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Tradition, Inspiration and Celebration · May 2022 - Iyar 5782

Published by Chabad Tucson

New legislation A Moment of Silence in Arizona schools

Israel forever 17 facts to know

about the Holy Land

Mother’s shoulders Sharon Glassberg revels in living in the present

Saluting our troops A recollection by a Jewish veteran

DOCTOR RESILIENCE Dr. Steve Wool discusses science, the role of faith and longevity

OPINION

Silence that speaks volumes 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

EDITOR

Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin COPY EDITOR

Suzanne Cummins CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Feigie Ceitlin, Elie Estrin, Sharon Glassberg, Libby Herz, Menachem Posner, Mordechai Schmutter, Yanki Tauber, Benjamin Weiss PHOTOS

Cover photo: Jacqueline Soffer 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.

The statement that Arizona’s new Moment of Silence law is making By Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin In April, I had the honor of standing in the Arizona State Capitol as Governor Doug Ducey signed legislation mandating a moment of quiet reflection at the start of each day at public and charter schools. Present were House Speaker Rusty Bowers (R-Mesa) and Rep. Alma Hernandez (D-Tucson), who sponsored House Bill 2707. In reflecting on the importance of the “Moment of Silence” bill, I looked back at my native country of Canada. Canadians are known for their politeness and friendliness but hidden beneath that friendly exterior was a terrible institutional disgrace: for much of the 20th century, and as recently as 1997, the Canadian government operated infamous “residential schools.” Indigenous peoples were compelled to send their children to these institutions, whose goal was to separate them from their culture and traditions and to assimilate them into “the dominant culture.” The results were dreadful, to say the least. Students who survived this experience suffer from ongoing trauma, as they were seriously abused and demeaned during their time of separation from their families. Some did not survive.

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey signs the Moment of Silence legislation, April 2022

recognizes that each child has a unique upbringing with values that should be cherished and that those values should be given room for contemplation in the classroom.

In 2008, Prime Minister Steven Harper issued a formal apology. “These objectives were based on the assumption aboriginal cultures and spiritual beliefs were inferior and unequal,” he said. “Indeed, some sought, as it was infamously said, ‘to kill the Indian in the child.’ Today, we recognize that this policy of assimilation was wrong, has caused great harm, and has no place in our country.”

The Moment of Silence law makes room for students to spend a minute or two in quiet thought. By its nature and design, it is nonsectarian — and has therefore weathered litigation and is permitted or mandated in some 36 states to date. As Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor wrote in 1986, “school-led moments of silence, unlike school-led prayers, are often permissible because they are not inherently religious and do not coerce participation in a religious act.”

This atrocious “re-education” effort will remain a black mark on my home country’s history forever. It also highlights the importance of each child’s cultural upbringing and the role parents must have as partners in the educational system. Arizona’s Moment of Silence legislation

The Moment of Silence specifically does not require or suggest that the children think about anything in particular during that moment. Their teachers do not tell them what to think about. Instead, they can ask their parents or guardians — which gives space for meaningful con-

versations to take place at home between parents and children. Parents and children are constantly in communication as they begin their day, conclude their day, and squeeze in afterschool clubs and chores. But interaction should not be confused with connection — which is crucial to a child’s development. Studies have shown that parent-child connectedness (PCC) is critical to helping children avoid risky behavior such as drug and alcohol abuse. Plenty needs to be done about education, and our elected officials are accountable for implementing that. But this is an important step in improving education in Arizona. It’s a meaningful way that Arizona’s schools are telling each and every child: You matter. Your culture matters. Your values matter. Yes, it’s just a minute. But its effects resonate far, far longer than that.

NEWS

The great accessible outdoors

One man’s mission to hike with his disabled father led to an innovative wheelchair By Naama Barak - israel21c.org Omer Zur’s father has been confined to a wheelchair ever since sustaining grave injuries during his Israeli military service. “Thirty-five years after his injury, I decided to take him on an adventure to places he had been unable to see from his chair,” Zur explains. “He was excited to see if we could do this, but after checking out all sorts of platforms and chairs on the market, we found that none of them suited our needs,” he says. Zur didn’t give up and developed the Trekker, a wheelchair for off-road use. In designing it, he considered the rough terrain and the needs of the rider and the escort who might need to push or pull the Trekker. The finished product, Zur says, “creates the best hiking experience for everyone taking part.” Launching the invention, Zur and his father decided to make the trip a social event. “We invited 34 friends to come hiking with us – my dad’s childhood friends, his current friends, and friends of mine. We traveled the Taurus Mountains in Turkey for a month,” Zur says. The hike they chose was challenging. Before the trip, they agreed to sleep in tents and sleeping bags and cook on fires. “We weren’t going to go easy on ourselves. And during that trek, I saw and understood a few things that led me to form my company, Paratrek,” says Zur. Paratrek was established in 2014. Its slogan is, “Where there’s a wheel, there’s a way.” Using the Trekker, Paratrek specializes in facilitating hiking trips for people with limited mobility and in creating inclusive, empowering outdoor activities for people with disabilities and without. Paratrek has taken groups across the world, including Australia, Jordan, France, and the United States — even to Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, in cooperation with Friends of Access Israel. “Together, we conquered Kilimanjaro, and together we also started this journey of spreading our methodology and the use of the Trekker wheelchair.”

