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 »
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 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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
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 »
As a Rabbi, I am often asked, “How do we know something was meant to happen?” And I always answer softly, “If… it happened.” There is a concept in Chassidic thought that teaches us about Divine Providence- “Hashgacha Pratis”. This belief underscores that G-d has a master plan for… Read more »
For Jeff Artzi, it’s all about engagement. And hard work. And fun. Artzi, a Jewish community volunteer for more than 30 years, was installed as the chair of Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona at its Board of Trustees meeting on May 9. Before outlining priorities for his term, Artzi… Read more »
Many know that I was born and raised in a moshav in the Golan Heights, northern Israel. But what does a moshav actually mean? According to Wikipedia, a moshav is “a type of Israeli village or town or Jewish settlement, in particular a type of cooperative agricultural community of… Read more »
Growing up in Los Angeles, Lev Metz preferred hands-on activities such as building the family sukkah to sitting in synagogue. Always a good student, he came to appreciate traditional text study alongside experiential education. He earned master’s degrees in Jewish education and Jewish communal service from Hebrew Union College-Jewish… Read more »
In a poignant display of reconciliation and remembrance, German Defense Intelligence Liaison Officers, Lt. Colonel Bocklet and Colonel Busch, alongside their spouses, were warmly welcomed as special guests to the weekly meeting of Holocaust Survivors at Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona (JFCS). Holocaust Survivor, Wanda Wolowsky,… Read more »
In mid-June, Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center (TJMHC) will hold a two-day conference designed to empower Southern Arizona educators to teach the lessons of the Holocaust and other genocides. This in-person conference is presented in partnership with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Community of Holocaust Education Centers and… Read more »
The Better Together website reads “Who said senior citizens and teens/tweens have nothing in common? Help teens in your community learn from the wisdom of elders and give senior citizens a chance to forge new connections.” Handmaker residents have had the opportunity to experience these connections with teens for… Read more »
The Tucson J is thrilled to officially announce Tucson as a host site for the 2025 JCC Maccabi Games ® — the world’s largest in-person Jewish youth sporting event. Returning to the Old Pueblo for the first time in 25 years, the Olympic-style sports competition will be held July… Read more »
