MARCH/APRIL 2020
Get Ready for Camp!
Francine Coles’ Fancy Pants Kitchen
The seder plate as art
LEIB BOLEL In the business of uniting Israel and Arizona
CO NT E N TS Arizona Jewish Life • March/April 2020 • Adar-Nisan-Iyyar 5780 • Volume 8/Issue 5
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FEATURES
CAMP
COVER STORY Leib Bolel: In the business of uniting Israel and Arizona 24
Girl Scouting through a Jewish lens 14 PJ Library introduces families to the joy of Jewish overnight camp 16 Trail Blazers 18 My afternoon with Fernando 20 Camp Directory 22
BUSINESS Allison Kierman created Keirman Law to help her family-and yours 10 Biz Ins & Outs 12 FRONT & CENTER “Something Rotten” is onstage at The Phoenix Theatre Company 30 FOOD Francine Coles’ blog means business 32
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PASSOVER A seder plate for every table 34 ACTIVELY SENIOR Anne Segal: Guided by a sense of justice 36 ISRAEL How Magen David Adom is protecting Israel’s blood supply 38
COVER: Leib Bolel
JLIVING Beth Ami Temple’s Speakers Series 40 8th Genocide Awareness Week 41 Previews 42 Faces & Places 44
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MARCH/APRIL 2020 Arizona Jewish Life | Adar-Nisan-Iyyar 5780 • Volume 8/Issue 5
PU B LI S H E R
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
CO NTR I BU TI N G E D ITO R Leni Reiss
ART DIREC TOR Tamara Kopper
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jay Bycer
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enter tainment venues, res taurant s and professional of fices. 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.
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2020-2021 MediaPort LLC All rights reserved The content and opinions in Arizona Jewish Life do not necessarily reflec t those of the publishers, staf f or contrac tors. Ar ticles and columns are for informational purposes only and not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Although ever y ef for t is made to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, Arizona Jewish Life, and its agents, publishers, employees and contrac tors will not be held responsible for the misuse of any information contained herein. The publishers reser ve the right to refuse any adver tisement. Publication of adver tisements does not constitute endorsement of produc ts or ser vices.
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MARCH/APRIL 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE
PUBLISHER’S MESSAGE 8
HATE IN THE CITY It has been a very long few weeks‌ Mala Blomquist, our editor for both Oregon and Arizona CINDY SALTZMAN Publisher
Jewish Life magazines, was one of the nationwide targets of hate crimes carried out by the neo-Nazi terrorist network, Atomwaffen Division.
Arrests have been made, and now we feel like talking. Actually, we feel an obligation to speak out, to inform and to bear witness to the fact, that anyone can be a victim of hate and terrorism; even the kindest person I know, who is not Jewish but was targeted simply because of her association with a Jewish lifestyle media company. Thank you to the FBI, Homeland Security, U.S. Department of Justice, the prosecutor, and so many others who were pretty relentless in uncovering and arresting these homegrown terrorists. And a special mention should be made to the brave news reporters and journalists who pursue these kinds of stories daily and often at great risks to themselves including 12 News anchor/reporter Brahm Resnik, ABC15 report Zach Crenshaw and Arizona Republic reporter Chelsea Curtis. Also, there are the daily political fighters, including Arizona House Rep. Alma Hernandez, U.S. Attorney Michael Bailey, Director of State Legislative
MARCH/APRIL 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE
Raymond Duda, FBI Special Agent in Charge in Seattle, speaks about charges against a group of alleged members of the neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen Division.
Poster glued to a bedroom window of Mala’s home.
Affairs at IsraeliAmerican Coalition for Action Jake Bennett and ADL Assistant Regional Director Keisha McKinnor. Now more than ever, we all need to understand that you don’t have to be Jewish to be the victim of a hate crime, you don’t have to be black, Hispanic, or LGBTQ to be the victim of a hate crime. Hatred and ignorance are the enemies. Hug your loved ones a little tighter this evening. I know we will.
Subscriptions: azjewishlife.com/ magazine-subscription Newsletter: azjewishlife.com, click on “Subscribe Now!” Facebook: @AZJewishLife Twitter: @JewishLifeNow Instagram: @JEWISHLIFENOW Call: 602-538-AZJL (2955) Email us: publisher@azjewishlife.com adver tise@azjewishlife.com calendar@azjewishlife.com distribution@azjewishlife.com editor@azjewishlife.com events@azjewishlife.com subscriptions@azjewishlife.com ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH/APRIL 2020 9
BUSINESS Allison Kierman created Kierman Law to help her family – and yours By Mala Blomquist
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llison Kierman launched her own firm, Kierman Law, on March 1, 2017, after she had been practicing law for more than a decade. She and her husband, Alan, were both successful attorneys. She had made partner and was working 16 hour days, they had a nanny, and Allison would give talks and lectures on “having it all.” But then Allison and Alan started to realize that they wanted to be there for more than making sure the kids ate and the laundry was done. They wanted to be there to help their kids navigate making friends on the playground and assist them with their homework. “The joke is as a way to spend more time with my family, I started my own practice,” she says. The shift has allowed Allison to meet with clients while her children, who are 7 and 9, are in school. “I do the work at home, at night and on the weekends,” she says. “But I am definitely more present both physically and mentally in the lives of my children.” Alan is supportive of Allison’s decision and very helpful, 10
MARCH/APRIL 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE
especially in the homework department. “Honestly, I couldn’t do fourth-grade math without him,” she jokes. Allison does estate planning, everything from a simple will, financial power of attorney because a parent is ill to preparing a complete estate plan, making sure everything is organized, assets are protected, and a tax strategy is in place. “You can get plans or documents online, but this is a relationship; I’m making sure that your specific family is taken care of,” she says. “I ask my clients, ‘What is important to you?’ and let’s make sure that’s protected in the documents.” She asks people if something happened, and they have a minor child, do they want to make sure they are a b’nai mitzvah? Are there any religious, cultural, or social events that are important to you that should be put in your plans? She also jokes, “I ask people if they want me to make the inheritance contingent upon them marrying Jewish.” Allison works with clients across all religious bases and is mindful of the client’s faith when creating documents. She also doesn’t work with people at a specific economic
price point or asset wealth. She will help anyone who comes in the door. She also provides a discount on her services to those who give to a charitable organization as part of a legacy plan. “I try to recognize that contribution that people are making with my own contribution,” says Allison. “I have seen the importance for many congregants to add to the endowment campaign, and there’s a very easy way (for people) to do it.” Allison was raised Southern Baptist by her grandparents on a ranch in Texas. She converted when she met Alan in 2006. “I did a very serious conversion at what was then Har Zion Congregation Under Rabbi Elon Sunshine and Rabbi Mark Bisman,” she says. “It was very important and very meaningful.” Allison is very active in the Jewish community. She is a youth board member of the Martin Pear JCC, part of the professional leadership group of Jewish Family and Child Services, a cohort mentee and alumnae chair for the Women’s Leadership Institute of the Jewish Women’s Learning Center and a member of Congregation Beth Israel. “It’s important to me that our kids feel part of a community,” says Allison. “For them to feel, no matter where they go, that they know people, have a home and someone to talk to, and there’s that sense of family. We don’t have a lot of actual family here, and the Jewish community is our family.” Allison continues, “The goal is that the different corners of your life connect in a meaningful and positive way.” I think we all can agree that Allison has achieved that goal. To find out more about Allison and Kierman Law, visit kiermanlaw.com. ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH/APRIL 2020 11
BIZ
INS & OUTS
Rabbi Micah Caplan
Free Jewish Loan
Rabbi Micah Caplan celebrates a decade with Congregation Or Tzion On Feb. 1, Congregation Or Tzion honored Rabbi Micah Caplan at the 2020 Congregation Or Tzion Gala for 10 years “as our rabbi, our teacher, our friend.” Caplan joined Congregation Or Chadash in 2010, which merged with Har Zion Congregation to form Congregation Or Tzion in 2014. Rabbi Caplan has long-standing ties to Phoenix, having grown up here. Previously, he served congregations in Florida and California where he introduced exciting adult learning and youth programming. Under Rabbi Caplan’s leadership, the Or Tzion community has grown both in membership and in programming. His vision is to always create a place of learning, sharing and celebrating Jewish living together as a Kehillah Kedosha – a holy community. He is also an avid sports fan and his favorite teams are The Phoenix Suns, Arizona Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers. congregationortzion.org Jewish Free Loan moves to larger space Jewish Free Loan recently moved to a larger office space at 3443 N. Central Ave., Suite 707 near Central Ave. and Osborn Road in Phoenix. JFL was established in Phoenix in the late 1940s and formally organized as a corporate entity in 1950. At that time, it was housed in the JCC building at 18th Avenue and Maryland. They are a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization funded entirely by private donations. Today it is the primary agency in the Jewish community in Greater Phoenix where anyone in the 12