By using the Trekker, people with disabilities can fully join their friends and family in nature * Photo: Yoav Alon/israel21c.org

The ‘wheels’ of Paratrek “The first ‘wheel’ of what we do is the manufacturing and marketing our Trekkers to organizations that provide services to people with disabilities. We want to give our disabled population access to parks and natural environments,” Zur explains. “The second wheel is the wheel of integration. When people with disabilities work or study with non-disabled people in their day-to-day life, their inclusion is often limited to the office or classroom,” he says. “When a school trip, a work fun day, a pre-military academy hike, or a trade union trip occur, people with disabilities usually stay home. We’re here to integrate them and allow them to take part in these activities fully.” The third wheel is education, including lectures, outdoor activities, and informal meetings. “Here, we have two goals. One is to bring people with disabilities together with people without disabilities,” says Zur. “Some 20 percent of the general

population in Israel is made up of people with disabilities, and we don’t see them in the public space – the cinema, the supermarket, the restaurant – because we’re a non-accessible society. So we’re trying to get people to meet and enable relationships to grow.” The other goal is to help the population without disabilities define their own goals and dreams and identify what prevents them from accomplishing them and whether these are objective or subjective factors. Holistic approach Paratrek, which employs 25 staff members, organizes and facilitates trips and activities for schools, workplaces, and programs such as Birthright. “A few organizations aid people with disabilities to go out to nature, but unlike us, they don’t emphasize the social dimension and the integration,” Zur notes. “There are also all sorts of organiza-

tions around the world that sell different platforms and outdoor chairs, but the emphasis is on very specific things that don’t create this holistic, optimal experience for participants.” The reception to Paratrek, he adds, has been overwhelming. “The responses are very moving. Beyond being positive, many participants speak of how Paratrek’s activities and services have changed their lives. Life changes have ranged from those who have been able to fulfill dreams to others who have changed their outlook and awareness. We find ourselves moved by the end of each activity.” Zur hopes to provide services to more and more people and organizations that work with people with disabilities. He also wants to spread the word broadly by marketing the Trekkers and Paratrek’s educational and integrational programs “to duplicate our model elsewhere in the world.”

PROFILE

Wholesome living An interview with Dr. Steve Wool

Dr. Steve Wool and his patients Richard and Irene Nicolas * Photo: Jacqueline Soffer

When Dr. Steven Wool looks at a patient, he sees a complete human being not just a diagnosis. He brings his sense of humor, easy laugh, and ability to connect to his medical practice. It is not surprising that he is adored by patients and friends alike. Born in Waukegan, Illinois, Dr. Wool graduated from Duke University College of Medicine and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine with extensive training and experience in Family Medicine and Geriatrics.

He served as Chief of Medicine at Tucson Medical Center and is a clinical instructor at the Department of Medicine at the University of Arizona. He has been in private practice in primary care in Tucson since 1985 and established Personalized Healthcare of Tucson in 2010. He recently opened a satellite office at The Hacienda at the Canyon retirement community. In an interview with Keeping Jewish,

he shares his thoughts on health, the role of a Jewish doctor, and the importance of personal connections. Question: What is the Jewish fascination with doctors?

work results in appreciation. Q: What is the ideal doctor-patient relationship?

Dr. Wool: Though often joked about, there is something to be said about Jewish moms wanting their sons to be doctors. My father was a family physician and a general surgeon, my brother is a doctor, and my sister is married to one. There’s compatibility between being a doctor and being Jewish. Judaism really celebrates life, and doctors are there to help you keep healthy.

A. The Torah commands us to “guard our lives.” It means to be not only healthy but also be proactive about it. Doctors like it when patients take responsibility and see it as a partnership. It is said that patients only remember 30 percent of what a doctor says. So take the time to write down the questions you want to be answered before the visit, and write notes on the answers. If you want your doctor to be honest with you, be honest with your doctor.

Q: Do Jews tend to listen to medical advice?

Q: Do you think patients are intimidated by doctors?

