Eckstein Family: Best of Je…
Phoenix Jewish News 2015
For members of the Jewish community who want to create a permanent charitable endowment that will benefit the community long after they’re gone, one of the most notable ways to accomplish this is through the Jewish Community Foundation’s Endowment Book of Life.
In the 1930s, Rabbi Tobias Geffen of Atlanta began to investigate the hidden ingredients inside mass-produced foods and to evaluate whether those ingredients conflicted with kosher laws. He then set a precedent by getting The Coca-Cola Company to make a kosher-for-Passover version of its soft drink, convincing the company to substitute the grain alcohol used in the processing of its drink to alcohol derived from molasses.
The High Holiday Planner features articles to help you get ready for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur: A Sephardic seder for Rosh Hashanah; Easiest Rosh Hashanah dinner ever; Celebrity cooks share their Rosh Hashanah recipes; Tiny acts bring great rewards; We need to stop overcooking.
Whether you are new to town or entering a new phase in your life, the Valley’s Jewish community offers many ways to get involved.
When Marina Awerbuch moved from Toronto to attend graduate school at Arizona State University, she immediately made a connection with Jewish Arizonans on Campus (JAC) and jLive, run by Rabbi Jordan Brumer.
With summer on the way, the new lap pool at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center in Scottsdale opened May 16. It is the first element of the JCC’s aquatics center infrastructure to open.
Yom Hashoah commemorations took place across the Valley on May 1. Here are photos from the gatherings.
In an effort to raise awareness of its kosher-for-Passover canned pet food, Evanger’s Kosher Pet Foods hosted a pet-friendly and family-friendly seder for pets April 18 at Choice Pet Market’s Scottsdale location on Scottsdale Road and Shea Boulevard.
Articles in our Passover Planner range from practical tips and recipes to reflections that help you get ready for Pesach.
Our Good Health special section features articles about spiritual coaching, helping families adjust when a child is diagnosed with autism, and how children can cope with ADHD.
February is Jewish Disability Awareness & Inclusion Month and Jewish News has collected articles about efforts to promote inclusion of the disabled in the worldwide Jewish community.
Duet: Partners In Health & Aging continues an almost 30-year-old tradition of raising funds for the interfaith organization during the holidays.
It was nearly a year ago that Joani Frankel moved out of her Scottsdale home of 37 years to relocate in the adult community of Sun City.
Noa W., a first-grader at Pardes Jewish Day School, created the winning piece of art in the Jewish News Hanukkah art contest. Click here to see more submissions.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that we can never get tired of Hanukkah latkes and sufganiyot (the holiday’s deep-fried jelly doughnuts). But there’s no harm in adding some culinary variety to this year’s Festival of Lights. Pastry chef Paula Shoyer offers a doughnut recipe with a twist as well as two alternative recipes that are great for Hanukkah and will satisfy any sweet tooth.
While the turkey is the center of the Thanksgiving feast, there’s a lot to be said for the appeal of the side dishes – warm soups, savory potatoes, hearty vegetable recipes and festive beverages. Here are some new ideas to liven up your holiday table.
Few conversations are tougher to have than the one about planning what will happen when you die. So it’s not surprising that it’s been tough for nonprofits to seek commitments for bequests, gifts made from the estate of a person who has died.
With 5776 on the horizon, it’s time to reflect on the past year and think ahead to next year. As with any new year, Jewish or secular, looking to the future usually means making resolutions, many of which include how we spend our hours and days. If you’re looking for new ways to invest your time while connecting with your community, Jewish News has rounded up a few organizations you might consider joining or volunteering with to make 5776 more fulfilling.
We live with a practical tradition. We begin the Jewish New Year with 10 days devoted to introspection. Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, we are asked to review our past failures and victories, to evaluate our relationships and how we can make things better for ourselves and those we care for. We take stock of our lives and try to put ourselves back on the right path.
As 5776 approaches, Jewish News has collected articles to help prepare for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur on new High Holiday-themed books for children, easy and elegant menu recipes, Jewish New Year cocktails, a reflection on whether one can atone through social media, as well as a call to be welcoming to singles and the childless.
Food trucks, a staple of the culinary scene in cities like Los Angeles and New York, are gaining popularity in the Valley. While the mobile eateries can be found around town at office complexes, festivals, farmers’ markets and other locations, many are also hirable for birthdays, bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings and other private events.
