Rabbi Rubin Welcome Weekend July 10-12

Rabbi Rubin Welcome Weekend!

And "Get to Know Rabbi Rubin" Sessions

The Rubin/Schleyer family has arrived in Minnesota, are settling in, and are acclimating to their new home, including to the fact that they are now in "Duck Duck Grey Duck" territory (which can be unsettling for some).

Rabbi Rubin’s first official weekend as our Senior Rabbi will be on July 10-12 ! See below for events during the weekend, and going forward.

Ideally, we would be gathering together as a community in person to welcome him, to greet his family in person, and we would be setting up group meetings so we can know each other better. Sadly, we all know that this cannot be the case.

Even though we will not be able to gather as a community for Shabbat morning services (we will still be on Zoom and YouTube Live), we have entered Phase 1 of Re-opening, which allows us IN-PERSON opportunities to welcome and greet Rabbi Rubin during his first weekend.

One of our members said it best: “Re-opening activities by necessity excludes some of us, out of concern, because of the risk categories in which we fall. We are one congregation and one beloved community, and this brings pain and sadness along with the joy of moving forward. We care about the welfare of all our members.”

We know this is not ideal, and of course we would prefer to join all together in our beautiful sanctuary and celebrate Shabbat together with food (and bathroom access), but this is the best solution we have to keep everyone safe during this time of pandemic. It pains us that this is our new reality, and we have organized a variety of online events to meet Rabbi Rubin and his family, which we encourage everyone to attend as well.

Next Weekend

If you are able to attend in person, please choose one of the following two Shabbat events.

Please keep in mind that the building will be closed, so there will be no access to bathroom facilities. Each event will be brief—45-90 minutes. We ask that participants be b’nai mitzvah age and older, and we recommend that people in high risk groups continue to shelter at home.

All participants MUST RSVP; there will be a checklist and only those who have RSVPd will be able to attend in person. There is no back-up plan for rain. We are limiting attendance; a maximum of 50 people at Kabbalat Shabbat and 75 at the Seudah.

KABBALAT SHABBAT - Friday, July 10, 6 pm

Join us for Kabbalat Shabbat in the great outdoors (the Beth Jacob Lawn). Bring a chair or use one from the shul, and bring in Shabbat joyously while social distancing and wearing masks. Rabbi Rubin will be leading Kabbalat Shabbat services, which begin at 6 pm .

SEUDAH SHLISHIT - Saturday, July 11, 5 pm

Come for a Seudah Shlishit (festive third meal of Shabbat) on, you guessed it, the Beth Jacob Lawn! Come at 5 pm, bring a chair or a picnic blanket, bring your own food and beverage, and celebrate a relaxed Shabbat afternoon while social distancing and wearing masks.

RSVP here for one of the two events above

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All Are Welcome!

CAR PARADE - Sunday, July 12, 10 am

On Sunday, July 12, everyone is welcome to meet in the Beth Jacob parking lot (remaining in your car) at 10:00. We will caravan to the Rubin/Schleyer house, where we can drive by, greeting the family. Make signs, decorate your car, or not--your choice entirely! Everyone will remain in their cars the entire time, and then go home. Brief, but friendly.

Get to Know Rabbi Rubin

We have organized GETTING TO KNOW YOU, a series of small Zoom discussions so that Rabbi Rubin can get to know us and we him in an informal setting. Everyone is welcome, and no masks needed! Please feel free to sign up for one of the Getting To Know You groups listed below. We are limiting attendance at each group (from 15 to 20 screens) to maximize the Getting To Know You-ness.

MORNING MINYANEERS : Tuesday, July 14, 8 am

Come for Minyan, stay for schmoozing. Let’s make sure Rabbi Rubin knows with whom he davens.

FOUNDERS/”OLD-TIMERS” : Tuesday, July 14, Noon - 1 pm

Give Rabbi Rubin more information about the foundations of our shul. Talk about the “old days” and the new days over lunch.

YOU’RE A RABBI, I’M A RABBI… : Wednesday, July 15, 2 - 3 pm

We have HOW MANY Rabbis who are members? Let’s give Rabbi Rubin the secret Rabbi handshake (over zoom) and talk tachlis.

THE SHTETL (Mendota Heights) : Wednesday, July 15, 4:30 - 5:30 pm

Walk to your Zoom screen and bond over your proximity to the shul.

JEWS & SCHMOOZE 1 : Thursday, July 16, 7 - 8 pm

You are an independent thinker and refuse to be categorized! Join a group of like-minded, just-want-to-schmooze-with-Rabbi-Rubin Beth Jacobites, and schmooze about whatever strikes your fancy.

SOUTH OF THE RIVER : Friday, July 17, Noon - 1 pm

Zoom over the river and share your South Of the River lore with Rabbi Rubin.

B’NAI MITZVAH FAMILIES : Sunday, July 19, 10 - 11 am

You’ve got a simcha coming around the bend? Is your child 10, 11, or 12? Come ask Rabbi Rubin your questions and share your “It’s Too Soon!” panic. Kids are welcome too.

UNIVERSITY STAFF/FACULTY : Tuesday, July 21, Noon - 1 pm

Okay, it’s not Shuang Cheng, but bring your own lunch and learn all about Rabbi Rubin while he learns from you. Open to all college and university staff from all schools. We’re not U-centric!

JEWS & BREWS: HAPPY HOUR BEER TASTING : Tuesday, July 21, 5 - 6 pm

Pick up your samples from Beth Jacob and compare a few local brews. Best part? No designated driver!

NOW WE’RE COOKING : Wednesday, July 22, Noon - 1 pm

Share your favorite recipes with famed chef Rabbi Rubin!

PARENTS OF YOUNG CHILDREN : Wednesday, July 22, 9 - 10 pm

At last, the kids are in bed and you can collapse! Or alternatively, you can join with other exhausted parents (including Rabbi Rubin) and have some downtime before bed.

WHAT ABOUT THAT EMPTY NEST? Thursday, July 23, 7 - 8 pm

Our little ones have flown the nest! It sounded so good in principle, but now they’ve flown home! If you are an empty nester, or an empty-nester wannabe, let’s get together. It will be like the old days, but without Mac & Cheese, Disney movies, and potty breaks.

JEWS & SCHMOOZE 2 : Friday, July 24, 10 - 11 am

You are an independent thinker and refuse to be categorized! Or you’ve organized and broken off from Jews & Schoomze 1. Either way, join a group of like-minded, just-want-to-schmooze-with-Rabbi-Rubin Beth Jacobites, and schmooze about whatever strikes your fancy.

WEST SIDE : Friday, July 24, 2 - 3 pm

West Side—here is your big chance to start that West Side Chavurah! Or not! Just come and introduce Rabbi Rubin to the excellence that is Minneapolis and Western Suburbs.

A CAPITOL IDEA : Tuesday, July 28, Noon - 1 pm

St. Paulites: Share your State Capitol spirit with Rabbi Rubin over lunch.

20s/30s : Thursday, July 30, 7 - 8 pm

All 20s/30s are invited to attend, even if you are not a Beth Jacob congregant, even if you attended another group. Rabbi Rubin really wants to meet you and hear from you how we as a community can serve your needs.