Post-Its

Jacob Paul Gordon

JACOB PAUL GORDON, son of Richard Gordon and Amy Krauss, celebrated becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Monday, June 4  at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, Israel, during Temple Emanu-El’s 2012 Israel Pilgrammage Tour. He is the grandson of Allen and the late Harriet Krause and Arthur and the late… Read more »

Israeli tour guide and Holocaust survivor Eliezer Ayalon dies

Eliezer Ayalon

Eliezer Ayalon, a veteran tour guide for Jewish Federation missions, died late last month. Born in Radom, Poland in 1928, Ayalon was the only child from his family to survive the Holocaust. He spent a year in the Radom Ghetto and then three years in five different concentration camps… Read more »

Jonathan Owens

Jonathan Owens

Jonathan David Owens, 49, died suddenly on May 14, 2012. Mr. Owens was a jeweler at Maguire’s Jewelry and an active member of Congregation Anshei Israel. A loving husband and family man, he took an active role in his children’s sports and musical accomplishments. He was a friend to… Read more »

Rabbi’s corner: Journey to Promised Land not without pitfalls

Rabbi Ben Herman

This week marks one year since my move to Tucson from New York City. Entering my first full-time job after 24 straight years of being a student, I was apprehensive about this transition. Although I previously had held student pulpits and rabbinic internships, I wondered what life would be… Read more »

André Charles Janoff

ANDRÉ CHARLES JANOFF, son of Dr. Edward Janoff and Dr. Nancy Krywonis of Denver, Colo., will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, June 16 at Temple Emanu-El in Denver. He is the grandson of Kola and Ron Janoff of Tucson, Barbara Janoff-Kaplan of Boca Raton, Fla., and Shirley… Read more »

Alexander Raphael Senti

ALEXANDER RAPHAEL SENTI, son of Laurie Soloff and Richard Senti, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, June 16 at Congregation Chaverim. Alex attends Orange Grove Middle School, where he is an honor student and has contributed to student action committee projects. He plays on the school tennis,… Read more »

Gary Anderson

He lived, he loved, he had a good life. He was loved by his wife, children and grandchildren. “Lieutenant” Gary G. Anderson travelled to his mountaintop to watch over his family on May 8, 2012 in Tucson, Ariz. He was born June 25,1933, the son of Vera A. McCarthy… Read more »

Gertrude Rubin

Gertrude (Goldie) Rubin died April 12, 2012. Born in Manhattan and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Mrs. Rubin lived with her husband in Brooklyn before they moved to Tucson in 1981. Mrs. Rubin was preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, David Rubin. Survivors include her children, Norman… Read more »

Ezra Joseph Lyons

EZRA JOSEPH LYONS, son of Hilary and Patrick Lyons, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, June 2 at Congregation Chaverim. He is the grandson of Enid Bluestein of Los Angeles, Calif., and Kathleen Lyons of Crown Point, Ind. Ezra attends BASIS Tucson Middle School, where he is… Read more »

Joshua Charles Burke

JOSHUA CHARLES BURKE, son of Roslyn and Charles Burke, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, June 2 at Congregation Or Chadash. He is the grandson of Barbara and Don Champion, and Dorothy and Bob Burke, all of Tucson. Joshua attends Andersen Junior High School in Chandler, Ariz.… Read more »

Benjamin Joshua Davidson

BENJAMIN JOSHUA DAVIDSON, son of Laynie Browne and Brad Davidson, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, May 26 at Congre­gation Chaverim. He is the grandson of Judith and Andy Benson, Rochelle Browne, Allan Browne, and Michelle Kutnezsky and Jerry Davidson, all of Los Angeles, Calif. Benjamin attends… Read more »

Sylvia Levin

Sylvia C. (Spekter) Levin, 88, died May 3, 2012. Mrs. Levin received her R.N. degree from Beth Israel School of Nursing in New York City. For 17 years, she nursed in several hospital labor, delivery and nursery wards. She later assisted in an orthopedic surgeon’s office and was floor… Read more »

Rabbi’s corner: A new read on one of the 10 commandments

Rabbi Shair Lobb

We are coming up on the traditional time for celebrating the giving of the Ten Dibrot or utterances (usually translated as commandments). Naturally, much has been written about these instructions, utterances, mitzvot (many names because they are not well understood at all) as we struggle to pattern our lives… Read more »

Mitch Dorson: consummate teacher and ‘all-around mensch’

Mitch Dorson

Mitch Dorson, 63, died unexpectedly on May 13, 2012. “His life was a story about a man standing for his principles,” says Rabbi Joseph Weizenbaum, who worked with Mr. Dorson at Temple Emanu-El. “He never backed off” of those principles teaching social studies, first at Catalina Foothills High School… Read more »

Jacob Francis Weinstein

JACOB FRANCIS WEINSTEIN, son of Joann and Steven Weinstein, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, May 19 at Congregation Anshei Israel. Jacob attends Emily Gray Jr. High School, where he is an honor student and a member of student council. He enjoys snow skiing, football, basketball, hiking,… Read more »

Leah Tamar Tolby

LEAH TAMAR TOLBY, daughter of Abigail and Noah Tolby, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, May 12 at Congregation Anshei Israel. She is the granddaughter of Aviah and Stuart Friedman of Phoenix, and Linda Solomon of Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif. Leah attends Tucson Hebrew Academy where she… Read more »

Bradley Bennett Feig

BRADLEY BENNETT FEIG, son of Cynthia and Dan Feig, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, May 12 at Congregation Chaverim. He is the grandson of Bobbie and Leroy Feig and Sharon Kasle, all of Tucson, and Gaylor and Barbara Kasle of Boca Raton, Fla. Bradley attends St.… Read more »

Brennen Pierce Feder

BRENNEN PIERCE FEDER, son of Anita and Bradley Feder, will celebrate becoming a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, May 5 at Loews Ventana Canyon with Congregation Chaverim. He is the grandson of JoAnn Angeles and Elayne and Jerry Feder, all of Tucson. Brennen attends Esperero Canyon Middle School, where he… Read more »

Alison Rose Young

ALLISON ROSE YOUNG, daughter of Deborah and Gary Young, celebrated becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, April 28 at Congregation Anshei Israel. She is the granddaughter of Kathy and Harris Breit and Carol and Glenn Young, all of Tucson. Allison attends Desert Sky Middle School, where she is an… Read more »

Victor Levin

Victor Levin, 81, died April 3, 2012. Born in Upper Sandusky, Ohio, Mr. Levin moved to Columbus, Ohio. He attended South High School and received a masters degree in physics from Ohio State University. Mr. Levin worked as an aeronautical engineer for Rockwell and Batelle in Columbus. He moved… Read more »