Jewish News, May 8

GOLDEN GALA

Temple Emanuel of Tempe is celebrating its Golden Jubilee on May 9

Congregation Kehillah kicks off 18th anniversary with prom-themed celebration

JOSH BOOTZIN | STAFF WRITER

Eighteen years after Congregation Kehillah was founded in North Scottsdale, it hosted more than 100 congregants and guests at its kickoff event on April 18 to celebrate its chai anniversary.

“What began as a few Zoom brainstormers and a little procrastination turned into tonight’s celebration of chai, community and a bit of nostalgia,” said administrator Renee Joffe-Hrlevich.

Congregation Kehillah traces its roots to seven individuals coming together to form a new community. They decided that the name Kehillah, which means community in Hebrew, should reflect the sense of belonging they felt among one another. One of their first decisions was to bring in Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman to be their spiritual leader.

“Kehillah was born in 2008, and it was born from a need, or for some people a yearning, to practice joyful Judaism in a way that was less institutional, more communal and caring,” Sharfman said. “They painted a picture of how a community is built and how congregational life can develop. We started during the worst recession in modern times, so it wasn’t the optimal time, but it worked.”

The young congregation then outlined 18 core values, which have guided them for nearly two decades. Included among them are tikkun olam (healing the world), achrye’ut (accepting responsibility within the community) and kibud ha-bri’ot (caring for all of creation, including those that appear different).

“We’re a community that talks a lot about what it means to be a Jew in today’s world, the role of Israel in our lives, what it means to be welcoming

SENIOR LIFESTYLE

New film based on local author’s book, summer classes and mother-daughter art exhibit

Mayim Bialik reflects on identity, faith and Hollywood at Temple Solel

MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR

Asold-out crowd filled the sanctuary on April 19 at Temple Solel in Paradise Valley for the Zeichick Family Lecture, an evening dedicated to the memory of Gloria and Herb Zeichick. This year’s topic, “Being Jewish in Hollywood,” featured actor, podcaster, neuroscientist and author Mayim Bialik, Ph.D., whose presentation ranged from her upbringing and career to the challenges of Jewish identity in today’s cultural and political climate.

Before introducing Bialik, Alan Zeichick framed the evening as a tribute to his mother’s lifelong admiration for “smart Jewish women,” a group in which Zeichick said his mother also belonged. Despite not attending college, Gloria Zeichick became a syndicated columnist and went to the White House to consult with Rosalynn Carter about educating Americans on nutrition.

Zeichick also highlighted his mother’s love of game shows, Hollywood and science fiction, drawing connections to Bialik’s career, including her time hosting “Jeopardy!” and her role on “The Big Bang Theory” as Amy Farrah Fowler.

“She loved science fiction,” he said. “I don’t know if my mother ever watched that show. I’m going to guess that she didn’t, but I think she would have enjoyed the character of Amy (Farrah) Fowler very much.”

Taking the stage, Bialik outlined the arc of her life, beginning with her early career as a child actor. Unlike many in the industry, she entered acting at age 11, “which is considered old,” she joked.

She also didn’t fit the “all-American” look that television programs were looking for, printed clearly on casting sheet descriptions in 1986.

“It didn’t occur to me that no one on television looked like me,” she said, reflecting on an era when Hollywood sought a narrow standard of beauty. Instead, Bialik found her niche in “character roles,” eventually landing the part of Blossom Ruby Russo in the sitcom “Blossom.”

SEE BIALIK, PAGE 3

Big hitters

Two local teen baseball players look forward to the future playing college ball. See page 15.

in an era in which we have security guards and doors are locked on the outside, what it means to be a mensch and live Jewishly,” Sharfman said. “We don’t have to be alike, but we’re in pursuit of caring for one another, caring for those around us and we talk a lot about accepting responsibility as part of a community.”

At the prom celebration, six congregants representing different generations were chosen to share what Kehillah meant to them.

“One of the things I’ve learned over these 18 years is that community is not defined by any one voice, but by the many voices that shape it,” Sharfman said.

read her personal essays about raising a daughter with Down syndrome on KJZZ, National Public Radio’s Phoenix affiliate station.

last year.

Meyers first came to know Stern through her mother, Amy Silverman, who read her personal essays about raising a daughter with Down syndrome on KJZZ, National Public Radio’s Phoenix affiliate station.

about her Judaism with her fellow council members and speaking out for her rights

She already has some practice at

about her Judaism with her fellow council members and speaking out for her rights

“One time, I was in class and someone called me the R-word and I told him not to. The teacher was in the hallway and another student repeated the word,” she said. Rather than letting the situation go, she told her theater teacher, who was able to intervene.

She already has some practice at

“One time, I was in class and someone called me the R-word and I told him not to. The teacher was in the hallway and another student repeated the word,” she said. Rather than letting the situation go, she told her theater teacher, who was able to intervene.

intellectual and cultural engagement.”

“If someone has a disability, saying the R-word is like saying the F-word,” Stern said.

Meyers was so captivated by the essays that he reached out to Silverman, and the two became friends.

In addition to young adults, congregants of all ages volunteer their time for the community, including helping plan and put together events like the prom celebration.

“If someone has a disability, saying the R-word is like saying the F-word,” Stern said.

The celebration also honored many of the synagogue’s previous leadership, whose dedication contributed to the congregation’s survival and expansion, including Rich Goldman, who served as president from 2012 to 2017.

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“We’ve expanded membership across generations and strengthened our programming,” Fox said. “We’re focused on the future, cultivating new leadership and implementing strategic planning to guide our next chapter.”

Meyers was so captivated by the essays that he reached out to Silverman, and the two became friends.

That’s how Stern first learned of the open council seat, but there’s no doubt she earned her position, Meyers said.

Fox and his wife, Daniella, were named prom king and queen at the event.

That’s how Stern first learned of the open council seat, but there’s no doubt she earned her position, Meyers said.

While performing in the musical “Hairspray,” she had another occasion to tangle with the offensive word, which appears in the script.

2026 Phoenix Jewish News

While performing in the musical “Hairspray,” she had another occasion to tangle with the offensive word, which appears in the script.

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“We were still young, growing and facing the challenge of not yet having a permanent home,” Goldman said. “The search for, and ultimate purchase of, this building defined much of my tenure. Along the way, I formed deep connections with members whose vision, commitment and astounding generosity made it all possible.”

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To become a council member, Stern had to apply and demonstrate that she had something valuable to contribute, he said.

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Goldman said a defining moment of his tenure was hiring Joffe-Hrlevich as the temple administrator. “We simply would not be the community we are today without Renee’s hard work and dedication,” he said.

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Jane Neely served for three years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, and said what stood out most to her was the community’s resilience.

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“My presidency was shaped by the challenges of COVID-19 and the transition back to an inperson life,” Neely said. “We adapted quickly, holding the first Zoom bar mitzvah in Greater Phoenix, moving to hybrid services and classes and reopening thoughtfully and safely.”

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Sharfman was raised Orthodox and became the first woman in her family to follow in the steps of 36 generations of rabbis. She expressed how important it is to her that her congregation be welcoming to everyone, regardless of their level of Jewish engagement.

December 15

After many years on the executive committee, Rich Fox took the mantle of president

To become a council member, Stern had to apply and demonstrate that she had something valuable to contribute, he said.

“She’s on the council because she deserves to be on the council,” he said.

Stern is creating a life and career as a member of her community, which makes her a great addition.

“The people in this congregation come from all different backgrounds. There are people who grew up in Conservative households, Reform households, and then there are people who never had a successful synagogue relationship,” Sharfman said. “Our community embodies people who have traveled all kinds of different journeys within Jewish life.”

“She’s on the council because she deserves to be on the council,” he said. Stern is creating a life and career as a member of her community, which makes her a great addition.

“There’s a very large percentage of people in the congregation who step up to support in different ways,” Sharfman said. “One of the most amazing things about this event was what you didn’t see, how many people offered to help. We didn’t really have to ask, and I can look at that and say we built a community that celebrates those values that we put into place back at the founding of the congregation.”

Stern graduated from McClintock High School in Tempe last year and now attends Glendale Community College, with a focus on dance. She is a regular performer at Detour Company Theatre, a Scottsdale theatre company for adults with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities.

The synagogue has increased involvement over the years, including among young adults who have graduated college but haven’t yet started a family. Sharfman stressed the importance of designing programs that meet their Jewish needs and help them find community so they become willing participants in an intergenerational congregation.

Stern graduated from McClintock High School in Tempe last year and now attends Glendale Community College, with a focus on dance. She is a regular performer at Detour Company Theatre, a Scottsdale theatre company for adults with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities.

“That’s really bad and my friend said it on stage. I was not OK with that, so I went to the director and told her it was a bad word for people with disabilities, but she wouldn’t take it out,” Stern said.

“That’s really bad and my friend said it on stage. I was not OK with that, so I went to the director and told her it was a bad word for people with disabilities, but she wouldn’t take it out,” Stern said.

She let her mother know about the conflict and they were able to convince the director of the need to remove the word from the script.

She let her mother know about the conflict and they were able to convince the director of the need to remove the word from the script.

“My friend Al was next to me when I told the director and he gave me the biggest hug ever and said that he loved me so much,” Stern said. Sadly, Al died in a car crash on Oct. 24, 2021.

Kehillah is planning a number of followup celebratory events throughout its 18th year, including special Shabbat dinners and an event honoring the history of one of the synagogue’s Torah scrolls.

In fact, when Stern attended her first council meeting in January, she couldn’t wait to tell people of her involvement with Detour and share information about its upcoming shows.

In fact, when Stern attended her first council meeting in January, she couldn’t wait to tell people of her involvement with Detour and share information about its upcoming shows.

