March/April 2011 adar 11 / nisan 5771

Building Torat Yisrael’s Future

A Family With Deep Torat Yisrael Roots, Helps Shape
Our Future
When our Torat Yisrael community gathers in September to usher in
the new Jewish year, we will hold in our hands a fresh, new, inspiring
High Holiday prayer book (called a “Mahzor”).
Mahzor Lev Shalem was produced by a committee of Conservative
rabbis led by Rabbi Edward Feld of Massachusetts and was first used
in Conservative congregations around the country last year.
Response to this new High Holiday prayer experience has been
overwhelmingly positive. Congregations who experienced High
Holiday worship with the new Mahzor Lev Shalem describe an
accessible, joyful, engaging experience.

Rabbi Brad Artson, who Rabbi Levin often cites in sermons and Shabbat commentaries, comments:
If you are seeking to pray in the fullness of tradition without sacrificing the blessings of contemporary insights and
diversity, if you long for poetry that grounds you in the rich soil of Torah while letting your heart soar, then grab hold of
Mahzor Lev Shalem. The poetry, wisdom, warmth, and welcome found on its pages reverberate with the love of the
Ancient Blessing One and the spiritual harvest of the Children of Israel
—Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, Dean, Ziegler Rabbinical School, and Vice President, American Jewish University
You Tube Trailer on TY Website
You are also welcome to log onto our Torat Yisrael website where you’ll find a link to a You Tube video
about our new Mahzor on our home page.
The Sholes Family Gift
We wish to thank the entire Sholes Family: Leonard J. Sholes and his children, Richard and Martha ,
Andrew and Trude , David and Laurie, and Steven for their extraordinary gift of an entire set of mahzorim
for our congregation.
The Sholes family is deeply rooted in our congregation. Leonard is one of our past presidents. We look
forward to welcoming Lenny to our bimah every year on Kol Nidrei night as one of his sons carries a Torah
scroll in his honor in the procession of past presidents that opens the evening. Martha, a gifted and
creative educator, taught in our Sunday School for several years and now collaborates with our Social
Action Committee on our Project Linus blankets for ill children project. Andrew is the tirelessly dedicated
chairman of our building committee. Steven was a former member and David belongs to Beth El—thus
their gift to our congregation is all the more meaningful.
Rabbi Levin: Our High Holiday Services Transformed
Rabbi Levin responded to news of this gift from the Sholes family: “Last year, one of my High Holiday
sermons focused on the best, most inspired, most meaningful elements of Conservative Judaism. The
new Mahzor Lev Shalem was one of the main subjects of that sermon. As I described this groundbreaking
prayer book, I never dreamed that a year later, every single one of us would be holding a copy in our
hands. This Sholes Family gift . . . not the first act of generosity with which this family has blessed our
congregation . . . is a most tangible expression of their faith in the future of Torat Yisrael.
Hazzan Goldenberg and I are looking forward to an intense period of study and preparation as we seek to
craft High Holiday services that will help our congregation take advantage of all the best elements of our
new Mahzor. It is safe to say that our High Holiday services will never be the same . . . thanks to the
vision and generosity of the entire Sholes family.”
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 Greetings from Susan Smoller, President
Shalom Fellow Congregants,
We can actually begin to see the lawn
and hopefully spring will be here very
soon!
Ronni Guttin, our Education Director,
has been leading the Cohen Religious School while also
handling the time-consuming position of Executive
Director of Camp JORI. She has been a member of the
faculty of our school for the last 32 years and as Ronni
said” I am truly blessed to be surrounded by loving
families, smiling children and compassionate,
knowledgeable teachers. The Cohen School has
become a vibrant, diverse group who fill my thoughts
even outside of school hours”. Ronni has notified us
that as of the new year, she will be leaving the position
of Education Director in order to continue her fulltime
job at Camp JORI. We will miss Ronni very much and
we wish her all the best in the future. The personnel
