HEADLINES | 4 SPECIAL SECTION | B6 ISRAEL BONDS SENIOR LIFESTYLE CEO Israel Maimon talks How isolated seniors about why Phoenix is can combat loneliness perfect for a conference. during the holidays. DECEMBER 6, 2019 | KISLEV 8, 5780 | VOLUME 72, NUMBER 5 $1.50 Jewish Advisory Board: Month of anti-Israel activity at Building bridges for ASU sparks debate ELLEN O’BRIEN | STAFF WRITER two decades n Tuesday, Nov. 19, students flooded a meeting of ELLEN O’BRIEN | STAFF WRITER Othe Undergraduate Student Government at Arizona State University to debate a planned resolution in favor or 20 years, the Phoenix Police Department’s Police Chief’s Advisory of the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement. The FBoards have been bridging the gap between the police department meeting came after a month of anti-Israel and anti-Semitic and minority communities in Phoenix. That includes the Jewish Advisory incidents on campus. Board, which allows the Jewish community to stay connected with police The proposed resolution would have called on the ASU resources and for community leaders to share concerns. administration to divest from any Israeli companies that the “The actual function of the board is multifaceted, but its primary university is currently invested in. function is to build a bridge between the Jewish community and the Although a vote on the resolution was delayed until the police department,” said Detective Michael Hillman, the Phoenix Police next student government meeting, around 60 students Department community liaison to the Jewish Advisory Board. from Jewish organizations across ASU attended the event Paul Rockower, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations to speak out against the proposal. Council of Greater Phoenix and a new member of the advisory board, Sarah Balis, president of the Hillel Jewish Student Center says that the program is a unique opportunity for the Phoenix Jewish at ASU, was the first student to speak at the meeting. community to be heard. Neta Galili debates the Israeli government’s policies in Gaza SEE ASU, PAGE 3 and the West Bank with Benjamin Cooper. PHOTO BY ELLEN O’BRIEN “Good public diplomacy is about listening,” said Rockower. “The advisory board is showing that the Phoenix Police Department is listening to the concerns of the community, and it’s showing that we’re listening to their concerns.” Chanukah gift guide As the liaison to the Jewish Advisory Board, Hillman also benefits from Chanukah is on Dec. 22 this year, leaving you plenty of time to a special connection to the Jewish community: He’s worked as an off-duty figure out what to get your family and friends. Take advantage police officer at Temple Chai for 22 years. “I’m not Jewish, but I’ve been of the waning hours of Cyber Week (wasn't it just Cyber Monday last year?) using our breakdown of online Chanukah at the temple for so long that I tell people I’m the most Jewish Christian gifts with a quirky twist, like this T-shirt sold by locally owned you’ll ever meet,” Hillman said. Schmattees. Go to Page 13. The Jewish Advisory Board is one of 12 community advisory boards that PHOTO VIA SCHMATTEES.COM regularly meet with the Phoenix Police Department. Other boards include SEE JAB, PAGE 2 KEEP YOUR EYE ON jewishaz.com NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL ISRAEL Israeli-American Council’s yearly IDF humanitarian aid team heads to Attorney General Mandelblit formally conference held in Florida Albania following earthquake submits Netanyahu indictment HEADLINES JAB chair of the Jewish Advisory Board. uniformed police officer or patrol car stationed CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 According to Levertov, the concerns of the outside their building — all of these can be representatives of the African American community don’t change significantly from confusing to police officers who aren’t familiar community, the LGBTQ community and meeting to meeting, but it’s important to have with the Jewish community. the refugee community in Phoenix. police officers continue to listen and be aware. “The police do their best, but they can’t According to Hillman, the program has “It’s nothing new in a sense. We talk necessarily understand all those things,” been around for around 20 years, and has about anti-Semitism or anti-Semitic attacks,” Zeichick said. continually evolved based on the needs of Levertov said. “That’s not new, but you know As for Hillman, his relationship with the the communities they represent. Each board that the police department is addressing it. Jewish community makes it possible to works independently with a liaison to address There’s a real sense of ‘we’re listening, we’re respond quickly to an emergency. On the 2019 Phoenix Jewish News that community’s specific concerns. doing our best.’” day of the Chabad of Poway shooting in print dates “Other advisory boards cre- April, members of the advi- ate initiatives, but we don’t sory board messaged Hillman January 4 June 7 about the tragedy. He reached necessarily do that,” said Rabbi January 11 June 21 Levi Levertov, chair of the out to commanders in pre- Jewish Advisory Board. “Ours cincts throughout Phoenix January 18 July 12 is more about communica- and asked them to send patrol January 25 August 9 tion, keeping communication cars to synagogues. February 1 August 30* “It makes people feel a little lines open between ourselves February 8 September 6 in the community and also bit safer,” he said. keeping the police department And when a big event or February 15 September 13 informed for things that we holiday is coming up, the February 22 September 20 Representatives from the 12 community advisory boards meet at an annual summit board provides a channel of see that they might not take with the Phoenix Police Department. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT March 1 September 27 communication to ensure that notice of.” March 15 October 4 Each meeting of the Jewish Advisory Board The board can also advise the police security is a priority. includes a 20-minute presentation from an department about cultural differences and “With our heightened awareness of security March 29 October 18 officer from the police department, followed disagreements, Zeichick said. “Particularly throughout the Jewish world and through- April 5 November 1 by a round table discussion and dinner. At in the Jewish community, we’re not all the out the world, the board has played a really April 12 November 15 same. Something that may be true with the instrumental role,” Levertov said. He noted the most recent meeting, a representative of April 19 December 6 the Phoenix Police Bias Crimes Detail came ultra-Orthodox community here may not be the internal bridge-building that happens at to explain how hate crimes are investigated. true for the more secular Jews and vice versa.” board meetings, too. May 3 December 13 “We look for people from the police Differences such as some congregations “You sit with Jewish organizations that you May 17 December 20 celebrating one day of Rosh Hashanah while would never really be sitting at a table with,” department who can come in and explain May 31 *Annual Directory things, and then we can bring that mes- others celebrate for two, or different opinions he said. “It’s not about Orthodox, Reform, sage back to our congregations or our on the importance of maintaining eruvs, or Conservative. It’s about Jewish community. organizations,” said Alan Zeichick, vice inconsistencies in whether synagogues want a We’re all here for each other.” JN WWW.JEWISHAZ.COM OFFICE HOURS 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday HEADLINES .................................... 2 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Friday 12701 N. Scottsdale Road, Suite 206, Scottsdale, AZ 85254 ........................................ 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Periodicals postage paid at Phoenix, Arizona. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Jewish News, 12701 N. Scottsdale Road., Suite 206, Scottsdale, AZ 85254. VOL.72, NO. 5 | DECEMBER 6, 2019 2 DECEMBER 6, 2019 JEWISH NEWS JEWISHAZ.COM HEADLINES Hillel Student President Sarah Balis addresses students gathered at the Hillel student center on Nov. 19. PHOTO BY ELLEN O’BRIEN ASU the Palestinian cause is anti-Semitic weigh me CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 down ... It’s just not true.” A month of controversy “If USG wants ASU to remain a place Debbie Yunker Kail, executive director at where all students feel included, you must the Hillel Jewish Student Center at ASU, vote against any resolution that supports the identified a series of four recent anti-Semitic BDS movement,” Balis told senators.