Our Town

People in the news 3.17.17

Mayor Jonathan Rothschild

TUCSON MAYOR JONATHAN ROTHSCHILD received a Small Business Advocate Award from the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Partner America program at City Hall on March 1. Partner America is a public-private partnership between the U.S. Conference of Mayors and American Management Services, Inc.… Read more »

In focus 3.17.17

Back row (L-R): Shira Barel; Weintraub Israel Center Director Oshrat Barel; Jim Liebeskind of Congregation Or Chadash, which had a separate tree planting project with THA; Tucson Fire Dept. Capt. Bruce Avram; Greater Tucson Fire Foundation volunteer Patty Vallance; Nogales Fire Dept. Capt. Pete Ashcraft; Mt. Lemmon Fire District Chief Randy Ogden (Ret.); Nogales Fire District firefighter Marcela Donavan Hammond; front row: Weintraub Israel Center Co-Chair Steve Weintraub; THA Director of Judaics Rabbi Billy Lewkowicz; THA Head of School Jon Ben-Asher

Trees for THA on Tu B’Shevat On Friday, Feb. 10, local firefighters who’d visited Israel joined Tucson Hebrew Academy for a Tu B’Shevat seder and tree planting. The firefighters gave a brief talk before joining the students and staff for Shabbat lunch.… Read more »

In focus 3.3.17

Tree of Life in Green Valley The gold leaves on the “Tree of Life” at Green Valley’s Beth Shalom Temple Center honor men and women whose efforts have been especially significant to the congregation. The temple added a leaf at its Feb. 3 Shabbat service in gratitude to Tamara… Read more »

Business briefs 3.3.17

THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA HILLEL FOUNDATION is among 25 Hillels nationwide that will take part in the second cohort of Hillel International’s Springboard Fellowship program next year. The UA Hillel will host an Innovation Fellow, trained to spark ideas, connect with students in new ways and infuse creativity into… Read more »

In focus 2.17.17

Multigenerational mitzvah Fifth grade students from the Congregation Or Chadash religious school joined residents of Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging on Sunday, Jan. 29 to pack 70 snack bags with handmade note cards for the Sister Jose Women’s Center. Nanci Levy, community outreach coordinator at Handmaker, delivered the… Read more »

Business briefs 2.17.17

THE TUCSON JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER has hired SHIRA BRANDENBURG as director of the Tucson International Jewish Film Festival. Brandenburg holds a B.S. in education from Eastern Michigan University and has taught in both America and Israel. She spent eight years with the Hillel Foundation on the campuses of Metro… Read more »

People in the News 2.3.17

AUDREY SHER-WALTON recently released a collection of poetry, “All the Colors of My Life are Red.” A former mental health therapist who currently owns Mrs. Audrey’s Academic Achievement tutoring service, Sher-Walton has been published in Zocolo Magazine, Aurora and the Write ON! East-side Writing Group’s 2015 and 2016 anthologies.… Read more »

In Focus 2.3.17

(L-R): Dana Goldstein, Olivia Hitchings and Sarah Hitchings (Sarah Chen/JFSA)

Northwest Challah Bake The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona Northwest Division celebrated Rosh Chodesh on Tuesday, Jan. 24 with a challah-baking event led by Mushkie Zimmerman of Chabad Oro Valley. The attendees included several pairs of mothers and daughters.     Hava Tequila Masquerade  The Jewish Federation of Southern… Read more »

Business briefs 1.20.17

The ARIZONA JEWISH POST has hired JAMES ALEWINE as graphic designer. Alewine, a Tucson native, spent most of his adult life in the restaurant industry before returning to college in 2014 to follow his passion for digital arts. He will receive his associate’s degree in graphic design from Pima… Read more »

People in the news 1.20.17

ESTHER STERNBERG, M.D., will be the keynote speaker at the University of Arizona Arthritis Center’s 15th Annual Living Healthy With Arthritis Conference on Jan. 28. She will speak on “Healing Spaces: The Science of Place and Wellbeing,” based on her book and PBS series of the same title. Sternberg… Read more »

In Focus 1.20.17

Long Realty helps Federation make a difference at Homer Davis Elementary School Long Realty Cares Foundation recently gave the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona a grant to acquire school spirit shirts for “Making A Difference Every Day: The Homer Davis Project,” a program of the JFSA Jewish Community Relations… Read more »

Business briefs 1.6.17

PLUM WINDOWS AND DOORS, owned by DESIREE WILLIAMS, in collaboration with HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, recently presented full replacement windows and a new patio door to Irma Bush, a longstanding Habitat for Humanity volunteer and beneficiary. Habitat for Humanity Tucson, in addition to building new homes for those who qualify,… Read more »

People in the news 1.6.17

Songwriter MICHAEL COOPER, a native of Nogales, Ariz., recently had musical theater productions performed in New York, London and Paris. In October, the National Alliance of Musical Theatre showcased selections from his musicals “Luna Park,” “Sunfish” and “Love Always” in its Songwriter’s Cabaret series. “Luna Park” was one of… Read more »

In Focus 1.6.17

L-R: Or Chadash sixth graders David Berk, Gabby Marsh (visitor), Talya Fleisher, Emma Ruben, Lily Goldberg, Jessica Witchey, Ethan Silvyn, Riley Silvyn. Center: Ava Silverman

Or Chadash Mitzvah Fair  On Sunday, Dec. 11, the sixth grade students at Congregation Or Chadash held the 10th annual Mitzvah Fair, which allows students to learn about and in turn help teach the concept of tzedakah (charity) in our community, says Rina Liebeskind, Or Chadash education director. The… Read more »

Business brief 12.16.16

JOHN WINCHESTER, outreach coordinator for the ARIZONA CENTER FOR JUDAIC STUDIES at the University of Arizona, was named one of the 40 Under 40 for 2016 by Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Arizona Daily Star. Winchester is the Arizona state director for Christians United for Israel, a… Read more »

People in the news 12.16.16

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CAROL BLATTER, LCSW, DCSW, was awarded honorable mention for her story, “Filling in the Spaces,” by New Millenium Writings.… Read more »

In Focus 12.16.16

(L-R): Lindsey Baker, Paul Baker, Alice Baker, Harvey Kivel, Jane Kivel, Deanna Evenchik, Nicole Zuckerman-Morris, Ken Morris, Michael Artzi, Scott Tobin, Adina Artzi and Helaine Levy (Martha Lochert)

Federation breaks ground The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona held a groundbreaking ceremony on Sunday, Dec. 4 for the Harvey and Deanna Evenchik Center for Jewish Philanthropy, the new building it will share with the Jewish Community Foundation. The site is on the northwest corner of the Tucson Jewish… Read more »

In focus 12.2.16

JNF welcomes IDF hero and humanitarian  Israel Defense Forces Major Gen. (Res.) Doron Almog spoke at a Jewish National Fund event in Tucson on Tuesday, Nov. 15. Almog, who was awarded a 2016 Israel Prize for lifetime achievement, led the operational task force in Tripoli against terrorists who killed… Read more »

Business briefs

BRUCE GREENBERG was appointed to a three-year term on the Americas Board for the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. The New York-based regional branch of RICS is the largest global organization for professionals in real estate, construction, valuation and related industries. Greenberg is managing director and Mexico country leader… Read more »

Business briefs 11.4.16

THE TUCSON JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER was voted “Best Gym” in the Tucson Weekly’s “Best of Tucson 2016” contest. Local women’s clothing designer LAURA TANZER won the Emerging Designer of the Year Award at Phoenix Fashion Week 2016. Tanzer’s collection is made in Tucson.   MICHAEL MARTINEZ, executive director of LIVE… Read more »