Jewish News, March 18, 2022

GET HAPPY

Michael Feinstein celebrates Judy Garland’s 100th birthday with a special performance

Local indie filmmaker’s work is finally being viewed

ELLEN BRAUNSTEIN

After 17 years, Seth Landau’s independent movies are finally being distributed worldwide and this Arizona filmmaker promises viewers laughter, suspense and a little Jewish introspection.

A wild comedy “Take Out” (2005) and a psychological thriller “Bryan Loves You” (2008) are now available on major streaming platforms and remastered HD for their 2022 releases. “Bryan Loves You” will also be out on Blu-ray.

“Take Out” is about a crusading newspaper reporter who takes down the fast-food industry. “Bryan Loves You” tackles the story of a cult and works as both a cautionary tale and classic horror film.

“Take Out” is shot entirely around metro Phoenix and features historic and iconic Arizona locations, including Dilly’s Deli, substituting as Shalom Bagel for the film. The 90-minute feature had a budget of only $13,000.

Landau, 45, said that “being the writer, director and co-lead, my Jewishness is interwoven throughout that comedy.”

There’s a scene in “Take Out,” featured in the trailer, where Landau’s character is flipping through a Jewish newspaper and interacting with his cousin (Brent Taylor), who doesn’t believe he is half Jewish. “My mom doesn’t believe in it. My dad says Jews are all cheap money grubbers. I hate Jews,” his cousin said while the two wait at the deli counter at Shalom Bagel. “Then I say, ‘Where are we? What restaurant? Shalom Bagel,’ his cousin replies. ‘You took us here,’ Landau shot back. ‘Shalom. Hebrew. Bagels. Jewish.”

NEW CAMP FOR PRESCHOOLERS

There’s a new Jewish summer camp for ages 3-5 in Scottsdale

Consul General of Israel has ‘productive’ visit to Arizona

On Friday, March 4, Consul General of Israel to the Pacific Southwest, Dr. Hillel Newman was headed back to Los Angeles after a short visit to Arizona. The Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles covers the entire Southwest region of the United States and is an official office of the government of Israel. Its many departments work hand in hand to strengthen the bonds between Israel and the Southwest.

While Newman was in Arizona, he visited the State Capitol at the invitation of House Speaker Russell “Rusty” Bowers. “He invited me to address the joint session of the two houses, which was wonderful,” said Newman. “I also gave a tribute to the speaker for his friendship with Israel.” Newman presented Bowers with a plaque as official recognition of his friendship to the State of Israel.

Newman was a featured speaker at an event held on March 3 hosted by the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations (PCFR) at the Phoenix Country Club. Danny Seiden, president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, moderated the discussion.

“We at the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations were thrilled to host Dr. Newman for a reception and program to talk about ‘The Changing Landscape in the Middle East,’” said Tina Waddington, executive director at PCFR. “Our members and guests were treated to a great presentation by Dr. Newman on Arizona-

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MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR

Consul General of Israel, Dr. Hillel Newman, left, meets with Arizona Governor Doug Ducey.

“The character is an idiot, a loveable idiot,” Landau said.

“Bryan Loves You” stars George Wendt (who played Norm in “Cheers”) and Landau as a psychotherapist, who falls under the seductive spell of a dangerous cult. It relates the story of the cult of the Bryans, who allegedly took over a small Arizona town in 1993. Landau made the 90-minute film for $25,000.

Landau said his portrayal of the cult draws on his experience growing up as a Jewish kid in Gilbert, then a rural farm town southeast of Phoenix. “It’s about fitting in, and when I was a kid, I didn’t fit in very well. I was one of the few Jewish kids around the neighborhood. As a 13-year-old, I would get questions from people. ‘Are you Jewish?’ I couldn’t tell if they had ill intent. Were they honestly just curious because they’ve never seen one before? Or was there some sinister plot?

‘Oh, so your people killed Jesus, right?’ How do you respond to that as a kid? There’s that tone if you’re different than everybody else around you and it might be dangerous depending on the tone of the community.” Those issues come through in the film, Landau said.

As a child, Landau showed signs of a budding actor and filmmaker. He lived on Long Island before his mother moved to Arizona for a lower cost of living and to be closer to her family. “I was always a creative kid and audio-recorded comedy sketches and scenes during elementary school in New York. I would be the funny one in the group or at least make people laugh whether unwittingly or intentional.”

In junior and senior high school, he made movies on the family camcorder with 8-millimeter video tapes. At Arizona State University, he tried theater but lacked the confidence, he said. He turned to broadcast

After college, he got his start as a reporter for The Arizona Republic and at KTAR radio.

At age 23, Landau moved to Los Angeles and dove right into entertainment. “I just started working on TV and film sets at the lowest levels, meeting people and experimenting with acting. Within a few years, I had enough experience to make a short film.”

He then turned to feature films. “Take Out” and “Bryan Loves You” were shot in Arizona, and post-production was completed in LA.

After “Bryan Loves You” was completed in 2008, Landau worked as a producer for projects in both film and television. He also worked in the script department of Eclectic Pictures in Hollywood.

After returning to Arizona in 2013, Landau became a political media strategist. He also taught media and marketing at the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe.

More recently, Landau made a short film on cleaning up Phoenix hiking trails, which were overrun by people wanting to

be outside during the pandemic. In 2019, he produced a popular web NFL show on the Arizona Cardinals, “Cards Brah,” a mix of comedy and sports analysis.

Arizona, he said, is a great place to film. “I’m excited to show the world my home state. My hope is “Take Out” will make you laugh and forget a little about your troubles. And that “Bryan Loves You” might serve as a cautionary tale on the dangers of not thinking for oneself.”

He said it was a huge challenge to make his independent films and receive wide distribution. “Seventeen years has got to be a world record for selling a movie.” But he gets creative satisfaction from making them. “When you’re making a micro-budget film, you’re working with professionals as, thankfully, I did. They have day jobs that pay them money that they need to live. Your project is what they work on because they believe in it and like you.” JN

To follow Landau’s film projects, visit his YouTube channel at youtube.com/c/ SethLandauEntertainment.

Ellen Braunstein is a freelance writer based in Chicago.

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Top Left: Courtesy of Michael Feinstein | Top Right: Courtesy of Menachem Mendel Academy | Bottom Left: Courtesy of Drew Angerer/Getty Images via JTA.org Bottom Middle: Courtesy of Mili Spanier via JTA.org | Bottom Right: Courtesy of Emin Sansar/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images via JTA.org

Seth Landau, left, and Brent Taylor stand at the counter at Dilly’s Deli, renamed Shalom Bagel, in the COURTESY OF SETH LANDAU

Israel relations, U.S.-Israel relations and a new age of peace in the Middle East in the Abraham Accords era.”

Newman spent time with representatives from the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Kate Gallego and Governor Doug Ducey. He also met with the Arizona Water Commission. “We’re planning on bringing a delegation of water companies from Israel because we know there’s a water challenge in Arizona,” said Newman. “We’re bringing our experience in the fields connected to water – it’s not only desalination, it’s also detection of leaks, recycling, reclamation and purification.”

Israel has had great success in water reclamation. A report titled “Israel: A Global Leader in Water Management and Technology” by the State of Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs states, “By 2015, Israel was treating and recycling 86% of its wastewater for use in agriculture – ranking Israel as the number one global leader when it comes to water recycling. Within the next decade, Israel plans to reach 90% water reclamation. At the same time, Israel is upgrading its wastewater treatment to tertiary treatment, which will allow for unlimited irrigation.”

“There are also fields that we can learn from Arizona, so the idea is to work together in collaboration,” said Newman.

“Israel is called the ‘start-up nation.’ The governor likes to call the state (Arizona) the ‘start-up state.’ So I say, ‘From the start-up nation to the start-up state’ we’re going to work together.”

Water is just one of the industries that Arizona is working with Israel on; there

will also be exchanges of delegations in the fields of aerospace and defense.

“There’s a delegation going out from Arizona to Israel this month,” said Newman. “There’s also a large delegation coming in from Israel in April – 18 different companies. We are working in cooperation with local organizations, the Arizona Commerce Authority and Arizona Israel Technology Alliance – different players

contribute to different parts.”

This was Newman’s third visit to Arizona, where he is always greeted with “warmth and friendship” and considers this trip one of his most productive in the little more than two days he was here. “We see it as a really special relationship due to the leadership of the governor and the Speaker of the House, who are dear friends of Israel,” said Newman. JN

Consul General of Israel, Dr. Hillel Newman, addressses the Arizona State Legislature.

COURTESY OF THE CONSULATE GENERAL OF ISRAEL

Consul General of Israel, Dr. Hillel Newman, right, answers questions during the event hosted by the Phoenix Committee on Foreign Relations moderated by Danny Seiden, president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

COURTESY OF ALONSO PARRA

Teens from Arizona convene at the BBYO International Convention

JESSE BERMAN, MALA BLOMQUIST AND ALEX KRUTCHIK

The five-day BBYO International Convention was still going on when people began calling it the largest Jewish gathering since the pandemic began.

Some 3,000 teens from 40 countries gathered last month at the Baltimore Convention Center. The Jewish youth movement’s annual convention offered the teens passionate speakers, let them sharpen their leadership skills and connect with Jewish youth from all over the globe. More than 50 teens from Arizona attended the event.

For teens who have a few conventions under their belt, the 2022 gathering was great, especially compared to the disappointing 2021 convention, held virtually and lacking the palpable energy that thousands of teenagers can produce in person.

Charlie Ratterman, a senior at Brophy College Preparatory in Phoenix, has attended many BBYO conventions and said seeing all his friends from across the world that he had met over the years –from BBYO summer programs, prior conventions and online during the pandemic – was his favorite part of this trip.

He has been involved with BBYO for almost five years and is currently serving as the Mountain Region’s Regional Godol (President). “BBYO gives

me a place to be my full Jewish self – especially while attending a Catholic high school,” said Charlie. “I just get to be me and all of me in BBYO.”

Speakers included Mike Posner, a Grammynominated singer and songwriter; Rabbi Angela Buchdahl of New York’s Central Synagogue, who fielded calls from the hostage-taker in last month’s assault on a Texas synagogue; A. J. Dillon, the Green Bay Packers running back and Zach Banner, the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle; Nikki Fried, Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner who is running for governor; Jurney Smollett, an Emmy-nominated actress and Richard Miles, CEO of Miles of Freedom.

Noah Fox, a junior at Horizon High School in Scottsdale, was particularly impacted by Richard Miles’ presentation.

“Richard is an ex-convict who was falsely imprisoned for 10+ years for a crime he didn’t commit. His stories about staying strong and motivated through tough times were very inspiring,” said Noah.

Another speaker was Sgt. Matthew Jaffe, a Jewish marine deployed to Afghanistan to assist in the American withdrawal last year. He gained fame after a photo of him cradling an Afghan baby went viral.

Noah Fox, left, sits with friend Jeremy Weiss at the convention.

“One of the female marines asked me if I wanted to hold onto the baby,” Jaffe told the audience, “I sat down with the baby for the next half hour. I joked with the baby, laughed and smiled. Shortly after [the photo was taken] I handed the baby off to a marine officer, and he took the baby to a hospital on the base where he was reunited with his father.

“Before I leave you guys, I want you to remember something,” Jaffe continued. “I urge you all not to lose who you are when things get difficult. It doesn’t matter how tired or beaten down you may be; you never know how much that glimpse of hope can lead to something.”

