Summer jobs for teenagers better than doing nothing
Food for Thought
Witnessing hunger in Tucson from a car window
Inspiration and Celebration
The Jewish outreach and education network of Southern Arizona 2443 E 4th Street, Tucson, AZ 85719
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Rabbi Yossie Shemtov
REBBETZIN
Chanie Shemtov
OUTREACH DIRECTOR
Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin
PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Feigie Ceitlin
Affiliates: Congregation Young Israel, Chabad at the University of Arizona, Chabad on River, Chabad of Oro Valley, Chabad of Sierra Vista, Chabad of Vail and Lamplighter Chabad Day School of Tucson
Keeping Jewish is published in print periodically by Chabad Tucson and is distributed free in Tucson and Southern Arizona.
Chabad Tucson does not endorse the people, establishments, products or services reported about or advertised in Keeping Jewish unless specifically noted. The acceptance of advertising in Keeping Jewish does not constitute a recommendation, approval, or other representation of the quality of products or services, or the credibility of any claims made by advertisers, including, but not limited to, the kashrus of advertised food products. The use of any products or services advertised in Keeping Jewish is solely at the user’s risk and Chabad Tucson accepts no responsibility or liability in connection therewith.
Note: “G-d” and “L-rd” are written with a hyphen instead of an “o .” This is one way we accord reverence to the sacred divine name. This also reminds us that, even as we seek G-d, He transcends any human effort to describe His reality.
Saved by the Cloud
Last month, my laptop froze and refused to turn back on. In the past, this would’ve sent me into a spiral of concern — hurriedly bringing it to a technician, praying they could recover my valuable data, hoping nothing had vanished into oblivion. But this time, I simply opened another device and carried on.
Everything I needed was in the cloud.
It’s easy to forget how revolutionary that is. Our files, photos, and digital memories all exist in a space we can’t see, but instinctively trust. A server that might be thousands of miles away, but we can access it instantly and reliably whenever we need it. The cloud has become a lifeline for modern life, silently catching our fall when physical hardware fails.
It’s fascinating — given its prominence today — that many of the most imaginative futuristic books and films of the past 100 years envisioned flying cars and robot butlers but missed the idea of cloud computing.
Isaac Asimov’s 1952 Foundation, for example, imagined a vast civilization with advanced space travel and predictive mathematics, but knowledge and data are stored in Encyclopedia Galactica, a massive, physical archive. Even the book’s fictional super-intelligent robots use localized logic, not the internet-based cloudsized servers that now define how we store and access what matters.
It made me think: we’ve been here before.
At Mount Sinai, when the Jewish people
By Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin
received the Torah, it was through a cloud. A thick, divine cloud settled on the mountain, cloaking it in mystery and presence. That cloud didn’t just mark the moment — it carried the message. The Torah emerged from within it.
“And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I am coming to you in the thickness of the cloud.’” (Exodus 19:9)
“It came to pass on the third day when it was morning, that there were thunder claps and lightning flashes, and a thick cloud was upon the mountain.” (Exodus 19:16)
“And the Lord descended in the cloud,” (Exodus 34:5)
Today, as antisemitism surges once more in countries we once trusted, I find myself reflecting on what sustains the
Jewish people. What protects us, not just physically, but psychologically?
We are still saved by the cloud.
The Torah — given through that cloud — has become our most reliable defense. Not just a spiritual refuge but a mental and moral anchor, a bastion that lives on even through physical destruction. As a people, we have undergone millennia of persecution. We have suffered expulsion and genocide, xenophobia, and hate. Like the laptop dying in the middle of a work day, we may appear smashed beyond repair.
But our essence lives on in the cloud.
My paternal grandfather and greatgrandfather knew this well. In Communist Russia, under the watchful eyes of the KGB, they learned Torah in secret. They risked everything — not to preserve ritual for ritual’s sake, but to preserve their identity, their very selves. The Soviet regime could limit their jobs, movement, and prospects. But it couldn’t reach the cloud. It couldn’t breach the fortress of the mind shaped by Torah.
This holiday of Shavuos, which begins on Sunday night, June 1, as we commemorate the giving of the Torah, we’re reminded that we’ve always had a cloud. We’ve always had access to something beyond ourselves — infinite, powerful, and intensely alive.
We just have to keep logging in.
Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin is the Outreach Director of Chabad Tucson, the Jewish network of Southern Arizona
Lamplighter School Completes New Indoor Playground
he Lamplighter Chabad Day School of Tucson is known for its traditional Jewish education and high-quality academic curriculum. It serves students from kindergarten through 8th grade.
Until recently, however, the school lacked a key component of a well-rounded educational environment—a dedicated gym for physical activity and play. That will change for next year’s enrollees.
Thanks to a community grant and a private donor, the school has constructed a vibrant indoor soft playground on its campus at 3830 E. Bellevue Street. The playground provides a safe, fun, and healthy space for students of all ages.
Dr. Elyse Golob, Director of Development at Chabad Tucson (which oversees the Lamplighter School), noted the significance of the new space. “An indoor soft playground enhances our school’s program, providing opportunities for social development, creative expression, motor skills, emotional regulation, and cognitive growth,” she said.
