St. Paul Jewish Federation

?? BIG ANNOUNCEMENT! ?? - Cantor Azi Schwartz ???? ??? ????? will be in St. Paul on June 22, 2025, at Temple of Aaron. Doors open at 2 p.m., and the concert will run from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. Cantor Azi Schwartz, the Senior Cantor of Park Avenue Synagogue in New York, is internationally renowned for his breathtaking voice and deeply spiritual performances. He has captivated audiences at Carnegie Hall, the U.S. Capitol, and even for Pope Francis—and now, he’s bringing his extraordinary talent to St. Paul! ??? Tickets are required—reserve your spot now! ?? Get Tickets: https://ow.ly/iKHk50Vi7eb ?? More Info: https://lnkd.in/gKJRv5j2 ?? Bonus! This event will feature music, fellowship, and a traveling photo booth—so bring your friends and make some memories! #EchoesOfTradition #CantorAziSchwartz #JewishMusic #stpaulevents #jewishstpaul We are grateful for our community partners: Beth Jacob Congregation, Mount Zion Temple, Temple of Aaron, Heilicher Jewish Day School, Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, Jewish Family Service of St. Paul, Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest, Minnesota Hillel, Minnesota JCC, Six Points Theater, Talmud Torah of St. Paul, Twin Cities Jewish Renewal Community, and yourJewish.

Congratulations to the Twin Cities Cardozo Society's 2025 Sidney Barrows Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, Justin Perl. Each year, The Twin Cities Cardozo Society gives this award to two senior attorneys or judges in the Twin Cities who exemplify excellence in legal practice, service to the Jewish and general communities, and commitment to life-long learning. In his over 40 years of practicing law, Justin Perl has had two jobs. After graduating from the University of Michigan, he began his legal career at the Maslon LLP firm handling complex business litigation matters. During his 30+ year tenure at Maslon, Justin’s practice consisted primarily of representing both plaintiffs and defendants in a variety of areas, including contract disputes, business tort and fraud actions, unfair competition and non-compete litigation, employment/whistleblower claims, post-acquisition disputes, and various aspects of intellectual property litigation, such as licensing, trade secret, unfair competition, trademark, copyright, and royalty-related cases. While at Maslon, Justin maintained a pro bono and public service component to his practice and extracurricular activities. He has also served on boards, been an active member of, or volunteered with the Adath Jeshurun Congregation Board of Trustees, the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, and Volunteers for Immigrants Project. Other service endeavors included service as a mentor/tutor at Bolder Options, Experience Corps (Lucy Laney Community School), AmeriCorps (Field Elementary School), Summit Academy, People Serving People, and Jewish Family and Children's Service of Minneapolis. In 2014, Justin became Litigation Director at Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid. There, he mentored attorneys in developing litigation skills, designed litigation training programs, identified issues in need of systemic change through litigation, and participated in individual and class action cases addressing a broad range of needs in the community, including housing, disability, wage theft, immigration, discrimination, family law, and consumer law. He recently retired but continues to volunteer at Legal Aid, helping clients pursue their dreams of becoming citizens of the United States. Justin also serves on Governor Walz’s Commission on Judicial Selection. Justin received “Attorney of the Year” honors from Minnesota Lawyer for his role in three separate cases: a wage abuse class action case against Walmart in 2008; a housing discrimination case against a Minnesota landlord in 2021; and a disability rights class action against the Minnesota Department of Human Services in 2022. The Cardozo Society is an affinity group of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation and St. Paul Jewish Federation, who bring the Jewish legal community together to advance their philanthropic missions in our communities and ensure the security and vitality of the Jewish people of the Twin Cities.

Congratulations to the Twin Cities Cardozo Society's 2025 Sidney Barrows Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient, Jim Stein. Each year, The Twin Cities Cardozo Society gives this award to two senior attorneys or judges in the Twin Cities who exemplify excellence in legal practice, service to the Jewish and general communities, and commitment to life-long learning. James "Jim" Stein is a Saint Paul native who spent his 40-year legal career in a variety of settings ranging from commercial and complex civil litigation, including anti-trust law, insurance and utility regulatory work, and telecommunications. In his first 20 years, Jim practiced at the firm of Hessian & McKasy, P.A., where he chaired the Litigation Committee. He then became the General Counsel of State Fund Mutual Insurance Company. After that, he joined the General Counsel’s office of the Saint Paul Companies. He ended his legal career at the firm of LEONARD STREET & DEINARD in Minneapolis. Jim then “pivoted“ to work in the nonprofit world. He became the Executive Director of NECHAMA - Jewish Response to Disaster. He also served as CEO of Healing Hands for Haiti International Inc. and the Minnesota Makers Coalition. Today, Jim lives his passion for meaningful Jewish engagement as the Board Chair of Judaism Unbound in Chicago. He is also the immediate past Board Chair of both TC Jewfolk (Jewfolk Media) in Minneapolis and Cincinnati, and Makom Community in Philadelphia. As a volunteer, Jim served as the President of the St. Paul Jewish Vocational Service, and the St. Paul Jewish Federation. Jim also served as a Vice President of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, and on the Boards of Temple of Aaron, and the St. Paul JCC. He currently serves as a Board Member of the THE HARRY KAY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION. Jim was also in the very first cohort of the Harry Kay Center for Leadership Excellence Institute, which was curated by the New York organization, CLAL – the North American Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership. Jim has been married for almost 50 years to Linda Stern, He has three children and five grandchildren. Jim and Linda live in Golden Valley. In his free time, Jim is an aspiring ukulele player and an avid cyclist! The Cardozo Society is an affinity group of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation and St. Paul Jewish Federation, who bring the Jewish legal community together to advance their philanthropic missions in our communities and ensure the security and vitality of the Jewish people of the Twin Cities.

Congratulations to the Twin Cities Cardozo Society's 2025 Arthur T. Pfefer Memorial Award Recipient, Jake Levine. Each year, The Twin Cities Cardozo Society gives this award for an outstanding Jewish lawyer aged 35 and under. Jacob Levine is a Senior Associate at Fredrikson & Byron, P.A., where he specializes in?mergers and acquisitions. He represents clients?ranging from public companies, private equity firms, and mom-and-pop shops in a wide range of business transactions, while also dedicating his practice to pro bono legal support for nonprofit organizations, immigrants seeking asylum, and underrepresented small business owners. He is a proud board member at multiple local organizations, including Minnesota Hillel,?the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest, and the Hennepin County Bar Association's New Lawyers Section. Jake is passionate about supporting new Jewish leaders in our community, and contributing to the Cardozo Society Steering Committee has been a meaningful source of learning and connection for this work. The Cardozo Society is an affinity group of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation and the St. Paul Jewish Federation, who bring the Jewish legal community together to advance their philanthropic missions in our communities and ensure the security and vitality of the Jewish people of the Twin Cities.

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Join us for an enriching brunch to celebrate SIGD, the traditional Ethiopian Jewish holiday, observed for more than 2500 years. This festival signifies the renewal of the covenant between the Jewish people and G-d, akin to the receiving of the Torah. It’s a time of fasting, purification, and then joyous celebration, reflecting the community’s deep faith and history. This is a unique opportunity to hear about and experience a Jewish holiday that might be new to many, in a truly special and engaging manner. Come learn about its customs, taste traditional Ethiopian Jewish cuisine, and engage with stories that span millennia. Hosted by Yedidya Yasu, the St. Paul Jewish Federation Shaliach, and YALA St. Paul, we invite you to partake in the first SIGD celebration in St. Paul. This event promises cultural insights, traditional Ethiopian food, community, and a celebration with lots of music. The event is open to all ages. It will be held at the Minnesota Jewish Community Center - Capp Center in St. Paul, on Sunday, December 8, at 11am. Register here: https://ow.ly/Mj3B50UlUWP

Hi Professional Network! The St. Paul Jewish Federation cordially invites you to join us for a special evening this Wednesday, December 4, at Mendakota Country Club. The event will feature Aviva Klompas, author of "Stand-Up Nation: Israeli Resilience in the Wake of Disaster." Aviva Klompas co-founded Boundless, a nonprofit transforming Israel education, and previously served as Director of Speechwriting for Israel’s Permanent Mission to the UN. Her memoir, "Speaking for Israel," provides an inside look at Israeli diplomacy, featuring her work in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Jerusalem Post. If you are interested in joining the Gimel Society or need financial assistance, please contact [email protected]. Otherwise, you may purchase a ticket by following the link below -we can't wait to share this evening with you all! https://ow.ly/bcly50UjeV9

A moment of pride for the Cardozo Society of the Twin Cities' Judicial Endorsement Committee! Governor Tim Walz has designated Cardozo-endorsed, Honorable Judge Jennifer Frisch as the Chief Judge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Read the full statement here: https://ow.ly/a1ql50UgYmk An endorsement from the Cardozo society goes a long way when applying to the bench, so don't hesitate to fill out our digital form and start the process. Application linked here: https://ow.ly/kTCI50UgYml Mazel Tov to Judge Frisch and Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Have you ever wanted to make a smaller one-time donation that goes to something you really care about? Well, this year for Give to the Max Day, we are directly funding PJ Library! PJ Library is a program that helps to get Jewish books to children from far-flung corners of the state. Some children live in communities with a small Jewish population, meaning that a book from PJ library might be one of their only cultural outlets. In this campaign, a small gift goes a long way - see the tangible difference you can make below?? $36: Bring the joy of reading to a family in our community. $72: Sponsor a one-year PJ Library subscription for one family. $108: Provide a year of books for two children in St. Paul $180: Ensure a year of books for three children. The campaign is in full swing - follow the link to give! https://ow.ly/cFoV50UbbaS

Do you know a young Jewish lawyer or law student who has realized academic/professional success, has ambition and determination, and exhibits a strong commitment to the Jewish community? Each year the Twin Cities Cardozo Society gives the Arthur T. Pfefer award to a Jewish lawyer aged 35 or under who exhibits the aforementioned qualities. This person should show great philanthropic, professional, and scholarly potential. This award could make a huge difference in a young lawyer's career! Nominators are encouraged to submit potential recipients by our deadline on December 1, 2024. Here is our online application: https://lnkd.in/gaJKQTMk Please note that only the bare minimum of information is required to submit someone (the committee will follow up). Reach out to [email protected] for any questions.