Arizona Jewish Life Dec 2017 Vol. 6 / Issue 3 by JewishLifeMagazine

DECEMBER 2017

Holiday gifts

It's that giving time of year and we have some great ideas

MICHAEL BERNOFF Teaches others to become their best self

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 1

Winter FUN at OdySea Aquarium® Penguin parades in the South Pole and more fun activities

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HARMONY OF THE ANCIENTS FROM THE HENAN MUSEUM Take a journey through 9,000 years of Chinese musical history with a spectacular collection of ancient musical and archaeological treasures on display for the first time in the United States. Exclusively at MIM.

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Right: An instrument stand (approximately 2,500 years old) from the ancient Chu state takes the form of a mythical beast.

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Arizona Jewish Life • December 2017 • Kislev-Tevet 57 78 • Volume 6/Issue 3

FEATURES

JKIDS & TEENS TOO

COVER STORY

Michael Bernoff: Teaches others to become their best self 28

JEWS WITH ATTITUDE

Sarah Kader: Caring and Committed

BUSINESS

Dr. Abraham Lieberman: Celebrating 20 years serving patients at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center 16 Ins & Outs 18

FRONT & CENTER

Spiritual Voices Allison North: Creating jewelry for the soul

FOOD

Chef’s Corner: Spicy latke nachos Taste of Arizona: UnderTow and Nook Kitchen

HOME & LIFESTYLE

Flower power in Phoenix 5 head-turning trends for the ultimate holiday style

ACTIVELY SENIOR

Nancy Kravetz: Not slowing down Debora Bloom: Teaching Tai Chi at Tempe Ask Helen Israeli company unveils revolutionary artificial cornea

34 36 38 40 44 46 48

Sam Primack: Pursuing a dream Family Time: Zachary’s story Kids Calendar

ISRAEL

Providing support for lone soldiers

COLUMNS

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

The best gift ever Chanukah tales Holiday gift guide Food thought for holiday parties

38 40 58 64

20 22 24 27

JLIVING To Life! Cultivating pride and identity in a foreign land 64 Changes are coming to the library 65 Federation notes 67 Faces & Places 68 Previews 72 Calendar 74

50 52 54

COVER: Michael Bernoff, photo courtesy Chip Brown

6 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

CHANUK AH

56 58 61

Each is offered 9am-3pm the weeks of December 26-29 | January 2-5

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ecent advances in medicines and surgical treatments have given us new resources to fight against Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders, and physicians at Barrow Neurological Institute can put these resources into your hands. Recognized as a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, the Muhammad Ali Movement Disorders Center at Barrow has led treatment and research for Parkinson’s disease and movement disorders since 1997. Our specialists have dedicated their careers to learning more about movement disorders and developing better treatments through clinical trials.

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The center also offers rehabilitative therapy and has one of the largest and most comprehensive community outreach programs in the country. The Muhammad Ali Movement Disorders Center relies on philanthropic support to fund improvements in patient care, medical education, rehab, and research. For information about how you can help, please contact the Foundation at 602.406.3041 or Foundation.SupportBarrow@DignityHealth.org.

youth@vosjcc.org | 480.634.4949 | vosjcc.org 12701 N. Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale 85254 ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 7

A rizona Jewish Life | K islev-Tevet 5778 • Volume 6/Issue 32

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2016-2017 MediaPort LLC All rights reserved The content and opinions in Arizona Jewish Life do not necessarily reflec t those of the publishers, staf f or contrac tors. Ar ticles and columns are for informational purposes only and not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Although ever y ef for t is made to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, Arizona Jewish Life, and its agents, publishers, employees and contrac tors will not be held responsible for the misuse of any information contained herein. The publishers reser ve the right to refuse any adver tisement. Publication of adver tisements does not constitute endorsement of produc ts or ser vices.

8 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

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ith 2018 just around the corner, we at Arizona Jewish Life are taking stock of the past year – where we made mistakes and where we hit it out of the park. We’re looking inward and then forward to what we can do to improve and progress as a company. With that being said, we are acutely aware that progress and improvement will only come as we create value to our readers and better serve our Jewish community and the community at large.

Cindy Salt zman Publisher

We plan to be more engaged, resourceful and visible in the coming year. If you have already signed up for our themed newsletters, keep an eye on your inbox for new ways to participate in significant conversations, fun and events. If you are not yet subscribed to our topical newsletters, we invite you to join the conversation and sign up now: http://azjewishlife.com/newsletter-sign-me-up/

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ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 11

Jewswith

Attitude

Sarah Kader: Caring and Committed This Tempe native hopes for positive change and a seat on city council By Mala Blomquist

12 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

There will be three seats up for election this spring on the seven-seat Tempe City Council. Sarah Kader hopes that on March 13, 2018, she will be elected to fill one of those positions. A native of Tempe, Sarah has been working the past seven years as an attorney at the Arizona Center for Disability Law helping families with disabilities and the issues that impact them. “I like my work, and I feel like I am doing important work every day, helping people who really need it,” says Sarah. But she admits that this past year she felt like she needed to be doing more. “Part of it has to do with the election – our nation feels very divided and confused, and there are a lot of unhappy feelings,” comments Sarah. “When I thought, ‘How can I help? What can I do to contribute positively to my community and my country,’ looking locally seemed like a nice option.” Then people started to encourage her to think about city council. “Running for office hadn’t crossed my mind – I was just looking for something else that I could do given my experience,” she admits. With her job, she had a lot of experience doing legislative work in the state capital. “It seemed like something I could be good at – working on policy issues – and something I would enjoy.” It also felt like a tangible way to make a positive impact in her local community. Sarah talked with her husband, Ross, and her parents (who live next door) and they were all very supportive and encouraged her to put her hat in the ring. “It takes a village when running for office,” she admits. “I knew I was going to need a lot of help with things and they have all been very supportive.” The couple also has a daughter, Aviva, who was born in April of 2016. “The more that I delved into what is going on in Tempe, the more I realized that the city does need a champion for working families,” explains Sarah. “I felt compelled. It’s crazy running for office with an 18-month-old, but I hope she’ll be proud one day, whatever happens, that I chose to try and make

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this positive change.” Her faith also was instrumental in her decision to run. She grew up in a family involved in the Jewish community, and she became president of Hillel when she attended the University of Arizona. She was also on the board of the Jewish Law Students Association while in law school at Syracuse University College of Law. “I always felt that my home away from home was my Judaism,” says Sarah. While in law school, she spent a summer in Washington, D.C., interning at the Anti-Defamation – Sarah Kader League. “That was incredible, and I thought maybe I wanted to live in D.C. and do that kind of work, but then I missed my family, and I missed Tempe, so I moved back to Tempe after law school and began looking for public service work here,” Sarah explains. When she returned to Tempe, she held positions on the boards of Young Jewish Phoenix, Council for Jews with Special Needs (now Gesher Disability Resources) and Generations After - Phoenix Holocaust Survivor's Association. “Both of my dad’s parents were Holocaust survivors,” says Sarah.

“Which is a big part of my story and why I’ve chosen to focus my life on giving back and public service and repairing the world.” Sarah also volunteered for the ADL in Arizona and helped start their Young Leadership Division and was a co-founder of Arizona Jews for Justice, a grassroots organization that collaborates to foster social justice within our state. “I try to motivate Jews to get involved with the community,” admits Sarah. “Our tradition compels us to look at the stranger because we were once that stranger, and how can we help people in our lives. It’s our mission and a big part of what I do and why I do it.” She emphasizes the need for Jews to run for office. “I think having Jews elected to office in the state of Arizona is important,” states Sarah. “We need to be at the table. We need to be part of the conversation and the discussion about policy issues and what matters to people in our cities, and our counties and our state. I think the Jewish community should become invested in Jews running for office at whatever level it is. I’m trying to communicate that to my Jewish community – this race is important to them.” She is also trying to educate people on all the critical matters impacted by the city council in people’s daily lives. Decisions made by the city council affects roads, traffic, parks, first responders, police, zoning, local business, education issues, housing and homelessness - things that matter to everyday citizens and residents who live and work in Tempe. And since Tempe borders other cities what happens there affects Scottsdale, Phoenix, Mesa and Chandler. One of the central themes of her campaign is getting the word out that more than 20% of Tempe’s population is living in poverty, including 10,000 children. “People think of Tempe as ASU and downtown, and they don’t realize that there are a lot of people struggling in Tempe to make ends meet,” Sarah explains. “Coming from my upbringing and my commitment to repairing the world – that’s what led me to this campaign.” Every Sunday Sarah can be found knocking on doors with volunteers, some who don’t even live in Tempe but believe in what she stands for and what she is doing. “When I knock on doors and talk to voters, I talk about being a unifying voice for Tempe. I am committed to getting the work done,” she says. “I want there to be legitimacy to my race and candidacy and hopefully (if I’m elected) my position – to be respected and respectful of it,” Sarah emphasizes. “We need elected officials who take their position seriously and respect each other and respect what we are trying to accomplish. We are all very connected here. There is way more we can do.” For more information on Sarah’s campaign, visit kaderfortempe.com.

“I’ve chosen to focus my life on giving back and public service and repairing the world.”

14 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

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Business

Dr. Abraham Lieberman

Dr. Abraham Lieberman:

Celebrating 20 years serving patients at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center By Mala Blomquist

When Abraham Lieberman, M.D., first arrived in Arizona in 1989 from New York, he started a clinic for those living with Parkinson’s disease. It was a relatively small clinic with three doctors and a nurse. Little did he know what the future held in store for him. Things began to change for Dr. Lieberman when he received an unexpected phone call from philanthropist Jimmy Walker. Jimmy had started Celebrity Fight Night to raise funds for boxers who were down on their luck. He had contacted Muhammad Ali, who told Jimmy to reach out to Dr. Lieberman to get the doctor involved. “I had known Muhammad Ali since 1984,” says the doctor. “I met him in New York, and we became friends. I also treated him professionally.” Dr. Lieberman agreed to get on board if Barrow Neurological Institute, that he worked with, would receive some of the funds raised. “We did the next Fight Night, and I got St. Joseph’s 16 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Hospital and Barrow involved, and we raised about $125,000. I thought that was terrific,” he says. “Muhammad Ali was probably one of the most recognized people in the world in the 1990s,” says Dr. Lieberman. “Athletes loved him, and they would come to the event in support.” Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1984. In 1997, the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute officially opened. “It really wasn’t a ‘center’ then,” jokes Dr. Lieberman. “It was just a couple of rooms.” About 1,000 people showed up to the ribbon cutting. At the opening, someone asked Dr. Lieberman what the probability was of there being a cure for Parkinson’s disease in the next 10 years. “I don’t know, but if you would have asked me 10 years ago what was the probability of a New York City Jew, Christians from Arizona and a Muslim from Louisville coming together on the campus of a Catholic hospital in Phoenix, AZ – well anything is possible,” was his reply. Ali had made it very clear that he wanted the money raised for the center to benefit the people, not research. “He said,

‘Michael J. Fox does the research, I’m not going to compete with him, I want the money to go to patient services,’” explains Dr. Lieberman. Ali felt that wherever he went, he was treated so well because he was Muhammad Ali, but he wanted everyone to experience that level of treatment. He wanted support groups to share information, exercise classes to keep patients moving and an outreach program at the center that bore his name. Dr. Lieberman left Arizona briefly to work in academia at the University of Miami but returned to Phoenix in 2007. Upon his return, he says Ali told him he would like to see the center grow; it still was operating out of just a few rooms. In 2009, Ali cut the ribbon on the 10,000-square-foot new center, which served about 400 new patients a year. “What I had learned while in Miami was that it was very important for patients with Parkinson’s disease to have a full array of services (including) physical therapy, education, rehabilitation therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy Dr. Abraham Lieberman with and social work,” says Muhammad Ali Dr. Lieberman. Today the center is 30,000 square feet and sees 10,000 patients a year. It retains its core mission of being very patient-oriented and offers a full outreach program, rehabilitation gym, 30 exam rooms, balance and gait lab, clinical research areas and numerous therapy services. “Every night we have programs for patients with Parkinson’s disease,” says Dr. Lieberman. He is excited about the clinic’s new telemedicine program. It is a project that Lonnie Ali, Muhammad’s widow, wanted to see implemented. “It’s hard for some of our patients to get to downtown Phoenix. It’s difficult for them to drive,” says Dr. Lieberman. “We can impact the whole state of Arizona through telemedicine and through the programs we’ve developed. It is going to make a difference, and we will be able to reach people who can’t make it to the clinic.” Currently, Dr. Lieberman holds the titles of professor of neurology research, Lonnie and Muhammad Ali Movement Disorders Center at Barrow Neurological Institute and director of the Bob and Renee Parsons Fall Prevention Center. Holly Shill, M.D., was named the director of the Parkinson Center in 2015. The center has been named a National Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence. “The money from Celebrity Fight Night, Muhammad and Lonnie Ali, and philanthropists have been key in keeping this a first-rate place,” says Dr. Lieberman. “The treatment of the disease today is different than it was 20 years ago with more and more changes coming faster and faster, but the basic interaction between the patient and the doctor hasn’t changed.”

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ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 17

BIZ

INSINS & OUTS & OUTS

Zach Duitch

Esther Sternberg, M.D.

