Sharon Musher (Stockton University) Presents: Exploding the Canon: Building Inclusive American Jewish Intellectual Traditions
2026-02-06 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Pillsbury Hall, 2310 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, United States
Event Date & Time
Fri, Feb 6, 2026| 12 – 1 PM

Event Location

Liberal Arts Engagement Hub, Room 120 Pillsbury Hall
315 Pillsbury Drive SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455

https://cla.umn.edu/jewish-studies/news-events/events/sharon-musher-stockton-university-presents-exploding-canon-building-inclusive-american-jewish

Depending on how it is defined, intellectual history can be a narrow occupation, confined by those who have access to traditional learning and the resources to engage in it. This has historically led to the creation of canons that often exclude women and members of the working class, among others. This talk suggests four models for creating more inclusive American Jewish intellectual traditions. It considers a contributory model, a communalist approach, using Jewishness as a category of historical analysis, and historicizing the evolution and dissemination of American Jewish ideas. In this way, it urges the broadest possible conception of what it means to be American, Jewish, and intellectual.
Sharon Ann Musher is Professor of History at Stockton University. She writes and teaches social, cultural, and oral history with a focus on the New Deal, Jewish women, and motherhood. Her most recent book Promised Lands: Hadassah Kaplan and the Legacy of American Jewish Women in Early Twentieth Century Palestine (New York University Press, 2025) draws on the records of her grandmother, a daughter of Mordecai Kaplan – founder of Reconstructionism. It shows how travel to Palestine in the interwar period shaped a cohort of American Jewish women who went on to center Zionism in American Jewish institutions and communities. Promised Lands was selected as one of the Jewish Women’s Archive’s Book Picks and also twice for Hadassah Magazine’s Shabbat Bookshelf. Sharon is also the author of Democratic Art: The New Deal’s Influence on American Culture, which traces a range of aesthetic visions that flourished during the 1930s to outline the successes, shortcomings, and lessons of the golden age of government funding for the arts. Beyond academia, Sharon is on the boards of the Jewish Publication Society and the Living New Deal. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband, two of her three daughters, and her dog.

K'Hillah: Temple Israel's Young Adult Community First Friday Shabbat
2026-02-06 17:30 - 20:30 | Temple Israel, 2323 Fremont Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55405, United States
On the first Friday of the month (starting November 2025), K’Hillah: Temple Israel’s Young Adult Community, will gather for services and a young adult (21-39) oneg after the service:
5:15-6 p.m. Pre-service oneg with snacks and beverages for all ages
6-7 p.m. Warm, welcoming, accessible, and joyful community Shabbat. All are welcome.
7-8:30 p.m. Young Adults only oneg with snacks, beer & wine. Free and open to all Jews ages 21-39 and their partners. A great place to meet new friends!

Or Emet Program: How Food Choices Impact Climate Change
2026-02-08 10:00 - 12:00 | MN
On Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026, Or Emet will host a presentation titled “From Fork to Forest: Why We Can’t Solve the Climate Crisis Without Changing How We Eat.”
The event will run from 10 a.m.-noon at Twin Cities German Immersion School, 1031 Como Ave. in St. Paul. A social time will follow.
Presenters Nicola Philpott, co-leader of the Minnesota west suburbs chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and Anna Larsson, an executive team member of The Climate Reality Project, will explore the overlooked role of the global food system in driving climate change.
Even if fossil fuel use ended today, emissions from food production alone would push the planet beyond climate targets. Philpott and Larsson will explain why this issue deserves more attention and will outline practical steps individuals and communities can take to support a more sustainable food future.
Those who cannot attend in person may join via Zoom. Please register in advance for the Zoom option.
The Sunday adult programs are free and open to the public and meet concurrently with the Jewish Cultural Sunday School.
Or Emet is a secular congregation celebrating and honoring Jewish culture, history and values from a humanistic, inclusive perspective.
For information about Or Emet’s Jewish Cultural Sunday School, contact JCSS director Molly Phipps at school@oremet.org. For information about Or Emet, email info@oremet.org or visit oremet.org.

