DAVID

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Baghdad on the Ganges

To Kolkata, from Iraqi Jews, with Love

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LOVE Potion

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A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM he Tony Award-winning Utah Shakespeare Festival is not just a theatrical presentation. It’s nine of the liveliest, most professionally produced plays this side of Broadway.

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But wait, there’s more: The interactive Greenshow, backstage tours, literary seminars, panel discussions with world-class artists, plus enlightening play orientations. And a nearby renowned national park or two, or three.

Drama, comedy, Shakespeare, contemporary theatre, and a few genres in-between.

Plan your Greater Escape today. Visit www.bard.org or call 800-PLAYTIX for tickets

2017 Plays

– June 29 to Oct. 21

As You Like It Shakespeare in Love Romeo and Juliet Guys and Dolls A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Treasure Island The Tavern William Shakespeare’s Long Lost First Play (abridged)

The Greater Escape.

How to Fight Loneliness

Photo: Kelly Rogers (left) as Puck and J. Todd Adams as Oberon.

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KTNV_1

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TOURO UNIVERSITY NEVADA HAS BEEN LEADING THE WAY SINCE 2004

Teaching future doctors, nurses,

MORE THAN

physician assistants, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and educators

caring for our community.

GRADUATES SINCE 2004

TOURO GRADUATES LICENSED IN NEVADA

for Nevada at no cost to taxpayers while

3,400 925 $ 630

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ECONOMIC IMPACT

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COST TO TAXPAYERS

For more information about supporting Touro University Nevada or if you are interested in a campus tour, please call 702.777.3100 or

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874 American Pacific Drive, Henderson NV 89014 Touro University Nevada is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and licensed in Nevada by the Commission on Post-Secondary Education. Touro University Nevada does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, sex, gender, color, creed, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability in its employment, programs, or activities.

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September

Live

Pulse 14

19

Explore The month’s event listings to help plan your day or your stay.

20 Desire Sin City abounds in worldclass shopping ... these are a few of our favorite things.

22 Discover Places to go, cool things to do, hip people to see in the most exciting city in the world.

28 Know Douglas Eisner and Eric Cohen of The Calida Group.

32 Sense Too much screen time on smart phones has become a serious problem for young girls.

36 Taste Two Jewish boys from Mexico City create Milagro Tequila and are especially proud of the fact that it is kosher.

41

Special Section Vegas Volunteers

48

Grill

Think

58 Bernice Friedman Philanthropist and community leader.

48 Holy High Days Now that marijuana is legal, we discover its connection to Judaism. BTW it is kosher.

Who knew!

52 Baghdad on the Ganges Jael Silliman explores her roots as a member of the Indo-Iraqi Jewish community in Kolkata. Spoiler alert, you can smell the aroma of their traditional cuisine.

The month’s spotlight on someone to know.

8.5

Devour here to find some of the best eats, drinks and foodie happenings in the Valley.

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SEP T EM B ER 2017

20

On the Cover

Baghdad on the Ganges

To Kolkata, from Iraqi Jews, with Love S E P T E M B E R 2 0 17

A sunrise photograph of the Victoria Memorial in KolKata (Calcutta) India.

www.davidlv.com

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DAVID MAGAZINE is protected as a trademark in the United States. Subscribers: If the Postal Service alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we are under no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within one year.

The publisher accepts no responsibility for unsolicited or contributed manuscripts, photographs, artwork or advertisements. Submissions will not be returned unless arranged for in writing. DAVID MAGAZINE is a monthly publication. All information regarding editorial content or property for sale is deemed reliable. No representation is made as to the accuracy hereof and is printed subject to errors and omissions.

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Retirement doesn’t have to be puzzling At Las Ventanas, every piece of your rewarding retirement is already in place. With activities, programs, and events designed to focus on the four key areas of a healthy lifestyle: social, intellectual, physical, and spiritual, Las Ventanas is one of only 16 communities in the U.S. to receive a Successful Aging accreditation by Masterpiece Living.

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Nevada’s only Funeral Home and Cemetery combination dedicated exclusively to the Jewish Community • Southern Nevada consecrated Jewish cemetery • Proudly serving all Jewish denominations • Elegant 250 seat Allen Brewster Memorial Chapel

Publisher/Editor Associate Publisher

• Knowledgeable and caring Jewish staff

Max Friedland

max@davidlv.com editor@davidlv.com

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EDITORIAL

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Calendar Editor

• Special Synagogue Pricing Plan • Burials out-of-state and Eretz Yisrael

Endorsed by the entire Rabbinic community, meeting the needs of every denomination with tradition and compassion.

Copy Editor Pulse Editor Contributing Writers

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Jaq Greenspon Marisa Finetti

Marisa Finetti Aleza Freeman Jaq Greenspon Jason Harris Rob Kachelriess Jael Silliman Lynn Wexler

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Volume 08 Number 5 www.davidlv.com DAVID Magazine is published 12 times a year.

Copyright 2017 by JewishINK LLC. 1930 Village Center Circle, No. 3-459 Las Vegas, NV 89134 (p) 702-254-2223 (f) 702-664-2633

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LOOK BEYOND THE LABEL Religious freedom. It’s an important issue to Jews everywhere. Today, it’s especially relevant here and in Israel. Which on reflection, gives Rosh Hashanah an even deeper significance.

So this Rosh Hashanah, let’s make it a sweeter new year by standing together. You can do that by giving generously to Federation. Your gift supports our work for a more pluralistic Israel and a stronger global community.

Because no matter how we may label ourselves — we are all Jews. That’s what matters. Recognizing that our diversity strengthens us.

PLEASE DON DONA ATE NO NOW. YOU YOUR R IMPAC ACTT IS IMM IMMEASURABLE EASURABLE.. jewishnevada.org

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Contributors

Aleza Freeman is a true product of the desert, conceived in the Negev and born in Vegas. She worked for many years as a reporter, editor and copywriter for newspapers, ad agencies, internet startups and casino creative departments before branching out on her own as a freelance writer. But it’s her role as mommy that excites her most (even more than reporting onassignment in Israel, interviewing “Weird Al” Yankovic or riding every thrill ride in Vegas with a video camera pointed at her face). Aleza’s squad includes her husband Howard, son Evan, two cats, one dog and the occasional spider.

Jaq Greenspon

Jason Harris

is a new father as well as a world traveling, dog loving, scuba diving, book collecting, writer currently residing somewhere in Eastern Europe. His words have been spoken by Capt.

Jean-Luc Picard and Robin Hood, been read by David opperfield, and criticized by his 7th grade English teacher. He’d like to thank the members of the Academy, although he doesn’t know why. In his spare time, he’s a university professor and a kick ass uncle.

writes for a number of publications and websites. He specializes in food, music, and comedy writing. He has worked in almost every aspect of the entertainment industry. He has sold multiple screenplays, written awards shows and had a tv show on ABC for a minute. He’s still broke. And he loves his daughter Scarlett the most.

Rob Kachelriess stays busy writing about all things interesting in Las Vegas. No topic is off limits. He’s best known for his work with Thrillist and producing content for Luxury Estates International, a high-end real estate brokerage. Rob also contributes to several local and national publications on a regular basis.

He spends time away from his laptop with his wife Mary and their dog Zoey.

Jael Silliman was a tenured Associate Professor of Women’s Studies at the University of Iowa and a Program fficer at the ord Foundation, New York. She is the author of several books, scholarly papers and popular articles on women’s rights issues. She also writes about her community, the Baghdadi Jewish community. Her books include Jewish Portraits, Indian Frames: Women’s Narratives from a Diaspora of Hope, The Man With Many Hats, and The Teak Almirah. She is the curator of the digital archive www.jewishcalcutta.in Jael now writes for numerous magazines and journals and spends much of her time in

Lynn Wexler enjoys distilling, and voicing in print, the essence of topics she researches and those she interviews. Her acute and ardent style has been acknowledged throughout her years as a TV reporter, news anchor and journalist, interviewing persons of note on the world stage. As a certified alues and Manners Life Coach, Lynn trains groups and individuals on improving their personal, social and professional effectiveness. She is most proud of her three outstanding children.

Kolkata.

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SNWA is a not-for-profit water agency

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From the Publisher

A Sweet New Year becomes sweeter WITH YOU! FREE High Holiday Services SAVE THESE DATES

Wed, Sept 20 • 7pm Erev Rosh HaShanah Texas Station

Thur, Sept 21 • 10am Rosh HaShanah Texas Station

Fri, Sept 22 • 5pm

Tashlich and Picnic Dinner Sunset Park

Fri, Sept 29 • 7pm

Erev Yom Kippur - Kol Nidre Texas Station

Sat, Sept 30 • 10am Yom Kippur (all day) Texas Station

An optional suggested donation of $180 or more is deeply appreciated.

Reservations Required

(702) 436-4900 pnaitikvahlv.org

Being raised in a distant corner of the British Empire, I felt particularly warmed by Jael Silliman’s reflections on Jewish life in another one of its former outposts. Kolkata (formally Calcutta) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal and sits on the banks of the Hooghly River, which is itself a tributary of the Ganges. The Kolkata Victoria Memorial that graces our cover this month is reminiscent of the many relics of that imperial age to be found in the South Africa of my youth.

Her piece, which we renamed Baghdad on the Ganges is republished in DAVID this month. The fusion of culinary influences that she describes leaves this publisher wistfully remembering the feast for the senses that visits to the Indian markets of Cape Town and Durban provided.