MARCH/APRIL 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE
Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Lipskier
Jewish community can turn when loans are not available elsewhere. The JFL has made thousands of interest free loans allowing people a fresh start or giving them the opportunity to bridge a difficult time in their lives in a process respectful of their dignity and character. jewishfreeloan.org The Zaidy Lipskier Library opens in Fountain Hills On Feb. 9, The Zaidy Lipskier Library, the first Judaic lending library in Fountain Hills, opened its doors in honor of the 25th Yahrzeit of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Lipskier. The library, led by Rabbi Mendy and Tzipi Lipskier, is dedicated in memory of Rabbi Fitzy Lipskier, z”l, father of Fountain Hills Chabad Rabbi Mendy Lipskier, who passed away at the young age of 45 in a motor vehicle accident. There will be books on history, Jewish law, Talmud, Kaballah, philosophy, cooking, Hebrew, fiction, prayer and many more topics. A special section with books geared toward children and teens will be housed in a cozy corner. Along with books, programs are being planned, such as story time for children, a summer reading program, lectures for adults and Jewish movie nights. The library is located at the Chabad Edelman Jewish Center on 16830 E. Avenue of the Fountains. Library hours are Sundays from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm, Tuesdays from 1 to 3 pm, and Wednesdays from 6 to 8:30 pm, or by appointment. jewishfountainhills.com
Tamara "T" Statman
Rabbi Suzy Stone
UArizona student becomes Miss Tucson Del Sol Tamara “T” Statman, a University of Arizona student/ softball alumnus, was crowned Miss Tucson Del Sol 2020 at the Miss Tucson Scholarship Program on Jan. 18. She will educate people across the state about her platform, “Skin Cancer Prevention: Educate, Facilitate and Legislate.” Tamara will move on to the Miss Arizona competition in June. She was a three-sport athlete growing up and at UArizona was Arizona’s first Academic All-American and a two-time first-team Pac-12 all-academic honoree. She currently works at Cumulus Radio as a board operator and at Tucson Unified School District as a substitute teacher. She also is publicity director of the Tucson Swing Dance Club, an airport ambassador for the Tucson Airport Authority, and an advisory commissioner on the Tucson Human Relations Commission. missarizona.org ASU Hillel gets senior Jewish educator ASU Hillel thrilled to announce that their Assistant Director Rabbi Suzy Stone will become ASU Hillel’s firstever senior Jewish educator. Rabbi Suzy is an authentic Jewish teacher who provides leadership for the Hillel community through grassroots community organizing, spiritual connection, and community engagement. As a talented teacher, she has already inspired so many students to make Judaism integral to their life choices and articulated values. In this new role, Rabbi Suzy will build relationships, cultivate a love for Judaism and support pastoral needs
Stuart Mellan and Graham Hoffman
for students from diverse backgrounds, serve as an educator and mentor to student interns and leaders, and oversee our Shabbat & holidays program. As Hillel always aims to do, she will facilitate Jewish learning that contextualizes life and leadership in a Jewish setting. ASU Hillel shares this news with gratitude to Hillel International for making a Strategic Talent Award grant to us, allowing them to continue to grow their staff and make this the Hillel that ASU students need and deserve. hillelasu.org Graham Hoffman to lead both Federation and Foundation in Tucson Stuart Mellan, who has been president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona since December 1995, will retire at the end of May. Graham Hoffman, who joined the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona in September 2018 as president and CEO, will take on the role of leading both agencies after Stuart’s retirement. The plan was recently approved by the boards of both of the organizations. The Federation and Foundation merged their grant processes six years ago, and this year, the agencies are co-facilitating a 12- to 18-month community planning and visioning process. In a large percentage of Jewish communities across the United States today the Federation and Foundation have one leader, or a similar collaborative structure. The local Foundation has been an affiliated corporation of the Federation, but the move to a single CEO will lead to much closer alignment. jfsa.org
ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH/APRIL 2020 13
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CAM PS We may have just started to
Girl Scouting through a Jewish lens By Mala Blomquist
get spring fever, but summer will be here before you know it. It’s not too early to start thinking about how your kids are going to spend their summer. If you’re considering summer camp, those slots are filling up fast, so start looking now to find the right camp for your child and one that will not only provide fun and adventure but will also build memories that will last a lifetime.
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Tucson’s Girl Scout Troop 613
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irl Scout Week is celebrated each year during the week surrounding the birthday of the Girl Scouts’ on March 12. On that day in 1912, the founder, Juliette Gordon Low, organized the first Girl Scout troop meeting in Savannah, Georgia. That original group probably never dreamed that the organization would grow to millions of members earning badges in categories like STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), robotics and computer programming. They probably also never envisioned a National Jewish Committee on Girl Scouting (jcgs.org) that enables troops of Jewish girls to learn concepts about Judaism in ageappropriate ways and earn awards pertaining to their grade level. The awards consist of a badge and a pin, and girls in both Jewish and all-religion troops can work towards these awards together or on their own. In 2017, Nichole Chorny, who is the cantorial soloist at Congregation Anshei Israel, started Girl Scout Troop 613 in Tucson. The troop currently has six members who are
MARCH/APRIL 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE
in second through fourth grade. Nichole picked the troop’s number because of the 613 commandments in the Torah. “A lot of troops will do things on Shabbat, or related holidays that we don’t participate in, so I wanted to make sure that it was something that my daughter would be able to fully participate in,” Nichole say about her reasons for starting the troop. “I also have the experience of having my mother be my troop leader, and that was really special. I wanted to have that for my daughter also.” The troop gets together for various holidays like Sukkot and Hanukkah, and they’ll do different activities and even earn a patch to commemorate the holiday. Jewish Girl Scouts-Temple Emanuel Girls Scout Troop 3818 in Tempe also celebrates holidays together, and this year they are doing something extra special for Passover. “The girls are getting together to perform a play that tells the story – briefly – for an audience of their peers,” says troop leader Jennifer Zak. “The play is written and directed by parents of one of the girls, and the whole troop is taking on roles to tell the story.” Both troops will be celebrating Shabbat with other scouts across the country on March 13 and 14. Girl Scouts has longstanding traditions of celebrating with faith communities during the week of the organization’s birthday. Nichole had to go through a rigorous screening process to become a troop leader, and the Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona have been very supportive of her troop. “I’ve spoken with them about not always having regional events on Saturdays but also trying to have them on a weeknight evening or Sunday so that we can participate,” says Nichole. “There was a Saturday evening program and they were fine with us doing a little Havdalah off to the side, and we brought our kosher marshmallows so we could make s’mores.” Nichole says the neat thing about Girl Scouts is that it’s girl lead – the girls get to decide what types of badges they want to earn and what kind of activities they wish to participate in. And they get to do it all with other Jewish girls. Every year the girls also do several tzedakah projects,
Girl Scout Troop 3818’s cookie booth at Temple Emanuel
and they use some of the money from their cookie sales for those. “We have a really nice discussion about the different organizations or different types of projects they could do, and then they will vote on it and decide together what they want to do as a troop for their tzedakah project,” says Nichole. Troop 3818 is also using the funds raised from cookie season for tzedakah. The girls sold more than 1,200 boxes and will donate a portion of their proceeds to PJ Library. “It is a charity near and dear to our hearts, and this year we even joined them for a Tu B’Shevat event where we planted flowers and vegetables, decorating our pots and now watching our plants grow,” says troop leader, Jennifer Zak. Troop 3818 started in January 2019, and they currently have 16 members that range from Daisy to Senior level. “The girls really came together around cookie sales, and we talked about the specialness of our community,” says Jennifer. “As leaders, we’re working to make them feel that they are builders of their community – as opposed to just passive members.” Nichole has also noticed the positive impact her girls are making in the community. “I’ve watched my daughter, and all of the girls in our troop, just blossom in their confidence levels as they are working together and out in the community,” she says. “It’s really nice to see, and it’s a way for them to take ownership of this program.” The best thing about being part of a Jewish Girl Scout troop is that the bond is twofold. The girls can share both their common bond of being Jewish and their love of scouting. For more information on Troop 613 in Tucson, contact Nichole Chorny at cantorialsoloist@caiaz.org; for details on Troop 3818 in Tempe, contact TEGS3818@gmail.com. Girl Scouts also offers many day and overnight camp opportunities for girls in Arizona. Camp Maripai, Shadow Rim Ranch, Will Springs, Parsons Leadership Center, Hacienda and Camp Whispering Pines each offer its own experience created by the specific location, facilities, activities and camp staff. For more information, visit girlscoutsaz.org. ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH/APRIL 2020 15
