Rabbi Cohen’s Message

I will never forget the exciting day when I became an American citizen. A courtroom in downtown Las Vegas provided the setting for fifty new Americans from across the planet to pledge our allegiance. There were tears, smiles, and selfies with the presiding judge. I treasure my Naturalization Certificate and keep it safe in a deposit box at the bank. With that in mind, seeing how my fellow Americans have been tearing each other apart over politics the last few years is a huge shame.

I invite you to a new project at Kol Ami, which I alluded to in my Kol Nidre sermon. We are one of only eleven congregations running the American Scripture Project. As a new American hurt by toxic political polarization, I want to bring our congregation together to grapple with our country’s historical writing, confront the tensions present in our historical foundations and contemporary context, and deepen a conversation around what it means to be an American -- and to be Jewish -- in the 21st century.

This program, a series of six sessions, each focused on a seminal American text, turns to what we can agree upon: America is built upon transformative ideas, beautiful pieces of writing, and passionate voices from all perspectives. Combining the Jewish habits of interpretation with the rich treasury of American texts will inspire and reteach how complex narratives can unify us as a community of Americans. In other words, we have the beautiful tools within our tradition to rebuild our democracy.

Through this program, communities and participants will:

- Leverage the sacred space to build better habits of citizenship

- Unpack the myths deeply embedded in our nation’s psyche and reflect on the varied perspectives and feelings these might evoke

- Build skill in analyzing historical text through a spiritual lens, practicing inquiry, and engaging in dialogue across difference

- Deepen commitment to strengthen our democracy alongside the values embedded in Judaism.

The idea is that we will approach politics through a spiritual lens and talk about America with the assumption that we care about each other within the Jewish community.

To learn more and sign up, see below, and let’s see if we can do the work to make our corner of America that little bit better.

L’shalom/To Peace

Rabbi Malcolm Cohen

LEARN MORE

REGISTER HERE

Resources and Ways to Help Israel Click HERE

Jenny & Gino Ammirati, Jason Ashkenazi, Pat Butler & Debbie Goodman, Julia & Daniel Elitzer, Jeffrey Fogel, Gabriel & Rakhi Gibbons, Amanda Meimin, Anna Murveit, Moorleen & Donald Novitt, Melissa Oberman-Hall, Charles & Judith Schultz, Jessica Sennet, Laura & David Tick, Bonnie Wasserman, and Brie Wilder!

Welcome New Kol Ami Members in Sept 2023!

Special Shabbat Services This Month:

Oct 6 at 6:30 pm Simchat Torah Celebration including 3rd and 4th grade Consecration

Oct 7 at 10 am Shabbat Morning Shmini Atzeret and Yizkor Service

Oct 13 at 6:30 pm Second Shabbat including a meet-and-greet oneg with Sean Moss

Oct 27 at 6:30 pm For Your Health Shabbat Services

Oct 21 at 10 am Shabbat Morning Services including, the bar mitzvah of Alec Cohen

Upcoming September Events

  • Simchat Torah Celebration including 3rd and 4th grade Consecration

    Fri, Oct 6, 6:30 pm

  • Shabbat Morning Shmini Atzeret and Yizkor Service

    Sat, Oct 7, 10 am

    On the last day of Sukkot, it is tradition to recite Yizkor prayers in memory of deceased loved ones. Please join us for this special Shabbat service. We will also read the end of D’varim (Deuteronomy) and the beginning of Bereshit (Genesis).

  • MoKA Monthly Meeting

    Sun, Oct 8, 9:00 am

    In person or Zoom

  • American Scripture Project

    Tues, Oct 10, 6 pm In person and Zoom

    American history is filled with transformative ideas, beautiful pieces of writing, and passionate voices from all perspectives. Combining the Jewish habits of parshanut with the rich treasury of American texts will inspire us and reteach us how to discover narratives that unify us as a community of Americans.

    This is about building a culture of healthy citizenship, and the texts are there to challenge us spiritually and draw us together as a community. This is not partisan, political, policy-based, or even moral. It’s about how American narratives touch our souls. As such, this is not about being experts in anything other than yourself and your feelings about America.

  • Shabbat, including a meet and greet oneg with Sean Moss

    Fri, Oct 13, 6:30 pm

    Come to Shabbat and stay to meet our new executive director, Sean Moss.

  • Making Lunches for Our Houseless Community

    Sat, Oct 14, after Shabbat services

    Please meet us at the Kol Ami kitchen to make sack lunches for our houseless community. Please RSVP

  • Fancy a Cup of Tea?

