Jewish News, Aug. 19, 2022

LAUREN’S LIBRARY

Mim and Mel Bottner are building a library in Israel in memory of their daughter.

Temple B’rith Shalom welcomes

Phoenix rabbi to Prescott

SHANNON LEVITT

The weeks leading up to the Jewish High Holidays can sometimes feel like a mad dash to the finish line for synagogues and their rabbis. But that’s not always the case. For instance, Rabbi Susan Schanerman, Prescott’s Temple B’rith Shalom’s new rabbi, said she feels “prepared and calm” when it comes to leading her congregation into the new year.

Rabbi Nina Perlmutter, a self-described “loyal and long-term member of B’rith Shalom,” is very glad to hear it. She understands the stress of the season well, given that she’s the part-time rabbi of Congregation Lev Shalom in Flagstaff — though, she’s careful to add, in this job, “part-time” is a misnomer because “you’re always on call.” And she’s been helping out in Prescott with lifecycle events and conversion programs while B’rith Shalom was between rabbis.

“I’d rather have her here for this if she’s willing, and I know she’s willing,” Perlmutter said.

This time of year is significant for all Jews, especially those who feel alienated or just curious, Perlmutter said. After all, some Jews only come to the synagogue for High Holiday services, so it’s important they have a positive experience when they show up. From her recent conversations and years-long acquaintance with Schanerman, she believes Prescott’s new rabbi is more than capable of providing it.

Trudy Steinhauer, temple president, said she, too, is excited about the upcoming festivities and has high hopes for the new rabbi. “This is an exciting time, a time for growth, building strong ties with congregants and ensuring a loving and compassionate home for anyone

THE COST OF WAITING

It might be time to put your fear aside and buy a home.

Arizona, Israeli students swap cultures in exchange program

Bing to Phoenix. Gabriela, Alex, Amir and Mika all participated in the Sister Cities Youth Ambassador Exchange Program (YAEP), where students live with host families and learn what it’s like to be a teen living in a different country.

For Gabriela, who is not Jewish, this was her first time

In the land of Oz

Puppet master Frank Oz’s parents carved wooden marionettes that were hidden for decades.

COURTESY OF CJM/JASON MADELLA

SEE TEMPLE B’RITH SHALOM, PAGE 2

YAEP delegates from Arizona, Italy and Mexico visited the Grand Canyon.

Jewish in Greater Prescott,” she said, via email.

Schanerman started her new job in late July, the end of the traditional hiring season for rabbis and cantors. Steinhauer voiced confidence in the decision to bring Schanerman aboard.

“I firmly believe Temple B’rith Shalom is headed on the right path with Rabbi Susan leading the way.”

Schanerman, too, feels it’s a good match for her and called this her “dream job.”

Though she just started, she already plans “to foster positive relationships with the interfaith community, increase attendance at Shabbat services with music and prayer that inspires and rejuvenates and provide meaningful pastoral care,” she said, via email. She is also looking forward to meeting her congregants and building community with them. Fortunately, it’s something she has a wealth of experience doing.

Schanerman leaves behind a tight-knit community at Congregation NefeshSoul, the Chandler synagogue she founded in 2013. Before that, she was the cantorial soloist of Temple Emanuel of Tempe, and received her rabbinic ordination in 2010.

Jennie Hermey remembers being struck by Schanerman when she first encountered her at Emanuel.

“It was clear to me that the most spiritual person on that bimah was Sue Schanerman,” she said.

Once Schanerman was ordained and decided to start her own congregation, Hermey said, “I knew I would go where she went.” She was part of a small group at Emanuel to tell the new rabbi: “We’re going wherever you go.”

Hermey described Schanerman as “a

very personable, congregant-oriented person. She knows everyone.” Therefore one of the rabbi’s goals with NefeshSoul was to create “a small shul where she could maintain that closeness with her communicants,” Hermey said.

However, Hermey noted, as a small and somewhat older congregation, NefeshSoul has few children; it makes sense to her why Schanerman would be drawn to a synagogue with a religious school attached.

“Susan is a teacher,” Hermey said. “She is hardwired to teach kids and we didn’t really have enough kids to have a Hebrew school. Now she can get back to teaching kids in Hebrew school, which is what she loves.”

Schanerman has a master’s in education, a lifetime of teaching experience and was also Emanuel’s director of education from 2000 to 2013.

Steinhauer agreed: “With a master’s degree in education as well as a doctorate

in Jewish studies, we are overjoyed to learn how passionate Rabbi Susan is about teaching both adults and children.”

Schanerman said it’s one of the things she’s most looking forward to in her new post and noted that while B’rith Shalom’s religious school “is quite small, there is potential to build a strong and vibrant program for the Jewish children of Prescott.”

Perlmutter pointed out that small cities like Prescott often have difficulty keeping Jewish families, who sometimes feel there’s not enough Jewish education and engagement for their children. Schanerman’s experience in education is something that will be an asset to the synagogue and the community.

It’s all part of the juggling act that being a rabbi in a place like Prescott requires, Perlmutter said. The rabbi shouldn’t be intimidated by a town with fewer Jews than Phoenix, where its synagogue has to be open to all the Jews there. “Different people learn from and connect with each other in this kind of community and that’s really good but can be a challenge,” she said. NefeshSoul emphasizes inclusiveness, so Schanerman has a head start there.

“Also, Prescott’s a place that wants to engage families and she does,” Perlmutter said. “She loves kids and that’s one of the big reasons she’s coming here.”

On a personal note, Hermey said she’s happy for her rabbi and friend but already feels the loss. Still, she said they’ll keep in touch and get together once in a while for coffee.

“We’ll miss her terribly,” Hermey said. “I wish I lived in Prescott now!” JN

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in Israel. “It was amazing! My favorite two places were Jerusalem and the Dead Sea,” she said. She is entering Arizona State University and was supposed to go to Israel in 2020, but the trip was canceled due to the pandemic.

“[I enjoyed] being able to experience the different cultures, which I probably would never have been able to do traveling to Israel by myself because it’s different when you’re sitting with someone that lives there,” said Gabriela. “You get an authentic experience of living in the country.”

Alex, a senior at Bioscience High School in Phoenix, enjoyed the history of the country and the food — especially the shawarma and hummus. She is also not Jewish and noticed how different Israel was, yet how similar. “Getting to experience a different culture and understanding the things that relate to us and the things that don’t is important and gives such a better perspective of the world and how people live,” she shared.

“The mission of our organization is to promote world peace and to create that through the building of sustainable relationships,” said Marie Raasch, youth and education program coordinator for Phoenix Sister Cities. “We have that people-to-people strategy through our students. They get to not just learn about Israel or any of our sister cities, they have a second family in that country and they get to know the daily lives and habits of their friends and their new family. That creates an element of understanding that might not always be known or made accessible through school, [watching] a documentary or even meeting someone from that country.”

Students in Arizona had not traveled with the exchange program since 2019, when nine of the sister cities participated (Phoenix currently has 11 sister cities). This year, with varied travel restrictions across the world, three countries sent delegates to Phoenix: Ramat Gan, Catania, Italy and Hermosillo, Mexico.

The application process begins in October and is open to Phoenix high school students in their sophomore or junior year. Once selected, students will receive specialized training through Academy Sessions held monthly. In these sessions, students learn about their host country, diplomacy and cross-cultural communication skills.

“For many students, this is their first time out of the country. So they’re representing the city of Phoenix, the state and also the country because for a lot of students they’ll meet, even for the host family, this might be their first interaction with someone from the United States,” said Raasch. “When the [foreign] students are here in July, they meet our mayor. And while [the Arizona delegates are] in

their sister city, they have the opportunity to meet the mayor of that city as well. So that’s exciting for the students. For many of them, that is the first time they’ll have met an elected official.”

“That was very exciting and quite an honor,” said Amir about meeting Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “I’d done research before, so I knew that the mayor is Jewish.”

Amir, a junior at Blich High School in Ramat Gan, had always wanted to come to the United States and even had planned a trip to New York that he canceled when he found out he would be going to Arizona with the sister cities program at his school.

The group traveled to the Grand Canyon and Amir said he was surprised that Arizona had such a varied landscape, from the desert to the forest. They also went to Tucson, where he encountered one of his favorite things on the trip – the Navajo taco.

“The Navajo taco was one of the best things I’ve ever eaten in my life,” said Amir. “They sold it right in the plaza of the church [San Xavier del Bac Mission]. It was absolutely incredible. We ate it together in the car because it was flaming hot outside. It was quite a treat, really. I loved it.”

He also said that Mexican food is one of his “favorite things in the world,” and

he also tried Wendy’s and Starbucks for the first time.

On the opposite side of the food spectrum was Mika, who didn’t care for most of the American food she tried. Raasch had brought some hummus to snack on and Mika admitted that she couldn’t eat the American version. A senior at Blich High School, she enjoyed the people and places more.

“My favorite place would be the Grand Canyon,” said Mika. “It’s so huge. I said I bet it’s bigger than Israel! It was so special and I was glad to do it with friends with people from the program.”

This was Mika’s first time traveling without her parents or family. “I got to be more independent and exploring by myself rather than with my family,” she said. “Also, just seeing how other people live and their daily routine is and how different it is from my routine and my country’s routine. I’m glad I experienced it because it can help me get a better view of other people.”

Raasch said that many past YAEP participants are still involved with Phoenix Sister Cities, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary. “It creates this global network for the students of international connections, diverse cultures and the unique perspectives of people with different backgrounds.” JN

Amir Dornai, right, presents a gift to Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego

COURTESY OF YAEP

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First Place AZ launches study into housing needs of adults with disabilities

ELLEN BRAUNSTEIN

When Scottsdale resident Denise Resnik’s son, Matt, was diagnosed with autism nearly three decades ago, she and her husband were told to love, accept and eventually plan to institutionalize him. At that time, little was known about the outcome for adults with autism and institutionalization was often suggested as part of continuing care.

“I talked to those places and ran away as fast as I possibly could,” said Resnik. “I have been driven by fear, love and likeminded, passionate leaders who are also looking for more hopeful futures.”

Resnik is a member of both Temple Kol Ami in Scottsdale and Temple Chai in Phoenix and has a background in real estate. She founded First Place AZ, a residential and community development nonprofit focused on creating supportive housing for adults with autism, Down syndrome, traumatic brain injuries and other developmental disabilities.

Resnik is also co-founder of the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center.

The 25-year-old nonprofit organization is dedicated to autism research, education, evidence-based treatment and community outreach.

First Place AZ, now 10 years old, is launching a survey and market analysis designed to assess the demand and preferences in Greater Phoenix for housing and supportive communities for people like Resnik’s son.

“We need to know what the demand is and what the needs and preferences are so that we can smartly develop more options,” Resnik said.

Matt Resnik, 31, lives in First Place Phoenix, a 63-apartment residential community with a life-skills program. He works too, helping to pack and ship biscotti at SMILE Biscotti, a business he inspired and co-founded with his parents.

only provide homes for the people who live there, but for us to more fully appreciate how to support people in their community or in their home,” Resnik said.