In the session “Israel: For the Sake of Argument,” Robbie Gringras, a Britishborn Israeli educator, focused on the futility of trying to give Israeli citizens specific types of labels.

Gringras played a Hebrew-language music video by Hanan Ben Ari. The lyrics of “Wikipedia,” focused on the clichés and stereotypes that follow the various segments of Israeli society.

“Don’t sum me up in Wikipedia,” Ben Ari sang. “I’m everything. I’m nothing. Eternal light dressed in a body.”

“You’re going to be meeting folks from Israel,” said Gringras. “And the danger of trying to learn about Israel is when we meet people from Israel or hear things about Israel and automatically we’re ready with a cage to stick them in, so that we can understand them and define them. And I think that what we need to be doing is

coming up with different ways of defining who people are.”

“Leveling Up” featured a panel discussion about gender discrimination in the world of gaming and esports.

“[Women] and girls are facing a lot of sexism online, and from their families and friends,” said Olivia Richman, content manager of Lost Tribe, which seeks to engage youth in Jewish life through new media. “So it’s pretty hard for a woman to have the same sort of entry into esports as men do. There’s not as much support, emotionally and financially, for female teams and for female players. And that’s why they started doing a lot of all-female leagues and all-female events and that has been pretty successful.”

Nora Feinberg, a senior at Horizon High School and a teen Shabbat administrative assistant at the convention, shared her favorite part of the event. “I was fortunate to stand alongside a few of my peers to lead the plenary Havdalah service on a stage overlooking upwards of 3,000 Jewish teens,” said Nora. “We incorporated the theme of spreading light in the world by beginning with one Havdalah candle, then having that candle light others to symbolize the perseverance of the Jewish people. That was the most meaningful moment of my entire BBYO experience!” JN

Jesse Berman and Alex Krutchik are staff writers at Washington Jewish Week – a Jewish Newsaffiliated publication.

How to talk to your children about war

LORRIE HENDERSON, PH.D., MBA, LCSW

ou can’t log in to social media or turn on the television without seeing news of the war waging against Ukraine from Russia. It is a difficult conversation for adults, but how do you explain something like this to

Children are very perceptive and pick up their social cues from the adults in their lives, so it is critically important that when addressing this and other difficult topics, you do so in a manner and tone that is age appropriate. It is essential to give your children a safe space to express their concerns and fears and ask questions. You aren’t expected to know all the answers as the information available is ever-changing. But your children will appreciate knowing that they can come to you.

Here are some recommendations for having difficult conversations.

Focus on the helpers

Children need to see people helping other people. Find news stories or examples that show acts of kindness and courage

where people are helping others. Ask your child if they would like to help the children impacted by the war. Find a family-friendly volunteer opportunity where your children can see how their actions make a difference for others.

Children need to know that there are people who are helping each other with acts of courage and kindness.

Doing something, no matter how small, can often bring great comfort. See if your child would like to participate in taking positive action. Perhaps they could participate in a fundraising effort for a local relief organization.

Encourage compassion and understanding

You likely have strong opinions about the war. But when talking with your children, it is important to put your personal feelings aside and give them the time to express their concerns. Rather than focus on the “bad people” or the “evil acts,” try instead to focus on having compassion and understanding for the families forced to flee their homes.

Be sure that any information you are

Phoenix Holocaust Association brings Holocaust by Bullets Exhibit to Arizona State University

Through April 17, 2022

Hayden Library - Arizona State University Main Campus

Docent-led tours: Sundays from 1-3 pm, Mondays from 5-7 pm

The "Holocaust by Bullets: 15 Years of Investigation" photo exhibit showcases the step-by-step nature of the crimes committed against Jews and Roma by mobile Nazi killing units.

Holocaust by Bullets is a program of Yahad-In-Unum (YIU), a non-governmental organization based in Paris and founded by Father Patrick Desbois.

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Genocide Awareness Week

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sharing is accurate and age-appropriate for your child. They will have questions and it is important to reassure them that they are safe.

Your kids may hear things at school or with their friends that conflict with your family’s personal beliefs. Remind them that bullying or being bullied is not acceptable and that they should tell you or an adult if they are experiencing anything that makes them uncomfortable.

End your conversation with a question

Make sure that your child is not feeling anxious or concerned when you end the conversation. Ask a couple more questions about how they are feeling and if there is anything else they want to know. Pay attention to their body language. You know your child best. If they are breathing differently, avoiding eye contact, or other activities are out of the norm, check in with them again.

Remind them that you are there to listen and that they can come to you no matter what.

Device-free time

It is impossible to keep your children from hearing and seeing news about the war. But you can limit their time on their devices and create device-free time as a family. That goes for the adults, too. Taking a break from social media and online news sites, as well as traditional news outlets, will provide a much-needed respite from the barrage of information.

It’s important to respond appropriately to your children’s curiosity and anxiety and validate their feelings. Let them know that you are also concerned and that they can always come to you. JN

Lorrie Henderson, Ph.D., MBA, LCSW is president and CEO of Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Arizona.

Senate votes to censure Wendy Rogers for threatening her colleagues

JEREMY DUDA | AZ MIRROR

In the wake of her speech to a white nationalist conference and a string of offensive and inflammatory social media posts, the Arizona Senate voted to censure Republican Sen. Wendy Rogers.

The Senate voted 24-3 in a rare censure of one of its own, with 11 of the chamber’s 16 Republicans siding with the chamber’s 13 Democratic members who were in attendance. Rogers voted no, as did GOP Sens. Nancy Barto and Warren Petersen.

The censure, which has no practical effect, was for comments calling for people she perceived as enemies to be hanged from gallows, and for social media postings Rogers made threatening to “personally destroy” fellow Republicans who sought to punish her. The censure resolution was silent on her embrace of white nationalists and a string of antisemitic and racist things she had posted online in recent days.

Rogers, a Flagstaff Republican, didn’t defend or even address her comments on the Senate floor. Instead, she called the censure an attempt to limit her freedom of speech.

“I represent hundreds of thousands of people and the majority of them are with me. And they want me to be their voice. You are really censuring them. I do not apologize. I will not back down. And I am sorely disappointed in the leadership of this body for colluding with the Democrats to attempt to destroy my reputation,” Rogers said. “In the end, I rejoice in knowing I do and say what is right. And I speak as a free American, regardless of the actions of this corrupted process today.”

However, Senate President Karen Fann said the censure wasn’t about freedom of speech.

“We do support First Amendment freedom of speech. We absolutely support it. We fight battles over it. But what we do not condone is members threatening each other, to ruin each other, to incite violence, to call us communists. We don’t do that to each other,” said Fann, a Prescott Republican. “We, as elected officials, are held to a higher standard.”

Sen. Lisa Otondo, D-Yuma, noted that Rogers referred to freedom of speech as “one of the most precious rights we have under heaven.”

“My message to you is, that is not freedom of speech. That is bullying and dehumanization. And that is below hell,” Otondo said.

Some Republican senators expressed hope that, despite what they saw as the necessity of the vote, the Senate’s members could continue their work together through the rest of the legislative session. Sen. Vince Leach,

R-Tucson, compared the Senate to a family dealing with a disruption.

“I would hope beyond hope that, once this is done, that our family gets back together, that we go back to work and complete the work that we were sent here to do,” he said.

Senate Majority Leader Rick Gray expressed similar sentiments, urging his colleagues to consider the policy, not the sponsor, when they vote on legislation.

“I do want to make clear to everybody that I am opposed to the kind of rhetoric that we’ve heard. But, as a senator, I also separate personality from policy. And I hope all in this body will do the same thing,” said Gray, a Sun City Republican.

Republicans have only a 16-14 majority in the Senate, meaning Rogers could block any GOP bill that doesn’t have Democratic support from passing.

Rogers spoke to the white nationalist America First Political Action Conference on Feb. 25. She called for gallows to be built so “high-level criminals” and “traitors who have betrayed our country” can be publicly hanged. She also unleashed a torrent of antisemitic tropes on social media over the weekend earlier this week, and voiced overt support for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

After Gray publicly stated on Monday that discussions were underway about a possible censure, Rogers threatened retaliation against any GOP colleagues who joined the effort, writing on social media, “I will personally destroy the career of any Republican who partakes in the gaslighting of me simply because of the color of my skin or opinion about a war I don’t want to send our kids to die in.”

Following the vote, Rogers was far from chastened. On Twitter and Telegram, she defended herself and blasted the censure motion, which she summarized as the Senate

SEE WENDY ROGERS, PAGE 8

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Sen. Wendy Rogers, left, in red, watches as Sen. Rebecca Rios speaks in favor of censuring Rogers on March 1, 2022.

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ROGERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

saying, “we don’t like your mean tweets.”

“Those lying saying I was calling for violence are false. I was calling for justice and I still do,” Rogers said.

Rogers reposted messages from supporters on Telegram referring to the senators who censured her “godless commies” and calling the vote “Karen Fann’s last betrayal before she slithers away into retirement.” Fann is not running for re-election, though she’s eligible to seek another term in the Senate.

Rogers posted a draft version of the censure on social media, which showed that it was originally written to reprimand her for “inciting general racial and religious discrimination.” But that language was removed, as was a reference to her support of Putin.

Fann told the “Arizona Mirror” that she removed the language on racial and religious discrimination because some senators wanted to make clear that they support freedom of speech, but that Rogers’ threatening comments are not protected under the First Amendment.

Several members of Senate Republican leadership issued a statement over the weekend voicing their support for Ukraine and condemning Putin. Though it didn’t mention Rogers, the statement, which came four days after Russian invaded, was widely viewed as a response to her social media comments calling Zelensky a “globalist puppet” of the Clintons and financier George Sorors.

Rogers spent a decade seeking office, first from Tempe and then from Flagstaff, before finally winning a state Senate race in 2020, ousting incumbent Sylvia Allen in the Republican primary. She ran for the Senate in 2010, then for Congress in each of the four subsequent elections, twice seeking the seat for the 9th Congressional District in the Phoenix area and twice running for the northern Arizona-based 1st Congressional district.

During her years on the campaign trail, Rogers earned a reputation as a hardline conservative. But after winning her 2020 race, she started taking more extremist positions. She has embraced far-right extremists and openly identified with the “groyper” movement that seeks to push the Republican Party toward white nationalism and make its extremist ideology more mainstream.

Senate Minority Leader Rebecca Rios, D-Phoenix, said the censure was a powerful message. But it was a message the Senate could have sent numerous times since Rogers took office, she said.

“I do want to ask, what makes this moment different? Let’s not pretend that this isn’t the first, second, third or even fourth time we’ve seen this kind of racist, bigoted and antisemitic talk from the seantor. This is not an aberration in behavior. It is the default,” Rios said.

Sen. Raquel Terán, a Phoenix Democrat, said the censure wasn’t a strong enough action. She called for Rogers to be expelled.

There appeared to be little appetite among Republicans to make Rogers the fifth member of the legislature, and only the second member of the Senate, to be expelled. But there are other actions that could be taken against her.

Fann has unilateral control over all committee assignments in the Senate, and could remove her from the committees on which she serves.

Rogers serves on the Senate government, health and human services, judiciary and natural resources committees. She serves as co-chair of the judiciary committee.

Kim Quintero, a spokeswoman for Fann, said the Senate president hasn’t decided yet whether to remove Rogers from her committees, but told reporters, “That’s been discussed.”

