HEADLINES | 4
SPECIAL SECTION | 14
RODEO
CAMP & SCHOOL GUIDE
Meet the Jewish girl who's Miss Teen Rodeo Arizona
Kids study Torah playing Dungeons & Dragons
OCTOBER 18, 2019 | TISHREI 19, 5780 | VOLUME 72, NUMBER 2
‘Last Jewish cowboy’ couple honored with newly named award NICK ENQUIST | STAFF WRITER
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he owner of Cholla Cattle Co., Harvey Dietrich has been called “Arizona’s last Jewish cowboy.” But to only mention Harvey Dietrich’s work as a rancher would be telling half the story. He and his wife, Marnie Dietrich, have been a driving force for multiple communal organizations and charities. This year, the Arizona Jewish Historical Society will honor the Dietrichs with its annual heritage award. When asked how it felt to receive the award, Harvey Dietrich said, “Oh, I’m sure there are people who deserve it more than me.” Lawrence Bell, the executive director of AZJHS, said such a reaction is common for the Dietrichs. Despite their work for multiple civic and charitable organizations, he said, they shy away from the spotlight. “They both are silent givers and are people that do good but in a quiet kind of way,” Bell said. “They don’t need, want or even expect a lot of recognition in return. Jewish tradition says that you do not ask for recognition when you do good deeds because otherwise it’s self-serving.” The annual heritage award is given to people who demonstrate excellence in philanthropy and community service. Some of the organizations the Dietrichs have supported include the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, the T-Gen Cancer Research Institute, the Jewish National Fund, Hillsdale College, the Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival and the Phoenix Art Museum. The Dietrichs are longtime members of Congregation Beth Israel. Both of them are also longtime members of the AZJHS, where Harvey Dietrich
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Local congregation joins national Orthodox Union women’s initiative LEISAH WOLDOFF | CONTRIBUTING WRITER
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s Beth Joseph Congregation joins the rest of world Jewry in celebrating Simchat Torah next week, it will also join more than 40 North American synagogues that aim to make Simchat Torah more meaningful for women. For the second consecutive year, the Phoenix congregation is participating in the Orthodox Union Women’s Initiative Simchat Torah Together program, which provides shiurim (classes) for women on Simchat Torah morning. These classes, taught by local female scholars, are held during aliyot, the period in the service where, at Orthodox congregations like Beth Joseph, all the adult men at the service are called to the Torah. The idea for the initiative was sparked by a sense that women were looking for a meaningful experience on Simchat Torah morning SEE WOMEN, PAGE 3
Tzipi Turner will teach the Simchat Torah Together class at Beth Joseph on Oct. 22. PHOTO COURTESY OF TZIPI TURNER
I don’t think we’re in Phoenix anymore Local Jewish entrepreneur Alan Gellman, owner of Wall Sensations, spent six-and-a-half years developing a product before he was ready to sell it. Now his murals transform backyard spaces here and across the country. Read more about his business journey on Page 16. PHOTO COURTESY OF WALL SENSATIONS
SEE COWBOY, PAGE 2
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