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Tradition, Inspiration and Celebration · October 2021 - Cheshvan 5782

Published by Chabad Tucson

After the holidays How to actualize your new year’s resolutions

Food on a mission Persian expat cooks to keeps her heritage alive

Judaism 101 The inner-workings of the Jewish calendar

Covid’s other impact Mental health experts on 8 ways teens are affected

The blessing of water EPA’s former consultant John Jones on Tucson’s natural resources

ESSAY

7 ways to make your new year’s resolutions last The Jewish outreach and education network of Southern Arizona 2443 E 4th Street, Tucson, AZ 85719 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Rabbi Yossie Shemtov REBBETZIN

Chanie Shemtov OUTREACH DIRECTOR

Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin PROGRAM DIRECTOR

By Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin The Jewish community recently completed a month that was a marathon of holidays, beginning with Rosh Hashanah—the Jewish New Year. We prayed a lot, fasted a little, ate plenty, sang and celebrated with family and friends. And we made resolutions, striving to improve ourselves.

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

Resolutions, though, are notorious for not typically lasting long after they’re made. But it doesn’t have to be that way. The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of righteous memory, offered a number of suggestions to help you make resolutions and keep them long-lasting and meaningful. Here are seven of them:

EDITOR

Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin

1. Action is better than inaction.

COPY EDITORS

Suzanne Cummins Tzirel Lite CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Yehuda Altein, Feigie Ceitlin, Libby Herz, Abigail Klein Leichman, Danit Schusterman, Benjamin Weiss PHOTOS

City of Tucson, Ivy Studios Photography, Karen Sampson, Jacqueline Soffer and Britta Van Vranken

It’s easy to get lost in calculation and contemplation over which would be the best course of action and whether a specific action will really make a difference. The truth is that every good deed — even a minute one — is better than inaction. So make a resolution. 2. Keep it attainable.

SPECIAL THANKS

Chabad.org, israel21c.org EDITORIAL INQUIRIES OR ADVERTISING

Phone: 520-955-9680 Email: info@ChabadTucson

Keeping Jewish is published in print periodically by Chabad Tucson and is distributed free in Tucson and around Southern Arizona. Chabad Tucson does not endorse any products or services reported about or advertised in Keeping Jewish unless specifically noted. The acceptance of advertising in Keeping Jewish does not constitute a recommendation, approval or other representation of quality of products or services, or the credibility of any claims made by advertisers including, but not limited to, the kashrus of advertised food products. The use of any products or services advertised in Keeping Jewish is solely at the user’s risk and Chabad Tucson accepts no responsibility or liability in connection therewith.

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.

On the one hand, your resolution should push you out of your comfort zone—it should be a little bit more than you feel you can easily attain. But on the other hand, you should keep it practical and realistic, to help ensure it lasts. To people who spent the day at work and wanted to study in the evening, the Rebbe suggested they learn the shorter tractates of Talmud and the practical laws of Judaism—smaller doses of study that would be conducive following an overwhelming day. 3. Be specific. A vague, all-encompassing resolution is one that is easily evaporated. Instead of saying “I will be a kinder person,” say “I will act more kindly to my colleagues

Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin. Photo: Britta Van Vranken

at work.” So be specific on the timing and scope of your resolution. 4. Tell the world. Publicly announcing your resolution adds accountability, and creates a network of loved ones who can remind you of your resolution, encourage you to stick to it, and help you out if the going gets tough. 5. Start Right Away. Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, wrote that “Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.” The Rebbe, however, focused on immediacy. Anything good that is worth doing is worth doing now. Don’t wait for tomorrow; get your resolution in full swing. 6. Take it day by day. The best way to get a huge project done is to break it into smaller, more manageable pieces. A person once asked how to reach a greater level in study and the Rebbe responded: “by taking it step by step.” In the book The 5 AM Club, Robin Sharma called it “day-stacking.” He explained

that small things done daily are way more important than big things done once in a while. By enhancing a skill by just one percent every day, you amount to a 365 percent improvement over a year. 7. Make a reminder. Making your resolution part of your daily routine can increase the likelihood that it gets done, and one way to do that is to set a recurring reminder. A girl realized she had been behaving disrespectfully towards a parent and asked for advice. The Rebbe suggested that she write down the Biblical commandment to “Honor your father and mother” and keep it in her pocket to be read every so often. A positive resolution is a powerful thing. Often, after deciding to do something you always thought you couldn’t, you find the inner strength to get it done. And, as the Rebbe taught, when you take upon yourself a good decision, even if you don’t necessarily see how it will naturally happen, G-d grants you additional energies to take you across the finish line. Good luck! --Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin is the Outreach Director of Chabad Tucson

