“There are 10,000 people a day turning 65 and I think most of them live in Arizona,” says Janet Arnold, senior concierge for the Valley’s Jewish community. “All the Boomers are getting older and we’re not our parents or our grandparents’ seniors. We’re different. We’re still vibrant, we’re still full of life, we want to…
“Most Americans entertain a fantasy that we can walk away from the travails of the Middle East and that those travails won’t pursue us here at home. I would argue that the last few years have shown that, as appealing as that might be in theory, in reality the Middle East doesn’t leave us alone,”…
Hillary Goodman first walked through the doors of Camp Shemesh as a kindergartener, and she never left. When she aged out of being a camper, Hillary continued her summers as a CIT, counselor and then supervisor. This year, as the new summer day camp manager, she can’t wait to make sure other campers find the…
From preschool through 12th grade, campers can travel through time this summer at the Tucson Jewish Community Center’s Camp J. Each week is based on a different era, starting with Jurassic Week and ending with Into the Future, with stops in Ancient Egypt, Royal Renaissance, Groovy ’60s/’70s and more. “Our goal is for kids to…
Think about the women you know in your life. Narrow it down to four. Imagine one of them – someone near and dear to you – suffering humiliation, mental anguish, physical pain, possibly having their life threatened, and feeling too fearful to talk about it. One in four women reports experiencing abuse at the hands…
Her official title is development director of Arizona Theatre Company, but Leslie Freed is still an educator at heart. She loves introducing people to the behind-the-scenes world of the theater, where costumes are sewn, sets are built and magic happens. Throughout her career with museums and nonprofit organizations, her focus has been on sharing knowledge,…
When Kristina Brown and her children walk into the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center, she can tell they feel safe and secure. The J and its Early Childhood Center are their home away from home. “My kids have this sense of confidence, safety and being at home,” says Kristina, who serves as president…
Arizona is home to not just one, but two of the longest-running Jewish film festivals in the country – and both are marking milestones this year. The Tucson International Jewish Film Festival celebrates its 25th anniversary from Jan. 14-23, while the Greater Phoenix Jewish Film Festival holds its 20th annual event from Feb. 14-28. Both…
“It’s not a trivial statement to say that the situation in Israel, on almost every level, is way more complicated than outsiders can even begin to appreciate,” Conrad Prusak said, after returning from his first visit to Israel. “The diversity, the cultural points of view, the political points of view – there are so many,…
Change is in the air at Tucson Hebrew Academy and Pardes Jewish Day School in the Valley. Both schools have long histories of combining a love for Jewish learning and culture with excellent academics and a strong sense of community. They each strive to nurture critical thinking and a positive Jewish identity while providing a…