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PJ Library
introduces families to the joy of Jewish overnight camp By Mala Blomquist
PJ LIBRARY IN PHOENIX 4TH ANNUAL FAMILY CAMP WHEN: April 17-19 WHERE: Camp Daisy
and Harry Stein, 3400 W. Camp Pearlstein Road, Prescott INFORMATION: Contact Marcy Lewis at pjlibrary@vosjcc.org Join PJ Library for a fun-filled, action-packed weekend to include Shabbat and Havdalah, arts and crafts, nature walks, kosher-style meals, rock wall, ropes course and more. 16
MARCH/APRIL 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE
A
n appreciation for family reading and Jewish children’s literature has led several communities to combine the benefits of Jewish family camp together with the PJ Library program. The resulting initiative, PJ Library Family Camp, offers families with young children a unique allinclusive weekend adventure. For the fourth year in a row, the Phoenix PJ Library will be hosting their Family Camp on the weekend of April 17-19 at Camp Daisy and Harry Stein in Prescott. “It’s just a great weekend,” says Marcy Lewis program director of PJ Library Greater Phoenix. “First, to introduce your kids to Jewish overnight camp, and second, to just unplug for a weekend and be with your family doing fun camp stuff.” Family Camp offers a full camp experience including Friday night Shabbat under the stars (weather permitting), Saturday morning Shabbat activities, and then either a family hike or games. In the afternoon, families can rotate between the zip line, rock climbing wall, ropes course, arts and crafts, sports and frolf – a combination of Frisbee and golf. There are night activities too, including Havdalah and campfires. Adults can also enjoy time to schmooze on Friday night while babysitters watch the kids. One of Marcy’s favorite things is to watch families that have never met before creating bonds and becoming friends by the end of the weekend. “A lot of parents had a passion for overnight camp as a child and now get to see it through their kid’s eyes firsthand,” says Marcy. “When do you ever get to be with your kids for three days going on zip lines, ropes course and doing arts and crafts – with no distractions – you’re in the forest, it’s amazing.” Family Camp is open to all, you don’t have to be a member of the JCC, and you don’t have to live in the Valley. Families travel from Tucson in the south to Cottonwood in the north to participate. “We have kids as young as one,” says Marcy, “Our perfect age is older, but it’s open to everybody that wants to come, any family that wants to come. It’s age-appropriate for everybody.” Marcy runs the camp with Laura Drachler, and what makes the annual camp extra special for the two women is that they attended Camp Daisy and Harry Stein as children. “For Laura and I to get to run a camp together, especially the camp that we went to as children, and get to see families love it like we did, it’s just special,” says Marcy. “It’s a great couple days of wholesome family fun, no electronics, completely unplugged and immersed in Judaism for the weekend.” PJ Library is funded by the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix and programmed through the Martin Pear Jewish Community Center.
SUMMER 2020 MAY 26 - JULY 31
908 N ALMA SCHOOL RD • CHANDLER, AZ 85224 480.897.0588 • evjcc.org/camp
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TRAIL BLAZERS Off to camp? May we suggest some necessary items no camper should be without. REPEL Plant-based Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellent Pump Spray 4 fl oz Target.com • $4.99
EVERBRITE 9-LED Flashlight 6-pack Impact Handheld Torch Assorted Colors with Lanyard 3AAA Batteries Included amazon.com • $14.99
COLORFUL IMAGES Custom Sharks Name Stickers 5/8" x 2", Set of 240 colorfulimages.com • $8.99 ZIONOR K-2 Waterproof Big Frame Kids Swimming Goggles (Children, youth, teenage boys, girls zionor.com $15.99
EQUATE VIBRACLEAN Pulsating Soft Power Toothbrush (2CT) Walmart.com • $6.97
RAIN PONCHO Made-to-Order. Warmlite.com $105.00 - $115.00
GRACE-SIRENA FUSHIA Kids Flip-Flops Mermaidsdistrict.com $18.99
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MARCH/APRIL 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE
AUDIBLE.COM Audible is the world’s largest producer and provider of spoken-word entertainment and audiobooks audible.com $14.95 monthly REI CO-OP Tarn 18 Pack Kids rei.com $44.95
TESLA Power Bank primoproducts.co.nz • $7.19
VILEBREQUIN Boy's Jim printed swim trunks Size 2-14 vilebrequin.com $135.00
RAY-BAN RB3716 Sunglasses, Unisex framesdirect.com • $165.00
VICTORINOX Swiss Army Pocket Knife amazon.com • $59.99
PIMMYTEES Lion of Judah printed crewneck sweatshirt pimmytees.com $26.95 PATAGONIA Trim Brim Hat Boys' backcountry.com $39.00
TEXAS INSTRUMANTS TI-30XS MultiView Scientific Calculator meijer.com • $19.99
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My afternoon with Fernando
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he Phoenix Zoo offers camp experiences for kids of all ages where each week-long session is filled with up-close animal encounters, behind-the-scenes experiences, handson activities, in-depth investigations and more. Now kids and their parents can have a
By Mala Blomquist
“backstage adventure” together with one of the zoo’s most popular residents – Fernando, the Linne’s two-toed sloth. Fernando came to the Phoenix Zoo at the end of 2017 from the National Aquarium in Baltimore, MD. After a year, sloths get “kicked out” of their family group, so that’s how he came to
FERNANDO
call Arizona home. Recently, my family and I experienced this backstage adventure guided by Mary Yoder, Fernando’s keeper and the collections manager of primates at the Phoenix Zoo. During the encounter, you enter into Fernando’s habitat as Mary shares her vast knowledge of this endearing creature. We were warned ahead of time that Fernando might be sleeping, but he woke up long enough for us to snap some photos and watch him eat a few fresh veggies. The name two-toed sloth comes from the fact that he has two “toes” on his front feet and three toes on the back. They look more like long talons than toes. His toes are also double-jointed, and he can move them in any direction, which helps him move quickly when necessary. Mary vouched for the fact that he can move when startled! He also has large canine teeth,
SLOTH BACKSTAGE ADVENTURE WHEN
Mondays 12:15 pm; this is a 45-minute tour and for only up to five guests WHERE
Phoenix Zoo 455 N. Galvin Pkwy., Phoenix COST
$99 per person; children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a paid person 16 years of age or older. INFORMATION
phoenixzoo.org/visit/tours/ 20
MARCH/APRIL 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE
which serve as his biggest defense against predators, and he’s good at camouflaging himself too, and being still, so most times a predator won’t even notice him perched in a tree. “He’s a vegetarian,” says Mary. “In the wild, they’ll eat some insects and grubs too, but he doesn’t seem to like them.” He takes a few bites of carrot during our encounter before having to rest again. Mary says they put out food for him to consume at night. Fernando is equipped for the nightlife with tiny pupils that are don’t work well in bright light but give him an advantage under cover of darkness. He also uses his large (and really cute!) nose to navigate and find food. One thing we all noticed is that he doesn’t have an odor like many wild animals do. His hair is very coarse, and Mary explained that it is an adaptation to his environment. Algae grows quickly inside the hair, and there is a moth that
is attracted to the algae, so in the wild sloths become their own microhabitat. Sloths also only “do their business” once every 7 to 10 days due to their slow metabolism and the fact that they do everything upside down. They also don’t consume much water, getting it instead from the leaves and plants in their environment. “When they go to the bathroom in the wild, they go down to the ground and dig a hole by a tree,” says Mary. “They then defecate and urinate and climb back up. So they are providing a lot of nutrients for that tree. They play an important role in the ecosystem.” Fernando has a large habitat with access to indoor and outdoor areas. There are two large boxes in each of these areas that he spends most of his time inside. “These boxes were made specifically for him,” says Mary. “The top pole is so that he always has something to hold onto. Sloths always
have to have their hand or foot on something; they won’t just lay down flat. It’s a security thing for them.” Another reason for the box is that if they have to move him for any reason, they can put in an insert and pick the box up. “He’s so sweet, but if you try to pick him up or move him, he will bite with those big teeth,” says Mary. “Although he’s really nice, and we can hand feed him, we don’t try to pick him up or manipulate him too much.” Luckily for all of us, sloths in captivity can live into their 20s, and since Fernando was only about a year old when he came to Arizona, we have a lot of years ahead to enjoy him. And if you’re wondering, he arrived with that name, although they had nicknamed him Fern in Baltimore. Mary says, “We like to use his whole name.” Once you meet him, I think you’ll agree; his name suits him.
