Around Town

(Unless otherwise noted, all events are free and open to the community.)

Israeli social activist to speak here
Sharona Yekutiel, a social justice activist within the Israeli Reform Movement, will visit Louisville in May to promote her work here.
Yekutiel established the Keren b’Kavod (KBK) fund, which supports projects that advance Reform Jewish values of tikkun olam and social justice. She has served as its director for 15 years.
The Fund acts to ensure the right of every Israeli man and woman to live an adequate standard of life, and that disadvantaged individuals can access health and welfare for themselves and their families.
Yekutiel will speak at Chavurat Shalom on Thursday, May 9; Friday, at 7 p.m. Friday, May 10, and at 10:30 p.m., Saturday, May 11, at Temple Shalom.
Her May 9 talk to Chavurat Shalom, titled “Respect, Honor, Dignity” will discuss programs with Ethiopian and Bedouin women and with women who battle domestic abuse.
Her 7 p.m., May 10, titled “Dignity and humanity for all: It’s just a way of life”

Filson programs announced
The Filson Historical Society will hold a series of programs that dovetail with its Jewish Hospital exhibit:
“Navigating Change: Then and Now,” 1 p.m., Tuesday, April 30 – an exhibit tour and discussion with the curator, Abby Glogower, and Rabbi Nadia Siritsky, vice president of mission, Jewish Hospital/ KentuckyOne Health;
“The History of the American Jewish Hospital and Why It Matters Today,” noon, Monday, May 20 – Dr. Edward C. Halperin, Chancellor and CEO of New York Medical College, will speak;
“A New Deal for Medicine: Expanding and Desegregating Louisville Hospitals after World War II,” noon, Friday, July 12, – Lynn Pohl will speak.
Visit filsonhistorical.org for tickets.

Lou-Grass at Temple Shalom
Temple Shalom will present a Lou-Grass music festival featuring Bluegrass and Jewish music, on Sunday, June 2, starting at 1 p.m.
Indoor and outdoor venues will showcase music by John Gage, Brigid Kaelin and Kentucky Bluegrass bands Hog Operation and Ida Clare.
Nefesh Mountain, a New York-based nationally known Jewish Bluegrass band, which combines traditional Jewish music with a bluegrass twist, will finish the evening.
The daylong festival includes children’s activities, inflatables and food trucks from 1 to 3 p.m.
Tickets are $15 at the door or $12 in advance. Children’s tickets (12 and under) are $5 with a family maximum of $40. Call Temple Shalom at 502-458-4739 for tickets.

Dad’s Trip to Israel
The Kentucky Institute for Torah Education (KITE) will take a group of fathers on another trip to Israel from Nov. 11 to 17. The trip is highly subsidized, and spaces are limited. Go to jwrp.org to apply or contact Rabbi Zack Blaustein at rabbizb@kentuckytorah.org.

‘Sugihara: Conspiracy of Kindness’

Temple Shalom will screen the PBS documentary Sugihara: Conspiracy of Kindness at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, April 28. The program is a prelude to the community-wide Yom HaShoah program at 7 p.m., Monday, May 1, also at Temple Shalom, when a daughter of a Jew saved by Chiune Sugihara will speak. Sugihara, Japan’s envoy to Vilna Lithuania during World War II, issued visas — against his government’s wishes — to Jews fleeing the Nazi onslaught. Light refreshments will be served after the screening. RSVP by calling 502-458-4739.

Homeless outreach
Keneseth Israel will make sandwiches and care packages for the homeless, starting at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, May 2. Bring your own supplies (bread, peanut butter and jelly, blankets, underwear, socks, flashlights, etc.) At around 6:30 p.m. the group will caravan downtown to give out food and supplies to the homeless.

Packing party
Brown Bag Blessings, Adath Jeshurun’s program to help feed the homeless will hold a packing party at 12:30 p.m., Sunday, May 5, to prepare brown bag lunches to serve to the homeless population. Pizza and refreshments will be served. Donations of bottled water, peanut butter, jelly, and small bagged snacks are needed. To sign up, visit adathjeshurun.com/brownbagblessings.

