APRIL 2019
NEW YORK TIMES'
BARI WEISS
In polarized world, moderate voice rings true
ACTIVELY SENIORS Maintaining your health and wealth PESACH Keto meets Passover Tree of Life Movement started by Valley couple
JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 1
2 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
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602-633-2600 or emailing Linda Schnitzer at Linda@lucisuc.com
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JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 5
CON TE N T S Arizona Jewish Life • April 2019 • Adar II-Nissan 5779 • Volume 7/Issue 6
12
FEATURES
AC TIVELY SENIOR
COVER STORY
Dr. Ira Ehrlich and his Mission of Mercy April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month Discover Wise Aging in the Valley Marilyn Heins, M.D.: Pediatrician, writer and more 5 Tips for Coping with Chronic Pain Happier, Healthier and Younger in Retirement
Bari Weiss: A moderate in an era of extremes
BUSINESS
Biz Ins & Outs Do you know about NAWBO
24
FRONT & CENTER
Healing the world together Enter the colorful world of artist Mimi Damrauer
12
34 36
38 40
Sigal and Ronny Urman: Building bridges in the Jewish community 42
HOME & LIFESTYLE 6 Spring/Summer Fashion Trends
44
ISRAEL
Avigail Landman: Rising star in renewable energy research
COLUMNS
Chef’s Corner by Lucia Schnitzer
38
24 25
JLIVING 46
32
Ignition! 2019 Luncheon 47 Federation notes 48 Gene and Jason Bressler: Building Business. Creating Community. Giving Back 49 Previews 51 Faces & Places 52 Calendar 54
P HOTO CO U RTE SY S AM BLO O M
6 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
23
Passover foods that tell the seder story 26 Keto meets Passover 28 Add some fun (and poached pears) to your seder table 30 Almond Butter Honey Cake 32
ON THE COVER: Barry Weiss 44
20 21
PASSOVER
JEWS WITH ATTITUDE
28
18
Ages 3-12 School Recess Dates & Summer Break
day camps Health & fitness while having a blast!
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APRIL 2019
Arizona Jewish Life • Adar II-Nissan 5779 • Volume 7/Issue 6
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8 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
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JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 11
Bari Weiss guest apperance on Real Time with Bill Maher. PHOTO BY HBO/JANET VAN HAM
12 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
COVER STORY
BARI WEISS: A MODERATE IN AN ERA OF EXTREMES
BY DEBORAH MOON
PHOTO BY SAM BLOOM
JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 13
IN
an increasingly polarized world, New York Times Opinion Editor Bari Weiss stays unflinchingly moderate. In the face of a radicalized right and left, Bari attributes her outspoken centrism to “stubbornness and the deep belief that for healthy politics, we need a robust center.” “My fate at the moment is to get criticized from both sides – as I am daily,” she said in a telephone interview in late January. “I think there are very many more people in the center, but because things are so amped up politically, they are keeping their heads down.” Bari’s highly personal columns about the shooting at Pittsburgh synagogue where she became a bat mitzvah will resonate with many in Arizona, who distinctly remember Jan. 8, 2011, when a deranged young man shot Congresswoman Gabby Giffords in the head and killed six of her constituents. Bari’s Nov. 2, 2018, column began: I want to tell you what it is like when your neighborhood becomes the scene of a mass murder. “The first thing you should know is that when your phone pings with a text from your youngest sister saying, ‘There is a shooter at Tree of Life,’ your brain will insist that it is not true, that it is a hoax. …You will cancel all your plans and book a flight home. Before you are even on the plane you will start to hear rumors – a couple has been killed, a doctor. You will wonder which families in your neighborhood will be shattered.” Bari says her columns on the Tree of Life shooting have likely played a role for the increased call for her to speak around the country. In the first three months of this year, Bari had dozens of talks to Jewish and non-Jewish groups scheduled around the country, with a European trip in the works for late spring. “I’ve done some speaking to Jewish groups over the years, but this year the demand is really unlike other years,” she says. She attributes the rise to a few things: the shooting in Pittsburgh that killed 11 people in the synagogue where she grew up and where family and friends still attend; her recent writing about anti-Semitism and Israel; and her increased visibility with multiple appearances on “Real Time with Bill Maher,” “Morning Joe” and other media. Her first appearance on Bill Maher in February 2018 unleashed a viral social media attack when she said the #MeToo movement went too far when it equated Aziz Ansari with Harvey Weinstein. In her Jan. 15, 2018, NYT column Bari shared a text message from the woman who wrote an expose of her date with Ansari: “You ignored clear nonverbal cues; you kept going with advances. You had to have noticed I was uncomfortable.” He replied with an apology. In her column, Bari wrote: “It transforms what ought to be a movement for women’s empowerment into an emblem for female helplessness.” A Twitter storm erupted after her column and her Bill Maher appearance. But Bari thinks public opinion (and Twitter) have shifted closer to her view. “If it (the Ansari column) was published today, it would not have gone viral,” says Bari. “Most people have woken up to the reasonableness of that position.”
14 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
BARI WEISS
Bari Weiss interviews Yuval Noah Harari during a Times Talk.
Bari Weiss with Bill Maher. PHOTO BY HBO/ JANET VAN HAM.
Public speaking and television appearances are part of Bari’s job description at the New York Times. An op-ed and book review editor at the Wall Street Journal from 2013-17, Bari was hired by the Times to help diversify the paper’s opeds. She says she works to “bring people into the Times who wouldn’t think of this as their natural home.” “I’ve brought a lot of young women, libertarians and centerright writers … to bring more diversity to our op-eds,” she says. Bari is no stranger to diverse viewpoints and political debates. She grew up as the oldest sister in a family of four girls. “My dad is conservative, my mom liberal,” she says. “We were always debating politics in our home.” The family also belonged to three synagogues – Reform, Conservative and Orthodox. She says that was a reflection of the beauty of Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill Jewish neighborhood, where people don’t stay in their own lanes. “My sisters and I were among the youngest Torah readers at our Conservative synagogue,” she says. She became a bat mitzvah at the Tree of Life synagogue, where an active shooter massacred 11 people during Shabbat services Oct. 27, 2018. “The Pittsburgh the world saw after the massacre was maybe a surprise to (many in) the country, but not surprising to me – this is how the neighborhood is,” says Bari. She adds that Ahavat Israel, loving fellow Jews, is truly practiced in Squirrel Hill, which was Mr. Rogers’ real neighborhood. (His home was three blocks from Tree of Life, she wrote in one of two columns she wrote after the massacre.) “I’m really proud to be from Pittsburgh,” she says. During her appearances since then, Bari says she has focused her comments about the shooting on the antiSemitism that inspired the shooter. “It seems there are two strains of anti-Semitism in the United States and across the West,” she says. “Anti-Semitism of the far right comes from blood and soil nativism and focuses on our globalist sympathies,” she says, noting that was the motivation of the Pittsburgh shooter, who railed against HIAS (Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society) helping refugees of all faiths come to America. On the other end of the spectrum, she says, “Anti-Semitism from the left demonizes Jews for ... our relationship with the Jewish state.” In her second column about the synagogue shooting, she wrote: “We are living in an age when anti-Semitism is on the rise here at home. You need only think of last year’s chants of ‘Jews will not replace us’ in Charlottesville, or the president’s constant attacks on ‘globalists,’ ‘international bankers’ and ‘the corrupt media,’ all of which are commonly associated with Jews in the minds of antiSemites. It isn’t at all surprising that these rhetorical tropes have translated into acts of violence – according to the Anti-Defamation League, anti-Semitic incidents rose by 57% in 2017 – even if Mr. Bowers (the shooter) also reviled the president as insufficiently nationalist. ‘There is no #MAGA as long as there is a kike infestation,’ he wrote.” At the Times, Bari’s columns about Israel have raised the ire of both ardent Zionists and Palestinian supporters – yet another area where her centrist opinions are attacked in this polarized climate. She describes herself as “a liberal Zionist with a deep belief JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 15
BARI WEISS in the right of self-determination of the Jewish people in their ancestral homeland; and belief in the self-determination of the Palestinian people; and the belief Israel should be criticized when it does not reflect Jewish and democratic values.” “People take my criticism seriously because they know the criticism is coming from a place of love,” she adds. While legitimate criticism is essential, our polarized climate has taken criticism to extremes on many topics. That has been a challenge for the media, which has been under attack from the White House for “fake news.” “Having a strong, independent press is essential for democracy,” says Bari. “The fact that the President of the United States is demonizing that independence is really disturbing to me.” The 2016 election offers an important lesson for journalists. “In every newsroom, people thought Hillary Clinton would win,” says Bari. “It was a lesson for journalists. We need to get out of our political, ideological bubble.” Social media has created a third challenge for journalists in today’s divisive world. “I see a lot of columnists become a brand unto themselves … chasing applause,” she says. “It is important to think independently and not be captured by your audience, even if that means sometimes pissing them off.” Social media such as Twitter is deepening the divide between people. Bari reflected on that trend in an article she co-authored with her “Twitter enemy,” Eve Peyser – “Can You Like the Person You Love to Hate?” Bari writes she cut back on her Twitter use after reading Jaron Lanier’s book Ten Arguments for Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now. “Was social media, as Mr. Lanier’s book suggested, creating a sense of intense conflict where there might be intense conversation?” When the two women met in person at a conference, they connected, as Eve writes, “over our Jewish upbringings, being women writers and finding common ground over the absurd aspects of internet outrage culture.” The two women also agreed on the importance of engaging with those with whom you disagree. Bari engages with many people through Times Talks including philosopher Yuval Noah Harari and University of Chicago President Robert Zimmer. Times Talks are among many public events that the Times hosts in the event space of the Times Building. Bari edited the news and politics section of the online Jewish magazine Tablet from 2011 to 2013. She continued contributing to Tablet while working as associate book review editor and opinion writer and editor at the Wall Street Journal from 2013 to 2017. She moderated the Jewish Book Council’s “Unpacking the Book: Jewish Writers in Conversation” series from its debut Feb. 24, 2015, through season three’s first two conversations in 2017. 16 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
“Unpacking the Book” brings together noted writers for conversations on a specific Jewish theme at each program. For a 2016 talk “Gefilte Fish on Fleek: The New Jewish Cuisine,” Bari interviewed Chef Rossi, Michael Solomonov, Michael W. Twitty and Niki Russ Federman. Bari is also the winner of the Reason Foundation’s 2018 Bastiat Prize, which annually honors writing that “best demonstrates the importance of freedom with originality, wit and eloquence.” The prize is named after Frédéric Bastiat, whose brilliant, witty essays explained, “The solution to the problems of human relationships is to be found in liberty.” Julian Morris, a senior fellow at Reason Foundation and founder of the Bastiat Prize, said, “Bari Weiss’s brilliant, incisive journalism defends that cornerstone of individual liberty and civil society: freedom of speech. Against a maelstrom of politically motivated activists seeking to silence opponents
Bari Weiss interviewed 2012 gold medal- gymnast Aly Raisman, left, at International Lion of Judah Conference in Florida in January. Last year Aly rose to a different kind of prominence – this time as part of the #MeToo movement – after she testified in the sexual abuse trial against the former U.S. Olympics gymnastics team physician Larry Nassar. At the Lion’s conference, Aly told Bari and the audience that the anti-Semitic attacks on social media shook her after her testimony. “A lot of people don’t realize the pressure I feel all the time, and I’ve learned to take a step back and learn that I can’t fix everything,” she said. “I had never experienced anti-Semitism until the past year, which is really devastating.”
with absurd accusations, Weiss reminds us, again and again, that ‘the battle against genuine authoritarian threats needs to be waged consistently, credibly and persuasively.’ ” Bari graduated from Columbia University in 2007. She was a Bartley Fellow at the Wall Street Journal in 2007 and a Dorot Fellow from 2007 to 2008 in Jerusalem. While a student at Columbia, she co-founded two student groups: The Columbia Coalition for Sudan, in response to the genocide in Darfur, and Columbians for Academic Freedom. When the latter group was founded in 2005, Bari was quoted in the Village Voice: “We are doing this because we believe in the right of all Columbia students to dissent without fear of abuse. Yes, this means for conservative students as well as left-wingers, for Zionists as well as anti-Zionists … Criticism of professors does not violate their academic freedom or stifle debate. It only adds to it.” During her junior year at Columbia, she also founded The Current, a journal of contemporary politics, culture and Jewish affairs. Of the things she launched as a student, she is proudest of The Current, which is still publishing. “Many talented journalists have come out of there,” she says. Bari Weiss herself was the first.
