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Ellen O'Brien

Phoenix, Scottsdale
As seen in: Tucson Sentinel, Jewish News of Greater Phoenix
Covers:  Anything related to the Jewish community in Arizona.
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Arizona Board of Education adds Holocaust and other genocides to state education standards

Arizona Board of Education adds Holocaust and other genocides to state education standards

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — Holocaust educators celebrated a long-awaited victory on Monday: the addition of Holocaust education to Arizona education standards. While the state hasn't reached the finish line yet, organizers said, Monday's decision was a step in the right direction. At its regular board meeting on Monday, Oct.
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Oasis School forges ahead with plans for co-ed Jewish community high school in Scottsdale

Oasis School forges ahead with plans for co-ed Jewish community high school in Scottsdale

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — Four years ago, it was only a dream: a Jewish community high school in Scottsdale for teenagers from all backgrounds and levels of observance. In 2018, three women - Tobi Rifkind, Raquel Schnitzer and Elly Bycer - came together to make that dream a reality.
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More synagogues reopen for in-person services after High Holidays

More synagogues reopen for in-person services after High Holidays

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — Services haven't been the same without congregants in the room, and seeing familiar faces, even ones obscured behind a mask, makes a difference. "I was blown away, I was so happy," said Rabbi Stephen Kahn of Congregation Beth Israel, who saw congregants in the synagogue for the first time in months on Rosh Hashanah morning.
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Rabbi Alan Bachman named next rabbi at Ruach Hamidbar

Rabbi Alan Bachman named next rabbi at Ruach Hamidbar

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — After 30 years at the helm of Ruach Hamidbar-Spirit of the Desert, Rabbi Sarah Leah Grafstein is ready to hand over the reins. At Rosh Hashanah services this year, she announced that she would transition to the role of rabbi emerita and that Rabbi Alan Bachman, an active member of the congregation since 1994, would lead the congregation after her.
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Unlikely duo creates 'Sephardic Treasures'

Unlikely duo creates 'Sephardic Treasures'

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — When a Spanish soprano met a Jewish jazz bassist in 2013, neither of them imagined where their creative partnership would lead. "I don't know why this works but somehow it does," said Alan Lewine, the bassist, composer and producer behind the duo Soprano Meets Bass.
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Greater Phoenix remembers Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Greater Phoenix remembers Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — As darkness fell on Monday, Sept. 21, the lawn beside the Arizona State Capitol lit up with the glow of dozens of candles held by friends and families, mothers and fathers, students and state representatives, all mourning the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg just three days before.
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Temple Kol Ami awards lifetime contract to Rabbi Jeremy Schneider

Temple Kol Ami awards lifetime contract to Rabbi Jeremy Schneider

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — In a world beset with uncertainty, the knowledge that Rabbi Jeremy Schneider will be there today, tomorrow and years from now gives a measure of comfort and consistency to Temple Kol Ami's congregation. In accepting a lifetime contract, Schneider assured members that he will be with the congregation for the rest of his career.
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Eight Gesher students become b’nai mitzvot

Eight Gesher students become b’nai mitzvot

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — Touch, kiss, say: On Thursday, Sept. 10, eight students from Gesher Disability Resources touched the Torah, kissed their tzitzit, said the blessings and became bar and bat mitzvot. “It’s such a blessing to gather what I believe is truly a community-wide celebration,” said Rabbi Elana Kanter, director of The Women’s Learning Institute, who led the service from the sanctuary of Congregation Beth Israel.
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Arizona prisons replace kosher meals with vegan option

Arizona prisons replace kosher meals with vegan option

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — Kosher meals in state-run correctional facilities have been replaced by a vegan option, which the Arizona Department of Corrections says meets the standards for all religious dietary restrictions. Yet the change raises concerns that prisoners who rely on the kosher meal plan, including Jews and Muslims, will not be able to maintain their commitment to observing religious dietary laws.
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ASU student government calls on university to adopt definition of anti-Semitism

ASU student government calls on university to adopt definition of anti-Semitism

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — Two weeks after anti-Semitic posters appeared on Arizona State University's Tempe campus, the Undergraduate Student Government rallied around Jewish students to pass a resolution condemning anti-Semitism and calling for additional measures from university administrators. On Tuesday, Sept. 15, USG-Tempe passed Senate Resolution 5 by a vote of 15-1-3.
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ASU students, community respond to anti-Semitic flyers posted on Tempe campus

ASU students, community respond to anti-Semitic flyers posted on Tempe campus

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — When Koral Zaarur saw the pictures circulating on Twitter and Instagram, she thought they were from another campus or somewhere else in Arizona. But she quickly realized that the anti-Semitic flyers she was seeing weren't at just any university campus: they were in Tempe, on her campus at Arizona State University.
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Ballet Theatre of Phoenix opens new studio space, continues tradition of 'doing Jewish'

Ballet Theatre of Phoenix opens new studio space, continues tradition of 'doing Jewish'

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — Standing alone in the studio, bright triangles of sunlight dappling cream walls lined with mirrors and wooden ballet barres behind her, Jennifer Cafarella offered her students on Zoom a dance lesson and a peek at what awaited them at the beginning of September: four newly renovated studio spaces, a wide open lobby and plenty of natural light.
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Technology grant gives First Place-Phoenix residents independence, connection

Technology grant gives First Place-Phoenix residents independence, connection

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — Most mornings at 9 a.m., a support specialist at First Place-Phoenix knocks on Matt Resnik's door, and his Alexa Echo reminds him to answer it. "He will answer the door enthusiastically, because this particular support specialist also has an amazing voice," said Denise Resnik, Matt's mom and the founder, president and CEO of First Place AZ that created its first housing location in Phoenix.
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Local artists get into 'Good Trouble'

Local artists get into 'Good Trouble'

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — Tortillas and matzah. Cilantro and parsley. Gefilte fish and gefilte fish à la Veracruzana. When Joan Baron and Gloria Martinez-Granados began collaborating last November, the similarities they found between Jewish culture and Mexican culture - specifically traditional foods - were striking.
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Having a baby during a pandemic means missing out on some things, and discovering others

Having a baby during a pandemic means missing out on some things, and discovering others

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — The night that Chris and Jen Rogers went to the hospital to deliver their twin sons, Soren and Paxton, the hospital locked down. No one was allowed in with them, and for the next four days, they couldn't leave their room - even to get water or walk in the halls.
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Local Jewish businesses reckon with impact of COVID-19

Local Jewish businesses reckon with impact of COVID-19

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — Across Greater Phoenix, various businesses - from artisan popsicle makers and gift shops to printing and marketing firms - are feeling the impact of the economic slowdown that commenced with the COVID-19 pandemic. With sales down and a rise in infections, some companies are having to make difficult decisions when it comes to making rent, paying employees and staying safe.
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Navajo and Jewish: Navajo Nation Council member contends with COVID-19

Navajo and Jewish: Navajo Nation Council member contends with COVID-19

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — As COVID-19 swept across the Navajo Nation this year, one member of the Navajo Nation Council turned to a community he knew would step up to help: Congregation Beth El of Montgomery County, his family's synagogue in the Washington, D.C., area. "Beth El stepped up to be a fiscal sponsor, to be a nonprofit that can accept donations.
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End-of-life rituals change in wake of COVID-19

End-of-life rituals change in wake of COVID-19

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Valerie Smilovic worried that the risk of infection would drive down the number of volunteers from the Phoenix Women's Chevra Kadisha to perform tahara, or ritual purification. So far, though, that hasn't happened. "Within a minute, I'm getting that 'Yes, I can attend.
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Congregation Merkaz Ha-Iyr disbands after 12 years

Congregation Merkaz Ha-Iyr disbands after 12 years

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — For 12 years, Congregation Merkaz Ha-Iyr provided community, belonging and Jewish learning to a small group of families and friends. Now, as the synagogue plans to close its doors at the end of June, members say that it was the journey and the relationships that developed along the way that really matter.
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Arizona Opera honors community arts advocates

Arizona Opera honors community arts advocates

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — Decades of service leave a mark on an organization, and last month, the Arizona Opera voted to make that mark permanent. Bob and Shoshana Tancer served in various roles at the Arizona Opera for over two decades, and in recgnition of their commitment to the company, the courtyard at the Arizona Opera Center in downtown Phoenix will be named the Shoshana B.
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ASU students adjust to new online reality

ASU students adjust to new online reality

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — This semester has not turned out the way students at Arizona State University imagined it would. With classes moved online until the end of the semester, graduation plans changed and study abroad programs canceled, many students are finding themselves alone in their apartments or staying home with their families.
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Synagogues become virtual communities

Synagogues become virtual communities

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — What does a Shabbat service look like with no congregants? How does one study Torah via a computer screen and a video link? This week, as people hunkered down in the Greater Phoenix area amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many synagogues had to find out.
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Community plans for smaller, more intimate Passover seders

Community plans for smaller, more intimate Passover seders

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — With two weeks until Passover, the Greater Phoenix Jewish community is anticipating muted celebrations amid COVID-19 concerns. With the rise of social distancing and synagogues closing through the end of March, people expect smaller family celebrations to take the place of community seders and large hosted gatherings.
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Jewish community in Phoenix responds to coronavirus

Jewish community in Phoenix responds to coronavirus

Jewish News of Greater Phoenix — Arizona’s Department of Health Services has reported two confirmed and three presumed cases of COVID-19. Seven tests are pending, and 44 cases have been tested and found negative. As the coronavirus spreads and the possibility of a pandemic in the U.S. grows, the Greater Phoenix Jewish community is responding by sharing resources and information to help community members stay safe.
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