Arizona Jewish Life May/June 2020 Vol. 8/Issue 6

MAY/JUNE 2020

ACTIVELY SENIOR COVID-19 concerns, caregiving and community

GRAHAM HOFFMAN Ready to lead in Tucson

Summertime Sippers

Lilach Mazor

POWER

Growing the Giving Tree

CON T E N T S Arizona Jewish Life May/June 2020 Iyyar-Sivan-Tammuz 5780 Volume 8/Issue 6

32

12

FEATURES COVER STORY Lilach Mazor Power: Growing the Giving Tree JEWS WITH ATTITUDE Graham Hoffman: Ready to lead the Jewish community of Tucson Nachum Erlich: Creating a living bridge between Israelis and Americans

32

10 12

BUSINESS Biz Ins & Outs

14

FRONT & CENTER A Jewish guide to streaming Scottsdale Arts launches virtual arts experiences

40 42

FASHION Seating Arrangements

44

FOOD Summertime Sippers

46

FATHER’S DAY For Dad – gift guide

49

46

24

53

AC TIVELY SENIOR New sleep method strengthens brain’s ability to retain memories 16 Desert Willow assisted living at Sagewood transforms assisted living 18 Downsizing? This dynamic duo can help 20 The Ten Commandments of caregiving 24 Older individuals and COVID-19 26 Oldster Options 30

KIDS & TEENS Valley juniors and seniors may get a prom after all Celebrate Arizona Graduate Recognition Day on May 20 Join the online senior yearbook Bella Wexler wins Zehngut Award for Outstanding Teen

50 52 53 53

COVER Lilach Mazor Power PHOTO COURTESY THE GIVING TREE WELLNESS CENTER

MAY/JUNE 2020

JLIVING Anti-Semitic incidents in Arizona decline in 2019 but increase nationally Socially distant volunteer opportunities Faces & Places Previews

Summertime Sippers ACTIVELY SENIOR

COVID-19 concerns, caregiving and community

54 56 58 60

Graham Hoffman

Ready to lead Tucson’s Jewish community

Lilach Mazor

POWER

Growing the Giving Tree

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | FEBRUARY 2020 5

PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE 6

THE GOOD THE BAD AND THE UGLY CINDY SALTZMAN Publisher These are challenging times for sure.

And like everyone, I am so ready for this COVID-19 tragedy to be over. Although we don’t have control over this virus, or what the 330,000,000 people in the U.S. do to help mitigate it, let alone the 7.8 billion people in the world; we have learned a hard lesson, we are all much more interdependent than many of us were aware of or willing to accept.

Most people have always known that we are affected by our global economy and global climate change, but understanding that we are also profoundly affected by global health, or lack of, seems to be news to all of us. No longer.

So while we are all consumed with flattening the COVID-19 curve, we also need to make sure we are flattening our chronic health and mental health curves. As of this writing, close to 94% of coronavirus patients have some underlying chronic health issues. And it has been reported that at least two-thirds of our population is experiencing high levels of anxiety, depression and hopelessness brought on by the pandemic. It sometimes feels like we don’t have definitive answers for anything. And that uncertainty, on such a global level, can be debilitating for some.

Our world is changing, and there is no way

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

to escape this change. But as the world seems to be slowing down to fight this, there are opportunities for innovation, education and self-growth. No one would want the horrible death toll, sickness and financial hardships to ever happen. Still, the one light that has shone on humankind during this time is the incredible generosity and love people have for one another.

There are heroes in our midst every day; the health workers, first responders, essential workers, but also your neighbor, friends and family, and in so many instances strangers who have come to the aid of their fellow man or woman.

I hope when this COVID-19 nightmare is over, or at least managed, that we will not forget the lessons learned. Better yet, as we begin to rebuild, I hope these lessons will help us build not the same world, but a much better, kinder and equitable one.

Please stay safe and healthy.

With virtual hugs to all of you,

Hey SIRI! Find me Arizona Jewish Life SUBSCRIBE NOW AZJEWISHLIFE.COM/ MAGAZINE-SUBSCRIPTION

AZJEWISHLIFE.COM

Subscriptions: azjewishlife.com/ magazine-subscription Newsletter: azjewishlife.com, click on “Subscribe Now!” Facebook: @AZJewishLife Twitter: @JewishLifeNow Instagram: @JEWISHLIFENOW Call: 602-538-AZJL (2955) Email us: publisher@azjewishlife.com adver tise@azjewishlife.com calendar@azjewishlife.com distribution@azjewishlife.com editor@azjewishlife.com events@azjewishlife.com subscriptions@azjewishlife.com ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 7

MAY/JUNE 2020 Arizona Jewish Life • Iyyar-Sivan-Tammuz 5780 • Volume 8/Issue 6

PU B LI S H E R

H OW TO R E AC H U S

Cindy Salt zman

602-538-A ZJL (2955)

A DV E R TI S I N G A N D E D ITO R I A L D I R EC TO R Cindy Salt zman

E D ITO R- I N - C H I E F Mala Blomquis t

CO NTR I BU TI N G E D ITO R Leni Reiss

ART DIREC TOR Tamara Kopper

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Michael Fox Amy Hirshberg Lederman

ADVERTISING SALES advertise@azjewishlife.com BUSINESS publisher@azjewishlife.com EVENTS calendar@azjewishlife.com SUBSCRIPTIONS azjewishlife.com/magazine-subscription S U B SC R I P T I O N S A N D D I S T R I B U T I O N 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 c all 602-538 -2955.

Complimentar y copies of Arizona Jewish Life magazine are available at dozens of retail loc ations including Chompie’s, synagogues, Jewish communit y centers and organizations, enter tainment venues, res taurant s and professional of fices.

PU 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 first of the month. Story ideas for features and special sections are due 45-60 days prior to publication.

BIZ INS & OUTS: Business news is due 4 weeks before publication.

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

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

CALENDAR: 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 first-time authorization to post events online, go to azjewishlife.com and scroll down to the “calendar access request” link under “Quick Links” on the right. After you submit the form, you’ll receive an email with instructions for posting future event.

A Prince Hal Produc tion ( TGMR18)

2020-2021 MediaPort LLC All rights reserved The content and opinions in Arizona Jewish Life do not necessarily reflec t those of the publishers, staf f or contrac tors. Ar ticles and columns are for informational purposes only and not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Although ever y ef for t is made to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, Arizona Jewish Life, and its agents, publishers, employees and contrac tors will not be held responsible for the misuse of any information contained herein. The publishers reser ve the right to refuse any adver tisement. Publication of adver tisements does not constitute endorsement of produc ts or ser vices.

8

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

JEWS WITH ATTITUDE

Graham Hoffman: I Ready to lead the Jewish community of Tucson

By Mala Blomquist

Graham Hoffman

10

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

n the middle of May, Graham Hoffman will become president and CEO of both the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona and the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona. Graham has held the position at the Foundation since 2018 and will be taking over at the Federation for Stuart Mellan, who has been president and CEO since 1995.

While there are other communities where the Federation and Foundation have come together as one, Tucson is a unique situation. “We did not make a decision to merge, and we are not approaching this as a merger,” explains Graham. “We’re approaching it as two organizations with one CEO at the moment, and over time, we will work with the boards of both organizations to figure out the best path forward. It represents a unique opportunity, in my view, for us to leverage the strengths of both organizations with common leadership.”

Graham and Stuart spent more than 10 months engaged in the community planning process evaluating data, including that from a survey where roughly 1,800 people responded. Through that data, decisions can be made about what’s in the best interest of the community for the long term.

“It became clear that the success of the Federation and the success of the Foundation should be measured by the success of the agencies and of the Jewish community that they support and facilitate,” says Graham. “Aligning the work of these two organizations, creating greater synergy between them and identifying opportunities for them to be coordinated and collaborate in the work that they did made much more sense.”

Ironically, Graham had never intended to go into Jewish communal work, but his background, both personally and professionally, makes him an ideal candidate for this particular position.

He was working as a consultant at Accenture, a multinational professional services company, when he was recruited to do work for Hillel International in Washington, DC. “I took a leave of absence from Accenture for a year and started doing internal consulting for Hillel, traveling around the country helping with their accreditation process,” says Graham.

From there, he moved on to facilitate Hillel’s first global strategic planning process, implementing a strategic plan and some key initiatives. He then transitioned into a senior strategy role for the next 10 years.

During that time, he also helped develop a successful engagement program. They would identify the influencers in social networks on college campuses, hire them to be engagement interns, and then their job was to build relationships with 50 of their uninvolved peers and to connect those students to Jewish life.

Through this process, they were able to reach an incredible number of previously uninvolved Jewish students.

Many of these engagement interns, who themselves were previously uninvolved Jewish students, went on to become leaders both on campus and in the Jewish community around the world. “It became a transformative model for Hillel, and it has shaped the way that many in the Jewish world now understand engagement work.”

After Hillel, Graham went to AIPAC for five years, where he worked in development and oversaw its major gifts fundraising work, major philanthropic foundation and endowments. “From there, I was recruited to run the Foundation here in Tucson,” says Graham.

Coming to Tucson reminded Graham of his roots in the Midwest, where people are friendly, caring and grounded. “The volunteers, the families, the individuals are just remarkable,” states Graham of his new city. “It’s a deeply committed community of folks who understand that if you want to have outstanding Jewish life, then you have to stand up and be a part of it.”

Graham’s parents divorced when he was less than a year old, and he spent time between the homes of his mother and stepfather in Milwaukee, WI, and his father and stepmother in Chicago, IL. His mother and stepfather kept a conservative home and Graham went to synagogue, community day school and was very involved in Jewish life. When his parent’s lost a dear friend to cancer, they delved deeper into their religion. Eventually, they became a part of the ultraOrthodox community under Rabbi Michel Twerski, of

Hasidic rabbinic dynasty descent.

On the other side, Graham’s father had remarried a non-Jewish woman and they had a “secular Jewish home,” and when he went to visit for the weekends, it would be “restaurants and movies on Saturday.”

Growing up between these two households gave Graham an appreciation for pluralism, but it also created a need to individuate himself.

“Just after my bar mitzvah, I needed to figure out what kind of Jewish life and observances were going to work for me,” he says. “What elements of my Jewishness were going to stay consistent regardless of where I was.”

In Graham’s current position, he wants to help people facilitate ownership of their Jewish journey, but he also wants people to know that there is a difference between engagement and stewardship.

“Engagement is helping them with their Jewish journey and helping them chart their course; stewardship is cultivating relationships with people to facilitate their increased investment in Jewish life,” explains Graham.

“So we can only be honest brokers in engagement if we’re willing to honestly and carefully separate that from stewardship and fundraising, which in my view is totally doable.”

Stuart has been an innovator among Federation leaders for his understanding of the importance of community engagement, and he was instrumental in the creation of The Weintraub Israel Center, which provides educational experiences, advocacy and outreach.

