JEWISH EDUCATION grows in Tucson

Lamplighter Chabad Day School

Preschool moves into a modern new building

By Lilian Wasserman · Photos by Jacqueline Soffer Studio

Over this past year, a 10,815-square-foot building in the Palo Verde neighborhood in Tucson, Arizona, has undergone extensive renovation. The entire interior has been gutted and replaced by expansive color schemes, bright lighting, designer flooring, and top-of-the-line furnishings. The exterior was also overhauled, with the parking lot covered in brick pavers and LED lights.

Everything has been reimagined and redesigned - except for one specific feature.

The untouched element is four distinctively tall palm trees rising over the entrance of 3830 E Bellevue Street. Having grown to a remarkable height over time, those trees possibly predate the building that is tucked between the Varsity Clubs hotel, the Casa Blanca event venue, and the midtown branch of the Tucson Federal Credit Union.

The one-story building is the new home of the Lamplighter Chabad Day School and Preschool of Tucson. For Rabbi Yossie Shemtov, Executive Director of Chabad Tucson, keeping those trees growing was an educational opportunity that also exemplified the school’s mission.

“The Midrash tells of a 100-year-old man who was planting a tree,” Rabbi Shemtov shared. “When the man was asked if he expected to live long enough to enjoy the fruits of his labor, he replied: “My ancestors planted for me, and now I plant for my children...”

“Our palm trees are symbolic of our school’s commitment to its students to help them grow in their Jewish values, education, and continuity,” Rabbi Shemtov said. “It also conveys our education approach, to provide strong roots and constant nurturing, allowing each child to blossom in his or her way.”

Unsurprisingly, students at Lamplighter are learning about the Torah’s view of the botanical world ahead of Tu Bishvat, the 15th of Shevat, which marks the beginning of a “new year” for trees. The young boys and girls of preschool will also plant tree seedlings in school and grow their garden.

Humble beginnings

The roots of the Lamplighter school date back to October 1983, when Rabbi Shemtov and his wife, Rebbetzin Chanie Shemtov, established Chabad Tucson with the blessing of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of blessed memory, spiritual leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement.

The Rebbe strongly advocated for better Chinuch (Jewish education) and argued that education was “the cornerstone not only of Jewish life but of humanity at large.” The U.S. President annually proclaims Education and Sharing Day on the Rebbe’s birthday in recognition of his lifelong efforts for education.

“Proper education means giving our children a delicate balance,” the Rebbe said in a talk given just a month before the Shemtovs embarked to Arizona.

“They must know Torah’s unwavering fundamentals – principles which cannot change, regardless of the circumstances. At the same time, however, the child is told to continually grow and be innovative in his or her life’s mission. Just as the child’s body constantly grows, so must the child’s soul grow every single day.”

The Shemtovs took this instruction to heart and dedicated countless hours to teaching children in one-on-one sessions alongside their responsibilities and programs for the wider community. They later prompted the Orthodox Jewish education track at the Tucson Hebrew Academy (which has since been discontinued). They also operated classes out of Congregation Bet Shalom, Congregation Young Israel and Castlehill Country Day School.

When demand grew, Rabbi Shemtov set out to purchase the building on E Bellevue Street, which belonged to Our Family Services. A crowdfunding campaign that attracted 388 individual donors, with additional funding by philanthropist Mario de la Fuente Manriquez, provided for the downpayment in June 2020.

“It was heartwarming to see how current and past members of the Jewish community in Tucson acknowledged the importance of authentic Jewish education, and kindly contributed to the initial campaign just as the Covid-19 pandemic had begun,” Rabbi Shemtov commented.

A construction crew led by Sally Bach of G2 Contracting got to work. The architect was Rhonda Rawson of American Design Consultants and the interior designer was Rikvah Baitelman of Los Angeles, California.

The result is a beautiful and modern school building equipped with state-of-the-art features. “It’s absolutely gorgeous,” Clay Abernathy, Vice President and Founder of the IDEA’L construction trade school in Tucson, commented about the result. In fact, Abernathy filmed two episodes about Lamplighter for his online video series about local developments.

Steller staff

While it is impossible to look at the physical building and be impassive, what goes on inside the school is the most important. Lamplighter has a clear vision as a provider of both a Torah-true Jewish education and a General Studies Academic program in a caring, loving, and wellrounded environment.

“I like to say that our Judaic teachers are overly qualified,” says Rebbetzin Feigie Ceitlin, the head of school. “Our staff is comprised of local Chabad Rabbis and Rebbetzins who bring their extensive knowledge, vigorous faith, and exceptional care to the classroom. We’re blessed to have such a high caliber of teachers willing to work with each child on their level.”