committee will be placing ads for this part-time
position and will evaluate the responses around the
end of March.
Purim is one of the most fun-filled holidays –with the
opportunity to dress in costumes, eat hammantashen
Kesher Corner: Andrea Epstein, LICSW
Andrea serves Torat Yisrael’s members through Kesher, a joint project of the Jewish Alliance of Greater
Rhode Island, the Bernhardt Foundation, and Jewish Family Service. She can be reached at (401)
369-0160 or andrea@toratyisrael.org.
What is Jewish Meditation?
This morning I listened to a radio broadcast
about the impact of meditation in a high security
prison in Alabama. With a population of 1500,
half of whom are there for life, they have had a
20% reduction in disciplinary action for those
who completed a 10 day intensive meditation
course. What an amazing impact- just from
meditation!
I have, for a while, been interested in Judaism’s
perspective on meditation. I feel that I have had
easy access to more Eastern thoughts and
techniques on the subject so I thought I would do
a little research. First stop was Rabbi Levin. She
directed me to a Jewish Retreat Center, Elat
Chayyim, outside of Woodstock, NY.
Elat Chayyim focuses on Jewish Spirituality.
They run many programs, including Jewish
meditation retreats. In looking at the writings of
many of their teachers I saw distinctions
emerging:
• Meditation is an aspect of most of the world’s
major religions
• Similarities of meditation from most
traditions included: some form of sitting in
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(three-cornered cookies with various fillings –including
my favorite, poppy seed) and the chance to make lots
of noise in shul! We will all have an opportunity to
dress in our costumes and come to shul to hear the
megillah, with the purim story, being read. This year
we have two opportunities to hear this story. On
Saturday night, March 19, there will be a reading of
the entire Megillah at the synagogue in Cranston.
There will be Torat Yisrael baked hammantashen and
spirits to enjoy! On Sunday morning, we will meet at
the house in East Greenwich, for an abridged Megillah
reading and lots of hammantashen there too. I look
forward to seeing you in costume –or not – and am
already trying to guess what the Rabbi and Ronni will
be!
I wish everyone a joyous Purim and look forward to
seeing you all soon
Please contact me at any time with any comments or
questions.
B’Shalom,
Susan
silence, focused concentration, chanting, being
present, and a reflective element
• Focusing on Jewish perspective of wisdom,
compassion, and kindness through meditation
makes Jewish meditation distinctive and
specifically Jewish
One Jewish meditation teacher referenced
meditation in the Bible. It is not new! He
surmises that the growing popularity of Jewish
meditation is in fact because of its ability to link
practitioners to deep and ancient Jewish
tradition.
Meditation is known for both its mental and
physical health benefits. It has been shown to
have a positive impact on coronary function: a
recent study in Psychiatry Research:
Neuroimaging, showed that meditators had
actual changes in their brain’s gray matter in the
areas that govern emotion regulation,
learning/memory, and taking perspective.
Certainly this can lend to the explanation of why
meditation is so powerful.
I found no one Jewish way to meditate.
Traditionally, Jewish life had many elements of
prayer built into its daily fabric. Rest and
reflection were a part of everyday life. As life has
gotten more hectic with less time for pause, it
may be worth checking out some of the following
resources to see how a meditation practice can
possibly enhance your spiritual and physical
health.
Meditation and Jewish Meditation Resources:
Elat Chayyim (with multiple links to Jewish
meditation teachers):
http://www.isabellafreedman.org/elatchayyim
Regarding the benefits of meditation:
The Mayo Clinic,
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meditation/H
Q01070
Report on the impact of meditation in prison:
http://www.npr.org/2011/02/08/133505880/at-
end-of-the-line-prison-an-unlikely-escape
Do you have thoughts about Jewish meditation or
experiences you would like to share? Please feel
free to contact me about meditation or any
needed support and community resources. All
consultations are confidential and free. Andrea
Epstein, LICSW, (401) 369-0160 or
andrea@toratyisrael.org

