LEAH (Let’s End Abusive Households) is a crucial program operated by JFCS of Southern Arizona, dedicated to supporting Jewish survivors of interpersonal violence. This initiative addresses a critical need within the Jewish community, offering compassionate assistance and resources to those who have experienced domestic abuse, sexual assault, and other… Read more »
This story first appeared in Jewish News (greater Phoenix). Alex Shapero witnessed the emotional response of Jewish victims of domestic abuse to seeing a new mezuzah on their doorpost and immediately understood two things. The first is that a symbol as simple yet powerful as a mezuzah can demonstrate… Read more »
Three years ago this summer, I had just finished my 16th round of chemo and was preparing for my double mastectomy. Having been diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer at 35 years old during the height of the pandemic, I experienced immense isolation and fear. But in The Breasties, a… Read more »
I found it, like many discoveries, accidentally. I was busy pursuing a pre-Internet interest of mine – poring through old newspapers – but now online. Having spent the first 76% of my life in Oklahoma City, I was interested in looking at The Southwest Jewish Chronicle, a regional Jewish… Read more »
Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona (JFCS) through its Let’s End Abusive Households (LEAH) program has forged a powerful partnership with MyZuzah to uplift Jewish survivors of interpersonal violence. This collaboration focuses on providing kosher, fair-trade mezuzahs to individuals and families who have endured interpersonal abuse, offering… Read more »
As an Israeli Shlicha, it is so important for me to always build a bridge to Israel and bring the reality in Israel as it is. You may have seen some things on the news and wondered what is really going on. Since October 7th, there have been nonstop… Read more »
Many know that I was born and raised in a moshav in the Golan Heights, northern Israel. But what does a moshav actually mean? According to Wikipedia, a moshav is “a type of Israeli village or town or Jewish settlement, in particular a type of cooperative agricultural community of… Read more »
In a poignant display of reconciliation and remembrance, German Defense Intelligence Liaison Officers, Lt. Colonel Bocklet and Colonel Busch, alongside their spouses, were warmly welcomed as special guests to the weekly meeting of Holocaust Survivors at Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona (JFCS). Holocaust Survivor, Wanda Wolowsky,… Read more »
After October 7, we were all overwhelmed, in pain. It was a moment in time that changed everything that we knew, reminding us of the fragility of life and the importance of standing together in times of crisis. I was so moved by the solidarity, love and concern I… Read more »
“Resilience” is the word Dr. David Siegel, a Tucson neurologist, heard most often from Israelis during a solidarity mission last month with the American Healthcare Professionals and Friends for Medicine in Israel, or APF. “The absolute resilience of the many Israelis I had the privilege to talk and interact… Read more »
Sadness, anger, hope, and resilience. Todd Rockoff, president and CEO of the Tucson Jewish Community Center (JCC), felt all these emotions and more on a JCC Association Board Solidarity Mission (JCCA) to Israel in January. “I felt a great pull to be there,” he says, to bear witness and… Read more »
David Tannenbaum, with gold medal The Maccabi Pan-American Games recently concluded in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Some 4000 Jewish athletes from 24 countries competed for medals in 20 sports in an expression of Jewish pride through athletics. I was fortunate to be among the 650-member Team USA and competed as a cyclist in the 60-69… Read more »
This article was first published in the October 2023 issue of DesertLeaf magazine. My Aunt Jan saved my life. The overall risk of a woman developing breast cancer during her lifetime is approximately 13%. My risk was much higher—55%-72%—due to a genetic predisposition known as a BRCA1 mutation. I… Read more »
Dear Community Member, As a new member of the Weintraub Israel Center team, it is with great sadness that this has to be my first letter to the community. Friday evening, October 6, we returned from Shabbat dinner and arrived home. Suddenly, I received a message from one of my friends:… Read more »
Dipping apples and honey, savoring a thick slice of warm, raisin challah, I think about how blessed I am to celebrate a new year; healthy, happy, and sharing a delicious, fresh meal with loved ones. I also think about my neighbors that do not have access to food, especially… Read more »
Yuval Malka, Southern Arizona community Shalicha The Weintraub Israel Center, a partnership between the Tucson J and Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona, is thrilled to share some exciting news: Tucson is once again bringing back a community Shalicha to foster a strong bond between our community and Israel. For those who may not be familiar… Read more »
Alexander Alvarez is the 2023 recipient of the Dr. Sam Goldfein Memorial Scholarship, an annual award given to a University of Arizona medical student who exhibits the compassion, commitment to patient care, humility, desire to learn and leadership qualities exemplified by Goldfein during his lifetime. Goldfein was a founding… Read more »
Arizona. California. Israel. Peru. Boston. No matter what state, country, time zone or zip code, I call my mother every day. And at 97, she still answers the phone with energy and excitement. Calling home was a decision I made over two decades ago to intentionally stay connected to… Read more »
Over 1,200 women philanthropists from 80 communities around the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, and Israel came together at Jewish Federations of North America’s (JFNA’s) three-day International Lions of Judah Conference in Phoenix, where they raised a collective $24.2 million supporting Federations’ mission to build flourishing Jewish communities. The conference… Read more »
The JFCS Refugee Resettlement Team Note: The names in the story have been changed. The Sharif family arrived to Jewish Family & Children’s Services (JFCS) in early January of 2022 after months of upheaval and uncertainty. JFCS’s Reception & Placement Case Manager, Omed, met them at the airport upon their arrival. He helped the… Read more »
