Category Archives: Events
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE NEXT JEW CREW HIKE SUNDAY, AUGUST 27, 2023 (10 ELUL, 5783)
Our next hike with the Helena community will be on Sunday August 27th. Time and place to be determined, but it will most likely be in the Helena area. We are trying to alternate Great Falls area and Helena area hikes.
So please mark your calendars for Sunday August 27th for a hike with the Helena Jews! Hikes are for all ability levels so anyone is welcome! There will be a discussion along the route.
For any questions contact wendy: wendy@weissman.com or call (406) 868-5712.
Wendy
WANT TO GO ON A JEW CREW SUNDAY HIKE – JULY 16, 2023 – 27 Tammuz, 5783?
Sunday, July 16, 2023 – 27 Tammuz, 5783.
We are hiking the sluice boxes from the top parking lot.
Length to be determined by who is there and how far we want to go. We can go as far as we want – it is an in-and-out hike.
Meet at 9 AM at the East Walmart near the gas pumps, OR at 9:45 at the top parking lot of the Sluice Boxes.
Hope to see you there! We will be joined by a few Helena folks…
Submitted by Wendy Weissman
JEWISH HIKE TO RODNEY MEADOWS AND BEYOND: SUNDAY, 06/04/2023
This hike is cosponsored by the Montana Jewish Project and the Great Falls Jewish Hikers.
We will be meeting at the Waterline Trailhead parking lot on Oro Fino Gulch Road at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 4.
We will go along Waterline to the middle trail (forget name at the moment), then to Rodney meadow, Rent Money, Top of the World, down Pinchot Trail, back down to Waterline and presto – we will have done about a 3 ½ or 4 mile loop. There will be a 10 minute Torah discussion about halfway through the route. Afterwards, some of us are going to grab a bagel.
I hope you’ll join us on Sunday, June 4!
Detailed directions thanks to Claudia below. Martha
See some specific directions below.
Once you are on South Park Street (also called “Main Street”), continue south past Park Ave Bakery and Blackfoot Brewery on your right and Lewis and Clark Public Library on your left. You will come to a fork in the road – Oro Fino Gulch to your left, Grizzly Gulch to your right – veer left onto Oro Fino Gulch. You will see a small parking area on your left about half mile up the road – this is the Waterline Trailhead.
If you have any trouble parking here, you could choose to park on Grizzly Gulch by veering right instead of left at the fork, and parking in lot you will see just a few yards up on your right.
1. I-15 South to exit 192 (Prospect Ave/Hwy 12)
2. Turn right onto Prospect Ave. (one way street; get in left or middle lane – both allow you to turn left)
3. Turn left onto Montana Ave. (you will see Safeway, then Jimmy Johns on your left; tire place on the right)
4. Drive up to Broadway St. (past the Capitol on your left)
Turn right onto Broadway St.
5. Follow Broadway to Park Ave. (dead ends at Park Ave)
Take left onto Park Ave. and up past brewery on your left, library on your right.
6. You will come to fork in the road, Oro Fino Gulch to your left, Grizzly Gulch to your right – veer left onto Oro Fino Gulch.
7. Waterline trailhead will be on your left about half mile up. Parking area there.
1. I-15 North to exit 192 (Prospect Ave/Hwy 12)
2. Turn left onto Prospect Ave. (one way street; get in left or middle lane – both allow you to turn left)
3. Turn left onto Montana Ave. (you will see Safeway, then Jimmy Johns on your left; tire place on the right)
4. Drive up to Broadway St. (past the Capitol on your left) Turn right onto Broadway St.
5. Follow Broadway to Park Ave. (dead ends at Park Ave)
Take left onto Park Ave. and up past brewery on your left, library on your right.
6. You will come to fork in the road, Oro Fino Gulch to your left, Grizzly Gulch to your right – veer left onto Oro Fino Gulch.
7. Waterline trailhead will be on your left about half mile up. Parking area there.
1. Highway 12 turns into Prospect Ave. Stay on Hwy 12/Prospect Ave. (one way street; get in left or middle lane – both allow you to turn left)
2. Turn left onto Montana Ave. (you will see Safeway, then Jimmy Johns on your left; tire place on the right)
3. Drive up to Broadway St. (past the Capitol on your left) Turn right onto Broadway St.
4. Follow Broadway to Park Ave. (dead ends at Park Ave)
5. Take left on Park Ave. and up past brewery on your left, library on your right.
6. You will come to fork in the road, Oro Fino Gulch to your left, Grizzly Gulch to your right – veer left onto Oro Fino Gulch.
7. Waterline trailhead will be on your left about half mile up. Parking area there.
1. Continue on Hwy 12 into town (turns into Lyndale, also called Euclid)
2. Turn right onto N Benton St. (Van’s Thriftway, then Hardees on your left)
3. Benton turns into Park Avenue. Continue on Park Ave – past City-County Building on your left, then and brewery on your left, library on your right.
