We are excited to inform you that for the very first time our Congregation has invited 2nd year rabbinical student Julia Berg to join our community this year. Julia will be joining us for the High Holy Days and thereafter, flying from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion once a month to lead services, teach adult education and participate in our Religious School. More
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Congregation Or Chadash is a warm and welcoming community where all can experience God. Our mission reflects a commitment to our values.
Our Mission – We have joined together to create a religious community. We take seriously the spiritual dimensions of our tradition. We are committed to a synagogue that offers weekly services, Hebrew instruction, family study, holiday celebrations and life cycle events. This is being accomplished by continuous discussion and the creativity and commitment of the participants.
Campus Security Update
In our continued effort to keep our campus safe and secure and as a result of
recommendations from the Federation’s Security Consultant, we have added several new security enhancements. More
Rumors of My Retirement Are Greatly Exaggerated!
Dearest Friends of the Tucson Jewish community,
It seems to me that many of you have forgotten the training we all received when we were children. Remember the nurse at school who taught you two important rules: 1) Wash your hands, and 2) Don’t put something in your mouth if you don’t know where it came from! Let’s pay attention to Rule #2, shall we?
The New Light: July/August 2019
Message from President-Elect: Working Together for Congregation Or Chadash and Tucson Reform Judaism
Hello Friends,
It’s an honor to begin my tenure as the lucky-12th president of Or Chadash, the second woman in this position (Bev Sandock was the first), and maybe the first convert, making “Jones” a good Jewish name. I bring many years of experience from my past professional life as an associate professor in Nursing at the University of Arizona, managing research teams and faculty, and as mother of four children. There are many transferable skills, but importantly, I bring a passion for Jewish life and for our synagogue. Still, it really does take a shtetl. More
Hawaiian Shirt Midrashim
15 years ago, Rabbi Louchheim wore a Hawaiian shirt for Friday Night LIVE! — he doesn’t remember why.
On April 5th, 2019, Rabbi challenged all of you to write a modern Midrash accounting for why we wear these shirts.
Thank you to everyone who answered the call! More
Collaboration with Temple Emanu-El
Voluntary Assessment Progress
Drash on Parashat Ki Tisa: The Women’s Jewelry
Moses was on top of Mount Sinai for quite some time. The people grew impatient when he was “delayed in coming down from the mountain” (32:1), and they asked Aaron to make an idol for them. But why does Aaron tell the men, “Take off the gold rings that are on the ears of your wives” (32:2)? Rashi explains that Aaron did this because the women will resist, not willing to give up their jewelry, and create a delay. This would give Moses time to arrive in time. More
Drash on Parashat T’tzaveh
You shall command the Children of Israel to bring you pure beaten oil for a light, to cause the lamp to burn continually (Exodus 27:20).
Abraham Saba (1440-1508), the Tzror HaMor, taught, “Israel is likened to an olive, which yields up its oil only when it is crushed, for Israel reveals its true virtues only when it is made to suffer.” This is not surprising coming from a rabbi who lived during the expulsion of Jews from Spain. More