Arizona Jewish Life Mar 2017 Vol. 5 / Issue 6

MARCH 2017

CORTNEY’S PLACE

Cindy Carpenter’s labor of love

REAL ESTATE

AZ at top of the U.S. housing market

CAMPS

Expert advice, couples’ stories, camp directory and s’more!

IKE DAVIS Ready to take the field

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 1

strategic thinking about wealth Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management has been helping ultra-high net worth individuals, their families and foundations plan for and grow their wealth for decades.

Based in New York City, the Family Wealth Group at Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management is a specialized team of interdisciplinary strategic advisors providing a full range of family office services to meet the complex needs of the UHNW marketplace. These services include financial & investment planning, estate & family succession planning, philanthropic advisory and administrative services.

The Family Wealth Group is headed by Robert Stolar, a Managing Director and Private Wealth Advisor. Drawing on three decades of investment & financial planning experience, Robert has earned various distinctions within the wealth advisory community, including recognition by Barron’s as one of the top 100 advisors in the country for 2015.

Robert Stolar

Managing Director Private Wealth Advisor 522 Fifth Avenue, 10th Floor New York, NY 10036 212-296-6704 robert.stolar@morganstanley.com Source: Barron’s “Top 100 Financial Advisors,” April 20, 2015. Barron’s “Top 100 Financial Advisors” bases its ratings on qualitative criteria: professionals with a minimum of seven years of financial services experience, acceptable compliance records, client retention reports, customer satisfaction, and more. Finwancial Advisors are quantitatively rated based on varying types of revenues and assets advised by the financial professional, with weightings associated for each. Because individual client portfolio performance varies and is typically unaudited, this rating focuses on customer satisfaction and quality of advice. The rating may not be representative of any one client’s experience because it reflects a sample of all of the experiences of the Financial Advisor’s clients. The rating is not indicative of the Financial Advisor’s future performance. Neither Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC nor its Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors pays a fee to Barron’s in exchange for the rating. Barron’s is a registered trademark of Dow Jones & Company, L.P. All rights reserved. © 2015 Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management, a division of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, LLC. Member SIPC. CRC1179133 04/15 8225582 PWM001 04/15 2 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

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ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 3

Beth El Congregation presents the

L’Dor V’Dor Golden Gala Honoring Dr. Leon & Evelyn Zeitzer

and the 50th Anniversary of our building on Glendale Sunday, March 26, 2017 at 5:30pm Dinner • Dancing • Auctions

For additional information, contact Anne Schafer 602.944.3359 Beth El Congregation • 1118 W. Glendale Ave • Phoenix, AZ 85021

4 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 5

Jewish Treasures Roadshow A benefit evening for the Bureau of Jewish Education in conjunction with Arizona Jewish Life magazine.

MARCH 23 5 – 8 PM J. Levine Auction and Appraisal 10345 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85253

Have you ever wondered what Bubbe and Zayde’s silver candlesticks or Kiddush cup from Europe are worth?

Bring a piece of Judaica from your home for appraisal.

Each paid admission includes an appraisal of one object.

Also included in admission are educational presentations by J. Levine appraisers and BJE educators on the Jewish value of ritual objects.

Minimum donation for admission: $25/person; includes appraisal of one item Wine and appetizers will be served. Dietary laws observed.

TO REGISTER: Call the Bureau of Jewish Education at 480-634-8050 or visit bjephoenix.org.

6 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

We are your silver lining...

Whether you need to let go of an item that no longer fits in your home or liquidate an entire estate, J. Levine is the easiest and most effective solution for consignment.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 7

Arizona Jewish Life • March 2017 • Adar-Nisan 5777 • Volume 5/Issue 6

20

FEATURES

REAL ESTATE

COVER STORY

Phoenix ranks #1 and Tucson #9 in 2017 U.S. housing market forecast Toby Weinstein: A Realtor who has seen it all Jon Rosenberg: Increased demand bodes well for Valley’s varied real estate markets Family company branches out, grows big time Consider trade-offs that make you happy when buying a home Understanding your home insurance coverage Real Estate Directory

Ike Davis: ready to take the field 34

JEWS WITH ATTITUDE Cortney’s Place: a labor of love is filling a need in our community 14 BUSINESS Michael Maher: from CPA to a special kind of doorman Ins & Outs

34

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Or Maoz: co-founder of Beatube, a whole new way to move This is one “Albatross” you’ll want to keep around your neck Local artist finds common ground as new member of Five15 Arts collective FOOD Chef’s Corner: Campfire Cones Taste of Arizona: Marigold Maison

54

62

16 18

40 42 45 48 50

FASHION Remix Your Wardrobe for Ultimate Street Style 54

SENIORS “Gather the Elders” Marilyn Heins, M.D., speaks from experience 56 Mel Kessler takes the Arizona Jewish Historical Society to new heights 58 ISRAEL Recently renovated Museum of the Jewish People strengthens cultural ties

80

TRAVEL Jewish Heritage Sites in Spain

82

COLUMNS Chef’s Corner by Lucia Schnitzer A Taste of Arizona by A. Noshman To Life by Amy Hirshberg Lederman

80

48 50 86

COVER: Ike Davis Photo by Matthew Strauss

8 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

20 22 24 26 28 29 30

CAMPS/ JKIDS & TEENS TOO A couple of couples who met at camp An expert offers parents tips for making a happy camper The MIM is a kid-friendly, world-class museum Kids, ADHD & summer camp Funding available to campers Camp Directory Kids & Teens events calendar

62 66 70 71 72 74 78

JLIVING To Life! Where do I come from?

86 Women’s Philanthropy Ignition!

Luncheon 88 The Purim Carnival returns to the VOSJCC 92 Federation notes 93 Faces & Places 94 Previews 96 Calendar 98

VISIT PHOENIX’S #1 ATTRACTION

Ranked in the Top 20 Museums in the United States —2016 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award MIM is the world’s only global musical instrument museum, with more than 6,500 musical instruments and objects on display. Using state-of-the-art audio and video, MIM offers visitors of all ages the chance to see, hear, and touch the instruments behind the world’s soundtrack.

Open Daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | 480.478.6000 ARIZONA | MARCH 2017 9 4725 E. MayoJEWISH Blvd., LIFE Phoenix, AZ 85050

MARCH2017 Arizona Jewish Life • March 2017 • Adar-Nisan 5777 • Volume 5/Issue 6

PUBLISHERS

H OW TO R E AC H U S

Rober t Philip Cindy Saltzman

602-538-AZJL (2955)

ADVE RTI S I N G AN D E D ITO R IAL D I R EC TO R Cindy Saltzman

E D I TO R- I N - C H I E F Mala Blomquist

CO NTR I B UTI N G E D ITO R Leni Reiss

COPY EDITOR Mar y Ann Bashaw WEBMASTER Karl Knelson A RT D I R E C TO R Philip Nerat GRAPHIC DESIGNER Tamara Kopper C O LU M N I S T S Amy Hirshberg Lederman A Noshman Lucia Schnitzer CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Mar y Ann Bashaw Steven Bernstein Jay Chatzkel Robin Finn Melissa Hirschl Deborah Moon Tal Peri Tori Rosenblum Sheila Wilensk y

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UPCOMING ISSUES APRIL 2017: Business Prof iles and Passover MAY 2017: Seniors

P U B L I C AT I O N A N D D E A D L I N E S Arizona Jewish Life magazine is distributed on the f irst of the month.

Stor y ideas for features and special sections are due 45- 60 days prior to publication.

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

10 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Ignition!

One woman’s heartwarming story – a tribute to the impact of Federation

The great outdoors and the great indoors, all in one.

Have you ever noticed that folks always say the great outdoors? Well, what about the great indoors? Can’t they be great, too?

They sure can. And the Casitas at Maravilla Scottsdale are a perfect example. Some would say it’s about as beautiful as a retirement community can be. The Casitas have all the luxury you can imagine on the inside.

But here’s the best part. Maravilla is located smack-dab in the middle of the great outdoors.

Come experience the great indoors AND outdoors for yourself at Maravilla Scottsdale.

Thursday, March 30 Hilton Scottsdale Resort Featuring Andra London performing “My Jewish Story Through Song”

Register at

jewishphoenix.org/ignition2017

7325 E. Princess Blvd.

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

WOMEN’S PHILANTHROPY

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 11

Spring is almost here. It officially begins on March 20. It seems that everything about spring is positive and life-affirming; rebirth, renewal, baby animals, blossoming flowers and warmer weather.

Spring marks the beginning of the busiest home-buying and selling season in most areas, including Arizona. According to Realtor.com, Phoenix will be the number one housing market in 2017 and Tucson will be number nine. Pretty impressive statistics for our state. Take a look at our real estate special section this month to learn about everything from tips on the housing market to making sure you have the right insurance coverage for your home.

Robert Philip

Spring is also the time that summer camp planning is top-of-mind for many parents. Camps are a great way for kids to gain confidence, independence and build life-long relationships. And in some cases, they may even meet their future spouse. It’s true – see our story that begins on page 62.

In Arizona, spring also marks the beginning of spring training. We at Arizona Jewish Life feel so fortunate to have baseball star Ike Davis as the subject of our cover story this month.

Not only is Ike an incredible talent, but he also is an amazing young man with strong character, who appreciates his Jewish heritage, loves Israel, is philanthropic and knows a thing or two about the mental and physical challenges of overcoming obstacles.

Baseball holds a special place in my heart because both my father (Harold Saltzman) and cousin (Norm Miller) were professional baseball players.

Cindy Saltzman

Jewish great Hank Greenberg signed my father, and he genuinely admired Sandy Koufax, who is often seen at spring training games in the Valley. I am sure that all of these Jewish athletes would be proud to have Ike carry the torch for this next generation of Jewish baseball players.

Ike is definitely ready.

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events@azjewishlife.com subscriptions@azjewishlife.com 12 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

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Jewswith

Attitude

Cortney’s Place: A labor of love is filling a need in our community

By Mala Blomquist

Cindy Carpenter was faced with a challenge 10 years ago.

Her daughter, Cortney, was getting ready to “age out” of special education in the public school system. Cortney was born with a neurologically based disability that has no specific diagnosis.

“The government will educate you up until the age of 22, then at that point they ‘train you’ if you are disabled and need further assistance,” says Cindy. Cortney was 21, so Cindy began the search for an adult day program for her.

But as Cindy started to visit these programs and see what they offered, she became disheartened.

Cindy, her husband Jim and daughter Chelsea had always taken Cortney with them traveling, to a basketball game, out to dinner, to a party – wherever they went, Cortney went, too. As she visited statefunded programs, she realized an “outing” may be going to the mall to walk around then spending the rest of the time just sitting around.

“I knew I wanted more for Cortney and I knew I wanted to raise the bar for all adults with disabilities,” says Cindy.

“Something more stimulating, something more meaningful, something more exciting that what I was seeing.”

Then one day, Cindy’s good friend, Benée Hilton-Spiegel, happened to call while Cindy was out visiting more programs.

As soon as Benée asked her what she was doing, Cindy burst into tears. Benée said, “I don’t understand. What’s the matter?” When Cindy explained what she had seen and what was available for Cortney, Benée suggested, “Why don’t you start your own program?” Cindy replied, “Absolutely not!” She already tried to set up an early-intervention program when Cortney was 3.

She told Benée that state programs were underfunded, so it was hard to have a nice location and include activities, too.

When Benée pointed out that it was simply the cost of rent, 14 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Cindy had to agree. Benée reached out to someone in the Jewish community, who offered space near Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard in Scottsdale at a reduced rate.

Cindy was thrilled and thought, “What’s my excuse now?”

One thing led to the next and before you knew it, the women were opening Cortney’s Place.

Cindy wanted the program to include outings for the special needs students: restaurants, the circus, the Arizona Science Center. “So I came up with this model of what Cortney could continue doing based on her life,” says Cindy. They held fundraisers and started raising money and connecting with everyone they knew. She put Benée on the board of directors. “Because I have a marketing background, my brain says sell the product, [then] figure out how you’re going to fulfill the order,” says Cindy.

“That was how we did things.”

Currently, the program serves about 32 students who pay nothing to participate. Cortney’s Place is receiving less state funding today than when it was founded 10 years go. “Other agencies have to cut out programs when the funding isn’t raised.

All [the board and I] say is that we have to raise more money.

We have to figure it out a different way,” says Cindy.

Cindy is proud of her “killer board. We’ve got extremely passionate people who come from different walks of life and different experiences,” she says. “They have done incredible things to raise the bar for adults with disabilities.”

The goal is to continue to expand and duplicate the program.

But the biggest concern on the minds of the families at Cortney’s Place is who is going to care for their children as they get older. “We have four students who are cared for by their siblings,” says Cindy. “That’s not fair.”

The hope of building a residential facility is on the horizon.

Unfortunately, the laws do not allow what Cindy and the board are envisioning. Years ago, laws were put in place to avoid the building of “institutions.” People with disabilities can live in group homes, but they must be located in neighborhoods

integrated with “typical” people.

What Cindy has in mind (and what parents want, too) is a campus akin to a senior community, where the students can live, attend day programs and enjoy other activities like horse therapy or swimming.

Residents could be around their friends instead of in group homes across town from one another.

Cindy and other board members have been meeting with legislators and senators

The Carpenter family: Jim, Cindy, Chelsea and Cortney.

to try and change the law. “Those are some of the things we are dealing with,” says Cindy. “Give me a parcel of land and then we will figure it out.”

This has become Cindy’s mission in life: donated land to begin the process.

“We’ve got the day program figured out and [we have support in] the medical community; now we have to work on the residential piece of things,” says Cindy. “It’s our growth and future. This population is not going away. Now they can save babies younger and younger who are born sicker and sicker. They will survive and grow up and have special needs.”

Contact Cindy at 602-363-0500 or visit cortneysplace.org.

2017 Fashion Event: “A Fresh New Way”

Saturday, April 6; 10 am-2 pm JW Marriott Camelback Inn, 5402 E. Lincoln Dr., Paradise Valley Shopping boutiques, fashion event and luncheon Proceeds benefit Cortney’s Place cortneysplace.org

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ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 15

Business

Michael Maher:

from CPA to a special kind of doorman

“I [worked with companies that] could not afford a full-time For Michael Maher, CFO,” says Michael. owning Steel Shield “I would do one day a Security Doors & More week at this company, was the furthest thing two days a month at from his mind when that company. I built he sold his New Jersey up a clientele that CPA firm of 28 years way.” and moved with his wife One day, a to Arizona to be closer Michael Maher, owner of Steel Shield Security Doors & More. to their son. He thought gentleman he had retirement was the next met during his travels approached him and said, “Mike, I’m a part owner in a door step. company and I think it’s in a lot of trouble. Would you mind “About a year went by and I didn’t know what to do with looking at things for me and seeing if there is anything we can myself,” says Michael. “I started to feel that I had no reason do?” to get up in the morning. I didn’t like that feeling at all. It was Michael agreed and he started working with Designer Doors. terrible.”

Barely functioning, the company owed the IRS and the state of Michael decided to take his knowledge (he has a master’s Arizona a lot of money after investors put someone in charge degree in taxation) and open U.S. Tax Recovery. “I used to who didn’t have the necessary background or experience. review tax returns for business owners, looking for mistakes For six months, Michael tried to help, cutting expenses by or missed opportunities,” says Michael. “We would go back over a million dollars; but when the company couldn’t make three years, amend the returns and get [clients] a lot of money back. About half of returns are not correct anyway.” He payroll, it closed its doors. During that time, Michael got to know the people and liked the business. He asked some key showed clients what to do for future returns and how to avoid people if they would join him in starting a new company. With overpaying taxes. a resounding “Yes!”, Steel Shield Security Doors and More was Then the IRS changed the tax law and licensed preparers born. were no longer allowed to charge a contingency fee.

Since

By Mala Blomquist That was almost nine years ago. “We started this business Michael was a licensed CPA, he wasn’t going to start charging at the height of the recession, when things were getting bad people up front on the chance of finding errors. So he closed and worse,” says Michael. “Everything was uphill for us, but that business and started another: ­CFO on Call.

By Mala Blomquist

16 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

again after they have experienced the trauma of a break-in.

Michael tells the story of one couple who, after a break-in, never left the house unoccupied; one would always stay home while the other was gone. Michael says that installing a security screen door has now made them comfortable enough to leave the house together. Another customer who had moved into a hotel after her home was robbed didn’t return until she bought a security screen door.

Instead of customers with expensive homes in Paradise Valley and North Scottsdale, Michael finds that most of his clients “are people who have been in their modest homes 20 to 30 years. They really don’t want to move, but the neighborhood has changed…and they are concerned about the security.”

They feel safer investing in security screens for their homes.

Michael stresses that a key to the success of the business is his employees, particularly those who came over from Designer Doors with valuable experience – some with more than 20 years. To them I tip my hat,” says Michael. “They work so hard and do their best. I’m very appreciative of everything they do.”

As Michael likes to say, “I always tell everyone I used to be a CPA – now I’m a ‘doorman.’”

Steel Shield Security Doors & More’s main location (factory and showroom) is at 1725 W. Williams Dr. in Phoenix. There’s also a showroom and retail location on Bell Road in Surprise and a permanent spot at the Mesa Market Place Swap Meet. Call 623-581-3667 or visit steelshieldsecurity.com.

Michael Maher with his granddaughter, Madeline (5).

we continued to grow and fortunately everything turned out nicely.”

Steel Shield’s product line includes decorative, all-steel security screen doors. Homeowners can safely leave their house doors open with the security screen door in place. “We do everything here ourselves – from the moment the steel comes in to the time [the door is] installed in your house,” says Michael. “Every door is custom made.”

“The stainless-steel security screen looks like a regular screen, but you can’t cut or break through it.” says Michael.

“To get through any of these products, you have to have power tools, make a lot of noise and cut things apart – it’s a big job.”

He adds that burglars don’t want to take the risk with such an effort: “They want to kick in a front door, grab what they want and get out.”

In the eight years the company has been in business, there has been only one incident, years ago, where someone broke through one of his security doors. “It was a domestic dispute between a mother and son,” recall Michael. “He hooked up a chain to the security door then hooked [the chain] up to his truck. Not only did he pull the security door off, he pulled the whole door frame off the house!”

Security screen doors help people feel safe in their homes

Denise Lowell-Britt

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480.461.5300 | WWW.UDALLSHUMWAY.COM 1138 NORTH ALMA SCHOOL ROAD, SUITE 101 MESA, ARIZONA 85201 MESA | PHOENIX | YUMA ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 17

INS & OUTS

Barbara Fenig

Shira Brandenburg

Barbara Fenig, new director of arts & culture at the Tucson J The Tucson Jewish Community Center announces the hiring of Barbara Fenig as the new director of arts & culture. As director, Barbara will be responsible for program development: enhancing the quality of current programs and sourcing innovative arts and cultural programming with an emphasis on Jewish values, customs, and expression. In addition to managing adult courses (arts, language and adult classes), she will curate the Fine Art Gallery and Sculpture Garden.

Born in New York City, Barbara moved to Tucson in 2016. She earned her MFA in Fiction at Columbia University and her BA at Wesleyan University and has focused her work in the arts community, university and nonprofit settings.

Barbara served as the inaugural director of the bell hooks institute in Berea, Kentucky, where she worked with Dr. bell hooks to found the community focused nonprofit. Previously, Barbara coordinated special events at the Blanton Museum of Art at the University of Texas at Austin, arts events at Columbia University, and writing and arts programming at Wesleyan University. tucsonjcc.org

Shira Brandenburg hired as Director of the Tucson International Jewish Film Festival The Tucson Jewish Community Center announces the hiring of Shira Brandenburg, as the new director of the Tucson International Jewish Film Festival.

As director, Shira will work with the festival committee throughout the year to help manage and produce the 2018 festival which will be held Jan. 11-21, 2018.

Shira holds a BS in Education from Eastern Michigan University and has taught in both America and Israel.

She spent eight years with the Hillel Foundation on the campuses of Metro Detroit, Michigan State University, UNCChapel Hill and here in Tucson at the University of Arizona.

As the women’s division director of the Jewish Federation of 18 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Stuart Wachs

Shelley Cohn

Greater Austin and the special events manager of the Austin Jewish Community Center, her passion for the Jewish community continued to strengthen. While working for The San Diego Padres, she ran events with the California Highway Patrol’s 1199 Foundation and with Mitzvah Event Productions, San Diego’s premiere Jewish event company. tucsonjcc.org

Stuart Wachs new chief operating officer at Third Evolution Third Evolution Inc. has hired Stuart Wachs to be their chief operating officer. Stuart is known in the Valley for his Jewish communal work, as first president and CEO of the Jewish Community Association and most recently the president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix.

Third Evolution is an Industrial and Artificial Intelligence Integrated Solutions business using AI to automate, speed up and significantly improve complex solution outcomes. Our unique multi-dimensional approach has proven to allow us to solve the unsolvable, create high levels of efficiency, significantly increased speed and optimized outcomes. Third Evolution brings process engineering, system integration, automation and artificial intelligence together to maximize efficiencies, optimize production, and provide the best real time solutions. In addition to their current work with Industrial Utilities, they are also growing their AI Integrated solution in Healthcare and the military.

Most recently Third Evolution was invited to present on their AI integrated solutions to NATO and in mid-March they will be a lead presenter at an international Airborne ISR conference in London. thirdevolution.us

Shelley Cohn elected chairman of ACF Board of Directors The board of directors of the Arizona Community Foundation has elected as chairman Shelley Cohn, former executive director of the Arizona Commission on the Arts. Shelley succeeds as chairman Ron Butler, Arizona managing partner for Ernst & Young, who served as

Stacey Cohen White

Nancy Silver and Betsy Hendricks

chairman since 2015. She served as vice chairman to Ron throughout his two-year term. A member of the Arizona Community Foundation board of directors since 2008, Shelley was previously a member of the precursor to ACF’s Philanthropic Services Committee.

