Local

Famed rabbi Joseph Telushkin to launch JFSA 2011 Campaign

Rabbi Joseph Telushkin

Rabbi Joseph Telushkin, named by Talk magazine as one of the 50 best speakers in the United States, will be the keynote speaker at the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona’s Campaign Kickoff event on Wednesday, Nov. 17 at Congregation Anshei Israel at 7:15 p.m. The author of “Jewish Literacy:… Read more »

‘Jews and Baseball’ to usher in new JCC screen

The Tucson International Jewish Film Festival will present a sneak preview of “Jews and Baseball: An American Love Story” on Sunday, Nov. 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. The festival runs Jan. 20-30, 2011. “Jews and Baseball” explores the contributions of Jewish major… Read more »

JCF chosen to build community endowments

Through a new community-wide partnership, the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona is leading a program that will help local Jewish agencies and synagogues work together to build endowment funding. The Foundation is one of five organizations chosen nationally to participate in the new Areivim Legacy Community Project. This… Read more »

Foundation renews Israel Scholarship Grant

The Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona will offer a second annual Israel Scholarship Grant, providing up to $2,500 for one trip to Israel. Any non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status that is sponsoring an individual or group trip to Israel may apply for the Goldman Family Israel Scholarship Grant.… Read more »

Matzah ball quest to spice up Jewish food fair

A Guinness Book of World Records attempt at the world’s largest matzah ball will be a highlight of the third annual Jewish Food Festival & Family Fun Fair on Sunday, Nov. 7. The event will be held at Brandi Fenton Memorial Park, 3482 E. River Road, from 11 a.m.… Read more »

Secular world to inform youth mitzvah day

Congregations Or Chadash, Chaverim, and Anshei Israel will hold a community Youth Mitzvah Day on Sunday, Oct. 31, combining their religious school studies. The event, open to all Jewish students from pre-K through 8th grade, will be held at Congregation Or Chadash from 9:30 a.m. to noon. The theme… Read more »

Music, joy core of new Renewal congregation

Rabbi Shafir Lobb

A focus on blending heart and mind brings a new congregation to Tucson. Congregation Kol Simchah (voice of joy) will hold its first Friday night Shabbat service and dinner on Nov. 19. “Born of the seed of Ner Tamid,” says Rabbi Shafir Lobb, the new Renewal congregation has emerged… Read more »

UA’s Dever returns for free lecture, fundraiser

William G. Dever

William G. Dever, professor emeritus of the Arizona Center for Judaic Studies at the University of Arizona, will deliver a Shaol Pozez memorial lecture, “The Lives of Ordinary People in Ancient Israel: Where the Bible and Archaeology Intersect” on Monday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. at the Tucson Jewish… Read more »

JFSA leaders embrace LEAF, ‘Tzedakah Tree’

In response to unprecedented requests for economic assistance from Jewish Tucsonans, the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona has launched the Local Emergency Assistance Fund to provide assistance with housing costs, food, job placement and more. While pledges to the Federation campaign traditionally are unrestricted, the Federation board is allowing… Read more »

JFSA grants support additional senior programs

The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona has awarded grants to five local Jewish agencies and synagogues to create programs for Jewish seniors that will focus on transportation needs, helping seniors stay in their homes, and counseling services. Jewish Family & Children’s Services has received a grant to assist low-income… Read more »

New Jewish Elder Access project launched

Irene Lloyd

Jewish seniors who are new to Tucson, need transportation or other resources, or want to improve their job skills, can now call Irene Lloyd, coordinator of JEA (Jewish Elder Access) for assistance at 404-4596. JEA, which started on Aug. 2, was created under the auspices of the Jewish Federation… Read more »

Jewish History Museum time capsule is window to Tucson’s past, future

U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords prepares to open the Jewish History Museum’s time capsule Oct. 24. (Madeline Friedman/Jewish History Museum)

Hundreds of people crowded around the courtyard of the Jewish History Museum on Sunday to witness the opening of a 100-year-old time capsule. The capsule had been placed under the cornerstone of the building, originally the Stone Avenue Temple, when it was built in 1910. The building was the… Read more »

Photo exhibit at JCC celebrates THA kids’ love of learning

A photographic exhibit by Tucson Hebrew Academy, “The Art of Making a Difference,” is on display at the Tucson Jewish Community Center’s Fine Art Gallery through the end of the month. Established for THA’s Tikkun Olam event on Oct. 24 honoring Tucson’s rabbis, the exhibit “is a celebration of… Read more »

THA tidbits: Lecturer illumines Hebrew origins

Rabbi Eliezer Ben-Yehuda enlightened Tucson Hebrew Academy middle school students about the origins of modern spoken Hebrew in a lecture at the school on Monday, Oct. 4. “My grandfather wanted to teach Hebrew as a living language so you could go to the store and buy a Coke,” Ben-Yehuda,… Read more »

Jewish thrift store moves to bigger, better location

The used book section at the 1st-Rate 2nd-Hand Thrift Store

The 1st-Rate 2nd-Hand Thrift Store has moved to new, bigger digs at 5851 E. Speedway Blvd., but the extra 2,000 square feet of space is only part of the improvement, says manager Amy Sandler-Stuchen. The interior of the new store, which is just a few blocks east of the… Read more »

JCRC issues statement against Prop. 302

The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona has issued a position statement in opposition to Proposition 302 on the 2010 Arizona ballot. The statement notes that in 2009, the JCRC chose to focus its social justice efforts on the needs of local youth at… Read more »

Election 2010: Local candidates discuss immigration, Israel

In advance of the Nov. 2 elections, the Arizona Jewish Post sent questions to the Arizona candidates for U.S. Senate and the local candidates for the U.S. House of Representatives. Here are their unedited responses. U.S. Senate Rodney Glassman, Democrat Q: Given the controversy generated by Arizona SB 1070,… Read more »

Harvard professor to lead Holocaust teachers event

An inservice workshop, “Teaching the Holocaust through Diaries, Personal Correspondence and Memoir,” with Harvard professor Susan R. Suleiman, will be held on Thursday, Oct. 28 from 4 to 8 p.m. at the University of Arizona Poetry Center, 1508 E. Helen St. Suleiman is C. Douglas Dillon professor of the… Read more »

Gala dinner will highlight Taste of Israel week

Clara Davidov, in traditional Bukharan costume, participated in last year’s “Israel Ethnic Epi­curian Gala.” (Photo courtesy of Sue Schergin)

The second annual “Israel Ethnic Epicurean Gala,” sponsored by the TIPS (Tucson, Israel, Phoenix and Seattle) partnership, will be held Nov. 3 with food prepared by nine ethnically diverse Israeli women from our Partnership 2000 region of Kiryat Malachi and Hof Ashkelon. The women, who will spend a week… Read more »