Shavua Tov 8 Iyar 5786

Shavua Tov

 

As we continue our journey of counting the Omer, we arrive in the third week Netzach, the quality of endurance. Tonight, we mark the third day of this week, Tiferet she’b’Netzach—compassion within endurance.

 

Endurance is often understood as strength, persistence, or the ability to push forward despite obstacles. But our tradition teaches that true endurance is not rigid or self-focused. Healthy endurance, directed toward developing our best qualities and refining those that need growth, must be guided by compassion.

 

Compassion within endurance reflects one of the most beautiful human capacities: an enduring commitment to help another grow. It reminds us that perseverance is not simply about holding on, it is about holding space for others. Endurance without compassion can become self-serving or even harmful. But when infused with compassion, it becomes a force for healing, connection, and transformation.

 

Our sages remind us:


“The world is built on chesed (lovingkindness)” (Psalm 89:3).


Endurance, when rooted in this lovingkindness, becomes something sacred an ongoing act of building a better world, one relationship at a time.

 

This is where the concept of hitlamdut learning through non-judgmental curiosity becomes so powerful. When we approach others and the situations we encounter with openness rather than judgment, we create space for growth, both in ourselves and in those around us. Hitlamdut invites us to ask: What can I learn here? What might I not yet understand? It shifts endurance from stubborn persistence into compassionate presence.

 

In our community, this means showing up for one another not only when it is easy, but especially when it is challenging. It means extending patience, empathy, and curiosity to our colleagues, to our neighbors, and to those who may be struggling or feel unseen.

 

This theme echoes beautifully in both Jewish and broader cultural expressions. The Hebrew song Olam Chesed Yibaneh. Directly rooted in the verse you’re using “the world is built on lovingkindness.” Perfect thematic alignment with compassionate endurance.

 

From Broadway, No One is Alone from Into the Woods. A beautiful reflection on shared struggle and responsibility to care for one another. It emphasizes that endurance is not solitary it’s communal and compassionate.

 

As we move through this week of Netzach, may we strengthen not just our capacity to persevere, but our willingness to do so with compassion and curiosity. May we continue to build a community where endurance is expressed through kindness, where growth is nurtured with care, and where every individual feels supported on their journey.

 

Together we are not only sustaining Jewish life; we are strengthening it. Through our shared commitment, we are creating a more vibrant, compassionate, and resilient Jewish community for today and for generations to come.

 

בּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר

 

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer

 

הַיּוֹם אַרְבָּעָה וְעֶשְׂרִים יוֹם, שֶׁהֵם שְׁלוֹשָׁה שָׁבוּעוֹת וּשְׁלוֹשָׁה יָמִים לָעֽוֹ

 

Today is 24 days, which are 3 weeks and 3 days of the Omer

 

Cochenu b’Achduteynu | כחינו באחדותינו | Our strength is in our unity.


Am Yisrael Chai | עם ישראל חי

 

Todd Rockoff

President + CEO, Tucson J 

Shavua Tov 1 Iyar 5786

Shavua Tov

 

As we approach this meaningful moment on our communal calendar, I write to you with both a heavy heart and a deep sense of hope.

 

On Monday evening, we will observe Yom HaZikaron, Israel’s Memorial Day, a sacred time when we remember and honor the fallen soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces and the victims of terrorism. It is a day rooted in אחדות של זיכרון, a unity of remembrance, where the entire Jewish people pauses to bear witness to sacrifice and loss.

 

Our tradition commands us, “זָכוֹר”, Remember. This imperative is not passive; it asks us to actively carry memory forward, to ensure that those who gave their lives are never forgotten. Memory, in Jewish life, is a sacred act of continuity and responsibility.

 

As a community, we will gather for a meaningful ceremony prepared by the Weintraub Israel Center, a partnership between JPSA and The J, on Monday evening at the J. Together, we will reflect, mourn, and hold one another in this collective moment.