“I am impressed with the innovative leadership, programs and reach of the Arizona Community Foundation throughout Arizona, as well as the engagement and diversity of its board,” says Shelley. “I am honored to be elected chairman of the board.”

In addition to her relationship with the Arizona Community Foundation, Shelley continues to make a difference in the community as president elect of the board of trustees for the Desert Botanical Garden, as a previous president and current board member of Childsplay, and as the chair of Hillel at ASU’s Life & Legacy giving program. azfoundation.org

TicketForce hires Stacey Cohen White as Senior Sales Executive Stacey Cohen White accepted a position in January as Senior Sales Executive at TicketForce. Stacey is the former senior director of NowGen, an initiative of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix that engages Jewish young adults between the ages of 21-45 through meaningful programs and services that foster a deeper connection to Judaism and Jewish life in the Valley of the Sun. TicketForce is a ticketing solutions provider founded in Mesa in 2003. The woman-owned business sold $80 million in tickets online last year for arts, concerts, and sports venues throughout North America. ticketforce.com

Scottsdale Specialty Store Named Best Gift Shop in the Valley The Paper Place, located in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale, was recently awarded ‘Best of the Valley 2017’ in the category of ‘Best Gift Shop’ by Arizona Foothills Magazine. Hundreds of thousands of votes are cast to determine the Valley’s best, which are then featured in the magazine’s April issue. The shop, owned and operated by sisters, Nancy Silver and Betsy Hendricks, has been a

Karolyn Benger

favorite among locals and visitors looking for gifts and invitations for more than 38 years.

“The Paper Place has been a part of the community for almost 40 years, so this really means a lot,” said Nancy Silver “It’s nice to know that all these people voted for us.”

The store was originally founded by Judy Silver and oldest daughter, Nancy. Hendricks joined the family business in 1991.

“We get to be part of our customers’ most important life celebrations and biggest milestones when we are creating invitations,” says Betsy Hendricks. “Our selection of gifts has just naturally grown and we love searching the market for unusual items that you don’t always see elsewhere.” thepaperplaceaz.com

Jewish Community Relations Initiative hires first executive The Jewish Community Relations Initiative takes its formal place within the Jewish community with the hiring of Karolyn Benger as its first executive director. This exciting “next step” comes after two years of extensive research and planning spearheaded by the Board of Rabbis of Greater Phoenix and with the generous support of the Jewish Community Foundation.

The establishment of the JCRI is ever more relevant during these challenging and divisive times and will serve as a conversation platform for the entire Jewish community, in cooperation with synagogues and other local Jewish organizations.

Karolyn is the former Executive Director of the Jewish Interest Free Loan of Atlanta. Since moving to Phoenix more than a year ago, she has worked as the Director of Community Services at the Jewish Free Loan here. She is a graduate of Emory University with a degree in Political Science and a specialization in the Middle East.

“I look forward to working with other Jewish agencies, the Board of Rabbis, Orthodox Rabbinical Council, and the Federation to help create a closer community through partnership and collaboration,” says Karolyn. “It is our goal to strengthen our community through meaningful dialogue within and across the Jewish community and be a voice for Jewish values and interests in greater Phoenix.” jcrphx.org ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 19

Phoenix ranks #1 and Tucson #9 in 2017 U.S. housing market forecast

By Mala Blomquist

Real Estate 20 Phoenix ranks #1 and Tucson #9 in 2017 U.S. housing market forecast

22

Toby Weinstein

24

T

According to Realtor.com’s 2017 housing forecast, the number one housing market

Jon Rosenberg

in the U.S., based

26

gains, will be the

Family company branches out, grows big time

28

Consider trade-offs that make you happy

29

Understanding your home insurance coverage

30

Real estate directory 20 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

on price and sales Phoenix metro area.

here are many telltale signs that real estate is growing in the Valley and the state. Once vacant lots are now home to new construction projects and housing prices in the Valley are seeing a steady increase.

Adding to the growth is higher buyer demand and a shortage of homes for sale in the $300,000 and lower price range. All this makes for a seller’s market, with buyers sometimes getting into “bidding wars” on a property and resulting in multiple offers for the seller. The good news is that there is also a smaller number of foreclosures, which means the market is stronger than it was just a few years ago.

According to Realtor.com’s 2017 housing forecast, the number-one housing market in the U.S., based on price and sales gains, will be the Phoenix metro area. They predict that Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale will see a price increase of 5.94% and sales growth of 7.24%. Other factors that figured into this number one ranking include relatively affordable rental prices, low unemployment, large populations of millennials and baby boomers, as well as a high number of listing views on Realtor. com.

The number-nine market on their list is Tucson. Tucson is slated to see a price increase of 6.1% and sales growth of 5.47%.

There were 2,706 new residential construction permits issued in Tucson in 2016, up 11.5% from 2015 and that number is expected to increase for 2017. Home prices have recovered to October 2008 levels, but don’t expect to see the over-inflated prices return from before the housing bubble burst. Prices will continue to climb, but those levels were over inflated and not suitable for sustainable, healthy growth in a market.

According to Trulia.com, the median price of home sales in Tucson for the period of November 9 to February 8 was $166,250. The median sales price for homes in Phoenix, for the same period, was $210,000, based on the sale of 4,052 homes.

The big home buyers in the next 10 years are expected to be millennials and baby boomers. Due to increasing interest rates, Realtor.com has lowered its prediction of the millennial market share to just 33%. Baby boomers are expected to make up 30% of buyers in 2017 and given they’re less dependent on financing, they are anticipated to be more successful when it comes to closing.

All of these factors combine to show a promising future for growth in Arizona’s real estate market. Hopefully, the American dream of home ownership is again an attainable goal for many.

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Real

Estate

Toby Weinstein: A Realtor who has seen it all

By Mala Blomquist

T

oby Weinstein has been a Realtor since 1980, so she has experienced the good, the bad and even the ugly of the Valley’s dynamic real estate market. A former high school English teacher, she was searching for a career that would give her the flexibility to be a stay-athome mom to her newborn daughter. “Real estate offered me that opportunity and I never looked back,” says Toby.

She has seen a lot of changes during her career. When she started selling homes, interest rates for VA (Veterans Affairs) loans were as high as 17½%. Then she witnessed what she calls “the bubble,” and then the “crash and burn.”

During 2006 and 2007, Toby was fortunate to have sold several single-family homes to investors as income property.

She hadn’t intended to become a property manager, but that was part of the deal of the sales. She also received her broker’s designation. “When things were tough and lean, I was doing property management alongside listing and selling, so that came in handy when things were more difficult for people who were doing real estate exclusively,” she says. Today she is the property manager of 30 single-family homes.

Though she is a veteran of the business, Toby takes the time to make sure her clients understand the process. “Think of a family who has lived in a home for 25-plus years and they haven’t gone through this for a long time,” says Toby. “I think it’s important that the agent walks them through the process from A to Z – from the listing to a contract, all those little steps. You can’t make the assumption that the sellers know the process.”

When people are looking for a Realtor, Toby suggests they find an agent with a good reputation and a specific knowledge of the home’s area. “If you are living in Surprise or Buckeye, you shouldn’t hire an agent familiar with Scottsdale,” she says, adding that the agent “should have a marketing plan to get the home sold.”

It’s important for all parties to be involved in every part of the transaction. “I don’t think it’s good for buyers or sellers to assume the position of ‘ignorance is bliss’ and just let the agent do everything,” says Toby. “I think it’s important for them to be part of the process, to ask questions. It is the most important purchase for most people, and if they haven’t been through it in years, [they] don’t remember stuff.”

The housing market has been steadily getting better since the Great Recession of 2007-09. “I think as long as interest rates stay low, even if they go up to six or seven percent. When you are looking at single-digit interest rates, it’s phenomenal,” says Toby. “It’s a good indicator for continued strength, as long as 22 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Toby Weinstein

the interest rates remain low and people can get financing.”

Enough time has passed since the housing crisis in 2006 and 2007 for people affected by a short sale or foreclosure, or for those who had to “walk away” from their homes (if they were “under water,” or owed more than the house was worth), to restore their credit. When interest rates start to rise, there’s also an incentive for those with an adjustable-rate mortgage to refinance for a more traditional mortgage with a locked-in rate.

Supply and demand are currently affecting the Valley’s real estate market. Toby has noticed that homes in certain price ranges “are selling very quickly because of the scarcity of inventory. If it’s a nice, clean property in a decent location, it will sell quickly.”

Sometimes sellers will price homes aggressively to generate multiple offers. “If the target is $325,000, they may list it at $299,000 or $310,000 and then hope to get multiple offers so that they can essentially bid it up,” Toby explains of the process. She says that this practice is often seen with lender-owned properties.

She has also noticed another housing trend that is attracting millennials (those born after 1980 and the first generation to come of age in the new millennium). “There are a lot of multiple housing [areas] and condos downtown [Phoenix] and in Scottsdale… that are more ‘urban style’ housing,” says Toby. “This didn’t exist 10 or 15 years ago.” These areas – with onsite amenities like a concierge, grocery store and workout facilities – attract professionals working downtown.

Toby predicts that once people start to have children, “They will go back to buying a single-family home because they will want the yard and the good school district. That’s always the draw [to get them] back.”

With stricter lending guidelines in place, Toby doesn’t think we will ever see that bubble again. “It was like La La Land. That wasn’t reality,” she says. “The appraisers would come in with the appraisals and the lenders would lend, so everything contributed to [the bubble]. Now it has readjusted and the values are more realistic.”

With a more stable real estate market and interest rates still very low, financing is available to those with good credit and income.

As Toby says, “If interest rates are single digits, it’s all good!”

Reach Toby at West USA Realty in Scottsdale at 480-948-5554.

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ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 23

Real

Estate

Jon Rosenberg: Increased demand bodes well for Valley’s varied real estate markets

By Mala Blomquist

J

on Rosenberg, co-founder and managing partner of Levrose Commercial Real Estate, fell into his career in real estate by chance. “I was a finance majorat the University of Arizona and, by happenstance, one of the classes I took was real estate,” says Jon. He ended up with a double major and received his real estate license in college. Jon then interned for two companies, including the company now known as CB Richard Ellis in Tucson.

When he moved to the Valley, he worked at a local commercial property management and brokerage firm for a few years before starting Levrose with business partner Bob Levine in 1992.

Levrose represents buyers, tenants, landlords and sellers of commercial properties, in office, retail, industrial and medical sectors. A sister company, MODE Commercial Property Management, handles the management of office, retail and industrial properties.

While most people follow and understand the housing market, the commercial real estate market may be a bit more complicated

when it comes to gauging the success of a city’s economy. “When you see the housing market, in this case, strengthening, that often means that there are more jobs coming into the marketplace.

Employers are adding more employees, so that absorbs a lot of the office, retail and industrial space.”

One of the areas of commercial real estate to pick up when the housing market gains momentum is retail. “Retail usually strengthens as housing strengthens, because obviously retailers want to be closer to where the people are living,” says Jon. “There’s a saying: ‘Retail follows rooftops.’”

While new construction may be great, why is it that so many strip malls around the Valley have so many vacancies? Jon explains that the vacancies can be due to owners “not being as aggressive or not maintaining the property as well as [they] should. Or, in some cases, there can’t be competing tenants within the same property.

[You] can’t necessarily have a dry cleaner next to another dry cleaner.”

Many areas are also slowly filling back up in the wake of the

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ALL DREAMS ARE

recession. “What we are seeing this year is a lot of new office space coming on the market,” says Jon. “The office market is hitting a very strong occupancy and projects that started to develop a few years ago are now being finished.” And that’s a good thing.

Jon is already seeing Jon Rosenberg increased demand, so they should fill up quickly.

Many businesses are also trying to figure out where to locate based on their employee base. When it comes to offices, businesses are spending more time looking at being close to live-work-play areas – where there are good apartments, retail, restaurants and bars. Tempe and Old Town Scottsdale are experiencing this trend.

Levrose works with municipalities seeking to attract different types of employers to the Valley. The company is also part of a national alliance called TCN Worldwide Real Estate Services, which has offices across the country. “TCN works with commercial brokerage firms, so whenever they have clients looking to expand into Phoenix, they contact us,” says Jon. Phoenix – and Arizona in general – is an ideal environment for commercial real estate. “We go down fast when things get difficult, but we come back quick,” Jon admits. “Things have really been ramping back up and the momentum seems pretty strong right now.”

Due to their success, Jon and his business partner decided in 2015 to make their firm a broker-owned firm. “A few of our top brokers have actually become partners,” says Jon. “Everybody gets to share in the growth; and other brokers will have the opportunity to become partners in the future.” He says that it’s a “fun way to grow – and then they have a vested interest in the growth.”

Jon also mentors others through serving on the board of the Arizona Chapter of Entrepreneurs’ Organization and the Real Estate & Finance Division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix. His best advice for a young professional wanting to get into commercial real estate? “Find a mentor and get with a firm that does some good training. It’s a commission business. Be prepared – it’s a marathon, not a sprint.” He adds that it’s worth it to successful brokers who have done it for many years, “but it starts off not so easy.”

One of the biggest benefits of commercial real estate is relationships. “You get to know different businesses, business types and business owners,” say Jon. “Commercial real estate is the backbone of most businesses.”

Contact Levrose Commercial Real Estate at 480-947-0600 or visit levrose.com. You can also email Jon at jrosenberg@levrose.com.

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ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 25

Real

Estate

Julie Saltzman Leuvrey stands on the dock of the Salish Ponds in Fairview across from The Lodges at Lake Salish, Oregon, apartments that the company developed in 2004.

Family company branches out, grows big time

By Deborah Moon

F

rom its roots in the lumber industry, the Oregon Pacific Investment and Development Company has grown into the owner/manager of multifamily housing, retail and industrial properties in three states.

Despite the firm’s name, “we are no longer developers,” says CoPresident Julie Saltzman Leuvrey, daughter of company founder Jack Saltzman, z"l. “We have switched our strategy to buying existing properties and renovating them – what is called a valueadd acquisition strategy.”

In 2004, the family-owned company shifted from development to purely acquisition. OPID now has six commercial properties plus about 1,000 multifamily units in eight properties in Oregon; 457 multifamily units in two properties, Bellagio and Mira Santi, in Arizona; and three properties with 616 multifamily units in California.

“We typically have developed or renovated to own and manage,” says Julie. “We have passed on a lot of opportunities over the years, because we analyze the property with a long-term perspective – would we want to own it over various real estate cycles.”

Those cycles are what initially drew the company to invest in Arizona.

Arizona has attracted investors since the days of real estate syndication in the 1980s, but has a volatile history of “booms and busts” the last three decades – 1980s, 1990s, 2000s (through 2010), explains Julie.

26 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

“Phoenix has had and continues to have phenomenal employment growth and is a much larger and more diverse economy than Portland,” says Julie. “We felt that the timing was right since its economy was recovering from a very deep real estate recession, and we could get better value for our money (find better opportunities) than what we were seeing in Portland. … It remains to be seen if the latter part of this decade will follow the same path as the previous decades.”

The company is especially proud of its first Arizona acquisition, Mira Santi in Chandler purchased in 2014. “We completely renovated the clubhouse, fitness center and pool area in 2015 as well as starting renovations in the 252 units,” says Julie. “Last year, the property won the Arizona Multifamily Association’s Tribute Award for best renovation.”

OPID added a second Arizona property in March 2016, when it purchased Bellagio in Scottsdale.

The complex was built in 1995 by Prometheus (a major Jewish family-owned real estate development firm out of the Bay Area).

OPID is now renovating the 202 units and the common area amenities.

In Oregon, Julie is proudest of a 198-unit multifamily development completed in 1999. It is a sister property to one her father developed in 1980, a 14-story tower built, coincidentally, on the site of the home where Jack Saltzman grew up, which became part of the South Auditorium Urban Renewal Area. The

two buildings were renamed Linc 245 and Linc 301 in tribute to the light rail line that now runs down Lincoln Street.

The family-owned OPID has a long history in Oregon. Jack Saltzman was born in 1920 to immigrant parents in Portland.

He died in 2004, but Julie still calls him her role model and inspiration as well as the founder of the family business. He grew up selling newspapers on a street corner to help support the family, before graduating from the University of Oregon and serving in the Navy. “He was part of the Greatest Generation,” says Julie.

Jack started a lumber brokerage business in 1946 and got interested in real estate development while building warehouses for his lumber company.

“I think he became tired of the volatility in the lumber industry and decided to give real estate development a try,” says Julie. “Oregon Pacific Forest Products was sold to the employees, and he created Oregon Pacific Investment and Development Company. He was a great role model for his work ethic, his loyalty to his employees and his unassuming nature.”

Julie earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of California-Santa Barbara, receiving the Santa Barbara City Club award, given annually to the top six women graduating with liberal arts degrees.

“I used my award to return to France, where I had studied during fall term of my senior year,” she says.

In France, she met her husband, Eric Leuvrey, now a global executive account manager at Mentor Graphics. The couple moved to San Francisco in 1984, where Julie worked for two real estate investment advisors and completed an MBA in finance and real estate at UC Berkeley. They moved to Portland and Julie joined the family business in the early 1990s, when her father was having health issues. The couple’s two children – Nicolas, 22, and Allisa, 19 – are both students at their grandfather’s alma mater, U of O. Julie says it is a coincidence her sister, Barbara, who works in OPID handling property management and accounting, and she “married men with very similar last names that are pronounced almost identically!” Barbara’s husband, Randy Lovre, is copresident of OPID. The family tradition of philanthropy is also still a central family value.

“My family has supported the ( Jewish) Federation for a long time as well as the Jewish Community Center and other Jewish causes. We continue to support the federation in honor of our parents and to support the Jewish community.”

Additionally, Julie is a member of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Council and notes, “We have supported the Knight in many of its capital campaigns.” She also supports a number of causes such as Friends of the Children and Habitat for Humanity. opidportland.com.

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ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 27

Real

Consider trade-offs that make you happy when buying a home

By Deborah Moon

Matt Parker

W

hen you buy a home, you need to consider what is most important to your happiness.

“It’s a game of trade-offs,” says Matt Parker, author of three real estate books, including his 2015 book Real Estate Smart: The New Home Buying Guide. The Seattle real estate professional has contributed to regional and national print and television real estate media since 2008.

Ask yourself, “Would I rather have this or that?” he says. For example, “If you buy a waterfront home, it won’t be as nice as you could have somewhere else for the same money.”

Matt encourages people looking for a new home to consider what room makes them the happiest.

He says many people are drawn to elaborate master suites. “But people don’t spend time in the

Estate master suite. If you look at trade-offs, you want to be happy with the kitchen at the expense of other rooms in the home.”

The kitchen?

Matt cites a study from UCLA that looks at the waking time people spend in different rooms of their home. “They found that people spend 80% of their time in the kitchen or rooms immediately adjacent to the kitchen,” he says, noting people cook, eat, watch TV and socialize in and around their kitchen.

The enjoyment a kitchen offers is enhanced by an open-concept floor plan that has lines of sight and lines of conversation between rooms, he says.

“With an open-concept home, you can monitor the kids in adjoining spaces while you cook the family dinner. When you host a party, you can cook and pour drinks while socializing with your guests at the same time,” he says.

Many older homes do not have an open floor plan, but if the price of the house would allow you to consider a remodel, he suggests considering that. Homes built in the 1920s often are difficult to open up since load-bearing walls often enclose the kitchen, he says. But many homes built in the 1950s or ’60s have easier options for opening up or expanding the kitchen.

All in all, he says that when you are looking at a home, remember to consider, “Is this kitchen somewhere I like being?”

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Understanding your home insurance coverage

By Steven Bernstein

H

omeowner’s insurance provides financial protection in the event that your home or its contents are damaged. It also provides protection if you or a family member are held legally responsible (liable) for the injuries to others or damage to their property.

There are different levels of insurance policies that cover your home. They range from a basic policy to those that will provide a much broader range of protection.

What’s covered, what’s not?

Most homeowner’s insurance policies will cover damage caused by such perils as fire, windstorms, hail, lightning, theft or vandalism. The criteria for coverage under these perils are typically a sudden and accidental loss. Examples include a storm that damages your roof, resulting in not only roof damage, but say, water damage to the interior of your home because of that storm damage. Another example is a pipe that breaks under the kitchen sink that causes water damage to the home.

Flood and earthquakes are excluded, but separate policies are available for these coverages. Wear and tear on the home is also excluded, so keeping your home in good physical condition with regular upkeep is a must.

What most standard homeowner’s policies provide:

Be confident in your insurance choices. Contact and ask your agent to shop the policy with numerous carriers to ensure you are getting the best value in the marketplace today, as carriers tend to tailor rates to increase or decrease their exposure in the state. This creates a buying opportunity for you, as you can capitalize on the insurance companies’ desire to write more business (with lower rates), especially in Arizona, where insurers contend with few natural disasters.

Steven Bernstein is the owner/agency principal at Summit Insurance Advisors in Scottsdale. Contact Steven at 480-214-3544 or visit sia23.com.

•D WELLING COVER AGE. Pays to repair or rebuild your home – including electrical wiring, plumbing, and heating and air conditioning – if damaged by a covered cause of loss. It’s important to buy enough dwelling coverage to cover the cost to rebuild.

•O THER STRUCTURES COVER AGE. Pays for damages to detached structures like sheds, fences and guest houses on your property.

•P ERSONAL PROPERTY COVER AGE. Reimburses you for the personal items in your home that may be damaged or destroyed by a covered cause of loss, which could include your furniture, clothes, sporting goods and electronics.

•L OSS OF USE COVER AGE. Pays your additional housing and living expenses if you must move out of your home temporarily while it’s being restored.

