Book your J•Cation Now!

Many of us are accustomed to the uniquely Minnesotan mid-October 4-day weekend known colloquially as MEA. Lots of families as well as empty nesters and young adults take the opportunity to get away at this most beautiful time of year for a little R&R.

As with most everything else, MEA weekend this year looks different – but that doesn’t mean you can’t recharge your batteries!

TC Jewfolk is proud to present our first-ever 24-hour event highlighting our mission of 10,000 ways to be Jewish starting at 6:15 p.m. on Thursday, October 15 and concluding at 6 p.m. on Friday, October 16 – all online.

You can choose to attend one, several, or ALL the experiences planned over 24 hours of J•Cation: the ultimate staycation! There is something for everyone – and family and friends who live anywhere can join too. Registration is completely free – though of course, TC Jewfolk is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that depends on community support, so donations are certainly welcome.

Check out just SOME of what you can experience with us next week and register today!

All sessions, unless otherwise noted with a (*), will be broadcast live at jcation.org! Sessions noted with an (*) will be on Zoom only, because of their interactive and more personal nature.

Thursday, October 15, 2020

Support Jewfolk by purchasing a meal to-go to enjoy during the program! The food and drink options are optional, and support our mission—in addition to any financial contributions you make, which will be matched!

6:15 p.m. – Welcome to your fabulous J•Cation!

6:30 p.m. – Bittercube co-founder, Ira Koplowitz, walks us through the subtleties of crafting the perfect Smoked Rum Old Fashioned. You can order supplies directly from him here.

6:45 p.m. – As you start your J•Cation with a satisfying dinner, you’ll be transported by Nefesh Mountain— is it a band, or is it an actual place where  Bluegrass and American Roots music meet Jewish heritage and tradition? Prepare to be blown away by the presence and musicality of husband-and-wife team Doni Zasloff and Eric Lindberg, who have pioneered a new expression of American culture by seamlessly blending their deep love for American and Western musical forms with their cultural backgrounds as Jewish Americans!

8:00 p.m. – Fine dining and pastry chef Zoë Moskowitz will show us how to make chic, yet simple, brigadeiros—chocolatey Brazilian sweets like truffles or bon bons. Intrigued? You probably already have most of the ingredients in your pantry! (Check them out here!)

8:15 p.m. – After supper, settle in with dessert or a digestif to enjoy a unique live experience with the one and only Peter Himmelman! Peter is a Grammy and Emmy-nominated musician, film composer, visual artist, best-selling author, a creative coach to giants, and a hometown hero locals recognize as the bandleader of indie rock band, Sussman Lawrence, or from his extensive solo career.

9:00 p.m. – We’re now in full J•Cation mode, and we’re staying up late with Jordana Green from WCCO Radio as she emcees our community’s first-ever JCreate Open Mic night! Check out musical and comedic stylings from local favorites plus a few out-of-town surprises! There are still spots left if you want to participate, let us know ASAP!

Laila Tov – see you in the morning!

Friday, October 16, 2020

7:00 a.m. – Boker Tov! Start your day with intention and join Rabbi Sara Brandes for yoga and meditation. In its wisdom, the Torah links soul and breath, using nearly the same word for the two. During this 55-minute yoga and meditation session, we’ll breathe our way back to gratitude and awe, using the breath to rediscover our soul. Come with a yoga mat, ready to move at the pace and challenge-level that’s right for you.

8:00 a.m. – Breakfast with Amy Zaroff, Founder and Creative Director of Amy Zaroff Events + Design and John Ghermezian, Chief Business Officer for the Mall of America, joined by Jewfolk board member and JLink co-founder, Josh Awend. Engage in this conversation about business and adaptation in 2020. For breakfast, pre-order your bagel/schmear/coffee kit (bagels/schmear provided by Common Roots Cafe and coffee donated generously by City Girl Coffee) for pick-up on Thursday afternoon for ready enjoyment early Friday morning!

