As we ushered in year 5779, I became acutely aware (and particularly proud) of the work we do at the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix year round. It is our mission to strengthen and engage a vibrant Jewish community while providing for Jews in need here in the Valley, in Israel and around the world. We…
With the Jewish New Year nearly upon us, we are excited to let you know all that has been achieved and all that is happening – all made possible through the generosity of our donors, dedicated volunteers and committed professional staff. We are excited by our momentum and have several new initiatives and programs to…
I just returned from a most remarkable men’s mission in Israel experience hosted by our Federation and co-chaired by Steve Hilton and Jay Stein. More than anything else, this trip was an important reminder that Judaism is not only defined by religious ritual, but also by the land that G-d promised to Abraham. It was…
In the words of Rodney Dangerfield, Shavuot, “Can’t get no respect.” Even Rodney likely knew little about the holiday. How can Shavuot compete with hamantaschen on Purim, gelt and jelly doughnuts on Chanukah, matzah on Passover or the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah? Shavuot has no dire consequences like Yom Kippur. And yet, poor old Shavuot…
For millennia, Jews have gathered to retell the tale of their deliverance from bondage in Egypt. We continue that long, unbroken tradition every Passover. It comes from the story of the tenth plague when the angel of death comes to claim the firstborn son of every Egyptian household. Jews were instructed to paint their doorposts…
March is National Women’s History Month and throughout our history, women have played a significant role, from the first Jewish woman, Sarah, to Purim’s celebrated Queen Esther. For those who do not know the story, King Ahasuerus has unknowingly taken a Jewish woman to be his queen. Her cousin Mordecai uncovered and prevented a plot…
So, we blinked and here we are already into the second month of 2018. That means we begin our campaign for Jewish needs anew, and it’s not the same old, same old. Our board recently adopted a new mission statement, To engage and strengthen a vibrant Jewish community while providing for Jews in need locally,…
From the time we were wearing footie pajamas (December is pretty cold in New York), my younger brother and I would lead the family in the blessings over each night of Hanukkah. We couldn’t wait to see what presents awaited us! Some of my favorites were Rock’em Sock‘em, Robots, Battleship, a National Geographic viewfinder, Spirograph…
We closed 5777 with great sadness as hurricanes wreaked havoc in Texas, Florida, the Caribbean and Puerto Rico and, as we ushered in 5778, an earthquake shook Mexico. It is times like these that we draw together to help those in need. Helping others is founded in our basic values of tikkun olam, repairing the…
As we begin the year 5778, I am reminded how grateful I am for our traditions and rituals and that we, as the Jewish people, have been gathering together to keep our traditions alive over millennia. I was fortunate to spend the High Holidays with many friends and with family. During that time, it was…
