This edition of the Alef List (the hottest happenings around town for cool Jews like you) is brought to you by the letter B. Because sometimes it’s fun to look at the calendar in a different way (especially after all the counting we’ve been up to lately).
B is for Blintzes (Shavuot to-do’s)
Shavuot starts tonight. Noshin’ columnist Sara summed up the “dairy holiday” nicely in last week’s post (in case you need to reacquaint yourself with the holiday’s whys, whats and hows) – of course she also gifted us all with some yummy and easy recipes for blintzes and cheesecake bites. In addition to eating dairy for the holiday, it’s also tradition to stay up all night studying (and not in that cramming for college finals way). Waited ’til the last minute to figure out where you’re going? Try one of these options:
- Beth El Synagogue celebrates Shavuot with “MySpace, Cyberspace, Sacred Space” – Tikkun Leyl All-night study. Wander from home to home in the Fern Hill Neighborhood while learning, singing, star-gazing, eating and davening – all night long! 7pm – 5:30 am.
- Join Mt. Zion Cong. for Shavuot celebrations. 7:30pm – Shavuot/Confirmation Service. 10:30 p.m – Torah Study on the Festival of Shavuot – Awareness Through Movement with Nick Strauss-Klein. Prepare your body and soul, to receive the gift of Torah. Through a Feldenkrais Method Awareness Through Movement lesson, explore how you can foster holy presence, compose your thoughts, feelings, senses, and movements to prepare yourself to listen at Sinai.
- Join Temple Israel for their Tikkun Leil Shavuot Program and Service. “Getting Serious At Sinai: Jewish Themes, Insights and History in the Coen Brothers’A Serious Man.” 7:00 p.m. Screening of the film, A Serious Man, 8:45 p.m. Panel Discussion , 10:00 p.m. Cheesecake Reception, 10:30 p.m. Erev Shavuot Service. The discussion will center on the Coen brothers’ representation of 1960’s Twin Cities’ Jewry, rabbis, fate and divine justice. Panelists are Colin Covert, movie critic at the Star Tribune; Sari Lennick, supporting actress in A Serious Man; Katherine Tane, Executive Director of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest and Rabbi Sim Glaser.
- Or, if you’re not up for an all-night study, at least go have a killer scoop of ice cream at Sebastian Joe’s. We have it on good authority (thanks Beth El) that certain flavors are now kosher.
B is for Beer (upcoming young adult happy hours)
- Beth El Young Adults hosts a happy hour on Monday, May 24th at Ciento starting at 5:30. What better way to shake off a case of the Mondays than shmoozing with other fun, young(ish) Jews? No need to be a Beth El member – the crowd is always welcoming.
- Thirsty Thursday? Join the MJF’s Young Leadership for happy hour on Thursday, May 27th at the Loring Kitchen and Bar in Loring Park. The crowd will be there starting at 5:30. Your first HH with MJF? Find Barb and she’ll set you up with a free glass of wine or beer. MJF happy hour regular? You can still win a free drink with Fed Trivia. Just check out the link above for this month’s clues.
Hosting an upcoming event that you think should make the Alef List? Email me ([email protected]) with “Alef List” in the subject line and let me know!
(Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ateabutnoe/ / CC BY 2.0)
You didn’t list Beth Jacob in Mendota Heights, all night study with outstanding teachers. This year the blintzes were out of this world. Come for the blintzes, stay for the learning. Shout outs to study of Ruth and Esther! Talk about contrasts. . .
Hi Davening Darling – I’m *always* on the hunt for great events to highlight in the Alef List. I just need to hear about them! If you (or anybody else) has the inside scoop on events I should know about – shoot me a line! Alef List runs every other Tuesday.