Arlen Specter, shown speaking at the AFL-CIO convention in September 2009, represented Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate for 30 years. (Steve Dietz/Sharp Image) WASHINGTON (JTA) — During his 30 years in the clubby confines of the U.S. Senate, Arlen Specter never lost his acerbic prosecutorial zeal, friends and associates say. The insistent questions, the commitment to independence that made the longtime Pennsylvania senator a critical player in recent U.S. history, ultimately did… Read more »
The five co-founders of New York's Lost Tribes Brew (Courtesy Lost Tribes Brew) The five co-founders of New York’s Lost Tribes Brew (Courtesy Lost Tribes Brew) NEW YORK (JTA) – As he weaves in and out of traffic in New York City on a Friday afternoon, David Itzkowitz has two things on his mind: Shabbat and beer. Beer because Itzkowitz, 26, is a co-founder… Read more »
WASHINGTON (JTA) — When 15 prominent American Protestant leaders sent a letter to Congress last week calling for an investigation and possible suspension of U.S. aid to Israel, at least one outcome was certain: The Jews wouldn’t like it. Already, one major American Jewish group has canceled its participation… Read more »
Rabbi Raphael Evers speaking with spectators at the commemoration ceremony on the 20th anniversary of the crash of an El Al plane in Amsterdam, Oct. 4, 2012. (Cnaan Liphshiz) AMSTERDAM (JTA) — Chemical weapons, nuclear debris and Mossad agents in biohazard suits all have played prominent roles in the dozens of conspiracy theories surrounding the crash of an El Al airplane here 20 years ago this month. But Rob Oudkerk, vice chairman of the Dutch parliament’s inquiry into… Read more »
Gordon Steen, 66, of Baltimore has been looking for a full-time job for six years. (Neil Rubin) BALTIMORE (JTA) – After some 40 years in the business world, Gordon Steen never thought his morning would start outdoors with hyenas, elephants and monkeys. But that was more than six years ago, before he had closed his 17-year-old shipping and packing business. While contemplating his next career move,… Read more »
BALTIMORE (JTA) – Every Jewish community wants more Raymonde Fiols among its active retirees. The question is whether those communities are prepared to meet the needs she and hundreds of thousands of “younger seniors” and older ones will have in the near future. Now 76, Fiol has resided in… Read more »
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing early elections in Israel at a news conference at his office in Jerusalem, Oct. 9, 2012. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90/JTA) TEL AVIV (JTA) — It wasn’t Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call for early elections that was unusual. After all, only a few governments have served a full term in Israel’s 64-year history. What was unusual was that seemingly everyone on Israel’s political spectrum — from left to right — appeared to… Read more »
ESHED OZERI, daughter of Nancy Ben-Asher Ozeri and Tidhar Ozeri, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Oct. 6 at Congregation Anshei Israel. She is the granddaughter of Bryna and M. David Ben-Asher of Tucson, and Naomi and Yehiel Ozeri of Jerusalem. Eshed attends Tucson Hebrew Academy, where… Read more »
MAXWELL KINNEY BARUCH, son of Dana Narter and Edward Baruch, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Oct. 13 at Congregation Or Chadash. He is the grandson of Marcia and Irwin Narter of Palm Desert, Calif, and MaryEllen and Hurd Baruch of Tucson. Max attends BASIS Tucson North.… Read more »
A son, GRAY OLIVER BLANEY-KOEN, was born Sept. 13, 2012 to Lisa and Daniel Blaney-Koen of Chicago. Grandparents are Mike and Gerri Koen of Oracle and Howard and Marie Blaney of Boulder, Colo. Gray joins his brother, Brach William Blaney-Koen. … Read more »
ESTHER STERNBERG, MD, has joined the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine as director of research. She also joins the faculty of the UA College of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (CALA), where she will establish and direct the Institute on Place and Well-Being. Sternberg is internationally recognized for… Read more »
Stephanie Neidermyer, LMFT, in the lobby of the new northwest office of Jewish Family & Children’s Services Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona, a nonprofit agency that offers social and behavioral health services to the Jewish and greater Tucson community, recently opened an office on the Northwest side, at the corner of Oracle and Magee Roads. Shoshana Elkins, vice president of programs and services… Read more »
Wearing a tattered house robe and with a cigarette dangling from her hand, the pregnant woman in a low-income neighborhood opened the door. Would she cut down on smoking now that her first child was on the way, the expectant mother was asked by the visiting nurse? The response:… Read more »
Michal Kohane with her sons Ohr Taylor, right, and Yonatan during West Point Acceptance Day, Aug. 18, 2012. (Courtesy Michal Kohane) SAN FRANCISCO (j weekly) — “You don’t mind me applying to West Point Military Academy, Mom, do you?” “West Point?” I thought, surprised. But it was fall. Graduation seemed like light years away. “Go ahead,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Let me know if you need anything,” I… Read more »
The LGBT Jewish Inclusion Project of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona, Wingspan Multi-faith Working Group and Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church will hold the 4th Annual Multi-faith Pride Service, “Love Wins,” on Thursday, Oct. 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Grace St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2331 E.… Read more »
Faina Luterman, 73, died June 22, 2012. Born in Belaya Tserkov, Ukraine, Mrs. Luterman was a Holocaust survivor. She received a master’s degree in physics/astronomy from Orenburg State University, in the former Soviet Union. Mrs. Luterman taught physics and astronomy at high school and college levels for over 30… Read more »
According to history as I was taught, during World War II, when the leaders of the Japanese armed forces presented their plan to attack Pearl Harbor to the emperor for approval, after all the parties involved had stated their case and guaranteed the success of the mission, the emperor… Read more »
Unfortunately, Lily Brull (responding to my 9/7/12 letter in the AJP, “No $1.5B to Muslim Brotherhood”) is off the mark (“Miller got it right on $1.5B for Muslim Brotherhood,” 9/21/12). It’s not the amount of money that’s at issue. What I object to is her characterizations of the identity… Read more »
Guy Gelbart’s explanation of the facts leading to the death of Rachel Corrie is much appreciated, as is his discussion of the aftermath of disinformation that was intended to trash Israel and especially the IDF (“Anti-Israel cynics led Corrie to tragic death,” AJP, 9/21/12). He also states that Rachel… Read more »
I was pleased to see cantorial music, and Jewish sacred music in general, highlighted in your last issue in Sheila Wilensky’s article on cantorial soloists in Tucson. It was gratifying in particular to see that at Temple Emanu-El we have employed all but one of the individuals you profiled… Read more »