NEWS

TV personality Meghan McCain, actress Noa Tishby and Arizona House Rep. Alma Hernandez at the “No Fear: A Rally in Solidarity with the Jewish People” on July 11, 2021, in Washington, DC. Photo: Ted Eytan

New course explores best response to rising antisemitism This fall, a new four-session adult education course from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI), titled Outsmarting Antisemitism, will be exploring the absurdity of antisemitism—and how to beat it with purpose, positivity and pride. Using history, Talmudic sources, Jewish mysticism, and contemporary expert analysis, the course addresses some of the niggling questions we grapple with as individuals and as a community. Why does antisemitism persist? How can we make hate go away? How can we counter Israel-focused antisemitism and prevent our own youth from unwittingly lending

their voices to antisemitic agendas? Informative, interesting, and empowering, Outsmarting Antisemitism is well suited for community leaders and laypersons alike. “All those who care about religious freedom, both Jews and others, confront a disturbing increase in antisemitism worldwide,” said Cary Nelson, past president of the American Association of University Professors. “It is no longer enough just to be opposed to antisemitism. We all have to be knowledgeable about its history and current manifestations if we are to be equipped to combat its spread. That is why this course matters.”

“What distinguishes the present moment is the rise of antisemitism simultaneously on all fronts,” said Natan Sharansky, former refusenik and chairman at the Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy. “To succeed in the struggle against these dangerous phenomena, we have to confront antisemitism on all fronts simultaneously. Therefore, this course from the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute is very important.” The four-week course is open to the public and is designed to appeal to people at all levels of knowledge. It will be presented at two dates and locations

in Southern Arizona (both in-person and over Zoom): Rabbi Boruch Zimmerman will be teaching it on Tuesdays, 4:00-5:30 PM beginning Nov. 2 at Chabad of Oro Valley, 1171 E Rancho Vistoso Blvd #131, Oro Valley, AZ. Registration at jewishorovalley.com Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin will be teaching it on Wednesdays, 7:00-8:30 PM beginning Nov. 3 at Chabad Tucson - Young Israel, 2443 E 4th St, Tucson, AZ. Registration at ChabadTucson. com/JLI

FEATURE

The blessing of water Tucson’s drinking water is a process that is led from Above By Libby Herz

The Central Avra Valley Storage and Recovery Project (CAVSARP)

“Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who spreads forth the earth above the waters.” (Siddur, Morning Blessings) Water. It flows from the kitchen sink, the spout of the showerhead, and the fill pipe into the swimming pool. It feels like it is everywhere, but that is something of an illusion.

Jews have learned about the capriciousness of the water supply throughout our history. We had a lot of adjusting to do once we arrived in the Promised Land after having lived in Egypt where the Nile provided water in abundance. Israel’s geographical location made it dependent upon the rain, which was unnerving. Although heavy rain meant a good harvest and plenty of drinking water, the absence of rain meant the opposite. Jews prayed to G‑d to bring

the rain when it was most needed. “We are just coming off the holiday of Simchat Torah,” says Rabbi Yossie Shemtov, Executive Director of Chabad Tucson. “And on the second to last day of Sukkot, Jews begin reciting the blessing for rain.” Those of us who live in Tucson, Arizona - which sits in a high desert valley, surrounded by four mountain ranges - have relied on human ingenuity to provide fresh drinking water for its estimated 544,291 residents. “There is rain in Tucson,” says John Jones, a now-retired Environmental Protection Agency consultant, “but not nearly enough.” In Tucson, underground water that flowed into wells had been the sustaining

water source since the 1800s when Tucson was a hotspot for copper mining, which was and remains a water-intensive industry. Then, during World War II, Tucson became an active training base for pilots, which led to explosive growth in the area, and the need for even more freshwater. Water scarcity was a growing and significant risk, so in November of 1992, the Central Arizona Project (CAP) was finally approved (after thirty years of planning at the cost of $4.4 billion). CAP water from the Colorado River flowed through a canal that stretched across the desert and reached Lake Pleasant. From there, the water flowed uphill into Tucson. This was indeed an ingenious solution to the water scarcity problem, but it turned out to be a very imperfect one.

In 1993, thousands of customers began to notice a white cast of mineralization on their faucets. Things only got worse. When red, thick water burst forth from their showers and sinks, smelling of rotten eggs and chemicals, Tucsonans were overwhelmed with home disasters. Pipes and water heaters burst, and homes were flooded with contaminated water. It was discovered that CAP water contained acid that was eating away at pipes. Chemicals such as ammonia and chlorine, which were meant to disinfect the water, were having the opposite effect. It was also discovered that the water was contaminated with high amounts of TCE, a cancer-causing substance used to clean airplanes. Tucsonans were up in arms. Initially, officials of the water department claimed that the water was safe to drink and that

