HEADLINES | 8
SPECIAL SECTION | 14
PRESCOTT’S HADASSAH
SENIOR LIFESTYLE
New Hadassah chapter opens in Prescott
Local STAR tells cancer survival story
MARCH 5, 2021 | ADAR 21, 5781 | VOLUME 73, NUMBER 12
Repair the world: Jobs, hats and a bagel SHANNON LEVITT | MANAGING EDITOR AND NICOLE RAZ | STAFF WRITER
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his week, the Jewish News is sharing more stories of people, organizations and synagogues that are stepping up for their community during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether it’s helping people find a new job in a difficult economy, knitting caps for newborns, or even surprising people with bagels to make them smile, all are ways the Jewish community continues to live the concept of tikkun olam in these trying times.
JFCS gives career assistance David Adatto never thought he would be unemployed at 67. He didn’t expect Two’s Company Inc., the home decor and gifts company he worked for, to let him go after 28 years. But Two’s Company had a tough year in 2019, Adatto said. And when the COVID-19 pandemic struck last March, “it was the icing on the cake. The business basically came to a standstill,” he said. Adatto was one of thousands of Arizonans caught up in the pandemic’s wave of furloughs and layoffs; he was furloughed in March, brought back to work in April, furloughed again in May, and let go June 15. Arizona’s unemployment rate stood at 10% in June, when Adatto began looking for new opportunities. “I haven’t written a resume in over 28 years,” he said. He quickly realized he needed help. A friend told him about Jewish Family & Children’s Services’ career services program, and although Adatto had been involved with JFCS “for years,” he wasn’t familiar with that program. So he reached out and got the help he was hoping for. His resume got a new look, and he found resources for networking. He received tips on how to interview. SEE TIKKUN, PAGE 2
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Rabbi Mari Chernow set to leave Temple Chai in June SHANNON LEVITT | MANAGING EDITOR
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abbi Mari Chernow didn’t plan to stay long when she arrived at Temple Chai in 2003. The freshly minted rabbi was determined to learn as much as she could within two years — the term of her contract — and then leave Phoenix. But almost immediately, she “fell in love with this special community and its profound commitment to Kabbalat Shabbat,” she said, and it became her home for the next 18 years. “Within weeks, I would look at people, and I loved them already.” Her love story with Temple Chai will come to an end — or transform to a long-distance relationship — on June 30, when she moves to Los Angeles to take a new position at Temple Israel of Hollywood. Leaving Temple Chai, where she’s formed strong connections and shared in “the joyful, sad and redemptive moments” of members’ lives, will be difficult. Debbie Biggard Berkowitz is one Temple Chai member who will feel her loss deeply. She admires how much effort Chernow put into getting to know the congregation, whether by meeting one-on-one with students preparing for their b’nai mitzvah, hosting Torah study sessions at her home or “getting down and dirty” making latkes with congregants at Chanukah. “She’s always warm, approachable, funny, down-to-earth — the whole package,” SEE CHERNOW, PAGE 3 said Berkowitz.
Rabbi Mari Chernow carries her daughter, Lillian, on her back during a hiking trip. PHOTO COURTESY OF RABBI MARI CHERNOW
DNA finds surprising family connections Samuel Burke got a big surprise when his family did some DNA testing for fun. Now he has to consider what really makes a family on his new podcast “Suddenly Family.” Pictured counterclockwise from left: Marah Burke, Tommey Burke, Samuel Burke, Marc Burke, Bill Burke. To read more, go to p. 12. PHOTO COURTESY OF SAMUEL BURKE
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