With regard to secular studies, “All primary levels learn reading, math, and science led by experienced teachers,” Ceitlin says. Recent projects include an “I Have a Dream” art composition in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a lemon batteries experiment, and writing ad copy for a fictional marketing campaign.

And there is lots of activity with the younger students at the preschool. Jackie Soffer says she was surprised and delighted when her three-year-old son

Ruben set up a Shabbat party at home and was reciting blessings on food by himself.

“We were looking for a Jewish school in Tucson, and Lamplighter seemed like a great choice,” says Soffer, a wedding and destination photographer. “They teach through action and with love, and Ruben loves his classmates and his teachers. He asks why he cannot go on the weekends to play and be with his friends.”

Ceitlin says that one of the first questions young families ask when considering moving to a Jewish community is the quality of the education. “With Lamplighter, we can now confidently answer that authentic, wholesome, and individualized Jewish education is available in Tucson,” she states.

Next year, students at Lamplighter will range from 1-year-olds to 7th graders. Ceitlin finds that the most rewarding part of her day is hearing the children learning. “It is heartening to hear each child’s voice learning something new every minute of the day,” she says. “We are very proud of them.”

The beautiful palm trees that grow in front of the Lamplighter school can be seen as part of the Jewish belief that what is “planted” during childhood will continue to nurture them as they grow. Like the trees, their school experience should leave them sturdy in faith and culture, sharing their stature with all who are around them.

Getting involved

Enroll: Enrollment is now open for the 2023-2024 school year for toddlers through 7th grade. Schedule a personal tour by contacting 520-881-7956 ext. 2 or office@lamplightertucson.com.

Donate: Various dedication opportunities are available in the new building, and in the second phase of the construction that will soon expand the school. Contact Rabbi Yossie Shemtov at 520-8817856 ext. 11.

Tuition tax credit: By donating to a school tuition organization for Lamplighter Chabad Day School, you receive a full tax credit back when you file your Arizona state taxes. For more, visit ChabadTucson.com/tuitiontax.

* Leave a legacy: Make a charitable bequest in your will to Chabad Tucson / Lamplighter Chabad Day School. For more, visit ChabadTucson.com/legacy or call Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin at 520881-7956 ext. 12.

Historic Trees In The Torah

The 15th of Shevat on the Jewish calendar—celebrated this year on Monday, February 6, 2023—is the day that marks the beginning of a “new year” for trees. Commonly known as Tu Bishvat, this day marks the season in which the earliestblooming trees in the Land of Israel emerge from their winter sleep and begin a new fruit-bearing cycle.

Let’s take a moment to explore 10 wonderful trees (or groves) whose stories are woven into the familiar (and not so familiar) narratives of the Torah.

1. The Tree of Knowledge

G-d created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden, where they were free to enjoy all the produce except for that of the Tree of Knowledge, which they were forbidden to eat lest they “become like G-d” and learn about evil. But the serpent convinced Eve to have some of the fruit and share it with Adam. Innocence lost, their

By Menachem Posner

eyes were opened to the possibility of sin, and they recognized that they were naked.

2. The Tree of Life

After Adam and Eve gained knowledge of sin, G-d said: “Behold, man has become like one of us, having the ability to know good and evil. And now, lest he stretch forth his hand and take also from the Tree of Life and eat and live forever.” G-d expelled Adam and Eve from the garden and stationed the cherubim and the blade of the revolving sword at its entrance to guard the way to the tree which would have apparently provided Adam and Eve with the everlasting life they had lost by eating from the Tree of Knowledge.

3. The post-flood olive tree

Ten generations later, the descendants of Adam and Eve had become so sinful that G‑d flooded the world, saving only Noah and his immediate family. Eager to see if the water had receded, Noah sent out a raven, but the bird did not fly far and merely circled the ark. Next, Noah sent out a dove for a total of three missions. The first time the dove left the ark, it returned without any results. The second time it returned with an olive leaf in its beak, indicating that new growth (namely, an olive tree) had begun to sprout. (The third and final time, it did not return, having found rest outside the confines of the ark, indicating that the water had receded enough for Noah and his family to leave as well.)