“I don’t measure success by the number of people in the congregation,” she said. “Clearly, we’ve grown in that way, but what good have we done in the world? How have we helped one another, how have we helped the community at large, how have we practiced our Jewish values and helped one another live more Jewish lives?”

“There’s no question that she is going to thrive,” Meyers said. “She’s very gregarious and passionate about the things that matter to her.”

“We’re not looking for huge numbers,” she said. “We’re looking for a comfortable number of people with whom to have social,

Heart Can’t Even Believe It: A Story of Science, Love and Down Syndrome,” Silverman’s book about her daughter. When Gesher’s speakers’ bureau, Damon Brooks & Associates, was asked to find a speaker about Down syndrome for an event this spring, Hummell first asked Silverman to speak, thinking Stern might be too young.

Heart Can’t Even Believe It: A Story of Science, Love and Down Syndrome,” Silverman’s book about her daughter. When Gesher’s speakers’ bureau, Damon Brooks & Associates, was asked to find a speaker about Down syndrome for an event this spring, Hummell first asked Silverman to speak, thinking Stern might be too young.

They decided instead that Stern should tell her own story; it’s a real bonus that she is not afraid of public speaking.

“That was hard; it’s very hard to get emotions out and I was very, very upset,” she said.

“My friend Al was next to me when I told the director and he gave me the biggest hug ever and said that he loved me so much,” Stern said. Sadly, Al died in a car crash on Oct. 24, 2021.

“That was hard; it’s very hard to get emotions out and I was very, very upset,” she said.

On the recent anniversary of his death, Stern made a cake and took it to the crash site.

On the recent anniversary of his death, Stern made a cake and took it to the crash site.

“I don’t know how I did it without crying. I’m so proud of myself,” she said.

“Here’s to the next 18 years,” Fox said. “May they be just as meaningful, joyful and full of connection.” JN

“There’s no question that she is going to thrive,” Meyers said. “She’s very gregarious and passionate about the things that matter to her.”

Stern looks forward to sharing insights

Stern looks forward to sharing insights

Amy Hummell, executive director of Gesher Disability Resources, agreed that Stern is a good fit for ADDPC because of her ability to self-advocate.

“I don’t know how I did it without crying. I’m so proud of myself,” she said.

For more information, visit congregationkehillah.org.

Hummell co-hosted a book event with Meyers a few years ago for “My

Amy Hummell, executive director of Gesher Disability Resources, agreed that Stern is a good fit for ADDPC because of her ability to self-advocate.

Josh Bootzin’s parents are members of Congregation Kehillah.

Hummell co-hosted a book event with Meyers a few years ago for “My

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“It’s not the same when someone tries to tell a person’s story for them,” Hummell said.

They decided instead that Stern should tell her own story; it’s a real bonus that she is not afraid of public speaking.

“It’s not the same when someone tries to tell a person’s story for them,” Hummell said.

Additionally, helping people with disabilities find jobs was one of the reasons for acquiring the bureau. Unemployment in the disability community is upwards of 75% and of that percentage, 75% are ready, willing and able to work — but haven’t been given the opportunity, Hummell said.

Additionally, helping people with disabilities find jobs was one of the reasons for acquiring the bureau. Unemployment in the disability community is upwards of 75% and of that percentage, 75% are ready, willing and able to work — but haven’t been given the opportunity, Hummell said.

“People have it in them to speak up but don’t know how, and often they’re not cheered on. Sophie has family support

“People have it in them to speak up but don’t know how, and often they’re not cheered on. Sophie has family support

While her acting success came early, Bialik emphasized that her Jewish identity developed along a different trajectory. Raised in Los Angeles by a father who was a public school teacher and a mother who was the head of the synagogue’s nursery school, she described a household that was culturally Jewish but not deeply religious.

“But I was that kid who loved synagogue,” she said of attending Temple Israel of Hollywood. From choir participation to becoming a bat mitzvah, Bialik found meaning and belonging in Jewish communal life. She credited Jewish youth programs and federation scholarships to attend camp with shaping her identity, even as she admitted that her first overnight camp experience was far from idyllic.

“I cried and peed in my bed every night, and it was a horrible experience,” she said. “They had to take me out of the room so that other children could go to sleep because my crying was so horrendous.”

Even though summer camp was unsuccessful, she enjoyed the weekend camps that the federation hosted throughout the year. “It was these five weekends a year, from the time that I was 10 to 19, where I met other Jewish kids and I started to form the closeness that is my Jewish identity.”

Her connection to Judaism deepened during her college years at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she became active in Hillel and immersed herself in Jewish learning and leadership. One of her fellow students was Rabbi Andy Green of Congregation Or Tzion in Scottsdale, and one of her rabbis was Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, president and dean of Valley Beit Midrash, which co-hosted the event.

It was during this time that she began to observe early signs of rising antisemitism on campus —incidents that, in hindsight, she sees as part of a broader trend that has intensified in recent years.

“There were swastikas chalked on Bruin Walk on Yom Ha’atzmaut, and we thought, ‘Well, this is odd,’ and there were protests yearly on Holocaust Remembrance Day,” she remembered. “Then one year, it went from handheld signs that these groups were holding to nice, laminated signs. I remember we all looked at each other and thought, ‘We look like a student organization, this looks like something different.’ I think we now see, 20 years later, there was an organized movement to arm certain student groups with anti-Zionist propaganda.”

It was while Bialik was in graduate school, after having her second child, that she lost her health insurance. She knew that the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists had good insurance, and even if you appear in a guest spot, you could get insurance for a year. She had never acted as an adult, aside from appearing in a few episodes of Larry David’s show “Curb Your Enthusiasm” (which she was a big fan of).

Her manager called and told her about

“The Big Bang Theory” and that they were looking for a female Jim Parsons. “I said, ‘I don’t know who that is,’” she remembered.

After doing research, she realized that the show resembled everyone she knew in grad school, that these were “her people.” She auditioned and, being the only one with a Ph.D. in neuroscience, got the part.

Her first appearance was in the season three finale as a potential love interest for Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons). In season four, she began as a recurring character playing Sheldon’s “friend that’s a girl, but not a girlfriend.”

She was on the show for nine years. “It was a very big part of my life,” she said. “I went in with a toddler and a new baby. He was probably 18 months by the time I was made a regular in season four. It was a huge chunk of life.”

During the show’s run, she was nominated for four Emmy Awards.

“My grandparents were sweatshop workers and barely spoke English, and I’m nominated for an Emmy,” she said. “But to have to wear a dress that doesn’t make you feel icky, meaning for me, I had certain things about the way that I dressed, you know, ‘no unnatural cleavage’ is how I described it.”

She said it was hard to find designers to accommodate her modest requests, and she also wanted to wear a Star of David on her first trip to the Emmys but was discouraged. “I wish that I could say that I was like, ‘No, I will wear it.’”

But she was thankful for entertainment attorney Shep Rosenman (her mentor and rabbi before her attorney), who included all the Jewish holidays in her contract.

“He said that he thinks that I was probably the only person in Warner Bros. history to have Shemini Atzeret in my contract,” she said. “Most Jews don’t even know why we’re off for Shemini Atzeret, but I was.”

After “The Big Bang Theory” ended, she starred in a series produced by Jim Parsons called “Call Me Kat” for three years, concurrent with her time as a guest host on “Jeopardy!” after the death of Alex Trebek.

She shared hosting duties with former contestant and winning-streak record holder Ken Jennings. He would host when she was working on “Call Me Kat.”

She explained that “Jeopardy!” fans can be an intense community, and without going into too much detail, she said she was let go a month after Oct. 7, 2023.

“’Jeopardy!’ likes parve hosts. I’m not a parve person. I’m an opinionated person. I’ve written books about attachment parenting and about neuroendocrinology,” she said. “I’m a person with a very loud voice and they say man’s rejection is sometimes God’s protection. When I think about what happened in the world following Oct. 7, I’m very grateful that I was not on TV’s favorite game show.”

She explained that her family made aliyah just after she was born, around the time of the Yom Kippur War, and she has religious Zionist family members who live in the West Bank, as well as secular family members who live on a kibbutz.

“Oct. 7 was exactly what many of us were raised to believe could never happen,” she said.

She tries to visit Israel at least every other year; the most recent trip was this past December, when she wanted to be in her homeland for her 50th birthday.

Bialik described how the events of Oct. 7 — and reactions to them — have affected her personally and professionally. She has faced canceled speaking engagements, lost advertising revenue for her mental health podcast, “Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown” and a shifting landscape in which expressing support for Israel can lead to exclusion from spaces she once considered welcoming.

“I never thought that I would have to choose between being someone who believes that Israel has the right to exist and being a progressive liberal,” she said.

Despite the weight of these challenges, Bialik concluded her talk on an optimistic note. She described a growing sense of unity among Jews of diverse backgrounds and levels of observance — a unity she sees as more vital now than ever before.

“There’s something that shifted in me after Oct. 7,” she said. “I got this notion we are all the same. There are different levels of observance, but those are not the details that seemed important to me.”

She spoke about overcoming feelings of inadequacy when encountering more observant Jews and instead embracing a sense of shared identity.

“If we’re going to be hated no matter what kind of Jew we are, the message from that is not that it doesn’t matter, it’s that we matter so much to each other,” she said. JN

Temple Emanuel celebrates 50th anniversary with Golden Jubilee gala

JOSH BOOTZIN | STAFF WRITER

Temple Emanuel of Tempe has served the Reform Jewish community in the Southeast Valley since 1976, honoring its past and celebrating its present and future with Golden Jubilee events throughout the 2026 calendar year.

The congregation is opening its doors for the culminating event, “Golden Jubilee: Cheers to the Next 50 Years Celebration,” an evening of connection and reflection, on May 9, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the OakwoodIronOaks Country Club in Sun Lakes.

