Jim Stevenson and Madelyn Shulman stand under the chupah on Oct.18, 2020 with Jonathan and Jeremy Shulman holding the poles.
Notice to Our Readers
| As a public service during this pandemic, the Jewish News is providing free, unlimited access to all articles. Jewish News is a nonprofit publication that is owned by the community and relies on community support. Donate Now |
Susan Finks had such a great family vacation during the COVID-19 pandemic that she’s planning another one for next month.
Morgan Singer wasn’t planning to be a stay-at-home mom.
It’s a busy day in the emergency room when an elderly lady with advanced dementia and pneumonia is wheeled in by ambulance. She is at death’s door. I introduce myself to her two daughters as the emergency physician and notify them of their mother’s critical condition.
The world looks different now than in 2019 — the year Arizona State University published the first study of the local Jewish community since 2002. Still, its findings have major implications for Jewish organizations and synagogues looking to engage more of the community.
Karolyn Benger has a social media network — and she’s not afraid to use it. Benger, who is “deeply concerned about justice and women in Judaism,” said one positive application for the platforms is helping Jewish women finalize long-awaited divorces.
Ian and Alexa Sachs with their new twin son and daughter and dog.
To speak about infertility is taboo. It always has been and probably always will be. This is why we are sharing our experience.
Suzy Wortman lost Randy Wortman, her husband of 54 years, on Feb. 14, 2020.
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.
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…
B’nai mitzvah ceremonies have transformed during the COVID-19 pandemic from crowded affairs to limited gatherings of friends and family. Over the past year people have become used to watching a Haftorah reading via Zoom instead of inside a sanctuary.
Eva Markowitz, 11, hugged her grandparents for the first time in over a year the week before Passover.
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.
Sarah and Seth Ettinger are expecting their second child, a baby girl, in May. Plans are already underway for their third.
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.
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.
Next week I will make brisket and charoset and set the table with fine china. But this Passover will be very different than any other. It will mark the first that my mom, Thelma Kurzweil, will not be at my seder.
When I think of my childhood Passovers, I confess that my thoughts go to dessert. Funny how that works with me — I have such a sweet tooth. Unfortunately, those desserts were very underwhelming.
My grandchildren get excited by the Passover story.
Passover is a great opportunity for young children to get involved with the planning and preparation of the seder. While we’re still dealing with Zoom seders, here are some ideas to make the holiday fun for the whole family.
Passover is my favorite holiday. Every year I decorate the house with pictures of Egypt and Israel, paint “blood” on the door frame and create a multisensory experience to tell the Passover story. I have even been known to rewrite popular songs with Passover-themed lyrics and perform them fo…
Jared, our 41-year-old middle son, lives with us at home and is solely dependent on us for his care.
Celebrated at home, Passover, perhaps more than any other Jewish holiday, provides space for families to create their own customs and rituals.
Suzanne Treviño has been watching Friday evening services online since Congregation Beth Israel stopped offering in-person services due to COVID-19.
It's still March, but camp directors and other Jewish professionals are thinking about June's archery, kayaks and rope climbing. With summer camp slated to begin in approximately three months, staff are feverishly preparing for the challenge of operating during a pandemic.
With about three months to go until summer, most Jewish overnight camps are planning to open for the season. They also, however, cherished hopes well into the pandemic that they would be able to do the same last year.
Rabbi Aviva Funke misses the sound of other people humming and singing along to her music.
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.”
This week, the Jewish News is sharing more stories of people, organizations and synagogues that are stepping up for their community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Confusion. Disbelief. Denial.
The COVID-19-spurred lockdown was the push Na’amah Segal Karas needed to become more observant.
Northeast Florida’s highway A1A hugs the Atlantic Coast along the barrier islands and just begs for a leisurely drive. From St. Augustine on the north to Daytona Beach and Interstate 4 on the south, the road passes through historic and modern Florida’s highly varied attractions. Historic att…
Born and raised in a country that adores soccer over most other sports, Israeli educator and sports coach Erez Lustig fell in love with American football from a young age. His improbable love for the game can be traced to his family in the United States, watching the sport on television, as …
When Judy Stern got married, she limited the guest list to adults. Children, she believed, might ruin her special day.
These days, when a Jew gets married, it’s likely to be to a non-Jewish partner. The Pew study of 2013 found that, in the years since 2000, the majority of non-Orthodox Jews — 72% — married someone who follows another religious tradition — or none at all.
Next time you find yourself in the San Francisco Bay area, be sure to make time for at least a day trip to Oakland, just across the bay. Better yet, spend a few days there to explore its many charms.
Thirty-three high school students crammed into a small classroom at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center in Scottsdale on Tuesday, Aug. 20 for an opening night program about Hebrew High.
With any luck, the newly launched iGen Parenting education series will make it easier for parents to help their tweens navigate those transitional years.
There are not many Jews in Warren, Pennsylvania, probably fewer than 10.
If you have ever downloaded the Mahjongg Accomplice app, you should know that it was created by a ninth-grade student.
A few years ago, on the back shelf of a dusty thrift store, I found a plain wooden box with reassuringly familiar dimensions. I pulled it down, opened it up, and there they were: the smooth cream-colored tiles with brightly colored numbers on them.
Around the same time that the pumpkin-flavored coffee drinks appear in your local coffee shop, another annual event will take place that may send you reeling like a triple shot of espresso. Yes, it’s almost that time of year: parent-teacher conferences. Your child means the world to you, so …
As a former Jewish summer camper, Moving Traditions CEO Deborah Meyer said camp was a place where she developed long-lasting friendships and an intense connection to Jewish life. But it was also a place where she remembers some inappropriate behavior between counselors.
For generations, children have spent their summers climbing trees, escaping on small adventures and meeting new friends. In addition to pure summer fun, these activities provided children with hands-on ways to develop life skills.
Follow these easy back-to-school tips and weekly routines to make staying organized this school year feel like a breeze!
“I’ve tried everything. Nothing works. Sticker charts don’t work. Besides, I don’t think I should have to bribe my child. I don’t want to reward him for something that he should be doing already.”
