From the Desk of Annie | Content Marketing Specialist
In this week’s Torah portion, Emor, Hebrew for “speak,” God shares the rules, laws, and holidays with Moses, commanding him to relay them to the Israelites. The holidays mentioned include Passover, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and, of most interest to me, Shabbat.
God says, “On six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a sabbath of complete rest, a sacred occasion.”
Last autumn, on my journey to scroll less on my phone and connect more thoughtfully with the world and people around me, I read the book “24/6: The Power of Unplugging One Day a Week” by Tiffany Shlain. The book invites us to use Shabbat as a time to truly unplug, one day each week phone-less, prompting more time to enjoy meaningful hobbies, nature, and in-person connection.
I find that the more I set my phone aside, with the noisy notifications, social media voices, and endless opportunities to scroll, I feel calmer, clearer, more decisive, and in greater alignment with my values. Without the chaos of the voices in my “feed,” I can truly connect with the voice that matters most — my own. Though the Israelites didn’t have technology to unplug from, the importance of this practice has stood the test of time.
While it certainly takes effort and intention to make phone-free moments possible, that’s what makes it a “sacred occasion,” and one I always savor.
This Shabbat, I invite you to join me in spending less time on your phone and more time focused on what brings you meaning, peace, and joy. Shabbat Shalom.
In parshat Emor, we learn about the sanctity of marking our days through the ritual of holidays—intentional moments to pause and remember who we are and what we hold sacred. At the Tucson J, this commitment to marking time shapes how we show up for our community. In a world that often rushes forward, we strive to create space for connection, reflection, and renewal. Whether it’s gathering for an annual celebration, showing up for a weekly fitness class, or taking a stroll through the Art Gallery or Sculpture Garden, Emor teaches us that holiness doesn’t only live in grand occasions—it lives in the consistency of showing up, in the rituals we return to week after week, and in the community we build day by day.
This week at the J began with the Weintraub Israel Center‘s annual Yom HaAtzmaut celebration, joining with partners from across the Southern Arizona Jewish community. The day offered multiple ways to mark the moment together, each one adding its own layer of meaning. People of all ages experienced Israeli food and drinks, created art, shopped at the “shuk,” shared in the joy of Israeli dancing, and ended the evening with Israeli band, “Hashayara,” who traveled all the way from Northern Israel.
On Tuesday, our Fitness + Wellness Center got a refresh as we updated the carpet in the Locker Rooms, replaced existing Cardio machines, and installed a Power Plyo Set we’ve never had before! Stop by and be sure to ask one of our friendly floor trainers if you need assistance with the new equipment.
Off campus, Jennifer Lorch Selco, Tucson J’s Senior Director of Jewish Life and Engagement, and Suzette Joffroy, a PJ Library Parent Connector, spent the first part of the week at the 2026 PJ Library International Conference themed “Growth (and Why it Matters).” In addition to the learning, they had the opportunity to network with colleagues from across the globe, including nearly 30 fellow JCC professionals. Todd Rockoff, Tucson J President+ CEO, was featured in one of the plenary videos as well. PJ Library is a wonderful way for families to engage in holiday traditions through books and events; you can learn more here.
As summer draws near, we’re reflecting on last year’s JCC Maccabi Games + Access, proudly hosted right here at the Tucson J, and are looking ahead to this year’s Games. Davis Hubbell, Director of Teen Engagement and our Team Tucson Delegation Head, spent time in Toronto preparing with other DH’s from across North America. We can’t wait to cheer on Team Tucson in August!
Just this morning, we were again honored to be the location sponsor for the annual Pima Council on Aging and TMC Health “Salute to Centenarians” in conjunction with Older Americans Month. The event brings together the largest known gathering of centenarians in the United States and is a powerful reminder of how both small moments and meaningful milestones add up across time to create a life well-lived and worth celebrating. Interested in Healthy Aging programs at the J? Learn more here.
As we end the week, we invite you to lean into the pause of Shabbat and take a moment to reflect on how you move through and mark time. How do you create ritual and make meaning in the every day? How can you slow down and be more intentional? Shabbat Shalom.
Reminders, Resources + Learning
Each week we share resources for more learning:
This week’s resources:
- Who Belongs? by Dr. Rachel Rosenthal (Jewish Theological Seminary)
- The Omer Period — Time As Text by Rabbi Shimon Felix (My Jewish Learning)
Last week’s resources:
- Parashat Achrei Mot – Kedoshim: How to be Holy by Sarah Rudolph (My Jewish Learning)
- Parshat Acharei Mot/Kedoshim: It’s All Commentary by Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb (Orthodox Union)
Is there a topic you’d like to learn more about? Email Jenn Selco with requests.