Torah yoga service for kids
Rabbi Diane Tracht will lead a 45-minute session of meditation and yoga connected to the practice of mussar at 11 am, Saturday, May 18 at Adath Jeshurun. Students will join the main service afterwards to help lead the closing prayers. Wear comfortable clothing. Contact Tracht at dianetracht@gmail.com.
WRJ/Sisterhood meeting
WRJ/Sisterhood will hold its annual closing meeting at 12:30 p.m., Sunday, May 19, in the Heideman Auditorium. Terry Chambers, author of the mystery,Rose Island, An Almost Accurate Account of Days Gone By, will be the guest speaker. Please bring unexpired food items for the JFCS Meyer Food Pantry. RSVP to The Temple 502 423-2818 by May 18.

AJ Book Club
The AJ Book Club is reading Millard Salter’s Last Day by Jacob M. Appel. The book will be discussed at the next meeting at 2 p.m., Sunday, May 19, at Adath Jeshurun. Contact Deborah Slosberg at dslosberg@adathjeshurun.com or 502-458-5359.

Dad’s trip info session
There will be an info session to learn about the KITE-JWRP Israel trip at the home of Mark and Tracy Geller at 3 p.m. Sunday May 19. Contact Rabbi Zack Blaustein at rabbizb@kentuckytorah.org.

Captivating Cantors Concert
Adath Jeshurun will host a rare musical performance with more than 130 cantors performing together, at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 22. The show is part of the 72nd Annual Cantor’s Assembly Convention. Tickets may be purchased at adathjeshurun.com/CantorsConcert.

Bernheim Hike
The Temple Brotherhood’s annual Spring Bernheim Hike will be held Sunday, June 2. The carpool leaves The Temple at 10:30 a.m. Buy lunch at Isaac’s Cafe, or bring your own. A moderate one-to- two hour hike will follow. The Brotherhood will treat the hikers to ice cream afterwards. RSVPs are required for a carpool. Call 502-423-1818 by May 31.

Celebration of Learning
Louisville Melton will honor Rabbi Laura Metzger for excellence in teaching and curriculum development during its annual Celebration of Learning at 11 a.m., Sunday, June 2, at Adath Jeshurun. Lunch will follow at noon. RSVPs are due by Friday, May 24. Call Deborah Slosberg at 502-458-5359 or visit adathjeshurun.com/meltoncelebration.

WOTS Book Club
The WOTS (Women of Temple Shalom) Book Club will hold its next meeting at 2 p.m., Thursday, June 6, at the cafe at Barnes & Noble, 801. S. Hurstbourne. The club is reading The Sisters Weiss: A Novel, by Naomi Ragen and The Book of Mysteries, by Jonathan Cahn. Contact Carol Savkovich at savkofam@bellsouth.ent.

The Temple Tikkun Leil Shavuot
The Temple’s annual Tikkun Leil Shavuot will be held at 9 p.m., Saturday, June 8. Rabbi David Ariel-Joel will address “The Miracle of Sinai” The event will follow the confirmation service.

Adult Education

Pragmatic spirituality discussion
Dr. Courtney Snyder and Marty Snyder lead a discussion group based on inspiration from spiritual thinkers, Sundays at 10 a.m. at Adath Jeshurun. The May 5 session addresses the topic “Where Money and spirituality Meet;” the May 19 session, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”

Melton Open House
Louisville Melton will hold an open house in May. Participants may attend one, or both, of the open house sessions on Tuesday, May 7, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., and/or Thursday, May 9, from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Contact Deborah Slosberg at dslosberg@adathjeshurun.com or 502-458-5359 to reserve space.

Kabbalah Month by Month
Cantor Sharon Hordes teaches a class in kabbalistic teachings and meditations as they relate to each Hebrew month’s holidays, Torah portions, healing areas and astrological connections. The class meets every second Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Keneseth Israel. The next session is May 9.

Mother’s Day Brunch
Keneseth Israel Sisterhood will host its Mother’s Day Brunch at 11:30 a.m., Sunday, May 12. Cost is $15 for adult, $7 for children 4 to 11, and free for kids 3 and under. Reservations and checks must be received by May 8. Send them to Keneseth Israel Sisterhood, c/o Beth Haines, 2907 Summerfield Drive, Louisville 40220. No refunds.

