Arizona Jewish Life November/December 2018 Vol. 7/Issue 2 by JewishLifeMagazine

NOV/DEC 2018

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CO N TE N TS Arizona Jewish Life • November/December 2018 • Cheshvan-Tevet 5779 • Volume 7/Issue 2

FEATURES

CHARITABLE GIVING

COVER STORY

Noshing with “Hungry Girl” Lisa Lillien 26 JEWS WITH ATTITUDE A lasting legacy 12 BUSINESS Growth is a trend for Ben Gottlieb Ins & Outs

FRONT & CENTER Discover fine art Hidden in the Hills Arizona premiere of “Who Will Write Our History”

14 16 36 38

FOOD Chef’s Corner: Toasting the Holidays!

HOME & LIFESTYLE Milk, eggs, butter and…bulbs? Feed the hungry hummingbirds

50 51

JKIDS & TEENS Tucson Hebrew Academy celebrate 45 year of Jewish education Kids & teens event calendar

52 54

COLUMNS

Chef’s Corner by Lucia Schnitzer Ask Helen by Helen Rosenau To Life! by Amy Hirshberg Lederman

39 48 58

Jewish Free Loan – for emergencies and so much more Got mezuzah? Major donors travel like VIP’s Dror Foundation Grapes, Israeli Wine, Philanthropy The Tzedkah Sock Giving Guide

HANUKK AH It’s not Hanukkah without the sufganiyot 32 *Hanukkah gift guide 34

AC TIVELY SENIOR

Sharon Shuster is passionate about caring – and sharing Studio Art Classes at the Tucson J Jeanine Korer: social director of Kappa Grandma Sigma The benefits of knitting New app for dementia intervention Free tech tutoring Ask Helen

ON THE COVER: Lisa Lillien PHOTO COURTESY HUNGRY GIRL

6 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

40 42 43 44 46 47 48

JLIVING Changes ahead for Limmud AZ 56 To Life! The “Crystallization” of Leadership 58 Federation notes 59 Faces & Places 60 Previews 62 Calendar 65 *For a chance win the gifts in our Hanukkah Gift Guide go to azjewishlife.com/i-feel-lucky

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NOV-DEC 2018 A rizona Jewish Life • Cheshvan -Tevet 5779 • Volume 7/Issue 2

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H OW TO R E AC H U S

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A DV E R TI S I N G A N D E D ITO R I A L D I R EC TO R Cindy Salt zman

E D ITO R- I N - C H I E F Mala Blomquis t

CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Leni Reiss

ART DIREC TOR Philip Nerat

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PU 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 first of the month. Story ideas for features and special sections are due 45-60 days prior to publication. BIZ INS & OUTS: Business news is due 4 weeks before publication. FACES & PLACES: Photos from past events are due about 20 days prior to publication. EVENTS: Information about upcoming events is due about 20 days prior to publication. CALENDAR: Please post events on our online calendar. Relevant events that are posted by the 10th of the month before publication will be included in the magazine. To request first-time authorization to post events online, go to azjewishlife.com and scroll down to the “calendar access request” link under “Quick Links” on the right. After you submit the form, you’ll receive an email with instructions for posting future event.

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

8 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

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PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE

CINDY SALTZMAN Publisher

inter is almost here and we sure had a lot to cover in this combined November/December issue. We have three special sections – Charitable Giving, Actively Senior and Hanukkah – as well as our usual topics including arts, business, food and kids. We hope we gave you enough to hold you over until the first of the year.

conversation with a man who basically felt “my people” and many other minorities shouldn’t exist. Fortunately a day later, I met another stranger, a man who quickly restored my faith in the innate goodness of people. What a difference a day makes. Look for “MY DATE WITH HATE (AND THE MAN WHO BROUGHT ME BACK)” at azjewishlife.com/my-date-with-hate.

That being said, our digital content is increasing as well. In fact, our site was recently named one of the top 10 Jewish magazines online in the world. Our website now includes regular additions of stories from our local community and around the world. So don’t forget to check our site daily at azjewishlife.com.

Make sure you sign up for our e-newsletters (click on free newsletter on the top bar of our website azjewishlife.com OR go to: azjewishlife.com/newsletter-sign-me-up/) to get the latest in your inbox. You can sign up to receive updates on community events, contests, special interests and lots of great suggestions and advice—no matter what your age or passion.

You’ll find expanded versions of many of the stories in this issue as well as new stories to keep you informed. As a sample of our expanded digital presence, check out my personal blog about a recent encounter I had with a neo-Nazi in the grocery store. It was a surreal moment. There I was, having a “civilized”

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HAPPY GIVING & HAPPY HANUKKAH

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Jewswith

Attitude

A lasting legacy On passing the torch, he says, “Once you leave, you’ve got to

By Mala Blomquist

let the younger people take over.” Dr. Abraham Lieberman will retire at the end of December

Those are big shoes to fill. The Muhammad Ali Parkinson

after more than 20 years at Barrow Neurological Institute. He

Center is a world leader in Deep Brain Stimulation surgery and

has been an internationally recognized leader in the diagnosis

offers some of the best physical, occupational and speech-lan-

and treatment of Parkinson’s disease and a physician for more

guage therapy.

than 50 years.

An outreach program gives doctors the ability to use “tele-

In honor of his upcoming retirement, Barrow will name the

medicine,” a mix of telecommunications technology to reach

Parkinson’s research facility the Lieberman Parkinson’s Research Center at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center. When asked about the naming, Dr. Lieberman says, “It’s very humbling.” He will miss several things when he retires, but foremost his patients. “When people come to see you for five to 10 years, they become part of your life, and you become part of theirs,” he says. “I’ll miss some of the new advances that are coming out that will be helping people, and I’ll miss my colleagues. There are some tremendous people here at BNI.” Dr. Lieberman had polio when he was 6 and has developed post-polio syndrome. He says that it has been slowly

Dr. Abraham Lieberman (right) with Muhammad Ali and Jimmy Walker, founder, president and CEO of Celebrity Fight Night, in 1999. Photo courtesy Barrow Neurological Institute

evolving for the past 18 years and has reached the point where it limits his ability to get around. “If you’re going to do something good

homebound patients or those who are physically unable to get

for people, you have to be much more active than I can be,” he

to the center.

admits.

These programs are generously funded by individual donors

He doesn’t have much planned yet for his retirement other

and the Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. Celebrity Fight

than enjoying time with his wife, Ina, who is a retired anesthe-

Night is one of their biggest fundraising events of the year.

siologist, and his 10 grandchildren – and reading. “I’m a big

Muhammad Ali was a big presence at this fundraiser for

history reader, and I’ve never read Churchill’s four-volume A

many years and a patient of Dr. Lieberman’s for more than 30

History of the English-Speaking Peoples – there are a lot of books

years.

that I want to read.” 12 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Dr. Lieberman would go to Lonnie and Muhammad Ali’s

home every other week to check in on Muhammad, and they would watch movies together. “He loved to watch Westerns, but more than anything else he loved to watch Muhammad Ali,” jokes Dr. Lieberman. They would watch Ali’s previous boxing matches and then one day they watched the movie, “The Great White Hope” about Jack Jefferson, a lightly fictionalized version of Jack Johnson who, in 1908, knocked out Tommy Burns of Canada to become the first black heavyweight champion of the world. “I was watching the movie with Muhammad and when the fight scene came on you could see Muhammad saying he wouldn’t do this, he’d do that, so it was really inside information from him on boxing,” says Dr. Lieberman. “Muhammad Ali was a very special person, a very nice person,” says Dr. Lieberman. “He was a great man. Do I miss Muhammad? Yes.” Dr. Lieberman still sees Lonnie as she is very involved in Parkinson’s charities. She gives speeches and travels, preserving the legacy of her late husband. The doctor knows he is leaving things in good hands with the excellent physicians and staff at Barrow. He is excited that they

Keep the light of the holiday burning bright for Jews in need here, in Israel and around the world.

will be bringing on more researchers. “We need to do more basic research in Parkinson’s disease because I think that’s where cures are going to come from.” He says that at least once a year he is

jewishphoenix.org/donate

asked about his thoughts as to when there will be a cure found. “The more we look, the more complex it becomes,” says Dr. Lieberman. “We will get a cure, yes. Can I tell you when? No. But it will come, in the next five years, 10 years; it will come.” Donations can be made to help honor Dr. Lieberman and find a cure for Parkinson’s at SupportBarrow.org/LiebermanLegacy or by calling 602-406-3041. ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 13

BUSINESS

Growth is a trend for Ben Gottlieb

By Mala Blomquist

When you first enter the shared space located in a downtown Phoenix high-rise that houses the offices of MacQueen & Gottlieb, PLC, you quickly realize that it’s not your typical law office. It’s open and modern, void of dark, heavy wood and a formal feel, and once you meet co-founder, Ben Gottlieb, you understand why. Ben founded the law firm MacQueen & Gottlieb, PLC in 2016 with Patrick MacQueen. The two have known each other for five years and worked as partners at Combs, Gottlieb & MacQueen, formerly Combs Law Group, before launching their own firm. The firm has grown 350% in their first year-and-a-half of business as they continue to add to their team. Ben believes one of the reasons for their success is that they’re “normal and relatable” and they get along well with their clients. “We’re easy to communicate with, we love having in-person meetings and consultations,” says Ben. He says that they often spend time with their clients outside of the scope of work, whether meeting for lunch or a round of golf. The second reason for their success is the positive outcomes of their clients’ cases. Their firm does real estate transactional law as well as litigation. Patrick handles a lot of transactional matters. He represents entities or companies engaging in real estate transactions. 14 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

“I’m more focused on litigation real estate disputes, such as property title, easement, home owner’s association, buyer/seller and landlord/tenant disputes,” says Ben. Ben is also an Arizona Department of Real Estate approved instructor and teaches a class about HOAs to real estate agents through the Southwestern School of Real Estate. He shares a brief history of the HOA. “HOAs originated in Levittown, Long Island, by a gentleman named William Levitt in 1946, right after WWII.” That set off the proliferation of HOAs around the country. “I love to teach; I think a big part of being a good trial lawyer is educating the jury,” says Ben. “So that’s exactly what you are – you’re a teacher.” Ben fostered his passion for real estate law working at Combs Law Group after graduating from Arizona State University. It was at Combs that he acquired his experience and knowledge regarding real estate law. His passion for Arizona came even before that. “My older brother was attending ASU, and I would come out to visit him,” says Ben. During one of these visits from his home in Grand Rapids, MI, he sat in on a constitutional law class at the ASU College of Law. “It was 13 years ago. It was in March, and I remember going, ‘Wow!’ It’s like 82 degrees, there’s not a cloud in the sky, and I was also really impressed with the law school – the weather was just the icing on the cake.” At ASU, Ben was the managing editor of the Arizona State Law Journal, a member of the Jewish Law Student Associa-

tion and president of Alpha Epsilon Pi, a Jewish fraternity on campus. While there, he grew the fraternity from four members to 45. Ben jokes that growing is a trend for him. “From age 15 to 17 I grew 11½ inches. I had my growth spurt all at one time. I went from 5 feet 4 inches to 6 feet 3½ inches.” His goal now is to grow the firm and continue to build the team. When he and Patrick started they were the only attorneys, and they had one paralegal and an office administrator. Currently, their team has grown to 15 members. MacQueen & Gottlieb is located in downtown Phoenix in a shared office space concept. This allows them to add an office when needed, and Ben thinks it makes clients feel more comfortable than if they were in a more traditional, formal law office. “What separates our law office and the atmosphere is that we try not to take ourselves too seriously,” says Ben. “We try to cultivate an environment where people can laugh. We think that improves not only productivity but it creates an errorless work product.” “The guys really promote being a team,” comments Holli Higgins, paralegal and office administrator. “It’s always, ‘my team,’ I find it refreshing that it’s a team concept. It’s ‘Ben and his team.’ ” Ben adds that they also don’t impose billable hour requiems. “We don’t want people here burning the midnight oil. We want them to have a good work/life balance, and we want happy employees.” Ben and his wife, Jacqueline, have been married for six years and have three boys. He says that his uncle jokes one day his firm’s name will be, “Gottlieb, Gottlieb, Gottlieb and Gottlieb.” Along with his growing business and growing family, Ben is looking to grow his relationship with the Jewish community. “I’m looking to get more involved with the Jewish community, and we (as a family) are looking to get more involved at Temple Emanuel of Tempe,” says Ben. “I want to be more of a leader in the Jewish community.” For more information on MacQueen & Gottlieb, PLC, visit mandglawgroup. com.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 15

BIZ

INS & OUTS

Top 10 Award

First Place-Phoenix

Oregon Jewish Life one of Top 10 online Jewish magazines Arizona Jewish Life’s sister publication, Oregon Jewish Life, has been selected as one of the Top 10 Best Jewish Magazines on the web by Feedspot.com. The Top 10 list was chosen from thousands of Jewish magazines on the web using search and social metrics. Oregon Jewish Life was the first non-national magazine on the list, coming in at number 7. These magazines are ranked based on following criteria: Google reputation and Google search ranking; influence and popularity on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites; quality and consistency of posts; and Feedspot’s editorial team and expert review. Feedspot is a content reader for reading all your favorite websites in one place. Feedspot encourages readers to “subscribe to these websites because they are actively working to educate, inspire and empower their readers with frequent updates and highquality information.” orjewishlife.com | feedspot.com

First Place-Phoenix opens First Place-Phoenix, a nonprofit, charitable organization focused on ensuring that housing options for adults with autism and other neuro-diversities opened in September. The $15.4 million, 81,000-square-foot property with 55 units is located at 3001 N. Third St. For more than 20 years, Founder and CEO, Denise Resnik dreamed of a place her son Matt and others with autism could live as adults. Besides the residential apartments, First Place-Phoenix also offers a Transition Academy and First Place Global Leadership Institute. Operated by Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center, the two-year, tuition-based Transition Academy is for residents who are transitioning to a more independent lifestyle, and will move off-site after one year of living at First Place. 16 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

David Ivers

First Place Global Leadership Institute provides continuing education and training of support specialists, professionals and physicians, and serves as a robust site for research and publicpolicy advancements. firstplaceaz.org

David Ivers is leaving ATC for SCR Arizona Theatre Company Artistic Director David Ivers is returning to his native Southern California roots after being named Artistic Director at the 55-year old Tony Award-winning South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, CA. The appointment by South Coast Repertory’s Board of Trustees followed an extensive national search. “I am profoundly grateful and deeply humbled to be SCR’s next artistic director,” says David. “Returning home to California, to the organization that helped inspire my early desire to pursue a life in the theatre, is both a rare opportunity and a dream come true.’” David will continue his ATC co-executive leadership responsibilities with Managing Director Billy Russo until assuming the new position fulltime next March. He will direct ATC’s upcoming production of “The Music Man.” “My time here, although brief, has been hugely powerful and I’ve learned so very much about leadership, vision and collaboration,” says David. “I know ATC is in good hands with Billy Russo and very much feel it is poised to capitalize on our proven growth.” arizonatheatre.org

Airobotics lands in Scottsdale Israeli drone company Airobotics opened its North American headquarters in Scottsdale this September. Airobotics, which has 250 global employees now, intends to hire up to 80 more in Arizona by the end of 2019. The company has offices in Australia, and operations in Chile and New Caledonia. Eventually, the Arizona site will become its global headquarters. The team at Airobotics fuses expertise in aerospace hardware

