Suzy Wortman lost Randy Wortman, her husband of 54 years, on Feb. 14, 2020.

Seven months ago, Consul General of Israel Hillel Newman’s diplomatic visit to the United Arab Emirates was top secret. But after the Abraham Accords declaration normalized relations last September, that trip is no longer hush-hush. Already more than 130,000 Israelis have visited the newly-a…

Lani Harrison of Scottsdale is risk averse when it comes to her kids. But when she learned Moderna would be starting a trial for a children’s vaccine against COVID-19 in Phoenix, she didn’t hesitate to try and enroll her children, ages 8, 6 and 4.

This past year, COVID-19 created a lot of challenges for people as they navigated a new normal, both personally and professionally. One of the biggest changes for people is deciding where to spend their time and how to utilize their living spaces.

Temple Beth Shalom is the only Reform congregation in the West Valley, and we have a multi-generational and egalitarian membership. We are proud of our history of inclusivity and that we are able to offer a full range of educational programming, community and social functions and religious s…

Benjamin Doherty liked the small, intimate pod system that Shemesh Camp at Martin Pear Jewish Community Center created last summer as a measure of protection against COVID-19. As a kid who can get easily overwhelmed by the chaos of large groups, the camp’s shift away from bigger cohorts work…

Eva Markowitz, 11, hugged her grandparents for the first time in over a year the week before Passover.

The East Valley Jewish Community Center, Temple Beth Sholom of the East Valley and Temple Emanuel of Tempe are partnering to present a live virtual piano recital at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 25.

American Jewish Committee and the U.S. Conference of Mayors announced on March 29, that more than 525 mayors across the United States, including six in Arizona, have joined their national effort to combat anti-Semitism.

Eddie Chavez Calderon lives his life two years at a time. The Arizona Jews for Justice’s campaign director’s status as a recipient of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program is reevaluated on a two-year cycle.

Gabi Messinger will know the economy is on the mend when she sees an uptick in Yelp reviews.

The Jewish National Fund-USA’s biggest program of the year is coming up this month, and — like everything else in the COVID-19 era — it is going virtual.

In March, Marana, Oro Valley, Prescott and Scottsdale were among other Arizona towns and cities that proclaimed Education and Sharing Day for the first time.

The Jewish National Fund merged its Arizona and Nevada executive boards, creating the Desert States board.

On Jan. 29, 2021, Jewish Family & Children’s Service hosted its annual Brighter Tomorrow event virtually. The event was free and highlighted the organization’s many programs and services, with a particular focus on its response to the coronavirus pandemic.

When Nancy Pollinger moved to Desert Ridge in 2016, she found herself wondering where all the Jewish people were. She had moved from a rather tight-knit community — “kind of a ghetto” — in Baltimore, Maryland, and Greater Phoenix’s Jewish community wasn’t as clearly marked as in her hometown…

Beth Ami Temple's annual fundraiser in March was a success, said Judy Lohr-Safcik, Beth Ami's vice president and head of the fundraising committee.

Tina Sheinbein, Jewish Free Loan’s former executive director, will be presented with JFL’s President’s Award as part of a special virtual event on May 23, 2021.

With vaccines opening up to more people across the state, there is a sense that the end of the pandemic might finally be in sight. While health care professionals promote vaccines as the quickest way to achieve that end, they warn against declaring victory too soon.

George Kalman was 9 years old when he was shoved into a cattle car to be deported to a concentration camp. He was 10 years old when a Russian soldier entered his forced labor camp and liberated him on April 2, 1945.

Mary Hirschfeld, 89, only recently began thinking about her title of Holocaust survivor.

Sarah and Seth Ettinger are expecting their second child, a baby girl, in May. Plans are already underway for their third.

Linda Friedman doesn’t want to do a Passover seder by herself.

Andrew Gibbs is ready to chat about Israel any time.

Rabbi Dovie Shapiro of Chabad of Flagstaff hopes people realize they have the opportunity to wake up to a beautiful mountain view this Passover. And the bonus is they will only be a hop, skip and a jump from one of the seven natural wonders of the world: the Grand Canyon. The fact that the s…

Liza Golden knows how to throw a party. She threw a bash for about 130 people for her daughter’s bat mitzvah in 2014 and again for her son’s bar mitzvah in 2017.

Rabbi Julie Kozlow hopes this year’s Zoom seder on March 27 will be more palatable for Temple B’rith Shalom’s congregation than the first Passover during COVID. At least everyone is much more familiar with technology.

As increasing numbers of people get vaccinated, pre-pandemic behavior is becoming more common. Still, Passover will be challenging for some this year, whether because they haven’t been vaccinated, they’re unable to travel or they’ll be separated from family and friends.

A Jewish story doesn’t have to center on obvious themes like the Holocaust or weddings and b’nai mitzvah, according to Linda Burt Pressman. Stories about raising children or divorce can be Jewish stories too, when viewed through a Jewish lens, she said.

By the time Marlie Nochomovitz finally got her driver’s license, there was nowhere to go.

Celebrated at home, Passover, perhaps more than any other Jewish holiday, provides space for families to create their own customs and rituals.

Jennifer Starrett considers herself an introvert. She’s not that comfortable putting herself out there for the world to judge. Taking public stances and sharing images of herself and her family on Instagram is hard.

Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz is fighting climate change one vegan meal at a time.

Suzanne Treviño has been watching Friday evening services online since Congregation Beth Israel stopped offering in-person services due to COVID-19.

After her brother unexpectedly died at age 56 in September 2019, Helene Harty Miracle struggled to deal with her grief. She quickly had to shift gears to take over his business responsibilities and meet the needs of his employees. At the same time, the single mom was also about to become an …

Veronica Clark spent years feeling that her body didn’t really belong to her. “Anybody who wanted to touch me, could touch me,” Clark said, describing her story of sexual abuse for “Power and Persistence: Making Our Voices Heard,” the National Council of Jewish Women of Arizona’s virtual adv…

Often synonymous with Jewish life on campus, Hillel has been a gathering point for Jewish students across hundreds of campuses in the United States for decades. The past year tested the organization like never before, as it confronted challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic along with a ri…

After Saturday night’s Havdalah service at NC21, NFTY’s 2021 convention, Dan Nichols, a famous Jewish rock musician, performed a digital concert while NFTYites waved the glow sticks they received in their merch packages. They were celebrating community and music together.

Isabell Kondkhorov, 16, loved her CTeen chapter in Newton, Massachusetts. She even decided to stay as a member once she had moved across the country to Phoenix. Now a sophomore at Pinnacle High School, Kondkhorov is part of three chapters: Newton, Gilbert and the newly-formed Phoenix chapter…

Laura Bercovich was interning for Martin Pear Jewish Community Center in Scottsdale, when she realized what she wanted to do with her life. While writing press releases and doing other public relations work, she was asked to design a flyer for an event. It turned out to be the “most fun” par…

Rabbi Aviva Funke misses the sound of other people humming and singing along to her music.

The Jewish watchdog group StandWithUs called on Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) to apologize for being the keynote speaker a week ago at the America First Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, an event organized by white nationalist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes.

Aaron Morrill created a special Passover Haggadah last year once it became clear there would be no normal, in-person celebration. He thought of it as a fun opportunity — something special for a difficult time. And he intended to use it only once. But at the end of this month, he and his fami…

Chani Levertov always appreciates getting a pregnancy announcement from a friend or family member. “There’s absolutely room in my heart to be joyous for them, as well as feeling sad feelings for my struggle,” she said. “There’s always room for both.”

When Stacy Augustine met a man who had lost both legs during Syria’s civil war, she knew she could help. Using a friend’s truck and ramp, she delivered her deceased father’s scooter to the man, giving him back his dignity and independence. “He dreamed of getting to the mosque on his own,” sh…

It took Ahron Cohen a few months to figure out his next move after leaving the Arizona Coyotes as its president and CEO in May. All he knew was that he “wanted to do interesting things with interesting people,” he said.

On Feb. 21, Gesher Disability Resources held a Purim shpiel table read of “Queen Esther and the Shushan Schemer.” The event was Gesher’s first national collaboration and was watched live by 150 people. Gesher partnered with the Pink Umbrella Theater Company of Wisconsin and Harry & Rose …