Some may be surprised to learn that Jews have been active in Tucson’s political, commercial, and cultural life for nearly 200 years. Today, that heritage continues, and includes a contemporary group of local musicians that has been gathering weekly for more than a decade to play the unique Jewish… Read more »
A recent segment of NBC’s “Chicago Med” began with the story of a crowd watching a clearly disturbed young man in the midst of a psychiatric incident so severe that he was unable to recognize his own mother or his surroundings. The doctor (a former police officer) who arrived… Read more »
Richard “Dick” Belkin Tucson Hebrew Academy will honor Richard “Dick” Belkin at its 2021 Tikkun Olam Celebration next month. The virtual celebration will be held Sunday, November 7, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. Dick and his wife, Sherry, moved to Tucson in 1989. They found a welcoming Jewish community in which they have… Read more »
Aaron Rottenstein In their October issue, Forbes Magazine announced that Aaron Rottenstein has been named one of America’s top 500 Next-Gen Wealth Managers of 2021. Aaron is the only Tucsonan to make the list. Quoting from Forbes selection for the Top NextGen Advisors: “There’s a reason millions of families are entrusting… Read more »
The 3,100 employees of Cox Arizona today announce grant donations of $80K to 21 Southern Arizona nonprofit education, diversity and environment and sustainability programs during a difficult time. This marks the 25th year that Cox Arizona employees, through Cox Charities, have raised funds to help the communities in which… Read more »
Longtime Southern Arizona Jewish community member Boris Kozolchyk was recently nominated for a Nobel Prize for his extensive work addressing international economic justice. Among the distinguished organizations and individuals that nominated him are the University of Rio de la Plata and the Argentine Comparative Law Association. “Having worked with… Read more »
Tucson-native and UArizona student, David Lex, wrote a longform article about the life of Rabbi Philip Lewkowicz, known to our community affectionately as “Rabbi Billy,” for his journalism class. In it, David describes Rabbi Billy’s journey to spiritual discovery and teaching, as well as how he came to call… Read more »
Families with young children have faced unique challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Southern Arizona Jewish community agencies and synagogues are proud to be able to provide a variety of resources to support these families, from the beginning of the pandemic and as it has evolved over time. Among… Read more »
The Jewish History Museum and Holocaust History Center (JHM/HHC) is welcoming visitors back to its campus with advance registration, beginning Oct. 7. The Jewish History Museum is housed in the oldest synagogue in the Arizona Territory, which was built in 1910, and tells the story of the Jewish presence… Read more »
Handmaker residents began the Jewish New Year of 5782 with a beautiful and festive meal together on Erev Rosh Hashanah in the Great Room at Handmaker. We were all grateful to be able to eat and celebrate the start of what we hope we will be a better new… Read more »
Retired Tucson Fire Department Assistant Chief Michael “Mike” McKendrick Retired Tucson Fire Department Assistant Chief Michael “Mike” McKendrick was inducted into the Arizona Fire Service Hall of Fame on Sept. 9. Mike worked for Tucson Fire for more than 30 years and, upon retirement, founded the Greater Tucson Fire Foundation (GTFF). The GTFF provides firefighters with health and… Read more »
Greek Jewish Society members erect the UA Hillel sukkah “When a person is happy, gloom and suffering stand aside. Yet greater still is to gather courage to actually pursue gloom, and to introduce it into the joy, such that the gloom itself turns into joy.” – Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, Likutei Moharan, Part II 23:1:3-4 This week I… Read more »
As part of an ongoing effort to create safe spaces to talk and learn about Israel, the Weintraub Israel Center, a joint project between the Tucson JCC and Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona, are leveraging Israeli actress and activist Noa Tishby’s recent book “Israel: A Simple Guide To The… Read more »
Rosh Hashanah preparation and celebration lasted the entire month of Elul at Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA). The blowing of the shofar was heard on our grounds every morning. Fifth and sixth grade students created their own shofrot. Seventh graders took a field trip to Handmaker to blow the shofar… Read more »
After waiting in line outside the Neue Galerie in New York six years ago to see the Gustav Klimt “Woman in Gold” painting, I remember hoping that the wait would be worth it. Of course it was; the painting was spectacular. I also remember thinking that those who are… Read more »
JBS, the Jewish Broadcasting Service, a nonprofit national cultural television network covering the panorama of Jewish life is now available in Arizona on Comcast CH 1684, Direct TV CH 388, the streaming services of ROKU, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and on the JBS Website at www.jbstv.org. Programs on… Read more »
On Aug. 19, Gov. Doug Ducey formally signed Arizona House Bill 2241, making it mandatory for Arizona schools to teach students about the Holocaust and other genocides at least twice between seventh and twelfth grades. For the past year, in anticipation of this legislation, the Jewish History Museum &… Read more »
When a mandate was announced last week requiring all staff at nursing homes with residents on Medicare and Medicaid to be vaccinated against COVID-19, Handmaker was ready. Plans were already in the works for weekly Vaccination Clinics for residents, staff and family members of residents and staff, so the… Read more »
Southern Arizona residents looking for Kosher options during the High Holidays and year round have a variety of options. The following are a list of stores or methods of acquiring Kosher food in Southern Arizona as of August 2021. For more information, consider joining the “Kosher in Tucson” Facebook… Read more »
In the aftermath of a tragedy, communities can find healing by remembering the past and strengthening community ties. This was the goal of the Luz de Vida, a concert and a compilation album created to honor the victims of the shooting that took place on January 8th, 2011. The… Read more »
