From the Desk of Jennifer Lorch Selco | Sr. Director of Jewish Living + Engagement ⋆ JCC Tucson

From the Desk of Jennifer Lorch Selco | Sr. Director of Jewish Living + Engagement

December 26, 2025

From the Desk of Jennifer Lorch Selco | Sr. Director of Jewish Living + Engagement

In this week’s sedra (Torah portion), Vayigash, we reach the climax of the Joseph story. Judah, the same brother who proposed selling Joseph to merchants, now pleads for Benjamin’s life. The brothers cannot return to Canaan without Benjamin, Jacob’s youngest and favorite son (in the absence of Joseph). It is at this point that Joseph reveals himself to his brothers.

Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come forward to me.” And when they came forward, he said, “I am your brother Joseph, he whom you sold into Egypt.” Now, do not be distressed or reproach yourselves because you sold me hither; it was to save your life that God sent me ahead of you.” – Beresheet 45:4-5

Pharaoh then welcomes Joseph’s family and Jacob moves his entire family to Egypt where they settle in Goshen. While the book of Beresheet ends with next week’s Torah portion, the scene is being set for the Jews to be in Egypt. Rabbi Shai Held in his book, The Heart of Torah, Volume 1: Essays on the Weekly Torah Portion: Beresheet and Shemot (Volume 1) teaches that while Joseph does save the Jewish people and the Egyptians through a period of famine, it is also because of him that the Jews end up in Egypt.

The book of Beresheet, which begins with the global story of creation and then hones into the Jewish story, details both the lineage and narrative from Abraham and Sarah through the Joseph story. While we begin to learn core values through a Jewish lens, we are also reminded that the characters in our story are complex. No story exists in a vacuum. The story of Joseph is no exception. We too are complex, and just as Joseph and his brothers come to a moment of teshuvah, return, we too, can navigate difficult moments and find opportunities for teshuvah in our lives.

Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom and an early Happy New Year!

As we reflect on the idea of personal transformation found in parsha Vayigash, with Judah stepping forward, taking responsibility for his past and choosing a different future, we are reminded of our work here at the Tucson J. Judah’s act of teshuva—of returning, repairing, and becoming—is not loud or dramatic, but deeply human, rooted in courage, empathy, and accountability. Every day, our community is shaped by small but meaningful choices to show up for one another, to grow beyond who we were yesterday, and to create spaces where belonging, wellness, learning, and connection can flourish. Like Judah, we believe transformation happens when we lean in, care deeply, and commit to the ongoing work of becoming our best selves.

This week at the J, even in the midst of the busy holiday season, members and guests leaned into wellness and community in a variety of ways. On Monday, we welcomed the American Red Cross to campus for a Blood Drive to provide support for the ongoing critical blood supply shortage. With help from our community, as well as staff at the Tucson Fire Department who stopped in to support the cause and donate, we exceeded our blood donation goal of 19 pints, our highest contribution ever! Want to help out by giving blood? Stay tuned for more information about future Blood Drives.

Week one of Winter Camp J was a blast with time spent in the art studio, planting seeds, playing in the gym and PlaySpace, and a field trip to the Arizona Sonora Desert Museum! We’re looking forward to next week and already anticipating the summer ahead—registration for Summer Camp J opens January 4 for Tucson J members, and January 11 for guests. Learn more about registration here and meet our new Director of Camp + Youth, Cass Johnson, here! And did you know re-enrollment for existing Early Childhood Education students also opens in January (and February for new students)? Read about all the ways our ECE program goes above and beyond your typical preschool or daycare here.

In the Fitness + Wellness Center, our community continued on their wellness journeys or got an early start on new year goals—including enjoying time in the pool with beautiful weather this week! We are lucky to have pool season all year; Masters Swim and the Stingrays Swim Team are year-round and the JRays Swim School starts up again in March, plus we’ve got an exciting clinic for both youth and adults coming up with four-time Olympian and former Maccabiah Games Swimmer, Jason Lezak in February!

As we move into Shabbat and begin thinking about who we want to be in 2026, we invite you to explore 66 ways to J and hope you feel inspired to find more ways to learn, grow, and connect in the year ahead. Shabbat Shalom.