The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona’s board development committee, chaired by Eric Schindler, has recommended the following slate of officers for the 2016-2017 program year: Tom Warne, chair of the board; Eric Schindler, vice chair/board development; Helaine Levy, vice chair; Jim Wezelman, treasurer/secretary; Kathryn Unger, immediate past chair. Also… Read more »
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Hashtag outreach: JFSA council gets update on attracting millennials
(L-R) Rachel Davenport, Max Baruch, Alyssa Silva, Julie Zorn and Avi Erbst at the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona council meeting March 29 at Temple Emanu-El.
(Karen Schaffner/AJP)
For local Jewish community organizations to reach and attract new members, specifically young Jewish adults, leaders must learn to use the tools of social media, such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat. That was the message of “A Whole New World … Engagement of Young Adults and Young Families,”… Read more »
Tucson J, Federation-NW teaming up for picnic
The Tucson Jewish Community Center and the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona’s Northwest Division will co-host a family outreach event, “Northwest Fun in the Sun Day,” on Sunday, April 10, from 1 p.m. to 4 , at Canada Del Oro Riverfront Park, 551 W. Lambert Lane in Oro Valley. The event will include… Read more »
Heins’ droll take on aging set for Brandeis tea
Marilyn Heins, M.D. The Tucson chapter of the Brandeis National Committee will hold a high tea and installation of officers at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6 at Skyline Country Club, 5200 E. St. Andrews Drive. Dr. Marilyn Heins will speak on “The Joy of Aging,” humorously addressing the disadvantages of growing… Read more »
UA dance concert to benefit Holocaust History Center
Amy Ernst’s “In the Shadow of the Dreamers” featuring members of the UA Dance Ensemble. (Ed Flores)
“In the Shadows of the Dreamers,” a dance commemorating the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, will be part of a University of Arizona School of Dance concert later this month to benefit the Holocaust History Center at the Jewish History Museum. The concert and reception will be… Read more »
Hadassah to hear tale of bravery, resilience
Talya Simha Fanger-Vexler Talya Simha Fanger-Vexler will be the featured speaker at a Hadassah Southern Arizona luncheon on Sunday, April 17, 11:30 a.m. at the Country Club of La Cholla. Fanger-Vexler will relate the story of courage and fortitude that took her from being injured as a passenger in a motorcycle crash… Read more »
Young Men’s Group poker tournament to aid PJ Our Way
The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona Young Men’s Group will host its sixth annual Men’s Poker Tournament on Sunday, April 17 from 5:30-8 p.m. at Reilly Craft Pizza and Drink, 101 E. Pennington St. Proceeds will benefit PJ Our Way in Southern Arizona, an extension of the PJ Library… Read more »
Nutrition class at Tucson J targets seniors
Cherry Tomatoes And Salad Leaves ,Close Up The Tucson Jewish Community Center will present a three-part Nutrition for Seniors series on Tuesdays, April 5, 12 and 19, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in the demonstration kitchen. Led by Mary Atkinson, R.D., director of wellness at Tucson Medical Center and Laurie Ledford, M.S., R.D., wellness dietician at TMC, each… Read more »
Noncompetitive family triathlon planned
The Tucson Jewish Community Center and Tucson Medical Center will host their second annual family triathlon on Sunday, April 17, starting at 8 a.m. The noncompetitive triathlon is designed for children and their adult mentors or families to enjoy together. Parents or other adult mentors can register to swim,… Read more »
Rabbis will compare beliefs at Handmaker lecture
(L-R) Rabbi Yossie Shemtov, Rabbi Thomas Louchheim and Rabbi Robert Eisen
Three Tucson rabbis representing three streams of Judaism will participate in “This I Believe,” part of the rabbi lecture series at Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging, on Sunday, April 10, from 3:30-5 p.m. in the great room at Handmaker. Rabbi Yossi Shemtov of Congregation Young Israel-Chabad, Rabbi Thomas… Read more »
Taking comedy seriously: Morril to headline Men’s Night Out
Sam Morril
When comedian Sam Morril encounters a heckler, something that happens when he performs on the road, he knows he has to tread carefully at first. He wants to make sure the crowd knows there’s a problem. “We notice the problem in the room way before the room does,” Morril… Read more »
UA Judaic Studies to host Amb. Ross for Mideast update
Dennis Ross As a former U.S. Middle East peace negotiator, Dennis Ross understands why ISIS continues to get recruits, even though those recruits know they will die soon and violently. “It appeals to those who feel completely disaffected; it appeals to those who are alienated, who feel left out. They create… Read more »
Matza & More brings seder supplies to families in need
L-R) Gail Ben-Jamin, Ben Siegel and Ester Siegel pack Passover bags at Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona in 2014.
The Matza & More program sponsored by Jewish Family & Children’s Services brings Passover bags to Tucson-area residents who otherwise could not afford food and other items for a seder. From children to seniors, volunteers find significant connections in this longstanding program. Gary Cohen’s two sons, Grant, 11, and… Read more »
Sharing their blessings by doing for others
Vida and Eliot Barron outside the Jewish Federation Northwest office (Anne Lowe)
Vida and Eliot Barron have not wasted a minute since they started coming to Tucson 19 winters ago in 1998. Motivated by all of the blessings they have had in their 57 years of marriage, the bottom line for them is to share good things with people who need… Read more »
Handmaker Shabbats chance to honor elders
Mel Cohen Volunteering to lead Shabbat and holiday services for the residents of Handmaker began as a way for Mel Cohen to give back to the assisted living facility where his father was a resident, but 22 years later, Cohen continues to lead services as a way to connect to Jewish… Read more »
Groundbreaking actress will help JFCS celebrate 75th year
Marlee Matlin
Marlee Matlin made history in 1987 when she won an Academy Award for “Children of a Lesser God,” becoming the only deaf person to win an Oscar and, at 21, the youngest recipient of the Best Actress award. She owes much of that record-breaking achievement to her Jewish upbringing,… Read more »
Evening with Israeli dancers at UA planned
The Arizona Center for Judaic Studies and the University of Arizona School of Dance will present “An Evening with Yaniv Abraham & Guy Shomroni” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 31 at the Stevie Eller Dance Theatre, 1737 E. University Blvd. The event is free and open to the… Read more »
Couples facing cancer topic for Maimonides
Amy Hirshberg Lederman When her husband, Ray, was diagnosed with terminal cancer in late 2011, award-winning local author and columnist Amy Hirshberg Lederman says that they decided as a family to live with “no regrets.” It was three years, seven months, and six days later that Ray passed away as a result… Read more »
Fair will offer local resources for aging well
Rabbi William Cutter An information fair for Jewish seniors, families and friends will be held Sunday, April 3, 1-5 p.m. at Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging. The fair will cover topics from health and wellness to financial and legal matters, says Rabbi Sandy Seltzer, chair of the Senior Task Force, which… Read more »
Sanders to hold second Tucson rally March 18
Bernie Sanders, the first Jewish presidential candidate to win a primary contest, will hold a rally tonight at 7:30 p.m. at the Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave. His visit comes days before the Arizona Presidential Preference election on Tuesday, March 22. Doors open at 4:30 p.m. Tickets… Read more »



