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October 11, 2002/Cheshvan 5 5763, Vol. 55, No. 7
Ben Yehuda comes to Valley
Israeli shopkeepers sell goods at local venues
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
In an effort to aid Israeli businesses, several local groups have joined together to bring Jerusalem's Ben Yehuda Street to the Valley.
The event, Ben Yehuda Mall Comes to Greater Phoenix, will bring 70 Israeli vendors to two Valley locations 1-8 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Oct. 27 and 28, at the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus in Scottsdale; and 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, at the Tri-City Jewish Community Center in Tempe.
All proceeds will go directly to the Israeli vendors.
"The idea of helping (the vendors) out - bringing their inventory over here to sell - is brilliant," said event co-chairwoman Toni Smeltzer. "Tourism (in Israel) is way down. What better way is there to support them than this?"
The event is a joint project of Action in Support of Israel; the Jewish Community Relations Council and the Israel Center of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix; and Heartbeat of Israel.
Jewish News of Greater Phoenix is media sponsor.
Products will include art, Judaica, clothing, perfume, ceramics, candles, jewelry, sculpture, toys, stained glass, leather goods, books, compact discs, woodcrafts, neckties and Dead Sea products. Israeli food will be for sale from Danziger Kosher Caterers, including falafel, hummus, schnitzel, kabobs and Israeli salad.
Only two or three Israeli shopkeepers will accompany the products to Valley, so the event is a heavy volunteer effort, according to Smeltzer. More than 300 community members have already volunteered to staff the event, although another 100 or so are needed. The Christian community has stepped in to help. The Phoenix First Assembly of God, The Evangelical Sisters of Mary, Phoenix Christian Assembly, Amitai Heritage Foundation and the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews have all pledged their support, Smeltzer said.
"To have the Christian community say, 'We're with you. We're standing side by side with you to help put this event on.' You know you're not fighting this battle by yourself," she said.
Barbara Mark Dreyfuss, co-chairwoman of the event, said similar events are being held in other cities across the country. The vendors coming to the Valley will first visit Los Angeles and are traveling to Tucson when they leave here.
"This is something so important because it gives a message ... to the world that says American Jews care. Our brothers and sisters and cousins in Israel are not isolated," explained Dreyfuss.
Dreyfuss said there will be a strong security presence at the Scottsdale event, both through community campus security and the Scottsdale Police Department. The Tri-City JCC event will have a security presence with off-duty police officers.
"Even though we're not afraid, we want to be careful," she said.
There will be a raffle at the event for a Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center membership.
The campus is located at 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. The Tri-City JCC is located at 1521 S. Indian Bend Road, Tempe.
For information or to volunteer at the Ben Yehuda Mall, call Cathy Wolf, 480-634-4900, ext. 1120.
Contact the writer at beth_olson@jewishaz.com.
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