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

08/31/2026

Leaders and supporters of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) met with U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner, D-R.I., in June, urging him to support legislation that would protect Jews, as well as others, at religious institutions and community centers.

In the meeting, ADL urged Magaziner, who represents the state’s second congressional district, to support three pieces of legislation: the Jewish American Security Act, Safeguarding Access to Congregations and Religious Establishments from Disruption (SACRED) Act and Pray Safe Act.

“These asks are grounded in an urgent reality,” said Samantha Joseph, ADL’s regional director for New England.

According to ADL statistics, more than 300 people nationwide were victims of antisemitic assaults in 2025, marking the need for increased security.

The bipartisan Jewish American Security Act would enhance the federal government’s ability to prevent and respond to antisemitic acts. The SACRED Act would establish a 100-foot buffer zone around places of worship, like those already in place around women’s health clinics.

The Pray Safe Act would create a hub at the Department of Homeland Security that would help nonprofits and religious institutions access safety and security support and resources.

At the meeting, the group shared data from their recently released 2025 Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, a yearly report that aims to be a comprehensive listing of all antisemitic incidents in the U.S.

While 2024 broke the record for most incidents reported nationwide, ADL found a decrease in 2025. In Rhode Island, incidents fell from 52 in 2024 to 26 in 2025. According to ADL, this was driven by a much lower number of incidents on college campuses as federal investigations forced administrations to take antisemitism seriously and demonstrations against Israel lessened.

Still, ADL found, the number of incidents is dramatically higher than it was before Oct. 7, and, more troubling, assaults have continued to climb. Nationally, assaults with a deadly weapon rose 39 percent.

“2025 was one of the most violent years for American Jews on record,” Joseph said.

In the seven countries that represent more than 90 percent of the Jewish diaspora, 20 people were murdered in antisemitic violence – the most since the 1994 AMIA bombing in Argentina, according to a July 29 report by J7. Across those countries, antisemitic incidents are up 136%, and violent incidents are up 97% compared to 2022.

J7, a coalition that includes ADL, represents Jewish organizations in those seven countries, which include the U.S.

ADL’s meeting with Magaziner was part of its national lobby day. In New England, the organization also met with Rep. Maggie Goodlander, D-N.H., and a representative of Rep. Lori Trahan, D-Mass. The group is planning another lobby day in August.

08/27/2026

The work of Irving Guyer (1916–2012), a painter whose art spanned eight decades, will be featured at the Bunny Fain Gallery at Temple Habonim. Reflecting his evolution from 1930s figuration to the New York School to landscape-based abstraction, his paintings are stunning, and the collection is remarkable. The show opens with a reception Thursday, Aug. 27, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Born in Philadelphia, Guyer studied at the Art Students League and was employed by the Works Project Administration (WPA) Federal Art Project as a painter and printmaker. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during WWII, providing illustrations for technical manuals. After the war, he worked as an art director, graphic designer and illustrator.

Guyer returned to painting in the 1960s and produced gestural abstract paintings related to the New York School that integrated figurative elements within their overall compositions. “New York School” was a phrase coined by the artist Robert Motherwell to describe a group of abstract expressionists who painted in Manhattan after the war. There was no actual school; it was more an informal exchange of ideas through gatherings that reflected a movement away from the social realism of that time.

After moving to San Francisco with his wife in 1975, Guyer’s work changed significantly, reflecting his response to the Pacific coast landscape. Influenced by Henri Matisse’s cut-out compositions, Guyer’s work during the late 1970s and early 1980s is characterized by simplified, abstract shapes in dynamic compositions and a deep engagement with color and light.

The couple moved again in 1985 to the Sierra foothills of California, where Guyer continued his exploration of landscape and abstraction. His daily observation of the forest, skies and geology inspired his work as he progressed through a range of formal approaches. His mantra was to explore a given style of painting until he felt he had exhausted what he wanted from it and then to try another, very different style. In his nineties in the mid-2000s, with eyesight compromised by macular degeneration, Guyer continued his daily practice of painting with great energy, creating several bodies of innovative work.

