Religion and faith: Sister to meet brother's rescuer

A Tucson resident whose brother was a hostage in the 1976 hijacking of a plane by Palestinian and German terrorists will speak with one of his rescuers at an event recognizing the 40th anniversary of the rescue.

Sassy Reuven, an Israel Defense Forces veteran, will share about his involvement in Operation Entebbe, or Operation Thunderbolt, as part of the elite paratrooper unit 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24 at Congregation Young Israel, 2443 E. Fourth St.

Marlyne Freedman, the Tucson resident whose brother was held captive, will join him.

The hijacked plane landed at the Entebbe airport in Uganda and most non-Israeli passengers were released, said Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin of Chabad Tucson, the organization sponsoring the event with the Weintraub Israel Center.

The Israel Defense Forces succeeded in its rescue of the hostages.

“This is an event that has been etched into the memory of many Jewish people living at the time...” Ceitlin said. “This operation is always mentioned with pride about Israel’s defiance and God’s miracles.

Tickets for the event cost $18 and are available at chabadtucson.com/entebbe.

Nun and lobbyist presents on the morality of the federal budget

The executive director of a national Catholic, social justice lobby will speak on the morality of a budget at Most Holy Trinity Parish, 1300 N. Greasewood Road 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 24.

Sister Simone Campbell, the leader of the organization Network, will present “A Budget is a Moral Document,” emphasizing how the federal budget identifies the priorities of a nation, according to press materials.

Tickets cost $10 in advance and $15 at the door. For more information, visit mostholytrinityparish.org or call 884-9021.

Church to dedicate 320-seat worship center

Sabino Road Baptist Church, 2710 N. Sabino Canyon Road, will dedicate a new, 320-seat worship center, Sunday, Jan. 24.

The church will now use its old auditorium for classrooms and youth activities, according to press materials.

Eddie Pearson, the evangelism director of the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention, will speak at the 10:45 a.m. dedication service, followed by a lunch. Those who want to stay for the meal must make reservations.

Sabino Road Baptist Church opened in 1959 and has been at its current location since 1960.

For more information, visit sabinoroad.org or call 298-9493.

End-of-life planning workshop offered by Interfaith Community Services

Tanque Verde Lutheran Church, 8625 E. Tanque Verde Road, will encourage the community to consider planning for end-of-life care.

“Living to the End of Life — A Seminar of Life Care Planning” is a two-part session offered by Interfaith Community Services at the church 10:45 a.m. to noon Sundays, Jan. 24 and Jan. 31, according to press materials.

For more information visit tvlc.org or call 749-1606.

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church start’s women’s study sessions

St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, 3738 N. Old Sabino Canyon Road, will host a “get to know you” meeting for its evening women’s study session 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26.

The women will be deciding on a book to read and discuss when they meet on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, according to press materials.

For more information, call the church office at 296-0791.

Congregation Or Chadash celebrates 20th anniversary

Congregation Or Chadash will celebrate its 20th anniversary 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6.

The gala includes a buffet, a silent auction with prizes such as day passes to Canyon Ranch and entertainment from Unscrewed Theater’s Improv Comedy group.

“Twenty years a go, a group of families had an idea to create a warm and welcoming congregation,” said Rabbi Thomas Louchheim in a prepared statement. “We sat around my kitchen table and dreamed about building a congregation together.”

The evening titled “Cruising Into the Future” celebrates the congregation that got its start with just 12 families. Now, more than 400 attend at 3939 N. Alvernon Way, according to press materials.

Tickets for the gala at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road, cost $99 and must be purchased by Friday, Jan. 29.

To make reservations or get more information, visit orchadash20th.com or call 512-8500.