Yearly Archives 2018

Whether they’re serving up meals at a soup kitchen, helping a child learn to read or lacing up their sneakers for a charity walk-a-thon, most people volunteer for a simple reason: they want to help others. And there’s probably not a single community group, from local synagogues to… Read more »

Arthur Posner, as Elvis, volunteers at the IMPACT food bank on Halloween.

“This is the last thing I thought I’d be doing after retiring,” says Arthur Posner of his almost full-time volunteer work. He’s wrapping up four years as board president for IMPACT of Southern Arizona. But he’s still a “roll up the shirtsleeves” kind of president, continuing his weekly volunteer… Read more »

Brenna Lacey, center, with Jewish Community Foundation Executive Director Tracy Salkowitz (left) and Andy Rush, founder of The Drawing Studio

Eighteen years ago Brenna Lacey walked into The Drawing Studio as a student and since then, her relationship with the organization has only become more colorful. Now she is the president of the nonprofit organization bringing relaxation, community and an artistic outlet to everyone who enters its doors.… Read more »

Frustration was the catalyst for Miriam Furst’s creative approach to giving back to others. After the hurricanes this fall, she felt compelled to help. “I was upset to see the suffering,” she says. But at age 77, she was unable to be there physically. When the people in Texas… Read more »

Rabbi Israel Becker

Usually when you write an article, you hope that there will be numerous readers and that your message will be well received, however, this article is being written for the benefit of those who I am certain will not read it because they are no longer on this earth.… Read more »

There are many living bridges forming between Tucson and Israel. One is in the shape of a classroom. The Weintraub Israel Center began its school twinning program in 2014 between Tucson and the Israeli communities of Kiryat Malachi and Hof Ashkelon as an opportunity to connect classrooms and children… Read more »

Lights, popcorn, action… Magnificent,” “incredibly moving,” “great film choices,” “We’ve been to many and this was the best.” These were among attendee comments at the 2018 Tucson International Jewish Film Festival. The festival, in its 27th year is one of the longest-running Jewish film festivals in the country, bringing… Read more »

(L-R): Ron and Gail Isaacs, Rep. Austin Scott, Betty Anne Sarver and Leonard Schultz Photo courtesy Desert Caucus

Georgia congressman addresses Desert Caucus U.S. Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA) spoke to the Desert Caucus on Sunday, Feb. 11 at Skyline Country Club. The Desert Caucus, Inc., is a bipartisan, single issue Jewish political action committee supporting federal congressional candidates outside of Arizona who support a strong U.S.-Israel relationship.… Read more »

JAX LARCOM, son of Danielle and Guy Larcom, was one of two students chosen as winners in the third through fifth grade category of the Tucson Festival of Books 10th Annual Young Authors Competition, for his poem “Rainbow.” Jax is a third grade student at Canyon View Elementary School… Read more »

The ARIZONA JEWISH POST has hired MARLA HANDLER as an advertising sales representative. Handler grew up in Plainview, N.Y. She received an associate’s degree in marketing from Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, N.Y., and a bachelor’s degree in marketing and business from Florida State University. She has… Read more »

Riley Jo Silvyn, daughter of Keri and Jeff Silvyn, will celebrate becoming a bat mitzvah on Saturday, March 3 at Congregation Or Chadash. She is the granddaughter of Benita Silvyn and Charles Whitehill of Tucson, and Marlys and Larry Lazarus of Phoenix. Riley attends Esperero Canyon Middle School. She… Read more »

Ethan Samuel Silvyn, son of Keri and Jeff Silvyn, will celebrate becoming a bar mitzvah on Saturday, March 3 at Congregation Or Chadash. He is the grandson of Benita Silvyn and Charles Whitehill of Tucson, and Marlys and Larry Lazarus of Phoenix. Ethan attends Esperero Canyon Middle School. He… Read more »

Nathan Daniel Cherkis, son of Brenda Frye and Sergey Cherkis, will celebrate becoming a bar mitzvah on Saturday, March 3 at Congregation Anshei Israel. He is the grandson of Norma Frye of Maricopa, F. Scott Frye of San Tan Valley, Margarita Lazareva of Tucson, and Alexander Cherkis of Brooklyn,… Read more »

Sanders “Sonny” Solot, 91, died Feb. 5, 2018. Mr. Solot was a real estate appraiser who taught and mentored many of Southern Arizona’s appraisers. A native Tucsonan, he got his real estate license at age 16 and began working with his father, Ben H. Solot. He served in the… Read more »

Florence (Hass) Liebeskind, 90, died Feb. 6, 2018. Mrs. Liebeskind was preceded in death by her husband, Sidney Liebeskind. Survivors include her children, Gail (Cal) Rudner of Tucson and Wayne Liebeskind of Springfield, New Jersey; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Graveside services were held in the Congregation Anshei… Read more »

Rabbi Avi Feldman, left, and wife Mushky are moving with daughters Chana and Batsheva to Iceland. (Chabad.org)

(JTA) — The Chabad movement is sending a rabbi and his wife to Iceland, an island nation with 250 Jews where ritual slaughter of animals is illegal and circumcision is likely to be outlawed as well. Rabbi Avi Feldman, 27, of Brooklyn, New York, and his Sweden-born wife Mushky,… Read more »

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Billy Graham, the giant of American evangelism who was exalted by Jews for his championing of Israel at its hour of need and then condemned when a nasty anti-Semitic streak was revealed, has died. Graham, 99, died at his home in Montreat, North Carolina,… Read more »

NEW YORK (JTA) — For all of its modern history, the American Jewish community has pursued most of its goals through philanthropy — funding programs and institutions through donations and charitable giving that relies heavily on the generosity of wealthy people. But what if the community could achieve those… Read more »

NEW YORK (JTA) — Six-time NBA All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire has launched a line of kosher-for-Passover Israeli wines.The 6-foot-10 former player, who returned earlier this month from a trip to the Jewish state, spoke glowingly about the wines and his connection to Israel at a news conference here Tuesday. “It’s… Read more »

(The Nosher via JTA) — Here’s a comforting yet elevated Shabbat dish from chef Yehuda Sichel of Abe Fisher. Ingredients: 1 cup pearled barley 1 cup dried kidney beans 3/4 pound boneless short ribs, cut into 2-inch cubes 1/2 pound kosher salami, cut into 1/2-inch cubes 1 large yellow… Read more »