HEADLINES | 4
SPECIAL SECTION | B6
ISRAEL BONDS
SENIOR LIFESTYLE
CEO Israel Maimon talks about why Phoenix is perfect for a conference.
How isolated seniors can combat loneliness during the holidays.
DECEMBER 6, 2019 | KISLEV 8, 5780 | VOLUME 72, NUMBER 5
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Jewish Advisory Board: Month of anti-Israel activity at Building bridges for ASU sparks debate two decades O F ELLEN O’BRIEN | STAFF WRITER
ELLEN O’BRIEN | STAFF WRITER
or 20 years, the Phoenix Police Department’s Police Chief’s Advisory Boards have been bridging the gap between the police department and minority communities in Phoenix. That includes the Jewish Advisory Board, which allows the Jewish community to stay connected with police resources and for community leaders to share concerns. “The actual function of the board is multifaceted, but its primary function is to build a bridge between the Jewish community and the police department,” said Detective Michael Hillman, the Phoenix Police Department community liaison to the Jewish Advisory Board. Paul Rockower, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix and a new member of the advisory board, says that the program is a unique opportunity for the Phoenix Jewish community to be heard. “Good public diplomacy is about listening,” said Rockower. “The advisory board is showing that the Phoenix Police Department is listening to the concerns of the community, and it’s showing that we’re listening to their concerns.” As the liaison to the Jewish Advisory Board, Hillman also benefits from a special connection to the Jewish community: He’s worked as an off-duty police officer at Temple Chai for 22 years. “I’m not Jewish, but I’ve been at the temple for so long that I tell people I’m the most Jewish Christian you’ll ever meet,” Hillman said. The Jewish Advisory Board is one of 12 community advisory boards that regularly meet with the Phoenix Police Department. Other boards include
n Tuesday, Nov. 19, students flooded a meeting of the Undergraduate Student Government at Arizona State University to debate a planned resolution in favor of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. The meeting came after a month of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic incidents on campus. The proposed resolution would have called on the ASU administration to divest from any Israeli companies that the university is currently invested in. Although a vote on the resolution was delayed until the next student government meeting, around 60 students from Jewish organizations across ASU attended the event to speak out against the proposal. Sarah Balis, president of the Hillel Jewish Student Center at ASU, was the first student to speak at the meeting. SEE ASU, PAGE 3
Neta Galili debates the Israeli government’s policies in Gaza and the West Bank with Benjamin Cooper. PHOTO BY ELLEN O’BRIEN
Chanukah gift guide Chanukah is on Dec. 22 this year, leaving you plenty of time to figure out what to get your family and friends. Take advantage of the waning hours of Cyber Week (wasn't it just Cyber Monday last year?) using our breakdown of online Chanukah gifts with a quirky twist, like this T-shirt sold by locally owned Schmattees. Go to Page 13. PHOTO VIA SCHMATTEES.COM
SEE JAB, PAGE 2
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ISRAEL
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