New executive director for Camp Solomon Schechter Camp Solomon Schechter board president Andy Kaplowitz announced Nov. 8 the appointment of Zach Duitch as the camp’s new executive director. Zach succeeds Sam Perlin who served as Executive Director for the past ten years. Zach, a University of Washington graduate, is an expert in Jewish camping, the foundation of which began at Schechter. Zach spent seven summers as a camper, one in the counselor-intraining (Oded) program, and seven as a summer staff member (culminating with a summer as the Assistant Summer Director). He then spent the past 17 years at the Stroum Jewish Community Center, beginning as a youth counselor in the after-school program and rising to his current position as Director of Data Insights and Security Management. His leadership of the JCC’s summer day camp program increased attendance from 300 to over 1,200 campers this summer. As Director of Programs and Services he engaged over 3,000 community members per year through innovative and creative programming and helped transform their dormant health and fitness program into a thriving business center. With this strong connection, both Schechter and the SJCC look forward to finding new and creative ways to partner. campschechter.org

Dr. Sternberg appointed chair to NLM Board of Regents Esther Sternberg, M.D., director of research at the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine, has been appointed chair of the National Library of Medicine’s Board of Regents. Dr. Sternberg also founded the University of Arizona Institute on Place and Wellbeing, is a professor with the UA College of Medicine– Tucson and UA College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture, and a member of the UA Arthritis Center. Prior to her work at the University of Arizona, she served as chief of the section on neuroendocrine immunology and behavior at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and as director of the NIH-wide Integrative Neural Immune Program. Renowned for her discoveries in brain-immune interactions and the effects of the brain’s stress 18 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Tracy Leonard-Warner

HUSH 56 Salon and Spa

response on health, Dr. Sternberg wrote Healing Spaces: The Science of Place and Well-Being and The Balance Within: The Science Connecting Health and Emotions. esthersternberg.com

Ryan House hires new individual giving officer Valley nonprofit, Ryan House, announced the addition of Tracy Leonard-Warner as its new individual giving officer. The mission of Ryan House is to provide world-class respite and palliative care for all children and their families as they navigate life-limiting or end-of-life journeys, Prior to joining Ryan House, Leonard-Warner led an interdisciplinary healthcare team for Hospice of the Valley. “Along with her warmth, smarts and enthusiasm for our mission, Tracy brings great development experience and knowledge of palliative care, the population we serve and the health care industry,” says Ryan House Executive Director Alyssa Crockett. “We are thrilled to have her as part of our team.” In her new role, Tracy will serve as a key member of the Ryan House Development Team, focusing on donor engagement and stewardship. ryanhouse.org

The J partners with HUSH to offer onsite massage The Valley of the Sun JCC and HUSH 56 Salon and Spa have partnered to offer massage services at The J. “Studies show how beneficial massage is to overall health and we’re pleased to partner with HUSH to provide onsite massage for our members and for the community,” says Jay Jacobs, CEO. “These services are a wonderful compliment to our array of fitness and wellness programs.” HUSH @ The J offers a variety of techniques including Swedish, deep-tissue and hot stone massage in one-hour, 90-minute and two-hour sessions. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with the J to provide outstanding spa services its’ members and guests. To have this opportunity to work with such an amazing organization that does so much for

Farhang & Medcoff

Christina Roth

Emily Ernst Lunne

others we are so proud to be a part of,” says Jodi Lavin, HUSH owner. “We’re proud to offer outstanding massage services at affordable prices and we invite J members and the community to come in, relax, rewind and do something good for their health.” Massage services are available to the community and J members receive a membership discount. To celebrate, all new clients receive a complimentary foot scrub and $5 off the first massage. vosjcc.org/massage

Farhang & Medcoff attorneys named Southwest Rising Stars Five attorneys from the law firm Farhang & Medcoff, Robert Bernheim, Robert Garcia, Meredith Marder, Amélie Messingham and Adam Peterson, were named 2017 Southwest Rising Stars by Super Lawyers. Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The patented selection process includes independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. Super Lawyers selects attorneys using a patented multiphase selection process. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis. The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel. Farhang & Medcoff is a full-service law firm that is a minorityowned, locally committed member of the Tucson business community. fmlaw.law

New hire for City Property Management City Property Management, which provides HOA management services to nearly 100,000 residential units in more than 320 homeowners associations Arizona-wide, has recruited a new hire with the addition of Christina Roth. “City Property as an organization couldn’t be more pleased to add Christina to our roster. We feel she will not only

Melissa Landau

be a complementary addition to our team from the day to day operational level, but bring additional resources and professionalism to the table to assist as we continue to grow as a company,” says President of City Property Management, Brian Lincks. Christina has been in the community association management business since 2004, starting off in an accounting role, she quickly progressed to a community manager. Her work ethic and skillset eventually lead her into a position as a district manager before taking over as the vice president of a very reputable mid-sized HOA management firm in Phoenix where she oversaw over 13 managers and 90 properties. Dedicated to maintaining a high level of professionalism within the industry, she serves as a member of the Professional Standards Committee for the Arizona Association of Community Managers (AACM); Arizona’s premier HOA trade organization. cityproperty.com

Tucson Hebrew Academy welcomes two to staff Tucson Hebrew Academy has hired Emily Ernst Lunne as director of finance and Melissa Landau as a third grade teacher. Emily is a native of Wyoming and a graduate of the University of Wyoming. Emily began her career with Ernst and Young in Denver. After leaving public accounting, she moved to Maine where she filled financial and HR management roles in education, public safety and wildlife research. She has been involved with many nonprofit organizations as an auditor, a board member and an employee. Most recently, she was the director of finance and administration for a nonprofit economic development arm of the state of Maine. Melissa, a Tucson native, completed her bachelor’s degree in elementary education at the University of Arizona. She started her teaching career in Sahuarita as a second grade teacher, then filled a position at Lineweaver Elementary School in the Tucson Unified School District. She has spent the last three years as a third grade teacher at Fruchthendler Elementary School. Her experience includes working with students in gifted and talented programs. thaaz.org ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 19

The best gift ever Arizona Jewish Life’s Contributing Editor Leni Reiss asked people “What was the best Chanukah present you have received?” From precious time with family to adding to a cherished collection, here are their responses: “When I was six I got a puppy – Scotty – a black and white mixed Collie and German Shepherd. After several years, we gave him to a guy in the Air Force and Scotty became a service dog and earned a commendation for outstanding service.” —Ken Dry

CHANUKAH December 13, 2017 December 20, 2017

Light first candle on evening of December 12.

20 THE BEST GIFT EVER 22 CHANUKAH TALES 24 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE 27 FOOD THOUGHTS FOR HOLIDAY PARTIES

20 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

“Every year at Chanukah friends and family have contributed to my dreidel collection. Some of my favorites are a Russian babushka doll and one in Braille. The ones I have made with my kids and grandkids are very special.” —Naomi Goodell

“My second child was due just around Chanukah and I was anxious to welcome the baby and also anxious to get out of my maternity clothes – and had made that clear on several occasions. My sweet husband came up with the idea, of all things, of surprising me for Chanukah with a new maternity outfit. I never did wear it – but I loved his thoughtfulness!” —Saraly Whitefield

“One special gift, a charming ceramic menorah, was from a non-Jewish friend of my daughter. And another present that was great fun was a T-shirt with a menorah that lit up!” —Honeylou Reznik

“At Chanukah time one year my parents told me I was going to have my third baby brother. He was the fifth kid in the family – and was a surprise for us all!” —Jena Olgin

“I got a brown stuffed poodle when I was five years old. My family hadn’t really celebrated the holiday before then so this is a very special memory for me.” —Carol Ginsberg

“The best Chanukah gift and the best gift ever was when my three children and their families all came home one year from all over the country to celebrate the holiday together. We ate all the traditional foods and lit the menorah together.” —Ruth Shor

“The best gift is the one my husband Larry and I give. Over the holiday we have a latke party with latkes from scratch. The most we have made so far is with 45 pounds’ worth of potatoes. It’s a very coveted invitation!” —Sue Plosker “My best Chanukah present was when our daughter surprised me and my wife with a family cruise to the Mediterranean. It was a terrific week visiting ancient ports of call with our daughter, her husband, and our 3 grandchildren.” —Mark Bregman

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 21

CHANUKAH

Chanukah Tales

By Rich Geller

ll Jewish holidays begin with a good story. Passover depicts Moses facing off against Pharaoh, and Purim features Mordechai and Esther prevailing over the wicked Haman. Chanukah boasts a particularly compelling narrative with its epic tale of freedom versus tyranny. The underdog Maccabees managing to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat and the subsequent miracle of the oil is right up there with the Homeric Hymns or Shakespeare’s sonnets. Like the mighty Hercules or Achilles, Judah Maccabee is on a hero’s journey. The Chanukah story has inspired a myriad of folktales, both ancient and modern. They are to be found collected in books, on the internet and in the collective memories of the Jewish people. Let us begin with the tale of Judah Maccabee. The Chanukah story begins in 167 BCE, when the malevolent Greek Syrian King Antiochus demands the Jews in his domain assimilate to the Hellenistic norms of the Seleucid Empire. They are forbidden to study Torah or practice Judaism. While some Jews bowed to the king, Judah “The Hammer” Maccabee and his followers rose up. Judah was following in the footsteps of his father, Mattathias the High Priest, who was the first to resist idolatrous practices. Against overwhelming odds, the Maccabees managed to score an impressive string of victories through guerilla warfare. The fighting culminated in a pitched battle with an army of professional soldiers and even trained battle elephants! After an epic struggle, the Maccabees defeated Antiochus 22 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

and his soldiers. Victory, however, tasted like ash when the Jews discovered their desecrated Temple defiled with pig’s blood and altars to Greek gods. The Temple was cleansed and the damage repaired only for the Jews to discover there was but one day’s supply of oil to light the menorah. When that supply managed to last for eight days (long enough for more oil to be produced), the Temple was rededicated to G-d, and the Jews have commemorated the event forevermore. The word “Chanukah” means dedication. The book Jewish Fairy Tale Feasts by Jane Yolen and Heidi Stemple is a great resource for Jewish parents. Ostensibly a Jewish cookbook, each recipe is paired with a folktale relating to a holiday. The book features a Chanukah tale called “The Latke Miracle.” The story concerns a poor widow and mother of seven children living in the shtetl. Chanukah is fast approaching, and she cannot afford flour for her potato latkes. The widow runs into an old man even poorer than she, who asks to be taken in for the evening. The widow obliges and what happens next is nothing short of a Chanukah miracle. The man mysteriously disappears; when the widow comes home, her children tell her of an old man who gave them Chanukah gelt and a bag of flour for latkes. Chanukah is saved! The Orthodox Union website has a funny story from Israel, where sufganyot are much more popular than the humble latke. According to legend, after Adam and Eve were cast out from the Garden of Eden, G-d fed them sufganyot as a sort of consolation prize! The story derives from the word sufganyot

broken down into the Hebrew sof, which means end, gan, which means garden, and the Hebrew letters yud and hey, which help spell the name of G-d (Yud hey vav hey). Together, sof-gan-yudhey becomes “the end of the garden of the Lord or garden of Eden.” The Polish city of Chelm, popularized in Judaica by Nobel Prize-winning author Isaac Bashevis Singer, is presented as a Jewish shtetl inhabited by well-intentioned fools. Two books, Chanukah in Chelm by David A. Adler and The Jar of Fools: Eight Chanukah Stories, by Eric A. Kimmel feature the curious village of Chelm. The dilemmas and morals in these tales are rooted in both the everyday and the sacred. They have been compared in structure to the Talmud and the Midrash, as they raise ethical questions and arguments and provide both silly fun and moral lessons. Don’t forget to read Kimmel’s classic Herschel and the Chanukah Goblins, yet another masterpiece from the undisputed king of children’s Chanukah books. When Chanukah is under attack by grumpy goblins, only Hershel of Ostropol can save the day. A mischievous trickster, Hershel employs cunning and guile to outwit the Chanukah goblins and trick them into celebrating Chanukah with him. A hero of Ukrainian folklore, Hershel of Ostropol was also an actual historic figure who lived during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Chanukah is best spent with friends and family. It is a time for hunkering down, as the cold winds of winter howl outside and the windows are faintly illuminated by the flickering glow of candles. There may be rain, sleet or snow falling. What could be better than curling up with a steaming hot plate of latkes, the kids and a good story? It is also a mitzvah to popularize the story of G-d’s miracle of the Chanukah lights. So this Chanukah, spread the word: read, discuss, laugh and love in the best tradition of the people of the book.

Wishing you a Happy Hanukkah

This Hanukkah, make this year count for years to come... Jewish Family & Children’s Service helps foster a future where families are healthy, our children are safe, and our elders can live with dignity by offering a range of medical, mental health, and social services. Please consider a legacy gift or endowment to JFCS.

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CHANUKAH

Food Thoughts for Holiday Parties By Deborah Moon

ith holiday parties in abundance this month, thoughts inevitably turn to food. What should you take your hostess? Food and drink to share? Or maybe a thank you gift? A bottle of wine is always a nice choice. Why not try something a little different? Bring a festive bottle of HoneyRun Winery’s Cranberry Honeywine to your next holiday gathering. This wine is kosher and sulfite-free. It’s crisp, and sweet, best served chilled before or after dinner or with fruit desserts. If you’re going to a casual get together, consider picking up some beer and chips. For beer, you might pick up some of Shmaltz Brewing’s two new holiday beers – Jewbelation 21st Anniversary Ale and golden strong ale Chanukah, Hanukkah...Pass The Beer, available in 4-packs. They also offer the annual favorite Shitck In A Box variety 12-pack. For a different take on chips, try these Flamous Brand Falafel Chips for a healthy Mediterranean taste. These chips are organic, gluten-free, kosher and vegan and taste great with hummus or other dips. Looking for a hostess gift, my mind still drifts to food. Two new cookbooks would be welcome additions to most cooks’ kitchen bookshelves. Mesorah Publications has just released Real Life Kosher Cooking: Family-friendly recipes for every day and special occasions (hardcover $34.99). This new cookbook from food blogger Miriam Pascal shares a delicious collection of recipes for real life cooking and for real people. Real Life Kosher Cooking features more than 160 doable recipes for home cooks. Modern Jewish Baker: Challah, Babka, Bagels & More (hardcover $29.95) was released by Countryman Press in September. Shannon Sarna is the editor of the popular Jewish food blog The Nosher. This book features Step-by-step instructions for the seven core doughs of Jewish baking. Often referred to as the Queen of Challah, author Shannon Sarna is known for her unique and untraditional challah recipes.

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“The greatest gift you can give yourself is to donate some of your time back to yourself.” - Michael Bernoff

Michael Bernoff, photo by Chip Brown. 28 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

MICHAEL BERNOFF: teaches others to become their best self By mala blomquist WITH THE NEW YEAR APPROACHING,

many of us make New Year’s resolutions similar to last year’s: to lose weight, to spend less and save more, to make the most of every day. Michael Bernoff, founder of the Human Communications Institute, recommends a different approach. Instead of setting specific goals, he suggests you ask yourself honestly: “Am I living the life I really want to? Is my life working the way I want it to?” And if it’s not, “Am I willing to do something about it?” If you answered “yes” to the last question, then a professional like Michael can help you create a strategic plan of action. “You can’t see all the parts of you that others see,” explains Michael. “That’s why you have to have the courage and confidence to let people help you.” Michael and his team at the Human Communications Institute help tens of thousands of people each year using tools and strategies from a technology Michael invented called Human Interaction Technology. He developed this after years of studying various types of psychotherapy, hypnosis, language patterns, transactional analysis and more.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 29

MICHAEL BERNOFF

“We’ve learned how to instantly send a communication by text or email around the world, yet we haven’t figured out how to get along.” — Michael Bernoff

“The outcome is to deliver information to another person in a way that they are most receptive to,” Michael explains. “I do ‘change’ work that helps people overcome challenges quickly. People go to therapy for 20 or 30 years and make slow progress and still feel troubled and that is not ok with me...instead, I use strategies and techniques to help people get over challenges, events and setbacks remarkably, in most cases, in only 10 to 15 minutes. Sometimes people have roadblocks or life challenges, and sometimes they have major trauma or phobias... and I believe they don’t have to continue carrying that around. It’s a very advanced communication style that we have that gets rapid results.” Michael says he always has had this burning desire, a metaphoric flame inside, but he wasn’t sure how to channel it until he went to an event and listened to some tapes on personal development and began working on himself. Then he realized the path he needed to follow was that flame inside of him to share this information. “My whole life I have loved helping people. In high school I was the guy who would get the phone call from girls who would talk to me about their boyfriend challenges – they probably liked me, but I didn’t have the confidence to know it,” he says with a chuckle. “I had all the answers. People would come to me, and as they would talk I could easily see patterns, things they were doing and I could break them down – kind of like in the move the ‘Matrix’ – and I knew that there was something to all of this.” But this is not something you can easily find or decide to study in school. “It doesn’t exist out there in the mainstream,” says Michael. “I’ve created a school to get this type of information out to people, and we’ve had hundreds of thousands of people take our programs over the years because they are looking for what doesn’t exist in the everyday world. But it is our real world.”

