Adath Jeshurun Congregation (also Adath Jeshurun Synagogue) is a

Conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

synagogue A synagogue, also called a shul or a temple, is a place of worship for Jews and Samaritans. It is a place for prayer (the main sanctuary and sometimes smaller chapels) where Jews attend religious services or special ceremonies such as wed ...

located in Minnetonka,

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

, in the United States, with about 1,200 members. Founded in 1884, it is a founding member of the United Synagogue of America, a founding member of the Women's League for Conservative Judaism, Olitzky, Kerry M.; Raphael, Marc Lee. ''The American Synagogue: A Historical Dictionary and Sourcebook'',

Greenwood Press Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc. (GPG) was an educational and academic publisher (middle school through university level) which was part of ABC-Clio. Since 2021, ABC-Clio and its suite of imprints, including GPG, are collectively imprints of B ...

, June 30, 1996, p. 183. . and the oldest affiliate of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism west of Chicago.Paprock, John-Brian and Paprock, Teresa Peneguy. ''Sacred Sites of Minnesota'', Big Earth Publishing, 2004, p. 31.

Early history

Adath Jeshurun was founded in 1884 by two small groups of

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and

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. Although the congregation, originally known as A’Tas Yeshurun, began by closely following orthodox Jewish customs, it soon became the first Conservative congregation west of the Mississippi River. In its early years, the synagogue faced three major disasters: In 1888, while in rented premises, a fire destroyed all of its property, and in 1902 a windstorm completely destroyed the congregation's synagogue on Second Street South. The congregation subsequently purchased a church on Seventh Street South in 1903, but it too was destroyed in a windstorm in 1904. In 1912 Adath Jeshurun hired C. David Matt, its first American trained

rabbi A rabbi (; ) is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi—known as ''semikha''—following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of t ...

, and the first to give sermons in English. In 1913 Adath Jeshurun was one of the founding members of the United Synagogue of America, and in 1918 its sisterhood helped found the Women's League for Conservative Judaism.

Recent events

Adath Jeshurun is "the oldest affiliate of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism west of Chicago." It describes itself as "a progressive, egalitarian, and sacred community dedicated to Torah (learning and tradition), Avodah (prayer and spirituality), and Gemilut Hasadim (acts of loving kindness)""Welcome to Adath Jeshurun"
and it has relocated several times to newer neighborhoods. In 1995 it dedicated a seat suburban facility with space for all of the congregation's religious services, social events, education programs and administrative functions. Three indoor arches at the entrance to the Grand Foyer recall Adath Jeshurun’s former synagogue and the three "pillars" of the congregation's mission –

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service Service may refer to: Activities * Administrative service, a required part of the workload of university faculty * Civil service, the body of employees of a government * Community service, volunteer service for the benefit of a community or a ...

, and good deeds. In April 2024, Aaron Weininger was installed as the first openly gay senior rabbi of any large

congregation, as senior rabbi of Adath Jeshurun.

Conservative Judaism and activism

Aaron Brusso has been a

at Adath Jeshurun Congregation. He is a graduate of the

Jewish Theological Seminary of America The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) is a Conservative Jewish education organization in New York City, New York. It is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism as well as a hub for academic scholarship in Jewish studies ...

(JTSA) and has spoken in favor on "The Courage to be Conservative". Brusso, as representative of the congregation, spoke out in favor of a Hechsher Tzedek, or "Justice Certification" which is a proposed certification for food produced in a way that meets standards of social justice for workers and animals, promoted by modern-day

Conservative Judaism Conservative Judaism, also known as Masorti Judaism, is a Jewish religious movements, Jewish religious movement that regards the authority of Jewish law and tradition as emanating primarily from the assent of the people through the generations ...

activists. In July 2007 the synagogue hosted a symposium about ethical standards in the

kosher (also or , ) is a set of dietary laws dealing with the foods that Jewish people are permitted to eat and how those foods must be prepared according to Jewish law. Food that may be consumed is deemed kosher ( in English, ), from the Ashke ...

food industry: :If successful, it will create "justice certificate" labels on kosher foods, letting the consumer know that the producer of the product met working standards like wages, safety, benefits and corporate transparency...Rabbi Aaron Brusso will moderate the discussion. Brusso is a 35-year-old Chicago native and graduate of Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City and is in his seventh year at Adath Jeshurun...Q estion:How and why did Adath Jeshurun get involved with this initiative? We are a conservative congregation, and this is a movement-wide initiative. Brusso and the synagogue signed on to a "Call to Action" about the

war in Darfur The War in Darfur, also nicknamed the Land Cruiser War, was a major armed conflict in the Darfur region of Sudan that began in February 2003 when the Sudan Liberation Movement/Army, Sudan Liberation Movement (SLM) and the Justice and Equalit ...

joining many Jewish groups that was sent to President Bush and all members of Congress.

Cultural center

The synagogue has hosted various innovative exhibits. In 2006 it hosted an exhibit on "the theme of 'Jewish women and prayer'", about which the ''

Star Tribune ''The Minnesota Star Tribune'', formerly the ''Minneapolis Star Tribune'', is an American daily newspaper based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As of 2023, it is Minnesota's largest newspaper and the List of newspapers in the United States, seventh- ...

'' noted: :It was an intriguing idea, to explore prayer life through art - the works resonate with the passion the artists feel about expanding women’s roles in worship tradition, celebrating life among global unrest, and experiencing oneness — and an occasional wrestling match—with God. (Delma Francis, March 4, 2006) The synagogue hosts significant debates, such as hosting the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota that co-organized a debate with

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hosts

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and

Tucker Carlson Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson (born May 16, 1969) is an American conservative political commentator who hosted the nightly political talk show '' Tucker Carlson Tonight'' on Fox News from 2016 to 2023. Since his contract with Fox News was term ...

in 2004. The synagogue has hosted lectures in conjunction with the

University of Minnesota The University of Minnesota Twin Cities (historically known as University of Minnesota) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in the Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint ...

, such as by Avivah Zornbert of the London School of Jewish Studies (formerly known as "Jews' College") during 2006."College News: Events, Conferences and Lectures": ''The Pit and The Rope: Joseph and Judah'' (2nd Annual Center for Jewish Studies Community Lecture Series: Avivah Zornbert.) May 1, 2006
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References and notes

External links