Arizona Jewish Life Apr 2017 Vol. 5 / Issue 7

APRIL 2017

PASSOVER

Passover meals - local chefs' new twist on old favorites

LUBA TRYSZYNSKA “The Angel of Bergen-Belsen”

WOMEN OF THE WALL Inspiring women everywhere

ASHER ANGEL Following his dream from Desert Stages to Disney

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 1

2 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Big things are happening in Big things are happening in Big things are happening in your backyard. your backyard. your backyard.

Introducing Mirabella at Arizona State University, Introducing Mirabella at at Arizona State University, Introducing Mirabella Arizona State University, Introducing Mirabella at Arizona State University, aa brand-new Life Plan Community on the campus brand-new Life Plan Community onon the campus a brand-new Life Plan Community the campus aofbrand-new Life Plan Community onuniversities the campus of one of the most dynamic research one ofof the most dynamic research universities of one the most dynamic research universities of one ofcountry, the most dynamic research universities in the country, just steps from the historic ASU in in the country, just steps from the historic ASU the just steps from the historic ASU in the country, just Offering steps from historic ASU Gammage theater. aa wealth of programs Gammage theater.

Offering wealth ofof programs Gammage theater.

Offering athe wealth programs Gammage theater.

Offering a to wealth of programs and activities, Mirabella aims help you make the and activities, Mirabella aims toto help you make the and activities, Mirabella aims help you make the and activities, Mirabella aims to help you make the next chapters of your life the best chapters of your next chapters ofof your lifelife the best chapters ofof your next chapters your the best chapters your next chapters ofthree your life the best chaptersand ofand your life.

And with three penthouse restaurants more life.

And with three penthouse restaurants and more life.

And with penthouse restaurants more life.

And with three penthouse restaurants and more than 250 of the largest view residences in the valley, itit it than 250 ofof the largest view residences in in the valley, than 250 the largest view residences the valley, than 250 ofurban the largest view residences is living at its finest. is high-rise high-rise urban living at at itsits finest. is high-rise urban living finest. in the valley, it is high-rise urban living at its finest.

Join us at one of our upcoming Join usus at at one of of ourour upcoming Join one upcoming Join us to atto one ofmore our upcoming events learn about this incredible opportunity. events to learn more about this incredible opportunity. events learn more about this incredible opportunity. events to learn more about this incredible opportunity.

Four Four dates totochoose choose from: Fourdates datesto choosefrom: from: Four dates to choose April 10, 12, 17 or 21 at 10 am April 10, 12,12, 1717 oror 21 at at 1010 amfrom: April 10, 21 am

April 10,at 12, 17 or 21the at 10ASU am Located SkySong, ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center Located at SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center Located at SkySong, the Scottsdale Innovation Center Located at SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale 1365 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale, AZ 1365 N.N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale, AZAZ Innovation Center 1365 Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale, 1365 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale, AZ garage Continental breakfast will be Complimentary parking.

Continental breakfast willwill be served. served.

Complimentary garage parking.

Continental breakfast be served.

Complimentary garage parking.

Continental breakfast will be served. Complimentary garage parking.

:: y a d y o a t d P o VVP t ay: RRSS t6o5d-9-9229955 P R4S8V -9655-9295 4800--9 www.mirabellaASU.com 480 96 www.mirabellaASU.com www.mirabellaASU.com 300 E. University Drive, 5th Floor

300 E. E. University Drive, 5th5th Floor 300 University Drive, Floor www.mirabellaASU.com Tempe, AZ 85281 Tempe, AZAZ 85281 Tempe, 85281 300 E. University Drive, 5th Floor Tempe, AZ 85281

Mirabella at Arizona State University is a nonprofit, resident-centered community developed in partnership with Mirabella at Arizona State University is a is nonprofit, resident-centered community developed in partnership withwith Mirabella at Arizona State University a nonprofit, resident-centered community developed in partnership Pacific Retirement Services and Arizona State University. Equal housing opportunity.

Pacific Retirement Services andand Arizona State University.

Equal housing opportunity.

Pacific Retirement Services Arizona State University.

Equal housing opportunity.

Mirabella at Arizona State University is a nonprofit, resident-centered community developed in partnership with Pacific Retirement Services and Arizona State University. Equal housing opportunity.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 3

strategic thinking about wealth Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management has been helping ultra-high net worth individuals, their families and foundations plan for and grow their wealth for decades.

Based in New York City, the Family Wealth Group at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management is a specialized team of interdisciplinary strategic advisors providing a full range of family office services to meet the complex needs of the UHNW marketplace. These services include financial & investment planning, estate & family succession planning, philanthropic advisory and administrative services.

The Family Wealth Group is headed by Robert Stolar, a Managing Director and Private Wealth Advisor. Drawing on three decades of investment & financial planning experience, Robert has earned various distinctions within the wealth advisory community, including recognition by Barron’s as one of the top 100 advisors in the country for 2015.

Robert Stolar

Managing Director Private Wealth Advisor 522 Fifth Avenue, 10th Floor New York, NY 10036 212-296-6704 robert.stolar@morganstanley.com Source: Barron’s “Top 100 Financial Advisors,” April 20, 2015. Barron’s “Top 100 Financial Advisors” bases its ratings on qualitative criteria: professionals with a minimum of seven years of financial services experience, acceptable compliance records, client retention reports, customer satisfaction, and more. Finwancial Advisors are quantitatively rated based on varying types of revenues and assets advised by the financial professional, with weightings associated for each. Because individual client portfolio performance varies and is typically unaudited, this rating focuses on customer satisfaction and quality of advice. The rating may not be representative of any one client’s experience because it reflects a sample of all of the experiences of the Financial Advisor’s clients. The rating is not indicative of the Financial Advisor’s future performance. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors pays a fee to Barron’s in exchange for the rating. Barron’s is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Company, L.P. All rights reserved. © 2015 Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management, a division of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC. Member SIPC. CRC1179133 04/15 8225582 PWM001 04/15 4 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

THE NEWEST

AQUARIUM

IN THE COUNTRY

Scottsdale, AZ OdySeaAquarium.com

SPEND THE DAY AT ODYSEA! Enjoy live entertainment, restaurants, and shops located just outside the Aquarium. No entrance fee.

Major ticketed attractions at OdySea include:

9500 E. Vía De Ventura, Scottsdale, AZ 85256 | 480.291.8000 ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 5

6 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

DON’T PASSOVER MIM:

The World’s Only Global Musical Instrument Museum

®

How is MIM different from all other museums?

1. At other museums, visitors observe in silence, but at MIM guests are immersed in state-of-the-art audio and video.

2. At other museums, visitors look but can’t touch, while MIM’s experience allows for guests to see, hear, and play the instruments.

3. Other museums cater to specific groups or ages, but at MIM there is something for everyone.

4. Other musical instrument museums primarily focus on Western instruments, while MIM displays more than 6,500 instruments collected from around 200 of the world’s countries and territories.

Happy Passover from your friends at MIM. We hope you’ll visit as our guests soon!

Open Daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | 480.478.6000 4725 E.ARIZONA Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85050 JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 7

Arizona Jewish Life • April 2017 • Nisan-Iyyar 5777 • Volume 5/Issue 7

FEATURES 14

ISRAEL WOW! Women of the Wall visit Arizona 72 JNF Chairman and former US

Ambassador Ronald Lauder visits the Valley 75 Emotions shift with April’s three holidays 76 Preserving first-person testimony 78

COVER STORY

Asher Angel: Following his dream from Desert Stages to Disney 36

JEWS WITH ATTITUDE Phoenix Fire Captain Bobby Dubnow: Today’s modern firefighter 14

26

BUSINESS Laurie’s Bridal and Formal: Making dress shopping fun again Business Profiles Ins & Outs

COLUMNS To Life by Amy Hirshberg Lederman Chef’s Corner by Lucia Schnitzer A Taste of Arizona by A. Noshman Family Time by Debra Rich Gettleman

16 18 24

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The Phoenix Opera: Nurturing talented voices in the community 42 Beth Surdut: Drawn to wildlife 44

36

44

78

PASSOVER Passover recipe redos Revisiting Egypt at Passover Community seders Matza & More delivers seder necessities to needy To Life! Passover: A time to celebrate “Dayenu!” moments

FOOD Chef’s Corner: Lamb served at the seder? Oy vey!

46 Taste of Arizona: Sonata’s Restaurant 48 House of Tricks is all treats 50 HOME & LIFESTYLE Where the wildflowers are Trends, tricks and styling for spring

SENIORS A house and a home All aboard for education and adventure

62

JKIDS & TEENS Matzah house craft Family Time: Bar mitzvah reverb Kids & Teens events calendar

64 66 68

YOUNG ADULTS Leah Avuno: Shinshinim young ambassador

70

COVER: Asher Angel Photo by Matt Clayton

8 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

26 30 32 34 35

JLIVING

52 56

58

35 46 48 66

Jewish business leaders share knowledge at Corner Office event 80 Two events for Temple Emanuel 82 Celebration of Caring: JFCS highlights commitment to “being the best” 84 Federation notes 85 Faces & Places 86 Previews 88 Calendar 90

Nowadays, it’s a shortage of blood that’s really a plague.

Nothing is more important than saving a life, so it’s essential that Israel have an ample supply of blood for all its people. That’s where Magen David Adom comes in — collecting, testing, and distributing Israel’s blood supply for civilians and the Israel Defense Forces. And to protect Israel’s blood supply in the future, we’re building a new blood center for Israel, one that will be reinforced against rocket or other terrorist attacks. You can support MDA’s lifesaving blood services.

Make a gift today. Pesach kasher v’sameach.

AFMDA Western Region 6505 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 750 Los Angeles, CA 90048 Toll-Free: 800.323.2371 • western@afmda.org www.afmda.org ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 9

Arizona Jewish Life • Nisan-Iyyar 5777 • Volume 5/Issue 7

PUBLISHERS

H OW TO R E AC H U S

Rober t Philip Cindy Saltzman

602-538-AZJL (2955)

ADVE RTI S I N G AN D E D ITO R IAL D I R EC TO R Cindy Saltzman

E D I TO R- I N - C H I E F Mala Blomquist

CO NTR I B UTI N G E D ITO R Leni Reiss

COPY EDITOR Mar y Ann Bashaw WEBMASTER Karl Knelson A RT D I R E C TO R Philip Nerat GRAPHIC DESIGNER Tamara Kopper C O LU M N I S T S Debra Rich Gettleman Amy Hirshberg Lederman A Noshman Lucia Schnitzer CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mar y Ann Bashaw Melissa Hirschl Anne Kleinberg Deborah Moon Tori Rosenblum Masada Siegel

ADVERTISING SALES: advertise@azjewishlife.com BUSINESS: publisher@azjewishlife.com CALENDAR: calendar@azjewishlife.com DISTRIBUTION: distribution@azjewishlife.com EDITORIAL: editor@azjewishlife.com EVENTS: calendar@azjewishlife.com SUBSCRIPTIONS: azjewishlife.com/magazine-subscription SUBSCRIPTIONS AND DISTRIBUTION Home deliver y of Arizona Jewish Life magazine is $12 for an annual subscription or $20 for t wo years. Subscribe online at azjewishlife.com/magazine -subscription or call 602-538 -2955.

Complimentar y copies of Arizona Jewish Life magazine are available at dozens of retail locations including A J’s Fine Foods, Chompie’s, Eli’s Deli, synagogues, Jewish communit y centers and organizations, enter tainment venues, restaurants and professional of f ices.

UPCOMING ISSUES May 2017: Seniors June/July 2017: Staycations & Summer Fun

P U B L I C AT I O N A N D D E A D L I N E S Arizona Jewish Life magazine is distributed on the f irst of the month.

Stor y ideas for features and special sections are due 45- 60 days prior to publication.

B IZ IN S & O UTS: Business news is due 4 week s before publication.

FACES & PL ACES: Photos from past events are due about 20 days prior to publication.

E VENTS: Information about upcoming events is due about 20 days prior to publication.

C ALEN DAR : Please post events on our online calendar. Relevant events that are posted by the 10th of the month before publication will be included in the magazine. To request f irst-time authorization to post events online, go to azjewishlife.com and scroll down to the “calendar access request ” link under “Quick Link s” on the right. Af ter you submit the form, you’ll receive an email with instructions for posting future events.

A Prince Hal Production ( TGMR18) 2016-2017 MediaPort LLC All rights reserved The content and opinions in Arizona Jewish Life do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers, staff or contractors. Articles and columns are for informational purposes only and not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, Arizona Jewish Life, and its agents, publishers, employees and contractors will not be held responsible for the misuse of any information contained herein. The publishers reserve the right to refuse any advertisement. Publication of advertisements does not constitute endorsement of products or services.

10 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Fact: Israel leads the world in cyber security, and researchers from Ben-Gurion University lead Israel.

Our assisted living is accredited for two reasons.

You. And your family.

And you can help, too.

By establishing an AABGU Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA), you will receive lifetime income with fixed rates that are among the highest in the country, while helping to protect Israel’s virtual borders.

Your tax-saving CGA will support Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, including researchers at its Cyber Security Research Center who are working to defend Israel and its allies from cyber attacks.

Sample Annuity Rates Age

Rate

Tax Free*

65

6%

69.6%

70

6.5%

72.8%

75

7.1%

75.4%

80

8%

77.9%

85

9.5%

81.8%

90

11.3%

84%

Because having the confidence and peace of mind of accreditation is important.

That’s why Maravilla Scottsdale is accredited by CARF International. It’s an independent organization that sets exceedingly high standards for care and service. It’s a lot like an accreditation for a hospital or college.

Or a five-star rating for a hotel.

So if you’re looking for assisted living services, take a good look at Maravilla Scottsdale. We think you’ll find that our CARF accreditation is only one of the many reasons you’ll like what you see.

Please join us for a complimentary lunch and tour. Call 480.359.1345 to schedule.

* In the month you use cash to establish a gift annuity, a final calculation is made determining the portion that will be paid to you tax-free.

For more information or to request a CGA rate illustration, e-mail plannedgiving@aabgu.org, visit www.aabgu.org/cga-request or call 310-552-3300.

310-552-3300

n

SW_CGACyber_AJL_4x10.indd 1

SOUTHWEST @ AABGU.ORG

n

7325 E. Princess Blvd.

Scottsdale, AZ • 480.359.1345 MaravillaScottsdale.com

WWW.AABGU.ORG

3/15/17 12:50 PM

Ca sita s | Cou rt ya r d R esidences In depen den t & A ssisted Li v ing | Memory Ca r e

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 11

We at Arizona Jewish Life Wish all a joyful and meaningful Passover.

We held a giveaway earlier this year for a one-year membership to the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center and the Tucson Jewish Community Center. The following are the winners: VALLEY OF THE SUN JCC WINNER: KELLY RAVITZ

May you rejoice in our traditions, Robert Philip

Create memories for tomorrow, Be surrounded by those you love today And always enjoy health and shalom bayit.

Warmly, Bob, Cindy, Mala, Deb, Philip, Tamara, Debbie, Steve, Jodi, Cynthia, Leah,

Cindy Saltzman

and all the team.

Kelly Ravitz and her blended family are the winners of our Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center family membership giveaway.

From left: Andrew Reese, Brandon Malavasic, Mackenzie Malavasic, Rylie Reese (standing) and Kelly Ravitz.

TUCSON JCC WINNER: SOPHIE GERMAN

PLEASE HELP US HELP YOU CONNECT Subscriptions: azjewishlife.com/ magazine-subscription

Email us:

Newsletter: azjewishlife.com, click on “Subscribe Now!”

advertise@azjewishlife.com

Facebook/Twitter: @AZJewishLife

distribution@azjewishlife.com

Call: 602-538-AZJL (2955)

editor@azjewishlife.com

publisher@azjewishlife.com calendar@azjewishlife.com

events@azjewishlife.com subscriptions@azjewishlife.com 12 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Coming In May 2017

SENIORS

US Veteran Owned $25 Veterans Discount

on each security door & window

SECURITY DOOR & WINDOW SPECIALS

Talison

Custom Ivy

Elegante

Florence

Nogales Sunset

Milan 2

*1 availabl4 designs e startin g at...

79749

$

ONLY

installed*

NO SALES TAX

Select Do required ors Only. Co with an.yCannot combupon other off ine discounted or produer, cts.

How Esther Got Her Groove Back!

STEEL ON STEEL SECURITY SCREEN FULL VIEW DOOR

Many more designs to choose from!

STARTING AT $1,174 $1,199 INSTALLED

$ 799 special. *Doors shown in this ad are not included in $774

100 OFF $50 OFF

$

ANY DOOR DOOR BASE ANY BASEPRICED PRICED $ $$1,225 OR MORE 1250 OR MORE 1,225

Coupon required. Cannot combine with any other offer, or discounted products.

ANY DOOR DOOR BASE ANY BASEPRICED PRICED $$$ 1,225 OR MORE 900 OR 875

Coupon required. Cannot combine with any other offer, or discounted products.

Financing available on Security Screen Windows and Doors. Call for Details!

To advertise advertise@azjewishlife.com

602.538.2955 azjewishlife.com

Deer Valley Factory Showroom 1725 W. Williams Dr. Bldg. E. Ste. 54 • OPEN MON-SAT, 9AM-4PM

CALL TODAYYOUR

DULE TO SCHE

FREE IN-HOME NT APPOINTME

623-581-3667 www.SteelShieldSecurity.com

MADE IN PHOENIX

ROC#248032, Licensed, Bonded and Insured

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 13

Jewswith

Attitude

By Mary Ann Bashaw

Phoenix Fire Captain Bobby Dubnow: Today’s modern firefighter

A few decades ago, firefighters did just that: fought fires.

MANY DIFFERENT MISSIONS Today’s firefighters wear more than just the proverbial fire hat. They serve the community in a highly trained, highly “I loved an EMT class I took,” says Bobby. “I had technical capacity that includes medical and other non-fire connections with the Phoenix Fire Department, so I looked emergencies, disaster response, hazardous-material calls and yes into it.” The “combination of the physical with the cerebral” – firefighting. appealed to him. “I wasn’t wired to Phoenix Fire Captain sit behind a desk or for more formal Bobby Dubnow is the education. I was ready to get out and face of today’s modern start working.” firefighter. Now in his Working in the sixth-largest city 26th year of service, in the U.S., Bobby and his fellow Bobby is a special firefighters are members of one of the operations safety officer busiest fire departments in the nation, who covers the entire with 58 fire stations serving a population Valley from Station 8 in of more than 1.5 million. the Roosevelt Row Arts Bobby’s firetruck is housed at Station District of downtown 8, but “my area is regional because of Phoenix. He became a how I respond as the safety officer.” His paramedic early in his job includes mountain/air operations career then moved up to in a helicopter. As crew chief, he engineer, with the tasks operates the hoist during an air rescue, Fire Captain Bobby Dubnow in Firebird 10 of the Phoenix Police of driver and pump a role requiring intense training and Air Unit, which has a partnership with the Phoenix operator. He reached certification. “There’s a lot of input Fire Department and assists in rescue operations. the rank of captain working around a helicopter, lots to Photo by Bobby’s partner, Ken Flickinger. in 2005 after “a super manage,” says Bobby. “I’m responsible for competitive process. We human life at the end of the cable.” already think we’re the The crews strive for 99.99% efficiency best of the best to be firefighters, let alone company officers. and limit the number of people who work around the helicopter. “We hand-pick the best of our technical rescue I took every opportunity that appealed to me throughout my team,” says Bobby. “Only six of us function as crew chiefs career.”

The 70s TV show “Emergency!” about paramedics in L.A. around the Valley.” He says that anything with a high element had a big influence on Bobby, who says, “I religiously watched of risk necessitates keeping the numbers low to maintain “a that show as a little boy.” He credits the show with jumpstarting very high level of skill.” And then in typical firefighter fashion, he adds, “It’s one of the more rewarding and fun things I get to the cross-training of firefighters as EMTs (emergency medical do.” technicians) and paramedics, helping to dispel the myth that they just fight fires.

A SECOND FAMILY Bobby’s family moved to Phoenix in 1968 from Fort McClellan in Anniston, Alabama, where his dad served in the Bobby’s career has also given him the opportunity to be army. (Bobby has an older brother in Baltimore and an older part of Arizona Task Force 1, one of 28 teams across the U.S. sister in the Philadelphia area.) He spent his summers in high forming the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue task force that school and college doing lots of outdoor activities, including ropes courses. College summer jobs as a white-water river guide responds to national disasters. Arizona Task Force 1 responded to the 1993 Northridge Earthquake in California, the 1995 at the Grand Canyon, in Colorado and Montana ­– including Oklahoma City bombing and the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New an EMT certification to boost his guide credentials – set him York City. Bobby personally deployed with the task force to the on his current path. He graduated from the University of 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games. “The FEMA teams are Michigan in 1990 with a degree in political science. staged at a distance in case something happens at a high-profile event,” says Bobby. He was also on hand for Hurricanes Ike and Gustav in 2008.

14 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

The Phoenix Fire Department has some traits that set it apart from others around the country, including a regional response team for technical rescues and hazardous materials.

Specialty units all over the Valley have trained together. An Automatic Aid dispatch system serves 20 to 30 different areas around the Valley, making service delivery seamless. “We don’t recognize jurisdictional boundaries,” says Bobby. “The closest truck comes to your aid.”

Even with those unique traits, “firefighters anywhere are all wired the same way,” says Bobby. “You have to be to do this job. What appeals to us is pretty universal: wanting to serve the community and feeling brotherhood and fellowship in fire service with coworkers. You spend at least one-third of your life with this group. You sleep, cook and eat together. It’s our second family.”

Firefighters can go from relaxing and joking at the firehouse to responding to calls ranging from an intense firefight or drowning to jumping out of a helicopter at a mountain rescue or pulling someone out of a car. Bobby recounts calls where “you know you’ve tried everything you could do but sometimes you just can’t do enough. Some calls stick with you forever – where you just couldn’t make the difference.” He adds that calls involving children, who have a special level of trust in and admiration for firefighters, are often “elevated with tension and importance. Something is going to hit home hard. Most of us have kids or younger firefighters are planning families of their own. Kids are near and dear to us.”

PHILOSOPHY OF CUSTOMER SERVICE The firefighters at the station are not Bobby’s only family.

He and his wife Stephanie – a physical therapist and Valley native – live in Scottsdale and have three kids: Shoshana, 19, is a freshman studying journalism at the University of Missouri; Justin, 17, is a junior at Chaparral High School; and Jenna, 13, is a seventh-grader at Cocopah Middle School who just celebrated her bat mitzvah on April 1.

Bobby attests to the challenges of being the spouse or child of a firefighter: “You’re either missing a lot or doing a lot” at home. He still helps with carpooling and cooking when he’s home on weekdays. He works a lot of weekends and holidays but says that “holidays at the firehouse are fun and make good memories.”

Women firefighters are more common today than when Bobby became a firefighter. They must deal with the same challenges. Bobby has known Phoenix’s Fire Chief Kara Kalkbrenner – one of only six women fire chiefs in the U.S. – for many years. “It’s a good thing,” he says. “We’re a diverse organization, better to serve a diverse community.”

One individual in particular made a lasting impression on Bobby as a firefighter. He calls Phoenix Fire Chief Alan Brunacini, who retired in 2006 after 48 years of service, a “visionary” whose command strategies and theories helped develop “a first-of-its-kind philosophy of customer service that has become a universal doctrine for most fire departments: We’re here to serve you.”

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 15

Business

The Dickman family from left: Brian, Rachel, Laurie and Joel.

Laurie’s Bridal andFormal: making dress shopping fun again

By Mala Blomquist

Laurie Dickman started working in the bridal business 25 years ago as a customer service representative for a major bridal gown and headpiece manufacturer in New York. “I was fresh out of college and kind of fell into it – and fell in love with it,” she says.

Laurie moved her way up and traveled to several regional trade shows. It was during one of these trade shows that she met a couple working as sales representatives in the industry.

“They did the ‘We have a son’ routine and I went ‘Yeah, yeah, right,’” jokes Laurie. She met their son Joel two months later. “I thought he was a great guy but not my type,” says Laurie.

Well, it must have been beshert, because three months later, she quit her job and moved to Chicago to be with him. He was also in the bridal business, so they joined forces to become a top-producing sales team. They were honored with several Distinctive Excellence in the Bridal Industry (DEBI) Awards, akin to Academy Awards in the bridal industry. It was at one of those DEBI Award nights that Joel proposed to Laurie.

Twenty-two years later, they decided to open Laurie's Bridal and Formal in North Scottsdale. With their children getting older, they decided it was time to look out for their own future.

As Laurie says, “If bridal’s in your blood, it’s in your blood!”

Laurie’s Bridal has established itself in the competitive bridal 16 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

boutique market through exceptional customer service. “My niche is that you work directly with the owner,” says Laurie. “I have the experience, I have the expertise and I am not going to say what needs to be said [just] to make a sale,” she says. “I have my hands in every appointment and I want it that way. I have a heart, I care about what I do and I love every single customer that comes in my store. I’ve cried with them and I’ve laughed with them.”

The challenge for brides these days is the staged antics on reality bridal dress shows and the thousands of fabulous gowns on Pinterest. “Brides come in with a picture of a dress and they may not understand that that dress may not actually be what it seems,” says Laurie. “Pictures can get doctored up. I’m very old-fashioned and ‘old school’ [but] with a twist of newer technology. I understand this generation.”

Laurie stresses that “we need to educate our brides and they need to let us educate them. Brides are better educated than they were 10 to 15 years ago, but I feel that it is up to me as an owner to explain the process.”

That process can be a lengthy one. It can take five to seven months, because most gowns must be special ordered – and the majority of them are made overseas. Then taking into account a month or two for alterations, the process – from start to finish –

can take up to nine months.