 

The melodies of our people often give voice to what words alone cannot. In Vehi She’amda, we are reminded: “In every generation, there are those who rise up to destroy us.” Yet embedded within that same song is an enduring truth that we persist, that we endure, that we are still here. And even in the shadow of grief, we carry forward the quiet but powerful refrain of Yehi Tovthe hope, the belief, that one day, everything will be good.

 

And then, as it has for generations, our calendar turns.

 

From the depths of sorrow, we rise guided by the words of the Psalmist:

 

“Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.” Immediately following Yom HaZikaron, we celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaut, the 78th birthday of the State of Israel. It is a transition that captures something essential about the Jewish spirit: the ability to hold grief and joy, memory and hope, side by side.

Our community will come together to celebrate on Sunday, April 26, with what promises to be an incredible event organized by the Weintraub Israel Center. This celebration is not just about marking a date it is about affirming life, resilience, and the miracle of Jewish sovereignty in our ancestral homeland.

 

David Ben-Gurion once said, “In Israel, in order to be a realist, you must believe in miracles.” The existence and flourishing of the State of Israel is one such miracle born out of tragedy, sustained through challenge, and strengthened by the unwavering spirit of its people.

 

Even in these complex and often challenging times, I remain filled with hope for the future. As a community, we have the opportunity, and the responsibility, to lean in and bring to life the guiding principles of the Z3 movement: Unity, Not Uniformity; Engaging as Equal Partners; and Welcoming a Diversity of Voices. These values are not abstract they are the foundation upon which a vibrant, inclusive, and resilient Jewish future is built.

 

As we move from remembrance to celebration, from Yom HaZikaron to Yom Ha’atzmaut, may we carry both the weight of our history and the light of our hope. May we continue to sing the songs of our people from sorrow to joy and may we never lose sight of the dream expressed in Hatikvah, the enduring hope of the Jewish people.

 

With gratitude for all you do for our community, and with hope for the days ahead,

 

Cochenu b’Achduteynu | כחינו באחדותינו | Our strength is in our unity.


Am Yisrael Chai | עם ישראל חי

 

Todd Rockoff

President + CEO, Tucson J 

Shavua Tov 24 Nisan 5786

Shavua Tov

 

As we approach this sacred time in our calendar, we turn our hearts and minds to memory.

 

This Sunday, we will commemorate Yom HaShoah. Together, we will honor the survivors and remember the six million Jews who were murdered in the Shoah. Memory is not passive; it calls upon us. It obligates us.

 

Our tradition teaches: “Zachor—Remember.” The commandment to remember appears again and again in Jewish life, reminding us that memory is not only about the past, but about how we live in the present and shape the future. As it is written in Deuteronomy, “Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations” (Deut. 32:7). To remember is to connect to those who came before us, to one another, and to the generations yet to come.

 

Avram Infeld teaches that Jews have not survived because of history alone, but because of memory. History is what happened; memory is what we choose to carry forward, what we make meaningful, and what we allow to guide our lives. Memory, he reminds us, is not about the past it is about responsibility for the future.

 

At the Tucson J and throughout our Jewish Community, we live this truth every day. One of the most powerful ways we honor memory is by strengthening Jewish life and creating a vibrant Jewish community. We create community through relationships by showing up for one another.

 

Through learning by engaging deeply with our heritage. Through participation by celebrating and marking time together. And even through struggle by standing together in moments of challenge and uncertainty.

In the days ahead, our community will again gather in remembrance and in hope. Next week, we will come together to honor the memory of Israeli soldiers and victims of terror on Yom HaZikaron. And immediately following, we will celebrate Yom Ha’atzmaout, Israel’s 78th birthday, a powerful reminder of resilience, renewal, and the enduring strength of the Jewish people.

 

In the spirit of memory, many of us recall the haunting words of Pavel Friedmann, written in the Theresienstadt ghetto:

 

“The last, the very last,
So richly, brightly, dazzlingly yellow.
Perhaps if the sun’s tears would sing
Against a white stone…
Such, such a yellow
Is carried lightly ‘way up high.
It went away I’m sure because it wished
To kiss the world goodbye.”

