2023 Best of Jewish News

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them to serve people,” he said, noting it goes beyond the Jewish community. For example, Scottsdale Arts was awarded $7,500 to support its “Hold on to Hope Traveling Exhibition,” which takes viewers on a visual journey to Nazioccupied Poland via the personal photos and anecdotes of local Holocaust survivor Oskar Knoblauch. Although the organization is not Jewish, and many of those viewing the exhibit will likely not be Jewish, it is a valuable Holocaust education program for

STAFF

Publisher Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix

General Manager

Rich Solomon

Managing Editor

Mala Blomquist

Sta Writer

Shannon Levitt

Account Executive

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Art Director

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©2023. Phoenix Jewish News, LLC. (ISSN 1070-5848) is published less than weekly by Phoenix Jewish News, Inc., dba Jewish News. A subscription is $48 per year, payable in advance to Jewish News, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Ste. 201, Scottsdale, AZ 85254, telephone 602-870-9470. Periodicals postage paid at Phoenix, Arizona. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Jewish News, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Ste. 201, Scottsdale, AZ 85254

Celebrating 75 years

The Jewish community of Greater Phoenix has changed dramatically since the first issue of Jewish News launched on Jan. 15, 1948. Today, the Jewish population of Maricopa County hovers around 100,000 while in 1950 the entire population of Phoenix was only 106,818. Over its 75-year history, Jewish News has covered thousands of stories, milestones and events happening in the community.

In 1948, the four-page Phoenix Jewish News was printed by the Publications Committee of the Phoenix Jewish Community Council. M.B. “Bud” Goldman, Jr. was committee chairman and his wife, Bertha, was co-chair. Goldman created the paper from his garage at 528 W. Granada Road in Phoenix.

Cecil and Pearl Newmark purchased the paper in 1961, from their friend Goldman, and moved into an office on Roosevelt St. in downtown Phoenix. Cecil was the publisher and salesperson and Pearl was the editor and bookkeeper. They employed a secretary and a few part-time writers.

When Cecil Newmark was looking to retire at 75, Florence Newmark Eckstein, and her husband, Paul, an attorney, decided to buy the paper from her parents in 1981. The paper was

renamed Jewish News of Greater Phoenix and Eckstein changed the frequency from bi-weekly to weekly because “news happens every week.” She also started special sections including arts and culture, families, education, weddings, holiday planning, bar/ bat mitzvahs and summer camps, and in 1988, Jewish News published its first community directory.

Jaime Roberts and Jeffrey Stern bought the newspaper from the Ecksteins on April 1, 2013, and on July 15, 2016, they donated the entire enterprise to the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix (JCF). (In 2021, JCF integrated with the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix to form the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix, which continues to publish Jewish News.)

In researching the paper’s archives for coverage of its 75th anniversary, there were many headlines about the history of the Jewish community throughout the decades. Some Jewish News’ past coverage included:

1948: On Feb. 22, a United Jewish Appeal quota of $252,500 was set for Phoenix and central Arizona to help the brand-new nation of Israel. In the end, the community raised $167,304, the largest amount ever amassed up to that time

1950: In December, 300 people attended the dedication of Beth Hebrew Synagogue at 333 E. Portland St. On Jan. 9, 1959, a youngster by the name of Steven Spielberg became a bar mitzvah there

1958: The Phoenix Jewish Community Kivel Nursing Home opened its doors in March to 16 residents.

1965: In September, Phoenix Hebrew Academy began its first term in a house on Bethany Home Road and groundbreaking for Har Zion, the first permanent synagogue building in the Scottsdale/Paradise Valley area, happened in November.

1966: Plans for forming Temple Solel were announced at a meeting in June at Phoenix Country Day School.

1970: Temple Beth Israel, Greater Phoenix’s first Jewish congregation, celebrated its 50th anniversary in April

1971: On Dec. 1, Sinai Mortuary of Arizona, the first exclusively Jewish funeral home in the area, was dedicated

1974: In May, a 23-acre campsite near Prescott was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Irv Pearlstein as a gift to Temple Beth Israel (this was Camp Charles Pearlstein, now known as Camp Daisy and Harry Stein).

1977: In March, Rabbi Zalman Levertov moved here with his wife, Tziporah, becoming the first Lubavitcher rabbi in the area.

1987: Rabbi Bonnie Koppell became the area’s first fill-time female rabbi in May, as she took over the spiritual leadership at Mesa’s Temple Beth Sholom

1991: In July, Jews celebrated 50 years of organized community life in the Greater Phoenix area and a jubilee brunch marked the golden anniversary of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix

2001: A groundbreaking ceremony was held in May for the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus at the corner of Sweetwater Avenue and Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale and in June, The Sephardic Community of

was formed.

Another bit of history uncovered in the archives was that Jewish News was not the first Jewish paper to service the Greater Phoenix area. In 1926, The Southwestern Star covered the Jewish community of Phoenix.

The publication was the joint production of Mrs. Morris Meckler (then Miss Brenda Weisberg) and Hal Goldberg, son of a Phoenix pioneer family. (It was common practice then to refer to a married woman using “Mrs.” and then her husband’s name.)

“It was an election year,” Meckler recalled in the Sept. 7, 1956 issue of The Phoenix Jewish News. “And Hal approached me about putting out a Jewish paper with him.” Goldberg was in charge of the advertising, assisted by Mrs. George Linn.

Meckler gathered and wrote up local news, ran stories with Biblical content and checked other Jewish sources for material of interest to Phoenix readers.

She received recipes and also asked for letters to the editor and said since these were slow in coming, she often had to write under an assumed name about some controversial subjects to create responses from readers.

The four- to six-page paper, printed semimonthly, was only in business for one year.

She went on to join the women’s page staff of the old Phoenix Gazette, but Meckler said, “I was more interested in fiction.” She later became a top fiction writer for Hollywood movie studios and television.

Over the years, Jewish News has employed many community members, and although they have gone on to other jobs and different professions, they hold fond memories of their time working at the paper. You can read stories from some past employees starting on page 24.

Reaching 75 years is no small feat for any business but it seems like an even more incredible milestone for a nonprofit community newspaper. Jewish News has been there to share the news happening in our corner of the world, including profiles of the amazing people that shape Greater Phoenix’s Jewish community, and we will continue to do so for many more decades to come.

To all of our readers, subscribers, advertisers and supporters, thank you. We could not celebrate this milestone without all of you. JN

Brighter Every day,

—Mala Blomquist, Managing Editor

Happy anniversary

Every day, we’re grateful for the vibrant businesses and outstanding community leaders who call Arizona home. Congratulations to Jewish News on 75 years of helping Arizona shine. We look forward to what the next 75 years brings.

Jewish News(papering) in a global pandemic

SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER

My first day at Jewish News was Feb. 17, 2020. I was still relatively new to Greater Phoenix, having only moved to Scottsdale from Denver eight months earlier. I was so excited and eager to meet the Jewish community and cover all aspects of it that I paid scant attention to the little blips of news about a virus that was hopefully being contained to a section of China. But that optimism would not last long.

Within a week of my arrival, we ran a story about Israeli students having to quarantine. That was followed by a steady drumbeat of articles and opinion pieces about the novel coronavirus’ impact on Israel and Europe and how to band together as a community in the face of an unknown threat.

The first local story we published that brought home the reality of the virus’ impact was about Temple Kol Ami congregant Abe Orlick’s second bar mitzvah. At 83, Orlick was preparing for

on March 10, the celebration had been postponed until October. At that point, most people believed the virus would surely be contained within a few months. Instead, we were all about to learn what living in a global pandemic really meant.

The same week we published Orlick’s story, Arizona’s Department of Health Services reported two confirmed and three presumed cases of COVID-19. The local Jewish community responded by sharing resources and information and urged congregants to wash their hands, avoid hugging and kissing and stay home if they’re sick.

Beth El Congregation stressed the importance of smiling rather than shaking hands as a greeting on Shabbat, and Congregation Or Tzion shared the Rabbinical Assembly’s advice to refrain from kissing ritual objects, such as Siddurim and mezuzot.

Several congregations prepared to cancel public gatherings and offer live streaming as an alternative to regular services if the outbreak worsened.

The Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center held out

The March 20, 2020 issue of Jewish News addressed the COVID-19 pandemic in the community.

hope they wouldn’t have to cancel any events. Others who had invited speakers from abroad had no choice but to cancel.

Richard Kasper, then-president and CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix (JCF), said organizations needed to make contingency plans for worst-case scenarios, such as employees being quarantined at home or losing access to their offices.

Still, he didn’t want people to panic. “We can’t become paralyzed; we can’t lock ourselves up at home unless we have to,” said Kasper, now the CEO of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix (CJP). Those words were prescient.

