Jewish News, Oct. 20, 2023

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STANDING WITH ISRAEL

SOLIDARITY IN THE SOUTH

Arizona politicians from both parties stand in solidarity with Israel

Over 900 people gathered in the sculpture garden of the Tucson JCC for Israel

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OCTOBER 20, 2023 | CHESHVAN 5, 5784 | VOLUME 76, NUMBER 2

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Arizonans in ‘One people, one voice’ Israel bear witness to Israelis’ Greater Phoenix Jewish community gathers to support Israel ‘scariest time’ MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR

SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER

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rizonans Steve Hilton, Jonathan Hoffer and Jason Morris decided to take a few days in the United Arab Emirates “to see the site of the Abraham Accords” before heading to Israel for their fifth annual men’s mission trip, which was set to begin on Monday, Oct. 9. That’s where the three were on Saturday, when they learned of the horrific news that Hamas militants had successfully launched a surprise attack into Israel that morning.

By Saturday night, the trio had canceled the official trip — “at the very last moment before the guys were supposed to get on the plane,” Hilton told Jewish News in an email. However, the three men decided to go to Israel themselves to see what, if anything, they could do to help, even though it meant going against the wishes of family and friends. After arriving in the country, they purchased a variety of toiletries and essential items to distribute to soldiers abruptly called to serve.

Hilton, Hoffer and Morris also had the opportunity to hear from Israelis themselves, such as one of their former guides, who broke into tears telling them that his son’s best friend had just been killed in Gaza.

The three men also spoke with a security guard from Sderot, a western Negev town less than 3,000 feet from Gaza that they have visited many times. The guard told them of being in a firefight with multiple Hamas gunmen, who had just shot two unarmed civilians in a car.

Fortunately, the guard was able to pull the children out of the vehicle and to safety.

A 20-year-old Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldier, who was posted along the Gaza border with roughly 50 other female soldiers in their 20s, told them in stark detail

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n Monday evening, Oct. 9, the grief was palpable as more than 3,000 members of the Greater Phoenix Jewish community, and its allies, gathered for a solidarity event for Israel on the field at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus in Scottsdale.

“There aren’t any words for this,” said attendee Holly Birnel. She questioned how the terrorists could commit such atrocities, especially gunning down revelers at the Supernova music festival, where more than 250 people died.

“I am broken for Israel. I lived in Israel and have friends and family there,” said Shaun Kirsh. “I’m afraid for the whole world.”

Many people expressed that they needed to gather and be with the Jewish community at this time.

“We have to support our Jewish brethren,” said Brina Pepper. “We have to stand up for humanity.” Her friend Linda Leebove added, “We are a huge country filled with Jews. Every one of us either has family there or knows someone there.”

SEE COMMUNITY, PAGE 3

More than 3,000 people gathered together for “Am Echad, Kol Echad: One People, One Voice, A Gathering of Prayer, Support and Hope” on Oct. 9. COURTESY OF GREGORY COHEN

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HEADLINES HEADLINES about her Judaism with her fellow council members and speaking out for her rights and beliefs. said Jon Meyers, director of ADDPC. She already has some practice at “Our hope is to create and promote advocating for herself. opportunities for people to be embraced, “One time, I was in class and someone become part of the community and find called me the R-word and I told him not equitable opportunities wherever they to. to The teacher was infamilies the hallway and Far left: Jason Morris (left), Steve Hilton (center) and Jonathan Hoffer (right) are in Israel bringing supplies hospitals, displaced and soldiers. might live,” he said.

Far right: Jonathan Hoffer and Jason Morris load boxes of goods to take to those in need in Israel.

OF STEVE she HILTON another student repeatedPHOTOS theCOURTESY word,” Meyers first came to know Stern said. Rather than letting the situation go, WITNESS Jason her Morris then introduced has put on the internet as through mother, Amy Silverman, Dan who videos she toldHamas her theater teacher, who was able CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Feferman, a former IDF commander and “snuff films.” read her personal essays about raising a to intervene. geopolitical whoonlent his Feferman talked some of daughter with Downexpert, syndrome KJZZ, how 20 of them were raped and murdered Israel “If someone has athrough disability, saying expertise to the viewers.

Hamas’ motivations, such as its anger at National Public Radio’s Phoenix affiliate the R-word is like saying the F-word,”

by Hamas terrorists before her eyes.

Feferman, who lives in a town 30 miles the progress of the Abraham Accords, its “She wanted people to know the brutal- station.

Stern said. of Gaza, thebysituation as thrust for performing power over allin Palestinians and Meyers was sodescribed captivated the essays ity of what happened,” Hilton told more north While the musical “the scariest time most Israelis can imagine.” its desire to humiliate Israel and the West. than 100 people who joined him on a that he reached out to Silverman, and the “Hairspray,” she had another occasion When the friends. sirens sounded on Saturday toAs the executive director of Sharaka, became Zoom call Tuesday morning. The three two tangle with the offensive word, whicha Middle East-based NGO, Feferman’s curmorning, Feferman was asleep, his phone men had gone to Israel to bear witness to That’s how Stern first learned of the appears in the script. turned off in observance of Shabbat. rent work is about building peace between the devastation and shared their accounts open council seat, but there’s no doubt “That’s really bad and my friend said having her given much thought Gaza Israel and theI Arab andOK Muslim with people back home, who had been Not she earned position, Meyers to said. it on stage. was not withworld that, on so aI recently, he and most of his neighbors people-to-people basis.

In the midst of this following the news from afar.

To become a council member, Stern went to the director and told her it was assumed there was a glitch in the system. tragedy, he was heartened to see “all sectors Israelis gladly recounted their stories of had to apply and demonstrate that she had a bad word for people with disabilities, Still, they went to the bomb shelters and of society, Haredi secular, the past few days with the Arizonans. something valuable to contribute, he said. butIsraeli she wouldn’t take it and out,” Stern Jews said. by midday, they learned the full truth of and Arabs coming together,” as well as the the “They were so happy that we were there “She’s on the council because she She let her mother know about what was happening. somewhat “balanced” statements made by to hear it and they wanted us to bring that deserves to be on the council,” he said. conflict and they were able to convince Feferman, who served as a commander some regional neighbors. story back to you in America,” Hilton said. Stern is creating a life and career as a the director of the need to remove the an eliteofintelligence unit, which called makes it “an word While Feferman can’t be certain of the The first men’s trip started five years in member her community, from the script. unbelievably sophisticated and daring comnext steps, he warned those in ago with the idea of bringing young men her a great addition.

“My friend Al was next to tuning me when bined attack that we didn’t know Hamas that “the next weeks are going to be very to Israel for a unique experience focused Stern graduated from McClintock I told the director and he gave me the capable and he I do not on learning about Israeli military technol- was High Schoolof.” in Tempe last year and now complicated biggest hug and eververy andtense, said that loved He impressed on viewers the overenvy Israeli decision-makers.” ogy and politics, Hilton explained. It is attends Glendale Community College, me so much,” Stern said. Sadly, Al died fearon of people had turn inHe alsoonvery to Hilton, offered through the Center for Jewish whelming with a focus dance. who She is a to regular a carwas crash Oct.grateful 24, 2021. to the media when they couldn’t reach Hoffer and Morris for coming to Israel.

Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix (CJP) performer at Detour Company Theatre, “That was hard; it’s very hard to get security forces and the effect of hearing “It’s something that we don’t for and organized by CJP’s Jewish Federation a Scottsdale theatre company for adults emotions out and I was very, verytake upset,” granted here in Israel when our friends and their voices on television saying, “They’re of North America partners in Israel. with intellectual, developmental and she said. aroundanniversary the world not only suptodisabilities. get into my house!” before the supporters There was also ample opportunity for trying physical On the recent of his death, phone went dead. port us but physically show up,” he said. the men to help supply soldiers with basic In fact, when Stern attended her first Stern made a cake and took it to the “We are in a state of absolute national crash “Our job now is to share what we saw goods, in addition to buying toys for 450 council meeting in January, she couldn’t site. shock and mourning,” he said, adding that and make everybody truth displaced families. In Tel Aviv, the three wait to tell people of her involvement with “I don’tsure know how I knows did it the without everyone knows someone who was killed about the terrorist massacre and the resolve even had to take shelter from an incom- Detour and share information about its crying. I’m so proud of myself,” she said. the victims cut across society: religious of Amy the Israeli people,” Hilton told Jewish ing missile and experience fallout from the and *Best of Magazine upcoming shows.

Hummell, executive director of and secular, left and right, Jews, Israeli News.

JN war firsthand.

“There’s no question that she is going Gesher Disability Resources, agreed that **Annual Directory Bedouins and Druze.

“It was a dramatic day for us and I’m so Arabs, to thrive,” Meyers said. “She’s very Stern is a good fit for ADDPC because “This is affecting absolutelyabout everyone, News to is published by the Jewish happy we’re here (in Israel) because, unless gregarious and passionate the Jewish of her ability self-advocate.

Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix, a with at least 900 people murdered — not you see it with your own eyes, the stories things that matter to her.”

Hummell a book event component of theco-hosted Center for Jewish Philanthropy WWW.JEWISHAZ.COM killed in a bombing but executed, raped are just too horrible to actually believe,” with Meyers a few years ago for “My Stern looks forward to sharing insights of Greater Phoenix. and kidnapped,” he said, referring to the Hilton said.

SOPHIE STERN

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

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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.

Additionally, helping people with disabilities find jobs was one of the reasons for acquiring the bureau. Unemployment in the disability community is upwards *Best of Magazine of 75% and of that percentage, 75% are **Annual Directory ready, willing and able to work — but haven’t been given the opportunity, Hummell said.

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Josh Lustbader, grandson of Holocaust survivors, said he attended the event because, “Israel is our homeland.”

Israeli Oren Tabib, chairman of Shevet Shemesh-Israeli Scouts of Arizona, wearing a half-American, half-Israeli flag draped over his shoulders, said that the significance of the attack on Israel will change his life forever. Getting emotional, he said, “It’s devastating what happened … to think the Jewish community is here, united … Israelis feel the need to have our voices heard, to take to the streets.”

Anna Kessler, whose husband is Israeli, said, “Our hearts are with Israel, even though we can’t physically be there.”

Jews weren’t the only ones attending the rally. Sister Mary Anne and Sister Elisa from Canaan in the Desert, the American branch of the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary in Germany, came “to find a way to bring healing” and shared that “our hearts are broken with our Jewish brothers and sisters.”

The start of the event was delayed as the huge crowd made its way through metal detectors as they entered the field.

People, many carrying Israeli flags, or wearing them, were handed candles by volunteers. The organizers of “Am Echad, Kol Echad: One People, One Voice, A Gathering of Prayer, Support and Hope” included the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix (CJP), Board of Rabbis of Greater Phoenix, Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix (JCRC), Anti-Defamation League Arizona (ADL) and Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center (VOSJCC).

Rabbi Jeremy Schneider, spiritual leader of Temple Kol Ami in Scottsdale and the president of the Board of Rabbis, opened the event echoing the sentiment of many attendees: “there are no words.” He went on to say that although there were no words to express what we are all feeling, there are words to express support, hope, commitment and resolve.