    Sun, Oct 15, 10 am

    Join WKA for tea, scones, and crumpets as our mate, Rabbi Malcolm Cohen, takes us on a virtual tour of the streets of London. Our tour will include both Jewish and Non-Jewish sites. You will get insight into stories and events that the casual tourist would never experience. Please Register

  • Bereavement Support Group

    Tue, Sept 19, 11 am

    Join us as we support one another during loss. A light nosh will be provided, please RSVP.

  • Men of Kol Ami Discussion Group

    Wed, Oct 18, 5:30 pm

    Join us for our monthly discussion group with drinks and appetizers. For more information contact Steve sacaine18@gmail.com

  • Book Club

    Thur, Oct 19, 2 pm

    More information can be found Here.

  • Community Shabbat with Dinner

    Fri, Oct 20, 5:15 pm at the Tucson J

    Our community is stronger when we gather together in celebration, in prayer, and in song, and when we make motzi together. 💙✡️💙⁣

    ⁣Join us at the #TucsonJ on Friday, October 20 at 5:15pm for a very special communal Shabbat experience! The evening will begin with a candlelighting 🕯️🕯️ and Erev Shabbat services being led simultaneously by our fantastic participating Southern Arizona congregations + educational institutions throughout the J. Following services, we’ll gather in our picturesque Jill Rosenzweig Memorial Garden (tentatively scheduled outdoors) 🌅🌵 for a delicious Shabbat meal shared amongst neighboring congregants! 🍽️⁣

  • Shabbat Services Including the bar mitzvah of Alec Cohen

    Sat, Oct 21, 10 am

  • Wandering Jews Hike and Happy Hour

    Sat, Oct 21, 4:45 pm

    The sun is setting earlier, and the fall temps are falling. Meet us for this relaxed sunset hike and come over to the nearby Three Canyon Beer Garden afterwards. You may actually need a JACKET!

  • LEAH-JFCS Talk

    Sun, Oct 22, 10:30 am in the Schlanger Chapel

    Judaism in a Healthy Household

    Using traditional Jewish sources, Rabbi Malcolm will suggest how ancient wisdom can provide an insight into domestic abuse and how parents can create a positive environment in the household. Held by JFCS of Southern Arizona.

  • Kol Ami and Anshei Pet Blessings and Picnic

    Sun, Oct 22, 12:30 pm at Reid Park Ramada #4

    Anshei Israel & Kol Ami join together for a special Blessing of the Pets!

    Bring your own picnic lunch and join us for some blessing and fun with our pets in the park. Feel free to bring blankets or chairs!

  • Prime Timers (65+) Day at the Zoo

    Mon, Oct 23, 9 am at Reid Park Zoo

    We are excited to have an opportunity for our members to go to Reid Park Zoo at no cost to see all the exciting new additions. You can even feed the giraffes (for a fee of $3.00 ) for a wonderful experience to see them up close and personal. We will meet at the entrance to the zoo at 9:00 am, on Monday, October 23, 2023. The three amigos, Stevie, Norma, and Ruth, are looking forward to showing you our beautiful zoo.

    To be on the list for free admission, please register in advance by October 18.

  • Board of Trustees Meeting

    Tues, Oct 24, 5:30 pm

    Everyone is welcome to join by Zoom.

    If you have any questions or suggestions for the meeting, please send them to Dana Adler at president@katucson.org.

  • Prime Timers

    Wed, Oct 25, 3 pm in the Simon Rosenblatt Board Room

    Join the Prime Timers for a committee meeting.

  • Wet Wednesday

    Wed, Oct, 5:30 pm at Red Garter - 3143 E. Speedway

    MoKA invite all men of Kol Ami to join them for good food, good drinks, and good times once a month! See you there!!

  • Woman's Leadership Weekend

    More information coming soon!

Plan Ahead!

Plan Ahead!

Find all events months ahead!

September Donations and Tributes

We appreciate everyone who donates to one of our funds last month. Each dollar helps keep Kol Ami providing services and events for our community. If you would like to donate or make a tribute in honor or in memory of someone, please click please click HERE.