In Girl Power, Aleza Freeman explores the pressures many young girls experience, especially in this digital age. Thankfully we have a group of caring women who in their unique ways, reach out to this demographic.

A few weeks ago, my wife and I were running late for a dinner date with another couple at a popular restaurant in Summerlin.

Once in the car, we called to apologize and give them an expected time of arrival. This estimate proved to be way off, as the once quiet strip mall was buzzing with activity and excitement. Hurrying from our distant parking spot, we noticed the line of people snaking Max & Joanne Friedland through the development to the entrance to a marijuana dispensary. We had chosen day one of legal pot in Nevada to go out for dinner. Since then, there has been much coverage of the subject, and this month we add our two cents, with a focus however on Judaism and the green substance. In his piece Holy High Days, Jaq Greenspon gets deep into the Mishneh Torah (code of Jewish religious law) and talks to a few rabbis. Who knew that pot was kosher! It must be noted that the rabbis took great pains to admonish us that although Kosher Kush is technically kosher, they do not condone the use thereof.

As we are on the subject of kashrut, allow us to introduce you to two nice Jewish boys from Mexico City, Moy Guindi, and Danny Schneeweiss. They are the founders of the company that makes Milagro tequila, which is distilled under kosher supervision. I know what I am taking to the rabbi’s house next time I am invited over for Friday night dinner.

Two other nice Jewish boys that we are proud to feature this month are Eric Cohen and Doug Eisner, they are the principals of the Calida Group. Eric and Doug inspire us with their vision of corporate philanthropy. his month our special egas olunteers section pro ides organi ations and non-profits an opportunity to celebrate their volunteers. These are the angels who make the wheels turn, bravo to all of them.

L’shana Tova U’metuka: May you all have a good and sweet new year; as always, I’ll see you in the racks.

Max D. Friedland max@davidlv.com

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Pulse

Your Guide to the Arts, Entertainment and Community Events.

What's Hot this Month in Dining, Shopping and Local Attractions.

Imagin Dragons, September 29 www.davidlv.com | 13

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Explore

MARY J. BLIGE 8 p.m., Pearl Concert Theater, Palms, 4321 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas.

702-942-7777. http://palms.com HARTBEAT WEEKEND PRESENTS USHER 7 p.m., $54 and up. Cosmopolitan, 3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-698-7000. http://cosmopolitan.com GEORGE LOPEZ Through Sept. 2, 10 p.m., $88 and up. Mirage, 3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. http://mirage.com THE CHAINSMOKERS 10 p.m., $103 and up. XS Nightclub, Encore, 3131 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-770-7171. http://wynnlasvegas.com COLLECTIVE SOUL 9 p.m., free. Fremont Street Experience, Fremont St., Las Vegas. 702-6785600. http://vegasexperience.com 21 SAVAGE 8 p.m., $210 and up. Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas. 702-284-7777. http://orleans.com JO KOY 9 p.m., $73 and up. Treasure Island, 3300 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas.

702-894-7111. http://treasureisland.com THE EXPENDABLES 6:30 p.m., $23 and up.

Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http://brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas RICHARD MARX - SATISFIED: ONLY THE HITS Through Sept. 2, 7:30 p.m., $60 and up. Flamingo, 3555 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-7333111. https://caesars.com/flamingo-las-vegas 50 SHADES THE SMASH HIT PARODY 9:30 p.m., $106 and up. Bally’s, 3645 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-967-4111. https://caesars.com/ballys-las-vegas

Fergie, September 5

September 1 BRITNEY: PIECE OF ME Through Sept. 3, 9 p.m., $151 and up. Planet Hollywood, 3667 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-785-5555. http://caesars.com/planethollywood STEEL PANTHER 9 p.m., $15 and up. House of Blues, Mandalay Place, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-632-7600. http://mandalaybay.com

BOYZ II MEN Through Sept. 17, 7:30 p.m., $66 and up. Mirage, 3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. http://mirage.com GEORGE STRAIT Through Sept. 2, 8 p.m., $75 and up. T-Mobile Arena, 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-692-1300. http://t-mobilearena.com AIR SUPPLY Through Sept. 3, 8 p.m., $44 and up. Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas. 702-284-7777. http://orleans.com

JOHN LOVITZ & DANA CARVEY REUNITED Through Sept. 2, 9 p.m., $60 and up. SLS, 2535 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-761-7000. http://slshotels.com/lasvegas LAS VEGAS AREA 51'S VS. TACOMA RAINIERS Through Sept. 4, 7:05 p.m. Fri.-Sun., 12:05 p.m. Mon., $11 and up. Cashman Center, 850 N. Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas.

702-386-7100. http://lv51.com

2

TOTO, PAT BENATAR & NEIL GIRALDO 7 p.m., $75 and up. Red Rock Casino, 11011 W.

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Charleston Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-797-7777. https://redrock.sclv.com

Encore, 3131 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas.

702-770-7171. http://wynnlasvegas.com

ROD STEWART Through Sept. 3, 7:30 p.m., $74 and up. Caesars Palace, 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 866-227-5938. http://caesarspalace.com

5

BRUNO MARS 9 p.m., $370 and up. Park Theater, 3770 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas.

844-600-7275. https://montecarlo.com/en/ entertainment/parktheater LINKIN PARK 7:30 p.m., $57 and up. MGM Grand Garden Arena, 3799 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-892-7575. https://mgmgrand.com

FERGIE 10 p.m., $25 and up. OMNIA Nightclub, Caesars Palace, 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 866-227-5938. http://caesarspalace.com

6

JEFF DUNHAM: PERFECTLY UNBALANCED Through Sept. 13, 7:30 p.m., $55 and up.

Caesars Palace, 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 866-227-5938. http://caesarspalace.com

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THE SEVEN DEADLY SINS & ERWARTUNG Through Sept. 10, 2 p.m., $20. Art Square Theatre, 1025 S. 1st St. #145, Las Vegas. 702383-3133. http://artsquarelv.com

CELINE DION Through Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m., $55 and up. Caesars Palace, 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 866-227-5938. http://caesarspalace.com

ROB SCHNEIDER Through Sept. 3, 9 p.m., $50 and up. Tropicana, 3801 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-739-2222. http://troplv.com

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ALESSO 11 a.m., $30 and up. Encore Beach Club, Encore, 3131 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-770-7171. http://wynnlasvegas.com IDINA MENZEL 8 p.m., $63 and up. Pearl Concert Theatre, Palms Casino Resort, 4321 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas. 702-942-7777. http://palms.com/

3

CLINT HOLMES 7 p.m., $69 and up. Venetian, 3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-4141000. https://venetian.com MICHAEL BOLTON 8 p.m., $73 and up. Cannery Casino & Hotel, 2121 E. Craig Rd., Las Vegas.

702-507-5700. http://cannerycasino.com ILIZA SHLESINGER 10 p.m., Terry Fator Theatre, Mirage, 3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. http://mirage.com JEWISH RENAISSANCE FAIR 4 p.m., free.

Tivoli Village, 400 S. Rampart Blvd., Las Vegas.

702-259-0770. https://jewishnevada.org

4

MINUS THE BEAR 9 p.m., $20 and up. The Bunkhouse Saloon, 124 S. 11th St., Las Vegas.

702-982-1764. http://bunkhousedowntown.com DIPLO 10 p.m., $40 and up. XS Nightclub,

BILL MAHER Through Sept. 9, 10 p.m., $88 and up. Mirage, 3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111. http://mirage.com JERRY SEINFELD Through Sept. 9, 7:30 p.m., $110 and up. Caesars Palace, 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 866-227-5938. http://caesarspalace.com SZA - RAVYN LENAE 8 p.m., $25 and up. Vinyl, Hard Rock Hotel, 4455 Paradise Rd., Las Vegas.

702-693-5000. http://hardrockhotel.com CALVIN HARRIS WITH GENERIK 10 p.m., $205 and up. OMNIA Nightclub, Caesars Palace, 3570 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 866-2275938. http://caesarspalace.com LUIS FONSI 8 p.m., $92 and up. Pearl Concert Theatre, Palms Casino Resort, 4321 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas. 702-942-7777. http:// pearlconcerttheater o -officetic ets com e ents LIFEHOUSE & SWITCHFOOT 8 p.m., $40 and up. Mandalay Beach, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, 3950 S. Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas.

800-854-2196 http://mandalaybay.centerlasvegas.com/events

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ROSEANNE BARR 8 p.m., $182 and up. Green Valley Ranch, 2300 Paseo Verde Pkwy., Henderson. 702-617-7777. https://greenvalleyranch.sclv.com

301 N. Buffalo Drive

702-255-3444

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Life is Beautiful Festival 2017 September 22-24

17

A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO NINA SIMONE & SAMMY DAVIS, JR. 2 p.m., $25. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas.

702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com

19

THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME Through Sept. 24, times vary, $67 and up. The Smith Center, 361 Symphony Park Ave., Las Vegas. 702-749-2012. http://thesmithcenter.com

20

IL DIVO Through Sept. 23, 8 p.m., $88 and up.

Venetian, 3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas.

702-414-1000. https://venetian.com JOHN FOGERTY PERFORMS HIS SONGS FROM CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL Through Sept. 30, 8 p.m., $96 and up. Wynn Las Vegas, 3131 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas.

