Rabbi Samuel M. Cohon The speaker invited then uninvited. The signature on the petition removed. The activity joined, then unjoined. The job threatened. Rabbis and Jewish professionals increasingly are being faced with a dilemma over discussing divisive topics — especially regarding Israel — central to how they see their Jewish missions without losing… Read more »
In Israel, restituting Holocaust-era assets isn’t just about getting European countries, banks and insurance companies to pay up. It’s also about finding the rightful heirs of thousands of pre-state assets in Israel whose original Jewish owners perished during the Holocaust. These include dormant bank accounts, real estate, bonds and… Read more »
The Kurt Lindenfeld store in Chemnitz, Germany, seen here in the 1920s, was one of thousands of German Jewish businesses that vanished during the Nazi era. (N.Y. Museum of Jewish Heritage) NEW YORK (JTA) — The Israeli government is firing a new salvo in the turf war over Holocaust restitution. Following years of complaints by survivors about opacity and unjust allocation decisions by the Claims Conference, and after two decades of what critics deride as scant tangible successes by the… Read more »
Now that I am officially in my second quarter of my first calendar year making Aliyah, I imagine it’s time for an assessment; a performance reviews of sorts, particularly as it pertains to my acqusition of Hebrew. Conversationally, I’m proud to say, there has been a clear improvement. While… Read more »
Today, for the first time in the four months that I have lived in Israel, I went grocery shopping all by myself. Aren’t I a big girl? It sounds silly…I’m a grown up after all, but going to the grocery store when you live in the middle of nowhere… Read more »
The day before the official start of Passover, I jokingly posted on my Facebook status update, “For the first time in my life, I actually feel semi-comfortable saying the phrase ‘Chag Sameach.” Ha. Ha. Those were the days. Back when I had the long holiday (extended even longer for… Read more »
Dear Avi and Adele: My husband of 10 years looks at other women when we go out even though we have a loving relationship. I know it’s probably normal, but it annoys me. What should I do? – Jewishly Jealous Dear Jealous: Your brain is already saying that you… Read more »
Dear Avi and Adele: I’m a 45-year-old male who has been on three dates with a 35-year-old woman in the past month. I like her as a person, but I feel like I’ve given it enough time to know it’s not going to work out – I’m just not… Read more »
Dear Avi and Adele: My mom, like most typical Jewish mothers, keeps trying to set me up when I haven’t asked her to. While I appreciate her efforts, I’m a little uncomfortable that my mother is out there shopping for me – she doesn’t really seem to know my… Read more »
Dear Avi and Adele: My girlfriend is in major debt, while my finances are in perfect shape. I see long-term potential in this relationship, but I’m really nervous about moving forward with someone whose finances are in sorry shape. What should I do? – Mr. Moneybags Dear Mr. Moneybags:… Read more »
Amy Hirshberg Lederman It wasn’t easy to get there but the effort was well worth it. A bus trip winding our way out of Queenstown took us to our first destination where we boarded a catamaran and crossed Lake Manapouri, its surface shimmering in the late morning sun. A second bus ride… Read more »
The Museum of Jewish History in Girona is housed in what is believed to be the Spanish city’s last known synagogue. (Ben Harris/JTA Photo Service) Hidden among the maze of alleyways east of the Onyar River, the Museum of Jewish History stands as testament — if an inadvertent one — to the completeness of Spain’s destruction of its once-thriving Jewish population. Inside the museum, set in what is said to be Girona’s last known… Read more »
The Southwest Jewish Education Center, directed by Rabbi Shafir Lobb, is sponsoring a weekend with Cantor Richard Kaplan May 5-7, including a memorial and service of healing concert honoring the victims of the Jan. 8 shooting on May 7. Kaplan, who is also a teacher and ethnomusicologist, has performed… Read more »
The Temple Emanu-El Kurn Religious School will hold a Simcha Fair on Sunday, May 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Temple Emanu-El. Simcha, which means happy event or celebration, can include weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, baby showers and engagement parties. The fair is free and open… Read more »
The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona and Hadassah Southern Arizona will hold a breakfast event, “Views on Recovery and Progress: A Conversation with Tucson City Council Members and Pima County Board of Supervisors” on Friday, April 29, 7:30-9 a.m. at the Tucson Jewish… Read more »
The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona’s nominating committee, chaired by Jennifer Miller Grant, has recommended the following slate of officers for the 2011-2012 program year: Jeff Katz, chair of the board; Kathryn L. Unger, senior vice chair; Madeline Friedman, vice chair; Larry Gellman, vice chair; Joyce Stuehringer, vice chair;… Read more »
The Weintraub Israel Center will hold its annual Yom Hazikaron memorial service in honor of fallen Israeli soldiers and victims of terror on Thursday, May 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. The program will include an honor guard from the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and… Read more »
The Federation’s TIPS Partnership incorporates the Regional Council of Hof Ashkelon, a consortium of kibbutzim and moshavim that border Gaza. This update from our partners, written Sunday, April 10, reveals how life is being impacted on a day-to-day basis by the uptick in missiles coming into the region from… Read more »
Guy Gelbart Why do I expect American Jews to commemorate Yom Hazikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day?” This question has been keeping sleep from my eyes for the last several weeks. As a shaliach, getting people to come and celebrate the Israel 63 Festival on May 15 at the Tucson Jewish Community Center… Read more »
Whether it’s Northern Italian, spicy Southwestern dishes, or gluten-free pizza, Tucson restaurants are concocting adventurous, affordable cuisine this spring. “We’re introducing Northern Italian dishes that are light and fresh, like pappardelle pasta with green beans and basil-dominated pesto,” says Larissa Capizzano, Tavolino Ristorante Italiano event coordinator. “Our pasta is… Read more »
