Jewish News, Feb. 22, 2019

ADL: Rise in online hate, wide support for action

SUSAN C. INGRAM | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Perhaps the most striking and disturbing statistic the AntiDefamation League gleaned from its recent national survey of about 1,000 internet users is that close to 40 percent of Americans have experienced “severe online harassment.”

Severe harassment includes sexual harassment, stalking, physical threats and sustained harassment.

Valley rabbi helps put a sacred seal on adoptions for Conservative Jews in the US SEE

The survey, conducted Dec. 17-27, 2018, showed a surprising spike from a similar survey about online harassment by the Pew Research Center only a year prior. While that study found 41 percent of respondents had experienced any kind of harassment, compared to 53 percent in the 2018 ADL survey, only 18 percent characterized the online harassment as severe, while the 2018 ADL survey found 37 percent had experienced severe online harassment.

The “scale and complexity of online hate has reached unprecedented levels,” said the ADL report, citing coordinated online harassment of high-profile targets including Jewish journalists and black public figures.

While 11 percent of respondents said they were targeted because of religion, more Muslims at 35 percent than Jews at 16 percent said they were harassed because of their religion.

Most commonly reported was online harassment based on

An overview of changes to the tax code and possible effects on taxpayers’ returns

Grand Canyon University (GCU) student Garrett Smith was not expecting that a presentation about the history of violins would help him better understand the human element of the Holocaust.

As part of a class assignment last week, Smith attended a Violins of Hope lecture hosted by GCU, a

Kelly’s US Senate run

Former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords and her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, call for greater civility in public discourse during the fractious 2016 campaign season. Last week, Kelly announced he was running to become the Democratic Party’s primary candidate to fill the late U.S. Sen. John McCain’s seat in next year’s special election. Giffords, a Jewish resident of Tucson, was seriously wounded during a mass shooting in 2011. Read more on Page. 4 PHOTO BY SOPHIA KUNTHARA/CRONKITE NEWS

Orchard, vineyard destroyed $25 million gift to BBYO US

Anti-Semitism rises in Germany

Thousands of Valley students to learn about the Holocaust in new way

Local violinists Cynthia DuBrow, left, and Megan Asher, right, perform ‘Hava Nagila’ at Grand Canyon University’s Violins of Hope event.

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sexual orientation, with 63 percent of LGBTQ+ people having experienced harassment.

In addition to Muslims and Jews, the survey found 30 percent of Hispanics, 27 percent of African Americans, 24 percent of women and 20 percent of Asians experienced online harassment. At the bottom of the scale were men at 14 percent, Christians at 11 percent and whites at 9 percent.

In her 2014 book “Hate Crimes in Cyberspace,” Danielle Keats Citron, law professor at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law and affiliate scholar with the Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School, wrote about the impacts of cyber harassment and cyber stalking.

“Although definitions of these terms vary, cyber harassment is often understood to involve the intentional infliction of substantial emotional distress accomplished by online speech that is persistent enough to amount to a ‘course of conduct’ rather than an isolated incident,” Citron wrote. “Cyber stalking usually has a more narrow meaning: an online ‘course of conduct’ that either causes a person to fear for his or her safety or would cause a reasonable person to fear for his or her safety.”

Citron cites Elizabeth Cargill, a psychologist who works with cyber stalking vic tims, about how online harassment feels: “like the perpetrator is everywhere: Facebook, email, message boards and outside the office.”

“As a result, emotional harm and distress routinely accompany the financial costs. Post-traumatic stress disorder, anorexia nervosa and depression are common,” Citron wrote. “Cyber harassment victims struggle especially with anxiety, and some suffer panic attacks. Researchers have found that cyber harassment victims’ anxiety grows more severe over time.”

Citron notes that the incidents of people experiencing cyber stalking rises, perhaps not surprisingly, in correlation with the amount of time people are online, especially young people who spend a lot of time online.

The ADL survey found that 65 percent of 18-29 year olds had experienced online hate or harassment, with 49 percent reporting severe harassment.

The numb er s dropped, but were nonetheless significant for older age groups, with 60 percent of people aged 30-49 experiencing harassment and 42 percent reporting severe harassment.

Of those aged 50 and older, 39 percent reported harassment with 25 percent reporting harassment was severe.

By far, of the leading online or social media platforms on which people said some of their online harassment occurred, Facebook was the leader, with 56 percent of respondents reporting harassment on Facebook. Lesser percentages of harassment were reported on Twitter (19 percent), with YouTube and Instagram at 17 percent and 16 percent respectively. At the bottom of the list were Snapchat (10 percent), Twitch (8 percent) and Discord (7 percent).

Meanwhile, some of those numbers were reversed for frequent, daily users of these platforms, with daily users of Twitch, Reddit and Facebook topping the list at 47 percent, 38 percent and 37 percent of respondents, respectively, reporting harassment.

That impact of harassment is reflected in the actions people took following online harassment, with 38 percent of respondents stopping or changing their online activity. Eighteen percent contacted the platform where they were harassed, while 15 percent “took steps to reduce risk to physical safety,” and 6 percent contacted police.

With 59 percent of respondents believing online hate and harassment makes hate crime more common, increases the use of derogatory language (50 percent), makes young Americans lose faith in their country (39 percent) and

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makes people feel less safe (22 percent), the question arises as to solutions.

The ADL survey found that most people, regardless of party affiliation, support more action in response to cyberhate, including strengthening laws against perpetrators and online platforms and giving police more training.

“Americans also want to see private technology companies take action to counter or mitigate online hate and harassment. They want platforms to make it easier for users to filter and report hateful and harassing content. In addition, Americans want companies to label comments and posts that appear to come from automated ‘bots’ rather than people,” the report said. “Finally, a large percentage of respondents were in favor of platforms removing problematic users as well as having outside experts independently assess the amount of hate on a platform.”

The report found support is strong for these types of action to be taken to mitigate online harassment, “across the political ideological spectrum. Although liberals especially support platform recommendations, with a majority of conservatives also supporting all recommendations.” JN

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“Frankly, we’ve heard and read about the events before in class,” Smith, a psychology major, said. “But seeing the actual instruments changes it from this unfathomable story to real people. I felt a strong impact from relearning such a large event from such a personal perspective.”

Violins of Hope, a project of Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, made its Phoenix debut on Feb. 3 and will feature a variety of lectures, events, films and musical performances through the end of March. A major part of the program is its educational component. More than 40 schools all over the Valley, as well as schools in Tucson and Flagstaff, will host Israeli violin maker and Holocaust educator Avshalom Weinstein, who has restored dozens of violins from the Holocaust with his father, Amnon. He will describe the history of the violins and the Violins of Hope program to more than 20,000 students.

GCU, in partnership with the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, was one of the first schools to host Weinstein.

Before Weinstein’s presentation, the dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Sherman Elliot, gave a brief general history of the events leading up to the Holocaust. In 2003, Elliot completed the Anti-Defamation League’s Bearing Witness program to become a certified Holocaust educator.

During his lecture, Elliot emphasized that it didn’t happen overnight. It started with words and propaganda to alienate, blame and discredit Jews. He said he was honored that GCU was able to host Weinstein and Violins of Hope to help share so many lost stories.

When it was his turn to take the stage, Weinstein said he hoped students would understand that “music is an international language that can always allow us to talk to each other.”

Weinstein brought three violins with him and talked about how he and his father had acquired the instruments. He then told the stories of how each violin survived the Holocaust and what it took to restore it. The father and son have restored more than 60 violins that survived the Holocaust. Many of the instruments came from Jewish ghettos, forest hideouts and concentration camp orchestras.

During the presentation, local violinists Megan Asher and Cynthia DuBrow

performed classic Jewish music on the restored instruments.

Co-chair for Violins of Hope of Phoenix, Julee Landau, said the program’s educational component will expose students to the personal stories of the Holocaust. Landau, who also serves as board vice chair for Federation, hopes students will learn lessons about why the Holocaust is relevant today.

Landau has been organizing all the different educational events for Violins of Hope’s stay in Phoenix.

worry we’re no longer going to bear witness and we’ll see it happen again.”

Many GCU students at the event honed in on that message.

Jessica Fallen, who majors in psychology and justice studies, said Weinstein’s lecture taught her more about the conditions of the concentration camps and the power music had during those times.

Writing student Kyla Hansen said that although the music was beautiful, it was hard for her to listen to it when she learned

“WE HAVE TO KEEP DOING IT AND WE HAVE TO APPLY IT TO CURRENT POLITICAL EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD. OTHERWISE, I WORRY WE’RE NO LONGER GOING TO BEAR WITNESS AND WE’LL SEE IT HAPPEN AGAIN.”

SHERMAN ELLIOT, GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY

about the concentration camp orchestras.

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“We try to end each of the events on a message of hope and to reinforce a lesson of acceptance toward others,” Landau said.

“We also want to focus on what connects us. Certainly, music is universal and we all have similar emotional reactions to it when we hear it. And when we learn about the people behind these violins, we feel their story.”

After the lecture and concert, Elliot said finding new ways to educate students about the Holocaust is becoming crucial as the number of survivors dwindles and eventually disappears.

“We have to keep doing it and we have to apply it to current political events around the world,” Elliot said. “Otherwise, I

Weinstein had described in detail what many of the orchestra musicians endured as they were forced to play music for the Nazis. Sometimes the orchestras had to perform while the Nazis executed other Jews in front of them.

Weinstein said he had met many Holocaust survivors who had a difficult time listening to music because of their experiences.

“So many people are impacted by music on a day-to-day basis,” Hansen said. “And then to hear that many survivors hate music because of what the Nazis did. The presentation really showed the cruelty of the Nazis in ways I just wasn’t expecting.” JN

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Israeli violin maker and Holocaust educator Avshalom Weinstein speaks to students about Holocaustera violins that survived and were restored.

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Former astronaut Mark Kelly announces Senate run

JANET PEREZ | MANAGING EDITOR

Activist and former astronaut Mark Kelly is running to be the standardbearer for the Democratic Party in the 2020 special election to fill the seat of the late U.S. Sen. John McCain.

Kelly’s wife is former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords. A Jewish Tucson resident, Giffords survived a near fatal assassination attempt in 2011 while meeting with constituents in her hometown. Eighteen others were wounded and six people were killed in the shooting. Since resigning from the U.S. Congress, Giffords has been advocating for gun control. Kelly, who retired from NASA to help in his wife’s recovery, has joined Giffords’ mission.

Kelly announced his bid to run in the Democratic primary in a video released on Twitter on Feb. 12.

“I learned a lot from being an astronaut. I learned a lot from being a pilot in

the Navy. I learned a lot about solving problems from being an engineer,” Kelly said in the video. “But what I learned from

my wife is how you use policy to improve people’s lives.”

Kelly called his Senate run “his next mission.”

Kelly pointed to climate change, affordable health care, wage stagnation and job growth as issues Arizonans will face. He followed up by sending an email to supporters in which he said he will not accept corporate PAC money.

“Our fight to improve our gun laws and my commitment to tackling climate change and ending the outrageous influence corporate money has on our politics means there are a lot of powerful interests who want to stop us,” Kelly wrote in the email.

Kelly is the first Democrat to officially enter the primary race for McCain’s former Senate seat. Kelly could face opposition from U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, who has announced he is considering a run. In

an email blast on Feb. 14, Gallego asked for the public’s input to help make his decision.

Last year in an historic first, Kyrsten Sinema was elected to the U.S. Senate, making her the first woman from Arizona to ever be elected to the Senate and the first Democrat from the Grand Canyon State to hold the seat since Dennis DeConcini was elected in 1976 to the first of his three terms.

Sinema defeated Republican Martha McSally, who was later appointed to fill McCain’s open seat. Following McCain’s death, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey appointed former Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl to the seat. Kyl resigned on Dec. 31 and Ducey appointed McSally to hold the seat until the special election next year. Kelly will hold his first campaign events this weekend in Tucson and Phoenix. JN

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Former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, left, walks with her husband Mark Kelly, who recently announced he is running in the Democratic primary for the 2020 special election to fill the late U.S. Sen. John McCain’s seat. PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK KELLY FOR SENATE

Valley rabbi helps celebrate and ritualize adoptions for Conservative Jews in the US

JANET PEREZ | MANAGING EDITOR

Following a four-year effort by Rabbi Nate Crane, associate rabbi at Congregation Or Tzion in Scottsdale, there is now a Jewish ritual and accompanying documents to celebrate and mark the adoption of children of all ages by Conservative Jewish parents.

Crane authored a teshuvah, or Jewish legal ruling, called “Adoption,” which recently was approved by a unanimous vote of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, the Conservative movement’s central authority on Jewish law and practices in the United States.

“This isn’t a new law as much as it’s an exploration of the halakhic status of people

Jewish identity, but not his novel familial identity.”