Within a week, we were reporting that synagogues and community organizations had transitioned from advising members to wash their hands and cover their coughs to discontinuing food services, offering virtual alternatives to in-person services and closing their doors altogether.

Thursday, March 12, the day after Gov. Doug Ducey declared a state of

emergency, caused a surge of event cancellations from many Jewish organizations and notices expressing concern for community members’ safety.

I well remember my vain hope that the East Valley Jewish Community Center’s Second Annual Klezmer Fest on March 15 would go forward and that I could attend, meet more people and cover it the way I was used to covering events, but it, like everything else, was canceled.

It was my first spring in Greater Phoenix but I knew that March was a busy month, usually awash in events. People were disoriented and scared, and the majority of Jewish organizations and synagogues had already closed their doors by the time the state was officially shut down on March 30.

Then Jewish News staff writer Ellen O’Brien and I suddenly had to report from our homes instead of our office at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus and find ways to connect with the community virtually. A sense of uncertainty — personal and communal — was pervasive. Information about the virus was coming

out but so was misinformation, and sadly, disinformation. It was a frightening time, even for the non-alarmists among us. The situation was serious and heartbreaking in other countries like Israel, and other states faced hardship before Arizona did.

There was so much we didn’t know and couldn’t know, but one thing we could do was continue telling the stories of the community and how it was affected by, and dealing with, COVID-19.

Synagogues and Jewish organizations slowly built a virtual infrastructure and everyone learned how to use Zoom — it was certainly my best friend.

The first big Jewish story was how people would celebrate Passover. It was just weeks away when it became clear that there would be no big celebrations that year. People couldn’t travel easily and fear of transmission was paramount. This virus was not just an inconvenience, it was a killer.

In addition to writing about the difficulty of religious observance during the pandemic, we wrote about the fear and depression that were overtaking

A team. A family.

Imagine life with a complete support system It’s like an extended family working together and making things easier. Meals, prescriptions, appointments, personalized care, even a hobby or two, all taken care of—with smiles at every turn.

Having it all, and an extra hand when you need it. That’s

so many lives. We wrote about students, teachers and parents who had to contend with virtual schooling and what would happen with summer camp. We wrote about the struggles of local Jewish businesses. People were frustrated, overwhelmed and scared. We shared their thoughts and stories and our readers let us know they were interested and wanted to hear more.

Luckily, JCF, which owns our paper, never wavered in its commitment to Jewish News and Jewish journalism more broadly. We did our best to honor that commitment and the community we tried to keep connected in an isolating time. We also removed the paywall on the paper’s website, so that readers could have access to all the articles for free.

Amid all the sad stories there were also tales of resilience, courage and hope to relay. We started a series we called simply “Repair the world” and shared all that people were doing — whether participating in blood and food drives, bringing pizzas to healthcare workers or even a synagogue celebrating its

members’ small acts of kindness. We wanted to highlight our Jewish community members who were proving this difficult period was surmountable.

Still, we lost a lot. We lost people, we lost jobs, we lost time together and time learning, and we lost a sense of security about the future — even if we didn’t realize it until it was gone. That is what I heard from the people I spoke with over and over. I wrote a lot about pain and loss. It wasn’t what I imagined when I walked in the door on my first day.

I did meet many community members, albeit over Zoom, but I still made real connections, something else I heard over and over in my reporting. People were finding solace in places they hadn’t really looked and were newly focused on the importance of community.

Eventually, we returned to our offices with our faces masked and settled into what we all called “the new normal.” COVID was sometimes in the foreground when surges hit or new variants arose, delaying or even quashing school and synagogue reopenings. Even when the

case counts were low, COVID hovered in the background.

In January 2021, when I happily reported about the vaccine rollouts and talked to people who were overcome with joy and relief that they could finally feel somewhat safe again, it was not as we had hoped, the beginning of the end.

Even within the Jewish community, whose vaccination rate is higher than the nation’s as a whole, the vaccine wasn’t a panacea. People continued to get sick and die. They still do. Long after March 2020, Jewish News continued to cover stories related to COVID. We still do. I look back at my first year at Jewish News and realize how unprepared I was. Yet, I also reflect on how much I learned about what really matters when reporting on the Jewish community. It’s all about the people and sharing their stories, their experiences and their perspectives. Even in the darkest days, we could still do that. JN

Jewish News is published by the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix, a component of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix

Jewish News shares its birthday with the Phoenix Boys Choir, another community organization celebrated by many local Jews

SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER

Steve Newmark remembers when his voice first changed in 1965. It’s the kind of puberty-driven, and perhaps slightly embarrassing, moment that most people forget in the course of their adult lives. But it was a game changer for Newmark because it ended his four-year tenure as a boys’ soprano in the Phoenix Boys Choir. The choir celebrated its 75th anniversary in February, a big birthday it shares with Jewish News. The two Greater Phoenix institutions were launched within months of one another. That happy coincidence is burnished by the fact that several longtime members of the local Jewish community who have been associated with the choir say it made a great impact on their lives, if not their Jewish lives per se.

Newmark’s father, Cecil Newmark, owned Jewish News from 1961 to 1981. Cecil was also a founding member of the Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix in 1929, which would become the Phoenix Boys Choir’s sponsor from 1953-1972 — what Newmark refers to as the choir’s “pre-big deal days.” (One choir member claimed that “Cecil had one of the greatest voices of all times.”) In more recent years, the choir has performed across the country and around the world, offering concert performances with a broad repertoire, from classical to popular selections. Members of the Phoenix Boys Choir have performed for four U.S. presidents.

Steve kept singing through his time at Claremont College and then for years he

sang barbershop with the Phoenicians Chorus. He is a practicing lawyer in Phoenix and Scottsdale and is the “baby” brother of Flo Eckstein, Jewish News’ owner and publisher from 1981 to 2013, along with her husband, Paul.

The Phoenix Boys Choir also offered boys a way to showcase and discipline their talents, according to Jerry Lewkowitz, a stalwart of the local Jewish community. His two nephews, Steve and the late Danny Lewkowitz, were early members in the choir in the 1950s. (Steve will also be turning 75 this August and said the choir was very helpful to “a wild Jewish boy” like him.)

Jerry remembers all the boys falling silent as soon as longtime director, Harvey Smith, raised his arms. They then sang beautifully the moment he lowered the baton, indicating it was time to begin.

“That’s the kind of discipline parents don’t have over their child,” Jerry laughed.

“The choir was unique; I had a good voice and it kept me off the street,” said Steve, still remembering singing “Oklahoma” and “I Believe.” There were only about 15 boys when he and his brother sang in the choir; he couldn’t remember if other Jewish boys were involved at that time, but he liked the fact that the members came from various parts of the city and remembered the wonder of taking the stage in his white jacket and red bowtie and singing in front of an audience. For a Jewish kid from “an

old Phoenix” family, “it was a big deal,” he said.

Barbara Lewkowitz, Jerry’s daughter and Steve’s cousin, takes credit for coaxing her brother Herman Lewkowitz into the choir a few years later. During a seven-hour car ride home from a family vacation in California when they were kids, Herman drove her crazy with his singing and calling out “every street sign.” When they were back in Phoenix, she told her mother, “We have to find some way to get him into music!”

“Herman had an excellent voice and still does,” Barbara said, adding he had relative pitch instead of perfect pitch, a family joke her father reiterated.

“Herman didn’t have perfect pitch, that’s for sure! But he was very good,” Jerry said.

Herman’s six-year tenure in the choir was full of good memories. He started at the age of eight and agreed with his father that the experience taught him discipline.

“Smith made you sing your part in front of everyone, and if you didn’t have it down, you sure learned it fast,” he said.

Herman’s experience in the choir even helped him prepare for his bar mitzvah. Though Smith wasn’t Jewish and didn’t know Hebrew, he taught Herman intonations and how to project his voice.

One of Herman’s standout memories is when the choir sang in the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, one Easter. The huge building was packed and

his mother, who often traveled with the choir when it toured, stopped to ask if he was OK. She thought he looked angry.

“I said, ‘I’m scared out of my mind!’ and she said, ‘Just sing and don’t worry about the people,’” Herman remembered.

He saved many of his photos, programs and things he collected during those years and gave them to the choir to fill out its pre-2000 historical record. He also encouraged his son Adam to audition when he was young. Adam did join for a while until he ultimately chose to devote his time to competitive swimming.

Barbara said that the choir became a big part of her family. Besides her brother, cousins and nephew, her son also joined. “In our family, the musical gene really traveled down the Y chromosome,” she laughed. Her son is now a professional musician. When she attended the 75th anniversary a few months ago, it brought back wonderful memories.

Jerry gave the choir a big assist when he helped raise the funding for it to move into a new and permanent building on 12th St. and Missouri, where it is still housed today.