Graham wants to continue this vital work. “We want to facilitate an ownership of Jewish experience for every Jewish individual and every family – to define, prioritize and determine the kind of Jewish experiences that are meaningful for them,” he says. “We want to provide them with lots of great offerings, exposure and opportunities and to lower the barriers for involvement so that they don’t ever feel they’re ‘not Jewish enough’ to participate.”

While the situation with COVID-19 may not have made this the ideal transition time, Graham remains optimistic. “This time brings with it challenges that we have not faced before,” he says. “I certainly would not have wanted it to be the way that things began, but the truth is that there are a lot of things I think that will come out of this that will help us.”

For more information on the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona, visit jfsa.org; for the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona, visit jcftucson.org.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 11

JEWS WITH ATTITUDE

Nachum Erlich: Creating a living bridge between Israelis and Americans

By Mala Blomquist

The Erlich family: Ben, Ella, Niel, Nachum and Alexzandra.

Missing from the photo is their youngest son, Idan.

12

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

N

achum Erlich came to the United States from Israel in 2005. He was a partner in Eran Diamonds in Israel when his partner’s son, who was living in the U.S. at the time, wanted to get married and move back to Israel. When they couldn’t find a suitable replacement for the son in the states, Nachum offered to make the move.

Then in 2008, when the economic crisis occurred, he got out of the diamond business and into real estate. Today he is a partner in a real estate investment company that deals in apartment complexes.

It is the flexibility of this partnership that allowed Nachum to combine both his business sense and his love for Israel and pursue the position of regional manager of the Israeli-American Council Arizona. “This is my ‘give back’ time,” he says.

Nachum was on the first board of IAC Arizona four years ago. The other board members were Susan Bondy, Sigal Urman and Donna Barkel. Shahar Edry launched the IAC Arizona and held the position of Arizona regional director at the time; now he is its national community director.

“I remember it was the 70th birthday of Israel, and we held Yom Ha’atzmaut at Butterfly Wonderland,” says Nachum. “We had 1,500 people come. It was a big party.”

After that first year, Nachum worked with Sigal Urman to create a presentation in conjunction with Scottsdale Community College’s Genocide Awareness Week on the Holocaust.

“To educate people about the Holocaust, you have to approach not just the Jews because they already are educated about it, but universities where it’s a very hard place to be a Jew today,” says Nachum. Genocide Awareness Week is hoping to move the program to Arizona State University in 2021.

The IAC also began a program called Memorial in Your Living Room, where they hold an intimate Holocaust memorial service in a person’s home with a guest speaker, candle lighting ceremony and conversation.

“Some people don’t want to go to big events, and this is more meaningful because you meet someone who was there, or whose parents were there,” says Nachum. Both of his parents are survivors.

The IAC Arizona offers many programs for children as young as four up to adults, and they hold various events throughout the year, including their popular Shishi Israel celebrating Shabbat. They also have forged bonds with organizations such as the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, Martin Pear JCC, Bureau of Jewish Education, Israeli Scouts and Pardes Jewish Day School.

“We want the community to be a community, it doesn’t

matter how Jewish you are,” says Nachum. “We don’t care if you’re not affiliated, Reform, Conservative, Orthodox – we put Jewish first.” He also mentions that you don’t have to be Israeli either. The delegation from Arizona that went to the IAC National Summit in 2019 was only half Israeli-American, the rest had no direct connection to Israel.

The 2019 summit also brought to an end the use of the term “yordim.” Yordim means “those who go down” and was a common nickname for Israelis who moved from Israel to live abroad. Whereas the term “aliyah” means “going up.” So, if someone moved to Israel and made aliyah, they were ascending.

“It’s behind us. Dr. Miriam Adelson wrote a beautiful article called ‘Yordim No More,’ ” says Nachum. “Which means today we are no less important than the Israelis that live in Israel, in our contributions, and what we can do for the land of Israel.”

Nachum says that sometimes people forget about the connection between the land of Israel and Judaism. “If you lose the connection between Judaism and your history, your religion, you are losing your touch to Judaism. You cannot replace it with anything else.”

Nachum was a paratrooper in the Israel Defense Forces during the First Lebanon War, where he lost his commander, Meir Knishbach. “I was in a situation that was one bullet to the right, one bullet to the left, and he was chosen to give his life for me to understand that I cannot stop,” says Nachum. “I have to continue the mission, and if not in Israel, to continue it here.”

The death of his friend, and later, his father, instead of getting him down, has brought him strength. He carries their memories with him through everything he does, and he feels that they are pushing him to achieve. He named his first son Ben Meir after his friend, and since Meir means “one who shines,” he believes that he is there, “lighting my way.”

Nachum says his job at the IAC Arizona is to help the Israelis in the organization to be a “living bridge” between the state of Israel, the Israelis in Israel and Americans.

“For me, there is no Judaism without Israel, this is the promised land, this is the land that God gave us, you cannot separate the two,” says Nachum. “It’s a package deal.”

This interview occurred prior to the pandemic. Currently, Nachum has chosen to take a leave of absence from his position as regional manager. He has requested that his pay during this time go back to the IAC. The IAC has online programming at this time for all ages. For more information, visit israeliamercan.org/home.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 13

BIZ

INS & OUTS

Shoshana and Robert S.(z"l) Trancer

Todd Weiss

Arizona Opera Plaza to be named after Shoshana and Robert (z”l) Tancer In commemoration of their remarkable contributions to Arizona Opera, the company announced April 24 that the courtyard at the Arizona Opera Center in downtown Phoenix will henceforth be known as the Shoshana B. and Robert S. Tancer Plaza.

Arizona Opera’s announcement of this naming follows the passing of Bob Tancer on March 17, after many years of service to the company and our community.

Bob was a longtime, devoted member of the Arizona Opera Board, serving in multiple leadership roles, including two terms as Board Chair, from 1999-2001 and again from 2015-2017. At the time of his passing last month, he was serving as Chair of the company’s Development Committee.

“Bob and Shoshana are incredibly special to Arizona Opera,” said Arizona Opera President and General Director, Joseph Specter. “The naming of the Shoshana B. and Robert S. Tancer Plaza allows us the opportunity to celebrate Bob’s memory, as well as Bob and Shoshana’s remarkable legacy of support, advocacy, and passion for our company. It will be a joy to see the Tancer name smiling down on us at the Opera Center every day.”

“Arizona Opera is so dear to us,” said Shoshana Tancer.

“The naming of this Plaza is an honor that neither Bob nor I could ever have imagined. I am so grateful for this recognition, and I am looking forward to serving on Arizona Opera’s Board and continuing the service to which Bob gave of himself for so many years.” azopera.org

14

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

The Jewish History Museum

Todd Weiss named CEO of ViaWest Group ViaWest Group is excited to announce that Todd Weiss is joining the firm’s Phoenix office. Todd brings extensive experience in commercial real estate and realestate finance to his new role as Chief Operating Officer.

“We are very excited to welcome Todd to the team,” says Steven Schwarz, founding partner of ViaWest Group.

“The industry experience and unique set of abilities he brings will allow us to strengthen the structure of our organization.”

Todd has a 20+ year background in real estate law and offers a deep knowledge and understanding of acquisitions, financing, dispositions, joint ventures, leasing and asset-management issues.

Todd has spent the past 15 years at VEREIT, a publiclytraded real estate investment trust, with his most recent role as its General Counsel – Real Estate.

“ViaWest is an incredible organization and one I’m excited to be joining,” says Todd. “I look forward to bringing my industry experience, knowledge, and background to help grow what is already a strong and impressive platform.”

Todd received his Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of Texas and earned his Juris Doctor from Chicago-Kent College of Law, where he graduated with high honors. viawestgroup.com Jewish History Museum will receive a CORE grant The Jewish History Museum will receive a CORE grant of $15,000 from the Community Foundation for Southern

Amir Eden

Arizona, which has granted more than $2.1 million to nonprofit organizations providing immediate relief during the coronavirus crisis. The most recent round of grants includes $120,000 from CFSA’s COVID-19 Response Funds, $720,000 in general operating grants through its 2020 CORE Grants, $5,500 to support members of the LGBTQ+ community, $25,000 to provide grocery gift cards for employees of local restaurants and bars, and $18,000 to support arts organizations in rural Arizona communities.

Among dozens of awardees, other grant recipients include Primavera Foundation and Southern Arizona Law Enforcement Foundation (Covid-19 Response Funds), and Integrative Touch for Kids, Sister Jose Women’s Center, and True Concord Voices and Orchestra (Core Funds). cfsaz.org Tucson Hebrew Academy teacher is teaching Israeli Spirit Amir Eden has started teaching “Israeli Spirit” classes for middle school students from all over the U.S. through the Israeli-American Council’s new Ofek Learning HubLooking Beyond the Horizon.

Amir holds a B.A in political science and international relations from Florida Atlantic University and an M.A in educational administration from San Francisco State University.

He taught Hebrew for 11 years in Las Vegas and has served as a sixth to 12th grade Hebrew department chair, a middle and high school principal, and a K-12 head of Judaic studies, Hebrew, Jewish life and Israel connections.

He is currently a second- through fourth-grade teacher of Judaics and Hebrew at Tucson Hebrew Academy. ofekhub.org

Bryce Megdal

Temple Emanu-El cantor is taking a position in Florida Bryce Megdal, a Tucson native, has accepted a position as cantor for the Congregation of Reform Judaism in Orlando, FL. Bryce was ordained as a cantor at the Academy for Jewish Religion California in May 2019 and also received a master of Jewish sacred music. Previously, she received a master of Jewish studies with an emphasis in music in Jewish life from AJRCA in May 2015.

Her undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degrees from the University of Arizona are in Judaic studies and studio art.

Currently she is a b’nai mitzvah teacher and cantorial singer at Valley Beth Shalom Synagogue in Encino, CA. She also remains involved in several synagogues at which she has led services throughout the years, including Temple Akiba in Culver City and Temple Emanu-El in Tucson. brycemegdal.com.

HAVE BUSINESS NEWS TO SHARE? Send your "Biz Ins" to editor@azjewishlife.com ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 15

SPECIAL FOCUS:

ACTIVELY SENIOR “Getting older is no problem. You just have to live long enough.” That quote

by Groucho Marx, although meant as a joke, may have more than a little truth to it. The current life expectancy for a person in the United States in 2020 is 78.93 years. That’s a steady increase from the expectancy of 68.14 in 1950.

And as people are living longer, they are also living lives that are richer and fuller than in the past. There is an abundance of enrichment activities, whether it be physical, mental, or spiritual for older, active adults.

Although we are in challenging times right now, we will come through this, hopefully with new knowledge and a greater appreciation for life and what the future holds.

16

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

New Sleep Method Strengthens Brain’s Ability to Retain Memories

A

new joint study by Tel Aviv University (TAU) and Weizmann Institute of Science researchers has yielded an innovative method for bolstering memory processes in the brain during sleep.

The method relies on a memory-evoking scent administered to one nostril.