“Playgrounds contribute to improved academic performance. They ensure the availability of regular physical education classes, along with opportunities for
unstructured movement throughout the day,” she added.
The William and Doris Rubin Endowment Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona (JCF) generously provided funding for this project, along with support from a private donor to Chabad Tucson.
The new playground includes a foam pit,
rock-climbing wall, hammock, tire swings, monkey bars, a toddler jungle gym, soft climbing arches, and interactive sensory wall panels.
Students beginning at the Lamplighter Chabad Day School this fall will be the first to enjoy the new space.
“We’re incredibly grateful for the generosity that made this indoor playground
possible,” said Feigie Ceitlin, Head of School of Lamplighter. “It is a perfect fit for our school’s bright, colorful, and inviting interior, designed to spark joy and creativity in every child.”
Lamplighter offers a nurturing environment that integrates strong Jewish values with academic excellence. With small class sizes, individualized attention, and a commitment to whole-child development—spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical—the school continues to grow as a trusted choice for families seeking a meaningful and wellrounded education.
Plans for the coming school year include expanding enrichment programming, increasing STEM learning opportunities, and integrating the new playground into a broader health and wellness curriculum.
Ceitlin added, “Since opening our doors in 2022, Lamplighter has continued to grow, and this playground is a milestone in our journey. We’re already looking ahead to the second phase of development, which includes renovating the remaining half of the school property to add more learning spaces for our students.”
For more information to schedule a tour, visit LamplighterTucson.com.
New Eruv in the Works for Tucson Jewish Community
A major initiative is underway to construct an eruv - a technical border that would allow members of the Jewish community residing in various neighborhoods in Tucson, Arizona, to transport items on Shabbat.
The creation of an eruv, a wire boundary that encloses a designated area, facilitates free movement between private property and the public domain. Without it, halacha (Jewish law) prohibits pushing strollers or wheelchairs or otherwise transporting items on Shabbat.
Eruv borders like these can be found in numerous Jewish communities across the
United States and worldwide. In Tucson, their establishment is being led by a committee of volunteers affiliated with Chabad Tucson–Young Israel, along with support from community members and local leaders.
“An eruv encourages both spiritual observance and social inclusion,” said Arik Shemtov, the son of Chabad Tucson founders Rabbi Yossie and Chanie Shemtov. He called the eruv “a milestone that will greatly expand Shabbat accessibility for many,” especially families with young children and those with limited mobility.
Planned coverage includes Sam Hughes,
Miramonte, Rincon Heights, Catalina Vista, Blenman-Elm, Palo Verde, and key institutions such as the University of Arizona and Banner–University Medical Center.
“Our vision is not just to create an eruv for one area,” Shemtov said. “We understand how meaningful this is for our immediate community, but also recognize that once we’re building it, it should include areas where students, families, and medical professionals live and work.”
Shemtov noted that a previous eruv was constructed by the community of Congregation Chofetz Chayim on E 5th
Street, which has since closed its doors. “We are looking into expanding our area to meet with that area as well,” he said, noting that an eruv would also attract young Jewish families to Tucson.
The eruv will be designed in consultation with halachic (Jewish legal) authorities and built in cooperation with city officials and utility companies. Organizers emphasized their commitment to ensuring both religious accuracy and public transparency throughout the process.
To support the eruv, learn more, or get involved, please contact Arik Shemtov at 520-861-2705 or Arik@ChabadTucson.com.
Doctor on the Edge
Dr. Melody Glenn is focused on transforming addiction treatment
By Lilian Wasserman
Ten years ago, Dr. Melody Glenn treated a man claiming he had intolerable pain. She suspected he was faking his pain to score opioids, but she said, “I knew that pain is subjective and difficult to judge in the moment.” When the imaging results came back, his deception was confirmed, and he dropped the act.
Faced with a dilemma that haunts many emergency physicians, she gave him the drugs because until the tests came back, she could not be certain he was not suffering as he pretended. She says that often, “people in pain are mistaken for those who are ‘drug-seeking’ and denied relief, especially patients of color.” She believes it’s better to err on the side of patient care than risk unnecessary suffering.
Today, Glenn is one of Tucson’s leading experts in addiction medicine, and she’s working to ensure patients receive both compassion and science-based care. As a practicing addiction and emergency physician at Banner University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona, and associate professor of psychiatry and emergency medicine at the University of Arizona, she stands by her decision to give the drug to that long-ago patient.
But times have changed. Today, she sees less of the kind of manipulation described above because “You can buy fentanyl on every corner for about a dollar a pill,” she explained. “People don’t need to come to the hospital and act out to get the drug.”
While this grim reality does “make her job easier,” she is quick to say it’s far from a good thing. That said, hospitals can now play a more active role in treating addiction medically. When patients arrive in withdrawal, Glenn can offer them medication to ease their symptoms and help them achieve sobriety. They’re often deeply appreciative, more so than any other kind of patient Glenn sees.
Returning to Tucson
This isn’t Glenn’s first time living in Tucson. After starting her undergraduate career in North Carolina, she transferred to the University of Arizona, where she completed her degree on a full scholarship as a National Merit finalist.
