The Northwest Division of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona has a new space to call home.
On July 2, the Jewish Federation — Northwest will open at 190 W. Magee Road, Suite 162, at the northeast corner of Magee and Oracle Roads. The Northwest Division will share the facility with Jewish Family & Children’s Serices, which will offer counseling services.
The Federation has had a Jewish presence in the northwest since 2003, when it established the NW Jewish Life Center at the Foothills Mall to serve residents of Oro Valley, Marana, Picture Rocks, Dove Mountain, Saddlebrooke and Catalina. The center operated at the mall location for one year.
In 2006, through its Compelling Needs Grants, the Federation started Northwest Jewish Connections, which began holding events in private homes, libraries, public parks and other spaces. After four years, this became the JFSA’s Northwest Division, whose events and programs have included Torah Study, a book club, Rosh Chodesh gatherings, men’s group events, family bagel brunches and potluck dinners, as well as Federation campaign events with renowned speakers and educators.
In December, the Northwest Division advisory council decided its number one priority was to find an office/meeting space in the northwest. “We no longer wanted to be ‘the wandering Jews’ of the northwest. Securing space closer to where we live helps us connect and reach out to the Jewish community and offer more programs,” says Esta Goldstein, who co-chairs the advisory council with Eliot Barron.
Northwest Division Director Anne Lowe will staff the Magee Road facility, with the help of volunteers. Along with the division’s ongoing programs, new programs to be held at the Magee Road space may include Jewish art classes, exercise classes and bridge and mah jongg lessons. Southern Arizona synagogues will be invited to offer Friday night and Saturday morning services on a rotating basis. The facility also will be available for rent by other nonprofit organizations and private individuals and enterprises.
For more information or to visit the new location, contact Lowe at 577-9393 or alowe@jfsa.org.