•L IABILITY INSUR ANCE. Helps protect your assets and cover your defense costs in the event of a lawsuit because you or your family members are responsible for causing injuries or damage to other people or their property.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 29

R E A L E S TAT E D I R E C T O R Y

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Summit Insurance Advisors 5425 E Bell Road #103, Scottsdale 480-214-3544 • sia23.com steven@sia23.com As an independent broker, I have the ability to shop the rates around for you to find the best value out there. We represent 18 different carriers, including Nationwide, Travelers, MetLife, Safeco, Progressive, Kemper, Hartford, Encompass and more.

This gives us an ability to find the best value out there, as well as to shop the insurance on renewals if we find there are increases in premium out of the ordinary. If I can beat rates and give you at least the comparable coverage’s, I will be happy to earn your business. If not, I will tell you to stay where you are and I will give you any suggestions on coverage changes I see you may need…. no obligation at all.

R E A L E S TAT E D I R E C T O R Y MORTGAGE BROKERS First International Bank & Trust 1628 N Higley Road, Gilbert 480-214-4326 • fibtmortgage.com gilbertmortgage@firstintlbank.com First International Bank & Trust is a unique company with more than 100 years of experience in the financial industry. When you get in touch with someone on your mortgage team, we remember your name and we know the details of your loan – you’ll have a dedicated team available for you.

Brian D. Yampolsky, Orion Mortgage Corporation 11120 N Tatum Blvd #100, Phoenix 602-912-0222 ext. 205 orionmtg.com I am one of the owners of Orion, so you will only be dealing with me and my partner. That means no commissioned loan officers – which translates to lower costs for our clients. We broker loans to dozens of lenders, shopping for the best wholesale rates in the market. I have been in the mortgage business since 1991, originally from Omaha and settled in Arizona after graduating from the University of Arizona with degrees in finance and real estate.

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ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 31

R E A L E S TAT E D I R E C T O R Y REAL ESTATE ATTORNEYS Hymson Goldstein Pantiliat & Lohr, PLLC Attorneys, Mediators & Counselors 16427 N Scottsdale Road #300, Scottsdale 480-991-9077 • scottsdale-lawyer.com Hymson Goldstein Pantiliat & Lohr is a full-service law firm with a reputation of providing consistent, high-quality legal services to businesses and individuals in areas such as personal injury, business law, litigation, real estate, real property tax liens, bankruptcy, estate planning, intellectual property, family law and employment law. At Hymson Goldstein Pantiliat & Lohr, Our Business is Your Peace of Mind ®.

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602-376-1341 • centralphx.com bobby@centralphx.com Property Address: 3920 E Mountain View Road, Phoenix MLS#: 5548664 Great views from this stunning home built by Trevor Hancock. 7 bedrooms, 6.5 baths and over 6,000 square feet of living space. Resort-style backyard with covered patios, pool and large grass area. Gourmet kitchen opens to family room. Formal living and dining rooms. Office. Situated on over an acre.

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32 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

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8300 N. Hayden Rd, Suite A-118 Scottsdale, Arizona 85258 Tel: 480.515.WATT Fax: 623.399.1200 info@wattintegration.com www.wattintegration.com ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 33

ready to take the field

By Mala Blomquist

IKE DAVIS ALWAYS BELIEVED HE WOULD BE A PROFESSIONAL ATHLETE.

He was an athletic child and participated in all sports. “I really enjoyed playing basketball, but you have to be really tall. I am tall – just not in a basketball sense,” says Ike. “I thought the farthest a sport could really take me would be baseball.”

Ike was always in the top level of every baseball league he played in growing up. “I never hit a point where I wasn’t good enough, where I couldn’t move up and make the teams,” he says. “I also worked really hard and gave a lot of effort in the sports I was playing. I probably put in a lot more time than a lot of people did at that age.”

He also had a tough coach: his father, Ron Davis, who happened to be a professional baseball player from 1978 to 1988. He started with the New York Yankees and ended with the San Francisco Giants, playing with the Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers in between. Ron coached Ike from age 6 to16. According to Ike, his father never showed any favoritism on the field. “He was hard on me, just like [he was with] every kid on the team,” says Ike. “It made it easier for other parents to let their kid get yelled at…because they saw that I wasn’t treated any different. It had a positive effect on me.”

Ike admits that one of his favorite things about his dad is his “passion for baseball and for helping kids grow up to be men.” He also jokes that even though his friends got upset with his father when they were reprimanded on the baseball field, it has helped them in their careers and dealing with difficult bosses. A friend told Ike that his boss recently yelled at him. When a co-worker commented on how it didn’t seem to affect him, he replied, “Nothing compares to Coach Davis from Little League who used to get all over me!”

MOVING UP THROUGH THE RANKS After his Little League career, Ike played four years of high school varsity baseball under Coach Jerry Dawson at Chaparral High School in Scottsdale. After three state championships, colleges began to notice. He started getting letters during his sophomore year in high school. “I used to save them all,” says Ike, adding that his mom might still have them. He knew some schools might be a challenge to get into academically, but he was encouraged by so many opportunities for places to play baseball.

Ike was voted Class 4A Player of the Year after his sophomore season, then drafted in the 19th round by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays Continued on page 36

34 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

PHOTO BY MICHAEL BARON/SYN

ARIZONA ARIZONAJEWISH JEWISHLIFE LIFE|| MARCH 2017 35

IKE DAVIS while still in high school. “I turned that down because I thought that I could get an education, possibly get drafted higher and have a better opportunity in pro ball in three years,” he says.

Ike set his sights on two universities: LSU in Austin, Texas or Arizona State University. LSU was his number one pick growing up. His father is from Texas and he had fond memories of visiting his grandparents and hunting and fishing there. But a visit to LSU made him realize that it wasn’t the best fit. Without even intending to negotiate a scholarship, he called and told then-Coach Pat Murphy that he wanted to come to ASU, where he ended up playing for three years.

He was named Pac-10 Player of the Year his freshman year at ASU but hurt his wrist the next year, when his team went to Omaha for the College World Series. Unfortunately, they were unexpectedly eliminated after three games.

Ike’s junior year was going well, until he tore an intercostal muscle in his ribs and was out for more than a month. “I still had a really good year,” says Ike. “I was first team AllAmerican that year and we had one of the best teams in the country.” Then a real upset: The team lost to Fresno State, the last team to qualify for the tournament. “They [Fresno State] were the biggest underdog of any college sport,” Ike says. “It was heartbreaking loss then; but looking back on it, it’s a really cool story.”

A LONG AND PAINFUL STRING OF INJURIES Ike’s college career ended when he was drafted in the first round as the overall agent pick by the New York Mets. He had pitched and hit in high school and college, but the Mets drafted him as a first baseman. With the exception of a “little bit of outfield with [amateur baseball] Team USA,” Ike hasn’t played any other position since. Ike played on three Team USAs: two in high school and one as a professional. (Baseball is not currently an Olympic sport but will return in 2020 at the Tokyo summer games.)

Ike’s first year in the big leagues was with the Mets in 2010.

“Pro ball is completely different from growing up playing baseball – it’s a career,” says Ike, adding that they play 10 hours a day, every day, for nine months of the year. This includes bus travel, night games, getting in late and having to play the next day.

“Minor league is really tough travel-wise; big league is a little easier,” says Ike. “Big league games are a lot more stressful on your mind – you have to always be locked in, can’t mess up one pitch, can’t take a play off because it could win or lose a game. If you let your mind slip a little bit…, that’s not acceptable at that high level,” Ike says of the pressure of the game.

In April 2014, he was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, who made it to the playoffs and played in the historic wildcard game against the San Francisco Giants where Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner threw a game shutout with 10 strikeouts. The Giants won 8-0.

Ike played one season with the Pirates before he was traded to the Oakland Athletics. After just a couple of months, he tore

36 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

his left quad muscle. He missed six weeks and tried to come back, but something just wasn’t right. An MRI revealed a tear in his labrum (the cartilage around the hip socket), a problem that could have stemmed from overcompensating for the injured quad. He underwent 6½-hour surgery on his hip in August 2015 and wasn’t able to walk without crutches for almost four months. He had rehabilitation six days a week. It takes about a year to fully recover from this type of surgery.

Oakland released him after his surgery because of doubts in his ability to play. The Texas Rangers signed him to a minor league contract in 2016 and he went to spring training in Surprise. “I was starting to feel like I could play again,” says Ike. But during his first start in big league spring training, he tore a lateral collateral ligament, or LCL, in his knee and missed all of spring training, along with the first month of the season.

TEAM ISRAEL CALLING Ike got a break when he signed with the New York Yankees to play first base while Mark Teixeira recovered from torn knee cartilage – but that was short-lived. After just two weeks, Mark returned and the Yankees sent Ike to its Triple-A affiliate team, the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders based in Moosic, Pennsylvania, where he played out the season and was released in mid-August 2016.

When Ike returned home, he received an interesting call from Team Israel, the national baseball team. “They called and asked me if I’d like to play for them and help them qualify,” he says. “I said sure, so I went to Brooklyn and we qualified for the World Baseball Classic.”

The timing was perfect. The qualifying game for the Israeli team was in September; if Ike had been playing with a major league team then, he would not have finished the season until October. “I couldn’t have done it otherwise,” he says.

Ike traveled to Israel this past January. “Tel Aviv is a really fun place…and Jerusalem was so beautiful,” he says. “It was really great to see the places from all the stories you’ve heard your whole life, in every religion, in person. It was a surreal experience.”

Ike’s mother is Jewish; his father is not. Though not necessarily raised as religious, he grew up in a home where he experienced the Jewish culture and religion through his mother’s side of the Continued on page 39

4

1: Ike as a Little League player.

2

2: Ike with his father, Ron Davis.

3: Signing autographs for Team Israel.

4: Mets celebrate Ike Davis’ gamewinning grand slam.

PHOTO BY MICHAEL BARON/SYN

1

3

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 37

Ike relaxes in the backyard of his Phoenix home.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW STRAUSS

38 MARCH 2017 ||ARIZONA ARIZONAJEWISH JEWISHLIFE LIFE

IKE DAVIS

“Big league games are a lot more stressful on your mind – you have to always be locked in, can’t mess up one pitch, can’t take a play off

because it could win or lose a game. If you let your mind slip a little bit…, that’s not acceptable at that high level."

family, especially during the holidays. His first visit to Israel “gave me a better perspective of the Jewish culture – how it was formed, …seeing where our families came from and all the journeys the Jewish people have gone through and dealt with and the obstacles and struggles.” He also notes learning how Israel started, “how unique and crazy that whole story is,” how Israel can now finally feel safe with its own army. He left with a deeper appreciation for the country.

LIVING TWO LIVES Baseball has taken Ike around the world: Taiwan, Germany, Italy, Canada, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Alaska, Cape Cod, the Midwest and all the major cities on the east and west coasts. But when he’s done with baseball, he may just end up where he started.

“I really do like Arizona,” he says. “I grew up here – it’s home. I went through preschool all the way to college [here],” though he has not spent a summer in Arizona since he was a kid because he was always traveling for baseball. His parents, who live in Arizona, are divorced but have both remarried.

“I don’t know what my future holds, …in life after baseball or what kind of job I will have to get,” says Ike. “Hopefully, I’ll play for another seven or eight years. But if that doesn’t happen, who knows?”

At ASU, he studied education and sociology and considered being a PE teacher or a coach. He also has a passion for history. Lately, his interests have leaned toward finance and real estate. “I have owned three residences and enjoyed the experience of buying and selling,” says Ike. “It’s interesting, new and unique, because homes are special. It’s a gamble and you get to go back and forth – it’s exciting and fun.” He currently owns a home in Arcadia, which he calls “one of the most unique areas in Phoenix.”

Whether it’s real estate or coaching, Ike realizes that he will have to reinvent himself at some point. He notes that athletes live two lives: “No matter how good you are – you can make a lot of money playing professional sports – when you’re done [between ages] 35 and 38, do you just retire for 40 years? I feel like no matter how much money you make, every athlete has to go through a life change, a transitional stage in their life.” He stresses that it’s especially harder for

athletes without much higher education. “We have a skill set, but we have never been in an office or work environment that is close to what baseball is,” says Ike. “Baseball’s office is a locker room and a field. Going from that to an office and computer is a lot different. Most of us don’t have that experience.”

CHARITY WORK – AND GIVING 100% What he does have experience with is charity work. As a major league player, he participated in both the Miracle League and Special Olympics. His charity work hit close to home when a friend with whom he had played ball since he was 12, Mike Leo, passed away at age 22 from Ewing’s sarcoma. “I spent a lot of time with him [when he was] going through chemo. I was at hospice the day he passed away. It was a tough moment in my life, and for everyone around him, because he was such a great person,” says Ike. That experience prompted Ike to start the Ike Davis Foundation. When he was with the Mets, he hosted charity events and made appearances, raising money for his foundation.

The money he raised helped fund the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative and Solving Kids’ Cancer, assisting families affected by cancer and supporting childhood cancer research.

Whether it was the impact of his friend’s death at such a young age or the injuries he has had to work through, Ike says he tries to “live life day to day and not worry about future stuff – try to be in the moment.”

When it comes to advice for future Little Leaguers who want to play in the big leagues, Ike urges them to “have fun with your teammates and play to win the game.” He also shares something his dad told him when Ike was a senior in high school: “I don’t give a [expletive] what you do in life. I don’t care if you’re going to be a teacher, bus driver, mailman, finance person; if you’re gonna do it, and it’s what you want to do, do it to the best of your abilities – and do it 100%.”

If Ike signs with the right team and his injuries are behind him, it looks like he’ll be giving professional baseball 100% for many years to come.

Editor’s note: At press time, Ike signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Look for him out on the field during spring training in the Valley!

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 39

Or Maoz:

co-founder of Beatube, a whole new way to move

By Tal Peri

“My future dreams do project. not necessarily include “We wanted to do fame and fortune. something special, However, I would love not another standard, to see ‘Beatube’ become boring thing,” Or a household name,” says recalls. “We were both Or Maoz, co-founder into martial arts moves of Beatube, a method and techniques like of physical exercise that Brazilian Capoeira combines movement, [a martial art that rhythm, tapping and – combines dance, above all – interaction with Or Maoz, co-founder of Beatube. acrobatics and music], a partner. so we decided to put Or, 29, lives in Tucson, where he works as a Jewish Agency together a movement workshop that combined those elements.”

Israel Fellow to Hillel on the campus of the University of Or says the beginnings of Beatube were very basic, but the Arizona – a position that puts him in an ideal location to response was amazing: “Teachers and students were actually promote Beatube in the U.S. running in the building and calling other people to come “I’m supposed to go back to Israel at the end of summer and see what we were doing. It was obvious we were on to 2017,” says Or. “The past two years, my Israeli business partner, something big.”

Amit Hadad, and I operated Beatube in both markets. He took Or emphasizes the challenges in promoting a new and care of things there and I did my best to promote the method unknown product in a market full of gyms and exercise classes, here.” Before Or heads back to Israel, his goal is to have a solid pointing out that while there are many classes and workshops, foundation of local clients, as well as to continue promoting very few are actually based on coordinating with a partner.

Beatube on a national and international basis.

“Zumba is the most well-known example and it’s already “The only word that comes to my mind is ‘language,’” says Or slowing down,” says Or. “In its current form, Beatube is the when asked to describe Beatube. “It’s still flowing and growing. product of three years of work and research – and Amit and I Neither myself nor Amit knew what we were doing when we keep working and developing it all the time. We collaborated created it.” with a brain-activity expert to create exercises that will be most Or describes it as “a form of physical and mental exercise effective in challenging the human brain.” based on interacting with another person. You can’t do Beatube Or says that Beatube makes you work your body and mind on your own. You use two orange plastic tubes, so there is no simultaneously, starting with easy, basic challenges and moving actual physical contact, but eye contact and total concentration faster and harder as you go along. on your partner’s rhythm and movement is an absolute “We identified a need in people to have that kind of human necessity.” interaction – and we were right,” says Or. “In the U.S., I have Or was raised in the city of Karmiel, in western Galilee in organized workshops in Las Vegas and New York for groups of northern Israel. He was a part-time musician and a student of up to 600 people who were just craving the opportunity to have martial arts before deciding to study physical education in Tel direct contact with another person. These people spend most of Aviv, where he met Amit Hadad, a fellow student and martial the day sitting alone in a cube in front of a computer screen.” arts fan. The two became friends. At the end of their third year The good news is that everyone can do it. “There is no in physical education school, they were asked to prepare a final age limit,” says Or. “We work a lot with senior citizens and 40 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

dementia and Parkinson’s disease patients – people who [are] amazed to discover how moveable their bodies still are. On the other hand, it’s [also] a great activity for children, so we aim for everybody.”

Or has also worked to keep the program affordable. “The cost of a workshop totally depends on the customer requirements: how many people, how long, how far we need to travel, how much equipment we'll need to bring,” says Or. “We always try to adapt and find a fee the customer can afford.”

Regular Beatube club members and certified instructors can become independent agents and offer their own workshops. The monthly fee – paid on the Beatube website – is about $25. “We send you all the information and an online tutorial,” says Or, stressing affordability and that “our main dream is to become a household name and this is the best way to do it.”

Or explains the origin of Beatube’s trademark orange tubes: “Well, that's just another weird coincidence. The shop in Jerusalem that sold us the original plastic tubes had only two colors in stock that day – blue and orange – so we went with the brighter color. I never thought it [would] become our trademark, but people seem to be in love with those tubes. At the end of every workshop, the hardest part is convincing them to give all the tubes back.”

To learn more about Beatube and/or to sign up to become a certified Beatube instructor, visit beatube.com.

MAZEL TOV GIFTS Jewish Art • Books • Wedding Gifts • Children’s Toys

✡ Everything Jewish Under One Roof ✡

Tal Peri resides in Scottsdale. Before coming to the U.S., he worked for some of Israel’s leading media groups for over 25 years covering art, music, theater and entertainment.

Golden Dragon Acrobats Sunday, March 5 · 6:00 p.m.

Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood: Two Man Group

10211 N. Scottsdale Rd. Scottsdale AZ 85253 (480) 922-0250 Located next to Kitchen 18 & Chabad

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Art Garfunkel: In Close-Up Saturday, March 11 · 7:30 p.m.

The Doo Wop Project

Friday, March 3 · 7:30 p.m.

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Frank Ferrante in An Evening with Groucho Sunday, March 12 · 3:00 p.m.

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Piano Battle

Sunday, March 19 · 3:00 p.m.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 41

This is one “Albatross” you’ll want to keep around your neck

42 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

By Mary Ann Bashaw

Ever wondered where the expression “an albatross around one’s neck” came from? You can find out by reading English poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s 143-stanza poem, “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” published in 1798. Or you can head down to the Herberger Theater Center in downtown Phoenix this month and catch “Albatross” on stage to find out more.

“Albatross,” on the heels of a successful run through February 12 at New York City’s number-one Off-Broadway destination, 59E59 Theaters, is the result of a collaboration among playwright Matthew Spangler, actor Benjamin Evett, director Rick Lombardo, Scottsdale resident and producer Michael Seiden and Arizona Theatre Company (ATC). The play runs (in Phoenix only) from March 16 through March 25.

A native New Yorker who spent 24 years raising three children in Denver before he and his wife came to Scottsdale 21 years ago, Michael has a long history with ATC: first as a subscriber, then as a board trustee in 2006 and finally as board chair in 2011. (Michael is currently on a leave of absence from his duties as chair while he serves as producer of “Albatross.”)

So why the leap into theatrical production? As ATC’s board chair, Michael had the opportunity to meet playwrights, directors and actors. Michael’s love of English, theater and writing – not to mention what he calls being “lucky to be financially secure enough to invest” in such a venture – set a course for his role as producer of “Albatross,” his first foray into production.

In the meantime, he met Matthew, who talked to Michael about producing a play based on “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” At the same time, Benjamin was interested in doing a one-man play. The stars seemed to align.

An old poem with modern messages “I took British literature in college and I still have the big textbook on my bookcase,” says Michael, who as a student had read “Rime” from that very book. And with 45 years in executive management, not to mention experience as an

educator, he was familiar with what it takes to put together a team. He says he wanted to help create “something people can feel, love, enjoy and get something out of. I knew the poem. It’s a very modern story in a lot of ways. So I said, ‘Great. Let’s do it.’”

But how do you take a late 18th-century poem that’s more than 200 years old and adapt it to a 2017 play? “Rime” contains “strong, modern implications,” says Michael. “I wanted to name it ‘Albatross’ because that’s a metaphor in everyday language.

You can be a computer engineer and use that expression [about having an albatross around your neck].”

Most everyone knows that the albatross represents some kind of burden or weight that causes the bearer pain and suffering, in whatever degree, for whatever reason. “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” is the story of a sailor cursed with immortality after he commits a certain dishonorable deed that results in challenging moral implications. Such a theme is just as relevant – if not more – in today’s world.

“The point is, you want to retain some of the words, some of the historical aspects; yet you want people to understand that there are also modern themes,” says Michael. What is

unique about the production of “Albatross” is the integration of cutting-edge, multimedia technology to interpret this classic tale and to engage today’s audiences. And how could Coleridge ever have imagined that his theme of humans’ complex relationship with nature and the environment could resonate so profoundly in today’s society?

“We put in some humor,” says Michael. “We talk about our relationship to the earth, to animals, to nature – of being cognizant of these interrelationships. Sometimes we do things without knowing why, with all kinds of consequences.”