The temple’s legacy book, a written document of its 50-year history, will be available at the event, and the evening will also include a special presentation with video messages from the temple’s founders and their descendants.

In 1975, many young Jewish families belonged to the Jewish Organization of Tempe (JOT), but they attended synagogues in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Mesa as there was not yet one in Tempe. JOT ran a preschool and summer programs for older children, but there was a collective desire for a synagogue in the community to foster formal religious education.

A steering committee was organized with five couples, and within a few months, it achieved its goal of having 40 families commit to the new synagogue.

Among the founders were Laurel and Michael Ginsburg, whose family was one of two to retain membership and involvement throughout Emanuel’s entire existence. Laurel was the first elected Sisterhood president, and Michael was the temple’s first treasurer and fourth president.

“It was one of the highlights of our lives to have been part of the creation of this synagogue that is still going after 50 years,” Laurel Ginsburg said. “We just want to see it grow and prosper.”

The first congregational meeting was

held in April 1976, at Christ Chapel United Methodist Church. Congregants chose the name of the new synagogue, organized task forces, introduced a religious school teacher, discussed a plot of land purchased by five founding families and decided on the synagogue’s religious character.

By fall 1976, 57 students were enrolled in the K-8 religious school, and the synagogue had 64 member families. In June 1977, Marvin M. Reznikoff was hired as the synagogue’s first full-time rabbi.

“He inspired me to become even more active than I already was,” Ginsburg said. “His personality was such that he would do magic tricks for the kids, and he wrote postcards to all the members of the congregation. He was a wonderful man.”

Not only did the Ginsburgs help organize the temple’s first Break-Fast and Passover Seder and found its library and Judaica shop, but they also devoted every Sunday to calling other congregants to plan community activities and recruiting potential members.

When Reznikoff became ill, the Ginsburgs took Assistant Rabbi David Pinkwasser and his wife to dinner to offer him the job.

With the land for the temple’s permanent structure acquired by five founding families, the congregation raised money to buy the land back from them. The landowners decided to donate the land, so the money could be used on the building.

The community then broke ground for the new building in November 1980, which was completed less than a year later, and dedicated as the Marvin M. Reznikoff building. An expansion was completed in 2007.

“In the beginning, we didn’t identify as Reform or Conservative,” Ginsburg said.

“We wanted to see what kind of members we attracted, so we ended up being a ‘Reform congregation that honors tradition,’ all due to Rabbi Reznikoff’s suggestion.”

Ginsburg said as the only Reform congregation in the Southeast Valley, Temple Emanuel still works to appeal to Jewish people of all denominations who are looking for a religious community.

Now with more than 300 member families, Temple Emanuel prides itself on social action initiatives and volunteerism.

“We have helped asylum seekers find a home in the U.S., have sponsored refugee Shabbats, have sponsored Mitzvah week collections to help many needy groups and much more,” Ginsburg shared.

She credited the Sisterhood as the “backbone of the temple for many years,” keeping temple activities alive during the COVID-19 pandemic with virtual events and outdoor drive-bys.

“During COVID, a lot of synagogues struggled with interaction,” said current president Arnold Bedak. “A lot of that has now returned, but engagement took a while to get back to where it was, so having this kind of jubilee celebration has brought back a lot of community engagement, social interaction and camaraderie.”

Bedak took over as president in 2024, during what he called a “transitional time for our temple.”

“We had just transitioned from our settled rabbi to an interim rabbi, and now back into a settled rabbi,” he explained. “We have so much going on right now in celebrating our 50th jubilee and looking forward to the future. It’s just been phenomenal.”

With 40 years of rabbinical experience in various locations across the country, Rabbi Steven Folberg was hired to lead the congregation in July 2025.

He had spent 33 years at Congregation Beth Israel in Austin, Texas, when “the agreed-upon year when I was supposed to retire was coming up, and it became clear to me that I had more to do as a rabbi, I still loved it and I didn’t want to retire,” Folberg said.

Folberg spent a year as an interim rabbi for Falmouth Jewish Congregation in Massachusetts, then he and his wife relocated to the Phoenix area when he applied to the open position at Temple Emanuel.

“I’m thrilled to still be doing work that I find so meaningful at a congregation that is looking back into its past and forward into its future,” Folberg said. “The community is very self-aware and contemplative about how to move forward, so it’s nice to bring whatever wisdom and experience I can.”

Folberg has been drawing on his experience to help the congregation reflect on its many strengths during this time of celebration, energizing and engaging its members and “getting the word out that there’s a gem of a Jewish community here in the East Valley.”

Above all, he praised the immense volunteer energy, which he said he’s never seen before in all his years as a rabbi.

SEE JUBILEE, PAGE 6

W come

to our newest signers to the Endowment Book of Life! There was so much to celebrate on April 29th!

Congratulations

to our Life & Legacy Community Partners for securing close to 1,200 legacy commitments with an estimated future value of $76 million!

Arizona Jewish Historical Society

Beth El Phoenix

Bureau of Jewish Education

Center for Jewish Philanthropy

Congregation Or Tzion

East Valley JCC

Gesher Disability Resources

Hillel at ASU

Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley Synagogue

Jewish Family & Children’s Service

Jewish Free Loan

Minkoff Center for Jewish Genetics

National Council of Jewish Women Arizona

Pardes Jewish Day School

Temple Chai

Temple Emanuel of Tempe

Temple Kol Ami

Valley Beit Midrash

Valley of the Sun JCC

Sedona synagogue honors rabbi’s 20th year as spiritual leader

JOSH BOOTZIN | STAFF WRITER

This year marks Rabbi Alicia Magal’s 20th anniversary with the Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley (JCSVV) synagogue, and the congregation honored its spiritual leader with a community celebration on Sunday, May 3.

“Rabbi Magal is very well respected throughout the community and in our congregation,” said Patricia Eyres, executive vice president of the JCSVV board of directors. “She has the right mix of professionalism, judgment, integrity and empathy.”

The event began with a cocktail reception, followed by dinner and a program with various in-person and video presentations.

“This is a celebration,” Eyres said. “We called it the platinum 20th anniversary celebration of Rabbi Magal being our spiritual leader here in Sedona, Arizona.”

In addition to live speeches and presentations, many of those whose lives Rabbi Magal touched — family, friends,

mentors, students, colleagues, congregants, etc. — contributed to a tribute book that was available to all attendees at the event.

JCSVV opened in 2004, and Magal joined in 2006, leading the congregation through two decades of prosperity.

“We’re very proud of our rabbi and all her accomplishments, helping us build this beautiful congregation that is so loved and respected by our congregants,” Eyres said.

Before moving to Sedona, Magal gained extensive experience in the Jewish communities of Los Angeles and Chicago, even spending seven years in Israel.

She graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in New York with majors in French and art history, and she obtained a master’s degree in teaching from Wesleyan University in Connecticut.

During her time in Israel, Magal worked at the Israel Broadcasting Authority’s national television station, and she served as a tour guide for adult and youth groups.

She met her husband, Itzhak, on Kibbutz Ma’agan Michael, and gave birth to her two children while living in Jerusalem.

The young Jewish family then moved to the Los Angeles area, where Itzhak worked in Hollywood and Magal took jobs at Skirball Cultural Center, Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills and Kehillat Israel in the Pacific Palisades.

“After we came back from Israel, I was kind of like a representative of Israel, working in the Jewish community at various jobs,” Magal said.

In addition to planning and running programs and mentoring Jewish youth, Magal served as director of the Jewish Federation Los Angeles’ Commission on Jewish Arts.

“I was doing everything,” she said. “One thing led to another, and I started

having dreams and visions about not just preparing people for conversion, preparing b’nai mitzvah students as a mentor and organizing the holiday celebrations, but being the one who offered the blessing.”

Magal went back to school in her 40s and received her rabbinical ordination in 2003 from the ALEPH Jewish Renewal Rabbinical Program and the Academy for Jewish Religion in Los Angeles.

She then interned at synagogues of various denominations before making her way to Sedona.

Magal’s mother was a Holocaust survivor, which played a part in inspiring her to become a spiritual leader. She thought a lot about the miracle it took for her to be alive, so she felt a responsibility to spread kindness and uphold her personal mantra: “Bringing joyful, juicy Judaism to the next generation.”

“I took something that started off perhaps as a burden of generational history, and I wanted to transform that into something joyous and beautiful,” Magal said.

Magal explained that she feels honored to be present at people’s significant lifecycle moments, relishing the deepening connection she feels with each community member at those important moments.

“I have found my purpose, and I think that I’m living up to what I hoped I could achieve,” she said.

The JCSVV congregation, according to Magal, has a unique mixture of people from different places, backgrounds and denominations. Her eclectic background serves as an important asset in connecting with the diverse community and bringing them together through music, rituals and holiday celebrations.

JUBILEE

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“Everything that could have been a disadvantage for me somewhere else was an advantage here,” she said. “We’re not reform or conservative, we’re Jewish, and we created a mishpocha.”

Due to Magal’s involvement with the Northern Arizona Interfaith Council, clergy from other houses of worship in Sedona and Verde Valley attended her 20th anniversary event.

“We have a very strong interfaith clergy group which meets every month,” Magal said. “I feel very proud of that. I feel like I’m a community member and an ambassador for our Jewish community in the wider community.”

“We honored Rabbi Magal for her leadership, dedication and accomplishments,” Eyres said. “She’s been a terrific educator and counselor, and her services are very inspiring.”

On the 10th anniversary of JCSVV’s grand opening, in 2014, the congregation put together a book called, “Our Dreams Take Root.”

Ten years later, JCSVV celebrated its 20th anniversary, honoring the founders who gathered enough support to erect the building. The congregation created another book, “Our Dreams Have Blossomed,” celebrating the beauty of its sanctuary and featuring much of its sacred art.

Both books are currently on sale and were also available at the celebration. JN

For more information, visit JCSVV.org.

