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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