“The Phoenix Boys Choir is a fantastic thing that did wonderful work,” Jerry said. He also says the same of Jewish News and still remembers the “beautiful article” that appeared in its pages profiling him.

The Lewkowitz clan is indeed “an old Phoenix family.” Jerry’s father moved to Phoenix in 1914 and his mother arrived in

Phoenix Boys Choir circa 1957. Stephen Lewkowitz is second from left in the second row.

COURTESY OF PHOENIX BOYS CHOIR

Jerry and his wife, Andrea Lewkowitz, are with Herman Lewkowitz at the Phoenix Boys Choir 75th anniversary celebration in February.

COURTESY OF BARBARA LEWKOWITZ

1919. They had to bring in a rabbi from El Paso to officiate their wedding. In 1920, along with 10 other local Jews, they founded Temple Beth Israel.

Jerry was happy that the Arizona Jewish Historical Society resides in Beth Israel’s original building and is proud of its work for the community.

“Jewish News has been a part of that as well. I remember when Paul Eckstein was the publisher and he bragged that they never missed a deadline,” he said.

Steve Newmark can recount two vivid memories from his choir days in the 1960s. People of a certain generation like to ask one another where they were on the day President John F. Kennedy was shot. Newmark remembers the day of the assassination well since he was supposed to perform the same night. Of course, the concert was canceled but Newmark kept the program and newspaper for years afterward.

His other distinct memory from those days is much less profound but no less vivid. At a concert at Phoenix Union High School, one of the other singers threw up on him.

“I still soldiered on through the concert despite the barf on me,” he laughed.

Newmark sang in the choir with Daniel Feller, another notable member of Greater Phoenix’s Jewish community who also remembers the puking incident, though perhaps a little more vaguely than Steve.

Clearer in his mind is the memory of his audition. He stood at the piano sight-reading music Smith had handed him while Marty Davitch, another choir member — and member of Beth El Congregation — sang a different song in his ear. It was a challenging audition, to say the least.

Feller later directed Davitch’s sister in Temple Chai’s adult choir where his wife is the emerita cantor.

Their son joined the choir as well and father and son would later sing together in the Phoenix Alumni Choir.

Feller summed up how many Jewish members of the Phoenix Boys Choir felt about their time in it.

“There’s certain experiences that mold you into who you’ll become as an adult and the (Phoenix) Boys Choir was one of them. Taking boys and making them into men — the choir did that,” he said. JN

CHEESE PIE

18 ounces cream cheese

1 pint sour cream

24 graham crackers

Decades of sharing ‘What’s Cookin?’

MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR

Food is a connection shared by Jews across the world. Every holiday and festival are celebrated with a special dish that often becomes a family tradition, with recipes passed down from generation to generation. Over the decades, Jewish News has shared countless recipes like these with its readers.

When Jewish News began in 1948, it didn’t contain a recipe section. It all started with a call to action in the Jan. 27, 1950 issue on the front page, in the lower left-hand corner, titled “What’s Cookin’?” that asked: “Are there any good cooks in the audience?” The ad invited readers to enter their best cooking secrets for a chance to win “a bit of money” – $1. Adjusted for inflation, that’s about $12.62 today. The winner would also have their recipe published in the paper and were encouraged that “anything goes” when it came to submissions, including “gefilte fish, blintzes, kreplach, matzo balls or some less familiar and exotic dish.”

The next issue shared the names and addresses of the winner and runner up. The runner up was Mrs. Ida Selwyn of 1302 W. Portland with a recipe for huber grits soup. Mrs. Aaron Citron of 5520 N. 16th St. was the first recipe-contest winner and the recipient of the $1 prize. The recipe she submitted was for cheese pie:

1 cup sugar plus ¼ teaspoon

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/8 pound butter, melted

Mix together until smooth the cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, sour cream and vanilla. Roll out graham crackers (until crushed) and mix well with butter and ¼ teaspoon sugar until thoroughly mixed. Distribute evenly into 11-inch pie pan. Then pour the first mixture over crackers. Sprinkle sifted graham crackers on top. Bake for a half hour in a 350-degree oven. Remove and let cool. Place pie in refrigerator for at least two hours before serving

There were three recipes published in the Feb. 24, 1950 issue: corned beef stuffed pineapple from Emily Ames, Mexican cake submitted by Mrs. Gertrude Barnett and Anne Cooper’s kischke (beef casing or intestine) with Spry — a brand name at the time for lard. Cooper was announced as the winner in the following issue on March 10, 1950. A blurb encouraged readers to submit more recipes, “With Passover coming up, Phoenix housewives are especially urged to submit their favorite holiday recipes in time for the next issue of The News, March 31.”

“What’s Cookin’?” received its own headline as a separate column in the Sept. 22, 1950 edition with a Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) recipe from Ruth Roman, a “Hollywood bachelor-girl” and actor who shared her mother’s recipe for strudel. Jewish News had a syndication agreement to share content from JTA, as it still does today. The following issues also featured recipes from celebrities of the time such as Yiddish theater star “The Great” Maurice Schwartz, who shared his wife’s recipe for marinated herring and actor

The first special section for food appeared in the May 29, 1985 issue. COURTESY OF JEWISH NEWS

Vanessa Brown, star of producer Isadore Goldsmith’s movie “Three Husbands,” who shared her recipe for Viennese fish salad.

The Sept. 28, 1951 issue on the “Woman’s Page” featured JTA contributor Terry Elman’s “A Rosh Hashanah Menu:” Honeybroiled grapefruit or fruit cup in sherry wine, gefilte fish, chicken soup with fingerhuetchen (noodle puffs), fresh green salad, baked squab, carrots knadel, sponge cake, prune and raisin compote and hot tea with lemon. Sherry wine was a prominent ingredient in not only the fruit cup but also in the basting liquid for the squab and the end of the stuffing recipe included directions to “add garlic, salt and pepper to taste, also a little sherry wine.”

In the April 11, 1952 issue Elman returned with a recipe for matzo balls made with four tablespoons of chicken fat — not melted, but hard fat — and a Jell-O mold containing cooked beets, celery, horseradish and sugar.

The first separate “special section” for food appeared in the May 29, 1985 issue and featured “Surviving the Summer,” warm-weather recipes that were “tried and true favorites from our readers,” including

Florie Amster’s macaroni and artichoke salad and tomato bean salad, Joan Baratz’s gazpacho, Jacqueline Markowitz’s summer slaw and walking salad from Temple Beth Israel’s Preschool: a mixture of fruit and nuts served in an iceberg lettuce leaf cup — “a good snack for children’s parties.”

In the late 1980s, Jewish News began running a food column frequently under the titles “Elegantly Kosher,” “Kosher Cuisine” and “Jewish Cooking.” These columns came from food writers, nationally syndicated Jewish food columnists or cookbook authors and covered topics from kosher ingredients to holiday food customs from Jewish communities around the world.

As time passed, the recipes changed from using cholesterol-raising ingredients to lighter fare. The April 3, 2009, Passover food section featured “Recipes for a light and delicious Passover” showcasing recipes from local Jewish chef Eddie Matney, who owned the now-closed Eddie’s House restaurant in Scottsdale and is now the executive chef at Forest Highlands Golf Club in Flagstaff. Matney shared a fetoosh salad and grilled salmon

with sugar snap pea matzo brei and almond cucumber relish.

The trend continued to create lighter Passover recipes as featured in the April 5, 2019 article from contributing writer Eileen Goltz, “Lighten Up Heavy Passover Meals With Salad.” The piece featured four pareve salads: spinach and mango pepper salad; avocado, onion and hearts of palm salad; apple and asparagus salad and olive salad, a mixture of black and green olives with olive oil, celery, onion and garlic served over spinach.

In the Aug. 27, 2021 issue, food blogger Francine Coles shared a mezze platter in “Rosh Hashanah and a taste of renewal,” a Mediterranean-version charcuterie board, served with muhammara, a roasted red pepper dip made with walnuts and pomegranate molasses.

Today, Jewish News continues to share recipes with its readers in the Passover and Rosh Hashanah special sections. And it appears that the trend towards recipes featuring more healthy ingredients is here to stay as there hasn’t been a recipe that features hard chicken fat or lard for decades. JN

2023 Best of JEWISH NEWS

THANK YOU, READERS, for letting your voices be heard once again. The ballots have been counted, the results are in and we are excited to announce this year’s winners. We invite you to read about, share and enjoy these businesses and organizations that have earned your vote. Please join us in celebrating the Reader’s Choice 2023 winners.