It helps researchers understand how sleep aids memory, and in the future could possibly help to restore memory capabilities following brain injuries, or help treat people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for whom memory often serves as a trigger.

The new study was led by Ella Bar, a PhD student at TAU and the Weizmann Institute of Science. Other principal investigators include Prof. Yuval Nir of TAU’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience, as well as Profs. Yadin Dudai, Noam Sobel and Rony Paz, all of Weizmann’s Department of Neurobiology. It was published in Current Biology on March 5.

“We know that a memory consolidation process takes place in the brain during sleep,” Bar explains. “For long-term memory storage, information gradually transitions from the hippocampus – a brain region that serves as a temporary buffer for new memories – to the neocortex. But how this transition happens remains an unsolved mystery.”

“By triggering consolidation processes in only one side of the brain during sleep, we were able to compare the activity between the hemispheres and isolate the specific activity that corresponds to memory reactivation,” Prof.

Nir adds.

Bar says, “Beyond promoting basic scientific understanding, we hope that in the future this method may also have clinical applications. For instance, post-traumatic patients show higher activity in the right hemisphere when recalling a trauma, possibly related to its emotional content.

“The technique we developed could potentially influence this aspect of the memory during sleep and decrease the emotional stress that accompanies recall of the traumatic memory. Additionally, this method could be further

developed to assist in rehabilitation therapy after one-sided brain damage due to stroke.”

The researchers began from the knowledge that memories associated with locations on the left side of a person are mostly stored in the right brain hemisphere and vice versa. While exposed to the scent of a rose, research participants were asked to remember the location of words presented on either the left or right side of a computer screen. Participants were then tested on their memory of the word locations, then proceeded to nap at the lab.

As the participants were napping, the scent of roses was administered again, but this time to only one nostril.

With this “one-sided” odor delivery, the researchers were able to reactivate and boost specific memories that were stored in a specific brain hemisphere.

The team also recorded electrical brain activity during sleep with EEG. The results showed that the “one-sided” rose scent delivery led to different sleep waves in the two hemispheres. The hemisphere that received the scent revealed better electrical signatures of memory consolidation during sleep. Finally, in the most crucial test of all, subjects were asked after waking up to undergo a second memory test about the words they had been exposed to before falling asleep.

“The memory of the subjects was significantly better for words presented on the side affected by smell than the memory for words presented on the other side,” Bar says.

“Our findings emphasize that the memory consolidation process can be amplified by external cues such as scents,” she concludes.

“By using the special organization of the olfactory pathways, memories can be manipulated in a local manner on one side of the brain. Our finding demonstrates that memory consolidation likely involves a nocturnal ‘dialogue’ between the hippocampus and specific regions in the cerebral cortex.”

Researchers at TAU are discovering that the scent of roses introduced while sleeping may improve memory function.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 17

ACTIVELY SENIOR

Desert Willow Assisted Living at Sagewood Transforms

Assisted Living

F

rom modern apartment living design to life-enriching amenities including an on-site rehabilitation and fitness center, restaurant-style dining and chefprepared meals delivered to your front door, a beautiful and well-stocked library, nondenominational chapel, fullservice beauty salon and barber shop, large community living room with fireplace and piano, and medical care from the adjacent Five-Star rated Acacia Health Center, Desert Willow Assisted Living at Sagewood raises the standard for quality assisted living in Phoenix.

Offering an exclusive 44 contemporary designed oneand two-bedroom apartment home neighborhood, Desert Willow has been designed with a distinctive Southwestern architecture, specifically appointed with residentialcentered, elegant interiors for individuals to feel at home in a comfortable setting.

Large windows for residents to enjoy natural light highlight the contemporary floorplans featuring a private bedroom with walk-in closet, luxurious bathroom featuring a large roll-in shower, open-plan kitchen equipped with a refrigerator and microwave, living room, and stylish finishes with a color palette reflecting the majesty of the surrounding Sonoran Desert.

Desert Willow provides exceptional personalized care from licensed, compassionate team members in a distinct residential setting. A high staff-to-resident ratio ensures residents receive assistance with daily tasks as needed while maintaining a level of independence and social, cultural and recreational activities geared toward residents enjoying what appeals most to them. Rehabilitation and 18

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

The desert-inspired dining room, second floor lounge and staircase at Desert Willow. whole-person wellness services are customized to meet an individual’s needs and improve physical strength and independence following a serious medical procedure.

Selecting the right assisted living community is about security, a nurturing environment, quality of life and lifestyle. In addition to meeting social, cultural and recreational requirements, the community you choose should be financially sound and have a continuum of care in place to meet future health and lifestyle needs like the exceptional hospitality that Desert Willow provides.

A pledge to deliver a vast array of services and benefits in a luxurious home-style environment with an uncommon level of flexibility is the philosophy that sets apart Desert Willow Assisted Living at Sagewood. With a focus on personal choice, Desert Willow is the most innovative assisted living community available in Phoenix and has a staff available 24/7 to help with safety, care and support.

Sometimes, all we need to lead a more fulfilling life is an occasional helping hand. Moving to an assisted living community is an important decision and presents an opportunity for comfort and enrichment in one’s life.

Desert Willow welcomes non-residents of the Sagewood senior living community interested in direct admission.

Visit SagewoodLCS.com and call Nancy Jameson at 480-384-5825 to discuss your future home in the Desert Willow Assisted Living at Sagewood community.

ACTIVELY SENIOR

Downsizing?

This dynamic duo can help

By Mala Blomquist

K KAREN SUPMAN

JAMES MEDNIK

20

aren Supman and James Mednik, Realtors with Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, are good at helping people confronted with the challenges of downsizing, probably because both of them have been through the process themselves.

When Karen’s partner died in 2012, she was left with a 4,000 square foot home filled with treasured keepsakes, including 450 pieces of museum-quality Japanese art.

“I asked my kids, ‘What do you want – the fine bone china, Baccarat crystal, oriental rugs, a couch?’ They said that they wanted my vintage handbags, and that was it!” jokes Karen. “We spend a lifetime collecting things that our kids don’t want.”

“We hold onto stuff because it’s sentimental, or you think you’re going to do something with it someday,” says James. “You get to that point where it might be the final move, and everything can’t go with you.”

That’s where Karen and James come in with ideas and resources, whether it’s putting items on consignment, donating them, holding an estate sale, or putting things in storage.

Karen has been a Realtor since 2002, and she became a member of the National Association of Senior Move Managers in 2016. NASMM is recognized for its innovative programs and expertise related to senior move management, transition and relocation issues affecting older adults.

James is new to real estate, becoming a Realtor after relocating to Arizona two years ago. He moved here from St. Louis, MO, where he owned several successful businesses in the Tucson’s textile recycling industry. James also mentors other small business owners.

Girl Scout James says thatTroop when613 they meet a client they always ask, “If you could wave a magic wand, what would you wish for?” And the client inevitably always wishes for the process to be done.

Along with the help of Debbie Meyer of Moving You Simply, LLC, they can make their wish come true. Together, they can offer services to completely coordinate and manage the entire move, from packing boxes to staging the home for sale. “Our goal is to take the stress away from them as much as possible, and net them as much money as possible,” says Karen.

Karen and James have also noticed that individuals who are downsizing are looking for the same type of home as millennials. They both want to “live large” on a small footprint without a lot of square footage or a big yard to upkeep.

Karen refers to these ‘lock and leave” homes as “ jewel boxes.” What a jewel box home lacks in size it makes up for in luxury with custom Continued on next page finishes and upscale detailing.

“They want an open floor plan, and they want something bright and sunny that’s close to things,” says Karen. “And that sense of community where they have people they could meet and go to the movies or restaurants with.”

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

“We spend a lifetime collecting things that our kids don’t want.”

A lot of seniors have concerns that they will outlive their money. “They want to be able to cut some expenses and be in a beautiful home – and they can cut expenses by going to a smaller home. But they’re not going to sacrifice luxury and amenities,” says James.

They both agree that it’s all about the client and what their goals are, and from there, they form a team and navigate the process.

“We really get into it, and we’re making a difference in someone’s life, and that excites us,” says Karen.

The pair has several testimonials from clients on what a difference they’ve made.

One woman lost her husband, who made all the financial decisions. James took the time to make a detailed spreadsheet for her so that she could better understand her Continued on next page

~Karen Supman

Is the thought of selling your home and downsizing overwhelming?

RELAX!!

Simply wave your magic wand - let us assist you to navigate the entire process

•List your home for sale •Sort, de-clutter, organize & professionally photograph •Stage home and actively market to buyers •Negotiate contract •Manage transaction through closing and moving As professional Realtors, our job is to “control the process” As homeowners/seller, your job is to “control all decisions” Learn how the process works.

Visit our YouTube video at: Karen Supman & James Mednik-Downsizing-YouTube

KAREN SUPMAN 602.999.6738 karen.supman@russlyon.com www.karensupman.net

JAMES MEDNIK 480.925.2440 james.mednik@russlyon.com www.jamesmednikrealtor.com

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 21

ACTIVELY SENIOR Downsizing contined

A "jewel box" home features upscale detailing and custom finishes.

financial situation and be assured that she was making the right decision. She sold her home here (after receiving three offers) and is currently building her dream home in Virginia.

James’ patience and understanding could be credited to growing up in a Jewish home with older relatives. His father was 44 when he was born, but James’ aunts and uncles were much older, and he watched them go through the difficult process of parting with their belongings.

A lot of those items were connected to their Judaism.

“You get a sense of how they think and what is important to them,” says James. “And whether they’re Jewish or Catholic, when they’re religious, it’s about having empathy and an understanding for the value they place on things.”

“You know what I love about being Jewish?” asks Karen after she shares that she converted not once, but twice – first to Reform and then to Conservative. “The sense of tradition, the sense of family.

That coincides with how I take care of my clients – they become my family.”

If you have question about downsizing, or are looking for a Realtor, contact Karen at 602-999-6738 or James at 480-925-2440.

22

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020

23

ACTIVELY SENIOR

The Ten Commandments of

Caregiving

By Amy Hirshberg Lederman

T

he job description might read something like this: “Looking for someone 24/7 with the patience of a saint, the wisdom of the Dali Lama, the goodness of Mother Teresa, and the ability to find the humor in the most difficult of situations. Must be fluent in the language of love.”

How many of us will find ourselves taking on the arduous role of caretaker for a loved one, family member or friend in our lifetimes? How many of us can lay claim to even a few of the qualifications that are necessary to do so?

My own experience involved caring for my husband, who, at the age of 61, was diagnosed with cancer. I never really thought of myself as a caregiver during the 3 years, 7 months and 11 days of his illness. I saw myself as his wife; devoted to caring for him as part of a loving marriage and lifetime commitment. But statistically, I fell into the category of the more than 60 million unpaid caregivers who, according to the National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP, are actively engaged in caring for a chronically ill, disabled or aged family member or friend, often without training or support.

