Arizona Jewish Life May 2017 Vol. 5 / Issue 8 by JewishLifeMagazine

MAY 2017

SPOTLIGHT ON SENIORS

Health, technology, fitness and more

CRAVING SHAKSHUKA? Try our recipe

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LAETITIA

BECK

CELEBRATE MOTHER'S DAY with Mother Nature

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 1

VOLUNTEER AT MIM: Gemilut Hasadim

Find meaningful opportunities to share acts of loving kindness (gemilut hasadim) at the Musical Instrument Museum. Becoming a MIM volunteer team member is a unique opportunity to help the museum achieve its mission of fostering appreciation for the diverse musical cultures of the world. Volunteers are needed at Guest Service, in the galleries, and in a variety of other capacities including leading tours. There is no need to be an expert; training is provided! For more information, e-mail MIM’s Volunteer Department at volunteer@MIM.org or visit MIM.org.

“MIM helps people from all walks of life to see another way of relating to each other through music.” —MIM Volunteer Team Member

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strategic thinking about wealth Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management has been helping ultra-high net worth individuals, their families and foundations plan for and grow their wealth for decades. Based in New York City, the Family Wealth Group at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management is a specialized team of interdisciplinary strategic advisors providing a full range of family office services to meet the complex needs of the UHNW marketplace. These services include financial & investment planning, estate & family succession planning, philanthropic advisory and administrative services. The Family Wealth Group is headed by Robert Stolar, a Managing Director and Private Wealth Advisor. Drawing on three decades of investment & financial planning experience, Robert has earned various distinctions within the wealth advisory community, including recognition by Barron’s as one of the top 100 advisors in the country for 2015. Robert Stolar

Managing Director Private Wealth Advisor 522 Fifth Avenue, 10th Floor New York, NY 10036 212-296-6704 robert.stolar@morganstanley.com Source: Barron’s “Top 100 Financial Advisors,” April 20, 2015. Barron’s “Top 100 Financial Advisors” bases its ratings on qualitative criteria: professionals with a minimum of seven years of financial services experience, acceptable compliance records, client retention reports, customer satisfaction, and more. Finwancial Advisors are quantitatively rated based on varying types of revenues and assets advised by the financial professional, with weightings associated for each. Because individual client portfolio performance varies and is typically unaudited, this rating focuses on customer satisfaction and quality of advice. The rating may not be representative of any one client’s experience because it reflects a sample of all of the experiences of the Financial Advisor’s clients. The rating is not indicative of the Financial Advisor’s future performance. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors pays a fee to Barron’s in exchange for the rating. Barron’s is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Company, L.P. All rights reserved. © 2015 Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management, a division of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC. Member SIPC. CRC1179133 04/15 8225582 PWM001 04/15 ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 3

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Arizona Jewish Life • May 2017 • Iyar-Sivan 5777 • Volume 5/Issue 8

FEATURES 26

SENIORS

COVER STORY

A promising new, high-tech treatment for Alzheimer’s disease Adaptability key to moving on It’s just a number!!! Older is better for active seniors Connections In Home Care: Connecting hearts to homes Grandparents in Residence program offers kindness and healing Parkinson’s PWR!Moves at the JCC Test your hearing health Senior directory

Laetitia Beck: Israel’s first professional golfer 26 JEWS WITH ATTITUDE Sharing the glitz and glamour of Girly Girlz 16

BUSINESS The Paper Place: Sisters in Stationery 18 Business Profiles 20 Ins & Outs 24 ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Buried heroics: “No Place on Earth” film premieres at AZJS A jewel in the Valley’s crown Debut novel highlights Phoenix

52 54 56

FOOD Chef’s Corner: Shakshuka, an Israeli specialty Taste of Arizona: Doughbird

58 60

HOME & LIFESTYLE Five tips for container gardening success Celebrating Mother’s Day with Mother Nature Top fashion trends that extend to women of all ages JKIDS & TEENS Family Time: Candy Sweets stole my dignity! Kids & Teens events calendar YOUNG ADULTS Hillel Springboard Fellowships now at ASU and UA attract next generation of leaders ISRAEL The magic of Roy Dahan’s music Complex but healthy society

38 40 44 46 48 50

COLUMNS Chef’s Corner by Lucia Schnitzer A Taste of Arizona by A. Noshman Family Time by Debra Rich Gettleman To Life! by Amy Hirshberg Lederman

58 60 68 76

JLIVING

62 64 66

To Life! It’s all in the “daditude” 76 Tucson celebrates Israel 78 Par-Tee with the J! 80 Wisdom of the Mothers now in print 82 Federation notes 83 Faces & Places 84 Previews 88 Calendar 90

68 71

74 75

CORRECTION:

In an article in the April issue entitled “Phoenix Fire Captain Bobby Dubnow: Today’s modern firefighter,” Bobby’s wife was misidentified, her name is Lisa, not Stephanie.

COVER: Laetitia Beck Photo by Matthew Strauss

10 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

32 34

Fact: Neuroscientists at BGU developed a diagnostic to predict brain disease in football players early enough to prevent it.

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4/19/17 12:55 PM

Arizona Jewish Life • Iyar-Sivan 5777

PUBLISHERS

H OW TO R E AC H U S

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602-538-AZJL (2955)

Volume 5/Issue 8

Mala Blomquist

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Complimentar y copies of Arizona Jewish Life magazine are available at dozens of retail locations including A J’s Fine Foods, Chompie’s, Eli’s Deli, synagogues, Jewish communit y centers and organizations, enter tainment venues, restaurants and professional of f ices.

UPCOMING ISSUES June/July 2017: Staycations & Summer Fun August 2017: Annual Resource Guide & Education Supplement

P U B L I C AT I O N A N D D E A D L I N E S Arizona Jewish Life magazine is distributed on the f irst of the month. Stor y ideas for features and special sections are due 45- 60 days prior to publication. B IZ IN S & O UTS: Business news is due 4 week s before publication.

CO N T R I B U TO R S

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Mar y Ann Bashaw Melissa Hirschl Deborah Moon Deborah Muller Melinda Myers Tal Peri Tori Rosenblum Ilene Schneider Sheila Wilensk y

E VENTS: Information about upcoming events is due about 20 days prior to publication. C ALEN DAR : Please post events on our online calendar. Relevant events that are posted by the 10th of the month before publication will be included in the magazine. To request f irst-time authorization to post events online, go to azjewishlife.com and scroll down to the “calendar access request ” link under “Quick Link s” on the right. Af ter you submit the form, you’ll receive an email with instructions for posting future events.

A Prince Hal Production ( TGMR18) 2016-2017 MediaPort LLC All rights reserved The content and opinions in Arizona Jewish Life do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers, staff or contractors. Articles and columns are for informational purposes only and not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, Arizona Jewish Life, and its agents, publishers, employees and contractors will not be held responsible for the misuse of any information contained herein. The publishers reserve the right to refuse any advertisement. Publication of advertisements does not constitute endorsement of products or services.

12 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

This Yom HaAtzma’ut, celebrate red, white, and blue.

Magen David Adom, Israel’s largest and premier emergency medical response agency, has been saving lives since before 1948. And supporters like you provide MDA’s 27,000 paramedics, EMTs, and civilian Life Guardians — more than 90% of them volunteers — with the training, equipment, and rescue vehicles they need. So as we celebrate Israel’s independence, make a difference in the health, welfare, and security of the Israeli people with your gift to MDA. Please give today. AFMDA Western Region 6505 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 750 Los Angeles, CA 90048 Toll-Free: 800.323.2371 • western@afmda.org www.afmda.org ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 13

What an honor to have Laetitia Beck on our cover this month. Not only is she a consummate athlete (and a trailblazer in golf for Israel!) she is also acutely aware that she is a representative of both Israel and the Jewish people. A responsibility she takes seriously and carries proudly. On a personal note, my children grew up with Laetitia, and her twin sister Olivia, in Caesarea, Israel. To see the shy young girl, develop into such a confident, perceptive and caring young woman, wise beyond her years, has been incredible to witness. We are sure you will enjoy this special interview with this remarkable young woman. Robert Philip

From young to “older” we have put together a very robust senior special section this month. We have done our best to present multi-dimensional options for enjoying life as a senior, as well as lots of resources for caring for them. If, as they say, one can judge a community by how they treat the elderly, then Arizona should be proud of the variety and scope of senior life in our state and how the senior community continues to thrive. Enjoy your spring.

Cindy Saltzman

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Jewswith

Attitude

Melissa Fink

Sharing the glitz and glamour of Girly Girlz

16 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

home. I’ve also been into fashion and things like that, so I love the retail part of it.” She also enjoys buying for the store and Melissa Fink always wanted to own her own business. In picking out all of the fun, girly items; and she says she loves May 2016, she finally got her chance when she purchased Girly special events. Girlz in Scottsdale. She actually started her career in event planning, so that As its name implies, Girly Girlz is a store for girls who like part of the business appealed to her. Girly Girlz offers themed things blingy, sparkly and bejeweled. “We have a lot of local birthday parties from “Glitzy Princess” to “Precious Pony.” She designers [all moms] with items in our store,” says Melissa. recently put on a limousine birthday party where the birthday An in-house designer also creates custom T-shirts blinged out girl and her friends enjoyed a limo scavenger hunt. with sequins and jewels Melissa is planning on more and sporting cute sayings special events after a successful like “I am 3” or “Being 6 “Books with Belle” event in April Rocks!” to celebrate the opening of the The irony of her “Beauty and the Beast” movie. purchase is not lost on She is also planning a special Melissa, who lives in pre-Mother’s Day tea party called a house full of males, “Mommy & Me Cupcake Tea” for including husband Saturday, May 13. Herschel and two boys, Girly Girlz will hold weekly Miles, 7, and Taylor, 3. summer camps for three weeks However, her older son in June. Melissa also has a special may be working being offer for those who might want a the owner’s son to his camp experience with their friends. advantage. “He has “If a group of six girls signs up decided to have a birthday together, they get a reduced price party here for just him – and they can even do their own and his girlfriends and week of camp,” says Melissa. then a separate party for When asked about the just the boys somewhere most surprising thing she has else,” jokes Melissa. encountered owning her own She grew up in business, she thinks a moment Scottsdale after moving and responds, “The high highs there when she was 6 and low lows. There are the days years old and attended you are doing really well and you Horizon High School. are euphoric. Then there are the (Another ironic part of days when the phone isn’t ringing, the story is that Girly no one comes in or no one books Girlz is actually located a birthday party. It’s very manic! in the same school district Some days, I’m like, ‘This is the The Glam Central party space at Girly Girlz. where Melissa attended greatest thing ever’ and then I’m school!) She went to the like, ‘Oh my gosh – what did I do?’ University of Arizona and then moved to the East Coast for a People had talked to me about that, but it’s different when you few years before finding her way back to Arizona. are experiencing it yourself.” Melissa worked in corporate America in a nine-to-five She also thought it would be easier taking over an existing job her whole career. She spent the last eight years at Best business open since 2003, but she soon found out that unique Western’s corporate headquarters in Phoenix. A friend knew challenges also come with that scenario. “It’s my third kid – and she was interested in owning her own business and from time it’s harder than either of my other two kids – more work than to time would send her listings of businesses for sale. “He sent [they] have ever been,” jokes Melissa. me the listing and I thought, ‘That would be interesting. I know “A lot of people know about one thing we do, but they don’t that place, it seems really fun. Let’s just check it out for fun,’” know about the other things ... ,” she says. “They might know says Melissa. that we do birthday parties, but they don’t know that we also While she was going through the sale process with the have retail. Or they might know we’re a store, but they don’t previous owner and doing her own research, she got more and know we do makeover sessions or Diva Day Spa – or they think more excited about the prospect of owning Girly Girlz. After we just do tea parties.” Melissa is working hard to reintroduce a few months, the details were finalized and she was an official people to the full array of what Girly Girlz has to offer. business owner. Girly Girlz is located at 15425 N. Scottsdale Road #240 in Coming up on her one-year anniversary, Melissa is as excited Scottsdale, across from Scottsdale Quarter. Call 480-998-4832 as ever to be the owner of Girly Girlz. “It lets me be creative,” or visit girly-girlz.com. she says. “I get that girliness that I don’t necessarily get at By Mala Blomquist

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 17

Business

The Paper Place: Sisters in Stationery

By Mala Blomquist

In 1978, gasoline was 70¢ a gallon, a postage stamp was 13¢ and Scottsdale Fashion Square was a three-story open-air structure. That’s also the year that Judy Silver and her daughter, Nancy, opened The Paper Place on Marshall Way in Scottsdale. “Mom was a tennis player and housewife…I think she was tired of being a housewife,” says Nancy of her mom’s desire to start a business. “She had a friend in Des Moines, Iowa, who owned a Paper Place franchise.” The Paper Place originally started as a franchise with locations in Texas, Des Moines and 18 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Louisiana. At the time, Nancy was in her early 20s and working for Best Western Hotels & Resorts. “I was happy at Best Western,” recalls Nancy. But she decided to quit her job and help her mom open an 800-square-foot store specializing in custom invitations, stationery and gifts. “Our first printer had a calligraphy bed,” says Nancy. “We printed everything in-house.” They worked with a designer on their paper-based products then and still work with one today. In 1992, they purchased a larger store across Marshall Way. In 1994, Nancy’s younger sister, Betsy Hendricks, joined them

in the business shortly before Judy passed away. The two sisters currently run the business together with a “minimum of sibling rivalry.” Invitations still make up the majority of their business. An area of the store has shelves stocked with books along with tables where customers can browse through hundreds of choices for weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, showers and all occasions. “We do it all,” says Betsy. “From the ‘save the date’ to the invitations, thank-you cards, place cards, menus – everything.”

The Paper Place was recently awarded “Best of the Valley 2017” in the category of “Best Gift Shop” by Arizona Foothills Magazine. They also offer custom personal and business stationery in a wide variety of designs, type styles and monograms. There are also pre-boxed writing paper and note cards in a vast array of colors and designs, along with an ample selection of greeting cards. In the non-paper category, the store is full of unique gift items that include jewelry, frames, office supplies, clocks, candles, housewares, books and much more. The Paper Place was recently awarded “Best of the Valley 2017” in the category of “Best Gift Shop” by Arizona Foothills Magazine. Although their business offerings may not have changed dramatically over the years, something has changed in the way people approach invitation design. When asked why, the sisters almost blurt it out at the same time: “Pinterest!” Brides show them Pinterest boards with their ideas – “And there are so many ideas,” says Nancy. Ideas are often unique to the bride, so it can be difficult to determine a specific theme. But that’s where the sisters’ years of knowledge come into play as they help to discern what the customer really wants. “We deal with happy occasions,” says

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Sisters Betsy Hendricks and Nancy Silver

Nancy. “If we wanted to make money, we could have been a reality show.” Along those lines, she also admits, “I’m a stationery bartender. I know more information on people…” and she leaves it at that. The sisters are planning a celebration for their 40th anniversary in 2018 but aren’t sure what the shindig will entail quite yet. One thing is for sure: The Silver sisters are carrying on the legacy of what their mother started on Marshall Way. In fact, many of the businesses in the downtown Scottsdale area are locally owned and one-of-a-kind. “Shop local,” says Betsy. “People get on Amazon…but shopping locally not only helps the store and its employees, it helps the community.” The Paper Place is located at 4130 N. Marshall Way #C in Scottsdale. The store is open 10 am-5 pm Mon.-Sat. or by appointment. Call 480-941-2858 or visit thepaperplaceaz.com.

BUSINESS

PROFILES Get to know some of the people behind the businesses you see in

Arizona Jewish Life. Nancy Silver recently established the Two Pups Wellness Fund (twopups.org), which provides financial aid for the lifesaving care of less-fortunate dogs and cats. The fund is a memorial to Nancy’s beloved pups, Miss Lacie and Mr. P., her faithful companions – both at home and at the store – for almost 17 years. “When Miss Lacie’s life was nearing the end five years ago, I spent a lot of my time at the veterinary hospital and met other families that could not afford the care their pets needed,” says Nancy. “I lost Mr. P. a little more than a year ago. He lived longer because of the care I was able to provide. I wanted to give that time to others.” Nancy is planning to hold fundraisers throughout the coming year. Check the fund’s Facebook page for upcoming events at facebook.com/twopups.org. Two Pups operates under the umbrella of the Arizona Community Foundation, which provides expertise in the management and distribution of funds raised. 20 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Judy E. Laufer Author and Publisher

Dr. Nathan Laufer Founder, Medical Director

1331 N. 7th St. #375, Phoenix 602-539-5839 littleegg@cox.net littleeggpublishing.com

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Little Egg Publishing Company

Judy E. Laufer is a publisher and author who writes under the pen name of J.E. Laufer. She is the creative spirit behind the Little Egg Publishing Company or Little Egg Kids Books on Facebook. She was born in Budapest, Hungary and grew up in Montreal Canada, as the child of Holocaust survivors. Judy has been actively involved in several nonprofits and has served on multiple boards and held leadership positions in many organizations, both in Canada and the U.S. Last month, she received the Gerda Weissmann Klein and Kurt Klein Award for community leadership from the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix. Her background is in early childhood education, and she worked as a kindergarten teacher for more than two decades. She wanted a change from teaching but still wanted to stay in the field of education and continue to use her training and experience. Judy was also looking for a career that she could do while she traveled, being an author seemed like a good fit. Judy’s first book was about a child dealing with grief, Where Did Papa Go?, written after her father passed away. She self-published the book, and it won the Golden Poet Award its first year in print. Little Egg Publishing Company provides quality, “feel good” children’s books. The company began 25 years ago, so it has seen publishing go from working face-to-face with the illustrator and checking large physical proof sheets to the whole process being online. With the help of corporate partners and individual sponsors, Little Egg has donated 3,000 books to children’s charities to promote childhood literacy. Judy’s newest book is a young adult and adult non-fiction historical novel about her family’s escape from Hungary during the Russian occupation in 1956. It is set to release on May 15 and is called Choices, The True Story of One Family’s Daring Escape to Freedom. The trailer and full description of the book can be found on the Little Egg website.

Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona

Dr. Nathan Laufer has been the founder and medical director of the Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona since its inception 16 years ago. He has been practicing and teaching cardiology in Phoenix for more than 30 years. He is the past program director and founder of the 4th year Interventional Cardiology Fellowship at Banner Good Samaritan Hospital, founder of the Cardiovascular Society of Arizona and past chief of the department of cardiovascular disease at Banner Estrella Medical Center in Phoenix. Dr. Laufer is also the immediate past president of the Arizona Medical Association. Over the years he has held numerous board positions including president of the Maricopa County Medical Society, president of the Phoenix Board of the American Heart Association, counselor of the Arizona Chapter of the American College of Cardiology and board member of the University of Michigan Club of Greater Phoenix. He and his wife, Judy, have been co-chairs of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum Tribute dinner, several King David Annual Galas and the 2015 Phoenix AIPAC dinner. They are actively involved in the Jewish National Fund, Friends of the IDF, ASU Chabad, Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix and several Valley synagogues. Recently the Laufer’s established the Laufer Family Scholarship Fund to benefit students traveling to Eastern Europe to learn about their Jewish heritage. Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona provides the full range of consultative cardiology and vascular services as well as interventional cardiology of the heart, carotid arteries, peripheral vascular disease, abdominal aneurysms, arrhythmia management, vein management and female cardiology services. Not being employed by a hospital system allows Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona’s physicians to be in charge of medical decisions, not hospital administrators. The doctors believe that medical practice success comes from excellent medical care, rather than good business practices. Heart & Vascular Center of Arizona has partnered with 25 cardiologists in central Phoenix to build two free-standing cardiac catheterization laboratories that can offer most aspects of interventional cardiology, peripheral angiography/intervention and pacemaker and defibrillator implantations. They can do this at a significant discount to what hospitals charge for the same procedures. The Cardiac Cath Lab of Phoenix has received Medicare accreditation and greater than 98% patient satisfaction. We view this as the future of providing excellent, efficient medical care at a lower cost. ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 21

The Palazzo

6250 N. 19th Ave., Phoenix 602-433-6300 palazzohc.com

The Palazzo is a full continuing care community offer-

ing independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing and memory care. At The Palazzo, we are able to cater to your needs whether you are looking for an environment with

social activities, wonderful meals, housekeeping and care as needed. Assisted living for those requiring 24/7 care and a personalized care plan; skilled nursing for those being

discharged from a hospital stay and still in need of rehab or more long-term care and memory care for your loved

ones who will thrive more in an environment specializing

in care and activities for those with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia.

Come by The Palazzo to see our beautifully renovat-

ed apartments, Café, extensive activities and programs

designed with you in mind and don’t miss out on Main Street which offers a fun and convenient place for resi-

dents to meet. The Palazzo residents enjoy features and

amenities including apartments with individual heat and

air-conditioning controls, complimentary laundry rooms, storage facilities, library, cinema, fitness center, billiards

room, arts & crafts room, on-site post office, beauty salon, barber, private dining room, heated outdoor pool, therapeutic spa, transportation and more.