One of Bari Weiss’ proudest launches at Columbia; The Current.
JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 17
ACTIVELY SENIOR
Dr. Ira Ehrlich and his Mission of Mercy By Mala Blomquist
Dr. Ira Ehrlich at work in the mobile clinic.
INSIDE 18 20 21 23 24 25
Mission of Mercy Parkinson's Awareness Month Wise Aging Marilyn Heins, M.D. Coping with Chronic Pain Better Retirement
18 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
PHOTO COURTESY MISSION OF MERCY/NATIONSWELL
A LITTLE MORE than eight years ago, Dr. Ira Ehrlich began volunteering with Mission of Mercy Arizona. MOM is a nonprofit that has provided free healthcare and free prescription medications to the uninsured and underinsured since 1997. Every Thursday, Dr. Ehrlich pulls up to the RV parked in the Christ the King Community Center on East Broadway Road in Mesa and begins his shift. The assembly hall acts as a triage area, and the RV is equipped with private examination areas that can accommodate three doctors and their patients. Dr. Ehrlich researched where he could go to keep practicing medicine after he retired. “I didn’t retire because I was tired of practicing medicine, I retired because of the way the practice of medicine was going,” he says. Since he started in medicine in 1969, his modus operandi was to allow a half hour for returning patients and an hour for new patients or annual physicals. “The economics of medicine got to the point where you just couldn’t do that and survive,” he says. “But I wasn’t going to practice medicine in any other way. I just didn’t feel that was fair to my patients, or to me, so I hung it up and immediately started looking for a place to do this kind of work.” People are encouraged to register for an appointment with MOM, but doctors also see walk-ins. Some days the doctors see more than a dozen patients; other times they see only six or eight.
“We don’t ask their financial or insurance status – anyone who comes in, whatever they come in with – we will see them,” says the doctor. “We will treat them if we can – we can’t do surgery – or we will refer them the best we can if they need it.” The best part is that Dr. Ehrlich gets to spend as much time as he wants with each patient. They have a cabinet of sample medications and antibiotics that they can dispense (they also can write prescriptions), and Sonora Quest Laboratories will run any test they offer at no cost to MOM or the patient. “There is no paperwork for insurance, and we don’t have to use an electronic medical record,” he says. “I’m not a good typist, so I can’t use a computer to put in all of my progress notes. I get to write them on paper, like I always did, and take as much time as I feel the patient needs.” When Dr. Ehrlich was in private practice as a cardiologist, he also preferred to be his patient’s primary care doctor. “You have to be trained in internal medicine to then go on to cardiology, and I never lost my desire to practice internal medicine,” he says. “I always did internal medicine on my patients because I wanted control of my patients, and I wanted to know who was taking care of them. I felt if I was taking care of them, they were getting good care.” When asked if he always wanted to be a doctor he jokes, “There was a time that I wanted to be an NBA basketball player.” But when he got serious about his future, it was in front of his mind. “I did not major in college in any of the sciences because I thought I needed a broader education than that. But in the end, I did decide that I was going into medicine.” When he first started in the field, he wasn’t quite sure what he wanted his specialty to be. “After standing for eight hours by the surgical table and watching surgeons try and do what they needed to do, I decided that I didn’t care for that a lot,” he remembers. “I took an internship in internal medicine where we rotated in all the areas, and I really enjoyed cardiology – I still do.” His father, Dr. Joe Ehrlich, was the first specialty cardiologist in Arizona, and his mother, Corinne, was a founder of Jewish Family and Children’s Service in the Valley. So he comes by both his love of cardiology and volunteering quite naturally. The younger Dr. Ehrlich says that he and the other doctors are very grateful to have the opportunity to work with MOM. “Most of us have practiced medicine for as long as I have and we are used to feeling useful and to feeling like we’ve done something positive for people other than ourselves. Their gratitude towards us is matched by our gratitude towards them.” For more information on Mission of Mercy Arizona, visit amissionofmercy.org/arizona.
Dr. Ira Ehrlich
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PARKINSON’S WELLNESS DAY AT THE J
SENIORS
WHEN:
Thursday, April 18 starting at 9:30 am WHERE:
The J 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale WHAT:
Seniors work out at Rick German's cycle class.
April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month By Mala Blomquist ACCORDING TO the Parkinson’s Foundation’s website, nearly 1 million people will be living with Parkinson’s disease in the United States by the year 2020. Approximately 60,000 Americans are diagnosed with PD each year. Parkinson’s is a progressive neurological disease that affects a small area of nerve cells (neurons) in the brain. These cells usually produce dopamine, a chemical that transmits signals between areas in the brain that, when working normally, coordinate smooth and balanced muscle movement. PD causes these nerve cells to die and as a result, body movements are affected. In Phoenix, the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, which is a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, is located at Barrow Neurological Institute. It offers PD patients the best in clinical care, research, rehabilitation, education and support. A partner of the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center is The 20 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
Come dressed for exercise and fun! There will be a light breakfast, talks by Dr. Charles Adler and Dr. Padma Mahant and a PWR!Circuit workout. Free, but registration required. To register, contact 877-728-5414. For more information, contact Megan Montgomery at meganm@vosjcc.org or 480-481-1756.
Harold and Jean Grossman Parkinson’s Program at The J in Scottsdale. Classes offered through this program help those with Parkinson’s improve functional movement through tailored exercises that target motor and nonmotor PD symptoms. Lynn Staub, who started the program in 2016, is excited for the growth of the Parkinson’s program in 2019, and says the generosity of the Grossmans has made that growth possible. The J has been able to add classes to their PWR! Moves 1 & 2 program. PWR stands for Parkinson’s Wellness and Recovery. The classes are research-based, integrated exercise and wellness programs designed to optimize the brain’s neuroplasticity. Dr. Becky Farley, a neuroscientist and physical therapist in Tucson, developed the PWR! program and Lynn trained under her. In 2018, the J added Parkinson’s Boxing and Parkinson’s Cycling to the class selection. “Boxing benefits Parkinson’s because of all the work with patterns in boxing,” says Lynn. “It challenges their cognitive ability, and whenever there is cross-body movement through the mid-section, there is scientific research that shows that there is a change in the brain.” Cycling also has a beneficial effect. “What cycling does for Parkinson’s is that it awakens areas of the brain affected by PD while strengthening the lower body and it improves motor skills,” says Lynn. “Medical research has also shown that there’s a temporary relief of Parkinson’s symptoms directly after cycling.” Lynn says that their cycling class usually has about 12 participants and the boxing is capped at 10. Every class they offer has two instructors. “We are able to really work with our participants because of the ratio,” she says. The J will host a Parkinson’s Wellness Day on April 18 (see sidebar). “Everyone is invited,” says Lynn. “The participants bring their spouses and caregivers and everyone participates. A lot of times that can be the first introduction to the program.” For more information, contact 480-481-7018 or healthandfitness@vosjcc.org.
Discover Wise Aging in the Valley By Melissa Hirschl AS THE ADAGE goes, “Getting older ain’t for sissies.” While certainly true, it also “ain’t” for feeling unempowered, confused or disconnected. For many on the precipice of the third chapter of life, physical and emotional “landmines” can appear unexpectedly, along with mystifying and sometimes scary questions such as, “Who am I now?” “How do I make my life more fulfilling?” and “How do I handle illness?” As more and more seniors are discovering, these and many more provocative questions can be addressed in a safe and nurturing atmosphere, thanks to the nationwide Wise Aging program. Created within a Jewish framework that equates age with wisdom and honor, these comprehensive workshops provide a meaningful forum for discussions on the body, mind and spirit. Participants often discover how to reclaim their lives and reach their full potential, no matter what age they are. Held at synagogues, community centers, senior centers,
A C T I V E LY S E N I O R Brandeis University and the Bureau of Jewish Education, participants explore the joys, possibilities and challenges of growing older in small classes that last between six to nine weeks. Under the guidance of trained facilitators, Wise Aging classes cover a broad spectrum of aging issues, such as difficulty with loss of a spouse, first-time grandparenting, dealing with aging parents, and redefinition of life after a lifetime of working. In the workshops, facilitators encourage members to delve into the realms of spirituality and self-exploration, while also encouraging the creation of new freedoms and opportunities. Using text readings, discussions, journaling and group time, the course elicits laughter and sometimes tears. Using the book, Wise Aging, Living with Joy, Resilience, and Spirit, by Rabbi Rachel
Wise Aging class
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Cowan and Dr. Linda Thal, attendees glean practical and real-world suggestions for becoming stronger and more resilient. A sampling of chapters include, “Living with Loss and Finding Light,� “Cultivating Linda Levin Spiritual Qualities for Well Being,� and “I am my Body, I am not my Body.� “For me, the class was a unique forum for discussing relevant topics about aging,� says former student Nancy Pollinger, who took the class at the Bureau of Jewish Education. “It was a social outlet where I encountered interesting and intelligent people. The class is wonderful for lifelong learning.� Congregation Nefesh Soul in Chandler hosted a Wise Aging group this fall, facilitated by Rabbi Susan Schannerman and Mauri Reizes, MSW. “I thought it would be a useful way to expand my skill sets and to address my own issues relating to aging,� says Susan. “I am delighted to see that the women in our group are connecting through stories and experiences,� she says. “They have been open, honest and vulnerable from the first session.� Created in 2014 through the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, the early programs were held in synagogues and community centers around the United States, under the guidance of trained and knowledgeable facilitators who began leading peer groups. When community leaders Harriet Rosen and Connie Wolf at the Phoenix Jewish Bureau of Education found out about the program, they were intrigued and excited by the possibilities for the Phoenix area. Together with BJE Director, Myra Shindler, they decided to bring Wise Aging to life in the Valley, and local college professor Linda Levin was hired to serve as the Phoenixbased program director. The original facilitators she led were all professional and dynamic leaders in the community: rabbi’s, doctors, psychologists, social workers and business leaders. Thanks to the BJE, Connie, Harriet and the enthusiasm and commitment of Linda, Wise Aging has been continually growing. Linda has taught developmental psychology at Argosy University in Phoenix and currently works as a child and family educational therapist. She has worked in hospitals and clinics for 38 years and has taught many educational classes for universities regarding adult aging. She adds an extra dimension to her classes by bringing in research on aging, books, posters, pictures, or anything else she thinks will be helpful. While Wise Aging may be primarily focused on Jewish wisdom, Linda attempts to infuse her classes with inspiration and insight from other religions such as Buddhism and Christianity. “My goal is for everyone to feel welcome, while helping participants to grow psychologically, spiritually and emotionally,� says Linda. Aging can be a complicated process – especially if you don’t feel connected and feel alone. “In Wise Aging classes, people are redefining themselves, letting go of past experiences and creating new positive stories and experiences,� explains Linda. “When I see people in their 80’s and 90’s so energetic; walking, playing tennis, and going to lectures, it actually makes me cry. Their stories are so inspiring to me.� Wise Aging is open to both men and women. Contact your local synagogue to see if they participate in the program. Linda continues to train facilitators throughout the Valley. For more information, contact her at linlevin@cox.net.
