Jewbalations

Rosh Hashanah (Hebrew: רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה‎‎, literally "head [of] the year") is the Jewish New Year. The biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah (Hebrew: יוֹם תְּרוּעָה‎‎), literally "day [of] shouting/blasting", sometimes translated as the Feast of Trumpets.

As we inch closer to the birth of the Jewish Calendar, we learn of some important fact.

Ted Flaum
Executive Director at Jewish Family Service of St. Paul
http://jfssp.org

Judy Cook is co-founder and Senior Partner of Cook Girard Associates, with more than 30 years of experience in public policy and politics in Minnesota. Cook is repeatedly recognized as one of the leading government affairs professionals in Minnesota. She has an unequaled reputation for her skills as an effective communicator and advocate on behalf of clients. Throughout her career, Cook has successfully managed some of the most complex legislative and regulatory issues addressed by Minnesota policymakers.
Cook has expertise on a variety of public policy issue areas including health care, business regulation, civil law, environment and government transformation. She is known for tackling tough government affairs challenges and achieving results through a broad, bi-partisan base of relationships while developing and implementing effective strategies. She has proven the ability to work across the political spectrum to arrive at consensus on public policy issues from the simple to the most controversial, yielding positive results.
Cook has long received recognition for her achievements, including being named by Twin Cities Business Magazine to their list of “100 People to Help You Thrive in 2013.” In October 2010, the national political magazine, “Campaigns and Elections” included Cook among their list of “100 Influencers in Minnesota.” In 1997, while President of the Minnesota Retail Merchants Association, Minnesota Monthly Magazine named Cook one of the “21 Most Influential Women in Minnesota.” Cook has also served on numerous boards and organizations during her years as a leading government affairs professional in Minnesota.

Beth Grossman is a socio-political artist, who sees the visual as a way to create community dialog. Her art is a comfortable point of entry into the ongoing dialog about ‘correct’ history, the life-shaping force of religion and the power of social beliefs. The artist takes creative liberty with these charged topics and makes them accessible with beauty and humor. By shifting the context of familiar objects, words and images, she opens them up for fresh examinations that are by turn playful, stimulating and thought provoking.


Grossman’s search for simple truths in collective memory has led her to illuminate personal stories. For her, art is not a thing, but a way to communicate. It is the importance of that dialogue that her artworks, public projects and events are intended to foster.

Based in San Francisco, Grossman has collaborated internationally with individuals, communities, corporations, non-profits and museums. She uses art as a creative force to stimulate conversation and focus attention on the environment, history and civic engagement – all aimed at raising awareness, building community and encouraging public participation.

Herzl Camps Executive Director Drea Lear, tells of the wonders of Herzl Camp and the amazing event coming September 18th, "Music at the Mercaz". This past years OZO's Naomi and Noah join us via Skype to tell us some fun stories of the summer of'16

The month of Elul is a time of repentance in preparation for the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Tradition teaches that the month of Elul is a particularly propitious time for repentance. This mood of repentance builds through the month of Elul to the period of Selichot, to Rosh Hashanah, and finally to Yom Kippur.

The name of the month (spelled Alef-Lamed-Vav-Lamed) is said to be an acronym of "Ani l'dodi v'dodi li," "I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine," a quote from Song of Songs 6:3, where the Beloved is G-d and the "I" is the Jewish people. In Aramaic (the vernacular of the Jewish people at the time that the month names were adopted), the word "Elul" means "search," which is appropriate, because this is a time of year when we search our hearts.

According to tradition, the month of Elul is the time that Moses spent on Mount Sinai preparing the second set of tablets after the incident of the golden calf (Ex. 32; 34:27-28). He ascended on Rosh Chodesh Elul and descended on the 10th of Tishri, at the end of Yom Kippur, when repentance was complete. Other sources say that Elul is the beginning of a period of 40 days that Moses prayed for G-d to forgive the people after the Golden Calf incident, after which the commandment to prepare the second set of tablets was given.

Get a bit up close and personal with Scott Seiler and hear about the wonderful Law Firm he has created!

The Women & Money Project with Shira Richter, skyping in from Israel!
CONTACT US at:
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Ellen Schillace President, Minnesota Women’s Caucus for Art
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (612)834-1500

Sterna brings the fascinating beauty of Shabbat candle lighting!