- - -- - - - ·--- - - - ·- - - -- - -·- - - --------------- - - --~ -D ;5': ("-.I z C• 8 Local News, pages 2-3 ,;.. f- f--· - <r Opinion, page 4 ~ (!) - 0- 0 u Around Town, page 8 ISR,ll~L 7Nll!I' I tn ~, Lf) *..-<<[ *t<• * _J * *U<r * *1-1 * u:: * 0 *O'-C.Of-* f- - * Q:)1-1(1)1--1 *'·I Ct: *..-< [.fJ *t··)I.Z .... *·,.mow *...--11-11-10 * 3 (J)Z * WCJlW JSL Y ENGL/SH--JEW!SH \VEEKLY /.V R.I. AND SOLTHEAST MASS. * t-:1WCI *...--1 (fJ 1-1 * 'T • :::,. *C""·~l---4--00 ,XXV, NUMBER 24 THURSDAY, MAY 12, 1988 35¢ PER COPY * •t··)CC: * CC: ·,-qj_ Dedication Of The Rhode Island Holocaust Memorial Museum by Sandra Silva Survivors of the Holocaust, their The sun did not shine brightly children, other family and commu­ down on the crowd and only occa­ nity members, Jewish and Chris­ sionally peeped through the gray­ tian clergy and local politicians blue clouds that blanketed the sky. joined together this day for the Fortunately, rain did not fall. How­ moving and reflective ceremonies. ever, one would feel a few drops of Governor DiPrete spoke for the wetness borne within the soft, cool entire Rhode Island community breezes that blew upon the court­ when he said, "I can assure you yard. The weather was an adequate that all Rhode Islanders join me in complement to the hushed, sub­ recognizing this historic occasion. dued atmosphere that prevailed This is a place that belongs to all upon the courtyard. people because in a great sense the No extreme was shown. The pain ultimate victims of the Holocaust of remembering was obvious but were all humanity. I am here today tears were shed quietly. Heads with the survivors," he continued, were held up high and backs were "because it is my hope that this kept straight as Survivors and Sec­ memorial will remind us of the im­ ond Generation displayed the portance of brotherhood and un­ strength and purpose that has kept derstanding in our own lives with tham striving over the past eight our neighbors and all around the years fo r this very day. world." "Long have we all dreamed of T he Museum is indeed for every­ this day, long have we all labored one. It is open to any individual for this day. For these we weep and who desires to enter and will also remember- we will live, t hat life on serve as an educational center for Earth will be full. We accept this schoolchildren from public and dedication as our solemn pledge private schools. All denominations The small courtyard in front of the museum was filled to overflowing for the ceremony. People and remember that we alone re­ are welcome. main witnesses for those who gave were standing in rows outside the gate and on a balcony above. Among the crowd of Survivors T he hall itself has framed prints and Second Generation were Richard Licht, Joseph Paolino, John Chaffee and Ruth their lives, so that Jews and Gen­ from the Holocaust with explana­ tiles alike will say, never again." Morganthnu. Also J)resent were Bishop Hunt and Reverends Lassen-Willems of the Episcopal tions below them. Display cases Diocese and Father John Flannery of the Catholic Church. ' ' These words by Jenny Klein, hold various artifacts. T here are Chairperson of the Opening Day original photos of people. One Committee of the Rhode Island photo of a family was taken before Holocaust Memorial Museum, be­ the Holocaust, before the realiza­ viduality and humanity from hu­ Lo keep the collective memory of resistance. Never again." So spoke gan the Museum's Dedication Cer­ tion of danger set in, they all look man beings, to break their spirit. the Rhode Island society alive. Laura Chakrin Cable, representa­ emony on T hursday, May 5, 1988. so unsuspectingly contented. T here is also a numbered concen­ "Each of us is unique, each per­ tive of the Second Generation, the Since the Museum represents the There are ot hers, cameo portraits tration camp certificate from son here is unique. For each of us children of survivors. hope that through remembrance of individuals, beautiful women Dachau which seems to drive there are different memories and If knowledge is the great deter­ people will never again allow such a and handsome men, some of whom home, even more so than the pic­ here we remember that the rest of rent, then it should be mandatory violation of human rights to occur, never made it through those dread tures, the horrifying reality of be­ the world allowed this to happen, for every child in the state to visit it was symbolically appropriate years. coming namelessly lost within the they closed their doors. Here we this Museum. that the speaker's podium was bor­ There are bowls from the camps camps. can