Rosh Hodesh program explores light, dark

As Hanukkah, the festival of light, approaches, more than 65 women gathered Nov. 30 at the Dwares Jewish Community Center for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island’s Rosh Hodesh program. Rabbi Rachel Zerin of Temple Emanu-El facilitated an inspired, engaging and informative session titled “Lighting up the Dark.” The group compared the thematic values of lightness and dark, Talmudic and Midrashic sources covering similar topics, and discussed the importance of Hanukkah in participants’ daily lives.  Additionally, participants had table-top discussions with one another and left feeling motivated to embrace the upcoming holiday with renewed meaning and understanding.

Maybeth Lichaa, chair of the Rosh Hodesh program, opened the event by sharing a story from a beneficiary of the Jewish Alliance’s annual campaign. She read a personal letter from the father of a camper who attended J-Camp last summer. Despite his son’s special needs, the father wrote that his son had the most amazing summer and how grateful he is to the staff for supporting his son and allowing him to thrive at camp. 

The next Rosh Hodesh  program is scheduled for May 22 at noon, at the Alliance’s Dwares JCC and features Rabbi Barry Dolinger, spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Sholom and Jewish Alliance board member. For more information, contact Danielle Germanowski at dgermanowski@jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 109. 

STEPHANIE HAGUE (shague@jewishallianceri.org) is the philanthropy officer at the Jewish Alliance.