RJC Centennial 2010–11

Celebrate the Past, Seize the Future. ​
In 2010, the Rutland Jewish Center community began a year-long commemoration of the 100th anniversary of our founding: a century of Jewish life in Rutland County, established by six families in 1910. Three generations and counting…hundreds of Hebrew school alumni, dozens upon dozens of weddings and b’nai mitzvah celebrations, funerals and memorials…thousands of Shabbat and holiday services in a building deemed “one of the most beautiful in Vermont.” 

We celebrated our centennial with a series of events which began in the fall of 2010 and culminated in a gala dinner in the spring of 2011. 

On October 10, 2010, we kicked off our grand celebration with a community event. Accompanied by a festive brunch, our program featured a rededication of the Center and a launch into our second century. Governor James Douglas served as keynote speaker. Mayor Christopher Louras offered his congratulations. Also on hand to offer congratulations were representatives from United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism, our national affiliate. And Dr. Steve Zeitlin entertained us with “I’m Right, You’re Right, He’s Right Too: A Look at Jewish Humor”.

The centennial celebration continued with an Open House on November 14, 2010. Visitors were treated to tours of the Center’s historic National Register building and a pictorial exhibit of the congregation’s history. We  invited other Jewish congregations throughout Vermont and the general community to join us. A Signature Quilt was raffled and refreshments were served. 

April 9, 2011 saw the culmination of our mini film festival, Israel Beyond the Headlines. Walk on Water, a multi-layered drama about an Israeli intelligence agent assigned to befriend the grandchildren of a Nazi war criminal. The film was lauded as an outstanding selection at the Berlin, Toronto and Outfest Film Festivals. Following the film, Middlebury Professor Robert Schine spoke and answered questions from the audience, who enjoyed our Wine & Cheese Bar, featuring Israeli wines.  

On Sunday, May 1, 2011 we presented a Yom Hashoah RJC Centennial Concert with Robert DeCormier & Counterpoint — "When the Rabbi Danced: Music of Jewish Life from the Shtetl to the Resistance." For information about Robert DeCormier: http://www.counterpointchorus.com  

The culmination of our centennial year will be a gala dinner on May 21, 2011, beginning at 7:30 p.m. Former Vermont governor, U.S. Deputy Commissioner of Education during the Clinton administration, professor and author Madeleine Kunin will address the gathering. 

In conjunction with our centennial celebration, the Rutland Jewish Center produced a cookbook: Kosher Yankee Centennial: 100 Years of Jewish Cooking in Vermont.

The cookbook contains hundreds of recipes from members and friends and cover art by renowned Vermont watercolor artist Peter Huntoon. Copies are available $22 each (plus applicable shipping) from the RJC office by calling 802-773-3455 or emailing [email protected]