THE PROGRAM Michael addresses the crowd in Long Beach, CA, as part of SUCCESS magazine’s SUCCESS Live event in September. Photo courtesy COBA images

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Human Interaction Technology is a new approach to human communication, relationships, health and interactions. “We’ve learned how to instantly send a communication by text or email around the world, yet we haven’t figured out how to get along,” says Michael. “We teach leadership from a level of influencing people by example. It’s interesting because I’ll have a rabbi come to an event and say ‘Michael, you are teaching the Talmud’; I’ll have a Christian come and say ‘You’re teaching Jesus;’ I’ll have a Buddhist

come and say ‘You’re sounding like Buddha.’ I’m teaching what works in the world – not what’s written in a book somewhere – powerful, confidence-building communication strategies.” People from all over the world, and every walk of life take the courses, and their success rate is remarkable. Of the people who attend, 70-80% take action necessary to make a dramatic shift in their life, their health and their relationships. “They may not get rich, or get ripped abs and look sexy, but when they get done with the program they know that they are in control – and that is power,” says Michael. Everyone starts with a five-day program called Call2Action. It’s a convenient tele-seminar that allows even the busiest people a way to up their game. “When do we ever take 10 hours in a week – when do we ever do that – to take a look at what we’re made of, what we are capable of, what we are doing?” asks Michael. “The greatest gift you can give yourself is to donate some of your time back to yourself.” At the end of the week, as you become more powerful and confident through understanding yourself and taking action, Michael guarantees that “You’ll get more done with me in five days than you have in the last five months.” Michael teaches Call2Action every month and holds live quarterly events called The Core Strength Experience that builds on the techniques previously learned during the Call2Action program. There is also an elite certification program delivered in a live, interactive setting for people to learn to do what Michael does and a “mastermind” group that holds get-togethers. The company’s next move is to purchase locations around the world where people who have completed the course can congregate, “Like a country club for personal development and ideas for growth,” says Michael. “Imagine a group of people that only want the best for the world – and no nonsense.” Their first building – the old home of Congregation Or Tzion in Scottsdale which is being completely redesigned and remodeled – will open Dec. 15. It will be called The Success Institute.

LOOKING AT THINGS DIFFERENTLY

Michael grew up in a typical middle-class neighborhood in Rockaway, NJ, with a nice family structure. Michael’s father worked as an aerospace engineer, and his mother was a religious school educator. “They provided my sister and me with what we needed. I never wanted for anything. At the time, I did not identify that was part of my problem,” he says. “When you’re broke, or broken and upset,

you have a reason to grow. But if you have everything, you have no reason to do anything, just desire with no drive, so I had this conflict going on in me that was huge. I knew I could do more and be more; I just didn’t know how and had no one to show me.” So the real challenge was different than most speakers and motivators. “My challenge was that I had a great family and community and, bottom line, when you have most of your bases covered it depletes your innate drive,” Michael explains. “I feel this is most people’s challenge. Life for most people in the last 20 years has gotten way easier than in the past. And this convenience has destroyed our natural need for adversity which creates growth. As humans we are designed to make progress, evolve and grow.” He realized that he was just acting out the program of those around him. There is a “middle-class program” that people learn and simply accept as their own. The town you live in, the schools you go to, the people around you – they are part of the life you live, and people naturally assume that is the life they will always live. Michael says “Even to this day I realize we model later in life with our own kids whatever we are accustomed to, and we don’t even realize we’re doing it. And it wasn’t even our idea. We are born with this idea of how things are supposed to be instead of how they are. We follow a thread.” Michael acknowledges that change is a scary idea for most people. “Nobody has to change. People simply must choose different things. What we’re about is transformation and evolution – we don’t want anybody to be different – we want people to be all of themselves,” he says. “When you’re being you, and you know who you really are, and you’re doing what you really want to be doing, you are the most powerful person in your world. That’s everybody’s dream – to be themselves.” Michael shares an example of this positive redirection from a recent event. “A woman shared that she was molested as a child for years by a neighbor. She spent $25,000 in therapy over the years with little result. Within 10 minutes I reframed the story in her head, and she sees it radically different. Instead of talking about it, we changed the emotional connection.” He compares it to watching television with the sound off. “The show is still there, but you can’t hear it, so you don’t feel the same way about it.” He continues, “I helped this woman have a completely different picture and emotion of what happened. It still happened, but it didn’t

Family portrait of Tara, Michael, Maya and Debra.

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happen the same way with the same emotional impact. What’s more amazing is that it changes the context inside of the person. Like shuffling a deck of cards, it changes throughout her entire life – starting at 5 years old all the way up to 45 years – so many things have changed in her life now in a matter of seconds.” Michael cautions, “You have to learn to be OK with changing your perception of yourself. A lot of times we hold on to who it is that we are, and we try to get what we want by being who we are, but being who we are is usually the act. We wind up as people not being who it is that we really want to be.”

JUDAISM AS A WAY OF LIFE

Michael, the Finisher.

Michael married Debra in 2011, and together the couple has two daughters, Tara, who is 16, and Maya, who is 5. Debra works together with Michael in the business and also teaches her own course for women a few times a year titled, Body, Sex and Business. While Michael was raised in a Jewish household, his wife was not. Today he thinks of Judaism as more of a way of living than a religion. “What I love about Judaism as a whole is that we are taught to question things where the rest of the world is not,” he says. “My parents always said, ‘Question, question, question.’ That was part of Hebrew school; question things, ask questions, don’t just go with it. I think a lot of the world just goes with things and accepts current reality as permanent.” Asking questions, caring about people, family and community, are all relevant to Michael today and were instilled in him as a child. He also refuses to gossip or judge others. “I believe being taught not to judge and to see the best in people. I will not hurt another person or their reputation,” says Michael. “I run my business that way. I feel we are responsible for helping each other achieve our best selves. I have been given this gift to serve and heal and help people who are in pain.” Michael also has realized that the way he lives and his actions significantly influence how his daughters navigate their world. He shares the story of when Maya came home from preschool and said someone had been mean to her on the playground. When he asked her more about the incident, she responded, “I don’t think he’s a mean kid dad, he was just doing something that was a bad idea at the moment.” Michael thought, “Where did she get that from, she’s 3! I know she got that from us. We teach our kids that God is inside of us and everyone. That we are powerful beings that need to do our part on this earth, not sit and pray about it but we need to do something about it.” Watching him work one might assume that he is very Type A, but he admits that he’s not this driven person that needs to achieve everything, but he is driven to rid the world of unnecessary pain and emotional suffering. “I would like people to feel less pain,” he admits. “Not eliminate pain, because we need the pain to grow, but eliminate pain for things that are not occurring right now.” He shares that on the other side of that pain is happiness, and that is what the world is missing. He believes that the world has too much pain and suffering for things that have already occurred, not for current circumstances. “When we can get the pain and suffering and limitations out of the way, that’s when people can really live life the way they want.” Michael believes that the most important thing is to be really honest about where you are now and who you want to be next year. “It has nothing to do with getting things, it has to do with becoming – I think that’s where most people go wrong,” says Michael. “If you want to make a difference in your life and the lives of those around you, then you will get what you want. If you’re a confident person who is committed and a great communicator – then life works for you.”

32 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

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FRONT & CENTER

Spiritual Voices By Beth Surdut

he call for the “Spiritual Voices” exhibition was directed to Jewish artists in Southern Arizona, primarily around Tucson. It read, “This invitational exhibit provides a venue for artists who see their work as an expression of their spiritual journey.” While many of the pieces in this show of work by 20 artists may not obviously translate as Judaic art, “Spiritual Voices” is an invitation to both artists and viewers to examine personal interpretations colored by a Jewish heritage of boundless curiosity, education and achievement. The forms, techniques, and media are as varied as the unique personalities of the creators. On Sunday Dec. 3, from 2 to 4 pm, the public is invited to meet the participating artists, including Beth Surdut, Bob Samson, Bobbie Goodman, Boni Weinstein, Eli Langner, Jacqueline Cohen, Jere Moskovitz, Julie Szerina Stein, Karen Samson, Lauri Kaye, Laurie Sherman, Lily Rosenberg, Lynn Rae Lowe, Margery Langner, Nancy Charak, Nancy Norton, Naomi Spitzer, Peggy Rubin, Roberta Elliott and Sherrie Pasternak. The selection included here is only a taste of what promises to be a banquet for the senses. Beth Surdut is a tallit maker and creator of the illustrated nature series “The Art of Paying Attention” on NPR in Tucson.

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LAURI MARKS KAYE In Between Equanimity and Hysterics Mixed media on brushed metal. Lauri’s ongoing series, Tucson Portrait Stories, consists of commissioned and original portraits showcasing the people, places and events that make Tucson extraordinary. “The most memorable part of my Jewish education is the importance of, ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you’ which is drawn into the column of this piece. I wanted to show all aspects of self – positive and negative – with the commandment text in the forefront as a constant reminder.”

JERE MOSKOVITZ Kippah Antique copper crocheted wire with variegated ribbon yarn and beaded edge. “It is my goal that my kippot be seen as Hiddur mitzvah, which means taking the time and making an effort to create or acquire the most beautiful ceremonial objects possible in order to enrich the religious observance with aesthetic dimension.”

BETH SURDUT The Compass of My Heart Ink pen and colored pencil on paper. From the “Listening to Raven” series of drawings and stories that won the Literary Nonfiction Award at the Tucson Festival of Books in 2013. “This piece speaks of my adventurous life and the unexpected turn that brought me to Tucson. In my dream, a compass glinted between Raven’s feet as he lengthened his legs to land. Wings whisked the air as he lofted onto my shoulder, nuzzling his beak into my hair. ‘What’s this?’ I asked him as he preened me, rubbing his head against mine, combing through my hair with his beak, tickling along my hairline. ‘Pay attention to what I’ve brought you,’ he murmured. I stroked his head and back, trying to read the compass of my heart.”

ELI LANGNER Portrait of a Man’s Soul Bas-relief; mixed media (clear polyethylene, LED TV, wood, aluminum, steel, acrylic paint, digital media player, USB flash drive). Eli is a published poet, artist and inventor who also collaborates with his wife, Margery Langner, in making fabric Judaica that is also represented in this exhibit. His piece involves multiple image exchanges, so must be seen in person. “For hundreds of years, artists have been making portraits that show what people look like on the outside. But our eyes, ears, noses and lips are not who we are on the inside. So here I am attempting to show what it might look like if one could see through a face and into a soul. I wanted the soul to be made of light, so I put a glowing TV screen behind a transparent mask. For this purpose, I sculpted my grandfather’s face as the example. I have depicted the soul with a series of still and moving images. Some of the images can be interpreted literally, while others are purely metaphorical. When viewing the piece, it’s best not to figure out the images, but to simply receive them emotionally.”

Spiritual Voices Exhibition WHERE: Tucson Jewish Community Center ‘s Fine Art Gallery, 3800 E. River Road, Tucson WHEN: Nov. 30 through Jan. 10 OPENING RECEPTION: Sunday, Dec. 3, from 2 to 4 pm INFORMATION: 520-299-3000 or tucsonjcc.org Coordinated by Lisa Mishler and Aimee Smythe Juried by Lynn Davis

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"Canyon Walls"

FRONT & CENTER Above and on opposite page: Some of Allison’s handiwork at her home studio. Right: Allison North.

Allison North:

Creating jewelry for the soul By Mala Blomquist

36 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

hen you walk into Allison North’s home studio, your eyes don’t know what to focus on first. Everywhere your gaze falls are thoughtfully created vignettes of her completed designs that draw you in, and wherever you turn you notice a detail that escaped you before. Nestled amongst the finished artwork, is a variety of metal findings, stones and other trinkets just waiting to be transformed into something magical. Most of Allison’s custom designed jewelry and decorative pieces are created using precious metal clay or PMC. PMC is a medium consisting of tiny particles of precious metal such as silver, gold, bronze or copper mixed with an organic binder. The material she works with can be handled like clay, but when fired at a high temperature in a kiln, it becomes transformed into 99.9% silver. The advantage of working with the medium like PMC is that Allison can stamp or carve intricate designs into the clay before it is fired – creating unique and custom items personalized for the individual. She creates rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, dog tags, keychains and stones specially made with names or sayings that hold distinctive meaning for the wearer. “I just listen to hear what the customer is looking for and make what they want,” explains Allison. “I am very empathetic – I read what people need or want.” The range of Allison’s work really has no limits, having created everything from one-of-a-kind wedding gifts to memorial pieces. “People express themselves through me,” she says. The sign hanging in her studio aptly says, “Allison North Designs – Jewelry for the Soul.” She moved to Scottsdale in 1990 with her husband Nicholas Ricciardelli and their two sons, Alex and David. She jokes about the difficulties of pronouncing and spelling her married last name saying simply, “I go by North!” Allison started making jewelry more than 10 years ago and reflects that maybe some of her talent for creating with words was inherited from her grandfather, “He was a cartoonist and created the Jumble word puzzle in the paper.” You can find her selling her wares at yoga festivals, and she occasionally hosts shopping boutiques in her home with other artists. She is fortunate in the fact that most of her business comes from people contacting her via Facebook or from word of mouth. Working from a spiritual base and calling her work “art from the heart,” Allison scours antique stores looking for unusual pieces of hardware, trinkets, belt buckles or vintage jewelry that can be repurposed into a new treasure. She will create designs for people of any faith, and believes she is the only jeweler who

makes custom pieces incorporating Hebrew letters. She also admits she finds inspiration in all kinds of places, some unexpected. “I went to a yoga festival, and one man told me to, ‘Enjoy your sandwich,’ so that became a saying on a piece!” she jokes. The method of how she goes about making her jewelry is also unique because she doesn’t do any sketches of the design ahead of time. “I work from my hands, I don’t draw anything out,” says Allison. “My hands do the work from my heart – that’s how it goes.” She also likes her creations to reflect her self-realization and awareness. “I care about the expression of the piece, what the person wants to say,” explains Allison. “For example, on the front, you could have a yin and yang symbol and on the back can be a message, just for yourself, something that you don’t have to say out loud.” Many people have told her that the item she custom-made for them is their favorite piece of jewelry. Her customers often say, “I never take it off !” Allison admits that she loves to hear that and it is apparent that all of the work she does is truly “art from the heart.” For more information on Allison’s work, or to contact her about designing a made-for-you piece, visit allisonnorthdesigns.com.

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CORNER

OY VEY, OLÉ Recipe and photo by Lucia Schnitzer

Lucia Schnitzer and her husband, Ken, own Pomelo (a full-service restaurant), Luci’s at The Orchard and Splurge (a candy and ice cream shop), all at The Orchard Phx, 7100 N 12th Street, Phoenix. They also own Luci’s Healthy Marketplace, 1590 E Bethany Home Road, Phoenix, which they opened in 2009 in Lucia’s honor after her successful battle with breast cancer. 38 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

“Oh Chanukah, oh Chanukah, come light the menorah, let’s have a Jewish-Mexican festival, we’ll all dance the lambada.” Well, in my house anyway! If you have been a guest of mine for the holidays, you walk away with a Jewish-Mexican experience. It has taken me a while to convert all my childhood Mexican recipes to kosher. Do you know how hard that is? Green chile, cheese and chicken enchiladas or pork tamales, seriously?! OK but it’s doable – and delicious – the kosher way as well. It makes my children very happy and my husband happier. This Chanukah make it spicy (or mild) with these delicious Jewish-Mexican latkes – nacho style, of course – with all your favorite toppings! May this Chanukah bring to you the miracles you have been seeking and the moments you desire as you light the candles of your menorah.

