Rhode Island J ewish 1 Histor ica l Assoc . 13 6 sessions St . Prov . R . I . 02906 THE ONLY ENGLISH-JEWISH WEEKLY IN R.I. AND SOUTHEAST MASS. VOLUME LXXIII, NUMBER 36 FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 1986 35¢ PER COPY At Sde Boker: Janice Miller Brings Her Expertise, Passion A Miracle In The Desert And Commitment To Brown University energy-saving greenhouses. ··Ben-Gurion used to say that in by Susan Bostian Vice President Bush said that order to be a realist one must Meeting Janice Miller is an Israel's first Prime Minister, believe in miracles. Looking exuberant, joyful experience. Her around me today I see that the David Ben--Gurion, knew that the passion for education is enhanced foundations of a nation were not Negev and Israel itself are a by an air of idealism and her miracle," Vice President George the tools of despots but the commitment to issues of Bush said during a visit last week creative minds of free people. importance. She is as proud of her to Ben-Gurion University of the Prof. Louis Berkofsky, Director recent appointment to the position Negev's Sde Boker campus in the of t he Blaustein Institute, spoke of Continuing Medical Education heart of Israel's arid southern with the Vice President about the Officer at Brown University as she region. institute's efforts to realize is of her two "charming and Ben-Gurion's dream of promoting Accompanied by Israeli Prime adorable children" and her Minister Shimon Peres, U.S. settlement of the Negev; and of its upcoming 18th wedding Ambassador Thomas Pickering close and fruitful ties with U.S. a nnh·ersary. and Ben-Gurion University research institutions. .Janice Miller is also a pioneer of President Chaim Elata, the Vice During his Sde Boker visit, the sorts. After achieving the President toured the University's Vice President laid a wreath on ··accepted goals for a woman in the gravesite of David and Paula ,Jacob Blaustein Institute for I 968"" (college graduation, Desert Research. The Vice Ben-Gurion, overlooking the immediately followed by marriage.­ President was particularly desert landscape of the Zin teaching for a couple of years, Canyon. interested in research on mass conceiving a child, and cultivation of algae as a protein For further information call relinquishing her teaching source and closed _system Bob Rernstein at 401-728-3600. position), Janice Miller started to do things a little differently. After attending Lamaze classes with her husband, Stanley, she found Janice Fishman Miller, the new Continuing Medical herself "enamored with the Education Officer for the Brown University Program in course."' Her identity as a teacher Medicine. began to emerge and she was soon teaching the classes. and Chief of the Geriatrics Section gotten the words out of my mouth. ... ,.,.... ~ The Childbirth Education Association benefited from her at Roger Williams Hospital. It was too esoteric, too remote. -:~~;;lff growing interest in women's health Working under a grant from the Now it is exciting to know I can do National Institute on Aging to that if I want to. But are you ,., ,,'.> fo r five years. "I felt strongly about women working for what they integrate ge riatrics into the asking me if I'll ever grow up and believed was right." she says medical school, Miller wrote t he be that thing I was meant to be?"' adamantly. Women were rebelling curriculm while Fretwell she asks. bubbling with delight at against the highly technical and implemented it. Although Miller the thought. " I don"t know, but as dehumanized attitudes surround­ had no direct background in long as I keep putting one foot in ing the birthing practices in t he ge ri atrics, she cherished the front of another. I'll keep being out medical community at that time. opportunity to immerse herself in I here doing something."" ··We we re considered crazy. Here the subject. She has high praise for There is an essence of we re wo men with no professional t he ··wonderful experience" contentment on Miller s face as medical credentials who just had a working with Fretwell. whom she she glances around he~ new office ve ry passionate belief in family describes as being an " inspiration, across the hall from the Dean of ce ntered maternity care as a right an incredible woman." the Medical School, Dr. David of a ll birthing women. Three months ago, Miller was Greer. Brightly colored pictures "' We fought long a nd hard for persuaded to accept her new created by one her daughters, hang the condit ions that are so posit ion with the Continuing on the wa ll behind her desk. prevalent and taken fo r granted Medical Education Program at Sunshine pours through the open now. We wanted fathers in the Hrown University. Her current window into the room decorated deli,·ery