Arizona has been recognized as one of nine U.S. states leading the fight against antisemitism
HEADLINES | 6
CHARACTER AND COURAGE
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley CEO Marcia Mintz received the highest honor BGCA bestows on its professionals
SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER
This summer, Chabad of Arizona once again welcomed a pair of young rabbis from New York as part of its participation in the global “Roving Rabbis” initiative. For two weeks, rabbinical students Tzemach Gordon and Schneur Motchkin traversed Arizona, connecting with Jewish individuals and families in small towns and rural areas — places where Jewish life is quiet and often isolated.
From Nogales to Dolan Springs, the two covered more than 30 towns, guided by little more than a list of names, instinct and the occasional cold call to someone with a Jewish-sounding surname. The mission, said Rabbi Zalman Levertov, Chabad of Arizona’s regional director, is simple but powerful: “The goal is to make Judaism accessible and relevant to every Jew, wherever they may be.”
The “Roving Rabbis” program, launched in 1943 by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, operates on the belief that “no Jew will be left behind.” More than 350 rabbinical students fanned out across the world this year to bring spiritual support, ritual guidance and Jewish conversation to people who might otherwise go without any connection to Jewish life. This year, Arizona’s delegation included Gordon and Motchkin — both yeshiva students in New York — on their first mission in the Grand
SEE ROVING, PAGE 2
The crowd of over 24,000, including more than 600 Jews, erupted in cheers and applause as 87-year-old Holocaust survivor Kathy Gross (born Katalin Steiner) threw out the first pitch at Jewish Community Day at the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday, Aug. 10.
Gross grew up in Budapest, Hungary, and was six when the Nazis invaded. Luckily, she was hidden from the Nazis, along with a few other children. Most of her family was killed in the Holocaust but Gross’ mother, who survived, both by faking her death and later by getting false papers that enabled her to hide in Budapest, recovered her daughter after the war. They stayed in Hungary until 1956. After the Hungarian Revolution, the pair immigrated to England. In 1962, Gross came to the United States, where she became a U.S. citizen. Gross told Jewish News she had been practicing “late at night” for her big moment at the plate. George Weisz, chairman of the board of Scottsdale Community Bank, escorted Gross onto the field.
Jewish Community Day was organized by the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix (CJP) and other Jewish organizations in the Valley. There was a separate area to gather off the main concourse and the Chase Field Security team provided security, along with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s SEE GAME, PAGE 3
Dancers from two studios in Israel traveled to Arizona to compete in Hip Hop International’s World Hip Hop Dance Championships. See page 10.
about her Judaism with her fellow council members and speaking out for her rights
Canyon State.
“When we bring light to one corner of the world through kindness and mitzvot, we help illuminate the whole world,” said Rabbi Shlomy Levertov, director of Chabad in Paradise Valley and the ‘Roving Rabbi’ program’s Arizona coordinator.
For Gordon and Motchkin, the assignment was a spiritual journey. Some of their conversations led to the mitzvah of tefillin. Others were simply meaningful encounters with people happy to talk with someone who shared their heritage.
“Whether the people we meet put on tefillin or take any of what we offer, we enjoy spending time with them,” Motchkin said. “We value connecting with them.”
January 6
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January
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two became friends.
she earned her position, Meyers said.
August 25
That’s how Stern first learned of the open council seat, but there’s no doubt she earned her position, Meyers said.
She already has some practice at
about her Judaism with her fellow council members and speaking out for her rights
“One time, I was in class and someone called me the R-word and I told him not to. The teacher was in the hallway and another student repeated the word,” she said. Rather than letting the situation go, she told her theater teacher, who was able
She already has some practice at
“One time, I was in class and someone called me the R-word and I told him not to. The teacher was in the hallway and another student repeated the word,” she said. Rather than letting the situation go, she told her theater teacher, who was able
“If someone has a disability, saying the R-word is like saying the F-word,”
“If someone has a disability, saying the R-word is like saying the F-word,”
While performing in the musical “Hairspray,” she had another occasion to tangle with the offensive word, which
While performing in the musical “Hairspray,” she had another occasion to tangle with the offensive word, which appears in the script.
February 3
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The pair traveled with little more than some background notes from previous years and their own perseverance. Along the way, they made several firsts — including stops in Tonopah and Dateland, towns never before visited by roving rabbis in Arizona.
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goal is to make Judaism accessible and meaningful to every Jew — no matter how far they may be, physically or spiritually.”
To become a council member, Stern had to apply and demonstrate that she had something valuable to contribute, he said.
they met a Jewish man battling advanced cancer.
“That’s really bad and my friend said it on stage. I was not OK with that, so I went to the director and told her it was a bad word for people with disabilities, but she wouldn’t take it out,” Stern said.
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In Tonopah, they met Paul Kaplan, a Jewish resident who hadn’t connected with the Jewish community in decades. When the young rabbis learned Kaplan was originally from Brooklyn, near their own home base of Crown Heights, the connection deepened. “He showed us photos of his home and the bar mitzvah he had in 1968 in Brooklyn,” said Motchkin.
June 9
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Kaplan had never put on tefillin. The rabbis helped him do so for the first time.
December 15
“It was coming full circle — to have people from Brooklyn come together and put on tefillin,” Motchkin said.
August 18*
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“These stories are exactly what this program is about,” Rabbi Zalman Levertov said in a press release. “Our
To become a council member, Stern had to apply and demonstrate that she had something valuable to contribute, he said.
“She’s on the council because she deserves to be on the council,” he said.
Traveling in Arizona in the summer can be tough, but the young rabbis were not too bothered by it.
Stern is creating a life and career as a member of her community, which makes her a great addition.
“It’s a dry heat, so it’s not that bad — but we’re not used to it,” Motchkin admitted.
“She’s on the council because she deserves to be on the council,” he said. Stern is creating a life and career as a member of her community, which makes her a great addition.
Stern graduated from McClintock High School in Tempe last year and now attends Glendale Community College, with a focus on dance. She is a regular performer at Detour Company Theatre, a Scottsdale theatre company for adults with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities.
The journey began in Nogales, a border town with a rich, if diminished, Jewish history. “Nogales has a rich Jewish background with well-known Jewish businesses, but most have left,” said Motchkin.
While in Nogales, Gordon was moved by an unexpected discovery — the grave of a Holocaust survivor in a local cemetery. “People told us about him and having seen tattooed numbers on his arm, showing he was in a concentration camp,” Gordon said. The moment captured the gravity of Jewish memory and the resilience the rabbis were there to honor.
“He didn’t have any immediate family, and he had a hard life and didn’t speak to family,” Motchkin said. “He was very touched that we came and felt the love. We told him he could reach out for anything and he appreciated that.”
Stern graduated from McClintock High School in Tempe last year and now attends Glendale Community College, with a focus on dance. She is a regular performer at Detour Company Theatre, a Scottsdale theatre company for adults with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities.
“That’s really bad and my friend said it on stage. I was not OK with that, so I went to the director and told her it was a bad word for people with disabilities, but she wouldn’t take it out,” Stern said.
She let her mother know about the conflict and they were able to convince the director of the need to remove the word from the script.
She let her mother know about the conflict and they were able to convince the director of the need to remove the word from the script.
For both rabbis, the work of connecting people to their Jewish identity isn’t about obligation — it’s about purpose.
“My friend Al was next to me when I told the director and he gave me the biggest hug ever and said that he loved me so much,” Stern said. Sadly, Al died in a car crash on Oct. 24, 2021.
“We’re all put in this world for a purpose, and it’s a great thing to help others spiritually and connect someone to their true self, which is a Jew,” Motchkin said.
In fact, when Stern attended her first council meeting in January, she couldn’t wait to tell people of her involvement with Detour and share information about its upcoming shows.
In fact, when Stern attended her first council meeting in January, she couldn’t wait to tell people of her involvement with Detour and share information about its upcoming shows.
“There’s no question that she is going to thrive,” Meyers said. “She’s very gregarious and passionate about the things that matter to her.”
Heart Can’t Even Believe It: A Story of Science, Love and Down Syndrome,” Silverman’s book about her daughter. When Gesher’s speakers’ bureau, Damon Brooks & Associates, was asked to find a speaker about Down syndrome for an event this spring, Hummell first asked Silverman to speak, thinking Stern might be too young.
Heart Can’t Even Believe It: A Story of Science, Love and Down Syndrome,” Silverman’s book about her daughter. When Gesher’s speakers’ bureau, Damon Brooks & Associates, was asked to find a speaker about Down syndrome for an event this spring, Hummell first asked Silverman to speak, thinking Stern might be too young.
They decided instead that Stern should tell her own story; it’s a real bonus that she is not afraid of public speaking.
“That was hard; it’s very hard to get emotions out and I was very, very upset,” she said.
“My friend Al was next to me when I told the director and he gave me the biggest hug ever and said that he loved me so much,” Stern said. Sadly, Al died in a car crash on Oct. 24, 2021.
“That was hard; it’s very hard to get emotions out and I was very, very upset,” she said.
On the recent anniversary of his death, Stern made a cake and took it to the crash site.
Gordon, who has traveled with Motchkin on similar missions to California and Costa Rica, echoed that commitment. “Right after the Holocaust, the Rebbe knew that Jews had been crushed, and he had a vision to connect Jews around the world and revive Judaism by making it accessible to as many as possible,” he said.