“Tonight, our intention is to stand in solidarity and to hold the pain, to hold the hurt, to hold the justifiable anger and to hold the grief,” he said. “It weighs just a little bit less when we know we are doing it here together.”

Cantor Ross Wolman from Temple Chai in Phoenix then took the stage to share a song inspired by words from a victim of a violent incident that occurred in the West Bank in 2000.

Temple Chai Senior Rabbi Emily Segal and Temple Solel Associate Rabbi Debbie Stiel both shared prayers for Israel and its people. Rev. Katie Sexton-Wood, executive director of Arizona Faith Network, said, “I stand here tonight as an ally representing numerous faith traditions throughout Arizona to remind you, you are not alone.” Then she offered a prayer in her faith, the Christian Church Disciples of Christ.

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Ronny Urman, president of the board of directors, Friends of Israel Scouts, Inc., shared his shock and despair and that this attack on Israel “will leave a lasting scar on our souls.” He encouraged people to introduce themselves to the stranger next to them and “not take this moment for granted as we never know what tomorrow will bring.”

Urman then introduced Jonathan Drori, who moved to Scottsdale four years ago with his family after living in a kibbutz near the Gaza Envelope. This area has been under constant artillery and land strike attempts since 2001.

Drori explained that most kibbutzim have a “quick reaction force” of men and women trained to defend themselves in the event of an attack until the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) can arrive, usually within an hour. He said that during the Hamas onslaught, the IDF didn’t arrive for almost 24 hours.

“I’m extremely grateful for the fact my kids didn’t have to go through this attack the way my family and friends did,” he said. He said that people in his kibbutz only sustained injuries but residents in the village his cousin lives in did not fare as well.

He said that many people had locking mechanisms on their doors to ensure safety and when the terrorists could not breach the door, they lit the home on fire to force the people out.

“Those who escaped their burning house were slaughtered in the street or taken hostage,” said Drori. “One of my family members was murdered and two others have been rescued by the IDF.” Also, three close friends lost their lives protecting their community and many of his friends are still missing.

Following Drori, Rabbi Pinchas Allouche of Congregation Beth Tefillah in Scottsdale, shared a text he received from his 20-year-old son, Yisrael Mordechai Chaim, a sniper and paratrooper in the IDF. His text said: “I’m on my way to the frontlines, Abba and mommy. I just wanted to let you know. I love you and I miss you guys so much. Keep up the good work and never stop.”

On Monday morning, Allouche received a call from his son and although he sounded exhausted, his spirits were high. He couldn’t share with his parents exactly what he was doing on his mission, but described villages in ruin, the smell of death in the air and bodies everywhere.

Then Allouche said his son shared a quote with him, “Sight is seen with the eyes, vision is seen with the mind. My sight did encounter some horrible sights, but I want you to know that my vision is crystal clear. In that vision, I see Am Yisrael Chai; in that vision, I see us winning; in that vision, I see goodness finally prevailing.”

Representing some of the organizations on the ground providing aid to Israel were Dr. Mel Bottner, Jewish National Fund-USA Desert States board president,

and Rachel Hoffer, board chair for the CJP and board chair of the Jewish Agency for Israel — North American Council.

A son of Holocaust survivors, Bottner said, “There’s nothing more powerful in the world than a unified Jewish nation.”

He also mentioned that Israelis feel this is their 9/11, but based on Israel’s population, the number of lives lost, proportionally, is much higher than the American terrorist attack.

Hoffer shared that her brother and his family are “proud Jerusalemites,” and her niece was called up to serve her country earlier that day. She also said that her husband, Jonathan, and other community members, Steve Hilton and Jason Morris, arrived in Tel Aviv that morning.

She admitted she would be holding her breath until their safe return but said, “I also know that showing up and putting our arms around our Israeli brothers and sisters is critical and makes an unparalleled impact and I’m extremely proud.”

Jonathan told her that while the gentlemen were discussing their plans for the next day, they saw a wedding in the hotel lobby, a perfect example of Israeli’s resilience, strength and hope. “We must let Israel know we are united every step of the way,” she said.

While Jerusalem native Cantor Noa Shaashua performed, Schneider, Rabbi Andy Green of Scottsdale’s Congregation Or Tzion and Rabbi Stephen Kahn of Congregation Beth Israel, also in Scottsdale, stood arm in arm off to the side of the stage gently swaying to the music.

Green shared a prayer asking God to “hold in your hand our shattered, fractured, punctured hearts, the heart of a Jewish nation, the heart of the Jewish people.”

Kahn noted that so many thousands showed up on a Monday night in Scottsdale, 10,000 miles away from the people of Israel “that our love will transcend time and space and time zones to land in their hearts.” He also invited all rabbis in attendance to come up on the stage to recite the Mourner’s Kaddish.

“A pluralistic group of rabbis, maybe for the first time in my 21 years here in the Valley, together leading prayer,” he said.

After Kaddish, Wolman and Shaashua sang the “Star-Spangled Banner” and then invited the Israeli Scouts, who had also performed earlier, to sing “Hatikvah,” the national anthem of Israel.

At the conclusion of the event, Schneider said he was heartened to share a note from Governor Katie Hobbs on social media: “To the people of Israel: Arizona stands with you. Tonight, the Executive Tower is blue in solidarity. Am Yisrael Chai.”

Am Yisrael Chai. The people of Israel live. JN Jewish News is published by the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix, a component of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix.

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Arizona politicians from both parties stand in solidarity with Israel SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER

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ost Arizona politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, quickly joined a growing chorus of U.S. officials in support of Israel in the wake of Saturday’s surprise attack by Hamas.

Republican Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, who is Jewish, was one of the first to post about the attack and his support for Israel on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter. He pointed out quickly the extra burden to observant Israelis who had their phones and computers turned off and couldn’t immediately access news.

Richer also generously retweeted supportive posts from professional sports teams, world capitals and fellow Arizona politicians, regardless of their party affiliation, as well as taking to task those politicians who showed any hint of support for Hamas.

Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs also immediately posted on Saturday her condemnation of “the horrific terrorist attack on Israel by Hamas.” She told of her heartbreak at hearing the stories of “those who have been killed, injured or captured” and stated in no uncertain terms that “Arizona stands with the people of Israel and supports their right to self-defense.”

One day later, she announced “to the people of Israel: Arizona stands with you. Tonight, the Executive Tower is blue in solidarity. Am Yisrael Chai.” The governor’s post was accompanied by an Israeli flag emoji and a photo of the capitol tower on Washington Street in Phoenix bathed in blue.

On Saturday, Oct. 7, following the first news reports coming out of Israel, Democratic Arizona Attorney General Kris

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Mayes posted on X that she was “Deeply shocked and heartbroken by today’s terrible Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel.”

She also promised the Jewish state Arizona’s “resolute” support.

Along with a bipartisan group of 13 attorneys general from California, Delaware, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia, Mayes’ office issued a statement making it clear that “the targeting of civilians by Hamas as well as the thousands of rockets it has fired indiscriminately at civilian targets are acts that cannot be tolerated or rationalized.”

On Saturday, Democratic Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, who is Jewish, posted on X that she was “proud to stand with Israel” and assured the local Jewish community that in Phoenix “our police are stepping up patrols near synagogues.”

On Tuesday, the mayor posted, “Phoenix City Hall will be lit in blue and white in support of our friends in Israel.”

On Wednesday, Republican House Speaker Ben Toma and Warren Petersen, Republican president of Arizona’s Senate, issued a joint legislative proclamation “denouncing the hateful atrocities that have been committed against Israel. We must stand arm in arm to support our ally and condemn these vile acts.”

They also lit Arizona’s capital dome blue in support of the Jewish state.

Freshmen Jewish representatives were also quick to announce their unequivocal support for Israel.

On Saturday, Democratic Rep. Seth Blattman stated on social media, “I stand with Israel as it defends itself against Hamas

Several of the state’s elected officials, both Republicans and Democrats, turned up to support the Greater Phoenix Jewish community at a rally on Oct. 9 at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus. Pictured from left are: Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega, Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and Sec. of State Adrian Fontes.

COURTESY OF STEPHEN RICHER

in this ongoing assault.” Republican Rep. Alexander Kolodin tweeted the hashtag #JewishLives Matter and Democratic Rep. Consuelo Hernandez’s social media feeds have been full of support for Israel, joining her older sister, Democratic Rep. Alma Hernandez, a veteran of Arizona’s House, in highlighting the supportive gatherings of Jews in Tucson and around the state.

This is just a smattering of the political support Arizona has offered to Israel.

This vocal support from such leaders has been a salve to Israelis, said Lior Haiat, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, at an international press conference on Wednesday, Oct. 11.

Jewish News was invited to attend

by Carmel Halevy, Consul for Public Diplomacy at the Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles, which oversees Israel’s concerns in Arizona and other western states.

“Everybody understands that over 1,200 people were butchered, murdered in their beds, in their kitchens, in their living rooms and that is unacceptable,” Haiat said.

While the press conference was a breakdown of what has happened in Israel

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since Saturday, it also involved the dramatic testimony of Noam Peri, an Israeli whose father, Haim Peri, was kidnapped from his kibbutz by Hamas.

She described a terrifying scene in which her “caring and wonderful father” quickly reacted when he heard militants coming in the door. Though he is 80, “he was able to push the terrorist away, giving my mother precious minutes to hide,” she recounted.

She asked the journalists in attendance to ask their governments for help in returning her father and the other hostages, many of whom are elderly or very young.

“My father was a peace activist all his life, driving sick kids and adults from Gaza to hospitals in Israel. He fought for human rights and now he is held captive

by Hamas terrorists without basic human rights. I know you and your governments can make the difference and save their lives,” she pleaded.

Haiat was not sanguine about recovering the hostages and repeated: “This is not a time for negotiations.”

The call had to be cut short when Haiat and his staff had to move to bomb shelters when the warning alarm sounded in the background. JN

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For Scottsdale resident, Gaza Envelope is ‘like a second home’ MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR

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cottsdale resident Susan Farber was busy the morning of Oct. 7 with her grandson, who had slept over the night before, when she noticed a 6:30 a.m. text message from Hadass Nisan, assistant to the mayor of Ramat HaNegev, Israel. Ofir Liebstein, Sha’ar HaNegev Council mayor, had been killed in an exchange of fire with Hamas militants while defending his community.

“It was so good of her to think of me in the midst of everything,” said Farber.

“That’s how close we are — and then the messages started coming in on WhatsApp from everywhere.”

Farber is Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF-USA) chair of the Central Negav Task Force. Prior to her recent position, she was a prominent member of the Gaza Envelope Task Force and worked with Liebstein on several projects through JNF-USA. Farber visited the areas in Israel hardest hit by the recent attacks more than 20 times in the past several years.

She first became involved with the region after a solidarity mission to Israel during Operation Protective Edge, an aerial operation launched by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) against Hamas and other terrorist organizations in response to increasing rocket and mortar fire on Israel from the

Gaza Strip during 2014.

“I have such an intimate relationship with the area,” she said. “It’s like a second home to me.”

She said that the people living in kibbutzim along the border are used to alerts telling them to take cover in bomb shelters, but this time the terrorists distracted the IDF with rocket launches and inundated the border security systems, so by the time most people realized they were in danger, Hamas had already entered their community.