Caregivers typically help with activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing, meal preparations, household tasks and 24

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

managing finances, but the real work comes in what can’t be measured by cooked meals or loads of wash. Because at the heart and soul of caregiving is the deeply human undertaking of understanding, honoring and dignifying another person at what is often their most vulnerable time of life.

Caregiving is as unique as the individual for whom one is caring. In the simplest of terms, this means that one size fits…one. A caregiver may often need to be a fierce advocate, a diligent gatekeeper, the one who has to initiate the most difficult conversations about things never discussed before in a family. Caregiving challenges us to learn about medications, wheelchairs, medical tests and scans, bodily functions and often, the details of death and dying. In short, it’s a crash course in life, love, and often, a loss for which most of us are never prepared.

But caregiving can be a deeply rewarding experience because it requires us to draw upon our deepest, most compassionate and often most loving selves. Regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof, taking care of another person who has lost the capacity to care for themselves has the potential to be a truly holy, spiritual experience.

I am not an expert in the field, nor do I pretend to be. But during the years I cared for my husband, I found that these strategies kept both of us going strong.

A POSITIVE ATTITUDE is often the most important ingredient in the recipe of caregiving.

COMMUNICATION IS KEY: For both the caregiver and the patient, it is essential to cultivate respectful ways of communicating needs, feelings, concerns and frustrations.

USE AVAILABLE TOOLS AND RESOURCES. Online help, family, friends and neighbors, list serves to share information like Caring Bridge and support groups can help reduce the daily demands.

BE OPEN TO CHANGE AND LET GO OF THE OUTCOME. A caregiver who is able to be flexible and adaptive will often reduce the stress of the situation.

DON’T SPEND UNNECESSARY TIME or waste hours going down the internet “rabbit hole” looking for answers. Ask experts, doctors and medical staff for guidance.

BE OPEN TO HEALTH CARE ALTERNATIVES such as acupuncture, massage, hypnosis, CBD and other holistic remedies.

PLAN SOMETHING SIMPLE to look forward to every day. A new recipe, a television show, or a walk around the park can bring joy to a day.

TAKE CARE OF THE CAREGIVER. Make time to engage in self-care every week. Ask a friend to cover while you take a walk, go to a movie, or do something that feels like it’s “just for you!”

FOCUS ON THE GOOD THINGS, no matter how small. Express gratitude whenever possible.

REMEMBER THIS BEAUTIFUL QUOTE by Vivian Greene: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass … it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.”

Caregiving is so much more than managing daily activities, household tasks and health care. It is a chance to deeply appreciate and value life while offering dignity, love and acceptance to another human being.

AMY HIRSHBERG LEDERMAN

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

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 25

ACTIVELY SENIOR

Older individuals and COVID-19

C

oronaviruses, named for its and shortness of breath. crownlike shape, are a large Dr. Sonja Rosen, MD, is chief of family of viruses that are geriatric medicine at Cedars-Sinai common in many species of animals. in Beverly Hills, CA, and has been Several coronaviruses can infect people, practicing for 19 years. AZJL reached according to the Center for Disease out to Dr. Rosen and asked her Control and Prevention. These strains questions specifically related to older mostly cause cold-like symptoms but can individuals and COVID-19. sometimes progress to more complicated Here are the questions and her lower respiratory tract illnesses, such as responses: pneumonia or bronchitis.

On rare occasions, animal AZJL: Other than underlying health coronaviruses can evolve and spread conditions, what makes seniors so among humans, as seen with MERS vulnerable to COVID-19? and SARS. The virus at the center of Dr. Rosen: With aging, the body Dr. Sonja Rosen the latest outbreak is being referred to produces fewer immune cells, including as a novel (new) coronavirus, since it’s white blood cells. Older people are something that health officials have not seen before. essentially somewhat immunocompromised, as the fewer Older adults and people who have severe underlying immune cells also don’t communicate as well with each medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes other. seem to be at higher risk for developing more severe complications from COVID-19 illness.

AZJL: If a person is healthy, but over 65, are they Symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild still at a higher risk of complications? symptoms to severe illness and death. Symptoms may Dr. Rosen: Yes, because people over 65 have fewer appear 2-14 days after exposure. Watch for fever, cough, immune cells, which means it takes longer to react to 26

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

harmful germs, and healing can be slowed.

AZJL: What are some medical conditions that make contracting the virus more difficult to recover from?

Dr. Rosen: The most significant diseases are underlying lung diseases, disease that compromise the immune system (like lymphoma or leukemia),

undergoing treatment that compromises the immune system (like chemotherapy), severe heart disease, dialysis patients and people with diabetes.

AZJL: What are the best precautions seniors can take to avoid getting COVID-19?

Continued on next page

JOIN THE CONVERSATION

ACTIVELY SENIOR

Resources for health, finances, retirement, love and entertainment.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTERS WITH THE LINK: azjewishlife.com/newsletter-sign-me-up/

AZJEWISHLIFE.COM

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 27

ACTIVELY SENIOR Older individuals contined

Dr. Rosen: The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus by sheltering in place at home. Remember that some people without symptoms may be able to spread the virus. Wash your hands often.

If you absolutely have to go out for essential things like groceries or for medications from the pharmacy, make sure to wear a mask and again, wash your hands frequently. If available, wear disposable gloves.

If possible, try to have food and medications delivered instead of going out, and ask the delivery person to leave it outside your door so you can avoid face-to-face, inperson contact.

AZJL: What should they do if a household member or caretaker gets COVID-19?

Dr. Rosen: It is important to isolate from that caretaker or household member, paying special attention to not use the same bathroom or food products.

Consider refilling your medications with a mail-order service

28

AZJL: Any other advice for seniors during this time?

Dr. Rosen: Try to stay physically active at home. There are a lot of video and online activities, including exercise classes. Try also to stay socially connected from home, calling your friends and family and using a video chat or FaceTime if you can. There are several online programs that combine exercise and socializing - check with your local department of aging to find out more. Reach out to your city or county if you are food or other supply insecure – there are multiple efforts to feed and help supply older residents with eswsentials – reach out for help.

The CDC also recommends that seniors develop a care plan. During the COVID-19 pandemic, having a care plan is an essential part of emergency preparedness.

A care plan summarizes your health conditions, medications, healthcare providers, emergency contacts, and end-of-life care options (for example, advance directives).

Complete your care plan in consultation with your doctor, and if needed, with help from a family member or home nurse aide.

Care plans can help reduce emergency room visits and hospitalizations, and improve overall medical management for people with a chronic health condition, resulting in a better quality of life.

It’s also important to stock up on over-the-counter medications to treat fever, cough and other symptoms, as well as tissues and standard medical supplies.

Major health insurers have pledged to relax prescription refill limits on “maintenance medications” in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. Prescription refill limits are also being waived for many Medicare Advantage and Part D beneficiaries.

If you run into difficulty stocking up on your prescriptions at the pharmacy, consider refilling your medications with a mail-order service, the CDC says. You can also ask your physician to switch your prescription from a 30-day supply to a 90-day supply to make sure you have enough medication to get through a potential COVID-19 outbreak in your community.

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

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 Mt. Sinai Cemetery www.mtsinaicemetery.com e-mail: info@mtsinaicemetery.com 24210 N. 68th Street (off Pinnacle Peak Road) • Phoenix, AZ 85054

Preplanning is truly the greatest gift one can give to their family.

ACTIVELY SENIOR

WHISKERS AWAY Have skin as smooth as a baby's tush.

Philips Norelco shaver 4500. use.philips.com

HOW DOES YOUR GARDEN GROW? Scare the dirt and make life easier with these fingertip claw gardening gloves. What will they think of next. odditymail.com

OLDSTER OPTIONS Being and oldster, doesn't mean your old. Everyone loves to receive a gift from the heart. Here are some suggestions on things you didn't even know you needed.

COLORING BOOKS FOR ADULTS Get on your markers set, go! target.com

TOOTSIE WARMER As warm as your favorite sweater. Machine washable rockdovefootwear.com

30

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

STRUT YOUR STUFF Put the glamour back in necessity.

Ivory walking cane with wood shaft and brass collor fashionablecanes.com.

BOOK-OF-THE-MONTH CLUB For the voracious reader who can't get enogh to read.

There are plans available in 3, 6 and 12 months. bookofthemonth.com

CUP OF JOE Start the day off right with a selection chosen from you coffee club subscription. drinktrade.com CLACKING OF THE TILES Whether you are breaking the wall or getting a dragon tile, this game brings out the strategist in everyone. horchow.com

GRANDPAD It's the smartest, simplest, and safest way to connect you with your loved ones. grandpad.net CHOW DOWN With 365 recipes to choose from, eating becomes an adventure in food. williams.sonoma.com JEWELED DYNASTY Generations are represented on this birthstone necklace.

Largest stone represent Grandma, next size, her children and the smallest stones her grandchildren. daniquejewelry.com REST AWHILE Peeramid Bookrest. This uniquely shaped pillow props a book, Kindle or iPad at the perfect angle for reading. tvtimedirect.com

PIECE-BY-PIECE Hours of fun for puzzle and Frank Lloyd Wright enthusiests. galison.com

COV E R STO RY

LILACH MAZOR POWER

Growing the Giving Tree

By Mala Blomquist

T

he Giving Tree Wellness Center lies in one of the many typical business parks located in North Phoenix. When you walk through the doors, it appears like any medical professional’s office with a couple of distinct exceptions. Instead of landscape or graphic prints, the art on the walls depicts photos of marijuana leaves and flowers, and the smell of these flowers hangs like a pungent perfume in the air.

The Giving Tree is not just any dispensary; it is a 32

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

place where patients issued a medical marijuana card can sit down, one-on-one, with a consultant and get educated on the best cannabis product for them.

That is the goal of Founder and Managing Director, Lilach Mazor Power. “I want to make sure people understand they’re not criminals; they don’t need to hide it,” she says. “We’re trying to fight stigma here. This is a professional place; most of my employees have degrees. We’re creating something different here.”

Lilach Mazor Power

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 33

LILACH POWER

FORGING HER PATH Lilach did not originally set out with the goal of becoming a cannabis entrepreneur.

Her husband, Keith Power, is an emergency room doctor, and they found their conversations frequently steer towards the striking number of patients that end up in the ER, searching for hope and answers as they navigate chronic illness and pain.

These conversations led her to understand the need for a community wellness center, “a place that is warm and welcoming for both physicians and people to have a discussion.” She envisioned having a nutritionist, yoga instructor and masseuse on staff to help complement the traditional medical treatments the patients were receiving.

“So I created this great business plan and discovered that there is absolutely no money in it,” jokes Lilach. “So I dropped it, and then this (medical marijuana) came up on the ballot. So it was perfect.”

Medical use of marijuana in Arizona was legalized by way of Proposition 203 in 2010.

Lilach had befriended Dr. Gina Berman, who worked with Keith and supported the couple when Lilach was pregnant with her first child. When Proposition 203 came up on the ballot, they decided to apply for a license together. “We applied for four and got two,” says Lilach.

