Tagged Congregation Chofetz Chayim

Tucson program yields glimpse of the Divine

I  recently completed the reading of all 15 volumes of “The Cambridge History of English Literature” by A.W. Ward and A.R. Waller. It took me several years. When it came to the history of religious writing having to do with Christianity and its various forms and manifestations, the authors paid… Read more »

Gang-to-rabbinate bio topic for Women’s Academy brunch

“Incredible! From the Bronx to Bnei Brak: The Amazing True Story of Rabbi Yossi Wallis” by Rabbi Nachman Seltzer is the title for this year’s Women’s Academy for Jewish Studies community-wide book brunch, which will be presented by Southwest Torah Institute at  Congregation Chofetz Chayim on Sunday, Sept. 25… Read more »

Yeshiva-style ‘Spirit’ program returns to Southwest Torah Institute for 16th year

Rabbinical student Asher Shechtman (left) and Menachem Sosonov study together during the Southwest Torah Insitute’s 2015 Spirit program. (Courtesy Rabbi Israel Becker)

The Southwest Torah Institute’s Dr. Paul W. Hoffert Spirit Program begins Monday, July 25. The two-week free learning program, “A Tree of Life for Those Who Grasp It,” which takes its title from Proverbs, runs through Sunday, Aug. 7. Now in its 16th year, the program is for Jewish… Read more »

Beckers to lead third community trip to Israel

Rabbi Israel and Esther Becker of Southwest Torah Institute and Congregation Chofetz Chayim will host a “Love of the Land” orientation meeting Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. to introduce their third Tucson Jewish community Israel trip, which is slated for May 22 through June 5, 2016. Refreshments will… Read more »

Chofetz Chayim plans magic, music for Purim

Norm Marini

Congregation Chofetz Chayim will hold a Magical Purim Party II on Thursday, March 5 at 5 p.m., featuring award-winning magician and comedian Norm Marini. He is a past president of the Society of American Magicians. His honors include Close-Up Magician of the Year and three-time winner of Stage Magician… Read more »

Congregation Chofetz Chayim celebrates writing of new Torah

Rabbi Israel Becker claps to the music as Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild carries Congregation Chofetz Chayim’s newly written Torah scroll to be welcomed by men holding the congregation’s existing Torah scrolls. (Rogelio Garcia)

“We are all here today to witness the birth of a new sefer Torah,” said scribe Rabbi Zvi Chaim Pincus of New York, to 150 men, women and children gathered in the courtyard of Congregation Chofetz Chayim on Sunday, Sept. 14 to celebrate the completion and dedication of the… Read more »

Chofetz Chayim will dedicate new Torah

Congregation Chofetz Chayim and the Southwest Torah Institute will hold a “Torah for the Future” dedication on Sunday, Sept. 14 to celebrate the completion of a new Torah, the first Torah ever written expressly for the congregation and its educational and outreach division. Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild will be… Read more »

Passion for Torah infuses CCC/STI Israel trip

Trip members on the promenade at the port at Tel Aviv. Back row (L-R): Howard Peck, Meir Eisenman, Claire Peck, Carolyn Crowder, Esther Becker, Rabbi Israel Becker; front row: Howard Toff, Cheryl Toff, Renee Geffen, Carol Zuckert, Marcia Winick, Alayne Greenberg, Bruce Greenberg; seated: Lyn Lewis, Clifford Altfeld, Ruth Swedarsky

                        My wife, Lyn, and I recently returned from the Congregation Chofetz Chayim/Southwest Torah Institute 2014 Israel Experience, filled with enthusiasm for the trip and the many unique experiences we shared with a group of 13 led by… Read more »

Flower of Israel Mikveh to dedicate Women of Valor windows

Stained glass window representing Rachel, the wife of Rabbi Akiva, by Ami Shamir

Perach Yisroel, the Flower of Israel Mikveh at Congregation Chofetz Chayim, will dedicate new stained glass windows and unveil a metal logo sculpture on Sunday, March 17. “Since its opening in 2004, the Perach Yisroel Mikveh has proudly served all members of the Tucson Jewish community … regardless of… Read more »

“As Long As I Live” memoir inspires Women’s Academy brunch

The Women’s Academy for Jewish Studies at Congregation Chofetz Chayim will hold a free brunch and presentation next month, “What Does G-d Have in Mind for You?” with Esther Becker, based on the book “As Long as I Live: The Life Story of Aharon Margalit.” By age 7, Margalit’s… Read more »

CCC yeshiva-style Spirit program for men and boys returns

Dr. Paul W. Hoffert with the 2009 Spirit program team

Congregation Chofetz Chayim will offer the Dr. Paul W. Hoffert Spirit Program for two weeks beginning July 25. The program gives men and boys the opportunity to study, yeshiva-style, with five visiting students from the Rabbinical Seminary of America. The program has been named “in memory of our beloved… Read more »

Chofetz Chayim reprises ‘Spirit’ study program

Congregation Chofetz Chayim’s annual Spirit program will again give Tucson’s Jewish men the opportunity to experience one-on-one or intimate group learning with rabbinical students. Two full weeks of free study sessions will be held this month. Spirit participants will study with students from Rabbi Israel Becker’s alma mater, The… Read more »