 

The “Butterfly” has become a symbol of memory fragile, fleeting, yet impossible to forget.

 

And in Israeli song, we are reminded again of memory’s power. In Zachor(Remember) and in HaPerach BeGani (The Flower in My Garden), memory is not only sorrow it is love, continuity, and life carried forward.

 

We honor the memory of those we have lost not only with words, but with action. We do so by building, by gathering, by teaching, and by creating spaces where Jewish life can flourish.

 

We honor memory by providing the Jewish future.

 

May this season of remembrance deepen our commitment to one another and strengthen our resolve to build a vibrant, enduring Jewish community—together.

 

With respect, reflection, and hope,

 

Cochenu b’Achduteynu | כחינו באחדותינו | Our strength is in our unity.


Am Yisrael Chai | עם ישראל חי

 

Todd Rockoff

President + CEO, Tucson J 

Shavua Tov 17 Nisan 5786

Shavua Tov

 

As we gather in the spirit of Passover, we mark not only our journey from liberation, but also the beginning of a sacred count. At the second Seder, we began counting the Omer forty-nine days of reflection and growth as we move toward Shavuot, the moment of receiving Torah.

 

This first week of the Omer invites us to focus on Chesed loving kindness. Tonight, as we enter the third day, we reflect on Tiferet sheb’Chesed, the harmony and balance within love. It calls us to consider not only the presence of kindness in our lives, but how it is expressed: with compassion, dignity, and beauty.

 

Our tradition teaches:


“עולם חסד יבנה — Olam chesed yibaneh”
“The world is built through kindness.” (Psalm 89:3)

 

In our work at the Tucson J, this teaching is not abstract, it is lived. Every program, every interaction, every moment of care is an opportunity to build a world grounded in chesed. If each of us were to ask, what can I do today to bring more kindness into the world? we can begin to imagine the profound individual and collective impact that would follow.

 

Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik reminds us:


“The world was created not only for man’s use, but for his responsibility; man is not only a beneficiary of creation, but also a partner in its perfection.”

 

This partnership is at the heart of our shared mission. The J strives to be a place where kindness is not only encouraged but embodied, a place where people are seen, valued, and embraced for their inherent worth. Together with our partner agencies and synagogues, we are building a community rooted in care, connection, and purpose.

 

As we continue this Omer journey, may we be inspired to deepen our commitment to chesed—with balance, with intention, and with heart.

I leave you with three musical reflections that capture this spirit:

 

A beloved Hebrew song: Olam Chesed Yibaneh by Rabbi Menachem Creditor  based on Psalms, a reminder that each act of kindness helps build the world.

From the American musical tradition, Make them hear you from Ragtime, a powerful call to act with courage and purpose in shaping a more just and compassionate society.

 

And from The Prince of Egypt, When You Believe , a moving expression of faith, hope, and the quiet power of belief that reminds us that even in uncertain moments, redemption and transformation are possible.

May these days of counting elevate our actions and strengthen our community.

 

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָֽׁנוּ בְּמִצְוֹתָיו, וְצִוָּֽנוּ עַל סְפִירַת הָעֹֽמֶר.

 

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu melech ha-olam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav vitzivanu al s’firat ha-omer.

 

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe, who sanctifies us with mitzvot, and commands us concerning the counting of the Omer.

 

הַיּוֹם שְׁלֹשָׁה יָמִים לָעֹֽמֶר.

 

Hayom sh’loshah yamim la-omer.


Today is three days of the Omer.


Cochenu b’Achduteynu | כחינו באחדותינו | Our strength is in our unity.


Am Yisrael Chai | עם ישראל חי

 

Todd Rockoff

President + CEO, Tucson J 

Shavua Tov 10 Nisan 5786

Shavua Tov

As we approach this coming Wednesday night, we join Jews across Tucson, North America, Israel, and around the world as we gather around the Seder table to mark the beginning of Passover.

