Stepping back to 9:00 AM Saturday, October 27th, 2018, Ari Mittleman and countless American Jews deemed the United States of America as perhaps the greatest country for modern Jewry outside the State of Israel. This stood in contrast to the antisemitism that plagued Jewish history. Indeed, the United States… Read more »
Benjamin Thurston Aronson completed his Bar Mitzvah on April 30, 2022. Although he read his Torah portion through Congregation Or Chadash’s Zoom services in April 2020, he was grateful for an in-person service and celebration with his family and friends. This belated event was performed at a family home,… Read more »
Every student of Mission View Elementary School’s fourth grade class will have the first two years of a university or trade school paid for. Gary and Tandy Kippur, owners of Tucson Iron and Metal, decided to make a difference in the lives of children attending an elementary school near… Read more »
Sometimes a Jewish ritual object takes on a life of its own. It can trace the history of an entire family, even an entire portion of the Jewish people. When that object is returned to regular religious use, it symbolizes the eternal vitality of Judaism. So it is with… Read more »
More than one hundred Southern Arizona community members gathered in-person and virtually at the J, April 5, for a Together in Jewish Learning event. The evening began with a presentation by keynote speaker Aaron Henne. Henne is the Artistic Director of theatre dybbuk, a company whose work focuses on… Read more »
A celebration of the 90th birthday of Rabbi Sanford Seltzer was held March 31 at the Oro Valley home of Barbara Brumer. The outdoor party was arranged and attended by students in Rabbi Seltzer’s Zohar study class. The past two years of study have been conducted online, and his… Read more »
Over the last week of March, at the Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA), we honored our 1st and 2nd graders by celebrating Hagigat HaSefer (the celebration of the book). During Hagigat HaSefer, our young students received their very first Siddur (prayer book), signaling the beginning of a lifelong love of… Read more »
The Tucson Jewish Community will commemorate Yom HaShoah 2022 with over a week’s worth of events including a film screening, lectures and ceremonies. The theme of the commemorations is Remember, Honor & Learn. The events begin with a virtual screening of “Winter Journey,” available Sunday, April 17-Sunday, 24. A… Read more »
When Josephine Marcus ran away from home in 1880, it is hard to imagine just how shocked her California-based parents must have felt. Teenage Josephine dreamt of becoming an actress and a dancer. These weren’t exactly the plans made by her Jewish immigrant family and Hollywood didn’t yet exist.… Read more »
Adar was a busy month at Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA)! THA, together with the JCC and Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona (JPSA) collected food for the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona in the Chai (18) days leading to Purim! Mishloach Manot : משלוח מנות , also called a Purim basket, is a… Read more »
Purim is a Jewish holiday that is all about fun, celebration, a good story and of course, hamantashen! Handmaker residents got plenty of all of that this year. The celebrations began the Tuesday before Purim, when a bus loaded with the Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA) 8th grade class arrived… Read more »
Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona (JFCS) will present a free Zoom workshop, “Love Should Not Hurt: Teen Dating Abuse 101,” On Tuesday, March 29th, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Teen dating violence can be physical, emotional, or sexual. Teens often think some behaviors, like teasing, possessiveness,… Read more »
The Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona (JPSA) is pleased to announce Together in Jewish Learning on Tuesday, April 5th at the J and via Zoom, with keynote speaker Aaron Henne. Henne is the Artistic Director of theater dybbuk, an arts and education organization whose work illuminates universal human experience… Read more »
Dr. Jill Ellen Rosenzweig passed away suddenly on March 19, 2022. Jill was born in Boston, MA and grew up in Waban, MA. She attended Simmons College for her B.A., New York Teachers College for her M.A., and the University of Arizona for her PhD in special education. Jill… Read more »
Ellison Lily Teitel was born February 24 to Rachel and Jonathan Teitel in Jersey City, New Jersey. Her grandparents are Lee and the late Earl Surwit of Tucson, and Michael Teitel of New York City.… Read more »
After more than two years of planning and collaboration, the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona (JFSA) and the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona (JCF) have integrated into a single operating entity. The new organization shall be known as the Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona (JPSA). “As JPSA, we… Read more »
Lori Shepherd After an extensive and rigorous search, the Board of Directors of the Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center is pleased to announce that Lori Shepherd has accepted the position of Executive Director, effective March 16, 2022. Lori is the former Executive Director of the El Paso Holocaust Museum &… Read more »
Angela Salmon has been leading seniors on adventures in the Tucson community for more than ten years with the Handmaker Adventure Bus program. This innovative program is designed for people experiencing the early stages of diminished memory capacity, and as a respite option for caregivers. Bi-weekly social and cultural… Read more »
Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA) launched a schoolwide “Stop and Read” or STAR program on February 14th, which will allow the entire school to read together once a week. Students are reading a book of their choice in their homeroom classrooms for 15 minutes on Fridays before heading to Kabbalat… Read more »
When I arrived at UArizona Hillel in July, I knew that the students, staff, board, and community were excited to meet me. Part of welcoming any new leader is understanding her vision. But at the same time that folks are excited for change, pace-of-change is a critical consideration and… Read more »