Michal Uziyahu, head of Eshkol Community Center, was a liaison to JNFUSA in the Gaza Envelope and is now part of JNF-USA’s staff in Israel. Eshkol is home to the GrooveTech Center, an indoor playground and learning center with a planetarium and robotics lab, two miles from the Gaza border.

Uziyahu shared how people were celebrating Sukkot at the center before the attack.

After the attack, it became a safe place for families to gather.

Uziyahu, who is running for mayor of Eshkol, said over Zoom on Oct. 13 that although there are funerals every day, “you see young people and elderly doing their best, in a proud way, to take care of our communities. To make sure that we keep in touch with one another and give support to

one another.” She said that many are getting ready to evacuate ahead of Israel’s next stage of the war and hopes once everything is over, they can return to their communities.

“They can break our houses, they can hurt our bodies and even kill us, but they will never kill our spirit,” she said, referring to Hamas.

Since the attack, JNF-USA launched its Israel Resilience Campaign, aiming to raise $10 million in 30 days. Part of the support is going towards evacuating people from the Gaza Envelope to Ramat HaNegev, less than 50 miles away.

The first project that Farber kicked off with the Central Negav Task Force was the construction of the Har HaNegev Search and Rescue Center. The center opene earlier this summer and after the attack, volunteers went on rescue missions to Gaza.

“The mayor of Ramat HaNegev, Eran Doron, has pledged all his assistance and all his people,” said Farber.

In a videotaped message from Oct. 11, Doron explained that his community was taking in people evacuated from the battle zone. “We try to give them a little bit of comfort and affection. To hug them, to give them this place where they will know they are secure and can try to understand what

they have been through,” he said. He said his community is giving support to thousands of evacuated people and IDF soldiers preparing for the next stage of the mission.

JNF-USA has worked in close partnership in the communities along Gaza for decades and in addition to helping residents evacuate and providing basic humanitarian needs, it is installing additional bomb shelters, assisting with defensive equipment for communities and reservists and providing additional firefighting equipment to protect homes and property from ongoing rocket fire.

Farber, a member of Congregation Or Tzion in Scottsdale, admits feeling helpless not being in Israel to physically help, but is working with the numerous connections she has through JNF-USA to connect people who have resources to those who need them.

“I’m watching TV and I see the streets I’ve walked on and the parks I’ve had picnics in during the time of year when the red flowers (anemone) come out and it’s gorgeous,” said Farber. “It’s crazy that an area could be so dangerous and yet, at the same time, so beautiful.” JN For more information, visit jnf.org/ways-to-help/ support-israel.

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From left: Ruha Temlock, Steve Broadbent, Father Edward Lucero and Rabbi Sam Cohon read a multifaith prayer at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, Oct. 9, 2023.

COURTESY OF TUCSON JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER

Nearly a thousand gather in support of Israel at Tucson JCC PHYLLIS BRAUN | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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standing-room-only crowd of more than 900 people gathered in the sculpture garden of the Tucson Jewish Community Center (Tucson JCC) on Oct. 9 to show solidarity with Israel in the wake of unprecedented terrorist attacks.

The evening of prayers and songs featured eight local rabbis, other Jewish community leaders, government officials and representatives of multiple faiths including Catholic, Bahá’í and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The Weintraub Israel Center (WIC), a joint program of the Tucson JCC and Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona (JPSA), organized the event. WIC Board Chair Jeff Artzi detailed the devastating numbers of those killed, kidnapped and wounded in Israel. “But we are here today not in despair but in unity,” WIC Director Abbii Cook added.

Yuval Malka, who arrived in August as Tucson’s new shlicha (Israeli emissary), and JPSA Community Impact Project Coordinator Arielle Shemesh, a former soldier in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), struggled to hold back tears as they recited “A Prayer for the IDF.” Before reading Psalm 121, often recited in times of trouble, Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin of Chabad Tucson spoke of his mother, who traveled to Israel to celebrate Sukkot and was stranded there.

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero read “A Prayer for the Jewish People.” Becky Freeman, chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani, read his remarks affirming U.S. support for Israel.

Father Edward Lucero, vicar general and moderator of the Curia for the Diocese of Tucson; Steve Broadbent, president of Tucson North Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; and JEWISHAZ.COM

Ruha Temlock, a member of the Bahá’í community, joined with Rabbi Sam Cohon of Congregation Beit Simcha to read a prayer Cohon composed for the occasion.

Echoing the Prophet Isaiah, Cohon ended with the wish that “all shall sit under their vine and fig tree and none shall make them afraid.”

Lucero said he was happy to attend on behalf of Bishop Edward Weisenburger, who was unavailable, “to show our solidarity with the Jewish people and the people of Israel.”

For Temlock, it was important to participate because “any time there is human suffering it touches all of us.” She added that Israel, sacred to many religions, is also the site of Bahá’í holy spots in Haifa and Akko.

Rabbi Stephanie Aaron of Congregation Chaverim, recovering from laryngitis, called an audience member onstage to join her in singing the “Mi Shebeirach” prayer for healing. But her voice was strong as she chanted, “Am Yisrael Chai! The Jewish people live!”

Thanking attendees, Cook outlined ways to continue making a positive impact: giving to a favorite Israeli charity or via JPSA’s Israel relief mailbox, advocating with elected officials to support Israel’s right to self-defense and reaching out to Israelis to offer love and support.

Cook told the Jewish News that the shlicha, Yuval, and her partner, Nitay, had expected perhaps 100 people to show up for the event. “They were both absolutely blown away and the amount of support they felt from this community touched them in a way that I think is just indescribable.” JN Phyllis Braun is a freelance writer and editor based in Tucson.

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OCTOBER 20, 2023

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East Valley JCC hosts Arizona congressman who promises to stand by Israel in its ‘darkest time’ SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER

F

ive minutes before joining a Zoom call with the East Valley Jewish Community Center (EVJCC), Democratic U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ04) found out that Republican Rep. Steve Scalise had dropped his bid for Speaker of the House of Representatives due to a lack of support.

Stanton was frustrated, mostly because without a House speaker, the congressional body would remain stymied in performing its many functions, including passing a resolution condemning Hamas’ attack on Israel and promising support for the Jewish state.

Stanton said he was “honored to sign on to that resolution,” stating: “the House of Representatives stands with Israel as it defends itself against the barbaric war launched by Hamas and other terrorists.”

The resolution has near unanimous support and was signed by every member of Arizona’s delegation.

However, it cannot be voted on

“because we can’t vote on anything right now,” Stanton told EVJCC CEO Rabbi Michael Beyo and members of the local Jewish community who had signed onto the briefing Thursday evening, Oct. 12.

Trying to get assistance for Israel and Ukraine is impossible without a House speaker, John Kirby, the National Security Council spokesman, said on Oct. 11.

“That position is critical of bringing legislation to the floor and moving things forward,” he said. “So the sooner there’s a speaker of the House, obviously, the more comfortable we’ll all be in terms of being able to support Israel and Ukraine right now.”

Stanton told viewers that he hoped the call would be “an open dialogue” and that viewers would hold him accountable for his positions as the weeks progressed.

“You have every right to push me in a better direction if you see me moving away,” he said.

Stanton, a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, made it

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clear that he wants the world to see that “Congress is overwhelmingly supportive of Israel.” One of the first things that need to happen as soon as a speaker is chosen is to vote on a supplemental budget request that includes the aid Israel is requesting.

“Time is of the essence that we get this issue with the speaker resolved to provide a level of support for Israel during its time of great need — right at this very moment,” he said.

Unfortunately, he reiterated, “We are essentially at square one again, as it relates to this now.”

Stanton, who was in Washington, D.C., was supposed to be in Arizona last week spending time with his kids who are home during fall break, shared a few updates about bringing American citizens in Israel back to the United States.

Beyo appreciated the congressman’s time and the information he shared.

“His support for the State of Israel and the Jewish community is something that I do not take lightly or for granted. We are very fortunate to have him in Congress,” he told Jewish News in an email.

“My team and I worked a ton of hours before the State Department set up its system of bringing people home (from Israel), trying to figure out ways to get people through land bridges, or whatever.

We were able to get a good number of Arizonans who were in Israel and wanted to evacuate” before the broader system was put into place, Stanton said.

On the subject of the $6 billion sitting in a Qatari bank, Stanton said he was determined that Iran would not have access to any of it. The money had previously been held in a South Korean bank under an agreement during the Trump

U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton COURTESY OF GAGE SKIDMORE/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

administration for the Asian country to buy Iranian oil. Its transfer to Qatar was part of an agreement for Iran to release American prisoners.

“Whatever agreement was made on the hostage deal, the benefit of fulfilling the terms versus the cost of that money wasn’t a good balance. Until we know what role Iran played, that money has to be frozen,” he said.

In closing, Stanton warned viewers that the resolution now circulating was “the easy part” and going forward, things would get much harder, especially because in the “tough, tough fight” to “root out” Hamas, “the pictures will not be pretty and there will be attempts to turn the tide of public attention against Israel.”

That’s when it’s most important for Israel to know the U.S. has its back, the congressman said.

“It’s at the darkest times that you find out who your friends are, who your allies are, and we want to make sure Israelis know that America, in a bipartisan way, will stand shoulder to shoulder with them. We need to stand firm,” he said. JN

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Multi-faith work highlighted at Phoenix conference

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emple Kol Ami (TKA) Rabbi Jeremy Schneider’s partnership with Pastor Bob Roberts Jr. in multi-faith work predates the Multi-Faith Neighbors Network (MFNN), the organization Roberts would eventually found with Imam Mohamed Magid, chairman of International Interfaith Peace Corps, and Rabbi David Saperstein, who served as director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism for 40 years.

When Schneider first worked with Roberts, they were both leaders in their respective religious communities in Dallas.

“He was just a pastor of a church in Dallas and I was a rabbi in Dallas and we got together: a church, a mosque and a synagogue. We started modeling this type of multi-faith programming,” Schneider told Jewish News.

Schneider was originally attracted by the multi-faith approach because “religious leaders from different faith traditions don’t have to sacrifice their own traditions’ theological identity to be in dialogue,” he said.

He means no disrespect to interfaith work, he said, but in his experience it often became a celebration of commonalities without honoring the differences.

“Multi-faith work says there are significant theological differences and we recognize that and name it but it doesn’t stop us from being neighbors and helping the community be better,” he said.

The key is about building relationships, explained Schneider, a member of MFNN. To that end, he invited Christians and Muslims to a Shabbat service and members of his congregation went to the mosque on Saturday night and the church on Sunday morning.

In this way, the three communities witnessed one another’s worship services and afterwards participated in a round-robin style interview with the spiritual leaders.

“Everyone could ask questions and it was a great way to break down stereotypes,” Schneider said.

Many of his congregants told him later they had never thought they could even go into a mosque or a church.

This year’s Global Faith Forum, MFNN’s annual conference, is taking place in Phoenix, Oct. 22 and 23. “Together for Peace in a Time of Outrage” is the conference’s theme.

One reason Phoenix was chosen as the site of this year’s conference is “because it has been the site of some significant tension, both in religious circles and political circles, over the last few years. It is a good example of a city where we can help have an impact that serves the greater good,” said Micah JEWISHAZ.COM

Fries, MFNN’s director of programs.

