During the past two months, Israel has been at the forefront of our minds. Citizens endangered by rocket fire from Gaza and soldiers killed attempting to ensure the security of their nation tear at our heartstrings, as do the deaths of Palestinian civilians put into danger by the Hamas leadership who wage war hiding among civilians. As Operation Defensive Edge winds down (hopefully the latest ceasefire will continue to hold), I’ve been impressed by reports that show Israelis continuing to live life as normally as possible. Undoubtedly the effectiveness of the Iron Dome Defensive Shield in intercepting rockets before they reach their targets has helped them maintain some sense of normalcy. If one waited for terrorism to end, one would never live life. So as we head into the High Holy Days and reflect on our lives of the past year, perhaps it’s time to remember to live the New Year more fully.
Embrace the small moments of life and remember to treasure each day. Our cover story this month reminds us that living a fulfilling life also means thinking of, and acting for, others. Morris Callaman knows the hardship of life as a street kid and now focuses his entrepreneurial efforts on helping others avoid lives of “quiet desperation.” Nothing lifts your soul like seeing someone else benefit from your actions. As we head into the Days of Awe, check out our High Holy Days section. The feature about the Judaism in the Desert exhibit just might give you some thoughts on where you want to spend your time worshipping. For memorable moments of a lighter variety, check out our Arts & Entertainment section; with the end of summer, theaters and musical venues are ramping up to provide enjoyable experiences for everyone. Wherever and however you spend the New Year, remember to relish every moment and treasure everything good in your life.
Shana Tova,
Deborah
Wishing you all a happy, healthy and sweet New Year. Thank you for being the best part of Arizona Jewish Life and Jewish life in Arizona. What a wonderful community we live in!
Shana Tovah u’Metukah
From Publishers Robert Philip and Cindy Saltzman, Deborah, Janet, Kira, Leni and all the Arizona Jewish Life team