We include many services to promote life, health and

peace of mind. Those services include meals, housekeep-

ing, laundry services, Life Alert pendant, call light system,

utilities, cable, Wi-Fi, security, 24-hour concierge, planned activities, events and outings.

Our residents find a caring, compassionate and devoted

staff to accommodate virtually every request. We pride

ourselves on providing stellar service and invite you to let

us exceed your expectations. In skilled nursing, we recently

obtained CMS 5-Star Rating and HSAG Platinum Level.

22 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Shahar Edry Regional Director Israeli American Council Arizona

12701 N. Scottsdale Road #203, Scottsdale 480-483-7121 ext. 1109 iacarizona.org

Shahar Edry grew up in the world-renowned youth village of Ben Shemen in Israel. After his army service as a combat medic, he returned to Ben Shemen to lead youth groups as an educator. Subsequently, Shahar availed himself an overseas business management opportunity in Ecuador where he met his future American wife. She brought him to the U.S. where he was introduced to the broader Jewish community. Shahar ran the Israel Center for more than four years before becoming the regional director of the Israeli American Council Arizona in Nov. 2016. He brought many successful programs to the Valley through the Israel Center that have now carried over and expanded at the IAC Arizona. The mission of the IAC Arizona is to strengthen and enhance the Israeli community. By engaging families, building partnerships and initiating innovative programs, IAC Arizona hopes to bring the flavor of Israeli life to the Valley of the Sun. Some of the current programs the IAC offers are: Keshet Sferim – Hebrew books for children age 2-8 Eitanim – teaches high school students skills needed for success in college, career and life Mishelanu – strengthens college student’s identity thru culture, language and connection to Israel Gvanim – leadership program for those 40+ Shishi Shabbat – develop community bonds by sharing Shabbat Celebrate Israel – festival of Israeli culture, food & music Annual events – Yom Hazikaron (Israel’s Remembrance Day), Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day) and many other meaningful and fun events throughout the year The IAC Arizona’s goal and Shahar’s leadership vision for the future are to bring the programs they offer to people all over the Valley. Currently, many of their events have been held at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center because that is where they are headquartered. Shahar would like to bring the popular Shishi Shabbat to the East Valley Jewish Community Center as well as synagogues across the Valley in the coming year. The main focus of all of the IAC Arizona’s programs is to build a strong community in the Valley around Israel. “Together we do extraordinary things,” says Shahar.

Terri Weisz Proprietress

Jyl Steinback Executive Director

10337 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480-443-3241 twoplatesfull.com

Scottsdale 602-996-6300 ShapeUpUS.org

Two Plates Full

Terri Weisz has been involved with art in one form or another since a very early age. Growing up in Chicago she received a scholarship to the Art Institute of Chicago’s High School Program. She continued her education at the University of Arizona and American Academy of Fine Art. Her art media is varied: stained and fused glass, painting, ceramics, jewelry, weaving, pencil drawing, fabric art and sewing. In 1989, Terri opened Two Plates Full. She was a single mother to her two children who were 1 and 3 years old. She wanted a job where she had the freedom to attend every school event, dance recital and sporting event. Two Plates Full started as a kitchen store. When the “big box” retailers started opening, she shifted her focus to carry local and American handicrafts, taking chances on more unusual and hard-to-find items. Today the turquoise-colored store stocks pieces that are brightly colored and whimsical, from handcrafted furniture to adult greeting cards. Every inch of their walls and floor is covered in something different and fun. Terri has also worked with many charitable organizations including the American Cancer Society, Arizona Animal Welfare League, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Arizona, Camelot Therapeutic Horsemanship, Phoenix Children’s Hospital and more. Last year, Two Plates Full moved into its own building after being closed for six months during renovations. It turned into a blessing in disguise, as Terri was able to help her daughter with wedding plans and spend time with her ailing mother. Terri loves what she does and the interaction with customers; from hearing them laugh while reading greeting cards or finding funny gifts to reactions to her unusual newsletters that she writes with flowing ideas and little punctuation. After a long day what keeps her going is her customers, employees, family, dogs and the constant hunt for new and fun items for the store.

Shape Up US, Inc.

Jyl Steinback is passionate about changing the face of education as we know it today and healing children from the inside-out (mind, body and emotions). She created and launched Shape Up US, a 501c3 non-profit organization in 2009, The Hip Hop Healthy Heart Program for ChildrenTM and Clap4HealthSM. All of these programs encompass the “whole child” with a vision of “Building a healthier future for children.” Jyl has been spreading the word of living a healthy lifestyle for more than 25 years and she is the author of more than 15 healthy lifestyle cookbooks. She is also a homeopathic practitioner, guiding people to heal themselves from the inside out. Shape Up US has a three-pronged approach: Awareness, Education and Action Awareness: Shape Up US Health and Wellness Expos. Free expos that get thousands of participants on-board the wellness “bandwagon” to promote health further and prevent chronic disease. Education: The Hip Hop Healthy Heart Program for ChildrenTM. A K-6 grade comprehensive wellness program that has been created to “Build a culture of health” through our educational system. Action: Clap4Health!SM Fundraiser. A national fitness campaign that uses clapping as its method of delivery to raise awareness and prevent obesity among youth and adults. In the last year Shape Up US launched two new programs. The first, Plant Power! is a plant-based nutrition curriculum along with a kid’s yoga curriculum that is part of the Hip Hop Healthy Heart Program for ChildrenTM. The second is Clap4Health!SM Fundraiser. An innovative solution for keeping fit, active, healthy and happy. It’s an activity in which anyone can participate. Also, in conjunction with other types of movement like dance and sports, it can improve motor and spatial skills and enhance emotional, sociological, physiological and cognitive benefits. Jyl’s passion is watching children and adults heal themselves from the inside out and when they begin to heal they love themselves. “We all have a story and if we can heal that story we have healed ourselves,” says Jyl. It is a gift and a blessing that she loves sharing with the world.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 23

INS & OUTS

Myra Richman

Jonathan Rothschild

Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix

Mental Health America of Arizona adds new board member Mental Health America of Arizona is pleased to announce its new board member, Myra Richman, owner of Richman & Associates, Inc. and Blacktie-Arizona. Appreciating the significance of being connected to her community, Myra has actively contributed to many Arizona organizations. She has served as a board member of Phoenix Art Museum’s Contemporary Forum, Scottsdale Healthcare Women’s Advisory Council, Phoenix Friends of the Arizona Cancer Center, International Cancer Advocacy Network Advisory Board, Biltmore Area Partnership, Super Bowl XLII/Taste of the NFL Phoenix Advisory Board, WellCare Foundation, the Canada-Arizona Business Council Advisory Board and National Bank of Arizona Nonprofit Advisory Board. MHA AZ, serving Arizona since 1954, educates our community and advocates for all individuals and families impacted by mental illness. According to the Department of Health & Human Services, mental health problems affect one in every five young people at any given moment. MHA AZ’s mission: To promote the mental health and well-being of all Arizonans through education, advocacy and the shaping of public policy. mhaarizona.org

Tucson’s mayor receives award Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild received a Small Business Advocate Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Partner America program March 1, in front of a gathering of business owners at Tucson’s City Hall. Among the mayor’s accomplishments cited by Jeffrey Bean with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, who presented the award, were creating the city’s Office of Economic Initiatives, compiling city business incentives into one place and adding to them, focusing on the Five T’s of technology, trade, transportation, tourism and teaching and working to establish Tucson as a hub for international trade. 24 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Chabad of Flagstaff

In accepting the award, Mayor Rothschild noted that most jobs are created by small businesses and that when they succeed, the city succeeds. Partner America is a public-private partnership between the U.S. Conference of Mayors and American Management Services, Inc. mayorrothschild.com

Federation allocates $1.8 million for 2017 The Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix announced nearly $1.8 million in allocations for 2017. More than $1.4 million was committed to local Jewish programs and services and $345,000 was committed to Israel and overseas. Among local program funding, Federation’s Strategic Partners received a total of $979,520. These agencies are supported as partners for their longevity and impact in the community, as well as their breadth of programming. Jewish Day School partners received a total of $116,325, each receiving $165 per student enrolled. Allocations made in Federation’s three Core Impact Areas (senior services, NowGen and Israel advocacy) totaled $226,100. Senior services received $135,000, including a $15,000 increase for the Federation Senior Rides Program and continued funding of the senior concierge position. Smile on Seniors, Kivel religious services and the new Wise Aging program, a joint project of the Federation and the Bureau of Jewish Education, also received funds. Federation’s NowGen initiative to engage young Jewish adults in the community received $80,600. Federation renewed the funding of the Israel advocacy jointstaff position with Hillel at ASU and Jewish Arizonans on Campus. The position helps students counteract anti-Israel sentiment on ASU campuses. In addition, $10,000 again was allocated to BBYO’s Speak Up for Israel program, bringing the total for Israel advocacy to $60,000. Federation programs, including the Israel Center, now Israel American Council-Arizona, received $45,000. Internationally, the Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee were funded for humanitarian work with Jews in need in Israel and elsewhere overseas.

Lori Riegel

Bryan Davis

Prof. Amnon Shashua

Federation allocations are reviewed and recommended by the Community Planning Commission and approved by the Federation’s board of directors. Allocations are based on the previous year’s campaign. jewishphoenix.org

Temple Emanu-El and religious and cultural education coordinator at Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging. Lori is pursuing a doctorate in educational leadership with a certificate in Jewish educational leadership through Lesley University and Hebrew College.

New community center for Chabad of Flagstaff

Bryan Davis elected to board of American Jewish Museums

On March 26, the Chabad of Flagstaff held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Molly Blank Jewish Community Center at 930 W. University Ave. in Flagstaff. Supporters, dignitaries and community members participated in this historic event. “This is the beginning of a new and exciting era for the Flagstaff Jewish Community” says Rabbi Dovie Shapiro. “This soon to be, state-of-the-art center will allow us to better serve our ever expanding community of Jewish families, students and young professionals.” The center will provide programming for toddlers, children, university students, young professionals, and adults. It will cater to all aspects of Jewish life and will be available for the respective needs of the community, with amenities such as a synagogue, social hall, gourmet kosher kitchen, student and youth lounge, library, classrooms, outdoor terraces and mikvah. The center is expected to take two years to complete. jewishflagstaff.com

Bryan Davis, executive director of the Jewish History Museum & Holocaust History Center, was elected to the board of the Council of American Jewish Museums for 2017-2018. Bryan teaches Jewish Responses to the Holocaust at the University of Arizona and is director of both the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Holocaust Education & Commemoration Project. Bryan also teaches for the Honors College and the Language, Reading & Culture program and is a doctoral student in Language, Reading & Culture. jewishhistorymuseum.org

Lori Riegel, MJEd, selected to present at Harvard conferences Lori Riegel, MJEd, has been selected to present her doctoral research at the Harvard Graduate School of Education 2017 Student Research Conference and the 2017 Joint Conference on Research in Jewish Education, co-hosted by the Network for Research in Jewish Education and the Association for the Social Scientific Study of Jewry. This is Lori’s third time presenting at the Harvard conference. She is development director for Southern Arizona at Arizona’s Children Association in Tucson. She has been a Jewish educator for over 25 years, also having served as the education director at

Intel acquires Mobileye for $15.3 billion Mobileye, an Israeli company and the leading supplier of software that enables Advanced Driver Assist Systems, with more than 25 automaker partners including some of the world’s largest, has been acquired by Intel in a $15.3 billion deal. This acquisition will combine the best-in-class technologies from both companies, spanning connectivity, computer vision, data center, sensor fusion, high-performance computing, localization and mapping, machine learning and artificial intelligence. Together, Intel and Mobileye expect to deliver driving solutions that will transform the automotive industry. The combined global autonomous driving organization, which will consist of Mobileye and Intel’s Automated Driving Group, will be headquartered in Israel and led by Prof. Amnon Shashua, Mobileye’s co-founder, chairman and CTO. The organization will support both companies’ existing production programs and build upon relationships with automotive OEMs, Tier-1 suppliers and semiconductor partners to develop advanced driving assist, highly autonomous and fully autonomous driving programs. ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 25

LAETITIA

BECK

Israel’s first professional golfer By Mala Blomquist LAETITIA BECK STARTED PLAYING GOLF WHEN SHE WAS 9 years old. That fact itself may not be unusual, but take into account that Laetitia was living in Israel at the time, where there was (and is still) only one 18-hole golf course in the whole country and no professional golfers – then the story gets more interesting. Continued on page 28

26 MAY 2017 ||ARIZONA ARIZONAJEWISH JEWISHLIFE LIFE

ARIZONA ARIZONAJEWISH JEWISHLIFE LIFE|| MAY 2017 27

LAETITIA BECK Laetitia was born in Antwerp, Belgium before her family moved to Israel when she was 6 years old. “I loved sports; even in Belgium I remember playing different sports,” says Laetitia. “Then when we moved to Israel, golf [became] my hobby. We had classes at the country club in the center of town.” Her family lived in Caesarea, where she played at the Caesarea Golf Club. Her parents also enjoyed the game, so they signed her and her twin sister, Olivia, up for lessons. Olivia quit soon after they started, but Laetitia kept at it. When Laetitia was 12, the lead golf pro at the club told her and her mother that Laetitia should compete in the Israeli Ladies Championship. At that time, she had only competed in junior tournaments. In this competition, she would be playing against women four times her age! “My mom caddied for me, and I ended up winning,” she recounts of that day. It was a big deal when she won – television, radio and newspapers in Israel covered her victory. At that time, in 2004, she was the youngest person ever to win the country’s championship. At Laetitia’s school the next day, they called all the students outside, announced that she had won and surprised her with a trophy. After winning the Ladies Championship, she had to pick one sport on which to focus. Golf seemed the obvious choice, but Laetitia was also a fierce competitor in soccer and tennis, which she had played longer than golf. She knew she wanted to play professionally; she just had to decide which sport. She loved tennis, but as the only girl playing, it was often hard for her to find a partner to practice with her. Since golf is an individual sport, being the only girl didn’t matter. She picked golf.

FOCUS ON GOLF

She quit all other sports and started playing golf five days a week. “The next year, I really saw an improvement,” says Laetitia. “I started shooting even par. We would have the Israeli Open and then club championships every six months.” She started to win every tournament she entered – and not by a small margin; at times, she won by as many as 30 strokes. When Laetitia was 13, her family realized that Israel lacked the resources, including professional training facilities and coaches, to provide her with a future in golf. “If I really wanted to get to the next level, I would have to leave Israel,” she says. The Becks began researching their options. Another young golfer from Caesarea, Roi Steinberg, had left a couple of years earlier to attend the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. IMG is a boarding school that offers academic and athletic collegepreparatory experiences in golf and seven other sports. The Becks decided to give IMG a try, thinking that the transition might be easier if Laetitia knew someone at the school. At 15, she left for the United States. Laetitia says adjusting to a different culture, religion and language was more difficult than the actual move. She was always very independent in Israel, going to the golf course to practice after school before returning home in the evening. “I was used to being alone,” says Laetitia. “I think that is why it wasn’t as hard as 28 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

From top: Laetitia won the Israeli Ladies Championship at age 12. Accepting a gold medal and holding the trophy at the 2009 Maccabiah Games. Laetitia at the 2005 Israel Open Golf Championship with Roi Steinberg.

people think to leave the country.” Still, that first year was a struggle. She even thought of going back to Israel but realized that if she returned, she would probably end up quitting golf altogether. She spent time with Roi speaking Hebrew and playing tennis, but her socialization in general was limited. She concentrated on golf. During her sophomore year in high school, college scouts started attending the tournaments. “I didn’t want to look at colleges; I wanted to turn professional right out of high school!” says Laetitia. But after some discussion with her parents, and a scholarship offer from Duke University in North Carolina, she set her sights on college. By the end of her senior year in high school, she was ranked in the top five junior golf players in the U.S. In 2010, she started at Duke and joined the women’s golf team. The team of seven players played tournaments together. “It was fun! It was the first time I had a team,” says Laetitia. “When I played for Israel, we rarely had a team. I was usually the only one.” She also became involved with the Jewish student community, which she had not experienced at IMG. “I keep kosher and it was much easier for me [at Duke] than in high school,” says Laetitia. She longed to devote more attention to golf but soon realized the importance of academics. She found the sports/school balance and graduated with a degree in psychology with AllAmerican honors in both her junior and senior years. She was also only the 11th Duke golfer to earn All-ACC (Atlantic Coast Conference) accolades during each of her four years.

TIME TO TURN PRO

Laetitia’s goal after college was to become a professional player. “[I] always wanted to turn professional, I wanted to [play golf ] for a living and represent Israel and my family,” she says. “I was happy to graduate and ... concentrate entirely on golf instead of [playing] just a few hours a day.” After graduation, Laetitia moved to Montreal, Canada, where she had gone during breaks at Duke. She divided her summers between Israel and time training with her coach, Andrew Phillips, at the Elm Ridge Country Club in Île Bizard, an island near Montreal. Her first professional event took place in Canada in 2011. “I was still an amateur, but I qualified to play at the Canadian Women’s Open [at the Hillsdale Golf and Country Club],” says Laetitia. “It’s funny, because the tournament was held at a Jewish club. So my first professional event with the LPGA was as an amateur at a Jewish club.” Laetitia’s focus now turned to getting her Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour card. Anyone can turn professional but qualifying for membership on the LPGA Tour is an arduous process. She began that process in 2010 with more than 400 other women golfers, whittling away at the competition in the three qualifying tournaments. The pool

would eventually be narrowed down to 20 finalists who would receive cards. Laetitia received her LPGA Tour card in December 2014 at age 22, becoming the first Israeli – man or woman – to qualify as a full-fledged member of any major golf tour. “I realized that it was the first time Israel had a player in the LPGA,” says Laetitia. “It was big news in the Israeli golf community.” In the fall of 2014, when the chill was starting to settle on Canada, Laetitia wondered where she was going to stay for the winter. She was visiting Israel and playing golf with a friend from Belgium when he suggested that she stay with his family in Aventura, Florida, near Miami. They offered her a room in their home and the chance to play golf at the Turnberry Isle Miami Resort and Golf Club. She liked it so much, she decided to stay in Aventura – and Turnberry is currently sponsoring her. “It’s a resort with a lot of Jewish people. I love it there! Every other person is wearing a Star of David,” jokes Laetitia.

OLYMPIC MOMENT

Laetitia competed at ages 13, 17 and 21 in the the Maccabiah Games, also known as the “Jewish Olympics.” She took home gold medals in the individual competition at age 17 and in both individual and team competitions at age 21. But she also wanted to compete in the “real” Olympics. In 2016, she qualified to compete in the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. There was uncertainty about her uniform and equipment, because Israel had never sent a golfer to the Olympics. (In all fairness to Israel, these were the first Olympic Games to include golf since 1904.) Being the perfectionist she is, Laetitia took things into her own hands and designed her own uniform, shoes and golf bag. “It took me a long time to design my golf bag, because I wanted [it] to represent the culture and religion – not just Israel,” explains Laetitia. “To me, that was the most important thing – the bag. I didn’t want to have anybody else do it. Appearance is important if you want to represent something very important to you.” Laetitia is extremely proud of her Jewish identity and was uncomfortable hearing that she shouldn’t wear her uniform with the Star of David emblem outside of the Olympic Village. Fortunately, she has not encountered much anti-Semitism on tour and in her everyday life “I don’t fear it as much because I [would] much rather Continued on page 30

"Two of my grandparents were in Auschwitz and the other two were in hiding in Belgium. I felt I had to do something to show the world that we are strong people.” – Laetitia Beck

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 29

LAETITIA BECK show where I come from ... than not show it at all,” says Laetitia. “I don’t think it’s a reason for me to hide anything. I’m not afraid of something happening if I show where I come from.” However, she did encounter anti-Semitism at the Olympics – surprisingly from the inhabitants within the walls of the Olympic Village. It happened before the Opening Ceremonies, when all of the athletes were headed to buses transporting them to the Maracanã Stadium. The Israeli team walked behind the athletes from Jordan and Iraq, which made Laetitia a little nervous, though everything appeared normal. As the Israelis went to board their assigned bus, a

30 MAY 2017 ||ARIZONA ARIZONAJEWISH JEWISHLIFE LIFE

member of the Lebanese team, which had already boarded, stood in front of the bus and ordered the driver to close the door and not allow the Israeli team on the bus. “That was the first time I had experienced anything like that,” recounts Laetitia. “We were stuck outside, not knowing where to go. The volunteers were saying ‘They don’t want you on the bus’ and were trying to find us space somewhere else. [It was] frustrating to see how this was happening at the biggest event in the world.” Around 30 Israeli athletes were not allowed on the bus. “We were furious,” says Laetitia. “Everyone was watching us and we didn’t understand why they wouldn’t just take the Lebanese team out, find them space and let us on the bus.” But it didn’t go that way. The Israeli team waited while the volunteers broke them into

smaller groups to go on other buses. Then another volunteer called the Israeli athletes off of the other buses, adding to the confusion. “But they got us another bus – for just us,” she says. “That’s what we had to deal with before the Opening Ceremonies.” Fortunately, Laetitia had no further contact with the Lebanese athletes for the rest of the Olympic Games and no more unpleasant encounters. No other Middle Eastern countries participated in golf, so she was with other golfers during the day and with her Israeli teammates when she returned to the Olympic Village in the evening.