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“I’m very happy here. It’s a very kind community, people really care about each other and there’s a tremendous level of volunteer engagement,” Folberg said. “I feel very fortunate.”

To ensure a golden jubilee year that both honors the temple’s roots and celebrates where it is today, five committees were formed with more than 40 total volunteers contributing their time and expertise.

The Storytelling and Legacy Teams have been collecting photos, memorabilia and personal stories that have shaped the community, using those to create the legacy book.

“It’s really important for us as a

congregation to understand where we’ve come from to know where we could possibly go,” Bedak said.

The Experience Team has been leading the planning and organization that goes into hosting celebration events throughout the year, while the Momentum and Compass Teams guide long-term planning beyond the jubilee year.

“We are the Reform Jewish hub of the East Valley, and it’s really important for us to make sure that we keep our place in the Jewish community,” Bedak said. “It’s been a really great adventure celebrating our past and thinking about what our future looks like.” JN

For more information, visit emanueloftempe. org/50th-jubilee.

SeniorLIFESTYLE

Local author’s dream becomes film reality with “Ashes to Iron”

MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR

After author Judy (pen name J.E.)

Laufer’s first young adult novel, “Choices: The True Story of One Family’s Daring Escape to Freedom” came out, she dreamt of the story being on the big screen. Now, nine years after its publication, her dream is coming true.

The book is based on the true story of her mother’s survival after the Holocaust, when her entire family escaped Hungary during the revolution and ended up in Austria, where a 16-year-old Catholic girl, whom they met on the street, offered them shelter in her home.

“I had it on the back burner since the book came out because people, after they read the book, kept telling me that I should make it into a movie. And I would say, ‘Really? Well, that’s great. I have no idea how to do a movie, and I’m not sure it’s something that I want to take on at this point,’” she said.

She initially had interest from Warner Bros. in making the film, but with no clear timeline and having to sign over the rights to the content, she decided to go

the independent route.

And since that decision, the pieces of the film project “Ashes to Iron” started falling into place. In a twist that seems almost cinematic itself, many of the film’s key collaborators came together through chance encounters.

Two years ago, on a cruise, Laufer and her husband, Nathan, met the in-laws of the producer, Christian Hall.

“They read the book, loved it, and they said, ‘Our son-in-law in L.A. loves producing movies that are historical in content that have historical value,” she said. Laufer gave them her card and asked them if their son-in-law was interested, to give her a call — and he did.

Then Laufer was having coffee with a friend, who had just returned from Israel, and was asking about the movie project.

Laufer told her that they had interviewed several directors but had not found the right one yet.

“And she says to me, ‘That’s so weird, I met someone (a director) on the plane. I have no idea if he’s good or not. But

here’s his name and maybe you should go on Instagram and see if you can send him a message,’ and I thought, ‘Well, what could I lose, right?’ I contacted him, and

he actually called me,” she said. So, Danny A. Abeckaser, an Israeli-born American director, writer, producer and

JFCS announces summer senior classes expanding back to Central Phoenix area

JOSH BOOTZIN | STAFF WRITER

For the first time in three years, Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Arizona (JFCS) is offering senior enrichment classes in Central Phoenix, with even more to come in the fall.

“We’re really trying to expand back into the Central Phoenix community to give those seniors opportunities to get involved, so they don’t have to drive to Scottsdale,” said Jennifer Brauner, director of the Center for Senior Enrichment (CSE). “We’re trying to let those that are in Central Phoenix know that we see them and we hear them, and we want to give them the same opportunities.”

In the next few months, CSE is hosting two classes at Beth El Congregation in Phoenix: A book club led by retired Arizona State University English professor Duane Roen and beginner’s tai chi with tai chi master Ping Wei.

Additionally, CSE classes are continuing to be offered in the Scottsdale area this summer, including a beginning line dancing class and a reader’s theater series.

“All of these classes are extremely beneficial to seniors because, for a lot of them, this is their only outlet for socialization,” Brauner

said. “The classes give seniors an opportunity to utilize skillsets that they may have had at one time before retirement, and for those that never had the opportunity to get involved because they were so busy with life, now they have that opportunity to gain those skills.”

Wisdom & Words Book Club with Duane Roen

Led by Duane Roen, a retired English professor at Arizona State University, this book club meets monthly to discuss books that explore what it means to be human.

Meetings take place at Beth El Congregation in Phoenix from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. on May 12, June 9 and July 14.

The topic at the first meeting is Sophocles’ play “Antigone,” a Greek tragedy known to engage both the head and the heart. Participants will also have the chance to discuss readings for future meeting discussions at the May gathering.

Registration for this book club is $15 per person. Participants are expected to purchase the book separately, which can be found at many area book stores.

Beginner’s Tai Chi with Ping Wei

With over 40 years of experience as a tai chi master, Ping Wei teaches beginner students the basic skills of tai chi that have been known to improve balance and increase structural body strength.

Wei has been teaching at Paradise Valley Community College since 2005, equipping students with a plethora of calculated movements to manage their own equilibrium.

Classes take place from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. every Thursday from June 11 to July 16 at Beth El Congregation in Phoenix. Registration is $90.

Beginner Line Dancing with Laina Lee

Open to all seniors aged 60 and above, Laina Lee’s line dancing class for beginners covers many of the most popular country and contemporary line dances, including Cowboi Boogie, Stayin’ Alive, 3 Tequila Floor, Three Little Birds, Could I Have This Dance, Beach Cowboy and more.

Creator of Dance Lane in 2010, Lee has over 30 years of experience teaching line and partner dance while continuing a career as a competitive dancer and performer. She teaches at local assisted living homes and senior centers, as well as various nightclubs and restaurants.

Classes take place at Dance Fusion (7601 East Gray Road Suite B-C, Scottsdale, 85260) from 1- 2 p.m. every Wednesday beginning May 6 and concluding June 10. Registration is $90.

Stage & Story: A Readers’ Theatre Series with Breona Conrad

Open to adults of all ages, this workshop series uses a single play to explore acting techniques and text analysis, culminating in live performances in the style of readers’ theater.

Participants will perform scenes from a play in chronological order, providing the audience with a series of scene studies. No memorization is required, and participants only need to be able to perform minimal movements.

This series takes place at Congregation Beth Israel in Scottsdale from 12-2 p.m. on Mondays starting June 8. The performance takes place on July 20.

With her own private studio for voice and acting lessons, Conrad has accumulated onstage credits with many production companies across Arizona, including Phoenix Theatre Company, Don Bluth Front Row Theatre, Stray Cat Theatre, BLK BOX PHX, Southwest Shakespeare Company, Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival, The Bridge Initiative and Ronin Theatre Collaborative.

Registration for this readers’ theater costs $140 per person.

According to Brauner, these classes “allow seniors to have a space for body movement and staying active over the hot summer months. We’re still going to have these classes even though it’s hot outside, and we’re going to find the time to have mindbody stimulation and social stimulation.”

Brauner is hoping to expand classes throughout the Greater Phoenix area in the coming years.

“Spread the word with your friends and family,” she said. “Let them know that this is open to all faiths and denominations. You don’t need to be Jewish to attend these programs.”

In addition to in-person classes, CSE offers online classes five days a week, with new classes being added throughout the year. JN

Visit jfcsclasses.org to view a calendar of upcoming classes and instructions on how to register. Contact Jennifer Brauner with questions at seniorcenter@ jfcsaz.org or 480-670-8073.

actor, joined the team.

She said finding talent was another challenge that worked itself out. With Abeckaser being well connected in the industry, he reached out to a casting agent in New York and told them he was involved in a new project.

Katie Cassidy, who is the daughter of the late actor and musician David Cassidy of “The Partridge Family” series, plays the lead role of Kati Egett, Laufer’s mother. When they first cast Cassidy, they arranged for Laufer’s mother — who will be 99 this month — to do a Zoom call with her.

“Katie Cassidy was saying, ‘I’m so honored and I feel like it’s such a privilege to be able to play you, you’re so amazing,’ and I think for my mother it was a bit surreal, as she’s playing her at 30,” said Laufer.

At the end of April, Cassidy flew to Montreal, Canada, to meet Egett in person and have lunch with her.

Another serendipitous casting happened with the actress Sharon Azrieli, who is from Montreal and whose family runs the Azrieli Foundation that established the Holocaust Survivor Memoirs Program that collects, preserves and shares the memoirs and diaries written by survivors of the Holocaust who came to Canada.

A friend of Hall’s sent Azrieli the screenplay, and she called two days later and said she loved it and that she cried reading it. She was cast as the grandmother Rosa, a part Laufer said she is perfect for.

Laufer joked that she and Nathan will also have a small part, but she is not sure what. Filming begins on May 3 for three weeks in Budapest, Hungary, followed by several months of post-production by the largest television production house in Israel. If all goes as planned, the film could be completed by the fall and submitted to film festivals before seeking distribution. The film is being financed largely through private investment and community support through a fund established with the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix because of the educational component of the film.

“They’re going to be our fiduciary partner, so we’ve established a fund, the Little Egg Charitable Fund,” she said. “This is something investors can donate to and get a tax deduction that they can take off their taxes.”

Laufer stressed the importance of Holocaust education after she recently did a presentation at a high school in Gila Bend on International Holocaust Remembrance Day.

After she told the 11th and 12th graders the significance of the day, she asked how many had heard the word Holocaust before. “Three out of 70 kids put their hands up,” she said. “I went on to talk about my own personal story and how my mother was a survivor of Auschwitz, and had anybody ever heard of Auschwitz, and one child raised their hand.”

She said that when people complain that these kids don’t know anything, it’s that we are not teaching them.

“So, that’s the hope of this film, that it’s providing education in an entertaining way,” said Laufer. She hopes that schools will be able to bring their students to watch it.