9:00 a.m.* – Honor yourself and your passions in this intimate workshop facilitated by Keren Drori, using the unique Points of You card system to explore and develop the language of your heart and the things that make you tick.

10:30 a.m. – An incredible learning opportunity to visit with Jews around the world (without leaving your home)! Amy Weiss, former Twin Citian and currently OLAM‘s Director of Jewish Communal Engagement and Learning moderates this panel featuring three Jews doing important work around the globe: Tamás Büchler, with NOA (Networks Overcoming Antisemitism), a project of CEJI: A Jewish Contribution to an Inclusive Europe, who is based in Budapest; Rachel Wallace from the Los Angeles office of IsraAID; and Andrei Schwartz, co-founder of the Organization of Young Jews in Romania and of the Zionist Association of Romania.

11:30 a.m. – Israeli Lunchtime! Inbal Baum is the founder of Delicious Israel, a company providing personalized walking, travel and cooking tours for traveling foodies and culture-seekers in search of authentic Israeli lifestyle.  Zoom in on the foods and culture of Israel, up close and personal, through a Delicious online culinary tour. Our live and private virtual food tours of Israel will bring you as close to the sites, smells, tastes, and sounds of being in Israel as possible! Let our expert guides immerse you in the history, culture, and people of Israel through unparalleled knowledge and connection to the vendors who make Israeli food come alive. Enjoy exclusive interviews, engaging videos, maps and much more, you’ll receive expert guidance and entertainment, and Q&A time with a local culinary expert.

12:30 p.m. – We are joined by more friends in Israel: Gal Shitrit, Dor Kaminka, and Alon Li treat us to Israeli Magic and Music! This thirty-minute variety show is perfect for all ages: adults, teens, tweens, and kids will all have fun singing along, and be awed by the magic they create together!

1:00 p.m.* – Alison Szarko, M.A. leads this experiential training on the “self” and the steps we can take on a daily basis to be more loving of that ever-changing person. This self-love workshop is rooted in modern behavioral science. We will discuss and practice a variety of skills including mindfulness, psychological flexibility, and how to effectively take values-based actions.

2:00 p.m. – Values Tzedakah (or how to give away money)! Check out this session if you dream of being a philanthropist but don’t know how or where to start. Tzedakah is a very Jewish concept, one of 10,000 ways to be Jewish in fact, and Robyn Schein, Senior Director at 21/64 and Minneapolis local, teaches us how to bring our values to inform decisions about where we direct our hard-earned resources.

2:45 p.m. – Longtime Jewfolk board member and journalist, Sheree Curry, interviews local Jews of Color about the need for diversity in leadership at Jewish organizations, both on staff and boards. Sheree started a Black and Jewish – Jews of Color Facebook group many years ago and continues to be active in several community organizations. Joining her for the conversation will be panelists Enzi Tanner, Robin Washington, Alene Sussman, and Christine Smith.

3:00 p.m. – Sit in for a special live recording of The Jews Are Tired podcast with Governor Tim Walz! See what our top state official has to say about the state of Jews in the state.

4:00 p.m.* – An energetic hour for families with kids! Wendy Baldinger from Wendy’s Wiggle Jiggle and Jam will start with song and dance, then pass us off to Carrie and Anna from PJ Library for interactive storytelling. Get those afternoon sillies out before Shabbat with the Minnesota Mammalehs!

5:00 p.m. – Enjoy a special preview of Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company‘s latest production, Operation: Immigration, as Avi Aharoni tells his story about his late father’s life, and finds a story of immigration and assimilation. Along the way, he struggles to find himself. A 2019 Fringe Festival award-winning hit, updated. The show opens to the public online on October 17!

5:30 p.m. – Tune in and say goodbye for now with thanks and gratitude, and transition into Shabbat with candle lighting with the Jewfolk Team!

6:00 p.m. – Shabbat Shalom!

Please note: While we’re doing our best to not make significant changes in the coming week,  it’s always possible that someone may become unavailable. Sessions are subject to change; please check back here or on the registration form for the most recent updates.