The study is being conducted by the First Place Global Leadership Institute’s Center for Real Estate and Community Development. The Center for Real Estate and Community Development is one of First Place Global Leadership Institute’s five centers that collaborate with international experts and industry leaders to address issues and facilitate the work and impact of First Place AZ.

The analysis will collect market data, identify barriers and explore how public, private, nonprofit and philanthropic sectors can work together to respond to market demand.

“It will help us design a blueprint for making more housing options a reality,” said Resnik.

The market research will rely on online surveys of individuals and family members. An accessible version of the survey will also be available for individuals with disabilities to complete directly. Another version will be translated into Spanish.

Make Waves Family Foundation and Dominium, a property management company, are providing partial funding for the analysis; additional sources are being sought.

Results will be presented at the First Place Global Leadership Institute Symposium Oct. 19-21, which will be held in person and via webinar. Leaders from across the country are coming together to focus on advancing a new generation of housing and community options.

“The study is the foundation to make it possible for housing developers, support providers and technology innovators to grasp the needs of this market and facilitate major marketplace and policy advances based on data,” said Maureen

Casey, director of the Colonel Harland Sanders Center for Applied Research at the First Place Global Leadership Institute.

“We know that this is an invisible population in the housing crisis in Arizona,” said Casey, adding that 300 people a day are moving to Arizona and affordable housing has not kept up. “We have at least 159,000 people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Arizona. We’re hoping to bring visibility to this population so we can stand next to other populations in need of housing.”

About 77% of the developmentally disabled live with family and 27% live with a family caregiver over the age of 60, Casey said.

“Among the looming questions for parents like me is, ‘Where will my loved one live, who will care for them and how will they thrive when I’m no longer here?’” Resnik said. “Our big vision for First Place is to ensure that housing and community options are as bountiful for this population as they are for everyone else.”

Casey added that the “whole point of early intervention is to think about what happens when people are adults and prepare them for adulthood. For this population in particular, we spend most of our time, research, funding and providing services for them as children and we don’t spend time thinking about what happens when they turn 22.”

Resnik talked about “raising the bar on opportunities. We want more families or individuals with a diagnosis to appreciate early in life that their loved ones can have friends, lifelong education, jobs, homes and supportive communities.”

The public can register for the survey at firstplaceaz.org/phx-housing-analysis/.

Ellen Braunstein is a freelance writer based in Chicago.

The Resnik family, from left, Denise, Matt and Rob at Matt’s First Place Phoenix apartment.

MALA BLOMQUIST | Managing Editor

Doris Martin (née Szpringer) passed away on Aug. 3, 2022, at her home in California. In 2000, Martin, along with her husband, Ralph, founded the MartinSpringer Institute at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff.

The Institute’s mission is to “bring the experiences of the Holocaust into sharp focus in order to understand those events in the context of today’s concerns and crises. Through public presentations, exhibits, teacher training, symposia and special events, we seek to use insights and lessons from the past to address current conflicts — including the treatment of refugees, mass violence and genocide.”

In 2009, the Martins co-authored “Kiss Every Step: A Survivor’s Memoir from the Nazi Holocaust,” which shared Doris Martin’s story as a Holocaust survivor. Born in 1926, she was 12 years old when the Nazis invaded Poland and forced the Szpringer family into Bedzin’s ghetto.

In 1942, she was deported to Auschwitz and later to a labor camp at Ludwigsdorf. She was forced to manufacture explosives and electronics for the German war effort. Martin survived on a bowl of soup, a piece of bread and a cup of coffee daily. Digging through the garbage for food became a nightly ritual for her during the three years in the camp.

As the end of the war neared, the Nazis informed prisoners that they would evacuate the camp and begin a death march to leave ahead of the approaching

Soviet army. On the morning the death march was set to begin, Soviet soldiers rather than Nazis awakened the prisoners — they were liberated.

Her parents, sister and two of her brothers posed as Polish citizens and lived in hiding during the war, while her third brother fled to the Soviet Union. All seven family members survived and were reunited after World War II.

“Through the Eyes of Youth: Life and Death in the Bedzin Ghetto,” is a traveling exhibit made possible through the MartinSpringer Institute. The exhibition, inspired by Martin, tells the story of the young people in the Jewish ghetto of Bedzin (Poland) before, during and after the Holocaust.

Shortly after the war, Martin’s mother died and while her brothers married and remained in Europe, her sister and father immigrated to the United States in 1950.

She married Louis Rabinowitz and had a son, Allen. Rabinowitz died of cancer within three years of the couple’s wedding day. She later married Ralph Martin and they moved to Flagstaff in 1971.

“This is my job,” she said, “to talk about how the Holocaust should not be forgotten,” Martin told the AZ Daily Sun in a 2014 interview. “All of us have to do this together, we don’t have to have hate. We can live in this world in peace.”

Martin is survived by her husband, Ralph Martin; son, Allen Rabin; sister, Rae Harvey; and niece, Betsy (David) Rosner. Services were held Aug. 7 at Mount Sinai Memorial Park in Los Angeles, Calif. JN

Local residents to chair and present at international Jewish genealogy conference

MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR

Mesa resident Judi Missel, a member of the Phoenix Jewish Genealogy Group and the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS), has been involved with genealogy for more than 30 years.

She first started researching her family’s genealogy while looking for names for her children. Her grandparents were all killed in the Holocaust and her younger brothers were named after them, so she needed to return to her family tree to find relatives to honor.

“The Family History Center was in downtown Mesa and I could go there and order a microfilm for $3 from Salt Lake City,” said Missel. “My mother told me the general area where her grandparents and great-grandparents were from and I ordered a film [for that area]. I sat there and cranked my way through that microfilm and after an hour, I found the birth records for my great-grandmother and all of her siblings. That did it — I was hooked.”

Years later, she also found a third cousin she didn’t know existed until she did a DNA test.

“This is the beauty in doing genealogy,” said Missel. “I knew the names of my two times great-grandparents and I’m descended from one daughter and she’s descended from another daughter. And because we knew the names, we could verify through documentation as well as through DNA how we’re related. That’s pretty cool as far as I’m concerned.”

Missel is the lead co-chair for the 42nd Annual IAJGS International Conference. The conference, originally planned to be held in person in Philadelphia, Pa., will be held virtually Aug. 21-25. Other local residents who have been selected to present are Emily H. Garber, Dr. Janette Silverman and Risa Daitzman Heywood.

of DNA talks being presented at the conference, in addition to “American Jewish History Through the Lens of Literature: Cookbooks” and “Bubbie, Who Are You? Finding the Maiden Names in Your Family Tree.” “There’s a range of pretty much anything you would be interested in,” said Missel.

She is also excited that several people will be available who can translate documents found in foreign languages. “We have a way for someone who’s willing to translate and someone who needs a translation to make an appointment with each other within the conference.”

A bonus to the conference being held online again is that registrants have an extended time to view all the presentations held during the week. Registered conference participants will have until Oct. 25 to view content on demand. The registration will remain open past the conference completion date, so if people miss it live, they can still stream the content. (The amount of content accessible is based on the participation level purchased.)

The other Arizonans involved are

Emily Garber of Phoenix, a genealogical researcher on the board of the IAJGS and the Arizona Jewish Historical Society, will be presenting two talks. A recorded talk, “Alien, Enemy, Declarant...Grief,” provides cases where immigrants had to go to extraordinary lengths to get their U.S. citizenship and a live presentation Aug. 23, “Become an Expert: Create a Resource Guide,” a lesson in building a tool for more efficient and effective family history research.

“The IAJGS conference always provides a terrific opportunity to gather both Jewish family history hobbyists and professionals to share knowledge, expertise and the excitement of discovery about our ancestors,” said Garber. “This year’s conference will be a celebration of our diversity as a people and our passion to remember our heritage.”

Risa Daitzman Heywood of Sun City is a professional genealogist and past president of the Jewish Genealogical Society of Colorado (JGSCO). Her company,

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She will present “Missing Manifests –Tips for Finding Those Elusive Passenger Lists.” Finding ancestor’s passenger lists is often an obstacle for genealogy researchers. Without this document, it is challenging to begin European research. Heywood shares tips and tools to find these sometimes elusive documents.

Dr. Janette Silverman of Phoenix, a senior genealogist and research team manager, heads up a team specializing in Eastern European and Jewish research at AncestryProGenealogists, a division of Ancestry.com specializing in private client research.

“I am always thrilled to be able to present at the preeminent Jewish genealogy conference,” said Silverman. “As a former conference chair (Seattle 2016), I commend this year’s team for producing a magnificent virtual conference. This really is the place to be if you are interested in your Jewish family’s ancestral history.”

Silverman’s talks are “Discover Your Eastern European Jewish Ancestors,” discussing research techniques and resources available digitally and visiting ancestral towns to find out more about your family before they emigrated and “Sephardic Jewish Case Study,” showing what’s possible as you explore and find discoveries in the Sephardic community.

The conference will feature approximately 60 live-streamed presentations, 100 prerecorded presentations and 40 group meetings. Programs are geared toward first-timers to conference veterans.

Missel said that she enjoys puzzles and thinks that’s part of her attraction to genealogy. “It’s a giant puzzle and the beauty of the puzzle is it’s your family that you’re solving.” JN

For more information, visit iajgs2022.org.

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Judi Missel, left, Janette Silverman and Emily Garber at the 2014 International Conference on Jewish Genealogy in Salt Lake City, Utah. COURTESY OF JUDI MISSEL

Scottsdale couple creates memorial library in Israel

MALA BLOMQUIST | Managing Editor

As a child, Lauren Bottner would tell her parents that when she grew up, she wanted to live in a house within walking distance of a library. When Lauren became a teenager, realizing “her habit” of buying the books she wanted to read was getting too expensive, she would reserve books at the library. Becoming a licensed therapist with a master’s degree, she turned her love of reading into a love of writing and her articles appeared in the Times of Israel, Aish, The Jewish Journal and more. She also had a blog, “Hell in the Hallways.”

It was Lauren Bottner’s passion for reading and writing that helped her parents, Mim and Dr. Mel Bottner of Scottsdale, while on a Jewish National Fund-USA (JNF-USA) trip to Israel, decide on the project that would be the most significant way to memorialize their daughter who died in 2014 at the age of 34.

“We saw other projects in Israel that were very meaningful, but when we heard that they were building a community center in this beautiful new area called Halutza in the Negev and that they would love a library — we said perfect,” shared Mim Bottner.

It made sense to the Bottners to build a library in her memory in Israel as they had already created one for their synagogue in Scottsdale, Ahavas Torah. “Lauren’s Library” is open by appointment to the community and includes more than 600 books for adults and children.

The 2,500-square-foot library in Israel will also be named Lauren’s Library and is part of the 40,000-square-foot community center being constructed in Shlomit. In addition to a large selection of books, the library will have reading and lounge areas, computer stations, digital information resources and e-readers. There will also be planned activities to engage the community, including interactive book readings, visiting authors, writing workshops, collaboration with educational facilities and more.

“It’s going to be a state-of-the-art library,” said Mel Bottner. “We have been there many times and spent Shabbos in the community and have become very good

friends with the number of people in the community.”