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CAMP DIRECTORY CAMP DAISY AND HARRY STEIN 3400 CAMP PEARLSTEIN ROAD, PRESCOTT 480-951-0323 CAMPSTEIN.ORG Camp Daisy and Harry Stein is a unique and exciting Jewish overnight summer camp nestled in the majestic Bradshaw Forest of Prescott, AZ. Camp Stein is a place where campers discover more about themselves, their abilities, & their Judaism. With a sophisticated program and top-notch facilities, we encourage campers to challenge themselves in a safe and secure setting by incorporating new and different activities into their days. Camp Stein truly offers a summer of fun, and a lifetime of memories! CAMP OCEAN 9500 EAST VĂ?A DE VENTURA, SCOTTSDALE 480-291-8000 ODYSEAAQUARIUM.COM/CAMPOCEAN Looking for a camp tailored for young explorers, animal lovers and budding marine biologists? Look no further than Camp Ocean! Your kids can spend a half day or full day inside OdySea Aquarium learning all about our oceans and their amazing inhabitants. Curriculum is developed accordingly for age groups for grades K-2, grades 3-5, and grades 6-8. Campers will learn about diverse freshwater and saltwater species, different ecosystems, animal adaptations, marine biology and conservation through classroom activities, behind-the-scenes tours and hands-on learning opportunities. PHOENIX ZOO 455 N GALVIN PKWY, PHOENIX 602-286-3800 PHOENIXZOO.ORG Camp Zoo sessions for K-8 include up-close animal encounters, behind-thescenes adventures, art and hands-on learning activities, fun games, in-depth investigations and organized free time within the unique environment of the Phoenix Zoo.
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TUCSON JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER 3800 E RIVER ROAD, TUCSON 520-299-3000 TUCSONJCC.ORG An action-packed summer day camp where kids build enriching experiences and make memories that last a lifetime. Our camp includes all the favorites: dance, music, cooking, sports, STEM activities, fun field trips, and more! The only camp in Tucson with the American Camping Association (ACA) accreditation.
CAMP RIMON 908 N. ALMA SCHOOL ROAD, CHANDLER 480-897-0588 EVJCC.ORG/CAMP Camp Rimon Katan is for age 2-Pre-K and Camp Rimon Gadol is for grades K-9. L.I.T. (Leaders in Training) program is for grades 10-12. Activities include swimming, sports, music, field trips, cooking, rock show, arts and crafts, coding, S.T.E.A.M., e-sports, Israeli culture, mitzvah projects, overnights, away trips and more.
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LEIB BOLEL: In the business of uniting Israel and Arizona By Mala Blomquist 24
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LEIB BOLEL is the president and CEO of the Arizona Israel Technology Alliance, where he oversees the facilitation of growth in bilateral trade between the communities of Arizona and Israel across the spectrum of the technology sector. Arizona Israel Technology Alliance’s mission is to promote and strengthen business, investment, entrepreneurship, technology and trade relations between the technology communities of Arizona and Israel. AITA’s purpose is to increase and support bilateral trade and investment between Arizona and Israel, with each offering resources and opportunities across the technology industry. In November 2019, Governor Doug Ducey announced the opening of Arizona’s first trade and investment office in Israel. This new office in Tel Aviv creates a platform for business in both the United States and Israel to increase international trade and foreign investment opportunities. There are currently 20 Israeli-owned companies operating in Arizona in fields that vary from aerospace and defense to financial services. With more than a decade of experience in the area of new business development, startups, marketing, funding acquisition and general operations management, Leib has been instrumental in building organizations from the ground up. He holds an MBA from Walden University in Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree from Ohr Somayach Tanenbaum College in Israel and he is fluent in both English and Hebrew. Leib is also a venture partner at Grayhawk Capital. Grayhawk Capital provides venture capital to companies located in the Southwest United States and Israel. The sectors for investment include mobile computing, cloud/SaaS, security, enterprise and application software, business intelligence, healthcare IT and financial. Honored with The Phoenix Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 Award in May 2019, Arizona Jewish Life posed some questions to this young entrepreneur.
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Leib Bolel speaks at the Arizona-Israel technology Alliance Luncheon series.
AZJL: Where did your entrepreneur spirit come from, did your family own a business?
the end user to find nonprofits in real time through geolocations on an interactive globe.
LEIB: I first got the entrepreneurial bug when I began selling candy and soda in school. Even at that young age, I always looked for opportunities from a supply and demand mindset. The hustle was rewarding and filling gaps in the “market,” and being of value to consumers is what drove me to think bigger and better.
AZJL: Were you raised in a religious home in England?
AZJL: You served as a rabbi of Beth El Jacob Synagogue in Des Moines for six years and doubled the membership. You also co-founded a software company there. How did you transition from rabbi to entrepreneur? LEIB: It wasn’t so much a transition. One of the things that attracted me to becoming a rabbi was the opportunity to maximize what I could contribute to the community. The synagogue I was at was declining prior to our arrival, but I was able to grow the congregation through dedication, personalization and marketing. For the software company, it was about finding value and filling a need. The solution was focused on customer relationship management for nonprofits. It allowed
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LEIB: I was raised in a traditional and observant Jewish home. AZJL: What made you want to study in Israel? LEIB: I am the eighth of nine children. All of my siblings had been to Israel, and I’ve always loved the country as well, so I had a strong desire to study there. I got my undergraduate degree in Judaic studies at OS/ Tanenbaum College. AZJL: What is your favorite city/place in Israel? LEIB: From a historical perspective, Jerusalem; for technology and innovation, Tel Aviv. AZJL: Tell me your first impression of Arizona when you came to compete in an Ironman triathlon. LEIB: The Ironman Arizona takes place in November, so of course, the weather was fantastic, and the unique desert landscape was immediately appealing. It was also evident that Arizona was a very welcoming place. People
Leib Bolel and his wife Devorah with Governor Doug Ducey
were immediately warm, receptive and wanted to help where they could. AZJL: What have you learned about yourself training for such a grueling race, and does it translate to your work? LEIB: Everything is about incremental goals, about taking one step at a time. The finish line will always be there – it’s about being disciplined and taking calculated steps in the right direction. I always apply the same type of focus in my career. Set goals, be consistent, and take the lessons you learn with you to the next opportunity. AZJL: What made you choose Arizona over other states offering you leadership opportunities? LEIB: Arizona had a growing ecosystem that I wanted to be a part of. There is a high quality of life here that is also affordable and friendly – a pleasant environment that offers a good Jewish education for my children. It’s also a very open environment for business. AZJL: What made you decide to start Arizona Israel Technology Alliance? LEIB: There were opportunities that were low-hanging
and not being capitalized on, and where such an entity could provide tremendous value. This spurred me to organize a one-off event to educate the government, corporations and investors, which ultimately led to the founding of the Arizona Israel Technology Alliance. Since its founding, it has served as a great resource to a cross-section of industries and entities and continues to grow. AZJL: Tell me about some of the Israeli companies that have opened in Arizona with the help of AITA. LEIB: Eviation is a prime example. This electric airplane company founded in Israel will be the first in the world to be cleared by the FAA. They are the Tesla of airplanes with an impressive range of 600 miles at one-third the cost of anything else in the market. Eviation entered a joint venture with world-renowned Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott. The city of Prescott engaged the AITA with initiatives that assisted in Eviation’s opening of its U.S. headquarters in 2018. IMNA Solutions is another great example. It is also founded and based in Israel. IMNA has a focus on patient engagement, specifically for chronic illness patients. AITA helped them discover the vast
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opportunities in Arizona through introductions and guiding them on infrastructure setup. AZJL: How does the establishment of an Arizona trade office in Israel change the dynamics of business relations? LEIB: This was a monumental step for Arizona. Through state legislators and Arizona’s Governor Doug Ducey we saw opportunities and worked to expand them. Having an Arizona trade office in Israel provides Israeli companies with a government resource that’s able to potentially assist them with incentives and introduce them to networks with the AITA and state of Arizona working hand-in-hand.