After graduation, she went to Atlanta to study in a post-baccalaureate nursing program. But she soon discovered her true passion: medicine. Since the University of Arizona didn’t allow any out-of-state applicants at the time, she earned her medical degree from the University of Southern California (USC). She later completed her residency in Emergency Medicine in Phoenix. However, that did not compel her to stay in Arizona. “I don’t like Phoenix the way I loved Tucson,” she admitted.
Glenn left Arizona again to pursue further training at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), where she specialized in Emergency Medical Services. While living and working in the Bay Area—specifically,
Photo by Desiree Bustos
Oakland—she gave birth to her first daughter.
However, Oakland was stressful for her family and was not the place she wanted to stay. Glenn set her sights on returning to Tucson. In 2019, she landed a position at Banner University Medical Center, and she’s been here ever since.
While living in Tucson, Glenn learned that her paternal grandfather was Jewish. After escaping Poland and arriving in America in 1941, he became one of the Ritchie Boys, a secret U.S. Army intelligence unit trained at Camp Ritchie in Maryland that fought against Nazi Germany. He also distanced himself from Jewish practices and changed his surname from Glicksman to Glenn.
Nevertheless, Melody Glenn noted that Jewish culture remained an influence in her upbringing, and she has been drawn to explore it ever since she confirmed her genetic roots. Though neither she nor her husband has converted, they are raising their children inspired by Jewish teachings. Conversion is on her radar but not yet realized, Glenn said.
Treating Addiction
Perhaps the most surprising thing Glenn shared in the interview was her assertion that addiction is curable. Many believe addiction is a lifelong battle—but medically speaking, she says that’s not always the case.
Extraordinary medications now exist that help patients overcome opioid addiction. These drugs can eliminate cravings and help individuals lead normal, unimpaired lives without suffering withdrawal. This is not to say that relapse is not possible – that is true with any disease. That possibility does not negate the fact that many can be completely cured of their addiction.
One of the earliest and best-known of these medications is methadone. When she arrived in Tucson, Glenn pursued board certification in addiction medicine. To qualify, she needed at least 500 clinical hours, so she began working part-time at a
Tucson methadone clinic in addition to her position at Banner.
Methadone protocols are rigid and demanding. Though helpful, methadone is still an opioid, and if a dose is missed, withdrawal can be severe.
Despite the clinic’s challenging environment, Glenn worked there for two years. By then, she had two children, and her role at Banner became more focused on addiction medicine, so she stepped away from the clinic, likely to the regret of many patients.
But methadone is not the only treatment for opioid addiction. Other, less burdensome drugs exist as well. Buprenorphine, or “Bupe,” is easier to access and can even be administered as a monthly injection. It’s easier for patients and is subject to fewer regulatory hurdles,” she explained. Still, it doesn’t work for everyone, and some patients experience side effects. In those cases, methadone remains a vital option.
co-develop methadone maintenance as a treatment for heroin addiction. According to some addiction specialists, its discovery could be considered as monumental as the discovery of penicillin. Yet, it carries a stigma that other medical treatments do not carry.
Now, the medical field is becoming more compassionate and better equipped to respond.
She noted that despite the progress, systemic obstacles remain. For instance, a long-acting buprenorphine injection could be a game-changer for patients arriving in withdrawal. However, due to insurance requirements, doctors often need prior authorization, causing delays that leave patients discharged with inferior alternatives.
Trials and Triumphs
Asked which addiction is the most difficult to treat, Glenn didn’t hesitate – she said it was alcoholism. “Many patients don’t even realize they have a problem,” she explained. “They arrive at the hospital for unrelated issues, and withdrawal symptoms or liver damage reveal the truth.”
Patients often stay on withdrawal medications long-term, gradually tapering off when they feel ready. In rare cases, some choose to remain on them for comfort and stability. It’s not easy, but far easier than detoxing from illicit opioids.
A Forgotten History
While working at a methadone clinic, Glenn realized how effective harm-reduction treatments could be for treating patients with addiction disorders. She set out to discover how treatments have both been pushed forward and held back. That is when she found out about Dr. Marie Nyswander.
In the 1960s, Nyswander defied the federal agencies and the medical establishment to
Deftly weaving together interviews, media coverage, and historical documents, Glenn recovered Nyswander’s legacy and revealed how the forces of racism, fear-mongering politicians, and misinformation colluded to set us back decades in our understanding of opioids.
She presents her conclusions in her debut book, “Mother of Methadone: A Doctor’s Quest, a Forgotten History, and a ModernDay Crisis,” set to be released by Beacon Press on July 22, 2025. In her book, Glenn also shares her journey through addiction medicine as she confronts her own personal and philosophical quandaries around bias and ambition in the medical field.
Glenn believes the cultural perception of addiction is shifting. In the past, those suffering were often met with judgment.
Alcohol withdrawal, she says, is the most dangerous of all. More people die from alcohol withdrawal than from other types of addiction. Unlike opioid addiction, there are no “magic bullet” medications like methadone or buprenorphine to ease the process, although there are medications that can help reduce cravings. She believes that medical research needs to work on that area.
