Celebrating Israeli Independence at CBS

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The chilly weather did not affect the warm spirits Monday evening, May 1, at the annual Yom ha-Atzmaut (Israeli Independence Day) celebration at Congregation Beth Sholom (CBS). More than 100 congregants, family members and friends gathered on the synagogue’s outdoor patio, enjoying Middle Eastern fare provided by a Clover Food Lab Food truck. The festivities concluded with a tefillah chagigit (a celebratory prayer) in thanks, said one congregant, for “the ridiculous miracle that is the State of Israel.”

 

But while Israel was the evening’s focus, many in attendance also expressed delight at the presence of the Kosher food truck. CBS Rabbi Barry Dolinger oversaw the kashrut certification of Clover in 2015, a process that included his taking a trip to a farm, milking cows and hauling giant blocks of cheddar.

“It was all great fun,” Dolinger said, “and absolutely worth the effort to increase the availability of high-quality, locally sourced Kosher food in the Providence area.”

“Celebrating Israel was great,” said synagogue President William Krieger, “and my girls and I also enjoyed celebrating the Chickpea Fritters and Lavender Lemonade.”

The festivities were partly subsidized by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. CBS is a modern Orthodox synagogue on Camp Street in Providence.