Dr. Wool: They don’t always listen, but they respect advice (laughs). Our natural inclination is to be lazy about things. But health is a blessing, and it takes hard work. Judaism also requires work. Faith and health are both worth it because the

Dr. Wool: I once had a patient who came in and commented, “looks like you’ve gotten fat.” I got really upset and started trying to pinch myself in the stomach and the abdomen. He then said, “Doctor, I figured a good offense is the best defen-

se.” I loved that. Physicians are human and don’t always do the right thing. They don’t eat the right things and exercise the way they should. Rabbi Yossie Shemtov of Chabad Tucson once told me that tolerance is really important. I think as physicians, we need to have respect for other people and not pass judgment on others. Q: You have books about Maimonides (1138–1204) in your office. What is your fascination with him? Dr. Wool: He was so brilliant. Many of the things he wrote about diet and nutrition are true today. He exemplified the physician who knows not only medicine but is well-rounded. What made him a great doctor was his vast understanding of other issues. He studied science, philosophy, and of course, religion. Maimonides was also challenged by grief. He lost his brother, who was the family’s breadwinner, and it deeply affected him. I can relate to that with the passing of my wife Cindy (in 2008) and being a single dad for three daughters. Maimonides went on

PROFILE

Dr. Steve Wool (center) as a child with friends in Waukegan, Illinois, north of Chicago

Dr. Steve Wool and his daughters (from left) Sonya, Rachel and Lily

to make this world a better place, and I think he’s a great role model for anybody.

Q. What is something people are struggling with today?

Q: Maimonides also exemplified resilience.

Dr. Wool: Loneliness is one of the biggest issues in mental health. The internet and the use of media make us more likely to stay at home instead of engaging with others outside the home. When physical disability gets in, you’re not able to interact with others. And Covid only worsened the situation.

Dr. Wool: Absolutely. Resilience is the number one characteristic that’s associated with longevity. If you are resilient, you can deal with change and challenge and live a longer and healthier life. When my wife Cindy died, Rabbi Shemtov was very supportive and made me laugh. And he showed me the way Judaism teaches us to be resilient. Q: Does your faith have a role in your practice? Dr. Wool: I have patients who relate to me because I’m Jewish, and they’re Jewish. I also have patients who aren’t Jewish and are attracted to the fact that I am open about my faith. I think that makes them feel better. Sometimes, they aren’t searching for answers (for nonphysical challenges). They just want to know that I struggle with the same questions.

Q. What are your thoughts on telehealth? Dr. Wool: I think it has its value in certain situations, but I find many diagnoses are missed if you don’t look at a patient or talk person in-person. Telehealth has value in closely monitoring certain diseases, but I still think you need to see people. Q: Are you calling for a full return to in-person gatherings? Dr. Wool: I don’t care how many Zooms

Dr. Wool’s white coat which typically hangs as photographed by his patient Ben Golden

you have in the world. You need to talk to people in person. You still should go to shul. I see future events as combining both, especially for those who remain home when not feeling well. Q. What were the positive effects of the Covid-19 pandemic? Dr. Wool: There’s a greater appreciation of the seriousness of respiratory illnesses and their transmission. There’s an understanding of the dangers to vulnerable and at-risk people. It’s considered respectful to say, “I’m sick. I’m not coming to a party.” This keeps other people from getting sick. Another aspect is the vaccines which utilize technology that saves people’s lives. It’s almost G-d-like, and I look forward to seeing how this new development can be used for other illnesses. Q. And that is attributed to major advances in science... Dr. Wool: I think the study of nature is such a great profession, and it coexists with the spiritual sense. The more you

understand it, the more spiritual you can become because it is so amazing. The beauty of Judaism is that Judaism doesn’t let that get in the way of the advancement of science. Throughout generations, if you look at a previous pandemic, like even smallpox, religion sometimes got in the way - but not Judaism. I think that’s why we have so many Jewish scientists. To appreciate G-d’s world, you have to understand G-d’s world, right? Q: Can you share with us your top tips for living healthier? Dr. Wool: Drink lots of water. Hydration is one of the most important parts of the quality of health. It filters our kidneys and feeds our minds. You should be drinking all the time, especially in the desert. Try to get better sleep, interact with others, and eat in moderation. Never sit down for a big meal while you’re hungry. When you’re hungry, you don’t have control. I have a snack or an energy drink before going to a meal. Finally, be kind to people. Try to be understanding, empathetic, and accept human frailty.

ISRAEL

Our land

17 facts about Israel everyone should know The view from Ashkelon Street in Tel Aviv, Israel (Photo: Reiseuhu/Unsplash)

By Menachem Posner 1. It was given to Abraham and his children In more than one place in the book of Genesis, G‑d promises the Land of Israel (then known as the Land of Canaan) to Abraham and his children. This promi‑ se was reiterated to his son Isaac, and grandson Jacob, the progenitor of the Jewish people. It remains in effect un‑ til this very day, and Israel remains the eternal inheritance of the Nation of Is‑ rael.

