News - Chabad Lubavitch of Tucson

From Guest to President (of the Shul)

Friday, February 24, 2012 - 3:18 PM

405854_332941316744329_111567845548345_922598_1049025079_n.jpg
From L: Rabbi Yossie Shemtov, David Siegel, Jeremy Lite, Sharon Lite and Harriette Levitt at the 2012 Book of Live event

The first time Jeremy and Sharon Lite stepped foot in Congregation Young Israel of Tucson 4 years ago this week, they were intrigued by what was not said to them.

"We walked into this shul 4 years ago on Parshas Terumah, sneaking through the door like scared little kittens," says Mr. Lite, who, as a partner in the Tucson office of Quarles & Brady LLP, is not normally intimidated by formal settings.

He recalls how the gabbai, Dr. Robert Indik, was quick to give him an aliya to the Torah on that first visit.

"Robert is very diligent in scoping out new people and calling them up," he says. "Long-time shul member Yale Palchick had the aliya before me, so he was on the bema and helped me say the blessing over the Torah, as I had all but forgotten it."

Mr. Lite recalls, "After services, Rabbi Yossie Shemtov and Chanie greeted us warmly, invited us to lunch, invited us to a lot of lunches actually, and we went, and we began to learn. I heard the Birkas Hamazon, and remembered it from my Uncle's table growing up."

Yet, what really captured their attention was how welcoming the congregants were to their two children, Ari and Yael.

"Nobody shushed us. Nobody glanced at us when the kids made a noise or wandered onto the bima," he says. "Before long, the kids were off and running with new friends."

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Lite is now President of the Board of Young Israel, in addition to other community roles as a Vice President of the Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona and as a volunteer with Southern Arizona Legal Aid's Volunteer Lawyers Program (VLP), for which he received the Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney of the Month Award for January 2012.

The Lites will be celebrating their four-year milestone this Shabbat, February 25, at the weekly "special kiddush" at Young Israel following services (which begin 9:30 AM).

Mr. Lite will be sharing some of his life's story being born on his parents' diplomatic mission in Iran, continuing with his studies in Ann Arbor, MI and how he got to Tucson and become a leader in the community.

The kiddish is co-sponsored by the Felix family in honor of their son Yaphet's 14's birthday. All are welcome.

Rabbi Shemtov on Election 2012

Friday, February 17, 2012 - 3:28 PM

Rabbi Yossie Shemtov will giving the Torah perspective on the 2012 presidential elections at a presentation at the Jewish Culture Shuk on Sunday, March 4.

Titled "The One Percent - Distribution and Redistribution of Wealth," the talk will be sharing with participants what wisdom does Judaism have to offer on the issue of the distribution of wealth.

Is wealth a mark of sin, a sign that a person has greedily taken too much and necessarily impoverished others? Is poverty a sign of laziness or ineptitude, an outer indication of a poor character?

Rabbi Shemtov, Regional Director of Chabad of Tucson and spiritual leader of Congregation Young Israel of Tucson, will explore why there is inequality in wealth and what should we do about it.

The Shuk is an incredible night of Jewish learning all under one roof, organized by the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona and offering a wide range of classes taught by Tucson's rabbis, cantors and Jewish educators.

The evening consists of two sessions concluding with dessert, schmoozing and discussion of the classes. Participants choose two classes, one each session.

Classes begin at 7:00 pm followed by dessert at Tucson Hebrew Academy.

To register, click here

First Arizona Intercollegiate Shabbaton

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 - 4:38 PM

Chabad at the University of Arizona, a branch of Chabad Tucson, played a key role in organizing the first ever Arizona Intercollegiate Shabbaton, attended by some 120 Jewish students this past weekend.

A joint project of Chabad on campus at UA, ASU and NAU, the Shabbaton presented an exciting setting for Jewish students at Arizona's state universities to meet new faces and spend time with like-minded students. The event was co-sponsored by Chabad on Campus International Foundation.

"I met a lot of students from ASU and NAU at the West Coast Shabbaton and at the recent New York Shabbaton, so it was great to pick up where we had left off," says Jenna Langert, a double major in business economics and Judaic studies at UA.

"At Chabad, we feel part of one big Jewish family," explains Langert, a regular at activities at Chabad of the U of A, run by Rabbi Yossi and Naomi Winner. "Over the Shabbaton, we got to know a lot more students who are part of our extended family."

It was an immersive Shabbat experience, with Friday night services, a candle lighting ceremony and a five-course gourmet Shabbat meal on Friday evening. On Shabbat afternoon, one student from each university shared a thought on the Torah portion of the week during lunch.

After lunch, students chose from a menu of classes on relevant topics, like Jewish marriage, sacred Judaism vs. cultural Judaism, and Jewish identity.

Capping the Shabbaton was a musical Havdalah service with an after-Shabbat BBQ and bonfire. Rabbi Zalman Levertov, Executive Director of Chabad of Arizona addressed the students during the BBQ event.

(From a report by Mendy Miller on Lubavitch.com)

Why Camp Gan Izzy Tucson

Thursday, February 2, 2012 - 3:14 PM

Desi Rosenfield, President at Lapin Consulting International, can come up with many reasons why not to send her children to Camp Gan Izzy, Chabad of Tucson's summer day camp.

"If you are looking for the best facilities, then this is not the camp for you. If you are looking for the most sports oriented program, then this is not the camp for you," says the mother of two.

Rosenfield, who has headed research teams and led consulted large international corporations, says she found another reason to send Edan, 6, and Itai, 3, to Chabad for the summer.

"If you are looking to give your kids the privilege of being inspired by girls who love Judaism and transmit that love and sincerity to the little campers in a way that makes them love being Jewish, then this is an experience like no other," she says.

Camp Gan Izzy of Tucson, for boys and girls ages 2 to 12 year-old, indeed prides itself with its dynamic staff.

"Our counselors are hand-picked for their responsibility, creativity, dedication to Judaism and fun personality," says Feigie Ceitlin, Youth Director of Chabad of Tucson, who oversees the camp.

In past years, staff members of the camp are flown in from New York and Montreal and proved to be a worth-while investment.

"My two boys looked forward to every day and found joy in the exciting activities that were planned," adds Rosenfield. "Every event had a Jewish flavor which made mundane activities seem new."

In addition to the emphasis on Judaism, the children's safety and healthy snacks, the camp offers a full range of diverse activities and sports that include swimming, ballplay, trips, Mad Science, Games2U and own very own Mrs. Applecrumble.

Registration for the summer of 2012 ( June 25 - July 20, 201) is now open at www.ChabadofTucson.com/Camp.