While the film remains faithful to the book, Laufer said she and her team have added new elements to heighten its dramatic impact. A new character introduces a suspenseful dimension, representing the lingering tensions and dangers faced by the family attempting to flee Hungary.

She is excited to begin filming and had no idea about the number of people who work on a film.

“When you go see a film, you spend two hours and it’s entertaining, it’s enjoyable, and then you go home not realizing it probably took two years for this film to happen,” she said.

She’s so thankful that her mother is still around and able to enjoy the process. “Maybe, that’s the year that the film gets released — during her 100th birthday.” JN

For more information on donating to the project, visit phoenixcjp.givingfuel.com/ashestoiron.

Jewish News is published by the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix, a component of the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix.

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Maravilla Scottsdale is Expanding!

Maravilla Scottsdale, a retirement resort community nestled between the Champions Golf Course at TPC Scottsdale and the world-renowned Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, is expanding to offer even more high-end services and amenities.

SRG Senior Living has announced the final phase of Maravilla Scottsdale, this phase includes 47 brand new casitas and 115 new lodge homes, all currently available for move-in. Each residence has been thoughtfully designed to provide elegance and comfort within a dynamic and engaging community. Maravilla Scottsdale presents the only opportunity in Scottsdale for brand new residences within an exclusive senior living experience.

Maravilla Scottsdale is more than just a place to live — it’s a lifestyle. The community features an impressive array of amenities that make every day feel like a getaway. Residents enjoy the grand clubhouse, a central hub of activity and relaxation, complete with an indoor pool and resort-style locker rooms. Maravilla Scottsdale offers exceptional dining at the elegant Ironwood Grill and the casual Café del Sol. A new restaurant called Fore with expansive views of the TPC golf course will debut Summer 2026. The expansion also includes a brand-new outdoor pool, juice bar, and golf simulator. Residents of Maravilla Scottsdale indulge in pampering at the Sage & Citrus Spa or stay active with a variety of fitness classes and putting greens.

In addition to its remarkable offerings, Maravilla Scottsdale fosters a warm and engaging atmosphere where neighbors become friends through thoughtfully curated social events, lifelong learning opportunities, and cultural experiences tailored to residents’ interests. Whether discovering new passions in creative arts studios, participating in volunteer initiatives, or simply enjoying tranquil walks amid beautifully landscaped grounds, residents find countless ways to enrich their days and embrace a vibrant, fulfilling lifestyle at the heart of this extraordinary community.

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Mother and daughter artists converge in ‘Tender Alchemy’ at SMoCA

MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR

Anew exhibition, “Tender Alchemy: Beth Ames Swartz and Julianne Swartz,” at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art (SMoCA) runs through Aug. 23 and marks the first time the mother-daughter pair of artists have displayed their work together.

Curated by Lauren R. O’Connell, the curator of contemporary art at SMoCA, the exhibition includes Beth’s fire works, created by burning and altering large paper surfaces, and paintings that reflect her more than 60 years of spiritual inquiry and personal evolution. A resident of Paradise Valley, Beth recently turned 90 and moved to Arizona from New York City in 1959.

Alongside her mother’s works, “Tender Alchemy” includes Julianne’s new and recent sculptures made from clay, copper and glass, forming finely tuned, multisensory instruments. Julianne lives in the Hudson Valley in New York.

“It’s definitely a highlight of my life,” said Beth. What began as Julianne’s idea

several years ago gradually took shape under O’Connell’s direction. “It’s kind of miraculous … it just sort of evolved.”

For Julianne, the process has been equally remarkable. “I always thought my work was so different from my mom’s, and it is, but I’m also seeing how much I got from her practice and process … this commitment to material transformation,” she said.

“I think probably our whole lives, both of us have been seeking, experiencing and understanding a connection to something other than this material plane,” she continued. “I think we explore that in our work in different ways. Mom has explored that by investigating different spiritual systems and disciplines, where I have done it through exploring physics and unseen forces, like magnetism, vibration and light.”

Beth said this show was challenging because she has always shown her work together in a series of 20 or more paintings, and she and O’Connell had to

select one piece from different series and pull it all together conceptually.

“I think it will be revelatory for people who might have known the work

of us, but have seen it at one time,” she said.

SENIOR

“Lauren has been amazing at finding these different connections between the work, and SMoCA made a beautiful book of the exhibition,” said Julianne. She said her favorite part of the book is where detailed photographs of her art are paired with shots of her mother’s pieces.

“Lauren has known my work since 2014, when I did a solo show at SMoCA, and has also known mom’s work for probably that many years,” she said. “‘Tender Alchemy’ not only refers to how we use process, materiality and transformation in our work, but it also refers to our relationship.”

That relationship, by both accounts, has deepened over time. While Julianne recalls a complex childhood, she now sees her mother as both an artistic and spiritual influence. “I’ve watched her evolve as a human in such a profound way,” she said. “I feel like we’ve been remarkable life teachers for one another in this lifetime.”

Although she does not attend a synagogue in New York, Julianne said she has a strong Jewish cultural identity and that her spiritual practice is more associated with meditation and prayer instead of group worship.

Beth said her spirituality is strongly influenced by the book, “The Thirteen Petalled Rose: A Discourse on the Essence of Jewish Existence and Belief” by Rabbi

Adin Steinsaltz and the idea of the 10 spheres of energy in the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. This also inspired her series “Israel Revisited” in the 1980s, a project where she visited 10 sacred sites in Israel and created artwork inspired by 10 women who “were brave and accomplished miraculous things.”

She also believes in “mitzvah doing” and tikkun olam. “That’s important for everyone — it translates as humans healing the world,” she said.

These Jewish concepts led Beth to create the “Breakfast Club” 25 years ago, a monthly meeting of Arizona artists with 190 members.

“I do feel that what we do in the world is as important, if not more important, than what we make,” she said. “I feel like my art kept me going, kept me alive, interested and excited, taught me so many things and helped me to grow as a human. But doing Breakfast Club every month, year after year, and mentoring younger artists has been one of the great joys of my life.”

Beth had one more thing to add: “I’m deeply grateful to Julianne. I feel very lucky that she’s my daughter and I adore her.” JN

For more information, visit scottsdalearts.org/ explore-scottsdale-arts/smoca.

Local teen baseball players look forward to the future

MICHAEL MURRA | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Saguaro High School senior shortstop Zander Bratspis has fond memories of his bar mitzvah six years ago.

“My parents were super proud of me, and I was super proud of myself to accomplish that,” Bratspis said. “Only a certain number of people were allowed because it took place during COVID-19. A lot of people watched on Zoom.”

Bratspis, an 18-year-old Scottsdale resident who has signed with Kansas State University of the Big 12 Conference, understands the importance of representing his Jewish identity on the baseball diamond.

As does Benjamin Ball, an 18-yearold senior outfielder at Hamilton High School in Chandler, who starts each day by wrapping tefillin with his father. He proudly wears his Star of David necklace and says the Shema before each game.

He also has a Star of David on one of his baseball gloves and a cleat. He has the Israeli flag on another glove and “Am Yisrael Chai” on the other cleat.

According to Sports Illustrated, Ball is the fifth-rated Arizona high school senior baseball player and Bratspis is rated eighth.

“Just about everyone in my area knows I’m a Jew, I’m a very proud one, and I’m not afraid to show it,” Ball said. “There’s something special about being Jewish and being a ballplayer because so many kids look up to you, especially Jewish kids.”

“I’ve known Ben since I was 13 years old, and we’ve done a bunch of baseball showcases together,” Bratspis said. “We both made the Southwest Regional Team for USA Tournament in Cary, North Carolina, and we played travel ball together.”

“We have a friendship rooted in history,” Ball said of Bratspis. “He’s a great kid, great player and very proud Jew. Normally, I’m the only Jewish kid on the team, but this summer, I played with four Jewish kids, all of whom are heading to play for Division I college baseball programs.”

Ball verbally committed to the University of Arizona (UofA) in Tucson just before his freshman year of high school and signed with the Wildcats Baseball Program earlier this year.

A UofA fan since birth, Ball’s parents were both Wildcats, with his father playing rugby there. The family regularly traveled to Tucson for Wildcat games of every stripe.

The Wildcats have a strong baseball program, having reached the College World Series last season, with then-senior relief pitcher Eric Orloff, a Jewish player, on the roster.

Ball’s decision to commit to UofA also had to do with the strong Jewish community and the opportunity to get involved with Chabad on campus. Growing up in Chandler, he was one of only a handful of Jews in his school. He became a bar mitzvah in 2020, but due to social distancing rules at the time, it was a low-key event inside his home.

“Being in a very Jewish environment was something big for me,” Ball said. “Arizona has a world-class coach in Chip Hale, and his wife is Jewish. I look forward to going to Chabad, learning more about Judaism and getting involved. My parents, sister and grandparents can watch my games, and still being able to come back and go to High Holy Days is another big thing for me.”

KSU began recruiting Bratspis after their coaches were impressed with his performance at a baseball showcase in Georgia. He then visited the campus, and “fell in love with it.”

Both teens will return to the Valley when the Wildcats (the name of both KSU and UofA teams) compete in the Big 12 Conference Tournament. Starting this year, the tournament will be held at a spring training stadium in Surprise.

Ball shared that although there wasn’t a single factor why he decided to lean more into his Jewish faith and identity, the largest factor was the horrific attacks of Oct. 7, 2023.

“For most Jews, Oct. 7 was a dramatic change,” he said. “That was hard on me, and that was hard on my family. The pride that I take in my Jewish identity has grown immensely since then. Our families did so much to get to America to be Jewish today. Because of how much

“JUST ABOUT EVERYONE IN MY AREA KNOWS I’M A JEW, I’M A VERY PROUD ONE, AND I’M NOT AFRAID TO SHOW IT."

