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Tradition, Inspiration and Celebration · March 2022 - Adar II 5782

Published by Chabad Tucson

Love to Ukraine

Tucson sends support to a nation under siege

Happy Purim

The jolly Jewish holiday and its lesser-known dish

Welcome to town

Outreach Coordinator for Coyote TaskForce

Bits of happiness

Young guys knocking on random doors

CELEBRATING

OPPOSITES Playwright and actor Liba Vaynberg on a world being overturned

ESSAY

Reclaiming a sense of community on Purim The Jewish outreach and education network of Southern Arizona 2443 E 4th Street, Tucson, AZ 85719

By Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin

In the story of Purim in Persia of the 4th century BCE, the viceroy Haman describes the Jews as “scattered and divided among the peoples” of the Persian empire. They were divided and so they could be conquered, Haman told King Ahasuerus. In response, the Jewish leader Mordechai called for Jews to gather to pray. After Queen Esther spoiled Haman’s plot, the Jews gathered again to defend themselves against their enemies.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Rabbi Yossie Shemtov REBBETZIN

Chanie Shemtov OUTREACH DIRECTOR

Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Feigie Ceitlin Affiliates:

Cong. Young Israel, Chabad at the University of Arizona, Chabad on River, Chabad of Oro Valley, Chabad of Sierra Vista, Chabad Jewish Center of Vail and Lamplighter Chabad Day School of Tucson

EDITOR

Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin COPY EDITOR

Suzanne Cummins CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Feigie Ceitlin, Tzvi Freeman, Mordechay Granevich, David Margolin, Menachem Posner, Liba Vaynberg and Benjamin Weiss PHOTOS

Jacqueline Soffer SPECIAL THANKS

Chabad.org

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Note: “G-d” and “L-rd” are written with a hyphen instead of an “o”. This is one way we accord reverence to the sacred divine name. This also reminds us that, even as we seek G-d, He transcends any human effort to describe His reality.

It’s ironic that the Covid pandemic began to disrupt life in the United States, forcing lockdowns and major constraints on gathering — right around Purim time in 2020. Ironic because this joyous Jewish holiday emphasizes the importance of community and gathering together. The four significant observances of this holiday, which begins at sundown on Wednesday, March 16, and concludes at nightfall on Thursday, March 17, are hearing the reading of the Megillah — the Book of Esther, exchanging gifts of food, donating charity to the poor, and sitting down for a festive feast. What unites these observances is that they are typically done with others - and there’s a reason for that.

Throughout history, our unity has kept us alive. We unite to celebrate, and we unite in the face of danger. As Ukraine came under attack, people from around the world lent whatever material, financial, or even emotional support they could to Jews and others in harm’s way. This happened while we also prepared to celebrate Purim. We are best in all respects when we are united. The pandemic has given us even more important lessons about our need to be together. Over the past two years, communities have faced incredible challenges in maintaining their coalescence. For the sake of our health, in-person gatherings vanished, but at least we had technology that could hold us together. Our communities were not “conquered” by this plague. The greatness of Zoom and other online platforms gave us a stopgap and even provided some new opportunities. I’ve been giving classes on behalf of the Rohr

Jewish Learning Institute online since the start of the pandemic, and people from California, Montana, New Jersey, Minnesota — even Israel — joined them. But our souls have craved gathering in person because that is how we are designed. In joyous reclaiming of our ability to be together, we have restarted our physical connections here in Tucson. We recently restarted in-person Torah classes, and attendees indicate how much they like being together. We were able to safely restart in-person pre-Shabbat programs for the elderly — which had also migrated to Zoom during the worst of the pandemic — and it was again clear how much people have yearned to be able to interact with other people again. Purim reminds us that our communal celebrations don’t just happen to be communal. They’re collaborative by design and by nature because community is the reason we are celebrating in the first place. So while virtual celebrations were a miracle for when we had no choice, the miracle of being able to unite in person as a community is not to be underestimated - especially at Purim. - Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin is the Outreach Director of Chabad Tucson

NEWS

Tucson sends financial support to Ukraine’s Jews By David Margolin and Benjamin Weiss Ukraine has been under direct attack since the early morning of Feb. 24, and the country’s entire population has been in danger, including the 350,000 Jews who call it home. For many Jews around the world, the name Ukraine conjures images of the place their grandparents or ancestors fled in the late 1800s or early 1900s, or as a region where millions of Jews were murdered during the Holocaust.

gues, mikvahs, Jewish schools and yes-

med city streets in honor of the Rebbe,

These efforts are a direct result of the founding of the Chassidic movement in the historic regions of Volhynia and Podolia, west of Kyiv. The Kabbalistic teachings of Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov swept through the region in the 18th century, and became the dominant stream of Jewish life in the area.

Leah Richter is one of the many members of the Jewish community in Tucson who kindly donated to the Ukraine Jewish Relief Fund, set up by the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters in New York in support of Jewish communities in 35 cities (ChabadTucson.com/ Ukraine). “I donated because I wanted to help fellow Jewish people there,” Richter said, noting that she has been following the news from Ukraine with concern. “It breaks the heart to see people huddled like that in the subway stations and trying to cross the border to other countries.”