Guyer’s work is held in numerous public collections including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum, National Gallery of Art, Brooklyn Museum, Baltimore Museum of Art, UC Berkeley Art Museum & Pacific Film Archive, New York Public Library Print Collection and others. Many of his works are also in private collections, and several of these will be on exhibit in this show. Other works are currently housed in the Providence home of his son Mark Guyer, available for viewing upon request. Mark Guyer will make a few remarks about his father and his work at the Aug. 27 reception.

The gallery at Temple Habonim at 165 New Meadow Road in Barrington is open Tuesdays to Thursdays 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., and 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 on Fridays, and by appointment.

08/24/2026

A young woman in a Beit Ruth STEM training program works on a robot.
Courtesy Beit Ruth.

When the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island supports partners overseas, it does more than provide funding. It strengthens the connections that bind the global Jewish community and ensures that no one faces challenges alone.

That commitment inspired the Alliance's Community Development Committee (CDC) to fund Beit Ruth for Young Women & Girls at Risk, an Israeli organization that empowers young women overcoming trauma, abuse, neglect and family instability. Through this year's Community Campaign, Beit Ruth received an allocation, as they have for the past several years.

At Beit Ruth, young women find more than a safe place to live. They receive therapeutic care, educational support, mentorship and life-skills training that help them build stable, independent futures. For many, it is their first experience of safety, encouragement and hope.

“We’re so grateful for the Jewish Alliance of Rhode Island’s partnership with Beit Ruth, and we’re proud to share in the work of building resilience for Israel’s girls and young women at risk — and for Israel itself,” said Danielle Burenstein, Beit Ruth’s executive director. “Knowing we share in each other’s guiding values, especially at this challenging time, fills us with gratitude, hope and resolve, and we thank you.”

The organization's mission reflects a core Jewish value: Every person has inherent dignity and deserves the opportunity to thrive. That belief aligns closely with the Alliance's commitment to strengthening Jewish life in Rhode Island, Israel and around the world.

Community Development Committee (CDC) member Hanina Rosenstien said, “I value the partnership between the Alliance and Beit Ruth because it reflects the heart of our community — our commitment to caring for one another, building relationships and making a lasting impact beyond our own walls. Beit Ruth brings incredible dedication and purpose to its important work, and I am grateful that our community has the opportunity to live our values by supporting their mission to serve some of our most vulnerable members.”

The CDC, chaired by Sara Miller, evaluates requests from local and overseas organizations, guided by the principle that Jewish communities share a responsibility for one another regardless of geography. That commitment feels especially meaningful during a time of ongoing challenges in Israel and across the Jewish world.

For Community Campaign donors, support for Beit Ruth demonstrates how local generosity can create global impact. Gifts made in Rhode Island help provide counseling, education, mentorship and stability for young women working to overcome extraordinary obstacles.

Partnerships like Beit Ruth illustrate the power of collective responsibility. Support for Beit Ruth is made possible through gifts to the Jewish Alliance's Community Campaign, which raises critical dollars to strengthen Jewish life locally and globally. To learn more about the campaign or the allocations process, visit jewishallianceri.org or contact Brad Swartz, fundraising and partnership manager, at [email protected].

Submitted by the Jewish Alliance development team.

08/20/2026

Members of the HaZamir choir perform.
Courtesy Zamir Choral Foundation.

PROVIDENCE – The local chapter of HaZamir: the International Jewish Teen Choir is recruiting young people entering grades nine through 12 for the fall, with rehearsals taking place at Temple Emanu-El under the guidance of Cantor Dr. Brian Mayer, the temple’s cantor emeritus.

HaZamir groups around the U.S. and in Israel will rehearse throughout the 2026-2027 season, which will culminate in April with a gala performance by hundreds of HaZamir teens at New York City’s David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center.

