Category Archives: Events
THE AITZ CHAIM COMMUNITY IS INVITED
Mendel’s mother (Mendel is the Touro University rabbi) will be visiting Great Falls and would like to have a discussion with our community. Not sure of the topic but they are inviting our whole community! I think it will be more like a Torah study…
Date: Tuesday, January 30th, at Mendel’s house at 6 PM.
RSVP: Call or text directly to Mendel: (406) 970-4049
Wendy
HAPPY CHANUKAH FROM AITZ CHAIM
- Thursday, 12/07/2023, 24 Kislev, 5784, 12:00 P.M.: Candle lighting at the Capitol in Helena with MAJCO.
- Thursday, 12/07/2023, 24 Kislev, 5784, 5:30 PM: Lighting of the First Candle of the Diane Kaplan Memorial Chanukiah at the Civic Center.
- Friday, 12/08/2023, 25 Kislev, 5784, 5:30 P.M.: Lighting of the Second candle at the Civic Center.
- Saturday, 12/09/2023, 26 Kislev, 5784, 5:30 P.M.: Lighting of the Third Candle at the Civic Center.
- Saturday, 12/09/2023, 26 Kislev, 5784, 6:00 P.M.: Aitz Chaim Community Chanukkah Party.
- Sunday, 12/10/2023, 27 Kislev, 5784, 5:30 P.M.: Lighting of the Fourth Candle at the Civic Center.
- Monday, 12/11/2023, 28 Kislev, 5784, 5:30 P.M.: Lighting of the Fifth Candle at the Civic center.
- Tuesday, 12/12/2023, 29 Kislev, 5784, 5:30 P.M.: Lighting of the Sixth Candle at the Civic center.
- Wednesday, 12/13/2023, 1 Tevet, 5784, Lighting of the Seventh Candle at the Civic Center.
- Thursday, 12/14/2023, 2 Tevet, 5784, Lighting of the Eighth Candle at the Civic center.
- Friday, 12/15/2023, 3 Tevet, 5784, Eighth day of Chanukah.
HANUKKAH — WHERE SHALL WE GO?
This year we will have lots of opportunities to celebrate Hanukkah together! Hope you can join us for one or more of these celebrations:
- Saturday, December 9th: Great Falls Jewish community Hanukkah party immediately following menorah lighting at the Civic Center. Come to the civic center at 5:30 PM and carpool to the party at our usual meeting place! Bring a dish to share. If you need more information, please call Aitz Chaim at (406) 233:9863.
- Sunday December 10th, at noon: Montana Jewish Project is having a Hanukkah party at their building in Helena! Due to space limitations, only open to the first 75 who respond. Click this link to REGISTER or email info@montanajewishproject.com for more information: There will be activities for kids and adults at the party.
- Rabbi Mendel Spiero (and his wife Devorah) from Touro University have invited all who want to come to his Hanukkah party, also ON Sunday, December 10th, but at 4:00 PM. Call or text him to reserve your spot: 406-970-4049. He will give you the location of the party.
Hope you can join us at one of the above celebrations!
Wendy
JEWISH SPIRITUAL DIRECTION WORKSHOP
Dear friends,
The Montana Jewish Project and Congregation Beth Shalom invite you to a group Jewish spiritual direction workshop led by Dr. Roslyn Weiner. The workshop will be on Wednesday, November 29th at 6:30 pm MST on Zoom. You can find the link to register (at no cost) here.
All of us at MJP, along with Rabbi Sonja, feel that this type of event is crucial for us as a Jewish community right now, to come together, reflect, share, and find some calm. Please share this information with your congregation/community. Attached is a digital flier.
Seeking in the Company of Others:
The Wisdom of Group Spiritual Direction
You are invited to cultivate awareness of the sacred stirrings in your everyday life in the company of other seekers. This is an opportunity to sit companionably with other seekers and go on an adventure in contemplation, listening and reflection. Come and participate in a spiritual conversation designed to encourage self-discovery, sharing, and deep listening.