Ritually marking the adoption of a child by a Jewish family has become more relevant with the rise of secular adoption in the modern world.

Crane’s quest to create a teshuvah on ritual adoption started with his own personal experience. Crane, whose biological mother is Jewish, was adopted when he was older by his Jewish stepfather.

“I am and was blessed to marry my college sweetheart, Rachel, and when we were preparing for our wedding, I couldn’t imagine my Hebrew name written on our ketubah not including the patronymic of the man who was my father in all ways, especially Jewishly,” Crane said.

He sought guidance on the issue from Rabbi Elliot Dorff, the rector of the American Jewish University and the chairman of the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards.

• A paragraph that describes the date and place of record, intention of the document, identification of the parties entering into the agreement and petitionary prayer.

• Signature of two kosher witnesses. The Teudat Immutz ritual has two essential steps and an optional third step:

• The completion of the Teudat Immutz.

• The witnessed reading and signing of the Teudat Immutz

• A public welcoming of the adopted child to the community (optional). The Teudat Immutz serves as the formal conclusion to the statutory adoption process after the final decree of adoption is awarded. However, it does not in any way replace the conversion process, which can begin, with the court’s permission, before the final adoption decree. In addition, the conversion procedures must be completed before or concurrently with the Teudat Immutz rituals.

The final ruling by Crane includes:

• A statutorily adopted child can be considered equal in familial obligations and halakhic status to that of a biological child.

who have been adopted, including the parental and filial obligations involved, and offers a Jewish ritual and accompanying documents to celebrate and mark adoption,” Crane said.

The issue of whether adopted children are members of a family has been addressed in the Talmud. As Crane’s ruling points out, “The Talmudic expression, ‘whoever raises a child is like their parent,’ is a profound statement, but gives no guidance about how this is determined, and at what point the status of adoptive parent or child is binding. … there is no ritual intended to celebrate this child’s new identity as the son of his adoptive parents. In other words, we celebrate and mark his novel

“He encouraged me and guided me toward crafting a ritual with supporting texts that could make that change in status possible and sacred,” Crane said.

Crane chose Teudat Immutz as the name of the sacred document for the adoption ritual. As he writes in his paper, immutz is the term the Israeli courts designated to the practice of Israeli statutory adoption.

The Teudat Immutz is comprised of the following elements:

• A personal statement accepting parental obligations.

• Signature of parent/s.

• For children who have reached the age of majority, a personal statement accepting filial obligations.

• For children who have reached the age of majority, a signature.

• Halakhah accepts the ruling of a secular court that establishes the financial ties between an adoptive parent and adopted child.

• The Teudat Immutz extends the financial ties to matters of religious obligations by adoptive parents to provide religious education to the adopted child.

• The ruling in no way questions the halakhic status of previously statutorily adopted children.

Crane said he already is hearing from Conservative rabbis around the world asking about the Teudat Immutz, and locally, two families will be undergoing the adoption ritual.

“It’s an incredible honor to join those voices that came before us and connect my voice to those who will follow,” Crane said. “It’s tremendously moving and transformative.” JN

Rabbi Nate Crane, center, teaches first-grade students about tefillin in celebration of the World Wide Wrap at Congregation Or Tzion last year.

March 6, 2019

7:00 pm

National director of ORT Russia to visit Valley

NICK ENQUIST | STAFF WRITER

The national director of ORT Russia will present an update on World ORT’s recent work around the globe to representatives of Valley Jewish day schools.

Mikhail Libkin will be in the Valley Feb. 27-28. Along with addressing day schools, he also will meet with organizations such as the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix and Jewish Tuition Organization (JTO).

“As a former ORT student, I am so honored to be able to educate my friends, family and the Jewish day schools on the incredible impact ORT is making in education today,” said Linda Zell, executive director of JTO.

World ORT is the world’s largest Jewish education and vocational training non-governmental organization. The ORT system has run Jewish-based educational institutions in more than 100 countries since its creation in 1880 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Today, the program serves 300,000 Jewish and non-Jewish students around the world. Currently there are ORT operations in Israel, Europe, Africa, South America and India. ORT did have three schools in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, but they were all closed recently due to dwindling enrollment.

Rabbi Shais Taub has lectured to audiences on six continents. he writes a popular weekly advie column in Ami Magazine and is the author of the bestselling book, G-d of Our Understanding: Jewish Spirituality and Recovery from Addiction as well as several groundbreaking works on Tanya. He currently serves as a scholarin-residence at Chabad of the Five Towns in Cederhurst, N.Y.

ORT’s mission as an organization is to foster economic self-sufficiency. As times have changed, ORT programs have become dedicated to ensuring students are successful after graduation. ORT focuses some of its curriculum on educating students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). STEM education is just one program World ORT has to offer.

“When people hear ORT, they tend to think of tech schools and colleges,” said Heath Blumstein, senior development officer for World ORT. “But in actuality, we have educational facilities from first grade through college, and we’re also focused heavily on training our teachers to be the best they can be.”

Blumstein, along with the World ORT

representative in North America, Harry Nadler, will accompany Libkin during his visit to Phoenix. Both Blumstein and Nadler said Libkin is an excellent representative for ORT given his professional and educational careers.

Although he only became the organization’s national director in Russia in July 2018, Libkin has been with ORT since he was a teenager.

He graduated from the ORT High School in Moscow and has been an employee of ORT’s operation in the former Soviet Union since he attended college.

Nadler said Libkin would be visiting other states such as Florida, Massachusetts and Connecticut to share ORT success stories.

According to Nadler and Blumstein, where ORT truly shines is in providing Jewish communities with a comprehensive Jewish education they wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to receive.

Blumstein said he is honored to be able to bring more awareness about ORT.

A Phoenix resident himself, Blumstein’s son attended and graduated from Pardes Jewish Day School.

He added that he wants to make sure other kids have the same opportunities his son had.

“To help raise money worldwide so I can help other kids achieve what mine achieved is an incredible thing,” Blumstein said. JN

Bosnia required to return stolen Jewish property

DAN LAVIE | ISRAEL HAYOM/JNS.ORG

The European Parliament set clear conditions this week for Bosnia and Herzegovina to start on the path to membership in the European Union: the enactment of legislation to regulate the restitution of property stolen from Jews in the Holocaust.

Jakov Finci, president of the Jewish Community of Bosnia and Herzegovina, hailed the decision, which he said was “a powerful call for long-awaited legislation in Bosnia to provide justice for Holocaust survivors and their families, and to the Jewish community and other religious communities.”

The European Parliament voted to adopt a resolution put forward by Romanian European Parliament Member Cristian Dan Preda, who also serves on the body’s Foreign Affairs Committee, based upon a European Commission report on the subject from last year.

The resolution passed in a vote of 468123, with 83 abstentions.

Herzegovina’s request to join the E.U. The parliament called on the country “to ensure the right to property; points out the lack of a comprehensive legislative framework on handling restitution claims and encourages the authorities to open a dialogue with interested parties on issues pertaining to the restitution of, or compensation for, seized property.”

The World Jewish Restitution Organization welcomed the move.

return of private and communal property.” Bosnia and Herzegovina has no official legislation for the restitution of property stolen during the Holocaust. Despite efforts by local Bosnian authorities to determine legal property ownership, the Jewish community has not seen the return of any of its communal property.

Some 14,000 Jews lived in Bosnia and Herzegovina up until World War II, 12,000 of them in Sarajevo. Approximately 2,000 returned after the war, and now the country has a Jewish population of around 1,000 people.

This was the first time the European Parliament has officially decided that the restitution of stolen Jewish property was an issue that must be taken into consideration when weighing Bosnia and

“WJRO is proud to have supported this key article in the European Parliament resolution,” said Gideon Taylor, WJRO chair of operations. “We urge Bosnia and Herzegovina to pass legislation for the

The Jewish Genetic Diseases Center of Greater Phoenix is honored to present our new name to the Community.

According to the WJRO’s website, the organization “consults and negotiates with national and local governments in Eastern and Central Europe for the return of Jewish communal property and heirless private property and the payment of full compensation in cases where restitution is not possible.” JN

The Board of the Minkoff Center for Jewish Genetics is proud to permanently recognize the Minkoffs' past, present and future legacy as the Center enters this exciting new phase of service to the Jewish community in Arizona.

2019 Board of Directors Carol Abrams, Dr. Kirk Aleck, Dr. Linda Benaderet, Dr. Lance Cohen, Shoshana Greenberg, Danielle Gross, Dr. Jeff Isaacs, David Monheit, Randee Pri-Tal, Dr. Seymour Rife, Nedda Shafr, Dr. Mark Shwer, Susan Silver, Joey Superstein

Please join us on February 28, 2019 at our Annual Event to announce the launch of our new BRCA screening and education program and to honor the Minkoff legacy. See our website for details.

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Natan Kellermann, a leading researcher on transgenerational trauma and the Holocaust. CREDIT: JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE OF LOS ANGELES

The folly of the Green New Deal

As an aspirational ideal, the Green New Deal that has been percolating on the far-left for at least the last 10 years has a lot going for it. Now, with the publicity-seeking freshman Rep. Alexandria OcasioCortez (D-N.Y.) taking up the cause, the plan has gotten additional attention. It would reduce the United States’ net carbon output to zero emissions by 2035, commit the country to the achievement of 100 percent sources of renewable energy, and provide a living wage to every family in America.

But utopian ideals don’t always make good policy. And therein lies the problem.

While conservative commentators have railed against the 14-page “manifesto” posted online by Ocasio-Cortez earlier this month (and quickly taken down) as a study in the unhinged musings of a decidedly unrealistic Democratic socialist — its focus on the ongoing problem of bovine flatulence didn’t help anyone take it seriously — the real issue we have with the Green New Deal is it’s all or nothing approach. By insisting on 100-percent compliance with program goals, it sets up an impossible standard for the country to meet.

Do we want a better environment and a more responsive (and fairer) economy for our next generations? Absolutely. Is there a role for government to help by embracing sound policies? Certainly. But the Green New Deal’s embrace of idealism through legislative fiat is remarkably naïve, and somewhat reminiscent in approach to then-candidate Donald Trump insisting on building a “great, beautiful wall” and that “Mexico will pay for it.”

As with the Trump promise, which the Great Wall of America supporters believed was both an achievable goal and in the nation’s best interests, there are large swaths of this nation’s left that look to the Green New Deal as the means to save a world careening headfirst into the abyss of environmental ruin. But just as securing the border can be achieved without diverting up to $8 billion of the Defense Department’s budget to build a wall, we don’t need to embrace unrealistic visions to set this nation and the globe on the path to a better environment and economy.

The ideas and overall objectives behind the Green New Deal are worth pursuing. But the plan’s recent rollout and promotion have been an embarrassment. We urge proponents to take a step back and consider a more measured, realistic and workable approach toward their “green dream,” and in a manner that could be embraced in a more bipartisan and collegial spirit.

Politics and public policy does not have to be a zero-sum game. The idea of preserving our environment and doing all we can to make that happen should be something on which we can find common ground. Let’s do that first, and then let those on the fringes fight over the inconsequential stuff. There is simply too much at stake to fumble this opportunity. JN

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Israel’s frustrated left

Israel’s political soup pot was bubbling as the deadline approached this week for parties to declare their candidate lists ahead of the April 9 Knesset election. In recent weeks in this space, we’ve looked at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party, and newcomer Benny Gantz and his attempt to make his new centrist party not too left and not too right.

In fact, all of Israel’s political players are in flux. A party must win a minimum of 3.5 percent of the votes to be seated in the Knesset, forcing some weaker parties to consider merging. One striking casualty of recent Israeli political history is the Zionist left, which may be best identified as the parties that favor a negotiated settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that will result in the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel and security guarantees for Israel. Represented by Labor and Meretz, the Zionist left also opposes the settlement project in the West Bank and is critical of the

Nation State Law and other Netanyahu legislation that reduces Israel’s Arab citizens to second-class status.

Those positions are very much in line with a part of the Israeli electorate that is generally written out of the political picture: the Arab citizens of Israel themselves. In an opinion piece last week in Foreign Policy, Mikhael Manekin and Ameer Fakhoury suggested that in the short run, “the need to win elections mandates a renewed approach to a political alliance between the Jewish left and the Palestinian Arab parties.” The lack of trust on both sides makes it unlikely, the writers stated, but “even a thin pragmatic alliance can greatly benefit both sides.”

In fact, there may be no need for formal party cooperation. As some pundits have noted, Ahmad Tibi, chairman of the Taal party, which Tibi withdrew from the Arab Joint List, may be attractive to some Jewish Israelis, since he focuses on promoting socioeconomic legislation for the weakest

segments of Israeli society, including both Jews and Arabs.

