HEADLINES | 4
SPECIAL SECTION | 13
JEWISH ADOPTION
SENIOR LIFESTYLE
Couple talks about special challenges
Ready for Wise Aging gala
APRIL 2, 2021 | NISAN 20, 5781 | VOLUME 73, NUMBER 16
Arizona prepares to observe Yom HaShoah NICOLE RAZ | STAFF WRITER
G
eorge Kalman was 9 years old when he was shoved into a cattle car to be deported to a concentration camp. He was 10 years old when a Russian soldier entered his forced labor camp and liberated him on April 2, 1945. “The Holocaust did not end in 1945,” he said. “The ‘Never Again’ continued and is continuing today.” Kalman is one of 54 local Holocaust survivors who received the Phoenix Holocaust Association’s Shofar Zakhor award this year. It’s the first time since the award’s inception in 1989 that PHA is giving the annual award to more than one person. Given during the annual Yom HaShoah commemoration, the award recognizes contributions made to genocide awareness and Holocaust education. It is usually given to an educator. “Hearing from or meeting a survivor is educational and one of the best ways to combat Holocaust denial,” said Sheryl Bronkesh, president of PHA. “We wanted to express our gratitude to all our survivors for their courage in telling others that they are Holocaust survivors — whether that is speaking to a class, telling their children and grandchildren or telling friends at their assisted living facility.” The decision to break from tradition and give this award to Holocaust survivors was made last year. “We had no time to waste as the number of survivors is dwindling because of their advanced age,” Bronkesh said. “In 2020 and thus far in 2021, 10 survivors in the community have passed away.” Kalman has been active in Holocaust education for over 25 years, speaking with a variety of men’s clubs, senior groups and students who want to learn about the past, he said. “Instead of giving a prepared talk, I conduct my meetings as a one-on-one Q&A format,” he said. “I tell them that I like hostile questions like, ‘I hear frequently that the Holocaust SEE REMEMBRANCE, PAGE 2
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‘Don’t let your guard down,’ local health care professionals advise NICOLE RAZ | STAFF WRITER
W
ith vaccines opening up to more people across the state, there is a sense that the end of the pandemic might finally be in sight. While health care professionals promote vaccines as the quickest way to achieve that end, they warn against declaring victory too soon. Once Dr. Mitchell Ross, an interventional cardiologist and the managing partner of Arizona Cardiology Group, feels he can travel freely and attend live sporting and theater events, he’ll feel like life is back to normal. But there is still much work to be done before that can happen, he said. “There is still significant resistance to simple mitigation strategies, including masking in public places and reluctance to accept vaccination,” Ross said. Masking enforcement in the state was complicated last week when Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey prohibited government mask mandates, saying, “I’m confident Arizona’s businesses and citizens will continue to practice the fundamentals and act responsibly as we gradually get back to normal.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and local health officials, people need to continue to wear masks, remain socially distant and get vaccinated to combat the threat of emerging new variants and a surge in cases due to SEE HEALTH, PAGE 3 relaxed vigilance.
Dr. Alexzandra Hollingworth wears personal protective gear to treat COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit. PHOTO BY ALEXZANDRA HOLLINGWORTH
Twelve secret spots to see in Israel Fancy seeing a flamingo in the desert? Look no further than the evaporation ponds in Evrona near Eilat, which a group of previously migrating flamingos has decided to call home. To read more, go to p. 23. PHOTO BY MILA AVIV/FLASH90 VIA JNS.ORG
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