HEADLINES | 7
SPECIAL SECTION | 16
VANDALIZED SYNAGOGUE
SENIOR LIFESTYLE
Tucson synagogue vandalized with swastika
Preparing for genealogical conference in August
JULY 9, 2021 | TAMUZ 29, 5781 | VOLUME 73, NUMBER 21
Jews new to Greater Phoenix express glee, dread at their first Arizona summers NICOLE RAZ | STAFF WRITER
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usan Miller can finally move around without feeling like the Tin Man from the “Wizard of Oz.” “This heat feels so good on me, you have no idea,” she said. Miller, 62, has arthritis and moved to Phoenix from Indiana last October. Like thousands of others newcomers, she is experiencing her first Arizona summer. While it can’t get hot enough for her, others, like Yahm Reichart, are worried their flip-flops will melt into the ground. “It feels like asphalt is burning my legs,” she said. This summer is expected to be hotter than average. A week before the season’s official start, Arizona already had a record-breaking six consecutive days of at least 115 degrees. Despite the heat, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates Maricopa County is the fastest-growing area in the country. Miller’s husband, Paul, always dreamed of retiring in Arizona. His best friends live here, as well as some cousins. “It’s getting closer to retirement age, and we started looking at houses three or four years ago,” she said. Before they made the move, they scoped out the area and made sure they could handle the heat. And they can. Susan has been sitting outside on her partially covered patio. “I’m very comfortable,” she said. “If it gets hot, you just go inside for a while and cool of f.” Even SEE HEAT, PAGE 2 with their thermostat set at 80
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Holocaust education bill finally passes in Arizona NICOLE RAZ | STAFF WRITER
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hen Michael Beller set out three years ago to get a law passed in Arizona requiring Holocaust education in public schools, the response he got was clear. “People told me this would never happen. They were like, ‘Not now, not ever. It will never happen in Arizona.’ And that was inside the Jewish community and out,” he said. But on Wednesday, June 30, it happened. After a roller-coaster ride in the state legislature, HB2241 is now headed to Gov. Doug Ducey’s office. With his signature, Arizona’s public schools will be required to teach about the Holocaust and other genocides at Michael Beller, left, with Alexander White, Arizona House Rep. Alma Hernandez and least twice between seventh and twelfth Oskar Knoblauch. White and Knoblauch, both Holocaust survivors, testified before the PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL BELLER grades. According to the Phoenix Senate Education Committee on behalf of HB2682 in 2020. Arizona House Rep. Alma Hernandez (LD-3), Holocaust Association and Arizona State University academics, Arizona will be the 16th who introduced the bill, called the passage a “big win for our community.” state to require Holocaust education by statute. “I have never been prouder to be an elected official “So many people from so many different parts of the state invested countless hours over the last few and a Jew in Arizona,” she said. “Knowing that all years to make sure that this happens,” said Beller, who Arizona students will learn about the Holocaust gives co-founded Arizona Teaching the Holocaust for the sole me hope and restores my faith in SEE HOLOCAUST, PAGE 3 purpose of mandating Holocaust education in Arizona. humanity because we must teach
Orthodox and ninja warrior Liba Yoffe of Phoenix is the first Orthodox Jewish woman to try to compete on “American Ninja Warrior.” To read more, go to p. 6. SCREENSHOT BY NICOLE RAZ
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These Jewish activists work as translators Manchester’s Jewish museum celebrates the community that left it behind for migrants to fight ‘language violence’
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Israel, South Korea sign mutual COVID-19 vaccine pact