702-770-7000. http://wynnlasvegas.com

22

IMPRACTICAL JOKERS 8 p.m., $49 and up. KÀ Theatre, MGM Grand, 3799 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-892-7575. https://mgmgrand.com LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL FESTIVAL 2017 Through Sept. 24, 2 p.m., $655 and up. Downtown Las Vegas. https://lifeisbeautiful.com JEFFERSON STARSHIP 8 p.m., $51 and up.

Golden Nugget, 129 Fremont St., Las Vegas.

702-385-7111. http://goldennugget.com

Vegas. 702-692-1300. http://t-mobilearena.com

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IMAGINE DRAGONS, GROUPLOVE, & K. FLAY

DANZIG 9 p.m., $35 and up. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-8622695. http://brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas

7:30 p.m., $63 and up. T-Mobile Arena, 3780

DAYTIME VILLAGE AT THE IHEARTRADIO MUSIC FESTIVAL 11 a.m., $61 and up. Las Vegas Village, MGM Grand, 3901 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-892-7575. https://mgmgrand.com

ROUTE 91 HARVEST FESTIVAL FT. ERIC

ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK Through Sept. 24, 8 p.m., $66 and up. Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas. 702-284-7777. http://orleans.com

7575. https://mgmgrand.com

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Vegas. 702-733-3111.

S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-692-1300. http://t-mobilearena.com

CHURCH, SAM HUNT, JASON ALDEAN AND MORE Through Oct. 1, 1 p.m., $262 and up.

The Lot at Las Vegas Village, MGM Grand, 3901 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-892-

TAPE FACE Through Sept. 30, 8 p.m., $74 and up. Flamingo, 3555 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las

METAL ALLIANCE TOUR WITH OVERKILL, CROWBAR, HAVOK AND MORE 7 p.m., $25 and up. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-862-2695. http://brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas

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OVERKILL 7 p.m., $25 and up. Brooklyn Bowl, 3545 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-8622695. http://brooklynbowl.com/las-vegas

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RALPHIE MAY Through Sept. 30, 10 p.m., $44 and up. Harrahs, 3475 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas.

800-214-9110. https://caesars.com/harrahs

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DEPECHE MODE 5:30 p.m., $40 and up.

T-Mobile Arena, 3780 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las

SUBLIME WITH ROME & THE OFFSPRING 8 p.m., $25. Downtown Las Vegas Events Center, 200 S. 3rd St., Las Vegas. 800-745-3000. http://dlvec.com

TIFFANY HADDISH 10 p.m., $45. Mirage, 3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-791-7111.

REO SPEEDWAGON 8 p.m., $103 and up.

Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas.

702-284-7777. http://orleans.com

To submit your event information, email calendar@davidlv.com by the 15th of the month prior to the month in which the event is being held. www.davidlv.com | 17

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Sunday, Oct. 22 Noon – 4 p.m.

NEW LOCATION!

Opportunity Village (Russell & Buffalo) 6050 S. Buffalo Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89113

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Devour Steakhouse Fish Luxuriously lacquered with a miso-yuzu glaze, then broiled and caramelized, the Chilean sea bass is served alongside earthy, roasted maitake mushrooms seasoned with sesame seeds. ecuti e hef ean riffin descri es this dish as having a “decidedly Asian flair with flavor notes of umami and acidity with a pronounced earthiness from the maitake mushroom. The maitake mushrooms are intensely flavored with a delicate and feathery texture.” The sea bass is one of the only dishes that has been on the Jean Georges Steakhouse menu since its opening and the timing is perfect to pay them a visit as the restaurant, located inside Aria, just unveiled their new look.

Jean George Steakhouse, Aria, 3730 Las Vegas Blvd., S., Las Vegas. 702-590-8660.

Beat the Heat

• • • • • •

.75 oz. Cana Brava 3-year-old Rum .5 oz. Aperol .25 oz. sweet vermouth 1 oz. summer berry shrub .5 oz. fresh lime juice 2.75 oz. tonic water

Combine all ingredients, except for the tonic water, in a shaker and roll four times. Pour into a wine glass filled with ice cu es and top with tonic water.

Garnish with a dehydrated orange slice and olive.

Zuma Las Vegas, Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, 3708 Las Vegas Blvd. S., Las Vegas. 702-698-2199.

@happytummy_702

Crafted by Zuma Las Vegas’ head bartender, Eva Kovacikova, the inspiration behind this cocktail was to create something that would not only feel like summer, but was also light and refreshing.

“My thoughts went straight to Aperol Spritz, as it is very popular during summer months. ” Kovacikova said. “I took the base of the spritz but wanted to add berries and rum, as I am a big rum lover.”

Luxury Pop-Tarts op- arts were such a tantali ing sensation when he ellogg ompany first launched them, they actually ran out after the first two wee s till going strong, this favorite breakfast-to-anytime rectangle is seeing an elevated version at familyowned CRAFTKitchen by Chef Jaret Blinn. He uses his pastry expertise to create a one-of-a-kind luxury pop tart featuring seasonal fruit. His flavors have included caramelized apple, cherry, peach & nectarine, blackberry and strawberry. Blinn’s pop tarts are available during breakfast and brunch… until they run out for the day.

CRAFTkitchen, 10940 S Eastern Ave, Henderson. 702-728-5828. www.davidlv.com | 19

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Desire

The Leaves are Yellowing, Fall is in the Air! Puppies adorn Salvatore Ferragamo's necktie which is constructed of yellow and beige silk twill. Made in Italy, this tie showcases vibrant colors and a whimsical motif, two of this storied brand’s design signatures. $190. Salvatore Ferragamo, The Grand Canal Shoppes, 3327 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-369-0251.

Tiffany’s “Sparklers” ring in 18k gold with a cushion-cut, 10 carat citrine, is cut to maximize its golden hue. $1,900. Tiffany & Co., The Shops at Crystals, 3720 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-545-9090.

This season's game changer is the Tory Burch nylon bomber jacket – a sophisticated play on the varsity classic. Crafted from tech canvas and lightly insulated with PrimaLoft, it’s a must-have for changing seasons. $378. Tory Burch, Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-369-3459.

Slide into fun with “Zoey” flat sandals by Chinese Laundry!

Adorned with soft marabou feathers on the vamp and a shiny metal plate on the heel, this pair adds some frill to even the simplest ensembles. $49.95. Chinese Laundry, Miracle Mile Shops, 3663S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-836-9707.

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When the weather starts to cool, the “Marianna” chunky rib sweater is the go-to for warming up. Just add hot chocolate. $138. Marciano, Miracle Mile Shops, Miracle Mile Shops, 3663 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-650-9929.

017 2 , 4 0 R1 E AT $3 T B R A ST TO OC RT TICKETS

CE CON

•

arden & t Beer G r e c n o m, Pre-C . at 6:00p re a F required n rvation e Germa s re , n perso $35 per

MUSIC. CULTURE. EDUCATION.

Mulberry’s Trunk Bag in croc print combines fun and function for the seasonal wardrobe in this year’s Pantone color of the year. $1,150. Mulberry, Forum Shops at Caesars, 3500 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 702-392-0486.

Purchase concert and beer garden tickets at LVPHIL.ORG or box office phone: 702.749.2000 Performance at 7:30pm in Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center

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Discover A Free-Roam Virtual Reality Experience LEVEL UP, MGM Grand’s tech-savvy gaming lounge, introduces “Virtual Reality Powered by Zero Latency.” This cutting edge technology complements its collection of skill-based games and is perfect for enhancing the social environment and sparking friendly competition. The game will immerse up to eight players in a completely interactive digital universe. Reservations will be available starting September 8.

LEVEL UP Lounge, MGM Grand, 3799 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas. 877-880-0880.

Henderson's Last Friday of the Month Street Festival Just in time for outdoor fall outings, Henderson’s Last Friday, Just Add Water Street celebrates the community with a festival of local artists, musicians, critically acclaimed chefs, and family-oriented activities that encompass the entire Henderson community. The event, which ta es place on the last riday of e ery month, is a-not-for-profit e ent, enefitting three to four local area charities each month esti al hours run from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. General admission is always complimentary.

Last Friday, Just Add Water Street, Henderson Events Plaza, 240 S. Water Street, Henderson. justaddwaterstreet.com.

Read a Good Book!

The Vegas Book Festival returns to downtown Las Vegas Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. This largest literary event in Nevada celebrates its 16th year with two well-known authors as its keynote speakers, Sharon Draper and Daniel Handler.

Special projects this year will include: Crystal Bookmark Awards, Las Vegas Writes, Spark!

Youth Poetry Competition and Dear Publishing People… This annual celebration of the written, spoken and illustrated word is free and open to the public.