BENJAMIN BALL

they went through for us to get to where we are, representing my faith and identity is something I have to do.”

He’s also witnessed antisemitism firsthand.

He remembered a family trip to Hawaii, where he wore a Team Israel baseball cap, and a man approached him with comments about “controlling the world.”

“You’re fighting an uphill battle where people are ignorant, and they don’t care,” Ball said. “I take the high road, instead of giving it a big reaction.”

In middle school, there was a dress-asyour-favorite-book-character day, and a classmate asked Ball why he didn’t dress as “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” a character from the Holocaust novel.

“It’s a crazy time right now to be Jewish,” he said. “It kind of feels isolating. I stand up for my faith and identity.”

Ball said he’s fortunate not to have experienced any antisemitism on the field.

Ball described a trip to Israel in his early teens as “the most amazing trip of my life.” He said he’d “1,000%” play for Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic, if given the opportunity.

Bratspis shares that enthusiasm. “It would be an honor if I got a chance to play for Team Israel,” he said. “I kept up with all their games in the World Baseball Classic. It was fun to watch.”

As a sophomore, Bratspis was part of a state championship team at Saguaro, led

by current Atlanta Braves prospect Cam Caminiti.

“It’s been one heck of a ride for sure,” Bratspis said. “I’ve had the privilege to play with a bunch of big-time players. I’m enjoying every moment that I can and hope to win another state championship.”

Ball was called up to the Hamilton varsity team as a freshman and was part of the Huskies’ ninth state championship in 2023. He’s hoping to add another ring this spring, before he heads south to Tucson.

A lifelong Arizona Diamondbacks fan, Ball knows that playing professional baseball could be in his future if things go well in Tucson.

“Baseball is awesome, but no matter if you end up making $100 million or going to college for four years, baseball will end at some point,” he said. He shared that he would like to win a state championship and while on campus in Tucson, he looks forward to developing as a player. “I’ll keep grinding, respecting the game, playing it the right way and whatever happens, happens.”

“I’m confident enough to know that I do have a chance to play professionally,” Bratspis said. “It will take some more development, especially at the college level. KSU will do a great job helping me reach my full potential. If I keep a steady pace and continue my hard work and training, I can make it a reality.” JN

Parshah Behar-Bechukotai: Walking physically, metaphorically and spiritually

Parshah BeharBechukotai begins with the words “Im bechokotai teileikhu,” which translates literally to “If you walk in [with] My laws.” What are the lessons, the spiritual and moral significances, of the act of walking?

The term halakhah, usually translated as “Jewish law,” actually shares a root with teileikhu, the word for walking! Halakhah really means an embodied spiritual practice; halakhah is a call to personal and communal movement. In the choice of the word halakhah, the metaphor of walking is used for a most significant part of Jewish life, identity and wisdom.

There’s a chassidishe vort about the 18th century scholar and thinker Rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev, about whom it is said once saw a man rushing down the street,

OPINION

Commentary

and asked him where he was running to. “I am looking for work!” replied the man. Rabbi Levi Yitzhak replied, “And what if the work you truly need to be doing is running after you?”

This story does not always sit well with those of us who believe in the pressing need to constantly act to repair the world. But it carries an important message, precisely because of that discomfort. Our impulse to jump into response as soon as we see a problem, to try to fix it, when we do not yet fully understand the situation, can sometimes bring us to cause more harm than good, and it can also lead to burnout. In addition to drive, we also need deliberation, modeled by the slow, intentional steps of the sage. The tortoise rather than the hare.

We have, on the one side, walking in the way of God, and on the other, God’s promise to walk with us. On the first side, we have, again, the verse that opens our parshah, “im bechukotai teileikhu” — “if you walk in My laws,” as well as verses like “vehalakhta bidrakhav — “you shall walk in God’s ways.” The Talmud teaches that to

“walk in God’s ways” means that we are to be similar to God — specifically, just as God is compassionate and merciful, so should we be compassionate and merciful.

Walking with purpose is an important concept for activists. Marches, for example, are potent tools for public advocacy and solidarity, and they are also powerful representations of progress. We must hold onto the belief that change and progress are possible and that we as a society can, and are, in the process of walking from where we are to where we should be — a more caring and moral society. Frederick Douglass, the 19th century African American abolitionist, who himself escaped slavery, said that the prayers that were effective for him were when, “I prayed with my legs.” Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel quoted Douglass when he described his experience marching from Selma to Montgomery with Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Heschel said, “I felt my legs were praying.”

The great narratives we tell ourselves in Judaism are about the Exodus, a walk of liberation, a walk toward freedom; exile, a painful but necessary walk away from home

The mainstreaming of antisemitism

TONY ZINMAN | SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

Antisemitism is becoming more and more acceptable and mainstream in the U.S. and needs to be aggressively called out by our Arizona Jewish community. Until fairly recently, conspiracy theories about Jews were confined to the fringes, such as white supremacist in Idaho. I recently was reminded of this when watching a Seinfeld episode from 1992 where the notion of Jews controlling the world was considered so ridiculous that it was a basis for farce.

Unfortunately, antisemitism today in America has gone mainstream and has infected our major political parties. Nick Fuentes, who regularly claims Jews control American politics, media and finance, continues to rise in influence among Conservatives. Tucker Carlson, until recently

a favored Trump White House guest, routinely platforms Holocaust deniers and spreads Jewish conspiracy theories such as Chabad being responsible for the current Iran war.

On the left, Hasan Piker is becoming increasingly popular and influential, and he has said “You shouldn’t even let someone be the f---- local dog catcher … if they’ve ever exhibited any sort of … positive feelings about the state of Israel” (that would be most Jews). Piker also said, “It doesn’t matter if rapes f---- happened on Oct. 7.”

Unfortunately, the mainstreaming of antisemitism is impacting Arizona politics.

Rep. Andy Biggs, currently running for Governor, has long associated with white nationalist and antisemites. Biggs had appeared on “The Stew Peters Show” where he praised the host. Peters has suggested he wants a “final solution” to remove Jewish people from the United States.

Senator Ruben Gallego is also doing his part to mainstream antisemitism in our

We are a diverse community. The views expressed in these

Philanthropy, Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, Cleveland Jewish Publication

a maximum of 200 words. They may be edited for space and clarity. Unsigned

country. He is one of four U.S. Senators to have endorsed Graham Platner in the Maine U.S. Senate election. Platner has had continued issues with antisemitism:

1. Platner, like Biggs, has amplified Stew Peters, when he retweeted a Peters social media post earlier this year (Platner removed the post after he was exposed, but he does seem to be following Peters).

2. Platner had a large Nazi tattoo on his chest (he covered it up after he was exposed).

3. Platner referred to a Hamas raid on Israel as “damn fine looking and successful raid.”

4. Platner appeared for an interview on the Nate Cornacchia podcast in January and said he was a longtime fan of Cornacchia. Cornacchia promotes antisemitic conspiracy theories that Israel was involved in the assassinations of Charlie Kirk and John F. Kennedy. Cornacchia appeared two days earlier on the podcast of a Holocaust denier named Jake Shields.

So, Platner, it is just not one accidental incident, but a series of involvements with

toward a new reality; and ultimately, the expectation of redemption, the continual promise and requirement to walk toward Mashiach, the messianic era, toward salvation. Our spiritual sense of history is neither static nor cyclical. Rather, it is one of deliberate movement toward.

And on the other side, we can focus on walking for its own sake. Our great narrative of the Exodus and liberation quickly turns into a narrative of wandering. We wandered for 40 years in a wilderness we could have crossed in a matter of days had we taken the direct route. Many sources in our tradition speak of that time of wandering as a spiritual height for our people.

When we are in a state of motion that is fueled with meaning and charged with purpose, we are embodying a spiritually elevated state of being. JN

antisemitism. It can’t be ignored by our community.

Unfortunately, the response of Gallego to Platner’s antisemitic involvements has been … crickets. His office did not respond to my query, and he ignored a letter of concern from a statewide Jewish Democratic organization.

Gallego is helping raise a Jewish child, so he should be extra sensitive to Platner’s antisemitism issues and the mainstreaming of antisemitism. On the other hand, he reportedly has presidential ambitions, so he may not want to upset the antisemitic element of the far left by calling out Platner. So as a community, we can take action against the mainstreaming of antisemitism. We can vote against Biggs for Governor, and we can contact Gallego and let him know of our concerns regarding his support of Platner. We must take action because silence equals consent. JN

Tony Zinman is the co-chair of Tucson Jews for Justice and a state committee person for the Arizona Democratic Party.

Featured Event

SHAVUOT AT CHABAD OF SCOTTSDALE

THURSDAY-SATURDAY, May 21-23

Times vary. Chabad of Scottsdale, 10215 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Join Chabad for lectures, talks, dinners, a teen talk, dairy celebration and Yizkor Kiddush. For more information, visit chabadofscottsdale.org/shavuot.

Events

FRIDAY, MAY 8

Families with Littles Shabbat: 5-6 p.m. Congregation Or Tzion, 16415 N. 90th St., Scottsdale. Join Or Tzion Rabbi Andy Green and Cantor Dannah Rubinstein for a service of prayers, songs and ruach with a pizza and sundae bar. Geared toward children under age 6 and their families. For more information, visit otaz.org/littles.

TUESDAY, MAY 12

MBA in a Day: Deal or No Deal: 4:30-6 p.m.

Location provided upon registration. Join the Center for Jewish Philanthropy’s Business & Professionals and Professional Advisory Network groups for a presentation by Steven Stralser on his book, “MBA in a Day; What You Would Learn at Top-Tier Business Schools (If You Only had the Time!).” Cost: $36 per person. For more information, visit phoenixcjp. regfox.com/mba-in-a-day-51226-devd-6.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 13

Chesed Night at the Arizona Kosher Food Pantry: 6 p.m. Arizona Kosher Food Pantry, 7118 N. Seventh St., Phoenix. Enjoy burgers, hot dogs and chicken sandwiches at Arizona Kosher Food Pantry’s Chesed Night. All proceeds go to Tomchei Shabbat and other pantry programs. For more information, visit azkosherpantry.org.