Airobotics

Stuart Wachs

design, robust electronic systems, leading software engineering, and years of experience in commercial drone operations. This varied experience has allowed them to design a solution suited to address the needs of the world’s most complex industrial environments. Airobotics was the first company to be granted authorization to fly fully automated pilotless drones and is certified by the Civil Aviation Authority of Israel. It has raised $71 million to date. The company’s industrial quadcopter aircraft have robotic arms, geofencing, and emergency recovery parachutes. airoboticsdrones.com

Stuart Wachs new CEO of WachsField Technologies Stuart Wachs and Robert (Max) Maxfield founded WachsField Technologies to blend their unique skill sets and experience with a shared focus on integrity, quality service and bringing the latest and best-suited technologies to play. Stuart has a long and successful background as a CEO who has used values and clear purpose to turn around and grow a number of organizations. As WachsField Technologies CEO and co-founder, he brings his experience with organizational leadership, business development, project management, partnerships along with an understanding of the tech field and how the right technology can bring positive impacts to businesses and organizations. As CTO and co-founder, Max brings a long and successful track record in SCADA Engineering in multiple fields including water/wastewater, manufacturing, natural gas and natural gas reclamation, power generation, mining and more. Stuart and Max have formed WachsField to provide exceptional service and value to industrial, utility, manufacturing and municipal clients through in-house expertise as well as creating partnerships where they can be a value and expand their scope of service. wachsfield.com

Robert Maxfield

Liz Kanter Groskind

Erika Acorn

New board chair for MAZON Liz Kanter Groskind was recently installed as the board chair of MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, a national advocacy organization, for a three-year term. Liz has a background in management, executive coaching, marketing, human resources and charitable planning. She has run her own consulting business for 20 years. A native of Detroit before moving to Tucson, Liz served as board chair of JVS, a nonprofit human service agency and is a past president of the Young Adult division of the Jewish Federations of Metropolitan Detroit. She is a past President of Volunteer Impact, and sat on the boards of The Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, The United Jewish Foundation and CITY YEAR Detroit. In Tucson, she is President of Strauss Manor, low-income senior housing; she has been on the boards of the JCRC, Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona, Social Venture Partners and The Gregory School. Liz is a graduate of Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts. mazon.org

Tempe Chamber hires Erika Acorn The Tempe Chamber of Commerce has hired Erika Acorn to serve as the Business Development Specialist. Erika will develop and implement programs to increase membership and sponsorships. Acorn has worked for a nonprofit membership-based company where she was able to connect members with new opportunities and create programs that aligned with their needs. She brings experience in community engagement, brand development and fundraising to the Chamber. “Erika has an exceptional business background with strong communication and marketing skills,” said Anne Gill, Tempe Chamber President/CEO. “She will be a great asset to the team and a valued resource for our members.” tempechamber.org ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 17

Jewish Free Loan – for emergencies and so much more By Mala Blomquist

“Giving is a Jewish thing, and I like to talk about that. There’s nothing more important, personally, for anybody than being able to give.” -Itzhak Perlman

INSIDE 18 Jewish Free Loan

24 Wine Vine in Israel

20 Myzuzah

24 JNF Tzedekah Sock

21 Kanefskys Family Trip

25 Giving Guide

22 Dror Foundation

18 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

he Jewish Free Loan officially began in Phoenix in April of 1950. The people who were moving “out West” after the war needed financial assistance to start businesses, build homes and meet unexpected expenses. A small group of likeminded men in the Jewish community stepped up to help. Little has changed in the mission of Jewish Free Loan today; though the amounts of the loans have gotten larger. The only thing JFL cannot provide a loan for is the down payment for a home, and that is not mandated by them, but by financial institutions. “People have heard of JFL, but it hasn’t quite clicked the wide variety of ways we are able to assist people with our interest-free loans,” says Ellen Friedman Sacks, associate executive director. “There may be the misperception that we’re only here for emergency needs and not for education, travel to Israel, medical expenses – and the list goes on and on.” Their two largest loan categories right now are emergency loans for needs such as avoiding eviction, keeping the utilities on and paying for emergency medical expenses; and education

loans for college, university or trade school. If everything goes smoothly during the paperwork process, JFL can provide a check to someone in as little as 10 days to two weeks. If it’s an emergency situation, the funds are available within one to two days. Tina Sheinbein “We have been known to provide a check that day if someone was in danger of being evicted,” says Tina Sheinbein, executive director. JFL continues to grow based on the generosity of the community. “Sometimes we will get grants from certain community organizations, but typically 98% of our money in any given year comes from private Ellen Friedman Sacks individuals in the community,” Tina says. In 2017, JFL distributed more than $635,000 in interest-free loans. It was their largest year to date. “Our fiscal year started June 1, and we are already past last year’s loans made as of Sept 30,” comments Tina. Many people choose to support JFL because they once used their services, perhaps not in Phoenix, but in another location. There are JFL offices in the United States, Canada, Israel and Australia. Tina and Ellen work closely with the Hebrew Free Loan Association of Tucson as it does not offer the student loan program yet, so they refer students to JFL. Tina shared a fun story about a student loan application. “There was a student recently who applied for funding for college and on the application where it asks, ‘How did you find out about us?’ the reply was, ‘My parents adopted me with a Jewish free loan.’ ” She said that there are probably 13 or 15 Jewish little boys and girls running around the community because of their adoption and in-vitro loans. “We feel a responsibility towards them – they are our babies,” says Tina. “And part of the JFL family,” adds Ellen. “We assist people in realizing their dreams as well as meeting their needs.” JFL in Phoenix is growing in another way. This past spring, the Phoenix office took over the administrative duties of the International Association of Jewish Free Loans, previously located in Los Angeles. “We run the fiscal operations, we do the membership billing and we keep the minutes when the executive committee meets,” says Tina. Tina is the immediate past president, and Ellen is a vice president on the executive team. “We are working on joint marketing and outreach tools that can be utilized in different communities, that not only talk about the local impact of the loans but also the international impact,” says Ellen. “If you look at the comprehensive picture of what free loan agencies are doing around the globe – it’s significant.” To find out more about Jewish Free Loan, visit jewishfreeloan.org.

Social groups for adults with special needs Inclusion support in all Jewish educa�onal & recrea�onal se�ngs Informa�on and resource services Monthly Simchat Shabbat services Teacher training and community educa�on

480-629-5343 ~ info@gesherdr.org ~ gesherdr.org

Tax ID - #86-0626273; QCO Code - 20748

Suppor�ng individuals with special needs and their families in the Jewish community since 1985 ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 19

Project Inspire Arizona Co-Director Robin Meyerson

Got mezuzah? By Mala Blomquist

The MyZuzah mezuzah installed on a front door. 20 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

he mission statement of MyZuzah is simple, “MyZuzah believes in connecting and protecting all Jews by putting a mezuzah on the front door of every Jewish home. A touchpoint that unites all Jews, the mezuzah’s mystical power has connected and protected the Jewish people since the Exodus.” But how do you make sure that every Jewish home has a mezuzah? MyZuzah has a simple answer to that question – they give them away for free. In Arizona, Project Inspire has partnered with MyZuzah. “Project Inspire Arizona is a grassroots movement of mutual inspiration, of volunteers who want to reach out to other Jews, learn together and socialize together,” says Project Inspire Arizona Co-Director Robin Meyerson. “Jewish people (come) from all different backgrounds and one of the greatest things that connect us is the mezuzah.” MyZuzah implements fair trade standards, working with partner organizations that pay sofers (scribes) fairly for such important work. These scribes are trained in the laws of writing a mezuzah scroll. A scroll that is reproduced by machine, or not written according to the laws of the Torah, is not kosher. All MyZuzah mezuzot are kosher. “I have volunteers who will go to people’s houses and put the mezuzah on the front door,” says Robin. “If someone already has a mezuzah on their front door, they can move it to a different room in their home, or they can have it checked to see if the scroll is kosher.” Robin says that they started the partnership at the beginning of September, and have been busy with mezuzah deliveries all across the Valley, from Scottsdale to Surprise. There are several Project Inspires across the country, but Project Inspire Arizona is the first on the West Coast. To order a free mezuzah (worth approximately $80) visit myzuzah.org/me and put in the organization discount code InspireAZ (not case sensitive). A volunteer will be in contact to arrange a time to hang the mezuzah and perform the blessing.

Major donors travel like VIPs By Mala Blomquist

f you are a major donor to The Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, you can benefit from the use of VIP Services when traveling to Israel and other Jewish communities worldwide. Major donors are families who contribute $10,000 or more to the federation each year. The federation works in conjunction with the Jerusalem and New York offices of Jewish Federations of North America to offer complimentary comprehensive itinerary planning. This service ranges from specific site visits or programs up to the planning of an entire trip itinerary. The itinerary is designed specifically for the donor and often features unique visits, behind-the-scenes opportunities and interactive experiences. The itineraries also offer a chance to see first-hand the work of the federation’s overseas partners. Shari and Irwin Kanefsky had used VIP Services in the past and decided to use it again this past June when they traveled with their two sons, their spouses and their 8-year-old granddaughter to Israel. “Shari and I have been to Israel a number of times, so there were certain places we wanted to go. It was important to us to make sure all of our kids got to Israel and understood their heritage and the importance of their Jewish identity,” says Irwin. He says federation makes such trips easy providing access to guides, security and transportation. Shari and Irwin worked with Robin Loeb, chief operating officer at the federation, to plan their itinerary. Robin suggested some activities that families with younger children had done since they were traveling with their granddaughter Eva. “We tried to make it relevant for our 8-year-old, and we tried to make it relevant for us,” says Shari. She also wanted to take her children to a couple of sites to see the impact of their donations to federation. The Kanefsky’s children are also donors. The first such site they visited was the Ethiopian National Project’s SPACE Scholastic Assistance Program at the AMIT Girls School in Ma’ale Adumim. This program ensures the successful integration of Ethiopian-Israelis by addressing the most pressing educational and social needs of children in grades seven to 12. “The girls’ school was incredible,” says Shari. “When some of the girls got through with school, they came in and spent time with us, and we played games with them. The games created a dialogue, so we got to know them better, and we all had a really good time.” The next day the family visited the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committeeaffiliated Beit Susan (Susan’s House) in Jerusalem. The program helps at-risk students age 15-18 by offering them the opportunity to participate in business-oriented enterprises, acquire professional skills in the workplace and reconnect with the community. The teens sell handmade goods including glass art and greeting cards at the gift shop. While there, Eva participated in a ceramic hamsa painting workshop. Other places they visited with their guide included the Weizmann Institute of Science, Beit Guvrin, Armored Corps Memorial Museum, Masada, Yad Vashem and Caesarea. Shari says the guide federation arranged was incredible. “He picked us up every morning and brought us back – he went above and beyond the call of duty for us at all times.” “You expect to be treated as a VIP, and we were,” adds Irwin. “They do a great job, and its one of the perks we get for being a major donor.” For more information or to discuss travel, major donors are invited to contact Robin Loeb The Kanefsky family, Lauren, Bari, Steve, Larry, Eva, Shari and Irwin, visited many at rloeb@jewishphoenix.org or 480-481-7004. sites during their trip to Israel this past June. ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 21

Fernando Gotthilf can be active once again with the help of his ExoSym leg braces.

Dror Foundation provides a new lease on life to young disabled IDF Veteran

he Dror for the Wounded Foundation is a 501(c) (3) organization that has assisted more than 100 wounded Israel Defense Forces veterans since its inception in 2006. Based out of New York City, the DFW provides these individuals with financial assistance for medical and psychological treatments, career rehabilitation, small construction projects, advocacy and more. In allocating resources, DFW considers each soldier’s individual situation and needs. The DFW is pleased to share its recent success in raising $30,000 to help wounded IDF veteran Fernando Gotthilf obtain state of the art orthotic leg braces. On July 18, 2011, while in combat on the Lebanon border, Fernando was shot in the lower back and injured his L4 and L5 vertebrae, causing complete paralysis below the knees in both legs. He underwent three surgeries in the first week after being shot to help fix the extensive damage to his vertebrae and surrounding organs. Fernando spent three months in 22 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

emergency care, then another seven months in hospitalized rehabilitation. During his recovery, he was given Israeli-made leg braces to help support his lower legs so he could begin to walk. While the braces were useful, they were an out-of-date design that severely limited his range of motion and would often break – less than ideal for a previously active young man. In January 2017, a DFW Soldier Advocate working in Israel heard about Fernando and knew they’d found a situation in which they could make a difference. Extensive research and development by experts in the United States allowed soldiers in situations like Fernando’s to have special orthotics that could reduce their pain and restore mobility. Fernando connected with Prosthetist Ryan Blanck of the Hanger Clinic in Gig Harbor, WA, developer of the ExoSym kinetic orthosis. They determined that the ExoSym device, made to provide more agility and enable high-impact activities, was the best fit for what Fernando needed. DFW worked with Fernando and his family to raise the almost $30,000 it would cost to pay for him and his father to fly from Tel Aviv to Seattle, WA for a 10-day stay. During this trip, he received his custom-fitted braces and engaged in extensive physical therapy to strengthen his body and adjust to the new orthotics. As of August 2017, Fernando is doing exceptionally well and has returned to an active lifestyle with much less pain. He walks with more stability and speed, and can even ride a bicycle. He also recently got engaged to his longtime girlfriend. To learn more or to donate, visit DrorFoundation.org.

Ask for Gary Kravetz, Fleet Director RIGHT HONDA’s Fleet and Internet Department welcomes different buying clubs like Costco, Sam’s, all credit unions, Police and Fire Departments, Motorola, Intel, etc., so please call or email to see if your company is an approved organization.

The buying process for our fleet and internet department is done at your speed. Our Fleet and Internet Managers will use their 15 years of experience to help answer all of your questions.

Make your Arizona Foster Care Tax Credit donation to Arizona Helping Hands today!

Bringing hope to children in foster care

.92 cents of every dollar goes directly to programs for children in foster care

DISTRIBUTED ALREADY THIS YEAR: 2,600 beds/cribs fully equipped 2,200 birthday dream gifts 7,000 backpacks with school supplies

This is a stress and hassle-free buying program and we are proud to help serve the local companies of Scottsdale and the sorrounding areas. Contact us today to get started.

15,000 children in foster care need our help

Arizona Helping Hands is the largest provider of essential needs for children in foster care in the state.

AzHelpingHands.org 7875 E Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd Scottsdale, Arizona 480.778.2510 righthonda.com

3110 E. Thunderbird Road, Suite 100 • Phoenix AZ 85032 480.889.0604 • EIN: 86-0935988

Your Donation Will Make a Difference Over and Over Again. Your support provides interest-free loans to Jewish individuals and families all year long.

Tribute

Cards

There are many ways to support the work of JFL:  Tribute Cards  Tax Credit Contributions  Legacy Gifts  Named Loan Funds  General Donations www.jewishfreeloan.org l (602) 230-7983 JFL is a Qualified Charitable Organization (QCO) of the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit (AzCTC). JFL Tax ID: 866052446 / AzCTC QCO Code: 20362

www.jewishfreeloan.org

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 23

The Tzedakah Sock

or many people, the Jewish National Fund’s “Blue Box” (or pushke) was an integral part of their childhood. Teaching children to give to charity and treat people who are less fortunate with compassion instills the Jewish concepts of tzedakah (charitable giving), tzedek (justice) and chesed (mercy or kindness). Research has shown that teaching children to be philanthropic at a young age increases their wellbeing, popularity and acceptance among peers. It also tends to become a habit that they will continue into adulthood. On the Jewish National FUNd’s Education Department website page (jnf.org), they have an idea for a new spin on the traditional tzedakah box – it’s called the tzedakah sock.

