Former Miss Israel visits Tucson
The first Ethiopian-born contestant to win the title of Miss Israel visited Tucson last week. Yityish “Titi” Aynaw, Miss Israel 2013, spoke at Tucson Hebrew Academy to a group of fifth-eighth graders about her life story. She told her tale from life in a small Ethiopian village, to losing her mother at a young age, moving to Israel with her brother, learning Hebrew, and becoming an officer in the Israel Defense Forces. She has spoken at 55 colleges on her U.S. tour but Tucson Hebrew Academy was her first school stop in Arizona.
Honoring veterans
The Northwest Division of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona was one of the sponsors of the “The Wall That Heals,” a traveling replica of the Vietnam War memorial in Washington D.C., which was exhibited at Riverfront Park in Oro Valley March 15-18. At the opening ceremony, Rabbi Avraham Alpert of Congregation Bet Shalom read the Mourner’s Kaddish in honor of the Jewish soldiers who were killed, and Rabbi Sanford Seltzer of the Institute for Judaic Services and Studies read the prayer at the closing ceremony.
Transportation museum salutes volunteer
Ken Sandock received The Silver Spike Benefactor of the Year award from the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum – Old Pueblo Trolley for his support and volunteer work, including serving as a docent. The award commemorates the arrival of the Southern Pacific Railroad in Tucson.