“We went through this whole journey together. Which was amazing because we got to work to create this whole thing,” reflects Lilach. The two parted ways more than a year ago. “We just wanted different things. We were amazing at starting the business together.”

The Giving Tree Wellness Center opened in 2013. “Back then, no one wanted to talk to us,” remembers Lilach.

“Nobody wanted to give us any money; we had to selffund, so we had to put everything we had into this. No one wanted to work for us. It’s funny what’s happened in seven years, but I couldn’t get someone with a degree to work here. Nobody wanted to put it on their resume.” Now, she says if they post a position online in the afternoon, they receive over 200 applications by the next morning.

In the beginning, Lilach had to hire people who used to grow marijuana illegally because they were the only people with experience. The result is an industry built upon knowledge from people who once grew in their basement being repurposed to growing in a strictly 34

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Jesse Miller

regulated manner to provide for patients. These growers need to be very compliant with tracking because marijuana remains a controlled substance. Lilach came to understand the difficulty that comes with marrying the two unlikely necessities of running a dispensary: legal protocol and formerly underground growers.

“It was a challenge,” admits Lilach. “You lose a lot of money and learn from your mistakes. I do consulting now that we are in other markets, and I always say, ‘I learned what doesn’t work and I’ll make sure you don’t do the same.’ ” There is no “handbook” for growing marijuana. If you want to grow corn in the Midwest, it is very easy to go to the agricultural department with a dream and a soil sample, where they tell when and where you should plant and how

"I enjoy the madness and I enjoy being in a new industry, but I remember a few times saying, ‘What are we doing? This is too hard.’ and I remember my mom saying. ‘It’s not easy to change history.’ And those words kind of stuck with me.”

Katarina Park you should do it, all summarized in standard operating procedures.

Over time, Lilach and her team have come up with their own SOP’s to follow. But it hasn’t been easy without any SOPs to compare them to. You can’t consult with the health department, department of agriculture, or universities because of the federal restrictions.

Lilach believes being Israeli has helped her better tolerate the ups and downs of this industry. “It’s a normal operating mentality for us – we do live riskier than others.

You have to do something you love because you don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow,” she says. “I’m a risk-taker. I enjoy the madness and I enjoy being in a new industry, but I remember a few times saying, ‘What are we doing? This is too hard.’ and I remember my mom saying.

- Lilach Mazor Power

‘It’s not easy to change history.’ And those words kind of stuck with me.”

In Israel, cannabis is illegal but partially decriminalized, meaning possession of a small amount its not a criminal offense, and it is allowed for some specified medical usages.

In fact, Raphael Mechoulam, an organic chemist and professor of medicinal chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, was one of the first to discover the medical benefits of cannabinoids.

“In Israel, the research comes out of there because they are open to it,” says Lilach. “The universities, the agriculture department, Technion, Ben Gurion, hospitals – everyone is doing research. Hebrew University has 17 labs there dedicated to the study of cannabis. There are zero in Arizona.”

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 35

LILACH POWER

“The universities, the agriculture department, Technion, Ben Gurion, hospitals – everyone is doing research. Hebrew University has 17 labs there dedicated to the study of cannabis.

There are zero in Arizona.” – Lilach Mazor Power

36

MARCH/APRIL MAY/JUNE 2020 2020 | ARIZONA | ARIZONA JEWISH JEWISH LIFELIFE

The Giving Tree does everything in house from growing the plants, harvesting, processing and extracting the THC and CBD oils for their products.

She continues, “It brings benefits that we do not have.”

FROM SEED TO STORE The Giving Tree is vertically integrated, meaning they do everything in-house. They grow, extract, sell flower wholesale, and even have a couple of their own brands, Kindred and Katatonic, that they wholesale to 42 of the more than 100 dispensaries in the state.

The Kindred brand is for active professional adults who may want to incorporate a daily dose of cannabis into their lifestyle, but don’t want to smoke it. The Kindred line consists of capsules, breath strips and massage oil.

Katatonic is extracted through the use of CO2, which separates the pure cannabinoid compounds from unwanted residual solvents, thus creating the chemically purest high you can get. “If you want to get high and put good things into your body, Katatonic is your brand,” says Lilach.

These brands were created with the expert guidance of chemist Katarina Park, who joined Giving Tree five years ago.

When Lilach connected with Katarina initially, she basically told her, “Here’s your room with four walls – go!”

“I had no clue. I just knew I wanted extraction, I wanted to create products and I wanted branding because I come from a marketing background,” says Lilach. “There’s beer and then there’s Heineken. We want to be ‘top shelf ’ cannabis. So she created everything we have.”

Before Katarina, they grew and sold flower, pre-rolls, and hash, but to get to the point where they can give a patient a 5-milligram nighttime capsule; that’s where the chemistry comes in. Katarina is also the namesake of the Katatonic line.

However, before any of the plants get to the lab for Katarina to work her magic, they have a lot of growing to do.

Jesse Miller is the cultivation manager at Giving Tree. He

grew up on a corn and soybean farm in central Illinois; this upbringing influenced his path to get a master’s degree in plant, soil and agricultural systems from SIUC. The beginning of any plants’ journey is the “mother room.” This room houses the “mother” plants, where an exact clone can be propagated by snipping a stem and putting it into “rockwool.”

Rockwool is a lightweight, hydroponic substrate that is made from spinning molten rock into fine fibers which are then formed into cubes.

“It’s a nice place for water and nutrients to be absorbed and roots to grow,” says Jesse. “This was just a stem and then it becomes an individual plant. “It takes about 17 days to form and establish a root system.”

The next grow room is much warmer. The plants are kept at an optimal growing temperature of 80-85 degrees. As the plants get larger, they will be transplanted into larger cubes.

They will spend a total of four weeks under 18 hours of continuous light.

The next step is to move into a flower room where they will spend the rest of their life. Their lifecycle has now been changed to 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness. “We’ve manipulated the environment to tells them it’s the time of the season to create and produce flowers,” explains Jesse.

The first few weeks they’ll continue to get bigger and bigger and then eventually they’ll stop growing in size as they focus all their attention on flowering. Large fans are placed in the flower rooms to help with humidity and to strengthen the branches as they’re constantly moving. If there is a lot of stagnant air, it’s easier for mold to grow.

At this stage, the plants are also grown in coconut husks that resemble soil but are essentially a hydroponic growing system, as all the nutrients are supplied through a fertilizer solution.

“We have nine rooms and they’re all in different stages,” says Lilach. “Every week we ‘take down’ a room which means we harvest a room and we flip it and start over again.”

Jesse points out a plant that is about seven weeks old.

“Now that’s it maturing you see the little orange hairs, the pistils on the female plant, that’s what’s supposed to capture the pollen,” he explains. “What’s really valuable is the frostiness we call trichomes, that hosts the terpenes that are responsible for the smell and the taste.”

Each strain of plant has their own unique terpene profiles.

Lilach explains the profile of one strain called ACDC. This strain has a high CBD content but low THC, so you get the benefits of the cannabinoids without the mindaltering effects. This is different than the widely available CBD oil that is derived from hemp. The hemp product has a single cannabinoid molecule, while the CBD derived from cannabis contains 100 molecules. “This is the medicine that ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 37

LILACH POWER

“When you take a small dosing of cannabinoid CBD, you get the whole entourage of effects of the cannabinoid but you don’t get the high. It’s like putting your pink glasses on, the world is a little better.”

– Lilach Mazor Power

38

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

The Giving Tree has created two of their own signature product lines, Kindred Cannabis and Katatonic; inside the Giving Tree Dispensary; Lilach, husband Keith, and sons Shai and Ben.

helps seizures. It’s what we donate to pediatric patients.”

The mother plant of the ACDC strain came from a patient who grew it for his wife. Due to legal ramifications, he no longer wanted to own the plant, but he also didn’t want to throw it away, so he gave it to Giving Tree.

“This plant is 15% CBD, so it’s high, but very hard to grow so not many growers will spend the time,” says Lilach.

“The structure of the plant is very annoying, it’s very finicky.

But this is why we’re here. It’s worth it.”

There are other challenges Giving Tree encounters besides finicky plants. Even though they are growing inside, they still have to contend with pests, fungus, molds and equipment failure. “The rule in Arizona,” says Lilach. “If you’re going to lose an air conditioner, it’s usually going to be in August.”

Jesse explains another interesting phenomenon. “The plants can hermaphrodite as well. There are all female plants in the building, we don’t want males because they produce pollen and that will lead to having seeds in the flower and that will decrease the value of the product. We’ve had that happen because female plants can hermaphrodite and produce male parts.”

“When a female plant is stressed, it goes to male,” states Lilach with a chuckle. “It’s true!”

After they harvest the plants, a team will trim the flowers and leaves off the stem and the flowers will go on racks to dry out for 5-7 days at 65 degrees and very low humidity.

The flowers need to be constantly monitored for moisture at this stage.

After cultivation, all the by-products go to the lab where it is dried, shredded and put through the CO2 system.

“There we’ll run it with certain parameters and then we’ll extract out the oil,” says Katarina. “Once that’s done, we refine the extract a little bit more and then the refined oil is used for all of our products.”

THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY The Arizona Marijuana Legalization Initiative may appear on the ballot in Arizona on November 3, 2020. The ballot initiative would legalize the possession and use of recreational marijuana for adults age 21 years or older.

Currently there are about 200,000 patients in all of Arizona with a medical marijuana card and about 100 stores competing for their business. If this initiative passes, there will be a potential increase of dispensary customers to anyone over 21, which is 3 million people in Arizona.

Lilach is excited for the prospect. “I believe this should

be part of people’s wellness lifestyle. Taking microdosing of cannabinoids every single day is very helpful actually,” She continues, “When you take a small dosing of cannabinoid CBD, you get the whole entourage of effects of the cannabinoid but you don’t get the high. It’s like putting your pink glasses on, the world is a little better.”

Whatever the outcome of the election, Lilach will continue to run her business as she has for the past seven years.

“We are the only dispensary I know that has a 100% money-back guarantee,” says Lilach. “Understand that this is a journey. If you went home and it didn’t work don’t just give up. Bring it back, we will exchange it and work on something else and if you allow us, we will call you in two days and see how that worked.”

At this point, after consulting with the patient, they get the treatment right close to 90% of the time. “Migraines, back pain, Crohn’s – whatever condition you have, we have enough data,” says Lilach.

She currently employs 40 people, who she considers her family. “The team here is phenomenal,” she says. “We go through different things, this is not always easy, but it’s amazing how everyone supports each other. We have a bigger purpose.”

They volunteer as a company, raise money for various causes and will be happy to share their knowledge with the community through complimentary educational events.

“There are so many people with questions who are afraid to ask,” says Lilach. “This is not a sales pitch. I sell cannabis.

Everything we do is aligned to give back to our community, to educate our community, and I think that is part of my Judaism.”