Firefighters work at a residential building hit in an area not far from downtown Kyiv, Ukraine on Feb. 25, 2022 * Photo: Yan Boechat/VOA

Richter’s own family history reinforces her empathy for the Ukranians who are trying to escape the horror during this crisis. Her maternal and paternal grandparents hail from the former Soviet Union, and her father escaped to America to avoid being drafted to the Russian army - a horrible and frequently lethal conscription. Historically, Jews of the region that is now Ukraine have long been impacted by violence that was directed specifically at them. The violent peasant uprising led by Bogdan Chmielnicki in 1648-49, in which tens of thousands of Jews were massacred, left the Jews of the region in despair. The country’s dark antisemitic past did not end with the pogroms, but extended deep into the Holocaust, when millions of Jews were killed by Nazis assisted by local collaborators. And yet, over the last 30 years, Ukraine has evolved to be a welcoming country for the Jews - home to the fifthlargest Jewish population in the world. Today, Ukraine boasts a thriving Jewish infrastructure that includes synago-

world. Serving the city’s 50,000 Jews, it stands adjacent to the Golden Rose synagogue and houses kosher restaurants, a kosher supermarket, Judaica store, Holocaust museum, two hotels, a concert hall, two convention halls and offices—one of them housing the city’s Israeli consulate.

Rabbi Baal Shem Tov’s inspiration is behind the decision of many of the country’s 200 Chabad rabbis to support their communities during the current conflict with Russia. They opened the basement floors of the synagogues and schools to be used as bomb shelters, as the underground metro stations filled to capacity. They also have been providing much-needed material aid, encouragement and spiritual strength. The Jews of Ukraine now share a fate with their fellow citizens as they battle for the independence of the country. The selflessness of one of the rabbis at Chabad’s Kedem synagogue in Kyiv is inspiring. In the midst of the horrors, a Jewish man came into the shul with tears exclaiming, “Rabbi, please help me, my car is on empty and there is no gas at any of the gas stations in the area. I just want to save my family!” he said.

A bus burns as Russia invades Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, on a road from Kharkiv to Kyiv * Photo: Yan Boechat/VOA

hivas, a Jewish university and social services - most led by Chabad rabbis. Chabad maintains Jewish orphanages in Zhitomir, Odessa, and Dnipro and kosher restaurants dot the country, signaling a level of material and spiritual comfort few could have predicted just a few decades ago. Both Nikolayev and Dnipro have na-

Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, who was born in the country. Ukraine’s president Volodymr Zelensky is Jewish, as well as its former prime ministers Yukhym Zvyahilsky (1993-1994) and Volodymyr Groysman (2016–2019). In Dnipro, Chabad built the Menorah Center, a 500,000 square-foot complex which is the largest Jewish center in the

Rabbi Pinchas Vishedsky, who relocated to Kyiv after having been displaced from his hometown of Donetsk during the fighting in 2014, did not hesitate. He walked over to his lectern and pulled out a pair of keys and handed them to the man. “Here, take my car. It’s got a full tank. Take your wife and children to safety.” Overcome with emotion, the man asks, “What about you, Rabbi?” “I’ll figure something out, don’t worry. Now go and save your family.”

FEATURE

Celebrating opposites By Liba Vaynberg

Liba Vaynberg (left) and Emily Perkins perform The Russian & The Jew at The Tank Off-Broadway 2019 * Photo: Moti Margolin

There’s another Megillah story—one in which Haman is not minister to King Ahasuerus, and we don’t make cookies in the shape of his ears (or hat). Instead, he’s a Georgian (as in the country, not the state) revolutionary born to a poor family who goes on to secretly edit a newspaper whose name translates to “Truth.” He is dogged in his pursuit of what he deems to be a politically perfect nation. He publishes his thoughts on “national-cultural autonomy” in a pamphlet under a self-anointed pseudonym that stuck: “K. Stalin.”

In a way, my sisters and I grew up with Joseph Stalin. I don’t mean that either my mother or my father were Stalin-esque (though I’m sure, as a teenager, that I complained loudly that they were). I mean that my mother and father, immigrants from Azerbaijan and Belarus, respectively, were the products of both Russianization and Sovietization. My father can quote stanzas of Pushkin’s poetry full of yellow pillboxes and dilettantes who should know better; my mother still remembers the epitaph by Gorky that inspired her medical school statement: “Love

the book, the fountain of knowledge.” My first language was Russian and not Hebrew even though I was Jewish—something most of my classmates couldn’t understand. And, honestly, for a while, it confused me, too. The first stories I heard were dense with softly coded language: fairytales with grim endings where magical fish punish you for wishing for too much and witches live in huts on chicken legs and warn painfully dumb princes. I have learned that identity is a tightrope.

Jewish school in Los Angeles for their daughters—they hadn’t grown up with the luxury of labels we find familiar here… Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist, etc. They thought all Jews were simply that: Jews. It wasn’t a denomination—it was a liability, and they gambled everything for a chance to live in a new world where they could raise their children safely. One synagogue asked for a big check first, and the other asked for nothing. That’s how we ended up at the Chabad of South Bay.

