Mesa City Council appoints Judge Geoffrey Balon as a new magistrate
GRAB THE POPCORN 10 unexpected movies that capture the spirit of the High Holidays
hen Josh Anson, Trevor Harvey, David Oberstein and Ryan Shanken met up last weekend at Camp Daisy and Harry Stein, they literally walked down memory lane from the recreation center full of memorabilia — including a wall tile with their names and photos on it — to the upper quad, fire pit, bathhouse and all the spots in between. For the four friends, known to everyone as the “Jew Crew,” every part of Camp Stein exudes memories of playing sports, pulling pranks
SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER
The Jew Crew brought their kids to Camp Stein for PJ Library Family Camp. Pictured from left are crew members David Oberstein, Josh Anson, Ryan Shanken and Trevor Harvey.
about her Judaism with her fellow council members and speaking out for her rights
and learning how to talk to girls.
The four men, with their oldest children in tow, attended the sixth annual PJ Library Family Camp Sept. 20-22, on the grounds of Camp Stein, located on the outskirts of Prescott. PJ Library Phoenix is a program of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.
Anson, Harvey, Oberstein and Shanken returned to the place where their friendship, first forged at Temple Emanuel of Tempe years earlier, solidified into a strong and enduring kinship, something beyond that of most other friend groups.
“Those years when we were there, we were the lifeblood of that camp,” Oberstein told Jewish News. “We were all Jewish, but if you said the ‘Jew Crew,’ everyone would know they meant Trevor, Ryan, Josh and David.”
January
Throughout the years, they were campers and then counselors at Camp Stein. Other friends moved in and out of their sphere but “the relationship between the four of us was pretty unique,” Shanken said.
That’s something Marcy Lewis, PJ Library Phoenix’s program director, can appreciate. Lewis runs the camp with Laura Drachler, her close friend and fellow camper.
April 7
April 21
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“We grew up together, went to Camp Stein together and now we get to do this together. We love each other and it’s really special to share it with others,” Lewis said.
June 9
July 14
August 4
Lewis is excited to help parents, who have their own happy memories of Jewish overnight summer camps, introduce their children to all the typical camp experiences, including games, hikes, arts and crafts, s’mores by the campfire and, of course, a special Shabbat.
had to apply and demonstrate that she had something valuable to contribute, he said. “She’s on the council because she
She already has some practice at
about her Judaism with her fellow council members and speaking out for her rights
“One time, I was in class and someone called me the R-word and I told him not to. The teacher was in the hallway and another student repeated the word,” she said. Rather than letting the situation go, she told her theater teacher, who was able
She already has some practice at
“One time, I was in class and someone called me the R-word and I told him not to. The teacher was in the hallway and another student repeated the word,” she said. Rather than letting the situation go, she told her theater teacher, who was able
“If someone has a disability, saying the R-word is like saying the F-word,”
“If someone has a disability, saying the R-word is like saying the F-word,”
While performing in the musical “Hairspray,” she had another occasion to tangle with the offensive word, which
While performing in the musical “Hairspray,” she had another occasion to tangle with the offensive word, which
“She’s on the council because she deserves to be on the council,” he said. Stern is creating a life and career as a things that matter to her.” Stern looks forward to sharing insights
to thrive,” Meyers said. “She’s very gregarious and passionate about the things that matter to her.”
Stern looks forward to sharing insights
“That’s really bad and my friend said it on stage. I was not OK with that, so I went to the director and told her it was a bad word for people with disabilities, but she wouldn’t take it out,” Stern said. She let her mother know about the conflict and they were able to convince the director of the need to remove the
“That’s really bad and my friend said it on stage. I was not OK with that, so I went to the director and told her it was a bad word for people with disabilities, but she wouldn’t take it out,” Stern said.
She let her mother know about the conflict and they were able to convince the director of the need to remove the
“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
“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
“That was hard; it’s very hard to get emotions out and I was very, very upset,”
Heart Can’t Even Believe It: A Story of Science, Love and Down Syndrome,” Silverman’s book about her daughter. When Gesher’s speakers’ bureau, Damon Brooks & Associates, was asked to find a speaker about Down syndrome for an event this spring, Hummell first asked Silverman to speak, thinking Stern might be too young.
Heart Can’t Even Believe It: A Story of Science, Love and Down Syndrome,” Silverman’s book about her daughter. When Gesher’s speakers’ bureau, Damon Brooks & Associates, was asked to find a speaker about Down syndrome for an event this spring, Hummell first asked Silverman to speak, thinking Stern might be too young.
They decided instead that Stern should tell her own story; it’s a real bonus that she is not afraid of public speaking.
“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.
“That was hard; it’s very hard to get emotions out and I was very, very upset,”
On the recent anniversary of his death, Stern made a cake and took it to the
On the recent anniversary of his death, Stern made a cake and took it to the
“I don’t know how I did it without crying. I’m so proud of myself,” she said.
“It’s not the same when someone tries to tell a person’s story for them,” Hummell said.
Amy Hummell, executive director of Gesher Disability Resources, agreed that Stern is a good fit for ADDPC because
“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.
Hummell co-hosted a book event with Meyers a few years ago for “My
Amy Hummell, executive director of Gesher Disability Resources, agreed that Stern is a good fit for ADDPC because of her ability to self-advocate.
Hummell co-hosted a book event with Meyers a few years ago for “My
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Additionally, helping people with disabilities find jobs was one of the reasons for acquiring the bureau. Unemployment in the disability community is upwards of 75% and of that percentage, 75% are ready, willing and able to work — but haven’t been given the opportunity, Hummell said.
“People have it in them to speak up but don’t know how, and often they’re not cheered on. Sophie has family support
“People have it in them to speak up but don’t know how, and often they’re not cheered on. Sophie has family support
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Sophie Stern at her
Sophie Stern at her high school graduation
12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 201, Scottsdale, AZ 85254
The teenage Jew Crew at Camp Stein. Pictured from left are Trevor Harvey, Josh Anson, David Oberstein and Ryan Shanken. COURTESY OF TREVOR HARVEY
The Jew Crew at the Grand Canyon. Pictured from left are David Oberstein, Trevor Harvey, Ryan Shanken and Josh Anson. COURTESY OF TREVOR HARVEY
“We want it to be as close as possible to a traditional camp weekend,” Lewis said. The Jew Crew are excited for their kids, who all know one another, to see their old stomping grounds. This will be the first time at camp they’ll have to take small children to the bathroom in the middle of the night and ensure they don’t roll off the bunk beds.
“When we were campers and counselors we were thinking about totally different things,” Harvey laughed.
Somewhere between planned activities, like decorating their doors and doing yoga, there was a lot of time for reminiscing. It isn’t as if the crew members have to catch one another up on the day-to-day minutiae of their lives. More like brothers than friends, the four have stayed tight. They talk all the time and even their wives have become good friends. Oberstein lives in Los Angeles; the others are located in the Valley. Whatever the logistical obstacles, the four are committed to their children growing up together and most likely attending the same Jewish summer camp.
Last September, Harvey took one son, the oldest of the “Jew Crew” kids, to Family Camp at Camp Stein and got the lay of the land. He told his three pals that it would be the perfect guy trip and a chance “to get the kids started early” on their journey to being the next generation’s Jew Crew.
But as excited as they were to take the kids on a big tour of the place, “the weekend was definitely more for us,” Shanken said.
“It’s a good experience for the four of us to get together with our kids and make a new memory. They won’t appreciate it yet, but in a few years, hopefully, they will,” he said.
The crew’s friendship predates summer camp. They first became fast friends at Temple Emanuel of Tempe when they were about five years old. They lived fairly close to each other but most of their lives they attended different schools. Thus,
Temple Emanuel became a convenient hangout, Oberstein said.
“Teachers kind of hated us because we were there just to hang out with each other. We got confirmed and went to Hebrew school on Mondays and Wednesdays until we were 16 even, but it was just to hang out,” he said.
Harvey echoed his memory.
“Emmanuel drove the relationship, and then when we started all going to summer camp, that kept us super, super close,” he said.
The summers they spent at Camp Stein were memorable for a lot of reasons, from competing in various sports, to talking and laughing at night by a fire, to meeting girls and first kisses.
It was also the place where Oberstein “really felt Jewish pride” for the first time. He didn’t love Hebrew school or religious services, but at Camp Stein, “I felt proud to be a Jew and realized that being a Jew was cool,” he said.
For Anson, Camp Stein was the place where he discovered his independence and learned about himself as a person apart from his parents.
“I always remember that feeling coming home from camp and thinking, ‘Oh, I’m back at my parent’s house, and there’s nothing to do, and all my friends are gone.’ Camp gave us freedom and let us be kids at the same time,” he said.
Harvey started at Camp Stein as a camper, became a counselor, a sports specialist, a unit head and even volunteered in the summer after college before getting “a real job.”
He remembers all the pranks, color wars, dances and hikes, “but it’s the life lessons that make camp so meaningful,” he said. At camp, one has to learn a measure of independence, simply because there are no parents to help you out.
“You start feeling comfortable in your own skin, even if it’s half exposed as you trek up that hill, still wet from a shower at the old bathhouse. You learn how to negotiate and resolve conflicts. You learn
how to be bored, how to laugh and even how to cry. You learn how to be creative, how to sing, dance, take care of siblings and write letters home. In short, camp prepared me for life,” he said.
Shanken didn’t become a camper until he was in middle school because he was nervous about being homesick.
“Camp was a true community,” he said. For 10 months of the year, most of the kids didn’t see one another, “but for that month, or two months, in the summer, nobody outside of camp mattered. We were together 24/7, we learned about life together and that was special.”
He was always ready to go back to camp, and now he’s excited to share the experience with his child, his crew and their kids.
“Camp Stein was special and the fact that we’ve taking the first opportunity to go back there with our kids shows how important the place is, even 15 years after the fact. It’s a pretty special place,” he said. JN
For more information on Camp Daisy and Harry Stein, visit campstein.org.
Jewish News is published by the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix, a component of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix.
Mesa appoints Jewish judge to municipal court
SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER
Last month, the Mesa City Council appointed Judge Geoffrey Balon as a new magistrate on its Municipal Court. Balon, who is Jewish, believes that his experience as a religious minority makes him a better judge.
“When you have the perspective of being a religious minority with a history of being treated unfairly at times, it gives you the ability to connect with the people who come before you,” he told Jewish News.
Anyone who comes into his court, be they victim or defendant, must feel the judge can understand them, he said.
“My involvement in the Jewish community has given me that ability,” he said.
Balon was a civil attorney in the Mesa City Attorney’s Office, the deputy county attorney at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and a judicial law clerk at the Arizona Supreme Court.
Retired Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court Scott Bales, Balon’s former boss, highlighted Balon’s capacity for fairness in the letter of recommendation he wrote to Mesa’s judicial advisory board.
"IT’S IMPORTANT AS A JUDGE TO BE INDEPENDENT, FAIR AND IMPARTIAL, NO MATTER WHO IS IN THE COURTROOM. REGARDLESS OF WHAT PEOPLE BELIEVE, EVEN HATEFUL BELIEFS, THEY CAN’T IMPACT MY VIEW."
JUDGE GEOFFREY BALON
“He (Balon) appropriately considers the views of others and treats everyone with courtesy and respect,” Bales said.
He went on to say that anyone who came before Balon “would view Mr. Balon as having the character and temperament they would hope to see in a judge.”
He advised the Mesa Police Department when he was an attorney at the Mesa City Attorney’s Office and prosecuted violent and organized crime members at the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. He learned how to confront extremism
both by prosecuting white supremacists and training police how to investigate hate crimes.
your
“It was meaningful for me, having grown up in justice and fairness for all, to prosecute folks who had motives based on race, religion and gender. It was something I was proud to do,” Balon said.
Balon is a graduate of the AntiDefamation League’s (ADL) Glass Leadership Institute, which offers an insider’s perspective of ADL’s programs and a deep understanding of the strategies employed to confront antisemitism and hate. Participants engage in interactive sessions on a broad range of topics and that education helped him learn how to identify hate groups and understand their mission.
However, he still prioritizes fairness regardless of how he may feel about those who come before him as a judge.
“It’s important as a judge to be independent, fair and impartial, no matter who is in the courtroom. Regardless of what people believe, even hateful beliefs, they can’t impact my view,” he said.
He also appreciated the ADL’s good relationship with law enforcement, which benefited his own role working with Mesa’s police. He added that the ADL cares about civil rights and justice.
“The Jewish community believes in the First Amendment and, as a judge, I will make sure everyone can exercise those rights within the law,” he said.
Balon is an active member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and was appointed to the IACP’s Human and Civil Rights Committee in 2024.
Balon is a Phoenix native and attended the University of Arizona both as an
undergraduate and law student. He became a bar mitzvah at Congregation Beth Israel, where he still attends High Holiday services. He is also a graduate of Hebrew High, a program of the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix. He first developed an interest in leadership as a student at Saguaro High School in Scottsdale. He then became a leader in BBYO’s fraternity, Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA).
“I was part of a brotherhood of Jewish teens and it was all about leadership,” he said.
While part of AZA, Balon met Zach Charnofsky. The two became lifelong friends.