2. It is called the Holy Land In Hebrew, the Land of Israel is Eretz

Yisrael. It is also referred to as Eretz Hakodesh, “the Holy Land,” or Artzeinu Hakedoshah, “our Holy Land.” This is because the very space is sacred, desig‑ nated so by G‑d. All of Israel is holy, but only four cities have ir hakodesh (“the holy city”) appended to their names: Je‑ rusalem, Hebron, Safed, and Tiberias. Israel is also called the “Land of Milk and Honey.” 3. It’s the ‘top’ of the world When Abraham and Sarah left the land, Scripture describes the trip as a “descent.” The sages note that Israel is metaphorically higher than all other lands, making travel to Israel an ascent and leaving it a descent. Moving today to Israel is called aliyah (“ascent”).

4. Its capital is Jerusalem The book of Samuel identifies the place where “G‑d will cause His glory to rest” on the mountain abutting the city of Je‑ rusalem. Ever since the Holy Temple was built on that mountain, known as Mount Moriah or the Temple Mount, Jerusalem has become the eternal capital of the Jewish people. 5. Its borders are not the same as modern Israel The Torah spells out the borders of the Land of Israel, which King Solomon sub‑ sequently expanded. Some of that area, to the east and north, is in modern-day Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Conversely, the southern borders of modern-day Is‑

rael may very well extend past the histo‑ rical boundaries of the Holy Land. 6. Its topography varies dramatically Although Israel is a relatively small country, it has an incredibly diverse na‑ tural landscape with significant fluctua‑ tions in weather. It can be snowing in the hills of Jerusalem and sweltering hot just 20 miles away on the sandy beaches of the Dead Sea, the lowest elevation on earth (1410 feet below sea level). 7. Its air makes you wise For hundreds of years, there were two centers of Jewish learning, one in Bab‑ ylon and the other in Tiberias. After the Talmudic sage Rabbi Zeira traveled

JUDAISM 101

A young girl make aliyah to Israel as part of the Nefesh B’Nefesh organization

from Babylon to the Land of Israel, he commented that the very air of the land makes a person wise. 8. It has several water sources Blessed with an abundance of water, Israel sits east of the Mediterranean Sea. On its northeastern corner lies the Kin‑ neret (Sea of Galilee), which feeds into the Jordan River, which feeds into the Dead Sea in the southeast. Since the Me‑ diterranean and the Dead Sea are both salty, the freshwater supply is limited, propelling modern Israel to become a lea‑ der in the desalination industry. 9. It is praised with seven fruits Scripture tells us of seven special fruits and grains that the Land of Israel is bles‑ sed with: Wheat, barley, grapes, figs, da‑ tes, pomegranates and olives. When ea‑ ting any of these along with other fruit, we partake of these first. And a special blessing is said after we eat them, in which we thank G‑d for the land He gave us. 10. Not all fruit is Kosher in Israel Raw grains, fruits and veggies are na‑ turally kosher (provided that they are bug-free), but produce in Israel is affec‑ ted by biblical agricultural laws and the‑ refore requires a kosher certification (cer‑ tifying that tithing has been separated, for example).

11. It’s strategically located Between Asia and Africa The shortest land route from Eurasia to Africa runs through Israel, which was a cause of much historical warfare. For example, when the Alexandrian Greeks (headquartered in Alexandria, Egypt) butted heads with the Syrian Greeks (headquartered in what is now Turkey), Israel saw more than its fair share of Greeks in uniform. This led to the Mac‑ cabean rebellion and the miracle of Cha‑ nukah. 12. Jews pray toward it Even though we may not physically be in the Holy Land, our prayers ascend to heaven through it. Daniel, who lived during the Babylonian exile, faced Jeru‑ salem when he prayed. It has become a tradition for Jews in the Diaspora to face Israel (which is often to the east) when praying the Amidah.

An antique shop in Jerusalem * Photo: Christian Burri/Unsplash

Upon alighting onto the tarmac at Ben Gurion airport in Israel, it is not uncommon to see passengers kissing the ground. This is an ancient tradition in Judaism. In the words of Maimonides, “Great sages would kiss the borders of Eretz Yisrael, kiss its stones and roll in its dust. Similarly, Scripture declares: ‘Behold, Your servants hold her stones dear and cherish her dust.’” 15. Many holidays are shorter there The Jewish pilgrimage festivals—Pas‑ sover, Shavuot, and Sukkot (and Shemi‑ ni Atzeret/Simchat Torah)—are observed for an extra day in the Diaspora. This ensured that remote communities, who may mistake their calculations, celebra‑ ted on the appropriate day. Since there was never such concern in Israel, the only holiday which is expanded into a se‑ cond day is Rosh Hashana.

According to the Talmud, being buried in the Land of Israel brings a measure of atonement to the deceased. In addition, the resurrection in the times of Moshiach will occur in Israel. Bodies of those bu‑ ried outside of Israel will burrow through the earth until they reach the Land, and then their souls will be reinstated in their bodies. Being buried in Israel pre‑ cludes the need for this process. 17. G‑d is always ‘watching’ it Scripture describes the Holy Land as “a land the L‑rd, your G‑d, looks after; the eyes of L‑rd your G‑d are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.” The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, often cited this ver‑ se as proof that Israel’s denizens receive G‑d’s special protection, making it “the safest place in the world.”