Las Vegas Book Festival, Historic Fifth Street School, located at 401 S. Fourth St.., Las Vegas. vegasvalleybookfestival.org/

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8/27/17 3:29 PM

Deepest Respect During the High Holy Days

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Mingle Aid for AIDS of Nevada Celebrates 31st Annual Black & White Party Venue Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

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Saturday, August 19

Event

More than 2,500 guests dressed for a cause and raised more than $130,000 to enefit s ad ocacy for those li ing with or affected y I I e are honored to ha e so many people in the community in ol ed to help put this e ent on year after year, said s ecuti e irector ntioco arrillo arco and Joanna from unny ic ed off the e ening y introducing performances from East Side Riot and ichelle Johnson ia adora showed her support with a surprise donation of , through a representati e, and ssem lyman elson rau o presented an official proclamation osts iguel artine - alle and orma lyaman, the u e and uchess of ecadence for the e ening, greeted the crowd and led them in a festi e ardi ras parade into the ew rleans oiree ome of the finest entertainment, food, and drink that Las egas has to offer was en oyed y all

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uests don the lac and white ssem lyman elson rau o and ecuti e irector ntioco arrillo ichelle Johnson with her dancers upaul s rag ace oco ontrese enn eller arty guests dress for a cause osts iguel artine - alle and orma lyaman with aria ara in a alloon dress he men of hippendales

Photos: Preston Powell Photography, Jesse Lambert of Arch Angel Studios, Te Ann Lakeotes,

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Live

A Focus on Living in Las Vegas People and Places Arts and Entertainment Food and Beverage Philanthropy and Religion Health and Fitness and More...

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Know

Constellation @ Downtown, Summerlin

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Blending Culture and Community

GENERAL GRANT AND THE JEWS The Infamous General Order No. 11 JCC, September 11, 2017 @7 p.m.

How Elysian Living is Engaged in a Lifestyle of Giving

By Rob Kachelriess

T

he Calida Group has made a major impact in Las Vegas by developing the Elysian Living brand of upscale apartment home properties.

Located throughout the valley, the communities blend sophistication and style with a unique social atmosphere that’s changing how residents live and interact with each other. As the largest community development company in Las Vegas, the Calida Group is responsible for more than 11,000 units to date with at least 10 total properties expected by 2019. he concept was formed y oug isner and ric ohen, who first squared off as rivals before joining forces. “We were both apartment developers and we were both competitors,” says Eisner. The two met over a beer and discovered they had a lot in common. “We were in our late 20s.

We were both Jewish and from the Northeast with similar family stories and a similar sense of humor. We became good friends very quickly.”

They remained competitors for a couple more years but helped each other out e were the top producers in each of our respecti e firms, says isner “And we could see there were storm clouds on the horizon. This was 2006. e wanted to change course, ut neither one of our firms would listen Despite an imminent economic downturn, the two saw an opportunity to execute a new plan in owning and managing real estate. “We were both single and didn’t have kids. Those are the times in your life when you want to ta e ris s, says isner e left our firms in ugust and didn t close our first deal for another year- until eptem er he first lysian property emerged in southwest enderson after isner

REACTION TO THE TURN OF THE CENTURY DREYFUS TRIAL IN THE UNITED STATES JCC, October 9, 2017 @ 7 p.m.

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Seats are limited.

Register now at: jccsn.org 702-794-0090.

Jewish University is a program of the JCC of Southern Nevada

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ric ohen and oug isner

and ohen too ownership of an unfinished condo de elopment near t ose ar way and ermuda for pennies on the dollar In the middle of the recession, we were throwing pool parties and ha ing catered e ents e started reconfiguring the uildings so we could uild a clu house t the time, it was o er-the-top he lysian rand would only e pand and e ol e with new communities throughout the alley he amenities now include resort-style pools with ca anas, fire-pit lounges, la ish clu house lo ies, e pansi e fitness centers, and pri ate rooms for spa treatments omplimentary towel ser ice, ottled water, coffee, and candy dishes would pro e to e small touches that ma e a ig difference with residents ach property has two to four social e ents per wee , from group dinners to poolside mo ies or e en nightclu outings - with e eryone in ited y eing a part of the lysian community, you get to meet lots of people, adds isner e create that social en ironment isner says with the right approach, it was possi le to grow rapidly - e en during a recession e started with a million dollar deal that we closed nine days after ehman rothers failed and two days after I failed, he points out he world was coming to an end ast forward to today and we e put a illion dollars into as egas since the recession o mar years in as egas, the alida roup has formed the lysian i ing oundation with the goal of ma ing philanthropy, olunteer ser ice, and social in ol ement a fa ric of e eryday culture e don t want to gi e money lindly or passi ely, says isner here are so many great organi ations who need our support o how do you choose etween cancer research, childhood education, funding for the arts or homelessness It s all important

Planned Parenthood of Southern Nevada

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The Elysian team decided to let its residents and contributors have an active say in that decision. Every dollar raised by the foundation will go to charity. Each year, 50 percent of the money will go to a designated partner, which, for 2017, is Habitat for Humanity. The remaining half will go to an organization chosen by the residents.

“With our platform, not only can you opt in and donate, but you can nominate organizations that you care about,” Eisner explains. “You can participate in discussions online or in person at the clubhouses. At the end of the year, whoever gets the most votes gets the money.”

Different causes might resonate differently in a given year. For example, an organi ation that helps the families of fallen police officers or ictims of a hurricane might be especially in need - depending on the circumstances.

“What we’re doing is creating a platform, marketing vehicle, and distribution network where we’re offering people the opportunity to not only give, but to actually have a say in where the money goes.” Just like the Calida Group itself, the Elysian Foundation will grow and expand its reach with every new community in development. Upcoming plans include new apartment properties in the Howard Hughes Center and a high-rise adjacent to the Palms Casino Resort. The company is also branching out with assisted living concepts, including a new, special care facility in Summerlin. In addition, an apartment community brand called the Ely, is rolling out within a few years as a more cost-effective alternative to the Elysian.

As those projects continue to thrive, the Calida Group will make sure it’s nourishing a habit of philanthropy that can last a lifetime. “I think creating a culture of giving, in a city like Las Vegas, will have a huge ripple effect in terms of happiness and creating a sense of community,” says Eisen. “We’re september 2017.pdf 8/17/17 5:26 PM creating adavid habit magazine of philanthropy that can last 1a lifetime.”

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Sense

Girl Power

Adolescent and Teen Girls Struggle with Social Media, but Women are Helping Them Find Their Voice

By Aleza Freeman

S

elfies i es In ites omments or most, these social media actions are a fleeting moment in modern day life n afterthought or adolescent and teen girls, on the other hand, these online interactions often feel earth-shattering It s a popularity contest, e plains r arli nyder, a oard-certified clinical psychologist in as egas speciali ing in young women s issues or a child, whose whole life is elonging and social interaction, it can e

a de astating e perience hile elementary, middle and high school girls and oys are oth affected y online usage, nyder and other mental health professionals ha e noted that social media, especially napchat and Instagram, e acer ates mental health issues in young girls leeplessness, an iety, and depression are ust a few of the growing health pro lems they e noticed hough oys are also suscepti le, the negati e effects are less pre alent ecause of differing online usage trends ou see more addiction with ideo games and ou u e and less of an

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Girls Nation girls.

obsession about how they look,” Snyder says of males, noting that female brains are wired differently than male brains.

“Society tends to socialize girls to believe that they have to look a certain way and social media enforces this,” she adds. he statistics seem to confirm nyder s o ser ations study y the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that over the last fifteen years the suicide rates ha e nearly tripled for girls ages to Suicide rates among boys in the same age range have also increased, but not as drastically as girls, the study shows.

“Kids are really struggling,” says Snyder. nyder isn t standing y silently In addition to her psychology practice, nyder is founder of the as egas- ased non-profit irl ation, an empowerment group for elementary and middle school girls he group encourages young girls to see their value, to be a good friend, and to stand up for themsel es and others irls can e so di isi e, e plains nyder hen we do support each other, we can do incredible things.” elie e it or not, there are some ad antages to ids spending more

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time at home on online devices. Snyder has seen a decline in teenage pregnancy rates, less substance abuse, and less urgency among teens to get drivers’ licenses.

Snyder is concerned, however, by the growing lack of real-world connections and experiences.

“We may feel like our teen is safer, yet research is showing that mental health is worse than it has ever been,” she says.

Snyder, who is a member at Temple Sinai, recently teamed up with the synagogue’s Rabbi Malcolm Cohen to host a showing of Screenagers at the delson ducational ampus he film digs into the li es of teens and shows how the time they spend online affects their education, family life, friendships, and personal safety.

“Technology is not going to go away,” says Rabbi Cohen, who has two kids, ages 6 and 9, one of which is a girl. “It’s amazing, life changing, but we still have to be aware of how we are moderating it and mediating it.”

Along with discussion and guest speakers, Girl Nation workshops include fun, interacti e acti ities li e gratitude e ercises, yoga, and meditation that help to guide girls through today’s complicated world, which includes social media usage, and embrace their individuality and self-worth.

“Social media has taken girls, who are already very self-conscious and already somewhat o sessed with how they loo , and intensified their feelings],” explains Dr. Snyder. “We all want to look pretty and we all want to e accepted, ut there s such a focus on it online hese girls are constantly comparing themselves to other people rather than cultivating who they are inside. And it comes at a time when they’re still struggling to find themsel es in this world Brigette Kelly-Kirvin, Executive Director for Girls on the Run Las Vegas, agrees. y age nine, their confidence starts to decline, she says hat s a really young age for confidence starting to plummet hey don t e en now who they are yet and they’re starting to take shape based on what others outside of themselves are telling them. It’s a really impressionable time, pre-adolescence and adolescence.”

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reimagine T H E

F U T U R E

Imagine a community that provides every citizen with the doctors, nurses and healthcare providers they need when they are well, and when they are sick. Imagine shorter wait times to see those providers, with patient-centered care focused on improving health outcomes. Our state needs more qualified healthcare providers to bridge the gaps that exist.

With your help, we can all reimagine a better future for our families, friends and our communities. Roseman University, a not-for-profit, private University thanks its friends and advocates for generously giving time and resources to build a healthier Nevada.

