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Valley residents shared stories during the “Echoes from the Night of Broken Glass” event

GENES AND GENEROSITY

Minkoff Center for Jewish Genetics celebrated its 20th anniversary on Oct. 23

Oct. 7 hostage recounts importance of keeping faith in captivity

MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR

As Judith Ra’anan lay next to her 17-yea r-old daughter, Natalie, in the safe room of a home in Kibbutz Nahal Oz in Southern Israel on the morning of Oct. 7, 2023, she heard men approaching, speaking Arabic.

“In about two minutes, men are going to enter this room,” said Ra’anan to her daughter. “And they are going to wear weird clothes, and they will probably have all kinds of weird weapons. Do not panic.”

Dual citizens of both the U.S. and Israel, Ra’anan and Natalie traveled from Evanston, Illinois, to Israel to celebrate her mother’s 85th birthday. Her daughter did not want to go, and Ra’anan told her, “I promise you a vacation that you’ll never forget.”

The irony wasn’t lost on her as they were ushered out of the safe room by the armed terrorists.

A religious woman, Ra’anan began her presentation to the crowd gathered at Pardes Jewish Day School in Scottsdale on the evening of Oct. 19 by reading from a book of Psalms she carried. Relying on her Judaism is what carried her through her captivity, and she mentioned that she was having trouble getting to sleep on the night of Oct. 6, so she opened her bible and read a passage that stated, “you are going into war.” Now, what she read seemed prophetic as she realized the gravity of the situation.

“What is your name?” demanded a man, reminding her of the biblical story of Jacob and a divine being who asked, “What is your name?” and then renamed him Israel.

“We’re not going to kill you,” said the other man.

Phoenix Yiddish Culture Festival returns in December with music and dance for all

The Phoenix Yiddish Culture Festival returns on Dec. 4 for a second year. For four days, the festival will bring people together to celebrate Eastern European Jewish music, dance, art and food. The festival will feature Phoenix’s Little Chef Klezmer Band, as well as national artists like Jordan Wax and Miryam Coppersmith in a mix of concerts, workshops and community events across the Valley.

This year’s lineup builds on the success of the inaugural festival with new events designed to engage audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Highlights include a lunchtime concert for kids and families with Wax, an interactive display of klezmer instruments facilitated by the Musical Instrument Museum, and a zingeray (a Yiddish sing-along) with Wax and Coppersmith. Arizona State University Jewish Studies will also present a guest lecture on Yiddish culture.

Coppersmith returns to lead her signature Yiddish dance workshop and serve as dance leader at the festival’s culminating evening concert. “There are so few opportunities out there for

“Oy” will bring joy this Chanukah

“Oy to the World: A Hanukkah Musical Revue” blends Chanukah favorites, familiar winter songs by Jewish composers, along with storytelling, sing-alongs and more. See page 10.

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SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER

PHOTO COURTESY OF REBECCA WEINSTEIN

Jordan Wax blends klezmer music with a Southwestern sound.

said Jon Meyers, director of ADDPC.

“What is your name? What is the name of your neighbor?”

Ra’anan had just spent the prior evening, before Simchat Torah, in the sukkah with Benny, a neighbor who was a highranking police official. She figured they already knew who he was, but she decided he wasn’t going to be killed because of the information she provided.

said Jon Meyers, director of ADDPC.

“Our hope is to create and promote opportunities for people to be embraced, become part of the community and find equitable opportunities wherever they might live,” he said.

“I said to him, ‘I don’t know. I’m American. My mother is very old, and we came to celebrate her birthday,’” she said. In English, she started singing “Happy Birthday.”

As they walked out of the house, she saw the hole a rocket had made in a side wall, along with shattered glass and photographs on the ground. Outside, she saw other residents being rounded up at gunpoint.

2023 Phoenix Jewish News Print Dates

Meyers first came to know Stern through her mother, Amy Silverman, who read her personal essays about raising a daughter with Down syndrome on KJZZ, National Public Radio’s Phoenix affiliate station.

Meyers was so captivated by the essays that he reached out to Silverman, and the two became friends.

While she was taken hostage, Hamas murdered 16 people in the kibbutz, including an 18-year-old girl who was killed when a terrorist shot through the door of the safe room where she was hiding.

January 6

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Meyers was so captivated by the essays that he reached out to Silverman, and the two became friends.

That’s how Stern first learned of the open council seat, but there’s no doubt she earned her position, Meyers said.

Ra’anan and Natalie were handcuffed and forced to walk toward Gaza. They saw bodies scattered everywhere, and she told her captors, “If you are going to kill me, do it here in Israel; I don’t want to die in Gaza.”

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That’s how Stern first learned of the open council seat, but there’s no doubt she earned her position, Meyers said.

about her Judaism with her fellow council members and speaking out for her rights

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

“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 appears in the script.

she would die proudly Jewish.

To become a council member, Stern had to apply and demonstrate that she had something valuable to contribute, he said.

They responded that they would shoot her if she didn’t walk faster.

January 20

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While performing in the musical “Hairspray,” she had another occasion to tangle with the offensive word, which appears in the script.

“What have you eaten today?” he asked. “What will you eat?”

“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.

One word she remembered from an Arabic language course she took years prior was tuffah, or apple. Since Ra’anan keeps kosher, she didn’t know what else to tell him.

“She’s on the council because she deserves to be on the council,” he said.

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To become a council member, Stern had to apply and demonstrate that she had something valuable to contribute, he said.

She told one of the men she could walk faster if she didn’t have the handcuffs on, so he pulled out a knife and cut off the zip tie, nicking her wrist in the process. The other terrorist wrapped it and allowed her to lean on his shoulder the rest of the way.

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The man spoke to one of the armed guards, and they left the room. When they returned, they had a small bag with falafel and pita. Natalie took some falafel and began to eat.

“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.

“It’s only one kilometer away, but I’m not going to make it,” she thought. But she eventually did.

“Welcome to Gaza,” one of the men said as he forced them both into a car without windows and started driving erratically towards a city.

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When they arrived at a hospital, Ra’anan saw doctors working on the bodies of who she assumed were injured Hamas terrorists and as she and Natalie were led down a hallway, they were met by nurses cheering that the men had brought in Jewish hostages.

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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.

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.

When the man asked Ra’anan why she wasn’t eating, she said she had to wash her hands a certain way before she touched the bread.

They were put in a room with mattresses on the floor and blood on the walls.

September 1 September 8 September 15 October 6 October 13** October 20 November 3 November 10 November 17 December 1 December 15

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.

“You stole me on a Shabbat, and I’m a Jew. I’m not going to change anything about what I do,” she said. She thought to herself, “You stole a Jewish queen, that’s on you, not on me.”

“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.

After eating, the man told her that they had to change into traditional Muslim clothing before being moved to a new hospital where they would stitch up Ra’anan’s hand.

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.

A man walked into the room, and Ra’anan guessed he was someone important based on his dress and the fact that he spoke both Hebrew and English perfectly.

August 18*

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.

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.

They put them both on stretchers and placed them in an ambulance to keep their identities hidden during the transfer. Ra’anan figured on the way to the hospital that they were worth more to the terrorists alive than dead.

“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.

After a brief time at this new hospital, where more people were asking, “What is your name?” and “Have you eaten?” they were transferred to an apartment.

“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.

7**

November 21

“It’s not the same when someone tries to tell a person’s story for them,” Hummell said.

December 5

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“What is your name?” he asked.

August 18*

“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.”

“My name is Judith,” she replied. Hearing her name again, her essence, made her decide, at that moment, that if she died,

Stern looks forward to sharing insights

“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

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At the apartment, there was a new team of five armed men, one with a toddler at his side, who Ra’anan estimated to be about three.

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.

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.

December 19 *Annual Directory **Best of Magazine

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

“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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Sophie Stern at her high school graduation in 2022

Scottsdale Road, Suite 201, Scottsdale, AZ

Judith Ra’anan shared how she and her daughter, Natalie, survived being kidnapped on Oct. 7. COURTESY OF ASHLEY KORENGOLD

people to experience traditional Ashkenazi Jewish dance,” Coppersmith told Jewish News last year. “It’s such a great way to connect to your community, young and old, and the best way to fully enjoy klezmer music.”

Wax, one of the festival’s featured performers, is a multiinstrumentalist, singer and composer based in New Mexico. His debut album, “The Heart Deciphers,” blends klezmer and lautari (Romani musician) sounds from Moldova with the rhythmic and tonal influences of the American Southwest.

“The music I do is Yiddish music from the Southwest,” Wax said. “It’s great to find pockets where people are dedicated to the hard work of manifesting Yiddish culture here. The music that comes out of that is really special and resonates in a personal way with people who live in this region.”

Wax’s performances balance musical virtuosity with cultural storytelling. He often draws on his experiences in the New Mexican Jewish community and his mentorship with a native Yiddish speaker who lived through World War II. “A lot of my work deals with contemporary issues through the lens of Yiddish,” Wax explained. “It has this intergenerational perspective that connects us to our ancestors while speaking to what we’re living now.”

Wax’s upcoming children’s album, “Pantakozak and Other New Yiddish Songs for Kids,” continues his mission to make Yiddish culture accessible and joyful for younger audiences.