A Survivor’s Story Brought to Life Onstage
2026-02-08 13:00 - 14:30 | MN
See The Happiest Man on Earth at Six Points Theater, based on the New York Times bestselling memoir by Eddie Jaku.
In 90 awe-inspiring minutes, Eddie recalls his narrow escapes from two concentration camps during the Holocaust. Despite the hardship, his message endures: “There are many hard days, but even on those days, we are so lucky to be alive.”
This one-actor production offers is a meaningful night out for families, readers, theater lovers, and anyone committed to Holocaust education and Jewish storytelling.
Tickets & Info at: sixpointstheater.org/happiest-man-on-earth

Lox & Loaded Twin Cities
2026-02-09 18:00 - 20:00 | MN
We are super excited to announce our Twin Cites Chapter. Membership is now open. Be part of the mission and join the community in learning how to defend yourself.
Go To Loxandloaded.org

What You Do Matters: Lessons From Holocaust Perpetrators & Peacekeepers In Rwanda
2026-02-11 12:00 - 13:00 | University of St. Thomas
Free! Members of the public welcome
University of St. Thomas
Wednesday, February 11, Noon – 1 PM
McNeely Hall, Room 100 (St. Paul Campus)
Register here
Why should people entrusted with using deadly force study the Holocaust and genocide?
Drawing from his research and books on the leadership and ethics of Nazi soldiers and Rwanda peacekeepers, Dr. David Frey will explore decisions made by German officers serving in occupied Soviet lands in 1941 as well as choices made by Major General Roméo Dallaire, who was Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

Bio
Dr. David Frey is Professor of History at the US Military Academy at West Point. He earned his Ph.D. in Central European History at Columbia University in 2003, taught there for a year, and then began what is now a 22-year tenure at West Point.
He is the author of Jews, Nazis, and the Cinema of Hungary: The Tragedy of Success, 1929-44 (IB Tauris, 2017), which won the 2019 biennial Hungarian Studies Association Book Award; co-author of Least-Worst Decisions: The Leadership of LGen Roméo Dallaire during the Genocide in Rwanda (forthcoming); and co-author of Ordinary Soldiers: A Study in Law, Ethics and Leadership (USHMM, 2014).
His current research focuses on Jewish refugees who joined the US Army military intelligence during World War II and contributed to reshaping concepts of American citizenship and belonging. In 2020 he won West Point’s highest award for teaching and scholarship, the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society Peter L. Zhu Scholastic Achievement Award.
Dr. Frey founded and from 2010-25, directed the Stewart and Lynda Resnick Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies (RCHGS). Through the Center, he spearheaded efforts to increase Defense Department understanding of, research into, and efforts to mitigate mass atrocity. He has appeared on 60 Minutes, testified in the Senate, and advised multiple government agencies on matters related to mass atrocities, human rights, and more.
In 2018, the US Holocaust Memorial Museum honored him as one of eight international agents of change and in 2023 the Museum named the Resnick Center and other global partners winners of its prestigious Elie Wiesel Award.

Grief Support Group
2026-02-11 15:00 - 16:30 | MN
Jewish Family Service of St. Paul, in partnership with Sholom Home, facilitates a grief support group. The group is designed to support people during the grief process in a nurturing and confidential environment.
The meetings offer participants a nurturing, confidential environment of support as they journey through the grieving process. The comfort, support, and validation gained by interacting with others in a similar position can be vital to the mental and physical well-being of the bereaved.
The group meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
The group is free and open to the public.
For questions or to register, contact Bonnie Jaffee at (651) 497-8248 or email her at bjaffe@jfssp.org

What You Do Matters: Lessons From Holocaust Perpetrators & Peacekeepers In Rwanda
2026-02-11 17:30 - 18:30 | University of St. Cloud
Free! Members of the public welcome
St. Cloud University
5:30 – 6:30 PM
Atwood Theatre (Atwood Memorial Center)
Register Here
Why should people entrusted with using deadly force study the Holocaust and genocide?
Drawing from his research and books on the leadership and ethics of Nazi soldiers and Rwanda peacekeepers, Dr. David Frey will explore decisions made by German officers serving in occupied Soviet lands in 1941 as well as choices made by Major General Roméo Dallaire, who was Force Commander of the United Nations Mission in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.