The finish line will always be there – it’s about being disciplined and taking calculated steps in the right direction.
AZJL: You also volunteer your time, what are some of the organizations you work with and why? LEIB: I have volunteered for Smile Train, a nonprofit focused on underserved countries to help provide surgeries for kids with cleft lips and palates. World Vision, a charity that helps build wells in underdeveloped countries to communities that did not have sanitized water, is another nonprofit that changes thousands of lives. Volunteering for Chai Lifeline, a nonprofit that works with children diagnosed with cancer, and with Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces are other organizations that I have dedicated time to. My mission is to help the community altruistically, but are never-the-less rewarding. AZJL: You’ve been on The Business Journals’ Influencers: Rising Stars and 40 Under 40 lists, how does being so successful so young influence your goals for the future. LEIB: Awards and accolades are nice, but the significance of developing and creating change and value is what motivates me. My goal is to continue to make a difference. My focus is on the AITA continuing to grow and prosper and overseeing the Israeli market for Grayhawk Capital (an Arizona-based venture capital). AZJL: Tell me about how you met your wife, do you have any children? LEIB: My wife is Israeli, and she was studying in the UK close to where I lived. I lived in Israel but came back to the UK for Passover. We met, dated and got married in 2007. We have four children together: Eitan is 9, Yair is 6, Eli is 4 and Zohara is 2. AZJL: What is the best advice you’ve ever received? What’s the worst? LEIB: Best: There’s always a way around challenges, learn to delegate and surround yourself with good and valuable people. Worst: Being encouraged not to pursue something that I really believed in. AZJL: What is your favorite Jewish holiday? LEIB: Sukkot. I enjoy the change of environment and reflection of the High Holidays, the family and community aspects, which are the nucleus of the Jewish people. AZJL: Do you have a favorite quote? LEIB: “Better to do a little substantively than a lot without substance.” -Shulchan Aruch AZJL: Other than triathlons, what do you enjoy doing in your downtime? LEIB: Spending time with family, playing piano, guitar and other sports.
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The Bolel family, Eitan, Zohara, Devorah, Leib, Eli and Yair
ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH/APRIL 2020 29
FRONT & CENTER
“Something Rotten”
is onstage at The Phoenix Theatre Company
P
repare for total musical theater chaos when “Something Rotten!” opens at The Phoenix Theatre Company on March 18. Audiences are in for one wild ride when the conniving but clueless Bottom brothers, not content to let William Shakespeare get all the attention, hatch a plan to cook up the next big stage hit. After an illadvised trip to see Nostradamus’s food-obsessed nephew, they risk everything to produce what they believe will be the show of the future: the musical! Director Kathy Fitzgerald returns to The Phoenix Theatre Company for the first time since appearing as Mama Rose in its 2012 production of “Gypsy.” Kathy got her start in Phoenix in the 1987 production of “Nite Club Confidential” and was one of the Valley’s best30
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known talents until Broadway producers took notice and cast her in “Swinging on a Star,” her 1995 Broadway debut. She has since earned her place on Broadway with appearances in roles ranging from “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” (as Mrs. Gloop), “Oliver!” (as Widow Corney), “Wicked” (as Madame Morrible) and in “The Producers” (as Shirley/Ensemble). Kathy takes her inspiration from some of the greatest names in comedy. As a part of the cast of the original production of “The Producers,” in which she starred for six years, she cites Mel Brooks and Nathan Lane as two of her biggest influences. “Working with Mel Brooks was the single biggest ‘a-ha’ moment in my career,” she says. “You’re in a room with the best of the best. Making Mel laugh is the only option.”
Kathy Fitzgerald as Mama Rose in 2012 Gypsy at The Phoenix Theatre Company.
Something Rotten! WHERE:
The Phoenix Theatre Company 1825 N. Central Ave., Phoenix WHEN:
March 18-April 19 TICKETS:
602-254-2151 or phoenixtheatre.com Kathy recalls her first experience with “Something Rotten!” “When I first saw this musical on Broadway, some of my closest friends were in the cast. It felt like a party. You could tell how much fun they were having. I want to recreate that feeling. I want the audience to sense the chemistry of this great cast.” “Something Rotten!” manages to be both merciless and affectionate in its skewering of Broadway. Musical theater’s most devoted fans will appreciate the care and craft in the fantastic songs, and won’t be able to keep from laughing along. Songs like “Welcome to the Renaissance” and “The Black Death” offer a delightfully wacky take on history. The production takes audiences on a tour through some of Broadway’s most iconic styles, from the classics to rock and pop. Fans should keep an ear out for “Easter egg” references to some of the biggest musical hits of all time. “Everything about this show is just a little bit tilted. Everyone has these big, wild, totally unrealistic dreams of greatness,” says Kathy. “And that’s where the comedy lives; the characters are all totally out of their minds.” Combining everything you love about Broadway – big dance numbers, bold costumes and eye-rolling off-stage antics – “Something Rotten!” is the musical extravaganza you didn’t know you needed! ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH/APRIL 2020 31
FOOD
Francine Coles’ blog means business By Leni Reiss
Francine Coles
GREAT RESULTS ARE EMANATING both from Francine Coles’ Arcadia home – and from her creative contemplations. Case in point: the Fancy Pants Kitchen, her new blog, business and website. A longtime Valley resident who moved from her native Canada in 1977 with her parents Bernard and Betty Shostak, Francine is an Arizona State University graduate with a degree in construction engineering. She worked with large contracting firms prior to marriage and starting a family, and she is a longtime participant and activist in all things Jewish, having served on both the national and local boards of AIPAC. Tall, slim and stunning, Francine remains “philanthropically connected,” serving on the board of the local Jewish Community Foundation. With her three dogs (Lola and Bella are shnoodles and Beau is a mini labradoodle) often underfoot, “they keep me company and make me laugh,” she says, Francine is committed to “basically crafting, developing and
refining” her relatively new online business, presenting and integrating lifestyle elements with gorgeous food photos and outstanding recipes. “Most are accessible and easy to follow,” she explains, “while some are more challenging, but they all are ‘really good eats.’ ” Many recipes are her own creations. Launched in September 2019, “mainly because people have always asked for my recipes – why not share. And it’s fun,” she says, “to pass along ideas from a variety of sources.” To that end, she says she is inspired by reading cookbooks and following fellow food bloggers and others whom she respects. “There’s a world of us out there,” she says, “and we are in frequent contact.” Her readers are primarily women, and she says she is learning from them. They especially love the photos of gorgeous desserts, but “quick and easy” recipes garner the most positive responses. “Something for everyone,” she says with a smile, “and often the blog is enhanced with reader INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless salmon fillets, about 1 1/2” thick (6 pieces) 1 pound asparagus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 tablespoon grated lemon peel 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 1 tablespoon butter, divided
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1 small shallot, finely chopped 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1 tablespoon capers, rinsed and drained Kosher salt & pepper to taste 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
OMG BROWNIES
comments and anecdotes.” There is a “free and fun” weekly update for subscribers, and Francine welcomes comments, reviews, suggestions and critiques. Francine’s end goal is to increase her readership and “at some point” to make Fancy Pants a full-fledged business. At present, she says with a smile, “it’s an expensive hobby, but I treat it as a business. I am very organized and update the blog on a regular basis. I am working at the highest level I can.” An avid golfer with an impressive handicap, Francine’s Sundays typically are reserved for games with her longtime partner, Terry and she schedules some tee times with girlfriends during the week. “My style is to compete with myself, not others, to be the best I can be, and to enjoy myself. “And life is good,” she says. For more information or to subscribe, visit thefancypantskitchen.com. DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 375° F. Place salmon on a baking sheet lined with parchment or Silpat baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine oil, lemon peel, rosemary, salt and pepper. Brush most of mixture over salmon and toss remainder with asparagus. Depending on the thickness of the asparagus, add them with the salmon as you put it in the oven (thicker asparagus can go in the oven immediately with the salmon; thinner asparagus should be added to the baking sheet 5 minutes after placing the salmon in the oven). Place salmon and thick asparagus in oven and cook until fish comes apart, about 1215 minutes, depending on thickness of salmon. Be sure not to overcook fish. While the salmon is baking, melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add shallot and cook for 2-3 minutes, or until tender. Add lemon juice and capers. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and stir in remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Arrange salmon and asparagus to a serving platter. Pour the sauce over the salmon and serve immediately.
