Dear ,

Message from our Presidents

It’s June – trees have leafed out, flowers are blooming, insects are annoying – Minnesota is lovely this time of year. We still are enjoying all of it from home, with some exceptions. (We can’t wait to visit our hair stylists!) Hadassah Minneapolis is remaining cautious, following guidelines from the Upper Midwest Region and National. We’re holding our board and book meetings online, and haven’t yet resumed our walking group. Unfortunately, we’ve canceled both the 2020 Majathon and Schmoozathon, but they’ll be back in 2021 along with other fun educational activities and events. We’re planning to hold an educational event in November (see below for details). We hope you are all healthy and comfortable. If you need any type of help, please contact us: Stacey Bush, 952-929-2076, staceyrbush@gmail.com, or Donna Fredkove, 952-217-4086, dffredkove@aol.com.

Stacey Bush and Donna Fredkove

Hadassah Members Respond to COVID-19

Across the country, Hadassah members are finding new ways to make an impact in the face of COVID-19, even as they navigate their own pandemic challenges. Consider Hadassah Northeast, home to nearly 20,000 Hadassah members, which has launched three COVID-19 initiatives: PPE collection and drop off, mask making, and phone calls to their most vulnerable members. For Kathy Kerstein, President of Hadassah Northern New England, they're "decreasing the distance between people, even while we're socially distanced."  For more information, click here.

Programming Report

The Schmoozathon has been formally canceled for 2020 because of Covid-19. The Education and Program committees are working with the National Council of Jewish Women to plan a program on sexual harassment in Jewish work places for November 8, called From Me Too to We Too, Safety, Respect, and Equity in our Jewish Community.  See Save the Dates (below) for details about this informative event.

Book Chavurot

The Night Club Bookclub will hold its next meeting on June 4 at 7 p.m. This will be a Zoom meeting. Since the libraries still are closed and most of the copies of the June book are checked out, we will have a Reader’s Choice meeting. Members who wish can have 3 minutes to share a book that they have read and enjoyed. For more information, contact Sue Garnett (nettgar1@gmail.com or 952-545-1435.).

The Knollwood book group (formerly known as Henrietta Szold) is hoping to be able to resume soon. Please watch for an upcoming announcement via email that will alert all of us as to when we will be allowed to meet in the building. We look forward to sharing insights about whatever books you have been reading during this time of "sheltering in place,” and hope and pray that you are all well and looking forward to seeing each other face to face, protected of course with face masks and distance. We'd love to hear from all who are interested in joining us when we resume. Please contact Debby Wolk via email or phone at tzvibo@aol.com or 612-925-7932 to let her know that you are interested in being part of our lively group. Many thanks for your patience during these last few months .

Craft Co-Op

We will not be conducting any public sales in the near future but hope to be back up and running again soon. In the meantime, if you enjoy sewing, knitting, crocheting, beading, etc., and currently have some spare time to work on creating something beautiful to donate to this project, please contact Sara Bernstein,  at hadassahcraftcoop@gmail.com, or Sue Blehert, at sblehert@q.com,  and we’ll be happy to add your items to our lovely inventory.  We hope to be “back in business” again soon.
 
               

Education

Hadassah Hospital’s midwifery program provides connection amidst isolation in this time of COVID-19. In ordinary times, giving birth at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem is a “family affair,” with the mother often surrounded by a doula, a spouse or partner, a friend, and a Hadassah midwife, who assists with the birth. Now, for expectant mothers suspected of having COVID-19 or already infected, everything is new and different, reports Hadassah nurse midwife Gila Zarbiv (photo at right), who spoke to Hadassah supporters on a Zoom webinar on May 13. To read more, click here.

Here, from The Jewish News, May 21, 2020, are the top 10 Jewish shows to watch on Netflix and Amazon in 2020! From meshuganah millennials and families at war to secret spy missions and the coming of the Messiah, here’s our pick of the best shows to watch now! There are many other choices such as Shtisel, Fauda, One of Us, The Kominsky Method, When Heroes Fly, Beauty and the Baker, and Unorthodox. For more details, click here.

Marriage Story
Messiah
Broad City
The Red Sea Diving Resort
The Spy
Schitt’s Creek
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
The Devil Next Door
Grace and Frankie
The Stranger

Walking Group

The walking group has been suspended until further notice because of Covid-19. Although Governor Walz has loosened the stay at home restrictions, National Hadassah has not lifted the suspension on Hadassah programming. Also, the members of the walking group are not comfortable getting together yet. We, of course, are sad but would rather stay safe.

Ronald McDonald House Cooks for Kids Program Suspended

As so many other places have, the Ronald McDonald House is not allowing extra people into the House. This means that it has suspended its volunteer programs, including Cooks for Kids, the program that provides meals for the families staying at RMH. Hadassah has been involved with this program for more than 30 years. Although the program has been suspended, the House still needs to provide meals for the families. If you want to learn how you can help as individuals, please see the Upper Midwest Ronald McDonald website.

Community News

Message from TC Jewfolk:  "In this time of uncertainty, please assume all in-person events are cancelled or postponed until further notice. We are working on updating our calendar with links for you to join virtual events as we get information from the Jewish organizations. If you know of virtual events that you would like to include, please be sure to fill out this form.

If you or someone you know is struggling with food and groceries, JFCS can help review food options. Just call JFCS at  952-546-0616 and leave a confidential message, or click here for more information.

Save the Dates

Hadassah Minneapolis will be partnering with National Council of Jewish Women on a timely and important program called From Me Too to We Too, Safety, Respect, and Equity in our Jewish Community. This program, scheduled for Sunday, November 8 at 10 a.m., will include an open conversation with NCJW CEO Sheila Katz and Minnesota Jewish community leaders about gender discrimination and assault within and beyond our community. You'll hear first-hand narratives from across the country and engage in key questions and concrete strategies for how we can build and sustain a safe, respectful and equitable Minnesota Jewish community. Watch your email for information on this event!

The TRYmester program about Jewish fertility journeys out loud, has tentatively been re-scheduled to Sunday, November 15. Hadassah Upper Midwest is co-sponsoring this powerful program.

Hadassah Missions is now Hadassah Israel Travel. Visit the Hadassah Israel website to pick your favorite tour for fall and winter 2020 and join us in Israel! Don’t forget to invite your family and friends!

Office Depot Discount for Hadassah Minneapolis Members

Office Depot has offered our members a non-profit discount on over 2,000 items. The flyer with the discount card can be viewed and printed by clicking here.  Take it to Office Depot. They will laminate the card for free, too. You still will have to pay taxes on your purchases. This card entitles you to a discount if available.  Contact Judy Edwards, Office Manager, Hadassah Upper Midwest, 612-759-5357, if you have questions.

Perpetual Yahrzeits at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem

When a loved one dies, please consider directing memorial gifts to Hadassah. The spirit of your family member or friend will live on in the lives that you help to enrich and to save! All donations will be promptly acknowledged to the donor and provided to the family of the deceased. A “Perpetual Yahrzeit” can be purchased with a one-time contribution of $1000. Kaddish will be said annually in the Abbell Synagogue at the Hadassah Hospital in Ein Kerem. Advance yahrzeits can be purchased at any time for yourself or a loved one.  We Americans are culturally deprived when it comes to death and dying. For information on Hadassah's Perpetual Yahrzeit program call the Hadassah Minneapolis office at 952-924-4999 or click here. Memorial contributions of any amount may also be mailed to Hadassah Minneapolis, 5905 Golden Valley Rd, Golden Valley, MN 55422. 

It's a Win-Win for You and Hadassah!

Become a taste-tester for Tasteocracy, formerly Food Perspectives, Inc. Every time you qualify for and participate in a survey, you will be paid an incentive of approximately $35 to $85, based upon the time the survey session takes. In addition to that amount, Hadassah Minneapolis will be paid $10. Men and women who sign up to be testers must be between the ages of 18 and 84. If you are interested in participating -- or know someone (friend, relative, son, daughter, grandchild, etc.) who would like to participate -- registration can be done on-line at www.tasteocracy.com. To sign up, click on Join button at the top. After you enter your personal information, choose Plymouth, MN as the “Closest testing location," select Yes in the "Make Donation" space, “Religion HADASSAH-MINNEAPOLIS CHAPTER” in the “I am fundraising for” space, and "Partial payment of $10" in the following space. If you prefer to register by phone, please call Tasteocracy at 763-354-2776.  Remember, this is a fundraiser that is a “win” for Hadassah and for the participant.

Cards, Certificates, and JNF Trees and Blue Boxes

                                   

Ten reasons to buy your greeting cards through Hadassah:

     1. The cards are attractive and meaningful.
     2. The money you pay for your cards goes directly to Hadassah!
     3. There are a number of card categories including birthday, sympathy, get well, mazel tov, bar/bat mitzvah, etc.
     4. You can buy cards at Hadassah events and also through our Hadassah card contacts listed below. (No standing at the store).
     5. We have brand new Happy Birthday cards that have just arrived!!
     6. The cards offer a variety of messages.
     7. The recipient will understand and appreciate that the money you spent on their card goes to support Hadassah’s mission.
     8. The price for the cards is $5 each or 3 for $12….a real steal!!
     9. Our special Malinsky cards (photo at right) for Cancer Research are $10 each.
   10. Why would you spend more money at a store when you can support our chapter fundraising goals and Hadassah at the same time?

Hadassah Certificates are a special way for you to make a donation in honor or in memory of someone. These attractive certificates ranging from $10-$500 are personalized with the message you wish and sent directly to the recipient. Contact the Card/Certificate person below to order your certificates or online through www.hadassah.org. Click on Donate, then Other Ways to Give, then Personalized Certificates.  Be sure to designate Hadassah Minneapolis when prompted.

Malinsky Cards: Ronna Locketz ronnalocketz@gmail.com or at 612-730-6418

Cards (Knollwood Place): Maurine Ziv maurineziv@gmail.com or 952-938-2550

Cards or Certificates: Ronna Locketz ronnalocketz@gmail.com or 763-544-5439

JNF Trees: Sheryl Cohen stelladoob@gmail.com or 612-298-5597

Contribution envelopes or Bea Rossen Youth Aliyah Fund: Sheryl Cohen stelladoob@gmail.com or 612-298-5597

If you have a full JNF Blue Box that needs to be emptied, contact Ellen Etzkin at etzkin44@gmail.com or 952-935-7767.

E-mail Addresses

If you have Hadassah member friends not receiving the monthly Hadassah Minneapolis emails, please forward this newsletter to them and encourage them to sign up by contacting the office at 952-924-4999 or at umregion@hadassah.org. The databases for the News You Can Use and our National Roster are not the same.

View our Hadassah Minneapolis website at www.hadassah.org/minneapolis.

Like Hadassah on Facebook.