DAY CAMP

Shemesh Camp, Valley of the Sun JCC, Scottsdale

Camp Canyon, Chabad of Flagsta

OVERNIGHT CAMP

Camp Daisy & Harry Stein, Prescott

Camp Ramah, Ojai, California

SPECIAL NEEDS CAMP

Camp Candlelight, Payson Swift Youth Foundation, Prescott

ARIZONA AREA COLLEGE/ UNIVERSITY

Arizona State University, Tempe campus University of Arizona, Tucson

FRATERNITY

Alpha Epsilon Pi, ASU, Tempe

Zeta Beta Tau, ASU, Tempe

SORORITY

Alpha Epsilon Phi, ASU

Alpha Epsilon Phi, U of A

ART GALLERY/MUSEUM

Children’s Museum of Phoenix

TIE: Musical Instrument Museum, Phoenix Arizona Jewish Historical Society, Phoenix

ATHLETIC CLUB

Valley of the Sun JCC, Scottsdale

Mountainside Fitness, multiple locations

CASINO

Casino Arizona at Talking Stick Resort, Scottsdale

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Casino, Maricopa

CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINMENT

Children’s Museum of Phoenix Arizona Science Center, Phoenix

CHILDREN’S/TEEN PROGRAMMING

Temple Chai, Phoenix

Bureau of Jewish Education’s Hebrew High of Greater Phoenix, Scottsdale

COMMUNITY EVENT

Jewish Community Night at ZooLights

TIE: Gesher Model Seder, Scottsdale Phoenix Pride Parade

FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITY

Children’s Museum of Phoenix

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, Scottsdale

FITNESS CENTER

Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, Scottsdale

Gainey Village Health Club & Spa, Scottsdale

GOLF CLUB

Orange Tree Golf Resort, Scottsdale

Gainey Ranch Golf Club, Scottsdale

HOTEL

Arizona Biltmore, A Waldorf Astoria Resort, Phoenix Fairmont Scottsdale Princess

KEY: First place / Runner-up

BEST ART GALLERY/MUSEUM; CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINMENT; FAMILY-FRIENDLY ACTIVITY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF PHOENIX

e mission of the Children’s Museum of Phoenix is to engage the minds, muscles and imaginations of children and the grown-ups who care about them.

A small group of volunteers founded the Phoenix Family Museum in 1998. In 2001, Phoenix voters approved $10.5 million in bond funds to purchase and partially renovate the historic Monroe School at 215 N. Seventh St. In 2005, the museum launched a capital campaign to raise $12.3 million and in December of that year the name was changed to the Children’s Museum of Phoenix to convey the museum’s focus more clearly. Renovation began in 2006 and the Children’s Museum opened its doors to the public in June 2008.

Today, the 48,000 square-foot museum o ers more than 300 hands-on, interactive play experiences for all children up to 10 years old and their caregivers to play, learn and enjoy together. In addition, it o ers camps, classes and programs all designed with the developmental stages — social, cognitive, physical and emotional — of a child in mind.

e museum provides barrier-free access, a multilingual sta and is a Pal (Partners to Assist in Learning) Place o ering video and digital assistance through a mobile-friendly guide to support visitors with autism, anxiety and other learning di erences. JN

MUSIC VENUE

MIM Music Theater, Phoenix

TIE: Celebrity Theatre, Phoenix Herberger Theater Center, Phoenix

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION

Jewish Free Loan, Scottsdale

TIE: Anti-Defamation League-Arizona, Scottsdale Hospice of the Valley, multiple locations

PARKS/HIKING TRAILS

Camelback Mountain, Phoenix Gateway Loop Trail, Scottsdale

PERFORMING ARTS VENUE/ ORGANIZATION

ASU Gammage, Tempe

Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival

PLACE TO TRAVEL IN ALL OF ARIZONA

Sedona

Grand Canyon National Park

PLAYGROUND

McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park, Scottsdale

Molly Blank Jewish Community Center, Flagsta

SPORTS ORGANIZATION

Phoenix Suns Arizona Cardinals

STAYCATION DESTINATION

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa

Great Wolf Lodge, Scottsdale

YOGA CLUB

Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, Scottsdale

Modern Yoga, Scottsdale

AFTER-CARE PROGRAM

Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, Scottsdale

Chanen Preschool, Congregation Beth Israel, Scottsdale

PRESCHOOL

Temple Chai Early Childhood Center, Phoenix

Valley of the Sun JCC Early Childhood Center, Scottsdale

PRIVATE SCHOOL/DAY SCHOOL

Pardes Jewish Day School, Scottsdale

New Way Academy, Phoenix

PUBLIC SCHOOL

Copper Canyon Elementary School, Scottsdale

TIE: Horizon High School, Scottsdale Sahuaro High School, Scottsdale

The Grand Ballroom at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix.

COURTESY OF CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF PHOENIX

HEBREW SCHOOLS

Youth Education Program (YEP!),

Congregation Kehillah, Cave Creek

The Mark L. Haberkorn Religious School, Congregation Beth Israel, Scottsdale

SPECIAL NEEDS SCHOOL

New Way Academy, Phoenix

Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center’s Community School, Tempe

SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAMMING

Gesher Disability Resources, Scottsdale

Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center, Phoenix

YOUNG ADULT PROGRAMMING

Congregation Kehilllah Young Adults (CYKA), Cave Creek Tribe, Temple Chai, Phoenix

BAGEL

Chompie’s Restaurant, Deli and Bakery, multiple locations

New York Bagels ‘N Bialys, Scottsdale

BAKERY

Chompie’s Restaurant, Deli and Bakery, multiple locations

Jenna Leurquin (JL) Patisserie, multiple locations

BAR AZ/88, Scottsdale

Mix Up at Royal Palms Resort and Spa, Phoenix

BRUNCH

EGGstacy, multiple locations

Butters Pancakes & Cafe, multiple locations

COFFEE

Starbucks, multiple locations

Dutch Bros. Co ee, multiple locations

GROCERY

Fry’s Food Stores, multiple locations

Trader Joe’s, multiple locations

ICE CREAM/FROZEN YOGURT

Handel’s Ice Cream, multiple locations

Sweet Republic, Scottsdale

JEWISH DELI

Chompie’s Restaurant, Deli and Bakery, multiple locations

Goldman’s Deli, Scottsdale

KOSHER BAKERY

Lior the Baker, Scottsdale Fairytale Brownies, Phoenix

KOSHER GROCERY

Imperial Market & Deli, Phoenix

Fry’s Food Stores, multiple locations

PIZZA

Pizzeria Bianco, Phoenix Fired Pie, multiple locations

CASUAL DINING

Shogun Restaurant, Phoenix

Cooper’s Hawk, multiple locations

KOSHER RESTAURANT

Kitchen18, Scottsdale milk + honey, Scottsdale

CONTRACTOR

The Contractor Guys, Mesa Coconut Contracting, Phoenix

ELECTRICIAN

Dependable Sparky Electric, Phoenix Dyer Electric, Phoenix

FLOORING

Scott’s Custom Flooring, Phoenix Baker Bros Flooring, multiple locations

HVAC

Howard Air, multiple locations Mountainside Air, Phoenix

INTERIOR DESIGN

Barbara Kaplan, Scottsdale KatzDesignGroup, Phoenix

LANDSCAPER

Desert Foothills Landscape, Scottsdale Mesquite Landscaping, Queen Creek

PEST CONTROL

Green Mango Pest Control, Chandler Blue Sky Pest Control, Phoenix

BEST PERFORMING ARTS VENUE/ ORGANIZATION

ASU GAMMAGE, TEMPE

e Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium (ASU Gammage) is located on Arizona State University’s main campus in Tempe and is one of the largest exhibitors of performing arts among university venues in the world.

