Minneapolis Jewish Life High Holy Day Issue by minneapolis jewish federation

Fall 2013 | STAV 5774

Minneapolis

Jewish Life Your Sweetest New Year Yet! Try Andrew Zimmernâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s family salmon recipe + local honeys + more!

A Jewish Renaissance in Minsk Local leaders kick off 2014 Community Campaign overseas The Revolution is Coming See page 14 for more Remembering a True Mensch What Would Stan Schweitzer Do?

Minneapolis Jewish Federation partner agencies & programs

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AMERICAN JEWISH JOINT DISTRIBUTION COMMITTEE AMOS & CELIA HEILICHER MINNEAPOLIS JEWISH DAY SCHOOL BAIS YAAKOV HIGH SCHOOL

HOME OF THE FROZEN CHOSEN

BET SHALOM CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOL B’NAI B’RITH YOUTH ORGANIZATION/NORTH STAR REGION CAMP SCHOLARSHIP FUND EDGE (ENRICHMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH FOR EDUCATORS) ETHIOPIAN NATIONAL PROJECT HILLEL: UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA IMMIGRANT AND REFUGEE SERVICES

Sweeten the High Holy Days

ISRAEL CENTER JEWISH AGENCY FOR ISRAEL JEWISH COMMUNITY RELATIONS COUNCIL OF MINNESOTA & THE DAKOTAS JEWISH FAMILY AND CHILDREN’S SERVICE OF MINNEAPOLIS JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF THE UPPER MIDWEST MINNEAPOLIS JEWISH COMMUNITY INCLUSION PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES NATIONAL AGENCIES (10) MINNEAPOLIS-ISRAEL PARTNERSHIPS (3) RIMON: THE MINNESOTA JEWISH ARTS COUNCIL

Happy Holidays from the Community Concierge

What’s Jewcy? Quick News Updates

What Would Stan Schweitzer Do?

Finding a Helping Hand

Jewish Values Inspire Philanthropy

GLOBAL CONNECTIONS

THE MASORTI MOVEMENT

NECHAMA:JEWISH RESPONSE TO DISASTER

Jewish Renaissance in Minsk

Creating a Jewish Renaissance in Minsk, Belarus

2014 Missions Calendar

FEATURES

SABES JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER SHA’ARIM SHIR TIKVAH CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOL SHOLOM

High Holy Days Guide: Sweeten the New Year

Introducing The 20|30 Project: Launching this Fall

TALMUD TORAH OF MINNEAPOLIS TEMPLE ISRAEL CONGREGATIONAL SCHOOL TORAH ACADEMY TWIN CITIES Jewish Community GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

WORLD UNION FOR PROGRESSIVE JUDAISM WORLD ORT

The Schweitzer Legacy Lives our Mission We build community, care for the welfare of Jews everywhere and maximize participation in Jewish life. Minneapolis Jewish Life is a publication of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation 13100 Wayzata Blvd., Suite 200 Minnetonka, MN 55305 Tel 952.593.2600 Fax 952.378.2876 www.jewishminneapolis.org Thank you to our Corporate Partners:

Calendar of Events

Photo Gallery

Editorial & Creative Team Chief Executive Officer Stephen R. Silberfarb Editor Lisa Pollack Furman Associate Editor Daci Platt Graphic Designer Veronica Gagnelius Questions/Comments: mplsjewishlife@mplsfed.org

The Revolution Is Coming

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Happy Holidays from the Community Concierge The mitzvah of hachnasat orchim (hospitality) is as old as the first Jew, Avraham Avinu. According to the Torah commentaries, he would sit at the doorway to his tent ready to welcome any passers-by with total physical comfort and radiant kindness. This New Year, you have the chance to follow in Avraham's footsteps; to fulfill the mitzvah of hospitality and help make Minneapolis the friendliest and most welcoming Jewish community in North America. And, you don't even have to quit your day job to make it happen.

KNOW SOMEONE New in town? Let the Concierge know so a member of our Concierge Corps can hand deliver a box of goodies from Jewish organizations around Minneapolis for an extra special first Shabbat!

The Minneapolis Jewish Federation is forming a Concierge Corps - a group of friendly, welcoming and proud-to-be-Jewish-in-Minneapolis volunteers. The Concierge Corps is for people of all ages, backgrounds, interests and affiliations. Members of the Corps will open their homes to newcomers or natives looking for somewhere to celebrate Shabbat and Jewish holidays. They will serve as the on-site Community Concierge at major events in the community, promoting upcoming opportunities, answering questions, meeting new people, and making new connections. They will deliver welcome boxes to people and families who are new to our community with all the essentials for putting together their first Shabbat in their new home. If this sounds like a good fit for you, we want to hear from you this New Year! Please give me a call at 952.417.2312, send me an email to ltaple@mplsfed. org or message me on Twitter @jewishmpls. I'd love to meet you for coffee and tell you more about how joining the Concierge Corps will be an extremely fun, rewarding and meaningful experience for you. And, if it turns out that the Corps isn't quite your cup of tea {or coffee}, I'd be happy to connect you to another volunteer opportunity in the community that is your perfect match! Working together, we can make this a vibrant, supportive and inclusive Jewish community. On behalf of your family at the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, I wish you a happy, healthy and meaningful Jewish New Year! May you be inscribed in the Book of Life for a good year. Warmly, Laura Taple, Community Concierge

Where can I find a listing of mohels?

Where can I volunteer with my family in the Jewish community?

What events are happening for Jewish young adults this fall?