Kol Ami General Fund

Anonymous, In Appreciation of The Whitehill Family

Anonymous, In Memory of Rhoda Mindes

Dana & Ira Adler, In Memory of Ron Weintraub and In Honor of Simon Rosenblatt

Sherry Belkin, In Memory of Ron Weintraub

Kenneth & Sharon Cohn

Jeffry Erlich

David & Edith Flyer, In Memory of Lena Weiss

Michelle Kirchner

Terri & Scott Krasner

Norma Lackow

Zandra Lindblad

Lesley Lurie

Sharon & Ronald Megdal, In Memory of Ron Weintraub

MoKA, for Chapel Sound System

Cassius Moore

Debbi Nadell, In Memory of Ron Weintraub

Leah Richter

Ruth Reiter, In Memory of Ron Weintraub

Mark & Bari Ross

Sarra Salomon & Michael Valdez-Fusella

Ruth Rosenstein, In Memory of Goldie Honigfeld

Marcia Sachs

Kathylynn Saboda & Missy Driggers

Lloyd & Betty Schermer

Sylvie Stevenson, In Honor of Bart Leonard

Rita & Max Stolzenberg, In Honor of Our Birthdays

Cheryl & Howard Toff, In Honor of Steve Shawl

Rabbi Cohen Discretionary Fund

Irina Altshteyn

Anonymous, In Memory of Ron Weintraub

Anonymous, In Appreciation of Andi Elkins

Leonard & Harriet Kronman, In Memory of Dora Framer

Linda & Joel Levine, Wishing-a-Speedy-Recovery-For Rabbi Cohen and Yahrzeit for Minnie G Levine