In 1956, a campus facility that served as an auditorium and gymnasium was rendered unusable when the roof collapsed. en ASU President Grady Gammage recruited his friend Frank Lloyd Wright to design a unique new auditorium. Wright had a design prepared for an opera house in Baghdad, Iraq that did not come to fruition. Instead, he used it for this theater. e building is considered one of the last public commissions by Wright and was under construction from 1962-1964. ASU Gammage stands 80 feet high and measures 300 by 250 feet. e auditorium seats 3,000 people on its main oor, grand tier and balcony, with the furthest seat only 115 feet from the stage. e acoustics are well balanced for unampli ed performance, and the oating design of the grand tier assures an even ow of sound to every seat.

e stage can be adapted for grand opera, musical and dramatic productions or for symphony concerts, organ recitals, chamber music recitals, solo performances and lectures. ere are also three lobby galleries featuring paintings and photography by local artists.

e auditorium was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. JN

PLUMBER

Moon Valley Plumbing, Phoenix

Epic Plumbing, Gilbert

ROOFING/SIDING/DECKS

Porter Roofing, Inc., Chandler

Lyons Roofing, Phoenix

WINDOWS

ABC Glass Company, Phoenix

Pella Windows & Doors of Arizona, multiple locations

ALTERNATIVE SHABBAT SERVICE/PROGRAMMING

Temple Chai, Phoenix

Congregation Beth Israel, Scottsdale

CHABAD

Chabad at ASU, Tempe

Chabad of Flagsta

FAMILY-FRIENDLY SHABBAT SERVICE

Temple Solel, Paradise Valley

Temple Emanuel of Tempe

JUDAICA SHOP

Jacki Cohen Glass Art Designs, Scottsdale

Temple Chai Gift Shop, Phoenix

SPECIAL NEEDS SHABBAT SERVICE

Gesher Disability Resources, Scottsdale

Temple Chai, Phoenix

COSMETIC SURGERY

Dr. David Hecht, Scottsdale

Dr. Patti Flint, Scottsdale

DENTIST

A iliated Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, Scottsdale

Dr. Michael Lebowitz, Lebowitz Dental Associates, Phoenix

ER/HOSPITAL

Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix

GASTROENTEROLOGIST

Dr. Brad A. Pasternak, Phoenix

Dr. Gavin Levinthal, Scottsdale

LASIK CENTER

Horizon Eye Specialists & Lasik Center, multiple locations

Schwartz Laser Eye Center, Scottsdale

MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONERS

Jodi Woodnick, LCSW, Out of the Woods Counseling & Parenting Support, Scottsdale

Dr. Martin Keller, Psychologist, Phoenix

BEST SPORTS ORGANIZATION PHOENIX SUNS

e Phoenix Suns basketball team was established in 1968. e 1968 NBA Expansion Dra was the fourth expansion dra of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and was held on May 6, 1968, so that the newly founded Milwaukee Bucks and Phoenix Suns could acquire players for the upcoming 1968-69 season. e Suns compete in the NBA as a member of the league’s Western Conference Paci c Division and were the rst professional team to play in the major sports leagues in the state of Arizona. ey are also the only one of the four major male sports teams based in the Phoenix area to bill themselves as representing the city, the other teams — Cardinals, Coyotes and Diamondbacks — all bill themselves as representing the state of Arizona.

e Suns are the oldest franchise to never have won an NBA championship. e team went to the nals in 1976, 1993 and 2021, losing all those series in six games.

In the 1992-1993 season, under rookie head coach Paul Westphal, the Suns won 62 games —setting a franchise record. e roster for that season included Kevin Johnson, Dan Majerle, Cedric Ceballos, Charles Barkley and Mark West. Advancing to the NBA Finals for the second time in franchise history, they lost to the Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

On Feb. 8, 2023, the sale of the team (valued at $4 billion) to Mat Ishbia, who is Jewish, was approved by the other NBA owners. Ishbia is the majority owner of both the Phoenix Suns and the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury. JN

OB/GYN

Arizona Women’s Care, Scottsdale North Scottsdale Women’s Health

ORTHODONTIST

A iliated Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, Scottsdale North Valley Orthodontics, Phoenix

ORTHOPEDIC PRACTICE

OrthoArizona, multiple locations

TOCA (The Orthopedic Clinic Association), multiple locations

PEDIATRICIAN

Dr. Sara Kertz, DO, Scottsdale North Scottsdale Pediatrics

LOCAL PHARMACY

Apothecary Shop of Scottsdale

Fry’s Food Stores, multiple locations

URGENT CARE

Banner Urgent Care, multiple locations

HonorHealth, multiple locations

VEIN CLINIC

Dr. Jason Klein, Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona, multiple locations

Dr. Joshua Cohen, Tri-City Cardiology, Mesa

VET

All Creatures Animal Clinic, Phoenix Vet To You, Scottsdale

VISION CARE

Dr. Stephen Cohen, Doctor My Eyes, Scottsdale

Horizon Eye Specialists & Lasik Center, multiple locations

ADVERTISING AGENCY

LAVIDGE, Phoenix

ANDERSON Advertising and Public Relations, Scottsdale

LOCAL BANK

Scottsdale Community Bank Bank of America, multiple locations

BARBER

V’s Barbershop, multiple locations Barbershop Jack, Phoenix

CAR WASH

Weiss Guys Car Wash, multiple locations

Cobblestone Auto Spa, multiple locations

DRY CLEANERS

Prestige Cleaners, multiple locations

Tide Cleaners, multiple locations

FINANCIAL PLANNER

TIE: Je Kramer, Stifel, Scottsdale

Buckman & Corning Financial Strategies Group, Scottsdale

TIE: Flader & Young Wealth Consulting Group, Phoenix

ABLE Financial Group, Scottsdale

INSURANCE AGENCY

Steven Glick at AAA Life Insurance, Gilbert Adam Rosenthal at Farmers Insurance, Phoenix

LAW FIRM

Woodnick Law, Phoenix

TIE: Kierman Law, Scottsdale

Weiss Brown, Scottsdale

FACIALS

JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn

Resort & Spa

Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, Paradise Valley

MAKEUP ARTIST

Makeup Artistry by Tamara, Scottsdale

Sarah Shapiro at Shear Paradise, Phoenix

MANI/PEDI

Desert Nail Spa, Scottsdale

Scottsdale Nails

MASSAGE

JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn

Resort & Spa

Sanctuary Camelback Mountain, Paradise Valley

PET GROOMER

Annie’s Pet Parlor, Phoenix Temple of Groom, Scottsdale

REAL ESTATE AGENT

TIE: Nikki Bernstein, NikkiB Group at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Arizona Properties, Scottsdale

Bryce Schotz, You Call The Schotz Real Estate Team, Scottsdale

TIE: Michelle Adler, The Adlers at Arizona

Best Real Estate, Scottsdale

Gary Shapiro, Shapiro Realty, Inc., Scottsdale

Mat Ishbia and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego at a press conference on Feb. 8, 2023. COURTESY OF JOEL ZOLONDEK

REAL ESTATE AGENCY

R.O.I. Properties, Phoenix

Arizona Best Real Estate, Scottsdale

SALON

Rowdy Hair, Phoenix

Sachi Salon + Spa, Scottsdale

SPA

The Phoenician Spa, Scottsdale

Joya Spa at Omni Scottsdale Resort at Montelucia

WAXING

European Wax Center, multiple locations

Urban Wax, multiple locations

BACHELOR OR BACHELORETTE PARTY

Olive & Ivy, Scottsdale

ZuZu at Hotel Valley Ho, Scottsdale

CATERER

Julie Fern, Culinary by Julie, Paradise Valley

TIE: Brad’s Kitchen, Scottsdale

M Culinary Concepts, Phoenix

DJ Event Smart Productions, Scottsdale Mazel Music, Phoenix

EVENT VENUES

The Clayton House, Scottsdale

Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center, Phoenix

FLORIST

Cactus Flower, Scottsdale

Camelback Flowershop, Phoenix

PARTY PLANNER

Events13, Scottsdale

The Event Genies, Scottsdale

PHOTO BOOTH

GreenScreen Entertainment, Phoenix

Picture This AZ Photo Booth, Phoenix

PHOTOGRAPHER/ VIDEOGRAPHER

Kane Photography, Scottsdale

Studio No. 5, Scottsdale

PLACE TO BUY SUITS/TUXEDO

TIE: Art Lewin Bespoke Suits, Scottsdale

Celebrity Tux & Tails, multiple locations

Men’s Wearhouse, multiple locations

BOUTIQUE

Kiss Me Kate, Phoenix

Charmed Avenue, Scottsdale

BRIDAL SHOP

Laurie’s Bridal, Scottsdale

Scha er’s Bridal, Scottsdale

CONGRATULATIONS TO JEWISH NEWS ON 75 YEARS OF SERVICE!

"WITH THE ALARMING RISE IN ANTISEMITISM, THEIR FAIR REPORTING AND SUCESSS IN PHOENIX IS INTEGRAL TO BUILDING A DIVERSE AND WELCOMING CITY."

I'm excited that updating the Cutler Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center is part of the Phoenix GO Bond program - which will go to voters on November 7, 2023.

