This Week at Mount Zion
April 12 / 30 Nisan
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Israel’s National Holy Days:
From Yom HaShoah to Yom HaAtzmaut
Jewish Space and Time in Israel 2021/5781
Mike Hollander – Back by Popular Demand!
Wednesday, April 14, 12:00 - 1:15 pm via Zoom
Join the Israel Movement for Reform and Progressive Judaism Together with ARZA, Arzenu and WUPJ, in Celebrating Israel's 73rd Independence Day on Thursday, April 15, 11 am / 3 of Iyar 5781
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Watch video from Dr. Alejandro Baer's talk during Shabbat Services this past Friday evening. Yom HaShoah in an Increasingly Hateful World: Can we compare today to Nazi Germany?
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This year we were able to connect to the stories and memories of the Holocaust for Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day). Shai Avny and Sue Summit each held a virtual Salon with our congregants and people from our Jewish community. Thank you to the JCRC and the Minneapolis and Saint Paul Jewish Federations for helping organize the Zikaron BaSalon events.
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Make Firm Our Steps Campaign Ends April 30, 2021 |
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Make Firm Our Steps, Mount Zion’s inaugural endowment campaign, will conclude at the end of the month. We continue to send these weekly reminders—just two more, thankfully—to remind everyone that you still have an opportunity to participate. Reminder: Each new pledge—made prior to April 30th and payable over five years—will be matched up to $50,000.
It is fair to say that even though the fundraising challenge was great—and obviously exacerbated by Covid-19—those of us who have been actively involved in the campaign since Board approval in February, 2019 have enjoyed working together. Here are three little known fun facts from the campaign.
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Where did the campaign’s name come from? Stuart and Jean King Appelbaum had agreed to draft the case statement, but the campaign needed a name. Right around this time (March, 2019) they attended a bat mitzvah service, and when they got to “The Miracles of Daily Life” prayer and read “Blessed is the Eternal our God, Who makes firm our steps,” they looked at each other and whispered, “That’s it. That’s the name.” Why? As the case statement puts it, “In saying the blessing, we acknowledge and give thanks for the myriad gifts bestowed upon us. . . This prayer awakens us to gratitude for the blessings in our lives”—which was exactly the point of the campaign.
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What was the campaign’s most dramatic moment? In March, 2020, we were ready to expand Make Firm Our Steps to the entire congregation. We had created and printed a separate case, written a special cover letter, prepared and stuffed several hundred envelopes, and were all set to send the big mailing. There was a slight delay in getting the mailing out, and during that time, Governor Walz declared the Minnesota state shut down. Had the mailing gone out and then the state shut down, there would have been confusion requiring extensive extra communication and planning. It was many months before we were able to relaunch campaign activities.
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What’s funny about the picture on the cover of the community case statement? If you look at the picture of the Nathan family and think about Mount Zion’s front steps, you’ll notice something missing. The handrail has been airbrushed out. We all thought the picture looked much better without it.
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Mazel tov to our members who will celebrate a milestone anniversary April: Martin & Gloria Livingston.
Community Life Passages
We extend condolences to Randy (Barb) Trefethren, on the death of his brother David Trefethren on April 4.
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Over 30 people attended our
MZ Hang out and Havdalah this past Saturday evening!
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Tonight!
Finding Your (Jewish) Roots
Featuring Cantor Rachel Stock Spilker
Hosted by MZ Jewish Genealogy Small Group
Open to all and aimed at those hoping to learn more about searching your own family tree!
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MZ Small Group Event:
Long Live Rock
April 22, 7 pm
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Women of Mount Zion Temple
Upcoming Events:
2021 WRJ Midwest Virtual Community Weekend
Fri April 16 - Sat April 17
A (virtual) Conversation with Barbara Weinstein of the RAC
April 22, 6:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Betty Crocker and Her Cookbook that Changed How America Cooks
April 25 at 7:00 pm
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Order a Mother's Day
Take Home Brunch!
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Nominating Committee Report
The Nominating Committee meets to develop a slate of Officers and new Board members. The By-laws of Mount Zion require that this list be provided to all members prior to the Annual Meeting. This year the Annual Meeting, open to all congregants, will be held on May 11.
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Rat Lines: How Hitler’s Henchmen Fled Justice and the FBI ‘No Safe Haven’ Program Today
Sunday, April 11, 1-3 pm Zoom webinar
Mount Zion is a co-sponsor.
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Reparations in St. Paul:
An Update and Our Role
A Discussion with Jane Prince, St. Paul City Council, 7th Ward and Trahern Crew, co-chair St. Paul Reparations Steering Committee
Food for Thought before Services,
Friday, April 23, 5-6 pm
Co-sponsored by NCJW and Mount Zion’s Tzedek Committee
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Beyond the Borders of the Ethiopian Conflict: India, China, Somalia, and Russia
April 29, 12 pm
Mount Zion is a co-sponsor of this event.
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The Goodman Lecture
Featuring Daniel Boyarin, PhD in conversation with local Rabbis Marcia Zimmerman and Adam Stock Spilker
April 29, 7 pm
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Monday Torah Study
All are welcome to join Torah Study every Monday at noon.
Zoom (Meeting ID: 604 616 628)
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Friday, April 16
6:00 pm Shabbat Service - Zoom
Zoom Meeting ID: 147 120 944
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Saturday, April 17
9:00 am Torah Study - Zoom
Zoom Meeting ID: 949 308 718
10:00 am Shabbat Service - Zoom
Zoom Meeting ID: 905 418 669
Tazria/Metzora – Lev. 13:40-14:32
Yom Ha’atzmaut
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The Reform Movement's Racial Justice Campaign
Wednesday, April 28, 7 pm
As we work to create a world in which all people experience wholeness, justice and compassion, the Reform Movement’s Racial Justice Campaign seeks to look within our movement to examine and address our own behaviors, practices and policies through the lens of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion and outwardly to pursue targeted, strategic advocacy to begin changing laws and policies that create a more just and equitable society for all. Join the Reform Movement to learn about the Racial Justice Campaign and how you and your community can get involved in the campaign.
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In the Community
- J Street’s 2021 National Virtual Conference April 18 & 19. This conference is a major, landmark gathering for pro-Israel, pro-peace Americans and the American Jewish community and pro-diplomacy progressives across the country. The entirely virtual format for 2021 will showcase more diverse and innovative programming than ever before. Participants will also receive access to pre - and post-conference training and community events as well. Learn more and register. Tickets start at just $50; use the code MountZionMN2021 for 20% off! Questions? Contact conference@jstreet.org.
- Bereavement: The Jewish Journey, a free workshop by Sholom Johnson Hospice, will be held on Wednesday, April 21, 7:00-8:30 pm. This 90-minute session is for anyone who has experienced the loss of a loved one. To register, contact Rhonda DeBough at rdebough@sholom.com. Details.
- The Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company is excited to let you know about a perfect way to spend meaningful fun while enjoying the warmer weather and impending state fair buzz. A Pickle is a new play, by Deborah Yarchun, based on true events, and follows Doris, who discovers her kosher pickles have been disqualified at the Minnesota State Fair for the second year in a row. She decides to find out why they’re not receiving their due ranking amongst pickles. This play will be outdoors, May 27 – June 13, at several sites. Tickets $35. To purchase tickets, learn more about the play and location, go to their website: https://mnjewishtheatre.org/apickle
- Jewish Family Service of St. Paul (JFS) continues the Community Support Program. The program offers three free 20-minute phone conversations with a JFS mental health professional. Contact Tara Burns at (763) 300-3146. There is no fee for this service; however, donations are appreciated.
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Mount Zion
1300 Summit Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55105
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