“I’ll be introducing children to the Yiddish language in fun, playful ways,” he said. “When it works, kids let me know immediately, and I know I’ve found something that connects.”

Max Schwimmer, leader of the Little Chef Klezmer Band and the festival’s artistic director, first encountered Wax’s music through the klezmer musician network. “Whenever I mentioned I was from Phoenix, people would ask if I knew Jordan,” Schwimmer said. “When I finally saw him perform live in New York last year, I knew I had to get him to Phoenix. His music is traditional and modern at the same time.”

Schwimmer said Wax’s work stands out for its emotional depth. “His recently released album is amazing. It deals with powerful themes, serious stuff, but it’s also just beautiful music,” he said. “It’s like nothing I’d heard before.” Meanwhile, Coppersmith brings the movement element

“And guess what awaits me? An apple,” she said. “I took one piece, gave it to the little girl and I took one other piece.” And right there, in the middle of “nowhere Gaza,” she said she prayed.

She and Natalie were put in a bedroom with mattresses on the floor and five men guarding them 24/7.

At 10 p.m., there was rocket fire, and she realized it was coming from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The armed men told them they had to move quickly, and they were taken to another location.

“And in that place, we had to be very quiet all the time because the IDF was sending drones with microphones to try and locate where the missing people were,” she said.

To try and boost Natalie’s spirit, she would sing “What a Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong to her, to which Natalie replied, “I don’t think it’s the appropriate time and place to sing songs.”

To which Ra’anan replied, “Honey, this is the best place. Look at you. You’re a queen. You’re surrounded by five armed men who are protecting you. They bow to you, give you food and take out what

that completes the klezmer experience. She discovered Yiddish dance while watching “Indecent” on Broadway, a play about a controversial Yiddish production from the 1920s. “That was the first time I saw people dancing to klezmer in a way that felt authentically Jewish, and so joyful,” she recalled.

Schwimmer said her return was an easy choice. “Miryam’s super skilled at getting everyone to dance and creating a welcoming, inviting atmosphere,” he said. “You don’t have to know the steps; you just have to want to have fun.”

The festival’s culminating event takes place on Sunday, Dec. 7, at Beth El Phoenix, featuring an afternoon of music, dance and hands-on cultural activities for all ages. “People can come hang out the whole afternoon if they want,” Schwimmer said. “There will be multiple things going on at once, so people can pick and choose what they want to do.”

Earlier events will warm up the week. A klezmer jam session kicks things off on Thursday, Dec. 4, at The Dark Side in Tempe, followed by “Klezmer Night” on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Linger Longer Lounge in Phoenix. Both evening events are 21 and over, providing opportunities to reach new audiences outside traditional synagogue settings. “They’ll allow us to expand our reach to people who maybe wouldn’t come to a synagogue,” Schwimmer said.

Much of the festival’s programming will be offered free of charge, with optional donations accepted. Beth El, the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix, the City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture and Arizona State University Jewish Studies are sponsoring the festival.

Ultimately, Schwimmer said, the festival’s mission is to make Yiddish culture accessible, vibrant and relevant to 21st-century audiences. “This isn’t just heritage, but living culture, right here in the Southwest.”

With its blend of musicianship, community participation and family-friendly fun, the second annual Phoenix Yiddish Culture Festival promises to once again fill the Valley with the spirit and sound of joyful celebration. JN

For more information, including the festival schedule and registration details, visit phoenix-yiddish.org.

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

is left over. You don’t cook; you don’t wash the dishes.”

She tried to remain optimistic, even though she had no idea how long they would remain hostages in this place, where they had to share bottles of water, couldn’t shower, had to be on the floor all the time and had to ask permission whenever they needed to use the toilet.

She would pray quietly, but loud enough for the captors to hear. She would recite Psalm 23 and envision the archangels surrounding her.

“To my right is Archangel Michael, to my left is Archangel Gabriel, in my front is Archangel Uriel, in my back is Archangel Raphael and above my head is the Holy Spirit,” she explained.

And that’s how she continued to keep her faith in captivity. She would also envision Shabbat services at ChabadLubavitch of Evanston, where she’s been a member for years, and picture the families who attend.

She would also pray to her grandfather Joseph. One day, she prayed to him for their release.

“And he says to me, in spirit, ‘Today,

at six o’clock, they will announce your release,’” she said.

On Friday, Oct. 20, 2023, Ra’anan and Natalie were the first hostages released of the more than 200 taken on Oct. 7.

Hamas stated their release was primarily for “humanitarian reasons” and was a result of Qatari and U.S. mediation efforts.

Natalie celebrated her 18th birthday on Oct. 24, at home in Illinois.

Since the event, presented by the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix, was held after the ceasefire and release of the remaining surviving hostages on Oct. 13, Ra’anan said she continued to pray for the remains of the dead hostages to be returned.

“I also want to tell you that Hashem loves us and is full of light,” she said at the end of her presentation. “Each and every one of us is carrying a tiny little spark inside of Hashem. Ask for this light and remember that God will never forget you, never, wherever you are.” JN

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

‘Sparkle Havdalah’ blends pride, story and Jewish joy

SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER

To signal the end of Shabbat, the Havdalah candle was lit against a background of sequins, glitter and rainbow sparkles, where dozens of families gathered for “Sparkle Havdalah” on Saturday, Oct. 18. The family-friendly celebration, sponsored by PJ Library, a program of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix (CJP), brought together Jewish families from across the Valley for a night of music, crafts and laughter.

The event, held on the eve of the Phoenix Pride Parade, was designed to honor both Jewish tradition and LGBTQ+ pride, closing out Shabbat with a swirl of light and inclusion.

The room itself was oozing with rainbows. Guests arrived in all manner of bright and fabulous attire, from butterfly wings and glittery tutus to rhinestone-covered shirts and at least one rainbow kippah. Tables were lined with rainbow-themed snacks: berries and veggies sorted by color, tiny cupcakes topped with multicolored frosting, and, for the littlest guests, rainbow Goldfish crackers. Craft stations let kids create

their own sparkly jewelry and colorful spice bags for Havdalah, filling the air with the warm scents of cloves, cinnamon and cardamom.

Everywhere one looked, people were smiling, laughing or making something sparkly.

For PJ Library Program Director Marcy Lewis, the evening represented a longheld dream that had finally been realized.

“I’ve been dreaming of hosting a PJ Library drag queen story hour for eight years,” Lewis told the crowd before introducing the evening’s special guest.

“Thank you, CJP, for granting my wish on Pride weekend.”

The star of the evening was Aunt Shirley, the drag persona of Los Angeles–based cantorial soloist and Jewish educator Raymond Zachary. Dressed as a glamorous, if stereotypical, Jewish grandmother, complete with pearls, floral prints and horn-rimmed glasses, Aunt Shirley uses oy/they pronouns and knows how to deliver a good joke while towering over most of the crowd in very high heels. Already standing at nearly six feet tall, Aunt Shirley’s motto is: “The higher

the heel, the closer to God.”

to oneself.

Zachary is a member of the Guild of Temple Musicians in association with the American Conference of Cantors. In addition to performing as Aunt Shirley, they also perform as Miss Livinya Karr, a drag persona through which they created “Rainbow Shabbat,” a programming series that encourages LGBTQIA+ Jews not only to feel at home in their synagogues but to take leadership roles in Jewish life. The program has reached dozens of congregations around the country.

“I’m always happy to travel,” Zachary said with a smile. “Wherever there’s community, love and a little sparkle — that’s where Aunt Shirley belongs.”

After Lewis’ introduction, Aunt Shirley gathered the children close in a wide circle on the floor. Together, they sang blessings, waved the spice bags they had made and watched as the braided and colorful Havdalah candle was lit. The familiar melodies were mixed with giggles and the sound of a live guitar.

Once the ceremonial aspect was over, Aunt Shirley led what she called a “Jewish workout,” inviting everyone to stretch and sway in rhythm before settling down for story time.

She read three books, each chosen to celebrate Jewish ritual, diversity and selfacceptance. The first, “Havdalah Sky,” a PJ Library favorite, helped children understand the meaning of the ritual they had just performed. The second, “Love Makes a Family,” showcased illustrations of families of all shapes, colors and compositions. The third, “My Shadow is Purple,” told the story of a child who doesn’t fit neatly into traditional gender boxes. It was a celebration of being true

Between pages, Aunt Shirley peppered her storytelling with jokes that flew straight from the Catskills. The adults laughed at her classic Borscht Belt humor, while the children leaned in to answer her funny, book-related questions.

Hannah Carter and her son, PJ, made some sparkly jewelry before the program began.

“We’re here to celebrate all things rainbow, sparkle and love,” Carter said. For Jen Wolf, who brought her ninemonth-old son Micah, the night was a special milestone.

“It’s never too early to go to a drag show,” she said with a laugh. “Other than his bris, this is Micah’s first Jewish celebration. I can’t think of a better introduction to what it means to be part of a loving Jewish community.”

Even those without young children came to join in the celebration. Melissa and Eric Redleaf, longtime supporters of PJ Library, said they were thrilled to attend their first Jewish drag story hour.

“Our kids are grown, but we still love PJ Library and what it does for Jewish families,” Melissa said. “This is an event and organization that’s worth celebrating.”

