Everything changed on October 7th, 2023.The world felt different; more frightening, more chaotic, more imbalanced. Collectively, Jews all over the globe felt the horrific pain that Hamas had inflicted. At first, we felt the world had our backs. We believed any civilized culture supported us after the worst genocidal attack against Jews since the…
TUCSONANSBy Phyllis Braun Sadness, anger, hope, and resilience. Todd Rockoff, president and CEO of the Tucson Jewish Community Center (JCC), felt all these emotions and more on a JCC Association Board Solidarity Mission (JCCA) to Israel in January. “I felt a great pull to be there,” he says, to bear witness and “to support our…
New Program Provides Educators With Skills and Approaches to Engage with ‘Complexities Around Conflicts’ Amid new challenges and realities facing Israel and Jewish communities around the world, educators are seeking new skills and approaches to engage with the complexities around conflicts. To meet this demand, The iCenter’s Conflict of Interest (COI) Certificate Program gathers educators from…
A weekly glimpse into the Israel you won’t read about in the news By Sivan Rahav Meir Translated by Yehoshua Siskin Invitation to the Western Wall These days, when there is so much advice going around on how to cope, here’s another suggestion: Come to the Western Wall. Just come. Last week, I…
Major Tal, a devoted platoon commander in the FIDF-adopted 401 Armored Brigade, found himself at the epicenter of the fierce war in Gaza for over two months. Each day, he carried the weight of his duty, fueled by a deep sense of purpose. At home, his wife eagerly anticipated the birth of…
On Sunday, January 14, 2024, it will be 100 days that our hostages are in tunnels in Gaza!!! Please join us this Sunday in a bike ride to commemorate 100 days in captivity for the hostages being held in Gaza. Details below: Sunday, January 14, 2024 Location: Grass area between Scottsdale Civic Center and Library…
By Cindy Saltzman The first time I met Adele Raemer was during a Zoom interview. She wore a T-shirt with Hebrew letters on it that I couldn’t quite make out. When asked what it said, she replied, “Oh, I had the other one on before. I’m bilingual.” She pulled up a matching t-shirt with English…
StandWithUs Selects Area 2023-24 for its Campus and High School Programs In a climate rife with antisemitism and pro Hamas campus rallies, StandWithUs is leading the way by building a growing network of Zionist students who can educate their peers and stand firmly against antisemitism. Through its StandWithUs High School Kenneth Leventhal Intern program…
By Debra Rich Gettleman Dr. Melanie Rich, (no relation), doesn’t necessarily look like a first responder as she sits in her tastefully appointed Scottsdale, AZ office. But she’s been on the ground helping victims cope with trauma for decades. At Ben Taub hospital in Houston in 1975, she was part of the team that…
As Israel and America stand strong against Hamas, Hezbollah, and anyone who supports the massacre of innocent civilians, the desire to help is palpable. But how do you know where and how to give? How do you determine a charity is credible and fiscally responsible? How can you be sure that the money you donate…
