Category Archives: 2025

YAHRZEITS — TEVET, 5786

RAM’S HORN POLICY FOR LISTING YAHRZEIT MEMORIALS:!
Yahrzeit memorials are listed by consecutive Hebrew month, date, and year, if known, or at the beginning of the list for one calendar year following the date of passing.

Compiled by Aitz Chaim over many years, this list is maintained by the Ram’s Horn. Please send any corrections or additions to editor@aitzchaim.com
May the source of peace send peace to all who mourn, and may we be a comfort to all who are bereaved.

  • Alfred Breslauer, 10 Cheshvan, 5786
  • Bruce Breslauer, 27 Tammuz, 5785
  • Louis Eisenberg, 5 Tevet, 5746
  • Jules Cherry, 8 Tevet, 5733
  • Cynthia Boyd, 14 Tevet, 5769
  • James Levie, 15 Tevet, 5771
  • Dr. Daniel E. Fischer, 24 Tevet, 5764
  • Dr. Irving “Chick” Waltman, 24 Tevet, 5776
  • Gene Charnes, 27 Tevet, 5763
  • Dr. Alexander Fischer, 28 Tevet, 5743

AITZ CHAIM COMMUNITY HANUKKAH HAPPENINGS 2025, 5786

  1. HANUKKAH CELEBRATION INVITATION
    Rabbi Mendel and Devorah Leah Spiero have graciously invited the Aitz Chaim Community to a Hanukkah celebration at their home on Sunday evening, 12/14/2025, 25 Kislev, 5786, at 6:00PM, following the lighting of the first candle of the Diane Kaplan Memorial Chanukkiah at the civic Center at 5:30pm. Please see other articles in The Ram’s Horn.
  2. Join Jews across Montana to celebrate Hanukkah!
    WHEN? Wednesday evening, 12/17/2025, 28 Kislev, 5786, 6:00pm-7:00pm
    WHERE? on Zoom
    HOW? See below for directions on how to receive the Zoom link.

    Join Student Rabbi Adina Ikeman and Montana Jewish Project for Hanukkah Across Montana.

    After lighting the fourth candle of the Diane Kaplan Memorial Chanukkiah downtown at the Civic Center at 5:30, we’ll light a menorah, sing, and pray on Zoom starting at 6:00 PM. REGISTER HERE to receive the Zoom link.
    For questions, please email info@montanajewishproject.org

  3. MAJCO Menorah Lighting in Capitol Rotunda
    WHEN? Thursday, 12/18/2025, 28 Kislev, 5786,
    WHERE? Capitol Rotunda, Second Floor
    Time? 12:00pm-1:30pm
  4. AITZ CHAIM COMMUNITY HANUKKAH PARTY
    WHEN? Saturday evening, 12/20/2025, 1 Tevet, 5786. Following the lighting of the seventh candle of the Diane Kaplan Memorial Chanukkiah at the Civic Center at 5:30 PM, we will gather together for a potluck at the Bethel. Please bring already-made latkes to reheat in the oven, and whatever else you have signed up to bring for a festive (milchig — dairy) potluck. Happy Hanukkah, everyone!

JOIN US FOR A CHANUKAH CELEBRATION!

Please join us for a Chanukah celebration!

WHEN? Sunday 12/14/2025; 25 Kislev, 5786
TIME? 6pm
Where? Spiero home
Who? You!

Rabbi Mendel and Devorah Leah Spiero
Great Falls, MT

SCHEDULE FOR LIGHTING THE AITZ CHAIM COMMUNITY CHANUKKIAH

Come celebrate Hanukkah with the Aitz Chaim Community as we light the Diane Kaplan Memorial Chanukkiah at the Civic center.

  • Sunday evening, 12/14/2025, 25 Kislev, 5786, First night of Hanukkah: We will light the first candle of the Diane Kaplan Memorial Chanukkiah at 5:30 P.M. If it’s cold, we’ll be finished by 5:31 P.M. Afterwards, we are invited to a Hanukkah celebration with Rabbi Mendel Spiero at his home. Please see separate article in The Ram’s Horn.
  • Monday evening, 12/15/2025, 26 Kislev, 5786: We will light the second candle at 5:30 P.M.
  • Tuesday evening, 12/16/2025, 27 Kislev, 5786: We will light the third candle at 5:30 P.M.
  • Wednesday evening, 12/17/2025, 28 Kislev, 5786: We will light the fourth candle at 5:30 P.M. There will be a Hanukkah Across Montana celebration on zoom starting at 6:00pm. Please see separate article in The Ram’s Horn.
  • Thursday evening, 12/18/2025, 29 Kislev, 5786: We will light the fifth candle at 5:30 P.M.
  • Friday evening, 12/19/2025, 30 Kislev, 5786: We will light the sixth candle at 5:30 P.M.
  • Saturday evening, 12/20/2025, 1 Tevet, 5786: We will light the seventh candle at 5:30pm. Then we will meet for our Aitz Chaim Community Hanukkah Party at the Bethel. Please see separate article in The Ram’s Horn.
  • Sunday evening, 12/21/2025, 2 Tevet, 5786: We will light the eighth candle at 5:30 P.M.
  • Monday, 12/22/2025, 2 Tevet, 5786: Eighth day of Hanukkah.

MONTHLY TORAH STUDY FOR DECEMBER, 2025, Kislev, 5786

I will be hosting the monthly Torah study next week Monday December 8th, 2025, 19 Kislev, 5786, at 6pm.


