This week, we read Parshat Pekudei (Hebrew for “Amounts of”) which describes the accounting of the gold, silver, and copper shekels donated by the community for the building of the Mishkan (the portable sanctuary that travels with the people through the desert).  

Amongst other uses, the gold supported the community’s work to build the Mishkan; the silver was used for “casting the sockets of the sanctuary and the sockets for the curtain”; and of the copper, “he made the sockets for the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.” This reading details the careful account of these offerings and how they contributed to each important detail of the Mishkan’s purpose and appearance. 

I connected this reading with the Tucson J’s community efforts to build our own “Tent of Meeting” with a purpose to create a home for Tucsonans of all ages, abilities, faiths, and identities. We are able to serve our community because of its support. One way we honor this responsibility is by publicly and transparently communicating how we do this and the accounting of this “building” to our community partners.  

Thinking about the Disability Program Services department, our staff serve youth and adults with developmental disabilities. Our community’s support provides this opportunity, and we feel an obligation to account for our work and share this with our stakeholders. More importantly, we see the service we provide as a privilege and the accounting of our work as part of our obligations to the participants, their families, and our Tucson J community.  

As we enter into Shabbat, be mindful of your different Tents of Meeting and who has helped construct them. Each piece of gold, silver, and copper that was collected to build your community has contributed to your life and the opportunity you have to impact others. 

As we think about the building of the mishkan and the J as our own Tent of Meeting, it is easy to make the connection that the work of community building is holy work and each of us plays an important role in it by participating in programs, attending events, donating, volunteering, or simply spreading the word about what we do! Our tent at the J aims to provide the foundation for a lifelong journey of learning, friendships, and holistic wellness anchored in a strong community.

To learn more about how we can deepen our work and serve our community better, we sent six Tucson J leaders to the JCC Western Regional Conference Sunday through Tuesday in San Jose, where they had the pleasure of being welcomed by incoming CEO of JCC Association, Barak Herman, and hearing a fascinating keynote about how to leverage AI in JCC’s from Adam Tachner, former Chief Legal Officer, VP Corp Dev & Finance at Groq. The group also partook in workshops including Resetting the Table: Speaking Across Conflict, The Building Blocks of an Inclusive Community, Messaging & Communication: Creating and Pitching your Key Messages, and visited the Peninsula JCC campus for a session called Connecting with Values.

Back on campus, staff got in the Passover spirit with a Top Chef: Charoset competition and Early Childhood Education joined the fun with a matzah bake! It’s safe to say there’s no shortage of culinary arts here at the J – Taglit cooking club and J-Care participants also made fun and healthy treats this week! 

The J, like the mishkan, is also adorned with beautiful things! A new show opened in the Fine Art Gallery on Sunday — Perspectives in Fiber: Fiber Artists of Southern Arizona. The work explores contemporary themes from broad landscapes to closer views, with an emphasis on the Sonoran Desert, family heritage, abstracts and geometrics, social commentary, and, art-to-wear. Be sure to stop by if you haven’t seen it! 

As we move toward Passover we invite you to think about your own journey and the role you play in the communities you are part of. Shabbat Shalom.  

CHALLAH ORDERSMembers can pre-order challah for $6 each week in advance of Shabbat. Orders must be made by 10pm on Monday. Orders may be picked up from 5am-6pm at the Front Desk and/or Sports + Wellness Desk on Thursday and Friday. If you have a child/dependent in one of the J’s childcare programs or Taglit, we can send your Challah order home with them.  Contact Member Services at membership@tucsonjcc.org or mark the boxes on our online order form to set up a standing order or to purchase a new 10 pass for weekly challah at a discounted rate of $55.