Help Our Adath
Community

Art & Design

Art and Design maintains and displays our fine art collection and consults on interior design projects.The committee's principle mission is to enrich Jewish identity, spirituality, and generational continuity through the visual arts. 

For art management, it accepts, preserves, and displays creative works and objects that represent a wide range of Jewish themes and observances. This committee also implements renovation, cleaning, framing, and inventory of art works.

Cemetery

​Our Cemetery, Adath Chesed Shel Emes Cemetery, and Board serve the congregation by

• providing places of burial as well as burial services, both at need and pre-need
• providing maintenance and upkeep of the property
• organizing communal services for Memorial Day and a Kever Avot service at the High Holidays
• planning for the Cemetery’s development and beautification
• establishing Rules and Regulations to ensure that property will remain a dignified place for future generations

Contact Jonathan Shaver at 952.956.4216 or by email at shaverjms@gmail.com

Development and Fundraising

The Development and Fundraising Committee oversees and coordinates all fundraising efforts within the synagogue. The dollars raised help ensure that our educational programming is affordable and that the many needs of our congregants are met.

Contact Craig Spencer, Vice President of Fundraising and Development, or Andrea Blumberg, Director of Congregational Giving at andreab@adath.net or 952.545.2424.

Finance

The Finance Committee helps ensure our congregation’s financial well-being. Our committee is committed to operating in a fiscally responsible manner, where congregational needs are balanced against available resources.

Throughout the year, monthly financial statements and updated annual forecasts are issued to staff, the Finance Committee, and members of the Board of Trustees. The information provided is accurate, consistent, and reliable, and is used to assess the financial performance
of the various programs and the congregation as a whole.

The committee meets in the early months of our fiscal year, before the budgeting process begins, in order to understand the various programs supported by our budget and how they connect to our synagogue community. In early spring, staff prepares budgets for the next fiscal year, and the Finance Committee begins the hard work of collaborating with lay leaders and staff of the various departments to reconcile the proposed budgets to available funds.

Holy Rollers (Torah Scrolls)

Torah Scroll Repair: Volunteers help maintain and repair Adath Jeshurun’s Torah scrolls. This group was trained by a sofer to do cleaning and repairs, such as sewing seams—as shown in the video below—and they have helped repair Torah Scrolls for other institutions as well. Contact office@adath.net or 952.545.2424 if you would like to volunteer. 

Host visiting groups

Church and community groups frequently visit the synagogue to learn about Judaism and Jewish life, and sometimes to experience a Shabbat service.

Knowledgeable volunteers greet visitors, provide an orientation, act as hosts during the service, and answer questions afterward.

MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

Marketing & Communications supports and promotes communication vehicles designed to engage congregants and the greater community. The committee strives to create materials that are effective and measurable.

Committee members, including two staff representatives, have experience in photography, usability, marketing, social media, videography, journalism, design, graphics and system development. We welcome the input of other talented individuals.

marketing & communications

property & Catering

The Property and Catering Committee assesses and manages the changing needs and costs of our building and property, both interior and exterior.

In addition, the committee ensures that Adath excels in event planning and food preparation to best meet the needs of the congregation. 

Visit our Catering page. 

Help a Fellow
Congregant

18-24 Outreach

If you know kids who live away from home, treat them to holiday packages for Rosh Hashanah, Hanukkah, and Purim.

Cost: Minimal
Benefits: Priceless
All three packages are just $36.
Each package comes with holiday-themed items like apples and honey, Hanukkah gelt, or hamentashen, plus a note from our Rabbis. It’s a fun way to help kids stay connected to Adath.
 
Enroll online HERE by Friday, August 24 to ensure delivery of the first holiday package.
 
Questions?
Amy Ansel - anselamy@gmail.com
Jodi Kuretsky - jokur23@gmail.com

Chevra kavod hamet
(Adath bereavement society)

The Chevra honors the deceased by providing a traditional Jewish funeral with a plain wood casket for any Adath member upon request. Families consistently praise the all-volunteer Chevra for providing meaningful, loving care, along with attention to practical needs at a time when it is needed most. Chevra funerals are simple, dignified, and provided at a modest cost.