TZEDAKAH SOCK

Grapes, Israeli wine, philanthropy

What you’ll need: Glitter glue Sock Paint markers Yarn Heavy-duty needle Scissors

ine on the Vine Director Tatiana Hasson plants a grape vine at an Israeli vineyard. The grassroots program connects people all over the world with the flourishing world of Israeli wine. For $18 a grapevine is planted in a top Israeli winery of the donor’s choice. Wine on the Vine (wineonthevine. org) is the flagship program of The Israel Innovation Fund, which creates culturally relevant initiatives that have the goal of generating revenue while exposing the world to Israel’s rich, unique culture. The majority of each donation goes to Israeli charities doing important work in Israel. The donor gets to choose which charity will receive the donation. In four years, Wine on the Vine donors can visit the winery and taste the wine made from their vine. 24 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

What to do: Color a design on the sock with the paint markers and glitter glue. Make a drawstring closing by threading the yarn in and out of the top opening of the sock. When you have “socked away” enough money, give to those in need.

GIVING GUIDE

ARIZONA HELPING HANDS 480-889-0604 azhelpinghands.org Arizona Helping Hands is the state’s largest provider of basic needs to kids in foster care. We operate on less than 8% overhead, receive no governmental support, and rely on the Arizona Foster Care tax credit to support our important work.

JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PHOENIX 480-481-1752 jewishphoenix.org When you give to Federation’s annual campaign, your generosity helps Jews in need and builds vibrant Jewish communities here, in Israel and around the world. Donate today at jewishphoenix. org/donate.

DROR FOR THE WOUNDED 646-710-3767 drorfoundation.org The Dror for the Wounded Foundation helps severely wounded Israeli soldiers and provides these brave individuals with financial assistance for medical and psychological treatments, education and training, small construction projects, advocacy and general financial aid. In allocating resources, we consider each soldier’s individual situation and need.

JEWISH FREE LOAN 602-230-7983 jewishfreeloan.org JFL provides interest-free loans to Jewish families and individuals. Please consider making a charitable donation and/or taking advantage of the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit to make a difference in the lives of Jewish Arizonans.

GESHER DISABILITY RESOURCES (formerly Council For Jews With Special Needs) 480-629-5343 gesherdr.org Gesher Disability Resources’ mission is to support individuals with special needs and their families in the Jewish community to lead fuller lives. Gesher is eligible for Arizona’s dollar-for-dollar tax credit (Tax ID# 86-0626273; QCO Code - 20748).

JEWISH FAMILY & CHILDREN’S SERVICE 602-567-8327 jfcsaz.org Individuals can give up to $400 to JFCS, and married couples filing jointly can donate up to $800 – and receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit on their Arizona state tax return while supporting children, adolescents and families in need.

JEWISH TUITION ORGANIZATION 480-634-4926 jtophoenix.org Support the Jewish Tuition Organization's (JTO) need-based Jewish day school scholarships through the dollar-for-dollar private school tax credit and help fund Jewish education. The tax credit is available to individual taxpayers and corporations.

VALLEY OF THE SUN JCC 480-481-1753 vosjcc.org The Valley of the Sun JCC is a magical place because of everyone who walks through our doors. We cultivate relationships among people of all ages and backgrounds through education, fitness, wellness and programs. Support your J today at vosjcc.org/donate. ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 25

Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing more fun than getting in the kitchen and trying to recreate

something or replicate flavors and swap out ingredients that are not so good for healthier ones, and make something taste delicious.

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Lisa Lillien

26 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

NOSHING WITH "HUNGRY GIRL"

LISA LILLIEN BY MALA BLOMQUIST

isa Lillien (aka Hungry Girl) admits she probably doesn’t get enough sleep these days; in reality, it’s probably been true for a few years. Lack of sleep makes complete sense when you take into account all she has accomplished since launching the Hungry Girl brand in 2004. In addition to creating content for daily emails, the Hungry Girl media empire includes a significant presence on social media, best-selling cookbooks, videos, television appearances, a magazine, podcast and weekly contributions to People.com, WeightWatchers.com and food. yahoo.com. And to think it all began with an email from a girl who loves food.

BUILDING A BRAND Professionally, Lisa has always been in entertainment. “I was editor-in-chief of some teen magazines right out of college starting when I was 20 or 21 years old,” she recalls. “I was always interested in creative writing and content development.” She worked for Nickelodeon for five years and then at Warner Bros., where she helped launch their brands and bring new brands online. While she was at Warner Bros. in the early days of the World Wide Web, Lisa witnessed mistakes being made by big brands in their approach to web content. It was in the early 2000s, before social media, blogs and blogging. “I was thinking a lot of people are doing it wrong,” says Lisa. “They were creating huge portals of information for very small audiences, and I thought, ‘What if I just created a small amount of content for a huge audience?’ That might be a better approach.” That’s where the idea for Hungry Girl was born says Lisa: “I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be interesting from a regular person’s perspective, to write about food in a way that’s fun and humorous and helpful,’ and try to help a lot of people.” Having always been a “foodie” (actually she admits to being food obsessed) but with no nutrition or food science degree or background, Lisa set out to create content to email to about 100 people containing tips, food finds, recipes and realworld eating strategies. Even before the days of email marketing, she realized that getting bombarded daily by emails could be annoying, so she only approached people she knew. She worked with an artist to create a logo and built the back-end program to be able to send out a daily email. “I just thought, OK, now I’m going to send emails every Monday through Friday and see where it goes, and hopefully, I will be able to build a brand out of it,” says Lisa. That first email was sent in April of 2004, and today there are more than 1 million subscribers who receive Hungry Girl daily to their inbox. Add to that the almost 1.5 ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 27

HUNGRY GIRL LISA LILLIEN

million Facebook followers, 149,000 followers on Instagram and 175,000 on Twitter – and Lisa has achieved her goal of building Hungry Girl into a brand. OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND The success of the daily emails provided Lisa numerous opportunities to work with popular brands and to create partnerships. In 2008, she published her first cookbook, Recipes and Survival Strategies for Guilt-Free Eating in the Real World. The book debuted at #2 on the New York Times bestseller list. The next two Hungry Girl books, 200 Under 200 and Hungry Girl 1-2-3 debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. She has written 12 cookbooks, with number 13 due out in early 2019. The inspiration for new recipes comes from a variety of places – from food Lisa sees at restaurants while traveling to requests form HG fans. “I also have a great staff,” she says. “There’s a handful of us who are pretty creative and help with recipe development.” All of the recipes are created and tested at “Hungryland,” HG’s headquarters in Los Angeles. One of the most popular recipes they’ve created is 2-Ingredient Chocolate Cake. You mix one box of chocolate cake mix with a 15-ounce can of pumpkin puree and bake. “Try it, it’s so good,” says Lisa. “You get your fiber, it tastes very chocolaty – you don’t taste the pumpkin – and you save a lot of calories from not using oil or butter. It’s really a great trick.” Lisa says her favorite recipes are those that conceptually didn’t exist before Hungry Girl. One such recipe is her egg mug. “I started making eggs in a mug probably 11 years ago, and it became a thing,” she recalls. “Now everyone makes their breakfast in a mug; they don’t use a skillet. Every time I meet people they will say to me, ‘Your egg mugs changed my life. I never thought that I had time for breakfast and now I do.’ I’m proud of those.” Her newest endeavor is the “Hungry Girl: Chew the Right Thing!” podcast. “I’m super excited about the podcast because I know podcasts are growing and growing in popularity,” says Lisa. She shares the microphone with long-time employee Jamie Goldberg and Jamie’s husband, Mike Sherry. Lisa admits that the podcast is very different from the cooking shows she used to have on the Cooking Channel and Food Network. “Cooking on TV is nerve-wracking, I’m not going to lie. When I was doing my show, it was only me talking into the camera. You have to cut things and look up – just act like you’re talking to your friend and telling a story. It’s fun but challenging. “A podcast is a little more relaxed. It’s 30 minutes where you can chat and joke around, tell stories, and give a lot of really great helpful information too.” She no longer has a cooking show, but she still makes appearances on shows such as “Extra,” “The Rachael Ray Show” and “Good Morning America.” “I’m not a person who ever dreamed of being on TV,” says 28 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Lisa. “Even though I’ve done so many appearances, television always makes me a tiny bit nervous. There’s that element of: is something stuck in my teeth, do I look OK, does this outfit look OK, is my hair all right? I’m less nervous on the podcast where you just hear my voice.”

For these r e c ip e s and more, vi si t az je

A DIFFERENT APPROACH Lisa admits that she was “a little chunky growing up.” Her mother, Florence, was a “yo-yo” dieter who was always on a diet, wanting to lose 10 or 15 pounds. In her adult life, Lisa probably topped out at 20 w is hl if e. co m / pounds heavier than she is today, but she always had an “old-fashioned” approach to dieting. hu ng ry -g ir l- re ci pe s She remembers thinking, “If you’re on a diet, you’re eating nothing that’s bad for you. If you’re off a diet, you can eat everything all the time.” It was very black and white. “It was when I realized that that’s no way to live your life and not the way to succeed at achieving a healthy weight – that’s when everything changed for me.” Butternut Squash Latkes Like many other children who grow up in a traditional Jewish home, food was a central part of her childhood. She claims that she can eat a box of matzah in one sitting and that it’s one of her “trigger” foods, so she doesn’t eat it very often. She has revamped some of the traditional Jewish recipes, like her butternut squash latkes and kugel using noodle replacements. Her biggest challenge came when her mom shared her stuffed cabbage recipe, one of Lisa’s favorites. “I had an episode of my TV show called ‘Mom’s Favorites,’ and I was recreating all the dishes that moms would make. I had my mom give me her recipe for the stuffed cabbage – I almost fell off the chair when she told me what was in it!” says Lisa. She never knew that the “best thing on earth” had about six cans of cranberry sauce in it! She swapped those out for a combination of low-fat marinara sauce, low-sugar grape jelly and a lot less cranberry sauce in Floosh’s Stuffed Cabbage recipe. “I swapped that one pretty hard. I think I did a great job on that one,” says Lisa. Floosh’s Stuffed SWAPPING Cabbage Lisa has created her HG empire on the basis of food “swaps.” “There’s nothing more fun than getting in the kitchen and trying to recreate something or replicate flavors and swap out ingredients that are not so good for healthier ones, and make something taste delicious.” Lisa says these days the most popular swapping ingredients are cauliflower, zucchini and spaghetti squash in place of starchy carbohydrates. She claims she is a “mad scientist” in the kitchen, but was never really into cooking. “My mother-in-law used to joke around and say, ‘I love Lisa, she’s great, but she can’t cook.’ ” Lisa has been married to television producer Dan Schneider since 2002. They live in LA with their dog, Lolly (who has more than 185,000 followers on her own Facebook page), a cat and a bunny. Her goal is to find ways to create the foods and flavors that she wants to eat, only with way fewer calories. Nutritional information can be found on government databases or on the packaging. “It’s just ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 29

HUNGRY GIRL LISA LILLIEN

DON’T SHOW UP HUNGRY. It might seem like a good

HUNGRY GIRL’S 7 WAYS TO AVOID HOLIDAY OVEREATING

SURVEY ALL YOUR OPTIONS BEFORE FILLING YOUR PLATE.

idea – the less you eat

Buffet-style dinners are

KEEP COCKTAILS TO A MINIMUM. This time of year is all about celebration, and alcohol is

before the big meal, the

practically an invitation to

often involved. It’s A-OK to

more calories you’ll have

overeat! Take control by

partake in the champagne

left for the feast – but when

first scanning the spread,

toast or have a drink with

you show up super hungry,

and then planning your

dinner, but be aware of how

you set yourself up for

meal. It’s OK to indulge a

alcohol affects you. Booze

a diet disaster. Chances

little, but first see what’s

inhibits your decision-

are, you’ll eat everything

worth splurging on. Then

making skills. So while

in sight! So have a light

fill your plate with tons

you normally can say no

but satisfying breakfast

of veggies. Next, add lean

to those cookies, after a

and lunch, like an egg-

proteins, like white-meat

few martinis, you may find

white omelet and a grilled

turkey. Leave only a small

yourself

chicken salad. Meals with

amount of room

chewing

fiber and protein will keep

for splurges, like

through half

your hunger in check. An

carby

a dozen. Don’t

hour or so before dinner, have a smart snack like an

sides and sweet treats.

say I didn’t warn you!

apple or a stick of string cheese. And don’t forget to stay hydrated!

WAIT AT LEAST 20 MINUTES BEFORE GETTING SECONDS.

OFFER TO HELP THE HOST.

CONTRIBUTE TO THE SPREAD.

SOCIALIZE AND ENJOY YOURSELF!

Take the focus off eating.

Hmmm … I wonder

Again, don’t let the food come first. Make your family

It takes some time for

Help with setup and

where you could find some

your stomach to let your

cleanup, and the host won’t

guilt-free and delicious

and friends your priority.

brain know that it’s full.

be the only one to thank

recipes … (wink, wink).

And if you have a little too

If you refill your plate the

you ... Your scale will thank

Bring something healthy

much to eat, try not to beat

minute it’s empty, you may

you too! Plus, after a heavy

to the holiday meal, and

yourself up. Just get right

not be aware that you’ve

meal, it’s good to move

you’re guaranteed

back on track the next day.

had enough. But an hour

around a bit. So don’t just

to have at least one

Don’t let a day of overeating

later, you might regret that

plop down on the couch;

good-for-you option

turn into an entire season

decision! Make it a point to

clear some dishes! And if

available.

engage in a conversation

you’re guilty of grazing (and

for 20 minutes or so after

who’s not?), chew some

your first helping. This way,

sugar-free gum or pop a

you can make an informed

mint in your mouth to put a

decision about your hunger

stop to mindless munching.

level. Ask your chattiest relative to catch you up on their life ... You may forget

... Don’t be one of ‘em.

Hungry Girl Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Mugs

all about that food!

FOR MORE TIPS AND RECIPES OR TO RECEIVE HUNGRY GIRL’S DAILY EMAILS, VISIT HUNGRY-GIRL.COM. 30 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

of overdoing it. So many people make this mistake

I really love what I do, and the best part is helping people and meeting people face-to-face. Everyone has a story. I love knowing that what I do makes a difference and that it helps people. -Lisa Lillien

Hungryland, the Los Angeles offices for Lisa Lillien’s Hungry Girl empire. about doing the math and knowing exactly how much you’re using, and putting it all together,” says Lisa. She also includes the Weight Watcher’s point values so people using that program can incorporate her recipes. Lisa acknowledges that over the years there have been a few little failures. “I don’t like to fail, so if something should be a stew but it’s too thin, I’ll just call it a soup,” she jokes. “If it tastes good, you just find a way to make it work.” She would put a lot of HG recipes up against the real things. She thinks many of them taste better and have half the calories. There are a few exceptions though. “There are certain foods that no matter how hard you try, they just don’t taste quite as good when you lower the calories,” says Lisa. “For example, crème brûlée. I’ve got a couple of crème brûlée recipes, but they’re just not as good as the real thing.” MAKING A DIFFERENCE Some funny things happen when people find out Lisa is Hungry Girl. They will ask her how to lose 10 pounds in two weeks, or they will ask her if she ever eats anything that’s not healthy. The oddest one is when she goes out to dinner with people she doesn’t know very well, and they will wait to order until they see what she orders, and then order the same thing. “I do splurge,” she admits. “I live by the 80/20 rule. If you feel

the need to cut things out 100% of the time, you haven’t really mastered it. If you say, ‘I’m never ever going to have a bite of cake again,’ have you really mastered the whole eating well thing?” She advises thinking of eating as having a calorie “budget” just like you have a financial budget. You can’t buy everything you want, and you can’t eat everything you want. “You have to live your life, and if it’s someone’s birthday, I’ll have a little cake, or if I’m going somewhere where I know I love the pretzel bread, I will have some pretzel bread,” says Lisa. “I’m not perfect all the time, and I don’t pretend to be.” Lisa’s says the best part of being Hungry Girl is meeting her fans and hearing success stories during her book tours. “I really love what I do, and the best part is helping people and meeting people face-to-face. Everyone has a story. I love knowing that what I do makes a difference and that it helps people.” She pauses a moment and then continues, “Hungryland is a great place. It’s really fun, bright and colorful, and we’re always just working to put out the best content and the best recipes – but it’s like we are in a bubble. But when we get out there, and we meet people who HG has really affected, that makes it all worthwhile. All the hard work pays off.” It looks like Lisa isn’t going to catch up on her sleep any time soon. ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 31

H A N U K K A H

DOWNTOWN DONUT FESTIVAL WHEN Sunday, Nov. 18 11 am-3 pm

WHERE Margaret T. Hance Park 67 W. Culver St. Phoenix 32 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

WHAT Enjoy delicious donuts from more than 15 of the best local donut shops.There will be a Kids Zone with donut-making crafts for the little ones. Live entertainment. Craft beer, wine, mimosas, soda and coffee, will be available for purchase.

