HEADLINES | 6
ARTS | 16
MUSLIM-JEWISH DIALOGUE
HIDDEN IN THE HILLS
Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz hosted an online interfaith discussion with Dr. Mehnaz Afridi
Two local artists are among the 179 participants in this annual event
NOVEMBER 15, 2024 | CHESHVAN 14, 5785 | VOLUME 77, NUMBER 4
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Arizona, swingMusic festival survivor shares state rabbis reflect details of Oct. 7 at JNF event on Trump’s win MALA BLOMQUIST | MANAGING EDITOR
MALA BLOMQUIST, JACOB GURVIS | MANAGING EDITOR JN, JTA
T
he Associated Press declared President-elect Donald Trump the winner in Arizona on Saturday, Nov. 9, after vote updates in Maricopa and other counties added to his overall lead, putting the state out of reach for Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump swept all seven of the hotly contested presidential battleground states, winning 312 electoral votes, compared to 226 for Harris. The number needed to win the presidency is 270. Before the election, Cave Creek’s Congregation Kehillah Rabbi Bonnie Sharfman educated congregants on the sacred mitzvah of voting and Jewish textual sources on civic obligation. Post-election, she advised everyone what to do if they were pleased or displeased with the outcome of the election, including “safeguarding our values by acting responsibly, modeling chesed and speaking up for those who can’t speak for themselves. In other words, what we should always be doing.” Rabbi Debbie Stiel of Temple Solel in Paradise Valley acknowledged in her Shabbat message to congregants that “within our community, we have people who are happy with the results of the election, others who are disappointed and still others who are terrified.” She reminded everyone that Shabbat is a muchneeded time to disconnect briefly from the stress of the world, as well as a time to think about our highest ideals and aspirations. “Torah teaches us that leaders need to have a strong moral compass and to be concerned for the greater good,” she said. “So, for our judges, congressional representatives, governors and presidents, may we always remind them of the importance of caring for justice and every person.”
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hen Jewish National Fund-USA announced an opportunity to volunteer in Israel with communities along the Gaza border after Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, Francine Coles knew she needed to go. “Israel was calling,” she said. “This past February, just four months after that devastating attack, I found myself on the ground in Israel.” SEE SURVIVOR, PAGE 3
Speaker Sapir Golan shared her experience as a Nova music festival survivor at the Jewish National Fund-USA Women for Israel Luncheon on Nov. 6. COURTESY OF TAVITS PHOTOGRAPHY/JNF-USA
Supporting soldiers The community can send Chanukah greetings to lone soldiers through the East Valley Jewish Community Center Lone Soldier Project. See page 17. PHOTO COURTESY OF EAST VALLEY JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER LONE SOLDIER PROJECT
SEE RABBIS, PAGE 2
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