From the Desk of CEO Judy Halper: June 2022
Summer was slow to warm up this year, but all signs point to summer fun as the heat has finally arrived! With the Twin Cities Pride Festival right around the corner, and all the July 4th fun coming right after that, before long we’ll be feeling as though summer is nearly over—that’s the Minnesota view of summer!
JFCS is always excited about our participation in the Twin Cities Pride Festival, held the last weekend of June in Loring Park. The J-Pride booth is a great place to stop and say hello to various volunteers and community leadership staffing the event. While you’re at it, grab some fun swag to demonstrate support for our whole Jewish community, however folks identify. As part of the weekend, J-PRIDE will also be holding Shabbat services in Loring Park on Saturday morning on the Loring stage. It’s a great way to observe Shabbat in a beautiful setting! We will also be marching in the Ashley Rukes Pride Parade – join us! We hope to see many of you there.
PJ Library participants and fans will have lots of summer activities to choose from too, as we move through this glorious season where we enjoy longer days of sunlight, and freer schedules, in some cases. Our PJ staff and Parent Connectors are making sure that neighborhood parks and other outdoor gathering spots are well-utilized to provide a great location for young family socializing and connecting, as well as plenty of learning and ice cream!
Caring Connections, our inclusion program for adults with disabilities, will also enjoy all that summer offers by featuring a special Havdalah service at a nature preserve, and an outdoor Kabbalat Shabbat and dinner at a local synagogue, as well as other activities designed to convey belonging to these folks who are seeking greater community connection.
For more information about these programs and activities, please visit the JFCS Calendar page and spread the word to your friends and families! Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis is committed to providing service that is inclusive and conveys belonging. We are Here for all. Always!