Bio
Dr. David Frey is Professor of History at the US Military Academy at West Point. He earned his Ph.D. in Central European History at Columbia University in 2003, taught there for a year, and then began what is now a 22-year tenure at West Point.
He is the author of Jews, Nazis, and the Cinema of Hungary: The Tragedy of Success, 1929-44 (IB Tauris, 2017), which won the 2019 biennial Hungarian Studies Association Book Award; co-author of Least-Worst Decisions: The Leadership of LGen Roméo Dallaire during the Genocide in Rwanda (forthcoming); and co-author of Ordinary Soldiers: A Study in Law, Ethics and Leadership (USHMM, 2014).
His current research focuses on Jewish refugees who joined the US Army military intelligence during World War II and contributed to reshaping concepts of American citizenship and belonging. In 2020 he won West Point’s highest award for teaching and scholarship, the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society Peter L. Zhu Scholastic Achievement Award.
Dr. Frey founded and from 2010-25, directed the Stewart and Lynda Resnick Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies (RCHGS). Through the Center, he spearheaded efforts to increase Defense Department understanding of, research into, and efforts to mitigate mass atrocity. He has appeared on 60 Minutes, testified in the Senate, and advised multiple government agencies on matters related to mass atrocities, human rights, and more.
In 2018, the US Holocaust Memorial Museum honored him as one of eight international agents of change and in 2023 the Museum named the Resnick Center and other global partners winners of its prestigious Elie Wiesel Award.

Join us for Art Nosh: Workshops for Creatives
2026-02-15 19:30 - 20:30, 2026-03-02 12:00 - 13:00 | MN
In 2026, the Insomnia Salon presents Art Nosh. Art Nosh is creative cross-training, a chance to come together with artists at all levels & disciplines to try new creative adventures, build collective magic, & nourish your artistic development. Art Nosh is also the gateway drug to participation in Insomnia Salon performances. Winter Art Nosh series is now open for registration, and includes the following 7 workshops usually on Mondays at noon:

January 5: Goodbye to All That: A Releasing Ritual for the Old Year, an Ingathering of Joy for the New with Margit Berman (at Jackson Street Arts in Saint Paul).
January 19: Building Resilience Through Guided Movement with Julie Marie Muskat (at Hopkins Dance Company).
February 2: The Isle is Full of Noises: Some Thoughts on Playing with Music and Sound with Eddie Estrin (at Jackson Street Arts).
February 15: Guided Self-Massage and a Tasty Home Recipe (virtual workshop, in the evening at 7:30 with Julie Marie Muskat).
March 2: Exploring Scent’s Creative Capacity: Olfactory Experiments with Watercolor with Mandy Forry (at Jackson Street Arts).
March 18: Make It Til You Make It: Intermediate Interdisciplinary Art-Making with Olivia Woebke (at Hopkins Dance Company).
March 30: Insomnia Collage with Toni Glotter (at Glotter studio, Saint Louis Park).

Join us for any or all! Register and more details here; space is very limited.

JFCS MN Addiction and Recovery Support Group
2026-02-18 18:30 - 20:00, 2026-03-04 18:30 - 20:00 | Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis, 5905 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, MN, 55422, United States
If you or a loved one is impacted by addiction, you are invited to join our new eight-week support group at Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minnesota (JFCS). Rooted in Jewish values—reflection without shame, dignity for every person, care for the body, connection in community, forgiveness, and hope—this group provides a safe, supportive, and compassionate space for healing, learning, and connection. All are welcome, regardless of religious background or identity. JFCS is here for all. Always.
Connection in Recovery – A facilitated drop-in support group rooted in Jewish values of healing, dignity and hope, open to all

About the Group
Led by an experienced professional facilitator, each session will foster open dialogue, personal reflection, and supportive discussion. The group embraces harm reduction principles and is designed to empower participants through shared experiences, education, and personal growth. Whether you are navigating addiction yourself or supporting someone who is, you’ll find a welcoming community here. This is an open group and drop-ins are welcome. Come for every meeting in the 8-week session or just drop-in when you are available.
When: Wednesdays, 6:30–8 p.m.
Sessions begin on January 21 and continue January 28, February 4, February 11, February 18, March 4, March 11 and March 18th. Note: There will not be a meeting on February 25, please attend the Addiction and Recovery Event that evening, Raising Awareness, Reducing Harm: Understanding Today’s Drug Trends. Low and no cost options are available for the event. Check back soon for details and registration.
Where: JFCS – 5905 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, MN
Who: Adults impacted by addiction of any kind—personally or through a loved one or family member
Cost: Free of charge. Pre-registration encouraged and drop-ins welcome.
Donations are welcome and will help support JFCS Addiction and Recovery Services.

