I hope you’ve had a great week! About a month ago I shared information with you about our upcoming Jewish Culture Fest. With everything that has taken place in the last month, this festival is more important than ever for us as a Jewish community, and for everyone in Rhode Island.

Like you, I’ve been dismayed by the images of what is happening on college campuses around the country. My frustration does not come from people exercising their first amendment right to protest, but because there seems to be a sense that October 7th has been forgotten. That the tragedy of that day is not acknowledged, that Hamas violated the ceasefire is not acknowledged, that Hamas uses civilians as human shields is not acknowledged, and that people are still being held captive by Hamas is not acknowledged. You’ve heard me say many times that our community mourns the innocent loss of Palestinian life in this conflict, and I wish that protesters would acknowledge the innocent loss of Israelis as a result of this war.

Click here to read the transcribed version of the Shabbat message.

Now more than ever, it’s important that we come together to celebrate who we are and more importantly, to celebrate it and share it with others. On June 2nd, we have that opportunity, and I hope you all will join us for a day of music, dance, film, comedy, and great food. You can find more information here. Please join us, and please bring a non-Jewish friend. In fact, bring five or ten. Let’s show our whole Rhode Island community how proud we are of who we are.

Until next time, I wish you a safe, peaceful, and joyous Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom,
Adam Greenman
President & CEO