naturally a skill that has taken me years to practice: she knows how to show up with her heart, literally zero judgment, and the ability to hold people's tears.

Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman, Rabbi at Temple Habonim in Barrington, and Bernie and Nala

Bernie is a Golden Retriever. He will be 10 years old in June. Nala is a Canaan dog (Israel's native dog) and is 6 years old. Both Bernie and Nala have been with us since they were puppies.

We love that Bernie is so good-natured and flexible, and he balances Nala's strong-willed personality. She is a herding dog and has been in charge of herding our family ever since she arrived.

When we take them to the dog park on Waterman Avenue, Bernie cannot wait to socialize and play with the other dogs and their owners. Nala, who was born just three weeks before COVID began, is much more cautious and tends to watch the other dogs from the sidelines. Still, despite her more reserved personality, Nala receives a lot of attention from the other dog owners, who comment on her unusual beauty and athleticism. They always seem surprised to hear about her Middle Eastern origins.

Now that our children have left home, Bernie and Nala provide us with an ongoing opportunity for caretaking and connection. It's a privilege to live with them, and they are a constant source of joy and fun in our lives.

Rabbi Jeffrey Goldwasser, Rabbi at Temple Sinai in Cranston, and Rilla

Rilla is a 4- year-old Australian Labradoodle. I love Rilla's energy. Everything is exciting to her from the moment she wakes up in the morning. She keeps me active.

A favorite moment happens every morning when Rilla rolls over for belly rubs. That is how she likes to begin the day. More belly-rub time usually happens in the evening. Also, my 21-year-old daughter, Eliana, is very attached to Rilla. She frequently sends us text messages from college requesting photos of the dog.

Rilla's excitement, energy and generally joyful way of experiencing life is always a reminder to me to center myself around joy and appreciation of all the good things in my life.

Jewish Rhode Island

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