Category Archives: Events
CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM IN BOZEMAN WELCOMES A NEW RABBI
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the Rabbi who led Dawn Schandelson’s funeral service.
Congregation Beth Shalom of Bozeman, Montana is proud to announce that Rabbi Mark Hayim Kula will join the Beth Shalom community as rabbi beginning July 1. Rabbi Kula comes to Congregation Beth Shalom with a wealth of warmth, enthusiasm, and experience, having served as a rabbi and cantor in Miami, Florida for 30 years.
“I am honored and delighted to join the Congregation Beth Shalom family and Bozeman community,” Rabbi Kula wrote in a letter to the community. “These are exciting and challenging times. Let us take care of ourselves and others, nurture our relationships, and tap into profound Jewish wisdom. We will then surely thrive and be blessed.” Amber Ikeman, Beth Shalom’s Program Director and Cantorial Soloist, will work closely with Rabbi Kula to serve the Jewish community in Bozeman and the surrounding area.
Rabbi Kula was ordained as a rabbi by The Rabbinical Academy of New York in 2012, and as a cantor by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1986. He has extensive experience as a spiritual leader and Jewish educator, having served at Bet Shira Congregation in Miami, Florida for 30 years, first as cantor and then as rabbi. Most recently, Rabbi Kula has been enjoying a year living in Missoula with his family.
According to Sara Schwerin, president of the board at Congregation Beth Shalom, “We have seen a tremendous amount of enthusiasm and engagement from our community over the past 18 months, as we searched for the right person to lead Beth Shalom. Our entire community is looking forward to the energy, kindness, leadership and spiritual guidance that Rabbi Kula offers. We could not be happier about the leadership team that we have put in place to guide us into the future.”
In June 2018, Beth Shalom Rabbi Ed Stafman retired after ten years of service. Since then, Beth Shalom has enjoyed monthly visits from Rabbi Michael Lotker, who will continue to serve as Beth Shalom’s part-time interim rabbi until Rabbi Kula’s July 1, 2019 start date. Beth Shalom wishes to thank Rabbi Michael Lotker for providing such wonderful leadership over the past year, and for helping to ensure a smooth transition for the community. Beth Shalom also wishes to thank Rabbi Emeritus Ed Stafman for his continued connection to Beth Shalom and his leadership in the greater Bozeman community.
Please join Congregation Beth Shalom two Fridays each month at 6 p.m. for Shabbat services and each Saturday morning for Torah Study at 9:30 a.m. Rabbi Kula, Rabbi Lotker and Rabbi Emeritus Stafman will be joining us for a special celebration of Shavuot on Saturday, June 8; please check our website for details closer to the date.
All are welcome to join Congregation Beth Shalom in worship, learning and social action. Please contact the Temple office at (406) 556-0528, check us out on Facebook “Congregation Beth Shalom – Bozeman, Montana” or visit our website http://www.bethshalombozeman.org to learn more.
Congregation Beth Shalom is a place where members of all ages come together to be a learning and spiritual community joyfully praying together and celebrating Jewish history and tradition. Founded in 1994, and serving the greater Yellowstone community, Congregation Beth Shalom of Bozeman is the largest Jewish congregation in Montana.
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THIS UPCOMING EVENT
This is a reminder about the lay services led by Devorah Werner ON the first Friday of the month, May 3, at 6:00 P.M. at the Bethel, with a milchig (dairy) potluck to follow.
Hope to see you there.
The address for the Bethel is 1009 18th Avenue Southwest. click here for map and directions.
COMMUNITY PASSOVER SEDER REMINDER
Please remember that the Aitz chaim Community Seder is this Friday, April 26, at 5:30 P.M., in the basement of the O’Haire Motor Inn, 17 7th Street South, in Great Falls.
Please have your reservations in by this week end, as we will need to have a count to the caterer by Monday, April 22.
For reservations or inquiries, e-mail Laura at
president@aitzchaim.com
Send your payment to:
Congregation Aitz Chaim
C/O Wendy Weissman, CPA
525 Central Avenue, Suite L8
Great Falls, MT 59401-3271
Looking forward to seeing you there.
Next year in Jerusalem, but if not, the O’Haire Motor Inn!
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS AND JOIN US FOR OUR ANNUAL COMMUNITY PASSOVER SEDER!
The annual Aitz Chaim community Passover Seder will be held at 5:30pm Friday, April 26, in the basement room of the O’Haire Motor Inn, 17 7th Street South. The meal will include all the traditional fixings and a multi course dinner including matzo ball soup, salad, brisket, chicken, potato, vegetable, and dessert. The cost will be $30 per adult member, and $40 per adult non-member. Children under 13 are $20. If you have special dietary requests, please contact Laura to see if they can be accommodated. The Seder will be led by Rabbi Ruz Gulko.