How to pray
The Jewish Learning Center-Chabad is offering a six-week course “With All My Heart,” which will examine the Jewish art of prayer and spiritual experience. The course will start on May 13 and is designed for people at all levels of knowledge. It is sponsored in part by the Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence. Classes are held at the JLC, 1110 Dupont Circle. Cost is $80. visit myjli.com to register.

Torah Yoga
Cantor Sharon Hordes and Lisa Flannery teach a class that combines yoga and Torah study. Temple Shalom and Hadassah con-sponsor the class, which meets at Keneseth Israel. The next session is at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 16.

Torah study
Rabbi David Ariel-Joel of The Temple leads Torah study, Saturdays at 9 a.m. in the Fishman Library. Coffee, bagels and cream cheese will be served.

Jews and Brews
Rabbi Michael Wolk leads a Torah study session over coffee Wednesdays at 11 a.m. in the J library.

Bridge Club
The Keneseth Israel Bridge Club meets Mondays from 1 to 3 p.m. in the small chapel. RSVP to gwishnia@gmail.com.

Worship

Derby, Celebration Shabbat
Wear Derby hats to Shabbat at 9:30 a.m., Saturday, May 4, at Adath Jeshurun. A kiddush lunch with Derby-inspired desserts will follow. Birthday and anniversaries in May will be celebrated with a group aliyah.

Shabbat with interactive prayer
Chabad will celebrate Shabbat with an interactive prayer service followed by a deli luncheon at 10 a.m., Saturday, May 4. The program is sponsored in part by the Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence. Call 502-459-1770.

No Shush Shabbat
Temple Shalom will hold its next No Shush Shabbat at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 10. Rabbi Beth Jacowitz Chottiner and Benji Berlow lead an interactive service for families. A pot-luck dinner will follow.

Sing-along service, dinner
Chabad will celebrate Shabbat on Friday, May 10 at the Chabad House, 1654 Almara Circle with a sing-along service at 8 p.m. Song and dance will be incorporated. A traditional Shabbat dinner will follow. The service is sponsored in part by the Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence. Call 502-459-1770.

Blue Jean Shabbat
The Temple’s annual spring Blue Jean/Grandparent/Great Grandparent Family Shabbat will be held Friday, May 17. Dinner provided by Goose Creek Diner (fried chicken and fried green tomatoes) starts at 6 p.m., followed by a tot Shabbat service at 6:45 pm in the sanctuary, our tot oneg in the Fishman Library afterwards. The main service in the Waller Chapel at 7 p.m. RSVP by Tuesday, May 14 at thetemplelouky.org or at 502-423-1818 to be entered into a raffle.

Candlelight service, meditation
Chabad will celebrate the conclusion of Shabbat with a havdalah service and guided meditation on Saturday, May 18. The service will conclude with a renewal blessing for the moon. It is sponsored in part by the Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence. Call 502-459-1770.

Lag Baomer commemoration
Chabad will commemorate the life of the sage Rabbi Shimon Ben Yochai on Lag Baomer, Tuesday, May 21. Call 502-459-1770.

Bagels Lox and Tefillen
Chabad will hold a 45-minute followed by a 45-minutebrunch at 8:30 a.m., Sunday, May 26. The program is sponsored in part by the Jewish Heritage Fund for Excellence. Call 502-459-1770.

Bernheim Shabbat
The Temple’s annual Bernheim Classical Shabbat Service and dinner will be held Friday, May 31, Dinner starts at 6 p.m.; services, 7 p.m. Isaac Bernheim was a member of The Temple, a Louisville distiller, and philanthropist who bequeathed 14,000 acres of land, the Bernheim Forest and Arboretum, to the people of Kentucky. Cost for the dinner is $10 for adults, free for children 12 and under. The menu is Bubbe’s Brisket with a vegetarian option available on advanced request. RSVP before May 28 for a $5 discount. Call 502-423-1818 or register online.