Posts By April Bauer

(JTA) — It was Friday evening and the cantor, wearing a leopard-print top and gladiator sandals — including one with a with a tambourine affixed to it — greeted the congregants at Shabbat services with a smile. She encouraged them to pick up the percussion instruments left on the… Read more »

DUMA, West Bank (JTA) — The smell of stale smoke wafted from the burnt concrete home now marked by a banner bearing the grinning face of a baby and, in bold red letters, a name: Ali Saad Dawabsha. Some 100 Jewish visitors trudged hesitantly under the banner and into the… Read more »

NEW YORK (JTA) — There have been three major polls of American Jews since the announcement of the nuclear deal between world powers and Iran — by the L.A. Jewish Journal, The Israel Project and J Street— all with significantly different results. Two show U.S. Jewish support for the Iran nuclear… Read more »

BERLIN (JTA) – Seventy-nine summers after Marty Glickman’s Olympics uniform was rendered as useless as a jilted bride’s wedding dress, his daughter Nancy wore the same uniform to light the cauldron that officially opened the European Maccabi Games here. Her late father’s removal from the U.S. track team hours… Read more »

(Jewniverse via JTA) — On these hottest days of summer – especially when parts of the United States are rationing water – we should thank the late Israeli engineer Simcha Blass for helping farmers figure out how to best harness the water they do have. Blass revolutionized drip irrigation in the early 1930s,… Read more »

In September 2013, I gathered with a group of friends to share feelings and reflections on the suicide death of one our friends, Deb Tambor, who had been struggling with a variety of issues related to leaving the insular Hasidic Jewish world. Next to me sat Faigy Mayer, a… Read more »

ROBYN SCHWAGER has joined the JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA as a legacy officer. Schwager was the development director for the University of Arizona Hillel Foundation for six years and prior to that, volunteered for the Catalina Foothills School District, Tucson Hebrew Academy, Satori Schools, Congregation Young Israel… Read more »

Rafael Herreras-Zinman, son of Mari Herreras and Tony Zinman, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, May 24 at Congregation Or Chadash. He is the grandson of Mildred Olson and Edith Zinman, both of Tucson. Rafi attends Orange Grove Middle School, where he sings in the choir. He… Read more »

Hayley Madison Yalen, daughter of Ilene and Allen Yalen, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, May 17 at Temple Emanuel-El. She is the granddaughter of Joan and Stuart Brodsky, and Sandy and William Yalen, all of Tucson. Hayley attends Tucson Hebrew Academy, where she is vice president… Read more »

Dylan Bluth, son of Tami and Jeffrey Bluth, celebrated becoming a Bar Mitzvah on May 3, 2014 at Congregation Anshei Israel. He is the grandson of Arlene and Richard Bluth and great-grandson of Molly Shenitzer, all of Tucson. Dylan attends Esperero Canyon Middle School, where he is on the… Read more »

Pictured are Beth Alpert Nakhai, Yom HaShoah co-chair (seated on bimah); and at the candelabra, left to right, Cathy Borinstein, representing the office of Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild; survivor Annique Dveirin, her granddaughter Haley Dveirin, and son, Keith Dveirin.Pictured are Beth Alpert Nakhai, Yom HaShoah co-chair (seated on bimah); and at the candelabra, left to right, Cathy Borinstein, representing the office of Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild; survivor Annique Dveirin, her granddaughter Haley Dveirin, and son, Keith Dveirin. (Simon Rosenblatt)

                Yom HaShoah About 250 people attended the community Yom HaShoah commemoration, “Diplomatic Acts of Conscience and Courage,” on Sunday, April 27 at Temple Emanu-El. Along with a candlelighting ceremony honoring local survivors, the afternoon event featured a lecture about Gilberto Bosques,… Read more »

Rev. Aaron S. Polinsky, 92, died April 29, 2014. Born and raised in Jersey City, N.J., Rev. Polinsky earned a bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, N.J., and a master’s degree from Columbia University Teachers College in New York City. After graduating from Rutgers, he was drafted… Read more »

Maya Grace Levy, daughter of Nanci and Douglas Levy, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Feb. 15 at Temple Emanu-El. She is the granddaughter of Gi­nette and Ronnie Ogur of Syosset, N.Y., and Judith and the late Alan Leonard Levy of Greenwich Village, N.Y. Maya attends Tucson… Read more »

Jacob Frazier Goode, son of Tracy and Joel Goode, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Temple Emanu-El. He is the grandson of Gail and Michael Goode of Tucson, Flo Frazier of Reading, Pa., and Doug Frazier of Florida. Jacob attends Esperero Canyon Middle School,… Read more »

Deborah Weisz, daughter of Shelly Abell and Dan Weisz of Tucson, and Kyle Stantus, son of Connie and Paul Stantus of Libby, Mont., announce their engagement. Deborah, a graduate of Arizona State University, is a development officer at Phoenix Children’s Hospital Foundation. Kyle, also a graduate of Arizona State… Read more »

EXO ROAST CO. and TAP & BOTTLE are working with the nonprofit Living Streets Alliance (www.livingstreetsal liance.org) to raise funds and create a design for Tucson’s first “parklet” at 403 N. Sixth Ave. QUEEN CREEK OLIVE MILL has opened a Tucson store, Oils and Olives, in the La Encantada… Read more »

An article by former Tucsonan MIMI SCHULTZ, “A Survivor’s Lost Torah Scroll,” was published by The Jewish Daily Forward. See http://forward.co/articles/190723/a-survivor-s-lost-torah-scroll/?p=all.… Read more »

Joshua Benjamin Bynes, 20, died Dec. 10, 2013. Mr. Bynes was an apprentice electrician. Survivors include his parents, David and Ana Bynes; brother; Eli Bynes; grandparents, Jack and Roberta Bynes and Roy and Amelia Ortiz; and great-grandmother, Gertrude Shankman, all of Tucson. Services will be held at East Lawn… Read more »

SUSAN CLAASSEN, artistic director of Invisible Theatre, will tour in “A Conversation with Edith Head” this fall. As “Edie,” the legendary Hollywood costume designer, Claassen also will emcee Tucson Fashion Week’s runway presentation on Oct. 18 at the Tucson Museum of Art, appearing with fashion designer Betsey Johnson. FRANK… Read more »

A son, ZEV LOREN NEUMAN, was born to Eszter and Ariel Neuman of Los Angeles on Aug. 13, 2013. Grandparents are Yael and Shlo­mo Neuman of Tucson and Eva and Tamas Lengyel of Los Angeles.… Read more »