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A C T I V E LY S E N I O R
Marilyn Heins, M.D.:
Pediatrician, writer and more By Barbara Russek BINGO in the morning, a rousing game of shuffleboard in the afternoon and the early bird special for dinner. The above sentence is an image many folks had of the senior lifestyle back in the day. Trailblazer Dr. Marilyn Heins, age 88, is a shining example of “That was then, this is now.” Calling Tucson home for the past 40 years, Dr. Heins is easily recognizable around town in her trademark red glasses. Originally from Boston, she is a third generation “cultural Jew,” as she puts it, the daughter of supportive parents, who encouraged her from a very young age to persevere and succeed. Marilyn became interested in psychiatry at age 15 and learned that medical school was a prerequisite to practice it. “However, I decided to become a pediatrician,” the young-spirited octogenarian reminisces, “figuring that working with parents could prevent psychiatric problems.” And that is exactly what she did. Accepted at Radcliffe College (now a part of Harvard University) in 1947, she recalls, “On the first day of college, the dean told us we were there for one purpose only: to become educated mothers to our children.” Times have changed dramatically since those words were spoken and Marilyn is one of the pioneers who has been a big part of those changes. After college came medical school and residency at Columbia University in New York, there were only 10 women in her class of 110 students, of whom six graduated on time, including Marilyn. This hard-working pediatrician’s medical career included a brief stint in private practice but was primarily in medical education at the university level. During a vacation in Jamaica, she met veterinarian Dr. Milton Lipson. “We knew within a week that we would marry. Milton was very proud of me,” says Marilyn, “and bragged that he took his own doctor with him when we traveled.” The couple had a girl and a boy (today a physician and musician respectively) and were married for 47 years. Recruited for the position of associate dean of academic affairs at the University of Arizona, Marilyn moved to Tucson with her family in 1979; she retired as vice dean in 1990. Sadly, Milton died in 2007. Marilyn was alone for the next six Marilyn Heins, M.D. years until a friend introduced her to Dr. Milt Francis, a recent widower. The two have been together ever since and enjoy many activities together.
Hearing about her jam-packed life left me wanting to know more, so I decided to ask her a few questions.
Q: You became a columnist for the Arizona Daily Star in 1989. How did you get the job? A: I submitted a column to the Star and was accepted. Q: What topics do you write about? A: I started by mostly answering questions from young parents. Now I write a bi-monthly column about the lifecycle, from birth to AOA (advanced old age) which I am! My best tip for AOA folks? Take preventative measures to avoid falls.
Q: In addition to columns, are you doing any other writing? A: I’m in the process of writing my third book. Q: What advice do you have for women who want to “do it all?” A: Marry an understanding man who is not threatened by you. If possible, secure outside help. You can do it! Q: What is the best way to age gracefully? A: Keep busy doing things you love but not so busy that you don’t have downtime to watch the sunset! Barbara Russek, a Tucson nearly native, has been a freelance writer for the past 13 years. JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 23
A C T I V E LY S E N I O R
5 Tips for Coping with Chronic Pain Courtesy Family Features PAIN CAN IMPACT nearly every aspect of your daily life from cleaning the house to going to work or playing with your kids or grandkids. In fact, according to the Institute of Medicine, 100 million Americans, or more than 30% of the population of the United States, suffer from chronic pain, which is pain lasting 3-6 months or longer. Most often, chronic pain is treated using prescription opioids. However, the National Institutes of Health estimates 2 million people in the United States suffer from substance use disorders related to prescription pain relievers, while 60 people die every day as a result of opioid overdoses, according to the National Safety Council. “The country is facing intertwined crises of opioid misuse and
USE RELAXATION TECHNIQUES
SET GOALS FOR YOURSELF
Setting realistic, measurable goals that focus on functional health and quality of life is essential to managing chronic pain. Outline specific, measurable goals you hope to achieve, such as exercising for 30 minutes three days a week or cleaning at least one room in the house twice a week and track your progress toward reaching them.
There are a variety of techniques, including meditation and deep breathing, that can help your body relax by slowing breathing, lowering blood pressure and instilling feelings of well-being. Giving your muscles a chance to relax can release tension, which may ease pain. Practicing yoga or tai chi, which involve a series of physical postures in addition to breathing and relaxation techniques, may also help reduce pain.
24 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
chronic pain management. Non-opioid, non-pharmacological treatments such as acupuncture and other similar interventions can be essential in handling patients’ pain management as a complement to lessen dependency on opioid prescriptions and serve as a more effective holistic therapy for chronic pain,” said Dr. Kory Ward-Cook, chief executive officer of the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine. “The care provided by NCCAOM National Board-Certified Acupuncturists is essential in continuing the movement toward greater integrative and complementary pain care, especially as a non-pharmaceutical alternative to harmful opioid prescriptions.” To help treat your pain with a non-opioid solution, consider these tips:
PHARMACEUTICAL TREATMENT OPTIONS
With concerns mounting about the prevalence of opioid use and abuse in the United States, complementary, natural treatments such as acupuncture can help alleviate pain and reduce the number of opioids prescribed. Using practices derived from traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncturists stimulate specific points on the body, most often by inserting thin needles through the skin. For example, National BoardCertified Acupuncturists, whose credentials can be verified through the NCCAOM, are affirmed to have the education and training necessary to competently deliver acupuncture services. To learn more about how acupuncture can help with pain management or addiction, or to find a practitioner in your area, visit nccaom.org.
FOCUS ON NUTRITION
KEEP TRACK OF PROGRESS
A well-balanced diet is vital to overall health and well-being and can also influence chronic pain. As food choices can increase or decrease inflammation, which leads to many chronic diseases, consider a diet low in sugar and carbohydrates that includes fresh, organic fruits and vegetables; lean, grass-fed meats; legumes; nuts; whole grains; and organic dairy products.
To effectively manage and treat your pain, consider keeping a journal to note your pain level on a scale of 1-10 each day. Also, track your activity during the day – including time on your feet, exercise and even sitting at your desk – so you can identify patterns based on what you do and how you feel afterward. Then use the connections you’ve made to modify your environment and schedule as necessary.
A C T I V E LY S E N I O R
Happier, Healthier and Younger in Retirement By Fred Sievert WE ALL UNDERSTAND and appreciate the need for sound financial planning during the years preceding retirement. Who among us hasn’t gone online to calculate our retirement “nest-egg” needs and then panicked because accumulating that much wealth seemed inconceivable; especially if we started the process at age 55 or later? But there is another aspect to your retirement plans that are equally important. My own retirement has proven to be a magnificent experience of feeling happier, healthier and younger than I’ve felt in decades. How did I plan for that and how can you plan too? While being prepared financially for a secure retirement certainly contributes enormously to our happiness, I have found it even more important to attend to all of the other nonfinancial aspects of post-career lifestyle and plans. Caught up in the rigors of pursuing a career, many of us dream of a time in retirement when we can relax, pursue leisurely activities, travel more often, and hence we believe, enjoy life more fully. I remember when I was climbing the corporate ladder at New York Life and working 14 or more hours per day (with little reprieve on Saturday or Sunday). A half-hour with family was rare but wonderful. How wonderful it was to fantasize about the days when I would finally get some well-deserved rest and relief from that hectic pace. However, like many people, since embarking on the very real retirement voyage, I have discovered that the formula for success and happiness has little to do with how much we relax, rest and enjoy leisurely activities. A happy retirement comes from continuing to live a life of consequence and impact. Whether you’re in your 60s, 50s or even 40s, let me offer some advice on how to begin to explore and plan for your nonfinancial activities in your retirement years. The earlier you do this, the better since the planning you do now can position you for greater fulfillment later. Perhaps the easiest way to start the nonfinancial planning process is to ask, and honestly answer the following three questions: • What has made you happiest and provided the greatest gratification in your pre-retirement years? In short, what are your greatest passions? • What are your unique gifts and skills that can be best utilized to generate the most satisfaction following your career? • What can you do now to position yourself for the greatest impact on your world when you decide to scale back or retire from your current vocation? The answers to questions like these are unique to every individual and will force you to wrestle with elusive concepts like “success,” “satisfaction” and “happiness.” Nonetheless, I think you’ll find it thought-provoking and enjoyable to go through the exercise of contemplation and answering. My financial planning began long before retirement, but my nonfinancial lifestyle planning began in earnest just three years before my official transition out of my career. I benefited from the advice of a financial advisor, a personal coach and a spiritual coach.
Answering the Passion Question Most of us are happiest when we are pursuing our passions. So step one for me was to clearly identify those activities and pursuits that left me with the greatest sense of accomplishment, self-worth, and therefore, happiness. I began to see retirement as a new beginning, a period of significance and impact rather than settling into a slower paced life of leisure. Think about those activities that give you the greatest joy and sense of fulfillment and then attempt to articulate your passions in a sentence or two. Answering the Gifts and Skills Question It’s almost a certainty that there will be a high correlation between what you do well and what makes you happy. However, expand your thought process by reflecting on all kinds of moments in your life – beyond your work activities – when you have felt truly happy and fulfilled. What made time stand still? Answering the Preparation Question Having identified your passions and your unique gifts and skills, you need to consider how you will prepare for the next phase of your life and, in so doing, maximize your effectiveness and your ultimate happiness. Don’t forget to remain physically active and take care of yourself. I believe that the combination of meaningful post-retirement engagement coupled with a physical exercise routine, proper sleep, and good eating habits has contributed to a dramatic improvement in all of my vital signs. If you follow your own passions in a way that effectively deploys your own unique gifts and skills, I’m certain that you too will feel happier, healthier and younger in retirement. Fred Sievert is an author and retired president of New York Life Insurance Co., a Fortune 100 company. JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 25
PASSOVER Moses said to the people, "Remember this day, when you went out of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, for with a mighty hand, the Lord took you out of here, and [therefore] no leaven shall be eaten. ~ Exodus 13:3
Passover foods that tell the seder story By InterfaithFamily THE RITUAL FOODS of Passover tell the biblical story of the Exodus from Egypt and the story of the ancient rabbis who wrote the Haggadah. “During the seder, we don’t just tell the story of the Exodus, we see, smell, feel and taste liberation,” says Rabbi Jill Jacobs. What follows is a brief description of many of the special foods of Passover. First, let’s focus on the foods that are placed on a ceremonial plate, usually in the middle of the table or somewhere where everyone can easily see it. This special plate is called the seder plate. The traditional foods on this plate are:
26 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
Maror – a bitter herb, often horseradish, or bitter greens like chicory or endive. It’s supposed to be uncomfortably hot! It represents the bitterness of slavery. Some people take a “maror challenge” using very, very hot horseradish. Chazeret – a bitter vegetable or green, often Romaine lettuce. It’s also a symbol of the bitterness of slavery, but it gets used in a different part of the seder than the maror. Karpas – a leafy green, very often parsley. Represents the rebirth of spring. Baytzah – a roasted egg. Also represents the rebirth of spring and the national birth, or rebirth, of the Jewish people from out of the constraints of bondage. The roasting recalls the Passover sacrifice brought to the Temple in Jerusalem in ancient times. Z’roah – a shank bone of a lamb. Represents the Passover offering of a lamb made at the ancient Temple in Jerusalem in the early spring. Sometimes a chicken neck is substituted, and in vegetarian homes, a beet or a carrot may be substituted. Charoset – is a sweet, thick or chunky fruit and nut spread that symbolizes the mortar that Jewish slaves used in their hard labors building cities and brick buildings for the Pharaohs. Jews of European descent usually make it with apples, nuts, honey, sweet wine and cinnamon. Jews from other lands have other ingredients, but it is always ground or chopped to resemble mortar, and is usually brown in overall color.