Stern looks forward to sharing insights
In one particularly emotional visit,
“There’s no question that she is going to thrive,” Meyers said. “She’s very gregarious and passionate about the things that matter to her.”
Stern looks forward to sharing insights
“I don’t know how I did it without crying. I’m so proud of myself,” she said.
On the recent anniversary of his death, Stern made a cake and took it to the crash site.
Amy Hummell, executive director of Gesher Disability Resources, agreed that Stern is a good fit for ADDPC because of her ability to self-advocate.
“I don’t know how I did it without crying. I’m so proud of myself,” she said.
“I like that vision and helping his vision become reality.” JN
Hummell co-hosted a book event with Meyers a few years ago for “My
Amy Hummell, executive director of Gesher Disability Resources, agreed that Stern is a good fit for ADDPC because of her ability to self-advocate.
Hummell co-hosted a book event with Meyers a few years ago for “My
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“It’s not the same when someone tries to tell a person’s story for them,” Hummell said.
They decided instead that Stern should tell her own story; it’s a real bonus that she is not afraid of public speaking.
“It’s not the same when someone tries to tell a person’s story for them,” Hummell said.
Additionally, helping people with disabilities find jobs was one of the reasons for acquiring the bureau. Unemployment in the disability community is upwards of 75% and of that percentage, 75% are ready, willing and able to work — but haven’t been given the opportunity, Hummell said.
Additionally, helping people with disabilities find jobs was one of the reasons for acquiring the bureau. Unemployment in the disability community is upwards of 75% and of that percentage, 75% are ready, willing and able to work — but haven’t been given the opportunity, Hummell said.
“People have it in them to speak up but don’t know how, and often they’re not cheered on. Sophie has family support
“People have it in them to speak up but don’t know how, and often they’re not cheered on. Sophie has family support
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Office, Phoenix Police Department and the Jewish Community Security team.
“For an afternoon, we were able to publicly express pride in our Judaism without fear for our personal safety,” said Andrea Cohen, CJP’s director of youth philanthropy and community engagement.
Members of the community wandered in and out of the secure area before the game started.
Kim Binder regularly comes to the ballpark with her family from her home in Yuma. She said she recently uncovered the fact that her grandmother was Jewish and is embracing her newly discovered faith.
“I knew there would be resources here to help me connect to my Judaism,” she said.
Resources included programming offered by CJP, Jewish Free Loan, coloring pages and sign making for kids.
Chabad of Downtown Phoenix was on hand to help gentlemen wanting to put on tefillin and there was a display on the historical contributions of Jews to baseball, including a “Jews in Baseball” art print with copies for people to take home. The giveaway for the day was a clear, drawstring backpack with D-Backs written in Hebrew.
“I love going to baseball games and this was a great opportunity to be a community and do something fun together,” said Beth El Phoenix Cantor Sarah Bollt.
Jaimie Pittman came to the game with her husband, Joshua. She said they try to get to one baseball game a month even when they travel. When they visited New York last month, they went to a Mets game. They attended the Jewish Community Day event in 2024.
“When we came last year, we found our synagogue,” said Joshua.
Jaimie said that they were talking to some people last year and mentioned they were looking for a Conservative synagogue. Someone suggested Congregation Or Tzion in Scottsdale, and the couple tried it out and are now members.
There were many attending Sunday’s game who also came last year, including 10-year-old Ronen Wolf Brom. “It was nice when we came last time,” he said and then he added his other reason for coming: “to support the Jewish community.”
Karen Otero-Fisher, membership vice president of Temple Beth Sholom of the East Valley, passed out printed squares of paper with the lyrics to “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” printed in Hebrew for the seventh-inning stretch.
Hannah Creviston visited the community area with her 4-year-old daughter, while her almost-11-year-old was singing in the youth choir on the field, led by Temple Solel Cantorial
Soloist Todd Herzog. She was happy to be there “to show solidarity to the Jewish community.”
The youth choir, made up of children from all over the Valley and various synagogues, sang the National Anthem before the game began.
On the main concourse there was a table for the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism. They were passing out the familiar “Blue Square” pins. In March 2023, the Blue Square launched as a universal symbol of unity in the fight against hate.
Ethan Hott, a Paradise Valley native and Division 1 baseball player at Stanford University in California, recently joined five other student athletes as Blue Square Athlete Ambassadors in partnership with the Foundation. Hott manned the table part of the day to talk to guests.
The Foundation produced the “Timeout Against Hate” video that was shown in the stadium after Gross threw out the first pitch.
PJ Library also had a table set up across from Baxter’s Den in the Sandlot children’s area on the upper concourse, where families could learn how to receive free books for Jewish children from birth to age 12.
Baxter’s Den is named after D. Baxter the Bobcat, the Arizona Diamondbacks mascot. Many people wonder why
the team mascot is a bobcat and not a rattlesnake. The story goes that Brantley Bell, son of former Diamondbacks second baseman Jay Bell, suggested the idea of a bobcat mascot because of the “BOB” nickname for the stadium (before the stadium was named Chase Field, it was called Bank One Ballpark, or BOB for short). The rest is history and D. Baxter the Bobcat was officially introduced to fans on June 23, 2000. (D. Baxter plays on D-Backs, the team’s nickname.)
Before the game, Cohen surprised Baxter with his very own custom-made baseball jersey, complete with “Baxter” in Hebrew on the back.
“The public-space Judaism experience at Chase Field felt so, so good,” said Cohen after the event. “The overwhelmingly beautiful welcome given to Kathy Gross and George Weisz as they approached the mound, the on-field presentation to Baxter of a Hebrew jersey, the cheers for our kids as they sang the National Anthem — Jewish pride was felt, and welcomed, throughout Chase Field. It was such a gift.”
The day was a gift for the Diamondbacks, too, as they won 13-6 against the Colorado Rockies. JN
Jewish
Foundation of Greater Phoenix, a component of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix.
SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER
Arizona has been recognized as one of nine U.S. states leading the fight against antisemitism, according to the AntiDefamation League’s (ADL) new Jewish Policy Index (JPI) — the first interactive tool to evaluate state-level efforts to counter antisemitism through laws, education and public policy.
The announcement came on Friday, Aug. 8, on the heels of an FBI report released earlier in the week, showing that hate crimes against the nation’s Jews reached an all-time high in 2024, accounting for 70% of all religiously motivated hate crimes.
A recent antisemitic incident resulted in an arrest on Aug. 15. According to reporting in the Arizona Republic, Kevin Charles Pyles of Glendale was arrested for making a terrorist threat and computer tampering to threaten, both felonies.
Between April 21 and Aug. 10, Pyles posted multiple threats against Jews on his X account, and an Aug. 10 post on an X account that charging documents said also belonged to Pyle included a video where a
person is heard making antisemitic statements and using an antigay slur before throwing a kiddush cup with the word “Passover” written on it toward Sha’arei Shalom Congregation North Phoenix.
Accord to court documents, Pyles also said he would shoot into propane tanks near synagogues, among other threatening statements. He is currently being held on a $250,000 bond.
ADL data show a 344% increase in U.S. antisemitic incidents over the past five years. In Arizona alone, recorded incidents rose from 53 in 2022 to 163 in 2023, before dipping to 122 in 2024.
Despite these figures, the JPI determined that Arizona’s legislative record and policy commitments place it alongside eight other leading states: California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. These states were recognized as having high alignment to ADL’s recommended policies to combat antisemitism.
“The Jewish Policy Index offers a clear, data-driven roadmap to help states like Arizona take real, measurable action to support and protect their Jewish communities,” Sarah Kader, deputy regional director of ADL Desert in Arizona, said in a press release.
Arizona’s status reflects a series of legislative steps taken over the past decade.
In 2019, the state passed SB 1167, building on a 2016 law that prohibits state contracts and investments with entities that boycott Israel, ensuring state resources are not used to support economic discrimination against the country.
In April 2022, Arizona became one of the states to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism into state law, creating a formal standard for identifying
“THE JEWISH POLICY INDEX OFFERS A CLEAR, DATADRIVEN ROADMAP TO HELP STATES LIKE ARIZONA TAKE REAL, MEASURABLE ACTION TO SUPPORT AND PROTECT THEIR JEWISH COMMUNITIES.”
SARAH KADER,
and addressing antisemitic acts. Then, in 2024, lawmakers passed anti-swatting legislation — HB 2508 — with bipartisan support, making it a felony to target any place of worship or school with a false emergency report, a tactic that has increasingly disrupted Jewish institutions.
Most recently, in May 2025, Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a bill banning protest encampments at Arizona’s colleges and universities, a move partly intended to address concerns about the harassment and intimidation of Jewish students.
Danny Barefoot, senior director of ADL’s Ratings and Assessments Institute, said the Index is meant to push the conversation from awareness to action.
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Unlike rankings that measure how welcome Jewish residents feel, the JPI takes a policy-first approach. It evaluates all 50 states using 22 criteria grouped into three categories: prioritizing fighting antisemitism; educating about the Jewish experience; and protecting Jewish communities. These benchmarks assess whether a state’s laws and policies are aligned with recommended strategies, such as adopting comprehensive hate crime statutes, mandating Holocaust education and safeguarding Jewish institutions.