THE PASSION BEHIND THE PLAYER

When asked what has influenced her most, Laetitia’s answer is not another golfer or athlete – it’s her history. “I think of how my grandparents had to go through a lot of things [that] I didn’t have to,” says Laetitia solemnly. “What my grandparents came from – almost dying – and I can be at this level [of success]. Two of my grandparents were in Auschwitz and the other two were in hiding in Belgium. I felt I had to do something to show the world that we are strong people.” Three of her grandparents (one grandfather passed away before she was born) have witnessed her success. “When Israelis come here, they might find it strange how some Americans follow the [ Jewish] religion,” says Laetitia. “I’ve been here for so long and I’ve seen so many different types of traditions. For me, I don’t really judge anybody by how they practice. It doesn’t matter if you are a Reform Jew, a Conservative Jew or an Orthodox Jew. For me, what’s important is how someone identifies – how proud they are. I get a lot of joy from seeing someone just identify – [someone] who comes to the golf course, watches me and says ‘Shalom, we are so proud of you’ or shows me their Star of David or says a word or two in Hebrew. It doesn’t really matter what they do as long as they have that pride in them. For me, that’s the most important thing.” Golf lets Laetitia represent the country of Israel, the Jewish culture and her family’s heritage. She also hopes that her success on the greens can help her reach her goal of making a difference. “If I can reach a really high level, then I can reach more people,” she says. “It all depends on how well I do in golf – and that will give me a stronger voice. I still have to find that passion and what I want to do. I’m hoping to do something that will make the world a better place than before, [to] use the power that I will have to try to do something better.” She is already used to making history – so making the world a better place is right on par for Laetitia Beck.

From top: Laetitia's family, from left: Mother Liliane, sister Liora, father Jean Claude, Laetitia and twin sister Olivia. Laetitia in Israel before heading to the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Laetitia's Olympic golf bag that she designed herself.

"For me, it doesn’t matter if you are a Reform Jew, a Conservative Jew or an Orthodox Jew. For me, what’s important is how someone identifies – how proud they are.” – Laetitia Beck ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 31

A promising new, high-tech treatment for Alzheimer’s disease By Mary Ann Bashaw 32 Dr. Marwan Sabbagh 34 Seniors and technology 38 It's just a number 40 Connections in home care 44 GRIN 46 JCC Parkinson's programs

“This generation is worried about memory. [The trials] are a great way to engage in prevention.”

~ Dr. Marwan Sabbagh

48 Test your hearing health 50 Senior Directory

Dr. Sabbagh discusses traetments and procedures with a patient

32 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

ith any luck, most of us hope to live to a ripe old age. If we take care of ourselves – and barring any twist of fate – we can expect to enjoy an active and functional life of independence as long as possible. Or can we? Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, is notorious for knocking such plans off track. It’s an incurable, neurodegenerative disease that strikes one in five people over age 65. The progression of the disease is different in every individual, but the outcome is the same for everyone: Alzheimer’s is fatal. “Alzheimer’s disease represents everything sad and destructive about getting old,” says Marwan Sabbagh, M.D., F.A.A.N., C.C.R.I., neurologist, professor of neurology and director of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Division at Barrow Neurological Institute at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. Dr. Sabbagh is an expert in Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Dr. Sabbagh calls his work “my life passion,” though he readily admits to a “fear of getting old.” He was fascinated with research on the brain when he was in college and gravitated toward the field “when Alzheimer’s was a big unknown.” Dr. Sabbagh earned his medical degree from the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson. Memory impairment is one of the most common symptoms of the early stages of Alzheimer’s. As the disease progresses, more acute symptoms include aggression, confusion, speech difficulty, longterm memory loss and loss of bodily functions. The average life expectancy following diagnosis is seven to 10 years. Patients ultimately become fully dependent and/or institutionalized within four to five years.

ENGAGING IN PREVENTION

Throughout his career, Dr. Sabbagh has been involved in various clinical trials throughout his career on ways to treat and prevent Alzheimer’s. “BNI has a full spectrum of clinical trials in process,” says Dr. Sabbagh, including two called A4 and A5. These trials address prevention, while others address mild cognitive impairment and full dementia. A4 is a prevention trial for participants ages 65 to 85 who are not showing any symptoms of Alzheimer’s but who are

concerned about their memory – or the disease runs in their families. Dr. Sabbagh says the goal is to “try to alter their futures before they become symptomatic” through medication. They are screened and receive a PET scan to determine the presence of the Alzheimer’s protein, which can ultimately build up between brain cells and impair brain function. If it is present, then the individual is eligible for the trial, which is a three-yearlong study. A5 is the next generation of the A4 trial, “using the same paradigm but different medication,” says Dr. Sabbagh. A4 and A5 are separate studies and participants cannot take part in both. Dr. Sabbagh admits that participants “hope they don’t qualify for the studies, but they understand the process going in of what we are trying to do and why.” He stresses that there is always the possibility of a placebo, which is standard for these types of studies. In light of everything that years of research and discovery have revealed about Alzheimer’s and dementia, Dr. Sabbagh says that “this generation is worried about memory. [The trials] are a great way to engage in prevention.”

SLOWING THE PROGRESSION OF ALZHEIMER’S

One treatment in particular in Israel, for which Dr. Sabbagh was the leading investigator, is showing early promise. Neuronix, headquartered in Israel with subsidiaries in the U.S. and the U.K., is the producer of the neuroAD Therapy System, a non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical treatment administered in an outpatient or clinical setting and designed to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s. Clinical trials in Israel, where the treatment has been approved, and at Harvard Medical Center have shown promising results. The neuroAD system gives patients transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, along with cognitive training exercises tailored to each individual. Stimulation of regions of the brain that control memory and learning can help to reactivate braincell activity to try to slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s. The treatment is typically used in conjunction with other therapies, including medication. Patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s showed improvement in memory within three months after six weeks of one-hour treatments, five days a week. The technology has been approved in the U.S. to treat depression. Dr. Sabbagh says it is currently under review in the U.S. by the FDA “for approval of a specific adaptation with alterations that make it particular to Alzheimer’s.” He is confident that approval is imminent.

REDUCING RISK THROUGH DIET

In a unique collaboration, Dr. Sabbagh and American chef Beau MacMillan developed a cookbook titled The Alzheimer’s

Left: Dr. Marwan Sabbagh. Below: The neuroAD device gives patients transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, along with cognitive training exercises tailored to each individual.

Prevention Cookbook – Recipes to Boost Brain Health as a testament to the importance of diet. Admitting that “I’m a neurologist, not a chef,” Dr. Sabbagh offered his medical expertise on the subject and MacMillan came up with the recipes. “We know that the onset of [Alzheimer’s] symptoms start 20 years after changes take place in the brain,” says Dr. Sabbagh. “The cookbook is written with an eye toward strategizing to reduce our risk starting today – and the easiest way [to do this] is to alter diet.” He stresses that the cookbook is not a prescriptive diet but offers brain-healthy ways of eating that include reducing saturated fats, adopting a Mediterranean diet (abundant in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and olive oil) and adding more antioxidant spices to foods. When asked whether Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia is inevitable if we all live long enough, Dr. Sabbagh gives a hopeful answer. “There seems to be some statistical evidence that you truly outlive your risk,” he says, adding that the chance is 33% by age 85, 40% by age 90. “The older you get, the higher the risk – though it’s not 100%.” When it comes to Alzheimer’s disease prevention, Dr. Sabbagh offers this essential advice: “Be engaged. By the time you’re forgetful, it’s too late. You should not wait to seek medical attention. Being passive is not productive. If it’s treatable, we want to alter [the disease’s] future.” To request an appointment with Dr. Sabbagh, call 877-8799649 or visit barrowneuro.org. Learn more about neuroAD at neuronixmedical.com. Mary Ann Bashaw, of Phoenix, is an editor and writer.

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Adaptability key to moving on By Deborah Moon

hree years ago, my fatherin-law, now 96, traded his bicycle for a recumbent

trike. Freed from the fear of falling and breaking a hip or shoulder as he had seen friends do, he continued his cycling adventures. But the heavier cycle and different muscles needed to pedal made climbing hills a slow, tiring process. Concerned he wouldn’t have the energy to make it home, Dad planned routes with fewer hills. Then, last year, he decided to buy a motor for his trike. It doesn’t run all the time, but he can push a button and get an assist on climbs. He returned to many of his favorite rides. The world was once again open before him. There’s no denying that as we age, our brains and bodies change. But thanks to technology and revolutionary ways of thinking, we can now enjoy a rich life well into our golden years. That’s especially important given the growth of our senior population. The 2010 U.S. Census determined there were more than 40.3 million people age 65 and older, with those age 85 and older representing the fastestgrowing group.

MOBILITY

Maintaining mobility is an important part of retaining independence. From canes to mountain trikes, finding ways to stay on the go has gotten easier in recent years. As Dad discovered, even active seniors can benefit from getting creative to extend their mobility. A 2011 AARP article on the increasing popularity of recumbent trikes listed advantages, including stability, comfort, cardiovascular benefits, adaptability for riders with disabilities and a view of the landscape instead of the road. For those who rely on their upper-body strength to get around, there are options for them to enjoy the outdoors, too. Mountain trikes – all-terrain, self-propelled wheelchairs – are perfect for exploring the outdoors, from muddy trails to the beach, or – as the name implies – climbing mountains. Scooters have also grown in popularity. “People bring their parents in because they

want them to go with their grandkids to the park and zoo and experience what the family is experiencing and not have mom or dad feel like they are slowing them down,” says Tim Rutti, president of Valley Medical Supplies. Tim says he helps seniors overcome their reticence in four major areas. When they learn that power scooters are seldom covered by Medicaid, they believe the cost will be prohibitive; but Tim says good scooters are available for $900 to $1,200. Most seniors also fear they will need to install a lift or ramp on their car to transport the scooter. But Tim says most of the scooters Valley Medical sells are portable and easily disassemble into pieces that weigh just 25 to 30 pounds. For those who worry that a disassembled battery-operated device may run out of power and strand them, Tim assures them that the new batteries “can go more miles than anyone could use on one charge.” The diverse styles and bright colors available are all options that don’t look like medical devices. “They [seniors] walk in with a grimace,” says Tim. “But then they see all the styles and bright colors and understand they can become mobile with a new power mobility product but be discrete.” At age 81, Shelly Petcher is a prime example of what a power scooter enables a senior to continue to enjoy. Shelly has taken his scooter to Israel twice, as well as to Japan, the Baltic countries, Scandinavia and Russia. In midApril, he headed off on a cruise to Central America with stops in Belize, Mexico and Honduras, followed by a week in New Orleans. “The only place I got Joe Patton, 96, now uses a recumbent trike for his cycling adventures.

34 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Shelly Petcher, 81, says he couldn’t have visited Israel and prayed at the Western Wall without his scooter.

stuck was in the Hermitage in Russia,” he says. Stopped at the base of a stairway with no elevator around, he got moving again when two American tourists picked up his scooter and carried it up the stairs. “I can go anywhere I want to go except stairs.” “The scooter is what enables me to go on these trips,” Shelly says. “A walker could do it, but I run out of energy.” According to a 2013 report from the University of California, San Francisco Disability Statistics Center, Shelly is not alone: Just over 6.8 million community-resident Americans use assistive devices to help them with mobility. This group comprises 1.7 million wheelchair or scooter riders and 6.1 million users of other mobility devices, such as canes, crutches and walkers. Even walkers have advanced in recent years. Tim says that the old-fashioned walkers with two wheels in front and two tennis balls on the back legs are “so yesteryear.” The new four-wheel rollators, or rolling walkers, are much more common. Many rollators also have a seat, bags, cup holders, cane holders and brakes.

HIGH TECH

A couple of months ago, I saw the futuristic play “Marjorie Prime,” which explored the intersection of science and aging. It was a deeply thought-provoking play. The technology in the play, an artificial version of Marjorie’s late husband who helps her grapple with memory loss and loneliness, clearly does not exist – yet. On a much simpler level, smart speakers and personal assistants such as Amazon Echo and Alexa can provide interaction and memory aids to seniors. While screen interaction is often considered detrimental as a substitute for in-person social interaction among children and teens, the use of social media and the internet seems to have the opposite effect on seniors. A 2013 Pew Research Study on internet use reported: “[O] lder adults who use social networking sites such as Facebook are

Ultimately, it’s your experience that matters. To be sure, we’re proud of our 29 years of experience in senior living. But, to us, what really matters is your experience at our communities. We do everything with that idea clearly in mind. So, go ahead, enjoy yourself with great social opportunities and amenities. Savor fine dining every day. And feel assured that assisted living services are always available if needed. We invite you to experience The Village at Ocotillo for yourself at a complimentary lunch and tour. Please call now to schedule.

I n de p e n de n t & A s s i s t e d L i v i ng

990 West Ocotillo Road • Chandler, AZ SRGseniorliving.com • 480.558.0246 ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 35

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Many seniors use iPads or smart phones to keep in touch with family and friends via FaceTime, Skype or social media sites.

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Connections in Home Care, LLC For Assistance a Few Hours Blvd., Suite 200 more likely to regularly socialize with friends, whether online, a Day or3420 Up E. toShea 24 Hours in person, or over the telephone, compared with seniors who are Phoenix, AZ 85028

not social networking site users. Some 81% of older adults who

(602) 708-8626 • www.chcaz.org use social networking sites say they socialize with others on a daily or near-daily basis.” Locally owned & operated by “… Among older adults who go online but do not use social networking sites, that figure is 71%; and for those who are not Eric & Denise Kaye.

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online at all, it is 63%.” Many senior facilities provide Wi-Fi, public computers and tech support to help their residents reap those benefits. At Andara in Scottsdale, Program Director Jill Taylor sets aside time on Saturdays to meet with residents and help them learn to use their smartphones, tablets or laptops to connect with family or navigate the internet. The Village at Ocotillo in Chandler offers monthly tech classes on different applications. “Each month, we focus on something else – Facebook, iPhones, cameras or Skype,” says Program Director Kim Tacy. “Most residents are interested in their iPhones and how to use them and navigate them.” Maravilla Scottsdale offers classes such as Facebook 101 and one-on-one help for residents in both the independent living and assisted living residences. Assisted living residents who want to Skype with distant family members can schedule a time with Program Director Erin Masterson, who will help coordinate a Skype session. “Many residents have their own cell phones and want to FaceTime with their grandkids but don’t know how; we can assist them with that as well,” she says.

caregivers to older adults and the (602) 708-8626 • www.chcaz.org physically challenged within the community.

For Assistance a Few Hours a Day or Up to 24 Hours Locally owned & operated by Eric & Denise Kaye.

Connections in Home Care, LLC LOW-IMPACT ACTIVITY

3420 Suitein200 A 2015E. blogShea post fromBlvd., McMaster University Canada found that virtual reality gaming systems like Nintendo Wii Phoenix, AZ 85028 provide both entertainment and opportunities for physical

activity. The post noted that from research studies (602) 708-8626 • evidence www.chcaz.org shows that Wii-based training is comparable to other exercise 36 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

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Retire with neighbors as inspiring as the setting.

“Just over 6.8 million community-resident Americans use assistive devices to help them with mobility.”

welcoming residents and exceptional staff make retirement here extraordinary, and amenities like gourmet meals and a resort-like lifestyle only enhance the experience. An inviting retirement awaits. Call to learn more.

~ University of CaliforniaDisability Statistics Center 23005 North 74th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85255 888.608.1728 • Silverstone.ViLiving.com

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programs for improving balance in older adults, which can reduce the risk of falling. Wii controllers respond to real body movements, encouraging low-impact motion. Many of the games can be played by people with varying degrees of mobility. Weekly Wii bowling tournaments are on the calendar at Andara and Maravilla Scottsdale. At Maravilla, residents also enjoy a variety of games and activities such as table tennis, yoga, aerobics or even skiing on the Wii system. Residents at The Village at Ocotillo enjoy Wii bowling and tennis. There’s no question that technology is changing how we age. Being willing to adapt and use technology creatively helps us hold onto the passions, activities and connections that make us who we are.

It’s just a number!!! Older is better for active seniors Contributing Editor Leni Reiss talked to some local senior citizens about the positive aspects of aging. The following interviewees are participants in Readers’ Theatre, a class that is part of the Creative Aging program offered by Jewish Family & Children’s Service. Janet Arnold, coordinator of Creative Aging, explains that their performance (April 6 at the JFCS Center for Senior Enrichment) was the culmination of a six-week class. For information about Creative Aging classes, contact Janet Arnold at Janet.Arnold@jfcsaz.org.

“I was an attorney with beaucoup stress. Now I am stress free to do whatever I want, whenever I want.” -Sherry Bell (age 70, born in Cleveland)

“I’ve had enough life experience to make me appreciate each day. One thing I know: It’s important to keep busy.” -Charlene Abramsohn (age 92, born in Iowa)

“After serving seniors as a human resources manager, as I enter my own senior decades I am becoming more sympathetic and understanding of the aging process.” -Harve Kimmel (age 69, Phoenix native)

“I am more self-accepting. The awareness of my mortality makes me appreciate and find sacredness in the present – and I am more focused on joy.” -Debra Metelits (age 66, born in Pittsburgh)

“Aside from all the doctor appointments, I enjoy the freedom of not beating around the bush and speaking out about how I really feel. And I have the time to meet lots of new people.” -Arlene Freedberg (age 76, born in The Bronx) 38 APRIL MAY 2017 2017| |ARIZONA ARIZONAJEWISH JEWISHLIFE LIFE

“I hate to miss anything. I’ve been that way my whole life. I play violin with the Sun City Chamber Orchestra and travel a lot to see my 18 great-grandchildren.” -Honey Yellin (age 87, born in New York)

“I am happy not having to go to work. I have time to go on the computer. I volunteer at Beth El and for JWV. And of course, I go to doctor and dental appointments!” -Steve Herman (age 74, born in Brooklyn)

“I love not being responsible to the workplace. I’m doing what I want to do. I’m teaching yoga, have time for my book group and knitting.” -Noreen Shcolnik (age 69, born in California)

“I don’t sweat the small stuff anymore. I’m still working in real estate. I enjoy it but don’t feel swamped – I feel balanced.” -Elaine Kort (age 74, born in Cleveland)

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 39

Connections In Home Care: connecting hearts to homes By Mala Blomquist

Top: Denise and Eric Kaye with therapy dog, Coltrane. Above: Connections In Home Care client Gerald S. with caregiver Althea Smith. PHOTO BY ELENA AND JIM

ric Kaye was no stranger to the healthcare field when Jewish Family & Children’s Service asked him to start Jewish Family Home Care of Arizona in 2010. “It started with my own grandmother, Emily Koen, who was a Holocaust survivor [living] in Scottsdale,” says Eric. “My grandfather was gone and she needed help.” She trusted JFCS and inquired if there was a program to assist her. The care she needed wasn’t available at that time, so Eric became her caregiver. Being in the healthcare field, he had had a connection with JFCS for many years through hospice, hospitals or home care. Then JFCS recruited him to start its home care program. He ran Jewish Family Home Care of Arizona from its inception until he decided to branch out on his own and started Connections In Home Care in 2014. At that point, the JFCS ended its home care program and started referring clients to Eric. Connections In Home Care was asked to continue the existing contract with The Blue Card program (bluecardfund.org), which provides financial assistance to needy Holocaust survivors. With Eric’s grandmother a survivor, The Blue Card and its beneficiaries hit close to home. Connections In Home Care currently has 15 clients who receive assistance from The Blue Card program. The Blue Card used to provide recipients with up to 30 hours of care each week: 25 hours from the organization and five hours from private funding. Unfortunately, those five hours have been cut. The Blue Card also only covers care, so Eric and Denise donate all the miles they drive related to these clients’ care. “It definitely breaks my heart,” says Denise Kaye, Eric’s wife and business partner. “We have 15 people on service and four people who were used to getting 30 hours, [which] are now reduced to 25.” Denise notes that if private donors want to give to The Blue Card, they can specify a region for their donation.