In some more liberal Jewish households, people add other symbolic foods to their seder plates to call attention to issues of oppression, liberation, justice and inclusivity. Two of these new items that growing numbers of Jews are adding to their seder plates are: An orange – Putting an orange on the seder plate was an idea originated by Dr. Susannah Heschel in the 1980s. It represented the inclusion of LGBTQ and other marginalized people in the Jewish community, and the fruitfulness that these members of the community bring to Jewish life. Somehow, the new custom she shared with her guests morphed into a fast-traveling urban legend, and the story changed so that the orange was said to represent the inclusion of women in Jewish religious leadership roles. Today, for many, the orange symbolizes all of the above. Olives are sometimes included as a call for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Other symbolic foods have been added to the seder plate over the years – Passover is a very flexible holiday, and different families and communities adapt it to their concerns and passions. There are also important symbolic foods on the Passover seder table that aren’t placed on the seder plate. Matzah is unleavened bread – flat, porous, crumbly and pretty tasteless. It is the primary story-telling food at Passover. It is the only bread that is eaten with a Passover seder meal and throughout the weeklong holiday. The plural of
the Hebrew word matzah is matzot, with a long “o” sound. According to the Exodus story, the enslaved ancestors of the Jewish people hurried to flee Egypt once Pharaoh had finally agreed to let them go. They wanted to bring provisions with them, including bread that was baking in communal ovens. But in their desperate haste to get out of Egypt before the Pharaoh changed his mind, their bread didn’t have time to rise, so the slaves took it as it was, flat and dry, and hurried towards freedom. For the whole week of Passover, the tradition is for Jews to refrain from eating bread or baked goods that have had time to rise – that are leavened – and instead to eat only matzah, which is also known as “the bread of slavery,” “the bread of poverty” and “the bread of affliction.” At the beginning of the seder, the hosts place three matzot, piled on top of each other, on a plate. Some families have a cloth matzah cover, which has three cloth partitions inside; so that you
can slide one piece of matzah into each of the interior sections. During the seder, there’s a point at which we take the middle matzah and break it in half. Apart from the three pieces of matzah that are used ceremonially during the seder, people also have lots of boxes or platters of matzah on the table so that everyone can have however much they want during the festive meal. Salt water – people place one or more bowls of salt water on the table for the seder. At one point early in the seder, there’s a ritual activity in which everyone dips the green vegetable from the seder plate into the salt water and eats it. The salty water represents the tears of slaves, as well as the waters of the Red Sea that parted so the Jews could cross into freedom. This article is reprinted with permission from InterfaithFamily, supporting Jewish interfaith couples and families. Learn more at interfaithfamily.com.
MAROR
CHAZERET
KARPAS
BAYTZAH
Z'ROAH
CHAROSET
ORANGE
MATZAH
SALT WATER
JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 27
✡PASSOVER
Keto meets Passover WHAT HAPPENS when a French-trained pastry chef and the author of four best-selling cookbooks meets the ketogenic (keto) diet, the no-carbs-allowed diet that’s sweeping the nation? Now mix in Passover, (beginning this year Friday, April 19), replete with its ancient culinary traditions, and the result is a mouthwatering fusion of the old, the new and the healthy. For the uninitiated, the term keto comes from the fuel the body burns when blood sugar (glucose) is not available. Ketosis happens when you deprive your body of the carbs that break down into blood sugar, so the body turns to fat as its fuel. When your body enters a state of ketosis, keto devotees say they drop not only extra pounds but also have extra energy and increased focus. Keto, with its complete avoidance of carbs of any kind, could have been a daunting Passover challenge. However, for a pro like Paula Shoyer, author of Healthy Jewish Kitchen (Sterling Epicure), it’s a natural. She thrives on the opportunity to modernize traditional holiday dishes in healthy new ways. “Way too often people feel they have to choose between blowing their diet and emerging from the holidays feeling bloated or foregoing the traditional foods that are so important to pass on to the next generation,” says Paula, whose cooking classes, demonstrations and more than 33 television appearances have made her something of a household name. Additionally, Paula’s recipes for other holidays have been featured by Jewish Life magazines in recent months. With Passover just around the corner, Paula offers a bold fusion diet that includes the holiday basics in keto form. Begin with savory chicken and matzah ball soup, followed by mouthwatering traditional brisket and a delicious dessert; a decadent chocolate cake topped with ganache. This year enjoy tradition and good health. 28 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
KETO-FRIENDLY TRADITIONAL BRISKET Serves 8 to 10
4½-5 pounds second cut brisket 2 tablespoons coconut oil, divided 1 tablespoon coconut (or almond) flour, or more as needed if you have 2 pieces of meat 4 teaspoons paprika 4 teaspoons garlic powder 1 tablespoon onion powder
½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 1½ cups water 4 large tomatoes, quartered, seeds removed and cut into 2-inch pieces 1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley to garnish, if desired
Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat coconut oil in a large frying pan over medium high heat. Sprinkle coconut flour on both sides of the meat, shaking off excess, and brown in the pan until you see crispy parts on the meat, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Remove meat to a roasting pan. If you have two pieces of meat, add another one to two teaspoons coconut oil to the pan before you brown the second piece. Place the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper into a small bowl and mix well. Turn heat to medium low, add another ½ teaspoon of oil. Add the tomatoes and cook for three minutes, stirring often. Add a heaping tablespoon of the spice mix and 1½ cups water, turn heat up to medium high and cook for another 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Meanwhile, rub the remaining spice mixture all over the meat. Pour the tomato mixture over the meat. Cover with heavy duty foil. Bake for 1 hour. Remove pan from oven, place meat on a cutting board and slice against the grain into 1/3-inch slices. Return the slices to the pan and tuck into the liquid. Cover and bake for another hour, or until the meat is fork tender. Sprinkle parsley on top and serve. PHOTOGRAPHY BY PAULA SHOYER
KETO CHOCOLATE AVOCADO CAKE Makes one 8-inch round cake
CAKE 1½ cups almond flour ¾ cup dark cocoa, plus 1 tablespoon for greasing pan ¼ cup coconut flour ½ cup xylitol 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt ½ cup coconut cream, from canned coconut milk ½ cup almond milk
KETO MATZAH BALL SOUP It is somewhat awkward to call these matzah balls, when they have no matzah in them, but they look just like matzah balls, are surprisingly tasty and good for you, too. Serves 7-8
MATZAH BALLS 1 pound ground chicken ¼ cup chicken stock 2 tablespoons ground almonds 1 tablespoon coconut flour (or almond flour) 2 cloves garlic, crushed 1 large egg 1 tablespoon coconut oil ¼ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon white pepper 8 cups water 2 teaspoons kosher salt
SOUP 1 whole chicken cut into quarters 1 large onion, quartered 2 carrots, peeled and cut in half 3 stalks celery, cut crosswise in half 2 cloves garlic 1 parsnip, peeled and cut in half 1 fennel bulb, quartered ½ cup sliced shitake mushrooms 2 bay leaves 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 tablespoon black peppercorns ½ large bunch parsley ½ large bunch dill 8 cups water
3 large eggs 1 tablespoon coconut oil, plus 1 teaspoon for greasing pan 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 large ripe avocado GANACHE 5 tablespoons boiling water ½ cup dark cocoa ¼ cup xylitol ½ cup coconut cream 1 teaspoon vanilla
Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8-inch round pan with 1 teaspoon coconut oil. Add 1 tablepoon cocoa and shake all around to dust the bottom and sides. Tap out excess. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the almond flour, cocoa, coconut flour, xylitol, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Place the coconut cream, almond milk, eggs, coconut oil, vanilla and avocado into a food processor or blender and blend for two full minutes, scraping down the sides a few times, so that the mixture is completely smooth. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and whisk together. Use a silicone spatula to scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes and the remove to a wire rack. To prepare the ganache topping, place the cocoa and xylitol into a small bowl. Add the boiling water and whisk well. Add the coconut cream and vanilla and mix well. Spread over the top of the cake.
TO MAKE THE MATZAH BALLS In a medium bowl mix together the chicken, stock, ground almonds, coconut flour, garlic, egg, oil, salt and pepper. I like to use my hands. Cover with plastic wrap, and chill for 2 hours or up to 1 day. Have a bowl of cold water nearby; wet your hands, scoop up some batter shape into 1 1/2-inch balls. Place onto a plate and place in the fridge until the water is boiling. Bring the water to boil over high heat and add the kosher salt. Add the matzah balls, reduce heat to simmer and cook for 8 minutes, Serve with soup. TO MAKE THE SOUP Place the chicken pieces in a large pot. Add the onions, carrots, celery, garlic, parsnip, fennel, mushrooms, bay leaves and salt. Add the water and bring to a boil. Use a large spoon to skim the scum off the top of the soup. Add the peppercorns and salt. Cover the pot, reduce the heat to low, and let the soup simmer, checking after 5 minutes and skimming off any additional scum. Add the parsley and dill, cover and simmer for 2 hours. Let cool. Strain through a large sieve. Taste the soup and add more salt or pepper if necessary. *can substitute almond flour for coconut flour JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 29
✡PASSOVER CHECK OUT OUR SPECIAL MAY E-MAGAZINE
FOOD SCENE− ISRAEL
Add some fun (and poached pears) to your seder table By Lisa Glickman
Sign up for our e-newsletter to get this special issue in your inbox: orjewishlife.com/newsletter-sign-me-up azjewishlife.com/newsletter-sign-me-up
WANDER NO MORE
30 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
AT THE PASSOVER SEDER, we ask the question “Why is this night different from all other nights?” On this night, we eat only matzah. On this night, we especially eat bitter herbs and dip them twice. On this night, we dine with special ceremony. The story of Passover represents the journey from darkness into light. With all the seriousness, I like to add a smidgen of fun. When our kids were little, my friends and I would try to come up with fun things to do to incorporate our little ones into the service. For instance, we made frog finger puppets for them to play with during the reading of the Haggadah to take their minds off how hungry they were getting. The kids are grownups now, but we still can try to incorporate fun into our seder. Many Haggadot tell the story of Passover with just a little tongue placed firmly in cheek. These can add a touch of levity to what can be a somewhat somber evening. I even found a 30-second Haggadah on Haggadot.com if your group has a collective, excessive lack of patience. This year I ordered wine labels from Etsy.com. They came in a package of eight sticky labels that go right over the label of your Manechevitz or other Kosher for Passover wines. They include labels that say: “PASS that wine OVER,” “Goes well with Matzah” and “This is how we Jew it.” Foodandwine.com has a list of Passover cocktails with names such as “Beats Manna,” “Samson’s Riddle” and “Dayenu” that look delicious and are made with San Francisco’s Distillery 209 spirits. The distillery makes gin and vodka that are kosher for Passover. I have always loved our Passover seder. We may not all observe in the same fashion, but we can all agree it is a time to come together and commemorate the inspiring story we revisit year after year. Collectively we say, “Next Year in Jerusalem.” I actually have a wine label for that … I think I’ll open that bottle first!
RED WINE POACHED PEARS WITH SWEETENED MASCARPONE CHEESE* AND PISTACHIOS *Vegan/non-dairy option recipe, too POACHED PEARS 4-5 Bosc pears 1 bottle kosher red wine such as Zinfandel or Merlot ½ cup sugar 2 cinnamon sticks 2 star anise buds 1 orange, juiced, plus 3 1-inch-wide strips of rind Carefully peel pears using a vegetable peeler, leaving stem intact. Carefully slice off a small portion from the bottom of each pear so they stand upright. Place wine, sugar, cinnamon stick, star anise, orange juice and rind in a deep saucepan. Bring to a boil to melt sugar, then turn down to a simmer. Place pears in spiced wine and cook for 20-30 minutes. Remove pears from wine and set aside. Turn wine back up to a boil and reduce by half. Allow to cool completely. (Sauce will thicken a bit when cooled. If too thick, add some water and warm slightly.) Plate pears and spoon sauce over. Serve with one of the following toppings. MASCARPONE CHEESE TOPPING 1½ cups mascarpone cheese 2 teaspoons vanilla paste or vanilla extract ¼ superfine sugar (To make superfine sugar, place about 1 cup sugar into high-speed blender. Blend on high for a few seconds. Store remaining sugar for another use.) ½ cup shelled pistachios, coarsely chopped Mix mascarpone, sugar and vanilla together until smooth and thoroughly blended. Serve dollop alongside pears and sprinkle with chopped pistachios. VEGAN/NONDAIRY TOPPING 1½ cups raw cashews ½ cup water ¼ cup superfine sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla paste or vanilla extract 2 teaspoons lemon juice ¼ teaspoon kosher salt Cover cashews with boiling water and soak for 2-3 hours. Drain cashews and place into high-speed blender along with water, sugar, vanilla, lemon juice and salt. Blend until very smooth. Refrigerate for at least an hour before serving. Serve dollop alongside pears and sprinkle with chopped pistachios.