Bridesmaid dresses take less time to special order, (about three months), but many bridesmaids are ordering dresses online these days. “I feel that they are looking for a less expensive solution, so they go online to buy the dress,” says Laurie. “My bridesmaid dresses are all under $200 for that reason. Personal service and knowing that someone else is handling your dresses needs to mean more...” You also may not get what you paid for when ordering online and the colors may not match if bridesmaids are ordering from different manufacturers in different parts of the country.

Laurie is very aware of the expense of wedding gowns. “I don’t want brides to come into my store and not be allowed to look at everything because a section is out of their price point,” she says. “I have dresses that start at $250 …, but most of my dresses are between $1,200 and $1,700.”

Dresses vary as much as the brides. “I am selling traditional lace gowns, ball gowns, tiered skirts, textured fabrics – those are big right now,” says Laurie. As for colors, she adds that there is “not as much white as ivory, champagne or blush.

It’s very hard to wear [stark] white. There is no right or wrong color that anyone should wear. It’s how they feel and what … they want to wear.”

Laurie also sells prom and bat mitzvah dresses. “As a Jewish owner, I know what bat mitzvah girls are looking for,” she says.

“I know what they need for a service dress and I know what they want for a party dress.” She also doesn’t stock any dresses that she feels are inappropriate. As a mom herself, she says she puts herself “in other moms’ heads” when she does the buying for her store, adding that “if I thought a mom would look at her daughter in a dress and say, ‘You’re not wearing that!’ [then] I am not buying it.”

Laurie always tries to put herself in her customer’s place. She wants to make dress-shopping fun again: “Going back to basics, keeping it simple, enjoying it. Those are my goals. That’s what I want for my brides.”

Laurie’s Bridal and Formal is located at 14891 N. Northsight Blvd. #130 in Scottsdale. Contact Laurie at 480-6993973 or visit lauriesbridal.com.

SINGLE, DIVORCED, WIDOWED?

I’m an experienced matchmaker who qualifies and background checks all my clients, providing a confidential and safe dating experience.

I help men and women find their future love and companions.

Book your FREE consultation at MyTopMatchmaker.com or call me at (620) 616-0026 Valleywide (520) 318-5520 Tucson

Karen Stein,

Owner

and matchmaker with over 30 years experience

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 17

ASSOCIATE BROKER HOMESMART ELITE GROUP BOBBY LIEB

BUSINESS

PROFILES

Get to know some of the people behind the businesses you see in

Arizona Jewish Life.

Bobby Lieb has been a realtor in the valley for over 25 years and sold more than 3,000 homes.

When he first entered the field, he knew that to be successful, he needed to specialize in an area of the Valley. “I lived in the central Phoenix/Biltmore [area], so it was an easy choice. I also coached many of the kids in our area and must have done a decent job because their parents are hiring me to sell and buy homes and now those kids are buying from me,” declares Bobby. Bobby is also a court-appointed Realtor with Maricopa County family court and specializes in divorce home sales.

The Business Journal named Bobby the number one Realtor in Maricopa County the past two years, based on sales volume. He is the number one HomeSmart agent in the country the past six years, based on volume and homes sold. HomeSmart is the largest real estate company in the Phoenix area with 7,000 agents. HomeSmart has 11,000 agents in the United States.

Bobby founded the HomeSmart Elite Group six years ago. The Elite Group consists of the top agents with HomeSmart – totaling more than 800 agents. They hold monthly meetings with the Valley’s top real estate experts.

He averages 135 sales per year. “In 2016 I sold $79 million in home sales, ranging from a low sales price of $150,000 to six homes over $1.5 million. I work by myself and have a great assistant, Kathy Wright, who has tolerated me now for 17 years. I am the definition of a true workaholic, but I love what I do,” states Bobby.

The business has changed some over the years, but the bottom line is getting buyers and sellers the price they want. He explains, “I have sold some buyers over 10 homes, and some sellers have hired me to sell many of their homes over the years. I was hired to sell Senator and Cindy McCain’s north central home in 2006 – which was on 2 acres and was 14,000 square feet. I have now sold that home three times in the past 10 years.”

Bobby started a charity three years ago called HomeSmart We Care for Others. This charity helps HomeSmart’s real estate agents in times of need. “We have raised over $50k in four years and helped pay medical expenses, and even funerals for agents. It has been a special charity for me to help my peers,” says Bobby.

There is a continuing education class that Bobby teaches monthly on Agency Law/ Marketing Essentials. This class is attended by over 100 agents every month.

“I enjoy working out every day and playing golf once a week (where I enjoy kicking my brother's butt and taking his money),” jokes Bobby. He played college baseball at Arizona State University and Coastal Carolina located in South Carolina. In 1978, his team competed in the NAIA world series.

After a long day, which is every day because he normally has 45 listings at a time, Bobby says, “I enjoy coming home to feed my two dogs and then feed my wife of 30 years, MaryAnn. I have to feed the dogs first because they are much louder than my wife, and if they don’t eat first they will bite me!”

He also checks in with his children daily. His 27-year-old son Sean works locally with Cushman & Wakefield commercial real estate and his 25-year-old daughter Juliann works part time for Bobby and is working on getting her Sports Psychology certificate which should happen in the next year.

Bobby and MaryAnn took in another kid, Jesse Milleson, more than seven years ago and he is in New York with Orangetheory Fitness opening up five new studios there. “We are very proud of all three of our kids – who fortunately got all their great qualities from my wife. (Yes, I am a true suck-up!),” he confesses.

Bobby Lieb Associate Broker, HomeSmart Elite Group 602-376-1341 • centralphx.com

18 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

UNITED CEREBRAL PALSY BOARD MEMBER MICHELLE MARGOLIES TRAN Michelle grew up in the Phoenix Jewish community. She is currently a trust and estates attorney with Clark Hill PLC. She participates on the Jewish Community Foundation’s Professional Advisory Committee and the JCF/ACF Tax & Legal Seminar committee. Most recently she has been appointed to the board of United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona where she co-chairs the development committee.

“I am very excited about this new opportunity to serve the community, especially in the area of children with special needs,” Michelle says.

“I joined the UCP board of directors because both of my children had complications when they were born,” Michelle explains. Fortunately, they outgrew most of their impairments by the time they were toddlers. “It is important to me that families with children with special needs are aware of the assistance available to them and that they receive high quality services. I continue to be amazed by the many ways UCP helps its families and its ongoing efforts to provide more services to more families,” she says.

At UCP of Central Arizona, compassionate expert staff help children and adults with cerebral palsy and a wide range of additional diagnoses including autism, sensory processing and genetic disorders, orthopedic disabilities, birth defects, Down syndrome, effects of in-utero substance exposure, traumatic brain injuries, developmental delays and many others.

Every person that comes to UCP is provided with the best care because they believe in the dignity and value of each individual they serve. Whether it is through therapy, respite care in the home, after-school socialization, early childhood intervention or adult programming, UCP’s highly trained team of therapists and professionals join with the family to form a strong support team dedicated to helping people with disabilities live a life without limits.

You can help UCP with a donation of up to $800 at no cost to you. Learn more about the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit today, visit ucpofcentralaz.org/tax-credit/

United Cerebral Palsy of Central Arizona 1802 W. Parkside Lane, Phoenix 602-943-5472 ucpofcentralaz.org info@ucpofcentralaz.org

VALLEY MEDICAL SUPPLIES PRESIDENT AND OWNER TIM RUTTI Tim Rutti is the president and owner of Valley Medical Supplies. He is an Arizona native with a background in medical sales and marketing. “Having moved to California to work for major medical companies, I had the desire to move my family back to Arizona and start my own business, providing me with the opportunity to give back to my hometown,” says Tim. As president and owner, Tim admits, “Every day is different and presents new opportunities.

From servicing the equipment that we sell at our store, delivering products and rentals to resorts around the valley, or spending a day in the store meeting my customers faceto-face, I am always entrenched in what is going on in our community.”

Valley Medical Supplies opened in June 2016, and they are already expanding their showroom an extra 1,200 square feet in early April. Their current showroom is 3,600 square feet and is filled with the latest products and technology. “We have a large selection of lift chairs, scooters and powerchairs on our floor – to showcase all the options for customers to come and try out, or purchase. I also conduct free home evaluations to assess mobility solutions, ramps and bathroom safety,” explains Tim. “Knowing that I offer ways to keep people living in their homes, safely, is what drives me to keep going the extra mile. To get the ‘thank you’ from the customers, their families and caretakers provides incredible job satisfaction.”

They offer a large selection of wound care, incontinence and urological products that many customers had difficulty finding. Valley Medical Supplies also carries oxygen concentrators and CPAP machines for rent or purchase, as well other medical equipment such as hospital beds, wheelchairs and patient lifts.

Medical insurance is covering less durable medical equipment today than ever before. That being the case, Tim has decided to provide his customers with an option in the products they need at an affordable price.

Valley Medical Supplies also participates in community and senior events throughout the Valley. “We attend educational seminars, programs and training to keep current with all the latest technology and offerings available,” says Tim. Valley Medical Supplies, LLC 4030 E. Bell Road #105, Phoenix 602-900-4260 valleymedicalsupplies.com ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 19

VALLEY OF THE SUN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER CEO JAY J. JACOBS

RANCH REALTY PARTNER LEO ANDREW BERG Leo Andrew Berg is a partner with Ranch Realty in Scottsdale. A family-owned and operated company, Ranch Realty has been at the same location in the McCormick Ranch area of Scottsdale for 43 years. They are the experts in the McCormick Ranch, Gainey Ranch and Scottsdale Ranch areas.

Ranch Realty has 30 licensed real estate agents and a fully-staffed property management division. The management team has over 40 years of experience, and their property managers are licensed Arizona real estate agents. They specialize in sales, leasing and management of single family homes, condos and townhouses in Scottsdale. Ranch Realty also offers year-round availability of furnished and unfurnished rentals and investment properties. The agents have earned the trust of competing real estate companies and agents throughout the Valley; many of whom refer their investment property management clients to Ranch Realty.

“Ranch Realty is a five-year sponsor of Holiday Magic on McCormick Ranch, an event that celebrates neighbors, neighborhood spirit and the holiday season.

We also sponsor local high school athletics,” says Leo. Leo moved to the McCormick Ranch area in 1974, while he was in grade school. His first job was delivering the Arizona Republic and the Scottsdale Progress newspapers in his neighborhood. “We all watched McCormick Ranch grow into what it is today. The best master planned community in the state of Arizona,” he says proudly.

Ranch Realty strives to provide the highest quality of service to all their clients while making each transaction as profitable, professional, successful and stress-free as possible. They understand the importance of professional ethics, integrity and continued education.

Ranch Realty 7353 N. Via Paseo Del Sur #470, Scottsdale 480-991-4000 ranchrealty.com

20 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Jay J. Jacobs is the new CEO serving the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center. He was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA (he’s a die-hard Steelers fan) and has been involved in Jewish communal work for 38 years. For more than 16 years he has served in the capacity as CEO with his expertise being building and opening new facilities, as well as facilitating change in current facilities. Over the course of his career, he has worked in the cities of Columbus, Cleveland, Dallas, Salt Lake City, Albuquerque and Richmond.

“Very early in my career, I realized how the Js made a difference in the lives of families and children,” says Jay. “The fact that we gave them experiences they could not get anywhere else, and for those who cannot afford it, we provided financial assistance. For children and the community to have those experiences, sold me on my career.”

The J is a multi-faceted facility providing programs and services for people of all faiths and all ages in the areas of early childhood, camp, youth and family, childcare, sports and fitness, seniors, cultural and community events.

Jay notes that one of the biggest changes in the industry over the years has been the level of quality expected, “To attract and keep members we must have a level of excellence that meets and exceeds expectations. We need to be the competition, not be trying to keep up with it.”

Jay’s goal is to make The J a leader in customer service and in quality of program and services. He goes on to explain, “The community needs to know that while we have a Jewish identity, we are here for the entire community and that everyone is welcome.”

Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480-481-1794 vosjcc.org

JEWISH TUITION ORGANIZATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR LINDA ZELL

JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PHOENIX EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MARTY HABERER

Linda is from Cape Town, South Africa and spent part of her childhood in Israel before coming to the United States.

Linda was the principal of a Jewish community religious school in Rhode Island for 20 years before moving to the Valley 20 years ago. In her current position as executive director of the Jewish Tuition Organization, Linda is driven by the fact that she knows without the JTO about 65 percent of the students in the JTO affiliated Jewish day schools would not be able to attend.

The JTO’s mission is to ensure that every child has access to a Jewish day school education, regardless of their family’s financial ability to pay for it. The JTO raises funds for need-based scholarships from both individuals and corporations through the dollar-for-dollar Arizona private school tuition tax credit.

Without the JTO scholarships, these children would not be able to attend Jewish day schools. As the executive director of the JTO, Linda is responsible for all aspects of the organization. Under her leadership the organization raised more than $4 million dollars last year to provide need-based scholarships for children in the community to attend Jewish day schools.

The six schools served by the JTO are Desert Jewish Academy in Chandler, Pardes Jewish Day School in Scottsdale and Phoenix Hebrew Academy, Shearim High School for Girls, Torah Day School of Phoenix and Yeshiva High School of Arizona, all in Phoenix.

What sets the JTO apart is that it focuses on Jewish day schools, directs more than 90 percent of the funds raised toward scholarships and that ALL scholarships are need-based. The JTO uses a third-party to access and ensure need. The JTO does not accept support directed by the contributor toward specific children, because the scholarships are need-based.

For 2016, individuals can donate up to $1,087 and married couples filing jointly can donate up to $2,173.

Taxpayers can still make donations to the organization up until April 18, or when they file their taxes, whichever comes first. For 2017, the amounts are $1,089 for individuals and $2,177 for married couples filing jointly.

The Arizona private school tuition tax credit is also available to corporations, please call the JTO office for information. JTO is a 501(c)(3) and can accept non-tax credit charitable donations. All support is appreciated and will support Jewish day school education.

Marty Haberer has been a Jewish Communal Professional for the past 31 years. His journey began as a teen director at the Riverdale YM-YWHA in the Bronx, NY. He then began a Jewish Federation career in fundraising, at the UJA-Federation of New York. His career has taken him from New York where he was born, raised and educated, to New Jersey, Cincinnati, Detroit, Sarasota and for the past two years, to Phoenix.

Marty has just recently been named executive director for the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix. The Federation is a fundraising organization that uses the dollars raised to provide social serves for Jewish people in need and to build vibrant Jewish communities in the Valley, In Israel and 70 other countries worldwide.

There are 151 Jewish Federations in North America under the umbrella of the Jewish Federations of North America. The Federation provides opportunities for members to engage with the community as volunteers, sponsors and donors.

In Phoenix, the Federation campaign is in its 76th year of existence.

As times change, like in any business, the Federation has had to adapt with the times as well. In 2017, the key buzz words for Federation are “strategic philanthropy.” The current emphasis is on funding that may include: Engaging the next generation: Birthright Phoenix buses and overnight camp scholarships.

Enriching Senior lives: senior socialization and a senior rides program.

Supporting Israel and Jewish communities worldwide: Israel to Phoenix projects, funding for programs provided by the Jewish Agency for Israel, and the Joint Distribution Committee.

“As the son of an immigrant who moved to the United States at the age of 9 from Germany, along with his brother and parents, to flee Nazi persecution, I am deeply in touch with my Jewish roots and always have been,” says Marty.

“As my family had to begin with nothing in America in the Inwood section of Washington Heights, NY, I was always aware that my parents and my brother and I were recipients of support from anonymous Jewish donors who helped us get our education, go to summer camp and to synagogue. Early on I decided that I would spend my career ‘paying forward’ to others what was done for my family and me.”

Jewish Tuition Organization 12701 N. Scottsdale Road #100M, Scottsdale 480-634-4926 jtophoenix.org info@jtophoenix.org

Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480-634-4900 jewishphoenix.org info@jewishphoenix.org ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 21

PHOENIX HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS’ ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT MONIQUE MENDEL, VICE PRESIDENT LEEANN WIESER AND VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERATIONS AFTER CHAIR SHERYL BRONKESH Monique Mendel (president), Leeann Wieser (vice president) and Sheryl Bronkesh (vice president and chair of Generations After) have been on the Phoenix Holocaust Survivors’ Association Board of Directors for many years and in the current leadership roles for the last several. Leeann, whose husband is a Holocaust scholar, is a longtime friend of the survivor community. Sheryl and Monique were also members of the leadership team which formed Generations After in 2013.

PHSA was founded in 1982 by a group of survivors and their descendants.

Monique and Sheryl are daughters of Holocaust survivors, known as “second generation” or 2Gs. PHSA’s purpose is to remember the Holocaust through education and commemoration.

They have an active speakers’ bureau that presents at schools, churches and community groups. Funding donated by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany supports monthly luncheons to provide a social gathering for survivors, their families and friends. Annually, a community-wide Yom HaShoah commemoration is held to honor those lost in the Shoah.

In the last 10 years, PHSA started to partner with other organizations, such as AJHS, GPJFF, Leeann Wieser BJE, USHMM, ADL, synagogues, MartinSpringer Institute and Scottsdale Community College to co-sponsor events that educate the community about the Holocaust. Another change is partnering with various social service agencies to provide for the physical needs of survivors.

GA schedules events that embrace their legacy as descendants, continue Holocaust education in the community, support each other and contribute to tikkun olam, the repair of the world.

Both of these organizations are the only ones of their kind in the greater Phoenix area. They are known nationally and internationally as the voice of survivors in Phoenix.

Everyone is invited to the annual Community-Wide Yom HaShoah on April 23rd, from 3-4:30 pm at Temple Chai to commemorate those lost in the Shoah.

These organizations have no paid staff, all are volunteers. Receive notifications of upcoming programs by joining the mailing list at phx2g3g@ gmail.com.

Phoenix Holocaust Survivors’ Association 12701 N. Scottsdale Road #122, Scottsdale 602-788-7003 phoenixhsa.org contact@phoenixhsa.org 22 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Monique Mendel

Sheryl Bronkesh

Generations After – Descendants of Holocaust Survivors in Greater Phoenix 480-792-6736 phoenixhsa.org phx2g3g@gmail.com

THE ORCHARD, PHOENIX EVENTS COORDINATOR LINDA SCHNITZER In the heart of Central Phoenix, The Orchard, already a local hot spot, offers a magical and unique events venue.

With catering out of Pomelo Restaurant and outstanding service from our on-staff events coordinator, Linda Schnitzer, we can create memorable events including birthday parties, baby showers, bridal showers, weddings, wedding receptions, mixers, life events, corporate events, bar and bat mitzvahs and much more. We warmly welcome you to come see our beautiful property and we look forward to hosting your next event!

For a more intimate party, consider dining in at Pomelo, built around a 1920s adobe house. Here you will find delicious, straightforward American food and drinks, with an Arizona twist.

Open daily for lunch, dinner or drinks in the lounge. Savor dinner in the intimate dining room or on the patio, which overlooks The Orchard Phoenix lawn. At Pomelo, you’ll be welcomed, comfortable and at home. Also located at The Orchard is Luci’s at the Orchard. It is just like the Luci’s you know and love (Luci’s Healthy Marketplace at 16th St. & Bethany Home Road), in a revitalized historic setting. Luci’s offers a unique marketplace, cafe, coffee and juice bar, and Splurge, a vintage ice cream shop in a casual and welcoming environment.

Luci’s is a place to nurture community, local businesses, and where you want to be on a Saturday afternoon. The cafe area is lined with windows overlooking the citrus orchard, patio and splash pad. Our citrus trees inspire many of our dishes, and juices, while creating a shady oasis in the desert.

The Orchard Phoenix Pomelo/Luci's at the Orchard/Splurge 7100 N. 12th St., Phoenix pomelophx.com lucisorchard.com splurgephx.com

THE ARTS! You feel it.

advertise@azjewishlife.com 602.538.2955 azjewishlife.com Arizona Jewish Life Supporter of the Arts ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 23

INS & OUTS

Sara Silver

Sara Silver to be honored at 2017 Outstanding Women in Business event

Sara Silver, founder and president of business management solutions company, Silverware Inc., was recently named by the Phoenix Business Journal as one of the 2017 Outstanding Women in Business honorees. The Phoenix Business Journal’s annual award is presented to 30 female business women that represent an array of industries and companies.

Silver will be honored at a ceremony held April 3 at the Montelucia Resort & Spa in Paradise Valley. The Phoenix Business Journal selects and recognizes remarkable women based on their business leadership and contribution to the community.

“I am extremely humbled to be recognized by the Business Journal as one of this year’s honorees,” says Sara. “Starting the company 28 years ago, I never imagined we would grow to have 24 employees and customers throughout the U.S.” As the founder, president and solutions architect of Silverware Inc., Silver guides and directs a team of 20 programmers, consultants and project managers. Silver grew up in Illinois and earned a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and economics from Northwestern University. After graduation, she worked for a marketing consulting firm doing quantitative research. During that time, she began working with computers and PCs, laying the foundation for the eventual launch of Silverware Inc. in 1988.

“This honor is well-deserved, Sara started the company at a time there were few women in the field and women are still a minority,” states Bob Silver, director of operations for Silverware, Inc. and Silver’s husband of 28 years. “Her vision and leadership are an inspiration.” silverw.com

Tucson Jewish Community Center expands hours

In March, the Tucson Jewish Community Center expanded operational hours and started opening 30 minutes earlier Monday through Friday.

The building is now open at 5 am instead of 5:30 am and also offers earlier classes in the Fitness Center. Closing hours Monday through Friday and on the weekend will remain the same.

Also in March, the Tucson J launched it’s first mobile app. The app is available via the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. Once downloaded, the app will provide members and guests group exercise schedules, calendar reminders, facility closing notifications, check-in 24 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Adam Goodman

Bobby Lieb

using your mobile phone and more.

The Tucson J’s new building hours are as follows: 7 am-8 pm Sunday, 5 am-10 pm Monday-Thursday, 5 am- 6 pm Friday and 7 am-6 pm Saturday (sports and wellness only).

TucsonJCC.org

Adam Goodman named B&P chair

The Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix Business & Professionals Groups named Adam Goodman as its 2017 chairman.

“We are really lucky to have Adam onboard as the new B&P Chair. He is deeply familiar with the business sector in Phoenix and has supported the local Jewish community for many years as well. More importantly, he is a good guy and a lot of fun to work with,” said Amanda Garcia, B&P coordinator and special events manager.

Adam will build on the strong foundation created by Eliot Kaplan, who chaired B&P for three years. Adam collaborated with Kaplan to create B&P’s annual signature event, Corner Office: Lessons from Jewish Business Leaders which will be held on May 3.

“I am excited to lead the Business & Professionals Groups because it is an opportunity to attract and engage thousands of new people who otherwise might not have been exposed to the Federation,” says Adam.

B&P strengthens relationships among Jewish professionals through education, social networking activities and communal and philanthropic engagement. It is comprised of three divisions: the Cardozo Society for legal professionals, the Real Estate & Finance Division, and Chai Tech for the technology industry. jewishphoenix.org

Bobby Lieb named #1 Realtor in the nation

by HomeSmart On March 3, Phoenix real estate agent Bobby Lieb was named HomeSmart’s number one Realtor in the nation for 2016 at the HomeSmart International Diamond Awards Luncheon.

There are more than 11,000 HomeSmart agents across the United States.

Bobby has continuously earned the title of being the number one top performing Realtor each year since he joined HomeSmart in 2011. He sold more than 100 homes in 2016.

He has been in the real estate business for 25 years and is one of the most recognized Realtors in the Phoenix area, specializing in the North Central and Biltmore areas. What makes his success even more

unique is that he works alone (with his assistant) and is not part of a large team. centralphx.com

Melissa Fink new owner of Girly Girlz

A lover of all things girly and pink, Melissa Fink is the perfect person to become the new owner of Girly Girlz in Scottsdale. Having spent nearly two decades in the communications/marketing field, Melissa took a leap of faith and became an entrepreneur.

Melissa’s background in communications/marketing helps her hone in on her customers’ needs and expectations and fulfill them. She grew up in Scottsdale and resides in the neighborhood near her business.

From princess parties to rock star fantasies and creative summer camps, Melissa understands that each customer has a unique personality and a drive to have an experience built especially for them. Her tenacity and perseverance are exemplified daily - both personally and professionally. When she was in her 20s, she lost her sister in a drunk-driving crash and then suffered a stroke after her first child was born. Battling back after these crises provide Melissa with a “can-do” attitude that fuels her strong work ethic and her belief that nearly anything is possible.

The mother of two young boys, she serves on the board of her sons’ Parent Teacher Organization and has been the top fundraiser for the annual Mothers Against Drunk Driving Arizona walk for the last eight consecutive years. girly-girlz.com

Melissa Fink

New HAWK

Marty Haberer

New Executive Director

The Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix is pleased to announce that Marty Haberer is the new executive director of the Federation. Marty has demonstrated his commitment to the community with his hard work and dedication as chief development officer. His enthusiasm will surely allow us to raise more funds to build our community, meet the needs of our seniors and youth, and support Israel and Jewish communities worldwide. Please join us in wishing Marty mazel tov!

New HAWK lands at intersection

A new HAWK (High-intensity Activated crossWalK) beacon has been installed at 4th Place and Bethany Home Road in Phoenix. This new light helps those crossing for both Beth Joseph Congregation and the Phoenix Hebrew Academy. But this is no ordinary traffic control device, in fact, it is the first of its kind. The HAWK has a special setting for those observing Shabbat.

Volunteer for Beth Joseph, Judy Fineman who spearheaded the project, explains how it works, “There is one activation where you punch a button like normal and another called a ‘passive activation’ where is sees a mass, then there is a delay [and then it responds].”