Schneider and TKA Cantor Noa Shaashua will be opening the conference with prayers.

Also joining Schneider at the conference will be his local partners in multi-faith work, Pastor Joshua Prather of Redemption Church Arizona that has multiple locations and Shaykh Didmar Faja, imam of the United Islamic Center of Arizona in Glendale.

For the last eight years, Schneider, Prather and Faja have been speaking at one another’s houses of worship, hosting meals for one another and assisting the homeless population of Greater Phoenix.

“We’re doing this work to make an impact on the community,” Schneider said.

Prather agreed.

He said that his church believes two things: “Jesus is the savior of the world and every human being has value and we need to live in peace with one another,” he told Jewish News.

Prather prioritizes building relationships with other faith traditions that share important goals for the community, such as alleviating the suffering of impoverished people. To do such important but difficult work requires creating new relationships and deepening existing ones.

COVID-19 threw an enormous wrench into their plans.

“A lot of our efforts had to take a backseat, but we recently had lunch to talk about things and catch up,” Schneider said.

“We have to stoke the fire of our relationship because it all starts there,” he said.

“Serving the poor together,” is one thing they are talking about now, Prather said.

One way is to open up religious facilities that are not in use on certain nights to people who have nowhere to sleep.

“I think that’s one of the greatest ways the community can unite, for the common good,” Prather said.

The partnership of Schneider, Faja and

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Pastor Joshua Prather (left) and Imam Didmar Faja (right) joined Rabbi Jeremy Schneider (center) at his house during Sukkot 2018.

COURTESY OF RABBI JEREMY SCHNEIDER

Prather was a key reason Phoenix is host to this year’s conference, said Fries.

“Rabbi Jeremy Schneider, Imam Didmar and Pastor Josh have been phenomenal partners and an incredible example to the rest of our network of how people that are very different theologically can come together for the good of their community,” he said.

Still, it’s important to highlight the differences because that’s where a lot of the stereotypes and fear come into play, Schneider said. After an imam and an Evangelical pastor attended one of his Shabbat services, Schneider held a Q&A for his congregation in an effort to address Islamophobia. One congregant stood up and told the pastor he was more afraid of Evangelicals than Muslims.

The pastor was shocked and asked why.

The congregant responded that he was afraid of Christians trying to convert him.

Schneider understood because he had once grappled with his own fear that his Evangelical colleagues loved him because they secretly intended to “save,” or convert, him.

Forming lasting relationships is the antidote to that kind of fear, he said.

Another reason he does the work.

“At the end of the day it’s about engaging in civil discourse while embracing diverse perspectives,” he said. JN For more information, visit globalfaithforum.com.

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HEADLINES COMMUNITY BRIEFS

Phoenix Bukharian synagogue reopens under new leadership The Chabad Bukharian Center (CBC) is planning to host a celebration at its building on N. Sixth Place in Phoenix sometime in the next few months. The CBC is the new iteration of what had been the Bukharian Jewish Congress of Arizona, which closed its doors in 2021.

Nisan Zadikov, who founded the original Bukharian synagogue in 2005, will attend the opening celebration with his wife, Revital. They moved to California in 2020 but want to return to celebrate with members of their former community.

The reopening of the synagogue is thanks to the partnership of Ohr Avner Foundation, a philanthropic entity of Israeli billionaire and émigré from the former Soviet Union, Lev Leviev and

Chabad of Arizona. Both organizations stepped in to purchase the Phoenix property and renew the Bukharian community that had belonged to the Bukharian Jewish Congress for more than a decade.

Rabbi Emanuel Shimonov is the center’s new spiritual leader. Originally from Calgary, Canada, Shimonov has studied all over the globe, and he led services for the community during the recent High Holidays.

“This Chabad center is here to help the Bukharian youth,” Shimonov told Jewish News.

The center is now hosting programs for young adults every Wednesday and plans to start a weekly program for teens.

“Our goal is to work with the younger

generation of Bukharians,” Shimonov said.

“I am really happy that this is happening,” Zadikov said. “We already spoke with people who left and are now coming back.”

In the early 1990s, a few Jewish Bukharian families moved to Phoenix from New York in search of affordable housing and a warmer climate. Today, Phoenix has the largest Bukharian Jewish community in North America outside of New York.

In 1989, just before the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the majority of the world’s Bukharian Jews — around 50,000 — lived in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the majority of Bukharian Jews immigrated en masse to the United States and Israel.

A table displays traditional Bukharian items.

COURTESY OF STUART MECKLER

Today, the three largest Bukharian Jewish communities in the world are in Israel, New York and Phoenix, according to cultural anthropologist Alanna Cooper, Ph.D., the Abba Hillel Silver Chair in Jewish Studies at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland and author of “Bukharan Jews and the Dynamics of Global Judaism.” JN

ASU Jewish Studies program hosted experts in Polish Jewish history On two consecutive Tuesdays in September, Arizona State University’s (ASU) Jewish Studies program hosted virtual events featuring Polish scholars.

They both spoke about Jewish identity in Poland after the Second World War. The talks were made possible by the Lowe Family Holocaust and Genocide Education Endowment, which supports learning about the causes and conditions that foster genocides, including the Holocaust, and aims to generate public awareness about the danger of authoritarian, totalitarian and nationalistic regimes.

Hava Tirosh-Samuelson, director of the department, said to expect similar events as soon as next month.

On Tuesday, Sept. 5, Joanna Beata Michlic of Lund University in Sweden spoke about documenting the voices

of Jewish children who survived the Holocaust and their importance to the historical record.

Michlic elaborated on the way that the later recorded testimonies of child survivors complemented the earliest ones, arguing that the successive waves of testimonies must be understood together to assess how surviving genocide impacted the children’s later lives.

Michlic is a social and cultural historian, and founder and first director of HBI (Hadassah-Brandeis Institute) Project on Families, Children and the Holocaust at Brandeis University.

On Tuesday, Sept. 12, Joanna Nalewajko-Kulikov of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Poland delivered a lecture titled, “Citizens of Yiddishland, or When Jewish Communists Did Not Cease to Be

Jewish.”

Nalewajko-Kulikov discussed Jewish communists in both pre- and postwar Poland, who continued to feel a deep attachment to their Jewish identity and the Yiddish language and culture, despite being involved with the official Communist Party, which was atheist.

Many Jewish communists survived the Holocaust by going to the Soviet Union.

When they returned to Poland after the war, they headed most of the Jewish institutions, such as the Socio-Cultural Association of Jews in Poland (TSKZ) or the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw.

Nalewajko-Kulikov discussed her research about how these Poles viewed their Jewish and communist beliefs and what became of them following the party’s 1968 antisemitic campaign.

A map of Poland CANVA STOCK IMAGE

Nalewajko-Kulikov is also an associate professor at the Tadeusz Manteuffel Institute of History and editor-in-chief of the English-language journal “Acta Poloniae Historica.” JN To learn more, visit jewishphoenix.com/ organization/asu-jewish-studies/

Jewish pediatrician in Scottsdale releases new children’s book

Weiss Wealth Strategies welcomes new advisor

Raun Melmed, a Jewish developmental pediatrician and director of the Melmed Center in Scottsdale, recently published a new installment in his children book series “Marvin’s Monster Diary.”

“Marvin’s Monster Diary 5: ADHD Self-Esteem Blues” is written in a humorous narrative to provide lessons to young children about self-esteem, resilience and the power of self-discovery. Melmed wrote the entire series to address common behavioral challenges of developing children, especially those with ADHD and other neurodivergent conditions.

In the new book, Marvin, captain of the Monstrocity Minotaurs garbage ball team, is in for an unexpected challenge when practice goes awry and he begins to question his abilities. The story revolves around Marvin’s journey back to self-confidence and his realization that self-esteem comes from within.

The book features Melmed’s ST4 method of mindfulness and self-regulation, providing practical tools for children with ADHD to

Weiss Wealth Strategies of Raymond James announced in September that Clay Levy joined the company as a financial advisor. He spent the last six years at Vanguard Group in Scottsdale.

Levy lives in Scottdale and is a member of Temple Chai.

Levy grew up in Scottsdale and attended Pinnacle High School before moving on to the University of Arizona, where he graduated with a major in political science and a minor in history. Though he initially had aspirations for law school, ultimately, his interest in finance led him to pursue a career in financial services.

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OCTOBER 20, 2023

Raun Melmed, MD, FAAP COURTESY OF RAUN MELMED

navigate their emotions and surroundings.

Melmed is also the co-founder and medical director of the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center and lives in Paradise Valley.

The book went on sale Sept. 12 and is available on Amazon and other online booksellers. JN

JEWISH NEWS

Clay Levy COURTESY OF WEISS WEALTH STRATEGIE

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Shabbat Project celebrates its 10th anniversary next month To help celebrate Shabbat Project Arizona’s (SPA) 10th anniversary in November, Pardes Jewish Day School in Scottsdale will host a Friday night dinner on Nov. 3, and homes across Greater Phoenix will open their doors for some Shabbat hospitality. SPA will make thousands of gift candles available to local women to light in an effort to reach its goal of having 10 million Shabbat candles lit in five million Jewish homes before sundown.

The Wednesday before the annual Shabbat celebration, SPA always hosts a challah bake so that people will be able to bring the challah to their Shabbat celebration, and this year is no different. On Wednesday, Nov. 1, Israeli native Hadar Eytan will lead the challah bake. Eytan started out as a participant a few years ago and now she will be the event leader for the 10th anniversary. After learning to make challah, she started teaching others for weddings and b’nai mitzvahs, calling it her life’s purpose.

Robin Meyerson started SPA a decade ago with the help of Miriam Botner and underwriting from the late Jean Grossman. They dedicated their Great Arizona Challah Bake to the memory of Botner’s daughter, Lauren, who died in 2014 at the age of 34.

“We had no idea what we were doing all those years ago. We never heard of a challah bake but we just jumped in with open hearts,” Meyerson said. From the beginning it was a project of Jewish unity and Orthodox women shared the stage with Reform and Conservative Jews.

“There were no barriers between Orthodox, Reform or Conservative — we were all Jewish women making challah,” Meyerson said.

“The Shabbat Project has a natural appeal to Jews of all backgrounds,” said Dr. Warren Goldstein, chief rabbi of South Africa and founder of the worldwide Shabbos Project.

“Shabbat is a fortress of love and togetherness; an island of tranquility; a sanctuary of meaning; a counterforce to the great challenges of the modern world; an ancient idea as relevant today as it’s ever been; and a God-given gift.”

Goldstein urged Jews around the world to come together to light Shabbat candles in support of Israel after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7.

“Together with my wife, Gina, we offer you our personal prayer, to recite after you light your Shabbat candles this week,” he said.

Ten years ago, 650 people showed up to the first challah bake even though the group

had only found space for half that number.

“I remember Jean Grossman said to cut off registration, but I said ‘no way,’ because I didn’t want to turn anyone away that wanted to learn,” Meyerson said.

Instead, they filled the hallways and the patio of the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus in Scottsdale with women and girls learning to make challah, bringing in 50 volunteer challah coaches from across Greater Phoenix to alert those new to the process if the dough was too sticky or too dry.