Join us as we reimagine the next chapter of healthcare for Nevada. Make your gift to the College of Medicine by calling 702-802-2870 or text “Reimagine” to 855-790-8070.

Young girls enjoying the movie Screenagers.

uses running as a delivery mechanism for empowerment messaging and positive life development. The intentional curriculum places an emphasis on de eloping competence, confidence, connection, character, caring, and contributions in young girls through lessons that incorporate running and other physical activities.

Kelly-Kirvin has noticed that girls are coming into the program “younger and younger and younger with smartphones,” and not only from affluent areas.

“We know social media is part of their life,” she says. “We can’t say don’t do this because that’s only going to drive them to it more.”

Instead, groups like Girl Nation and Girls on the Run are helping girls to get to know themselves and their boundaries.

“We want them to understand when someone is encroaching on their boundaries or bullying them on social media, and how to navigate that,” says Kelly-Kirvin.

Grace, 9, has been attending Girl Nation events for the past year. She considers it a safe space.

“All of the girls are similar but also different, in good ways, so you can be yourself and make a weird face and no one will look at you funny,” she says.

“We do a lot of yoga and … if you’re having problems or someone is rude to you at school, and you don’t know how to solve it, we talk … about things we can do to solve it or help others solve it.”

Hirsch, who turns 10 in October and is excited to get her own phone for her birthday, believes that Girl Nation is preparing her for challenges to come.

“I feel a lot stronger in any situation that comes up,” she says. “I can stand up for myself, but not in a rude way.”

The fourth grader doesn’t have any social media accounts, and she isn’t in any hurry. She is waiting until middle school to sign up.

Kelly-Kirvin points out that bullying can happen whether you’re online or not, but the anonymous nature of the Internet may embolden someone to say something mean they wouldn’t necessarily say otherwise.

“Bullying is not new, it’s just different,” she says, adding that it’s important to teach young girls to “be up-standers not bystanders.”

For more information on Girl Nation, visit www.itsgirlnation.com. For more information on Girls on the Run, visit www.girlsontherunlv.org.

Challenge. Reimagine. Roseman.

Learn more at roseman.edu

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Taste

Moy Guindi and Danny Schneeweiss CAPTION

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The Blue Agave’s Kosher Kick Danny Schneeweiss and Moy Guindi talk About Their Acclaimed Milagro Tequila

By Jason Harris

D

Were there any other alcohols that influenced you?

id you know most tequilas are kosher? We certainly didn’t. Then along came Milagro with their stunning bottle designs, their smooth tastes and their concentrated efforts on actually branding their tequila as kosher.

It too months from concept to first ottle production for ilagro, which has now become a leading brand in the tequila industry. We caught up with founders Danny Schneeweiss, 44, and Moises (Moy) Guindi, 43, at their homes in Mexico City to learn more about their history as friends and business partners, what makes Milagro so special, and why they are connecting their alcoholic spirits with their Jewish spirits.

D: There was a big revolution in the vodka industry. They were evolving this way. You started seeing the change from traditional Russian looking bottles to something more contemporary. It was more sophisticated. Grey Goose and Belvedere, for example, they were putting vodka at a different level. We saw that spirits could be presented in a different way. It was breaking the mold. Tequila is a very old industry in Mexico. Just coming out with this tall, clean blue bottle was a huge change. Now most of the tequilas out there have adopted blue as their color. It wasn’t like that when we started. We wanted to do blue because of the color of the agave, we wanted a shaded blue bottle as a tribute to the agave.

How did you guys meet?

Tell me more about agave. What makes your agave processing so special in regards to the tequila?

Moy: We met by coincidence in a classroom in college in 1993. We connected.

One of our courses was entrepreneurship. Danny and I were on the same team.

They graded you based on two different matters. They’d give you $100 to invest in different projects (created by our classmates). Then you’d present what you invested in to the class. Danny and I made a project about recycling and we were able to pull 90% of the money invested from the class. We said, “We make a pretty good team and we should do something after college.”

So you naturally chose tequila.

Danny: We had no background in tequila. In my case, my family’s business, glass production, was full of other brothers and cousins and they said, “You know what, there’s no more room for other family members.” We decided to look for something else. One of the things we saw in tequila was that everything looked exactly the same. Every bottle was communicating the exact same message about old Mexico and the horses and the sombreros. That wasn’t the Mexico we grew up in. We were living in Mexico City, which is full of great design and great architecture.

Mexico was becoming more than horses and sombreros. Tequila was now becoming an ambassador of Mexico to the world. It had just gotten the denomination of origin. We wanted to show something more of what our country means to us and where we grew up. That’s how we decided to start Milagro, not only from the packaging perspective but from the tequila itself. We started going into the highlands and began falling in love with the agave and eventually, when we tasted the cooked agave, we said, “Wow. This is what tequila should taste like.”

M: Most of the other spirits back then were trying to mimic other spirits through the aging or some other addition of elements to the tequila like coloring to make it look and taste like a scotch. We fell in love with the agave. Our master distiller, Pedro Juarez, had 30 years in the industry and he was always asked how can we make this cheaper or faster or how can we use less agave to produce it. We asked, “How can we make this taste as close to the agave that were coming out of the ovens?” We wanted to leave the agave as untouched as possible. The entire concept was to create an agave forward tequila and that’s where the genius of Pedro came into play.

D: Agave separates tequila from any other spirit. When they drink our tequila they know they are drinking part of Mexico.

How do you impart that flavor into the tequila?

M: The best agave has ability to release the most flavor. That meant the best and most mature agave from the highlands. The way to cook that agave is a crucial step for achieving what you want out of tequila. We went back to the traditional method of cooking the agave in a Greek oven for 36 hours. This agave takes 8 - 10 years to mature and then once you harvest them, you ha e to start again from scratch

Why did you choose the name Milagro?

M: It comes from the combined method of distillation where we did the initial distillation in pots. Then we distilled through a column. What Pedro was achie ing is first capturing all the fla ors from the aga e in the pot www.davidlv.com | 37

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still and then utilizing the column more as a polishing process to get rid of the flavors that didn’t belong in the agave group and keeping the ones that elonged to the aga e his was the first time it was e er used in the tequila industry.

The result was a true miracle which is where the brand name comes from. Milagro means miracle.

One last question about agave: You mentioned that you source your agave from the highlands. Is the region the agave comes from important to the tequila?

M: Big companies were establishing the lowlands 200 years ago.

Slowly, they started understanding that the quality of the soil in the highland, because of the weather conditions and the integration of color and soil, had much richer soil to ensure that the agave is better. All of the tequila distilleries that were based in the lowlands started sourcing their agave from the highlands. The new distillers established themselves in the highlands because of the raw material. That means a much more herbaceous and expressive agave that means a more expressive tequila.

You guys were doing something different than everybody else. Did that make Milagro a hit right away?

D: Through a friend of a friend, we got an appointment with one of the biggest distributors in the US, in Florida, with Southern Wine and Spirits.

Moy and I go to see Mel Dick (President Wine Division / Senior VP at Southern Wine & Spirits of America). He said, “You have 15 minutes and

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just to let you know this is the 9th tequila brand we’ve been presented this week.” We started shaking and we pulled out a bottle of Milagro. That got his attention because he saw the beautiful blue bottle. He tasted it, loved the product, and said, “This is great. I’ll take one container.” That’s a lot of cases. Moy and I left saying “This is the easiest job in the word. We just have to do this and we’ll be millionaires. It’s easy.”

We went back to Mexico, made all the tequila, bottled it and sent it. Some months later we went to the warehouse and all the containers were sitting there. That’s when we understood that there’s a lot that you need to do to sell your brand anywhere, in many markets, let alone the US. That’s when we knew there was a lot of work to be done. We were not a company with the resources and budget for marketing, so our marketing was a lot of putting our bottle out there. Our best billboard was the bottle itself on the shel es here was a lot of hand-selling of the product M: The great thing about Milagro is that we were in the right place at the right time. Every single brand on the shelves spoke about this old Mexico and the shelf was quite different than it is today. When you look at the tequila side, it was super different. It seemed like tequila was a secondclass spirit. Milagro was really evolving the category and that made it so much easier.

Let’s talk about the bottles.

M: Danny and I were both raised in Mexico City. 99% of the tequilas that existed back then were owned by generations of old Jalisco producers. We stood for something more urban, more cosmopolitan. I think Milagro reflects that energy and design and passion that you can find in e ico ity

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D: Mexico was evolving as a country and part of that Mexico was the evolution in design, architecture, etc… The bottles needed to reflect this evolution and stand out proud on the shelves as one of the best spirits in the world he iconic ilagro lue ottle represents the lue aga e which is the core of our vision and wants to generate its flavor through a spirit that doesn’t touch the wonderful flavors of it.

Did your family’s background in the glass production business play a part in the bottle designs?

D: No. We were the ones that developed the design and overall look for ilagro he glass plant was ery helpful in ma ing sure e erything went smooth and we had their support on our pro ect

Why is it so important to you that Milagro is branded as kosher?

