Dr. Marcela Kepic, Associate Professor of Practice at the University of Arizona COVID-19 has impacted everyone’s lives, leaving us with a deep sense of grief as we grapple with the loss of loved ones, jobs, freedom, and many other sources of stability and joy. The Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona (JFCS) domestic violence prevention program, LEAH (Let’s End… Read more »
Stuart K. Nelson Stuart K. Nelson of New York City and Tucson, Arizona passed away on April 9, 2021. He is the son of the late Solomon and Helen Nelson and was predeceased by his sister Dr. Anafred Nelson Halpern. Stuart is the cherished husband of Linda Marcus Nelson, beloved father of… Read more »
Hundreds of women came together on March 14, 2021 at Connections, the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona’s (JFSA) signature Women’s Philanthropy event, to honor the Jewish community’s continued philanthropic work and address the growing problem of food insecurity in Southern Arizona in ways both big and small. After a year unlike any other, hunger is… Read more »
Arizona State Representative Alma Hernandez State Representative Alma Hernandez, a Democrat representing Arizona’s 3rd district, re-introduced a bill at the start of the legislative session that would make a substantive change to the state’s public school curriculum and have Arizona join 15 other states in mandating Holocaust education in public schools. Presently, there is… Read more »
The world of sports prides itself on references to fair play and teamwork. Have those references always been applicable? Not so much. This month, after the excitement of March Madness has dissipated, we need to look at both commercial and amateur sports historically to see where justice has been… Read more »
A collection of pictures of Handmaker residents from April 2021 Late last month, Handmaker finally received guidance from the Arizona Health Department to begin to loosen some of the restrictions that residents have been living with for months. What a relief! And, what a blessing that this happened just in time for Passover! This meant that we could have… Read more »
John “Ryan” Weston John “Ryan” Weston will graduate from Millennium High School in May. He has earned high academic honors, ranking within the top ten in his class, and has been a standout member of his Cross Country (three years) and Track and Field (four years) teams. He has also participated in… Read more »
Joan Semilof Kleinerman Joan Semilof Kleinerman died March 31, 2021, at the age of 92. Joan was born on September 1, 1927 to Dorothy and Morris Semilof in Brooklyn, New York. Throughout her life, she would always think of New York City as the center of the world she enjoyed and remembered.… Read more »
Hanna Druckman, called Doda Anutza by her family One Sunday afternoon a few weeks ago, I got a phone call from my mother’s cousin, Tzippi, who lives in South Florida and is in her late seventies. “Sha’ron,” she asked, “I know you were close with Doda . Did she ever tell you what she did… Read more »
Jessica Emerson McCormick, Incoming Executive Director of the University of Arizona Hillel Foundation The Board of Directors of the University of Arizona Hillel Foundation is delighted to welcome native Tucsonan Jessica Emerson McCormick—who has worked in Jewish organizations, municipal government, and as a writer—as Executive Director of the University of Arizona Hillel Foundation. Jessica will start on July 1, 2021, succeeding Michelle… Read more »
Howard Kline is a kinesthetic artist. “Music inspires my art,” he says, and it has been a major influence on his paintings. Visual artists work with their sense of touch or sight, but Kline warms up and initiates his day in the studio by first stepping into a soundproof… Read more »
Celeste Grace Bergantino Celeste Grace Bergantino will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on April 10, 2021 at Congregation Or Chadash (soon to be Kol Ami). She is currently in eighth grade at the Gregory School. She loves dance and art. Celeste is the daughter of Tamar and JR Bergantino.… Read more »
Security director Chelsea Guiterrez at JFSA’s November 17 event honoring Stu and Nancy Mellan The Southern Arizona Jewish community continues to adopt a strong stance against anti-Semitism and act boldly to prevent attacks against our institutions and constituents. Community leadership continues to advance this priority in both funding and action in 2021. Recent History of Our Program In March 2019, the Jewish Federation… Read more »
The sale of Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging to MED Healthcare Partners was finalized on January 26, 2021. The name of the organization will not change with the sale, nor will its commitment to quality care for the elderly in our community. The Handmaker Board, with the support… Read more »
Congregation Or Chadash
2017 Religious School Model Seder
Passover may look different this year, but it is still an essential time for us to come together with family and friends (whether in person or via Zoom) to share the story of our deliverance from Egypt. Four community members offer their favorite recipes to help flavor your Passover… Read more »
Irving Winick Irving Winick, age 90, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on March 6, 2021. Born on July 11, 1930 in Jersey City, New Jersey, Irving was a graduate of New York University Law School and the Culinary Institute of America. He served in the United States… Read more »
Sarah Segal got into the spirit of Purim during the Zoom Megillah reading at Handmaker on Erev Purim. Despite COVID restriction adjustments, Handmaker residents had fun celebrating Purim this year! Rabbi and Chani Shemtov and Rabbi and Feigi Ceitlin provided beautiful Mishloach Manot for our residents at Handmaker. Many residents also enjoyed listening to the Megillah Esther on Zoom on Erev Purim, read by Mel Cohen, Dan… Read more »
Suppose your daughter, upset about not making the 2017 high school varsity cheerleader squad, reacts with not-so-nice language on Snapchat to 250 of her friends. The school suspends her from any cheerleading squad for a year. She is not at school when she does this. What if your nephew,… Read more »
Amy Hirshberg Lederman The experience of celebrating Jewish holidays has been dramatically altered since the onset of the pandemic over a year ago. From solitary Passover seders to attending High Holiday services in our pajamas on Zoom, we have tried our best to stay connected to tradition despite the precautions and restrictions… Read more »
When Moses led the Jewish People out of Egypt on the night of Passover, G-d had delivered them by a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm. He led them in the way they should go, and gave Moses the Torah, with the Ten Commandments, to set the Jewish… Read more »
