Our Town

SIDNEY FINKEL, a Holocaust survivor and educator who speaks to students in Tucson and nationwide, will be awarded an honorary doctorate in public service from Saint Xavier University in Chicago, Ill., and will deliver their December 2011 commencement address. Finkel is the author of the memoir “Sevek and the… Read more »

1ST RATE 2ND HAND THRIFT STORE, Tucson’s Jewish nonprofit community thrift store, has hired JENNI STEINBERG PAGANO as manager. Pagano has experience running nonprofit, online vintage and designer shops. She  has worked in commercial and residential interior design and is one of the founding editors of Refashion Co-op, a… Read more »

JENNIFER FERRELL has been hired as the part-time assistant for the WEINTRAUB ISRAEL CENTER, a program of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona and the Tucson Jewish Community Center. A Tucson native, Ferrell previously worked with her husband, Chris, at Ferrell Insurance Agency.         U-SWIRL FROZEN… Read more »

JOYCE FINKELSTEIN of Green Valley has been selected by AARP to receive Arizona’s 2011 AARP State Andrus Award for Community Service. Finkelstein serves on the board of Green Valley Recreation as treasurer. She is secretary of the Greater Green Valley Community Foundation and a member of its allocations and… Read more »

BARRETT AVIGDOR has joined the National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade, a Tucson-based nonprofit organization, as deputy director.  Avigdor is a graduate of The University of Chicago Law School and a former Fulbright scholar to Brazil.  Prior to joining the National Law Center for Inter-American Free Trade, Avigdor… Read more »

CAROL KARSCH, the executive director of the JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA for the past 23 years, will retire in May 2012. The Foundation board has assembled a group of community leaders to begin the search for her successor. The qualifications guiding the search can be found on… Read more »

DAN ADLER of Keller Williams Southern Arizona, DAMION ALEXANDER of Tucson West Publishing and Long Realty and REBECCA GARFUNKEL of the National Alliance on Mental Illness – Southern Arizona are among those honored by the Arizona Daily Star in its annual 40 under 40 list, which recognizes young leaders… Read more »

JONATHAN ROTHSCHILD, Democratic candidate for mayor of Tucson, has released a 180-Day Work Plan focusing on jobs and economic development, “safe, vital neighborhoods,” an open government initiative and plans to develop green industries. To read a copy of the plan, go to www.jonathanfor mayor.com.       “The Heyday… Read more »

BARBARA R. LEVY has been elected president of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra board of trustees. Levy is an author, consultant and speaker on board and organizational development and fundraising. With 38 years of experience in development, she is one of fewer than 90 people nationwide to earn the Advanced… Read more »

The ARIZONA JEWISH POST has won a 2010 Simon Rockower Award for Excellence in Jewish Journalism from the American Jewish Press Association. “Chanukah on Christmas Avenue: Raising a Jewish family in Winterhaven” by Gila Silverman, published in our Nov. 26, 2010 edition, won a first place award in the… Read more »

BRUCE ZORTMAN has published a book, “Eight Little Candles Plus One: A Hanukkah Tale” (Strategic Book Group). Zortman was a professional educator for 25 years. REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS was named “Tourism Champion of the Year” by the Arizona Office of Tourism last month, recognizing her efforts to oppose last… Read more »

THE TUCSON JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER announced its 2011-2012 board of directors at its annual meeting on Tuesday, May 3. The officers are Tom Warne, chair; Barney Holtzman, vice chair; Ed Rogoff, vice chair; Jill Rosenzweig, vice chair; Jeff Silvyn, vice chair; Mary Cochran Wolk, vice chair; Stuart Shatken, secretary;… Read more »

­KALEY ROSE WEINTRAUB, a University High honor student, has committed to the swim team at University of Rhode Island, where she will enter the Doctor of Pharmacy program. Weintraub, a Tucson Hebrew Academy alumna, is also a dancer with the Arizona Ballet Theater and a synchronized swimmer. She represented… Read more »

CONGREGATION ANSHEI ISRAEL has hired MICHAEL LANDY as executive director. Landy has a 25-year history of working with nonprofit Jewish communal agencies, with a focus on fundraising and marketing. He was recognized by the North American Association of Synagogue Executives as a Fellow in Synagogue Administration in 2006. Before… Read more »

STEVEN FREEDMAN, A.B., M.S., has written a novel, “Dinah Blu,” published by PublishAmerica. Freedman notes that he suffers from schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder, making his literary accomplishment “a triumph of the human spirit.”           BOBBY PRESENT will be a member of the United States masters… Read more »

AMY HIRSHBERG LEDERMAN won an Arizona Press Club 2010 first place award for “Best Column Writing” for her columns in the ARIZONA JEWISH POST. The judge commented, “Consistent voice, thoughtful pieces that begin with small situations that she turns to universal truths. It’s rare to see this kind of… Read more »

ANGIE GOORMAN has been selected by the Jewish Federations of North America National Young Leadership Cabinet as a new member beginning with the 2011/2012 year. The cabinet is a group of men and women, ages 30-45, who are committed to shaping a bright future for the Jewish people in… Read more »

SHARON GLASSBERG, director of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona Coalition for Jewish Education, and BRENDA LANDAU, director of the JFSA Jewish Community Relations Council, facilitated a Jewish American Heritage Month presentation, “An American Journey,” for the Tucson branch of U.S. Customs and Border Protection on May 18. The… Read more »

MYRON ROTTENSTEIN, vice president — investments at UBS FINANCIAL SERVICES, has been named to Barron’s Top 1000 Financial Advisers List. Rottenstein, who joined UBS Financial Services in 1990, has 27 years’ experience in the securities industry. He is an institutional consultant with UBS, a certified financial planner and a… Read more »

CONGREGATION M’KOR HAYIM, led by Rabbi Helen Cohn, has moved to the campus of Tucson Hebrew Academy. M’kor Hayim will hold Shabbat evening services in the THA Beit Midrash on the second and fourth Fridays of each month at 7 p.m., beginning April 22. Torah study will be held… Read more »