In the fall of 2003, Arizona Jewish Theatre Company was producing “The Value of Names,” written by Jeffrey Sweet, who lives in New York. Jeff wanted to come out for the show, but as producing director, I had to tell him that we couldn’t afford to bring him in. He said, “What if we put…
It’s been a long time since World War II; so long that most who were alive during this critical time in our world’s history have long since passed. And meeting Jews who survived the Holocaust is also becoming more and more difficult. Soon, there will be no one left to talk to who knew what…
Rabbi Alicia Magal Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley | jcsvv.org Hanukkah is actually a minor holiday compared to the biblical festivals and High Holy Days. Nevertheless, in America, within interfaith families and even in Jewish homes, there has developed a “December dilemma.” One can decorate one’s home with blue, silver and gold…
Nothing nourishes the Jewish soul like food. Since Sinai, mothers have souped-up our genetic wiring by feeding us love with every bite. Food connects us to one another culturally and religiously, as well as to our loved ones. Where there is food, there are Jews. Conversely, where there are Jews, there is food. Where do…
It’s hard to get an interview with Lisa Benson. She’s a fundraiser, Middle East policy spokesperson, PR professional and issues advocate who flies from appointment to appointment. I managed to catch up with her last month via phone as she was packing for another trip to Washington, D.C. In a way, Benson’s physical travels mirror…
When you’re a kid, school can be a bit of a challenge. Whether it’s dealing with bullies or just making sure you fit in, there are all sorts of gauntlets a child has to contend with just to make it through the day. But what if you were missing something all the other kids had,…
We asked three Arizona rabbis “How can Jewish or interfaith families turn their December dilemma into a positive, meaningful experience for children?” Rabbi Alicia Magal Jewish Community of Sedona and the Verde Valley | jcsvv.org Hanukkah is actually a minor holiday compared to the biblical festivals and High Holy Days. Nevertheless, in America, within interfaith…
There are quite a few stereotypes about Jewish mothers floating around, but here’s one of the more familiar ones: “I want my son/daughter to be a doctor or a lawyer.” You can almost hear your mother’s voice, can’t you? Oy vey. Stereotypes aren’t just created out of the ether. The thing is, many Jewish mothers…
When I was a little kid, my mother took a picture of me and our dog Patches sitting on a bed. We were both 2 at the time, and my mother wrote the caption: “Puppies.” I’ve always had dogs around me, so when I finally got myself into an apartment that allowed pets, I rescued…
According to the the American Cancer Society, nearly 13,000 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer this year. More than 4,000 of those women will die from the disease. Most cervical cancers are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a common virus that is passed along through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity. We now…