John Jones, former consultant of the Environmental Protection Agency

furthermore, the problem would clear tomers began up on its own. That’s when John Jones mineralization stepped in. He volunteered to become nly got worse. acting director for the water department from to help through the crisis. He went on smelling of television that very night. “I told the ucsonans people of Tucson that we were sorry this me disasters. happened,” Jones recalls, “and I’m here to st, and homes say: don’t drink the water!” ated water. Jones helped arrange for filters to be water installed in homes. He also organized ating away at trucks of bottled water to be delivered to ammonia and all residents in need of water. A call-in t to disinfect system was set up, and the government effect. compensated Tucsonans for damaged was pipes, washing machines, sinks, and TCE, heaters. clean The original director of the water department resigned, and Jones, who rms. Initially, originally agreed to take on the role of ment claimed acting director for six weeks, stayed and that on for another year-and-a-half. Today,

the water delivered to Tucson from the Colorado River goes through a very natural cleansing process. Water is placed into an aquifer in the Avra Valley where it is allowed to sink into the ground to recharge the groundwater. Once recharged, the freshwater is pumped to the surface and held in a reservoir. Only then is it delivered to Tucson Water customers. “The ground is a natural cleanser,” says Jones. “Nothing can match it in terms of treatment.” Rabbi Shemtov points out that the solution to pure water in Tucson lay in the miraculous cleansing abilities of the natural, G-d-made earth. “Even when we have human ingenuity to help solve water scarcity, we need to realize that every drop of water is a blessing from G-d,” he says. Indeed, ask any resident of Tucson.

JUDAISM 101

The inner workings of the Jewish calendar By Yehuda Altein 1. It Is Used to Calculate Holidays, Bar Mitzvahs, and Yahrzeits The Jewish calendar is the structure upon which all Jewish holidays are ba‑ sed. The High Holidays, Sukkot, Cha‑ nukah, Purim, Passover and Shavuot are always celebrated on their specific dates on the Jewish calendar. (For example, Rosh Hashanah is always celebrated on 1–2 Tishrei, and Passover always begins on 15 Nisan.) Other notable occasions that follow the Jewish calendar are bir‑ thdays, yahrzeits, bar mitzvahs and bat mitzvahs. 2. It Was Given to Moses at the Exodus Exactly two weeks before the Exodus from Egypt, G‑d told Moses and Aaron: “This month [Nisan] shall be for you the head of the months,” setting into motion the Jewish calendar and its unique for‑ mat. In fact, this was the very first com‑ mandment G‑d gave to Moses. 3. The Greeks Tried to Abolish It Illustration photo by Jacqueline Soffer

The Chanukah story begins with the persecution of the Jews by the Syrian Greeks. Recognizing the crucial role of the calendar in Jewish life, the Greek king Antiochus decreed that the Sanhedrin was forbidden to sanctify new months (see below). Led by the Maccabees, the Jews defied the royal edict, culminating in a victory over their oppressors and the creation of a new Jewish holiday in our calendar. 4. It Follows the Lunar Cycle, But Is Still Aligned with the Seasons Unlike the Gregorian calendar, which follows the solar cycle (of about 365.25 days), the Jewish calendar follows the lu‑ nar cycle, which means that the year is comprised of 12 lunar months (of appro‑ ximately 29.5 days each).

Nevertheless, the Jewish calendar is not solely lunar. Due to the 11‑day discre‑ pancy between the solar year (365 days) and the lunar year (29.5 × 12 = 354), lu‑

nar calendar dates are not tied to the sea‑ sons. If a certain day occurs this year in the spring, in a few years it will regress to the winter, and so on. On the Jewish calendar, referred to as a lunisolar calendar, the dates are alig‑ ned with the seasons. For example, Pas‑ sover must be celebrated in the spring. In order to prevent a regression, every two or three years a thirteenth month is added (more on that below). 5. The Names of the Months Came from Babylonia Scripture generally describes the months based on their place in the calen‑ dar—e.g., third month, fourth month, and so on. The Hebrew names of the months as we know them today were brought to Israel from Babylonia at the onset of the second Jewish commonwealth, approxi‑ mately 350 BCE.

6. Months Are Either 29 or 30 Days In the Gregorian calendar, most months are either 30 or 31 days (because 365 ÷ 12 = 30.4). In the Jewish calendar, since the lunar cycle is about 29.5 days, all months are either 29 days (known as “missing” months) or 30 days (known as “complete” months). Most months have a set number of days (Nisan—30, Iyar—29, Sivan—30, Tammuz—29, and so on). There are two exceptions: Mar‑Cheshvan and Kislev can be either 29 or 30 days (see below). 7. Leap Years Have Thirteen Months In the Gregorian calendar, every four years an extra day is added, creating a leap year—a year with 366 days instead of 365. In the Jewish calendar, however, leap years have an additional month. The Torah specifies that Passover must

