Sunday, August 30, 2009
10:30am to 12pm
66 East 9th Street (9th and Minnesota)
Free parking on the street on  Sunday

Neal Gosman and Sandy Pappas invite you to our home for a bagel brunch with Aliza  Becker, the Acting Exective Director of  Brit Tzedek v’Shalom.

The get together will be informal. It is an  opportunity to discuss our current efforts to support the Obama administration  in its efforts to push the Peace Process forward by pressing both the Israelis  and the Palestinians to reach a negotiated settlement.

Please RSVP to (651) 227-6032  or by email.

SPONSORED BY MINNESOTA BRIT TZEDEK V'SHALOM

Monday, June 1, 2009
7:00 PM
Minneapolis Friends Meeting House
4401 York Ave. South
Minneapolis, MN 55410

We will have Encounter Point and West Bank Story available for possible viewing. Discussion and conversation will follow whichever film we view.   We will also discuss "What Can We Do to Support the Obama Administration as It Seeks to Jump Start the Peace Process" and the new Brit Tzedek campaign “We've Got Your Back, Mr. President”  Please RSVP or if you have any questions contact us by email.

Thursday, March 12, 2009
7:00 pm
Sabes Jewish Community Center
Jay and Rose Phillips Building
Barry Family Campus
4330 S. Cedar Lake Road
Minneapolis, MN 55416

Come see Bridge Over the Wadi, a film which takes place in 2004, two years after the resurge of the Second Intifada riots. A group of Arab and Jewish parents decide to establish a joint bi-national, bi-lingual school in the Arab Ara village, in Israel’s Wadi. Film followed by a discussion with educators and teens involved in Muslim-Jewish dialogue and cross-cultural education, moderated by NCJW Board Member and Past
President Judith Kahn. For more information please contact us by email.

Sunday, March 1, 2009
6-8 pm
Common Roots Café
2558 Lyndale Ave. S.; Minneapolis.  
Phone: (612) 871-2360.
The meeting will be in the Community Room in the back.

Join the Minnesota Chapter of Brit Tzedek v’Shalom for a conversation on Israel, Palestine and Gaza. We will be updating you on recent advocacy efforts, answering questions and sharing information about developments in Israel and Palestine. We might even show a few brief videos.  

Topic: Current Status of the Gaza Situation: How to support steps toward a two-state solution. Listen to one another. Review and discuss highlights of talk by Rabbi Marc Gopin. Make decisions about immediate chapter goals. Write letters to legislators. For more information please contact us by email.

Monday, August 4th
6:15pm
Southwest Mpls. e-mail minnesota@btvshalom.org for directions.

WHAT TO BRING: Potluck snack- Please bring something veggie/dairy to share
WHO: Minnesota Members of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom
ZACH TAGAR, an Israeli member of Friends of the Earth Middle East will talk about
this cooperative environmental organization working in Israel, Palestine and Jordan
to advance both sustainable regional development and the creation of necessary
conditions for lasting peace in the region.
HENRY LIPMAN will report on the BTVS-Grassroots Leadership Training Institute and National Advocacy Days in Washington DC 
BARBARA and NEAL will share news and updates….

If possible, please let us know you are coming- by replying to minnesota@btvshalom.org

Friday July 18th, 2008 
8 am-9:30 am
Common Roots Café in Mpls MN (2558 Lyndale Ave. South, Mpls. At the corner of 26th and Lyndale Ave)

A special opportunity to hear about issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and peace process from key figures in the Israeli peace camp, TALIA SASSON and ILAN PAZ, two Israelis whose high level Israeli civil and military positions make them very
informed and experienced on the situation and its prospects.  

Wednesday, May 7, 2008
5-9pm
Brit Tzedek v’Shalom table for the Twin Cities Yom
Ha’atzmaut Celebration at the Metro Dome (Mpls.).

Join us (Neal and Barbara) at the Brit Tzedek v’Shalom table for the Twin Cities Yom Ha’atzmaut Celebration at the Metro Dome (Mpls.).  The event is FREE so let’s all show how many of us want peace and justice in the region.

Brit Tzedek v’Shalom Minnesota has been invited to be part of the Twin Cities community Yom Ha’atzmaut Celebration on Wednesday evening May 7 from 5-9 pm. 

Please let us know you are coming by emailing us.

Tuesday September 25, 2007, 7:00pm-9:00pm
Encounter Point Room 25 University of Minnesota Law School, 229 19th Ave. S.
http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/maps/MondaleH/
Screening of Encounter Point (www.encounterpoint.com), documenting Israeli-Palestinian partnerships for just future visions in the region. Followed by discussion with filmmaker Ronit Avni and Cambridge University Architecture Professor Wendy Pullan. (co-sponsored by the MN Chapter of Brit Tzedek v’Shalom)

Sunday August 26, 2007, 3:30-5:30
'ISRAEL/PALESTINE- CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION': Facilitated discussion/conversation on "Dialogue on the Wall."