Traditionally, Chabad centers on college campuses are funded entirely by donors – alumni, parents and community members.
Living an active lifestyle is important at any age, but for seniors it’s critical. Exercise can contribute to better health and well-being, provide an energy boost and help delay the aging process. Regular exercise can also help seniors manage and improve existing conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and osteoporosis. But before starting any exercise or fitness program, seniors should check with their doctors to make sure they are ready to proceed. Exercise benefits seniors both mentally and physically – not just in the gym, but outside as well.
Craving a vacation but don’t have the time or money (or both) for a full-fledged getaway? Don’t despair; Arizona’s world-class resorts are just a short drive away, and many are offering summer specials to make a staycation an affordable and attractive prospect.
The bachelor party probably won’t be the groom-to-be’s last night out with the guys, but it should be one of the most memorable. If you’re inclined to forgo the wilder type of bachelor blowout, here are some ideas for great parties:
Our latest Good Health special section, sponsored by Cypress HomeCare Solutions, focuses on nutrition.
We've got articles on recipes, inclusive seders and more.
Giora Livne just wanted to buy flowers for his wife.
Jacob Cohen had two requests for his bar mitzvah: He wanted to read the story of Jacob and to become a bar mitzvah in a special Jewish place.
What does it take to move your child from consumer to producer of technology?
There’s an undercurrent that runs through most conversations we have with our kids about school. With some families, it’s more explicit: “We expect you to do well, and come home with As and Bs on your report card.” With other families, it’s less so, but still implied: “We expect you to go to school each day and give it your best effort, no matter what.”
This is the time of year when temperatures are still cool enough in the evening you can leave doors and windows open in your house. But if you simply open a door, you could be dealing with flies, moths, mosquitoes — and possibly even unwanted human visitors.
The single most important characteristic people tell me they want in their home is comfort, and I believe you don’t have to sacrifice comfort for the look you want. Good design is comforting, but everyone has a different definition of what comfort means to them. What is warm and comfortable for you may look very different from your neighbor’s space.
Have you been thinking about adding a “mother-in-law” unit to your house for Mom and Dad? You’re not alone. This is an issue that many people, especially baby boomers, are thinking about.
Aging requires resiliency, creativity and adaptability, and it can lead to great self-discovery. Why are we sometimes surprised when someone in their 60s, 70s, 80s or 90s becomes more creative, starts a new, meaningful relationship, offers sound advice, or begins a new endeavor or interest? Since growing older is an inevitable part of life, why not look at these questions, focus on challenging negative stereotypes and reinforce positive contributions that occur as we age?
The opioid epidemic, affecting both young people and seniors, has been described as the worst man-made epidemic in modern medical history. The magnitude of the series of misunderstandings and missteps that led to this crisis is beyond comprehension or imagination. With hindsight being perfect vision, the Shakespearean elements and pathos of the opioid tragedy can be seen.
The holiday of Passover is upon us — and with that comes family traditions passed through generations. But some families may make new traditions this year, as Passover overlaps with Easter.
If you want a frank depiction of what it’s like to receive a prostate cancer diagnosis, read Derrick Hall’s story at pro-state.org. The Arizona Diamondbacks president, diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 42 in September 2011, depicts his dazed post-diagnosis state, including his inability to dial his wife’s number to let her know the news.
Haggadah means “telling,” and different versions of the Passover Seder script, translated and retold in countless languages countless times, can certainly be telling about the state of the world.
At Choice Pet Market in Scottsdale, Passover is going to the dogs — or, more accurately, the dogs are going to Passover.
Manischewitz. Osem. Yehuda.
So, everyone who’s ever purchased a bundle or three of parsley for Pesach and then still seemed to have a bundle or three of parsley left when the Seders were over, please raise your hand.
In the 1930s, Rabbi Tobias Geffen of Atlanta began to investigate the hidden ingredients inside mass-produced foods and to evaluate whether those ingredients conflicted with kosher laws. He then set a precedent by getting The Coca-Cola Company to make a kosher-for-Passover version of its soft drink, convincing the company to substitute the grain alcohol used in the processing of its drink to alcohol derived from molasses.