The inaugural JPI divided states into three performance tiers. The nine “Leading States” show strong alignment with ADL’s recommended policies. Twenty-nine “Progressing States” demonstrate moderate alignment but still have room for significant improvement. Twelve “Limited Action States” lack many of the policy measures experts see as critical for addressing antisemitism effectively.
“The Jewish Policy Index is both a roadmap and a reality check,” he said. “It makes clear that too many states are still falling short when it comes to protecting their Jewish communities. This isn’t just a ranking — it’s a tool for change. We built the JPI to push policy forward, equip advocates with data, and hold lawmakers accountable. Fighting antisemitism requires more than outrage — it demands action, and that’s exactly what this Index is designed to drive.”
While Arizona’s ranking signals legislative leadership, ADL leaders emphasize that the work is far from complete. They recommend that the state establish a formal antisemitism task force, which could develop a comprehensive strategy to confront hate.
The JPI’s interactive online platform allows the public, policymakers and advocates to compare state scores, track progress and identify policy gaps, which ADL hopes will motivate more states to strengthen protections for Jewish communities.
“Progress is possible,” Kader said. “We urge Arizona lawmakers to use this tool as a guide and take meaningful action to ensure Jewish Arizonans can live, gather and worship in safety.” JN
For more information, visit adl.org/jpi.
SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER
This summer, Stanley Mirvis took up the mantle of director for Arizona State University’s (ASU) Jewish Studies department. He follows in the footsteps of Hava Tirosh-Samuelson, who held the role for 17 years, and has been “an incredible mentor.”
Mirvis, who will continue to hold the Harold and Jean Grossman Chair in Jewish Studies, is passionate about Jewish studies. “It’s my whole life, and it encompasses everything for me. It’s the way I most profoundly connect to my own Judaism,” he told Jewish News.
The only regret he has about taking the position is that he now only gets to teach one class per semester.
“I love teaching, and am fulfilled by it, so the change is bittersweet,” Mirvis said.
Joel Gereboff, one of his colleagues, called Mirvis “an outstanding scholar, excellent teacher and a first-rate colleague.” Gereboff has taught at ASU for decades and co-founded Jewish Studies there.
“Stanley is a dedicated teacher seeking to introduce students to the skills of understanding history through the analysis of primary documents. Equally important, he strives to have them grasp factors leading to divergent interpretations of the past,” Gereboff told Jewish News in an email.
Mirvis feels fortunate that he is “taking over a functioning farm” at Jewish Studies, as opposed to when TiroshSamuelson was hired and “basically started from scratch.” Thus, he’s not looking to “uproot anything that’s been planted,” he said.
Still, Mirvis is looking forward to putting his own imprimatur on the place. Part of that will be through the program’s mandate to disseminate knowledge of the
Jewish people to a broad public.
“We want to reach as many people as we can with the knowledge of who, and what, the Jewish people are. In part, that means we’ll pull a bit away from a heavy focus on the Holocaust and the state of Israel,” he said. It’s equally important to explore the “rich history and diversity of the Jewish experience,” because without that, “the richness of the Jewish tradition can be lost.”
He worries about the tendency to essentialize Jews by viewing the Holocaust in a vacuum. Without understanding who the Jews were throughout history, from antiquity through the Middle Ages and into the modern era, seeing Jews as eternal victims becomes an easy trope.
Mirvis’ academic lineage can be traced to Salo Baron, who decried what he called the “lachrymose conception of Jewish history,” which overemphasized Jewish suffering and persecution. Like Baron, Mirvis views Jewish history as a more nuanced and complex narrative, encompassing not only suffering but also creativity, adaptation and simply the dayto-day duties of an ordinary Jewish life.
“I want to focus on Jewish dynamism, creativity, survival and adaptation, all of the things that make Jews such an embedded part of Western civilization. It’s not because of their persecution but because of their creativity and resiliency. That’s the intellectual guidance I take in directing this program,” he said.
“He has a vision of the importance of Jewish Studies and how the study of Jews and Judaism are integral to the understanding of human civilization and the history of the world,” Gereboff said. “His training provided him with knowledge of the breadth of Jewish history and a
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SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley President & CEO Marcia Mintz didn’t initially plan to attend this year’s Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s (BGCA) national conference in San Diego. The early May event coincided with her daughter’s moveout day at Northern Arizona University, and she wanted to be in Flagstaff with her family.
However, her wife, staff and board of directors convinced her to go, offering reason after reason why it was critical for her to be in San Diego.
“Everybody was conspiring behind the scenes to get me there,” Mintz told Jewish News.
They all had a very good motive to convince her, as it turned out. At the final ceremony of the BGCA conference, Mintz, who is Jewish, was pleasantly surprised to receive the Thomas G. Garth Character and Courage Award, the highest honor BGCA bestows on one of its professionals.
“Marcia exemplifies the courage and vision we need in today’s youth development landscape,” said Jim Clark, president & CEO of BGCA.
“It was just such a huge honor from the national organization, and to see the programs we’ve worked on recognized on a national scale is a testament to how much work this team has put into it,” Mintz said.
She is still in awe that so many people could keep her in the dark until the last moment. Her staff and board members, many of whom had flown in to watch her receive the award, even created a video talking about the many positive aspects of her leadership in the Valley to show at the conference. Meanwhile, Mintz insists that the honor is a reflection on her team and not just her.
“I’m only as good of a leader as my team and the support of my board of directors,” she said.
Being recognized specifically for having “character and courage” is notable. For proof, one need not look further than what Mintz did during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On March 13, 2020, the day Arizona issued stay-at-home orders, Mintz told her staff, “We’re not closing.”
For an organization dedicated to serving the most vulnerable youth in the city, she wanted to make sure these children, whose parents were often essential workers, had a safe place to be.
“There were so many underserved kids that I knew were going to be heavily at risk with the schools closing. We negotiated with the governor, and within 24 hours had an executive order to stay open,” she explained.
Her board and staff agreed with her decision, even though it meant long hours and more fundraising. Initially, 10
sites were open, then 18 and within six months, all 20. Normally, club hours are weekdays from 3-7 p.m. For 18 months, starting in March 2020, the clubs stayed open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
“I thought our mission requires us to be there for the kids who need us most,” she said. “We were really serving families who had no other alternatives. Schools were closed. Many of our families didn’t have access to Wi-Fi to do virtual school, so we converted all our gymnasiums to virtual learning classrooms.”
The clubs provided food, usually offered by schools, to kids and their families. Mintz also arranged a partnership with Terros Health to provide youth mental health services.
Some of those services didn’t end with the pandemic. Boys & Girls Club of the Valley remains one of the largest food providers for youth in the state. The organi-
zation also has behavioral health coaches to help children learn to self-regulate, express themselves positively and engage in mindfulness practices.
“That has been a game changer for thousands of kids in the Valley, and for our staff also,” Mintz said.
“Marcia’s decisive leadership during the pandemic, when she kept clubs open for essential workers’ children and transformed operations to meet community needs, demonstrates the impact a truly dedicated leader can have,” Clark said.
Mintz was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Holocaust survivors. Her first job out of college was with the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, also known as Joint or JDC, a Jewish relief organization. She learned the ins and outs of community development work, traveling widely and working with various communities, both Jewish and not, in Latin America, the former Soviet Union and the Baltics.
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“It was amazing to have a chance to do a lot of work with boots on the ground in so many different countries around the world,” she said.
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Traveling took its toll, however, and two decades ago, Mintz decided to take a job where she could stay in one place, first in the Bay Area and then the Valley. The majority of her Arizona career was spent working in health care at John C. Lincoln Medical Center, both before and after its merger with HonorHealth.
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“I loved working there because they were so invested in the community,” she said.
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She also served on the board of the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community
deep understanding of the rich diversity of Judaism.”
Mirvis takes the issue of rising antisemitism seriously, but he argues that the best way to combat it is “to teach people who Jews are, how and where Jews lived and how dynamic the culture is,” he said. His own scholarship focuses on medieval to early modern Jewish history, spanning a vast scope of time from the 14th to the 18th centuries. To illustrate the dynamism he speaks of, he draws on the example of 16th-century Jews living in Mantua, Italy. That was also “a time of extreme antisemitism” with Jews forced to live in a ghetto they paid for, under a strict curfew and with constant attempts to convert them.
Yet, “it was one of the most dynamic and creative and prolific times in the cultural development of the Jewish people and Jewish religion,” Mirvis said.
In a place and period of deep insecurity for Jewish safety, Salamone de’ Rossi became a famous composer, while his sister, Madama Europa, achieved fame as an opera singer. Leone de’ Sommi Portaleone, a Jewish-Italian playwright, director, actor, poet and translator, wrote the first ever treatise on the art of stage direction.
“That’s all from Jews living in a ghetto,” Mirvis said. “It almost accelerated their engagement with outside culture and their need to diversify and evolve.”
Mirvis, who grew up in a “very Jewish environment,” attending Jewish primary and secondary schools, Yeshiva University
Center.
Her Jewish upbringing led to what she calls her “guiding principle in life — we’re all mandated to leave this world better than we found it.”
In 2016, when the then-Boys & Girls Club of Metro Phoenix reached out to Mintz about coming aboard, she initially hesitated, not wanting to leave the world of health care. However, she was soon won over by “the Boys & Girls Club’s commitment to their mission and to the community, the strongest I had ever seen of any nonprofit,” she said. She knew it was a place she could make a positive impact.
