Posts By PHYLLIS BRAUN - AJP Executive Editor

Security training targets bombs, hate crimes
June 28, 2019 / Debe Campbell, AJP Assistant Editor

Tucson Police Officer Rob McCusker delivered a community training on suspicious package recognition at the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona on June 13. With about 25 in attendance, the explosives and hazardous device technician discussed ways to recognize potential dangers and manage bomb threats, and suggestions for managing lockdowns… Read more »

Community awards honor volunteers
June 28, 2019 / Debe Campbell, AJP Assistant Editor
Andy Kunsberg

This is the final part of a series on the Jewish agency volunteers who received 2019 Special Recognition Awards at the Jewish Community Awards celebration held May 9 at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. The evening also included the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona’s annual meeting. Andy Kunsberg, Jewish… Read more »

JCF summer series to focus on tax and legal topics
June 28, 2019 /
Greg Gadarian

The Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona will present “Hot Topics for Tax and Legal Professionals” sessions in July and August. The July 31 session, “Charitable Developments: Recent Developments, Rules, and Landmines” will be presented in honor of Greg Gadarian, JCF Professional Advisory Group founder, to thank him for… Read more »

Singapore, once more: Tucsonan finds Jewish community still thriving

Susan Wortman and Jack Pinnas in front of Maghain Aboth Synagogue in Singapore. Note the large silver mezuzah on the doorframe. (Anne Lowe)
June 28, 2019 / Anne Lowe, Special to the AJP

Four years ago, my husband, David, was asked to teach aviation law in Singapore for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Naturally, I went along for the trip. While there, I spent five weeks researching the Jewish community in that Southeast Asian country. When I returned to Tucson, I presented many PowerPoint… Read more »

UA seeks Middle East travel photographs
June 28, 2019 /

Visiting Israel or other parts of the Middle East this summer? The University of Arizona Center for Middle Eastern Studies is seeking photo submissions for its 29th annual exhibit, “Ordinary and Extraordinary.” Each year, the UA Center for Middle Eastern Studies organizes a photography exhibit featuring images from the… Read more »

Israeli Scouts perform in Tucson
June 28, 2019 /

The Israeli Scouts Tzofim Friendship Caravan performed their high-energy song and dance show for about 200 people at the Tucson Jewish Community Center on Thursday, June 20. Prior to the show, the scouts spent the day at Camp J. They gave a morning show for the camp, the Taglit… Read more »

For beach-lover, Shabbat at Chabad of Monterey makes great memories

L- R: Rabbi Dovid, Motty, Binie, Mendy, Zevi, Yossi, Moshe, and Rivky Holtzberg near Chabad of Monterey (Courtesy Binie Holtzberg)
June 28, 2019 / Barbara Russek, Special to the AJP

As Shabbat approaches, Jews throughout the world exchange warm wishes of “Shabbat Shalom.” But how do we achieve that transformative Sabbath peace? As I discovered during my stay last summer on the Monterey Peninsula, Rabbi Dovid and Rebbetzin Binie Holtzberg, directors of Chabad of Monterey, extend hospitality to all… Read more »

Shinshiniyot celebrate b’not mitzvah
June 28, 2019 /
(L-R): Rabbi Batsheva Appel, Rotem Rapaport, Ron Benacot, and Cantorial Soloist Marjorie Hochberg

About 60 community members celebrated with Tucson’s outgoing shinshinyot (Israeli teen emissaries), Rotem Rapaport and Ron Benacot, as they were called to the Torah at Temple Emanu-El on Saturday, June 15. The young women had celebrated coming of age with parties in Israel, but neither had read from the… Read more »

James Caan’s latest character: A Jew who moves to Israel to become a pig farmer

In "Holy Lands," James Caan plays a secular American Jew who moves to Israel to escape the drama of his family -- and to raise pigs. (Cinedigm)
June 28, 2019 / Stephen Silver, JTA

(JTA) — “Raising pigs in Israel? Couldn’t you play golf like everyone else?” That’s a quote that doubles well as the concept behind the movie “Holy Lands,” which stars Hollywood veteran James Caan as a relatively secular American Jew turned Israeli pig farmer. The film, directed by the French… Read more »