Format:
The gathering will begin with a brief presentation of the process of spiritual direction, which has taken creative root in the Jewish community. Next, you will be invited into an experience of spiritual direction using poetry, brief quotes and questions as structure and prompt for our conversation. Finally, you will be invited to ask questions and reflect on your experience.
Spiritual Direction is a process that welcomes curiosity and requires no background in particular religious texts or traditional Jewish religious practice. Instead, respectful and gentle prompts, periods of quiet contemplation and the invitation to share personal discoveries about faith, God (however God is named or experienced or even if not acknowledged), doubt, joy, suffering, and unanticipated spiritual experiences—seeing
what it is like to be deeply witnessed and to be able to offer that gift to others.
Presenter:
Dr. Roslyn G. Weiner is an experienced spiritual director who has been leading spiritual direction groups for nearly two decades with many organizations, including the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Hebrew College Rabbinical School, and Spiritual Directors International. She received a Master of Sacred Theology Degree (STM) from the School of Theology, Boston University, June 2003. Her book Seeking in the Company of Others: The Wisdom of Group Spiritual Direction was published by Spiritual Directors International Press in November 2021.
Thank you for helping spread the word about this unique opportunity. Please let us know if you have any questions. We hope to see you on November 29.
Kind regards,
Rebecca and Amber
—
Rebecca Stanfel
Director, Montana Jewish Project
https://www.montanajewishproject.com/
(916) 216-1580 (mobile)
Amber Ikeman
Communications and Program Coordinator, Montana Jewish Project
https://www.montanajewishproject.com/
(406) 282-4706 (MJP)
YOU ARE INVITED TO THE Defiant Requiem’s world-premiere concert AT THE DEBBIE FRIEDMAN SCHOOL OF SACRED MUSIC
The Heller Museum and the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music are honored to invite you to The Defiant Requiem’s world-premiere concert featuring DFSSM faculty member and composer Gerald Cohen’s new work commissioned by the Foundation and inspired by “Poems Born in Bergen-Belsen” by Menachem Z. Rosensaft.
Also on the program:
Excerpts from Quartet for the End of Time by Olivier Messaien and music by composers imprisoned at the Terezín concentration camp.
Wednesday, October 25 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time
The Dr. Bernard Heller Museum at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion
One West Fourth Street, New York, New York
Herbert Greenberg, Violin
Jon Manasse, Clarinet
Julian Schwarz, Cello
Marika Bournaki, Piano
Leah Wool, Mezzo Soprano
David Kravitz, Baritone
Following the performance, there will be a discussion with the poet and composer, moderated by Murry Sidlin, President and Artistic Director of The Defiant Requiem Foundation.
Reception following the program at the Heller Museum.
There is no fee to attend, but reservations are required in advance at www.defiantrequiem.org/Oct25
For questions or additional information, please contact The Defiant Requiem Foundation office at 202-244-0300.
The concert will be livestreamed. Link provided upon registration.
This concert is underwritten with a generous gift from the House of Julius Meinl.
HEBREW UNION COLLEGE–JEWISH INSTITUTE OF RELIGION
YOM KIPPUR SCHEDULE
- Sunday, 09/24/2023, 9 Tishrei, 5784, 7:00PM: Kol Nidre Services, led by Rabbi Ruz Gulko at the Bethel
- Monday, 09/25/2023, 10 Tishrei, 5784, 10:30AM: Yom Kippur Morning services, led by Rabbi Ruz Gulko at the Bethel.
- Discussion: 4pm- 5:30pm led by Rabbi Ruz Gulko at the Bethel.
- Evening services: — Yizkor and Neilah — 5:40pm- 6:30pm at the Bethel.
- Break the fast potluck follows about 6:30pm at the Bethel.
The address for the Bethel is 1009 18th Avenue Southwest. click herefor map and directions.
Tada Rabah to Nadyne and Jerry Weissman for hosting Rabbi Ruz in their home for both holidays, and for providing transportation to and from the airport.
