Tagged Handmaker

In Focus: Hanukkah at Handmaker

Nanci Levy, Handmaker community outreach coordinator, with Hanukkah latkes she made for residents and staff on Dec. 11. (Photo: Angela Salmon/Handmaker)

Despite the restrictions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, residents and staff at Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging celebrated Hanukkah last month. Rabbi Richard Safran led a nightly menorah lighting for fellow residents in the Rubin Assisted Living Neighborhood. Nanci Levy, community outreach coordinator, cooked up potato latkes for… Read more »

Handmaker and Chabad team up for kosher Meals on Wheels

From left, Rabbi Yossie Shemtov of Chabad Tucson with Handmaker Director of Food and Facility Services Mike Felde, Pastry Chef Julie Ogroski, and Executive Chef Claire Wilmouth (Photo: Faye Gandolfi)

Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging has announced a partnership with the ongoing Chabad of Tucson Kosher Meals on Wheels program. By providing affordable kosher meals to those in need, this collaboration helps tackle the issue of food insecurity in the local community. The program will provide glatt kosher… Read more »

Handmaker adds hugging booth to courtyard visits

Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging reisdent Sophia Bowman hugs daughter Gretchen through the "hugging booth" plastic divider, with son Kevin looking on. (Photo courtesy Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging)

For the last month or so, residents of Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging have been enjoying visits with friends and family outside in one of the courtyards, 6 feet apart, and masked, per COVID-19 safety precautions. “We even have a hugging booth, so residents can hug their visitors… Read more »

Marcia Light

Marcia Silberman Light, 71, died June 13, 2020 after a short battle with acute myeloid leukemia, just two days shy of her 51st wedding anniversary. Mrs. Light was born in East St. Louis, Illinois, the oldest daughter of Arthur and Shirley Silberman. She attended Belleville Township High School and… Read more »

Handmaker temporarily limits outside visitors

As a precaution against the spread of COVID-19, aka the coronavirus, Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging has canceled all outside programs and events at least through the end of March. Handmaker is also limiting visitation, as per recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and the Center for… Read more »

Remembering former JFCS chair for his passion, kindness

The late Fred Fruchthendler, left, with Jewish Family & Children’s Services’ President and CEO Carlos Hernández at the 206 JFCS Celebration of Caring event on April 10, 2016, which marked JFCS’ 75th anniversary. (Photo courtesy Jewish Family & Children's Services)

I remember when I first met Fred Fruchthendler. It was my first interview with the board of Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona for the position of president and CEO. After an hour or so of many tough and thoughtful questions, a voice that had not yet… Read more »

Skylar Naomi Dehnert

Skylar Naomi Dehnert, daughter of John and LeeAat Dehnert, will celebrate becoming a bat mitzvah on March 9 at Congregation Or Chadash. She is the granddaughter of George and Tamar Mednick of Saratoga, California, and Janet Dehnert of Tucson. Skylar attends The Gregory School, where she achieves high honor… Read more »

Local agency programs spread JFSA funds

A view from the lobby of the Harvey and Deanna Evenchik Center for Jewish Philanthropy, home of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona and the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona (Martha Lochert)

Editor’s Note: This is the last in a series of four articles on how the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona allocates funds. The first, in the Oct. 12 issue, focused on youth and family education programs at synagogues. The second, in the Nov. 23 issue, looked at national and… Read more »

In focus 12.21.18

Northwest residents brought their menorahs for a community-wide lighting to celebrate the last night of Hanukkah, Dec. 9, at The Ruth and Irving Olson Center for Jewish Life in the Northwest.

Northwest celebrates last night of Hanukkah On Sunday, Dec. 9, the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona Northwest Division held its annual family Hanukkah party at The Ruth and Irving Olson Center for Jewish Life. Some 85 people attended, including members of Tucson Hebrew Academy’s choir, who performed, led by… Read more »

In Focus 11.23.18

50th-anniversary celebration Marshall and Susan Rubin celebrated their 50th anniversary, which was officially on Aug. 11, with a party Oct. 21 for family and friends. About 55 people attended the party, held at Culinary Dropout, including the Rubin’s adult sons and their families, who live in Tucson, and Susan’s… Read more »

Handmaker, Brandeis to team on art talks

Handmaker will host a series of six art talks by docents from the Tucson Museum of Art beginning this fall. The talks, organized by Ellie Eigen and the Tucson chapter of the Brandeis National Committee, are open to those who have signed up for the series through the BNC,… Read more »

Weintraubs fund new healthcare scholarships for staff at Handmaker

Maria Martinez, LPN, is one of the first Handmaker staff members enrolled in the Diane and Ronald Weintraub Scholarship Fund.

Staff at Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging are being offered opportunities to improve their careers in healthcare through the generosity of community philanthropists Diane and Ron Weintraub. The couple recently collaborated with Handmaker President and CEO Arthur Martin to establish parameters for the grant. It offers individuals up… Read more »

Ann Stein

Ann Annette (Annie) Stein, 90, died Aug. 25, 2017. Mrs. Stein was born in Brooklyn, New York. She graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School. In 1946 she married Leo Stein and they moved to Tucson. In addition to raising three sons, Mrs. Stein served as a volunteer at Tucson… Read more »

Charlotte Ilyse Bregman

CHARLOTTE ILYSE BREGMAN, daughter of Dani and Phil Bregman, will celebrate becoming a bat mitzvah on Saturday, June 3 at Congregation Anshei Israel. She is the granddaughter of Margaret Rebaza of Denver and the late David Southworth and the late Irvin and Harriett Bregman. Charlotte attends Esperero Canyon Middle… Read more »

Covenant House grateful for assistance from Handmaker

B’nai B’rith Covenant House of Tucson is a low-income HUD housing community for seniors that provides safe, affordable housing for 120 older adults in mid-town. Early in the morning on Sunday, May 14, which was Mother’s Day, 40 residents living in building one were awoken to a blaring fire… Read more »

JFCS confirms new date for ethical wills workshop

Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona will hold a free ethical wills workshop for the Jewish community on Thursday, Aug. 11, from 1-3 p.m. at Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging. Rabbi Stephanie Aaron of Congregation Chaverim will lead the workshop, which was originally scheduled for July.… Read more »

JFCS ethical will workshop to be rescheduled

Update July 8: This event has been postponed due to a bereavement.  JFCS hopes to reschedule on a date in August.  Jewish Family & Children’s Services of Southern Arizona will hold a free ethical wills workshop for the Jewish community on Thursday, July 14, from 1-3 p.m. at Handmaker… Read more »

In Focus 11.7.14

(L-R) Hirsch Handmaker (Kalmanovitz campaign co-chair), Jane Kivel (Handmaker Foundation past chair), Lowell Rothschild (Kalmanovitz campaign co-chair), Terry Perl (Handmaker board chair), Art Martin (Handmaker president and CEO), Alice Baker, Myles Beck (Handmaker past chair), Mayor Jonathan Rothschild and Paul Baker. The Bakers are among the top donors to the Kalmanovitz campaign, along with the Steven Ohren Foundation. (Frederick Clark Photography)

Kalmanovitz Center dedication Some 200 guests attended the dedication of the Paul and Lydia Kalmanovitz Elder Care Center on Monday, Oct. 27. Located on the campus of Handmaker Jewish Services for the Aging, the center is a partnership between Handmaker and Tucson Medical Center. The Kalmanovitz Foundation pledged $3… Read more »