Local

From WWII to refuseniks, mom’s journals reveal active life

Tucsonan Paul Rubin with journals written by his mother, Roz Kaufmann, and a copy of his compilation, “In Her Own Words: A Life Well Lived” (Photo: Brenda Stosberg-Rubin)

Imagine Paul Rubin’s surprise when he found a suitcase full of journals penned by his mother, Roz Kaufmann, dating back to 1944. Kaufmann was 79 and suffered from dementia when her son found the journals in 2004. She died two years later at age 81. “All of a sudden… Read more »

CAI to show works by Israeli photojournalist

Micha Bar-Am

Congregation Anshei Israel’s 10th annual observance of Yom Yerushalayim — celebrating the 45th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem — will feature an exhibition of 10 works by Micha Bar-Am, a renowned Israeli photojournalist. Bar-Am, who is best known for his coverage of the Six-Day War in 1967, has… Read more »

Rabbi, Secular Humanists to explore Torah

Rabbi Miri Fleiming

The Secular Humanist Jewish Circle will sponsor a lecture, “Torah as Mythology,” by Rabbi Miri Fleming, Ph.D., on Saturday, May 19, from 2-4:30 p.m. at the Dusenberry-River Library, 5605 E. River Road (at Craycroft). Fleming will address the question of what the Torah, or five books of Moses, is… Read more »

Listen to patients, doctor/novelist Abraham Verghese says at Cindy Wool seminar

Abraham Verghese, M.D.

In this age of high-tech medicine compassion can often be neglected, but the annual Cindy Wool Memorial Seminar helps provide a remedy for healthcare professionals in Tucson. The third seminar and dinner on humanism in medicine, held March 28 at the Marriott University Park Hotel, sought to support physicians… Read more »

Mental illness focus of faith leaders’ conference

Interfaith Community Services will host a conference, “Faith Communities and Mental Illness: Tools for Response and Care,” on Friday, April 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Philips in the Hills Episcopal Church. Created in response to the Jan. 8, 2011 shooting tragedy in Tucson, this “first… Read more »

Year in Tucson gives Israeli journalist new perspective

Alon Velan

Alon Velan, an Israeli reporter and editor at the Israel Broad­casting Authority, wasn’t sure what to expect on his leave of absence in Tucson. Here for a year with his wife, Hadas, who has a postdoctoral fellowship in psychology at the University of Arizona, and their two young children,… Read more »

Hasbara program boosts UA student’s passion for Israel

University of Arizona freshman Molly Katz Simon, right, with University of Texas at Austin student Tracy Frydberg, in Jerusalem. (Jeni Willenzik)

University of Arizona freshman Molly Katz Simon was the only Arizonan selected to participate in Hasbara Fellowships’ activism training program in Israel over winter break. One of 80 American students who spent more than two weeks traveling through Israel, meeting with leaders in business, politics, religion and social activism,… Read more »

Israel 64 Festival invites Tucsonans to ‘Celebrate Jerusalem’

Israeli flags fly from the balcony of the Tucson Jewish Community Center at last year’s Israel Festival. (Marty Johnston, TJCC)

The Weintraub Israel Center will be taking the Israel 64 Festival to the next level, literally and figuratively. Guy Gelbart, Israel Center director and community shaliach (emissary from Israel), explains that this year’s festival, which will be held May 6 from 1 to 6 p.m., will use both floors… Read more »

After 40 years in Tucson, Israel beckons Karsches

Carol Karsch, who is retiring after 23 years as executive director of the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona, with her husband, Dan, at the Foundation’s 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Endowment Book of Life on Feb. 7. (Martha Lochert)

Carol Karsch has wanted to live in Israel since she was 10 years old, when she began learning about the Jewish state at a synagogue in the small town of Norristown, Pa. Now Karsch, who will step down next month after 23 years at the helm of the Jewish… Read more »

A survivor’s son finds hope after Holocaust

The cover of artist Stan Lebovic’s book reads “Black is a Color, by a survivor’s son.” But in his search for meaning in the aftermath of the Holocaust, “I don’t focus on the negativity,” Lebovic promises. Instead, he finds hope and inspiration in the resilience of the Jewish people.… Read more »

Federation think tank seeks community input

Members of the Jewish community are invited to attend “Think Tank 2020” on Wednesday, May 2, from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. The event, convened by the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona, will launch a strategic planning process to explore issues of importance to… Read more »

JFSA will award ‘Feddys’ at annual meeting

Marilyn Einstein

The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona will hold its annual meeting and awards celebration on Thurs­day, May 10 at 7 p.m. at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. “Feddys,” the custom metal and glass awards designed by Lynne Rae Lowe for the Federation, and other awards will be given to… Read more »

Student rabbi to lead Bet Shalom weekend

Adam Rubin

Adam Rubin, Ph.D., a rabbinic student from the Ziegler School of Rabbinical Studies in Los Angeles, will lead services at Congregation Bet Shalom during the weekend of May 4-6. Rubin will lead Friday evening services at 6 p.m., which will be followed by a dinner, and will participate in… Read more »

JFSA announces staff changes, promotions

Rebecca Goodman, director of leadership development of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona, has announced that she will be leaving Tucson and her position at the Federation in December 2012. She and her husband, Ted, will be moving to Indiana where he will be taking a position as assistant… Read more »

Via donor funds, JCF awards 13 grants in Tucson, Israel

The Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona has announced its 2012 grants. The William and Doris Rubin Endowment Fund, which focuses on helping those in need move toward self-sufficiency, played a pivotal role in this year’s grants, providing about 80 percent of total funding available. Over the past five… Read more »

Yom Hazikaron service to honor fallen Israelis

The Weintraub Israel Center will hold its annual Yom Hazikaron memorial service in honor of fallen Israeli soldiers and victims of terror on Wednesday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. The program will include an honor guard from the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, prayers,… Read more »

Lightman foundation seeks grant applications

The Steven A. Lightman Family Foundation has announced its 2012 call for grants. The Lightman Foundation is a supporting foundation of the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona. Qualifying organizations are nonprofits whose services and programs make a difference in people’s lives. Organizations may be from Tucson or around… Read more »

Handmaker plans life-long learning series

Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging will present monthly events celebrating life-long learning in May, June and July. The program will kick off with “Between the Lines: A Conversation with Local Authors” on Thursday, May 10 at 1:30 p.m. Sheila Wilensky, associate editor of the Arizona Jewish Post, will… Read more »

Women to craft Beads of Courage bracelets

Women’s Philanthropy of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona will hold a “BEad Inspired” night of fun, social action and tasty treats on Wednesday, May 2 at 7 p.m. at the home of Melissa Goldfinger. Participants can make a bracelet for Beads of Courage and one for themselves or… Read more »

Task force creates survey on disability needs

The Senior Task Force of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona has changed its name to Task Force for Jewish Seniors and Adults with Disabilities. The task force has created a survey to assess the needs and interests of local Jewish adults with disabilities, which will be online through… Read more »