Community Events
Please note that the events listed here are hosted by our community partners and are not sponsored by Temple Israel unless noted.
We encourage you to reach out directly to the event organizers with any questions.
Hebrew 1 with Olga Gutarts
Thursdays, February 6 - March 27, 6:00 - 7:30 PM
Southwest High School, 3414 West 47th Street, Minneapolis
Price: $79; click here to enroll
Interested in learning Hebrew? If you’ve never had the opportunity to study Hebrew before or need a refresher, come and learn the basics of letter recognition and reading. Already know how to read Hebrew? Then join us to study vocabulary, grammar, and reading.
If class is full, please enroll for the waitlist. We will contact you if a space becomes available.\
Class is taught through a partnership with Temple Israel.
Temple Israel’s Luminary Havdalah (on the evening of the Luminary Loppet!)
Saturday, February 8, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Outdoors at Temple Israel, 2323 Fremont Avenue South, Minneapolis
Luminary Havdalah is a free community-wide **outdoor** gathering at Temple Israel on the evening of the Luminary Loppet festival.
(NOTE NEW LOCATION THIS YEAR: OUTDOORS AT TEMPLE ISRAEL 2323 FREMONT AVE SOUTH, MINNEAPOLIS)
Jews and friends from around the Twin Cities are invited to sing, celebrate, and bring light into this special winter’s night.
After an elaborate & musical Havdalah ceremony, participants can saunter over to Lake of the Isles to enjoy the Loppet (**separate admission required**).
Dress warm, and we will have hot chocolate and cider!
If you have any questions or would like your organization to formally participate or sponsor, please contact Rabbi Rodich at Temple Israel (info@templeisrael.com, put Luminary Havdalah in the subject line).
We are grateful to all the individuals and organizations participating in this event. Participating organizations include: Twin Cities J-Pride, TC Jewfolk, Beth Jacob Congregation, Twin Cities Jewish Renewal, Mayim Rabim, Shir Tikvah, Bet Shalom, JFCS NextGen, YALA MPLS
University of Minnesota Center for Jewish Studies Community Lecture Series
Sunday, February 9
Thursday, March 27
Minnesota JCC CAPP Center,ENTER • 1375 St Paul Ave, St Paul, MN 55116
Mark your calendars now! The next three lectures in the series are devoted to Jews of color, the Dreyfus Affair, and queer Jews. Please register at the links below and remember to bring an ID with you.
The Dreyfus Affair and the Transformation of Jewish Identity
Visiting Scholar: Maurice Samuels, Yale University
Date: Sunday, Feb 09, 2025
Time: 4:00pm - EARLY EVENT
Registration: https://z.umn.edu/MauriceSamuelsLectureQueer Jews: The Struggle for Judaism’s Straight Soul
Visiting Scholar: Orit Avishai, Fordham University
Date: Thursday, Mar 27, 2025
Time: 7:30pm
Registration: https://z.umn.edu/OritAvishaiLecture
Minneapolis Jewish Federation on Tikvatenu 3: Volunteer & Solidarity Mission to Israel
February 10-16, 2025
Bear witness to the resilience of Israel as we travel to the south to volunteer in Kibbutz Holit, Minneapolis’ partner kibbutz in the Gaza Envelope area. See firsthand the impact in our Partnership2Gether sister city, Rehovot, and continue to help our overseas community’s needs. Then we will explore Tel Aviv to see how the popular city has evolved to its new normal since October 7th. First time in Israel? Sunday features an optional special excursion to the Holy City of Jerusalem before we say “l’hitraot”.
Click here to learn more and register today!
Please contact Kara Rosenwald, Director of Global Experiences & Events, at krosenwald@jewishminneapolis.org with any questions.
Jewish Earth Alliance Lobby Day
Thursday, February 13
Zoom, Register here: bit.ly/LobbyDay2025FebJEA
Join the Jewish Earth Alliance for a virtual lobbying day with Congress on Tu Bishvat (February 13th)! This holiday, which began as the day observed as the birthday of cultivated trees, has now become the Jewish Earth Day. We are taking this opportunity to advocate for responsible stewardship of the environment, focusing on the passage of federal legislation to promote renewable energy, clean air, and a planet safe for all living things.
Jewish Earth Alliance has scheduled convenient virtual group meetings on Zoom with US Senate staffers from 20+ states, including Minnesota. Never lobbied before? We would still love for you to join us! Each state’s group will be lead by an experienced member of Jewish Earth Alliance, who will prepare you and provide you with everything you need to make an impact with your legislators.
Register here: bit.ly/LobbyDay2025FebJEA or contact Rachel Dick at rachel.m.dick@me.com for more information.
Community Yom HaShoah Commemoration
Wednesday evening, April 23, 2025
Beth El Synagogue
More details coming soon.
Temple Israel's Social Justice Projects and Partner Organizations
Second Sundays, 4:15-6:15 p.m.
Temple Israel Housing Group is looking for volunteers to help our community partner Align Minneapolis. Welcome guests and serve a community meal for our low-income and unhoused neighbors.
This takes place the second Sunday of each month from 4:15-6:15 p.m. Find more information here and contact Rabbi Ricky Kamil to sign up.
Jewish Youth Mentoring Program
Jewish Family and Children's Service (JFCS)
Ongoing
The Jewish Youth Mentoring Program (formerly the Jewish Big Brother/Big Sister Program), is a community-based mentoring program for Jewish-identified youth that is designed to promote positive social-emotional-spiritual development and increase engagement in the Jewish community. Since the program’s inception in 1975, it has matched over 400 Jewish youth with mentors.
The program is open to all families! Anyone can benefit from a personal, one-on-one connection with someone who is giving their undivided attention to them.
Participants are matched with carefully screened and selected volunteer mentors based on family preferences, age, gender identity, common interests, geographic proximity and more. Common match activities include visiting libraries or bookstores; arts and crafts; baking; exploring local parks; playing sports; going to museums; playing board games; and attending community events. Mentees are aged 6-12 and mentors are 16 and up, with a valid driver’s license
For questions, contact Dori Gelfman, Jewish Youth Mentoring Program Coordinator, at dgelfman@jfcsmpls.org or 952-542-4835.
The Chai – light Chorus
Ongoing
The chorale is actively recruiting new members! We’ve been in existence since 2000, having produced over 35 productions. We celebrate the joy of vocal performance without taking it too seriously. Anyone age 60 and above is eligible, and there’s absolutely no program fee — a musical “free for all!” Our weekly rehearsals are during the day. For more information, contact Mark Bloom via email at mark.bloomtru2life@gmail.com or by phone at 612-270–1705.
Free Modern Hebrew Language Courses for High School Students and Senior Citizens
University of Minnesota
Ongoing, Virtual
Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced Modern Hebrew Language courses are available for free at the University of Minnesota to high school students enrolled at the university through the PSEO program, and to senior citizens ages 62+ auditing courses through the university's Senior Citizen Education Program.
Taught over Zoom by Israeli-born professor, Dr. Renana Schneller, the courses focus on reading, writing, understanding and speaking Hebrew. Contact Dr. Schneller for more information and placement at schne068@umn.edu. For more information, contact Temple member Jeri Glick-Anderson at jerianders@gmail.com.