"Fulfilling the Promise," a campaign to fund an operating endowment for the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus in Scottsdale, will be officially announced at the Jewish Community Association annual meeting on Feb. 1. Meanwhile, campaign officials say that several major commitments have already been made toward the campaign goal of $12 million.
"When the Jewish community built the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, we raised $34 million dollars," wrote Joel B. Kramer, the campaign chairman, in an email. "We set aside seed money for an operating endowment but did not continue our efforts to add to those dollars at that time."
Explaining the name of the campaign, he added, "Now, we are fulfilling the promise that we made in building the campus a decade ago."
Approximately 100 people gathered at a Latino-Jewish dialogue at Phoenix College on Jan. 19 to discuss ways in which the two communities can get to know each other and work together on initiatives.
A number of Jewish and Latino community leaders were present at this second such gathering, sponsored by 10 Jewish and Latino community organizations, including the American Jewish Committee, Anti-Defamation League, Valle Del Sol, The Real Arizona Coalition and Temple Chai's Social Justice Center.
About 100 people also attended a prior dialogue, held at Temple Chai on Oct. 12.
Third annual Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival opens
For this year's Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival, just scheduling a lineup of well-made and diverse films wasn't enough, says artistic director Roni Zee.
The festival, now in its third year as a merger of the Phoenix Jewish film festival and the East Valley Jewish Film Festival, will host more directors (three) and show more Arizona premieres than ever before. Of the 11 films scheduled, seven have never been screened in an Arizona film festival, and many of this year's movies will be accompanied by short films and/or special guest speakers.
"Keeping the audience interested and trying to find good films that we can present with a well-balanced program: That's the goal," Zee says.
SPECIAL SECTION: Wonderful Wedding