We can answer these questions and so many more! Anything at all you want to know about our Jewish community, our concierge is more than happy to answer. Just send an email to concierge@mplsfed.org, or you can even ask us on twitter: @jewishmpls. jewishminneapolis.org

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What’s Jewcy? Quick News Updates A glimpse around the Minneapolis Jewish Federation and its local network

➜ THE ISRAEL CENTER OF THE MINNEAPOLIS JEWISH FEDERATION DISTRIBUTES $126,000 IN ISRAEL EXPERIENCE SCHOLARSHIPS This year, 81 teens and young adults are traveling to Israel for life-changing experiences thanks to scholarships offered through the Federation's Israel Center. These scholarships are making it possible for young people ages 16-30 to experience Israel on programs ranging from high school summer experiences and study abroads to post-high school study, volunteering and internships in a wide array of fields. These trips are vital to building lasting relationships with Israel and strengthening Jewish identity. "Thank you for the scholarship money which helped make my Israel program possible. I had a wonderful experience with great teachers and new lifelong friends," says Mia, a high school student. The following funds and scholarships are available through the Israel Center: the Louis Herman Israel Experience Fund, the Isadore & Molly Boroff Israel Scholarship, the Israel Center Scholarship Fund, and the Annette Paletz Memorial Scholarship for Alexander Muss High School in Israel. This year, $126,000 went to 81 students through these funds.

➜ A HOME FOR JEWISH ADULTS WITH DISABILITIES With the help of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, Jewish Housing and Programming (J-HAP) has acquired a site in Golden Valley to provide safe, service-enriched housing to Jewish adults with disabilities. J-HAP’s innovative housing development, slated to open in 2015, will offer independent yet supportive housing with seamless connections to the larger Jewish and secular communities. Cornerstone Creek

MINNEAPOLIS, MN | 05.15.2013 | 13-0015

Minneapolis Jewish Federation | Fall 2013

The Golden Valley site was secured with the assistance of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, which provided a $20,000 loan to J-HAP for initial escrow funds.

➜ SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE? You may have seen Alan Bersten on So You Think You Can Dance, and you may have realized that he’s from the Twin Cities. But did you know his family emigrated from the former Soviet Union (FSU) with help from our Jewish community? He is also the cousin of Federation’s in-house graphic designer, Veronica Gagnelius, whose journey from life in the FSU to Minneapolis is a must-read {jewishminneapolis.org/veronica.aspx}. Alan, 19, graduated from Hopkins High School and currently attends the University of Minnesota. A former teacher at the Sabes JCC, he and his wife run the Dance With Us America studio at Southdale Center in Edina. Alan made it into the top 12 dancers on the famed reality show before being eliminated, but says, “Being on the show was a life-changing experience. I loved every second of it and am so grateful that I got to share the experience with all of the world.”

➜ A NEW GENERATION OF ISRAEL ADVOCATES

DESIGN SUMMARY

The proposed living center will include a Spirituality & Wellness Center in addition to the 45 independent living units. Future residents will also have access to kosher dining, a library and media lab, and outdoor gardens and walking paths. 04

“J-HAP residents will have the freedom to make real choices for the first time in many of their lives… from where to work to how to spend their free time,” said Jennifer Lewin, J-HAP Executive Director. “This project will allow residents to participate in experiences, interactions and relationships that build a meaningful life—something we all deserve, regardless of our abilities.”

Last November, during the rocket attacks on Israel, the IDF told Federations across North America that the best thing to do in situations like that one was to speak out and stand up for Israel. This fall, the Twin Cities Jewish community is taking a step to help a new generation of young Jews do just that. The Israel Leadership Fellows Program will train teens in grades 10-12 to be “strong and capable advocates

home  for Israel” by providing them with a mentor from the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) Speakers Bureau. Students will participate in a series of classroom sessions and observe their mentors giving community presentations. At the end of the two-year program, outgoing participants will have the opportunity to present with their mentor at a community event. The program, a collaboration between Talmud Torah of Minneapolis, JCRC, the National Council of Jewish Women and the Minneapolis Jewish Federation’s Israel Center, begins September 11. Stay tuned for updates on our blog: www.jewishminneapolis.wordpress.com.

➜ A NEW PLAYGROUND FOR PRE-SCHOOLERS If you’ve been by the Sabes JCC lately, you have probably noticed a lot of diggers, dump trucks and construction workers. They aren’t just there to entertain the young children at the JCC’s Early Childhood Center, the heavy equipment is busy rebuilding what was a crumbling playground. The new playground, funded in part by a $200,000 grant from the Federation’s Building Repair and Replacement Fund, is scheduled to be completed by the end of the summer. Not only was the old playground facing safety hazards, but the underground drainage system was out of date, causing water in classrooms each time it rained. ECC students (who range in age from newborn-five) have had no shortage of fun during the construction; teachers report students are having a blast going on other outdoor adventures and, of course, watching the construction!

➜ HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR TO SHARE STORY Many Holocaust survivors, like Minnetonka resident Sam Rafowitz, use their experiences to impart wisdom on overcoming adversity and handling everyday challenges. Rafowitz’s documentary, Sam Rafowitz: Remaking a Life, does just that while depicting his survival of the Shoa and new life in America. On the evening of October 1, 2013 the young adults of our community are invited to watch Rafowitz’s story unfold on the big screen and ask him questions firsthand, a rare opportunity that is only becoming rarer as the number of Holocaust survivors quickly diminish. Join JFCS’ Next Gen group for this Personal/Professional Development event co-sponsored by the Federation’s 20|30 Project, Beth El Young Adults, Temple Israel Young Jews, Temple of Aaron TAXY, Adath Makom and Bet Shalom Congregation. (Location TBA)

➜ MUST-SEE SPEAKERS THIS FALL This fall, an incredible line-up of inspirational speakers will be visiting the Minneapolis Jewish community. Who: Dmitri Duo, musicians who tell their touching story of rescue from the former Soviet Union through music What: Lion of Judah Luncheon When: Tuesday, September 17 Where: Oak Ridge Country Club Contact: ahuck@mplsfed.org Who: Adam Heffez, foreign policy analyst and author of Words and Walls: Social Commentary through Graffiti in Israel and the West Bank What: Culture BLVD III When: Sunday, September 29 Where: Intermedia Arts Contact: eharel@mplsfed.org Who: Maziar Bahari, whose incredible story of courage in Iran is being made into a major motion picture directed by Jon Stewart What: Voices of Inspiration: A Benefit for Temple Israel When: Saturday, October 12 Where: Temple Israel Contact: benefit@templeisrael.com Who: Hillary Rodham Clinton, Former Secretary of State and Former U.S. Senator from New York What: An Evening with Hillary Rodham Clinton When: Sunday, October 27 Where: Beth El Synagogue Contact: 952-873-7300 Who: John Prendergast, human rights activist, best-selling author and co-founder of the Enough Project, an initiative to end genocide in Africa What: The Twin Cities Cardozo Society Fourteenth Annual Dinner When: Thursday, November 21 Where: Marriott City Center Contact: ahuck@mplsfed.org

Do you have a major community-wide event coming up?