“Everyone went home with a challah to put in their oven to bake and enjoy that shabbos at home,” Meyerson remembered.

Esther Freeman, an accomplished global performer, will take part in this year’s celebration. Through the years, SPA experimented with different formats and brought in various speakers, including Jamie Geller, a well-known chef, and Zumba instructor Tzipora Gellman.

It partners with 17 local Jewish organizations and day schools for the annual challah bake.

To contend with COVID-19 in 2020, the group hosted a zoom challah bake, passing out ingredients to people in cars at Pardes. The virtual element allowed the day

Participants were provided with all the ingredients to make two challahs at this year’s Great AZ Challah Bake.

COURTESY OF LEAH CRESSWELL

to become a global event. More than 1,000 people registered in the United States, Canada and Israel.

SPA has also partnered with Momentum and Project Inspire to lead Birthright-style trips of mothers to Israel.

“After 20 years of being shomer Shabbat myself, it’s fabulous to come full circle now and share Shabbat with the whole world. My phone is literally on fire, blowing up with WhatsApp, text messages, phone calls and emails from around the nation all wanting to participate in the 10th anniversary,” Meyerson said. JN To register for the Great Arizona Challah, Dips and Sips Bake, go to shabbatprojectaz.org

Temple Solel music director leads debut of new Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra John Massaro, Temple Solel’s music director, will lead the debut performance of the newly-formed Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra on Oct. 22, at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts.

Massaro has directed music at Temple Solel in Paradise Valley for the last 15 years.

Before that, he spent 15 years in the same role at Phoenix’s Temple Chai, after spending several years directing music for Scottsdale’s Congregation Beth Israel (CBI).

Massaro and his wife, Gail Dubinbaum, met when they both attended Arizona State University in Tempe. Dubinbaum is Jewish but Massaro is not. Still, his first job out of college was singing at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, California. When the couple moved to Arizona from New York, he found a position singing in a quartet at CBI, where the late Rabbi Albert Plotkin dubbed him “an

honorary Jew,” Massaro said.

He remembered that the leader of the Arizona Opera invited Plotkin to play the role of the old emperor in Giacomo Puccini’s opera Turandot, though the rabbi had never sung opera. Plotkin wanted to do it but couldn’t read music or speak Italian, the language of the opera.

“He was distraught because he really wanted to do it and he had a wonderful tenor voice,” Massaro said. Massaro, who coached opera, had learned a lot by singing a transliterated version of Hebrew and used the technique for Plotkin with Italian. The pronunciation he remembers teaching Plotkin most vividly was “giù,” which means “down” or “get down” in Italian and sounds like “Jew.” He was able to get Plotkin ready in three days.

“From then on anytime I would see him he would bow down to me and call me his opera

coach,” Massaro laughed.

Massaro is also the principal conductor for the Phoenix Opera, which he and his wife founded, and an award-winning composer, recently completing his second opera, The Seven Sisters. He served as an assistant to Leonard Bernstein during the creation of A Quiet Place and to Zubin Mehta for the Israel Philharmonic’s production of Madama Butterfly in Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem.

Massaro made his Carnegie Hall debut conducting the Mozart Requiem which led to a European tour where he conducted several additional Mozart masterpieces in a 250th anniversary celebration of the composer’s birth.

He debuted with the Phoenix Symphony in 2002, conducting a 9/11 memorial concert, which included his own arrangement of the National Anthem. He has also served as

John Massaro

COURTESY OF JOHN MASSARO

Musical Director for the Phoenix Theater and the Black Theatre Troupe.

The October program Massaro will direct includes Mozart’s Overture to The Magic Flute and Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony.

The Scottsdale Symphonic Orchestra was founded in 2023 and is in the midst of a worldwide search for a music director. During the 2023–24 season, Massaro and the other final candidates for the permanent position will be leading the orchestra as guest conductors. JN

BJE and JTO welcome new board leadership The Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix (BJE) recently welcomed Steve Ference as its new board president.

Ference moved to Arizona in the late 1990s and immediately became involved with the work of the BJE. His children participated in BJE’s Hebrew High and CAREaVan programs as teens and adult programming as they got older.

“The Bureau could not be happier that Steve is our new board president,” said Myra Shindler, BJE’s executive director. “He has a long history of participation in the BJE, knows the Jewish community well and brings a wealth of experience from his other leadership roles.”

Shindler also had high praise for the former president, Heath Blumstein, who will remain on the board as past president.

“Heath is a calming presence. He always knew just what to say to entice high board participation at our events and was very supportive of the professional staff. Heath is just a great cheerleader for the BJE,” she said.

JEWISHAZ.COM

“We want our board to be our supporters and voice in the community to promote Jewish learning for all ages and all stages,” she said.

Additionally, the Jewish Tuition Organization (JTO) just announced local attorney Brian Weinberger as its newest board member.

Weinberger, a resident of Scottsdale, is a trial attorney with more than 37 years of experience practicing in Greater Phoenix. He has served as a board member and executive board member for many charitable organizations, including several local Jewish organizations.

“We were very impressed with Brian’s enthusiasm and board experience and are pleased to welcome him to our board,” said Fred Wabnik, JTO board president.

Weinberger brings his passion to supporting causes that enhance the lives of the members of the Jewish community and hopes to help the JTO grow and extend its reach into JEWISH NEWS

Pictured from left are Steve Ference and Heath Blumstein.

Brian Weinberger COURTESY OF JEWISH TUITION ORGANIZATION

COURTESY OF BUREAU OF JEWISH EDUCATION OF GREATER PHOENIX

the community.

“I am looking forward to working with Brian; I feel he is going to be a great asset to the JTO Board,” said Janet Silva, JTO executive director.

Weinberger attended Arizona State University in Tempe and earned a law degree from American University. A native of Philadelphia, he remains an avid fan of all the Philadelphia sports teams and is the proud father of five children who live across the country. JN OCTOBER 20, 2023

11

OPINION

Commentary

The Hamas attack wasn’t the Holocaust. But it must be understood in terms of Jewish trauma.

YEHUDA KURTZER | JTA

W

hen unspeakable tragedy hits the Jewish people, we turn to memory — we ask not just, “what happened?”

We also ask: “What does this remind us of?”

Maybe refusing to heal from the tragedies of the past is pathological; maybe we are holding on too tight. Maybe it is epigenetic. Mostly, however, I see it as a coping mechanism developed over time, an interpretive strategy we use both to preserve our past and to create continuity. It makes it possible for a persecuted people to promise themselves they will survive whatever they face in the moment. “Never forget” is not merely a slogan to preserve the past; it is also a means of trying to ensure a future.

And, sometimes, I think that our insistence on seeing the past reawakened in the present is a right that we have earned in blood. We are entitled to use our suffering however we would like, and if we find it helpful to keep it close, to use it as a means of understanding and thus surviving the present, we can and should do so.

Throughout the last week, Jews have responded to the violent atrocities in Israel by analogizing Hamas’ horrific attacks to stories seared in our memories. I am sure you heard at least one version of the statistic that on Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas carried out the deadliest one-day attack on Jews since the Holocaust.

The more liturgically oriented are reading from the biblical books of Lamentations and Job. Some have described the burned bodies strewn across southern Israel with the single word “pogrom,” evoking the sorrows of the Eastern European Jewish experience.

Throughout the week, I felt — and I continue to feel — that it is our right to see this story through the prism of our particularistic collective experience. Gideon Hausner, the prosecutor at Adolf Eichmann’s trial, called this “a historical principle stretching from Pharaoh to Haman.”

Jewish tradition reserves the name “Amalek” for the worst of our enemies, suggesting that they share a lineage back to the biblical Amalekites whose unforgivable sin was to attack the Israelites from the rear, picking off the most vulnerable, refusing to spare the weakest and most weary. I do not need Hamas to be Amalek; our post-biblical sages tell us not to draw straight lines when it comes to connecting the dots between the historical Amalekites and contemporary villains.

But the callous murder of infants, the snatching of Holocaust survivors, the vicious murder of young people dancing — all of this is Amalekite behavior. This theological vocabulary allows us to name and understand the depths of the depravity that are facing, and then to marshal our resolve to face it for what it is. Our Jewish souls demand it.

I know that this sort of rhetoric is loaded and risky. I am writing this now precisely because I am seeing pushback online against it — suggestions that comparing this week’s events to the Holocaust distort the political realities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, or create permission for Israel to attack Gaza without constraint. My colleague, historian James Loeffler, cautions that constant analogies of present politics to history can become “willful weaponizations” to be used towards political ends. I’ve also written about these risks, which I worry about in particular when memory is marshaled for the sake of partisan politics. The greatest risk may be the temptation to weaponize our trauma by acting violently toward others. After all, after many of the tragedies of the Jewish past, the Jewish people had little of the power and military resources that Israel has today to respond in kind to our oppressors.

The vocabulary of the Jewish past is rich and evocative, and there is always risk that it will be misused, that it will be mapped inappropriately in light of the agency we now wield.

But sometimes, we need to take these risks. Sometimes, being a Jew in the world requires sustaining a relationship between our past, our present and our future. We are bidden to live in the present and feel burdened by the past. I want us right now to forgive our imperfect analogies, to lean into the instinct. I refuse to let anyone deprive us of the few interpretive tools we must make sense of what has befallen us. The fact that there was more talk on X about the prospect of Israel committing “genocide” in a military campaign that hadn’t started, than about the actual atrocities committed by Hamas which started this war, is an example of antisemitic gaslighting.

The bodies lie before us, and we are bereft; will our memory be taken from us, too?

And I also feel that it is entirely possible to turn to these stories and to assert our own humanity without also dehumanizing the other. There are safeguards in place to help us. The

Forensic staff at a makeshift morgue in Ramla, Israel attend the bodies of Israeli citizens killed by Hamas terrorists, Oct. 13, 2023.

COURTESY OF LEON NEAL/GETTY IMAGES

State of Israel holds itself to the moral standards of modern warfare and its rule of law, and it knows it must — as in the stunted career of Gen. Ofer Winter, passed over for promotion because he cast the fight against Hamas as a “holy war” — constrain the application of theological paradigms to the practice of warcraft. The IDF knows the difference between error and intent in the killing of civilians in wartime, and it abides to the principles of proportionality. We can trust ourselves to do this, more than we think.

More importantly, however, our victimhood has also been and can be a catalyst for our own self-reflection and growth. A small number of Jews have and always will turn outwards and turn their rage into fantasies for revenge. These people need to be stopped. Most of us know, however, that the lachrymosity of our history has been material for the refinement of our moral sensibilities. The traumatic memories of our ancestors that we carry in our stories fuels our prayers and shapes our moral imagination.

As we mourn this week — a Jewish people missing their children and forced to send others into battle, a Jewish people whose clothes are rent and whose faces are wet with tears, a nation that cannot sleep — we must allow ourselves the right to comfort ourselves with the bitter salve that our people has seen pieces of this story before. JN The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of JTA or its parent company, 70 Faces Media.

I started reading an article in the Jewish News in which it Nancy Pelosi, Al Sharpton and other Democrats. All they care Letters to the editor discusses your (Arno Rosenfeld) presentation on antisemitism in about are votes and not upsetting a segment of the population.

