News

Tucson native Alexander Boxer, author of “A Scheme of Heaven: The History of Astrology and the Search for our Destiny in Data” (W.W. Norton & Company, 2020), will return to his hometown as a presenting author at the Tucson Festival of Books, March 14-15 on the University of Arizona… Read more »

Last spring, community leaders from the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona and the Jewish Community Foundation began a community visioning project that was soon dubbed “2020 and Beyond: Reimagining Jewish Life in Southern Arizona.” After initial stages that included hiring an outside consultant and holding meetings with stakeholder groups… Read more »

Sara Hurand says she’s never known anyone like her brother, Josh Hurand, a psychotherapist in Tucson who has a gift for connecting people. “He makes business connections, creative connections, light and fun connections, and deep and enduring connections. He is meaningfully close with family members both near and far,… Read more »

Unscrewed Theater and Beth Shalom Temple Center in Green Valley will partner for a BSTC fund-raiser next month, “Dine and Laugh!” Comedy troops from Unscrewed Theater, an improv club based in Tucson, will perform while attendees enjoy a three-course dinner on Saturday, March 21, at the Madera Crystal Ballroom… Read more »

To cut down on pollution created by gasoline-powered lawn and garden equipment, the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality, in partnership with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, has created the “Cut Down Pollution” program. “Our region exceeded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s health standard for ground-level ozone on… Read more »

A full array of Southern Arizona Purim parties will ensure that this most fun holiday of the Jewish calendar is action-packed. Take your pick from a string of family-friendly events, submitted by area synagogues and agencies. Friday, March 6 6 p.m.: Purim Shabbat Early Shabbat tot and child-friendly service;… Read more »

Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging continues its annual Three Rabbis Lecture Panel next month, exploring “The Future of the Tucson Jewish Community.” Rabbi Yossie Shemtov of Orthodox Congregation Young Israel, Rabbi Robert Eisen of Conservative Congregation Anshei Israel, and Rabbi Thomas Louchheim of Reform Congregation Or Chadash will… Read more »

There is a nationally recognized Girl Scout program for Jewish troops across the United States and Tucson has its own troop. Girl Scout Troop 613, which includes girls in second to fourth grades, is led by one of the girls’ mothers, Nichole Chorny, who is the cantorial soloist at… Read more »

Congregation Bet Shalom’s first Tu B’shevat Farm Festival brought about 80 community members of all ages together, including congregants, University of Arizona Hillel Foundation students, youngsters, and young adults connected to local farms and outdoor education programs. “The Midbar Project is a way for our people to connect with… Read more »

A rapidly growing global population, ecosystem degradation, changing climate conditions, and water and land scarcity all contribute to the need for integrated and innovative food production technologies. Researchers at the University of Arizona are testing a vertical farming approach. Fueled in part by a $2.7 million grant from the… Read more »

The practice of dentistry looks much different than it did at the turn of the century. Technological advancements are making trips to the dentist quicker, less painful, and more reliable, while other product developments are enabling better oral self-care. “These new technologies are having a huge impact on how… Read more »

Many people would just as soon avoid scheduling a dental appointment unless an unbearable toothache lands them reluctantly in the dentist’s chair. Fear of pain is one reason for procrastination, but it’s not the only factor. People worry a routine checkup could reveal the need for expensive, major work.… Read more »

John Schiro

John “Jack” Schiro died Dec. 29, 2019. A graduate of Cincinnati Country Day School, University of Cincinnati and attendee at Tulane University, Mr. Schiro pursued a career in marketing and sales for several well-known companies, obtaining top honors in his profession. Survivors include his sister, Caren Schiro of Tucson;… Read more »

Marla Edelstein

Marla Beth Edelstein, 70, died Jan. 30, 2020 after a battle with cancer. Mrs. Edelstein was born in Philadelphia on March 28, 1949 to Shirley and Jules Mechanic. She graduated from Northeast High School and Temple University, where she received her bachelor of science and master’s degrees in education… Read more »

NEW YORK (JTA) — New York City is hoping that a new ad campaign will make Jewish New Yorkers feel comfortable despite a recent spate of anti-Semitic attacks. The campaign, launched Wednesday by the city’s Commission on Human Rights, consists of four ads each featuring a photograph of a… Read more »

(JTA) — The president of the University of Illinois student government vetoed a resolution passed by the body last week that supports the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel. At a cabinet meeting Sunday, Connor Josellis said the remarks made Wednesday evening during discussion of the resolution and… Read more »

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Special voting booths will be set up for Israelis who are under quarantine for possible coronavirus infection will get special voting booths for Israel’s national elections that will be held on March 2. The decision was announced on Monday by Israel’s Central Elections Committee, following a… Read more »

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Amazon has been accused of bias for offering free shipping to Jewish settlements in the West Bank and not to Palestinian villages. The online retail giant began selling its international products in Israel late last year and offers free shipping on orders of $49 or more.… Read more »

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israeli fighter jets and helicopters attacked several Hamas terror targets in the Gaza Strip early Sunday morning after two rockets were fired the previous evening into southern Israel from Gaza. A military compound was among the Israeli targets in central Gaza, according to the Israel Defense… Read more »

JERUSALEM (JTA) — Hundreds of Israelis gathered at the Western Wall on Sunday evening after a prominent rabbi in Israel called for a mass prayer for those infected by the coronavirus. Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu, the chief rabbi of Safed, and the Association of Communitiy Rabbis, organized the service in… Read more »