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.
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.
An Act of God
Saturday, May 3 – Sunday, May 18
Six Points Theater, 1978 Ford Parkway, St. Paul
In this hip and irreverent parody, God has come to Six Points Theater to deliver a new Ten Commandments in order to clarify what the Almighty wants from humanity. With the help of two wingmen, along with questions and comments from the audience, we explore popular culture and current news. Not mincing words, God engages us to reflect on the world today. And God does this all with a sense of humor! Starring Sally Wingert as God.
Call 651-647-4315 or visit Six Points Theater for more information and to purchase tickets.
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.
Note: May 12 deadline!
Hadassah Minneapolis St. Paul Great Mahj Get-Together and Fundraiser
Sunday, May 18, 12:45-3:30 p.m
Bet Shalom Congregation, 13613 Orchard Road, Minnetonka
$36 (includes one ticket for door prize)
Click here to register, RSVP deadline is May 12 – preregistration is required.
The Hadassah Minneapolis St. Paul Great Mahj Get-Together is not a tournament but rather a no-stress round-robin Mah Jongg fundraiser to support Hadassah’s life-saving medical treatment and research in Israel. Each game will have a set time, and then attendees will go to a different table, thus mixing around and getting to know others. The games will use the 2025 Mah Jongg card.
The event fee is $36, which includes one ticket for door prizes. Additional tickets will be available online and at the event – 1 for $5 or 3 for $10; you do not need to be present to win. We are grateful to Continental Diamond for their donation of a $250 gift certificate for our grand prize. The RSVP deadline is May 12 – preregistration is required.
If you have any questions, please contact hadassahminneapolisstpaul@gmail.com or 952-905-6891.
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.