Welcome to Tucson: Casey Weiss

Casey Weiss was born in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood in New York and was raised in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He studied in Yeshiva in England and earned a Bachler’s degree in psychology from the Carleton University in Ottawa. He taught English, business, and drama at the Suzhou International Foreign Language School in Suzhou, China.

He currently serves as the Outreach Coordinator for Coyote TaskForce which provides employment services for adults dealing with mental illness and homelessness in downtown Tucson. How long have you been in Tucson? 2 months. What brought you here? I wanted to wander in the desert for another 40 years… Where did you move from and how is Tucson compared to it? I moved here from Thatcham, a small historic town in Berkshire, UK. It is surrounded by forests, hillsides and farmland. Tucson’s Jewish community, however small, is massive compared to Thatcham. I was probably the only one who lit a Menorah there. Currently learning and reading: I am currently reading "Shaarei Halachah: A Summary of Laws for Jewish Living" by Zeev Greenwald, and balancing that with "Mysticism and Logic and Other Essays" by Bertrand Russell. Favorite Mitzvah or holiday: I would say Pesach. I love both getting together with family, and cleaning things up. And the meaning of it of course. A cherished Jewish memory: My most cherished memory is sitting on my father’s shoulders, waiting to receive a dollar for charity and a blessing from the Lubavitcher Rebbe at 770 Eastern Parkway. As a child, receiving a dollar translated to being able to buy lots of candy so I was motivated to patiently wait. When my turn came, I told the Rebbe, "I want a bunch!" The Rebbe smiled and gave me a second dollar. My father reimbursed me for both and gave me two "regular dollars." The blessed ones were used as decorations on the Sukkah. Tzedakah motto: Case by case and according to people’s circumstances. While I was a student, or when I was working and paying back my student loans, I learned that I could help by volunteering even though I had no money to give. Jewish app on phone: KLBD Kosher London. In the UK, food products aren’t marked so I needed to look up their kosher certification. Go-to Yiddish or Hebrew word: Mechtig (literally mighty) - used in Chassidic circles to say cool or awesome. A favorite historic Jewish figure: Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler (of the 20th century). I drew inspiration from his series "Strive for Truth." Chabad: In Chabad, you have a home, no matter where you are. I've personally seen it in Shanghai and Bangkok. As they say, where there’s Coca-Cola, there’s Chabad. A hobby: Philosophy, neuroscience, psychology, biotech, sociology and healthy living/nutrition, along with singing, playing guitar, and scuba diving. Comfort food: Grieven (or gribenes - crisp chicken skin cracklings). Define happiness: A moment of grace when we live our lives in a certain way. It's not something you can force. What I kvetch about: The narcissism of small differences. What I kvell about: Being around good people. Something to look forward to: My brother is coming to visit Arizona, so I’m looking forward to that.