Tibi currently has six seats in the Knesset. Perhaps some of the Zionist left will find common ground with him, thereby increasing their joint numbers. While such a move would almost certainly spark condemnation from all sides about “colluding with the enemy,” the growing irrelevance of the far left in developing governmental policy may compel anxious politicians to search for and find points of agreement.

Notwithstanding the recurring political frustrations of the left, national polls repeatedly show that a majority of Israelis favor peace with the Palestinians. The challenge for the current leadership of the Israeli political left is to figure out how to leverage that preference into political influence, in order to have a voice in future discussions of peace alternatives.

They have their work cut out for them, and very little remaining time or opportunity to get it done. JN

The era of ‘never again’ is ending

ERIC ROZENMAN

Filmmaker Steven Spielberg told NBC News he thinks society must take the possibility of genocide more seriously now than it has in the past generation. In an interview marking the 25th anniversary of “Schindler’s List,” Spielberg referred to the massacre at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue and warned that “hate leading to genocide is as possible today as it was during the Holocaust.”

He was behind the curve. The era of “never again” is ending in Western Europe, fading in North America and never penetrated the Middle East. Relentless demonization of the Jewish state renormalizes demonization of Jewish people.

Examples of post-Nazi genocide and attempted genocide abound, including Muslim Indonesia’s seizure of largely Christian East Timor, the auto-genocide perpetrated by Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge, suppression of southern Sudan’s Christian and animist Darfur region by the government of the Muslim north, the murder of much of Rwanda’s Tutsi minority by the Hutu majority and today’s oppression by Myanmar’s Buddhist majority of its Rohingya Muslim minority.

Two post-Holocaust mass murders of Jews already have been attempted.

In 1948, five invading Arab countries committed to the destruction of the

fledgling Jewish state. The United States no sooner became the first nation to recognize Israel than it slapped an arms embargo on the region. Though intended to diminish general tensions, in practice the move undercut Israel, since the other side continued to receive British arms and advice.

In 1967, Israel preempted a potentially overwhelming attack by Egyptian, Syrian and Jordanian forces mobilized on its border. Afterward, the philosopher Eric Hoffer noted that “had [Egyptian President Gamal Abdel] Nasser triumphed … he would have wiped Israel off the map and no one would have lifted a finger to save the Jews.”

Today, Iran builds ballistic missiles and seeks to develop nuclear warheads for them, functionally asserting that “the Holocaust never happened and we intend to finish it.” The European Union, smarting at American insistence that it re-impose economic sanctions on Tehran at the expense of trade, has sought a way around potential penalties.

Nazism obsessed over racially inferior Jews destroying the German people. The accused Pittsburgh murderer fantasized that pro-immigration Jews threatened “his people.” The man charged with mailing letter bombs to prominent Americans reportedly wanted “to go back to Hitler

times.” The U.S. “alt-right” — also described as the “alt-reich” — imagines the Israeli tail wags the American dog.

Not entirely dissimilar, leaders of the Women’s March movement demand that Jewish activists check their white privilege and apologize for the Jews’ racist suppression of black and brown people.

From medieval allegations of “Christ killers” to contemporary indictments of Jews as killers of Palestinian Arabs, those who portray Jews and the Jewish state as demonic — as Louis Farrakhan did yet again shortly after Pittsburgh — serve to reopen “the Jewish question.” As in, what shall be done with this never quite assimilated, always stubborn people?

Infinitely adaptable, ever-enduring Jew hatred — today regressing to its preAuschwitz mean through the gateway drug of anti-Zionism — retains its eternal answer: the elimination of Judaism and those who proclaim it. Among polite circles, like those who insist they are never anti-Semitic, “only anti-Zionist,” marginalization and social-cultural re-ghettoization will be sufficient.

The original ethical monotheism, with its damned “thou shalls” and “thou shall nots,” contradicts the West’s increasing secular fundamentalism just as it called into question Christianity and then Islam’s claims to supersession. Including this small

chosen people with their tiny promised land in that now-you-see-it, now-youdon’t multicultural rainbow remains one diversity too many.

The Holocaust must be understood not only as an event halted by the Allies’ defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945, but also as a process interrupted. As the survivor and author Primo Levi put it, “It happened, and therefore, it can happen again. This is the core of what we have to say.” The words are inscribed at the entrance to Berlin’s Holocaust memorial.

Twenty percent of French respondents between 18 and 34 tell CNN they’ve never heard of the Holocaust. So does a similar proportion in the United States. A Labor Party unit in northern Britain rejected a proposed resolution condemning the Pittsburgh murders because there’s too much talk of “anti-Semitism this, antiSemitism that.”

Today the spread of neo-Nazism antiZionist anti-Semitism makes continued war against, and potential genocide of the majority of the world’s Jews — that is, those living in Israel — a renewed possibility. JN

Pro-Israel money is influential, but are we Jews the only ones allowed to say it?

JOEL RUBIN

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) recently made comments about American support for Israel widely regarded as antiSemitic. She apologized within 24 hours for those comments under an avalanche of broad condemnation.

When Omar argued on Twitter that U.S. policy toward Israel was “all about the Benjamins,” and followed up by saying

that “AIPAC” was behind it, she struck a nerve. We Jews are uncomfortable saying we use our money for power and influence. There’s deep historic anti-Semitism tied up in that idea.

After her apology, Omar continued with her work on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The House of Representatives then voted to condemn anti-Semitism. And

Republicans, who overplayed their hand by calling for Omar to leave Congress, forgot that many of their leaders also traffic in white nationalist tropes against Jews.

So it was a typical week in Washington: an outrageous tweet followed by widespread bipartisan condemnation, a media frenzy, then partisan finger pointing. But what did we learn?

For participants in the Omar controversy, condemnation was easy. Criticizing her proclamation that Jewish money controls the pro-Israel agenda on Capitol Hill is the low-hanging fruit — easy to rebuke with minimal cost to the critic.

But pro-Israel money and lobbying is

Eric Rozenman is the author of 'Jews Make the Best Demons: Palestine and the Jewish Question.’ He is a former Washington director of the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America.

The seduction of the familiar

PARSHAT KI TISA, EXODUS 30:11-34:35

The meaning I picked, the one that changed my life: Overcome fear, behold wonder. — Richard

Bach

Moses ascended the mountain twice to commune with the Holy One of Blessing and receive the Ten Utterances, Aseret haDibrot. These were 10 primary categories for desired human behavior that set the foundation for our 613 Commandments, Mitzvot. These Divine meetings would influence civilization with some radical thinking, not the least of which was the innovation of a sanctuary in time: the gift of Shabbat. However, while blessings were being configured at great heights, other dynamics were at play on the ground. Since the people could not witness Moses’ direct interactions with God and he was away for what appeared to be a very long time, fear of the unknown collided with a pronounced lack of faith. Unable to remain patient and summon the courage necessary to hold the space for Moses’ return, the people deferred to old, familiar ways

and a golden calf was created.

Once upon a time, after many years of adventures around the world, the Beloveds awakened to the presence of one another.

Hand in hand, they began a new journey, expressing gratitude for the precious moments together. The sun shone in the day and the stars illuminated the night. They shared joy and laughter, poetry and music, peace and harmony. They imagined finishing each other’s sentences for the rest of their lives.

Suddenly, the dark of a moonless night appeared without the stars and the morning came without a sunrise. Conflicts engulfed one of the Beloveds, testing their strength and resilience. Breathing became impaired and they grew weary. Attacked from the North, South, East and West, they collapsed and fell upon their sword. It was easier to fall. All too often, the natural pull of gravity can ensure vic-

geographic boundaries.

tory for opposing forces. Disappearing into their historical patterns, they convinced themselves that it was all for the best, even though they promised their Beloved that would never, ever happen. Then, the rains came unabated. Day and night were indistinguishable behind the clouds. And God cried, for God could not change what man had done. God knew that strength and discernment were enfolded within the holy gift of free will bestowed upon each person, even if they could not access them. Although the Beloveds had miraculously united after a lifetime of separation and trials, they could not venture forth together if one or the other became consumed by fear. Darkness descended and all was silent.

True love calls one to arise and shine in the act of refining of one’s self. Whether a person aspires to commune with their Beloved, or the Holy One of Blessing, equally great amounts of faith, patience and courage may be required. Golden calves remain among us as possibilities any time we drift from our higher call. The seduction of the familiar can keep

us tethered to old habits that no longer serve the evolution of our character or our spirit. Some may think that growth and aspirational thinking exist in contrast to security and stability, but this is not so. Moses’ example of leadership demonstrated that a person can endure travels through new, challenging terrain, emerging whole and intact, while embracing transformative gifts.

This Shabbat, may you receive whatever is necessary to embark on an adventure that nurtures the healthy development of your character and your spirit. If needed, may you have the faith, patience and courage to defy gravity and break through those low-lying clouds that obscure your potential. Then, may you arise into higher realms, where (as seasoned pilots know) all becomes clear, with unlimited visibility. JN

real. We Jews often say it to ourselves. The pro-Israel community uses its lobbying to convince lawmakers to support Israel. The numbers bear this out.

As an American Jew who loves Israel, including having lived there for more than a year of my life, it’s easy for me to care about Israel. But what about members of Congress who have zero personal connection to Israel? What makes their connection so deep?

It’s a time-tested truism that politicians care most about what their supporters — both voters and donors — care most about. For pro-Israel Americans, dominated by Jews and the Christian right, the number of voters impacting elections is limited; it’s high in a small number of districts (New York, Florida, Ohio) and dispersed throughout the country. But when it comes to donors — and lobbyists — financial influence knows no hard

According to Open Secrets, the preeminent public website tracking money in politics, “pro-Israel” lobbying was the sixth largest single-issue lobbying industry in 2018, with just more than $5 million spent — an all-time high. Among its two largest organizations spanning the ideological spectrum, AIPAC spent $3.5 million while J Street spent $300,000 on lobbying.

In terms of campaign finance, pro-Israel political action committees donated just less than $15 million directly to candidates in 2018, making it their largest nonpresidential cycle ever and their third biggest overall. JStreetPAC gave the most money — more than $4 million — with the remaining $10 million plus in donations doled out by a variety of groups often associated with but not formally linked to AIPAC.

Interestingly, 63 percent of the donations went to Democrats and 37

percent to Republicans, demonstrating that pro-Israel supporters are staunchly Democratic. In short, there is a lot of money and lobbying muscle supporting Israel. This is not something to apologize for, and apparently, neither AIPAC nor J Street do, as they both vocally boast of their political power to their supporters in order to demonstrate their value as organizations.

For example, on its website, AIPAC brags about attracting “more than two-thirds of Congress” and “more than 18,000 proIsrael Americans” to its annual DC Policy Conference. Meanwhile, J Street boasts of attracting “thousands of pro-Israel, pro-peace leaders and advocates” to its national conference in order to “send a strong message to Congress.” It also highlights how “hundreds of activists” go to Capitol Hill during the conference to “directly lobby your members of Congress on vital legislative issues.”

The pro-Israel lobby isn’t shy about its

power, reach and influence. It crows about it. As an American Jew who cares about Israel, I’m thrilled to see my fellow citizens taking such an active, politically valuable role in shaping U.S. policy toward Israel and the Middle East.

Therefore, to deny the impact that these organizations have on Congress and the policymaking process would be to deny AIPAC, J Street and other pro-Israel organization’s own public words. Bluntly, if pro-Israel organizations didn’t have an impact, they would disappear. But they don’t. Instead, they thrive.

So perhaps the redline that Ilhan Omar crossed wasn’t that she thought that proIsrael money and lobbying influences American policy toward Israel. Perhaps her real sin was that she, as a Muslim, had the chutzpah to say it. JN

Joel Rubin is a former deputy assistant secretary of state in the Obama administration and a council member in the Town of Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Rabbi Mindie Snyder is the spiritual leader of Congregation Lev Shalom in Flagstaff.

The return of Chicken Marbella

KERI WHITE | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Chicken Marbella was a popular dinner party dish in the 1990s. Its sweet/savory blend is appealing, and the ingredients list is rather unique.

Despite the apparent complexity of the dish, the preparation is wildly simple.

The original came from the Silver Palate Cookbook, and used whole chickens cut into pieces. Someone described the dish to me, and I created this version using boneless breasts, but you could certainly use any cut desired. This is a great dish to make when hosting a gathering (it multiplies easily) because the prep is done ahead and the sauce makes itself as the chicken bakes.

The variety of colors, flavors and textures deliver a pretty, show-stopping entrée, and the effort by the cook is fairly minimal.

I have not tried it, but I suspect

this preparation would work well with boneless lamb shoulder. It would require increased marinating, a longer cooking time and I would cover the pan for most of the time in the oven, but it has potential.

The dish has a lot going on. For that reason, the best accompaniments are basic flavors — brown or white rice, crusty bread, simple green salad or steamed vegetables.

Because the main course has a good bit of sweetness to it, I suggest keeping dessert simple — some packaged cookies, a tart sorbet or dark chocolates.