At the close of the evening, Aunt Shirley invited those planning to march in the next day’s Pride Parade to stay and make colorful signs to carry. In keeping with the themes of the final book, the kids were encouraged to be themselves and to add sparkles to their hearts’ content. JN Jewish News is published by the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix, a component of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix.

Aunt Shirley reads a story to kids at PJ Library’s “Sparkle Havdalah” on Saturday, Oct. 18. COURTESY OF JEWISH NEWS

Memories of Kristallnacht, 87 years later

SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER

Gertrud McLachlan was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1930, eight years before the infamous Kristallnacht, an extraordinarily violent event that has since been dubbed the “Night of Broken Glass.”

“Soldiers knocked on our door, but my mother said, ‘Don’t answer the door.’ So we didn’t, and they went away,” McLachlan told an audience at Temple Kol Ami in Scottsdale on Sunday, Nov. 9, the 87th anniversary of the infamous Nazi pogrom against the Jews.

The soldiers ultimately returned, demanding to know why her mother hadn’t answered the door. She told them she couldn’t because Gertrud was in bed with a fever.

Even though the soldiers checked her temperature and found she didn’t seem sick, “they were sort of sympathetic, and actually left us alone. It was a miracle,” McLachlan said.

McLachlan told her story publicly for the first time during “Echoes from the Night of Broken Glass,” the Sunday evening event co-hosted by Phoenix Holocaust Association and Arizona Jewish Historical Society. She joined a panel that included

Karen Baggett, her daughter, Karen Perna, Dan Gutfreund and Ralph Seligmann, all children of Holocaust survivors.

The keynote speaker, Sheryl Ochayon, project director for Yad Vashem’s Echoes & Reflections, spoke directly about the propaganda that enabled all the violence that happened during those two days in November of 1938, when Gestapo-backed mobs roamed the streets of German and Austrian cities destroying Jewish businesses and residences. Kristallnacht left almost 100 people dead and close to 30,000 Jewish men arrested, merely for the crime of Jewish heritage and faith.

Where McLachlan had shared her memory, Ochayon shared photos of smashed storefronts, painted swastikas and burned-out synagogues taken during those fateful two days. She explained that 1,400 synagogues were burned, 7,500 stores demolished and 91 Jews murdered. Then she clarified that was only the official death toll released by the Germans.

“The actual number is more because there were a lot of people who were sent to the camps and were treated so brutally that they wound up, maybe not on that night, dying very shortly thereafter. Up to 2,500 men, women and children died in the aftermath of Kristallnacht, most of them in the camps,” Ochayon said.

Thus, Kristallnacht became a pivotal turning point in Hitler’s war against the Jews, she said.

The violence was state-sponsored and not a spontaneous demonstration of angry Germans. The government denied accountability, but its planning and complicity made the violence much worse.

“We know there were instructions sent out the night before the violence. Germany had been preoccupied with words and propaganda, and finally, on those days in November it became an issue of violence,” Ochayon said.

She began by asking the audience why they thought the German people would

stand by and watch silently as this happened to their neighbors and people they had grown up with. The answer is that by this time, the population had been fed so much anti-Jewish propaganda that they had come to believe the Jews were their enemy.

“This is the way propaganda works. They used different messages, often twisting and exploiting the truth to appeal to people’s emotions,” she said.

She took the audience through a variety of infamous anti-Jewish messages used again and again by Adolf Hitler and Joseph Goebbels, his minister of propaganda. She showed several images that depicted Jews in unflattering ways, specifically as sexual predators.

“They were very clever. They understood how to appeal to people’s emotions, and that’s what they did, consistently. A lie told once remains a lie, but a lie told 1,000 times becomes the truth,” she said.

Ochayon’s talk was focused on propaganda, but the panelists were there to make the anniversary more personal.

McLachlan’s father owned one of the storefronts in Vienna that was smashed. He was beaten and told never to return to his store.

“He was pretty shook up,” McLachlan said. “It was a tense situation, and I think that’s when my parents realized they were going to have to leave.”

She talked about the bits of the journey she remembered, including waiting for her uncle who almost missed the train to Rotterdam.

“I can still remember my uncle running after the train and waiting for him. I can still see him do that,” she said.

While they landed in New York first, they ended up moving to California. On her first day in the state, she broke her leg while playing with her cousin. Her father had to carry her to the doctor because the family didn’t have a car. She also recounted learning English through her love of comic books.

“I just put down a curtain and that was the end of my one life and the start of another. It worked out very good,” she said.

Karen Perna, whose mother was born in Germany, could not speak from personal experience but shared the stories her mother and grandparents had passed down to her. Her grandparents had been trying to leave Germany earlier in the 1930s, but had trouble getting their visas approved. Thus, they were in Germany when Kristallnacht happened.

“They lost their business. My aunt had just been expelled from school for being Jewish, and my mother had not started school yet. People surrounded their house and were throwing things and yelling, ‘Dirty Jew!’ My mother remembered looking out the window and saying to her mother, ‘That’s my friend, Hilda. Why are they doing that?’ My mom started crying, and nobody could calm her down,” Perna said.

Dan Gutfreund filled in for his mother, Julie, a Holocaust survivor also from Vienna. She was recovering from an illness, so her son came to the event to share her stories of Kristallnacht.

Her father had been fired from his job just for being Jewish a month before the pogrom. Nazis also came to her home and started pounding on the door and shouting for Jews to come out. Meanwhile, she hid with her mother in the closet. That was when her parents decided to do everything they could to get out of Germany.

Ralph Seligmann told the story of his grandfather being arrested in Hanover, Germany, during Kristallnacht and sent to Buchenwald. His saving grace was that he had served the German army during World War I. Fortunately, that led to his release. Again, his family decided to leave the country at that time.

Ochayon emphasized that stories like these, combined with the lessons of propaganda, are “why we teach history, why we commemorate this day.”

Phoenix Holocaust Association Executive Director, Leslie Feldman, speaks at Temple Kol Ami during “Echoes from the Night of Broken Glass,” on Sunday, Nov. 9. COURTESY OF PHOENIX HOLOCAUST ASSOCIATION

Jewish food pantries bulwark against hunger

SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER

Jewish food pantries in Phoenix are seeking to be a bulwark against hunger in the Valley. Arizona Jews for Justice’s (AJJ) Shalom Pantry, the East Valley Jewish Community Center, Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) and the Arizona Kosher Food Pantry have all reported an increase in food insecurity.

Food banks like St. Mary’s and United Food Bank report experiencing higher demand this year than during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Saturday, Nov. 1, that need was exacerbated when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were halted for the first time in the program’s history. Jewish hunger advocates and nonprofits across the country pressed Congress to ensure SNAP benefits would continue through the government shutdown. Now that the shutdown has ended, people are hoping that those benefits will be paid in full for this month.

“The unsheltered people that we serve each day with our humanitarian buses always have extraordinary needs, but the new levels of need among low-income families is now through the roof. When we originally launched The Shalom Pantry, with this population in mind, we knew there would be a need but that demand has escalated beyond imagination,” AJJ Founder Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz said.

The Arizona Kosher Food Pantry recently decided to open its doors on Sundays, given that St. Mary’s Food Bank is not open that day. The two food pantries serve many of the same people, so “we wanted to start being open on Sundays to help working families get food,” said Nina Targovnik, the

kosher pantry’s volunteer co-administrator. The first Sunday also happened to be the day after SNAP benefits were paused.

“We’ve been seeing an increase of people in the pantry since the summer,” Targovnik said.

The pantry gives away 40 Shabbat meals each week, and serves 60 people a day. Because one person coming into the pantry might represent a whole family at home, Targovnik estimates the pantry serves up to 1,500 people a week.

She said many local Jewish organizations and synagogues are stepping up to assist, but the need is so great that more help is needed. That can come in many forms.

“We’re asking people and small businesses to keep a food box to collect food for us, and for more donations and volunteers,” she said.

The New Shul in Scottsdale collects food for the pantry and BBYO will collect food during its convention this month, while Congregation Kehillah decided to financially sponsor every Sunday at the pantry through the end of 2026. Additionally, Kehillah brought three carloads of food after Rosh Hashanah. Beth El Phoenix has donated, and a group of students from the Arizona Jewish Academy have volunteered.

Targovnik, who just received the Maricopa County Bar Association Public Lawyer of the Year award, has been reaching out to every Valley synagogue hoping to develop relationships with at least one representative of each. She became a regular volunteer for the pantry in 2022, after volunteering with her nephew when he was preparing for his bar mitzvah. She found it so inspiring that she just kept coming back.

“The Kosher Food Pantry is such a unique organization, because we really bridge the gap between the religious and secular communities, Jews and non-Jews. We have Orthodox

Jews, Muslims, Mormon volunteers doing mission work. We get along and work together for the people we serve,” Targovnik said.

JFCS also reported that the number of families requesting food has grown significantly.

“Our pantry was funded by the Mercy Care grant, which has ended, and we have no private donors,” Jessica Bozek, JFCS vice president of older adult and Jewish programs. “Currently, we are experiencing a huge influx of clients looking for food resources. Our staff have been donating themselves and encouraging their friends to also donate food and water.”

