13 graduates completed their prerequisites in both Judaic and secular studies and graduated from Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA) on May 18, 2022, 17 Iyar 5782. For the first time in three years, the ceremony returned home to Amster Auditorium on the THA campus after an online graduation for the… Read more »
When I was accepted into the Jewish Latino Teen Coalition (JLTC) in December of last year, I didn’t really know what I was in for. I knew it was going to be somewhat related to politics, culture, and advocacy, but at the time I saw it as a minor… Read more »
In the next five years, our incredible UArizona Hillel will double its staff and triple its revenue so that we can quintuple our student engagement. These goals are lofty but totally achievable. This academic year alone we doubled our pre-COVID engagement numbers, and as we continue to focus on… Read more »
Handmaker was a hive of activity, celebrations and opportunities for learning during the month of April, with even more happening in May. Passover dominated a big part of the month with preparation, planning, and eventually celebrating, with festive and delicious Seders both nights, led by Rabbi Richard Safran and… Read more »
A new exhibit, “Here at Our Sunset Gates: The Life and Legacy of Rose Silver,” has opened at the Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center (TJMHC). Rose Sosnowski Silver was a Jewish immigrant from Vienna, Austria, who became the second woman to graduate from the University of Arizona College… Read more »
After two consecutive years of having to cancel their trip to Israel due to Covid, Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA) has resumed the trip this year, and their 8th graders are having a blast! They arrived in Israel on Erev Yom HaZikaron (the eve of Israel’s Memorial Day) and joined… Read more »
As the crisis unfolds in Ukraine, the University of Arizona is offering unprecedented real-time online access to human rights practitioners who are actively working within Ukraine and neighboring countries. Connecting live via Zoom, these frontline activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens are documenting human rights abuses, assisting refugees and displaced… Read more »
More than one hundred Southern Arizona community members gathered in-person and virtually at the J, April 5, for a Together in Jewish Learning event. The evening began with a presentation by keynote speaker Aaron Henne. Henne is the Artistic Director of theatre dybbuk, a company whose work focuses… Read more »
At the heart of UArizona Hillel’s mission is to help students develop a vibrant, diverse, meaningful, and empowered Jewish community here on campus. The way that mission comes to life during Passover is to take direction from students, and to have a wide variety of programming and access points,… Read more »
On April 1, the Tucson Jewish Community Center (The J) welcomed long-standing, local non-profit Arts for All Inc., to the organization under the umbrella of its Disability Program Services department. For 36 years, under the outstanding leadership of Executive Director Marcia Berger, Arts for All, Inc. has been serving… Read more »
Over the last week of March, at the Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA), we honored our 1st and 2nd graders by celebrating Hagigat HaSefer (the celebration of the book). During Hagigat HaSefer, our young students received their very first Siddur (prayer book), signaling the beginning of a lifelong love of… Read more »
The Tucson Jewish Community will commemorate Yom HaShoah 2022 with over a week’s worth of events including a film screening, lectures and ceremonies. The theme of the commemorations is Remember, Honor & Learn. The events begin with a virtual screening of “Winter Journey,” available Sunday, April 17-Sunday, 24. A… Read more »
When Josephine Marcus ran away from home in 1880, it is hard to imagine just how shocked her California-based parents must have felt. Teenage Josephine dreamt of becoming an actress and a dancer. These weren’t exactly the plans made by her Jewish immigrant family and Hollywood didn’t yet exist.… Read more »
Adar was a busy month at Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA)! THA, together with the JCC and Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona (JPSA) collected food for the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona in the Chai (18) days leading to Purim! Mishloach Manot : משלוח מנות , also called a… Read more »
Purim is a Jewish holiday that is all about fun, celebration, a good story and of course, hamantashen! Handmaker residents got plenty of all of that this year. The celebrations began the Tuesday before Purim, when a bus loaded with the Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA) 8th grade class arrived… Read more »
Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona (JFCS) will present a free Zoom workshop, “Love Should Not Hurt: Teen Dating Abuse 101,” On Tuesday, March 29th, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Teen dating violence can be physical, emotional, or sexual. Teens often think some behaviors, like teasing, possessiveness,… Read more »
The Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona (JPSA) is pleased to announce Together in Jewish Learning on Tuesday, April 5th at the J and via Zoom, with keynote speaker Aaron Henne. Henne is the Artistic Director of theater dybbuk, an arts and education organization whose work illuminates universal human experience… Read more »
After more than two years of planning and collaboration, the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona (JFSA) and the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona (JCF) have integrated into a single operating entity. The new organization shall be known as the Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona (JPSA). … Read more »
Lori Shepherd After an extensive and rigorous search, the Board of Directors of the Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center is pleased to announce that Lori Shepherd has accepted the position of Executive Director, effective March 16, 2022. Lori is the former Executive Director of the El Paso Holocaust Museum &… Read more »
Angela Salmon has been leading seniors on adventures in the Tucson community for more than ten years with the Handmaker Adventure Bus program. This innovative program is designed for people experiencing the early stages of diminished memory capacity, and as a respite option for caregivers. Bi-weekly social and cultural… Read more »
