By Isabela Gamez
The Primavera Foundation
Each month, a dedicated group of men from Tucson’s Kol Ami synagogue come together with one shared mission: to give back to their community. The Men of Kol Ami (MoKA) prepare and serve dinner at the Primavera Men’s Shelter, providing nourishment, connection, and kindness to those experiencing homelessness.
Leading the charge is Tony Zinman, juvenile public defender for Pima County. “I volunteered for Primavera about 40 years ago when I had my first exposure to it,” he says. “I was in college at the University of Arizona, and I’d come down and help out sometimes. Before I got started, MoKAi volunteered a couple of times a year, but I convinced everybody that we should be doing it once a month because I thought it was such a great thing.”
Now, MoKA’s monthly dinners are a tradition. Their efforts are inspired by the Jewish principle of Tikun Olam, which means “healing the world.” Tony explains, “We try to do Tikun Olam and heal the world now. It’s part of what we do as reformed Jews.”
For Tony, the rewards are as personal as they are communal. “Seeing the faces and the appreciation of the residents is one of the highlights of my month,” he says. “We usually have five or six guys that show up for our men’s club, and we have this great camaraderie. I’ve gotten to know people better, and then the satisfaction of helping, cooking, and serving the meals is really meaningful.”
Tony says volunteering with Primavera gives him a firsthand look at the organization’s impact. “I know Primavera has a great reputation. I see firsthand how well it serves folks,” he said.
Through MoKA’s monthly dinners, acts of gemilut chasadim—lovingkindness—come alive, fostering meaningful connections between volunteers and the residents they serve.