Yearly Archives 2014

Aerial view of the December 2014 oil leak in the Arava area of southern Israel, near where an initiative is under way to reduce the world's reliance on petroleum for energy. (Israel Environmental Protection Ministry)

TEL AVIV (JTA) – In the sun-parched fields near where the largest oil spill in Israeli history poured millions of liters of crude oil into the desert on Dec. 4, an ambitious effort is underway to help reduce global dependency on petroleum for energy. Known as the Eilot Belt,… Read more »

People stand outside the Little Havana restaurant in Versailles, as they absorb the news that Alan Gross was released from a Cuban prison and that U.S. President Barack Obama wants to change the U.S. cuban policy, Dec. 17, 2014 in Miami. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

(JTA) – For many Cuban Jews – the majority of whom now live in the United States – it has been a bittersweet week. Like countless Jews around the world, they cheered the release of Alan Gross, the American Jewish telecommunications contractor who had been held in a Cuban… Read more »

President Obama speaking at the first of two White House Chanukah parties in Washington, D.C., dec. 17, 2014. (Steve Sheffey)

WASHINGTON (JTA) — I’ve been JTA’s Washington bureau chief for 11 years, but this was the first time I scored a coveted invitation to the annual White House Chanukah  party. A Washington tradition started by President George W. Bush, the party has actually expanded (to meet demand) to two:… Read more »

LOS ANGELES (JTA) — Kirk Douglas, born Issur Danielovitch, the son of an immigrant Russian Jewish ragman, marked his 98th birthday on Dec. 9 by launching his 11th book. The legendary star of 87 movies (who can forget “Spartacus”?) can look back, in happiness and grief, on countless one-night… Read more »

Tucson Hebrew Academy first graders roll dough for challah.

THA challah making Every Tucson Hebrew Academy student rolled dough and braided challah on Thursday, Dec. 4. The dough was prepared by teachers the day before. The significance of challah was explained to the students and all said the blessing while they separated out the portion of dough traditionally… Read more »

The National Exchange Club, the oldest service club in the United States, inducted ROBERT ALAN DAVIDSON, owner of Davidson Advertising, into its Court of Honor in October. Induction into the court, located at the headquarters in Toledo, Ohio, is the club’s highest honor. Davidson is a member of the… Read more »

INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICES has appointed Daniel Stoltzfus as chief executive officer, effective Feb. 16. Stoltzfus succeeds longtime ICS CEO Bonnie Kampa, who is retiring at the end of 2014. Stoltzfus has more than 20 years of management experience in nonprofit organizations. He was most recently chief program officer at… Read more »

Lily Hannah Selznick, daughter of Barbara and Sanford Selznick, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Jan. 3, 2015 at Congregation Anshei Israel. She is the granddaughter of Betty Wilinsky of North Woodmere, N.Y. Lily attends BASIS Tucson North and enjoys playing violin, baking and reading. For her mitzvah… Read more »

Carter Ethan Mann, son of Staci Smith and Michael Mann, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Jan. 3, 2015 at Temple Emanu-El. He is the grandson of Larry Mann of Tucson, Nancy Mann of Tucson and Pamela Bertrand of Hennessey, Okla. Carter attends BASIS Tucson North, where he… Read more »

Susan Luskin Kaplan, 95, died Dec. 11, 2014. Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Mrs. Kaplan was the daughter of Russian immigrants and fourth in a family of eight siblings. She moved to California after World War II, where she met Danny Luskin, a U.S. army veteran. They had two children;… Read more »

Richard R. Bootzin, 74, died Dec. 4, 2014. Born in Milwaukee, Mr. Bootzin graduated from Washington High School in Milwaukee, earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Purdue University. He was a professor of psychology at Northwestern University for 19… Read more »

Shirley R. Chorney, 79, died Dec. 1, 2014. Born in Providence, R.I., Mrs. Chorney lived mostly in the Boston area before moving to the Tucson area in 1995. During her professional career, she was a marketing executive for Digital Equipment Corp. She was also very active in community organizations… Read more »

Rabbi Israel Becker

There is a specific kosher law pertaining to sirloin steak and filet mignon that contains a hidden message about miracles and survival. This law actually dates back to a dramatic episode recorded in the Torah, when our patriarch Jacob, returning to Israel with his young and large family, was… Read more »

Jewish travel abroad In their travels, Marcia and Michael Zaccaria seek out Jewish venues, observances and connections. In 2010, it was Turkey; in 2011, India; and 2013, Morocco. From Aug. 26-Oct. 14, the couple flew to South Asia to visit Ladakh (India), Bhutan, Nepal, and Tibet (China). The Zaccarias… Read more »

I am writing in response to Anthony Zinman’s recent letter to the editor about the All Souls procession that occurred on Nov. 9 (“Anti-Israel marchers at All Souls troubling,” AJP 11/21/14). I disagree with his characterization that it expressed anti-Semitism. My family, friends and I watched the entire procession… Read more »

I attended the Shirat HaShirim choir concert at the Villa Hermosa retirement home on Dec. 10. The choir, directed by Israeli Rina Paz, performed Israeli and Yiddish songs with a Chanukah theme. The concert’s popularity was apparent by the need to bring in more chairs. Paz lit an electric… Read more »

In her entertaining article “Lose the chip on your shoulder this Christmas” (AJP 12/5/14), Nina Badzin encourages tolerance toward our gentile neighbors, as that is what we “expect” from them. Sadly — in countless cases, tragically — that expectation has frequently been met with intolerance ranging from signs saying… Read more »

The Women’s Philanthropy Advisory Council of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona is seeking nominees for its ninth annual Bryna Zehngut Mitzvot Award, recognizing an outstanding Jewish teenage girl. The award was created to honor the memory of Zehngut, a community leader who died in 2005. Award nominees must… Read more »

Melissa Kosinski-Collins, Ph.D.

Melissa Kosinski-Collins, Ph.D., associate professor of biology at Brandeis University, will speak on “When Good Proteins Go Bad” at a University on Wheels break­fast cosponsored by the Tucson Chapter of the Brandeis National Committee and the Tucson Jewish Community Center on Jan. 8 from 9 to 11 a.m. at… Read more »

Adam and Dana Goldstein at Hava Tequila 2014

“Sequins & Bowties” will be the theme for Hava Tequila, the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona Young Leadership’s annual party. The Jan. 10 event, for ages 21 and over, will include a DJ, dancing, photo booth, dessert bar and signature drinks. “We are building on last year’s success while… Read more »