Temple Beth Sholom of the East Valley recently held a Yom Kippur food drive, and donated more than 60 bags of groceries to the JFCS East Valley Healthcare Center, which provides food resources. Hadassah’s Devorah Chapter has also been a steady supporter, regularly donating groceries to the East Valley pantry.

JFCS is asking people to donate non-perishable staple items and fresh produce, make monetary donations to stretch resources and volunteer. JN

Kivel Campus of Care is a non-profit, non-sectarian charitable organization (501(c)(3)) 3040 N. 36th St., Phoenix, AZ 85018 • (602) 314-4004 6

Donate on-line www.kivelcare.org or complete and FAX to:(602) 957-9493, mail to: Kivel Campus of Care:Tax Credit,3040 N. 36th St., Phoenix, AZ 85018 or Call (602)314-4004 Please send me the AZ Tax Forms when available Yes______ by 4/15/202 via check, credit card or on-line at www.kivelcare.org $495 for for

The Arizona Kosher Food Pantry is seeking more donations and volunteers as hunger rises in the Valley.

Old patterns, new problems: Why seeing each other matters

This week’s Torah portion, Toldot, offers one of the most memorable, and relatable, family sagas in our tradition: the story of Isaac, Rebecca and their mismatched twins, Jacob and Esau. If your family has ever experienced tension, competition or debates over inheritance (or even who stole whose leftovers), take heart, you are in excellent Biblical company.

Toldot begins with Isaac and Rebecca struggling with infertility. They pray, and Rebecca becomes pregnant with twins who immediately begin fighting in utero. The Torah doesn’t provide medical details, but every parent reading this portion nods knowingly: “Ah yes, siblings.” Even before birth, these boys are wrestling, jostling and trying to establish dominance. The rest of their lives follow that same script. Esau is born first — red, hairy, outdoorsy.

If he lived in Arizona today, he’d be the one happiest about monsoon season, eager to hike, hunt, and grill something large. Jacob, the younger twin, emerges holding his brother’s heel — our first hint that he has ambitious plans and little patience. Jacob is quieter, thoughtful, a tent dweller. He’s the kid who stays inside during the 118-degree days and reads a book. We all know these two personalities. Some of us are these personalities.

The drama intensifies when Jacob convinces Esau to sell him his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew. Were the lentils really that good? Was Esau really that hungry? Or was this a classic case of “I’d trade anything right now for lunch?” The Torah doesn’t say, but it sets the stage for one of the most uncomfortable episodes in our tradition: the blessing deception.

Rebecca overhears Isaac planning to give Esau his blessing. She springs into action, instructing Jacob to disguise himself as his older brother — using goatskins, of all things — and present himself to Isaac. Jacob walks in sounding like Jacob but feeling like Esau. Isaac, whose eyesight has dimmed, hesitates, then decides that confusing voices

and suspiciously furry arms are close enough.

And just like that, the wrong son receives the right blessing. Or perhaps the right son receives the destined blessing by way of a morally dubious route. Scholars have debated this for centuries; siblings have reenacted it emotionally for millennia.

But what does a story of mistaken identity, complicated family dynamics and deceptive blessings have to do with Jewish life in 2025?

A lot, it turns out.

Today, stories of mistaken identities and algorithmic misunderstandings fill the news. Airline passengers discover strangers in their assigned seats. Apparently, airlines still rely on the Isaac method: “The name seems right … the situation seems weird … let’s give a blessing anyway and hope for the best.” In an age of facial recognition, QR codes and boarding groups labeled with letters we never learned in school, even matching the right person with the right seat has become surprisingly complicated.

Toldot asks a timeless question: What happens when we don’t truly see each other? When we rely on assumptions? When we let old patterns, favoritism or incomplete

ENDS

information guide our decisions?

Isaac blesses the wrong son because he cannot see clearly. Rebecca manipulates the situation because she sees only one future. Jacob hides who he is because he fears he won’t be accepted as himself. Esau feels unseen entirely.

The remedy is connection grounded in clarity, honesty and compassion.

We all have blessings to give — far more than Isaac had. Words of encouragement, gratitude, kindness and presence are not finite resources. They don’t require trickery, disguises or goatskins. They simply require that we take the time to see one another as we truly are.

As we read Toldot this week, may we learn to offer blessings generously, receive them graciously and build families and communities where everyone — hairy or smooth, indoorsy or outdoorsy, lentil-lover or not — knows they are valued. JN

Rabbi Jeremy Schneider is the spiritual leader of Temple Kol Ami in Scottsdale and the immediate pastpresident of the Board of Rabbis of Greater Phoenix.

NYC’s yeshivas can offer a well-rounded education. Will Mayor Mamdani help them get there?

ADINA MERMELSTEIN KONIKOFF | JTA

In the most intensely covered mayoral election in generations, the well-being of Jewish New Yorkers became a major flashpoint. And yet, no candidate took a decisive stance on a crisis affecting tens of thousands of Jewish children: the educational conditions at Hasidic and haredi yeshivas.

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has not said much, and the few comments he has made have raised concern for those of us who believe the schools are characterized by grave educational neglect. At a New York Jewish Agenda forum during the primary, he questioned whether the enforcement of basic education standards in yeshivas was possible. This is troubling, given that New York State recently gutted regulations to provide a sound, basic education. In the absence of state oversight, new research has revealed just how deep this educational neglect runs. The sociologist

Matty Lichtenstein captured the most granular data to date of course material in New York City’s Jewish schools, leveraging community researchers to survey dozens of people with on-the-ground knowledge of curriculum.

The results were astounding.

In Hasidic all-boys schools, students spent an average of less than two hours per week on all secular subjects combined.

And STEM education was almost nonexistent for Hasidic high school boys – only 13% of male high school cohorts received any science instruction, and fewer than a quarter received math.

As an advocate for Hasidic and haredi education equity, I have seen that the impact of this deprivation extends far beyond the classroom.

Still, we have reasons for cautious optimism. The curriculum report found that

some Hasidic boys’ schools — a small but important minority — include six to eight hours of secular studies per week. And Hasidic all-girls schools generally offered at least eight hours per week of secular coursework as well as robust religious coursework.

I have met many haredi women who received a balanced education, and they credit it for their success.

These women want schools that honor their faith while preparing their children for the world beyond it. And supporting yeshivas in moving toward this balance would fulfill a core Jewish value: helping others achieve dignity and self-sufficiency.

But elected leaders cannot take action without knowing which schools are denying students an education. And because the state has shirked its role in requiring comprehensive school assessments, exist-

ing public data on Jewish school curriculum is sparse. The mayor and the New York City Department of Education can play a key role here by compiling information on what institutions are teaching.

New York State has betrayed Jewish students by gutting education standards and failing to monitor what they are being taught. As the next mayor of New York City, Mamdani must stand up for the right to learn – ensuring that every Hasidic and haredi Orthodox Jewish child receives an education that honors both their faith and their future. 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.

This piece has been edited for space. For the full article, visit jewishaz.com.

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Find area

Rabbi Jeremy Schneider COURTESY OF RABBI JEREMY SCHNEIDER

Local Jewish jeweler and collage artist among 164 artists in studio art tour

SUE KERN-FLEISCHER | SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

Arizona’s largest and longest-running artist studio tour, “Hidden in the Hills,” takes place during the last two weekends of November: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 21-23 and Nov. 28-30. Coordinated by the nonprofit Sonoran Arts League, this year’s free, selfguided tour features 164 artists at 41 studios throughout the scenic Desert Foothills communities of Cave Creek, Carefree and North Scottsdale.

Now in its 29th year, the event attracts thousands of patrons who appreciate fine art and seek a variety of mediums, styles and price ranges. The art tour also attracts holiday shoppers who want to find original, unique gifts. Each artist’s studio is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. during both weekends of the tour, giving patrons plenty of time to visit multiple studios.

Several artists with Jewish heritage are participating in the popular studio tour, including jeweler Cheryl Senkfor and mixed-media collage artist Mimi Damrauer.

Jeweler inspired after surviving illness

Cheryl Senkfor knows how fortunate she is when she knits delicate 14-karat gold-filled and fine-silver wire into beautiful jewelry designs. A sudden cerebral hemorrhage in 2003 left her paralyzed with an uncertain future. Prior to her illness, she taught adults and children mosaics and ceramics and later expanded her artistic skills to include knitting and weaving with yarn. After her debilitating hemorrhage, she had a mystical experience that prompted her to focus on creating hand-woven artisan jewelry designs.

“During those days when my health was deteriorating, I miraculously heard and envisioned angels that spoke to me. I knew that if I recovered, God had a reason for keeping me alive. I soon realized that one of my missions in life was to design beautiful and imaginative pieces of jewelry,” Senkfor, a Scottsdale resident, said. While her Jewish heritage is important to her and she belongs to a synagogue, she describes her faith as “spiritual.”

During Senkfor’s remarkable recovery, she gained her strength back by knitting unique jewelry pieces for family and friends. As her health and skills improved, she started her “Woven Angel” fine-jewelry business. A self-taught artist, Senkfor knits out of fine metals using the Viking knit technique. The technique is done using only her fingers and different-sized dowel rods. Because she is working with such small, fragile materials, she has to be laser-focused on her knitting technique.