While I love Passover, I find breakfast the most challenging meal during the holiday of unleavened bread. Removing foods made with flour and grains from breakfast menus means digging deep into the creative side of my brain.
Even though “stylish” and “traditional” may seem like opposites and mean something different to each of us, the two qualities can actually be combined beautifully and comfortably, especially at Passover.
If you’ve already decided where your children will be attending camp this summer, it’s time to think about how best to prepare them for a fun, healthy and safe experience away from home.
You’re starting to think about summer and what you’re going to do with the kids for two-plus months — er, we mean, how you're going to provide your darlings with a meaningful and fun summer experience.
For a millennia-old religious celebration that has little to do with physical well-being, the Passover holiday offers unexpected health-related opportunities.
Anath Hartmann | Contributing Writer
Preparing the Seder plate can seem overwhelming, but it needn’t be.
The new federal tax bill raises questions on, well, everything. We checked with three real estate experts to find out how the new law might affect homebuyers.
At a news conference at the Jewish National Fund House on Feb. 20, former NBA star Amar’e Stoudemire, who played for the Suns for eight years, effused over his new line of kosher-for-Passover wines produced in Israel.
As Passover approaches, many Jews go into spring-cleaning mode. Getting rid of chametz concretizes into actions such as putting away all of our everyday pots and dishes or making them kosher for Passover. Many of us also clean out the gunk that accumulated in the bottom corners of our refrigerator and conduct a detailed cleaning of the inside of our cars.
Window replacement is probably one of the more permanent changes you can make in your home. So you’ll want to think it through carefully before doing it. Below are several important benefits you’ll get from buying new windows.
The advent of humans living longer — sometimes into triple digits — has brought on a plethora of health problems that seniors must cope with. While some issues are remnants of past health choices, there are measures that seniors, and soon-to-be seniors, can take to mitigate future health concerns.
It’s no surprise that 90 percent of people 65 and older would prefer to live in their own homes as they age, as opposed to a nursing home or assisted living facility, according to a recent AARP study.
Sadly I’ve gone to several funerals lately. Fortunately, I didn’t lose a close relative or friend, but this gave me the chance to see the food, much of it homemade, people bring to shiva calls.
The next time you visit New York, look up and you may see Bea Slater plastered on a billboard overhead.
Have you ever just wished for a crystal ball, an opportunity to peer into the future for a concrete fact to help make a decision? Does this 60-minute window give me enough time to make a connecting flight? Should I travel ahead of schedule based on the weather forecast of treacherous driving conditions?
Mazel tov! You’re getting married … again.
Infusion cocktail bars and chilled soup stations are among the most popular features of wedding receptions these days. But taste isn’t the only consideration. Couples are asking themselves, how will the meal look on Pinterest?
Judging from its ritual text, the ketubah (marriage contract) that is read aloud during a Jewish wedding ceremony isn’t the most exciting, romantic or joyous document. Yet increasingly, today’s ketubah designs are anything but dry and transactional. Ketubah artists and consumers alike are developing more elaborate and personalized tastes.
As parents know, it’s never too early to start planning for your child’s college education. And the race to research colleges and send in applications hits a fever pitch in your child’s junior year of high school.
They’re called the “tween” years — those tumultuous, treacherous and confusing middle school years when kids dangle precariously between childhood and adolescence.
Preschoolers often exhibit behaviors that parents may worry are odd, unusual or symptomatic of a disability. Most are nothing to worry about, but there are some you should keep your eyes on, just in case.
Jewish summer camps offer an immersive experience that boosts participants’ level of engagement with the Jewish community for years to come, as was shown by a 2011 study by the Foundation for Jewish Camps. For parents seeking to cement their children’s connection to Judaism while staying closer to home, the East Valley JCC (EVJCC) and the Valley of the Sun JCC (The J) both offer a wide variety of options.
When designing the perfect Arizona backyard, most people want something that looks great and doesn’t require too much maintenance. But they also want to include plants and hardscaping that will last for a long time and won’t waste water. Those are great goals that make sense for the environment, as well as for making our own lives easier.
It’s not an unusual sight to see a bubbe sewing, knitting or crocheting a special something for her grandchild. But for Nita Quint, who has 43 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild, sewing personalized fabrics for them is an extraordinary feat of patience.
