Honors

Last year, Valley Beit Midrash (VBM) launched its Teen Mussar Fellowship Program. VBM selected 10 outstanding teens in the community for a course of eight workshops focused on Jewish character development (mussar). The workshops began in fall 2016, and the fellows received a $500 stipend for completing the program.

Six young professionals recently earned their Orthodox rabbinical ordination (smicha) after studying for two years with Rabbi Sholom Skolnik at the Phoenix Community Kollel.

Scottsdale Post 210 of the Jewish War Veterans has installed Rochel Hayman as its new commander. She’ll replace outgoing Commander Michael Chambers, who is now the commander of the Jewish War Veterans Department of the Southwest. Hayman is the first female commander of Post 210.

The board of directors of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix (JFC) has selected a new chair, two new board members and several new officers.

Jewish Free Loan announced four new named loan funds at its annual meeting held May 11 at Temple Chai.

Valle del Sol will honor four mothers at its fifth annual Mom of the Year ceremony from 8:15-9:30 a.m. Friday, May 12, at the Phoenix Convention Center, 100 N. Third St. Honorees are Lin Sue Cooney of Hospice of the Valley, Elisa de la Vara of the Arizona Community Foundation, Marchelle Franklin of the Phoenix Police Department; and Miriam Weisman of the Anti-Defamation League.

Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation will honor Lana Shagrin Oyer for her 25-year volunteer service as the music director at the Annual Music Service. This year’s service is open to the community and will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday, March 10, at the Sun Lakes All Faiths Chapel, 9240 E. Sun Lakes Blvd.

Shearim Torah High School for Girls will hold its 10th anniversary Legacy of Life Celebration 6:30-9 p.m. Monday, Feb. 13, at the Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave.

Beth El Congregation will hold a Kiddush in honor of Cantor Sam Goldman for his decades of service to Beth El Congregation; he will become the synagogue’s cantor emeritus.

Sandy Rife of Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix has been honored by The Jewish Federations of North America’s National Women’s Philanthropy with its Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award. The award was announced at the 2016 International Lion of Judah Conference held Sept. 11-13 in Washington, D.C.

Amanda Benros of Phoenix was one of nine outstanding high school students from around the country selected to receive the Sarah Rivkah and Dr. Bernard Lander zt”l Scholarship, presented jointly by Touro College and NCSY, the international youth arm of the Orthodox Union. The scholarships are named in memory of Touro’s Founding President Dr. Bernard Lander and his wife, Sarah Rivkah.

The Arizona Jewish Historical Society will honor Shotsy Abramson at its 2016 annual meeting, 11 a.m. Sunday, May 15, at the Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center, 122 E. Culver St., Phoenix.

Beth El Congregation will honor Joan and Morton Sitver at its upcoming gala, “To Life, L’Chaim,” at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, April 10, at the synagogue, 1118 W. Glendale Ave., Phoenix.

The Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix will present Bob Silver with its highest recognition, the Medal of Honor, during the 75th Anniversary Kickoff & Awards Celebration at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 9, at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. The award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated a long and deep commitment to Jewish life, as well as exemplary leadership and service to the federation and the Jewish community.  

For Judy and Nathan Laufer, supporting Jewish causes is part of their DNA. As the children of Holocaust survivors who were assisted by their Jewish communities, they know firsthand how a helping hand can make a difference. 

Temple Chai will celebrate its 40th anniversary at its annual gala, 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 23, at the synagogue, 4645 E. Marilyn Road, Phoenix.

Brandeis honors Sue Karp, Kathleen Witkin: The Phoenix Chapter of the Brandeis National Committee has named Sue Karp as the recipient of the Carol Kern Sustaining Leadership Award, which is given to a member of the Brandeis National Committee of Phoenix who has been involved for a minimum of 10 years, has taken leadership roles and whose vision has inspired others to be involved in the Phoenix chapter.  

Jewish News received five awards from the Arizona Newspapers Association/Associated Press Media Editors 2015 Better Newspapers Contest during a Sept. 26 reception at Wild Horse Pass Hotel and Casino.

Louis Hoffman, the former chairman of the Clean Elections Commission, will be honored at the Arizona Advocacy Network’s annual Acknowledging Arizona Advocates breakfast, 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, at Macayo’s Mexican Kitchen, 4001 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA) will also be honored. Hoffman is a former president of Temple Chai in Phoenix. Tickets are $50. Visit azadvocacy.org.

Shearim Torah High School for Girls will honor two couples at its annual Legacy of Life Dinner, to be held 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, at the Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N. Central Ave.

Valle Del Sol names Denise Resnik as a ‘Mom of the Year’: Denise Resnik has been named a 2015 Mom of the Year by Valle del Sol, a nonprofit organization providing health-care, human-service and leadership-development programs. She will be recognized, along with three other honorees, at the Valle del Sol 2015 Mom of the Year event, 8 a.m. Friday, May 8, at the Phoenix Convention Center.   

The Silverman family – Ray and Lee and their children Tom, Richard and Carole, owners of Chaparral Suites Resort in Scottsdale – have been named the 2015 Diversity Champions by the nonprofit group Community Celebrating Diversity. They will be honored at Scottsdale’s 21st annual Martin Luther King Jr. Living the Dream celebration 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 14, at Chaparral Suites, 5001 N. Scottsdale Road.

The Valley of the Sun Jewish Community center will present this year’s Irv Shuman “Making a Difference” Award to Allan Flader, senior vice president, financial adviser and founder of the Flader Wealth Consulting Group of RBC Wealth Management, at its Oct. 25 Casino Night.

The Arizona Jewish Historial Society will honor Mark Curtis, Channel 12 News anchorman, with the AZJHS Heritage Award this fall.