As Jews, my parents were simultaneously bound to and expelled from the Soviet Union. Always in hiding, always in plain sight. When they arrived in America, they were met with new questions; the Americans that had clinked tzedaka boxes to save Masha & Misha from Soviet antisemitism were unimpressed with these ritual-ignorant refugees with whom they seemed to have so little in common. These new Jews didn’t read Hebrew or speak English, for that matter. They had been strangers in the motherland; now, they were strangers in a strange land.

A year ago, my husband Zev and I called my father to wish him a happy Purim—it’s one of the few holidays he knows well.

My mother and father searched for a

Zev pulled out his phone right away,

“You know, in the days leading up to Purim, Stalin executed Jewish doctors and planned to wipe out all the Jews,” my father began. I chimed in, “Oh, I know.” “But,” my father continued, “did you know he died on Purim?”

eager to confirm—“Really? What year did he die?” “1953. March 5,” my father answered immediately. Zev reported his results: “Hmmm, that wasn’t quite Purim. Purim was a few days earlier—March 1?” “Ah well—that’s the day he had the hemorrhage,” my father answered. Zev turned to me, laughing: “Now that’s a Talmudic response.” Stalin aimed to rip the tree out by the roots—in the name of Marxism, he demanded a “cultural revolution.” Internally belligerent but apparently soft-spoken otherwise, Stalin suppressed humanity in the traditional ways despots do—not only inducing famines and enacting mass executions but also demolishing cathedrals and censoring artists. In other words, he not only ended lives, he made lives unlivable. He insisted on atheism, but the atheists this Haman created were constantly dancing with the devil.

HUMOR

Liba Vaynberg and the late actor Ed Asner in The Soap Myth at B’nai Jeshurun Synagogue in New York City

My mother is a doctor, and my father is an engineer: these are the two professions that were easily available to Jews. I’m an artist now who firmly believes that sometimes disguises are the best reminders of what can’t be hidden. I never set out consciously to write Jewish plays, but my faith and my questions guide me. Judaism is a kind of ubiquitous bedrock for me. Dig deep enough, and it’s there. A renewable resource.

Before the pandemic, I co-wrote a play with characters who unintentionally resembled my parents so clearly that my therapist told me I was playing my mother. Oy. I squirmed at the suggestion: This isn’t about my family! It’s an adaptation of a Tolstoy story that’s set in the Soviet Union! That’s all! But in costume, I found her. Every night, I would listen to the man who played my husband talk about finally escaping the Soviet Union and learning in America: “I stood at the window of the train, holding a book and a boy, and I finally saw the forest.

Liba Vaynberg and her father William Vaynberg * Photo: Zev Berger

The trees waved.

They said ‘goodbye’ and ‘hello’ at the same time. They tell me now that’s a Hebrew word for peace.” Perhaps that’s what peace is: “goodbye” and “hello” at once. And that’s what we celebrate as Jews when we explore opposites on Purim when our expectations are upset and our world is overturned for the better in ways we could never have imagined. V’nahafoch hu—“the opposite happened”—and so it did: my parents left the Soviet Union, and now they are far from the pillars of grey socialism. My mother dreamed of a country where you could wear a silk dress and buy oranges year-round, and my father never thought he’d hear a shofar. And, now, I doubt they can wrap their minds around the fact that their daughter is an artist… writing about them. They still carry those memories, still tell those stories of the “opposite,” still remind us of their Haman, lest we forget how lucky we are.

—Liba Vaynberg is a playwright and actor who has performed in television and theater and was described by the New York Times as “wonderfully real and raw.” She studied Biology at Yale before getting her MFA at Columbia. Her plays have been performed off-Broadway, and she is currently working on The Gett: A Young Wife’s Tale for Rattlestick Theater. A regular contributor to Lilith Magazine, she lives in Tucson, AZ, and Bronx, NY with her husband Zev and their dog Vera

JUDAISM 101

The jolly Jewish holiday of Purim The plot that turned to naught and how Jews celebrate it

Even though there were no overt miracles recorded in the Megillah—indeed, His name is not even mentioned once—G‑d was actively “pulling the strings” to care for His nation. Additionally, Haman’s edict catalyzed a spiritual revival among the Jews. In a sense, this was even more significant than the Covenant at Sinai—an overwhelming spiritual experience that compelled the Jews to accept the Torah—since it occurred of their own volition, even as they were scattered among the Persian people and immersed in their culture. In the merit of this spiritual reawakening, G-d orchestrated their salvation. When to Celebrate One of the unique aspects of Purim is the various timing for its celebration. ● Common Custom: Jews worldwide celebrate Purim on Adar 14, the day when our ancestors rested from the war against their enemies.

Celebrating Purim outside Chabad Tucson in 2021

The jolly Jewish holiday of Purim is celebrated every year on the 14th of the Hebrew month of Adar (late winter/ early spring). Purim 2022 begins on Wednesday night, March 16, and continues through Thursday, March 17 (extending through Friday in Jerusalem).

though she refused to divulge her nationality.

It commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from a plot “to destroy, kill and annihilate all the Jews, young and old, infants and women, in a single day.”

Meanwhile, the Jew-hating Haman was appointed prime minister of the empire. Mordechai, the leader of the Jews (and Esther’s cousin), defied the king’s orders and refused to bow to Haman. Haman was incensed, and he convinced the king to issue a decree ordering the extermination of all the Jews on the 13th of Adar, a date chosen by a lottery Haman made.