Rabbis David Rebibo and Yisroel Isaacs of Beth Joseph consulted with other rabbis in order to make it halachically correct. “The city was very gracious and gave us the time we needed to figure this all out,” says Judy.

When the city tested the intersection prior to approving the project, they came back to Judy and told her that that the amount of traffic that passed there was “off the charts.” The HAWK was officially put into use on March 14. Previously, there had just been a yellow crosswalk there and most people chose not to stop when someone needed to cross. The intersection is now a safe place to cross for both students and members of the congregation.phoenixbethjoseph.org

Stockton D. Banfield

Justin D. Brandt

Charles W. Brown

Roger C. Decker

Ryan P. Dyches

Joel E. Sannes

Our Business and Commercial Real Estate Team Providing Excellent Legal Services to The Phoenix/East Valley for Over 50 Years

480.461.5300 | WWW.UDALLSHUMWAY.COM 1138 NORTH ALMA SCHOOL ROAD, SUITE 101 MESA, ARIZONA 85201 MESA | PHOENIX | YUMA

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 25

26 Passover recipe redos

30 Revisiting Egypt at Passover 32 Community Seders 34 Matza & More delivers 35 Amy Hirshberg Lederman

Passover recipe redos

Toffee Matzah

by Joanie Simon

Arizona Jewish Life reached out to a couple of local chefs and asked for their spin on a classic Passover recipe.

Chef John Collura took the traditional matzah brei turned it into an elegant and modern dish by using smoked salmon and kale.

John then did a makeover on the classic brisket, adding a root beer glaze.

For those with a sweet tooth, Joanie Simon uses matzah as a base for her scrumptious confection.

We hope you enjoy these recipes and incorporate them into your Passover.

26 APRIL 2017 ||ARIZONA ARIZONAJEWISH JEWISHLIFE LIFE

T

his chocolate covered toffee matzah recipe involves three layers, plus toppings. The bottom layer is matzah, the second is rich caramel toffee and the top is chocolate.

We added almonds and sprinkles to the tops of ours, but I have since seen all sorts of creative toppings including white chocolate drizzle, edible glitter and other candies.

CHOCOLATE-COVERED TOFFEE MATZAH FOR PASSOVER INGREDIENTS: ½ cup butter (use margarine if kosher) 4 sheets of matzah (kosher for Passover) 1 cup brown sugar, tightly packed 2 cups of chocolate chips pinch of salt c hopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans), dried cranberries or raisins, coarse sea salt or sprinkles for decorating

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 250 degrees and make sure oven rack is in the middle position.

Cover a cookie sheet with aluminum foil, overlapping a bit on the ends. Liberally spray foil with non-stick cooking spray.

Place four sheets of matzah on the cookie sheet, so aluminum foil is covered. You may have to break the matzah into pieces, so they fit.

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Once it has melted, add in the sugar.

Lower the heat to low and stir the sugar and salt into the butter. Once the mixture bubbles, remove from the stove and pour over the matzah. (If you like your toffee more caramel-tasting remove after a few bubbles appear. If you prefer a richer, bolder toffee taste, allow the mixture to really bubble.)

Once you have poured the toffee over the matzah, work quickly using an offset spatula or butter knife to spread it across the matzah, covering the edges. A few tiny pieces may not get covered, that’s OK, the toffee will spread in the oven.

Place the cookie sheet in the oven and bake for 10-20 minutes. It is done when the toffee is either bubbling or has a smooth sheen to it. Set your timer and check the matzah after 10 minutes. After the initial 10 minutes, if more baking time is needed then set the timer in increments of two minutes until the toffee is done. Make sure not to burn the toffee.

Remove the matzah from the oven and remove any pieces that aren’t fully covered in toffee. Spread the chocolate chips over the top of the toffee. Cover the entire cookie sheet by tenting a piece of aluminum foil over it. Wait for 5 to 7 minutes. Remove the foil and spread the chocolate using an offset spatula or butter knife. You can add chopped nuts, dried cranberries, raisins, coarse sea salt or sprinkles on top.

Place the sheet in the refrigerator for two hours. Remove the matzah from the sheet, using the aluminum foil to lift it out of the pan. Break the matzah into pieces.

Store in airtight container in the refrigerator for up to seven days.

Joanie is a full-time recipe developer, food photographer and video creator living in Phoenix with her husband Ryan and their two boys, Blaise and Calvin. She shares family-friendly recipes and the stories behind them at joaniesimon.com.

Root Beer Braised Brisket

by John Collura INGREDIENTS: 2 pieces of matzah 1 t easpoon extra virgin olive oil or butter spray 1/3 cup kale 3 large eggs 1 tablespoon matzah meal 4 ounces smoked salmon 3 bay leaves 32 ounces of root beer 10 parsley stems 10 black pepper corns 2 garlic cloves beef broth* DIRECTIONS: Soak the matzah in water for 2 minutes, drain and set aside.

Add olive oil to a small non-stick pan or spray with butter spray.

Add kale to the pan and stir to soften (roughly 2 minutes).

In a small bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the eggs to the kale and stir until the eggs are cooked.

Place the drained matzah into the pan with the egg mixture and add the matzah meal. Stir to combine.

Add the smoked salmon to the other ingredients in the pan. Stir until all ingredients are heated throughout.

Add salt and pepper to taste. Makes one serving.

INGREDIENTS: 3 pounds of carrots, peeled 3 pounds of yellow onions 1 stalk of celery 1 5-pound beef brisket 1 cup of a Manischewitz red wine 1 cup tomato sauce DIRECTIONS: Preheat over to 500 degrees.

Cut carrots, onion and celery into 1-inch pieces.

Place all vegetables into a very large oven-proof pot.

Trim fat off of brisket. Sear brisket in an oven-proof pan at 500 degrees for 1015 minutes. After removing brisket, lower oven temperature to 275 degrees.

Place brisket on top of the vegetables in the pot.

Add wine, tomato sauce, bay leaves, root beer, parsley stems, pepper corns and garlic cloves to pot. Add enough beef broth so that the pot is 3/4 full. *Amount of beef broth varies based on the size of pot being used.

Seal pot with two layers of plastic wrap and then cover with two layers of aluminum foil. Make sure that the foil completely covers the plastic wrap, if any of the film is exposed outside the foil covering, it will melt and burn.

Place pot in the oven for 4 hours at 275 degrees – do not open until the time is up.

When done, uncover and discard bay leaves. Remove brisket to a serving plate and arrange vegetables around it.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 27

Salmon and Kale Matzah Brei

by John Collura INGREDIENTS: 2 pieces of matzah 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil or butter spray 1/3 cup kale 3 large eggs 1 tablespoon matzah meal 4 ounces smoked salmon DIRECTIONS: Soak the matzah in water for 2 minutes, drain and set aside.

Add olive oil to a small non-stick pan or spray with butter spray.

Add kale to the pan and stir to soften (roughly 2 minutes).

In a small bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the eggs to the kale and stir until the eggs are cooked.

Place the drained matzah into the pan with the egg mixture and add the matzah meal. Stir to combine.

Add the smoked salmon to the other ingredients in the pan.

Stir until all ingredients are heated throughout.

Add salt and pepper to taste. Makes one serving.

Chef John Collura is a restaurateur, Le Cordon Blue graduate and has done more than 150 television cooking segments. Today, you can find him consulting and providing his expertise to various Valley restaurants.

Chef John recently began jarring his homemade marinara sauce (a nod to his Sicilian heritage), called Mangia Mangia. You may see it on the shelves of your supermarket in the near future! In the meantime, visit mangiamangiasauce.com.

Serving Survivors of the Shoah Remembering those lost Educating the community Join Us at Our Annual Yom HaShoah Commemoration Sunday, April 23rd 3 - 4:30 PM Temple Chai 4645 E Marilyn Phoenix

28 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Coming in May 2017

SENIORS

To advertise: advertise@azjewishlife.com 602.538.2955 azjewsihlife.com

This Passover, Invest in the Promised Land.

INVEST IN ISRAEL BONDS israelbonds.com

Development Corporation for Israel Western Region 4500 S. Lakeshore Drive, #355 • Tempe, AZ 85282 phoenix@israelbonds.com • 800.229.4324

Manufacturers Coupon

Invest in Israel Bonds israelbonds.com This is not an offering, which can be made only by prospectus.

Read the prospectus carefully before investing to fully evaluate the risks associated with investing in Israel bonds. Member FINRA

Expires 4/18/17

Best wishes from our family to yours for a happy, healthy Passover.

Save $1

on any 2 Streit’s boxes of

Matzo Ball Soup Retailer: We will reimburse you the face value of this coupon plus 8¢ holding provided you and the consumer have complied with the terms of this offer. Invoices providing purchases of sufficient stock to cover presented coupons must be shown on request. Any other application may constitute fraud. Coupon void where prohibited taxed or restricted. Consumer must pay any sales tax. Cash value 1/20¢ Reproduction of this coupon is expressly prohibited. Mail to: Aron Streit Inc. CMS Dept. 702627 One Fawcett Drive Del Rio, TX 78840 DO NOT DOUBLE

This Passover season, honor a loved one with a tribute card.

Every donation advances our vision of a Jewish Community free of genetic diseases.

Donate online: https://jewishgeneticsphx.org

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 29

Revisiting Egypt at Passover

By Noreen A. Cohen

The painting from the Tomb of Khnumhotep II at Beni Hasan, Egypt is thought to depict the Hyksos.

O

ne of the most compelling and important chapters in Torah is Exodus, in which G-d gives Moses and the Jewish people the Ten Commandments. These basic laws brought justice, mercy, charity and rules to guide a thriving society. Exodus has been the subject of glamorous and dramatic epic movies. It is a fantastic tale that some believe to be just that – a tale not based on fact. The true story might not be as dramatic as the parting of the waters, but it is just as powerful.

Exodus begins with Abraham’s great grandson, Joseph. He is the son of Jacob (Israel) and his wife Rachel, who lived in Canaan. Joseph’s older half-brothers of different mothers were jealous of him. They felt that he was favored by Joseph out of his deep love for Rachel. The multicolored coat symbolizes the perceived favoritism.

Genesis 37:18 recounts how this jealousy caused them to rid themselves of their younger brother by selling him into servitude. The caravan takes Joseph to Egypt, where he becomes imprisoned as a slave. Joseph is brought before Pharaoh to decipher the king’s troubling dreams. He foretells a famine (Genesis 41:14-37) and advises Pharaoh to prepare for seven bare years. Pharaoh heeds his warning.

As a reward, Joseph is appointed vizier, the highest official in ancient Egypt under Pharaoh.

By heeding Joseph’s advice, the Egyptians had enough grain stored to feed their own people, as well as Israelites seeking refuge from famine. The story of the Jewish people in Egypt and their ultimate escape is also found in Egypt’s own recorded history. We weren’t known as “Jews” then; the term would not be used until many centuries later. During our sojourn in Egypt, we called ourselves Israelites or Hebrews.

The Old Kingdom (circa 2649 to 2150 B.C.) ruled by native Egyptian pharaohs ended when adverse weather left fields parched and barren. Pharaoh was seen as responsible, because it was believed that he controlled the waters of the Nile. “The kings would have been discredited by the famine, because pharaonic power wrested in part on the belief that the king controlled the Nile flood.

In the absence of central authority, the hereditary landowners took control and assumed responsibility for maintaining order in their own areas. The manors of their estates turned into miniature courts, and Egypt splintered into a number of feudal states.” (Helen Chapin Metz, ed. Washington, DC: Federal Research Division of the Library of Congress, 1990 CE).

Canaanite people called Hyksos arrived in Egypt circa 1975 B.C. The Middle Kingdom (circa 2030 to 1640 B.C.) coincides with the arrival of these Semitic people. Conditions were ripe for the Hyksos to step into a leadership role from 1805 to 1535 B.C. in Lower (southern) Egypt. Under their rule, Egypt prospered. This confirms the Bible’s story of Joseph, a Canaanite, who advised Pharaoh to store food to avoid future calamities. Upper (southern) Egypt remained in native Egyptian control. Egypt’s

30 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

list of pharaohs includes these Semitic rulers, whose names reflect Old Hebrew. The painted walls of the Tomb of Khnumhotep II show the Hyksos bringing their families, animals and weapons to Egypt. The Hyksos are credited with inventing the composite bow, battle axes, bronze and horse-drawn chariots.

Historical scholars Manetho and Flavius Josephus wrote about the Hyksos. Both had different meanings for the word

birth. Moses was spared this fate by being set adrift on the Nile in a basket. Rameses II (circa 1279 B.C. to 1213 B.C.) constructed many buildings, including the Abu Simbel temples. It is believed that Israelite slaves toiled to construct these buildings and pyramids. This is chronicled in the Torah and is recounted each year when Jews celebrate Passover.

Israel is mentioned on only one Egyptian monument, the

Hyksos. Manetho, an Egyptian priest, thought it meant “rulers of Merneptah Stele. Stolen from the funerary chapel of Amenhotep foreign lands.” Flavius Josephus translated it as “king-shepherds” III, King Merneptah (1213 to 1203 B.C.) repurposed the and thought the Hyksos and Hebrews were one and the same. monument by writing on its back side. The inscription cites Regardless, both were shepherds who led their flocks from victories over Canaanite cities. Only one reference is to Israel: Canaan to Egypt and became foreign rulers. When Joseph was “Israel is laid waste and his seed is not.” Could this mean that all vizier, he knew Pharaoh, a fellow Semite. The foreigners remained Hebrews had been banished from Egyptian soil? Certainly not all longer than they were Israelites perished in the fighting. welcome. Exodus 1:8 states Historians estimate that the that “Now there arose up a Hebrew enslavement ended circa new king over Egypt, which 1200 B.C. Moses led his people knew not Joseph” and enslaved to freedom after bringing plagues the Hebrew people. Just who and death to the firstborn sons of was this pharaoh?

Egypt.

The Semites thrived and Manetho wrote in his multiplied. Native Egyptians historical book that the Hyksos resented them and sought to fled Egyptian chariots through regain their throne. They were the Sea of Reeds (also referred suspicious of the foreigners’ to as the Reed Sea or Red loyalty and feared they would Sea). According to Torah and side against them if they our Passover Haggadah, the warred with Canaan. (It might Hebrews also fled Pharaoh’s be noted that our Founding chariots. They fled into that Arrow points to present-day image Fathers had the same same sea, displacing water into of Tomb of Khnumhotep II at Beni Hasan, Egypt. concern when they limited walls of waves, in their rush to the presidency to U.S.-born candidates.) Kamose led his native freedom. Whether the Hyksos and Hebrews were the same compatriots in battle and regained control of the northern realm. people is unknown. However, recorded Hyksos, Egyptian and He erected two steles at Karnak, glorifying the end of 108 years Israelite history match. of Hyksos rule. Ahmose became Pharaoh circa 1539 B.C. and was probably the pharaoh cited in the Bible as not knowing Joseph.

The surviving Semites were enslaved. Egyptians feared that Noreen A. Cohen has traveled extensively and is interested they might rise up again. To keep their numbers controlled, Torah in different cultures and religious beliefs. She enjoys writing says that midwives were instructed to kill male Hebrew babies at about belief in relation to historical fact.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 31

WHAT GOES ON A SEDER PLATE PARSLEY

THE EGG

CHAROSET

APRIL 1

Community seders

B

eginning with the words “Let all who are hungry come and eat,” the Passover seder is a journey that recreates the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and the great Festival of Freedom with song, story and special festival foods. Here is a listing of some community seders in the Valley and Tucson.

THE CHOCOLATE SEDER The J’s annual Chocolate Seder is a high-energy event, oozing with sweetness and boasting chocolate-dipped strawberries for the karpas, a marshmallow and chocolate charoset mixture and even four glasses of chocolate milk substituted for a traditional seder’s four glasses of wine! The evening includes a fun, interactive Seder, singalongs, prizes and of course… lots of chocolate!

6–7:30 pm April 1 at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E River Road, Tucson $5 per person ($3 in advance); space is limited RSVP: 520-299-3000 or tucsonjcc.org

APRIL 6 CHOCOLATE SEDER Celebrate Passover with your family at The J! This “traditional” seder is entirely made of chocolate, but there’s also savory treats to eat. Music and crafts round out the fun.

5:30 pm April 6 at Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale Members: $30; Non-members: $45; Price per family up to 5 people, additional, $8 per person RSVP: 480-634-4949 or youth@vosjcc.org

APRIL 10 COMMUNITY SEDER Authentic and family-friendly Passover seder led by Chabad Tucson’s Rabbis Yossie Shemtov and Yehuda Ceitlin with full course dinner, insights, stories and songs.

6:30 pm April 10 at Young Israel Chabad, 2442 E Fourth St, Tucson $45 adult, $25 child; after April 6: $54/adult RSVP: 520-881-7956 or chabadtucson.com COMMUNITY PASSOVER SEDER Enjoy an in-depth Hebrew/English Passover experience, with plenty of translation and an abundance of explanation while enjoying a delicious four-course meal, with all the trimmings.

7:30 pm April 10 at Rabbi’s home in Fountain Hills $36 adult, $18 ages under 12 RSVP: 480-776-4763 or jewishfountainhills.com JEWISH COMMUNITY ANNUAL PASSOVER SEDER A delicious meal, traditional songs and the Four Questions.

7:15 pm April 10 at Pollack Chabad Center, 875 N McClintock Dr, Chandler 32 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

BITTER HERBS

LETTUCE

THE SHANKBONE

$55 adult, $40 child.

RSVP: 480-855-4333 or chabadcenter.com PASSOVER SERVICE & SEDER Service & Seder conducted by Rabbi Leo M. Abrami. Catered

by Gary Shindler of Designs in Food. Delicious and traditional strictly kosher menu featuring brisket and Chicken.

6 pm service; 6:45 pm seder April 10 at Beth Emeth Congregation, 13702 W Meeker Blvd, Sun City West Members: $50 adult; Non-members: $55 adult; $25 ages under 12 RSVP BY APRIL 3: 623-584-7210 PESACH SEDER Join us for a warm and interactive seder with delicious, traditional food and inspiring insights into the Hagaddah.

Noon on April 10 at El Conquistador Country Club, 10555 N La Canada Dr, Tucson RSVP: Chabad of Oro Valley, 520-477-8672 or jewishorovalley.com SEDER UNDER THE STARS An evening of inspiration, humor and song. Full four course sumptuous dinner including salmon, roast chicken and chocolate macaroons.

6:30 pm April 10 at Chabad-Lubavitch of Mesa, 941 S Maple Ave, Mesa $30 adult, $10 students, $5 ages under 12.

RSVP: 480-659-7001 or chabadmesa@gmail.com

APRIL 10 & 11 ANNUAL PASSOVER SEDER Experience the Holiday of Freedom with your family at an inspirational seder complete with hand baked matzah, four cups of superb kosher wine and a gourmet Passover dinner.

7 pm April 10 and 8 pm April 11 at Chabad of Anthem, 41332 N Hudson Trail, Anthem $36 adult, $20 child RSVP: jewishanthem.com/pesach DON’T PASSOVER THE SEDER Traditional Passover Seder with all the trimmings! Handbaked shmurah matzah, fully catered meal and explanatory tidbits throughout.

7 pm April 10 and 7:30 pm April 11 at Chabad of the West Valley, Glendale. $36 adult, $15 student/child, $80 family discount rate RSVP BY APRIL 3: 602-375-2422 or ichabad.org

JEWISH STUDENTS SEDERS U of A Chabad will be hosting interactive seders both nights of Passover. The seder will be English-friendly and not very prayer intensive.

7:30 pm April 10 & 11at Chabad at University of Arizona, 1436 E Drachman St, Tucson RSVP: 520-820-8939 or jewishwildcats.com “LET MY PEOPLE GO”…

TO A TEMPLE EMANU-EL PASSOVER SEDER Join Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon, Rabbi Batsheva Appel and Cantorial Soloist Marjorie Hochberg for the celebration. Both seders will be hamish (home-like), spiritually uplifting, filled with music and include a scrumptious kosher-for-Passover dinner. The seders are open to all.

6 pm April 10 & 11 at Temple Emanu-El, 225 N Country Club Road, Tucson Members: $45; Non-members: $55; $35 college & military; free for ages 3 and under RSVP: 520-327-4501 or tetucson.org THE PESACH EXPERIENCE The Pesach Seder features a four-course meal, hand-baked shmurah matzah, four cups of wine, English-Hebrew Haggadahs and insights into the Festival of Freedom.

7:30 pm April 10 & 11 at Chabad, 401 Suffolk Dr., Sierra Vista $36 per person, $18 military RSVP: 520-820-6256 or jewishsierravista.com/rsvp

APRIL 11 PASSOVER 2ND NIGHT SEDER Or Adam Congregation is hosting this seder catered by Mark Vanek (the Dancing Chef), complete with all the trimmings, four glasses of wine or juice, choice of chicken or vegetarian meal, Mark’s special charoset, afikomen and dessert macaroons.

6 pm April 11 at Cutler Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center, 122 E Culver St, Phoenix RSVP: 480-865-4710 or oradaminfo@gmail.com SECOND NIGHT CONGREGATIONAL SEDER Conducted by Rabbi John Linder and Cantorial Soloist Todd Herzog. Seasons Gourmet Catering will prepare a full-course, traditional, kosher-for-Passover seder dinner.

6 pm April 11 at Temple Solel’s Social Hall, 6805 E McDonald Dr, Paradise Valley Continued on page 34 ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 33

Members: $55 adult; $45 ages 5-12; Non-members: $75 adult; $55 ages 5-12; free for ages 4 and under RSVP BY APRIL 4: Edie Bradt, 480-991-7414 or ebradt@templesolel.org

SECOND NIGHT PASSOVER SEDER Share great dialogue, family participation, supervised children’s play and traditional dinner by Handmaker Catering.

Ma’ariv 6:15 pm; seder 6:45 pm April 11at Congregation Anshei Israel, 5550 E Fifth St, Tucson Members: $45 adult, $30 child; Non-members: $55 adult, $40 child; $37 college & military RSVP BY APRIL 4: caiaz. org/2nd-night-passoverseder-apr-11-2017 SECOND NIGHT SEDER Delicious Passover seder dinner catered by Mark Vanek. A joyful celebration and lots of fun!

The seder includes a complete kosher-for-Passover meal and stories to relive the Exodus. A community seder that feels like family.

6 pm April 11 at Congregation Or Tzion, 9096 E Bahia Dr #106, Scottsdale Members: $55 adult, $35 ages 4-12; Non-members: $80 adult, $50 ages 4-12; free for ages 4 and under RSVP: 480-342-8858 or congregationortzion.org

34 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Matza & More delivers seder necessities to needy

T

he Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Southern Arizona will once again be making food and other items available to those in the community who otherwise would not be able to afford the necessities for a seder. Matza & More volunteers will pack and deliver 200-plus Passover bags to Tucson-area families on April 2. This year, bags will be filled with fresh vegetables, gefilte Left: Nancy fish, horseradish, walnuts, Lefkowitz has served grape juice, matzo ball as the Matza & More soup mix, food gift cards, volunteer chairperson holiday candles and, of for six years. She was course, matzah. named 2016 JFCS Matza & More is part volunteer of the of the Jewish Emergency year in honor of her Financial Assistance proservice. gram at JFCS of Southern Arizona. The JEFA helps individuals and families in need with short-term financial assistance. Because kosher food is more expensive, food for a seder is out of reach for those receiving JEFA assistance.

Donations from synagogues and individuals make the project possible, which has helped families alleviate hunger and celebrate Passover for more than 40 years. Other contributors include the Tucson Hebrew Academy, Shamrock Foods and author Robert Kopman whose 30-Minute Seder Haggadah is distributed with the food.

To donate to Matza & More or any of the programs supported by the JFCS, visit jfcstucson. org.

to life Passover: A time to celebrate "Dayenu!" moments Amy Hirshberg Lederman PASSOVER IS THE TIME OF YEAR when Jews retell the core narrative of the Jewish people, which goes like this: We were slaves in Egypt for over 400 years, then God brought us out of Egypt “with a strong hand and an outstretched arm” to become a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” The Passover story is a powerful account of redemption through revelation that reminds us annually of

our deep-rooted connection to God, freedom, community and Torah.

But it’s interesting to note that within the first few weeks of freedom, the Jews began to complain bitterly about how rough life was in the desert.

Food was scarce, nights were cold and no one seemed happy with this new life – definitely a lot of kvetching for a group who, just weeks before, had been building pyramids under the yoke of Egyptian bondage!

Perhaps a way to understand the kvetch part of our story is to view it as a reflection of the tendency to never be fully satisfied with our lot. The Exodus story suggests that it’s part of human nature to complain about what we don’t have rather than to focus on and be grateful for what we do have.

We spend most of our lives in relationships with others, so its natural to compare ourselves to those we know, admire, live or work with. But often, comparing ourselves to others leads to our own dissatisfaction, because, somehow, others just seem happier, richer, more popular or more successful.

And just like in the movie “When Harry Met Sally,” we think to ourselves: “I’ll have what she’s having!”

The issue of being unhappy with what we have and always wanting more has been around since the beginning of time.

Adam and Eve are a great example: God tells them they can eat from any tree in the Garden of Eden except for the Tree of Knowledge, and bingo, Eve goes straight for the apple from that very tree.

Over 2,000 years ago, the rabbis discussed this problem and gave us this bit of wisdom: “Who is rich? One who is happy with his lot.”

Passover is a great time to renew our commitment to become more aware of what we have. The seder can provide an opportunity to reflect on and share our appreciation for the people and things for which we feel grateful.

During the seder, we sing an upbeat, 1,000-year-old song called “Dayenu.”