Please submit it for consideration to mplsjewishlife@mplsfed.org by October 1, 2013!

See what else is happening this fall on page 18!

jewishminneapolis.org

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FEATURES

High Holy Days Guide 2013/5774 Fall is a busy time for the Jewish community. We dip apples in honey, repent, eat in a hut and carry heavy Torahs in a circle – all in the span of a few weeks! As is custom in our culture, we’re focusing on the food. This year, Rosh Hashana falls early in the apple harvest. According to Dr. Jim Luby, Professor in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Minnesota, their Zestar!TM apple should be coming in right around the New Year. Zestar!TM apples have a “moderately tart flavor,” says Dr. Luby. The hint of brown sugar flavor pairs well with honey. But which honey to dip it in? Take the time to really appreciate the complexity of flavors in our beloved holiday treat by inviting your nearest and dearest to an apple and honey tasting! The Twin Cities are “ripe” with options for homegrown apples and artisan honey, both available in an array of varieties. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, supply paper for guests to take notes on which flavors work best together.

FIVE LOCAL HONEYS TO TRY

Taste-tested by your friends at Federation

Bare Honey’s Lavender Blossom Honey: The floral notes of this variety brought out the flavor in our apples and prompted one tester to pronounce it the best honey she’d ever had! qqqqq

Bare Honey’s Buckwheat Honey: This honey had a distinct molasses aftertaste we described as “earthy.” It’s not your standard honey, and wasn’t the best pairing for apples – although it might be perfect in tea! qq

Bare Honey’s Raspberry Blossom Honey: We were fans of this sweet variety, and thought that with its subtle berry flavor, it paired best with a granny smith apple. qqqqq

Ames Farm Standard Honey: A classic (and delicious!) honey, Ames Farm Standard fought for sweetness with the apples. We think it’s the perfect honey for challah! qqqq

Homestead Sweet Raw Honey: This one wasn’t our favorite, but if you’re looking for a classic honey that’s straight from the hive, you won't have any complaints about this raw honey! qqq

Check online for information on where to purchase: Barehoney.com • amesfarm.com • homesteadhoneyfarm.com 06

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Andrew Zimmern's Herb Cured Salmon

Rosh Hashanah literally means "head of the year" in Hebrew. For this reason some communities eat the head of a fish during the holiday meal. If you’re not brave enough for a fish head, this cured fish recipe is a perfect substitute!

1 skin on salmon filet, @ 3 pounds (trimmed & pin bones removed) 1 cup minced fresh dill 1/2 cup minced fresh parsley 1/4 cup minced shallots 2T crushed coriander seeds 2T crushed juniper berries 1T lime zest 2 oz slivovitz or other kosher moonshine (Grandma used gin or aquavit if she didn’t have slivovitz) 3 oz brown sugar 1 oz white sugar 2 oz kosher salt 1) Combine all ingredients except the salmon. 2) Place salmon, skin down, in a non-reactive pan (that’s crucial). 3) Spread mixture over salmon. Do not use pressure, just lay it over top and cover all exposed areas of fish evenly. 4) Wrap pan carefully with plastic wrap. 5) Let sit for 48 hours in refrigerator. 6) Wipe away the cure gently with a moist towel, discard herb mix, and refrigerate, wrapped, for 8 hours. 7) Then slice as preferred. 8) Serve any way you would serve cured fish.

a new year's cocktail

This is the gravlax recipe that I have been making for about 20 years ever since a young cook who had worked in [New York chef] David Bouley's kitchen showed it to me. The prevalence of so many herbs and the fact that the fish isn't weighted down sparked my curiosity. This recipe was eerily similar to my Grandma's and after I merged the two styles I have been making it ever since. It's especially good around family holidays and goes beautifully with toasted bagels in the morning and equally well on a buffet with plenty of toast crisps and lemon wedges.

Need a place for the Holidays? From Reconstructionist to Modern Orthodox, there’s a service for everyone in Minneapolis – and many offer discounted or free tickets for newcomers. Our Community Concierge can help you find the service that’s right for you! Just contact concierge@mplsfed.org or 952-417-2312.

If you just can’t get enough of apples and honey, try this new twist on an old tradition! The kentucky shofar 2 oz Bourbon 1 dash of honey 1.5 oz fresh pressed apple juice 3 dashes of angostura bitters garnish with an apple slice serve on the rocks Recipe by Wesley Gagnelius, Federation volunteer and local mixologist. Get more recipes at his blog: westhebarchef.com

We’re looking for a few good Sukkahs! âThis is it, Minneapolis: our time to shine and show off our creativity! If you’re like us, you put your blood, sweat and tears into decorating your sukkah. Get it noticed this year with Federation’s Parade of Sukkahs! Once you’ve hung that final gourd, send us a photo and a description to mplsjewishlife@mplsfed.org and we’ll feature it on Facebook and our website. Speaking of beautiful sukkahs, check out the Federation's holiday creation! You're invited to an "Open Sukkah" September 23 • 4 to 6 pm Corner of 394 & Plymouth Rd jewishminneapolis.org