The Persian Empire of the 4th century BCE extended over 127 lands, and all the Jews were its subjects. When King Ahasuerus had his wife, Queen Vashti, executed for failing to follow his orders, he arranged a beauty pageant to find a new queen. Esther, a Jewish girl, found favor in his eyes and became the new queen,

Mordechai galvanized all the Jews, convincing them to repent, fast, and pray to G‑d. Meanwhile, Esther asked the king and Haman to join her for a feast. At a subsequent feast, Esther revealed to the king her Jewish identity. Haman was hung, Mordechai was appointed prime minister in his stead, and a new decree

● Walled Cities: Since the Jews of Shushan rested one day later, their Purim was deferred to the 15th. This was extended to include any city surrounded by walls in the days of Joshua, notably Jerusalem.

was issued, granting the Jews the right to defend themselves against their ene- ● Small Towns: In ancient times, vimies. llagers only banded together with fellow Jews in the larger towns on Mondays On the 13th of Adar, the Jews mobili- and Thursdays, which were market days. zed and killed many of their enemies. On Thus, the sages decreed that they read the the 14th of Adar, they rested and celebra- Megillah on the market day preceding 14 ted. In the capital city of Shushan, they Adar. This custom is no longer practiced. took one more day to finish the job. Note that on Jewish leap years, as this The Meaning of Purim year of 5782, there are two months called Adar, Adar I, and Adar II. Purim is celeThe word Purim means “lots” in an- brated in the second Adar, but 14 Adar I cient Persian. The holiday was thus na- is still a happy day, referred to as Purim med since Haman had thrown lots to Katan (Small Purim). determine when he would carry out his diabolical scheme. On the day before Purim, it is customary to fast, commemorating Esther’s fasting In addition to the miracle of Jewish and praying to G‑d that He saves His survival despite the efforts of our ene- people. This year, the fast is observed on mies, Purim celebrates G‑d’s intimate Wednesday, March 16, beginning at 5:17 involvement in every aspect of this world. AM and ending at 6:59 PM in Tucson.

JUDAISM 101

Purim Observances 1. Reading of the Book of Esther (Megillah), which recounts the story of the Purim miracle. This is done once on the eve of Purim and then again on the following day. 2. Giving charity to at least two poor people (Matanot LaEvyonim). 3. Sending gifts of two kinds of food to at least one person (Mishloach Manot). 4. A festive Purim feast (Mishteh), which often includes wine or other alcoholic beverages. Additional traditions A traditional Purim food is hamantaschen (or oznay Haman), three-cornered pastries bursting with poppy seeds, or another sweet filling. It is also customary for children (and adults, if they desire) to dress up in costumes. There are several reasons given for this age-old custom. Here are some of them: 1. The custom of wearing costumes is an allusion to the nature of the Purim miracle, where the story’s details are really miracles hidden within natural events. This is in contrast to the overt miracles of Passover, Chanukah, and other Jewish holidays. 2. The Talmud writes that just as the Jews at the time pretended to be serving other gods, G‑d pretended that He was going to destroy the Jewish nation, and in the end, He did not. Rabbi Tzvi Elimelech Shapiro (1783–1841), known as the Bnei Yissaschar, writes that this is the reason we pretend to be someone else on Purim since other intentions masked both the Jews’ and G‑d’s actions. 3. We dress differently on Purim to minimize the embarrassment of the poor who go around collecting charity on this day—a day when we give charity to ever-

Alyane Greenberg with her daughter in law Jeniffer Greenberg and grandchildren Devri, Zev and Eden celebrate Purim in 2019

Avi, Lizzy and Akiva Rovinsky celebrate Purim at Chabad Tucson in 2018

yone who outstretches their hand. 4. To commemorate the dressing up of Mordechai in King Ahasuerus’s royal garments in the story of Purim. Happy Purim! When Jews meet each other on the joyous holiday of Purim, they greet each other with wishes of “happy Purim.” You can pronounce this name in different ways. In Eastern tradition, it is called poo-REEM. Among Westerners, it is often called PUH-rim. Some Central-European communities even call it PEE-rim. To greet in Hebrew, you say “chag Purim sameach” (pronounce it KHAG pooREEM sah- MAY-akh). To greet in Yiddish, the traditional blessing is for “ah freilichen Purim” (pronounce it ah FRAY-likh-en POO-rim). * For more on the holiday, visit www.Chabad.org/Purim

