1. Jews and shoes
PROVIDENCE– On the evening of May 27, Temple Beth-El was filled with color, conversation and contributions to the2015 Jewish Alliance Annual Campaign.
Elegantly dressed and impeccably coiffed women in gorgeous shoes gathered tohear a moving speech, socialize with friends and sample somedelicious
desserts. Many also looked forwardto theopportunity towin a pair of Stuart Weitzman high heels donated by Mel & Me, Ltd.
Mitzi Berkelhammer, vice chair of Philanthropy, kicked off the evening by thanking everyone for supporting the Jewish Allianceof Greater Rhode Islandand for
strengthening the community. She shared that the 2015 campaign has raised more than$3 million, sayingthat thereare as many ways to be Jewish as there
are to be generous. Berkelhammer named some causes for which the annual campaignprovides funding, including scholarships to campers, Shalom baby
baskets, PJ Library books and help forvulnerable seniors. She said there are more than300 program partners workingtogether toachieve social justice and to
experience Jewishlife in thespirit of joy and generosity. To sum up, Berkelhammer stated, “Through the Alliance, we can be passionate about philanthropy.”
Sharon Gaines, board chair, introducedthe featured speaker, Jane Weitzman. She explained that she met Weitzman at a Lion of Judah conferencein
September and invited her totalk on her two favorite topics – Jews and shoes. Weitzman was the executive vicepresident of Stuart Weitzman andthe founding
v ice president of Stuart Weitzman retail. She led the company’s philanthropy by raising funds to support breast and ovariancancer research and awareness.
Weitzman serves on numerous boards, includingthe Trust Board of Boston Children’s Hospital, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and theJTA.
Recently, she published “Art and Sole,” which features more than 150 fantasy art shoes from the Stuart Weitzman collection. One lucky attendee won the
v olume, which was also for sale duringthe event.
Weitzman opened her talk with an anecdote about a speaker who announced to the audience that the saying, “If yousave one person, it’s as if you save the
entire world,” was Chinese. Shecontemplated lettingthe woman know that it was a Jewishsaying, but ultimately decided against it. Unfortunate fundraising
speakers seem toplague Weitzman because thesecond anecdote shetold involved a retired head of the Carnegie Foundation, who claimedthat you can
make a real difference with just $5 million.
That statement is the antithesis of Weitzman’s messageto her audience – she believes that it takes very little tochangesomeone’s life. To illustrate, Weitzman
told about v isiting an elderly Jewish lady who lived in a communal apartment in the former Soviet Union. Even though the JDC had supplied herwith such
essentials as a hot plate, medicine andmeals, Weitzmanwanted todo more. Noticing that the womanused her ancient televisionas a display for
her tchotchkecollection, she learnedthat the set was broken. Weitzman gave thesocial worker$150 to buy this senior a television. Two months later, she
receiv ed a translatedletter from thelady, letting her know that Weitzman had given her a life.
The crux of Weitzman’s message was theidea that we must take care of ourown people before we help everybody else. She said that, when she was a child,
80 percent of funds Jewish people raised went to Jewish causes, while now, that figure is around 22 percent, according to the Pew Research Center. Weitzman
suspects that, the number hovers somewherebetween eight and 11 percent. Urgingthe audience to donate, she stated, “We are links in a chain that goes back
thousands of years. We survive by helping each other.”
Weitzman showed someslides of people who received aid from the JDC. Amongthem was a manin India who “is living his life with dignity,”a woman in Cairo,
Egy pt, who lives in a community that benefits from donations of food and medicine, and a displaced family in Ukraine that survives gunfire on a regularbasis.
The audience also saw slides depictingthe students in the Israeli school Weitzman sponsored. She spoke against segregation, saying that she insistedthat
one-third of thechildren be Ethiopian. Since the school is extremely successful now, she is proud of her achievement. “I did this as an experiment to show that
this can be done. I am happy to say that it’s working. I havegotten more out of this thanI haveput intoit.”
Toward the end of the evening, Weitzman answered questions and shared the tale of her window dressing career at the shoe store. According to her, 90
percent of store windows feature products; she choseto do Stuart Weitzman’s windows differently. She joked that she took theunusual pathbecause she didn’t
hav e a boss and could do as she pleased. Now you can see those displays of fantastical shoes on thepages of her book.
IRINAMISSIURO is a writerand editorial consultant for The Jewish Voice.

2. Your Sister’s Closet
If y ou are not part of the Orthodox community, you might be unfamiliar with the concept of g’mach. It stands for Gemilut Chasadim, deeds of loving kindness.
