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A Chanukah Message
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A CHANUKAH MESSAGE
from Rebecca Reice
Student Rabbi
Happy Chanukah to the Aitz Chaim Community!
As Asher and I lit the candles these first few nights, we reflected on how beautiful the light is on these, the darkest days of the year. I count it as a blessing that in this cold and dark time, we are asked to light up our homes with the chanukiah (Chanukah menorah), reminding us of the miracles wrought by and for our ancestors.
Chanukah is a holiday celebrating the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem. At that time, the Temple in Jerusalem was the place of God’s Presence on earth. The Temple was only able to be rededicated after the people cleaned it and prepared a place for God to dwell among them. Today, we understand that God’s Presence can fill our world. What part of your life would you like to rededicate for God’s Presence to dwell with you?
I wish you all a Chag Urim Sameach – A Happy Holiday of Lights! May the light of your chanukiah pierce the dark and cold of these days and bring warmth and blessing into your homes and the whole community.
MAJCO Communities to Light Menorot Together at Capitol, 2 p.m. Thurs, Dec 22
Dear Montana Jews,
- Congregation Beth Aaron, Billings
- Chabad Lubavitch of Montana
- Congregation Beth Shalom, Bozeman
- Congregation Aitz Chaim, Great Falls
- The Jewish Community of Helena
- Congregation B’nei Israel, Butte
- Congregation Har Shalom, Missoula
- Congregation Bet Harim, Kalispell
- Synagogue of the Northern Rockies, Whitefish
Related articles
- Chanukah in Chelena (aitzchaim.com)
- Majco Candle Lighting at the Capitol Thursday, December 22, 2011 (aitzchaim.com)
- Chanukah Schedule (aitzchaim.com)
Noted Montana Composer Daniel Buckvich writes Chanukah Children’s Dance
Butte native and noted American modern composer Daniel Buckvich recently wrote a Chanukah Children’s Dance! The gorgeous piece is available on his website.
Chanukah in Chelena
Below, please find an email from Helena Jewish Community organizer Janet Tatz, about the upcoming MAJCO Menorah lighting in the State Capitol building in Helena 
and the Chanukah party being held in Helena on the evening of December 22.
From: Janet TatzSubject: Chanukah in ChelenaDate: November 27, 2011 8:17:31 AM MSTDear Helena Jewish Community,Below you will find a recent posting from our MAJCO president, Josh Burnim. Please plan to attend this special, annual event that will take place at The Capitol on Thursday, December 22nd:Dear MAJCO Communities and Friends,Please mark your calendars for the following MAJCO events on Thursday, December 22, 2011.Candle Lighting at the Capitol in Rotunda with Lt. Governor Bohlinger at
2:00 pmMAJCO Business Meeting in Legislative Room 335 at 3:00 pmHere is how the events will flow:
- 2:00 – 2:30 pm Candle-Lighting at Capitol with Lt. Governor Bohlinger
- 2:30 – 3:00 pm clean-up
- 3:00 – 4:00/4:30 pm MAJCO Business Meeting
I will send out more details as we near the events. Please email or call
with any question/concerns/ideas etc.Shalom!Josh BurnimMAJCO President
In addition, we are fortunate to have Rabbi Ed Stafman, from Beth Shalom, in Bozeman, staying over in Helena the night of the 22nd to help us celebrate Chanukah. We’ll plan to begin at 5:30 pm at Touchmark on Saddle Dr. ( formerly, The Waterford on Saddle Dr.) in The Forum, on the 2nd floor of that facility. We’ll light our menorahs (please bring something to place under your menorah, if you are planning to bring one, in order that wax does not drip on the tables or tablecloths), enjoy a vegetarian potluck meal ( if someone is willing to bring the latkes, please let me know in advance!), sing songs, enjoy a holiday teaching or story from Rabbi Ed, spin the dreidel, and enjoy being in each others’ company at this time of year.
The annual Solstice celebration, hosted by St. Paul’s Methodist church and always in conjunction with the Helena Jewish Community, will take place on Wednesday, December 21st starting at 7pm. This year, for the first time, Rabbi Ed will be presenting the Jewish seasonal teaching. Please plan to attend. This event is open and free to everyone and is a relaxing, enjoyable hour well spent.Looking forward to seeing you at these Festival of Light celebrations.
JanetP.S. Checkout www.menorahmate.com to learn about a wonderful holiday ( and Shabbat) product that I have available to sell right here in Helena. These Menorah and B’rachah mats/”mates” make a great gift or personal home item. The mats are a great way to catch those wax drips and to learn the Chanukah or Shabbat blessings ( printed in Hebrew, English and transliteration). If you are interested in purchasing one or more of these items, please contact me, as these are a fund-raiser for our Montana statewide chapter of Hadassah. Thanks!
Related articles
- Majco Candle Lighting at the Capitol Thursday, December 22, 2011 (aitzchaim.com)
xmas at the Mercy Home
By Wendy Weissman
It hasn’t even started snowing yet, but it is time to think about xmas at the Mercy Home. Once again this year, we will be taking shifts at the local Domestic Violence Shelter for Women (Mercy Home) so that the dedicated 24-7 staff at the Mercy Home can spend xmas with their families.
Here are shifts we need to fill:
Saturday 12/24 2-5 PM
Saturday 12/24 5-8 PM
Saturday 12/24 8-11 PM
Sunday 12/25: 8-11 AM
Sunday 12/25: 11 AM to 2 PM
Sunday 12/25: 2-5 PM
Because Chanukkah falls during Christmas this year, the annual Chanukkah party that is traditionally held on the Saturday of Chanukkah has been moved to Friday, 12/23, so that we can continue to perform this mitzvah and the volunteer does not have to miss the party.
Men are welcome with an accompanying female (to comply with the Mercy Home rules). For those of you who have never done this before, it is a great mitzvah to help out with the Mercy Home and the women who reside at the shelter. Duties include answering the phone (a script is provided, and an on-call staff member is available if you need help), monitoring the alarms, and signing residents in and out. Residents often stay with friends or family members during the holiday, so there typically have been only 1 or 2 residents on the premises. There have been many xmas’s with no residents, so make sure to bring a book to read or a movie to watch.
If you are able to help, or have any questions, please contact me (Wendy Weissman) at 727-4098 or wendy@weissman.com. The location of the shelter is confidential, so once I have the volunteer list, I will tell you where you need to be.
