Mount Zion's Bulletin Iton Tziyon comes out monthly [except for combined issues June/July and January/February].   You will need to download the free  Adobe Acrobat viewer to read the pdf documents.  Click on the month listed to the right to download the issue.
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We are under construction!  The Summit Avenue entrance is closed for the next two weeks.  We are doing cement work and sewer work.  Hopefully, it will be done for the first days of school.

The Syndicate Street entrance is the best entry to the synagogue.  Also, the kitchen and alley entrances are available.

Please bear with us, and we will have a beautiful Summit Avenue entrance and new working sewers before you know it.

Mount Zion Services and Events:

This Shabbat

Shabbat Evening Services:  Friday, August 22

7:30 p.m.        Shabbat Evening Services– Celebrate Shabbat!

Shabbat Morning Services:  Saturday, August 23

            9:00 a.m.        Open Torah Study:  Ekev – Deut. 7:12-9:3

         10:00 a.m.         Shabbat Services – Laura Block will be called to the Torah as Bat Mitzvah

            5:45 p.m.        Havdalah Service

Next Shabbat

Shabbat Evening Services:  Friday, August 29

7:30 p.m.        Shabbat Evening Services – Celebrate Shabbat!

Shabbat Morning Services:  Saturday, August 30

            9:00 a.m.        Open Torah Study:  Reeh – Deut. 11:26-12:28

         10:00 a.m.         Shabbat Services – Noah Ellis will be called to the Torah as Bar Mitzvah

            5:45 p.m.        Havdalah Service

The NEW Mount Zion Photo Directory is HERE

Please come to the office Monday-Thursday, 8:30–5:00 (Friday, 8:30-4:30) and pick up your copy!

We will distribute them after Shabbat Service on Friday evenings.  Also, directories will be available on the first days of school.  Look for the table in the lobby.

Each household will be given one directory at no charge. Additional directories can be purchased for $5.00 from the office during the week.

Shir Chants Choir Camp (Sun., Aug. 24)

Like to sing?  Join Shir Chants!

Shir Chants is the teen choir at Mount Zion, open to young men and women entering grades 8-12.  We sing at High Holy Day services, one service per month, and occasional special services and projects.  We usually rehearse on Sunday mornings before Sunday School (8:45-9:15).

Join us for Shir Chants Choir Camp (Music, Friends, Refreshments!)

When:      August 24^th, 2:00-5:30 PM

Where:    Mount Zion Temple

We will begin learning music for High Holy Days and some of the new music for the rest of the year. 

For more info contact Maggie Burton mburton624@msn.com or 612-722-8062.

Religious School News – School Starts in 2 Weeks

School Registration Forms are on our website:   Register for School!

14^th Annual St. Paul Classic Bike Tour (Sun., Sept. 7)

Please note that on Sunday, September 7, the 14^th Annual St. Paul Classic Bike Tour will use westbound Summit Avenue from 8 a.m. until noon for the final leg of its short course.  All roads will remain open to traffic except Ramsey Hill.  There will be no parking allowed on the north side of Summit Avenue.  To ensure compliance, cars parked in the posted no parking zone will be tagged and towed.

Rabbi Spilker and the Prime Timers Evening with the Rabbi (Mon., Sept. 8, 5:45 p.m.)

When:  Monday, September 8, 5:45 p.m., Mount Zion patio

Auschwitz or Sinai?  In what ways do the memory of Auschwitz and the mountain of Sinai speak to the Jewish people in 5769?  When a head of state visits Israel, protocol brings them-even during the shortest of visits-to Yad Vashem.  This is appropriate, but what messages do we convey about the heart and soul of Judaism, of the Jewish people, of the gifts we have brought to the western world through Sinai?  Based on an article by Rabbi David Hartman, we will discuss this balance.

Potluck contributions should be (by Last Name):

A-K: Dessert

L-R: Entrée

S-Z: Appetizer, starch, or vegetable dish

Please clip the signup form from the August Bulletin or the form from the recent flyer and return it with your menu selection to the temple office.

Sisterhood News

~         Join us for the Sisterhood Opening Meeting, September 16 (details to follow)

~         LILITH MAGAZINEDISCUSSION GROUPS, COMING OCTOBER 2008:  Sisterhood is beginning to organize LILITH magazine discussion groups.  We will meet four times a year in Sisterhood members homes and discuss various articles from LILITH magazine. Each discussion group can have up to 8-l2 people.  If you’re not familiar with the magazine, the Mount Zion Temple library has back issues for the past two years or you can visit the LILITH magazine website at www.lilith.org.  If you are interested or have further questions, please contact Maureen Davidson at reendavidson@yahoo.comor 651-645-9244. We hope you will join us!

~        Calling all Sisterhood Members:  WRJ-URJ Regional Biennial, November 6-9, Pfister Hotel, Milwaukee.  Haven't been to a WRJ-URJ regional biennial?  You really should consider this outstanding event!  The theme is ETZ CHAIM HI- EXPLORING OURTREE OF LIFE.  Many of the workshops relate how being green is a Jewish reality. There is so much to inspire you, to challenge you, to educate you.  Workshops run all day!  There is music and social events every night.  Services Friday and Saturday include the best minds and voices of WRJ-URJ.  Here is your chance to hear Rabbi Andrea Weiss (The Women's Commentary co-editor) and Rabbi Eric Yoffie (URJ President) and Mark Pelavin, of the Religious Action Center. 

Need to stretch your legs?  A tour of the new Jewish Museum and the Discovery Center are running on Thursday. Meals are superb! The hotel is spectacular! The room rate is $130 until October 15.  Need a roomie?  Contact Ilona Rouda at 651-481-0226 or irouda@blakeschool.org.  You can carpool or take the Megabus roundtrip for $30 if you act fast (www.megabus.com).  Registration is online at www.urj.org/glc.  We are into saving trees.  If a hard copy is needed, contact Ilona and she will get one to you. Let's make this the biggest turnout of Mount Zion Sisterhood members!  It will only happen if you are part of the group.  Please join us!  Questions?  Call Ilona Rouda at (651) 481-0226 or visit www.urj.org/glc.

~         Save the date:  The Sisterhood Blood Drive will be Wednesday, Nov. 12th from 2:30 to 7:30 pm.  Please do NOT donate elsewhere after Sept 17th.  If you have been deferred for low hemoglobin, please eat lots of iron-containing foods beginning now.  Thanks to all of our loyal and new donors.

Include the Mitzvah Food Shelf in Your Summer Plans

Summer is the season that is hardest for many low-income families.  During the school year, their children eat breakfast and lunch at school, but during the summer they are eating all of their meals at home.  The food shelf is having a difficult time keeping up with this increased demand, especially given the rising cost of food and the diminished capacity of many donors. 

Please don’t take a vacation from your Mitzvah Food Shelf giving.  Your donations of food or money will make a big difference in the lives of needy individuals.  Make checks payable to the Mitzvah Food Shelf and mail to temple.  Questions?  Call Carol Weisberg at 651-645-0309.