16. People want to be buried there

13. Jews give lots of charity to Israel For hundreds of years, Jewish commu‑ nities worldwide regularly sent donations to support the needy of the land, many of whom were impoverished scholars and the elderly. The oldest continuously ope‑ rating charity in Israel is Colel Chabad, founded in 1788 by the first Chabad Reb‑ be, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi. 14. Kissing the ground has a long his‑ tory

HUMOR

Eye See By Mordechai Schmutter Recently, I went to the eye doctor. It was unnerving. After putting in numbing drops, he touched my eye with an eyetouching thing. I called him on it, and he outright lied. “No, I didn’t touch your eye. I just got really close.” Hah! If he expected me to believe that... Then he showed me an eye chart and told me to read it. I’m never sure how to respond to that. “Am I supposed to try to pronounce the word or just tell you the letters? Because I don’t actually know how to pronounce that. Do you have one that’s maybe written in English?” And the chart always has letters that look very similar from far away, and you have to squint and make educated guesses. I don’t know; is that an F or a P? I’ll say F because I have a 50-50 chance, and maybe if I’m lucky, I’ll fool him into thinking I can read it. But then he’ll give me the wrong prescription and I’ll have to take this test again! Also, I was always a good student in school, and I have this pressure to get everything right. So I’m trying my hardest to impress him. Like I want him to say, “In all my years as a doctor, I have never had anyone do this well!” So this is what happens next. After the eye chart, the doctor puts drops in your eyes to dilate your pupils so he can see

into your brain. The drops have a side effect, though: They make it very hard to read things up close. It’s like suddenly aging 30 years. But it takes a while for the drops to kick in, so the doctor tells you to go out to the waiting room and read pamphlets about what kind of scary things it can mean when your vision starts going. This is what you read while your vision is literally failing as you sit there. Sometime after you can’t read the pamphlets anymore, the doctor will get you and take you to the exam room and look at your brain. How good can your brain look when you have just been going blind in the waiting room? I haven’t a clue. But all of that is the easy part. The stress comes when, to fine-tune your prescription, the doctor shows you two lines of letters and asks which is better. No other kind of doctor does this. “Does it hurt more if I hit this knee or that knee? A or B?” “I don’t know. Can you hit them again?” I always ask the optometrist to do it again. “What do you think is clearer? A or B?” “Can you show me again?” “A, or B? A? Or B?” “I’m sorry, I don’t think I was paying enough attention to A. Can’t you hold them side by side?”

Photo by Mark Rabe / Unsplash

I can’t play “Spot the Difference” if I only see one picture at a time. My wife once wanted to paint our boys’ room green. I figured green was its own decision, but it turns out there is more than one kind of green and she wanted my help in picking a shade. I had to see them side by side to actually see the difference. But even seeing it, I just don’t know how that difference impacts anyone’s life. So I wonder: If it’s that hard to tell the difference, does it really matter which one I pick? They look the same. How about you surprise me!

Also, I always wondered why the doctor doesn’t get annoyed, doing this all day long, with every single person taking fo-

rever to decide what they can and can’t see. I figured that if I were an eye doctor, I’d be mixing onion powder into the eye drops by the end of the first day. But I finally found out the secret. Neither answer is correct, and the doctor knows it. Option A is something he thinks is too high a prescription, and option B is one he thinks is too low. Based on your answer, he shows you two more to narrow it down further. So when you honestly can’t decide which is better, he has his answer. Anyway, that’s what my doctor admitted to me. But why should I believe him? He also told me he didn’t touch my eye.

REBBETZIN’S KITCHEN

Super simple caesar salad By Feigie Ceitlin INGREDIENTS: Salad: -

2 heads romaine lettuce

1 handful cherry tomatoes

Roasted unsalted sunflower seeds or croutons

Parmesan cheese

Dressing: -

3/4 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

4 cloves garlic minced

1 teaspoon dijon mustard

Salt to taste

Pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS: Mix ingredients of dressing very well Chop lettuce and half tomatoes In a big bowl, add veggies, cheese and seeds and then dressing. Mix around. Note: For the Shabbos afternoon meal, we often swap the cheese for grilled or oven-baked boneless chicken breasts cut into strips or cubes. * The blessing Ha’Adamah

vegetables:

“Fruits of the ground” include vegetables, legumes, peanuts, as well as “fruit” excluded from the ha-aitz “tree” blessing: melons, bananas, pineapples, some berries.