Rogers has become one of the legislature’s most vocal proponents of the false and debunked allegations that the 2020 presidential election was rigged against former President Donald Trump. She has made herself into a celebrity among Trump supporters across the country, raising $2.5 million for her re-election, a record for a legislative candidate in Arizona.

Last week, Gov. Doug Ducey drew national attention to the controversy surrounding Rogers when he told reporters that he still stood behind his decision to spend $500,000 from his political action committee to help elect her in 2020. Despite her embrace of white nationalism and inflammatory comments, Ducey said Rogers was still better than the Democrat she defeated, which kept the Senate in Republican hands with a onevote majority.

The next night, Rogers spoke to AFPAC, which appears to have been the tipping point for many Republicans.

Following the vote, Ducey praised the Senate’s decision to censure Rogers.

“Anti-Semitic and hateful language has no place in Arizona. I have categorically condemned it in the past and condemn it now. I strongly believe our public policy debates should be about creating opportunity for all and making our state a better place, not denigrating and insulting any individual or group,” Ducey said in a press statement. “I believe the vote taken today by the Arizona Senate sends a clear message: rhetoric like this is unacceptable.”

Rogers was nearly drawn out of her legislative district but was saved by a lastminute change by the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. Rogers’ Flagstaff home was initially going to be in the new District 6, which is majority Native American and overwhelmingly Democratic. The commission made a series of changes to move parts of Flagstaff out of the district at the behest of the tribes, which were concerned about being outvoted in Democratic primaries by white voters.

After what appeared to be the final changes, Republican Commissioner David Mehl proposed one more change that moved another portion of southern Flagstaff, including Rogers’ home, into heavily Republican District 7. Democratic Commissioner Shereen Lerner claimed Mehl said he was making the change at the request of a friend. Mehl would not say who asked him to make the change or whether he knew an incumbent lawmaker lived there. JN

Jeremy Duda is the associate editor at the Arizona Mirror.

WENDY

Michael Feinstein celebrates Judy Garland’s 100th birthday with a special performance

MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR

Michael Feinstein started playing the piano by ear when he was 5 years old. After graduating from high school, he moved from Columbus, Ohio, to Los Angeles. When he was 20 years old, the widow of concert pianist and actor Oscar Levant introduced him to Ira Gershwin in July 1977. That began Feinstein’s musical career including 35 albums, five Grammy Awards nominations, concerts spanning the globe and appearances at venues including The White House, Buckingham Palace, Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House.

In 2007, he founded the Great American Songbook Foundation, dedicated to preserving artifacts he collected throughout his career relating to American popular music. These artifacts contain sheet music and orchestrations donated to him from the families of songwriters including Sammy Davis Jr., Andy Williams, Bing Crosby, Henri Mancini and more.

Every year, the foundation holds the High School Songbook Academy, where 40 young people from all 50 states come for a week-long intensive to learn about interpreting music from the late 19th and early 20th century to preserve American musical heritage.

On March 20, Feinstein will be in Scottsdale performing “Get Happy! Michael Feinstein celebrates the Judy Garland Centennial” at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts for two concerts at 3 and 7 p.m.

Feinstein talked to Jewish News about what it means to pay tribute to Judy Garland, what it was like working with her daughter Liza Minnelli and who had the greatest impact on his musical journey.

What does it mean for you to celebrate what would have been Judy Garland’s 100th birthday with this performance?

It’s amazing to me to think that Judy Garland might have lived into the next century but sadly died at the age of 47. The experience of celebrating her, in the year of her 100th birthday, has given me the opportunity to do a deep dive into her catalog and music and it feels very personal to be able to celebrate her in song. Her legacy is so multi-layered and for me the focus on her art is what is important. Much attention that has been paid to the tabloid aspects of her life and that is not the way she would want to be remembered. She set such a high bar for what she did, not only by her professionalism and talent; but also by her innate ability to galvanize an audience and create a deep connection to the heart. I hope to evoke a sense of her with this program. The show itself is very unusual in that we incorporate home movies by Judy’s family and a lot of photographs – many of which have never been seen before – to illustrate the story in multimedia. I don’t attempt to copy her in any way, because that would be absurd and futile, but I do hope to evoke a sense of what made her great that will equally please those who know her work well and those who don’t know anything about her.

Do you remember the first time you heard Judy Garland sing?

Like many people of my generation I first heard her sing in the “Wizard of Oz.” I was captivated by the energy and talent of this young girl who was close to my age. Her singing thrills me in every aspect of her life. I love the young Judy Garland vocally and I equally love the mature Judy Garland.

What did it mean to you to work with her daughter, Liza Minnelli, who was the executive producer?

Working with Liza Minnelli as executive producer of the show has been wonderful. She has helped me stay on course with what I want to accomplish and encouraged me to do this concert in celebration of her mother. So to have her daughter help me to get it right, not only kept me on course but gave me tremendous joy in being able to explore the world of her mother through her daughter’s eyes.

What is your favorite part of this show?

That’s easy to answer because I found a private home recording of Judy Garland singing a song that she never commercially sang or recorded. It’s a wartime song called “I’ll Be Seeing You” and because she recorded it a cappella without accompaniment, I am able to accompany her on the piano. So I get to collaborate with Judy Garland – singing a song that nobody has ever heard her sing.

Is there a particular aspect of your work that you feel connects more to your Judaism?

The songs that I sing are, more often than not, ones that were written by Jewish songwriters and I talk about the songs before I sing them. I feel very connected to Judaism through the music that I perform. I find that there is a through line from historical to contemporary Jewish music. There are many examples of Jewish songwriters whose fathers were cantors or rabbis, many of the people who entered the music business in the late 19th and early 20th century were connected to the synagogue as well. Jewish music publishers would go to the synagogues and find boys who sang in the synagogue choir to be song “pluggers” – to promote their songs. As

these young boys grew up they would enter the music business and become songwriters and such.

What are some of your favorite Jewish traditions?

It links to performing. When I perform on a Friday night, I am deeply aware that it is the Sabbath. When I perform on a Friday, I think in terms of the Jewish tradition of people not working and relaxing and being able to commune with spirit through music. Whenever I am performing on a weekend, which is often, that is my way of honoring and observing the Sabbath. Even though I am not being still, hopefully, I’m helping other people to connect deeper to their Judaism through my performance.

Who is the one person who has impacted you the most in your musical journey?

Ira Gershwin. It was Ira Gershwin whom I met when I was 20 years old in 1977, who made it possible for me to have my career. I was helped along the way by others including Liza Minnelli and Rosemary Clooney, but Ira was the first person who really took me under his wing. He taught me most of what I know about interpreting American popular song and was a very gentle and kind soul who taught me many life lessons. I imagine for anyone the ages of 20-26, which was the age I was when I worked for Ira, are formative years and I was lucky that my formative years were with a man who cared about me and enriched my life in ways for which I can never properly repay him. I’m extraordinarily lucky to make music for my livelihood and I hope to keep doing it as long as God gives me the gift of life on this planet. JN

For more information on the show or to purchase tickets, visit scottsdaleperformingarts.org.

Michael Feinstein COURTESY OF MICHAEL FEINSTEIN

Zelensky’s inspiring leadership

We learn from the Purim story that leadership can be thrust upon an individual in unanticipated ways. In Ukraine, we see that theme playing out in real time.

When Ukrainians elected former comedian and entertainer Volodymyr Zelensky as their president in 2019, we joined in welcoming him, even as we recognized his lack of government or leadership experience. There was also an element of pride in our embrace –Zelensky is Jewish, even if that was not a defining aspect of his life before his entry into politics. And we wondered how Zelensky, who played the president of Ukraine for laughs on TV, would redeem himself now that he was elected president for real.

Following Vladimir Putin’s Russia invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, it didn’t take long to see that Zelensky is a serious player, focused on leading and defending his people. Thus, when the Biden administration. offered to help Zelensky escape Kyiv to save himself from anticipated targeted assassination, he is reported to have famously responded: “The fight is here;

I need ammunition, not a ride.”

What Zelensky also didn’t need was help figuring out how to use his bully pulpit. He knew exactly what to do. And on that stage, his performance has been extraordinary and inspiring. Zelensky artfully worked to calm a

found his ultimate role.

Early on, Zelensky told European leaders that he was Russia’s No. 1 target – and that they might not see him again alive. In short order, he personalized a country of 44 million people into one vulnerable man. And in the process, he

WHEN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION OFFERED TO HELP ZELENSKY ESCAPE KYIV TO SAVE HIMSELF FROM ANTICIPATED TARGETED ASSASSINATION, HE IS REPORTED TO HAVE FAMOUSLY RESPONDED: THE FIGHT IS HERE; I NEED AMMUNITION, NOT A RIDE.”

terrorized nation by exuding calm, seriousness, hope, resolve and defiance. With the unshaved face of an everyman and the worn camouflage T-shirt of a fighter, the comedian cum politician was transformed. The communicator

Uncertainty in the Iran deal

Iran nuclear talks in Vienna have once again hit a roadblock. This time, they were derailed by Russia’s demand for sanctions relief in commercial dealings with Iran. All the while, Iran continues to develop its nuclear program, setting Israel and Arab countries on edge. Then, this past weekend, Iran sent ballistic missiles into Iraq, striking near a U.S. Consulate compound, highlighting the urgency of figuring out some way to deal with the dangerous Islamic regime.

The situation is complex and is made even more so by the lack of transparency regarding the new terms being considered regarding possible U.S. re-entry into the deal. In 2015, the permanent member countries of the United Nations Security Council – United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia and China –plus Germany and the European Union, signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran. As part of that deal, Iran agreed to various measures designed to curtail the development of its nuclear program and for inspections from the International Atomic Energy Agency to ensure compliance. In exchange Iran

received some sanctions relief.

But the deal faced significant criticism, with challengers arguing first that Iran could not be trusted to comply with its performance promises and that, in any event, parts of the deal would eventually

put Putin on notice that the whole world was watching his every move.

Zelensky also spoke to and for his nation – with emotional yet forceful reassurance – helping to rally confidence and determination in the face of

overwhelming force and odds. And if Zelensky’s Jewishness was a prop before the war, it has become the key to a whole new audience as he pursued increased support in Israel and in the Diaspora with the recurring theme that “Nazism is born in silence.”

The world has taken note. As observed by Franklin Foer in the Atlantic: “It is hard to think of another recent instance in which one human being has defied the collective expectations for his behavior and provided such an inspiring moment of service to the people, clarifying the terms of the conflict through his example.”

Zelensky has demonstrated impressive skill as a public personality and leader. He shows confidence in his people and declares his place with them. He doesn’t hide, yet he doesn’t pretend that he is either safe or secure. He projects the persona, not of an elite, but of a common man. And he has become the voice and the face of a victimized people. Zelensky is Ukraine. Zelensky is Jewish. He seems to be drawing courage, strength and purpose from both. JN

President Joe Biden made joining an improved version of the deal one of his campaign promises. And for the past year, negotiators have been involved in slow-moving talks in Vienna seeking to achieve that result. Before this latest

RUMORS OF SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL CONCESSIONS TO IRAN, WHOLESALE LIFTING OF TERROR DESIGNATIONS FOR THE IRAN REVOLUTIONARY GUARD AND MANY OF ITS INDIVIDUAL LEADERS AND LIMITED RESTRICTIONS ON IRAN’S NUCLEAR DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY HAVE EMERGED, CASTING A LARGE CLOUD OVER PUBLIC REACTION TO REPORTS OF A PENDING AGREEMENT.

expire, and second because JCPOA didn’t address Iran’s ballistic missile program or its funding of terrorist activities. In 2018, President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the deal. Since then, JCPOA has effectively collapsed.

delay involving Russia, the agreement was reportedly approaching its final stages. But serious questions about the new terms have been raised. Rumors of significant financial concessions to Iran, wholesale lifting of terror designations

A NOTE ON OPINION

for the Iran Revolutionary Guard and many of its individual leaders and limited restrictions on Iran’s nuclear development activity have emerged, casting a large cloud over public reaction to reports of a pending agreement. Since there has been no public disclosure of potential re-entry terms, no one knows for sure.