Together, we retell the story of our people’s exodus from Egypt, Mitzrayim, the narrow place. It is a story not only of liberation, but of transformation. As we leave that narrow place, we begin to see possibility unfolding before us. We are no longer simply escaping we are becoming. A nation is being formed, filled with promise, purpose, and hope.

The Torah reminds us: “You shall tell your child on that day, saying: It is because of what the Eternal did for me when I went out of Egypt” (Exodus 13:8). Each year, we don’t just remember and we relive. We see ourselves in that journey.

And when our ancestors reached the sea and crossed into freedom, their joy was so profound that words alone could not contain it. So they sang.

That spirit still lives within us today. Whether it’s the quiet gratitude of Irving Berlin’s beautiful Count your blessings the recognition that It’s a Small World that we are deeply interconnected or the powerful hope captured in When You Believe by Stephen Schwartz from The Prince of Egypt, music helps us express what words sometimes cannot: faith, resilience, and the possibility of redemption.

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z”l taught:

Freedom is not won on the battlefield alone. It is won in the human imagination and the courage to build a different future.

Today, many of us still experience moments of Mitzrayim, narrow places of uncertainty, challenge, or isolation. But Passover reminds us that there is always a path forward. One of the widest, most life-giving spaces we can step into is community.

Here at The J and in organizations and synagogues throughout Tucson, community is where we expand beyond the narrow:

When we show up

When we volunteer

When we build friendships

When we support one another

It is here that we find joy, belonging, and meaning.

We are not alone. We are connected—to each other here in Tucson, across North America, in Israel, and to Jews around the world. That connection is our strength. It is our song.

As you gather at your Seder tables this year, may you feel that connection deeply. May you find joy in the telling, meaning in the rituals, and inspiration in the journey ahead.

Chag Pesach Sameach. Wishing you and your loved ones a Passover filled with freedom, hope, and community.


Cochenu b’Achduteynu | כחינו באחדותינו | Our strength is in our unity.


Am Yisrael Chai | עם ישראל חי

 

Todd Rockoff

President + CEO, Tucson J 

Shavua Tov 3 Nisan 5786

Shavua Tov

 

At the Tucson J, learning is not confined to a classroom it is alive in every space we share and in every relationship we build. From our Early Childhood Education programs to J Care, Camp, BBYO, and beyond, we are constantly teaching and learning formally, informally, and through the lived experiences of community.

 

This week, we took another meaningful step forward with the launch of Partners Tucson, where rabbis and community members came together to explore the meaning of Passover and to reflect on a powerful truth: we are all educators. Each conversation, each question, each shared story contributes to a culture of limmud sacred learning that has sustained our people for generations.

 

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks taught, “To be a Jew is to be a lifelong learner.” This value of limmud is not only central to our past it is essential to securing our Jewish future. Rabbi Shai Held reminds us that “education is the process of learning to see the world through the eyes of others,” a perspective that deepens empathy, strengthens community, and brings our tradition to life in meaningful ways.

 

We are also reminded of the words from the beloved Hebrew song Lo Alecha:


“Lo alecha hamlacha ligmor, v’lo ata ben chorin l’hibatel mimena”


“It is not upon you to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.”

 

This message resonates deeply in our work at the J and throughout our Jewish Community. We may not finish the task of shaping Jewish life, but we are each responsible for contributing to it through learning, teaching, and showing up for one another.

 

And as Crosby, Stills, & Nash so beautifully expressed in Teach Your Children:


“Teach your children well… and feed them on your dreams.”


At the Tucson J, we are doing exactly that—nurturing the next generation while learning alongside them.

 

The J strives to help answer a fundamental question: What kind of Jewish lives do we want to lead, and how can we make that possible? Through shared learning and collective purpose, we create space for discovery, meaning, and belonging.

 

We are at our very best when we come together as a people and as a community committed to learning from one another and building a vibrant Jewish future.

 

I hope each of us finds time to learn together, to explore the richness of our texts, and to uncover their relevance in our modern lives.

 

With gratitude for all you do to sustain and strengthen our community,


Cochenu b’Achduteynu | כחינו באחדותינו | Our strength is in our unity.


