Yearly Archives 2015

J Street U students describe emotional, polarized Israel climate on campus

J Street U studentsparticipating in a protestagainst Hillel International on the sidelines of the J Street conference in Washington, March 23, 2015. (Moshe Zusman)
March 24, 2015 / Sarah Wildman, JTA

WASHINGTON (JTA) — At noon Monday, several hundred students marched through the bright March sunshine from the J Street conference at the Washington Convention Center for a protest. “This is not a march!” organizers pleaded as the orderly group moved south from the Carnegie Library to the headquarters of… Read more »

After Brooklyn blaze kills 7 kids, grief spans an ocean

A mourner near the fresh graves of the seven children from the Sassoon family during their funeral in Jerusalem, March 23, 2015. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
March 24, 2015 / Uriel Heilman, JTA

NEW YORK (JTA) – Even in a city accustomed to deadly fires, this one stood out for the sheer scale of the tragedy: seven children, ranging in age from 5 to 16, killed in the middle of the night after awakening from their Sabbath slumber to smoke and flames.… Read more »

In Focus: Purim 2015
March 23, 2015 /
On March 4, the Weintraub Israel Center held a Bechayed BePurim (Together on Purim) party with Chabad on River and the Israel American Council. The event included dinner, a Megillah reading and Israeli music. Enjoying the festivities are Shira Barel (center) with, from left, Tamar, Amit, Ofri and Lee Benjamin.

Purim celebrations from around our community                … Read more »

Netanyahu facing challenges, criticism from Jewish liberals

J Street Executive Director Jeremy Ben-Ami addressing the group's conference in Washington, D.C.,March 21, 2015. (Courtesy of J Street)
March 23, 2015 / Ron Kampeas, JTA

WASHINGTON (JTA) – With Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing escalating criticism and pressure from the White House, he could use some help from Israel’s erstwhile allies in the American Jewish community — especially those with sway in liberal and Democratic circles. But several leading Jewish liberal critics of Netanyahu… Read more »

In focus 3.20.15
March 20, 2015 /
(L-R): Edden Dembsky, Daniel Pressman, Naama Cohen (UA Israel Fellow), Jack Goldberg (AIPAC National Field Organizer), Alma Hernandez, Michael Sheridan, Pablo Granados, Ryan-Ann Armendariz, Shaina Marco, Consuelo Hernandez

UA CATPAC honored Members of CATPAC Wildcats for Israel, the University of Arizona’s bipartisan pro-Israel political club, attended the annual American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy conference in Washington, D.C., March 1-3. The group won the Duke Rudman Leadership Award, AIPAC’s top honor for student leadership.      … Read more »

Sydney Jordan Andresen
March 20, 2015 /

SYDNEY JORDON ANDRESEN, daughter of Beth and Steve Andresen, will celebrate becoming a bat mitzvah on Saturday, March 21 at Congregation Chaverim. She is the granddaughter of Hilde and Rolf Andresen of Tucson and Irwin Ismark of Orlando, Fla. Sydney attends Basis Oro Valley. She enjoys swimming on a… Read more »

Jenna Rose Friedman
March 20, 2015 /

JENNA ROSE FRIEDMAN, daughter of Diana and Richard Friedman, will celebrate becoming a bat mitzvah on Saturday, March 28 at Congregation Or Chadash. She is the granddaughter of Marilyn Statland of Florham Park, N.J., Norman Statland of Sarasota, Fla., and Barbara and Joseph Friedman of New York City. Jenna… Read more »

People in the news 3.20.15
March 20, 2015 /

LORI RIEGEL, MJEd, was selected to present her research on ethnic studies in urban school districts in the Southwest at the Harvard Graduate School of Education Student Research Conference on April 10.… Read more »

People in the news
March 20, 2015 /

ELEZABETH CAMERON CYR will read her children’s book, “Stone Soup: A Jewish Tale,” a retelling of the classic story, at Barnes & Noble at the Foothills Mall on Saturday, April 4 at 11 a.m.… Read more »

Business brief
March 20, 2015 /

CHAD WILLIAMS, chief operating officer at PEPPER VINER HOMES, has been honored as one of the exceptional 40 Under 40 building executives by Professional Builder Magazine.… Read more »

Yale Palchick
March 20, 2015 /

Yale Palchick, 93, died March 3, 2015, in Rockville, Md. Dr. Palchick was born in Cleveland. He served in the Pacific theatre in World War II as part of the U.S. Army Air Corps. Upon his return in 1947, he married and moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he attended… Read more »

David Eisenberg
March 20, 2015 /
David Eisenberg

David Eisenberg, 89, died March 10, 2015 in Scottsdale. Mr. Eisenberg was born in Detroit. His career at Hughes Aircraft  in Tucson spanned 40 years. Survivors include his wife Natalie (Brader) Eisenberg; children Betta of Phoenix and Alan Eisenberg; sister, Leatrice (Mark) Osterloh; and two grandchildren. Graveside services were… Read more »

Judith Skrill

Judith Skrill
March 20, 2015 /

Judith Rose Skrill, 57, died March 7, 2015. Prior to moving to Tucson in 1992, Mrs. Skrill worked in advertising in New York City, and later worked as a floral designer. She met her husband in 1990 and together they started a chiropractic practice in Tucson. Mrs. Skrill was… Read more »

Edward Moiseevich Ostrovskiy
March 20, 2015 /

Eduard Moiseevich Ostrovskiy, 80, died Feb. 23, 2015. Mr. Ostrovsky was born in Dneprope-  trovsk, Ukraine. His family fled to Uzbekistan during World War II. When his father concluded military service, they returned to Dnepropetrovsk, where Mr. Ostrovskiy graduated from high school and dental college with honors. He also… Read more »

Barbara Longo
March 20, 2015 /

Barbara Ann Longo, 72, died Feb. 13, 2015. Mrs. Longo volunteered at the food bank in Catalina for many years. Mrs. Longo was preceded in death by her husband, Frank;, and sister, Marlene. Survivors include her children, Joshua Longo of East Brunswick, N.J., and Paula Magee of Indianapolis; and… Read more »

Will the real Netanyahu please stand up?

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu clarified his position on the two-state solution in an interview after his election win with Andrea Mitchell of MSNBC, March 19, 2015. (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)
March 20, 2015 /

(JTA) — There are two Benjamin Netanyahus. To his detractors, Netanyahu is arrogant, a dissembler and a racist. To his defenders, he is intrepid, politically astute and singularly devoted to Israel’s security. Netanyahu’s critics blame him for alienating Israel’s closest ally — snubbing the U.S. president, using Congress as… Read more »

UA Hillel will sponsor annual Holocaust vigil
March 19, 2015 /

The University of Arizona Hillel Foundation will hold its 24th Annual Holocaust Vigil March 25-26. During this student-led event, thousands of names of people murdered in the Holocaust will be read aloud. This 24-hour reading will take place from noon on Wednesday, March 25 through noon on Thursday, March… Read more »

Families embrace Shabbat at The J’s class
March 19, 2015 /

The Tucson  Jewish Community Center has launched Shabbat & Me, a new program for families and children. The free weekly class meets Fridays at 10 a.m. Shabbat & Me encourages families to spend quality time together without the use of electronics, taking the opportunity to consider family priorities and… Read more »