Participants gather Oct. 10 for a vigil organized by University of Arizona Jewish groups in response to Hamas attacks on Israel. (Courtesy University of Arizona Hillel) Tensions have been high on the University of Arizona campus in response to the war that began with the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks on Israel. UArizona Jewish groups including Hillel, Chabad, Olami, and Mishelanu organized a vigil on Oct. 10. That event, which drew more than 300 attendees, was… Read more »
I was heartbroken when my son, a tech sergeant and Jewish lay leader in the Air Force, informed me that he and his family would be moving to London from Charleston, S.C., where they were stationed at the time. It was Thanksgiving of 2021, and everyone was excited except… Read more »
Hava Leipzig Holzhauer’s official start date as president and CEO of Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona is Dec. 4, but she will be joining the community on Dec. 3 for a solidarity gathering for Israel called “A Light in the Darkness” because of its proximity to Hanukkah. The event… Read more »
Cantorial Soloist Nichole Chorny has had a love for Judaism and Jewish music for almost as long as she can remember. “I always had a sense of belonging and connection to the Jewish community,” Chorny says. “From a young age I knew I wanted to do something related to… Read more »
It’s there. It has to be. According to Anti-Defamation League Director and CEO Jonathan Greenblatt, antisemitism has increased 388% since October 7 over the same time period last year. Christopher Wray, FBI Director calls it at a historic level and points out that Jews are the target of international… Read more »
Kol Ami Synagogue invites you to attend a series of events on December 15 and 16, featuring Stephanie Butnick and Liel Leibovitz, two of the co-hosts of Unorthodox,” the universe’s premier Jewish podcast.” The events are part of the Rabbi Albert T. Bilgray Memorial Lectureship and are free and… Read more »
On the eve of Veteran’s Day, U.S. Senator from Arizona Mark Kelly visited the Tucson J campus for a meaningful and intimate conversation with J leaders and Board Members, Todd Rockoff, President + CEO; Fran Katz, Chief Development Officer; Mike Gadarian, Chief Financial Officer; Josh Shenker, Chief Program Officer;… Read more »
Thanks to a grant from the Jewish Community Foundation, Handmaker, in collaboration with Jewish Family and Children’s Services (JFCS), began hosting a monthly Shabbat Lunch and Learn program in October, free of charge to older adults. The intention of the program is to give aging adults a no-cost opportunity… Read more »
Tucson Hebrew Academy (THA) is thrilled to announce the appointment of Ethan Myerson as its new Director of Development. With a decade of experience in Tucson’s nonprofit sector, Ethan brings a wealth of expertise and passion for connecting people with meaningful missions. In his role, Ethan will spearhead efforts… Read more »
When Afghanistan fell to the Taliban, many Afghans, some who worked alongside U.S. troops and NGOs (non-profits that operate independently of governments), had to escape due to a real and critical threat to their lives. Over the past six months, Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona (JFCS)… Read more »
A new historical exhibit, “We Stand on Their Shoulders: Mentors of Tucson’s Jewish Community,” was dedicated Nov. 9 at the Harvey and Deanna Evenchik Center for Jewish Philanthropy, which houses the Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona (JPSA). The exhibit adorns a hallway outside JPSA’s Shaol and Evelyn Pozez Event… Read more »
Myra Katzen Levenson of Tucson, AZ, and Mill Valley, CA, died at age 84 on November 4. Myra found her true joy in connecting with family and friends, talking about everything, and making new connections with people. Her other true passions were classical music and art. Born and raised… Read more »
This article originally appeared in Jewish News (Phoenix) and is reprinted with permission. Last month, the University of Arizona in Tucson marked a grim anniversary: the campus murder of Professor Thomas Meixner, head of the Hydrology & Atmospheric Sciences Department. Though Meixner was not Jewish — he was a… Read more »
This article was originally published at Tucson.com. I’m writing this column to give an insight into what many Jewish people are going through. I don’t speak for all Jews, but I do speak for a sizeable swathe of my community. Since the Hamas massacre of Israelis on October 7,… Read more »
Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona (JPSA) issued the following statement today in support of Israel: JPSA stands unwaveringly in support of the people of Israel. JPSA recognizes the right and necessity for Israel to defend itself and its citizens and for the Israel Defense Forces to act as required… Read more »
This article was first published in the October 2023 issue of DesertLeaf magazine. My Aunt Jan saved my life. The overall risk of a woman developing breast cancer during her lifetime is approximately 13%. My risk was much higher—55%-72%—due to a genetic predisposition known as a BRCA1 mutation. I… Read more »
Dear Community Member, As a new member of the Weintraub Israel Center team, it is with great sadness that this has to be my first letter to the community. Friday evening, October 6, we returned from Shabbat dinner and arrived home. Suddenly, I received a message from one of my friends:… Read more »
Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona (JPSA) is pleased to announce the addition of four new staff members to its development team. The new hires are Junko Nagao, Director of Development; Ian Arthur, Campaign Manager; Nate Weisband, Young Leadership Manager; and Ital Ironstone, Women’s Philanthropy Manager. They will all work… Read more »
This article is reprinted courtesy of Jewish News A standing-room-only crowd of more than 900 people gathered in the sculpture garden of the Tucson Jewish Community Center (Tucson JCC) on Oct. 9 to show solidarity with Israel in the wake of unprecedented terrorist attacks. The evening of prayers and… Read more »
On Sunday, October 22, Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center (TJMHC) hosted the third installment of the Lakin Lecture Series on Antisemitism. More than 100 people came together to listen to internationally recognized educator and author Ben M. Freeman and learn more about his advocacy for Jewish Pride. Jewish… Read more »