M oth anny and I elong to the Jewish community in e ico ity anny is sh ena i and I am ephardic Jew e rought the ra is and everybody to the distillery and ensured that we worked hand by hand with oth communities, the sh ena i and the ephardic, so it complies with oth communities in e ico If you don t add anything artificial, you will end up with something osher When we started the business, we were 23 and single. As tradition states, if you are going to get married in the synagogue and you are going to have the celebration there, you need to keep all the food and drin s osher e said, If we are e entually going to get married, we need to cele rate with our own tequila eing osher was important for our family cele rations

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Young Jewish leaders volunteering at Hearts Alive Village Las Vegas.

Jewish Nevada Appreciates All Who GIVE Back to Our Community Giving is not just about donating; it's about making a difference. Many of our volunteers have dedicated years of service sitting on an array of Jewish agency boards and committees, while others participate during an Annual Good Deeds Day or Super Sunday. These activities represent full days of giving back to the community.

No matter the scope, our volunteers are the fuel behind transformation in this community. Todd Polikoff, Jewish Nevada CEO states, “Jewish Nevada is a volunteer lead and professionally run organization. It is this partnership that has allowed Jewish Nevada to be the representative organization for the Jewish community of our state for over 50 years.

Without the dedication, commitment, and philanthropy of our volunteers and lay leadership our community would not be as vibrant and robust as it is today."

Every community runs on the energy of its leaders, and there are two that deserve the spotlight today, Josh Pianko, Allocations Committee Chair, and Brad Goldberg, Marketing Committee Chair. These two have taken leadership to the next level and have truly made an impact on the way Jewish Nevada operates and provides for the community - from our

allocations process - to the way Jewish Nevada looks and feels today. Brad Goldberg comments, “I have been incredibly fortunate in my life and will never know the hardships that so many in our community face. Volunteering with Jewish Nevada allows me to understand the needs and give something back to the community that has given me so much for over 25 years."

Jewish Nevada's goal is to foster a culture of philanthropy and service and engage volunteers to meet vital community needs in every aspect. We address so many important causes and connect people in so many ways. When you support Jewish Nevada, you are feeding the hungry, funding Jewish education and elder care, advancing breakthrough initiatives, and so much more. Jewish Nevada touches every aspect of Jewish life through the agencies we support, such as JCC and Jewish Family Service Agency. JCC Volunteer, Lauren Eisenberg says, "there is still so much to do."

Get involved and be the start of something bigger than yourself.

Join us for Super Sunday on October 29th from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Desert Torah Academy for a fun filled family day of volunteering.

Visit our website for more information on volunteer opportunities or reach out directly to info@jewishnevada.org

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Touro students volunteering at Spread the Word Nevada

Students Begin Their Medical Journey by Giving Back to the Community During “Day of Service” Organizing books, making lunches, and sanding trash cans aren’t the typical activities medical students find themselves doing during their first week of school. At Touro University Nevada, however, it’s how 135 new students from the College of Osteopathic Medicine spent their final day of orientation as part of the university’s first “Day of Service.”

As part of Touro’s mission – to serve, to lead, to teach - the new students, faculty, and staff volunteered their time at HopeLink, Spread the Word, the Paseo Verde Library in Henderson, the Henderson Heritage Senior Center, and Opportunity Village where they helped make a difference in the community.

Dr. John Dougherty, Dean of Touro’s College of Osteopathic Medicine, said giving back to the community is a central focus of the osteopathic philosophy, which encompasses the body, mind, and spirit.

“You can sit in the classroom and teach about the physical body and mind, but when it comes to spirit, you have to get them out of the classroom,” he said. “Having opportunities like this helps them begin to grasp the concepts associated with that third tenant of the osteopathic philosophy. They’re helping to make a difference in the lives of the individuals who

will benefit from their service.”

James Alexander, a first-year osteopathic medical student from Reno, spent his day painting candy canes and cleaning up the miniature golf course at Opportunity Village’s Magical Forest. While the northern Nevada native is still getting acclimated to life in Southern Nevada, volunteering with his new classmates allowed him the opportunity to improve his new community while forging important friendships that will benefit him along the way.

“This experience helped put me in the mind frame of what we are doing here at Touro,” Alexander said. “It’s helping me assimilate in a way I never imagined. I’m looking forward to more opportunities where we can volunteer.”

First-year student Nima Jahromi, a Virginia native who traveled more than 3,000 miles to attend medical school at Touro, echoed the sentiment.

“I think volunteering is a great way to start my medical journey,” he said. “This just shows you what Touro is really about.

It keeps the bigger picture in mind that experiences like these will help us become more well-rounded physicians. I really love this community feeling.”

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Pipes Bridge in Be’er Sheva River Park

Larry Monkarsh was raised to support Israel.

At his Bar Mitzvah, the candle lighting ceremony was replaced by a map of Israel, and he presented his friends and family Jewish National Fund tree certificates. A member of the Las Vegas Board of Directors, Larry served as Board President and has been involved in JNF Las Vegas for 20 years.

He is most proud of the work JNF did in the Israeli city of Be’er Sheva: “JNF literally redeveloped a city and changed the landscape of Israel.”

Larry considers himself part of a generation that was born into a world where Israel has been in existence, something we almost take for granted.

He cannot imagine a world without Israel, and he says it’s our duty to serve as its caretakers. In fact, he has been to Israel five times and plans to go back every two years.

Larry is married to Glenda Monkarsh, and the Monkarsh clan includes four daughters and one son. Larry is the owner of LM Construction Co., a full service design-build general contractor licensed in Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Idaho. Larry serves on the Executive Board of Temple Beth Sholom.

Jewish National Fund would like to graciously thank Larry and his family for their dedication and generosity. We are proud to honor him at our upcoming Love of Israel Brunch on Sunday, February 11, 2018. New York Times Op Ed Columnist Bret Stephens is our keynote speaker and will talk about the media and Israel. For more information about Jewish National Fund, contact Leila Nouri at lnouri@ jnf.org or 702.434.6505 x932.

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A call for

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Essays and In-Depth Articles on Topics that Will Have People Talking all Month Long.

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Holy High-Days The history of Marijuana and the Jews

By Jaq Greenspon

S

o once again the High Holy Days are upon us. This is great.

I’m all about the ceremony, the history, the reverence of first cele rating the new year, Rosh Hashonah, and then the ritualistic cleansing of the soul which comes with Yom Kippur. As much as I practice (or not) during the rest of the year, listening to chanting of Kol Nidre and hearing the shofar low and still gives me chills. f course, right after all that comes that most social of Jewish occasions the rea ing of the fast It s one of the few times during the Jewish calendar when a gathering of the family is implicit in the cele ration his year, howe er, for the first time, it will e legal to smo e mari uana in the house for that isit nd while the solemnity and o ser ance of the holiday itself precludes parta ing, this new wrin le on things ust might e the est way to mentally and emotionally sur i e the traditional family gathering here is only one question, really, to e answered egality aside is it kosher?

According to a Haaretz article from January of 2016, that since ari uana is a plant, as long as it s grown in the , it doesn t fall under the custom of allowing the land to rest e ery se enth year shnat shmita “hence hechsher (kosher approval) is not necessary.” ay, to e fair, there s more to it than ust eing osher in the edi le consumption sense of the word here are certainly things which are Talmudically legal, but still a bit hazy on the morality or ethics side. Then there s the whole letter of the law s implied intent s has een recently orne out in larger forums than this, there s a ig difference etween doing what s always een done as a oluntary formality compared to what you re legally required to comply with o regardless of anything else, the first question to e answered is, to paraphrase Jeff old lum in Jurassic Park: Just ecause we can, doesn t mean we should a i alcolm ohen o er at emple inai points out in a recent email that our odies are considered gifts from -d so smo ing a oint which contains tobacco and releases carcinogenic chemicals is a problem.” And he’s not wrong ut then again, we constantly do things to our odies which pro a ly www.davidlv.com | 49

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aren’t good for them. Forget the obvious like tattoos, merely piercing your ears is a desecration of sorts and then there’s eating processed sugar or drinking coffee. Which means it then becomes a matter of how far are you willing to stretch things to fit your own comfort one So let’s take a look at that kosher question. Rabbi Cohen, in that same email says: “For some Jews, one of the questions comes down to kashrut, whether marijuana is kosher or not. If it’s being used for medical purposes kashrut is less important. You can even ingest treyf if it’s helping your condition.” This then begs the question as to what “helping your condition” means. Diagnosed medical ailments as opposed to merely handling the stress of day to day living. A glass of wine (or four during seder) at the end of the day (something which also corrupts our gift from G-d bodies) would accomplish the same thing so by that logic, are we in safe territory The answers fall along the same lines as Rabbi Cohen’s response, but then they go further and bring in a moral valuation to the question. Over at JewishAnswers.org, they’ve translated Rabbi Moshe Feinstein’s response and it begins “It is obviously forbidden to smoke marijuana, as this violates many basic laws of our Torah.” And continues that those laws, as stated above, have a lot to do with not causing injury to your own body. But then he continues and it starts to sound a bit personal.

“Even if there are people who are not physically affected by this,” he states, “it mentally affects the person as it destroys his mind, and prevents him from understanding things properly.” He then concludes this tirade with the idea that “furthermore, he is creating within himself a ery strong desire addiction , which is much stronger than the desire to eat, etc. which are necessary for a person to live.” This sounds like the words of someone who is basing their entire thought process on an ill-formed opinion with no shred of evidence to back it up. Because while there are certainly drugs which can and do cause this kind of reaction, one of the primary side effects of marijuana is the desire to eat whatever you can get your hands on.

