Carina Bien-Willner, Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona director for public affairs at the Center for Jewish Resilience; Paul Patterson, JPSA deputy community security director; and Kent Blumenthal, a member of the CJR steering committee, joined almost 400 Jewish leaders in Washington, D.C., last month to lobby lawmakers and the Trump administration for increased funding for Jewish community security. Jewish Federations of North America and the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations convened the United for Security Emergency Leadership Mission,… Read more »
Southern Arizona Leaders Join Hundreds in DC to Press for Increased Jewish Community Security Grants
From left, Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona Deputy Community Security Director Paul Patterson, JPSA Director for Public Affairs Carina Bien-Willner, and lay leader Kent Blumenthal were on Capitol Hill June 25-26 to advocate for Jewish community security funding. (Courtesy JPSA) ‘Sculpt’ Event to Launch Tucson J Fine Art Gallery Season
"Bat Yam: Daughter of the Sea" by Lyubov Muravyeva, at the Tucson Jewish Community Center Sculpture Garden
To kick off the 2025-2026 Fine Art Gallery Season and celebrate the introduction of new works to the Jill Rosenzweig Memorial Sculpture Garden, the Tucson J proudly presents Sculpt: Sculpting the Season, An Evening of Art, Intention & Renewal on Sunday, Sept. 14 from 4-6pm. This event serves as the closing… Read more »
Almost $500K in Federal Nonprofit Security Grants Awarded to 3 Southern Arizona Jewish Organizations
Tucson-area Jewish facilities have received 75% of the current Nonprofit Security Grant Program National Security Supplement (NSGP-NSS) funding awarded to the state of Arizona for the 2025 grant cycle, for a total of $477,417. Tucson Torah Center will receive a $200,000 grant allocation, the Tucson Torah Day School will… Read more »
JFNA Pride Mission Life-Changing for Four Tucson Leaders
From left, Tucsonans Jessica E. Mattix, Sophie German, Ital Ironstone, and Nate Weisband in Tel Aviv during a Jewish Federations of North America LGBTQ+ Pride Mission, June 12, 2025. (Photo courtesy Nate Weisband/JPSA)
Four Tucson Jewish community professionals, Ital Ironstone and Nate Weisband of Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona, and Sophie German and Jessica E. Mattix of Jewish Family & Children’s Services, traveled to Israel for a Jewish Federations of North America LGBTQ+ Pride Mission June 8-12, joining almost 100 leaders from… Read more »
Lamplighter School Completes New Indoor Playground
The Lamplighter Chabad Day School of Tucson, which serves students from kindergarten through eighth grade, blends authentic Jewish traditions and customs with diverse academic subjects. Until recently, however, the school lacked a key component of a well-rounded educational environment—a dedicated space for physical activity and play. That will change… Read more »
UA Medical Student Awarded Hillel Foundation Scholarship
Olivia Mitchel The University of Arizona Hillel Foundation awarded Olivia Mitchel, a third-year medical student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, the Shirley D. Curson Medical Student Scholarship, a two-year award that provides $17,500 a year for a student’s third and fourth years of medical school. The… Read more »
Growing Old: Finding One’s Place at 87
Judith Manelis In a recent issue of the New York Times, a writer talked about how to prepare for retirement and aging with a focus on the various emotions one can experience late in life: depression, sadness, loneliness, alienation and a lack of purpose. Many of these are brought on by… Read more »
Sephardic Mother, Nazi Father: Local Man’s Roots Spark Jewish Journey
Helmut Etzel holds his certificate of conversion to Judaism on May 15, the day of his Beit Din at Kol Ami Synagogue. (Photo courtesy of Rabbi Malcolm Cohen)
“That’s the most off-the-wall thing I’ve ever heard.” That was Helmut Etzel’s initial reaction 25 years ago, when his mother, Marina, a devout Catholic from the mountainous Antioquia region of Colombia, told him, “Mijo, I believe strongly we are from Jewish heritage.” “I also thought this would not be… Read more »
Tucson J Hosts 4th Annual Sam Thomas Hoop Group Basketball Clinic for Kids and Teens in August
The Tucson Jewish Community Center is proud to host former UA Women’s Basketball & Phoenix Mercury star, Sam Thomas, for the 4th Annual Sam Thomas Hoop Group basketball clinic for children and teenagers on Sunday, August 10. This year, the clinic will be co-led by Dominique McBryde, a former… Read more »
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