Faith communities join in fundraising efforts for Station Fire Memorial

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The faith community in Rhode Island has come together to support the construction of a memorial to the victims of the Station nightclub fire in West Warwick, and the Jewish community is no exception.

On Feb. 20, 2003, 100 people lost their lives when West Warwick’s Station nightclub burned down. In 2012, the Station Fire Memorial Foundation acquired the site of the nightclub to build a memorial.

It plans to complete  the Station Fire Memorial Park in the fall. Dan Barry, the campaign director for the fundraising effort, described the tragedy as Rhode Island’s 9/11; everyone knew where they were when they heard about it.

“This is the first time we’ve got the religious communities working together for a fundraising cause like this,” Barry said in a phone interview. “When something as horrific as this happens, everybody helps each other.”

Rabbi Richard Perlman of West Bay Community Jewish Center, who stood with families to offer support outside the Station nightclub during the tragedy, is now involved in Jewish participation in the memorial effort. At the time of the fire, he was spiritual leader of Temple Am David in Warwick. He has said that to his knowledge, no victims were Jewish, but that participation in the memorial effort is about helping those outside the Jewish community as well.

“That fire was devastating to all of us, especially those of us who live in Rhode Island and were here at that time. I believe – and I haven’t heard otherwise – that none of the victims were of the Jewish faith…That doesn’t matter,” he said. “We’re supposed to do tikkun olam; we’re supposed to repair the world. When we see something that is wrong, we’re supposed to act. We’re a light unto other nations. Doesn’t mean we’re better than anybody else, but we have to be that beacon of light.”

Throughout Rhode Island, 512 religious communities have been notified of the memorial effort. According to Barry, all have said they’re willing to participate in some way.

Perlman says that several congregations have voiced support for fundraising initiatives and/or providing healing, including Temple Beth-El and Temple Emanu-El, in Providence.

Rabbi Sarah Mack, of Temple Beth-El, and president of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Rhode Island, said, “The Station nightclub fire impacted all Rhode Islanders.  This is an opportunity to memorialize the lives lost. The faith-based response allows each religious community to remember this dark moment in our states’ history and honor the spirit of community that contributed to healing and consolation.

“The effort is largely coordinated by the Council of Churches, supported by the Board of Rabbis and each congregation is sharing with members and participating in their own way.”

Fundraising is expected to go on until the Station Fire Memorial Foundation’s $2 million goal is reached; for the month of May, faith communities are being asked to “raise funds using their own traditions,” according to a flier sent out by Rabbi Perlman.

“If we could find ways to do that,” he says, referring to coming together in pursuit of a common good, “not just at the Station or because of tragic events like this … what a world we’d have.”

ARIEL BROTHMAN is a freelance writer who lives in Wrentham, Massachusetts.

Station nightclub, fundraiser