Am Yisrael Chai | עם ישראל חי

 

Todd Rockoff

President + CEO, Tucson J 

Shavua Tov 25 Adar 5786

Shavua Tov

 

In our cycle of reading Torah, this morning our community completed the reading of the Book of Shemot, the book in which the children of Israel transform from a family into a nation. In Shemot we move from slavery to freedom, but just as importantly we become something new in the world a people bound together by shared destiny and responsibility.

 

Each time we complete a book of Torah we proclaim:

 

חזק חזק ונתחזק — Hazak, Hazak, V’nithazek.


Be strong, be strong, and let us strengthen one another.

 

These words remind us that the strength of the Jewish people has never come from individuals standing alone. Our strength comes from the deep bonds we share with one another from Amiut Yehudit, Jewish peoplehood.

 

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks beautifully captured this idea when he wrote:

 

“Judaism is the religion of a people bound together in responsibility for one another.”

 

For thousands of years this understanding has sustained us. We celebrate together in times of great joy; weddings, births, holidays, and achievements. And in times of challenge or uncertainty, we turn to one another for comfort, strength, and hope.

 

Community is where we belong.

 

At the Tucson J, this belief is at the heart of everything we do. Our service pledge expresses it clearly:

 

“We create community based on Jewish values by providing the highest quality programs and services in a safe and secure environment for all people of all ages.”

 

The Tucson J is a Mercaz, a hub of Jewish life, a place where everyone can find connection, meaning, and belonging. It is where children grow, families gather, friendships are formed, and generations come together.

 

The idea of belonging is expressed beautifully in Jewish music. The beloved Hebrew song Kol HaOlam Kulo reminds us:

 

Kol ha’olam kulo gesher tzar me’od,
V’ha’ikar lo lefached klal.

 

The whole world is a very narrow bridge, and the most important thing is not to be afraid.

 

We cross that narrow bridge not alone, but together.

 

That same spirit is echoed in American music as well. In the song You’ve Got a Friendwe hear a simple but powerful promise:

 

“You just call out my name, and you know wherever I am, I’ll come running… you’ve got a friend.”

 

That is the essence of community. It is the promise that no matter what challenges we face, we will be there for one another.

 

Every day at the Tucson J we see this promise lived out through the generosity of our donors, the leadership of our board, the dedication of our staff, and the participation of thousands of community members who walk through our doors.

 

Together we create something sacred: a place where people know they belong.

 

As we move forward from the Book of Shemot, may we carry its message with us. May we continue to strengthen the bonds of Jewish peoplehood. And may the Tucson J remain a place where community flourishes and where every person feels part of something larger than themselves.

 

Hazak, Hazak, V’nithazek.

 

May we be strong, may we strengthen one another, and may our community continue to grow in connection, compassion, and belonging.

With gratitude and pride,

 

Cochenu b’Achduteynu | כחינו באחדותינו | Our strength is in our unity.


Am Yisrael Chai | עם ישראל חי

 

Todd Rockoff

President + CEO, Tucson J 

Shavua Tov 18 Adar 5786

Shavua Tov

 

With Purim now behind us, its message remains as powerful and relevant as ever. The story of Esther reminds us that the Jewish future has never been guaranteed, it has always depended on courage, unity, and the willingness of a community to stand together. In the face of Haman’s threat, the Jewish people chose collective responsibility, and through that unity we prevailed.

 

Now we turn our attention toward our next holiday, Passover, when we once again gather around our tables to retell the ancient story of our journey from slavery to freedom. Each year we read these words again, not simply to remember, but to learn. Our tradition teaches us that these stories are living texts, meant to guide how we face the challenges and opportunities of our own time.

 

The Haggadah reminds us: “In every generation, each person must see themselves as if they personally came out of Egypt.” This teaching is not only about memory; it is about responsibility. Every generation is called to shape the Jewish future.

 

That idea lies at the heart of Jewish Peoplehood, the collective sense of belonging, unity, and mutual responsibility that binds Jews together across geographic, cultural, and religious differences. It reminds us that wherever Jews live, we are part of a single unfolding story.

