Yesod (or Foundation) is built upon the knowledge and skills a leader needs to be effective.

The Minneapolis Jewish Federation, in partnership with the Harry Kay Center for Leadership Excellence, is hosting a fall leadership development program—Yesod—for 20 Jewish professionals in the Twin Cities community, which will be taught by Sally Abrams.

D'var Torah by Rabbi Harold J. Kravitz
Rosh Hashanah, Day 1—September 10, 2018

The last year and a half has been an emotional roller coaster for our family.

I lost my mom Mildred last year and was saying Kaddish until May. In late June Cindy’s dad Irv died, so this year she is saying Kaddish. It is a lot to lose two parents in a short time. As we reflect on these losses, we are both deeply grateful for the support we received from our community, both the community here at Adath and the community we have with friends and colleagues that extends far beyond MN. We are so thankful for the many contributions, the notes of support, the meals, all kinds of people who checked in on us.

On February 24, Women's League will sponsor their annual Shabbat and welcome a rabbinical student from the Jewish Theological Seminary as a special speaker. This year, that student is Margaret Cella.

Life can get busy around our house with four kids between the ages of 6-13. In addition to school, our afternoons and weekends consist of my husband and I playing the role of Uber drivers for our kids’ sports, religious schools, play-dates and extra curricular activities. We LOVE the chaos and the busy life that comes with having four children. That said, there are times when I wish we could slow down just a bit, take a step back and a deep breath to appreciate it all, and do more to understand how other people outside our little bubble live.

D'var Torah by Joyce Orbuch
on September 23, 2017

So, is 83 the new 13?? I don’t think so… but Judaism does give us the opportunity to turn 13 twice.
 
The custom for having a bat or Bar Mitzvah at 83 comes from the verse in Psalm 90 which says, the days of our years are 70, or if by reason of special strength, 80 years.  At 70, one can start counting again.  Add 13 years and you get 83. Our age.

Saturday, September 23
The custom of celebrating a second Bar or Bat Mitzvah at age 83 comes from the verse in Psalm 90, "The days of our years are seventy, or if by reason of special strength, eighty years..." At 70, one can start counting again. Add 13 years, and you get 83! 

By Heather Stesin

This very personal journey began in 2014 when I was invited by my parents to attend a performance of Wiesenthal while visiting them in Florida. This wasn’t just any performance; it was a moving experience and virtual awakening of an important part of my life that had been buried deep in my subconscious. 

By Rabbi Aaron Weininger
​My brother, sister, and I learned melodies in junior congregation we still sing today. We ran through the synagogue’s hallways after our teen congregation deli lunch and when we got tired running the maze, we went to somebody’s house to hang out, play chess, or toss a ball in the park.

This exact experience doesn’t need to be the reality for everyone, but it makes me wonder what it takes for a community to feel this way. Judaism is not a performance for some to produce; it’s a home for all to build. One of the challenges in synagogue life is for families to feel that kind of ownership of Judaism, an authenticity and comfort to be at home in an ancient tradition, as their full selves. Many synagogues respond to that challenge with programs that reinforce a producer/consumer mindset. Staff produces a program. Congregants consume it. Repeat.

To read the rest of Rabbi Weininger's essay go to TC Jewfolk