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