She oversaw the merger between the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Phoenix and of the East Valley to what it is today, the Boys & Girls Club of the Valley.
The organization has grown under her leadership. Four years out of the pandemic and the 32nd club site just opened in Kingman.
“We grew during this time because the need became so apparent, and we really targeted communities that have no other access to programs and services for kids,” she said.
in New York as an undergraduate and Bernard Revel Graduate School of Yeshiva University for his master’s degree, had to rethink some of his own scholarly practices once he found himself immersed in the secular academic world of City University of New York for his doctorate.
For example, he was researching Jewish travelers and Hebrew travel literature in the 18th Century and wrote about Haim Yosef David Azulai, a rabbinic scholar and emissary from Hebron. In his paper, Mirvis referred to Azulai as “Hyda,” because in Jewish tradition rabbinic figures are often assigned honorific acronyms.
Mirvis’ professor asked him why he didn’t refer to him by his surname, which would humanize him.
“That’s a very simple thing, but to me that was a bit of a culture shock. I thought, ‘Yes, I should write his name and humanize him,’ but coming from the yeshiva world that was foreign,” he recalled.
Having grown up as he did, Mirvis appreciates the boundaries between Jewish tradition and history, “where they are, where they’re supportive of one another and where there are tensions,” he said.
He now identifies as Masorti, or traditional, rather than Orthodox because it’s “the diversity and evolution of the Jewish experience” that connects him to his own Jewishness, he said.
As for Jewish Studies, that’s something he “lives, breathes and eats,” something “inextricable” from his Jewish identity. JN
For more information, visit jewishstudies.asu.edu. DIRECTOR
Looking to the future, she is well aware that funding is on the line given the large number of cuts to the social safety net included in the legislation currently working its way through Congress, which will severely impact her organization.
Yet, her career in community development, especially the time she spent working internationally with the JDC, “really prepares the flex and pivot muscles,” she said. Flexibility is key when working with political and economic uncertainty. To illustrate the point, she pointed out that she has worked in countries so unstable that she had a note slipped under her hotel room door telling her not to leave because a military coup d’etat was unfolding.
She simply doesn’t scare easily, and she knows that she cannot control what Congress does. What she can do is focus on what her organization does well, and that’s doing what is in the best interest of the people it serves.
“We will keep meeting the needs of today’s kids and asking how we can make things a little bit better for them today than it was yesterday,” she said. JN
“I WANT TO FOCUS ON JEWISH DYNAMISM, CREATIVITY, SURVIVAL AND ADAPTATION, ALL OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE JEWS SUCH AN EMBEDDED PART OF WESTERN CIVILIZATION. IT’S NOT BECAUSE OF THEIR PERSECUTION BUT BECAUSE OF THEIR CREATIVITY AND RESILIENCY. THAT’S THE INTELLECTUAL GUIDANCE I TAKE IN DIRECTING THIS PROGRAM."
STANLEY MIRVIS
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T- 21:9
zedek, tzedek, tirdof — justice, justice, you shall pursue — is one of the better known phrases in Torah, appears near the beginning of this week’s parshah, Shoftim. The portion continues with many different laws and instructions that are part of creating a system of justice for the nascent Israelite society. Rules about how to set judges and kings to govern the people, guidelines for procedures around witnesses to a criminal act, injunctions against taking bribes when in power. Certainly, these types of laws are vital for creating a just society.
My understanding of what it means to pursue justice, though, is rooted not just in the laws described in this section of Deuteronomy, but in the way this portion understands that they are being applied to the real lives of human beings, in the fullness of who we are and all our frailty.
There is, perhaps, a “perfect” standard for what a just world might look like (though we may agree or disagree with how it is laid out to us), and then there is reality, where the black and white of these laws meets the grey of human experience.
Where do we see that play out in Shoftim? The first place is in the description in Chapter 19 outlining the rules for “cities of refuge.” In a perfect world, no human being would cause the death of another.
But the Torah understands that while we long for and pursue justice, we don’t live in an inherently just world. Sometimes, we unintentionally cause others horrific and irreparable harm. When this happens, we should be met with compassion and safety, rather than retribution.
The Torah imagines such a scenario: “For instance, a man goes with another fellow into a grove to cut wood; as his hand swings the ax to cut down a tree, the ax-head flies off the handle and strikes the other so that he dies.” (Deut. 19:5) God insists that rather than take a strict interpretation of what justice demands — an eye for an eye, a life for a life — we should build a system that allows for compassion and lenience.
The “cities of refuge” are instated so that when someone accidentally causes the death of another, they have somewhere to be sheltered, rather than punished. The pursuit of justice is not a simple calculus of action and consequence; it is a nuanced journey that requires understanding that the world and its human inhabitants are not at all simple.
My favorite example of this theme in our Torah portion comes a chapter later. In Chapter 20, as Moses details the rules of warfare, he describes a pre-battle pep talk given by the priest: “Before you join battle, the priest shall come forward and address the troops. He shall say to them, ‘Hear, O Israel! You are about to join battle with your enemy. Let not your courage falter. Do not be in fear, or in panic, or in dread of them.” (Deut. 20:23). But then, only a few verses later, we read: “The officials shall go on addressing the troops and say, ‘Is there anyone afraid and disheartened? Let him go back to his home, lest the courage of his comrades flag like his.’” (Deut. 20:8) You’re not supposed to be scared, but also, here’s what you should do if you’re scared. There
is the world as it “should” be, and then, there is the world as it is: messy, scary and not-so-perfect.
These moments in Shoftim help me to see the commandment to pursue justice in a new light. Justice is about creating a community that has high standards for righteous behavior but also understands that all of us make mistakes. Justice means we always feel compassion for the grey space between the world that we want and the world that we have, holding our human complexity while always striving for better. Justice asks us to hold the hands of everyone who has ever felt their ax slip, everyone whose courage sometimes falters, everyone who feels like they don’t quite measure up and to say: there’s room for you here, you belong. May this Shabbat inspire us all to pursue this kind of justice. JN
RABBI YAEL BUECHLER | JTA
As a rabbi with a love of fashion, Loehmann’s — the iconic off-price retailer — has always held a special place in my heart. That’s why my Jewish self was giddy upon hearing of its pop-up reopening in Deer Park, just five minutes from my hometown on Long Island.
After rearranging my schedule to be there on opening day, I shlepped out to Long Island on a Friday and made it there within an hour of the store’s grand reopening.
Loehmann’s, which closed in 2014, was never just about bargains. It was about the chorus of unsolicited advice, with the communal dressing room as its sanctuary. Under the merciless glare of fluorescent lights, grandmothers, mothers and strangers alike weighed in on your outfit options — whether you asked or not. You could always count on someone’s Bubbe in the corner telling you that skirt was too short, that shade was too harsh and that you could do better.
From a young age, shopping there with
my mother and grandmothers (Bubbe and Grandma), I can still recall the smell of that fitting room: part new clothes, part mildew and part Bubbe’s perfume. It was also an introduction to aging. No sag was left unseen. Long before Facebook fed me wrinkle-serum ads, Loehmann’s gave me a front-row seat to the realities of gravity.
For me, Loehmann’s wasn’t only cultural — it was spiritual. One of my last major purchases at Loehmann’s was a kittel — the traditional white cloak worn on the High Holidays. The racks didn’t contain an official kittel but that white Romeo & Juliet couture jacket was practically begging to be one. Each year I stand on the bimah leading prayers, literally clothed in Loehmann’s.
Last week, when I heard about the reopening, I couldn’t resist asking on Instagram whether it should, in fact, count as a Jewish holiday. The comments section exploded and memories poured in.
My playful question quickly became something bigger: a collective discourse on
Loehmann’s. The whole thing felt quite Talmudic. Just as the rabbis once asked, “Mai Hanukkah? What is Hanukkah?” at the start of a sugya (Talmudic passage) — and answered not with a simple definition but with layers of debate and memory — so too did my post spark such conversation.
Many comments were joyful, even liturgical. One person declared, “This is a blowthe-shofar kind of day,” while another called it “holy and sacred.”
But the dressing-room memories dominated. People swapped recollections of the “murky odor” and the treasures they unearthed inside, along with the unsolicited opinions that always came with them. Some admitted they were “still traumatized” by the fitting rooms, while others laughed about the secrets revealed there — like the mom who discovered her daughter’s belly ring under those fluorescent lights.
Still other stories were tender, even profound. A woman remembered every single bat mitzvah dress she bought at
Loehmann’s. Another recounted dashing in with her toddler in a stroller, finding a $55 suit for a second interview, and landing the job that made her the first female lawyer in her firm after 25 years. Someone else shared that her last shopping trip with her mother, before she went into hospice, was to Loehmann’s — a memory she still treasures.
Loehmann’s, it turns out, was always more than bargains — it was a gathering ground for humor, unsolicited wisdom, identity and cultural belonging.
Still, my return to Loehmann’s was a true Shehechiyanu moment, fluorescent lights and all. The communal dressing room — may its memory be a blessing — has not returned, but in its place stood drapey grey portable stalls bunched together, hopefully ready to spark a new chorus of criticism, advice and communal camaraderie. JN
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.
