Blake Zoey Belen, daughter of Megan and Cary Belen, will celebrate becoming a Bat Mitzvah on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at Kol Ami Synagogue. Blake attends Orange Grove Middle School. She is an active member of National Charity League and a competitive swimmer for Tucson Ford Aquatics. She also… Read more »
Comedian and inclusion advocate Pamela Schuller (Courtesy of Pamela Schuller)
(JTA) — I have Tourette syndrome, a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary movements and noises called “tics.” My Tourette’s is relatively mild at this point, but I went through a turbulent adolescence when Tourette’s was the most defining thing about me. Between the constant movements and the loud, uncontrollable… Read more »
Noah Pensak (left) and Jacob Meyer donate books to the Ocotillo Learning Center library. (Courtesy Ocotillo Learning Center) It started as a novel way to teach Jewish children about philanthropy, social justice and tikkun olam (repairing the world). Today, the mitzvah project has become a cherished part of the Bar and Bat Mitzvah scene. Yet for each child who chooses to take part in this burgeoning tradition,… Read more »