4. You will come to fork in the road, Oro Fino Gulch to your left, Grizzly Gulch to your right – veer left onto Oro Fino Gulch.
5. Waterline trailhead will be on your left about half mile up. Parking area there.
Submitted by Aaron Weissman.
From Wendy: If anyone is interested we can arrange carpools to Helena. Google maps says that the ride is 1 hour 35 minutes from my house, but going through the canyon could slow us down – it has us going maximum speed through the canyon and I know I don’t drive that fast through there. I think we should meet at 745 at Smiths parking lot (near the gas pumps) and arrange rides from there. By the time we figure out rides we should be on the road by 8 which should be enough time.
I do need to stay in Helena for a Montana Jewish Project board meeting after the hike (the organization that bought the synagogue building) but I think Aaron and I will be driving separately so Aaron will be able to transport people there and back – and if necessary my car can hold more people and we can switch cars on the way home so he can load more people into my car to take them back to Great Falls.
Does that sound reasonable? I don’t think we need to take a ton of cars to Helena so by meeting at 745 we have a few minutes to arrange rides.
I believe we will be gathering for bagels with the Helena folks after the hike for those who want, so either bring a lunch or be prepared to buy a bagel. Or maybe there is a car that just wants to head back without bagels since I am sure we will have several cars traveling to Helena.
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE FIRST JEWISH COMMUNITY HIKE OF THE SEASON!
If you want to participate in the first Jewish community hike of the season, Sunday, April 30, 2023, 9 Iyyar, 5783, please meet at the Sulphur Springs trailhead at 9am or caravan from the gas station across from the refinery at 8:45am.
Click here for More Sulphur Springs Trail Details
Weather should be Sunny and 55-65 degrees. Hike is pretty non-strenuous, about 4 miles total.
Dogs are welcome, but must be under owner’s control at all times.
Anyone want to be in charge of a quick adult discussion/Jewish teaching at the Sulphur springs?
Aaron Weissman
mailto:aaron@weissman.com”>aaron@weissman.com
INVITATION TO MJP YOM HASHOAH PROGRAM ON ZOOM
Dear friends,
We would love for you and your community to join us for our Yom HaShoah program on Monday, April 17th at 7:00pm MDT on Zoom.
The program will include a Yom HaShoah commemoration, as well as discussion about responding to antisemitism today, personally and communally, and coalition-building. We will have four wonderful panelists: Rabbi Francine Roston of Glacier Jewish Community, Travis McAdam of Montana Human Rights Network, Isaac Nehring of Montana Youth Action, and an ADL Pacific Northwest Representative.
Please Register Here.
We hope to see you on Zoom on Monday.
Thank you!
Amber Ikeman (she/her)
Administrator/Marketing Coordinator, Montana Jewish Project
https://www.montanajewishproject.com/
(406) 282-4706 (MJP)
mail-sig/AIorK4y9Ijs7mSGkguW5H2VJlumLEPP6vMSBIcPkbUCUQPob5st2Ig752YsIgz5nSciPHx58c8ksj2k
PLEASE COME TO OUR PASSOVER SEDER
Hello everyone-
The Aitz Chaim Community Passover Seder will be held at the O’Haire Motor Inn,
17 7th St. S.,
Saturday evening, April 8, at 5:30 pm.
The menu will include traditional Passover fixings such as charoset, gefilte fish, matzo ball soup and matzo and a buffet dinner of:
1. Honey garlic glazed salmon
2. Lemon Greek potatoes with oregano and garlic
3. Beef brisket with pearl onions and carrots
4. Sweet potato quinoa salad with dried cranberries
5. Meringues with fruit compote
Price will be $32 for adults, $16 for children ages 3- 12yo, under 3yo no charge.
Dietary specifications for this event will be Kosher for Passover style and sober friendly.
Food will be prepared without alcohol. Kosher for Passover wine will be available on request.
Deadline for reservations is Sunday April 2. Payment in advance is preferred.
Due to our obligation to our caterer, cancellations received after April 4 will still be responsible for payment in full.
Please e-mail reservations to:
Laura Weiss at: president@aitzchaim.com
Mail payment to:
GFHA
525 Central Avenue, suite L8
Great Falls, MT 59401
Stephen Boyd and Colleen Lemon will be our Seder leaders, and they are working hard to create a multi-media extravaganza. We will be using a modified version of the Maxwell House Haggadah. The places highlighted in purple will be omitted.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
PLEASE MARK YOUR CALNEDARS FOR THE AITZ CHAIM COMMUNITY HANNUKAH CELEBRATION
- Sunday, 12/18/2022 — Monday, 12/26/2022, 25 Kislev — 2 Tevet, 5783: Hanukkah.
