Local

Teen honored with Bryna Zehngut award

Sarah Schultz, right, presents the Bryna Zehngut Mitzvot Award to Sarah Cassius at the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona Women’s Philanthropy Connections brunch. (Martha Lochert)

The advisory council of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona Women’s Philanthropy awarded Sarah Cassius its ninth annual Bryna Zehngut Mitzvot Award at the annual Connections brunch on Sunday, Feb. 22. The award recognizes an outstanding Jewish teenage girl. The council, which includes past Womenís Philanthropy chairs and campaign… Read more »

Add beauty, whimsy to Passover table

Seder plates, kiddish cups and Elijah cups are among the Passover wares at Congregation Anshei Israel’s gift shop. (Korean Charnofsky Cohen)

Passover surrounds us with beauty. The spiritual concepts of struggle, freedom and renewal are timeless and universal. Our wishes for freedom include all people and not just Jews. Our family traditions keep the spirit alive and connect us to all the generations that have come before us. The cleaning… Read more »

THA tidbits: Passport to Peace event shines light on local, global nonprofits

Tucson Hebrew Academy fourth-grader Dahlia Tolby and art teacher Amy Pozez add tiles to the students’ peace wall mosaic.

Tucson Hebrew Academy students consistently learn how Jewish values help them make a difference in the world, and at the 8th annual Passport to Peace day on Jan. 28, everyone participated. THA students spent the afternoon visiting booths in the school courtyard to learn about a variety of service… Read more »

Men’s poker tournament will benefit school

The Young Men’s Group of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona will take over a private dining room at Sullivan’s Steakhouse, 1785 E. River Road, for its 5th Annual Poker Tournament on Tuesday, March 10, 5:30-8:30 p.m. All men ages 21+ are invited to play in the Texas Hold… Read more »

Scottsdale art fest destination for bus trip

The Northwest Division of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona will sponsor a bus trip to the Scottsdale Celebration of Fine Art on Wednesday, March 18. Participants can watch as 100 artists from around the world, including three Jewish artists, work in a variety of media, from painting and… Read more »

Award-winners will join Brandeis for Book & Author events

Daniel James Brown

Joe Rantz was dying. He was north of 90 years old, completely dependent on oxygen, and living in hospice care at his daughter Judy Willman’s house near Seattle when he met award-winning author Daniel James Brown. Brown, a neighbor of Willman’s, wasn’t looking for a book topic when he… Read more »

Eating disorders on the rise, says Jewish psychologist

Eating disorders are associated with a higher rate of mortality than any other mental illness, a fact that may not be widely known among the general population. As many as 20 percent of people suffering from anorexia will prematurely die from complications related to their disorder, according to a… Read more »

Art chronicles parents’ Holocaust journey

"Beshert" by Lisa Mishler

“L’Chayim — To Life,” an exhibit of new mixed-media work by local artist Lisa Mishler, is on display at the Tucson Jewish Community Center Fine Art Gallery through March 26. Rabbi Stephanie Aaron asked Mishler to paint this series inspired by the stories of Mishler’s parents, Holocaust survivors and… Read more »

Jewish sobriety group to meet at Bet Shalom

A weekly Jewish sobriety group will start on Tuesday, Feb. 24 from 7:30-9 p.m. at Congregation Bet Shalom, 3881 E. River Road. Group facilitator David Mack, who’s Jewish, notes that the group isn’t part of Alcoholics Anonymous, but will act as a similar support group for Jewish participants with… Read more »

Solomon to star in new Italian-Jewish comedy at Invisible Theatre

Steve Solomon in “Cannoli, Latkes & Guilt ... the therapy continues”

Invisible Theatre is bringing award-winning author/actor Steve Solomon back to Tucson in a new comedy, “Cannoli, Latkes & Guilt … the therapy continues.” The new show features such characters as Uncle Willie, stuttering Cousin Bob, demented Cousin Kenny, Steve’s new therapist Cousin Sal (and Sal’s parole officer). It combines… Read more »

‘Gatekeepers’ to perform at Hadassah Purim tea party

Hadassah Southern Arizona will hold a Hamantashen High Tea for men, women and children on Sunday, March 1 at 3 p.m. at Congregation Bet Shalom. Costumes are optional. Entertainment will be provided by The Gatekeepers, a musical family from Ironwood Hill Church. One of the group leaders is John… Read more »

Chofetz Chayim plans magic, music for Purim

Norm Marini

Congregation Chofetz Chayim will hold a Magical Purim Party II on Thursday, March 5 at 5 p.m., featuring award-winning magician and comedian Norm Marini. He is a past president of the Society of American Magicians. His honors include Close-Up Magician of the Year and three-time winner of Stage Magician… Read more »

Jane Lynch to showcase song stylings, wit at UA Hillel benefit

Jane Lynch

Fresh from her Emmy Award-winning portrayal of Sue Sylvester on “Glee” and her 2013 Broadway debut as Miss Hannigan in “Annie,” Jane Lynch will bring her comedic skills and musical talent to the University of Arizona’s Centennial Hall on Sunday, March 8 at 7 p.m. The evening, “See Jane… Read more »

Local woman is champion for mental health recovery

Mindy Bernstein, executive director of the Coyote Task Force, at Café 54 in downtown Tucson, a work training project for people with mental illness (Scott Greissel/Creatista)

Mindy Bernstein, executive director of the Coyote Task Force, a local behavioral health agency, landed in Tucson in 1976. She wasn’t sure then what her path would be, but she never imagined a career in mental health advocacy. “I’ve been working in public behavioral health since 1986,” Bernstein told… Read more »

JCF accepting applications for Israel trip scholarship

The Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona is accepting applications for the 2015 Goldman Family Israel Scholarship through March 11. The Elliot S. Goldman Family Israel Scholarship Fund and the Goldman Family Israel Scholarship Fund, both endowment funds held at JCF, together provide an annual Goldman Family Israel Scholarship… Read more »

On Israel mission, JFSA women strengthen ties

At the Ethiopian Cultural Center in Beit Shean, Israel, Nina Isaac (left) and Sandi Henderson watch as Lyana Rotstein, tour guide for the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona Women’s Philanthropy mission, and Chava Alamo display traditional breads. (Courtesy Melissa Goldfinger)

For Nina Isaac, the impact of spending 10 days in Israel with Jewish women from Tucson and around the United States was brought into sharp contrast after she spent the next three days in Dubai, training Muslim nurses. “It was a huge shift, being in Israel, the land of… Read more »

Coming to JFSA Connections: ‘Strength to Strength’ is personal

Sarri Singer

Sarri Singer has always been closely connected to her Jewish community, whe­ther in New Jersey, New York or Israel. On Sept. 11, 2001, at age 28, she was director of recruitment for the National Conference of Synagogue Youth summer programs, two blocks from Ground Zero. Since that date surviving… Read more »

Jewish Tucsonans expand social activism away from home

Molly Rothschild and Lutheran Volunteer Corps colleague Torrance Winder

Both Lonnie Kleinman and Molly Rothschild grew up immersed in Tucson’s Jewish community. But like many college graduates in their 20s, each felt compelled to broaden her life experience by leaving home, working with Jewish nonprofits in other parts of the country. Kleinman, 23, who attended Tucson Hebrew Academy… Read more »