The Cohen School News

On March 13th, the entire Rhode
Island Jewish community is invited Cohen School Calendar
to participate in the first annual March
mitzvah day. Mitzvot are like the building blocks March 1 Regular Classes
of an active Jewish life. They are the guidelines March 6 Regular Classes
for a fulfilled and fulfilling life. The way we treat March 8 Regular Classes
one another, our relationships with friends and March 13 Rhode Island Mitzvah Day
family can be guided by the principles found March 15 Regular Classes
among these 613 commandments. So, I was March 20 Purim Megillah Reading and Party 9-11
asked, one mitzvah day? Shouldn’t mitzvoth be a March 22 Regular Classes
part of our daily life? Why bother to cancel school March 27 Regular Classes
for this? The answer for me was simple. Good March 29 Regular Classes
habits begin with a single action. Often, we are
not even aware that the kindnesses we perform April
regularly are mitzvoth. Ever visit someone who is April 3 Regular Classes
ill? Make cookies for an elderly relative? Invite April 5 Regular Classes
another family for dinner? Light candles on April 10 Regular Classes
Shabbat? Recycle your bottles, cans and paper? April 12 Regular Classes
These are all examples of the 613 April 17 No School
commandments found in the Torah. On March April 20 No School
13th, the families of Torat Yisrael can stand April 24 Regular Classes
proudly with our neighbors from all over the state
to begin a new good habit.

Librarian’s Corner by Laura Steele, Torat Yisrael Librarian

This month I welcome the book, Sima’s Undergarments for Women written by Ilana Stanger-Ross to our library. This
is a good read about a tight-knit Brooklyn community, and 65-year-old Sima Goldner’s discount lingerie shop. It is a
prime business in her orthodox Jewish neighborhood, and, more importantly, it is also a haven for the many women
who frequent her small basement store. Discontented with her marriage to a bumbling, retired schoolteacher named
Lev, Sima pours herself into her business and her varied customers, many of whom use the privacy of her shop as a
forum to ruminate about their relationships, families, and lives. Sima’s everyday routine is indelibly changed with the
arrival of the young, vibrant Timna, an attractive Israeli expatriate who applies to work as a seamstress. As the
relationship between Sima and Timna evolves, Sima finds herself confronting the realities of her infertility and the
complexities of her past, long shrouded in shame and adolescent regret. Backdropped by the shop’s colorful patrons,
Stanger-Ross’ engaging novel follows Sima as she struggles to find balance in navigating her newfound relationship
with Timna while exploring the intense depths of personal reconciliation and redemption.
I encourage you to curl up with this or another good book to help stave off the winter blues!!
TY Going Green and Economical! Sign Up For Paperless
Statements
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Our Torat Yisrael office is instituting a new opportunity for all TY members to help our congregation go
green and save on expensive first class postage. Your monthly billing statements are now available in e-
mail form instead of hard copy sent through first class mail.
To opt for green and economical:
1. Log on to the Members’ Page on our TY website and fill in the on line request form.*
or
2. Call Sheryl Ponder at our TY office and ask her to begin sending your statements by e-mail. (401-785-
1800).

*If you don’t know the password for the Members’ Page, you will find a form requesting that information
on our home page: www.toratyisrael.org.

Edgewood Pawtuxet Food Closet Annual Report for 2010

The year 2010 has been a good year for us at the
closet. Our client list has stayed steady at about 125 a
month. January was –as always- our busy month with
about 140 clients. These clients may still shop twice a
month. The closet still receives food and money
donations from our five churches: Transfiguration, St.
Paul’s, Edgewood Congregational, Trinity and the
Temple. Thank you all.
We continue to receive 95% of our food from the food
bank. This year we have gotten a little over 55,000
pounds of food at a cost for us of around $2,700.00.
We are also still receiving our USDA food at no cost to
the Closet. It has been a great help. We received
donations from Dave’s again this year of bread and
pastries, which are picked up weekly by the Poore
family and brought to us at church – Thank you! We
also started this fall receiving bread from a group
called We Share Hope. They deliver us bread on
Tuesdays for free, we are up to 6 trays of bread from
them weekly, another great help. We also put some of
this bread out in church, in case someone needs or
knows someone in need. We had a generous donation
this year of $2,000, which I plan to buy another
freezer for the closet which we hope to be able to get
more meats. This year we also have chosen to give
Transfiguration $1,000.00 to go towards the electric or
heat bills. They have been more than generous in the
over 30 years we have been here and it is about time
the Closet helped a little-especially with the three
freezers and refrig that we will be running. I have
been extra careful with our budget to make sure that
our clients will not suffer from these choices. I feel
that this is part of our ministry.
Thanksgiving came without any problems this year.
We ended giving away 99 baskets this year, down a
little from last year. We were very lucky this year to
have almost all the items for the baskets before
Thanksgiving-decreasing the amount of money spent.
Again the Food Bank is a great help.
Our annual dinner for the Volunteers was in October –
We were short only a couple of people. We combined
the Closet and our new Thrift store people and had a
wonderful time. A word about the people that give me
their time each week or month to help run the closet –
whether it’s stocking shelves, getting the food from
outside sources, taking care of the clients or simply
folding bags. Thank you! I know some drive some
distance to get here – bad or good weather – and you
never complain. A very special thank you to Don Peck,
who moved all the 55,000 pounds of food – with a little
help this year (don’t tell him I told you) plus being
there on Wednesday nights or whenever I have needed
help. Our ordering on line is still wonderful and had
helped us get the “deals” from the Food Bank that we
might have missed. We just received $100 to be used
at the food bank for just getting our monthly stats in
on time.
Another year has passed and it still amazes me as to
the great gift that God has given me and my
volunteers in doing his ministry in the Food Closet.
Many of us take what we have as a given each day, it
is a wake out call some days in the closet. We have
been blessed this year with some really great news
from some of our clients. I thank you for letting me do
this wonderful ministry as your director and please ask
me those questions and do come visit us – or
volunteer! This concludes my report for this year and
again thank you! Audrey Rose

“Women and Religion”

The Ronald K. & Kati C. Machtley Interfaith Center at Bryant University is hosting a “Women & Religion” series on
Tuesdays until March 29th from 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm in the Reflection Sanctuary at the Center. The series raises the
question, “Can Women Find a Meaningful Place in Organized Religion?” Rabbi Levin will be speaking on Tuesday,
March 22nd. The series addresses issues of interest to both women and men.

PJ Library presents . . .
Keith Michael Johnson, Bubble Artist – The Secret World of Bubbles! Featured on the Discovery Channel, the
Today Show, in USA Today and Real Simple. Sunday, February 27th at 4:00 pm at the Jewish Alliance Social Hall,
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401 Elmgrove Avenue, Providence. $12 per person/$36 per family. Children receive free bubbles. Tickets at the
door, but please RSVP to Nicole Katzman: nkatzman@bjeri.org.

In Our TY Family
Mazal tov to everyone celebrating a Birthday in March!
Annette Dress, Paula Meyerson, Shelley Tragar, Nancy Waszkis, Amy Quinn, Svetlana Harris, Jerri Labush,
Richard Sholes, Jaclyn Sidman, Robin Miller, Sheila Malatt, David Smoller, Laurie Tessier, Roberta Gilstein,
Jonathan Finkle, Jacob Stanger and Ryan Silverman

Mazal tov to everyone celebrating an Anniversary in March!

Frank & Allyson (2 years), Jeff & Beth Salk (28 years) and Carlos & Beverly Goncalves (18 years)

May God who blessed our ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, bring
blessing and healing to: Trude Antin, Sam Buckler, Pearl Gorden, Douglas & Barbara Greenberg (Diane
Greenberg’s brother-in-law & sister-in-law), Myer Grossman, Bonnie Lury, Lois Lury, Jody Mihov (Mildred Beck’s
niece), Sylvia Paige, Zenas & Sara Pulner, Ron Richter, Harold & Sylvia Roggen (Barbara Karetny’s parents),
Louis Russian, Sylvia and Jimmy Shocket, Steve Tragar, Moe Wine and Eileen Winkler (Rochelle Ziegler’s
mother)

Thank you . . . You’ve Saved Lives

Thank you to everyone who donated blood at our Blood Drive on Sunday, February 3rd.
7 units of blood were donated that day! Save the date: Our next blood drive will be on
Sunday, May 1st.

Things You Can Do In Our TY Cranston Lobby!

Edgewood Food Closet Donations Pick up a great read!
canned tuna and salmon, canned soups, breakfast Which you’ll find at our Book Exchange corner in the TTY
cereal, canned vegetables and fruits. Also needed: lobby! For a 25¢ donation, you are welcome to help yourself to
toiletries such as shampoo, toothpaste, diapers. any book on the shelves and then return it when you’re done.
TYNet Café! Come Schmooze! Recycle #5 Plastics Here!
Torat Yisrael is wireless and caffeinated! Fresh Plastic containers like medicine vials and yogurt and cottage
coffee and tea and the wifi password are all there. containers. Please wash containers before depositing in bin.
Kosher Food Pantry Coupon Collection for Edgewood Food Closet
Kosher non-perishables to help support Rhode Please drop your unwanted coupons in the basket near our
island’s vulnerable Jewish residents. donation and recycling center.
A Touch of Heaven Thrift Shop : You may drop off lightly used clothing at the Touch of Heaven Thrift
Shop, 1665 Broad Street, Cranston. Hours of Operation: Saturday 9:00 am-12:00 pm, Tuesday 9:00 am-
11:00 am, Wednesday 5:00 pm-6:30 pm and Friday 9:00 am-11:00 am. All the proceeds from A Touch of
Heaven Thrift Shop go to our Edgewood-Pawtuxet Food Closet.

Temple Torat Yisrael Email Addresses, Facebook and Twitter

Rabbi Amy Levin: rabbi@toratyisrael.org Hazzan Devin Goldenberg: hazzan@toratyisrael.org
Susan Smoller, President: president@toratyisrael.org Ronni Guttin, Education Director: ronni@toratyisrael.org
Nicole Jellinek, Social Worker: nicole@toratyisrael.org Anita Olinsky (Dues Committee): dues@toratyisrael.org
Andrea Epstein, Social Worker: Andrea@toratyisrael.org
welcome@toratyisrael.org - Michael Field/Beth Salk (Membership Committee Chairs)
facebook@toratyisrael.org twitter@toratyisrael.org and @ravlevin
Sheryl Ponder, Bookkeeper/Office Manager: sheryl@toratyisrael.org
Stephanie Reinsant, Rabbi’s Secretary: stephanie@toratyisrael.org

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 Hug N’hamah: Circle of Consolation
A Bereavement Discussion Group meeting on alternate Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm providing a
supportive circle to bring the emotional and spiritual challenges of grief. Facilitated by Torat Yisrael
member, Dr. Judith Lubiner, a licensed psychologist, and Rabbi Amy Levin. TY members and non-
members equally welcome. Meeting March 10th and 24th and April 14th and 28th.

Knit and Kvetch in East Greenwich

Join Temple Torat Yisrael’s knitting circle from 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
- East Greenwich (Village Lower School) – March 13th & 27th and April 3rd
Share your knowledge of knitting, crocheting, embroidering and needle-pointing. For more information,
please contact Lynn Field (lmfield593@gmail.com) or Beverly Goncalves (bevsue66@verizon.net)

Upcoming TY Events
March
Shabbat in East Greenwich:
Friday Evening:, Shabbat Yachad: Guest Speaker, Minna Ellison, Interim President &
CEO, The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island
Friday, March 4th:Shabbat Services at 6:00 pm. Dinner and speaker at 7:00 pm. Cost: $10 adult /
$5 child 10-18 / Children under 10 Free / Family maximum $30. Please RSVP to the TY office by
March 2nd; 785-1800 / Stephanie@toratyisrael.org.
Saturday, March 5th: Shabbat Services at 9:15 am.

Shalom to Shabbat: Unwind and Nosh Before Shabbat Services

in Cranston
Friday, March 11th, 7:00 pm: wine, cheese and a nice schmooze before our 7:30 pm Shabbat Service.

An Orchid Evening
You and your friends are invited to a Fabulous Night of Entertainment with our fellow congregants Joanie
and Jeff Bookbinder at their home on Saturday evening, March 12 at 7:00 pm. We are going to view their
gorgeous and special orchids in their greenhouse (Flyer enclosed).

Our March Topic: Annual Purim Jewish Joke Fest!

East Greenwich: Tuesday, March 15
12:00-1:30 p.m. – Lunch & Learn at T’s Restaurant, 5600 Post Road (in the Benny’s Plaza), East
Greenwich – each participant orders from the menu and we study Jewish sources addressing current
issues. Everyone is welcome, bring a friend!
Cranston/Warwick: Thursday, March 17th
12:00-1:30 p.m. – Lunch & Learn at the Cozy Grill Restaurant, 440 Warwick Avenue,
Warwick – each participant orders from the menu as we study Jewish sources. Everyone
is welcome, bring a friend! Look for us in the back room!

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Purim is Around the Corner! Let’s Celebrate
Together!
Purim Evening:
At Torat Yisrael at 8 pm on Saturday, March 19th for a traditional
evening service and full megillah reading.

Family-Friendly Purim Morning Services, Carnival Games and Breakfast

Yes, indeed, we’re celebrating Purim with gusto at Torat Yisrael! Make sure you, your kids, your
grandkids, your neighbors, your cousins, your best friend, your newest acquaintance and anyone else
you can think of joins you for our rousing, family-friendly Megilah Reading!
Sunday, March 20th at 9:00 am followed by breakfast at the TY East Greenwich house, 1251 Middle
Road!

Schmooze with Booze

An opportunity for informal study and discussion with Rabbi Amy Levin over wine, beer, something softer,
some good munchies and an interesting topic.
Our March topic: Jewish Humor: Bring Your Favorite Jewish Joke in Honor of Purim!
Wednesday evening, March 23rd from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm at our East Greenwich house to schmooze with
booze!

April
Shabbat in East Greenwich:
Friday Evening:, Shabbat Yachad: Guest Speaker, Russ Partridge, Program Director
of the WARM Center of Westerly (re-scheduled from our snowed-out January
Shabbat Yachad!)
Friday, April 1st:Shabbat Services at 6:00 pm. Dinner and speaker at 7:00 pm. Cost: $10 adult / $5
child 10-18 / Children under 10 Free / Family maximum $30. Please RSVP to the TY office by March
28th; 785-1800 / Stephanie@toratyisrael.org.
Saturday, April 2nd: Shabbat Services at 9:15 am.

Shalom to Shabbat: Unwind and Nosh Before Shabbat Services

in Cranston
Friday, April 8th, 7:00 pm: wine, cheese and a nice schmooze before our 7:30 pm Shabbat Service.

Let’s Celebrate!
Aaron Tessier will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah on
Shabbat morning, Saturday, April 9th!
Mazal tov to Aaron’s parents, Raymond & Laurie and to Aaron’s brother, Ethan!

Our April Topic: The Reality of Abuse in Our

Homes
East Greenwich: Tuesday, April 12th
12:00-1:30 p.m. – Lunch & Learn at T’s Restaurant, 5600 Post Road (in the Benny’s Plaza), East
Greenwich – each participant orders from the menu and we study Jewish sources addressing current
issues. Everyone is welcome, bring a friend!
Cranston/Warwick: Thursday, April 14th

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 12:00-1:30 p.m. – Lunch & Learn at the Cozy Grill Restaurant, 440 Warwick Avenue, Warwick – each
participant orders from the menu as we study Jewish sources. Everyone is welcome, bring a friend!
Look for us in the back room!
East Greenwich Shabbat: April 15-16
Friday 6:00 pm early Shabbat Service for all. Enjoy an early Shabbat service and then arrange for a
relaxed Shabbat meal at home with your family and friends.
Saturday, April 16th at 10:00 am (1 hour service)

Passover Service Schedule:

Tuesday, April 19 – 15 Nisan: 9:15 am Passover Festival Morning Service
Wednesday, April 20 – 16 Nisan: 9:15 am Passover Morning Service
Friday, April 22 – 18 Nisan: 7:30 pm Shabbat and Passover Evening Service
Saturday, April 23 – 19 Nisan: 9:15 am Shabbat Service and Passover morning service
Sunday, April 24 – 20 Nisan: 6:30 pm Passover Festival Evening Service
Monday, April 25 – 21 Nisan: 9:15 am Passover Morning Service
Tuesday, April 26 – 22 Nisan: 9:00 am Passover Service with Yizkor

Schmooze with Booze: Special Hametz-Party Edition!

An opportunity for informal study and discussion with Rabbi Amy Levin over wine, beer, something softer,
some good munchies and an interesting topic.
Our April topic: Jews and Animals: Domination and Compassion
Wednesday evening, April 27th from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm at our East Greenwich house to schmooze with
booze!

Men’s Club Chinese Dinner in Cranston

Please mark your calendars and plan to join us on Friday evening, April 29th for a 6:00 pm Shabbbat
service with a Chinese dinner to follow. More details to come.