Judaism is not a spectator sport. It is an extremely participatory religion and culture, rich with symbols and practices that bring meaning to milestones in our lives. From the moment we are born until the day we die, the celebrations and commemorations along the way imbue our journey with spiritual significance. They give us a…
Photo by Tressa Toomer/Valley of the Sun JCC The Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center opened its new activity pool and splash pad last week, completing Phase II of The J’s aquatic center renovations. Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane dropped by on July 21 and tried out the splash pad’s water cannon to soak The J’s CEO…
After years of collecting, planning, designing and building, Dr. Paul and Susan Stander finally have their dream house in Paradise Valley. And almost as soon as they moved in last September, they graciously opened their doors to host events for several non-profits that are close to their hearts. Although the house was built new from…
Joseph Specter is excited about his move to Phoenix to assume the helm as president and general director of Arizona Opera. His wife, Kate, spent her childhood in the Valley until the age of 10, so it’s a homecoming of sorts for the Specters and their two daughters, Sophie (8 years old) and Charlotte (4…
One Sunday night a month during the school year, 15 middle school students from across the Valley set aside homework, family, friends and social media to bring joy to the residents of The Palazzo (formerly Brookdale Christown) senior center, where they focused on a different kind of screen time. It was a monthly highlight for…
Photo courtesy Craig Thomas Craig Thomas and Jenna Lee, newlyweds who are both anchors for KOLD 13 Tucson News Now, recently honeymooned in Cuba. While exploring the island, they chose to spend Shabbat morning at Temple Beth Shalom (Templo Beth-Shalom Gran Sinagoga de la Comunidad Hebrea de Cuba), also known as Beth Shalom Grand Synagogue….
David Hazan is a man on a mission. His goal: to save lives on the road by getting drivers to change one habit – put down our cell phones. Period. And the 34-year-old entrepreneur has created a mobile app that succeeds in doing just that, one distracted driver at a time. According to a 2013…
Local, natural, organic … and now kosher! What started as a hobby in Cheri Romanoski’s kitchen over 30 years ago has bloomed into a bustling business. Today, her team is just as busy as the bees that pollinate the prickly pear and produce honey for Cheri’s Desert Harvest. Born in Tucson, Cheri grew up with…
When we think about Hebrew literature, we don’t usually conjure up images of romance novels, detective serials or Westerns. But starting in the Yishuv of the 1930s, these pop culture staples were extremely popular, even as they were shunned by the intellectual establishment. A glimpse into the IsraPulp collection at Arizona State University Libraries offers…
Scott More knows floors. After 40 years in the flooring industry, that’s no surprise. He’s seen trends come and go, and new technologies and materials move the trade ahead. But one thing has remained consistent – well, grown, actually – his passion for the business. Growing up in Chicago, Scott learned the business from the…