Regarding the article Shannon (Levitt) wrote about the man who received war medals much later than he should have (“Jewish soldier awarded Purple Heart in Peoria more than a century after his service,” Sept.

15, 2023).

I see that Debbie Lesko was in the picture and invited to the event. I have a problem with her being included.

She would not be my first, or ever, choice to put in Jewish News. If her past opinions, etc., had been checked, she might not have been invited to this symbolic event.

Bonnie S., Phoenix

Tucson (“Jews are in ‘battle to define and defeat antisemitism,’” Sept. 15, 2023).

At first, I thought that there was hope that you were going to address antisemitism from a non-partisan perspective. Halfway into the article, once again I was proven wrong. You, like many of your colleagues, just have to turn it into a Trump issue.

This is a very poor statement in the article: Trump defended the white nationalists chanting “Jews will not replace us” in Charlottesville in 2017.

I had to read the statement twice because it makes it sound that Trump was chanting “Jews will not replace us.”

I did not see anything in your presentation about Nation of Islam Minister, Louis Farrakhan, calling Jews roaches in Oct 2018. Where was the outcry and outrage from Barack Obama,

Twitter refused to shut the feed down. Where was the ADL demanding to shut it down? The ADL has no issues now going after Twitter following the Trump account being enabled. Do your statistics show an increase in antisemitism after this event?

There should be zero tolerance for antisemitism regardless of the political spectrum. There should be zero tolerance for any hateful speech.

Once your article/presentation becomes biased, I, as an independent person, lose faith in what you are trying to present.

Your hidden agenda becomes very clear: another progressive article that refuses to address the issues.

Present an unbiased article and then I will believe what you say.

Charles C., Gilbert

A NOTE ON OPINION

We are a diverse community. The views expressed in these opinion pieces do not necessarily reflect the views of the officers and boards of the Jewish Community Foundation, Center for Jewish Philanthropy, Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, Cleveland Jewish Publication Company or the staff of the Jewish News. Letters must respond to content published by the Jewish News and should be a maximum of 200 words. They may be edited for space and clarity. Unsigned letters will not be published. Letters and op-ed submissions should be sent to editor@jewishaz.com 12

OCTOBER 20, 2023

JEWISH NEWS

JEWISHAZ.COM

RELIGIOUS LIFE TORAH STUDY

Navigating the new normal: Noah’s narrative of noble recovery RABBI YISROEL ISAACS PARSHAH NOACH: GENESIS 6:9 - 11:32

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here’s no telling how long it will take to overcome the shock after experiencing, even from afar, a catastrophe like the recent savage attack on our homeland. Even before the shock wears off, Israel has no choice but to mobilize to hold the responsible parties accountable and recover its captive citizens. Eventually, however, when the dust settles, there will be trauma and pain, but a path of healing will remain. We will then need to answer the question, “What now?” This week’s parshah provides one powerful model of how to move forward after experiencing calamity.

Noah experienced three vastly different worlds: before the flood, during the flood and after the flood. In his prophecy about destruction and the few righteous who can withstand it, Ezekiel lists Noah along with Job and the prophet Daniel.

The latter two have in common with Noah in that they each lived through three similar processes of experiencing

something exceptionally positive but fragile, its loss and its restoration. Daniel saw the Beit Hamikdash, the Holy Temple of Jerusalem, in its beauty and glory, lived through the violence of its destruction and the subsequent period in which it lay dormant and finally saw it rebuilt.

Iyov also experienced a similar although entirely personal process in which he enjoyed great prosperity, then the loss of his family, health and fortune, followed by an eventual happy conclusion. Normally, humans have little understanding of who survives a disaster and who does not — unless, of course, one happens to be a prophet. Ezekiel testified that these three survived due to one common quality — extreme moral excellence. While the prophet does not attempt to explain why their contemporaries were not spared, and his words might leave us with questions since we know that even highly moral and completely innocent people often do not survive destruction, perhaps the moral strength he focuses on was relevant to these three lives not only before they were disrupted, but also after.

Noah’s post-flood intoxication illustrates that despite the eventual end of a crisis, its trauma deeply affects survivors.

Even if Noah may not have demonstrated

the earliest documented case of post-traumatic stress disorder, could he have felt anything but profound pain for the loss of civilization? When each of these three Biblical personalities finally emerged from his difficult times and could once again look forward, he faced new challenges.

Post-crisis, the survivor encounters the challenge of how to address his trauma, how to prevent relapse of future catastrophes and how to rebuild anew. Perhaps their moral excellence also guided their approach to their new worlds. However one might envision such excellence, it could not exclude living with introspection, steering clear of unnecessary conflict and, primarily, selfless dedication to others. If so, there could be no quality better than this excellence to empower these three individuals to avoid the mistakes and shortcomings of their earlier, pre-crisis experiences, move past lingering trauma and successfully navigate rebuilding and reconstruction following even catastrophic loss. Is there a better guarantee of success than directing our focus outward to helping others?

We pray and hope for the day that we will soon be able to put this current catastrophe behind us. Terrorists have already irrevocably changed the world in some

SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING OCTOBER 20 - 5:30 P.M. OCTOBER 27 - 5:23 P.M. SHABBAT ENDS OCTOBER 21 - 6:24 P.M. OCTOBER 28 - 6:17 P.M. Find area congregations at JewishAZ.com, where you can also find our 2024 Community Directory.

ways for the worse, but the opportunity remains to change it in other ways for the better. We can strengthen our ties to those who have demonstrated their support and friendship and distance and better protect ourselves from those with twisted morality or fear of public opprobrium who have not. Above all, can we, like Noah, embrace selfless excellence to shape our post-traumatic world? Can we carry on and build upon the beautiful unity that this tragedy has brought out in our communities and across our people? While we may not approach the moral caliber of the historic survivors, may G-d grant us their good fortune, wisdom, grit and determination as we move courageously into our new reality. JN Rabbi Yisroel Isaacs is director of the Greater Phoenix Vaad Hakashruth, rabbi at Beth Joseph Congregation and director of the Jewish Enrichment Center.

Helping children cope with stress of terrorism starts with openness LORRIE HENDERSON, PH.D., MBA, LCSW

B

etween the 24-hour news cycle and social media, kids today have more access to news and information than any generation previously. This is especially notable during times of war and terrorism like what we have witnessed in Israel the past few days. It is undoubtedly challenging and complex to discuss these issues with your children, and it is important to approach these subjects with care.

Children may have many of the same reactions to trauma as adults, including moodiness, loss of appetite, sensitivity to environmental factors like sirens or loud noises and even physical symptoms such as headaches and nausea. Additionally, children may fixate on death, become fearful for their own safety or lose interest in school or social activities.

Children are incredibly perceptive and tend to absorb cues from the adults in their lives.

Thus, it is crucial to address sensitive topics like this in a manner and tone that is suitable for their age. Creating a safe and open space for your children to express their concerns, ask questions and voice their fears is of utmost importance. You do not need to have all the JEWISHAZ.COM

answers because the information about the situation is constantly evolving. What matters most is that your children know they can turn to you for support.

Here are some recommendations for engaging in these difficult conversations: • Highlight acts of kindness: Children need to witness examples of people helping one another during difficult times. Find news stories or instances that display acts of kindness and courage, where individuals are making a positive impact. Ask your child if they would like to contribute in some way to help those affected by the conflict. Seek family-friendly volunteer opportunities that demonstrate how their actions can make a difference.

• Encourage compassion: While you might hold strong opinions about the situation, it is important to put aside your personal feelings when discussing it with your children.

Instead of focusing on “bad people” or “evil acts,” emphasize the importance of compassion and understanding for the families forced to flee their homes. Ensure that the information you share is accurate and age-appropriate for your child and reassure them of their safety.

• Address conflicting information: Your children might hear different perspectives or opinions from their peers or at school. Make it clear that bullying or being bullied is not acceptable and that they should promptly inform you or another trusted adult if they ever encounter situations that make them uncomfortable.

• End with a question: As you conclude your conversation, ensure that your child does not feel anxious or distressed. Ask a few more questions about their feelings and inquire if there is anything else they want to know. Pay attention to their body language and any signs that might indicate their unease. Remind them that you are always there to listen and support them.

• Device-free time: In the digital age, it is virtually impossible to shield children from news about global events. However, you can establish device-free periods for your family, limiting exposure to news and social media.

This also applies to adults, as taking a break from constant information bombardment can offer some relief.

Remember to respond to your children’s

JEWISH NEWS

Lorrie Henderson, Ph.D., MBA, LCSW COURTESY OF JEWISH FAMILY & CHILDREN’S SERVICE

curiosity and anxiety appropriately, validating their emotions and letting them know that you share their concerns. Encourage open communication and assure them that you are available to help and support them, no matter what. JN Lorrie Henderson, Ph.D., MBA, LCSW is president and CEO of Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Arizona.

OCTOBER 20, 2023

13

SPECIAL SECTION LEGAL AFFAIRS

Artificial intelligence and the law MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR

A

rtificial intelligence (AI) leverages computers and machines to mimic the problem-solving and decision-making capabilities of the human mind. Even though people have interacted with virtual assistants like Siri and Alexa for years, most people believed that AI was a long way out until the launch of Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT) in November of 2022 by Microsoft’s OpenAI. AI language models, like ChatGPT, are a key component of natural language processing, a field of AI focused on enabling computers to understand and generate human language. And employees in many types of businesses use the language model-based chatbot to create everything from emails to press releases. But what are possible legal issues when using artificial intelligence programs?

Jewish News asked attorneys Richard Lieberman, transition partner at Kutak Rock LLP in Scottsdale; BethEl Nager, corporate and intellectual property attorney at Weiss Brown in Scottsdale; and Susan Stone Rosenfield, director at Fennemore Law in Phoenix for their

thoughts on legal ramification and the use of AI. Lieberman address the question of possible legal issues when using AI with the following bullet points, (he noted that he did not engage in the help of ChatGPT when creating them): • Negligence: AI programs pull from information posted on the Web. That information typically has not been vetted or checked for accuracy. It could be wholly fictional or slanted with intentional or unintentional bias. Thus, be careful when using what appears to be facts presented by AI programs.

• Infringement: The information presented by your AI program may be copyrighted by another and use by you could trigger a potential claim against you. Even if your use may be permitted (e.g., “fair use”), it could be expensive and frustrating to defend against such an action.

• Breach of Confidentiality: If you place confidential or protected information into the AI program, that information may become publicly available as well under the AI program’s terms of use.

Labor & Employment Business Bankruptcy and Restructuring Loan Enforcement and Creditor’s Rights Alternative Dispute Resolution Commercial Litigation 602.806.2100 3131 E. Camelback Rd., Suite 224 Phoenix, AZ 85016 14

OCTOBER 20, 2023

Richard Lieberman, BethEl Nager and Susan Stone Rosenfield.

Be careful before releasing sensitive or protected information to an AI program without confirming it will protect it in an acceptable manner.

Nager added to issues relating to patenting AI inventions and copyright infringement. “Businesses cannot claim ownership of intellectual property if created solely by AI. Furthermore, the ChatGPT terms of service state that it provides output ‘as is’ and without any representations for third party infringement,” she said.