Where Rabbi Feinstein loses the argument, though, is when he abandons any pretense of kashrut or health reservations by creating a moral imperative against any drug use, starting with pot (“Additionally, the parents of the person smoking certainly are disturbed by his actions, in which case he is iolating the it ah of i ud m respect for parents).”) and moving on to say that “the bottom line is that it is clear and obvious that this is one of the grave prohibitions, and everyone must try with all of their strength to remove this impurity (Tuma’ah) from all Children of Israel.” Yikes!

AskMoses.com’s Rabbi Shlomo Chein continues in this trend by pointing out that “whilst this factor is not a Halachic issue, it is nonetheless perhaps

most noteworthy.” And that factor is once again about the physical effects of ta ing the drug ithout a specific tenet to point to indicating why Jewish law says you are not allowed to partake, these rabbinical sources are looking at ancillary ways to prevent something. The answer continues by admonishing that “Judaism demands perfection through personal labor. To feel good we need to be good. To take something that gives your mind the impression that all is good, is a cheap and unjust substitute to being good.

Drugs allow you to be happy because they help you ignore your problems; they don’t solve your problems, or teach you how to deal with them.” The obvious responses here should come to your mind as easily as they come to mine, but when the next paragraph continues “The best high is one that is legal and long lasting. It is inexpensive, but quite pricy. You can’t get it from anyone, but you can have it anytime you want. You can’t take it; you have to make it: perfect your thoughts, feelings, and actions, through assiduous study, sincere self refinement, and selfless good deeds. You will feel better than any artificial high nd ust li e that, rational adults, asking serious questions, are reduced to children being lectured by disappro ing authoritarian figures In this case, the original questioner was a college student who was already getting high and wanted to keep their connection to Judaism. They wanted to know what the Torah said because “I am having a hard time deciding whether what I m doing is right Maybe that’s where we need to go – directly to the source e understand the legality of the situation, that here in Nevada you can buy marijuana and consume it in your own home, so we know we’re not breaking any secular provisions. We get that smoking pot doesn’t really enter into the kosher discussion and e en medicinal uses are now eing certified y the rthodo nion ut we still ha en t hit the answer to that is it right question hat does the i le say Well… there are a number of passages which might relate to marijuana (if you squint just right). Look at Genesis 1:11-12: And G-d said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, [and] the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind, whose seed [is] in itself, upon the earth: and it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, [and] herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed [was] in itself, after his kind: and God saw that [it was] good.

Or Deuteronomy 32:2: “ My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass.” If those don’t convince you, what about the academic and scholarly wor s There’s some hotly debated research by Sula Benet from 1936 which states that the “calamus” referred to in the bible is actually “cannabis”

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and therefore, the biblical references to pot increase dramatically. Then there’s the research of Yoseph Glassman who found, while reading about Sabbath rituals, the following passage: “Also, one will beautify [Shabbat candle lighting] when the wick is made from cotton, flax or cannabis...”

In an article from 2013 in Haaretz, Glassman (a physician, mohel and former I officer states that here is no question that the plant has a holy source, God himself, and is thus mentioned for several ritualistic purposes.” Further, he believes that “marijuana usage…is an aspect of Jewish law and tradition that had long been buried, and one that deserves ‘resurfacing and exploration’.” he article continues with references to lassman s wor finding evidence of hashish usage in ancient Israel and that Maimonides was an ad ocate lassman is quoted as saying here are comple laws of plant mixing and hybridizing from the Talmud, which Maimonides comments on anna is specifically was ta en especially seriously in terms of mi ing ... and could, in fact, incur the death penalty.” So obviously there was some thought put into this.

Then there’s the 8 years of interviews and research put into the 2009 book Cannabis Chassidis: The Ancient and Emerging Torah of Drugs, which looks at the uses of Marijuana in the Jewish world. Written by Yosef Leib because (as he stated in an interview with the Times of Israel I thin kids need advice and counsel on doing drugs that they are going to do anyway. If they are smoking pot and taking other drugs, they need to know how to do it effectively.”

Leib may be on to something. While he himself doesn’t believe pot can create a spiritual e perience, he s quic to point out where and when it s been used historically. “The Vilna Gaon,” Leib explains, “wrote in his cheirim, or writ of excommunication, that Hasidim are untrustworthy because they dance, sing and smoke.” Further, Leib mentions “Rabbi Yisroel Ben Eliezer… the father of the Hasidic movement… picked wild grasses and barks, and made medicines out of them which he would sell, along with advice on how to use [them] properly. He used to smoke from a water pipe to experience an ‘aliyat neshama,’ or ascension of the soul.”

That, along with several of Lieb’s other anecdotes, seems like a good indication that mari uana, or at least a close equi alent, has a long history of being used with the Hasidic.

For Lieb, who can still see some of the negative effects of pot mentioned by several rabbi’s previously, also see “the good effects [marijuana can give, are] a sense of peace of what’s going on around you. It can help you break down daunting issues that might be on your mind and help you process things more easily. Weed is also great for praying, especially if you’re not in a hurry. And, of course, the best way to use it, spiritually, is to share it with someone.” o me, this answers all our questions nd still lea es us ac at the eginning i e most i lical interpretation, we can find whate er answer we re loo ing for in the oo , ut the o erarching questions, is it legal, ethical, and kosher, all point to a “use it if you want to” philosophy. So again… the choice is yours, but it seems to me you’re covered no matter what. And I see this as good news. www.davidlv.com | 51

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Baghdad on the Ganges To Kolkata, From Iraqi Jews, With Love

By Jael Silliman

D

uring the late 1800s, Kolkata (then Calcutta) was a migrant hub. Among the Chinese, Greeks, Burmese, Armenians and Parsis were the Baghdadi Jews. This unique community is stri ing to eep its culture ali e and food is playing a ma or role. risp on the outside, soft inside, the golden rown, whole fried potatoes were rought piping hot to the dining ta le y father, a id, urged his guests to a andon e en trying to tac le these umping potatoes with their for s and ni es Just sin your teeth in them e had remar ed cheerfully e did and en oyed the crac le in our mouths that slowly yielded to the soft, oo ing centre melting on our tongues loo ma allah was definitely the star attraction of aghdadi Jewish meals and a alcutta specialty.

Calcutta’s Jews of the Middle East y father s ancestor, halome adiah a ohen, was the first Jew to come from leppo, yria in the late eighteenth for trade in alcutta and make it his home. Yet, our Middle Eastern community is loosely called aghdadi as we followed the liturgy of aghdad, a centre of Jewish learning e aghdadis flourished in the port cities of Jewish sia that stretched from aghdad to hanghai In arachi, om ay, alcutta, angoon, ingapore, enang, a arta, ong ong and hanghai, small encla es of Jews relied upon one another for religious, financial and social support arriages, commercial news, usiness and family connections welded us into a powerful economic and cultural presence in the ast

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Interior of the Magen David Synogogue, Kolkata Freemont Street www.davidlv.com | 53

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Above: Facade of the Beth El Synagogue, Kolkata.

Right: A serving dish of aloo makallahs and roast chicken.

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Making Calcutta home In Calcutta, the second city of Empire, we adapted to our new home and shifted from being Judaeo-Arabic to Judaeo-British in our language, as well as shifted in terms of dress and cultural orientation. We lived among Anglo Indian, Parsis, Armenians, Chinese as well as Hindus and Muslims. ur food maintained its iddle astern hallmar ut drew generously from the culinary traditions around us. At home, we also ate dals, rice and bhajis and our cuisine evolved along with the strong Indian accent. It became spicy and tangy with ginger, green dhania (cilantro), chillies, tamarind and spices. Calcutta’s fresh produce gave greater variety to our fare.

Growing Up Jewish in Calcutta My mother, Flower, grew up in the hothouse of the Baghdadi community that was very vibrant till the mid-20th century. Due to a plethora of reasons, especially migration, the num ers dwindled ery rapidly rom a pea of more than four thousand people, three synagogues and a prayer hall, there were a out Jews left y s It seems fitting that halome was the first to come here and I am among the last – there are now barely twenty members of our community left in the city. “The last of the Mohicans,” I guess.

Mum grew up in a religious home and is very familiar with Baghdadi Jewish customs splendid coo , author of se eral recipe oo s, she owned the ahara a the first osher Indian restaurant in Jerusalem he is a cultural resource on the community that is now resettled in the , Israel, the , anada, and Australia, where the elder members of the community still coo and relish their Calcutta Baghdadi food.

Flower’s grandmother, Farha Baqaal Abraham, came from Basra to Calcutta on her own olition as a young ride of fifteen to marry aleh, her father s usiness partner lso a consummate coo , arha was nown for the many specialty dishes she prepared ne of them was a la a, which along with other Arabic sweets were pri ed at weddings, hat as, ar mit ahs and other festive occasions.

Flower remembers Farha rolling out thin fla y filo sheets of pastry and placing them on a large huncha a round, copper tray er dadi paternal grandmother painsta ingly layered the filo sheets with almonds, sugar, rosewater and cardamom and then cut it into diamond shapes efore sending them to e a ed hen the trays returned from the a ery, arha poured hot sugar syrup o er the a la as and allowed the crispy topped pastry to cool in its sugary syrup. arha was also famous for her ma h oo almond sama oosas crushed almonds, rosewater and sugar inside a thin filo dough , pistachio mulfoof (a thin pastry with crushed pistachios inside) and various Malfouf, the Middle-East cabbage delicacy. At home, we also ate dals, rice and bhajis and our cuisine evolved along with the strong Indian accent luzinas

(confections made from nuts, sugar, fruit and vegetables including pump in and quince repared in her osher itchen, they were much in demand as Jewish customers could not uy food items from non- osher confectioners.

