Yearly Archives 2012

Do rebels have what it takes to overthrow Bashar al-Assad’s government? Why hasn’t the United Nations or the European Union taken action to stop an ongoing massacre in Syria that has thus far claimed more than 40,000 victims? Why does Iran support Syria? How do the events currently unfolding… Read more »

Brighton, UK – During the violence between Gaza and Southern Israel last month, I was shocked that some of my friends were posting images on Facebook that supported the disproportionate force Israel used against Gazans. When I asked why, they all believed that Palestinians wanted to wipe out Israel.… Read more »

Is it possible to move to the Jewish State and feel less Jewish? Yes. Yes, it is. Even when you’re acting a lot more Jewish than you did when you lived in the Non-Jewish Jewish state. (Not, no the Vatican. New Jersey.) Even though I moved to Israel and… Read more »

Twice a month, on average, I travel to Tel Aviv for work. And twice a month, on average, after I park my car on Menachem Begin street in Ramat Gan I walk over to Cafe Cafe to order an espresso k’tzar to go. Today, I walked into Cafe Cafe… Read more »

(This was originally posted on The Times of Israel on 12.13.12 … before the hullabaloo over Instagram privacy rules …) In college, one of my best friends was Stephanie. We met sophomore year as we both hesitantly decided to join the eager freshman girls in sorority rush. By the… Read more »

 ”’Kathy, I’m lost,’ I said, though I knew she was sleeping, I’m empty and aching and I don’t know why…” Lyrics written before I was born, and yet as I sing them out loud today, I feel their depth and their truth. They penetrate my heart, and silence my… Read more »

Sen. Chuck Hagel introduces Secretary of Defense Leon E. Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin E. Dempsey at the Forum on the Law of the Sea Convention in Washington, D.C., May 9, 2012. (Glenn Fawcett/DoD Photo)

WASHINGTON (JTA) — The expected nomination of former Sen. Chuck Hagel as the next defense secretary has sparked an outcry from segments of the pro-Israel community. Media reports in recent days have said that Hagel, a Republican who represented Nebraska from 1997-2009 in the U.S. Senate, is President Obama’s… Read more »

President Obama talks on the phone with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas aboard Air Force One, July 9, 2010. (Pete Souza/White House).

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Is history about to repeat itself? President Obama’s first three years in office saw some serious tussling with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the peace process and settlements. Now, with Obama beginning his second term and Netanyahu looking pretty certain to win next month’s Israeli… Read more »

President Obama attends the Sandy Hook interfaith vigil at Newtown High School in Newtown, Conn., Dec. 16, 2012. ((Pete Souza/White House)

WASHINGTON (JTA) — In the wake of the shooting rampage in Newtown, Conn., Jewish groups are looking to build alliances and back legislation to strengthen gun control laws. Rabbi David Saperstein, the director of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, said that his group is assembling a coalition… Read more »

NEW YORK (JTA) — Like many other mothers, Patti Weiss Levy’s heart broke when she heard about last Friday’s shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn. The longtime Connecticut resident lives an hour away from Newtown, so she assumed she wouldn’t know anyone involved. But as details… Read more »

Noah Pozner, 6, was among the child victims of the Dec. 14, 2012 shooting massacre at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., that claimed six adults.

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (JTA) — It was a eulogy for a life that had only just begun. Veronique Pozner remembered her son Noah as a rambunctious, video-game loving “little man,” a boy with a perpetual smile and twinkly blue eyes who dreamed of becoming a doctor, a soldier and manager… Read more »

The Silverman family's kindness yard at night in Winterhaven (Gila Silverman)

I live in a neighborhood known for its Christmas festival. Several years ago, I wrote an essay for this paper, describing our decision to build a giant dreidel for the festival, and reflecting on the experience of living here. That essay ended with this thought: Sometimes a giant dreidel… Read more »

This is the speech President Barack Obama should have given in the wake of the mass shooting on Friday morning at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn. The shooter killed 28 people, 20 of them children between the ages of 5 and 10. This speech begins the same way… Read more »

Ellen Freeman

ELLEN FREEMAN has been named coordinator for the LGBT Jewish Inclusion Project of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona. Freeman has a long history of activities in the LGBT non-profit sector. She is also an award-winning professional in media, marketing and business development arenas. A Massachusetts native, Freeman lives… Read more »

Emily Singer, daughter of Steve and Shelley Singer of Tucson, and Yaron Hurvitz, son of Udi and Mickey Hurvitz of Ramat HaSharon, Israel, were married June 15, 2012 in Tel Aviv. Yaron is the grandson of Eldad and Leah Hurvitz of Ramat Chen. Joining their Israeli friends and relatives… Read more »

LT. COL. JONATHAN E. LOWE recently became the squadron commander of the 348th Recruiting Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, near Salt Lake City, Utah. Lowe is the son of Anne and David Lowe of Marana. BRYCE MEGDAL was named Tucson Photographer of the Year by RAW Natural Born… Read more »

JOEL COLLIER, son of Randie and Shelby Collier, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Dec. 27 in Jerusalem. He is the grandson of Rosalie Rellin of Milwaukee, Wis., and Roger and Carol Collier of Tucson. His parents, grandparents, sister Maya, and Congregation Chaverim’s Rabbi Stephanie Aaron and… Read more »

NIKOLAI SIEGFRIED ROBBINS, son of Sylvia and Matthew Robbins, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Dec. 22. Marlene Burns will officiate at the family’s home. He is the grandson of Harriet Robbins and the late Harold Robbins of Tucson, and Margrit and Fred Knippert of Grants Pass,… Read more »

Thelma “Teddi” Barlin, 83, died Nov. 23, 2012. A 66-year resident of Tucson, Mrs. Barlin graduated from Tucson High School and the University of Arizona. She was a long- time member of Congregation Anshei Israel, supporter of Tucson Hebrew Academy and a resident at Handmaker. Mrs. Barlin was preceded… Read more »

(StatePoint) — Owning a home is a 365-day-a-year commitment: a mortgage to pay, a yard to maintain and bills to juggle. But experts say that evaluating key exterior elements of your home at least once annually can prevent some bills from skyrocketing. “The key to saving money and keeping… Read more »