Ruvim & Anna Mil'man

Stuart & Andrea Shatken, In Memory of Annette Shatken

Ruth-Jean & Ellen Solot

Mitzvah Corp

Anonymous

Peggy McConnell

Oneg Fund

Anonymous, In Honor of Sylvia Goldstein

Steven Toffel

ECE Fund

Robert & Selma Gevirtzman

Matthew & Lauren Rittenberg

Fred Silver

Nanci and Earl Stein, In Honor of Donna Beyer

Bonnie Wolf & Frank Harris

Dickstein Memorial Endowment

Anonymous, In Memory of Ron Weintraub

Ruth Reiter, In Memory of My Father, Bernard Dickstein

Rabbi Albert T. Bilgray Lectureship Endowment

Leonard & Marcelle Joffe

High Holidays Appeal

Todd & Marcia Abelson

Michael & Nancy Apsell

Cathleen & Peter Becskehazy

Matthew & Lindsay Berkman

Lari & John Cote

Sandy & Geraldine Eisenstadt

Andrea & Jason Fleisher

David & Edith Flyer

Renee & Elaine Geffen

Mark & Bether Gerber

Andy & Mieko Iventosch

Leonard & Marcelle Joffe

Richard & Jan Kleiner

Michael & Helene Miron

Rahmin & Rungkan Rabenou

Michael & Joanne Rainbow

Norman & Judith Rosenfeld

Edwin & Joan Roth

Charles & Judith Schultz

Rebecca & Steven Strecker

Laura & David Tick

Martin & Arlene Zuckerman

Randy Aronson & Geren Thurston

Eva Bacal

Lanny Colton

Adam Finkelstein

M. Flashman

Emlyn Fletcher

Kris Fordham

Leonid Friedlander

Rachel Goldberg

Hannah Gomez

Michael Graham & Vivian Fortunato

Molly Grossman

Jeffrey Seligman

Jordan Benjamin

Jordan Kominsky

Jack Lavin

Lisa Mandel

Lesley Lurie

Melanie McCarty

Joy Miller-Frilot

Anna Murveit

Leslie Neems

Gary Opper

Sabina Paint

Rabbi Paul Tuchman

Elizabeth Reeves & Andrew Meinig

Carol Sack

Claire Scheuren

Gail Schwartz

Ronnie Sebold

Jeannette Segel

Cathy Slatas & Matthew Hochman

Celia Slatzer

Terry Spinelli

Allison Stuewe

Tobie Russ

Valdean Levy

Dan Weisz & Shelly Abell

Becky Wolf

Ana Zimmerman

Book of Remembrance

Todd & Marcia Abelson

Ann Abramson

Eva Bacal

David Bilgray

Ned Bloomfield

Barry Blum

Adele Buren

Kathy Cohen

Sara Cohen

Lanny Colton

Janet Kenigsberg

Norma Lackow

Helaine Levy

Nancy Luck

Joy Miller-Frilot

Gary Opper

Fay Roos

Irwin & Norma Brewster

Melissa Levine & Lisa Byrnes

David & Liane Cooper

Burt & Michele Derman

Sharon & Arthur Geiger

Lawrence & Judy Gutman

Charlotte & Louis Hegwer

Robert & Toni Langsfeld

Keith Trantow & Joan Morris

Keith Trantow & Joan Morris

John Velez & Sheila Peress Velez

Benjamin & Rosi Vogel

Marc & Carol Weiss

Sandy & Emmet Zimberoff

Stephanie & Michelle Zinman

Break the Fast Fund

Jenny & Gino Ammirati

Michael & Nancy Apsell

Cathleen & Peter Becskehazy

Carrie Braunstein  

Mary Cooper

David & Lori Fields

Emlyn Fletcher  

Michael Graham & Vivian Fortunato

Molly Grossman  

Jordan Kominsky

Jack Lavin

John Leipsic & Debra Colodner

Lesley Lurie  

Lisa Mandel

Anna Murveit

Michael & Joanne Rainbow

Elizabeth Reeves & Andrew Meinig

Tobie Russ

Gail Schwartz

Ronnie Sebold

Jeffrey Seligman

Monique Steinberg  

Allison Stuewe  

Carin & Scott Turk

Martin & Arlene Zuckerman

Religious School Fund

Anonymous

Anonymous, In Honor of Chloe Frenz

Matthew & Lindsay Berkman

Jeffrey & Francine Bickart

Cantor Janece Cohen

Margaret Cohen

Scott & Parisa Nazifi Decker

Susan-Marie & Erin Flanigan

Denise Frenz, In Honor of Chloe Frenz

Goldie & Laurence Goldstein

Laurel Jacobs & Noah Mickey-Colman

Randi & Michael Levin

Sharon & Rina Liebeskind

Daniel Menchik & Maria Porter

Jessica Sobel

Aaron & Megan Winter

Thank you to our Kol Ami Pillars

Chai

Anonymous

Simon Rosenblatt & Louise Greenfield

Architect

Steven Tofel

Marc & Carol Weiss

Builders

Anonymous- 6

Lenore Ballen & Howard Brown

Stephen & Heather Caine

Ruth Dickstein

Lawrence & Diana Haas

Gary & Tandy Kippur

Foster & Carol Kivel

Scott & Terri Krasner

Joy Miller-Frilot

Jeffrey Rein & Mridula Aggarwal

George & Wendy Reiter

Ruth Reiter

Hershel Rozenzweig

Seth & Amy Ruskin

Ken & Beverly Sandock

Rica Spivack

Lee Surwit

Carey &Deborah Turner

John Velez & Sheila Peress Velez

James Whitehill & Jane Rodda

September Anniversaries and Birthdays

Performing an act of tzedakah (giving) is a tradition commemorating a simcha, such as a birthday or an anniversary. A charitable donation to honor that special occasion is often made to one of our congregational funds. If you would like to honor one or more of these anniversaries, please click on the button. Click HERE to honor them.

