BOOK SIGNING WITH AUTHOR MARCIA FINE
Award-winning novelist Marcia Fine released her seventh book and fourth historical fiction novel, Hidden Ones – A Veil of Memories, this March. She will be having a book signing on April 1 from 2-4 pm at the LDV Wine Gallery at 6951 E. First St. in Scottsdale. The event will feature complimentary light bites and wine tasting (for a small fee).
The book explores the lengths the Crespin family must go to evade religious persecution for secretly practicing Judaism – risking discovery, imprisonment and even death – while helping their grandmother, the beloved matriarch of the family, escape from prison during the 17th century Inquisition.
Fine felt this to be a relevant and important topic, since today’s citizens of the Southwest are linked to this piece of history. She explains, “When the Inquisition expanded to open offices in Lima, Peru, Mexico City and Cartegena, Columbia, fear spread through all the areas controlled by Spain. That included almost half of North America. Many traveled north into the Southwest Territories to escape. Today there are many discovering their heritage in Arizona, New Mexico and Colorado through DNA and genealogy.”
Hidden Ones – A Veil of Memories is available in paperback ($16.95) and Kindle Edition ($4.99) on Amazon. For more information, visit marciafine.com.
BETH AMI TEMPLE SPRING CONCERT FEATURES LAN QIU AND HIS FAMILY
Beth Ami Temple is holding a Spring Concert on April 30 from 3-5 pm at 3535 E. Lincoln Dr. in Paradise Valley. Admission is $25 per person and includes light refreshments. The featured artist is Phoenix Symphony violinist Lan Qiu and his talented family of musicians.
Lan, his wife Joy, and sons Ivan and Allen Pan will perform a selection of songs, ranging from Baroque, classical, and romantic eras, as well as Jewish music. Lan has played in the Phoenix Symphony’s first violin section since 2003, and prior to that was a member of the China National Symphony Orchestra. Joy also is a violinist, and both sons play in youth concert groups.
Lan and Joy are familiar faces at Beth Ami Temple. Lan performs the Kol Nidre at Yom Kippur services, and the entire family are members of the congregation.
As expected with people blessed with such talent, music is an important component of the family. “Without music, life is a journey through a desert,” Lan says. “For us, music is all about sharing love and healing of souls, the language of the spirit and strongest form of magic.”
More information is available at bethamitemple.org. Tickets maybe be purchased by calling Donna Horwitz at 602-997-5623 or emailing her at [email protected].
5TH ANNUAL GENOCIDE AWARENESS WEEK AT SCC
An impressive lineup of lectures, exhibits and events are on tap for the 5th Annual Genocide Awareness Week: Not on our Watch, April 17-22, at Scottsdale Community College at 9000 E. Chaparral Road in Scottsdale. Several presentations will be held daily starting at 9 am, as well as an evening lecture or event each day at 6:30 pm. The event is free and open to the public.
Once again, Oskar Knoblauch, one of the most active Holocaust survivors in Holocaust education, will share his story of survival and forgiveness from his experiences during one of the darkest times in our history. Knoblauch’s talk is scheduled for opening day (April 17) at 10:30 am, following a presentation on Native American Genocide at 9 am by Dr. Jaakko Puisto, a history professor with Scottsdale Community College.
“This year is very special because it’s our fifth annual Genocide Awareness Week and that’s a very significant milestone,” said John Liffiton, professor and co-founder of Genocide Awareness Week at SCC. “We learn something each year and keep improving to give those who attend an experience that will help them grow in their knowledge and understanding of genocide and how to prevent these atrocities.”
A new topic and focus added this year is the 1936 Olympics, with lectures, a panel discussion and an exhibit that will be on display for the entire week.
Another exhibit, Genocides of the 20th Century, is on display in the Student Center Lobby. The traveling exhibit delves deeply into the Armenian mass murders, which occurred in the early part of the century, the Holocaust perpetrated by Nazi Germany in the 1930s-40s, and the Rwandan genocide in the mid-1990s. It features photos, archives and historical context of each period. The SCC display is the U.S. premiere of the exhibition. It opened at the Mémorial de la Shoah in Paris in 2015.
Throughout the week, topics to be covered by survivors, scholars, humanitarians and activists, include: The Armenian Genocide, Native American Genocide, Genocide in the Renaissance, Violence and State Repression in the Midst of Refugee Crises, and Genocide in the Age of Climate Change.
For the full schedule of events, visit scottsdalecc.edu/genocide.
IAC ARIZONA’S MIMUNA FESTIVAL
The Israeli American Council Arizona will be holding a Mimuna on Saturday, April 22 from 8:30-11:30 pm at the Arizona Jewish Historical Society at 122 E. Culver St. in Phoenix.
Mimouna is a traditional festival celebrated by Moroccan Jews at nightfall on the last day of Passover and throughout the following day until sundown. Since the celebration coincides with the last day of Passover; breads, cakes and leavened breads previously prohibited from being eaten during Passover are particularly present in the celebration.
The IAC Arizona’s Mimuna will feature a community Havdalah service, traditional sweets reception, cash bar, live music, belly dancers, backgammon tournament, hookah lounge and more. This is an age 21+ only event.
Tickets are $20 per person. Visit azmimuna.eventbrite.com to register.
JEWISH FREE LOAN’S 2017 ANNUAL MEETING
On May 11 at 6:30 pm Jewish Free Loan will convene its annual meeting at Temple Chai located at 4645 E. Marilyn Road in Phoenix.
During the meeting, attendees will hear from keynote speaker Debbie Yunker Kail, executive director of Hillel Jewish Student Center at Arizona State University, who is a Jewish Free Loan Borrower.
She will share her insights on the work of Jewish Free Loan and how she was personally impacted by the interest-free loan she received.
As part of the evening, Ron Blau and Barrett Silver will be honored with the Harry Adler Memorial Leadership Award in recognition of their unprecedented dedication to and leadership of Jewish Free Loan.
In addition, JFL will install the 2017-2018 board of directors, which will include the recognition of out-going president, Larry Moffitt and incoming president, Ira Shapiro. The organization’s newest named loan fund donors and legacy society members will be acknowledged as well.
This event is open to the public. The cost is $18/person, which includes a dairy dessert reception (dietary laws observed). Register by May 1 at [email protected] or by calling the JFL office at 602-230-7983.
WATT INTEGRATION AND BANG & OLUFSEN GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION
Watt Integration, the preeminent audio/video, home integration company in the Valley, will be holding a free Grand Opening Celebration on Thursday, April 13 from 6-9 pm at 8300 N. Hayden Road in Scottsdale. Bang & Olufsen, Danish designers and manufacturers of audio products and televisions will be featured. Enjoy an evening of cocktails, hor d’oeuvres and incredible sound.
Watt designs and manages high-end residential projects and retrofits from initial design to final installation. Their services include lighting, shades and blinds, audio/video distribution, alarm and phone systems and full integration with simple, seamless control. They have been in business for over a decade and their experienced staff has a combined 60 plus years of experience in the field.
For more information, or to RSVP, contact 480-515-9288 or wattintegration.com/events.