This is Senkfor’s third year participating in Hidden in the Hills. A guest artist at gourd artist Jane Boggs’ Studio No. 25 in Cave Creek, Senkfor will showcase and sell woven earrings, bracelets and necklaces.

“Some of the new pieces I’ll be showing this year include a switchable necklace part that is magnetic. It can be interchangeable with other necklaces, giving you more options to match your wardrobe,” she said.

While the price of gold and silver continues to increase, Senkfor tries to be sensitive to guests who have different budgets. Her fashionable jewelry pieces range in price from $95 to $750.

Mixed-media collage artist focuses on sustainability

Mimi Damrauer returns to Hidden in the Hills for her ninth year, energized by world travel and her time in her studio. The talented mixed-media collage artist creates

large, bold, colorful wall art from small, hand-cut pieces of paper that she paints herself and sews together into one unified whimsical or abstract design. Her vibrant pieces often resemble primitive folk art.

“The collage papers that I use in my work are vintage, recycled and unusual papers that I collect and hand paint over,” Damrauer said. “I am a sewer from a young age and treat my papers like fabrics and sew them together for my collage construction.”

Damrauer grew up in Ohio, surrounded by creativity. She credits her mother for teaching her and her sisters about art and cooking. By age 9, she was teaching herself how to sew at home and taking art lessons at the Toledo Museum of Art.

A North Phoenix resident, Damrauer recently began repurposing older artworks and creating multilayer designs over original paper collage designs.

“I am painting over previous works, just like the master painters did centuries ago,” she said. “It’s in line with my sustainability journey and creates fun layers of paint, design and stitching. I etch out marks to expose random colors, and the original sewn construction beneath adds depth and texture.”

During Hidden in the Hills, Damrauer will exhibit a new “old” upcycled clothing line of one-of-a-kind pieces, and she is excited to introduce a new line of small jewelry “Dangles.” Inspired by her work travels to Paris, France, and Florence, Italy, she incorporates a

handmade “Paper Collage Charm” that she creates out of upcycled papers and vintage jewelry that she curates from street markets during her trips.

While not religious, Damrauer said she is proud of her Jewish heritage and culture. During the artist studio tour, guests can meet her at Sandy Pendleton Glass Studio No. 19 in Cave Creek.

“I am one of six artists at Sandy’s studio, and we have a lot of fun. We’ll be serving mimosas and my beloved mini pumpkin chocolate chip muffins — and I give the recipe out! Come see our diverse art, shop for the holidays or shop for yourself,” she said. JN

For more information, visit HiddenInTheHills.org. To see Cheryl Senkfor’s jewelry designs, visit WovenAngel.com. To view Mimi Damrauer’s mixed-media collage art, visit mimidesignsart.com.

Susan Kern-Fleischer is a freelance writer residing in Phoenix who likes to share inspirational artists’ stories.

Jewelry artist Cheryl Senkfor.

COURTESYOFCHERYLSENKFOR

Artist Mimi Damrauer in her studio. COURTESY OF MIMI DAMRAUER

Artist Cheryl Senkfor demonstrates the Viking knit technique she uses to create her jewelry. COURTESYOFCHERYLSENKFOR

Mimi Damrauer’s piece titled “Warhol Cactus.” COURTESY OF MIMI DAMRAUER

‘Oy to the World’ is cabaret kismet this Chanukah

MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR

Tempe resident Rebecca Weinstein was sitting in the audience watching her husband, Josh Weinstein, perform in Arizona Theatre Company’s production of the holiday musical “Scrooge!” when she thought, “There really should be a Chanukah show in the Valley.”

Then, when she attended a production put on by The Bridge Initiative and the artistic director, Amie Bjorklund, and the producing executive director, Brenda Foley, came out after the show and asked if anyone had an idea for a cabaret-style show for December, “I felt like it was kismet,” said Weinstein.

She pitched her idea for a Chanukah show to the two women, and the result is The Bridge Initiative presenting “Oy to the World: A Hanukkah Musical Revue” on Monday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. at Arizona State University’s Kerr Cultural Center in Scottsdale.

SEE OY, PAGE 12

Arizona Broadway Theatre builds community through performing arts

For 21 seasons, Arizona Broadway Theatre has endeavored to provide a sense of community through live theater, predominantly musical theater. With an ingrained belief that theater makes us better by allowing us to feel the full spectrum of emotions, ABT hopes to shed a light on the human experience, thereby connecting us all.

Season 21 includes 10 mainstage shows that feature show-speciﬁc, curated dinner menus, three Theatre for Young Audiences productions, seven Murder Mystery Theatre o erings and 15 concerts, in addition to special events like the Theatre’s 20th Anniversary Celebration and seasonal teas.

“The shows that make up our 21st season were chosen to excite audiences with our artistic vision and provide a varied theatrical experience,” says Kurtis Overby, ABT artistic director.

The Theatre’s run of “Newsies,” now complete, was a spectacular version of the Disney classic with truly amazing talent, storytelling and choreography. “Newsies” set the stage for the remainder of the ABT season and patrons can expect the same kind of talent and energy in all productions.

The Theatre will now host “A Christmas Story the Musical” and “Million Dollar Quartet” for the holiday season and then “42nd Street,” “Pretty Woman the Musical,” “The Cher Show,” “Cats,” “Avenue Q,” “Grumpy Old Men the Musical” and “The Prom.”

“We are always committed to providing the highest quality performances,” says Overby, “and season 21 will not disappoint.”

In addition to mainstage shows, Arizona Broadway Theatre is proud to present three Theatre for Young Audiences performances that include “The Nutcracker: A Musical,” “Pinkalicious,” with a VIP tea experience available and “Elephant & Piggie’s ‘We Are in a Play!’”

ABT’s commitment to youth programming is an integral part of the Theatre’s mission. Youth programs aim to enrich young lives through performing arts education and exposure. Whether it’s Theatre for Young Audiences, Academy for Young Performers, a widelense theater experience for youth ages 7-18; or HyRev, ABT’s elite performance troupe, ABT endeavors to engage youth with captivating programming that inspires children through storytelling.

“Our Theatre for Young Audiences performances provide many kids in the community their ﬁrst exposure to live theater,” says Stephen Hohendorf, education director. “The goal of our programs is to provide children and teens in our community with a high-quality theater experience, cultivating a life-long interest and appreciation for the arts.”

For more information about education programs, season 21 or to purchase tickets, visit azbroadway.org or call 623-776-8400.

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Josh and Rebecca Weinstein are the creative team behind “Oy to the World: A Hanukkah Musical Revue.” COURTESY OF REBECCA WEINSTEIN

The poster for the show at Arizona State University’s Kerr Cultural Center. COURTESY OF REBECCA WEINSTEIN

The Bridge Initiative is a decade-old, women-led artistic collective that uses theater and media to build bridges in the community.

Bjorklund explained that it has expanded its reach from femalepresenting-driven shows to showcase the stories of underrepresented voices. “We believe in giving opportunities where there aren’t any,” she said. “This is the first time that we produced something that focuses on a specific religion, which I’m very excited about.”

Weinstein holds a degree in theater from Northern Arizona University and has worked with many local theater organizations. Her husband has been performing professionally since age 15 and appears on the official cast recording of “Menopause the Musical.”

She and Josh met at Arizona Broadway Theatre in Peoria when Rebecca was involved with a production of “Cats.” A friend told her they had someone they wanted to fix her up with, and they brought him to the show. “He sat through ‘Cats’ for me, not many people would do that,” Weinstein joked. They share a love of theater, two daughters and are members of Temple Emanuel of Tempe.

She said that she enjoyed the chance to “collaborate and be creative together” because they don’t often get to work on projects like this.

To create the show, she said the couple scoured the internet for obscure, quirky, creative Chanukah songs.

“We made a joke that our main criteria were songs that don’t sound like they were written by a cantor in 1885,” she joked.

The result is a 90-minute show blending Chanukah favorites like “Hanukkah Blessings” by Barenaked Ladies, Broadway favorites such as “You Won’t Succeed On Broadway” from Monty Python’s “Spamalot” and familiar winter songs by Jewish composers, along with storytelling, sing-alongs and more.

Her husband recruited the musical talent by reaching out to people he knew personally, so they have a pianist, a guitarist, a drummer and someone who can play auxiliary instruments.

There was one person in particular that Weinstein wanted to tap for vocals, Stop&Go Shabbat Cantorial Soloist Emily Kaye.

“She and I have worked on some fun events together,” said Weinstein. “She sings and does theater locally as well, and I knew she would be gung-ho for this, so she jumped right in.”

“WE BELIEVE IN GIVING OPPORTUNITIES WHERE THERE AREN’T ANY. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT WE PRODUCED SOMETHING THAT FOCUSES ON A SPECIFIC RELIGION, WHICH I’M VERY EXCITED ABOUT.”

AMIE BJORKLUND

She said there are three Jewish cast members in the ensemble who will be bringing their family history into their performances. Her husband is the only Jewish member of the band, so they have been asking about the proper pronunciation of Yiddish words and there has been a lot of laughter during rehearsals.

Weinstein said the show has silly songs and funny bits in it, and that if someone is not Jewish, they won’t feel out of place. “It’s religious to the extent that we’re celebrating a Jewish holiday, but it’s not about any one denomination,” she said.