It’s also unclear whether Congress will have a say in approving the new terms. Some argue that if this is an expanded or new deal, Congress should review it.

Others assert that if the U.S. is “simply” reentering the previous deal, Congress has already had its say. Those issues are probably what prompted a bipartisan group of 21 Congress members to send a letter to Biden last week, expressing concern about reports of U.S. concessions in the current negotiation process.

JCPOA is not a deal that should be built on rumors and whispers. Any proposed new terms should be made public, and Congress should weigh in on the agreement and its terms. If Congress approves the deal, so be it. But moving ahead without congressional input would be a mistake. JN

editor published in the Jewish News are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the officers and boards of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, Jewish Community Foundation, Mid-Atlantic Media 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.

We are a diverse community. The views expressed in the signed opinion columns and letters to the

Is ‘never again’ now? The Ukraine war ignites a recurring debate

ANDREW SILOW-CARROLL | JTA

Seventy-nine years ago this month, crowds twice filled Madison Square Garden for a pageant, “We Will Never Die,” meant to draw attention to the slaughter of Europe’s Jews by the Nazis. Screenwriter Ben Hecht organized the spectacle and wrote the script; German refugee composer Kurt Weill wrote the score. A young Marlon Brando had a leading role.

Two million Jews had already been killed. The performance included the lines, “No voice is heard to cry halt to the slaughter, no government speaks to bid the murder of human millions end. But we here tonight have a voice. Let us raise it.”

In the self-congratulatory amnesia called hindsight, American Jews often look back on “We Will Never Die” as a watershed in raising awareness about the Holocaust – and a condemnation of America’s failure at that point to stop the genocide. What’s often forgotten is that

Hecht had trouble getting major Jewish organizations to sign on as sponsors. “A meeting of representatives of 32 Jewish groups, hosted by Hecht, dissolved in shouting matches as ideological and personal rivalries left the Jewish organizations unable to cooperate,” according to the David S. Wyman Institute for Holocaust Studies.

This was 1943, mind you, so the debate over whether the United States should commit blood and treasure to the defense of its Allies was already settled. But the “ideological and personal rivalries” are reminders that Americans were never of one mind about entering World War II, and certainly not about whether and how to save the Jews.

America and its allies are embroiled in a similar debate now, and World War II and its lessons are being invoked by those urging a fierce Western response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Chief among these are Ukraine’s Jewish president, Volodymyr Zelensky, who has specifically cited the Holocaust in asking

From UK to Ukraine

RABBI EVAN J. KRAME

Habib Rahman, the Lord Mayor of Newcastle, in the UK, has helped organize relief for the Ukrainian city NovogradVolynsky. These two cities aligned through an international network of municipalities named Newcastle (Novograd in Ukrainian means Newcastle). My great-grandmother, Anna, left Novograd-Volynsky in 1911. But for her, I might not be writing this today, when my thoughts about Ukraine are influenced by a Muslim mayor in Newcastle.

As war rages in Ukraine, I researched Novograd-Volynsky, in particular. The community’s history has been documented by Leonid Kogan, a Jewish historian living in that region. Jews began to arrive there in the 1480s. Until the 20th Century, they lived in relative security. I corresponded with Kogan to learn more about my family. I only knew of my great-grandfather, Azriel Krasnastovsky, who was a shoemaker and died in 1908. Kogan helped me to identify the names of family members who remained in NovogradVolynsky. Yosef, brother to Azriel, moved east to Kazakhstan during World War II. While he survived the war, his two sons died as soldiers.

The larger story of Novgorod-Volynky’s Jews is also a story of ongoing depravity and oppression. As World War I ended and Communism arose, the Jews were caught between revolutionary Bolsheviks and marauding Nationalists. In turn, bands

of soldiers and gangs of peasants robbed, brutalized, and murdered the local Jews. Kogan recorded stories that are too horrific for me to repeat here.

The killing continued in each of the succeeding decades. In the 1930s, Stalin starved Ukraine and murdered intellectuals. In August 1941, most of the remaining Jews of Novgorod-Volynsky were shot by Nazi death squads.

Now, we are witness to another, and perhaps a final, sad chapter for the Jews of Novograd-Volynsky. Help for this region is coming from people like Mayor Rahman of Newcastle, who knows about senseless cruelty. As I researched Novograd-Volynsky, I came upon this story. Lord Mayor Habib Rahman’s father Azizur was stabbed to death in 1977, 10 days after arriving in London from Bangladesh. Azizur Rahman was working in a curry restaurant. A disgruntled patron returned with a knife and murdered Azizur. Shortly after, Rahman’s mother moved the family away from London.

In 2021, Mayor Rahman and his family returned to the restaurant for the first time in an act of reconciliation with the past. Mr. Rahman praised his mother for being a “tower of strength and a true symbol of humanity” who had led the family in forgiving the killer in accordance with their Islamic faith. I thought of the strength of my great-grandmother Anna who brought her young family to the United States after the

governments, and Jewish groups, to intervene.

“Nazism is born in silence. So shout about killings of civilians. Shout about the murders of Ukrainians,” Zelensky said in a call with American Jewish groups. He spoke about the Russian missile strike near the Babyn Yar memorial to slaughtered Jews, saying, “We all died again at Babyn Yar from the missile attack, even though the world pledges ‘Never again.’”

Dmytro Kuleba, the foreign minister of Ukraine, also invoked “never again” in a Washington Post oped. “For decades, world leaders bowed their heads at war memorials across Europe and solemnly proclaimed: ‘Never again.’ The time has

come to prove those were not empty words,” he wrote.

The rhetoric may be soaring, but not everyone is convinced. “I’m seeing the term genocide and the phrase ‘never again’ used more in the context of Ukraine,” tweeted Emma Ashford, a senior fellow at the Scowcroft Center for Strategy and

As I reflected on Mayor Rahman’s story, I reflected on my own relationship with Ukraine. I have been tentative in my support for Ukraine. Jews were too often attacked by Ukrainians and I am wary of them. However, now is the time to release resentments. I am inspired by Mayor Rahman and his family. Now it is time for me to forgive in accordance with my faith.

We celebrate Purim this week, perhaps as a reminder that the Jewish people have long been targets of hatred. Sometimes we outsmart the enemy as Esther did in the Purim story. Sometimes we escape to safety as my great-grandmother did. Too often, we fall victim to our adversaries.

Purim celebrations this week will be overshadowed by the war in Ukraine. Yet,

we will honor this festival. Leonid Kogan shared that the small Jewish population of Novograd-Volynsky in the Soviet era still gathered to celebrate Jewish holidays. Kogan posted a picture of a Purim gathering in 1977. It is with those Jews in mind, that I will celebrate Purim in 2022.

For all those who have ancestors from Ukraine, for all those whose relatives were victims of hate, and for the sake of our Jewish heritage, we gather for Purim. While we gather in safety and freedom we pray for Ukraine. The Jewish people have a legacy of resilience. Being Jewish means standing up to tormenters like Haman or Putin. JN

Rabbi Evan J. Krame leads the Jewish Studio in Rockville, MD. This piece originally appeared in Washington Jewish Week – a Jewish Newsaffiliated publication.

“We Will Never Die,” a memorial pageant for the Jews murdered up to that point by the Nazis, was held in Madison Square Garden on March 9 and 10, 1943. Here, during the final scene, cantors sing the Kaddish for the dead. COURTESY OF BETTMANN/GETTY IMAGES)

Purim: Coincidence or Miracle?

his week we celebrate the joyous holiday of Purim. I won’t give you the “gantze Megillah,” the complete story, but in short: Haman plots to kill the Jews, and Queen Esther and Mordechai save the day. Haman is hanged and we are still here!

Purim at first glance is no special miracle, just a story of coincidence. There are no fireworks, no seas split, no flames falling from the sky. Just two people –Mordechai and Esther – at the right place and the right time, who are therefore able to save our nation.

But precisely this regular “coincidental miracle” is the key to understanding the uniqueness of Purim, and its timeless message to each of us.

Action requires inspiration. As the expression goes, “a call to action.” Things high on our personal list of values, are inspired to action by our values and our core feelings of their importance. Other times our inspiration might come through reminders of negative consequences or of positive reward.

Revealed G-dliness and open miracles have a way of coercing and inspiring us to follow the Torah and mitzvos, but, they don’t change the fabric of our being. And therefore, when the inspiration wains, so can ones dedication to Torah and Mitzvah observance.

TCoincidence is the hand of G-d creating miracles through the natural order of life on earth. To truly experience “coincidental miracles” as G-d’s hand at play, one must properly understand and value the core and essence connection each Jew has with G-d.

Each and every Jew, at our core and essence, is the pride of G-d’s creation and handiwork. Regardless of what challenges we overcome or don’t, we are the pride of G-d, His chosen people, continuing the link of the Jewish nation. As such everything about our life is specifically guided by Divine providence, not merely coincidental.

Purim was a shift in the history and fiber of our nation. Our values and core G-d connection became the focal point and inspiration guiding our actions and observance of G-d’s commandments. No longer were we pushed to action via open G-dly revelation leading to fear or loved based observance, on Purim we revealed our core essence G-d connection and value based Torah observance. Purim marked

the Jewish nation recognizing that G-d says to each of us, you are my pride and you matter.

Purim is the powerful reminder of who we are at our core. That our essential being is a part of and the pride of G-d.

This value and core connection is essential in the observance of the mitzvah of Ahavat Yisrael.

There’s a Chassidic teaching that the mitzvah of loving one’s fellow applies to the Jew next door too. It’s easy to love someone who I don’t know and therefore cannot get on my nerves, but it takes real effort to not be bothered by the put offs of the ones who live with me.

But, when I focus on my core connection with G-d, and also look at each fellow Jew as one who also has such a core connection with G-d, how can I offend or slander the pride of my G-d, who I so value?

A daily reminder of this connection is a short prayer that is to be recited immediately upon awakening each morning, the Modeh Ani. Our first morning thought should be “Modeh” acknowledging and recognizing, that “Ani” the “I” my true core and essence, are “lefanecha” before You, one with G-d’s essential being. Recognizing that I am the pride and handiwork of G-d which will in turn inspire my values

and actions throughout the day. The holiday of Purim is observed through four special mitzvahs celebrating the unity of our Jewish nation and Ahavat Yisrael.

1. Mishloach Manot - sending 2 food items as gifts to our friends.

2. Matanot L’evyonim - charity for the poor.

3. A Festive Meal - celebrating with family and friends.

4. Listening to the Megillah - at night and during the day, a mitzvah best done with a quorum of 10.

Let us celebrate the Purim holiday this year and let it continue to inspire our love for a fellow through actively seeing and valuing our core and essence G-dly connection. JN

Security. “I understand why they’re being used – and the resonance they carry – but they’re not accurate ways to talk about a conventional war between states, even one with humanitarian casualties.”

