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I Was Born!
I was born into a Jewish family. My parents were already active in Temple and were youth group advisors. I went to youth group camp when i was just a little baby. -
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Julie's Jewish Growth
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Began Religious School
My family belonged to the Reform congregation in Akron, OH. It is called Temple Israel (pictured). I began attending religious school every Sunday at age 5. Temple Israel is the same temple my mother grew up in. -
Consecration
I had my consecration on Oct. 4, 1977 on the evening of Simchat Torah. This was the beginning of my formal Jewish studies. The photo is actually my real consecration photo. -
Summer Camp
I went away to the Goldman Union Camp Institute (GUCI) for the first time the summer I completed 2nd grade. That camp really shaped me. It's where I learned to play guitar and was the solid foundation of becoming a song leader later in life. I attended the camp for 5 summers. -
Hebrew School
I began going to weekly Hebrew School in the 3rd grade. My teacher, Mrs. Berloff, was still one of my most memorable teachers from my childhood. I wasn't really a studious Hebrew learner, but everyone loved her. -
My Bat Mitzvah
I was Bat Mitzvahed April 19, 1985 at Temple Isarel in Akron, OH. The picture shows my father handing the Torah down to me. He was also the president of our congregation at the time. -
Confirmation
After my Bat Mitzvah, I continued my Jewish studies and was confirmed at the age of 16. Pictured is my confirmation class. (My maiden name is Unger) -
Began a Jewish Career
I took a Jewish break in college. During those years, I was in rock band, and it was the center of my life. When I graduated college from the University of Arizona, I moved to Los Angeles. After a year of being a preschool teacher, I left that job and returned to my Jewish roots. I called a JCC in LA and was placed at Camp JCA Shalom in Malibu for a year before a job opened up at the West Valley JCC in West Hills. -
The Milken Archive
In 1999, I began work for the Milken Archive of American Jewish Music, an initiative created by the Milken Family Foundation. The purpose of the project was to preserve Jewish music in the United States, and the result was a 20 CD set complete with historical liner notes. It was a dream job, which I never would have left if we hadn't moved to Tucson 5 years later. -
Breaking Glass: Marrying My Husband!
What a simcha!!! Our wedding was so beautiful and everything I could have ever dreamed it to be. When Scott stomped on the glass Kiddush Cup at the end and everyone yelled "Mazel tov!," I knew my life was changed forever. What a joy and a journey it's been. Here's a picture of us on our wedding day. -
Becoming a Jewish Mother
On September 28, 2004, my daughter, Haley, was born, and life as I knew it was changed forever. I was a Jewish mother, and my mission in life was to care for this beautiful little girl. This picture is when she was age 4. That's the year I joined Facebook, so it was the youngest picture I could find of her online! -
Making a Bris
A son! I gave birth to a son on November 17, 2006, and 8 days later I learned about the Jewish lifecycle first hand when we had his bris. Here he is at his 3rd birthday party. -
The Jewish Living and Learning Specialist
On January 6th, 2013, I began a new career path as the Jewish Living and Learning Specialist at the Tucson JCC. I had been a Jewish music specialist for many years, and the J approached me to come and work for them. It was a life changing moment when i accepted that job, and I have felt blessed every day since I accepted it. -
Began My Jewish Studies All Over Again
For sure, becoming the Jewish Living and Learning Specialist at the Tucson J influenced my decision to go back to school and get a masters degree in jewish education. Becoming a student at Hebrew College is one of the best decisions I ever made. It is so meaningful to share this with all of you!