Lisa Glickman is a private chef and teacher who lives in Portland. She has made TV appearances on COTV in Central Oregon and appeared on the Cooking Channel’s “The Perfect Three.” She can be reached at lisa@lisaglickman.com.
JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 31
✡PASSOVER
Almond Butter Honey Cake By Lucia Schnitzer
THIS FLOURLESS ALMOND cake may be the best-hidden secret for a Passover dessert! There are plenty of almond cake recipes on the internet, but most of them use finely ground almonds or almond flour for the base ingredient. This cake uses almond butter instead. The result is a dense, moist cake that is sweet and full of almond flavor. This recipe is also gluten-free, sugar-free and paleo diet friendly. Try it for a new treat during Passover this year.
ALMOND BUTTER HONEY CAKE Ingredients ½ cup creamy roasted almond butter 2 large eggs 2 tablespoons honey (Optional: substitute with all xylitol or stevia) 1 tsp xylitol or stevia ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon sea salt ¼ teaspoon baking soda 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Instructions Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a large bowl mix almond butter until creamy. Mix in eggs, honey, xylitol and vanilla extract. Add salt, baking soda and cinnamon. Mix well until all ingredients are combined. Transfer batter into a well greased 8 x 8-inch baking dish. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean. Garnish with chopped almonds. Makes 12 servings.
Lucia Schnitzer and her husband, Ken, own Pomelo (a full-service restaurant), at Lucia'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 Lucia's Healthy Marketplace, 1590 E. Bethany Home Road, Phoenix, which they opened in 2009 in honor of her successful battle with breast cancer. 32 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
Arizona Jewish Historical Society and Congregation Kehillah Present
Community Passover Celebration
People of all faiths welcome!
g you n i h Passover Celebratio is a W Tuesday, April 23, 2019 6:30 PM Sharp
Please RSVP byApril 12, 2019 to: jschesnol@azjhs.org
$18 each
Help pay for as student to attend with an additional $18 donation.
Join Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman of Congregation Kehillah as we celebrate this sharing of the message of Freedom, Social Action and World Peace with the Exodus story and the Spring Festival of birth and renewal with shared values and our common humanity. Grape juice, matzah, macaroons complete with traditional Seder plate symbolic foods. This is not a meal, but instead a Passover experience. Bring your own Seder plate if you wish and share its stories of your family and important Spring holiday feelings and memories. Music, singing, and fellowship.
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jewishphoenix.org JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 33
BIZ
INS & OUTS
Joy Klein
Andrew Spitler
ACF welcomes Joy Klein as Director of Scholarships The Arizona Community Foundation is pleased to welcome Joy Klein as director of scholarships. She succeeds Grace Smith Kaus who had been with ACF since 2014 before being selected as director of programs for Helios Foundation late last year. Joy comes to ACF from the Maricopa Community Colleges Foundation where she was the fund scholarship administrator for the program spanning all ten campuses. Prior to MCC Foundation, Joy served as director of financial aid at the Southwest Institute of Healing Arts and assistant director of financial aid at Kent State University. She holds a master’s degree in public administration from ASU and a bachelor’s degree in political science from Cleveland State University. In her role as director of ACF’s scholarship program, Joy manages the scholarship team and works with donors and organizations to design, develop, and implement charitable scholarship funds. ACF is Arizona’s largest private provider of college scholarships, providing over $2.5 million annually to students across the state. azfoundation.org
Titus Brueckner & Levine PLC expands ownership Titus Brueckner & Levine PLC announced that Andrew Spitler and Bradley Shelts have joined Jon Titus, Kurt Bruechner and Matt Levine as owners of the firm. Andrew primarily practices in the area of estate planning, tax planning, qualified plans and asset protection and planning. Brad is a litigator in the areas of corporate & complex civil litigation, employment, wrongful death & catastrophic injury, real estate & insurance defense. He represents a wide variety of clients, including individuals, corporations, limited liability companies, & other private & public entities. tbl-law.com 34 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
Bradley Shelts
Geoffrey Turbow
New VP for CBRE Geoffrey Turbow is a first vice president with CBRE Capital Markets, Investment Properties, based in Phoenix. He focuses on representing private investors in the acquisition and disposition of office and industrial investment properties throughout Arizona. Prior to joining CBRE, Geoff was a partner at Levrose Commercial Real Estate. He was involved in every facet of the commercial real estate office sector during his 16-year tenure, representing buyers, sellers, landlords and tenants of office properties throughout metro Phoenix. During his career, Geoff has closed or been a part of more than 1,000 sale and lease transactions totaling close to $500 million dollars. Geoff is a graduate from Ohio State University, where he received an economics degree. He is an active member of The Thunderbirds and Life Member of the Executive Council 70, who represents Executive Council Charities. cbre.us
Bryan Davis co-chairs conference Bryan Davis, executive director of the Jewish History Museum and Holocaust History Center, co-chaired the Council of American Jewish Museums 2019 conference in Los Angeles March 3-5. Bryan’s co-chair for the conference, “The Creative Challenge: Museums for the Next Generation,” was Gravity Goldberg, director of public programs and visitor experience at The Contemporary Jewish Museum in San Francisco. Bryan is the Executive Director of the Jewish History Museum and Holocaust History Center in downtown Tucson. He teaches Jewish Responses to the Holocaust for the Center for Judaic Studies. He also teaches for the UA Honors College and UA College of Education. In 2018, Bryan received a Ph.D. in Language, Reading and Culture at the University of Arizona. jewishhistorymuseum.org
Bryan Davis
Eric Perlman
Eric Perlman joins MacQueen & Gottlieb MacQueen & Gottlieb, PLC, one of the top real estate law firms in Arizona, has added Eric Perlman to its attorney roster. Perlman, the firm’s sixth attorney, will focus on the real estate and civil litigation practice areas. Perlman graduated from the Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona in May 2015 and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in business management with an International Business certificate from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University in 2011. He comes to MacQueen & Gottlieb from the PetSmart SSG corporate office where he served as a brand risk investigator. Prior to that he was an associate attorney at the Phoenix firm Evans Dukarich LLP and held a legal internship in the Clark County Public Defender’s Office in Las Vegas. Benjamin Gottlieb, a founding partner in the firm, said Perlman brings a good mix of youth and experience to M&G. “Eric is a great fit for us because he’s a young attorney but brings a good deal of diverse experience to our firm,” Gottlieb said. “It isn’t always easy to find attorneys who can hit the ground running and bring something to the table right away, but that’s what we see Eric doing for our firm. We think he’s going to be a big contributor right out of the gate.” An example of the experience he gained was sitting as second chair attorney in a successfully litigated contract dispute case. The 3-day jury trial yielded a verdict as well as damages for his client. For his part, Perlman is excited to join MacQueen & Gottlieb. “Right out of law school, I don’t think that many people really know what kind of law they want to practice,” he said. “It can take a couple of years for things to crystallize and gain some experience in different practice areas before you figure out in what area you want to work. For me it was real estate law, and for a young attorney in this market, there is no better place to practice in real estate than MacQueen & Gottlieb. I feel very fortunate to be able to join the team at such a high-profile firm.” mandglawgroup.com
HAVE BUSINESS NEWS TO SHARE? Send your "Biz Ins" to editor@azjewishlife.com
JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 35
BUSINESS
Do you know about NAWBO? By Mala Blomquist
RONIT URMAN
36 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS was founded in 1975 and is the unified voice of more than 10 million women-owned businesses in the United States. NAWBO is the only dues-based organization representing the interests of all women entrepreneurs across all industries, and with chapters across the country. The organization started to advocate for and empower women, and that is still true today. In 1988, NAWBO was an instrumental proponent of the Women’s Business Ownership Act, also known as HR 5050. This legislation allowed women entrepreneurs to obtain a business loan without needing a male cosigner. NAWBO retains a voice in Washington, D.C., today when it comes to small businesses. The voice is especially relevant given the tremendous growth of women-owned business in the United States. Ronit Urman is the current president of the NAWBO Phoenix chapter. Ronit and her husband, Eitan, own Urman Enterprises, LLC, a real estate and property management company. They started their business in 1992 after moving to the Valley from Montreal, Canada, in 1991. Ronit has been involved with NAWBO for more than five years. “I started as a member, and they asked me if I would like to take part in the mentoring program, which I said I would be honored to,” she says. “I saw how the mentees were developing with the experience and collaboration of other women business owners; and then I was asked to be on the board.” Once on the board, she became treasurer because of her accounting background. Then worked with the past president before she took on the role herself. When her term is up in June, she will work with the new president to make the transition easier. The mentorship program lasts nine months and matches mentors and mentees. The mentors are business owners who have worked in business fulltime for many years. “It’s a strategic, award-winning program,” says Ronit. “We start (with the mentee) by setting up goals – personal and business – and
then how to achieve them.” They cover everything from marketing to legal issues. The mentees and mentors work one-onone and then come together as a group in what’s called the “mastermind. “We teach them how to collaborate, how to work with one another and gain from the connection that other people have, and share experiences,” says Ronit. The NAWBO monthly business program includes time to visit and connect before a speaker presents a business topic. Then the group has table discussions. “We have table discussions where you connect with the other women that are sitting at your table, so it’s not as awkward as going into a networking event. You really are connecting,” says Ronit. There are also Neighborhood NAWBO groups in Desert Ridge, Scottsdale and the East Valley where smaller groups of about 20-25 women can get together. “It’s a very cozy and comfortable atmosphere to learn about everybody’s business,” comments Ronit. Ronit believes that her experience at NAWBO has made her a better employer overall. “I think my leadership skills have improved tremendously – I definitely got out of my comfort zone,” she says. “It’s a very safe environment to ask questions and connect with people and share your frustrations or challenges and rely on their experience – it just makes you think differently, and it opens your eyes to other things.” She has found her time as president very rewarding. “I’m at the stage of my life where my kids are grown and successful and out of the house, and now it’s time to give back. I enjoy that. I still work full time, and I enjoy the business.” Ronit is also proud of the fact that one of her mentees was able to grow so much in a couple of years that she needed her own space. “I helped her identify and negotiate a space,” she says. “It’s a pleasure to see with my recommendations and feedback she reached her goals.” NAWBO is having a Spring Membership Drive until April 30. Save $25 when you join and receive a complimentary vendor table at one of their regular monthly business programs. For more information, visit nawbo.org/phoenix.