Bjorklund reiterated that everyone is welcome and that if someone has a financial hardship with the cost of tickets, they should reach out to The Bridge Initiative directly. “We can figure out a way if they want to be there, but they can’t afford the ticket price,” she said.

“We never want money to be a barrier, so they’re more than welcome to reach out to us.”

When asked if there are plans to continue the show next year so people can have a new annual holiday tradition, the women were hesitant to commit; they didn’t want to jinx this year’s performance.

“In my dream world, we would sell out this one show, and it would be awesome,” said Weinstein. “The house would be full of joy and people in ugly Chanukah sweaters having fun and laughing.” JN

For more information, visit asukerr.com/event/ oy-to-the-world.

This project is funded by a grant from the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix. Jewish News is published by the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix, a component of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix.

The Phoenix Symphony

The Phoenix Symphony’s mission is to provide extraordinary musical experiences that inspire and advance our community. Alongside performances of traditional and modern repertoire in Symphony Hall and across the Valley, our musicians are deeply engaged in the community thanks to generous foundation, corporate and individual support. As we approach our 80th anniversary and with partners who believe in our mission, we have launched CRESCENDO: The Campaign for The Phoenix Symphony, a bold e ort to strengthen our artistic foundation, expand access to music and education and build long-term capacity to serve the Valley for generations. The Symphony is enriched by renowned guest conductors and artists and reaches more than 100,000 students each year while creating meaningful connections for thousands of adults experiencing homelessness, in Alzheimer’s care facilities, hospitals and hospice. To learn more, visit phoenixsymphony.org.

The Phoenix Symphony phoenixsymphony.org

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‘Letters of Light’ is artist’s memorial to Bibas brothers

LEISAH WOLDOFF | SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

As she listened to the beautiful sounds of piano music during a concert at the East Valley Jewish Community Center (EVJCC) in March 2023, Violet Zilman had a vision of white Hebrew letters on canvas flowing on the walls of the multi-purpose room where the concert was held.

This vision inspired her to embark on a project of creating a collection of Hebrew letters, which led her on a journey of self-discovery and healing as it developed into a symbol of strength, survival and resilience after the Oct. 7 attack on Israel. The exhibit will be on display at the EVJCC through spring 2026.

The Scottsdale self-taught artist, who was born in the Soviet Union, pursued degrees in linguistics, pedagogy and science and always had a love for art. “For me, art is a meditation, always rooted in spirituality, which I find essential to balance as exercise or a healthy diet,” she said. She began this new project by dipping pieces of fabric into Plaster of Paris and quickly shaping each letter on a canvas before the material dried.

She initially envisioned that the white designs would be on display in the multipurpose room, but because that room is also used for an indoor play area for the center’s Early Learning Center, EVJCC leadership offered to display the project in the center’s lounge instead.

However, after bringing in an example of some of the letters, it was clear that the white pieces of art on the white walls of the lounge wouldn’t work.

Next, Zilman had an idea of having the letters be colored black with gold highlights. In retrospect, she thinks the dark colors represented a dark period in her life. When her father-in-law was dying, he started sharing some of his traumatic childhood experiences as a victim of antisemitism that he had never shared with anyone before. “It moved me because he lived until 92, and he never spoke about anything like it ever.”

Additionally, the war in Ukraine was happening and she was in touch with relatives who still live there. At the time, inspired by her father-in-law’s stories, she was also interviewing Holocaust survivors from Ukraine who shared their tragic childhood stories during the Holocaust. When she brought a few samples of the dark letters into the EVJCC at the beginning of October 2023, it was determined that they looked too dark for the space and she returned home to reconsider what colors to try next.

However, later that week the barbaric attack on Israel on Oct. 7 halted her plans. “I didn’t have anything left in me to continue with any creative projects after that,” she said.

As she watched the news reports from Israel, the horrific stories from the past that she was hearing from Holocaust survivors became even more real. Between the brutal attack and the global rise of antisemitism, “It’s like it was coming on from all directions. It was a very intense time. All the images became real. The past is now. It was in the past, then it became present right in front of my eyes.”

Zilman has family members who live in Israel, and she has visited areas in the south that were attacked so seeing the news coverage felt very surreal to her. During the months following Oct. 7, she was immersed in the news from Israel, following the Hebrew news reports, and was especially attached to praying for a good outcome for Ariel, 4, and Kfir Bibas, 9 months old. Besides their young ages, she also felt connected to them because they reminded them of her grandmother, who had the same red hair color. She was devastated when the news about their deaths was announced.

She turned to a series of Kabbalah lessons on YouTube, which featured Rabbi Abraham Twerski, OBM, teaching Kabbalah on a deep spiritual level, talking about the meaning of every Hebrew letter.

She remembered her unfinished project and decided to paint the letters as she was learning about each letter. “The Hebrew letters are actually the GPS for the soul because they were given for a reason,” she said. “Every letter guides you through any moment in life.”

By the time she finished painting the 22nd letter, she said she received her strength back. “I still have my emotions, but I understand my internal self much better because it’s a very interesting transformation when you start looking

deep on the spiritual meaning of every single letter, what it means, and how you can reflect it on yourself. It’s a very deep psychological healing that takes place when you start working letter by letter.”

A collection of Hebrew letters in the “Letters of Light” exhibit at the East Valley Jewish Community Center.

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, o ering 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

LETTERS

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

Zilman said she didn’t plan any of the colors she used and didn’t have an overall plan. She painted them randomly, not in any order and “just knew” the colors to use on each letter. “It was like all these white canvases became alive.”

At the start of her project, she thought her original vision, with the darker colors, was going to be dedicated to her fatherin-law, “but it wasn’t meant to be for that.” Since he survived the Holocaust and lived until age 92, he was blessed, she explained. “But some kids didn’t get so lucky.”

She decided instead to dedicate her project to the Bibas brothers who “never had a chance to learn the Hebrew letters.”

The colors of “Letters of Light” ended up being bright and fun because they represent the children who perished and never had a chance to learn the letters, she said. “Behind them stand countless other children – from the Holocaust to centuries of persecution – who lost their lives simply for being Jewish.”

“Each of the 22 Hebrew letters flows across its canvas in bright colors mixed with metallic paint that catches light like something divine,” she wrote in a description about the collection. “But

the heart of each piece lies in the splashes of primary colors – bold reds, blues and yellow painted the way children naturally paint, messy and pure. These splashes represent all the young hands that will never hold brushes again, voices silenced before they could learn these sacred shapes.”

The collection is as much for the kids as it is for adults, she explained. “My main message is that in these dark times when our surroundings are not so friendly, we have to get back to the core and find inner strength. The strength comes when you know who you are and how to stand tall and strong despite what’s happening around you.”

As she wrote in her collection description: “The Hebrew letters have survived everything – empires, hatred, unthinkable loss. They’ve endured through darkness, carrying forward wisdom and dreams across generations. In my work, they stand resilient against the chaos, beautiful and unbroken.” JN

For more information, visit evjcc.org.

Leisah Woldoff is a freelance writer based in Phoenix.

Minkoff Center celebrates 20 years of helping people make informed decisions

MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR

Hundreds of denim-clad guests (the invite said Genes=Jeans, welcoming, even encouraging, denim) filled the Dolce Events venue in Scottsdale on Oct. 23, for Genes and Generosity, celebrating the Minkoff Center for Jewish Genetics’ (MCJG) 20th anniversary.

“For 20 years, the Minkoff Center has been a trusted resource for Arizona’s Jewish community, founded on the belief that knowledge is power and every family deserves a healthy future,” said Wendy Carriere, MCJG’s executive director.

“Every day, we help couples plan with confidence, guide individuals to act early when risks are found and stand beside families with compassion and expertise.”

When the MCJG first began, screening covered just four conditions. “Now we test for over 200 conditions and have switched from requiring a blood sample to an at-home saliva sample,” said Sarah Cox, genetic counselor-preconception. “We previously held just two community screening events per year and now offer screening throughout the year, making it far more accessible.”

Established in 2004 by Dr. Sherman and Andi Minkoff, the Jewish Genetic Diseases Center of Greater Phoenix was created to provide awareness, education and screening for Jewish genetic diseases. In 2019, the organization was renamed the Minkoff Center for Jewish Genetics in Sherman’s honor, who passed away in 2018.

Andi Minkoff reflected on the award named after her “beloved husband and co-founder of the center” before presenting the Sherman Minkoff Mensch Award to Jill and Lee Weiss.

The Weisses have been part of the organization since the beginning, and Lee served as board treasurer for nearly

a decade. “Twenty years of unwavering commitment, leadership and hope,” said Minkoff. “From day one, they believed in our mission to educate, empower and care for families in Arizona’s Jewish community.”

Lee Weiss shared the story of Sherman Minkoff asking him to be on the board. Weiss told him he was flattered, but that he didn’t know a gene from a chromosome. Minkoff assured him that they had plenty of doctors on the board for that; what they needed was a businessman.

Weiss agreed to take the position if Minkoff would take some personal time to teach him about genetics. Weiss said he came to the first meeting with a pad and pen, but Minkoff just wanted to know more about him. Several of these meetings occurred, and Minkoff always steered the conversation.