Lessons for young and old One line in particular from the poem that Michael shared with his then-13-year-old granddaughter really resonated with her. “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink,” says the mariner, referring to the salt water of the sea. The next day at school, through sheer coincidence, her teacher shared this line ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 43

with the class and asked the students to try and interpret its meaning. His granddaughter raised her hand and gave the example of being in the Apple Store, seeing all the new products, then reaching into her pocket to find that she has only $1.50 – and can’t buy anything.

Michael was thrilled that she “got it” and applied the meaning of the ancient mariner’s words to her own experience. “How many times do people have wants and needs they can’t fulfill?” he asks. Regarding other challenges the mariner must confront, Michael poses the question, “How many times have we seen people on a negative track reach bottom, but then find a way to come back?”

Taking “Albatross” far and wide “Albatross” started in Boston, where it won two of the three Elliott Norton Awards (for achievement in the Boston theater community) for which it was nominated. It was also well-received at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. Now in the Valley after a run in New York City, “Albatross” comes to the Phoenix stage with some legitimate street cred.

Michael jokes that someone once said, “The definition of a producer is one who likes to write checks and lose money.”

He acknowledges the significant investment but says it’s been “worthwhile for what it brings to the public. And I do know from my years at ATC that Valley audiences appreciate good theater. But as with any audience, there will be people who love it and those who hate it.”

Michael says the creative team would like to package “Albatross” and sell the production on a national and international basis for broader exposure. He notes that the key components – scenery, actor, script, projection technology – are in place for any stage.

“We talk a lot about STEM [science, technology, engineering, math], but what we neglect to concentrate on is the arts. Steve Jobs said [in 2011], ‘It’s technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the results that make our heart sing.’ What this play has given me is the opportunity to combine technology with the arts to help critical thinking – and to show that collaboration can bring something really neat to people.”

Mary Ann Bashaw, of Phoenix, is an editor and writer.

“Albatross”

Actor Benjamin Evett as the mariner in the one-man play “Albatross” this month at the Herberger Theater Center in Phoenix.

44 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

March 16-25 Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe St., Phoenix Information about tickets and times: 602-252-8497 or herbergertheater.org Learn more about Arizona Theatre Company at arizonatheatre.org.

Photograph by Daniel Friedman

Local artist finds common ground as new member of Five15 Arts collective

By Mary Ann Bashaw

The life of an artist is often one of solitude.

Days, months and even years are spent honing a medium that requires constantly conjuring up creative ideas for subjects. It takes resources – time and money, not to mention passion and persistence – to design, build, draw, paint, carve, sculpt, photograph.

Many artists manage to combine those solitary, creative studio hours with time spent among their like-minded, artistic brethren.

That’s the essence of Five15 Arts, an art collective which recently lost its home after 15 years in the heart of Roosevelt Row Arts District in downtown Phoenix (at 515 E. Roosevelt Road, to be exact – hence the name).

Daniel Friedman, of Phoenix, is one of three new members to join Five15’s collective of 10, replacing artists who took the opportunity during this period of transition to move on – not an unusual event over the course of Five15’s evolution. As with any dynamic, artistic entity, artists come and go. That’s what keeps a collective alive – the ebb and flow of artists working together toward a lasting, common goal: to keep art alive and accessible in the community.

“Art collectives are ways to get out, establish a network and show my work,” says Daniel, who brings his photography skills to Five15. “I saw a call for artists on Five15’s Facebook page and website. I also knew people ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 45

who knew people who were in it, so I figured I’d submit.” He submitted samples of still-life photographs he’s been working on for the last couple of years for review. Black-and-white photography is “the main body of my work,” says Daniel.

One of those people is Wendy Willis, also of Phoenix.

Daniel met Wendy in a printmaking class at Phoenix Center for the Arts (PCA) downtown, where she is the department head for printmaking.

Wendy has been a resident artist at Five15 for five years and currently serves as president of the collective.

After being a fixture on the Phoenix art scene for a decade and a half, Wendy says this of Five15’s move: “We knew our landlady had the building on the market and sooner or later it would be sold. We wanted to stay together as a group.” But when the eviction notice materialized, some members were ready to move on while others wanted to keep Five15 intact. This opened the door for some new members.

Meanwhile, Wendy says that Lane Black, operations manager for PCA, brought in the director, Joseph Benesh, and Five15 was offered a temporary home in the center’s new gallery space, recently named the Larry Wilson Gallery in honor of the late Larry Wilson (1950-2013), a Valley artist and longtime PCA instructor. The gallery was dedicated just last month. Wendy says that Five15 members “enthusiastically agreed that it was a good temporary move” and jumped at the chance to share such esteemed, modern gallery space.

Daniel cites advantages of joining an art collective: “Everyone chips in, does the work and pays dues. We have a place to gather and show. It’s nice to show my work and have connections to other [artists].”

He stresses the lack of restrictions, noting that members are encouraged to seek other places to exhibit. The artist has “a large body of work, so I have plenty to show.” With 10 people in the collective, the plan for when they find a second permanent home is 10 solo and two group shows each year.

Until the next and final move, Five15 is conducting group shows at PCA every other month.

“My still-life photos are old-fashioned, rooted in my understanding of and interest in photography,” says Daniel. His favorite photographers are “the classic, old guys: Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Harry Calahan.” He’s always looking for ways to change his approach to photography “without doing something for the sake of being weird or edgy. Then it wouldn’t be honest. I don’t want my art to look like I grew up with Photoshop – no special effects. I have conversations with myself to be as honest as possible about my 46 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Swimmer with Fish

Compass Rose Lizards

Five15 Arts’ gallery space inside the Phoenix Center for the Arts.

work.”

Daniel finds being a member of Five15 “motivating and gratifying.”

He appreciates his fellow artists’ wide range of styles and the seriousness – like his own – with which they take their art. “It’s nice to be with genuine artists, Daniel Friedman not posers. I know I have Photo by Lisa Sorg-Freidman to keep up my end of the bargain and be as genuine as they are,” says Daniel.

He notes that he wants to try to make enough of a living from his art to want to keep doing it, though the motivation is not solely monetary. Still, he points out that “the term ‘starving artist’ is very real!”

Daniel has also tried his artist’s hand at rebar sculpture but says “it’s just too unwieldy; you need a crane to move it!” His unique pixel paintings are made of “refugee pixels cropped out of photos. Where do they all go when cropped? It’s an excuse for me to think about color – very different from photography.”

And finally, there’s printmaking, which he is trying to master “without getting ink all over me!”

Running out of motivation or ideas – or space to store his photographs – doesn’t worry Daniel. He gives credit to the digital age, which makes the process of photography “so much easier. But it hasn’t deprived me of any artistic inclinations. I’ve been following the parameters of film since 1975.” He adds that he uses digital to make the medium more efficient and streamlined for him as an artist. “It doesn’t change the way I take pictures; it just changes how I create them,” he says.

The future looks bright for Five15. Desert Viking Builders of Chandler is developing the vacated property, but plans include permanent space for the collective. “New challenges will present themselves,” says Wendy. “We’ll need to be open longer hours and more days. It will cost a bit more and we may need to take on more members to keep it affordable.”

New members like Daniel will keep Five15 fresh and

relevant. And he says he’ll never be in short supply of new material: “I find stuff in my yard while I’m doing yard work.”

Visit the new Larry Wilson Gallery at Phoenix Center for the Arts at 1202 N. Third St. in Phoenix. Contact PCA for more information about the gallery at 602-254-3100 or visit phoenixcenterforthearts.org. While you’re there, stop in and see what Five15 artists have on display. Visit five15arts.com (Daniel Friedman is the guy on the right in the website photo).

Mary Ann Bashaw, of Phoenix, is an editor and writer.

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Visits to both the Richard M. Nixon Library and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Includes a two night stay on the Queen Mary Hotel in Long Beach, and three nights at the Elan Hotel in Los Angeles near Beverly Hills.

Learn with presidential scholar, Mr. Jay Roth, who will relate events in Jewish history with the politics of the day, as well as a conversation with American Jewish University faculty.

Final Banquet at fine Kosher Restaurant on Pico Blvd.

For more information, visit our website www.bjephoenix.org ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 47

CORNER

HAPPY CAMPERS

By Lucia Schnitzer Photo by Matthew Strauss

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

48 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

It’s hard to believe that we’re talking “camp” again. I haven’t even begun to think about what I’m doing next week, let alone this summer! But like most of us, we just get it done along with all the applications for schools and scholarships, not to mention filing our taxes. Personal assistant, anyone?

I love this recipe for all the right reasons: It’s sweet, gooey, fun and super easy for kids and adults to make. These campfire cones are a different twist on traditional s’mores and can be made with endless ingredients. You don’t have to sit around a campfire to make these yummy cones. Try them at home in your oven or on the grill.

CAMPFIRE CONES INGREDIENTS:

BREAKFASTS

DINNERS

LUNCHEONS

BUFFETS

HORS D”OEUVRES

V A L L E Y W I D E

PARTY PLATTERS

BEVERAGES

DESSERTS

Our catering specialists will work with you to create a customized package to fit your needs!

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Waffle ice cream cones Peanut butter Topping ideas: marshmallows, peanut butter cups, chocolate bar pieces, butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, bananas, raspberries, strawberries…the list is endless.

Parchment paper and aluminum foil

DIRECTIONS: Spread a thin layer of peanut butter in each cone. Layer your favorite toppings to the top of the cone.

Wrap each cone tightly with parchment paper, then aluminum foil.

Place cones over the campfire for about 3-5 minutes, on a heated grill for 5-6 minutes or in the oven at 375 degrees for about 5-8 minutes. Turn a couple of times until toppings are melted.

GREAT WITH BREAKFAST LUNCH DINNER

Unwrap and enjoy!

WANDER NO MORE

azjewishlife.com ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 49

FOOD RESTAURANT REVIEW

taste of

Arizona

Eggplant Bharta

Marigold Maison: A delicious taste of India - right here in Arizona!

You often hear someone pipe up and say, “I don’t like Indian food” when the search for a place for dinner begins. I get that, because Indian food is intensely flavorful, exotically spiced and wildly colorful. Though that is exciting for many, the meat-and-potatoes crowd doesn’t care for it. (Again, I get that, though I will never understand the folks who say, “I don’t like chocolate.”)

Those of you who love Indian food will need no convincing to try Marigold Maison. I am also going to try to convince those who say they don’t like Indian food that there’s a new restaurant they will love.

I think it comes down to curry, a spice widely used in delicious Indian dishes. There is bad curry and there is good curry, just like there is bad pizza and good pizza. My contention is if you don’t like curry, you’ve only had bad curry. You should also know that there are loads of Indian dishes made without curry.

Indian food is the product of 8,000 years of conquests, invasions, colonialism and trade.

There is an entire subcontinent of largely happy, brilliant and healthy people munching their way through life on veggies, breads, spices and meats – who wouldn’t want to be part of that?

It’s not just the ingredients and regional recipes at play at Marigold Maison; it’s also the methods of cooking. A clay tandoor, or tandoori, oven is used for baking breads and cooking meats with open fire and radiant heat. When I asked if they had one and if I could see it, they were delighted to take me into the kitchen (this never happens) and show me the oven at work. That kind of hospitality and willingness to share their delight in their cuisine permeates the entire warm, yellow-painted place. The marigold flower, central to Indian culture, is used in celebrations of life and is considered the herb of the sun.

50 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

THIS MONTH’S RESTAURANT

Marigold Maison $$$ 4720 E. Cactus Road Phoenix marigoldmaison.com

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

Over the course of a couple of visits, I ordered the following:

Iced Masala Tea $4 (Cardamom, clove, cinnamon)

Normally, I wouldn’t write about a glass of iced tea; but this drink exemplifies the blend of exotic Indian spices that intensely flavors the food previously mentioned. The cinnamon makes it taste sweet despite the fact there’s no sugar, and the clove and cardamom (the third most-expensive spice in the world, I am told, after saffron and vanilla) give it body and fragrance. It’s a bottomless glass, so drink up!

Lamb Thali $15 (lunch menu) (Lamb Curry and Lamb Saag)

After I order this platter, a sampler of many different foods, the inevitable question comes up: “Spicy or not spicy?” What my server wants to know is whether I would like some “heat” to this meal, so I answer, “Spicy.” Though I could go either way, I trust that the heat they add will only enhance the dish, not overpower it. I am amazed at how quickly it arrives and the

sheer beauty of the presentation. There are eight items in shiny metal bowls, including a salad, dessert and two types of bread.

So let’s dive in!

Let’s talk about the naan and papadum on the platter, which I use as utensils. The naan is a soft, flat bread baked on the hot, clay surface of a tandoori oven. Papadum is a thin, crispy cracker-like bread with seasonings like cumin and black pepper.

Both are perfect for dipping in sauces or wrapping morsels of lamb. (I end up ordering an extra side of naan ($3) because I blow through all the naan and papadum that come with the platter.)

The lamb curry is a wonderfully prepared, traditional red stew with chunks of tender lamb in a sauce of tomato, onion puree, turmeric, coriander, fenugreek and a blend of ground spices called garam masala. There is some heat because I asked for it, but it does not hide any of the rich flavor of this wonderful dish. I use a spoon to fill naan with lamb and bring it to my waiting mouth. Occasionally, I also eat it with rice, but oh, that naan!

Another curried lamb just waiting to be eaten is a preparation called saag. Saag is a stew with a base of spinach, mustard leaf and collard greens that is just heavenly. Its texture, flavor and green color is as different from red curry as green chili is different from red chili in Mexican food. Again, I ask for heat, but not as much as the red lamb curry. It’s absolutely

Grilled Tandoori Wings ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 51

Lamb Thali delicious, with a much softer texture. Perfect for dipping.

There is a beautiful serving of golden yellow lentil soup. It is mild, warm and soft on your tongue. To me, it is sort of a palate cleanser between spicy courses, but it certainly could be an entire meal.

There is also a small, refreshing salad with a citrus vinaigrette and lots of healthy goodies like seeds, tomatoes, quinoa and leafy greens.

Basmati rice sits in the middle of the platter. They’ve added some heat to the rice, too. It is beautifully prepared – soft and flavorful – and topped with a scattering of cooked peas. You can mix the rice with the lamb or eat it separately.

Much to my surprise, the platter comes with a little taste of gulab jamun, a little round ball of warm cake soaked in rose honey syrup. I confess that I don’t wait until I finish lunch to try it and discover its wonderfully delicate texture and sweet flavor.

I manage to save half of it for the end of the meal.

Grilled Tandoori Wings $10

(Tandoori spice, marinated wings finished with tamarind chipotle) These are among the best chicken wings I have ever had.

Plump, juicy, large and sticky sweet with a beautiful char, you really couldn’t ask for more from this bone-in appetizer. There is some heat to these, like you would find in any buffalo wing.

To those who say they don’t like Indian food, these wings will completely change your mind. Highly recommended.

Eggplant Bharta $15.00

(Whole tandoor-roasted eggplant cooked with onion, tomato, ginger and spices) The moment I saw this on the menu, I knew it was for me.

Despite my meat-loving genetic makeup, I am a sucker for roasted vegetables. Then comes the inevitable question: “Spicy 52 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

or not spicy?” I choose not spicy tonight to see what it’s like – and it’s delicious. Set before me is a large serving of roasted eggplant with an equally large side of basmati rice.

Truthfully, two people could eat this. My plan is to take half of it home, but that doesn’t work out and here is why: As I mound this soft and savory concoction of roasted veggies onto my buttered roti, I just can’t stop eating it. I add some to the rice; but oh, that roti! Again, you can’t say you don’t love Indian food if you like roasted vegetables. This one doesn’t have curry or heat. It’s just comfort food – like a soft macaroni and cheese – only better for you.

The Marigold Maison is truly a treasure sandwiched (pun intended) between a Jimmy John’s and a Dickey’s BBQ Pit near Sprouts on the northeast corner of Cactus and Tatum.

There’s an outdoor patio and bar, along with a large, warm and welcoming dining area. The staff are very pleasant, the service is quick and don’t forget to ask to see the tandoori oven. They say you should stop and smell the roses – and the first thing you smell at Marigold Maison is the wonderful aroma of the kitchen. Put this one on your list.

Roti $3 (add butter for $1) (Wheat flatbread)

Of course I added butter! You should know me by now…

Marigold Maison’s roti is naan made with unbleached wheat flour. It’s delicious and cooked in the tandoori oven. You use it more like a utensil, like a tortilla, and less as a side. It’s great for dipping into all the different kinds of sauces that accompany entrees. I prefer the naan over the roti, but the roti is probably a healthier choice – especially if you skip the butter.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 53

Remix Your Y Wardrobe for

Ultimate Street Style

By Tori Rosenblum

3Take out the lightweight trench coat you have stored for monsoon season – you can get great use out of it a little early this year. Wear it open as a funky, oversized layer over skinny jeans and a tank or drape it over a form-fitting midi dress.

The flowy layer adds shape to fitted clothing.

54 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

ou don’t need a brand new wardrobe in order to march into spring looking fabulous. Here are some tips to update your fashion staples for major street style.

No need to spend big bucks on a brand new wardrobe this spring! Look at your closet with fresh eyes, and you’ll see you have plenty of items you can redefine for a remixed street style.

3 Repurpose the straw or woven tote you’d bring to the pool or the park and wear it for a laid-back look.

Springtime is picnic season, so why not choose a woven bag that reminds us of our favorite picnic baskets? These bags add texture to any outfit and exude casual style.

1 Remember those khaki cargo pants stuffed at the bottom of your drawer? Well, dig them up, because khaki is coming back in a big way. Whether you have khaki trousers, a dress or jacket, pair your utilitarian pieces with tailored items to clean up the look. Wear the versatile shade with other neutrals or bold hues, doesn’t matter – khaki is the new black.

7 Every woman has an oversized white blouse. You’ve worn it with a pantsuit and dressed it down with jeans and a blazer. This spring, leave it untucked as an easy shirtdress. Pair with crisp white sneakers or a metallic menswearinspired flat and you’ve got a chic new look in your rotation.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 55

SENIORS

“Gather the Elders”

Marilyn Heins, M.D., speaks from experience

By Sheila Wilensky

Marilyn Heins, M.D.

Who knew that elders, especially those ages 82 to 85, score higher on happiness scales than millennials? Whether octogenarians are more active than in previous generations, or that contentment accompanies aging, Marilyn Heins, M.D., advises individuals over 65 to “say yes to opportunities.”

Although Marilyn has slowed down since retiring in 1989 as vice dean and professor of pediatrics at Tucson’s University of Arizona College of Medicine, saying yes is still her preferred mantra. The pediatrician has written more than 1,000 parenting columns for the “Arizona Daily Star,” along with a 1999 parenting book titled ParenTips for Effective, Enjoyable Parenting. She still writes columns and maintains her website, parentkidsright.com. But these days, Marilyn, 86, says she “spends more time giving advice to myself than to new parents.”

“I’m an immigrant to a new land,” she told 70 people in her “Journey to Geriatrica” keynote speech during the 7th Annual Gather the Elders Conference, which I attended this past January at the YWCA of Southern Arizona in Tucson. “The most important thing I’ve learned so far is how grateful I am to be in Geriatrica. Not all of us make it.” Marilyn recalled her father saying, “Every day over 80 is pure velvet.”

Currently, there are 41 million people over age 65 in the U.S. That number will double by 2050. Elder Circles, offered 56 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

through various organizations around the country, help to promote conscious aging. The Tucson conference, sponsored by the Elder Circles discussion group project at the Center for Community Dialogue, is a program of Our Family Services.

Other Elder Circles, including the one at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, have operated for around 13 years.

Following her husband’s death in 2007, Marilyn realized she had a new chapter to write in her life. True, longevity brings challenges: Almost 25% of senior men and 46% of senior women live alone. But while old age tends to cause less anxiety and negativity about the world, falling and loneliness can pose the greatest problems for even healthy seniors. Above all, it’s important to stay connected to old friends and make new ones.

Another obstacle to getting older is that “our memories may be shaky,” said Marilyn. “I know mine is. But we serve as a bank of memories for younger generations.” From her perspective, “It’s a good time to review successes and failures. I went back to all the bad things I did since kindergarten,” she said. “To balance with the bad, I wrote my obituary.”

It’s also essential to acknowledge those who helped you along the way. Have compassion. Exercise curiosity by Googling new ideas or things you’ve forgotten. Be courageous, Marilyn advised, adding that “all of us descend from immigrants who

“It’s also essential to acknowledge those who helped you along the way.

Have compassion. Exercise curiosity by Googling new ideas or things you’ve forgotten. Be courageous, all of us descend from immigrants who had great courage.”

–Marilyn Heins, M.D.

had great courage.”

As the daughter and granddaughter of secular Jews who valued education and “worshipped” books, art, and music, Marilyn has continued that tradition. A graduate of Harvard University and a physician trained at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, her path wasn’t typical for a woman of her generation.

Growing up, Marilyn recalled that her family “was proud of being Jewish, as am I,” although her first time in a synagogue was as a teenager. “So I was determined to raise my own children differently. We joined a Reform temple and my children went to religious school from kindergarten on.”

Her mother lived to be 99 and resisted moving out of her own home. “I’m grateful I can walk, talk and drive,” said Marilyn. “We all fear losing our independence. I’ve started to take baby ‘goodbye’ steps, divesting myself of possessions. No one teaches us to say goodbye to our old way of life. If we learn to say goodbye, maybe we’ll find space for something new.”

Surveying the audience, she said, “Yup. I’m almost always the oldest person around. But as Lady Luck [would have it], I’ve got good genes, a loving family and friends, and I had the resources and stamina to visit more than 100 countries.”

At this point in her life, said Marilyn, “Aging really astonishes me. There’s no app for dealing with a rapidly changing world and an aging body.” She noted that in kindergarten, it took forever for five minutes to pass; but now, a week flies by. “I get increasingly annoyed when my time is wasted.”

