The best place to stay up to date on all events and programming at JSS! This calendar is always up to date and includes all the information you need to get involved.
Aug
15
Thu
Aug 15 @ 10:30 am – 1:30 pm
The Summer Levy Series has become a welcoming of summer, and an occasion to socialize, share a wonderful meal, and feed our minds with a variety of inspiring presentations and discussions. Please join us. The program and menu for this event is below – call 608-442-4081 to register at a cost of $25 per person.
Lauren Strauss – “American Jews and the Impulse Toward Social Justice”
When and why did America’s Jewish community begin to organize around issues of social and civic justice? During the 20th century, the community began to engage with many social issues of the day – from immigration, labor, free speech, and women’s rights to civil rights and racial justice. This talk analyzes Jewish American activism and organizational skills, which stayed constant even in a changing world.
Dr. Lauren Strauss teaches Jewish history and Israel studies at the American University in Washington, D.C., where she also serves as Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Jewish Studies Program. Dr. Strauss lectures widely and is a commentator at Jewish cultural events and in the press. She is active in “shared society” groups and academic organizations in the U.S. and Israel, and she has curated or served as historian for several museum exhibits. Her published articles focus on Jews and the arts, gender, and political activism.
Lunch: Nakoma salad, dinner rolls & mini muffins, Baked Cod with Toasted Spinach-Lemon Butter Sauce or Vegetable Phyllo topped with marinara and crème fraiche, roasted red potatoes, French beans and baby carrots. Dessert: Turtle sundae
Aug
16
Fri
A Friday erev Shabbat service led by Rabbi Renee Bauer, with assistance from additional JSS staff. Join us as we light candles, eat Challah, say Kiddush, and sing songs around the table, every third Friday of the month.
Sep
27
Fri
Come join us for a special Rosh Hashanah celebration at Oakwood Village with Rabbi Renee Bauer. Family and friends welcome! Light refreshments will be served.
Oct
18
Fri
A Friday erev Shabbat service led by Rabbi Renee Bauer, with assistance from additional JSS staff. Join us as we light candles, eat Challah, say Kiddush, and sing songs around the table, every third Friday of the month.
Nov
15
Fri
A Friday erev Shabbat service led by Rabbi Renee Bauer, with assistance from additional JSS staff. Join us as we light candles, eat Challah, say Kiddush, and sing songs around the table, every third Friday of the month.
Dec
27
Fri
Come join us for a Hanukkah party at Oakwood Village West! Our Rabbi, Renee Bauer, will lead a service and we will light the menorah, play dreidel, and sing songs. Family and friends welcome.
Mar
14
Fri
Join us for this exciting collaboration with Temple Beth El!
6 – 7pm: Rabbi Prosnit, Kai Yael Gardner Mishlove, executive director of Jewish Social Services, and Rabbi Renee Bauer, director of spiritual care at Jewish Social Services, will be in conversation about the challenges and opportunities of running a social service agency like Jewish Social Services in 2025.
7:30 – 9pm: Rabbi Renee Bauer, Jewish Social Services’ Director of Spiritual Care and Outreach, will offer the sermon on “Finding joy while facing challenges in 2025 America.”
Mar
20
Thu
Join us for the annual JSS Purim celebration! We will dress up in costumes and celebrate the holiday with hamantaschen and other festive treats, usually involving a special musical guest. Please join us. No registration required.
Apr
18
Fri
Join JSS Rabbi Renee Bauer, Volunteer Coordinator Paul Borowsky, and Spiritual Care Assistant Kristin Geil for a passover learning event at Oakwood Village! We are excited to feature special guest Cantor David Wallach, who will be teaching us about the story behind passover. We will light candles, say Kiddish, and have passover snacks as well. All are welcome, and no registration required. Please note the Nakoma Room is located in the Heritage Oaks building.
Jun
4
Wed
Join us for the first event in our 2025 Levy Series, “Sustaining Journalism and Serving Jewish Wisconsin”! What are the major challenges that confront journalists? What can Rob Golub and other journalists do to fight for a better way forward? Rob will explain approaches sometimes referred to as “community journalism” and “community engagement.” He will also share experiences from his journalism career and all about the training programs he leads, which have been a launching pad for some great American journalists. We will learn about the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle, its role in the community, and how you can connect with it.
Prior to Rob Golub’s position as editor of the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle, he was the chief editor of The Journal Times in Racine, where he supervised both editors and news reporters. Golub has won multiple awards from the Milwaukee Press Club for his work, including a first-place award in 2022 for Best Long Hard Feature Story. For more than 15 years, he has run an internship program that trains the leading journalists of tomorrow. His “graduates” have become employees and interns at Facebook, CNN, Bloomberg, MSNBC, and other news organizations worldwide.
10:30-10:50 – Check-in
11:00-12:30 – Program
12:30-1:30 – Lunch
Lunch: Nakoma Golf Greens and Veggie Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette, assorted Artisan Rolls and Mini Muffins. Choice of entrée: Broiled Whitefish with Caper Piccata Sauce or Vegan Sweet Potato Curry, Barley Pilaf, French Beans and Baby Carrots. Dessert: Chocolate Mousse Sundae
Register by phone at 608-442-4081, or via mail / in-person at Jewish Social Services, 6300 Enterprise Lane, #309, Madison, WI 53719. You can print out the registration form here: Levy Registration Form