Amy Hirshberg Lederman Human beings are born into relationship. It is our natural way of being – a state of need coupled with desire – without which we languish physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. In the Jewish tradition, being in relationship is regarded as one of the highest and most sacred of… Read more »
Aaron Zeldin celebrated becoming a Bar Mitzvah on January 30 at Congregation Or Chadash. He is the son of Jean Lee and Martin Zeldin and attends Orange Grove Middle School, where he plays tuba in the band. He enjoys various sports, hanging out with friends and is an avid… Read more »
Harold Basser at his favorite restaurant in Tucson, Vivace Long-time Tucson resident, Harold Basser, age 94, died of complications from COVID-19 on Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021 at Tucson Medical Center. Earlier in his life, as a real estate developer in Boston, Harold helped pioneer the restoration and renovation of abandoned Industrial Revolution era factories and commercial buildings in… Read more »
Benjamin Miles Glaser born February 1, 2021 son of Karen and Peter Glaser of Washington DC, grandson of Judy and Chuck Schultz of Tucson AZ and Roni and Steve Glaser of Port Washington NY.… Read more »
Abbe Goncharsky Calista Morrison, daughter of Christopher and Abbe Morrison, will celebrate becoming a bat mitzvah on Saturday, February 6, 2021 via Facebook Live from Congregation Or Chadash. Cali is the granddaughter of Sharon and the late Robert Goncharsky of Tucson, Arizona, and Joan O’Connell and Brian O’Connell of West Palm… Read more »
Geraldine Brooks Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks has just finished writing a new novel, inspired by the story of a racehorse during the 1850s and ’60s. It is the first of her novels in which religion is not a dominant theme, which made it the hardest to write, because religion is… Read more »
Rabbi Dr. Scott Saulson Included in the gracious invitation from the Arizona Jewish Post to offer approximately 500 words to appear in the “Rabbi’s Corner” on a Jewish topic of my choice was the addendum that my words “may or may not be related to the weekly Torah portion.” In other words, no… Read more »
Melayna Rachel Matheson, daughter of Teresa and Brandon Matheson, will celebrate becoming a bat mitzvah on Feb. 20, 2021 at Congregation Anshei Israel. She is the granddaughter of Debra and Landon Matheson of Chicago, Illinois; Darlene and Robert Moen of Sartell, Minnesota; and the late Susan Matheson. Melayna is… Read more »
Richard Louis Stein, aka Cactus Dick, 85, died Jan. 10, 2021. Born in Detroit, Dick spent close to 80 years in Tucson. A Tucson High School Badger, class of 1953, Dick served in the United States Army before returning home to work in the family businesses, Campbell Avenue Hardware… Read more »
Andrew Lorin Rosen, age 66, died on Jan. 19, 2021 from Covid complications. Andy is survived by his wife, Gina, and his three children, Jared, Edie and Emanuel. Andy had a passion for his family history and jazz. Born in Brooklyn, he spent the last three decades in Tucson… Read more »
The Jewish History Museum/Holocaust History Center will mark Holocaust Remembrance Day and the liberation of Auschwitz with two online programs next week. “We Are Still Here: The Testimony of Margot Heuman, Auschwitz Survivor” screens the testimony of a Southern Arizona resident, newly recorded in the Holocaust History Center in… Read more »
Rabbi Sara Metz
This past June, my family moved from New Jersey to Tucson. As we started unpacking and dreaming of our life here, we looked to our yard. We knew that the blessing of rain is scarce in this desert climate. For that reason, we have worked with people who know… Read more »
Henri Servin, Ph.D., 94, died of Covid-related pneumonia on Jan. 8, 2021. Servin’s son was at his side when he died, and his wife, Genevieve was able to say a final goodbye over video. Henri was born to a Jewish family in Poland in 1926 and grew up in… Read more »
Jonathan Rothschild, left, and Pastor D. Grady Scott
Although the African American community faces many challenges, such as gaining better access to healthcare and education, for Pastor B. Grady Scott of Grace Temple Missionary Baptist Church in Tucson, the number one issue is overrepresentation in jails and prisons. Scott and former Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild presented “African… Read more »
What is justice? Equity? Fair treatment? The blindfolded woman holding the scales? What would the perfect world, filled with justice, look like? Deuteronomy 16:20 tells us: “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof l’maan tichyeh.” Justice, justice you shall pursue, that you may live… In the months of 2021, we will explore many… Read more »
Nancy Bee (nee Shanker Sirota), 92, or Reseda, California, died, Dec. 29, 2020. Survivors include Mike and Pam Sirota of Los Angeles, and Yvonne Cook, Phyllis Bee, Brian and Jane Bee, and Sharon Aviva Bee all of Tucson; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; and a community of friends at… Read more »
Gugulethu Moyo, executive director of the Jewish History Museum/Holocaust History Center in Tucson (Photo courtesy Moyo)
Gugulethu Moyo, the new executive director of Tucson’s Jewish History Museum/Holocaust History Center, comes to the job with a unique set of qualifications, encompassing both her career as an international human rights lawyer and her personal Jewish journey. In November, the museum’s board of directors unanimously approved her appointment… Read more »
Community Food Bank team members load provide food supplies at the emergency food distribution center it operated at Kino Sports Complex for nine months. On Jan. 7, the food bank moved drive-up distribution to its building at 3003 S. Country Club Road. Project Isaiah, the Jewish community's annual anti-hunger campaign, benefits the Community Food Bank. (Photo courtesy Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona)
Through Project Isaiah and Mitzvah Magic, two longstanding programs organized by the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona and community partners, members of the Tucson Jewish community have helped put food on the table and meet other needs for local families this fall, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.… Read more »
Minnette Doris Marks Friedman, 84, died Dec. 31, 2020. Born in Irvington, New Jersey, on June 6, 1937, Minnette was the daughter of Paul Jerome Marks and Jeannette Samuels Marks. As an only child, Minnette developed a strong sense of independence and self-reliance. After graduating as the valedictorian from… Read more »
Isidore Shapiro, 101, died Dec. 27, 2020. Izzy was born in 1919 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and moved with his family to New York City a few years later. Izzy dedicated his professional life to helping others: working first as a probation officer, then as a social worker and the… Read more »