CHICKEN MARBELLA

4 boneless chicken breasts

3 garlic cloves, minced

½ teaspoon coarse salt

Lots of fresh cracked pepper

¼ cup white vinegar

¼ cup olive oil

½ cup pitted prunes, quartered

½ cup green olives, pitted and coarsely chopped

1 tablespoon capers with juice

½ cup white wine

¼ cup brown sugar

In a large Tupperware or Ziploc bag, mix the garlic, salt, pepper, oil, vinegar, prunes, capers and olives. Add the chicken to coat, and marinate for 2-24 hours. In a large baking dish, pour the chicken mixture. Be sure the chicken pieces are in a single layer; spoon the marinade over and around the chicken. Pour the wine and sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the chicken. Bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes, basting frequently, until done.

Serves 4

WINTER

GREENS CHOPPED SALAD

This salad uses the hardy greens of winter for a fresh counterpoint to the main

SEE FOOD, PAGE 12

Michelle McDowell Smith

40th Anniversar y Special!

We are... We can...

FOOD CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

dish. Chopping the ingredients enables them to absorb the dressing a bit more easily. Because the greens are fairly robust, this is a good move.

The dressing has a touch of sweetness to balance out the bitterness of the greens. You can dress this ahead of time (an hour or so) to allow the flavors to meld.

4 carrots, shredded

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon honey

½ teaspoon mustard

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix the greens and carrots in a large salad bowl. Mix the dressing in a small bowl, whisking with a fork to blend. Toss, then let the salad sit for 30 minutes at room temperature to blend flavors, or serve immediately.

Serves 4 JN

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6 cups chopped mixed winter greens: cabbage, kale, escarole and radicchio. Choose your favorites, and use different colors for visual appeal.

This article originally appeared in the Jewish Exponent, a Jewish News-affiliated publication.

Kabucha: my new favorite squash

On a recent ramble through the farmers market, a sign caught my eye: “Kabucha, $2.00/lb, tastes like chestnuts.”

I’ve always been a fan of the taste of chestnuts, but not the hand-destroying labor it takes to get at the meat. The boiling. The hashing of the impossibly hard shells. The roasting. The peeling. Oy, it’s enough to make anyone swear them off for life. But the idea that a simple-to-cook squash could deliver that taste was intriguing.

I inquired of the farmer and he confirmed that the squash, also called kabocha and Japanese pumpkin, does indeed mimic the flavor of chestnuts — with the sweetness and texture of an autumn squash. It is similar to pumpkins, butternut or acorn squash, but a bit more interesting.

Kabuchas are harvested in the fall and are often picked before they are fully ripe. They are stored at a warm temperature to ripen and sweeten, then stored cold for about a month to refine the texture. For this reason, they are often available through the winter.

The farmer advised that roasted kabucha was wonderful with roast chicken, which was fortuitous as that was my meal plan for the evening. I bought the kabocha and ferried it home.

It came out beautifully — velvet and sweet and starchy enough to deliver

comfort food decadence without the guilt or fat associated with, say, mashed potatoes. It was relatively easy to handle in terms of cutting and removing pits, and the skin can be eaten so no peeling is required.

Nutritionally, kabucha is a powerhouse. It is an excellent source of beta carotene and vitamins A and C. It also contains decent amounts of vitamin B6, B12, folate and manganese.

The roasted kabucha was delicious with our roast chicken, just as the farmer promised, and the leftovers were heavenly chopped into bite-sized chunks and served cold over a winter green salad.

ROASTED KABUCHA

1 large, ripe kabucha

Olive oil

Salt

Pepper

Heat your oven to 350 degrees. Cut the kabucha in half, remove the seeds and cut it into wedges. Place the wedges on a rimmed cooking sheet, skin side down, and brush with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake for about 40 minutes until the kabucha is soft and cooked through. JN

KERI WHITE | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

This

ODD COUPLE since Broderick and Nathan Lane’s Leo Bloom and Max Bialystock.”

Fasting before wedding can help couples take ‘spiritual inventory’

DAN SCHERE | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The joy of a wedding is not usually associated with the discomfort and serious reflection of a fast.

But in some pockets of the Jewish community, that may be just the reason brides and grooms don’t eat or drink on the day of their wedding. Fasting, say some rabbis, allows the couple one last opportunity for personal reflec tion before committing to a lifelong relationship.

“On the wedding day, our tradition teaches that all the bride’s and groom’s sins are wiped clean,” said Rabbi Mark Novak of Minyan Oneg Shabbat, who officiates at weddings in the Washington, D.C., area. “A wedding has a strong con nection to Yom Kippur. The not eating reminds us of that soul connection that we call Adonai.”

Novak said he meets with couples before their wedding for what he calls cheshbon hanefesh, or spiritual accounting, the same process observant Jews do during the High Holidays.

“What we talk about is the strengths of the individual and the relationship,” he said. “You want to arrive with as much intent and mindfulness as possible before you enter the chuppah,” he said.

The purpose of fasting is to use the empty stomach to prompt introspection and an appreciation of the seriousness of marriage.

After the wedding ceremony, couples who have fasted will typically break the fast during yichud, a period when the bride and groom are alone together for the first time.

Rabbi David Kuperman of Silver Spring, Maryland, said he and his wife, Linda Siegel, fasted when they got married. Fasting, combined with a visit to the mikvah before the wedding, offered him and Siegel an opportunity to metaphorically cleanse themselves of any lingering doubts they had.

“We wanted to be in the right mood and be clean and ready for a new experience,” he said.

Kuperman said fasting before a wedding is in some ways similar to ridding the house

“ON THE WEDDING DAY, OUR TRADITION TEACHES THAT ALL THE BRIDE’S AND GROOM’S SINS ARE WIPED CLEAN. A WEDDING HAS A STRONG CONNECTION TO YOM KIPPUR. THE NOT EATING REMINDS US OF THAT SOUL CONNECTION THAT WE CALL ADONAI.”

RABBI MARK NOVAK

of chametz, or leaven, before Passover.

Both acts are a spiritual commitment and a dedication that the bride and groom have for each other.

There is also another, more practical reason that some couples fast before a wedding, according to Chabad.org — to avoid the consumption of alcoholic beverages in order to prevent drunken parties or other indulgences from occurring the night before.

The practice is not explicitly written in the Talmud, but it is an ancient tradition observed by Jewish scholars.

Novak said the key to a successful fast is for couples to monitor how they feel throughout the day. He recalled the

wedding of his brother and sister-in-law, who was wearing a heavy veil after an all-day fast.

“She could hardly breathe,” Novak said. “She nearly fainted as she was walking down the aisle because she was so weak from having fasted.”

Maharat Ruth Balinsky Friedman of Ohev Sholom, the National Synagogue in Washington, D.C., had similar advice for couples who were thinking of fasting.

“I’ve heard horror stories of brides and grooms vomiting because they go from fasting to inhaling food to dancing,” she said. “So that is why I advise being very careful and only doing what one wants to do and feels that they can do.” JN

WONDERFUL WEDDINGS

Personalize your wedding

HANNAH MONICKEN | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

There are elements nearly all weddings have — an exchange of vows, food and drinks, dancing. But what if you want to add a bit of flair?

According to wedding planners, most couples want to find ways of inserting their personalities into their big day.

Here are some ways to put your own mark on your wedding:

Spring for a late-night snack

The late night snack is becoming an increasingly popular trend, said wedding planner Julie Park, owner of Birch Event & Design in Alexandria, Virginia.

“Late night snacks are where I see a lot of personality,” she said, because there are so many options — mini tacos, a popcorn bar, mac and cheese, a candy bar, pizza.

Some couples have even enlisted food trucks to give guests a fun way to indulge their munchies.

Not your grandmother’s monogram

“A big thing now is definitely using a logo with [a couple’s] initials,” said Cara Weiss, owner of Save the Date in Rockville, Maryland.

Monogrammed cocktail napkins are a common, classy wedding detail. But many couples are taking it to the next level, Weiss said, by designing a custom wedding logo that incorporates the couple’s initials. And then that logo will be branded across the wedding.

Spice up your spirits

Signature cocktails already are pretty popular, said Tracy Bloom Schwartz of Creative Parties in Bethesda, Maryland

In fact, many caterers include that in most of their packages now, she said.

But that’s not the only way to experiment with your beverages.

“We definitely see a lot of personalized drinks,” Schwartz said. “Sometimes, it really is the bride and grooms’ favorite drinks, but other times it’s just what seems to work.”

And what works can mean thinking about your theme or aesthetic.

Many micro-breweries and vineyards will let couples design their own label, or even have input on a brew or wine, Schwartz said.

Lean into the ‘something old’

Many mothers hold on to their wedding dress thinking that maybe their own daughter will one day carry on the tradition. That doesn’t necessarily happen, Park said, but that doesn’t mean couples don’t want to honor their family history.

One couple, Park said, used the bride’s grandmother’s broach to hold together the bouquet.

Another, according to Weiss, used the mother’s wedding dress to make the sack for the breaking of the glass.

Destination weddings an hour from home

A destination wedding can invoke ideas of Caribbean beaches or European castles. But some couples instead are opting for a local destination, like a location an hour or two outside the city that has meaning to them or is a place they’ve always wanted to go.

“People want more than just a wedding,” Weiss said. “They want to see people spend the weekend with them.”

Take a chance on your venue

If you really want to make your wedding memorable, sometimes it’s as easy as picking an unusual venue, Schwartz said. She’s had couples get married in a bowling alley, for example, or a two-story venue.

The two-story venue, for instance, means the couple could have levels with two different feels — maybe one that’s quieter for chatting and another one for the loud and raucous dancing.

Don’t forget the photo finish

Outside the professional wedding photos, you also want the fun, goofy, silly and sweet candids of the night as well.

“A big thing that people are doing now are photo booths,” Park said.

Instead of just a fun photo backdrop, couples can rent a whole photo booth for the evening with customized backgrounds and props.

Guests can choose to upload those photos to social media or just print them out to take with them. JN

How new tax laws could affect your refund

VICTORIA C. HARRIS | SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

In December 2017, Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which contained significant changes to the tax code.

Last year, the withholding tables were adjusted so that taxpayers’ take-home pay would increase in anticipation of the reduced taxes. My experience so far this year is that this plan has backfired for many taxpayers. They are finding that their refunds are either lower than they were expecting or they owe taxes for 2018.

For those who still benefit from itemizing, there is now a $10,000 limit on the deduction for state and local taxes.

Here in Arizona, as of this writing, we are waiting for the Legislature to decide whether it will conform to the federal changes or make adjustments for Arizona purposes. Without any action, many Arizona taxpayers will likely see their 2018 income tax liability.

One way to minimize the impact of the state tax liability is to contribute to one of the state’s qualified tax credit organizations. You have until April 15, 2019 to make payments to various nonprofit organizations that qualify for a dollar-for-dollar credit against your Arizona tax liability. You can find the types of tax credits, as well as lists of qualifying organizations and applicable amounts, by going to azdor.gov/taxcredits

Here are just a few of the other major changes in the tax code that will impact individual taxpayers for 2018.

• Marginal tax rates were lowered for most taxpayers. The top rate is now 37 percent instead of 39.6 percent.

• Although the personal exemption ($4,050 per person) was eliminated, it was replaced with the increased standard deduction and the child tax credit. The standard deduction almost doubled, increasing from $6,500 to $12,000 for individual filers, and from $13,000 to $24,000 for married filing joint filers. Many taxpayers who previously itemized may now benefit from the higher standard deduction.

• Miscellaneous itemized deductions have been eliminated. Medical expenses are still deductible to the extent they exceed 7.5 percent (10 percent for 2019) of Adjusted Gross Income (AGI).

• The expanded child tax credit doubled from $1,000 to $2,000 per child for taxpayers with qualifying children under 17. This credit is partially refundable up to $1,400,

but phases out with modified AGI levels in excess of $200,000 ($400,000 for married filing joint filers).

• Allowable mortgage interest is now limited to interest on qualifying mortgages of $750,000’ lowered from $1 million, and interest on home equity debt is eliminated except if you use the proceeds to improve your home. If you

already had a mortgage in place by December 15, 2017 that exceeds the new limits, you will still be allowed to deduct the interest up to the previous limits ($1 million), but if you refinance your home, you will be limited to the new thresholds.

• The rules surrounding the “kiddie

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Q: Where did this tax reduction program come from?

Q: Who can I work with and how is my money invested?

A: While the recent buzz surrounding Opportunity Zones have spurred plans for many new Funds, there are few qualified funds open, available for investment and ready for you to take advantage of.