CAR DEALERSHIP

Right Toyota, Scottsdale

Bell Lexus, Scottsdale

EYEWEAR

Warby Parker, multiple locations

Dr. M.J. Fineberg Vision Care, Glendale

FORMALWEAR

Laurie’s Bridal, Scottsdale Suk-Hui Ltd., Scottsdale

FURNITURE/MATTRESS STORE

Bu alo Collection, Scottsdale Lovesac, multiple locations

JEWELER

Elite Fine Jewelers, Tempe

Addison Taylor Fine Jewelry, Scottsdale

MENSWEAR

Parker & Schmidt., Phoenix

Nick’s Menswear, Scottsdale

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT STORE

Milano Music Center, Mesa Guitar Center, multiple locations

SHOE STORE

DSW-Designer Shoe Warehouse multiple locations

Nordstrom, Scottsdale

SHOPPING MALL

Scottsdale Fashion Square

Kierland Commons, Scottsdale

55+ COMMUNITY

The Palazzo, Phoenix

ACOYA Troon a Cogir Community, Scottsdale

ALZHEIMER’S/DEMENTIA CARE

Maravilla Scottsdale

Hospice of the Valley, Dementia Care and Education Campus, Phoenix

ASSISTED LIVING

Kivel Campus of Care, Phoenix Friendship Village, Tempe

HOMECARE SERVICES

Connections In Home Care, Phoenix

TIE: Compassionate Callers, Phoenix Cypress HomeCare Solutions, Scottsdale

BEST SHOPPING MALL SCOTTSDALE FASHION SQUARE

Scottsdale Fashion Square was originally built as a three-story, open-air structure in 1961. e two main anchor stores then were Goldwater’s department store and grocer AJ Bayless. In 1974, the mall expanded to the west, nearly doubling its square footage, and added Diamond’s department store.

Take The Credit

HOSPICE CARE

Hospice of the Valley, multiple locations

The Palazzo, Phoenix

INDEPENDENT LIVING

La Siena, Phoenix

TIE: Mirabella at ASU, Tempe

Vi at Silverstone, Scottsdale

SENIOR ACTIVITIES

Jewish Family & Children’s Service Center for Senior Enrichment, Phoenix

TIE: Smile On Seniors

Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, Scottsdale

SENIOR CENTER

Jewish Family & Children’s Service Center for Senior Enrichment, Phoenix

Pyle Adult Recreation Center, Tempe

SENIOR PROGRAMMING

Smile On Seniors

TIE: Jewish Family & Children’s Service Center for Senior Enrichment, Phoenix Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix, Scottsdale

ree years a er the expansion, Camelview Plaza was built directly across 70th Street. A shuttle bus would take customers across the parking lots from one mall to the other. A freestanding movie house, Harkin’s Camelview 5, was built before the new mall. Camelview’s anchor stores were Bullock’s and Sakowitz.

Westcor purchased Fashion Square in 1982 and decided to build a twostory bridge over 70th Street. During the process, the street was lowered and renamed Goldwater Boulevard and the two malls were gutted and renovated. Some of the anchor stores changed ownership and others closed. In 1996, Westcor bought Camelview and renamed the whole place Scottsdale Fashion Square.

e new ownership brought major changes to the mall, the largest being the addition of a new wing anchored by Arizona’s rst Nordstrom store and featuring many upscale retailers. In 2002, e Macerich Company acquired Westcor for $1.475 billion.

Today, the mall o ers almost 2 million square feet of retail space and is among the top 30 largest malls in the country.

e property generates $1 billion in annual sales and is continuing to grow. An unnamed 11,000-square-foot luxury brand store is set to open in 2024.

Mazel tov to all the honorees! APPLY TODAY! Scholarship applications at TADS.com

Jewish Tuition Organization (JTO) is a private school tuition organization (STO).

The future renovation planned for the south wing rotunda, lower level. COURTESY OF SCOTTSDALE FASHION SQUARE

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BEST FACIALS; MASSAGE JW MARRIOTT SCOTTSDALE CAMELBACK INN RESORT & SPA

Situated on 125 acres between Mummy and Camelback Mountains, the resort originally opened on Dec. 15, 1936. In the 1930s, Jack Stewart, a sports writer and publicist from North Dakota, wanted to build a hotel re ecting Southwestern and Native American culture rather than the more commonplace dude-ranch resorts of the time. Stewart’s project was funded by John C. Lincoln, an industrialist and founder of Lincoln Electric, who provided the land and $200,000.

e property was in a remote location, 12 miles outside Phoenix, and had no water, electricity or telephone access. e resort was constructed of adobe bricks which were made on site.

In 1967, the hotel was acquired by J. Willard Marriott and the Marriott Hotel Corporation, making Camelback Inn the rst resort in the company’s portfolio. In 2020, the resort completed a $12.5 million renovation.

Today, the resort o ers 453 casitas and suites, some with private swimming pools, and the Camelback Golf Club, located four miles away, has two 18-hole courses. e Spa at Camelback Inn is a 32,000-squarefoot wellness center o ering a full range of services with a pool, saunas, steam baths, whirlpools and tness center. JN

— Wealth management planning

— Estate planning services and charitable giving

— Retirement planning

— Cash flow and budget

Phone: 602-381-5390

Toll-Free: 866-697-6958

www.fladergroup.com

— Risk management and insurance

— Assistance to loved ones

— Income tax considerations

GeorgeWeisz, BoardChair FrankJacobson, BoardDirector

JW Marriott Scottsdale Camelback Inn Resort & Spa

COURTESY OF JW MARRIOTT SCOTTSDALE CAMELBACK INN RESORT & SPA

Remembering our days at Jewish News

MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR

Since 1948, Jewish News has been providing local content to the Jewish community of Greater Phoenix. Like any business that has been open for 75 years, the paper has had its share of employees. Fortunately, many of these former employees are still part of our vibrant community and were gracious enough to take the time to answer some questions and share their favorite memories of their time working at the paper.

FLO ECKSTEIN

PUBLISHER AND CO-OWNER, 1981-2013

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix was Flo Eckstein’s family’s business for 52 years. She was publisher, as well as co-owner with her husband, Paul, from April 1, 1981 to March 31, 2013. They succeeded Flo’s parents, Cecil and Pearl Newmark, publisher and editor, respectively, who owned the paper from 1961-1981. “Publishing and small-business ownership was my second career,” said Eckstein. “I had earned a master’s degree in social work at Arizona State University (ASU) and had worked at Jewish Family and Children’s Service for many years.”

Retired for 10 years, Eckstein said she is grateful to continue her lifelong commitments to volunteering, reading history and fiction and is a trustee at ASU and co-chair of the Dean’s Council at ASU’s Watts College. She still closely follows local, national and international events and politics.

Her years at Jewish News coincided with the technology revolution that dramatically changed the paper’s work environment. “In 1981, we worked on typewriters and hand-carried our laid-out pages to the printer,” said Eckstein. “Within a matter of years, we’d transitioned to computers and submitted each issue to the printer over the internet.”

She shared the privilege of working alongside gifted editors, writers, graphic artists and administrative staff — team members who were creative, flexible and flourished under (or despite) daily deadline pressure as they engaged with readers, advertisers and news sources, created each

week’s issue and updated the website, she said.

“I treasured my relationships with our staff members and am grateful for their dedication, patience and friendship,” said Eckstein. “I’m also grateful beyond words for my family’s patience and support over the decades because I spent long days at the office. Thank heavens for takeout dinners.”

STAFF ARE LISTED IN THE ORDER

THEY ARRIVED AT JEWISH NEWS: DEBRA GELBART COLUMNIST, 1972-1973

FILL-IN STAFFER AND FREELANCE WRITER, 2000-2015

FREELANCE WRITER, 2016-2020

D ebra Gelbart (then Debbie Morton) first worked for Jewish News in 1972 as the “Teen Talk” columnist under editor Pearl Newmark. Her bi-weekly opinion column included a separate section with local activities for Jewish teens and youth. “I drove my column to the office every other week, where it was typeset and pasted onto the page where it would appear in that week’s edition,” she said.

Between 2000 and 2015, she worked as a freelance writer and sometimes as a “fill-in staffer.”

Since 2016, she has written a variety of articles, including U.S. House and Senate and legislative candidate profiles and stories on election results, Jews and Christians sharing worship space, High Holiday services in 2020 at the height of the pandemic and synagogue security.

“I remain in awe of the amazing staff members I’ve worked with over the years, including Leisah Woldoff, Sal Caputo, Jennifer Goldberg and Deborah Sussman,” said Gelbart. She shared that

PAUL AND FLO ECKSTEIN COURTESY OF FLO ECKSTEIN

the most fascinating story she covered for Jewish News was a gathering of Muslims, joined by Sikhs, Christians and Jews, in Phoenix’s Patriot Park in April 2004, billed as “the nation’s first Muslim rally against terrorism.” Another interesting event she covered was in December 2006, when the Greater Phoenix Board of Rabbis organized a protest of Jimmy Carter’s book, “Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid.”

“At least 10 local rabbis from every stream of Judaism attended the protest in Tempe near the bookstore where Carter was holding a book signing,” she remembered.

Now semi-retired, she said she enjoys being a grandmother but still writes occasionally. “I miss the camaraderie of the staff and the opportunity to cover political news of particular interest to the local Jewish community,” said Gelbart.