Spicy Latke Nachos Ingredients Queso sauce:

1 tablespoon butter or oil 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 cup plain yogurt, at room temperature ¼ cup cream cheese (full-fat), at room temperature ¾ cup Monterey Jack cheese, finely shredded, at room temperature ¾ cup cheddar cheese, finely shredded, at room temperature 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, diced salt to taste

Latkes:

1½ pounds russet potatoes, peeled and shredded (about 4 cups) 1/3 small onion, diced 3 eggs, whisked 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, diced 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon salt, plus more for garnish 1 teaspoon of cumin 2 jalapeño peppers, diced avocado oil for frying

Toppings:

Salsa, homemade or store-bought (El Pato is my favorite) ½ cup black beans ½ cup corn 1 avocado, diced 2 sliced fresh jalapeño peppers or pickled slices ½ cup sour cream

Directions Queso:

In a large saucepan, melt butter or oil over low heat and whisk in flour until combined. Add yogurt and cream cheese and stir until combined, making sure to keep the heat low as not to curdle the queso. Add in Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses and chipotle pepper and stir over low heat until well combined. Season with salt to taste. Set aside Note: You can also add one pound of imitation ground beef to the queso.

Latkes:

Fill a bowl with ice water that will hold for 30 minutes. Transfer grated potatoes to the ice water bath and let sit for 30 minutes. Remove the potatoes and wring them out in batches with a dish towel, into the ice bowl, until all the water comes out. Line a colander with paper towels and transfer potatoes. Place colander on top of bowl, and wring them once more with the paper towels, until all the potatoes are done. Let the water stand for 20 minutes. Add additional paper towels to the colander, and top with grated onions. Using the paper towels, wring as much moisture out as possible. This will make the latkes crispier. Strain the water out of the ice water bowl, and using a spoon, gently scoop the white layer of starch from the bottom of the bowl. Add the starch to the potatoes in a large bowl. Stir together the potatoes, starch, onion, eggs, garlic, chipotle pepper, flour, salt, cumin and jalapeños. If the mixture seems a bit watery, add a little more flour. Pre-heat oven to 200 degrees. Set aside paper towels for draining. Pre-heat a large saucepan and add avocado oil. The oil should be hot enough that the latke batter sizzles when placed in oil, but doesn't burn immediately. Place 1/4 cup dollops of latke batter into the oil, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Fry on one side until well browned, about 3-5 minutes. Flip the latkes and fry on the other side. Drain on paper towels. Keep browned latkes warm by placing them in the oven. Repeat the process until all the batter is gone. Top latkes with warm queso and all other toppings. Eat immediately.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 39

FOOD RESTAURANT REVIEW

Funghi Pizza

An epic adventure awaits the palate

We are going on a voyage that begins in the belly of a pirate ship at the UnderTow bar and ends in the warm glow of an Italian oven at Nook Kitchen, a short walk across the street. It’s a food and drink adventure, and you’re invited. We begin at the UnderTow, and I’ll bet you haven’t seen anything like this – unless you were of drinking age in the 70s. One of the things that makes this tiki bar special is its location underground, in what used to be an auto repair garage turned restaurant. Beneath Sip Coffee and Garage Beer is a reconstructed, Disney-esque, 19th Century clipper ship complete with special effects – like the sound of waves crashing and the ocean drifting by out the portholes. The other thing that makes this place great is the assortment of imaginative cocktails that await. I think of rum as the candy of all liquors, and why shouldn’t I? Rums are usually sugar cane, honey, or molasses based and aged in wooden casks, which help to give it a caramel color and flavor. There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of varieties ranging from light to dark, and from spiced to flavored. They also serve “rhum” an abbreviation for rhum agricole, a type of rum that can only come from Martinique and is made from fresh-pressed sugar cane juice. Working your way through the different tastes is half the fun. Their drink menu is divided into original and classic concoctions with an acknowledgment to the inventor of the drink. I think that’s cool. 40 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

THIS MONTH’S RESTAURANTS

UnderTow $$$

3620 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix 602-753-6504 undertowphx.com

Nook Kitchen $$$

3623 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix 602-651-1390 nookkitchen.com

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

UnderTow

Shark’s Tooth $12

The UnderTow is tiny and popular. Reservations are highly encouraged. I can’t imagine it seating more than 30 people at a time, and there is a 90-minute maximum time rule if there is a line waiting to get in. It’s all very friendly, and how could it be anything else when you’re immersed in a Caribbean dream. I’ve only been once, but here is what I had and thoroughly enjoyed:

Pirate’s Remorse $12

(Galliano, guava, aged rhum of Martinique, honey, vanilla, mace, lime and nutmeg served over crushed ice with freshly grated nutmeg on top and garnished with fresh mint) All of the cocktails are made with very fresh, and very fine ingredients, and all of the drinks are strong, and I’m not complaining. I like the taste of alcohol and love the taste of rum so bring it on. This drink came in a tall, vintage tiki glass and tasted of the islands. The mace and nutmeg gave it sort of a holiday flavor, and the mint added a refreshing coolness.

Pirate's Remorse & Shark’s Tooth

(Aged Barbadian rum, pineapple and lime served over crushed ice with a float of aged Jamaican rum, fresh mint and cherries) This lovely cocktail was delivered in a shorter glass, but it still packed a punch. The float of rum on the top of the already rum-filled drink gave it the extra kick. The cherries, however, were the real surprise. I believe they had been soaking in some rum as well and they were deliciously sweet. The menu said this cocktail was invented in the 60s and that the creator was unknown.

First Mates Delight $14

(Butter-washed 12-year-old Nicaraguan rum, blend of aged island rums, allspice dram, sweetened condensed milk, Don’s #2 mix and gardenias spices served over crushed ice with a pineapple leaf and an orchid) This was the prettiest of the drinks served, also the creamiest. It was like having dessert. Don’t let the pretty looks fool you though, still a stiffly made cocktail and very delicious. The UnderTow is a great place to Uber or Lyft to for a couple of reasons. The parking lot is small and the other, well, is obvious. Besides, you won’t need a car when you go to dinner after your visit, as there are great places within steps of the UnderTow.

Nook Kitchen Just across Indian School Road is an establishment called the Nook Kitchen. Ages ago it was a Long Wong’s for those in the know, but like the remake of the UnderTow it too has been reimagined and become what they call modern American cuisine with Italian roots. Although the layout of the restaurant hasn’t changed one bit, it is no longer held together with duct tape, like its predecessor. Instead, there is a cool, modern vibe, kind of chic meets neighborhood comfort. The long-shaped restaurant is lined by half-moon booths on one side and a long bar on the other. They are proud to talk about their Italian oven brought over from the “old country,” and how dedicated they are to focusing primarily on neighborhood customers all in the same breath. Because we came straight from the UnderTow, we skipped the cocktails and dug right into the menu. Here is what we had:

Seasonal Grilled Artichoke $12

(Olive oil, parmesan, lemon aioli) It was a little guy, halved, but what it lacked in size it made up for in flavor. It was perfectly cooked with a lovely smoky char. The lemon aioli was a delightful accompaniment, and best ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 41

Crack Pie 42 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

of all, the choke had been removed making the journey to the best part of the artichoke, the heart, effortless. This appetizer was a great beginning.

Funghi $15

(House-pulled mozzarella, fontina, parmesan, sherry mushrooms, arugula, truffle oil) After hearing the story of the Italian oven, we set our hearts on pizza, although there were a dozen other entrees we could have chosen. Out came a fabulous looking pie and we started in on, what I was about to find out, one of the best pizzas I’ve ever had. It’s a thin crust pizza made with an awesome dough, and on top, wildly fresh cheeses and some amazing mushrooms. How amazing? My friend doesn’t eat mushrooms and had said she was going to pick them off – but she didn’t! Perhaps because they were sautéed in sherry, perhaps it was the rum from our first stop, but there she was, mushroom hater, plowing through slices of mushroom pizza like there was no tomorrow.

FEDERATION

MATTERS YOUR YEAR-END GIFT

MATTERS

Crack Pie ($10)

(No menu description) Perhaps “crack” refers to a candy making technique but in this case, I think the name implies you’re about to become addicted to this dessert. Crack Pie was offered as a special that evening (hence no menu description) made by the near famous pastry chef Tracey Dempsey, and as luck would have it, we were there on the right night. I would describe it as a peanut butter and chocolate crumble crunch on top of a peanut butter and chocolate pie filling, with roasted banana ice cream on top and drizzled with peanut butter caramel sauce. Now you see why they call it Crack Pie? I love banana ice cream, and it is so hard to find a good one as most contain some artificial ingredient that kills it for me, but wow, this was spiritual. Tracey Dempsey, in addition to pastries, also makes ice cream and she nailed this. She put it on top of a lump of peanut butter and chocolate heaven and created a premium dessert. This is a must-have. The UnderTow and Nook Kitchen made for a truly fun adventure and yet another winning combo for the Arcadia neighborhood. The cocktails can get pricey ($35 for Mallory’s Treasure), but they are so well made it’s like having two or three in one glass. It’s unique, it’s fun, there are some rules (check the website), and it is not for large groups, but if you bring a friend or two, they will thank you forever. As for the experience at the Nook, I would just have to say they really know what they are doing and have created a place that not only serves great food but has some wonderfully addicting surprises as well. Look both ways before crossing Indian School and cross at the light mateys!

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Engaging and strengthening a vibrant Jewish Community in Greater Phoenix while providing for Jews in need locally, in Israel and throughout the world.

480.481.1757 | jewishphoenix.org

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 43

H& Lifestyle ome

Flower power in Phoenix By Mala Blomquist

ocated on the northwest corner of the I-17 frontage road and South 16th Street. is an uncommon tenant for this industrial area. The Arizona Flower Market is Phoenix’s answer to the fresh flower markets found in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Seattle. I had heard from many of my friends about this special place, so when I was downtown Phoenix one day, I decided to venture further south and check it out for myself. When you enter the Arizona Flower Market, your first reaction might be “Where are the flowers?” because you are greeted with row upon row of any supply you would ever need to display your fresh flower arrangement. There are shelves filled with vases in every color and shape, including whimsical ones shaped like cars, boats and rubber ducks. Another aisle contains floral foam in traditional blocks and rectangles, but then there are orbs and cones and even foam in the shape of a support ribbon to be decorated with flowers colored to match the specific cause. I didn’t see a flower until I reached the far back of the giant warehouse. To the right is an indoor greenhouse containing a variety of houseplants including orchids, air plants, cacti and succulents. On the other side, I entered a giant refrigerated room. There are heavy jackets on a coat rack outside, not sure if they are just for employees, but there were a lot of them. I thought the cold felt good on this unusually warm November afternoon, but

44 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

quickly you forget about the temperature as the enticing aroma of all these flowers envelopes you. The smell reminded me of the trips my family and I would take to the Japanese flower gardens that used to line Baseline Road in the '60s and '70s. The fields stretched for miles between 32nd and 48th Streets, and I have fond memories of walking among the multi-hued rows of sweet peas and stock flowers. We would always stop at the various stands, and my parents would let me pick a bouquet of my own that I would bring home and proudly “arrange” in a clear glass vase. I would set the flowers prominently in my room, so it was the first thing that greeted me when I arrived home from school. There is something about fresh flowers that brighten up a room and bring a smile to my face. I felt like a kid again as I walked among the flowers, trying to decide which bunches to take home with me. There were buckets filled with the traditional flowers one would expect to find like roses, sunflowers, carnations and lilies, but then there were more unusual varieties like delphinium, larkspur, peonies, ranunculus and freesia. There is also a wide assortment of greenery to complement arrangements. A unique flower I saw was the king protea, which resembled something from a science-fiction novel with its fuzzy interior and spiky outer petals. I finally decided on a bunch of brightly colored orange sunflowers and alstroemeria (also known as Peruvian lily). All of their fresh-cut flowers are offered at wholesale prices, but the lilies we part of their “Friday $5.” Each Friday you can purchase a bunch of flowers in a designated area for only $5. I found out that the Arizona Florist (located next door to the flower market) also offers specials on Fridays that include grower’s bunches for only $5 and special happy hour pricing on arrangements in vases. I did not venture over to Arizona Florist, but their website states that they are the only florist in Phoenix to offer same day delivery, seven days a week throughout the entire Valley. They are a good neighbor for the Arizona Flower Market for those that realize once they arrive that the do-it-yourself flower arranging thing is too much for them – they can pop next door and buy a finished arrangement. As I was checking out with my sunflowers and lilies, a mother and daughter were picking up a significant amount of pure white hydrangeas for the daughter’s wedding the following day. The flower market does not offer delivery service at this time (they state that special consideration can be made based on the size of the order) and recommends placing special orders a minimum of three weeks prior to pick up. They also have instructions on how far ahead to purchase the flowers to achieve optimal blooms at your event. They also offer DIY flower classes taught by local floral designers. The registration fee for these workshops includes everything you will need to create a beautiful masterpiece. So, whether you are in need of flowers for a gift or are planning a wedding, venture over to the Arizona Flower Market and let all of your senses be delighted. Don’t forget to pick up a bunch for yourself, too! The Arizona Flower Market is located at 2050 S. 16th St., Suite 105 in Phoenix. They open at 7 am seven days a week. For more information, contact 602-707-6294 or visit azflowermarket.com.

A wide variety of flowers are available seven days a week at the Arizona Flower Market.

The unusual looking king protea flower.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 45

Home & Lifestyle 5 HEAD-TURNING TRENDS FOR THE ULTIMATE HOLIDAY STYLE 3 BY TORI ROSENBLUM

Memories are made as family and friends come together for filling meals, intimate gatherings and posh parties over the holiday season. Whether you’re dressing up for an elegant affair, or keeping cozy for a casual dinner after a long day of traveling to your far away loved-ones, you can look holiday ready in some of this season’s most cheer-worthy trends.

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1 • COZY KNITS

Sweater weather is finally here. The temperature is cooling down, and it takes a little bit longer for the sun to come up, so why wouldn’t you want to wrap up in a comfy knit? This fall, five major sweater trends are standing out against the basic standards: stripes, bright colors, graphic designs, oversized silhouettes and cardigans. Have fun with your casual, cozy looks. The regulation winter sweater is now dressed up with holiday spirit.

2 • ROMANTIC DRESS

For soft, sweet holiday style, channel your inner Juliette and choose a whimsical dress. Ruffles, beaded details and flowing silhouettes never go out of style. Choose a wrap body or a belted style that accentuates your waist or try a flowy sheath with a statement sleeve and turn up the romance this season.