Anniversaries

Joseph & Elizabeth Baker 10/18

Pat & Gary Becker 10/28

Lew & Corrine Blum 10/11

Amy & Tom Brannock 10/20

Pat Butler & Debbie Goodman 10/16

Mike Comins & Jody Porter 10/26

Julia & Daniel Elitzer 10/19

Burt & Michele Derman 10/9

Andrea & Mark Evenson 10/31

Michael & Lauren Grossman 10/20

Lawrence & Diana Haas 10/7

Robert & Elise Lopez-Hanshaw 10/4

Mischa & Parker Hughes 10/13

Brenda Kazen & Kathleen Iverson 10/8

Laurence Kaye & Lauri Marks 10/13

Lisa Newman & Marcy Merin-Newman 10/31

Louis & Marjorie Nappe 10/18

Arianne & Michael Ramirez 10/12

Elizabeth Reeves & Andrew Meinig 10/12

Matthew & Lauren Rittenberg 10/10

Stephen Rodgveller & Brenna Lacey 10/27

Simon Rosenblatt & Louise Greenfield 10/12

Stephen & Rachel Sattinger 10/13

Charles & Judith Schultz 10/26

Richard & Sharon Schwartz 10/8

Desirai & Eric Svetcov 10/15

Carin & Scott Turk 10/7

Ellen Weiden & Jim Overmyer 10/27

Kimberly & JP Westenskow 10/25

Birthdays

Estelle Abrams 10/26

Ellen Adelstein 10/31

Rabbi Arnold 10/21

Julian Arradondo 10/1

Dinah Bear 10/22

Corinne Belkoff 10/2

Shahar Ben-Yeoshua 10/3

Jane Berger 10/23

Ken Bolotin 10/13

Ronald Brown 10/5

Seth Brown 10/17

Adele Buren 10/15

Adam Butler 10/14

Terry Carrilio 10/06

Tess Carter 10/10

Susan Cassidy 10/28

Isaiah Clough 10/12

Rachel Cohen 10/1

Janece Cohen 10/3

Shauna Cohen 10/7

Malcolm Cohen 10/7

Norma Cohen 10/18

Susan Cohn 10/15

Tara Condon 10/10

Liane Cooper 10/16

Bette Cooper 10/29

Graeme Decker 10/29

Michael Dimant 10/3

Bess Ecelbarger 10/31

Brian Erly 10/15

Suki-Rose Etter 10/7

Don Faber 10/10

Dorothy Fielkow 10/19

Patricia Figueroa 10/23

Adrian Flynn 10/6

Sandra Foss 10/23

Leonid Friedlander 10/9

Ruth Friedman 10/2

Cynthia Funckes 10/9

Gabe Gardner 10/1

Manuel Garma 10/1

Arthur Geiger 10/21

Howe Gelb 10/22

Selma Gevirtzman 10/4

Emalie Gilmore 10/16

Allison Glickenstein 10/14

Samson Goldberg 10/3

Maisy Goldberg 10/18

Jessica Goldberg 10/20

David Goldstein 10/20

Jonah Goldstein 10/27

Milo Goldstein 10/27

Melissa Goodman 10/27

Dale Green 10/17

Bradley Haas 10/9

Ralph Henry 10/3

Robert Heyman 10/10

Michael Heyman 10/18

Mischa Hughes 10/4

Jeffrey Jacobson 10/25

Emily Joseph 10/7

Benjamin Kagen 10/29

Shannon Kaye 10/06

Avi Kazen 10/17

Maggie Keeney 10/5

Kathleen Kennedy 10/11

Madeline Kevelson 10/26

Foster Kivel 10/10

Stacey Kivel 10/20

Amy Krauss10/15

Miles Krieger 10/24

Daniel Kuhlmann 10/26

Jeremy Kulwin 10/05

Marc Lappitt 10/12

Michael Lauwasser 10/31

Daphna Lederman 10/29

Jay LeVine 10/13

Benjamin LeVine 10/18

Mark LeVine 10/30

Eric Loper 10/16

Laura Magnus 10/6

Gail Martin 10/5

Robin Mayer 10/4

Joshua Mayer 10/8

Phillip Mayer 10/13

Jeffrey Mayer 10/26

Donna Medoff 10/1

Justin Meislin 10/25

Stuart Mellan 10/7

Joseph Millstone 10/5

Timothy Milner 10/20

Sheryl Moser 10/15

Sean Moss 10/27

Matthew Overmyer 10/17

Frances Pakenham 10/9

Michael Pearlman 10/8

Trina Plies 10/17

Daniel Price 10/20

Arianne Ramirez 10/17

Rochelle Redell 10/27

Samir Rein 10/17

Jeffrey Rein 10/20

Jane Remer 10/18

Oren Riback 10/9

Gil Ribak 10/14

Jill Rich 10/9

James Rich 10/22

Hana Ripp 10/28

Jane Rodda 10/17

Molly Rodgveller 10/21

Daniel Rosenberg 10/6

Barry Roth 10/15

Barney Rothstein 10/11

Betsy Sandlin 10/12

Charles Schultz 10/6

Jacob Schumer 10/13

Joshua Shalek 10/20

Ellen Shenkarow 10/6

Jay Silverman 10/19

Keri Silvyn 10/27

Deborah Sterling 10/30

Sylvie Stevenson 10/22

Robert Strauss 10/25

Riley Strizver 10/29

Julia Tenen 10/12

Aileen Thatcher 10/19

Lois Thikoll 10/17

Scott Turk 10/13

Joshua Turk 10/23

Brenda Viner 10/28

Marc Weiss 10/05

Dale Whitmore 10/28

Jody Williams 10/26

Breanna Yalen 10/11

Davis Yalen 10/13

Aubrey Zadorozny 10/10

Stephanie Zinman 10/17

Martin Zuckerman 10/18

Miriam Zveitel 10/26