- Sunday, 12/18/2022, 24 Kislev, 5783: Erev Hanukkah. 5:30 P.M.: We will light the first candle of the Diane Kaplan Memorial Chanukkiah at the Civic Center. If you come at 5:30.30, you’ll probably miss it, especially if it is cold.
- Monday, 12/19/2022, 25 Kislev, 5783: First day of Hanukkah. 5:30 P.M.: We will light the second candle of the Diane Kaplan Memorial Chanukkiah at the Civic Center.
- Tuesday, 12/20/2022, 26 Kislev, 5783: Second day of Hanukkah. 5:30 P.M.: We will light the third candle of the Diane Kaplan Memorial Chanukkiah at the Civic Center.
- Wednesday, 12/21/2022, 27 Kislev, 5783: Third day of Hanukkah. 5:30 P.M.: We will light the fourth candle of the Diane Kaplan Memorial Chanukkiah at the Civic Center.
- Thursday, 12/22/2022, 28 Kislev, 5783: Fifth day of Hanukkah. 5:30 P.M.: We will light the sixth candle of the Diane Kaplan Memorial Chanukkiah at the Civic Center.
- Friday, 12/23/2022, 29 Kislev, 5783: Fifth day of Hanukkah. 5:30 P.M.: We will light the sixth candle of the Diane Kaplan Memorial Chanukkiah at the Civic Center. From there we will go to the Bethel for services to celebrate Hanukkah as a community. See below.
- Saturday, 12/24/2022, 30 Kislev, 5783: Sixth day of Hanukkah. 5:30 P.M.: We will light the seventh candle of the Diane Kaplan Memorial Chanukkiah at the Civic Center.
- Sunday, 12/25/2022, 1 Tevet, 5783: Seventh day of Hanukkah. 5:30 P.M.: We will light the eighth candle of the Diane Kaplan Memorial Chanukkiah at the Civic Center.
- Monday, 12/26/2022, 2 Tevet, 5783: Eighth day of Hanukkah.
**The address for the Bethel is 1009 18th Avenue Southwest. click here for map and directions.
Friday evening, 12/23-2022, 29 Kislev, 5783 — Aitz Chaim Community Hanukkah celebration at the Bethel, immediately following the menorah lighting at the Civic Center. Bring already made latkes to share, and be ready to play some Hanukkah games! Bring gelt, dreidels, and any other favorite Hanukkah games, and get ready to have some fun!
Reminder: If you can volunteer at the Mercy Home over Christmas Day, PLEASE let Wendy know. (See separate article in Ram’s Horn.) Contact her for more details at wendy@weissman.com
MORE HANUKKAH CELEBRATIONS ACROSS MONTANA
EDITOR’S NOTE: Here are more Hanukkah celebrations around Montana that may interest you.
- Sunday, 12/18/2022, 24 Kislev, 5783, 4-6pm: Hanukkah party in Helena at the newly purchased synagogue!
Address: 515 Ewing Street
Bring your menorah and candles. There will be latkes and treats and crafts for kids of all ages. - Monday, 12/19/2022, 25 Kislev, 5783, noon to 1pm: MAJCO (Montana Association of Jewish Communities) annual Hanukkah celebration and Hanukkiyah lighting in the Capitol Rotunda, Helena, MT.
- Thursday, 12/22/2022, 28 Kislev, 5783, 6:00-7:00pm: Hanukkah Across Montana, with MAOR, Montana Association of Rabbis. Let’s light the fifth candle together, sing Hanukkah songs, and hear a Hanukkah story for the kids! The Montana Association of Rabbis (MAOR)—Rabbis Allen Secher, Laurie Franklin, Ed Stafman, Mark Kula, Francine Roston, and Sonja Pilz—welcome our Montana friends and extended family, wherever you are, to a sweet Hanukkah celebration. Set up your menorah and light it with us! Join Zoom meeting
Meeting ID: 880 5066 9773.
FROM THE MONTANA JEWISH PROJECT, HELENA
- WHERE? From THE Montana Jewish Project, HELENA
- WHEN? Sunday, 10/30/2022, at 2:00PM.
- WHAT? Dr. Ari Laskin, a documentary film maker, will lead a discussion about his current work called Memorial’s Undoing. His project is about Holocaust memorials, particularly Babyn Yar, and he raises some interesting questions on which he would like feedback.
- what are the underlying meanings of memorials?
- Do memorials draw too bright a line between the past and present?
- Are there ways to make memorials that don’t let us “off the hook”, since the trauma of these massacres continues (and the conditions that cause them are still occuring)
This will be our first speaker inside our building, but we’re also sharing it on Zoom; it just requires advanced registration. If this seems like something that would interest you or that the Aitz Chaim community would enjoy, please spread the word.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
The Aitz Chaim Ram's Horn 