Lilach is currently the only woman in Arizona who is the majority owner in a dispensary; others are partners, but none are sole owners. While this fact is frustrating for her, it doesn’t stop her from setting her goals for the future. For 2020 they would like to move their dispensary to more of a retail location, but not so far that they can’t continue to serve their loyal patients.

“Zoning is very hard and it’s hard to find locations, that the focus to move (the dispensary) to a better location and use the rest of the space here for more automation for our lab, a bigger distribution and inventory center to be able to supply to all our partnerships,” says Lilach.

“It’s not easy and we are changing history, so it’s something bigger than my own business,” she continues.

“It’s the satisfaction of not just going to work, not just doing something small, but really effecting a movement. It’s fun and I love it.”

The Giving Tree Dispensary is located at 21617 N. Ninth Ave, in Phoenix. Visit them online at givingtreedispensary.com.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 39

FRONT & CENTER

A Jewish guide to streaming

by Michael Fox

In the streaming universe, as with all entertainment, there’s the stuff that everyone watches and talks about. But that’s

just the tip of a vast catalog, a lot of it quite good, that doesn’t get the hype and the buzz. Here’s an eclectic list of accessible Jewish-themed movies that received some hosannas on their initial release. The more obscure (and great) Jewish films of recent years will be on a future list which, alas, we’ll have ample time to watch after catching up with these.

THE WOMEN’S BALCONY (Chai Flicks) Menemsha Films, the savvy U.S. distributor of Jewish-themed films from around the world, offers a free 30-day trial of their streaming platform.

(A subscription will then run you $5.99 a month.) There’s enough first-rate stuff to carry you to Shavuot and beyond, and I suggest you begin with Israeli director Emil Ben-Shimon and screenwriter Shlomit Nehama’s warm and wonderful romp set among a small Orthodox congregation dislocated by structural damage to its Jerusalem shul.

THE LAST LAUGH (PBS’ Independent Lens) It’s one thing, a daring thing, to explore the most taboo subject in comedy – the Holocaust – though the considered insights of Jewish 40

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

comedians from Mel Brooks (“The Producers”) to Sarah Silverman. It’s another to integrate that seriously irreverent investigation with Renee Firestone’s real, scarring Holocaust experience in a way that respects and amplifies the suffering of millions. Ferne Pearlstein’s 2016 documentary is both an entertaining and deep work.

TEL AVIV ON FIRE (Amazon Prime) Sameh Zoabi’s clever comedy about a Palestinian soap-opera writer trying to navigate the demands of both his bosses and an Israeli checkpoint commander will lift your spirits without insulting your IQ. Make a batch of hummus first.

1945 (Amazon Prime) This extraordinary black-and-white Hungarian film parlays the postwar arrival of two exhausted Jews at a small village into an exposé of guilt, betrayal, corruption and murder. One of the most acclaimed European films of 2017, “1945” is a gripping and haunting reckoning with dark history.

MIKE WALLACE IS HERE (Hulu) One of the smartest and best documentaries of 2019 examines, entirely through archival television footage, the ambitious journalist who made “60 Minutes” essential viewing. Not a Jewish film, oddly enough, but a riveting one.

DISOBEDIENCE (Amazon Prime) Sebastian Lelio’s taut, understated 2017 drama, adapted from Rebecca Lenkiewicz’s novel, is a remarkably nonjudgmental story that follows a volatile, adrift woman’s (Rachel Weisz) return to London after the death of her estranged father, an Orthodox rabbi.

Community, identity, responsibility, sexuality – everything is on the table.

PROSECUTING EVIL: THE EXTRAORDINARY WORLD OF BEN FERENCZ (Netflix) The last surviving U.S. attorney from the Nuremberg trials has an impeccable memory, a spotless moral compass and enormous gravitas. If your fortitude is at a low ebb, Ben Ferencz will give you the strength to persevere.

A SERIOUS MAN (Netflix) The Coen Brothers’ most personal and most Jewish film, filmed in and around their childhood stomping grounds of Minneapolis–St. Paul, is a painfully hilarious moral fable guaranteed to provoke a cross-generational dinner table conversation. One politically incorrect question that this devious 2009 movie poses: Are Jews our own worst enemies?

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 41

Scottsdale Arts launches virtual arts experiences SPARK

IMMERSE INSPIRE

AMPLIFY 42 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA 2019JEWISH | ARIZONA LIFE JEWISH LIFE

Scottsdale Arts has launched “Connections,” a new series of virtual arts programming, on its website at ScottsdaleArts.org. PHOTO: SCOTTSDALE ARTS Blog examples shown are: SPARK: A collection of bells at Arcosanti. PHOTO: THE COSANTI FOUNDATION/ JESSICA JAMESON. Yuna Horie, No Matter How We Are Different AMPLIFY: A few samples of Dr. Gerd Wuestemann, president and CEO of Scottsdale Arts, "Essential Albums."

IMMERSE: Scottsdale's Public Art Collection events like Canal Convergence INSPIRE: Livestream of James Turrell's Knight Rise Skyspace

FRONT & CENTER

I

n response to the closures of its facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Scottsdale Arts has launched a series of new virtual arts programming via its website, ScottsdaleArts. org, and the websites for its four branches.

Recognizing that many of its patrons and other arts lovers are now spending more time using webbased platforms to view paintings, listen to music, explore photography and experience stories, Scottsdale Arts and its team of curators, performing arts programmers, public art managers, and arts learning facilitators have developed a new artsbased blogging initiative called Scottsdale Arts Connections.

“When, as humans, we are faced with crisis and catastrophe, we must turn inward and find resolve,” says Dr. Gerd Wuestemann, president and CEO of Scottsdale Arts. “We have a choice to make: Do we panic and fend only for ourselves, or do we find a deeper level of compassion, care more honestly for others and reflect on our fellow human beings? Most of us have lived lives relatively free from major crises, and I

believe that this moment prompts us to think about how incredibly connected we all are around this globe — how extraordinarily similar our basic needs are.”

Like Scottsdale Arts itself, Connections comprises four unique blogs for each of its four branches. The blogs introduce a variety of content that will include video conversations with artists, virtual exhibitions, artistic resource lists and more.

Amplify is the blog for Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. It is designed to form connections with local performing artists and nationally touring performers who have appeared at the Center. It will also promote new endeavors like the Virtual Scottsdale Arts Festival, which launched on April 2 after the physical festival in March was canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.

Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) programs the Inspire blog, which cultivates a space that inspires dialogue about contemporary art through curated conversations. It will also offer artistic how-tos, in-depth looks at SMoCA’s collection and other virtual experiences.

The Immerse blog from Scottsdale Public Art continues the organization’s mission to contribute to the community’s creative, cultural and economic vitality.

Visitors will experience online exhibitions, digital journeys through the city of Scottsdale’s Public Art Collection and conversations with public artists and those who work behind the scenes at events like Canal Convergence.

Scottsdale Arts Learning & Innovation uses its Spark blog to promote mental, physical and social wellbeing for all ages. Its blog offers online resources for arts educators and examines new movements that have sprouted from the pandemic, like #ChalkYourWalk. It will also promote the launch of Scottsdale Arts’ first fully online exhibition, “Scottsdale Sister Cities Association: Young Artists and Authors Showcase.”

“The arts are critical in a time like this,” Wuestemann says. “It is through this higher form of expression that we rise above, develop a deeper connection to our community and communities around the globe, ask how we can do more for others and find both enlightenment and solace for ourselves. At Scottsdale Arts we are committed to bringing our community and our world closer together through Connections. We hope this program will inspire you, bring you comfort and perhaps make you smile a little in this difficult time.”

The blogs for each branch of Scottsdale Arts will be collected as Scottsdale Arts Connections on the organization’s primary website at ScottsdaleArts. org/connections. The various branch-specific blogs are ScottdalePerformingArts.org/amplify, SMoCA. org/inspire, ScottsdalePublicArt.org/immerse, and ScottsdaleArtsLearning.org/spark.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 43

FAS H I O N

SEATING ARRANGEMENTS Whether it's brunch, lunch, cocktails, dinner or just a relaxing BBQ, the right LOOK fits the occasion.

H&M Circle-skirt dress $69.99 www2.hm.com

BRUNCH COCKTAILS

LUNCH

L'Agence Spring 2020 lagence.com Marchesa 2-piece embroidered organza top and skirt $3490 district5boutique.com

44

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

AFTERNOON CANASTA BCBGMAXAZRIA Crepe Palazzo pant $248.00 bcbg.com

BBQ

POOLSIDE GATHERING Kaftan Limited edition noray-ayron.com River Shorts $79.00 topodesigns.com ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 45

FOOD

S U M M E RT I M E SIPPERS Our backyards beckon. As summer is all but here, time to get outside. Whether you're surrounded by friends and family or just being supine, nothing refreshes like a summertime libation.

46

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

SUMMER SANGRIA INGREDIENTS 4 Oranges, 2 juiced, 2 halved lenghtwise and thinly sliced crosswise 1/ 3 to 1/2 cup of sugar 1/4 cup brandy 1 bottle dry red wine, chilled 2 lemons, thinly sliced 2 cups seltzer or club soda Ice cubes for serving

DIRECTIONS In a large pitcher, combine orange juice, sugar, and brandy; stir until sugar has dissolved. Add chilled wine, orance slices, lemon slices and seltzer; sitr to combine.

Fill glasses with ice befor serving and garnish with orange or lemon fruit slices.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 47

SUMMERTIME SIPPERS

PEAR MOJITO INGREDIENTS 1.5 oz. Mount Gay Black Barrel rum .75 oz. lime juice .75 simple syrup 1 oz. Ambient pear juice Fresh mint leaves Club soda

DIRECTIONS In a highball glass, lightly press on mint leaves with muddler. Add rest of the ingredients except club soda. All ice and transfer into a shaker and shake.

Add club soda and pour back in highball glass.

Garnish with mint leaves.

THE SICILIAN FIRING SQUAD INGREDIENTS 1 oz. Montelobos mezcal 1 oz. Solerno Blood Orange liqueur .5 oz. grenadine 1 oz. freshly squeezed lime juice 2 dash Angostura bitters

DIRECTIONS Combine ingredients into a cocktail shaker. Shake and strain over fresh ice in rocks glass.

Garnish with a lime wheel and a Luxardo maraschino cherry

TIFFANY BLUE COSMOPOLITAN for 2

INGREDIENTS 3 oz. vodka 1 oz. blue curacao 5 oz white cranberry juice Squeeze of fresh lemon DIRECTIONS Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice.

Strain into martini glasses and serve.

48

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

FOR

1

DAD

2

A few suggestions to make dad feel extra special on June 21st.

Or any day that says you love him. e PUT A CORK IN IT Lovingly cast from zinc and finished with a charming antique brass plate, these animal-shaped bottle corks offer the perfect way to preserve that last glass of rosé. Every purchase empowers artisans from Roots of Creation in South Africa. $12.00ea • the littlemarket.com

3

r DRONE ON DroneX Pro is a precision engineered drone which is specifically designed for easy flying, making it perfect to fly inside or to record action shots whilst on the move. Its foldable structure and lightweight design makes it an essential item for any moments! Look out! $99.00 • buydronexpro.net t KISS THE COOK This 100% Cotton bib apron will make dad feel like the real deal.

