Local

In 30th year, Tucson International Jewish Film Festival turns to streaming

Ben Schwartz (left) and Billy Crystal in a scene from 'Standing Up, Falling Down'

The Tucson International Jewish Film Festival is celebrating its 30th anniversary with an abundance of films to stream. “While many things have changed, the power of film to bring us together has not,” Film Festival Co-chairs Cookie Little and Donna Dennison write on the festival’s welcome page. Using the… Read more »

Restoration of Bisbee-Douglas Jewish cemetery honors pioneer history

A visit to the Bisbee-Douglas Jewish Cemetery on March 11, 2020 revealed toppled tombstones and graves in need of repair. Volunteers made efforts to clean up the site in 2016, but the cemetery was not secure from vandals. (Photo: Virgil Hancock)

The recent restoration of the Bisbee-Douglas Jewish Cemetery, established in 1904, allows the Jewish pioneers buried there to “rest in dignity,” as Stuart Mellan, former president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona, told the audience at the Federation’s “Celebrating Our Past, Creating Our Future” event on… Read more »

Temple Emanu-El WRJ creates new online gift shop, Hanukkah sale

The Baskin Blue Marbled Glass Arch Menorah is one of the items featured on the Temple Emanu-El WRJ Gift Shop's new website.

With their usual Hanukkah bazaar curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic, the Women of Reform Judaism at Temple Emanu-El have created an online gift shop and will be holding a 20% sale on Hanukkah items Nov. 23-Dec. 1. Items can be browsed here, including newly arrived menorahs, menorah drip trays,… Read more »

Jewish Federation, Foundation help address mounting problem of food insecurity in Southern Arizona

Community Food Bank team members provide food supplies in the drive-up emergency food distribution operation that runs Tuesdays and Thursdays at Kino Sports Complex. (Photo courtesy Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona)

It has been a long time since the Kino Sports Complex in Tucson has hosted more than a thousand cars on a regular basis. Yet that has been the scene many Tuesday and Thursday mornings in recent months as vehicles of all types, their occupants representing the diversity of… Read more »

Davis leaving Tucson’s Jewish History Museum to lead Baltimore museum

Sol Davis talks to middle school students from the Paulo Freire Freedom School at the Holocaust History Center in May 2018. (Photo courtesy Jewish History Museum)

As director of Tucson’s Jewish History Museum/Holocaust History Center for the past five years, Sol Davis, Ph.D., helped expand the possibilities for Jewish museums nationwide. “He took this idea and transformed it into a living testament of what a museum should be, which is not a place to store… Read more »

JFSA bringing community together to honor Nancy and Stu Mellan and kick off annual campaign

Nancy and Stuart Mellan (Photo courtesy Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona)

The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona will hold a drive-in event, “Celebrating Our Past — Creating Our Future,” on Tuesday, Nov. 17 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. to celebrate community, launch the 2021 annual campaign, and honor recently retired president and CEO Stuart Mellan and his wife, Nancy. “Twenty-five years ago,… Read more »

Handmaker adds hugging booth to courtyard visits

Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging reisdent Sophia Bowman hugs daughter Gretchen through the "hugging booth" plastic divider, with son Kevin looking on. (Photo courtesy Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging)

For the last month or so, residents of Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging have been enjoying visits with friends and family outside in one of the courtyards, 6 feet apart, and masked, per COVID-19 safety precautions. “We even have a hugging booth, so residents can hug their visitors… Read more »

Surprise package adds to CHAI Circle 16th annual retreat, held online

Members of CHAI Circle, a support group facilitated by Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona for women in the Jewish community with a history of cancer, received a surprise self-care package as part of the group's 16th annual retreat, held via Zoom on Nov. 8. (Photo courtesy Jewish Family & Children's Services of Southern Arizona)

CHAI Circle held its 16th annual retreat, “A Day of Connecting and Self-Care,” on Sunday, Nov. 8 through Zoom, with 33 participants.  With CHAI  standing for “Cancer, Healing, and Inspiration,” the circle is a support group for women with cancer in the Jewish community, whether they are newly diagnosed… Read more »

Philanthropy association to honor Jewish community members

Several Jewish community members will be among those honored Nov. 13 at the National Philanthropy Day virtual celebration hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Southern Arizona Chapter. Acclaimed restaurateur Janos Wilder will receive the award for Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser, one of the association’s major annual awards. Wilder was nominated by the Community Food Bank of Southern… Read more »

David Wolsky, 66, dies

David Irwin Wolsky, 66, died suddenly on Sunday, September 27, 2020. David was born July 13, 1954 in Chicago, where he lived until moving to Tucson with his family in 1994. He embraced life in Tucson and developed many close friendships as well as a love for bike riding… Read more »

Northwest Needlers brings Jewish knitters together to create a bounty of tzedekah projects

The Northwest Needlers created twiddle muffs for residents with dementia at Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging and other senior living facilities. (Photo courtesy Ruth and Irving Olson Center for Jewish Life)

Armed with knitting needles and crochet hooks, the Northwest Needlers are women of valor, says founder Judith Feldman. For the past five years, the Northwest Needlers, who currently meet Tuesday afternoons via Zoom under the auspices of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona’s Ruth and Irving Olson Center for… Read more »