Isaac (Ike) Berkman, son of Matthew and Lindsay Berkman, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Feb. 7 at Kol Ami Synagogue. Ike attends Basis Tucson North, where he is in 7th grade. Ike loves music and is an avid piano player. He also enjoys traveling, playing baseball, and… Read more »
Blake Zoey Belen, daughter of Megan and Cary Belen, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at Kol Ami Synagogue. Blake attends Orange Grove Middle School. She is an active member of National Charity League and a competitive swimmer for Tucson Ford Aquatics. She also… Read more »
Judith Manelis has held onto her Haftara booklet for 74 years.
When I was 13 years old, I asked the rabbi of my Conservative synagogue, Tifereth Israel in New Bedford, Massachusetts, for a Bat Mitzvah. Rabbi Bernard Ziskind, a very traditional and serious gentleman, was surprised, and perhaps even shocked. It was 1951 after all, and no girl in my… Read more »
Levi Finkelstein will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, at Kol Ami Synagogue. He is the son of Adam and Nina. Levi attends Orange Grove Middle School. He is a fan of cats, sushi, video games, music, roller coasters, Anime, and Monopoly. His hobbies include… Read more »
Eithan Samuel Moss will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, November 22, 2025, at Kol Ami Synagogue. He is the son of Kol Ami Executive Director Sean Moss and Kerry Moss. Eithan attends Sonoran Science Academy. Whether he’s working toward his Eagle Scout rank, tending to his tomato… Read more »
Nathan Jacob Goldstein will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on November 15, 2025, at Kol Ami Synagogue. He is the son of Adam and Dana Goldstein. Nathan attends Orange Grove Middle School. His hobbies include baseball, football, golfing, skiing, and following his favorite teams. Nathan also likes spending time… Read more »
Anna Cohen will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Oct. 25. 2025 at Kol Ami Synagogue. She is the daughter of Noah Cohen and Havah Haskell z”l. Anna attends Esperero Canyon Middle School. She loves music, animals, national parks, and Japanese anime. For her mitzvah project, Anna is… Read more »
Liora Lee Abrams Dunn will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah at Kol Ami Synagogue on Saturday, October 18, 2025. She is the daughter of Rina Abrams-Dunn and Christopher Dunn. Liora attends Desert Sky Middle School, and she is also enrolled in the Madrichim training program at the Kol Ami… Read more »
London Ahava Emerson, daughter of Jordan Emerson and Dr. Miriam Geoffroy, will celebrate becoming a bat mitzvah at Congregation Anshei Israel on Nov. 22, 2025. She is the granddaughter of Randy Emerson and Bonnie Sedlmayr-Emerson of Tucson, and George and Irina Gurevich of Scottsdale. London is a seventh grader… Read more »
Parker Bennett Ingvoldstad, son of Nils and Hadyn Ingvoldstad, and grandson of Sheldon Stone will become a Bar Mitzvah on 11/23/24 at Chabad of Oro Valley. Parker attends Dove Mountain CSTEM school and is in the 8th grade. He is a member of the National Junior Honor Society. He… Read more »
Alyssa Engler celebrated becoming a Bat Mitzvah on November 9 at Congregation Bet Shalom. She is the daughter of Elizabeth Engler. Alyssa attends Tucson Hebrew Academy, where she is student council vice president. She is a competitive gymnast and hopes to continue this path all the way through college.… Read more »
Livia Aronson will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on October 26th at Kol Ami Synagogue on Country Club Rd. She is the daughter of Randy Aronson & Geren Thurston. She attends Cross Middle School, where she is a member of the National Junior High School Honor Society, a clarinet… Read more »
Michael Green celebrated becoming a Bar Mitzvah on October 19, 2024, at Kol Ami. He is the son of Robin and Dale Green. Michael has been a dynamo since the day he was born when the pediatrician stated that Michael was the most active newborn he had ever seen.… Read more »
Miles Cooper Larcom will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on May 26, 2024. Miles is the son of Guy & Danielle Larcom, and brother of Jax. Miles’ grandparents are Shirley & Jerry (z”l) Strauss, Ruth & Donald Walker, and Richard Larcom. Miles attends Esperero Canyon Middle School where he… Read more »
Avey Marie Lopez-Hanshaw (Aviva Miryam bat Azriel) will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, January 28th, 2023 at Congregation Kol Ami on Country Club Rd. She is the daughter of Dr. Elise & Mr. Robert Lopez-Hanshaw, and the granddaughter of Donna Greenwood, Manuel Lopez, and Karen & Mark… Read more »
Sawyer Belle Sevy will become a Bat Mitzvah on September 17, 2022 This service will take place at the beautiful 3C ranch in Oracle, Ariz. Sawyer will be surrounded by friends and family and the service will be lead by friend and mentor Marjorie Hochberg. Sawyer is the daughter… Read more »
Matthew Meislin is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah on September 3rd, 2022, at Kol Ami. Matthew is the son of Justin and Georgina Meislin and the grandson of Harvey and Lori Meislin. Matthew is in 8th grade at Orange Grove Middle School, where he enjoys playing… Read more »
Benjamin Thurston Aronson completed his Bar Mitzvah on April 30, 2022. Although he read his Torah portion through Congregation Or Chadash’s Zoom services in April 2020, he was grateful for an in-person service and celebration with his family and friends. This belated event was performed at a family home,… Read more »
Sometimes a Jewish ritual object takes on a life of its own. It can trace the history of an entire family, even an entire portion of the Jewish people. When that object is returned to regular religious use, it symbolizes the eternal vitality of Judaism. So it is with… Read more »
Hannah Aviva Ellentuck celebrated becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Dec. 20, 2021. The service took place in her backyard led by Rabbi Avi Alpert and her mother, Cantor Emily Ellentuck of M’Kor Hayim. She is the daughter of Max and Cantor Ellentuck, of Tucson, and granddaughter of Wayne and… Read more »