“We have table discussions where you connect with the other women that are sitting at your table, so it’s not as awkward as going into a networking event. You really are connecting.” ~ Ronit Urman
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JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 37
FRONT & CENTER
Healing the world together By Mala Blomquist
Who knew that a spiritual design on a pendant could launch a global movement? SEVEN YEARS AGO, jewelry designer Scott Berger created a pendant for his wife, Marla, as a gift to celebrate their 21st wedding anniversary. Embossed on the front is the tree of life and engraved on the back are the names of their four children in Hebrew, along with the number 21. “Marla said that was the most beautiful gift I had ever given her, not because of the jewelry but because of the spiritual meaning of it and that she got to wear all four of our kids close to her heart. And then she said, ‘That’s it!’ ” Scott recalls. When Scott questioned what she meant by “That’s it,” Marla says, “I’ve been waiting for 21 years. I was looking for that bigger purpose, that divine reason of why the two of us – two souls – were brought together.” Marla goes on to share that she knew there was always something that they needed to do for humanity and that when she received that gift, that’s what she had been waiting for. The couple started designing different collections benefitting charities with the tree of life on one side and a name of the cause on the other. They were even asked to create a collection of pieces for the Pope, helping refugee children around the world. The Tree of Life Movement was born. Shortly after the release of the collection for the Pope, Scott and Marla were invited by the royal family to stay at Windsor Castle for four days to take part with 23 other visionaries and world leaders in discussions and round table meetings on ways to heal the world. One of the nights during their stay was Simchat Torah. “I have not missed Simchat Torah in more than 25 years, and I wasn’t going to just because we were at the castle,” says Scott. So when the group gathered that evening in St. George’s tea 38 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
room he explained to the others (they were the only Jews there) what the holiday was all about. He got everyone’s attention when he added, “We read each of these prayers, and after each prayer, we do a shot – l’chaim!” Scott says that some Orthodox rabbis will somersault to symbolize the flipping of the year. So he decided to do a somersault. “All of a sudden, the CFO of all the embassies does a somersault – then everyone in the room did a somersault,” says Scott. “We formed a circle and started dancing the horah, singing mazal tov and siman tov in the middle of the castle.” Their last day in London, Scott talked to the group about the spiritual meaning behind the tree of life. “It’s the roots being sunk deep into mother earth – the subconscious. The trunk is knowledge, consciousness, and the branching is bringing us all together – unifying all mankind,” says Scott. “Then we are growing to the heavens above – the extension of our souls. It’s not being better than anyone else in this world; it’s being better than who you were yesterday. We are here to grow and learn.” The inspiration for their newest line of jewelry – the Tree of Life Intention Stick – came to Scott during one of his daily meditation sessions. He refers to the inspirational messages he receives during these times as “downloads.” “One morning four years ago, that download comes in, and I saw this tube. Didn’t think anything of it and a month later I’m in meditation, and I saw our tree being wrapped around the tube,” says Scott. Then he and Marla both started receiving the same words at the same time, 22 in all. The 22 words they received while meditating became the words that accompany each Intention Stick necklace. The
MARLA AND SCOTT BERGER
wearer will choose a word (or words) that best describes the intention they want to set and place it inside the hollow stick. The words are: oneness, believe, faith, gratitude, mindful, be/ let it be, love, light, blessed, peace, kindness, health, consciousness, inspire, laugh/joy, courage, happiness, spiritual, trust, knowledge, success and compassion. Marla explains that the energy we put out is the energy we receive back. “If you are putting out stress, worry and anxiety, only more of that comes back. If you put out love, more love comes back. If you’re putting out gratitude, that’s what you receive. It’s actually the third law of physics.” They have received thousands of stories from across the globe of the positive effects people are experiencing after wearing the Intention Stick. The stories include everything from mended relationships to physical healing. Many people are so impacted that they give the necklaces to friends and loved ones, keeping the
positive energy moving forward. Scott and Marla feel that all who are part of the Tree of Life movement are healing the world together – tikkun olam. Also, a portion of the proceeds from sales is used to plant trees and aid philanthropic causes around the world. “When you can touch another soul and watch them fill themselves back up and heal – that’s what brings us our bliss,” says Scott. Adds Marla, “When you make someone feel loved who doesn’t feel loved or make someone feel they have meaning, who didn’t feel they have meaning or give someone the chance to have purpose, then you’ve done a lot for your own soul and to fill someone else’s.” For more information on the Tree of Life Movement or the Tree of Life Intention Stick, visit intentionstick.org. JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 39
FRONT & CENTER
Mimi Damrauer
Enter the colorful world of artist Mimi Damrauer By Melissa Hirschl
40 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
POSSESSING AN innate flair for both fabric and art, Phoenix artist Marian “Mimi” Damrauer has been indulging her love of textiles for the past 30 years. As a full-time fabric artist, Mimi creates imaginative and intricate art that is bold, colorful and exotic. Each piece evokes a different sensation, such as her pieces that mimic primitive folk art. “I love these because they are fun, childish and whimsical,” says Mimi. Her bold multi-colored geometric patterns are a stark contrast and embody a contemporary style. “I see inspiration everywhere,” says Mimi; from beach stones in Italy, to cracks in the sidewalk, or even bricks. Mimi’s fetching textile collages have been showcased at fine art shows and festivals across the country. First-time visitors to Mimi’s Phoenix studio may experience “visual overload” as they scan the potpourri of 300 colors of thread on the wall and her huge collection of fabric – 40 shades of every color imaginable to be exact. “I hand cut all the material for my designs, and always use hand-dyed fabric for my backgrounds,” explains Mimi, who delights in using fabrics from all over the world. Examples are saris from India,
scarves from Thailand, and molas from Panama; all various patterns and designs that are awe-inspiring in their complexity as well as aesthetic appeal. Her studio is not only her creative “think tank,” but a gallery as well; walls showcase an eclectic array of art created by friends, as well as purchased by Mimi. Always anxious to discover unusual and beguiling fabrics, Mimi travels the globe to enhance her collection. Some traditional pieces came from India, which is known for endemic weaves, stitches and embroideries. “I was very inspired by the colors, textiles, and hand stitching (called Kantha) used in the saris and fabrics,” explains Mimi. In fact, she was so taken with the stitching, she decided to use them as a design element, and hand-dyes all her threads, which imbues them with a primitive feel. Not surprisingly, Mimi started down the artistic path early in life, sewing in fourth grade, and eventually taking art classes in college. “My mom sewed a lot, and seemingly by osmosis, we picked it up,” she relates. “Eventually one of my sisters got interested in quilting, and before long, so did my sisters and myself. I took off with it, though, and learned how to dye fabric and be more artistic and contemporary. I started with bedspreads and then started to make framed art pieces.”
Even though Mimi is passionate about her creations, she recently realized the intrinsic beauty of hand-stitching comes at a cost – it is very labor intensive. Desiring a new and less taxing outlet, Mimi took a year to experiment with various mediums, and as she tapped into deeper dimensions of creativity, she discovered the joys of multi-media art. Her current focus is on layering diverse mediums such as paper, acrylics, fabric and drawing with colored pencils. Many of her new pieces include playful folk-art style birds, flowers and nature scenes. During her experimenting, two long lost loves have reentered her life: painting and drawing. “I still love fabric though, and sometimes incorporate it into my new mixed-media work,” says Mimi. In addition to paint, a camera is another “tool of the trade” for her work. Mimi frequently has it by her side to capture a spontaneous moment that would be lost without a click of the shutter. Locations such as the dramatic and colorful tulip fields in Skagit Valley, WA, provide ideal inspiration for her paintings, as she recreates them, adding her own distinctive touches. Emulating the style of iconic masters is another style of art Mimi has been happily indulging in. Artists such as Rothco and Klee inspire her “abstract master mash-up” paintings. For now, Mimi keeps exploring and experimenting with diverse art forms and techniques. “One of my Chicago customers told me looking at the art she bought makes her happy every day,” says Mimi. The art should bring them joy since it gives me joy. I hope that feeling transfers to the customer.” For more information, visit mimidesignsart.com.
Sometimes the fiercest rivals make the closest friends
APRIL 3 - 28 AT THE PHOENIX THEATRE COMPANY Visit PhoenixTheatre.com or call 602.254.2151 today! JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 41
JEWS WITH ATTITUDE
Sigal and Ronny Urman: Building bridges in the Jewish community By Mala Blomquist
Sigal and Ronald “Ronny” Urman are a dynamic duo who are very involved in the Israeli-American community in the Valley and are business partners at Urman Investments. The two are also the founding partners of Illumination, Symphony of Light, the world’s largest drive-through animated light show that will be returning for the 2019 holiday season. Amidst their busy schedule, they took a breath and answered some questions about their faith, family and how to maintain work/life balance when you are always together. Q: When and where did you meet? A: We met in Tel Aviv, Israel, at a house warming event in 1997. We got married in 2002. Q: Can you remember a specific moment in time when you knew you would end up marrying Sigal/Ronny? A: From the first moment we laid eyes on each other – we both knew! Q: When did you decide to come to the United States? Why Arizona? A: During 2008, the real estate crash happened in the United States. We had been involved in the family’s business here for many years. We saw the crash as an opportunity to move from Israel to pursue some of these ventures and seek new and exciting opportunities. We also felt it would be a great place to raise our daughter, Leeor. We left our son, Yakir, in Israel to serve in the army. He later joined us here. Q: How often do you return to Israel? A: We try and make it back one to two times a year to visit with family and friends. 42 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
Sigal and Ronny Urman
Q: Describe your positions at Urman Investments. A: We are the owners of Urman Investments, which is a real estate investment and property management company. We are both involved in most aspects of the business and enjoy being involved in real estate here in Arizona. Q: You both work together at Urman Investments and are founding partners of Illuminations. What is your advice or tips you can share on working with your spouse? How do you successfully practice work/life balance? A: Working together with your spouse is never easy. We have learned to keep work at work and keep it as separate as possible from our personal lives. While we don’t always agree on decisions, we certainly respect our differences and perspectives. Q: Yakir and Leeor are your children, what are their ages? I know Yakir is a partner with Illuminations, how does it feel to work with your child? Does Leeor work with you also? A: Yakir is 30 while Leeor is almost 16. Leeor works with us at events from time to time as well as around the office doing miscellaneous office work. It’s always wonderful to have her around. Yakir began working with us just over two years ago. It has been nice to have him around and to spend time with him. It’s valuable to have a trusted family member involved in nearly all aspects of Illumination. He has really taken a hands-on approach to the business and is constantly developing new skills that we are able to see first hand.
Limitless Energy and Expertise!
Q: Sigal, you have worked with Shevet Shemesh (Israel Scouts of Arizona) and the IAC. Why is it important for you to be involved with these organizations? What is your involvement currently? A: I started Shevet Shemesh (shevetshemesh.com) a few years ago. After growing up in Israel, I knew this is something I wanted to see here. I almost feel that it was my purpose to start this organization and develop these roots between our community and Israel. We both felt we wanted a place for our daughter to learn and develop and Shevet Shemesh fit that need. The first three years have been amazing, and the relationships forged with the children, leaders and parents have been nothing short of amazing. Q: Do you keep kosher, or observe Shabbat? If so, how do you think these rituals affect your marriage and parenting? A: We certainly observe Shabbat along with all Jewish holidays. We are proud of our Israeli roots and are members of Beth Tefillah. We are attempting to pass on as many of our beliefs and understandings to our children and allow them to learn from our example and ultimately have a strong foundation for their own lives.
Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or a last-home seller, my 34 years of local real estate experience will make your transactions pleasant and worry-free. I work closely with every client, as if conducting my own personal transaction. My only goal is to make sure you are a satisfied and happy customer.
Full-Service Property Management
Toby
Weinstein
(602) 228-0265 tobyre4u@aol.com
Ask for Gary Kravetz, Fleet Director RIGHT HONDA’s Fleet and Internet Department welcomes different buying clubs like Costco, Sam’s, all credit unions, Police and Fire Departments, Motorola, Intel, etc., so please call or email to see if your company is an approved organization.
Ronny, Leeor and Sigal Urman
Q: If there is any other information that you would like to share? A: One thing we would love to accomplish is to help to build a bridge between Israeli and American Jews. Most importantly, no matter what organization, to help the children of the community to be proud of their Jewish heritage. We want to be able to give them a purpose and sense of belonging. We feel we have started doing these things; however, there is always work to do and it’s a community effort. We are so very proud of the community that we live in and are excited about our future as a part of it.
The buying process for our fleet and internet department is done at your speed. Our Fleet and Internet Managers will use their 15 years of experience to help answer all of your questions. This is a stress and hassle-free buying program and we are proud to help serve the local companies of Scottsdale and the sorrounding areas. Contact us today to get started.
7875 E Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd Scottsdale, Arizona 480.778.2510 righthonda.com
JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 43
CYCLING SHORTS
Influencers and celebrities are wearing bike shorts across Instagram, so this trend is here to stay for a while. There are many ways to wear these athleisure pieces aside from their original intention. They can be paired with fitted blazers, button-up cardigans or an over-sized blouse for a grown-up and sophisticated look.
