Some 200 people gathered at Congregation Anshei Israel at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 3, for Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona’s “A Light in the Darkness” Israel solidarity event, which provided an update on the situation in Israel since the horrific Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks and the subsequent… Read more »
Posts By JPSA Marketing
Global Jewry Names Tucson J President and CEO to Inaugural Advisory Board
Tucson J President and CEO, Todd Rockoff will serve on the inaugural advisory board for a new organization called Global Jewry, joining a coalition of 225 prominent Jewish thought leaders from all over the world. Global Jewry is a grassroots effort to broaden and strengthen the ties that bind… Read more »
Gaza War Tensions Reflected on University of Arizona Campus
Tensions have been high on the University of Arizona campus in response to the war that began with the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. UArizona Jewish groups including Hillel, Chabad, Olami, and Mishelanu organized a vigil on Oct. 10. That event, which drew more than 300 attendees, was… Read more »
Hanukkah is Here! Events Planned Across Southern Arizona
Hanukkah, Chanukah, Hanuka, Channukah, Hannukah — there are many ways to spell it and even more ways to celebrate the Festival of Lights in Tucson and Southern Arizona this year. The holiday begins with the first candle on the evening of Dec. 7. PJ Library will provide Hanukkah: It’s… Read more »
“Think Good Thoughts…” – Separated By an Ocean, I Wrote a Hanukkah Book with my Granddaughter
I was heartbroken when my son, a tech sergeant and Jewish lay leader in the Air Force, informed me that he and his family would be moving to London from Charleston, S.C., where they were stationed at the time. It was Thanksgiving of 2021, and everyone was excited except… Read more »
Letter to the Editor: A Jewish Heart
Several years ago, a coworker who knew I was a Christian, told me that I was more Jewish than she was. Coming from a “sabra” (native born Israeli), sealed the deal for me and I’ve never looked back. Since then, I have told some that I am a Christian,… Read more »
Collaborative Leadership is Hallmark of New JPSA CEO
Hava Leipzig Holzhauer’s official start date as president and CEO of Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona is Dec. 4, but she will be joining the community on Dec. 3 for a solidarity gathering for Israel called “A Light in the Darkness” because of its proximity to Hanukkah. The event… Read more »
Cantorial Soloist Nichole Chorny Celebrates Decade at Congregation Anshei Israel
Cantorial Soloist Nichole Chorny has had a love for Judaism and Jewish music for almost as long as she can remember. “I always had a sense of belonging and connection to the Jewish community,” Chorny says. “From a young age I knew I wanted to do something related to… Read more »
Op-Ed: Antisemitism in the Workplace and How to Fight It
It’s there. It has to be. According to Anti-Defamation League Director and CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, antisemitism has increased 388% since October 7 over the same time period last year. Christopher Wray, FBI Director calls it at a historic level and points out that Jews are the target of international… Read more »
Unorthodox Podcast Co-Hosts to Share Jewish Wisdom and Culture at Kol Ami Synagogue
Kol Ami Synagogue invites you to attend a series of events on December 15 and 16, featuring Stephanie Butnick and Liel Leibovitz, two of the co-hosts of Unorthodox,” the universe’s premier Jewish podcast.” The events are part of the Rabbi Albert T. Bilgray Memorial Lectureship and are free and… Read more »
Tucson Jewish Community Center Shines the Light of Hanukkah with 7th Annual Hanukkah Hot Cocoa Run
The Tucson Jewish Community Center (the J or the Tucson J) welcomes people of all ages, abilities, and faiths to share in the warmth and joy of Hanukkah Sunday, December 17 from 7:30am-11am with the 7th Annual Hanukkah Hot Cocoa Run sponsored by Tucson Medical Center (TMC) and in… Read more »
Tucson J Leadership and Board Members Honored to Host U.S. Senator Mark Kelly
On the eve of Veteran’s Day, U.S. Senator from Arizona Mark Kelly visited the Tucson J campus for a meaningful and intimate conversation with J leaders and Board Members, Todd Rockoff, President + CEO; Fran Katz, Chief Development Officer; Mike Gadarian, Chief Financial Officer; Josh Shenker, Chief Program Officer;… Read more »
Older Adults Get Treated to Shabbat Lunch and Dinner at Handmaker
Thanks to a grant from the Jewish Community Foundation, Handmaker, in collaboration with Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS), began hosting a monthly Shabbat Lunch and Learn program in October, free of charge to older adults. The intention of the program is to give aging adults a no-cost opportunity… Read more »
Tucson Hebrew Academy Welcomes New Director of Development
Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Ethan Myerson as its new Director of Development. With a decade of experience in Tucson’s nonprofit sector, Ethan brings a wealth of expertise and passion for connecting people with meaningful missions. In his role, Ethan will spearhead efforts… Read more »
Hadassah Speaker to Address Awkward End-of-Life Issues
Diane Ashton, Ph.D., will present “What to Say When You Don’t Know What to Say” for Hadassah Southern Arizona on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. at Congregation Bet Shalom, 3881 E. River Road. The chapter also will install its new slate of officers at the dessert and coffee… Read more »
JFCS Provides Support to Afghan Survivors Impacted by Combat
When Afghanistan fell to the Taliban, many Afghans, some who worked alongside U.S. troops and NGOs (non-profits that operate independently of governments), had to escape due to a real and critical threat to their lives. Over the past six months, Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona (JFCS)… Read more »
We Stand on Their Shoulders: Project Honoring Tucson’s Jewish History Opens at JPSA
A new historical exhibit, “We Stand on Their Shoulders: Mentors of Tucson’s Jewish Community,” was dedicated Nov. 9 at the Harvey and Deanna Evenchik Center for Jewish Philanthropy, which houses the Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona (JPSA). The exhibit adorns a hallway outside JPSA’s Shaol and Evelyn Pozez Event… Read more »
Of Blessed Memory: Myra Levenson
Myra Katzen Levenson of Tucson, AZ, and Mill Valley, CA, died at age 84 on November 4. Myra found her true joy in connecting with family and friends, talking about everything, and making new connections with people. Her other true passions were classical music and art. Born and raised… Read more »
Jewish Advisory Council Falls into Place at University of Arizona
This article originally appeared in Jewish News (Phoenix) and is reprinted with permission. Last month, the University of Arizona in Tucson marked a grim anniversary: the campus murder of Professor Thomas Meixner, head of the Hydrology & Atmospheric Sciences Department. Though Meixner was not Jewish — he was a… Read more »
Rabbi’s Corner: In Case You Didn’t Know
This article was originally published at Tucson.com. I’m writing this column to give an insight into what many Jewish people are going through. I don’t speak for all Jews, but I do speak for a sizeable swathe of my community. Since the Hamas massacre of Israelis on October 7,… Read more »