“This is a transformative opportunity for these teens as they express their Jewish identities through their love of music as they work towards a common goal,” HaZamir Director Vivian Lazar said. “The camaraderie and healing power of choral singing also boosts mood and self-confidence, which fosters success in all areas of their lives.” Lazar added that the group provides teens with a “safe space to build leadership skills and strong connections to peers from a range of backgrounds.”

Throughout the program, the teens meet weekly in their local chapters, where they are guided by experienced conductors, like Cantor Mayer in Providence. In addition, there are regional, national and international gatherings. Leading up to the NYC gala is a three-day festival bringing together Israeli and American teens to rehearse, socialize and “participate in facilitated encounter groups that allow for cultural exchange and understanding.”

The choir was created by Maestro Matthew Lazar, founder and director of the Zamir Choral Foundation, to provide an opportunity for accomplished young singers to perform Jewish music. “Now, more than ever, this supportive community is crucial to teens,” he said.

To learn about the organization, visit www.hazamir.org, and for information on joining the Providence chapter, email [email protected].

08/17/2026

PROVIDENCE — Three Democrats and one Republican running to become Rhode Island’s next attorney general answered community-generated questions Aug. 5 before an audience of 150 at the Bonnie & Donald Dwares JCC during a forum organized by the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.

The three Democratic contenders — Kim Ahern, Keith Hoffmann and Jason Knight — agreed broadly on the issues but emphasized different approaches they would take to the job. Joseph Solomon, Jr., a Democratic candidate, did not attend.

Alan Gordon, the Republican, offered an expected contrast with the other candidates, differing sharply on several issues.

Emily Gaudreau, the Alliance’s director of community advocacy and engagement and the event's moderator, started the evening with a call for civility. “I have asked all the candidates to model civil discourse throughout tonight’s forum,” Gaudreau said. “It is a forum, not a debate, and I ask that they direct their response to me or to the audience rather than to one another.”

The candidates generally followed suit, sometimes referencing each other’s work positively, even across party lines.

Gaudreau asked the candidates a series of nine questions on topics ranging from antisemitism to federal overreach, generated beforehand by community members, and allowed each an opportunity for opening and closing remarks.

Alliance CEO Steven A. Baker said that representing diverse opinions is “something we take very seriously” and added that he hopes to “represent as much as we can ... the many voices in Jewish Rhode Island and the broader community.”

08/14/2026

Ruth Oppenheimer, used with permission of the Oppenheimer family. | Adam Mastoon

Temple Habonim will present the New England premiere of "Reunion” Tuesday, Sept. 15 at the Avon Cinema in Providence. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the film begins at 6:30 p.m.

The screening will honor Ruth Oppenheim, a Holocaust survivor and valued member of the Temple Habonim community. Organizer Hilary Rosenfeld met Ruth when she attended Temple Habonim’s Thursday Lunch and Learn. There she heard Ruth’s reflections on the antisemitism she experienced before leaving Germany with her family.

“Ruth spent her life shining the light on her experiences,” Rosenfeld said. “The whole purpose of this event is to continue to tell the stories that Ruth and her generation experienced.”

Directed by Jerry Schatzberg, with a screenplay by Harold Pinter based on Fred Uhlman’s novel, “Reunion” follows the friendship of two teenage boys in 1930s Germany as the rise of Na**sm and antisemitism begins to divide them.

The film was nominated at the Cannes Film Festival in 1989 and received only a brief theatrical release in the U.S. It was shown again during a 2025 Museum of Modern Art retrospective of Schatzberg’s work. Rialto Pictures subsequently acquired the rights and commissioned a new print, recognizing the film’s renewed relevance at a time of rising antisemitism.

Ruth’s life, story and steady presence were deeply woven into the Temple Habonim community, and her absence is felt throughout the congregation since her March 12 passing.

Hilary Rosenfeld contributed to this article.

A question-and-answer session is planned following the screening. The film is recommended for middle school students and older and may be especially meaningful for families to experience and discuss together.