Since children in Israel learn English, the Bottners hope to have an ample supply of English language books available in the library. They joke that whenever they visit in the future, they are planning on one suitcase being filled with books.

Halutza is close to the Egyptian border and Gaza Strip, and has had its share of attacks coming from Gaza. During the latest conflict at the beginning of August, the Bottners received a video from Yedidya Harush, JNF-USA’s liaison in the region, showing the road into the community shut down and he said they were instructed to stay close to the bomb shelter.

Currently, there are 2,500 families residing in the three growing communities that make up Halutza: Naveh, B’nei Netzarim and Shlomit. “Together we believe and together we can achieve,” is Harush’s motto.

The community center will provide a multifunctional space for the people from the surrounding 32 communities in the Eshkol region of southern Israel and house a performing arts auditorium, a hydrotherapy pool, an art and music center, a gym and two dance and martial arts studios.

“My husband’s dream is to get a bookmobile or two that would even take books out to other areas,” said Mim Bottner. “We’ll see. Right now, we’re waiting for a roof.”

The facility broke ground in 2018, but construction was delayed due to COVID19 and the numerous Israeli elections holding up the approval of government permits. The center is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2023.

When asked what they thought Lauren would think of a library in her name, Mel Bottner said, “She’d be thrilled and embarrassed.” And then he added, “She’d be very proud to share her love of books with anybody and everybody.”

“That’s perfect,” said Mim Bottner.

“That’s exactly right.” JN

For more information or to support Lauren’s Library, contact Leila Mikal, Jewish National FundUSA director, Arizona, at 480-447-8100 x987 or lmikal@jnf.org.

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A rendering of the community center that will house Lauren’s Library.

Nonprofit organizations partner to give mezuzahs to those who need them most

MICHELLE TALSMA EVERSON

MyZuzah describes the mezuzah as “a touchpoint that unites all Jews.” A national nonprofit, MyZuzah, was recently chosen by the SRE (Safety, Respect, Equity) Network to receive funding for projects focused on intersectional gender justice and victimsurvivor support. Utilizing this funding, MyZuzah will provide hundreds of kosher, fair-trade mezuzahs to survivors of intimate partner violence for their new homes. Jewish Family & Children’s Service (JFCS) in Phoenix and Tucson is partnering with this national effort thanks to a connection with Project Inspire Arizona.

“The mezuzah protects the Jewish people, reminding the home occupants of our Jewish heritage,” said Robin Meyerson, co-director and founder of Project Inspire Arizona. “Just like the Israelites were commanded by God to put blood on the doorpost before the plague of the death of the firstborn in Egypt, we today, 3,500 years later, put up a mezuzah to remind us of our exodus from Egypt

and the protection God provides through the mezuzah scroll.”

Project Inspire Arizona is “Committed to empowering the Jewish community by providing training programs, practical tools and opportunities to motivate, inspire and grow,” according to the nonprofit.

“Through Project Inspire I heard about MyZuzah and realized what a wonderful

“MyZuzah is using this grant to expand our partnerships across the United States — we are active in 54 countries and 30 plus states already — and when we launched the program, we leaned on our existing network of partners to help connect us with Jewish social service agencies who could be the confidential link between us and those in need,” explained Alex

organizations that support them often focus on providing security, shelter and other essential resources to support their physical well-being, but the importance of spiritual well-being and identity are often overlooked or deprioritized,” Shapero said. “This is still a stigmatized issue in our society, and we have heard from recipients that being able to put a mezuzah up has helped to provide a sense of security and continuity in their Jewish identity. Particularly for those with children, being able to put up the mezuzah and proudly show this part of themselves, on their own terms, can be a cathartic way of moving forward with their lives and their family.”

way to connect the Arizona community,” Meyerson explained.

Project Inspire Arizona now works with MyZuzah in two ways. The first ongoing effort is to provide mezuzahs to Arizona Jewish families. The most recent effort is connecting the nonprofit to JFCS to provide mezuzahs to survivors of domestic abuse in a confidential manner.

Shapero, MyZuzah program director. “Robin Meyerson, a long-time and outstanding MyZuzah partner in Arizona, put us in touch with the [JFCS] team in Phoenix, and we’re looking forward to making a big impact together.”

Shapero added that MyZuzah is expanding its efforts into Tucson as well.

“Victims/survivors and the

To ensure recipients’ confidentiality, MyZuzah will deliver mezuzahs to various social service agencies across the country for distribution to clients, including JFCS’ Phoenix and Tucson locations.

“JFCS was founded almost 90 years ago by a group of determined Jewish women looking to help Arizonans during the Great Depression and, while we have grown to support underserved people of all backgrounds, we are very much rooted in our Jewish traditions,” said Len

Your estate plan can work for you while also leaving a legacy, taking care of your family and contributing to the community.

“THE MEZUZAH PROTECTS THE JEWISH PEOPLE, REMINDING THE HOME OCCUPANTS OF OUR JEWISH HERITAGE.”

ROBIN MEYERSON CO-DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER OF PROJECT INSPIRE ARIZONA

WEDNESDAY,

Gutman, vice president of Philanthropic Services for JFCS. “Having this support from MyZuzah to provide survivors of domestic violence a sense of connection to the Jewish community is terrific.”

In addition to providing access to kosher, fair-trade mezuzahs, MyZuzah seeks to create a sense of connectedness and Jewish unity among Jews of all backgrounds around the world, Shapero added.

“The mitzvah of mezuzah is one of the few traditions that most all Jews are familiar with and the way we observe it is pretty standard everywhere,” Shapero said. “We have found that this common practice is a great way of demonstrating the connection that all Jews have to each other and putting up a mezuzah is a powerful but simple way for people to express their Jewish identity and values to themselves and others. Mezuzahs are like a Swiss Army knife of Jewish identity development, as they are a tool that can have a different and special meaning to each person. We love to help people grow their Jewishness by exploring their own toolkit.”

According to Tova Zimm, victim advocacy director at Jewish Coalition Against Domestic Abuse (JCADA), the JCADA is thrilled about this partnership, especially considering that domestic violence survivors are often unable to take their mezuzahs with them as they quickly flee their homes.

“Many of our clients are seeking not just physical safety, but spiritual safety as well,” said Zimm. In Judaism, an essential way to create spiritual safety is to hang a kosher mezuzah on the door to your home. JCADA believes that everyone deserves to be safe in all ways — spiritually, psychologically, technologically, physically and emotionally — and we are so grateful for the spiritual safety our partnership with MyZuzah will provide.”

MyZuzah has provided more than 6,000 homes with free mezuzahs across the world and Meyerson said that Project Inspire Arizona will continue to provide free mezuzahs to local Jewish families.

“It’s amazing to watch the transformation some families go through once they get a mezuzah,” she said. “They start to get interested in their Jewish heritage, begin the journey to learning more about their Judaism and even start to build connections to more Jewish rituals at home.” JN

For more information about Project Inspire Arizona, visit projectinspireaz.com. To learn more about MyZuzah, visit myzuzah.org. And, for more information about JFCS and their services in Arizona, visit jfcsaz.org.

Michelle Talsma Everson is a freelance writer and editor based out of Phoenix.

Ben Lesser is an accomplished public speaker and successful entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to ensuring that Holocaust education perseveres. His highly acclaimed memoir “Living a Life That Matters: From Nazi Nightmare to American Dream” traces Ben’s journey from young Jewish boy in pre-war Poland, through the 1939 German invasion, and the horrors of the Holocaust.

Ben’s story follows his liberation from the Dachau concentration camp in 1945, the reunion with his only surviving family member – to his triumph in building a new home, joyous life and prosperous career in the United States.

A mezuzah being placed on a home by MyZuzah.

COURTESY OF MYZUZAH

Hitler puppet stashed in Frank Oz’s Oakland attic tells his family’s Holocaust story

DAN PINE | JTA

Long before Frank Oz gained fame as the puppet master behind such iconic characters as Miss Piggy and Yoda, he was Frank Oznowicz, an Oakland kid who attended Tech High, ate burgers at Kwik Way and watched movies at the Grand Lake Theater.

And from time to time, he’d rummage through the attic of his home. One day he came across something that would prove to be extraordinary: a set of wooden marionettes, carved in the 1930s by his Jewish father, Isadore “Mike” Oznowicz, a Holocaust refugee from Antwerp, Belgium.

The costumes were handmade by his mother, Frances. One of the puppets, with its Charlie Chaplin mustache and raised right arm, was unmistakably a mocking caricature of Hitler.

“Every few years I’d see [the puppets] and not think twice,” Oz recalled of his youth. “When I was an adult, I moved to New York and I realized, ‘My God, look what we have here.’”

for safekeeping before fleeing the Nazi invasion, then retrieved them after the war. They remained in the attic until his son, by then fully aware of the historical importance of his parents’ handiwork, transported them to his Manhattan apartment, where he has kept them for more than 30 years.

The puppets have never been on public display until now. They are the centerpieces of a new exhibition, “Oz is for Oznowicz: A Puppet Family’s History,” open now through Nov. 27 at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco.

The exhibit consists of the Hitler figure, as well as a puppet cabaret band decked out in swanky satin jackets, along with a raven-haired chanteuse in a red dress. Also included are archival photographs, reflections from Oz and his siblings and a video account from Mike Oznowicz recounting his harrowing escape from Nazi-occupied Belgium.

“The wear and tear is very evident,” Heidi Rabben, senior curator of the CJM, said of the treasures. “The

costumes are faded and torn. The Hitler costume is broken down the front seam. I asked Frank why he thought his parents buried [the puppets] and did not destroy them. He said if someone creates something with one’s own hands it becomes meaningful. This [Hitler] marionette was for his parents a form of resistance.”

Frank Oz, 78, is best known as the puppetry genius who partnered with Muppets founder Jim Henson. He was the voice of Miss Piggy, Burt, Cookie Monster and, as recently as 2019, the voice of Yoda in the Star Wars series. As a filmmaker, he directed “The Dark Crystal,” “Little Shop of Horrors” and “What About Bob,” among others.

But his puppeteering began at home, under the influence of his parents.

When Germany invaded Belgium in 1940, possessing a subversive marionette like the Hitler puppet posed a danger to both Mike Oznowicz, a sign painter by trade and an amateur puppeteer, and Frances, a dressmaker. The couple buried it and several other marionettes in their backyard, then fled the country, wandering from Portugal to North Africa. While hiding in Casablanca, it was Frances who supported the family with tailoring work.

After the war, they returned to Antwerp, retrieved the puppets and eventually brought them to Northern

California, where they built a new life for themselves and their three children. They continued to make puppets and performed shows in the region, including at Children’s Fairyland at Lake Merritt.

Oz told J. his father never liked to talk about the war, which claimed the lives of many of his relatives. Nor did he divulge the origins of the Hitler and cabaret band puppets or whether he ever performed with them. Mike Oznowicz, who died in 1998, was “very scrappy” and had an “attitude of rebelliousness,” according to his son.

That may explain why he crafted a puppet that ridiculed Hitler. The tradition of mocking the German dictator continued for decades, from Bugs Bunny to Chaplin’s “Great Dictator” to Mel Brooks’ “The Producers.”

