What an amazing world we live in, with more information and connections at our fingertips than we could ever imagine. This brave new world has come with a price, though, as we’ve gradually replaced human interaction with technological interaction. We have many young people who are not fully equipped for college, the workforce or adult…
By Debra Rich Gettleman, October 2014 The bid is $36 … do I hear $37? There’s $72 from the Gold- blums in Cave Creek … and yes, $180 from the Stein family … do I hear more? Ladies and gentlemen, I have $360 from the Izenstarks in Peoria … going once, going twice, sold for…
By Staff, October 2014 The 2014 annual Mitzvahs & More Expo was held Aug. 24 at the Hilton Scottsdale Resort and Villas. More than 400 attendees strolled among 50 unique event professionals exhibiting such varied party planning services as catering, specialty desserts, table top decor, DJ’s, live entertainment, fashion, flowers, invitations, jewelry, linen, personalized party…
By Janet Arnold, October 2014 It’s been nearly 10 years since Rhonda Ross came up with the idea. She had been to many parties, bar and bat mitzvahs, etc., and realized that “at the end of the day, it’s all a blur.” Enter PictureThisAZ. “We started in 2005 with one photo booth,” she explains. Rhonda…
By Deborah Moon, October 2014 You’ve spent years learning the alef bet, months studying your Torah portion and countless hours completing your mitzvah project … you’ve earned the right to celebrate! For many freshly minted Jewish “adults,” that means a glamorous party full of glitz and glitter. Others want another shot at a favorite activity…
By Janet Arnold, October 2014 While those of us in the Valley and southern Arizona were lamenting the heat and preparing for monsoons, up in the cool climes of Flagstaff a joyous event was taking place. On Aug. 15 Greer Harrison Hanson was celebrating becoming a bat mitzvah through Chabad of Flagstaff. Making the day…
By Deborah Moon, October 2014 When I don’t sleep, I get cranky, irritable and downright irrational. Unfortunately for my family, that happens more often than I’d like to admit. Impulsive behavior, difficulty focusing and emotional reactivity in an adult aren’t likely to trigger an immediate trip to the doctor, resulting in a prescription to treat…
It’s been nearly 10 years since Rhonda Ross came up with the idea. She had been to many parties, bar and bat mitzvahs, etc., and realized that “at the end of the day, it’s all a blur.” Enter PictureThisAZ. “We started in 2005 with one photo booth,” she explains. Rhonda now has six photo booths…
When Justin Friedlander was a 3-year-old in the Chanen Preschool at Congregation Beth Israel, his teacher Carol Berkowitz told his parents that he was indeed exceptional. As a teacher at the school for more than 30 years, she had seen hundreds of kids, so from then on his parents Robert and Janet Friedlander “viewed Justin…
High Holidays are upon us and so is my eternal maternal angst. My oldest son, Levi, loves the High Holidays. He’s 14, loves Judaism and his biggest joy is being able to receive an aliyah on the bimah now that he’s crossed into Jewish adulthood. You’d think I’d done something right on the parenting side…
