Yearly Archives 2013

A deep spiritual life is hard to find. While opportunities abound for spiritual connections (yoga, meditation, retreats and the like), for most of us it doesn’t come easy. The noise, unfinished to-do lists and the distractions of everyday life interfere with quieting our minds, letting go of our egos… Read more »

Rabbi Yossi Winner

After watching countless students graduate with honors in their respective academic departments, I’ve found that above all the studies, perhaps the single most integral technique they’ve acquired is how to cram for an exam. A study I saw recently on time.com found that most students who cram typically only… Read more »

Tucson Jewish educators at a statewide conference in Phoenix Aug. 11. Bottom row (L-R): Teena Serlachini (Congregation Or Chadash), Rina Liebeskind (Or Chadash education director/Hebrew High); second row: Deborah Witchey and Ashley Hall (Or Chadash), Maya Collier, Hila Lamdan, Michaela Davenport and Page Confino (Congregation Chaverim), Justin Iaconis (Or Chadash); third row: David Weintraub (Or Chadash), Jason Moore (Chaverim), Cantor Janece Cohen and Cindy Weintraub (Or Chadash), Nancy Auslander (Congregation Anshei Israel), MeMe Aguila (Anshei Israel/Chaverim), Naomi Present (Chaverim education director), Daniella Bardack (Anshei Israel), Julie Unger Zorn and Scott Zorn (Or Chadash); fourth row: Oren Riback, Lily Peters, Rebecca Groff, Jared Erman and Caleb Groff (Or Chadash), Renee Hulsey (Anshei Israel), Noga Panai (Or Chadash/Hebrew High), Rabbi Ben Herman (Anshei Israel education director), Bryan Gordon (Anshei Israel); fifth row: Ariel Nadler (Or Chadash), Devin Hulsey (Anshei Israel)

On Sunday, Aug. 11, 34 Jewish educators and directors from the religious schools of Congregation Anshei Israel, Congregation Chaverim, Congregation Or Chadash and Tucson Hebrew High boarded a chartered bus for the Ina Levine Jewish Community Campus in Scottsdale to join educators from around the state for the first… Read more »

Project Isaiah, the Jewish community’s annual High Holidays food drive benefiting the Community Food Bank, begins today and runs through Sept. 30. The project is named for the Prophet Isaiah, who when asked why we fast on Yom Kippur, responded, “Is it not to share your bread with the… Read more »

Humane Borders will hold its second annual multi-faith “Blessing of the Fleet,” giving thanks for the trucks that service its desert water stations, on Sunday, Sept. 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the House of Neighborly Services, 243 W. 33rd St. in Tucson. Participants will include Rabbi Ben… Read more »

Tucsonans will have the chance to see Tucson born-and-bred Rabbi Jen E. Krause, who lives in New York City, lead High Holiday services at the 92nd Street Y. Services will be webcast live via www.92Y.org/HHLive and will also be available to military personnel at Davis Monthan Air Force Base… Read more »

President Barack Obama speaking at the White House with members of Congress about the situation in Syria, Sept. 3, 2013. (Photo by Dennis Brack/Getty Images/JTA)

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Jewish groups backing President Obama’s call to strike Syria militarily are citing moral outrage and U.S. national security as primary considerations, but concern for Israel — however muted — also looms large in their thinking. A lingering sensitivity over misrepresentations of the role of the pro-Israel… Read more »

Margo and Ron Gray were married at Temple Ezra in Chicago on Aug 12, 1973. Their reception was held at the Hyatt Hotel in Lincolnwood, Ill. They celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary by going on a tour of Japan and China with Rabbi Marvin Tokayer, an expert on Jewish… Read more »

The TUCSON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA is one of five arts groups in the state of Arizona to receive the full amount of state grant money available for the 2014 fiscal year. The Arizona Commission on the Arts made the awards based on fiscal ingenuity, broad participation from the state’s residents… Read more »

ZACHARY COHEN received the Outstanding Master (President) award from AEPi International, a Jewish fraternity. Cohen, a student at Drexel University in Philadelphia, will graduate in June with a double major in history and political science. He is the son of Cantor Janece Cohen of Congregation Or Chadash and grandson… Read more »

Richard Naftal Bleich, 81, died in Torrance, Calif., on Aug. 19, 2013. Mr. Bleich was preceded in death by his wife, Vida, and brothers, Clifford and Martin Bleich. Survivors include his daughters, Laurie Jo (Cliff) Gerstman and Karen Alix (Peter Laudenslager) Bleich; brother, Stephen Francis Bleich; and one granddaughter.… Read more »

Augusta “Gussie” Citron, 99, died Aug. 4, 2013. Mrs. Citron was born in New York City. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Sidney Raven, and her second husband, Charles Citron. Survivors include her children, Belinda Dumont  of Tampa, Fla., and Mark  (Ellen Shenkarow) Raven of Tucson;… Read more »

Gail Mordka, 69, died July 28, 2013. Born in Lansing, Mich., Mrs. Mordka served on the board of Jewish Family & Children’s Services and volunteered at the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona, as well as other agencies and charities. Survivors include her children, Michelle (William)Rubin of Skokie, Ill., and… Read more »

Arlene Weintraub, daughter of Diane and Ronald Weintraub of Tucson, and Harry Moskowitz, son of Shirley and the late Jerold Moskowitz of Parsippany, N.J., will be married on Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013 by Rabbi Robert Scheinberg at the Chart House restaurant in Weehawken, N.J. Grandparents are the late Rose… Read more »

GERALD LANKIN has been named Tucson office director at Helix House Internet Marketing Agency. Prior to joining Helix House, he was president of Baja Nueva Design and Decorating Studio in San Felipe, Mexico. He has more than 25 years of experience in the securities and stock exchange industry, including… Read more »

“Sunfish,” a musical with lyrics by Nogales, Ariz., native MICHAEL COOPER, won the top jury honor for musical theater production at the Daegu International Musical Festival in Korea. Cooper is the son of Liane and David Capin Cooper and grandson of Bette and Leonard Cooper and Joan and Alfred… Read more »

NICOLE VICTORIA TURNER, daughter of Deborah Fernandez-Turner and Carey Turner, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Aug. 31, 2013 at Temple Emanu-El. She is the granddaughter of Jo and Fin Fernandez of Tucson, and Joyce Turner of Staten Island, N.Y. Nicole attends Esperero Canyon Middle School. She enjoys… Read more »

LOGAN ELY JACOBS, son of Allycyn and Rex Jacobs, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Aug. 31 at the Tucson Jewish Community Center with Congregation Cha­verim. He is the grandson of Alan Levenson and the late Linda Nadell of Tucson, and Mindy Nadell and the late Randolph Nadell… Read more »

NATHAN RIX, son of Diana Rix and David Gibbs,will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Aug. 24 at Congregation Chaverim. Nathan attends Paulo Freire Freedom School and is interested in the fields of engineering and technology. He is on a First Robotics team, which encourages engineering among youth. He… Read more »

Brandon Elia Esbit, son of Judy and Scott Esbit, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Aug. 24 at Congregation Anshei Israel. He is the grandson of Monroe Katz of Palm Desert, Calif., and the late Barbara Katz, Harry and Elaine Esbit. Brandon attends Wilson Middle School where he… Read more »