INGREDIENTS 1 cup butter 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate 2 cups sugar 4 eggs, lightly whisked 1 cup flour 1 tsp vanilla 2 cups mini- marshmallows 3/4 cup chopped pecans 1 1/2 cup chocolate chips, divided
DIRECTIONS Heat oven to 350°F, and grease a 9”x13” baking pan. Melt butter, chocolate, and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium low heat. Let cool slightly. Transfer chocolate mixture to a large bowl. Add eggs and mix until incorporated. Add flour and vanilla and mix. Fold in mini-marshmallow, pecans and 1 cup of the chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of chocolate chips on top. Bake for 40-45 minutes. Remove from oven when a tester (toothpick or skewer) comes out clean. Let cool completely. Cut into 24 pieces.
READY FOR
PASSOVER? Don’t worry! Sign up for our FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD e-newsletter today and receive the special Passover Edition on April 2 with tons of recipes to make your seder a success. Subscribe at: azjewishlife.com/ newsletter-sign-me-up
AZJEWISHLIFE.COM
Recipes and food photos courtesy the Fancy Pants Kitchen ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH/APRIL 2020 33
חספ גח
A SEDER plate for every table
BARBARA SHAW
ETSY ISRAELI JUDAICA
The seder plate is the centerpiece of the Passover table. It holds at least six of the ritual items spoken of during the seder: the zeroah, karpas, maror, chazeret, charoset and beitzah. ZEROAH (SHANK BONE) A roasted lamb shank bone symbolizes the lamb sacrifice made as a special offering the night the ancient Hebrews fled Egypt. A roasted beet may be used as a substitute.
KARPAS (VEGETABLE) Karpas is a green vegetable, usually parsley (though any spring green will do). It represents new growth and the coming of spring.
MAROR AND CHAZERET (BITTER HERBS) Any bitter herb will work, though horseradish is the most common. The herb is meant to bring tears to the eyes and recall the bitterness of slavery. Often romaine lettuce is used as the second bitter herb.
CHAROSET A sweet concoction of apples, nuts, red wine and cinnamon that represents the mortar used by the Hebrew slaves to make bricks.
BEITZAH (EGG) A roasted egg stands in place of one of the sacrificial offerings that would be offered on every holiday (including Passover) when the Temple stood. The roundness of the egg also represents the cycle of life and renewal.
Some Jews add additional items to the seder plate to symbolize modern liberation struggles. The most common new item is an orange, which honors the role of women or gays and lesbians in Jewish life. The orange symbolizes the fruitfulness that these previously marginalized communities bring to Jewish life.
BEATRIZ BALL
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ESTER ZVEZDIN KOLBO
TZEFARDEIA
MICHAEL ARAM
JONATHAN ADLER
LAURA COWEN
ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH/APRIL 2020 35
ACTIVELY SENIOR
Above: Judge Segal dons her robes. Left: Anne Segal at her desk.
Anne Segal: Guided by a sense of justice By Mala Blomquist
A
nne Segal grew up hearing stories of what it was like to be a judge from her mother, Lillian Fisher, who was elected to the Pima County Superior Court in 1974. Lillian stated in an interview before her death in 2015 that what meant the most to her in her career was establishing the Court Appointed Special Advocates program for neglected and abused children. Anne’s deep sense of justice led her to follow in her mother’s footsteps. “I went to law school, I worked in different capacities, had three children, and we were living in this little town of Las 36
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Cruces, NM – not a big Jewish population,” jokes Anne. “We were there for 10 years, and there was an opportunity for me to run for office for the magistrate court. I ran, and I won.” She worked as a judge in New Mexico for four years before the family decided to return to Tucson in 2004 to be closer to both her husband, Dr. Robert Segal and her family. They were in Tucson a few years when Anne learned that one of the judges who was in her precinct was appointed to the position of justice of the peace because his mother-inlaw was on the board of supervisors. Anne felt that if you wanted that position, you should run for it and win it, not be appointed to it. And that’s precisely what she did. In 2008, she ran, won the election and became Pima County Justice of the Peace in Precinct One. “I think Jewish people have a heart that’s guided by a sense of justice. I mean, if something happens that’s unjust, we’re really incensed by it,” she says. “How do you get a sense of being a good judge? I think it’s by being a good Jewish citizen.” Anne jokes that when people hear the term “justice of the peace,” they think she rides a horse to work. The truth is that they hear the misdemeanors that occurred in the county. “So if a person is a drunk driving case, possession of small quantities of drugs, domestic violence, some traffic offenses, theft and shoplifting, the justice of the peace will preside
over and resolve those types of cases,” says Anne. Many times she had young people who were struggling with drug addiction who appeared before her having been arrested for possession of marijuana or being impaired in public. Still, she knew there were underlying causes for these problems. There was one case, in particular, she shared about a young mother who was 19 and found herself in front of Anne. The fine for her offense was $1,000, but Anne told her that she would waive it if the young woman got her GED (alternative to a high school diploma). About 10 months later, the woman returned and Anne’s heart sank when she asked for proof of the GED, and she responded that she had not received it. “I didn’t want to take $1,000 from this girl,” says Anne. “She looked at me and she said, ‘I went back to high school. I enrolled and I want to be like you. I realized I can’t get anywhere with the GED. I must have my diploma.’ ” Continues Anne, “I couldn’t have been happier, and I knocked out the fine. Here’s this girl who actually put herself back in high school to get herself where she needed to be, and she is doing well. Those are the kind of things you do as a justice of the peace when you are engaged. I loved it.” Anne was justice of the peace from 2008 to 2014, but when she ran again in 2018, she lost after a bitter election. From 2014 until recently, she had been teaching undergraduate courses in law-related topics at both the University of Arizona and Arizona State University when she was approached to write a textbook on law and mental health in the criminal justice system. In 2018, Wolters Kluwer published Mental Health and Criminal Justice. “I was able to formulate some good ideas for interventions,” says Anne. “The book is designed for first responders, social workers, and people wanting to go into those fields to give them a basic handbook and reference source for procedures and policies and structure of the criminal justice system as it affects the mentally ill.” Anne would like to do more writing and also get back to teaching; in the meantime, she keeps busy with volunteer work. She is on the board of directors for the Tucson Botanical Garden, on the Journalism Advisory Council at UArizona and works with the Assistance League’s Assisteens program that teaches kids in grades 7 to 12 about philanthropy. She is also involved with the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona and is a member of Congregation Bet Shalom. “I’m just very proud of the Tucson Jewish community because it is so cohesive and they’ve been so good to me,” says Anne. “When I ran for office that was my base, and that community never abandoned me.” ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH/APRIL 2020 37
ISRAEL
How Magen David Adom is protecting Israel’s blood supply By Jay Bycer
Above: Professor Eliat Shinar Right: A rendering of The Marcus National Blood Services Center to be constructed.
