Local

Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona staff members, clockwise from top left: Sophie German, Sharon Glassberg, Ginger Doran, and Raisa Moroz

“Trauma-informed care isn’t just for clinicians,” says Sophie German, BSW, CFSW, director of the older adult and community services departments at Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona. These include several financial wellness programs and Jewish holiday programs like Mitzvah Magic. “Most of the people that we… Read more »

A placard bearing an antisemitic and misogynistic slur was affixed to multiple campaign signs of Jewish elected official and candidate Alma Hernandez, in Tucson. In Tucson, campaign signs for a Jewish candidate for the Arizona Senate were defaced with hand-lettered placards bearing an antisemitic and misogynistic slur. The vandalism… Read more »

(L-R): Renee Pourrier, Diana Coleman, and Keri Gall at Handmaker’s Rubin Assisted Living (Photo courtesy Nanci Levy)

For years, Handmaker has been fortunate to have an extensive roster of dedicated volunteers. They come to spend time with residents, play games, assist attendees during Shabbat services, and most importantly, build meaningful connections and friendships. Following the pandemic, Handmaker was grateful to welcome back many familiar faces, including… Read more »

The University of Arizona Hillel has appointed a new executive director, Shoshi Lipschultz, who will start in July. Eric Natter, president of the UA Hillel board of directors, announced the appointment last month. An Arizona native and University of Arizona alum, Lipschultz returns to Tucson… Read more »

Children in the early childhood education program at the Tucson Jewish Community Center roll dough that will be baked into matzah.

For many families, the transition to kindergarten is both exciting and filled with questions about whether a child is truly ready for the next step. While academic skills are important, research continues to show that social-emotional development, independence, communication, and self-confidence play an equally significant role in a successful… Read more »

Ariel Fawn Strobel and Lee Randy Baldwin, both of Tucson, have announced their engagement. Ariel is the daughter of Tammy and Alan Strobel. She earned a Bachelor of Science from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York. Ariel is a fine artist specializing in illustration, painting, and ceramics… Read more »

Rafael Valdez Salomon will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on June 13, 2026, at Kol Ami Synagogue. He is the son of Shay and Nigel. Rafael is an avid reader, left wing on his soccer team, and green belt black stripe in Aikido. He enjoys acting in community… Read more »

Murray Leipzig aka Moshe David ben Shrage Fival v. Ettka Zipa aka MDL, passed away on Friday, June 5, 2026, before Shabbat. Murray lived eighty-one tremendous years full of accomplishment both professionally and personally. Murray grew up in Syracuse, New York. He lived and worked in hospital and medical… Read more »

Local faith leaders gathered at TJMHC on April 24, 2026, to discuss immigration and border issues in Southern Arizona. Photo: Lynn Davis

On April 24, the Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center hosted a half-day convening on immigration and border issues for local congregational clergy.… Read more »

From left: Fernanda Lagunas-Pachecho, Antonella Bonillas-Cruz, Kyla Chacon, Ezra Mandel, Abby Jeck, Razin Smith, Rep. Dan Goldman, Matthew Meislin, Nathanial Hirshman, Liam Sagar, Joaquin Lopez, Natalia Alejandro, and Jacqui Hoffman on Capitol Hill

For the students in this year’s Jewish Latino Teen Coalition, active shooter lockdown drills have long been a fact of life. “I’m not sure about preschool, necessarily, but I can 100% say elementary school,” says Ezra Mandel, a junior at Catalina Foothills High School who was one of the… Read more »

Mazal tov to Gil Ribak, Ph.D., who earlier this month was promoted to Full Professor and is now the Shirley D. Curson Professor of Judaic Studies and History at the School for Global Studies, University of Arizona. Also this month, Ribak won the Bernard Briskin Faculty Award for distinguished… Read more »

Pictured, from left: Leighton Jeffy, JPSA Director of Impact and Engagement Robyn Schwager, and THA Head of School Johanna Bork Shlomovich

Mazal tov to Leighton Jeffy, the 2026 Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA) Teacher Excellence Awardee. Jeffy is a Middle School Humanities teacher at THA. The THA Teacher Excellence Award Endowment was established in 2005 at the Jewish Community Foundation by THA parents Robyn Kessler and Martha Sampson z”l, who wanted… Read more »

The Dr. Sam Goldfein Memorial Award honors Dr. Sam Goldfein, whose leadership qualities and commitment to healing, patient advocacy, education, and clinical acumen had a significant impact on students at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and a positive influence on the practice of medicine in Southern Arizona.… Read more »

Handmaker resident Karen Green and Activity Assistant Ariana Canez visit vendor booths at the Handmaker Healthcare Fair on May 12, 2026. (Photo: Nanci Levy)

On Tuesday, May 12, Handmaker welcomed healthcare professionals, community partners, residents, families, and guests to a successful and informative Healthcare Fair held on campus — the first event of its kind at Handmaker in recent memory. The fair brought together a wide variety of healthcare providers and organizations, offering… Read more »

Stanley Lehman peacefully said his final goodbye on May 11, 2026, surrounded by family and encircled with love. He was born Oct. 13, 1929, in Brooklyn, NY, and moved his family to Tucson in 1970 with the hope of improving the health of his beloved wife Renaye (Ricki). They… Read more »

On June 12-13, Tucson will welcome a unique blend of music, spirituality, and Israeli creativity as the Fuchsberg Jerusalem Center’s Zamru Ensemble arrives for a musicians-in-residence Shabbat. The weekend promises an immersive experience of prayer, learning, and musical connection, rooted in a program that has become a powerful source… Read more »

The Pulse survey revealed that a majority of Jewish individuals in Soutthern Arizona are engaging with the Jewish community in some capacity, but there is opportunity to deepen engagement.

Most Jews in Southern Arizona say their Jewishness is meaningful to them. They have Jewish friends. They know where to find Jewish life if they look for it. Nearly half say they want to be more involved than they currently are. And only one in three says… Read more »

Judith Manelis

Some years ago, while working in Jewish communal service, I decided to go back to school and get a social work degree. I had worked for many years as a journalist and public relations executive, and later, as the executive director of a national agency. Although I had reached… Read more »

Nitay Bar, left, and Yuval Malka listen to speakers at their lehitraot party on May 6, 2026. (Photo: Phyllis Braun/AJP)

I’m sitting down to write my final communication as Southern Arizona’s senior community shlicha, and I honestly can’t believe the time has come. It feels like only yesterday that Nitay and I arrived here, but looking back at everything we’ve been through together, it also feels like a whole… Read more »

Benjamin Ball, an 18-year-old senior outfielder at Hamilton High School in Chandler, starts each day by wrapping tefillin with his father. He wears his Star of David necklace on and off the baseball diamond and says the Shema before each game. Ball, the fifth-rated Arizona high school senior baseball… Read more »