HANUKKAH STARTS AT SUNDOWN ON DEC. 2, but it’s been sufganiyot season in Israel for the past several weeks. Israelis consume an estimated 24 million of these deep-fried, jelly-filled holiday treats in the weeks leading up to the Festival of Lights. But where did this tradition of eating jelly doughnuts on Hanukkah originate? Fried foods have been eaten to commemorate the miracle of the one-day supply of oil lasting for eight days for centuries. Original doughnuts were more of a savory snack, filled with vegetables, cheese or meat. According to Gil Marks’ Encyclopedia of Jewish Food, the first jelly doughnut recipe was found in a German cookbook called Kuchenmeisterei (Mastery of the Kitchen) in 1485. At that time, sugar was very expensive, so it was a rare treat associated with holidays. Then two critical events brought jelly doughnuts into the forefront. In the 1500s the price of sugar fell with the introduction of Caribbean sugar plantations and the Kuchenmeisterei was translated into Polish. Wherever Polish Jews traveled throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, their tradition of eating their jelly paczkis (or ponchiks in Yiddish) during Hanukkah came too. According to Marks, “In Israel, ponchiks soon took the name sufganiyah (sufganiyot plural), from a ‘spongy dough’ mentioned in the Talmud, sofgan and sfogga.” In the 1920s, the General Federation of Jewish Labor declared sufganiyot the official food of Hanukkah. Why did the Labor Force declare this? Because the sufganiyot provided the Jews living in pre-state Israel with jobs– baking, delivering and merchandising all those doughnuts. Now, almost 100 years after that declaration, sufganiyot are still the most recognized treat on the streets of Israel at Hanukkah. In addition to the traditional jelly; butterscotch, halvah, guava and passion fruit fillings can be found. But some bakeries stick to tradition when it comes to making sufganiyot. One of those places is Bakery in Tel Aviv. In an Israel21c December 2017 article entitled “Tel Aviv’s Bakery serves up deep-fried donut tradition,” Rebecca Stadlen Amir wrote: “It’s like going back to basics,” says Adi Perry, Bakery’s brand director, of their approach to sufganiyot. “When you eat something traditional, it should be about the memories. The original sufganiyah was simple.”

And that’s what Bakery plans to deliver this year – 40,000 handmade sufganiyot in classic strawberry, caramel and chocolate. (Note: Bakery’s products are not certified kosher.) During Hanukkah, the factory on Yad Harutzim Street works 24/7 to supply each of the five Bakery branches across Tel Aviv with a constant fresh supply, including four drop-offs every day beginning at 9 am. Each sufganiyah weighs 60 grams, yet no two are the same. “Our team makes each one by hand,” says Adi. “Nothing is perfect; some are rounder than others, and that’s the beauty.” It’s the only time of year you’ll see a frying machine in the bakery’s kitchen, whose ovens typically churn out French classics like croissants, brioches, eclairs and its famous St. Honoré cream puffs. Even in this refined French bakery, the sufganiyot are fried in oil to remember the Maccabees’ victory over their oppressors and the oil that miraculously burned for eight days. Special pastry syringes are brought into the kitchen to infuse each sufganiyah with its sweet, gooey filling (strawberry is the most popular). Head pastry chef Ram Zilberman keeps to the same recipe each holiday season. Even though you may not be enjoying an authentic Israeli sufganiyah this Hanukkah, you can find pretty good jelly doughnuts all over the Valley. Or, get in the mood early at the very first Downtown Donut Festival.

JFCS Wishes You a

Happy Hanukkah

Jewish Family & Children’s Service helps foster a future where families are healthy, our children are safe, and our elders can live with dignity by offering a range of medical, behavioral health, and social services.

TICKETS $8 INFORMATION downtowndonutfest.com

jfcsaz.org | 602.279.7655

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 33

H A N U K K A H Yo u c o u l d w i n o n e o f t h e s e i t e m s ! To f i n d o u t m o r e , PILLRITE PillRite is a medication/vitamin/supplement organizer with an easy and simple-to-use, four week, twice daily system. $39.99. pillrite.com

MAH JONGG CHANUKAH MENORAH Celebrate Hanukkah with this lovely menorah with Mah Jongg tiles on a wood base. $10.50. mahjongg4fun.com/acatalog/ 50-CENT-SPECIALS.html

MITZVAH MOOSE The Mensch on a Bench wants to emphasize the importance of doing good deeds. Mitzvah Moose includes a storybook, The Miracle of the Mitzvah Moose, in which Moshe the Mensch helps the moose complete eight mitzvot to lightup his antlers. $29.99

CHANUKAH, HANUKKAH... PASS THE BEER No matter how you spell Chanukah, imbibers will be holding the official chosen beer for this holiday season. Dark Ale Brewed with Chocolate. Retailers or shmaltzbrewing.com

LEGENDS FLASHBACK The Legends Flashback console features a legendary selection of 50 built-in games with two six button controllers. $59.99. Retailers

NICE JEWISH GUYS This 2019 calendar is full of really nice Jewish guys (who are really single) who you can take home to Mom. $14.99 pageaday.com/products/nice-jewishguys-wall-calendar-2019

34 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

g o t o a z j e w i s h l i fe . c o m / i - fe e l- l u c k y.

DOLPHINARIS Give your loved ones a one-of-a-kind gift with a Dolphin Experience from Dolphinaris Arizona. Choose from a Dolphin Land Experience ($59) or Dolphin Water Experience ($149) – both include a dolphin kiss! dolphinarisaz.com

ICON Au Luxury meets functionality with this pyramid-shaped ICON Au gold infuser, paired with Onyx black Tea Tray. $30.00. teaforte.com/ store/tea-accessories/

GOURMET EDIBLE COOKIE DOUGH Cookie dough you eat raw! Brownie Batter, Chocolate Chip, Oreo Single, Naked Dough and Confetti Cake from the Cookie Dough Café. Certified kosher. 8 pack: $22. thecookiedoughcafe.com/store

MADMADE APRONS Entertain in style thanks to MadMade reversible aprons. 14 print combinations available in three sizes. Prices vary. madmadedesign.com Modeled by Taylor Miller, Master Stylist, Choppers Salon @TAYLER_MADE_CREATIONS

SOLAR SYSTEM PLANETARIUM MODEL Assemble and paint your own glow-in-the-dark solar system planetarium model with this creative kit. Ages 8 & up. ideamuseum.org

Bird of Paradise

Sunflower Eclipse

Atomic Dotty

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 35

FRONT & CENTER

Discover fine art Hidden in the Hills! By Susan Kern-Fleischer

hey’re nestled in the hills of the North Valley, some off the beaten path, but many of them have received national acclaim for their original works of art. And, lucky for art collectors, 44 of them will open their art studios during the last two weekends of November and invite guest artists to join them during the 22nd Annual Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour and Sale. A signature event of the nonprofit Sonoran Arts League, Hidden in the Hills is Arizona’s largest and longest-running artist studio tour. This year’s event features 174 artists at private studios throughout Cave Creek, Carefree and North Scottsdale. The free, self-guided studio tour takes place from 10 am to 5 pm Nov. 16-18 and again Nov. 23-25.

GOURD ARTIST INSPIRED BY DIFFERENT CULTURES The first gourd Jan Downey fell in love with was in Ethiopia. At the time, she was working as a cultural anthropologist with the National Museum of Ethiopia, helping them with their ethnographic collection. “It was a gourd used by women in the very hot, remote desert to carry butter, and I was struck by how even a utilitarian object was designed and embellished,” Jan says, adding that she later spent a summer in southern Mexico where people were still using gourds to store water, even though they had metal and plastic at their disposal. A Chicago native who moved to Arizona from the Midwest, Artist Jan Downey and one of her gourd pieces, “Around the Fire.” 36 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

she was always fascinated by the multitude of ways humans have expressed their creativity. “Humans have used gourds from prehistoric times as containers, dippers, bowls, spoons, tools and even musical instruments. Their many versatile shapes and sizes lend themselves to utilitarian service, but also makes them a great medium for artists,” she says. After she retired, she devoted her time to creating unique gourd sculptures. She uses a variety of processes in her design work including pyrography, carving, painting with acrylics and ink dyes and embellishing with natural materials. Her Jewish heritage is important to her, especially since she had relatives who perished in the Holocaust. Jan believes she inherited some artistic genes from her grandfather on her father’s side, who managed to escape the Nazis. “My grandfather was an artist and a tailor who printed designs on fine linens,” says Jan. “After he escaped, he made small dolls to represent children from each country affected by Hitler’s regime.” Spiritually, she honors her religion, but she does not practice it fully. “There will always be a cultural connection that I seek out,” she says. This will be Jan’s fourth year participating in Hidden in the Hills. In addition to her gourd art, she will exhibit and sell scratch art at Studio #40 in Cave Creek. CREATIVE COUPLE CAPTURES BEAUTY OF NATURE Long-time visitors to the Hidden in the Hills Artist Studio Tour may know Ellen and Bill Leibow, a talented painter and photographer couple who have participated in the free, self-guided tour for more than 18 years at Studio #26 in Cave Creek. Before they got married 26 years ago, neither was an artist. Bill was a successful endodontist and Ellen worked in child health

Above, "Desert Spring" by Ellen Leibow. Middle,"Pirates Cove" by Bill Leibow. Below, Bill and Ellen Leibow. policy. Ellen was the first to delve into art, taking painting classes at Scottsdale Community College and workshops through the Scottsdale Artists’ School. “I started with watercolor and played with pastels, but I fell in love with oil,” she says. “It’s an almost sculptural medium, with a rich, juicy texture.” For Bill’s 45th birthday, Ellen surprised him with a photography excursion to Canyon de Chelly in Arizona, a trip that would change his life. Even though A contemporary he was the amateur in the group, the trip ignited his interest to living room learnfurnishings more about photography. with then, the couple has planned their vacations and travel andSince accessories from Buffalo around painting and photography, both in the United States and Collection. abroad. “I like to travel with painters rather than photographers because they stay put and allow me to get more detailed,” says Bill. Having Ellen’s “good eye” also helps. “People will sometimes ask me why I took a particular photo, and I’ll explain that Ellen told me to take it,” jokes Bill. The Jewish couple will showcase new work from recent trips to Iceland and Oregon’s wine country. For more information, contact 480-575-6624 or visit hiddeninthehills.org.

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ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 37

Director Roberta Grossman with actors Karolina Gruszka and Piotre Glowacki on set in Poland.

WHAT: Arizona film premiere of the new documentary “Who Will Write Our History” WHEN: Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 7 pm WHERE: Harkins Shea 14 Theater, 7354 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale COST: $10 ticket in advance at BJE office; $12 ticket online in advance; $13 ticket at the door (if available); $54 reserved seat ticket

FRONT & CENTER

Arizona premiere of “Who Will Write Our History” By Deborah Muller

ew people today recognize the name Emanuel Ringelblum or realize the magnitude of three milk cans and 10 metal boxes buried in the Warsaw Ghetto during World War II, but two Valley Jewish organizations intend to change that. The Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival and the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix partner together to present the Arizona premiere of the new documentary film “Who Will Write Our History” on Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 7 pm at Harkins Shea 14 Theatre in Scottsdale. In November 1940, days after Nazis sealed 450,000 Jews in the Warsaw Ghetto, a secret band of journalists, scholars and community leaders decided to fight back the only way they had left – with their words. Led by historian Ringelblum and known by the code name Oyneg Shabes (joy of the Sabbath), this clandestine group aimed to defeat Nazi lies and propaganda not with guns or fists but with pen and paper. More than three-quarters of a century since the Oyneg ShabesRingelblum Archive was buried in milk cans and metal boxes

38 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

INFORMATION: bjephoenix.org on the eve of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, the powerful story is being told on screen. Written, produced and directed by Roberta Grossman and executive produced by Nancy Spielberg, “Who Will Write Our History” mixes the writings of the archive with new interviews, rarely seen footage and stunning dramatizations to transport viewers inside the ghetto and the lives of the courageous Jewish resistance fighters. “ ‘Who Will Write Our History’ reveals the extraordinary example of spiritual resistance, of haunting truth-telling and of heroism by the 60 brave souls of the Warsaw Ghetto’s Oyneg Shabes group,” says Elaine Hirsch, director of adult learning and the Jewish Community Library at the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix. “This film brings a humanity beyond the horrific Nazi propaganda films of the Warsaw Ghetto.” The brave men and women of the ghetto defied their murderous enemy with the ultimate weapon – the truth – and risked everything so the archive would survive World War II, even if the individual members did not. Indeed, only three members survived the Holocaust. With over 30,000 pages of writing, photographs, posters, diaries, and more, the archive is the most important cache of in-the-moment, eyewitness accounts from the Holocaust. It documents not only how the Jews of the ghetto died, but how they lived. Grossman will appear at the Arizona premiere and host a question and answer session with the audience after the screening. “I believe ‘Who Will Write Our History’ tells the most important unknown story of the Holocaust,” she says. “My aim in making this film was to fulfill the wishes of the members of Oyneg Shabes to ‘scream the truth at the world,’ and to be remembered.” An award-winning filmmaker with a passion for history and social justice, Grossman has written, directed and produced more than 40 hours of film and television, including this year’s Netflix original documentary “Seeing Allred,” about women’s rights attorney Gloria Allred. She also directed “Above and Beyond” for producer Spielberg, about the American-Jewish World War II pilots who volunteered to fight for Israel in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. PHOTO BY ANNA WLOCH

CORNER

Toasting the Holidays! Photo and recipe by Lucia Schnitzer

When I think of sangria, I think of a red drink that is fruity and sweet, but this holiday variation is so much more. The longer the sangria sits in your refrigerator before serving, the more time the fruit has to absorb all the tantalizing flavors. Imagine the apples and cranberries bursting in your mouth with every bite. The aroma alone welcomes the holiday spirit this time of year brings. For a nonalcoholic version, you can make the sangria without the wine, instead using only the sparkling apple cider. May this holiday bring you all that is good and kind with the warmth of family and friends.

Holiday Sangria Ingredients

2 bottles Pinot Grigio or Chardonnay 3/4 cup sparkling apple cider 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup cranberries, halved 3/4 cup cranberries, whole 1 Granny Smith apple, chopped 3 rosemary sprigs Anise whole stars, for garnish

Directions Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher and stir together with a wooden spoon until all the sugar has dissolved. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. Serve chilled or over ice.