Damon Linker, a columnist at The Week, made a similar point. “What Russia’s doing is terrible, but it’s what happens in war. It isn’t genocide, and it certainly isn’t the Holocaust, which is what that phrase refers to,” he tweeted. “Please stop the hype.”

In some ways the debate is semantic. ”Never Again” is a phrase popularized by a Jewish militant, adopted by mainstream Jewish groups and eventually absorbed into the global vocabulary as a shorthand for – for what, exactly? Is it about intervention when a government targets a people or ethnic group for slaughter, as in Rwanda? Does it include campaigns of terror meant to “ethnically cleanse” a region, as in Bosnia or Myanmar? Is it about a system of “reeducation camps” meant to erase a people’s culture, as the Chinese are doing to the Uyghurs?

Or, as Kuleba defines it, does it mean “stopping the aggressor before it can cause more death and destruction?” According

to that conception of “never again,” the Holocaust may have ended with the death of six million Jews, but it couldn’t have begun without unchecked territorial expansion by a brutal regime.

The debate is also highly concrete. If Kuleba is right, history will judge America poorly if it doesn’t do more to stop Russia’s attacks on civilians and its razing

most people and official bodies would call a genocide. And even if it were to, it would be surprising if the United States would commit troops to the battlefield. Most Americans have little stomach for a hot war with Russia. The threat of nuclear escalation is terrifying.

A Cygnal poll taken last week found that 39% of U.S. respondents supported

A CYGNAL POLL TAKEN LAST WEEK FOUND THAT 39% OF U.S. RESPONDENTS SUPPORTED WASHINGTON “JOINING THE MILITARY RESPONSE” IN UKRAINE – A PLURALITY BUT HARDLY A LANDSLIDE. A BROAD MAJORITY STILL PREFERRED NON-MILITARY INTERVENTION.

of Ukrainian cities.

And yet, while the United States and its allies have committed arms and sanctions meant to cripple Russia’s economy, President Biden has ruled out sending ground troops to defend Ukraine, or enforcing a “no-fly zone” over the country that would make direct conflict with Russian jets inevitable.

The bloody Russian invasion, bound to get bloodier still, has not risen to what

Washington “joining the military response” in Ukraine – a plurality but hardly a landslide. A broad majority still preferred non-military intervention.

The United States, like the rest of the world, has a checkered history in fulfilling the promise of “never again.” Bill Clinton was ashamed of America’s inaction in Rwanda. Barack Obama in 2012 launched a White House task force called the Atrocities Prevention Board, although

it didn’t prevent the mass slaughter of Syrians by their own government and Russia on Obama’s watch.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum has a Center for the Prevention of Genocide. And yet to paraphase Stalin, “How big is its army?”

And yet, many refuse to allow realpolitik to deaden their response to the tragedy in Ukraine. “We can discuss and debate a no-fly zone, but there is one thing we can’t debate, and that is this should be a no-cry zone,” said Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, head of the New York Board of Rabbis, during a recent interfaith service for Ukraine. “We should never, ever see innocent people mercilessly murdered.”

Few could dispute that. But if nothing else, history reminds us that slogans are not policies, and that the very best intentions crash up against self-interest and self-preservation. If nothing else, the debate over “never again” demands more humility and forgiveness in judging the failures of previous generations. 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.

Rabbi Dov Levertov is director of the Chabad of Phoenix.

Find area congregations at jewishaz.com, where you can also find our 2022 Community Directory.

SHABBAT CANDLE LIGHTING

SILOW-CARROLL CONTINUED FROM PAGE 13

PARSHAH TZAV

LEVITICUS 6:1-8:36

RABBI DOV LEVERTOV

A new Jewish summer camp for preschoolers

MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR

In the fall of 2021, Menachem Mendel Academy (MMA) added a preschool program – MMA Early Learning Center – to its campus at 6410 E. Thunderbird Rd. in Scottsdale. This summer, they will be offering Camp Geulah for ages 3-5.

“It’s our pilot summer to go along with our pilot year of opening the early learning center,” said Deena Harari, camp director at Menachem Mendel Academy.

Camp Geulah will run for six consecutive weeks from June 20-July 29, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with before- and aftercare available. Children will be divided into two groups: one for ages 3-4 and the other for ages 5 or in kindergarten. There is a two-week minimum registration required.

Each week will feature a new theme: cooking, yoga, water activities, STEM, science and ending with back-to-school preparation.

“We have integrated kodesh – Jewish learning – and all our camps will start with a daily davening which will include getting up and dancing, learning the prayer, coordinated with some hand movements and songs,” said Harari. “It’s a fun ‘rah-rah’ way to start our day.”

Harari said that they would also incorporate Hebrew words throughout the daily camp programs so that the children get an immersive experience.

“During our cooking camp, we are going to introduce all of the ingredients in Hebrew and in our yoga camp, we’re going to introduce some of the poses in Hebrew,” she said. “We want to get the kids excited and enriched in the Hebrew language.”

A unique feature of Camp Geulah is that they offer kosher, organic and holistic snacks and meals to the campers. The food is made daily by MMA’s on-campus chef and will be included in the price of camp, so parents don’t have to send a snack or lunch with their child. It’s a continuation of what MMA provides their students and staff with throughout the school year.

Now camp is only being offered for ages 3-5, although Harari is not sure if they will run a camp for the older students at some time in the future. Camp is co-ed, although she mentioned that they currently just have boys attending the MMA Early Learning Center. “In the past, there have been boys and girls; we would love to get some girls on campus,” said Harari. “We love girl energy!” JN

The cost of camp is $345 a week per child with a $50 a week discount for children registered by April 1. There is also a $250 nonrefundable deposit per child due at the time of registration. For more information, visit menachemmendelacademy.com/ summercamp.

Students at MMA Early Learning Center work on a science experiment. COURTESY OF MENACHEM MENDEL ACADEMY

The Oasis School will begin classes at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus this fall

ELLEN BRAUNSTEIN

This upcoming fall, a new Jewish high school is opening in Greater Phoenix offering a co-ed education that embraces families from religious to nonreligious backgrounds.

The Oasis School will start in-person classes in fall 2022 at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus in Scottsdale.

Jerry Isaak-Shapiro, Oasis’ founding head of school, has relocated from Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked in a similar position for 17 years. He is now developing the school’s curriculum and programming, hiring faculty and administrators and working on getting the word out.

Isaak-Shapiro is excited about starting a new high school in a fast-growing Jewish community that’s getting younger and more affiliated with agencies and synagogues.

The school promises both a rigorous Jewish and college-prep education. “It will be non-denominationally defined and academically rigorous in general studies,” Isaak-Shapiro said. “We will take different Jewish perspectives, and we will reach out to and teach high school students from a variety of backgrounds, affiliations, faith and practice.”

Starting enrollment is expected to be anywhere from eight to 24 ninth-grade students. Grades 10, 11 and 12 will be added over three years.

The tuition for Oasis is $21,500 and the school is partnering with tuition organizations “to make sure there are financial options for our students,” Board President Tobi Rifkind said.

Talks to open a trans-denominational high school began four years ago and a board of trustees was formed that currently includes Rifkind, Elly Bycer, Raquel Schnitzer, Marcia Weisberg, David Weiner and Tomer Rothschild.

Initial discussion revolved around what

Oasis is especially interested in enrolling the more than 250 students attending K-8 Pardes Jewish Day School on the same campus where Oasis will reside. Most Pardes students end up going to non-Jewish schools after eighth grade because the only option has been single-

THE SCHOOL PROMISES BOTH A RIGOROUS JEWISH AND COLLEGE-PREP EDUCATION. “IT WILL BE NON-DENOMINATIONALLY DEFINED AND ACADEMICALLY RIGOROUS IN GENERAL STUDIES,” ISAAK-SHAPIRO SAID. “WE WILL TAKE DIFFERENT JEWISH PERSPECTIVES, AND WE WILL REACH OUT TO AND TEACH HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS FROM A VARIETY OF BACKGROUNDS, AFFILIATIONS, FAITH AND PRACTICE.”

type of high school would be the best fit for the community. “As I moved from New Jersey and relocated here, Jewish education became very important to my family and we needed a high school for our children,” Rifkind said.

“As someone who truly loves this community, and as a parent who believes firmly in serious, life-transforming Jewish education, I know that a truly inclusive school is right for our community’s future,” Rifkind said.

The name for the high school, Oasis, builds on the idea of neve midbar, an oasis in the desert, offering students not only the ability to survive but to thrive.

gender Orthodox high schools, board member Bycer said.

Oasis will be the second co-educational Jewish high school in Greater Phoenix, following the opening of Nishmat AdinShalhevet Scottsdale in August 2021.

Before the arrival of that school, which is affiliated with Rabbi Pinchas Allouche of Congregation Beth Tefillah, a Modern Orthodox synagogue, Shearim Torah High School for girls and Yeshiva High School of Arizona for boys were the only Jewish high schools in Greater Phoenix, and both are Orthodox.

Isaak-Shapiro said Oasis will have a college preparatory curriculum, possibly

with Advanced Placement courses and an International Baccalaureate program. He wants to partner with the community to offer an entrepreneurial program with mentors. In addition, he said the school hopes to have a performing arts and visual arts program.

He finds the pluralistic mission of the school and its focus on Israel to be exciting. “I’m more convinced than ever before that a school that reaches out to and teaches a broad segment of our community is more necessary than ever before,” Isaak-Shapiro said.

Fundraising is ongoing and IsaakShapiro, who works with a paid fundraising consultant, said that “people in the community have been very generous with financial support. There’s a great deal of interest and excitement.”

Rabbi Elana Kanter is connected to Oasis as a supporter and co-rabbi at The New Shul, an independent synagogue in Scottsdale. She was also involved in the co-ed Jess Schwartz Jewish Community High School, which closed for economic reasons in 2012.

“I’m very excited about the importance of Jewish high school education,” Kanter said. “It’s a critical piece of the Jewish educational agenda in the American Jewish community.” JN

The Oasis School is accepting applications for its first semester. To find the application and other information, visit theoasisschool.org.

Ellen Braunstein is a freelance writer based in Chicago.

COURTESY OF INA LEVINE JEWISH COMMUNITY CAMPUS

Tobi Rifkind, Board President PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE OASIS SCHOOL

Top 10 ways to welcome spring and create a happy home

BARBARA KAPLAN

The new season is often synonymous with spring cleaning. Instead of approaching this as a chore, why not take the time to freshen up your home in other ways. Enjoy picking and playing with the following ideas to create your happy home!

1. EMBRACE COLOR. Color is key. Don’t be afraid to express yourself with color anywhere and everywhere. See how much you can handle living with and make sure you “love” the color. Start slowly with an accent wall or pillow. Then you can add an area rug or chair. Keep going and have fun.

2. THE PILLOW TRICK. You’ve probably heard about the pillow trick. Sometimes it only takes one fabulous pillow to make the difference – especially if you can match it to a piece of furniture that you paint the same color.

3. THE REAL ENTRY TO YOUR HOME IS OUTSIDE. The “outside” entry is what people see first. Buy a large new mat that coordinates with your door, if possible. Position the mat like a runner so people step on it several times, which helps clean their shoes. Make sure your doorbell is clean so people will feel good about ringing your bell.