BE MORE PROACTIVE THAN REACTIVE

Eric says that the care offered to both The Blue Card and other clients can be broken down into two categories: companion care and personal care. Companion care includes light housekeeping, laundry, making beds or changing linens, doing dishes, vacuuming, transportation, medication reminders, meal planning and preparation, fall prevention, various projects (clearing clutter, getting organized) and basic companionship.

40 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Big things are happening in your backyard. Introducing Mirabella at Arizona State University, a brand-new Life Plan Community on the campus of one of the most dynamic research universities in the country, just steps from the historic ASU Gammage theater. Offering a wealth of programs and activities, Mirabella aims to help you make the next chapters of your life the best chapters of your life. And with three penthouse restaurants and more than 250 of the largest view residences in the valley, it is high-rise urban living at its finest. Join us at one of our upcoming events to learn more about this incredible opportunity.

Three dates to choose from: May 5, 23, or 24 at 10 am Located at SkySong, the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center 1365 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale, AZ Continental breakfast will be served. Complimentary garage parking.

ay: d o t P V RS 5 9 2 9 5 6 480-9 www.mirabellaASU.com 300 E. University Drive, 5th Floor Tempe, AZ 85281 Mirabella at Arizona State University is a nonprofit, resident-centered community developed in partnership with Pacific Retirement Services and Arizona State University. Equal housing opportunity.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 41

Client Rachel R. with caregiver Tobi Jones and client Hank S. with caregiver Stan Rykowski. PHOTOS BY ELENA AND JIM

The Blue Card, Inc. is a national organization aiding Holocaust survivors in over 32 states. Of the nearly 2,500 Holocaust survivor households The Blue Card serves, three-quarters are over the age of 75 and nearly 70% live alone. “Over the years we have been receiving many, many requests from Holocaust survivors for home care service,” states Milana Baazov, associate executive director of The Blue Card, Inc. The Blue Card will increase hours of care they can provide if the funding is there, but recently they experienced a reduction in private donations. That combined with the needs of survivors increasing, makes it challenging. “What happened this past year was that we received an influx of applications for home care services from new survivors [applying] and as Holocaust survivors are aging, their needs for home care services are increasing,” explains Milana. To donate to The Blue Card, visit bluecardfund.org. Donations can be designated to assist a particular region.

“Personal care is where we tailor the service to individuals based on their needs,” says Eric. Personal care includes everything on the companion side, as well as help in the shower, help with walking or with moving from sitting to standing with back, incontinent care, dressing, personal hygiene and more. “We work a lot with clients afflicted with any type of dementia, Parkinson’s or other neurological challenges,” says Eric. “We train on working with that population ... successfully, managing education and behaviors.” Respite care is also available if a client’s family members, spouse or primary caregiver need some time to themselves. “Our services are anywhere from a [daily] four-hour shift ... to 24 hours a day,” says Eric. “We are on call 24/7. You will speak to one of us [Eric or Denise] or Jennifer [Bohnsack], our administrator.” Connections In Home Care currently has 50 employees servicing Maricopa County. Employees go through a rigorous process that includes phone screening, background and Motor Vehicle Department checks, drug testing, in-service training and orientation. “Finding good, caring, reliable caregivers is the number-one obstacle that we face,” says Eric. But when they do find those special people, they accommodate and take care of them. “We respect and nurture our caregivers; and we have high expectations for them because it is our name and reputation – they are representing us,” says Denise. “We have had clients who have had the same caregiver for years and they really love each other. It’s this beautiful bond. That’s the joy of doing this [kind of work].” Denise’s mission is to educate people (she was a former middle school teacher before earning her MBA and working with Eric) and get them to think about having a plan in place for the future. “I talk to estate planners, financial planners, elder attorneys – because 85% of our calls are emergencies,” says Denise. “People will call and say, ‘My mom is in the hospital. She is going to rehab. They are going to discharge her. I don’t know what to do.’ If you have something in place way before that happens, you can be more proactive than reactive.” She recommends that people begin planning as early as in their 50s. “You have to talk about it – and it’s difficult – but people want to honor your wishes and make it so that they are doing what you want. Make these decisions while you can,” recommends Denise.

A “THIRD BABY”

Eric and Denise offer more than just care for their clients. They also have connections to many valuable resources – whether it’s a handyman to install grab bars for safety or an attorney for estate planning. If clients decide it’s time to move to an assisted living community, they know people who can help find the best one to fit their needs. “This is our ‘third baby,’” says Denise. (The couple have two children: Asher, 13, and Lirit, 10.) “We nurture each case and client and take really good care of them,” adds Eric. “We want to be there for someone to be as independent as possible, for as long as possible, in their own home. That’s why they hire us.” Eric and Denise personally ensure that each client is getting the appropriate level of care. “Our fundamental value is gemilut chasadim – acts of love and kindness – and that’s what we like to portray out there in the community,” says Eric. “That is what we tell our caregivers in the training. That’s our main, fundamental, shared value and that is what I think our clients in the community see...” “I love our tagline ‘connecting hearts to homes,’” adds Denise. “I feel like it’s a certain kind of person who does this. They have such big hearts and they care so much for the clients, and we do it well. I love to visit the clients and just listen to them. They have insight and wisdom. They have such stories to tell.” Contact Eric and Denise Kaye at 602-708-8626 or visit Connections In Home Care at chcaz.org.

42 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

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7001 E. Mountain View Rd. • Scottsdale, AZ 85253 • (480) 991-9912 • www.thebartonhouse.com ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 43

Grandparents in Residence program offers kindness and healing By Sheila Wilensky

Suzi Hileman shares a fun moment with her granddaughter Adelaide (2). PHOTO COURTESY OF J. PETERSEN PHOTOGRAPHY

or years, Suzi Hileman had an idea in her head. Why not connect grandparents with school children who were missing out on that relationship? Grandparents in Residence, or GRIN, came to life following the Jan. 8, 2011 Tucson shooting, when Suzi was shot three times while holding the hand of 9-year-old ChristinaTaylor Green. The two friends and neighbors were discussing the three branches of government, excitedly waiting to talk with U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords at a “Congress on Your Corner” event in front of a Northwest Tucson Safeway. On that tragic day when shots rang out, Christina was one of six people killed by gunman Jared Lee Loughner. Giffords, along with 12 other innocent bystanders, survived the assassination attempt. “I’m not a hero for not dying,” says Suzi. “I’m a living, breathing representation of the fact that you can get knocked down and get back up.” But she adds that she couldn’t do it alone. Eight months later, she gathered her friends as volunteers to bring hugs, books, songs – and mostly positive contact – to children in Tucson’s Amphitheater School District, where many of them come from low-income families. They are also immigrants or children of teenage parents. A retired social worker who’s Jewish, Suzi was committed to healing – both physically and emotionally – though she will never fully recover from losing Christina. On Aug. 25, 2011, around 12 GRIN volunteers showed up at the Prince Elementary School to read to students. GRIN has since expanded to Amphitheater Middle School and Oro Valley’s Copper Creek Elementary School, where one project was simply buying pillows for the school’s reading room. Some GRIN members donate money. The organization hopes to provide exposure to the kinds of activities that middle-class children may take for granted. Structured exercise is also part of a larger program linking

44 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

“I’m a living, breathing representation of the fact that you can get knocked down and get back up.” ~ Suzi Hileman

classrooms with mentors, artists, readers and homework helpers. Known as “Grandma Suzi” to students, Suzi finds out what teachers need then goes to work to make sure they get it. GRIN has sponsored a Valentine’s Day luncheon for teachers, but most events provide enrichment to classrooms and encourage one-on-one communication. Grandma Suzi often walks around the perimeter of the playground, inviting a lone child to “come and walk with me.” When she is asked why she “walks funny” (with a limp), she replies, “I’ll tell you, but it’s a very sad story. A young man who didn’t know [how] to use his words to solve a problem was very angry and he shot people. And I got shot in the butt.” She adds that “whenever you say the word ‘butt,’ 5-year-olds laugh. It takes the edge off.” Then she shows them the bullet hole in her shoulder, another place she was shot. Suzi says that when she tells kindergartners that her friend Christina died, “it’s hard for them to believe. Then they say, ‘My brother, or sister, or aunt, or dad got shot.’ This resonates with a lot of kids.” Kids may need a hug, a song or stickers – or for Suzi to tell them, “Don’t hide your sadness,” which may work both ways. When she was once asked if she was “the grandma for the whole school” and if she would be back the next year, Suzi replied with enthusiasm, “Oh, yeah!” Suzi would like to sign up more volunteers. “It’s hasslefree volunteering,” she says. “Anything you’re enthusiastic about will appeal to kids. Be inventive. Wouldn’t it be great to coordinate seven volunteers to show up on the same day to read The Lorax by Dr. Seuss at all seven kindergarten [classes] at Prince Elementary?” The former social worker has found her own way to heal through GRIN: “It’s impossible to be sad when you’re around little kids.” To get involved with GRIN, contact Suzi at suzi@ grandparentsinresidence.com. To volunteer in the public school system, a fingerprint clearance card is required from the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Visit azdps.gov/ services/public/fingerprint for more information.

A little help. A big difference. Assisted living services that are about the whole family and the whole YOU. But the best part? No matter if you need a little help or a lot, the difference you’ll feel will be amazing. Please call Maravilla Scottsdale to schedule your complimentary lunch and tour.

7325 E. Princess Blvd. Scottsdale, AZ • 480.359.1345 MaravillaScottsdale.com Ca sita s | Cou rt ya r d R esidences In depen den t & A ssisted Li v ing | Memory Ca r e

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Parkinson’s PWR!Moves at the JCC By Mala Blomquist

Top: Lynn Staub, third from right, with participants from the JCC at the Walk the Fight & Run the Distance for Parkinson’s fundraiser in February. Above: Lynn Staub with PWR!Moves participant Jeff Reese.

46 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

he Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center in Scottsdale has always offered exercise classes, but people might not know that they also offer a special program for those battling Parkinson’s disease. PWR!Moves and PWR!Circuit were introduced at the JCC in January 2016 by Lynn Staub, a certified personal trainer. PWR stands for Parkinson’s Wellness and Recovery. These are research based, integrated exercise and wellness programs designed to optimize the brain’s neuroplasticity – the ability of the brain to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections – in those with PD. Lynn received hands-on training in PWR! at the Parkinson’s Wellness and Recovery Gym in Tucson with Becky Farley, Ph.D., M.S., P.T. Dr. Farley developed the LSVT BIG exercise program used in hospitals and by physical therapists working with PD patients. PWR! was created – and the gym established – when she realized there was a need for a program for PD patients after they finish therapy and return to their daily routines/lives. “In my training with members who have Parkinson’s, I was seeing that there was nowhere for them to go after physical therapy,” says Lynn. “I thought there should be some type of fitness program for them to progress in therapy in a comfortable environment with other people with Parkinson’s.” Her research led her to Dr. Farley and PWR!. Lynn is also a JCC fitness instructor; so when she proposed offering the PWR! classes, the JCC was on board with the program. Lynn also has experience from working years ago as a fitness consultant for a company called Brain Savers, an exercise program developed by a neurologist to help slow the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Before starting the PWR! program, Lynn was invited to speak to the Scottsdale Parkinson’s Support Group. “I was able to speak about the JCC and about the program we were starting,” says Lynn. “This was in December 2015 and we started the program in January 2016. The majority of membership came from that support group.” Through the Scottsdale group, Lynn connected with the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute. The JCC and the Center have formed a partnership where they hold classes and special events like the Parkinson’s Health & Fitness Day twice a year. The Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center also offers the PWR! program. Lynn explains how the PWR! program helps those with PD: “Research has shown that exercise is medicine for people with Parkinson’s. It will not rid them of the disease, but all of the medical research indicates that exercise is more than strength, balance, coordination, flexibility and cardiovascular function. There’s also a physiological tool that protects at-risk or compromised neurons, guides brain health into protection and repair and helps slow down the progression of the disease.” She has witnessed these benefits firsthand. “The people who have been participating two times a week have significantly increased their balance and strength…” says Lynn. “They have really slowed down the progression of the disease and that’s what’s really important.” A doctor’s recommendation is not needed to attend; participants just need to be able to walk 100 feet without a walker, help or assistance. The classes are free to members of the JCC and $5 per class for non-members. Lynn prefers that those interested call her before signing up to give her a chance to speak to them and determine the best point for them to start. She notes that it is not unusual for her to send people back to physical therapy before they can participate.

In February, Lynn was invited to lead the opening warmup for the annual Walk the Fight & Run the Distance for Parkinson’s fundraiser in Tempe. “A lot of fun people from the JCC were there with me,” she says. JCC is offering two new programs this year: Parkinson’s Boxing and Parkinson’s Hydrorider Aqua Cycling. Although Lynn is not involved with these classes, she says that their popularity has been gaining momentum. As her classes grow at the JCC, so do the relationships with the Scottsdale Parkinson’s Support Group and the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center. One person recently commented that the JCC is becoming a “hub” of its own, which makes Lynn happy. “It’s really rewarding and a lot of fun,” she says. For more information on Parkinson’s wellness at the JCC, call 480-481-7090 or email healthandfitness@vosjcc.org.

THE JCC OFFERS THREE LEVELS OF PWR!MOVES CLASSES: PWR!MOVES 1

In this entry-level class, the majority of exercises and stretches are done in a chair or while standing. Participants must be able to walk 100 feet on their own with or without a cane or walker and be able to cognitively and independently follow instructions.

PWR!MOVES 2

This class includes PWR!Moves 1 movements, in addition to prone and supine floor exercises. Participants must be able to walk 100 feet on their own with or without a cane or walker, get up and down from the floor on their own with or without the use of a chair and be able to cognitively and independently follow instructions.

PWR!CIRCUIT 3

This class integrates previous PWR!Moves skills into a more advanced workout with instructor-guided exercise stations. Stations include cardio, strength training, agility, coordination, balance and flexibility. Participants must be able to walk 150 feet on their own with or without a cane or walker, get up and down from the floor on their own with or without the use of a chair, get on and off equipment and follow group instructions independently.

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ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 47

Test your hearing health

ay is Better Hearing Month and according to the American Academy of Audiology, approximately 36 million Americans suffer from hearing loss. More than half of the people with hearing loss are younger than age 65. One in three people over the age of 60 has hearing loss and that statistic increases to one in two people for those over the age of 85. Hearing loss due to aging can be made worse by other factors such as diabetes, poor circulation, noise exposure and certain medications. People with untreated hearing loss (those with hearing loss who do not wear hearing aids) experience a decreased quality of life. Untreated hearing loss can lead to sadness, depression, anxiety, paranoia and poor social relationships. Hearing loss is the third most common health problem in the United States. Take a few moments to take the following test to check your hearing health.

HEARING HEALTH QUICK TEST

Do you find it difficult to follow a conversation in a noisy restaurant or crowded room? Yes No Sometimes

Do you feel that people are mumbling or not speaking clearly? Yes No Sometimes

Do you experience difficulty following dialog in the theater? Yes No Sometimes

Do you find it difficult to understand a speaker at a public meeting or a religious service? Yes No Sometimes

Do you find yourself asking people to speak up or repeat themselves? Yes No Sometimes

Do you find men’s voices easier to understand than women’s? Yes No Sometimes

Do you experience difficulty understanding soft or whispered speech? Yes No Sometimes

Do you have difficulty understanding speech on the telephone? Yes No Sometimes

Does a hearing problem cause you to feel embarrassed when meeting new people? Yes No Sometimes

Do you feel handicapped by a hearing problem? Yes No Sometimes

Does a hearing problem cause you to visit friends, relatives or neighbors less often than you would like? Yes No Sometimes Do you experience ringing or noises in your ears? Yes No Sometimes

SCORING: 2 points for Yes 1 point for Sometimes No points for No

Do you hear better with one ear than the other? Yes No Sometimes Have you had any significant noise exposure during work, recreation or military service? Yes No Sometimes

SCORE OF 3 OR MORE: May mean that you have a hearing problem. SCORE OF 6 OR MORE: Strongly suggest that a hearing check is warranted.

Have any of your relatives (by birth) had a hearing loss? Yes No Sometimes One way of treating age-related hearing loss is with hearing aids. Modern hearing aids are digital microcomputers that can automatically adjust to sound thousands of times per second, making speech comfortable and natural sounding. For more information on audiology and hearing loss, visit howsyourhearing.org. Information courtesy of the American Academy of Audiology.

48 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

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602.943.2198 www.jfcsaz.org ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 49

ANDARA SENIOR LIFESTYLE COMMUNITY 11415 N. 114th St., Scottsdale 480-451-1800 • seniorlifestyle.com/andara A beautifully appointed independent and assisted living community that offers an active lifestyle, upgraded one and two bedroom apartments and great food. Our community is designed with residents’ needs in mind and is dedicated to providing the best quality amenities and services. BARTON HOUSE 7001 & 7007 E. Mountain View Road, Scottsdale 480-991-9912 • thebartonhouse.com The Barton House provides high quality, resident-centered memory care for seniors in a warm, home-like setting. Our low caregiver-toresident ratio, on-site nursing and 24/7 “awake” staffing and daily activities program ensures that our residents receive the highest possible level of care and personal attention and remain engaged and active throughout the day. CONNECTIONS IN HOME CARE 3420 E. Shea Blvd. #200, Phoenix 602-708-8626 • chcaz.org Connections In Home Care connects Valley older adults with kindhearted, reliable, caregivers that treat clients like family and help them achieve successful daily living at home. HAWTHORN COURT 13822 S. 46th Place, Phoenix 480-367-8999 • srgseniorliving.com Hawthorn Court is a uniquely designed, secured residential community specializing in Alzheimer’s and dementia care. Featuring spacious private and shared suites. Our award-winning In Touch Dementia Care program focuses on the caring contribution of professionally trained staff members partnering with family members to ensure the comfort and care of our residents. HEAR USA Serving Mesa, Peoria, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Sun City West Mesa: 480-245-6622 Peoria: 623-933-0000 Phoenix: 480-214-4909 Scottsdale: 480-614-5929 Sun City West: 623-584-4952 hearusa.com HearUSA is a recognized leader in hearing care and partners with managed care organizations across the country. Through its Hearing Care Network of nearly4,000 independently practicing audiologists and hearing care professionals and over 220 company-owned hearing centers, HearUSA administers hearing benefits and provides related products and services to both third-party and self-referred clients.

50 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

JEWISH FAMILY & CHILDREN’S SERVICE CENTER FOR SENIOR ENRICHMENT 6250 N. 19th Ave., Phoenix 602-943-2198 • jfcsaz.org The Center for Senior Enrichment at JFCS offers education, health and wellness programs, holiday programs, nutritious lunches (with kosher option available upon request), exercise, entertainment and a wide variety of ever-changing activities. Older adults of all faiths are welcome! LA SIENA 909 E. Northern Ave., Phoenix 602-910-6319 • lasienaseniorliving.com Take in all that the North Central Phoenix area has to offer at La Siena. Offering independent living and assisted living in one- and two-bedroom residences with a wealth of services and amenities, La Siena is a beautiful community with plenty of opportunities at residents’ fingertips.. MARAVILLA SCOTTSDALE 7325 E. Princess Blvd., Scottsdale 480-359-1345 • maravillascottsdaleliving.com Maravilla Scottsdale is a retirement resort in the heart of north Scottsdale, next door to the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess resort and the TPC Scottsdale golf course. Offering independent living, assisted living and memory care in one- and two-bedroom residences along with casitas, at Maravilla Scottsdale you can pursue your own brand of happiness, with choices for socializing, or fitness, and fine dining – all with world class recreation and shopping right outside your door. MCDOWELL VILLAGE SENIOR LIVING 8300 E. McDowell Road, Scottsdale 480-970-6400 • mcdowellvillage.com McDowell Village is an independent and assisted living senior community offering an opportunity to experience something new, in an environment that spoils you in the best possible way. Providing each day with new and exciting activities – and an opportunity to nourish your mind, body and spirit. Inspired aging…it’s what we live for! MIRABELLA AT ASU 300 E. University Drive, Tempe 480-965-9295 • retirement.org/mirabella/asu Mirabella at ASU is a new 20 story, life-plan community that offers spacious view apartment homes, three restaurants on the 14th floor, life-long learning at Arizona State University and a lifetime healthcare plan.

