Yearly Archives 2011

(Sh’ma) — The third paragraph of birkat hamazon, the prayer after eating, presents an odd conflation of concerns. Opening with a petition for divine mercy toward Israel, its people, capital, temple and monarchy, the prayer veers into an anxious plea to escape material dependence on other mortals: “Do not… Read more »

SAN FRANCISCO (j. weekly) — In August, Gordon Radley tossed stones from Jerusalem over a muddy ridge in Colombia, scattered dirt from the family’s cemetery plot and recited the Jewish memorial prayer. In doing so, he kept a promise made 50 years earlier to honor the memory of his… Read more »

New York, NY; October 17, 2011—Building on its legacy of advancing global justice, American Jewish World Service (AJWS), an international development and human rights organization, unveiled its new Reverse Hunger campaign today. The campaign seeks to rally the American Jewish community to challenge and change a critical factor contributing… Read more »

ROME (JTA) — Auschwitz,  the most notorious camp in the Nazi killing machine, may soon claim success in its campaign to preserve the legacy of the Holocaust. The foundation supporting the site in southern Poland has attracted tens of millions of dollars from donor countries, and the camp’s barracks… Read more »

NEW YORK (JTA) — In 1995, Demetrio Valdez, his wife, Olive, and some of their neighbors in Conjehos County, Colo., started a kosher food co-op. “We wanted to harvest our own meat, but we couldn’t get a good price for it, so we decided to do it kosher to… Read more »

Eric Groner says he revoked his U.S. citizenship with a "heavy heart" when he became Israel's minister for economic affairs to the United States.

TEL AVIV (JTA) — After being named Israel’s minister for economic affairs to the United States, Eli Groner was required by U.S. law to revoke his U.S. citizenship. The following is the statement he submitted to the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv upon his renunciation. Because I love America,… Read more »

Mike Levin, seen here holding the Icelandic Jewish community's paper Torah scroll, once baked his own matzah for a Passover Seder because none was available in the country for purchase. (Alex Weisler)

REYKJAVIK, Iceland (JTA) — For Mike Levin, a native of Chicago, it took a move to Iceland to turn him into a Jewish leader. More than 25 years ago, Levin met an Icelandic woman while both were studying music at a university in Vienna. They married soon after, moved… Read more »

The price of allowing murders to go free By Sherri Mandell Why is it that terror victims are seemingly the only ones against the prisoner exchange? While other Israelis are rejoicing, we are in despair. Arnold and Frimet Roth circulated a petition against the release of Ahlam Tamimi, an… Read more »

An Occupy Wall Street protestor who says his name is David Smith holds a sign in Zuccotti Park in New York that offers an overtly anti-Jewish message, Oct. 11­. (neolibertariannet via YouTube)

NEW YORK (JTA) — The most unloved man in Zuccotti Park, the epicenter of the Occupy Wall Street protests, isn’t a Wall Street banker but a fellow who wears a baseball cap and carries signs denouncing “Jewish bankers.” The man, who told Slate his name is David Smith, comes… Read more »

Rep. Kay granger, the chairwoman of the foreign operations subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee, greets Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton at a subcommittee hearing while Rep. Nita Lowey, the subcommittee's senior Democrat, looks on, March 11, 2011. (Courtesy office of rep. Kay Granger)

WASHINGTON (JTA) — In any other town at any other time they would be a boring, if worthy, pair: Wonkish grandmothers sorting through nitty-gritty foreign policy and budgetary details to keep their country influential and safe. But in Washington at a time of intense partisan rancor, the friendly and… Read more »

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Iran watchers say the revelation of an alleged plot to hire Mexican contract killers to assassinate the Saudi Arabian ambassador to Washington signals the Iranian regime’s deepening radicalization. It also underscores the urgency of the threat posed by Tehran’s nuclear plans, they say. “We need to… Read more »

A son, MICAH ELI KATZ, was born Aug. 2, 2011 to David and Shannon (Zimbler) Katz of Portland, Ore. Grandparents are Dr. Maurice and Randy Davidson of Tucson, Gary and Bettie Zimbler of Tucson, and Howard and Sandy Katz of Portland. Micah joins his brother, Jordan.… Read more »

SIDNEY FINKEL, a Holocaust survivor and educator who speaks to students in Tucson and nationwide, will be awarded an honorary doctorate in public service from Saint Xavier University in Chicago, Ill., and will deliver their December 2011 commencement address. Finkel is the author of the memoir “Sevek and the… Read more »

1ST RATE 2ND HAND THRIFT STORE, Tucson’s Jewish nonprofit community thrift store, has hired JENNI STEINBERG PAGANO as manager. Pagano has experience running nonprofit, online vintage and designer shops. She  has worked in commercial and residential interior design and is one of the founding editors of Refashion Co-op, a… Read more »

NATALIE LEONARD, daughter of Katherine and Arnold Leonard, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Oct. 29 at Congregation Anshei Israel. She is the granddaughter of Jill Siegrist of Olympia, Wash., and Robert Leonard and Jean Saliman, both of Tucson. Natalie attends Tucson Hebrew Academy, where she is… Read more »

DAVID BORUCH TZVI LAYTIN, son of Julie and Shalom Laytin, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Oct. 22 at Chabad on River. He is the grandson of Penny Fox of Tucson and Isska and Malka Laytin of Jerusalem. David attends Tucson Hebrew Academy, where he is a… Read more »

YAAKOV YOSHUA YEHESKAL LAYTIN, son of Julie and Shalom Laytin, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Oct. 22 at Chabad on River. He is the grandson of Penny Fox of Tucson and Isska and Malka Laytin of Jerusalem. Yaakov attends Tucson Hebrew Academy, where he is a… Read more »

Miriam C. Sack, 94, died Oct. 3, 2011, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Mrs. Sack graduated from the University of Chicago. She retired as a family counselor for the Chicago Board of Health. She was a long-time member of Congregation KAM Isaiah Israel in Chicago and Congregation Or Adam in Scottsdale;… Read more »

Evelyn Morris, 88, died Sept. 30, 2011. Mrs. Morris worked as a nurse. She volunteered at Veterans Hospital and the League of Women Voters. She was past president of a New Jersey branch of B’nai B’rith. Mrs. Morris is survived by her husband of 66 years, Edwin; children, Cheryl… Read more »

Maxine “Bunny” Matlick, 84, died Sept. 24, 2011. Mrs. Matlick was a life member of Hadassah and Brandeis National Committee; past president of Brandeis National Committee, Tucson chapter; and a member of the Desert Caucus. Survivors include her husband, Gerald; children, Cathy Greenbaum, Kenneth (Lorie) Matlick and Tracy (Tony)… Read more »