4. TREAT YOURSELF TO FLOWERS. Buy flowers when you go to the supermarket. It

only takes one stem in a small vase that you love. Place it somewhere just for you – by the kitchen sink for when you do the dishes or by your bathroom sink for when you brush your teeth. If you buy a bouquet, you can separate the flowers and place them anywhere.

5. HAVE A PRETTY PANTRY. Imagine a pretty pantry. Build custom height shelves for your food to customize for small- and large-size items and store your food items in visually pleasing containers. You’ll have more space, visibility and organization. Paint the walls and shelves complementary colors you enjoy. Give the pantry door and handle its own style. Create a sense of organized pleasure.

6. CREATE YOUR OWN SANCTUARY. If you don’t have one yet, create a special and private place just for you where you can do anything you want, like read or meditate, and where you will feel comfortable and relaxed – a place where you feel nurtured and secure. A place no one else can touch or use. Even if it’s a chair or pillow on the floor with a lamp or candle – it is yours.

7. GIVE YOUR CHILD A TIDY ROOM. If you struggle to keep a child’s room tidy, involve the child in creating space for their needs. By providing a place for everything, they will learn to put things away. Decorative storage pieces can be purchased inexpensively and

don’t forget to utilize space under the bed for storage bins. Install ready-made units to organize the closet that will grow with the child’s needs.

8. SPLURGE ON ONE THING AND WORK AROUND IT. All decor doesn’t have to be expensive. Buy one item that is very special to you and decorate from there. Make it the room’s focus and add pieces that blend or contrast but do not detract. Let your special choice be your inspiration.

9. SEE WHAT YOU HAVE WITH DIFFERENT EYES. Change the seat at which you eat all your meals today. Look around and see your room from a different perspective. Is there anything you see that you would like to change or that you didn’t see before?

10. “REFRESH,” NOT REPLACE. To replace what we have in our home can be expensive so just “refresh.” Refresh means use it differently. Refresh is moving something in the same room or to another room, eliminating something, using it differently and rearranging your accessories or wall art. Let your imagination flow and do the unexpected. JN

Barbara Kaplan of Scottsdale is an interior designer specializing in mindful living. For more information, visit barbarakaplan.com or call 480-998-5088.

COURTESY OF ADAM SMIGIELSKI / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS

Sabbath mode kitchen appliances and keeping kosher surfaces

ROSIE ROMERO. JR

With Passover just weeks away, families who keep kosher are getting ready to prepare their kitchens. Designing kosher kitchens is more extensive than your average non-kosher kitchen. Strict kosher homes have double sinks, separate cooking appliances and require more countertop space and storage.

A kosher kitchen is more than just using kosher-only ingredients. Rabbi Menachem Posner, staff editor at Chabad.org, explained that to function as a kosher kitchen, there must be room to prepare meat and dairy products separately.

While the timing may not be ideal to remodel your kitchen right now, as you prepare for Passover, think about ways you would like to improve it to enhance your kosher lifestyle.

Sabbath Mode

Because strict Sabbath observance requires that Jews refrain from working and using electronics, many appliance manufacturers have created a “Sabbath mode,” also known as Shabbos mode or Shabbat mode. Viking, Whirlpool, Jenn-Air, Maytag and Electrolux appliances offer models with this mode.

The mode is designed to override the usual, everyday operation of the electrical system, so it complies with kashrut (Jewish dietary laws), such as allowing one access to food that is heating in the oven and has been placed there to heat before Shabbos.

Sabbath mode-certified appliances are manufactured under the certification of a competent halachic (Jewish law) authority such as Star-K or OU Kosher.

Miele’s Sabbath mode allows individuals up to 72 hours of pre-programmed cooking in their oven.

GE Appliances has introduced the first 100% Shabbos kosher oven. To qualify as kosher, it must be paired with their Shabbos Keeper that is sold separately from ZMAN Technologies.

This system allows for the opening and closing of the oven as many times as needed to keep food warm on Friday night and Shabbos day. The system automatically raises oven temperature to 350 degrees four hours before every mealtime to cook food.

The Shabbos Keeper is also available for refrigerators.

A Sabbath mode refrigerator includes, at a minimum, the ability to disable all lights or other electrical activity from occurring when the refrigerator door is opened. Some Shabbos mode refrigerators have a timer for the compressor so that opening the door, which would normally indirectly cause the compressor to turn on as soon as the temperature rises, will have no immediate effect on the electrical operation of the appliance.

When engaged in Enhanced Shabbos Mode, the Shabbos Keeper fully automates the compressor, auto-defrost, lights, sensors, thermistors and more. The mode can be set up on more than 150 GE appliances including the French-door bottom freezer, full-door bottom freezer and side-by-side refrigerator models.

Most of GE’s appliances already use the Shabbos Keeper. However, the company will launch a new generation of appliances that will be OU Kosher certified independent of the Shabbos Keeper.

Dishwashers can be tricky because they do not have a Shabbos mode feature. GE notes that models with electronic controls may have a door wake up mode that can be turned off so that the control display, control sounds and interior lights (on some models) will not respond to the door opening or closing. You may want to consult with Star-K for prepurchase advice.

Note: OU Kosher is in the process of certifying several GE appliances. Until recently, Shabbos-compliant ovens were certified

by the Star-K agency. As of January 2022, some of these appliances will come under the supervision of OU Kosher.

Countertops

Like all countertops, they should be easy to maintain and durable. That is especially important for strict observant households because meat and dairy need to be separated. Any cracks in the surface can lead to contamination. Countertops are subjected to a kashering process to clean them. Kashering a counter is the process of returning a surface to its original state, enabling it to be considered new and to then be used for either meat, dairy, pareve or Passover. It is used primarily for dishes, flatware and other surfaces made of metal, stone, wood and rubber.

Lauren Busser, editorial director of “The House Designer,” suggests quartz countertops for the kosher kitchen. Quartz is an extremely hard surface that’s non-porous and doesn’t require sealing, thus making it one of the best for preparing foods. They are also ideal for busy family homes or anyone who wants quick and easy cleanup.

Star-K policy does not allow kashering of plastic or materials with plastic components such as porcelain enamel, DuPont Corian Solid Surface and Corian Quartz Surface (formerly called Zodiaq), Formica and Silestone.

Sinks

Two sinks are needed in a kosher kitchen; one for meat and one for dairy. You also need two prep areas. Stainless steel can be kashered and cleaned in several ways. Busser suggests the Neva stainless steel sink from Moen that offers

easy clean drain design and SoundShield noise protection that is both sound deadening and inhibits condensation.

Other Considerations

Busser notes that when designing a kosher kitchen and accounting for doubled appliances and maximizing storage, keep in mind that twice the appliances also means twice the electrical and plumbing needs. Be sure to take this into account and factor in clearance for your appliances. Be sure to install adequate ventilation to remove the extra cooking fumes and moisture. You may need to extend the cabinetry to the ceiling to allow for maximum storage, too. JN

Consult with your rabbi to confirm whether the appliances and surfaces you choose abide by Jewish dietary laws.

Rosie Romero, Jr. is co-owner of Arizona’s home improvement radio program “Rosie on the House.”

Two sinks and plenty of prep and storage space make this an ideal kosher kitchen design.

OF NKBA.ORG/DESIGNITKOSHER

The Shabbos Keeper allows for the opening and closing of the oven as many times as needed to keep food warm on Friday night and Shabbos day. COURTESY OF GE APPLIANCES

The Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center board announced that Lori Shepherd has accepted the executive director position, effective March 16, 2022.

Lori is the former Executive Director of the El Paso Holocaust Museum & Study Center. She learned about the Holocaust firsthand from El Paso’s survivor community. Lori strengthened her understanding of the pedagogy of the Holocaust and genocides through the museum’s connections with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Association of Holocaust Organizations and scholars in the field such as Father Patrick Desbois and Dr. Deborah Lipstadt.

Lori looks forward to working closely with TJMHC’s internal and external stakeholders to continue the museum’s long-standing traditions of creating innovative community programs and being a voice for social justice in Southern Arizona.

“As we go forward into a world made uncertain by continued pandemic, political rancor and for so many, socioeconomic uncertainty,” she said, “We must continue to use the lessons of the Holocaust to help create a more just and peaceful world. We will continue to be a place where Jewish values of social justice, tolerance and repair of the world have a home. We will accomplish this by actively reflecting on who we are and how we can best serve the community and by having the same active and open conversations that we promote –reaching out to Southern Arizona’s diverse communities and asking, ‘How can we help?’”

A search committee made up of board members and community advisors met regularly to develop a process, screen applicants and interview candidates. They voted unanimously to approve Lori as executive director.

“The TJMHC board of directors welcomes Lori and is excited to begin working with her as our new leader,” says Board President Eric Schindler. “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Michelle Blumenberg for her spectacular work as interim executive director for the past 10 months,” he adds. Michelle will stay on through March 31 to provide for a smooth transition.

Jewish Family & Children’s Service raises $355,000 at virtual Brighter Tomorrow event

Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) raised more than $355,000 at its annual Brighter Tomorrow event. Held virtually this year on Jan. 28, the funds will be used to impact and support the lives of more than 40,000 individuals throughout Maricopa County.

The signature event, chaired by Gail and Ed Ober, featured keynote Mayor Kate Gallego who thanked organizations like JFCS, who provide vital programs and services that help build stronger communities.

During his presentation, president and CEO Dr. Lorrie Henderson provided an update on the organization’s mission of strengthening the community by providing behavioral health, healthcare and social services to all ages, faiths and backgrounds. He also expressed gratitude to those in attendance and the many JFCS individual and corporate donors who play a vital

essay on how Holocaust education can help to develop the moral courage to respond when incidents of hate and antisemitism occur in our communities.

To read the full essay prompt and submit an essay, visit arizona.adl.org/2022- essay-contest/. All essays are due by noon on March 25, 2022.

the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona (JFSA) and the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona (JCF) have integrated their organizations into a single operating entity.

The new organization shall be known as the Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona (JPSA). The newly combined JPSA builds on a 75+ year history of serving as the Tucson community’s coordinating body for fundraising, philanthropy, planning and communal services.

The mission of JPSA is to partner with organizations, families, and individuals to foster and enhance community and respond to those in need – enriching Southern Arizona, the Jewish people and the world. Their vision is to achieve the full potential of Jewish philanthropy now and for future generations.

Graham Hoffman was appointed joint president and CEO of both JFSA and JCF in May 2020. The organizations moved to a single governing structure in 2021, of which Hoffman continues to serve as president and CEO.

ADL announces annual Moral Courage Essay Contest Arizona high school students are invited to participate in the annual Herb Goldberg Moral Courage Essay Contest. The contest, open to all Arizona students in grades 9-12, is a project of ADL’s No Place for Hate program.

In 2020, the Arizona legislature passed House Bill 2241. The bill requires that all Arizona students receive education on the Holocaust and other genocides during their K-12 education at least twice between seventh and twelfth grade.

The essay contest participants are asked to write an

Temple Kol Ami (TKA) announced that Cantorial Intern Noa Shaashua will join the congregation next year. Noa has been serving Temple Kol Tikvah in Woodland Hills, Calif., for the last seven years and plans to be ordained as cantor in June 2022.

The cantorial search committee conducted interviews of cantors from around the country. They considered many excellent candidates and are delighted that Noa will share her gifts and abilities with TKA.

