Double Chai Society launches Lox and Learning Breakfast Series

Double Chai chairs and committee members Steve and Emily Shalansky, Jeffrey Isaacs, and Bethany Sutton with Barnaby Evans. /Hillary S.

Barnaby Evans, the creator and executive artistic director of WaterFire Providence, was the speaker when young Jewish community members gathered at the Providence Marriott Downtown on Jan. 13 for the launch of The Double Chai Society’s Lox and Learning Breakfast Series. The series is designed to give Rhode Island’s young Jewish leaders up-close and personal exposure to decision-makers and trailblazers, as well as to enable this group to grow as community influencers and dynamic professionals, and expand their personal and business networks.

Double Chai Society chairs Steve and Emily Shalansky welcomed the mix of familiar and new faces, and were followed at the podium by Jeffrey Savit, Jewish Alliance CEO and president, who spoke about the impact of the money raised during the Annual Campaign.

Evans spoke about how WaterFire Providence came to be and how his vision has impacted Providence, as well as the entire state. He also told about re-creating WaterFire in Rome for one night, as well as raising the bar for the event back home in Providence.

His expert visuals illustrated why WaterFire Providence is the number five “thing to do after dark” in the world, on a par with Paris after dark.

Evans also talked about his involvement with the new Holocaust Memorial on the Providence River Walk, its collaboration with WaterFire, and how the memorial has sparked conversation.

For more information about The Double Chai Society or its upcoming events, contact Hillary Schulman at hschulman@jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 127, or Erin Moseley, director of arts and culture and NextGen engagement, at emoseley@jewishallianceri.org or 401-421-4111, ext. 108.

HILLARY SCHULMAN is a development associate in philanthropy for the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island.