That said, there is good news overall. Fentanyl-related deaths dropped 30% last year. Glenn is encouraged but cautious, noting that this year’s numbers are still pending. She said the drop might indicate fewer addictions, but also attributes the trend to the widespread availability of Narcan, a drug that can reverse overdoses if administered in time. While this saves lives, it doesn’t solve the deeper crisis. “Narcan is an important life-saving drug, and I hope it remains in the mainstream of medical options,” she said.
Though Glenn hopes to see more efficiency and more research in the field of addiction treatment, she loves her career. Dr. Melody Glenn hopes to stay in that career and in Tucson for as many years as possible.
50th day of those around you. If you cross the line westward (e.g., from America to Australia), your Shavuot will begin on 7 Sivan. Conversely, if you cross the line eastward (e.g., from Australia to America), you will begin celebrating on 5 Sivan.
2. Myth: Shavuot Is Always on Sunday
Although this mistake is mostly gone, it is probably the oldest Shavuot myth in history, dating back to Talmudic times. The Torah instructs us to “count seven complete weeks from the day after the day of rest, from the day you bring the omer offering.” This seems to imply that the omer offering was brought on Sunday (the day after the “day of rest”—Shabbat). If this is when the seven week count begins, it should always conclude on Shabbat, and Shavuot—the fiftieth day—should always be celebrated on Sunday.
Fact: The “Day of Rest” Is the First Day of Passover
7 Shavuot Myths and Misconceptions
By Yehuda Altein
Shavuot, from sunset June 1 to nightfall June 3, 2025, commemorates G‑d giving the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai over 3,000 years ago. After 49 days of counting, we prepare for this day by lighting candles, staying up all night to learn Torah, hearing the Ten Commandments in synagogue, feasting on dairy foods, and more.
Here are 7 myths and misconceptions about this holiday.
1. Myth: Shavuot Is Always on 6 Sivan
Every year, the holiday of Shavuot takes place on the 6th (and 7th) day of the Hebrew month of Sivan (corresponding to May June). It would seem that Shavuot has always been celebrated on this date.
Fact: Shavuot Is the 50th Day From the Omer
The Torah instructs us to count seven weeks (49 days) from the day of the omer offering, and to celebrate Shavuot on the 50th day. The omer offering was brought on the second day of Passover (more on this below), and according to the calendar we
follow today, 50 days later is 6 Sivan.
In Temple times, however, each month was established anew by the rabbinical court, based on the testimony of witnesses who had observed the new moon. The length of each month varied accordingly, and Shavuot therefore occurred on either the 5th, 6th, or 7th day of Sivan.
Interestingly, alternative Shavuot dates are possible today as well—for someone who crossed the International Dateline between Passover and Shavuot. In such a case, your 50th day is different from the
Along with the Written Torah, G d gave us the Oral Torah to ensure the correct interpretation of the law. The Talmud cites an oral tradition, sourced from Moses, who received it from G d Himself, that the “day of rest” in this verse refers not to Shabbat, but to the first day of Passover. (Indeed, it is common for Scripture to refer to holidays as “days of rest” or “appointed times.”)
Hence, the omer offering was always brought on the second day of Passover, no matter which day of the week it was, and Shavuot is 50 days later, be it a Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday.
3. Myth: It Is Enough to Celebrate Shavuot for One Day
Many people erroneously believe celebrating Shavuot for one day is sufficient.
Fact: Shavuot Is Celebrated for Two Days in the Diaspora
According to Torah law, Shavuot is a single day. In Temple times, since each month was established anew by the rabbinical court in Jerusalem, and it took time to send out
cross America), The complete offering.” offering the the always celebrated of cites who “day Shabbat, it holidays no and Days single was out
word, the communities in the Diaspora were often unsure as to when the holidays were to be observed. As such, a second day was added to most holidays to cover all bases.
In the 4th century CE, a fixed calendar was established, and people knew in advance when the festivals would occur. Nevertheless, the Talmud explains that we are bound by rabbinic law to observe a second day. On a simple level, the reason for this ancient requirement is to uphold the customs of our forefathers. Deeper, mystical reasons are also provided.
4. Myth: It’s a Mitzvah to Eat Dairy
On Rosh Hashana, it’s a mitzvah to hear the shofar; on Sukkot—to eat in a sukkah; on Passover—to eat matzah; and on Shavuot—to eat dairy. Shavuot without cheese blintzes is not Shavuot, right?
Fact: It’s a Custom (Albeit a Delicious One)
The Torah does not instruct us to eat dairy; in fact, it is not even mentioned in the Talmud. Eating dairy foods on Shavuot is a custom that evolved in post-Talmudic times, with numerous explanations (see next myth for more on this). As with all customs, we express our devotion to G-d by doing even more than He asks of us.
5. Myth: It’s Primarily Because That’s What We Had After Sinai
Perhaps the most well-known reason for eating dairy is that when G-d gave the Torah, the Jews became obligated to observe the kosher laws. All the meat in their possession was rendered unfit, and since the Torah was given on Shabbat, no cattle could be slaughtered nor could utensils be koshered. They had no choice but to eat dairy, and we commemorate this by doing the same. Many believe that this is the only reason, or at least the primary reason, for eating dairy on Shavuot.
Fact: This is Only One of Many (Earlier) Reasons
This explanation can be traced to a book printed about 100 years ago, presenting
Torah thoughts of the chassidic greats of the 18th century. However, many other fascinating reasons have been given for this custom, some of them from centuries earlier.
6. Myth: No Need to Eat Meat on Shavuot
The typical Shabbat and festival fare includes a sumptuous meat-based dish. Eating meat is one of the ways we fulfill the mitzvah to rejoice on the holidays. Some assume that Shavuot is an exception. Since we must wait a specified amount of time between eating meat and dairy, the custom to eat dairy would seem to override the obligation to eat meat.
Fact: There Is Still an Obligation to Eat Meat (Separate From Dairy, of Course)
Shavuot is no exception; the obligation to eat meat remains. There are numerous customs regarding when to serve dairy so it should not conflict with the meat. One common practice is to serve a dairy meal immediately after morning services. Then, after reciting Grace After Meals and waiting an hour, a meat meal is served.
7. Myth: Tractate Shevuot Is About Shavuot
There is a Talmudic tractate devoted to each of the major holidays—Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Purim, and Passover (although Chanukah is a noticeable exception). There is also a tractate named Shevuot. Obvious conclusion: Tractate Shevuot is about Shavuot.
Fact: Tractate Shevuot Discusses Oaths
Interestingly enough, Tractate Shevuot is not about Shavuot but about oaths. While the holiday’s name means weeks, as it is celebrated seven weeks after the omer offering, the similar word shevuot means oaths, and that is the subject of the tractate.
To learn more about the holiday, visit Chabad.org/Shavuot
In photos
Paint & Sip girls’ night to celebrate the end of the school year at Chabad at the University of Arizona.
A bounce house at Chabad Tucson-Young Israel for Lag BaOmer celebration, before a musical kumzitz around the bonfire.
Celebrating Lag BaOmer at Chabad of Oro Valley around the fire with laughter, drumming, and marshmallows.
Women at Chabad of Vail enjoyed a delicious and creative Focaccia Garden Art event, featuring herbs and edible flowers by Amy Hoffman.
Spiced Corn Riblets
By Feigie Ceitlin
INGREDIENTS:
4–6 ears of corn
1/2 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon black pepper Cayenne pepper, to taste
DIRECTIONS:
1. Husk the corn and place it in a pot of water. Bring to a boil.
2. Remove the corn from the water and let it cool slightly.
3. Using a sharp knife, cut each ear of corn into 4 wedges. (Tip: Stand the corn upright and cut from the top down—it’s easier this way.)
4. Place the corn wedges (“ribs”) on a baking sheet.
5. In a small bowl, mix together the olive oil, paprika, salt, garlic powder, pepper, and cayenne.
6. Brush a generous layer of the spice mixture onto the corn.
7. Bake at 400°F for 30–40 minutes, until the edges curl and the corn turns crispy.
Optional: Baste with more of the spice mixture halfway through baking for extra flavor.
Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe who creates the fruit of the earth.
— Rebbetzin Feigie Ceitlin is the program director of Chabad Tucson and head of school of Lamplighter Chabad Day School.
16 Facts About the Jews of Iraq
It was once home to one of the oldest and most influential Jewish communities in the world
Iraq may not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking about Jewish life today, but it was once home to one of the oldest and most influential Jewish communities in the world—second only to the Land of Israel. Read on for 16 facts about the rich history and traditions of this ancient and vibrant Jewish community.
By Yehuda Altein
6. A Beacon of Light in the Dark Ages
In the second half of the first millennium, while much of the world was experiencing the Dark Ages, Babylonia’s Jewish communities shone brightly. Led by brilliant scholars known as Geonim, Jewish life and learning continued to flourish.
7. The Reish Galuta Was a Jewish Prince
During this golden age, Jewish leadership included the Reish Galuta (“Head of the Exile”) or Exilarch. A scion of the royal Davidic dynasty, he was granted legal power to oversee and lead the community, reminiscent of the Jewish kings of old.
8. Shifts in Scholarship and Demography
By the 11th century, Jewish scholarship began to move westward toward Europe. Still, a strong Jewish presence remained in Iraq for centuries. In time, the original Babylonian Jewish population was bolstered by new arrivals from the Iberian Peninsula (which expelled all its Jews) and other Middle Eastern lands.
9. Shavuot in Iraqi Families
Fun fact: Iraq holds the record for the longest-running yeshivas in Jewish history. Sura and Pumbeditha both lasted around 800 years (c. 225–c. 1040)!
From Provincetown to Provincetown
1. Abraham Was Born There
The story of the Jews of Iraq begins with Abraham, the very first Jew. Born in Ur Kasdim, an ancient city in what is now modern-day Iraq, Abraham spent the first 70 years of his life there before traveling to Charan and then to the Land of Canaan.
2. The Babylonian Exile Was Tragic but Brief
The fertile land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers was once the heart of the mighty Babylonian Empire. In 423 BCE,
King Nebuchadnezzar destroyed the First Holy Temple in Jerusalem, killing tens of thousands of Jews and exiling many more to Babylonia. The Babylonian exile lasted just 70 years, at which point the Jews were granted permission to return to their homeland and rebuild the Temple. While some went, many remained behind, where Jewish life would continue for over 2,000 years.
3. It Became the Hub of Torah Learning
After the destruction of the Second Temple and subsequent Roman persecution in the Holy Land, the center of Jewish life shifted eastward from Israel to Babylonia. Legendary Torah academies were established in Sura, Nehardea, and Pumbeditha. Led by brilliant scholars such as Rav, Shmuel, and Abaye, these yeshivas attracted thousands of students, spreading the light of Torah far and wide.
4. It Had a Special Spiritual Status
Babylonia wasn’t just another place Jews lived—it was seen as a spiritually significant land, chosen by G-d to be the home of the Jewish people in exile. Because of this, it held a unique status among other lands of the Diaspora.
5. The Talmud Was Compiled There
One of the greatest Jewish works ever written originates in Iraq: the Babylonian Talmud. Compiled by the sages Ravina and Rav Ashi in the 5th century, it records the discussions and teachings of the Babylonian academies, forming the foundation of Jewish law, tradition, and thought to this day.
Celebrating Shabbat or a holiday in an Iraqi Jewish home is a special experience with unique customs and traditions. On Shavuot, for instance, families stay up the entire night together, taking turns reading sections of Scripture, Midrash, and Zohar. Vying for more opportunities to read, children often change places in the circle to be called on sooner. Afterwards, they pray an early Shacharit service and enjoy sweet, crepe-like pastries called kahi.
10. They Have Their Own Special Holidays
In addition to the traditional Jewish calendar, Baghdadi Jews observe unique days of celebration on the 16th of Tevet and the 11th of Av. These dates mark times when cruel Persian forces were defeated by local Ottoman rulers, rescuing the Jewish community from oppression. The Jews of Basra celebrate a similar salvation on the 2nd of Nissan.
11. The Ben Ish Chai Was a Legendary Leader
One of the most beloved and influential Iraqi rabbis was Chacham Yosef Chaim (1832–1909), known as the Ben Ish Chai after his famous work (he wrote many others as well). As the leading rabbi of Baghdad, he inspired generations with his teachings, revitalized religious life, and left a lasting legacy on Jewish law and Sephardic tradition.
12.
They
Branched Out to the Far East
In the 19th century, many Baghdadi Jews moved eastward to explore new trade routes. Thriving communities were formed in Bombay and Calcutta in India, Shanghai in China, and other Far East cities. These Jewish pioneers built synagogues, schools, and businesses, with families like the Sassoons becoming household names in global commerce.
13. The Farhud Shook Up Iraqi Jewry
On June 1, 1941, disaster struck. A violent pogrom known as the Farhud broke out in Baghdad, fueled by Nazi propaganda and local nationalist fervor. Over 150 Jews were killed, and many more were injured or lost their homes and livelihoods. Although the violence ended quickly, the trauma lingered, marking a turning point for Jews in Iraq.
14. They Are Alive and Well
COMMUNITIES
In 1951–1952, the vast majority of Iraqi Jewry was airlifted to Israel as part of Operation Ezra and Nehemiah, with thousands more following suit in the aftermath of the Six-Day War. While very few Jews remain in Iraq today, vibrant communities thrive across Israel, the United Kingdom, and the U.S., carrying the rich traditions of their ancestors to future generations.
15. And we even have a descendant in Tucson
Chabad Tucson’s Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin is of Iraqi descent. His maternal grandparents, Shalom and Chana Kalachi, lived in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Upon immigrating to Israel, the Iraqi government forced them to forfeit all their business holdings and money. One of Ceitlin’s favorite Iraqi dishes is the kubbeh dumpling stuffed with spiced meat.
16. It Still Retains Significance
Even though there are few Jews left in Iraq, it still looms large in Jewish communal life. Every Shabbat, in synagogues worldwide, we pray for the “Torah scholars of Babylon and the Land of Israel.” And every winter, Diaspora Jews begin to pray for rain when it is needed in Babylon. Why? Because Babylon, the incubator of the Jewish Diaspora, the place where the first Jew was born and the Talmud was compiled thousands of years later, is still considered the figurative center of the Diaspora.
Great Synagogue of Baghdad, Iraq. Photo: Babylonian Jewry Heritage Center
Iraqi Jews reach British Mandatory Palestine after the Farhud pogrom in Baghdad of 1941
Food for Thought
From my car window, it was clear: anyone can be hungry
Last month, I went to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona on South Country Club Road to drop off several bags of food.
When I arrived, I realized that I had entered the wrong parking lot; it was for those seeking food. But before turning around, I sat for a few minutes to get my bearings. It was then I noticed a young father walking hand in hand with his two little boys and an old woman bent over, being assisted by a younger woman. Others were arriving, too; the parking lot was full. All of them shared one thing in common: they needed help from the community, or they would be hungry.
After a few minutes, I drove to the back of the building, where drop-offs were accepted.
When I arrived, I found a large school bus filled with teenagers blocking the door. It appeared that their senior project was to collect food for the food bank. In the end, I had to wait 20 minutes while the young people went back and forth, in and out of the bus, carrying out boxes of food.
With them was an enthusiastic teacher with a camera. When the students finished unloading the boxes, she took several group photographs of smiling teens, for what I assume was the school paper or yearbook.
By Judith Manelis
While sitting there, I realized that the real lesson for me and for the busload of teenagers was not at the drop-off door, but on the other side of the building, where those in need were coming to collect food for themselves and their families.
On that morning, my choice of drop-off location included several places closer to home. I didn’t have to drive 25 minutes to the food bank on Country Club Road, where recipients are served. I chose to drive to the food bank because it made my donation more personal and more real. In the end, I was glad I did.
It is difficult to look at poverty directly. It is much easier to put a bag of food in a box at the grocery store. We try to deal with the issues of hunger and homelessness by using euphemisms like “food insecurity” or “the unhoused” - words and phrases that allow us to keep our emotional distance from uncomfortable topics. Hunger and homelessness are harder to face.
What was clear from my car window, as if I ever doubted it, was that anyone can be hungry. The people I saw in the parking lot were of different colors, different ethnicities, different ages … and, I’m sure, different religions.
Judaism teaches us the importance of taking care of the poor and treating them with respect and dignity. For us, it is a moral and religious duty, a way to promote a just society. Deuteronomy tells us, “Open your hand.” Isaiah says, “The work of tzedakah shall bring peace.” Maimonides lists eight levels of charity.
And the Book of Ruth teaches us that even in an abundant harvest season, there are still those in need who do not share in that abundance.
When we see governmental programs that benefit hungry school children slashed or subsidies for housing poor families eliminated - how do we as Jews respond? Is there anything we can do in addition to supporting our local institutions?
In the area served by the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, one in seven people and one in five children face hunger. A recent headline read, “Food Banks Fight for Scraps.” What is happening in our society where such a headline is front-page news?
- Judith Manelis, a seasoned Jewish communal professional and journalist, holds graduate degrees from UC Berkeley and Hunter College. After a distinguished career in New York and Boston, she relocated to Tucson. This article was originally published in the Arizona Jewish Post.
A Star of David in Normandy
Nathan B. Baskind (1916–1944)
By Benjamin Weiss
Recognition of Nathan B. Baskind (1916–1944), a Jewish-American officer in the U.S. Army, is long overdue. His extraordinary journey from Pittsburgh to the battlefields of Normandy reflects both personal valor and the enduring importance of remembrance.
Born on June 1, 1916, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Baskind was the son of Eastern European Jewish immigrants Abraham “Abe” Baskind and Lena Shapiro. He grew up in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood, a vibrant Jewish community. He worked in the family’s wallpaper business, managing two branches before the outbreak of World War II.
In January 1942, at age 26, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He rose to the rank of First Lieutenant and was assigned to Company C of the 899th Tank Destroyer Battalion, commanding a platoon of M10 tank destroyers.
On June 6, 1944, Baskind landed at Utah Beach as part of the D-Day invasion, when Allied forces launched a massive military operation during World War II to liberate Nazi-occupied Western Europe. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history and marked the beginning of the end for Nazi Germany.
Seventeen days later, on June 23, while scouting ahead of his unit near La Hague, he was ambushed by German forces. Wounded and captured, he was taken to a Luftwaffe field hospital in Cherbourg, where he died from his injuries. Due to the chaos of war, his body was buried in a mass grave alongside German soldiers at the Cherbourg Community Cemetery.
For decades, Baskind’s family, particularly his father, sought more information. In 1949, the Army informed them that his remains were “unrecoverable.” In 1957,
his identification tag was found during a relocation of graves to the Marigny German War Cemetery, but his remains could not be identified at the time.
The rediscovery of Baskind’s remains began in 2019 when British tour guide Matt Key learned of his story and, along with fellow guide Sean Claxton, investigated further. In 2023, with the assistance of the German ambassador to Israel and the German War Graves Commission, an exhumation of the mass grave at Marigny was organized.
The identification process was challenging due to the degradation of the remains. However, through mitochondrial and Y-chromosome DNA testing conducted by Bode Technologies and with DNA samples provided by relatives, including his greatniece, Dr. Samantha Baskind, his identity was confirmed in February 2024.
On June 23, 2024, exactly 80 years after his death, Nathan Baskind was reburied with full military honors at the Normandy
American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer under a headstone marked with the Star of David. This was the cemetery’s first full military honors burial conducted in complete compliance with Jewish law. A rosette was placed next to his name on the memorial wall, indicating he was no longer missing.
Baskind’s tale reminds us to honor those who served and died. The journey from obscurity to enlightenment highlights the importance of staying the course, pursuing justice through history, and ensuring each soldier’s record remains.
Get a Job, Kid!
Summer jobs for teenagers that are slightly better than doing nothing
Are you the parent of a teenager who has no real plans for the summer? Do you want him or her to get out of the house and learn some life lessons, like how hard it is to get a job, or that any job they could get requires basically none of the skills that they’re learning in school?
But there’s nothing like a summer job to teach kids the value of a dollar –which is sadly nothing, but they won’t read this, so they can figure that out on their own. And if they’re home all day, they are mostly going to earn money by asking you for it repeatedly. You will probably give it to them to get them to be quiet and let you earn money so you can squander it on getting them to stop bothering you for money. And so on. We’re here to help you break this cycle.
See, you want them to get a job, but you need them to WANT a job.
Hey, kids! Are you a teenager looking to get out of your parents’ house during the day because they keep annoying you with questions like, “When are you gonna get a summer job?” Here is a thought - Why not get a summer job?!
The difficult thing about getting a summer job as a teenager is that most industries don’t just want someone for the summer, as they operate all year round. The only thing that doesn’t run all year is school. Unfortunately, getting a job in a school isn’t a good idea either, because the weeks you’re looking for a job are also the weeks there’s no school. What are the odds?
Here are some ideas:
Camp Counseling – This is a great job if you enjoy playing the least fun part of each sport with a bunch of short people who are considerably worse than you, and taking kids to the nurse.
By Mordechai Schmutter
And if you work in a sleepaway camp, you can spend your nights trying to convince a bunch of kids to shower, and no matter how much progress you make, the bunkhouse will stink.
Lifeguarding – This is a great job if your ideal summer is yelling at kids at a pool. You may get to save a life here and there, but in my experience, being around pools is mostly about yelling
at people to not put you in a position where you have to save their life, which is actually your job. For no other job is it acceptable to do this. As a teacher, I can’t walk in and yell, “Don’t make me have to teach you!”
Bike Riding Instructor – Parents all over the world go through the agony of teaching their kids to ride bikes. Any parent would love for you to take this
burden off their plate. In fact, parents teaching their own kids how to ride bikes seems like borderline child abuse. Imagine if this is how you taught a kid to drive – you ran alongside the car, then let go and yelled, “Lean the other way!” and watched them hit a mailbox.
Babysitting – This is a great job because it prepares you for being a parent (except for the more annoying parts of being a parent, like convincing the kids to go out and get jobs). Unfortunately, boys will have a tough time getting this job. We’re still living in an age where many consider babysitting a girls’ job because only girls grow up to be parents.
Housesitting – Find neighbors who are going away and ask if they need you to do all the things they can’t do because they’re not home, such as water their plants, take in their mail, feed their fish, look out their window and keep tabs on their neighbors, and maybe forwarding them all the stuff they forgot to pack. This is a lot easier than babysitting because you don’t have to keep track of the kid(s), and worse comes to worse, you can always run out at the last minute and find a new fish that looks reasonably like the old fish.
Mother’s Helper – Apparently, this is a thing now, too. I always thought “mother’s helper” was a fancy word for a father, but it’s a good thing to put on a resume if you haven’t had a job for a while.
“What have you been doing the last few years?”
“It’s right there. Mother’s helper.”
And how come there are no father’s helpers?
They don’t need helpers – that’s what mothers are for.
parents abuse. kid other mailbox. annoying convincing tough consider are to because their than worse out fish fish. for on a few what
Take the Month of Sivan Quiz
By Menachem Posner
1. Counting from Nissan, Sivan is month number:
A. 3
B. 4
C. 5
D. 6
2. Which Jewish holiday is celebrated on 6 Sivan?
A. Lag BaOmer
B. Shavuot
C. Yom Torah
D. Rosh Sivan
3. What happened on 1 Sivan?
A. The Israelites stopped eating Egyptian food in preparation for the Giving of the Torah
B. The Israelites built the Tabernacle for the first time
C. The Israelites left Egypt
D. The Israelites arrived at Mount Sinai
4. What mitzvah do we do for the first five days of Sivan?
A. Count the Omer
B. Eat leftover matzah
C. Circle our homes, recreating the Sinai Experience
D. Read the 10 Commandments
5. What is the mazal (zodiac) of Sivan?
A. Aries, shor (ram)
B. Taurus, shor (ox)
C. Gemini, teomim (twins)
D. Cancer, sartan (crab)
6. True or false: The Torah reading cycle begins and ends in Sivan True False
7. True or false: In Israel, Sivan is also a popular (girl’s) name True False
8. For the first 12 days of Sivan:
A. There is a shortage of cream cheese in kosher grocery stores
B. Tachanun (confession of sins) and similar prayers are omitted by many
C. The moon wanes (this is the only time this happens)
D. We read the 10 Commandments daily
9. What is the significance of 20 Sivan?
A. Some Ashkenazim fast to commemorate victims of Christian violence
B. Among Moroccan Jews, it celebrates the life and times of Baba Sali
C. Celebrated with ice cream, it marks a full two weeks since Shavuot
D. It is the final day of school for most yeshivas in Israel
10. Which month comes after Sivan?
A. Iyar
B. Tammuz
C. Av
D. Elul
Complete the Story
Fill out story of the receiving of the Torah
By Sari Kopitnikoff @thatjewishmoment
Many _______ ago, G-d took us out of _________ with great __________ . He brought us through the _____________ to receive the ___________ at _________ __________.
There was __________, __________ , a thick __________ , and the piercing sound of a __________ . We heard the __________ ______________ , and on that day, we became a _________ .