Members of Jewish communities worldwide collect various items, including clothing, food, toys and furniture to be distributed to thosein need. According to
Bracha (Barbara) Notterman, one of two women who run the g’mach in Rhode Island, it all started with Julie Lurie, who ran the giving closet from “an
oppressively hot tiny room in her attic.”
Nottermanexplains that Lurie “had access to a source in New York, a company that supplied her withclothes that were new and beautiful but didn’t sell.” Lurie
supplementedthe high-end items with some local donations. After runningthe operationfor three years, Lurie moved to Chicago and MelisaBeck, her
assistant, moved to California.
Now Sara Halper and Notterman run the g’mach out of Halper’s large basement. They want to carry on the operation becausethey feel it’s useful to women in
the community. Notterman says that she usedto frequent a g’mach when shewas much younger. She remembers feeling grateful for being able to pick out
some clothes without having to put a dent in her finances. “It was like Hanukkah – I couldn’t wait togo through the bags.” Later, when shewas able to return the
f av or, she felt just as thankful. “It was lovely to be able topass it on sosomeone else could useit. Clothes shouldn’t be tossed. The g’mach is a way of sharing
the things you have without having to have a lot of money.”
Nottermanexplains that g’machs are usually themed because a housecan’t incorporate everythingthat people might need or want toshare. They decidedto
f ocus on women’s clothing because they believe that a Jewish woman should be treatedlike a princess. And, because they have so much more spacethan in
the original location, they can store many more clothes. Thanks to generous community donors, the g’mach inventory has increased tenfold.
This is great news f orcommunity women. After all, not everyone can afford to purchase clothes every season or to be ableto accommodate changing fashion
and taste. Notterman and Halper sort throughthe donations, hang the clothes and act as fashion consultants to womenwho oftenappreciateanother woman’s
opinion on how an outf it looks. The two organizers would like women to understand that they always have an opportunity to look beautiful. Notterman says,
“Being Orthodox doesn’t mean you have to be frumpy. Findyour own style, figure out what looks goodon you.”
Halper has alway s loved clothes. In her late teens, she worked in a boutique in England. She enjoyed selling the merchandise, as well as advising the buyers.
When she saw a need f or a g’mach spacious enough to attract more women, she“seized this opportunity to harness [her] skills in retail, sales, style and
customer service.” She says, “I lovewhat I do. I take tremendous satisfaction in helpinga woman put together outfits, especially since we do not charge
any thing as it is truly a chesed and a tzedakah project.”
They named theirg’mach Your Sister’s Closet because they carry the type of clothes that your sister would havein her closet. That means that theitems hold
their shape, are not torn, have no missing buttons or stains. In other words, theseare clothes that you’d be proud tolend, wear or giveaway if you are tiredof
them. Also, keep in mind that the pieces should be modest – no plunging necklines or short-sleeved dresses and shirts. Hats and jewelry are in high rotation,
but shoes are off-limits as they look toounappealing if they are worn. An occasional wedding dress can be foundas well.
Ev en though this serviceis free, at onepoint, thetwo women found themselves debating whether or not they shouldclose because of low demand. Clients
weren’t coming in anymore because the g’mach was not receiving enoughattractive clothes. Notterman and Halper discovered that many women wanted a
separate rack featuring the new clothing.
The organizers complied. And, thanks to the Jewish Allianceof Greater Rhode Island, they will have a full-lengthmirrorfor thearea and new bright lightingin
the dark basement. Halper says, “We are excited about the partnership because we would liketo reach women we hadn’t already identified – those who may
not know we exist.”
Usually, according tothe organizers, when women learnof the giving closet, they are thrilled at the opportunity to “shop” there and bring their donations. The
giv ing closet also stocks some professional clothing. Women who would like to update theirwardrobes with some business staples for work shouldvisit
the g’mach. In fact, Notterman encourages everyone to give it a try. She says, “We want tohelp people. If they don’t come, why are we doing this? Peoplemust
use it. The wider the need, the better.”
If y ou would like todrop off donations or to make an appointment tovisit the g’mach Sunday through Thursday, you can email Halper
at SaraLindsay.Halper@Verizon.net or call Notterman at 401-272-8757.
IRINAMISSIURO is a writerand editorial consultant at The Jewish Voice.

3. JSA holds annual meeting at Tamarisk
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WARWICK – On May 21, the Jewish Seniors Agency held its 82ndannual meeting, “Putting Life into Living,” at The Phyllis SipersteinTamarisk Assisted Living
Residence. Jeffrey Padwa, president, welcomed Rabbi Ethan Adler tooffer a D’var Torah. Jeffrey Savit, president and CEOof theJewish Alliance of the
Greater Rhode Island, addressed the missionof JFS and the JSA.