About the Facilitator
Dan Kelly is a dedicated recovery advocate with a strong background in harm reduction and peer support. Drawing on both his professional experience and lived experience in long-term recovery, Dan creates a safe and welcoming space where participants feel heard and empowered. With a passion for building community and helping others navigate their own recovery journeys, Dan brings compassion, authenticity, and a deep commitment to supporting each individual’s path to healing.
If you have additional questions or would like to further discuss, please contact Leah Persky at lpersky@jfcsmn.org or 952-542-4825

Jewish Meditation
2026-02-19 08:15 - 09:00, 2026-02-26 08:15 - 09:00, 2026-03-05 08:15 - 09:00 | Virtual Event, United States
Meets online Thursdays, 8:15 AM – 9:00 AM

Session Dates
Thursday, Feb 19 | Thursday, Feb 26 | Thursday, March 4 | No Class March 12 | Thursday, March 19 | Thursday, March 26 | No Class April 2, Passover | No Class April 9, Passover | Thursday, April 16 | Thursday, April 23 | Thursday, April 30 | Thursday, May 7 | Thursday, May 16 | Thursday, May 21 | Thursday, May 28 | Thursday, June 4 | Thursday, June 11 | Thursday, June 18 | Thursday, June 25

Course Description
Mindfulness meditation is a practice that can support and sustain our Jewish lives and the fulfillment of our Jewish values. This practice helps to make our minds more spacious, perceptive, and free.
Each session will include a short teaching followed by a sitting period.
Drop-in; no experience necessary.

Instructor Bio
Sara Lynn Newberger remembers receiving her first chumash (volume of Torah) in 3rd grade – and thus was born a life-long love of studying Torah. Born in Chicago, she landed in St. Paul in 1989 where she came to work at the Talmud Torah of St. Paul Day School because the mission and vision resonated with her soul. After serving in many roles at TTSP, she served as the Director of Hineni from its inception in 2014 to 2022. She believes passionately in the importance of Jewish learning and the impact it can have on people’s lives. She loves exploring Jewish texts, customs, values, and ideas with students.
Sara Lynn enjoys cooking, gardening, visiting with friends, singing, and being outdoors. Sara Lynn is married to Barbie Levine and is Savta to Ruby and Lucy.

Suggested Donation
We welcome your generous support to help sustain this class and future courses.

Registration Form
Click here to register.

Learn More
Learn more about FolkLab, our current classes, and our Engage! Day of Learning.

Intermediate Conversational Hebrew with Susie Chalom
2026-02-19 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-02-26 19:00 - 20:30, 2026-03-05 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event, United States
Meets online Thursdays, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

2026 Session Dates:
Thursday, February 12 |Thursday, February 19| Thursday, February 26 |Thursday, March 5 |Thursday, March 12 | Thursday, March 19 | Thursday, March 26 | No Class 4/2, Passover| No Class 4/9, Passover | Thursday April 16 | Thursday, April 23 | Thursday, April 30 | Thursday, May 7 | Thursday, May 14

Course Description
Improve your ability to speak, understand, read and write Modern Hebrew with Susie Chalom, a master teacher who strives for every student to succeed in learning everyday Hebrew.
Classes are lively, supportive, and fun, with plenty of conversation, practical vocabulary, and clear grammar review. Along with the language, students will explore Israeli culture through songs, short news articles, and videos, bringing Hebrew to life. By the end of our 12 sessions together, students will better understand spoken Hebrew, express their ideas more smoothly, and enjoy reading authentic texts with confidence.
Intermediate Conversational Hebrew will allow you to expand your vocabulary and grammar and to read, write, and speak more fluently. This is not an introductory-level course: newer learners are encouraged to enroll in our Conversational Hebrew for Beginners. Students who are prepared for a higher level may wish to consider Advanced Conversational Hebrew.
Class participants are responsible for obtaining the course textbook and workbook prior to the first session. Publisher information and purchase link below:
First and Foremost: Hebrew for Beginners and More (Barosh Uvarishona Ivrit Laramat Matchilim Veod), Textbook + Workbook
Authors: Goni Tishaler and Ateret Yarden-Barak
List Price: $56.00
ISBN 13: 978-965-350-181-2
Catalog Number: HEB NF
Year Published: 2018
Link to purchase from Gefen Publishing
Link to purchase from Amazon

Instructor Bio

Susie Chalom has been a Jewish educator in the Twin Cities since 1970, when she began teaching Hebrew and Torah at Talmud Torah of Minneapolis.
Before that, in Israel, she taught English to soldiers in the IDF.
She studied Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition, and Literature at Tel Aviv University, and has continued lifelong Jewish learning through the Melton Bible Training at Camp Ramah, the Gratz College M.A. program in Jewish Studies, and advanced study at the Whizin Institute, American Jewish University, Pardes Yeshiva, the Conservative Yeshiva, and the Shalom Hartman Institute.
Her spiritual practice was further enriched through a two-year fellowship with the Jewish Spirituality Institute, where she is a member of the JSI Hevraya.
For 27 years Susie served as Education Director at Adath Jeshurun, and then as Executive Director of Talmud Torah of Minneapolis for a decade, retiring in 2016. She went back to her first love, teaching Torah, Tanach, and Jewish studies to 5th and 6th graders at TT Minneapolis, remaining until 2024. Over the past two years, she has worked at Talmud Torah of St. Paul as Director of the Afternoon School and Midrasha, bringing her dedication, creativity, and commitment to excellence.
She continues to teach adult Hebrew conversation classes.

Registration Fee
$300 (12 classes)
Tuition assistance is available. Please contact folklab@jewfolk.com to apply.

Registration Form
Click here to register.

Learn More
Learn more about FolkLab, our current classes, and our Engage! Day of Learning.

The Book of Legends / Sefer Ha-Aggadah
2026-02-20 11:00 - 12:00, 2026-02-27 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual Event, United States
Meets online Fridays, 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

2026 Session Dates
Friday, Feb 13 | Friday, Feb 20 | Friday, Feb 27 | Friday, March 6 | No class March 13 | Friday, March 20 | Friday, March 27 | No Class April 3, Passover | Friday, April 10 | Friday, April 17 | Friday, April 24 | Friday, May 1 | Friday, May 8 | Friday, May 17 | No Class May 22, Shavuot | Friday, May 29 | Friday, June 5 | Friday, June 12 | Friday, June 19 | Friday, June 26

Course Description
Who doesn’t love a good story? And especially a story that has a big idea connected to other big ideas? Join us as we take our time to read these texts slowly, working to consider why they were written and what messages we might learn (or push back on) from them.
Sefer HaAggadah is a massive collection of aggadot/tales, arranged thematically, and gleaned in the early 20th century by Bialik and Ravnitzky from classic Jewish sources (up to about 1000 CE).
Classes are designed for drop-in participation; no prior knowledge is necessary or expected.

Instructor Bio
Sara Lynn Newberger remembers receiving her first chumash (volume of Torah) in 3rd grade – and thus was born a life-long love of studying Torah. Born in Chicago, she landed in St. Paul in 1989 where she came to work at the Talmud Torah of St. Paul Day School because the mission and vision resonated with her soul. After serving in many roles at TTSP, she served as the Director of Hineni from its inception in 2014 to 2022. She believes passionately in the importance of Jewish learning and the impact it can have on people’s lives. She loves exploring Jewish texts, customs, values, and ideas with students.
Sara Lynn enjoys cooking, gardening, visiting with friends, singing, and being outdoors. Sara Lynn is married to Barbie Levine and is Savta to Ruby and Lucy.

Suggested Donation
We welcome your generous support to help sustain this class and future courses.

Registration Form
Click here to register.

Learn More
Learn more about FolkLab, our current classes, and our Engage! Day of Learning.

Or Emet Program to Examine Risks of AI‑Driven Data Center Boom in Minnesota
2026-02-21 10:00 - 11:30 | MN
On Saturday, Feb. 21, from 10-11:30 a.m., Or Emet will host a Humanistic Shabbat service led by Rabbi Eva Cohen followed by a presentation by Evan Mulholland, a staff attorney with the nonprofit Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy. A social time will follow.
The events will take place at the Minnesota JCC Sabes Center Minneapolis, 4330 S. Cedar Lake Road, Minneapolis.
Mulholland will discuss the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence-driven data centers in Minnesota and the environmental risks associated with hyperscale development. As director of MCEA’s Healthy Communities program, he works to protect Minnesotans and the state’s natural resources from the threats tied to large‑scale industrial projects.
The organization has filed five ongoing lawsuits challenging the environmental review conducted on hyperscale data centers proposed in Lakeville, North Mankato, Hermantown, Pine Island and Faribault.
Mulholland holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Brandeis University, a law degree from Harvard Law School and a master of laws degree in environmental law from Vermont Law School.
Those who cannot attend the program in person may join over Zoom. Please register in advance for the Zoom option.
Or Emet is a secular congregation celebrating and honoring Jewish culture, history and values from a humanistic, inclusive perspective.
For more information about Or Emet, email info@oremet.org or visit oremet.org.

Or Emet Program to Examine Risks of AI‑Driven Data Center Boom in Minnesota
2026-02-21 10:00 - 11:30 | Minnesota JCC Sabes Center Minneapolis, 4330 S. Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park, MN, MN, 55416, United States

Puppy Parade with JFCS & Sholom
2026-02-22 13:00 - 14:30 | Sholom Home West, 3620 Phillips Pkwy, St Louis Park, 55426, United States
Sunday, February 22 | 1-2:30 p.m.
Sholom West Campus, 3620 Phillips Pkwy, St Louis Park, MN 55426
Meeting details will be shared with registered participants.
JFCS is teaming up with Sholom Senior Living to bring joy and pet therapy to older adults living at Ackerberg Sholom West Campus in St. Louis Park. This is a family-friendly event. Every volunteer will receive a free blue JFCS in Action t-shirt to wear and keep.
Bring your pup (all sizes welcome!) and join us for a parade of paws, tails, and smiles! We’ll split up into groups and “parade” through the campus, visiting residents in each building and sharing lots of tail-wagging happiness.
Even if you don’t have a dog, we hope you will sign up to join us for a nice afternoon of conversation and community.
What to Bring:

Copy of your pup’s vaccination records
Baggies for outside and incase of accidents
A handful of treats for your furry friend

Ways to Get Involved in JFCS Puppy Parades:

Interested in volunteering with our group on Feb. 22? Complete the registration form here.
Can’t make it on Feb. 22, but want to join the JFCS Puppy Parade Team for one of our quarterly events? Fill out this puppy parade interest form and we’ll keep you posted as more dates become available.

Why Participate:
Brighten someone’s day, make new friends (furry and human), volunteer with your whole family, and experience the simple joy of providing pet therapy firsthand (no previous pet therapy experience or certification needed!).

About Volunteers in Action:
Volunteers in Action is a JFCS volunteer corps that supports organizations in the Jewish and broader communities. The program partners with organizations whose missions align with JFCS’ mission to provide essential services to people of all ages and backgrounds to sustain healthy relationships, ease suffering and offer support in times of need. VIA has partnered with: Dress For Success, Loaves and Fishes, Memorial Blood Centers, Jones-Harrison Senior Living, Open Arms Minnesota, PRISM, and Sholom Senior Living.
Questions or ideas for an upcoming Volunteers in Action event?
Contact Dana Shapiro, JFCS Community and Volunteer Engagement Manager, at dshapiro@jfcsmn.org or 952-417-2112.

Conversational Hebrew for Beginners with Susie Chalom
2026-02-23 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event, United States
Meets online Mondays, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Session Dates
Monday, Feb 9 | Monday, Feb 16 | Monday, Feb 23 | No class March 2 | Monday, March 9 | Monday, March 16 | Monday, March 23 | Monday, March 30 | No class April 6 | No class April 13 | Monday, April 20 | Monday, April 27 | No class May 4 | Monday, May 11 | Monday, May 18 | No class May 25 | Monday, June 1

Course Description
Dreaming of learning Hebrew? Now’s your chance! Join us for a fun and lively weekly Zoom class with fellow Twin Cities learners.
This college-level course, designed by Susie Chalom, is perfect for beginners. The curriculum and price are tailored for busy adults. You’ll start with basic Hebrew conversation and quickly find yourself chatting about everyday topics. We’ll spice things up with current events, songs, and videos.
Class participants are responsible for obtaining the course textbook and workbook prior to the first session. Publisher information and purchase link below:
First and Foremost Hebrew for Beginners and More (Barosh Uvarishona Ivrit Laramat Matchilim Veod), Textbook + Workbook
Authors: Goni Tishaler and Ateret Yarden-Barak
List Price: $56.00
ISBN 13: 978-965-350-181-2
Catalog Number: HEB NF
Year Published: 2018
Purchase from Gefen Publishing
Purchase from Amazon
Please make sure you’re familiar with Hebrew letters and their sounds before class starts. Need help? Learn to Read Hebrew in 6 Weeks (Hebrew for Beginners) by Miiko Shaffier and Ken Parker is an excellent starter for learning the Aleph-Bet (Hebrew alphabet) independently; please contact Susie Chalom for additional online resources.

Instructor Bio

Susie Chalom has been a Jewish educator in the Twin Cities since 1970, when she began teaching Hebrew and Torah at Talmud Torah of Minneapolis.
Before that, in Israel, she taught English to soldiers in the IDF.
She studied Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition, and Literature at Tel Aviv University, and has continued lifelong Jewish learning through the Melton Bible Training at Camp Ramah, the Gratz College M.A. program in Jewish Studies, and advanced study at the Whizin Institute, American Jewish University, Pardes Yeshiva, the Conservative Yeshiva, and the Shalom Hartman Institute.
Her spiritual practice was further enriched through a two-year fellowship with the Jewish Spirituality Institute, where she is a member of the JSI Hevraya.
For 27 years Susie served as Education Director at Adath Jeshurun, and then as Executive Director of Talmud Torah of Minneapolis for a decade, retiring in 2016. She went back to her first love, teaching Torah, Tanach, and Jewish studies to 5th and 6th graders at TT Minneapolis, remaining until 2024. Over the past two years, she has worked at Talmud Torah of St. Paul as Director of the Afternoon School and Midrasha, bringing her dedication, creativity, and commitment to excellence.
She continues to teach adult Hebrew conversation classes.

Course fee
$300 (12 sessions)
Tuition assistance is available. Please contact folklab@jewfolk.com to apply.

Registration Form
Click here to register.

Learn More
Learn more about FolkLab, our current classes, and our Engage! Day of Learning.

Advanced Conversational Hebrew with Susie Chalom
2026-02-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Virtual Event, United States
Meets online Tuesdays, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Session Dates
Tuesday, February 10 | |Tuesday, February 17 | Tuesday, February 24 | No class 3/3, Purim | Tuesday, March 10 | Tuesday, March 17 | Tuesday, March 24 | No Class 4/7, Passover | No Class 4/14, Yom HaShoah | No class 4/21, Yom YaZikaron | Tuesday, April 28 | No class 5/5, Lag BaOmer | Tuesday, May 12 | Tuesday, May 19 | Tuesday, May 26 | Tuesday, June 2 | Tuesday, June 9

Course Description
Improve your ability to speak, understand, read and write Modern Hebrew with Susie Chalom, a master teacher who strives for every student to succeed in learning everyday Hebrew.
These classes are lively, engaging, and tailored for busy adults. Our curriculum moves at an easy but steady pace — with minimal homework — and incorporates modern Israeli texts and media, Quizlet flashcards, and games like Kahoot to enhance engagement and increase learning.
Advanced Conversational Hebrew will allow you to expand your vocabulary and grammar and to read, write and speak more fluently. This is not an introductory-level course: newer learners are encouraged to enroll in our Conversational Hebrew for Beginners[link] and Intermediate Conversational Hebrew[link] courses, depending on participants’ level and familiarity with the language.
Class participants are responsible for obtaining the course textbook and workbook prior to the first session. Publisher information and purchase link below:
First and Foremost Hebrew for Beginners and More (Barosh Uvarishona Ivrit Laramat Matchilim Veod), Textbook + Workbook
Authors: Goni Tishaler and Ateret Yarden-Barak
List Price: $56.00
ISBN 13: 978-965-350-181-2
Catalog Number: HEB NF
Year Published: 2018
Link to purchase from Gefen Publishing
Link to purchase from Amazon

Instructor Bio

Susie Chalom has been a Jewish educator in the Twin Cities since 1970, when she began teaching Hebrew and Torah at Talmud Torah of Minneapolis.
Before that, in Israel, she taught English to soldiers in the IDF.
She studied Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition, and Literature at Tel Aviv University, and has continued lifelong Jewish learning through the Melton Bible Training at Camp Ramah, the Gratz College M.A. program in Jewish Studies, and advanced study at the Whizin Institute, American Jewish University, Pardes Yeshiva, the Conservative Yeshiva, and the Shalom Hartman Institute.
Her spiritual practice was further enriched through a two-year fellowship with the Jewish Spirituality Institute, where she is a member of the JSI Hevraya.
For 27 years Susie served as Education Director at Adath Jeshurun, and then as Executive Director of Talmud Torah of Minneapolis for a decade, retiring in 2016. She went back to her first love, teaching Torah, Tanach, and Jewish studies to 5th and 6th graders at TT Minneapolis, remaining until 2024. Over the past two years, she has worked at Talmud Torah of St. Paul as Director of the Afternoon School and Midrasha, bringing her dedication, creativity, and commitment to excellence.
She continues to teach adult Hebrew conversation classes.

Registration Fee
$300 (12 classes)
Financial assistance is available. Please contact folklab@jewfolk.com to apply.

Registration Form
Click here to register.

Learn More
Learn more about FolkLab, our current classes, and our Engage! Day of Learning.

Addiction and Recovery Series: Raising Awareness, Reducing Harm: Understanding Today’s Drug Trends
2026-02-25 18:00 - 19:30 | MN
Join us in person or online!
This hybrid session is designed for parents, caregivers, and community members who want to better understand and respond to real-life addiction and recovery topics. These expert-led sessions will tackle tough topics head-on, providing practical guidance, up-to-date information, life-saving skills, and realistic strategies for discussion and support of loved-ones.

This is a free event, but pre-registration is requested.

We hope you can make it to to the event on Wednesday, February 25th at 6-7:30 p.m.
Registration and more information is available here:

https://www.jfcsmn.org/event/ars-raising-awareness-reducing-harm-understanding-todays-drug-trends/

Location information will be shared after registration.
Raising Awareness, Reducing Harm: Understanding Today’s Drug Trends will explore emerging drug trends, learn ways to identify commonly used drugs and their impact, and discuss what your kids are being exposed to at school and online. It will also include Q&A, so come with your questions ready. Presenter: Justin McNeal of Begin Anew Recovery.

The Addiction and Recovery Community Education Series is part of JFCS’ Education and Learning Speaker Series. With real-life examples and open dialogue, this series empowers families and communities to create safer environments through the sharing of knowledge, collaboration, and practical strategies to use in challenging situations. We look forward to seeing you there!

Sponsored by the Marilyn and Ralph Shapiro Family in memory of Matt Shapiro

Contact Leah Persky with any questions about the event or registration: lpersky@jfcsmpls.org or 952-542-4825

Gid Spinning Night
2026-02-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Queermunity MN, 3036 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55408, United States
Come join our joyful band of queer Jews and fiber artists for an evening of hands-on craft, learning, and community care. We’ll be spinning gid–traditional sinew thread used to sew Torah scrolls, megillot, and tefillin–through a process that is tactile, collaborative, and surprisingly fun.
Gid is an essential but often invisible part of Jewish ritual life, and access to producing it has historically been tightly restricted. This gathering offers a rare opportunity for queer Jews to participate directly in this sacred craft that has largely been closed to us (as well as to other marginalized groups within the Jewish community), and to do so in a way that reflects our shared values of inclusion, sustainability, and mutual responsibility.
Working with backstrap sinew from roadkill deer, we will break the tendon into its individual fibers then spin them back together into usable thread. The gid produced will be used to repair and restore tefillin and Torah scrolls in the Twin Cities, removing our community from the customer base that supports discriminatory production processes.
No prior experience necessary. Non-Jews and allies are welcome and can participate fully!

Yonathan Reches is a hide worker and scribe based in St. Paul, where he lives with his spouse, child, and dog. He founded the Kedusha Project, a collective of artisans dedicated to creating sacred texts and ritual objects through practices that are ethical, sustainable, and rooted in reverence for the life that sustains them. Yonathan’s work bridges traditional craftsmanship and contemporary values, recovering and reimagining methods long held within insular communities. He produced the world’s first egalitarian-made tefillin and the first megillah on giraffe parchment, and he continues to look for ways to innovate the kedusha industry!

Young Adult (20s & 30s) Hamentaschen Baking at Adath!
2026-02-26 18:30 - 19:30 | Adath Jeshurun Congregation, 10500 Hillside Lane West, Minnetonka, MN, 55305, United States
Welcome back Makom – Adath Jeshurun Congregation’s Young Adult (20s and 30s) group! Join us for a night of hamentaschen baking as we prepare for Purim!

Or Emet and First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis Purim Carnival
2026-03-01 14:00 - 16:30 | First Unitarian Society, 900 Mount Curve Avenue, Minneapolis, MN, 55403, United States
Or Emet and the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis will host a Purim carnival celebrating Jewish traditions with humanistic values.
The carnival will take place from 2-4:30 p.m. Sunday, March 1, at the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, 900 Mount Curve Ave., Minneapolis.
It will include a costume parade, Purim treats, carnival games, prizes and a bouncy house. Please bring cash to exchange for tickets.
For more information about Or Emet programs, email info@oremet.org.

Evening Song Circle
2026-03-04 19:00 - 20:00 | MN
Join Koleinu for a nourishing song circle with instrumental accompaniment, filled with nigunnim (Jewish-style wordless melodies) and songs for the heart. Envision it: lights are pared down, twinkle lights around, and we are gathered in concentric circles. The quiet and closeness of the evening promises to elevate our listening and singing.
Koleinu–our voice–is most beautiful when we’re together.
Registration is required: register here. Location will be shared with accepted participants closer to the date.
Koleinu celebrates contemporary Jewish living through communal singing. Instagram I Facebook
