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CELEBRATIONS | 12
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CATERING CONFIDENTIAL
Shiraz Rothschild is a Jewish Women’s Archive Rising Voices Fellowship recipient
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FEBRUARY 23, 2024 | ADAR 14, 5784 | VOLUME 76, NUMBER 12
Local Jewish leaders went to Washington on behalf of Jewish community SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER
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n the last day of January, four Jewish Arizonans were in Washington, D.C., to speak directly with lawmakers about three issues of concern to many in the Jewish community. Over the course of five hours on Wednesday, Jan. 31, Rachel Hoffer, Richard Kasper, Danielle Breslow Gross and Alan Zeichick met briefly with several congressional leaders — Democrats, Republicans and Independents — to discuss legislation regarding military assistance for Israel, increased security funding for nonprofits and defining antisemitism. At the behest of the Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), Hoffer, Kasper, Gross and Zeichick joined more than 400 Jewish advocates representing 65 communities around the country in the nation’s capital. “Seeing 400 people from throughout the country ready to speak to the elected officials from their communities was incredible,” Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix (CJP) Board Chair Rachel Hoffer told Jewish News in an email. “It’s hard to overestimate the importance of this work in advancing our legislative interests. Elected representatives keep track of emails and phone calls, but nothing is more effective than face-to-face meetings with their constituents,” said Kasper, CJP CEO. “It all happened in 48 hours,” Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix Board Chair Zeichick told Jewish News. “We flew in on Tuesday morning, and had a kick-off session SEE LEADERS, PAGE 2
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Jews aged 11 to 94 spoke in favor of state funding for Arizona Holocaust center SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER
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hen 11-year-old Ruby Stanlis stood in front of the Appropriations Committee at the Arizona State House to ask that they help fund the creation and operation of a Holocaust education center, every committee member listened with rapt attention. The Phoenix Hebrew Academy sixth grader was one of six members of the public to speak in favor of House Bill (HB) 2757, which proposed to dedicate funds “from the state general fund to the department of education to distribute to the Arizona Holocaust education center for the creation and operation of the center” Supporters of HB 2757 gathered in front of Arizona’s State House on Wednesday, Feb. 14. Pictured from left: Frank Jacobson, Jerry Lewkowitz, Barbara Lewkowitz, Steve Hilton, on Wednesday, Feb. 14, the same Rep. Alma Hernandez, Chuck Gealer, Rabbi Jeffrey Schesnol, Ruby Stanlis, Terry Taubman, COURTESY OF JEWISH NEWS day Arizona celebrated its 112th Larry Cutler and Kim Klett. anniversary of statehood. Stanlis stood at a podium in the crowded meeting room and confidently addressed one of the most powerful committees in state government, telling House members that hate and intolerance are on the rise, especially on social media. “It’s getting more and more difficult to determine fact from fiction. Many minorities are hurting, and we’re already forgetting the terrible lessons of the Holocaust,” she said. This is not mere rhetoric SEE FUNDING, PAGE 3
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