SOUTHLAND HOME HEALTH 4527 N. 16th St. #101, Phoenix 602-773-7300 • southlandhh.com Southland Home Health offers a broad spectrum of care and social services, including nursing, therapy treatments and/or assistance with the activities of daily living. Increasingly, the home is the appropriate place to deliver these services for those who wish to remain independent but have the need for care that is beyond the scope of family’s and friend’s abilities. SUN HEALTH AT HOME 14719 W. Grand Ave., Surprise 623-227-HOME (4663) or 480-336-HOME (4663) sunhealthathome.org Sun Health at Home is a nonprofit “continuing care at home” program offering highly personalized support and coordinated services designed to allow seniors to remain in their homes, safely and confidently. It combines the assurance of needed support, personalized coordination of services and a cost-effective alternative or complement to long-term care insurance. THE PALAZZO 6250 N. 19th Ave., Phoenix 602-433-6300 • palazzohc.com The Palazzo is a full continuing care community offering independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing and memory care. Our residents find a caring, compassionate and devoted staff to accommodate virtually every request. Come by The Palazzo to see our beautifully renovated apartments, Café, extensive activities and programs designed with you in mind. THE SPRINGS OF SCOTTSDALE 3212 N. Miller Road, Scottsdale 480-941-9026 • thespringsofscottsdale.com What if there was a place you could live where you did not have to worry about chores or cooking or even transportation? What if this place included your own private apartment, a warm and secure environment with more conveniences than at your current home? You could come and go as you please; you’d have many new friends, time to play and most importantly – peace of mind. Quality of life. What are you waiting for? VALLEY OF THE SUN JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale 480-483-7121 • vosjcc.org The Valley of the Sun JCC offers a variety of fitness, educational and social programs for seniors, including art appreciation, discussion groups, Mature Mavens Dinner, knitting, mahjong, bridge, wellness talks and more. Fitness offerings include Parkinson’s PWR!Moves, swim lessons, Pilates, personal training and 70+ group exercise classes each week.

VI AT SILVERSTONE 23005 N. 74th St., Scottsdale 888-608-1728 • silverstone.viliving.com Vi at Silverstone, a Vi and Plaza Companies community, offers graciously appointed residences, picturesque surroundings and time spent with new friends. Take advantage of abundant services and amenities, all with the comfort of an on-site care center with assisted living, skilled nursing and memory support care. An inviting retirement awaits. THE RETREAT AT DESERT COVE 10031 E. Desert Cove Ave., Scottsdale 602-314-4005 • livingattheretreat.com Located in North Scottsdale, this magnificent assisted living residence provides seniors with the help they need, while upholding their dignity and independence, in a safe, compassionate, loving and peaceful environment. Each resident has a spacious private bedroom with en-suite bath facilities. The Retreat strives to exceed the highest expectations of our residents and their families. THE VILLAGE AT OCOTILLO 990 W. Ocotillo Road, Chandler 480-558-0246 • srgseniorliving.com Ideally located in Chandler’s popular master-planned community of Ocotillo, our award-winning community features 120 distinctively designed independent and assisted living residences. From the courteous, professional staff, to its prime location close to the Ocotillo Golf Resort, The Village at the Ocotillo offers the retirement lifestyle that’s just right for you.

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mtsinaicemetery.com ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 51

Buried heroics:

“No Place on Earth” film premieres at AZJS By Deborah Muller

52 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

n American spelunker’s accidental discovery of long-buried buttons, a comb and a tin cup was the key to unearthing a decades-old story of ingenuity and survival during the Holocaust. This finding is the subject of “No Place on Earth,” a film that the Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival, Phoenix Holocaust Survivors’ Association and Generations After will present at 2 pm on Sunday, May 7 at the Arizona Jewish Historical Society Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center in Phoenix. “No Place on Earth” brings to light the untold story of 38 Ukrainian Jews who survived World War II by living in a system of deep caves for 18 months, the longestrecorded uninterrupted underground survival

Many of the interview subjects in the film said they felt they owed their survival to the linchpin of the extended family unit – Esther – and a family bond that gave them the strength they needed to stick together and survive despite immeasurable odds. In the press notes, Tobias writes that at one point during her and Nicola’s visit to the caves, the visitors decided to turn off the lights for about five minutes: “That blew me away. I cannot imagine even a couple of days in the dark – but to have over 500 days in that level of darkness, I just couldn’t fathom. And the temperature is always cool, in the mid-50s, with 90% humidity, year-round. It’s always wet and cold. Theirs was not the modern caving experience with thermal underwear, caving

"I learned the Holocaust isn’t one story of how six million people perished; it's six million individual stories.” – Chris Nicola in recorded history. Based on interviews with former cave inhabitants and the caving expert who uncovered the story, the docudrama is an extraordinary testament to resourcefulness, willpower and endurance against all odds. While mapping out the largest cave system in Ukraine in the 1990s, explorer and investigator Chris Nicola discovered evidence that five Jewish families spent nearly a year and a half in the dank, pitch-black darkness of the Verteba Cave and Priest’s Grotto to escape the Nazis. Nicola joined with director Janet Tobias to film the incredible story of human survival. Through extensive research and determination, Nicola located several of the survivors and asked them share their stories of strength and perseverance. What differentiates this film is the focus on happier personal stories instead of on the typical tragedies related to the subject. Nicola underscores this point when he recounts that one of the cave’s former inhabitants told him that of all the Holocaust films he had seen over the years, “No Place on Earth” made him “cry more tears of joy than sorrow.” "I learned the Holocaust isn’t one story of how six million people perished; it's six million individual stories,” says Nicola. One of the survivors at the center of the film is Esther Stermer. The matriarchal leader of the five families who hid in the caves raised her children to never blindly follow authority.

suits and lights on helmets. They had some candles and kerosene in jars with wicks, which they had to use sparingly. They had nothing – except each other and their own ingenuity.” Nicola will be on hand at the film premiere to discuss his experiences and to answer questions from the audience. He also runs The Priest’s Grotto Heritage Project, a genocideawareness project where the grandchildren of those who lived in Priest’s Grotto during the Holocaust work hand-in-hand with the grandchildren of those who lived above the cave to build an exhibit to honor those courageous 38 and what they did so long ago. Keeping this story alive for future generations can hopefully prevent such genocides as the Holocaust from ever happening again. WHAT: Arizona premiere of the film “No Place on Earth,” with special guest Chris Nicola in attendance WHEN: 2 pm on Sunday, May 7 WHERE: Arizona Jewish Historical Society Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center, 122 E. Culver St. in Phoenix COST: $10 general admission, $5 students; free for survivors plus one guest. Order tickets online at phoenixhsa.org ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 53

"Laughing Buddha" bracelet

A collection of unique, square-shaped rings

By Mary Ann Bashaw

Bonnie Radow can’t remember a time in her life when she wasn’t creating. That creative streak has taken her on a unique path from interior designer and sculptor to her current raison d’être: jewelry designer. Her knack for creativity came in handy for clients of upscale homes when they couldn’t find just the right furnishings to finish off a room. Bonnie would simply design the elusive piece of furniture or the missing sculpture that would produce the desired “Aha!” moment. So why not jewelry? “I always felt like I had to ‘fix’ any jewelry I bought,” says Bonnie. An idea emerged when her husband asked, “Why don’t you just make something yourself ?” The rest is history. Bonnie’s many years of travel around the world and the stories of the people she met or heard about along the way – not to mention a lifelong sense of style – became the foundation for her designs. A “romantic at heart,” she collects love letters, charms, gemstones, tiny dolls and books, enameled trinkets and special, personal sayings to come up with a distinctive jewelry style that has attracted a loyal following around the Valley and the country. Bonnie, a native New Yorker, considers herself a 54 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

contemporary designer; but a foray into Victorian style for a client turned out to be the catalyst for further creativity. “My first ‘Victorian job’ happened to be in Phoenix,” says Bonnie. She wasn’t as familiar with antiques from that era, “but I learned very quickly. It was a wonderful learning experience.” Her eclectic fine jewelry – rings, pendants, necklaces, bracelets – comes in three collections: Heirloom, Contemporary and Passion. • The design of her Heirloom Collection pieces is based on fascinating stories around rare artifacts, including items like a tiny compass or hard-to-find miniature faces of laughing Buddhas, which represent the legend of an ancient, wandering Chinese monk who replaced people’s sadness with laughter, wisdom and abundance. • The Contemporary Collection speaks to Bonnie’s flair for modern design, incorporating geometric shapes, stamped words and fashionable stones, along with chains of different-sized links. • The Passion Collection, her newest, is a nod to romance and, well, passion! The pieces include diamonds and gemstones that add a touch of evening elegance to any neck, wrist or finger. Regardless of the collection, each one-of-a-kind piece is an

Silver cuff with black onyx center piece and pearls.

Bonnie Radow

Storybook necklace with charm

heirloom unto itself, destined to be handed down through generations. Bonnie carefully sources her gemstones (from Brazil, Africa and India), diamonds, gold and sterling silver. She says her jewelry is designed to “mix and match. It’s all made to be worn together,” including pieces from one’s own jewelry box. Besides her loyal – and growing – following here in the Valley, Bonnie has shared her creations outside of Arizona with trunk shows in Aspen and New York City. Her spring trunk show is typically in March or April and her holiday trunk show is in early November. She also does private showings for small groups. “Every time I do a show, I think, ‘How can I come up with other designs?’ And each time – it just happens!” says Bonnie. “The best part is sharing [my jewelry] with other people. I personalize it. They love it. It’s fun.” But she can’t tell you which design is her favorite: “I love them all!” Bonnie’s creativity journey has taken her from making her own Barbie clothes as a child (“Without a sewing machine”) and cutting the dolls’ hair (“I ruined most of my dolls, but they had really nice clothes”) to designing the interiors of many beautiful homes. After more than seven years as a jewelry designer, she has found her creative calling with Bonnie Radow Designs. She shares what makes her designs so special: “The biggest compliment for me is when a client tells her husband, ‘Go to Bonnie. She knows what I love.’” Contact Bonnie at bonnieradow@cox.net or visit bonnieradowdesigns.com. Mary Ann Bashaw, of Phoenix, is an editor and writer. ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 55

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(L’avor et Ha’kir) FROM RAMA BURSHTEIN, THE DIRECTOR OF ‘FILL THE VOID’

IN THEATERS MAY 19 56 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE - BW

Debut novel highlights Phoenix Brad Graber says his goal of writing a novel had been percolating for years but acknowledges that he “had to make a living.” He finally decided to fulfill his fantasy by saving enough money and retiring short of age 60. A native New Yorker with a master’s degree in healthcare administration, Brad and his spouse, Jeff (“two nice Jewish boys,” Brad says with a smile), moved to the Biltmore area from California seven years ago when he was recruited as the vice president of physician services for a local firm. Their dog, Charlie, rounds out the family. Brad’s debut novel, The Intersect, has been his obsession since he quit his day job. (He also writes an entertaining blog, “Updates from Brad.”) Interestingly, a good part of The Intersect is a tribute to Phoenix. “I believe that Jeff and I were meant to make our home here, that friends we were yet to meet were waiting for us – and this has proved to be true.” He finds that the Valley “has the best welcoming and friendly people.” Some of the characters in his book reflect the personality traits of some of those he has met. Stories “bouncing around” in Brad’s head for years have found a home in the novel. He addresses homelessness, elder abuse and myriad societal issues as his characters intersect to find comfort and lasting connections. Secrets are revealed, love flourishes and readers can readily relate to frequent references to local sites. The Intersect is available in Phoenix at Changing Hands bookstore and on amazon.com in paperback or Kindle versions. For more information, contact Brad at bradgraber.com.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 57

CORNER

SHAKSHUKA, AN ISRAELI SPECIALTY

By Lucia Schnitzer Photo by Matthew Strauss

Lucia Schnitzer and her husband, Ken, own Pomelo (a full-service restaurant), Luci’s at The Orchard and Splurge (a candy and ice cream shop), all at The Orchard Phx, 7100 N 12th Street, Phoenix. They also own Luci’s Healthy Marketplace, 1590 E Bethany Home Road, Phoenix, which they opened in 2009 in Lucia’s honor after her successful battle with breast cancer. 58 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

May 1 is Yom Ha’atzmaut, Israel’s Independence Day. Celebrate the occasion by making shakshuka, a dish that closely competes with hummus and falafel as an Israeli staple. Originally introduced to Israel by Libyan and Tunisian Jews in the 1950s, shakshuka has since become a favorite for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Israel is truly a melting pot for cuisine and this egg dish with vegetables and spices that can be customized from mild to hot, depending on the origin of the chef, exemplifies this tiny country’s culture. If you can’t experience this savory dish in Israel, don’t fret, you can find shakshuka in many American restaurants as a popular brunch item – or better yet, make it at home. Yom Huledet Sameach, Israel!

Traditional Shakshuka Recipe created by Chef Javi Perez

Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil 1/2 medium brown or white onion, diced 1 clove garlic, minced

Add tomatoes and tomato paste to pan; stir until blended. Add spices and sugar, stir well and allow mixture to simmer over medium heat for 5-7 minutes until it starts to reduce. At this point, add salt and pepper to taste, more sugar for a sweeter sauce or more cayenne pepper for a spicier shakshuka. Crack the eggs, one at a time, directly over the tomato mixture, making sure to space them evenly over the sauce. Place 4-5 eggs around the outer edge and 1 in the center. The eggs will cook "sunny side up" on top of the tomato sauce. (For even more runny egg yolks, let the sauce reduce for a few minutes before cracking the eggs on top.) Cover the pan and allow mixture to simmer for 10-15 minutes, or until the eggs are cooked and the sauce has reduced slightly. Make sure that the sauce doesn't reduce too much because it will burn. Garnish with the chopped parsley and serve with toasted bread or pita.

Pomelo restaurant, located at 7100 N. 12th St. in Phoenix offers shakshuka as part of their brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am until 4 pm. For more information, call 602-633-2600 or visit pomelophx.com.

1 medium green or red bell pepper, chopped 4 cups ripe diced tomatoes, or 2 cans (14 ounces each) diced tomatoes 2 tablespoons tomato paste 1 teaspoon chili powder (mild) 1 teaspoon cumin 1 teaspoon paprika Pinch of cayenne pepper (or more, for additional heat) Pinch of sugar (optional)

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Salt and pepper to taste 5-6 eggs 1/2 tablespoon fresh chopped parsley (optional, for garnish) Toasted bread or pita

Directions: Heat a deep, large skillet or sauté pan on medium. Slowly warm olive oil in the pan. Add chopped onion and sauté for a few minutes until the onion begins to soften. Add garlic and continue to sauté until mixture becomes fragrant. Add the bell pepper; sauté for 5-7 minutes until softened.

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CALL US AT 480 348-CATR (2287) ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 59

FOOD RESTAURANT REVIEW

taste of

Arizona

The Doughbird has landed! Atop the site of a former decrepit Circle K, like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, sits the newest creation from Fox Restaurant Concepts, Doughbird. If you have followed me on my journey through Valley restaurants, you already know I’m no fan of the focusgrouped, corporate-structured dining experience. (Shiver!) However, these Fox Concept guys have never let me down – and I’m telling you right out of the gate that they’ve got another winner on their hands. Doughbird calls itself a “Pizza and Rotisserie” restaurant. All I know as I walk in is that chef Clint Woods is a man who knows his way around dough – and dough is the first thing you see when you come in around lunch time. Someone in the open kitchen is hand-shaping balls of dough to be baked as the bread for sandwiches. You can smell the yeast and it reminds you of your mama’s kitchen. Gone already are my corporate fears as I belly up to the counter. The kitchen is laid out so that you can see everything. I see the giant floor mixer working on a new batch of dough. I watch the rotisserie turning chicken and prime rib over and over. The flames of the open60 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

hearth, stone pizza ovens are in view. I spot the salads, the sandwiches, the pizzas, along with the vegetables in their sauté pans. I also witness the most people I’ve ever seen working together in a kitchen to make it all come out deliciously seamless. I think you get hired at Doughbird for your communications skills and much as your culinary expertise because employees are all good talkers. Just about everyone who works there comes by for conversation – and it’s not corporate speak. It’s one of those places where it doesn’t matter who your server is; they all do everything for each other so that you get the best experience. It is packed on a Wednesday night – a good sign. I do my “research” over several visits. Here is what I had:

Rocky Free Range Chicken

THIS MONTH’S RESTAURANT

Doughbird $$$

4385 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix 602-345-9161 foxrc.com/nso/doughbird

Indy School Mule $10

(Kettle One vodka, dried five spice, lime, ginger beer) I was introduced to Kettle One by a nurse with a personalized martini shaker in a bar across from the Alamo. Sounds like the opening line from a novel, but I’ve been a fan

Contact A. Noshman at a.noshman@azjewishlife.com

ever since. It’s a high-end vodka – not the most expensive, just nice. The five spice gives this cocktail a kind of holiday flavor and the lime juice is freshly squeezed, so overall it is refreshing and quite effective.

Cast-Iron Shishito Peppers, Umami $9

Eating shishito peppers is a little like playing Russian roulette. For the most part, the ones in this appetizer are mild and the crispy skin adds a delicious charred, smoky flavor. But every now and then, you get one that packs a bit of a punch and is just plain hotter than the rest. Not scorching, mind you, but a real reminder that you are eating peppers. This dish is paired with an outrageous umami dipping sauce that I think is made of yeast, miso, garlic and parmesan – so good that I drank the leftover sauce (made sure no one was looking first). All of the signature sauces can be added to any meal for $1.

Wild Mushroom Pizza $15

(Black truffle, Swiss chard, fontina, rosemary) It’s going to be pizza for me this visit. I make my selection and wait while sipping my cocktail. The menu says it’s made with Bianco DiNapoli organic tomato and Central Milling Company organic flour. All I know is I want it to be delicious and I’m counting on that Clint Wood dough to come through for me. The pizza is a nice size for one very hungry person; two could easily split one if they also shared a salad or an appetizer. The mushrooms were excellent: earthy, plentiful and a textural delight. I sat thinking whether I liked it or loved it when I realized I had eaten the entire piece, including all of the crust – and I rarely eat the crust. Once I’m through the cheese, sauce and topping, I set that little tail piece down. Not tonight. This is a sign of excellent dough. It is so flavorful that it doesn’t need anything on it. Love the price, too, considering the quality ingredients.

Macaroni and Cheese $5

Another side dish I had to try. I watched as small batches were carefully prepared to order; nothing seems premade. It’s very good, creamy, not too rich and served hot. It also appears on the kids menu as an entrée.

Small Caesar Salad $5

You can watch the salads being individually crafted with fresh ingredients. The dressing has a nice, tasty zest. The romaine was fresh, but the best part was the house-made croutons. That dough appeared again in the form of a nicely seasoned and garlicky, crunchy chunk. Loved that.

Creekstone Farms Prime Rib $27

(Served medium rare with a side and sauce) I wasn’t planning to order prime rib at a pizza and chicken restaurant and when I smugly stated this fact to my server, she said, “Oh, but it’s made in our rotisserie like the chicken and

that constant movement makes it tender and juicy.” Sold! I’m such a pushover and I’m glad I got pushed. It was as she said: tender and juicy with a very nice flavor. I thought it was more medium than medium rare, but I was happy with it and wished I had ordered the 14 oz. instead of the 10 oz. It came with a very nice au jus for dipping. I selected potato wedges as a side and they were surprisingly good. Nicely seasoned, crispy, golden brown and just-made hot. They brought ketchup, which I think was their own concoction; it all worked well together. A nice price for an excellent dinner.

Rocky Free Range Chicken $17

This entrée also comes with a side and a sauce. I chose asparagus and broccolini and the house-made chipotle barbeque sauce. My half chicken with golden brown skin looked great nestled between veggies and sauce. The chicken did not disappoint. It had a sweet, wee bit of spice rub on it as it rotated gingerly that afternoon. The veggies were perfectly cooked, with great color, a little bit of crispness and some salt and garlic. The barbeque sauce was nice but didn’t really enhance the chicken. Now I’m kicking myself for not ordering that umami I drank down during an earlier visit. There are nine different sauces to choose from and at only $1 each, you can work your way through them on future visits – because you will be back. I thought $17 was a little pricey for the half bird (four pieces), but everything else was a great value.

Warm Butterscotch Cream Cake $7

(Vanilla Bean Gelato) It was as advertised – warm, creamy, sweet – and I love the cold ice cream on top. The desserts are not particularly large. My advice if you are with a dessert lover: Get two.

Old-Fashioned Peach Streusel Pie $7

(Vanilla Bean Gelato) The gelato makes a reappearance, but this time it is atop a most heavenly looking, generous slice of house-made peach pie and I can’t wait to dive in. The pie crust is fantastic – why wouldn’t it be? It’s dough in the hands of a master. The peach filling is sweet, with hints of cinnamon under a wonderful, crunchy top. I also ate from the back of the pie just so I could have a forkful of crust only, implementing my pizza theory on the pie: If you love the crust without anything on it, it’s a great slice. Doughbird is definitely a hit and the best use of old Circle K land I’ve ever seen. The service is excellent, but the food takes a while to come out – and that’s because it hasn’t been made until you order it. You can see them stretch the pizza dough before they begin constructing and cooking, which is how it is with everything they prepare. The Doughbird has landed. You should try this sweet Arcadia neighborhood experience.

Crème Brûlée ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 61

Home & ifestyle L

Container gardens are any easy way to incorporate color, edibles and interest into the landscape. Photo courtesy Bonnie Plants.

Five Tips for Container Gardening Success By Melinda Myers

Container gardens allow you to easily dress up your balcony and patio, create a colorful welcome for guests and keep edibles close at hand for cooking and entertaining. They’re also a terrific way for new gardeners to get their start. Increase your success growing vegetables, herbs or flowers in a container with these tips.

Proper plant selection: Select the right plants for the container and growing conditions. Closely check the plant tags for this and more information to help with your decision. Create attractive combinations with plants that look good together and require the same growing conditions. And don’t be afraid to mix flowers, herbs and vegetables. This is a great way to have both beauty and flavor on your patio, deck or balcony. Scour gardening magazines and the internet for free container-planting plans like those featured on the Bonnie Plants (bonnieplants.com) website. Selecting the right container: Further increase your success by selecting a container large enough to accommodate your plants. The bigger the pot, the more moisture it can hold, maximizing the time between watering. A small pot with a large plant will need to be watered several times a day during hot weather and fertilized more frequently. Use a container with drainage holes made from material suited to your gardening style and climate. Even if you could provide the exact amount of water your plants need, nature may intervene with an extra dose or two. Drainage holes prevent water from building up in the 62 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

bottom of the pot, leading to root rot. Those in areas with hot summers (like Arizona!) should avoid black and metal pots that can heat up in the summer sun and damage tender plant roots. Terra-cotta pots are a traditional favorite. They are attractive, heavy and dry out more quickly than some other materials. Glazed pots are beautiful, but tend to be pricey and heavy to move. Plastic pots are affordable, come in a variety of styles and don’t dry out as quickly as terracotta. Then there’s the sturdy half whiskey barrel. This planter is a longtime favorite, but be sure to drill drainage holes in the bottom if it doesn’t already have them.

Potting mix: Next, invest in a quality potting mix that holds moisture, yet provides adequate drainage. These are usually a combination of peat moss, compost or coir to hold moisture, and perlite or vermiculite to aid in drainage. Leave garden soil in the garden where it belongs, not in containers. Watering: Check the potting soil moisture in your

container gardens at least once a day and more often if the pots are small or temperatures high. Water thoroughly when the top inch of soil is dry and allow the excess to run out the drainage holes. This shows you have moistened the potting mix, top to bottom, encouraging a robust root system to develop.

Extend the time between waterings with the help of selfwatering pots. Their built-in water reservoirs provide water to the plants as the soil dries. Fill the reservoir as needed and make sure there is a weep hole. This allows excess water to drain out of the reservoir instead of saturating the soil and leading to root rot.

Fertilization: Lastly, incorporate a slow-release fertilizer into the potting mix at planting. This type of fertilizer provides small amounts of nutrients over a longer time period. Follow label directions and make additional applications as recommended on the fertilizer label. As your container plants continue to thrive and you enjoy the flavorful vegetables and herbs and gorgeous flowers they provide, you’ll soon be looking for more spaces to incorporate container gardens into your landscape. Gardening expert Melinda Myers has written over 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening and the Midwest Gardener’s Handbook. She hosts “The Great Courses” series “How to Grow Anything: Food Gardening For Everyone” DVD set and the nationally syndicated “Melinda’s Garden Moment” TV and radio segments. Myers is also a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine and was commissioned by Bonnie Plants for her expertise to write this article. Myers’ website is melindamyers.com.

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Celebrating

Mother’s Day with Mother Nature By Mala Blomquist

Heritage Parl Zoo

Mother’s Day is on Sunday, May 14. This year, instead of candy or flowers, treat your mom to an unusual gift or a unique experience. Here are some ideas!

Combining Nature and Art Located about one hour’s drive east of Phoenix on the Superstition Freeway near milepost #223 is Boyce Thompson Arboretum. This oasis in Superior brings together plants from varied deserts and dry lands and displays them alongside native Sonoran Desert vegetation. On Mother’s Day, a “Paint & Wine” class is being taught from noon to 2 pm by Carla Keaton, owner of the Keaton Fine Art Gallery in Superior. For $47.50 a person ($35 for members) Carla will coach participants through painting simplified scenes from their garden surroundings, taking home a masterpiece when they are finished. Call the Arboretum for reservations at 520-689-2723 or visit arboretum.ag.arizona.edu/events.

For a donation, starting at $35, the garden will send the special mother, mentor, aunt or friend in your life a notecard featuring a photo of a plant from the garden along with a personalized message of up to 200 characters. The contribution made will help foster the growth of plants for generations to come. Complete the form located at dbg.org/mothers-day-tribute and make your donation before May 7 to make sure that your mom receives her personalized card before Mother’s Day. Contact the membership helpline at 480-941-3517 if you need assistance.

Brunch in the Garden

Cactomania Mother’s Day Tribute The Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix has a unique gift idea if your mom is a “cactomaniac.” 64 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Give mom the beautiful and relaxing day she deserves at the Tucson Botanical Gardens. Café Botanica will be serving a special Mother’s Day Brunch from 9 am to 3 pm. Reservations are highly recommended. Contact the Café Botanica office directly at 520-884-5033. After brunch, visit the exhibit “Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life.” This exhibit examines Kahlo’s work, life and influence through the lens of the plants and nature that surrounded her. Tucson Botanical Gardens was selected as the only institution to receive this extraordinary exhibition designed by

one of the world’s premier botanical gardens, the New York Botanical Garden. The centerpiece of the exhibit is the re-creation of the gardens that Frida Kahlo maintained in her home in Mexico City: La Casa Azul. Included in the installation is the MesoAmerican-inspired pyramid that Diego Rivera built in the central courtyard of La Casa Azul. This replica is used to showcase a diverse collection of cacti and succulents native to the deserts of Mexico and the Southwestern United States. If you want to visit the exhibit another day, it runs through May 31 and is included with garden admission: $13 adults, $12 students/seniors/military, $7.50 ages 4-17, free for members and ages 3 and under.

Member Mother’s Breakfast The Phoenix Zoo, located in scenic Papago Park at 455 N. Galvin Parkway in Phoenix is the largest privately owned, nonprofit zoo in the United States. They are celebrating moms with a delicious breakfast in the zoo’s scenic Stone House Pavilion. Afterward, enjoy exclusive animal encounters. This breakfast is for members only, but you can sign up for membership before the event. Membership packages range from $69-$269 depending on the number of people and offerings. Two seating times are available for the breakfast: 9-10 am or 10:30-11:30 am. Tickets are $18 adults, $14 ages 3-13, free for those 2 and under. Seating is limited so get your tickets early by visiting phoenixzoo.org or calling 602-914-4393.

Give Mom a Zoo Animal

Butterfly Kisses We all know mom’s like to give kisses, including the one’s called butterfly kisses where you flutter your eyelashes on someone’s skin, so they just feel the tickling sensation. This Mother’s Day treat your mom to real butterflies – around 3,000 of them in the largest indoor rainforest conservatory in the United States! Butterfly Wonderland at 9500 E. Via de Ventura in Scottsdale is offering moms $2 off admission and a special gift for the first 200 to arrive. The whole family can also enjoy a guided tour around the conservatory to learn more about the butterflies from the curatorial specialists (times for the tours vary so inquire upon arrival). Butterfly Wonderland is open from 9 am to 6 pm and admission prices are $19.95 adults, $12.95 ages 3-12, $17.95 students and seniors, ages 2 & under free. Visit butterflywonderland.com for more information.

Treat your Mom to a special day at the Reid Park Zoo at 3400 Zoo Court in Tucson. Start off the morning with a delicious breakfast (including a mimosa) from 8:30 to 10 am, then take a stroll through the zoo and watch the zoo’s animal moms get special treats to celebrate Mother’s Day. Stop at the Mother’s Day card station to make a card for your mom (or your favorite zoo animal mom). Tickets for breakfast are $40 adults ($35 zoo members), $15 ages 2-14 and free for those under 2. If you need a gift for mom, you can “adopt” a zoo animal for her! At the event, she will receive a certificate of adoption, an information sheet, her name on the animal’s web page and a mini plush animal. Adoption fees are regularly $60, but for Mother’s Day, the fee is only $30. For more information, call 520-791-3204 or visit reidparkzoo.org.

Celebrate Other Mammal Moms Bring mom out to the Heritage Park Zoological Sanctuary at 1403 Heritage Park Road in Prescott for a day themed around mothers in the animal kingdom. Celebrate with special animal presentations and feedings throughout the day. And the best part, mom gets in free! Bring her out and show her all of your favorite animals! The zoo is open from 9 am to 5 pm on Mother’s Day, and admission is $10 adults, $8 seniors/students/military, $6 ages 3-12 and free for those under 3. For more information, call 928-778-4242 (toll free 877-778-6008) or visit heritageparkzoo.org. ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 65

TOP FASHION TRENDS THAT EXTEND TO WOMEN OF ALL AGES By Tori Rosenblum Your sense of style should evolve as you do over the years. Whether you’re dressing for

the office or a day of leisure, choose an outfit that reflects your personality. Don’t get too comfortable with pieces from the past. Keep up with current trends that are still age appropriate for the more mature shopper.

1 The WRAP DRESS is a figure-flattering silhouette that looks beautiful on women of all ages and body types. It fits a woman’s curves in all the right places and camouflages common problem areas including wide hips and thick midsections. HERE’S A TIP: Try a style with ruching, which is extremely slimming. 66 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

2 If you’re looking for a light layer that can easily add a little more coverage, give a trendy BOYFRIEND CARDIGAN a shot. The oversized, unstructured sweater provides length that covers the hips and is an easy way to conceal the arms.

3 To give the illusion of longer legs, choose a WIDE-LEG TROUSER. A wide pant will lengthen you, while concealing the thighs and calves. A pair with stretch will allow for extra comfort and ease of movement. HERE’S A TIP: Try a version with a wide elastic waistband that will act as a slimming panel over the tummy .

An A-LINE SKIRT should be a staple in every womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wardrobe. The flowing fabric glides over the body without hugging it. Whether you choose a maxi or mid-calf length, there is no better silhouette for a mature woman. Pair with heels or flats depending on the occasion.

You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to sacrifice style to dress ageappropriately. Try these trends that extend to women of all ages. They will highlight and enhance your best features and make you look like and feel like a fashionista.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 67

s d i K too s n e e T &

e l o st Candy Sweets

my dignity!

By Debra Rich Gettleman

I admit it. I’m an infomercial addict. It started when I was 10 and pooled all of my savings to buy an album set called “Easy Listening” that included “Brandy” by Looking Glass and “The Dock of the Bay” by Otis Redding. After weeks of anticipation, my beloved album set arrived, scratched and busted up to the point that it was nearly unlistenable. It was heartbreaking. But did I learn? I was more cautious in the future, only falling prey to really convincing products like AromaTrim, the inhaler guaranteed to make you lose your appetite; ShamWow, the towel that will soak up absolutely anything – or nothing; and the amazing Air Curler that twists your locks into unmanageable knots that look nothing like the corkscrew curls on the cover of the box. My family is aware of my infomercial inclination. They usually grab my phone, computer or iPad just as I’m about to enter my credit card information. But once in a while, I manage to elude their overprotective gaze and get myself trendy makeup, a new beauty product or an incredible, age-defying invention. I only wish they had stopped me before I trusted Candy Sweets. Let’s be honest. Candy is beautiful. She hasn’t aged a bit. I mean, she’s like in her 50s and when you see photos of her, she looks better than she did in her 20s! Sure, I’ve heard the accusations that she’s been airbrushed or that she’s photographed in delicate pink lighting. I don’t believe that for a second, because she told me to my face that her beauty secret is Dr. Jacques-Luke Scumbag. He and Candy worked together to create this amazing anti-aging system called Meaningless Gorgeousness.

68 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

FAMILY TIME For children entering grades K-10

Join us for a fun and enriching summer! We have a fun and enriching summer planned! Entering K-8 & Counselors in Training (Grades 9 & 10) All of our camps include: Exciting weekly field trips & themes • Daily snacks T-shirt • Instructional & Free swim • All-camp sleepover • Traditional, Sports & Specialty camps And back by popular demand...Ruach On the Go! Out-of-state adventures for campers entering grades 6-8! Low staff-to-camper ratio | Background-checked staff Licensed by ADHS | Extended hours available For information and to register, call 480.634.4949 or visit vosjcc.org/shemeshsummer2017 It took them years of trial and error to create these innovative products. The website boasts that “celebrities, models and socialites flock to his exclusive offices in London and Paris, paying thousands of dollars for a series of treatments containing Dr. Scumbag’s amazing extract.” The key, my friends, is melon. Yes, it’s some sort of exotic European casaba that acts as an enzyme and no one else in the universe has access to it. It’s just...well...awesome. And if you’re still not convinced, you can get a free, full-size wrinkle-remover cream and an eye serum for just the cost of shipping and handling! I admit it concerns me to have to give them my credit card info... But I push on, enter all of my personal information and await the arrival of my life-altering products. Two weeks later, I get Candy’s package. I tear it open and rush up to my bathroom to try the new youth serums. The cream is disgusting. It’s slimy, sticky and grainy and feels like glue on my face. I can’t imagine how anyone actually wears this stuff. The eye cream smells weird and has the consistency of, well, snot. Suddenly, it dawns on me that I might have

Open to all!

youth@vosjcc.org | 480.634.4949 | vosjcc.org 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale 85254 ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 69

fallen prey to yet another infomercial scam. I remember the WEN Hair Care fiasco: I tried that free offer and ended up with hundreds of dollars’ worth of horrific hair products that automatically came in the mail every month. I couldn’t get it to stop. Finally, I had to cancel my credit card. Shoot. I did it again. I grab the Candy packing slip. It has no contact information. I Google the company and wade through pages of consumer complaints and fraudulent accusations. I finally find a phone number and call. “I want to cancel all future orders, immediately!” I shout into the phone. The polite gentleman on the line assures me that he has cancelled it and that I will be getting an email confirmation within a few days. Phew. Of course, I never get the email confirmation, which worries me. Then I get a fraud-alert call from Doris at Capital One, which has suspended my card. Apparently, moments after I called Candy’s entourage to cancel any future orders, I was charged for two months’ worth of products. Then my credit

That night, I tell Mark and the boys that the Capital One card was cancelled. I try to avoid the truth, but I’m not very good at that. The three of them try unsuccessfully not to laugh. I want to turn this around, regain my dignity and stop the humiliation that’s burning through my core.

card number was used at various retail outlets across the country. Thousands of dollars of charges showed up from PacSun, Forever 21, The Gap, etc. Luckily, the fraud police at Capitol One got suspicious and froze my card. “I can’t believe it!” I shout into the phone. “This is all Candy’s doing!” I explain the series of events, the timeline, their obviously evil intentions. “Can’t you go after them?” I ask. “Our job is simply to protect your credit. You can file a criminal complaint with law enforcement if you’d like,” says Doris pleasantly. Oh, that sounds fun. I could spend countless hours fighting for justice in a broken criminal court system with no chance of ever beating the cadre of Candy’s highpriced celebrity attorneys. I think I’ll pass. Doris cancels my card and says it’ll be two weeks before my new card comes in the mail. I’ll have to change all of my automatic payments, live on cash for two weeks and confess my idiocy to my family. This feels awful! That night, I tell Mark and the boys that the Capital One card was cancelled. I try to avoid the truth, but I’m not very good at that. The three of them try unsuccessfully not to laugh. I want to turn this around, regain my dignity and stop the humiliation that’s burning through my core. I’ve got it! This is a teachable moment, so I say: “I think the important thing here is to realize that we all make mistakes, that nobody is perfect – and that you can NEVER trust a celebrity!” Then I strike a pose, flick my hair to one side and runway-walk out of the room with panache. I hear them snickering in the background. So much for regaining my dignity.

Debra Rich Gettleman is a mother, blogger, actor and playwright. For more of her work, visit unmotherlyinsights.com

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K iednsstoo & te y a M s t Even

Ongoing:

CLUB J AT THE VALLEY OF THE SUN JCC

Provides after-school programming ranging from sports to cooking and crafts to Israeli culture and more for those in K-8. Transportation from nearby schools available. Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-6344949 or youth@vosjcc.org, vosjcc.org.

J CARE AT THE EAST VALLEY JCC

Parent drop-off or bus transportation from area schools for grades K-7. Includes homework club, cooking, Israeli culture, dance, sports, gymnastics and more. Early pick-ups from Kyrene schools on Wednesday early dismissals. East Valley Jewish Community Center, 908 N Alma School Road, Chandler. Contact Jeff at 480-897-0588 or hastj@evjcc.org, evjcc.org.

guest readers and guitar players, seasonal crafts, outdoor play and more! Meet other Jewish parents, grandparents and caretakers. For newborn through age 5, but all ages and abilities are welcome. 520-505-4161 or northwestjewish@jfsa.org.

May 5

TOT KABBALAT SHABBAT at Temple Emanu-El, 225 N Country Club Road, Tucson from 5-7 pm. Child-centered service with songs, stories and music led by Rabbi Batsheva Appel. Shabbat dinner of kosher chicken and sides (vegetarian upon request), followed by dessert oneg on the playground. $10 adults, under 13 free. 520-327-4501 or templeemanueltucson. org.

May 5, 12 & 19

MOMMY & ME ROCK SHABBAT

at the Tucson JCC Includes a variety of activities, Homework Hangout program (help from education specialists), arts, sports or teens can hang in the Youth Lounge. Bus transportation from schools available for K-12. Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E River Road, Tucson. Contact Scott at 520-299-3000 ext. 192 or szorn@tucsonjcc.org, tucsonjcc.org.

at Temple Kol Ami Early Childhood Center, 15030 N 64th St., Scottsdale from 9-10:30 am. Teacher-led class for moms and their children ages infant to 2 years. Moms connect and share experiences while their children learn and grow. Classes are just $5 per class (or $35 for a 10-class pass) for Temple Kol Ami members. Non-members pay $10 per class (or $75 for a 10- class pass). 480-951-5825 or tkaecc@ templekolami.org.

May 1, 8 & 15

May 6, 13, 20 & 27

Anshei Israel, 5550 E 5th St., Tucson from 9-11 am for ages up to 24 months and their parent(s). Participants sing songs, make art projects, read stories, have a snack and share parenting advice. Free. 520-745-5550 ext. 229 or lynne@caiaz.org.

Bet Shalom, 3881 E River Road, Tucson from 11-11:30 am. 9:30-10 am Hebrew reading for elementary school-aged children; 11 am-noon conversational Hebrew, prayers, stories, Torah reading for birth to grade 6. Also, join us for PJ Library story time. Free. 520-577-1171 or cbsaz.org.

J-CARE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM

PARENT-TOT CLASS at Congregation

May 2

STORYTIME IN THE NORTHWEST

with PJ Library at 10:30 am at the Jewish Federation Northwest, 190 W Magee Road #162, Oro Valley. Storytime featuring PJ Library books followed by snacks. We have

SHABBAT EXPERIENCE at Congregation

May 12

(vegetarian upon request). Then an energetic, musical Shabbat service for the whole family at 6:30 pm, featuring the Avanim Rock Band, followed by dessert oneg. All are welcome; please RSVP for the dinner. Dinner is $12 adults, under 13 free. 520-327-4501 or mila@ templeemanueltucson.org.

May 13

MOMMY & ME CUPCAKE TEA at

Girly Girlz, 15425 N Scottsdale Road #240, Scottsdale from 1-2 pm. Moms (grandmas or other special ladies too!), bring your girly for a precious tea party, photo, a girly-made keepsake and more! $15.95/person; advance booking required. 480-998-4832 or girly-girlz.com.

PARENTS NIGHT OUT at Xtreme

Gymnastics, 15821 N 79th St. #3, Scottsdale from 6-10 pm. Leave your kids for a funfilledÂ SaturdayÂ evening of gymnastics fun, games and group activities while you go out and have a lively time of your own! For ages 3-12; open to non-members. $24/individual, $58/ family. Reservations required. 480-596-3543 or xtreme@xtremegymnastics.com.

May 20

PARENTS NIGHT OUT at East Valley

Jewish Community Center, 908 N Alma School Road, Chandler from 6-11 pm. Kids enjoy games, crafts and movies. For ages 6 weeks through grade 9; open to non-members. $20$35/per child. 480-897-0588 or hastj@evjcc. org.

May 21

TSO FREE CONCERT for Kids at the

Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E River Road, Tucson from 2-3 pm. Come join the Piano Trio and friend Goldilocks and the Three Bears. 520-299-3000 or tucsonjcc.org.

SHABBAT ROCKS! Service & Family Shabbat Dinner at Temple Emanu-El, 225 N Country Club Road, Tucson from 5:30-8 pm. Shabbat dinner of kosher chicken and sides

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 71

YOUNG ADULTS

Madeline Dolgin, right, with student members of the “Shmear Society” that promotes social networking.

Hillel Springboard Fellowships at ASU and UA attract next generation of leaders By Melissa Hirschl

Always at the vanguard of innovative programming for Jewish college students, Hillel is once again creating a buzz on campus. The Springboard Fellowship – a two-year talent pipeline for the next generation of Jewish professionals – sprung to life last July at Arizona State University in Tempe and will soon be in place at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Putting students in the driver’s seat, the SF is attracting rising stars who are striving to be innovators and game changers. “Early indicators show the SF is a robust and successful program helping to catalyze the next generation of leaders,” says Josh Feldman, Springboard Fellowship director at Hillel International. “Under the leadership of a salaried postgraduate fellow, students are brainstorming fresh and imaginative programs and experiences.” The three themes of the SF program are innovation, social 72 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

media and a combination of innovation and social justice. Any of these themes can be applied to social programs or a host of other Jewish-themed and Shabbat events. The goal is to spark new ideas and let students connect, take risks and implement fresh ideas. Conceived by local Hillels, Hillel International, Mosaic United and a partnership between the Shapira and Beacon Foundations, this ambitious project is poised to make an enduring mark on current and future generations. The SF program has an impressive track record. Starting with 20 schools in 2016, a second cohort was opened in 2017, adding 25 more. ASU started its program last year and UA is gearing up to begin this summer. “We are proud to have been one of the 25 Hillels out of the 50 [that] applied to be chosen to participate,” says Michelle Blumenberg, Hillel UA executive director. “Our fellow will be focusing on first-year, Greek and business students. ... Now we'll have a professional on staff dedicated to engaging these populations, in addition to working on our social media, marketing and communications.”

The SF program will tap into a wellspring of students’ interests, curiosity and passions while promoting new ideas through their social networks. “It's all about relationship building,” says Michelle. “This powerful tool will help the UA reach even greater numbers of Jewish students on campus. The entire staff is excited about the additional professional development opportunities the students will receive. It is an amazing experience seeing the thousands of students who have already come through here and [observing] the change they have brought to the Jewish community.” Change is also the name of the game at ASU, where Madeline Dolgin keeps up a dizzying pace as its Springboard innovation fellow. A native of Arizona, Madeline graduated from New York University with majors in business and sustainability. An affable and bubbly young woman, Madeline thrives in the arenas of Jewish learning, spirituality and interfaith connections. She honed her skills through a variety of NYU internships, such as the Jewish Learning Fellowship and the Global Spiritual Life office, where she helped to collaborate with and oversee various faith committees. Eventually, Madeline segued into an internship at the Auburn Theological Seminary, where her duties included researching mindfulness, interfaith relations and social activism. The chemistry of Madeline's eclectic spiritual interests, coupled with her deep love of Jewish learning, made her an ideal candidate for ASU fellow. Working under Hillel Executive Director Debbie Yunker Kail, she has successfully formulated meaningful and inclusive programs, including a recent interfaith Shabbat experience for Christians, Muslims and Jews. Madeline has also led Shabbat programs at ASU's Barrett, The Honor College with her intern. In the hightech arena, she has helped develop JNET, a job board and professional networking feature of the Hillel website. Tapping into the rich possibilities for future members, Madeline visits high schools to expand awareness of Hillel and to answer

questions. “Madeline is a highly talented, passionate and energetic team member who has added so much to the Jewish student experience at ASU,” says Debbie. “Her quest and ideas have pushed us all to be more innovative in our respective roles at ASU Hillel.” To encourage relationship building and deeper connections, Madeline hosts a club called the “Shmear Society” that promotes social networking. With donations from Chompie's and New York Bagels ‘N Bialys, she attends weekly gatherings with students at both the Tempe and downtown campuses. “It's a low-barrier entrance point for students who may not have participated in Judaism before.” Madeline's “Mi Cha Mocha” group (a play on words for “Mi Chamoca”) meets at a coffee shop and examines the prayers and rituals performed on Friday nights. Typical discussions revolve around who wrote them, whether the prayer is a story or poem and if it's a modern interpretation. Other discussions may be about challah, including why it is braided and covered and the meaning of the blessings. Taste tests of challahs from the around the Valley are a delicious perk for everyone. “I love working in the Jewish world on a college campus,” says Madeline. “The SF allowed me to give back to Hillel, which influenced me so much in college. I knew I loved Judaism, but this experience has helped me discover a passion for teaching and higher education. The decision to work at ASU has definitely influenced my career path.” For more information, visit hillel.org/fellowships.

“It's all about relationship building. This powerful tool will help the UA reach even greater numbers of Jewish students on campus. The entire staff is excited about the additional professional development opportunities the students will receive. It is an amazing experience seeing the thousands of students who have already come through here and [observing] the change they have brought to the Jewish community.” – Michelle Blumenberg ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 73

ISRAEL

Singer-songwriter Roy Dahan. Photo by Shahar Ratzenberg.

The magic of Roy Dahan’s music By Tal Peri

"Do you know how many new songs I have at this moment, waiting in the drawer to be recorded? Zero,” says Israeli singersongwriter Roy Dahan, 37. “I believe that if you write a song, it is meant to be heard.” Roy recently released his third album titled "Through the Woods,” five years after the release of his critically acclaimed “Some of This Life” album was described by critics as one of the best Israeli debut albums of the new millennium. This was an especially impressive achievement, because it was written and recorded in English. (His second album titled “The Man in My Head,” another success, immediately followed.) Being born in the peaceful surroundings of the small settlement of Korazim in the north of Israel, not far from Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), influenced the dreamy, folkrock sound of his music. “I loved growing up in that kind of 74 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

place,” says Roy. “It’s funny, but many people tell me my music is connected, in their minds, with driving. They love listening to my songs in their cars during long travels. It's not a big-city music.” Tal Peri recently posed some thoughtful questions to Roy that brought out some honest answers about his successful music career. Q: Not many new singers get their first break after age 30. What have you been doing all these years? A: Lots of different things (laughs). I was a magician, performing for kids in parties and family events, and I was working with my brothers importing toys. I was also a piano teacher, which I still do. Looking back, I felt I was at a dead end in my life. I had no money, no long-term plans, no passion for anything but my music. I told my brothers I was leaving the toy business and started performing in small clubs playing the

songs I had already written. One of my piano students came to see a show and became my investor. He just said, “Tell me how much you need for recording, because people need to hear your songs” and stayed true to his word. Q: Did you expect your music to touch so many people so fast? A: I hoped, but the truth is you can't do much after the recording process is done. I still have no idea which of my songs will make a radio hit single. My PR people have the final say in that. I never thought “Does Anyone Know” [from Roy’s debut album] would be a hit and it is still my biggest to date. Q: Many critics mentioned the transformation from psychedelic folk of the first album to the more rock production in the second – and now something in between for “Through the Woods.” A: I don't want all my albums to sound the same. It is way more interesting for me to explore new ideas; but at the end, it is still … what I bring to the table as a singer and songwriter. In the new album, for example, I really wanted to try different collaborations with several great musical producers. I worked with four of them. Q: You just shot a video in Berlin for your current single, “Guardian Angel.” What is your connection to that city? A: I traveled there after the release of my second album and lived there for five months while performing in clubs and arenas in Germany, the U.K. and Austria. Great shows. I made many good connections – and above all, I loved Berlin. Now I plan to make the same move with the third album tour and this time stay in London for a while and see what will happen. Q: In recent years, it has become common for Israeli musicians to write and record in English. Do people ask you about that? A: Oh, yes. All the time. Not a single interview goes by without me having to almost apologize, in some way, about choosing English as the language of my songs. I experimented a bit in Hebrew in between my second album and the new one. I recorded cover versions for two classic Israeli songs: Meir Ariel’s “Neshel ha’nahash (Snake’s Skin)” and Naomi Shemer’s “Bashana Haba’ah (Next Year).” I mainly wanted to turn them around, and make them sound like my own creation. I’m not thinking yet of writing original songs in Hebrew. English always came more naturally to me, ever since I started writing as a teenager. Q: Anything you miss about your old life, before becoming a full-time musician? A: I miss being a magician. It was so much fun. I still practice at home, making sure I [can] still master those tricks. You never know, right? Buy Roy Dahan’s CDs at roydahan.bandcamp.com. You can also find his music on iTunes and listen on You Tube. Tal Peri resides in Scottsdale. Before coming to the U.S., he worked for some of Israel’s leading media groups for over 25 years covering art, music, theater and entertainment.

Israel Democracy Institute President Yohanan Plesner presents the results of the 2016 Israeli Democracy Index to Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin.

Complex but healthy society

Think tank strengthens foundations of Israeli democracy By Ilene Schneider

How can Israel cope with the challenges arising from its dual identity as a Jewish nation-state and a multisector liberal democracy? How can it preserve a free society under conditions of permanent siege? How can the feelings of Israelis be translated into workable government policy? These are some of the tough questions the Israel Democracy Institute seeks to answer. IDI was created 25 years ago as an independent center of research and action dedicated to strengthening the foundations of Israeli democracy. An institute that provides evidencebased analysis to government agencies, IDI has become a “government ecosystem to develop policy,” according to its president, Yohanan Plesner. To take the pulse of the Israeli public, IDI has published the Israeli Democracy Index annually since 2003. The latest edition of the index determined that Israelis trust each other but not their government, that citizens – both Jews and Arabs – are proud to be Israeli and that integration of various sectors of Israeli society could pave the way to prosperity. See the full story on our website at azjewishlife.com. ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 75

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J It’s all in the

TO LIFE

“daditude”

came on his 95th birthday, when – after finally having to give My dad is a standup doubles tennis – he up kind of guy. Well, wistfully remarked, actually, at 98, he is more “Oh, to be 90 again!” of a sit-down, “I’m-tired” Over the years, kind of guy, but his I have come to call attitude reflects that of Dad’s philosophy of someone much younger. living “daditude.” In He has weathered a nutshell, it is this: business ups and downs, Whatever happens macular degeneration, to you, at any age or colon cancer, a daughter stage of life, you have who hitchhiked cross to follow the “Three country after college A’s Rule:” accept, adjust hoping to “find herself ” and advance. Simply and a host of other put, we have to learn challenges. But in each to accept our situation, situation, he has looked adjust to the new for the silver lining or realities that we now at least for a plausible face and advance in reason to keep moving order to live life to the forward. fullest. Dad’s secret is mostly My father is not a in his positive attitude. religious man, but I When I was young have come to view his and became frustrated way of dealing with or disappointed life as a form of an by something that ethical will. An ethical happened to me at home will is a lovely Jewish or school, dad would Amy Hirshberg Lederman with her dad, Hal Hirshberg tradition, the origins of offer this advice: “For which date back to the the same nickel, you can patriarch Jacob who, have a good attitude or a bad one.” from his deathbed, counseled each of his 12 sons. In its simplest After facing serious health problems during the past two form, it is a transmission of the values, life lessons and wisdom decades, Dad’s standard answer when asked how he is doing a parent wants to impart to a child before that parent dies. is “no pain, no complain.” But perhaps my favorite comment Unlike a legal will that disposes of property and possessions By Amy Hirshberg Lederman

76 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

and must comply with state law, an ethical will bequeaths one’s innermost spiritual estate with no formal requirements. Traditionally, it is written in letter form at any time during one’s life. Some ethical wills are more like continuing letters, added to at various stages of life, such as a child’s birth, bar/ bat mitzvah, graduation from college or marriage. Others are written once, later in life, incorporating desired, important values and life lessons. Sometimes they take the form of oral wisdom and life lessons, as in my dad’s case. Daditude is all about living with the right attitude. None of us will ever know what will happen to us or what problems, disappointments or losses will come our way. Though we can’t control what happens to us, we can control what happens within us. We can control our attitude about the good and the bad, the joys and the sorrows – and we can remember that, for the same nickel, it is totally up to us to find ways to accept, adjust and advance in the life we are given.

Arizona

See it from a different perspective

advertise@azjewishlife.com 602.538.2955

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

azjewishlife.com

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Tucson Celebrates Israel

The Weintraub Israel Center, in partnership with The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona and the Tucson Jewish Community Center, will celebrate 50 years of the reunification of Jerusalem with an entire month of special events. Tucson Celebrates Israel events will be held throughout the Tucson community in celebration of Israel and its 69th anniversary of its Independence Day. These events began on April 28 with special Shabbat services commemorating Israel’s statehood throughout the Jewish community. The celebrations will conclude on May 21 with a special screening of the Israeli movie “My Hero Brother” at the Tucson Jewish Community Center in partnership with the Southern Arizona Network for Down Syndrome, the Tucson J’s Special Needs Department and the Tucson International Jewish Film Festival.

6 pm: ShinShinim Appreciation A chance to say “thank you” to Leah Avuno and Bar Alkaher for their extraordinary year of service to the Tucson community as they played a major role in connecting Tucson and Israel. Also includes recognition and thanks to their amazing host families. Free and open to the public. Suggested donation of $5 per person. RSVP required. For more information, call 520-577-9393 x133 or visit jfsa.org/shinshinim.

The activities in the month of May include:

Wednesday, May 3 at the Tucson J

Monday, May 1 at the Tucson J 3800 E. River Road, Tucson

78 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Tuesday, May 2 at Congregation Anshei Israel

5550 E. Fifth St., Tucson 5 pm: Congregation Anshei Israel’s Adult and Youth Choirs will perform a concert of Israeli music, led by Cantorial Soloist Nichole Chorny. For more information, visit jfsa.org. 3800 E. River Road, Tucson 7-8:30 pm: Survival of a Nation – Exploring Israel through the Lens of the Six Day War

The first of a six-session lecture series is part of an adult education course from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute, and is co-presented by Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin of Chabad Tucson and Oshrat Barel of the Weintraub Israel Center. Tickets for all six sessions are $99, which includes a textbook. To register for the lecture series please visit chabadtucson.com/israelcourse.

Friday and Saturday, May 5 & 6

There will be Israel special services at various congregations. Please check with your congregation for details.

Sunday, May 7 at the Tucson J

3800 E. River Road, Tucson 3-6 pm: Israel Celebration – Family Fun Day This free event is open to all and includes a PJ Library Program, Israeli picnic, art contest for kids, Israeli music and folk dancing. For more information, visit jfsa.org.

Sunday, May 14 at Congregation Chofetz Chayim

5150 E. Fifth St., Tucson 5 pm: Why is the Media Confused about Israel? An eye-opening evening and light Israeli buffet with award-winning Mideast journalist and author, Matti Friedman, a former Associated Press reporter, editor and author of The Aleppo Codex and Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier’s Story. Matti will provide an insider’s look at the media’s coverage of Israel. This event is free and open to all. RSVP is required. For more information, contact 520- 577-9393 x133 or visit jfsa. org/mattifriedmanlecture. WeizInst_SMOCK ad-3.604x 4.937 NEW_Layout 1 6/11/15 2:46 PM Page 1

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7-9 pm The Rosen Lecture – Bridging Through Water at the Tucson J

3800 E. River Road, Tucson There will be a fascinating lecture, Israel as an Innovator in Water Management and Technology, presented by Dr. Sharon Megdal, director of the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center. RSVP to jfsa.org/rosenlecture.

While our breakthroughs in the past are numerous, it’s what we’re doing today and planning for tomorrow, that makes our Institute strong. At Weizmann, hundreds of the world’s top scientists, fueled by curiosity and fertile imaginations, collaborate to help solve humanity’s greatest challenges. For information visit WEIZMANN-USA.ORG or contact Andy Weissman: 909.913.1307, a.weissman@acwis.org The world needs our research. We need your support. ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 79

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Par-Tee Co-Chairs Sara Schneider, left, and Debbie Berkowitz look forward to an evening of “Caddyshack”-themed fun at Topgolf on May 17.

Par-Tee with the J!

The Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center is taking a fun, new twist on their annual adult golf tournament. This year instead of being held at Silverado Golf Course, it will be held at Topgolf in Scottsdale, and it will have a “Caddyshack” theme. “We decided this year to engage more people since golf can be limiting to specifically people who play golf on a regular basis. [Our plan is to] reach some of the general JCC membership as well as the people who do not normally play in the tournament,” says Sara Schneider, chair of the event. There are going to be different games set up by Topgolf for the event and a photo booth for people to capture how great they look in their “Caddyshack” attire. For added fun, the movie 80 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

will be playing in the multi-purpose room. There is also a rumor that the infamous gopher is planning an appearance. Proceeds raised from this event will benefit youth programming and scholarships at the JCC. Sara has had three of her children go to preschool at the JCC with a fourth currently attending. Before she married and had children, she worked at the JCC for 10 years. “I feel like I eat, sleep and breath the JCC to be totally honest,” jokes Sara. “Although I no longer work there, I started volunteering and doing all the things that I love at the JCC – just this time I’m doing it with my children.” Sara also has help from Debbie Berkowitz who is co-chair of

Debbie Berkowitz and her blended family.

Sara Schneider and her family.

Par-Tee with the J! “Caddyshack” Style

May 17; 7 pm cocktails, 7:30 pm fun and games begin Topgolf, 9500 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale $100 per player includes 2 games of golf, appetizers, dessert and drinks “Caddyshack” attire encouraged Register at vosjcc.org/golf Proceeds support JCC youth programming and scholarships

Sara Schneider as a child at the JCC when it was located on Maryland Ave. in Phoenix. The boy with her is Joel Gottschalk, whose father the Bob Gottschalk Youth and Camp Wing is named after.

the event. Debbie’s children also attended preschool at the JCC, but she realized how important the JCC was in her life when her first husband passed away in 2006. “I have twin boys, and they were 3 at the time and in the preschool. The community was beyond amazing,” says Debbie. “Everyone should be so lucky to have the warmth and the help of the community like I did. The JCC rallied around me and just was very supportive.” Debbie had chaired the silent auction portion of the golf tournament for years. “I was excited when I found out that they wanted to put a new twist on it for this year. It will be competitive and fun and a term I learned lately – ‘friendraiser’ – just a lot of engagement and trying to get people involved,” says Debbie. Sara agrees that the event is not just a fundraiser, but a way to make connections. “We want people to engage with one another, outside of a fitness class or a meeting or just walking past. The JCC is in the business of creating relationships and connecting with one another – our middle name is ‘community.’ We want people to come together and hang out and have a good time,” she says. “It’s fun to get together with your friends and raise money for a good cause.”

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Wisdom of the Mothers

Just in time for Mother’s Day, Pirkei Imahot, the Wisdom of Mothers, the Voices of Women is available to share with mothers and those who love them. Co-authored by Rabbi Eve Posen and Jewish educator Lois Shenker, the book grew from the pair’s one-on-one study project. Pirkei Imahot explores women’s voices, insights, experiences and – of course – questions, previously posed in Pirkei Avot, written by Jewish male sages in the second century CE. With the publication of this new book by Jewish women – and for everyone – the authors say they want to make the phrase Pirkei Imahot as common as its progenitor, Pirkei Avot. A book launch party in Portland will feature Ruth Messinger, who wrote the forward to the book. She writes of the authors: "They are building for women a sense of our own power to be the speakers, teachers, commentators and leaders for change in the 21st century." Ruth now serves as the inaugural global ambassador of American Jewish World Service, an international human rights and development organization for which she served as president and CEO from 1998 to July 2016. Lois is a community and family matriarch, life coach and published author. Lois and Arden, her husband of 56 years, are the proud parents of three children and their mates, 10

grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Rabbi Posen is assistant rabbi of Congregation Neveh Shalom and a first-time author. Rabbi Posen, her husband, Duncan Gilman, their children, Shiri and Matan, and their dog, Stanley, live in Portland. “We planned the launch on May 8 because it is Lois' 80th birthday,” says Rabbi Posen. “We also liked that it dovetails nicely with Mother's Day. This whole project is a wonderful way to celebrate Lois' birthday and the wisdom that women can share with each other.” Shenker and Posen set out to give Jewish women their own voice and reflect our 21stcentury world, Jewish and otherwise. Their introduction notes: “It was written as a result of our own unique experiences as women, mothers, leaders and teachers in our community, and those of the many women who contributed their own words of wisdom to this book.” Rabbi Posen says the two reached out to and received submissions from 48 women around the country, in varying life stages and occupations. In the first half of Pirkei Imahot the authors introduce key writings from Pirkei Avot and then offer their own analyses and context. Following these are study questions for readers to ponder or to spark their own group discussions. Blank space

Lois Shenker, left, and Rabbi Eve Posen study together. 82 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

FEDERATION NOTES Together, we are stronger By Marty Haberer

Ruth Messinger visits a village in India.

following these sections invites readers to note their own thoughts or further inquiries. The authors tackle topics including authority, friendship, study, respect for people of all ages and even the strategic use of silence. From Pirkei Avot 1:17, it is written, “…nothing becomes a person more than silence.” In Lois’s analysis, she says, “It is often during the silence, the pause, where clear thinking truly takes place and clarity occurs.” Then she poses the question: “Can you think of a situation in which keeping silent would help to resolve a problem?”