“It’s part of our cultural fabric,” said Rabben of the CJM. “The Jews have always been an oppressed people who found ways to fight back, implicitly or more subtly. When you think of the legacy of Jewish humor in the U.S., that was a way for Jews to reclaim power and agency over how their stories were being told and who was telling them.”

Oz said he sees the CJM exhibit as a way to honor his parents for their creativity and resilience.

“I see it as beautiful folk art,” he said of his parents’ handiwork. “[My father] didn’t go to woodcarving school. He just did it, and [the puppets] are representative of so many people who just appreciate the core of humanity.” JN

A version of this piece originally ran in J. The Jewish News of Northern California and is reprinted with permission.

Mike and Frances Oznowicz at the Children’s Fairyland Puppet Fair in 1956.

(COURTESY OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA PUPPETEERS GUILD AND CHILDREN’S FAIRYLAND ARCHIVES)

Hitler marionette and assorted marionette heads created by Mike and Frances Oznowicz are now on display at the Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco. COURTESY OF CJM-JASON MADELLA

From ‘Wolfenstein’ to ‘Unpacking,’ examining Jewish characters in video games

JILLIAN DIAMOND

Over the past few years, diversity in video games has become a hot-button topic in the gaming industry and in fan communities. Developers have been making a more concerted effort to include minority characters in the casts of their games and to account for a variety of experiences: those of people of color, LGBTQ individuals and people with disabilities. Though increased diversity in games has been criticized as “pushing an agenda” by some, more people than ever are now able to have a gaming experience that reflects their own real-life experience.

One area that is still lacking, though, is diversity of religion. Many video games do not touch on the topic at all, and the few that do make use of fictional religions or have characters celebrating holidays that are Christmas in all but name.

holidays

As such, Jewish characters are a rarity in games, but there are still some out there. Their religious identities are not often integral to their stories, but their Jewishness still deserves to be acknowledged. There is certainly a need for more Jewish representation in media, which includes video games, but it is still important to take note of what representation is already out there, what it means to people and how it can be improved upon in the future. Some character summaries may contain spoilers for their respective games.

B.J. BLAZKOWICZ - WOLFENSTEIN (1981-PRESENT)

The “Wolfenstein” series is all about doing arguably the most Jewish thing a person can do: fighting Nazis. The ongoing series was foundational to the first-person shooter genre, being one of the first of its kind to achieve widespread popularity alongside “Doom” and “Quake.”

“Wolfenstein”’s innovations in the genre would lead to some of the most well-known games ever, such as the “Call of Duty” and “Halo” series.

But the series is not without its controversy, as one might expect from a game about killing as many Nazis as you can. The first game was banned in Germany due to its usage of Nazi iconography and in recent years some on the far right have taken issue with the series’ violent answer to fascism and its #NoMoreNazis advertising campaign in 2017.

The main character of most of the games, William Joseph Blazkowicz, or “B.J.” for short, is a Polish-American Jew who acts as a spy and specializes in one-man missions. He’s an ardent antifascist who joins the American resistance against the Axis powers to investigate Nazi activity. The games pull no punches in displaying how B.J. and the developers feel about Nazis — in “Wolfenstein 3D,” B.J. can even assassinate Adolf Hitler himself.

Blazkowicz’s Judaism remains vague in the games themselves, but there were hints sprinkled throughout that implied he was Jewish — the most convincing of which being his ability to read Hebrew. However, according to a statement posted on Kotaku in 2014, developer MachineGames aimed to “leave it up to the player to

interpret” rather than stating that he was Jewish in the game’s text.

Later that year, Blazkowicz’s character designer Tom Hall confirmed on Twitter that he designed Blazkowicz with the intent of him having a Jewish mother who was persecuted in the prewar period. This makes Blazkowicz himself Jewish as well.

OTACON - METAL GEAR SOLID (1998-PRESENT)

Due to the ubiquity of the” Metal Gear Solid” series, Dr. Hal “Otacon” Emmerich is one of the more popular Jewish characters in video games and arguably one of the betterknown cases on this list. Being the closest partner of series protagonist Solid Snake, he plays a major role in the franchise, whether he is assisting Snake in missions or raising a child, Sunny, with him. He is certainly not the toughest or coolest video game character — he’s a nerd and a self-proclaimed “otaku” (fan of anime and other Japanese media), and his introduction is, in a word, embarrassing — but he’s also an incredibly intelligent scientist with a complicated history. Above all else, he is dedicated to doing the right thing.

The nature of his Jewish identity is more apocryphal than other Jewish characters in video games, as it has mainly been alluded to in “Metal Gear Solid” supplementary material, such as him being listed as being American and Jewish in the “Metal Gear Solid Official Mission Handbook.” His father being introduced in a later game in the series complicates things, as his and Otacon’s mother’s Jewish identities are never expanded upon.

Meryl Silverburgh, another character in the “Metal Gear Solid” series who plays the role of Snake’s love interest in the first game, is also theorized to be Jewish by fans due to her surname, though this has never been confirmed by official materials or the games themselves.

Though this particular case of Jewish representation is fairly minor, it is still notable for being one of the first instances of a Jewish character in a Japanese-developed game. A fair amount of Jewish characters appear in westerndeveloped games instead, likely due to the fact that the Jewish population in Japan is very small.

RABBI RUSSELL STONE (AND VARIOUS OTHER CHARACTERS) - THE SHIVAH (2006, 2013)

Published in 2006 by developer Wadjet Eye Games, “The Shivah” is perhaps the most Jewish game ever. It follows the tale of a rabbi struggling with his faith who becomes the suspect in the murder of a former member of his synagogue.

“The Shivah” is a point-and-click adventure game in the style of games like the “Monkey Island” series and “Myst.” Like many of its genre contemporaries, it presents the player with multiple dialogue options that determine the ending they get. Where “The Shivah” differs is that the player cannot directly decide what Rabbi Stone will say next: They can decide his tone, as well as whether they want to give a “Rabbinical response” and answer a question with another question, but exactly what he says is up to him.

The game’s conflict stems from an interfaith marriage

MACHINEGAMES / BETHESDA SOFTWORKS

between two characters. Stone refusing to marry them and casting them out from his synagogue is what eventually leads to one’s murder. As the story progresses, he is forced to come to grips with his own ideals and whether the way he espouses his faith is really the right way to do it.

The sanctity of marriage between Jews is something “The Shivah” creator Dave Gilbert says his mother felt very strongly about and viewing it as a “very Jewish problem to face” led him to include it in the game.

Gilbert made the game in a month after returning from teaching English in South Korea. While he was never particularly religious, he found the experience of being a Jew in a foreign country where the religion is uncommon to be somewhat alienating.

“Whenever the subject came up, it was always ‘Oh, you’re Jewish, I’ve never met someone like you before,’” he recalled. “It was just really strange.

“I made ‘The Shivah’ to reconnect with that Jewish part of myself. … I was just sort of venting questions I had, that I didn’t really have an answer for,” he added.

In the 16 years since the game’s first release, Gilbert admits that he has found inaccuracies in the original game and it is not an exhaustive look at Judaism and the issues that Jews may face in their communities. But these inaccuracies do not change the fact that “The Shivah” comes from a very personal place of reexamining one’s faith and coming to terms with it.

“It exists as this thing I made when I was going through a transition of deciding what I wanted to do with my life,” Gilbert said. “But it just ended up taking off because of its subject matter.”

BRIGID TENENBAUM — BIOSHOCK (2007-PRESENT)

“Bioshock” is a surprising well of Jewish representation. Ken Levine, creator of the series and director of the first game, stated in an interview with GameInformer that “pretty much half the cast” of the first game is Jewish. He listed Andrew Ryan, Sander Cohen, J.S. Steinman and Mariska Lutz as examples. It is worth noting that aside from Mariska, these characters are all villainous in nature and as a result their status as “good” Jewish representation is debatable. Still, the game’s Jewish cast stems from Levine writing of his own religion (though he now identifies as an atheist) and experiences.

The most important non-villainous Jew in the game, though, has to be Dr. Brigid Tenenbaum. She is introduced as a geneticist and the creator of the Little Sisters, young girls who have been genetically modified to collect ADAM, a gene-altering substance, from around the underwater city of Rapture. She eventually comes to see them as her children and is protective of them.

Her story is inextricably tied to her Judaism, as she grew up in Minsk during the Holocaust and became a prisoner in Auschwitz. She only survived because her intelligence was useful to the Nazi doctors who worked there, and they forced her to help them with their experiments or risk death if she refused.

Tenenbaum’s character is complex — she is clearly racked with grief because of what she was forced to do in Auschwitz and what she did to create Little Sisters, and has grown attached to them perhaps as an outlet for that grief. Whether the player chooses to kill Little Sisters they come across or not has a significant effect on the story, with Tenenbaum

assisting protagonist Jack if he spares them. Jack even adopts five little girls at the end of the game if the player has beaten it without killing a single Little Sister.

Tenenbaum — and in a way, her identity as a Jewish woman during the Holocaust — is central to the plot of the Bioshock series. She is one of few characters in the first game who has not given into her instincts and is actively trying to make up for her past behavior.

AVICEBRONFATE/GRAND ORDER (2015)

The plot of the “Fate” series of games is difficult to explain, but the most succinct summary is that they are visual novels about mages who summon the spirits of historical and mythological figures — commonly known as “servants” — to fight each other in hopes of receiving a wish from the legendary Holy Grail. While not the most accessible series to play, as many of its games have never left Japan, it has managed to garner a passionate online fanbase.

“Fate/Grand Order” is the franchise’s mobile entry, and while it contains historically Jewish figures from the Torah such as David and Solomon, the most curious piece of Jewish representation in the game is a figure players are less likely to be familiar with: Avicebron, better known as Solomon ibn Gabriol.

Historically, Solomon ibn Gabriol was one of the most well-known Jewish poets and philosophers. He was born in 1021 or 1022, during an age where Hebrew, which had been a long-dead language, had only recently been revived. As a result, his work in the language garnered him a significant deal of attention. He was also responsible for writing the philosophical work “Fountain of Life,” which inspired the Kabbalists — practitioners of Jewish mysticism.

“Fate” is notorious for bending the truth of the historical figures it features, though, and its depiction of Avicebron focuses primarily on the Kabbalism his teachings inspired. A matter-of-fact, reclusive person, he fights using golems: a reference to the fact that Solomon ibn Gabriol is rumored to have created golems to do his chores. Though a relatively minor character in a game with over 300 characters, he has a fairly complex characterization and is likely how many players found out that ibn Gabriol even existed.

DINA — THE LAST OF US PART II (2020)

Dina may be the most overt case of Jewish representation in an AAA (made by a major publisher and given a higher development and marketing budget, akin to a blockbuster) game. The partner of Ellie, the main character, Dina speaks openly about Judaism and Jewish practices. She wears a bracelet marked with a hamsa, has a chai symbol hanging in her house and notes that her sister would take her to a synagogue to pray.

While her Judaism was never outright stated in game, it was a popular fan theory that was later confirmed by Naughty Dog creative director Neil Druckmann.

