HEADLINES | 6
REAL ESTATE | 13
BIG JEWISH FUN
KVETCHING ABOUT COMMISSION
The Bandler Family Park at Congregation Beth Israel is open for the whole community
Ophir Gross talks about paying buyer’s agent’s commissions
MAY 24, 2024 | IYAR 16, 5784 | VOLUME 76, NUMBER 19
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‘Never to be afraid Greater Phoenix Jews celebrate again,’ local Jews Israel’s birthday with bouncy houses, honor the memory food trucks and poetry of Holocaust victims O O SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER
SHANNON LEVITT | STAFF WRITER
n Sunday, May 5, Congregation Beth Tefillah Rabbi Pinchas Allouche asked the hundreds of people gathered at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus for a communal Yom HaShoah event, honoring the memory of six million Jews slain during the Holocaust, to stand for his invocation. Allouche began by repeating a question that had been asked of a Holocaust survivor he knew. Eliezer, the survivor, had been asked what it is that Jews want. Eliezer’s response to the question was to recount his memory of Sept. 23, 1942, a terrifying day in which he and his girlfriend ran away from Nazis just arriving in their small Polish town. The two found an open apartment and hid. Soon after, a mother and her three children also entered the apartment in search of a hiding place. The mother hid behind flour sacks with Eliezer and his girlfriend, while the three children found another spot. A group of Nazis entered the apartment and found the children. The youngest, a 6-year-old boy, cried and called out for his mother, “Mama! Mama!” His older brother, only 8, shushed him and told him not to give his mother’s position away. The Nazis left with only the children. “They did not see us,” Eliezer said. He told Allouche that he would always be able to picture that mother knocking her head against the wall because she had remained quiet in her hiding place, forced to watch Nazis dragging her children away for all time. “So what is it we Jews want? We never want to be afraid to say Mama.” Before his prayer, Allouche reminded those gathered that it was only 80 years ago that “young and old were starved, shot, gassed and burned to ashes because they
n Wednesday, May 15, an estimated 2,000 people came out to celebrate Israel’s 76th birthday. The 95-degree heat was not as burdensome as it otherwise might have been thanks to some cloud cover, which allowed people to mill about, catch up with old friends and watch their kids enjoy some games and rides. The Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center (VOSJCC) in Scottsdale hosted the “Israel at 76 Community-wide Celebration” on the Attendees of Israel's 76th birthday celebration enjoyed games and activities at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center on May 15. COURTESY OF JEWISH NEWS large sports field between its building and Pardes Jewish Day School. The Yom Ha’atzmaut event offered a plethora of things to do. For example, many perused a shaded shuk that stood along one side of the event, providing a place to purchase Judaica and other items. Additionally, the delicious smell of good food coming from various food trucks permeated the grounds. Tables were set up for people who bought food and drink or brought their own. “The overall feeling was one of community and fun,” Leah Zigmond, VOSJCC’s chief officer of youth and family programming, told Jewish News in an email. Many local Jewish organizations were on site Wednesday to introduce themselves to people and make a pitch for their offerings. Many sponsored one of the games or rides to draw people in. For example, Jewish Free Loan (JFL) sponsored a giant swinging ride and its booth sat in front of the line. Ian Kornbluth, a board member, told Jewish News that most of the people who had approached his table were familiar with JFL’s work. However, one person who stopped by only learned of it that day. Kornbluth was able to give him a good rundown of what JFL does. SEE BIRTHDAY, PAGE 3
It’s all in the genes Minkoff Center for Jewish Genetics hosted a fundraiser where guests learned about genetic testing. See page 8. COURTESY OF MINKOFF CENTER FOR JEWISH GENETICS
SEE MEMORY, PAGE 2
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