It boasts tie closures, it's machine washable and comes with a right chest pockets and 2 hip pockets. Additional suspenders sold separately. Color: Desert sand suspender set included Size: 34 L x 30 w $42.99 • chefworks.com

4

u STEAK-PALOOZA No matter which way you cut it, steak is the game.

For a variety of steaks or steak combos, check out Omaha Steaks website. I'll have mine rare please!

Begining at $24.99 omahasteaks.com

5

i SEEING IS BELIEVING Nikon's 10x42 Aculon A211 Binocular is an ideal device for hunters, birders, and outdoor enthusiasts who require an optic that delivers high magnification for detailed observations of distant subjects while retaining the ability to observe quickly on the go, without the bulk and weight of larger models. Color: black. $89.00 • bhphotovideo.com

6

i DROP A DIME Go back and find the past in this 1950s payphone from Crosley, reproduced down to the rotary-style push buttons. Even better, this vintage-inspired payphone doesn't take money, it saves it in a coin bank! Color: red, black, and aqua blue. $89.95 • crosleyradio.com ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 49

KIDS & TEENS

Valley juniors and seniors may get a prom after all

N

ick’s Menswear has partnered up with one of Arizona’s largest event companies for the inaugural Promchella. The two-day music festival is set to take place July 17 and 18 in Phoenix, at a location yet to be determined. The event will feature live music, DJs, food from local vendors and more. The event is in direct response to high school juniors and seniors who were unable to have a prom this year due to the novel coronavirus.

A pre-prom tailgate party will kick off before the event and include an assortment of food trucks. Tickets will be $70 and include a $20 food truck voucher, entry into the event, pre-prom tailgate party and access to the firework show. Promchella is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and all proceeds will go directly to local students and families affected by COVID-19.

Promchella is specifically designed so juniors and seniors from all over the state can have a chance to make memories together. There will be performances from local and national bands, DJs at the pre-party and hundreds of door prizes and giveaways throughout the night.

Guests are invited to stay until the end for the after-prom fireworks extravaganza. Promchella is the summer camp, house party and music festival for any high school junior or senior.

50

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

“Prom is a quintessential high school experience and many students saw that slip away this year,” said Austin Morrow, Senior Class President at Chandler High School.

“In an effort to provide students with an amazing, one-ofa-kind event this is an excited launch and an entirely new approach to what prom is.”

Organizers have partnered with local businesses, sports teams, media and are currently in talks with big name musical acts to perform at Promchella.

In these times of uncertainty, the wellness of guests, staff and partners is the top priority of Promchella organizers. Promchella is closely monitoring all aspects of the coronavirus situation and making daily decisions on how to best move forward to bring guests an incredible, safe experience.

“When the concerns over large public gatherings end, and they will end, people are going to be ready to get out, see their friends and make memories,” said Josh Fink, owner of Nick’s Menswear. “Something Promchella stands for.”

For updates about the event, including when tickets are available for purchase and musical lineup announcements, visit promchellaaz.com or like Promchella on Facebook and Instagram. You can also search #PromchellaAZ2020 across social media platforms for the latest details.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 51

KIDS & TEENS

Celebrate Arizona Graduate Recognition Day on May 20

G

overnor Doug Ducey announced at the end of March that Arizona schools would be closed through the end of the school year, following updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Educators and students both made a quick shift to online learning. But what about graduation?

High school students have worked hard for the past four years to achieve this milestone, and so have college students – whether they’ve earned a bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. Not to be able to “walk” with your friends while “Pomp and Circumstance” plays on and on is just another painful reminder of how this pandemic has impacted our lives.

But the people at Expect More Arizona, the advocates that make sure all Arizona students have the opportunity to succeed, from their early years and throughout life, have created a statewide day of celebration for the 2020 spring graduates. Arizona Graduate Recognition Day will be held on Wednesday, May 20, to recognize all the graduate’s efforts and accomplishments. (They also recognize May 5 as Arizona Teacher Appreciation Day.) 52

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Expect More Arizona wants as many Arizonans as possible to participate in the celebration. For that to happen, they need everyone to help spread the news. They recommend using the hashtag #AZClassOf2020 on any social media posts, sending emails to friends and family and sharing details of how you plan to celebrate.

On their website, they have a list of ideas on decorating your home, car, or sidewalk; posters that you can download, print and display, and even suggestions for companies, organizations and schools on ways they can get involved in the celebration.

There was a clever idea shared by principal Gabbi Buckley of Dobson High School in Mesa. Every Friday night, they honor the class of 2020 by turning on the football stadium lights at 20:20 (8:20 pm) for 20 minutes and 20 seconds. That way, when the students see the glow from the stadium on Friday nights, they know that that is a tribute to them, the class of 2020.

For a full list of ideas on how you can participate in honoring this year’s graduating seniors, visit expectmorearizona.org/2020-celebrations.

Join the online senior yearbook

Bella Wexler

Wins Jewish Federation of Southern AZ’s Zehngut Award for Outstanding Teen

B With campuses closed for the COVID-19 pandemic, schools are celebrating graduates on social media instead of handing out yearbooks the last week of school. Arizona Education News Service took this idea one step further and created a yearbook for the entire state.

To honor and recognize all of Arizona’s graduating high school seniors, AZEdNews invites you to submit photos of your high school senior for their online yearbook.

To submit a photo of your student, follow these simple steps: 1. Take a photo of your student.

Please avoid submitting senior portraits that are usually copyrighted.

2. Log onto azednews.com/azednews-senioryearbook-photos/ 3. Complete the online form (don’t forget to include a brief description or message) and download the photo.

4. A confirmation email will be sent directly to you, and the photo will be posted in a yearbook format online at AZEdNews.

Photos will also be posted on AZEdNews Facebook and Twitter pages.

ella Wexler, a junior at Catalina Foothills High School, was awarded the Bryna Zehngut Mitzvot Award March 8 by the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona Women’s Philanthropy Advisory Council. The award recognizes an outstanding Jewish teenage girl, honoring a community volunteer who died in 2005.

Bella is an alumna and current intern of JFSA’s Jewish Latino Teen Coalition, to which she will donate her $613 award – the amount reflects the 613 mitzvot or commandments in the Torah.

She also is a finalist for the national Bronfman Youth Fellowship, which selects 26 Jewish high school students to study Jewish literature in Israel for five weeks during the summer and participate in video seminars and projects throughout the following school year.

Bella’s Jewish community involvement also includes membership in the Reform Jewish youth movement and volunteering at Handmaker Jewish Services for Aging, helping residents walk their dogs, and leading a Shabbat service and Passover seders. Other community volunteer work in the general community includes writing for The Tucson Dog Magazine and volunteering in summer 2018 for Dr. Matt Heinz for Congress campaign.

She is a vice president of her school’s speech and debate club and captain of the Lincoln-Douglas Philosophy Debate team. Bella also is president of the Chinese club, and received the U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth scholarship, spending the summer of 2019 in Xiamen, China, studying the language and living with a host family. At CFHS, she tutors students, in math courses ranging from sixth-grade to honors algebra 2, and is a volunteer with the National Honor Society. In eighth grade, she was president of the National Junior Honor Society.

Bella, who carries a full load of Advanced Placement and honors classes, says her hobbies include “researching philosophy, reading novels, and writing anything from poetry to essays to articles … I extend my love of language by messaging and calling in Mandarin with friends who live in China or Taiwan.” To alleviate stress, she enjoys jogging.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 53

LIVING

Anti-Semitic incidents in Arizona decline in 2019 but increase nationally

I

n 2019, Arizona experienced a decrease of anti-Semitic activity for the first time in several years according to new data from ADL (the Anti-Defamation League).

The 2019 ADL Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents recorded 20 anti-Semitic incidents statewide in Arizona, a 41% decrease over the previous year and the largest decrease in the region for the past several years. “Although Arizona experienced a decrease in anti-Semitic incidents we cannot let up on this fight against hate,” says Keisha McKinnor, assistant regional director, ADL Arizona Region. “We must remain vigilant at all times. One incident is one too many.”

Incident Breakdown The ADL Audit includes both criminal and non-criminal acts of harassment and intimidation,

Keisha McKinnor

54

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

including distribution of hate propaganda, threats and slurs. The Audit classifies incidents into three categories: harassment, vandalism and assault. Of the total incidents reported in Arizona in 2019: Harassment: There were 11 harassment incidents, a 55% decrease over the previous year. ADL defines harassment as cases in which one or more Jews reported feeling harassed or threatened by anti-Semitic language or acts.

Vandalism: There were 8 vandalism incidents, a 66% decrease over the previous year. Swastikas, which are generally interpreted as symbols of antiSemitic hatred, were present in a majority of these incidents. ADL defines vandalism as cases in which property was damaged in a manner that harmed or intimidated Jews.

Assault: There was 1 assault incident, an increase from 0 in 2018. Nationally, ADL tabulated 61 anti-Semitic assaults in 2019, a 56% increase from the previous year and the most ever recorded. ADL defines assaults as cases in which individuals were physically targeted with violence accompanied by evidence of anti-Semitic animus.

Of the 20 anti-Semitic incidents across the state, the majority took place in Maricopa County.

National Incidents In 2019, ADL counted a total of 2,107 anti-Semitic incidents across the U.S., a 12% increase from the 1,879 incidents recorded in 2018. There were incidents reported in every state except Alaska and Hawaii. The audit found there were, on average, as many as six anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. for each day in the calendar year – the highest level of anti-Semitic activity ever recorded by ADL. The year included five fatalities directly linked to antiSemitic violence and another 91 individuals targeted in physical assaults. More than half of the assaults nationwide took place in the five boroughs of New York City, including 25 in Brooklyn alone.

The full national audit can be found at adl.org/audit2019.

How ADL is Responding ADL pursues a comprehensive approach to addressing anti-Semitic incidents and behavior.

ADL is the largest anti-bias educator in the United States, annually teaching hundreds of thousands of youth and adults to challenge anti-Semitism and other forms of bias in themselves and others. ADL is the largest non-governmental trainer of law enforcement in the nation, helping over 15,000 law enforcement officers each year better understand hate crimes and extremism. ADL is a tireless champion of civil rights for all, advocating at the federal, state and local levels for better prevention and response to anti-Semitism and all forms of hate.

In the Arizona region, ADL works diligently to combat anti-Semitism and other forms of bias through investigation, advocacy and education. That work continued as anti-Semitism surged in the region in 2019, including: ADL Arizona trained over 1,200 law enforcement professionals and 15 law enforcement agencies on hate crimes/extremist activities and managing implicit bias.

ADL impacted over 50,000 students in Arizona through its No Place for Hate and A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE Institute bias and bullying prevention programs in 2019.