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SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER
“Half of my identity is fashion,” Sapir (last name withheld for security reasons), Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix (CJP) senior community shlicha, told a group of people during the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center’s (VOSJ) “July Summer Connections - Cool Conversations” on Wednesday, July 9.
Sapir’s presentation, “Threads of Israel: A Journey Through Israeli Fashion,” took place on International Fashion Day, a day that celebrates the fashion industry for its creativity and cultural impact. Sapir explored the impact of Israel’s unique cultural stew on its fashion industry and started off discussing how she began to cultivate her own identity through fashion.
From childhood, Sapir has been passionate about fashion. She talked of struggling to listen to her teachers in school due to “severe ADHD.” She turned her attention instead to “sketching dresses, playing with colors, fabrics and silhouettes,” which gave her a way to express her feelings. At the most basic level, she told people if she was happy or sad by what she wore on a daily basis. Black clothing and oversized
sunglasses told people to back away, while colorful clothing invited others in. She even pointed to the clothes she was wearing, blue pants and a white vest, the colors of the Israeli flag.
Then she turned to Henriette Content-Tavor, the VOSJ’s creative adult programming director, who introduced her and was wearing a blue vest, making them a perfect background for the Israeli flag.
“There’s always a hidden message you can deliver, and we didn’t even coordinate it,” Sapir laughed.
It seemed to illustrate her point that people broadcast parts of their identity
SEE FASHION, PAGE 12
Arizona Musicfest proudly announces its milestone 35th Anniversary Season for 2025–2026, featuring an exciting lineup of Grammy, Tony and Oscar Award winners, and a wide array of world-class musicians.
“From its humble beginnings as a small chamber music festival, Arizona Musicfest has grown into a major cultural destination, drawing top-tier performers and enthusiastic audiences from across the Valley and beyond,” says Allan Naplan, executive and producing director, CEO. “Following last season’s record-setting attendance of over 50,000 ticket buyers, we’re thrilled for what this milestone year will bring.”
The 2025–26 season will open in late October and run through the end of April 2026. The lineup includes iconic artists such as Kenny G, David Foster & Katharine McPhee, The Righteous Brothers, Garrison Keillor and rising jazz sensation Samara Joy. As one of many highlights of the 35th anniversary, Academy Award winner and film legend Morgan Freeman will join Musicfest on stage in January to present his “Symphonic Blues Experience.”
Broadway fans will enjoy performances by three-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone, Tony winner Laura Benanti with Tony nominee Norm Lewis, and a return to the Herberger Theater Center in April with a full-scale production of the modern musical classic, “Ragtime.” Additional theatrically themed concerts include Michael Feinstein’s “Big Band Broadway” with The Carnegie Hall Big Band, and the return of London’s The Barricade Boys with their brand-new show, “Broadway at the Movies.”
Other season favorites include international vocal sensation Il Divo, Jazz at Lincoln Center Presents The Crooners, The Texas Tenors with their new show
“Let Freedom Sing,” Grammy-nominated violinist Philippe Quint in a multimedia experience called “Charlie Chaplin’s SMILE,” and a diverse lineup of jazz ensembles, nostalgic rock and classic tribute acts. The acclaimed Festival Orchestra Week, led by Maestro Robert Moody, returns with a special tribute to America’s 250th birthday and performances of works by Holst, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Brahms and more.
MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR
M
ore than 3,000 dancers from 55 countries showed their best skills in breaking, popping, locking and whacking at Hip Hop International’s World Hip Hop Dance Championship, held at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix July 29-Aug. 1. The finalists competed for gold, silver or bronze medals at the Mullett Arena on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe on Aug. 2.
Israel has been in this competition since 2012, but has never won a medal. Initially, this year’s Israeli delegation planned to bring 200 dancers from five studios, but due to the ongoing war, they were reduced to just 70 dancers representing two studios.
Hila Asraf Boojo, an instructor from Dance Academy, has been teaching for 17 years. Located in Kibbutz Givat Brenner, 25 miles from Tel Aviv, Boojo created the MegaCrew Genesis in 2014 and members of that original group, Naama Haim, Sean Basad and Yotam Mordoch, are now choreographing alongside her.
A MegaCrew in hip-hop consists of 10-40
dancers; Genesis consists of 36.
Haim, who teaches hip-hop at the studio, said that students “come from the south, the east, the west, to join this dance crew because it’s the best in Israel.” Dance Academy teaches various styles beyond hiphop, including ballet, contemporary and flamenco and its students travel the world competing and performing.
She emphasized their philosophy of creating “dancers” rather than just “people who can dance,” focusing on the passion and emotional connection to movement.
At the time of the interview, the day before the finals, Genesis and Torio, a MiniCrew of three dancers, had both advanced to the finals.
The dancers described the judging process as similar to the Olympics, with 15 international judges who specialize in different aspects, like skills or performance. The competition is extremely close, with placements often determined by fractions of points.
Boojo stated that every piece they put
on stage has meaning, but the piece that Genesis performed this year had a special message.
“After October 7 happened, we put together a piece named ‘Hope,’ and we performed it just in Israel, because we couldn’t be here that year,” she said. “After that, we decided because the war is still going on and the hostages are still not here, we decided to dedicate the piece to Noa Argamani.”
Hamas abducted Argamani during the Supernova music festival massacre on Oct. 7, 2023. Footage of her being taken away on a motorcycle became a widely recognized image of the hostage crisis. She was with her boyfriend, Avinatan Or, who was also kidnapped. Argamani was rescued on June 8, 2024, but Or remains captive.
“We dedicate this piece for them, and it’s to tell their story, with an objective perspective. No politics,” said Boojo.
The group commented that there were various “signs” during the competition that made them feel that, despite the challenges
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of getting to Arizona, they were supposed to be here. Like the news reporter who came onstage to talk to the host right before Genesis performed, wearing a bright yellow dress, the color of the ribbon worn to honor the hostages, or the score the team received in the semi-finals.
“When we got the pages for the score, one of the dancers noticed it said that Genesis got 7.10, which is the 7th of October,” said Mordoch.
He explained the crew needed to go from 12th position to seventh position, and one of the girls told him, “Don’t worry. I asked God to give me a sign.” Right after that, it started raining. They came in sixth, which allowed them to move on to the finals.
Basad remembered during rehearsals going into the bomb shelter and not knowing what was going to happen. “We are here for a reason, and dance is our best language to say something and give something to Arizona — for our country.”
“It’s a huge, historic achievement that SEE DANCE, PAGE 13
Arizona Broadway Theatre unveils its largest season ever, with 10 musicals set to captivate audiences of all ages from October 2025 through September 2026. Highlights include classics like “42nd Street” and “Bonnie & Clyde,” family favorites such as “Disney’s Newsies” and award-winning hits including “CATS,” “The PROM” and “Avenue Q.” The season also features the regional premiere of “Pretty Woman” and “Grumpy Old Men,” as well as two holiday shows: “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas” and “A Christmas Story, The Musical.”
“After much consideration and thought, the shows that make up our 21st season were chosen to excite audiences with our artistic vision and provide a varied theatrical experience,” said Kurtis Overby, artistic director at Arizona Broadway Theatre. “We are especially eager to bring newly released shows to the Valley, but we also love taking classics and reinvigorating them for a new generation of audiences.”
The 466-seat Arizona Broadway Theatre is located in the heart of the P83 entertainment district in the Northwest Valley. It provides a total entertainment experience for audiences of all ages by combining an awardwinning, state-of-the-art, professional theatre highlighting locally and nationally acclaimed artists with a uniquely curated drink and food menu to enhance each production. It is the only theatre of its kind in Arizona.
Arizona Broadway Theatre is dedicated to developing professional musical theatre and creating jobs for talented artisans. It is also committed to building and delivering youth programming to educate and engage students across the Valley. Through its innovative and immersive Theatre for Young Audiences, Academy for Young Performers and HyRev programs, Arizona
Broadway Theatre is proud to help shape the next generation of performers and theatergoers.
Arizona Broadway Theatre’s youth programs aim to enrich young lives through performing arts education and exposure. With diverse offerings for all experience levels, every child can find something engaging. Theatre for Young Audiences productions are designed to captivate and inspire children ages 5–12 through storytelling.
“Our Theatre for Young Audiences performances provide many kids in the community their first exposure to live theatre performances,” said Stephen Hohendorf, education director at Arizona Broadway Theatre. “The goal of our programs is to provide children and teens in our community with a highquality theatre experience, cultivating a life-long interest and appreciation for the arts.”
The 2025-26 season of Theatre for Young Audiences productions includes “The Nutcracker: A Musical” in December, “Pinkalicious” in February and “Elephant & Piggie’s We are in a Play!” in May.
“We are very excited about this season’s lineup of shows all based on popular books,” Hohendorf added. “Whether it’s a child’s first time seeing a live performance or getting a chance to step into the spotlight, Arizona Broadway Theatre will be with them through it all.”
For more information about Arizona Broadway Theatre’s upcoming season, Theatre for Young Audiences productions or to purchase season tickets or individual tickets, visit azbroadway.org or call 623-776-8400.
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FASHION
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
through fashion, even when they’re not conscious of it.
Eventually, Sapir would go into teaching, but her first foray into the working world was in fashion. She enrolled in Shenkar College of Engineering, Design and Art in Ramat Gan, Israel, and became a visual merchandiser. In other words, she would help her stores tell a story through the clothes, from the colors of the items to the way they were physically arranged.