 

At the Tucson J, and throughout our broader Jewish community, we are working every day to nurture that story. Our goal is not simply to build programs or institutions, but to help create a vibrant Jewish community rooted in belonging, a place where every individual can see themselves as part of the Jewish people and where our shared responsibility for one another becomes real and tangible.

 

This vision is captured beautifully in the words of Oseh Shalom, when we pray: “Oseh shalom bimromav, hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu v’al kol Yisrael” May the One who makes peace in the heavens bring peace upon us and upon all Israel. It is a reminder that peace, unity, and community are not abstract ideals; they are something we must actively create together.

 

In moments of uncertainty, our tradition and our music remind us of our shared humanity. The song Prayer from the remarkable Broadway play Come From Awayspeaks of people from different places coming together with compassion and hope in the face of crisis. Its message resonates deeply with Jewish values: that when people open their hearts to one another,

 

community is strengthened and light emerges even in difficult moments.

And in The Prayer performed by Shiri Maimon and Andrea Bocelli, we hear a universal plea that reflects the Jewish spirit across generations—that we may be guided by wisdom, protected by compassion, and led toward a future of peace. It is a prayer for our children and for the generations who will inherit the world we help shape today.

 

Together, these messages, ancient and modern, remind us that the Jewish story has always been sustained by community. From the courage of Esther, to the liberation of Passover, to the songs and prayers that inspire us today, our strength has always come from standing together.

 

Thank you for being part of this shared journey. Your leadership, generosity, and partnership make it possible for the Tucson J to continue building a community where Jewish life flourishes and where every person feels they belong.

 

As we move toward Passover, may we continue to draw strength from our past, purpose in our present, and hope for the future we are building together.

 

Wishing you and your loved ones peace, meaning, and joy in the weeks ahead.

 

Wishing Shalom to all


Cochenu b’Achduteynu | כחינו באחדותינו | Our strength is in our unity.


Am Yisrael Chai | עם ישראל חי

 

Bring them Home Now I מחזירים אותם הביתה עכשיו

 

Todd Rockoff

President + CEO, Tucson J 

Shavua Tov 11 Adar 5786

Shavua Tov

 

On Monday night, we will gather to celebrate Purim, a holiday of costumes and celebration, of laughter and noise, of joy that seems almost irreverent. Beneath the masks and merriment lies one of the most profound teachings in Jewish life.

 

Purim is the story of hiddenness and courage. It is the only book of the Tanach in which God’s name does not explicitly appear. And yet, as Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z”l taught, God is present precisely in that hiddenness in the quiet bravery of Esther, in Mordechai’s moral clarity, and in a community that refuses to surrender to fear. The absence of God’s name is not the absence of God. It is an invitation for human beings to step forward.

 

Rabbi Sacks often wrote that Judaism is the story of “the transformation of fate into destiny.” The turning point of Purim v’nahafoch hu “it was turned upside down” is not merely about survival. It is about responsibility. Esther does not wait passively for redemption. She embraces her moment and says, “If I perish, I perish.” In that act of courage, she transforms Jewish fate into Jewish destiny.

 

That message speaks powerfully to us at the Tucson J.

 

Our mission is to strengthen Jewish life and create a more vibrant Jewish future. That future does not simply unfold on its own. It is built through vision, generosity, leadership, and daily acts of commitment. It is built by donors who invest in Jewish continuity. By board members who steward our sacred trust. By staff who animate our values in classrooms, on the fitness floor, in cultural arts, and in the relationships they nurture. By community members who choose to gather, celebrate, and belong.

 

The Megillah tells us:


LaYehudim hayta orah v’simcha v’sasson vikar


“For the Jews there was light and joy, gladness and honor.” (Esther 8:16)

 

In many communities, these words are not simply read they are sung. They rise together in melody, transforming text into shared celebration.