If having a sense of humor is essential throughout life, it’s no less true for octogenarians. “It seems to take me longer to open a package than it took for Amazon Prime to deliver it,” she quipped, admitting that she has scissors in every room.

As a pediatrician, she advised parents to subscribe to the three As: Affection, Attention and Acceptance. Now Marilyn encourages elders to do the same for themselves: “One of the most important things I’ll say today is ‘parent yourself.’”

Let’s talk about something retirement communities hardly ever mention.

Accreditation.

Because having the confidence and peace of mind of accreditation is important. So, let’s talk.

La Siena is accredited by CARF International. It’s an independent organization that sets exceedingly high standards for care and service.

It’s a lot like an accreditation for a hospital or college. Or a five-star rating for a hotel. But like most things in life, you have to see it to believe it. So, let’s talk some more at a complimentary lunch and tour.

Please call 602.910.6319 to schedule.

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

909 East Northern Avenue • Phoenix, AZ SRGseniorliving.com • 602.910.6319 ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 57

SENIORS

Mel Kessler takes the Arizona Jewish Historical Society to new heights board president,” says Lawrence Bell, executive director of AZJHS. “He is a dynamic, Imagine working in an efficient and committed leader. environment where you are He enhances any project he immersed in the rich tapestry works on. Under his leadership of Jewish history and culture. as vice president of Membership, Now imagine having the we increased our annual ability to bring that history membership by over 20%.” to life through 50,000 When Mel retired from archives, oral and video Motorola/General Dynamics histories, vibrant exhibits as a software engineer in 2006, and myriad enlightening it was not the culmination of a and informative programs. career, but rather a springboard Tempe resident Mel Kessler into a life of extraordinary has that rare opportunity as service to the Jewish community. the current president of the He demonstrated leadership in Arizona Jewish Historical his first volunteering venture as Society (AZJHS), a dynamic a customer representative for hub of Jewish education a major expansion project at documenting the lives of Temple Emanuel of Tempe. “I Jews who arrived in Arizona worked with the architect and and the Southwest even contractor and was in the temple before New Amsterdam. four hours a day, four days a Mel's role revolves around week during the construction coordination, planning and process,” says Mel. “Being handy fundraising for this Phoenix by nature, I knew a lot about gem housed in the Cutler plumbing and electrical work, Plotkin Jewish Heritage so I helped keep track of the Center – a sanctuary, expansion activities. Even now, religious school and Mel Kessler if the temple has a problem with gathering center from 1922 these areas, they call me. I know to 1949 for the local Jewish where everything is!” community. Designated as a “Point of Pride” by the City of In 2011, Mel joined the AZJHS and started ascending the Phoenix, the AZJHS celebrates Jewish life and history through volunteer ladder as treasurer and vice president of membership. language, literature, music, theater and comedy.

“At the time, my wife and I were also active in creating the The AZJHS offers a dizzying array of community activities Tempe Center for the Arts,” says Mel. He was also treasurer of through educational programs, book discussions, genealogy a related nonprofit. lectures, classes, a free monthly film series and even weddings Mel says the most exciting part of his job as president of the and bar mitzvahs. The first site of Temple Beth Israel, the AZJHS is “working with the board. They are tremendously building was subsequently used by Chinese and Baptist dedicated and engaged. I love being involved with the planning congregations and is currently used by the Aviv of Arizona and of projects that grow the organization and ensure [its] Or Adam congregations. sustainability. Plus, I love giving back to a community that has “We have been so thrilled to have Mel Kessler serve as our supported me.”

By Melissa Hirschl

58 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

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mtsinaicemetery.com 60 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

As president, Mel is particularly proud of a huge challenge the board took on last year: the “Life & Legacy” program, run by the Jewish Community Foundation and the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. Fifteen organizations, including the AZJHS, Temple Emanuel, Hillel and others were challenged to enroll 25 donors to commit at least $1,000 each through gifts of cash, stock or from wills. If they succeeded, the AZJHS would receive a $10,000 donation. If they enrolled 25 more contributors by May 2017, the society would get another $10,000.

“We not only got 25 donors,” says Mel, “but have the next 25 [enrolled, too].” Of all the participants, the AZJHS – the smallest participating organization – is the first to enroll 50 donors.

The impressive trajectory of AZJHS fundraising is due to a continual line-up of exciting events that captivate the imagination and instill a sense of awe. One example of such events is the commemoration of Czech Torahs, originally captured by the Germans during the war. “We had 20 Torahs at the ceremony, with two belonging to Temple Emanuel,” says Mel, adding that the Westminster Synagogue in London had hundreds of Torahs and began loaning them to congregations in need. “They were displayed in our gallery with information about towns and villages where they were found. Each congregation applied for them on their own and brought them to us for the ceremony before taking them home,” says Mel. The evolving gallery exhibits at the AZJHS highlight current events, historical artifacts and renowned Jewish artists such as Beth Ames Swartz, who is famous for translating philosophical concepts into art; she has had over 70 one-person art exhibitions, including a showing at the Jewish Museum in New York City.

Mel notes that another popular exhibit from a few years ago, “Arizona Jewish Pioneers,” included write-ups and presentations of Jews from the late 1800s. “They had saddles, spurs and various artifacts that were typical of cowboys at that time,” says Mel. “We also had an exhibit about Shanghai Jews who fled from Germany and one about Jan Karski, a Polish resistance fighter during the Holocaust. Our next one coming up is Jewish historical wedding gowns.”

Every November, the AZJHS holds a star-studded fundraising event, the Heritage Award Gala, honoring individuals in our community. Replete with dinner and entertainment, this is an event you want to circle in red on your calendar. Last year, Derrick Hall, president and CEO of the Arizona Diamondbacks and a major supporter of philanthropic causes, was honored. Prior AZJNS awardees include Jerry Colangelo, Mark Curtis (Channel 12 newscaster) and Jerry Lewkowitz, whose father was a founding member of Beth Israel. Past entertainment has included a parody of “Damn Yankees” by Phoenix Theatre and a performance by TonyAward-winning singer and actress Judy Kaye.

To learn more about the AZJHS and how you can be part of their success story, call 602-241-7870 or visit azjhs.org. They are conveniently located at 122 E. Culver St. in Phoenix, near the Burton Barr Library and the McDowell/Central Ave. light rail station.

ADD SOME SPICE

advertise@azjewishlife.com 602.538.2955

azjewishlife.com ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 61

A couple of couples who met at camp

By Mala Blomquist

M

CAMPS: JKIDS & TEENS

62 A couple of couples who met at camp 66 An expert offers parents tips for making a happy camper 70 The MIM is a kid-friendly, world-class museum 71 Kids, ADHD & summer camp 72 Funding available to campers 74 Camp directory

“We started bringing the kids to family camp at Camp Ramah eight years ago and we have been to…three or four weekends with our kids at camp.”

ALISON FEINBERG

78 Kids and teens events calendar

any couples have met and fallen in love at a Jewish summer camp. Here are two couples’ special stories of how they met their perfect match “one summer at camp…”

ALISON AND MICHAEL FEINBERG Michael Feinberg had been going to Camp Ramah in California since he was 11 years old. The first year he missed was 1992, the same year that Alison Goldstein went for the first time. She and a friend had decided that they wanted a summer job together, so they both applied at Camp Ramah.

Alison had so much fun that summer that she signed up to work the following summer. In 1993, she met Michael on the first day of camp.

“We were counselors in the same age group and we worked together all summer,” says Alison.

By the end of the summer, the couple were in love. The problem was that Alison was scheduled to head to Israel for her junior year of college and Michael was returning to the University of California, Berkeley for his sophomore year.

On their last day off at camp, they went to do laundry at Michael’s parents’ house and he went to get the mail. “Our one day off, there was a package from Hebrew University in Jerusalem,” says Alison. “It was information on the Rothberg International School for overseas students.

That was the program I was with.” Michael called the school and asked if he could join the program in Israel as a second-semester sophomore – and they accepted him.

Before they were reunited that second semester, they sent each other airgrams (there was no email!) every day. Alison was supposed to go on fall break to Europe, but she says, “I ended up running up such a horrible phone bill that I went to Egypt instead, because it was more affordable,” says Alison.

The second semester arrived and they spent six months together in Israel. Then they headed back to work together the summer of 1994.

When camp ended, they separated once again for the school year.

Alison returned to Tulane University in New Orleans for her senior year and Michael went back to Berkeley.

When Alison graduated, she moved to California to be with Michael.

They were married in 1999. The couple have three children: Nora,13, Sadie, 10, and Josh, 7.

They are now a camp family. “We started bringing the kids to family camp at Camp Ramah eight years ago and we have been to…three or four weekends with our kids at camp,” says Alison. This will be Nora’s fifth and Sadie’s fourth summer at camp. Josh is going for two weeks this summer, his first time at camp.

Nora even celebrated her bat mitzvah at Camp Ramah this past June. They are members of Congregation Or Tzion and Rabbi Micah Caplan serves as the rabbi in residence for one week during summer camp. “He tutored her for eight or nine months and then came and coofficiated her bat mitzvah with Rabbi Joe Menashe, who is the director of Camp Ramah,” says Alison. “My husband was very emotional at her bat mitzvah because everything came full circle.”

Continued on page 64

62 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

The Feinberg family at family camp at Camp Ramah in May, 2012.

Michael and Alison at Camp Ramah in 1993, the year they met.

Eric and Denise at Camp Charles Pearlstein in 1998.

Denise and Eric Kaye with their pet therapy dog, Coltrane.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 63

CAMPS Alison and Michael purchased a plaque a few years ago for people who “met their match” at camp. The plaque was placed on the Gesher L’Chuppah canopy bridge at Camp Ramah.

“Whenever my kids are at camp, they go visit our plaque,” says Alison.

Alison sums up her feelings about camp: “I always say that any Jewish camp is the right Jewish camp. I am not biased about what camp people should go to. I think they should just go to one. We really feel like camp is the ‘secret sauce.’ It is informal Jewish education; it’s the thing that marinates our kids in Jewish life 24/7 and they make Judaism fun. We met there, fell in love there and our daughter had her bat mitzvah there. Camp Ramah is a magical place for us.”

DENISE AND ERIC KAYE The love story of Denise and Eric Kaye all started with Denise’s sister Erica.

Erica met Craig Weiss, from Phoenix, in Israel her junior year of college. They fell in love and had a long-distance relationship because she was at Brandeis University in Massachusetts and he was at the University of Pennsylvania.

After studying abroad in Israel, they still had one more year of college before Erica went to rabbinical school. They spent that year in Israel together.

Erica loved being a camp rabbi at Jewish summer camp.

Craig told her about a camp in Prescott called Camp Charles Pearlstein. “That was in 1997, [when] my sister [Erica] met a young man named Eric Kaye, who was the song leader,” says Denise.

“In 1998, I graduated from the University of Tampa with a degree in education. It was the summer and my sister said that there was a unit head position at the camp [where] she was working and I should consider coming,” says Denise.

“Erica also said that I’d meet some teachers – plus the song leader [was] really cute.” So she drove across the country from Florida to Prescott with her father.

That summer, Eric was planning to come to camp for just one week. “My best friend, who was the overnight specialist, was finishing up an internship at Northern Arizona University, couldn’t make it to the orientation week and asked me to go in his place,” says Eric. That’s when he met Denise. “He ended up staying the entire summer,” Denise says jokingly.

Things moved fast from there. “On one day off, we found her a job at a middle school and the next day off, we found her an apartment,” says Eric. Teachers at the camp who worked with Denise on the administration team, introduced her to a principal in the Kyrene School District, which led to a job offer. “I was able to fulfill my first teaching job and met my husband – all at Jewish summer camp!” exclaims Denise.

The couple married in June of 2001 (Erica officiated!). They have two children, Asher, 12 (he’ll be 13 in April) and Lirit, 10. “My son went to Camp Pearlstein from the time he was one and my daughter from when she was born,” says Denise, who brought them to camp with her. They cut ties with Camp Pearlstein, then made connections at Camp Hess Kramer and Gindling Hilltop Camp (both in California). “Andrea Cohen 64 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

was the director when Eric and I met at Pearlstein – and now she is our kids’ director at Hilltop. We have come full circle,” says Denise. “In a month, my son is going to have his bar mitzvah at Hilltop.”

The couple also run a business together called Connections In Home Care. “Eric was always in the healthcare industry and I was always a Jewish professional, working for the camp and working for a synagogue and teaching,” says Denise.

“I ended up getting my MBA and Eric has his MBA and a healthcare management degree. Now we work together and run our own in-home care business. We take care of seniors in their homes.”

“I feel like the values and relationships and everything we took away from Jewish summer camp has led us to forming the relationships with our caregivers and our seniors,” says Denise. Even their business motto of ‘Connecting hearts to homes’ has a connection to camp. “I always felt that going to camp was like going to a second home.”

Denise has fond memories of being a counselor and shares this analogy: “I always say the first year you are a counselor at camp is like the curtain from “The Wizard of Oz” has been pulled back. As a kid at camp, you are in awe of all the magic; but as a counselor, you get to see how that magic happens.”

Eric shares his take-away from camp: “Gemilut chasadim – acts of love and kindness – are fundamentally ingrained into us at camp and we try to carry through1every day.”

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ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 65

CAMPS

An expert offers parents tips for making a happy camper

H

ow do you ensure your child will be a happy camper this summer? Kevin Nissen, camp director of Friendly Pines overnight camp in Prescott, has been helping do just that since 1990. Established in 1941 by Bud and Isabelle Brown, the camp is owned by their daughter, Bebe Brown May. Kevin started his career with Friendly Pines as a counselor back in 1978. Arizona Jewish Life asked this Arizona camp expert to answer some questions for parents considering sending their children to overnight camp.

Kevin Nissen "It’s important for

parents to realize that the experiences and lessons campers take away from their time at summer

camp will be profoundly personal. The lessons may not be what you

expected or the same

ones that influenced you

when you were a camper."

Q: IS IT IMPORTANT FOR THE CAMP TO BE AMERICAN CAMP ASSOCIATION (ACA) ACCREDITED? A: The ACA is the only accrediting body in the industry – and the process of getting accredited is extensive. ACA accreditation is the only real way for a parent to know if a camp is meeting standards in the areas of staffing, safety, programs, healthcare, training, supervision, transportation, etc.

Q: HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR CHILD IS READY FOR OVERNIGHT CAMP? A: First of all, if a child expresses any interest, he or she is probably ready. If they have spent the night away from home, they are probably ready. Not surprisingly, we in the camp business believe that every camper is ready. They will all acclimate to the new environment at different paces, but in the end, they will acclimate.

The way a camper becomes ready for overnight camp is to go to overnight camp. I realize that sounds like an approach from another era, but aren’t a lot of things like this? Learning to swim. Learning to read. Learning to like new foods. Granted, sending your child off to summer camp is a bigger leap of faith than having him or her try broccoli, but parents should rest assured that a well-established, accredited camp will keep their children safe and provide them with every chance in the world to grow and be happy.

Q: IS THERE AN IDEAL AGE FOR OVERNIGHT CAMP? A: There is no perfect age to go to camp. The prevailing feeling among parents, however, is that 6, 7 and 8 are too young. While that may be true for many children, parents would be surprised how well younger campers do. Younger campers live so much more in the moment that they are easily distracted from thoughts of home; an 11- or 12-year-old who has never been away from home might struggle a bit more.

Continued on page 68

66 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

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CAMPS Q: WHAT IS A GOOD CAMPER-TO-STAFF RATIO? A: The optimum camper-to-staff ratio in a cabin will vary by age.

Younger campers need more help with hygiene. They need to be reminded to change their clothes. They need help keeping their area clean and brushing their hair. The older the campers, the easier it is for a single counselor to manage a larger number. The ACA requires a maximum staff-to-camper ratio of 1-to-6 for campers ages 6 to 8; 1-to-8 for campers ages 9 to 14; and 1-to10 for campers ages 15 to 18. Many camps maintain ratios lower than the ACA maximum, so ask the camp director.

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Q: WHAT ABOUT STAFF TRAINING? A: The ACA requires that staff working at most resident [overnight] camps have a week of training before campers arrive.

This training should include camper management, appropriate staff-camper relationships, behavior management, child development, communications skills and others that will [help] make a counselor skilled in the best childcare practices. Any good camp will be happy to share what their staff training covers.

Q: WHAT KIND OF BACKGROUND SCREENING SHOULD PARENTS EXPECT FROM CAMPS? A: After camp administration interviews a potential staff member and then checks his or her personal references and health history, they run a professional, nationwide background check that includes the National Sex Offenders Public Website – a mandatory standard of the ACA. Background checks apply to all staff: new, returning, year-round, voluntary, contracted, etc.

Anyone who will be in contact with campers must be checked.

Q: HOW SHOULD A CAMP HANDLE HOMESICKNESS? A: There are varying approaches on handling homesickness, but most camps recognize missing home as a difficult but necessary part of growing up. Those first ventures into the world of independence and self-reliance can be tricky for any boy or girl – no matter how confident they may seem at school or on sports teams. And though it may be easier on everyone to give in and send the camper home at the first signs of homesickness, it may not be in the camper’s best interests. If both camp and parents resolve to work as a team to encourage and support the camper, all campers will eventually adjust to being away from home. Parents should check the camp’s policy on calling home.

Experience has shown that calling home doesn’t help that much in curing homesickness; in fact, it usually makes it worse. It’s best to find out beforehand how a camp will handle a homesick child.

Q: HOW SHOULD PARENT-CAMPER COMMUNICATION BE HANDLED? A: Most camps do not allow phone calls home for reasons of logistics and camper adjustment. Most communication between camper and parent is done the old-fashioned way: by mail.

Some camps print out emails and distribute them at mail call.

The biggest challenge for some parents is that they will not get a daily status report directly from the camper, which can be a deal-breaker. Many camps will have someone on staff assigned to talk to parents about their children and let them know how the

campers are doing every day. Again, find out beforehand how a camp will keep parents informed about their campers. The camp should have a clear set of procedures.

Q: SHOULD KIDS GO WITH FRIENDS, OR IS IT BETTER IF THEY GO ON THEIR OWN? A: There are arguments on both sides. Going with a friend can reduce stress if a camper is a bit anxious. Many parents, however, prefer sending their child alone. They find that when a camper must navigate a new environment and make new friends, the camp experience is richer and more impactful.

Q: HOW SHOULD A CAMP HANDLE DISCIPLINE? A: There are obvious things they shouldn’t do. They shouldn’t touch a camper. They shouldn’t haze campers with things like push-ups. They should never deal with campers out of the view of others. There are many techniques for managing camper behavior, which should be covered and practiced in staff training. In general, camps will use systems that involve positive reinforcement.

Q: SHOULD PARENTS ASK FOR REFERENCES FROM A CAMP? A: Any camp should be able to provide you with a list of camp families willing to speak honestly about the camp. The list of parents should include those who match your own family’s circumstance; i.e., parents of boys, parents of girls, parents of young campers, parents of teens, parents of first-time campers or parents of children with special needs.

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Q: HOW SHOULD YOU PREPARE A CHILD FOR CAMP? A: Seeing the camp is a great way to prepare a child for camp.

Walking the grounds and inspecting a cabin removes some of the mystery. Be positive about the experience. Don’t ask things like, “Are you nervous about camp, Billy?” If he isn’t, the question is moot. If he is, the question may only make things worse. Instead, be encouraging. Tell your camper how excited you are for him or her and about all the fun that awaits. Be cool about it.

It’s important for parents to realize that the experiences and lessons campers take away from their time at summer camp will be profoundly personal. The lessons may not be what you expected or the same ones that influenced you when you were a camper. Your camper will be doing the “heavy lifting” in this project. He will be making his own choices. She will be making her own mistakes and feeling the consequences. Counselors are always at the campers’ side to encourage and support, but when campers fail [at something], they alone will decide whether to pick themselves up and try again. The experience will be all theirs.

Parents need to be confident that they have selected a camp that will keep their loved ones safe and lovingly mentored.

Sometimes it’s hard for parents to allow this much distance between themselves and their children, but they need to trust that they have raised children capable of making this important journey of self-discovery.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 69

CAMPS Children in the MIMkids Musical Adventures program show off their creations.

The MIM is a kid-friendly, world-class museum

T

he Musical Instrument Museum is more than just a world-class museum. It is also a very kid-friendly museum. Throughout the year, the MIMkids programs offer age-appropriate music and movement activities for ages 10 and under. There is also a program for kids in grades 6-12 to learn how to become junior museum guides.

For ages 0-5 (accompanied by a caregiver), Mini Music Makers introduces children to music from around the globe through singing, dancing and playing instruments. Each four-week session explores a new musical culture. There are eight classes offered a week, with different times divided by age groups.

For kids aged 6-10, there is an educational program offered called Musical Adventures. Participants will discover new cultures by actively participating in music making, creating musical instruments and exploring MIM’s exhibits. Each monthly class focuses on a different continent, giving participants a wellrounded overview of music from around the world.

The final offering in the MIMkids programming is Junior Museum Guides and Girl Scout Junior Museum Guides for kids in grades 6-12. Students in this program will learn about cultures from around the world, participate in music making and will train to lead tours while exploring MIM’s unique galleries and exhibits. Participants who complete all four classes will have the opportunity to lead group tours during events at the MIM. Katherine Palmer is museum educator at the MIM, where she develops and teaches most of these music educational programs.

“Our programs, in the past, did not run in the summer. With an increase in demand we do currently run programs in the summer,” says Katherine.

The museum also continues youth tours throughout the summer. This year children will have even more interactive space to explore when they visit. The Encore Gallery opened on Feb. 70 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

17 and is an expansion to the popular Experience Gallery which offers hands-on activities with instruments from many different cultures.