3 • TUXEDO

Menswear-inspired pieces bring a current, polished edge to your holiday wardrobe. Trade out your little black dress for a sexy velvet suit in a deep burgundy or hunter green color for a stylish and sophisticated

option that will surprise all party goers. Or choose a more feminine take on the suited style in a tuxedo dress with classic lapels and buttons. One of these unexpected styles will turn heads at your holiday festivities.

4 • ‘TIS THE SEQUIN

Every holiday season we see the reoccurrence of the sequin dress. This year, modernize the sparkly fabric by choosing to wear it on a modern silhouette. Make a statement in a skirt, blouse, wrap dress or pants in all-over sequins or adorned with shimmering details. You can shine in contemporary style from Chanukah parties to New Year’s Eve.

5 • METALLIC MOMENT

This time of year is all about festive dressing, so pass on the nude tones and replace them with metallic hues like gold, silver and copper for an unexpected look throughout your holiday party circuit. No more all-black, all-white or all-nude outfits. An all-metallic, monochromatic look is the ultimate “neutral” outfit for your office holiday party.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 47

Actively Senior

Nancy Kravetz:

Not slowing down Nancy at the easel in her home studio with a work in progress inspired by a floral arrangement.

"I can look at something and see the essence of design. My colors relate to what I see and feel."

– Nancy Kravetz

By Leni Reiss

“Arizona was a revelation to me,” says New England native Nancy Kravetz, describing her reaction the first time she saw “a palo verde tree, exotic cacti, the desert colors, sunsets and rock formations – the whole visual landscape.” She and her husband, Bob, a semi-retired gastroenterologist, and their three sons have lived in the Valley since the mid-'60s. A woman of many talents (keep reading!) Nancy’s artistic bent manifested itself early on. Her parents, recognizing her budding aptitude, arranged for instruction in oil painting. Nonetheless, and typical of the times, Nancy majored in education (a path “strongly suggested” by family members), in anticipation of becoming a teacher or working in the field of fashion design. At that point, she says painting was not a priority. But after attending Simmons College in Boston and earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Temple University in Philadelphia, getting married, starting a family and moving to Arizona, she returned to art, studying with local artists Don Ruffin and Dorothy Fratt, and attending calligraphy classes at Arizona State University. Gaining expertise in a variety of different media, Nancy “settled in,” finding her own voice in contemporary art. “Abstraction,” she explains, “is the way I express myself simply by using color and form. I can look at something and see the essence of design. My colors relate to what I see and feel.” Encouraged by her instructors to exhibit, Nancy’s entries were accepted for showing at local festivals. “That was the time I had to determine a monetary value for my work,” she recalls. “Until then I never even thought of putting a price on anything!” Her first sale, at a Phoenix Art Museum biennial, was to a local bank – and after that, she says with a smile, “I entered everything!” Along the way she earned numerous ribbons at the Maricopa County Fairs and exhibited statewide, eventually converting a sun-filled section of the family’s north central home patio “into my space,” she says. “It’s small and perfect for me – with air-conditioning!” Not long ago, a piece was purchased by U.S. Bank for its private collection. “Much of my output is rooted in nature and comes from visual and emotional reactions to what I see and feel. And the subtle and impressive changes in light, shadows and colors related

48 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Several of Nancy’s original paintings on display.

to the time of day, seasons and weather add to the elements that find expression in many of my paintings, watercolors and collages.” “I try to choose general titles,” Nancy explains, “so that viewers will feel free to experience the art with their own interpretations.” Most recently Nancy’s work was highlighted in an early autumn one-woman show, “Inspired by Nature,” at the Shemer Art Center on Camelback Road. “My family nudged me,” she acknowledges, “and I thought, ‘if not now – when?” The Shemer board approved the show after seeing samples of her work. According to Shemer program manager Pamela Coste, “Nancy’s works exude peace and calm and are wonderful. It was special to have her show here – especially in conjunction with a celebration of her 80th birthday. We loved working with her.” “My husband initially wasn’t a fan of modern art,” Nancy shares. “He preferred realism. It took him time to come around, but now he is my best advocate. And my three boys, Michael, Jeffrey and David, and my daughters-in-law all are proud of their mom!” David credits his mother as the inspiration for his very successful Fairytale Brownie enterprise. It is her recipe that is used for the kosher delicacies that have become an international favorite. “They always are in my freezer,” Nancy says. (Full disclosure: I took some home with me after our visit!) The Kravetzes are members of Beth El Congregation and longtime supporters of the Bureau of Jewish Education and Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix. For the past 10 years a cabin in Prescott “surrounded by national forest land and abundant Ponderosa pines” provides “lots of quality time with our children and six grandchildren,” Nancy says. Several years ago, Nancy recalls, she took a break from her easel and wrote a family history, Remember Me to the Little Ones. And she and Bob have traveled extensively, always with sketch pad and watercolors at hand, to sites that continue to inspire her. Now, she says, she is painting full time while doing more reading, traveling and updating the family history. “Emerging” is a hot word in the art world, according to a recent article in AARP magazine, so artists “of a certain age” who continue to produce interesting work are being referred to as “re-emerging.” This surely defines Nancy Kravetz.

Ultimately, it’s your experience that matters. To be sure, we’re proud of our 29 years of experience in senior living. But, to us, what really matters is your experience at our communities. So, go ahead, enjoy yourself with great social opportunities and amenities. Savor fine dining every day. And feel assured that assisted living services are always available.

Home for the Holidays Tour of Homes Thursday, December 14th • 1:00pm Experience our community and take a tour of our residences while enjoying festive treats! To RSVP please call 480.558.0246.

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

990 West Ocotillo Road • Chandler, AZ TheVillageatOcotillo.com • 480.558.0246 ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 49

Actively Senior

Students in Debora Bloom’s Tai Chi class at Temple Beth Shalom.

Debora Bloom:

Teaching Tai Chi at Temple By Melissa Hirschl

Performing slow, gentle, flowing movements, participants in Debora Bloom’s Tai Chi classes are immersed in an ancient Chinese modality that has been compared to “moving meditation.” Known for enhancing the body, mind and spirit, these weekly hour-and-a-half classes, held at Temple Beth Shalom in Chandler and are open to everyone of any age in the community. The constellation of benefits of Tai Chi includes increased strength, flexibility, mobility, balance and more. This low-impact modality packs an ever more powerful punch. It is known to alleviate health problems such as poor circulation, stress, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and high blood pressure. “At the mental and spiritual level,” says Debora, “it is a method of developing an attitude of calm, compassion and reduced stress in life.” A seasoned Tai Chi instructor of 32 years, Debora believes being in tune with your body helps you appreciate what it does for you. “In the beginning, as you observe the instructor, you perform moves you think you are seeing, but in time, you notice more and more nuances. Once your body goes with it, your mind is freed to go into a meditative state. It is really like the layers of an onion; you keep learning things on a deeper level.” 50 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Debora emphasizes that the class is like a learning community – less about the individual and more about the energy of the group. A New York native and a graduate of Cornell University, Debora received her training in Taoist Tai Chi (pronounced “dowist”), a style that focuses on the physiology of the body; namely, tendons, joints, the spine and connective tissues. “I used to be a runner and a practitioner of Taekwondo,” says Debora. “But had to give them up because of too much stress on my joints.” Searching for something to reduce stress in college led to her discovery of Tai Chi, which has evolved into a lifelong love affair. Debora laughs when she remembers initial attempts. “I drove the teachers crazy because I was overly analytical and kept wanting to ‘get it right.’ It took a while to realize that is not what Tai Chi is about.” In her classes, she begins with a short warm up before participants begin seamlessly flowing from one pose to another, as they following Debora’s graceful, choreographed moves. “The essence of Tai Chi’s power lies in the pivoting of the spine to shift your weight,” explains Debora. “When you learn to turn your spine correctly, it increases your blood circulation, and in turn, your spinal fluid. The process affects the entire nervous system of your body, and has a profound effect.” At

the conclusion of classes, she leads participants in gentle, relaxation exercises that are soothing and restorative. “There is medical evidence that if you do this kind of quiet relaxation after practicing something new, it somehow helps the brain to process what you’ve practiced,” explains Debora. “Tai Chi moves, with exotic names like “White Stork Spreads Wings,” and “Grasp the Bird’s Tail,” are based on the observations of animals in nature. “Tai Chi involves a very different way of thinking than Western philosophy,” says Debora. “It’s not about how quickly you can learn or how perfectly you can perform the moves. You give yourself permission to just let your body move, and trust that the process will just happen after a while. It’s a form of muscle memory; similar to learning to ride a bicycle.” Tempe resident Susan Starrfield is in her second year of classes with Debora. “Tai Chi envelops me in a serene environment,” she says. “I was so happy with this class; I invited my husband to join me. We feel comfortable working with a group, and appreciate that Debora does not require us to remember the sequences.” The beauty of Tai Chi is that it can be practiced anywhere, and by almost everyone; even those in wheelchairs. A 96 yearold student using two canes came to Debora’s class, based on a physical therapist’s recommendation. She soon could walk better and eventually practice Tai Chi with just one cane. Debora also recommends the practice of Tai Chi for tennis

t'ai chi ch'uan

a Chinese martial art and form of stylized, meditative exercise, characterized by methodically slow circular and stretching movements and positions of bodily balance.

players and golfers because it involves the turning of the hips and thus the motion improves the players’ swings. She remembers a pro golfer whose coach sent him to her class. Containing 108 moves, some of which are repetitive, students of Tai Chi are never really done learning. Moves, such as turning of the spine, and footwork are continually refined in both the beginning and advanced classes. “The goal of the beginning class,” explains Debora, “is to become able to follow along in the group, moving with everyone, as opposed to learning or memorizing.” She relates her practice to Judaism because it follows the idea of repairing the world. “It is something I can give to anyone who wants to learn; any faith, background or ability,” she says. “It’s really intended to help people improve their health. This is something I love and want to do. I feel like the practice elevates my life.” Debora is a volunteer instructor and does not charge for her classes, which are open to the community. There is, however, a nominal fee charged by Temple Beth Shalom. To learn more about this compelling and therapeutic form of exercise, contact Debora at taichi@tbsev.org.

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ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 51

ask helen

Coping in noisy hospital as loved one passes on

A Nosh of Jewish Wisdom:

Recovering from an illness makes one feel like returning to the days of one’s youth.

Dear Helen: Ten years ago my sister went through several rounds of chemo and her cancer went into remission. We had a long time together, but her cancer came roaring back like a freight train after we’d all pushed it to the back of our minds. In her last days she was in a lot of pain despite the meds. On her floor was a very loud and unhappy patient. I do not know his medical issues, but he made sure that everyone knew of all his complaints about pain and “bad service.” We were trying to keep Deborah’s passing gentle (think harp music and soft prayers). This man was hugely disruptive. The nurses tried to pacify us until the complaints from other patients’ families got loud enough that they finally moved him. I know part of my anger is grief, but what can I do to make sure others do not die this way? Sobbing Sister Dear Sobbing Sister: In such circumstances, protecting the dying person is the single most important thing. In the future, should God forbid you encounter such circumstances, start with a complaint at the nurse’s station asking that the disruptive patient be told to keep her/her voice down or s/he will be moved into a room with a door that is kept closed. If that does not work, start your way up the hospital food chain, both medical and administrative. Ask each person to stand in the hallway outside your sister’s room and listen for ten minutes to what the families are being subjected to. That should be enough to get a change. If not, ask your doctor to request a room transfer to a different floor. As a last resort, saying that you would prefer not to consult your attorney should motivate almost any administrator. Dear Helen: Breast cancer has killed half the female members of my family. They all fought hard but succumbed. I cannot tell you my relief when I birthed sons! I have just been diagnosed and have decided to make fighting it the single most important thing that I organize my life around. I am a divorce attorney and partner in my firm, so I negotiated leave for the full period in which I will be doing chemo and related treatments. I wanted absolutely no distractions while I shifted everything in my life around this battle. I expect to return to work, but not until I feel whole again, and probably after a vacation. The 52 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

problem: Everywhere I go, from synagogue to the supermarket, I bump into people who want to discuss both my medical condition and “Just one quick question… .” I cannot believe the rudeness of the latter and frankly consider anything except “good luck” to be more than I can bear in the medical arena. How can I deter unwanted attention? Patient (Not!) Dear Patient (Not!): I’ll presume you’re not shy or you wouldn’t do what you do professionally. Two simple things to say when people speak beyond good luck. The minute they wind up and launch into anything legal, hold up your hand like a traffic cop. That should stop most (but sadly not all) folks. Then say, I am on a total sabbatical from the law so I can focus on getting healthy. Please call so-and-so at my office, who will take very good care of you. Good luck. Then turn and start walking. If people ask about medical details or want to tell you stories about their own or a friend’s experience, do the traffic cop routine again and say, Thanks for your good wishes. I’m only discussing medical details with my doctor and family. Everything is on track. Let's focus on other aspects of life, preferably ones that are filled with hope. Walk away as needed if they do not comply and don't worry about what anyone says or thinks. A resident of Eugene since 1981, Helen is a member of Temple Beth Israel, where she’s studied and spoken on Torah. She claims to have black belts in schmoozing, problem-solving and chutzpah. She’s a writer and an artist (kabbalahglass.com). Please email your questions to helen@ yourjewishfairygodmother.com and subscribe to the blog at kabbalahglass.com/blog/

HELEN

A resident of Eugene since 1981, Helen is a member of Temple Beth Israel. She claims to have black belts in schmoozing, problemsolving and chutzpah. Email your questions to helen@yourjewishfairygodmother.com.

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ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 53

Actively Senior

Israeli company unveils revolutionary artificial cornea By Nicky Blackburn

An early-stage Israeli ophthalmic medical devices startup has developed a revolutionary artificial cornea implant that holds out hope to millions of blind and visually impaired people suffering from diseases of the cornea. The nanotech-based solution by CorNeat Vision of Ra’anana is a synthetic cornea that uses advanced cell technology to integrate artificial optics within ocular tissue. After successful initial tests on animals, the company plans to move to human implantations in Israel in the middle of next year, and also to begin a larger clinical trial of 20 to 60 patients in the United States. According to the World Health Organization, diseases of the cornea are the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, second only to cataracts. As many as 30 million people are affected, with around two million new cases each year. “Though [corneal diseases are] a profound cause of distress and disability, existing solutions such as corneal transplantation

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are carried out only about 200,000 times a year worldwide,” said 47-year-old CorNeat Vision CEO and VP R&D Almog Aley-Raz. “There exists an urgent need for an efficient, long-lasting and affordable solution to corneal pathology, injury and blindness, which would alleviate the suffering and disability of millions of people.” CorNeat’s implant, the CorNeat KPro, which is to be unveiled to select members of the ophthalmic community at the XXXV European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons Congress (ESCRS) in Lisbon, Portugal this week, has just been cleared by the European Patent Office. CorNeat KPro uses advanced cell technology to integrate artificial optics within resident ocular tissue. The implant is produced using nanoscale chemical engineering that stimulates cellular growth. “Unlike previous devices, which attempt to integrate optics into the native cornea, CorNeat’s implant leverages a virtual space under the conjunctiva that is rich with fibroblast cells, heals quickly and provides robust long-term integration,” said Aley-Raz. The surgical procedure takes just 30 minutes, and the company believes it can provide an efficient and scalable remedy for millions. “The groundbreaking results obtained in our proof of concept, which is backed by conclusive histopathological evidence, are extremely encouraging,” said Dr. Gilad Litvin, CorNeat Vision’s founder, chief medical officer and inventor of the new implant. “Our novel IP… ensures long-term retention, robust integration into the eye and an operation that is significantly shorter and simpler than keratoplasty (corneal transplantation),” he added. Aley-Raz is the former CEO of Persay, a specialist in biometric voice authentication technology. The company was sold to Nuance Communications in 2010, and the business now brings in over $100 million a year to Nuance, according to Aley-Raz. Aley-Raz set up privately funded CorNeat two years ago after meeting the inventor on a mountain-biking trip. “It was really surprising to me to see such a big problem was not being properly addressed,” he told ISRAEL21c. “This device is extremely promising. It’s such a small device but it integrates so many different disciplines — chemistry, biology and physics. We are receiving extremely positive feedback,” he added. “The innovative approach behind CorNeat KPro coupled by the team’s execution ability present a unique opportunity to finally address the global corneal blindness challenge,” said Prof. Ehud Assia, head of the ophthalmic department at the Meir Medical Center in Israel, a serial ophthalmic innovator, and a member of CorNeat Vision scientific advisory board. Other advisory board members include Prof. David Rootman, one of the top corneal specialist surgeons from the University of Toronto, Canada; and Prof. Eric Gabison, a leading cornea surgeon at the Rothschild Ophthalmic Foundation research center at Bichat hospital in Paris, France. For more information, visit corneat.com. Article courtesy Israel21c.

