I saw the blinking light on my answering machine and listened to the frantic voice of my girlfriend, Debbie, as I put the groceries away. “Heeeeeelp! Jason says he doesn’t want to have a bar mitzvah anymore. What should I do? We’ve got the date and the place and I’ve hired a DJ already. He’s…
This is Barbara Hofman. She is a grandmother; she is 69 years old; and she is a San-Kyu brown belt in karate, as well as an assistant instructor in tai chi. Go ahead and soak that in for a minute. The story of how she started training in the martial arts begins years ago, with…
The subject of women’s health is naturally tied to a bat mitzvah – for age 12 is when the average young woman will start to experience the time our hormones awaken. The average woman today may want to run away from all of the conflicting information and avoid doctors altogether! Beginning with menses – even…
The word “plastics” is never uttered in the coming-of-age dramatic comedy Hello I Must Be Going. It’s kind of a shame, for Sarah Koskoff’s wry, poignant screenplay evokes The Graduate in so many other ways. Both films unfold in Jewish homes headed by self-absorbed parents and located in upper-middle-class enclaves. Tellingly, none of the assimilated…
Cask 63 | $$$ | 8877 N. Scottsdale Road American Eatery and Wine Bar This place is stunning and owner and chef Brian Feirstein, knows it. From the carefully designed layout to the the visually appealing color scheme and sculpted architectural curves, your eyes will be the first things to feast. My dining companion and…
Fall fashion is here, and one trend that makes a smooth seasonal transition is feminine, ladylike style. Anthropologie put together three outfits featuring this fabulous look: the wrap dress, a Peter Pan collar top and the laser-cut sheath dress. But what are fashionistas in the Southwest saying about these delicate, womanly ensembles, and how can…
The word for love in Hebrew is ahavah, which fits perfectly as a part of Rabbi Judi Ahavah Del Bourgo’s name, as she radiates a positive energy that is hard to describe but easy to feel. Del Bourgo is the new rabbi at Har Zion Congregation of Scottsdale. My first encounter with her was at…
It was all Chinese to me; well, with a touch of Hebrew, and that’s because I was standing in what was once a Jewish Ghetto in Shanghai, China. Shanghai today, a modern metropolis of more than 20 million people, is significantly different than when it was a refuge city for Jewish immigrants escaping World War…
Whenever a new crisis appears, Israelis have been adept at gauging how serious the threat is and whether we need to take the limited steps we have available to protect ourselves as individuals. This is especially true for the residents of southern Israel, who live under a daily missile threat and are still determined to…
Dear Helen: Can you give me some very practical tips to prepare for a phone interview? I know I could do the job if I get it. But there’s a pre-screening interview – 30 minutes with one person – before an interview with the whole team. I need to pass this test to get to…
