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JANUARY 18, 2019 | SHEVAT 12, 5779 | VOLUME 70, NUMBER 69
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Rabbis, Jewish organizations commit The New Yorker’s Masha Gessen comes to MLK march in show of unity to Valley to speak about totalitarianism T NICK ENQUIST | STAFF WRITER
NICK ENQUIST | STAFF WRITER
B
jorn Krondorfer is worried about what lessons from the Holocaust people will remember and apply to the present. Krondorfer, director of the Martin-Springer Institute of Northern Arizona University (NAU) and a professor of comparative cultural studies, looks to Russian emigre, New Yorker staff writer and LGBTQ activist Masha Gessen to bridge the lessons of the past to the present rise of global totalitarianism. Gessen will be speaking at NAU’s International Holocaust Remembrance Day event on Jan. 27. “It is a rare opportunity for students at NAU to be exposed to such an active, intellectual mind, fearless journalist, and also LGBTQ advocate, especially in the regions of Eastern Europe,” Krondorfer said. “The talk will center on how the imagination of individuals and entire societies are shaped by what we remember, or the stories we can tell about what we remember.” Born in Moscow, Gessen worked as a journalist for multiple outlets and has written several books. In 2013, Gessen left Russia for New York City after witnessing an increase in antigay violence. One of Gessen’s books, “Ester and Ruzya: How my Grandmothers
his year, the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) is dedicating itself to having a stronger Jewish presence at Phoenix’s annual march and festival to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “We have invited all Jewish organizations and synagogues to walk with us,” said Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman, member of the JCRC’s board of directors. “We want to join together so that there’s a SEE MLK, PAGE 2
From left, Rabbi John Linder of Temple Solel, Rabbi Ilana Mills formerly of Temple Solel, Rabbi Jeremy Schneider of Temple Kol Ami and Rabbi Bonnie Koppel of Temple Chai in Washington, D.C., at the 2015 ‘America’s Journey for Justice March.’ Schneider is holding a Torah. PHOTO PROVIDED BY RABBI JEREMY SCHNEIDER
Film Festival ‘Three Identical Strangers’ is among the films that will be screened at the 14th annual West Valley Jewish Film Festival hosted by Beth Emeth Congregation in Sun City West. The festival runs from Jan. 26 to 28. ‘Three Identical Strangers’ tells the story of triplets Eddie, David and Bobby, who were separated at birth and reunited as young men. Read more on Page 11. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FILM’S DISTRIBUTORS MONGREL MEDIA
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