Our First Torah Scroll

In 1996, Goldie Silverman made a donation for purchasing a torah scroll in memory of her husband Jake. The Board of Directors of B’nai Sholem, an Orthodox congregation in St. Joseph, Missouri, decided to “gift” us with a scroll that Marcia Louchheim’s great-grandfather, Rabbi Joshua Frumhoff, had brought from Kharkov, Russia to B’nai Sholem. The congregation attended the scroll’s dedication Friday evening, January 29, 1999. Mary Ann Danin created a mantle and Fran Braverman donated two yaddim.

Summer 1995

In the summer of 1995 twelve families approached Rabbi Louchheim to be the rabbi of a new congregation.

“More than 150 people attended the Or Chadash, New Light, first Friday Shabbat service on August 18” at the Zenith Center, 330 East 7th Street. Part of the congregation’s vision, according to Rabbi Louchheim, was to reshape the Shabbat ritual experience and to “offer a new perspective on our spiritual search for value and meaning.” (Arizona Jewish Post, September 1, 1995)

Winter 1995

In late 1995, Friday night services moved from the Zenith Center to the Pavilion at the home of Peggy Hitchcock; while Torah study, some holiday celebrations, and the first religious school were at the home of Rabbi & Marcia Louchheim. Trudy (Wrubel) Haggard served as the first accompanist and Cantorial soloist.

Founding Families

The congregation’s original members included: Fran Braverman, Gail Dent, Jane and Herb Elins, Belle Horwitz, Robert Klein, Bonnie and Oscar Krasner, Wendy Kreindler, William Louchheim, Sr., Saul Ostroff, Rise and Bill Rosenfeld, Connie and Ian Shalek, Emily (Wolitzky) Danies, and the board members below. The first Board of Directors was: President, Ken Jacowsky, Secretary, Betsy Sandlin, Vice President-Education, Steve Caine, Vice President-Membership: Pam Treiber Treasurer, Lois Jacowsky, with Members-at-large Elaine Nathanson, Rhonda Krinsky, Trudy Wrubel, and Marjie Klein

First B’nei Mitzvot

First Bat Mitzvah: Ayla Ruben, February 6, 1996

First Bar Mitzvah: Andrew Shalek, June 22, 1996

First Adult Bat Mitzvah: Fran Braverman

First Religious School

Fifty-six students enrolled in the religious school program under Marcia Louchheim, the first Director of Education. Classes were at the JCC, and the staff expanded to include Melissa Winkle and Cindy Weintraub.

Joining the URJ

The congregation joined the Union for Reform Judaism (at the time, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, UAHC). We received our charter on January 29, 1999.

January 2000

Cantor Janece E. Cohen, D.S.M, was our soloist for the 1999 High Holy Days and then hired as congregational cantor in January 2000.

June 9, 2000

The congregation had its first Confirmation with Confirmands Emily Brent, Ruth Morrison, Ariel Tinney, and Robert Weintraub. Ariel was a student in the first Religious School class held in the rabbi’s home.

First Confirmation

First Bat Mitzvah: Ayla Ruben, February 6, 1996

First Bar Mitzvah: Andrew Shalek, June 22, 1996

First Adult Bat Mitzvah: Fran Braverman

June 2001

The congregation moved Friday night services to the Junior League of Tucson on River Road.

Joining the URJ

The congregation joined the Union for Reform Judaism (at the time, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, UAHC). We received our charter on January 29, 1999.

2000

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