Valley View

Registration for IAC Eitanim 2017-2018 is now open for middle and high school students

The Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center (VOSJCC) and the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix will be taking a group of local Jewish mothers to Israel later this month as part of a program to develop leadership skills.

The plan was for Jason Hirshberg to join fellow medical school students and members of a national health care advocacy group on Capitol Hill, where they’d voice their opposition to the Republican-backed Senate bill aimed at repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. Instead, Hirshberg found himself observing a political maelstrom.

The City of Chandler Diversity Office and its community partners are seeking volunteers for Operation Back to School Chandler, a back-to-school donation drive that will take place 7-11 a.m. Saturday, July 22, at Chandler High School, 350 N. Arizona Ave.

If you are looking for places to celebrate America’s Independence Day, here are some options:

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.

The Desert Foothills Independent Film Festival will run Fridays, July 7-Aug. 25, at the Desert Foothills Library, 38443 North Schoolhouse Road, Cave Creek.

On July 9, the Friendship Circle of Arizona will host a raffle to fund new and innovative programs for the children in the Valley who have special needs.

Young Israel of Phoenix will hold a

Marty Haberer started as the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix’s executive director this past March, marking his 31st year in Jewish communal service, which he refers to as “a lifelong adventure.”

Congregation Kehillah, a nine-year-old independent synagogue that purchased its first permanent home at the end of 2016, has started remodeling of the interior and exterior of the new facility, located at 5858 E. Dynamite Road in Scottsdale.

Tomchei Shabbos, an organization that collected kosher food to distribute to individuals and families in need for Shabbat and holidays, announced last week that it will dissolve as of Friday, May 26.

The security director of the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus in Scottsdale will be expanding his role to provide expertise to other Valley Jewish organizations.

Bacharachs to leave the Phoenix Kollel: The Phoenix Community Kollel has announced that Rabbi Dan Bacharach, rosh kollel and dean, and his wife, Dina, will be leaving the kollel and move to Baltimore. The Bacharachs moved to the Valley from Chicago in December 2013 to become a part of the Kollel. Dina ran TLC: Torah Learning, Creativity, a program for young Jewish women; helped coordinate the annual Great Arizona Challah Bake and Shabbat Project; and administered the Arizona Jewish Freebay and Arizona Jewish Moms Facebook pages. The kollel, which provides educational programs and activities, also partnered with the Jewish Women’s Renaissance Project in making the Israel trip for Jewish moms available for women in the Valley and coordinated the local participation in “70 Days for 70 Years” in 2015, which commemorated the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.

Jewish Women’s Circle to hold brunch in Peoria: Jewish Women’s Circle of the North West Valley will hold a dairy brunch in preparation of Shavuot, 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 23, at a private home in Peoria.

Beth Emeth Congregation hosted its first West Valley Yom Hashoah commemoration on April 24 with more than 300 attendees.

Jana Boomersbach will be the keynote speaker at the Arizona Jewish Historical Society annual meeting, 11 a.m. Sunday, May 21, at the Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center, 122 E. Culver St., Phoenix.

“Par-Tee with the J,” a “Caddyshack”-themed golf tournament, will be held 7 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, at TopGolf Scottsdale, 9500 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale. The event, chaired by Debbie Berkowitz and Sara Schneider, includes appetizers, desserts and drinks. Cost is $100 per player. Register at vosjcc.org.

Bassem Eid, a political analyst for Israeli TV and radio and former Palestinian human rights activist, will present two lectures this month through Valley Beit Midrash.

A Lag B’Omer celebration hosted by Chabad of Arizona will be held 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday, May 14, at Castles -n- Coasters, 9445 N. Metro Parkway East, Phoenix.

The Women’s Leadership Institute, a project of the Women’s Jewish Learning Center, invites the community to a Celebration of New Leadership, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, at The New Shul, 7825 E. Paradise Lane, Scottsdale.

Camp Rimon will hold a Sunday Funday event from 1-5 p.m. Sunday, May 7, at the East Valley JCC, 908 N. Alma School Road, Chandler. The event is open to the community and will feature camp activities such as sports, drama, music and art. Cost is $20 per child. To register, email Camp Director Jeff Hast at hastj@evjcc.org by May 4.

The Jewish Community Foundation will hold a celebration recognizing its 2017 Endowment Book of Life signers and Life & Legacy donors from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale.

The Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center and PJ Library will hold a Yom Ha’atzmaut Super Sunday in the Hallway to celebrate Israel’s Independence Day, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, April 30, at the VOSJCC, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. Children will learn about Israel’s history and make Israeli flags at this free community event. Call 480-634-4949 or email youth@vosjcc.org.