Shanah Tovah, friends! Hope you all had a lovely New Year and are enjoying the plunge into sweater weather and a fruitful 5780.
This is one of the best times of the year, in my humble opinion, and our GTFO breakdown this month is filled with a lovely variety of indoor & outdoor, introverted & extroverted, Jewish & secular, selfless & ‘treat yourself’ things to choose from [and that’s before we get to Sukkot]. If there’s ever a month to GTFO with some good Jewish friends & loved ones, this one is it.
Enjoy! Get it all in before the inevitable hibernation season we all know is coming.
First up: take a little time before Yom Kippur to be a mensch, with the good folks over at NextGen.
“Apple Picking w/ Moishe House”
Sunday, Oct. 6 — 2 p.m. @ Aamodt’s Apple Farm, Stillwater. FREE to join.
The Minnesota autumn right of passage. Join our pals at Moishe House for an afternoon in the country picking apples. Get some sweet treats, kick it with some goats, and peep that gorgeous foliage. Need a ride? Can you help with a ride? Hit up Sarah @ Moishe House via [email protected]!
Then, head on over to…
“How Smart Are You? Trivia Night @ La Dona Fundraiser”
Sunday, Oct. 6 — 8 p.m. @ La Dona Cerveceria, Minneapolis. $25-$65
Join for beer, Mexican food and trivia… all for a good cause! Invite your friends and create your own trivia team, or just show up and join one. There’ll be a raffle and prizes, and all donations go to support organic school farms in Uganda, including the Jews of Uganda. Register at Global Village Connect.
“Emergency Food Box Assembly” with NextGen
Monday, Oct. 7 — 7 p.m. @ JFCS Community Room, Golden Valley. FREE.
For the fifth consecutive year, NextGen will support JFCS clients facing financial crisis by assembling emergency food boxes to be distributed by case managers. Join JFCS’ Food Security Specialist, Clare Gravon, to learn more about the work JFCS is doing to relieve food insecurity in Minnesota… and then roll up your sleeves to put together some emergency food supply boxes.
“Yom Kippur High Holiday Services, with Or Emet”
Kol Nidre: Tue, Oct. 8th — 7 p.m.
Yom Kippur: Wed, Oct. 9th — 4 p.m.
Both services @ Sabes Jewish Community Center, St. Louis Park. FREE (no tickets required)
If you’re like me, and haven’t been to a Yom Kippur service [or even really reflected on Yom Kippur in, oh, 20 years or so], this is the service for us.
Or Emet, the Minnesota Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, is celebrating this year’s Yom Kippur High Holiday Services, led by Rabbinic Candidate Eva Cohen.
For Humanistic Jews, the High Holidays are a time to reflect on the relationship of the universe to human need and desire. We assess our behavior during the past year and affirm the possibilities for change, improvement and happiness. The High Holidays open the Jewish year with the most important message of Jewish history: human dignity is not a gift of destiny; it is a human achievement, requiring courage and self-reliance.
Everyone is welcome. No tickets are required. Following the Humanistic Yom Kippur service, a break-fast meal will be served. In keeping with High Holiday tradition, Or Emet welcomes non-perishable items for donations at all services.
“YJP Party in the Sukkah”
Thursday, Oct. 17 — 6:30 p.m to 9:30 p.m.. $10. Location TBD
Come kick it in the sukkah with our pals at YJP. There’ll be music, an open bar, soup & sushi [!!!!] and smores by the fire. Find out more at Youngjewishminneapolis.com!
“Moroccan Shabbat w/ Moishe House”
Friday, Oct. 18 — 7 p.m. @ Moishe House, Minneapolis. FREE to join.
Join Moishe House in the Sukkah for a Moroccan Shabbat, brought to us in partnership with JDC. Get ready for a special evening of food, culture, and fun! Contact them at [email protected] for more details.
“MACBETH @ the James J. Hill House”
Saturday, Oct. 19 — 7 p.m. @ James J. Hill House, St. Paul. $35
This sounds fascinating with a capital FAS. Come see Shakespeare’s bloodiest, greatest tragedy — following the minds of an ambitious couple, hellbent on power and position — in an incredible, immersive experiential venue. Be prepared to move as they utilize four stories of this historic mansion: set in the 1940s, the audience will travel throughout the house, bringing the halls of James J. Hill’s gorgeous home to life and possibly… a nightmare. Playing through November; check out https://www.artful.ly/store/events/18167 for more details and dates.
“NextGen Fall Party: Pub Trivia Night”
Weds, Oct. 23 — 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. @ Uptown VFW, Minneapolis. $10
Come kick it with the mensches at NextGen for a night of pub trivia at the Uptown VFW. Have a nosh and compete in general trivia… with two rounds of Jewish trivia!
All are welcome. Registration is a $10 donation to the NextGen fund, but pre-registrants will receive a drink ticket. Contact them with any questions at [email protected], or via Facebook! Get tickets at https://www.jfcsmpls.org/event/nextgen-fall-trivia-party/.
“Pumpkin Carving w/ Moishe House”
Sunday, Oct. 27 — 4 p.m. @ Moishe House, Minneapolis. FREE to join.
What October would be complete without a cozy l’il pumpkin party? Head on over to Moishe House to carve your favorite things into your favorite orange gourd. Pumpkins provided for carving and seed-eating. However, not provided: that special face you’d like to memorialize.
…aaaaand, that’s the month, friends. Break out those favorite sweaters and join us. GTFO before winter hits! See you soon!