One option is the Caliber Tax Advantaged Opportunity Zone Fund, LP which opened in 2018 and has begun investing directly into a diversified portfolio of real estate assets in qualified zones throughout the Southwest growth markets. You can learn more about the fund at opportunity.caliberco.com

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A: Opportunity Zones were enacted as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act passed on December 22, 2017. The driving force behind the tax code changes was to incentivize economic growth in designated communities where new real estate and businesses can thrive.

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tax” also changed. Children (under 18 or between 19-23 and a full-time student) with unearned income in excess of $2,100 used to be taxed at their parents’ marginal tax rates. Starting in 2018, the income will be

rate. You owe whichever is higher (regular tax or AMT). While the AMT was not eliminated, the exemption amounts were increased and the level at which those exemptions were phased out was increased

Matchmaking business opens

Michele Czopp has launched a free and discreet Jewish matchmaking venture, the Mitzvah Matchmaker. Czopp works to learn about each Jewish single via a personal meeting and questionnaire. She aims to connect with individuals in order to help find a compatible match. Currently she is building her extensive database both locally and internationally. Czopp’s is working to have a Mitzvah Matchmaker in every state and country exchanging data. The Mitzvah Matchmaker service is open to all Jewish singles over 21. Anyone interested should reach out to Michele at 602-432-0001 or micheleczopp@cox.net.

New Arizona director for Take The Lead

Take The Lead, a leading nonprofit dedicated to achieving gender parity by 2025, has hired Amanda Garcia as its Arizona director. Created by Gloria Feldt, Take The Lead provides critical leadership training programs, peer mentoring, role modeling and more to individuals, corporations and groups throughout the country. Garcia, a Phoenix resident, graduated from Northern Arizona University with a degree in liberal arts. She has a decade of nonprofit fundraising, event and volunteer management experience. Since 2014, Garcia has focused on leadership roles that create networks and engage donors in support of Arizona’s Jewish community. Amanda Garcia can be reached at amandagarcia@taketheleadwomen.com or 602-369-5286

The Schreck Law Firm launches

Jerald Schreck has opened his new law firm, The Schreck Law Firm. The firm is described as “a boutique criminal defense practice without the boutique prices.” Schreck, who served as a Marine for 25 years, relies on his experience as a public defender to provide his clients with high-quality representation in an array of complex criminal defense areas ranging from sex crimes to criminal law issues related to veterans. The Schreck Law Firm’s motto is “Experience & Accessibility.” For more information, contact Schreck at JSchreckLaw@gmail.com.

Kids basketball training center opens

taxed at the trust and estate levels, which jump to higher marginal rates at much lower amounts. They hit the maximum tax rate of 37 percent with as little as $12,500 of taxable income. Compare that to the rates that don’t hit 37 percent until over $500,000 of income.

• In past years, many taxpayers were caught with owing Alternative Minimum tax (AMT). This is a separate calculation that eliminated various preference items (for example, state and local taxes) and recalculates the tax liability with a different tax

significantly. It’s almost certain that significantly fewer taxpayers will be subject to the AMT. Each taxpayer is unique. There are differing types of income and deductions that will impact your tax liability. Preparing your taxes early so that you can plan for any unexpected consequences is advisable. Taxes are due April 15, 2019 even if you file for an extension. Please contact your tax adviser for specific answers to your situation. JN

Corey and Mimi Sommers have opened a new basketball training facility for kids in Scottsdale. DreamTeam Academy offers an indoor, state-ofthe art basketball training facility that specializes in teaching children the fundamentals of basketball and sports performance training. All the members of the coaching staff include current and former college basketball players. Along with training camps. kids at DreamTeam Academy can relax in the social lounge with movies, video games, board games, chess and books on comfy bean bag chairs. The facility also is open for parties and events. For more information, visit dreamteamacademy.com. JN

Victoria C. Harris, CPA, is the managing partner at the Scottsdale-based public accounting firm Hunter Hagan & Company Ltd.

MY EXPERIENCE SO FAR THIS YEAR IS THAT THIS PLAN HAS BACKFIRED FOR MANY TAXPAYERS. THEY ARE FINDING THAT THEIR REFUNDS ARE EITHER LOWER THAN THEY WERE EXPECTING OR THEY OWE TAXES FOR 2018.

GETTYIMAGES/MACTRUNK

US cybersecurity company acquires fourth Israeli startup in two years

JNS.ORG

The U.S. cybersecurity company Symantec Corp announced on Tuesday that it acquired Israel’s Luminate Security, its fourth acquisition of an Israeli startup in two years.

Financial specifics behind the agreement were not disclosed.

Luminate, founded in 2017 and based in Tel Aviv, “provides secured connectivity to corporate resources hosted on-premises or in any cloud. Applications are always cloaked, are accessed only via Luminate Secure Access Cloud and are never exposed to any network,” and it “delivers continuous access

Ask The Expert

PROCRASTINATORS BEWARE.

Q: If I can’t file by April 15th, can I extend my tax return?

A: YES, you can extend the filing of your individual tax return, but you cannot extend the time for PAYMENT of the taxes that are due. Failure to FILE an extension by the filing due date (April 15, 2019 for 2018 tax returns) subjects you to a late filing penalty. Failure to PAY the tax due, subjects you to an additional late payment penalty, plus interest which continues to accrue while the amounts are outstanding. Thus, even if you don’t have everything you need to file an accurate return, you are still responsible for estimating the amount of tax you owe and paying any amounts still due by April 15th. The earlier you can provide amounts and estimates to your professional tax preparer, the better.

Disclaimer: This is not intended as tax or legal advice and should not be relied upon for that purpose. Please contact your tax advisor for specific answers to your situation.

Vicki Harris

SERVICE BEYOND THE NUMBERS®

Victoria C. Harris, CPA

Managing Shareholder

Hunter Hagan & Company, Ltd.

Certified Public Accountants & Consultants 4110 N. Scottsdale Rd. Ste 200

Scottsdale, AZ 85251-3900

voice (480) 946-0751 | fax (480) 941-2188

www.hunterhagan.com

protection through application level user activity monitoring and realtime response to suspicious events,” according to the firm’s website.

“Luminate incorporated into Symantec’s Integrated Cyber Defense puts us at the forefront of security in the cloud era,” said Symantec CEO Greg Clark.

Symantec has been touted as a leader in the information security arena, and is hailed as one of the largest anti-virus item manufacturers globally in both the consumer and corporate market. JN

Q: The new tax law increased my standard deduction to $12,000 or $24,000. Should I still add up my itemized deductions?

A: Yes. For 2018, the Federal standard deduction is $12,000 (single taxpayers), $18,000 (head of household), and $24,000 (married taxpayers). Add $1,300$1,600 per person for age 65 or older or blind. While only 10-15% of taxpayers will itemize for Federal, Arizona is another story.

For Arizona, you need more than the standard deductions of $5,312/$10,613 to itemize. If your total medical expenses, state and local taxes, and charitable contributions are more than the above amounts, you will benefit from itemizing on Arizona. As always, consult your advisor for guidance specific to your tax and financial circumstances.

Note also that Arizona law for 2018 is not yet decided as of mid-February 2019. Go to azdor.gov and search for 2019 taxpayer guidance or see AZ140 instructions.

Symantec headquarters in Cupertino, Calif.

CREDIT: COOLCAESAR/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

CALENDAR Events

THROUGH FEB. 24

Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival: Twenty films will be shown at Harkins Shea 14 in Scottsdale, Harkins Tempe Marketplace 16 in Tempe and Harkins Park West in Peoria. Information: gpjff.org

TUESDAY, FEB. 26

‘A Silenced Legacy — Honoring the Music and the Musicians’: 7:30 p.m., Temple Chai, 4645 E. Marilyn Road, Phoenix. Ticket information: bit.ly/2KZFoIG

THURSDAY, MARCH 7

MEGA: 7 p.m., Hilton Scottsdale Resort & Villas, 6333 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. The Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix hosts its annual MEGA event with special guest, actor Henry Winkler. Register by March 1 at visit jewishphoenix.org/ mega2019.

Meetings, Lectures & Classes

MONDAYS

Mahjong Mondays: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m., East Valley JCC, 908 N. Alma School Road, Chandler. Every Monday except on Jewish or legal holidays. No RSVP is necessary. Intended for players with prior experience.

WEDNESDAY MORNINGS

‘The News Desk’: 10-11:30 a.m., Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. The class focuses on current events and is led by retired Dr. Michael Epner.

SUNDAY, FEB. 24

Blanket Boosters: 9 a.m.-noon, Beth El Congregation, 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix. Join the Beth El Blanket Boosters as they create beautiful mitzvah blankets to donate to local children in crisis. Beginners are welcome. Information: 602-684-2606 or blanketboosters@bethelphoenix.com

Women’s Chai Tea Study Group: 12:30-1:30 p.m., Beth El Congregation, 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix. Meet on Sunday afternoons for tea and sweets, and study issues related to Jewish women. RSVP: events@ bethelphoenix.com or 602-944-3359

MONDAY, FEB. 26

Cactus ORT: 7 p.m., Mountain Gate Apartments Clubhouse, 4602 E. Paradise Village Parkway, Phoenix. Adina Astrowsky discusses her book ‘Mother of Souls: The Story of a Holocaust Survivor.’ The program is free and all are welcome. Information: 602-953-9307

WEDNESDAY, FEB.27

Book Club: 6:30-8 p.m., Beth El Congregation, 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix. The club is reading ‘The Last Watchman of Old Cairo’ by Michael David Lukas. RSVP: events@bethelphoenix.com or 602-944-3359

Meet the Author Event: 7 p.m., Changing Hands Bookstore, 6428 S. McClintock Drive, Tempe. Meet Robin Marty, author of ‘Handbook for a Post-Roe America.’ Presented by NCJW AZ and NARAL AZ. RSVP: president1893@ncjwaz.org

THURSDAY, FEB. 28

Lunch and Learn: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Beth El Congregation, 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix. Enjoy delicious food and lively discussions with Wendy Rozov. Cost is $5 for lunch. RSVP: events@bethelphoenix.com or 602-944-3359

SATURDAY, MARCH 2

Meditative Moments: 9:45 a.m., Congregation Or Tzion, 16415 N. 90th St., Scottsdale. Rabbi Micah Caplan will explore how to spiritually prepare for relevant Jewish moments on the calendar.

WEDNESDAYS, MARCH 3 & 20

Mahj Meetup: 1-3:30 p.m., Beth El Congregation, 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix. Bring your card and join us for a friendly game of mahjong on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Contact: events@bethelphoenix.com or 602-944-3359

SUNDAY, MARCH 3

Valley Jewish Singles Ages 50+ Brunch: noon, Chompies PV Mall, 4550-324 E. Cactus Road, Phoenix. Reservations required. RSVP: valleyjewishsingles@cox.net

TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 12, 19 & 26

Knitting Circle at The J: 1:30 p.m., Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Share the pleasure of knitting and crocheting. Information: 480-481-7033 or harrietc@vosjcc.org

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6

It’s Not Just Lunch: noon-1:30 p.m., Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Enjoy a full kosher lunch and stay for our discussion group at 2 p.m. In partnership with Smile on Seniors. Suggested donation is $5.

Current Events Discussion Group: 2-3:30 p.m., Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Bill Adler leads stimulating discussions each month on current events. Free. Information: 480-481-7033 or harrietc@vosjcc.org

THURSDAY, MARCH 7

JFCS Memory Café: 10 a.m., Beth El Congregation, 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix. This monthly event offers refreshments and a stimulating, interactive program geared toward those who have memory loss and their care partners. No charge. Open to the community. RSVP: 602452-4627 or Kathy.rood@jfcsaz.org

Beth El Women’s League Tea Party: Join the Beth El Women’s League for afternoon tea at a beautiful Biltmore residence.

Event

FRIDAY, MARCH 1

Valley of the Sun JCC ECC Golf Ball Drop: 9 a.m., Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Two-thousand golf balls drop from a helicopter 100 feet in the air onto The J’s soccer fields and the three that land closest to the pin win! Prizes include a two-year lease of a Toyota Corolla from Right Toyota, a much-coveted designated parking space for ECC drop-off and pickup and $2,000 cash! Proceeds support improvements to the nonprofit preschool’s playground and programs. Golf balls are $25 each or five for $100. Get them today at vosjcc.org/eccballdrop.

Cost is $36 per person. Register: alicia@ bethelphoenix.com or 602-944-3359

Shabbat

FIRST SATURDAY OF EACH MONTH

Kavana Café: 8:45 a.m., Congregation Or Tzion, 16415 N. 90th St., Scottsdale. An “informal opportunity to learn” with Rabbi Micah Caplan prior to services.

EVERY SATURDAY

Torah Express: noon, Congregation Or Tzion, 16415 N. 90th St., Scottsdale. During Kiddush lunch, join Rabbi Micah Caplan and others for an in-depth study of the Torah portion of the week.