Tickets are $25 each. Advance purchase through the Temple Habonim website is recommended, although tickets will also be available at the Avon Cinema box office on the night of the screening.

Net proceeds will support educational programming at Temple Habonim in memory of Ruth Oppenheim.

ADINA L. DAVIES is the administrator at Temple Habonim.

08/10/2026

The Old Colony House in Newport, R.I.
Shannon Hammond, courtesy of Newport Historical Society.

NEWPORT – On Sunday, August 16, TSF Newport will host the George Washington Letter Reading, an annual event honoring our nation’s heritage of religious freedom and diversity. This year marks the 79th annual reading of the famous letter and the second consecutive year the event has been held at Newport’s Old Colony House.

George Washington’s 1790 letter “To the Hebrew Congregation in Newport” was written after his first trip to Rhode Island as President. In his eloquent reply to a letter by Moses Seixas, warden of the local Jewish congregation, Washington affirmed the new government’s commitment to religious liberty, an entitlement he regarded as an “inherent natural right.” The federal government, Washington stated, “gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance” — borrowing the now-famous phrase from Seixas’ letter that expressed their shared vision for America’s government.

The program will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Old Colony House at the head of Washington Square in the heart of Colonial Newport. While in-person seating is limited, the event will be live-streamed, and all may attend virtually via a link on TSF Newport’s page, Facebook.com/TSFNewportRI.

The annual event has a long tradition of distinguished keynote speakers and letter readers, including U.S. Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan.

This year, the George Washington Letter will be read by Keith Stokes, Vice-Chair of TSF Newport, Associate Director of the Rhode Island Division of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, and Rhode Island Historian Laureate.

Sam Shamoon, longtime TSF Newport board member, will read Moses Seixas' letter to President Washington, which inspired the President's famous response.

Rachel Laser, President & CEO of Americans United for Separation of Church & State, will deliver the keynote address.

To learn more about President Washington's 1790 letter to the congregation that worshiped in Touro Synagogue—the nation's oldest surviving synagogue, dedicated in 1763—visit TSFNewport.org/ReligiousFreedom.

For more information or to inquire about attending in person, contact Meryle Cawley at [email protected] or (401) 847-4794, ext. 207.

08/04/2026

Three and a half weeks before the end of World War I in 1918, a 25-year-old American soldier named Maurice Akabas was killed in northeastern France by a German shell. Buried three times, he eventually came to rest in the Meuse Argonne American Military Cemetery near Verdun, France. He was my great uncle; I learned of his existence only a year and a half ago.

It all began with an email from Shalom Lamm, one of the co-founders of Operation Benjamin. This organization’s mission is to identify American Jewish soldiers whose graves are inadvertently marked with Latin Crosses rather than Stars of David. My Uncle Maurice was one of those soldiers. Shalom shared surprising information about my great uncle, as well as his sister, my grandmother, Lillian Franklin, and their family. He asked if I would like Maurice’s matzevah replaced with a Magen David. My brother, Gordon, and I, plus 13 cousins, some of whom I know and some of whom I have never met, all signed a letter to the American Battle Monuments Commission requesting the replacement of the marker. On June 2 of this year, the cross was respectfully removed and a Star of David replaced it to mark the grave.

Four relatives of Uncle Maurice, my brother, two cousins, our wives and I, participated in the ceremony. The event reconnected Uncle Maurice with our family, as well as the Jewish people and the country he served. We anticipated sharing the ceremony with the families of four other GIs whose markers were also corrected. I had not expected that nearly 100 other activists and supporters of Operation Benjamin and its German partner organization, Operation Levi, would choose to witness this milestone. Their supportive presence was moving.

The change of marker ceremony was dignified and inspiring. I was deeply touched to see how handsomely the American cemetery was designed and cared for. I appreciated Shalom Lamm’s comments as the crosses were removed. He said they were not being discarded with any disrespect or animosity; they were, instead, greatly appreciated for having identified and watched over our loved ones for a century. Uncle Maurice was not abandoned; this Lithuanian immigrant was at peace far from his adopted home in Boston.