“The Encore Gallery is a smaller version of the Experience Gallery for our youngest guests,” explains Katherine. “We’ve made accommodations in that space with smaller instruments, and we are trying to adhere to developmentally appropriate practice by setting things up to provoke their engagement with music. We offer a pre-K tour for ages 3-5 and then we have [grades] K-2 tours that come in. Early childhood as defined is for ages 0-8, but we typically see ages 3-8 on tours.”

These galleries are participatory learning environments with instruments that are themed by geographic regions, much like the gallery upstairs. There is the U.S.A. area with a guitar and a Native American drum, a Latin American space with a Peruvian harp, some cuatros and Venezuelan maracas and other sections for instruments indigenous to Africa, Asia and Europe.

The MIM also offers signature events throughout the year which are family-friendly with themed activities. “Our next experience weekend is Experience Ireland on March 11 and 12. In April we will be celebrating our “Dragons and Vines” exhibit with a spotlight on guitars,” explains Katherine. “On May 20 is our Experience Polynesia event with the Girl Scout Junior Museum Guides leading tours and a ukulele workshop that day and then on June 10 and 11 the public Junior Museum Guides will be leading tours for Experience Brazil and a Brazilian drumming workshop that accompanies it.”

For a fun and musical adventure for the kids (and parents, too), visit the Musical Instrument Museum at 4725 E. Mayo Blvd. in Phoenix. The museum is open daily from 9 am-5 pm. For more information, call 480-478-6000 or visit mim.org.

Kids, ADHD & summer camp: Tips to ensure an awesome summer

By Robin Finn

I

spent seven of the best summers of my life at camp in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. As an adult, I became a public health professional turned ADHD advocate, spiritual seeker, essayist and author – and a mother of three.

As they say, “l’dor v’dor,” from generation to generation: one of the key experiences I hoped to pass along to my kids was the opportunity to become summer campers. Camp had a pivotal and positive impact on my childhood. I wanted my kids to have the same.

For kids with ADHD, camp can be a wonderful experience, but planning ahead is critical. We’ve all heard of shalom bayit, or peace in the house. Following these simple rules can help lead to a summer of shalom kvutza, or “peace in the cabin.”

CHOOSE A CAMP THAT’S A GOOD FIT The outlook of the staff is what makes summer camp a safe and magical place. Some camps focus on building athletic prowess, others on musical talents, others on religious values and some feature all of the above. For ADHD kids, the opportunity to be away from home, manage their own schedules, navigate conflict, act as a team player and even locate and clean their Shabbat clothes can have a lasting positive impact on their confidence all year long. With a little extra support, camp life creates a sense of accomplishment and acceptance that can truly transform a child.

At the camp my children attend, community and inclusion are values. Make sure your values are in line with those of the camp to ensure a successful summer.

COMMUNICATE HONESTLY WITH CAMP Most sleepaway camps ask for a list of medications your child needs while away from home. But not all ask about the child’s experience with transitions. Is he or she a good sleeper? How flexible is your child about food? Is he a good conflict resolver?

Is she particularly sensitive? Kids with ADHD may feel anxious about not knowing the schedule or with whom they are sharing a bunk. Painting an accurate picture of your child’s strengths and weaknesses will help camp staffers prepare for a successful session.

PLAN AHEAD WITH YOUR CHILD Think ahead and help your child solve problems in advance. My son had a hard time falling asleep. Leaving for camp with an Itty Bitty book light and two novels helped ensure that he not only had a way to help himself fall asleep that wouldn’t disturb others, but also that he wouldn’t have to worry about it. Simply knowing he was going off to camp with a book light made an anxious situation a lot less anxiety-provoking.

LET GO OF THE SMALL STUFF ADHD kids can have a particularly difficult time keeping track of belongings. With swimsuits, towels and jackets going on and

off, camp can be a real challenge in this regard. Let your kids off the hook early. Pack old, inexpensive items and label everything.

That way they know – in advance – “if you can’t find it, it’s no big deal.” Anxiety can be a real problem for kids with ADHD. I don’t want mine spending the summer worrying about losing stuff.

Some items won’t make it home – no big deal. This puts their minds at ease.

HAVE A “PEACE PLAN” IN PLACE Multiple bunkmates, lack of sleep, a change in eating habits and a lot of stimulation can be challenging for any child. For ADHD kids, this can cause distress. As they acclimate to the camp environment, what can your child do if they are feeling out of sorts? Is there a quiet corner they can hang out in? A counselorbuddy they can talk to? Can they drop by the health center and say hi to a nurse? Pop in the office and sit on the couch?

Being caught off guard can be really hard for an ADHD kid.

Work with the camp to create a “peace plan” and communicate it to your child. It empowers them to know how to handle their feelings and, once again, knowing the plan significantly reduces anxiety.

Making sure the camp’s values are in line with yours, sharing honestly with camp about your child’s strengths and weaknesses, and helping your child come up with solutions for possibly challenging situations boosts their confidence and increases the chances that your child will have an awesome summer. And isn’t that what camp is all about?

Robin Finn

Robin Finn is a lifelong lover of summer camp. She lives with her husband and family in Los Angeles. Her first novel, Restless in L.A., is the story of a midlife mother struggling to raise three challenging children and deal with the fallout after she reconnects online with an old love from college. To learn more, visit robinfinn.com.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 71

CAMPS

Funding available to campers

Jewish Community Foundation offers need-based summer camp scholarships – deadline is March 6.

T

he Jewish Community Foundation has limited, needbased scholarships available for Jewish children from Maricopa County to attend Jewish summer camp in the United States. Scholarship requests should be “last resort” funds, supplementing financial aid provided by the camp, family, synagogue and all other possible sources. Applicants must be in grades K-11 for the current school year. Priority is given for those attending overnight camps.

Funding is made possible by a generous grant from the Molly Blank Fund of the Jewish Community Foundation and endowment funds established at the Jewish Community Foundation by Jack Bromfield and by the families of Labe Eric Targovnik and Kenneth Maltenfort for the dual purposes of reducing the financial burden of camping on Jewish families and encouraging Jewish families to enroll their children in

72 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

an immersive Jewish camping experience. “Thanks to the generosity of these donors, scholarships awarded in 2016 helped more than 80 local children attend Jewish camps,” says Richard Kasper, president and CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation.

Completed scholarship applications must be received by the Jewish Community Foundation no later than noon on March 6.

To apply online visit jcfphoenix.org/news-events.

For more information, or to make a contribution to the Bromfield, Maltenfort or Targovnik camp scholarship endowment funds, contact 480-699-1717.

One Happy Camper program helps first-time campers The One Happy Camper program is not a scholarship; it is an incentive grant that provides need-blind grants of up to $1,000 to families with children attending nonprofit, missiondriven Jewish overnight camp for the first time. One Happy Camper is a program of the Federation in partnership with the Foundation for Jewish Camp and Jewish overnight camps across North America. Eligibility and grant amounts are determined by the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix in coordination with the Foundation for Jewish Camp. Eligibility is typically based on:

• WHERE YOU LIVE • PAST OVERNIGHT NONPROFIT JEWISH SUMMER CAMP EXPERIENCE • LENGTH OF STAY AT CAMP • T YPE OF SCHOOL YOUR CHILD IS CURRENTLY ENROLLED IN • GRADE YOUR CHILD WILL ENTER THE FALL AFTER CAMP • WHETHER YOUR CHILD IDENTIFIES AS BEING JEWISH

Donations made to Federation (designated to the One Happy Camper program) fund campers. Please note: Currently, the Federation has a waitlist and has utilized all funding for summer 2017.

For more information, contact Jennifer Gale at 480-481-1752 or jgale@jewishphoenix.org.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 73

CAMP DIRECTORY DAY CAMPS AZ on the Rocks 16447 N 91st St #105, Scottsdale 480-502-9777 • azontherocks.com Our high energy, well-qualified counselors will help your child build new friendships, discover new interest and improve selfesteem, all in an inviting environment. No experience is required. AZ on the Rocks camps focus on movement, physical activity and having fun. Campers will climb, do yoga, ninjitsu and many other fun activities. Lunch is provided fresh every day

by Pita Jungle (with pizza on Fridays). Halfor full-day sessions June 5-Aug. 4. $300 for half day and $360 for full day.

Ballet Theatre of Phoenix Summer Intensive 2326 E Indian School Road, Phoenix 602-957-3364 • ballettheatreofphx.org Train in Classical Ballet for aspiring dancers ages 3-18 who want to experience the joy that comes from dancing. Students develop creative movement skills, musicality, rhythm, coordination, expression, character, and confidence. Ballet Theatre of Phoenix offers an intensive training program aimed at the full development of the young artist, providing each student with an effective range of technical skills, coupled with artistic expression.

Camp Gan Israel 2110 E Lincoln Drive, Phoenix 602-944-2753 • cgiofphoenix.com Camp Gan Israel is a six-week day camp beginning June 26 for girls ages 3-12 and boys ages 3-10. CGI is part of the largest network of Jewish schools around the world and is known for being a safe place for children and for their incredibly dedicated and fun staff.

Children’s Museum of Phoenix 215 N 7th St, Phoenix 602-253-0501 childrensmuseumofphoenix.org When school is out, camp is in! Check out our Spring and Summer Break Camps Camps at the Children's Museum of Phoenix feature hands-on learning 74 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

designed to cultivate the minds and muscles of children ages 5-8. Activities in each unique camp include art, science, math, literacy and plenty of free play within all three floors of the museum’s imaginative exhibits!

East Valley Children’s Theatre 4501 E Main St, Mesa 480-756-3828 • evct.org Imagination Theatre Camp for ages 5-8: June 5-16 (Mon.-Fri.) An introduction to musical theater performance. 9 am-noon.

Theatre Workshop Camp for ages 8-15: June 5-16 (Mon.-Fri.) A different theatre topic every day. Take one-day, one-week or two-weeks of classes 8:30 am-4 pm.

Musical Theatre Camp for ages 8-15: June 19-30 and July 10-21 (Mon.-Fri.). Learn skills in acting, singing, and dancing while having fun! Full day, 8:30 am-4 pm; halfday, 8:30 am-noon or 12:30-4 pm.

New Way Academy Adventures in Learning 5048 E Oak St, Phoenix 602-629-6850 newwayacademy.org/summer New Way’s summer program offers K–12 students a perfect blend between academics and fun! Classes focus on the most important areas of academic need (math, phonics, reading, and communication), with occupational and/ or speech therapy available as well.

Weekly adventures will allow students to experience fun activities outside the classroom, leaving them feeling more confident in their academic abilities and energized from their adventures!

Programs are available for elementary, junior high and high school students.

Phoenix Zoo 455 N Galvin Pkwy, Phoenix 602-286-3800 • phoenixzoo.org Camp Zoo sessions for K-8 include up-close animal encounters, behind-thescenes adventures, art and hands-on learning activities, fun games, in-depth investigations and organized free time within the unique environment of the Phoenix Zoo.

Scottsdale Artists’ School Summer Fine Art Camp 3720 N Marshall Way, Scottsdale 480-990-1422 • scottsdaleartschool.org Fine Art Camp for ages 6-18. Students will embark on a true artist’s journey while exploring the fundamentals of fine art.

Each themed session incorporates both 2D and 3D mediums such as: drawing, painting, sculpture and mixed-media.

Sessions are geared towards artists of all skill levels. Camp runs May 30- Aug. 3 and is $300 per session and $325 for high school sessions. Supplies included.

Registration available online or by phone.

Stage Dreams Youth Theater North Phoenix, Glendale and Peoria 623-252-9001 • stagedreams.net Exciting and fun theatrical camps. All experience levels welcome. We encourage your child to reach their individual performance potential. Follow your dreams!

Ages 5-18 years. 1- and 2-week camps available.

Temple Kol Ami Early Childhood Center 15030 N 64th St, Scottsdale 480-951-5825 templekolami.org/early-childhood-center Camp Kol Ami welcomes infants through pre-K for nine weeks starting May 30.

Choose from Fun In the Sun and/or Specialty Camps (art, dance, drama and Spanish enrichment camps for nonnapping children, running 2 weeks each).

All campers enjoy daily splash pad play, individual attention and loving care from experienced teachers.

Tucson Jewish Community Center 3800 E River Road, Tucson 520-299-3000 • tucsonjcc.org Lights, Camera, Camp J! An action-packed summer day camp that will guarantee to build enriching experiences and memories. Each week our traditional camp celebrates the different genres of cinematic history. Includes all the favorites; dance, drama, music, science, cooking/ nutrition, community service and culture.

Sports campers will learn and improve

their athletic skills, teamwork and good sportsmanship as they enjoy healthy competitions. The only camp in Tucson with the American Camping Association (ACA) accreditation.

Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center 12701 N Scottsdale Road #201, Scottsdale 480-634-4949 • vosjcc.org/shemesh Shemesh Summer Camp provides a fun and enriching summer for children entering grades K-8 with traditional and specialty camps such as arts, science, sports, cooking, LEGO engineering and more!

T-shirt, daily snacks and weekly field trips included, as well as free and instructional swim. Extended hours and sibling discounts available.

Xtreme Gymnastics 15821 N 79th St, Scottsdale 480-596-3543 • xtremegymnastics.com FIT-N-FUN Camp promote health and fitness while having a blast. Throughout each

week, children 3-12 years of age will enjoy gymnastics, trampoline, group challenge activities, obstacle courses, team sports, relay races, inflatables and much much more! The Xtreme Gymnastics staff is high energy, USAG Safety Certified with complete background checks. Our facility is state of the art and fully air conditioned.

RESIDENTIAL CAMPS B’nai B’rith Camp Devil’s Lake, Otis, Oregon 503-452-3443 • bbcamp.org B’nai B’rith Camp is a vibrant and inclusive community rooted in Jewish values that offers a wide range of activities including the arts, sports, lake activities, outdoors, swimming, leadership development, social action, Jewish enrichment, Israeli culture and Shabbat celebrations. At BB Camp, every summer is an opportunity for deep, meaningful and lifelong friendships.

Friendly Pines Camp 933 E Friendly Pines Road, Prescott 928-445-2128 • friendlypines.com Friendly Pines Camp is a traditional coed camp for ages 6-13. Nestled in the tall, cool pines, Friendly Pines offers 30+ activities to choose from. Horseback riding, swimming, waterskiing, rock climbing, ropes course, archery, sports, hiking, pets and more. Excellent campers to staff ratios.

Professional background checks and drug tests on staff. ACA accredited. 76 years of experience. Turning childhood moments into life’s rich memories.

Hebrew High Care-a-van 12701 N Scottsdale Road #206, Scottsdale 480-634-8050 • bjephoenix.org Hebrew High Care-a-van is a fifteen-day summer adventure that brings high school teens together from across Arizona, for meaningful Jewish education, community service, socialization, and travel. Students travel on an air-conditioned motor coach throughout the western states, volunteering

10 week s of Enr ichin Now offering Northwest

Bus Transportation!

Pick up and Drop off at Foothills Mall For more info visit tucsonjcc.org/camp

SUMMER g , M e m o r a b l e E x p e r i e n c e s C MAY 25 - AMP J 2017 AUGUST 520-299-3 000 I cam 9 p@tucson REGISTER jcc B Y MARCH

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31 AND S

AVE!

.org

3800 E. River Rd. I Tucson, AZ 85718

tucsonjcc.org ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 75

in each of the communities visited. Leisure time activities include; white water rafting and amusement park fun.

JCC Maccabi Sport Camp Atherton, California 2-week sessions for grades 4-11. Campers develop skills in the sport of their choice – baseball, basketball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, softball or girls lacrosse. Daily routine also includes plenty of other sports and camp activities mixed in with the core values of a Jewish summer camp experience.

Rein Teen Tours/Rein Community Service Locations in US, Canada, Europe, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Thailand, Australia & New Zealand 800-831-1313 • reinteentours.com or reincommunityservice.com Activity-oriented travel programs for ages 13-17. Trips range in length from 2 to 6 weeks with travel throughout the Continental United States, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Europe, and Australia & New Zealand. Also offering 2- to 4-week community service volunteer programs in locations such as Hawaii, California, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the Amazon, the Galapagos Islands, Thailand and Tour & Service (a hybrid teen tour and community service program).

Australia/New Zealand Adventure is a 26-day program with activities, sites and culture, including 20 hours of community service.

Golf & Service @ Project California in Santa Barbara includes hands-on instruction, play time on courses and community service credit through volunteering as a mentor at The First Tee Program.

Wilshire Boulevard Temple Camps 11495 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA Camp Hess Kramer: 310-457-7861 Gindling Hilltop Camp: 310-457-9617 wbtcamps.org Camp Hess Kramer (grades 3-10) is set in a valley and right off the beach and Gindling Hilltop Camp (grades 3-9) is at the top of the mountain overlooking the entire Pacific Ocean.

Campers are offered a wealth of programming options – topnotch sports, theatre, music, dance, swimming, arts and crafts, social, spiritual and educational activities, all designed to create a magical environment in which campers can stretch their limits, build meaningful relationships, develop a profound connection to Judaism and have the time of their lives.

East Valley Children’s Theatre

Imagination Theatre Camp for ages 5-8 June 5-16 - 9 AM to Noon, Monday thru Friday Introduction to acting, singing and stage movement

Theatre Workshop Camp - Kids 8-15 June 5-16, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday thru Friday

Musical Theatre Camp - Kids 8-15 TWO - two week sessions (with final day performance) June 19-30, July 10-21

REGISTRATION AND DETAILED INFORMATION AT WWW.EVCT.ORG OR CALL THE EVCT OFFICE 480-756-3828 Sibling Discounts available for all camps. info@evct.org www.evct.org

76 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

REGISTER ONLINE: www.newwayacademy.org/summer

Five-Week Session, June 5–July 6, 2017 Monday–Thursday, 8:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

New Way’s summer program offers K–12 students a perfect blend between academics and fun! Classes focus on the most important areas of academic need (math, phonics, reading, and communication), with occupational and/or speech therapy available as well. Weekly adventures will allow students to experience fun activities outside the classroom, leaving them feeling more confident in their academic abilities and energized from their adventures!

Programs are available for elementary, jr. high, and high school students.

5048 E. OAK STREET | PHOENIX, AZ 85008 | 602.629.6850

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 77

Doctors Express is now Phoenix Urgent Care Same Great Providers Same Great Medical Care Same Great Location and Hours

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K iednsstoo EMvaerncths & te

March 3, 10, 17, 24 & 31

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. Nonmembers pay $10 per class (or $75 for a 10- class pass). For registration or information contact 480-951-5825 or tkaecc@templekolami.org.

March 4

J CARNIVAL at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center,

12701 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 6-10 pm. We celebrate Purim with costumes and a kid-sized carnival ! Kids enjoy our bouncy house, test their skills with carnival games and even get their faces painted!

Dinner and snacks provided. Movie: Cars. $35 for non-members, $25 for members. 480-634-4949 or youth@vosjcc.org.

March 6, 13, 20 & 27

PARENT-TOT CLASS for ages up to 24 months and their parent(s).

Participants sign songs, make art projects, read stories, have a snack and share parenting advice. Free. 9-11 am at Congregation Anshei Israel, 5550 E 5th St., Tucson. 520-745-5550 ext. 229 or lynne@caiaz.org.

March 6-10 & 13-17

VALLEY OF THE SUN JCC SHEMESH CAMP at 12701 N

Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 9 am-3 pm. Offers students grades K-5 two weeks of fun during spring break. For more information and pricing, contact 480-634-4949 or youth@vosjcc.org.

March 8

MASQUERADE PARTY & FAMILY DINNER at East Valley Jewish Community Center, 908 N Alma School Road, Chandler from 5-7 pm. Italian dinner, raffle baskets, costume contest and more. $7/person, $25/family. To RSVP contact 480-897-0588 or eastvalleyjcc.regfox.com/ purim-party.

March 14

FRIENDLY PINES CAMP INFORMATION NIGHT at

Scottsdale Country Day School, 10460 N 56th St., Paradise Valley from 6:30-8 pm. The Director of Friendly Pines Camp in Prescott, Kevin Nissen, will offer a very informative and helpful presentation and discuss all the emotional and physical benefits that children experience when they attend a summer sleepaway camp. All of your questions about sleepaway camp will be answered. Gifts and door prizes will be given. 928-445-2128 or friendlypines.com.

March 18

PARENT’S NIGHT OUT at Xtreme Gymnastics, 15821 N 79th St. #3, Scottsdale from 6-10 pm. Leave your kids for a funfilled Saturday evening of gymnastics fun, games and group activities while you go out and have a lively time of your own! For ages 3-12; open to non-members. $24/individual, $58/family. Reservations required.

480-596-3543 or xtreme@xtremegymnastics.com.

78 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

JOIN THE MIMKIDS FUN THIS SUMMER MIMkids Mini Music Makers Ages 0–5 MIMkids Musical Adventures Ages 6–10 MIMkids Junior Museum Guides Grades 6–12

March 26

PASSOVER FUN SUPER SUNDAY at The J at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 10 am- 2 pm. PJ Library joins us in time for Passover. Read stories as a family and children make holiday-related crafts, including their very own afikomen bag. Free and open to the community. 480-634-4949 or youth@vosjcc.org.

TSO FREE CONCERT FOR KIDS at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E River Road, Tucson from 2-3 pm. Come join the TSO Wind Quintet for a trio of fables with their new show “Aesop’s Adventures!” 520-299-3000 or tucsonjcc.org.

April 1

“Everyone was very friendly and knowledgeable and this was all around fun.”

—MIMkids Junior Museum Guide Participant

THE CHOCOLATE SEDER at the Tucson Jewish Community

Center, 3800 E River Road, Tucson from 6:30-8 pm. Meet new friends and families, and get in the Passover mood at the annual Chocolate Seder. $3 in advance/ $5 per person at the door (space permitting) To register over the phone, please call The J Welcome Desk at 520-299-3000.

