News

Yesterday a devastating act of antisemitism was discovered at the Chabad on River. An entry door was defaced with a swastika and an antisemitic slur. This comes just weeks after vandalism against Congregation Chaverim where a rock was thrown through a window in the front door of the synagogue.… Read more »

Eliana (Ellie) Kate Boling and Daniel (Danny) Abraham Anderson were married on Sunday, May 23, 2021 at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort. Rabbi Stephanie Aaron and Rabbi Billy Lewkowicz officiated the ceremony at the waterfall, which was followed by the reception on the upper terrace. Bridesmaids were Ellie’s friend, Madison… Read more »

Mara Aspinall

With the increased availability of COVID-19 vaccinations and updated guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, many in the Southern Arizona Jewish community are feeling cautiously optimistic about a summer that looks very different from years past. The Maimonides Society, a fellowship of healthcare professionals who are dedicated to… Read more »

Stacey Tarquinio, LPC

After more than a year providing Chaplaincy services by phone as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability to be at the bedside of a patient in the hospital, or sit and visit with a Handmaker resident is such a blessing! Since March 16, 2020, the Jewish Federation… Read more »

Marcia Zaccaria accepts the Maricopa County Chapter of the NAACP Freedom Fund Community Award for Civic Engagement on behalf of Congregation M’Kor Hayim Racial Justice Task Force

Congregation M’kor Hayim is a 90-member synagogue located in Tucson, Arizona. One week after the killing of George Floyd, M’kor Hayim member Jane Levin proposed a Racial Justice Task Force to Rabbi Helen Cohn. This proposal was met with enthusiasm by both the Rabbi and the M’kor Hayim President… Read more »

Adventure Bus participants returned to the campus of Handmaker Jewish Services for Aging after 14 months on May 11, 2021. Handmaker residents rejoiced in the reunion with past participants, welcomed new friends, and greeted volunteer coordinator Bruce Pitz. Beginnings Tucson winter visitor Adrienne Drell originated the idea for Adventure… Read more »

Divorce Recovery, Inc. and Jewish Family and Children’s Services of Southern Arizona (JFCS) have announced their merger to offer individuals and families of Southern Arizona the support, guidance, and resources needed while going through a divorce or separation. JFCS has acquired Divorce Recovery’s assets, resources, and curriculum, and the… Read more »

The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona strongly condemns the vandalism against Congregation Chaverim. A rock was thrown through a window in the front door of the synagogue earlier this week and left the Jewish community shaken by this terrible act of violence. There… Read more »

Gabrielle “Gabi” Mintz

Second-year University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson student Gabrielle “Gabi” Mintz has been awarded the Shirley D. Curson Medical Student Scholarship from the UArizona Hillel Foundation. Second-year medical student, Gabrielle “Gabi” Mintz, in the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, has been awarded the Shirley… Read more »

Dr. Marcela Kepic, Associate Professor of Practice at the University of Arizona

COVID-19 has impacted everyone’s lives, leaving us with a deep sense of grief as we grapple with the loss of loved ones, jobs, freedom, and many other sources of stability and joy. The Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona (JFCS) domestic violence prevention program, LEAH (Let’s End… Read more »

Arizona State Representative Alma Hernandez

State Representative Alma Hernandez, a Democrat representing Arizona’s 3rd district, re-introduced a bill at the start of the legislative session that would make a substantive change to the state’s public school curriculum and have Arizona join 15 other states in mandating Holocaust education in public schools. Presently, there is… Read more »

The world of sports prides itself on references to fair play and teamwork. Have those references always been applicable? Not so much. This month, after the excitement of March Madness has dissipated, we need to look at both commercial and amateur sports historically to see where justice… Read more »

A collection of pictures of Handmaker residents from April 2021

Late last month, Handmaker finally received guidance from the Arizona Health Department to begin to loosen some of the restrictions that residents have been living with for months. What a relief! And, what a blessing that this happened just in time for Passover! This meant that we could have… Read more »

John “Ryan” Weston

John “Ryan” Weston will graduate from Millennium High School in May. He has earned high academic honors, ranking within the top ten in his class, and has been a standout member of his Cross Country (three years) and Track and Field (four years) teams. He has also participated in… Read more »

Hanna Druckman, called Doda Anutza by her family

One Sunday afternoon a few weeks ago, I got a phone call from my mother’s cousin, Tzippi, who lives in South Florida and is in her late seventies. “Sha’ron,” she asked, “I know you were close with Doda . Did she ever tell you what she did… Read more »

Jessica Emerson McCormick, Incoming Executive Director of the University of Arizona Hillel Foundation

The Board of Directors of the University of Arizona Hillel Foundation is delighted to welcome native Tucsonan Jessica Emerson McCormick—who has worked in Jewish organizations, municipal government, and as a writer—as Executive Director of the University of Arizona Hillel Foundation. Jessica will start on July 1, 2021, succeeding Michelle… Read more »

Security director Chelsea Guiterrez at JFSA’s November 17 event honoring Stu and Nancy Mellan

The Southern Arizona Jewish community continues to adopt a strong stance against anti-Semitism and act boldly to prevent attacks against our institutions and constituents. Community leadership continues to advance this priority in both funding and action in 2021. Recent History of Our Program In March 2019, the Jewish Federation… Read more »

The sale of Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging to MED Healthcare Partners was finalized on January 26, 2021. The name of the organization will not change with the sale, nor will its commitment to quality care for the elderly in our community. The Handmaker Board, with the support… Read more »

Sarah Segal got into the spirit of Purim during the Zoom Megillah reading at Handmaker on Erev Purim.

Despite COVID restriction adjustments, Handmaker residents had fun celebrating Purim this year! Rabbi and Chani Shemtov and Rabbi and Feigi Ceitlin provided beautiful Mishloach Manot for our residents at Handmaker. Many residents also enjoyed listening to the Megillah Esther on Zoom on Erev Purim, read by Mel Cohen, Dan… Read more »

We are delighted to introduce Arizona Jewish Post-Its, a hub for stories from Arizona Jewish life. From lifecycle events to local happenings, this content is submitted and written by community members like you. Share and be heard on our community bulletin board! Check out the first edition of Post-Its.… Read more »