HEADLINES | 4
SPECIAL SECTION | 16
WOMEN’S PANEL
ROSH HASHANAH
Successful Jewish women share personal stories and professional advice
'Reverse Tashlich' is an opportunity to cleanse the ocean of human 'sins'
SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 | ELUL 20, 5779 | VOLUME 71, NUMBER 37
Rabbi sits down with imam for frank conversation about faith, discrimination NICK ENQUIST | STAFF WRITER
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n an effort to promote more interfaith communication, the East Valley JCC has started two new speaker series, the first of which launched on Sunday, Sept. 15. In the initial installment of the quarterly “Conversations With the Rabbi,” EVJCC CEO Rabbi Michael Beyo sat down with Imam Faheem Arshad of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community to discuss being part of a minority religion in America. Arshad graduated from the Islamic seminary of Jamia Ahmadiyya in Canada and has been to various countries as part of his training, including Africa, the United Kingdom, Mexico and Pakistan, before being stationed in Arizona. Karolyn Benger, former executive director of the JCRC of Greater Phoenix and owner of KB Enterprise, moderated the event. Nearly 70 people came to hear the two spiritual leaders converse about maintaining their religious identities, raising children within a faith-based community and what’s it’s like to build a community while facing bigotry, whether anti-Semitism or Islamophobia. Growing up in Italy, Beyo said, he experienced anti-Semitism constantly. “I remember walking to the synagogue with my father and a person approaching us said, ‘I know why you wear a kippah — because you’re hiding your horns.’ That’s one of the classical stereotypes of
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Israeli hockey player impresses Coyotes during tryouts NICK ENQUIST | STAFF WRITER
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n many ways, 20-year-old Israeli ice hockey player David Levin has the ultimate underdog story. Since he was a kid, he dreamed of playing for the NHL, but growing up in Israel, he wasn’t in the most ideal place to develop his ice hockey skills. But not even the desert could stop Levin from getting on the rink. Now his dream may become a reality as he advances to the veteran’s training camp for the Arizona Coyotes, the next step for players who impressed during SEE HOCKEY, PAGE 3
Israeli hockey player David Levin trains in the Arizona Coyotes veteran’s camp against goalie prospect Erik Källgren.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE ARIZONA COYOTES
That Valley-Israel connection What is it about the Valley that makes it such a hotspot for partnering with Israel? Go to Page 18 to read about the latest partnership between a local company and the land of milk and honey.
SEE CONVERSATION, PAGE 2
KEEP YOUR EYE ON jewishaz.com
NATIONAL
New federal processes to combat growing anti-Semitism
INTERNATIONAL
American diplomats press lawmakers in Germany, Ireland to oppose BDS
ISRAEL
Growing threats prompt debate over US-Israel mutual defense pact