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************~*~***CAR--RT I_OT **C·-027 • 04-30-2002 R . I. J1:w1s1-1 HI'.,TOIHC/1L H'i!30C. AlTN: Eleanor Horvitz J.'.JD S,):,s:i ons "it ProvidenGe RI 0290G-3444 Rhotl'e·"·'·l·&ia·n'tf ·' Jewish News From Israel HERALD Page 4 The Only English-Jewish Weekly in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts VOLUME LXXI, NUMBER 45 AV 20; THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2001 so~ PER COPY CHAVER Program Makes for Meaningful Jewish Volunteering by Jon Rubin Herald Editor s more and more Rhode Is land Jews grow older and Aolder and continue to enter nursing homes and as sisted living facilities in record numbers, they frequently find themselves isolated from the Jewish community, unable to attend synagogue services, life cycle events, or even prepare festival meals. This is woefully ironic, because all too often the elderly develop a growing ap preciation of their religious roots as they get older. There is a need for a group to these se- 1tiors with their Jewish roots, and the CHAVER program was CHAVER volunteers learn how to make a difference in the life created to meet with this need. of elderly people by becoming Jewish spiritual caregivers. Pic CHAVER (Ca ring Helpers tured here left to right are Beverly Fox, Barbara Marom Pollock, and Volunteers Empower Resi Martha Wexler, Rabbi Andrea Gouze and Yetta Glicksman. dents, or "friend" in Hebrew) is J>ltoto courtesy of JERI an eight-week program de signed to teach volunteers land, which is a project of Jew will see that "they have what it about all aspects of Jewish visi ish Seniors Agency. Susette takes" to be a comfort for others. tation with elderly residents. Rabinowitz, who is executive The CHAVER program com Visiting the s ick, or bikkur director of the Jewish Seniors bines normal training for visit cholim, is an important aspect Agency and who also contrib ing the elderly with insights on of Judaism. Rabbi Andrea uted to CHAVER's founding, Jewish spiritual teachings. Gauze, interfaith chaplain at noted that although JSA already CHAVER volunteers become The Miriam Hospital and co has programming that sends "jacks of all trades" - they ex founder of the program, re visitors to elderly Jewish resi amine Jewish views on death marked that visiting the sick is dents, these trained volunteers and dying; develop vi tal listen ASDS School Daze Remembered more of an obligation than a lack an important element - ing skills; learn how to deal with Even though summer is in full swing, it wasn't so long ago good deed, "whether you know backgrounds in Jewish spiritu problems like dementia, that students at the Alperin Schechter bay School were still in the person or not," she said. She ality relevant to the needs of the Alzheimer's and other infirmi school, jumping frantically up and down, waiting for that fi also noted that G-d shows the residents. , ties; study the effect of aging on nal buzzer to ring. J<j ds cleaned out their messy lockers, had importance of bikkur cholim in "Nursing homes can be scary the mind; and learn etiquette classroom parties, and counted down (OK, shouted down) the the Torah by visiting Abraham places," Rabbi Gauze said, and "dos" and "don'ts" on visiting seconds until it was all over. Alisa Zayas, grade 5, gets a boost after he circumcised himself in CHAVER aims to reduce this residents. Information and as her classmates get crazy during the last minutes of school. the desert. "common anxiety" in volun background readings are taken Herald photo by Jon R11bin CHAVER is a program of teers. Through the training from the Torah, the Talmud, nu Jewish Eldercare of Rhode Is- CHAVER provides, volunteers merous prayer books and vari ous contemporary Jewish sources and authors. Volunteers are not involved with personal care - they are there to speak to the residents May 27 marked the date of con and, as Rabbi Gauze said, firmation for seven teen-agers from "m;ke them feel [like) they are Temple Torat Yisrael. After graduat · a person of dignity." The volun ing Hebrew school, these teen-agers teer groups, which meet once continued their Jewish education per week for months, are inten through the Bureau of Jewish tionally kept small in order to Education's Harry Elkin Midrasha give volunteers a feeling of program that consisted of Rabbi closeness and intimacy with Bloom's "Bible Meets Modernity" each other. "We literally class. The class showed these teen laughed and cried throughout agers how the Bib le conforms to the training," said Adler. modern day problems and customs. The goal is to "make a con All seven youngsters spoke on a va nection" with the resident, to let riety of topics ranging from abortion them know that the Jewish com to the Sabbath to alcoholism. The munity still cares about them. ceremony took place during the Adler also mentioned that Erev-Shavuot service in which the CHAVER volunteers have the teen-agers actively participated and potential to reconnect residents led. to thei r Jewish backgrounds From left to right: Rabbi Marc that have often been neglected Bloom, Ben Matusow, Josh Simon, or forgotten. "You can ask them Jason Monzack, Pete Ziegler, Aaron questions like, 'What is your Matusow, Evan Davis, and Brian Hebrew name?' ' Did your Goikhman mother speak Yiddish?' 