On all these, make the “ha-adamah” blessing: Baruch atah A-donay, Elo-heinu Melech Ha’Olam borei pri ha-adamah. Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe who creates the fruit of the earth. Bon appetit! — Feigie Ceitlin is the program director of Chabad Tucson

MEMORIAL DAY

A veteran’s Jewish perspective Lauren Rosenblatt/Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle

By Elie Estrin As a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy Reserve, Mrs. Leah Bracha Lans served on active duty in the Middle East supporting Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (20032003). She was activated once again to full-time service and joined the ground forces in Iraq (2005-2006) and Afghanistan (2010-2011). She served Omni Navy Carriers, in Washington, DC, and San Diego While stationed in war zones, Lans upheld her duties militarily and as a Jew despite the obstacles she faced. In her public talks, she tells stirring stories of lighting a giant menorah in Saddam Hussein’s Palace and how she and her husband were the only rabbi and wife to be sent to Afghanistan. She speaks about the steps she took to honor the Sabbath and keep kosher and the amazing people she met along the way in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

Here’s her story as she shared with the Jewish American Warrior Magazine, published by The Aleph Institute: I was born in Simi Valley, California.

My husband and I traveled in our military service; I went to Africa, most of the Arab states, South Korea, across oceans on US Navy carriers, and much more. We love the United States with all of its issues and troubles. We know there are people who are poor, struggling, and not nearly represented well in court; there are problems in schools and criminals in the streets. Yet when you have traveled as much as I have, I can tell you this is the freest country on earth, even with the issues of anti-Semitism, racism, and other ills of society. There is nothing like the United States of America. Anyone in this country can be whomever they wish to be, go to school and become the adult they want to be, marry and have a family, choose their city, and pray in their congregation of choice. When you travel and see what others go through- slavery, the battery, the abuse- you realize how preeminent our nation is with our stores, televisions, cell phones, computers, and more. Even people who do not have a lot of money here still have clothing, televisions, and cell phones. When you travel, you learn how infrequent that is. You see

people struggling to find food for their table, often going without nourishment. I have encountered plenty of negative attitudes and prejudices toward military service and still do. When I served in the military, I was an Intelligence Officer, and people knew I had served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Most assumed that I did not hold a weapon as a female service member. They would say things like, “Oh, you were never on the front line,” as if there was a front line. On the other end of the spectrum, others asked if I ever killed anyone. They didn’t want to hear about the war, the sorrow, the trauma. They didn’t want to know if I was injured or were my battle buddies injured. All they wanted to know (if they believed I had a weapon) was, did I kill anyone. Now, I am no longer serving at war. My husband is still serving, and I love being his wife. He is a Chaplain in the US Army and serves both Jews and non-Jewish military members. We love our job! We move from base to base, providing kosher food and putting up mezuzahs. My husband puts te-

fillin on with the men, and l serve delicious holiday and Shabbat food. We give Torah classes, organize challah bakes, teach Hebrew school, and much more. My husband is now deployed in South Korea, and I’m in the US. It’s the first time we have been separated. In the past, I have always traveled to war with him. When civilians in the states ask me, “Why don’t you go with him?” I think to myself, Don’t they know what a deployment is? Okay, maybe not. So I explain: Families can’t be with their military members. They have a task to fulfill and need to go alone. “Why?” they ask. Deployments work that way, and we cannot go with them, I say. “Then maybe if you speak to the right person, you can go on deployment with him,” they usually say. There is nothing I can say to convince them otherwise, so I just walk away. Civilians and military families are different. Deployments are extremely difficult for the families back home as they are for the mi-

MEMORIAL DAY

Moshe Lans lights Chanukah candles in Afghanistan

Laurie and Moshe Lans host faith leaders in their home in Texas

litary members who are serving their country. Military families need assistance just as the deployed need assistance. The difference is that the families don’t always ask for help because they often feel like they have to do everything themselves. Going from a US military member with a rifle and pistol to my new role as a family member, I realize we are different. It is the same with Jews and non-Jews-although both are created in G-d’s image, we are different. When Jews sang Ani Ma’amin at the Kotel (Western Wall) after Israeli citizen Eliyahu Dovid Kay was horrifically murdered by an Arab terrorist, it means we believe in G-d. It’s what the Jews sang about in the Holocaust. It’s who we are. It’s who we were created to be. Being in the military is also different and it can’t be explained. No one fully understands until they are in the military. We must support each other and be there for each other. This is especially true for military families--there is usually no one to help us but ourselves. I feel fortunate to be part of a great WhatsApp group for Orthodox Jewish military wives. It enables us to be there for each other, discuss children, and military

moves, support those on deployment for the first time, and much more. Additionally, the Aleph Institute is an incredible organization that supports us. If you are reading this and are not part of the military but want to show support, words of encouragement are always welcomed. Please understand that no spouse can ever go on deployment. Lastly, for those of you who pray in your synagogue for the preservation and strength of Israel’s Defense Force, I request that you do the same for the United States Military. It was the US Military that destroyed the Nazis, brought freedom to those in concentration camps, and it’s what is keeping the US free today. On behalf of the rest of us in the US Military, I thank you.

