Sorry, this one’s a little late & after the long weekend, friends. I’m guessing (hoping?) I’m not alone in September sneaking up on me. Last night, I saw the first leaves of the year drop with a gust of wind… but then, my spirits were picked right back up watching everyone go to school for the first day of the year (and realizing, I don’t have to!)
We’re fantastically lucky to have the cultural programming we do here in the Twin Cities. Even on a month that’s a little lighter like this one, Sabes JCC & Moishe House are each offering some can’t miss events (like the Twin Cities Jewish Film Festival, and a “Make Your Own Challah” night) and a number of organizations have one-night events furthering pockets of Jewish thought & reflection you just don’t encounter every day.
We’re sending 5779 off with lots of chances to deepen your connection to Judaism just about any way you please. We hope to see you there for one or all.
So grab all the layers (it’s still Minnesota, after all), and GTFO! Shanah Tovah!
“Never Again? Weaving Together Historical Themes and Genealogical Discoveries”
Fri, Sept. 6th — 7:30 p.m. @ Sabes JCC, St. Louis Park. FREE.
Spend our first Shabbat of the month with humanist synagogue Or Emet and Dr. Tina Scott Edstam, Ph.D., exploring her personal reconnections with Swedish and Czech relatives within the historical context of contemporary anti-Semitism — Dr. Edstam is a retired professor who extensively studied Second Languages and Cultures with an emphasis on English as a Second language, as well as immigrant and refugee issues.
A short Humanistic Jewish Sabbath service will precede the program, which is free and open to the public. An Oneg Shabbat reception will follow.
“Double Book Launch!”
Mon, Sept. 9th — 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. @ Sabes JCC, St. Louis Park. FREE.
Join the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest for the Minneapolis launch of two books covering the uniquely midwestern, South Dakota Jewish experience. Eric Steven Zimmer will debut The Question is “Why?”: Stanford M. Adelstein, a Jewish Life in South Dakota — telling Stanford Adelstein’s story of family, faith, business, politics, and philanthropy — while Anne Stanton will showcase her work, Deadwood’s Jewish Pioneers; A Gold Rush Odyssey, exploring some of the Jewish personalities who helped stabilize and develop this frontier.
Books will be available for purchase and signing, with reception to follow. Learn more at http://www.jhsum.org/programming/.
“Minnesota Twins w/ Moishe House”
Tue, Sept. 10th — 6:40 p.m. @ Target Field, Minneapolis. Tickets discounted.
Last one of the year (at least, for discounted tickets — if we’re lucky, there’ll be plenty of MN baseball in October), Moishe House is sponsoring an outing for the Great American Pastime to see our Minnesota Twins beat the Washington Nationals. Reach out to them directly (specifically, Alex — catch them at [email protected]) for more info & pricing!
“Casino Night + Silent Auction Fundraiser”
Sat, Sept. 14th — 7 p.m. @ Moishe House, Minneapolis.
Come kick it with the friendliest card sharks and high rollers you’ll find, over at Moishe House! This is their big fundraiser for the year for We Are, helping them subsidize all the lovely & fun things MH does throughout the year for all of us here in the TC. $10 buys you a set of chips… and here’s the kicker: not only would you be bidding in the auction on goods from local vendors, but you can also bid on naming rights for the house! Hey, it could be YOUR name on that bathroom [if you play your cards right, that is]
Not enough? Moishe pal Anna will be dishing out signature drinks & sweets all night long. Don’t miss it!
“Twin Cities Jewish Film Festival”
Sat, 9/14 through Sat, 9/28. Screenings throughout. Links below.
The Sabes JCC does not disappoint with their programming. A full, two-week film fest featuring Jewish writers, directors, and actors, exploring themes central to Judaism through all kinds of lenses. With a truly great balance of dramas, documentaries, discussions (including one with Ori Elon, the co-creator of “Shtisel” on Sun 9/15) and a whole night of short films, if you don’t find something that intrigues you, you’re just not trying.
Find the full festival listing here. Personally, I’m intrigued by “King Bibi” (Mon 9/16) and “The Humorist” (Sun 9/22), but you can never go wrong with the night of short films (Thursday 9/19).
“Mount Zion Open House & Brunch”
Sunday, Sept. 15th — 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. @ Mount Zion Temple, St. Paul. FREE
Looking for a welcoming, vibrant Jewish spiritual home in the Twin Cities? Mount Zion invites you to learn more about them at their free Open House and Brunch for local, unaffiliated Jews. Visitors can meet the clergy, lay leaders, and Temple members, tour the building, and get a taste of the various organizations and activities in which Mount Zion members are involved.
A continental breakfast will be served, and childcare will be available, with complimentary High Holy Days nametags (tickets) for Open House guests.
“NCJW Podcast Club — On Being: Transgender Amid Orthodoxy”
Tue, Sept 17th — 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. @ Sabes JCC, St. Louis Park. FREE
Join the NCJW Podcast Club [back from hiatus] for a night of thoughtful & engaging discussion on a subject & story that sounds endlessly, equally fascinating & challenging. From the podcast:
“For as far back as Joy Ladin can remember, her body didn’t match her soul. Gender defines us from the moment we’re born. But how is that related to the lifelong work of being at home in ourselves? We explore this question through Joy Ladin’s story of transition from male to female — in an Orthodox Jewish world.”
Light refreshments will be served as well. Find the episode here: https://onbeing.org/programs/joy-ladin-transgender-amid-orthodoxy-i-am-who-i-will-be-mar2017/
“It’s Your Legacy: 3rd Annual Celebration”
Thu, Sept. 19th — 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. @ American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis.
The Minneapolis & St. Paul Jewish Federations, in partnership with the Harold Grinspoon Foundation’s Life & Legacy program, invite you to their “It’s Your Legacy” celebration — an evening of food & friends celebrating those helping to secure the present & future of our local Jewish communities.
Register at: https://its-your-legacy2019.eventbrite.com. For more information, please contact Susan Lieberman [[email protected]].
“Rosh Hashanah Challah Bake & Buy”
Thu, Sept. 26th — 7 p.m. @ Moishe House, Minneapolis.
Challah at yo peeps! Need some Challah to ring in 5780? Learn how to bake your own from new Moishe House resident, Anna — we hear she works in a bread bakery, so you can expect your challot to be top-notch. The pressure is on.
Want to take it home? Make a small donation to We Are and buy your challah! Just like with the casino night fundraiser, all donations to We Are go right back into their programming.
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Thanks for reading through, friends. Hope you have a lovely New Year, filled with the beings and places that make you happiest. See you in 5780!
