Vally of the Sun JCC to Be Renamed for Martin Pear Orthodox Union

HEADLINES | 6 SPECIAL SECTION | 18 CUBA CHARITABLE GIVING A mission trip Advice for giving to Jewish Havana tzedakah the smart way DECEMBER 13, 2019 | KISLEV 15, 5780 | VOLUME 72, NUMBER 6 $1.50 Vally of the Sun JCC to be Orthodox Union study renamed for Martin Pear program comes to Phoenix RICH SOLOMON | MANAGING EDITOR ELLEN O’BRIEN | STAFF WRITER e would be horrified if he was still living, I think.” reat launch of @SCP_Learning at the Yeshiva in Phoenix this week, “H Jonathan Hoffer, a partner at SMS Financial and Martin “Ga packed house!” read a Nov. 1 tweet from Jeremy Rovinsky. “All Pear’s son-in-law, was trying to imagine what his humble father-in- kinds of observant Jews — Litvish, Chabad, Modern, Sefardi, Bucharian law’s reaction would be to learning that the Valley of the Sun Jewish — coming together to master Hilchos Shabbos! #SCPrevolution.” Community Center is going to be named in his honor. “But I think In November, Phoenix became one of 28 new locations for the Orthodox he’d be so pleased for the community to honor him in this way and Union’s Semichas Chaver Program, an interactive halachah learning to see the impression he left on those who knew him.” program for men that teaches practical lessons in Jewish law and ethics in Pear was the executive director of the Phoenix Jewish Community six-month intervals. Center when it was located on Maryland Avenue, before it moved to the Rovinsky, a Phoenix resident and the dean and general counsel for Rabbi Gavriel Goetz instructing the first OU Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus and was renamed the Valley of National Paralegal College, was completing a two-and-a-half-year-long class held in Phoenix. the Sun JCC in 2002. His work ethic and compassion were legendary in halachah program nine months before the #SCPrevolution. At the time, PHOTO COURTESY OF JEREMY ROVINSKY an industrious community known for its empathy. he found himself wondering, “What’s next?” “It would be hard for him,” said Pear’s daughter, Rachel Hoffer, of As it turned out, SCP was next. Rovinsky heard about the SCP program, and between the one-night-a-week sessions, the building name. “But at the same time, I think he would also be the six month certification process and the abbreviated source material, he knew that it would be an accessible option. extremely proud and honored because he believed so deeply in the Jewish “I felt it would be manageable for a regular guy in the community to make it a success,” Rovinsky said. Community Center and peoplehood.” Hoping to launch the program in Phoenix, he sent an email to a generic address on the OU website and The renaming coincides with the VOSJCC’s new capital campaign received an unexpected response. The email he sent went directly to SCP founder Rabbi Elyada Goldwicht, who to support multiple improvements to the facility. Called “More J on the SEE OU PAGE 3 Way — Are You In?,” the campaign has already raised $2.5 million out of its total $10 million goal. The Hoffers were one of the many families in the community that the JCC approached about investing in its future. They agreed to gift a contribution to the campaign, and in the process worked to honor Pear’s selflessness. Lone Soldier letters “He wasn’t a leader who wanted to be the center of attention. He What are Phoenix’s children sending to Israeli soldiers just wanted to make a difference in community,” Rachel said. “He had a this year? Go to Page 13 to read the thoughtful passion for being with people and inspiring people, and having them put messages. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE EAST VALLEY JCC their best foot forward and highlighting their strengths.” To VOSCC CEO Jay Jacobs, Pear’s name is associated with excellence, SEE PEAR, PAGE 2 KEEP YOUR EYE ON jewishaz.com NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL ISRAEL Columbia and Tel Aviv launch dual- Israeli medical experts go to Date set for degree program Samoa to combat epidemic third Israeli elections HEADLINES PEAR can do all this behind the scenes and still have CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 families and friends who are proud of you.” Weiss was the one who suggested a capital passion and service connected to the center. campaign after he attended a JCC conference “And family is the Center,” Jacobs added. So in 2018. “It was very ingrained in me that in a tireless family man like Pear “exemplifies the order to maintain success we need to invest spirit of the JCC.” in people, programs and facilities. The board The facility will be renamed The Martin Pear decided we wanted to make this facility relevant JCC in the Valley of the Sun on Dec. 20 at 4 for the next 15 to 20 years and really invest in p.m. “This is about honoring Martin and the Martin Pear, former Phoenix JCC executive director, our future.” 2019 Phoenix Jewish News at the JCC of Binghamton in Binghamton, New JCC staff at these tireless agencies,” Jonathan York. On Dec. 20 at 4 p.m., the VOSJCC will be Honoring Pear and kicking off the campaign print dates Hoffer said. renamed to The Martin Pear JCC in the Valley of felt like a perfect marriage. “It’s about a guy In many ways, Pear’s legacy at The J was the Sun as recognition of Pear’s service to the who gave his life and service to the JCC, how community. PHOTO COURTESY OF RACHEL HOFFER January 4 June 7 already established even without a building community is always No. 1,” Weiss said. “What name, as he spent so much time at the JCC. me what he thought was missing from The J, we are trying to do in this campaign is show January 11 June 21 “I used to run the basketball league and and he was spot on. He was an amazingly pas- that those who have carried the community on January 18 August 9 I’d go home at 9:30 at night and he’d still be sionate, bright individual with terrific vision.” their back for many years — the Bill Levines, January 25 August 30* there,” said Jonathan Hoffer, who worked Jacobs said the renaming is as much about the Sheila Schwartzs, the Grossmans — we February 1 September 6 for Pear at the JCC. “He just made time for the community at large as it is about Pear. wanted to show that the next generation is everyone and everything. He embodied what “What we want people to take away from this ready to step up and follow their lead.” February 8 September 13 the JCC is all about. He was a true mensch. is that every generation in a JCC creates the Youthful giving seems to be part of a February 15 September 20 A true community guy.” success of the next generation — and has the larger pattern. February 22 September 27 Others who worked with Pear felt the responsibility to.” “Ninety-eight percent of the money we’ve March 1 October 4 same way. Now Rachel and Jonathan Hoffer are cel- raised so far has been donated by people 55 “He was just a mensch,” recalled Gary Weiss, ebrating the generation that preceded them and under,” said Weiss, who’s truly pleased March 15 October 18 VOSJCC board chair. “He was an unbelievably — and honoring the centrality of the JCC in Pear will receive his due this way. March 29 November 1 nice man, a simple guy. You’d ask him his name their lives. “He was a super man — he always put April 5 November 15 and he’d say, ‘Marty Pear, like the fruit.’ He “I grew up as the daughter of a JCC execu- a smile on my face,” Weiss said. “When I April 12 December 6 was super friendly, loved everybody. He always tive moving city to city,” Rachel Hoffer said. attended his funeral, the way that his grand- had a smile and a great attitude.” “It became our family when we moved to these children and children spoke about him makes April 19 December 13 Pear worked tirelessly to see the JCC serve as new cities. It was the same for Jonathan; he me want to be a little bit more like Marty Pear May 3 December 20 a hub for Phoenix’s Jewish community. Now, played basketball and met his future business every day.” May 17 *Annual with membership at an all-time high and more partners at the JCC. This is about honoring “His life’s work was to give back to the May 31 Directory than 2,000 visitors a day, The J is closer than my father and all professional staff in the Jewish Jewish community,” Rachel Hoffer said. “He ever to fulfilling Pear’s expectations. nonprofit sector. They’re the ones that really was an unbelievable dad and mentor. He was “When I first got here, he was long retired,” make everything happen.” an inspiration for how we live our lives and how WWW.JEWISHAZ.COM Jacobs said. “But when we finally met, he told Jonathan agrees. “This is to show that you we teach our children.” JN OFFICE HOURS 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday HEADLINES .................................... 2 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday Local/National/Israel 12701 N. 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