The marker change was more than a symbolic act. It recognized who he really was; it connected him to family members who are committed to preserving his memory in our lifetimes. We said Kaddish for him in France and are now sharing the memory of his service to our country with our children and grandchildren. Far from being forgotten within the family, Uncle Maurice’s memory is now very much alive; we’ll observe his yahrzeit every year.

The battles near Verdun were among the costliest in human lives, and they caused American and German Jewish soldiers to fight against one another in WWI. American Jews, those born in the USA and those who had recently immigrated, were committed to safeguarding the security and freedoms that America offered. German Jews fought for their country as patriotic citizens. Their service was also meant to demonstrate their loyalty and full emancipation in German society.

The day after the monuments were replaced in the American cemetery, Operation Levi hosted the entourage at the German Military Cemetery at Consenvoye. There, the graves of 12 Jewish soldiers which had been marked with crosses were honorably distinguished with Stars of David.

I was impressed with how forthright and confessional the German officials were about how Jews were treated in Germany after WWI. General Dirk Backen, the Secretary General of the German War Graves Commission, wrote that “Jewish soldiers who gave their lives for their German homeland during World War I were not only denied recognition. They were betrayed, and their families were persecuted and wiped out. Honoring their memory is the least we can do today…. Today, we commemorate Josef Leiter and 11 other Jewish soldiers and their families here, who represent so many others: those who lost loved ones in WWI, those persecuted under National Socialism and those who were expelled and murdered. We will not forget them.”

At that same ceremony, we heard from Dr. Ottilie Klein, a member of the German Bundestag, who echoed General Backen’s words and affirmed her personal commitment to counter antisemitism through her work in the Parliament. She acknowledged that “it is no less than a miracle and invaluable gift that the two countries involved, France and Germany, have become close allies and friends, that representatives from both countries can stand here today and remember the fallen of both sides, that the German flag and the French flag stand side by side as a reminder and sign of the German French friendship.” That spirit of mutual respect pervaded our four days together.

Full article: https://www.jewishrhody.com/stories/honoring-jewish-soldiers-correcting-old-mistakes,164633

WAYNE FRANKLIN is senior rabbi emeritus of Temple Emanu-El, in Providence.

07/31/2026

Norman Dinerman and Scott Halsband were installed as lodge presidents at Touro Fraternal Association's annual installation dinner May 20. Dinerman is serving his second consecutive term as Friendship Lodge president after returning to a leadership post he held a decade ago. Halsband is beginning his third year as Harmony Lodge president after moving up from the positions of lodge vice president and treasurer.

Installed to new three-year terms were current members of the board of directors: Larry Berman, Jeffrey Davis, Alan Lury, Michael Smith and Stuart Solup.

Joining Dinerman as Friendship Lodge officers are Larry Winkler, vice president; Ralph Orleck, secretary; and Ron Chorney, treasurer. Teaming with Halsband as Harmony Lodge officers are Jeffrey Stoloff, vice president; and Harrison Schiff, treasurer. Chorney, Schiff and Orleck are lodge officers for the first time. All the lodge officers serve one-year terms.

The installation ceremony followed a brisket dinner. Rabbi Ethan Adler served as the installing officer and Ried Redlich was the master of ceremonies.

At the June 10 board meeting, Stevan Labush and Jeffrey Davis were elected to their seventh one-year terms as chairman and vice chairman respectively. Labush re-appointed the following to association positions: Bruce Wasser, secretary; Ralph Orleck, treasurer; Barry Schiff, chaplain; and Ried Redlich, faithful guide. Mitchell Cohen and David Weisman were appointed as inside guards.

Touro, home-based in Cranston, is the largest Jewish men’s fraternal organization in the Northeast. Founded in 1917, Touro offers numerous social activities for its members and guests, as well as monthly guest speakers, and gives back to the community through dozens of annual contributions to Jewish and other causes.

