For the third year, the Weintraub Israel Center is sponsoring Tucson Celebrates Israel Week from Monday, May 9 to Sunday, May 15.
Instead of organizing a one-day event, the center wants to "create many different events so everyone can find a way to connect to Israel," said Oshrat Barel, the executive director of the Weintraub Israel Center. "This week we are focusing on food, because food is a great bridge between cultures and languages and peoples."
The week begins at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road, with Yom Hazikaron, a free event recognizing Israel's national Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and terror victims.
On Thursday, May 12, 15 Tucsonans will be honored for their work developing connections between Tucson and Israel. The 12 Torches Ceremony at the Tucson JCC honors the close of Israel's Memorial Day and the start of its Independence Day celebrations, according to press materials. The 12 torches represent the 12 tribes of Israel.
The dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. and costs $36 per person, $68 per couple and $340 for a table of 10.
Yom Huledet L'Yisrael from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 15, at the Tucson JCC is a free family event celebrating Israel's 68th birthday.
Then at 6 p.m. Sunday at Vero Amore, 2920 N. Swan Road, four Israeli celebrity chefs will prepare a four-course dinner.
The chefs are Orli Varon Shushan, Maya Klein, Yael Shamir and Sahar Refael.
The dinner costs $75 per person.
For more information or to make a reservation for any event, contact the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona at jfsa.org or call 577-9393.