listen to survivors while there Museum hours and other infor­ dered by the American flag which and there is a tefillin. There are This is a reality that the people is still time and ensure that never mation may be obtained by calling represents individual freedom and lists of the laws imposed upon Jews gathered in the courtyard on that again. The Jewish people resisted the Jewish Community Center at the Rhode Island flag with its in­ during Hitler's regime, the laws Thursday have sworn wil_l not be the Holocaust with their lives and 401 Elmgrove Avenue, Providence, scription of Hope. that were intended to remove indi- forgotten. The museum is one way this Museum is one more symbol of 401-861-8800. ===================!5!!EE!!5555!5E!Ea!E!E!E==a&Canto rs Assembly Rejects Move To Admit Women The Cantors Assembly - the Conservative rabbis, for study and Greater Red Bank, Rumson, N.J., conventions and u,~t e,emuauy law to fulfill t hose obligations. professional organization of an eventual recommendation that and Erica Lippitz of Congregation women will be accepted as T hose in favor of admitting Conservative cantors _ voted this would. require "a majority Ohav Shalom, Orange, N.J. members with all of the honor and women to the organization, led by week to reject a a move to admit consensus rather than the opinion Plea For Unity respe'ct due t hem." Cantor Lubin, argued t hat the qualified women members. of one man." Cantor Solomon Mendelson of Chancellor Schorsch's Schorsch decision was in accord with holncho and represented the T he vote was 97 to 95 against Women Cantors Voice Long Beach, N.Y., who was 1987 Ruling culmination of a century-long granting, membership to women Disappointment re-elected president of the Cantors The issue of women cantors has evolution of the status of women in graduates of the Cantors Institute Commenting on the vote, a Assembly at the convention, divided the membership of the Jewish law. of the Jewish Theological group of four women cantors who issued a call for unity following the Assembly since February 1987, " If ha/acho is to be a living force Seminary who have been awarded hold t he diploma of hazzan, joined vote, declaring: "We must take the when Chancellor Schorsch of the that impacts in our lives as Jews," t he diploma of hazzan (cantor). A by 12 women students now lesson of our calling and all of Jewish Theological Seminary Cantor Lubin told the crowded two-thirds vote in favor was enrolled at the Cantors Institute, Judaism, which requires announced that t he diploma of meeting hall, "it will have to necessary to carry. said they were "disappointed" by understanding and joining hazzan would be awarded to two address itself to the real world T he vote was taken after a t he vote. Their statement read: together in t he face of communal women who were completing their around us - to the present and not spirited five-hour debate at the "The outcome does not surprise need. Our community of schlichei program of studies at the Cantors to past norms of society." Assembly's 41st annual us; we understand that change is tzibur emissaries of the Institute. Two other women who Proponents of women members convention in Kiamesha Lake, often difficult. But we are congregation in prayer - has had graduated with the degree of cited the shortage of Conservative N.Y. dedicated to our calling. We have spoken. Let it be as one voice." Bachelor of Sacred Music have cantors and said that admitting Cantor A. Eliezer Kirshblum of chosen this profession because we A similar plea was voiced by since been awarded the diploma of women to the Assembly would Toronto, who· led the forces believe in the power of t!ie hazzan Cantor Samuel Rosenbaum, hazzan retroactively by the encourage more women to study opposed to admitting women, to inspire and to instill in others a executive vice-president of the Seminary. and serve in the capacity of called the vote "a victory for love of Judaism and the Jewish Assembly, who urged that the During the debate, cantors who hazzan. Executive vice president holncho (Jewish law) and for due way of life. decision be accepted "with dignity oppose admitting women argued Rosenbaum said that currently process." In a statement, he urged "We are devoted to the and respect." He added: "Let us that a woman leading a more t han 40 Conservative that Chancellor Ismar Schorsch of cantorate, proud to serve the look beyond t he vote to the congregation in prayer was a synagogues around t he country the Seminary, who ruled last year J ewish community and optimistic important task of dealing with its violation of halncha.