by Rabbi Lauren Kurland

Shabbat Shalom!
First off, I want to thank you all for arranging for a heat wave on the weekend of February 19! Seriously, I saw that it was something like 6 degrees at one point last week, and I wasn’t sure what to make of that number! So thank you for the figurative and literal warm welcome. Not that I should talk weather, however. I’m coming to you from Seattle, where they sell T-shirts at Pike Place Market that say, “Seattle: Rainy season--January 1 to December 31.”

And while that’s not *totally* true, Seattle does leave you with a distinct sense of being damp for six months straight. No amount of fleece or Gore-Tex can really keep it out all season long. Believe me, I’ve tried.

Adath is joining the Food Fight—the fight against hunger—by supporting Minnesota FoodShare.

​Our congregation supports three local food shelves, ICA in Minnetonka, STEP in St. Louis Park, and PRISM in Golden Valley. In this food fight, everyone wins because the FoodShare March Campaign, is the largest annual statewide food and fund drive. 

By Kim Gedan

This is one small step for all Jews, one giant leap for an inclusive and pluralistic Judaism!
 
During the Adath Jeshurun and Magen Avraham Skype session on February 14, the the group discussed Israel’s two major historic decisions. For the first time in the history of the State of Israel, non-Orthodox Judaism has achieved formal status in our holiest of places – the Kotel. This is a major milestone that we cannot take for granted when the State of Israel runs according to traditional Judaism.  Where Reform and Conservative Judaism isn’t acknowledged or existed until now. 

By Sari Lederman, Mother of the Bride
When my daughter got engaged and we started planning her wedding she had one request.  She wanted to keep as much at the synagogue as possible. Even though she did not grow up at Adath and was now living out of town, we knew somehow we needed to incorporate Bnai Emet and Adath into her wedding day. We met first with Bernie and asked him if he thought Beth and her staff could handle such an event and how many people the synagogue could hold. We also talked about what is at Adath that came over from Bnai Emet. We discussed timing and staff that would be available for us that day. We also addressed that the bride and groom did not live in Minnesota, so all planning would be taking place long distance and I would be the point person. Bernie was honest in his response and really helped everyone feel confident that it was doable.

​ by Kim Gedan, co-chair Adath Israel Committee 
On January 31, the Israeli government legally sanctioned an egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall. Israel has recognized the rights of all Jews to worship at the Kotel, regardless of denomination. A prayer for Jewish pluralism has been answered!