Tagged JFSA

Multi-faith pride service to launch exhibit of sacred items

The Third Annual Multi-Faith Pride Worship Service, “Just Be —Emerging Out of the Wilderness,” cosponsored by the Wingspan Multi-Faith Working Group and the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona’s LGBT Jewish Inclusion Project, will be held Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, 915 E. 4th… Read more »

In Moscow and Jerusalem, young and old tell stories of courage, inspiration

Audrey Brooks with a child at the Mevaseret Zion Absorption Center near Jerusalem. (Courtesy JFSA)

The story is in the stories. That’s what I learned with 100 others from 37 other communities on the Jewish Federations of North America’s Campaign Chairs and Directors Mission to Moscow and Israel this summer. I heard stories of inspiration, intrigue, courage and hope. I learned that just as… Read more »

JFSA, WIC urge signing of anti-unilateral U.N. petition

The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona and the Weintraub Israel Center are encouraging area residents to sign a “Petition Against a Unilaterally Declared Palestinian State” created by the Israel Action Network, a joint project of the Jewish Federations of North America and the Jewish Council for Public Affairs. The… Read more »

JFSA nominates Giffords, Aaron as heroes

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (P.K.Weis/southwest photobank.com)

The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona has nominated Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and Rabbi Stephanie Aaron for the Third Annual Jewish Community Hero Awards. Created by The Jewish Federations of North America, the awards project uses social media such as Facebook and Twitter to bring national attention to local leaders,… Read more »

Nominees sought for Rainbow Keshet awards

The 2nd Annual Rainbow Keshet Awards committee is seeking nominations honoring individuals in Southern Arizona who have helped make the local community and the world a better place for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals and families. The awards ceremony will be held at the Tucson Jewish Community… Read more »

JFSA hires former detective as security consultant

Detective Donna Jacob, who retired last month from her position in intelligence and hate crimes with the Tucson Police Department, is now serving as a Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona community security consultant on a part-time contract, funded by the Federation for six months. Jacob will be available to… Read more »

Federation continuing 2011 Campaign effort

As the summer begins, Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona campaign leaders are working to close the 2011 Campaign by contacting past donors who have not yet made a pledge for this year. “The budgeting process for next season begins this summer,” explains Campaign Chair Kathryn Unger. “And the 2011… Read more »

JFSA names proposed officers for 2011-2012

The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona’s nominating committee, chaired by Jennifer Miller Grant, has recommended the following slate of officers for the 2011-2012 program year: Jeff Katz, chair of the board; Kathryn L. Unger, senior vice chair; Madeline Friedman, vice chair; Larry Gellman, vice chair; Joyce Stuehringer, vice chair;… Read more »

Rocket attacks shatter peace in Hof Ashkelon

The Federation’s TIPS Partnership incorporates the Regional Council of Hof Ashkelon, a consortium of kibbutzim and moshavim that border Gaza. This update from our partners, written Sunday, April 10, reveals how life is being impacted on a day-to-day basis by the uptick in missiles coming into the region from… Read more »

JFSA recruiting for 2012 March of the Living

On, Monday, May 2, more than 10,000 high school students and Holocaust survivors from around the world will take part in the 2011 March of the Living, walking three kilometers from Auschwitz to Birkenau. The event will air live at 9 a.m. on Jewish Life Television on cable and… Read more »

JFSA to honor local “gems”

JFSA Man of the Year Jim Whitehill

The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona will hold its own “gem show” to honor its 2011 award winners at its annual meeting and awards celebration on Thursday, May 12 at 7 p.m. at the Tucson Jewish Community Center. Heading the list of community gems are Man of the Year… Read more »

Got seder? Operation Elijah pairs first night hosts, guests

In an effort to ensure that every Jew in Southern Arizona has a seat at a seder table for Passover, the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona and local synagogues are joining forces for Operation Elijah, which pairs seder guests and hosts. All who are new to the community, single,… Read more »

Young Tucsonans rock to Federation beat at Tribefest

Hershel Cohen with Israeli hip-hop violinist Miri Ben-Ari, who performed at the conference

Twenty-three young Jewish Tucsonans headed off to Las Vegas earlier this month — not to gamble, but to make up one of the largest delegations to Tribefest, the newly re-branded Young Leadership conference of the Jewish Federations of North America. “Connect, Explore and Celebrate” they did, along with more… Read more »

Federation, Desert Caucus to lead Israel trip

The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona and the Desert Caucus will lead a “Focus on Israel” mission, Oct. 23 to Nov. 2, 2011. The joint mission will offer an insider’s view of Israeli-U.S. politics “with extraordinary access to Israeli leaders and insiders from all sides of the political spectrum,”… Read more »

Federation surpasses Super Sunday, LEAF goals

Kathy Unger, chair of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona board, makes calls on Super Sunday, Jan. 30, 2011.

The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona exceeded its Super Sunday phone-a-thon goal of $150,000 on Jan. 30, raising $194,967 toward its 2011 Campaign, with $17,295 of this total going to the Local Emergency Assistance Fund. Over 150 volunteers turned out for the event at the Tucson Jewish Community Center,… Read more »

Tucson Symphony quartet to play music from Terezin as prelude to film

In a scene from the film "Inside Hana's Suitcase," Hana arrives at Auschwitz in October 1944.

Hallonot, Hebrew for windows, is an annual Coalition for Jewish Education program providing windows into different aspects of the Jewish world. CJE has partnered with the Tucson International Jewish Film Festival and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra to present this year’s Hallonot, “Voices and Views on the Holocaust,” which will… Read more »

History museum becomes a JFSA partner

The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona approved the Jewish History Museum as a Federation community partner at its Nov. 3 board meeting. Founded in 1947, the Tucson Jewish Community Council became the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona in 1989. The agencies of the Council were given new autonomy with… Read more »

13 extraordinary women display diversity in their ‘secrets’

Paulette Gootter [Photos by Martha Lochert]

“If you want something done, your best bet is to ask a Jewish woman to do it,” Rep. Gabrielle Giffords said during her 2004 campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. On Sunday, Jan. 9, the day after Giffords, 40, was gravely wounded in a Tucson shooting rampage, a… Read more »

Super Sunday volunteers to stress local needs

Volunteer Angie Goorman makes calls at the JFSA Super Sunday phone-a-thon on Jan. 31, 2010

On Sunday, Jan. 30, members of Southern Arizona’s Jewish community will have their annual opportunity to change the world with one phone call, as hundreds of volunteers with the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona’s Super Sunday phone-a-thon call Tucsonans to raise funds for the JFSA 2011 Community Campaign. Super… Read more »

Students’ ‘613 Coins’ program to aid LEAF

Hebrew High student Alyssa Silva with tzedekah box

Students from Tucson Hebrew High and six religious schools are participating in the “613 Coins and Counting!” campaign to raise funds for LEAF, the Local Emergency Assistance Fund, which helps local Jewish families in need with housing costs, food, job placement and more. Their efforts, which began Jan. 9,… Read more »