Post-Its

Ahh … Passover: • Chag HaMatzot — The Festival of Matzah • Chag HaPesach — The Festival of the Passover Offering • Chag HaAviv — The Spring Festival • Z’man Cheiruteinu — The Time of Our Freedom Z’man Cheiruteinu — The Time of Our Freedom. This is freedom? Cleaning… Read more »

Evelyn Barbarosh Bersh, 101, died Feb. 23, 2013. Mrs. Bersh was born in Newark, N.J., raised her family in South Orange, N.J. , where she volunteered at the National Jewish Home for Asthmatic Children, and moved to Tucson in 1972. Playing piano by ear since age eight, Mrs. Bersh… Read more »

Barbara A. Harow, 76, died Feb. 19, 2013. Mrs. Harow is survived by her son, Jay Harow of Tucson; brother, Eric Bernhardt of Pennsylvania; sister, Judith Steo of North Carolina; four grandchildren; and former husband, Marvin L. Harow. Graveside services were held in the Temple Emanu-El section of Evergreen… Read more »

Gerald Blum, 88, died Dec. 29, 2012. Born in New York City, Mr. Blum graduated from Stuyvesant High School in 1942 and New York University in 1949. He served in the Army Air Force and fought in China during World War II. In 1989, Mr. Blum retired as president… Read more »

ALEXANDER SHAOL BERNSTEIN, son of Harriette Levitt and Michael Bernstein, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, March 9 at Congregation Young Israel. He is the grandson of Carol and the late Dr. Jay Bernstein of West Bloomfield, Mich., and the late Sady and Morris Levitt. Alex attends… Read more »

ELENA SHEA ECELBARGER, daugh­ter of Bess and Paul Ecelbarger, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, March 16 at Temple Emanu-El. She is the granddaughter of Judi and Bob Rubin, Laura and Jack Obzrut, and Mark Thaler, all of Tucson. Elena attends Gridley Middle School, where she is… Read more »

Rabbi Ben Herman

Surprise: It’s Happy New Year time again! Did you know that there are four Jewish new years, one of which, Rosh Chodesh Nissan, will occur this coming Tuesday, March 12? According to the first Mishnah in Tractate Rosh Hashanah: “The first of Nissan is the new year for kings… Read more »

Aileen Bernstein Weisman, 89, died on Feb. 1, 2013. Mrs. Weisman moved to Tucson from Long Island, N.Y. She was a member of Congregation Anshei Israel. Mrs. Weisman was preceded in death by her husband, Theo­dore Weisman. Survivors include her sons, Steven (Susan) Weisman of Tucson and Harold (Connie)… Read more »

The Book of Esther may be a completely invented melodrama, yet under the buffoonery we find a deeply human challenge. The heart of the story — both physically and emotionally — comes at the moment that Mordecai asks Esther to approach the king and plead on behalf of the… Read more »

Lynn Sharon Strauss, 76, died Jan. 11, 2013, in Shreveport, La. A 45-year resident of Tucson, Mrs. Strauss operated an office consulting firm for medical practices specializing in computerized record keeping. She was a long-time member of Congregation Anshei Israel, where she was elected secretary-treasurer of the board of… Read more »

Milan Bier, 92, died Jan. 15, 2013. Born in Vukovar, Croatia (then part of Yugoslavia), Mr. Bier spent four years as a refugee in Yugoslavia, Italy and Switzerland during World War II. He graduated from the University of Geneva and immigrated to the United States in 1945. He received… Read more »

Rabbi Jason Holtz

It has been a bit more than one month since the Newtown tragedy, where 26 people, including 20 children, were killed. It has been a bit more than two years since the tragic shooting here in Tucson. The sad reality is that the amount of violence involving guns in… Read more »

DIANE OLIVIA ZASHIN, daughter of Lisa and Todd Zashin, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Jan. 19 at Temple Emanu-El. She is the granddaughter of Marsha and Robert Rosenblum of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Joyce Zashin of Tucson. Diane attends Orange Grove Middle School, where she plays… Read more »

DANIEL ADAM VOGEL, son of Rosi and Benjamin Vogel, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Jan. 26 at Congregation Or Chadash. He is the grandson of the late Irving Vogel and Margot Vogel of Tucson, and Oscar and Lety de Alva of Mexico City. Daniel attends Orange… Read more »

Raquel Litin, daughter of Zora Litin and Brad Litin, and Edward Arriola, Jr., son of Sharon Bart and Edward Arriola, Sr., were married on Sunday, Dec. 9, the first day of Chanukah, by Rabbi Billy Lewkowicz in the Rose Garden at Reid Park. Grandparents are Herman and Helen Moskovits… Read more »

Allen Lee Baron, 79, died Dec. 14, 2012. Born Abraham Podolny in the Bronx, N.Y., Mr. Baron attended DeWitt Clinton High School. He graduated from University High School in Los Angeles. He enrolled at UCLA in 1952, joining the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity, but his studies were interrupted by… Read more »

Emily Singer, daughter of Steve and Shelley Singer of Tucson, and Yaron Hurvitz, son of Udi and Mickey Hurvitz of Ramat HaSharon, Israel, were married June 15, 2012 in Tel Aviv. Yaron is the grandson of Eldad and Leah Hurvitz of Ramat Chen. Joining their Israeli friends and relatives… Read more »

JOEL COLLIER, son of Randie and Shelby Collier, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Dec. 27 in Jerusalem. He is the grandson of Rosalie Rellin of Milwaukee, Wis., and Roger and Carol Collier of Tucson. His parents, grandparents, sister Maya, and Congregation Chaverim’s Rabbi Stephanie Aaron and… Read more »

NIKOLAI SIEGFRIED ROBBINS, son of Sylvia and Matthew Robbins, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Dec. 22. Marlene Burns will officiate at the family’s home. He is the grandson of Harriet Robbins and the late Harold Robbins of Tucson, and Margrit and Fred Knippert of Grants Pass,… Read more »

Thelma “Teddi” Barlin, 83, died Nov. 23, 2012. A 66-year resident of Tucson, Mrs. Barlin graduated from Tucson High School and the University of Arizona. She was a long- time member of Congregation Anshei Israel, supporter of Tucson Hebrew Academy and a resident at Handmaker. Mrs. Barlin was preceded… Read more »