HEADLINES | 4
SPECIAL SECTION | 18
CLIMATE CHANGE
CHANUKAH GIFT GUIDE
Phoenix mayor talks climate goals
Try a cheesy latke this Chanukah
NOVEMBER 19, 2021 | KISLEV 15, 5782 | VOLUME 74, NUMBER 6
Jewish parents in Greater Phoenix eager to vaccinate kids against COVID-19 NICOLE RAZ | STAFF WRITER
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ive-year-old Levi Miller has been asking to go to the Children’s Museum of Phoenix for months. “There are a lot of things he has been asking to do over the last year and a half that we just keep saying no to,” said his mom, Doran Arik Miller. But soon, she and her husband will get to say yes. Levi received his first dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday, Nov. 13. “We’ve explained to him that he’s got to get this dose, and then we have to wait three weeks and get his second shot. And then he has to wait a couple weeks and he’ll be good to go,” Doran said. The first stop will be his choice — the aquarium, the children’s museum, the science center — but Doran bets he’ll choose the children’s museum. Doran, who lives in Phoenix, is one of many local Jewish parents who didn’t think twice about getting their kids vaccinated against COVID once the vaccine became available to children five and up. According to a June survey by the Public Religion Research Institute and Interfaith Youth Core, Jewish Americans are most likely to be vaccine accepters (85%) among religious groups. Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director for U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cleared the way for immediate vaccination for kids in the 5-11 age group on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 2. Lani Harrison was up most of that Tuesday night trying to get her 8-year-old daughter and her 7-year old-son scheduled for an appointment. She lives in Scottsdale but found appointments SEE VACCINES, PAGE 2
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Arizona’s Jews turn out to support Afghan refugees NICOLE RAZ | STAFF WRITER
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dina Anhalt didn’t hesitate to offer her help when she learned of an opportunity to support Afghan refugees resettling in Arizona. “I can not even begin to imagine what these refugees have been through,” Anhalt said. “As a Jew, as a mother, as a human being — I couldn’t not help.” She is one of many in the Greater Phoenix Jewish community who have donated financial support or items to Valley Beit Midrash’s Welcome Tent initiative, which was created to fill in the “gaps” left by the large service agencies for Afghan refugees, most of whom are Muslim. “There have been many times throughout history when Jews were forced out of their homes and helped by members of other faiths and communities,” she said. “These Muslim refugees are no different than us and we should help any way we can.” Anhalt and her family donated clothing and household items. Her 10-year-old daughter, Abbie, chose to donate a journal and a wallet. “She thought after all they have been through, someone might want to write down their feelings and someone may have left quickly and had to leave their wallet behind,” Anhalt said. “I tried to think about what parents might need to cook for their families and set up a home.” VBM launched the initiative through Arizona Jews for Justice, its social justice arm, in September. Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, president and dean of VBM, said the organization has since received about 400 pieces of children’s clothing, over 100 strollers and car seats and over 100 baby food items.
Arizona Jews for Justice volunteers with Valley Beit Midrash dean and president Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz, third from left, and AJJ Campaign Director Eddie Chavez Calderon, right, collect items for Afghan refugees. COURTESY OF ARIZONA JEWS FOR JUSTICE
According to the Arizona Department of Economic Security, 2,015 Afghan evacuees have been approved to resettle in Arizona by the end of next March. Yanklowitz said it’s been uplifting to see so many different members of the Jewish community show support. “All types of strangers from the broader Jewish community have been dropping things off,” he said. “We’re at the point where we’re even looking into renting storage, because there’s so many people reaching out with supplies.” An anonymous donor SEE REFUGEES, PAGE 3 gave $25,000 to help launch
Chanukah is coming up fast Chanukah comes early this year, so it's time to start thinking about some gifts. To see more, go to p. 16. COURTESY OF DEBORAH MULLER
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