FRIDAY, FEB. 22

Musical Shabbat: Congregation Or Tzion, 16415 N. 90th St., Scottsdale. The service features our very own musicians on a variety of instruments, singing harmonies and adding depth and kavanah to our Friday night worship.

MARCH 1 & 2

City-Wide Retreat: The BJE invites eighthgrade teens to a retreat at the Desert Outdoor Education Center at Lake Pleasant. Information: myras@bjephoenix.org or bjephoenix.org

Seniors

TUESDAYS THROUGH FRIDAY

Jewish Family and Children’s Service Center for Senior Enrichment: 9:30 a.m.2:30 p.m., The Palazzo, 6250 N. 19th Ave., Phoenix. Free programs are open to seniors who live at The Palazzo, as well as the entire senior community. Information: 602-943-2198

FRIDAYS, ONGOING

Taste of Shabbat with Nurit Avigdor: 11:30 a.m.-noon, The Palazzo, 6250 N. 19th Ave., Phoenix. Open to the community. Contact JFCS Senior Center for questions at 602-943-2198.

Arts

FEB. 23

‘Shards: Putting the Pieces Together’: 7 p.m., Temple Kol Ami, 15030 N 64th St., Scottsdale. Cantor Dr. Evan Kent’s one-man show is comprised of stories and songs that tell the tale of his aliyah to Israel and stories of his grandparents’ journey from Russia to the U.S. in 1908. RSVP: tkaoffice@ templekolami.org or 480-951-9660

THURSDAY, FEB. 28

Todd Herzog at Crescent Ballroom: 7:30 p.m., Crescent Ballroom, 308 N. Second Ave., Phoenix. Temple Solel cantorial soloist Todd Herzog will make his debut appearance at this iconic downtown Phoenix venue. Tickets are $12 advance and $15 at the door. Tickets: tinyurl.com/ yaurx45l

THURSDAY, MARCH 14

Front Row at Nuremberg and Miraculous Escapes from Germany: 11 a.m.-noon, Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Singer, composer, pianist and actor Lori Rosolowsky shares stories of her relatives’ escapes from Nazi persecution and her aunt’s role as a translator at Nuremberg. The great niece of renowned Jewish composer Herbert Fromm, Lori plays his music along with her own original works. Cost is $5 for members and $15 for guests. Registration is required at vosjcc.org/ nuremberg. JN

GETTYIMAGES/MEMBIO

Jewish Free Loan thanks

Dozens of guests pose for a photo at the Jewish Free Loan’s Shabbat Mishpatim Luncheon, which honors Named Loan Fund Donors, Legacy Society Members and Mishpatim Society Members. The event took place at the Arizona Jewish Historical Society.

Mayoral forum

Phoenix mayoral candidate Daniel Valenzuela, center, talks to guests at the Arizona Jewish Community Alliance’s Mayoral Forum. Candidate Kate Gallego also attended the forum. The runoff election takes place on March 12.

Film festival

‘Golda’s Balcony: The Film’ was screened at the Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival. From left, festival co-executive directors Jerry Mittelman and Barry Singer, and the film's producer David Fishelson attend the screening.

TV legend

Special visitors

Paramedics visit the East Valley JCC’s Early Childhood Learning Center on Feb. 12 to give the preschoolers a tour of their ambulance.

This COMMUNITY page features photos of community members around the Valley and the world. Submit photos and details each week to photos@jewishaz.com by 10 a.m. Monday.

PHOTO BY JOEL ZOLONDEK

PHOTO BY LEISAH WOLDOFF

PHOTO BY JOEL ZOLONDEK

Children gather around veteran actor Ed Asner, center, who was the keynote speaker during Limmud AZ at the Tempe Campus of Arizona State University.

PHOTO BY JOEL ZOLONDEK

You Should Know ... Jennifer Kaplan

NICK ENQUIST | STAFF WRITER

For Jennifer Kaplan, the owner and founder of Evolve PR and Marketing, the ability to network and build relationships is paramount to her success.

Kaplan has used what she calls her “gift of gab,” her entrepreneurial spirit and her passion for marketing and public relations to build her own company from the ground up. She also relied on years of marketing and sales experience to create an impressive resume.

With Evolve, Kaplan works with many types of clients, from large corporations to small mom-and-pop stores. Her hope is to help all of her clients reach their business goals.

In 2017, she was named one of the 50 most influential women by AZ Big Media, the publisher of Arizona Business News.

Where are you from?

I am one of the few born-and-raised Phoenix natives. Most people I meet are from Chicago or New York or somewhere else.

What did you want to be when you were younger?

One of the things I wanted to be was a comedian. I loved making people laugh when I was a kid. Another idea I was throwing around was a sports agent. But, really I knew that I wanted to do something with communications. I was pretty young when I realized that I wanted to go into public relations as a full-time career.

I see you were voted “The Most Talkative Senior” at your high school. That must be a great title for someone who works in public relations.

Correct. I had the gift of gab from a young age, which I utilize every day at work. And the funny thing is that the high school award would go to both a guy and girl. The guy who got the same award is also in a career where he’s utilizing that talent. It was our claim to fame.

I feel blessed that I was able to know that I had the ability to network and connect with people at that age too. I probably could’ve gotten that award in every grade since kindergarten. It’s just who I was (and who I am now), but it was never in an obnoxious way or a rude way. I loved

that I had could somehow be channeled into a career.

I was fortunate to be able to study something I loved and learn to love it even more. Some of the subjects I studied were nonverbal communication, interpersonal communication and intercultural communication; all of which helped me expand on the communication I had as a kid to a whole other level and make a career out of it.

How did you create Evolve PR and Marketing?

Even though during college I had fabulous internships and great training, I couldn’t find a job after I graduated. My brother’s girlfriend at the time told me to work in some kind of media realm so that

I could get some experience. I worked at The Phoenix New Times and for a radio station in sales, and it was not something that I would say was for me. I definitely wanted to get out. I heard a few of my friends were working as pharmaceutical ps and thought that would be good

I decided to go to a job fair because I knew that there would be some pharmaceutical companies there, but I ended up getting enamored with the UPS booth. I worked there for a few years in sales as well and I was building this strong career, but after a while I reevaluated my career goals and passion. I knew I could always fall back on sales, but I wanted to follow that passion for PR and marketing.

A girlfriend of mine knew the owners of Tutor Time, which are children’s day cares, and they hired me to be their director of marketing. I realized that I was having a lot of fun out in the field, schmoozing and taking people to lunch and I loved what I was doing. And as I was working there, the idea of starting my own company became more enticing.

I assume that creating Evolve didn’t just happen overnight.

It took a while, but it was an organic process. At first, I didn’t have a name

for a company or anything, but I would meet other companies in the community and start doing some freelance PR work for them. I didn’t start my own company until I created Prime 3 with a former business partner in 2005. I was there for a little under five years and then decided to go out on my own.

Right after I left, I created Evolve PR and Marketing just over eight years ago. I brought over some clients from my former firm and hired a girl right out of college. Now here we are with about 80 clients and 10 people work for me. Over the years we’ve managed to establish ourselves as one of the strongest PR firms in town.

What would you say was your mission for creating Evolve?

I come from an entrepreneurial family, so I think just wanting to succeed at building something on my own that I was passionate about was my main focus. It was a struggle at the beginning because I only had a few clients that were with me and I had to build the business. I think that I just had that passion for the industry and that entrepreneurial drive to want to make this on my own.

What’s the best part about your job?

There are so many things I love about this job. I really love helping the client and building their business, which is their livelihood. It’s also great interacting with my team. For me this leads to the most important part, which is building relationsh ip s. I totally thrive on that interaction and helping people grow what they’re passionate about.

What do you in your free time?

There’s a limited supply of that, but I definitely do yoga. That’s a daily ritual of mine. I love to travel and spend time with my family. Those are the main things I like to do, but I like to explore new things as well.

What’s a surprising fact about yourself? I love watching all sports and following different tournaments and athletes. I even have the ESPN app on my phone. And I’m always rooting for the Sun Devils.

Jennifer Kaplan, owner and founder of Evolve PR and Marketing. PHOTOPROVIDEDBYJENNIFERKAPLAN

NAOMI ORLY FOX

Naomi Orly Fox will become a bat mitzvah on Feb. 23, 2019, at Congregation Kehillah. She is the daughter of Daniella and Richard Fox of Gilbert.

Grandparents are Brenda Shrader of Scottsdale; William Shrader and Kristin Bloomquist of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; Loretta Fox of Southampton, New Jersey; Gloria and Alan Fox of Del Ray Beach, Florida; and Bheelek Diasham of Sun City.

For her mitzvah project, Naomi is doing her part to end food insecurity in her community. She is coordinating a food drive to donate to the Just 3 Things food pantry that supports the Real World Job Development program established by JFCSAZ. She is also coordinating the donation of gifted Girl Scout cookies for her troop to benefit the pantry. Most importantly, she is developing a cookbook that will be printed and distributed at the pantry to encourage the patrons to make new, different and healthy foods with the most common items from the pantry shelves.

OBITUARY

A student at Arizona College Prep - Erie, she enjoys Girl Scouts, piano, drawing, reading, yoga and animals.

LOGAN SCOTT MASON

Logan Scott Mason will become a bar mitzvah on March 16, 2019, at Temple Emanuel of Tempe. He is the son of Kimberly and Scott Mason of Chandler. Grandparents are Ilene and the late Alan Blau of Tempe; and Harriet and Ralph Mason of Sun Lakes.

For his mitzvah project, Logan made dog treats and sold them to friends and family. He used the money to buy supplies for the Arizona Animal Welfare League. A student at Kyrene Aprende Middle School, he enjoys sports of all kinds. He plays lacrosse. He likes video games, air soft games biking, and listening to music.

2 PLOTS FOR SALE

Lois Maxine Mandell, 81, died Feb. 4, 2019, in Mesa. She was born in Herrin, Illinois, and shortly thereafter, moved to Dixon, Illinois, where she was captain of the varsity cheerleading team and a champion Illinois state baton twirler. “Maxie” then moved to Chicago as a young woman. She and her now-deceased husband, our hero and dad, Officer Marvin Mandell, settled in Arizona with their family after Marv retired from the Chicago Police Department. Our mother was an incredible woman who lived to take care of her children who survive her (Lori Suzy Mandell, Paris R. Ramirez, Jess Mandell and stepson Floyd Mandell) as well as her two strong, independent granddaughters (Sophia Ramirez and Amy Sawyer-Goldwine) and three beautiful great-grandchildren. Strong in her Jewish faith, our Mom’s wish for many years finally came true when Sophia had her Bat Mitzvah last March. The joy Maxie had from sharing in this ceremony was incredible. From the minute Maxie woke up, to the second she went to bed, she strived to make sure that her family was well-fed and safe; she was most passionate about her family. Our Mom ended every phone call with, “Love you.” She was a phenomenal cook and loved trying to new recipes. Aside from cooking, she loved nothing more than to cuddle up with her puppy, Pebbles. Together they watched “Bravo!,” “Live PD,” “COPS” and “Botched.” She lived a beautiful, simple life and asked for nothing in return from anyone. A woman who did everything for her children and family, our Mom’s last selfless act was to donate her tissue. Confirmation from the Donor Registry verifies that her tissue will help several breast cancer survivors with their reconstructive surgery. Our Mom left a huge footprint in this world and will forever be missed. We love you, Mom, infinite and will forever remember your giving nature, the love you provided us and your strength – Shalom. Services were held on Feb. 5, 2019.

Contributions can be made to the Arizona Humane Society. Arrangements by Sinai Mortuary of Arizona.

CONTACT: JERI 480-607-6774

PUBLIC NOTICES | 602.870.9470

NOTICE OF INTENT TO PLACE FOR ADOPTION

Notice is given to JOHN DOE AND DANIEL MATTHEW DeHERRERA that you have been identified by Angela Elvera Vialpando, a/k/a Angela Elvera DeHerrera, née Lavorata, the natural mother of, Analisa Danielle DeHerrera, f/k/a Analisa Danielle Lavorata, as a potential father of a child, born on July 16, 2001, in Mesa, Arizona.

You are informed of the following:

1. Angela Elvera Vialpando, née Lavorata, the natural mother, plans to place the child for adoption.

2. Under sections 8-106 and 8-107, Arizona Revised Statutes, you have the right to consent or withhold consent to the adoption.

3. Your written consent to the adoption is irrevocable once you give it.

4. If you withhold consent to the adoption, you must initiate paternity proceedings under title 25, chapter 6, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, and serve the mother within thirty days after completion of service of this notice.

5. You have the obligation to proceed to judgment in the paternity action.

6. You have the right to seek custody.

7. If you are established as the child’s father, you must begin to provide financial support for the child.

8. If you do not file a paternity action under title 25, chapter 6, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, and do not serve the mother within thirty days after completion of the service of this notice and pursue the action to judgment, you cannot bring or maintain any action to assert any interest in the child.

