Congregation Anshei Israel celebrates 85th
About 300 people will come together to celebrate the 85th birthday of Congregation Anshei Israel on Sunday, said Rabbi Robert Eisen.
โIโm looking forward to seeing everyone together for a happy occasion,โ said Eisen, who has served as the congregationโs rabbi for 16 years. โThis is a time we can do something wholehearted with and for each other.โ
In the congregationโs 85 years, Eisen is only its third rabbi. Rabbi Emeritus Arthur Oleisky served at the synagogue for 29 years. Both men will be honored at the celebration.
โI have known families for over three or four generations and worked with them and helped them over the years...โ said Oleisky, who still worships at the synagogue. โI was a workaholic who really worked seven days a week, so my whole life was tied up with the synagogue.โ
During his years of service, Oleisky, who is now 80, helped start the Tucson Hebrew Academy, led congregational trips through Israel, introduced adult and youth education programs and increased the participation of women, among other things.
โThings have changed. The synagogue has changed,โ he said.
The synagogue had several locations before settling at its current location at 5550 E. Fifth St.
St. John on the Desert Presbyterian: 35 years
A celebratory worship service at St. John on the Desert Presbyterian Church, 2695 N. Houghton Road, will recognize the churchโs 35th anniversary.
The congregation met first in elementary schools before the construction of its first building in 1983. As it grew, the church dedicated a new building in 1998, according to press materials.
โWe are proud of our heritage and look forward to building on the foundation our past members have left us,โ wrote Pastor Lesley Abrams in a prepared statement.
The service begins 10 a.m. Sunday, May 3 and is followed by a reception at 11 a.m. For more information, visit stjohnonthedesert.org or call 749-3615.
Jewish Federation will award honors
The Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona will honor leaders in its community at its annual meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Audrey Brooks and Donna Moser, Jewish Federation campaign co-chairs, will be honored as Women of the Year, and Steve Kippur, the board president of the Tucson Hebrew Academy, will be honored as Man of the Year, according to press materials.
The Gary I. Sarver Award for Young Woman and Young Man of the Year go to Dana Goldstein and Andrew Isaac.
Literacy Connects wins the Meyer and Libby Marmis Humanitarian Award. Other awards will be given.
The event at the Tucson Jewish Community Center, 3800 E. River Road, costs $5. Make reservations by Wednesday, May 6.
For more information, or to make reservations, visit jfsa.org or call 577-9393.
Tibetan Buddhist lama to teach here
A Tibetan Buddhist lama will teach several classes at the Awam Tibetan Buddhist Institute, 3400 E. Speedway, in the coming week.
The classes include: โLoving Kindness in Everyday Lifeโ at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Thursday, Yeshe Tsogyal Empowerment 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday, and Tsa Lung Practice Retreat 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10.
Suggested donations for classes are $20 for Thursday, $25 for Friday and $40 for Saturday or Sunday, or $100 for all four, said Jane Stanley, an active member at the institute.
For more information, visit AwamInstitute.org or call 622-8460.