Any a Rader Wallack, director of HealthSource RI (HSRI), the health insurance exchange created under the Affordable Care Act, spoke about the futureof HSRI
and Medicaid. She has worked on state health policy for 25 years, an experience she likened to “banging your head against the wall.”RaderWallack indicated
that most of the successes she’s observedrecently were in terms of Medicaid – a program that serves low-income anddisabled people.
Rader Wallack said that using Medicaid toexpand insurance coverageand shifting the use of services from high-end topreventive care are some of her
proudest moments. She explained that a Medicaid workgroup has been tasked with identifying ways to betterserve people. To achieve that, recommendations
f rom public meetings, distilled into a report, indicate goals that include creating savings in the R.I. budget, paying forvalue – not volume – of services and
creating metrics for the program’s performance. Even though cuts to nursing homes and hospitals are expected, those institutions performing at a high level will
be able to earn them back.
Rader Wallack statedthat the evolution of HSRI is at a critical point since it has to be fully state funded by July of next year. She and her team are making the
case to keep the exchange in R.I. because it offers more control, better plan prices, local customer service and job opportunities. Shesaid, “If we can make
sure it’s a sustainableoperation and convincethe legislature tofund it, we can provide efficiency, quality and promotion of health among population.”
Next, Padwa gavethe president’s report, speaking of JSA’s achievements in two areas. Hecomplimented the success of the Louis and Goldie Chester Full
Plate Kosher Pantry, which “has become an incredible service.” The staff not only welcomes everyonein need, but alsoevaluates clients holistically to
recognize what other services they might benefit from. So far, the pantry has distributed200 tons of food to 6,500 households, making10,000 visits. This year
alone, the pantry reached$44,000 in donations.
Padwa characterized theJERI (JewishEldercare of Rhode Island) Outreach Program as “the heart and soul of the agency.” He shared Rabbi Ethan Adler’s
story todemonstrate the program’s effectiveness. While visiting an elderly woman who hadn’t spoken in a few days, the rabbi invited her to say
the Sh’ma together. As the woman mouthed the words, the rabbi could see tears in her eyes. He knew that those tears were there not only because she was
sad about losing her physical abilities, but alsobecause she was appreciative of the community’s help.
Padwa said the agency faces challenges in fundraising and leadership development. A fundraisingtaskforce, chaired by Susan Bazar, has beenorganized.
Also, a leadership taskforce, which Padwa is chairing, has beentasked with identifying andengaging new boardand committee members and officers. He
introduced three “new, young and energetic professionals” – JasonSiperstein, Adam Smithand Joshua Padwa. Last, a program development taskforce that
engages experts and consultants to describe how the senior services landscape has changed has been organized (but is as yet without a chairman).
Paul Barrette, executive director, reportedthat Shalom Housing’s waiting list remains at 18 months, that the Rhode Island Chapter of Alzheimer’s Association
has recognized Tamarisk as being at the forefront, and that theassisted living residence’s number of centenarians (four) far exceeds thenational average.
James Galkin, co-chair of JSA’s “To Life Campaign,”reported that theeight-year-old program has raised $4,136,571 todate, assisting Tamarisk residents with
$700,000. He saidthat when Don Shulman, president and CEO of Association of Jewish AgingServices of NorthAmerica, visited last year, he was greatly
impressed, saying, “You are a remarkable agency!”
Suzette Rabinowitz receivedthe 2015 Maurice Glicksman Leadership Award. Accepting it, shesaid, “I can’t think of a nicerhonor.” Addressing Glicksman, who
was in the audience, shecalled him “a treasured friend and a kind mentor.” Rabinowitz expressedpride at having accomplished the original vision – toprovide
more comprehensive services to elders and their families. About the evening’s speeches, she said, “I’m kvelling after hearing all these reports. Who would have
thought when we startedthis endeavor that we would be here today?”

4. Bernice Weiner presented the Women’s Association report. She mentioned activities, such as game nights and the Knit Shoppe, which sells handmade
af ghans, children’s sweaters and hats made by the association’s volunteers.
Af ter the election and installationof officers and directors, the last highlight of thenight was the Presidential Award – an honor that has not been given out since
2012. Padwa explained that it recognizes volunteers who go above and beyond to give their time and energy and to make the lives of others easier. Kenneth
Schneider, “volunteerextraordinaire,” receivedthis year’s honor. Padwa said that Schneider “works in the rain, sleet and snow to make sure that food deliveries
are carried out. He makes sure that our clients are not forced tolive in unsanitary conditions.” Schneider, a board member, received a standing ovation.
IRINAMISSIURO is a writerand editorial consultant at The Jewish Voice.