be celebrated in the spring and Sukkot during autumn. This poses a problem, as the lunar year is eleven days short of the solar year, and any given date will poten‑ tially regress from one season to the next. In order for the festivals to retain their positions relative to the seasons, an ad‑ justment must be made to enable the lunar calendar to maintain harmony with the solar cycle. To do so, years are grouped into 19‑year cycles. In the 3rd, 6th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 17th and 19th year of every 19‑year cycle, another month (Adar) is added. Such a year is called “shanah m’uberet,” literally “a pregnant year.” 8. A Year Can Be Between 353 and 385 Days Long The months of Mar‑Cheshvan and Kis‑ lev are variable. On any given year they can both be 29 days; they can both be 30 days; or Mar‑Cheshvan can be 29 days

g and Sukkot a problem, as ys short of the will potenon to the next.

while Kislev is 30. Based on this, any given year can contain either 353, 354, or 355 days (or in a leap year: 383, 384, or 385 days). When both months are 29 days, the year is known as chaseirah (missing); when both are 30, the year is shleimah (complete); and when Mar-Cheshvan is 29 days and Kislev is 30, the year is k’sidrah (regular, meaning these two months follow the alternating pattern of the rest of the months). 9. There Are Four New Year Days In addition to Rosh Hashanah (1 Tishrei) being the first day of the year, there are three more dates that are considered “New Year days” with regard to specific laws and rituals: 1 Nisan, 1 Elul, and 15 Shevat. Of the three, the most wellknown is 15 Shevat, also known as Tu B’Shevat—the New Year for Trees. 10. The First Month Is Halfway Through the Year Nisan is the first month on the Jewish calendar. Before the Jews left Egypt, on the first day of the month of Nisan, G‑d said: “This month shall be for you the head of the months.” Thus the peculiarity of the Jewish calendar: The year begins on Rosh Hashanah, the first day of the month of Tishrei, but Tishrei is not the first month. Rosh Hashanah is actually referred to in the Torah as “the first day of the seventh month.”

o retain their an ado enable the ain harmony so, years are 11. New Months Were Originally DeIn the 3rd, termined Based on Lunar Sightings and 19th year nother month Originally there was no fixed calendar. year is called Each month, the Sanhedrin—the rabbi“a pregnant nical supreme court—would determine whether that month would contain 29 or 30 days, depending on when the following and 385 month’s new moon was first sighted.

and Kisven year they an both be 30 29 days

On the 30th day of every month, the Sanhedrin began accepting witnesses who claimed they had spotted the new moon the previous evening. If the witnesses would pass the court’s rigorous in-

terrogation, the Sanhedrin would “sanctify” the new month, proclaiming that day the first of the month. The previous month was now retroactively determined to have had only 29 days. If no witnesses came on the thirtieth day, then the next day, the thirty‑first day, was automatically declared the first day of the new month, retroactively rendering the previous month a “complete” month of 30 days.

In addition to the names of the twelve (or thirteen) months, each week of the year has its own name, based on the Torah portion read in the synagogue that Shabbat. Mystical sources indicate that we should attempt to gain insight and understanding into the week’s events by delving into the weekly Torah portion. The week’s Torah reading, known as the Parshah, has special relevance to everything that happens during that week.

12. The Calendar We Use Today Was Established in the 4th Century CE

15. Certain Time-Related Laws Follow the Solar Cycle

In the 4th century CE, the sage Hillel II foresaw the disbandment of the Sanhedrin, and understood that we would no longer be able to follow a Sanhedrinbased calendar. So he and his rabbinical court established the perpetual calendar which we follow today. When Hillel established the perpetual calendar, he sanctified every new month until Moshiach will come and re-establish the Sanhedrin.

Although the Jewish calendar follows the lunar cycle, certain time-related laws and customs follow the civil calendar, which follows the solar cycle. Among them is the winter-time request for rain in the Amidah prayer (“vetein tal umatar livrachah”) which we start saying on the night of December 4.

13. Outside Israel, Holidays Have an Extra Day Originally, when there was no fixed calendar, there was no way to determine the exact day of a coming festival in advance. This was because every festival falls on a particular day of a month, and the month would begin only when the new moon of that month was sighted. Once the Sanhedrin had determined that a new moon had been sighted, messengers were dispatched to Babylonia and other far‑flung Jewish settlements to relay this information to them. Since news traveled a lot slower in those days, many communities outside of Israel would not know when the new month had begun in time to celebrate the festival on the proper day. To cover both possibilities, they would celebrate every holiday for two days: the day the holiday would be if the previous month had 29 days, and the day it would be if the previous month had 30 days. 14. Every Week Has a Unique Name