LARRY BERMAN is a member of the Touro Fraternal Association's board of directors.

https://www.jewishrhody.com/stories/dinerman-halsband-installed-as-touro-presidents,162684

07/29/2026

More than 150 students, educators, Holocaust survivors’ families, community leaders, board members, volunteers, and supporters gathered at the Bonnie and Donald Dwares Jewish Community Center on June 4 for the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center’s Annual Meeting, Board Installation, and Art & Writing Awards Ceremony.

The evening brought together the people who make the Center’s mission possible: teachers who bring Holocaust education into their classrooms, students who transform what they learn into art and leadership, community members committed to preserving memory for future generations, and those at the heart of the Center: children and grandchildren of survivors who continue to share family stories.

The program opened with remarks from outgoing Board Chair Dr. Michael Bryant, a professor at Bryant University whose leadership guided the Center through a year of significant growth and expanding impact. Dr. Bryant reflected on the Center’s accomplishments and thanked the many volunteers, educators, and supporters who helped sustain its work.

Executive Director Wendy Joering then presented the Center’s annual review, beginning with a moving tribute to three Holocaust survivors the organization lost during the past year: Ruth Oppenheim, Yakov Karlin, and Yosef Porath. Each had become part of the Center’s extended family. Their stories, Joering noted, remain central to the Center’s mission of education, remembrance, and action.

The tribute set the tone for an evening focused on carrying forward the voices of survivors as their generation grows smaller. Throughout the program, attendees reflected on the Center’s continued growth under Joering’s leadership. Her commitment to Holocaust education, preservation of survivor testimony, and partnership-building has expanded the Center’s reach across schools and communities throughout Rhode Island and beyond.

Much of that work begins in the classroom, where the support of the Jordan Frank Family Foundation has become transformative. It allows the Center to provide educators throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut with lessons, books, and professional development about the Holocaust resources at no cost. The curriculum ensures that students are reading age-appropriate books connected directly to the curriculum. Its lessons also teach about the rich lives that existed before the Holocaust.

For many students, learning becomes even more personal through the Center’s Speakers Bureau, composed largely of children of Holocaust survivors who share their families’ experiences. Teachers consistently report that these presentations leave a lasting impression, transforming history from an abstract subject into a human story.

The impact of that education was evident during the Art & Writing Awards presentation. This year’s theme, “Beyond Silence,” drew inspiration from Anne Frank and the enduring power of her diary.

Award recipients included Dallas Poulin of Pilgrim High School; Lyla Schaumberg, Skyler Grist, and Elizabeth Ruiz of St. Augustine School; Ilan Lennon of Margolin Hebrew Academy and Cooper Yeshiva in Tennessee; Laryssa Farrell of Pilgrim High School; Taylor DeVerna of Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle School; and Kehan Tian of Barrington High School.

Lennon’s award-winning essay explored Kristallnacht, Jewish identity, and the responsibility of remembrance. Family members joined the ceremony virtually from Tennessee, while students and educators from South Carolina also participated remotely, reflecting the growing reach of the Center’s educational partnerships.

The evening also highlighted the Leadership Institute for Teens (LIFT), which experienced its largest cohort in program history this year. Through stories directly from Holocaust Survivors or their families who settled in Rhode Island, visits to other non-profit organizations in the state, or participation in the Art & Writing Awards, students continue their involvement through leadership training, civic engagement, and community service.

At the annual meeting, each LIFT student received a certificate dedicated in honor or memory of a Holocaust survivor, creating a meaningful connection between students and the individuals whose stories continue to educate future generations.

Former Congressman David Cicilline attended to present the David Cicilline Leadership Award to LIFT student Yael Tesar, recognizing her commitment to leadership and service.

A significant moment of the evening came during the installation of the Center’s new board leadership. Sandra Bornstein installed Francine Denerstein as the organization’s new Board Chair.

https://www.jewishrhody.com/stories/sbhec-celebrates-student-award-winners-reaffirms-mission-and-impact,160307

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