THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA HILLEL FOUNDATION has hired two new staff members to increase Israel engagement. ELYSE PINCUS, a UA alumna who grew up in Tucson, is the IACT coordinator for Israel engagement, which is a new position sponsored by the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston. The program originated in Boston to increase participation in Birthright Israel and now includes more than 25 campuses. Last year, Pincus spent 10 months as a volunteer English teacher in Rehovot, Israel, as part of Masa’s Israel Teaching Fellows program. OR MOAZ, the new Jewish Agency for Israel Fellow, is originally from Carmiel in the Galilee and has a background in physical education.
The TUCSON JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER has hired three new staff members. KRISTIN SCHWARTZ, director of development, is a fourth generation Arizonan with experience in program development, most recently at Donor Network of Arizona. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Arizona and a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy and a doctorate in clinical psychology from University of the Rockies. JOLINE RIDDLE, co-director of early childhood education, is a native Tucsonan who earned her undergraduate degree in elementary education from the UA. She holds a master’s degree in early childhood education from Northern Arizona University and a certificate in educational administration from the UA. Most recently she was an instructor and supervisor at the UA College of Education and before that was an inclusion classroom teacher in grades K-3 for 10 years in the Tucson Unified School District. OREN RIBACK, assistant director of children and youth and BBYO city director, is a Tucson native. He was an administrative assistant and paralegal in an immigration law firm before becoming an educator. He taught ninth and 10th grade for three years at Nosotros Academy in Tucson, where he was also yearbook advisor and spearheaded athletic programs. He is a teacher (and former student) at Tucson Hebrew High and, teaches fifth graders at Congregation Or Chadash. A graduate of the College of Wooster in Ohio, he majored in philosophy with a minor in classical civilizations.
The TUCSON MUSEUM OF ART was named one of the top Western art museums by True West magazine and is featured in its September issue.
MAYNARDS MARKET & KITCHEN donated more than $4,700 in proceeds from its July 11 Ice Cream Showdown to the Ben’s Bells Project. The funds will sustain one year of Ben’s Bells’ kindness education program at nine schools.
