President Barack Obama spoke with the rabbi of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords during a series of calls to friends and families of victims of the Jan. 8 shooting in Tucson.
A White House official said Rabbi Stephanie Aaron of Congregation Chaverim in Tucson was among the local officials, victims and families Obama reached Jan. 10 in the wake of the attack.
Giffords turned to Aaron after a visit to Israel in 2001. Aaron performed the wedding ceremony when Giffords married Cmdr. Mark Kelly, an astronaut, in 2007. — jta