The Jewish Alliance: Serving Providence and beyond

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At the Jewish Alliance, we are often asked where the dollars raised by the Annual Campaign go. Many understand that the funds are used to help the Jewish community in Rhode Island as well as in 70 countries around the world. However, there is a misperception that all of the local funds stay in the Providence area.  

Funds raised by the Alliance Annual Campaign are used to assist agencies throughout the entire state of Rhode Island. This year the Annual Campaign helped students in Kingston at URI Hillel with student engagement. Bryant University Hillel received money to support its program expansion on campus. Wakefield has seen the value of your campaign dollars with the addition of an Israeli shaliach (emissary) during the summer at Camp JORI, which attracts campers from all over Rhode Island and beyond. In addition, the shaliach is involved in programming at our synagogues throughout the state.  In Cranston, Providence and Warwick, our seniors have been able to enjoy meals provided both from Kosher Meals on Wheels and the Senior Kosher Café offered by Jewish Collaborative Services. These programs are funded in part by the Annual Campaign. 

Funding has assisted West Bay Chabad with their Camp Gan Israel scholarships. This unique experience provides a caring environment that cultivates pride and love for Judaism while serving as a safe space where working parents can send their children throughout the summer.  Another program aided by our campaign dollars is the Prison Services Program, run by West Bay Chabad. This is the only rabbinic and visitation program serving the men’s prison at the Adult Correctional Institution of Rhode Island, and offers inmates Jewish holiday traditions and prayer as well as conversation focused on Jewish values.

Statewide funds go to Kesher, a program that, in collaboration with four area synagogues and their clergy, provides an on-site social worker for counseling, information/referral, crisis management, and group workshops to over 200 community members. Kesher social workers are currently located at Congregation Beth Sholom (Providence), Temple Emanu-El (Providence), Temple Torat Yisrael (East Greenwich) and Congregation Agudas Achim (Attleboro, Massachusetts).

Did you know the Jewish Alliance offers supplemental grant opportunities for agencies as local needs arise? Thanks to donors, the most recent grant opportunities included the Secure Community Campaign and Innovation Grants – circulating an additional $200,000 within the community. The security grants helped increase safety at Congregation Beth David in Narragansett, Temple Habonim in Barrington, The Phyllis Siperstein Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence in Warwick and the University of Rhode Island Hillel in Kingston.

Funding also helps those who participate in March of the Living, a two-week once-in-a-lifetime experience for 10th to 12th graders. An annual educational program, March of the Living brings thousands of teens together to study the history of the Holocaust and to examine the roots of prejudice, intolerance and hate. More than 261,000 participants from 52 states and countries have participated in this trip, which begins in Poland and culminates in Israel. Since 1990, 208 Rhode Island teens have participated in this life-changing program.

With community support, the Alliance is able to help the Jewish population throughout Rhode Island. To support the local community through the Jewish Alliance’s Annual Campaign, visit jewishallianceri.org.

SETH FINKLE is development manager at the Jewish Alliance.

Alliance, Annual Campaign