Chaverim cemetery dedication
Congregation Chaverim dedicated a new sign and consecrated an expanded section of Evergreen Cemetery on Sunday, Sept. 6. Pictured (left to right): Naomi Present, Jill Shover, Jack Aaron, Ann Revelle, Rabbi Stephanie Aaron, Bob Schwartz, Judith Brown, Dina Rosengarten and Dave More.
Rosh Hashanah at THA
During the Hebrew month of Elul, Tucson Hebrew Academy started each day with an all-school gathering, with students invited to blow and listen to the shofar. Students engaged in numerous activities in preparation for Rosh Hashanah, including a third grade class visit to Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging, where students passed out apples and honey to the residents — aomg them a former THA teacher — performed Hebrew songs and blew the shofar. First graders learned Hebrew words for ingredients as they baked honey cakes, and in art class, kindergarten students created paintings expressing the different sounds the shofar makes. Second, third and fourth grade students focused on acts of kindness and other mitzvot, and the first and eighth grade classes performed at an all-school assembly.
Tucson J Senior Shabbat
Tova Braunstein and Tucson Hebrew Academy eighth grader Janae Newhouse-Waine enjoy each other’s company at the first Senior Shabbat luncheon at the Tucson Jewish Community Center on Friday, Sept 11. Rabbi Billy Lewkowicz was the featured speaker at the inaugural luncheon of the monthly multi-generational series.
NFTY leadership training
Temple Emanu-El’s youth group, JCTEY, hosted the North American Federation of Temple Youth Southwest for a regional leadership training institute Aug. 20-23. Some 90 teens in grades 9-12 from across Arizona, New Mexico, Las Vegas and El Paso came together for the event, with Temple Emanu-El families providing home hospitality. Pictured, Eva Turner of JCTEY leads a song session.
Blind justice
Tucson attorney Doug Levy (right) introduces fellow Michigan University alumnus Justice Richard Bernstein of the Michigan Supreme Court at the Tucson Jewish Community Center on Thursday, Sept. 10. In a lecture cosponsored by Chabad Tucson and the Tucson J, Bernstein, who has been legally blind since birth, spoke to audience of more than 150 people about his triumphs and challenges as a legal professional who has fought for the rights of people with disabilities and as an endurance athlete who has completed 18 marathons and an Iron Man triathlon. He also spoke of the work he is doing with the Israel Defense Forces project that creates opportunities for individuals with special needs to serve in support roles.