7 Max and Alex Bell celebrate Purim at Chabad Tucson in 2016

KOSHER

Kosher deli returns to Tucson - for a day For a single day, on Thursday, February 17, classic deli sandwiches that have been popular in Jewish eateries in New York City and around the nation will be served in Tucson. The occasion is the holiday of Purim when 2 Chabad centers are planning a creative twist to this year’s community celebration - a deli-themed party that will be open for people of all ages and affiliations in the community. In addition to the public reading of the Megillah, celebration are planned around Southern Arizona and participants will be encouraged to come in costume as customary. Chabad Tucson’s celebration is billed as “Purim in the Big Apple” and will be held at The Shul - 2443 E 4th Street, starting at 5:00 PM. The menu will feature corned-beef, pastrami and turkey pastrami sandwiches with the typical trimmings of a deli. The event, fitting for both individuals and families, is sponsored by Bruce and Alyane Greenberg in loving memory of

their daughter Anna whose birthday was on Purim. Registration is required at ChabadTucson.com/Purim2022 Chabad of Oro Valley will also be offering a taste of the authentic New York Jewish deli on March 17, 4:00 PM at their center - 1171 E Rancho Vistoso Blvd. #131. They will be serving sandwiches with potato knishes, and Dr. Brown soda. Registration is required at JewishOroValley.com/deli A more classic fair is expected at Chabad of Vail who will be holding their first Purim celebration on March 17, 5:00 PM at their homebase. Megillah will be read outdoors and a gourmet dinner will be served. There will kids crafts and music. For more, visit JewishVailAZ.com Additional celebrations will be held at Chabad on River - 3916 E Fort Lowell Rd, and Chabad of Cochise County for residents of Sierra Vista and the Fort Huachuca army installation. Chabad rabbis and volunteers will also be visiting and bringing Mishloach Manot food gifts to residents of independent living communities.

A classic Jewish deli sandwich (photo: Mig Gilbert / Creative Commons)

Labor shortages affect Passover products Eleanor likes to begin cooking for Passover two months in advance and freezing the delicacies in her special Passover freezer, but she says she is “limited because I cannot find some Passover ingredients.” It is simply too early for the stores to stock Passover items, which most stores begin stocking around the Purim (March 17) holiday.

As preparations for Passover ’22 (April 16- 23) go into full gear, kosher food officials are concerned over potential repercussions from supply chain problems. They fear that while most basic products are committed and some cases already in store warehouses, some products may be caught in the web of the unprecedented supply chain problems, including from overseas. Although there has been some improvement in the unloading of cargo vessels, there are still reports of backlogs. Officials said they expect some spotty shortages this Passover as was the case in

items that are very “labor-intensive” are facing shortages because of the lack of workers. Rabbi Chaim Fogelman of the OK Kosher Certification said that many of his mashgichim were forced to extend their stays in various parts of the world with one in India staying for 6 months. The main issue for the mashgichim was the Covid related restrictions in various parts of the world.

A classic Jewish deli sandwich (photo: Mig Gilbert / Creative Commons)

2021. Labor shortages are affecting many important ingredient items for Passover, according to Rabbi Moshe Elefant of the

Orthodox Union. He cited as an example grape juice used to make many products. In general, kashrus agencies noted that

Several kosher independent stores and distributors around the country ordered various brands of an item to avoid the shortages of last year. “Passover is a very stressful season for us and the last thing we need is unhappy customers because we are short of items,” one store manager said. Though there is mostly optimism that the problems would be weathered without “too much inconvenience to the Passover customer,” there is still concern.

REBBETZIN’S KITCHEN

Traditional kreplach By Feigie Ceitlin

The holiday of Purim is beloved by children for the candy and snacks they get nosh on. For adults, it might be the kreplach (pronounced krep-lakh; singular, krepel) that are served during the festive meal they get to nosh on. The soft kreplach is the sibling of the hearty matzo ball and a cousin of the dumplings that are popular in other cuisines. These pockets consist of bland dough and a flavorful filling of ground meat or chicken. They can be shaped round or as triangles (which would match the hamantaschen cookies of Purim). The tradition is to eat them on Purim because its tasty component is hidden within the dough, just like G-d’s hand was hidden in how the salvation of the Jews unfolded in ancient Persia. (There are 2 other times that they are eaten on the Jewish calendar - on the eve of Yom Kippur and on Hoshana Rabbah). There are 2 ways to enjoy them. They can be boiled in water and then eaten in chicken soup, or fried and served as a separate dish. INGREDIENTS

and spices and cook until browned. Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into 2.5 rounds. Add about a tablespoon of filling to each round. Fold in half, and seal the edges with a fork. Cooking options: 1. Cook kreplach into a pot of boiling salted water. Cook until they float (around 10 minutes). 2. Cook kreplach together with the chicken soup. 3. Fry kreplach in a frying pan with oil. * The blessing: Mezonot Food that is made from grain (wheat, barley, rye, spelt or oat) but is not bread gets the blessing mezonot. This includes cakes and pastries, most crackers and cereals, pasta and other cooked grain

Kreplach in chicken soup (photo: TKOIII / Creative Commons)

products like farfel and couscous. The blessing: Baruch atah A-donay, Elo-heinu Melech Ha’Olam borei minei mezonot.

Blessed are you L-rd our G‑d, King of the Universe, Who creates various kinds of sustenance. Bon appetit!

Dough: 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 2 eggs 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 Tablespoons oil 1 Tablespoon water Filling: 1/2 lb ground beef or ground chicken 1 small onion finely chopped and sauteed 1 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp black pepper 1/2 tsp garlic powder DIRECTIONS: Prepare the dough, knead well and let rest. Saute onion, add ground beef/chicken

COMMUNITIES

example was R. Mordechai (1850-1936) who was known as Mullah Murad and was a leader of Mashhadi Jews in Iran, India, and Jerusalem.