Untold stories: Jews in Arab countries suffered unbearable discrimination

A Jewish mother and her children are photographed outside a synagogue in Djerba, Tunisia, Jan. 1, 1950. Some 850,000 refugees from Tunisia and other Arab countries were expelled from their countries after the creation of Israel.
June 28, 2019 / Miriam Shepher, JTA

June 20 was World Refugee Day. And according to the United Nations page devoted to this commemoration, every minute 20 people leave everything behind to escape war, persecution or terror. I am one of those people. In 1948, when I was 6 months old, my mother risked everything to… Read more »

Restoring a beautiful smile: tips on choosing crowns vs. veneers

Elana, daughter of Howard Steinberg, DMD, shows off her prepless veneer-enhanced smile. (Courtesy Howard Steinberg, DMD)
June 28, 2019 / Debe Campbell, AJP Assistant Editor

Tooth restoration is a great way to enhance your smile at any adult age. Veneers or crowns are two popular options. Both are dental restoration methods to improve the appearance of your smile, but they are very different procedures. Tooth preparation may be a determining factor in deciding which… Read more »

Business briefs 6.28.19
June 27, 2019 /

The Arizona Jewish Post has won a Simon Rockower Award from the American Jewish Press Association. The second place Louis Rapoport Award for Excellence in Commentary (Division B., newspapers 14,999 circulation and under) is for three columns by Amir Eden, former director of the Weintraub Israel Center: “On the… Read more »

Xela Magaly Keith-Chirch
June 27, 2019 /

Xela Magaly Keith-Chirch will celebrate having become a B’nai Mitzvah at a service on July 6, 2019, at Temple Emanu-El. Xela enjoys reading, swimming, dancing, acting, singing, drawing, and climbing trees. She was recently a member of the PJ Our Way National Design Content Team. She assists with classes… Read more »

Bayla Zimmerman
June 27, 2019 /

A daughter, Bayla Zimmerman, was born June 4 to Mushkie and Rabbi Ephraim Zimmerman of Oro Valley. Bayla joins her sisters, Devora, Chana, Leah, and Risa, and brother, Zev.… Read more »

People in the news 6.28.19
June 27, 2019 /

Robert Youdelman, an officer with the Hayden, Arizona, police department, was honored by Pinal County District Attorney Kent Volkmer with a Victims Service Award for his dedication, commitment, and compassion for victims of crime. The award was presented at a Law Enforcement Appreciation Night dinner on April 9 in… Read more »

Israeli Softball is building a women’s ‘dream team’ for the 2020 Olympics

University of Arizona graduate Tamara Statman thinks the team has a good chance of making the Olympics. (Courtesy of the Israeli Softball Association)
June 27, 2019 / Marcy Oster, JTA

JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Israeli Softball Association wants to take its women’s team to the 2020 Olympics, and it is counting on some Jewish American talent to get it there. Thirteen U.S. Jewish college students and recent graduates arrived in Israel at the beginning of the month to train… Read more »

Cory Booker was the only Democrat at the first debate who didn’t commit to rejoining the Iran deal

Sen. Cory Booker (C) (D-NJ) speaks as former housing secretary Julian Castro (L) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) look on during the first night of the Democratic presidential debate in Miami, Florida on June 26, 2019. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
June 27, 2019 / Ron Kampeas, JTA

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., was alone among the 10 Democratic presidential candidates at the first debate not to commit to rejoining the Iran nuclear deal. Moderators at the debate Wednesday evening in Miami asked the candidates whether they would rejoin the deal President Donald Trump abandoned… Read more »

Proper techniques for flossing your teeth for optimum oral health
June 26, 2019 / Cristian Macau, DDS

Flossing your teeth every day removes food particles, plaque, and debris that brushing can’t reach. This helps you keep your teeth and gums as healthy as possible. Additionally, flossing can help you avoid bad breath. Holding the dental floss Break off about 18 to 24 in (46 to 61… Read more »

Fred Fruchthendler
June 26, 2019 /

Fred Barry Fruchthendler, 67, died June 19, 2019, following a lengthy stay at Tucson Medical Center. He was born to Jacob C. and Jean Abend Fruchthendler, on July 19, 1951 at Tucson Medical Center. Mr. Fruchthendler served as the chairman of the board of Jewish Family & Children’s Services… Read more »