“As you can tell by my story thus far, he never taught me anything about genes and chromosomes. I just picked it up at the board meetings,” said Weiss. “I always thought I was helping build something from the ground up, and it was very rewarding. I have to tell you how meaningful it is to be honored by receiving this award.”

Carriere then introduced keynote speaker Gila Pfeffer, author of “Nearly Departed: Adventures in Loss, Cancer, and Other Inconveniences” and the creator of the viral campaign “Feel It On The First,” which uses tongue-in-cheek humor to prompt women to prioritize their breast health.

“My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer at 40 and died at 42. Many years earlier, when I was a newborn, her mother, my grandmother, died of breast and ovarian cancer at 49. I lost my mom when I was 20 years old,” said Pfeffer.

GIVING NEVER GIVES UP

Guests gathered at the gala were encouraged to wear denim. COURTESY OF SARA WATERMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Being able to feed your family is a value I know we share.

Right here in Phoenix, more people are experiencing food insecurity every day. Your support of The Arizona Kosher Food Pantry provides vital nutrition for those in need — people like you and me who are working hard to build better lives for themselves and their families.

Let me share a story about Kathy, a retired teacher with a heart for helping others. Yet even those who give so much sometimes ﬁnd themselves in need. When Kathy learned about the pantry, she became a weekly visitor.

“It’s a blessing,” she says. “Sometimes we take care of others so much, we forget to ask for help ourselves.”

Every day, we distribute over 1,000 pounds of food, and by the end of the day, our shelves are bare. Many others rely on our deliveries because they cannot make it to the pantry. Right now, we don’t have the transportation needed to reach them. With a truck and a driver, we could do so much more. That’s why we’ve set a goal of $50,000 — to purchase a truck, pay for a driver and cover insurance so we can increase our reach and e ciency.

The need has never been greater. We now serve more than 60 people each day — feeding over 350 individuals every week — and provide weekly Shabbat meals for over 10 families. Requests for deliveries continue to grow, and without a truck, many go unmet.

This work is profoundly important, and we cannot do it without you.

Your gift, whether $50, $100, or $500, will change someone’s life. You’ll help provide the food and dignity that every person deserves.

With gratitude,

Nina Targovnik President of the Board

You

can give at azkosherpantry.org or scan the QR code

CENTER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

She said it was the early ‘90s, a time before the internet and genetic testing, but it didn’t take her long to see a pattern emerging or to realize that if she didn’t do something, she’d likely be next in line.

“So, at 20 years old, I found a breast specialist and went in for regular, frequent monitoring,” she said. She got married at 25 and was advised by her doctor that if she was going to have children, she should be finished by 35, to minimize her exposure to estrogen. So, she had four children and was done by the age of 33.

When she was 30, her father died from colon cancer, and she became the oldest living member of her entire family. “That’s when my prevention, or previvorship, really kicked into high gear. I had to work even harder to reverse my family’s cycle of early death,” she said.

She soon learned about genetic testing, specifically testing for the BRCA gene mutation.

“It comes in two main varieties, BRCA1 and BRCA2,” she explained. “When working properly, BRCA1 and BRCA2 are tumor suppressor genes. They help protect the body from developing certain cancers. But when the mutation is present, the same genes can dramatically increase the rate of breast and ovarian cancer.”

Before her blood was even drawn, regardless of the results, she decided that she would undergo a prophylactic double mastectomy with reconstruction.

Shortly after receiving the news that she was BRCA1 positive, she learned that the BRCA gene was discovered in 1994, the very same year that her mom died. “She was as much a victim of unfortunate timing as she was of her genetics,” she said.

At the age of 34, as a mother of four kids, ages one through seven, Pfeffer underwent a nine-hour, risk-reducing double mastectomy with reconstruction using her stomach fat. “And let me tell you, after popping out four kids in quick succession, I had plenty to donate to the cause,” she joked.

After the surgery, her constant fear of cancer lifted, but on the eve of Thanksgiving 2008, her surgeon called

Thanks to a generous $10,000 matching challenge, every dollar you give will be doubled —allowing us to reach even more people in their moments of crisis.

With our own truck, we’ll be able to: ∙ Pick up larger food donations more regularly ∙ Deliver Kosher meals to families across Phoenix

∙ Once again serve patients in hospitals and rehabilitation centers

Arizona Kosher Food Pantry  7118 N. 7th St., Phoenix, AZ 85020 ✆ 602-492-4989 |  azkosherpantry.org Ezras Cholim (EIN 47-5645369) is a non-profit (IRC) Section 501 (c) (3) organization Ezras Cholim is also a Qualified Charitable Organization/QCO and you may use code: 22071 for your additional Donation Tax Credit $987 for married filing jointly filers or $495 for single

Andi Minkoff, left, presented the Sherman Minkoff Mensch Award to Jill and Lee Weiss.

HAVE YOU EATEN TODAY?

Donate to help someone else eat, too.

Get a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for your donation with the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit, up to $495 for individuals and $987 for couples ﬁling jointly.

CENTER CONTINUED FROM PAGE 16

to say that the lab had found two early, but aggressive, cancers in one breast.

She went through eight rounds of chemotherapy followed by the removal of her ovaries, since BRCA mutations also carry a high risk of ovarian cancer.

“Losing my parents young made me vigilant and risk averse, but it also made me want to arm myself with as much knowledge as possible, so I could formulate a plan and play offense,” said Pfeffer.

Some take the opposite view. She’s heard from many people who tell her, “I’d rather not know, it’s too scary.” And she does understand that point of view.

“But however scary it feels to know you have an elevated risk; it’s a hell of a lot scarier not to know, because whatever is there, is there, whether you acknowledge it or not,” she said.

She said that even her own sisters didn’t immediately connect that what had happened to their mother could happen to them. But when Pfeffer shared the news that, despite all her vigilance, screening, healthy living and surgery, her doctors still found cancer, they ran to get tested.

“Both of my middle sisters tested positive for the BRCA mutation,” she shared. “And both of them went on to have preventative surgeries in their 20s, and both came back with clear results. Between them, they’ve

since had 10 children.”

She said that identifying the risk gives you the power to reduce it. And there are many risk-reducing options available; a preventative mastectomy is not the only one. There’s close monitoring, medication and lifestyle changes.

Pfeffer admitted everyone’s comfort level is different, but the idea is to have all of your options laid out before you decide how to proceed. The key is knowledge. You can’t make an informed decision without knowing your risk profile.

“I am the first woman in four generations on my mother’s side to reach the age of 50,” she said. “Four out of five of her children have outlived her, thank God. That is the power of prevention. That is the power of knowledge and acting on it in time.” JN For more information, visit GetScreenedAZ.org.

St. Mary’s Food Bank

John, a Vietnam veteran, served his country for nearly ﬁve years. Now retired, he lives with his son and grandson.

“I’ve always been a workaholic,” he said, reﬂecting on his youth, both during his service and afterward.

Even after retirement, John continued to support his family, even when his son lost his job. “My son was out of work for awhile and moved in with me. He’s working for the city now.”

Despite his resilience, John’s health took a sudden turn. What was supposed to be a routine surgery went wrong. “They had to do the surgery again,” he said. “I was just recently released from the hospital. Before the surgery, I was bedridden.”

Although John spent his life working and taking care of others, he now found himself needing help. During those hard months, the support from St. Mary’s Food Bank became a lifeline.

“I eat everything that I can, and my son is the same way. But my grandson is picky,” he chuckled.

As John recovers, he is deeply grateful for supporters like you who have eased the burden on his family, ensuring putting food on the table is one less worry during his healing. “Thank you,” John said. “I appreciate everything you guys do.”

Advertorial

Author Gila Pfeffer, left, with Wendy Carriere, executive director of Minkoff Center for Jewish Genetics. COURTESY OF SARA WATERMAN PHOTOGRAPHY

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We serve as trustee, conservator, and advocate, helping individuals with disabilities, special needs, or limited resources protect their assets and maintain essential benefits like Social Security and Medicaid. Our team works closely with families, attorneys, and care providers to create plans built around one goal: long-term security and quality of life.

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Together, we can continue building futures filled with compassion, protection, and peace of mind, one person at a time.

GivingTuesday: From small Jewish partnership to ‘global generosity movement’

MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR

GivingTuesday annually falls on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving, this year on Dec. 2. Launched in 2012 as a partnership between the 92nd Street Y in New York (92NY)— a Jewish cultural and community institution with a long legacy of civic involvement — and the United Nations Foundation, the idea was simple but transformative: dedicate a day, right after the biggest shopping weekend of the year, to giving back.

“We knew Tuesday was in play, not claimed by any major commercial tradition, not an off-limits holy day to any major faith,” said Henry Timms, the 92NY’s deputy executive director in 2012, who helped draw up GivingTuesday with the late Sol Adler, longtime executive director of the 92NY.

The contrast between the intense commercial focus of Thanksgiving weekend and the relative lack of attention on philanthropy during the same period struck the leaders of the 92NY and the United Nations Foundation. They saw an opportunity to reclaim the season’s spirit of gratitude by creating a dedicated day of giving.

The idea was deliberately uncomplicated. There would be no required platform, no mandated causes and no national oversight structure. Instead, GivingTuesday would operate as an open-source movement, inviting nonprofits, community groups, schools, businesses and individuals to participate however they wished. Whether donating money, volunteering time, collecting goods or doing small acts of kindness, everyone could take part.

The hashtag #GivingTuesday was created and a website was launched that offered ways for people to become involved and a Generosity Toolbox with creative strategies, tactics and ideas.

The movement caught on quickly. Social media campaigns, local partnerships and its universal message of generosity helped GivingTuesday spread across the country within its first year. The movement soon spread internationally as dozens of countries adapted the idea to their own cultural and philanthropic traditions. Today, it is celebrated in more than 90 countries and generates hundreds of millions of dollars in charitable giving annually.

GivingTuesday resonates deeply with Jewish teachings. Tzedakah (charitable giving) and gemilut chasadim (acts of loving-kindness) are central pillars of Jewish life, guiding individuals toward responsibility and compassion.

In addition to fundraising, the movement has become a launchpad for local initiatives, from matching campaigns led by businesses to youth-driven service programs in schools. Its open, collaborative nature means that no single institution controls it; the movement’s strength comes from the creativity and goodwill of the communities that participate.

The genius of GivingTuesday is that it enables charitable organizations and corporations to use technology to channel small donations. Though large contributions make an enormous difference in many philanthropic endeavors, a wide base of volunteers and small donations often have a greater impact on the cumulative generosity of a society. The person who gives $10 may be making a greater personal sacrifice than the milliondollar donor. And bear in mind that most large givers started small.

An added bonus for Arizona residents on GivingTuesday is that they have an opportunity to receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit by making contributions to charitable organizations listed on the Arizona Department of Revenue’s website (azdor.gov). Individuals who make cash donations to these qualifying charities may claim these tax credits on their Arizona personal income tax returns.

While its scale has expanded, GivingTuesday has kept its core message intact: generosity is a universal value, and everyone has something to give. Organizers often describe it as a “global generosity movement” rather than a fundraising event.

In a world that often feels divided and commercialized, GivingTuesday offers a reminder that the holiday season can also be a time of compassion, unity and purpose. What began as a simple idea in a New York community center has become one of the most significant days on the philanthropic calendar. And each year, as people embrace the spirit of giving in ways both big and small, the movement continues to grow, not because of any single organization, but because generosity itself is a powerful force. JN

For more information, visit givingtuesday.org. This article incorporated material from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.

link: JewishParadiseValley.com/YJPclass. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

Weekly Mahjong: 1-3 p.m. Temple Solel, 6805 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley. Join Temple Solel each Thursday afternoon for mahjong. Lessons available for beginners. Cost: Free. RSVP via email to dottiebefore@gmail.com so they know how many tables to set up.

Torah Portion Class: 7 p.m. Online or in person. Chabad Lubavitch of Fountain Hills, 16830 E. Avenue of the Fountains, Fountain Hills. Join Rabbi Mendy Lipskier for a discussion of the weekly parshah and gain new insights to the Torah. For more information, visit jewishfountainhills.com.

Teen Discussions: 7-8:30 p.m. Online. Learn with Rabbi Tzvi Rimler. Use this link: cteen.clickmeeting.com/east-valley. Cost: Free. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

SATURDAYS

Saturday Mindfulness Gatherings: 9:30 a.m. Online. Hosted by Hospice of the Valley. To join by phone, dial 1-253-215-8782, meeting ID 486 920 2119#. To get the Zoom link or for more information, contact Gill Hamilton at ghamilton@hov.org or 602-748-3692.

Book Discussion: 1:30-2:30 p.m. Online. Join Or Adam Congregation for Humanistic Judaism on the third Saturday of every month for a book discussion. For more information and to register, contact oradaminfo@gmail.com.

Shabbat

FRIDAYS

Tot Shabbat: 9:30 a.m. Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N. Scottsdale 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 in Sun Lakes: 7-9 p.m. Sun Lakes Chapel, 9240 E. Sun Lakes Blvd. North, Sun Lakes. Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation conducts Reform Shabbat services on the second Friday of each month. New members welcome. For more information, call 480-612-4413 or 480-580-1592.

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.

Seniors

MONDAYS

Fitness Xpress Series with Zoe: 11-11:30 a.m. Online. Presented by JFCS Center for Senior Enrichment. Workout features weight and band exercises as well as yoga poses. Exercises will be demonstrated standing, but can also be done sitting in a chair. Cost: Free. For more information, visit jfcsaz.org/cse.

Sip & Schmooze: 11 a.m. milk + honey, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Sip on kosher coffee or tea, enjoy a pastry and schmooze every second Monday of the month. RSVP appreciated to chani@sosaz.org or 602-492-7670. For more information, visit sosaz.org.

Featured Presentation: 12:30 p.m. Online. Join Smile on Seniors Mondays and Wednesdays to learn from a variety of presenters about topical issues, like Q&As with medical professionals, entertainers and lectures. Cost: Free. For more information, visit sosaz.org/virtual or email Rabbi Levi Levertov at levi@sosaz.org.

TUESDAYS

Movie Discussion Group: 11 a.m. Online. Join Smile on Seniors on the third Tuesday of every month hosted by Issy Lifshitz. Cost: Free. For full details and the movie of the month visit sosaz.org/virtual or email Rabbi Levi Levertov at levi@sosaz.org.

WEDNESDAYS

Fitness Fun with Zoe: 10-10:45 a.m. Online. Presented by JFCS Center for Senior Enrichment. Workout features light chair exercises with optional weights. Cost: Free. For more information, visit jfcsaz.org/cse.

THURSDAYS

Memory Cafe: 10-11 a.m. first Thursday; 1-2 p.m. third Thursday. Online. Presented by Jewish Family & Children’s Service. Program for those with changes in their thinking or memory,

MILESTONES

mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease or a related disorder, along with their care partners. For more information, visit jfcsaz.org/our-services/older-adult-services/ memory-cafe/.

In the Kitchen with Benita: 12:30 p.m. Join Smile on Seniors on the fourth Thursday of every month for some delicious cooking or baking fun! Cost: Free. For full details visit sosaz.org/virtual or email Rabbi Levi Levertov at levi@sosaz.org.

FRIDAYS

Musical Friday: 12:30 p.m. Online. Join Smile on Seniors on the first Friday of every month for a musical presentation. Cost: Free. For full details visit sosaz.org/virtual or email Rabbi Levi Levertov at levi@sosaz.org. JN

Lilah Nicole Sabraw will become a bat mitzvah on Dec. 6, 2025, at Temple Solel. She is the daughter of Benjamin and Jennifer Sabraw of Scottsdale.

For her mitzvah project, Lilah organized a drive to collect items for seniors who are isolated during the holidays and then provided the donations to Jewish Family & Children’s Service. A student at Rancho Solano Preparatory, Lilah enjoys baking, theater, swimming, tennis and playing the piano. JN

Lloyd Douglas Levinsky | May 22, 1937 – Nov. 2, 2025

Lloyd Levinsky, beloved husband, father, grandfather, partner and friend, passed away peacefully at his home in Scottsdale on Nov. 2, 2025, following an 18-month battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 88. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Lloyd excelled as a studentathlete, earning a basketball scholarship to the University of Houston. He later built a successful career in Arizona as an entrepreneur and commercial land broker. Throughout his life he was known for his integrity, generosity and steady devotion to family and friends. Golf remained his greatest passion, and he took pride in the close community he and his wife, Susan, created while raising their three children. They also had seven grandchildren.

After Susan’s passing in 2018, Lloyd continued to live with purpose, finding new companionship and joy with his partner, Sandy, whose family welcomed him with warmth and affection.

Lloyd is survived by his children Stuart (Nicole), Dale (Greg) and Michael; his brother Richard; six grandchildren; and many lifelong friends. A private memorial was held in Scottsdale. Donations in his memory may be made to Hospice of the Valley.

Zalman Segal

The family of Zalman Segal a”h regrets to inform you of his passing, at the age of 96, on Oct. 24, 2025, 2 Cheshvan.

Zalman was born on Nov. 28, 1928, in Palestine and emigrated to the United States as a child with his family. In 1967, he moved to Phoenix, Arizona with his cherished wife, Pearl a”h (nee Posner), where they raised their five children and eca e co unity pioneers e was the founding father of eth oseph ongregation, the hoeni e rew Acade y and the hoeni i vah

As the local shochet, utcher and restaurant owner he was well nown and eloved for his indness and generosity to his e ployees and his honest and fair usiness dealings with vendors and customers. Known to be an early riser with meticulous punctuality, he remained an avid shul goer that congregants could count on, and he remained steadfast to Torah and mitzvot throughout his life.

A consummate patriarch, he led his family with strength and humility, overcoming challenges and health struggles over the years with dignity and positivity e en oyed helping his wife a e, celebrating holidays, playing card games and going on cruises with friends and grandchildren. e is preceded in death y his wife, si lings and granddaughter ova a h e is survived y five children, a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren who adored hi e leaves ehind a robust legacy of eternal Jewish values and will forever remain a role model of quiet strength and perseverance for his fa ily, and all those who new hi

LILAH NICOLE SABRAW

BAT MITZVAH