9. The Indian child welfare act may supersede the Arizona Revised Statutes Regarding adoption and paternity.

10. For the purposes of service of a paternity action under title 25, chapter 6, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, service may be made on the mother at 1005 N. Sericin, Mesa, AZ 85205.

11. You may wish to consult with an attorney to assist you in responding to this notice. Jewish News 2/8, 2/15, 2/22, 3/1.

Frederick C. Thomas THOMAS LAW, PLLC 11811 Tatum Blvd., Ste. 4020

Phoenix, AZ 85028

Attorney for Petitioner Susan Bowen SUPERIOR COURT MARICOPA COUNTY, ARIZONA No.: PB2018-004162

NOTICE OF HEARING REGARDING SPECIAL CONSERVATORSHIP Assigned to: Hon. Thomas Marquoit IN THE MATTER OF: PARIS BOWEN, a minor

NOTICE IS GIVEN that the Petitioner has filed with the Court a Petition for the approval of a special conservator and petition for ratification and approval of a settlement of a claim for a minor. COURT HEARING. The Court has set a non-appearance hearing to consider the Petition a matter in the court papers as follows:

27 February 2019 at 11 A.M.

Date and Time:

Place: 101 West Jefferson Courtroom 512, Phoenix Arizona Judicial Officer: Hon. Thomas Marquoit RESPONSE TO PETITION. You are not required to respond to this Petition, but if you choose to respond, you may do so by filing a written response or by appearing in person at the hearing. If you choose to file a written response: File the original with the Court; • Provide a copy to the office of the Judicial Officer named above; and Mail a copy to all interested parties at least five (5) business days before the hearing. If you object to any part of the Petition or Motion that accompanies this notice, you must file with the court a written objection describing the legal basis for your objection at least three (3) days before the hearing date or you must appear in person or through an attorney at the time and place set forth in the notice of hearing. There is a FEE for filing a response. If you cannot afford the fee, you may file a Fee Deferral Application to request a payment plan from the Court. Respectfully submitted this 22nd day of January 2019.

THOMAS LAW, PLLC by Frederick C. Thomas, Esq., Attorney for Petitioner. Jewish News 2/1, 2/8, 2/15

KESSLER LAW GROUP Eric W. Kessler

Ryan E. Kessler

Eric

Attorneys

PUBLIC NOTICES | 602.870.9470

ABC CORPORATION; ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS

OF ABOVE, Defendants.

IN THE NAME OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA:

TO: All Defendants named above: GREETINGS; YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to appear and defend in the above-entitled action brought against you by the above-named Plaintiff, in the County of Maricopa, State of Arizona, and answer to the Complaint filed in said Court at 222 E. Javelina, Mesa, AZ 85210, within twenty (20) days if served personally within the State of Arizona, or thirty (30) days after completion of service outside of Arizona or by publication. You are notified that in case you fail to appear, Judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the complaint. Plaintiff’s attorney is: Eric W. Kessler, 6720 N. Scottsdale Rd., Suite 210, Scottsdale, AZ 85253. (480) 644-0093.

Requests for reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities must be made to the court by parties at least three (3) working days in advance of a scheduled court proceeding.

Requests for an interpreter for persons with limited English proficiency must be made to the office of the judge or commissioner assigned to the case by parties at least ten (10) judicial days in advance of a scheduled court proceeding.

GIVEN UNDER MY HAND THIS DATE: DEC 19, 2018 /s/ Chris DeRose, Clerk. Jewish News 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22.

Mark Goldman (012156)

Brian Soleymani (032164)

GOLDMAN & ZWILLINGER PLLC 17851 North 85th Street, Suite 175 Scottsdale, AZ 85255 (480) 626-8483

Attorneys for Plaintiff

IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF MARICOPA

Case NO. CV 2019-052431

SUMMONS

GOLDMAN & ZWILLINGER PLLC, an Arizona professional limited liability company, Plaintiff, v. KRISTINE M. WILDER, an individual, and YURI DOWNING, an individual, Defendants.

THE STATE OF ARIZONA TO THE DEFEN-

DANT: YURI DOWNING, 1402 East Kleindale, Tucson, AZ 85719

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to appear and defend, within the time applicable, in this action in this Court. If served within Arizona, you shall appear and defend within 20 days after the service of the Summons and Complaint upon you, exclusive of the date of service. If served out of the State of Arizona – whether by direct service, by registered or certified mail, or by publication – you shall appear and defend within 30 days after the service of the Summons and Complaint upon you has been complete, exclusive of the date of service. Where process is served upon the Arizona Director of Insurance as an insurer’s attorney to receive service of legal process against it in this state, the insurer shall not be required to appear, answer or plead until expiration of 40 days after date of such service upon the Director. Service by registered or certified mail within the State of Arizona is complete 30 days after the date of filing the receipt and affidavit of service with the Court. Service by publication is complete 30 days after the date of first publication. Direct service is complete when made. Service upon the Arizona Motor Vehicle Superintendent is complete 30 days after filing the Affidavit of Compliance and return receipt or Officer’s Return. RCP 4; A.R.S. §20-222, §28502, §28-503.

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that in the case of your failure to appear and defend within the time applicable, judgment by default may be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

YOU ARE CAUTIONED that in order to appear and defend, you must file an Answer or proper response in writing with the Clerk of this Court, accompanied by the necessary filing fee, within the time required, and you are required to serve a copy of any Answer or response upon the Plaintiffs’ attorney. RCP 10(d); A.R.S. §12331; RCP 5.

The name and address of Plaintiff’s attorney is:

Mark D. Goldman, Brian B. Soleymani, GOLDMAN & ZWILLINGER PLLC, 17851 N. 85TH Street, Suite 175, Scottsdale, Arizona 85255, (480) 626-8483.

Requests for reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities must be made to the division assigned to the case by the party needing accommodation or his/her counsel at least three (3) judicial days in advance of a scheduled proceeding.

Requests for an interpreter for persons with limited English proficiency must be made to the division assigned to the case by the party needing the interpreter and/or translator or his/ her counsel at least ten (10) judicial days in advance of a scheduled court proceeding.

SIGNED AND SEALED this date: JAN 10, 2019

Clerk of the Superior Court, K. Kee, Deputy Clerk.

Mark Goldman (012156) Brian Soleymani (032164) GOLDMAN & ZWILLINGER PLLC

17851 North 85th Street, Suite 175 Scottsdale, AZ 85255 480) 626-8483

Attorneys for Plaintiff IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF MARICOPA Case NO. CV 2019-052431 COMPLAINT

GOLDMAN & ZWILLINGER PLLC, an Arizona professional limited liability company, Plaintiff, v. KRISTINE M. WILDER, an individual, and YURI DOWNING, an individual, Defendants.

Plaintiff Goldman & Zwillinger PLLC, by and through the undersigned counsel, submits its Complaint stating its causes of action against Defendants Kristine M. Wilder and Yuri Downing.

1. Plaintiff Goldman & Zwillinger PLLC (“Plaintiff”) is an Arizona organized limited liability partnership and operates as a law firm in Scottsdale, Arizona, in Maricopa County.

2. Defendant Kristine M. Wilder (“Wilder”) is an individual and resident of Maricopa County, Arizona.

3. Defendant Yuri Downing (“Downing”) is an individual and resident of Maricopa County, Arizona.

4. In all acts and matters relevant to this Complaint, Wilder and Downing (collectively “Defendants”) acted in concert, acted individually on behalf of each other and acted jointly with one or more of the others, but in all events, for the benefit or on behalf of each other and all of them.

5. Plaintiff refers to “Defendants” when one or more of the several defendants acted on behalf of all defendants.

6. The superior court has jurisdiction over the claims raised in the Complaint since the amount in controversy exceeds the minimum jurisdiction of the superior court, as provided in Article

6, Section 14 of the Arizona Constitution and Section 12-123 of Arizona Revised Statutes (“ARS”).

7. The contract and the acts and omissions giving rise to this Complaint were entered into and/ or performed in Maricopa County, Arizona.

8. The Contract was formed and performed in Maricopa County, Arizona, so venue is proper in this Court pursuant to ARS §12-401.

GENERAL FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS

9. Plaintiff is a law firm that provides legal services.

10. On July 27, 2017, Plaintiff and Defendants entered into a written contract by which Plaintiff provided legal services billed at agreed hourly rates, plus billing for costs and disbursements, and including other provisions (“Contract”).

11. Pursuant to the Contract and as a third-party payor, Downing agreed to pay Plaintiff all attorney’s fees, costs and expenses on time.

12. Pursuant to the Contract, Wilder agreed to pay Plaintiff attorney’s fees, costs and expenses on time.

13. Pursuant to the Contract and at Defendants’ request, Plaintiff represented Defendants in various matters (the “Matters”).

14. Downing paid Plaintiff for some but not all legal services.

15. Subsequently, Wilder agreed to continue paying attorney’s fees, costs and expenses..

16. Plaintiff last provided services for Defendants on the Matters and/or pursuant to the Contract on or about September 25, 2018.

17. Plaintiff billed Defendants regularly, which included a description of work performed, amount of time for each task described, the amount of fees incurred for each task, an itemization of the costs and disbursements incurred and/or advanced on behalf of Defendants, listing and crediting of the balance for payments by Defendants or other credits since the prior billing statement and showing the ending balance, with the ending balance being the amount due from Defendants (“Billing Statement”).

18. Each Billing Statement was a demand from Plaintiff for payment to Plaintiff by Defendants.

19. The remaining unpaid principal balance owed by Defendants to Plaintiff after all credits is $234,295.09.

20. The amount $234,295.09 was due on or before, October 17, 2018.

21. Plaintiff demanded payment of the amount owed by Defendants.

22. Defendants failed and refused to pay the amount owed to Plaintiff

23. The amount owed by Defendants to Plaintiff is past due.

COUNT ONE Breach of Contract

24. Plaintiff incorporates by reference as if fully restated here all allegations in this Complaint required to state its cause of action in this count.

25. Pursuant to the Contract, Plaintiff agreed to perform legal services for Defendants.

26. Plaintiff performed as agreed pursuant to the Contract.

27. Pursuant to the Contract, Defendants agreed to pay the amounts owed as reflected on the billing statements produced by Plaintiff and delivered to Defendants.

28. Plaintiff produced and presented its billing

statements to Defendants.

29. The Contract terms are certain and fair.

30. The Contract provides that at the conclusion of the Matters, all unpaid charges shall become immediately due, including costs and expenses of withdrawal of representation.

31. Payment of the final balance owed by Defendants is past due.

32. Defendants failed to pay Plaintiff as demanded.

33. By failing to pay, Defendants breached the Contract.

34. Defendants failed and refused to pay without justification or excuse the sums due to Plaintiff pursuant to the Contract despite enjoying the benefits of the services.

35. Plaintiff incurred attorney fees and costs as a result of Defendants’ breach, and pursuant to the Agreement is entitled to recover its attorney fees and costs.

36. The Contract provides that Defendants pay any and all costs and expenses, including but not limited to, reasonable attorney fees in connection with enforcement of Defendants’ obligations imposed by the Contract.

COUNT TWO Unjust Enrichment

37. Plaintiff incorporates by reference as if fully restated here all allegations in this Complaint required to state its cause of action in this count.

38. Plaintiff provided Defendants with legal services and paid costs and expenses for the benefit of Defendants.

39. Defendants failed to pay Plaintiff for the services rendered and failed to reimburse Plaintiff for the costs and expenses.

40. Defendants were unjustly enriched by failing to pay Plaintiff.

41. Defendants’ failure to pay left Plaintiff without compensation for its services and without reimbursement of its costs and expenses incurred on behalf of Defendants, resulting in a legally defined impoverishment of Plaintiff.

42. Defendants’ unjust enrichment directly caused and resulted in Plaintiff’s legally defined impoverishment.

43. No justification exists for the enrichment of Defendants or the legally defined impoverishment of Plaintiff.

44. As an alternative claim to other counts of this Complaint, no remedy is otherwise provided by law.

COUNT THREE Claim Upon Open Account/ Account Stated

45. Plaintiff incorporates by reference as if fully restated here all allegations in this Complaint required to state its cause of action in this count.

46. Plaintiff performed legal services for the benefit of Defendants and at the request of Defendants.

47. Plaintiff incurred costs and advanced costs for the benefit of Defendants.

48. Defendants requested and knew of the services provided by Plaintiff and Defendants accepted those services.

49. Defendants requested and/or knew of and approved the costs and advances incurred or paid by Plaintiff on behalf of Defendants.