4.Abraham and Sarah’s tree

Another 10 generations pass, and we are introduced to Abraham and Sarah, whom G-d selected as the progenitors of His chosen people. When Abraham and Sarah were 99 and 89, respectively, G-d dispatched three angels (disguised as humans) to visit them and inform them that they would be blessed with a son, Isaac. This happened just three days after

Abraham had circumcised himself, yet as soon as he saw the men approaching, he ran toward them and offered them hospitality. He gave them water to wash their feet and then seated them under a tree. For many generations, the residents of Hebron kept a tradition regarding the identity of this tree.

5. Shechem’s treasure tree residents Dinah revenge were helped buried ready G‑d

Isaac’s son, Jacob, was the father of 12 sons and one daughter, Dinah. After Dinah was raped by the prince of Shechem, her brothers, Simeon and Levi, exacted revenge against the denizens of the city, who were complicit in her violation. They also helped themselves to the treasures of the city. Jacob commanded his family to remove all idols and accessories, which he buried under a tree (of a species that bears no fruit) near Shechem. They were then ready to travel to Beth E‑l and sacrifice to G‑d there.

6.

The nurse’s tree

Just a few verses later, “Deborah, Rebecca’s nurse, died, and she was buried below Beth E‑l, beneath the allon; so he named it ‘Allon Bachuth.’” Now, what is an allon? The commentator Rashi says it is a plain. Others, however, identify it as a tree.

7.

The burning bush

Jacob and his family eventually migrated to Egypt, where Pharaoh enslaved them until G‑d dispatched Moses to redeem them from their suffering and lead them toward the Holy Land. G‑d first appeared to Moses in the form of a bush that was miraculously burning without becoming consumed by the fire. (Though technically not a tree, it seems close enough to be worthy of mention as, like a tree, it was resilient and impressive).

8.

The sweet tree

Ten days after Moses led the People of Israel out of Egypt, they ran out of water and had only the bitter waters of Marah (which means “bitter”) to drink. The people complained to Moses, saying, “What shall we drink?” So he cried out to G‑d, and G‑d instructed him to cast a piece of wood (the branch of an olive tree) into the water, and the water became sweet.

9. The 70 palm trees

From Marah, they came to an oasis named Elim, where there were 12 springs of water, one for each tribe, and 70 date palms, corresponding to the 70 elders, each of whom sat under another tree to praise G‑d. The commentator Ibn Ezra says they were actually 70 types of trees.

10. Jacob’s cedars

Although not mentioned directly in Scripture, the story of Jacob’s cedars is fascinating. Months after they had left Egypt and were deep into their desert wanderings, the Israelites constructed a magnificent traveling temple (the Tabernacle, or Mishkan) of heavy beams, held together with gold and silver fittings, and covered with tapestries and skins. Where did they get the wood? The sages say that on his way down to Egypt, Jacob had his sons plant cedar trees, which grew and flourished until they were needed.

Observing Tu Bishvat

We mark the day by eating fruit, particularly from the types of fruit for which the Holy Land is praised (Deuteronomy 8:8): olives, dates, grapes, figs and pomegranates.

In Jewish law, a fruit is defined as something growing from a perennial tree that does not renew its stem and does not grow too close to the ground. Thus, apples, grapes, nuts (except peanuts) and figs are fruit, but strawberries, watermelon and bananas are not.

Before eating, recite the blessing on fruits ‑ Borei Pri Ha’etz:

Baruch atah A‑donay, Elo‑heinu Melech Ha’Olam borei pri ha‑aitz.

Translation: Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the universe, who creates the fruit of the tree.

If tasting any of these fruit for the first time this season, recite the Shehecheyanu blessing first and then the standard “Ha’etz” blessing:

Ba‑ruch A‑tah A‑do‑noi E‑loi‑hei‑nu Me‑ lech ha‑o‑lam she‑he‑chee‑ya‑nu v’ki‑yi‑ ma‑nu vi‑hi‑gi‑ya‑nu liz‑man ha‑zeh.

Translation: Blessed are You, L‑rd our G‑d, King of the Universe, who has granted us life, sustained us and enabled us to reach this occasion.

For more about the holiday, visit Chabad. org/15shevat

Dr. Benjamin Lombardo grew up in Westchester County, NY, the son of two psychiatrists. After Columbia University in Manhattan, Ben grew passionate about yoga and meditation and continued to study and teach these arts for most of his twenties. Then, after traveling in Asia, he decided to pursue a medical degree and graduated from SUNY Downstate College of Medicine in Brooklyn in 2021.

Moving to Tucson: I moved to Tucson in June of 2022 to start residency in Family Medicine with Banner - University Medical Center. Tucson has been an incredibly inviting and magical place to live. I had spent too much time in the big city and am now very glad to be here!

Currently reading/learning: The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.