Currently, there are two prominent laws that regulate AI use. These are the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as supplemented by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA). “These laws have provisions that regulate the collection, storage and processing of personal data,” said Nager.

Rosenfield added that there are no existing laws or regulations that cover all aspects of AI. “Current law includes protections governing copyright and other intellectual property laws, privacy laws, negligence, consumer protection and similar laws,” said Lieberman. “If it is found that the AI program provided false information, however, it could be difficult to find an appropriate party to stand as being responsible for that situation.”

Businesses should be aware that there are limitations on the information that AI uses in its database. Nager said for example, ChatGPT’s information only dates back to September 2021. Also, AI often uses submissions to improve its responses. To avoid data collection, users may opt-out of chat history and training under the settings tab of certain AI platforms.

Aside from the uncertainty as to whether the information is reliable and accurate, use of bad or protected information in an improper way could bring bad publicity and sully a good business reputation.

“You or your company may have to spend funds that could be used to build

JEWISH NEWS

COURTESY OF RICHARD LIEBERMAN, BETHEL NAGER AND SUSAN STONE ROSENFIELD

your business to defend against a claim for infringement, negligence, privacy violations, false light and other potential claims,” said Lieberman.

Although AI in the legal field is in its infancy, in some respects, it can directly benefit clients.

“AI, specifically ChatGPT, has become one the many tools utilized while practicing corporate law at Weiss Brown,” said Nager. “We use the platform to summarize articles, draft emails and explain generic legal concepts in more client-friendly terms. Although AI is revolutionary, it does not replace the human component of practicing law.”

Added Rosenfield, “AI systems can assist us in quickly gaining an understanding of certain subject matter, new legal concepts and updates on the law relating to a particular issue. It can also be used to generate preliminary outlines or drafts of documents, as a starting point for our drafting of work. We never assume that the AI’s generation of research and documents is accurate and complete, but still find it helpful in certain situations as a starting point.”

She also pointed out that relying solely on what’s generated by AI is risky, as has been reported in the news in recent months regarding lawyers who submitted AI-generated briefs to courts of law and were chastised by the court “for the inaccurate and false statements made in the briefs due to the lawyers failing to exercise their ethical duties to the court and their clients.”

When ChatGPT is prompted with the question how its use can benefit lawyers or the legal profession, it provided 13 key advantages but ended with this statement: To navigate these legal issues, it’s essential for organizations using AI to work closely with legal experts who understand the evolving landscape of AI regulations and ethical guidelines. Additionally, developers and AI practitioners should aim to build transparency and fairness into AI systems from the outset to reduce the risk of legal problems related to bias and discrimination. JN JEWISHAZ.COM

SPECIAL SECTION LEGAL AFFAIRS

I got hurt. Now what?

AVERY CROSSMAN | SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

P

eople get hurt on the job all the time. Many do not know about worker’s compensation insurance or they don’t know how to navigate the system to file a claim.

Adding to the confusion is each state has its own rules, so knowing what Arizona Avery Crossman offers is vital.

COURTESY OF AVERY CROSSMAN According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, private industry employers reported 57,100 nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in Arizona in 2021. Chris Rosenlund, regional commissioner at the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, noted that Arizona was among 10 states that had an incident rate of total recordable cases similar to the national average of 2.7 cases per 100 full-time

workers.

The steps you take right after the injury are important. Once you are hurt, tell someone. Even if you were working alone, tell a co-worker. Then, as quickly as possible, tell a supervisor. Tell him or her that you not only got hurt but got hurt while working. (You don’t want them to later say you got hurt at home).

If possible, put it in writing.

Then, go to a doctor. It is nearly impossible to claim an injury without having a medical professional evaluate you. Every time you visit the doctor, make sure to get a work-status note.

The next step is to report the injury to the Industrial Commission of Arizona.

The Industrial Commission is the regulating agency that makes sure everyone “plays by the rules.” There is an easy form to fill out on its website. Go to azica.gov and click on “online services” from the top navigation bar. From the drop-down menu, click on “forms,” then under the

category “claims” select “worker’s report of injury form.” Fill in the blanks completely, electronically sign it and submit.

The Industrial Commission will formally notify your employer and the employer’s insurance carrier. The carrier then has 21 days to either accept or deny the case in writing. If they accept it, great!

You will be entitled to part of your lost wages while a doctor has you on limited work and 100% of your medical bills. If they deny it, you will have the opportunity to request a hearing and let a judge decide if your injuries are work-related.

Anytime the insurance company does something regarding your case, they are required to do it in writing. So, make sure the company has your correct address and check your mail.

Your next job is to get better. The amount of money you may receive is not very much and there is a maximum paid per month. If you need to switch doctors, make sure to get a referral from the doctor

treating you. Otherwise, the medical bills may not be paid.

While filing for worker’s compensation can seem overwhelming, it is an important safety net provided to all Arizona workers. Even if your employer doesn’t have worker’s compensation insurance, the state has a special fund that will kick in and pay your benefits as if there was insurance.

It’s hard to take care of details when you’re hurt and in pain. But the alternative could be a lifetime of medical worries and lost wages. Don’t let a small mistake haunt you. JN This content is provided by our advertising partner.

Avery Crossman has been practicing Arizona workers’ compensation law since 1994. For more information, visit crossmanworkerscomp.com.

Leadership by Example Andy has been practicing at Burch & Cracchiolo for more than 40 years and became its president in 2017. He is known for his sincerity, honesty and

ethical approach to the practice of law. Andy’s clients often become close

personal friends because of his integrity and ethics. In addition to being one

of the sharpest minds in the field of real estate, Andy has contributed to our community in a myriad of ways through The Steele Foundation, The Arizona

Jewish Historical Society and Temple Solel. He leads our firm of 40 attorneys the way he conducts his life and practice and that permeates through the culture of Burch & Cracchiolo.

If you would like to work with any of the lawyers at our firm please go to bcattorneys.com/professionals or call 602.274.7611

Andy Abraham, President bcattorneys.com

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Burch & Cracchiolo, P.A. 1850 N. Central Avenue, Suite 1700 Phoenix, Arizona 85004

2023

@bcattorneys

602.274.7611

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OCTOBER 20, 2023

15

SPECIAL SECTION LEGAL AFFAIRS

Can texting an emoji form a contract?

JULIET S. BURGESS AND TAYLOR M. MCGREW | SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

I

n today’s world where entire conversations can take place through text messages, emoji users beware: a tiny yellow thumbs-up emoji can have substantial legal ramifications.

The formation of a contract generally requires an offer and acceptance, referred to as “mutual assent,” plus consideration.

Mutual assent is a “meeting of the minds” requirement. In other words, did both parties intend to be bound by this contract?

Consideration is a promise, performance or forbearance by a promisor in exchange for their promise. To illustrate this point, most first-year law students are taught the cautionary tale of Lucy v. Zehmer, a 1950s contracts case in which Lucy consumes a large quantity of whiskey, agrees to sell his farm to Zehmer for $50,000 on the back of a restaurant receipt and forms a legally binding contract.

Recently, in South West Terminal Ltd. v. Achter Land, a Canadian court applied these same principals of contract formation to modern times holding that a contract was validly formed when Chris Achter (the owner of a farming company) responded to a photograph of a flax-buying contract

THE TAKEAWAY HERE IS THAT ANY TIME PARTIES COMMUNICATE IN WRITING — REGARDLESS OF WHETHER IT IS OVER A COCKTAIL NAPKIN OR TEXT MESSAGE — THEY SHOULD BE MINDFUL WHETHER A REASONABLE PERSON WOULD CONCLUDE THAT THE PARTIES INTENDED TO FORM AN AGREEMENT. sent to him by South West Terminal, Ltd. (SWT) using the “thumbs-up” emoji.

More specifically, following a phone call between the parties, SWT drafted and sent a contract containing the material terms of the parties’ agreement as well a photograph of Achter’s signature to the agreement. Achter responded solely with a thumbs-up emoji. When the time for delivery of the flax came and went, and no flax had been delivered, SWT sued for breach of contract and damages.

As such, the court’s ruling hinged on whether the thumbs up emoji constituted acceptance of the contract terms or just receipt of the message. In explaining his decision, Justice Timothy Keene cited Dictionary.com’s definition of the “thumbs-up emoji,” explaining that it is a symbol “used to express assent, approval or encouragement in digital

communications, especially in Western cultures.” Ultimately, the court held that a “thumbs-up” emoji, while not a traditional use of a signature, accomplished the same two things as a signature by (1) identifying the signator and (2) convening acceptance of the contract and therefore was a valid method for accepting the terms of a contract.

The takeaway here is that any time parties communicate in writing — regardless of whether it is over a cocktail napkin or text message — they should be mindful whether a reasonable person would conclude that the parties intended to form an agreement. While Canadian court decisions are not binding precedent in the United States, the holding is consistent with the dominant approach in the U.S. for determining whether there has been mutual assent to the formation

Juliet S. Burgess, left, and Taylor M. McGrew.

COURTESY OF BURGESS LAW GROUP

of a contract. Moreover, U.S. courts are steadily interpreting emojis, with at least 45 cases referencing the thumbs-up emoji alone to date. While emojis will continue to be interpreted on a case-by-case basis, emoji users are advised to be cognizant as to how they communicate in this modern age of technology. JN This content is provided by our advertising partner.

Juliet S. Burgess (founding partner) and Taylor M. McGrew (associate) are attorneys at the Burgess Law Group specializing in business litigation and employment law. For more information, visit theburgesslawgroup.com.

CROSSMAN LAW OFFICES REASONS TO CHOOSE A WORKERS’ COMPENSATION ATTORNEY FROM THE CROSSMAN LAW OFFICES

Injured workers looking for legal help in Arizona have many firms from which to choose. Luckily, the Crossman Law Offices is different from other law firms in all the right ways, and we know we are an excellent choice.

For experienced, compassionate lawyers offering exceptional service, call the Crossman Law Offices for a free phone consultation:

602-248-0380

www.crossmanworkerscomp.com 16

OCTOBER 20, 2023

• We only practice workers’ comp. law. Other firms dabble in this area, but we are more focused. This focus means that we have a more thorough understanding of workers’ comp law, and more experience handling complex cases, than the competition.

• Avery Crossman is certified by the State Bar of Arizona as a Specialist in workers’ compensation. To become Board-Certified, lawyers must not only pass a complicated workers’ compensation exam, they must also establish that they are professional, knowledgeable, and ethical in their practice area. In short, this certification shows that she knows worker’s comp. law inside and out. Ms. Crossman has only represented injured workers since 1994.

• When you call for a free phone consultation, you will speak directly with an attorney.

You can be sure that you’re getting advice from someone who is knowledgeable and qualified.

• You pay no fees upfront, and pay nothing unless we win. You have nothing to lose and much to gain by contacting us.

We can’t promise results, but we can promise that our Arizona work injury lawyers work diligently to help you get the benefits you need and deserve.

We have used our experience and knowledge to successfully guide countless of Arizona workers through the workers’ comp process. We work state-wide, so no matter where you reside, we can help you get the legal help you need.

JEWISH NEWS

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COMMUNITY

Raising funds for friends Gathering in the streets Several people gathered in Old Town Scottsdale Thursday, Oct. 12, to show support for Israel on the corner of Scottsdale and Camelback Roads. Most people wrapped themselves in Israeli flags and held signs of support.