At only 25 years old, Sapir was in charge of 55 of the nation’s 221 Delta Galil retail fashion stores.
“Every day, I drove to different stores to make sure that the best story was being told so that people would understand it and eventually buy the entire story, which includes tops, pants, makeup bags, whatever,” Sapir said.
Israeli fashion has a story of its own to tell, and Sapir explained that in the early days after its founding, “Israeli fashion basically started from the necessity of having very modest, very functional clothing and breathable fabrics.”
The early fashion was inspired primarily by two things: the Israeli army and life in the kibbutz.
Israel’s first textile company, ATA, an acronym for Arigei Totzeret Artzeinu (woven textiles made in our land),
became the chief manufacturer of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) uniforms and practical work clothing. It “dressed the nation’s builders,” Sapir said.
Maskit Fashion House, which translates as ornament, blended the modern styles of the European immigrants with Middle Eastern embroidery traditions. Finy Leitersdorf, one of Maskit’s designers, told an Israeli journalist in 1966 about the “Israeliness” of her designs inspired by a “range of colors — the desert brown, the impure black inspired by Bedouin tents and the eternally changing blue of the Mediterranean.”
Sapir talked about the colors and embroidery techniques, which helped define the wearer’s identity to others.
“There were a lot of characteristics to every different piece of clothing,” she said. “It was more than clothing, it was basically the identity.”
An attendee at the presentation recalled that a representative of Maskit came to various synagogues in the United States, including hers, to sell fashion and artwork more than 50 years ago.
Sapir thanked her for the memory and showed examples of the company’s desert-inspired cloaks and tunics, saying it “created a very signature Israeli style.”
After Israel’s success in the Six-Day War in 1967, the increasingly positive image of the country enabled its designers to
Milkweed Arts has become a cornerstone of Phoenix’s creative community, offering a space where people of all backgrounds can explore the beauty of kiln-formed glass. Founded by artist and educator Warren Norgaard, the studio has grown over the past decade into Arizona’s premier center for fused-glass education. Students travel from across the Valley, and beyond, to take part in its workshops and programs.
What began as a small teaching studio now stands as a hub of inspiration and connection. Milkweed Arts provides opportunities for artists of every skill level, from those picking up glass for the very first time to seasoned makers seeking advanced techniques. Its calendar includes introductory classes, family-friendly projects and master workshops led by nationally recognized artists.
Inside the studio, shelves of vibrant glass, rows of specialized tools and the steady warmth of kilns create an atmosphere both energizing and inviting. Laughter often fills the room as beginners discover how to cut their first piece of glass, while more advanced students experiment with layering, slumping and new design methods. The spirit of the studio is rooted in encouragement, allowing people to try, to learn and to grow without fear of making mistakes.
Students often describe Milkweed Arts as more than a place to make art. They leave with new skills and beautiful glass pieces, but also with confidence, friendship and a renewed sense of creativity. Over the years, the studio has welcomed children, retirees, working professionals and visiting artists, each adding to the sense of community that defines the space.
As Milkweed Arts celebrates its 10th anniversary, it reflects on a decade of growth, learning and artistry. In that time, thousands have discovered their creative voice within its walls and carried it forward into their lives. For more information, visit milkweedartsaz.com.
reach a global audience for Israeli fashion, Sapir said. Suddenly, Israeli brands were popping up in Paris and London.
At this point, she returned to Delta Galil Industries, a textile firm headquartered in Tel Aviv but with plants all over the world.
“They bring to the world cutting-edge technology and develop very seamless garments, moisture-wicking fabric and sustainable materials, which is important for Israeli companies,” Sapir said. She even advised looking at the tags of various clothing items while shopping, such as a pair of Nike shoes, to see if there is an Israeli technique or company involved.
Given all of Israel’s manufacturing innovations, it is common to find an Israeli fingerprint at some point in the process.
She wrapped up her presentation by highlighting various Israeli fashionistas making a statement about their proud Israeli identities through their fashion, from a gown becoming a visual symbol of demanding the release of the hostages taken by Hamas to one imprinted with the Western Wall at a fashion show.
“Fashion is a way to say I’m proud of who I am, this is my country, this is where I come from,” Sapir said. JN
Jewish News is published by the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix, a component of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10
they made it to the finals,” said Boojo.
Haim said that this competition is different from others, not just because it launched the careers of dancers who went on to work with major artists like Beyoncé, Rihanna and Chris Brown, but it’s the level of competitors that pushes you to be better because you are competing against the best of the best.
“You get inspired here from all over the world, you see things that you wouldn’t see in Israel,” she said. “Even if we are in the highest level that we can be and are very educated as choreographers and teachers, you always have something more to learn, you always are inspired by something else in the most beautiful way.”
“What we get from here, and what the kids are getting from here — besides the connections, discipline, how to practice and what to do next year to be better — they’re getting exposed to other cultures and people,” said Mordoch. “Each experience that you have in life you can learn something from. If we were like, ‘We’re the best, and nobody can teach us anything,’ then where would we be?”
In the finals, Torio came in fourth and Genesis came in sixth, but they will be back again next year and so will the dream of winning the World Hip Hop Dance Championship and making Israeli history. JN
The Sonoran Arts League, a 50-year-old nonprofit, has a singular vision: To Inspire a Life of Art!
Our membership is dedicated to supporting the visual arts, art education and artists. Our programs are designed to support and serve our community by providing engagement with art in the classroom, in the gallery and in artists’ studios/homes.
The League Gallery, located on Easy St. in Carefree, hosts six juried exhibitions each year, featuring diverse mediums from both internationally collected artists and emerging talent. Receptions for each exhibition occur the third Thursday of each month. The Gallery is open Tuesday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
The Studio, located in Cave Creek’s Stagecoach Village, has awardwinning instructors in a full variety of media — jewelry, oil, pastel, ceramics, watercolor and mixed media to name a few. Classes and workshops range from half-day to four-week sessions. Grants from Kiwanis of Carefree allow us to host free classes for veterans and kids.
For the past 29 years, the League has produced the annual Hidden In The Hills Artist Studio Tour, the oldest and largest in the Southwest. The Tour, offering a personal inside view of the artists’ work space and process, takes place during the two weekends that bookend Thanksgiving in the scenic Sonoran Desert of Cave Creek, Carefree and North Scottsdale. This year features 164 artists in 41 studios, November 21-23 and 28-30. Studios are open each Friday-Sunday, from 10a.m.-5 p.m.
The League website, SonoranArtsLeague.org, has a robust presence where you can view a list of classes, exhibitions and opportunities to engage, join and donate to the League. Much more about the Hidden In The Hills Artist Studio Tour is available at the League’s website as well.
The Sonoran Arts League 480-575-6624
It’s good for your heart
Watching the Super Bowl with Smile on Seniors. Seated from left are Michael and Elaine
Congregation Beth Tefillah’s Babyccino, a mommy and me group hosted by Dr. Abigail Gewirtz, during its recent weekly Tuesday meeting. Gewirtz is a child psychologist and spoke about mindful parenting.
traditions, stories and meaningful conversations over a Passover Seder.
shared how her family members helped save about 200 relatives and friends from Nazi Germany in the 1930s.
On Wednesday, April 9, the Valley of the Sun JCC Intermediate Pickleball League finished its nine-week tournament. For one day every week, during the course of the competition, participants played six games. Harriet Colan, longest tenured full-time employee at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, and pictured in a lavendar t-shirt, shows off her second-place medal.
the Jewish
Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley member Nancy Urbach was the keynote speaker at the temple’s interfaith Holocaust Remembrance Day program.
Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix’s Hebrew High CAREaVAN took local teens to California, where they spent 12 days in the Los Angeles area, volunteering and learning about the impact the fires had on the community. Pictured with the teens is Rabbi Daniel Sher, whose community was devastated by the Palisades Fire.
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Tikkun Olam Together, a program of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix, worked to support the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix’s Passover Food Drive. Mothers and daughters packaged holiday candles and greeting cards, and added them to the Passover food packages that were delivered a few days before the start of the holiday.
Leo, one of the newest members of Temple Chai, wears a hard hat during the Phoenix synagogue’s groundbreaking at its new home.
On Tuesday, July 15, Beth El Phoenix and Arizona Friends of Homeless received three pallets of shelf-stable food and hygiene items from Convoy of Hope in Port Huron, Michigan. Volunteers handed the donated items out to people living on the street in Phoenix.
Smile on Seniors hosted its Jewish Active Mature Adults brunch social on Feb. 23. Pictured from left are Ana Spence, Linda Lober, Michael and Nancy Mendelsohn, Andrea Silvey, Peter and Irene Baron, Isy and Benita Sonabend, David Termine and Dave Shooten.
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COURTESY OF BARBARA
On Sunday, April 6, 14
On Sunday, March 23, Temple Solel hosted its annual Women’s Passover Seder. It was an evening of spirituality, song and shared tradition led by Solel Rabbi Debbie Stiel and including the vocals of Tamara Lieberman. This special Seder weaves together the rich tapestry of Jewish heritage with the voices and experiences of women.
Andrea Cohen, center, thanked the members of Salk AZA (a boy’s chapter of BBYO) for hosting a bake sale to benefit the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix Camp Scholarship Program. Their efforts will help CJP send hundreds of local campers to Jewish camps across North America.