 

At the Tucson J, our work is to create that orah  that light. Light in early childhood education that shapes Jewish identity from the very beginning. Light in programs that bring generations together. Light in spaces of wellness, learning, culture, and connection. Light that ensures Judaism is not something hidden or fragile, but vibrant, visible, and filled with joy.

 

There is a lyric from the Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen that feels especially resonant:

 

“Even when the dark comes crashing through,
When you need a friend to carry you…

 

You will be found

 

Purim reminds us that we find one another. And when we do, what once felt uncertain can be turned upside down into possibility.

 

As we enter this holiday of courage and celebration, may we continue to choose responsibility over resignation, generosity over hesitation, and joy over fear. May we be worthy of the sacred work entrusted to us strengthening Jewish life today and building a vibrant Jewish future for tomorrow.

 

And may we help ensure that for our community, too, LaYehudim Hayta OrahlaYehudim hayta orah v’simcha there is light and joy.

 

Chag Purim Sameach,

Cochenu b’Achduteynu | כחינו באחדותינו | Our strength is in our unity.


Am Yisrael Chai | עם ישראל חי

 

Todd Rockoff

President + CEO, Tucson J 

Shavua Tov 4 Adar 5786

Shavua Tov

 

Bob Dylan offered a blessing that has echoed across generations:

“May you always stay forever young.”

 

To stay Forever Young is not about age. It is about spirit. It is about maintaining a sense of possibility. It is about meeting each new chapter with curiosity rather than criticism, with openness rather than cynicism.

At the Tucson J, this mindset is not optional it is essential.

 

In Jewish life, mindset is not merely attitude; it is kavannah. Kavannah means intention of the heart. It is the inner orientation we bring to what we do. In prayer, kavannah transforms words into connection. In leadership, kavannah transforms responsibility into sacred purpose. It asks not only what we are doing, but how and why we are doing it.

 

When we approach our work with kavannah, we move from reaction to reflection. From criticism to curiosity. From guarding the status quo to building the future.

 

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks taught:

 

“To be a Jew is to be an agent of hope in a world serially threatened by despair.”

 

Hope is not naïve. It is disciplined optimism. It is the courageous decision to believe that tomorrow can be better because we are willing to shape it together. A youthful outlook is rooted in that hope. It shifts our instinct from “Why won’t this work?” to “What might be possible?”

 

Our tradition reinforces this posture. In Pirkei Avot (4:1) we read:

 

“Who is wise? One who learns from every person.”

 

Curiosity is wisdom in action. When we approach each other and the evolving needs of our community as learners, we create space for innovation, collaboration, and growth. When we lead with criticism, we close doors. When we lead with curiosity and kavannah, we open them.

 

This spirit is beautifully captured in the Hebrew song  Yihiye Tov יהיה טוב “It will be good.” The refrain repeats with steady confidence: Yihiye tov, yihiyi tov. It is not a denial of challenge. It is a declaration of resilience. It is the music of Jewish hope.

 

Every day, we are entrusted with sacred work. The Tucson J is not simply a campus. It is where Jewish life is strengthened, renewed, and reimagined. It is where children discover joy in Jewish identity. Where teens wrestle with big questions. Where adults build lasting relationships. Where older adults remain engaged and valued. Where every generation finds belonging.

 

This is how we build vibrant Jewish life not by accident, but by intention. Not by standing still, but by climbing higher.

 

As Dylan’s blessing continues:

 

“May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung.”

 

That is our charge. To keep climbing. To keep building. To keep learning. To keep bringing kavannah, intention of the heart, to the work of strengthening Jewish life in Southern Arizona.

 

The world is changing. Jewish life is evolving. Our strength will not come from defending what has been, but from courageously shaping what can be.

May we remain forever young in spirit curious, hopeful, and intentional as we continue the sacred work of building a more vibrant Jewish future together.

 

Yihiye Tov

 

It will be good

 

With gratitude and resolve,


Cochenu b’Achduteynu | כחינו באחדותינו | Our strength is in our unity.


Am Yisrael Chai | עם ישראל חי

 

Todd Rockoff

President + CEO, Tucson J