Noa was born in Jerusalem and joined the Israel Defense Forces, where she was assigned to teach underprivileged and academically challenged soldiers. That experience influenced her to pursue teaching as part of her career when she moved to the United States.

She attended Berklee College of Music in Boston, Mass., where she studied jazz and modern American music, which influenced her love of all music. There she also met her husband, fellow musician and duet partner, Shai Shaashua.

The TKA staff and board are currently planning opportunities for the congregation to meet and get to know Noa and look forward to welcoming her, Shai and their two children, Lavee and Yair, to the community.

JWV Designates Volodymyr Zelensky as Honorary Patron

As of March 10, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is considered an honorary patron of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America (JWV). “Not only is he Jewish, but the fact that he has taken a stand to protect his people and his country is admirable, and I think he needs to be recognized for that,” said JWV National Commander Alan Paley.

JWV will attempt to convey a letter announcing this honor to Zelensky via the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States. JN

Cantorial Intern Noa Shaashua joins Temple Kol Ami

Tucson Jewish Museum announces new director

Lori Shepherd COURTESY OF TUCSON JEWISH MUSEUM & HOLOCAUST CENTER

Cantorial Intern Noa Shaashua COURTESY

Featured Event

MARCH 25-27

PJ Library Family Camp Weekend:

Join PJ Library for a fun-filled, action-packed weekend March 25-27 including Shabbat and Havdalah, arts and crafts, nature walks, kosher-style meals, rock wall, ropes course and more at Camp Daisy and Harry Stein in Prescott. For more information, visit jewishphoenix.regfox.com/ pj-library-family-camp.

Events

FRIDAY, MARCH 18

Brilliant & Bold 32nd Annual Book and Author Event: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. The Brandeis National Committe Phoenix Chapter presents its annual event. Doors open at 9 a.m. for registration, book sales and boutique shopping. Personalized book signings by the authors begin at 9:30 a.m. at JW Marriott Desert Ridge, 5350 E. Marriott Dr., Phoenix. Cost: Tickets $150 and up. For more information, visit brandeisphoenix.org/2022ba.

He’s Not Finished with You Yet: 10 a.m. Join the Arizona Jewish Historical Society for a presentation by Tom Duke, a 9/11 survivor who will share his expereince of what happened 20 years ago. For more information, visit azjhs.org/ surviving-humanity-series.

SATURDAY, MARCH 19

Chicago Fest West: 2-9:30 p.m. The festival that celebrates everything Chicago including music, food and sports at the Mesa Convention Center, 263 N. Center St., Mesa. Proceeds benefit College Bound AZ that provides direct one-on-one services to help underserved youth achieve their dreams through education. For more information, visit chicagofestwest.com.

SUNDAY, MARCH 20

PJ Library Grandparent Babka Bake: 3 p.m. Join PJ Library and Home Chef

Jordan Urnovitz at the Martin Pear Jewish Community Center, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale as he teaches grandparents, along with their grandchildren, how to make a delicious chocolate babka. Cost: $10 and all includes will be provided to be able to take the babka home to bake. For more information or to register, visit jewishphoenix.regfox.com/ pj-library-grandparent-babka-bake.

SUNDAY, MARCH 27

Scottsdale Children’s Business Fair: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Observe the opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business! Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy and then open for customers at this one-day marketplace at the Martin Pear Jewish Community Center, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale. For more information, visit childrensbusinessfair.org/ scottsdale-az.

Antisemitism Here and Now: 7 p.m. Join Congregation Beth Tefillah, 6529 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale, for a presentation by StandWithUS co-founder and CEO Roz Rothstein and the director of SWY’s Center for Combating Antisemitism, Carly Gammill. Cost: Free. RSVP by March 23 at swuandtbt. paperform.co.

MONDAY, MARCH 28

Wines of South America Wine Tasting: 5:30 p.m. Join wine sommelier Nadia at the Martin Pear Jewish Community Center,

12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale as she guides you through a tasting of the wines of Chile and Argentina. Cost: $35 for members of The J; $45 for non-members. For more information and to register, visit apm. activecommunities.com/valleyofthesunjcc/ Activity_Search/1975.

THURSDAYS

Storytime at Modern Milk: 9:30 a.m. Bring your babies, toddlers and preschoolers to our weekly all ages in-person storytime at Modern Milk, 3802 N. Scottsdale Rd., STE 163. We will integrate favorite 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.

SUNDAYS

BAGELS: 9-11 a.m. Join the Martin Pear JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, for Bagels And Gabbing Every Last Sunday of the month in-person. Grab a bagel and a cup of coffee 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 apm.activecommunities.com/ valleyofthesunjcc/Activity_Search/1787.

MONDAYS

Mahjong: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Join the East Valley Jewish Community Center in-person on Mondays for mahjong. This program is intended for players with prior experience

and for those who have received the COVID-19 vaccination. Masks will be required. Cost: Free. For more information and to register, visit evjcc.org/mahjong. For further questions, call the EVJCC at 480-897-0588. The EVJCC is located at 908 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler.

Virtual Meetings, Lectures & Classes

SUNDAY, MARCH 20

Klezmer Fest: Spiritual World Traditions: 4 p.m., Join the East Valley Jewish Community Center for a virtual concert featuring Naqshon’s Leap, live from Royal Studios in Memphis, as well as a Q&A with the artists. For more information, visit evjcc.org/klezmer2022.

TUESDAY, MARCH 22

Tuesday at the J: 10-11 a.m., Join the East Valley Jewish Community Center for Tuesdays at the J free virtual presentation featuring Cantor Jonathan Angress and ‘The Musical Evolution of Louis Lewandowski.’ For more informatinon, visit evjcc.org/ event/tuesdays-at-the-j-6/2022-03-22.

MONDAYS

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

Quotable Quotes by our Sages: 7 p.m. Learn with Rabbi Shlomy Levertov online.

Rabbi Nate Crane (center) says the blessing over children during Saturday morning Shabbat services at a family camp at Camp Daisy and Harry Stein in 2018.

CALENDAR

Tune in at: JewishParadiseValley.com/ class. Cost: Free. For more information, visit chabadaz.com. Learning to Trust in God: 7:30 p.m. Learn with Rabbi Yossi Friedman online. Tune in at: ChabadAZ.com/LiveClass. Cost: Free. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

Partners in Torah: 7:30 p.m. 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.

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

TUESDAYS

Let’s Knit: 1:30-3:30 p.m. Share the pleasure of knitting, crocheting, etc. and help others with a project or pattern. Can’t knit? We can teach you! Every level welcome. We will be sitting outside at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus and social distancing. Our last meeting before August will be Tuesday, May 11. Cost: Free. For more information, email Nicole Garber at nicoleg@mpjcc.org.

Keep Calm and Play Mahjong: 6:308:30 p.m. Play mahjong from home with myjongg.net. Cost: Free. To join a table, email Nicole at nicoleg@vosjcc.org.

Maintaining an Upbeat Attitude: 7 p.m. A class exclusively for people in their 20s and 30s, learn how Jewish Mysticism can help with your attitude with Rabbi Shlomy Levertov online. Cost: Free. Tune in at: JewishParadiseValley.com/YJPclass. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

WEDNESDAYS

History of the Jews: 11 a.m. Learn the Jewish journey from Genesis to Moshiach online 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.-noon. TBS of the West Valley’s weekly virtual 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. The goal is to achieve an understanding of what the text is and what it can teach us in the contemporary world. For more information, contact the TBS office at (623) 977-3240.

Happiness Hour: 11:30 a.m. An online class taught by Rabbi Pinchas Allouche that delves into texts and references culled from our traditions to address a relevant topic and draw uplifting life lessons from it. For more information or to join, visit cbtvirtualworld.com.

Torah Study with Chabad: Noon. Take a weekly journey to the soul of Torah online with Rabbi Yossi Levertov. Cost: Free. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

Lunch & Learn: 12:15 p.m. Grab some food and learn online with Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin. Cost: Free. Tune in on Zoom by emailing info@ChabadTucson.com. For more information, visit ChabadTucson.com.

The Thirteen Petalled Rose: 1 p.m. An online Kabbalah class that studies “The Thirteen Petalled Rose” by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz, focusing on the many

foundational and transformational concepts of Kaballah and Jewish Mysticism and applying them to everyday life. For more information or to join, visit cbtvirtualworld.com.

Knit a Mitzvah: 1-30 p.m. On the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month, check in with fellow knitters who are making items to donate as part of this Brandeis National Committee Phoenix chapter study group. For more information, contact Ronee Siegel at ronees@aol.com.

JACS: 7:30-8:30 p.m. Virtual 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. Join a free weekly, virtual learning session for men. To RSVP, email rmollenaz@gmail.com or call/text 310-709-3901.

THURSDAYS

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

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

Mindfulness Gatherings: Noon. 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. 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. Learn with Rabbi Tzvi Rimler online, Cost: Free. Tune in at cteen.clickmeeting.com/east-valley. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

SATURDAYS

Saturday Mindfulness Gatherings:

9:30 a.m. 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. Join Or Adam Congregation for Humanistic Judaism on the third Saturday of every month for a virtual book discussion. For more information and to register, contact oradaminfo@gmail.com.

SUNDAYS

Soul Study: 7:15 a.m. An online class exploring the secrets of the Tanya and Jewish mysticism, taught by Rabbi Pinchas Allouche. Cost: Free.

Chassidus Class: 9 a.m. Learn about the Chasidic movement with Rabbi Yossi Friedman. Cost: Free. Tune in using this link: ChabadAZ.com/LiveClass. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

Jewish War Veterans Post 210: 10 a.m. Any active duty service member or veteran is welcome to join monthly meetings, now

virtual, every third Sunday, Cost: Free. For more information, email Michael Chambers at c365michael@yahoo.com.

Anxiety in the Modern World: 6 p.m. Learn the secrets of the Torah for living stressfree in the current environment in a virtual class with Rabbi Boruch, with Chabad of Oro Valley. Cost: Free. Tune in using this link: zoom.us/j/736434666. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

Shabbat

FRIDAYS

In-person services: Beth El Phoenix is offering in-person Shabbat services indoors, limited to 30 people, not including clergy. Masks and social distancing required as well as pre-registration via bethelphoenix.com/ form/Shabbat-registration or by calling the office at (602) 944-3359.

In-person services: Congregation Beth Israel is holding services in the Goldsmith Sanctuary limited to 100 people, excluding clergy and staff. Members and guests must be fully vaccinated (two weeks since your last vaccination) and wear a mask. Children may attend and must be able to wear a mask for the duration of the service. 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. To make your reservation, contact Gail Gilmartin at 480-951-0323 or at ggilmartin@cbiaz.org.

In-person services: Congregation Or Tzion is holding Friday evening (6:00 pm) and Shabbat morning (9:30 am) Services indoors. Beginning March 4, proof of full vaccination will be required for all events in the synagogue. Masks are required for everyone attending services at Or Tzion. Services are also live streamed at otaz. org/livestream. For more information about services, events, membership and our new COVID policy, please visit congregationortzion.org or call 480-342-8858.

Tot Shabbat in the Park: 9:30 a.m. Free totShabbat every Friday morning at Cactus Park. Shabbat music, toys and a meaningful pre-school Shabbat experience. Is it your child’s birthday? Sponsor a Shabbat for $36.00. For more information and to register, visit playdatesbydesign.com/ upcoming-classes.