“So I was like, ‘Well, it’s rare to see a Jewish character in a video game, and for her to own that,’” he said in a Mashable

article. He also noted during a panel at the E3 video game conference that getting the light to reflect properly on Dina’s frizzy hair, a physical trait shared by many Jews, posed a particular challenge to the development team.

In the zombie-infested, dire and often cruel world of “The Last of Us,” Dina provides Ellie with much-needed comfort and someone to talk with after the death of Joel, her guardian from the first game. The state of their surroundings puts pressure on both her and Ellie, and it is difficult to say if they will find a happy ending together in future games. But Dina still stands out as one of the most visible cases of Jewish representation in gaming: As of June 22, “The Last of Us Part II” has sold 10 million copies on the PS4 alone.

MAIN CHARACTER — UNPACKING (2021)

Indie games have provided a fair amount of minority representation over the past few years. Due to their smaller audience, many are able to address more niche or sensitive topics such as race, gender and religion without the fear of alienating a mass consumer base. This can be seen in popular indies like “Celeste” and its discussion of transgender identity and mental health, and in upcoming titles like dating simulator “ValiDate” and its focus on the reality of pursuing romance as a person of color.

“Unpacking,” a puzzle game by Australian development team Witch Beam, is a curious case in terms of its Jewish representation. By all accounts, the game has no characters who ever appear on screen or even any dialogue. But through the combination of block-fitting and home decoration that make up the gameplay, the player learns about the lives of the nameless homeowners they assist in eight different moves over the course of 21 years.

the items the player is assigned to place or pack — among these are a dreidel, a menorah and mezuzahs to be hung on door frames, implying that the main character is Jewish.

“Unpacking is all about learning about a person from the items they own,” said Wren Brier, the game’s creative director. “We wanted to make the characters feel like real, three-dimensional people so that players could relate to them. One aspect of that is a religious and cultural identity. Our character happens to be an artist, and she happens to be queer, and happens to be Jewish. All of these are important parts of who she is.”

The player never sees the main character, the boyfriend who gives her barely any room to place her things in their apartment or the woman she eventually starts a family with. But through its atmospheric storytelling, it tells a quaint but poignant narrative about a queer Jewish woman leaving her childhood home and finding happiness in a place she can call her own.

“I just want to see more [Jewish representation],” Brier said. “Games rarely feature Jewish characters at all. And I’d like to see a greater variety of Jewish representation in popular media in general. The Jewish experience is diverse: We live all over the world, we come in every skin color and every level of religiosity, from ultra-Orthodox to atheist. It feels like the only Jewish people I see in popular media are white American Jews, usually in New York, or white European Jews during World War II. Those are, of course, valuable perspectives, but I think a lot of other Jewish perspectives are just not represented at all. JN

Johnny Depp is directing a film about Jewish Italian painter Modigliani

ANDREW LAPIN | JTA

Riding a wave of tabloid notoriety after winning his highly publicized defamation lawsuit against ex-wife Amber Heard, Johnny Depp is planning to direct a biopic about a different troubled figure: the Jewish Italian painter Amedeo Modigliani.

The “Pirates of the Caribbean” star is partnering with Oscar-winning actor Al Pacino to produce the film, which will be adapted from the 1979 play “Modigliani” by Dennis McIntyre. It will chronicle the life of the artist whose portraits and sculptures of Parisian women (often in the nude, with elongated faces and limbs) posthumously made him the toast of the art world in the early 20th century.

“The saga of Mr Modigliani’s life is one that I’m incredibly honored, and truly humbled, to bring to the screen,” Depp said in a statement. “It was a life of great hardship, but eventual triumph — a universally human story all viewers can identify with.”

The production was first reported by the Hollywood Reporter. No casting announcements were made yet, but given that the artist died at 35 from tuberculosis, it’s hard to imagine either Depp, 59, or Pacino, 82, would play him.

Born to a Sephardic Jewish family in Livorno in 1884, “Modi” lived a short life marked by constant illness, drug and alcohol abuse and a large number of lovers (including the painter Jeanne Hébuterne, who, eight months pregnant with his child, committed suicide the day after he died). Though he completed hundreds of paintings and sculptures, Modigliani wouldn’t find recognition until years after his death in 1920.

Modigliani very occasionally explored Jewish themes in his art, including in a famous 1908 painting, “The Jewess,” but he was always conscious of his Jewish identity, according to his biographers. That identity was explored in a 2017 exhibit at New York’s Museum of Jewish Heritage.

Depp’s film would be the fourth Modigliani biopic. A 2004 effort starring Andy Garcia was trashed by critics, with The New York Times calling it “catastrophic.”

Along with an already announced role as King Louis XV in an upcoming biopic of the royal mistress Jeanne du Barry, Depp is hoping to use the Modigliani film to mount a Hollywood comeback after a closely scrutinized trial that divided the entertainment industry. During the trial, Heard and her attorneys painted a vivid picture of Depp as a serial abuser, while he and his team aimed to depict her as a manipulative liar. The ugliness of the trial spilled onto social media, where armies of Depp fans (many of whom were later revealed to be bots) mobilized against Heard. The jury ruled all but one count in Depp’s favor and the remaining one in Heard’s; both sides have appealed the case. JN

Jillian Diamond is the staff writer at Baltimore Jewish Times – a Jewish News-affiliated publication.

Italian painter and sculptor Amedeo Modigliani is pictured at his workshop in Paris, circa 1918. COURTESY OF APIC/GETTY IMAGES

The game’s primary narrative is communicated through

HERO.FANDOM.COM/WIKI/DINA

The Trump wars

Former President Donald Trump is facing a wave of civil and criminal investigations. The American people are not accustomed to such probing, public inquiries of the business and political dealings of their former presidents. Yet, in light of the almost daily drumbeat of allegations and taunting between proponents and opponents of Trump in connection with every aspect of his personal, business and political life, the fact of these investigations is no surprise. And it is similarly not surprising to read daily dueling narratives regarding the merits of one or another aspect of the investigations.

Those pursuing the investigations face a daunting reality. In today’s toxic, hyper-partisan political environment — where hyperbole reigns and allegations of overreach and political motivation substitute for rational engagement and discussion — nothing they do will be accepted at face value. As such, the pressure on investigators and law enforcement is intense, and they need to exercise enormous care in all aspect of their activities.

In each case, Trump is entitled to the same rights guaranteed to every American: the right to due process, the

right to protection from illegal search and seizure, the right to protection from self-incrimination and the presumption of innocence. But also like every American, Trump is not entitled to declare himself exempt from the legal process.

In New York, Trump is being investigated for his business practices. In Georgia, the inquiry focuses on efforts to overturn his loss in that state in the 2020 presidential election. And, of course, there are multi-pronged investigations into the Jan. 6 riots in the Capitol. The House’s Jan. 6 Select Committee’s investigation has been intense and far-reaching. And the Department of Justice is also carrying out a criminal probe of the Jan. 6 riots, including issues relating to Trump’s involvement. Finally, press reports indicate that there

are other governmental inquiries regarding other aspects of Trump’s actions while in office and immediately thereafter.

On Aug. 8, FBI agents executed a search warrant at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence and removed about a dozen boxes. Reports indicate that the seized documents had been improperly removed from the White House and not returned after several government requests. Trump himself and his army of supporters offer an entirely different narrative on those actions. And on Aug. 11, at a deposition conducted by New York’s attorney general, Trump refused to answer questions about his business dealings, citing his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

Each of these processes should continue. And they will. But unfortunately, every

Israel continues cultivation of regional interests

Israel’s brief air campaign against Islamic Jihad in Gaza, called Operation “Alot Hashacher” (Breaking Dawn) in Hebrew ended in a ceasefire brokered by Egypt. By now, the outbursts of violence along the Gaza border are nearly routine. This event lasted three days. We hope the ceasefire holds. ersonal, business and political life, the fact of these investigations is no surprise. And it is similarly not surprising to read daily dueling narratives regarding the merits of one or another aspect of the investigations.

But even as Israel reacts to terror threats and focuses on safety and security concerns, its government continues efforts to establish a mutually beneficial coexistence with neighbors with whom it has a longstanding cold peace or no peace at all. The impetus for some of the efforts may come from the success of the Abraham Accords, or not. It doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that we are seeing evidence of increasing improvement in relations with Israel’s near neighbors. And that’s good news.

In a recent meeting in Amman between Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid and Jordan’s King Abdullah II, the leaders discussed a number of joint ventures, including in desalination, energy, food security, transportation and tourism. Significantly, the Jordanian statement on the meeting mentioned a discussion of the Palestinians and the two-state solution. The Israeli statement did not.

Israel and Jordan signed a peace treaty in 1994. The temperature of that peace has been largely driven by the state of Israeli-Palestinian relations. A majority of Jordan’s 10 million people are Palestinian. Any warming of relations between Israel and Jordan, even by baby steps, helps efforts toward a broader Mideast peace.

There is also cause for optimism in the negotiations with Israel’s northern neighbor, Lebanon, over their maritime border dispute. The United States is pushing both countries, which are technically at war, to resolve their boundary dispute relating to offshore gas fields. Reports indicate that those

talks have made significant progress. While an agreement will not likely lead to an embrace between Israel and the Shiite militant group Hezbollah — the country’s largest power center and a vassal of its sponsors in Iran — the fact that any agreement could be reached between the parties is significant.

But we aren’t fooling ourselves. The impending agreement with Lebanon is not a peace agreement. It is a business agreement designed to address the dispute concerning a potentially gas-rich 330-square-mile area of the Mediterranean Sea where a major Israeli gas project is set to come online this fall.

We are encouraged by these developments, just as we are encouraged by Israel’s closer ties with Egypt, improved relations with Turkey, recognition of Israel by the Kingdom of Bhutan and other international outreach by the Jewish state. All of this adds up to an Israel that is more secure and more fully integrated into the world community. And that is a good thing. JN

A NOTE ON OPINION

step taken by either side will continue to be scrutinized, criticized and characterized by warring spinmeisters, with an eye toward scoring political points or achieving a political result rather than a legitimate, legal one. And that is unfortunate, even if inevitable.

We are in for a noisy, messy and raucous process. Buckle up for a bumpy ride. Ignore the noise. Ignore the claims of righteousness. Ignore the claims of targeting or victimization. Let the legal process play itself out and insist that both sides play by the rules. There is a lot riding on the results of each of the investigations. But there is even more riding on how both sides go about doing their work. We demand that it be done properly and with dignity. JN

To The Editor

While this was overall a helpful, informative article (“Myth Busting: Do seniors need to hydrate differently?” Aug. 5, 2022), I have one concern about it. As a 61-yearold naturopathic physician and a yearlong hiker in the Valley, even during the summer months, I think it is very important to correctly disseminate information about electrolytes. Medically, electrolytes consist of potassium, sodium and chloride, and it’s important to ensure that all three electrolytes are ingested during the heat and specifically while sweating a lot (or having a problem with diarrhea and/or vomiting).

The listed beverages in the article — coconut water, ginger, watermelon, salted broth or a sports drink mixed with water — are not the best options for electrolyte replacement. None of them contain all three electrolytes, one has none of them, and salted broth may indeed lead to too much salt ingestion for seniors for whom that may not be healthy or safe.