Translated from Hebrew, it means “It would have been enough.” Dayenu is the quintessential Jewish gratitude song. It reminds us, over and over again, that whatever we have is enough and that each additional blessing is a gift, a bonus, from God. In the song Dayenu, we sing verses like: “If God had brought us out of Egypt and not punished the Egyptians,

Dayenu!”

“If He had fed us manna in the desert but not given us Shabbat, Dayenu!”

“If He had brought us before Mt. Sinai but not given us the Torah, Dayenu!”

It’s hard to imagine Jews saying it would have been enough had we not been given the Torah – and yet that is what we sing. From the song we understand that “Dayenu” doesn’t literally mean “It would have been enough” as in “No more, you can stop now, game over.” Rather, the words remind us that no matter what we might not have, we should be grateful for all that we do have. In Dayenu, we thank God for each step of the journey and all that happens in between. Dayenu focuses our attention on what we have instead of what we lack.

At your seder this year, consider creating “Dayenu!” moments. You can use a simple statement about gratitude and let your family members and guests fill in the blanks. For example: It would have been enough if … (my son graduated college), but he … (also got a job). Dayenu! Or: It would have been enough that … (I reached my 65th birthday), but … (my parents are also alive). Dayenu!

Another way to celebrate Dayenu moments is to have a discussion where family members and guests share what they are grateful for at this point in their lives. Even if everyone doesn’t participate, you can begin a new Seder tradition. Dayenu!

AMY HIRSHBERG LEDERMAN

Amy Hirshberg Lederman has written more than 300 columns and essays that have been published nationwide. amyhirshberglederman.com

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 35

ASHER ANGEL Following his dream from Desert Stages to Disney

BY MALA BLOMQUIST

A

sher Angel’s acting resume is quite impressive ­– and he’s only 14! He has had roles on the television shows “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders” and “Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn.” He’s been in the movies “Jolene,” “Hate from a Distance” and “How do you do that Voodoo?” His newest acting gig is as Jonah Beck on the Disney Channel’s “Andi Mack.” The new comedy series is written by Terri Minsky, creator of the network’s hit series “Lizzie McGuire,” and will make its television debut on Friday, April 7 at 8:30 pm ET (6:30 pm Arizona time) on the Disney Channel.

Continued on page 38

36 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

PHOTO BY MATT CLAYTON

ARIZONA ARIZONAJEWISH JEWISHLIFE LIFE|| APRIL 2017 37

ASHER ANGEL

Asher is like a lot of teenagers who aspire to be on television.

What sets him apart is a sheer determination that got him where he is today. He made a deal with his mother, Coco Angel, when he first started acting at age 5: “I asked my mom if maybe I could go to L.A. and she said, ‘Asher, if you put in the work and do 30 [local] shows, I’ll take you out there.’ And that’s what happened.”

“He used to always imitate everybody when he was 4 or 5,” says Coco. “He mostly would imitate me – which was yelling ‘Go to your room!’ or ‘You’re in trouble!’ and we used to laugh so hard.” Coco was brought up going to the theater and when Asher was the age where he “could sit still long enough,” she took him, too.

One of the first shows Coco and Asher saw together was at Desert Stages Theatre in Scottsdale. As they were leaving, Asher told her that he wanted to audition. “They just happened to have auditions for ‘Oliver’ that weekend and I was like, OK,” says Coco. “I took him back and he got a part.” Ironically, three years later he would play the lead role in “Oliver” with Phoenix Theatre at Symphony Hall.

Asher starred in “Little Mermaid,” “Seussical,” “Mary Poppins,” “Into the Woods” and more at Desert Stages. He played his most challenging role when he was 10. “I did ‘Into the Woods,’ and I was the narrator,” says Asher. “I had so many lines and had to move back and forth. That was very hard … [but] I had a lot of confidence after that show!”

Coco knew that Asher was ready to take the next step in his acting career, especially from her own childhood experiences acting in television, film and commercials. But it took some time to get his dad, Jody, on board. “He came from a very traditional [background],” says Coco. “You go to this school, to that school and then you go to college.” There was a period of time when Asher was doing a play in Mesa during the day and then performing with Phoenix Theatre at night. “When my husband saw him do that, he was OK [with it]. We were ready to let him do what he wanted to do: move further.”

THE BIG BREAK

When Asher first went to Los Angeles, he was introduced to the Osbrink Talent Agency in North Hollywood. He and his mom traveled to L.A. together whenever he had an audition or a callback. When he was 12, he auditioned for “Andi Mack.”

“It was like a four-audition process,” says Asher. “I was heading home to Arizona and we were late for our flight and my dad called us and said, ‘Asher, it’s OK if you miss your flight: You got ‘Andi Mack!’ and then we started screaming. That moment was incredible.”

For the filming of the 2017 pilot season, Asher and Coco traveled to L.A. for four months, staying Monday through Thursday then coming home on the weekend. But they faced an even bigger challenge when it came time to filming season one

38 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

of “Andi Mack.”

The show was going to be filmed in Canada, L.A. or Utah.

When the Angels found out it was Utah, they made the decision to move as a family with Asher. “We just didn’t want to separate,” says Coco. Asher’s brother Avi, 11, and sister London, 9, are enrolled at small, private schools in both states, alternating between one semester in Arizona and the other in Utah, where they thought it was pretty cool that recess included sledding.

The filming schedule for the series is rigorous. “Usually the night before I film, I memorize those lines,” says Asher. “The next day, I show up on set, have school, film. Then my guitar teacher and singing teacher come and I [practice], then eat lunch, then film again. It’s pretty crazy!” His workday is from 9 am to 6 pm during the week – “I go to sleep when I get home” – with weekends off.

Since Jody and Coco both run their own businesses, Jody had the flexibility to be on set with Asher while Coco took care of the younger siblings. In fact, the four main characters of the series all had their dads on set with them. “That was very rare.

I have never been on set with dads,” says Coco. “I think it’s much better, to be honest. It was very easy. They called them the ‘Mack Daddies’ and they had the best time together. The moms would come in and out to make sure that everything was going smoothly and that the kids were eating. It worked out for everybody.”

Avi and London also made friends with other kids and cast members on set. “They are all our family,” says Coco, who adds that the moms are really good friends, as are the kids. “It was just a really good experience.”

FINDING TIME FOR FAITH

With Asher’s acting schedule, he was almost too busy to celebrate his bar mitzvah. “It was something that we had talked about,” says Coco. “I told him that every single person on both sides of the family has done this. Do you really think that you’re not going to do it? I’m going to leave it up to you – but I feel in 10 or 15 years that you are going to be upset [if you don’t do it].”

Fortunately, in December 2015 – after only five weeks of preparation – Asher became a bar mitzvah at his home in Paradise Valley. He didn’t have time to attend Hebrew school, so his vocal coach, Michele Kahn, helped him prepare. Asher is glad he followed through and reflects on his religion: “What Judaism means to me is being born to this family and it pulls them together and keeps them close.”

Asher and his family were living in Utah during the High Holy Days last year, so they found a synagogue to attend in Park City. “We went with my cast mate [Joshua Rush], who is also Jewish … it was really fun,” says Asher. “It was nice for him to have somebody else to share that with,” adds Coco. “We

went with [Joshua and his dad] and we all went out to dinner.

It wasn’t the traditional ‘at home’ holiday, but it was cool to have a different experience.

We took all of the kids.”

Coco also took her children to visit a Mormon church while they were in Utah.

“People just assume certain things and I think it’s really important for the kids to just respect everyone’s religion and see what it’s about,” she says. She likes that these experiences allow her children to learn things that they wouldn’t learn in a classroom.

THE BOND OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY

Clockwise from right, the Asher family, from left: Avi, Jody, Coco, Asher and London.

PHOTO BY BLUESTICH PHOTOGRAPHY.

The cast of "Andi Mack" from left: Sofia Wylie, Joshua Rush, Peyton Elizabeth Lee and Asher Angel. Titles of some of Asher's films. Asher on the set of "Andi Mack." Asher becoming a bar mitzvah.

Asher describes the character of Jonah Beck that he plays on “Andi Mack” as “the cool, sensitive, nice guy that everyone wants to be with and everyone wants to be friends with” – which doesn’t seem like a stretch from who Asher actually is as a person.

When asked what his friends think about his acting, Asher says, “My friends are very supportive. They’ve been watching me since day one and coming to my shows. Both of my best friends got to come out to watch me film. That was really, really fun.” And although Asher’s friends are involved in sports instead of theater, he shows his support by attending their games. “I go to their football, basketball and baseball games and I play, [too] – but acting is number one [for me].”

Are Asher’s siblings jealous of him? “Not yet,” says Coco.

“I’m sure that comes later. Growing up, you are always jealous of certain things that your brothers and sisters have, whether it’s curly hair or you have the brown eyes [and] they have the blue eyes. I think right now it’s the normal stuff. I just want to make sure that I give Avi the opportunity to do what he wants to do as well, just like I did with Asher.”

Avi is very different from Asher, both in looks and aspirations. “Avi is very into fashion and likes to model. He would like to do the runway and live in New York,” says Coco who wants to get Asher a little more settled in what he’s doing before tackling things with Avi. As for London – other than wanting a little sister to play with (which Coco says is definitely not happening) – she hasn’t been bitten by the acting or modeling bug – yet.

For now, Avi and London are fortunate to be able to “tag along” with Asher. In early February, they went to Disneyland Continued on page 40

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 39

ASHER ANGEL

while Asher attended the “Disney Ball,” an event for all the kids on Disney shows. “Since they don’t go to regular schools, they don’t have dances or a prom; so Disney throws this party for them so they know what it’s like to be at a dance and get dressed up.”

Coco jokes that the family may just be traveling with Asher until he’s married. For now, they’re home in Paradise Valley, waiting to see how well the first season of “Andi Mack” is received.

When (not if!) there is a second season this summer, the family will probably return to Park City. How long they stay will depend on how many episodes are filmed there.

In the meantime, Asher is staying busy working on his other passion: music. He takes guitar, hip- hop, dance and voice lessons four times a week, not to mention spends two to three hours on school work each day and time Skyping with his acting coach in L.A. Asher’s advice for young actors? It may sound cliché, but he is sincere when he says, “Follow your dream and never give up… and work hard.”

Coco is honest with her advice to moms whose children wish to pursue an acting career: “Just be patient. I never was in a rush to take Asher to L.A., [although] everybody said, ‘You have to go to L.A.’ You have to go when the time is right. It’s more than just going there – it’s about taking the time to get educated [about the industry]. She adds that it’s also about being in front of the right people. “Every experience he had got him to where he is now.”

“It’s definitely a different life,” reflects Coco. “I used to always tell people, ‘There is no backup plan for Asher.’” While a lot of actors have other interests, I knew when he started that was it. It was interesting to see a kid that small know what he wanted to do.”

If following your dreams and working hard are indeed keys to success as an actor, then one day Asher is surely destined to be on stage holding a certain golden statue – and thanking his family for supporting him every step of the way.

“Usually the night before I film, I memorize those lines. The next day, I show up on set, have school, film. Then my guitar teacher and singing teacher come and I [practice], then eat lunch, then film again. It’s pretty crazy!”

40 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Asher with sister London and brother Avi. PHOTO BY BLUESTICH PHOTOGRAPHY

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 41

From left: John Massaro, Soprano Anna-Lisa Hackett (first place, female vocalist and audience favorite), Gail Dubinbaum, Tenor Jeffrey Strand (first place, male vocalist). Anna-Lisa and Jeffrey were winners of the Southwest Vocal Competition held on March 5 at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix.

The Phoenix Opera:

nurturing talented voices in the community

By Mala Blomquist

Gail Dubinbaum is pretty sure she came out of the womb singing opera. “My mother was my first teacher,” says Gail.

“I studied with her for many years and she truly was an inspiration to me.”

After graduating from Arizona State University (but not in music!) Gail briefly attended the University of Arizona in Tucson, on an opera scholarship established just for her. She then moved to California and began studying with a renowned teacher, who prepared her for the Metropolitan Opera auditions in New York – which she won. A year later, she was singing on stage at the Met. “It went very fast and I worked with some of the greatest singers in the world,” says Gail. She traveled to Europe and studied under the great German soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, who paid for her master classes. “She was one of the greatest singers in the world, and [she] gave me so much that I feel a huge responsibility to share my knowledge and to give back to people as much as possible.”

42 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

This idea of giving back is what spurred Gail and her husband, John Massaro, to start Phoenix Opera Company in 2008. “We recognized that there was a great deal of talent here that perhaps was not receiving as much opportunity as we thought they could,” says Gail. John, who serves as maestro, had also been an integral part of Gail’s career. “He would stand on the side of the stage as I was performing at the Metropolitan,” says Gail. “He coached many singers and did a lot of conducting – and we always had ideas of how we would do things if given the opportunity.”

Aside from bringing some of the greatest opera talent to the Valley, Phoenix Opera puts on community events and administers education and outreach programs around Arizona.

The opera’s most unique annual event is the Southwest Vocal Competition. Now in its third year, the American Idol-type competition for participants ages 20 to 35 offers the opportunity for singers to audition and be heard by international judges, heads of opera companies, talent agents – all the key people who can help further someone’s career.

The top 10 finalists earn prize money to use toward summer

programs, auditions, lessons and travel.

The first two rounds of the competition are free and open to the public. The final round, as Gail explains, “is a chance for the singers to put on their tuxedos and evening gowns and perform with a full orchestra and conductor and sing their best arias.”

The singers are also interviewed on stage so the audience gets to know them “as real people,” says Gail. “We take great pride in this event, because we are nurturing and developing and helping to launch what I think are extraordinary talents.”

Another unique aspect of the competition is that it’s an ideal marriage of arts and science, created by people who have a passion for understanding the mechanical process and the beauty it can produce. “It’s an interesting collaboration and a unique experience from beginning to end,” says Gail.

Additional collaboration comes from Dr. David Lott and his team at the Department of Otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat) at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, where they educate singers, teachers and public speakers about vocal health.

Dr. Lott originally reached out to Gail because she is also a voice teacher and had worked with some of his patients during rehabilitation. “There isn’t another department like this in this region of the country,” says Gail. “It is highly beneficial for singers to know that there is a place they can go” if they need treatment.

Gail also lectures in tandem with the otolaryngology department and has arranged for singers to be “scoped” while singing the “Queen of the Night Aria.” “We had singers singing with scopes [in] their nasal cavities so [the doctors] could see what their vocal cords were doing!” says Gail.

Singing is very demanding and physical. “You can’t see or touch your ‘instrument,’” says Gail, stressing that everything impacts voice. “If you’re singing correctly, you won’t feel it.

The whole body resonates – the whole body is the instrument.

It’s a very fragile thing.” Gail goes on to stress that “you can buy another instrument, but you can’t buy another voice. The human voice is what we hear in our mother’s body and it’s the first contact we have with the outside world.”

Gail points out that musicians often wear many hats: “I have taught cantors here in the Valley and I cantor out of state for High Holy Days. John has been music director at many synagogues and still works over at Temple Solel [in Paradise Valley].”

When it comes to being a successful opera singer, Gail shares this advice: “Find an excellent teacher who cares about developing the community. Become the best musician you can, become the best linguist you can. Take dance and acting classes. Educate your ears. Learn what is required to be an opera singer. Listen and watch the finest performers. Find the people who are singing the aria you want to sing and watch every production from all over the world.”

“Music is in our hearts and our lives in every aspect,” says Gail fondly. “Everyone can be trained to appreciate music.”

The Southwest Vocal Competition was held on March 5 at the Orpheum Theatre in Phoenix. Jeffrey Strand, from Mesa, won first prize male; Anna-Lisa Hackett, also from Mesa, won first prize female and audience favorite. Contact the Phoenix Opera at 866-OPERA4U (673-7248) or visit phoenixopera.org.

For children entering grades K-10

Join us for a fun and enriching summer!

We have a fun and enriching summer planned!

Entering K-8 & Counselors in Training (Grades 9 & 10) All of our camps include: Exciting weekly field trips & themes • Daily snacks T-shirt • Instructional & Free swim • All-camp sleepover • Traditional, Sports & Specialty camps And back by popular demand...Ruach On the Go! Out-of-state adventures for campers entering grades 6-8!

Low staff-to-camper ratio | Background-checked staff Licensed by ADHS | Extended hours available For information and to register, call 480.634.4949 or visit vosjcc.org/shemeshsummer2017

Open to all!

youth@vosjcc.org | 480.634.4949 | vosjcc.org 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale 85254

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 43

Artist Beth Surdut wearing the “Nightbird” shawl she created.

drawn to wildlife Beth Surdut:

By Mala Blomquist

Artist Beth Surdut has always been interested in wildlife.

She might have become a naturalist, had she been drawn to science instead of art. Her newest exhibit, “The Art of Paying Attention,” features detailed drawings of the “critters” she encounters around her Tucson home.

Beth only recently started doing these intricate drawings. “I was a stained glass designer and fabricator for many years,” says Beth. “Then I started painting on silk because I wanted life to be more portable.” Her painting-on-silk pieces include tallits, wedding canopies, Torah covers and healing scarves.

“Although there was wildlife included in my work, the visual … wasn’t necessarily really detailed,” explains Beth. But detail is an ongoing part of her artistic process. “If I was painting a hibiscus, I wanted to know exactly how many petals it had – what everything looked like in ‘real life’ before I translated it to my artistic vision.”

44 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

When she set out to draw animals (she started with ravens in her work titled “Listening to Raven”), she says, “I was so intent on getting to know the animal I was looking at, that I was drawing everything. I wanted to know as much as I could.”

Then she started thinking about other artists who include wildlife in their work. “I was trying to figure out what the difference was between the pieces that appeal to me and the pieces that don’t resonate with me,” she says.

She realized the difference was in how the artist “sees” the animal: taking a more deliberate approach instead of thinking, “Oh, look at that gorgeous animal! I’m going to paint it” without knowing the animal first. “I want to know everything I can and then do the artwork,” says Beth. She adds that just as she sees people as individuals, she also sees critters as individuals “because they do have personalities – if you spend enough time watching them.”

Her newest exhibit is much more than the detailed drawings of animals that seem so lifelike, you expect them to leap off

“Javie” the javelina stars in one of the stories in “The Art of Paying Attention” radio series.

This drawing of a Townsend’s big-eared bat was featured on a billboard over Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles at the beginning of 2017 as part of the Billboard Creative Project.

the page. In “The Art of Paying Attention,” Beth also writes nature stories about these Sonoran Desert animals that she tells on Arizona Public Media/NPR radio station KUAZ at the University of Arizona. “I do the research, write the story, draw the critters, collect the natural sounds and collect the music,” says Beth of the process. “I know exactly what I want and where I want it dropped in. Then I bring it all to Mark [McLemore, host of Arizona Spotlight]. I go into the station with Mark and a recording engineer, we lay down the voice track, and he pieces it all together and makes it a beautiful thing.”

Beth wanted to engage people through her storytelling and personal experiences but realized that she also wanted to include more comprehensive information about the animals.

Without a science background herself, Beth called expert Theresa Crimmins, assistant director of the USA National Phenology Network in Tucson. “I said, ‘I think that you and I want the same thing. We want people to fall in love with nature so that they will spend time looking at it and getting to know it, seeing the difference that care – or lack of care – makes.’” The USA-NPN also supports “Nature’s Notebook,” an online program where amateur and professional naturalists regularly record observations of plants and animals to generate long-term data sets used for scientific discovery and decisionmaking.

Beth also began accompanying LoriAnne Barnett on presentations. LoriAnne is the education director for the USA-NPN and president of the Arizona Association for Environmental Education. She asked Beth if she would like to take a 10-month certification course to become an

environmental educator. “I wanted … to see how people who are in a more traditional setting approach environmental education,” says Beth. “I wanted to be able to hear what they hear and see what they see” in an effort to impart information that would resonate with them. Most environmental educators go on to teach in the classroom, while Beth uses her multiplatform nature stories as teaching tools for outdoor workshops.

These workshops reflect Beth’s passion for sharing the natural world. “Wouldn’t it be fun to do a program where kids, and adults, using my “Art of Paying Attention” radio pieces [could] start looking around at what lives around them in their daily lives and keeping track of it in ways that work for them?” asks Beth enthusiastically. “Either through ‘Nature’s Notebook’ or stories, drawings or writing poems – whatever it is that speaks to them.”

Beth’s wildlife drawings from “The Art of Paying Attention” will be on display at an exhibit at Tucson’s Agua Caliente Park Ranch House Gallery from April 15 through May 10. An artist’s reception will be held on Sunday, April 30 from 10 am to noon.

Beth will facilitate two “The Art of Paying Attention” workshops for ages 12 and older at Agua Caliente on April 23 and May 10. She enjoys the setting at the park, calling it “an oasis. I do workshops out there because the pond supports and draws so many animals.”

To see more of Beth’s creations, including her work in stained-glass and hand-painted tallits, visit bethsurdut.com. Click on the “Critters” tab to view more of her animal drawings and to listen to her NPR radio pieces.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 45

CORNER LAMB SERVED AT THE SEDER? OY VEY!

By Lucia Schnitzer Photo by Matthew Strauss

Lucia Schnitzer and her husband, Ken, own Pomelo (a full-service restaurant), Luci’s at The Orchard and Splurge (a candy and ice cream shop), all at The Orchard Phx, 7100 N 12th Street, Phoenix. They also own Luci’s Healthy Marketplace, 1590 E Bethany Home Road, Phoenix, which they opened in 2009 in Lucia’s honor after her successful battle with breast cancer.

46 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

I always wondered why I never saw a lamb dish at the seder table. A roasted lamb shank on the seder plate doesn’t qualify. I recently discovered that some Jews (depending on their level of observance) will not eat roasted poultry or meat – especially lamb – during the seder.

It is appropriate to serve lamb for Passover, but rules govern the preparation and are subject to various interpretations.

The ancient custom of sacrificing lambs on the eve of Passover and then eating the meat to begin the festival ended with the destruction of the Second Temple. As a sign of respect for the memory of the temple sacrifices, the eating of a whole roasted lamb on Passover is forbidden by the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law).

Sephardic Jews or those who accept a less strict interpretation of the law will eat lamb, but not if it is roasted. Today, the term “roasted” is usually understood to mean cooked in an oven without liquid. If you will be cooking poultry, beef or lamb for your seder, make sure it is cooked in a pan with liquid other than its own juices. On the days following the seder, roasting is permitted.

I hope this clarifies any questions and clears the way for a beautiful seder with your family and friends. Wishing you a kosher and joyous Passover!

Moroccan Kofta Ingredients: Meatballs: 1pound ground lamb 1pound ground beef 2 large eggs 4 tablespoons chopped mint 4 cloves of minced garlic 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika 1/2 teaspoon black pepper Pinch of ground cinnamon

with Tangy Red Cabbage Slaw

Cabbage slaw: 1 medium head of red cabbage 2 green apples, 1 sliced and 1 grated 1/2 cup scallions 3 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon raw honey Sea salt and black pepper to taste

Directions: Meatballs: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a large bowl, add all of the ingredients for the meatballs. Mix until well combined. Form small meatballs and place of parchment paper. Bake 30 minutes, turning over once during cooking time.

Cabbage slaw: In a large bowl combine all the fresh ingredients for the cabbage slaw.

In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice and honey. Pour over the fresh ingredients and toss to coat. Season to taste.

Serve meatballs with a spoonful of the cabbage slaw.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 47

FOOD RESTAURANT REVIEW

taste of

Arizona Pickled Herring

Some of my earliest memories include hearing my maternal great-grandmother’s thick Russian accent (her name was Fanny) and my paternal grandmother (Bertha) singing lullabies to me in German. My Russian and German heritage helps to explain why I am genetically predisposed to enjoy the food at Sonata’s Restaurant in Scottsdale, a modern take on Eastern European delights.

To me, Eastern European food is earthy. It utilizes root vegetables and flavorful herbs and is “comfortable,” with soft, marvelous textures. In many ways, it is peasant food – and that’s a good thing. Though peasants didn’t have material wealth, they took the best the earth had to offer and warmed their bellies with hearty meals.

I love restaurants with aroma – and there is plenty of that to take in as servers scurry by with other diners’ dishes. Sonata’s is family operated and the family vibe runs throughout the place. Much of the seating is on couches set up to accommodate groups of people celebrating. It has a very modern, sleek look but also classic touches, like chandeliers. My favorite feature is the wall made of small logs set at different depths that you could stare at all day. They also have a large outdoor patio with a full bar, a little coffee shop with pastries and a large dining room with a VIP area and small stage for live music. A large portrait of Sonata, the very attractive owner, watches over the fun. One particular evening, it kind of turned into a disco, with people singing Russian songs and dancing throughout the night.

Here’s a list of some of my choices over the course of a few visits: 48 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

THIS MONTH’S RESTAURANT

Sonata’s Restaurant $$$

10050 N. Scottsdale Road #127, Scottsdale 480-477-1390 sonatasrestaurant.com

Contact A. Noshman at a.noshman@azjewishlife.com

Beef Stew $18

(Peewee potatoes, carrots, celery, onions, Brussels sprouts, turnips, celery root, eggplant, mushrooms, tomatoes, English peas, fennel, white beans) Just the description alone – all of those ingredients slowcooked together – was enough for me to choose this item. It came served in a little cast-iron pot with a huge spoon. Loved the spoon! I like utensils with heft. (It’s kind of a pet peeve of mine to dine using cheaply made forks and knives – hate that.)

You could taste every single ingredient in the stew and I really enjoyed it. The meat was tender and the soft texture of it all was half the fun. It was filled with the goodness of the earth, yet I felt it could have used a little salt and pepper. I think under-seasoning probably let all of the individual ingredients stand out – and I always defer to the chef. It was served with smetana, which I asked to be held to avoid mixing milk with meat.

side, with a hint of vinegar. The smetana, a Russian sour cream, was fresh and light. It came with some fresh dill not mentioned in the description. No heavy flavors. Instead, it was stunningly colorful and a delightful blend of the fermented and the fresh, cool with warm.