50. Defendants accepted the services and accepted the advancement and payment of costs by Plaintiff.

51. Plaintiff billed Defendants for the services, cost and advances.

52. Defendants received the billing from Plaintiff.

53. Defendants paid some of the billings from Plaintiff.

54. Defendants did not object to the services, costs or advances by Plaintiff.

55. Defendants did not object to the billing by Plaintiff to Defendants.

56. Defendants failed to pay the amount owed on the account.

57. In the alternative to other counts in this Complaint, the relationship between Plaintiff and Defendants constituted an account stated and/or an open account.

WHEREFORE , Plaintiff requests entry of judgment in its favor and against Defendants including:

A. For the sum of $234,295.09;

B. For post-judgment interest as allowed by law or contract;

C. For attorney fees and costs as permitted by the terms of the Agreement, pursuant to ARS §12-341.01 or as otherwise allowed by law; and

D. For such additional relief consistent with these requests deemed just in these circumstances. RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED this 10th day of January, 2019.

GOLDMAN & ZWILLINGER PLLC

Mark D. Goldman

Brian B. Soleymani 17851 North 85th Street, Suite 175 Scottsdale, AZ 85255-6567

Telephone: (480) 626-8483

Telefacsimile: (480) 502-7500

AllCourtmaterial: docket@gzlawoffice.com

No Court material: mgoldman@gzlawoffice. com No Court material: bsoleymani@gzlawoffice. com

Attorneys for Plaintiff

ORIGINAL of the foregoing filed with the Clerk of Maricopa County Superior Court this 10th day of January, 2019. /s/ Nadya Panich

Mark Goldman (012156) Brian Soleymani (032164)

GOLDMAN & ZWILLINGER PLLC

17851 North 85th Street, Suite 175 Scottsdale, AZ 85255 (480) 626-8483

Attorneys for Plaintiff IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF MARICOPA

Case NO. CV 2019-052431

CERTIFICATE OF COMPULSORY ARBITRATION

GOLDMAN & ZWILLINGER PLLC, an Arizona professional limited liability company, Plaintiff, v. KRISTINE M. WILDER, an individual, and YURI

DOWNING, an individual, Defendants.

Pursuant to Ariz. R. Civ. P. 72(e)(1), the undersigned certifies that he knows the dollar limits and any other limitations set forth by the local rules of practice for the applicable superior court, and further certifies that this case IS NOT subject to compulsory arbitration, as provided by the Ariz. R. Civ. P. Rules 72 through 76.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED this 10th day of January, 2019.

GOLDMAN & ZWILLINGER PLLC

Mark D. Goldman

Brian B. Soleymani 17851 North 85th Street, Suite 175 Scottsdale, AZ 85255-6567

Telephone: (480) 626-8483

Telefacsimile: (480) 502-7500

All Court material: docket@gzlawoffice.com

No Court material: mgoldman@gzlawoffice. com

No Court material: bsoleymani@gzlawoffice. com

Attorneys for Plaintiff

ORIGINAL of the foregoing filed with the Clerk of Maricopa County Superior Court this 10th day of January, 2019. /s/ Nadya Panich

Mark Goldman (012156)

Brian Soleymani (032164)

GOLDMAN & ZWILLINGER PLLC 17851 North 85th Street, Suite 175 Scottsdale, AZ 85255 (480) 626-8483

Attorneys for Plaintiff IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF MARICOPA Case NO. CV 2019-052431 DEMAND FOR JURY TRIAL

GOLDMAN & ZWILLINGER PLLC, an Arizona professional limited liability company, Plaintiff, v.

KRISTINE M. WILDER, an individual, and YURI

DOWNING, an individual, Defendants. Pursuant to Rule 38(b), Ariz.R.Civ.P., Plaintiff Goldman & Zwillinger PLLC, by and through undersigned counsel, hereby requests a trial by jury in this matter.

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED this 10th day of January, 2019.

GOLDMAN & ZWILLINGER PLLC Mark D. Goldman

Brian B. Soleymani 17851 North 85th Street, Suite 175 Scottsdale, AZ 85255-6567

Telephone: (480) 626-8483

Telefacsimile: (480) 502-7500

All Court material: docket@gzlawoffice.com No Court material: mgoldman@gzlawoffice. com No Court material: bsoleymani@gzlawoffice. com

Attorneys for Plaintiff

ORIGINAL of the foregoing filed with the Clerk of Maricopa County Superior Court this 10th day of January, 2019. /s/ Nadya Panich Jewish News 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22.

NOTICE OF INTENT

TO PLACE FOR ADOPTION

Notice is given to JOHN DOE (UNKNOWN, UNKOWN) that you have been identified by Sifa Muhindo, the natural mother of, Sofia Muhindo, as a potential father of a child, born on February 14, 2017, in Phoenix, Arizona.

You are informed of the following:

1. Sifa Muhindo, the natural mother, plans to place the child for adoption.

2. Under sections 8-106 and 8-107, Arizona Revised Statutes, you have the right to consent or withhold consent to the adoption.

3. Your written consent to the adoption is irrevocable once you give it.

4. If you withhold consent to the adoption, you must initiate paternity proceedings under title 25, chapter 6, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, and serve the mother within thirty days after completion of service of this notice.

5. You have the obligation to proceed to judgment in the paternity action.

6. You have the right to seek custody.

7. If you are established as the child’s father, you must begin to provide financial support for the child.

8. If you do not file a paternity action under title 25, chapter 6, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, and do not serve the mother within thirty days after completion of the service of this notice and pursue the action to judgment, you cannot bring or maintain any action to assert any interest in the child.

9. The Indian child welfare act may supersede the Arizona Revised Statutes Regarding adoption and paternity.

10. For the purposes of service of a paternity action under title 25, chapter 6, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, service may be made on the mother, c/o Tonya K. MacBeth, 702 E. Osborn Rd., Ste. 200, Phoenix, AZ 85014 (602) 234-9926.

11. You may wish to consult with an attorney to assist you in responding to this notice. Jewish News 2/8, 2/15, 2/22, 3/1.

John L. Lohr, Jr. (SBN 019876) Evan Schechter (SBN 029658) HYMSON GOLDSTEIN PANTILIAT & LOHR, PLLC 16427 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 300 Scottsdale, Arizona 85254

Telephone: (480) 991-9077

Attorneys for Plaintiff IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF MARICOPA Case No. CV2019-052766 SUMMONS

GARY L. ROEMHILDT, an individual, Plaintiff, v. STEVEN G. RASMUSSEN, an unmarried man; THE ESTATE OF STEVEN G. RASMUSSEN, if deceased; UNKNOWN HEIRS OF STEVEN G. RASMUSSEN; JOHN DOE A THROUGH F, fictitious Names Representing Defendants of Whom Plaintiff May Later Become Aware; THE STATE OF ARIZONA; and MARICOPA COUNTY TREASURER, an Arizona political subdivision; THE STATE OF ARIZONA TO THE DEFENDANT: STEVEN G. RASMUSSEN, an unmarried man; THE ESTATE OF STEVEN G. RASMUSSEN, if deceased; UNKNOWN HEIRS OF STEVEN G. RASMUSSEN

YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to serve upon the attorney for the Plaintiff an answer to the Complaint which is herewith served upon you, within twenty (20) days, exclusive of the day of service, of this Summons and Complaint upon you, if served within the State of Arizona, and within thirty (30) days, exclusive of the day of service, if served outside the State of Arizona. Rule 4, Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure; A.R.S. §§ 20222, 28-502, 28-503.

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTICED that in case of your failure to appear and defend within the time applicable, judgment by default may be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint.

YOU ARE CAUTIONED that in order to appear and defend, you must file an Answer or proper response in writing with the Clerk of this Court, accompanied by the necessary filing fee, within the time required, and you are required to serve a copy of any Answer or response upon Plaintiffs’ attorney. Rule 10(d), Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure; A.R.S. § 12311; Rule 5, Arizona Rules of Civil Procedure.

REQUESTS FOR REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES MUST BE MADE TO THE DIVISION ASSIGNED TO THE CASE BY PARTIES AT LEAST 3 JUDICIAL DAYS IN ADVANCE OF A SCHEDULED COURT PROCEEDING.

REQUESTS FOR AN INTERPRETER FOR PERSONS WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY MUST BE MADE TO THE OFFICE OF THE JUDGE OR COMMISSIONER ASSIGNED TO THE CASE BY PARTIES AT LEAST TEN (10) JUDICIAL DAYS IN ADVANCE OF A SCHEDULED COURT PROCEEDING.

The names and address of Plaintiff’s attorneys are: John L. Lohr, Jr., Esq., Evan Schechter, HYMSON GOLDSTEIN PANTILIAT & LOHR, PLLC, 16427 N. SCOTTSDALE ROAD, SUITE300, SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85254. SIGNED AND SEALED this date: FEB 6, 2019, JEFF FINE, Clerk, by B. Reth, Deputy Clerk. Jewish News 2/15, 2/22, 3/1, 3/8

NOTICE TO CREDITORS OF APPOINTMENT OF PERSONAL REPRESENTATIVE In re Estate of KENNETH CLARK HESSER, Deceased

PB2019-051395 IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA IN AND FOR THE COUNTY OF MARICOPA NOTICE IS GIVEN that MICHAEL T. HESSER has been appointed as Personal Representative, without bond for the ESTATE OF KENNETH CLARK HESSER on January 22, 2019.

All persons having claims against the Estate are required to present their claims within four months after the date of the first publication of this Notice or the claims will be forever barred. Claims must

Corporation 4. Character of Business: Domestic Nonprofit Corporation – Young Women with Cancer 5. Known Place of Business: 8820 N. 86th Place, Scottsdale, AZ 85258.

6. Directors: Allison Hagerdon, 8820 N. 86th Place, Scottsdale, AZ 85258; Mia Bermann, 1214 Tyler Avenue, Point Pleasant Boro, NJ 08742; Corinne Peloso, 4216 E. Windsor Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85008; Kimberly Stoffers, 6108 W. Fallen Leaf Lane, Glendale, AZ 85310; Brittany DeBour, 27416 N. 63rd Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85083.

7. Members: The corporation shall have no members.

8. Statutory Agent: Patrick Hagerdon, 8820 N. 86th Place, Scottsdale, AZ 85258. 9. Certificate of Disclosure Filed. 10. Incorporator: Joshua Goldberg, 4644 N. 22nd Street, Unit 2131, Phoenix, AZ 85016. The undersigned hereby accepts and acknowledges under penalty of perjury that this document together with any attchments is submitted in compliance with Arizona law. EXECUTED this 8th day of November, 2017. /s/ Joshua Goldberg Jewish News 2/15, 2/22, 3/1

the Lasting Legacy of Jewish Journalism

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organizations keep prisoners from being forgotten

Jewish

Donate NICK ENQUIST STAFF WRITER Although Jewish prisoners make up less than 1 percent of the prison population nationwide, Rabbi Menachem Katz continues to maintain contact with prisoners to help provide what they need, such as religious texts, prayer services, and to make sure that they are treated fairly. But his work is not easy. Jewish inmates in Arizona, for instance, have refused to meet with Katz, who works with Jewish prisoners all over the country, because of the fear of white nationalist gangs. “We wanted to come visit them, but they said, ‘No, that will be too dangerous for you,’” said Katz, the Aleph Institute’s director of Military and Prison Outreach in Florida. “In Arizona, there is a concern with white supremacy.” According to Katz, there are currently 40 Jewish prisoners in the Arizona state prisons and 20 in federal institutions. A 2016 ADL report listed California and Texas as having the highest concentration of white supremacist gangs, followed by “problem” states of Oklahoma, Indiana, Missouri, Oregon and Tennessee.

JANET PEREZ MANAGING EDITOR

Yeshiva School girls pray outside Tree of Life. PHOTOBYJIMBUSIS Election update Almost a week after Election Day, three-term U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema has been declared the winner in the race to fill the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake. She was in a tight race with Republican U.S. Rep. Martha McSally. Sinema is Arizona’s first woman U.S. senator. She is also the first Arizona Democrat to be elected to the upper chamber in 30 years. Two races with Republican Jewish candidates remain undecided. Visit jewishaz. com for election updates. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE KYRSTEN SINEMA CAMPAIGN SEE PRISONERS, PAGE 3 KEEP YOUR EYE ON jewishaz.com

SPECIAL SECTION | 17 FAMILY MATTERS Treating pediatric pain with opioids and helping children and teens navigate the pitfalls of social media Israel halts ceasefire talks Marvel’s Stan Lee dies Toronto: Jewish teens assaulted ISRAEL NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL NOVEMBER 16, 2018 | KISLEV 8, 5779 VOLUME 70, NUMBER 60 $1.50 HEADLINES | 6 MEMORIALPITTSBURGHEVENT Pittsburgh residents, celebrities and dignitaries gathered to honor Tree of Life victims SEE TRAUMA, PAGE 2

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12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 206 Scottsdale, AZ 85254

Arizona’s problem is not as big, but still has an impact on prisoners and visitors. But that has not stopped the Aleph Institute from providing its services.