Todd Herzog, right, and Colton Rahav, left, took part in Congregation Beth Tefillah’s Passover concert and BBQ last month in Scottsdale.
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Ellen Shulman Tuckman, right, and Helena Feldman Nathan celebrated the 69th anniversary of their b’nai mitzvah in February. Nathan traveled from New Orleans to join Tuckman at Congregation Beth Israel in Scottsdale, where they both took turns reading from their Torah portion.
Scottsdale’s Congregation Beth Tefillah members mixed it up with various costumes at the Purim Party in March.
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The Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix (CJP) hosted DJ Artifex, who shared how his life and music were forever changed after performing at the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023. Pictured is CJP’s Schlicha Sapir who introduced DJ Artifex to a crowd of more than 200 people.
was presented Arizona Jews for Justice’s Justice Champion Award for Excellence in Service & Character in late January from Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz.
Thirteen Hamilton High School Air Force JROTC students recently attended a Post 610 Jewish War Veterans’ meeting to learn about their time in the service. Each cadet paired up with a vet to hear their story so they could later be able to share it with fellow cadets.
I’ll take a big check
COURTESY OF THE CENTER FOR JEWISH
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Lilach Mazor Power, Jewish entrepreneur, owner of the Giving Tree Dispensary and founder of the pre-roll brand Sneakers, hosted a $10,000 giveaway in February. Here, she presents a giant check for $10,000 to military veteran, Matthew Sabo.
Congregation Or Tzion Rabbi Andy Green was recently announced as the new president of the Greater Phoenix Board of Rabbis Executive Committee. The new committee is pictured from left: Rabbi Mindie Snyder, co-treasurer; Beth El Congregation Rabbi Nitzan Stein-Kokin, vice president;
Beth Israel Rabbi Sara Mason-Barkin, secretary; and Temple Kol Ami Rabbi Jeremy Schneider, immediate past president. Not pictured is Rabbi Mark Bisman, co-treasurer.
Every month, the women of Congregation Beth Tefillah’s Book Club delve into Jewish literature
That’s a long time!
Rahav leads young families as they sing Shabbat songs at Congregation Beth Tefillah’s
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Jewish War Veterans Copper State 619 provided robotic pets, designed by recreation therapists, to dementia patients at Phoenix VA Medical Center. Pictured from left are VA Voluntary Services Specialist Penny Craft receiving pets from JWV 619 members Jules Wyatt, Nancy Stutman, Gabe Forsbeg, Judy Wolin and Chuck Wolin.
Tuesday, Feb. 25, Temple Kol Ami’s board of trustees unanimously voted to extend Cantor Noa Shaashua’s contract for five more years.
Temple Solel hosted its annual fundraiser, “Solelebration,” on Saturday, Feb. 8., and honored Rabbi John and Nancy Linder on their 17 years of leadership of the
Congregation Beth Tefillah’s youth directors, Rabbi Yisrael and Eden Kumer, led a leadership training for teens while hiking in Phoenix. The goal was to empower the teens to lead fun and engaging activities for younger kids.
Jerry Lewkowitz, right, presented Alma Hernandez with the Lewkowitz Family Rising Leader Award at the Anti-Defamation League Desert’s Conference on Antisemitism in Tempe on Friday, April 11.
Susan
Gross L.C.S.W. led CBT’s Babyccino group in a mindful parenting session about releasing self-imposed limitations while cultivating inner peace and personal growth.
brought an
This COMMUNITY page features photos of community members around the Valley and the world. Submit photos and details each week to editor@jewishaz.com by 10 a.m. Monday.
This COMMUNITY page features photos of community members around the Valley and
This COMMUNITY page features photos of community members around the Valley and the world. Submit photos and details each week to editor@jewishaz.com by 10 a.m.
by 10 a.m.
29-SEPT. 14
“The Prince of Egypt: The Musical”: Times vary. Peoria Center for the Performing Arts, 10580 N. 83rd Drive, Peoria. Join TheaterWorks for this musical production following the journey of Moses with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. Based on the Book of Exodus and the 1998 DreamWorks Animation film. Cost: $43-$53. For more information, visit theaterworks.org.
THROUGH AUG. 31
Paws & Hearts: Community Pet Drive: All day. Email for drop-off address. Arizona Jews for Justice is collecting donations of dog food, beds, treats, collars, leashes, bowls and booties to be distributed to the pets of people experiencing homelessness in our community. For more information, contact arizonajews4justice@gmail.com.
School Supply Drive: All day. Email for drop-off address. Arizona Jews for Justice is collecting school supplies to go to low-income families in the Valley. For more information, contact arizonajews4justice@gmail.com.
SUNDAY, AUG. 31
Line Dancing Specialty Class: 1-2 p.m. Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Join the VOSJ for this class teaching line dancing to country, modern and traditional music. No partner or previous experience required. For more information, visit valleyofthesunj.org.
THURSDAY, SEPT. 4
Business & Professional Networking Breakfast: 7:30-9 a.m. Location provided upon registration. Join the Business & Professionals group, a program of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix, for networking and breakfast. For more information, visit phoenixcjp.regfox.com/ bp-networking-breakfast-devd-6-09042025.
FRIDAY, SEPT. 5
Tot Shabbat Hop: 9:30 a.m. Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Join the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix and the Phoenix Jewish preschool community for Shabbat morning followed by a BJE program. For children 5 and under with a parent, grandparent or caregiver. For more information, visit bjephoenix.org/ event/tot-shabbat-hop-20250905.
Saved by an Italian Family: 10 a.m. Online via Zoom. Join the Arizona Jewish Historical Society for a discussion by Eleanor “Mickey” Deutsch Oreman about her time hiding in the woods outside Rome and how they were saved by a Gentile family. Cost: Free. For more information, visit azjhs.org/event/ saved-by-italian-family.
Tailgate Shabbat: 5:15 p.m. Congregation Or Tzion, 16415 N. 90th St., Scottsdale. Join Or Tzion for a Shabbat service, kosher barbecue, fun and community. Cost: $12 adults, ages under 13 and new congregants free; RSVP required by Sept. 2. For more information, visit otaz.org/tailgate.
Open House: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Temple Emanuel of Tempe, 5801 S. Rural Road, Tempe. Join TEOT and meet the new rabbi, connect with community and enjoy games, prizes and food. For more information, visit emanueloftempe. org/event/erev-shabbat-9/5/25.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 7
Reset & Renew for the New Year: 9-10:30 a.m. Location provided upon registration. Join Women IN Philanthropy, a program of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix, for a healing experience led by a certified sound healing expert and an intention-setting discussion led by Rabbi Sadie Becker. Cost: $25; limited spots available. For more information, visit phoenixcjp.org/renew2025.
Polish Reaction to the Holocaust: 10-11 a.m. Online via Zoom. Join ASU Jewish Studies for the ASU Lowe Family Lecture Series featuring Dariusz Stola discussing the controversies surrounding several major public debates about the Polish reactions to the Holocaust. Cost: Free. For more information, visit jewishstudies. asu.edu/poland.
Resin Tray Crafting: 10 a.m. Chabad Jewish Center of Mesa, 941 S. Maple, Mesa. Join Chabad’s Jewish Women’s Circle for tray making, brunch and a discussion on High Holiday prayers. Cost: $18. For more information, visit chabadmesa.com/JWC.
Women’s League of Congregation Or Tzion Care Packages Event: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Congregation Or Tzion, 16415 N. 90th St., Scottsdale. Join WLCOT to assemble care packages for college students. Bring 24 individually wrapped snacks or gift items and pack your own box with items your student will love. Cost: $20; includes brunch and shipping. For more information, visit otaz.org/carepackage.
Apples to Apples-Kadima Event: 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m. Congregation Or Tzion, 16415 N. 90th St., Scottsdale. Join Or Tzion for a Rosh Hashanah youth event featuring games, arts and crafts, apple pie in a cup, gaga and more. Cost: Free for youth members; $10 for nonmembers. For more information, visit otaz.org/apple.
BEWL Smiles & Tiles: 1-3 p.m. Beth El Phoenix, 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix. Join Beth El Women’s League for an afternoon of mahjong, prizes and refreshments. Cost: $10 per person. For more information, visit beth-el-womensleague.square.site.
VOSJCC Rosh Hashanah Celebration: 3-5 p.m. Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Join the VOSJ for an afternoon filled with family activities, games, crafts and more. Cost: $18 per family members; $25 per family nonmembers. For more information, visit valleyofthesunj.org/ kids-family/family-programs.
TUESDAY, SEPT. 9
Coffee & Conversation with Women for Israel: 9 a.m. Online via Zoom. Join Jewish National Fund-USA for a presentation by Tania Pons Allon, director Kasser Joint Institute for Food, Water & Energy Security as she discusses her work with Blueprint Negev. Cost: Free. For more information, visit events.jnf.org/e/ wficoffee.
In the Footsteps of History: A Journey Through Israel of Discovery, Pain and Joy: 10-11:30 a.m. East Valley Jewish Community Center, 908 N. Alma School Road, Chandler. Join EVJCC Rabbi Michael Beyo as he shares his reflections on his summer in Israel. Cost: Free. For more information, visit evjcc.org/event/ tuesdays-at-the-j-26-2.