“Geoff has a Jewish soul. He pursues righteousness and good deeds. He is a thinker, elevates a conversation and meets you where you are,” Charnofsky told Jewish News in an email.
At 18, Balon went to Israel on Birthright, was active in Hillel at U of A and was president of Alpha Epsilon Pi (AEPi), a Jewish fraternity.
“Even back then I knew he was going places,” Charnofsky said. “I asked if he would autograph the back of an AEPi business card for me. He was destined for greatness.”
As a parent of two children, both students at Pardes Jewish Day School, Balon wants to instill Jewish values and celebrates Shabbat with them weekly. He likes to focus on the task at hand, but he’s also excited about his new role.
“Justice is what I’m passionate about,” he said. “What I’ve found is when you devote yourself to an ideal like tikkun olam, doors open up in ways you never expected. That’s been true for my career.” JN
Judge Geoffrey Balon was sworn in as a new municipal court judge in Mesa during a Mesa City Council on Monday, Aug. 19 by Judge Stephen Umpleby, the municipal court’s presiding judge.
COURTESY OF JUDGE GEOFFREY BALON
Leader of Israel Scouts sees room for growth in Arizona
SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER
Phoenician Ronald Urman, the president of the board of directors for Tzofim North America (Israel Scouts), sees a bright future for the organization’s presence in Arizona, where it is known as Shevet Shemesh, the Israel Scouts of Arizona. He also sees room for growth, and that’s what he is focused on, especially as the start of regular activities for the 2024-25 school year begins this month on Sunday, Sept. 22.
Urman’s wife, Sigal, co-founded and led Shevet Shemesh for five years and is a member of Tzofim North America’s board. During her tenure leading Shevet, the priority was to connect the young people involved with the Greater Phoenix Jewish community, as well as with other communities, through acts of service. That is still a big part of the organization. For example, on Good Deeds Day, an annual international day of community service started in 2007, Shevet Shemesh members volunteer across the Valley, demonstrating the value of emphasizing the movement’s core value of giving back.
The couple view the scouts as representatives of both Israel and the
American Jewish community.
“Whether they go to a Mechina Gap Year program in Israel, make aliyah through Tzofim Garin Tzabar, or enroll in an American college, these kids emerge as leaders,” Sigal Urman said. “Being part of a youth movement is about becoming the future leaders.”
Ronald Urman believes that some of the growth he expects to see will be driven by Jewish parents recognizing the organization’s importance, both for their children and for the broader community. He said it offers more than just a social outlet, “It fosters a strong, supportive environment where kids can thrive, learn leadership skills and deepen their connection to their Jewish heritage.”
Urman, a co-founder of Shevet Shemesh in Arizona, first became involved with the organization at the behest of Miriam Adelson, the billionaire Israeli-American physician and a major donor to Israeli causes and the Republican Party.
After attending a meeting with other Jewish donors several years ago, Adelson noticed that Urman was the only Hebrew speaker present and asked if the two could speak privately after the meeting. She encouraged him to establish a Tzofim chapter in Arizona. Initially, he demurred, saying his wife Sigal was better suited for the task. She was hesitant at first but reconsidered after thinking about their daughter, Leeor, who was 14 at the time and in need of a place where she could practice her Hebrew and connect with peers who shared her cultural background.
“It became my objective,” Sigal Urman said. “I dedicated a year to working through all the red tape, and in 2016, we established the chapter.”
She served as the head of the Shevet, while her husband was a highly involved board member. Their daughter was a member, then a counselor, and later went to Israel for school and returned to Arizona for university.
Ronald Urman said Tzofim North America isn’t just about teaching the Hebrew language; “it’s about keeping Jewish traditions alive through immersive, interactive experiences.” He and his wife believe that engaging kids in games, performances and other enjoyable activities helps them stay connected to their Jewish culture in a meaningful way.
Sigal Urman said many of the children in their chapter had no Hebrew-speaking background when they first joined. Yet, they became fluent over time, forming friendships and bonding over a shared heritage. She said one of her members even went on to lead his university’s Hillel in Hebrew.
“Jewish youth in the U.S. often
disengage from Hebrew learning after their bar or bat mitzvah, but Tzofim offers a unique solution. It is the only organization of its kind, ensuring that Hebrew and Jewish culture stay vibrant among younger generations,” she said. Sigal Urman’s passion for creating a welcoming space where Jewish youth could connect, contribute and develop leadership skills continues to be a driving force behind the movement’s success. The couple considers it the reason that their daughter is now so deeply connected to Israel and her Jewish roots. JN
For more information, visit shevetshemesh.com.
Ronald and Sigal Urman with their daughter, Leeor. COURTESY OF SHEVET SHEMESH
Sigal Urman (in brown hat) stands with Shevet Shemesh members.
COURTESY OF SHEVET SHEMESH
Israel needs a hostage deal now, said former Jerusalem Post editor
PHYLLIS BRAUN | ARIZONA JEWISH POST
“There is a dire and urgent need to get as many hostages out of Gaza as swiftly as humanly possible,” said Avi Mayer, a top proIsrael commentator.
”The majority of Israelis feel at this point there is almost no cost too high to bring back those hostages who are still alive,” added Mayer, immediate past editor-in-chief of the Jerusalem Post.
He spoke to the Arizona Jewish Post in Tucson on Sept. 10, less than two weeks after Hamas murdered six Israeli hostages, hours before Israel Defense Forces troops would have rescued them from more than 10 months in captivity.
Mayer, who is considered a leading millennial voice in Israel and the Jewish world, with a monthly audience of mil-
lions on X (formerly Twitter), will be the guest speaker at the Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona Men’s Night Out event on Oct. 29.
Israeli and U.S. negotiators cannot trust Hamas, a terrorist organization, he said, adding, “Lying is not a bug but rather a feature of how the group operates.”
But Hamas did release 105 Israeli hostages during a ceasefire agreement in November, which Mayer sees as a good indication it will release more hostages if its conditions are met.
Freeing Palestinian prisoners in exchange for hostages can have dire longterm ramifications for Israel, Mayer says, noting that Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, the mastermind of the Oct. 7 massacre, was himself one of more than a thousand Palestinian prisoners released in the 2011 deal for IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
Another sticking point for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been
maintaining an Israeli presence in the Philadelphi Corridor, the strip of land between Gaza and Egypt that Hamas used to smuggle weapons, cash and personnel. But Mayer says that in recent days, Netanyahu has shown more flexibility on ways to achieve surveillance of that border.
There is “near unanimity” in Israel on the need to meet Hamas on its terms and deal with the consequences later, he said.
“I think the imperative of saving a single life is overwhelming,” Mayer said.
Born in New York, Mayer was raised in Maryland and Israel and now lives in Jerusalem. He has held leadership roles with many leading Jewish organizations, including serving as managing director of global communications and public affairs at the American Jewish Committee and as the international spokesperson of the Jewish Agency for Israel. He has worked for the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs; the
Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C.; Hillel International; and the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. He has also been a spokesperson for the IDF. International news networks often call on him to discuss Israel, the Middle East, and the Jewish world. He is currently co-chair of the advisory board of Global Jewry and is a member of the ROI Community.
At the Men’s Night Out event, Mayer will present “Journalism Under Fire: The Media Battle Around Israel,” discussing how editors reshape the reports journalists submit from the field through headlines, photo choices, and rewriting the text, to the point that reporters have thanked him when he’s publicly called out their news organizations. JN
This article first appeared on AZJewishPost.com. Reprinted with permission.
Lea Marquez Peterson
Rachel Walden
Avi Mayer COURTESY OF AVI MAYER/AZ JEWISH POST
Adam Nimoy, son of ‘Star Trek’s’ Spock, spoke at Beth El Phoenix
SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER
Adam Nimoy didn’t have a normal childhood. Growing up in Los Angeles, he watched from a young age as his father, Leonard, tried to make it in Hollywood as an actor. His father struggled to earn enough to support the family with odd jobs and a small acting part here and there.
Then in 1966, Leonard was cast as an alien in a brand new science-fiction television show called “Star Trek,” and his life and those of his wife and children were changed forever, almost overnight, but not necessarily for the better.
Nimoy talked “about recovery and my journey with Leonard, which was very complicated,” at Beth El Phoenix on Thursday, Sept. 5. “It was a phenomenal experience being his son, being in the family and how “Star Trek” changed our lives overnight, but that was coupled with trouble — Leonard was trouble for me.”
Nimoy was invited by Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, dean of Valley Beit Midrash, who first heard him speak a year ago about his rocky relationship with his father and recovery from addiction. Yanklowitz confessed that though he had “never seen 10 seconds of any “Star Trek” show in my life,” his admiration for the speaker had nothing to do with his famous father.
“It’s for who he is and the depth of what he offers in service of other people in recovery and how he lives his Jewish values,” Yanklowitz said.
Nimoy began by talking about his mother “the unsung hero of our journey.” He told of his Jewish mother’s
idiosyncratic upbringing in Cordova, Alaska, and how she moved to LA and lived with extended family as a teenager to finish high school, thanks to a dearth of teachers in Alaska. She pursued acting in college, which is where she met her husband. While he pursued his career, she had two children and “was basically a single parent because my dad was out hustling, generating income to support us,” he said.
His father worked all the time, was “obsessed with survival” and emotionally distant, having been raised in an immigrant Jewish family in Boston. Leonard grew up with the expectation that he would become a doctor or a lawyer and when he left to study acting, his parents never forgave him.
Nimoy’s mother, on the other hand, “was very loving, generous, kind, sensitive and warm,” he said. Though “there was nothing Hollywood about her,” she grew to love the life her husband’s celebrity afforded her, including famous friends, endless parties and being the wife of Mr. Spock. When the marriage unraveled and the couple divorced in 1986, she turned to “drinking coffee and popping pills” to stave off her consuming depression. His father was also an admitted alcoholic.
Nimoy joined Al-Anon, a support group for relatives of alcoholics and drug addicts, while he was already in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) working through his own addiction struggles.
“Learning how to deal with that was a big part of my own recovery and was the precursor to what I had to deal with
Beth El Cemetery Memorial Service
The community is invited to attend a Memorial Service Sunday, October 6th at 9:30 a.m.
Beth El Cemetery • 2300 W. Van Buren
Rabbi Nitzan Stein Kokin will officiate.
Note: Due to ongoing repairs to the cemetery chapel, the restrooms are unusable. There are facilities nearby at Greenwood.
my dad,” Nimoy said. “My relationship with my father was doomed from the beginning because we had very different upbringings.”
He spoke at length about the difficulties of his paternal grandparents, who were born in a Ukrainian shtetl and worked in Boston’s garment industry. Growing up in the Great Depression, Leonard “was always hustling to earn a buck,” he said. He sold newspapers and vacuum cleaners and worked at a camera store and a card shop. When he moved to LA, he serviced fish tanks, sold refrigerators, drove a cab, scooped ice cream and was a process server, all while auditioning for acting jobs.
Meanwhile, “I was born in sunny Southern California, and when I was 10, I was not selling newspapers. I was watching TV, reading comics and listening to music. We were generations apart, planets apart,” Nimoy said.
Father and son spent scant time together, but Nimoy was always proud of his father and was in awe of his famous character, who appealed to “us outsiders and social misfits trying to find our way in a sometimes unwelcoming world. All these years later, I can still feel the excitement I felt that night when I was
given my first glimpse of this strangelooking man from outer space.”
But there was always conflict between them and years passed with no resolution for any of the resentment and anger that Nimoy felt toward his dad. It was only in the process of recovering from his addiction that Nimoy learned sometimes “the best thing to do was to do nothing. Recovery is about radical acceptance. My mother and father aren’t going to change, so I accepted them.”
Nimoy said there did come a time when his father and he were able to repair their relationship, well after he tried to make amends with his dad as one of AA’s 12 steps dictates.
“I didn’t want to do it. It was really an unpleasant experience but I did it. He invited me to Shabbat dinner the following Friday and after that, everything changed,” he said.
They finally became close enough that when Nimoy’s second wife was diagnosed with terminal cancer, he called his father, who “showed up for me,” he said.
Nimoy also wrote at length about his rocky relationship with his father and the “transformative power of recovery” in his book, “The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father, Leonard Nimoy.” JN
Janeen has been knocking on doors, LISTENING to voters! She’s ready to represent our top concerns. Fully funding public schools • Affordable housing Abortion rights • Our Environment
“This is not just about getting elected. For me, it’s more about bringing my constituents’ voice to the Capitol and truly representing.”
Adam Nimoy and Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz at Beth El Phoenix for “Star Trek, the Road to Recovery and Reconciling with My Father,” on Thursday, Sept. 5. COURTESY
Arizona State House honors Hersh Goldberg-
Polin’s
SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER
O‘life and legacy’
n Thursday, Sept. 12, the Arizona House of Representatives released a proclamation “honoring the life and legacy of Hersh Goldberg-Polin,” the 23-year-old American Israeli who was abducted on Oct. 7, held hostage and murdered by Hamas last month. The official document named the date “as a day of mourning” for Goldberg-Polin and a remembrance of “his life, his bravery and the indomitable spirit he embodied.”
Thirteen representatives, both Democrats and Republicans, signed the proclamation.
“This isn’t a partisan issue,” Rep. Matt Gress (R-4) told Jewish News. “Both sides can see the horrific activities of Hamas for what they are.”
Representatives Alma Hernandez (D-20), Quang Nguyen (R-1), Consuelo Hernandez (D-21), Michael Carbone (R-25), Seth Blattman (D-9), Michele Peña (R-23), Nancy Gutierrez (D-18), David Cook (R-7), Chris Mathis (D-18),
Minority Whip Lydia Hernandez (D-24), Majority Leader Leo Biasiucci (R-30) and Speaker Ben Toma (R-27) joined Gress in signing the proclamation.
Three of the signers, Alma and Consuelo Hernandez and Seth Blattman, are Jewish.
“It was important, not only because we must recognize that we have American hostages who are suffering, but it was also incumbent upon us to acknowledge his (Goldberg-Polin’s) life and the legacy he’s leaving behind as an American Jew,” Alma Hernandez told Jewish News in a text.
Gress concurred with the sentiment that “Hersh’s death has struck a chord with the world.” He hopes that “we take the suffering and use it for something good that can change lives for the better, end the war and see our hostages returned.”
Gress acknowledged the role of Carolyn Leff, one of his Jewish constituents, in making the proclamation a reality.
“She has deep and raw and strong
SEE HONOR, PAGE 12
Rep. Matt Gress holds the proclamation honoring the life and legacy of Hersh Goldberg-Polin on Monday, Sept. 16. COURTESY OF MATT GRESS
• Restore reproductive freedom
• Fund our schools
• Keep our communities safe
Christine Marsh for State Senate Karen Gresham for State House
AND Kelli Butler for State House
HONOR
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11
feelings about this and I was honored to help facilitate it,” Gress said.
Soon after Oct. 7, Leff led a letterwriting campaign on behalf of the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) Western Region. It was one concrete thing she could do to help, she told Jewish News at the time.
As soon as Leff learned of GoldbergPolin’s murder, she was inspired to do more. Though she had never met him, the husband of a friend of hers did know Goldberg-Polin.
“It was a ‘six degrees of separation’ thing. I didn’t know him, but being part of such a small and tight-knit community made it feel like I did,” she said.
She has also been following a few Jewish and Israeli influencers and credited their political advocacy with inspiring her to contact Gress directly. Leff has worked in Arizona Republican politics and her mother was a Republican state representative and senator. She got Gress’ personal cell number from a friend and texted him.
She suggested a proclamation to the representative and asked for his help.
“He wrote back immediately and said, ‘I’m on it! Let’s do this!’ He acted fast and got bipartisan support in a couple of days,” she said.
Leff said a proclamation served the same purpose as planting a tree in Israel
in someone’s memory.
“It’s a recognition of antisemitism and a way to remind Arizonans that what Hamas did was awful,” she said.
Gress agreed that the proclamation gave Arizona the opportunity to weigh in on the war in Gaza and the desire to get the remaining hostages back safely.
The entire process took only a few days, even though the legislative body was not in session and the representatives were scattered throughout the state. He first contacted the House members who went to Israel in March to meet with Israeli business, military and political leaders.
One person who was on that spring trip to Israel was House Speaker Ben Toma. Any representative can bring forward a proclamation but it only becomes an official action of the House if the Speaker approves it. In this case, he not only approved it but added his signature.
“Speaker Toma is a staunch defender of Israel and a supporter of the Jewish people. I was glad to have his support,” Gress said. The proclamation is a symbolic action but Gress and the other signers think it also sends a message to the state’s Jewish citizens — and to the rest of Arizona.
“It was important to remind people that it is almost one year since Oct. 7, and we join in demanding that the hostages be released now,” Alma Hernandez said.
“Our hearts go out to Hersh’s family and the state of Arizona stands in solidarity with Jewish people,” Gress said. JN
1 State Senator 2 State Representatives Real Change in Arizona
Paid for by Chris4Arizona, Kelli Butler for Arizona, and Karen Gresham for Arizona. Authorized by Christine Marsh, Kelli Butler, and Karen Gresham.
Proclamation honoring the life and legacy of Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
GOP state Senate candidate Mark Finchem goes on talk show with antisemitic host
JEROD MACDONALD-EVOY | ARIZONA MIRROR
F
ormer Republican lawmaker and candidate for Arizona Senate Mark Finchem went on a talk show hosted by a conspiracy theorist and spread some conspiracy theories himself on the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. The host of the show has falsely claimed the Jewish people were behind 9/11.
Finchem unsuccessfully ran for Secretary of State in 2022, won the Republican primary for Legislative District 1 in July and is anticipated to return to the Arizona Legislature come January. Finchem has built his brand on election fraud and other conspiracy theories and is also known for his association with and support from extremist groups like the Oathkeepers.
On Sept. 11, Finchem went on Scott McKay’s show, streamed on Rumble. Also known as “Patriot Streetfighter,” McKay has a history of espousing antisemitic beliefs, as first reported by the left-leaning Media Matters for America.
McKay, a central figure in a movement during the pandemic to harass school boards for mask mandates, has espoused antisemitic beliefs and has also praised Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
McKay has falsely claimed that Jewish people built up Hitler as a way for them to profit from World War II and praised the dictator for trying to break “free of the Rothschilds’ corrupt money-magic fiat system,” alluding to an antisemitic conspiracy theory. He has also said that “Hitler was actually fighting the same people that we’re trying to take down today.”
Finchem did not respond to a request for comment for this story.
“Mark Finchem recently appeared on an antisemite Scott McKay’s program and thanked him for his offer for help, should he win his Senate seat. McKay is someone who praised Hitler — he’s not someone whose show you should be appearing on, let alone accepting help from,” Media Matters for America senior investigative reporter Eric Hananoki said in a statement to the Mirror.
The former lawmaker went on the show to promote an “investigation” being conducted by a non-profit he runs that is involved in a bizarre, conspiracyriddled probe into a Tennessee police department.
Earlier this month, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation raided the Millersville Police Department using a search warrant obtained through a criminal investigation of the department’s assistant police chief, Shawn Taylor. Taylor had appeared on McKay’s
show the day prior and is working with Finchem’s non-profit as an investigator.
Two local district attorneys confirmed to local TV station NewsChannel 5 that the TBI had been asked to investigate Taylor’s possible use of sensitive law enforcement data to investigate his potential political enemies.
The investigation also involves the possible perjury of a Millersville detective during testimony he gave in a botched child predator sting, NewsChannel 5 reported.
Both Finchem and McKay had harsh words for the people involved in the case who they allege are corrupt, in addition to other perceived ills.
“Any of you bastards that are watching this, now is the time to get out,” McKay said. “So if you want to save your asses now is the time to step aside…All of you who are corrupt will be held accountable one way or another.”
McKay went on to claim that America is lost and that people like he and Finchem have to “put down this Satanic energy” and that the CIA, FBI and others are involved in child sex trafficking. Finchem also claimed that the television networks NBC, CBS and ABC are connected to the CIA.
Throughout the interview, McKay and Finchem both alluded to the QAnon conspiracy theory.
In its simplest form, the complex and damaging QAnon conspiracy theory alleges that a cabal of Satanworshiping pedophiles are running a global sex-trafficking ring, control world governments and are trying to bring down former President Donald Trump — who is himself single-handedly dismantling the cabal.
McKay referenced “intelligence drops” multiple times throughout the interview, which is an allusion to “Q drops” which were a plethora of posts on sites like 4chan between 2017 and 2022 that were alleged to be from the infamous “Q.”
Throughout the interview Finchem made a number of conspiratorial claims, without evidence, accusing the judge in the Tennessee case, as well as others, of being involved in child sex trafficking. He claimed that the Tennessee-based journalist who has written about Taylor’s ties to conspiracy theorists is providing cover to perverts and sex traffickers.
Finchem repeated Taylor’s false claim that an agent with TBI urinated in Taylor’s bathtub. The former lawmaker claimed to have DNA evidence related to that allegation.
Finchem has often courted those from the fringe and especially those in the QAnon world. He has spoken at their conventions and held fundraisers with known QAnon believers and 9/11 truthers.
“We are deeply troubled by Arizona GOP Senate nominee Mark Finchem’s recent appearance on a radio show hosted by an individual who regularly promotes antisemitic views and proHitler rhetoric,” Alan Zeichick, board chair of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix, said in a statement to the Arizona Mirror.
“Arizona deserves leaders who will unite us, not those who associate with people saying such harmful ideologies,” Zeichick said. “We encourage the voters of District 1 to send a clear message that bigotry and hate speech have no place in our state or nation.”
Hananoki told the Mirror that with just a little digging, Finchem could have easily discovered McKay’s extremist background.
“Eric Trump even had to disavow McKay after the national media reported on McKay’s antisemitic background,” Hananoki said. “But this is all part of a pattern with Finchem and his association with extremists. He has promoted QAnon propaganda, endorsed an antisemitic pastor who wasn’t even running in Arizona, and praised Gab CEO Andrew Torba, who once said that ‘we don’t want people who are Jewish.’” JN
This piece originally appeared on AZMirror.com.
Mark Finchem on Aug. 2, 2022, at an election night party for Kari Lake.
Arizonan chosen to lead international Jewish fraternity
SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER
Arizonan Barry Aarons loved his time as a member of Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT), the world’s first established, and largest, Jewish fraternity. By the time he graduated from Arizona State University (ASU) in 1971, he had made lifelong friends at his ZBT chapter (Gamma Tau) and learned how to manage an organization. Those lessons would help him in his professional career.
In July, Aarons was elected to serve as the international president of ZBT for a two-year term, offering him the chance to give back to the Jewish fraternity, and brotherhood, that gave so much to him.
“I want to give more and balance that balance sheet, which always seems to end up in me getting more back from this work than I give to it,” Aarons told Jewish News.
The current ASU ZBT members are excited that one of their own is now the frat’s international leader.
Ben Booganim, communication director for ASU’s chapter, said Aarons “has been nothing but great to us.”
Booganim has gotten to know Aarons both as a boss and a mentor.
“He’s one of our older alumni that always reaches out. He’s donated to our
chapter and always involves the undergrad guys. He’s been a great mentor and a great guy to reach out to for advice,” Booganim told Jewish News.
Right out of the gate, Aarons prioritizes the fraternity’s growth, both with new members and new chapters, and invites alumni to get involved again, just as he did about 20 years ago when he joined
the board of the ZBT Foundation.
As soon as Aarons’ new leadership role was announced, he started hearing from ZBT members he hadn’t talked to in years. He’s ready to put them to work.
“I got emails from brothers I hadn’t heard from in a long time volunteering to help. If you tell me you want to volunteer, I will ‘voluntold’ you,” he laughed.
He would like to see alumni of all ages get involved in doing the frat’s work. Already, there is one brother in his 90s who sends him jokes every day. However, Aarons is more interested in getting his brothers to volunteer with ZBT’s Israel advocacy, educational programs and Jewish heritage projects.
ZBT alum Jay Stein, who graduated from the University of Arizona in 1986, is ready to take the leap. He first met Aarons 25 years ago and has always been impressed by him.
“Barry’s one of those classy guys, super honorable and chill, a true gentleman. Everyone who knows him feels fortunate,” he told Jewish News. “I have friends who work with him and they have only great things to say about him.”
Since Stein graduated, he’s only been involved with his old frat “from time to time,” but he won’t take much convincing to get more involved.
For one thing, “ZBT is an instantaneous group of friends. Having been gone for 40 years, I still have a lot of friends. I still do a guys’ trip with someone from my chapter at U of A and guys from other colleges. You instantly have 100 people who are there for you,” he said.
Aarons couldn’t agree more with that assessment.
“It’s important to help our chapters know how to recruit good men because if you don’t grow, you die. We have to
grow, and I intend to spend a lot of time with my council, staff and other brothers getting it done,” he said.
To get bigger, Aarons expects to look to community colleges, Christian colleges and colleges that have let their chapters fold but have shown an interest in rejoining. As far as expanding into community colleges and Christian colleges, he said the secondary education landscape is changing for American Jewish students, who are more open to both, often because they seem safer.
Given the rise in antisemitic incidents and sentiment, he said the Jewish heritage and Israel advocacy programs are “more important today than they ever were. The amount of antisemitism today is frightening.”
After graduating from ASU, Aarons spent the next 50-plus years in and around Arizona politics in various capacities. He served former Arizona Governor Fife Symington as a special assistant, policy advisor and legislative director. Since 1997, he has owned The Aarons Company LLC, a public policy consulting firm specializing in legislative representation.
Since starting as president on Aug. 1, he’s been learning to balance his workload, but he is grateful to have a good staff. The Supreme Council makes policy decisions which Aarons’ staff implements. His first order of business was to get the council and staff members interacting more and so far people have been receptive.
“It’s going OK so far — after 26 days,” he laughed. (He spoke to Jewish News at the end of August.)
There’s also a social aspect to his role, and Aarons has appreciated the camaraderie of the fraternity since 2005, when he got back into the swing of things.
“After a brief period of time, the men on the foundation board became like my new adult frat chapter. We did fun adult things, and my wife and I have become good friends with board members,” he said.
There’s also the satisfaction that comes from accomplishment. This year, ZBT’s national convention was held in Washington, D.C., and Aarons arranged for everyone to tour the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum just as they did in 2014.
“I had brothers come up to me and thank me — with tears in their eyes — for making it available because they wouldn’t have had the opportunity to see it otherwise,” he said.
“This is about doing good work,” he said. JN
Barry Aarons is pictured third from the left in the front row with the Zeta Beta Tau Supreme Council. COURTESY OF ZETA BETA TAU
When Holocaust education gets graphic
SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER
When Sarah Ettinger moved from Scottsdale to San Antonio this summer, she discovered a lovely city that is taking some getting used to, especially since the Jewish community is so small. While Greater Phoenix has well over 100,000 Jews, San Antonio has fewer than 15,000. Ettinger, the wife of Cantor Seth Ettinger, has met a few Christian Texans who, while delighted to meet an actual Jew in the flesh, have expressed surprise that any Jews survived the Holocaust.
Helpfully, the state of Texas passed a law in 2019 instituting Holocaust education into public education, two years before Arizona passed its own. While living in Arizona, Ettinger taught humanities at Pardes Jewish Day School in Scottsdale. There, she garnered extensive experience teaching Holocaust history to students. Now, instead of teaching students directly, she works as a curriculum development specialist for the Holocaust Memorial Museum of San Antonio.
Though she’s not ready to roll it out fully in San Antonio just yet, Ettinger has one intriguing project that she developed during her tenure at Pardes while teaching “Maus,” Art Spiegelman’s Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel recounting his father’s story of surviving the Holocaust. She initially assigned a traditional essay about the work but one
student pushed back, saying that kind of assignment “doesn’t feel right for a book like ‘Maus.’ Can’t we do something different?”
Ettinger accepted the challenge and developed “one of the most rewarding projects I’ve ever done with my students,” she told Jewish News. Her eighth-grade students created their own version of an illustrated retelling of a family story related to the Holocaust or World War II.
Her unit on graphic novels about the Holocaust is one reason San Antonio’s Holocaust museum wanted to bring her on board. That kind of innovative curriculum has captivated the teachers who have seen it hanging in her office.
San Antonio has one living Holocaust survivor but plenty of descendants of World War II veterans. These descendants are hopeful that the next generation will continue to share their stories.
Sometimes those stories are even shared by people who aren’t related. For example, Max Allen, one of Ettinger’s Pardes students last year, comes from a Sephardic mother and a father whose family came to the United States well before Hitler’s rise to power. However, Allen had a friend he met back in Pennsylvania whose story of survival is well worth telling.
“My friend’s great-grandfather was a rabbi in Germany, and during
“MY FRIEND’S GREAT-GRANDFATHER WAS A RABBI IN GERMANY, AND DURING KRISTALLNACHT HIS SYNAGOGUE WAS BURNED. A NON-JEWISH STRANGER RESCUED THE TORAH AND BROUGHT IT TO THE RABBI’S HOUSE."
Kristallnacht his synagogue was burned. A non-Jewish stranger rescued the Torah and brought it to the rabbi’s house,” Allen told Jewish News. The rabbi took the Torah and escaped to Colombia, where his son was able to use it for his bar mitzvah.
Seli Allen, Max’s mother, framed her son’s graphic illustration so that he was able to present it to his friend as a bar mitzvah gift.
“He got really emotional when I gave it to him,” Max Allen said. “We were talking, and he went to the basement and came back with another book rescued from Germany about the town’s Jewish community and he gave it to me.”
Overall, the project “turned out better than I expected,” Allen said.
Recently, Ettinger led a workshop for 300 teachers, many of whom didn’t realize San Antonio had a Holocaust museum. The good news was that they were excited about learning ideas for making Holocaust education effective and meaningful for their students. Visual
Max Allen with his friend’s grandfather, who helped him tell the story of a Torah’s survival. COURTESY OF SELI ALLEN
SEE EDUCATION, PAGE 16
MAX ALLEN
survivor testimony would seem to fit that bill.
Creating graphic novel pages turned out to be a rewarding project for Ettinger, her students and their families. Many students gave the pages they made as gifts to the family members who inspired them or their descendants.
Ettinger said the graphic novel project let students literally see themselves through the lens of what their family lived through, which evokes many emotions for both the students and the teacher. Ettinger called it simply “the human experience that comes with creating art.”
It took Ettinger a lot of time to figure out how to make it work. She and her students had to develop good questions, complete historical research and overcome doubts about creating something worthwhile.
“We gave each other grace to make mistakes, own them and refine our methods,” Ettinger said.
Some kids said simply, “I don’t know how to draw.” She reassured them there were tools to help and convinced them raw talent wasn’t the hurdle they thought it was. They developed their own drawing styles. The other hard thing was the amount of historical research the project required. Just like with “Maus,” the students’ creations were bound by accuracy and authenticity.
For those students like Allen, who “always enjoyed drawing” it was exciting and fun from the beginning. For others, it took a little longer.
“About halfway through, they realize they can do it. That’s when it becomes fun. They find ways to be creative about their weaknesses and turn them into a strength,” Ettinger said. Better still, they became invested in the project and took responsibility for their learning.
Last year, Asher Ornes, Ettinger’s Pardes student, decided to tell the story
of his grandmother and the time she spent in the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) during the war. He was nervous about his drawing abilities but he planned, drafted and researched her story and the WASPS. The graphic images he produced were distinctive and showcased the amount of research he did, Ettinger said.
“Seeing his excitement at his success and recognizing his talent as a skilled storyteller, was indescribable,” Ettinger said.
“It was fun and it was one of the biggest projects of the year, so I took in a lot of detail to make a good story,” Ornes told Jewish News.
Tishia Vanderwerken, Ornes’ mother, explained that his access to his grandmother’s old journals and maps helped. Ornes has experience drawing comics, and Vanderweken said she was “blown away” when she saw her son’s creation.
“It was apparent that Asher had a hidden drawing talent. He really took the time to immerse himself into creating something unique, and he did a phenomenal job. You could tell he put his heart and soul into it,” she said.
“I didn’t like drawing much before and I wasn’t the best at it,” Ornes said. “But once I got the assignment I thought I just have to power through and get it done. Then halfway through, I started liking it and it became more of a fun thing.”
His grandmother really liked his illustrations and thought they told her story well.
“She thought it was a cool way to look back on it,” he said.
The graphic pages Ettinger’s students drew became part of Pardes’ Make Art Night with the help of other teachers such as Hannah Carter and Nicole DePalma. Even without Ettinger, Pardes continues with the project, according to Michelle Bernat, Pardes’ head of school. JN
“IT WAS FUN AND IT WAS ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROJECTS OF THE YEAR, SO I TOOK IN A LOT OF DETAIL TO MAKE A GOOD STORY.”
Hannah Carter, left, and Sarah Ettinger, right, are pictured in Pardes Jewish Day School in 2022. COURTESY OF JEWISH NEWS
Asher Ornes’ illustration of his grandmother’s story of being in the Women Airforce Service Pilots.
COURTESY OF SARAH ETTINGER
Max Allen’s illustration of his friend’s story about his great-grandfather and the rescue of a Torah.
ASHER ORNES
No peace without direct negotiations
ISRAEL BACHAR | SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
This week, at the UN General Assembly, the Palestinian Authority will attempt to push forward a resolution that is yet another step toward escalating the conflict and bypass direct negotiations with Israel, as agreed upon in the Oslo Accords. The Palestinian draft resolution seeks to undermine Israel’s basic right to protect its civilians and presents a biased view of reality by erasing the core issue of Palestinian terrorism. In the fantasy world of this resolution, thousands of missiles have not been fired at Israelis by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad
NOTABLY, THE PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY HAS NOT CONDEMNED THE MASSACRES AND ATROCITIES OF OCT. 7.
(PIJ) from areas Israel evacuated in Gaza. Thousands more have not been launched by Hezbollah from areas Israel withdrew from in Lebanon. Also absent are the repeated attacks from Syria, Iraq, Yemen and most notably, from the orchestrator of these proxies, Iran, which openly expresses its desire to annihilate Israel.
Following the atrocities of the Oct. 7 attacks, in which Hamas murdered over 1,100 Israeli civilians and took 250 hostages, the resolution ignores Israel’s
The case for Proposition 479
MARTIN SHULTZ | SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
When I came to town in the 50s (as a kid), my Temple, Congregation Beth Israel, was on west Osborn Road. There were not only fewer people in the Phoenix metropolitan area, but we had no freeways.
The I–10 was already constructed from Florida to California and didn’t go through Phoenix, it couldn’t go through Phoenix, instead it stopped at 51st Avenue. It started up again in Chandler. What a national embarrassment! Sorry, President Eisenhower.
In the 1980s several of us determined that action must be taken and convened a series of meetings culminating in a “decision meeting” at the Arizona Legislature with the then majority leader, Burton Barr, and business, transportation and political leaders.
I was honored to be in the room. A plan was drawn.
That’s the plan of freeways, which ultimately were numbered 101, 202, 303, 51 and I-17. There was an initial plan for major streets and transit as well.
The plan also included putting the I-10 through Phoenix, not above ground but in a tunnel that we all drive through today.
Fashioning and funding the comprehensive plan turned out to be a big challenge, but the legislature responded,
legitimate security concerns and the deep historical connection of the Israeli people to their homeland. Its call to limit Israel’s security capabilities is a clear attempt to erode Israel’s ability to protect its citizens — Jews, Christians, Muslims, Druze and others alike.
The resolution’s call for Israel to withdraw unconditionally from areas from which it is currently being attacked. It similarly turns a blind eye to the reality of a vast network of terror tunnels and missile
depots in Gaza. It makes no mention of the painstakingly negotiated agreements between Israel and the Palestinians and obscures the simple fact that, 19 years ago, Israel did precisely what the resolution asks for: a full withdrawal from Gaza. The result was not peace, but the disastrous takeover by fundamentalist Islamic terrorists supported by Iran, who turned the Gaza Strip into the stronghold of “Hamastan.”
The Palestinian leadership’s continuous efforts are designed to bash Israel and gather international support to compel Israel to make concessions without offering anything in return. Their aim is to undermine Israel’s legitimacy through political manipulations. This policy perpetuates the conflict and reflects the decades-long brinkmanship strategy of the
and in 1985, Maricopa County voters overwhelmingly passed a 20-year, one halfcent sales tax dedicated to transportation infrastructure.
I was fortunate to have had a leadership role during that campaign.
Oh, did I mention 20 years later it was required to be renewed by vote.
It was renewed for 20 more years in 2004, with the passage of Proposition 400,
which also invested in highways, streets and transit.
It is hard for me to believe, but the funding is set to expire December 31, 2025.
Renewal of our half-cent sales tax, the extension of our transportation investment, has now been referred to Maricopa County voters by the Arizona Legislature and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors,
WE MUST PLAN FOR THE NEXT 20 YEARS TO AVOID FUTURE GRIDLOCK AND TRAFFIC SNARLS LIKE IN LOS ANGELES.
and is on the November 2024 ballot as Proposition 479.
This extension is critical for funding key transportation projects and ensuring the continued economic growth of our region.
Given the importance of Proposition 479, it can be said our Arizona future is at the ballot box.
Those of us supporting 479 are called
Israel Bachar
Martin Shultz pictured in Downtown Phoenix.
COURTESY OF TAYLOR COSTELLO VIA DTPHX
Making our way to Rosh Hashanah
PARSHAH NITZAVIM-
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Parshah Nitzavim begins with the words, “Atem nitzavim hayom kulchem,” “You stand before God this day — all of you.” The ancient rabbis understood “this day,” to refer to Rosh Hashanah. Some later Hasidic commentators understood these words to refer not only to the specific day upon which we stand before God, but also to the particular way in which we need to prepare to do that.
The Slonimer Rebbe, from a volume called, “Mayanot Netzach,” teaches that, “You stand before God this day — all of you,” means that when we stand before God, the entirety of our lives, the entirety of who we are and what we have done, stands before God. We might be on our best behavior today, but when it comes to evaluating ourselves, the way we have behaved every day is what we must consider. The entirety of who we
PEACE
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Palestinian Authority, which prefers a zerosum game over pursuing compromise. Notably, the Palestinian Authority has not condemned the massacres and atrocities of Oct. 7. On the contrary, they justify them, expressing support for the actions of Hamas and the PIJ.
While Israeli children are taught peace songs and the basic value of the word “shalom” from kindergarten, the Palestinian education system — in Gaza as well as in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) — teaches its children hatred and antisemitism, legitimizing violence against Jews and the obliteration of Israel.
Israel has repeatedly demonstrated its sincere desire to live in peace with its neighbors, Palestinians included, and has never rejected serious proposals, as evidenced by peace agreements with Egypt, Jordan, the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco.
Therefore, the Palestinian resolution contradicts the core principle upon which all previous peace accords between Israel and its neighbors were based: that the resolution of the conflict can only be achieved through dialogue and direct negotiations between the parties. The Palestinian Authority cannot avoid this reality by turning to international
are and what we do stands before God in judgement. Because of this, we would be wasting time — ours and God’s — if we came before God with anything less than complete and total honesty. Rosh Hashanah demands profound honesty from us and if we are to have any benefit from this process of teshuva/repentance, it behooves us to come in without the masks we often put on, or the excuses
“you stand before God this day — all of you,” Moses is really saying: Don’t come to Rosh Hashanah in a half-hearted way. When you stand before God, it must be all of you, your whole self must be involved in the process. Bring every ounce of your ability to be present, bring all of it to this day. Stand before the Holy One with your body, your soul, your intellect and your emotions. Bring your whole self to
WHEN YOU STAND BEFORE GOD, IT MUST BE ALL OF YOU, YOUR WHOLE SELF MUST BE INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.
and denials we often invent for ourselves. It takes courage and integrity to be honest. “Hotamo shel hakadosh barukh hu emet,” “God’s seal/signature is honesty,” and in standing before God, we cannot come with anything less.
Another Hasidic commentator, the Sfat Emet, Rabbi Yehuda Leib Alter of Ger, understands those words differently. When Moses says to the children of Israel, “atem nitzavim hayom kulchem,”
the experience of teshuva. God wants our entire selves, our complete focus, our full attention. Pay attention to the work of Rosh Hashanah, and in so doing, begin the year fully present, and then continue to be fully present the day after, and each and every day after that as well. Don’t be distracted, unfocused, scattered. Stand before God, deeply and utterly present. That is how we write ourselves into the book of life, by being fully alive in our lives.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 17
forums. Conceding to Palestinian demands without requiring them to move toward reconciliation with Israel, as former enemies in Europe did after World War II, will not bring peace but instead prepare the ground for the next war. Peace cannot be achieved through one-sided resolutions or international tribunals. Those genuinely committed to peace must reject this resolution and advocate for direct, bilateral negotiations without preconditions.
Voting against this resolution is not a vote against international law or the International Court of Justice. It is a vote against the politicization and misuse of these institutions to serve the narrow political agenda of Palestinian rejectionism of peaceful coexistence. This resolution will only serve to reward terrorism and deepen the divide between Israelis and Palestinians, thus moving us further away from peace.
Those who seek peace should oppose the resolution and instead call for the Palestinian Authority to distance itself clearly from Hamas, condemn the Oct. 7 atrocities, and shift from its confrontational approach to a policy of reconciliation and direct negotiations. JN
Israel Bachar is the Consul General of Israel to the Pacific Southwest.
Connect Maricopa and include a large diverse coalition of supporters across the Valley, including elected officials, members of the business community, community groups and labor organizations, to name a few.
I can offer many specific project examples that will be funded by Proposition 479, among them a new I-10 Reliever Freeway in the Southwest Valley; SR 30, completion of a connector freeway to Pinal County SR 24; the building of infrastructure needed at Loop 303/I-17 to Support TSMC and their suppliers; restoring pavement rehabilitation throughout the entire system, including some of the Valleys oldest freeways, building out the occupant vehicle HOV network.
The case for a “yes” vote for Proposition 479 is simple — economic growth is facilitated with increased transportation investments.
Campaign supporters include Governor Katie Hobbs, Mayor Gallego, all mayors and local elected officials.
Let’s get down to the bottom line. Arizona is one of the fastest growing states in the country and our population has grown by more than two million people in the past 20 years.
We must plan for the next 20 years to
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SEPTEMBER 28 - 6:52 P.M.
OCTOBER 5 - 6:43 P.M.
Find area congregations at JewishAZ.com, where you can also find our 2024 Community Directory. SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING
To stand before God and renew our relationship this year we must summon our deepest honesty and our fullest attention. But that requires careful preparation: practice in cultivating our attention and practice in reaching deeply within, for that honesty. God is waiting and hoping for us to do just that. God will meet us more than halfway, as Rabbi Yose taught, God promises us, “open to me in teshuva an opening as small as the eye of a needle, and I shall make an opening in Me for you so wide that wagons and coaches could enter.” May we merit being able to create that opening and may we be privileged to feel the wide embrace that God promises us for our efforts. JN
Rabbi Elana Kanter is the founder of the Women’s Leadership Institute and co-rabbi of The New Shul.
avoid future gridlock and traffic snarls like in Los Angeles.
Our “yes” vote will ensure safe roads and freeways, prevent collisions and ensure that our loved ones can safely get to school, work, churches, synagogues other important places.
This investment will continue to reduce congestion and ensure that our important first responders get to us as quickly as possible.
Reliable transportation movements ensure people and products can get to their destination safely.
Currently my temple, Congregation Beth Israel is located in the Phoenix/ Scottsdale area but I can get there easily thanks to Proposition 300 in the 80s, Proposition 400 in 2004 and now Proposition 479 on the ballot in November 2024.
Someone recently asked me if I would be willing to participate in the next transportation campaign in about 2045 and I said yes. I’ll be 102 years old. JN
Martin Shultz is a member of Congregation Beth Israel, and the first chairman of the half-cent transportation vote in 1985.
For more information, visit connect-maricopa. com.
PROP 479
RABBI ELANA KANTER
Rabbi Elana Kanter PHOTO COURTESY OF RABBI ELANA KANTER
HAPPY ROSH HASHANAH
Jewish News Special Section
Gut-friendly recipes for the High Holidays
MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which are the most common types of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), are more common in the Jewish population, particularly among Ashkenazi Jews who are of Central and Eastern European origin.
Increased genetic risk factors for IBD, seen in Ashkenazi populations, appear to be rooted in a history of migrations, catastrophic reductions in population and then re-population from a small number of surviving founder families over many centuries, suggested Dr. Dermot McGovern, director of Translational Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, who co-authored a study on Jews and Crohn’s disease.
Knowing what to eat can be tricky for someone with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Eating certain foods can help ease your symptoms, while other things you like to eat may make your symptoms even worse, and the traditional foods served for the High Holidays can be among the latter category.
The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation shared the following recipes from its free online recipe finder tool called Gut Friendly Recipes, which features more than 500 recipes for gut-friendly and nutritious meals.
All recipes have been approved by dietitians who specialize in IBD, and the site filters hundreds of recipes by meal type, exclusions and diet type, including Crohn’s Disease Exclusion Diet, Mediterranean Diet, Low FODMAP Diet and Specific Carbohydrate Diet. Through free registration, the user can access special features, save favorite recipes, create seven-day meal plans and more.
For more information, visit gutfriendlyrecipes.org.
Shanah Tovah u-metukah from the Board of Rabbis of Greater Phoenix, providing leadership to the community.
Rabbi
Rabbi
Rabbi
POTATO ROSTI
Ingredients
• 14 ounces waxy potatoes, such as Charlottes, peeled
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon butter (dairy or plant based)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
Bring the whole, peeled potatoes to the boil in a large pan of salted water. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 7–10 minutes, depending on size, until part-cooked but still firm. Leave to cool, then grate coarsely and toss with salt and pepper.
Melt the butter and oil in a 8-inch frying pan. Put the potato in the pan and squash it down with a spatula to make a large, flat pancake. Cook over a medium heat for 5–7 minutes, until crispy underneath.
To turn, slide the potato pancake onto a large plate. Put another plate on top and flip the whole thing over, so the cooked side is uppermost. Slide back into the pan and cook for a further 5–7 minutes until crispy underneath. Cut into wedges to serve.
Makes 4 servings.
SAUTÉED CHICKEN & APPLES
Ingredients
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small, sweet onion, thinly sliced
• 2 apples, peeled and sliced
• 14 ounces fresh skinless chicken breast, sliced into strips
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon pepper
• 1-2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, finely chopped
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Instructions
Heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add onion and apple slices to the pan. Cook for about 5 minutes, until browned and softened.
In the meantime, place chicken in a small bowl and toss with salt, pepper and rosemary. Push the onions and apples to the sides of the pan. Place chicken in the center. Cook for about 6-8 minutes, turning occasionally, until the chicken is browned on both sides. Add lemon juice to the pan. Cover, turn heat down to medium, and cook 3-5 minutes more, until the chicken is cooked through.
Makes 2 servings.
GREEN BEANS WITH PARSLEY
Ingredients
• 1lb 2ounces fine green beans, topped and tailed
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• 2½ tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
In a large saucepan of lightly salted boiling water, add the beans and cook for 8–10 minutes, or until tender but not soft. Drain well and refresh under cold running water. Keep warm.
Meanwhile, combine the parsley, garlic and oil in a small bowl. Season well. Tip the beans into a serving bowl, stir to coat with the parsley mixture and serve warm. Makes 4 servings.
Ingredients
• 3 cups white rice flour
• ¾ cup sugar
• ½ cup canola oil
• 2 egg yolks
• 3 ounces cold water
• 5 apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1-2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• Canola oil for greasing baking dish
APPLE CRUMB CAKE
Potato Rosti COURTESY OF CROHN’S & COLITIS FOUNDATION
Sautéed Chicken & Apples COURTESY OF CROHN’S & COLITIS FOUNDATION
Green Beans with Parsley COURTESY OF CROHN’S & COLITIS FOUNDATION
Apple Crumb Cake COURTESY OF CROHN’S & COLITIS FOUNDATION
Traditional potato pancakes
MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR
Local restaurant chain, Chompie’s Restaurant, Deli, Bakery and Catering, opened a bagel factory on 32nd Street and Shea Boulevard in Phoenix in 1979 to educate Arizonans on the finer points of New York Jewish cuisine.
Since then, they have hosted many Rosh Hashanah meals at the restaurant and have offered take-out options, too.
This year, Chompie’s will host Rosh Hashanah dinner on Oct. 2 and Oct. 3, with reservation times starting at 5 p.m. New items on the menu include an entrée option of a half-roasted chicken with pomegranate sauce served with savory challah stuffing and a new side of roasted tri-colored carrots.
Reservations are required at the Phoenix and Scottsdale locations and are strongly recommended for dining in at Chandler and Glendale.
If you are hosting, and don’t want to deal with the cooking, all Chompie’s locations offer take-out. If you choose the “Holiday Dinner” option, in addition to the chicken and carrots, there is a new spinach potato pancake offered and apple cobbler for dessert.
If you opt for the “Traditional Meal,” the side dish selection includes potato pancakes, which the chefs at Chompie’s have shared their recipe with Jewish News.
POTATO PANCAKES
Ingredients
• 5 pounds potatoes, shredded
• 2 pounds yellow onions, chopped
• 8 eggs
• 3/4 pound matzo meal
• 1 1/2 tablespoons salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• Sour cream and applesauce
Instructions
Mix shredded potatoes, chopped onions and eggs until evenly coated. Add matzo meal and spices and mix by hand.
Set grill at 350 degrees, coat grill with oil or if using a frying pan, coat with a thin layer of oil.
Use an ice cream scoop to measure and place in oil. Fry till golden brown on each side. Serve with sour cream and applesauce on the side. Makes 36 potato pancakes. For leftovers, store in the refrigerator for up to five days. JN
For more information, visit chompies.com.
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 8 x 8-inch baking dish with canola oil. Combine rice flour and sugar in a medium bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together canola oil, egg yolks and water. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and combine until a crumbly texture is formed.
Set aside 1 cup of dough. Press the rest of the dough into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
Combine the apple slices, lemon juice, and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Arrange the apple slices on top of the dough in the baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining dough evenly over the apples.
Bake for 45 minutes. Let the cake cool, then cut into 12 squares. Makes 12 servings. JN
from Rabbi Tracee Rosen and Temple Beth Sholom of the East Valley
This year’s High Holiday kids’ books are a celebration of Jewish diversity
Please visit our website for information about High Holiday and Shabbat services and programming at www.tbsev.org
Please visit our website for information about High Holiday and Shabbat services and programming at www.tbsev.org
Please visit our website for information about our High Holiday Schedule, Shabbat Services and Programming at
Welcome!
Welcome!
3400 North Dobson Road, Chandler, AZ 85224
Phone: (480) 897-3636
3400 North Dobson Road, Chandler, AZ 85224
Email: info@tbsev.org
Phone: (480) 897-3636
Email: info@tbsev.org
The High Holiday season is upon us. The enduring traditions of the High Holiday season take shape across time and place in the latest crop of children’s books about Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot.
This year’s books transport readers back to biblical times; whiz them to the old-world streets of Istanbul; remember the etrog trade in 18th-century New York City; and celebrate harvest festivals from very different culture. All of them beckon families with stories that display the rich diversity in Jewish culture.
Here’s your roundup of new children’s High Holidays books for 2024.
“A TURKISH ROSH HASHANAH”
Etan Basseri; illustrated by Zeynep Özatalay Kalaniot Books; ages 5-9
In this heartwarming story, Rafael, a young Jewish boy in Istanbul, wishes his grandmother Nona, and his cousins Alegra and Leon, “anyada buena,” the Judeo-Spanish greeting for a happy new year shared by Sephardic Jews at Rosh Hashanah. Kids follow the cousins at the bustling outdoor market, where they help
Nona shop for the ceremonial foods they will enjoy that evening at their traditional Sephardic meal. The cousins’ excitement is briefly dampened when an older kid bullies them while they shop. But Alegra courageously uses her voice to stand up to him, leading the way for Rafael and Leon to speak out, as well. A playful pack of friendly cats gets in on the action, keeping it light. When the family gathers for the holiday, Nona praises the kids for their team work. The book concludes with an author’s note about Sepharic customs and a handy glossary.
“MAX AND THE NOT-SO-PERFECT APOLOGY”
Carl Harris Shuman; illustrated by Rory Walker and Michael Garton
Apples & Honey Press; ages 6-8
In this cartoon-style page-turner, readers meet Max, a young inventor who saves time in the morning by washing only one side of his face. When Max and his best friend Emma join forces for their Torah-class project about the biblical story of Jacob and his brother Esau, Max is determined to win first prize. But when
their teacher arranges different teams, jealousy and feelings of being left out threaten their friendship. It’s a perfect set-up for a fun-filled adventure when Max powers up his time-travel machine, this time without his co-pilot Jin Emma. He lands in Ancient Israel, where plenty of jokes between Max and Jacob, his son Joseph and Esau will have kids chuckling. There are meaningful lessons to be shared about forgiveness that reflect the themes of Yom Kippur.
“AN ETROG FROM ACROSS THE SEA”
Deborah Bodin Cohen and Kerry Olitzky; illustrated by Stacey Dressen McQueen
Kar-Ben; ages 4-10
Award-winning authors Deborah Bodin Cohen and Kerry Olitzky team up in a charming Sukkot tale lavishly illustrated by Stacey Dressen. Set in the early 18th century, a Sephardic Jewish family travels by stagecoach from their country home to New York City to their grandfather Luis’ large house. Leah, her brother Aaron and their mother eagerly await Papa’s return
PENNY SCHWARTZ| JTA
Some of the book covers from this year’s High Holiday picks.
COURTESY OF JTA
from his travels from Corsica in time for Rosh Hashanah. In a postcard, Papa has promised to bring home a perfect etrog — the fragrant citrus fruit used during Sukkot. But when Papa doesn’t arrive, they fear something is wrong. Grandpapa Luis comforts Rachel with a beautiful silver etrog cup. But will her papa return for Sukkot, bringing the promised etrog?
To everyone’s relief, Papa returns home just in time, and the etrog finds its home in Leah’s silver cup. In an author’s note, families learn that the story is based on the life of Luis Moises Gomez (1660-1740), a prosperous merchant and trader from Britain who settled in New York.
“MIXED-UP MOONCAKES”
Christina Matula and Erica Lyons; illustrated by Tracy Subisak Quill-Tree Books; ages 4-8
A Jewish mother who lives in Hong Kong is one of the co-authors of a story featuring a young girl whose family celebrates two harvest holidays: Sukkot and the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. Ruby shops separately with her Chinese Nainai and her Jewish Zayde for supplies for the holidays, but she craves some way to combine them. Like other recent books such as “Two New Years” and “The Very Best Sukkah,” the book illuminates connections between different traditions for readers who appreciate learning about the world and want to see contemporary models of Jewish family represented in children’s literature.
“SAMMY SPIDER’S FIRST BOOK OF JEWISH HOLIDAYS”
Sylvia A. Rouss; illustrated by Katherine Janus Kahn
Kar-Ben; ages 1-4
Possibly the most famous character in Jewish children’s literature, Sammy Spider is back in board-book form in an introductory text about the Jewish holiday cycle. Starting with the fall
holidays of Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah, the book continues through Shavuot in spring, showing the friendly young arachnid who enjoys spinning his web in the home of a Jewish family.
“ONE MORE STORY, TATA!”
Julie Salamon; illustrated by Jill Weber
Minerva Books; ages 4-8
In their newest collaboration, Julie Salamon and Jill Weber hit the mark with a charming, beautifully illustrated intergenerational story about a young girl named Ruby, her grandparents and great grandmother Tata. Every weekend, when Ruby visits, Tata enchants her with stories imagined from her dreams. On Friday nights, they gather around the Shabbat table and light candles, share challah and enjoy a festive meal.
“PING-PONG SHABBAT: THE TRUE STORY OF CHAMPION ESTEE ACKERMAN”
Ann Diament Koffsky; illustrated by Abigail Rajunov
Little Bee Books; ages 4-8
Kids will cheer as they follow a rising young ping-pong star named Estee who aces all her competitions. Every Shabbat, Estee takes a break from the fast-paced game to go to synagogue and later, to enjoy the company of her family and friends. But when Estee qualifies for the National championship that will be held on a Saturday, she faces a hard choice. In the back pages of this action-packed, cartoon-style book, readers discover the real-life story of Estee Ackerman, who gave up the chance to compete in the national table tennis championship when she was just 11-years-old, because it was held on a Saturday. The following year, Estee won the gold medal at the nationals, gratified by the knowledge that she had honored her values and her religion. JN
Make a smoked fish board for the ultimate Yom Kippur break fast
CHAYA RAPPOPORT | THE NOSHER
My family break our Yom Kippur fast on bagels and lox. It’s classic, delicious and simple. But by turning it into a fish board — complete with colorful vegetables, crackers and cheeses — this simple concept becomes an enticing meal. I love it for its visual appeal and for how easy it is to put together.
Follow my step-by-step guide to building a smoked fish board to take your break fast up a notch.
FISH
This is the main event, so make sure you have something for everyone. Lox is a must, a mild whitefish spread is great with crackers, and caviar or salmon roe add a salty pop of flavor to bagels. Salmon jerky is a fun extra for snacking on, and, of course, no Jewish fish board is complete without herring. If you’re into small, oily fish (and I am!) add a tin of sardines or anchovies — they’re delicious on buttered bread.
VEGETABLES
Lighten things up with some veggies — little cornichon pickles for crunch, sliced red onion for freshness and tang and olives and capers for a briny hit. Refreshing
cucumbers and sliced tomatoes add heft to a bagel sandwich, and lemon wedges add zing and color, as do fresh herbs like dill.
CHEESE AND DAIRY
While fish is the focus, dairy elements are necessary to round things out. Keep it simple: a whipped cream cheese (make sure it’s room temperature so it’s spreadable) for the bagel lovers and sour cream to serve with the herring. You could experiment with flavored cream cheese (here’s lookin’ at you, scallion!) or sub creme fraiche for sour cream. A salted French butter is another great addition — schmear it on rye bread and top with sardines.
BREAD
I buy fresh bagels before the fast and reheat them when I’m ready to serve — either sliced and toasted or whole, wrapped in aluminum foil. I like to get a few different options so there’s something for everyone: sesame, cinnamon raisin (great with
cream cheese and lox — don’t knock it!), and the ever-popular everything bagel. For variety, add a fresh loaf of rye bread with breadsticks and butter crackers for a lighter alternative. I always include a gluten-free option like seeded crackers, too.
STYLING TIPS
1. Keep things a little messy — it’s less precious and makes it easier for guests to dig in. Take a scoop out of the whitefish, scatter olives around a little haphazardly and strew with bunches of fresh dill.
2. Don’t forget that all of the above are just suggestions. Don’t like lox? Use gravlax. Not into cream cheese? Try quark. Make it your own.
3. Compose your board in layers. Start with the fish, arrange the vegetables around it, add one or two bowls of cream cheese and sour cream and scatter the bagels and crackers around, filling in the empty spaces.
4. Serve alongside babka, rugelach and coffee for the ultimate break fast meal. JN
Our family’s interfaith break fast features bagels and lasagna
HOLLY RIZZUTO PALKER | KVELLER
“Happy Yom Kippur!” my mom shouted on speakerphone to my fiancé and his family.
“Thank you,” they said.
“Mom, Yom Kippur isn’t really happy,” I explained.
We were staying at my future in-laws’ Long Island home, and everyone was exhausted from fasting. Insecure about not being Jewish myself, I longed to prove I was the perfect daughter-in-law-to-be. But I was the odd one out because I’d broken the fast earlier with a Power Bar to stave off a migraine. I’d also asked why the light switches were taped to the “on” position. My fiancé explained that this peculiarity reminded them to abstain from work, a rule of Jewish law.
“Turning on a light is work?” I asked. My fiancé nodded. “Yes, it’s forbidden.”
“The Torah prohibits igniting a fire on Shabbat or Yom Kippur,” his dad chimed in, eager to teach me the tenets of their faith.
“Oh,” I said, pretending to understand. I shut off the speakerphone and walked into the kitchen to finish my phone conversation, trying to play down another awkward moment — although it was impressive that my Italian mom could embarrass me all the way from Staten Island.
“Not happy?” she asked. “It’s a holiday!” “Yes. But it’s a day of atonement.” I explained that Yom Kippur was a bit like Reconciliation, the Catholic sacrament, but consolidated into one day. It’s a somber time during which Jews avoid eating and drinking to demonstrate the extent of regret felt for those they’d wronged.
My explanation helped my mom understand. Still, the idea of a holiday being solemn was contradicted by our household’s joyful celebrations overflowing with lasagna, laughter and the ability to turn light switches on and off. The closest comparison I could offer was Holy Week; although Good Friday is a mournful day, when we visited the church to ponder Jesus’s crucifixion, it only requires abstention from meat. The real focus centered on Easter Sunday, when, after mass, we engage in a gleeful celebration to commemorate Jesus’s resurrection.
Lasagna has been a holiday staple in my family for several generations; I think the tradition originated with my grandparents, who grew up during the Great Depression.
Meals containing expensive ingredients like meat and goat’s milk cheese didn’t come cheap, so this delicacy was reserved for major celebrations when the extended family gathered. More recently, lasagna became a staple ingredient in any affair hosted by my mom, as a way to honor her late father, my Grandpa Tony, and our Italian heritage.
My husband and I are married now, and we have three kids. Though I didn’t convert, we agreed to raise our kids in the Jewish faith so they could gain a strong moral foundation. We joined a Reform temple that recognizes them as Jewish, even though I’m not, and they attend Hebrew school there. My oldest has already become a bat mitzvah and my other two are on the journey.
Although my kids haven’t studied Catholicism, we’ve taught them that because Christianity is rooted in Judaism, both faiths share similar values — to be upstanders and make the world better. (The biggest difference is one of opinion: Christians believe Jesus was the messiah while Jewish people are still waiting for him/her to arrive.)
And although I’m fully on board with having my children identify as Jewish, it’s sometimes difficult for me, let alone my side of the family, to grasp the intricacies of Jewish law. There are unfamiliar rules to follow, and my husband’s family has adopted some rather stringent traditions, like keeping glatt kosher for the week of Passover, even though they aren’t Orthodox.
Regardless, we’ve endeavored to be super-inclusive to both sets of relatives, hoping to teach our kids tolerance. Over the years, we’ve invited grandparents to all celebrations, whether Jewish or Christian. On Passover, my parents clap along while we sing a spirited “Dayenu.” We erect a tree and host a secular Christmas Eve party, to respect my traditions, and my husband’s family joins us as we track Santa’s progress online, reveling in the kids’ joy as they anticipate his visit.
Yom Kippur always felt different, though. Because of its serious nature, I felt uncomfortable inviting my side of the family. They would’ve passed out at the thought of fasting for 25 hours. The long stint at synagogue, followed by the dairy break-fast meal — bagels, lox, egg salad and challah French toast — for sundown consumption, always seemed tedious to explain.
"ALTHOUGH I’M FULLY ON BOARD WITH HAVING MY CHILDREN IDENTIFY AS JEWISH, IT’S SOMETIMES DIFFICULT FOR ME, LET ALONE MY SIDE OF THE FAMILY, TO GRASP THE INTRICACIES OF JEWISH LAW."
But then, a few years ago, on the evening of Yom Kippur, the kids asked, “Who’s coming tomorrow?” They were unaware that we’d found ourselves without guests for the break fast, as my husband’s family’s strict observance didn’t allow them to drive and we couldn’t travel because it was a school night. We’d lived as expats in London for a while without extended family, so our children cherished being with loved ones.
“What if we invite my parents?” I asked my husband.
Surprised, he stared at me, then smiled. “Sure,” he said. “Just tell your mother that the lasagna needs to be meatless.” (Although our home isn’t kosher, my husband eats kosher-style for Jewish holidays.)
“What can I bring?” my mother asked when I invited her. I told her that she couldn’t bring her party staple because it didn’t mix with the kosher fare. That seemed easier than changing it, although putting the kibosh on the most significant way she showed love felt cruel.
“Bring flowers,” I said.
The next day, after services, I prepared the spread since I only quasi-fasted, and I allowed myself to work. But I couldn’t shake feeling guilty about forbidding my mother’s Sicilian delicacy. To make up for it, I cooked an online recipe — an
amalgamation of gooey cheese, bread and wine — but it was no replacement.
“Unhappy Yom Kippur,” my mom said when we opened the front door. That perseverant woman shoved an aluminum tray into my hands.
“It’s a meatless lasagna. Eat it tomorrow when the holiday is finished.” She crossed the threshold with a bouquet. “I’ll get a vase.”
When the sun finally went down and it was time to eat, I was compelled to include the lasagna. It felt right and it would make her happy. Plus, there wasn’t a Jewish law prohibiting it.
“Thank you,” my husband said to my mother, retrieving a piece. It was ironic that he was the only one breaking a bonafide fast. But since my family always scarfed down food as though they’d fasted for a day, he was in good company.
“Delicious,” my dad said, eating a bagel and lox, enjoying it most.
Later, we watched him pull a coin from my littlest one’s ear, and my eldest read a picture book to my mom while she washed dishes. My husband and I shared a glance, both of us realizing that above all else, they were happy to be with their grandchildren and content to be eating, or not eating, lasagna. It was making memories that mattered most. JN
COURTESY OF BORTONIA/GETTY IMAGES
10 unexpected movies that capture the spirit of the High Holidays
DAVID QUINTAS AND RACHEL OLSHIN | HEY ALMA
The High Holiday season is upon us. Teshuvah — a central tenet of these holidays — literally translates to “return,” but what exactly this concept means has been heavily debated by rabbinic scholars for thousands of years. Some say it entails a public act of confession, while others describe it as an internal process of change. For some it’s necessarily interpersonal; for others, introspective. Navigating these competing conceptions can be a daunting task, especially for anxious Jews like us. So we turn where we always turn: the movies! As Rabbi Nicole Kidman says “our heroes feel like the best parts of us;” watching figures onscreen navigate their own challenges can inspire recognition, change and evolution in ourselves as well. So, for those of you who are similarly cinematically inclined, here are some film recommendations to get you thinking about what teshuvah might mean for you.
Note: We’ve divided these selections into five pairs based on differing interpretations of teshuvah inspired by articles written by Rabbi Avi Bart and Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z”l.
Repenting for Sin or Wrongdoing
“FLIGHT” (2012)
A central motif of the High Holiday liturgy is vidui (confession): acknowledging what one has done which requires amending. Naming wrongdoing aloud is a key step in the process. Robert Zemeckis’s “Flight” centers this phenomenon. Denzel Washington plays an alcoholic airline pilot who is being investigated for a crash landing which viewers know he completed under the influence. Throughout the
film, the question of what will be revealed publicly and what he’ll own up to when it comes to his actions and his addiction is dangled in front of the viewer. Without giving the specifics away, the movie’s climax acts as an almost shocking moment of vulnerability and a powerful example of giving voice to what one needs to change as part of the process of changing it. Available to rent or buy online.
“ONE CHILD NATION” (2019)
In this searching, searing documentary, director Nanfu Wang explores the repercussions of China’s former one-child policy, including those for her own family. In one powerful scene, Wang speaks
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with the midwife who helped birth her. Haunted by years of administering forced sterilizations and abortions on women who didn’t consent and in some cases were abducted, the midwife dedicated herself in retirement to helping couples struggling with infertility have children. Throughout this documentary, viewers are confronted with people full of regret, struggling with questions that are also a central part of the High Holiday season: How can we make up for harm we’ve caused in the past? And is it always possible? Available on Amazon Prime.
Bettering Oneself
“BRIDESMAIDS” (2011)
too, as Annie is forced to figure out who she is outside of her best friend Lilian (Maya Rudolph). She allows herself to move beyond her disappointments and keep working on who she wants to be. Melissa McCarthy’s uncouth character delivers a line summing this up (and a turn of phrase worthy of a High Holiday sermon): “You’re your problem, but you’re also your solution.” Available on Netflix.
“GROUNDHOG DAY” (1993)
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When you think of this raunchy blockbuster, you probably don’t think of the Talmud. But in one of the core scenes of the film, down-on-her-luck Annie (Kristen Wiig) has a passive aggressive yet profound conversation with the wealthy, snobby Helen (Rose Burns) regarding people’s capacity to change. Their disagreement actually mirrors a debate Talmudic sages Rabbi Yochanan and Reish Lakish have on teshuvah.
Helen/Rabbi Yochanan argue that people change: one moment they’re sinners and the next they’re righteous. Annie/Reish Lakish argue that the human core remains the same, but people can grow into a more developed version of themselves. That’s the crux of this film,
According to Maimonides, the Teshuvah process is complete when one is faced with the same situation in which they erred, and makes a different choice the second time around. Perhaps no movie better serves as the paradigm of this definition than “Groundhog Day.” The film follows Phil Conners (Bill Murray), a bitter, sardonic weatherman who finds himself trapped repeating the same day over and over again. Only when he leans into helping others — after cycling through many, many versions of hedonism and nihilism — is he freed from the time loop. The fact that the film has spawned a mini-genre of time loop movies (see: “Edge of Tomorrow,” “Palm Springs,” “The Map of Tiny Perfect Things,” et al) speaks to the resonance of the fantasy: What if you had the chance to redo your mistakes, to continually perfect your behavior? While outside of movies, such loops don’t occur, we will all eventually find ourselves facing similar choices to ones
we regret making in the past. This season is one for reflecting on how we might adjust ourselves at such crossroads when living out whatever our personal version of Groundhog Day might be. Available on Netflix.
Returning to Our Past
“MOONLIGHT” (2016)
“Let your head rest on my head, I got you,” says Juan (Mahershala Ali) when teaching “Little” Chiron (Alex Hibbert) how to swim; this tender exchange is in heavy contrast to the harshness of their world. “Moonlight” follows Chiron, a young Black man growing up in Miami, on his journey from childhood to adulthood as he navigates his relationship to queer identity and masculinity. The film celebrates vulnerability while depicting the difficulty that Chiron has accepting it, as he seems to run away from moments of gentleness and love in his life. The first steps to teshuvah involve returning to the vulnerable moments in your year, sitting with them, and building from there — which Chiron ultimately takes on in a stunning and delicate ending. Available on Max.
“ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND” (2004)
Reflecting is exhausting and sometimes harrowing, and that is why the central conceit of this film — a procedure to erase painful memories — is so enticing. After breaking up, Joel (Jim Carrey) and Clementine (Kate Winslet) both attempt to erase their relationship and any knowledge of the other from each of their minds. In doing so, they literally walk through past memories, retracing their steps to figure out what went wrong in the relationship. This film is sentimental and romantic without being heavy-handed, and asks big questions about how our pasts inescapably shape us. Like all of screenwriter Charlie Kaufman’s works, the answers are somewhat ambiguous, but in this bittersweet film, as in the teshuvah process, reckoning is the only way forward. Available on IQIYI.
Connecting with Something Greater than Yourself
“ARRIVAL” (2016)
Extraterrestrial stories have long served as analogues for a spiritual search for meaning. In the former, the search is literal and in the latter its metaphysical, but both ask the same questions: Am I part of something bigger? Is anybody watching me? Is there something out there? In this adaptation of a Ted Chiang novella, a linguist played by Amy Adams grapples with how to communicate with an alien invasion but finds the answers have deeper implications
about humanity’s ability to cooperate, about space and time and about accepting the story of our own lives. Available on Netflix.
“THE WEDDING PLAN” / “LAAVOR ET HAKIR” (2016)
After her fiancé calls off their wedding only 22 days before the big day, Michal (Noa Koler) decides to keep the date, hoping that another love will present himself and marry her under the chuppah. While the concept sounds fizzy and light-hearted, the premise is not played for laughs. Michal lives in a society that tells her that what God wants from her is to be married. So, she takes God to task, requesting a personal Chanukah miracle: that husband. The film – while never questioning the existence of a Higher Power – ultimately posits that finding God in one’s life can be as hard as finding one’s bashert (soulmate). “The Wedding Plan” is a powerful story about the balance between the Jewish concepts of hishtadlus (what it means to make our own destiny) and emunah (having faith that the universe will provide for us what we need). Available free with ads on Youtube.
Accepting Yourself
“REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES” (2002)
Before “Lady Bird” (a very worthy honorable mention for this list), there was “Real Women Have Curves,” a comingof-age story about a young MexicanAmerican woman faced with the choice of going to New York for college or staying in East Los Angeles to help support her family. A then-17-year-old America Ferrera plays Ana in a vivacious and star-turning performance that includes struggling with a fraught relationship with her mother, her body and the way her mother controls her eating. Ultimately the film is about Ana discovering and learning to love herself, despite the conflicting demands surrounding her. As we navigate the self-scrutiny of teshuvah, we too can learn to appreciate ourselves, even in the face of tension and insecurity. Available on Max.
“INSIDE OUT” (2015)
In “Inside Out,” anthropomorphized feelings Joy (Amy Poehler) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith) struggle to find their role in their host Riley’s (Kaitlyn Dias) life, and in their pursuit of self-actualization find their strengths, limitations and validity. The “heady” tale somehow manages to capture the fun energy of the best adventure movies and the catharsis of a good cry. Ten long days of teshuvah can bring up all sorts of emotions, and this film reminds us that it’s okay to feel all of them. Available on Disney+. JN
Welcome back!
Canal views
Scottsdale resident, Sue Adatto, enjoys the view along the canal in Harlingen, Netherlands, during her recent journey to Europe.
Donating for basic necessities
Jewish War Veterans Copper State Post 619 Commander Dan Tilsner, right, presents a $3,500.00 check to Rachel Masch-Perez, community engagement coordinator of MANA (Marine, Army, Navy, Air Force) House Catholic Charities. The donation will be used to refurbish their laundry room with new washing machines and dryers.
Campaigning with podcasters
Arizona Democratic Representative Seth Blattman, a Jew who is campaigning to keep his District 9 seat, canvassed in September with the Pod Save America crew. Pictured in the middle is Blattman. From left are politically progressive podcasters Tommy Vietor, Jon Lovett, Jon Favreau and Dan Pfeiffer.
Submit photos and details each week to editor@jewishaz.com by 10 a.m. Monday.
COURTESY OF SETH BLATTMAN
Chabad at Arizona State University had a big turnout for its Welcome Back Bash on Tuesday, Aug. 27.
COURTESY OF CHABAD AT ASU
Goulie Scheer stands in the middle of a newly refurbished Mazel Tov Gifts, which
of Scottsdale.
Featured Event
MONDAY, OCT. 7
October 7 Community Commemoration:
6-8:30 p.m. Address shared with registered attendees on Oct. 1. Join the Greater Phoenix Jewish community as we come together to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel. Please plan on arriving early because of extensive security. For security reasons, please do not share the details of this event on social media. For more information, visit phoenixcjp.org/October7.
For an updated listing of events and resources,
Events
FRIDAY, SEPT. 27
Tucson Pride Parade: 5-7 p.m. Join AZ Jews for Pride to march in the Tucson Pride Parade. Meet for Shabbat Service with Kol Ami at the Tucson Jewish Museum and walk over to join the parade. Details will be sent out by email. For more information, visit jewishphoenix.com/ events/join-the-jewish-community-in-the-tucson-pride-parade.
S’lichot – Service and Art Exhibit: 7-9 p.m. Temple Chai, 4645 E. Marilyn Road, Phoenix. Join Temple Chai for a meaningful preparation for the High Holy Days, focusing on repentance, forgiveness and renewal. This year, the service will feature an art exhibit, where Temple Chai artists will display works inspired by the Al Cheyt prayer. For more information, visit templechai.com.
SATURDAY, SEPT. 28
Selichot Service with Cantor Nissim: 7-9 p.m. Beth El Phoenix, 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix. Join Beth El for a musical holiday service with visiting Cantor Nissim Nati. Cost: Free. For more information, visit bethelphoenix.com.
SUNDAY, SEPT. 29
Reverse Tashlich: 9-11 a.m. Tempe Town Lake Marina Boat Launch, 550 E. Tempe Town Lake, Tempe. Join Temple Chai to fulfill the mitzvah of Bal Tashchit by protecting our surroundings and starting the year with clean hearts and clean waters. Please bring your own water bottle. For more information, visit templechai.com.
MONDAY, OCT. 7
Oct. 7 Interfaith Commemoration: 3-4:30 p.m. Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley, 12202 N. 101st Ave., Sun City. Join TBSWV for an interfaith commemoration for the horrific Hamas attack on Israel that occurred Oct. 7, 2023. Cost: Free. For more information, visit tbsaz.org.
TUESDAY, OCT. 8
Seeing Arizona Through Art: 10-11:30 a.m. East Valley Jewish Community Center, 908 N. Alma School Road, Chandler. Join the EVJCC for a presentation on Arizona artists by JoAnne Smith, Phoenix Art Museum master docent. For more information, visit evjcc.org/tuesdays.
THURSDAY, OCT. 10
One Year After: Reflections on the Impact of October 7th: 1-2 p.m. Online. Join Valley Beit Midrash for a virtual presentation by Dr. Steven Windmueller, emeritus professor of Jewish Communal Studies at the Jack. H. Skirball Campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. For more information, visit valleybeitmidrash.org.
“The Plot Against America:” 2 p.m. Online. Join the Arizona Jewish Historical Society for a book discussion, led by Mark Sendrow, M.A., of Philip Roth’s bestselling alternate history where Franklin D. Roosevelt loses the 1940 presidential election to Charles A. Lindbergh. For more information, visit azjhs.org/plot.
SUNDAY, OCT. 13
Tashlich at the Park: 4-5 p.m. Chaparral Park, 5401 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale. Join Valley Beit Midrash, Arizona Jews for Justice and the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix for a community-wide tashlich event. Dinner and refreshments will be served. Cost: $18 adults, $10 children. For more information, visit valleybeitmidrash.org/event/tashlich-2.
SUNDAYS
B.A.G.E.L.S: 9-11 a.m.; last Sunday of the month. Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Grab a bagel and a cup of coffee at Bagels And Gabbing Every Last Sunday and enjoy some time with your friends and make new ones. You must register to attend. Bagels and coffee will be provided. Cost: Free for members, $5 for guests. For more information and to register, visit vosjcc.org.
THURSDAYS
Storytime at Modern Milk: 9:30 a.m. Modern Milk, 13802 N. Scottsdale Road, #163, Scottsdale. Storytime for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Integrates children’s books and songs while giving parents new ideas for play. Cost: $5. For more information and to register, visit modernmilk.com/after-baby.
Meetings, Lectures & Classes
SUNDAYS
Chassidus Class: 9 a.m. Online. Learn about the Chasidic movement with Rabbi Yossi Friedman. Use this link: ChabadAZ.com/LiveClass. Cost: Free. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.
Jewish War Veterans Post 210: 10 a.m. Online. Any active duty service member or veteran is welcome to join monthly meetings, every third Sunday. Cost: Free. For more information, email Michael Chambers at c365michael@yahoo.com.
Sundays are for the Family Weekly Feed: 3-5 p.m. Tempe Beach Park, 80 W. Rio Salado Pkwy., Tempe. Join Arizona Jews for Justice and AZ HUGS for the Houseless every Sunday to serve food to those in need. For more information and to RSVP, email Arizonajews4justice@ gmail.com.
Anxiety in the Modern World: 6 p.m. Online. Learn the secrets of the Torah for living stressfree in the current environment with Rabbi Boruch of Chabad of Oro Valley. Cost: Free. Use this link: zoom.us/j/736434666. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.
MONDAYS
Middle East Update: What is Happening Now and Why in Israel: 10-11 a.m. Oct. 7, 14, 21 & 28. Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley, 12202 N. 101st Ave., Sun City. The existential conflict in Iran and its proxies against Israel is the focus of a four-part interfaith adult education course led by Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan. For more information, visit tbsaz.org.
Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Needlework, Desert Cactus Chapter: 10 a.m. The Oasis at Sagewood, 4555 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. The guild meets the third Monday of the month, adjusted when necessary to accommodate Jewish holidays. For more information, visit pomegranateguild.org.
Mahjong: 1:30-3:30 p.m. East Valley Jewish Community Center, 908 N. Alma School Road, Chandler. Come play mahjong each week. For all levels. Cost: Free; registration required at evjcc.org/mahjong.
Ethics of Our Fathers: 7 p.m. Online. Learn with Rabbi Zalman Levertov. Use this link: bit. ly/2Y0wdgv. Cost: Free. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.
Quotable Quotes by our Sages: 7 p.m. Online. Learn with Rabbi Shlomy Levertov. Use this link: JewishParadiseValley.com/class. Cost: Free. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.
Partners in Torah: 7:30 p.m. Online. Join a growing group of inspired learners with Project Inspire. Cost: Free. Use this link: us04web.zoom. us/j/3940479736#success, password is 613. For more information, email Robin Meyerson at robin@projectinspireaz.com.
Single Parent Zoom: 8 p.m. First and third Monday of every month. Join The Bureau of Jewish Education’s Family University single parents’ group for those looking to form friendships and build their support system with like-minded people. For more information or to register, visit bjephoenix.org/family-university.
TUESDAYS
Let’s Knit: 1:30 p.m. Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Share the pleasure of knitting, crocheting, etc. outside the social hall in the campus. Can’t knit? They will teach you! Every level welcome. Cost: Free. For more information, visit vosjcc.org.
Maintaining an Upbeat Attitude: 7 p.m. Online. A class exclusively for people in their 20s and 30s, learn how Jewish Mysticism can help with your attitude with Rabbi Shlomy Levertov. Use this link: JewishParadiseValley.com/YJPclass. Cost: Free. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.
Torah Studies: 7:30 p.m. Online. Learn with Rabbi Mendy Levertov. Use this link: ourjewishcenter.com/virtual. Cost: Free. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.
WEDNESDAYS
Torah Study with Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Online. Weekly study group explores that week’s portion and studies different perspectives and debates the merits of various arguments. Intended for adults, Torah study is open to students of all levels. For more information, contact the TBS office at 623-977-3240.
Happiness Hour: 11:30 a.m. Online. Class taught by Rabbi Pinchas Allouche that delves into texts
and references culled from our traditions to address a relevant topic. For more information or to join, visit cbtvirtualworld.com.
Lunch & Learn: 12 p.m. Online. Grab some food and learn with Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin. Use this link: Facebook.com/ChabadTucson. Cost: Free. For more information, visit chabadtucson.com.
Torah Study with Chabad: 12 p.m. Online. Take a weekly journey of Torah with Rabbi Yossi Levertov. Cost: Free. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.
The Thirteen Petalled Rose: 1 p.m. Online. Kabbalah class that studies “The Thirteen Petalled Rose” by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz, focusing on the many concepts of Kaballah and Jewish Mysticism and applying them to everyday life. For more information or to join, visit cbtvirtualworld.com.
Grief Support Group: 5-6 p.m. Online via Zoom. Therapist Susan Charney MCW, LCSW, leads a grief support group every first and third Wednesday of the month virtually for individuals experiencing the loss of an adult child or sibling. In lieu of any fees for these sessions, donations to Temple Solel are appreciated. For more information, contact susancharneycounseling@ gmail.com.
History of the Jews: 7 p.m. Online. Learn the Jewish journey from Genesis to Moshiach with Rabbi Ephraim Zimmerman. Use this link: zoom. us/j/736434666. Cost: Free. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.
JACS: 7:30-8:30 p.m. Online. Zoom support group for Jewish alcoholics, addicts and their friends and family on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Cost: Free. For more information, email jacsarizona@gmail.com or call 602-692-1004.
THURSDAYS
Ladies Torah & Tea: 10:30 a.m. Online. Learn about the women of the Torah with Mrs. Leah Levertov. Use this link: ourjewishcenter.com/ virtual. Cost: Free. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.
Talmud - Maakos: 11 a.m. Online. Learn with Rabbi Shlomy Levertov. Cost: Free. Use this link: JewishParadiseValley.com/YJPclass. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.
The Science of Everything: 11 a.m. Online. Explore the most fundamental work of Chassidut: the Tanya, with Rabbi Boruch. Use this link: zoom.us/j/736434666. Cost: Free. 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.
Teen Discussions: 7-8:30 p.m. Online. Learn with Rabbi Tzvi Rimler. Use this link: cteen.
CALENDAR
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
Shabbat in the Park: 10-11 a.m. Cactus Park, 7202 E. Cactus Road, Scottsdale. Join the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix monthly for music, parachute play, crafts and a family Shabbat experience. For more information, visit bjephoenix.org.
Welcome Shabbat: 11-11:30 a.m. Online. Celebrate Shabbat with the JFCS Virtual Center for Senior Enrichment. Each week a different guest host will lead the program with song and celebration. Cost: Free. For more information, visit jfcsaz.org/cse.
Shabbat at Beth El: 7:15 a.m. and 5:45 p.m on Zoom; 9:30 a.m. at Beth El Phoenix, 1118 W. Glendale. Ave., Phoenix or livestreaming on YouTube. Celebrate Shabbat with songs, blessings and teachings with Rabbi Stein Kokin the first Friday of every month. Special guests will be welcoming Shabbat during the remainder of the month. 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 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.
Shabbat Services with Sun Lakes: 5:30-6:15 p.m. Sun Lakes Chapel, 9240 E. Sun Lakes Blvd. North, Sun Lakes. Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation conducts this twilight service on Aug. 9. For more information, contact 480-612-4413.
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. 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.
Shabbat Service: 6-7 p.m.; Oneg at 5:15 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.
First Friday Shabbat Services: 6:15 p.m.; Oneg at 7:15 p.m. Valley Unitarian Universalist, 6400 W. Del Rio St., Chandler. Join Congregation NefeshSoul for Friday night services the first Friday of each month in the sanctuary building of Valley Unitarian Universalist. For more information, contact Jim Hoffman at 480-329-3316.
Shabbat Services: 6:15 p.m; 10 a.m. Congregation Beth Israel, 10460 N. 56th St., Scottsdale. Services held in the Goldsmith Sanctuary. Participants must pre-register by Thursday at 5 p.m. Priority will be given to members first and then guests. If there are more requests than available seats a lottery system will be used. For more information or to make a reservation, visit cbiaz.org/shabbat-services.
Kabbalat Shabbat and/or Shabbat morning service: 6:30 p.m.; 10 a.m.; dates vary. Congregation Kehillah, 5858 E. Dynamite Blvd., Cave Creek. Join Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman and cantorial soloists Erica Erman and Scott Leader either in person or via Zoom. For safety reasons, please register ahead of time. For dates, visit congregationkehillah.org/event/. Register by emailing info@congregationkehillah.org.
Shabbat Services: 7 p.m. Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley, 12202 N. 101st Ave., Sun City. Services are followed by an Oneg. Services are live-streamed on YouTube. For more information and to get the YouTube link, visit tbsaz.org or call 623-977-3240.
Shabbat Services with Beth Ami Temple: 7 p.m. Gloria Christi Federated Church, 3535 E. Lincoln Dr., Paradise Valley. Rabbi Alison Lawton and Cantorial Soloist Michael Robbins 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.
Chair Yoga with Zoe: 11-11:45 a.m. Online. Presented by JFCS Center for Senior Enrichment. 45-minute chair yoga class. No prior yoga experience required. 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, 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 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.
Sit or Stand Ballet Class: 12-12:45 p.m. Online. Presented by JFCS Center for Senior Enrichment. Jennifer Cafarella Betts and Friends from Ballet Theatre of Phoenix teach this class. Grab a chair or you can stand next to a chair or counter. Cost: Free. For more information, visit jfcsaz.org/cse.
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
Hersh Goldberg-Polin: October 3, 2000-August 31, 2024
A devoted son, brother and friend to many, Hersh was brutally murdered by the terrorist group known as Hamas.
Hersh was held captive in Gaza for 341 days after being kidnapped from the Supernova music festival in Israel on October 7, 2023. He has become known worldwide due to the endless work of his parents, Jon and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, to keep him, and all of the hostages in the news, in our thoughts and in our prayers.
Hersh’s life and legacy have inspired a global movement for peace and justice. He believed in a peaceful Israel, where Jerusalem belonged to everyone — he even had a sign in his room that said so in English, Arabic and Hebrew.
A lover of travel, nature, music and soccer (his favorite team was Hapoel Jerusalem F.C.), Hersh wanted to travel the world, he had a trip planned for December 2023, and bring Palestinian and Israeli children together through soccer.
May his story continue to bring an outpouring of love and support for all who knew him or who followed his story. May his memory be a blessing and a revolution.
With love, Hersh’s Arizona family.
Those interested in making a donation in honor of Hersh, can visit jgive.com/new/en/usd/donation-targets/133154.
Geraldine “Jerri” Meyers Schubert
Geraldine “Jerri” Meyers Schubert, 97, passed away on September 14, 2024. She was first and foremost a loving and thoughtful daughter, wife, mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.
Jerri was born December 13, 1926, in Evanston, Illinois. After graduating from New Trier High School, she left Chicago to attend Carleton College. She spent two years in Northfield, Minnesota at Carleton, but then decided to finish her studies at Northwestern University in Evanston. She graduated in 1949 with a degree in radio and theater arts production and began work as an executive assistant for CBS News in Chicago.
Jerri and Gordon Schubert met on a blind date and fell in love at first sight. They married on August 6, 1950. They had a son and two daughters and were married for more than 74 years. With enthusiasm and a great sense of humor, Jerri delighted in all aspects of her life, especially those involving her family and friends. She was a skilled, lifelong bridge player and always looked forward to her weekly game of cards and conversation. Together, she and Gordon enjoyed travel and adventure. She participated in many sports, including tennis and golf and was always willing and able to try something new. She began downhill skiing and road biking in her 40s.
Jerri was renowned for her thoughtful, memorable gestures. She always remembered friends’ birthdays and important events and was the first to help with errands and cooking during illness, post-surgery or after the loss of a loved one. She truly set a high bar for kindness, generosity and caring. Many people have called Jerri their dearest friend over her lifetime. She was the docent coordinator for the Sylvia Plotkin Judaica Museum at Congregation Beth Israel in metro Phoenix for nearly two decades. She recruited, trained and educated volunteer docents and organized and personally led countless tours of one of the most beloved and acclaimed Jewish museums in the Southwest. Before that, she was active in her children’s school PTA and in their after-school activities.
She is survived by her husband, Gordon, of Scottsdale; son, Mark (Mary), of Phoenix; daughters Lori (Mack) Bandler of Medford, Oregon and Julie Keppler of Scottsdale; four grandchildren, Zachary Bandler of Long Beach, California.; Ryan (Alexis) Schubert of San Francisco, California; Aaron (Nikki) Bandler of Arvada, Colorado; and Rachel (Marc) Liverman of Asheville, North Carolina; four great-grandchildren (Adele and Ethan Schubert and Noah and Samson Bandler); and nine nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her parents, Dorothy and Simpson “Sid” Meyers, and her sister, Suzanne Sonne. Contributions in her memory may be made to Hospice of the Valley, Temple Solel, or the charity of your choice.
