HEADLINES | 5
SPECIAL SECTION | 14
FOUNDERS HONORED
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Gesher and Minkoff founders honored this month
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OCTOBER 1, 2021 | TISHRI 25, 5782 | VOLUME 74, NUMBER 3
Holocaust ties influence family of immigration attorneys NICOLE RAZ | STAFF WRITER
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he immigration attorneys at Goldman & Goldman, PC in Tucson can relate to their clients — perhaps more than most. Gloria Goldman and her two children — all immigration attorneys — often see shadows of their own family’s story in those of their clients. “I talk to clients who came here to flee torture and suppression in their countries. And I tell them I was a refugee, and I connect with them,” said Goldman, 73. Her family history makes her compassionate for her clients, many of whom have also lost family members. When she was just 6 months old, Goldman and her parents came to the United States from Germany as refugees. It was 1949, and just three years earlier, her mother, Esther Klein, was liberated from the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Her father, Morris Klein, was also a Holocaust survivor. Her parents met in a displaced persons camp. Mo Goldman, Gloria’s son, said he sees a deep connection between his heritage and his work as an immigration attorney. “To me it seems like we can use our own history as a catalyst to helping others and hopefully getting them the goal of becoming a citizen of this country,” Mo, 46, said. Larissa Goldman, Gloria’s daughter, said she feels like she has a natural empathy and understanding of clients’ struggles. “Because of the fact that they may be persecuted or experienced similar aspects to what my grandparents went through, it is rewarding to be able SEE GOLDMAN, PAGE 2 to see that we can help other people
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Jewish community leaders speak out against comparisons of COVID precautions, Holocaust NICOLE RAZ | STAFF WRITER
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growing number of Arizona elected officials and political hopefuls are likening mask requirements and/or COVID vaccines to Nazi Germany or the Holocaust. The statements follow a string of others made by national pundits and politicians. Many local Jewish community leaders and members are concerned and say they are doing their best to combat the rhetoric. Marc Krell, associate regional director of the Anti-Defamation League of Arizona, said comparing vaccine or mask mandates aimed at ending the COVID-19 pandemic to Nazi Germany trivializes the Holocaust and diminishes the trauma of victims and survivors. “These types of comparisons actually distract and deter society from addressing the root causes of the Holocaust and making sure that it never happens again,” he said. “As ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt has said, ‘We need our elected leaders to be just that — leaders — not enablers and certainly not proponents of this offensive rhetoric.’” ADL Arizona and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Phoenix have been working together to confront politicians directly, condemning the comparisons and demanding apologies. ADL has also asked the organizations or employers of the person making SEE COMPARISONS, PAGE 3
Compilation of screen shots
BY NICOLE RAZ
What makes a movie Jewish Author Helene Meyers talks about the profound impact Jewish movies can have on our identities. To read more, go to p. 18. PHOTO BY HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES VIA ALMA
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