4. Persian Jews Are Not Technically Sephardim

The tomb of Esther and Mordechai in Hamedan, Iran

10 facts about Persian Jews A short history of life before and after the Purim story

European Jews sometimes lump all Middle-Eastern Jews together under the general rubric of Sephardic. However, Persian Jews have their own ancient traditions that far predate the rise of Sepharad in the 10th century. It is more accurate to refer to Persians, Sephardim and others from the region, as Eidot Hamizrach, “Communities of the East.”

5. Most Jews Have Left Iran Today, the Persian Jewish population is believed to be more than 10,000, the largest of any Middle-Eastern country other than Israel. However, it’s a mere skeleton of the approximately 300,000 Jews who lived there a century ago. What began as a trickle of migration became a stream following the establishment of the State of Israel, and then an urgent torrent following the Islamic Revolution in 1979. That revolution overthrew Pahlavi dynasty under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and replaced his government with an Islamic republic under the rule of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

6. Jews Come From All Over Persia The tomb of Esther and Mordechai in Hamedan, Iran

By Menachem Posner

sian capital city of Shushan (also known as Susa), now the site of the modern city of Hamedan.

1. Jews Have Been Living in Persia Since Biblical Times

2. Several Biblical Figures Are Buried in Iran

Jewish people have been living in Persia (roughly modern-day Iran) since the second part of the First Temple era. In fact, the events of Purim (as recorded in the Book of Esther) took place in the Per-

Iranian Jews (and Muslims) proudly and reverently point to tombs of Mordechai and Esther in Hamedan, Habakkuk the Prophet in Toyserkan (around an hour

away from Hamedan), Daniel the Prophet in Shush (southern Iran), and Serach, granddaughter of the biblical patriarch Jacob, in Isfahan. These reflect the region’s long and rich Jewish history.

3. Their Rabbis Are “Mullahs” Along with the terms rav and hakham, popular among many Sephardim, Persian Jews often referred to their rabbis as mulla, Arabic (and Persian) for “master.” One

Many Persian Jews will tell you that their family are Teherani (from Tehran), Shirazi (from Shiraz), or Isafahani (from Isfahan), and that their family traditions are reflected in cultural nuances, food traditions, and customs that vary from region to region. Even second- and third-generation Americans maintain the identity and practices of their family’s city of origin and often (but not always) marry men and women whose families are from the same region.

COMMUNITIES 7. Their Family Names Are Distinct Many Persian family names contain the given name of a male ancestor (such as Rahamim or Abraham) followed by “zadeh,” “yan,” “pour,” or “far” — producing names like Davidzadeh, Yomtovian, Chayempour, and Nikfar. Others reflect professions or cities of origin (Teherani, Shirazi, Kashani etc.).

8. Most Persian Jews Live in Israel Today the Iranian Jewish community is scattered. The largest concentration (estimated at 200,000 souls) lives in Israel, followed by the United States, which has significant concentrations in Great Neck, a village on New York’s Long Island, and Beverly Hills, California.

Jews at the Yusef Abad Synagogue, also named the Sukkot Shalom Synagogue, in Tehran, Iran in May 2018 * Photo: Mehdi Marizad / Creative Commons

9. Mashhadis Are Different Among Persian Jews, those who stem from Mashhad are a class of their own. In 1839, facing persecution and death, the community “converted” to Islam, all the while maintaining their Judaism in secret. Due to their uniquely perilous situation, many of them relocated several times, including to what would eventually become the Soviet Union (USSR). Even today, Mashhadi Jews maintain their distinct names and customs and typically only marry fellow Mashhadis. Currently, they mostly live in Milan, Italy and Great Neck, NY.

Iran’s Chief Rabbi Yehuda Gerami with members of the community

10. There Is Still Jewish Life in Persia Today, Jews in Iran are mostly concentrated in the major cities of Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan. They maintain kosher food production, synagogues and mikvahs. A yeshiva and kollel were opened by Chief Rabbi Yehuda Gerami who receives support from the Chabad movement and the Alliance of Rabbis in Islamic States (ARIS). Despite ongoing conflicts with Israel and the use of “proxy armies” to assist Hamas, the Jewish community has a representative in the Iranian parliament (majles) and is generally tolerated within the Muslim society.

Keya Tehrani and Jonathan Tehrani, the father and son owners of Coffee X Change in Tucson, trace their roots to Tehran

Iran’s Chief Rabbi Yehuda Gerami officiates a wedding in the community

11 A woman prays at the Yusef Abad Synagogue, also named the Sukkot Shalom Synagogue, in Tehran, Iran in May 2018 * Photo: Mehdi Marizad / Creative Commons

VOICES

Happiness: The ultimate revenge By Tzvi Freeman Most people know me as an amiable kind of guy, not too good at holding a grudge, eager to get along with everybody. Smiles, handshakes, and even warm, real hugs go easy for me.

of us. Keep yourself away from him, your children away, and especially your teens. He should not be admitted to any place of worship or community event. I’m even going to reveal his identity, for the protection of the community. He goes under several names. Sometimes Yetzer Hara, sometimes Big Dark Thing, Inadequacy or Addiction; or the Beasties or the Hormones.

