Category Archives: MAJCO
MAJCO Communities to Light Menorot Together at Capitol, 12 Noon, Monday, Dec 10, 2012
From: Joshua Burnim
Date: December 3, 2012, 4:41:53 PM MST
Dear Montana Jews:
For the fourth year in a row, the Montana Association of Jewish Communities (MAJCO) is sponsoring a Chanukah Menorot Lighting event with Lt. Governor Bohlinger. We hope to again have all nine communities of MAJCO light a Menorah (one each). This will be our last year lighting the candles with Lt. Governor Bohlinger as a new administration takes over in January. Let’s use this opportunity to come together as Montana Jews and celebrate the light that we all share.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS: Monday, December 10
12:00 p.m. Lighting Ceremony with Lt. Governor Bohlinger; Please arrive at 11:30 a.m. to set up.
The State Capitol in Helena; the Rotunda Room which is below the Large Dome of the Capitol
Photo of State Capitol: http://www.panoramio.com/photo/205168
Parking: Park in the lot that is on the north side of the capitol or park on the streets all around the capitol. There should be plenty of parking, but please allow time to find a space and walk to the Rotunda. 1301 East 6th Avenue, Helena, MT
The nine communities of MAJCO, listed from East to West based on town/city of location, are:
- Congregation Beth Aaron, Billings
- Chabad Lubavitch of Montana
- Congregation Beth Shalom, Bozeman
- Congregation Aitz Chaim, Great Falls
- The Jewish Community of Helena
- Congregation B’nei Israel, Butte
- Congregation Har Shalom, Missoula
- Congregation Bet Harim, Kalispell
- Synagogue of the Northern Rockies, Whitefish
At 11:30 a.m., we will meet to setup tables, tablecloths, Menorot, signs, and any info you bring about your community. Each community should bring their own Menorah and candles. MAJCO will provide extra candles and Menorot if needed, small signs for each community, and a program that includes contact information for each community. Communities are welcome to bring Chanukah foods to share.
MAJCO President, Josh Burnim, will welcome the crowd and introduce the Lt. Governor and the Rabbis. Rabbis Barbara Block, Chaim Bruk and Ed Stafman will speak on Chanukah. (Rabbi Allen Secher is not able to attend.) Lt. Governor Bohlinger will address the crowd. Then, we will all light our Menorot together and sing the blessings and Maoz Tzur. After the ceremony, we will share Sufganiyot and other Chanukah treats. The ceremony should only take 30 minutes, but we encourage all to spend some time before and afterwards with each other.
At 1:00 p.m., MAJCO Officers and Delegates will meet upstairs for a business meeting. All are welcome to attend.
I hope many of you, and at least one representative from each MAJCO community, will make the trip to Helena to share in this statewide Jewish event, building ties with Jews from across the state. Please share this email with other members of your Congregations and Communities.
Shalom,
Josh Burnim
MAJCO President
SAVE THE DATE: SHABBATON IN BILLINGS OCTOBER 19-21, 2012
We invite you to share community, prayer and Torah Restoration. The date for the Shabbaton has changed so that we can accommodate the visit of Sofer Neil Yerman. As a “Sofer” Neil scribes and repairs Torah and will provide a unique education as well as an opportunity for participants to scribe a letter. http://neilyerman.com/
We hope the date change is not an inconvenience. It is also the weekend of the MEA (Mt Education Association) Educator’s Conference which will be in Billings. We will soon send lodging information and encourage you to bring youth, who may be out of school.
For questions contact: Diane Kersten mtdiane@bresnan.net
Joshua Burnim joshburnim@gmail.com
MAJCO Communities to Light Menorot Together at Capitol, 2 p.m. Thurs, Dec 22
Dear Montana Jews,
- Congregation Beth Aaron, Billings
- Chabad Lubavitch of Montana
- Congregation Beth Shalom, Bozeman
- Congregation Aitz Chaim, Great Falls
- The Jewish Community of Helena
- Congregation B’nei Israel, Butte
- Congregation Har Shalom, Missoula
- Congregation Bet Harim, Kalispell
- Synagogue of the Northern Rockies, Whitefish
Related articles
- Chanukah in Chelena (aitzchaim.com)
- Majco Candle Lighting at the Capitol Thursday, December 22, 2011 (aitzchaim.com)
- Chanukah Schedule (aitzchaim.com)
Chanukah in Chelena
Below, please find an email from Helena Jewish Community organizer Janet Tatz, about the upcoming MAJCO Menorah lighting in the State Capitol building in Helena 
and the Chanukah party being held in Helena on the evening of December 22.
