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

Volunteers pack emergency bags for community members experiencing hunger as part of the Oct. 7 memorial at the Dwares JCC.

JRI

A memorial was set up at the Dwares JCC to honor victims of Oct. 7 and raise funds for Leket, Israel's national food bank.

Posted Friday, October 23, 2026 12:57 pm

JRI Staff

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

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 [Louis and Goldie Chester Full Plate] Kosher Food Pantry, which is right around the corner,” Contreras Fox said, “and you learn actually quite the opposite is true.”

This food insecurity that Jews in the Rhode Island area experience 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 lent a hand at the food pantry.

In addition, Contreras Fox noted, donations to JCS were always welcome, and would go to supporting its mission, which includes combating food insecurity.

Tova Leibowitz then described the work of Leket, Israel’s national food bank, and showed a video describing that organization’s work in the Jewish state. “They glean food from farmers that hasn’t been picked,” among other activities, Leibowitz 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 war the massacre sparked.

Also on the table were pictures of the kalanit, Israel’s national flower.

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