Rev your engines for Holocaust education

The public is invited to join in events on June 9 as the Jewish Motorcyclist Alliance (JMA) brings its 13th Annual Ride 2 Remember (R2R) to Rhode Island to increase awareness of, and raise funds for, Holocaust education in the state.

Events begin at 7:30 a.m. with a Kosher breakfast at Precision Harley-Davidson, 269 Armistice Blvd., Pawtucket, followed by hundreds of Jewish motorcyclists from around the nation mounting their bikes to tour Rhode Island in support of the Bornstein Holocaust Education Center, in Providence.

At 11 a.m., the riders will be welcomed as they arrive at the Alliance’s Dwares Jewish Community Center, in Providence. At 11:30 a.m., there will be a ceremony, followed by a Kosher lunch.

The Ride 2 Remember moves to the Crowne Plaza Providence-Warwick for evening events. Shabbat services will be held at 6 p.m., followed by a Kosher dinner at 7.

During the dinner, the USC Shoah Foundation will demonstrate its New Dimensions in Testimony, an interactive holographic exhibit that is the focus of JMA’s fundraising for the Bornstein Holocaust Education Center. This new technology will help ensure that Holocaust education remains relevant to future generations.

The JMA is the umbrella organization for Jewish motorcycle clubs from five countries. Its mission is to make sure that people learn about the Holocaust so they can avoid the mistakes of the past.

Thanks to the work of this year’s host club, The Lonsmen of Boston, the R2R is returning to the Northeast after two years in the South. According to Lonsmen President Jeff Komrower, “Getting the R2R back to the Northeast was a little overdue, and I was excited about submitting and eventually winning the bid to host this year.”

As part of the fundraising, a Harley-Davidson Black Street Glide is being raffled off. Raffle tickets are $100 and only 500 are being sold. A cash option is available if the winner prefers. Raffle tickets can be purchased at ride2remember.com/raffle.

Reservations are required by June 2 for the breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can register using the form that was inserted in the April 28 Jewish Voice or online at BornsteinHolocaustCenter.org.

To  join the ride, register at ride2remember.com.

LEV POPLOW writes for the Bornstein Holocaust Education Center. He can be reached at levpoplow@gmail.com.