ARTS, CULTURE + COMMUNITY
In 2024, the Tucson J continued to harness the power of arts and culture to build community, foster connection, and support meaningful Jewish journeys. Our programs served as pathways for individuals to explore their Jewish identity while connecting meaningfully with others across diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Through vibrant programs that celebrate creativity and cultural expression, we continued to offer opportunities for people to reflect on their own stories and be inspired by those of others. PJ Library saw remarkable growth this year, becoming a central way to engage young families and spark Jewish identity from an early age. Through Storytimes, holiday events, and parent-focused gatherings, PJ Library created accessible, joyful entry points into Jewish life and helped families feel more connected to one another and to the broader community. The Beth and Mike Kasser Patron of Arts Signature Event Series kicked off the first three of five musical and speaking events with Saul Kaye, Dr. Keren McGinnity, and Hen Mazzig, allowing us to reach new audiences, deepen community ties, and connect to Jewish Peoplehood. To support this work, we launched the Relationship- Based Engagement Committee—a dedicated group of lay leaders serving as ambassadors throughout the community. These individuals took an active role in getting to know members personally, connecting them with programs, organizations, and people that align with their interests and values. Together, in 2024 we created a more interconnected and responsive community that celebrates the joy of Jewish living, together. Some highlights from the year include: • We hosted community learning with Gather, Inc. to deepen our constituents understanding of relationship-based engagement and how to animate the philosophy of “we don’t need more programs, we need more people to go with.” Sessions were facilitated for our program leadership staff, the Tucson J Board of Directors and executives of the Jewish agencies. • The J partnered with the Weintraub Israel to host Israel at 77, including a Gili Yalo concert and PJ Library Storywalk ® with ice cream for kids and their grown-ups. • Over 200 people gathered for the kick-off PJ Library program, ABCs of Rosh Hashanah. • Jennifer Lorch Selco, Sr. Director of Jewish Life + Engagement, was selected to be part of the Shomer Collective Fellowship, giving her tools to support our community, primarily through
“The J is an excellent way to stay in touch with the Jewish community beyond your own synagogue and neighborhood.” - Ole Thienhaus, J Member connections to one another. The team presented on the Grandparents’ Circle and on how it is used to intentionally plan, reflect on and evaluate the J’s family engagement strategy and activities. educational gatherings, around the topics of death and dying. • We sent a delegation of three from the PJ Library team to the PJ Library International Conference where they learned about strengthening the PJ Library brand and deepening families’
The PJ Library ® program in Southern Arizona is made possible by the Tucson J, with the generous support of the Einstein-Sim, Hazan, Kippur, Langer, Loebl, Margolis, Rosenzweig, and Sharpe families, the Grandparents’ Circle, JPSA, and in partnership with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation.
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