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GLOBAL

Living for Today, Building for Tomorrow Creating a Jewish Renaissance in Minsk, Belarus

Lori Fritz, Community Campaign Co-Chair and Rhonda Stein, Women’s Philanthropy Campaign Chair joined Jewish leaders from across the country on an unforgettable journey to Belarus and Israel to kick off the 2014 Community Campaign. Here, Lori Fritz shares her life-changing experience:

Walking into the pit, Lori had chills. “It was an indescribable feeling to be voluntarily stepping into this place where so many Jews were killed.” Lori was visiting Yama, a deep pit with an even deeper history. On March 2, 1942, Nazis marched a line of Jews into the pit and burned them. By the end of the day, 5,000 Jews in Minsk, Belarus had been murdered. It was the tragic beginning to a horiffic period for Jews in Belarus. Belarus had the great misfortune of being the first country to be invaded by Hitler and the last to be liberated. As a result, 90 percent of Belarusian Jews were killed. Those that survived were subjected to decades of government sanctioned anti-Semitism. Jewish children were raised without the traditions – and often even the knowledge – of their heritage. But gradually, with the help of the North American Jewish community, a Jewish renaissance began. Even in the late 1990s, when Lori last visited the former Soviet Union, Russians were struggling to grasp their identity. “The goal seemed to be to take care of elderly Jews until they died, and to teach young Jews about their heritage – then help them make aliyah to Israel as quickly as possible,” says Lori. The goal has since changed. “Today, it’s a completely different place, filled with life. Young Jews are proud to be Jewish and eager to stay in Belarus, and the elderly not only survive, many of them thrive, taking ad-

Minneapolis Jewish Federation | Fall 2013

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“We’re not just there to provide aid and comfort. We’re there to provide a Jewish renaissance.”

vantage of all the programming their revitalized community has to offer,” Lori says.

WITHOUT YOU, I WOULDN’T BE ALIVE Elderly women danced in polka dotted dresses and matching hats, smiling and clapping as Lori entered one of the community center’s activity rooms. She caught them in the middle of folk dancing, one of the activities offered through the elderly day care program. They laughed as their male dance partners swung them around the dance floor. In another room, a group of seniors intently painted ceramic chamsas. This community center, called a Hesed Center, is one of 175 centers for Jewish life across the former Soviet Union that provide an antidote to the mind-numbing loneliness many of these elderly Jews face. “It was a vibrant space with so much going on. It reminded me of our Jewish Community Center at home,” says Lori. Alongside the seniors, mothers and children worked together on art projects and young campers ran around laughing, spraying each other with water and enjoying the opportunity to just be kids. Federation’s global partners, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and the Jewish Agency for Israel have focused much attention on Minsk’s most vulnerable populations, particularly children and the elderly. While the Hesed Center that Lori visited provided aid to nearly 5,000 elderly Jews in Minsk last year, there are thousands of seniors, many of them Holocaust survivors, who are living in unimaginable conditions. “We met Tatiana in Minsk,” Lori says, “She was 86 years old, home bound and so frail.” Despite her physical limitations, however, Tatiana was lively and affectionate, and clearly thrilled to have visitors. “She was so excited to share her story with us, a story that tragically is shared by thousands of elderly Russians,” recalls Lori. It wasn’t an easy story to hear: Tatiana’s mother died when she was just a baby, and her father was killed during World War II. Her stepmother abandoned her, and she was sent to an orphanage where she lived until her brother rescued her. Together, they moved to the Ural region where they faced a life of poverty. Tatiana collected and sold metal coil just to earn money to buy food. Tatiana has little to her name today, but what she does have wouldn’t be possible without support from the Minneapolis Jewish community. Her monthly government pension of $254 does not cover the cost of food, medications and utilities. Through JDC programs, Tatiana receives medical support for her diabetes, heart condition and pancreatitis; home care services and a caregiver to do her grocery shopping using a stipend from the Jewish community. During the bitterly cold winter, Federation's partners also ensure Tatiana has heating fuel, blankets for her fold-out couch bed and warm sweaters.

These small yet crucial items mean the world to Tatiana, and help her remain positive in a world that continues to hand her hardships. “She has to share a bathroom and kitchen, that I could barely fit in, with a young couple,” Lori remembers. This couple has not been shy in their feelings toward Tatiana – they would like to see as little of her as possible. “They Visit jewishminneapolis.org/tatiana. don’t like her using the aspx to see a tour of Tatiana's bathroom,” says Lori. unthinkable living conditions. “They’re basically just waiting for her to die.” The couple has also been known to take Tatiana’s food. In an extra effort to take care of Tatiana, JDC provided her with a small refrigerator with a lock that she can keep in her room. “Without you,” Tatiana told Lori, “I wouldn’t be alive.” WE ARE THE WORLD After meeting Tatiana, the group visited a new generation of Belarusian Jews. The Jewish Agency’s summer camp programs in the former Soviet Union give 6,500 Jewish campers their first taste of local Jewish history, customs and practices, and Israel. Trained local counselors and Russian-speaking Israeli counselors light the fire of curiosity in young Russians and

we are Changing the world by Providing: • Home care, hunger relief, medical care, winter relief and home repairs for 4,800 impoverished elderly Jews • Food programs for 1,300 children whose families cannot afford basic food products • Critical assistance including medication and medical equipment, clothing, shoes, school supplies and beds for 4,100 children • Jewish identity-building camps across the former Soviet Union for 6,500 children, including more than 400 in Minsk • Educational programs, cultural events, youth clubs, outreach and leadership programs for more than 1,000 young Jews ages 9-25 See what’s happening on the ground in the former Soviet Union live in real-time at MapYourImpact.org. jewishminneapolis.org

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OVERSEAS

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When we drove up to camp, it felt like we were driving into Herzl,” recalls Rhonda Stein. “The kids greeted our buses clapping and singing. They told us how much they love camp and learning Jewish values and Hebrew. Their dream one day is to go to Israel. It made us feel so good to know we are helping them enjoy these wonderful things.”

encourage them to celebrate their Jewish heritage for the rest of their lives. “As soon as I walked in, two girls dressed in pink latched on to me,” remembers Lori. In their broken English, Nastia and Sasha told Lori the most important thing she needed to know about them: We’re best friends. “It seems to be true all over the world: we make our best friends at camp,” says Lori, smiling. She spent the warm day outside with Nastia and Sasha, dancing, talking, and sitting in the grass making art projects inspired by Jewish and Israeli themes. All day, Sasha sang lines from the song “We Are the World,” over and over again. At the end of the visit, Lori understood why. All of the children sang the song together in a performance. Eventually, Lori and her group joined in. “It was such a powerful moment, one where I felt proud to be part of a global Jewish community.” Through her journey, from the pit where so many Jews were murdered, to Tatiana’s uninhabitable one-room communal apartment to the magical summer camp that brought Nastia and Sasha together, one thing became very clear to Lori. “If it wasn’t for Federation, we wouldn’t even know these people exist,” she says. “We would never be able to help them.” This is why, each year, the Federation launches a new Community Campaign – a campaign for the Jewish people. “There are literally millions of people around the world – including right here in Minneapolis – like the people we met whose health, survival and future are dependent on us," says Lori. "And there is only one place where you can make a gift that touches all of them. The Federation.” The 2014 Community Campaign for the Jewish people has just kicked off under the leadership and inspiration of husband and wife chairs, Lori and Brad Fritz (see opposite page for details). Join them and more than 4,500 of your friends and neighbors this year to change lives and make the world a better place. Make your gift today at jewishminneapolis.org/donate.

TOGETHER WE DO EXTRAORDINARY THINGS… NOW, SEE THEM FOR YOURSELF! Sit with an Israeli child as her future brightens in a classroom your gift helped build. Hand deliver food to elderly Holocaust survivors in the former Soviet Union. See your generosity in action through one of these incredible missions:

UPCOMING MISSIONS: JWRP/AISH Minneapolis Jewish Federation Mission to Israel October 20-30, 2013 Chairs: Sue Chargo and Wendy Lovell-Smith Minneapolis Mission to Cuba April 24-28, 2014 Chairs: Kerry & Scott Bader and Lisa & Mark Ratner 10

National Flavors of Israel Mission April 28-May 6, 2014 Local Chairs: Lori & Brad Fritz L’Dor V’Dor Grandparents Mission to Israel June 8-15, 2014 Chair: Sharon Snyder

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON MISSIONS, PLEASE CONTACT ALYSSA HUCK AT 952.417.2323 • AHUCK@MPLSFED.ORG

Minneapolis Jewish Federation | Fall 2013

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Looking Ahead

I could be you. You could be me."

THE 2014 COMMUNITY CAMPAIGN STARTS RIGHT NOW We believe no child should go to bed hungry. That every senior has the right to live with dignity. And that all Jews should be able to live - anywhere in the world - without fear of persecution. We believe in the power of community â&#x20AC;&#x201C; that together we can make the world a better place. Do your part today. Visit jewishminneapolis.org/donate and make the only gift that can change the world. Together we do extraordinary things.

Lori & Brad Fritz Campaign Chairs jewishminneapolis.org

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HOME

“As a kid, when we went to services at Temple Israel, you could just tell Grandpa was a leader.” 12

Minneapolis Jewish Federation | Fall 2013

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What would Stan Schweitzer do? A Jewish legacy lives on to inspire a new generation Shortly after Stan Schweitzer’s death in March of 2013, his family, colleagues, and friends could be spotted wearing simple gray bracelets. “I always have mine on or in my purse,” says Jenna Pugh, Stan’s granddaughter. “It says WWSSD – What would Stan Schweitzer do?” The simple tribute speaks volumes about the kind of person Stan was, says Jenna: a thoughtful man who lived conservatively, worked hard so he could do good for others, and always weighed the pros and cons of every decision. “Throughout my life, so many people have told me how Grandpa was their mentor; their go-to when they needed advice. Whether he’s here presently or not, he will always remind us to stay grounded and think about our decisions.” Stan knew the importance and benefits of the Jewish community early on. He met his wife of 53 years, Lorraine, of blessed memory, playing cards at the Hillel House at the University of Minnesota. From that point forward he was an integral part of the Minneapolis Jewish community, later citing his commitment as one of his greatest achievements. According to Stan, it was Lorraine who deserved the credit for his involvement. Lorraine co-created Federation’s Lion of Judah Endowment program and was not only the love of Stan’s life, but his inspiration to live charitably. And live charitably he did, serving on the board of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation as well as the boards of Sholom, Mt. Sinai Hospital, and the Harry Kay Foundation. He was a former President of Temple Israel and Temple Men's Club President. Outside of the Jewish community, he served as Phillips Eye Institute Board President, as well as its Foundation Chairman. “As a kid, when we went to services at Temple Israel, you could just tell Grandpa was a leader,” says Jenna. “That was when I first knew he had an important role in the community. He never wanted to be recognized. “He just wanted to make others’ lives better and provide as much as he could for those in need.” Though Stan had a fulfilling career (he had been at work part of the day on a Saturday when he passed away at age 83) and numerous philanthropic commitments, family was still his number one priority. Whether she was being tossed across a pool as a child or talking to Grandpa on the phone about her job as an adult, Jenna can’t remember a time when he wasn’t a big part of her life. “We talked on the phone at least a couple times a week,” recalls Jenna, “and just before I started my new job he

called every day – if not more than once a day – asking how my job interviews were going.”

“He just wanted to make others’ lives better and provide as much as he could for those in need” Stan’s commitment and humility have shaped Jenna. “Thanks to Grandpa, I’m more in tune with what’s going on in the world and with the Jewish population, and the ways we can help,” says Jenna. “And I’ve been influenced by his quiet role. He was such a humble person, it only seems fitting that in the last year of his life he was publicly honored – twice. “ In the fall of 2012, Stan received the Federation’s Lifetime Achievement Award and was selected as the Phillips Eye Institute’s 2012 Honoree. “It was really eye opening to hear him speak about everything he and Grandma did throughout their lives. My husband Scott and I walked away from those events, looked at each other and just said, we need to do more. We need to strive to be like him,” remembers Jenna. In that same year, Stan walked Jenna down the aisle at her wedding – an experience that Jenna will cherish forever. “It means the world to me that he was able to walk me down the aisle, and that he became so close with Scott.” Like most people who knew Stan, Scott quickly came to respect and love him. “Actually,” Jenna says, “Scott hasn’t taken his WWSSD bracelet off the entire time he’s had it.” jewishminneapolis.org

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FEATURES

Introducing The 20|30 Project

Meet the 20|30 Project Chair: Sarah Gruesner Following a two-year term as Federation’s Young Leadership Campaign Chair, Sarah is excited to step into her new role! Get to know the woman behind The 20|30 Project: What’s your day job: Corporate Catering for Dining Delivered/Prime Catering – specializing in full service and drop off catering for meetings, trainings, conferences, and corporate events.

The way today’s young people connect to the world, and by definition, the Jewish world, is constantly changing. We are living in a high-tech and fastpaced society filled with endless and ever-changing choices, “membership discounts” and special offers. Conference room meetings are now virtual “hangout” sessions. A trip to the mall has become a click in the App Store. And the Jewish shtetl has been replaced by Facebook groups, Pinterest boards and hashtags. Enter: the 20|30 Project. Designed to help young people redefine, for themselves, what it means to be a young Jew in Minneapolis, the 20|30 Project offers opportunities to connect, lead and give -- meaning there’s a way for everyone to participate, contribute and benefit. The Revolution The Revolution is a two-year learn-andlead initiative kicking off this fall with a "Ted Talk" themed inaugural summit focused on how passion and innovation can change the world. Continued monthly sessions will bring the next generation into the conversation to share their ideas and perspectives about Jewish life and community. We plan to listen - a lot. We will also teach participants about the Jewish 14

Minneapolis Jewish Federation | Fall 2013

community we live in today, and help them develop the leadership skills necessary to design the programs and interfaces for the Jewish community of the future - a community that they can call their own. Happy Hours + Signature Events Sometimes, expressing our Judaism is just about being with other Jews - no explanation of “Shabbat” or “Chanukah” required. Our monthly happy hours, Purim party, and co-sponsored events with other young adult organizations in our community fill that need while keeping tikkun olam on the table. 20|30 J Pass + GIVING CIRCLE By pledging to donate $18 a month for 36 months to the Federation's Community Campaign, donors will change lives around the world and receive a series of benefits, discounts and exclusive offers from partner organizations such as the Sabes JCC, synagogues, and local businesses. All donors will have the opportunity to pool their resources, leverage their impact and change the world. â IT’S TIME TO OPT-IN! Do you or someone you know want to opt-in to the 20|30 Project? Contact Laura Taple at 952.417.2312, therevolution@mplsfed.org or facebook.com/groups/mplsfedYL

How did you get involved with Federation? A close friend asked me to join a committee and I continued to get involved from there. What’s your favorite thing about our Jewish community? I love that there is always something going on! A show at the JCC, happy hours sponsored by an array of Jewish organizations, a Shabbat dinner at the synagogue. There is something for anyone, all the time! What are you looking forward to as The 20|30 Project picks up steam? I'm excited to meet the new generation of young adults who want to make a difference in their own community and abroad. This program will offer opportunities to develop leadership skills, but anyone who wants to be involved can find something that's the right fit for them. And when you’re not shaping the community? I consider myself a local "falafel connoisseur.” I like to check out new places that boast to have the best in town. As of now, the reigning champ in my opinion is at Rye Deli in Uptown check it out! You won't regret it!

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Finding A Helping Hand… And a Friendly Face Federation enables the elderly to age with dignity and support

stelle is 87 and alone. Her daughters, the only family she has, live a thousand miles away.

"I have no family nearby, and all my lady friends died without my permission,” she reflects using her wry sense of humor. On top of her isolation, Estelle is homebound due to poor health. "I cannot go places anymore," she says. "I need someone to open the door for me. I sometimes can't move my right arm." She also relies on a walker and is no longer able to drive. Life became a lot easier, and a lot safer, when the Jewish community connected Estelle to Marni, a caregiver and companion. Marni began helping Estelle around the house, taking her to appointments, grocery shopping and more. "I'm here to help her, even if it's just opening the door with the key, or making sure that her walker makes it over the threshold," she explains. "I go shopping for her, or shopping with her, take her to medical appointments, or just sit and listen to her. I give her the option of freedom, getting the job done for her while she's still in control, which gives her that extra sense of security." Marni is more than Estelle's caregiver, she's her friend. "I call her my 'girlfriend' because I tell her stories, and she says 'Estelle, this is too much information! I don't need to know that!'" Estelle recounts, laughing. "If you're in the house alone, the walls don't laugh with you. They don't cry with you. So you need somebody to have a conversation with," says Marni. Geri, one of Estelle's daughters, visits often and has witnessed Marni's work firsthand. "This program has given me peace of mind. There is somebody here close by who sees her regularly. I can't tell you how priceless that is, to know that someone cares about my mother the way I care about her." With the Federation's help, Estelle has been able to continue to live the independent life she craves while enjoying the security of being cared for and a sense of companionship and the security of someone's care.

“I feel taken care of. I don't feel like I'm alone in the world. I'm very blessed having someone, and by someone I mean the Jewish Federation."

“One of the most remarkable things about the Minneapolis Jewish community is that we have programs and services to meet the needs of people of all ages, backgrounds and lifestyles,” explains Brad Fritz, 2014 Community Campaign Co-Chair. “The Federation’s Community Campaign is the only place where you can make a gift that supports senior care for people like Estelle while addressing short-term and longterm challenges and opportunities that are critical to the health and future of our community.” Estelle never thought that she would be in need of help. "But to have these services available to me in the Jewish community is very reassuring,” she says. “I feel taken care of. I don't feel like I'm alone in the world. I'm very blessed having someone, and by someone I mean the Jewish Federation."

The Minneapolis Jewish Federation partners with more than 40 service providers at home and abroad, creating a worldwide network to help meet the needs of Jewish people of all ages, backgrounds and lifestyles. Support our mission to change lives and make the world a better place: jewishminneapolis.org/donate. Names have been changed to maintain privacy.

We respect our elders… and take care of them. Together we provide: 200 Minneapolis seniors with a home where they can age with dignity and engage in Jewish life 2,600 frail, low-income Minneapolis seniors with support and programming to promote independence and quality of life 21,575 Kosher Meals on Wheels for isolated seniors 190,000 of the world’s most impoverished elderly Jews with food, medicine and companionship jewishminneapolis.org

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latest buzz about the #LIVEJEWISH The Minneapolis Jewish FederatioN

“Thank you so much for making my dream to go to Israel possible.” – S.P.

“Herzl is my favorite place in the world, and thanks to you I get to go.” – N.C.

“It's wonderful to have someone you feel comfortable with - and to know you will receive assistance when you need it most." – Anonymous

"We are so happy there is programming in our community that makes it easy for us to bring Jewish life into our home for our children.” – Mark R.

“I know that my gift to the Federation supports all the worthwhile causes in the Jewish community, and that is a great relief to me.” – Michael Epstein

"These resources - the camps, the schools, the youth groups - wouldn't exist without the Federation. The Federation helps us feel our Jewish identity." – Sasha & Dasha,Twin Sisters, Belarus

Minneapolis Jewish Federation | Fall 2013

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JEWISH VALUES INSPIRE PHILANTHROPY Each year, approximately 700 children and teenagers in crisis turn to Bridge for Youth for shelter and counseling. These children and teenagers suffer from abuse and neglect, and are often held back in life by negative stereotyping. But even under the staff’s best care, sometimes what these kids really need is the undivided attention of someone who has been in their shoes. Someone like Stella. Stella, an eight year old pit bull, visits the Bridge for Youth twice a week as part of a unique dog therapy program run by A Rotta Love, a Minneapolis based pit bull and Rottweiler rescue. The youths in crisis at Bridge for Youth relate to Stella’s history of neglect, and the therapy the dog and her trainer provide equips the kids with tools to build positive relationships and create better lives for themselves. Through unconditional compassion, Stella encourages participants to open up and process their struggles in a way that seemed impossible before she came into the picture. Stella’s sessions at the Bridge, part of a program called PRIORITY Paws, are made possible in part by the Mount Sinai Community Foundation (MSCF), a fund of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation’s Jewish Community Foundation. Through the Jewish Community Foundation, donors can fulfill their personal and communal philanthropic goals by establishing funds and administering grants with the support of trained professionals at the Federation. MSCF is one example of how donors are taking initiative to make a difference in our Jewish community and beyond. MSCF embodies the Jewish values of caring for the vulnerable by supporting initiatives that improve health, enhance well-being or otherwise advance medical care both inside and outside the Jewish community.

Recognizing the importance of teaching philanthropy to the next generation, they have opened up opportunities for Jewish teens to have a sneak peek at philanthropy through the Teen Corps Pilot Program. These students, who ranged from grades 7 to 12, donated $36 each and received a crash course in grant distributions by working together, with a facilitator, to determine where their gifts would go. “I understand more now what’s happening in the community,” said Ellie Goldfarb, 15, a student at Southwest High School and active participant in United Synagogue Youth (USY). Ellie was introduced to Teen Corps through her grandmother, MSCF member Audrey Goldfarb. “The whole process of giving is kind of empowering,” she explains. Join MSCF at their annual Giving Circle Kickoff The future of Genetic Testing: From the Supreme Court to Personalized Medicine Featuring: Jeffrey Kahn, Professor of Bioethics and Public Policy at Johns Hopkins University November 7, 2013 at 7:15 PM • Beth El Synagogue For tickets and more info on joining MSCF or the Teen Corps, contact Jenifer Robins at jeniferrobins@gmail.com or 952-212-6128

The whole process of giving is kind of empowering”- Ellie Goldfarb,Teen Corps Member

MSCF is impacting health and wellness inside and outside the Jewish community by funding these projects: ½ Corner House. MSCF funding will improve access to specialized medical exams for child victims of physical abuse and adolescent victims of sexual and physical abuse, allowing Corner House to serve populations that the agency has not historically been able to serve because of government funding restrictions. ½ National Alliance on Mental Illness Minnesota (NAMI). MSCF funding enables NAMI to kick-start Mental Health First Aid training for school professionals and others who work with children to ensure that they are able to recognize the signs of mental illness, connect children with appropriate care and safely de-escalate crisis situations.

½ Sabes JCC. MSCF funding is supporting a campus wide CPR/First Aid training initiative in which the JCC would become an accredited CPR and First Aid training center to ensure that all Barry Family Campus agencies are prepared to address medical emergencies and to further the JCC's vision to become a “critical source of community resilience for both the Jewish and broader local communities.” ½ Hold Your Horses. MSCF funding enables this unique therapy program to acquire, train and maintain a horse that will improve the lives of people with disabilities through occupational therapy, physical therapy and psychotherapy. jewishminneapolis.org

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SPOTLIGHT

Calendar of Events

SEPTEMBER

NOVEMBER

Mitzi Spiegel Lion of Judah Luncheon Tuesday, September 17, 12 pm Oak Ridge Country Club Featuring the Dmitri Duo, talented musicians whose poignant and touching story takes them from persecution in Moscow to a life of freedom in Israel. Contact Alyssa Huck at 952.417.2323 or ahuck@mplsfed.org.

A Lens on History: An Afternoon with Documentary Filmmaker Noemi Schory Sunday, November 3, 3 pm Sabes JCC Admission: $12, JCC members $10, students & seniors - $6 Israeli director and producer Noemi Schory has built a remarkable body of work centered on stories that have emerged from the time of the Holocaust. In lively discussion with independent filmmaker Emily Goldberg, Schory will reflect on documentary film’s fundamental questions. Part of Culture Blvd III and the Rimon Artist Salon Series. Contact Eilat Harel at 952.417.2321 or eharel@mplsfed.org jewishminneapolis.org/cultureblvd.aspx Call for Change Phone-a-thons Tuesday, October 22, 7-9 pm • Monday, October 28, 10 am-1 pm • Wednesday, November 6, 7-9 pm • Thursday, November 14, 1-4 pm Minneapolis Jewish Federation Office Join us to call for change! Contact Alyssa Huck at 952.417.2323 or ahuck@mplsfed.org

Culture BLVD III: Featuring Foreign Policy Analyst and Author Adam Heffez Sunday, September 29, 3 pm Intermedia Arts Admission: $12, JCC members $10, students & seniors - $6 A journey through Israel and the West Bank narrated in graffiti – the most uncensored expression of how people in this wartrodden region interact with their reality. Featuring Adam Heffez, author of Words and Walls: Social Commentary through Graffiti in Israel and the West Bank. Contact Eilat Harel at 952.417.2321 or eharel@mplsfed.org | www.jewishminneapolis.org/cultureblvd.aspxspx

OCTOBER Maimonides Society Fall Event Tuesday, October 1, 6 pm | Temple of Aaron A conversation with Eric W. Kale, President of the University of Minnesota, about the future impact of the University on healthcare in Minnesota. Contact Alyssa Huck at 952.417.2323 or ahuck@ mplsfed.org. THE REVOLUTION "TED TALK" INAUGuRAL SUMMIT Thursday, October 3 | Location TBA Save the date for The Revolution's kick-off event focused on how passion and innovation can change the world. Contact Laura Taple at 952.417.2312 or ltaple@mplsfed.org. King David Society & PaceSetter Dinner Monday, October 21, 6:15 pm Oak Ridge Country Club Celebrating donors who give $10,000 and above to support the Federation mission. Guest speaker Gordon B. Zacks, executive business leader and pillar of the global Jewish community. Contact Alyssa Huck at 952.417.2323 or ahuck@mplsfed.org.

Minneapolis Jewish Federation | Fall 2013

Culture BLVD III: FEaturing Oscar Nominated Director Dror Moreh Wednesday, November 20, 7 pm | Sabes JCC Admission: $12, JCC members - $10, students & seniors - $6 Israeli Film Director Dror Moreh shares behind the scenes stories of the makings of his Oscar-nominated movie The Gatekeeper. Contact Eilat Harel at 952.417.2321 or eharel@mplsfed.org www.jewishminneapolis.org/cultureblvd.aspx Twin Cities Cardozo Society Fourteenth Annual Dinner Thursday, November 21, 6 pm Marriott City Center, Minneapolis Honoring Clifford Greene and Ellen Sampson with the Sidney Barrows Lifetime Commitment Award, and Leora Itman with the Arthur T. Pfefer Memorial Award. Keynote speech by human rights activist John Prendergast. Contact Alyssa Huck at 952.417.2323 or ahuck@mplsfed.org

december Rimon Artist Salon Series Sunday, December 8, 2 pm | Cowles Center for Dance Rimon returns to the JSB Tek Box at the Cowles Center for Dance. Actor Susan Stein will present excerpts from her one-woman play based on the letters and diaries of Etty Hillesum, a young Dutch Jewish student in the early 1940s, whose intensely searching words reach out from their historical moment into ours. Theater director Carolyn Levy will join Stein on stage for a dialogue. Contact David Harris at 952.381.3449 or dharris@sabesjcc.org.

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Minneapolis jewish federation

SPOTLIGHT

1. Bob Ansel, David Goldstein, Linda Ketover, Lori Fritz, Renee Soskin, Rabbi Olitzky, Eddie Sherman, and Susie Diamond celebrated our community volunteers at the Pillars of Our Community Brunch 2. Young adults Matt Walzer, David Jurisz, Sarah Gruesner and Brad Hanly called for change at our May phone-a-thon 3. Brad Fritz greets Ida Greenfield, a past Stephen K. & Carolyn Lieberman Campaigner of the Year, at Pillars of our Community 4. Stuart Chazin, Darren Lederfine and Matt Heilicher catch up at the National Young Leadership Cabinet Reunion 5. Dan Kleinman, Amanda Farley, Erin Striker, Jenna Nash, Jaclyn Grossfield & Ashi Gavzy at Young Leadership's Casino Royale 6. Gary Kohler, Steve Kalin, Lisa Doty and Harold Goldfine learn about endowing their gift at a legacy event 7. Perci Chester, Ann Ginsburgh Hofkin & David Harris enjoy P'tchotchka, Rimon: The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council’s annual benefit 8. Youtube sensation The Maccabeats perform for a sold out crowd of young families at Adath Jeshurun 9. Giti and Rabbi David Fredman of Aish joined nearly 60 local organizations at the State Fairgrounds to celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut 10. Dr. Benjamin Gampel teaches the lessons of Maimonides to local rabbis, learners and leaders during Jewish University for a Day

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1000s of lives to change. The challenge is on. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re looking for 1,000 people to give a gift of $1,000 or increase their gift by $1,000. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the 1000 @ $1000 Challenge. Are you in?

Coming 2013/2014