I have found this product to be the best for electrolytes: LoSalt Original salt substitute, which one can easily buy on Amazon. It is very inexpensive. One quarter teaspoon contains 470 mg of potassium chloride and 150 mg of sodium chloride — all three electrolytes in a very good ratio. I put one teaspoon in my two-liter CamelBak water container when I go hiking.

Thank you for the helpful, health-related articles in Jewish News.

Dr. Mona Morstein, Mesa

Jewish News are those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the officers and boards of the Jewish Community Foundation, Center for Jewish Philanthropy, Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, 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 editor published in the

IGNORE THE NOISE. IGNORE THE CLAIMS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. IGNORE THE CLAIMS OF TARGETING OR VICTIMIZATION. LET THE LEGAL PROCESS PLAY ITSELF OUT AND INSIST THAT BOTH SIDES PLAY BY THE RULES.

White supremacist in AZ politics

TONY ZINMAN

t is crucial that the Arizona Jewish community strongly stand up to the white supremacists and antisemites that are now openly infiltrating the politics of Arizona.

In the 80s and 90s, antisemites and white supremacists were on the fringe of society. The Aryan Nations’ Idaho compounds and David Dukes seemed far away and were not (at least outwardly) friends and neighbors.

However, in 2022, white supremacists and antisemites have gone open and mainstream and there is now a bona fide white supremacist GOP secretary of state general election candidate who says he is honored to have the support of a vocal antisemite.

Mark Finchem, GOP secretary of state candidate, said on social media he is honored to have the endorsement of Andrew Torba. Torba stated Jews are not welcome on his media platform Gab, and they should be exiled from the conservative movement altogether. Gab happens to be a haven for Neo Nazis, white supremacists and other extremists.

Finchem is also affiliated with the Oath Keepers, QAnon and white supremacist Matt Shea. Finchem was also on the steps during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection taking pics and tweeting in support.

It is particularly important that the Arizona Jewish community’s leadership take a strong stand against Finchem’s candidacy. This new modern Gab strain of white supremacy that Finchem represents has been bad for the Jews. The Pittsburgh synagogue shooter in 2018 had antisemitic postings on Gab. A white nationalist who was convicted of crimes at the deadly 2017 Charlottesville “Unite the Right” rally (where the chant was “Jews will not replace us”) also had a page on Gab.

Unfortunately, one of the Tucson Jewish community leaders, Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona co-chair Bruce Ash, recently gave Finchem a platform on his podcast. Ash was a national committeeman for the Republican Party during the Trump presidency and has a history of incendiary acts. In 2010, he questioned the Jewishness of Congresswomen Gabby Giffords. In 2013, he made the racist comment that President Obama was “shucking and jiving” on Obamacare. When the Dobbs decision came down in June, Ash wrote on his Facebook page that “Life is affirmed, the Constitution is preserved” which is

Is AIPAC supporting America?

MICHAEL SEIDEN

y wife and I support Israel through several organizations and realize that AIPAC is an important and powerful lobbying force in support of Israel’s defense. However, while we continue to receive mailings from AIPAC we cannot bring ourselves to join that organization. We feel that AIPAC endorses and supports politicians and candidates through their new PAC and Super Pac who, while they may support Israel, are not working towards improving the lives of Americans.

An article by Ken Toltz which appeared in the Forward and the Northern California Jewish News stated,

“In the midst of the highly charged postJan. 6 atmosphere, AIPAC’s endorsements of over 100 Republican election deniers have publicly associated AIPAC with the insurrection and criminal conspiracy to keep Trump in office just last year. Who can honestly argue that this strengthens

the U. S. Israel relationship?”

MWe are proud and thankful to be Jewish Americans. America is our home country and we will always strive to make it a better place for all of our people, Jews and nonJews. Why then support politicians who are engaging in acts that divide and create rifts among our citizens? AIPAC’s appeals cite the constant terrorism and animosity

down in our country and some of our politicians are actively working against measures that would lessen these terrible events. Is a politician’s support for Israel while working against measures to protect American lives a reasonable political approach? We are at a frightening crossroads in our life. It has become clear that there is a neo-fascist movement

that Israel is subject to. We agree that we must support Israel with the resources to stop these attacks, not only with weapons but with diplomatic means and funding to support Israeli human services, universities and medical facilities.

However, at the same time, our nation’s children, Black church goers, worshipping Jews, Asians and others are being gunned

going on in our country. Whether it is called Trumpism, white supremacy or Christian Nationalism, one can imagine this movement having similar parallels to what went on prior to World War II. AIPAC supporting politicians who participate in this movement or who, at least, accept it, is unimaginable! Yes, Israel is the Jewish homeland. It is,

or should be, a haven for Jews who are being persecuted throughout the world. Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East and a strong American ally. It has done an incredible job in developing its human, financial and technological resources and deserves our support. However, we believe that Israeli political issues need to be resolved by Israelis. We can provide input but, just as Israelis can have their own views and disagreements about their government’s policies so can American Jews and our political representatives. Disagreements over Israeli political issues by American politicians who support Israel should not disqualify them from receiving support from AIPAC. AIPAC has been forthright in stating that support for Israel is the only criteria for supporting those running for office. The organization needs to review their policies and support American politicians who support, not only Israel, but America as well.

finance and philanthropy committees.

Michael Seiden is a retired executive, past board member of Jewish Free Loan and past board chair of Jewish Family & Children’s Service, where he continues to serve on the

WHETHER IT IS CALLED TRUMPISM, WHITE SUPREMACY OR CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM … AIPAC SUPPORTING POLITICIANS WHO PARTICIPATE IN THIS MOVEMENT OR WHO, AT LEAST, ACCEPT IT, IS UNIMAGINABLE!

Neo-Nazis marched on to the Phoenix Federal Building in 2010.

COURTESY JOHN KITTELSRUD/FLICKR

What’s the difference?!

RABBI MOSHE LEVERTOV

ave you ever tried to make big changes in your life? You might have met someone special whose story inspired you to live life differently. A major event could have affected you or you might have been changed by something you experienced or learned.

These don’t happen often.

Have you noticed that most people aren’t inspired to do so on a whim?

Inspiration often hits quickly and leaves and disappears even quicker.

A couple of weeks ago, I bent down to pick something up and felt excruciating pain in my lower back. My family and I had just returned from our summer travels and we were just settling back into our home. Wanting to get back to the normal flow of life, I ignored the pain and pushed through it.

Motrin and a back brace weren’t cutting it, though. After a couple days and still in pain, I knew that something different

Hneeded to be done. After a few visits to Dr. G, our family friend and chiropractor, I was good as new.

This was the second time in about a year that I had pinched a nerve in my lower back. It was a wake-up call to me; I knew that I need to be proactive with regards to my spine and back health to avoid problems in the future.

But a few days later, feeling fine, my habits hadn’t changed. I know I should, but I still haven’t started doing the proper back exercises that my back can use.

I know what I should be doing but it’s not easy to change!

There’s a time each year that, for us Jews, inspires change. The High Holidays are a time to (re)connect with G-d. We go to shul, pray and listen to motivating sermons.

We truly desire to be better, do better and live better but it’s not easy to catch “the lightning in a bottle” and make changes to our daily lives and established routines.

Fortunately, we have the month of Elul.

Elul is like the pre-season. Before a

Hashanah: September 26 & 27

season of competition, athletes need to work their way into “game shape.” Without putting in the preparation, they won’t be able to play the game properly.

G-d practices, too.

Each year, He sits on His throne in royal robes and shines His countenance upon the world on Rosh Hashanah, looking at each and every one of us while he decides what blessings to give us in the year ahead.

And for the month before that he “practices.” During the month of Elul, he puts on his “royal clothes,” too. Kabbalah teaches that He shines his mercy and love upon us, encouraging us and offering the chance to connect with him.

It’s a great time for us to practice, too!

No, I’m not asking you to spend hours upon hours in synagogue each day for a full month. I don’t want to deliver a sermon for 30 days straight either!

But Elul is the perfect time to reflect on our lives. We don’t need to cram the inspiration and actual change in the few moments that we spend in synagogue on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. We have the whole month to

become comfortable with it and accept it gradually. We have a whole month to take upon ourselves small changes that will greatly uplift our lives.

So let’s ask ourselves: Where do I stand in my relationships with family, friends and fellow human beings? What can I do to become a better person and mensch? Can I see myself improving my connection with G-d? Is there an area in my lif

Let’s not wait for something drastic to happen that forces radical change on us. In just a few short days, the most opportune season will present itself. Let’s get a head start!

Imagine what a difference that’ll make! JN

The High Holidays are made for tradition. This year we reflect on the past, gather in-person and begin the journey of moving forward into a sweet new year. Reach engaged, a luent and educated Jewish readers in the Valley with strong buying power to wish the community Happy New Year and also to promote your products and services.

Rabbi Moshe Levertov directs the Jewish Care Network in Phoenix.

multiple offers within a matter of days? Bidding wars between desperate buyers? Inspection and appraisal waiver nonsense? Remember that frenzy? Well, haven’t times changed! We’re witnessing a complete 180-degree shift in the housing market due to the stark rise of interest rates and inflation. We now find ourselves in a market where buyers have the upper hand — listings are sitting longer on the market, prices are dropping and concessions are being given — yes, that’s right, seller concessions are back! To circle back to the phrases above, the moment you have been waiting for is now. And if you’re still waiting for the perfect storm, consider the cost of waiting.

Let’s begin by breaking down the interest rate scare. Yes, interest rates have increased rapidly; however, when looking at interest rates over the past 30 years, we are still under the national average of 7.78%. As Sun Tzu wrote in “The Art of War,” “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” In our case, the enemy is the interest rate. It’s advantageous to know your worst enemy. When you lock in your interest rate, you are familiarizing yourself with the worst possible outcome and are guarding yourself against increased rates as you are no longer at the mercy of the market. It can only get better from here — with the option of refinancing to lower your rate. Worst case scenario, you’re stuck with the rate you locked in at, best case scenario, you take advantage of the market and refinance. Just remember, you can’t refinance what you don’t own.

Working off the same premise of knowing your enemy (your rate), you also get to know your monthly payment or enemy “number two” — a luxury that is not available

to our fellow renters. An even more beneficial luxury that our fellow renters cannot attain is appreciation. According to economists, the anticipated national appreciation projection for the next three years is 3-5%. As homeowners look forward to the future knowing their monthly payment, building equity and paying down principal, renters, on the other hand, are at the expense of the rental market. Rent is not a fixed component like a mortgage payment. Renters don’t know what their monthly payments will be over the course of time, and instead of building their wealth, they are building their landlord’s wealth. Renters pay more over time due to the variability of the rental market. Talk about fear — I’d rather know my worst enemy and build wealth, than be subject to the uncontrollable.

In case there are still lingering thoughts of holding out for the perfect moment, let’s address probably the most significant factor of why waiting for your perfect storm can cost you big bucks — Arizona’s rapid growth. Arizona has been growing at record speed with many new companies coming to the Greater Phoenix area and creating jobs for thousands of new workers. We’re expected to continue growing exponentially as more people move here and Arizona, specifically Maricopa County, is becoming the country’s hot spot. According to the United States Census Bureau, Maricopa County added more new residents than any other county in the nation last year, with an average of 160 people moving here per day!