LENI REISS

COLUMNIST, 1976-1981 MANAGING EDITOR, 1981-1994

Leni Reiss started working for Cecil and Pearl Newmark in 1976, writing a column called “East Beat,” a social column that covered the goings on in Scottsdale, Tempe, Mesa and Paradise Valley. She was named managing editor when the Ecksteins bought the paper in 1981 and worked in that capacity until May of 1994. Since leaving Jewish News, she has done freelance writing.

She remembered a popular themed column she would revisit every year. “I used to write a poem every Chanukah, mentioning as many people as I could,” said Reiss. In it, she would send holiday greetings, mentioning people in the community by name. One began, “It was just around Chanukah and the perfect time to send holiday greetings in semi rhyme. Please pardon the puns and exclude the flaws and I’ll skip any reference to old Mr. Claus.”

“I loved the community and being part of seeing it grow was incredible,” said Reiss.

Reiss also has shared her experiences while working at Jewish News with local audiences through her talk, “The Oys and Joys of a Jewish Journalist,” where she recounts stories including her two trips to the White House (for a planning committee with President George H.W. Bush, and a Chanukah party with the Obamas) and meeting Jewish actor and singer Sammy Davis Jr.

She was on her first journalism trip to Israel in 1982 and Sammy Davis Jr. was on the same El Al flight. She and some other travelers were standing at the foot of the stairs leading to the

first-class section.

“Sammy, perhaps seeking an audience, started down the steps and as luck would have it, he stopped just facing me,” said Reiss. “I took a big breath and with a smile said, ‘Hi, Sammy!’ He smiled back and then I took another big breath and started a conversation. Meanwhile, a crowd was gathering, and flash bulbs were popping. I heard people say, ‘Who is she? What’s going on?’ Finally, I leaned over, touched him on the shoulder and said, ‘Don’t feel uncomfortable, Sammy, this happens every time I’m out in public.’”

She said that made him laugh and after he headed back up the stairs all the journalists on the plane wanted to interview her. It was the start of many friendships that she still has today.

“I loved it. Those 14 trips to Israel were beyond measure,” said Reiss. “The most meaningful things to me were the relationships that I made with the other Jewish editors. I don’t care how much money you have — nobody gets treated as well as journalists.”

JOEL ZOLONDEK PHOTOGRAPHER, 1978-PRESENT

Joel Zolondek first met Flo Eckstein in 1978 when they went on a Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix mission to Israel together. It was after that trip that he started submitting photographs to Jewish News for publication.

He covered events in the Jewish community or events with Jewish content and his photographs

still appear in the paper today. Over the years, he also took photos for the Arizona Diamondbacks and ASU athletics.

“My favorite memory was photographing the (Presidential) Medal of Freedom award at the White House in 2011, when Scottsdale resident Gerda Weissmann Klein received the award from President Obama,” said Zolondek.

He shared that his goal has always been to publicize the excellent work performed by the many constituent agencies and synagogues in our growing community.

VICKI CABOT STAFF WRITER, BOOK CRITIC, COLUMNIST AND CONTRIBUTING EDITOR, 1983-2013

Vicki Cabot started with Jewish News as an ASU intern and worked as staff writer, editorial writer, book critic, columnist and contributing editor in her more than three decades with the paper.

“It’s hard to believe that Jewish News is turning 75, and I worked at the newspaper for almost half of its life — and mine!” said Cabot. She said that she loved reporting on a variety of topics and writing about people she might never have had the chance to meet otherwise.

Jewish News was the impetus for her to go back to work and to go back to school. First for a master’s in journalism and then on to a master’s and a doctorate, in religious studies — all while on staff at the paper. It also led her back to the

BEST OF JEWISH NEWS 2023 / JN: CELEBRATING 75 YEARS

classroom as a teacher (she was a former Spanish teacher), first at Glendale Community College and later at Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at ASU, where she still teaches. She also continues to write — blogging for the Times of Israel and penning the occasional freelance piece.

“My Jewish News connections were enhanced by my community work volunteering at a variety of organizations and causes. The two afforded me both an inside view into Jewish communal life and a wonderful circle of professional colleagues and fellow volunteers, many of whom remain dear friends,” said Cabot.

Her most vivid memories involved getting to write about pressing issues: LBGTQ+ identity, substance abuse, poverty, reproductive rights, education and more. She said other favorite memories include interviews with writers such as Nathan Englander and Etgar Keret, architects such as Moshe Safdie in Israel and Will Bruder in Arizona and myriad other thinkers and doers in a variety of fields.

“One of my very favorite memories is my lunch with the late Gerda Weissman Klein, in her kitchen, a bowl of red berries on the counter for dessert and listening to her retell the story in her gravelly, still heavily accented English of the gift she received of one raspberry from a friend when the two were on a Nazi death march,” said Cabot. “Klein survived, her friend did not. But her story remains.”

BECKY GLOBOKAR PRODUCTION MANAGER, 1992-2016

Becky Globokar worked at Jewish News from May 1992 until December 2016, when the graphics department was outsourced to a management company in Maryland.

Globokar was the graphic department’s production manager and oversaw the ad placement and page layout. She helped the paper move to the digital age and learned the new software and hardware and trained the staff on the transition.

“I also learned some of the IT work and was the first step within the office determining when there were technical problems,” she said. “I worked with the IT company and could troubleshoot problems which often saved the techs from having to come

out to our office.”

Retired now, her last position was as a sales associate at Fry’s Marketplace. She took this job to be able to work part time — not on a computer — and not to manage other employees. “I just wanted something different from doing graphics, after about 40 years,” said Globokar.

She said that the 25 years she worked at the paper went by very quickly and she misses the friends she made over the years and still communicates with some of them on Facebook.

“I really enjoyed everything that I had learned about the newspaper and the Jewish faith, since I was one of the few non-Jewish employees,” said Globokar. “I always liked working with Flo Eckstein. She made me feel welcome and an equal.”

SALVATORE CAPUTO

FREELANCE COPY EDITOR AND WRITER, 1997-2005

STAFF WRITER AND ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITOR, 2006-2016

FREELANCE WRITER, 2016-2018

Salvatore “Sal” Caputo began working with Jewish News as a freelance copy editor in early 1997. He did freelance writing through 2005, and then joined the staff as a reporter and editor. He held various titles over the years and eventually became assistant managing editor. After he retired in September 2016, he did some freelance work for the paper through 2018.

Now fully retired, he sits on the boards of Temple Emanuel of Tempe (TEOT) and the Maricopa County chapter of the Rutgers University Alumni Association. “I play guitar and sing in TEOT’s Shabba-Tones and occasionally write music for the band,” said Caputo. “I also write non-liturgical songs and perform them in Facebook Live sessions.”

He said that he has a tough time picking out a singular memorable event from his time at the paper, although moving out of the office on Northern Avenue and 16th Street down to Missouri Avenue and 13th Street was both challenging and exciting.

“The thing I miss the most about the paper is that it felt like a family. There was always a sense of esprit de corps, that we were small but mighty and fighting the good fight to cover our Jewish

community,” said Caputo. “There were not many workplaces where someone could bring a dog to work but Smoky, whose human was one of my co-workers, was a daily presence for most of the years of my tenure.”

LEISAH WOLDOFF

STAFF WRITER, 2000-2001

ASSISTANT EDITOR, 2001-2002

MANAGING EDITOR, 2002-2017

Leisah Woldoff started at Jewish News as a staff writer in January 2000, became the assistant editor in February 2001 and was the managing editor from September 2002 until May 2017. Since May 2018, she’s worked as the director of communications at the East Valley Jewish Community Center in Chandler.

“It was incredible to witness all the changes in the newspaper and the growth of the local Jewish community between 2000 to 2017,” said Woldoff. “When I started, our production staff was cutting and pasting the articles onto layout boards before bringing the pages to the local printers. It was an interesting experience to be there for the transition to digital production, as well as the paper’s entry into the world of social media. I’m grateful to former publisher Flo Eckstein who provided the opportunity for me to work at the Jewish News.”

Some of Woldoff’s most memorable interviews included a pianist who started his career playing at a silent movie theater and was still playing piano at age 95; recipients of the JCC Senior Center HomeDelivered Meals Program during a drive-along with the program’s driver; touring the Arizona Biltmore’s kosher-for-Passover program “and getting to sample kosher-for-Passover sushi and bagels”; covering a Bukharian Lag B’Omer celebration,

LEISAH WOLDOFF COURTESY OF LEISAH WOLDOFF DEBORAH SUSSMAN COURTESY OF DEBORAH SUSSMAN

“which included lots of delicious food and learning about Bukharian traditions” and writing the singles and parenting first-person columns.

“I was also fortunate to attend a press tour of Israel through the American Jewish Press Association (AJPA) and attend several AJPA conferences, which were a wonderful source of inspiration and camaraderie,” said Woldoff.