Ruskie Perogies $16

(Potatoes, farmer cheese, caramelized onions glazed with sherry wine, celery-root puree, melted leeks) Perogies (also spelled pierogies) originated in Poland and have been adopted by many different cultures. Basically, they are dumplings made of unleavened dough. In this Russian version, they were stuffed with potatoes and cheese. These perogies were really a highlight: rich and a little filling, but I couldn’t put down my huge spoon because they were so good.

There wasn’t much to the presentation, because they were kind of slapped on the plate. (I know this because before our order came, we were inadvertently and briefly served someone else’s Ruskie Perogies, which looked beautiful. Looks aside, I would recommend ordering this.)

Grand Marnier and Lavender Crème Brûlée $9 (Mixed berries)

Salmon Crêpe

Norwegian Crêpes $12

(Smoked salmon, shaved Brussels sprouts, tzatziki, tomato, cucumber, red onion, sumac) I ordered from the savory crêpes section of their Sunday brunch menu and this took me straight to heaven. Savory is almost an understatement. Inside the nicely browned, sweet wrapping lay generous slices of fresh, delicate salmon in a bed of highly complementary vegetables. If you closed your eyes, you would have no idea there were veggies, though they added texture, earthy flavor and sweetness. It was accompanied by a dipping sauce. (I admit, I still have no idea what it was, but I used it all.) This is a must-try.

I think we left Eastern Europe and went straight to France for this dessert. It was one of the most scrumptious, velvety, melt-in-your-mouth versions of crème brûlée I have ever had.

From its crisp cinnamon and sugary top to its hint of orange liqueur and wisp of lavender, this after-dinner treat really hit the mark. If you’re a fan of crème brûlée, don’t miss it.

Other than a few glitches in service (like receiving other people’s meals, our server knocking over a bottle of water and some sloppy plating), the people are very nice and accommodating. The crowd was an eclectic mix of ages and ethnicities and the interior design was functional and fun. It’s refreshingly different from corporate establishments – and a place I will visit again and again.

Where else can you find borscht or pickled herring at an upscale Scottsdale restaurant? In some way, we are all from the “old country” – and Sonata’s helps to nourish that connection.

See you there!

Pickled Herring $12

(Boiled Yukon gold potatoes, smetana, pickled onions, local heirloom cherry tomatoes) This is about as Eastern European as you can get but with a little Arizona thrown in. This was some of the best herring I have ever tasted. It was tender and lightly pickled, with more of a sweet taste than vinegar and very, very fresh. The potatoes were nicely done. The pickled onions were also on the sweet

Crème Brûlée ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 49

FOOD

The House of Tricks restaurant beckons visitors.

House of Tricks is all treats

By Melissa Hirschl

Tucked away in downtown Tempe, there is a “secret garden” of sorts: House of Tricks, a charming, cottage-style restaurant with a disarming sense of nostalgia and a sense of whimsy.

Owned by Temple Emanuel members Robin Trick and her husband Robert, this bucolic oasis is walking distance from the lively bustle of Mill Avenue and Arizona State University.

The couple has created a truly unique fine-dining experience that beckons with graceful trees and patios adorned with bursts of colorful flowers. Two separate, historic bungalows – connected by a large, outdoor, tree-covered bar – provide tastefully decorated rooms that include French fabric curtains, 50 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

original wood floors, a vintage stone fireplace made with local river rock and fine-art prints.

According to Robin, House of Tricks has been an ongoing labor of love for 30 years. The duo has complementary roles that produce a winning team. Robin is the owner/manager in charge of finance, marketing and personnel. Robert, who was a chef for the first 10 years, maintains the property and keeps everything running smoothly.

“I love greeting customers and talking with them,” says Robin. “It’s my favorite part of the job. We have 60 employees, so I [also] put out a lot of fires.” Another perk of Robin's position is meeting local personalities and even a sprinkling of celebrities. She has seen then-Senator Barack Obama,

Mitt Romney, Janet Napolitano, and Mark and Harry Mitchell walk through House of Tricks’ doors.

Raised in a traditional, conservative Jewish home in Queens, New York, Robin originally hitched her dream to fine arts.

Pratt Institute in Manhattan was the ideal gateway, but the daily commute and congestion of the city took a physical and emotional toll. “It took several hours a day to get to Pratt and at the end of the day, it was hard to be creative,” she says. After visiting her sister at ASU during spring break, she decided Arizona was where she wanted to live. She transferred to ASU, where she received a fine arts degree. Robin has since been on the boards of several arts organizations and is an avid collector of ceramics and fiber arts.

A college stint working at the wildly popular Bandersnatch Brew Pub (closed in 2003) in Tempe was Robin’s first steppingstone to restaurant ownership.

At graduation, she received an invaluable gift – the position of manager. “I had no business background, but they still wanted me,” she says. “I wound up managing for eight years. I met a lot of Robin and Robert Trick really great people, including my husband, who I eventually hired as a cook.”

At Bandersnatch, the couple stretched their entrepreneurial wings, creating a catering business on the side. Sensing their true niche, the two stepped up their game and decided to rent the first building of their current restaurant and create House of Tricks catering. Their passion for food creation led to a slew of lucrative contracts with the City of Tempe and the Tempe Public Library, as well as weddings and city and corporate events.

With their venture picking up steam, the Tricks added outdoor picnic tables to take advantage of the lush outdoor landscaping. A front patio that doubled the seating was the true, magic touch. “That’s when the restaurant really took off and we decided to just focus on that,” says Robin. “We did a lot of landscaping and installed a covering over the original grape arbor.”

To accommodate the burgeoning popularity of House of Tricks, the couple purchased both buildings from their landlord in the mid-90s, one of which was a historically recognized adobe-brick building built in 1903. “It was a humongous step for us,” says Robin. “We also put in the outdoor bar so we didn’t have to keep making cocktails in the back room.” A few years later, they added the second patio and a few years after that renovated the inside, creating two rooms: one for regular seating and the other for private parties.

The decision to locate in Tempe was never a question in Robin’s mind – it was the only place on her radar. Mill Avenue was an exciting prospect, but the high rents were a significant

roadblock. “Mill Avenue would not have [afforded] us the luxury of creating a place like this,” says Robin. Little did the couple know that their decision had a huge silver lining.

Creating House of Tricks “took a village,” says Robin. The couple used a contractor, but friends and family provided much of the manpower. Within a short five months, the first building was up and running; within a few years, the second one came to life. “Part of why we are successful is [that] we let the restaurant grow organically,” says Robin. “We didn’t want to get stuck on one particular vision.”

To that end, the couple started with a French flair, which has since evolved into a more eclectic menu with interesting flavors.

“We strive for local and seasonal food,” says Robin. “Our seafood is flown in every day from Santa Barbara; our produce is as local as we can get it.”

The Tricks are particularly proud of the awards they have received, including “Small Business of the Year” from the Tempe Chamber of Commerce and one for neighborhood beautification from the City of Tempe. Robin has also received the “Tempe Businesswoman of the Year” award. “We are consistently number one on Trip Advisor and always get mentioned in the Phoenix New Times ‘Best of ’ section,” she adds.

To experience the food and ambiance that receive so many accolades, make your reservation and savor this Tempe “treat.”

Join the mailing list to learn about special events throughout the year, including wine-pairing dinners. House of Tricks is located at 114 E. 7th St. in Tempe. Call 480-968-1114 or visit houseoftricks.com.

GREAT WITH BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER

WANDER NO MORE

azjewishlife.com ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 51

Where the wildflowers are

By Mala Blomquist

H& Lifestyle ome

Brittlebush

Desert Lupine

S

ome people find it hard to believe that there can be an abundance of places to view wildflowers in the middle of the desert. Arizona’s Sonoran Desert would surely change their minds. After winter’s ample rain, this wildflower season has been particularly lovely. Wildflowers bloom March through May in the lower elevations.

When it gets too warm in the Valley, you can head to the high country to see more.

SOME COMMON WILDFLOWERS Brittlebush: This is a bright, showy yellow flower, perhaps due to the fact that it is a member of the sunflower family. Flowers grow from a shrub rather than a single stalk and require minimal water.

52 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Wildflowers blooming in the desert near Horseshoe Lake, north of Phoenix.

Mexican gold poppy: A common wildflower, these grow in dense clusters and make slopes on the hillsides of mountain parks look like they are glowing. You can also spot these poppies PHOTO BY HÉCTOR G. ORTIZ flowering in front yards and road medians across the Valley.

Fortunately for us, we don’t have to venture far to see wildflowers. Natural areas all over the Valley are part of the Maricopa County Parks system. For a nominal fee of $6 per vehicle, visitors can spend the day in the park. Overnight camping is allowed for an additional fee. Some parks offer ranger-led programs incorporating a wildflower theme. For those who enjoy photography, all parks are participating in the “Go Wild for Flowers” program where visitors tag their wildflower photographs at #GoWildforFlowers/@ GoWildforFlowers on Facebook or Twitter, which will share your photo(s).

For a schedule of events and activities, visit maricopacountyparks.net.

If you live in the far East Valley, the Lost Dutchman State Park offers spectacular wildflower viewing from its many trails in the SuIndian Paintbrush perstition Mountains. The Native Plant Trail is located near the Visitor Center and features desert plants along a paved, quarter-mile trail. The Discovery Trail connects the campground with day-use areas. This trail features information signs, a wildlife pond, birdfeeders and a viewing bench.

For those is good shape, there is the Siphon Draw Trail, which winds up into a canyon known as Siphon Draw. This is a very scenic hike and adventurous hikers can continue all the way to the Flatiron, an almost six-mile roundtrip that gets steep and difficult near the top. Daily entrance to the park is $7 per vehicle. Learn more at azstateparks.com/lost-Dutchman.

Mexican Gold Poppy For Tucson residents, the Saguaro National Park surrounds you - literally. The park is divided into two districts: the Rincon Mountain District is east of Tucson and the Tucson Mountain District is located to the west. Combined, these two districts offer more than 165 miles of hiking trails. Hiking on the Signal Hill Trail (west district) just a quarter Desert lupine: Flowering stems range in color from blue to mile from the picnic area offers not only a great view from the top purple with a yellow center spot that changes to red when the of Signal Hill, but the opportunity to view petroglyphs and Hoplant has been pollinated. They are often seen growing amid the hokam rock art that is more than 900 years old.

Mexican gold poppy.

If you want to see an abundance of Sonoran Desert life without Desert marigold: These yellow flowers have multiple, stacked even leaving the car, try the Cactus Forest Drive (east district). layers with grayish leaves and stems. They attract butterflies but This one-way, paved loop road runs through the heart of a saguaro are toxic to livestock. cactus forest and provides breathtaking views of the desert landFirecracker penstemon: Tall stalks with bright orange-red scape. Entrance to the park is $10 per vehicle, $5 for walk-ins or flowers attract hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators. A bicycles. Learn more at saguaronationalpark.com. favorite for xeriscape gardeners.

When the temperatures head upward and the wildflowers start Indian paintbrush: The flower clusters on these plants can waning in the lower desert, head north to escape the heat and see range from white to purplish-red. Abundant blooms can be found what’s blooming there. The Mogollon Rim, or “the Rim,” extends after good winter rainfall and may carpet an area for hundreds of nearly 200 miles from southwest of Flagstaff to the White Mounfeet. tains in eastern Arizona. Woods Canyon Lake (about 30 miles ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 53

PHOTO BY HÉCTOR G. ORTIZ

Your wardrobe fits.

Shouldn’t your closet?

$200 Off

plus Free Installation Minimum purchase of $2000 $2000. May not be combined with any other offers or existing contracts.

480.998.2070

Call for free design consultation or visit us online at closetfactory.com

Showroom: 14425 N. 79th St., Suite H, Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Closets | Garages | Home Offices Entertainment Centers | Wall Beds | Wall Units Pantries | Craft Rooms | Laundry Rooms | Mud Rooms | Wine Rooms

©2015 Closet Factory. All rights reserved. ROC #175443

54 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

the art of organization

Splash into Summer!

Open house every Sunday 10am - 3pm Including our gorgeous heated pools!

You belong here.

- 50,000-square-foot fitness center Desert Marigold

Firecracker Penstemon

- 70+ group fitness classes/week - Indoor basketball and racquetball courts

east of Payson) has a relatively level surrounding trail called the Rim Lakes Vista Trail that offers great views and rocky, sunny exposures for wildflowers. Wildflowers bloom here from May through October, with the best viewing in July and August. Hannagan Meadow Recreation Area on the eastern end of the Mogollon Rim offers the six-mile Hannagan Loop,trail that starts at Hannagan Meadow Lodge and follows a seasonal creek through marshy areas home to spectacular wildflowers.

For more information on these spots and other hiking locations along the Mogollon Rim, visit fs.usda.gov.

Out on the wildflower trail, remember basic hiking safety: Bring water, wear sunscreen and a wide brimmed hat and watch out for desert wildlife of the snake variety that come out when the weather warms up – and enjoy the beauty our unique state has to offer!

- Heated competition and activity pools - Splash pad and rock wall - Friendly and helpful fitness staff - Locker rooms with full amenities - A real community atmosphere

Visit TryTheJ.com or call 480.420.0268 Valley of the Sun JCC - 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd. Corner of Sweetwater & Scottsdale Rd. ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 55

TOP

Trends, Tricks and Styling for Spring

By Tori Rosenblum

Spring has sprung – and with the warmer temperatures, the latest fashion trends have sprung up, too.

1. HELLO YELLOW Be as bright as the Arizona sun, in not-so-mellow yellow.

From lemon to mustard, to a light pastel hue, there is a shade of yellow for every skin tone. This cheerful color is an easy way to serve your style sunny side up this spring.

2. COASTAL STRIPES Channel Nantucket nights and nautical style in seaside stripes. This preppy pattern looks great on any silhouette and exudes an easy coastal attitude. Try mixing vertical, horizontal and diagonal stripes of varying weights. Mixing and matching is a large part of the trend.

3. RUFFLES Frilly, feminine ruffles are this spring’s girliest trend. We are seeing the detail cascade down sleeves, skirts and dresses like a waterfall. A great way to edge up this girly trend is to pair a ruffled piece with something a bit more sporty and streamlined – like a pair of fitted pants.

1

56 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

4. SPARKLE AND TEXTURE Playing with texture and shine is a sure way to stand out this season. Choose pieces that incorporate beads, sequins or embroidery for a bold look. Don’t be afraid to combine different textures in one outfit. Variety and unexpected combinations make fashion fun!

5. WHITE HOT Mix and match bright white pieces for a statement-making monochromatic look. Instead of a little black dress, try a white pencil skirt and a white off-the-shoulder blouse for a night out. For street-wear style, choose a pair of white skinny jeans and a casual white tee. White provides a blank slate that lets the fashion itself do all the talking.

2 4

3

5 ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 57

SENIORS

A house and a home

The entrance to House I on the Barton House campus.

By Mary Ann Bashaw

The first thing you notice when you walk up to Barton House is what it’s not. The architecture is not what you might expect from a memory care facility, where senior residents are coping with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. It’s not stark and institutional looking. What you do notice is that it looks like a house and a home – which is exactly what it is.

The two buildings that make up Barton House are tucked away on East Mountain View Road in Scottsdale, under the shade of mature, manicured desert landscaping. House I was built in 1999, at a time when there were very few options for seniors with memory issues like Alzheimer’s and dementia.

They were simply locked up in skilled-nursing facilities with wards that kept them sequestered from the outside world.

House II was completed in 2010. Both houses share the same campus and each has 20 private rooms with half baths.

“They’re called houses for a reason,” says Randy Farmer, director of marketing at Barton House. “The original builders wanted a different model with a warm, homelike environment.”

The original builders were an unlikely pair, in light of their 58 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

relative youth compared to those they sought to serve. Two Austin businessmen named Bob Bouchard and John Trevey became co-owners of the first Barton House in the mid90s. Their goal was to revolutionize society’s approach to “memory care,” a higher level of specialized care for those with degenerative brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and dementia that differs from traditional nursing homes and hospitals. A nationwide search convinced them that there was a critical lack of understanding of how to interact with and care for these seniors.

Eventually, there were 11 independently owned Barton Houses across the country. The one in Scottsdale was acquired in 2005 by Kleege Enterprises, a commercial real estate company in San Diego.

SOBERING STATISTICS ON ALZHEIMER’S “Memory care is a calling,” says Randy. “You truly have to want to work in this environment. It’s tough and demanding emotionally. We recruit people who want to be here.”

Randy says that memory care, including continuing care retirement communities, has expanded exponentially over the last decade, especially with the incidence of Alzheimer’s disease rising with the aging U.S. population. He stresses that there is a broad spectrum of quality and aesthetics in the market, ranging in cost from $3,500 to $11,000 ­– per month.

Each facility has its pluses and minuses, but “ambience does not equal level of care,” says Randy. At $5,500 a month, Barton House falls below mid-range but assures low resident-tocaregiver ratios with a maximum of six to one and low staff turnover attributed to its unique culture of caring.

The Centers for Disease Control cites that Alzheimer’s is the sixth-leading cause of death in the U.S. and that one in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or some kind of dementia.

More sobering statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association: • 1 in 9 Americans over age 65 has Alzheimer’s disease • One-third of Americans over age 85 are afflicted with the disease • 5.3 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s • By 2050, that figure could rise as high as 16 million • In 2017, Alzheimer’s and other dementias will cost the U.S. $256 billion As the single senior care center in the Kleege portfolio, Barton House is not under the relentless pressure of occupancy and profit margin of corporate owners of senior care centers.

Still, he admits, “it is labor and cost intensive. It is a business with an altruistic and a balance-sheet side – and the balance sheet has to work.” Resources for certain seniors and veterans, long-term care insurance, retirement savings, investment income and family financial support can help make living in a place like Barton House – and the accompanying peace of mind – attainable.

STAYING AT BARTON HOUSE UNTIL END OF LIFE Randy cites Barton House’s own approach to engaging with and caring for residents and stresses the importance of “understanding each individual and how to deal with the rest of [his/her] core personality.” While social behaviors and norms get stripped away by these tragic degenerative brain diseases, Randy is resolute about the need to treat each person as if that core personality is still there.

“We love on them, we take care of them, keep them alive and engaged and in touch with their personalities [as much as we can] until it’s no longer possible,” says Randy.

Barton House works to facilitate all of the necessary support services for its residents, including the coordination of medical care, physical therapy, mobile medical and dental care and hospice. “We have three physicians who come see our patients – and any primary care doctor is welcome [to come see a patient].” An ongoing goal is to keep residents out of the hospital and the ER. “We care for and support our residents as fully as possible and help them stay at Barton House until end of life,” says Randy. The only limits are placed on behaviors that are threats to residents and staff.

Our memory care is accredited for two reasons.

You. And your family.

Because having the confidence and peace of mind of accreditation is important. That’s why Hawthorn Court is accredited by CARF International.

It’s a lot like an accreditation for a hospital or college. Or a five-star rating for a hotel. So if you’re looking for memory care services for a loved one, take a good look at Hawthorn Court. Please join us for a personal tour.

Call 480.367.8999 to schedule.

Acc r e di t e d & Awa r d -Wi n n i ng M e mor y C a r e

13822 South 46th Place at Ray Road Phoenix, AZ • 480.367.8999 SRGseniorliving.com

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 59

Caregiver Benetta Clarke, left, with Barton House resident Ida Smith at mealtime.

Residents enjoy three home-cooked meals a day in the Barton House dining room. (Randy says that although the kitchen is not kosher, they can provide kosher meals for Jewish residents.) There are no hallways by design, because they can be confusing to residents. All rooms open onto common areas – no one is “locked away.” The backyard is spacious, with grass and native foliage and a patio for gatherings. Residents enjoy regular musical entertainment and students from Chaparral

60 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

High School, just a stone’s throw away from Barton House, engage with residents through community service programs.

Randy recalls the day a group of students descended upon both Houses I and II to play the piano and help with crafts. “The energy level was way up for two hours,” says Randy.

Randy can thank his wife Stephanie for helping pave his way to Barton House. An avid advocate for seniors, she has worked in the senior-living industry since 2001 and saw her

RELIABLE, RELIABLE,KINDHEARTED KINDHEARTED IN-HOMECAREGIVERS CAREGIVERS IN-HOME

“Memory care is a calling,” says Randy. “You truly have to want to work in this environment. It’s tough and demanding emotionally. We recruit people who want to be here.”

–Randy Farmer, Director of Marketing at Barton House

mother through a 15-year Alzheimer’s journey. “She has beenWe my mentor,” says Randy. But though Randy says he “tried to retire twice – it didn’t work,” he already had the tools to fill his current position (in November 2016) after a 40-year career in sales and marketing in the healthcare industry, which allowed him to raise the level of his position at Barton House.

ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT DECISIONS IN LIFE There is no barrier to family accessibility at Barton House.

Without set visiting hours, family members and spouses can come and go 24/7. “We do not close and we do not restrict access,” says Randy. “We can best help families to the degree that they want to be integrated into the Barton House family.”

Partners include the Area Agency on Aging, Jewish Family & Children’s Service and other social service agencies. Staff also provide individual coaching and counseling to spouses and adult children of residents.

Abandonment, guilt, separation – Randy sees the full range of emotions when it comes time for “one of the most difficult decisions a family has to make in life. We work very hard to support them. We show compassion, a willingness to hold their hand, pat them on the shoulder and help them through the challenge.”

The essence of Barton House comes down to what Randy calls “accepting residents at their level, whatever it is, and validating that individual as a real human being. You cannot be angry or frustrated or anything other than kind, because they are so lost and helpless and dependent on those who care for them.”

Randy has learned higher levels of patience, kindness, service and humility at Barton House. “I have become a much more grateful human being in the short time that I have had the pleasure and privilege to work with this group of individuals,” says Randy. “This job can break your heart, but it can also be a source of great joy.”

Barton House is located at 7007 E. Mountain View Road in Scottsdale. For more information, call 480-991-9912 or visit thebartonhouse.com.

Mary Ann Bashaw, of Phoenix, is an editor and writer.

We provide in-home caregivers to older adults and the physically challenged within the community.

For Assistance a Few Hours a Day or Up to 24 Hours

provide in-home caregivers to &older adults and the Locally owned operated by Eric & Denise physically challenged within theKaye. community.

Connections in Home Care, LLC We provide in-home caregivers 3420 E. Shea Blvd., Suite 200 For Assistance a Few Hours a Da Phoenix, AZ 85028 to older adults and the physically or Up •to 24 Hours (602) 708-8626 www.chcaz.org challenged within community.

Locallythe owned & operated by

RELIABLE, KI Connections in Home Locally owned & operated

by Care, LL E. Shea Blvd., Suite 200 Eric 3420 & Denise Kaye.

IN-HOME C Phoenix, AZ 85028 Eric & Denise Kaye.

(602) 708-8626 • www.chcaz.o

Connections in Home Care, LLC

3420 E. Shea Blvd., Suite 200 Phoenix, AZ 85028

(602) 708-8626

For AssistanceWe a few hoursin-home a day careg provide up to 24-hour care. challenged physically

For Assis o

Loc

Connecti

3420

(602) 708 www.chcaz.org ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 61

SENIORS

All aboard for education and adventure

By Leni Reiss

If you’re a history buff, you might be interested in an innovative travel program sponsored by the Bureau of Jewish Education (BJE): A Presidential Libraries Tour to Southern California this summer, from August 6 to 11.

BJE Executive Director Myra Shindler promises that “participants will connect with like-minded adults who enjoy travel and experiential learning with an emphasis on Ronald Reagan Presidential Library fun, education and adventure.”

Myra says BJE “sees this as an integral part of our educational goals and the start of what we hope will be a longterm and ongoing travel program concentrating on the Jewish experience in the United States.”

A luxury, airconditioned bus will J.Paul Getty Museum leave on Sunday, Aug. 6 from the Ina

At the helm of the tour will be Jay Roth, a lifelong history buff who presently serves on the BJE faculty. Jay teaches courses on past presidents, including Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman.

62 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Levine Jewish Community Campus in Scottsdale.

(Other arrangements can be made if interested parties are already in California at that time.)

The cost of the trip is $1,300/person double occupancy and $1,500/ person single occupancy with a $400 deposit due at registration.

Highlights include a two-night stay aboard The Queen Mary in Long Beach and three nights at the Elan Hotel in Los Angeles, near Beverly Hills; admission to and tours of both the Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan Presidential Libraries; a visit to either the Skirball Cultural Center or the J. Paul Getty Museum; and a “lunch and learn” session with Ron Wolfson, a

Richard Nixon Presidential Library

Recent newcomers to the Valley, Jay nationally recognized professor in and his wife, Susan, traveled a circuitous the Graduate Center for Education route to get here – albeit with a series of at American Jewish University in challenging and successful employment L.A. A concluding banquet at Pat’s opportunities in the Jewish world.

Restaurant (fine kosher dining) will Jay has served in various executive emphasize the owners’ passion for capacities in Jewish Community the culinary arts.

Centers from the Bronx to Long Island, At the helm of the tour will be New York; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; and Jay Roth, a lifelong history buff Miami Beach, Florida where he stayed who presently serves on the BJE for more than 25 years. Coincidentally, faculty. Jay teaches courses on past he was replaced in Florida by former presidents, including Abraham Valley resident Paul Fishman (“a great Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Franklin guy”), who was associated with the JCC Roosevelt and Harry Truman. in Scottsdale.