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. ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 39

ACTIVELY SENIOR "What grows never grows old." ~ Noah BenShea American Poet

INSIDE 40 Sharon Schuster 42 Art Classes in Tucson 43 Jeanine Korer: Kappa Grandma Sigma 44 The benefits of knitting 46 New App for Dementia Prevention 47 Free tech tutoring 48 Ask Helen

Sharon Shuster is passionate about caring – and sharing By Leni Reiss

n 1962, Canadian natives Sharon and Garry Shuster crossed the border into the United States and headed to Arizona along with one child and another on the way. “We knew in our hearts that our future was limited in Canada,” Sharon says, “and there was a world of opportunity here, along with some family who had already moved.” Garry soon found employment with “a big electrical company,” she says, and they were instrumental in getting him a work permit. U.S. citizenship followed before too long. “At some point,” Sharon notes, “Garry started his own business – and we both had our hands full – him with work and me with my growing family and involvement in the Jewish community.” With Garry’s backing, Sharon has been a strong supporter of Kivel, The J, Hadassah, Brandeis, “you name it,’” she says with a smile. Their family grew – and grew. At last count, they are matriarch and patriarch to three children, eight grandchildren, and a soon-to-be eighth greatgrandchild. “It is our pleasure to host family gatherings – any chance we get,” Sharon says. These include all Jewish holidays, Thanksgiving, birthdays – any reason to celebrate. A self-described ‘balabusta,’ she says her husband won’t eat anyone else’s chicken soup and matzah balls. “After seders, our kids take home containers of soup and more.” Their spacious and gracious home and grounds in the Biltmore area can contain multitudes – and does. It has become a “go-to” site for Brandeis events, most recently a cocktail party on the eve of that organization’s Book and Author Luncheon. Guests can take in the memorabilia on display – as Sharon says laughing, “from everywhere.” Collectible Judaica includes a glass-encased 400-year-old Torah case and an antique silver hand-etched wedding wine cup that has been used at family weddings. They’ve traveled with friends throughout Europe, (they especially liked the warmth and beauty of New Zealand and Australia), and have gone to Israel on several occasions. Summers are mostly spent in Coronado, CA, where their condo happily and typically is overrun with family and friends. Sharon and Garry have owned a home nestled in Sedona’s red rocks for more than a decade. They were among the founders of the Jewish Community of Sedona and Verde Valley. Now a thriving congregation with several hundred members, Sharon recalls that the late Rabbi Albert Plotkin of Congregation Beth Israel here in the Valley was its first spiritual leader and frequently commuted to lead services.

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A fireplace screen is enhanced with a “shalom” plaque which originally welcomed guests at Sharon’s late parents’ home in Phoenix.

FROM THE WINDING CREEK: (EXCERPT FROM “SERENITY OF THE FOREST”)

Sounds at night of a hooting owl Are silenced by a coyote’s howl. In the moonlight, the forest shines And mountains are etched in endless lines. FROM LIFE IS LIKE A TREE (EXCERPT FROM “FULFILLMENT”)

Take each moment one by one And simply do what must be done. A new beginning, a wonderful start, A way to reach down into your heart.

Some 15 plus years ago, appreciative of the success they have achieved in their adopted country, the Shusters expanded their philanthropic efforts “to do something that would benefit children in need – and more.” They purchased an 80-acre property in Camp Verde with an existing ranch home on site. It was renovated and improved, with a large bunkhouse, lakes, baseball fields, an arena and a tree house. Named Jackpot Ranch, it now welcomes youth groups, children in foster care, women who have lost children and need counseling – and Jewish youth groups from Arizona schools and colleges. There is a staff onsite, “but Garry and I oversee everything that goes on,” Sharon explains. Dark-haired with expressive brown eyes and a sunny disposition, Sharon decided, with the encouragement of a friend and former winner, to enter the 2017 Ms. Senior Arizona competition. “I didn’t win, but it was a great experience,” she says. She’s even thinking of doing it again. Her talent, “not dancing or singing,” was a dramatic reading from her books of poetry. And about those books of poetry. “Since I was a pre-teen,” Sharon recalls, I have been writing ‘little poems and stuff.’ ” Finally, she says, she “got serious.” She had kept boxes full of poetry that she had written and stashed away. She was determined to organize and categorize them; she says, “while I still could,” and was inspired to scribble new thoughts, on occasion pulling over to the side of the road when inspiration struck. Her three self-published, soft-cover collections are Life is Like a Tree, A Gift of Heart and The Winding Creek. The Circle of Life is due this season. Next up: A series of children’s books inspired by bedtime tales she crafted for her grandchildren. “I am passionate about sharing my thoughts and feelings and having my words touch people’s hearts,” Sharon says. ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 41

Studio Art Classes at the Tucson J Bring out your inner artist and feed your creative side through a variety of art classes offered at the Tucson J. Beginners are welcome! PAINTING THE WORLD JEWISH: BASIC WATERCOLOR TECHNIQUES Tuesdays, Nov. 13-Dec. 4, 2:30-4:30 pm Instructor: Ann Marcus Lapidus Create your own watercolor paintings and gain a better understanding of color and how to paint with watercolors, while exploring Jewish themes.Â LEARN TO PAINT A SILK SCARF Sundays, Nov. 4, 11 & 17, 9 am-noon Instructor: Saraiya Kanning Paint your own silk scarf using vibrant, flowing dyes. Use watersoluble resist to draw lines that fence in color and salt to create comet-like patterns. ANYONE CAN DRAW AND PAINT Tuesdays and Fridays through Dec. 28, 9:30 am-noon Instructor: Murray Keshner Demonstration and instruction at every session. Please bring pencil, paper and any media you like to use.

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BEGINNER PORTRAIT SCULPTING Fridays, Nov. 2-30 (no class Nov. 23), 2-5 pm Instructor: Raymonde Zlotnikoff This is a comprehensive class of practical instruction and hands-on sculpting in how to create a three-dimensional sculpture of the human face and head in clay. CLAY WITH SWAY Thursdays, Nov. 1-Dec. 13, 5:30-8:30 pm Join us in this lab setting to improve your clay skills. Experiment with a variety of tools, try new textures and add interesting flair. SUNDAY MORNING CLAY CLASS Sundays, Nov. 18-Dec. 23, 9:30 am-12:30 pm Instructor: Gerrie Young Improve or advance what you have learned in other classes. Bring your clay knowledge up to date through practice with forms, tiles, the pottery wheel or sculpture. For more information, or to register for any of these classes, contact 520-299-3000 or visit tucsonjcc.org/ programs/arts/adults/art-classes/.

Jeanine Korer

Jeanine Korer: social director of Kappa Grandma Sigma By Mala Blomquist

very Tuesday afternoon, in the lobby of the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center in Scottsdale, you will find a group of ladies knitting and crocheting. If you have trouble finding them, just follow the laughter. This group, affectionately named “Kappa Grandma Sigma” by their social director, Jeanine Korer, meets weekly, year-round. “We call it ‘the magic table’ because everyone who sits at that table, including snowbirds, winds up having a connection to somebody else at that table,” jokes Jeanine. There are knitters from California, Chicago and Canada. Jeanine learned to knit from a blind woman who was a friend of her mother. “I’ve been knitting many, many years, but I’m

What can you learn about senior living at our Lunch and Learn? A whole bunch. Ask questions. Take a tour. Ask more questions. Try the food. Ask even more questions. You get the idea. It’s casual, it’s complimentary and you’re invited. The Village at Ocotillo’s next Lunch and Learn is Thursday, November 15th at 11:30am. Please call 480.558.0246 to RSVP.

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

990 West Ocotillo Road • Chandler, AZ TheVillageatOcotillo.com • 480.558.0246

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 43

nowhere near as good as the other women in the group,” she says. “They can teach you to knit in one minute and crochet in 30 seconds.” Ita Wagen is the head director of the group and Evelyn, Sandy, Donna, Molly and Jo are the regulars. “Ita is very innovative, Jo knows exotic stitches and Molly is prolific,” says Jeanine of her fellow fiber artists. “Everyone has a remarkable story, and we are compatible beyond belief.” Some of the items the group knits include hats and blankets for newborn babies in the hospital, afghans for wheelchair-bound veterans and crutch covers for Jewish war veterans, so they don’t get sores under their arms. Knitting isn’t Jeanine’s only hobby. She also paints, plays mahjongg, volunteers on election days and sings in the choir at Temple Solel. More than 25 of her paintings will be on display throughout November at Temple Solel as part of Jeanine their ArtKorer @ Solel series. Originally from Chicago, she began painting before she moved to the Valley in 1980. “I didn’t know I could paint, I never had. I saw a Parade magazine cover I liked, and I just picked up a brush and started painting,” says Jeanine. Her favorite medium to use is oil paint, because “acrylic dries very quickly” and she likes the flexibility to make a change while painting. She has also dabbled in 44 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Clockwise from left, Jo Pulvermacher with a sweater that has handmade buttons from Africa; Evelyn Levine starting on a lap blanket; Ita Wagan with infant sweaters and hats to be donated – no two are alike; Sandy Reichsfeld completing an afghan for a wheelchair-bound veteran. watercolor and more recently scraperboard, where you etch into the ink covering a board to reveal a color below. She says all of her hobbies have a social element involved. Whenever she has a problem, somebody in one of her social circles knows the answer. “I had a pain in my thumb, and there was a retired doctor (in class), and he told me that I had rheumatoid arthritis,” says Jeanine. “Then I went to my doctor, and he said, ‘Oh, that’s RA.’ I already knew that because I had an art class diagnosis.” She also told her knitting friends one day that she thought that she had to get a new dishwasher because everything was coming out cloudy. “In three seconds, somebody said to me, ‘You have to get Lemi Shine (detergent booster)’ – and sure enough that did it,” jokes Jeanine. When asked if doing knitting or painting helps to keep her mind sharp, she laughs and replies, “It definitely keeps your mind working; whether it keeps it sharp or not, I don’t know. You do have to think, and it’s very social, all of it.”

The benefits of knitting By Mala Blomquist

When I think of knitting, I think of my mom. She had a blue knitting basket where she stored her different-sized knitting needles and colorful balls of yarn. I never learned how to knit with needles, but my mother-in-law taught me how to knit using a loom. Although you wouldn’t call knitting a “trendy” hobby, while doing a little research I discovered that there are numerous mental and physical benefits to the craft. Perhaps these benefits are the secret as to why so many mothers and grandmothers knit!

5 BENEFITS OF KNITTING: SHARPENS THE MIND

Knitting is an activity where you visualize a final product and then strategize how to create it. Doing so stimulates your motor cortex, frontal and occipital lobes. Engaging these parts of the brain help strengthens your mind and slows down cognitive impairment. An article in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinic Neurosciences studied mild cognitive impairment associated with aging. They found, “Computer activities; craft activities, such as knitting, quilting, etc.; playing games; and reading books were associated with decreased odds of having MCI.”

CHEAPER THAN THERAPY

Knitting alone can be a great way to relax and relieve stress. If you want to be more social, join other knitters in a class or a group that works together while they chat and visit. You can make your hobby a way to build new friendships. IT’S LIKE WORKING OUT

The rhythmic actions of knitting keep the finger joints flexible and the muscles in the hands toned and steady, aiding in the prevention of arthritis and tendinitis, and helping with dexterity. Also, knitting burns about 100 calories an hour. HELPS WITH BAD HABITS

Do you smoke or snack on not-so-healthy foods? If your hands are occupied doing something else, you can’t reach for that cigarette or bag of chips. Instead of mindless eating while watching television, pick up those knitting needles and get busy. BOOSTS SELF-ESTEEM

We all know how fulfilling completing a project can be. With knitting, you can turn a ball of yarn into a hat, scarf, sweater, blanket – anything you want! And when you’re done, you can keep your creation or give it to a friend, loved one or someone in need. The more you knit, the better you’ll feel.

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New app for dementia intervention

Dr. John DenBoer

cottsdale-based healthcare technology company SMART Brain Aging, Inc., has made available its one-on-one patient intervention program for aging brain health, Brain U Online, through online subscription and iOS app, Brain U Lite. The result of five years of clinical trials with more than 3,000 participants at Harvard Medical School and Boston University School of Medicine and used by the country’s leading memory care facilities, Brain U Online and Brain U Lite are the world’s first scientifically supported programs developed specifically for aging adults and those with early-stage dementia. Brain U Online and Brain U Lite were developed specifically for aging individuals, taking into account visual and hearing impairment, as well as physical tremors, and compensate for lip readers by having an on-screen person read the exercises and incorporating larger text and handwriting help. Dubbed “the defining disease of the baby boomer generation,” dementia affects more than 60 million people worldwide. In the United States alone, that number is expected to triple in the next 10-20 years, as more than 75 million baby boomers continue to age and live longer. According to the World Health Organization, someone in the world develops dementia every three seconds. When used immediately following physical exercise, the programs are proven to delay progression of the disease by up to 2.5 years and reduce the negative cognitive impact by up to 45%. Developed by geriatric clinical neuropsychologist and researcher Dr. John DenBoer, Brain U Online features more than 20,0000 exercises focused on processing speed, executive functioning, speech and language, memory and attention and concentration, while the iOS app, Brain U Lite, puts a collection of hundreds of exercises at your fingertips and is designed to be used “on the go” during or immediately after physical exercise. “We developed SMART Brain Aging with one purpose – to help prevent, delay and reduce the impact of Alzheimer’s

46 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

and other forms of dementia so that patients can continue to live full, independent lives even after diagnosis,” says Dr. DenBoer, CEO and founder of SMART Brain Aging, Inc. “Let me be clear, this is not a ‘brain game.’ It is the first and only scientifically-supported digital therapy program developed specifically for aging adults who want to maintain healthy brain function and those suffering from the early stages of dementia.” An innovative line of research has shown that when cognitive exercise is paired with aerobic-based exercise, there is a significant chance of reducing microvascular ischemic changes (vascular dementia) and mitigating the advancement of cortical atrophy (Alzheimer’s dementia). With the rise of exercise among America’s aging population, Brain U Online and Brain U Lite could be formative programs in the battle against dementia. For more information, visit brainuonline. com or download the app Brain U Lite from the App Store.

Free tech tutoring

mile on Seniors is offering free small-group smartphone and table basics provided by Tech Tutors, a team of teen and adult community volunteers. Bring your iPhone, smartphone, iPad or tablet device to these tutoring sessions and learn how to send text messages, make and receive video calls, read and listen to free e-books and audiobooks, take and store photos, set up an email account and watch free movies and concerts.

TECH TUTOR DATES Wednesday Nov. 7 & Dec. 5 11 am-noon Sunday Nov. 11 & Dec. 9 1-2 pm

RSVPs required to ensure they have enough volunteers to help you. Please email chani@sosaz.org or call 602-492-7670.

The Smile on Seniors Program aims to bring exclusive programming geared to our senior community. It provides monthly events that promote social interaction and features exciting activities for seniors. For more information, visit sosaz.org.

