This year, Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA) is incredibly proud to see our 8th-grade class embarking on exciting high school journeys. Our graduates are heading to top schools like Catalina Foothills High School, the Arts Magnet Program at Tucson High School, The Gregory School, and five have been accepted to… Read more »
Chazal, our sages, teach that often after having celebrated a holiday, we want to linger a few days, remaining in the essence of the holy day. Our days in Shushan have ended for this year, yet there is a way of staying here a bit longer because Purim is… Read more »
Daniella Ironi is Tucson’s newest shlicha, or Israeli emissary, here to support this summer’s JCC Maccabi Games & Access® at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. Ironi is helping design fun yet educational programs for the “Hang Time” space, where athletes will spend time socializing when they are not competing.… Read more »
Scarlett Van Damme and Jacob Meyer were married on Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Wild Horse Ranch in Tucson, Arizona. Rabbi Malcolm Cohen of Kol Ami Synagogue officiated the ceremony beautifully following sunset. The happy couple did not host a traditional wedding party, but were honored by the attendance… Read more »
International chef and author Debbie Matzkin says she was born “in a palace of shadows.” “My family lived in a world of elegance and affluence,” she told almost 300 women gathered March 2 at Tanque Verde Ranch for Connections, the signature program of Women’s Philanthropy at Jewish Philanthropies of… Read more »
He was standing at a busy intersection when I drove by. What caught my attention was the small dog wrapped in a blanket that he pushed in a stroller. Also, his sign had a name on it: Leo. It seemed every major intersection had people with signs, pleading for… Read more »
When David Wien’s wife, Fran, died of cancer in 2020, he found it hard to cope. But after 18 months, he says, “All of a sudden, I got this, maybe message from HaShem, I don’t know, but I got this thought in my head that said, ‘Take the focus… Read more »
The Arizona Jewish Post issue of September 27, 2019, has a wonderful article on Willy Halpert, a nonagenarian living in Southern Arizona who had escaped the Holocaust as a young boy. I happened to be looking up names from my past and came upon the story. I didn’t know… Read more »
In January, I traveled with thirty-five of my colleagues in Holocaust education to Poland for the 80th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. This trip was arranged for members of the Association of Holocaust Organizations and led by renowned Holocaust scholar and professor, Rabbi Michael Berenbaum. This was a… Read more »
Arizona legislators from both sides of the aisle participated in a forum on ending antisemitism on Feb. 20 at the University of Arizona Hillel, cosponsored by the nonpartisan international grassroots movement #EndJewHatred. The panel included State Rep. Justin Wilmeth, a Republican representing north Phoenix, and the three Hernandez siblings,… Read more »
For the final event in the 2024-2025 Beth and Mike Kasser Patron of the Arts Signature Events Series, the Tucson J in partnership with Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra (SASO), is proud to present Peter Boyer’s Ellis Island: The Dream of America on Sunday, May 11 at 3pm and Monday,… Read more »
Jewish Family & Children’s Services Midtown Memory Café is making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals experiencing memory loss and their caregivers, offering a unique space where connection and understanding flourish. The café provides a welcoming environment where people affected by memory loss can gather alongside their… Read more »
The Tucson Jewish Community Center’s Taglit day program for young adults with developmental disabilities is flourishing, with 41 participants and a substantial waiting list. Taglit also has a summer camp program for middle and high school youth with disabilities, which served 24 campers in 2024. The Tucson J’s day… Read more »
Sam Golden and Ellie Hutchison have announced their engagement. Sam is the son of Bonnie and Norm Golden, both of Tucson. Sam graduated from Arizona State University majoring in music composition. Now a professional musician, he runs Holiday Heart Studio, a recording and production studio in St. Louis. Ellie… Read more »
Some years ago, I had a 93-year-old client who was depressed. Try as I did to interest her in attending programs in the medical day care program where I worked, she resisted. One day, in response to my encouragement, she made a comment that has stayed with me ever… Read more »
As the few weeks of our “winter” chill give way to mild, sunny days in Tucson, we have the opportunity to celebrate trees, plant seeds and try new fruits as we celebrate Tu B’Shvat, the New Year for Trees. Growing up in Connecticut, I remember my mother hosting an… Read more »
“Israel is held to a uniquely harsh standard by the world, facing relentless criticism and misinformation in the media. When other nations take military action for their security, they are met with understanding — yet when Israel does the same, it is vilified”, says Rabbi Sara Metz of Congregation… Read more »
In 2015, Miriam Ruth Black saw a news report about Syrian refugees trudging across Europe, seeking safety. She noticed a little boy among the crowd. “I thought, ‘There’s my dad,’” says Black, whose father was orphaned in a Ukrainian pogrom at age 4. “I saw my father as he… Read more »
After Colton Zuckerman, a freshman at The Gregory School in Tucson, was diagnosed with leukemia in October, his family decided to encourage blood donations across the country. “Our goal is, by the end of this, to have put 10 times the volume back in the blood bank than what… Read more »
Marc Blitzstein (1905–1964) was a groundbreaking American composer whose work reflected both his commitment to social justice and his rich musical heritage. Known for his versatility, Blitzstein made significant contributions to both the classical and musical theater worlds, with works that conveyed a deep sense of purpose and cultural… Read more »