Jay says the upcoming tour is Since Jay and his wife “already owned a team effort with BJE’s staff. “If a place in Scottsdale, this is where we you love American history, you will decided to retire – and it is a perfect love the tour,” he says, adding that choice,” says Jay. “We love Arizona. We discussions will include Nixon’s and Jay Roth love the newness and the welcoming Reagan’s commitment to Israel, ambiance. We find that the people are along with Jewish life in the U.S. – warm and friendly and there are endless opportunities to make historically and present-day. There will also be get-togethers new friends.” throughout the excursion.

For more information and to reserve your place on the BJE’s Andre Ivory, BJE’s outreach coordinator, will work alongside Presidential Libraries Tour, visit bjephoenix.org (click on the Jay on the tour. A dynamic Jewish educator, Andre served “Adult Travel with BJE” link) or call Andre Ivory at 480-634-8050. congregations and Jewish institutions in Los Angeles and Toronto before settling in Arizona.

THE SECRET’S WORTH SHARING. There’s a beautiful place in Palo Alto, California, where truly exceptional seniors craft their inspired, supportive, liberating retirement with style.

On the Taube Koret Campus for Jewish Life, with easy access to Stanford University and Medical Center … Moldaw Residences is a secret worth sharing coast to coast.

The even-better secret? Affordability.

Call 1.800.656.4921 or visit moldaw.org/belowmarket-rate.htm to find out about our Below Market Rate pricing program.

899 East Charleston | Palo Alto, CA 94303 Moldaw Residences welcomes older adults of all faiths, ethnicities and racial backgrounds.

RCFE 435294340

PCOA 227

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 63

s d i K too s n e e T &

J

Matzah house craft

By Mala Blomquist

Building a matzah house can be both a fun project for the little ones and it can double as a centerpiece for seder. You can use your imagination and creativity to create a house as simple or elaborate as you please. The best part is, you probably have most of the ingredients in your pantry already!

Matzah house You will need: Piece of cardboard for base (can be the side of a cereal box) Aluminum foil Sandwich bags Serrated knife Tape Matzah Canned frosting Assorted candies, cookies, chocolate, dried fruit, etc. for decorating

Directions: Begin by covering the cardboard with foil and taping down the foil on the back to secure.

Cut a small hole in the corner of a sandwich bag. Fill bag with frosting. Starting with 2 pieces of matzah, pipe frosting onto one edge of the matzah. Attach the 2 pieces of matzah together at a 90-degree angle and let sit until the frosting is set. Repeat with another 2 pieces of matzah.

Make the roof by taking a piece of matzah, spreading with frosting and attaching mini-wheat cereal on it for shingles. You can also use sliced almonds or gummy candies.

Once the frosting on your house walls is set, attach both of the pieces with frosting to make a matzah box. Add the matzah roof by applying frosting to the top edge of the matzah box. Apply frosting to the bottom edge and secure the house to the foil-covered base.

To make a door for the house, cut a piece of matzah with a serrated knife (this should be done by an adult). Decorate with candies and attach with frosting. Add windows with extra pieces of matzah or candy blocks.

Landscape around your house using an assortment of candies, cookies, dried fruit or chocolate.

Let your imagination go wild and have fun!

64 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 65

FAMILY TIME

Bar Mitzvah Reverb

By Debra Rich Gettleman

I have to say, there are some cool things about living in Seattle. It doesn’t ever reach 120 degrees, the greenery is amazing and nobody ever cares what you wear, how fancy your car is or what label is on your newest handbag. That said, bar mitzvah planning is a totally different animal out here.

We’ve never been the “keep up with the Joneses” kind of folks. But I was raised on Chicago’s North Shore and my ingrained vision of a bar mitzvah involves printed invites, professional photographs and a splashy, sweets table complete with personalized candy bars and a Ghirardelli dark-chocolate fountain.

We loved every aspect of our older son Levi’s bar mitzvah in Arizona. It was all about him: unique, creative, culinary. The meaning of the affair was deep and important. Our families were together – along with many of our nearest and dearest – and the service was led by rabbis we considered family and a cantor who had watched Levi grow up from two houses away.

Being in a new place, not knowing anyone and being members of a synagogue where we don’t have the comfort

UP

YOUR ENERGY! EARLY BIRD IL SPECIAL APR 1-30

AZ on the Rocks camps focus on movement, physical activity and having fun.

Campers will climb at AZ on the Rocks, do yoga with Yoga on the Rocks, Ninjitsu with Maui Saito Ninjitsu, as well as many other fun activities. Lunch is provided fresh every day by Pita Jungle (with pizza on Fridays).

*2017 pricing is $300 for half day and $360 for full day 2017 SUMMER CAMP SESSION

DATES: Monday 6/5 Friday 8/4 TIMES: Half Day 9:00a-1:00p or Full Day 9:00a-3:00p

AGES: 6-12 years.

There are no exceptions made to the age policy.

66 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

REGISTRATION: Contact Stephanie@azontherocks.com to register or for further information.

of clergy connections developed over decades makes this a challenging time for us. However, I distinctly remember the advice I got from my dear friend, Rabbi Mari Chernow, the senior rabbi at Temple Chai in Phoenix, about four years ago when Levi was becoming a bar mitzvah. She encouraged me to make sure the bar mitzvah process and the event itself celebrated Levi. It isn’t about what parents want or the accoutrements. It’s about families appreciating the process of watching a son or daughter step into this new stage of maturity and adulthood. She said to include the child in the planning and to focus on the personal and relevant message in your child’s Torah portion.

So with less than five months for planning, I reached out to our new temple with the absurd request for a spring date for my comic-book-obsessed son, Eli. Somehow, they arranged it.

It was on Purim, March 11. They assigned Eli’s Torah portion, Tetzaveh. A beautifully detailed description of the priestly garments, the colors of the Kohen Gadol’s efod (or apron) and the specific stones in the breastplates. Eli worked hard to

understand his parsha and to master the skills necessary to fulfill this awesome mitzvah.

I kept thinking about Rabbi Chernow’s advice to share a meaningful and relevant lesson with my son. I read about the intricate details of clergy garb countless times, but meaningful conclusions seemed elusive. Then, suddenly, it all made perfect sense to me and I wrote the following, which I read on the bimah on March 11: Eli, your Torah portion is in part about costumes and how G-d sometimes gives specific directions to people about how to dress and how what they wear is an important component of spiritual, psychic and metaphysical power. G-d details every aspect of priestly garb, even mentioning the “urim and thummim” – the stones in the priests’ breastplates that gave them supernatural powers to make the right decisions and remain true to their spiritual mission.

We are a family a little obsessed with costumes and special items that give powers. Our obsession is mostly due to your unwavering allegiance to your comic book heroes. Most people don’t know that we have actually seen every superhero movie, both Marvel and DC, and have watched every season of “The Flash,” “Jessica Jones,” “Luke Cage,” “Supergirl,” “The Arrow” and “Legends of Tomorrow.” But these stories about people who wear costumes and who are endowed with extraordinary powers to save the world give hope. Hope that heroes are still out there and that they might be living next door to us or even under our very own roof. But maybe we just can’t see them for all that they are.

Eli, you are a superhero. And even though your costume of orange and black basketball shorts and a red and yellow Flash hoodie might seem odd or ill-matched to us, you stand up for your own style. You always claim pride in your unique perspective and original take on the world. So Eli, today on your bar mitzvah, we wish for you: • Strength - To always know and trust who you are.

• Knowledge - That you don’t need a cape or a hoodie to claim your amazing power and individuality.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 67

• Passion - To guide your heart through the winding and sometimes scary passages of life.

• Trust - That we – your family, your friends and your Jewish community – are your Justice League and that we will always be there, always believe in you and always have your back. “With great power comes great responsibility.” (So says Spiderman’s Uncle Ben.) Always own the power within.

It was a simple, small celebration with only our families from Arizona, California, Chicago and Kansas City. Eli doesn’t like crowds anyway. He wanted an intimate event. We sponsored a community oneg at the temple after the service and we all headed out to a microbrewery Saturday night to honor Eli and enjoy time together. Oh, and since it was Purim, Eli talked us into having a superhero Purim celebration at the brewery. Yes, we all went in costume. Levi created a twitter version of the megillah.

We let Eli select our costumes. My husband, Eli’s father Mark, went as The Joker and I was his beloved Harley Quinn.

Oy, the things we do for our children!

Debra Rich Gettleman is a mother, blogger, actor and playwright. For more of her work, visit unmotherlyinsights.com

J

K iednsstoo & te

Events April

Ongoing: CLUB J AT THE VALLEY OF THE SUN JCC

Provides after-school programming ranging from sports to cooking and crafts to Israeli culture and more for those in K-8. Transportation from nearby schools available. Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-634-4949 or youth@vosjcc. org, vosjcc.org.

J CARE AT THE EAST VALLEY JCC

Parent drop-off or bus transportation from area schools for grades K-7. Includes homework club, cooking, Israeli culture, dance, sports, gymnastics and more. Early pick-ups from Kyrene schools on Wednesday early dismissals. East Valley Jewish Community Center, 908 N Alma School Road, Chandler. Contact Jeff at 480-897-0588 or hastj@evjcc.org, evjcc.org.

J-CARE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM AT THE TUCSON JCC

Includes a variety of activities, Homework Hangout program (help from education specialists), arts, sports or teens can hang in the Youth Lounge. Bus transportation from schools available for K-12. Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E River Road, Tucson. Contact Scott at 520-299-3000 ext. 192 or szorn@tucsonjcc.org, tucsonjcc.org.

April 1 OPEN HOUSE AT FRIENDLY PINES CAMP in Prescott

from 11 am-2 pm. Bring the whole family for an exciting day of camp tours, wagon rides, toasting marshmallows, zip line rides, drawings for prizes, delicious refreshments, and more. A complimentary buffet lunch, hot Dutch oven biscuits with honey butter, and ice cream cones will be served. Free. 928-445-2128 or friendlypines.com.

April 2 DARKAYNU FAMILY FUN DAY AND OPEN HOUSE at

Darkaynu Tucson Jewish Montessori, 5150 E Fifth St, Tucson. Tour the facility that specializes in early childhood education for Jewish children, and meet the administration and teachers. Enjoy arts and crafts, face painting, music and movement with Rabbi Becker, refreshments, games and prizes and a jumping castle. 520- 591-7680 or darkaynutucson.com.

April 3, 17 & 24 PARENT-TOT CLASS for ages up to 24 months and their parent(s).

Participants sign songs, make art projects, read stories, have a snack and share parenting advice. Free. 9-11 am at Congregation Anshei Israel, 5550 E 5th St., Tucson. 520-745-5550 ext. 229 or lynne@caiaz.org.

April 7, 14, 21 & 28 MOMMY & ME ROCK SHABBAT at Temple Kol Ami Early Childhood Center, 15030 N 64th St., Scottsdale from 9-10:30 am.

Teacher-led class for moms and their children ages infant to 2 years.

Moms connect and share experiences while their children learn and grow. Classes are just $5 per class (or $35 for a 10-class pass) for Temple Kol Ami members. Non-members pay $10 per class (or $75 for a 10- class pass). For registration or information contact 480-951-5825 or tkaecc@templekolami.org.

68 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

REGISTER NOW! REGISTER NOW!2017!

Camp Ramah Summer REGISTER NOW!

Camp Ramah Summer 2017!3–11 Ramah Summergrades 2017!

CallingCamp campers entering

April 8

PARENT’S NIGHT OUT at Xtreme Gymnastics, 15821 N 79th St. #3, Scottsdale from 6-10 pm. Leave your kids for a fun- Join us at Camp Ramah for an filled Saturday evening of gymnastics fun, games and group activities summer filled with lots while you go out and have a lively time of your own! For ages 3-12;awesome open to non-members. $24/individual, $58/family. Reservations required. of fun activities including swimming, 480-596-3543 or xtreme@xtremegymnastics.com.

REGISTER NOW!

Camp Ramah Summer 2017!

arts and crafts, sports, Israeli dance, Calling campers grades 3–11 April 14 and much, much more.

Campersentering will Join us at Camp Ramah for an FIT-N-FUN DAY CAMP at Xtreme Gymnastics, 15821 N 79thdiscover St. hidden talents, enhance known awesome summer filled with lots #3, Scottsdale from 9 am-3 pm; extended hours available. Gymnastics, Calling campers entering grades 3–11 of fun activities including swimming, trampoline, group challenge activities, obstacle courses, team sports, skills and learn the connection between Join us at Camp Ramah for an inflatables and more. For ages 3-12. Half- and full-day options. $49-62 andCamp sports, for Israeli Joinarts us at an dance, Jewish tradition andcrafts, allRamah areas awesome summer filled of withlife. lots daily rate; $199-$256 weekly rate. Reservations required. 480-596-3543 and much, much more. Campers will

Calling campers entering grades 3–11

awesome summer filled with lots of fun activities including swimming, discover hidden talents, enhance known of fun swimming, artsactivities and crafts,including sports, Israeli dance, skills and learn the connection between artsand andmuch, crafts, sports, Israeli dance, much more.

Campers will Jewish tradition and all areas of life.

April 22 anddiscover much, much more. will Session 1* (grades 4 hidden – 11):talents, June Campers 20 – July 17 enhance known KID’S NIGHT OUT – Cat in the Hat at the Valley of the Sun JCC, skills and learn the connection between discover hidden talents, enhance known Camp Ramah Summer Camp 2017 Gesher Aleph (grades 3 & 4): June 20 – July 3 12701 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 6-10 pm. Ages pre-K-5 learn Join us tradition at Camp Ramah for an Jewish all areas ofbetween skills and learn theand Session 1 (grades 4connection – 11): June 20 –life.

July 17 Gesher Bet (grades 4 summer &(grades 5): July 4 –June July 17 magic tricks, create their own cartoon flip-book, share jokes and watch awesome fi3lled Gesher Aleph & 4):with 20 – July 3 Jewish tradition and all areas oflots life. the “Cat in the Hat” movie! Dinner and snacks are included. Member: * or xtreme@xtremegymnastics.com.

Camp Ramah Summer Camp 2017

Calling campers entering grades 3–11 *

Camp Camp 2017 Session 2 (grades 4Ramah 11):Summer July 20July –4August Gesher Bet–(grades 4 & 5): – July 17 16 of fun activities including swimming, Session 12 crafts, (gradessports, 4 – 11): Israeli June 20–dance, –August July 17 16 July 20 arts and Gimmel (grades 3(grades & 34): July 202017 ––July August 2 Camp Ramah Summer Camp Gesher Aleph (grades &3 4): June 3 Gimmel &Campers 4): July2020–will August 2 and much more.

Session 1much, (grades 4 – 11): June 20 – July 17 Gesher Bet (grades 4 & 5): July 4 – July 17 Dalet (grades 4 & 5): August 3 – August 16 Dalet (grades 4 & 5): August 3 – August 16 discover hidden talents, enhance known

$25 per child; Non-member: $35 per child. For those grades 5-8, we Gesher enjoy Havdalah mixers in the Teen Lounge, then hop in the vans and for an evening of fun at Dave & Busters. Members: $40; Non-members: $50.

Gesher Sibling discounts available. 480-634-4949 or youth@vosjcc.org.

*

*

Gesher Aleph (grades4 3– 11): & 4): June – July16 3 Session 2 (grades July 20 –20 August *Amitzim and Ezra share the same start date. skills and learn the *Amitzim andGesher Ezra share the same start Gesher Gimmel (grades &date.

4):4 July 20 17 – August 2 Bet (grades 4 &connection 5):3July –between July Jewish tradition areas Gesher Dalet (grades 4all &July 5): August 3 – August 4and – 11): 20of– life.

August 16 16 Session 2* (grades Gesher Gimmel (grades & 4): *Amitzim and Ezra share the3same startJuly date.20 – August 2 Camp Ramah Summer Camp 2017 Gesher Dalet (grades 4 & 5): August 3 – August 16

XTREME GYMNASTICS

*

Join Ramah for these Exciting Programs

Join Ramah forfor these Exciting Programs Join Ramah these Exciting Programs

Endless Opportunities to Move, Learn, and Excel!

Session 1* (grades 4 – 11): June 20 – July 17 Nashim Passover Camp Family Camp *Amitzim andRuach Ezra share the same start date.

Gesher Aleph (grades 3 & 4): June 20 – July 3 (Women Spirituality) April 10 – 19, 2017 October 6 – 8, 2017 Gesher Bet (grades 4 & 5): July 4 – July 17 March 17 – 19, 2017 Alumni Weekend Session 2* (grades 4 – 11): July 20 – August 16 Camp OhrCamp Lanu Ruach Nashim Passover Family October 20 –Camp 22, 2017 Gesher(Women Gimmel (grades 3 & 4): July 20 – August 2 August 18 – 22, 2017 Spirituality) April 10 – 19, 2017 October 6 – 8, 2017 (WomenGesher Spirituality) 10 3––19, 2017 October 6 Dalet17(grades 4 &April 5): August August 16 March – 19, 2017

Ruach Nashim

Passover Camp

Family Camp

Join Ramah for these Exciting Programs– 8, 2017

Camp Lanu March 17*Amitzim –Ruach 19,and2017 Ezra share the same start date. Ohr Camp Nashim Passover (Women Spirituality)

April 10 – 19,Lanu 2017 Camp Ohr August 18 – 22, 2017

Alumni Weekend

Family Camp October 20 – 22, 2017

Alumni Weekend

October 6 – 8, 2017

October 20 – 22, 2017 August 18 – 22, 2017 Alumni Weekend Ohr Exciting Lanu Join Ramah forCamp these Programs

March 17 – 19, 2017

USAG Certified Staff

USA Gymnastics Member Club since 1995

Ruach Nashim (Women Spirituality)

March 17 – 19, 2017

August 18 – 22, 2017

Family Camp

April 10 – 19, 2017

October 6 – 8, 2017

Camp Ohr Lanu August 18 – 22, 2017

BEGINNER-ADVANCED CLASSES FOR: Boys and Girls (Ages 3–12yrs) FREE* Parent-Tot classes

(ages 12–35months)

*NEW STUDENTS ONLY/*LIMITATIONS APPLY

October 20 – 22, 2017

Passover Camp

Alumni Weekend October 20 – 22, 2017

For more information please visit www.ramah.org or call 888-Camp-Ramah For more information please visit ramahcalifornia facebook.com/RamahCA twitter.com/CampRamahCA www.ramah.org or call 888-Camp-Ramah facebook.com/RamahCA

twitter.com/CampRamahCA

ramahcalifornia

For more information please visit www.ramah.org or call 888-Camp-Ramah

For more information please visit ramahcalifornia twitter.com/CampRamahCA For more information please visit www.ramah.org or call 888-Camp-Ramah www.ramah.org or call 888-Camp-Ramah facebook.com/RamahCA

(480) 596-3543 15821 N. 79th St • Scottsdale, AZ xtremegymnastics.com

facebook.com/RamahCA

facebook.com/RamahCA

twitter.com/CampRamahCA

ramahcalifornia

twitter.com/CampRamahCA

ramahcaliforni

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 69

YOUNG ADULTS

Leah Avuno:

Shinshinim Young Ambassador

By Masada Siegel

Leah Avuno never has a dull moment.

Leah Avuno

“I think we should worry about the Jewish people in the USA just like they worry about us in Israel.”

70 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

She is always on the go. Her mission: to represent Israel, touch hearts and minds, teach, learn, discover new ideas and expand others’ world views on a daily basis.

Leah and another Israeli, Bar Alkaher, are the first emissaries from Israel in Tucson as participants in the Shinshinim Young Ambassadors Program, which sends recent high school graduates from Israel all over the world to act as ambassadors. It is a competitive program, with only about 120 people chosen from thousands of applicants and placed around the U.S. and the world to represent Israel.

While they are in the U.S., they will live with local host families with the goal of educating people in their new communities, including schools and synagogues, about Israel. After a year of service in America, both Leah and Bar will return to fulfill their military obligations.

While interacting with a variety of different people, Leah was asked, “Isn’t this experience being in Tucson making your army experience last even longer? Doesn't Israel have enough problems to solve that they need you there?”

“I think we should worry about the Jewish people in the USA just like they worry about us in Israel,” she responded.

Leah is originally from Gondar, Ethiopia and has had many rich experiences. “I was born in a Jewish village when my mom was 16 years old,” she says. “We moved to Israel when I was only 2 years old. My Mother raised her little sister and me from a young age.

She got married when she was 14 and decided to leave Ethiopia when she was 18. She and my Dad lived in the city because my father was working as a doctor. Most of our family had already made aliyah in Operation[s] Moses and Solomon and some even walked from Ethiopia to Israel.”

She grew up in Kiryat Malachi, a diverse place, but one where she also faced racism. However, that did not deter her. She has joined 10 different youth groups and organizations and volunteers in her own community. She became president of the Kiryat Malachi Youth Council and is also a national representative.

During the past six months in Tucson, Leah has worked with the Jewish, African American and Latino communities, sharing her experiences and knowledge about Israel.

“I see a lot of beauty in Israel, in its nature, in its capital,” says

Leah. “So many Jews never lost [their] religion after thousands of years. They always had a feeling [of ] connection to Israel, the land of milk and honey. Judaism can bind us all together and you don't have to believe in God to be Jewish; it’s a lifestyle – one you chose to be a part of and embrace. My Judaism inspires me to repair the world and assist people who need help. Judaism brought me to Arizona to connect the Jewish community here to Israel.”

She says many people have been surprised that she is black and Jewish: “People [have] told me I was the first black Jewish person they met. So it is an important mission for me to talk about the different communities … in Israel and how [they are] filled with so many people and cultures from around the world.”

SUMITS YOGA SCOTTSDALE 2 Weeks Unlimited Yoga for

$20*

10050 N Scottsdale Rd Scottsdale, AZ 85253 (480) 247-8678 sumitsyogascottsdale.com

Leah in front of her host's home in Tucson.

Leah has also visited an African American church in Arizona. “I did not go there to pray, [but] rather to connect with a community that has a lot in common with the Jewish community,” she says. “…People don't [often] see it clearly.”

She went with Cantor Avraham “Avi” Alpert from Congregation Bet Sholom to meet the priest and the worshippers. “I told them all about Israel, why it should interest them and why they should be connected to Israel,” says Leah. “I didn’t come to sell anything or convince people to do what they don't want to do, but I wanted them to hear the truth from someone who lives in Israel, who can tell them the real story about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.” She wanted to explain it firsthand, instead of having people hear about the situation from just the news or from the internet.

When asked how she sums up the last six months, Leah has a ready response: “The hugs I get from children. Hearing them tell me the new Hebrew word they learned last week. Having the parents tell me what their children taught them about Israel. …That the community wanted to celebrate the Jewish Ethiopian holiday Sigd five times.” (Sigd is an Ethiopian Jewish holiday where the community rejoices the renewal of the alliance between God, the people and the Torah.)

Leah had a good feeling on the flight to Arizona, testament to her powerful and life-changing experiences here so far, not to mention her own personal development. “I can’t explain the feeling I have of experiencing and learning from so many rabbis, some of [whom] are women, and so many different types of congregations,” says Leah. “There is so much knowledge that I am learning about the world and myself by being in Arizona.”

* N ew students or students who have not been in 1 y r. Must show ad.

Can not share or transfer.

Must redeem pr ior to 4 / 3 0 / 1 7

MAZEL TOV GIFTS Seder Plates • Shmurah Matzah • Matzah Covers • Haggadah’s Largest selection of children's toys, gifts and more.

✡ The Passover Store ✡

10211 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale AZ 85253 (480) 922-0250 Located next to Kitchen 18 & Chabad

Find us on Facebook

Masada Siegel is an award-winning journalist and photographer.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 71

ISRAEL

Women of the Wall Executive Director Lesley Sachs with a Torah at the Western Wall on June 7, 2016. Shortly after this photo was taken, she was arrested for smuggling a Torah into the plaza.

Photo by Michal Fattal.

WOW! Women of the Wall to visit Arizona

By Deborah Moon

72 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

began to urge the Israeli government to recognize religious Founded in 1988 to secure women’s rights to pray and read pluralism, especially relating to the status of women.

Torah at the Western Wall, Women of the Wall has become “It is focusing attention on the point that the Israeli governnot only a battle for women’s status and pluralism in Israel, ment does not accept any way of being Jewish that is not Orbut also a role model for women seeking parity in other counthodox,” says Lesley, adding that Diaspora Jewry is concerned tries and religions. about Orthodox control of marriage, divorce and especially “This is a marathon and we still have a long way to go,” conversions. says Lesley Sachs, executive director of Women of the Wall “Revolutions such as this don’t happen a lot in a person’s (WOW). Lesley will be Tucson and Tempe from April 20 life,” says Lesley. “It’s exciting and invigorating. This is a battle to 23 (see sidebar) with an update on how accelerating the to engage and involve and influence Israel and North Ameripace of the “marathon” has resulted in significant steps taken can Jewry.”

by Israel’s Supreme Court and government in 2017. She is optimistic that change is coming.

“The Western Wall is the most visited site in Israel, both Finding a compromise that works for all by visitors and Israelis. It is the heart of Judaism,” says Lesley.

“The Western Wall is our center in so many ways, so the batThe Arizona visit is part of Lesley’s four-state tour. She tle to keep women quiet there, of all places, is so meaningful.” and WOW Board Chair Anat Hoffman visit the U.S. two to WOW seeks to enable women to pray at the Wall with the three times each year to share information on the continuing four Ts: tefillah (prayer), tefillin (set of small, black leather struggle to claim the rights women were promised in a 2014 boxes containing scrolls of parchment agreement to transform the southern plaza inscribed with verses from the Torah), tallit area of the Western Wall – also known as (prayer shawl) and Torah.

Robinson’s Arch – into a pluralistic place “The Western Wall “The four Ts are permitted halachically,” of worship. The agreement became law in is the most visited says Lesley. “Rashi’s daughters did tefillin January 2016, though its provisions have site in Israel, both by and tallit.” yet to be implemented.