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Dear Helen:

We provide in-home caregivers to &older adults and the Locally owned operated by Eric & Denise Kaye. physically challenged within the community. We provide in-home caregivers I’m very concerned that my aging mother is being groomed Connections in Home Care, LLC

a con artist. Long story short: my sister was a medical health 3420 E. Shea Blvd., Suite 200 to olderFor adults and the Assistance aphysically Few Hours a by Day Phoenix, AZ 85028 professional when she was employable. She became addicted or the Up •community. to 24 Hours 708-8626 www.chcaz.org challenged(602) within to pills and lost a series of jobs. She moved in with our mother,

Locally owned & operated by Eric & Denise Kaye.

who has a terminal degenerative disease (though she has outlived the doctors’ expectations). The theory was that Sis gets a safe place to live, and Mom gets the live-in care she increasingly needs. 200 My sister’s “friend” (whom I suspect is also her dealer) visits every other week. He just got arrested and said it was for a DUI. But I had a friend check, and it was for selling pills. He asked my mother (who adores him because he is charming, as are most con artists) for a loan of bail money. I fear this is the tip of a very deep iceberg. I am the executor of the trust after she dies, but I do not control her assets before then. She likes the illusion of control and likes to believe people are good, even when there is clear evidence to the contrary. She would not believe the truth if it bit her. Financial Guardian

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Dear Financial Guardian:

in-home caregivers to older adults and the I don’t know what legal role or rights a “financial guardian” physically challenged within the community. (602) 708-8626 • www.chcaz.org has, but I hope it means you have the authority to talk to her

banker as a representative of the family and the estate. I’d avoid

For Assistance a you Few Hours a Day the word “illusion” when do so. Explain the circumstances and that it is very important to the family to protect your or Up to 24 Hours mother’s dignity; also point out that it’s your responsibility to Locally owned & operated by Eric & Denise Kaye.

be sure the family assets are protected, as she needs them for ongoing care. It would be great if you could be added to her accounts to receive statements, though that only allows you see what’s happening after the fact. Best would be for a second signature (yours) to be required for amounts over say $2,500.That sets an effective stop loss on how much damage an interloper can do or how much your sister could cadge out of your mother, who is clearly a potential target for people who might hit her up for money. Ask the banker what safeguards could be put in place

Connections in Home Care, LLC 3420 E. Shea Blvd., Suite 200 Phoenix, AZ 85028

(602) 708-8626 • www.chcaz.org 48 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

without your mother feeling diminished. Say yes to whatever they can do now; try for more protections later. And talk to your sister about her addiction, perhaps making participation in a treatment group a requirement of housing, though I suspect that’ll be a long conversation. People change when they are ready. Dear Helen: Can you please talk about Hanukkah gifting among adult friends? Half the people I know are in the process of divesting and downscaling – some to move into smaller dwellings, and others just because they are trying to spare their children the hassle of wading through their life’s possessions. It has led to a fad of unabashed “re-gifting,” usually accompanied with comments like, “You once admired this, so I hope you’ll accept it as a gift.” Just the word “gift” implies some implicit reciprocity, which I do not want to feel. Can I say “No, thanks” to everyone in an email pre-emptively, or should I decline them individually? Have Enough

Dear Enough: Wading through decades of accumulated treasures (and trash) is a chore most of us put off. Cleaning through my parents’ home after they departed was a labor of love, nostalgia and hard work. Kudos to those who spare their children, but less joy for those who have to politely accept or decline the re-gifts. My solution for divesting: separate anything of value and put it in a special part of the house. Then invite anyone whom you might want to re-gift. You can identify specific gifts or have a free-for-all. But let people decide what they might want to take home. The rest should be donated to a charity fundraiser (if of excellent quality) or to a thrift shop. Don’t look back.

HELEN

A resident of Eugene since 1981, Helen Rosenau is a member of Temple Beth Israel. She’s a student of Torah and an artist (kabbalahglass.com), a writer (yourjewishfairygodmother.com) and now the author of The Messy Joys of Being Human: A Guide to Risking Change and Becoming Happier.

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602.433.6300 ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 49

Milk, eggs, butter and…bulbs? By Mala Blomquist

f you live in other parts of the country, the first sign of spring is the bulbs that you planted in the fall pushing through the thawed earth and signaling the beginning of warmer weather. In most parts of Arizona, we don’t have the low temperatures that certain bulbs need to stimulate their biochemical responses that tell the bulb when to start their root growth and flower formation. But there’s no need to look wistfully at the containers of bulbs at the big box store. You can grow bulbs in Arizona; it just takes a little preparation ahead of time. In warmer climates, you can “trick” the bulbs by placing them in the refrigerator. Pre-chill the bulbs for a minimum of six to eight weeks, but it’s OK if you keep them in the fridge for up to 16 weeks if you purchased them early in the season. Store the bulbs in loosely closed paper bags (not plastic, it will cause them to rot) in an area of the refrigerator where they will not be stored near any kind of fruit. As fruit ripens, it gives off ethylene gas which potentially can kill the embryonic flower inside the bulb. When you remove the bulbs from the refrigerator, plant immediately. If you start the chilling period in late fall, the bulbs will be ready to plant in January or February. This will give the bulb some time to develop roots before they focus on flowering. The majority of soil in the Valley is clay-like with a layer underneath the surface called caliche. Bulbs like well-drained soil with a neutral pH, so for best results, plant bulbs in raised beds or pots instead of directly into the ground. You also want to be sure to plant your bulb with the roots facing down into the soil so that the new

growth will emerge from the point of the bulb up through the top of the soil. This may sound like a simple concept, but when planting bulbs, it is easy to place them in a hole and cover them with soil without double checking that the point is facing up. To extend the bloom time, choose a planting location that will be protected from afternoon sun. After planting the bulbs, you can spread a few inches of mulch on top of the soil to help retain moisture and keep the soil cool. Bulbs that need pre-chilling are all tulips, plus others including hyacinths, muscari, crocus and alliums. It is possible to buy spring-blooming bulbs that don’t need chilling. These include Dutch iris, anemone (DeCaen and St. Brigid), freesia and ranunculus. Some daffodil varieties also are wellsuited to warmer climates. Before you plant these bulbs, simply soak the roots of the bulbs in a shallow pan of lukewarm water for a few hours. If planting in a pot, insert the bulb in the potting soil, leaving the top twothirds exposed. Most bulbs that have been pre-chilled in the refrigerator will bloom four to six weeks after planting. These will not be able to propagate in the soil like the bulbs that don’t have to be pre-chilled, and should be treated as annual blooms. With a little extra planning and care you can have a bed of bulbs ready next spring that will make the bees happy and your neighbors jealous!

50 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Ranunculus

Feed the hungry hummingbirds By Mala Blomquist

here are more than 300 species of hummingbirds, and they are all native to the Americas. Many dwell in the tropics, where flowers (their primary food source) are abundant year-round. Southern Arizona hosts more than a dozen species and is a migratory path as many other species head south to Mexico for the winter. The most common hummingbird in the Valley is the Anna’s Hummingbird, named after an Italian duchess. These birds are year-round residents in the lower elevations of the state and will nest in the Valley between January and June. Anna’s are larger than most species of hummingbirds and the only ones to produce a song. When moving from flower to flower, or during mating season, this hummer will produce a shrill chirping noise. Most other hummingbirds in the United States are silent. These birds are easy to identify by their rose-colored throats and green metallic backs on the male, and the light grey chest with red spotting on the throat with a green back and white-tipped tail on the female. The male is very territorial and will perform extravagant aerial dives to impress a future mate. But once the courtship is over, he will leave the female to raise the young by herself. Considering a hummingbird consumes approximately 50% of its weight in sugar daily, feeding five to eight times an hour, it’s a wonder how the mom keeps herself fed, let alone her babies. If you want to help one of these hungry moms out, you can set up a hummingbird feeder inexpensively in your own yard. A variety of shapes and sizes are available in pet stores and online for under $20. Hang the feeder in an area not accessible to ants or pets but where you can view the birds when they come to feed. You don’t need to purchase pre-made nectar; you can make your own using this simple recipe: one part sugar to four parts water. Bring the sugar and water to a boil, just enough to dissolve the granules. Cool and store it in the refrigerator. It should last about two weeks. Never use honey or artificial sweeteners and never use red food dye because it can hurt the birds. At first, fill the feeder halfway, to see how much the birds will eat. If your birds don’t drink the nectar in a day or two, replace the food with a fresh supply. Wash the feeder with warm water every few days. If you see black spots in the feeder, it needs washing with hot water and mild soap to get rid of the mold that could possibly make a bird sick. Once the hummingbirds in your area learn that there is a constant supply of fresh sugar water for them to enjoy, they might tell their friends, and you will have little flying guests over to dine every day. ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 51

K I D S

and teens too!

The student body from 1983, the “first generation” of Tucson Hebrew Academy students at its present location.

Tucson Hebrew Academy

celebrates 45 years of Jewish education By Mala Blomquist

When Jon Ben-Asher was a student at Tucson Hebrew Academy, he never envisioned he would one day be the head of school. After 30 years in education, he jokes, “I have encountered two kids that have said they wanted to be principal.” THA is celebrating its 45th anniversary this year. The K-8 school was originally housed inside Congregation Anshei Israel (the location where Jon attended school) and has been on the Jewish Community Campus for the last 25 years. When Jon became head of school five years ago, there was already a strategic plan in place to rebrand THA. “They hired a firm that conducted an extensive study in the community and came up with findings and recommenda52 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

tions,” he says. “For me, it was really clear that this is the work we need to do.” Upon evaluation of the study, THA reevaluated and rewrote their mission statement, and that is what Jon tries to communicate and share often. “We have a new mission vision and values,” he says. “We have six core values (children, commitment to excellence, community, living Judaism, supporting Israel and tikkun olam), and I call that ‘the boss.’ It’s the driver of what we do.” Jon admits one of his biggest challenges these days is enrollment. Tucson, like the Valley, offers parents many school choices. Within a mile or so from THA there are public, charter, private, Montessori and Waldorf schools and a second-chance program. “It’s tough because I believe our community needs Jewish day schools more than ever,” says Jon. “And yet American culture trends away

from faith and away from faith-based organizations and schools. What is the value of a religious school in today’s learning environment? We need to make that case in the community and get that well understood.” THA is the only Jewish day school in Tucson. Tucson has no Jewish high schools, nor any current plans for one. “There are some excellent high schools, so at the moment it’s not anything that we are seriously working on,” he says. “I think that there’s a dream in many people’s hearts and minds – of one day having a Jewish high school in Tucson.” Kids graduating from THA go on to one of the public

Tucson Hebrew Academy

or charter high schools in the area. They often find high school easy, coming from the strong academic environment of THA. The school has a strong secular program as well as a powerful Judaic studies program. “We have an amazing spiritual leader, Rabbi Billy (Lewkowicz), and he really gets kids and understands how to inspire Jon Ben-Asher them and motivate them,” says Jon. “And he inspires us adults, too.” The eighth-graders school year culminates with a trip to Israel. “In all my years in the field I have never seen its equal in terms of a learning experience the kids have there,” he says. THA also works within the community forming partnerships and collaborations with both Jewish and non-Jewish organizations. THA also works with scientists in the community and the University of Arizona science department.

In April, THA hosts the largest STEM Festival for school-aged children in Tucson. The festival is open to the public and gives families the opportunity to engage in science, technology, engineering and math activities. Last year more than 1,500 people attended. THA also works with the Jewish Education Tax Credit Organization, Arizona Leadership Foundation, Institute for Better Education and other scholarship tuition organizations in addition to endowment money set aside by philanthropists through the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona for assistance with scholarships. “THA is affordable to any kid,” says Jon. “One of our mantras is we never let tuition or money be a barrier for a Jewish day school education.” Jon credits his Jewish day school education with his position today, “It turned me into an educator because I loved so many of my teachers and I loved the environment. The Jewish day school really helped me to know myself through my heritage, my traditions and values.” He says that these qualities are instilled in the children at THA, “They graduate with a strong sense of self and a moral compass which points them in the direction of empathy, and making the world a better place.” For more information about Tucson Hebrew Academy, contact 520-529-3888 or visit thaaz.org.

Tucson Hebrew Academy’s 2018 Tikkun Olam Celebration 45 years of inspiring Jewish education and values Honoring Ronnie Sebold with keynote speaker Brooke Sebold

WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 4; 5:30 pm cocktails, 6:30 pm dinner & community tribute WHERE: Tucson JCC, 3800 E. River Road,

Tucson

INFORMATION: thaaz.org

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 53

JKids & Teens Event Calendar ONGOING: Club J at the Valley of the Sun JCC Provides after-school programming ranging from sports to cooking and crafts to Israeli culture and more for those in K-8. Transportation from nearby schools available. Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480634-4949 or youth@vosjcc.org, vosjcc.org. J-Care After-School Program at the Tucson JCC Includes a variety of activities, Homework Hangout program (help from education specialists), arts, sports or teens can hang in the Youth Lounge. Bus transportation from schools available for K-12. Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E River Road, Tucson. Contact Scott at 520-299-3000 ext. 256 or jcare@tucsonjcc.org, tucsonjcc.org. NOV. 3, 10, 17 & 24; DEC. 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29 Camp Shabbat for ages 6-10 years at Congregation Bet Shalom, 3881 E. River Road, Tucson from 11 am-1 pm. A wonderful, fun, learning experience with Israeli teens. Free. No RSVP required. For more information, call 520-577-1171 or rabbi@cbsaz.org. NOV. 5-9 Book Fair at Congregation Anshei Israel, 5550 E. Fifth St., Tucson from 8 am to 4 pm Mon.Thur. and 9 am to noon Fri. Choose from a large selection of books, educational activity kids and card packs. For more information, visit caiaz.org. NOV. 11 It’s a Mitzvah! at the Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 9:30 to 11:30 am. It’s a morning of Mitzvahmaking with stories, crafts and sorting canned goods to donate to the local food bank. J members are free; guests are $5 per child. Information and registration: 480-4817112 or pjlibrary@vosjcc.org. ZooAsana. See page 62.