When we look at the most populated cities across the United States, something interesting happens. Although Phoenix is ranked number five, it is the only city of the top five most populated American cities that is seeing growth — while the remaining four are all experiencing losses.

When comparing states as a whole, Arizona ranks number three for population increase, falling behind Texas and Florida with an average of 269 people moving per day.

The takeaway? There’s fear and then there’s making an educated decision. When you know what you’re up against, have control over the outcome and are aware of the external factors, you’re in a position to win and are set yourself up for success. You might be waiting forever if you’re waiting for your perfect storm — low interest rates, dirt cheap prices, abundant supply, no competition, etc. Luckily, a perfectly good monsoon is occurring in the housing market just waiting for you to put the fear aside and win this battle. JN

Ophir Gross is a realtor with Coldwell Banker Realty and has a combined skillset of business strategy and consumer psychology. She is a member of NowGen Phoenix, attends Congregation Beth Tefillah and began her roots in the community at the Phoenix Hebrew Academy and, formerly, Jess Schwartz High School. She can be reached at ophir.gross@cbrealty.com or 480-794-0807.

Ophir Gross COURTESY OF OPHIR GROSS

ROSIE ROMERO, JR

Looking to hire a contractor to paint your house, fix your roof or renovate your kitchen?

There are plenty of contractors to choose from, but you want to choose a good one, so be sure you do your homework. Before hiring a contractor, be sure they are licensed by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, which requires contractors to be insured and bonded. Read the “How to Choose a Contractor” guide at RosieOnTheHouse.com.

After you have checked out their license and references and discussed the project, the plan needs to be put in writing — a bid or contract that you can understand before you sign it. Take the time to work through the contract and ask the right questions before you sign. Here are some of the basics you should know about bids and contracts:

DATES, AMOUNTS AND DETAILS

Your bid or contract needs to have dates, a fixed total that you will be charged and lots of details about what will be done at your house — and what will not.

If you’re paying for a really big job — like a kitchen remodel — have the contractor specify major exclusions; in other words, what will not happen. For example, you probably considered many countertop, backsplash and flooring options. Final selections should be detailed in the final contract. If something was eliminated, like a fullheight backsplash and under-cabinet lighting to reduce total cost, this should all be documented exhaustively to eliminate anxiety and confusion in the middle of the project. That language will alert you in advance to possible changes you want to make but had not thought about much before. Other details you need that you may not have thought about include when the remodelers will clean up after work — every day or once a week — and what the big final clean-up will be like. Will they just pick up their drop cloths and walk away or will they vacuum or clean the floor and the countertops?

FIXED-PRICE CONTRACTS ARE BEST

Generally, you want a fixed-price contract instead of a cost-plus contract and that’s what most contractors will propose — especially for small jobs.

Fixed price means the contractor gives you an estimate of the total cost, including labor, materials, profit and contingencies. If expenses are higher for some reason, like an increase in workers’ salaries or the price of paint, the contractor picks up the difference.

Cost-plus means the contract includes all the basic numbers we listed above, but if the project comes in under budget, the homeowner and contractor may split the savings. If it’s over budget, the owner will be charged in all likelihood. Usually, these types of contracts are only written for really big jobs. In our experience, more disputes break out over cost-plus arrangements than fixed-price contracts. Homeowners may get worried when workers don’t work as quickly as they expect them to because they think the job is going over budget.

DON’T SIGN FOR MAJOR EXPENSE ALLOWANCES

Never sign a remodeling contract that has product and material allowances for major expenses.

Allowances occur when a contractor says he’ll redo your kitchen for $40,000 and will allow $12,000 for the cabinets, $2,000 for the stove and similar allowances for other necessities, like countertops, a sink, faucets and

such. Then you shop for cabinets and find out you need to spend at least $5,000 more to get what you want. Perhaps the allowances weren’t realistic, but the contractor has already demolished your old kitchen and now you have to pay more than the original estimate. You can avoid all this by shopping in advance and having your choices written into the contract.

DON’T START UNTIL ALL MATERIALS ARRIVE

In fact, don’t start the demo before all materials for a job arrive. Many suppliers are struggling with inventory causing remodeling jobs to take too long or stop temporarily. This can leave homeowners waiting with no kitchen or short one bathroom because of a single missing component.

UNFORESEEN CONDITIONS CLAUSES ARE COMMON

Even with a fixed price, the contract will have an

Perform your due diligence before hiring a remodeling contractor. Always make sure they are licensed by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors.

Weinstein Broker Associate

“unforeseen conditions” clause. So, if something happens that could not have been expected before work started, the client may have to pay for an extra fix to complete the job. That might seem like overly generous protection for the contractor, but it’s likely to be something no one could have expected, like broken pipes behind walls or termite infestation. Sometimes contractors can fix these problems without additional time or money, but sometimes they can’t.

NEGOTIATE THE ESTIMATE

Negotiate with contractors about the job’s estimate. Sometimes they can lower the price, but sometimes they will say, “Let’s look at the selections you made and see how we can save money.” You might take on a part of the job yourself, like the demolition or painting, or you may lower the quality of the cabinets you want.

HAVE A COMFORTABLE PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Make sure the contract outlines a payment schedule you’re comfortable with and don’t pay for everything in advance. You usually make an initial payment when you sign the contract. After that, it’s good to pay gradually — what some people call progress payments or draws. You pay a certain amount when the demo is completed; more money when flooring is laid; more when cabinets are installed; more when countertops go on. That way, you can slow down payments if the job falls behind schedule.

DON’T PAY IN FULL UNTIL THE CITY/ COUNTY INSPECTOR SIGNS OFF

And don’t pay the final amount until you have full use of the remodeled area and until the city or county building inspector signs off on the job. What if the job is done,

but you’re waiting for a $1,500 faucet on back-order? Perhaps the remodeler installed a cheap $100 faucet as a temporary fix. But you still don’t make a final payment. Instead, take the value of the product you’re waiting for, multiply it times two and subtract the total from your check. Until you get that faucet, you hang onto the contractor’s last $3,000.

4.871% APR* 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Get more cash out of your home

P u l l e q u i t y o u t o f y o u r h o m e ' s v a l u e

P a y o f f d e b t , m a k e h o m e i m

A P P L Y O N L I N E

S c a n Q R c o d e o r v i s i t u s o n l i n e : w w w . b a r r e t t f i n a n c i a l . c o m

Even if you take all these steps, you’re likely to run into a glitch now and then. But with the right contractor, you can work through the problems and take great pleasure in the final improvements made in your home. JN

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

B a r r e t t F i n a n c i a l G r o u p , L L C ; N M L S # 1 8 1 1 0 6 ; * T h e p r i n c i p a l a n d i n t e r e s t p a y m e n t o n a $ 3 5 0 , 0 0 0 3 0 - y e a r f i x e d - r a t e r e f i n a n c e b a s e d o n a 7 4 0 F I C O a t 4 6 2 5 % a n d 8 0 % l o a n - t o - v a l u e ( L T V ) i s $ 1 , 7 9 9 4 9 P a y m e n t b a s e d o n 3 6 0 m o n t h l y p a y m e n t s T h e A n n u a l P e r c e n t a g e R a t e ( A P R ) i s 4 8 7 1 % T h e A P R i s c a l c u l a t e d u s i n g t h e A c t u a r i a l M e t h o d T h e p r i n c i p a l a n d i n t e r e s t p a y m e n t d o e s n o t i n c l u d e t a x e s a n d h o m e i n s u r a n c e p r e m i u m s , w h i c h w i l l r e s u l t i n a h i g h e r a c t u a l m o n t h l y p a y m e n t R a t e s a r e c u r r e n t a s o f 7 / 2 6 / 2 0 2 2 R a t e s a n d T e r m s a r e s u b j e c t t o c h a n g e b a s e d o n m a r k e t c o n d i t i o n s a n d b o r r o w e r e l i g i b i l i t y N m l s c o n s u m e r a c c e s s o r g / e n t i t y d e t a i l s a s

Read every line of the remodeling contract first before signing it. Ask questions if you don’t understand the contract’s terminology and schedule. COURTESY OF SHUTTERSTOCK

Featured Event

Featured Event

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 7

Holocaust Education Lecture Series: 6-9 p.m.

Join Chabad of the East Valley for a presentation at Chandler Center for the Arts, 250 N. Arizona Ave., Chandler by Holocaust survivor Ben Lesser, “Living A Life That Matters from Nazi Nightmare to American Dream!” Learn how this ordinary, young Jewish teenager from Krakow, Poland, survived through extraordinary times living in ghettos, enduring four concentrations camps — including Auschwitz, Buchenwald and Dachau — two death marches and two death trains. At age 18 — penniless, uneducated and unable to speak English — he made his way to the USA and succeeded in living the American Dream. Cost for students: $12; general seating before Aug. 25: $18; general seating at the door: $25; premium seating: $36. For more information, visit chabadcenter.com/ben.

Events

SATURDAY, AUG. 20

August Kids Night Out at The J: 6-10 p.m. Join the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale for a themed kids night out with games, a movie, pizza dinner and more. For more information, visit vosjcc.org.

SUNDAY, AUG. 21

Mega Challah Bake 4Kids: 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Join the Friendship Circle at ChabadLubavitch of Arizona, 2110 E. Lincoln Dr., Phoenix for a program of challah-baking, entertainment and community in support of breast cancer awareness. Space is limited. Seating is on a first-come, firstserve basis. For more information, visit fcaz.org.

CTeen Kickoff at TopGolf: 7-9 p.m. Join CTeen at TopGolf, 9500 Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale for food along with games as you meet new Jewish high schoolers from around the Greater Phoenix area. Cost: $10 per teen. For more information, visit teenphoenix.com/events/golf.

THURSDAY, AUG. 25

Arizona Jewish Historical Society with Mark Sendrow: 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Join JFCS Center for Senior Enrichment & Creative Aging for a virtual presentation featuring the film “Tango Shalom” and a discussion afterward. For more information, visit jfcsaz.org.

SUNDAY, AUG. 28

PJ Library & PJ Our Way Book Swap: 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Join PJ Library and PJ Our Way at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale for a book swap. Bring your gently used PJ Library books to swap, no other books please, For more information, contact Marcy Lewis at mlewis@phoenixcjp.org.

Light Up Your Home, Light Up Your Life: 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Join East Valley Jewish Community Center, 908 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler for a sister-to-sister brunch presented by Project Inspire Arizona. The program features a complimentary dairy brunch and guest speakers Sunny Levi, a champion marital arts Taekwondo master and Vera Kessler, host of the “America’s Top Rebbetzins” podcast. Free, registration required. Space is limited. For more information, visit evjcc.org/event/inspire/.