But in 1988, at the first International visitors and Israelis. It In the first three months of this year, Jewish Feminist Conference held at the is the heart of Judaism. Israel’s Supreme Court and government Kotel (the Hebrew word for Western have moved to address those issues. On The Western Wall is Wall), services were disrupted by verbal January 11, the Supreme Court ruled that our center in so many and physical assaults from ultra-Orthothe Western Wall administrator and state ways, so the battle dox men and women. “They didn’t want agencies “must explain why the petitioners to keep women quiet to hear our voices,” says Lesley, refershould not be allowed to pray in accorthere, of all places, is so encing kol isha, the prohibition against men dance with their custom at the traditional hearing women sing. Such disruptions have meaningful.” plaza, or alternatively allow them to pray continued over succeeding decades. in accordance with the custom at a place – Lesley Sachs which has access to the Western Wall Recognizing religious pluralism similar to the traditional site.” At the end of February, Prime Minister Benjamin Every Rosh Hodesh, WOW holds prayer services in the Netanyahu appointed Knesset minister Tzachi Hanegi to find women’s section of the plaza. “It’s very violent,” says Lesley. a compromise within the next three months.

“Ultra-Orthodox women stand with whistles and shout. We Lesley says she hopes that the outcome will be that Robare double body-searched [to ensure no woman smuggles a inson’s Arch is finally upgraded into a proper prayer area.

Torah into the plaza]. … We have so many women join us, Located on the south end of the Western Wall, the arch supbut it’s not easy. We’re all suffering abuses and bruises.” ported a staircase that led up to a gate into the Temple Mount.

Lesley says that the Western Wall administrator, Rabbi Boulders that have fallen over the past two millennia make the Shmuel Rabinowitz, “runs the Wall not as an Israeli or Jewish area look more like an archaeological site than a prayer plaza. site, but as his own private synagogue.”

The current wooden platform, which Lesley says resembles a Lesley has been arrested five times at the Kotel: four times parade platform with scaffolding, permits people to get close for wearing a tallit and once for smuggling a Torah into the enough to touch the Wall; but it needs to be a larger, more Western Wall plaza. Though courts have ruled women have permanent structure. Additionally, fallen boulders should be the right to read Torah at the Wall, Rabbi Rabinowitz created removed to allow expanded access to the lower part of the a regulation prohibiting anyone from bringing a Torah into Wall on the Herodian Road. the plaza. Men ­– not women – are permitted to borrow one of If the area is turned into a pluralistic plaza with equal access the 200 Torah scrolls kept there. to the existing plaza, Lesley says that “most people from North “It’s a catch-22,” says Lesley. “We are permitted to read America and Israel will choose to come to the pluralistic plaza from the Torah, but we can’t [take] one in.” because that is the way they pray. This new plaza will become The pace of change picked up in 2009, when the social ‘The Plaza.’” media revolution enabled WOW to take its narrative to jourThe pluralistic plaza would include a low, symbolic mechitza nalists and Jewish communities around the globe. Progressive setting aside an area so that Orthodox women who want to and liberal Jewish groups in North America and elsewhere pray with the four Ts could do so in a women’s-only setting.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 73

When full access to the Wall is available at the arch, Lesley believes it also will meet the needs of Orthodox women who split from WOW because they believe the arch is an unsatisfactory location for prayer.

The new plaza would also satisfy the desires of the ultra-Orthodox. “We would leave the women’s section [of the current plaza] to any woman who wants to continue to pray according to Rabbi Rabinowitz’s outlook,” says Lesley. “When we have an alternative, we will leave their area. This will be a respectful thing for the ultra-Orthodox women, too. That is the beauty of our agreement.”

Looking to WOW for inspiration worldwide In addition to changing the status of women in Israel, Lesley says the movement also has a lot to teach women involved in similar battles. Mormon women seeking to enhance their status within their religion have been inspired by WOW. In 2015, a young Mormon woman invited Lesley to participate in a panel discussion on women and religion at the Parliament of the World's Religions, an international convention that drew about 9,500 people to Salt Lake City, Utah.

“She told me, ‘Women of the Wall are our heroes, our role models,’” says Lesley, who says she believes many women’s movements can look to WOW for inspiration.

“Participants in the Women’s March can learn a lot about resilience from the Women of the Wall,” she says. (The Women’s March is the worldwide protest that took place on Jan. 21, 2017.) “A lot of North American women feel they will need to be vigilant to retain their achievements for women’s rights over the past few decades.”

Prayer parity is not Lesley’s first battle for women’s rights in Israel. “I have been a feminist activist ever since I finished my army service,” says Lesley. “When I was in the army, women held menial positions. … The hierarchy was so clear and sexual harassment was horrible at the time.”

When Lesley started college in Haifa, she began volunteering at Women to Women. She moved to Jerusalem after graduation and began volunteering at the Israel Women’s Network, where she soon joined the staff and ultimately rose to the position of executive director. The network relied on legislation and litigation to improve women’s rights in Israel and especially in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). “We represented a woman [named Alice Miller] who wanted to be a pilot – and we won and we changed the entire IDF.” Now women serve in virtually every position in the IDF. “Opening up the IDF was closure of a circle for me,” says Lesley.

Though at that time Lesley did not pray at the Western Wall, she began volunteering with WOW and became executive director in 2008.

Lesley describes the ultra-Orthodox assault on women praying halachically at the Wall as patriarchal and chauvinistic. “It’s not about religion, it’s about power and dominance,” she says.

“We set out to pray with the four Ts at the Wall. We are accomplishing and changing so much more.”

74 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

A RECENT HISTORY OF WOMEN’S PRAYER AT THE KOTEL (Condensed from history provided by Nechama Namal, Resource Development Director of Women of the Wall)

2003: S upreme Court decision gives women the right to pray as they wish at the Kotel, but only at Robinson’s Arch.

2009: W OW stops praying at Robinson’s Arch because it remained in disrepair and was not yet suitable for worship.

2013: J udge Moshe Sobel rules that the State of Israel had not renovated Robinson’s Arch in a manner befitting a holy place.

2014: I sraeli government invites WOW, the Reform Movement, the Conservative Movement, the Jewish Federations of North America and the Jewish Agency to discussions for a plan to transform the southern plaza area of the Western Wall – also known as Robinson’s Arch – into a pluralistic place of worship. The site was to be renovated and the entrance to the Western Wall was to be changed so that the three sections – men’s, women’s, pluralistic – would be equally visible and accessible.

Jan. 31, 2016: The Israeli government votes to implement the agreement by a vote of 15 to 5. None of its provisions have yet been implemented.

WHAT: Women of the Wall Executive Director Lesley Sachs will update Arizonans on the rapidly evolving legal battle over women’s rights to pray at the Western Wall in Israel.

Tucson April 20: 5 pm at the University of Arizona Hillel Foundation, 1245 E. 2nd St. For more information, contact hillelelyse@gmail.com.

Tempe April 21: During Shabbat services at Temple Emanuel of Tempe, 5801 S. Rural Road. A nosh will be at 6 pm, services at 6:30 pm, speaker at 7:30 pm. Dessert reception to follow.

For information, call 480-838-1414 or rabbidean@ emanueloftempe.org.

April 23: 11:30 am-1 pm at the Hillel Jewish Student Center at ASU, 1012 S. Mill Ave. There is parking available. The event is open to the public, but just for women only.

For more information, contact madeline@hillelasu.org.

JNF Chairman and former U.S. Ambassador Ronald Lauder visits the Valley

JNF Chairman Ronald Lauder (seated, center) is surrounded by members of the JNFuture group.

By Masada Siegel

Forests are built one tree at a time – and every new sapling counts. Jewish National Fund would know this, because the organization has planted over 200 million trees in Israel.

Likewise, JNF in Arizona values every new person who becomes involved in the organization; every year, its annual breakfast attracts more and more people.

This year’s JNF Annual Breakfast at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix hosted about 1,000 people, a far larger audience than the few dozen first addressed by JNF Chairman of the Board and former U.S. Ambassador Ronald Lauder when he first came to speak in Arizona.

Jewish National Fund was created over a hundred years ago by a small group of leaders, including Theodor Herzl.

They bought plots of land with the vision of establishing the groundwork for the creation of the State of Israel.

The international organization is known for planting trees and creating parks. However, JNF has grown and its initiatives are more far-reaching, including community building, green innovations, water-renewal projects, environmental innovation, Zionist education and advocacy, working with people with special needs and revitalizing the Negev Desert.

Ambassador Lauder became more involved in the Jewish world when he was in Austria as U.S. ambassador. “This was the time of Kurt Waldheim, [when] he turned out to be a liar [about his Nazi past], he says. “I saw how anti-Semitism reared its head in Austria. It was an anti-Semitism that was so reminiscent of Austria in 1938.” He also became concerned for the Russian Jewish children of Russian refugees on their way to the U.S. or Israel who stopped in Austria and ultimately decided to stay.

In response to their needs, the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation was created to educate and rebuild Jewish identity around the world. Today, the organization has educated over 30,000 children in what it means to be Jewish and helped recreate Jewish life in Eastern Europe.

Ambassador Lauder, who has his finger on the pulse of the world, says that though anti-Semitism seems to be on the rise, anti-Semitism in the U.S. “is not the same as it is in Europe

or the rest of the world. We are a country that is very much inclusive and I have always been very, very proud of America and how it treats the Jewish people.”

His passion extends to cultivating and working with Jewish youth in the U.S. and the rest of the world. After the breakfast, JNFuture, a program focused on the next generation of JNF leaders, hosted a session for about 30 young people from around the country who gathered in Scottsdale to brainstorm ideas for the future and to focus on leadership skills.

At one of JNFuture’s sessions, participants were joined by top leadership, including Ambassador Lauder, JNF President Jeff Levine and JNF CEO Russell F. Robinson.

Ambassador Lauder strongly believes in the importance of understanding the needs of today’s youth and their vision for the future. “[ JNFuture] is a chance for me to listen and learn and to meet so many interesting people,” he says. The goal of the session he attended “was specifically to meet young people and to hear their views and thoughts. It was fascinating.”

Blaine Light, Phoenix membership and national Israel advocacy chair, also attended and explains his passion for the organization: “An organization that dedicates itself to helping the people of Israel is one I must support for the rest of my life. It's my personal mission to get young people engaged and visiting Israel to see the great work that JNF does firsthand.”

“Our focus is on doing good work in the State of Israel,” says President Jeffrey Levine about JNF’s mission. “Our projects range from everything from water conservation, where we have added 12% to the potable water capabilities of the State of Israel” – thereby avoiding water crises similar to her neighbors’ – “to helping people living in towns in the Negev.”

He also cites JNF involvement in the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies in Israel, where research on the technology of drip irrigation helps to teach young people from all over the world about methods used in Israel, with the goal of self-sufficiency in agriculture.

“Participants then bring back these concepts to their home countries,” says President Levine. “These education opportunities not only improve lives globally, but also create goodwill … for the State of Israel [and] for [all] Jewish people.”

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 75

ISRAEL

Emotions shift with April’s three holidays

By Anne Kleinberg

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, … it and families reunited. It is a 24-hour period that pulls at the was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it heartstrings – and pulls and pulls. was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair …” So One week later, we again experience a day of sorrow – a wrote Charles Dickens in A Tale of Two Cities. I think day of remembrance for the men and women, the boys and of those words as we approach Yom HaShoah (Holocaust girls who have lost their lives due to war or terrorism. Once Remembrance Day), Yom Hazikaron (Israel’s Memorial Day) again, the siren, the halted traffic and the sadness permeates and Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day). the length and breadth of the country. One television channel Perhaps a better phrase would relate the dichotomy of runs continuous broadcasts of the names of the fallen and the happiness and sadness we go through here in Israel as we dates of their death. It is a morbid reminder of the history of honor these days every this country. Tune in early spring. They are times in the day and you hear the of soulful mourning names of those lost in the and silly celebrating. early years – the date reveals Maybe it’s an analogy the war or confrontation or of life in Israel: great terrorist act of which they highs and profound lows, were victims. Tune in later flaring temperaments on and you see who has and infinite tenderness. died in recent times. It’s And I suspect that I, the eerie and terribly sad. relative newcomer here, And then, at 8 pm, it all will never be able to fully changes. It’s time to party! absorb the experience.

People run out into the Yom HaShoah starts on streets or get in their cars the evening before the and start driving all over day of remembrance. the country to celebrate Restaurants usually the declaration of Israel’s close, no celebrations independence by David take place and the entire Ben-Gurion on May 14, nation more or less Tel Aviv 1948. Big parties, loud takes a time out. At 11 music, smoky barbecues am the next morning, a and the inevitable fireworks siren is heard throughout the country. Traffic stops – literally. abound. Traffic on the following day is a nightmare because Whether on local side streets or main highways, people it seems everyone is heading off to some spot – or actually get out of their cars and stand at attention for the full two stopping on the roads! – to picnic with family and friends. minutes of the siren’s wail. The rest of the day is spent as you My earliest recollection of Yom Ha’atzmaut is from the early wish – businesses are open but radio music is somber and the ’70s, when I was a student at Tel Aviv University. We took a television stations broadcast only Holocaust-related programs. bus from the dorms to the “big city,” got off at Kikar Malchei There are interviews with survivors, movies of concentration Yisrael (now Rabin Square) and spent the evening joining camp experiences, touching accounts of families pulled apart thousands of others laughing and hitting people over the head

76 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

with plastic hammers that made a bopping sound. I cannot recall the sad days from that year.

But times have changed. They say the most dramatic shift took place in 1973, during the Yom Kippur War. Too many lives were lost – losses that touched every family. My friends tell me that since those days, it is very difficult to make the switch from sad to happy. It seems false and unworthy to jump into party mode after a 24-hour period of recalling friends and family members who sacrificed their lives for the country. It is indeed hard to imagine – 18-year-old boys in the prime of adolescence changing into uniforms, armed with weapons, going to the front to protect and defend their country. Or girls sitting in cafés, their lives suddenly obliterated due to one outrageous act of terror.

Like other residents, I follow the customs of my adopted country. I stand at silent attention when the siren goes off.

I think about the six million murdered and cannot fathom it. I watch the names on the TV screen and recall the faces of the people I’ve known whose lives have been cut short – and I think of their families, who still suffer. And then, like everyone else, I get ready to party.

Life in Israel.

g you n i h is a W

PA

SS OV E R

Anne Kleinberg, author of Menopause in Manhattan and several cookbooks, left a cushy life in Manhattan to begin a new one in Israel.

She has opened a bed-and-breakfast called Casa Caesarea in the Israeli coastal town of Caesarea, situated on the country’s only 18-hole golf course. Visit annekleinberg.com and casacaesarea.com.

Ask for Gary Kravetz, Fleet Director RIGHT HONDA’s Fleet and Internet Department welcomes different buying clubs like Costco, Sam’s, all credit unions, Police and Fire Departments, Motorola, Intel, etc., so please call or email to see if your company is an approved organization.

The buying process for our fleet and internet department is done at your speed. Our Fleet and Internet Managers will use their 15 years of experience to help answer all of your questions.

This is a stress and hassle-free buying program and we are proud to help serve the local companies of Scottsdale and the sorrounding areas. Contact us today to get started.

YOUR GIFT MATTERS 7875 E Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd Scottsdale, Arizona 480.778.2510 righthonda.com

jewishphoenix.org ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 77

Yom Hashoah

Luba Tryszynska-Frederick, z”l, front row third from left, at a reunion 50 years after the liberation with children she saved during World War II. The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum works hard to preserve stories of survivors like Luba. Luba's papers and photos are now housed at the USHMM’s new David and Fela Shapell Family Collections, Conservation and Research Center, a home for the museum’s archives.

Preserving first-person testimony

By Deborah Moon

The recent donation of materials about Luba Tryszynska, “The Angel of Bergen-Belsen,” adds an important message to the collection of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.

“As important as it is to know about man’s capacity for evil, it is also important to know man’s capacity for good,” says Judith Cohen, the museum’s chief acquisitions curator. “We don’t think of rescuers in a camp. Her altruism rescued 52 children 78 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Luba and two sisters at liberation

from the Netherlands and about 50 from other countries … It is important to study goodness, or we will be overcome with a nihilistic view of the world. The moral of the Holocaust is people make choices for evil or good.”

Luba Tryszynska-Frederick, z”l, rescued about 100 children while she was herself a prisoner in the Nazi concentration camp where some 50,000 Jews died. After her 3-year-old son had been sent to the gas chambers in Auschwitz, Luba was transferred to Bergen-Belsen in the summer of 1944.

Hearing children crying her second night in camp, she went out to find 54 children ages 2 to 14 who had been dumped from a truck and left to die in the camp.

“She brought them under “Our main concern is her wing,” says Judith. “Of the preservation of artifacts,” says original group of 54 Dutch Judith. “With time, documents children, 52 survived – an tend to deteriorate. Our amazing ratio.” collection is the survivors’ About 50 more children eyewitness accounts of what from other countries were happened. This is what brought to her for protection will remain of authentic in the months leading up to documentation that is so the April 15, 1945, liberation crucial.” of the camp. She scrounged for The new facility will also food and tried to keep them serve as a reference center quiet in her barracks so they so people can come and do would not annoy the guards. research on original artifacts.

Following liberation, many of Formerly researchers could the Dutch children returned request a document from to Holland, and she escorted the museum’s archive, but it Luba's Portland cousins joined her in Amsterdam, when Queen many of the other children to had to be transported to a Beatrix honored her with the Medal of Honor for Humanitarian a displaced persons home in research area. Now items will Deeds. From left are Helen Stern; Hal, z"l, and Ruth Saltzman; Sweden. be available onsite; researchers Luba Tryszynska-Frederick, z"l; and Jerry Stern, z"l. While In 1947 she immigrated can request specific catalogs, researching family history in a museum archive, Ruth found to the United States, where photos or entire collections a document that made her think Luba was a cousin. When she and her husband, Saul that are cataloged with general Luba was interviewed on Dateline, Ruth contacted the studio, Frederick, also an Auschwitz descriptions of their contents. which put her in touch with Luba. (The interview can be seen on survivor, raised two children.

The expanded access to YouTube). The two were indeed cousins and became very close.

In 1995 many of the safeguarded artifacts will children she rescued brought enable the museum to further their children and grandchildren to a reunion with the woman who saved them.

A collection of Luba’s photos, articles and letters from the children she saved were donated to the USHMM by Luba’s cousin, Ruth Saltzman, mother of Arizona Jewish Life Publisher Cindy Saltzman. Judith came to Portland, where Ruth resides, in early February to accept and transport the collection to Washington, D.C. The papers and photos are now housed at the USHMM’s new David and Fela Shapell Family Collections, Conservation and Research Center, a home for the museum’s archives slated to open ~ Judith Cohen, USHMM chief acquisitions curator April 15. All the items in the museum’s its important mission, says Judith. Noting that last year the permanent museum welcomed its 40-millionth visitor since opening in collection 1993, she says, “We are introducing the Holocaust to many have been people who had heard nothing about it. It is crucial to share transferred these lessons. … It’s not just the numbers, but the fact we make to the new sure everything is historically accurate. Our website reaches state-of-thepeople around the world in countries without Holocaust art facility museums.” designed “It shows what can happen when you turn a blind eye to evil to preserve and how quickly horrible things can happen,” she says. photos and documents.

For more information, visit ushmm.org.

“As important as it is to know about man’s capacity for evil, it is also important to know man’s capacity for good. ...The moral of the Holocaust is people make choices for evil or good.”

Judith Cohen ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 79

L iving

J

Jewish business leaders share knowledge at Corner Office event

Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix Business & Professionals Groups hosts its annual Corner Office: Lessons Learned from Jewish Business Leaders on Wednesday, May 3 from 5:30-8 pm at the Phoenix Plaza at 2929 N. Central Ave. in Phoenix. The panelists for this event will be Rory Carder; president of DAVIS; Mitch Ginsberg, CEO of CommLoan; and Joshua Simon, president of Simon CRE. The panel is moderated by Adam Goodman, president & CEO of Goodmans Interior Structures.

The B&P, and its three divisions – the Cardozo Society for legal professionals, the Real Estate & Finance Division, and Chai Tech for the technology industry – provides an opportunity for business people to expand their professional and social circles while making a difference in the community.

Events held throughout the year include speaker series, networking receptions, briefings on Israel and Jewish affairs and more.

“This year’s Corner Office explores innovation from three perspectives: Josh Simon’s real estate investments are made with an eye toward capitalizing on future technologies. Mitch Ginsberg is disrupting an old, entrenched business model and Rory Carder is thinking deeply about how place influences innovation,” says Adam Goodman, who is also the B&P chair.

Part of the mission of the B&P is to strengthen relationships among Jewish professionals through education. All of the panelists involved in Corner Office will be sharing their business knowledge with young professionals in the audience.

“There’s no substitute for experience. And there’s no better learning experience than having a strong mentor to teach you the rights and the wrongs as a young professional,” says Joshua Simon. “I’ve been blessed to have numerous mentors in my life, and they have, without a doubt, pointed me in the right direction and helped me become who I am today.”

Rory Carder may be the only woman on the panel, but she has sage advice on being a business leader. “I believe in leading by inspiration and radiating genuine intensity attracts like-minded people,” she says. “I believe in collaboration. I encourage the development of meaningful personal connections to unite people and spaces and endeavor to support our team in simplifying the chaos of everyday life with design brilliance as a catalyst for ambitions and dreams.”

The cost to attend for professionals is $36 and $18 for students. Price includes a cocktail reception and hors d’oeuvres.

Dietary laws observed. The event is sponsored by Perkins Coie.

For information and to register, contact 480-481-1754 or visit jewishphoenix.org/corneroffice.

80 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Mitch Ginsberg

“There’s no substitute for experience. And there’s no better learning experience than having a strong mentor to teach you the rights and the wrongs as a young professional.”

– Joshua Simon

Summit Insurance Advisors As an independent broker, I have the ability to shop the rates around for you to find the best value out there.

• Are you missing the personal touch of a mid-sized agency where the agent knows who you are?

• Has your policy been sold to a large national agency, where you are just a number?

HOME AUTOMOBILE UMBRELLA

• Does your agent advocated for you, especially during a claim situation?

COMMERCIAL LIFE

Feel free to call me to discuss how my agency can be your best agency ever. My pledge to you is to offer the best value in insurance products, with my knowledge of the industry.

Essentially, knowing what I know!

We Shop Your Insurance so you don’t have to!

Excellent rates and access to multiple carriers.

Fast, easy, and free!

We represent numerous carriers.

This gives us an ability to find the best value out there, as well as to shop the insurance on renewals if we find there are increases in premium out of the ordinary.

If I can beat rates and give you at least the comparable coverage’s, I will be happy to earn your business.

If not, I will tell you to stay where you are and I will give you any suggestions on coverage changes I see you may need….no obligation at all.

Rory Carder

Steven Bernstein (480) 214-3544 steven@sia23.com

5425 E Bell Rd. • Suite 103 Scottsdale, AZ 85454 www.sia23.com

YOUR YOURDOWNTOWN DOWNTOWNPHOENIX PHOENIXCONGREGATION CONGREGATION

Your Downtown Phoenix Congregation MEETS AT CUTLER PLOTKIN JEWISH HERITAGE CENTER 122 E. Culver St. Phoenix, AZ 85004

SPIRITUAL

Educational

Cultural

Ancestral

Communal

Ethical

Shabbatand andHoliday Holiday Shabbat creative services, services. Customized creative Weddings, Baby Namings, Bar/ Custom Weddings, Baby Namings, Bat Mitzvahs, andand Memorials Bar/Bat Mitzvahs Memorials

performed by Ceremonial Leader.

Affordable catered Seder dinner.

Tuesday, April 11 6:00PM at the CutlerPlotkin CenterSanctuary.

RSVP to oradaminfo@gmail.com Ceremonial 480.865.4710.

Jeffrey Schesnol Jeffrey Schesnol, IISHJ Ordained Makrikh & IISHJ & AHA Officiant, AHA Endorsed Celebrant Leader & Endorsed Celebrant Ceremonial & Spiritual Leader

Or Adam Congregation Joshua Simon

www.oradam.com | www.oradam.com | oradaminfo@gmail.com oradaminfo@gmail.com | 480.865.4710 480.663.7788

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 81

L iving

J

Two events for Temple Emanuel

of this music with Cantorial Soloist Emily Kaye. Emily then reached out to the cantor in Nevada, they exchanged music and Rebecca’s idea became a reality.

Emily, the temple choir and band (the Shabba-tones) perform. They have even written some new songs to perform at this year’s event.

There is no charge for this event, BEATLES SHABBAT and the public is welcome. “We welcome donations and have CDs Temple Emanuel of Tempe available for a donation if people will be holding its second Beatles want to take the music home,” says Shabbat on April 7 at 5801 S. Rural Rebecca.

Road in Tempe. Nosh starting at Rebecca is ready for the crowd 6 pm and PJ Library will be doing this year. “We are going to also use crafts for the kids. The popular our other banquet room this year event attracted more than 400 and make it a family dance room people in its first year.

– for our families with little ones,” The idea to hold the event she says.

“Whoever wants to be in originally came from Rebecca the sanctuary can enjoy the service, Weinstein, director of membership and then they can run around and and administration for Temple dance in the other room.”

Emanuel. Her parents live in Temple Emanuel founding members break ground for the The event attracts families and Henderson, NV and they attend congregation’s first building in 1980. also the baby boomers who grew up a synagogue there that has been with the Beatles. “My mother-indoing it for years. “My dad was law was extremely happy because she saw the Beatles perform raving about it and I thought that it would be a perfect fit for live in 1963 in Cleveland,” says Rebecca.

