On Sunday, May 7, author Caren Stelson will talk about her book “Stars of the Night: The Courageous Children of the Czech Kindertransport,” which tells the story of the 669 Jewish children rescued by Nicholas Winton in 1938-39 during the Holocaust, in the voices of the children. 

The program will run from 10 a.m.-noon at the Talmud Torah of St. Paul, 768 Hamline Ave. South in St. Paul. A social time will follow. 

Stelson will share how she learned of this story, the research involved, what her book can teach us and how to prepare for our own moments of compassionate action. The author will be joined by violinist Judith Eisner, who will perform as part of the presentation. 

Stelson is an awarding-winning Minneapolis author of children’s and young-adult books. Her book “Sachiko: A Nagasaki Bomb Survivor’s Story” was long-listed for a National Book Award.

Eisner is a professional violinist, composer of Klezmer music, teacher at the MacPhail Center for Music, leader of Eisner’s Klezmorim and an avid student of Yiddish language and culture. 

After the presentation, Stelson will sign and sell “Stars of the Night” for the list price of $20. The book is recommended for children in third grade and older, as well as adults. Cash or checks (payable to Save the Children) will be accepted. All proceeds will be donated to Save the Children — Ukraine. 

Donations for Save the Children will be accepted as well, but are not required.

The Sunday adult programs are free and open to the public and meet concurrently with the Jewish Cultural Sunday School. Attendees can choose to wear a mask and are expected to be up to date on vaccinations or have a same-day negative COVID test. Those who cannot attend in person may join over Zoom. Please register in advance here. 

Or Emet is a secular congregation celebrating and honoring Jewish culture, history and values from a humanistic, inclusive perspective. 

For information about Or Emet’s Jewish Cultural Sunday School, contact JCSS director Molly Phipps at school-1@oremet.org. For information about Or Emet, email info@oremet.org or visit oremet.org.

On Saturday, April 8, from 4-7 p.m., Or Emet, the Minnesota Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, will host a Passover Seder at the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, 900 Mount Curve Ave., Minneapolis. Or Emet members and visitors are welcome to attend.

Or Emet’s Seder celebrates Passover with a Humanistic Jewish service led by rabbinic candidate and ritual leader Eva Cohen. The service emphasizes themes of human freedom and dignity, the capacity to change our destiny and the power of hope. Students from Or Emet’s Jewish Cultural Sunday School will add special contributions to the program.

The Seder will be a mostly masked event to protect the most vulnerable in our community. During the Seder service, attendees will only unmask to eat the ritual foods. The meal portion of the event, at the end of the Seder, will be unmasked. The event will be in a hybrid format and will have a Zoom option. Please register for the Zoom option here.

The dinner will be a Mediterranean-style, catered meal from Ansari’s, with chicken kabobs, rice, falafel, Greek salad, vegetarian stir-fry and hummus. The meal will include vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options.

For those who plan to attend the service portion of the Seder only, there is no charge. For the catered meal, the cost is:

• Adults (age 14 and over): $15 for adult members; $25 for non-members.
• Kids (age 0-13): $5 for members; $10 for non-members.

To register, please complete this form, which will link to online payment options. Cash or check will be accepted at the door and a laptop will be available for those who wish to pay with credit. Please register by Friday, March 31. We look forward to celebrating Passover with you!

Or Emet is a secular congregation celebrating and honoring Jewish culture, history and values from a humanistic, inclusive perspective. For more information, email info@oremet.org or visit oremet.org.

On Sunday, April 2, Or Emet members Rich Sonenblum and Don Larsson will present a program on how the Mossad, the national intelligence agency of Israel, is depicted in popular culture, especially in fiction films and TV from the U.S., Europe and Israel. The program will run from 10 a.m.-noon at the Talmud Torah of St. Paul, 768 Hamline Ave. South in St. Paul. A social time will follow. 

Like other national intelligence agencies, Israel’s Mossad has had a controversial history that has been depicted in stories that concentrate on suspense and action as well as more complex or critical looks at how the agency’s missions have affected people’s lives, including those of Mossad agents themselves. The program will leave room for discussion and questions regarding the issues that these portrayals raise.

Sonenblum, an Or Emet member since 2004, has served on a number of different Or Emet committees. He formerly worked as a psychologist and IT project manager.

Larsson is a professor emeritus of English at Minnesota State University, Mankato, where he taught literature, film and humanities for 34 years. Since retiring, he returned to his love of acting and theater, appearing in several metro-area productions. He has also given other film-related presentations for Or Emet.

The Sunday adult programs are free and open to the public and meet concurrently with the Jewish Cultural Sunday School. All in-person attendees must wear a mask indoors and are expected to be up to date on vaccinations or have a same-day negative COVID test. Those who cannot attend in person may join over Zoom. Please register in advance here. 

Or Emet is a secular congregation celebrating and honoring Jewish culture, history and values from a humanistic, inclusive perspective. 

For information about Or Emet’s Jewish Cultural Sunday School, contact JCSS director Molly Phipps at school-1@oremet.org. For information about Or Emet, email info@oremet.org or visit oremet.org.

Do you identify with Jewish culture, history and heritage, but not in a religious way? You’re in good company! Over 70% of American Jews don’t believe in the God of the Bible. Humanistic Judaism offers a place for Jews and others who love celebrating the Jewish holidays, Jewish food and music, working for justice and equality, and preserving our rich history.

Join congregation Or Emet’s ritual leader Eva Cohen, a rabbinic student at the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism, and president Allan Malkis on Thursday, March 30, to learn more about this international movement. The event will be from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Minnesota Jewish Community Center – Capp Center, 1375 St. Paul Ave., St. Paul. Light refreshments will be provided. You can also register and attend via Zoom. 

Humanistic Judaism is a place for “wondering Jews” and others who identify with the culture and heritage of the Jewish people. Or Emet is the Minnesota affiliate of the Society for Humanistic Judaism.

For more information about Or Emet, email info@oremet.org or visit oremet.org.

On Friday, March 17, from 7:30-9 p.m., Or Emet will host a Humanistic Shabbat service followed by a presentation titled “Israel and Humanistic Judaism: At a Crossroad.” The events will take place at the Minnesota JCC Sabes Center Minneapolis, 4330 S. Cedar Lake Road, Minneapolis. A social time will follow the program.

The service will be led by Eva Cohen, Or Emet’s ritual leader and a Humanistic rabbi in training. Following the service, Or Emet members Dr. Barry Cohen and Molly Wilbur-Cohen will examine Israel’s laws, policies and practices curtailing the civil and human rights of both its Palestinian citizens and Palestinians living in occupied territories under military authority. The presentation will focus on the contradictions of these circumstances with the values of Humanistic Judaism. 

The speakers also will discuss why a two-state solution is no longer viable and what, from a Jewish Humanistic perspective, are alternative options for peace, justice and true democracy for all of Israel’s inhabitants.  

Dr. Barry Cohen is a retired sociologist. Over a 40-year career he worked in academia, government and nonprofit organizations as a teacher, planner, evaluator and researcher. He is a longtime member of Or Emet and a student of Jewish history, culture and the Yiddish language. 

Molly Wilbur-Cohen, a retired independent living skills specialist, is a member of the Women Against Military Madness board and Middle East committee. She is a professional musician and lifelong peace and social justice activist. A longtime member of Or Emet, Wilbur-Cohen serves on the congregation’s social action/social justice committee and Shabbat program committee.

Those who cannot attend the program in person may join over Zoom. Please register in advance here. In-person attendees must wear a mask indoors and are expected to be up to date on vaccinations or have a same-day negative COVID test.

Or Emet’s events and programs may change per CDC and state guidelines during the pandemic. All updates and changes will be posted in Or Emet’s  events calendar. 

Or Emet is a secular congregation celebrating and honoring Jewish culture, history and values from a humanistic, inclusive perspective. For more information, email info@oremet.org or visit oremet.org.