Jewish Pride & What it Means to Represent Israel: 6:30 p.m. Congregation Beth Tefillah, 6529 E. Shea Blvd., Scottsdale. Join CBT for an evening with Beatie Deutsch as she shares her personal journey representing Israel on the world stage, and what it means to stand with strength, identity and pride as a Jewish person today. For more information, visit bethtefillahaz.org.

THURSDAY, MAY 14

Primacies: Experience, Expression and the Jewish Imagination: 1-2 p.m. Online via Zoom. Join Valley Beit Midrash for a virtual book talk with Michael Fishbane exploring ancient, medieval and modern literature and poetry. For more information, visit valleybeitmidrash.org.

JFCS Salon Event: 5:30-7 p.m. Location provided upon registration. Join Jewish Family & Children’s Service for an intimate gathering that sparks conversation and connection. For more information, contact JFCS Director of Philanthropic Services Carrol Gottfried at Carrol.Gottfried@jfcsaz.org or 602-451-7265.

Women’s Leadership Institute Celebration of Achievement: 6:30-8 p.m. Location provided upon registration. Join the Women’s Leadership Institute to celebrate the graduates of cohort 10 and a decade of Women’s Leadership Institute cohorts. For more information, visit womenlearning.org.

SATURDAY, MAY 16

“From Bach to Gypsy & Beyond”: 7 p.m. Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley Synagogue, 100 Meadowlark Drive, Sedona. Join the Red Rocks Music Festival for

selections by Bach, Brahms’ piano quartet no.1, Sarasate and Romanian melodies. Cost: $36 per person, free for ages 12 and under. For more information, visit redrocksmusicfestival.com.

SUNDAY, MAY 17

Israeli Film Series: All day. Online. Subscribe to the East Valley Jewish Community Center’s Israeli Film Series and watch a Jewish-themed film from the comfort of your own home. Sunday’s film is “Pink Lady.” Cost: Free. For more information, visit evjcc.org/film.

JWV Post 619 Speaker: 9:30 a.m. Oakwood Country Club Ballroom, 24218 S. Oakwood Blvd., Sun Lakes. Join Jewish War Veterans Copper State Post 619 for a presentation by Stephen Bradford, founder of Instruments 4 Success that helps veterans heal through music. For more information, contact Arthur Uram at 702-884-4175 or uramarthur@gmail.com.

Tallit Making Workshop: 12:30-2:30 p.m. Beth El Phoenix, 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix. Join Beth El Women’s League for a tallit-making workshop led by Emily Bogusch. Bring any shawl or pashmina to customize. Fringes and grommets will be provided. All are welcome. Cost: $18 per person, registration required. For more information, visit bethelphoenix.com/ event/tallit.

Board Game Sunday: 12:30-2:30 p.m. Beth El Phoenix, 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix. Join Beth El and bring your friends to play games. For more information, visit bethelphoenix.com/ event/games.

Café Europa: 1 p.m. Beth El Phoenix, 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix. Join the Phoenix Holocaust Association for an afternoon of socializing for Holocaust survivors, their families and friends. For more information, visit phxha.com/ events-2.

MONDAY-TUESDAY, MAY 18-19

Spring Musical: 6-8 p.m. Pardes Jewish Day School, 12707 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Join Pardes students for their spring musical. For more information, visit pardesschool.org.

FRIDAY, MAY 22

Shavuos Ice Cream & Dairy Party: 12:45 p.m. Chabad of the East Valley, 875 N. McClintock Drive, Chandler. Join Chabad for a dairy (nondairy and gluten-free options served) buffet, Ten Commandments, Torah reading and children’s activities. Cost: Free. For more information, visit chabadcenter.com/icecream.

Shavuot Rock Ice Cream Party: 5-6 p.m. Location provided upon registration. Join Chabad of Moon Valley to hear the Ten Commandments and enjoy a dairy buffet. For more information, visit jewishmoonvalley.com/events/ shavuot86.

Celebrate Shavuot: 5:30 p.m. Chabad of Ahwatukee, 3961 E. Chandler Blvd. Suite 111199, Phoenix. Join Chabad to hear the Ten Commandments, just as they were given at Mount Sinai, followed by a delicious dairy

dessert bar and ice cream for the kids. For more information, visit chabadahwatukee.com/ dairy.

Shavuot Dairy Dinner and Ice Cream Party: 6:15 p.m. Chabad Jewish Center, 41722 N. Gavilan Peak Parkway, Anthem. Join Chabad of Anthem for a reading of the Ten Commandments, dairy buffet and ice cream party featuring cheesecakes, pastas and more. Cost: Free. For more information, visit jewishanthem.com.

Meetings, Lectures & Classes

SUNDAYS

Chassidus Class: 9 a.m. Online. Learn about the Chasidic movement with Rabbi Yossi Friedman. Use this link: ChabadAZ.com/LiveClass. Cost: Free. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

Jewish War Veterans Post 210: 10 a.m. the first Sunday of the month in Central Phoenix. Any veterans, friends of veterans or if you just want to meet a vet, all are welcome. For more information, contact Michael at c365michael@ yahoo.com.

Anxiety in the Modern World: 6 p.m. Online. Learn the secrets of the Torah for living stressfree in the current environment with Rabbi Boruch of Chabad of Oro Valley. Cost: Free. Use this link: zoom.us/j/736434666. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

MONDAYS

Pomegranate Guild of Judaic Needlework, Desert Cactus Chapter: 10 a.m. The Oasis at Sagewood, 4555 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. The guild meets the third Monday of the month, adjusted when necessary to accommodate Jewish holidays. For more information, visit pomegranateguild.org.

Mahjong: 1:30-3:30 p.m. East Valley Jewish Community Center, 908 N. Alma School Road, Chandler. Come play mahjong each week. For all levels. Cost: Free; registration required at evjcc.org/mahjong.

Torah & Tea: 7:30 p.m. Online. Learn with Rabbi Yossie Shemtov. Cost: Free. For more information, visit Facebook.com/ChabadTucson.

Single Parent Zoom: 8 p.m. First and third Monday of every month. Join The Bureau of Jewish Education’s Family University single parents’ group for those looking to form friendships and build their support system with like-minded people. For more information or to register, visit bjephoenix.org/family-university.

TUESDAYS

Let’s Knit: 1:30 p.m. Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Share the pleasure of knitting, crocheting, etc. outside the social hall in the campus. Can’t knit? They will teach you! Every level welcome. Cost: Free. For more information, visit vosjcc.org.

Grief Support Group: 4 p.m. Beth Emeth Congregation of the West Valley, 13702 W. Meeker Blvd., Sun City West. All are welcome to this support group for anyone experiencing grief or any kind of loss. Cost: Free. For more information, call 623-584-7210 weekdays 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Torah Studies: 7:30 p.m. Online. Learn with Rabbi Mendy Levertov. Use this link: ourjewishcenter.com/virtual. Cost: Free. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

WEDNESDAYS

My Baby and Me: 9-10 a.m. Temple Chai Early Childhood Center, 4645 E. Marilyn Road, Phoenix. Join Temple Chai ECC for a weekly gathering for families with babies up to 12 months. Cost: Free. For more information, visit tcaz. shulcloud.com/event/my-baby-and-me-playgroup.html.

Torah Study with Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley: 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Online. Weekly study group explores that week’s portion and studies different perspectives and debates the merits of various arguments. Intended for adults, Torah study is open to students of all levels. For more information, contact the TBS office at 623-977-3240.

Happiness Hour: 11:30 a.m. Online. Class taught by Rabbi Pinchas Allouche that delves into texts and references culled from our traditions to address a relevant topic. For more information, visit BethTefillahAZ.org.

Lunch & Learn: 12 p.m. Online. Grab some food and learn with Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin. Use this link: Facebook.com/ChabadTucson. Cost: Free. For more information, visit chabadtucson.com.

Grief Support Group: 5-6 p.m. Online via Zoom. Therapist Susan Charney MSW, LCSW, leads a grief support group every first and third Wednesday of the month virtually for individuals experiencing the loss of an adult child or sibling. In lieu of any fees for these sessions, donations to Temple Solel are appreciated. For more information, contact susancharneycounseling@gmail.com.

History of the Jews: 7 p.m. Online. Learn the Jewish journey from Genesis to Moshiach with Rabbi Ephraim Zimmerman. Use this link: zoom.us/j/736434666. Cost: Free. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

JACS: 7:30-8:30 p.m. Online. Zoom support group for Jewish alcoholics, addicts and their friends and family on the first and third Wednesdays of the month. Cost: Free. For more information, email jacsarizona@gmail. com or call 602-692-1004.

THURSDAYS

Ladies Torah & Tea: 10:30 a.m. Online. Learn about the women of the Torah with Mrs. Leah Levertov. Use this link: ourjewishcenter.com/ virtual. Cost: Free. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

Torah Study with Hazzan Lev Ettelson: 11 a.m.

Beth Emeth Congregation of the West Valley, 13702 W. Meeker Blvd., Sun City West. Join Hazzan Ettelson for a discussion of the weekly Torah portion. For more information, call 623584-7210 weekdays 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Mindfulness Gatherings: 12 p.m. Online. Hosted by Hospice of the Valley via Zoom. Cost: Free. To join by phone, dial 1-253-2158782, meeting ID 486 920 2119#, to get the Zoom link or for further questions contact Gill Hamilton at ghamilton@hov.org or 602-748-3692.