54 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

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K I D S

Sam Primack: Pursuing a dream By Masada Siegel

and teens too! Sam Primack during his performance at the National High School Theatre Awards in New York City.

Sam Primack is a man with a plan. At a very early age, he fell in love with acting and has been pursuing his dream ever since he was introduced to the stage. “When I was 3 years old, my grandma took me to see a production of ‘Aladdin’ at Desert Stages Theatre in Scottsdale, and immediately after I told her I wanted to do a show – so I auditioned for the next one!” remembers Sam. His first theater performance was in Arizona when he was 4 years old at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center in Scottsdale. His mother Allyson Primack, who has been supportive and guiding him every step of the way, explains, “After that, he started at Desert Stages Theatre and did several shows there as well as at Valley Youth Theatre, Greasepaint Youtheatre, Theater Works, Childsplay, Spotlight Youth Theatre, Arizona Broadway Theatre and Phoenix Theatre. When he was 10, he landed the role of Pugsley Addams in the Broadway National Tour of ‘The Addams Family Musical’ after submitting a videotape audition. He left school in 6th grade and traveled for six months to 48 cities on that tour.” Sam, who is now 16 years old and attends Chaparral High School, manages to balance acting, schoolwork and family time. His passion for performing is evident. “I love the energy of performing in front of an audience who is about to experience a story, that the 56 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

whole cast already knows, and is going to experience the plot for the first time,” says Sam. He credits his supportive family for all their encouragement and for helping provide him with numerous opportunities to pursue his craft. “I always want to make sure that my kids are happy,” says Allyson. “I have three children, Sam, Lauren and Aidan, and I want them to feel safe and secure, and to encourage them to live out their dreams – whatever those dreams may be.” She believes that acting and being on stage offers opportunities for growth off the stage as well. “Every child should have the opportunity to be on a stage once in their lives and to hear the applause from an audience. Even if they don't end up becoming a professional actor, getting up on a stage and feeling pride will help them have the courage and confidence to do almost anything,” says Allyson. Sam’s been keeping busy; he has appeared on the television show "The League" on FXX and has been performing in several Valley theaters. He won three AriZoni Awards for Best Actor in a Musical, has won Artist of the Year for the past three years from the National Youth Arts Awards and this past year he was one of four male finalists in New York City for the National High School Theatre Awards. At that ceremony, which was hosted by Ben Platt of "Dear Evan Hansen," Sam won a full scholarship to Carnegie Mellon University's summer program, which he plans to attend this summer. His dreams extend to performing on Broadway and having a professional acting career, but right now you can find him playing Morris Delancey in "Newsies" at Phoenix Theatre running through Dec. 31. Best to check him out now before you have to travel to New York City to see him. Masada Siegel is an award-winning journalist and photographer.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 57

KIDS FAMILY TIME

Zacharys ' story

Zachary Sumner

By Debra Rich Gettleman

I moved to Phoenix in 1999. It took me a while to find my place, connect with like-minded people, and tap into a thriving artistic community. I have to admit, at first I felt lost and alone. The first person I met who gave me hope that I could actually live and be happy in the desert was a woman named Francine Sumner. Francine was a friend of my sister-in-law’s. She was smart, funny and entirely down to earth. I remember thinking that I only wanted to meet more women like Francine because then I would feel at home and I would know that I could build a good life in Arizona. 58 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

I ran into Francine a few months later at a Mother’s Day spa party. We were both pregnant, and we lamented about the already rising temperatures, swollen ankles, and difficulties we were enduring climbing in and out of hot cars and waddling through crowded parking lots. We talked about preschools and my inability to choose the right spot for my soon-to-be first child, Levi. She told me to listen to my heart. “What feels right?” she asked me. The decision became clear immediately. I chose Temple Chai’s Early Childhood Center (ECC) and never looked back. It was the right place for me, and my two boys and it supported everything in which my family and I believed. A year or two after my older son, Levi’s, entree into preschool, Francine became a teacher at the ECC. I got to see her on a daily basis and couldn’t wait till Levi turned 3 and would have Miss Francine as a teacher. Francine’s son, Zachary, was just a month older than Levi and the boys played, sang and laughed together on a daily basis. They weren’t really besties, but they were two big-hearted little boys who made friends easier with adults than kids but whose smiles were infectious and whose pictures accompanied the description of mensch in every Jewish dictionary on the planet. I joined Temple Chai’s board of directors on Francine’s invitation. It was a tumultuous task at a challenging time of growth that taught me to stay true to what I believed in even in the face of overwhelming odds. I learned a lot from that experience and always knew Francine was there in the background and that I could turn to her if ever I needed to. Both of my boys had the joy of experiencing Francine as a teacher, and she impacted their lives in so many positive ways I can’t even begin to enumerate. She started her own jewelry business, and I was so proud of her that I invited her to set up shop in the lobby at my first local theater production. Over the years, I joined jewelry making workshops she led and bought enough of her handcrafted pieces to open my own store. Even all the way out in Seattle, I can close my eyes and see her beautiful smile, hear her laugh and feel the warmth of her friendship. So this past summer, when I saw the first post on Facebook about the tragic death of her beloved son, Zachary, I became paralyzed with grief. I stood in my office as if I had been socked in the gut, the wind completely knocked out of me. The pain was excruciating. I had no idea what had happened and felt lost and incredibly

Zachary Sumner was a victim of a vicious

predator, one that takes millions of young

people’s lives, destroys families, and can’t be

contained by law enforcement, regulations or sheer will. Zachary Sumner took his own life

this past June. He was battling mental illness.

He lost.

guilty for not keeping in touch better, not knowing what had occurred, and not feeling close enough to pick up the phone and call her directly. I called everyone I knew and finally pieced together the devastating story of Zachary’s battle with mental illness and ultimate suicide. As someone who has struggled with mental illness my entire life and whose children wrestle with their own powerful demons, I couldn’t begin to imagine Francine’s loss. I was so far away and so afraid to intrude into her private grief. But one of her best friends said to reach out. “If she’s up to it,” she told me, “she’ll answer.” I called her immediately. I told her that my heart was broken and that I couldn’t stand on ceremony or try to be polite at a time where all I wanted was to wrap my arms around her and take away her pain. I said I’d do anything to make this better and asked if she might let me write about Zachary and tell his story. She agreed and here, in my small and insignificant way, is my attempt to help make meaning out of tragedy and perhaps save other parents from the utter devastation of losing the most precious gift in their lives.

Zachary Sumner

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

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 59

Zachary s' story Zachary Sumner turned 16 on Aug. 17, 2016. He will never reach his 17th birthday. Zachary will not receive the everanticipated acceptance letter to the college of his choice. He won't introduce his family to the person with whom he’s fallen in love. He will never know the joy of having his own child take its first breath, the first step, or speak its first words. Zachary Sumner will never be able to tell his mother how much he loves her ever again. Zachary Sumner was a victim of a vicious predator, one that takes millions of young people’s lives, destroys families, and can’t be contained by law enforcement, regulations or sheer will. Zachary Sumner took his own life this past June. He was battling mental illness. He lost. Zachary was that special young person who cared deeply about everyone and everything around him. He noticed when kids weren’t at school and asked if everything was OK. He smiled and said hi to those sitting alone in the lunchroom. He recognized and included the “kid in the corner” wherever he went. Zachary took concrete steps to help others, better his community and environment, and to tirelessly battle the illness that told him he was no good, a failure, invisible. Sadly, as Zachary struggled with his disease and hospitalizations, he never felt that same recognition when he showed up back at school. He began to be convinced that he was truly alone in his sickness, that no one saw him, that he had fought to be there for so many in need, but somehow he had become the kid in the corner himself, and this isolation and hopelessness ultimately overcame him. In a very real sense, Zachary Sumner lost the battle against mental illness. But his family has geared up and recruited an army of loved ones and supporters who will not allow Zachary’s loss to be in vain. Together Zachary’s family, friends and community are fighting back and honoring this amazing young man’s legacy. And together, we will win this war. Francine and her family and friends started “Kid in the Corner,” a movement designed to help change the way we face mental illness, fight against the stigma that accompanies it, and reaches out to all who feel isolated, disconnected and alone. Kid in the Corner is based on educating and spreading awareness about mental illness, promoting kindness and community connectedness and building and supporting mental health resources throughout the community. “We believe that through education, awareness, kindness and positivity, we can help change the story for the next kid in the corner,’ Francine told me over the phone a few weeks ago. Francine has spoken at Horizon High School, Zachary’s alma mater, and helped create the first in-school Kid in the Corner club. With her guidance, kids learn how to identify the kid in the corner, start a dialogue and find a way to reach out and connect those kids who feel left out and alone with the rest of their school, classmates and community. Francine reminds me, “Most people grieve close to their personalities. 60 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

I’m a teacher, and I want to affect change by fighting to end the stigma through Kid in the Corner.” Zachary was an avid coin collector. After his death, Francine found thousands of pennies in his room. She decided to create a very concrete message to the world in honor of Zachary and her commitment to end the stigma and create kindness and enable conversations that raise awareness and save lives. She started drilling holes in pennies and offering one to everyone who asked how they could help. She created the “Penny Pledge.” Take a penny, wear it on a necklace, a bracelet, a key chain and take the penny pledge.

By wearing this penny, I pledge to: Reach out to the kid in the corner Say hi Smile Ask where they’ve been Be aware of my own mental health It’s OK to not be OK Realize it’s a strength to ask for help Be a safe and caring person that others can talk to Be a friend Be a shoulder to lean on Listen When you take a penny, you accept a genuine responsibility to practice kindness in everything you do. It may sound simple but wearing my penny reminds me that doing nothing is not an option. Reach out. Actively promote kindness. Stop texting and look around to see who might need a smile or a kind word. “Kindness really is a win-win,” Francine tells me. “There are so many ways to get involved. Start a Kid in the Corner club at your school, participate in one of the monthly kindness projects. Pass out conversation cards which suggest specific ways to reach out on one side and provide community resources on the other.” “Create a life worth living,” Francine continues passionately, “Reach out. End the stigma and Start the conversation. That is how we honor Zachary’s legacy. That is how we change the next story.” Visit kidinthecorner.org to learn more and join the battle to #EndTheStigma.

KIDS CALENDAR

Ongoing: CLUB J AT THE VALLEY OF THE SUN JCC Provides after-school programming ranging from sports to cooking and crafts to Israeli culture and more for those in K-8. Transportation from nearby schools available. Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-634-4949 or youth@vosjcc.org, vosjcc.org.

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

J-CARE AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM AT THE TUCSON JCC Includes a variety of activities, Homework Hangout program (help from education specialists), arts, sports or teens can hang in the Youth Lounge. Bus transportation from schools available for K-12. Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E River Road, Tucson. Contact Corey at 520-2993000 ext. 256 or ccravens@tucsonjcc.org.

Ongoing Sat-Sun in December and daily Dec. 26-29 WINTER WONDERLAND AT BUTTERFLY WONDERLAND, 9500 E Via de Ventura, Scottsdale. 7-foot tall living angels with expansive wings add an ethereal aura to the conservatory, while musical groups fill the air with the sounds of the season. Included with admission: $22.95 adults, $20.95 ages 13-17, $14.95 ages 3-12, ages 2 and under free. 480-800-3000 or butterflywonderland.com.

Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 MOMMY & ME ROCK SHABBAT at Temple Kol Ami Early Childhood Center, 15030 N 64th St., Scottsdale from 9-10:30 am. Teacher-led class for moms and their children ages infant to 2 years. Moms connect and share experiences while their children learn and grow. Classes are just $5 per class (or $35 for a 10-class pass) for Temple Kol Ami members. Non-members pay $10 per class (or $75 for a 10- class pass). For registration or information contact 480-951-5825 or tkaecc@ templekolami.org.

Dec. 3 KIDS IN THE KITCHEN at Chabad of the East Valley, 875 N. McClintock Dr., Chandler at 12:15pm for grades 1-6. Children will have the opportunity to roll up their sleeves, cook, bake, and decorate fabulous

foods, take home their own handmade creations and collect delicious recipes in their own recipe book. $12/class. For more information, contact 480-855-4333 or youth@chabadcenter.com.

CHANUKAH CARNIVAL at Congregation Beth Israel, 10460 N. 56th St., Scottsdale from 11 am-2 pm. Train and pony rides, petting zoo, face painting, carnival games and vendors. $18 presale tickets; $25 at the door. Adults and ages 18 months and under are free. For more information, contact 480-951-3398 or ari@cbiaz.org.

Dec. 6 STORYTIME IN THE NORTHWEST with PJ Library at the Jewish Federation Northwest, 190 W Magee Road #162, Oro Valley at 10:30 am. Storytime featuring PJ Library books followed by snacks. We have guest readers and guitar players, seasonal crafts, outdoor play and more! Meet other Jewish parents, grandparents and caretakers. For newborn through age 5, but all ages and abilities are welcome. 520-505-4161 or northwestjewish@jfsa.org.

Dec. 9 KID’S NIGHT OUT – Chanukah Holiday Hurrah for grades Pre-K-5 at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 6-10 pm. Parents, enjoy the night out while the kids enjoy cocoa, festive games, crafts, dinner and a movie. Wear your PJs! Members: $10; guests: $20. For more information, contact 480-634-4949 or youth@vosjcc.org.

Dec. 10 MENORAH MAKING WORKSHOP at Home Depot, 2217 E. Bell Road, Phoenix from 10-11 am. Kids get to make-and-take a menorah. Free. For more information, visit homedepot.com/workshops.