ROSH HASHANAH SERVICES SCHEDULE SEPTEMBER 15-16, 2023 — 29 ELUL, 5783 — 1 TISHREI, 5784
- Friday Evening services, 09/15/2023, 29 Elul, 5783, 7pm led by Rabbi Ruz Gulko at the Bethel.
- Saturday Morning Services, 09/16/23, 1 Tishrei, 5784, 10:00AM: led by Rabbi Ruz Gulko at The Bethel.
- Tashlich to follow approx. 12:30PM-ish — location TBA.
Lunch? TBA
the address of the Bethel is 1009 18th Avenue S.W. Please click Here for map and directions.
Please sign up on the sign-up sheet to bring something to share, traditionally dairy (milchig), for Break The Fast after Yom Kippur Services, Monday evening, 09/25/23, 10 Tishrei, 5784.
END-OF-SUMMER JEW CREW HIKE
We are planning a Jewish Hike with the Helena Jews on Sunday 8/27. The hike starts at 9:00 AM. We will be hiking around Holter Lake, which is between Helena and Great Falls. The hike will be from Juniper Bay to Log Gulch Trail (you can search on All Trails). Aaron and I did it earlier this year – it is a 3 mile in and out hike with gorgeous views of Holter Lake. This hike has very little shade, so if we start at 9 AM it should still be cool enough.
GPS says the trailhead is 1 hour 3 minutes from my house, but with road construction on the way to Helena, let’s meet at Smiths parking lot (near the gas tanks) at 7:45. Bring water, sunscreen and a hat – it could be hot.
Aaron won’t be joining us but you got me and the dogs! And if someone wants to plan a discussion in the middle, that would be great. It is 1.5 miles from the trailhead to the campground. We can sit at a picnic table, have snacks, and do a short discussion before we head back. There is a bathroom at the campground which is our turnaround spot. And a place to refill water…
It is a fairly easy hike with really nice views, so all are welcome!
Hope to see a bunch of people there!
Wendy Weissman wendy.j.weissman@gmail.com
EXCEPTIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITY OFFERED AT CONGREGATION BETH SHALOM IN BOZEMAN
This is just a friendly reminder from Lynn and Rabbi Sonja to register for the in-person training led by Phil Niedringhaus from SCN at Congregation Beth Shalom in Bozeman on Sunday September 10 at 10 AM.
This is an exceptional opportunity and is free and open to all. And we’re all incredibly grateful to Lynn for her ongoing hard work on this issue–and Beth Shalom’s generosity in inviting us all to attend.
At your earliest possible convenience,
Please Register Here
This will help make planning as easy as possible for Rabbi Sonja, Lynn, and the Beth Shalom community.
We’re planning on reconvening our monthly MAJCO Zoom discussions after the High Holy Days. Thanks to Lynn’s great input, we have topics that will be helpful in preparation for Hanukkah. No single one of us needs to have “the answers.” We are here to support and learn from each other.
All the best,
Rebecca
Rebecca Stanfel
Director, Montana Jewish Project
https://www.montanajewishproject.com/
(916) 216-1580 (mobile)
NEWS FROM TOURO COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE, GREAT FALLS CAMPUS
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine-Great Falls campus is hosting a ribbon cutting at 2 p.m. Aug. 7 at the new campus, 2801 18th Ave. S.
The 100,000 square-foot building with state-of-the-art labs, a simulation lab and a strictly kosher cafeteria will host up 125 students and 60 faculty in its inaugural year and up to 500 medical students at full capacity. Touro will partner with several area medical providers, including Benefis Health System, to serve the local Great Falls community and address the larger physician shortage in Montana, according to the college.
City zoning board votes to recommend Touro parking permit
Touro University President Dr. Alan Kadish and Gov. Greg Gianforte are among the speakers planned for the event.
For more information, please visit https://members.greatfallschamber.org/events/details/ribbon-cutting-touro-college-of-osteopathic-medicine-179505
The Aitz Chaim Ram's Horn 