One of the most significant trends within the American Jewish community over the past few decades has been the rise of intermarriage.
For some retirees, this can be the time for them to fulfill a lifelong dream to live in the Jewish state. Empty nesters are now the second-largest group immigrating to Israel today.
At the age of 90, Suzy Ressler still comes into work every day.She owns Mrs. Ressler’s Food Products, which she founded in 1954 with her husband, Emerich, soon after they arrived to the United States. They started with only one employee by selling chopped liver and, in the decades since, expanded to selling more than 50 kinds of meat and employing more than 100 workers.
Today, more than 5 million people are living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias in the United States, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. About 80 percent live at home and are cared for by about 15 million unpaid, informal caregivers — often spouses or adult children. And while impacts on patients include medical and psychological problems, reduced quality of life and high costs for care, impacts on caregivers can be severe.
Jesse and Shira Charyn decided to open their own assisted living home, Shalom Home, after watching Shira’s grandmother, Clara Esther Shinder, move from one facility to the next, never receiving the care or attention she needed.
If my 20-year-old self could see me now — living in the Valley of the Sun, where it is bathing suit season 10 months of the year, and surrounded by women ... Wait, let me explain.
Going to camp is an integral part of the summer for many kids. Not just many, millions. More than 7 million, in fact, and growing, according to the American Camp Association.
Big changes are afoot for Jewish preschools, and your synagogue may need to adapt in order to thrive.
Interior design trends for 2018 are all over the map. It’s no surprise when you look around the world at what is going on politically, economically and socially. Design is always a reflection of people’s attitudes, and today it has become a global experience.
Henry and Bobbie Shaffner consider themselves big fans of resigning Minnesota Sen. Al Franken — and excitedly attended one of his book signings last year — but they aren’t above needling him a bit for his alleged sexual transgressions.
During the holiday season, and often on Sundays, it has been a tradition for adult children to pick up the phone and call their parents, especially their mothers.
Suzanne “Suzy” Choder truly met her mother for the first time when she was 3.
My Aunt Viv, of blessed memory, had a unique way passing on the news from Baltimore. She would give a quick rundown of the facts and then, at first unexpectedly, proclaim, “There, I have now given you dinner conversation. Goodbye.”
Robert Mellin is a man with a thousand stories.
Festive parties, family gatherings, gift shopping and time-honored recipes are what most people associate with the holiday season. However, for some, the winter is far from being the most wonderful time of the year. Coined the “holiday blues,” this condition should not be taken lightly.
Aging isn’t what it used to be. And innovations in senior living and care are coming in time for the elder boom.
Criminals are increasingly targeting people age 65 or older for personal identity theft. In 2014 alone, there were 2.6 million such incidents among seniors, according to the Department of Justice.
Across the country, 2.7 million grandparents are raising grandchildren, according to the U.S. census, and about one-fifth of those have incomes that fall below the poverty line.
When Glenn Hirsch was a teenager, he dreamed about someday riding his bike across the United States. When he turned 50, he figured he’d better get started.
Dec. 3-12
If your Passover seder is anything like mine, it can resemble the world’s most difficult classroom: different ages, ranging from 3 to 93, and varying levels of interest. Some want to read and discuss every word in the Haggadah, some just want to get to the food – and everything in between.
The Council for Jews With Special Needs (CJSN) offers many resources and programs for Valley Jews with disabilities and their families to help them fulfill spiritual, cultural and religious needs in a variety of settings.
If the words “kosher catering” conjure up visions of bland and unhealthy food, and memories of bar and bat mitzvahs past still haunt you, remember that planning your upcoming simcha doesn’t have to be a monotonous process full of seen-it-befores or tried-that-onces. With the help of creative kosher catering professionals – or by simply looking within yourself – your special day can be one of a kind.
Winner of 'Inspired by Israel' contest
The Israel Video Network has announced the winner of the "Inspired by Israel" contest sponsored by The Adam and Gila Milstein Family Foundation.
Vote for your favorite Israel video
The “Inspired by Israel” video contest has started its 10-day period of online voting to determine which 10 video entrants will move on to the final phase of the contest and be evaluated by an elite panel of judges.
Between the challah bake, the Shabbat Project and conferences in Washington, D.C., it's been a busy week.
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