Rabbi Mendel Spiero
Great Falls, MT

YAHRZEITS — DECEMBER, 2025; 11 KISLEV, 5786

RAM’S HORN POLICY FOR LISTING YAHRZEIT MEMORIALS:!
Yahrzeit memorials are listed by consecutive Gregorian month, date, and year, if known, or at the beginning of the list for one calendar year following the date of passing.

Compiled by Aitz Chaim over many years, this list is maintained by the Ram’s Horn. Please send any corrections or additions to editor@aitzchaim.com
May the source of peace send peace to all who mourn, and may we be a comfort to all who are bereaved.

  • Alfred Breslauer, Nov 1, 2025; 10 Cheshvan, 5786
  • Bruce Breslauer, July 23, 2025; 27 Tammuz, 5785
  • Henry Espelin, December 1, 1984; 7 Kislev, 5745
  • Diane Kaplan, December 3, 2009; 16 Kislev, 5770
  • Beverly Tatz, December 8, 2015; 26 Kislev, 5776
  • Carl Weissman, December 9, 1960; 20 Kislev, 5721
  • Irving Tatz, December 9, 2008; 12 Kislev, 5769
  • Joseph Magalnick, December 12, 1970; 13 Kislev, 5731
  • Richard Weiss, December 12, 2000; 15 Kislev, 5761
  • Jules Cherry, December 13, 1972; 8 Tevet, 5733
  • Louis Eisenberg, December 17, 1985; 5 Tevet, 5746
  • Michael Thorne, December 17, 2016; 17 Kislev, 5777
  • James Levie, December 22, 2010; 15 Tevet, 5771
  • Charlotte Weiss, December 28, 2019; 30 Kislev, 5780
  • Joe Lavin

PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THIS UPCOMING EVENT

This is a reminder of the Kabbalat Shabbat service led by Devorah Werner on the first Friday of the month, December 5, 2025, 16 Kislev, 5786, at 6:00 P.M. at the Bethel.

The address for the Bethel is 1009 18th Avenue Southwest. click here for map and directions.

Hope to see you there.

CHRISTMAS AT THE MERCY HOME

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, it is time to start thinking about helping out at the Mercy Home this Christmas. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this “minchag,” our Jewish community volunteers to run the 24 hour domestic violence shelter from 2:00 P.M. on Christmas Eve until 5:00 P.M. on Christmas Day while the staff spends time with their families. Anyone is welcome to volunteer – training is provided. The only stipulation is that a male must volunteer with a female due to the sensitive nature of domestic violence toward women. Since this is a “secret shelter”, the location of the shelter will be provided to you closer to Christmas.

We customarily volunteer for 3 hour shifts starting at 2:00 P.M. on 12/24 through 5:00 P.M. on 12/25. Here is a list of the shifts that will need to be covered:

  • Wednesday afternoon, 12/24: 2:00 – 5:00 P.M.
  • Wednesday evening, 12/24: 5:00 P.M. – 8:00 P.M.
  • Wednesday evening,12/24: 8:00 P.M. – 11:00 P.M.
  • Thursday morning, 12/25: 8:00 A.M. – 11:00 A.M.
  • Thursday afternoon, 12/25: 11:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.
  • Thursday afternoon, 12/25: 2:00 P.m. – 5:00 P.M.

Please contact Wendy Weissman at (406) 868-5712 or wendy@weissman.com with any questions or to sign up.

Thank you.

Wendy Weissman

YAHRZEITS — KISLEV, 5786

RAM’S HORN POLICY FOR LISTING YAHRZEIT MEMORIALS:!
Yahrzeit memorials are listed by consecutive Hebrew month, date, and year, if known, or at the beginning of the list for one calendar year following the date of passing.

Compiled by Aitz Chaim over many years, this list is maintained by the Ram’s Horn. Please send any corrections or additions to editor@aitzchaim.com
May the source of peace send peace to all who mourn, and may we be a comfort to all who are bereaved.

  • Alfred Breslauer, 10 Cheshvan, 5786
  • Bruce Breslauer, 27 Tammuz, 5785
  • Arleen Heintzelman, 3 Kislev, 5781
  • Dr. Daniel Foxman, 4 Kislev, 5762</li
  • Henry Espelin, 7 Kislev, 5745
  • Irving Tatz, 12 Kislev, 5769
  • Joseph Magalnick, 13 Kislev, 5731
  • Richard Weiss, 15 Kislev, 5761
  • Diane Kaplan, 16 Kislev, 5770
  • Michael Thorne, 17 Kislev, 5777
  • Carl Weissman, 20 Kislev, 5721
  • Don Cherry, 25 KISLEV, 5782
  • Beverly Tatz, 26 Kislev, 5776
  • Sarah Barrett, 30 Kislev, 5728
  • Charlotte Weiss, 30 Kislev, 5780

AITZ CHAIM COMMUNITY ANNUAL SNOWSHOE HIKE AT SILVERCREST ON KING’S HILL

Please join us for our annual snowshoe hike at Silvercrest on Kings Hill. We will meet at the East end Walmart, 10th Ave., South in Great Falls at 8:30 AM on Sunday, November 30, 2025.

Bighorn outfitters has snowshoe rentals available. Lewis and Clark interpretive center also has snow shoes if they are open by then (government shutdown).
Aaron and Wendy have eight pairs available for use-Please contact them directly if interested in using their snow shoes

Two factors will contribute to our success for this planned hike— Snow availability and Aaron Weissman available to lead our group

I will send out a confirmatory email the week of Thanksgiving
We had a great time last year. It was very serene

Everyone have a great Shabbat
Please forward this email to anyone I may have forgotten to include
Eldon