Location: Common Roots Café - 2558 Lyndale Ave. S; Mpls. MN, In the common room. For questions or to RSVP please send us an e-mail.

Everyone is encouraged to view the "Dialogue on the Wall" installation (see below) and attend the conversation .

"Dialogue on the Wall" is an architectural installation combined with multi-media, artistic and performance works that explore the issues and competing narratives of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The core of the installation is a 10-foot high concrete-like wall representing the controversial "Separation Wall" between Israel and the Occupied territories and imagined the collision of the Separation Wall and the Western Wall. The installation is intended to question ideologies, challenge preconceptions, provoke thought and conversation, and to demonstrate in a personal manner the nature of this intractable conflict. The installation is funded in part by Rimon, The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council, an initiative of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation.

WHEN: Check with gallery to confirm dates and times.

WHERE: FORM + CONTENT GALLERY- 210 N. 2nd St., Mpls, MN 612/436-1151.

May 16, 2007, 7:00-9:30pm
Jewish Dialogue and conversation about Israel/Palestine with Rabbi Eilberg.
At the JCC of Greater St. Paul. The event is sponsored by many of the major institutions of the Jewish community (the JCC of Greater St. Paul, Sabes JCC, Minneapolis Jewish Federation, United Jewish Fund and Council of St. Paul, Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas, Hillel of the University of Minnesota, and the Minnesota Rabbinical Association) in order to provide a forum in which all views can be respectfully heard and explored in our community. The conversation will be followed by a performance of Israeli dance by the Orim Dance Troupe and Israeli folk dancing for all. The St. Paul JCC is located at 1375 Saint Paul Ave. St. Paul MN phone: 651-698- 0751 For questions or further information contact Rabbi Amy Eilberg August 22, 2006
Jewish Listening Circle on Israel in St. Paul
Macalester College, Carnegie Hall ? Room 006, St. Paul. Join us this upcoming for another Jewish Listening Circle, this time held in St. Paul at Macalester College. The meeting begins at 7:00 but feel free to come earlier to schmooze. Please help spread the word to ANYONE ELSE who might want to join us.

This event is free. You don?t need to RSVP if you are coming, but it would help to known how many people to expect. Because some Jews do not feel comfortable speaking from their hearts on this topic when non-Jews are present we would like to request that this be a group for Jews only. Map of the Macalester College campus. (Carnegie Hall is location number 25 on the map). If you would like more specific directions please email us and please let us know where you will be coming from.

July 29, 2006
Jewish Listening Circle
Many of us are upset, disturbed and confused in response to the escalating violence in Israel, Palestine and Lebanon. I would like to invite you to a Jewish Listening Circle to talk about and support each other in this difficult time.

Listening Circles are places where participants can share their thoughts, feelings and concerns in a supportive compassionate context. It is not a place for analyzing, debating, assessing blame, finding solutions or political actions. Instead it is a place to come together as caring concerned people and to share what is happening in our hearts. It is also a place to listen deeply and with compassion to each other. (The structure for this Listening Circle comes from several different "listening" approaches, including Compassionate Listening and the Talking Stick.)

We will start at 7:30 - feel free to come earlier to schmooze. If you are shomer Shabbat, please join us later after sundown. We may do havdallah. Also, this event is after dinner, but if you would like to bring some food to share you are welcome to do so.

This event will be taking place in the Southwest Mpls/Linden Hills area, location to be announced. If you would like to come please RSVP by email with your name, phone and email address, and we will send you the exact address in reply.

September 11, 2005
The weekend of Sept. 9-11 the Minnesota Chapter of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom helped to host a visit with Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb. Rabbi Lynn?s public events began with an erev Shabbat dvar at Mt. Zion Congregation a Reform synagogue in St. Paul. Her talk explored issues of race and class in relationship to Sept. 11, the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and her work in Israel and Palestine. She focused on how the concept of Shalom/Peace/wholeness can guide our actions in the world. The service was well attended and was responded to positively, with both synagogue rabbis present.

Sunday afternoon she presented a workshop/talk on Shomer Shalom at Mayim Rabim Reconstructionist Congregation in Mpls. This talk further developed her views of what it means to be "Shomer Shalom" (a practitioner or guardian of Peace, parallel to the Jewish practice of being shomer Shabbat or shomer Kashrut).

This program drew more than 60 people, including people from the Jewish community and the local Quaker community who had also been invited to attend. The talk was followed by a potluck meal which provided an opportunity for people involved in local peace work to meet, get to know each other and share experiences.

