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.

AARP Safe Driver Course
April 14, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Knollwood Place Apartments, 3630 Phillips Parkway, St. Louis Park
Free for registered attendees

Stay Safe and Save: Sign Up for the AARP Smart Driver™ Course for free!

Looking to sharpen your driving skills, stay confident behind the wheel, and even save money? The AARP Smart Driver™ course is perfect for seniors and their adult children who want to drive smarter and safer.

Why Seniors Should Take a Safe Driver Course

As we age, driving can present new challenges, from adjusting to changes in reflexes and vision to navigating modern roadways and technology. A safe driver course offers seniors practical strategies to stay confident and capable behind the wheel. The AARP Smart Driver™ course helps participants:

  • Refresh Driving Skills: Learn updated rules of the road and proven safety techniques.

  • Adapt to Physical Changes: Gain tips for compensating for slower reflexes or diminished vision.

  • Increase Confidence: Build assurance to drive in today’s busy traffic and varied weather conditions.

Why Adult Children Should Encourage Their Parents to Attend

For adult children, supporting your parents in maintaining independence and safety is invaluable. Encouraging them to take this course shows care for their well-being. Benefits include:

  • Peace of Mind: Knowing they are equipped to handle driving challenges safely.

  • Prolonged Independence: Safe driving can help older adults retain mobility and freedom.

  • Improved Insurance Rates: Many participants qualify for insurance discounts, a practical perk for parents on a fixed income.

An Extra Reason to Sign Up:
At Sholom, we’re making this opportunity even better by covering the $25 registration fee. It’s a gift to our community, ensuring that safety and confidence on the road come at no cost to you.Visit Sholom at Knollwood Place Independent Living Apartments at Sholom West Campus for a AARP Safe Driver Course. This course is designed to help keep drivers safe event and is sponsored by Sholom.

For more information or to sign up for this event, contact Susie Held at sheld@sholom.com or 952-939-1605.

Full event description can be found on Sholom.

Freedom From Addiction Seder: Celebrating our Freedom from Addiction and Slavery
Thursday, April 17, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Minnesota Hillel, Johnson Center 1521 University Avenue Southeast, Minneapolis
$25 suggested registration. Register here by April 9.

The Jewish Recovery Network (JRN) and Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis (JFCS) invite you to the annual Freedom From Addiction Seder.

Join us for a meaningful and joyous sober seder celebration!

• A Kosher for Passover slow-roasted sweet chili brisket meal will be served at the Seder; a vegetarian option is also available

• A $25/per person registration fee is suggested; credit card payment taken at time of registration or cash/check at the door the night of the event

• Parking vouchers for any parking ramps on university property will be provided by JFCS

• Building is accessible, with an elevator

Questions? Contact Leah Persky at lpersky@jfcsmpls.org or 952-542-4825. If you would like to receive Passover ritual items/ foods for use at your home, contact Leah for details. Thank you to the Zouber Family for their generous donation in memory of Jesse Davidson Addiction and Recovery Services Lead Sponsor: Susan and Richard Goldman

Yom HaShoah: Holocaust Remembrance Day
Twin Cities Annual Commemoration
Wednesday, April 23, 6:00-8:30 p.m.
Beth El Synagogue, 5225 Barry Street West, St. Louis Park
Register to attend by April 9

6:00 p.m. Zikaron BaSalon. Hear stories from family members of survivors in small groups prior to the commemoration.
7:00 p.m. Commemoration

Minnesota and the Dakotas Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration is a free and public Holocaust commemoration service. This year Beth El is also offering Zikaron BaSalon: a tradition in Israel of small gatherings to hear personal testimony from a child or grandchild of a survivor.
Please register to attend Zikaron BaSalon by April 9 so we can plan for those programs accordingly. The registration link will allow you to select tickets to either or both the commemoration and Zikaron BaSalon. Zikaron BaSalon will end in time to seat for the commemoration at 7:00 PM.

Keeping the Spirit Alive: The Conference for Caregivers and Those Supporting a Loved One with Dementia
SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Adath Jeshurun Congregation 10500 Hillside Lane West, Minnetonka
Click here for more information and to register

This event is free and open to all.

A day filled with gaining insight, making connections and finding support:
This conference for caregivers, family members, lay leaders, clergy and professionals provides practical approaches for caregiving, tactics to take care of the caregiver, plus educational and research updates about dementia. The conference also provides information about community resources that are available.

Keynote panel presentation:
Grief in Every Chapter: The Stories that Shape Us 

Register for the following workshops:
Providing Support with Confidence – Empowering Perspectives of Youth with a Parent with Younger Onset Dementia - Fostering Connections Through Meaningful Activities - Essential Tools for Building a Strong Support Network - Building a Better Brain - Perspectives of a Death Doula - Ask the Doctor - Understanding the Role and Importance of Family Meetings - A Candid Look into Care Partner Fatigue - Supporting Each Other as Caregivers - Caregiving in the Home vs. a Facility - Preparing for Ethical Challenges and Decisions at the End of Life

Grief in Every Chapter: The Stories that Shape Us is our keynote panel presentation on the various forms of grief featuring Karla Hult, Kelly Grosklags, Brittany Squillace, and Nina Guertin along with moderator Rosie Gaston.

Gain insights on:

  • Providing Support with Confidence

  • Empowering Perspectives of Youth with a Parent with Younger Onset Dementia

  • Fostering Connections Through Meaningful Activities

  • Essential Tools for Building a Strong Support Network

  • Building a Better Brain

  • Perspectives of a Death Doula

  • Ask the Doctor

  • Understanding the Role and Importance of Family Meetings

  • A Candid Look into Care

  • Partner Fatigue

  • Supporting Each Other as Caregivers

  • Caregiving in the Home vs. a Facility

  • Preparing for Ethical Challenges and Decisions at the End of Life

Twin Cities Erev Yom HaZikaron: A Tribute to Love & Sacrifice
An evening for remembering Israeli fallen soldiers and victims of terror
Tuesday, April 29, 7:00 p.m.
Beth Jacob Congregation, 1179 Victoria Curve, Mendota Heights

Goodman Lecture featuring Janet Horvath
“The Cello Still Sings: Courage and Conscience One Conversation at a Time”
Thursday, May 1
St. Catherine University Recital Hall, 2004 Randolph Ave, F-24, Saint Paul
This event is free but tickets are required. Click here for more information and to book your tickets.


5:15 p.m. Appetizers
6 p.m. Lecture and Q&A
7:30 p.m. Book signing

When Janet Horvath asked her father an innocent question about his music career while driving him to a doctor’s appointment in 2009, she did not expect to uncover a hidden piece of her family’s history. Horvath, the associate principal cello of the Minnesota Orchestra for 32 years, grew up surrounded by music. Her mother was a piano teacher and her father, George, was a cellist who had performed with the Toronto Symphony for 38 years. Despite George’s performances with famous maestros in Europe before World War II, Horvath’s parents never spoke about any of their experiences during the war. But that day in the car, it occurred to Horvath to ask her father if he’d ever met her idol, Leonard Bernstein, who was the composer of West Side Story, the conductor of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, and a significant figure in the classical music world.

“My father put his hand to his cheek… and it was like he passed out. I didn’t know what was going on,” said Horvath. “In a minute or two it was as if he came to, and he said, ‘Yes, it was a very hot day. The concert was in the displaced persons camp in Bavaria, Germany, and he [Bernstein] came to conduct our small group of musicians. He was just a kid and he played Rhapsody in Blue on the piano.”

On May 1, Horvath visits St. Catherine University to discuss her book with the community as part of the Goodman Lecture series. For Horvath, this is a milestone lecture. Not only will it be her 75th presentation discussing The Cello Still Sings, but it’s also her return to St. Kate’s, where The O’Shaughnessy has served as a Minnesota Orchestra performance venue over the decades. As a woman who succeeded in the difficult field of professional orchestral musicianship and solo performance, she’s excited to reach other women at the University, she says.

In addition to exploring her family history, Horvath’s book and presentation center around questions about the refugee experience and what it means to adapt to and survive hardship.

Caregiver Journey Education Series Part 2/3
The Realities of Family Caregiving
Thursday, May 1, 5:30 p.m.
Roitenberg Family Assisted Living, 3610 Phillips Parkway, St. Louis Park
Free

Join us at Sholom for the second part in our three-part Caregiver Journey education series, The Realities of Family Caregiving: Insights into the challenges of caregiving and how to manage them.

This is for the adult children of seniors, and designed to provide valuable insights, foster connections, and support one’s independence.

Join us for Part 3 on May 8th at 5:30 PM at Roitenberg Family Assisted Living– Time Management – How to Manage Caregiving Responsibilities Along with the Rest of Your Life: A workshop offering tips on balancing caregiving with daily life.

For more information or to sign up for any of these events, contact Susie Held at sheld@sholom.com or 952-939-1605.

Full event descriptions can be found on Sholom.

Twin Cities Yom HaAtzmaut Celebration
Sunday, May 4, 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Minneapolis Sabes JCC, 4330 South Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park

Join the Twin Cities Jewish community in celebrating Israel’s 77th Independence Day.

Moshe and Goldie Monzon, Israeli artists, visiting Minneapolis for the first time, will bring a little Israel as part of the Yom Ha'atzmaut Community Celebration.

Also for your enjoyment, there will be a beautiful selection of Judaica jewelry, mezuzoth, tzedakah and jewelry boxes, microcalligraphy, blessings, lithographs, wall ornaments, and original tapestries. We’ve extended our stay until Monday May 5th from 9 am to 6 pm. See a unique and colorful Israeli Shuk Display!

Caregiver Journey Education Series Part 3/3
Time Management – How to Manage Caregiving Responsibilities Along with the Rest of Your Life
Thursday, May 8, 5:30 p.m.
Roitenberg Family Assisted Living, 3610 Phillips Parkway, St. Louis Park
Free

Join us at Sholom for the third part in our three-part Caregiver Journey education series, Time Management – How to Manage Caregiving Responsibilities Along with the Rest of Your Life: A workshop offering tips on balancing caregiving with daily life.

This is for the adult children of seniors, and designed to provide valuable insights, foster connections, and support one’s independence.

For more information or to sign up for any of these events, contact Susie Held at sheld@sholom.com or 952-939-1605.

Full event descriptions can be found on Sholom.

Minneapolis Jewish Federation: Traveling Exhibit on Kfar Aza
September 2025
Barry Family Campus, 4330 Cedar Lake Road South, Minneapolis

MJF will be hosting a traveling exhibit about Kfar Aza at the Barry Family Campus for approximately two to three weeks. The exhibit will be at MJF on October 7th and aims to provide a poignant reflection on the community and its experiences.

MJF provides this advance notice to avoid any scheduling conflicts and to invite interested parties to collaborate if and where there is an interest. 

If you have any questions or would like more information about these programs, please do not hesitate to reach out to Eilat Harel at eharel@jewishminneapolis.org.

Minneapolis Jewish Federation: Visit from Kibbutz Holit Members
October 5-12, 2025
Barry Family Campus, 4330 Cedar Lake Road South, Minneapolis

MJF will be welcoming and hosting two members from Kibbutz Holit, who will be visiting us from October 5th to October 12th. Their presence offers a unique opportunity for dialogue and connection.

MJF provides this advance notice to avoid any scheduling conflicts and to invite interested parties to collaborate if and where there is an interest. 

If you have any questions or would like more information about these programs, please do not hesitate to reach out to Eilat Harel at eharel@jewishminneapolis.org.

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.