The Hebrew word “chesed” is often translated as “loving-kindness” or simply “goodness.” The Tucson Jewish community’s Day of Chesed on Jan. 20 will offer many ways to do good in our community, from a clothing swap to visiting with Handmaker residents. The Day of Chesed is organized by Levia… Read more »
Wicked, the movie based on the Broadway musical, based on the book by Gregory Maguire, has brought the musical back to mainstream popularity. To date, the movie has grossed over $350 million domestically and is once again shining a spotlight on a stage that has been profoundly influenced over… Read more »
Opening the curtain on its 34th year, the Tucson J International Film Festival starts on January 8, with in-person screenings and special events for select films through January 19, with most films streaming virtually from January 17 through January 31 for the Greater Tucson area. This year screenings will… Read more »
Hosting the 2025 JCC Maccabi Games and Access in Tucson this summer will be a true community effort. More than 1,000 volunteers, 350 host families, and up to 100 local athletes ages 12-17 will be recruited to join staff members of the Tucson Jewish Community Center in creating a… Read more »
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to reflect the change of the event’s date to December 14. On November 2, 2024, The New York Times released a front-page article, “A Whisperer to the Stars on the Middle East Conflict” by Nicole Sperling. She wrote, “Since Oct. 7 of… Read more »
For the Afghan survivors impacted by combat that Jewish Family & Childrens Services (JFCS) serves, art is a powerful tool for healing—helping express through creativity what cannot be said with words. Annie Kunz, program supervisor, explains, “The mental and physical tolls of combat are complex and are compounded by… Read more »
The Tucson Jewish Community Center (Tucson J) presents the exhibition Au Naturel by the Sonoran Plein Air Painters, on exhibition from October 31 to December 1, 2024. As part of its Fine Art Gallery Season, the Tucson J is hosting an opening art reception on Sunday, November 3 from… Read more »
Locked in a safe room for 13 hours, singer-songwriter Micha Biton and his family barely survived the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks on Israel. More than 20 of their friends in Moshav Netiv Ha’asara, the Israeli community closest to the Gaza border, were killed. Along with his songs, Biton… Read more »
The only thing more bitter than the cacao, was the sting of defeat after the judges’ final ruling. In a dazzling display of teamwork and efficiency under pressure, several teams of four students each took on the challenge of preparing a three-course meal, while racing the clock, in the… Read more »
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 »
“There is a dire and urgent need to get as many hostages out of Gaza as swiftly as humanly possible,” says Avi Mayer, a top pro-Israel commentator. “The majority of Israelis feel at this point there is almost no cost too high to bring back those hostages who are… Read more »
Jewish women across America have long embraced mah jongg, the Chinese tile game, and the Southern Arizona Jewish community is no exception. Joseph Babcock, a businessman who traveled to China after World War I, introduced mah jongg to the U.S. in the 1920s and it quickly became a fad.… Read more »
At the Tucson J, we believe a strong community is made of people who are deeply connected to each other, inspired to lead Jewish lives of meaning for themselves, and have the tools to lead them. Arts, culture, and community programming is intentionally designed to be both mirrors and… Read more »
Beth Shalom Temple Center (BSTC) in Green Valley, AZ, south of Tucson, will celebrate its 30th anniversary with a Gala event on November 9. This milestone marks three decades of fostering community and faith and highlights the remarkable contributions of its congregants and leaders. This year, BSTC will honor… Read more »
Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center announces the speakers and dates for the 2024 Lakin Lecture Series on Antisemitism. This four-part annual series continues to tackle the tough topics that permeate today’s headlines and weigh heavily on Jewish communities’ hearts and minds. This year’s lectures explore the throughline of… Read more »
“The challenge today is to be animated by both gratitude and unrest, by humility and audacity, and to feel the exodus from Egypt — our people’s journey from slavery to freedom, from degradation to dignity — in our guts. Our Jewish story calls us to become agents of social… Read more »
If you experience or witness antisemitism or an incident that might be a hate crime, don’t hesitate to report it. That message was repeated over and over at a United Against Hate event that drew about 150 people to the Tucson Jewish Community Center on June 18. United States… Read more »
The Tucson Jewish Community Center was abuzz with learning and conversation into the early hours of the morning during the recent Meeting at the Mountain, a special Shavuot event that brought the Southern Arizona Jewish community in celebration and study. The annual tikkun leil was proudly put on in… Read more »
The Tucson J is thrilled to officially announce Tucson as a host site for the 2025 JCC Maccabi Games ® — the world’s largest in-person Jewish youth sporting event. Returning to the Old Pueblo for the first time in 25 years, the Olympic-style sports competition will be held July… Read more »
The Jewish community of Southern Arizona will host its second AgeWell Day on Tuesday, May 7. The event brings together community members aged 60 and above for activities and camaraderie. Positive relationships and social connections are the keys to happier, healthier, longer lives, according to a multi-decade Harvard study.… Read more »