MIM.org 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix, AZ

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 79

ISRAEL

“Forever Young – Bob Dylan at 75” exhibit: Bob Dylan with his son Jesse, Woodstock, NY, 1968.

Photo by © Elliott Landy.

Among the “Hallelujah!” exhibit treasures is a Hanukkah menorah topped by a Polish eagle from the Great Synagogue of Warsaw.

80 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Recently renovated Museum of the Jewish People strengthens cultural ties

By Leni Reiss

Beit Hatfutsot, the museum which chronicles the history of Jews throughout the Diaspora, has been one of Israel’s most visited tourist sites since it first opened in 1978 on the campus of Tel Aviv University. Not only has the museum recently undergone a name change – it’s now the Museum of the Jewish People – but it has significantly expanded its scope and physical structure. Dated exhibition areas have been transformed into exciting, state-of-the-art platforms for the expression of Jewish culture and identity.

Before attending the Jewish Media Summit in Jerusalem this past December, I had arranged to be in Tel Aviv for a day, where I was treated to a tour of the museum by its justifiably proud CEO, Dan Tadmor.

We concentrated on exhibits in the “New Wing,” which opened last May with its theme of Jewish identity and pluralism. This splendid venue reflects the Diaspora’s rich Jewish culture. Tadmor emphasizes that “we no longer are just about the delineation of the Jews but about describing the Jewish world today.”

The New Wing houses, among others, the renowned collection of synagogue models called “Hallelujah!”, which Tadmor says everyone always remembers. It has been updated and is housed in a new gallery to better showcase 21 models of places of worship worldwide, 19 of which are Orthodox.

Original ceremonial items are on display alongside each model, including historical Judaica, prayer books and publications. There are bronze representations of each structure, including the original menorah topped by a Polish eagle from Warsaw’s Great Synagogue, a spectacular synagogue ceiling reconstruction and a stained glass window created in 1919 in Germany by the artist Friedrich Adler.

“Operation Moses: 30 Years After” is an exhibition featuring the stories of 10 individuals who made their way to a life in a new country. Photographer Doron Bacher began photographing Jews in Ethiopia in 1984, documenting their immigration and absorption over a seven-year period. This inspirational exhibit is based on Bacher’s photographs.

“Forever Young – Bob Dylan at 75” was curated long before the iconic and influential songwriter and performer (born Robert Allen Zimmerman) was awarded the 2016

Nobel Prize in Literature. The exhibition focuses on Dylan’s worldwide influence on music and his complex relationship with his Jewish identity. A short documentary addresses his influence on leading Israeli musicians.

“Heroes – Trailblazers of the Jewish People” is geared toward children ages 6 to 12 but is irresistible to anyone. Designed as an open space that encourages and facilitates interaction, “Heroes” represents a new way to envision what it means to be a hero. Fun and engaging, it highlights 144 men and women throughout history – including scientists (most notably Albert Einstein), intellectuals, revolutionaries, artists and athletes – with the message that success has many faces. “We are shedding light on so many unknown heroes and heroines,” says Tadmor.

Noting that “building a modern museum is a huge endeavor,” Tadmor acknowledges the financial support of Russian-born Israeli oil magnate Leonid Nevzlin, who made aliyah in 2003 and whose daughter serves as the museum’s president. He has invested some $25 million in the facility, insisting on “no naming.”

“We are putting our museum back on the map,” says Tadmor. “It is a place locals and visitors need to [see] – and the number of visitors is on the upswing. There are so many reasons to see all that we have to offer.”

Learn more at bh.org.il.

Leni Reiss in the “Heroes – Trailblazers of the Jewish People” exhibit with Dan Tadmor.

Transcending the boundaries of silence and darkness

Another extraordinary experience awaits you in Tel Aviv. The Nalaga’at Center at Jaffa Port offers the unique opportunity to attend a performance of “Not by Bread Alone,” presented by a troupe of deaf and blind actors who take you on a tour of their world as they knead and bake bread and interact with the audience.

Before the show, you can dine at the BlackOut Restaurant, where you are escorted to your table by blind waiters and eat in total darkness. As the promotional pamphlet reads, “There is so much to be ‘seen’ when eyes are closed.”

Learn more at nalagaat.org.il.

From a series of collectable tzedakah boxes, a model of Tiempo Israelitico built in Florence, Italy in 1882.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 81

TRAVEL

Jewish Heritage Sites in Spain Story and photos by Jay Chatzkel

Our recent travels in Spain became more meaningful – and a bit more of an adventure – when my wife, Barbara, and I included visits to Jewish heritage sites. Over the last 100 years, and especially since the 1970s, sites have been recovered and restored by private initiatives, as well as an official Spanish government remembrance program.

We had only a vague idea of what we would find when we began exploring Jewish heritage sites in Spain. For example, as Americans, the year 1492 marks Columbus’ “discovery” of the New World. In our travels, we learned there was another side of the coin to that date: the year that Jews were officially expelled from a newly united Spain.

Our trip – which included stops in Barcelona, Girona, Toledo, Madrid, Granada and Córdoba – was a chance to fill gaps in the story.

While we found most heritage sites in guidebooks and on the internet, we discovered others by asking a lot of questions – and with a certain amount of luck. There is truth to the statement that the harder you work, the more luck you have. Our pre-work and persistence paid off. Here are a couple of highlights.

Girona

A half-hour train ride north from Barcelona is the town of Girona, with a historic district considered to have the best preserved medieval town and Jewish Call in Spain. In the late 800s, Jewish families began living in Girona, where the Jewish population grew to about 1,000. Surprising to us, but not unique, was that the Jewish Call was next to the Girona Cathedral. This was how Catholic Church authorities kept an eye on the Jewish settlement. The Jewish community paid taxes to the Church in return for its protection and regulation.

From the 900s through the 1200s, Girona became a vital center for traditional Torah The bronze statue of Maimonides stands in study and mystical Maimonides Square in Córdoba.

82 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

A view inside the Córdoba Synagogue, built in 1315.

kabbalistic studies, which gained it the name “the Mother City of Israel.” It was home to one of the most prominent rabbis of the era, Rabbi Moshe ben Nahman – better known as Nahmanides and also referred to as the acronym Ramban – as well as other leading scholars.

The pogrom of 1391 brought an end to Girona’s Jewish community, whose history was then forgotten for over 500 years. In the 1970s, a Catalonian poet bought some properties in the old town to remodel into a restaurant. While working on the old structures, he discovered the foundations of Nahmanides’ yeshiva.

Shortly afterward, the new mayor of Girona, a historian, recognized the value of the Jewish contribution to the city and turned the ancient buildings into the Museum

of Jewish History, which today also serves as a center of study.

We went to Girona to visit the museum, not knowing what else we would find. As we walked the old stone streets of the Call, we passed a Jewish center where a Yom Kippur service was in progress. As we started our tour of the museum, we heard a voice call out, “Are you Jewish?” We turned and saw a young bearded man in a beautiful tallit and yarmulke. He encouraged us to join the Yom Kippur service at the Jewish center. It was as if an angel had come out of sky to seek us out – so of course, we did.

In a scene that could have come out of a Marc Chagall painting, we followed the young man in the ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 83

The outdoor plaza at the Museum of Jewish History in Girona.

flowing tallit up the ancient, winding stone street to the Chabad of Girona Jewish center to the service. (The Rosh Hashanah service the previous week was the first of the New Year in Girona for 600 years…imagine that!)

The prayer books were mostly in Hebrew and Spanish, but because of the variety of visitors to Girona, there were also several in English, French and Russian. Our rabbi had also “recruited” a couple from Paris who were in Girona for the weekend. Other congregants included a retired dentist from Yuma, Arizona and his wife, who had visited Girona on a cruise and fallen in love with it before deciding to live there permanently.

During the service, we came to the Yizkor memorial prayer.

Because the rabbi’s parents are still living, he had to leave until the prayer was completed. To my surprise, he asked me to lead the Yizkor service. I approached the ark, where the rabbi pulled my tallit over my head and walked away. I was honored but more than a little apprehensive, since I had never led a Yizkor service, let alone one in a foreign country. Using the Hebrew/English prayer book, I led our multinational group of congregants through the service, taking the Torah out of the ark and holding it in front of the congregation.

After the service, we returned to the Museum of Jewish History and finished our tour. We walked through the story of the Girona Jewish community over the centuries, the attacks of 1391, the Spanish Inquisition and, finally, the 1492 expulsion.

The museum has an extensive collection of medieval Jewish artifacts, including massive tombstones, deeds, menorahs, stone blocks from doorways with channels carved out for mezuzot and articles from every area of Jewish life. The museum’s second floor has an outdoor plaza with a large Star of David and an arch with a menorah from an earlier site dedication.

Our new friends from Yuma took us on an “insider” walking tour of historic Girona, guiding us to a number of Jewish 84 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

heritage sites that only someone who lives there would know, including a garden where the Kabbalah community leaders gathered and which is now memorialized with plaques bearing their names.

Córdoba

Córdoba has the only remaining medieval synagogue in southern Spain. It is the city where Maimonides lived and wrote his great works.

Although most evidence of the vibrant culture – which was rich in scholarship, poetry and philosophy – of the Jewish community is gone, with some imagination and a visit to the recently founded Casa de Sefarad museum, that history returns to life.

The ancient synagogue, built in 1315, is a lovely, wellpreserved building, despite the passing of hundreds of years.

In the 1400s, it was taken over for use as a hospital and then, interestingly, as a shoemakers’ guild. The walls filled with decorative script were covered over and left undisturbed, a testament to their good condition. When the ceiling of the building collapsed in the 1850s, the original Hebrew script covering it and its walls was revealed. The synagogue was restored reopened as a museum. Although much smaller, its design is similar to the Synagogue of El Tránsito in Toledo, Spain, since they were both built at approximately the same time.

Near the synagogue is Maimonides Square, with its bronze sculpture of Maimonides sitting with a book in his hands, possibly his Guide to the Perplexed. The front of his right shoe is well worn, prompted by the story that if you rubbed it with your hand, some of Maimonides wisdom would rub off on you. Everyone who visits the sculpture, myself included,

makes sure to give it a try. Nearby is the Casa de Sefarad and the House of Memories, a center for learning the history and culture of medieval Jewish Córdoba. Casa de Sefarad also hosts a wide variety of performances in its cultural arts space and is home to a repository of books and materials on the medieval Jewish world. Casa de Sefarad was founded by a professor from Seville who saw that the rich heritage of Córdoba was in danger of being lost. He made it his mission to open the center in remembrance of the Jewish contribution to the world, which he accomplished with private funds and no government involvement.

The Casa de Sefarad – located in Córdoba’s Jewish Quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage Site – attracts a large number of tourists who are curious about this unique world. The Casa’s committed staff take visitors through its exhibits and hosts them at performances linked to Córdoba’s traditions. I toured the Casa in the afternoon and returned later in the evening for a flamenco performance in the courtyard, its floor inlayed with a mosaic Star of David.

Córdoba was a fitting end to this journey. The search for the Jewish heritage of Spain does not always mean finding synagogues, ancient tombstones and signs that mezuzot were once placed inside doorways. Jewish heritage resurrects the history and contributions of a people who once represented ten percent of the population on the peninsula but who now number less than one half of one percent of Spain’s population.

Córdoba has its rare synagogue but is also a place where a great philosophic, arts and religious heritage was cultivated – and represents the background that shaped much of who we are today. Discovering all of these elements of Jewish heritage is a journey of finding one’s own heritage and origins. It is also an exploration of the Sephardic tradition, one that is known only to a small extent by the majority of Jews who come from Central and Eastern European Ashkenazi traditions.

Finally, is it a journey that takes many paths. The Spanish and local governments are making efforts to create monuments of remembrance. Others believe that going the unfettered route of autonomous, private funding is the only real way to creating a living memory of the contribution Jewish heritage to the Spain of today. Most likely it will take both public and private efforts,

by Jews and non-Jews, to bring the renaissance of Spain’s Jewish heritage to full bloom. This discovery was as heartening as it was unexpected.

The greatest achievements of the earlier Jewish communities of Spain were collaborative efforts that crossed cultures and religious groups. And we found similar, transforming efforts to break down boundaries happening today.

If you are thinking of visiting Spain, consider taking time to learn about its rich Jewish heritage. The Jews of early Spain saw it as a place of promise and, to the degree they could, they fulfilled that promise. Take the time to visit historic sites across Spain and experience this unique heritage – your heritage.

Feel free to contact Jay Chatzkel at info@ jaychatzkelphotography.com.

To read more about Jay’s journey to Jewish Heritage Sites in Spain, including the cities of Barcelona, Toledo, Madrid and Granada, visit azjewishlife.com.

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2/15/17 3:35 PM

L iving

J

TO LIFE

Where do I come from?

By Amy Hirshberg Lederman

When my daughter Lauren was in kindergarten, her class took a trip to our local zoo to learn about animals. The children were treated to two beautiful, slightly unusual sights that morning: A newborn lion cub lay curled up sleeping next to its mother and an elephant named Sammie was breastfeeding her baby. When I picked Lauren up after school, she talked nonstop about these two baby animals and the mothers who cared for them. My mommy radar went into high alert and I felt the inevitability of her question coming toward me like a heat-seeking missile.

I let out a deep breath, feeling both anxious and somewhat prepared, since I had preemptively bought a copy of Peter Mayle’s book, Where Did I Come From? to have the politically correct, age-appropriate answer in my back pocket when she asked.

The truth-seeker in me felt obligated to answer the question of where babies come from with scientific facts, which included words like sperm, egg and embryo. But the moment my notyet-6-year-old daughter asked the question, I realized I could take the conversation in another direction and still give her a legitimate answer.

So I talked about the beauty of love between two people and how sometimes that love expands to include the miracle of creating a baby together. And that it’s a big commitment and you have to decide that you will take care of that baby and learn all the things you need to know to be a good mommy or daddy – even if you are a lion or an elephant.

My answer seemed to satisfy her for a few days, until she handed me the copy of Where Did I Come From? and asked if we could read it together. Obviously, someone in her kindergarten class had offered her a different answer from mine.

It’s totally natural for a child to wonder and ask about her origin. Yet while “Where do I come from?” is a simple question to ask, it is a very difficult, complex and multifaceted question to answer.

Taking it to another level, we can see a similar complexity manifested in today’s conversations and disputes about the origins of the universe. While some will insist that the Genesis version of the creation story is truth versus theological metaphor, others maintain that evolution is the only credible scientific theory.

The controversy over whether it is constitutional to teach the theory of creationism or intelligent design was resolved in 2005 with Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District, the federal court case where the U.S. Supreme Court ruled such teachings unconstitutional in violation of the Establishment Clause of the U.S. Constitution. Nonetheless, intelligent design remains part of the curriculum in many schools today.

Religion and science are often viewed as adversaries, competing for the hierarchy of truth.

But in reality, science owes a lot to the ideas that were born from religious questioning.

Modern science began with the old Greek idea that nature is rationally intelligible, but it also incorporated another important idea about the unity of the cosmos. The universe was seen as a single system ruled by a single set of laws – an idea which originated from the belief in the existence of one God.

86 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Judaism deserves a big shoutout for its approach to and acceptance of the relevancy of science. The Talmud often interpreted science, particularly astronomical calculations, as manifestations of divine truth. Maimonides, one of the greatest medieval rabbis and scholars, was a physician and scientist who drew from scientific knowledge and factored that into halachah ( Jewish law).

I don’t pretend to understand the origins of the cosmos any more than I understand the origins of the divine. But what I do understand is that it is possible to hold inconsistent yet reconcilable ideas when we attempt to understand Jewish wisdom and biblical texts. This idea – that a single biblical verse can convey many teachings or that multiple interpretations of a verse can be correct, even if they contradict one another – is not new.

Our sages taught us wisely when they wrote that there are 70 faces (facets) to Torah and that “these and these are the words of the living God.”

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

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ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 87

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Women’s Philanthropy Ignition!

Luncheon “Andra talks about the way that Federation specifically has impacted her life. She talks about growing up and as a young adult the many ways in which she intersected with the Jewish community, specifically with Federation.”

The Women’s Philanthropy of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix is holding its annual Ignition! Luncheon on Thursday, March 30. Nearly 400 women attended the luncheon last year and more are expected this year. Women’s Philanthropy is dedicated to the connectivity, continuity, and vibrancy of the community, Israel, and the Jewish people.

“What we are really trying to do with this year’s Ignition!

Luncheon is to highlight the important work that the Federation does and our relationship with the organizations that we collaborate with and work closely with,” says Director of Women’s Philanthropy of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, Robin Loeb. “[The luncheon helps -Robin Loeb us express] who we are as Women’s Philanthropy within the Federation and the amazing work that happens because of so many people wanting to make a difference in our community.”

The special guest for this year’s event is Andra London. As a seasoned entertainer and speaker, Andra London brings her passion to the stage as she performs “My Jewish Story through Song,” an uplifting program filled with traditional

Andra London 88 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

and contemporary Hebrew and English songs. In her program, Andra shares stories of her experiences from childhood to young adulthood, paying tribute to the Jewish organizations that influenced her along the way. Robin adds, “Andra talks about the way that Federation specifically has impacted her life. She talks about growing up and as a young adult the many ways in which she intersected with the Jewish community, specifically with Federation.”

There are four recipients being honored at this year’s luncheon. Judy Egett Laufer is receiving the Gerda Weissmann Klein & Kurt Klein Award; Natalie Stern and DeeDee Vecchione are receiving the Rising Star Award and Suzanne Swift is receiving the Madricha Award. This luncheon is the first time the Madricha Award is being given. “Each of these women, in many different ways, have made such an amazing impact and critical difference in our community. For us within Federation, as well as within the broader Jewish community,” says Robin. “They have all stepped up and they are all dedicated. They’re all being honored for different aspects of what they are doing.”

The Women’s Philanthropy of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix is also now accepting applications for the 2017 Women’s Philanthropy Board. Robin explains, “[Finding board members] is a rolling process.

We are constantly looking for women that would like to join us.”

For the luncheon, any woman donor who contributes the $180 minimum commitment to the Federation’s 2017 Annual Campaign becomes a member of the Federation’s Pearl Giving Society. There is also a special outreach for younger women and students. “We are delighted to welcome everyone,” says Robin.

Ignition! Luncheon 2017

Thursday, March 30; 10:15 am registration, 11 am program & lunch Hilton Scottsdale Resort, 6333 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale RSVP by March 13 Please bring non-perishable food items for our Mitzvah Project.

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Jewish National Fund hosts major donor weekend in the Valley

Izzy Ezagui

The long weekend of March 17-20 is the Jewish National Fund’s major donor weekend with various events happening in the Valley.

The weekend commences with the JNF for Arizona’s Breakfast for Israel on March 17. “The breakfast is the first event of our major donor weekend. We have major donors coming from across the United States that are flying in, and their first event is our Arizona Breakfast for Israel,” explains Deb Rochford, JNF executive vice president, Desert States and Southwest. “[Philanthropist] Ronald S. 90 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

“It’s quite lovely how they do Shabbat in the Desert.

It’s really beautiful, the whole thing is outside, and they have a speaker. There are hotels for the young people to stay at if they are shomer Shabbos and are walking to the event. There are also donors that have homes which are within walking distance as well.”

– Deb Rochford

Lauder is the keynote speaker.

We will probably have around 900 people at this event – it’s our largest fundraiser.”

That evening, the JNFuture (young leadership organization) will be holding their 3rd annual Shabbat in the Desert at McCormick Ranch Golf Club in Scottsdale. This event is open to JNFuture and major donor society members. The guest speaker will be Izzy Ezagui, a decorated squad commander in the IDF, and the only soldier who lost an arm in combat and returned to the battlefield. Ronald S. Lauder

Ronald S. Lauder

will be attending also. “It’s quite lovely how they do Shabbat in the Desert. It’s really beautiful, the whole thing is outside, and they have a speaker,” says Deb. “There are hotels for the young people to stay at if they are shomer Shabbos and are walking to the event. There are also donors that have [opened their] homes which are within walking distance as well.”

Then on Sunday, March 19, the major donors will be traveling to Sedona. Alon Ben-Gurion, grandson of David Ben-Gurion, will be the keynote speaker at an event during the day and then there will be a reception on Sunday evening.

On Monday, March 20, there will be the JNF national board meeting. All national board members, from all over the country, will meet in Scottsdale. Major donors may also attend this meeting.

“It’s quite amazing what we put on,” says Deb. “It’s a wonderful weekend of activities and festivities and learning about the work that we are doing in Israel.”

The JNF for Arizona’s Breakfast for Israel on March 17 from 7 to 9 am at the Arizona Biltmore Resort in Phoenix is the only event open to the general public. There is no cost to attend, but you must pre-register. For more information and sponsorship opportunities, contact Deb Rochford at 480-4478100 ext. 980 or drochford@jnf.org.

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The Purim Carnival returns to the VOSJCC

The Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center is bringing back its popular Purim Carnival this year. The JCC has not hosted the carnival since 2008.

Kim Subrin was the program director in 2008, and when she left, the carnival went away. Now she is back, as chief operating officer, and so is the Purim Carnival. “This is a true community-wide Purim Carnival. All of the synagogues are participating. No synagogue in this area of the Valley will be holding a carnival that day so that we can do a true community event,” says Kim. Allan Flader of Flader A vintage photo Wealth Consulting Group is the from the 1950s presenting sponsor. When he of the Purim heard the Purim Carnival was Carnival. coming back, he had an interesting reaction: “I had totally forgotten about it, it’s been so long since there was one, I forgot.”

