Yearly Archives 2014

Actor Ed Asner, center, led a Freedom Seder on April 21 cosponsored by Temple Emanu-El and Humane Borders. He is pictured with Dinah Bear, president of the board of Humane Borders, and Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon, senior rabbi of Temple Emanu-El. (Simon Rosenblatt)

Singing the traditional Passover song Chad Gadya, leaving a cup of wine for the prophet Elijah, reciting poems by Marge Piercy and other secular poets, listening to reflections by members of Tucson’s Latino community — all marked the Freedom Seder held April 21 at Temple Emanu-El, cosponsored by Humane… Read more »

Miriam Furst (Sheila Wilensky)

Tucsonan Miriam Furst has been teaching in the field of gifted education for more than 30 years. She’s still at it, researching stimulating activities that illustrate concepts she’s trying to convey. But instead of K-8 or college students, students in Furst’s sharp mind classes are residents at Handmaker Jewish… Read more »

Elizabeth Katz, DMD

Establishing good dental hygiene for children begins long before they have all of their teeth. Children should begin seeing a dentist when they get their first tooth, or by their first birthday, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Visiting a dentist within the first year of life… Read more »

What does a triangle sound like? What noise do you think the color purple makes? Israeli scientists have made the seemingly impossible possible by helping the blind ‘hear’ colors and shapes normally perceived visually. Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers have shown that through the use of sensory substitution devices,… Read more »

A garden path can combine different materials for visual interest. (Jacqueline Soule)

Destination is defined as “a set point for the end of a journey.” But we are also reminded that, “Whereever you go, there you are,” suggesting that sometimes the journey is more important than the destination. One place where both of these sayings can be equally true is in… Read more »

“Pioneer Jews: A New Life in the Far West” by Harriet Rochlin was recently republished by the Authors Guild and iUniverse. The book, which covers 13 Western states, was called “Social history at its best, entertaining, engaging, and filled with little known information about famous and not-so-famous Jewish pioneers,”… Read more »

Tucsonan Nora Sevy enjoys PJ Library books (Courtesy Libby Quinn)

The PJ Library program in Southern Arizona is expanding and will now be available for all families raising Jewish children through 8 years of age. When the program launched in Southern Arizona in 2009 it was available for families raising Jewish children from 6 months through 6 years of… Read more »

This photo collage was inspired by the word ‘Echad’ in the Shema prayer. (Jenni Steinberg Pagano)

First of all, let’s get one thing straight. Buying “Real Art” is a great thing. Supporting artists whose work you love is an important part of creating a home that satisfies your soul. I encourage you to buy other people’s creations. But sometimes that isn’t the best solution. Perhaps… Read more »

Ike Davis, on overcoming his hitting woes, says, "You've just got to put your head down and grind." (Hillel Kuttler)

BALTIMORE (JTA) — Ike Davis was upbeat despite the rain pelting the Camden Yards turf and his struggles at the plate. The new Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman was playing catch with teammate Josh Harrison when music from the loudspeakers sent him into a dancing whir. Harrison couldn’t stop giggling.… Read more »

ROBYN SCHWAGER has joined the JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA as a legacy officer. Schwager was the development director for the University of Arizona Hillel Foundation for six years and prior to that, volunteered for the Catalina Foothills School District, Tucson Hebrew Academy, Satori Schools, Congregation Young Israel… Read more »

Rafael Herreras-Zinman, son of Mari Herreras and Tony Zinman, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, May 24 at Congregation Or Chadash. He is the grandson of Mildred Olson and Edith Zinman, both of Tucson. Rafi attends Orange Grove Middle School, where he sings in the choir. He… Read more »

Hayley Madison Yalen, daughter of Ilene and Allen Yalen, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, May 17 at Temple Emanuel-El. She is the granddaughter of Joan and Stuart Brodsky, and Sandy and William Yalen, all of Tucson. Hayley attends Tucson Hebrew Academy, where she is vice president… Read more »

Dylan Bluth, son of Tami and Jeffrey Bluth, celebrated becoming a Bar Mitzvah on May 3, 2014 at Congregation Anshei Israel. He is the grandson of Arlene and Richard Bluth and great-grandson of Molly Shenitzer, all of Tucson. Dylan attends Esperero Canyon Middle School, where he is on the… Read more »

Pictured are Beth Alpert Nakhai, Yom HaShoah co-chair (seated on bimah); and at the candelabra, left to right, Cathy Borinstein, representing the office of Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild; survivor Annique Dveirin, her granddaughter Haley Dveirin, and son, Keith Dveirin.Pictured are Beth Alpert Nakhai, Yom HaShoah co-chair (seated on bimah); and at the candelabra, left to right, Cathy Borinstein, representing the office of Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild; survivor Annique Dveirin, her granddaughter Haley Dveirin, and son, Keith Dveirin. (Simon Rosenblatt)

                Yom HaShoah About 250 people attended the community Yom HaShoah commemoration, “Diplomatic Acts of Conscience and Courage,” on Sunday, April 27 at Temple Emanu-El. Along with a candlelighting ceremony honoring local survivors, the afternoon event featured a lecture about Gilberto Bosques,… Read more »

Rev. Aaron S. Polinsky, 92, died April 29, 2014. Born and raised in Jersey City, N.J., Rev. Polinsky earned a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., and a master’s degree from Columbia University Teachers College in New York City. After graduating from Rutgers, he was drafted… Read more »

(JTA) — Sure, the news from the city of Detroit seems endlessly grim: bankruptcy, crime and so for  But the metro area, whose northwest suburbs host a panoply of Jewish amenities, is the most affordable place in the United States to raise a “committed Jewish family,” at least according… Read more »

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas meets with European Parliament President Martin Schulz in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Feb. 10, 2014. (Issam Rimawi/Flash 90)

 (JTA) — When Israeli police found thousands of contraband cell phones in the car of senior Palestinian Authority official Rawhi Fattouh, he was promptly removed from office — for about two months.  A consultant to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Fattouh was reinstated in May 2008 after his driver, a… Read more »

NEW YORK (JTA) — On Twitter, pro-Palestinian activists dubbed it “DivestApalooza.” Student governments at three Southern California public universities all voted on divestment resolutions targeting Israel in a single day. The April 23 votes were part of a surge in student governments at American universities voting on divestment resolutions.… Read more »

NEW YORK (JTA) — When the 92nd Street Y announced last week that it had hired a new executive director, Crain’s New York Business went with an eye-catching headline. “It’s a goy! 92nd St. Y picks first non-Jewish chief.” The announcement that Henry Timms would lead the famed Upper… Read more »

Gabrielle Selz

SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (JTA) — Four years ago, I applied to re-obtain German citizenship on behalf of my son and myself. Neither of us was born in Germany. I was born in sunny California and my son on Long Island. But I had learned that under the German Constitution, “Former… Read more »