Our Mission
The mission of the Tucson Jewish Community Center is to cultivate and enrich Jewish identity, ensure Jewish continuity, foster wellness, and broaden communal harmony.
Our Vision
We strive to be an outstanding (perhaps the pre-eminent) Jewish Community Center in North America.
Our Service Pledge
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.
INDIGENOUS LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
A tradition of land acknowledgement compels us to pay respect to all indigenous peoples who have been and continue to live and exist in relationship to the lands where we currently dwell.
Land acknowledgments serve to:
Inspire ongoing action and relationship.
Take a cue from Indigenous protocol, opening up space with reverence and respect.
Support larger truth-telling and reconciliation efforts.
Offer recognition and respect.
Create a broader public awareness of the history that has led to this moment.
TUCSON LAND HISTORY
Tucson’s history and culture narrative begins thousands of years ago, with Hohokam Indigenous peoples who first settled this land. The legacy of these people’s lives on today through the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and Tohono O’odham Nation, forming the foundation of the vibrant cultural landscape that Tucson is known for.
The Hohokam tribe lived approximately from 200 to 1400 CE. Their culture is notably known for Pueblo Architecture and networks of irrigation canals in the Salt River valley pre-renovation. The Hohokam people abandoned most of their settlements during the period between 1350 and 1450. The later occupants of the area, the Pima and Tohono O’odham, are direct descendants of the Hohokam people who have stewarded this land.
The O’odham people were farmers and hunter-gatherers, and their vibrant culture lives on today with their increasing population. Most of their members live in Arizona today, and are broken up into four federally recognized tribes: the Tohono O’odham Nation, the Gila River Indian Community, the Ak-Chin Indian Community, and the Salt River (Pima Maricopa) Indian Community.
Taking pride in Tucson’s history and culture must include acknowledgment and respect for the land of the Indigenous peoples.
TUCSON J INDIGENOUS LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT
As a Jewish Organization, we recognize how Jewish people have also suffered from land and cultural displacement. However, we acknowledge the ways in which we, as non-indigenous people on this land, have benefited from colonialism—former and ongoing—which has hurt and oppressed First Nations peoples.
The Tucson J acknowledges that we are on the traditional land of the first people of Arizona, the Hohokam people past and the O’odham people past and future. The Tucson J condemns the genocide and silencing of Indigenous peoples and holds gratitude for the Tohono O’odham Nation land on which we dwell.
Hinei moo’chan oom’zooman moo’chanah oom’zmanit l’kayem mitzvot ha’keret reh’bownoot ha’aretz le’shem yeh’chood.
Here we are, ready and prepared to acknowledge the sovereignty of the land as we are commanded for the sake of unification.
NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
The Tucson Jewish Community Center is open to the entire community. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression in any of our programs or activities. We are committed to providing an environment where all are welcome.
It is the policy of The Tucson Jewish Community Center (“Tucson J”) to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, The Tucson J will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.
Non Discrimination Notice to the Public (English) (Spanish) | Non Discrimination ADA/Titile VI Complaint Procedures (English) (Spanish)| Discrimination ADA/Title VI Complaint Form (English) (Spanish)
If information is needed in
Spanish, contact 520.299.3000. *Para información en español llame a:
520.299.3000