NOV. 16 “BOGO” Family Shabbat Service and Dinner at Congregation Anshei Israel, 5550 E 5th St., Tucson from 5:45 to 8:30 pm. Welcome Shabbat with rhythm, movement, ruach (spirit) and song, followed by Shabbat dinner and Open Lounge in the Linda Roy Youth Center with games and fun. For each family that brings a Jewish family who have not experienced these services and/or dinners with us before, we’ll cover the cost of dinner for the host family and their guests! $25 per family (2 adults & up to 4 children). Additional adults $10 per person. RSVP by Nov. 12 to 520-745-5550 or caiaz.org. NOV. 17 & DEC. 16 Sunday Funday at the East Valley JCC, 908 N. Alma School Road, Chandler. An afternoon of fun activities for children in grades K-9. For more information, visit evjcc.org. NOV. 18 Amazing Artist at the Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 9:30 to 11:30 am. Spend the morning creating gorgeous works of art to hang and to eat! Free for ECC Families; $5 per guest family. Information and registration: 480-659-7769 or earlychildhood@vosjcc.org. DEC. 2 Hanukkah Hot Chocolate Run. See page 63. DEC. 14 Tot Shabbat in the Northwest at Jewish Federation Northwest, 190 W. Magee Road #162, Oro Valley from 5 to 6 pm. Join other Northwest families with young children and we celebrate Shabbat together at the Northwest Division office of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona. For more information, contact Mary Ellen at 520-955-1518 or pjlibrary@jfsa.org. DEC. 15 Kids Night Out – Bingo Bash at Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 6 to 10 pm. An evening of BINGO-game fun, both old and new, with prizes galore. Includes dinner and movie too! Members:

54 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

$10; Guests: $20. Grades Pre-K-4. Price per child until Dec. 10, $5 thereafter. Information and registration at vosjcc.org/knobingo. DEC. 22 Tot Shabbat at Congregation Bet Shalom, 3381 E. River Road, Tucson at 11 am. Lisa Schachter-Brooks will lead a Tot Shabbat featuring PJ Library books, and other interactive activities for children age 0-5 years and their parents. Free, no RSVP required. For more information, visit cbsaz.org. DEC. 24-JAN. 4 Shemesh Winter Break Camp at The J at Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 9 am to 3 pm; before- and after-care available. When school’s out, The J is the place to be with camp fun including art, drama, swimming (heated pool), games and more. Grades K-4. For pricing and details, visit vosjcc.org/shemeshcamps. Winter Camp at the East Valley JCC, 908 N. Alma School Road, Chandler. Ages 2-4: Dec. 24-31; grades K-9: Dec. 26-Jan 4. 9 am3:30 pm; before- and after-care available. Features games, special activities and field trips. For more information, contact the camp office at 480-897-0588 or camp@evjcc.org. Winter Camp J at the Tucson JCC, 3800 E. River Road, Tucson from 9 am-4 pm; before- and after-care available. Activities (based on age group) include cooking, sports, archery, field trips and more. For more information, contact 520-299-3000 ext. 192 or camp@tucsonjcc.org. DEC. 25 Chanukah Character Breakfast at The J at Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 9-11 am. Spend a family-friendly morning at The J with your favorite “Incredibles” characters while you enjoy pancakes, crafts and a few surprises. Members: $25 per family; Guests: $40 per family up to 4 people; additional $5 per person. Children under 12 months are free. Information and registration at vosjcc.org/ incredibles. For more events, visit azjewishlife.com/ calendar.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 55

Changes ahead for Limmud AZ

L iving

By Mala Blomquist

For the second year in a row, Limmud AZ will offer “Taste of Limmud.” This evening event will be held on Thursday, Nov. 15, from 7 to 9 pm at Temple Solel at 6805 E. McDonald Dr. in Paradise Valley. The event offers learning sessions featuring Rabbis Pinchas Allouche, Bonnie Koppell and Jeremy Schneider. This event gives you a “taste” for what you will experience at their annual Limmud AZ event held on Sunday, Feb. 10, from 9 am to 4 pm at Arizona State University in the Conference Center at the Memorial Union in Tempe. Limmud AZ is a full day of Jewish education featuring workshops, discussions, arts, music, performances, text-study sessions and more. “We wanted people to see what Limmud was all about because not everyone knew about it,” says Suzanne Swift, director of Jewish Book Council Networks and Limmud team chairperson. “It’s only a two-hour commitment versus a whole day, so that’s why we started Ed Asner it.” This year they added Food for Our Soul as a fundraiser to support the 2019 Limmud AZ – Day of Jewish Learning. The pre-tasting event will feature heavy appetizers, wine and a meet-and-greet with author and keynote presenter Aaron Edelheit. Guests will also receive a copy of his book, The Hard Break: The Case for the 24/6 Lifestyle. Tickets to this pre-event are $100 per person.

56 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

“Every dime we raise goes into running the next Limmud. There are no paid staff people. Even the presenters are not paid for their time." – Suzanne Swift

“Every dime we raise goes into running the next Limmud,” says Suzanne. There are no paid staff people. Even the presenters are not paid for their time." Suzanne has been very involved with Limmud both in Arizona and nationally. Before she started working with Limmud, she was the program director at the Valley of the Sun JCC. Sandy Adler who is another team chairperson at Limmud AZ, was also the chairperson when Suzanne ran the JCC book festival. “When I was leaving the JCC, Sandy said, ‘I have our next project.’ That was Limmud,” says Suzanne. “I was out of the JCC for five years and this is our fifth Limmud.” Every Limmud event around the world is different. Some are only one day like Arizona, some are over a weekend and some are multiple days. You could go to a Limmud in Mumbai and have a completely different experience than a Limmud in Germany. Limmud is growing in the United States and Canada, but it is far more recognized in Europe. The center of Limmud and the “mothership” as Suzanne refers to it, is the United Kingdom. “They hold it over Christmas and 3,000 people attend,” she says. “For four days, there are more than 1,000 sessions. It’s the most amazing, incredible event.” Suzanne also has attended Limmuds in New Orleans and Israel. Limmud AZ usually has between 40 and 50 presenters, with 10 sessions per hour. “It's a fun day filled with however one wants to design it, from yoga, mindfulness and Israeli dancing to current topics facing Israel and Jews,” says Amanda Walker, fifth-year volunteer. “There is a huge variety taught by local and national speakers.” This year the group has added a new element to Limmud AZ. “This year, I'm looking forward to our first keynote speaker, Ed Asner,” says Amanda. Actor, activist and author, Ed Asner and his son and

daughter-in-law, Matt Asner and Navah Paskowitz-Asner, will be on hand to share their knowledge, personal life experiences and information on their new project, The Ed Asner Family Center. This special presentation will be presented as a keynote event, partially funded by a NowGen grant. The Ed Asner Family Center is a one-stop shop for those with special needs and their families seeking wholeness in all attitudes of life. The Center will act as an oasis of balance and thought, of interaction and education. Most importantly, The Center will give children and adults of all levels of ability a chance at dignity, confidence and self-respect. Having him and his family share their vision for the Center, further corresponds with Limmud’s motto that “Everybody’s a teacher, and everybody’s a learner.” Gesher Disability Resources and Limmud AZ are excited to partner for a second year and bring such an incredible educational opportunity to attendees. Suzanne has a way to judge if the day has been a success. “We want people to leave saying, ‘I couldn’t go to all the things I wanted to go to,’ that’s the best thing that happens to us,” says Suzanne. “I know people get frustrated but as a Jewish educator and Jewish professional, that the best thing that could ever happen.”

Taste of Limmud

When: Nov. 15, 7-9 pm Where: Temple Solel, 6805 E McDonald Dr., Paradise Valley Tickets: $18; $100 pre-tasting event

Limmud AZ

When: Feb. 10, 2019, 9 am-4 pm Where: ASU, Conference Center at the Memorial Union, 301 E. Orange Mall, Tempe Tickets: $36-$50 adults (discounts if registered by Dec. 31); teens/college students $18; $15 Kidz Camp For more information on both events, visit limmudaz.org.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 57

TO LIFE

The “Crystallization” of Leadership By Amy Hirshberg Lederman

What do Moses and Nobel prize winner in chemistry Daniel Shechtman have in common? No, this isn’t a joke, although it’s a bit of brain teaser which a dear friend recently related to me after hearing a Shabbat morning sermon in Haifa. Delivered by Rabbi Daniel Hershkowitz, noted Talmudic scholar, mathematician and former Israeli Minister of Science and Technology, the answer came in the form of a question. Most of us are familiar with the story of Moses and the burning bush. In a nutshell, Moses, while tending to his fatherin-law Jethro’s sheep, came upon a strange and inconceivable sight – a burning bush which was not consumed by its fire. This sight so “ignited” his curiosity that he stopped to investigate, and ultimately came to encounter his first prophetic vision of God. Exodus 3:3 informs us that Moses, in stumbling upon the unusual, asked the question, “Why will this bush not be burned?” Daniel Shechtman identified quasicrystals, a crystalline structure not previously thought to exist in nature, which upon discovery was viewed as a scientific revolution. Shechtman, like Moses, saw something that others did not see – and his curiosity led him to ask the same question: Why? At a time in our country when we face great divisiveness, where leadership is both challenging and challenged, it is instructive and inspirational to look at leadership paradigms through the lens offered by our sacred Jewish texts. Moses teaches us that the ability to stop and delve deeply into things about which we don’t know or understand is an essential quality of leadership. Both Moses and Shechtman were driven by their curiosity, their hunger to discover what others could not see, and their need to understand the “Why?” Moses’ “burning desire” to understand why the bush did not burn led him to his first divine encounter with God, who commanded that he go down to Egypt to redeem the Hebrew people from slavery. Moses was immediately engaged in 58 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

conversation with God and challenged him with the question, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and take the Children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11) to which God reassuringly responded, “For I shall be with you …” Moses offers us another insight into the qualities of an inspired leader –the necessity of respectful engagement in conversation, even when it is difficult and challenging. How we engage others, pose questions, challenge those ideas and people with whom we disagree, is essential to successful leadership. Simply put, the way we converse with one another will in many ways reflect upon and ultimately predict our future successes and failures, emanating from the most intimate of conversations to those on a national and global level. Our Founding Fathers, many of them students of the Bible, envisioned a national debate that permitted open and respectful dialogue. In fact, in the earliest discussions of our constitutional democracy, it was understood that leadership and effective governance are best accomplished when compromise permeates the process so that everyone can leave the conversation feeling whole and heard, able to return to the table in the same spirit the next day. Moses, Shechtman and the Founding Fathers, taken together, offer us a superb paradigm for our day and for navigating our divisions. We must be willing to be open to the unknown, drill down into ideas and relationships not previously fathomed, and aim for conversations and compromise so that we can grow together rather than tear each other apart.

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

FEDERATION NOTES Here Comes Hanukkah

Limitless Energy and Expertise!

By Marty Haberer

In the words of Adam Sandler, “Put on your yarmulke, here comes Hanukkah.” Did you know that Hanukkah is not a Jewish holiday? Though Hanukkah is canonized by the Catholic and Coptic churches in the Book of Maccabees I and II, it is not canonized in the Hebrew Bible. Both books share the history of the Maccabees revolt to reclaim the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, which had been overrun by the Greeks and idolatry. Though the history of the holiday and the miracle of the oil lasting eight days is interesting, what I find most important about Hanukkah is its message of rededication. When the Maccabees entered the recaptured temple, it had to be rededicated in order for G-d to return. Each year, Hanukkah reminds me, and hopefully, you as well, to rededicate myself to our traditions and values as Jews. It is this same concept of rededication that we take very seriously at the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix. Our leadership understands that nothing stays the same and that in this era of almost blinding technological advances, those organizations that are not prepared to shift, adjust and change, may not be around much longer – think Montgomery Wards, Mountain Bell and Sears. With this in mind, we rededicated our mission statement just a little over a year ago, To strengthen and engage a vibrant Jewish community while providing for Jews in need. Supporting our mission are four pillars of impact: Engaging the Next Generation, Enriching Senior Lives, Providing for Jews in Need and Building Community. We are excited about the future of the Valley’s Jewish community and want to make Phoenix a model Jewish community for decades to come and are rededicating ourselves to the community. I invite you to join us in this Jewish journey. You can learn about our mission and work at jewishphoenix.org. I wish you and yours a Happy and Healthy Hanukkah. Put on those Yarmulkes!

Whether you’re a first-time home buyer or a last-home seller, my 34 years of local real estate experience will make your transactions pleasant and worry-free. I work closely with every client, as if conducting my own personal transaction. My only goal is to make sure you are a satisfied and happy customer.

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Marty Haberer is CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 59

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FACES & PLACES

BUSTING OUT – Cheryl Blumenthal, director of Culture & Learning programs at the Valley of the Sun JCC had a little fun in the studio with Bob Roth, left, and Dr. Steven Sckolnik of Arizona Center for Cancer Care. Cheryl was promoting October’s Busting Out for Breast Cancer event.

MOVIE NIGHT – Norman and Rose Levine were among the sold-out crowd on Sept. 20 at the Arizona Jewish Historical Society. They were there to see “There are Jews Here,” a documentary about Jews in American small towns. Photos by Leni Reiss

STORYTELLERS – Jewish Family & Children’s Service’s storytelling workshop is part of their Creative Aging program offerings. The storytelling class was held at Temple Beth Shalom and JCC of the Northwest Valley in Sun City. Top row from left: Sharon Gadless, Barbara Moss, Nan Rubin, Lou Gadless, Kim Porter (instructor). Bottom row from left: Janice Sodos, Fern Bentkover, Jane Berris (missing is Judy Helderman). Photo by Sarah Elenes

SUKKOT FUN – Children at Congregation Beth Tefillah’s Limudim Educational Center getting ready for Sukkot. The Center offers Hebrew and Judaica classes for children in grades K-6.

60 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

FACES & PLACES

NEW AT THE J – The remodel of the Tucson JCC’s lobby is sleek and modern. They also remodeled their art gallery.

L’DOR V’DOR – Eighth graders at Pardes Jewish Day School in Scottsdale spend time reading to the kindergarten students.

JFCS PRESENTS – Representatives from Jewish Family & Children’s Service’s Older Adult program presented at the October Brandeis National Committee luncheon. From left: Beverly Rubenstein, Carol Kern, Kathy Rood and Janet Rees. Photo by Charles Abrams

VBM OPENING EVENT – Laura Geller, Rabbi Emerita of Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, seated, right, was the keynote speaker at Valley Beit Midrash season’s opening event, Oct. 7 at Temple Chai. Her topic: Wise Aging: Getting Good at Getting Older! Prior to her lecture Rabbi Geller visited with Michael and Jennie Kronenfeld and Rabbi Nicole Berne, standing at right. Photo by Leni Reiss

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 61

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PREVIEWS

TIKKUN OLAM 3

The Arizona Jewish Historical Society, 122 E. Culver St., in Phoenix presents its third installation of their Tikkun Olam exhibit series, “Tikkun Olam 3 – Repairing the World” through Jan. 23, 2019. Tikkun Olam 3 is a contemporary art exhibit interpreting the imperative “repair the world” and “do not stand idly by” as they relate to environmental justice, sustainability and climate change. Invited artists include Susan Beiner, Liz Cohen, Fatimah Halim, Marie Jones, Jannelle Stanley Lane, Christine Lee and Deborah Sussman. Regular visiting hours Monday through Thursday noon to 3 pm; first and third Fridays from 6 to 9 pm. Additional times available by appointment. Contact jschesnol@azjhs.org for more information or to schedule a tour, or visit azjhs.org.

YMCA COMMUNITY MILITARY BALL

Celebrating the men and women in the U.S. Armed Services, the 2018 YMCA Community Military Ball will be held on Sat., Nov. 10 from 6 to 10 pm at the Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. in Tucson. The YMCA’s Community Military Ball recognizes our longstanding tradition of service to military families and is a celebration in honor of veterans, active duty, reserve, fallen and retired servicemen and women from all military branches. The YMCA has deep ties to the military. They have provided services to military members and their families for more than 150 years both in war and in peacetime. All event proceeds will support military families’ participation in YMCA programs including summer camp. For more information, contact Stephanie Horne at stephanieh@ tucsonymca.org.

ZOOASANA

ZooAsana Yoga & Meditation on Nov. 11 at the Phoenix Zoo, 455 N. Galvin Pkwy. in Phoenix from 10 am to 2 pm. Zooasana is a mindful fundraiser focused on yoga and meditation. Participants will learn mindfulness , meditation and yoga from Phoenix’s favorite and top leading teachers. All classes will promote interconnection, peace, health and wellbeing. Proceeds will benefit Phoenix Children’s Hospital. $60 adults, $20 ages under 13; includes zoo admission. For more information, contact 915-407-3226 or zooasanayoga@gmail.com. 62 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

Photo courtesy Spinner Publications

USHMM PRESENTS “WHAT WERE WE WATCHING?”

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum presents “What Were We Watching? Americans’ Responses to Nazism through Cinema, Radio, and Media” on Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 7 pm at Arizona State University, Old Main, 400 E. Tyler Mall in Tempe. The program is co-presented with Arizona State University. Panelists will discuss how Hollywood and leaders in entertainment and government battled for the hearts and minds of Americans. They include Daniel Greene, curator of USHMM's Americans and the Holocaust exhibition; Kevin Sandler, associate professor in the Film and Media Studies Program at ASU and editor, Reading the Rabbit: Explorations in Warner Bros. Animation. Mi-Ai Parrish, Sue Clark-Johnson professor for Media Innovation and Leadership at ASU and former Arizona Republic publisher will be the moderator. “This program helps us to understand how Americans were being informed and educated about the Nazi threat during the 1930s and 40s through the variety of different mediums available at that time,” said Marla Abraham, the museum’s Western regional director. “It’s important to know the depths of influence that the entertainment industry and political leaders had in creating awareness to Nazism and the threat to European Jews during World War II.” Program is free and open to the public, but advance registration is required at ushmm.org/events.

