Temple Emanu-El eighth grade students tend one of the Gan Project garden beds. (Courtesy Temple Emanu-El WRJ)
Temple Emanu-El’s Gan (garden) Project is growing — thanks to a $2,000 incubator grant from the Women of Reform Judaism to the WRJ of Temple Emanu-El. Temple Emanu-El was among the first to receive these grants, which range from $500 to $5,000. They were awarded to “outside the box”… Read more »
On the first Friday of each month, the Jewish residents of Fairwinds-Desert Point retirement community in Oro Valley are fortunate to welcome Chaplain Pinchas Zohav from the Northwest Jewish Federation who leads them in a Shabbat celebration. With prayers, songs, stories, wine and challah, the Sabbath is welcomed joyfully… Read more »
Rocky Martinez painted the “Goddess of Agave” mural on the Benjamin Supply building at 440 N. 7th Ave. (Photo: David J. Del Grande ; Mural © 2016 Rocky Martinez/Tucson Arts Brigade)
Eight colorful new murals scattered around downtown will do more than beautify Tucson — they’ll provide an economic boost by helping to brand Tucson as an exotic, world class destination, and by reducing the money spent on graffiti abatement, says Michael B. Schwartz, director of the nonprofit Tucson Arts… Read more »
“A Creature That Doesn’t Understand What He Really Is” by Curt Kiwak Curt Kiwak will exhibit “Monsters Under the Bed,” works on paper, in the Fine Art Gallery of the Tucson Jewish Community Center, July 8-Sept. 6. An artist’s reception will be held on Sunday, Aug.28 from 2-4 p.m. Born in Chicago, Kiwak attended the Art Institute in Chicago. He moved… Read more »
The Greater Tucson Fire Foundation will host an information session about the Emergency Volunteer Project, an opportunity for professional volunteer opportunities in Israel, on Sunday, June 26, from 2-4 p.m. at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. The project’s mission is to recruit, train and deploy dedicated individuals who will… Read more »
THA trip participants head to the Dead Sea. Front row (L-R): Rabbi Billy Lewkowicz, Lulu Youngerman, Eva Prouty; back: Head of School Jon Ben-Asher, Moshe Rast, guide Yakov Lopez, Katie Kanter, Ana Rosman, Lucila Thal, Janae Newhouse-Waine, Danika Selmon (Courtesey Jon Ben-Asher)
As Louisa (Lulu) Youngerman waded effortlessly in the Dead Sea, making playful attempts to reach its bed, she was awestruck by the experience. “This is everything that I heard about and more,” says Lulu. “This is magical.” Lulu attended the Tucson Hebrew Academy from kindergarten through eighth grade, and… Read more »
Lt. Shachar, Israel's first transgender officer, addresses a pride event at Israel's embassy in Washington, D.C., June 20, 2016. (Ron Kampeas)
WASHINGTON (JTA) – When Shachar was 2 years old, she asked her parents to keep her hair short. When she was 5, she asked them to throw out every skirt in her closet. When Shachar was 16, he realized he was a boy, and when he was 19 he got… Read more »
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signing an executive order directing the divestment of public funds supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel, at the Harvard Club in New York City, June 5, 2016. (Kevin P. Coughlin/Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo)
NEW YORK (JTA) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s executive order opposing BDS shouldn’t have made a splash — but it did. A handful of states had already passed similar measures opposing the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel. So had the New York State Senate — though… Read more »
Idit Klein (Courtesy of Keshet)
BOSTON (JTA) — In the wake of the Orlando shooting, statements of solidarity with the LGBTQ community quickly tumbled forth. Some expressions of support came from unlikely sources such as the Orthodox Union and the Catholic Church. But what does a statement of solidarity mean in response to… Read more »
Akiva Neuman, an Orthodox Jew who is studying to be a rabbi, competes in the Philadelphia qualifying round of “American Ninja Warrior.” (Mitchell Leff/NBC)
NEW YORK (JTA) — Like his fellow competitors on “American Ninja Warrior,” 25-year-old Akiva Neuman pushed himself to his physical limits — climbing, jumping and running through an intense obstacle course — in the hopes of making it to the national finals in Las Vegas. But unlike the dozens… Read more »
(Courtesy Erez Kashi)
Orlando, FL (TPS) – An Israeli-American took to the sky over Orlando last Wednesday, just a few days after the massacre at a local gay club by a self-declared ISIS sympathizer, to fly an airplane banner reading: “America! Israel Feels Your Pain.” After hearing of the massacre that claimed… Read more »
Falafel wars in Paris: Who's got the better balls?
Yomi Peretz, right, approaching a line of tourists waiting to place their orders at L'As Du Fallafel in the historic Jewish quarter of Paris, April 2012. (WikiMedia Commons)
PARIS (JTA) — On a crowded sidewalk in the French capital, Yomi Peretz exchanges jokes and backslaps with customers who are waiting in a 20-yard queue in the rain to enter his falafel shop. This chummy interaction comes naturally to Peretz, a tall enthusiast of boxing and poker who… Read more »
Holon (TPS) – The Israeli gymnastics won gold atthe European Rhythmic Gymnastics Championship on Sunday in the clubs and hoop event, as well as silver in the ribbons event. This year’s European championship was held in the team’s own home court of Holon, a coastal Israeli city. “I felt… Read more »
Israeli President Reuven Rivlin opens the Herzliya Conference June 14.
Jerusalem (TPS) – Israeli President Reuven Rivlin hosted a discussion of shared national identity and citizenship between Israeli Arabs and Jews during the opening of the annual Herzliya Conference at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem on Tuesday. Rivlin rebutted critics who claimed he is a “post-Zionist” for inclusive remarks… Read more »
Donald Trump addressing the Republican Jewish Coalition in Washington, D.C., Dec. 3, 2015. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
NEW YORK (JTA) — Jewish Republicans are criticizing Donald Trump for his renewed call to ban Muslim immigration, although few of his Jewish supporters seem to be reconsidering their endorsement of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee. But at least one, celebrity Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, rescinded his apparent backing of Trump… Read more »
Young Israeli LGBT equality activists light candles at Zion Square in Jerusalem in solidarity with the victims of the shooting attack at Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla., June 12, 2016. (Hadas Parush/Flash90)
(Kveller via JTA) — My dear innocent child, Something terrible happened. A very bad man took a gun and went into a place where there were many kind, innocent, loving people, and he shot them. He killed many and injured even more. No, none of our family members were… Read more »
JAMES A. WHITEHILL was elected president of the board of trustees of the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona last month. Whitehill has served as a JCF trustee since 2008. Board member Goggy Davidowitz is a newly elected vice president. New board members include Caron Mitchell, Stephen Rodgveller and… Read more »
The Weintraub Israel Center and the Tucson J, with the support and cooperation of members of Catalina Council, Boy Scouts of America, announce a free performance bythe Israeli Scouts on Monday, June 20 at 6 p.m. in the ballroom of the Tucson J. The troupe of 10 Israeli Scouts are… Read more »
Dear friends, On the evening of June 26, the Jewish History Museum will host the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona (JFSA) Pride program Celebrating Marriage Equality, an event that will mark the one year anniversary of the Marriage Equality Act, a landmark moment for our country and for LGBT… Read more »
Happy birthday, Israel The Weintraub Israel Center capped off Tucson Celebrates Israel Week with a family-friendly Yom Huledet L’Yisrael (Happy Birthday Israel) party at the Tucson Jewish Community Center on Sunday, May 15. The event included Israeli party games, party favors and birthday cake. Lag B’Omer… Read more »