YELLOW
The most popular color this spring is yellow. It has even earned a new nickname, “Gen Z yellow” and it has pushed “Millennial pink” off its pedestal. The color is showing up not only in clothing but also bags, hats, iPhone cases and swimwear. The good thing is it’s not the shade of your mom’s rubber dishwashing gloves; it more closely resembles a marigold and looks great on most skin tones.
What’s old is new again is undoubtedly true for some of these fashion trends for 2019.
6 Spring/Summer Fashion Trends By Mala Blomquist 44 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
CROCHET
Following on the ’60s tie-dye trend, is ’70s crochet trend. But you won’t be seeing the color orange and crazy patterns that dominated the trend decades ago. This time, the pattern and the hue are monochromatic. Crochet is used for everything from tank tops to long-sleeved dresses.
ANIMAL PRINTS
The good news is that if you bought a leopard print item last year, you still can wear it. And leopard isn’t the only print in the game. Zebra, tiger, giraffe and snake prints adorn everything from shoes to shower curtains. The best part? An animal print is actually a neutral so go ahead and wear it with everything.
TIE DYE
A fashion trend that is usually associated with the ’60s, hippies and Woodstock has been given a modern makeover by the likes of designers Prada and Stella McCartney. The process has been applied to fabrics like denim and satin and styles such as mini dresses, puffer jackets and A-line skirts. Of course, the traditional tie-dye T-shirt is still around if you’re a little reluctant to add this trend to other pieces of your wardrobe.
BUCKET HATS
There’s good and bad news about this trend. The good news is that wearing a hat during the spring and summer protects your scalp and face from the harmful rays of the sun. The bad news – bucket hats are back. What originally was conceived to keep the rain off of fisherman’s heads in the early 1900s has reemerged as a catwalk item. JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 45
ISRAEL
By Mala Blomquist
Avigail Landman:
Rising star in renewable energy research
byproduct. After she receives her Ph.D., Avigail is unsure if she will go to industry or academics, but about one thing she’s sure, “I still want to work on renewable energy, definitely. Either way, I’ll probably do research. If I’m going to the industry, it will probably be research and development in the field of renewable energy.” She says that the advantages of staying at Technion for her whole college career are numerous. “This institute has the best facilities and equipment, not only in Israel but in the world,” she says. “We have some very advanced equipment at Technion that you can use in your research. It’s been great in all stages.” Another advantage to staying, “Never in my whole 10 years
Avigail Landman is a Ph.D. candidate in the Grand Technion Energy Program and quickly becoming a rising star in the sustainability field, having been selected in a nationwide competition to represent Israel in the Falling Walls contest in Berlin, an international forum for up-and-coming creative thinkers. At the end of February, Avigail was in Phoenix as part of Technion’s annual U.S. Student Tour. The purpose of the tour is to share both Technion Israel Institute of Technology’s contributions to Israel (and the world) and the individual’s personal stories as a student at the institute. Avigail was born and raised in Haifa, Israel, and she attended high school right across the street from Technion. “I sort of always knew that was where I wanted to go when I grew up,” she says. “Being from a Russian-Jewish family, it was subtly hinted that it was a good idea.” She developed an interest in science while in high school where she took physics, math and robotics. During her service in the Israel Defense Forces, she became interested in renewable energy. “I had a long commute every day to the base, and I would spend the time reading and contemplating what I wanted to study,” says Avigail. “That’s when I decided I wanted to help the environment, and study something that will enable me to do that one day.” She started at the Technion in 2009 and received her bachelor’s degree in biochemical engineering. She went on to get her master’s, and now she is working on her Ph.D. Avigail is scheduled to finish in September 2019 – which Avigail Landman. Photo courtesy Technion will mark a decade for her at Technion. Avigail is working on her doctorate under the guidance of at the Technion have I felt discriminated against or ‘lesser than,’ Professor Avner Rothschild from the faculty of Materials Sci” says Avigail. “On the contrary, Technion was the first place ence and Engineering, and Professor Gideon Grader, dean of where I found out that I’m good at math!” She explains that the faculty of Chemical Engineering. in high school other kids would say that girls are not good at In 2017, their research was published in Nature Materials. math. But when she got to the institute, she was encouraged to The article explains how they have developed a new approach participate and ask questions. “I found out I was pretty good at to the production of hydrogen from water using solar energy. it, and I liked it.” “Hydrogen is a very energetic molecule, and it can be used to When she started her master’s degree, she was introduced to power houses, cars, etc.,” says Avigail. “You convert the hydromany programs that Technion creates for women to advance gen back to electrical power and water using fuel cells.” in the sciences. “Technion initiates workshops, and it brings This new process allows for the production of hydrogen at women from the industry and professors to speak to young the point of sale (for example, at a gas station for electric cars students, and encourage them to follow this path,” says Avigail. fueled by hydrogen). By producing hydrogen in this way, it “As a woman, I think it’s one of the best places to be.” is expected to reduce the cost of shipping it to the customer Technion has universities in Israel, China and New York. To significantly. find out more, visit technion.ac.il. Aside from reducing the dependency on fossil fuels, another benefit of using hydrogen as a fuel is that water is the only 46 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
L iving
Ignition! 2019 Luncheon Roz Rothstein, co-founder and CEO of StandWithUs will be the special guest at the Ignition! 2019 luncheon presented by the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix on April 4. StandWithUs is an international nonprofit Israel education organization with 18 offices and chapters around the world. SWU supports people around the world who want to educate their campuses and communities about Israel. SWU provides university fellowships, high school internships, middle school curricula, conferences, materials, social media, educational films and missions to Israel. In between her speaking engagements on behalf of SWU, we were able to ask Roz a few questions: You are coming to Arizona on April 4 for the Ignition! Luncheon. Why is it important for you to speak at these kinds of events?
Roz Rothstein
It is critical that we underscore the importance of education. During these days of watching the misinformation being promoted about Israel as well as rising anti-Semitism, it is incumbent upon all of us who care – to use this moment in history as an opportunity to become increasingly engaged. I will review the challenges we face from my own perspective and ways that concerned people can be involved and have a positive impact. What message do you want people to take away from the event? That this is an important teaching moment, and that each one of us can play a greater role in inspiring people of all ages to become more involved in informing others about Israel and in fighting against rising anti-Semitism. Do you have any programs in the works for elementary school students? Yes! It’s on the horizon. We would love to begin our work for elementary schools. It’s all a matter of funding. LINK, our middle school curriculum is already in 120 schools, and we are getting excellent feedback from teachers and students. We are confident that we can apply our expertise to elementary school! JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 47
StandWithUs is working on a new initiative for middle school students called LINK. Has that launched yet in Arizona, and if so, how is it doing? LINK is being used in 120 schools nationwide. Mina Rush, director of community engagement has reached out to every school in Arizona and has made follow-up calls. She presented at SWU's "Israel in Focus" International Conference March 2 – which had 500 attendees – and will now reach out again and schedule LINK demos.
Ignition! 2019 When: April 4 at 11 am Where: Arizona Biltmore, 2400 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix Couvert: $80 per person; $40 for students and those under age 35 And a $180 minimum commitment to the 2019 campaign (payable by December 31, 2019) Mitzvah Project Please bring non-perishable every day or Passover food items to help feed those who are food-insecure in our community.
FEDERATION NOTES Share a Seder By Marty Haberer April marks the end of nearly two months of Violins of Hope pro-
as well as the first night of
gramming. I am proud that federation supported this important
Passover. What truly makes
project spearheaded by two amazing leaders and supporters of
Passover so special is how
Federation, Julee Landau Shahon and Rachel Hoffer. I continue
it is both traditional – we
to be deeply moved by the collaborative spirit of the 30 organi-
read the same story that our
zations, both Jewish and non-Jewish, that worked so beautifully
ancestors have been reciting
together to touch the lives of 23,000 students and 40,000
for millennia and partake
individuals throughout Arizona. The 72 instruments from the
of the Passover plate — and
Holocaust taught all of us the lessons of embracing differences,
personal, incorporating our
valuing others and of being upstanders rather than bystanders.
own interpretations and in-
These lessons are critical to moving our community in the Valley
terests into the timeless tale of the Exodus. All those around the
to becoming a community second to none. I am also grateful for
seder table, Jews and non-Jews who have chosen to participate,
the many new friends I have met among the leaders from other
are there because they care about each other, our shared histo-
religious communities and the arts.
ry, and more importantly, our future.
This month, we also celebrate Passover, or Pesach, commemo-
Wishing you a happy and healthy Passover and I hope that you
rating the final night before the Israelites fled bondage in Egypt
will consider adding a new friend to your seder table.
when the final plague passed over their houses. We as Jews
Chag Sameach.
observe the weeklong festival with a number of important rituals, including a traditional Passover seder. In fact, many families have seders on both the evening before the first day of Passover 48 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
Marty Haberer is CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix
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Jason Bressler, left, presents a check to Nick Lowery at a Champions for Homeless event. Photo by Antoine Gedroyc
Gene and Jason Bressler: Building Business. Creating Community. Giving Back. By Susan Kern-Fleischer
They’re charismatic leaders, articulate speakers, meticulous collaborators and compassionate souls. Gene and Jason Bressler are the dynamic father and son duo behind the Phoenix Metro Chamber of Commerce and its nonprofit Phoenix Metro Chamber Foundation. Together, they make citywide connections that simultaneously build business, create community and give back through philanthropic efforts. Known affectionately by his peers as “The Selling Machine,” Gene started grooming Jason at a young age to excel in sales and marketing. A fierce, trilingual negotiator, Gene traveled internationally in his role as vice president of an electronics firm. Jason was just five years old when he began accompanying his father on trips. He would help Gene with small projects and
observe how Gene interacted with people. It was a profound experience that helped set the stage for his future. Today, Jason is the executive director of the Phoenix Metro Chamber of Commerce. He and Gene co-founded the chamber in 2014. “We saw a need for a unique chamber of commerce that would help its members build strong professional and community networks that foster business development and growth,” Jason says. “Our culture is inclusive, socially-responsible, creative, collaborative and non-political.” Jason also serves as the executive director and charter member of the nonprofit Phoenix Metro Chamber Foundation, which was founded in July 2017 with the mission of supporting children, families, veterans and pets. Gene is CEO of the Phoenix Metro Chamber of Commerce, JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 49
and he also serves as a charter member of the chamber foundation. Together, the Phoenix Metro Chamber Foundation and the Phoenix Metro Chamber of Commerce have donated tens of thousands of dollars to 44 local charities. Gene and Jason moved from New York to Arizona in 1991, and not long after that, Jason began volunteering at St. Mary’s Food Bank, Phoenix Children’s Hospital and other nonprofits. He was just a teenager, but those experiences shaped his life and purpose. “I realized how fortunate I was, and through those experiences, I learned how to face adversity and accomplish things beyond my imagination,” says Jason, adding that he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in communication and an MBA from Arizona State University in just three and a half years while working full-time. Both Gene and Jason are skilled networkers: Gene’s international sales and management career spanned more than four decades, and Jason helped to build three successful chambers of commerce. Prior to co-founding the Phoenix Metro Chamber of Commerce, Jason served as the first executive director of the North Scottsdale Chamber of Commerce, where he grew the chamber from zero to 800 members from 2008 to 2010. Then, from 2012 to 2014, in his role as executive director of the North Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, he helped to grow membership from less than 100 to nearly 650 members. Gene, “the schmoozer,” helped him with business development for both chambers of commerce. Gene and Jason both cherish the affiliations they have had with Temple Israel in Lawrence, N.Y., and Congregation Beth Israel here in Scottsdale. Within these holy walls, they learned the concepts of mitzvah and tzedakah. While proud of their Jewish heritage, both father and son are dedicated to helping people of all faiths. Their current goal is to recruit golfers and others to help raise funds through the Phoenix Metro Chamber Foundation’s third annual charity golf tournament in collaboration with the Nick Lowery Youth Foundation on Friday, April 26. Lowery is the former NFL star behind the Champions for Homeless and other charitable programs that help youth and veterans.
