Post-Its

Of Blessed Memory: Johanna Stein

Johanna B. Stein (born April 26, 1938) beauty queen, Pima County Maid of Cotton, University of Arizona Registration Kitten and dark cloud to all of Daddy’s silver linings struck her last pose July 5, 2024.  A beautiful and virtuous woman, what she lacked in patience she made up for… Read more »

Community in Unity featuring Rabbi Sharon Brous

“The challenge today is to be animated by both gratitude and unrest, by humility and audacity, and to feel the exodus from Egypt — our people’s journey from slavery to freedom, from degradation to dignity — in our guts. Our Jewish story calls us to become agents of social… Read more »

JCRC: Building Bridges in Support of a Resilient Democracy

Recently, I joined Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) colleagues from around the country for a one-day summit in New York City. The event was hosted by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs (JCPA) and the topic was Coalition & Bridge Building, Post-October 7. The presenters – an outstanding group… Read more »

Camp Breastie Brings Magic of Community to Those Impacted by Cancer

Three years ago this summer, I had just finished my 16th round of chemo and was preparing for my double mastectomy. Having been diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer at 35 years old during the height of the pandemic, I experienced immense isolation and fear. But in The Breasties, a… Read more »

First Person: I Discovered a Former Tucson Radio Host with a Nazi Past

I found it, like many discoveries, accidentally. I was busy pursuing a pre-Internet interest of mine – poring through old newspapers – but now online. Having spent the first 76% of my life in Oklahoma City, I was interested in looking at The Southwest Jewish Chronicle, a regional Jewish… Read more »

Local Breastfeeding Consultant Offers Judgment-Free Assistance

New mothers may not know they can work with a lactation consultant even if they are not having problems with breastfeeding. What’s more, health insurance must cover those services, says Katie Cohen, BSN, RN, IBCLC, the founder of Thrive Theory Lactation & Infant Feeding in Tucson. Under the Affordable… Read more »

Empowering Jewish Interpersonal Violence Survivors: LEAH and MyZuzah

Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona (JFCS) through its Let’s End Abusive Households (LEAH) program has forged a powerful partnership with MyZuzah to uplift Jewish survivors of interpersonal violence. This collaboration focuses on providing kosher, fair-trade mezuzahs to individuals and families who have endured interpersonal abuse, offering… Read more »

Torah and Deli at Handmaker this Summer

Studying with Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin from Chabad Tucson is a great way to spend an hour at Handmaker. And if you add in a Reuben sandwich, you have an unbeatable combination. Handmaker residents have been enjoying learning from Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin over the past few months and, thanks to… Read more »

Camp Memories: Tucsonans Look Back on Golden Summers

Proponents say Jewish overnight camps strengthen kids’ Jewish identity. This was certainly true for Tucsonan Nanci Ogur Levy, who spent four summers at Pine Forest Camp in Greeley, Pennsylvania, as a camper, plus a summer as a waitress and another as a counselor-in-training. “It actually was my first real… Read more »

Shlicha’s View: An Update from Home in the Golan

As an Israeli Shlicha, it is so important for me to always build a bridge to Israel and bring the reality in Israel as it is. You may have seen some things on the news and wondered what is really going on. Since October 7th, there have been nonstop… Read more »

At Tucson J, Israeli Camp Counselors Keep Focus on Fun, Not War

At a Jewish Agency for Israel training this April for American Jewish summer camp directors and prospective Israeli counselors, also known as summer shlichim (emissaries), the slogan was “Now More Than Ever.” JAFI staff joked that the catchphrase is used for everything, even insurance companies, says Robin Kelley, director… Read more »

Of Blessed Memory: William Becker

William Becker was born in Milwaukee to Helen and Morris Becker on June 2, 1936. He grew up in Tucson, graduated from Tucson High in 1954, attended Marquette in Milwaukee and graduated from Marquette Dental School in 1961. As he used to say, “he married up” to Joyce Goldwyn… Read more »

Of Blessed Memory: Jim Stuehringer

Jim Stuehringer passed away on June 29, 2024, surrounded by loving family and friends after a battle with dementia. He was born in Akron, Ohio on August 19,1948 to Flo and Chuck Stuehringer. After graduating from law school at the University of Cincinnati, Jim relocated to Tucson with his… Read more »

Tucsonan Jessica Emerson’s Forthcoming Novel Already Creating a Buzz

Jessica Elisheva Emerson is happy her smart, steamy first novel, “Olive Days,” made the Los Angeles Daily News and Jewish Book Council summer reading lists, even though the book won’t be published until Sept. 10. When pitching it to agents, Emerson described “Olive Days” as “Unorthodox” meets “The End… Read more »

Rein-Solomon Engagement

Sophia Rein and Akiva Solomon have announced their engagement. Sophia is the daughter of Diane and David Rein of Great Neck, N.Y., and the granddaughter of Helene (z”l) and David Fink and Corinne and Howard (z”l) Rein. She is a senior at Columbia University. Akiva is the son of… Read more »

United Against Hate Takeaway: Reporting Key to Combating Hate Crimes

If you experience or witness antisemitism or an incident that might be a hate crime, don’t hesitate to report it. That message was repeated over and over at a United Against Hate event that drew about 150 people to the Tucson Jewish Community Center on June 18. United States… Read more »

Southern Arizona Jewish Community Made Meaning Together at Meeting at the Mountain in Celebration of Shavuot

The Tucson Jewish Community Center was abuzz with learning and conversation into the early hours of the morning during the recent Meeting at the Mountain, a special Shavuot event that brought the Southern Arizona Jewish community in celebration and study. The annual tikkun leil was proudly put on in… Read more »

Do You Have a Curious, Compassionate, and Inquisitive Child? Begin Here.

Celebrating 50 years of excellence, Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA) is the choice for parents seeking a premier and personalized education for their children from kindergarten through 8th grade.   THA’s small class sizes and impressive 9:1 student-teacher ratio demonstrates our commitment to excellence – and our ability to offer something… Read more »

Tucson Bike Trip Benefits Israeli Amputees

A group of elite bike riders from all over the United States and Israel descended on Tucson from May 30 to June 3. The 100-plus riders were here for more than an epic cycling adventure. They were participants in The Next Ride, an annual fundraiser for The Next Step,… Read more »

Adult B’nai Mitzvah Class at Kol Ami Celebrates with Czech Scroll

Twice before, Susan Cohn had begun the studies necessary to celebrate an adult Bat Mitzvah. Despite her ability to read Hebrew, learning the Torah and Haftarah portions had eluded her. This year, with the help of her classmates and Cantor Janece Cohen, it all came together. On May 18,… Read more »