On Sunday, Nov. 9, Or Emet will host a program titled “Thanksgiving: From Thankfulness to Taking Action” from 10 a.m.-noon at Twin Cities German Immersion School, 1031 Como Ave. in St. Paul. A social time will follow.

Led by Or Emet members Arty Dorman and Michal Moskow, the program will cover the following topics: 1) The Kristallnacht anniversary: Is thankfulness possible, especially for survivors, after events such as Kristallnacht and, in our day, the war in Gaza and other wars? and 2) How can thankfulness move us to take action on behalf of those, in general, who are less fortunate than we?

Those who cannot attend in person may join via Zoom. Please register in advance for the Zoom option.

The Sunday adult programs are free and open to the public and meet concurrently with the Jewish Cultural Sunday School.

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

On Friday, Oct. 24, from 7:30-9 p.m., Or Emet will host a Shabbat service led by Rabbi Eva Cohen, followed by a program and social time. The evening’s events will take place at the Minnesota JCC Sabes Center Minneapolis, 4330 S. Cedar Lake Road, Minneapolis. 

Matt Lewellyn-Otten

Following the service, Matt Lewellyn-Otten (they/he), director of religious and community organizing for OutFront Minnesota, will present “The State of the State: 2SLGBTQIA+ Rights in Minnesota Today.” (2SLGBTQIA+ stands for Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual+.)

Lewellyn-Otten will discuss their work with OutFront Minnesota, as well as the ways in which white Christian nationalism deeply affects 2SLGBTQIA+ rights in Minnesota. 

Lewellyn-Otten joined the OutFront Minnesota team in 2021. They work with faith communities and other communities across the state to build the power of the LGBTQIA+ community, listen to the needs of queer people and their allies, educate the public on issues affecting the queer community and mobilize communities to create systemic change.

Lewellyn-Otten holds a Master of Public Administration degree from the College of Charleston and a Master of Divinity degree from the Boston University School of Theology. In their studies and career, they have sought ways to build better understanding across communities and create spaces of connection and growth. 

Those who cannot attend the program in person may join over Zoom. Please register in advance for the Zoom option.

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

On Sunday, Oct. 12, Or Emet will host a program titled “The Secret Lives of Or Emeters” that will give members the opportunity to get to know one another.    

The program will run from 10 a.m.-noon at Twin Cities German Immersion School, 1031 Como Ave. in St. Paul. A social time will follow.

Co-facilitated by Or Emet members, this participatory program will be a chance for those in attendance to have fun while learning about one another’s unique qualities and experiences — all in a safe and supportive environment.    

Newcomers to Or Emet as well as longtime members are bound to be fascinated, enjoy good-natured laughs and leave with an even more positive feeling about the Or Emet community.

Those who cannot attend in person may join via Zoom. Please register in advance for the Zoom option.

The Sunday adult programs are free and open to the public and meet concurrently with the Jewish Cultural Sunday School.

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

Or Emet, the Minnesota Congregation for Humanistic Judaism, is celebrating this year’s High Holidays with services at the First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, 900 Mount Curve Ave., along with the option to participate over Zoom. 

Or Emet invites everyone to share in our High Holiday services. We are a secular congregation celebrating and honoring Jewish culture, history and values from a humanistic, inclusive perspective. You can join us for Rosh Hashanah, Tashlich, Kol Nidre and/or Yom Kippur services, emphasizing the history and culture of the Jewish people and the values of each celebration.

The following programs will be led by Or Emet’s Rabbi Eva Cohen:

• Erev Rosh Hashanah: 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22. (Register for Zoom.)
• Tashlich: 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23, location to be announced. (No Zoom option. Email highholidays@oremet.org for details.)
• Kol Nidre: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1. (Register for Zoom.)
• Yom Kippur: 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, (Register for Zoom.)
• Following the Yom Kippur service, a break-fast meal will be served. Email highholidays@oremet.org for details. 

In keeping with High Holiday tradition, Or Emet welcomes donations of nonperishable food and personal hygiene items to be shared with a local community center.

For more information about Or Emet’s High Holiday services, email highholidays@oremet.org. For general information about Or Emet, email  info@oremet.org or visit oremet.org.

On Sunday, Sept. 14, Or Emet will welcome Minneapolis actor-singer Ryan London Levin, who will talk about his transition from actor to playwright.

The program will run from 10 a.m.-noon at Twin Cities German Immersion School, 1031 Como Ave. in St. Paul. A social time will follow.

Ryan London Levin

Levin, who grew up in a Jewish household in South Minneapolis and performed for years with local theater companies, is thrilled to be making his playwright debut with the production of “American Golem: The Kid Cann Story.” 

The play tells the true story of a Romanian Jewish immigrant who landed in 1920s Minneapolis and found success in the underworld. It will be performed at History Theatre’s Raw Stages New Works Festival in October. Levin will discuss why Kid Cann inspired him to start writing and why we will be interested in his story.  

Levin currently is performing in “Treasure Island” with Children’s Theatre Co. in Minneapolis. He  recently was seen in “Violet” at Ten Thousand Things Theater and “Just for Us” at Six Points Theater. 

Those who cannot attend in person may join via Zoom. Please register in advance for the Zoom option.

The Sunday adult programs are free and open to the public and meet concurrently with the Jewish Cultural Sunday School.

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