Shannon Levitt

Not every Jew in Greater Phoenix has the opportunity to travel to Israel to get to know the country firsthand. Happily, the Center for Jewish Philanthropy of Greater Phoenix (CJP) and Pardes Jewish Day School have partnered to bring a little bit of Israel to town in the form of a shlichah (emissary).

Pictured from left are Jay, Roland, Jerry and Howard Weiss. After 63 years, Weiss Guys Car Wash has closed.

From left to right, Dr. Dawn Pruzansky, Dr. Shawn M. Bader and Dr. Alyssa Levin.

Alex Shapero witnessed the emotional response of Jewish victims of domestic abuse to seeing a new mezuzah on their doorpost and immediately understood two things. The first is that a symbol as simple yet powerful as a mezuzah can demonstrate continuity and the strength of community for people fleeing abusive situations. The second is that there were probably “a lot more Jews out there in the same boat,” he told Jewish News.

In a bid to promote civic engagement, Beth El Phoenix honored poll workers during Shabbat and hosted two of the state’s highest officials to discuss democracy. Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick and Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer spoke to a crowd of Beth El congregants about the perilous state of democracy and what to do about it after Kiddush on Saturday, Aug. 17.

Judy Schaffert is pictured with her husband, Mike. Schaffert talked extensively about the ramifications of Proposition 137 during a virtual event for Arizona Jews for Justice.

Randi and Sam Zaila cut the ribbon on the Sonya Ahava Zaila Memorial Playground on Sunday, Aug. 25. Rabbi Baruch Harris is also pictured in the center.

Rabbi Mendel Slonim, left, and Rabbi Dovber Goldman help people put on tefillin as they travel through rural Arizona in August.

Joel Haber will give a series of lectures about Jewish food and its relationship to Jewish people.

Arizona Jewish Academy started the 2024-25 school year with a new name and new growth.