Posts By PHYLLIS BRAUN - AJP Executive Editor

I really love the word alternative. A little too much, probably. When I imagine the word alternative in my mind it’s pure white. It represents something good, something spiritual, something I can connect too. Like Yom Kippur. Like reflection. Contemplation. Healing. Forgiveness. Fasting. When I let my mind rest,… Read more »

What to do when the novelty wears off? This is the question I didn’t realize I have been asking myself all summer. What happens after you’ve lived in a new country for a full year, a full four seasons? What happens when you’re no longer the hot new family… Read more »

Do you celebrate Rosh Hashana like your parents did? What do you borrow from the High Holiday celebrations of your youth? This is what I am thinking today on Rosh Hashana 5773, Day Two. It occurred to me this morning, the second day of the new Jewish Year that we… Read more »

I just added a new category to my blog: War. I hesitated before I clicked. I’m a superstitious kind of girl, for one. And, two, I do think our thoughts impact our reality. If I add a war category to my blog, how does that impact my reality? Call… Read more »

Every other week I have the distinct pleasure of partaking in a woman’s group in the community in which I live in Northern Israel. The woman’s group, which was informally started almost a year ago and has grown to a bi-weekly gathering of about 10 – 12 women, has… Read more »

When someone dies, we often use that opportunity to express how we truly feel about them. And how we truly feel about them is often… beautiful. “You were a light in my life.” “I’m so grateful we were friends.” “Thank you for making a difference in the world.” It… Read more »

Do you remember where you were during the September 11 attacks in the United States? Do you remember where you were during the Holocaust? Think now to how you relate to the victims of the 9/11 attacks compared to how you relate to the victims of the Holocaust. If… Read more »

Hours ago I was at the computer giggling, putting the finishing touches on a post explaining why I want to be like comedienne Sarah Silverman. I was feeling very bold and brave as I pressed “publish”; even daring with my mind anonymous internet lunatics to post crazy biblically-inspired apocalyptic… Read more »

This image shows Tropical Storm Ivo in the Pacific Ocean on Sept. 12, 2001. The storm never reached hurricane status, but did make political waves when it was nearly named "Israel." (NASA)

While Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc on East Coast Jewish communities, another storm 11 years ago made serious political waves in the Jewish world. It’s not unusual for Jewish organizations to clash with United Nations agencies over issues related to Israel. But in 2001, Jewish groups’ concern for Israel drew… Read more »

Erica Fishbein volunteered with JDC's Entwine group in south Brooklyn following Hurricane Sandy. (Courtesy Cheryl Fishbein)

NEW YORK—Hurricane Sandy stormed into New York and New Jersey with unmitigated force, carrying death and destruction, disrupting lives, and devastating neighborhoods in America’s most densely populated regions—which happen to be home to some of the country’s largest Jewish populations. In response, the Jewish community banded together to meet… Read more »

BENJAMIN SKYLAR HAFFEY, son of Elizabeth Sennet Haffey and Kenneth John Haffey, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Nov. 17 at Congregation Anshei Israel. He is the grandson of Ann Ida Berlin Haffey of Tucson, and Joseph James Haffey of Needham, Mass. Benjamin attends BASIS Middle School… Read more »

JUSTIN ANTHONY IACONIS, son of Lori and David Iaconis, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Nov. 10 at Congregation Or Chadash. He is the grandson of Barbara and Martin Gold of Sun Lakes, Ariz., the late Donald Leeman, Marguerite and Joseph Iaconis of Columbus, Ohio, and the… Read more »

PHYLLIS BRAUN, executive editor of the ARIZONA JEWISH POST, was a panelist at a Pima County/Tucson Women’s Commission seminar Oct. 18 on “How to Get Your Regional News in Print or Online.” Also on the panel were Carolyn Classen, J.D., author of “Carolyn’s Community”on tucsoncitizen.com; Tiffany Kjos, regional editor… Read more »

Mildred Maxine Perelman Chanin, 91, died Oct. 16, 2012 in Albuquerque, N.M. Mrs. Chanin was born in Cleveland, Ohio. After her mother died when she was in high school, her father, who suffered from arthritis, moved the family to Tucson. She graduated from Tucson High School and received a… Read more »

Spencer Giffords, 77, father of former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, died Oct. 20, 2012. Born in New York City, Mr. Giffords grew up in Tucson and graduated from Mexico City College. After college he took over his father’s tire business, El Campo Tire. His father, Akiba Hornstein, son of… Read more »

Reva Schwartz Golad, 92, died Oct. 15, 2012. Born in Kansas City, Mo., Mrs. Golad attended Manual High School and Kansas City Teachers’ College (now UMKC). She married Maurice “Tiny” Schwartz in 1941.They owned Tiny’s Delicatessen in Kansas City. For 25 years, she worked at the Kansas City Jewish… Read more »

Maurice Washington Jontow, 98, died Oct. 5, 2012. Born in New York City, Mr. Jontow left high school in 1929 to work with his father in the family garment business. He met his wife, Rachel, in 1935 and they were married in 1936. Mr. Jontow served in the Army… Read more »

Rabbi Yossie Shemtov

Despite the devastation wrought by superstorm Sandy, close to 4,500 Hasidic rabbis, community lead­ers and activists hope to pack a warehouse-turned-ballroom at Brooklyn Cruise Terminal on Sunday, Nov. 11, for the grand banquet of the International Conference of Chabad-Lubavitch Emissaries. Seated in the crowd will be me and my… Read more »

Walter Ferguson’s childhood encounter with birds piqued a lifelong interest.

Road kill, for most people, is something you try not to look at too closely and leave behind. But for Walter Ferguson these misfortunate animals could be a prized treasure. Ferguson, one of the world’s preeminent wildlife artists, would never wish for a little creature to be maimed. However,… Read more »

Maddy Melichar, Becky Monroy, Hayley Flanigan and Catalina Foothills High School Principal Angela Chomokos with Day of the Girl proclamations from the City of Tucson and the Pima County Board of Supervisors (Alison Hughes/Pima County/Tucson Women's Commission)

Last month, at the request of sophomore Becky Monroy and four friends at Catalina Foothills High School, the City of Tucson and the Pima County Board of Supervisors issued proclamations naming Oct. 11, 2012 “The Day of the Girl,” building on a successful campaign in almost 100 countries to… Read more »