Kollel’s Jewish Unity Live honors Schechters

PROVIDENCE – The evening of March 27 at the Renaissance Hotel was a double hitter:  Naomi and Dr. Steve Schechter were the recipients of the Am Echad award and Judge Dan Butler gave an inspiring speech on “Making the Most of a Bad Day.”  

Rabbi Raphie Schochet, director of Providence Kollel, introduced Rabbi Eliezer Gibber, the Rosh Yeshiva (Dean) of New England Rabbinical College. Gibber then welcomed the Schechters to the podium to receive their award. Gibber shared stories exemplifying the chesed (kindness) and emunah (faithfulness) the Schechters have shown to the Providence Jewish community. One story involved Dr. Schechter escorting Rabbi Gibber’s daughter to the hospital for stitches so the rabbi could settle his guests at the Shabbat table before walking over himself.

After an acceptance speech by Schechter, Schochet introduced the evening’s guest speaker, Judge Butler. 

Audiences all over the world have been bowled over by Butler’s personal and professional perspectives, his whirlwind delivery, gentle humor and remarkable insights into the human condition.  Butler, who has five children, spoke with kindness, love and perspective about his son who died of cystic fibrosis and another son’s struggles and successes with autism.  

Butler’s main messages revolved around three questions: How do we enhance our relationship with our people and our God?  How can we be happy even in the face of adversity? What makes us unique? The underlying message Butler so elegantly wove through his speech could be summarized in one word, “chesed.”  Chesed or loving kindness is revealed through Butler’s stories of his sons trials and tribulations with their challenges. Perhaps more revealing is how Butler leads by example, choosing chesed to deal with what life has delivered to him rather than bitterness and sorrow.  

The evening, which was the Providence Kollel’s annual Celebration of Jewish Learning, began with a dessert reception enjoyed by the guests who filled the room. 

DENISE RUBIN lives in Narragansett, is a speech language pathologist, owner/teacher at Yoga Blossoms, studies Torah with Rabbi Schochet, and is a wannabe photojournalist.