ADL Arizona supported victims of anti-Semitism and other forms of bias, built diverse coalitions and worked with dozens of schools, campuses, workplaces and other institutions and community organization throughout the year.

ADL’s Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents Compiled using information provided by victims, law enforcement and community leaders, and evaluated by ADL’s professional staff, the ADL Audit provides a regular snapshot of one specific aspect of a nationwide problem while identifying possible trends or changes in the types of activity reported. This information assists ADL in developing and enhancing its programs to counter and prevent the spread of anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry.

The Audit offers one method to examine how American Jews encounter anti-Semitism, but a full understanding of anti-Semitism in the U.S. requires other forms of analysis as well, including but not limited to public opinion polling, assessments of online anti-Semitism and examinations of extremist activity, all of which ADL offers in other reports, such as ADL Global 100, Quantifying Hate: A Year of Anti-Semitism on Twitter, Online Hate and Harassment: The American Experience, Murder and Extremism in the United States in 2019, and the ADL Survey of American Attitudes Toward Jews. For a broader examination of anti-Semitism, read ADL’s new resource, Anti-Semitism Uncovered.

The Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents is a project of ADL’s Center on Extremism, whose work is supported in part by the following generous donors as well as numerous others: Roman Abramovich, the David Berg Foundation, Nathan Cummings Foundation, Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation, The Marlene Nathan Meyerson Family Foundation, New England Revolution Foundation, Rowland & Sylvia Schaefer Family Foundation, Inc., Charles and Mildred Schnurmacher Foundation, The Nancy K. Silverman Foundation, Louis Sobelman, Zegar Family Foundation and The ADL Lewy Family Institute for Combating Anti-Semitism.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 55

LIVING

A Socially distant volunteer opportunities

JFCS continues delivering vital services to our vulnerable neighbors in the community. If you need assistance contact the following: FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND PRIMARY MEDICAL CARE call (602) 256-0528.

FOR JEWISH COMMUNITY SERVICES call (602) 452-4627.

FOR ADMINISTRATION AND OTHER INQUIRIES call (602) 279-7655.

FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SERVICES, call (602) 452-4640 (English) or (602) 534-3087 (Spanish).

In this critical time, please consider supporting those in need in your local community.

You can still socially distance and make difference!

For more information, contact jfcsaz.org.

56

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

mid the virus outbreak, many nonprofits are struggling with having enough hands to help as well as keeping pantries stocked with food and supplies.

Jewish Family & Children’s Service, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the community by providing behavioral health, healthcare and social services to all ages, faiths and backgrounds, is currently experiencing an urgent demand for services. In response to requests from community members asking how best to support the organization’s mission, JFCS has created the Emergency Assistance Fund.

“The outpouring of love and support from our community members has been truly remarkable,” said Gail Baer, vice president of philanthropic services for Jewish Family & Children’s Service. “We created the Emergency Assistance Fund so individuals and organizations have an avenue to provide financial assistance to community members in need.”

In addition to supporting JFCS programs and services by contributing to the Emergency Assistance Fund, community members can also get involved by supporting the following:

JFCS JUST 3 THINGS FOOD PANTRY The pantry is accepting donations including non-perishable food, cleaning supplies, and personal care items at the administrative office and online through the Amazon Wish List which can be shipped directly to JFCS. The administrative office is located at 4747 N. Seventh Str. Suite 100 in Phoenix and will accept donations from 8 am-1 pm, Monday through Friday.

JFCS BACK TO SCHOOL PROGRAM Students are in need of school supplies for current homeschooling.

In addition, families are in need of clothing and supplies for when children are back in school. JFCS has created a list of recommended donations by grade on the JFCS website. Donations can be made to the administrative office.

YOUTH ART PROGRAM SUPPLIES The youth need art activity kits for home use, allowing them to engage in art stimulation while maintaining safe social distancing. The administrative office will be accepting donations of new or gently used arts supplies such as crayons, finger paints, sidewalk chalk, puzzles, board games and coloring books. A list of recommended art supplies is available on the JFCS website.

JFCS CARING CARDS PROGRAM Sending a card is an important way to connect with anyone, particularly with homebound older adults. This generation values handwritten notes and letters, so your personally written note will be particularly meaningful. JFCS has instructions on how to create a caring card including wording suggestions for the inside of the cards on the JFCS website.

VOLUNTEER Volunteers are the lifeline of many charity organizations, including JFCS. Socially distant volunteer opportunities are available on the JFCS website at jfcsaz.org/volunteer.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 57

LIVING

FACES & PLACES

REMOTE LEARNING – Students from Tucson Hebrew Academy get creative with their remote learning.

BEA’S BIG B-DAY – The Phoenix Fire Department used a bucket truck to lift family members to see Bea Markow on her 100th birthday on May 4. Bea lives on the third floor of The Palazzo assisted living community in Phoenix.

58

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

PASSOVER TO GO – The Pollack Chabad Center for Jewish Life in Chandler prepared and distributed more than 300 packages of Passover seders to assist the many individuals and families who were celebrating Passover by themselves.

HAVA TEQUILA – “A Night on the Red Carpet,” the 11th annual Young Jewish Tucson Hava Tequila benefit party, was held Feb. 29 at the Westward Look Resort. Evening proceeds benefited Jewish Family & Children’s Services Jewish Emergency Financial Assistance.

PHOTO BY TUCSON PHOTOGRAPHER MARTHA LOCHERT.

B-I-N-G-O – Gesher Disability Resources held a ZOOM Bingo party on May 3! Congrats to winners Cameryn, Jesse, Sam, Lindsey, Stephi and Todd!

WELCOME DONATION – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Phoenix East Stake, donated hundreds of cases of diapers, baby formula and baby wipes to Jewish Family & Children’s Service.

LEARNING FROM HOME – Children from Pardes Jewish Day School in Scottsdale show they are working hard on their homework while at home.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 59

PR E VIE W S

LIVING

Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center features online exhibit

“Mid-Century Jewish Life in Phoenix” provides visitors with a brief look at Jewish life in the Valley from 1945-1975. It is based primarily on photographs and other materials housed in Pearl and Cecil Newmark Memorial Archives of the Arizona Jewish Historical Society, as well items made available by community members.

Topics covered in this exhibit include the social, religious, economic and cultural life of our local Jewish community during the postwar era. In addition, the exhibit also examines the impact of larger national and global events on our community such as the Civil Rights movement in the United States and the creation of the modern state of Israel in 1948.

Visit azjhs.org/online-exhibit-mid-century-jewish-life-in-phoenix to view the exhibit.

Mitvah-SUV brings a pre-Shabbat message to your home !

Rabbi Allouche and a special Congregation Beth Tefillah convoy will come to your home on Friday, between 12 pm and 4 pm, to cheer you up with live music and deliver an uplifting preShabbat message from a special Mitzvah-SUV. They request that you please remain on your porches or at the entrance of your homes, so as to keep with social distancing rules.

If you want CBT to visit you and your families on Friday between 12 pm and 4 pm, and if you live within the geographical area of Bell & Camelback Roads, and the 101 and the 51, put

$% 60

"

#&

MAY/JUNE 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

in your request at cbtvirtualworld.com/weeklyschedule by Wednesday at 12 pm.

After they receive your addresses, and map out the route, CBT will reply to you with the approximate time of visit, so that you can be prepared to greet them, and sing and dance!

In the words of our Rabbi Allouche: “Every physical hug not given for the fear of spreading germs, ought to be replaced with a spiritual hug of unconditional love and care, wisdom and inspiration to be more and do more for one another.”

Smile on Seniors goes online Rabbi Levi and Chani Levertov established Smile on Seniors in 2009, to enrich the lives of Jewish seniors in our community.

Throughout the years, they have offered a variety of monthly programs that include Shabbat dinner, lunch time plus an activity, social events, discussion time and more.

Smile on Seniors is currently offering daily informative and interactive presentations with experts in a variety of fields. All presentations will take place at 12:30 pm. You can join with a computer or smart phone, or by dialing in with your phone. To join, visit sosaz.org/virtual. If you need any technical support email levi@sosaz.org or call 602-492-7670.

A peek into the week of May 18 includes: Volunteer for Israel Sue Adatto, Military Chaplain Rabbi Bonnie Koppell, Chef/ Foodie/Rebbetzin Feigie Ceitlin, Jeweler Brent Taubman.

You can also watch past virtual gatherings on their YouTube channel. For more information, visit sosaz.org.

Cruise the Zoo Enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to drive your car through the Phoenix Zoo. “Cruise the Zoo” allows guests to view a variety of zoo animals such as flamingos, giraffes, elephants and more while maintaining safe social distancing measures. The Drive-Thru event happens every Thursday through Monday, through May 31, from 8 am-2 pm, with the last car entering at 1 p.m. Phoenix Zoo members will pay just $50 per vehicle for entrance and the general public fee is $65 per vehicle. Tickets for this experience will need to be pre-purchased online at phoenixzoo.org. There will be approximately 600 tickets sold per day, for each of the three days. Once a limit is reached on a particular day, interested guests must select another day.

“We keep hearing from our guests and members that they can’t wait to get back out and visit the zoo,” says Phoenix Zoo President and CEO Bert Castro. “This seems like the best way to offer the community a safe activity they can do with their families and loved ones, while also benefitting the zoo financially throughout our closure.”

The Jewish History Museum in Tucson wants you to share your story

The staff at the Jewish History Museum & Holocaust History Center in Tucson draws strength and inspiration from the past.

They use the past as a guide for navigating the present and imagining possible futures. Staff discussions of ghetto histories where we find ample examples of archival projects, mutual aid, courage, resilience and

resistance in the face of catastrophe have led the museum to create “Raw Materials: Archiving the Present for the Future,” an ongoing archival initiative for the Jewish community of Southern Arizona.

History is what happens in our daily lives, and they want your daily life during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic

to be a resource for future generations when they reflect back on this global event. They encourage you to call their Oral History Hotline where you will find new prompts to engage you in sharing your stories every week. They also invite you to send journal entries, photos, voice memos, short videos and more to mystory@ jewishhistorymuseum.org.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY/JUNE 2020 61

2019-2020

RESOURCE GUIDE FRONT & CENTER The Arts Supplement

Now, more than ever, it is important to have access to all of the resources for the Jewish community in a comprehensive, accessible and easy to navigate format.

We at Arizona Jewish Life know that you are counting on us to publish our annual Resource Guide, the only one serving the entire state of Arizona, as we have for almost a decade.

The 2020-2021 Resources Guide will be even more comprehensive because of all the organizations, congregations, businesses, nonprofits, schools and restaurants that contribute to making it the biggest and best guide yet.

Please sign up for our weekly e-newsletter at

azjewishlife.com/newsletter-sign-me-up/ to be the first to receive the Resource Guide.

We need your help to make this the best Resource Guide for our community.

To advertise, contact 602-538-2855 or advertise@azjewishlife.com.

Facebook: @AZJewishLife Twitter: @JewishLifeNow Instagram: @JEWISHLIFENOW

AZJEWISHLIFE.COM