Matthew Meislin is called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah on September 3rd, 2022, at Kol Ami. Matthew is the son of Justin and Georgina Meislin and the grandson of Harvey and Lori Meislin. Matthew is in 8th grade at Orange Grove Middle School, where he enjoys playing… Read more »
Our community is stronger when we gather in celebration, in prayer, in song, and when we make motzi together. The entire Tucson Jewish community is invited to join with many of Tucson’s congregations and educational institutions for a communal Shabbat experience on Friday, September 9 (13 Elul 5782) from… Read more »
Meet Miriam Ruth Black, author of Shayna, at the Tucson Jewish Museum (TJMHC) on Thursday, Sept. 15 at 6pm, at a program presented in partnership with the Tucson Jewish Community Center (with a virtual event to be scheduled at a later date). Miriam Ruth Black won the Midwest Independent… Read more »
Residents in the Rich Long Term Care Neighborhood at Handmaker have been enjoying watching the transformation of their home over the last few months as the unit goes through a major renovation. Handmaker’s Administrator, Steve Hunt, has been doing his best to ensure that the work gets done, while… Read more »
For many, the start of the school year represents a fresh new beginning—a time of goals, reunions, and renewed enthusiasm. For Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA), embarking on its 49th school year, it is an exciting time to look forward to a future of progress, strength, and growth. It is… Read more »
The words “egalitarian” and “pluralistic” don’t mean much to most of the students we see at UArizona Hillel, but the concepts are at the heart of our mission: to help students build a vibrant, diverse, meaningful, and empowered Jewish community on campus. How do you create a truly egalitarian… Read more »
Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona (JPSA) has announced that Chief Development Officer Emily Richman will also now serve as Interim CEO. She will maintain her duties as CDO during this time with additional support from both her colleagues and members of the Board of Trustees. “Even in her short… Read more »
Gail Kushner (Jampole) passed away July 28, 2022, at age 86. Formerly of Tucson, AZ, Shorewood, WI, she was born in Brooklyn, NY. Beloved wife of the late Gordon L. Goodman, to whom she was married for 32 years, and the late Arthur Kushner, Gail was the former spouse… Read more »
Dinah Taub was born on February 27, 1931, in Chicago to Sol and Esther Geller. She is a long time Tucson resident having moved here in 1958 with her husband, Marvin. She died peacefully surrounded by her family in Tucson on July 31, 2022, after a recent diagnosis of… Read more »
William (Bill) Sampson, born April 28, 1948, passed away July 20, 2022, in Tucson, Ariz. Born in Chicago, Bill came to Tucson with his parents, Walter and Charlene (Shafer), and Sister Judy in 1965. Bill achieved Master’s degrees in both Music (French Horn – Performance) and Physical Education. He… Read more »
Rabbi Kleinman Growing up in Tucson, Alanna “Lonnie” Kleinman did not know any female rabbis or any religious leaders who identified as LGTBQ. Now Kleinman is joining a much more diverse rabbinate, one that more fully reflects the fullness of Jewish communities. On May 22, almost 50 years after Rabbi Sally… Read more »
This spring, Handmaker learned that they had received two Arizona Daily Star’s Reader’s Choice awards for 2021; one for Best Skilled Nursing/Rehab Facility and one for Best Continuing Care Retirement Community. As the community outreach coordinator at Handmaker for nearly seven years, this does not surprise me. My office… Read more »
Just what do the dedicated staff at University of Arizona Hillel do all summer? In some ways, it’s our busiest season. We hate it when the students are away, but we use every moment of the time to prepare for their return. This summer we’re particularly busy, with three… Read more »
Richard Bernard “Dick” Belkin, born June 5, 1933, in Hartford, Connecticut, died July 7, 2022, in Tucson, Arizona. Dick Belkin was perhaps the most positive and inspirational person you will ever meet, a man of great integrity, creativity, and infinite kindness. In his younger days as a television personality,… Read more »
Charles H. (“Chuckles”) Whitehill passed away on July 5, 2022. Chuck was a longtime Tucsonan and dedicated member of the Jewish community since arriving as a freshman at the University of Arizona (UA) in 1948. He was a member of Tau Delta Phi Fraternity. Shortly after coming to Tucson,… Read more »
JFCS refugee client taking English Placement test As a faculty member at the University of Arizona, summer is the perfect time for me to get caught up on projects that I have set aside during the school year, and to do things that I enjoy. As the semester was winding down in May, my husband and… Read more »
On June 16th, in New York, Rabbi Cantor Emily Ellentuck received rabbinic ordination from The Rabbinical Academy at Mesifta Adath Wolkowisk. She serves as Cantor for Congregation M’Kor Hayim and works at Tucson Hebrew Academy as program coordinator and teaching Judaic Studies and tefillah.… Read more »
Dr. Jacobson in front of the Krakow JCC I recently returned from two weeks in Krakow, Poland, volunteering with the team at the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Krakow in their terrific effort to assist Ukrainian refugees. I traveled to Poland with my brother, Bruce Jacobson, who lives in South Carolina. Our contact was Jonathan Ornstein, Executive… Read more »
Tania Spivak, new Early Childhood Director, Congregation Anshei Israel After a 6-month endeavor to recruit an Early Childhood Director, Congregation Anshei Israel (CAI) has announced that Tania Spivak has been hired to fill the position starting July 11, 2022. The Early Childhood recruitment committee consisting of CAI President Evelyn Sigafus, Rabbi Sara Metz, Executive Director Debra Lytle, HR… Read more »
Lindsey Baker (left), Jeremy Sharpe (right) Former Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona (JPSA) COO Lindsey Baker and current JPSA board member Jeremy Sharpe are both honored in Biz Tucson’s current issue as members of “22 Rising Stars to Watch: Tucson’s Next Generation of Leaders”. The magazine describes the list of “leaders and visionaries” as community… Read more »