Meet the Author: Living Among the Dead by Adena Bernstein Astrowsky: 3-4:30 p.m. Join the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale for an author presentation in partnership with 3GAZ and the Phoenix Holocaust Association. For more information, visit vosjcc.org.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 16

Wine & Cheese Open House: 6:30-7:30 p.m. Join Beth Ami Temple, 3535 E. Lincoln Dr., Paradise Valley for an opportunity to meet Rabbi Allison Lawton and Cantorial Soloist Michael Robbins and mingle with current members and other guests while learning more about the congregation’s High Holiday and Shabbat services. For more information, visit bethamitemple.org.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 18

Sweets and Klezmer Music for the New Year: 6:30-8 p.m. Join East Valley Jewish Community Center, 908 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler for live music by Odessa along with wine and nosh and desserts by Chef Melinda. Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Reservations required by Sept. 12. Cost: $15. For more information, visit evjcc.org/event/sweets/.

MONDAYS

Mahjong: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Join the East Valley Jewish Community Center, 908 N. Alma School Rd., Chandler in-person 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.

THURSDAYS

Storytime at Modern Milk: 9:30 a.m. Join Modern Milk, 3802 N. Scottsdale Rd, #163, Scottsdale for an in-person storytime for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. 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

Outdoor Public Market: 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Join The Thumb, 9393 E. Bell Rd., Scottsdale for an outdoor public market, vendors will sell pasta, baked goods, vegan pies, glutenfree cookies, popsicles, kombucha, honey, salsas, hummus, cold-press juices, dog treats and more. For more information, visit thethumb.com.

BAGELS: 9-11 a.m. Join the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 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 vosjcc.org.

Meetings, Lectures & Classes

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. Tune in at: JewishParadiseValley.com/ class. 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.

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.

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.

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: 11:00 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 PM. 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 transfor mational 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,

COURTESY OF CHABAD OF THE EAST VALLEY

CALENDAR

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.

Jewish Baby University for Expectant

Parents: 6:30-9 p.m. Join the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix for this six-week preparation for childbirth along with Jewish parenting class beginning Sept. 1. For more information, visit bjephoenix.org.

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.

Middle Eastern Percussion - Beginner Level: 12:45-1:45 p.m. Join One World Dance and Music Studio, 3312 N. Third St., Phoenix to learn the fundamentals of Middle Eastern rhythms on tabla/doubek (drum), riq (tambourine) and zills (finger cymbals). Cost: $20 per class. For more information, visit oneworlddanceandmusic.com.

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: 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 480951-0323 or at ggilmartin@cbiaz.org.

In-person services: Temple Chai is holding Friday evening (5:30 p.m. Nosh, 6:16 p.m. sevice) and Shabbat morning (varying dates and times). For more information, contact Sheana Abrams at (602) 971-1234 or sabrams@templechai.com.

In-person services: Congregation Or Tzion is holding Friday evening (6:00 p.m) and Shabbat morning (9:30 a.m.) services indoors. Services are also live streamed at otaz.org/livestream. For more information about services, events and membership, visit congregationortzion.org or call 480-342-8858.

Baby & Me Shabbat: 9:30 a.m. on the first Friday of the month. Join the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix for this free program for parents and their little ones to welcome Shabbat. For more information, visit bjephoenix.org.

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.

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.

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.

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

SEE CALENDAR, PAGE 23

Upcoming Special Sections

Senior Lifestyle

September 9

From home health aides to financial planners to nursing homes, this is the perfect venue to show how your business can help our readers find the resources they need.

High Holidays

September 9, 16, 23

From home health aides to financial planners to nursing homes, this is the perfect venue to show how your business can help our readers find the resources they need. Ask

September

Fun in Florida

COURTESY OF DANIELLE GROSS

Legacy of learning

Pardes Jewish Day School teacher Jennifer Traulsen taught Jessie Rubenstein in the third grade. Now, she is teaching Rubenstein’s daughter Helena in second grade. From left, Jessie, Helena and Jennifer.

COURTESY OF RABBI BONNIE KOPPELL

Birthday smiles

Gloria Widelock celebrated her 95th birthday with Smile on Seniors and Rabbi Levi Levertov. COURTESY OF SMILE ON

Pool party

Participants had fun in the pool at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center during Gesher Disability Resources’ annual pool party.

COURTESY OF GESHER DISABILITY RESOURCES

Go team!

Team Phoenix had 15 teens representing seven different sports at the 2022 JCC Maccabi Games in San Diego. COURTESY OF THE J

Danielle Breslow Gross and Harrison Abramowitz in West Palm Beach, Fla. participating in the National Young Leadership Cabinet Retreat.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 21

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 602343-0192 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 problem-solving 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.

TUESDAYS

Zumba Gold with Adriana Padilla: 9:3010:15 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: 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 602343-0192 with questions. JN

In Memoriam

Best Parents Ever! MORRIE and BEVERLY BIKOFF

MILESTONES

BAR MITZVAH

SPENCER GOLDBERG

Spencer Goldberg will become a bar mitzvah on Sept. 10, 2022 at Temple Solel.

He is the son of Rebecca and Adam Goldberg of Phoenix.

Grandparents are Jessica and Paul Papoff of Phoenix; Ellyne Goldberg of Phoenix and the late Sol Goldberg. Great-grandmother is Lillian Spier of Nyack, N.Y.

For his mitzvah project, Spencer joined boys team charity (btc), which is a volunteer service group. He spent his time over the summer serving various local philanthropic organizations and he plans to continue volunteering with btc throughout the year.

A student at Phoenix Country Day School, Spencer enjoys playing basketball, golf, video games with friends and hanging out with his family and new puppy, Wrigley.

OBITUARY

ERIC LEVINSON

Eric Levinson of Phoenix died Aug. 2, 2022. He was 78 and was born in Montreal, Canada. Eric is survived by his wife, Carla; daughters Jennifer of Gilbert and Lisa of Phoenix; son, Neil of Glendale; brothers Sam and Harvey, both of Montreal, Canada; and two grandchildren. Services were held at Mt. Sinai Cemetery on Aug. 7, 2022, officiated by Rabbi Andy Green and arranged by Sinai Mortuary of Arizona.

Donations in his name can be made to Liberty Wildlife, 2600 E. Elwood St., Phoenix, AZ 85040. JN

It’s with a heavy heart and great sadness to share the passing of DR. JULES ROSSMAN on July 31, 2022. Jules was born in Bronx, N.Y., July 15, 1927. He attended Yeshiva and Erasmus High School in Brooklyn. Jules enlisted in the Navy as a pharmacist’s mate and proudly served his country in WWII. He was stationed in Guam with his pet monkey, Clarence. After an honorable discharge, Jules enrolled at NYU. He graduated with a degree in philosophy. After some time in the corporate world, Jules continued his educational journey at Michigan State University where he obtained his master’s and doctorate degree in communications. Jules was a beloved professor at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Mich. for 27 years. His latest cat, Kali, was named after that city. He was passionate about teaching and was adored by his students. Dr. Rossman was a faculty advisor for WIDR radio station for many years. The Jules Rossman Scholarship Fund is named in his honor.

The next chapter for Jules was relocating to Scottsdale to be closer to his family. Jules immersed himself in the Jewish community. He was a founding member and on the board of the Phoenix Jewish Film Festival and served on the board of Temple Chai. He was a member of the Arizona Interfaith Movement. Jules enjoyed his second bar mitzvah with his youngest grandson, Adam. He was a prolific writer and in his 80s and 90s wrote his autobiography, several short stories and recently completed a historical novel.

Jules had too many friends to count. Everyone he came in contact with adored him. Friends were like family to him.

Travel and family is something that brought a smile to Jules’ face. He traveled throughout the world visiting friends in England, Wales, Scotland and the island of Jersey. He was happily married to his wife, Renee, for 60 years. Jules was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Anna Rossman, sister Millicent Roth and grandson Garrett Ziff. He is survived by Renee; his two daughters Sheryl (Allan) Lehmann and Michelle (Scott) Ziff; grandchildren Jordan and Adam (Taylor) Ziff and Zachary and Joshua Lehmann in addition to many nieces, nephews and cousins. The family requests no flowers. Donations in Jules’ honor can be made to the Jules Rossman Scholarship Fund at Western Michigan University (wmich.edu/communication/giving/scholarshipgifts), Arizona Interfaith Movement (interfaithmovement.com) or the charity of your choice.

Surrounded by her family, Marcia Lois (Paper) Perlmutter peacefully passed away at home on August 1, 2022.

Marcia was born January 31, 1939, in Washington D.C. It was there she met ‘aspiring’ CPA Borah Perlmutter, who after passing his exam, she married in 1959, enjoying 63 years of love, adventure and laughter. Both had grown up in the D.C. area, so they initially made their home in Silver Spring, MD, surrounded by their large extended families.

Marcia graduated from American University with a degree in mathematics. A dedicated educator her entire life, Marcia made a huge impact on many of her students, several of whom remained in contact, seeking her input and advice throughout their lives.

Marcia taught Jr. High School Algebra until becoming a full-time mom in 1964. A loving and devoted mom, Marcia was a popular ‘room mother’ throwing the most creative class birthdays and holiday parties. The family relied on her exceptional bar/bat mitzvah ‘candle lighting poetry skills’ and was counted on to whip up a meaningful and fun performance piece for someone’s special event.

After relocating to southern California and the girls had grown, Marcia returned to full time teaching at Sierra Canyon Middle School from 1985–1999. Upon retirement, she was honored with an award from Johns Hopkins University for exemplary work in the field of education. Retiring to Arizona, Marcia and Borah continued an active life. Marcia was proud to be involved in the Sagewood Scholarship Fund, providing college scholarships for Sagewood employees and their dependents. She enjoyed traveling the world with Borah, but always made sure family remained their top priority, attending every simcha no matter what. Marcia’s vitality and energy for life was an inspiring force to those around her. A great teacher, friend, aunt, cousin, sister, mom and wife, who could always be counted on to make you laugh, share her wisdom, support your victories, or hold you while you cried.

Marcia is survived by husband, Borah Perlmutter of Phoenix; daughters Joyce Perlmutter (Derek) Hyde, of Middle Haddam, CT, and Sharon Perlmutter of Pasadena CA; siblings Laurence Paper from Florida, Ada (Paper) Sternberg from Florida and Norma (Paper) Katz, also from Florida.

Marcia was buried Thursday August 4, 2022, at Mt. Sinai, 24210 N. 68th St., Phoenix, AZ 85054.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Marcia Perlmutter may be made to: The Sagewood Residents’ Foundation, Scholarship Fund. Visit their website at sagewoodfoundation. com/contribute for donation form. Completed form with payment may be sent to: Sagewood Residents’ Foundation, 4555 E. Mayo Blvd., Box 5310, Phoenix, AZ 85050. Please be sure to identify your donation is “In memory of Marcia Perlmutter” (on form and/or check memo line) so your contribution will be correctly applied.

A Journey of Discovery and Truth-telling

December 5 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm MST

Location: Congregation Or Tzion A Journey of Discovery and Truth-telling: Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz in conversation with Letty Cottin Pogrebin, writer, activist, and co-founding editor of Ms.magazine, about her new book, SHANDA: A MEMOIR OF SHAME AND SECRECY

Letty Cottin Pogrebin

HAMMERMAN FAMILY LECTURE

Ruach Hamidbar

Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz President & Dean