room and for them to be posi tion will utilize her diverse with inspirational quotes. preseni during a Caesarean background and expert ise. " It's ··\\"atching my two wonderful sect ion. and sibling visitation ve r,· satisfying to pull together all daughters. Stacey, 15 and Erica, ril(hts. Each one of these was a the pieces are me and indulge my I 2. I ge t to live vicariously through long. hard fight," says Miller. " But love oft hings medical. I guess I'm a their experiences. I want them to don·t think I was doing this on my bit of a romantic when it comes to be responsible, independent, and own. For many women this was a medicine."' she confesses gleefully. self-supporting, otherwise what true sisterhood. Many, many gleefully. kind of a feminist would I be?" women fought to participate fully Together with a physician, she Miller asks quietly. "I look back on in the birthing experience." coordinates conferences and the 20 years since I left college and Concurrently, Miller welcomed seminars. Often a doctor will I realize how far we have come. We parents into her home as she approach her with little more than can only try to accomodate our conducted pre-natal classes. She a sul(gestion. Miller helps focus philosophy. My children will also developed a program to and define the idea, ultimately benefit from what we did but they educate high school students about insuring that all the details and will embrace their own causes." childbirth and sex education. " I arrangements during the actual Another achievement for Miller spoke in a lot of schools and I event run smoothly. "I'm a natural was instilling her passion for books always had a fascinated audience," worrier and this job is full of things end literature in her children. Vice President Bush tours the algae cultivation installation to worry about," she says with a "Through books and reading we at the Jacob Blaustein Desert Research Institute on the Sde Miller says, with her warm, open smile . convincing laugh. " I care very formulate ideas. Books are as close Boker campus of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. much about having things go as to religion as we get in the world," Pictured are (from left, front row): Profesaor Louis In I 978. motivated by her "love of things medical," Miller returned well as possible, making sure the Miller says with a moving Berkofsky, Director of the Institute; Dr. Shahtai Dover, conference is educationally openness. " Maybe kids can't Deputy-Director; Ben-Gurion; University President Chaim to school to earn her Masters Del(ree in Health Education at worthwhile, sound. and appreciate literature. It's only Elate; Vice President Bush; Dr. Sammy Bouuiba of the interesting." Miller says since J"ve been teaching it that the Blaustein Institute Applied Hydrobiology Unit, and Mr11. Rhode Island College. Two successful years and one diploma enthusiastically. last paragraph of Tale of Tll'o Bush. The algae is being developed BIi a desert crop for food What plans does she have for C1tie., makes me cry and that is a and fodder. later. Miller resumed her teaching career. She found her love of her own life? Her own doctoral pnsit ive indication of my teaching had not diminished. Al del(ree? "Who knows?" Miller humanity. That is the kind of St. Duns tans, she was responsible laul(hs. " My life hasn't been experi ence I wanted when I was a Inside: teacher but it's very hard to get From The Editor, for instilling a love of English in re!(imented. There's no such thing the students but maintained her as neve r and therefore the teenagers to see it. The best thing page4 prol(ram of drug and sex education possibilities remain open forever. that ever happened was when one in the classroom. A PhD would be incredible, but student told me that Romeo and Around Town, page 8 .Ju/,rt gave her goosebumps. But I11 I 984. Miller accepted a J"m not ready to take that on right that was good enough for me . I felt posi t 10 11 with Dr. Marsha Fretwell. now. But it is a possibility. Twenty Assistant Professor of Medicine ,·ears a!(o. I probably couldn't have (Continued on page 9) • • ;'f, y 't -, ,- •· ';JI \ ,,, -.,~ \,c "'• 1~·1,. • ' • "\'r" -' ' ,..,.•' I - · ,-. ' ;"' -..•,• • T (", ,-.. 2 - THE RHODE ISLAND HERALD, FRIDAY, AUGUST 15, 1986 Weizmann Rabbi Teller To Speak Dinner Speaker AtPHDS On Wednesday evening, August 20, at 8:00 p.m., Providence Local News Hebrew Day School will host a lecture at its main facility at 450 Elmg-rove Avenue. The lecturer will be the internationally known author, Rabbi Hanoch Teller. Rabbi Teller, an alumnus of the New England Academy of Torah, Touro Synagogue Announces National Campaign has published three best-selling A small group of Newporters, puhlic and intellectual figures.