One of the most meaningful results of an article was when a father contacted the Jewish News about his search for his daughter, whom he and his high school sweetheart were forced to give up for adoption during their senior year in high school. The couple later married and vowed to find their daughter once she turned 18. Sadly, his wife died before that happened, so he set out to find their daughter on his own. Since the adoption occurred in Arizona, he contacted the Jewish News and once the story about his search ran, a friend of the adoptive family read the article, which led to the father and daughter meeting for the first time.

“When I started at the paper, I had recently moved back to Arizona from California and during my time at Jewish News, I shared my dating journey for two years in a monthly singles column, got married, and had three sons — who each came to work with me until they were 8 months old,” said Woldoff. “I’d have to say that working at the Jewish News was a memorable and significant

part of my life!”

TAMARA BICKLEY STAFF WRITER, 1998-2006 ASSOCIATE EDITOR, 2007-2012

Tamara Bickley worked full time at Jewish News from 1998-2006 as a contributing writer and then as associate editor from 2007-2012. She began as a staff writer and copy editor and, after a short while, took on the role of columnist, writing about sports, young-adult life and food. “My most exciting role was when I was promoted to associate editor,” said Bickley. “As an editor I produced story ideas, assigned them and edited much of the paper.”

In 2012, Bickley followed her life-long passion for art and cosmetics and started her own company as a professional makeup artist called Makeup Artistry by Tamara, LLC. “I’ve been fortunate to work with a number of celebrities,” she said. “And I’ve created a line of custom, vegan, chemical-free cosmetics called Tami B. Custom Makeup.”

Bickley said that one of her favorite memories were two interviews she conducted with the late Betty Schimmel and the late Gerda Weissmann Klein, both Holocaust survivors. She said that both women were uplifting, inspiring, pleasant

and friendly in person, despite the atrocities they’d endured in concentration camps.

She also recalled spending an entire day with the late Rabbi Albert Plotkin, founding rabbi of the Jewish Community of Sedona and former rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel in Scottsdale.

“Anyone who knew Rabbi Plotkin knows what an incredible man he was, and what an honor it would have been to spend time with him,” said Bickley. “He invited me into his home for what was supposed to be a brief interview. But I ended up staying for hours and we talked about everything, as if we were friends. He was truly a friend to everyone.”

Bickley said working at the paper, she felt connected to the Jewish community and knew what was going on in every local synagogue, knew every local rabbi and acquired a wealth of knowledge about Judaism, plus amazing Jewish holiday recipes.

“The paper was such a warm, inclusive place to work,” said Bickley. “I had moved to Phoenix from Chicago, where I worked at a large metropolitan newspaper where you didn’t dare let down your guard. But at the Jewish News we were all there to support one another. It felt like a family working together to serve our other ‘family’ — our readers and Jewish community.”

TAMARA BICKLEY COURTESY OF TAMARA BICKLEY JENNIFER STARRETT COURTESY OF JENNIFER STARRETT

MARILYN HAWKES COURTESY OF MARILYN HAWKES

STEPHANIE SHINK COURTESY OF STEPHANIE SHINK

NICK ENQUIST COURTESY OF NICK ENQUIST

BEST OF JEWISH NEWS 2023 / JN: CELEBRATING 75 YEARS

DEBORAH SUSSMAN ASSOCIATE EDITOR, 2004-2010

Deborah Sussman worked at Jewish News from 2004 to 2010 as associate editor, and she wrote editorials and feature stories about Phoenix’s diverse Jewish community and its population of Holocaust survivors.

She currently works at ASU as the senior communications and media specialist for ASU’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, which comprises six schools and the ASU Art Museum.

Sussman shared that one of her favorite memories was attending the American Jewish Press Association conference in San Francisco with publisher Flo Eckstein and winning three Simon Rockower Awards.

“I (also) cherish the memory of interviewing (Holocaust survivor) Fred Loewy about Beth Hebrew, the synagogue that his father, Elias, co-founded,” said Sussman. “Fred’s commitment to making sure that history was remembered, and remembered correctly, as well as his humility and sense of humor even in the face of everything he and his family survived, reminded me of my own father. It was an honor to speak with him.”

“I miss getting the Jewish holidays off work,” she joked. “But seriously, there’s a lot I miss. It was the right place at the right time for me and I learned so much. I am forever grateful.”

JENNIFER STARRETT ADMINSTRATIVE ASSISTANT, 2008-2010 SALES PROFESSIONAL, 2010-2014 MARKETING MANAGER, 2014-2015

Jennifer Starrett was hired in April 2008 to be the administrative assistant at Jewish News. In April 2010, she joined the sales team as the nonprofit and community sales professional, working with all of the nonprofit Jewish organizations, sports teams and art organizations. By 2014, her role changed to marketing manager, where her main responsibilities were to run social media, work with community partners to increase readership and network outside of the Jewish community

Starrett left the paper in October 2015, to become a marketing and event consultant for the Jewish community and is now the director of community engagement at the Center

for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix (CJP). In this role, she organizes communitywide programming and runs CJP’s Business & Professionals network, where she plans networking and professional development opportunities for the local community.

“I loved working at the paper for so many years and still am close with a number of colleagues,” said Starrett. “Things came full-circle when I became a regular contributor sharing recipes with readers and I love being able to work side-by-side with Jewish News through the work I do at CJP.”

She said that aside from the wonderful people she had the opportunity to work with over the years, her favorite memory was when she interviewed the Consul General of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

“It was such a unique experience, and I was thrilled to learn more about the country’s connection to Israel and the Jewish community in Azerbaijan, and share that with Jewish News’ readers,” said Starrett

MARILYN HAWKES STAFF WRITER, 2010-2015

Marilyn Hawkes started out as a freelance writer before becoming a full-time staffer from April 2010 to October 2015. She said she started as a staff writer when Leisah Woldoff went on maternity leave.

Currently, she works as a contributing writer at PHOENIX magazine, writing three columns every issue, and as a freelance writer for Phoenix Home & Garden and Experience Scottsdale.

“I miss covering Jewish topics!” she said. “I also miss being more connected to the Jewish community at large.”

She said although it was hard to narrow down, her favorite interviews were: “Andy Silverman about his work with the Arizona Justice Project; John and Diane Eckstein for their cross-country trek to raise funds for Citizenship Counts; and Charlotte Adelman about her life in hiding during the Holocaust.”

STEPHANIE SHINK

SUBSCRIPTION ADMINSTRATOR, 2010-2018

Stephanie Shink joined Jewish News in 2010 as subscription administrator at the office on Northern

Avenue and 16th Street. Her responsibilities included handling subscriptions and circulation of the paper in addition to general office duties.

“I most enjoyed working as part of a team and each week, we would see the seeds of our labor bear fruit in the form of another issue of Jewish News,” said Shink.

She stopped working in 2018, and although she misses the structure of a workday, she has created a more relaxed lifestyle for herself that includes traveling, seeing family and friends and following her favorite sport — tennis.

“I am happy to say that I am still in ‘publishing’ in that I help with the publishing and printing of the monthly newsletter for the development in which I live,” said Shink. “It is also great that I stay in touch with a few of my former colleagues.”

NICK ENQUIST

STAFF WRITER, 2018-2019

Nick Enquist’s tenure at Jewish News was during 2018 to 2019, when the newspaper was moving from its office in Central Phoenix to the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus in Scottsdale.

“Even though I was hired as a staff writer, a lot of my responsibilities included packing and moving as I was the only one on staff who could lift a bunch of boxes,” he said. “A curse of being in my 20s at the time.”

His main responsibility was writing stories — from local interest pieces to international political events.

“Those who might remember me probably saw me running around, hopped up on a lot of caffeine, trying to meet my deadline,” joked Enquist. “There was one April where I was the only Arizona-based editorial staff member. Thankfully, I had some help from the amazing community and Leisah Woldoff.”

Enquist left Arizona in October 2022 for his hometown of Chicago. He also left the hectic world of journalism and currently works in customer experience for a startup in the tech medical sector.

Even though he only worked at the paper for a short time, he shared fond memories of covering a Torah-themed Dungeons and Dragons event and hearing the powerful stories of local Holocaust survivors. But if he had to pick a favorite, it was when Ed Asner came to visit.

“I cannot tell you how jealous my father was when I told him I had the privilege of interviewing ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ star,” said Enquist. “He was so friendly and still had an amazing wit. I was honored to be able to interview him and his family before he passed.”

He said he doesn’t miss deadlines or long conversations about punctuation but he does miss the community that welcomed him.

“As someone who is not Jewish, I felt very at home and included,” said Enquist. “Truly, it was an amazing experience unlike anything else.” JN

Jewish News is published by the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix, a component of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix.