HEADLINES | 6
SPECIAL PULLOUT | B1
BREAKFAST FOR ISRAEL
SENIOR LIFESTYLE
Close to 1,000 people joined in support of Zionism at the Jewish National Fund-USA annual event
A teacher looks back on 55 years in education, how to avoid scams, tips for downsizing and women’s heart health
FEBRUARY 9, 2024 | SHEVAT 30, 5784 | VOLUME 76, NUMBER 11
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ADL chief warns Mandy Patinkin comes to Arizona Arizona Jews of prepared for ‘something fun’ rising danger: ‘There’s no W cavalry coming’ MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR
SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER
J
onathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), had a blunt message for the Jewish community in Arizona when it comes to defending itself against antisemitism: “There’s no cavalry coming for us. We’re the cavalry.” Greenblatt spoke at a community-wide event at Scottsdale’s Congregation Beth Israel on Sunday, Jan. 28. He opened his talk by calling the present moment one “of intensifying threats” towards Jews. According to ADL’s Center on Extremism (COE), the number of antisemitic incidents across the country has been rising rapidly over the last few years but after Oct. 7 “the wheels came off,” he said. “There have been 303,291 anti-Jewish acts in the real world of harassment, vandalism or violence from Oct. 7 through Jan. 7,” he told Jewish News, referring to the ADL’s COE’s number of tracked incidents. “Typically, the conversion rate of reports versus actual incidents is probably 25 to 28%.” The national leader’s presence “demonstrates ADL’s commitment to Arizona and a clear understanding of the extremism and hate that continues to fester in our community,” ADL Arizona Community Manager Sarah Kader told Jewish News. “Jonathan reminded the community that data drives policy at ADL.” In his talk, Greenblatt specifically pointed to recent protests against Jewish-owned businesses and Jewish students’ fears on college campuses around the anti-Israel/ pro-Palestine activity of groups SEE ADL, PAGE 2
hen Mandy Patinkin takes the stage on Feb. 16 at Mesa Arts Center, it will be nothing like his last concert performance in Phoenix. “We had a different concert before the pandemic called ‘Diaries,’ and it was birthed around the 2016 election,” said Patinkin. “The concert became a bit political, and there were some dark moments going on back then, and I don’t want to do what we did before. It was a little too dark, and I really wanted something fun.” His “something fun” is “Mandy Patinkin in Concert: Being Alive,” a combination of Broadway and classic American Mandy Patinkin will take the stage at the Mesa Arts Center on Feb. 16. COURTESY OF JOAN MARCUS tunes accompanied by Adam Ben-David on piano. In early 2022, Patinkin reached out to Ben-David and told him he was ready to do another concert tour and “welcome the audience back” to live performances again after the pandemic. “I call it ‘Being Alive’ because I want to feel alive again and I want the audience to feel alive. We’ve had enough of not being alive,” he said. He ended 2023 performing in Europe, returns to the American stage in February and will be on the road until the end of June. He said he is happy to tour in warmer climates during the winter. Patinkin lives in upstate New York with his wife, Kathryn Grody, an actress and writer, SEE PATINKIN, PAGE 3
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D.C. Police arrest Lyft driver who allegedly Israeli fencer Yuval Freilich wins gold Protesters blocking delivery of Gaza aid assaulted Chabad rabbi, now say it was medal in Qatar, home to Hamas’ leadership plan march to Jerusalem possible hate crime