MISHPACHAH (FAMILY) PROGRAM at Handmaker, 2221 N. Rosemont, Tucson at 10 am. Families with children of all ages welcome. Visit and play games together, then help the residents make holiday cards for their families. Free, RSVP to Nichole Chorny by Dec. 6 at 530-7455550, ext. 228 or cantorialsoloist@caiaz.org.

Dec. 15 FAMILY SHABBAT SERVICE & DINNER at Congregation Anshei Israel, 5550 E 5th St., Tucson from 5:45-8:30 pm. Service begins with a “drum circle” – instruments are supplied, you bring the rhythm! Percussion instruments will be available for all who wish to participate. Then Shabbat dinner, followed by Open Lounge in the Youth Center with games and fun. $25 per family (2 adults & up to 4 children). Additional adults $10 per person. RSVP to Kim, 520-745-5550 ext. 224 or edasst@ caiaz.org.

Dec. 19 8 NIGHTS, 8 LIGHTS HANUKKAH PARTY at Congregation Anshei Israel, 5550 E 5th St., Tucson at 6 pm. Dress in white to glow bright as part of our glow-in-the-dark celebration! Celebration begins with lighting the hanukkiah (bring your own if you’d like). Enjoy a black light performance, glow sticks, festive food including latkes & donuts, a performance by CAI’s Adult & Youth Choirs led by Cantorial Soloist Nichole Chorny, play dreidel games and activity stations. ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 61

Israel

Jake Bennett, center, during his time as a lone soldier in Israel.

Providing support for lone soldiers By Mala Blomquist

More than a year ago, the Friends of Israel committee at the Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation launched a project to help lone soldiers. “Lone soldiers” are volunteers from all over the world with no immediate family in Israel, who serve in the Israel Defense Forces. The Lone Soldier Project came about while the committee was exploring various Israeli organizations. They invited Hadar Hamu who had served in operation Protective Edge as a lone soldier, to come and speak to the group. “We all fell in love with her, and we were all enthralled by her, so we decided to take on the project,” says Dr. Michael Cohen, chairman of the project. Their initial effort was to generate donations to send personal care packages and winter hats for lone soldiers. They connected with an Israeli partner, Chayal el Chayal (Hebrew for “soldier to soldier”), a lone soldier center in Jerusalem, to deliver the packages. 62 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

“Our ultimate goal is to raise community awareness about the role of the lone soldier and how vital it is to the defense of Israel and how much they are appreciated by the people of Israel,” explains Michael. Most of the lone soldiers come from very comfortable homes in the United States, and across the world, and put that all aside for two or three years of their young life to defend Israel. It takes a lot of courage, dedication and commitment. Earlier this year, Michael went to Israel and volunteered at Chayal el Chayal. He helped prepare Shabbat dinner and talked to many of the lone soldiers. He asked some of them if serving in the IDF was what they expected it to be, and they all said, “No.” They all had a romanticized view of what service would be like. “It’s very dirty and very, very, very hard work,” says Michael. “You are pushed beyond what you think your capacity is, but your camaraderie with the people that you have just begun to know and your sense of mission is so intense that you just find yourself.” The lone soldier center becomes a haven to these soldiers

unit, and wanted to be supportive. I hadn’t even met her yet. I thought, ‘Wow!’ That’s powerful.” He also received a Purim package with little snacks and gifts in it, but he didn’t recognize the name on the return address. “I asked if anyone knew the name on the package, and they said, ‘That’s our drill sergeant’s family,’ explains Jake. “So the drill sergeant’s family sent me a Purim care package because they knew I was a lone soldier and didn’t have family around. That was so meaningful.” Jake emphasizes the importance of a support system for the lone soldier. “One of the hardest thing for lone soldiers – and this happens a lot – is that they end up having issues, problems with their family back home,” Jake explains. “Their family doesn’t understand why they are doing what they are doing. Sometimes the family feels abandoned. Communication is hard, and the young man or woman feels like they are disconnected from Mordechai (Mordy) Botnick, founder of Chayal el Chayal. their family, and they have trouble bridging that communication gap. I’ve heard this because they are exhausted at story repeatedly, and I experienced it the end of the week, everyone myself.” they know has gone home for The key is that the young person the weekend, and they don’t have needs to know about the lone soldier anywhere to go. “Lone soldier center before they are in the IDF. centers call themselves ‘home “Once you are in a combat unit, when away from home,’ but they are you have time off you are exhausted,” really more than that,” Michael remembers Jake. “You don’t have time explains. “Home implies that to go explore, to meet new people. You you have a physical place to want to go back to somewhere you feel sleep, they are really ‘family away comfortable.” from family.’” Aside from social Michael recounts the story of the events and care packages, the founder of Chayal el Chayal, Mordechai center provides lodging, laundry (Mordy) Botnick, who began helping facilities and guidance. lone soldiers while he was still on active During his visit, the soldiers duty. “He is the son of a Chabad rabbi told Michael that they loved to from Ottawa, Canada, and his family receive letters, from anybody was very against him joining the IDF about anything. So, this summer, as a lone soldier. It took him several he went to the East Valley Jewish years in his own mind to say ‘I’m going.’ Community Center’s Camp When he got enough money to get a Rimon and spoke to a group of flight to Israel, he gets to Ben Gurion campers in grades 3-8 about the airport and gets in a cab and tells the lone soldiers. driver to take him to Jerusalem. The cab “I’m a pediatrician, and I was driver says, ‘That’s a good start, where amazed at the kids’ attentiveness Dr. Michael Cohen helps with Shabbat preparations during a in Jerusalem?’ Mordy says, ‘I don’t know, and interest,” says Michael. “I visit to Chayal el Chayal. I want to go into the army.’ So the cab had them all write letters or draw driver took him to the shuk (public pictures to send. They wrote market), and he slept on his suitcase that first night. He saw things like, ‘Please don’t die,’ ‘Thank you for what you do to someone in a military uniform the next day, and he told them help us’ and ‘I wish I was just like you.’ It was amazing.” that he wanted to be in the military. That night he had a place Jake Bennett, who lives in Phoenix and works as a financial to sleep and eventually connected with the right people to go advisor at Edward Jones, joined the IDF as a lone soldier at the through the process to enter the IDF. When he was out of the age of 24. He has many fond memories of the care packages he military, he grew this organization that supplies an enormous received. “When I was in basic training, I got a hand-knitted amount of services to the lone soldiers.” hat. It was the kind of hat that you can pull down over your To learn more about the Lone Soldier Project, contact 480face, and it has holes for your eyes. My friends told me it was 895-4660 or email lonesoldiersljc@gmail.com. an ‘Arafat hat,’ but it turned out that it was knitted by the mom of one of my officers who knew that I was a lone soldier in the ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 63

TO LIFE

Cultivating pride and identity in a foreign land

J L iving

By Amy Hirshberg Lederman

Brazil was nothing like I had expected it would be. Lush, bustling and diverse, it was a thriving country of varied landscapes and cultures. My family’s primary reason for going was to visit our 17-year-old daughter, Lauren, who in 2004 was a foreign exchange student for the year. Despite the exhausting 20-hour trip from Tucson, I was totally energized as we left the airport and drove through sugar cane fields, rolling hills and tiny towns, crunching fresh cashews and sipping ice-cold coconut water we bought from a roadside stand. Brazil is a huge country, slightly smaller than the United States, with regions that vary from desert to mountainous to tropical. Its spectacular 4,655 miles of Atlantic coastline is home to numerous coastal cities where modern buildings stand adjacent to colonial forts and churches. And everywhere you go, there is music, people and chatter in the streets, although rarely in English. Almost 75% of Brazil’s 186 million residents are Catholic. When Lauren first decided to go, this caused us some concern because we knew that she would have little opportunity to connect with Jews for an entire year. But I was not prepared for the fact that once she arrived at her destination in Campina Grande, there was not a single Jewish person in that city of 350,000 people. And that no one, from her large, extended Brazilian family to her classmates and friends, had even met a Jew before! The Jewish mother in me screamed, “Book Lauren a flight from Rio de Janeiro to Tel Aviv now!” But my rational mind and reasonable husband kept me in check. History helped me too, as we Jews have lived in the Diaspora for more than 2,000 years successfully preserving our faith, rituals and community. Hopefully, Lauren would be able to do the same. My prayers were answered at the end of her first month, when she called and asked if I would send a “Shabbat box” so she could light candles on Friday night. What she missed most, she confided, was our family connection – lighting candles and sharing Shabbat dinner as a family. As Rosh Hashanah approached, she searched for a synagogue to attend services, which had become even more important to her now that she had so little opportunity to be with other Jews. With a great deal of effort, she found one in Recife, a city more than two hours away, and a Jewish family hosted her. We marveled that as Lauren sat in the women’s section of the Sephardic synagogue next to the Rabbi’s wife and prayed in Hebrew and Portuguese, our family said the same prayers in Tucson 10,000 miles away. In December, we sent her a “Chanukah box” – complete with menorah, candles, dreidels and gelt so that she could celebrate the holiday. But she had other ideas. In addition to celebrating each night by herself, she was determined to share the holiday with her new family and friends, to teach them about the Maccabees and the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. And, of course, to treat them to delicious potato latkes and homemade applesauce, which, without a grater, took the entire day to make! Like most parents, I often wonder whether the ideals, values and family traditions that we have tried to instill in our children will be important to them as they mature into adults. I know first-hand how difficult and painful it is to let our children go their own ways. But I also know that the choices they make and the paths they follow will lead them to better understand who they are and what they truly value. And, if we have given them the tools and confidence to explore, we must be patient and have faith that they will find their own way to create a meaningful relationship to Judaism, God and the Jewish community.

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

Changes are coming to the library Starting this month, if you venture past the BJE Jewish Community Library at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, you may notice some changes. The library is going to begin a pilot program, sharing its space with the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center. “We would like the community to use this shared space for book clubs, story times, JCC camps and meetings,” says Elaine Hirsch, director of adult learning and the Jewish Community Library at the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix. The most significant change will be that the books that currently occupy the center of the existing space will be redistributed and new bookshelves will be installed inside the existing classrooms. “Just like public libraries have public use spaces, this will open up a huge area for us,” explains Elaine. “The books in this main area will be primarily children’s books and media.” The remainder of the books will be housed in BJE’s four classrooms. For example, in the classroom that is primarily used for bible and text studies, there will be shelves containing the Talmud, Bible, commentaries and other classical Jewish literature. “That will be nice because as students are studying, they can walk over to the shelf and take out the book, instead of having to bring their own, it will be right there,” Elaine says. The other three classrooms will contain their large fiction series, sections on the Holocaust and Israel as well as biographies. There will also be a curriculum section for

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 65

L iving

teachers providing both ideas for the classroom and ideas for extension activities. Elaine admits that one of her favorite things is working with the teachers that come into the library. “Teachers that want to do an activity beyond the curriculum they are teaching, enhancing the curriculum, those are called extension activities. That’s what I really love to do.” The library is open to everyone in the community and Elaine says that she often has non-Jews calling her asking questions about Judaism and Jewish life. She shares a funny story about a recent request she had. “Someone was getting a tattoo and wanted to know the correct Hebrew quote from the Song of Songs.” There are so many services that the library provides that are not always tangible. Elaine likes to share her favorite quote by Erica Silverman, “Libraries and librarians do what they do so quietly and efficiently that it's easy to take them for granted. But we do so at our peril. If we don't safeguard them, we will wake up one day and realize that we've lost something very,

Clothes make the man, and the man reads...

WANDER NO MORE

azjewishlife.com 66 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

very precious, essential to democracy, to literacy, to our quality of life. A world without libraries is unthinkable.” Elaine stresses the fact that with all the information on the internet, people need a place where they can access quality, accurate information. She also believes that technology and physical books can complement each other. “One isn’t necessarily better than the other, we need both,” she explains. “When people are doing research, it’s often easier to have 5 or 6 books open in front of you rather than having to go back and forth on the computer.” There is no arguing that books will always win over technology in one situation, in particular, says Elaine, “There’s nothing like cuddling with a child with a book. You are instilling Jewish memory, and a Kindle can’t do that, only a book can.” To learn more about the services offered at the Jewish Community Library and classes offered through the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix, visit bjephoenix.org.

FEDERATION NOTES Hanukkah: Jewish? You May be Surprised By Marty Haberer

From the time we were wearing footie pajamas (December is pretty cold in New York), my younger brother and I would lead the family in the blessings over each night of Hanukkah. We couldn’t wait to see what presents awaited us! Some of my favorites were Rock’em Sock‘em, Robots, Battleship, a National Geographic view finder, Spirograph and the best of all, from my Oma (grandma), our very first bicycles. Let’s fast-forward to a talk I gave at the Selby Garden’s in Sarasota, Florida a few years ago, when as the Federation’s assistant executive director, I was asked to light the menorah along with the person who was lighting a Christmas tree. In preparation for my talk, I learned some fascinating facts about Hanukkah. Who has the story of Hanukkah anonized in their texts? The Jews right? Wrong! The only places that the story of Hanukkah is canonized is in the Catholic and Coptic churches. Who knew?! Why is that? Well, the story of Hanukkah, as we know, is the story of the small mighty army of Jewish Maccabees defeating the much larger Syrian Greek army and recapturing the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. This was a historic war, and wars are bloody. This was not something the Rabbis, who came after the temple was finally destroyed by the Romans, wanted the Jewish people to celebrate. Hanukkah instead became the festival of lights, celebrating the blessed oil that miraculously lasted for eight days until new oil could be made for the temple. What a wonderful choice this was. Today, the meaning of Hanukkah’s menorah flames can be compared to the generosity of our community’s donors and the fine work of our Jewish organizations. While the power or brightness of any one person is important, through the power of the collective, it is so much brighter! So my Hanukkah wish to you is that we may live up to our ideal to be a “light unto nations”, and that we may continue to learn and grow in our long and wonderful Jewish heritage.

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Marty Haberer is the executive director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix.

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S E C A F & PLACES

CAPITAL CONVENTION – The IAC National Conference was held Nov. 3-6 in Washington, D.C. The conference hosted more than 3,000 attendees from all across the country, offered close to one hundred sessions, and featured VIP speakers including Ambassador Nikki Haley.

IAC-Arizona Regional Director Shahar Edry.

EATING WELL – Valley of the Sun JCC Clinical Nutritionist Christi Christiaens shared tips during the Nutritional Shopping Tour on Oct. 24 at Whole Foods in Paradise Valley. Participants learned the advantages of eating whole, organic foods, how to pick the best foods in each department and their nutritional value.

Some the the Phoenix participants, from left, Susan Bondy, Wendy Sternberg-Rozio, Sharone Bashkin Cohen, Gabrielle Blayne, Jake Bennett and Shahar Edry.

CHAI TECH PANEL – More than 50 guests networked and learned from start-up experts during the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix Business & Professionals Chai Tech panel on Oct. 19. From left, Chai Tech Co-Chair Chase Alyeshmerni, Aaron Dragushan, Ori Eisen, Chai Tech Co-Chair Jonny Basha, Scott Weiss and Gelie Akhenblit. Photo by Daniel Spiegelman 68 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Israeli American Council - IAC teams from 15 IAC regions across the nation posed for a photo on the last day of the conference.