'What Pltoto courtesy o/Tcmplc Tomi Yisracl did your family use to cook dur- (Continued on Page 11) 2 -THE RHODE ISLAND JEWISH HERALD, THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 2001 HAPPENINGS IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS: Calendar: August 10 1hrough August 16 ,!llperin Schechter Day School ............... 751•2470 10 The Waterplace Park 25th Anniversary Concert Series will continue with a performance by Brown / RISD Hillel ................................. 863·2805 country music singer/ songwriter Kevin Montgomery at 7 p.m. The concert is free and open Bureau of Jewish Education .................. 331·0956 to the public. Call 621-1992 for information or visit <festi [email protected]>. The Newport Jazz Festival begins with performances by Diana Krall and Roy Haynes at the Hadassah (RI Chapter) ........................... 463·3636 Newport Casino. The festival will continue throughout the weekend at various locations in Hebrew Free Loan Association .............. 331 ·3081 Newport. CaJI 847-3700 for information. 11 The Sandra Feinstein-Gamm Theatre presents Shakespeare's "The Tempest," to be per Jewish Community Center of RI ............ 861 ·8800 formed at LaSaUe Academy, at the comer of Smith Street and Academy Avenue, Providence, Jewish Eldercare of Rhode Island ......... 621•5374 at 8 p.m. Additional performances are scheduled for Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sun days at 3 p.m. through Aug. 26. Tickets are $20 with discounts for seniors and students. CaJI Jewish Family Services ......................... "331 ·1244 831-2919 for reservations and information. JFS Kosher Mealsite .............................. 781 •1771 The Fleet S-kating Center in downtown Providence will host a "pasta twirl" from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Area restaurants will serve their best pasta creations. CaJI 331-5544 for information Jewish Federation of Rhode Island ....... 421•4111 or visit <www.fleetskating.com>. Jewish Seniors Agency .......................... 351•4750 The 326th annual Narragansett Indian Pow-Wow will take place from 10 a. m. to 5 p.m. and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday at the Tribal Grounds, Old Mill Road, Charlestown. Call 364-1100 Jewish War Veterans of RI ..................... 941•6032 for information. Perspectives ..................................... - .... 863·9357 12 The 18th annual Oakland Beach Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Oakland Beach in Warwick. The festival overlooks the bay and will feature crafts, food and fun. Call Providence Hebrew Day School ............. 331•5327 737-2904 for information. RI Holocaust Memorial Museum ............ 453•7860 Kaleidoscope Theatre presents "Heidi," to be performed at 11 a.m. in Robert's Hall Audito rium a t Rhod e Island College in Provide nce. Call 942-3637 or visit RI Jewish Historical Association ........... 331·1360 <www.kaleidoscC? petheatre.com>. South Providence Hebrew Free Join Save The Bay aboard the sailing vessel Brandaris as it ventures into the night for an Loan Association ................................. 781·1949 evening of stargazing and a display from the Perseids meteor shower. Call 272-3540, ext. 133 or (800) NARRBAY, ext. 133 for information. Touro Fraternal Association ................... 785•0066 The Pawtucket Riverfront Concert Series continues with the Northstar Jazz Ensemble, which URI Hillel ................................................. 874•2740 will perform at the Veterans Amphitheater on Roosevelt Ave. in Pawtucket, at 8:30 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public. CaJI 724-5200 for information. The third annual World Yo-Yo Competition takes place at the Rhode Island Convention Center and is sponsored by Yomega. Call John Farrissey at (508) 672-7399, ext. 210, or Brett Outchcunis at (508) 672-7399, ext. 233, fo r information or visit <www.yomega.com>. Directory to this week's Herald 13 The fifth annual Temple Am David Charity Golf Outing will be held at the Swansea Coun try Club. Tee-off times begin at 7 a. m. The competition is open to the community, with a fee ARTS 0& E NTERTA INMENT ........... .................................. 12-13 of $90 per golfer, $350 per foursome. CaU Jerry Tebrow at 822-0434 or the temple office at 463-7944 for information. CLASSIFIEDS ....................................................................... 15 14 The JCCRI Brown Bag Club will meet to discuss how to conserve electricity with a repre FEATURE ............................................................................. 15 sentative from Narragansett Electric, at noon. Bring your own lunch, drinks and dessert will be provided. A donation of $1 is appreciated. Call Sue Robbio at 861-8800 for information. HEALTHWISE ..................... ..................................... .......... 8-9 Join the J Connection from 7:30 to 9 p.m.