From: Janet TatzSubject: Chanukah in ChelenaDate: November 27, 2011 8:17:31 AM MSTDear Helena Jewish Community,Below you will find a recent posting from our MAJCO president, Josh Burnim. Please plan to attend this special, annual event that will take place at The Capitol on Thursday, December 22nd:Dear MAJCO Communities and Friends,Please mark your calendars for the following MAJCO events on Thursday, December 22, 2011.Candle Lighting at the Capitol in Rotunda with Lt. Governor Bohlinger at
2:00 pmMAJCO Business Meeting in Legislative Room 335 at 3:00 pmHere is how the events will flow:
- 2:00 – 2:30 pm Candle-Lighting at Capitol with Lt. Governor Bohlinger
- 2:30 – 3:00 pm clean-up
- 3:00 – 4:00/4:30 pm MAJCO Business Meeting
I will send out more details as we near the events. Please email or call
with any question/concerns/ideas etc.Shalom!Josh BurnimMAJCO President
In addition, we are fortunate to have Rabbi Ed Stafman, from Beth Shalom, in Bozeman, staying over in Helena the night of the 22nd to help us celebrate Chanukah. We’ll plan to begin at 5:30 pm at Touchmark on Saddle Dr. ( formerly, The Waterford on Saddle Dr.) in The Forum, on the 2nd floor of that facility. We’ll light our menorahs (please bring something to place under your menorah, if you are planning to bring one, in order that wax does not drip on the tables or tablecloths), enjoy a vegetarian potluck meal ( if someone is willing to bring the latkes, please let me know in advance!), sing songs, enjoy a holiday teaching or story from Rabbi Ed, spin the dreidel, and enjoy being in each others’ company at this time of year.
The annual Solstice celebration, hosted by St. Paul’s Methodist church and always in conjunction with the Helena Jewish Community, will take place on Wednesday, December 21st starting at 7pm. This year, for the first time, Rabbi Ed will be presenting the Jewish seasonal teaching. Please plan to attend. This event is open and free to everyone and is a relaxing, enjoyable hour well spent.Looking forward to seeing you at these Festival of Light celebrations.
JanetP.S. Checkout www.menorahmate.com to learn about a wonderful holiday ( and Shabbat) product that I have available to sell right here in Helena. These Menorah and B’rachah mats/”mates” make a great gift or personal home item. The mats are a great way to catch those wax drips and to learn the Chanukah or Shabbat blessings ( printed in Hebrew, English and transliteration). If you are interested in purchasing one or more of these items, please contact me, as these are a fund-raiser for our Montana statewide chapter of Hadassah. Thanks!
Related articles
- Majco Candle Lighting at the Capitol Thursday, December 22, 2011 (aitzchaim.com)
MAJCO CANDLE LIGHTING AT THE CAPITOL THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2011
December 22, 2011.
2:00 pm
with any question/concerns/ideas etc.
Mark Your Calendar for 2012 MAJCO and Hadassah Shabbatonim
The Montana Association of Jewish Communities (MAJCO) held its annual Shabbaton over the past weekend, July 15-17, near Glacier Park hosted by Congregation Bet Harim of Kalispell. By all reports, it was an exceptional event. The weekend saw a keynote address by Rabbi David Sapperstein, the Director and Chief Legal Counsel for the Union for Reform Judaism’s Religious Action Center.
Unfortunately, scheduling conflicts kept any congregants from Aitz Chaim from attending the Shabbaton. The next MAJCO Shabbaton will by hosted by Congregation Beth Aaron in Billings over October 5-7, 2012. The 2013 Shabbaton is scheduled by be hosted by Great Falls.
During the MAJCO business meeting on July 17, Hadassah also announced that their 2012 Hadassah Shabbaton will be June 22-24, 2012 at Big Sky. (ed note: This information has been corrected as of 7/26/2011).
Other news from the meeting included:
* Announcement of an election for MAJCO officers during the December, 2011 meeting in Helena (coinciding with the annual menorah lighting in the Capitol).
* A series of changes to the MAJCO bylaws. Those by-law changes will be the subject of an additional article on this site.
MAJCO’S FIRST SUMMER CAMP FOR YOUTH
Congregation Beth Shalom in Bozeman, in association with Soul Train from Israel, and the Montana Association of Jewish Communities, is pleased to announce our FIRST ever statewide Montana Jewish Summer Camp for Youth!
Contact Jenny Rassaby Ryan by email (rassabies@gmail.com) or phone 406-579-3846 with any enquiries
Ages 11 years and up.
Monday, August 8– Friday, August 12, 2011
The Summer Camp at Beth Shalom is designed to give young people who are being raised as Jews, from Montana and surrounding areas, an enriching opportunity to learn more about Judaism, Israel and Jewish cultures and traditions, while getting to know youth from other parts of the state, making friends, having fun, and practicing some Hebrew!
Two camp counselors from Soultrain in Israel will facilitate the program, with support from Beth Shalom families. Participants from outside Bozeman will be billeted to stay with the families of Bozeman participants. Read the rest of this entry
MAJCO SHABBATON REGISTRATION
Shabbaton,
MONTANA: JEWISH VOICES, MORAL CHOICES
26TH ANNUAL SHABBATON
Hosted by… Bet Harim Jewish Community of the Flathead Valley
The Sanctuary At Kila, Montana
Registration is also available at Bet Harim’s website: www.betharim.com
Register for the MAJCO Shabbaton NOW!
Congregation Bet Harim has finalized the registration form for the MAJCO Shabbaton! The weekend looks like it will be an incredible event, and well worth your time.
The guest speaker at the MAJCO Shabbaton will be Rabbi David Saperstein, the director and chief legal counsel at the Union for Reform Judaism’s Religious Action Center. Register now!
The Aitz Chaim Ram's Horn 