He had not forgotten the wonderful memories from when he was a young boy living across from the Jewish Community Center when it was located on Maryland Ave. in Phoenix. “I remember there were rides and booths and games and food,

2017 Purim Carnival

and there were tons of kids running around playing. There would be lots of friends I knew there from camp, the JCC and Hebrew school. You ran around, you played a game and you ate something. Between the food and the snow cones and the rides and the booths – it was just a great time,” says Allan.

The carnival this year will have rides, inflatables, live entertainment, community booths, costume parade, intergenerational bingo tent, petting zoo, face painting and a special teen section with activities and “Wipe Out” style competitions and much more.

“I feel there are very few opportunities in our community for everybody to come together and represent themselves,” says Kim. “So the idea of bringing all the organizations together and letting them have a tent to promote themselves – it’s really about exposing the community to everything we have to offer here, not just at the JCC, but in our entire community.”

Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center soccer fields, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale Sunday, March 12; 11 am – 4 pm Free admission. $1 per ticket (attractions range from 1-5 tickets). $40 VIP wristband ($50 day of event) includes unlimited rides and access to a VIP tent with water, snacks, glitter tattoos and additional attractions.

Call 480-481-1756 or visit vosjcc.org/purim2017 92 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

FEDERATION NOTES

Get Involved!

By Robin Loeb

PRESENTS “Get involved.” In our daily lives, that request comes at us from so many directions. Those two words compete with our relationships, kids, work, down time, free time, online time, even sleep time.

Or do they?

Robin Loeb The reality is that our Jewish community is powered by “get involved.” The school volunteers, the gala committees, the ones on the phones, the board members.

Where would our community be, what would it look like, how would it move forward without those who step up?

Why do we “get involved?” Why do we share our time, our generosity, our ideas, ourselves?

Because it matters.

In Jewish life, community has always been front and center. This has been true over the long timeline of our history – and it remains true in the fast-moving, everevolving world of today.

Our community, with its amazing range of organizations that strengthen and enhance Jewish lives, depends on people who are willing to commit, people who step up, people who make a difference.

Each year at the IGNITION! Luncheon, the signature event of Jewish Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy, a select group of women are recognized. This year’s honorees are Judy Egett Laufer (Gerda Weissmann Klein and Kurt Klein Award), Natalie Stern and DeeDee Vecchione (Rising Star Award) and Suzanne Swift (the newly introduced Madricha Award).

These four women represent a spectrum of talents, ideas, careers and families. They are each in their own unique place on life’s path. But they share one shining trait: When someone asked them to “get involved,” they each said yes.

Please join Women’s Philanthropy for IGNITION! on Thursday, March 30, chaired by Judy Egett Laufer and Karen Nagle. Be there as we honor the power and spirit of “get involved.” We hope that the examples set by these four women will inspire and motivate you.

Our community is counting on it.

For more information, visit jewishphoenix.regfox.com/ ignition-2017.

Robin Loeb is the director of Women’s Philanthropy and Donor Relations for the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix.

SUNDAY, MARCH 12 11am-4pm | on the soccer fields

Rides, games, food & more!

$1

PER TICKET

Free Admission!

most attractions range from 1 - 5 tickets

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Unlimited rides, entrance to VIP tent with water, snacks, glitter tattoos and additional attractions only available with a wristband. *lunch not included

vosjcc.org/purim2017 THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

The Hoffer Family

12701 N Scottsdale Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85254 vosjcc.org | 480.483.7121 ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 93

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FACES & PLACES

HEBREW BINGO - Each Sunday, the Temple Beth Sholom of the East Valley religious school students gather in the social hall to kick off the day with some play time.

JNF TREE OF LIFE AWARD - President of Arizona State University, Dr. Michael Crow, left, is presented the Jewish National Fund Tree of Life Award by Jeff Geyser, co-founder of Lawrence & Geyser Development on Jan. 19.

AUTHOR DAY - Author Marcia Fine (right) with Author Deb Ledford at the Scottsdale Author Day event on Jan. 21 at the Civic Center Library.

SONGS FROM THE SILVER SCREEN - Theatre Artists Studio in Scottsdale was the venue on Jan. 21 for “Music From Movies,” Marcia Weinberg’s wellattended solo lecture and group sing-along. Founder/ director of the popular Broadway Babies programs, Weinberg, right, is joined by Sheila Hoffer and Diana Krohn. Photo by Leni Reiss

GHETTO LECTURE - Sherman and Andi Minkoff were among the crowd on Jan. 30 at the Arizona Jewish Historical Society to hear a talk by Professor Bernard Cooperman of University of Maryland entitled “In the Ghetto of Venice.” The event was the annual Eckstein Memorial Lecture in collaboration with the Jewish Studies Program at ASU. Photo by Leni Reiss

SCREENING – AND A SURPRISE - Following a showing on Feb. 7 at Arizona Jewish Historical Society of “The Lost Town” which Joe and Sharon Luber (pictured) sponsored, Sharon surprised her husband on site with a gathering of friends to celebrate his birthday.

Photo by Leni Reiss CARIBBEAN - Harriet and Bernie Feinberg of Surprise enjoying a January getaway on board the Oceania Riviera. Photo by Leni Reiss 94 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

GAIN THE EDGE - Master negotiator and author of Gain the Edge! Negotiating to Get What You Want Martin Latz takes a moment to pose with Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix Chief Development Officer Marty Haberer during the organization's B&P Gain the Edge event on January 16 at Perkins Coie LLP, event sponsor.

CHANGE IS GOOD - Media personality Jessica Abo charmed the Bureau of Jewish Education Passages lecture series audience on Jan. 29 at Temple Solel with her talk on “Change is Good at any Age.” Abo is pictured, left, with BJE director of Jewish learning Elaine Hirsch, center, and Myra Shindler, BJE director. Photo by Leni Reiss

CREATIVE AGING - Rachel Schreier and Flora Abramson present a two-person scene as participants in Reader’s Theatre, part of the Creative Aging classes offered by Jewish Family & Children’s Service.

HISTORIC EVENING - Eva Schloss (left in photo) spoke Feb. 13 at the Camelback Golf Course. Eva told the audience how she met Anne Frank in Holland, how their families were deported together by the Nazis and how she and her mother met Otto Frank, the sole survivors of each of their families after the war. Later her mother and Otto Frank were wed. Chabad of Paradise Valley sponsored the event. Chaya Levertov was the moderator. Photo by Hershel Weberman

SUPER SUNDAY - On Feb. 5, Scottsdale Post 210 of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States of America held a Super Bowl 51 party for approximately 40 of the residents of the Arizona State Veteran Home.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 95

PREVIEWS date, he has produced seven best selling albums, and his songs are aired frequently on Israeli radio.

For more information on attending the gala please contact Congregation Beth Tefillah at 480-223-9343 or gala@cbtaz.org.

JFCS AT TUCSON FESTIVAL OF BOOKS

The 10 finalists.

SOUTHWEST VOCAL COMPETITION FINALS CONCERT In keeping with their mission to discover, nurture and promote vocal talent, Phoenix Opera is proud to partner with Mayo Clinic Voice Program in Arizona and present the Third Annual Southwest Vocal Competition.

Mayo’s mission to bring the art and science of medicine to the performing arts community and their passion to care for professional vocalists has truly helped transform this competition into a “Showcase of Excellence in Voice and Vocal Health.”

The competition started in January with 40 contestants competing.

Contestants received special instruction in healthy vocal techniques by health professionals from the Mayo Clinic Voice Program during this round of the competition. 20 contestants reached the second round and now 10 are left to compete in the finals.

Each finalist will compete for cash prizes and perform with the Phoenix Opera Orchestra under the baton of Maestro John Massaro at the Orpheum Theatre, 203 W. Adams, Phoenix on Sunday, March 5 at 2 pm. Tickets to the Finals Concert are $20.Winners will be announced immediately following the concert from the stage.

For more information, or to purchase tickets contact 866-OPERA4U (6737248) or visit phoenixopera.org/tickets.

AHARON RAZEL TO PERFORM AT BETH TEFILLAH GALA One of Israel’s most celebrated and accomplished musicians, composers, singers and songwriters, Aharon Razel, will perform at the Sixth Annual Congregation Beth Tefillah Gala.

The gala will be held on March 5 at the Hotel Valley Ho, 6850 E. Main St., Scottsdale.

Joining souls through music is Aharon Razel’s inspiration. From a very young age, he was recognized nationally for his rare musical talents.

At just 15 years old, Razel was received at the prestigious Jerusalem Rubin Music & Dance Academy at the harpsichord and composition departments, where he obtained a Bachelor of Music Degree. He completed his master’s degree in composition at Bar-Ilan University under the guidance of world-acclaimed ethnomusicologist Andre Hadju.

Razel went on to compose various chamber music works with were incorporated into the plays of some of Israel’s most distinguished theaters, including the Jerusalem Theatre and the Tel Aviv Museum.

In 1992, the Israel Chamber Orchestra performed one of his most recognized pieces to date, “Shalom Rav Shooveh.”

Razel completed his IDF army service as an “outstanding musician.” To 96 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

The JFCS of Southern Arizona will have a booth at the Tucson Festival of Books, March 11-12 from 9:30 am-5:30 pm on the University of Arizona campus.

The JFCS will again highlight the JFCS-produced book To Tell Our Stories: Holocaust Survivors of Southern Arizona.

Nazi atrocities that took place in the former Soviet Union are not as well known as what happened in European countries such as Germany, Holland, and Poland. Russian immigrant and JFCS Holocaust Survivors Program Manager Raisa Moroz decided to change that.

In 2009, she began asking Russian-speaking Holocaust Survivors to pen stories about their lives during the Richard Fenwick and Raisa Moroz Holocaust. She created a list of questions and her clients began writing, in Russian, of course. As luck would have it, Russian linguist and poet Richard Fenwick partnered with Raisa in 2010, curating the current collection of stories, and translating many of them to English.

This book includes stories from both Russian-speaking Holocaust Survivors and those from other European countries. Some were translated from Russian, some were written in English by Survivors, and others were transcribed by Richard after listening to recorded interviews.

For more information on the festival and the book, visit jfcstucson.org/ to-tell-our-stories.

EAST VALLEY PURIM CARNIVAL Temple Emanuel, Temple Beth Sholom and the East Valley Jewish Community Center are hosting a Purim Carnival at Temple Emanuel of Tempe, 5801 S. Rural Road, Tempe on March 12 from 10:30 am-1:30 pm.

There will be pony rides, a petting zoo, inflatables, face painting, carnival games, Klezmer band, costume contest and more.

Admission is free. Tickets for games: $1 per ticket, $25 for 30 tickets or $10 for unlimited game wristband. Ticket process go up after March 6.

Purchase tickets online at emanueloftempe.org.

PREVIEWS PREVIEWS

BRANDEIS NATIONAL COMMITTEE ANNUAL BOOK & AUTHOR EVENT Expand your world through books at the Brandeis National Committee Phoenix Chapter’s annual book and author event on March 13 at JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort and Spa, 5350 E. Marriott Dr., Phoenix.

Author book signings begin at 9:30 am; program begins at 11 am. The event features New York Times bestselling authors: Linwood Barclay (mystery), Maureen Dawd (politics), Christina Baker Kline (fiction/art history), Caroline Leavitt (fiction) and Dava Sobel (science/history). Mark Curtis, anchor with 12 News, serves as program moderator.

There is also a cocktail reception for Bookmark Donors on March 12 from 5-7 pm at a private residence.

Luncheon admission is $125 and attendees will receive a $5 coupon towards book purchase. Proceeds benefit research and scholarship in neurodegenerative diseases at Brandeis University.

For more information, or to purchase tickets contact 480-442-9623, bncphxba@gmail.com or visit brandeisphoenix.com.

THE “Q” IS BACK The Phoenix Community Kollel will again be hosting the “Q”, a fastpaced multimedia trivia competition where teams compete to win big prizes by answering trivia questions projected on large screens.

During the event on March 15, held at Pardes Jewish Day School, 12753 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale, the Kollel will also be honoring Dr. Daniel Lucas.

In 2002, Dan had his first encounter with the Kollel Dr. Daniel Lucas at a High Holiday event.

Over the course of the following years, Dan increased his involvement, attending programs and learning on a regular basis with a Kollel rabbi. In 2005, Dr. Lucas joined the Kollel’s board of governors and has been an active board member ever since. The journey that began in 2002 continues today as Dan is a frequent attendee at Kollel events and classes.

A reception will start at 6 pm and the program will follow at 7:30 pm. To register, visit aztorah.com.

JEWISH FREE LOAN OFFERS FINANCIAL LITERACY PROGRAMS Jewish Free Loan is pleased to announce their Spring Financial Literacy Programs for members of the Phoenix Jewish community. After great interest and success running these programs over the past few years, JFL recognized the need to increase our educational programming and is dedicated to expanding the Financial Literacy Program even further in the coming year.

Millennial Money Matters, for young professionals between the ages of 22 and 45, will take place at 7 pm on March 22 at a private home.

Attendees will learn about financial planning and giving and the importance of both in Jewish tradition. This informative and interactive workshop will help individuals and couples gain the knowledge and confidence to set themselves up for financial success.

Family Friendly Financials, for young families with children through age 6, will take place at 10:30 am on April 9 at a location to be announced shortly. This program will be held in partnership with PJ Library and families will participate in an interactive program where they will learn about the importance of tzedakah and how to give as a family. During story time led by PJ Library, parents will have the opportunity to speak with a financial professional about how to save, spend and give in a way that will set their family up for financial success.

Dollars & Sen$e: Financial Literacy for Women will take place on April 23 from 2-4 pm. at The New Shul in Scottsdale. This program will be held in partnership with the Women’s Jewish Learning Center and National Council for Jewish Women and is open to women of all ages. This program is designed to empower women to take control of their financial well-being at any age. The interactive workshop will help women master their money and have it serve them in the best way possible.

All of these programs are free and reservations can be made by contacting 602-230-7983 or info@jewishfreeloan.org. For more information and event details, follow the Jewish Free Loan Facebook Page (facebook.com/jewishfreeloanAZ).

GET SCREENED AZ You need to know if you are a carrier of a genetic disease. The Jewish Genetic Diseases Center of Greater Phoenix offers an opportunity to learn about your genetic risks and options through an educational seminar given by one of Phoenix’s outstanding Geneticists from Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Afterwards, receive personal genetic counseling and get screened for the most current panel of genetic diseases, all at a highly subsidized rate. If you use your insurance, your screening is free!

The Education & Screening Event will be held April 2 from 10 am-3 pm at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Center, 12701 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. In addition to genetic counseling and education there will be raffle prizes and networking with fellow Jewish community member.

For more information or to register, contact 480-668-3347 or visit jewishgeneticsphx.org.

JEWISH TREASURES ROADSHOW TO BENEFIT BJE Arizona Jewish Life magazine and the Bureau of Jewish Education invite you to a unique event.

Jewish Treasures Roadshow will be held at J. Levine Auction and Appraisal, 10345 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale on March 23 from 5-8 pm. Bring a piece of Judaica from your home for appraisal. Each paid admission includes an appraisal of one object. Also included in admission are educational presentations by J. Levine appraisers and BJE educators on the Jewish value of ritual objects.

Proceeds benefit the Bureau of Jewish Education. Minimum donation for admission: $25/person; includes appraisal of one item. Wine and appetizers will be served. Dietary laws observed. To register, contact 480634-8050 or visit bjephoenix.org.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 97

MARCH CALENDAR March 1

March 12

March 18

It’s Not Just Lunch at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from noon-1:30 pm. Great speakers and a different topic each month with a full kosher lunch. $5 suggested donation. A collaboration with Smile On Seniors. Contact Chani at 602-492-7670 or chani@sosaz.org.

2017 Purim Carnival. See page 92.

East Valley Purim Carnival. See page 97.

Purim Dinner & Celebration at Congregation Chofetz Chayim, 5150 E Fifth St., Tucson at 5 pm. Dinner and comedy ventriloquist, Chuck Field & Friends. RSVP by March 2. $21 adults, $15 students, $10 students ages 3-12. Contact Rabbi Becker at 520-747-7780 or yzbecker@ me.com.

Schmooze Scavenger Hunt in downtown Phoenix.

Singles and couples (30s-40s), explore Downtown Phoenix on teams. Starts at 2:45 pm near Monroe and 2nd St., followed by Happy Hour at TGIF inside Chase Field. $10/person. For additional details and to RSVP, visit Facebook.com/azschmooze.

MEGA Israel 2017 at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, 7575 E Princess Dr., Scottsdale at 6:30 pm. Features guest speaker former Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Ehud Barak. Contact 480-481-1754, megaevent@ jewishphoenix.org or jewish phoenix.org/ megaisrael.

March 2 UA Cancer Center Lecture at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E River Road, Tucson from 6:30-8:30 pm. The University of Arizona Cancer Center is partnering with the Tucson Jewish Community Center to deliver a four-part educational series on cancer. Free. 520-2993000 or tucsonjcc.org.

Torah for Real Estate Professionals presented by the Phoenix Community Kollel, held at private residences. Real estate professionals meet for cigars and scotch, and reconnect with their fellow Jewish colleagues in the real estate industry. A key feature of these meetings is a Torah class on a business related topic which is presented by a Kollel scholar. aztorah.com

March 5 Cactus Kosher Hot Dog Day at Beth Emeth Congregation, 13702 W Meeker Blvd., Sun City West from 11 am-2 pm. Menu will be a kosher hot dog, soda and chips for $5. For information, call Sandy at 623-584-7210.

Southwest Vocal Competition Finals Concert.

See page 96.

Aharon Razel to perform at Beth Tefillah Gala.

See page 96.

March 8 Handmaker Lecture with Rabbi Sanford Seltzer at Handmaker, in the Rubin Café, 2221 N Rosemont Blvd., Tucson from 10-11 am. Learn about Jesus’ significant role in Jewish history, and the surprising relationship between the Christian Savior and the Hassidic Rebbe. Free.

520-322-3632 or handmaker.org.

March 11-12 JFCS at Tucson Festival of Books. See page 96.

Purim Under the Sea at Pollack Chabad Center, 875 N McClintock Dr., Chandler from 4:30-7 pm. Masquerade in sea attire, sushi making, mechanical surfboard challenge, crafts and more. $18-$25. 480-855-4333 or info@ chabadcenter.com.

March 13 Brandeis National Committee Annual Book & Author Event. See page 97.

March 14, 21 & 28 Lecture Series at Beth Emeth Congregation of the West Valley, 13702 W Meeker Blvd., Sun City West. 9:30-10:30 am study Ecclesiastes; 10:30-11:30 am spiritual convictions of three Nobel Prize Laureates. Free (a donation of $15 for all the lectures is suggested) but you are requested to register by calling the office at 623-584-7210 so that we may know how many handouts to prepare.

March 15 Mix. Mingle. Match. A Jewish Speed Dating Event at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale at 6:45 pm. Hosted by Project Jewish Love, Schmooze, and Our Jewish Generation. Age groups include 23-30, 30-45, 40-55, 55-70, and 70+. $18/person. For information and to sign up, visit mixminglematch.com.

The “Q” is Back. See page 97.

Celebration of Heritage Concert at The Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E River Road, Tucson at 6:30 pm. The Arizona Symphonic Winds performs with a tribute to Jewish American composers Irving Berlin, George Gershwin, Leonard Bernstein and others. $10 for non-members and $9 for members of The J. 520-299-3000 or tucsonjcc.org.

March 16-25 "Albatross." See page 42.

March 17 JNF for Arizona’s Breakfast for Israel.

See page 91.

March 19 Fabulous Finds Outdoor Sale at Beth Emeth Congregation of the West Valley, 13702 W Meeker Blvd., Sun City West from 10 am-2 pm. Large selection of books, tools, clothing, art and more.

For further information, please call 623-584-7210 between 9 am and 1 pm Monday thru Friday.

The Refugee Expereince: The Women’s Stories Luncheon and Panel Discussion at The McCormick Scottsdale, 7401 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale at 11 am. NCJW AZ Presents five remarkable women whose stories of courage, resourcefulness, determination and optimism are an inspiration to all who share our values. $50/person. RSVP by March 10 to cheri829@gmail.com.

March 22 Jewish Free Loan Offers Financial Literacy Programs. See page 97.

March 23 Jewish Treasures Roadshow. See page 97.

Artist’s Reception - Robert Rivera at Buffalo Collection, 7044 E Fifth Ave., Scottsdale from 5:308 pm. Meet the artist and see his latest collection.

480-946-3903 or buffalocollection.com.

March 26 Special Needs Community Seder at The New Shul, 7825 E Paradise Ln., Scottsdale from 1-3 pm.

Come join CJSN for a very special Passover. CJSN will be hosting a special needs community seder luncheon – led by Rabbi Elana Kanter from the New Shul. For more information, contact Rachel at 520850-6583 or rachel@cjsn.org.

Friends of Israel at Sun Lakes Chapel Center, 9240 E Sun Lakes Blvd. N, Sun Lakes from 3-4:30 pm.

Rabbi Michael Beyo, CEO of the EVJCC will present “Is Israel a Jewish State or a state of Jews?” Free.

480-895-4660 or mwcohen000@gmail.com.

L’Dor V’Dor Golden Gala at Beth El Congregation, 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix at 5:30 pm.

Honors Dr. Leon and Evelyn Zeitzer and the 50th anniversary of their building on Glendale Ave. For additional information, contact Anne Schafer at 602-944-3359.

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Call for a complimentary lunch and tour 480.941.9026 ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH 2017 99

This is not an offer to sell, nor a solicitation of an offer to buy, to residents of any state or province in which registration and other legal requirements have not been fulfilled. Void where prohibited by law. All plans, amenities, availability, completion dates, prices, improvements and incentives are subject to change without notice. All measurements are approximate. Sales and marketing by LaunchPad powered by Launch Real Estate.

100 MARCH 2017 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE