Three unique home tours are happening in November. Whether you want to see what urban living at its finest in Phoenix looks like, or you want to take a peek at beautifully restored homes from the turn of the century. Perhaps you want to take a short drive out Wickenburg way. Whatever tour you pick,…
Fall in Arizona is when the farmers markets in the Valley get back into full swing. These markets are not only a great way to get out and enjoy the cooler weather, but they are also an excellent opportunity to turn a fun, family outing into a learning experience. On a trip to the local…
You know when you hear an iconic theme song from a movie – how that can give you a thrill and make your heart beat a little faster? I had that exact feeling when I was getting ready to enter Dinosaurs in the Desert, the new exhibit at the Phoenix Zoo and was greeted by…
I’m sitting in a beautiful spot in the pristine, upscale neighborhood of Kirkland, WA, right on the shore of Lake Washington. The water is gently lapping at my feet. It’s a beautiful day. The ducks are splashing about, and a cadre of adorable young children race by me and charge into the water happily. I…
Ongoing: Club J at the Valley of the Sun JCC Provides after-school programming ranging from sports to cooking and crafts to Israeli culture and more for those in K-8. Transportation from nearby schools available. Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, 12701 N Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-634-4949 or [email protected], vosjcc.org. J Care at the East…
The word “shinshinim” sounds funny at first, but it has significant meanings. Shinshinim is an acronym for sh’nat sherut, which means “a year of service.” The Shinshinim Young Ambassadors Program brings recent Israeli high school graduates to a variety of Jewish communities abroad. There, the teens immerse themselves into the community and act as a…
Many Americans have lost touch with the origins of Thanksgiving. When you ask someone to explain the reason for the holiday, they often link the holiday to American ideals like democracy, pluralism and freedom of religion. Since most Americans live their lives far removed from agriculture, few remember that Thanksgiving grew out of the same…
“Justice, justice shalt thou pursue.” ~Deuteronomy (16:20) While charitable giving conjures up thoughts of generosity and benevolence, in Judaism the concept is a commandment, an obligation. Helping the poor and needy is a duty in Judaism. Yet beyond fulfilling physical needs, as Jews we also strive to create a better, more just world for generations…
When Starr Sanders was 13, she asked a friend about a tall guy practicing basketball at a Phoenix high school. “Oh, you don’t want to be with him,” her friend advised, “He’s into causes.” At that moment Starr decided that she did want to be with him. It wasn’t long until she and Andy became…
An ethical will is a document that is written to express someone’s deepest personal values in order to pass those along from one generation to the next. It is not legally binding. This practice, though it dates back to biblical and medieval times, resurfaced in the Jewish community around the 19th century and more recently…