But there’s one guy for whom I have no niceness, no pleasant words, certainly no hug, not even a handshake. Look, I’m not hiding anything here—plenty of times I’ve returned his greetings with a blunt “get lost.” Or just ignored him entirely as though he does not exist. Okay, that’s nasty. But considering the damage this guy has done to me and to my family over many years of my life— deliberately and maliciously wrecking everything I ever built up, backstabbing, ridiculing, lying and cheating—I feel my attitude is justified. I’m not ready to forgive, either. As long he does not relent—and that seems a very distant likelihood—I would be putting myself at serious risk by doing so. Instead, I’ve searched for years to find ways to take revenge, to hurt him as much as he has hurt me. Just recently I found such a strategy. Something that causes him to shudder in distress and agony, to writhe in pain and

Photo by Tim Mossholder / Unsplash

anguish. And just watching that—look, I’m not proud to say this, but it’s true— that brings me great delight. And it’s so simple. All I have to do is look him straight in the face and smile. Yes, smile, look happy—even if I’m not really feeling that way inside. Even if I’m in the throes of recovery from his latest antics and bullying. Even at those times I feel the least like smiling—look, if the actors in Hollywood can put on a show, I can do

the same. And it’s worth it. It becomes so much easier when I see how much that smile disturbs my nemesis, how paled he is by it, how much it turns his stomach to see me happy, unperturbed and calm. Which all makes sense. After all, what’s his motive in everything he’s done to me? Nothing more than his screwy pleasure in seeing me down. Down, under his thumb, hurting through his conniving. Once I’m down, I become an easier target for more of his ploys. He can trap me, blame me, make me feel like a piece of dirt and pull me into any sort of inanity he wants. So when he sees I’m smiling, enjoying life and celebrating it, boy, does that pain him. I can see it in his eyes, as though I’m one of those Japanese monster wasps squirting acid into the eyes of their victims. Stunned and recoiling in shock, he runs to hide back in the filth of his lair. And whaddayaknow, I hear less of him.

I’m telling this to you because this character is still at large. He’s a danger to all

Whatever name he comes under, if he pops up in your life, whatever dumb excuse he gives you—and believe me, he’s a genius at dumb excuses—you gotta know that he’s only there for one reason: To clip the wings of your soul, brutally crush any motivation to move forward, strangle any inspiration you have left, and smear your guts against the pavement, leaving you to rot in the worms and maggots of self-pity and despair. So just do as I do: Smile back. Savor the sweet taste of the ultimate revenge. Will it solve all your problems? No. There’s still work to do—to change, to lift yourself higher. But it’s a heck of a lot easier to climb those mountains without a 500-pound schlemiel clinging to your neck. For one thing, you can start breathing again. Sure, he may return and scream, “Idiot! Why are you smiling! Don’t you realize how stupid you look with that dumb smile? Don’t you realize how badly I’ve messed you up?” But then you can just answer him, “I’m a Jew and I don’t serve you. I serve the One Above, in an act of love. He runs the whole wide world, and even though I have nothing to rhyme with that, I’ll smile as much as I want. Too bad, you lose.” -Tzvi Freeman is the author of Bringing Heaven Down to Earth and Wisdom to Heal the Earth

VOICES

A Random Door in Jerusalem By Mordechay Granevich

your About 20 years ago, when I was in my late eens.teens, I would travel around with a musician placefriend looking for opportunities to make people evenhappy. We carried a guitar, a darbuka, and lots pro-of positive energy. We wanted to break down walls between people, open hearts and forge nder new connections. We wanted to relate to others Hara,in a spontaneous and loving way. Several nights uacya week we would drive around Israel—even afHor-ter a long day’s work - looking for opportunities to connect. We were that inspired.

if he In the course of our excursions, we found that b ex-there were places where it was easy to interact he’s awith people and places where it was more difficult. If we would enter a military base, for insknow tance, or come across a group of young people n: Toin a park, it was the simplest thing to stir their rushhearts. People were already waiting for an emoangletional connection, and as soon as we would start mearplaying, they would join right in. With all the avingmusic, singing and talking, by the time the eveots ofning was over we would always have several new friends.

Other nights, however, we had no specific desSavor tination. And so, we would randomly knock on nge. doors. Beautiful mansions, simple apartments — it didn’t matter to us. But the hardest part No.was always the moment after we rang the bell. e, to ck of “Who’s there?” the reply would come. tains “A couple of young guys trying to spread some nging happiness.” start “Must be a mistake,” they would say, “we didn’t order it.” or “I already gave at the office,” eam,or “Sorry, I don’t have the key.” We once got that youlast answer from every apartment in the builthatding. Imagine that, a whole building of people badlyhopelessly locked in their apartments without keys. At times like that, my friend and I would exchange wry glances and move on. But I honestly don’t blame people; I’m not sure that I him,would have opened the door, either. serve runs But when someone did open the door, ah! The ugh Ievents that would unfold, the stories we could smi-tell — they could fill a book. ose.” Late one night, we knocked on a door in a Jerusalem apartment complex and waited through Brin-a long moment of silence. Then, from inside, we sdomheard a meek reply, “Who’s there?” It was the voice of a woman who sounded truly broken. “Two guys trying to spread a little music and happiness,” we answered.

