HEADLINES | 5 SPECIAL SECTION | 12 MISSING PROM PASSOVER Local teens Savory brunch talk pandemic recipes MARCH 26, 2021 | NISAN 13, 5781 | VOLUME 73, NUMBER 15 $1.50 JCF and Federation B’nai mitzvah find ways to ‘squeeze set to join forces meaning’ out of Zoom celebrations NICOLE RAZ | STAFF WRITER as a single iza Golden knows how to throw a party. She threw La bash for about 130 people for her daughter’s bat organization mitzvah in 2014 and again for her son’s bar mitzvah SHANNON LEVITT | MANAGING EDITOR in 2017. But there would be no party for her youngest wo key Jewish organizations in Greater Phoenix are son, Nadav, after his bar mitzvah last August. Tset to join forces in order to increase their impact to The COVID-19 pandemic’s social distancing the benefit of the community. requirements wouldn’t allow it. “We decided to have On March 18, the boards of the Jewish Community a Zoom bar mitzvah,” she said. “What happened was Foundation of Greater Phoenix and the Jewish Federation a much better — beyond-our-dreams — experience.” of Greater Phoenix announced a unanimous vote to The pandemic has changed the look and feel of become “a single operating entity.” b’nai mitzvah, and several area rabbis say the rite of While that new entity is yet to be named, it will retain passage has become even more meaningful to families the missions of both existing organizations: community and kids because of the changes. philanthropy and support. Up until now, certain aspects of a bar or bat mitzvah The Foundation assists donors to plan and establish have been pretty standard, said Rabbi Mendy Deitsch funds for legacy giving. The Federation raises donations for of Chabad of the East Valley. the benefit of Jewish organizations in the community. By “You get up, you say a certain amount of passages combining resources and having a single leadership team, and a speech — but not every kid wants to have a bar they can do more with less. And while the resources will or bat mitzvah like that,” he said. now grow under one roof, the funds of each organization The pandemic’s forced isolation and use of will continue to be legally segregated. technology has created the flexibility for kids More than a year ago, Federation and Foundation to connect with their ceremony in new ways. leadership formed a task force with key community players Some kids want to sing or read a poem, for to investigate the efficacy of integrating the organizations. example, and now they feel empowered to “celebrate Jonathan Hoffer, chair of the task force, was an officer on the moment” however it Jordanna Schreck holds the Torah on her bat mitzvah on May 2, 2020. both boards when the process began and brought a unique feels most authentic to SEE MITZVAH, PAGE 3 PHOTO BY SHERI SCHRECK perspective to the vetting process. While the two organizations have different business models, Hoffer said, those models are very complementary and it makes sense to bring them together. “The whole concept is that one plus one equals three,” Reflecting on a year of loss he said. “Together they can better serve and effectively Jodi Amendola shares the story of her mother’s losing battle to COVID-19 strengthen the community.” to remind people what's at stake. To read more, go to p. 10. Hoffer pointed out that an enormous amount of PHOTO BY JENNIFER STARRETT time and energy is spent by both organizations on financial SEE INTEGRATION, PAGE 2 KEEP YOUR EYE ON jewishaz.com NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL ISRAEL ESPN host/basketball star Rosalyn Anti-Semitic graffiti spray-painted Flying under the radar: Gold-Onwude describes Israel’s on synagogue, JCC in Belarus The women warriors of Israel’s impact on her career elite combat intelligence unit HEADLINES INTEGRATION of people out there that don’t know us and CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 that we haven’t really engaged — a diverse Jewish community out there that we have operations. By combining the two under not touched.” one roof, staff will be freed up to focus on Kasper, too, is optimistic. “I don’t think other worthwhile areas. anybody who commits to doing this kind of The integration was never about trying work can do it successfully if they aren’t an to save money or reduce staff, Hoffer optimist,” he said. Overall, he’s confident emphasized. “It’s all about increasing that things are going in the right direction. the impact.” Hoffer thinks there’s little downside One aspiration of the new entity will be to the move. He simply hopes that the to reach out to and include people in the community rallies around the idea. One community who identify as Jewish but positive sign already is that both boards aren’t engaged with any official Jewish voted unanimously to move forward. organization, synagogue or service. “That shows they felt we did this process According to Arizona State University’s the right way,” Hoffer said. 2021 Phoenix 2019 population study, that could be as “This is really a tremendous opportunity many as 80% of Jews in the Phoenix area. Richard Kasper, CEO of the Jewish Community Foundation, speaks at JCF’s Life & Legacy event for all of us who are involved in it (the Jewish News The study also can give critical guidance in 2019. PHOTO COURTESY OF JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF GREATER PHOENIX integration) to look closely at what we do in determining what exactly Jews in Greater and how we do it and throw away the stuff Greater Phoenix has succeeded when other Print Dates Phoenix want from their Jewish community. that’s not working, and build something cities contact him in the future and say, “We “This is an opportunity for us to respond better,” Kasper said. want to be like you.” to that in really thoughtful ways,” said Kasper will be interim CEO during the January 8 August 6* Marty Haberer, the Federation’s president Richard Kasper, JCF’s CEO. A first step new entity’s formation process, with the and CEO, said the integration will allow “a January 22 August 20 would be to ensure the new organization intention that he will be CEO once things much healthier and a much fuller menu for “reflects the needs and interests of those are finalized as well. February 5 August 27 the Jewish community.” people in meaningful ways — not just pay “I feel really excited to be a part of Haberer brings some personal experience February 19 September 3 lip service,” he said. something that’s going to be fresh and to the project, too, from his time at the The Jewish community represents a more that’s going to create the best environment March 5 September 10 Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee in diverse landscape today than in the past and for our families, ourselves and our vibrant Florida, where he was associate executive March 12 September 24 among other things includes more same- community,” Haberer said. director before moving here six years ago. sex parents, interfaith families and Jews of Haberer will become executive vice March 19 October 1 There was a similar joining of Sarasota’s color. This evolution is something the new president for donor services for the new Federation and Foundation during his March 26 October 15** organization will have to reckon with. “The entity. “It’s not about me or any individual,” question is, how do you build a community tenure there. “So I already had that vision he said about his new position. “It’s not April 2 November 5 for the future that may be different than when I came here (to Phoenix).” about titles. I want to do fulfilling work the community that we have,” Kasper said. Haberer is optimistic that the integration April 16 November 19 and to be as useful and as helpful and as The answer is to get out and talk to the will bring many benefits to the community. passionate as I can be.” May 7 December 3 Jewish public to let people know this will He’s already seen the good that “can During the interim period, a new board of be an organization that is welcoming and happen when you can actually bring all the May 21 December 17 directors of up to 19 members will be seated. representative, he said. resources — human resources, financial The plan is to have six current members June 4 Those involved in the integration of the resources — all those things towards one from each of the two boards and three to Federation and Foundation have looked to laser-focused goal,” he said. July 9 *Best of Magazine seven at-large members representing donors other cities that have gone forward with a Over the years, Haberer said, “you get **Annual Directory and the community. JN similar process, like Memphis, Tennessee caught up in chasing your campaigns and and Columbus, Ohio. Learning from those dealing with the people that you deal with Jewish News is owned by the Jewish Community WWW.JEWISHAZ.COM cities is helpful, Kasper said. He’ll know every year,” he said. “But there’s a whole lot Foundation of Greater Phoenix. OFFICE HOURS 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday HEADLINES ...........................................2 Local 12701 N. 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