Payment is expected in advance unless other arrangements have been made. Please be aware you will be responsible for the cost if you do not attend and have not canceled prior to April 21.
To make reservations or inquiries, e-mail Laura at president@aitzchaim.com
Send your payment to:
Congregation Aitz Chaim
C/O Wendy Weissman, CPA
525 Central Avenue, Suite L8
Great Falls, MT 59401-3271
Looking forward to seeing you there.
Happy Pesach!
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THIS UPCOMING EVENT
This is a reminder about the lay services led by Devorah Werner on the first Friday of the month, April 5, at 6:00 P.M. at the Bethel, with a milchig (dairy) potluck to follow.
Now that the weather is getting better, hope to see you there.
The address for the Bethel is 1009 18th Avenue Southwest. click here for map and directions.
A LITTLE JANUARY WARMTH
Jerusalem of Gold
This Sunday our community will observe Tisha B’av and turn our attention to the city of Jerusalem, mourning the destruction of its temples some two millennia ago. Here is the most famous love song to Jerusalem, my hometown, sung with my amazing colleagues Cantors Netanel Herstik and Yaakov Lemmer live in Amsterdam for the PBS Special “The New York Cantors.”
THANK YOU! BY WENDY WEISSMAN
Thank you to everyone who attended the first monthly service led by Devorah, and the Chanukkah party.
Our second service will be Friday, January 4th, also at 6 PM.
I have been playing clarinet duets with a friend of mine every week (what else should I do when the kids are gone?) and one of the duets we came across is the Leonard Cohen arrangement of Hallelujah. The arrangement also comes with a piano and vocal part. With the help of my neighbor who plays piano and Sarah Weissman, who will be home for winter break on January 4th, we will be performing it live during the next service. Please join us for services and our performance. Thank you to Jean Annau (clarinet) and Laura Detrick (piano) for sharing your musical talent.
The address for the Bethel is 1009 18th Avenue Southwest. click here for map and directions.
See you all there for services and a potluck afterwards. Please bring a dish to share – not sure if it is meat or dairy. More on that to follow…
Wendy
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THIS UPCOMING EVENT: KABBALAT SERVICE AND COMMUNITY HANUKKAH PARTY
Here are some details about the service and Hanukkah party Friday night.
Friday, December 7th, will not only BE the 6th night of Hanukkah, but ALSO the first of our monthly services (first Friday of each month starting this month) to be led by Devorah Werner, AND our annual Hanukkah party! Join us for menorah lighting in front of the civic center at 5:30 (come early because it is also the Christmas Stroll downtown so parking may be difficult). From there, caravan over to the Bethel Lutheran Church for a Kabbalat Service followed by a Hanukkah party! Several congregants are bringing Latkes (already made) so please bring a side dish or dessert to share (or more pre-made latkes). Should be a great evening for all!
The address for the Bethel is 1009 18th Avenue Southwest. click here for map and directions.
Wendy
ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY … MARCH OF THE LIVING: NEXT GENERATION
(Another new MOTL opportunity has just presented itself.
The Next Gen program, geared towards those living in small rural Jewish communities, is offering a MOTL trip for the 22-35 year old age group. This is a great opportunity for young adults who may have missed out on the teen program and are now wanting to explore more of their heritage. Please contact Monise Neumann: monise@motlmail.org if you or someone you know might be interested in this trip of a life time. Non-Jewish spouses and/or significant others are welcome to attend as well.)
By way of introduction, my name is Monise Neumann and I serve as a National Consultant with March of the Living. A new initiative is being offered by the International March of the Living specifically geared to the NextGen living in smaller Jewish communities across the country.
This new initiative is geared towards first-time NextGen participants (ages 22-35) from small Jewish communities across the country who would like to explore their Jewish heritage. We are hoping that they can travel to Poland and Israel to join thousands of people from all across the world on the 2019 March of the Living. The cost (all-inclusive) from New York is $2500 per person for a ten-day journey.
I hope that we can be in contact to help spread the word to make this a reality for deserving participants. My sincere appreciation in advance for your help.
Warmest regards,
Monise
The International March of the Living is excited to announce a new initiative to bring young leadership from smaller Jewish communities across the United States on this life-changing journey. This world-wide program takes participants to Poland and Israel to commemorate two very important dates in the Jewish calendar to “remember the past, in the present, to ensure the future.” This highly-subsidized new initiative allows participants to spend Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day) in Poland and Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) in Israel alongside thousands of participants from countries all around the world. They will study the history of the Holocaust, examine the roots of prejudice, intolerance and hatred and learn about Jewish heritage and the history of the State of Israel. This unforgettable experience priced at the highly subsidized cost of $2500 for a 10 day all-inclusive experience is open to first time participants ages 22-35. More details and registration information can be found at http://www.motl.org/next-gen
Monise Neumann
International March of the Living
National Consultant
818.621.0278
monise@motlmail.org
The Aitz Chaim Ram's Horn 