T Let Your Guard Down
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HEADLINES | 4 SPECIAL SECTION | 13 JEWISH ADOPTION SENIOR LIFESTYLE Couple talks about Ready for special challenges Wise Aging gala APRIL 2, 2021 | NISAN 20, 5781 | VOLUME 73, NUMBER 16 $1.50 Arizona prepares ‘Don’t let your guard down,’ local to observe Yom health care professionals advise NICOLE RAZ | STAFF WRITER HaShoah ith vaccines opening up to more people across NICOLE RAZ | STAFF WRITER Wthe state, there is a sense that the end of the pandemic might finally be in sight. While health eorge Kalman was 9 years old when he was shoved into care professionals promote vaccines as the quickest Ga cattle car to be deported to a concentration camp. He way to achieve that end, they warn against declaring was 10 years old when a Russian soldier entered his forced victory too soon. labor camp and liberated him on April 2, 1945. Once Dr. Mitchell Ross, an interventional cardiolo- “The Holocaust did not end in 1945,” he said. “The ‘Never gist and the managing partner of Arizona Cardiology Again’ continued and is continuing today.” Group, feels he can travel freely and attend live Kalman is one of 54 local Holocaust survivors who received sporting and theater events, he’ll feel like life is back the Phoenix Holocaust Association’s Shofar Zakhor award this to normal. But there is still much work to be done year. It’s the first time since the award’s inception in 1989 that before that can happen, he said. PHA is giving the annual award to more than one person. “There is still significant resistance to simple mitiga- Given during the annual Yom HaShoah commemo- tion strategies, including masking in public places and ration, the award recognizes contributions made to reluctance to accept vaccination,” Ross said. genocide awareness and Holocaust education. It is usually given Masking enforcement in the state was complicated to an educator. last week when Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey prohibited “Hearing from or meeting a survivor is educational and government mask mandates, saying, “I’m confident one of the best ways to combat Holocaust denial,” said Sheryl Arizona’s businesses and citizens will continue to Bronkesh, president of PHA. “We wanted to express our practice the fundamentals and act responsibly as we gratitude to all our survivors for their courage in telling others gradually get back to normal.” that they are Holocaust survivors — whether that is speaking According to the Centers for Disease Control and to a class, telling their children and grandchildren or telling local health officials, people need to continue to wear friends at their assisted living facility.” masks, remain socially distant and get vaccinated The decision to break from tradition and give this award to to combat the threat of emerging new variants and Holocaust survivors was made last year. a surge in cases due to Dr. Alexzandra Hollingworth wears personal protective gear to treat “We had no time to waste as the number of survivors is relaxed vigilance. SEE HEALTH, PAGE 3 COVID-19 patients in the intensive care unit. PHOTO BY ALEXZANDRA HOLLINGWORTH dwindling because of their advanced age,” Bronkesh said. “In 2020 and thus far in 2021, 10 survivors in the community have passed away.” Kalman has been active in Holocaust education for over 25 Twelve secret spots to see in Israel years, speaking with a variety of men’s clubs, senior groups and Fancy seeing a flamingo in the desert? Look no further than the students who want to learn about the past, he said. evaporation ponds in Evrona near Eilat, which a group of previously “Instead of giving a prepared talk, I conduct my meetings migrating flamingos has decided to call home. To read more, go to p. 23. as a one-on-one Q&A format,” he said. “I tell them that I like hostile questions like, ‘I hear PHOTO BY MILA AVIV/FLASH90 VIA JNS.ORG frequently that the Holocaust SEE REMEMBRANCE, PAGE 2 KEEP YOUR EYE ON jewishaz.com NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL ISRAEL Shmurah matzah, Germany to draft law expanding Israel releases revamped made in Texas citizenship to descendants of Nazi victims 2021 Eurovision entry HEADLINES REMEMBRANCE Those wishing to CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 attend must register at eventbrite.com. never happened. Why?’ Excellent question, Valley Beit Midrash is host- let’s talk about it in detail.” ing Janet R. Kirchheimer for The PHA is holding its annual commemora- a virtual commemoration at tion virtually on April 11 at 1 p.m. Holocaust 11 a.m April 8. Kirchheimer survivors will speak accompanied by music is a teaching fellow at The and a memorial candle-lighting ceremony. National Jewish Center for Rep. Alma Hernandez (LD-3) will present the Learning and Leadership and keynote address. Hernandez reintroduced her the daughter of Holocaust Holocaust education bill in February, which survivors. She’ll be sharing would require public schools in Arizona to her family’s story and read- teach students about the Holocaust and other ing some poems she wrote genocides — including the Rwandan, Bosnian over the course of about 15 and Armenian genocides — at least twice years related to her family’s Holocuast survivor George Kalman, 86, holds his Shofar Zakhor award 2021 Phoenix between grades seven and 12. experiences and what they’ve from the Phoenix Holocaust Association. “My message is simple: we must pass the meant for her. PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PHOENIX HOLOCAUST ASSOCIATION Jewish News legislation that mandates Holocaust education “Poetry is about what’s RSVP at tinyurl.com/a9paf69x. if we truly want to ensure that this never hap- on the page, but — perhaps more importantly “It’s important to remember all the lost lives Print Dates pens again,” said Hernandez. “We must teach — about what’s not on the page,” she said. and to appreciate all the things we have now,” the future generations about the atrocities of “Poetry allowed me to enter the maze that is said Harel, whose grandmother successfully hid the Holocaust and ensure that they understand the Shoah and try to figure out my place in from the Nazis and escaped. “It’s part of our January 8 August 6* what hate, bigotry and xenophobia can do.” this world.” history. It’s part of the reason we are here.” January 22 August 20 Those wishing to attend must register at Growing up, she knew 90% of her fam- Harel moved to Phoenix from Israel three phxha.com. ily was missing. “I was lucky — I had one years ago, and goes out of her way to mark February 5 August 27 PHA is one of several organizations in Greater grandmother,” she said. Yom HaShoah and other days that would be February 19 September 3 Phoenix that have planned events around Yom There will be time for participants to share more easily observed in Israel. HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, their own stories and poems during the event. “It’s easy to forget here,” she said. “You March 5 September 10 which falls on April 8, 2021. It is important to create an opportunity for can let special days and holidays go by with- March 12 September 24 Hillel at Arizona State University is host- people to come together and remember the out even telling your kids or remembering or ing a 24-hour name reading on campus from Holocaust, because “unfortunately, never again doing anything. I have three girls and every March 19 October 1 sundown April 7 to sundown April 8. Student has meant again and again,” as evidenced by time I point out, ‘Listen, I know it seems like March 26 October 15** volunteers will read the names of thousands ongoing genocides, she said. a regular day but it’s not.’ And there are still of the six million Jewish people who perished Those wishing to attend must register at traditions and things that we need to remember April 2 November 5 at the hands of the Nazis. In addition to the visitvalleybeitmidrash.org. and talk about.” April 16 November 19 names, the victims’ age and place of death will The Israeli American Council organized a The Jewish Community of Sedona and the be read out.. worldwide six million steps in honor of the six Verde Valley will present a 90-minute webinar May 7 December 3 For students not living on campus and million Jewish lives lost campaign and invited for Holocaust Remembrance Day at 3 p.m. May 21 December 17 those uncomfortable with in-person events, people to wear a black shirt, take a walk and April 11. Hillel is encouraging attendance of a Zikaron add their number of steps to the global count Representatives of children and grand- June 4 Basalon (Remembrance in the Living Room) at iac360.org/6m. children of Holocaust survivors will speak July 9 *Best of Magazine event on Zoom, at 7:30 p.m. April 7, Yamit Harel, who does community about the impact their family stories had on hosted by PHA. Holocaust survivor Marion engagement for IAC Arizona, invites their upbringing and their ways of coping **Annual Directory Weinzweig will share her story, and a poem anybody who wants to partici- with challenges. written by Holocaust survivor Anna Geslewitz pate to walk with her at 5 p.m. April 8, WWW.JEWISHAZ.COM will be read. at Paseo Vista Park in Chandler and to SEE REMEMBRANCE, PAGE 8 OFFICE HOURS HEADLINES ...........................................2 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday Local 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday National 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 206, Scottsdale, AZ 85254 DEADLINES EDITORIAL: Noon, Tuesday OPINION ...............................................10 Phone: 602.870.9470 | Fax: 602.870.0426 | [email protected] | [email protected] [email protected] | www.jewishaz.com 9 days prior to publication Editorials ADVERTISING: 11 a.m., Friday Commentary PUBLISHER ADVERTISING SALES CONSULTANT 3 days prior to publication Jewish Community Foundation Jodi Lipson | 602.639.5866 TORAH COMMENTARY .................12 Jaime Roberts, Publisher | 2013-2016 of Greater Phoenix [email protected] Florence Newmark Eckstein, Publisher | 1981-2013 SPECIAL SECTION: GENERAL MANAGER SUBSCRIPTIONS Cecil Newmark, Publisher | 1961-1981 SENIOR LIFESTYLE .........................13 Rich Solomon | 602.639.5861 602.870.9470 x 1 Pearl Newmark, Editor | 1961-1981 [email protected] [email protected] M.B.