LEARN MORE

minyan makers

Every day members of our community observe yahrzeits, both morning and evening. Some days we do not have enough people to make minyan, and thus mourners can’t say Kaddish for a loved one.

Morning minyan help is especially needed during the summer. Please come: Mondays-Thursdays 7:20 AM; Sundays 9:30 AM. Evening minyan is at 5:45 PM Sunday-Thursday. 

You can help! Our Rabbis and lay leadership believe strongly that having ten people to make a minyan, both morning and evening is very important for our community. As a Minyan Maker volunteer, you pick a day of the month (e.g. first Friday morning of the month or the last Tuesday evening of the month, etc) and agrees to invite 2-3 friends to join you for your time slot. You are in charge of that same day and time every month. If you can’t make it one month, be sure to  let us know.

Contact the office at 952.545.2424 to learn more!

rideshare

If you can provide a ride to or from Adath services or synagogue events, you can help other congregants stay connected to our Adath community.

To volunteer, contact the Yad Sima Tova Hotline at 952.215.3937

yad sima tova
(Caring community)

Yad Sima Tova, Adath’s Outreach Caring Community, takes a collaborative approach to meet the health and healing needs of our community. As life spans increase, our congregants’ needs will become greater. This committee is making long-range plans and developing programs that will make a difference and reaching out to Adath members and their families who need help, support and encouragement.

LEARN MORE

Help Repair
​Our World

hesed: social action

Help rebuild community and repair the world.

Adath Jeshurun’s social justice committee coordinates and provides opportunities for acts of justice and loving kindness within the synagogue and the greater community. Hesed focuses on hunger relief, affordable housing and anti-poverty for children and families in need.  

Advocate. Apply Jewish values to issues such as Affordable Housing and Fair Lending Practices.

Volunteer. Join with friends and other congregants to help meet immediate needs.

Donate. Contribute to specific projects or Hesed sponsored programs.

​Visit our Hesed page or email Hesed@adath.net to get involved!  

inclusion

The mission of the Committee for the Inclusion of People with Special Needs is to open the doors of Adath to all and facilitate accommodations that enable participation in all aspects of synagogue life.

LEARN MORE

israel & masorti

The Israel & Masorti Committee oversee Israel education and programming. This past year the committee worked to get out the vote for the World Zionist Congress elections supporting the Mercaz party.

Adath continues its relationship with Rabbi Yonatan Sadoff’s congregation, Magen Avraham in Omer. Our congregants and the Israel Committee generously supported Magen Avraham’s capital campaign to build an additional bomb shelter. In October 2014, members from both congregations visited Poland together.

​Find upcoming events and study guides HERE

keruv (welcoming)

The Keruv Committee focuses on maintaining a congregational culture which “draws in” and “brings close” members of our community.

Originally created to consider issues of gays and lesbians within Adath, Keruv’s ongoing work—through regular meetings—includes studying related issues in order to be more inclusive of those who may feel “marginalized or without a voice” within our synagogue family. 

mazon (hunger advocacy)

MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. Adath congregants were instrumental in a successful two-year legislative advocacy effort to provide $3.5 million in funding for free school meals for 61,500 low-income students. Prior to this initiative, some school districts had a policy of throwing away children’s food when a lunch account balance was empty or low, leaving children hungry and stigmatized. Mazon’s work ended this practice and also boosted access to fresh food for Minnesota SNAP (food stamp) recipients.

Mazon Advocacy efforts also concentrated on making it easier for high-need schools to serve free meals to all students by eliminating the need for paper applications, reducing administrative costs and boosting the number of meals served daily.

Antiracism committee

We're committed to creating cultural change around racism. Visit our webpage

Build Community

adath young families

Adath Young Families is a young adult outreach group bringing parents together for social and Jewish activities, as well as creating bonds for families with children birth to bar/bat mitzvah. We will provide fun family-oriented programming and also provide programming just for parents only, so the adults can enjoy the company of other parents without the pressures of childcare and supervision.

Our Mission is to connect young families together and provide young parents with fun and engaging social and meaningful Jewish programming and activities.

Join the Facebook group

choirs

​The Adath Choir explores the many facets of Jewish choral music and participates in some Friday night services and programs throughout the year. Under the direction of Hazzan Joanna Dulkin the choir provides us with unforgettable and inspiring music on the High Holy Days.

LEARN MORE

havurah (social) groups

Join an Adath Havurah!

A havurah is a small group that gets together for fun, socializing, learning or social justice projects.

What kind of havurah would you like to be a part of? Let us match you with a group of other Adath congregants that share your common interests. 

Do you enjoy socializing? Eating? Studying? Special Interests? Inter-generational activities? Kid-friendly activities? Something else? Let us know.. 

Fill out a short questionnaire HERE

special interest havurah for active military member families

Adath is creating a havurah for our families that have a loved one who is active in the military.

If you'd like to learn more, contact Mark Greenstein at 763.557.6963 (Home) or
612.619.1329 (Cell).

makom (Young Adults)

Makom, the Hebrew word for space, reanimates ancient Jewish wisdom for today. Makom is a project of Adath Jeshurun Congregation. We are everybody friendly.

LEARN MORE

Study Groups

Etzion senior study group

Led by Jim Sherman

Third Monday of the month • 1:30-3 pm in the Adult Lounge

The Etzion Study Group is presently discussing Judaism's Ten Best Ideas: A Brief Guide for Seekers by Rabbi Arthur Green. Join the conversation and enjoy the sociability too!

Contact Jim Sherman at rebyakov@msn.com

downtown study group

Led by Rabbi Harold Kravitz

Meets approximately every other Tuesday • 12 pm 

Come join this spirited lunch-hour study group. We will continue our discussion on the new topic of Jewish Identity as it relates to our times. Contact Miriam Segall at msegall@mac.hush.com.

tuesday torah

Led by Rabbi Harold Kravitz, Rabbi Aaron Weininger, Hazzan Joanna Dulkin, Jim Sherman and guest teachers

Tuesdays • 12-1 pm

Join us every Tuesday for study related to the weekly parsha (Torah portion). Conversation is always stimulating. All are welcome!
Contact Anna Simon at annas@adath.net

Weekly Talmud Study

Led by Don Masler

Wednesday mornings after minyan in the Library

Begin or continue learning Talmud via English translation.

​Contact Don at dm4444@msn.com.

Education Committees

adult learning

Adath Jeshurun prides itself on providing innovative, quality educational programming to engage our congregants in lifelong Jewish learning.

From infancy to adulthood there is a rich array of learning opportunities, including  preschool programming, b’nai mitzvah training, Shabbat teaching opportunities for teens and adults, youth programs, college outreach, and adult learning.

The Jewish Life and Learning Cabinet was formed to coordinate efforts and foster collaboration to leverage success across all educational departments, and with our education partners, Talmud Torah and the Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School.

Help us plan invigorating educational and social forums. Our events motivate and enable learners to build community, expand participants' religious consciousness, deepen their knowledge and strengthen their commitment, skills, and Jewish observance. 

K-Grade 4

This Committee oversees all programming for children up to fourth grade, including:

• HaLev programming
• Gan Shelanu Preschool serving children from infancy to pre-K. Often the Gan provides children with their first taste of Jewish education.
• Camp Mishpacha summer camp for 2 to 5-year-olds

Grade 5-12

The Secondary Education Committee oversees the congregation’s programming for children from 5th to 12th grade. This includes SMP Central (Shabbat Morning Program), Adath USY (United Synagogue Youth) for teens from 9th to 12th grade, Kadima for 7th and 8th graders, and for 5th and 6th graders through Maccabees. Also, Confirmation and—in general—creating ways to keep our youth active and engaged in synagogue life.

Youth Commission—As the young people of Adath embark on their unique Jewish journeys, it is the role of the Youth Department, which is overseen by the Youth Commission, to provide our teens and tweens with substantive Jewish experiences to help guide their way.

Scholarship committee

Adath Jeshurun provides scholarships to young congregants for Jewish camps and programs in Israel. Scholarships reward past service and encourage future service to the congregation. Financial aid is also provided to ensure that every young person is able to participate regardless of his/her financial situation. Scholarships are funded by contributions to the L’Chaim Campaign and to the Adath Jeshurun Foundation.