COURTESY OF MINDY FRANKLIN

The Community of Or Atid in Prescott gathered to show support for Israel and raise money for Netiv HaAsara, a moshav (cooperative community of farmers) in southern Israel, in the north-west Negev, just at the northern border with Gaza. It is a place Rabbi Julie Kozlow always visits when she leads trips to Israel and she and her community were devastated to learn that 15 Israelis living there were killed by Hamas.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RABBI JULIE KOZLOW

Joining together for Israel About 400 people from six Greater Phoenix synagogues gathered together in Phoenix’s Ohr Hatorah Tuesday night Oct. 10 to daven for their fellow Jews over 7,000 miles away.

COURTESY OF JEREMY ROVINSKY

Shabbat families support Israel On Thursday, Oct. 12, the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix held a kid-friendly program in support of Israel.

COURTESY OF MARINA AWERBUCH

Meeting in Israel During the Phoenix Holocaust Association Cafe Europa on Sunday, Oct. 15, Holocaust survivors sang “Hatikvah” and wrote letters of support to Holocaust survivors living in Israel.

COURTESY OF PHOENIX HOLOCAUST ASSOCIATION

Pictured from left are Doron Almog, the CEO and founder of ADI Negev Nahalat Eran, (a rehabilitation village for children and adults with disabilities in southern Israel) and long-time affiliate of Jewish National Fund-USA, as he met with his Arizona friends Jonathan Hoffer, Jason Morris and Steve Hilton when they made a humanitarian trip to Israel after the Hamas attack.

COURTESY OF JEWISH NATIONAL FUND-USA

This COMMUNITY page features photos of community members around the Valley and the world.

Submit photos and details each week to editor@jewishaz.com by 10 a.m. Monday.

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JEWISH NEWS

OCTOBER 20, 2023

17

CALENDAR

Featured Event MONDAY, OCT. 23 FIghting Jew Hate with Jewish Pride: A Conversation with Ben Freeman: 6-8 p.m. Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Join the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League and the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix for a conversation with internationally renowned Jewish author and educator Ben M. Freeman. Cost: free. For more information, visit phoenixcjp. regfox.com/2023-ben-freeman-moderated-event.

COURTESY OF GARY SWART

For an updated listing of events and resources for supporting Israel, visit JewishPhoenix.com Events SATURDAY, OCT. 21 PJ Library and DJA Havdalah Under the Stars: 5-7 p.m., Desert Breeze Park, 660 N. Desert Breeze Blvd. E., Chandler. Join PJ Library and Desert Jewish Academy for Havdalah, pizza, snacks and family fun. Cost: free. For more information, visit phoenixcjp.regfox.com/ havdalah-under-the-stars.

SUNDAY, OCT. 22 J Fest 2023: 6 a.m.-2 p.m. Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Join the VOSJJC for a day of fitness fun to support the VOSJCC and breast cancer research. For more information, visit vosjcc.org.

March in the Pride Parade with AZ Jews for Pride: 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Phoenix Pride Parade, Third St. and Thomas Road, Phoenix. Join LGBTQ+ Jews and Jewish allies in a walking group in the parade. For more information, visit jewishphoenix.com/events/march-in-the-pride-paradewith-az-jews-for-pride/.

TUESDAY, OCT. 24 Author at the J: Tara Ison: 10-11:30 a.m. East Valley Jewish Community Center, 908 N. Alma School Road, Chandler. Join the EVJCC for a presentation by author and professor of fiction at Arizona State University’s creative writing program, Tara Ison. Cost: free. For more information, visit evjcc.org.

Bereavement Support Group: 2-3:15 p.m.

Temple Emanuel of Tempe, 5801 S. Rural Road, Tempe. Join Temple Emanuel of Tempe for a group providing a safe and understading space for those facing ongoing grief. Cost: free. For more information, visit emanueloftempe.org/ event/bereavement-support-group.

Scream the Truth to the World: The Secret Archive of the Warsaw Ghetto During WWII: 3-4 p.m. Arizona Jewish Historical Society, 122 E. Culver St., Phoenix. Join the AZJHS and the Phoenix Holocaust Association, with support from ASU Jewish Studies and other organizations, for a presentation by award-winning filmmaker Roberta Grossman. Cost: free. For more information, visit specialevents.asu.edu/ereg/ newreg.php?eventid=763251&.

Highlights of 50+ Years of Women in the Rabbinate: 7-8:30 p.m. Temple Chai, 4645 E. Marilyn Road, Phoenix. Join Valley Beit Midrash for a presentation by Rabbi Mary L. Zamore, executive director of the Women’s Rabbinic Network, exploring the history of women in the rabbinate from 1938 to 2023. Cost: $18; free for VBM and Temple Chai members. For more information, visit valleybeitmidrash.org.

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OCTOBER 20, 2023

THURSDAY, NOV. 2 Womin IN Philanthropy Virtual Briefing: 9:30-10:30 a.m. Online. Join the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix’s Women IN Philanthropy for a presentation

by Viva Press, a published author and lecturer living in Tel Aviv. Cost: free. For more information, visit jewishphoenix.com/events/ women-in-philanthropy-virtual-israel-briefing/.

Ethics of Our Fathers: 7 p.m. Online. Learn with Rabbi Zalman Levertov. Tune in at: bit. ly/2Y0wdgv. Cost: free. For more information, visit chabadaz.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.

Quotable Quotes by our Sages: 7 p.m. Online.

Learn with Rabbi Shlomy Levertov. Tune in at: JewishParadiseValley.com/class. Cost: free. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

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.

Partners in Torah: 7:30 p.m. Online. Join a growing group of inspired learners with Project Inspire. Cost: free. Tune in at: us04web.zoom. us/j/3940479736#success, password is 613.

For more information, email Robin Meyerson at robin@projectinspireaz.com.

Lunch & Learn: 12:15 p.m. Online. Grab some food and learn with Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin.

Cost: Free. Get Zoom link by emailing info@ chabadtucson.com. For more information, visit chabadtucson.com.

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.

Torah & Tea: 7:30 p.m. Online. Learn with Rabbi Yossie Shemtov. Cost: free. For more information, visit Facebook.com/ChabadTucson.

Meetings, Lectures & Classes SUNDAYS Chassidus Class: 9 a.m. Online. Learn about the Chasidic movement with Rabbi Yossi Friedman. 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.

Tune in using this link: zoom.us/j/736434666.

For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

MONDAYS 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/.

Learning to Trust in God: 7:30 p.m. Online.

Learn with Rabbi Yossi Friedman. Tune in at: ChabadAZ.com/LiveClass. Cost: free. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

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.

Cost: free. Tune in at: JewishParadiseValley. com/YJPclass. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

WEDNESDAYS History of the Jews: 11 a.m. Online. Learn the Jewish journey from Genesis to Moshiach with Rabbi Ephraim Zimmerman. Cost: free. Tune in here: zoom.us/j/736434666. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

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.

JEWISH NEWS

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.

JACS: 7:30-8:30 p.m. Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. In person and via 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.

Words & Whiskey: 8:30 p.m. Online. Learning session for men. Cost: Free. To RSVP, email rmollenaz@gmail.com or call/text 310-709-3901.

THURSDAYS Ladies Torah & Tea: 10:30 a.m. Online. Learn about the women of the Torah with Mrs. Leah Levertov. Cost: free. Tune in at: ourjewishcenter.com/virtual. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

Talmud - Maakos: 11 a.m. Online. Learn with Rabbi Shlomy Levertov. Cost: free. Tune in at: JewishParadiseValley.com/YJPclass. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

Mindfulness Gatherings: 12 p.m. Online. Hosted

by Hospice of the Valley via Zoom. Cost: free.

To join by phone, dial 1-253-215-8782, meeting ID 486 920 2119#, to get the Zoom link or for further questions contact Gill Hamilton at ghamilton@hov.org or 602-748-3692.

The Science of Everything: 4 p.m. Online.

Explore the most fundamental work of Chassidut: the Tanya, with Rabbi Boruch. Cost: free.

Tune in at: zoom.us/j/736434666. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

Teen Discussions: 7-8:30 p.m. Online. Learn with Rabbi Tzvi Rimler. Cost: free. Tune in at cteen.clickmeeting.com/east-valley. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

JEWISHAZ.COM

CALENDAR 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.

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 Andrea at 480-664-8847 for more information.

Shabbat Services with Sun Lakes: 7 p.m. Sun Lakes Chapel, 9240 E. Sun Lakes Blvd. North, Sun Lakes. Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation conducts services on the second Friday of the month. For more information, contact 480-612-4413.

Shabbat Services with Beth Ami Temple: 7:30 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.

Seniors

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.

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.

Shabbat at Beth El: 11-11:45 a.m. Beth El Phoenix, 1118 W. Glendale. Ave., Phoenix. 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.

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.

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 varying dates and times. Temple Chai, 4645 E. Marilyn Road, Phoenix. For more information, contact Sheana Abrams at (602) 971-1234 or sabrams@templechai.com.

Pre-Shabbat Kiddush Club: 6 p.m. Online. Say Kiddush with Rabbi Mendy Levertov. Cost: free.

Tune in here: 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 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.

JEWISHAZ.COM

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

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ENGAGEMENT, WEDDING, BIRTH, BAR/BAT-MITZVAH ANNOUNCEMENT AND ANY OTHER SIMCHA ON BOTH JEWISHAZ.COM AND THE WEEKLY JEWISH NEWS ...

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MILESTONES ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCEMENT MATTHEW BARATZ AND HANNAH ELIZABETH David and Sharon Baratz of Phoenix announce the engagement of their son, Matthew Baratz, to Hannah Elizabeth.

Parents of the bride-to-be are David and Flora Dalegowski of Cleburne, Texas.

Matthew graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Belmont University. He works as a recovery coach at Terros Health.

Hannah graduated with a Bachelor of Psychology from the University of South Florida. She is a corporate health coach for the Wellness Council of Arizona.

The wedding will take place next year in Sedona.

BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT ARCH BALAM ARONSON Arch Balam Aronson was born on June 19, 2023. He is the son of Laura Alvarez and Jeffrey Aronson of Pasadena, California.

Grandparents are Liborio and Elsy Alvarez of Silverlake, California; and Micah and Carol Aronson of Scottsdale.

BAT MITZVAH

BAT MITZVAH SIENNA JEAN SHUSTER Sienna Jean Shuster will become a bat mitzvah on Nov. 11, 2023, at Temple Solel. She is the daughter of Brent Shuster and Candice deSaint-Antoine of Phoenix.

Sienna’s grandparents are Garry and Sharon Shuster of Phoenix; and Martha deSaint-Antoine of Phoenix and the late Jean Francois deSaint-Antoine.

For her mitzvah project, Sienna is creating a board game to bring awareness to environmental issues.

A student at Phoenix Country Day School, Sienna enjoys volleyball, acting, soccer, basketball and art.

I am looking to be a companion to an elderly couple or single individual to help with driving to appts., shopping and laundry.

Available Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday.

4 hour minimum per day.

My location is 20 min. from Camelback and 24th street.

References available. Call Lupe at 602-481-2013

JEWISH NEWS

OCTOBER 20, 2023

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