Moshe Lans lights Chanukah candles in Afghanistan

I’m grateful to G-d for giving me the opportunity to serve my country. I’m so humbled to wear the uniform. Joining the military was one of the best decisions of my life. I’m also so proud to know I’ve been able to serve, even during a war, never having to compromise my Judaism or devotion to the Jewish people.

11 Laurie Lans during her service

MOTHER’S DAY

My mother’s shoulders By Sharon Glassberg Broad shoulders. It is not a physical trait often associated with women, but it completely fits my mother. Most mothers, in fact. A mother’s shoulders have to be broad enough to hold everything yet soft enough to lean against and find comfort. My mother, Jean Glassberg, became a mother in the early 1960s when support and nurturing for others were central. Personal goals outside of the home were put on hold or moved so far away that they often became unattainable. My mother somehow knew her shoulders were not only broad but strong.

My mother tells the story of working as a secretary to make enough money so she could go to college and fulfill her goal of becoming a teacher. My grandfather, who escaped Latvia just before the Nazis invaded in July 1941, and whose own mother did not survive the journey, had the mindset that often accompanies survival: be grateful for what you have, minimize risks. He could not understand why she would leave a secretarial job that paid well and was stable. She persisted and graduated with a degree in education.

students would knock on the door to say hi and see their teacher “in the wild.” She made latkes each year in her public school; the smell wafting throughout the school is still recalled today. She taught her students about her Jewish traditions and encouraged theirs, knowing the positive impact of teaching honor and respect, along with math and science.

Mom loved teaching, and the number of lives she impacted was huge. Former students would seek her out. Finding out “Mrs. Glassberg” lived next to the school,

Mom insisted on dinner as a family, around the table each night, an invaluable lesson I continue. Holidays meant a beautiful table, delicious food, and room

Sharon Glassberg (left) with her mother Jean Glassberg

for all. Friends immediately became family and still talk about the food and welcoming warmth almost 40 years later. She taught me to love and value tradition, to create my own traditions for my children, as she did for my brother and me. Mom joined me as I moved from life as a young woman to a wife and mother, her love and support never waning. New experiences thrilled her. Mom’s heart opened wide with the birth of her four grandchildren and even wider as four step-grandchildren came into the family, always room for all. Relationships were essential to my mother. Her friends were everything. My father, Marvin, of blessed memory, was one of the most generous people I knew, but he could be challenging. My mother learned to be true to herself, something she perfected over the years and, gratefully, shared with me. She knew, before psychology told us, that if you are not happy with yourself, you cannot be there for others. She pushed dad to travel, to move past anger. When he wouldn’t or couldn’t, she ventured out on her own. One of my most memorable times together with her was when she joined me in Israel, without my father, as I visited

my son on his gap year. As the English proverb states, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” My mother’s memory has deteriorated over the past several years. She no longer hosts holidays; keeping family traditions is now on my shoulders. As creating new memories becomes more difficult for her, and life “before” moves further away, our relationship is continually being redefined for her benefit and mine. Together, we live in the moment. Alone I grieve the memories that will be only mine. Thankfully, she enjoys every moment, and I have learned to enjoy them with her and through her. The Jewish value of Kavod, which means honor, encourages dignity and respect. Kavod takes patience, love, empathy, and embracing of the golden rule. Thankfully, I was given strong roots to keep me grounded, and through my mom’s example, the capacity for unconditional love - and broad shoulders. - Sharon Glassberg is a Clinical Therapist at Jewish Family & Children’s Services, working with Holocaust survivors living in Tucson.

OMER

A matter of numbers By Yanki Tauber Numbers are funny things. On the one hand, they can seem sterile. Consider bureaucracies (“Go to Window #14 and fill out form #3062”) or banal addresses “25 20th Street.” On the other hand, numbers can describe meaningful information: “Eighteen years experience in the business”; “A $450,000 home”; or “This is our child. She’s three.” Counting something makes it real to us, quantifying information and giving it texture. Imagine that you are given a chest full of gold coins. You thank your benefactor and take it home. As soon as the door is securely bolted, what’s the first thing you do? Count the coins, of course. If you want to do something with your riches, you have to know how much you have. Torah gives us a counting exercise at this time of year. It tells us:

“And you shall count for yourselves “the from the morrow of the Shabbat, from stay the day on which you bring the Omer s de- offering, seven complete weeks they shall ears. be; until the morrow of the seventh week, you shall count fifty days... And you shall g faproclaim that very day a holy festival” ders. (Leviticus 23:15-21) more moves Omer literally means a measure of gracon- in. In the days of the Holy Temple, the nefit day after Passover was commemorated by bringing an omer of barley. Since that time, we refer to each day as the counting Alone of the Omer.

only The people of Israel departed Egypt on mo- the 15th of Nissan, celebrated ever since them as the first day of Passover. Seven weeks wish later, on the 6th of Sivan—marked on our onor, calendar as the festival of Shavuot—we avod assembled at the foot of Mount Sinai and em- received the Torah from G‑d. lly, I Every year, we retrace this journey oun- with a 49-day “Counting of the Omer.” mple, Beginning on the second night of Passoand ver, we count the days and weeks. “Today is one day to the Omer,” we proclaim on the first night of the count. “Today is two pist at days to the Omer,” “Today is seven days, rking which are one week to the Omer,” “Today is twenty-six days, which are three wee. ks and five days day to the Omer,” and so on, until: “Today is forty-nine days,

Photo by Markus Krisetya / Unsplash

which are seven weeks to the Omer.” The fiftieth day is Shavuot.

beauty of this treasure, we count its contents.

The Kabbalists explain that we each possess seven powers of the heart—love, awe, beauty, ambition, humility, bonding and regality—and that each of these seven powers includes elements of all seven. These are represented by the seven weeks and forty-nine days of the Omer count.

So on the second day of Passover, after we’ve taken home our treasure of being out of slavery, we start counting. We count seven times seven because the gift of freedom has been given to each of the seven powers and forty-nine dimensions of our soul.

Every Passover, we are granted a treasure chest containing the greatest gift ever given to man—the gift of freedom. To not lose sight of the importance and

Each evening for the next seven weeks, we open our treasure chest and count another coin. We count our loving love, intimidating love, beautiful love, ambitious love, humble love, bonding love and

regal love. We assign a number to the regality of our awe (“Today is fourteen days, which are two weeks to the Omer”) and to the beauty of our humility (“Today is thirty-one days, which are four weeks and three days to the Omer”). We count them all—and then we present ourselves at Mount Sinai. - Yanki Tauber is a Chassidic scholar who has written for The Meaningful Life Center, Chabad.org and the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI)

LOCAL

Welcome to town:

Adam Blank By Benjamin Weiss Adam Blank was born in the Bronx in New York and raised in West Orange, New Jersey. He is a recent graduate from The Cooper Union college in New York City’s East Village with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He is currently working as a Manufacturing Engineer at Raytheon Technologies in Tucson. How long have you been in Tucson? Just over a month. What brought you here? Definitely the cacti - and the job.

Where did you move from and how is Tucson compared to it? I moved from West Orange, NJ. Things are a lot warmer and far more relaxed here. The community here is definitely smaller than what I’m used to, but I’ve really appreciated how warm and welcoming everyone has been.

Currently reading/learning: Religious: “The Great Partnership” by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. Leisure: “The Well of Ascension” by Brandon Sanderson. A hobby: Cooking healthy meals and not-sohealthy deserts, reading, and spending time with friends and family. A favorite Mitzvah/holiday: Definitely Passover for the combination of friends, family, a little drinking, and a lot of singing and joy. Tzedakah motto: To quote Rabbi Sacks, “We are worth what we are willing to share with others.” A cherished Jewish memory: In the summer before my Bar Mitzvah, we took a family trip to Israel. Although my birthday wasn’t until late Autumn, we decided that I should start putting on tefillin and a tallit at the Kotel. With my

family around me, I felt a connection to my heritage that I hope I never lose. It also made me feel connected to the generations of people who weren’t able to visit Israel or this holy spot. They strived so I could one day have such an opportunity. Jewish app on phone: Siddur App. Go-to Yiddish or Hebrew word: Achi (“my brother” or “hey brother”). Favorite historical Jewish figure: Rambam (Maimonides). He believed that one of the fundamental ways to find G-d was to look at the world he created and to study it. As an engineer, I have always had a fascination with the way the world operates. The more I’ve studied G-d’s creation and the rules that govern our universe, the more I’ve seen the hand of G-d in everything that exists. Chabad: Chabad is a place where you are

always accepted. No matter where you come from or what your background, you can always feel at home and like part of the community. Comfort food: Fresh apple pie a la mode. Define Happiness: Happiness is being surrounded by people you love and who love you too. Kvetch: How much unnecessary drama and animosity there is in the world. Kvell: Watching people, no matter their differences, come together to enjoy each other’s company. Something you’re looking forward to: My girlfriend, who I haven’t seen since I left, is coming to visit soon so I’m very excited about that.

FUN PAGE

Hebrew-English match

Dreaming about a trip to Israel? Match Hebrew travels words to their English translation

Mazel Tov Stu & Dania Schulman May you share many simchas In your new home

Madeline Friedman Vice President, ABR, CRS, GRI

520.907.4141 TucsonHomeFinder@aol.com www.TucsonAZHomes.com 15 Answers: A-1, B-12, C-3, D-14, E-1, F-2, G-10, H-15, I-5, J-13, K-12, L-6, M-8, N-7, O-9.