Shenker and Posen set out to give Jewish women their own voice and reflect our 21stcentury world, Jewish and otherwise. The second half of the book is filled with fascinating contributions by Jewish women of all ages, geographies and personal experiences, reflecting topics as diverse as Jewish ideals of tzedakah and tikkun olam, as well as universal ones like justice, mothering and ethical behavior. “Pirkei Avot still feels real and relevant to our daily lives, perhaps more so than other texts,” Rabbi Posen says. “It reads as an ethical will of sorts from the great rabbis. Lois and I believed it was time to look at what those values have evolved into for today’s world from an entirely female perspective.” Shenker adds, “Either by reading our book or attending a workshop, if a person just makes one change in her or his course of action, or becomes more mindful, or feels more comfortable with the moral imperative Judaism gives us, we will be satisfied and gratified by the efforts put forth in writing this book and learning from those who contributed to it.” To purchase books and for more information, visit wisdomofmothers.com. Books also are available online, beginning May 1, at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

I have just completed my first two months as executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix. They have been interesting – with racial slurs and swastikas painted on the walls of a local school, an anti-Semitic flier distributed to homes within a mile of the Valley of the Sun JCC and the rash of bomb threats to JCCs and other Jewish organizations nationwide. Needless to say, I was shocked that we are seeing this type of anti-Semitic rancor right here in the Valley only a few generations after the liberation of concentration camps that ended the Holocaust. However, my faith in mankind was strengthened when I received the following email from a new friend, Jesse Winters, who has given me permission to share parts of it with you: Marty, As a member of the non-Jewish community, I am writing you to affirm that we feel saddened and appalled by the recent senseless acts of violence and hate crimes. Through education, and with great effort and intent, I hope that we will someday rise above the petty differences that separate us, and that our children can live in a world where we can truly coexist in peace and prosperity. All the best to your friends, family, and loved ones in these trying times. These incidences, as well as the warm and supportive responses from Jesse, our community, donors and collaborative partners, highlight the importance of having a strong Jewish Federation in our community. The Federation exists to strengthen Jewish life and identity and to provide for Jews in need here in the Valley, in Israel and around the world, wherever Jews reside. We are impacting lives through our local strategic partners: Bureau of Jewish Education, East Valley JCC, Gesher Disability Resources (formerly Council for Jews with Special Needs), Jewish Family and Children’s Service, Hillel at ASU, Valley Beit Midrash, Valley of the Sun JCC, new community partner Jewish Free Loan and our overseas partners the Jewish Agency for Israel and the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. Together, we choose love over hate and tolerance over ignorance. Together, we are stronger. Marty Haberer is the executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix.

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FAC&EPLSACES SPECIAL SEDER – Gesher Disability Resources held their 2 nd Annual Special Needs Community Model Seder March 26 at The New Shul. Rabbi Elana Kanter and Rabbi Michael Wasserman led the service. There were 65 participants. Next year, the event will be held at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center on Sunday, March 25, 2018.

OPEN HOUSE - On April 13, Watt Integration held a Grand Opening for the new Bang & Olufsen Scottsdale showroom. Watt is the preeminent audio/video, home integration company in the Valley and now the new owner of Bang & Olufsen.

AN EVENING OF ART – Altitude Coffee Lab in Scottsdale hosted a “meet the artist” event on April 22. The event featured the work of local digital multimedia artist, Deena Goldstein. 84 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

IGNITION AWARD – Judy Laufer received the Gerda Weissmann Klein & Kurt Klein Award. The award was presented during the annual Women’s Philanthropy of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix’s Ignition! Luncheon on March 30.

FACES & PLACES

PANEL DISCUSSION – On April 3, Valley Beit Midrash hosted a panel discussion titled "Jewish Theology in the 21st Century: Must We Believe Anything?" at Temple Chai. From left, Rabbi Michael Wasserman, Professor Hava Samuelson, Rabbi Mari Chernow, Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, and Rabbi Michael Beyo. BRIEF MEETING – Israel Consul General of Los Angeles Sam Grundwerg was hosted by the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix on March 17. The Consul General briefed Federation and community leaders on a variety of topics central to Israel and the Jewish community. From left, Federation Board Chair David Weiner, Consul General Sam Grundwerg, 2017 Annual Campaign Co-Chair Julee Landau Shahon, Executive Director Marty Haberer and 2017 Annual Campaign Co-Chair Rudy Troisi

PURIM SHISHI ISRAELI – The Israeli American Council – Arizona held a special Purim Shishi Israeli on March 10 at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus. Families enjoyed a potluck dinner, activities, hamantaschen and costume competition.

FUN AT HANDMAKER – Handmaker residents celebrate Purim with the BBYO teens and a Megillah reading.

Handmaker residents make Israeli chocolate balls with visiting Tucson Shinshinim Leah Avuno (center).

TIKKUN OLAM PROJECT – Tucson Jewish Community Center volunteers participated in the Community Paint Day by painting the Pio Decimo Center's transitional housing facility.

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FAC&EPLSACES

LET’S RIDE – Preschoolers at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center’s Early Childhood Center learned bicycle safety, with the help of friendly officers from the Scottsdale Police Department, during The J’s annual bike safety rodeo.

SAUCE BOSS – This year’s Half Moon Windy City Sports Grill “Sauce Boss” is 12-year-old Phoenix resident and Pardes Jewish Day School student Jacob Wernick. He also won the “People’s Choice” award for his Guns a Blazin’ Spicy Mango Wing Sauce. Jacob won $350 and one free pound of wings every day for a year. Photo by Studio Laurent

JNF BREAKFAST – Jewish National Fund held their Annual Breakfast for Israel on March 17 at the Arizona Biltmore. Former U.S. Ambassador and JNF Chairman Ronald Lauder was the guest speaker. From left, Arizona Board Member Jonathan Breakstone, Arizona Board President Toni Dusik, Ronald Lauder, Arizona Board Member Kim Kotzin and National President Jewish National Fund Jeffrey Levine. Photo by Gudenschwager Photography, Inc.

86 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

A GARDEN PARTY – Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona Lions of Judah and Pomegranates enjoyed a beautiful evening at the Tucson Botanical Gardens. Attendees reconnected, heard about the 2017 WP campaign and strolled through the Frida Kahlo exhibit.

FACES & PLACES

SEDER FOR VETERANS – On April 13, Scottsdale Post 210 of the Jewish War Veterans conducted its annual Passover Seder for the three Jewish residents of the Arizona State Veterans Home: Mickey Dingott, Everett Perelman, Larry Chesin and their families. The Seder was conducted by Commander Michael Chambers and his wife Ahuva. Post 210 members attending were Mel Brody, Susan Conwisar, Michael & Ahuva Chambers, Fred & Terry Lipovitch, Bernie & Barbara Kaplan, Jonathan Sorrell and Julian Wyatt.

TOUCH TOUR – Southern Arizona Association for the Visually Impaired participants enjoy a touch tour of the Tucson Jewish Community Center’s Sculpture Garden. One participant experiences “Forged Identity: Yitzhak Rabin” by Martha Dunham, a gift from Jill and Herschel Rosenzweig.

GO TEAM – Team Israel’s winning streak in the World Baseball Classic came to an end on March 15 when they were defeated by Japan. The photo was taken in Seoul, South Korea during the first round of playoffs.

JCC STRONG – Tucson Jewish Community Center staff, from left, Joline Riddle, Sue DeBenedette, Amy Dowe, Denise Wolf and Mike Gadarian, joined with nearly 500 other JCC professionals from across North America to show the strength of the JCC Movement. The biennial conference held March 19-22 in Orlando, Florida provided a variety of professional development opportunities for those who work in Jewish Community Centers.

CALIFORNIA CONNECTION – Bob Philip, left, co-publisher of Arizona Jewish Life with Cindy Saltzman, checks out recent issues of the magazine with Leni Reiss, a contributing editor. They connected in Palm Desert, CA, where Bob and his wife have a home and Leni was visiting friends.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 87

PREVIEWS and precious metal clay.

GROOVIN’ TOGETHER IN TUCSON

For more information, visit tucsonjcc. org.

An exhibit featuring different media from

ANAT COHEN & TRIO BRASILEIRO AT THE MIM

10 Tucson women artists will be on display at the Tucson Jewish Community Center’s

Anat Cohen and Trio Brasileiro are

Fine Art Gallery at 3800 E. River Road in Tucson through May 30. They are part of a

performing at the Musical Instrument

show, entitled, “Groovin’ Together: Artists

Museum at 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. in

of the Many Hands Courtyard and the

Phoenix on Sunday, May 7 at 7 pm.

Tucson Artist Cooperative.”

Ticket prices range from $33.50 to

The following artist’s work featured in the

$43.50.

“Groovin’ Together” exhibit include:

Clarinetist-saxophonist Anat Cohen

Julie Szerina Stein’s clay work has been

has always felt a deep connection to

accepted into the Lark 500 book series,

the musical traditions of Brazil – an

Jewish Museum in New York, Spertus

influence readily apparent in her

Museum in Chicago, Tucson Museum of Art

compositions. Following the release

and the Silver City Clay Festival where she

of a second recording, Cohen and

won first place in the 2016 international

Trio Brasileiro are touring the world

sculpture competition.

performing music that celebrates the

Anne Lowe is a paper artist, primarily

rich and varied culture of Brazil blended

exhibiting iris folding paper designs

with her ebullient brand of jazz.

and double embossed gold cloisonné

The joy of this music flows from its

Southwest pieces. In addition, she does

connection to small Brazilian bars and

creative Hebrew calligraphy artwork, often

cafés where groups of musician friends

based on a Hebrew word or name.

play for the pure love of sharing their

Patricia Ackor is a professional interior

songs and skills. The evening will be a

designer, creative weaver and oil,

blend of great choro classics (“Santa

watercolor, and pastel/colored pencil fine

Morena,” “Murmurando”) and original

artist.

compositions.

Lynne East-Itkin currently applies her design

Trio Brasileiro includes Douglas Lora,

expertise to gourd art, fabric painting, and

the celebrated guitarist and full-

basket weaving.

time member of the award-winning

Marnie Ehlers is an award-winning,

Brasil Guitar Duo; Dudu Maia, one

Tucson-based jewelry artist and goldsmith

of Brazil’s finest mandolin virtuosos;

specializing in gold and silver, precious and

Anat Cohen & Trio Brasileiro

semi-precious stones. Jeanne Fellow is the creator of Inspired Artscapes (colorful paper wall

and Alexandre Lora, the amazing percussionist and Douglas’s brother. To

order tickets, call 480-478-6000 or visit mim.org.

sculptures) and LumenArts.(table lamps and wall lights with LED bulbs) using acrylic inks on watercolor paper. Cynthia Haas has a background in interior design and fine arts, with

JCF CELEBRATES LIFE & LEGACY PARTNERS

an emphasis on graphic design. She has owned a furniture repair and

Celebration of the Jewish Community Foundation’s Life & Legacy Partners

custom building business for 32 years, and is a published author of a

and their success of achieving their year two goals. The event will be

book on furniture repair.

held on Tuesday, May 9 at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus at

Susan Morse is an artist and weaver, who loves working with many

12701 N. Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale from 5:30-7:30 pm. The keynote

elements, such as fiber, metal and wood. Upcycling is her favorite

speaker for the evening is Rabbi Steven Z. Leder.

method for creating new artwork.

Rabbi Leder is Senior Rabbi of Wilshire Boulevard Temple, a prestigious

Christina Plange loves to incorporate the exotic colors, textures and

synagogue in Los Angeles with three campuses and 2,400 families. He

shapes of the environment into her artwork. Primarily, she works with oil

is the author of The Extraordinary Nature of Ordinary Things and More

and acrylic paint.

Money Than God: Living a Rich Life Without Losing Your Soul. His sermon

Dotty Woody is an award winning artist whose areas of expertise are oil

on capital punishment was included in an award winning episode of The

painting, pastel, etching, dye painting on silk, bead weaving, earthen clay

West Wing. Rabbi Leder contributed a chapter to Charles Barkley’s book

88 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

PREVIEWS

Rabbi Steven Leder

Who’s Afraid of a Large Black

in downtown Tucson.

Man? In it Rabbi Leder

Auditions, at this time, in both cities for Equity and non-Equity actors are

discussed the connections

limited to actors above the age of 18. If actors under the age of 18 are

between economics, religion

required for a production, those auditions will be held at a later date.

and racism. He is now at

Actors must bring a recent headshot and current resume. Each actor is

work on his third book

required to prepare two contrasting monologues totaling no more than

about the blessings of pain,

four minutes combined. Actors may substitute a song for one of the two

tentatively titled Weeds Bring

pieces. A piano accompanist will be provided if sheet music is presented.

Yellow Birds.

A CD player will also be available. There will also be an auxiliary hook-up

This is a free event and hors

available to the CD player for those who have their recorded music track

d’oeuvres, drinks and dessert

on their cell phones. The total length of the audition must not exceed four

will be served; dietary laws observed. RSVP by Wednesday, May 3 to

minutes.

rrabinovich@jcfphoenix.org or at 480-699-1717.

Callbacks for specific productions will be held at later dates throughout the season. Arizona Theatre Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer

LAG B’OMER PICNIC AND BONFIRE

committed to non-traditional and multi-cultural casting. Artists of color are encouraged to audition.

LagB’OmerPicnic.jpg

Appointments are required to audition. To schedule an audition

Join Temple Emanu-El’s for

appointment in Tucson or Phoenix, please call Chloe Loos at 520-884-

their annual Lag B’Omer

8210 ext. 7508.

Picnic and Bonfire on Saturday, May 13 from 5-7:45 pm at Youngerman

BEAR DOWN - BEAT CANCER

Ranch at 8220 E. Woodland

Cancer directly impacts 1 out of every 3 people. Science and technology

Road in Tucson. Family fun

has transformed the fight against cancer since then-President Richard

out on the ranch includes a

Nixon called for a War on Cancer by signing the National Cancer Act of

hot dog roast (kosher beef or

1971.

veggie), chips, sodas, fruit,

The University of Arizona Cancer Center has partnered with the Tucson

eegees; hayrides, games

Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road in Tucson, delivering a

(bring baseball gear, frisbees,

four-part educational series on cancer that began in early February. The

etc), activities for the kids,

last of the series, Breast Cancer Research and Patient Care, presented

Havdallah, songs with Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon, music, huge bonfire,

by Joyce Schroeder, PhD, will be held on May 4 at 6:30 pm and is free

marshmallow roast and more. Everybody is welcome. The cost is $7

and open to the public. Dr.

adults, $3 kids under 13; please RSVP by May 10 to 520-327-4501.

Schroeder is head of the Metastatic Breast Cancer

ARIZONA THEATRE COMPANY AUDITIONS

Research Initiative and professor of molecular

Arizona Theatre Company is holding general season auditions for Equity

and cellular biology at

and non-Equity actors for the 2017-2018 Season in Phoenix on May 22

the University of Arizona

and 23 and in Tucson on May 24 and 25.

Cancer Center.

Auditions for Phoenix Equity actors will take place on Monday, May 22

For more information,

from 1:30-4:30 pm and 6-9 pm. Phoenix auditions for Equity and non-

contact 520-299-3000 or

Equity actors will take place on Tuesday May 10 from 1:30-4:30 pm and

visit tucsonjcc.org.

6-9 pm. Phoenix auditions will be held at Center Stage of the Herberger Theatre Center in downtown Phoenix at 222 East Monroe (entrance at the stage door on the north side of the building off of Van Buren). Tucson auditions for Equity actors will take place on Wednesday, May 24 from 6-9 pm. Auditions for Equity and non-Equity actors are scheduled Thursday, May 25 from 1-4 pm and 6-9 pm. Tucson auditions will be held in the rehearsal hall at the Temple of Music and Art at 330 S. Scott Ave.

Joyce Schroeder, PhD

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MAY 2017 89

MAY CALENDAR

Through May 10

“Art of Paying Attention” Exhibit at Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E Roger Road, Tucson. Illustrator and write Beth Surdut displays her natureinspired illustrations accompanied by true stories. bethsurdut.com.

Through May 30 “Groovin’ Together: Artists of the Many Hands Courtyard and the Tucson Artist Cooperative.” See page 88.

May 1 ShinShinim Appreciation. See page 78.

May 2 Congregation Anshei Israel’s Adult and Youth Choirs. See page 78. JFCS Aleinu – A Laughing Matter at Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 2-5 pm. Experience the incredible and unbelievable health benefits of laughter while you learn. Presented by JFCS and Acadia Healthcare. $25. For information, contact Jessica Levin at 480-694-8377 or jessica.levin@ jfcsaz.org.

May 2 & 16 JBN Networking Lunch at Mimi’s Café, 8980 E Shea Blvd, Scottsdale from noon-1:30 pm. Join Jewish Business Network of Arizona members and their guests gather for lunch, education and networking. jbnaz.org.

May 3 Survival of a Nation – Exploring Israel through the Lens of the Six Day War. See page 78. Corner Office: Lessons from Jewish Business Leaders at The Phoenix Plaza, 2909 N Central Ave, Phoenix from 5:30-8 pm. Join the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix Business & Professionals Group to network with business leaders and gain insight from key executives in local business. $36 professional; $18 student. Includes cocktails and appetizers. Dietary laws observed. Register by May 1 at jewishphoenix. org/corneroffice.

May 4

May 15

Bear down beat cancer see page 89.

CAI’s 86th Annual Meeting & Awards Fiesta at Congregation Anshei Israel, 5550 E Fifth St, Tucson at 6 pm. Mexican dinner followed by a meeting with reports from Board of Trustees, the year in review, election and installation of officers and Board of Trustees, plus special volunteer/ tribute awards. No charge to attend, but RSVP needed by May 10. 520-745-5550 or caiaz.org.

May 7 Yom Ha’atzmaut - Celebrating Israel at Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 10 am-5 pm. Live entertainment, activities, food, exhibits and more. Contact Shahar Edry at shahar@ israeliamerican.org. Israel Celebration – Family Fun Day. See page 78. Anat Cohen and Trio Brasileiro at the MIM. See page 88. “No Place on Earth” Movie Premiere. See page 53. The Rosen Lecture – Bridging Through Water. See page 78.

Celebration of Heritage Concert at The Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E River Road, Tucson at 6:30 pm. The concert features a tribute to Nat King Cole. $10 for non-members and $9 for members of The J. 520-299-3000 or tucsonjcc.org. Par-Tee with the J! “Caddyshack” Style. See page 80.

May 19 May 9 JCF Celebrates Life & Legacy Partners. See page 88. Documentary Film Screening at the Arizona Jewish Historical Society, Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center, 122 E Culver St, Phoenix from 7-9:30 pm. Watch the film “Inventing Our Life – The Kibbutz Experiment.” Free. Please RSVP to lbell@azjhs.org.

May 10 An “Art of Paying Attention” Workshop at Agua Caliente Park, 12325 E Roger Road, Tucson from 8-11 am. Hone your perception through workshop exercises and sharing of stories by Beth Surdut in the classroom and outdoors. $15 ($10 members). 520-615-7855 or apm. activecommunities.com.

May 12 Singles Havdalah and Melaveh Malkah with Project Jewish Love from 7:15-10:15 pm. For singles age 40 and older. For more information, contact admin@projectjewishlove.com.

ShabbatLuck (Shabbat potluck dinner) with Schmooze Singles & Couples (30s & 40s). Event starts at 7:30 pm though feel free to join for services at 6:15 pm. For location, additional details and for the RSVP link, visit Facebook. com/azsschmooze.

May 21 Special Needs Community Bowling at Let it Roll Bowl, 8925 N 12th St., Phoenix from 1-3 pm. Join Gesher Disability Resources (formerly the Council For Jews With Special Needs) for an afternoon of bowling. Discounted group rate (members free). Contact Rachel Corcos at 520-850-6583 or rachel@cjsn.org. Handmaker Lecture at Handmaker, 2221 N Rosemont Blvd, Tucson from 3:30-5 pm. Join three Tucson community Rabbis: Rabbi Yossi Shemtov, Rabbi Thomas Louchheim and Rabbi Robert Eisen for a disussion on how they find and connect to God every day and in the everyday. Free. RSVP to Nanci Levy at 520-322-3632 or nlevy@hndmaker.org.

May 13

“My Hero Brother” – Film and Q&A with filmmaker Yonatan Nir. See page 78.

Lag B’Omer Picnic and Bonfire. See page 78.

May 22-23 & 24-25

May 14

Arizona Theatre Company Auditions. See page 89.

Why is the Media Confused about Israel? See page 78. 90 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

May 17

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92 MAY 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE