Category Archives: Iyyar
EMBRACING WHAT MAKES EACH OF US UNIQUE AND EQUAL, BY RABBI CHAIM BRUK
Rabbi Chaim did an op ed in the Bozeman Chronicle. Here it is.
By Rabbi Chaim Bruk, guest columnist
Apr 25, 2018
In 2013, while anticipating the adoption of our third child, we learned that he would be biracial. I was convinced that God sent this beautiful soul to us; yet, I had a few moments of doubt. I was questioning the Almighty, whether he was the right fit for our family. I couldn’t help but wonder how his life experience would play out as a biracial Orthodox Jew growing up in Big Sky country.
My beloved wife Chavie, firm and inspirational as ever, encouraged me to remain focused. “Let us shower our baby with love and warmth,” she said, “and let God worry about his future challenges.”
Growing up in Brooklyn, I was living in a bubble. Ohio seemed remote, Texas like another country and the Mountain West states were, in our mind, like another planet. Our family traveled upstate to Catskill Game Farm, to Pennsylvania’s Sesame Place and even enjoyed a memorable trip to Orlando, but west of the Mississippi was a foreign land to me. Yet, while rural America seemed far, far-away from the life I knew in America’s “five boroughs,” I have been blessed to learn, it’s the perfect place to live and raise my family.
In 2007, Chavie and I moved to Bozeman, opening the state’s first branch of Chabad Lubavitch. We were welcomed warmly by Jews and gentiles alike and, over the years, have garnered hundreds of friendships with people of all flavors. Living in Montana, for a decade now, I’ve developed a real appreciation, and admiration, for “fly over country” and its people.
I have found my fellow Montanans to be friendly, thoughtful and intrigued by my Jewish observance. Whether interacting with a bellman in the “big city” of Billings, a rancher from Kila or a state trooper in Butte, Montanans are genuinely caring and refreshingly authentic. They care more about their family than what car they drive, feed their animals before themselves and, no matter how busy they are, would pull over to help you on the side of the road, even if was minus 22 outside.
While I miss the kosher restaurants, the Sabbath atmosphere in the street and the opportunity to speak in my mother tongue, Yiddish, Bozeman has become home, and I’m a proud Montanan. “Love thy neighbor as thyself” is not merely a bumper sticker or a campaign slogan out here; it’s a way of life.
Raising Menny, who recently turned 5, has been an extraordinary blessing and incredible experience. He’s adorable with a one-of-a-kind personality; it’s hard to keep up with his super fun energy. From his dance moves that could put any hip-hop artist to shame to his one-liners that are so precious; from his care-free attitude while painting the beige carpet in his sister’s room red to his midnight longing for seltzer, he’s a ball of life.
He’s black, wears his Yarmulke proudly and loves praying with me in Synagogue, and our Jewish community ― along with our fellow Montanans ― embraces him unconditionally. He’s not seen as that “black boy,” and I’m not seen as that “adoptive father.” They just see us as a family.
Personally, I am not color blind. I do see peoples’ visible differences, but that doesn’t ― God forbid ― make me think less of them or contemplate treating them differently. Seeing diversity allows me to appreciate their individuality, their personal story, even more than if I would’ve ignored their uniqueness. Not to recognize people’s exceptionality is to deny them a part of their experience, a part of their core self.
While Montana, like the rest of the world, surely has a few people who are ignorant and judgmental, I am grateful to be raising my family in rural America, where people are welcoming, loving and open-minded. No, there isn’t much diversity in our backyard, but it’s a place where people take to heart the timeless words of our Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
God bless America.
ENTENMANN’S AT ALBERTSONS ON TENTH
Kosher Entenmann’s are at Albertson’s on Tenth. There is quite a nice selection. They are in a stand-alone display back by the dairy. As with everything Albertsons gets, if nobody buys them, they won’t get them again. So get them while they’re fresh.
AN INVITATION FROM HADASSAH
YOU ARE INVITED
Hadassah Montana would like to invite all of you to join Hadassah this June for a fun filled Shabbaton type weekend at Big Sky Resort with fabulous speakers, as we educate, advocate, share our passion for Israel, and enhance the health of the world.
You don’t have to be a Hadassah member or associate to attend. All are welcome, including families. Dogs are even welcome in some of the rooms at the Huntley Lodge.
Please see the attached flyer (below) explaining how to book your room and where to send your registration. Although the event is one night only, you are welcome to come early and stay for two nights if you don’t travel on Shabbat or if you’d like a longer weekend at Big Sky.
Don’t miss this opportunity to
• Experience Havdalah and a few good meals in a welcoming community atmosphere
• Listen to dynamic speakers with a focus on Israel
• Shop for Judaica (all proceeds go to Hadassah hospitals and programs)
• Learn how you can change the world for the better in a way that is meaningful to you
We look forward to seeing you in Big Sky!
• Hadassah was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005! Hadassah, which has provided medical care in Jerusalem since 1912, reaches patients around the world, and since its founding has always “thought, worked, and lived with a philosophy called ‘bridges to peace”. “Bridges to peace” means that there is no discrimination based on gender, political, or religious ideology. When you walk in the hospital you see the different ways the people are dressed, and you realize how many different ethnic groups are in the hospital. It is completely normal to see a Franciscan priest, a girl in a miniskirt, and an Arab sheik all sitting waiting to be served by the same physician.
Hadassah offers you a direct line to advocacy! From ending human trafficking, to removing the disparity in gender equity in medical research, to many other civil and human rights issues, to Zionism, Israel and the world, Hadassah’s National Action Center offers advocacy at your fingertips. http://cqrcengage.com/hadassah/?2
Hadassah is developing cutting edge medicine and sharing it with the world! In successful trials using patients’ own stem cells, Hadassah doctors have inhibited the progression of ALS and MS in human clinical trials. Eighteen doctors and nurses from Israel, the Palestinian territories, Gaza and Iraq recently attended a course on pediatric emergency health care at Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem in Jerusalem. Hadassah Hospital Mount Scopus hosted 200 people at the annual World Down Syndrome Day conference, held at the hospital in late March. The list is endless.
Registration Info 2018 MT Hadassah.pdf
Montana Hadassah Annual Meeting Registration Form June 16‐17, 2018 Big Sky Montana
Please join us for a fun filled weekend at Big Sky Resort with fabulous speakers, as we educate, advocate, share our passion for Israel, and enhance the
health of the world. You don’t have to be a Hadassah member or associate to attend. All are welcome, including families.
Activities begin Saturday, June 16th at 3:30 p.m. with an optional “Mahjong 101” session. Otherwise, registration and room check‐in begin at 5:00 p.m.
We adjourn Sunday, June 17th, at 1:00 p.m.
Part 1: Registration is $54 which includes breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Read further for information on where to send checks. Saturday night dinner will
be a potluck so please bring a dairy or non‐meat dish to share.
Part 2: Reserve your room (to be paid on your own, in addition to the registration fee) by calling Big Sky Central Reservations at 800‐548‐4486, option
2. Reference the Hadassah Weekend for the group rates. Since the block of rooms has now expired, rooms in the block are not guaranteed.
Saturday potluck and Sunday breakfast will be held at the Big Horn Condo. These condos have 3 bedrooms
and will hold 6‐8 people. They are configured with a king or queen in 2 of the bedrooms and either twins or bunks in the third room but may be able to
be customized.
If you are looking for a roommate, contact our Hadassah Montana Meeting Coordinator Wendy Weissman at 406‐868‐5712, wendy.j.weissman@gmail.com,
and she will help arrange it.
The Huntley Mountain View and Summit rooms have two queen beds, and dogs are allowed in the Huntley for an extra fee.
Room Rates: Various, depending on where you stay
Rates do not include a 19% tax and service fee. The nineteen percent (19%) is made up of seven percent (7%) state bedding/accommodation tax, three percent
(3%) local/resort tax, and nine percent (9%) resort service fee.
Montana Hadassah Annual Meeting Registration Form June 16‐17, 2018 Big Sky Montana
Name: ________________________________________________________________________ Hebrew Name: _________________________________________________________________
Address: ______________________________________________________________________ Phone: _______________________________________________________________________
Dietary Restrictions: _____________________________________________________________
Please mark where you will be staying and note how many will be in your room:
Number in room
Roommate(s)
__________Huntley Lodge
_________________________________________________
__________Big Horn Condo
________________________________________________
__________Summit Hotel
________________________________________________
__________Other Location
________________________________________________
What you need to remember:
Please bring a dairy (non‐meat) dish for the Pot Luck Saturday evening, toiletry items for a local women’s shelter and an item
for our silent auction fundraiser.
Please send your registration form with a check made out to Montana Hadassah for $54 in care of Wendy Weissman at 315 4th Ave North, Great Falls, MT 59401
Hadassah Montana Annual Meeting Schedule (Subject to Change)
Saturday 3:30 p.m Mah Jong 101 (Optional for those who want to attend)
5:00 p.m. Room Check‐In Begins and Registration is Open
6:00 p.m. Potluck
8:00 p.m Speaker #1
9:15 p.m. Havdalah at Sunset, followed by Silent Auction Fundraiser
Sunday
6:30 a.m. Breakfast at Big Horn Condo
8:00 a.m. Business Meeting
9:00 a.m. Speaker #2
10:00 a.m. Break to check out of your room, and optional 30 minute nature walk
11:00 a.m. Speaker #3
12:00 p.m. Lunch Catered by Big Sky
1:00 p.m. Adjourn
Hadassah Montana Annual Meeting Speakers, Subject to Change:
Dafna Michaelson‐Jenet
A captivating and dynamic storyteller, Jenet holds a BA from Stern College and an MBA from the University of Denver. In addition to directorship posts at the Holocaust Awareness Institute and The March of the Living, she is a former member of Hadassah’s National Board and serves as our Montana Chapter Advisor.
Dafna Michaelson Jenet is a Democratic member of the Colorado House of Representatives, elected in 2016. She serves on the House Finance Committee and the House Public Health Care & Human Services Committee. In 2015, she published the book “It Takes a Little Crazy to Make a Difference.” The book, which describes her yearlong tour of all 50 states in 2009, won an International Book Award in the social change category. Dafna and her husband Michael direct the nonprofit Journey Institute, offering leadership, training and development, for the journey of elevating, empowering, and engaging people to live better lives.
Barbara Raben
Barbara Raben of Henderson, Nevada is President of Hadassah Desert‐Mountain. Her past roles include (but are not limited to) Organization Vice President,
Area Vice President, Advisor, Secretary, Region Meeting Coordinator, Co‐President of Hadassah Southern Nevada, and chair of many committees. She has served
as President and Interim Executive Director of the Jewish Family Service Agency in Las Vegas. In 2017, she was appointed by Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval
to serve on the Nevada Governor’s Advisory Council on Education Relating to the Holocaust. A graduate of the Hadassah Leadership Academy, Barbara is part
of a five‐generation Hadassah family: Her mother was a chapter President, her children and granddaughter are life members, and her husband Terry is an
associate. Barbara spent many years in retail, which included owning her own candy business in both California and Las Vegas. She then spent ten years
working for the Lladro Porcelain Company and is now happily retired, and doing what she loves best ‐volunteering her time and energy to her community and
to Hadassah.
IanMerles
Ian Merles, Annual Giving Officer for Hadassah Central Pacific Coast, Desert Mountain, Great Plains, Greater Detroit, Pacific Northwest, Southern California,
Greater Southwest, and Upper Midwest regions, has been with Hadassah since June 2017. Prior to that he worked as an Assistant Area Director for the American
Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) in San Diego and Palm Springs and has worked in sales and marketing for hospice in Baltimore and in San Diego.
He lived in Israel for ten years and served as a lone soldier in the Israeli army. He is a husband to a Sabra‐Israeli nurse, Sarit, and father to a five‐year‐old
son, Galel. Educated at the State University of New York at Stony Brook as well as several rabinnical schools, Ian is well‐versed at speaking on Israel
and the Middle East.
ISRAELI TECH COMPANY ANNOUNCES PLANS TO HIRE 100 WORKERS IN MISSOULA
An Israeli high-tech company has announced plans to open a U.S. office in Missoula and hire as many as 100 employees over the next several years, according to Gov. Steve Bullock’s office.
The company, called 4Cast, “will develop and sell their decision support predictive analytics solutions, which currently target security, defense, enterprise and health care personnel” in Missoula, according to a press release. They will begin hiring for sales and software development jobs this summer. Initial positions will be advertised on their website, due to be launched in June of 2018. The company is a spinoff of the Israeli technology company Eltel.
ISRAEL, ONE OF THE WORLD’S OLDEST DEMOCRACIES
Israel: One of the World’s Oldest Democracies
Einat Wilf with Shany Mor
Seventy years after declaring independence, Israel is (by one reckoning) the world’s tenth oldest continuous democracy. It had universal suffrage from its first day – yes, Arab citizens too. Israel was not the only newly independent state to emerge in the aftermath of the Second World War and to begin its days as a democracy, but it has been the only one to never fall, even temporarily, into some kind of authoritarianism. No coups, no emergency governments, no cancelled elections, no opposition leaders in jail, no suspensions of basic political or civil liberties.
Israel is one of only 20 or so countries (out of 200) that has been rated free by Freedom House for nearly half a century. Of the very few countries that have been practicing democracy without any interruptions longer than Israel, most have only done so for slightly longer (Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden) and none have done so in conditions of ongoing conflict, repeated wars on multiple fronts, terrorism, waves of immigration in unparalleled proportions, and a population of vast linguistic, national, religious and ethnic diversity.
Dr. Einat Wilf is a former member of the Knesset (2010-13). Shany Mor is a former director for foreign policy on the Israeli National Security Council. (Fathom-BICOM)
______________________________________________________________
YAHRZEITS — IYAR, 5778
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 comfort to all who are bereaved.
| Name of Deceased |
Hebrew Date of Passing | Deceased Relationship to Congregant |
|
| Dorothy Meyer | 27 Av, 5777 | Stepmother of Diane Sherick | |
| Ann Belfert | 20 Av, 5777 | Mother of Gail Belfert | |
| Maurice Weissman | 2 Iyyar, 5751 | Father of Jerry Weissman | |
| Marion Kelman | 11 Iyyar, 5776 | Sister-in-law of Evelyn Kelman | |
| Sheldon Maznek | 12 Iyyar, 5776 | Brother of Evelyn Kelman | |
| Ada Handler | 15 Iyyar, 5740 | Grandmother of Wendy Weissman | |
| Bessie Stiegler | 27 Iyyar, 5758 | Aunt of Nadyne Weissman |
YAHRZEITS — APRIL, 2018
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 comfort to all who are bereaved.
| Name of Deceased |
English Date of Passing | Hebrew Date of Passing | Deceased Relationship to Congregant |
| Dorothy Meyer | Aug 19, 2017 | 27 Av, 5777 | Stepmother of Diane Sherick |
| Ann Belfert | Aug 12, 2017 | 20 Av, 5777 | Mother of Gail Belfert |
| Sherri Estil Hopperstad | Apr 4, 2003 | 2 Nissan, 5763 | |
| Sandra Albachari | Apr 4, 2005 | 24 Adar II, 5765 | Mother of Julie Nice |
| Margaret Breslauer | Apr 6, 1969 | 18 Nissan, 5729 | Mother of Bruce Breslauer |
| Sid Kelman | Apr 6, 2003 | 4 Nissan, 5763 | Brother-in-law of Evelyn Kelman |
| Naomi Bay Kaplan | Apr 8, 2007 | 20 Nissan, 5767 | Grandmother of Kai Nealis |
| Heidi Espelin | Apr 11, 1986 | 2 Nissan, 5746 | Sister of Dawn Schandelson |
| Esther Nagel Lyndon | Apr 12, 2012 | 18 Adar, 5772 | Aunt of Meriam Nagel |
| Elaine Thall | Apr 15, 2006 | 17 Nisan, 5766 | Mother of Terry Thall |
| Maurice Weissman | Apr 16, 1991 | 2 Iyyar, 5751 | Father of Jerry Weissman |
| Janet Woodcock Getzenberg | Apr 16, 2005 | 7 Nisan, 5765 | Relative of Anne Getzenberg |
| Gary Cohn | Apr 17, 1984 | 15 Nissan, 5744 | Brother of Arlyne Reichert |
| Harry Wasserman | Apr 19, 2003 | 17 Nissan, 5763 | Father of Miriam Wolf |
| Irving Greenfield | Apr 28, 2000 | 23 Nissan, 5760 |
GFIA MINUTES FOR MAY, 2017
GFIA Minutes 5-25-17 from Stephen.pdf
Great Falls Inter-Faith Association
May 25th, 2017
Those present:
Pastor Ray Larson, Benefis Healthcare
Stephen Boyd, GF Hebrew Association
Udo Wozney, Bethel Lutheran Church
Jim McCormick, Rescue Mission
Cherrie Kelly, Opportunities Inc.
Sharon Odden, Family Promise
Bobby King, Crossroads Memorial
Beth McKinney, GF Community Food Bank
Reed Bassett, LDS
Jennifer Fines, Habitat for Humanity
Billy Ross, Corpus Christi
Marla Wilckens, 1st Presbyterian
Pastor Ken Waag, Faith Lutheran
Travis Powers, Faith Lutheran
Tarilyn Lawson, 1st Presbyterian
Bobby King, Crossroads Memorial
Mike Whitney, Calvary Chapel
Renee Phillips, Calvary Chapel of Great Falls
Mike Ammons, Crossroads Memorial
Lynne Spencer-Smith, First Congregational
Sandi Filipowicz, YWCA
Sandy Morss, A-Plus Health Care
Phil Wells, Saint Vincent DePaul
Kahdesha Chiles, Saint Vincent DePaul
Marianne Brands, Salvation Army
Focus: Two Churches in Total Ministry and Service
Pastor ray opened with a reading from “The Question that Never Goes Away” and a prayer.
Marla -Early Risers raised just over $3,000 for Eagle Mount!
Pastor Mike – Crossroads Memorial Church – They are in their third year of partnership with Roosevelt Elementary School. Crossroads has had volunteers helping meet the staff’s and student’s physical, emotional, spiritual, and academic needs. Relationship building with kids, whether it be coming to read
with them, counseling, helping with homework, the volunteers have made a huge impact on student’s lives. They work with either small groups or individuals, taking a load off of the teachers as well. Volunteers have also done small and large things for the staff and teachers, from bringing coffee and energy
bars, or just stopping in to say thank you, to full breakfasts and luncheons on teacher’s appreciation week.
PTAs used to have a huge impact in schools, but most of the schools don’t have the parents who have time to commit to coming in and helping students. This is where the churches are a great resource. There are many retired folks in these churches that have time to give and would love to help.
One of their community outreach events is the annual Easter egg hunt. They Don’t do it to compete with the city, they just do it to provide a family friendly event. They are in their seventh year now. Spent over $6,000 on prizes and 65,000 eggs, filled with candy. The biggest complaint they get is from parents, that other parents are looking for the eggs!
The schools that have not been adopted by a church include Meadowlark, Sunnyside, Sacajawea, and Loy Elementary.
Pastor Ken – Faith Lutheran Church – They are in the middle of a massive building project; as a congregation they have been a presence in the city for 65 years. They have been going through a bible study called “Simple Church”. It is focused on Disciple building. A big part of this is reaching out and helping human need. They have adopted Whittier Elementary School and help in the school with food, books, mittens, and clothing as well as providing meals over the summer in the local park. Part of their
new building will be a workshop where people can learn a trade. Learning how to use tools helps boost self-esteem and build skill for the “real world”. They will have a State-of-the-Art sound system in a huge sanctuary that will be available for Christian music groups. They will also have a large senior’s
program. Some of the many community outreach programs they do include “Cookie Hour”, where homemade cookies are delivered to the Emergency services in the City, “Impact” a summer program for youth of all ages, and “Ignite” is a youth program geared for youth between 8 and 18.
Crossroads is also beginning to reach out to create a relationship with Sacajawea Elementary as well.
They will be launching a new website at the end of the month. Www.faithlutherangtf.com
A note was made about annual voluntary contribution to the GFIA, the money raised goes toward things that tend to get missed, typically to schools or food banks. Last month the GFIA donated $100 each to the GFHS and CMR High School’s “Project Graduation”.
Next month we will be meeting at Benefis East on June 22nd, Classroom 5a-b.
Pastor Ray adjourned the meeting.
Submitted by Stephen Boyd
YOM YERUSHALAYIM FILM PRESENTATION MAY 23
The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America has partnered with the Christian Broadcasting Network to bring to theaters for one special night —Tuesday, May 23 — the film IN OUR HANDS: The Battle for Jerusalem. The movie shares the story of Israel’s extraordinary battle for survival in early June 1967. Get your tickets today and experience IN OUR HANDS in select theaters across the U.S. on May 23 only.
http://inourhands1967.com/theaters/state/MT/
Christian Broadcasting Network Celebrates Israel’s 1967 Victory in New Film
by Dexter Van Zile May 7, 2017
Israeli reconnaissance forces from the Shaked unit in the Sinai region during the 1967 Six-Day War. Photo: Matanya via Wikimedia Commons.
The Christian Broadcasting Network has produced a movie that celebrates Israel’s victory in Jerusalem in 1967. The film, In Our Hands, includes commentary from Michael Oren, the former Israeli Ambassador to the United States and the author of Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East.
The movie also includes testimony from IDF soldiers who took part in the battles to capture the city. To flesh out the narrative, the film provides reenactments of the fighting, the hateful speeches from Arab leaders prior to the Six Day War, and the debates between Israeli politicians and soldiers as they struggled with the decisions they faced before, during and after the capture of Jerusalem.
For people who are unfamiliar with the history, In Our Hands does an outstanding job of highlighting the challenges faced by the Jewish state two decades after the Holocaust. The Israeli people and their leaders were faced with foes who had promised to destroy their country before it reached its 20th birthday. By dint of a pre-preemptive attack on Egyptian airfields, and profoundly courageous acts on the ground, sovereign and free Jews were able to secure their future and live to fight another day, as they have successfully done in the decades since.
One compelling reenactment included in the movie is Moshe Dayan instructing battlefield commanders to take the Israeli flag down from the Temple Mount — out of respect for Muslim sensibilities, and for fear of provoking a region-wide war in the Middle East.
The movie’s strength is not merely in providing a historical summary of the events that led to the liberation of Jerusalem, but in conveying the emotional impact that it had on Jews, both religious and secular. This was especially true of the soldiers who celebrated at the Western Wall after the Old City was secured.
The movie does not shy away from the horrors of the fighting, providing testimony from an IDF soldier who was almost left for dead and covered with a sheet after the battle for Ammunition Hill — but was saved when one of his comrades saw his hand moving. The movie also documents the Israeli decision to honor the Jordanian soldiers who died at Ammunition Hill with a sign recording their courage in battle. The Israelis’ goal was to defeat the Jordanians, not to dishonor or humiliate them. “We are not Sparta,” one of the interviewees declares. It’s a very compelling moment.
In Our Hands does more than celebrate the restoration of Jerusalem, but celebrates Israeli toughness in the face of danger and threatened destruction. The movie offers an implicit rebuke to films such as With God on Our Side and Little Town of Bethlehem, two anti-Israel movies produced in the last decade that tell viewers that peace between Israel and the Palestinians is achievable if only the Jews would come to their senses, and abandon their aggression.
Yet In Our Hands shows that there are some threats that won’t go away, and that some battles must be won if justice is to prevail and civilization is to be protected. It’s not a message that everyone wants to hear, but it’s one that can’t be ignored by the people who watch In Our Hands.
The Aitz Chaim Ram's Horn 