Jewish Tucson: Welcoming newcomers and those interested in connecting to Tucson’s Jewish community!
Join us for brunch and a chance to connect with local synagogues, organizations, and agencies.
We will also have Cheri’s Desert Harvest joining us with a variety of all natural jellies and other locally made, kosher goodies, indigenous to the Sonoran Desert, to taste.
RSVPs appreciated! Contact Ori Parnaby at 299-3000 x241 or [email protected]
NEW! “So You Think You Can Dance?” Bring the whole family for our Simhat Torah celebration, starting with appetizers, Caesar salad, deli platters, fruit & more (alcohol will be offered). At 6:13pm, share in CAI’s traditional Hakafot as we celebrate with Israeli singing and dancing, and refreshments (there will be a children’s holiday-related activity in another room). Get a guided tour from Creation to Mt. Sinai as the Torah is completely unrolled to encircle all who attend! THERE IS NO CHARGE TO ATTEND DINNER; however, reservations are required by Oct. 2.
The celebration continues with a festive service geared toward families with children. At 9:30am, the Sifrey Torah are taken out of the Ark. The children parade behind, then go up on the Bimah and are blessed.
NEW! In the Cantor Falkow Lounge, we offer a special program for children to include stories, singing, seriously silly snacks and shenanigans with Rabbi Ruven Barkan. We’ll then rejoin the congregation, followed by lunch in the Rabbi Breger Hall (a potato bar with Russet & sweet potatoes & lots of toppings, an array of salads, & sweets). THERE IS NO CHARGE TO ATTEND LUNCH; however, reservations are required by Oct. 2
The evening includes a wine, cheese and dessert reception; Havdallah program “Areshet S’fateinu … May the Words of our Lips … Translating Prayer into Song”; the changing of the Torah covers and a moment to honor our Minyan; followed by the opening service to the High Holy Days, Selihot, at 10:00pm. No charge; however, reservations are requested by Sept. 19.
Even if your loved ones are not buried in CAI’s Cemetery, you are encouraged to participate in the service and pay your respects to your dearly departed. The 30-minute service includes a special booklet of prayers.
Jewish Family & Children’s Service is hosting a crisis and response training for professionals and paraprofessionals from Jewish faith-based organizations. The training will take place at Temple Chai, 4645 E Marilyn Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85032 on Tuesday, April 24 from 6 – 8:30 pm. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.
When a crisis occurs in the Phoenix Jewish community, these trained volunteers will be available to offer immediate support services to help those impacted cope with the aftermath of the crisis.
This three-hour training will give participants the opportunity to enhance their crisis intervention skills and gives the volunteers additional insight into the challenges faced by the community in the wake of a crisis situation.
Participants will leave the training with the skills to provide culturally sensitive responses to those in crisis, including those that have been victims of a hate crime, as well as a deeper understanding of how people heal through EMDR therapy.
The training session will be presented by Ira Dressner, Ph.D., LCSW, EMDR Consultant and Trainer, and Liana Dressner, MSW, LCSW, EMDR Consultant. Ira Dressner graduated from the Maxwell School of Public Affairs with a MPA and Ph.D. He has been a psychotherapist and counselor for 26 years and specializes in trauma. Liana Dressner graduated with her bachelor’s in social work and Master’s in Social Work from New York University.
The East Valley JCC and the City of Chandler will host the annual Klezmer Fest from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, at the East Valley JCC, 908 N. Alma School Road, Chandler.
Lively and upbeat, klezmer is the traditional Jewish folk music of Eastern European Jewish communities. Over time, the style of music has grown to include instrumental music, Yiddish vocal music and modern fusion music that combines klezmer with world music such as Afro-pop, rock or hip hop.
This music festival will also include a Yiddish Experience that includes workshops and lectures focusing on topics such as genealogy and the Yiddish language. In addition, there will be children’s activities, such as inflatables, face-painting and a petting zoo, as well as kosher pizza and salads available for sale by Brad’s Mobile Pizza Oven.
Local bands include Jerusafunk, a nine-piece ensemble from Phoenix that blends traditional klezmer music with American Funk and other world music genres, such as jazz, salsa and samba; the Rural Street Klezmer Band of Temple Emanuel of Tempe that plays traditional Jewish soul music inspired by Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Yiddish theater and American jazz; Zaftic, whose rich and succulent sound is a mixture of Turkish, Arabic, Baroque, Irish and jazz; and Klezmerkaba, an 11-piece band from Tucson whose repertoire consists of klezmer pieces steeped in Eastern European tradition, as well as familiar Jewish, Yiddish and Israeli pieces from different eras and ethnicities. The festival will conclude with a massive jam session featuring all the musicians.
Tickets are $15 adults, $5 children up to age 12.
Visit evjcc.org/klezmerfest.