Tu b'Shevat walkers show support for Israel, community

LEISAH WOLDOFF

Managing Editor

Clear blue skies greeted about 1,500 participants in Jewish National Fund's first community Tu b'Shevat walk, held Jan. 31 at Tempe Beach Park and Town Lake.

People of all ages - including some in strollers and others on roller blades - donned white JNF T-shirts proclaiming "Show Your Pride!" to express support for Israel; many dogs sported Israeli flags on their collars.

Students lent their support, as well. Arizona State University students from Hillel at ASU and Sun Devils for Israel volunteered, as did teens from B'nai Tzedek and Beth El Congregation's USY group and other community members. Cellist Lindsay Breslau performed at the half-mile mark so walkers on the 1-mile route knew when to turn around (those completing the walk around the lake walked 3 miles).

Levi Catering sold kosher food, and about 20 exhibitors ran booths, many that offered activities for children. Limelight Entertainment and Ben Negley and his klezmer band performed.

Before the walk, radio and TV meteorologist Ed Phillips led a tree-planting ceremony that included songs performed by a child's choir led by Cantor Sharona Feller and an introduction of local dignitaries. These included Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard, Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman and Joe Kanefield, general counsel to Gov. Jan Brewer. Council for Jews With Special Needs provided a sign-language interpreter.

The walk raised $36,600 in registration fees, sponsorships, exhibitor fees and miscellaneous donations, according to Linda Shapiro, campaign executive for JNF's Arizona region. She estimated that 1,500 people attended.

Net proceeds from registration fees will benefit a new vocational training center in Aleh Negev, a state-of-the-art rehabilitative village in Israel that provides medical care for the severely disabled. The center is a special project of JNF's Arizona region that will provide village residents with workshops in silk, pottery, packaging, candle-making and paper-recycling.

The brief speeches were punctuated by the sounds of airplanes flying overhead and the Phoenix Metro (light-rail) trains - on which some participants traveled to the event - passing by across a nearby bridge. Roller skaters zipped by on the sidewalk in front of the stage.

Representatives from the United States Forest Service, the event's title sponsor, were Dale Bosworth, former U.S. Forest Service chief; Jennifer Peterson, Middle East Program coordinator of international programs for the forest service; and Val Mezainis, international programs director of the forest service.

Others introduced were Ted Kort, JNF regional director; Shapiro; Rosemary Stralser, event chair; Eileen Robideau, JNF administrative assistant; Bruce Goldberg, JNF board president; Nathan Goldberg of SOS Specialized Office Services, an event sponsor; Florence Eckstein, owner and publisher of Jewish News, the event's media partner; and Smokey Bear.

Shapiro of JNF attributed the walk's success to support from Valley synagogues and Jewish organizations. "It came together because of their willingness to promote it," she said. She also commended Stralser, who spearheaded the walk "and rose to the occasion, taking on a new project. She was incredible." Michele Millman, administrative vice president at Temple Beth Sholom of the East Valley, said she liked the fact that her children "were able to get out and raise a few bucks for the synagogue and walk to raise money for JNF."

"The walk was much more meaningful and memorable than attending a festival-only event," she wrote in an e-mail to Jewish News. "And what a great way to get some exercise." She also appreciated the new venue - past Tu b'Shevat community festivals were held at the Scottsdale Civic Center Mall. "It was so nice to have something in the southeast area as opposed to Scottsdale - (where most Jewish community events are held)," Millman wrote.

Temple Solel of Paradise Valley closed for the day and the synagogue's religious school classes met at the park, according to Executive Director David Lamden. About 150 people participated in a Tu b'Shevat family education program, where families made eco-friendly, insulated light-switch covers "to remember the importance of preserving our natural resources," he said. "Then we encouraged the families to stay and participate in the walk."

Solel had 60 individuals who specified on the registration form that they walked for the synagogue (this didn't count children ages 5 and under), according to Shapiro; this made Solel the third-largest group of walkers.

The largest group was Jess Schwartz Jewish Community Day School at 67 registered walkers and Temple Emanuel of Tempe was second at 64, she said.

The walk started with a ribbon-cutting by Bosworth of the U.S. Forest Service, after which walkers, waving Israeli flags, set out under an archway of blue and white balloons. The Chai Tones played along the route, which went around the lake, crossing over the Rural Road and Mill Avenue bridges.

As Seymour Rife, JNF board treasurer, walked along the route over the bridges with his seven grandchildren, ages 8 through 12, waving their Israeli flags, several cars honked their horns and people in the cars waved at them. "The kids asked me, 'What are they honking for?'" Rife said. "I told them that it means that they like Israel, too."

Ambulances rushed to the rescue of one elderly gentleman who fell during the walk; JNF learned that he was taken to the hospital with cuts and bruises but was otherwise OK.

After the walk, people returned to Tempe Beach Park for Israeli dancing and socializing; several stopped at Mojo Yogurt, as evidenced by the many JNF shirts in line, to enjoy an afternoon treat before heading to their cars or the light-rail station.