Comedian and inclusion advocate Pamela Schuller (Courtesy of Pamela Schuller)
(JTA) — I have Tourette syndrome, a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary movements and noises called “tics.” My Tourette’s is relatively mild at this point, but I went through a turbulent adolescence when Tourette’s was the most defining thing about me. Between the constant movements and the loud, uncontrollable… Read more »
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(Kveller via JTA) — I took my first baby steps into bat mitzvah planning this week, and I had a lot of feelings — but mostly a twinge of nostalgia. Somehow a girl who was once a toddler with a furrowed brow, a desperate love of Little Bear, and… Read more »
Lyle Yi Tumarkin, daughter of Joanna Norman and Paul Tumarkin, will celebrate becoming a bat mitzvah on Saturday, Jan. 30 at the Jewish Community Center with Congregation Chaverim. She is the granddaughter of Linda and Gerald Tumarkin of Tucson. Lyle attends the Civano Middle School, trains in gymnastics, and… Read more »
STELLA BITAR SALMON, daughter of Sosan Moussa and Stewart Salmon, celebrated becoming a bat mitzvah on Saturday, Jan. 9 at Congregation Bet Shalom. She is the granddaughter of Joan Tobias Salmon and the late Dr. Sydney Salmon, and George and Magdalien Moussa, all of Tucson. Stella attends Basis Tucson… Read more »
Elana Beth Goldberg, daughter of Lisa and Ben Goldberg, will celebrate becoming a bat mitzvah on Saturday, Jan. 16, at Congregation Or Chadash. She is the granddaughter of Mimi and Jerry Sisk of Palos Verdes, Calif., and Karen and Bill Goldberg of Tucson. Elana attends Tucson Hebrew Academy and… Read more »
Joseph B. Cohen, son of Nancy Cohen and Stephen Cohen, will celebrate becoming a bar mitzvah on Dec. 19, at Congregation Or Chadash. He is the grandson of Janet Gagnon of Tucson; Alan and Susan Cohen of Palm Springs, Calif.; and Warren and Pat Henderson of Dunbarton, N.H. Joseph… Read more »
Shira Hannah Dubin, daughter of Pamela Heiman and Matthew Dubin, will celebrate becoming a bat mitzvah on Saturday, Dec. 19 at Congregation Anshei Israel. She is the granddaughter of Sandy and Elliott Heiman of Tucson and Barbara Dubin and Henry Dubin of Maryland. Shira attends Tucson Hebrew Academy, where… Read more »
ELLAH STEELE BEN-ASHER, daughter of Jon Ben-Asher and Jeni Steele, will celebrate becoming a bat mitzvah on Saturday, Dec. 12 at Congregation Anshei Israel. She is the granddaughter of David Ben-Asher of Tucson and the late Bryna Ben-Asher, and Susan Charles of Tucson and the late Jim Steele. Ellah… Read more »
Samuel Paul Goldfinger, son of Melissa and Tedd Goldfinger, will celebrate becoming a bar mitzvah on Saturday, Nov. 21 at Congregation Anshei Israel. He is the grandson of Sandi and Jerry Henderson of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Judi and Jerry Schumacher of Saddlebrooke. Samuel attends Tucson Hebrew Academy where… Read more »
Shmuel Moshe White, son of the Honorable James Garfield White and Hallie Bongar White, celebrated becoming a bar mitzvah on Saturday, Nov.14 at Congregation Young Israel. Shmuel is an enrolled member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and attends Tucson Hebrew Academy, where he plays on the basketball and football… Read more »
Aidan Star Jones, son of Elena and Bob Jones, will celebrate becoming a bar mitzvah on Saturday, Nov. 21st at Temple Emanu-El. He is the grandson of Judy Shepard Gomez and Marjorie Hochberg of Tucson. Aidan attends Accelerated Learning Laboratory where he is co-chair of the Fall Festival Committee.… Read more »
BREANNA LEAH YALEN, daughter of Ilene and Allen Yalen, will celebrate becoming a bat mitzvah on Saturday, Oct. 24 at Temple Emanu-El. She is the granddaughter of Joan and Stuart Brodsky, and Sandra and William Yalen, all of Tucson. Breanna attends Tucson Hebrew Academy. She enjoys playing guitar and… Read more »
Dillon Gabriel Simmers, son of Leah and Steve Simmers, will celebrate becoming a bar mitzvah on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Congregation Or Chadash. He is the great grandson of the late Thelma “Teddi” Barlin. Dillon attends Emily Gray Junior High School. He enjoys soccer, reading and board games. For… Read more »
Jayden Yalen, son of Wendy Yalen, will celebrate becoming a bar bitzvah on Saturday, Oct. 17, at Congregation Anshei Israel. He is the grandson of Sandra and William Yalen of Tucson. Jayden attends Tucson Hebrew Academy. He enjoys tae kwon do, Boy Scouts and reading. For his mitzvah project… Read more »
David Jurkowitz, son of Dan and Lisa Jurkowitz, will celebrate becoming a bar mitzvah on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Congregation Anshei Israel. He is the grandson of Chaya and Harvey Jurkowitz of Tucson and Joan and Andre Klein of Phoenix. David attends BASIS Tucson North where he volunteers as… Read more »
Sydney Ruskin, daughter of Amy and Seth Ruskin, will celebrate becoming a bat mitzvah on Sept. 12 at Temple Emanu-El. She is the granddaughter of Robert and the late Monica Schumann of Window Rock, Ariz., and Laurie and Harvey Ruskin of Albuquerque, N.M. Sydney attends Ida Flood Dodge Traditional… Read more »
JORDAN NATHANIEL SUMBERG, son of Lori and Craig Sumberg, will celebrate becoming a bar mitzvah on Saturday, September 5, 2015 at Temple Emanu-El. He is the grandson of Estelle and Eugene Laska of New York, and the late Arlene and Shepard Sumberg of Boston. Jordan attends The Gregory School… Read more »
Jacob Benjamin Klotz Medovoi, son of Marcia Klotz and Leerom Medovoi, will celebrate becoming a bar mitzvah on Aug. 8 at the Tucson Jewish Community Center with Congregation Or Chadash. He is the grandson of Ciporah Medovoi, of Los Angeles, and Martha and Robert Klotz, of Denver. Jacob attends Orange… Read more »
Samara Rachel Medovoi Klotz, daughter of Marcia Klotz and Leerom Medovoi, will celebrate becoming a bat mitzvah on Aug. 8 at the Tucson Jewish Community Center with Congregation Or Chadash. She is the granddaughter of Ciporah Medovoi, of Los Angeles, and Martha and Robert Klotz, of Denver. Samara attends Orange… Read more »
MALIWAN JOANIQUE TOVA ROCKLAND, daughter of Jeffrey and Suwatana Rockland, will celebrate becoming a bat mitzvah on Saturday, June 20 at Temple Emanu-El.. She is the granddaughter of Michael Rockland and Patricia Ard of Morristown, N.J., Mae and Myron Tupa of Brookline, Mass., and Samart and Bangorn Apairatana of… Read more »
