Pictured above: B’nai B’rith Campers play ga-ga. Ga-ga has been a favorite game at Jewish summer camps for decades. Recently, the game has gained mainstream popularity and can be found at camps and playgrounds around the world. Deemed a “gentler version of dodgeball” the game is played in a ga-ga pit. The ga-ga pit is…
Photo courtesy B’nai B’rith Camp By Jane Larkin Shabbat at camp is “cool” and adds a sense of sacredness to the camp experience. My son just returned from his second summer spent at the Union for Reform Judaism’s Greene Family Camp. While Sammy is glad to be reunited with his puppy, he misses his other…
By Lindsey Silken & Jenni Zeftel You’re starting to think about summertime and what on earth you’re going to do with the kids for two months – err – we mean, how to provide your darlings with a meaningful and fun summer experience. And if it gets them out of the house? Win-win. Maybe you’ve…
Pictured above: No more boring baguettes! Colored stones with baguette-shaped diamonds paired with rounds are a new trend in bridal jewelry. Becoming engaged is a public declaration of a couple’s love and commitment to one another. The symbol of that love is the engagement ring – often a round solitaire with a simple band. Classic,…
A wedding day is filled with symbolic tradition, from religious customs to the never-ending circle reflected in the rings and the types of flowers. Music sets the mood for every wedding, and it’s an easy place to put your own spin on the celebration. Whether you forgo the traditional bridal march entirely or simply look for an…
Pictured above: The Goldman Mikvah, located at Congregation Beth Tefillah in Scottsdale. There are many reasons to visit a mikvah, or ritual bath. Jewish law requires that one immerse in a mikvah as part of the conversion process to Judaism and woman are required to immerse before getting married and when observing the laws of…
Gone are the days when every woman’s right of passage was when she received her very own copy of Emily Post’s 1922 book, Etiquette: In Society, In Business, In Politics and At Home. When asked about anything related to manners or social conduct, a key phrase would be repeated, “According to Emily Post…,” followed by…
By Lynda Barness You are now engaged! NOW WHAT? Here are five things to consider before jumping in, from a Master Wedding Planner: Breathe. I’m not kidding! Take some time to enjoy your engagement – and each other. And your families. And your friends. Get to work. When you are ready to start working (and…
Eating Chinese food on Christmas is a tradition for many families. The Scottsdale is proud to offer a new dining experience in Kitchen West Restaurant this year. Inspired by the humorous and beloved holiday movie, “A Christmas Story,” this dinner serves to help remind us of the true meaning of the holidays: togetherness. Whether your…
By Aaron Wolf Do you believe in miracles? The real-life kind? I’m in my car and on my way to Camp Hess Kramer off the Pacific Coast Highway in Southern California, one of two camps founded by my late Grandfather Rabbi Alfred Wolf for the Wilshire Boulevard Temple. I’m close to returning to his legacy…
