R.I. Jews commemorate Oct. 7 by feeding the community

PROVIDENCE — About 30 community members gathered at the Bonnie & Donald Dwares Jewish Community Center to commemorate Oct. 7 by ensuring food is available for community members, both in Rhode Island and in the Jewish state.

The event is one of several sponsored by area synagogues, student groups and other organizations to commemorate the third anniversary of the Oct. 7, 2023, terrorist attack by Hamas and allied groups on southern Israel. The attack killed 1,200 people, left 251 captive and sparked a war that has claimed the lives of hundreds of soldiers.

Dori Adler, the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island’s director of Jewish life and learning, explained to those gathered that the Alliance had partnered with Jewish Collaborative Services and Leket, Israel’s national food bank, as “the best way for us to help our local community as well as [the community] in Israel.”

Many people, even many Jews, believe the stereotype that there are no Jews experiencing poverty or food insecurity, Kristina Contreras Fox of Jewish Collaborative Services said. “One of the challenges that we find is ignorance about how the issue of food insecurity and hunger impact the Jewish community.”

“You spend not even five minutes at the food pantry, which is right around the corner, and you learn actually quite the opposite is true,” Contreras Fox said, referring to the Louis and Goldie Chester Full Plate Kosher Food Pantry.

Addressing food insecurity among Jews in the Rhode Island area was the main thrust of the Oct. 7 service project. Volunteers lined up to fill dozens of emergency bags with nutritious food — fruit, peanut butter, granola bars and more — for distribution locally and then to lend a hand at the food pantry.

Contreras Fox noted that donations to JCS support its mission, which includes combating food insecurity.

Toby Liebowitz then described the work of Leket, Israel’s national food bank, and showed a video highlighting that organization’s achievements. “They glean food from farmers that hasn’t been picked,” among other activities, Liebowitz said. She noted that the Torah mandates that farmers leave the corners of their fields unharvested so that the poor can come and sustain themselves.

As they were leaving, volunteers stopped at a table decked with Israeli flags, where they could donate to Leket as well as light a candle in memory of those who were murdered on Oct. 7 or who were killed in the ensuing war. Also on the table were pictures of the kalanit, Israel’s national flower. 

“It’s a symbol of resilience,” Adler said.