“There’s also a lot of our folks, too,” says Rebecca. tie-dye!”

During the event, classic Jewish prayers are said to Beatles For more information, call 480-838-1414 or visit melodies. Music goes throughout the service. When Rebecca emanueloftempe.org. was first thinking about the event last year, she shared some Temple Emanuel of Tempe members are going to be very busy this month. At the beginning of April, they will be celebrating with a Beatles Shabbat, and at the end of the month, they will be honoring their beginnings with a 40th Anniversary Gala.

82 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

40TH ANNIVERSARY GALA Temple Emanuel of Tempe will celebrate its 40th anniversary with a gala fundraiser that begins at 5:30 pm Saturday, April 29. The gala’s theme is “40 Years, Better Together.” It will be held at the Iron Oaks Country Club at 24218 S. Oakwood Blvd. in Sun Lakes.

The celebratory event will feature dinner, dancing and a silent auction. The evening will honor all the clergy who have served Temple Emanuel since its founding, including Rabbi Marvin Reznikoff (z”l), Rabbi Emeritus David Pinkwasser, Rabbi Andrew Straus, and current Rabbis Dean Shapiro and Jason Bonder.

Temple Emanuel began in a small rented space with 60 families. Six congregational leaders signed the original Articles of Incorporation on June 28, 1976, and five families donated land late that year for the congregation’s current site on Rural Road in Tempe. The congregation has since blossomed into the largest synagogue in the Southeast Valley.

Proceeds from this fundraiser will directly support Temple Emanuel programming, including the preschool, religious school and adult education; young adult, empty-nester and senior activities; as well as programs such as I-Help, which serves the homeless community in Tempe.

To inquire about gala sponsorships or to donate an item for the auction, please contact the temple office at 480-838-1414.

Tickets to the event are $55 per person. They are available online at templeemanuel.formstack.com/forms/gala.

A Jewish Cemetery that cares about the Jewish Community

• Jewish

Owned and Operated • Sidewalks at Every Grave • Caring and Professional Staff • Intermarried Families Welcome

(480) 585-6060 24210 N. 68th Street • Phoenix (off Pinnacle Peak Rd.)

mtsinaicemetery.com ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 83

L iving

J

Celebration of Caring: JFCS highlights commitment to “being the best”

Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Southern Arizona will be holding its annual Celebration of Caring on Sunday, April 23 at the Tucson Country Club.

Kathryn Unger will be honored at the event.

“We don’t honor someone every year,” says Fred Fruchthendler, chair of the JFCS board of directors.

“We chose to honor Kathryn for several reasons.

She has previously been a board member and both a Kathryn Unger Federation and campaign chair. She has been continuously supportive of the JFCS and its mission.”

Kathryn was there when JFCS was going through a significant leadership change, and she was instrumental in the process that helped make the changes that have made it the strong organization it is today.

The agency had been carrying a large deficit. “We went to Kathy, who was the Federation chair at the time, and proposed a matching-fund special campaign to help us retire the deficit – which we did,” says Fred. “She continued to be part of the process that helped move the agency into a more contemporary 21st-century model.”

Journalist and CNN political analyst David Gregory will be the keynote speaker at the event. He was the moderator of “Meet the Press” for six years and chief White House correspondent during the presidency of George W. Bush.

David was selected because of his accomplishments and life experiences. David and his wife (who is not Jewish) embrace a multi-religious family. His book How’s Your Faith? An Unlikely Spiritual Journey reflects what his religion has given him and how it has helped him through the challenges he has faced in his life.

Stella Inger will emcee the event. She is an anchor with the Tucson ABC television affiliate KGUN 9, where David got his start in broadcast news.

“The Celebration of Caring has multiple purposes for the JFCS,” Fred explains. “It’s definitely a fundraiser to help us 84 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

David Gregory

spread the word and educate the community – both Jewish and non-Jewish – about the scope of the services we provide and the people we serve.”

The oldest Jewish agency in the Tucson community, JFCS provides expert behavioral health, counseling and social services to more than 1,600 of the most vulnerable children and families in the community. “We provide for those who need our assistance because of health, economic and mental health reasons – all the reasons that help make the Jewish community, and the general community, a caring place,” says Fred. “We are the story behind so much of why people give money.”

Fred says the goal of the event is to resonate with current and future donors and “to help people understand the power of contribution, both financial and with energy and service … as part of our mission of tikkun olam.”

JFCS provides many programs not offered anywhere else in the community. The organization has expertise in trauma and provides services to first responders, firefighters, police and 911 dispatchers and their families.

JFCS has a history of recognizing the community’s needs, both Jewish and non-Jewish, and trying its best to meet those needs. “Our commitment is to do it strategically and lead, rather than follow … and to operate with a culture of excellence,” says Fred, who adds that the JFCS vision is to be the agency of choice for the community and the employer of choice for clinical, professional and clerical support staff. “We are committed to being the best.”

Celebration of Caring April 23 at the Tucson Country Club, 2950 N. Camino Principal, Tucson A reception begins at 5:30 pm and dinner is at 6:30 pm.

For tickets, contact 520-795-0300 ext. 2263 or celebration@jfcstucson.org jfcstucson.org/donate/2017-celebration-of-caring

FEDERATION NOTES

Spotlight on Jewish Family & Children’s Service Center for Senior Enrichment

By Ellie Schwartzberg

Healthy mind, healthy body.

The phrase takes on even greater import as we age.

The Jewish Family & Children’s Service Center for Senior Enrichment in Phoenix offers myriad programs to help ensure that our older adults are receiving all the options they need to maintain and strengthen both their minds and their bodies.

On any given day, you can find a group of seniors participating in discussion groups in one room, chair yoga or Wii bowling in another, or art projects in the art studio. They enjoy regular visits from rabbis and engage in Jewish holiday projects and celebrations. Entertainment ranging from musical interludes to documentary films and beyond is provided for the more than 50 individuals who attend each day.

Supported by funding from the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix and the Area Agency on Aging, the Center for Senior Enrichment – the only Jewish senior center in the Valley – provides a safe haven for many older adults ranging in age from 70 to105 (or younger if they are disabled). They bond with the staff, form strong friendships and share stories and experiences, making each day brighter and more meaningful for all.

Whether they are residents of independent or assisted living at The Palazzo senior living community or come from the community at large, individuals of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome. “I don’t know what I’d do without the center,” says one 89-year-old regular. “It’s my family here and I have activities to look forward to each day.”

Monica Zazkis, director of the center, speaks Russian and has led an outreach effort to include local Russian Jewish seniors in the American Jewish community. Tamara Simmons, arranges for the wide variety of teachers who are not only experts in their subject matter but also in the special tenderness and empathy it takes to work with seniors and encourage their sense of worth.

The center maintains a wonderful gift shop on the property, which is run by Kelly Casey and a group of dedicated volunteers.

All proceeds go back into the center.

The Center for Senior Enrichment is a program in which the entire community can feel a sense of pride. The program would not be possible without the continued support of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix.

We invite the community to visit and pick up a special little gift before leaving. The center is located at 6250 N. 19th Ave. in Phoenix. Find more information on the center under the Programs & Services/Older Adults link at jfcs.org or call 602943-2198.

Ellie Schwartzberg is vice president of Older Adults & Jewish Community Services with Jewish Family & Children’s Service, a strategic partner of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix.

IMPACTING LIVES Your donation to the Federation impacts thousands of lives...

• Caring for Jews in need and building vibrant Jewish communities • Increasing understanding and support for Israel • Engaging young Jewish adults with their Jewish identity and community • Helping seniors age in place with Jewish dignity

Your gift matters

Helping Jews in need and building vibrant Jewish communities here, in Israel and throughout the world.

480.481.1757 | jewishphoenix.org/donate

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 85

L iving

J

FACES & PLACES

ANTICIPATING PASSOVER – The timing couldn’t have been better for the pre-Passover showing, March 14, of “Streits Matzo and the American Dream,” at the Arizona Jewish Historical Society.

Sandy and Lee Shedroff, were the proud sponsors for the soldout viewing of the documentary.

Photo by Leni Reiss

KEYNOTE ADDRESS – Sylvia Barack Fishman, a professor of Judaic studies at Brandeis University, at left with Harriet and Gil Rosen, was the keynote speaker at the Judaism, Science and Medicine Group Conference in Scottsdale Feb. 19 and 20. Attendees and presenters addressed “Sexuality, Gender and the Jewish Family.”

This was the group’s ninth annual meeting. Photo by Leni Reiss

BETTER TOGETHER – The Bureau of Jewish Education’s seniors and 8th grade students from Pardes Jewish Day School participated in the Better Together Program on Feb. 10 at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus in Scottsdale.

LET’S GET PURSE-ONAL - Almost 300 inspiring women came together for the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona's Women's Philanthropy CONNECTIONS 2017: Let's Get Purse-onal. Pictured: Bryna Zehngut Mitzvot Award Founding Committee Members Karen Katz and Jane Ash with 2017 award winner Zoe Holtzman.

Photo by Martha Lochert Photography

BRIGHTER TOMORROW – Lenore Schupak, from left, with Rana Schwartz and Lynn Kahn, were among the 550 guests on Friday, Feb. 24 when Jewish Family & Children’s Service welcomed guests to its eighth annual Brighter Tomorrow Luncheon. Attendees at the Arizona Biltmore Hotel heard an inspiring keynote address by Andrew Bridge, director of the Diane & Bruce Halle Foundation, reflecting the Halle’s respect for people, initiative and charitable works through supporting the communities they serve. Photo by Leni Reiss

MEGA EVENT – Nearly 700 guests attended the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix’s MEGA Israel event featuring Israel’s Former Prime Minister Ehud Barak on March 1. The evening raised more than $793,000 for the Federation’s annual campaign, including $138,000 in new and increased gifts. It was the first time a former prime minister visited the community.

Pictured: Prime Minister Ehud Barak with MEGA Israel Chairs Carrie and Morrie Aaron.

86 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

SEASONAL SEDER – Members of Temple Beth Sholom of the East Valley celebrate Tu B'Shevat Seder.

FACES & PLACES

BBYO WINNER – The mountain region is proud of Aaron Wiener who was named AZA Advisor of the Year at BBYO's 2017 international convention.

Aaron is the advisor for Resnikoff AZA and was a member of BBYO in the Bay Area. There were 62 mountain region teens who attended the convention – doubling the attendance from last year.

DOING SOMETHIING – On March 14, Valley Beit Midrash hosted Rabbi Dr. Aryeh Cohen. The lecture titled “Deep Shabbos: On Doing Nothing as Doing Something" was hosted at Congregation Or Tzion.

EQUITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL – On March 13, Valley Beit Midrash hosted Yavilah McCoy. The lecture titled “Getting Proximate: Developing and Maintaining Multiracial, Multicultural & Multi-Faith Alliances Toward Equity and Justice" was hosted at Temple Chai.

LIONS LUNCH – More than 70 guests attended the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix Women’s Philanthropy Lions Luncheon on Feb. 1, hosted at the Paradise Valley home of Sandy and Harvey Belfer.

The event featured award-winning former Middle East correspondent and national director for Write on for Israel Linda Scherzer. Lions of Judah are women who have made gifts of $5,000 or more to the Federation’s annual campaign. Pictured: Event Co-Chairs Carrie Aaron (left), special guest Linda Scherzer and DeeDee Vecchione.

BABY & ME – Participants in the Bureau of Jewish Education’s Baby & Me Shabbat.

From left, Julie & Arya Marmorstein and Josh, Amanda & Phoebe Goldberg. In back, to the right is Jill & Asher Roig.

GRAB THE POPCORN – Members of Temple Beth Sholom enjoy going to the movies presented by the Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival. From left, Aaron, Jeremy, Leah and Leasah.

READ ALL ABOUT IT – Some 150 members and friends of the Phoenix Chapter of the Brandeis National Committee gathered for a donor reception Sunday evening March 12 at the Paradise Valley home of Lynn and Larry Kahn. The weather was sublime as guests mingled in the Kahn’s lovely gardens and enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.

Janis Lipman and Ellen Kirschenbaum were cocktail party co-chairs and Barbara Stern and Beth Messer co-chaired the author selection committee. The reception preceded the 27th annual Brandeis Book & Author Event the following day at the JWS Marriott Desert Ridge Resort. Authors included Caroline Leavitt, Pam Jenoff, Christina Baker Kline and Dava Sobel. Photos by Leni Reiss 1. Janis Lipman, Ellen Kirshenbaum and Lynn Kahn 2. Barbara Stern and Beth Messer flank authors, from left, Caroline Leavitt, Pam Jenoff and Christine Baker Kline 3. Dava Sobel, Brandeis National Committee President Madalyn Friedberg and her husband, Steve; and Carol Kern, past national president.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 87

PREVIEWS

BOOK SIGNING WITH AUTHOR MARCIA FINE Award-winning novelist Marcia Fine released her seventh book and fourth historical fiction novel, Hidden Ones – A Veil of Memories, this March. She will be having a book signing on April 1 from 2-4 pm at the LDV Wine Gallery at 6951 E. First St. in Scottsdale. The event will feature complimentary light bites and wine tasting (for a small fee).

The book explores the lengths the Crespin family must go to evade religious persecution for secretly practicing Judaism – risking discovery, imprisonment and even death – while helping their grandmother, the beloved matriarch of the family, escape from prison during the 17th century Inquisition.

Fine felt this to be a relevant and important topic, since today’s citizens of the Southwest are linked to this piece of history. She explains, "When the Inquisition expanded to open offices in Lima, Peru, Mexico City and Cartegena, Columbia, fear spread through all the areas controlled by Spain. That included almost half of North America. Many traveled north into the Southwest Territories to escape. Today there are many discovering their heritage in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado through DNA and genealogy."

Hidden Ones – A Veil of Memories is available in paperback ($16.95) and Kindle Edition ($4.99) on Amazon. For more information, visit marciafine.com.

Lan and Joy are familiar faces at Beth Ami Temple. Lan performs the Kol Nidre at Yom Kippur services, and the entire family are members of the congregation.

As expected with people blessed with such talent, music is an important component of the family.

“Without music, life is a journey through a desert,” Lan says. “For us, music is all about sharing love and healing of souls, the language of the spirit and strongest form of magic.”

More information is available at bethamitemple.org. Tickets maybe be purchased by calling Donna Horwitz at 602-997-5623 or emailing her at azhorwitzs@cox.net.

Marcia Fine

5TH ANNUAL GENOCIDE AWARENESS WEEK AT SCC

An impressive lineup of lectures, exhibits and events are on tap for the 5th Annual Genocide Awareness Week: Not on our Watch, April 17-22, at Scottsdale Community College at 9000 E. Chaparral Road in Scottsdale. Several presentations will be held daily starting at 9 am, as well as an evening lecture or event each day at 6:30 pm. The event is free and open to the public.

Once again, Oskar Knoblauch, one of the most active Holocaust survivors BETH AMI TEMPLE SPRING in Holocaust education, will share CONCERT FEATURES LAN his story of survival and forgiveness QIU AND HIS FAMILY from his experiences during one Beth Ami Temple is holding a Spring Concert of the darkest times in our history. on April 30 from 3-5 pm at 3535 E. Lincoln Knoblauch's talk is scheduled for Dr. in Paradise Valley. Admission is $25 per opening day (April 17) at 10:30 am, person and includes light refreshments. following a presentation on Native The featured artist is Phoenix Symphony The musical family, from left, Lan Qiu, Allen Pan, American Genocide at 9 am by Dr. violinist Lan Qiu and his talented family of Joy Pan and Ivan Pan. Jaakko Puisto, a history professor musicians. with Scottsdale Community College.

Lan, his wife Joy, and sons Ivan and Allen “This year is very special because it's Pan will perform a selection of songs, ranging from Baroque, classical, our fifth annual Genocide Awareness Week and that's a very significant and romantic eras, as well as Jewish music. Lan has played in the milestone," said John Liffiton, professor and co-founder of Genocide Phoenix Symphony’s first violin section since 2003, and prior to that Awareness Week at SCC. "We learn something each year and keep was a member of the China National Symphony Orchestra. Joy also is a improving to give those who attend an experience that will help them grow violinist, and both sons play in youth concert groups. in their knowledge and understanding of genocide and how to prevent 88 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

PREVIEWS these atrocities.” info@jewishfreeloan.org or by calling the JFL office at A new topic and focus added this year is the 602-230-7983.

1936 Olympics, with lectures, a panel discussion WATT INTEGRATION AND BANG and an exhibit that will be on display for the & OLUFSEN GRAND OPENING entire week.

CELEBRATION Another exhibit, Genocides of the 20th Century, Watt Integration, the preeminent audio/video, home is on display in the Student Center Lobby. The integration company in the Valley, will be holding a free traveling exhibit delves deeply into the Armenian Grand Opening Celebration on Thursday, April 13 from mass murders, which occurred in the early 6-9 pm at 8300 N. Hayden Road in Scottsdale. Bang part of the century, the Holocaust perpetrated & Olufsen, Danish designers and manufacturers of

by Nazi Germany in the 1930s-40s, and the audio products and televisions will be featured. Enjoy Rwandan genocide in the mid-1990s. It features an evening of cocktails, hor d’oeuvres and incredible photos, archives and historical context of each sound. period. The SCC display is the U.S. premiere of Watt designs and manages high-end residential the exhibition. It opened at the Mémorial de la projects and retrofits from initial design to final Shoah in Paris in 2015.

Debbie Yunker Kail installation. Their services include lighting, shades Throughout the week, topics to be covered by and blinds, audio/video distribution, alarm and phone survivors, scholars, humanitarians and activists, systems and full integration with simple, seamless control. They have include: The Armenian Genocide, Native American Genocide, Genocide in been in business for over a decade and their experienced staff has a the Renaissance, Violence and State Repression in the Midst of Refugee combined 60 plus years of experience in the field.

Crises, and Genocide in the Age of Climate Change.

For more information, or to RSVP, contact 480-515-9288 or For the full schedule of events, wattintegration.com/events. visit scottsdalecc.edu/genocide.

IAC ARIZONA’S MIMUNA FESTIVAL The Israeli American Council Arizona will be holding a Mimuna on Saturday, April 22 from 8:30-11:30 pm at the Arizona Jewish Historical Society at 122 E. Culver St. in Phoenix.

Mimouna is a traditional festival celebrated by Moroccan Jews at nightfall on the last day of Passover and throughout the following day until sundown. Since the celebration coincides with the last day of Passover; breads, cakes and leavened breads previously prohibited from being eaten during Passover are particularly present in the celebration.

The IAC Arizona’s Mimuna will feature a community Havdalah service, traditional sweets reception, cash bar, live music, belly dancers, backgammon tournament, hookah lounge and more. This is an age 21+ only event.

Tickets are $20 per person. Visit azmimuna.eventbrite.com to register.

Limitless Energy and Expertise!

Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or a last-home seller, my 34 years of local real estate experience will make your transactions pleasant and worry-free.

JEWISH FREE LOAN’S 2017 ANNUAL MEETING On May 11 at 6:30 pm Jewish Free Loan will convene its annual meeting at Temple Chai located at 4645 E. Marilyn Road in Phoenix.

During the meeting, attendees will hear from keynote speaker Debbie Yunker Kail, executive director of Hillel Jewish Student Center at Arizona State University, who is a Jewish Free Loan Borrower.

She will share her insights on the work of Jewish Free Loan and how she was personally impacted by the interest-free loan she received.

As part of the evening, Ron Blau and Barrett Silver will be honored with the Harry Adler Memorial Leadership Award in recognition of their unprecedented dedication to and leadership of Jewish Free Loan.

In addition, JFL will install the 2017-2018 board of directors, which will include the recognition of out-going president, Larry Moffitt and incoming president, Ira Shapiro. The organization’s newest named loan fund donors and legacy society members will be acknowledged as well.

This event is open to the public. The cost is $18/person, which includes a dairy dessert reception (dietary laws observed). Register by May 1 at

I work closely with every client, as if conducting my own personal transaction. My only goal is to make sure you are a satisfied and happy customer.

Full-Service Property Management

Toby

Weinstein

(602) 228-0265 tobyre4u@aol.com

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 89

APRIL CALENDAR

April 1

Book Signing with Author Marcia Fine. See page 88.

April 2 Get Screened AZ at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 10 am-3 pm. In addition to genetic counseling and education there will be raffle prizes and networking with fellow Jewish community member. For more information or to register, contact 480-668-3347 or visit jewishgeneticsphx.org.

Schmooze Young Families visit the Phoenix Zoo. Meet in front of the zoo at 10 am or call Serene if you arrive later. E-mail info@azschmooze.com for contact phone number. For additional details and to RSVP, visit Facebook.com/azschmooze.

IAC Arizona’s Mimuna Festival. See page 89.

April 23

“The Art of Paying Attention” Workshop.

April 10 Chag Pesach Sameach Passover begins at sundown on April 10. The eight-day observance commemorates the exodus of the Israelites form slavery in Egypt to freedom. Visit azjewishlife. com/calendar for a complete listing of community seders.

April 13 Watt Integration Grand Opening Celebration. See page 89.

April 15-May 10 “The Art of Paying Attention” Exhibit.

See page 44.

April 17-22

April 5

Genocide Awareness Week at SCC. See page 88.

April 19

It’s Not Just Lunch at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from noon-1:30 pm. Great speakers and a different topic each month with a full kosher lunch. $5 suggested donation. A collaboration with Smile On Seniors. Contact Chani at 602-492-7670 or chani@sosaz.org.

Celebration of Heritage Concert at The Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E River Road, Tucson at 6:30 pm. Camerata Sonora choir will perform a musical journey throough time and culture, centered around Jewish identity. $10 for non-members and $9 for members of The J. 520-299-3000 or tucsonjcc.org.

April 6

April 20, 21 & 23

Cancer Education Series at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E River Road, Tucson from 6:30-8:30 pm. Today’s topic: Diet and Cancer: What’s a person to Eat? Presented by Cyndi Thomson, PhD, RD, associate director, Cancer Prevention and Control University of Arizona Cancer Center. Free. 520-299-3000 or tucsonjcc.org.

Women of the Wall events. See page 72.

April 7 Beatles Shabbat. See page 82.

April 22 Special Needs Community Dance at Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 7-10 pm. Gesher Disability Resources (formerly Council For Jews With Special Needs) presents their 2nd annual community dance for adults with special needs. Cost is $5 (caregivers and volunteers are free). Cash only please. RSVP required: Rachel@cjsn.org or 480-629-5343.

Speaker and Author Marty Brounstein at St. Andre the Apostle Catholic Church, 3450 W Ray Family Friendly Financials at the Play Factory at Road, Chandler at 6:30 pm. Marty Brounstein Desert Ridge, 21001 N Tatum Blvd #38-1335, is the author of Two Among the Righteous Few: Phoenix at 10 am. Families will participate in an A Story of Courage in the Holocaust. He brings interactive program where they will learn about a true interfaith story of courage, compassion, the importance of tzedakah and how to give as and rescue about a Christian couple in the a family. Free. Contact Jewish Free Loan at 602Netherlands named Frans and Mien Wijnakker 230-7983 or info@jewishfreeloan.org. who saved the lives of over two dozen Jews during the Holocaust and World War II. Free; $15 for the

book.480-899-1990 or standrew-cfc.org.

April 9

90 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

See page 44.

Celebration of Caring. See page 84.

Tucson Family Triathlon. See page 89.

Dollars and Sense: Financial Literacy for Woman at The New Shul, 7825 E Paradise Ln, Scottsdale from 2-4 pm. This program is designed to empower women to take control of their financial well-being at any age. Free. Contact Jewish Free Loan at 602-230-7983 or info@jewishfreeloan.org.

Yom HaShoah Commemoration & Community Gathering at Temple Chai, 4645 E Marilyn Road, Phoenix from 3-4:30 pm. Join the Phoenix Holocaust Survivors’ Association to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day with all survivors entering with a candle, music by the Jewish Community Choir and a community and survivor speaker. phoenixhsa.org.

Tucson Family Triathlon at the Tucson Jewish Community Center and Rillito River Bike Path, Tucson from 7:30-11:30 am. Non-competitive triathlon for the whole family. $20-$65. 520299-3000 or tucsonjcc.org.

April 27 Parkinson’s Health & Fitness Day at the Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from noon-1:30 pm. PWR!CIRCUIT TM classes, Parkinson’s nutrition tips, balance and brain training, healthy snacks, raffle prizes and more. Presented in partnership with Barrow Neurological Institute Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center and Belmont Village Scottsdale. Free, but registration is recommended at membership@ vosjcc.org.

Savers Donation Drive at 1106 Arizona Ave, Chandler from 11 am-2 pm. Bring unwanted items to donate. Proceeds benefit Devorah Hadassah. Hadassah.evinfo@cox.net.

April 29 40th Anniversary Gala. See page 82.

April 30 “The Art of Paying Attention” Artist’s Reception.

See page 44.

Beth Ami Temple Spring Concert Features Lan Qiu and his Family. See page 89.

Yom Hazikaron at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 7-8:30 pm. Remembrance of Israel's fallen soldiers and victims of terror attacks. Free. Contact Shahar Edry at shahar@ isralieamerican.org.

TWINKLE TWINKLE! PETROGLYPHS IN THE DESERT

advertise@azjewishlife.com 602.538.2955

azjewishlife.com ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2017 91

Visit our Model Gallery at 1702 East Highland, Suite 105 or call 602.225.2242. www.contourcondos.com

This is not an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy, to residents of any state or province in which registration and other legal requirements have not been fulfilled. Void where prohibited by la w. All plans, amenities, availability, completion dates,

prices, improvements and incentives are subject to change without notice. All measurements are approximate. ADRE #661757000 92 APRIL 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE