Our Vision
Join Us
Sukkah Building & Decorating: Sunday, September 23, 3:00-5:00 p.m. Join us to help build and decorate our sukkah!
Intergenerational Shabbat Sukkot Potluck: Friday, September 28, 5:30 p.m. Bring a dish to share, sit around the campfire, and bring an instrument to play!
Kehillah Dessert Potluck: Saturday, September 29, 7:00 p.m. Join our Kehillah (for those in their 20s to 30s) for a dessert potluck in the Sukkah!
East Side Sukkah Hop: Sunday, September 30, 2:00-7:00 p.m. - call or email the office for exact locations
Eat in the sukkah all week! Located at the First Unitarian Society on the Courtyard lawn off of the Courtyard rooms in the Atrium building.
Simchat Torah Celebration, Monday, October 1, 5:30 p.m. Put on your dancing shoes and join us for a free pizza dinner! RSVPs required.
In Focus
We are Staying: A Presentation by Jen Rubin on her new book
Sunday, September 23, 9:50 a.m.
Located at RISE, 2120 Fordem Avenue
Jen's book is a memoir of the family business her family owned for 80 years in New York City. It tells about the rise, struggles and fall of the business, and the family that owned it across those decades. Jen's grandfather was one of countless Russian Jews running for their lives the first part of the 20th century, starting over in NYC and opening small repair shops. Jen will talk about the social policies and historical trends that both helped and hurt the business and her experience in writing a historical memoir of a family owned business.
Jen is a member of Shaarei Shamayim, leads storytelling workshops around Madison, co-produces the Moth StorySlam in Madison, and works at the Wisconsin Historical Society Press.
A Closer Look at Restorative Justice Practices: A Presentation by Bill Baldon
Sunday, October 7, 9:50 a.m.
Located at RISE, 2120 Fordem Avenue
This will be an opportunity to learn more about restorative justice with a particular look at how these practices avoid the school-to-prison pipeline. Bill is a member of Shaarei Shamayim and Restorative Justice Manager for the YWCA of Madison.
Multiple Narrative Tour in Israel-Palestine
February 26 - March 5, 2019
Deadline to register September 30, 2018
Shaarei Shamayim is sponsoring a 7-night trip to Israel and Palestine through MEJDI Tours. This tour will offer a combination of rich historical, cultural, and spiritual experiences, introducing participants to Israeli and Palestinian narratives with the goal of building understanding and respect for the people living in the region. It will focus on the impact of the Israeli occupation and explore obstacles to a peaceful resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For more information or to book your tour, visit our tour web page or contact Shannon Okuonghae at shannon@mejditours.
Community Bnei Mitzvah Celebration
Never celebrated a bar or bat mitzvah? Looking to get more comfortable leading parts of a Shabbat service? Learn to lead the service, chant some Torah, give a dvar Torah, and anything else – either as a group or as individuals. Don’t be overwhelmed! You might only prepare one line of Torah and some short remarks on the portion.
If you’ve chanted Torah before but you’ve never really taken responsibility for leading a whole service, consider joining the group as well. Contact office@shamayim.org if interested!
Fundraisers: Voces de la Frontera and the Gaza Water Project
Shaarei Shamayim is continuing our work with Voces de la Frontera, Wisconsin's leading immigrant rights organization. Last year we raised $62,000 so that the Madison office could hire its first full-time organizer. Our members and friends will host several small house parties this fall and winter to continue to support the organization and fight for immigrant rights. If you would like to get involved, please contact the office.
Shaarei Shamayim has joined a coalition to help provide clean drinking water to children in Gaza, who are suffering from polluted water. Find more information about this project here.