Temple Beth-El to host holiday marketplace, Scholastic Book Fair

PROVIDENCE – The Sisterhood of Temple Beth-El has transformed its annual Hanukkah sale into an Artisan Marketplace and Scholastic Book Fair, which members hope will attract shoppers from throughout New England for all their holiday shopping needs.

The marketplace and book fair will be held on Sunday, Nov. 12, from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the meeting hall and lobby of Temple Beth-El, 70 Orchard Ave., Providence.

Event Co-Chairs Mona Goldenberg and Judy Goldberg have secured about 20 vendors, including photographers, potters, glass blowers and jewelers. Several have displayed work at the RISD Craft Show, the Wickford Art Festival, the Foundry Artists Show, the Graham Gallery, in Bristol, and numerous other places.

Gift options include wall hangings; textiles such as napkins, felted coasters, clothing and scarves; artisanal soaps; woodwork; Judaica, dreidels, menorahs, handmade mezuzot and Hanukkah kitchen items; games and art items for children; and gelt and wrapping paper.

The artists who will be showing their artwork include:

Lesley Bogad: A Temple Beth-El member and a Providence potter who creates mugs, bowls, vases and Judaica, including seder plates.

Jeff O’Connell: A Rhode Island artist who creates wall sculptures in geometric designs with wood and rope.

Kate Perreault: A Rhode Island artist who uses a variety of mediums to create designs that catch your attention with their vibrant colors and details.

Suzanne Watzman: The Massachusetts artist and founder of Tamaryn Design creates limited-edition clothing, accessories and home décor that incorporate new and reclaimed materials.

The Scholastic Book Fair offers a twist that the co-chairs hope will appeal to parents, grandparents, friends and extended family of children who are preschool age through eighth grade. After the fair, Scholastic Books will donate a percentage of the books sold to the Sisterhood. In turn, the Sisterhood expects to distribute these books for its mitzvah projects, such as the Birthday-in-a-Box program, which organizes children’s birthday party supplies for families in need.

The Sisterhood hopes shoppers will stock up on books that they can gift all year.

The Artisan Marketplace will raise funds for Sisterhood initiatives, with 10% of the artisans’ profits donated to the Sisterhood.

About two years ago, Goldenberg moved to North Providence with her husband, Henry Goldenberg, who will be selling his photography at the Marketplace. As event co-chair, Goldenberg has drawn upon 20 years of experience curating an artists’ market and Scholastic Book Fair at her former temple, in Plattsburgh, New York, which drew shoppers from well beyond the Jewish community.

Goldberg moved to Cranston from Connecticut nine years ago with her husband, Howard Goldberg. She is an active volunteer in the Greater Rhode Island Jewish community and a maker whose personal crafting includes mandala rock painting, sewing (aprons, dog coats and key chains), making dog leashes, knitting and more.

Reflecting on what they have curated, Goldberg said: “We are hoping to create a lasting, positive memory so that our shoppers will look forward to attending and supporting our marketplace next year as well.”

 KATE BRAMSON is a longtime member of Temple Beth-El and its Sisterhood, where she worked on the cookbook committee that created “Recipes and Memories that Nourished Us Through the Pandemic.”