A New Jersey bill seeks to outlaw marriage for teenagers under 18. (Justin Oberman/Creative Commons)
(JTA) — A bill that would ban teenagers under 18 from marrying in New Jersey has been stalled because of opposition from the state’s haredi Orthodox community. Agudath Israel of America, the national haredi organization, says it supports the bill but that its provisions are too strict. Citing child… Read more »
Rabbi Gershom Sizomu leads Uganda's Jewish community. (Courtesy of Be'chol Lashon)
(JTA) — A Ugandan rabbi called on Israel to recognize his community after the government ruled against allowing members to move to the Jewish state. Rabbi Gershom Sizomu confirmed a report in Haaretz last week that the Israeli Interior Ministry had denied a community member’s immigration application. The Interior… Read more »
Josh Phillips stands inside his new e-cigarette shop, London Vapes. (Tracy Frydberg)
JERUSALEM (JTA) — The idea came to Yotam Gross as a commander in the Givati Brigade following 2014’s Operation Protective Edge in Gaza: Instead of heading back to school after his Israeli military service, he wanted to spend his days bringing people together over warm plates of… Read more »
This season, take your design vision to the next level with easy DIY projects that enhance neutral room settings using colorful home accents, wallpaper and lighting.
(StatePoint) If you are looking to elegantly redesign the spaces in your home, consider taking your cues from the latest trends in the luxury market. Neutral color palettes and soft, soothing shades, such as gray, taupe and cream are on the rise among today’s luxury homes and adding touches… Read more »
(Michelle Shapiro)
Philip Roth, a literary giant, passed away May 22 at age 85. As Charles McGrath wrote in his obituary in The New York Times, “he was drawn again and again to writing about themes of Jewish identity, anti-Semitism and the Jewish experience in America.” But what Roth provided,… Read more »
In celebration of all that makes Tucson’s food scene sizzle, the AJP recently asked several local chefs and restaurant owners to talk about their favorite spices or condiments. Turmeric, which gives dishes a lovely golden color and a delicious, pungent flavor, also is good for you, says Mintu Sareen,… Read more »
Deanna Evenchik-Brav Deanna Evenchik-Brav will be the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona recipient of the 2019 Kipnis-Wilson/Friedland Award, which will be presented at the International Lion of Judah Conference in January 2019 in Miami, Florida. The award honors women who have set a high standard for philanthropy and volunteerism. It was… Read more »
Tucson educators visit with Israeli partners in Israel on Tuesday.
The Weintraub Israel Center, in partnership with Tucson Hebrew Academy and local synagogues as part of its school twinning program, sent a group of educators to Israel this week. On Tuesday, the group was visiting the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona’s partners in Hof Ashkelon and Kiryat Malachi, which… Read more »
This artist’s rendering of the ‘Gan Tikvah’ or ‘Garden of Hope’ at night. The garden is scheduled to open at the Tucson Jewish Community Center in 2019. (Photo: Barbara Grygutis Sculpture LLC)
It is forbidden to live in a city that does not have a garden or greenery – Mishnah Kiddushin 4:12 Gan Tikvah, the Garden of Hope, will be a contemplative oasis designed with the concept of intentionality, and a healing extension from the Tucson Jewish Community Center Sculpture Garden.… Read more »
Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona will present a free two-part training series this month for all those who care for older adults and want to understand how past emotional experiences affect both the people in their care and themselves. The target audience for “Person Centered Trauma… Read more »
The Tzofim (Israel Scouts) Friendship Caravan national tour will stop in Tucson with a free concert of song and dance on Monday, June 18 at 7 p.m. at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. The scouts also will perform at Camp J on the morning of June 18 and at… Read more »
Dr. Ellis Friedman This is part two of a series on the Jewish agency volunteers who received 2018 Special Recognition Awards at the Jewish Community Awards Celebration, organized by the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona, held May 10 at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. Ellis Friedman, Tucson Hebrew Academy A native of… Read more »
The author planted Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) in her yard for the monarchs, but it is also popular with native bees. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
Modern life has sped up and now not only must we humans multi-task, but so must our landscapes and gardens. We aren’t just growing a vegetable or flower garden anymore. Now gardens have multiple purposes like supporting pollinators, engaging children, providing supplies to create beauty products, or decorating our… Read more »
Amir Eden In 2014, after having moved to the States from Israel, my wife, Sharon, and I took our sons, Gahl and Neev, 14 and 10 at the time, to Israel for a visit. We were in a park in Kfar Saba having a picnic and playing soccer with friends. Suddenly,… Read more »
Tucson ‘Lions’ visit the Synagogue of Sienna. Back row (L-R): Deanna Evenchik-Brav, Leslie Glaze, Jane Ash, Ellen Goldstein; third row: Shelly Silverman, Deborah Oseran, Liz Weiner- Schulman, Carol Sears; second row: Fran Katz, Karen Katz, Wendy Sandweiss, Melissa Goldfinger; front row: Karen Faitelson, Judy Berman, Shelley Pozez. Not pictured: Jody Gross. (Courtesy Fran Katz)
The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona Lion of Judah women’s group spent an action-packed nine days visiting the highlights of Italy on a recent tour. Tandy Kippur was instrumental in planning the late-April trip. “Italy was chosen because of the welcoming atmosphere, the beautiful people . . . and… Read more »
DR. JANIS WOLFE GASCH, founder and director of ARIZONA HEARING SPECIALISTS, is retiring after more than 35 years in private practice. She will transition the practice, which she founded in 1981, to two of her longtime staff, Greg Swingle, Au.D., and Kristi Hesse (Swingle), Au.D. Gasch has been active… Read more »
Temple Emanu-El confirmation Temple Emanu-El celebrated the confirmation of nine students at Shabbat services on Friday, May 18. The confirmands are, alphabetically, Rachel Borrego, Javier Dittmar, Carter Mann, Samuel Ramirez, Bela Rein, Samir Rein, Sydney Ruskin, Eve Spiegel, and Katherine Zinn.… Read more »
Herschel Kreloff, Ph.D., 86, was music director of the Civic Orchestra of Tucson for 38 years until his death on April 25, 2018. He brought years of experience as both educator and performer to his position as long-time conductor of the all-volunteer orchestra. Violinist Lori Fitzsimmons recalls, “The first… Read more »
Willard “Bill” S. Gold, M.D. 86, died April 22, 2018. Born in Chicago, Dr. Gold graduated from the University of Chicago and later from the College of Medicine at Northwestern University. He practiced psychiatry for 55 years, mostly in Texas, until 2017, when he moved to Tucson to retire… Read more »
Author Steve North and Elaine Holstein, whose son Jeffrey Miller was killed in the 1970 Kent State shootings, seen in 2016. (Courtesy Steve North)
(JTA)– For nearly half a century, Elaine Holstein was periodically confronted with one of the most haunting images in modern American history: the bone-chilling picture of Kent State University student Jeffrey Miller lying on the pavement seconds after being fatally shot in the mouth by an Ohio National Guardsman… Read more »
