News

After Lobbying in D.C., Jewish Latino Teen Coalition Cohort Petitions to do More

Each spring, Tucson’s Jewish Latino Teen Coalition (JLTC) heads to Washington, D.C., to lobby lawmakers on a topic they’ve chosen and spent months researching. JLTC convenes 10 to 12 high school sophomores and juniors annually to foster multicultural understanding and political advocacy. Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona and U.S.… Read more »

New TJMHC Exhibit Explores the Complexities of Witnessing Violence

On Wednesday, October 23, Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center (TJMHC) hosted an opening reception of the Allen & Marianne Langer Contemporary Human Rights Exhibit. The new exhibit is titled Witnessing Violence: Help or Harm? Witnessing Violence examines the uses and abuses of images from violent atrocities, particularly… Read more »

Inside Project Isaiah and the Community Food Bank’s Impact

Each fall, the Southern Arizona Jewish community comes together to donate non-perishable food items, filling bins across local synagogues and Jewish agencies for the Project Isaiah High Holiday food drive. These contributions are then delivered to the Community Food Bank (CFB), where they are distributed throughout Southern Arizona to… Read more »

Even Through a Window, Birding Offers Connection to Natural World

Birds are wild animals that are accessible to everyone, everywhere,” says Dan Weisz. The Tucson native rediscovered his love of birding, or birdwatching, when he retired eleven years ago from a career as a public school administrator. Exploring new or bygone pursuits in retirement reminds Weisz of being in… Read more »

At 100 and 99, Murray and Honey Manson are Going Strong

It probably wasn’t his old jogging habit that helped Murray Manson reach age 100 in August. That just ruined his knees, he says. Murray, who now walks with a cane, attributes his longevity to luck. His wife, Honey, suspects it may have something to do with eating a healthier… Read more »

Israel Needs a Hostage Deal Now, Says Former Jerusalem Post Editor

“There is a dire and urgent need to get as many hostages out of Gaza as swiftly as humanly possible,” says Avi Mayer, a top pro-Israel commentator. “The majority of Israelis feel at this point there is almost no cost too high to bring back those hostages who are… Read more »

On UA Campus, Groups Aim to Counter Anti-Israel Protests with Jewish Pride

As anti-Israel protests heat up again on college campuses across the U.S., Jewish groups at the University of Arizona are focused on helping students take pride in their Jewish identities. Classes began at the UA on Aug. 26, and the first week of the semester was peaceful. “The administration… Read more »

Tucson J Board Members and Leadership Revisit the Past and Look Toward the Future to Create Solidarity in the Face of Adversity

The Tucson J has always been a cornerstone of our local Jewish community, serving as a vibrant town square where individuals and families of all identities and backgrounds come together. The last 300+ days since October 7 have presented a stark reminder that the work of the JCC Movement… Read more »

JCRC: Building Bridges in Support of a Resilient Democracy

Recently, I joined Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) colleagues from around the country for a one-day summit in New York City. The event was hosted by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) and the topic was Coalition & Bridge Building, Post-October 7. The presenters – an outstanding group… Read more »

At Tucson J, Israeli Camp Counselors Keep Focus on Fun, Not War

At a Jewish Agency for Israel training this April for American Jewish summer camp directors and prospective Israeli counselors, also known as summer shlichim (emissaries), the slogan was “Now More Than Ever.” JAFI staff joked that the catchphrase is used for everything, even insurance companies, says Robin Kelley, director… Read more »

United Against Hate Takeaway: Reporting Key to Combating Hate Crimes

If you experience or witness antisemitism or an incident that might be a hate crime, don’t hesitate to report it. That message was repeated over and over at a United Against Hate event that drew about 150 people to the Tucson Jewish Community Center on June 18. United States… Read more »

Do You Have a Curious, Compassionate, and Inquisitive Child? Begin Here.

Celebrating 50 years of excellence, Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA) is the choice for parents seeking a premier and personalized education for their children from kindergarten through 8th grade. THA’s small class sizes and impressive 9:1 student-teacher ratio demonstrates our commitment to excellence – and our ability to… Read more »

Tucson Bike Trip Benefits Israeli Amputees

A group of elite bike riders from all over the United States and Israel descended on Tucson from May 30 to June 3. The 100-plus riders were here for more than an epic cycling adventure. They were participants in The Next Ride, an annual fundraiser for The Next Step,… Read more »

Artzi to Lead JPSA Board

For Jeff Artzi, it’s all about engagement. And hard work. And fun. Artzi, a Jewish community volunteer for more than 30 years, was installed as the chair of Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona at its Board of Trustees meeting on May 9. Before outlining priorities for his term, Artzi… Read more »

Shlicha’s View: Shavuot in the Moshav

Many know that I was born and raised in a moshav in the Golan Heights, northern Israel. But what does a moshav actually mean? According to Wikipedia, a moshav is “a type of Israeli village or town or Jewish settlement, in particular a type of cooperative agricultural community of… Read more »

Master Gardener Lev Metz Helps Students, Community Cultivate Sonoran Desert

Growing up in Los Angeles, Lev Metz preferred hands-on activities such as building the family sukkah to sitting in synagogue. Always a good student, he came to appreciate traditional text study alongside experiential education. He earned master’s degrees in Jewish education and Jewish communal service from Hebrew Union College-Jewish… Read more »

TJMHC to Host Conference to Educate Southern Arizona Educators

In mid-June, Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center (TJMHC) will hold a two-day conference designed to empower Southern Arizona educators to teach the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides. This in-person conference is presented in partnership with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Community of Holocaust Education Centers… Read more »

For JFCS Clients, Abortion Restrictions Can Add to Trauma

Reproductive rights have been a key topic of discussion for clients of Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona (JFCS) since June 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion that had been law since the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, says Lily Hanscom,… Read more »

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