16. The First Day of Each Month Is a Minor Holiday The first day of each month (and sometimes, the last day of the previous month—see below) is known as Rosh Chodesh (lit., “head of the month”). Special prayers are added to the daily services, and we wish each other “chodesh tov,” a good month. Since the 30th day of the month was always potentially Rosh Chodesh (see above), whenever a month has 30 days, the last day is observed as

Rosh Chodesh together with the first of the following month. However, if a month has only 29 days, then the Rosh Chodesh of the following month will be only one day—the first of the month. 17. The First Year Was Only Five Days Long The years of the Jewish calendar are calculated from the creation of the world. Hence, in 2020, it is presently 5780 years since Creation. However, Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, is celebrated on the day Adam was created, which was really the sixth day of creation. Creation itself began five days earlier, on the 25th day of the month of Elul. When we give the number of 5782, we actually mean that it is presently 5781 years and five days since Creation, as those initial five days are considered Year 1, and Adam’s creation marked the beginning of Year 2. * To receive a printed copy of the Jewish Art Calendar of Tucson, email your name and address to info@ChabadTucson.com. For online viewing, visit ChabadTucson. com/calendar

PHOTOS

Off to a great start

The new Jewish year began with an array of activities at local Chabad centers

Soldiers accompany Rabbi Benzion Shemtov of Chabad of Cochise County, on a 4-mile walk from his home in Sierra Vista to the Main Post Chapel at the Fort Huachuca U.S. Army installation where he led a Rosh Hashana service on September 8, 2021. U.S. Army photo by Karen Sampson

Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin of Chabad Tucson leads a havdalah ceremony for residents of the Atria Campana del Rio retirement community at the conclusion of Yom Kippur, September 16, 2021.

Members of the Jewish fraternity Alpha Epsilon (AEPi) help build the sukkah for students at Chabad at the University of Arizona on Sep. 17, 2021

Sig Silverman (L) and Barbara Saylor join Rabbi Ephraim Zimmerman on the Mobile Sukkah of Chabad of Oro Valley. The pickup truck drove around Oro Valley, Marana and Saddlebrooke over the holiday.

Aiden Buchanan recites a blessing on the lulav and esrog in the Sukkah of Chabad of Oro Valley, as Ethan Buchanan and Parker Ingvoldstad look on.

Cut palm fronds were made available for members of the Jewish community to be used over the holiday of Sukkot at La Madera Park in central Tucson, Sep. 16 2021

Share with us your photos to celebrating Jewish life. Email: info@ChabadTucson.com

KOSHER

From Feigie’s kitchen: Mushroom barley soup By Feigie Ceitlin

Mazel Tov

Serves 8 INGREDIENTS: 1 large onion, diced 1 bay leaf, crumbled 3 T oil 1/2 lb variety of mushrooms, sliced 2 T flour 9 c water 2/3 c barley 1 stalk celery, diced 2 carrots, diced salt to taste pepper to taste DIRECTIONS: Saute onion and bay leaf in oil until translucent, add the mushrooms and continue sauteing until golden. Move the vegetables to the side and add the flour, stir until smooth, gradually add the water. (For a meat version, add a piece of flanken when you add the water.) Add in the rest of the ingredients - barley, diced celery, diced carrots, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer for 1.5-2 hours.

Ellen Weiden and Jim Overmyer

For a dairy version, place shredded mozzarella in your personal bowl and then add the soup over it. * 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 products like farfel and couscous. The blessing: Baruch atah A-donay, Elo-heinu Melech Ha’Olam borei minei mezonot.

On the sale of your home. Mazel Tov

share ElMay len Wyou eiden and Jimmany Overmyer Mazel Tov

On the of your home. Simchas insale your new home.

Ellen W eideyou n an d Jim many Overmyer May share On the sale of your home.

Simchas in your new home. May you share many

Simchas in your new home.

Madeline Friedman

Blessed are you L-rd our G-d, King of Photo by Jacqueline Soffer

the Universe, Who creates various kinds of sustenance. Bon appetit!

Vice President, ABR, CRS, GRI Vice President, ABR, CRS, GRI

52502.09.90077.4.1441141 TucsonHomeFinder@aol.com

— Feigie Ceitlin is the program director of Chabad Tucson

www.TucsonAZHomes.com

PROFILE

From Iran with love New cookbook celebrates the rich and diverse cuisine of the Persian Jewish culture

Angela Cohan as a baby held by her uncle Amir Sahimi in their family backyard in Tehran, circa 1966

By Danit Schusterman When Angela Cohan was just 9 years old, her family felt compelled to leave Tehran. The year was 1979. The Pahlavi dynasty under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi had been overthrown and replaced with an Islamic Republic under the repressive rule of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Cohan’s family did not at first believe that they were going to leave Tehran permanently. They boarded a direct El Al flight to Israel, and booked a 2-week stay at the Plaza Hotel in Tel Aviv, thinking they would return home once things quieted down in Iran.

