Although many people remember Ethan Zohn as the winner of “Survivor: Africa” from 2002, the philanthropist, sports analyst and nonprofit entrepreneur is so much more than a reality TV star. And he attributes his success, primarily, to the Jewish values he learned in his youth. “The Jewish community was a huge part of my upbringing….
The human race faces a serious conundrum. It is estimated that by 2040, we will need to feed more than 9 billion people and there is a growing concern about sustainability and availability of animal-based protein sources. While some companies are looking into edible insects like crickets, Yoram Yerushalmi and his partners at Israeli startup…
Lynn Rae Lowe’s exhibit at the Tucson Jewish Community Center is much more than a collection of beautifully depicted Hebrew letters paying homage to 12 iconic Jewish artists of the 20th century. “Illuminations: Aleph to Tav” is a fitting celebration of the Tucson artist’s 70th birthday, bringing together a multi-layered expression of her vision, knowledge,…
It’s no secret that children learn best when they are physically and actively engaged with a subject. As a teacher, while Ester Vider was homeschooling her two children, she searched for ways to make learning Hebrew more tactile, fun and memorable. Growing up in the United States with an Israeli mother, her children spoke Hebrew,…
When a child is placed in foster care, the transition can be overwhelming and scary. Something as simple as a having their own bed to sleep in can help a foster placement feel more like home. That’s where Arizona Helping Hands steps in. The Scottsdale Airpark-based nonprofit has provided more than 3,300 beds and cribs…
“Last year I read a book called Forbidden Music – I don’t know how I got the book or why I did – which is about composers whose music was forbidden to be performed by the Nazis. I found it fascinating,” says Daniel Asia, composer and professor of music at the University of Arizona. The…
On Nov. 5, Israeli-American singer/songwriter/percussionist Noa brings her distinctive musical style to the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. “I am very happy to be coming back to Arizona,” says Noa. “This tour is very intimate and passionate; it’s a sort of musical biography in many ways, diverse and personal, rhythmic and lyrical. It will…
You may not know Walt Chase by name, or be able to pick him out of the 10 men who make up the a capella group Straight No Chaser. But, if you’ve seen them on tour or seen a video of “The Christmas Can-Can,” you just might recognize him as the “dreidel guy.” Although Walt’s…
Sitting down for an interview at 8 pm on a Tuesday night, after a long non-stop day of classes and meetings, Leah Avuno and Bar Alkaher are still bubbling over with energy and enthusiasm. The Jewish Agency for Israel could not have found a more perfect pair of 18-year-olds to bring Israel to life for…
See a need, fill a need. “It came to my attention that on certain boards of our community women are underrepresented,” says Rabbi Elana Kanter, director of the Women’s Jewish Learning Center in Scottsdale. “I really believe that our strength as a community depends very much on having enough women in leadership roles, together with…