Mazelpalooza 2017

and two parts Prozac, you don’t have to be Italian or Jewish to love this show. All you need is to know what it feels like to leave a family dinner with heartburn and a headache! More than 30 characters and voices are brought to life by the comic genius of star, actor/comedian Peter Fogel. For ticket information, contact 602-252-8497 or visit herbergertheater.org.

HANUKKAH HOT CHOCOLATE 5K RUN/WALK

Start the holidays off right with some exercise...with a treat at the end! Join the fun on Sunday, Dec. 2 at the Tucson JCC, 3800 E. River Road in Tucson from 8-10 am for the very first Hanukkah Hot Chocolate 5K Run. This is a timed event that you can run or walk, starting in The J’s sculpture garden. Bring the family. Everyone is welcome. 5K is free for kids age 6 and under with registered parent (shirt not included). No pets allowed. Pre-register and get a free event shirt and hot chocolate mug. 5K: $25 through Dec. 1, $30 day of race; 1K: $10. Race shirts and mugs are only guaranteed and included if you register by November 12th. For more info, call 520-299-3000 ext. 255 or

CELEBRATE THE 20TH ANNIVERSARY OF MAZELPALOOZA

Mazelpalooza is the only place for Jewish young adults (age 21 and older) to be on Christmas Eve. Enjoy a festive night of cocktails and music from 9 pm until 2 am on Dec. 24 at Wasted Grain-Bubble Room in Old Town, 7295 E. Stetson Dr. in Scottsdale. Presented by NowGen, the Jewish Federation’s Young Professional division geared toward individuals in their 20s to 40s. This year there will be three parties going on simultaneously. Party #1 – Upstairs Club Party with DJ Gravity; Party #2 – Downstairs Throwback Party with DJ Saar, then from 10:30 pm- 12:30am there will be a live performance by the band SMASHED; Party #3 – Chill outside with lawn games such as cornhole, giant Jenga and Connect Four. email sports@tucsonjcc.org. Bars will be open in all three locations with drink specials available every hour on the hour! For those that donate a gift of $500 or more MY MOTHER’S ITALIAN, MY to the Federation’s annual campaign will FATHER’S JEWISH AND receive two complimentary tickets to MaI’M IN THERAPY zelpalooza and entrance to the VIP Cocktail One of the longest running one-man shows Reception. in New York theater history is coming to the Pre-sale tickets are $36 from Oct. 31-Nov. 14. Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe in Two free drink tickets included with pre-sale Phoenix from Dec. 19 to Jan. 20. Peter Fogel purchase. $18 of each ticket goes towards the Steve Solomon’s smash hit comedy starring PeFederation’s annual campaign and is eligible ter Fogel, is inspired by Steve’s hilarious family for a tax exemption. and all the people in his life whose sole purpose is to drive him into For more information, visit mazelpalooza.org. therapy … and they succeeded! One part lasagna, one part kreplach, ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 63

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER CALENDAR SEE KIDS CALENDAR PAGE 54

Ongoing

Nov. 1, 8, 15 & 29

Nov. 4

Bodies Revealed at OdySea in the Desert, 9500

Speaker Series at the East Valley JCC, 908 N

Tucson Hebrew Academy's 2018 Tikkun Olam

E. Via de Ventura, Scottsdale. This limited-time

Alma School Road, Chandler at 11 am. Speaker

Celebration. See page 52.

exhibition offers an intimate and informative

series featuring community leaders speaking on

view into the human body. Admission prices

a variety of topics. The presentation starts at 11

Nov. 5

are: $19.95 ages 13-64, $17.95 ages 65 and

am and is followed by a kosher lunch. For more

Hidden Ones – A Veil of Memories at the Valley

up, $14.95 ages 2-12; tickets are valid for the

information, visit evjcc.org.

of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road,

date selected. Guests may enter after 9 am. For more information, visit bodiesaz.com/ticketinformation.

Nov. 3

Scottsdale from 11 am to noon. Award-winning local author Marcia Fine discusses her newest

Family Havdalah Hoedown at the Valley of the

historical novel, Hidden Ones – A Veil of

Sun JCC soccer fields, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road,

Memories, which tells the story of a grandmother

Scottsdale from 6 to 8 pm. Grab a blanket and

Through Jan 23

imprisoned during the inquisition suspected of

picnic dinner and gather friends and family for

practicing Judaism. Members: $5; Guests: $8.

Tikkun Olam 3. See page 62.

Havdalah under the stars! Western wear adds

Registration required at vosjcc.org/hidden.

to the fun of live music, hay and pony rides, crafts, s’mores and more! Members:

What World Leaders Really Want at the Valley

$35 per family of four; Guests: $50. $15

of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road,

per additional person. Children under 18

Scottsdale from 11:30 am to 1 pm. Attend a

months are free. Register at vosjcc.org/

luncheon with Eli Groner, former director general

hoedown.

discusses the connection between Israel’s security challenges, economic opportunities and

diplomatic breakthroughs. For more information,

64 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE

contact Sarah at 303-828-7575 or sarah. prostak@israelbonds.com.

Nov. 6 From the Lower East Side to the Catskills & Congress at the Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 11 am to noon. Former Congresswoman Shelley Berkley shares the highlights of her fascinating life and

Nov. 12

Nov. 18 & Dec. 16

J Talks at the Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N.

Scottsdale Post 210 of the Jewish War

Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 11 am to noon.

Veterans of the United States of America

Award-winning journalist Leni Reiss shares stories

meets at the Arizona State Veterans Home,

of her notable interviews including Benjamin

4141 N. S. Herrera Way, just north of Indian

Netanyahu, George Bush and Barry Goldwater, as

School Road, Phoenix. Meetings start at 10

well as her memories of moving to the Valley and

am with refreshments served at 9:30 am.

many trips to Israel. Members: $5; Guests: $8.

For more information, contact 602-218-0353

Registration required at vosjcc.org/leni.

Nov. 16-18 & Nov. 23-25

accomplished career. Members: $5; Guests: $8. Registration required at vosjcc.org/berkley.

Nov. 13

Hidden in the Hills. See page 36.

Arizona premiere of “Who Will Write Our History.”

Nov. 8-Jan. 11 The David Labkovski Project at the East Valley JCC, 908 N. Alma School Road, Chandler. Artist and Holocaust survivor David Labkovski documented Holocaust history through art to bear witness to the events of his lifetime. This is the Arizona premiere of his exhibit, “Documenting History Through Art.” Opening reception Nov. 8 and a VIP reception Nov. 11. The exhibit is available for private receptions and group tours, for more information, visit evjcc.org.

See page 38.

Art Appreciation at the Valley of the Sun JCC, JFCS Aleinu How to Raise a Responsible, Resilient Child at Temple Kol Ami, 15030 N. 64th St. in Scottsdale from 5:30 to 8:30 pm. Dr. Larry F. Waldman, a licensed clinical, school and forensic psychologist will be speaking on the six basic principles of effective behavior management, how to correctly increase appropriate behavior and decrease inappropriate behavior and how to induce responsible, resilient behavior in children. Cost to attend the event is $25 per person. For more information, visit jfcsaz.org.

the Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm. Learn how to find the best drug plan for specific prescriptions and a secret question most people don’t know to ask. Led by Charmaine Wages, Medicare options advisor/agent. Free, but registration is required at vosjcc.org/medicare.

12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 11 am to noon. Share the world of art with special visual presentations each month by docents from the Phoenix Art Museum. Free. For more information, contact Harriet at 480-481-7033 or harrietc@vosjcc.org.

Nov. 27 Meet the Authors at the Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 1 to 2:30 pm. Meet the authors of Bad Lies, a captivating thriller co-authored by Hall of Fame-

Nov. 9 Tips & Tactics to Save on Medicare Plans & Rx at

Nov. 20 & Dec. 18

Golfer Tony Jacklin and best-selling novelist

Nov. 14 USHMM Presents “What Were We Watching?” See page 62.

Shelby Yastrow. Book signing follows the program. Members: $5; Guests: $8. Registration required at vosjcc.org/badlies.

Nov. 15

Nov. 29

Taste of Limmud. See page 56.

A Playwright’s Life & Times at the Valley of the

Nov. 16

Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale

The Life & Times of Billy Wilder at the Valley of the

Nov. 10

Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale

YMCA Community Military Ball. See page 62.

from 11 am to noon. Humanities professor and actor Gary Zaro discusses the legendary life of director Billy Wilder and shares clips from his

Nov. 11

celebrated work. Members: $5; Guests: $8.

ZooAsana. See page 62.

Registration required at vosjcc.org/wilder.

from 1 to 2:30 pm. Prize-winning playwright Andrea Markowitz shares her behind-the-scenes perspective about the art of play writing and working with actors to bring her vision to life. Includes a short play performance. Members: $5; Guests: $8. Registration required at vosjcc.org/ playwright.

ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 65

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER CALENDAR

Dec. 2

Dec. 11

Hanukkah Hot Chocolate 5K Run/Walk.

Discussion with the Rabbi at the Valley of the Sun

See page 63.

JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 11 am to noon. Gather together with Rabbi Levi

The Arab-Israeli Conflict at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale at 11 am. Visiting Scholar Dr. Karla Suomala will speak about the Arab-Israeli conflict, one of the longest running in the modern world, a conflict that continues to dominate the news today. Free. For more information, contact 480-481-7149 or info@jcrcphoenix.org.

Levertov for a stimulating discussion on an issue

Bring your questions; he has answers! Free. For information contact Chani at 602-492-7670 or chani@sosaz.org.

in Central Phoenix (address will be shared with ticket holders) from 4-6:30 pm. Friends of Ramat Gan, Israel can celebrate Hanukkah with Israeli food, wines, latkes, desserts and

of individuals who found hope in the midst of despair. Members: $5; Guests: $8. Registration required at vosjcc.org/ciner.

Dec. 19-Jan. 20 My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish and I’m in Therapy. See page 63.

Dec. 13 Arts & Culture: The Making of Modern at the Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 11 am to noon. Explore

Levity, Libations & Latkes at a private home

both historical and contemporary examples

relevant to Judaism in contemporary society.

Dec. 9

Ciner, vice president of Touro College, explores

Dec. 24 Mazelpalooza. See page 63.

the pivotal years in modern art when Picasso, Matisse, Stravinsky, Hemingway and Stein revolutionized the arts. Jeri Benoit shares this remarkable story. Members: $5; Guests: $8. Registration required at vosjcc.org/modern.

Dec. 28 Champagne Chardonnay New Year’s Eve Shabbat at Temple Emanu-el, 225 N. Country Club Road, Tucson from 5 to 7pm. A fun, festive champagne,

entertainment by mentalist Craig Anthony. $30/

juice, fruit & cheese Pre-Oneg followed by Dec. 16 Sabbat Evening Service. Come dressed in your

person suggested donation. Register online at

Gesher Disability Resources Picnic and Games

New Year's finery for our annual photo. For more

phoenixsistercities.org, or for more information,

at Cactus Park, 7202 E. Cactus Road, Scottsdale

information, contact Mila Vasser at 520-327-

contact ramatgancommittee@gmail.com.

from 1 to 3 pm. Activities include a dreidel

4501 or mila@templeemanueltucson.org.

The Play’s The Thing at the Valley of the Sun JCC,

scavenger hunt, crafts and more. For question

12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 1 to

and to RSVP contact Jacquelyn Null at jacquelyn@

2 pm. Explore the inner working of theater through

gesherdr.org.

play-reading and discussion with John Perovich of the Now & Then Creative Company. Learn about acting and the script analysis techniques that artists use to when creating theater. Members: $5; Guests: $8. Registration required at vosjcc. org/theater.

Dec. 19 Finding Hope in the Midst of Despair at the Valley of the Sun JCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale from 1 to 2 pm. Rabbi Alan G.

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ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 67

y t y i t n i u n u m m m o m o C C h s h i s i w e w J e J e h e t h t n i o J Join Create Your Own Jewish Adventure Create Your Own Jewish Adventu Taste of Limmud Taste THURS, NOVEMBERof15,Limmud 2018 | 7-9PM

THURS, 15, 2018 | 7-9PM TempleNOVEMBER Solel, Paradise Valley

Temple Solel,&Paradise $18/person includes program dessertValley reception $18/person includes program & dessert reception

special guest special guest

Aaron Edelheit Aaron Edelheit Author of:

A Day of Jewish Learning A Day of Jewish Learning for the Community for Whole the Whole Community

SUN, FEBRUARY 10, 2019 | 9AM-4PM* FEBRUARY 10, Center, 2019 |Tempe 9AM-4PM* ASU SUN, Memorial Union Conference ASU Memorial Union Conference Center, Tempe

A Celebration of Jewish Learning & Culture ADiscuss. Celebration of Jewish Learning Explore. Engage. Grow. & Cultu Discuss. Explore. Engage. Grow.

Author of: Lifestyle The Hard Break – Case for 24/6 LimmudAZ is a gathering of hundreds of Jews from a The Hard Break – Case for 24/6 Lifestyle diverse LimmudAZ is a gathering of hundreds Plus, choose from 1 of 3 rabbinic presentations: range of Jewish backgrounds, lifestyles and ofofallJews ages.from The a Plus, choose from 1 of 3 rabbinic presentations:

diverse range of Jewish backgrounds, lifestyles and of all ages. T

day offers a full schedule of workshops, lectures, discussions, arts, Session 1 Pinchas Allouche: The Next Big Thing day offerssessions a full schedule workshops, lectures, discussions, arts music, text-study & muchofmore! All welcome. Session 1 Pinchas Allouche: The Next Big Thing music, text-study sessions & much more! All welcome. Session 2 Bonnie Koppell: What Should We Aspire to Be? Session 2 Bonnie Koppell: What Should We Aspire to Be?LIMMUDAZ TICKETS MAKE A GREAT LIMMUDAZ MAKE A GREAT Session 3 Jeremy Schneider: How Do We Find Meaning GIFT!TICKETS GET YOURS BEFORE THE Session 3 Jeremy Schneider: How Do We Find Meaning HANNUKAH HANNUKAH GIFT! GET YOURS BEFORE in Obsolete Traditions? EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS DEC 31. THE in Obsolete Traditions? EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION ENDS DEC 31.

new this year this year come enew arly for a pre-tasting event come early for a pre-tasting event

Join Friends of LimmudAZ from 6-7 PM Joinour Friends of LimmudAZ from 6-7 PM to support 2019 Day of Learning! to support our 2019 Day of Learning!

Limmud Kidz provides programming for children in preK to 5th programming childrenages in preK t grade. A Limmud dairy, nut-freeKidz lunch provides and snacks are included.forChildren

dairy, nut-free lunch andwith snacks areparents included. Children a 11+ may grade. attendALimmudAZ presentations their at the mayparent. attend (Babysitting LimmudAZispresentations theirages parents discretion11+ of the available for with children 0-3.) at the discretion of the parent. (Babysitting is available for children ages 0 *The framework of the day is set up to be flexible. framework of theinto dayorisskip set up to be flexible. Participants *The are welcome to drop sessions. Participants are welcome to drop into or skip sessions.

REGRISTER EGISTaEtRwww. at ww lim udmau w.m lim z.doarzg | inf .org |oi@ im nflo udmau @m lim z.doarzg .org 68 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE