Issuu

Tradition, Inspiration and Celebration · June 2022 - Sivan 5782

Published by Chabad Tucson

On mass shootings An observation from visiting a cemetery

Welcome to town Adam Schiff already misses New York pizza

Cold feet Seeing the humor in swimming lessons

Coming to terms My first real Father’s Day

JEWISH BY

CHOICE Rifka Chilungu’s journey to Judaism and celebrating the giving of the Torah

OPINION

A different way of life By Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin 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: Cong. Young Israel, Chabad at the University of Arizona, Chabad on River, Chabad of Oro Valley, Chabad of Sierra Vista, Chabad Jewish Center of Vail and Lamplighter Chabad Day School of Tucson

Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin with soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces in May 2022 EDITOR

Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin COPY EDITOR

Suzanne Cummins CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Yoni Brown, Feigie Ceitlin, Jerry Levy, Menachem Posner, Mordechai Schmutter, Abby Stein, Benjamin Weiss SPECIAL THANKS

Chabad.org EDITORIAL INQUIRIES OR ADVERTISING

Phone: 520-955-9680 Email: info@ChabadTucson

Keeping Jewish is published in print periodically by Chabad Tucson and is distributed free in Tucson and around 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.

We were at a cemetery when the news broke about the mass shooting at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, on May 14, in which ten people were mercilessly murdered. The cemetery we were visiting was Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, where Israel buries its soldiers and officers who have fallen in the line of duty. We were there with university students as part of the Mayanot: Taglit Birthright trip to the Holy Land. Suddenly sensitized to the death around us, students were struck by the ages on some of the gravestones. Chaim Gardin was 20, Avraham Almuzlino was 18, Meir Rosenblatt was 22. We saw a grave of a 17-year-old. It was a raw moment of reckoning. Walk around Israel, and you will notice firearms everywhere. Young and old, men and women carry pistols and rifles. A weapon is part of life in a country constantly battling for its survival. Israeli civilians don’t have a right to carry and need to undergo and comply with strict requirements and training to own and carry a firearm. But the fact remains that many private citizens have guns and do not often abuse them.

There have been many tragic incidences in both Israel and the U.S. of guns being used to murder innocents. In Israel, however, mass shootings have been exclusively the realm of extremist terrorists — countless Arab ones and two Jewish ones. Thousands of 18-year-olds in Israel are armed with M-16s. None of them have shot up a school or a supermarket. The young people buried on Mount Herzl died defending their country — a death that, while tragic, is not senseless. This difference was amplified in horrible dimensions after arriving home and being confronted with the mass murder of nineteen young children and two teachers at the Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24. More and more, mass shootings seem like an epidemic in the U.S. Though the gun control imposed in Israel may be influential in preventing horrific acts of mass murder, I believe there is a cultural reason at work as well. Regardless of the extent of their religiosity, Israelis are taught from a young age about the sanctity of life, personal responsibility, and shared destiny. They are subject to the draft and develop a common unifying social expectation.

Yet, while weapons are part of life in Israel, they are not a way of life. There are actions that can and should be taken to prevent the mass shooting of innocent people in the U.S. As a rabbi, I can share one of the least controversial things we can do: promoting education, instilling values and morality in our youth to understand the sanctity of life, and backing that up with support for community enfranchisement, and help for those in crisis. On Sunday, May 5, we will celebrate the holiday of Shavuot and the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. Specifically, we will read the Ten Commandments, including the sixth one, “Thou shalt not murder.” The commandments were passed to humanity on a tablet to express how they should be literally “set in stone.” And that is something each and every one of us can agree on. The tragic loss of life breaks our hearts, and we extend our deepest condolences to the surviving families in Buffalo and Texas. May we merit the time when, in the words of the Prophet Isaiah (25:8), “The Lord G-d shall wipe the tears off every face.” - Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin is the Outreach Director of Chabad Tucson

NEWS

Jewish channel JLTV starts airing on Cox By Benjamin Weiss of Jewish life in Germany after the Holocaust and South Africa after apartheid. The show is now available on DVD and Blu-ray disk for home viewing at Walmart stores across the United States. “Chabad is one of the largest Hasidic groups and Jewish religious organiza-

tions in the world,” the DVD jacket reads. “Today, the movement runs more than 5,000 centers globally, providing outreach and educational activities for the Jewish community.” For more info, visit JLTV.tv

Brad Pomerance of JLTV talks with Steve Goode about his “Great American Deli Schlep” on a motorcycle

Cox Communications is adding the Jewish Life Television network (JLTV) to its channel line-up, which will provide English language Jewish-themed programming on Channel 184 beginning on May 31. As part of the agreement, JLTV will be broadcast in several markets, including Arizona (Phoenix and Tucson), California (Orange County, Palos Verdes, Santa Barbara and San Diego), New England (Providence) and Northern Virginia (Washington, DC suburbs). Cox Communications, the largest private broadband company in America, serving seven million homes and businesses across 18 states, is committed to creating meaningful moments of human connection through technology, a press release said. “It is a powerful statement that at this critical time, Cox Communications is leading the charge in supporting diverse voices by signing a national affiliation agreement with Jewish Life Television,” said Brad Pomerance, JLTV’s Senior Vice President of Programming. JLTV is a destination for Jewish Americans seeking news, information, and entertainment about the Jewish community in the United States and around the world. It is also viewed by Christian and other supporters of Jews and the State of Israel. The network is the boyhood dream come true of Phil Blazer. He grew up in

Burbank, California, where his love of Jewish faith and culture took root. His high school dream was to own his own television network. In 2006, when many of his peers were ready for retirement, Blazer threw himself into starting a 24-hour Jewish television network. The network aires a mix of original and syndicated programming. It includes movie classics and new productions such as ‘Bubbies Know Best’ - a dating show led by “three Jewish grandmothers,” Air, Land, & Sea about the unknown history of Jewish people around the world, and Quick Kosher with chef Jamie Geller. One of JLTV’s recent original productions was “Friends of Chabad,” which explores “the origins of Chabad, the teachings and philosophies of the organization, the idea of always engaging in acts of kindness, and the movement’s ongoing mission to transform darkness into light,” according to producers. The show was hosted by Academy Award-winning actor Jon Voight, film producer and screenwriter Steven Paul, and the brothers Rabbi Chaim Nachum Cunin of Chabad West Coast Headquarters and Rabbi Levi Cunin of Chabad of Malibu. The show’s ten episodes run for a total of 220 minutes, documenting the history of Chabad in Russia and the holy city of Hebron. It covers Chabad’s engagement with the mystical teaching of Kabbalah, the role of the Rebbetzins (wives of the rabbis). It also looks at the resurgence

David worton & Adrianella Schrek Mazel Tov On Your New Home & A Hardy Welcome To tucson

Madeline Friedman Vice President, ABR, CRS, GRI

520.907.4141 TucsonHomeFinder@aol.com www.TucsonAZHomes.com

PROFILE

JEWISH BY

CHOICE After a stormy youth, she gave up on atheism and got hooked on Judaism By Yoni Brown By the time Emily Couch walked across the plaza to the ancient stones of the Western Wall in Jerusalem, she was exasperated. Despite having no Jewish family and only a few Jewish friends, the twenty-year-old somehow found herself desperate to become a Jew. Yet she had overwhelming feelings of self-doubt. Was she trying to fill a void and going about it all wrong? “I wasn’t sure if I’d lost my mind,” she recalls. ***

Growing up in a tiny town in rural Ohio, Emily’s parents left her with mixed messages about religion. Each Sunday, her father drove the family to the same Catholic church he’d attended all his life. During the week, Emily attended Catholic school. But her mother remained a Methodist at heart, and her father often ridiculed religiosity.

As she watched her classmates confirm into the Catholic faith in sixth grade, Emily felt like she didn’t belong. “I told my parents it was not for me,” she reflects. Emily transferred to public school, where her isolation and loneliness only grew. She committed herself to atheism. “I never entirely shook off my belief in G-d, but I envied the people who could be sure that there wasn’t one.” She saw a kind of freedom in atheism. “It meant I’d be free from those nagging questions,” she says. When a classmate told her, “you’re the most miserable person I’ve ever met,” it sounded like a badge of honor. Finally, she got tired of being miserable and angry. She spoke to Satanists, neo-Pagans, and Christians of all stripes. She also explored Eastern religions and met people on unique journeys. She questioned why people believed what they did and why.

“Most people were very open, and it was always an entertaining conversation,” she laughs. But after all her exploration, Emily says, nothing except her earlier draw to Judaism called her name. “Every religion said something I agreed with,” she says, “but I wanted to devote my life to something worthwhile, and just agreeing with a religion wasn’t going to make me marry myself to it.” After a brief stint in art school, Emily began attending Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. There, for the first time, she met rabbis and visited several temples and synagogues. When Emily learned of an Orthodox Rabbi who gave informal classes on campus, she showed up. After class one day, she walked up and told him she wanted to convert. At first, he rebuffed her, but when he realized she was in earnest, he arranged for her to study with a rabbi from the Beis

Din of Cleveland. Emily made a few Jewish friends, and they surprised her by inviting her on a trip to Israel. “But I’m not Jewish,” she resisted. Still, they insisted, and off she went. The conversion process was dragging on, but this feeling that she had to become Jewish propelled her. It was on that trip that she begged G-d at the Western Wall to either take that feeling away or allow her to become a Jew. Eleven months later, with her hair still wet from dipping in the ritual waters of the mikvah, a fully Jewish Emily — now Rifka — stood outside on a sunny November day. “There I stood, a complete failure as an atheist.” The following Shabbat, Rifka walked to a synagogue near her apartment on campus. “I met nice people, but it was hard because I always felt a little out of place,” she remembers. She tried a diffe-

PROFILE

Dr. Shalom and Rifka Chilungu on their wedding day (left) and with their children (right)

rent synagogue each week, but when she trekked across town to a small Chabad center in a storefront, she says she found her home. Russian letters adorned the back door, but she walked inside. “It was loud,” she says, “I could hear Hebrew songs and people yelling in Russian, and I thought, ‘this is it!’” It was tiny. She sat down, and a woman turned around to introduce herself. “Hi, I’m Lois. Do you have a place for lunch?” Rifka happily accepted, and from that week on, she walked forty-five minutes to the small shul, where Lois became her Jewish family. “I am blessed that the right people were there for me when I needed them,” Rifka says. Rifka was about to graduate college with honors when she called home to tell her parents she was moving to Brooklyn instead. She wanted formal Jewish learning and signed up for a year at Machon

Chana, a seminary in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights neighborhood geared for Jewish returnees. After less than a year at the seminary, she was given the opportunity to teach at Beth Rivkah, the premier Chabad school for girls in Crown Heights. She loved teaching there. During her second year of teaching, Rifka met a soft-spoken yeshiva student named Shalom Chilungu. They were soon engaged and her students at Beth Rivkah surprised her by fundraising for the wedding expenses and outfitting the young couple’s new apartment. “I don’t know where my class of 2004 is now, but they will forever have a place in my heart,” Rifka Chilungu says. The Chilungus lived in Brooklyn, then in Cleveland. They welcomed four children into their family before settling in Rochester, New York, where Shalom Chilungu is an assistant professor of neurology and a neurohospitalist at the Uni-

versity of Rochester Medical Center. Raising a Jewish family, Rifka felt the cold intellectualism that had always defined her relationship with Judaism begin to thaw. “I saw my kids growing up, and I want them to love G-d,” she says. “I could not transmit that to them unless I could feel a warm connection to Judaism myself.” It wasn’t only for her children but also for herself that she needed to become more personally connected to G-d. “It’s hard because you never want to be a fool,” Rifka says. “It sounds petty, but it can be scary to let yourself feel that connection because, ‘what if I’m wrong?’” So on the advice of her old mentors from the seminary, she began to learn Chabad Chassidic teachings, which has been a passion of her husband’s. Rifka listened to audio classes online, and to help her focus, she sketched in a notebook. Soon, she was creating full-blown art, and now she teaches art.

“That’s been the project for the past few years,” she says, “allowing my guard down enough that I can feel emotion towards G-d, instead of viewing him as some distant being.” As Rifka has grown more comfortable with an emotional Judaism, she looks back on her seminary year differently. “There was a wonderful rabbi who taught a Chassidus class every morning,” she says, “I never attended, but now I wish I could apologize.” For Rifka, part of this project means sharing her story. When a mentor advised her to help others, she was unsure how to proceed. Soon after, she was asked to speak publicly about her story and thought, “maybe this will help someone.” Nervously, she agreed. Today, she talks and writes about her experiences for audiences who are Jewish - by birth and by choice. - Originally published in Lubavitch International

BIOGRAPHY

15 facts about the Baal Shem Tov The recunstructed synagogue of the Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov in the Ukrainian town of Medzhybizh (Photo: Yosef Shidler)

By Menachem Posner 1. His name was Yisrael The Jewish leader as the Baal Shem Tov, or The Besht, was named Yisrael, the son of Eliezer and Sarah. His name, Yisrael, was a foretaste of what he was to accomplish in his life, bringing vitality and hope to the nation of Israel.

and soul, no matter who he is.” These two directives would serve as the basis for Yisrael’s mode of divine service and trail‑ blazing teachings. Left largely to his own devices, he spent much time roaming the forest, admiring G‑d’s pristine creations. On one such ex‑ cursion, he met a saintly Torah scholar who hid his greatness and allowed him to join his wanderings, but never revealed his name.

2. He was orphaned from a young Age

By the time Yisrael was five years old, he had lost both his parents. Before his death, Eliezer called his son Yisrael to his bedside and told him, “Fear no one but G‑d. Love every Jew with all your heart

3. Elul 18 was his special day The Baal Shem Tov was born on 18 Elul in the year 5458 (1698). After conversing and learning with Elijah the Prophet and the Biblical prophet Achia Hashiloni, he

was told that the time had come to fina‑ lly make his identity public and let the world know about his engaging teachings and approach to serving G‑d that was applicable to all. That happened on his 36th birthday. 4. He was an assistant school teacher At times, the budding young scholar would take the simple job of bahelfer, “teacher’s assistant,” bringing the chil‑ dren to and from their lessons. He used the opportunity to share inspiring stories and lessons with the children. His even‑ tual successor, the Maggid of Mezrich, would later remark: “If only we kissed a Torah scroll with the same love that my mentor kissed the children when he took

them to cheder as a teacher’s assistant!. 5. He was a healer In years gone by, a baal shem was a folk healer—someone who used a mix of herbs, remedies and incantations to heal the ill. At one point, the Baal Shem Tov functioned as a baal shem, bringing re‑ lief, hope, and healing to the masses. 6. He founded the Chassidic movement The Chassidic movement, which intro‑ duced much‑needed color and inspiration to Eastern European Jewry and reintro‑ duced the mystical dimension of Judaism for so many, can be traced directly to the

BIOGRAPHY would finally come, Moshiach replied: “In the time when your teaching will beco‑ me public and revealed in the world, and your wellsprings will burst forth to the furthest extremes...”

teachings and leadership of the Baal Shem Tov. 7. He set up his community in Mezhibuzh

Indeed, the Divine light spread by the Baal Shem Tov and subsequent Chassi‑ dic masters is a foretaste of what we will experience in the Messianic era.

In time, the Baal Shem Tov and his tea‑ chings became well known, and people flocked to his court in the town of Mezhi‑ buzh (today in Ukraine), which became the center of the Chassidic movement. Even after his passing, the city remained an important center of Chassidism, with many leading rebbes residing there.

13. His descendants continued his ways The Baal Shem Tov left a son and a daughter. His son, Rabbi Tzvi, was a saintly man who chose not to lead the Chassidim after his father’s passing. His daughter, Odel, was famed as well, and features prominently in the story of the Baal Shem Tov’s attempted visit to the Holy Land. His grandchildren included Rabbi Boruch of Mezhibuzh and Rab‑ bi Moshe Chaim Ephraim of Sudilkov. Their sister, Feiga, was the mother of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov.

8. He championed three loves The Baal Shem Tov based his move‑ ment on three pillars—love of G‑d, love of Torah, and love of fellow Jews—tea‑ ching that each could only be complete when accompanied by the other two. 9. He saw the Divine hand in everything The Baal Shem Tov espoused the no‑ tion of Hashgacha Pratit, that G‑d not only recreates and directs the entire uni‑ verse at every moment but is also inti‑ mately involved in every detail of the life of every creature—especially ours. Even the tiniest worm has a part to play in the grand Divine symphony, and each event is a crucial step towards the ultimate ful‑ fillment of this world in Messianic times.

14. He wrote no book All the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov that we have today were recorded in the books of his students and grandchildren, starting with the Toldot Yaakov Yosef, by Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Polnoye, which was the first Chassidic book ever printed.

10. Hundreds of stories are told about him There are countless stories told about the Baal Shem Tov, accentuating his saintliness, his vast Torah scholarship, and his unrestrained love for everyone. Many also tell of his miraculous ability to see deep within the hearts of others or save communities from harm. Many of these stories tell of mysterious trips he and his students would take after Shabbat ended, often with the wagon dri‑ ver giving the horses free rein to choose the destination. 11. His students ranged from scholar to simpleton The Baal Shem Tov’s movement swept through Eastern Europe, attracting dis‑

ciples from all strata of Jewish society. Some were simple folk who were uplifted by his empowering message that they were precious in the eyes of G‑d. Others were advanced Torah scholars, attrac‑ ted to the mystical and emotionally sa‑ tisfying element he added to their inte‑ llectually mature but spiritually stunted Jewish understanding. Some of his chief students included Rabbi Aryeh Leib (the “Grandfather”) of Shpola, Rabbi Menachem Nochum of Chernobyl, Rabbi Michel of Zlotchev, Rabbi Nachman of Horodenka, Rabbi

Pinchas of Koretz, Rabbi Yaakov Yosef of Polnoye, and Rabbi Zeev Volf Kitzes. After his passing, the mantle of leaders‑ hip was taken up by his primary student, Rabbi Dov Ber, the Maggid of Mezrich. 12. His teachings are key to the Messianic era In a letter to his brother‑in‑law, Rab‑ bi Gershon of Kutov, the Baal Shem Tov recounted a wondrous encounter he had “on high” with Moshiach himself. In res‑ ponse to the Baal Shem Tov’s query as to when the time of the final Redemption

Many teachings were posthumously collected and published under the name Keter Shem Tov. His teachings are de‑ veloped, extended and given practical application in the Tanya, which was written by the student of his student, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi. 15. His life continues to inspire The Baal Shem Tov passed away on the first day of Shavuot 5520 (1760), su‑ rrounded by his most devoted students. More than 260 years later, the Chassi‑ dic movement has weathered the test of time, proving that the candle lit by the saintly Baal Shem Tov will continue to give light, paving the way for the day when the light of G‑d will fill the earth, and Divine knowledge will be as plentiful and ubiquitous as water in the ocean.

HOLIDAY 101

Celebrating Shavuot Second day of Shavuot

The time of the giving of the Torah

Torah reading: Deuteronomy 15:19–16:17; Numbers 28:26–31 Haftarah: Habakkuk 2:20–3:19

The holiday of Shavuot is a two-day holiday, beginning at sundown following the 5th of Sivan Sunday, June 4, 2022 and lasting until nightfall of the 7th of Sivan - Monday, June 6, 2022. In Israel, it is a one-day holiday.

Some communities have the custom to read the Book of Ruth on the second day of Shavuot. The Yizkor memorial service is recited (and charity is pledged) for the souls of departed loved ones.

The word Shavuot (or Shavuos) means “weeks” and it celebrates the completion of the seven-week Omer counting period between Passover and Shavuot. More than 3,300 years ago on Shavuot, G-d gave the Torah to the Jewish people on Mount Sinai. Every year on the holiday of Shavuot we renew our acceptance of G-d’s gift, and G-d “re-gives” the Torah. The giving of the Torah was a far-reaching spiritual event—one that touched the essence of the Jewish soul for all times. Our sages have compared it to a wedding between G-d and the Jewish people. Shavuot also means “oaths,” for on this day G-d swore eternal devotion to us, and we, in turn, pledged everlasting loyalty to Him. In ancient times, two wheat loaves would be offered in the Holy Temple on Shavuot. It was also at this time that people would begin to bring bikkurim, their first and choicest fruits, to thank G-d for Israel’s bounty. During the course of the holiday we don’t go to work, drive, write, or operate electric devices. We are permitted to cook, to kindle a stove with a flame that existed before the holiday (or which was lit from such a flame), and to carry outdoors. * Shabbat, Sivan 5—June 4 Shavuot eve (Erev Shavuot) It is customary to decorate synagogues and homes with flowers and boughs. All decorations must be done on Friday before the onset of Shabbat. The holiday of Shavuot begins tonight.

After Shabbat has ended, women and girls light candles tonight to usher in the holiday. Candle lighting time in Tucson is after 8:10 PM. After the holiday evening prayers, a festive holiday meal, complete with the recitation of

The priests (kohanim) bless the congregation with the Priestly Blessing during the Musaf prayer. Photo by Cottonbro/Unsplash

For both evenings of the holiday: Ba-rooch Ah-tah Ah-doh-nai Eh-lo-kei-nu Meh-lech ha-oh-lam ah-sher kee-dehsha-nu beh-mitz-voh-tav veh-tzee-va-nu leh-had-lik neir shel yom tov. (Translation:) Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the holiday light. Ba-rooch Ah-tah Ah-doh-nai Eh-lo-kei-nu Meh-lech ha-oh-lam sheh-heh-chehyah-nu veh-kee-yeh-mah-nu ve-hee-gee-ah-nu liz-man ha-zeh. (Translation:) Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion. For more, visit Chabad.org/Shavuot the holiday kiddush, is enjoyed. On this night it is customary to remain awake and study Torah until dawn. * Sunday, Sivan 6—June 5 First day of Shavuot Torah reading: Exodus 19:1–20:23; Numbers 28:26–31 Haftorah: Ezekiel 1:1–28; 3:12 Reading of the Ten Commandments in the presence of men, women and children just like when they were first given on Mount Sinai. The Rebbe — Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, explained that there is a special significance to bringing children, even infants, to hear the Ten Commandments. “By listening to the Ten Commandments on Shavuot morning,” he explained, “the words of Torah will be engraved in the hearts and minds of the children. And through them, the Torah will be etched within

their parents and grandparents with even greater intensity.” Many communities chant the Akdamut poem before the reading of the Torah. The kohanim (priests) bless the congregation with the Priestly Blessing during the Musaf prayer. Kiddush is recited, and a holiday meal follows.

Kiddush is recited, and a holiday meal follows. The holiday ends tonight at 8:11 PM.

A Shavuot celebration near you Chabad centers across southern Arizona will host services on Monday, May 5, followed by a dairy meal - a popular Shavuot custom. The meal typically includes cheese blintzes, salads, pasta, souffles, exquisite cheesecakes, and ice cream. Registration is not required and there is no charge for participation. Chabad Tucson - Young Israel • 520881-7956 2443 E 4th Street, Tucson, AZ 85719 Chabad @ U of A • 520-820-8939 1436 E Drachman St, Tucson, AZ 85719

Candle-lighting, from a pre-existing flame, after nightfall at 8:10 PM.

Chabad on River • 520-661-9350 3916 E Fort Lowell Rd, Tucson, AZ 85712

In some communities, whoever will say yizkor tomorrow lights a yahrtzeit candle tonight, also from a pre-existing flame.

Chabad Oro Valley • 520-477-8672 1171 E Rancho Vistoso Blvd #131 Oro Valley, AZ 85755

After the holiday evening prayers, a festive holiday meal, complete with the recitation of the holiday kiddush, is again enjoyed.

Chabad of Vail • 347-372-3092

It is customary to eat dairy foods today.

* Monday, Sivan 7—June 6

Chabad of Cochise County • 520-8206256 228 W Fry Blvd, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635

REBBETZIN’S KITCHEN

Classic sweet cheese blintzes By Feigie Ceitlin INGREDIENTS: Crepes: 2 cups all-purpose flour 4 eggs 1 1/2 cups whole milk 1/4 cup melted butter 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1/4 tsp kosher salt Filling: 16 oz whipped cream cheese 8 oz block cream cheese (softened) 14 oz farmer cheese 1 3/4 c sugar 1 large egg 3 tsp vanilla DIRECTIONS: Mix crepe batter ingredients using an immersion blender or hand beaters until super smooth. Strain thru a sieve to get rid of all of the lumps. Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least an hour. Meanwhile, combine filling ingredients with a hand mixer. You can place it in the refrigerator while making the crepes. Heat an 8-inch nonstick pan over medium heat. Spray the pan with PAM cooking spray and add a quarter cup of batter to the pan. Swirl the pan to create a thin layer and

Courtesy of Jaime Geller

return to the fire. Once the crepe is set, using a spatula, flip the crepe over to briefly cook the other side. Place them on a glass plate and continue to layer them on top of each other. When all of the crepes are done, take the filling out of the fridge. Place a piece of parchment paper on the counter. Place a crepe down, add 2 heaping tablespoons an inch from the top. Fold over once, then fold on both sides and roll until closed.

Place 1/2 tablespoon of butter in a frying pan and bring to medium-high heat. Place the blintzes seam side down until browns, then flip and do the same. * The blessing: Mezonot Food that is made from grain (wheat, barley, rye, spelt or oat) but is not bread gets the blessing mezonot. This includes cakes and pastries, most crackers and cereals, pasta and other cooked grain products like farfel and couscous.

The blessing: Baruch atah A-donay, Elo-heinu Melech Ha’Olam borei minei mezonot. Blessed are you L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe, Who creates various kinds of sustenance. Bon appetit! — Feigie Ceitlin is the program director of Chabad Tucson

HUMOR

Cold feet By Mordechai Schmutter

experts say is that you should stand in water that’s a comfortable depth for you to hold your child in the correct position. Unfortunately, most pools have exactly two depths – knee depth and ocean depth – separated by an 85-degree slope that you cannot stand on, because it’s slippery when wet. And it’s always wet.

There comes a time in every parent’s life when he has to teach his child to swim. And he has to do it in a way that won’t get him in trouble for child endangerment. I mention this because I’m sending my son to a camp this summer where they won’t let him near the lake unless he can pass a deep-water test. And I want him near the lake because generally, when not incentivized, he doesn’t otherwise shower.

Another thing experts say is that you want to show your child, by example, that the water is not scary. For example, you can get in first and show them. Of course, the way that I get in is I first spend 20 minutes alternately getting used to the water and shrieking, “Don’t splash me! Don’t splash me!” So this might be a little counterproductive, despite having learned it from my father.

And yes, I’ve been sending my kids to day camps for years, but despite what they claim, they don’t really teach the kids to swim. They’re not really there to teach. Like, anything. So it falls to the parents, especially if you have a child who doesn’t really care to learn.

On the other hand, some people say – and this was a legitimate teaching technique for years – to just throw your child into the deep end. No one had time for drawn-out swimming lessons back then because life was short. Possibly for reasons like this… But supposedly, the science was that his survival instincts would kick in, and he’d swim. Or the parent would jump in, after 20 minutes of getting used to the water, and save him. Or throw him a piece of oak.

Many kids don’t really see the need to swim these days. Yes, there was a need for swimming once upon a time, but nowadays, how often are you really in middle of the water where you didn’t intentionally go in for a recreational activity that you had a choice about? There are also life jackets nowadays. In the old days, life jackets were made out of oak, and they weighed 200 lbs. You spent the entire time lying down on the floor of the boat, trying to breathe.

Despite my parents’ occasional attempts to teach me, I taught myself to swim. I started with dunking. I spent like 4 years practicing dunking. I used to have dunking contests with my friends, to see who could stay under for longer. The best part of the dunking contest is when you come up and your friend’s still down there, you can go back down and pretend you were down there the whole time. And then your friend does that. And you both keep doing that the entire swim session. I think this is why I didn’t get a whole lot of actual swimming done for several years. I also knew how to do a dead man’s float, which is where you face down,

But for a very long time, this method supposedly worked, the idea being that if you push your child into the water and he gets out himself, he’ll have the selfconfidence to go out and live on his own because there’s no way he’s going near you again.

Photo by Takahiro Taguchi on Unsplash

which is not the optimal way to stay alive (ergo the name...). So one day I was lying there, face down in the water, and I wondered, “What would happen if I just started paddling?” And suddenly I just started swimming! And people were like, “Hey! Get out of the way! We’re having dunking contests here!” It was really crowded in the shallow end.

The point is, I know how to swim, but I don’t know that I can prepare my son because I never really took any kind of deep-water test. I kind of just coasted under the radar until I got to an age where people just assumed I knew how to swim. Since my kids don’t seem inclined to teach themselves, I’ve been reading up on techniques. For example, one thing

But that’s kind of playing with dynamite, isn’t it? That’s kind of like teaching a child to drive by jumping out of the car while you’re speeding down the highway. So maybe we should do some variation of this. Maybe, to start, you should throw another adult into the pool to demonstrate. Or, at best, maybe throw something in that your child really treasures and have him jump in after it. “There goes your phone!”

MAY 19

A different kind of Father’s Day By Abby Stein

I dreamed up ways I could hurt him. I wrote him angry letters I never sent. He occupied so much space in my mind and in my heart that every day was Father’s Day. But he wasn’t thinking about me.

I’ve lived through 9,855 Father’s Days, and I’m not 9,855 years old. There was that first one, 27 years ago, when he left. I was two months old.

The knowledge that my own father— someone supposedly biologically pro‑ grammed to love me unconditionally— had rejected and abandoned me was unbearable. I wondered what could possi‑ bly be so wrong with me that he wouldn’t want me. Every day he stayed away, I was abandoned all over again.

Then there was the smattering of times he promised to visit or call. Those were the ones spent waiting, hoping and, usua‑ lly, disappointed. There were the times he showed up, and then I wished he hadn’t.

But things have crystallized, and it’s time for a change.

There was the bat mitzvah he didn’t ac‑ knowledge, the 27 birthdays he “forgot,” the graduations he didn’t come to.

I’ve come to realize that he didn’t reject me because I was damaged; I am dama‑ ged because he rejected me.

There were the report cards he didn’t read, the friends he didn’t meet, the awards he didn’t know about.

Someone who cares so little, who has spent less than 15 days of my life with me, doesn’t deserve 9,855 days of my atten‑ tion. He certainly doesn’t deserve to hold so much power over me, my relationships and my self‑perception. He hasn’t earned the right to feature in my thoughts, mess with my emotions and interfere with my religious observance.

There was the homework he didn’t help with, the “father-daughter” events he wasn’t around for, and the yearly elemen‑ tary school Father’s Day cards I made for no one. There was the year he started a new family—and didn’t tell us. There was the day he called for the first time in three years and then fell off the radar for another two. And then there was The Last Visit, although I didn’t know that at the time. I was twelve. These were my Father’s Days. But then there were all the days in bet‑ ween. Endless days of anxious wondering if and when he would show up. There were months of convincing myself that I didn’t want to see him—I just wanted him to want me, and years of wondering why he didn’t. This was my childhood. A constant wish that he would call and a simultaneous

Photo by Takahiro Taguchi on Unsplash

fear that he might. Years of uncomforta‑ bly explaining his obvious absences with “My parents are divorced,” knowing full well that divorced parents can still be in‑ volved in their children’s lives.

Pesach Seders where I asked the four questions to no one but G‑d—and I didn’t feel too attached to Him, because of all the “G-d is like a father” metaphors I couldn’t relate to.

There was Shabbat with no man to sing Shalom Aleichem and say kiddush. There was Simchat Torah, watching the fathers dancing with the Torahs in the synagogue and knowing there was no one there for me. The sting of watching my brothers looking lost in the men’s section—the only boys on their own—and knowing I couldn’t help them. The longing to join all the other little girls and boys congre‑ gating under their fathers’ tallits during birkat kohanim (the special priestly bles‑ sing). The menorahs he didn’t light, the Purim costumes he never saw, and the

And most of all, there was the daily ache. I’d see a father playing with his chil‑ dren and feel a deep stabbing pain. A friend would mention asking her father for advice, and I’d feel jealousy running through my veins. I could easily end up in tears by reading a children’s book about happy families. I got angry every time I heard G‑d compared to a father who lo‑ ves His children no matter what because to me the very premise was inaccurate. I lay in bed at night wishing he knew how much he’d hurt me.

So this year, I’m observing the real Father’s Day for the first time, albeit un‑ conventionally. This year, I’ll be grieving for the father I never had and for that important male relationship I’ve missed out on. But he missed out too. He missed out on knowing me—as a child and as an adult. He mis‑ sed out on having me as a daughter. He’s missed the opportunity to enjoy parental pride, and for that, I pity him. Will I always feel sadness for my fatherlessness? I’m sure I will. But from now on, he is banished from my thoughts, except when I choose to let him in. He’s had too much power for far too long.