Photo by Tim Mossholder / Unsplash

Another moment of silence and we prepared to leave. Then, the bolt turned, and a middleaged woman opened the door. Her graying hair was unkempt, her clothing disheveled. Her face was wet with tears. Behind her, we could see that the house was a mess, and it was obvious that something tragic had occurred. But she invited us in, and we played and sang for her, until, finally, we saw some light in her eyes. When we finished, she asked us, “Are you sure that you’re human beings?” Her voice trembled. We looked at her, questioningly, and she continued.

Mazel Tov Michelle and Richard Cozza May you share many simchas In your new home In the years ahead

Madeline Friedman Vice President, ABR, CRS, GRI

520.907.4141 TucsonHomeFinder@aol.com www.TucsonAZHomes.com

“I’m going through a very hard time in life right now. It’s too painful for me to bear. Just before you knocked, I was sitting on the couch … I couldn’t even move … but I said to G‑d, ‘If You are really there, please, please, do something. Send an angel to bring a little joy to my heart.’ And then, you knocked. And so, I’m asking, are you sure you aren’t angels from heaven?!” We smiled and thanked her and played another song. When we left, she closed the door, but another door remained open. - Mordechay Granevich is an Israeli musician, author, and teacher of Torah. This story originally appeared in Hebrew and told to Rabbi Eliezer Shore

LOCAL

Welcome to town:

Casey Weiss By Benjamin Weiss Casey Weiss was born in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood in New York and was raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He studied in Yeshiva in England and earned a Bachlers degree in psychology from the Carleton University in Ottawa. He taught English, business, and drama at the Suzhou International Foreign Language School in Suzhou, China. He currently serves as the Outreach Coordinator for Coyote TaskForce which provides employment services for adults dealing with mental illness and homelessness in downtown Tucson. How long have you been in Tucson? 2 months. What brought you here? I wanted to wander in the desert for another 40 years…

Where did you move from and how is Tucson compared to it? I moved here from Thatcham, a small historic town in Berkshire, UK. It is

surrounded by forests, hillsides and farmland. Tucson’s Jewish community, however small, is massive compared to Thatcham. I was probably the only one who lit a Menorah there. Currently learning and reading: I am currently reading “Shaarei Halachah: A Summary of Laws for Jewish Living” by Zeev Greenwald, and balancing that with “Mysticism and Logic and Other Essays” by Bertrand Russell. Favorite Mitzvah or holiday: I would say Pesach. I love both getting together with family, and cleaning things up. And the meaning of it of course. A cherished Jewish memory: My most cherished memory is sitting on my father’s shoulders, waiting to receive a dollar for charity and a blessing from the Lubavitcher Rebbe at 770 Eastern Parkway. As a child, receiving a dollar translated to being able to buy lots of candy so I was motivated to patiently wait. When my turn came, I told the Rebbe, “I want a bunch!” The Rebbe smiled and gave me a second dollar. My father

reimbursed me for both and gave me two “regular dollars.” The blessed ones were used as decorations on the Sukkah. Tzedakah motto: Case by case and according to people’s circumstances. While I was a student, or when I was working and paying back my student loans, I learned that I could help by volunteering even though I had no money to give. Jewish app on phone: KLBD Kosher London. In the UK, food products aren’t marked so I needed to look up their kosher certification. Go-to Yiddish or Hebrew word: Mechtig (literally mighty) - used in Chassidic circles to say cool or awesome. A favorite historic Jewish figure: Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler (of the 20th century). I drew inspiration from his series “Strive for Truth.” Chabad: In Chabad, you have a home, no matter where you are. I’ve personally seen it

in Shanghai and Bangkok. As they say, where there’s Coca-Cola, there’s Chabad. A hobby: Philosophy, neuroscience, psychology, biotech, sociology and healthy living/nutrition, along with singing, playing guitar, and scuba diving. Comfort food: Grieven (or gribenes - crisp chicken skin cracklings). Define happiness: A moment of grace when we live our lives in a certain way. It’s not something you can force. What I kvetch about: The narcissism of small differences. What I kvell about: Being around good people. Something to look forward to: My brother is coming to visit Arizona, so I’m looking forward to that.

FUN PAGE

Megillah Name Game By Chaim’s Corner

It’s Purim and you are wondering just how to get the children to sit quietly by the reading of the Megillah… let me help you here! The original idea was shared with me and I was able to redesign this brilliant character’s activity sheet, which is sure to entertain your little ones. Every time one of the names of Mordechai, Esther, Achashveirosh, Vashti, or Haman is heard, the sheet is marked by that character.

‫ָהָמן‬

Haman

‫ֶאְסֵתּר‬

Esther

‫בס"ד‬

‫ָמ ְרֳדַּכי‬

Mordechai

‫ַוְשִׁתּי‬

Vashti

‫ֲאַחְשֵׁורוֹשׁ‬

Achashveirosh

EVEN MORE GREAT RESOURCES AT LINKTR.EE/CHAIMSCORNER View the answer at www.tinyurl.com/PurimNameGame

74 BizTucson

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Winter 2022