Local

The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona proposes amendments to its constitution, which will be voted upon by its membership at its annual meeting, May 11 at 7 p.m. at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. As required by the constitution, these changes are available for review at jfsa.org/constitutionamendments. It is… Read more »

Rabbi Stephanie Aaron

In conjunction with Jewish Family & Children’s Services, Beth Shalom Temple Center in Green Valley will present a free ethical will workshop for the Jewish community, led by Rabbi Stephanie Aaron, on Tuesday, May 9, 10 a.m.-noon. Unlike a medical directive or living will, or a will detailing bequests… Read more »

Sophie Loeb

Sophie Loeb, a second-year medical student at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, has a strong commitment to care for those in her own backyard. Loeb is the 2017 recipient of the Shirley Curson Medical Scholarship from the UA Hillel Foundation. The scholarship recognizes the commitment… Read more »

The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona will hold a panel discussion on the immigration crisis in Southern Arizona at its Spring Leaders Forum on Friday, April 28. The breakfast event will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, with the… Read more »

In recent years, Tucson’s community-wide celebration of Israel’s Independence Day had grown from a one-day festival to a week of Tucson Celebrates Israel events. This year, in partnership with local congregations, the Weintraub Israel Center has orchestrated a month of events, beginning April 21, celebrating Israel’s 69 years of… Read more »

Why shouldn’t we care about other people, Michael J. Rosenkrantz asks rhetorically, adding that he refuses to live a selfish lifestyle.  “I feel like it’s really important to think about the larger community, and it’s not just the Jewish community — it’s bigger,” says Rosenkrantz. “But in the Jewish… Read more »

Rina Paz has been visiting Hazel Rappeport, a resident at Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging, for three months. Once in a while Paz says something in English and Rappeport is quick to remind her that they are supposed to be speaking only Hebrew. Nanci Levy, community outreach coordinator… Read more »

Tucsonan Shari Gootter spends her time changing the lives of others in a wide variety of ways. Self-employed as a therapist and yoga instructor, she works daily to help people as they improve themselves emotionally and physically; however, her work as a volunteer for several organizations in Tucson is… Read more »

Cantor Avraham Alpert

Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona and the LEAH program will present two free talks in the Shalom in Every Home Healthy Family Lecture Series, April 23 and 30, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Tucson Jewish Community Center.  On Sunday, April 23, Avraham Alpert, spiritual leader of… Read more »

The key to overcoming obstacles is setting a goal, says Adam Greenberg, a former major league baseball player and motivational speaker. “No matter what’s going on, always persevere and always get up, because that’s why we were given the opportunity we have to live and have the life we… Read more »

The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona’s board governance committee, chaired by Eric Schindler, has recommended the following slate of officers for the 2017-2018 program year: Shelly Silverman, chair of the board; Eric Schindler, vice chair/board development; Deborah Oseran, vice chair; Ben Silverman, treasurer/secretary; Tom Warne, immediate past chair. Also… Read more »

Congregation Or Chadash will hold a fundraiser, “Revvin’ It Up,” an evening at Wayne’s Toys — Tucson’s Auto Museum on Saturday, April 29 at 6 p.m. Set amid the classic cars, the evening will feature a DJ playing car tunes and music for dancing, a beer tasting and hosted… Read more »

Beth Shalom Temple Center will hold a musical open house for current and prospective members, “A Concert of Famous Jewish Songwriters & Composers,” on Sunday, April 30 at 2 p.m.  BSTC is located at 1751 N. Rio Mayo in Green Valley. Along with their music, the concert will feature… Read more »

Artists from the Many Hands Courtyard and the Tucson Artist Cooperative are joining for a show, “Groovin’ Together,” at the Tucson Jewish Community Center Fine Arts Gallery from April 21-May 30, with a reception on April 23 from 3-5 p.m. Two local Jewish artists are among the 10 women… Read more »

Something Something Theatre is presenting “Dov and Ali” by award-winning playwright Anna Ziegler, through April 23 at the Community Playhouse, 1881 N. Oracle Road. In “Dov and Ali,” a Jewish high school teacher and his Muslim student, sparked by their studies of “The Lord of the Flies” by William… Read more »

In addition to its traditional Second Night Seder on April 11, Temple Emanu-El will celebrate the Passover holiday this year in an intimate setting with the “Janos Wilder Passover Extraordinary Experience” on Saturday, April 15 at the Carriage House, 125 South Arizona Avenue, Tucson at 6 pm. Named the… Read more »

From the Catholic Church, to occupied Europe and the United States, the world failed to prevent the Holocaust because they were too vested in their own interests, Peter Hayes, a former professor at Northwestern University, told about 40 people who packed the Holocaust History Center at the Jewish History… Read more »

Shai Feldman

Shai Feldman, a professor of politics at Brandeis University, believes President Donald J. Trump could broker a deal that ends the Arab/Israeli conflict, because the most contentious issues contradict a golden rule of negotiation. “In the Arab/Israeli conflict the devil is not in the details, in the Arab/Israeli conflict… Read more »

If your heart longs to visit Israel, but time doesn’t allow, consider the opportunity to bring a vibrant piece of Israel to your home. The Shinshinim Young Ambassadors Program sends Israeli high school graduates to communities all over the world to work in Jewish educational and cultural institutions (see… Read more »

Hosting the annual Partnership2Gether leadership mission in Tucson this year was ambitious and quite successful, says Oshrat Barel, director of the Weintraub Israel Center. Six partnership delegates from Israel, Tucson delegates and local community stakeholders spent a week, from Feb. 26-March 5, discussing the program, its strengths and ways… Read more »