“I remember staying on the third floor of the Plaza Hotel,” Cohan recalls. “It was filled with Persian Jews, all of us anxiously awaiting our return back home.” She says people left all of their belongings in Iran, thinking they will only be away for two weeks. But when weeks turned into months, it was very clear that they would not be going back home.

The majority of Iran’s Jewish population, some 60,000 Jews, emigrated permanently in the aftermath of the overthrow of the Shah. Jews had lived in Iran since 727 BCE, but today, most have been expatriated. Cohan’s mother made the difficult decision to move her family to San Diego for a year. Their extended family stayed in Israel in hopes of returning back to Iran as soon as things calmed down. It was a very difficult time for all of them. “We were the lucky few,” she says, “We left just in time.” Cohan continued her education in southern California, attending UCLA where she studied psychology and achieved Masters’ degrees in Journalism and Mass Communications. She worked as the editor for The Iranian Jewish Chronicle and is currently a contributing writer for Cultural Weekly. When Cohan’s daughter, who was born in Los Angeles, moved back home and asked to share some family recipes with her, Cohan realized the importance of passing down the stories as well as the language,

Angela Cohan (right) with her father Parviz Beroukhim and sister Stella in their front yard in Tehran, circa 1970

history and traditional customs through these treasured recipes. “I realized that if I didn’t document our family recipes and our history, our stories and our rich heritage would soon be forgotten,” says Cohan who is a member of the PEN Center USA literary and human rights organization, Young Story Tellers Foundation and the National Honor Society.

daughter. “I was inspired to compile the specialty recipes of my mother, my late grandmothers, other family members, and friends,” she says. The result is the new 248-page cookbook, “Persian Delicacies: Jewish Foods for Special Occasions,” published by Overcup Press. It is a collection of recipes and designs in which she celebrates the foods of her homeland along with traditions from her Persian Jewish heritage.

Persian cuisine has long been a major influence in food trends, as the royal kitchens of ancient Persian empires were influential and famous for their cooking. Persia, now known as Iran, connects the Middle East with the Far East, and contains influences from ancient Greece, Rome, and many other Asian and Mediterranean influences.

“This book is as much theirs as it is mine,” she says of her extended family circle which contributed traditional recipes. “It is a tribute to my heritage as a Persian Jewish woman as well as an evolution of recipes since living and cooking in the United States for the past three decades.”

Cohan wanted to share that with her

The book features a full spectrum of

PROFILE

Gondi, a Persian Jewish dish of meatballs made from ground lamb, veal or chicken traditionally served on Shabbat

Angela Cohan, author of Persian Delicacies: Foods for Special Occasions

recipes for any type of meal and occasion such as Avocado and Spinach Hummus, Pistachio Pesto, Aashé Anar (Pomegranate Soup), Tahchin with Saffron, Barberries and Pistachios, Dolmeh (Stuffed Peppers), Paneer (Cheese), Joojeh Bademjan (Chicken with Eggplant), Chicken with Dried Apricots and Prunes, Ghormé Sabzi (Braised Beef with Herbs), Khoreshé Beh (Quince Stew), Salmon with Saffron Garnish, Baklava, Fig Cake and Doogh (Yogurt Beverage). “To accommodate the different tastes and lifestyle choices of my readers, I present vegetarian and vegan alternatives to dishes that are traditionally cooked with meat. In addition, I offer many gluten-free and dairy-free options for re-

aders who have food sensitivities or diet restrictions.” “Persian Delicacies” supports the movement toward eating nourishing, whole, and unprocessed foods. The cookbook advocates a mindful approach to eating and savoring every meal. “Recreating these dishes connects me to my roots and brings back the tastes and smells of home for me,” she says. “I hope you enjoy this cookbook as much as I enjoyed creating it.” For more information, visit http://angelacohan.com

11 Cover of the new cookbook Persian Delicacies

HEALTH

Covid’s impact on teens’ mental health Social isolation and lack of routine hit many adolescents hard. Here’s how to help them By Abigail Klein Leichman A year and a half of lockdowns, school closures and social distancing caught adolescents at a vulnerable time in their emotional development, says Dr. Shelly Ben Harush Negari, a physician specializing in adolescent medicine. Many kids have forgotten, or haven’t had a chance to learn, how to conduct themselves outside the home. Others are suffering serious consequences of lost class time and socialization. “Normally, adolescents start shifting their focus from parents to friends. The social aspect is very important for their development and creating their own point of view. But the pandemic is disconnecting them from friends,” says Negari, director of the Center for Adolescent Medicine at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem. How have the past 18+ months impacted adolescents? How can adults help them move forward as we learn to live with Covid-19 and other future pandemics? In addition to Negari, Israel21c.org interviewed clinical psychologist Batya Ludman, a member of United Hatzalah’s Psychotrauma and Crisis Response Unit and advisory board member of Get Help Israel; clinical psychologist Stuart Chesner, director of the Israel Academy for Social and Emotional Learning (a teacher and parent training center); and clinical social worker Adimika (Mika) Smith of Positive Health Counseling. They identified plenty of problems that need addressing but emphasized that not every teenager suffers negative impacts of the pandemic. Some, in fact, have benefited from the extra time with their parents.

Chesner says it’s a case of “The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.”

In other words, kids with a stable family, positive role models, and the ability to learn remotely and independently generally do fine “stuck” at home. Kids in the opposite situa-

tion are more at risk than ever before. Still, pandemic-related issues can affect any adolescent. Here are some of our experts’ areas of concern and practical tips for parents.

BODY IMAGE AND EATING DISORDERS “Zoom created a situation where adolescents always look at themselves [on screen] rather than their teacher and classmates,” points out Negari. “Suddenly I received messages from kids saying they need to look better because others are looking at them, and they want to look perfect when they go back to school.” Heightened obsession with body image can sometimes trigger eating disorders. “I get daily phone calls from teachers, parents and doctors concerning cases of bulimia and anorexia, and treatment programs are flooded,” says Negari. “We see it at an earlier age, and more requests for treatment, perhaps because parents are home more and see what their kids are eating.” Other pandemic-related factors that can lead to eating disorders include being home all day with constant access to food, and irregular sleep cycles that skew the sensations of hunger and satiation. TIP: “Family meals are very important. Even if the kids are living without their usual structures, eating together as a family is useful in preventing eating disorders,” advises Negari.

ABNORMAL SLEEP HABITS “Usually you have daytime and nighttime and now it’s a mishmash — they sleep all day and watch Netflix and text with friends all night,” says Negari. “The delayed sleep cycle has a strong influence on mood and hormones.”

Dr. Shelly Ben Harush Negari, director of the Center for Adolescent Medicine at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem

Dr. Batya Ludman, clinical psychologist based in Ra’anana

TIP: If school is closed, find daytime activities to interest and stimulate your child. “They can find a buddy and go get groceries for someone who is shut-in. They can try new recipes. They could create videos. Ask them what they think they can do rather than be in a lull,” suggests Ludman.

TIP: “We need to make sure our kids are thinking about the future and not getting from us the message that everything is lost and broken,” says Negari. “Adolescents’ brains are developing, and there is so much they can do. Encourage them to volunteer. They want to feel they are part of something and doing something.”

DECREASED MOTIVATION INCREASED ANXIETY “Some kids, especially those with ADD, have a hard time maintaining interest amid the uncertainty and lack of routine and structure at home and school,” says Ludman. “One child I was video chatting with during the day was under her covers in her pajamas. I could see that her room was a mess. I said, ‘Hey, your desk looks cool. Give me a tour of your room.’ She quickly cleaned up and then I got her engaged.”

Negari notes that quarantines and lockdowns are “like heaven” for adolescents with social anxiety. However, staying in their comfort zones gives them no opportunity to practice social skills, adding to their existing anxiety when they are in social situations. Adolescents who thrive on peer companionship, on the other hand, have anxiety about

HEALTH

Reichman University (formerly the Interdisciplinary Center) in Herzliya found that 83 percent of children and teens became addicted to screens during the pandemic.

perhaps a distant family member, where the meeting itself is the goal.”

Negari adds that teens may endanger themselves by making connections to people in the virtual world, and parents should closely monitor this sort of activity.

Whereas adults think more about the future, adolescents focus on the here and now, Negari explains. This fact should affect how parents communicate expectations during the pandemic.

TIP: Parents must be investigative about their children’s virtual encounters, says Smith. “Don’t be afraid to ask questions. They may get annoyed with you, but your questions show you love them and could even save your child’s life.”

MANAGING EXPECTATIONS

“To say that going out with friends is dangerous because they could get infected — it’s too far away for them. Trying to scare them about the future doesn’t work. They need information of what is expected in the next two weeks.”

QUESTIONABLE ROLE MODELS “The primary effect on emotional wellbeing is connected to isolation,” says Chesner, who specializes in teens at risk. “Isolation can be harmful for anyone, but especially for teenagers who are struggling to consolidate their identity and really depend on role models to do that,” he explains.

TIP: Tell adolescents exactly what you expect regarding facemasks, hygiene and distancing.“You can say, ‘I want you to be able to play basketball with your friends, and to do that you need to do 1, 2 and 3,’” suggests Negari. Ludman encourages parents to reward compliance and be consistent with consequences for breaking the rules.

COMMUNICATION GAP Dr. Mika Smith of Positive Health Counseling

Dr. Stuart Chesner, director of the Israel Academy for Social and Emotional Learning

not getting together with friends.

very stressful,” adds Negari. “We see a rise in anxiety, depression and even self-harm.”

Another anxiety trigger is the pandemic itself. “I was seeing kids afraid of going out, afraid of getting covid or bringing it to their family,” says Ludman. “Some have ill family members and that scares them. Some have medical conditions that make them feel very anxious about going to school and seeing their friends.” She finds that kids are more likely to feel anxious about not being able to get vaccinated than about getting vaccinated. “Vaccination gives them more freedom to get out.” Those in unsafe homes can become desperately anxious. “In a normal functioning home, it’s not terrible to be at home for two weeks. When the home is dangerous, two weeks is

TIP: Encourage kids to express their feelings by writing, painting or dancing, suggests Ludman. Many adolescents are open to learning how to do breathing and relaxation techniques to help them self-regulate.

VIRTUAL REALITY “Parents have to limit kids on social media and other forms of screen time,” says Smith. “Research shows that when people are looking at a screen for more than eight hours it changes their brainwaves. They must do something physical outside to stimulate their brains and get off their screens.” A study conducted by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, University of Haifa and

“As a result of being so isolated, teens have been blocked from interacting with many significant role models such as counselors, teachers and even athletes,” Chesner says.

Many adolescents tell Negari that they filter what they tell their parents so that their parents won’t worry.

He notes that kids in lower socioeconomic circumstances tend to have fewer positive role models in their personal sphere.

“Parents can tell their kids, ‘I’m the adult and I’m responsible for you. Don’t worry about me; I’ll manage.’”

“If real-life role models are unavailable, they withdraw more into their fantasy world, creating fantasy identifications – for example, with a gangster rapper — and internalizing values that are unproductive and disconnected from them and their world. That increases all risk factors for any kind of bad outcome.”

However, Ludman adds, “It’s okay to let them know if you are having a difficult time. And when parents get the help they need, it helps the kids.

TIP: Find ways for positive role models to be present in the home virtually, says Chesner. “While we’re used to using digital technology to increase the efficiency of our interactions, we never thought of using it to enhance the intimacy of our interactions and now we need to figure that out. One idea is to schedule a Zoom meeting with a positive role model,

“Even in these uncertain times, let’s communicate the message that we will get through this together, moving forward with positivity.” TIP: Schedule weekly “dates” with each child individually. Let them choose where to go, even for just an hour, and sit and listen to what they have to say.

--Originally published on israel21c.org

LOCAL

Welcome to town

Raquel Schnitzer

Asher Schnitzer, Raquel Schnitzer, Avi Schnitzer, Dr. Cary Schnitzer and Yosef Schnitzer. Photo: Ivy Studios Photography

By Benjamin Weiss Raquel Schnitzer is originally from Southern California where she worked in politics, most recently at the pro-Israel AIPAC organization. She lived in Phoenix over the last 20 years with her husband, a physician and passionate Torah learner, and their three children. She recently worked to establish The Oasis School, a new Jewish High School in Scottsdale.

How long have you been in Tucson? A little over two months. We moved here the night of that huge storm at the end of July. I joke that we brought all the rain.

Smaller and slower-paced. But I have been thrilled to find everything I need here and everyone is so nice!

Jewish app on phone:

A favorite Mitzvah/holiday:

Go-to Yiddish or Hebrew word:

Sukkot. Creating another home outside our home. Hosting a wide variety of people in our sukkah.

Tachles. I am often eager to get to the heart of the matter.

I’m happy when I have a Shabbos table filled with family and friends. A meal with good food and even better conversation and learning.

A historical Jewish figure:

Something to kvetch about:

My great-great many times over grandfather, Rabbi Yosef Zundel of Salant. He provided the spiritual inspiration for the Mussar movement and was a pure embodiment of a passion for Torah learning and modesty.

“What don’t you kvetch about” -- my husband says.

MyZmanim and TorahAnytime.

Laura Scudder’s peanut butter (only nutty).

Happiness:

A cherished Jewish experience: My youngest son’s Bar Mitzvah. Watching him read his Parsha from the Torah in front of the community and put on his tefillin for the first time at the Kotel. It was February of 2020, so it was also a sweet memory of one of the last events in the “time before...”

Chabad:

Point of pride: This past Shabbos, my middle son with Autism beat the entire family in Rummikub.

What brought you here? Currently learning/reading:

Excellent schools and day programs for my children who have special needs. Compared to your hometown, Tucson is...

Overwhelmed with the move. Learning the quickest North/South street to travel in Tucson.

Truly meeting and embracing each Jew wherever they are.

Comfort foods:

I would like to be known for: My challah (it is excellent) and my eager/ meager attempts to make the world around me a little better.

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