“W
hat would happen if the blood supply stopped in Israel?” That is the question that Magen David Adom’s Director of Blood Services, Professor Eliat Shinar, asked several years ago. Dr. Shinar will be coming to address this and other issues pertaining to Israel’s new blood center and its operations on March 30 at 7 pm at Congregation Or Tzion at 16415 N. 90th St. in Scottsdale. The Marcus National Blood Services Center is the first underground blood center and will serve as a model and vanguard of future blood center construction around the world. The $130 million center is currently being built with the latest high tech and construction systems to withstand most types of attacks to safeguard Israel’s lifeline of blood supplies. The vast majority of funding for the center is being provided by the American Friends of Magen David Adom. Magen David Adom’s Director-General Eli Bin, says the 38 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER MARCH/APRIL 2020 | ARIZONA 2019 | ARIZONA JEWISHJEWISH LIFE LIFE
move to build a new blood center was driven, in part, by the fact that Israel’s population has roughly doubled since the current facility was built in the 1980s in Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv. However, recent events have shown that the nation’s lifeline of blood may be in danger of running low and needs to be protected. In Israel’s last war in 2014, several Hamas rockets landed near Tel Aviv, causing MDA’s blood processing operations to be moved to a bomb shelter, which drastically reduced its ability to supply blood to Israel’s population. “Nowhere in Israel are we immune to rocket attacks now,” Bin says, “forcing us to rethink how we protect the nation’s blood supply.” Protecting the nation’s blood supply has now become one of the largest security issues facing the survival of Israel today. Many people in the United States are unaware that there is only one blood center operated by MDA, which supplies
Bernie Marcus
100% of the blood needs for the IDF and close to 90% of all other blood service needs for the nation. And while the 1950 Magen David Adom laws passed by the Knesset makes MDA responsible for blood services and emergency services for the nation, the majority of its funding comes from Friends’ groups in the United States and around the world. Several years ago, the Marcus family (a co-founder of home improvement retailer Home Depot) from Atlanta, saw this need and contributed more than $25 million to get the project started. Now under construction, MDA hopes to have the center ready for operation in early 2021. The new blood center will be a green complex that is self-sufficient, with its own water, waste, fuel supplies. The center will also have security and lockdown processes, and many other aspects that will ensure its safety, in case of either a natural disaster or war. Additionally, it is accessible to major roads, trains and other transportation systems for quick access to hospitals and all areas in Israel. The five-story complex is larger than 300,000 square feet and can process and store 500,000 units of blood and 10,000 units of cord blood. The blood will be
processed and stored in the three floors below ground, along with processing facilities, labs, and a research and development division. Administrative and logistics activities will be housed on the two floors above ground. “Whether it’s from war, terrorism, or natural disaster, we know there will come a day when our blood supply will play a critical role in saving thousands of lives – beyond the role it plays in our everyday medical emergencies, such as bypass surgery, or victims of car accidents,” states Dr. Shinar. “No matter what the need, we need to be ready, and that begins by protecting our blood supply.” Dr. Shinar came to Magen David Adom in 1988 and became MDA’s director of the Blood Services Division in 1997. She has published more than 80 scientific papers and serves on the International Red Cross’s Health and Community Services Committee. For more information, contact Jay Bycer at 602-7517701. No reservations are needed to attend the event. Barbara Zemel and Jay Bycer co-presidents of Arizona Friends of Magen David Adom.
ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH/APRIL 2020 39
LIVING
Valley journalism icons Kent Dana and Jerry Foster
to speak at Beth Ami Temple’s Speakers Series KENT DANA
JERRY FOSTER
BETH AMI TEMPLE’S SPEAKERS SERIES WHEN
Sunday, March 22 from 3 to 5 pm WHERE
Beth Ami Temple (located inside Palo Cristi Church) at 3535 E. Lincoln Dr., Paradise Valley COST
Free to the public, but donations are appreciated. Reservations required. Please RSVP to Bobbi Lazarus at 602-956-0805 or bethamitemple@hotmail.com 40
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V
alley television broadcast veteran Kent Dana and Arizona’s first news pilot and reporter Jerry Foster will speak about their legendary and memorable careers in journalism as part of the Beth Ami Temple Speakers Series on Sunday, March 22, from 3 to 5 pm at Beth Ami Temple in Paradise Valley. Both reporters were familiar figures as on-air staples in broadcast journalism for decades. Dana, a veritable news icon, spent 30 years on the air, entering the field in 1974 at KOOL-TV, then spending 25 years at 12 News, before retiring in 2011 while behind the desk at KPHO-TV. Dana’s father was in the news business and Kent’s son, Joe, today continues the legacy at 12 News. Foster was the first news helicopter pilot in Arizona when he was hired in 1971 by KOOL Radio and TV to report on traffic and weather. He became a fixture on Phoenix airwaves for decades, when he piloted Sky 12, the station’s news helicopter, taking part in police chases, desert searches and dramatic river rescues. Foster is the author of Earthbound Misfit, a book that traces his long, varied and colorful life and career. The transition from the bustle of broadcasting to the more relaxed days of retirement affords both men ample opportunity to reflect upon the important roles they played in the lives of Valley residents. Now, instead of delivering the latest headlines, they connect with the community in frequent public appearances. “I am pleased to be able to share my experiences after working over 35 years in television news: covering major stories worldwide, sharing the stories of interesting people and communicating those stories every night,” says Dana. “I have been blessed to be a part of this exciting profession.” The public is invited to attend this informative and entertaining afternoon of discussion. A question-and-answer session will follow Dana and Foster’s appearance. Light refreshments will be served. Founded in 1978, Beth Ami Temple is a boutique Reform temple for active adults seeking a spiritual connection with their Jewish roots and social involvement in a small, friendly congregation. The Speaker Series brings to light important topics and engaging speakers that not only impact the city’s Jewish population, but the entire Valley community altogether. For more information on Beth Ami Temple and its Speaker Series, visit bethamitemple.org.
8th Genocide Awareness Week
G
enocide Awareness Week is an annual week featuring lectures, exhibits and storytelling by distinguished survivors, scholars, politicians, activists, artists, humanitarians and members of law enforcement. This week-long event seeks to address how we, as a global society, confront violent actions and current and ongoing threats of genocide throughout the world, while also looking to the past for guidance and to honor those affected by genocide. Topics covered include Respect and Tolerance in Our World, Unsettling Empathy: Working with Groups in Conflict, Crimes Against Humanity: The Case of
Armenian Genocide, Art and Internment Camps: Culture, Incarceration and Resilience and many more. Genocide Awareness Week will be held April 20-25 and is hosted by Scottsdale Community College at 9000 E. Chaparral Road in Scottsdale and sponsored in part by local and national organizations. This event is free and open to the public. In addition to the presentations, there are other events being held in conjunction with Genocide Awareness Week. These include an opening night reception, special exhibits on display, workshops and a memorial service.
OPENING NIGHT
SPECIAL EXHIBITS
WORKSHOPS
Opening Reception and Program at the Franciscan Renewal Center
These exhibits are on display before, during, and continuing after, the event:
Father Patrick Desbois April 20 at 5 pm
The United States Military in the First Republic of Armenia 1919-1920 April 12-25 Copper Room in the Student Center The Opening Reception will be on the 13th of April in the Turquoise Room tat 6:30pm. Light snacks and a presentation by the curator Dr. Rouben Adalian, Director of the Armenian National Institute based in Washington, DC and curator of “The United States Military in the First Republic of Armenia 1919-1920.”
FBI Workshop: Federal Law and Civil Rights: Excessive Force, Hate, Genocide, and House of Worship Security April 24 at 9 am Hate & Bias Crimes Squad, Phoenix Division FBI presenters will cover four topics: United States Federal Law and International Human Rights, Hate Crimes, Color-of-Law and the Role of Policing and House of Worship Security.
Father Patrick Desbois has devoted his life to researching the Holocaust, fighting anti-Semitism, and furthering relations between Catholics and Jews. Father Desbois is a Catholic priest and President of Yahad – In Unum, a global humanitarian organization he founded in 2004 dedicated to identifying and commemorating the sites of Jewish and Roma mass executions in Eastern Europe during World War II. Father Desbois is also the author of The Holocaust by Bullets: A Priest’s Journey to Uncover the Truth Behind the Murder of 1.5 Million Jews, Winner of the National Jewish Book Award, and the recently released The Fabric of Terrorists: Into the Secrets of Daesh, based on his investigation of the Yazidi genocide in Iraq. In Broad Daylight documents mass killings in seven countries formerly part of the Soviet Union that were invaded by Nazi Germany.
Holocaust by Bullets through March 13, Burton Barr Library 1221 North Central Ave., Phoenix The 2000-square foot exhibition “Holocaust by Bullets” presents the results of decades of research in Eastern Europe by Father Patrick Desbois and his foundation (Yahad-In Unum). It underscores the “Holocaust by Bullets,” the mass shootings of Jews and others that took place throughout Eastern Europe by the Nazi mobile killing units from 1941 to 1944 and the mechanisms of mass violence generally. It pays homage to the memories of the victims while seeking to promote a proactive movement against genocide. It’s free and open to the public and docent-guided tours available.
