On Monday, Sept. 13, Scottsdale’s Beth Tefillah Congregation hosted Jewish National Fund-USA’s first annual 9/11 memorial ceremony. JNF-USA partnered with the new high school, Nishmat Adin – Shalhevet Scottsdale, to honor firefighters from the City of Scottsdale Fire Department in commemorat…

In early September, much of the political world was focused on U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin’s, D-W.Va, seeming intransigence about passing the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package being debated this week in Congress. On Sept. 12, he made the rounds on Sunday morning shows. Meanwhile in Phoenix that…

Stephanie Landes has found there aren’t many spaces to talk about Israel — especially if you aren’t sure how you feel, or fall in the middle of what can seem a discussion of two extremes.

Jewish Family & Children’s Service provides support and counseling to more than 40,000 people in Maricopa County each year, largely enabled by financial support from individuals and corporate entities.

Lox in a box, along with a bagel, some cream cheese and a few other treats were delivered to about 100 people on Sunday, Sept. 12. And along with the food, the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix served up some knowledge — all par for the course for the women behind the organization.

On Aug. 17, 2021, five men broke into Yeshiva Toras Chaim in Denver, Colorado and attacked the students and rabbis learning there. Shmuel Silverberg, a 19-year-old boy from Cleveland, was killed.

Miriam Hirschl prioritizes education, and at 102 she still enjoys learning about a lot of things, including ballet and art. She also listens to a variety of lectures offered through Jewish Family & Children’s Service Virtual Center for Senior Enrichment.

Arizona plans to divest completely from Ben & Jerry’s following its decision to stop selling ice cream in Israel’s West Bank.

Jacob Gimbel, like many American Jews, is still reeling from the social media posts he saw during May’s violence between Israel and Hamas.

On Sunday, Sept. 26, Jay Jacobs, CEO of Martin Pear Jewish Community Center in Scottsdale, will spend 12 hours, albeit with some breaks, on a treadmill. His day-long physical feat is the highlight of the eponymous “See Jay Run” fundraiser for MPJCC’s SMILE Campaign.

One of the disadvantages of someone dying is that you can’t ask that person questions. They take all their stories with them.

I am a Jewish educator at Pardes Jewish Day School, and my husband, Seth, is the cantor at Congregation Beth Israel. If you were to drive by our house during the month of Kislev, two things would become apparent: We’re the only Jews in our neighborhood and we really like large Chanukah decor…

Dozens of cheering teammates waving tiny American flags got their chance to celebrate and pose for a photo with Phoenix Olympic gold medalist, Jade Carey, at the Arizona Sunrays Gymnastics & Dance Center on Aug. 17. Sunrays hosted a private celebration for Carey to honor her performance …

The FBI recorded the largest number of hate crimes last year since 2008, and the Jewish community was once again a top target of religiously motivated crimes.

Growing up in Tempe, Joshua Wright always knew that he wanted a career that would enable him to serve the greater good.

Gesher Disability Resources’ annual gala fundraiser will be virtual in 2021, just as it was in 2020. The decision was finalized at Gesher’s August board meeting.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 patients are once again on the rise, but this time, it feels different.

Rabbi Dean Shapiro has always been interested in justice and making the world a better place. That’s why he became a rabbi in 2008.

Dr. Jordan Karp, a geriatric psychiatrist, has spent his career trying to improve care for older people with major depression and mood disorders, especially those facing resistant depression. And he loves his job or rather, jobs.

The National Council of Jewish Women Arizona is among a handful of pro-choice advocates seeking to stop the state’s new anti-abortion law from going into effect.

Jewish learning is a lifelong journey and the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Phoenix is celebrating its dedication to teaching with a series of programs commemorating 50 years of existence.

Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, Arizona’s largest African-American Baptist church, located in downtown Phoenix, will be opening its doors to members of Paradise Valley’s Congregation Beth Israel for its High Holiday services. The large, airy 2,500-seat church easily can accommodate the synagogu…

A focus on failing to live up to expectations combined with reciting confessions of sins, leaves people with a lot to feel bad about during the High Holiday season.

Beth Ami Temple of Paradise Valley is expected to reopen for the High Holidays in September after months of virtual services during the pandemic. Leadership labored over the decision given that the congregation is mostly geared towards seniors.

Seating arrangements and other requirements may be new at High Holiday services this year, especially compared to 2019, but security will look similar to what it’s been at many Greater Phoenix congregations during previous High Holidays. But that doesn’t mean security hasn’t been ramped up a…

Stacy Rosenthal, Congregation Beth Israel’s senior director of education and youth engagement, has been working in Jewish education for nearly two decades and has held about every position there is. Now, she is one of several educators at the start of something new for Reform teens in Greate…

Allison Summer spent the past year coming to terms with the “overwhelming lack of control” she felt personally, and despair she’s witnessed in her patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alyssa Belanger started her event-planning business in 2019.

You’ve likely heard of a story or two in which someone lost valuable property due to flood damage. Maybe one of the stories was even yours. Last month, Arizona broke rainfall records. If you did experience flood damage, having a flood insurance policy made a huge difference, and if you don’t…

Jewish Family & Children’s Service is in need of food donations and volunteers. Its Just 3 Things food pantry in Phoenix needs non-perishable and non-expired foods, including soup, rice, pasta, canned fruit and vegetables, as well as cleaning supplies and personal care items, such as soa…

Hanna Haimov will be making soup for the High Holidays — a lot of soup.

Members of Temple Chai have three years to find a new home.

Temple Chai Cantor Ross Wolman received a sweet surprise on June 30, as he was preparing to leave for a stint at Camp Newman in Santa Rosa, California, with his family.

What would Maimonedes, Rashi or other iconic Jewish scholars have thought of social media?

The leadership team at Temple Beth Sholom of the East Valley began planning High Holiday services in May.

When Rabbi Ariel Shoshan and his wife, Ayala, moved to Phoenix from Baltimore in July 2002, he can only recall a handful of kosher restaurants, four daily minyanim and one K-8 school.

Robin Meyerson spends her free time delivering mezuzot to those who need one, helping other Jewish women learn how to bake challah and teaching Torah.

A few months ago, my father-in-law was thumbing through my son’s new book about Judaism, which my aunt had sent him. That same weekend I was invited to a virtual seder with more than 20 people from across the United States and Israel.

After more than a year, buses filled with youth tour groups were again zipping around Israel this summer.