Welcome Shabbat: 11-11:45 a.m. Join the JFCS Virtual Center for Senior Enrichment each Friday for a soothing and inspiring program to welcome Shabbat. Each week a different guest host will lead the program with song and celebration. Cost: Free. For more information, visit jfcsaz.org/cse.

Erev Shabbat Service: 5:30 p.m. 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.

Kabbalat Shabbat: 5:30 p.m. Congregation Kehillah invites you to join services via Zoom, every other Friday, with Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman and cantorial soloists Scott Leader and Erica Erman. For the dates, visit congregationkehillah.org/events and to register and receive the link, please email, info@congregationkehillah.org.

Pre-Shabbat Kiddush Club: 6 p.m. Say kiddush with Rabbi Mendy Levertov online.

Cost: Free. Tune in here: ourjewishcenter. com/virtual. For more information, visit chabadaz.com. Shabbat at Beth El: 11-11:45 a.m. Celebrate Shabbat with songs, blessings and inspirational teachings. Rabbi Stein Kokin from Beth El Congregation will lead us 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.

Third Friday Shabbat: 7- 8 p.m. The Desert Foothills Jewish Community Association hosts a virtual abbreviated Shabbat service followed by a program. Contact Andrea at 480-664-8847 for more information.

Seniors

MONDAYS

Tai Chi with Brian Stevens: 10-10:30 a.m. Tai Chi and Qigong are health practices that incorporate a form of ancient Korean healing martial arts known as DahnMuDo, which produces an overall limitless state of being, through focused movement and focused breathing. Experience a renewed sense of being, boost your immune system, and enjoy doing so in this virtual class. For more information and to register, visit jfcsaz.org/events/. Contact CSE Director Jennifer Brauner at seniorcenter@jfcsaz.org or 602-343-0192 with questions.

Dance Fusion with Michele Dionisio: 11 a.m.-noon. Presented by JFCS Center for Senior Enrichment. Cost: Free. For more information, visit jfcsaz.org/cse.

Sip & Schmooze: 11 a.m. Sip on kosher coffee or tea, enjoy a homemade pastry and Schmooze with great company every second Monday of the month at Luci’s Barn at the Orchard, located at 7100 N. 12th St., Phoenix. RSVP Appreciated: chani@sosaz.org or (602) 492-7670. For more information, visit www.sosaz.org.

Featured Presentation: 12:30 p.m. 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 full details visit sosaz.org/ virtual or email Rabbi Levi Levertov at levi@sosaz.org.

Brain Fitness: 1-2 p.m. Join Toby Lazarus in this virtual brain fitness class, which works to engage the brain in innovative ways in a variety of cognitive areas and can help increase mental acuity. Word play, puzzles, memory games and problemsolving activities are employed to enhance your brain power. Cost: Free. For more information and to register, visit jfcsaz. org/events/. Contact CSE Director Jennifer Brauner at seniorcenter@jfcsaz.org or 602-343-0192 with questions.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction: 1-2:30 p.m. In a seven week series that begins April 5, learn how to use mindfulness techniques to help relieve anxiety, depression and pain. Cost: Free. For more information and to register, contact seniorcenter@jfcsaz.org or call Jennifer Brauner at 602-343-0192.

TUESDAYS

Zumba Gold with Adriana Padilla: 9:30-10:15 a.m. This virtual class is perfect for active older adults who want a modified Zumba class with lower-intensity. Class focuses on all elements of fitness:

SEE CALENDAR, PAGE 23

Training to save a life

Students attended a “Stop the Bleed” and active shooter training event at the Levenbaum Chabad House at ASU. The training was taught by Jimmy Wasson, head of security for the Ina Levine Campus and founder of Antebellum Protection and was sponsored by ASU alum Adam Finkel.

That’s my dad!

Ezra Urnovitz points to his father’s photo on the March 4 cover of Jewish News. Jordan Urnovitz was featured in the article, “Local home chef appears on Food Network’s ‘Guy’s Grocery Games.’”

Packing for the pantry

East Valley JCC board member Regina Fischer helps pack groceries for the EVJCC’s JBox Food Pantry, a kosher food pantry in partnership with St. Vincent de Paul and the City of Chandler.

Soul Conference

Current and prospective high school students at Nishmat Adin-Shalhevet Scottsdale attend Congregation Beth Tefillah’s Soul Conference. The event included dinner and a concert featuring world-renowned musician Alex Clare.

Practicing for Purim

Runway reunion

Mayor Kate Gallego, left, greets First Lady Dr. Jill Biden during her arrival at Sky Harbor International Airport on March 7.

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.

Members of Temple Chai attended a rehearsal for their Purim spiel, “Southwest Side Story.”

ROSS WOLMAN

cardiovascular, muscular conditioning, flexibility and balance. Come to this virtual class ready to sweat, and prepare to leave empowered and feeling strong. For more information and to register, visit jfcsaz. org/events/. Contact CSE Director Jennifer Brauner at seniorcenter@jfcsaz.org or 602-343-0192 with questions.

Movie Discussion Group: 11 a.m.

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.

Brain Games with Friends: 2-3 p.m. Challenge your brains while having fun. Experts believe that active learning helps maintain brain health by preventing loss of cognitive skills such as memory, reasoning and judgment. For more information or to register, visit vosjcc.org/j-at-home-adults.

WEDNESDAYS

Fitness Fun with Zoe: 10-10:45 a.m. In this virtual class, do some light chair exercise class with optional weights. Class follows a format of a warmup weight free movement, optional weights, then a cool down. Some standing options, however all moves can be done sitting. Presented by JFCS Center for Senior Enrichment. Cost: Free. For more information, visit jfcsaz.org/cse. Contact CSE Director Jennifer Brauner at seniorcenter@jfcsaz.org or 602-343-0192 with questions.

Chair Yoga with Zoe: 11-11:45 a.m. Grab a chair and sit down for a 45-minute chair

MILESTONES

OBITUARY

HARVEY L.

COHEN

yoga class with Zoe! Yoga is beneficial to mind, body and spirit. Prior to class, please let Zoe know if you have any limitations in order for exercises to be modified. No prior yoga experience required. Presented by JFCS Center for Senior Enrichment. Cost: Free. For more information, visit jfcsaz.org/cse.

THURSDAYS

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: 11-11:45 a.m. Celebrate Shabbat virtually with songs, blessings and inspirational teachings. For more information and to register, visit jfcsaz. org/events/. Contact CSE Director Jennifer Brauner at seniorcenter@jfcsaz.org or 602-343-0192 with questions.

Adult Chair Ballet Class: Noon-12:45 p.m. Join Jennifer Cafarella and Elaine Seretis from Ballet Theatre of Phoenix as they teach a ballet class that will help improve strength, flexibility, movement and balance. No prior dance experience required. Presented by the JFCS Virtual Center for Senior Enrichment. For more information, visit jfcsaz.org/cse.

Musical Friday: 12:30 p.m. 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

Jewish News is accepting recommendations from our readers for our annual Best of Jewish Phoenix magazine.

Harvey L. Cohen of Phoenix died Feb. 15, 2022. He was 77. Harvey was born in Minneapolis, Minn. and served in the Army Air Corps. Harvey is survived by his wife, Penny; daughter, Catherine Marder of Savannah, Ga.; sons Roger Cohen of Phoenix and Jim Cohen of Fremont, Calif.; seven grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

Services were held at Temple Kol Ami on Feb. 20, o ciated by Rabbi Jeremy Schneider and arranged by Sinai Mortuary of Arizona.

Donations in his memory can be made to Hospice of the Valley and Temple Kol Ami.

OBITUARY

STANLEY REGEN

Stanley Regen of Scottsdale died Jan. 31, 2022. He was 89.

Stanley was born in New York. While in Arizona, he was affiliated with the Fountain Hills Community Center.

Stanley was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor and parents Isadore (Mitch) and Anna Regen; and is survived by his daughters Sharon of Mayer, Ariz. and Debra of Beaverton, Ore.; son, Joel of Durham, N.C.; brothers Larry (Donna) Regen and Sidney (Eileen) Regen and ve grandchildren.

Services were held at Paradise memorial Gardens, o ciated by Rabbi Sadie Becker and arranged by Sinai Mortuary of Arizona.

Donations in his memory can be made to Hospice of the Valley. JN

This year, we’ll focus on the best of senior health and wellness – not just physical but financial fitness as well.

We welcome your recommendations to the following questions:

What do you do to stay healthy?

Is there a class or program that you participate in for your mental, physical or social health?

Have you planned for your senior future?

Have you used a service that has assisted you with modifying your home for safety, creating financial security in retirement, estate planning, or establishing a plan to age in place, downsize or move to a senior community?

Submit recommendations by April 14

To submit a recommendation, please send an email to editor@jewishaz.com, including the name of the business/program you are recommending and no more than 300 words explaining why this entity should be considered for “best of” inclusion. Recommendations will be anonymous and confidential, but we may use the description you send us in the magazine.

Ruth Cohen, Born in 1923 in Cleveland, Ohio. Ruth met her husband Bill on the shores of Lake Erie and thought that their rabbi would have been proud of their 65-year marriage! Ruth, Bill and their daughters Ravelle, Eileen and Laura moved to Phoenix in 1952. Ruth was a role model and ahead of her time in many ways. She was a Girl Scout Brownie troop leader, homeroom mother and piano teacher. She hosted a book club and enjoyed mahjong with her friends. Ruth was also an entrepreneur, opening the Peppermint Stick restaurant on Central Avenue with Bill and later, running Ruth’s Catering Service. She spent summers supporting the Lions Camp Tatiyee for children and adults with special needs. She served terms as president of Phoenix Artist Guild, B’nai B’rith and Brandeis University Women’s Committee, and was a founding member of Beth Ami Temple. In her 80s, Ruth surprised everyone by figuring out how to sell books to collectors around the world using the Internet. After celebrating her 99th birthday with family and friends, Ruth passed peacefully of old age on March 4, 2022 at her home in Phoenix.

Ruth is survived by her daughters Eileen and Laura; son-in-law Billy; grandchildren Brian, Randy, Amanda, Ben, Michael and Bruce; great-grandchildren Tyler, Parker, Landon, Gavin, and Genevieve. In Ruth’s words, they made her life so wonderful. Donations can be made in her honor to the Shemer Art Center, shemerartcenter.org or Hospice of the Valley, hov.org.

The Twenty-First Century: A Jewish Vision, One Day At A Time

April 4, 2022 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm PT

Location: Temple Solel, 6805 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley, AZ 85253

Rabbi Joseph Telushkin is an American rabbi, lecturer, and bestselling author of more than 15 books, including volumes about Jewish ethics, Jewish literacy, as well as the book Rebbe a New York Times bestseller released in June 2014.

One of the sad things that has happened to Jewish life in modern times is that people define “religious” solely in terms of ritual observance (one who keeps Shabbat or Kashrut is religious, one who doesn’t is not), as if ethics in Judaism were an extracurricular activity, nice, but not very important. In this talk, based on Rabbi Telushkin’s awardwinning book, A Code of Jewish Ethics: Volume

1: You Shall be Holy, he examines, along with other issues as well, four Jewish values and how they apply in daily life. This lecture will not only challenge and broaden one intellectually, it offers very specific advice and guidelines on how to transform and elevate one’s life.

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz President & Dean

Rabbi Joseph Telushkin

HAMMERMAN FAMILY LECTURE