FICTION

Beginnings

Photo: Melinda Gimpel / Unsplash

By Jerry Levy A desert snake, a serpent, slithered across the sand. Head elevated, it caught sight of a group of beings it had never seen before. Arranged around the river, they were too big to eat and could provide nothing for the snake.

The Hebrews along the river had defeated many adversaries en route to this place – battled sorcerers, contested with

G-D, and survived more missteps than can be recorded in scripture. Despite all that, they would soon begin entering the promised land as a nation strong, triumphant. Forty years ago, they departed Egypt in haste, not having time to bake bread, opting instead for unleavened cakes or matza. Not so today. In hastily raised clay ovens, they produced loaf after loaf of bread, the knowledge of baking coming from the wives of yesterday, aiding those who had known nothing but

Mana all their lives. Today was a mixed blessing. Along with the bread were indisputable facts. The Mana from heaven was done. The Clouds of Glory, flattening the land ahead of them, pushing aside snakes and scorpions, were no more. But perhaps most telling of all, Aaron and Moses were no longer with them. Redemption was to proceed without the leaders that brought them to the gates of the Promised Land.

Tomorrow the first Jewish child could well be born in the Land of the Jews, the Holy Land, Israel. *** Sitting outside his tent, enjoying the sunshine, really enjoying the sunshine, Asher was inspecting his family’s belongings in anticipation of the day to come, for all the days to come. The Jews now had to provide, with the grace of G-D,

FICTION everything required for all the days to come. “Asher! It is good to see you!” Asher glanced up. He had not seen Reuben approaching. Standing, smiling, he said, “You too, Rueben, it is wonderful to see and be seen.” “Baruch Hashem,” Reuben replied. “Journey well, my friend.” A handshake turned into a pat on the back before Reuben moved on, making his way down the row of tents, greeting each and every Hebrew. Asher watched him for several moments, wondering if he ought not to do the same. It was, after all, a community rite for a community that would need to rely on each other as never had before. Even as Asher lost sight of Reuben, his grandchildren, Joshua and Sarah, came bounding up to him. He chuckled loudly - he was having a great time. “Give us a blessing!” shouted Joshua excitedly, “please,” all out of breath. Joshua was the older of the two by about four years, having just turned eight. Smiling, Asher motioned his grandchildren forward. “Oh thank you, grandpapa,” Sarah blurted excitedly.

Asher looked down on his grandchildren, stroking his beard, shuffling his feet slightly, positioning himself on a firm respectful footing. What to say? Today was a special day, and he thought to give them the priestly blessing found in the Torah. Asher believed, hoped, that ould G-D might turn his eye away. It was a the special day. If ever such a blessing could be bestowed by a layman, it was today. Adjusting his hands slightly to fit the curve of their heads, he began,

the ine, May the Lord bless you and watch lon- over you. me, now May the Lord cause His countenance G-D, to shine to you and favor you.

May the Lord raise His countenance toward you and grant you peace. Done. He ruffled their hair for a moment, then removed his hands. Rocking back on his heels, Asher swore he could see a slight glow around their heads, but when he blinked, it was gone. Bending down, he kissed each child on the top of the head before sending them off, Joshua smiling, Sarah giggling as only a four-year-old girl could. Asher watched them go, running, laughing, skipping down the row of tents to where Yaakov’s family was pitched. Yaakov was going through his own family’s gear. As Asher’s grandchildren came running up, Yaakov looked across at Asher, who held up his hands. Yaakov nodded in response and smiled, understanding. Asher looking up to heaven, thank you, Lord. Stepping into his family’s tent, dropping the flap behind him. He and Sarah had many moments of carefree intimacy to make up. It was a beautiful day to be alive. *** “Asher! Asher!” Avieshi, of age with Asher, approached and smiled at Asher, who was momentarily distant before looking up and smiling.

“Baruch Hashem! Yet here you are and here I am, and what a day it’s been!” “Yes.” Asher looked across the river at the setting sun, letting his voice trail off. He still felt the exhilaration of this morning, but it was more subdued now. He was getting used to his new existence. Gone was a lifetime of uncertainties and doubts, a life that could have evaporated at any time. Asher was no longer a young man. He had been twenty when the Jews demonstrated their lack of faith in G-D at the entrance to the Holy Land, receiving instead the decree to wander the desert for forty years until the last of the Generation of Egypt died off. Now he was sixty, having turned so this year, a year when most of those who had turned sixty were now dead. But a year is a long time and every day, he hoped, prayed, knowing there was a possibility that he would see this day. As Avieshi had said, it all depended on how G-D sliced it, and where he made the cut. Asher and Avieshi took a deep breath, simultaneously connected by a divine thread. They had made it. They had landed on the side of the living. Beyond, on the other side of the Jordan, raced milk and honey, grew fruits and grains. Asher remembered milk and he remembered honey. He remembered fruits and gra-

ins too. He was among the eldest now. Everyone older than him, with few exceptions, had been of the Generation of Egypt, but not he. Asher was old enough to remember milk, honey, grains and grapes, yet fortunate enough to be alive today. Asher and Avieshi looked at each other with mutual understanding. He got it. They both got it. Today truly was the first day of the rest of their lives. They were free to make the life they wanted. Asher, Avieshi and perhaps very few others knew just how precious this was more so than most. “I am ready,” said Avieshi. Asher looked at him. Taking each other’s hands, they both smiled broadly and nodded. Yes, they were ready. Patting him on the back, they started for home. It was time to be with their families. Tomorrow they would cross the river, cross into the Holy Land, awash in milk and honey, covered in fruits and grains, G-D’s Land, Eretz Yisrael. - Jerry Levy is an instructor at Pima Community College in Tucson, Arizona and is the director of YDLPublishing.com. This story is excerpted from his new book, “The 89 Cent Jewish Inspirational Series.”

“Avieshi!” Placing his hands on his friend’s shoulders, looking him squarely in the eye. “I was not sure this day would come.” “Neither was I. I knew I was close and it all depended on how G-D sliced it. When he said this generation, the generation that was Egypt, would not live to see the promised land, well… It is not like they went through the camp saying ‘you’re in and you’re out.’” “I know Avieshi. Last night I slept in the earth like everyone else who might be of that generation, not knowing if on this last night of the decree he would chance to see the coming day.”

LOCAL

Welcome to town:

Adam Schiff From left: Adam Schiff, Ellen Klinger, Richard Klinger, Stacey Schiff, Melanie Rudolph, Dr. Peter Klinger. Riley Schiff stands in front

By Benjamin Weiss Adam Schiff (no relation to the California congressman or the Law & Order character) is the Director of Treasury at Yext, a publicly-traded technology company operating in the area of online brand management. He is married to Stacey and is the father of Riley. How long have you been in Tucson? Since April. What brought you here? Family. We’ve been visiting my brother-in-law in Tucson for vacations and are happy to bring the family together here. My parents-in-law are moving here as well.

Where did you move from and how is Tucson compared to it? We moved from Rockland County in New York. What we love about Tucson is the natural beauty, the weather, and

the wildlife. We are looking forward to exploring all of that. Currently reading/learning: “An Inconvenient Minority” by Kenny Xu about “the Harvard Admissions Case and the Attack on Asian American Excellence.”

A cherished Jewish memory: When I was honored with reciting Hamotzie on the challah at the wedding of my brother-in-law. It was very touching and brought me back to all these family memories when the revered patriarch of the family would do so.

A hobby: Music and games, and finding new restaurants.

Jewish app on phone: I still have the app of my temple in New York.

A favorite Mitzvah/holiday: I’ve always loved Passover - the singing of Dayeunu and explaining what we are thankful for and searching for the Afikoman. I remember my 90-yearold grandmother going to hide with the Matzah too.

Go-to Yiddish or Hebrew word: We had a neighbor who, wherever she was hopeful for something, would say, “Baruch Hashem” (thank G-d). She passed away this past year and my wife and I find ourselves saying it too.

Tzedakah motto: People in need are not always visible, so it’s our job to give whether we see poverty or not.

Favorite historical Jewish figure: Golda Meir. Chabad: Warm and welcoming.

Comfort food: Pizza. Having had so many options in New York, I might have to start making it on my own in Tucson. A second to that is my mother-in-law’s matzo ball soup. I’m not a soup guy, but I always go for seconds when she serves. Define Happiness: Family. My wife and my daughter. Kvetch: My daughter. She’s 12, you know… Kvell: My daughter. Parenting is thankless at the moment, yet something I’ll always be thankful for. Something you’re looking forward to: Our family has always been in New York, so I’m excited about making new experiences.

FUN PAGE

Take the Shavuot Quiz

The big reveal Color in to discover a special and dramatic event in human history * Courtesy of Kinderblast

9 questions to see how much you know about this Biblical holiday By Menachem Posner

2. Shavuot coincides with: A. The day the Torah was given at Sinai B. The day when the Jews crossed the Jordan River and entered the Land of Israel C. Both of the above D. None of the above 3. The following two Jewish leaders passed away on Shavuot: A. Moses and Aaron B. Abaye and Rava C. King David and the Baal Shem Tov D. Moses and Maimonides 4. Shavuot lasts for: A. Seven days B. Two days like Rosh Hashanah C. One day like Yom Kippur D. Two days in the diaspora, and one day in Israel 5. On Shavuot, it is customary to stay up all night and: A. Cook up a storm B. Hike in the woods, to commemorate the Israelites’ trek through the desert C. Study Torah D. Pray for the arrival of Moshiach, when we will experience a revelation similar to that of Sinai

6. The Rebbe encouraged every Jewish man, woman, and child to: A. Eat at least one piece of cheesecake on Shavuot B. Hear the 10 Commandments read from the Torah on Shavuot morning C. Visit Mount Sinai at least once in a lifetime D. Distribute free cheesecake to needy families before Shavuot 7. Eating dairy on Shavuot is: A. A commandment found in the Book of Leviticus and repeated in the Book of Deuteronomy B. A rabbinic commandment, similar to hand-washing and singing Hallel C. A time-hallowed custom that is codified in the Code of Jewish Law D. Just what people do to change things up after all the brisket on Passover 8. On Shavuot, some have the custom to: A. Celebrate with flowers B. Scatter greenery in the synagogue C. Read the Book of Ruth D. All of the above 9. If one did not have a chance to bring his holiday sacrifice to the Holy Temple on Shavuot: A. He was able to do so for the next six days, until 12 Sivan B. He could do it until Rosh Hashanah C. He would need to add 1/5th as a penalty and then bring it as soon as possible D. There was nothing he could do

15 Answers: 1-D, 2-A, 3-C, 4-D, 5-C, 6-B, 7-C, 8-D, 9-A

1. The holiday is called “Shavuot” because: A. Shavuot means “sitting,” and it is customary to sit when the 10 Commandments are read B. Shavuot means “returns,” and on Shavuot we return to the synagogue C. Shavuot means “vows,” and springtime is when couples get married D. Shavuot means “weeks,” and it comes after counting seven weeks from Passover

‫בס"ד‬

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