Weekly Mahjong: 1-3 p.m. Temple Solel, 6805 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley. Join Temple Solel each Thursday afternoon for mahjong. Lessons available for beginners. Cost: Free. RSVP via email to dottiebefore@gmail. com so they know how many tables to set up.

Torah Portion Class: 7 p.m. Online or in person. Chabad Lubavitch of Fountain Hills, 16830 E. Avenue of the Fountains, Fountain Hills. Join Rabbi Mendy Lipskier for a discussion of the weekly parshah and gain new insights to the Torah. For more information, visit jewishfountainhills.com.

Teen Discussions: 7-8:30 p.m. Online. Learn with Rabbi Tzvi Rimler. Use this link: cteen. clickmeeting.com/east-valley. Cost: Free. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

SATURDAYS

Saturday Mindfulness Gatherings: 9:30 a.m.

Online. Hosted by Hospice of the Valley. To join by phone, dial 1-253-215-8782, meeting ID 486 920 2119#. To get the Zoom link or for more information, contact Gill Hamilton at ghamilton@hov.org or 602-748-3692.

Donald Schon

Book Discussion: 1:30-2:30 p.m. Online. Join Or Adam Congregation for Humanistic Judaism on the third Saturday of every month for a book discussion. For more information and to register, contact oradaminfo@gmail.com.

Shabbat

FRIDAYS

Tot Shabbat: 9:30 a.m. Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Join the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix monthly for music, parachute play, crafts and a family Shabbat experience. For more information, visit bjephoenix.org.

Welcome Shabbat: 11-11:30 a.m. Online. Celebrate Shabbat with the JFCS Virtual Center for Senior Enrichment. Each week a different guest host will lead the program with song and celebration. Cost: Free. For more information, visit jfcsaz.org/cse.

Shabbat at Beth El: 5:45 p.m. on Zoom; 9:30 a.m. at Beth El Phoenix, 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix or livestreaming at tinyurl.com/beclivestream. Celebrate Shabbat with songs, blessings and teachings with Rabbi Stein-Kokin and Cantor Sarah Bollt. For more information or to join, visit bethelphoenix.com.

Erev Shabbat Service: 5:30 p.m. Online. Rabbi Alicia Magal will lead a service livestreamed for members of the Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley. Cost: Free. For more information and to obtain the Zoom link, visit jcsvv.org/contact.

Shabbat Service: 5:30-6:30 p.m.; Oneg at 5 p.m. Temple B’rith Shalom, 2077 Brohner Way, Prescott. Join Temple B’rith Shalom for a

Dr. Donald Schon, known lovingly as Don, passed away on May 2, 2026, in Phoenix, at the age of 78.

Don was born on September 25, 1947, in Detroit, Michigan. He built a life defined by intelligence, discipline, curiosity, service and deep devotion to his family. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and went on to receive his medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine. He completed his internship and residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a fellowship in nephrology at Yale.

Don dedicated his career to improving the lives of patients with kidney disease. He served on the faculty at Good Samaritan Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, and he taught students and colleagues through Arizona State University School of Nursing and the University of Arizona. In 1981, he co-founded AZ Kidney Disease and Hypertension Center, where he cared for generations of patients with skill, judgment and compassion.

Throughout his career, Don helped shape the field of nephrology not only as a physician and teacher, but also as an innovator. He was a pioneer in interventional nephrology, helping advance procedures and technologies that improved the lives of patients with kidney disease. Don held 13 patents for catheter technology that benefited dialysis patients around the world. He received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology. Don was especially proud of his work helping bring dialysis clinics and kidney care to the Navajo, Hopi and Havasupai reservations, expanding access to care for communities that had too often been underserved. His work reflected both his technical brilliance and his belief that medical innovation mattered most when it reached the people who needed it.

Don was thoughtful, analytical and endlessly curious. He was an avid reader of history, medical journals and current events, and he was always seeking to understand the world more deeply. He loved gadgets, technology and the promise of new ideas. He also gave generously of his time and energy to causes he valued, including serving on the boards of Temple Chai, the Jewish Federation and the Anti-Defamation League.

Above all, Don loved his family. He and his beloved wife, Esther Schon, were married in May 1969 and spent 57 years building a life together. They raised their beloved family side by side, and in retirement they continued to act as partners in service, devoting their time, energy and resources to philanthropy through their temple, the Jewish Federation and educational and political causes that reflected their shared values.

Don is survived by Esther; his sons Keith, Mike and Brian; daughter-in-law Torey; and grandchildren Dylan and Gabe, in whom he took enormous pride and joy. He is also preceded in death by his daughter-in-law Laura, whose memory remains an important part of the family’s story. He also leaves behind his brother, Steve, and his sister, Barbara.

Don found joy in hiking, golf, watching football, reading, learning and staying engaged with the world around him. In recent years, he also found pleasure in designing jewelry for Esther, a creative and loving expression of the bond they shared.

He will be remembered for his uncommon intelligence, careful judgment, dry wit, generosity and steady presence. His legacy lives on in the family he cherished, the patients he served, the students and colleagues he taught and the countless people whose lives were improved by his work.

May his memory be a blessing.

In lieu of flowers, the Schon family suggests donations to the Temple Chai Building Fund or the AntiDefamation League Desert.

musical and spiritual Shabbat service. For more information, visit brithshalom-az.org.

Shabbat Services: 5:30 p.m. nosh, 6:15 p.m. service; morning service has varying dates and times. Temple Chai, 4645 E. Marilyn Road, Phoenix. For more information, contact Joan Neer at jneer@templechai.com.

Pre-Shabbat Kiddush Club: 6 p.m. Online. Say Kiddush with Rabbi Mendy Levertov. Cost: Free. Use this link: ourjewishcenter.com/virtual. For more information, visit chabadaz.com.

Shabbat Services: 6 p.m.; 9:30 a.m.; followed by a light Kiddush lunch. Beth Emeth Congregation of the West Valley, 13702 W. Meeker Blvd., Sun City West. For more information call 623-584-7210 or visit bethemethaz.org.

Shabbat Services: 6 p.m.; 9:30 a.m. Congregation Or Tzion, 16415 N. 90th St., Scottsdale. Services are also live streamed at otaz.org/ livestream. For more information about services, events and membership, visit congregationortzion.org or call 480-342-8858.

First Friday Shabbat Services: 6:15 p.m.; Oneg at 7:15 p.m. Valley Unitarian Universalist, 6400 W. Del Rio St., Chandler. Join Congregation NefeshSoul for Friday night services the first Friday of each month in the sanctuary building of Valley Unitarian Universalist. For more information, contact Jim Hoffman at 480-329-3316.

Shabbat Services: 6:15 p.m.; 10 a.m. Congregation Beth Israel, 10460 N. 56th St., Scottsdale. Services held in the Goldsmith Sanctuary. Participants must pre-register by Thursday at 5 p.m. Priority will be given to members first and then guests. If there are more requests than available seats a lottery system will be used.

MILESTONES

WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT

SARAH ELISA WAX AND SONAL IMBULAMURE

For more information or to make a reservation, visit cbiaz.org/shabbat-services.

Kabbalat Shabbat and/or Shabbat morning service: 6:30 p.m.; 10 a.m.; dates vary. Congregation Kehillah, 5858 E. Dynamite Blvd., Cave Creek. Join Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman and cantorial soloists Erica Erman and Scott Leader either in person or via Zoom. For safety reasons, please register ahead of time. For dates, visit congregationkehillah.org/event/. Register by emailing info@congregationkehillah.org.

Shabbat Services: 7 p.m. Temple Beth Shalom of the West Valley, 12202 N. 101st Ave., Sun City. Services are followed by an Oneg. Services are live-streamed on YouTube. For more information and to get the YouTube link, visit tbsaz.org or call 623-977-3240.

Shabbat Services in Sun Lakes: 7-9 p.m. Sun Lakes Chapel, 9240 E. Sun Lakes Blvd. North, Sun Lakes. Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation conducts Reform Shabbat services on the second Friday of each month. New members welcome. For more information, call 480-612-4413 or 480-580-1592.

Shabbat Services with Beth Ami Temple: 7 p.m. Services held at Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Phoenix, 4027 E. Lincoln Dr., Paradise Valley. Join Beth Ami Temple Rabbi Alison Lawton and Cantorial Soloist Michael Robbins as they lead Shabbat services twice a month. For more information, visit bethamitemple.org.

Third Friday Shabbat: 7-9 p.m. Group meets at a North Scottsdale location. The Desert Foothills Jewish Community Association hosts a Shabbat service followed by a program. Contact 602-487-5718 for more information. JN

Sarah Elisa Wax and Sonal Imbulamure will be married at The Athenaeum in Pasadena, California on Jun 27, 2026.

The bride’s parents are Janet Reiser and Paul Wax of Phoenix. The groom’s parents are Subash Sanath Imbulamure and Kumudu Hemanie Gunawardana of Colombo, Sri Lanka and Los Angeles, California.

Sarah is in television production at NBC Universal. She graduated from Wesleyan University after attending Chaparral High School.

Sonal is an attorney. He received his bachelor’s degree from the University of London and his master’s degree and Juris Doctor from the University of Southern California after attending high school at Gateway International School in Sri Lanka.

The couple met online.

They are planning a honeymoon in Italy and will reside in Los Angeles. JN

Michael Weinberg

Michael Aaron Weinberg, born on Oct. 15, 1946, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, passed away on April 20, 2026, in Sun City. He lived a life marked by wisdom, thoughtfulness and spirit. A devoted husband to Judi Weinberg, their life together was a source of deep companionship, love and steady joy. He had a way of making others feel heard and valued, and his thoughtful nature left a lasting impression on family, friends and colleagues. He leaves behind a legacy of love, faith and kindness that will continue to live on in the hearts of those who knew him.