Temple Am David in receivership

PROVIDENCE – A temporary receiver has been appointed for Temple Am David in Warwick.

On Nov. 25, Theodore Orson, of Providence’s Orson and Brusini law firm, was appointed by the Kent County Superior Court to preserve and protect the assets of the temple to maximize the benefit for creditors.

Assets include the temple building, on Gardiner Avenue in Warwick, and sacred items, including eight Torahs.

In many receiver situations, such as a company with a factory, a building would be sold and its contents liquidated. But Am David presents a different kind of challenge for Orson, who has served as receiver in dozens of bankruptcy cases: Liquidating gets more complicated when you’re dealing with a religious, nonprofit organization with a long history in the community, as well as a house of worship that holds Torahs and such items as memorial plaques. 

“I want the community to know that this is going to be carried out with the utmost dignity and respect,” Orson said in an interview with The Voice. “Everything I do will be transparent.”

Exhaustive efforts were made to avoid reaching this point. In a Voice article in August, Am David leadership said they had been trying to sell their building for months and had several interested parties but no offers. The building is currently listed with Thomas Sweeney of Sweeney Real Estate & Appraisal.

There is no precedent for this in Rhode Island’s Jewish community, but Orson is looking into cases elsewhere. He said he’s early in that research process.

He is also getting advice from the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island to make sure that everything is done according to Jewish law.

“I appreciate the Board of Rabbis’ willingness to meet on such short notice,” he said of a meeting he had with them the week after his appointment. “I wanted to bring issues to their attention. To get them thinking” about the important items.

While the process moves forward, Orson said he would “prefer to keep the building open” so that the congregation can use it for services and activities. That will depend on securing property and liability insurance. For now, services and activities are happening as usual.

What happens to the congregation at Am David is not an issue for the receiver – whether the congregation stays together is up to the members.

As soon as he has had more time to do research and plan, Orson said he will schedule a meeting with the congregation to answer questions about the receivership process.

When asked to comment, Beth Veltri, president of the congregation, referred The Voice to Orson.

FRAN OSTENDORF is editor of The Jewish Voice.