Jason and Gene Bressler. Photo by Glenn Mire
Citing time as the most important commodity, Gene shared that it all boils down to investing time to build strong relationships. “Make every day count: Love your family, honor your mother and father, attend your synagogue or house of worship, interact with friends and business associates, show kindness and compassion, and finally, join the Phoenix Metro Chamber of Commerce,” he says, adding with enthusiasm, “Carpe Diem!” To learn about the Phoenix Metro Chamber of Commerce, visit phoenixmetrochamber.com.
Phoenix Metro Chamber Foundation/Nick Lowery Youth Foundation Charity Golf Tournament WHEN: Friday, April 26; 7:30 a.m. shotgun start WHERE: Stonecreek Golf Club, 4435 E. Paradise Village Parkway S., Phoenix Proceeds will benefit the Phoenix Metro Chamber Foundation, the Nick Lowery Youth Foundation, Harvest Compassion Center & Mitchell Swaback Charities, Junior Golf Association of Arizona and Girl’s Golf of Phoenix. Non-golfers can attend the luncheon for $25. To register, visit phxmcf.org or call 602-561-2348. 50 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
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PREVIEWS There is also a build-and-fly rocketry workshop that takes place at 9 am. Pre-registration and payment is required to participate. The cost is $10 and includes the materials needed to build and launch one rocket. Rockets will be built prior to the opening of the festival gates and will take about two hours to dry and be ready for launch. Launches will take place between 10:30 am and noon. The class is limited to the first 30 pre-paid children and is appropriate for kids ages 6-12. For more information or to participate in the workshop, or on the festival, visit thastem.com.
Chris and Johnny Rice
THE RICE BROTHERS RETURN TO BETH AMI TEMPLE The Rice Brothers, an internationally acclaimed musical duo who have performed extensively across Europe and the United States, including New York’s famed Carnegie Hall, will headline the annual Sounds of Spring concert at Beth Ami Temple at 3535 E. Lincoln Blvd., Paradise Valley on April 7 at 3 pm.
Clemantine Wamariya
The siblings, talented in playing both piano and cello, will perform a lively hour-long concert featuring a blend of classical music, gospel, jazz, ragtime and boogie-woogie. Chopin's music is featured prominently in their concerts in part due to the brothers' pride in their Polish heritage, highlighted by their receiving the 2015 Polish Heritage Award from the Polish American Congress. The Rice Brothers are only the second musicians to be invited back for a return engagement by the temple. The concert is open to the general public. A raffle for Judaic prizes will be held, and light refreshments will be served immediately following the musical performance. More information is available at www.bethamitemple. org. Tickets may be purchased at the door or by emailing Donna Horwitz at azhorwitzs@cox.net or calling her at 602-997-5623.
STEM FESTIVAL AT TUCSON HEBREW ACADEMY The Tucson Hebrew Academy hosts its 5th annual STEM Festival on April 7 from 10 am-2 pm at the THA campus at 3888 E. River Road in Tucson (just east of the Tucson JCC). The free festival features STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) activities with more than 50 hands-on exhibits for kids and adults alike. There will be creatures to see and touch up close, hands-on demonstrations and experiments to participate in, robotics demonstrations, photo booths and more!
SURVIVOR OF RWANDAN GENOCIDE TO SPEAK IN SCOTTSDALE The keynote address of Genocide Awareness Week will be delivered by Clemantine Wamariya at Scottsdale Community College at 9000 E. Chaparral Road in Scottsdale on April 15 at 6 pm. An internationally renowned speaker, a New York Times bestselling author and a human rights advocate, Clemantine will tell the story being a refugee at age 6, being on the run for more than six years through seven African countries before being granted asylum in the United States where she went on to graduate from Yale University. It was her appearance on The Oprah Show with Elie Wiesel that brought her to prominence. Her memoir, The Girl Who Smiled Beads is about the human side of war – what is forever destroyed, what can be repaired, the fragility and importance of memory. Genocide Awareness Week (scottsdale.edu/genocide) is a week-long series of lectures, exhibits and storytelling by survivors, scholars, politicians, activists, artists, humanitarians and members of law enforcement. Clemantine will also be featured guest at a fundraising event for Phoenix Holocaust Association on April 14. For ticket information, contact phoenixholocaustassociation@gmail.com. JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 51
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FACES & PLACES MODEL SEDER – Gesher Disability Resources won the 2018 Belle Latchman Community Service Award for their Special Needs Community Model Seder program. Pictured are Gesher board members and lay leaders. The Model Seder takes place on Sunday, April 7, from noon-2 pm at the JCC.
Prior to their runoff election on March 12, Kate Gallego and Daniel Valenzuela participated in a mayoral forum with members of the Arizona Jewish Community Alliance.
TEACHABLE MOMENT – Rabbi Dr. David Kasher of IKAR Teaches about Jewish ethics at the Valley of the Sun JCC in Scottsdale. Photo courtesy Valley Beit Midrash WOMEN’S WEEKEND – The women of Congregation Beth Tefillah enjoyed a spiritual retreat in Payson.
GOLF BALL BENEFIT – Children from the Valley of the Sun JCC’s Early Childhood Center checked out the helicopter WOMEN ROCK THE BIMAH –Rabbi Allison Lawton (holding the microphone) leads the women of that dropped more than 1,000 golf balls on The J’s soccer Beth Ami Temple in reading from the Torah at a Friday night service. Photo by Stephen Herzfield field on March 1. Proceeds support enhancements to the preschool’s playground and programs. 52 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
FACES & PLACES
LIN SUE SHARES – Lin Sue Cooney was guest speaker at Beth Ami Temple on March 10. She spoke about her growing up and the values of hard work and high goals set by her Chinese mother. She also shared some of the highlights of her 31-year career at Channel 12 and about her new position at Hospice of the Valley.
MEGA EVENT – The Jewish community shared an evening together supporting the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix and listening to the Violins of Hope, speaker Roman Polonsky and actor Henry Winkler. Photos by Leni Reiss CLOCKWISE: Marty Haberer, Paul Zatulov and Mort Scult Andi Minkoff Henry Winkler and Leni Reiss Helen and Steve Gubin with Marlene and Lanny Lahr Scott and Andi Weiss with Carrie and Jordan Kroop Judy and Nathan Laufer
JEWISH LIFE | APRIL 2019 53
APRIL CALENDAR APRIL 1
APRIL 6
APRIL 16
Challah with a Twist at Northwest Division Office, 190 W Magee Road #162, Oro Valley from 2 to 3:30 pm. Join Chabad of Oro Valley and the Northwest Division of the Jewish Federation for a ladies afternoon and hands-on Challah baking experience. Suggested donation: $18 payable at the door. RSVP to Mushkie@jewishorovalley.com or northwestjewish@jfsa.org.
Celebrate Israel with Food and Song at Congregation Or Chadash, 3939 N. Alvernon Way, Tucson from 5:30 to 7 pm. Enjoy delicious Israeli street food, a raffle, and a high-spirited concert under the stars. $20-$30 adults, $10 ages 3-13. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 520-512-8500.
Keeping it Off: What’s My Plan? at the Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. Join The J and Scottsdale Weight Loss Center nutrition instructors and learn how to keep the weight off by developing a plan with replacement options, exercise guidelines and creating goals and more. J members $25; guests $40; SWLC members $10. Includes a delicious, nutritious meal from milk+honey espresso bar & eatery. Register by April 15 at vosjcc.org/ fitmindbody.
APRIL 2 Defeat Food Addiction at the Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 12:30 to 1:30 pm. Join The J and Scottsdale Weight Loss Center nutrition instructors and learn about food addiction and how to identify and control your triggers, as well as how to manage lapses with confidence and compassion. J members $25; guests $40; SWLC members $10. Includes a delicious, nutritious meal from milk+honey espresso bar & eatery. Register by April 1 at vosjcc.org/ fitmindbody.
APRIL 3 It’s Not Just Lunch at the Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from noon to 1:30 pm. Great food, speaker and new topics each month. Enjoy a full kosher lunch and stay for our discussion group at 2pm. In partnership with Smile on Seniors. Suggested donation: $5. Current Events Discussion Group at the Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 2 to 3:30 pm. Bill Adler leads stimulating discussion each month on current events. Bring your ideas to share with the group. Free. For more information, contact Harriet at 480-481-7033 or harrietc@vosjcc.org.
APRIL 4 Ignition! 2019. See page 47. Memory Café at Beth El Congregation, 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix from 10 to 11:30 am. April’s special artist is a dedicated song and dance troupe called “The Broadway Babies.” The 22 members of The Broadway Babies will perform their 14th annual show, “Be Our Guest.” They tap dance, blow bubbles and play kazoos to over 40 happy tunes from Hollywood and Broadway. There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. The Café is open to all backgrounds. To register or for further information, please e-mail Kathy.rood@jfcsaz.org or call Kathy at 602-452-4627.
54 APRIL 2019 | JEWISH LIFE
APRIL 7 STEM Festival at Tucson Hebrew Academy. See page 51. The Rice Brothers Return to Beth Ami Temple. See page 51.
APRIL 8 Quest for Solomon’s Mines at Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road, Tucson at 7 pm. Recent excavations in the desert of southern Jordan, and scientific analyses of copper ingots found in a submerged wreck off the coast of Israel, provide new insights concerning history, myth and the Hebrew Bible. This lecture explores some of the new discoveries that archaeologists are using to understand issues related to the earliest Hebrew kings. For more information, visit judaic.arizona.edu/ King-Solomon's-Mines.
APRIL 9 Discussion with the Rabbi at the Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 11 am to noon. Gather together with Rabbi Levi Levertov for a stimulating discussion on an issue relevant to Judaism in contemporary society. Bring your questions; he has answers! In partnership with Smile on Seniors. Free. For information, contact Chani at 602-492-7670 or chani@sosaz.org.
APRIL 10 NowGen Single’s Event at LavatoryPHX, 4700 N. 12th St., Phoenix from 7 to 9 pm. Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix NowGen hosts its single's event for individuals ages 21-35. The evening features beer, wine and light bites at Phoenix's new art installation Lavatory, six unique art experiences, including a pit of 120,000 glowing spheres. Socks are required for the ball pit. Dietary laws observed. $18 per person. Register at jewishphoenix.org/ngsingles.
APRIL 15 Survivor of Rwandan Genocide to Speak in Scottsdale. See page 51.
Art All Around Us at the Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 11 am to noon. Share the world of art with docents from the Phoenix Art Museum. This month, explore Turner, Painter of Light. Free. For more information, contact Harriet at 480-481-7033 or harrietc@vosjcc.org.
APRIL 18 Mature Mavens Dinner at 5 pm. Make new friends as you meet for dinner and socialize. Dinner is separate checks. Please contact Bunnye at 602371-3744 for our current schedule of restaurants and reserve your place! Sweet Tomatoes “Fun-Raiser” at 6202 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson from 4 to 8 pm. Where are you taking your family for your last bit of hametz before Passover? Sweet Tomatoes will donate 20% of sales generated by Congregation Anshei Israel when diners present a special flyer. For more information, visit caiaz.org.
APRIL 26 Gateway Academy Student Spring Fashion Show at the Atrium at Gateway Academy, 3939 E. Shea Blvd., Phoenix at 9 am. The students will be using various materials, including buttons, fabrics, zippers and other props to create their one-of-a-kind look. The show is intended to celebrate and raise awareness, during April’s Autism Awareness Month. For more information, visit gatewayacademy.us. Phoenix Metro Chamber Foundation/Nick Lowery Youth Foundation Charity Golf Tournament. See page 49.
APRIL 28 Israel 71 Festival at Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road, Tucson from 4 to 7 pm. Celebrate with activities, food and fun for the whole community. For more information, visit tucsonjcc.org.
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