2012 Summer - Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center

J Gallery
Yom HaShoah –
Community Days of
Remembrance
April 16th - 22nd was the Community Days of
Remembrance commemorating the Holocaust.
This year was especially meaningful as we honored
WWII veterans. There was an art exhibit during
the week displaying vintage photographs of WWII
veterans with their stories of the war. We watched
the movie, The Rescuers, generously brought to us
by Margery and Peter Arnold. The documentary
traces the journey of Stephanie Nyombayire, a
young Rwandan anti-genocide activist who connects
with Sir Martin Gilbert, the renowned Holocaust
historian, to travel across 15 countries and three
continents interviewing survivors and descendants
of the diplomats who rescued tens of thousands of Jews from the unspeakable horrors of the
Nazi death camps. The documentary highlights 15 different non-Jewish diplomats, some
even involved with the Nazi party, who risked their lives to save thousands of Jewish people.
While Nyombayire embarks upon this quest in an effort to uncover potential solutions for
the ongoing genocide in Darfur, what develops from her journey with Gilbert demonstrates
the ways in which the inherent good of the human spirit can surpass institutional evil no
matter what the circumstance may be.
On the actual day of Yom HaShoah, Thursday April 19th , we held a 12-hour Reading of
the Names, where volunteers representing different synagogues and groups from across the
Valley volunteered their time to read names of victims who perished in the Holocaust. There
was a short ceremony where Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane and Stuart Wachs, CEO of the
Jewish Community Association spoke. During this ceremony participants read poems and
prayers honoring Jewish War Veterans and commemorating the Holocaust. The community
was invited to listen to Harry Adler speak about his story as a German Jewish refugee who
returned to Europe as an American G.I. He met his wife, Ella Adler, a Holocaust survivor
while serving in the Army. He told his story and those in attendance were lucky to hear him
speak about his life and the lessons he learned from the Holocaust. The day culminated in
the community wide Yom HaShoah Commemoration, hosted by Congregation Beth Israel.
Over 500 people attended the event. The lessons of the Holocaust remembered each year, are
applicable to every generation, and every person – Jewish or non-Jewish…we must remember
the atrocities and learn from them, just as Nyombayire did in the documentary The Rescuers.
Look for Upcoming Artists
The inaugural year of the JGallery was off to a great
start. Karen Bell-Zinn, Freddie Lieberman and Lee
Zoloto all had the opportunity to exhibit their art
over the past few months. While the gallery is taking
a break this summer, it will start up the beginning
of September. Be on the look out for fabulous new
artist exhibits starting this Fall!
The JGallery provides space for local Jewish artists to
display their work. Proceeds benefit both the artist
as well as the JCC.
For more information about upcoming artists or to apply
for an exhibition, contact Erin Searle, erins@vosjcc.org.
Adult Programs
Let’s Talk: A Current Events
Discussion Group with Lee K.
Monthly | 1st Wednesday | 1:30 - 3 pm
Join Lee as he facilitates a stimulating
discussion of the events of the week.
Drop-in at the J
June 6 | August 1
Free.
Please Note: No July meeting
Mature Mavens Dinners
Monthly | 3 rd Thursday | 5 pm
Meet up with friends and socialize over
dinner. Dinner is separate checks.
Reservations required by calling the JCC.
Date Location Code
July 19 Olive Garden
Cactus/Tatum
ACS3
August 16 Paradise Bakery ACS4
Doubletree Ranch Rd/Scottsdale Rd
NEW Widowed Community
Support Group
Weekly | Thursdays | 6 - 8 pm | at the JCC
On-Going
Meet and talk with other individuals who have lost a
spouse. Contact Jim Schwartz for more information:
info@widowedcommunity.org
www.vosjcc.org 13