Free Birds Kickoff Happy Hour: 5-7 p.m. State 48, 15600 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. Join Congregation Or Tzion’s for a kick-off event for a new social group for Gen X (born mid-1960s to early 1980s). Cost: $15; includes appetizer and one drink. For more information, visit otaz. org/freebirds.
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 10
Challah Making for Rosh Hashanah: 3-4:30 p.m. East Valley Jewish Community Center, 908 N. Alma School Road, Chandler, Join the EVJCC for an afternoon of storytelling, art projects and shaping your own challah to bake at home. All ages welcome. Cost: $5 per challah; register by 5 p.m. Sept. 2. For more information, visit eastvalleyjcc.regfox.com/challah-making-for-roshhashana.
Shabbat
FRIDAYS
Shabbat in the Park: 10-11 a.m. Cactus Park, 7202 E. Cactus Road, Scottsdale. Join the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix monthly for music, parachute play, crafts and a family Shabbat experience. For more information, visit bjephoenix.org.
Welcome Shabbat: 11-11:30 a.m. Online. Celebrate Shabbat with the JFCS Virtual Center for Senior Enrichment. Each week a different guest host will lead the program with song and celebration. Cost: Free. For more information, visit jfcsaz.org/cse.
Shabbat at Beth El: 5:45 p.m. on Zoom; 9:30 a.m. at Beth El Phoenix, 1118 W. Glendale. Ave., Phoenix or livestreaming at tinyurl.com/beclivestream. Celebrate Shabbat with songs, blessings and teachings with Rabbi Stein-Kokin and Cantor Sarah Bollt. For more information or to join, visit bethelphoenix.com.
Erev Shabbat Service: 5:30 p.m. Online. Rabbi Alicia Magal will lead a service livestreamed for members of the Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley. Cost: Free. For more information and to obtain the Zoom link, visit jcsvv.org/contact.
Shabbat Service: 5:30-6:30 p.m.; Oneg at 5 p.m. Temple B’rith Shalom, 2077 Brohner Way, Prescott. Join Temple B’rith Shalom for a musical and spiritual Shabbat service. For more information, visit brithshalom-az.org.
Shabbat Services: 5:30 p.m. nosh, 6:15 p.m. service; morning service has varying dates and times. Temple Chai, 4645 E. Marilyn Road, Phoenix. For more information, contact Joan Neer at jneer@templechai.com.
Pre-Shabbat Kiddush Club: 6 p.m. Online. Say Kiddush with Rabbi Mendy Levertov. Cost: Free. Use this link: ourjewishcenter.com/virtual. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.
Shabbat Services: 6 p.m; 9:30 a.m.; followed by a light Kiddush lunch. Beth Emeth Congregation of the West Valley, 13702 W. Meeker Blvd., Sun City West. For more information call 623-584-7210 or visit bethemethaz.org.
Shabbat Services: 6 p.m; 9:30 a.m. Congregation Or Tzion, 16415 N. 90th St., Scottsdale. Services are also live streamed at otaz.org/ livestream. For more information about services, events and membership, visit congregationortzion.org or call 480-342-8858.
First Friday Shabbat Services: 6:15 p.m.; Oneg at 7:15 p.m. Valley Unitarian Universalist, 6400 W. Del Rio St., Chandler. Join Congregation NefeshSoul for Friday night services the first Friday of each month in the sanctuary building of Valley Unitarian Universalist. For more information, contact Jim Hoffman at 480-329-3316.
Shabbat Services: 6:15 p.m; 10 a.m. Congregation Beth Israel, 10460 N. 56th St., Scottsdale. Services held in the Goldsmith Sanctuary. Participants must pre-register by Thursday at 5 p.m. Priority will be given to members first and then guests. If there are more requests than available seats a lottery system will be used. For more information or to make a reservation, visit cbiaz.org/shabbat-services.
Kabbalat Shabbat and/or Shabbat morning service: 6:30 p.m.; 10 a.m.; dates vary. Congregation Kehillah, 5858 E. Dynamite Blvd., Cave Creek. Join Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman and cantorial soloists Erica Erman and Scott Leader either in person or via Zoom. For safety reasons, please register ahead of time. For dates, visit congregationkehillah.org/event/. Register by emailing info@congregationkehillah.org.
Shabbat Services: 7 p.m. Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley, 12202 N. 101st Ave., Sun City. Services are followed by an Oneg. Services are live-streamed on YouTube. For more information and to get the YouTube link, visit tbsaz.org or call 623-977-3240.
Shabbat Services with Beth Ami Temple: 7 p.m. Services held at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix, 4027 E. Lincoln Dr., Paradise Valley. Join Beth Ami Temple Rabbi Alison Lawton and Cantorial Soloist Michael Robbins as they lead Shabbat services twice a month. For more information, visit bethamitemple.org.
Third Friday Shabbat: 7-9 p.m. Group meets at a North Scottsdale location. The Desert Foothills Jewish Community Association hosts a Shabbat service followed by a program. Contact 602-487-5718 for more information. JN
50-CLASS SERIES
Significance of
Studies According to Rabbi Yosef Hayyim (18351909)
Professor Zvi Zohar
50 Transformative Psychology Studies & Theories And Jewish Perspectives On Them
The Surprising Power of Women in the Bible: Eve, Hagar,
Mt. Sinai: What happened to whom, and when?
Dr. Jonnie Schnytzer
Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz
Tuesdays @ 10 am PT starting October 8, 2024
Serach bat Asher: The Most Underrated Woman in the Tanach
Rabbanit Bracha Ja e
The 2024 Election: Reflections on the Jewish Vote
Is God Dead?
Dr. Steven Windmueller
Thursday, December 12, 2024 @ 10:00 am MT
Avraham: What is the source of his faith?
Valley Beit Midrash wishes everyone a shana tovah, a happy new year filled with joy and love. We invite you to join us in pursuit of improving lives in our communities through transformative learning and action. Here’s how you can plug into our work this year:
November 11, 2025
Monday, October 14, 2024 @ 10 am PT
Dr. Elias Sacks
Wednesday, October 30, 2024 @ 10:00 am PT
Rabbanit Batya Hefter
Thursday, November 7, 2024@ 10 am MT
Staff Members
6pm - VBM VIP Member Dinner
Thursday, October 31, 2024 @ 1 pm PT
Thursday, January 9, MT
1. Learn with us at our upcoming classes. We have multiple pluralistic o erings each week and options for both virtual or in-person learning.
7pm - Book Talk
2. Serve with us and volunteer with Arizona Jews for Justice to help uplift the most vulnerable members of our community.
8pm - Book Signing & Dessert
3. Reach out if you are looking for internship or fellowship opportunities for teens and young adults. We would be thrilled to tell you more about our leadership development programs.
The Religious Significance of Secular Studies According to Rabbi Yosef Hayyim (18351909)
4. Become a Legacy donor. By joining the Jewish Education Legacy Society of Valley Beit Midrash you will ensure VBM has the ability to provide engaging learning opportunities and save lives in our communities for many years to come.
Professor Zvi Zohar
We hope this year will be a time of renewal and growth and that we will experience many joyful moments together in the year ahead.
Thursday, December 12, 2024 @ 10:00
Valley Beit Midrash wishes everyone a shana tovah, a happy new year filled with joy and love. We invite you to join us in pursuit of improving lives in our communities through transformative learning and action.
Here’s how you can plug into our work this year: with us at our upcoming classes. We have multiple pluralistic o erings each week and options for both virtual or in-person learning. with us and volunteer with Arizona Jews for Justice to help uplift the most vulnerable members of our community.
Mitch will give a book talk on his new book “TWICE” where he takes readers on an unforgettable emotional journey through love, second chances, and the choices that define our lives.
Reach out if you are looking for internship or fellowship opportunities for teens and young adults. We would be thrilled to tell you more about our leadership development programs. Become a Legacy donor. By joining the Jewish Education Legacy Society of Valley Beit Midrash you will ensure VBM has the ability to provide engaging learning opportunities and save lives in our communities for many years to come.
Ka a — The Scribe of the Imponderables of the Modern Jewish Experience
We hope this year will be a time of renewal and growth and that we will experience many joyful moments together in the year ahead.
Professor Paul Mendes-Flohr
Thursday, February 13, 2025 @ 10 am MT
The Place of All Possibility: Cultivating Creativity Through Ancient Jewish Wisdom
Rabbi Adina Allen
Thursday, February 27, 2025 @ 1 pm MT
2025 @ 1:00 pm MT
Location: Congregation Or Tzion Cost: $36 in-person and $18 on zoom
The Jews are a Nation Unlike All Others: Franz Rosenzweig on Jewish Uniqueness
Rabbi Zachary Trubo
Thursday, April 3, 2025 @ 10:00 am PT
Mitch Albom is an internationally renowned and bestselling author, journalist, screenwriter, playwright, radio and television broadcaster and musician. His books have collectively sold 42 million copies worldwide; have been published in 51 territories and in 48 languages around the world; and have been made into Emmy Award-winning and critically-acclaimed television movies. In 2006, he founded the nonprofit SAY Detroit, which provides pathways to success for Detroiters in need through major health, housing and education initiatives. He also founded a dessert shop and a gourmet popcorn line to help fund it. Albom operates Have Faith Haiti, a home and school for impoverished children and orphans in Port-au-Prince, which he visits monthly. He lives with his wife, Janine, in Michigan.