DESERT GATHERING – An amazing combination of local and national talent performed at The 5th Annual Desert Gathering Jewish Music Fest on Nov. 5 at the Ina Levine Jewish Community in Scottsdale. The crowd enjoyed a variety of food, vendors and activities in addition to the concert.

From left, Josh Niehaus, Chava Mirel, AZJL Editor Mala Blomquist, Doni Zasloff, Eric Lindberg and Todd Herzog.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – Handmaker resident Gertrude Shankman turned 103 on Oct. 26, and the 5th grade class at Tucson Hebrew Academy came to celebrate.

At the Arizona Jewish Life booth, Chuck and Linda Field and Jacob Solomon and his dad David stop for a photo opportunity with the retro-inspired props.

NIGHT OUT – Evey Bendalin, left, and Merle Daniels at ASU’s Grady Gammage auditorium in Tempe on Nov. 2 prior to a sold-out performance of "Something Rotten," the Tony-winning Broadway musical. Photo by Leni Reiss

CHUTZPAH & HIGH HEELS – On Nov. 9, Valley Beit Midrash welcomed Jessica Fishman for two lectures on her book “Chutzpah & High Heels: The Search for Love and Identity in the Holy Land.” The lectures were hosted by Temple Solel and the Valley of the Sun JCC.

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POWER OF YOU – Suzanne Swift, Cindy Lester and Natalie Stern were all smiles as they prepared for Women's Philanthropy Power of You event on Oct. 19 featuring Dr. Linda Benaderet. More than 50 women attended the evening of hope, education and celebration at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus.

INTERFAITH UNDERSTANDING -- David and Debbie Mendelson visited with Rabbi Dr. Eugene Korn, at right, following his Oct. 29 presentation, “Jewish Schizophrenia: What did the Rabbis Think of Christianity?” at the New Shul. Sponsored by Valley Beit Midrash. Photo by Leni Reiss

SHOWING APPRECIATION – The Jewish Tuition Organization hosted its annual Corporate Appreciation Breakfast on Nov. 8. Many of their 28 corporate supporters attended. The breakfast was sponsored by board member Jeffrey Karp of Integrity RX. From left, JTO Executive Director Linda Zell, JTO Board President Fred Wabnik with event speakers EdChoice's Jason Bedrick and former Jewish day school student Sabrina Benros.

SEASON OPENER – Rabbi Dr. Yitz Greenberg earned a standing ovation from an overflow crowd at Temple Chai for the Oct. 22 opening event of the Valley Beit Midrash Jaburg Wilk Learning Series. The noted spiritual leader spoke on “The 10 Moral Imperatives: A Jewish Response to a Fractured Society.” Photo by Leni Reiss

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TAKE A BOW – Stephanie Trick and Paolo Alderighi performed "The Great American Songbook" for the Arizona Jewish Historical Society on Sunday, Nov. 5.

WOMEN FOR ISRAEL – On Nov. 1, hundreds of women from all over the Valley gathered for the annual Jewish National Fund’s Women for Israel luncheon at Chateau Luxe in Phoenix. The theme was “Celebrating our Power, Strength & Energy” and the keynote speaker was ESPN Sportscaster, Linda Cohn.

From left, Arlene Mobell, Arlene Buckwald, Seena Lewine and Audrey Shulkin.

TOUR DE SUMMER CAMPS – Jules Freeman hiked in this year’s Tour de Summer Camps in California on Oct. 29. He helped raise funds to send disadvantaged youth to Jewish summer camp.

The crowd waits for the luncheon to begin at Chateau Luxe in Phoenix.

From left, Co-Chairs Shirli Borenstein and Pam Meyer, Keynote Speaker Linda Cohn and JNF Board President Susan Farber.

WINNING COMBO – American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee Assistant Executive Vice President of International Development Will Recant took a moment to pose with Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix Board Co-Chair Mark Feldman during a BBQ at the home of Cyndi & Jamie Rosenthal on Oct. 24. Recant updated guests about the Federation-funded work being done through the JDC.

From left, JNF Executive Vice President, Desert States & Southwest Deb Rochford, Vice President of Partnerships & Development, Nefesh B’Nefesh Doreet Freedman and board member Cindy Saperstein. ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | DECEMBER 2017 71

PREVIEWS

TIKKUN OLAM – REPAIRING THE WORLD EXHIBIT AT AJHS A collaborative presentation by four local artists of the ways in which art and artists can help to heal our world will be on display through Jan. 30 at the Arizona Jewish Historical Society Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center at 122 E. Culver St. in Phoenix. An exhibition of beautiful and thoughtful contemporary art that raises the awareness of important concerns facing us today, including human trafficking, abused women, abandoned children, animal rights, disappearing species and fauna, recycling, composting. The art in this exhibit calls upon us to repair the world of its imperfections and not stand idly by when another human being is endangered or an issue of concern requires our intervention. “Repairing the world through art is different than a sociologist explaining cultural phenomena, a politician alerting society to perspective on alternative solutions, or a community leader clarifying areas of concern. The artwork brings sensitivity on the matter from the heart of the artist. The statement is integral to the work, but not overt. The beauty stands out, but the message shines through,” says artist Carolyn Lavender. The gallery is open Tuesdays and Thursday from noon to 3 pm and on first and third Fridays from 6 to 9 pm. Admission is $5 per person. For additional visiting hours or group tour information, contact Jeffrey Schesnol at jschesnol@azjhs.org.

EXPLORE THE RHYTHM OF LIFE AT JFCS MEMORY CAFÉ Jewish Family & Children’s Service’s December Memory Café will feature the talented Keith Johnson, a well-known drumming artist, who will lead participants on a fun, interactive session exploring The Rhythm of Life. The event will be held at Beth El Congregation at 1118 W. Glendale Ave. in Phoenix on Dec. 7, from 10 to 11:30 am. “Drumming has been gaining in popularity as its benefits are becoming documented,” says Kathy Rood, who oversees the monthly Cafés. “Many senior centers and hospitals use drumming as a way of improving health. Research has shown that drumming can reduce anxiety and significantly lower blood pressure. It’s been credited with helping to reduce depression as well as enhancing immune systems. We’re happy to present Keith Johnson in this setting, who has been working in this arena for many years and knows how to make the experience fun for all,” she added. 72 DECEMBER 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Rood also states that no one needs to have any former experience with drumming and that all drums and other percussion instruments will be provided. The Memory Café is for those with memory loss and their care partners. Memory Cafés are one way individuals with memory loss and their care companions are coming together to make new friendships and support one another. There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. To register or for further information, contact Kathy at 602-452-4627 or Kathy.rood@jfcsaz.org.

THE KLEZMATICS TO PERFORM AT THE MIM

The Klezmatics will perform “A Happy Joyous Hanukkah” on Dec. 13 at 7 pm at the Musical Instrument Museum at 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. in Phoenix. The only klezmer band to win a Grammy Award, the Klezmatics band members are globally renowned world-music superstars. The group emerged out of the vibrant cultural scene of New York City’s East Village in 1986. Klezmer music was steeped in Eastern European Jewish tradition and spirituality, while incorporating contemporary themes, such as human rights and anti-fundamentalism, and eclectic musical influences, including Arab, African, Latin and Balkan rhythms, jazz, and punk. In the course of over twenty years and nine albums, the band has stubbornly continued making music that is wild, mystical, provocative, reflective and ecstatically danceable. Tickets prices range from $43.50 to $48.50. MIM members who give $500 or more annually will receive a 10% discount on concert tickets. To purchase tickets, contact 480-478-6000 or visit mim.org.

PREVIEWS

WINTER FUN FOR EVERYONE

OdySea ChillFest will feature a premium sized ice skating area with ice skate rentals and daily family fun activities and events at OdySea in the Desert at 9500 E. Via de Ventura in Scottsdale from Dec. 21 through Jan. 6. Kids of all ages can skate with holiday mascots, enjoy scheduled evening showings of The SnowGirls Holiday Revue, join in the fun for Tips & Tricks with the Pros, and participate in other weekend Snow Blitz events with falling snow and special effects. ChillFest features many of the area’s top figure skating talent and professional skaters. Guests will also be able to purchase s’mores kits to roast at the fire pits located around the ice rink throughout OdySea in the Desert’s holiday themed, outdoor courtyard. The brand new OdySea Express train will also be running as part of the Holiday festivities, touring guests around the destination with music, lights, and real train smoke and sounds! Ice Rink hours will be: Dec 21-23: 11 am-9 pm; Dec 24-25: 11 am-3 pm; Dec 26-30: 11 am-9 pm; Dec 31: 11 am-3 pm and Jan 1-6: 11 am-6 pm. For more information, visit odyseainthedesert.com.

IT’S MAZELPALOOZA TIME

Mazelpalooza is the only place for Jewish young adults to be on Christmas Eve. Enjoy a festive night of cocktails and music from 9 pm until 2 am on Dec. 24 at Maya Day and Night Club at 7333 E. Indian Plaza in Scottsdale. Presented by NowGen, the Jewish Federation’s Young Professional division geared toward individuals in their 20s to 40s. DJ Soloman will be spinning his unique mix of music and a cash bar will be open throughout the night serving beer, wine and cocktails. There will be a photo booth to commemorate the evening and there are lots of comfy spaces to hang out. This event is only for those who are 21 years of age and older. Tickets are $36 each with a ”squad” discount of $32 each for groups of 5 to 15. $18 of each ticket goes towards the Federation’s annual campaign and is eligible for a tax exemption. If you make a $180 donation to the annual campaign, you will receive a free ticket to Mazelpalooza. For more information, visit mazelpalooza.org.

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DECEMBER CALENDAR Through Dec. 31

Dec. 7

“Newsies” at Phoenix Theatre, 100 E. McDowell Road, Phoenix. 7:30 pm Tues-Sat; 2 pm Sat-Sun. A terrific show for the whole family! Packed with show-stopping choreography and a Tony Award winning score, Newsies is an extravagant, highenergy celebration of song and dance! For tickets, contact 602-254-2151 or phoenixtheatre.com.

Explore the Rhythm of Life at JFCS Memory Café. See page 72.

Dec. 2 2017 Heritage Award at the Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center, 122 E. Culver St., Phoenix at 6pm. The Heritage Award will be presented to Stu and Nancy Siefer and Susan and Mark Sendrow. Fundraiser benefits the Arizona Jewish Historical Society. $200/person. To RSVP, New York State of Mind JCC Gala at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale at 6:30 pm. 2017 Annual Gala honoring Jennifer and Steven Schwarz with the Irv Shuman Award. Entertainment, cocktails, dinner, dancing and a live auction. Proceeds benefit J programs and scholarships. For more information, call Megan Montgomery at 480-481-1756 or meganm@vosjcc.org.

Dec. 4 Hamilton – the Play at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 1-2 pm. An eye-opening discussion about the transcendent piece of musical theater by Lin Manuel Miranda that is sweeping the nation and coming to Phoenix in January 2018. In this class, you will find amazing discoveries about the play and the Jewish influence on Alexander Hamilton. $12. For more information, visit bjephoenix.org. The Genius of Hollywood and Broadway Composer, Jule Styne at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 2:10-3:40 pm. Presentation featuring the Academy Award and Tony Award winning songs of Jule Styne. $16. For more information, visit bjephoenix.org.

Dec. 5 Healthy for the Holidays Workshop Series at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road from 6:30-7:30 pm. Dr. Utash will be hosting a smoothie-making (and tasting) workshop that is unique and engaging. He will be demonstrating how to make smoothies and talking about the benefits of fruits, vegetables and good nutrition. $15. For more information, contact Amy Dowe at 520299-3000 ext. 251 or adowe@tucsonjcc.org.

Dec. 12 Chanukah begins at sundown. Dec. 13

Jewish Worship Group of the West Valley is offering a series of monthly learning sessions taught by Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz. The first one will be on the Jewish views of organ donation. It will be held at 7 pm at the Grace Community Church, 16165 Mountain View Boulevard, Surprise. There is no fee for the workshop; donations will be appreciated. Dessert and beverages will follow the presentation. For more information, contact Carol Loewith at caledcon@ aol.com.

The Klezmatics to Perform at the MIM. See page 73.

Dec. 8 & 15

Latke Palooza at Temple Emanuel of Tempe, 5801 S. Rural Road, Tempe from 5-8 pm. Latkes, dinner, dreidel games, carnival, crafts and more. For more information, contact 480-838-1414 or visit emanueloftempe.org.

Jerusalem @ 50 at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale at 11:40 am. Mini-course that covers Jerusalem’s history, ruins and alleyways from the time of the ancient city of King David through Today. $26. For more information, visit bjephoenix.org.

Dec. 9 Holiday Magic: Holiday Songs by Jewish Composers at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road, Tucson at 7 pm. Join Desert Melodies for a performance and history of Jewish composers who wrote holiday standards. $10. For more information, visit tucsonjcc.org.

Dec. 10 Jewish Federation Donor Appreciation Brunch at Pardes Jewish Day School, 12753 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale at 10 am. Jewish Federation donors are invited to attend a light awards brunch featuring key note by Senior Vice President for Public Policy and Director of the Jewish Federations of North America, William Daroff. Free for Federation donors, but must register by Dec. 8 at jewishphoenix.org/thankyoubrunch. Hanukkah Party hosted by Or Adam at the congregation president’s home. Enjoy fun and games while you celebrate the true meaning of the holiday – human courage and determination. Call the temple office for more information at 480-865-4710. Holiday Boutique & Fair at Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 11 am-3 pm. Get the perfect gifts for your friends and family at The J’s Holiday Boutique & Fair. Kids’ cookie decorating and edible dreidels for Chanukah! Visit vosjcc.org for more information.

Dreidels & Drinks – A Hanukkah Party at Goodmans Interior Structures, 1400 E. Indians School Road, Phoenix at 5:30 pm. All professionals are welcome to celebrate Chanukah with the Jewish Federation’s Business & Professionals Groups. $18 professionals, $10 students. Includes appetizers, cocktails and participation in a dreidel tournament. Register by Dec. 12 at jewishphoenix.org/dnd.

Dec. 16 Chanukah Party at Temple Beth Sholom of the East Valley, 3400 N. Dobson Road, Chandler from 7 – 9 pm. Open to the community. Bring your chanukiot, candles and matches and join the festival of lights. Snacks and drinks provided. Cost is a donation to support Just 3 Things. For more information, visit tbsev.info/calendar.

Dec. 17 Celebration of Heritage Concert Series at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road, Tucson at 7 pm. Concert of Italian melodies, operatic arias, art songs and folk music. $10. For more information, visit tucsonjcc. org Hanukkah Party at Beth Emeth Congregation, 13702 W. Meeker Blvd., Sun City West at 2 pm. Dreidels to play with and latkes to eat. Please bring a new, unisex wrapped gift, per person, (at least $10 in value that you yourself would like to receive) for a holiday gift exchange. Call the synagogue for reservations at 623-584-7210. Chanukah on the Lawn at the Biltmore Fashion Park, Center Lawn ,2502 E. Camelback Road, Presented by Chabad. Phoenix at 4 pm. Entertainment, menorah lighting, Chanukah craft, latkes, gelt and more. For more information and to RSVP, contact 602-944-2753 or rabbidov@ chabadaz.com.

Dec. 24 Mazelpalooza. See page 73.

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