Nahoums, the famous Jewish confectioners, still has a commanding presence in the ew ar et It started as a small door-to-door usiness selling these items as well as jibben, a Jewish plaited, salted cheese. There were a few other Jewish tradesman who sold similar items, including ulichas, a ca e made from semolina, oil, sugar and eggs with a sprin ling of lac poppy seeds , date a as, which was pastry filled with mashed dates and sugar, and a as, crisp, agel-li e rings of salt pastry, cheese and almond sam oosas al oon ur ish delight , sumsum sugar candy encrusted with sesame seats), and halva rashi, (halva made from till seeds) were also popular.

Sabbath meals in Calcutta Jewish homes Family and friends eagerly awaited Friday night at our home as my mother, Flower, used to ensure we had wonderful dinners to welcome the a ath armalli, who had een the coo to my grandmother, wor ed all day to prepare these gargantuan meals with help from an assistant or assistants depending on the number of family and guests expected.

Dinner was only served after we sung the prayers and made brachot (blessings) on the wine and two loaves of bread. The sweet grape wine we sipped was osher and prepared and bottled on the Bethel synagogue premises. riday night menu was fi ed f course, the first course always consisted of aloo ma allah, hil e a green iscous chutney made from fenugree methi seeds), which is a sauce of Yemeni origin, zalata (a cucumber salad with mint and vinegar), mahashas (stuffed vegetables), and roast chic en his was followed y a curried dish and pilaf oast chic en and mahashas accompanied the famed aloos he chic en was fla ored with ginger, garlic, cinnamon, cloves, bayleaf, and cardamom. Mahashas, colorful whole egeta les stuffed with chic en and mint fla ored rice, were gla ed with tamarind for a pungent ing omatoes, cucum ers, onions ins, eggplant, and green and red peppers were scooped out for the stuffing to e placed inside. Beet and lettuce leaves replaced vine leaves in which the aromatic filling was wrapped he curry ser ed as the second course differed each wee ade of fish or chic en with coconut or tamarind was a technique pic ed up from ochini Jews s Jews are not allowed to mi mil and meat, the idea of su stituting coconut mil was a masterful addition to aghdadi cuisine ometimes, a finely chopped am oo curry made with chic en, duc , or fish in rich coconut gra y was fa ored ender am oo ery popular among Bengalis, Chinese and Anglo Indians – was yet another addition www.davidlv.com | 55

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alfouf, the

iddle- ast ca

age delicacy

to our food hitanee, chic en or fish in a sweet sour gra y of onions and tamarind, or a much lighter amia hatta or eet hatta with chic en and u as, was also on the menu u a was a ground rice paste dumpling stuffed with minced meat and coo ed in the stew Jewish men went to synagogue on aturdays and came home from the hahrith ser ice to the aroma of chic en and sweet spices wafting through the door s Jews are not allowed to light a fire on a ath, the hamim started coo ing on riday night on slowly dying em ers his one pot meal is made with a whole hen, with the s in intact, stuffed with rice, li ers, gi ards, and peas and fla ored with cardamom, clo es, ay leaf and cinnamon It was sometimes also made with wheat inger and garlic was added for fla oring he whole hen is immersed in a pot of stew consisting of rice, chic en pieces, tomatoes, and carrots when in season ften u as, the round rice dumplings, were added as were eggs with their shells he eggs were placed on top of the hamim eing coo ed and would turn a deep rown color n a ath morning, three dishes would miraculously emerge the whole stuffed hen called the hashwa stuffed in ra ic shor a, a rich stew of rice and chic en thic soup and ha a a, the dar rown crust at the ottom fla ored with chic en that gets its name from the word a which means crisp in ra ic hen my grandmother prepared hamim in ondon, her incredulous nglish neigh or pee ishly, ut in polite ritish fashion, as ed hile the smells from your itchen are tantali ing, what is it that you coo in the middle of the night ic les and condiments am oo, mango, eggplant and tomato were made y Jewish housewi es and they accompanied all meals ne of their specialties that I only heard a out ut ne er tasted was mariam

aachar, a fruit that came from urma that closely resem led an oli e his green egeta le with a pit su stituted for the oli es so u iquitous in the lands from where we came he famous iddle astern red turnip pic le that was sliced turnips in rine co ered red with eetroot was always a large ceramic or glass ar of this michalilla in e ery home

Food and family ties ur coo ing is la or intensi e ut was made possi le ecause our families were large and e tended omen of the family teamed up to prepare the food for feasts and festi als elescopic ta les were standard furniture to accommodate the large get-togethers that centered around food and prayer Jewish women, along with their male uslim coo s, helped prepare the meals with a strict eye on ashrut s uslims were familiar with halal and also did not eat pig s meat, we entrusted the maintenance of our synagogues to generations of uslim care-ta ers who still perform this role ffluent homes employed a Jewish man called a mashgya steward , a ritual slaughterer, who li ed on the premises is duty was to super ise the cleanliness of the itchen, and inspect the fruits and egeta les ecalling ygone days, long gone are the days when large families gathered regularly to eat at ta les groaning with food hey relish the memories of these lo ingly prepared, sumptuous meals coo ed y their mothers, aunties and grandmothers, or y the numerous Jewish coo s trained to wor in Jewish homes ecalling, relishing and recording these memories seems to me to e deliciously worthwhile This article was originally published in Food and Beverage Buzz and online in The Wire.

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Bernice Friedman Joins Jewish National Fund (JNF) National Board.

By Lynn Wexler Bernice Friedman grew up in a family where giving was as inherent as breathing.

Prior to moving to Las Vegas from New York in 2007, she sat on the boards of the Jewish Braille Institute International, New Jewish Home, and the UJA-Federation of New York. She was also involved with the Educational Alliance, a 128-yearold institution serving the needs of New Yorkers.

Recently appointed to the Jewish National Fund’s (JNF) National Board as Assistant Vice President of Planned Giving, Friedman has been involved with the local Las Vegas chapter since 2011, serving as chair of the Sapphire Society (JNF’s women’s major gift division) and Board President. She is a member of JNF’s Arava Task Force and Caravan for Democracy. She looks forward, in her national position, to furthering JNF’s mission of supporting and strengthening Israel’s infrastructure and growth. All of this continues the imperative of giving fostered in her early years.

To what do you attribute your dedication to being a community humanitarian?

The foundation was laid growing up. As a youngster, I saw my parent’s involvement with local synagogues and they were always helping others.

Giving was expected. That, and learning. When I got home from school, the first thing my mother said was, “So, what did you learn today?” My own giving began soon after I graduated from college, once I had a job and some money of my own.

How has being a philanthropist affected your life?

I’m not comfortable being called a philanthropist.

I think of philanthropists as people who give millions! I’m a donor… and I prefer to get directly involved with the effort I’m donating to rather than just writing a check. I like to be hands on.

That seems to hold true from your involvement with JNF. You started giving and participating at the local level here in Las Vegas and quickly joined the national ranks. Why JNF? It’s an outstanding organization that supports Israel – on many levels. It’s a transparent organization that thrives and survives on the dedication and talents of its lay leadership. From the top on down… from CEO Russell Robinson to local lay leaders, board and task force members… every voice, every opinion counts.

What sort of voices are attracted to JNF? Those who love Israel, the land, the people,

the dream, the hope… those who want to see it developed through the inspiring programs and projects that JNF funds, plans and builds; those who want a place at the table where they can be directly involved in JNF decision making. And for donors – they have the option to designate where their money goes. JNF offers amazing trips to Israel. You can visit what you’ve contributed to!

Do any of the programs have a local impact here in Las Vegas?

Yes. JNF sponsors Tu B’Shevat (holiday commemorating the New Year for trees) programs in schools to teach kids the importance of trees.

JNF is a sponsor of Birthright, which takes our local Jewish teens and young adults to Israel; JNF supports an English speaking high school in Israel– The Alexander Muss School – that teens can attend for a semester or a summer. I sit on the Caravan for Democracy committee, which sponsors trips to Israel for qualified non-Jewish young adults. One young man returned from a trip and spoke at our board meeting. He blew everyone away with the revelations he experienced.

Can you describe the impact that JNF has had in Israel?

The impact is great. JNF is building thousands of parks across Israel, making them inclusive for people with disabilities and special needs; they’re making the desert green through the planting of millions of trees; they’re realizing Ben-Gurion’s dream and developing the vast desert in the Negev, which makes up 60% of the state, which would otherwise not be a hospitable place to live; they’re bolstering Israel’s water supply through innovative arid agriculture techniques and funding over 240 reservoirs from recycled water; they restore historical landmarks; fund the building of kid friendly bomb shelters on playgrounds. The list goes on.

Is there a priority in your new national position?

I will be a part of a recent campaign called One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade. The goal is to develop a roadmap that will articulate and guide JNF’s values for new ventures.

Do you draw any similarities between water conservation awareness in Israel and the desert we live in here in Las Vegas?

Oh yes!!! I now take much shorter showers!

To become involved, or learn more about JNF’s programs in Las Vegas and Israel, please contact Deb Rochford, Executive Vice President, at drochford@jnf.org or 702.434.6505 x980.

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