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.

Engage! Annual Gathering of Jewish Learning and Creativity​​
Sunday, January 12, 1:00-4:30 p.m.
Minnesota JCC CAPP Center,ENTER • 1375 St Paul Ave, St Paul, MN 55116

Click here to register ENGAGE! — Hineni & the Minnesota JCC’s annual community-wide celebration of Jewish learning, life, and culture. Join educators, rabbis, artists, and other interesting people for an afternoon of learning, creating, discussing and noshing.

When you register, you will be invited to choose one of our two-block sessions OR one each from block alef and block bet.

Register by January 3rd for early bird pricing and for a childcare option.

University of Minnesota Center for Jewish Studies Community Lecture Series
Thursday, January 30
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.

  • Jews of Color: One Term and Many Communities
    Visiting Scholar: Samira Mehta, University of Colorado Boulder
    Date: Thursday, Jan 30, 2025
    Time: 7:30pm
    Registration: https://z.umn.edu/SamiraMehtaLecture

 

  • 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/MauriceSamuelsLecture

 

  • Queer 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.

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.