“Forever a Temple-Emanu-El Kid”

By: Abby Kaye-Phillips

I can clearly remember the moment when I realized that Uncle Seymour was not actually my uncle. This came as a shock to me and every other kid growing up in the 90’s and early 00’s who knew that a Shabbat afternoon wasn’t complete until Seymour Krieger gave you a handful of Sunkist fruit gems. Growing up as a true “temple kid” meant that every Shabbat, every holiday, and countless secular days in between were spent growing up within the context of a vibrant and ever growing shul that is a true gem of the Providence Jewish community. When I look back on any period of my life, I can remember the traditions that seemed so routine at the time, but are now memories of events and practices that not only shaped who I am as a Jewish adult, but also a human being. I remember the Saturday mornings in Jr. Cong, rushing to the Fishbein Chapel in the basement in order to beat the rush and get the best part to lead in the service. Not getting what you wanted was okay though, because by wearing red shoes, or a black bow, or having a favorite color, you were bound to be included in the masses invited up by characteristic to lead Ein Keloheinu or Adon Olam (which was always to tune of “Yankee Doodle” or “Rock Around the Clock”). I remember the excitement for my friends as they had their first torah readings, and the terror and adrenaline rush the first time I prepared for my own. I remember looking up to the teenage leaders as role models, and eventually becoming one myself. After the service we’d line up to receive our point cards, an extremely important piece of paper that tracked our weekly attendance and would decide our fate come Prize Day of whether we got a stuffed animal or plastic tchotchke at the end of the year. And of course, no Saturday morning episode was complete without those delicious green and pink cookies with the chocolate sprinkles, that along with the challah at the Jr. Cong Kiddush, were a great appetizer to the feast waiting upstairs. After lunch we would look on in awe as the “Jew Crew” of teenagers benched with such ruach that we would try to emulate later when we began to lead the Birkat Hamazon sessions ourselves. I remember religious school Mincha on Tuesdays, and always wanting to be the one to tell Cantor Mayer a special fact about the day that would warrant one of his famous high fives. Holidays were truly special; Wendy’s family service on Rosh Hashana, marching on stage with glowsticks (and sneaking extras to bring home) during Neilah to end Yom Kippur, meals in the Sukkah and of course, candy apples on Simchat Torah after Hakafot that left you with no voice and sore feet from dancing. Purim spiels were the highlight of the spring and the Rabbi’s song was always the best. Youth Theatre productions on the Meeting House stage helped build confidence, foster creativity and create lasting friendships. Even today, when I haven’t been to Saturday morning services in years, and many new families have come and gone, every time I walk through the doors of the temple it feels like coming home. I’m so grateful to the place that raised me with the support, love and sense of belonging that I hope will be available for a family of my own someday. Perhaps it will even be at Emanu-El.

The Success of our Son’s Bar Mitzvah

By: Beth Levow and David Feit

We thank Temple Emanu-El for the huge, coordinated effort to help make our son’s recent Bar Mitzvah a special moment and true success! Without the dedicated time, guidance and encouragement of the Temple staff, our son could not have accomplished all that he did on his Bar Mitzvah day. Cantor Mayer supported our son in reading three Aliyot and leading Ashrei. Rabbi Franklin had many discussions about G-d and Judaism with our son and has encouraged him to continue learning and questioning. Rabbi Babchuck provided ongoing support and encouragement, not only with his D’var Torah, but through weekly Sunday discussions, which he really enjoyed. Miriam Abrams-Stark (Director of Congregational Learning), deserves all the credit for our child attending Religious School. Paul Stouber (Ritual Director) deserves praise for teaching us the ins and outs of Bar Mitzvah preparation. Gershon Levine (Executive Director) set up the live stream video camera so that our Aunt and Uncle in New York could Kvell, sing, stand, and sit in real-time. The administrative assistants were very wonderful and helpful with all the phone calls and coordination they had to traffic. Multiple guests mentioned how impressed they were with the warmth and dynamism/ vitality that they experienced.

Many thanks to Temple Emanu-El for this! The Bar Mitzvah was a true mitzvah! Our shul is a special place and we are so thankful for that!

HaZamir at Carnegie Hall

By: Cantor Mayer

Remember the old joke about a tourist asking a New Yorker for directions: “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” Answer: “Practice, practice, practice!”

Well, there’s a new twist to this old joke. “How do you get to Carnegie Hall?” Answer: “Join HAZAMIR!”

HAZAMIR is the International Jewish High School Choir. At the end of March, HaZamir Providence*, our own local chapter, had their 16th opportunity to participate in the 21st Annual HaZamir Festival at Carnegie Hall. Thirteen of our teens traveled and sang at this year’s festival. They rehearsed 2- 3.5 hours a week since October, learned 10 pieces of music and committing them to memory. They learned the same music as 300 other teens in 24 HaZamir chapters- 22 in the USA and 2 from Israel.

Spending 3 nights together in a Catskills hotel (yes, there is still a Kosher hotel left in the Catskills!), these 300 teens PRACTICED, PRACTICED, PRACTICED! They had an extraordinary bonding experience – they were brought together because of music and being Jewish. That combination created magical moments, during Shabbat, during rehearsals and during their free time.

And then, on Sunday morning, we drove from the Catskills to Manhattan. Imagine 300 Jewish teens, singing their hearts out on the stage of Carnegie Hall. We truly had a spectacular time!

By the way, how do you get to Carnegie Hall?

*HaZamir Providence is very blessed to be underwritten by The Sylvia Zimet Memorial Kol Kesem HaZamir Endowment , which was established by Dianne and Martin Newman in memory of Dianne’s beloved mother.

An Innovative Temple

By Amy Olson

I grew up in Cranston, Rhode Island but spent much of my adult life in Minnesota. When I was growing up, my family belonged to what was then called Temple Beth Torah, but I do have vivid memories of visiting Temple Emanu-El on several occasions.

As a kid, I remember that Temple Emanu-El had the best Purim Carnival in the area! One year, I convinced my parents to schlep all the way to Providence to take me to the Carnival. I was thrilled when I tossed a ping pong ball into a jar and won a goldfish. I named him Megillah, and he lived for more than a year in a glass bowl on our kitchen table.

I attended several bar-mitzvahs at Temple Emanu-El in the early 1970’s where I confess most of my time was spent in the ladies room with the other girls, admiring our maxi-dresses.

When I moved back to Rhode Island with my own family in 2005, I wanted to join a congregation that was highly participatory and offered numerous resources. As someone who loves to daven and read Torah, I was looking for a vibrant Shabbat morning community, where I would have the opportunity to be an active learner and an active leader.

Temple Emanuel is constantly striving to be innovative, relevant, and responsive to its members. Each of the Rabbis since I have been a member–Rabbi Franklin, Rabbi Kaunfer, Rabbi Seltzer, and Rabbi Babchuck–have been caring, knowledgeable and approachable. Their pairings have complemented each other and add to the diversity of experiences available.

Coming from a unique and wonderful congregation in St. Paul, Minnesota, yet one that did not have a professional Cantor, I have truly enjoyed how much I have learned musically from Cantor Mayer and how adept he is at involving the congregation in the service. I also love the fact that there is a lay-led service option–Minyan Hadash–where I can apply all that I have learned.