ADL Educator’s Workshop: Echoes and Reflections April 25 at 8 am Presented by Kim Klett, Trainer/English Teacher, Echoes & Reflections, Mesa Public Schools This full-day program is perfect for both teachers who have used Echoes & Reflections in their classrooms and those who are new to it. We will look at two of Echoes & Reflection’s newest programs: Choices Matter: Complicity and Action During the Holocaust and Analyzing Propaganda and Teaching Media Literacy: The Holocaust as a Case Study. Teachers will utilize primary sources, video testimonies, and hands-on lessons and activities that they can take directly back to their classrooms. For more information on all of the events, visit scottsdalecc.edu/genocide. ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE | MARCH/APRIL 2020 41
LIVING
PR E VIE W S Author Janice Kaplan to Discuss Power of Gratitude
What started as a challenging idea – to spend a full year living gratefully – became a life-changing experience for author, magazine editor and producer Janice Kaplan. Her inspirational memoir, The Gratitude Diaries: How a Year Looking on the Bright Side Transformed My Life reached the New York Times bestseller list. Gratitude will her topic on Wednesday, March 18 at 7 pm at the Tucson Hebrew Academy at 3888 E. River Road in Tucson for the second annual Rabbi Lee A. Kivel Lecture on Jewish Life, open to the public and presented by the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona. Janice promises that attendees can profoundly change their family relationships with what she will share in the lecture. “Improve relationships with your children, your spouse, and the whole family. Knowing how to appreciate your children brings gratitude to their lives.” She also will talk about gratitude at work, “how it can help transform a workplace and make you more successful.” Registration at the door, for $10, opens at 6:30 pm. Janice’s keynote will be followed by breakout sessions related to gratitude with community rabbis. Refreshments, book sales, and a book signing will follow the program. For more information, visit jfsa.org/jewishlearning20120.
Kid Goat Yoga STRETCH! RELAX! Breathe! All with goats! Children are constantly moving from the time they get up in the morning to the time they go to sleep at night. At the Goat Yoga Workshop children ages 5 to 11 will be able to take the time to stretch out their muscles they use while PLAYING EVERY day. The workshop will be held at the Tucson Jewish Community Center at 3800 E. River Road in Tucson on March 17 from 4:40 to 5:30 pm. The cost is $15 for the class. For more information, visit tucsonjcc.orgor contact sports@tucsonjcc.org.
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Purim Carnival Join Congregation Or Chadash at 3939 N. Alvernon Way in Tucson on March 9 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm for the most joyous holiday of the year. Enjoy a special Purim program with dress up, booths, wine walk, card games, bake sale, food trucks, prizes, and much more! Tickets are $15, $12 for students. For more information, visit orchadash-tucson.org.
The Allan J. Flader Community-Wide J Purim Carnival The annual Purim Carnival will be held on Sunday, March 8 at the Martin Pear JCC at 12701 N. Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale from 11 am to 3 pm.
Come in costume and join the parade! There will be carnival rides, bounce houses, inflatable slides, teen area with amazing attractions, face
painting, Jewish Community Organization Tent, kosher BBQ and entertainment by Event Smart Productions. All ages welcome, with separate
areas for toddlers and teens. Admission is free; fees for rides. Register at The J Membership Desk or vosjcc. org/purim2020.
Informative and fun programs for Seniors
Klezmer Fest The East Valley JCC and the City of Chandler will host the annual Klezmer Fest from noon to 5 pm on March 15 at the East Valley JCC at 908 N. Alma School Road in Chandler. Lively and upbeat, klezmer is the traditional Jewish folk music of Eastern European Jewish communities. Over time, the style of music has grown to include instrumental music, Yiddish vocal music and modern fusion music that combines klezmer with world music such as Afro-pop, rock or hip hop. This music festival will also include a Yiddish Experience that includes workshops and lectures focusing on topics such as genealogy, family memoirs, the history of klezmer music and the Yiddish language. In addition, there will be children’s activities, such as inflatables, face-painting and a petting zoo, as well as kosher pizza and salads available for sale by Brad’s Mobile Pizza Oven. “The East Valley JCC is pleased to once again be hosting the Klezmer Music Festival with the City of Chandler,” said Rabbi Michael Beyo, EVJCC CEO. “Lively music, interactive workshops and lectures, as well as children’s activities, makes this the perfect family-friendly event.” Tickets are $15 adults, $5 children up to age 12. Event sponsors include the Arizona Jewish Historical Society. For more details or to purchase tickets, visit evjcc.org/klezmerfest or call 480-897-0588.
Join the JFCS Center for Senior Enrichment for special programming exploring music, movement and more during the month of April. The CSE is located inside The Palazzo at 6250 N. 19th Avenue in Phoenix and is open to all seniors, offering a wide variety of free fun and stimulating classes and activities in a beautiful, newly-renovated facility. Transportation is now available by reservation by calling the CSE at 602-943-2198. Put on your dancing shoes for our Rock & Roll Senior Prom on Thursday, April 16 at 1 pm. Music, snacks and drinks will be provided. You’re also invited to dress in your best prom attire! Lauren Friedman, from Area Agency on Aging will be presenting a most interesting program called “A Matter of Life” on Tuesday, April 21 at 1 pm. This talk was created to educate and help people recognize the signs and symptoms of depression, anxiety, suicide and substance abuse as well as to provide resources and tools to help. Enjoy “A Pocketful of Songs” on Thursday, April 23, at 1 pm with vocalist Dorothy Gaynor and pianist Jill Higgins. You’ll hear a wide variety of songs from jazz to opera and everything in between. Feel free to sing along! There are no charges for the events, but RSVPs are appreciated to carol.goldstein@jfcsaz.org or call 602-943-2198.
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LIVING
FACES & PLACES
BREAKFAST FOR ISRAEL – Almost 1,000 people attended Jewish National Fund’s Breakfast for Israel on Feb. 27 at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort and Spa. The keynote speaker was journalist and author Matti Friedman.
POWERFUL PERFORMANCES – Detroit native, philanthropist and honoree Lanny Lahr, left, is congratulated by Phyllis Miller at a pre-performance evening reception for “The Diary of Anne Frank” on Feb. 13 at the Madison Center for the Performing Arts. PHOTO BY LENI REISS
HAPPY 50TH – Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley celebrated their 50th anniversary On Feb. 29 with a special Shabbat service followed by a gala with Havdalah service, dinner and dancing. 44
MARCH/APRIL 2020 | ARIZONA JEWISH LIFE
SURVIVORS SHARE – Author Judy Laufer with her “moms” spent time answering questions and sharing their holocaust experiences with thousands of middle school students.
BRIGHTER TOMORROW – Jewish Family & Children’s Service hosted its annual Brighter Tomorrow Luncheon on Jan. 17 at the JW Marriott Scottsdale, raising nearly $490,000. According to Vicki Cabot, who along with her husband, Howard, were the co-chairs of the luncheon, funds raised from this event will impact the lives of more than 42,000 individuals throughout Maricopa County.
CITIZENS UNITE – The Tucson JCC hosted a naturalization ceremony on Feb. 14, where more than 100 individuals from countries across the globe become citizens.
HORSING AROUND – Ariel Grunberg and Toni Bond Dusik visit Red Mountain Therapeutic Riding Center in Israel.
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LIVING
FACES & PLACES SPEAKING OUT – Rabbi Mike Moskowitz, an ultra-orthodox rabbi spoke about LGBTQ rights at the event titled “Gender and Clothing” on Feb. 24 at Congregation Or Tzion.
YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND – On Feb. 20, some 200 Friends of the Israel Defense Forces gathered for the soldout FIDF Inaugural Arizona Dinner at Congregation Beth Tefillah in Scottsdale. Pictured, from left, Brig. Gen. Amir Keren; FIDF National Director and CEO Maj. Gen. (Res.) Meir Klifi-Amir; Yaakov Zada Daniel; Event Co-chairs Victoria and Tracy Conrad; Arizona Executive Director Oz Laniado; Lt. Col. Gilad Avriligi. PHOTO COURTESY KAREN WOOD
IT’S A WRAP – Temple Beth Sholom of the East Valley religious school and members participated in the Men’s Club World Wide Wrap. The students practiced with a set of “practice” tefilin as the adult members demonstrated how to put them on properly.