In addition to these two public events, Rabbi Lynn also met with the local Rabbinic association, was interviewed by our local Jewish newspaper and met with a small group of local religious leaders (including a rabbi and imam) to explore the possibility of organizing a Children of Abraham peace walk at some time in the future.

May 11, 2004
Rabbi Arik Ascherman, Executive Director of Rabbis for Human Rights, will speak on the topic "Jewish Values & Human Rights: Sustaining the Moral Vision of Israel" at Temple Israel in Minneapolis, at 7:30 pm. Itai Tennenbaum, Director of the Israel Programs Center and Minneapolis Shaliach will respond. The program will be moderated by Rabbi Jeffrey Wildstein, Temple Israel. The event is free and open to the entire community.

Temple Israel Congregation is located at 2324 Emerson Ave., Minneapolis. This lecture is co-sponsored in part by a consortium of Jewish organizations in the Twin Cities including Brit Tzedek v'Shalom - Minnesota Chapter, Temple Israel; Mt. Zion Synagogue; Shir Tikvah Congregation and Social Action Committee; Center for Jewish Studies University of Minnesota, and the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC).

The two-fold purpose of Rabbi Ascherman?s visit to the Twin Cities is to report on the important work he and his colleagues are doing to promote peace in Israel, and to help raise funds for their continued efforts. Please join us for a light dinner (Dairy/Kosher) prior to Rabbi Ascherman?s public lecture at Temple Israel at 7:3 0 pm. This dinner/fundraiser will be an important opportunity to hear first-hand about the work of Rabbis for Human Rights as well as to meet Rabbi Ascherman. We hope you will support this organization as well as come to hear Rabbi Ascherman talk at 7:30 that evening.

February 28, 2004
Potluck dinner for members and non-members
Please bring a vegetarian/dairy dish to a dinner and discussion. Shabbat ends at about 6:45, so come when you can. The topic for our conversation is the barrier/fence/wall. No matter what you call it, you probably have many questions, feelings and thoughts on the subject. Bring all of these (including what you know and what you'd like to know) to our get together, 6:15 PM. 4512 4th Avenue S, Minneapolis.

February 9, 2004
Temple Israel, Minneapolis
ISRAEL FORUM consisting of a panel and discussion on the Geneva Accords. Panelists were Neal Gosman a member of our local Brit Tzedek steering committee and Itai Tennenbaum, the community Shaliach/Israel representative. The panel was moderated by Rabbi Glaser of Temple Israel. The program was free. Please do your best to attend this event, it is important that we show by our presence that we would like the Geneva Accord and other Peace initiatives to be part of public discussion. 7:00-9:00 PM

October 27, 2003
Marcia Freedman, President of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, past Knesset member, and an early Israeli Feminist presented, "Israel's Road to Peace: The Role of American Jews," at Mt. Zion Temple in Saint Paul. The event was sponsored by Brit Tzedek v'Shalom and Mt. Zion Temple. At a separate event sponsored by Brit Tzedek, Ms. Freedman presented, "A Feminist Response to Militarization."

July 26, 2003
Fred Schlomko, director of the new Mosaic Community Project, spoke at a potluck dinner and presentation. Mosaic Communities is working to establish integrated communities open to all residents of Israel. The process of developing these communities will enable Mosaic to challenge the housing status quo in Israel, which legally discriminates against Arabs and other minorities.

June 15, 2003
Brit Tzedek v'Shalom sponsored, "READING THE ROAD MAP: A Local Open Forum and Discussion of the Current Situation and Prospects for a Peaceful Settlement Between Israelis and Palestinians." The event featured U of M Associate Professor Martin Sampson, who presented an analysis of the "Road Map" to peace in the Middle East. Also speaking were Itai Tennenbaum, community Shaliach/Israel representative, and Amit Ron, an Israeli scholar. The event was held at the Sabes Jewish Community Center in Minneapolis.

October 22, 2002
Brit Tzedek v'Shalom and the Shir Tikvah Social Action Committee sponsored a presentation by members of the Bereaved Family Forum. The event was held at Shir Tikvah Synagogue in Minneapolis. Ghada Muna, of Al Quds University, Khaled Al-Kharouf from Jerusalem, Mashka Litvak, agricultural engineer from Israel, and Tamara Rabinowitz spoke passionately about their experiences and reasons for joining this organization of Israelis and Palestinians working for peace.

The Minnesota chapter of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom has also sponsored a number of potluck events, including annual "Ninth Night of Chanukah" celebrations, to bring together old and new members and discuss issues of interest.

• The American Jewish World
  August 12, 2005
  New Envoy for Gaza
  The planned Israeli pullout from Gaza is just days away. Hailed by many as a new opportunity for peace and a surprising reversal for Ariel Sharon, a lifelong hawk, the removal of some 9,000 settlers from the Gaza Strip and four West Bank settlements has raised hopes throughout the world.