Category Archives: 2014
ONLY IN ISRAEL
Only in Israel!
Itzik was driving home from his job in Tel Aviv when he was pulled over for not wearing a seat belt.
Two days later-same ticket, same cop.
“Nu,” the officer said, “have you learned anything?”
“Yes,” said Itzik. “I’ve learned I need to take a different way home from work.
–Submitted by Jerry Weissman
THE NORMANDY KADDISH PROJECT
The Normandy Kaddish Project
By Alan Weinschel , 4/02/2014
This past September, my wife and I visited the Normandy beaches, including the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach. Visiting the cemetery was an emotional experience. The cemetery is immaculately maintained and, in some ways, very beautiful. But we were overwhelmed by the vastness of more than 9,000 gravesites and the realization that nearly all the soldiers buried there were killed as young men. I originally thought that on this visit, our second to the site, we would be in better control of our emotions than we were the first time but, surprisingly, we were not.
This time, for some reason, we focused more sharply on the graves marked with Stars of David. There are 149 of them scattered among the crosses, each one indicating the burial site of a Jewish soldier killed in action in Normandy. Our visit was just after the High Holidays and we noticed that some, but not all, of the Jewish graves had stones or coins on them, signifying, of course, that someone had been to visit. But not all of the graves had stones or coins upon them, and we realized that some of these men have neither visitors nor anyone to say Kaddish for them.
When my wife and I returned home, I was struck by the thought that Jews in the United States should be thankful for those among our people who fought and gave the ultimate sacrifice in Normandy. It is our responsibility to remember these fallen soldiers by saying Kaddish for them annually in every synagogue in the United States on the Shabbat that falls closest to June 6th.
Although I myself am not a World War II veteran, I did serve in the Army Reserves and was impelled to begin the Normandy Kaddish Project as a tribute to my dad and the millions of others in the Greatest Generation. My dad served in the Merchant Marine during World War II, but did not go overseas. He was active in the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S. for many years and together with millions of others who served during World War I and World War II fought wars that needed to be fought and by winning them, secured the freedoms we all enjoy today.
This year, Friday, June 6 will mark the 70th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy and the battle at Omaha Beach. With the help of my rabbi, Michael White of Temple Sinai of Roslyn, and our congregation’s president, Howard Berrent, the Normandy Kaddish Project is well underway. We already have asked hundreds of temple presidents and rabbis to participate, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. One of my law partners, Bob Sugarman, the chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, is spreading the word of this initiative to the Conservative and Orthodox communities, where the response has been equally enthusiastic.
I hope you will join us by encouraging your congregation to participate in the Normandy Kaddish Project, and that on June 6, 2014, the 70th anniversary of D-Day, you will remember and recite Kaddish for the Jewish soldiers who gave their lives on the beaches in Normandy – including the 149 whose graves are at Omaha Beach – and elsewhere, so that we might live in freedom.
Alan Weinschel is a member of Temple Sinai of Roslyn.
KLEZMER IN MONTANA
Montana Folk Festival, Butte
July 11-13
Klezmatics band with dance leader Steve Weintraub
Alicia Svigals, violinist, a founder of the Grammy-winning Klezmatics, is widely acknowledged as the world’s foremost klezmer fiddler. Svigals has taught and toured with violinist Itzhak Perlman, who recorded her compositions; and was awarded first prize at the Safed, Israel international klezmer festival.
She will be joined at the Montana Folk Festival by dancer Steve Weintraub. Steve is a teacher, choreographer, and performer of Jewish dance, particularly Yiddish dance, the dance to klezmer music. He is in international demand as a teacher of traditional Yiddish dance at festivals and workshops.
Steven delights in introducing people to the figures, steps and stylings of the dances that belong to Klezmer music. He has often been called the Pied Piper of Yiddish Dance; his years of experience leading and researching Yiddish dance allow him to weave dancers and music together in astonishing ways. Young and old, from all backgrounds, find it easy to share in the joy of Yiddish dancing.
List of 2014 Performers:
http://montanafolkfestival.com/pages/festival-info/2014-performers.php?g=17
YAHRZEITS — JUNE, 2014
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 Yahrzeit 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 | GREGORIAN DATE OF PASSING | HEBREW DATE OF PASSING | DECEASED RELATIONSHIP TO CONGREGANT |
| Marvin Langsam | Oct 27, 2013 | 23 Cheshvan, 5774 | Brother of Helen Cherry |
| Natalee Holly Kelman | Jul 10, 2013 | 3 Av, 5773 | Daughter of Evelyn Kelman |
| Al Nagel | Jun 4, 2010 | 22 Sivan, 5770 | Uncle of Meriam Nagel |
| Ann Magalnick | Jun 6, 1987 | 9 Sivan, 5747 | Mother of Elliot Magalnick |
| Minnie Goldberg | Jun 8, 1983 | 27 Sivan, 5743 | Grandmother of Jerry Weissman |
| Claire Hochfeld Meyer | Jun 10, 1958 | 22 Sivan, 5718 | Mother of Diane Sherick |
| Samuel Thall | Jun 10, 1992 | 9 Sivan, 5752 | Father of Terry Thall |
| Sigmund Oppenheimer Meyer | Jun 11, 1986 | 4 Sivan, 5746 | Father of Diane Sherick |
| Elsie Dorman | Jun 14, 2004 | 25 Sivan, 5764 | Aunt of Marjorie Feldman |
| Lillian Nagel | Jun 16, 1999 | 2 Tammuz, 5759 | Aunt of Meriam Nagel |
| Rhoda Barrett | Jun 17, 2000 | 14 Sivan, 5760 | Cousin of Nadyne Weissman |
| Charles Cohn | Jun 21, 1930 | 25 Sivan, 5690 | Father of Arlyne Reichert |
| Zollie Kelman | Jun 23, 2008 | 20 Sivan, 5768 | Husband of Evelyn Kelman |
| Morris Goldberg | Jun 25, 1955 | 5 Tammuz, 5715 | Grandfather of Jerry Weissman |
| Regan Holsclaw | Jun 27, 1970 | 23 Sivan, 5730 | Son of Arleen Heintzelman |
BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
A board meeting of the Great Falls Hebrew Association (Aitz Chaim) was held at 2:00 P.M. on Sunday, June 1, at the Washington School. Following are some highlights of the meeting.
- The Board discussed having a cemetery cleanup evening on Tuesday, June 24, starting at 5:30 P.M. Anyone wishing to bring a lawn mower, weed eater, shovel, salad, or a cold drink is welcome to come. After the cleanup, then we can have the stones that have been vandalized repaired.
- We still have one more student rabbi visit left in our contract this year. Student Rabbi Bess Wohlner was not able to come back for another visit, so we are going to check into whether the next year’s student rabbi could come out the week end of July 25, since air fares are much less expensive in the summer. He or she may not be able to get here in time to do a Friday evening service, but we might do something Saturday morning the 26th and then a potluck that evening and perhaps something Sunday. We will let you know if such a thing materializes. This summer we may get together and do something socially as a community, with or without a student rabbi. We had thought we should do that more often anyway to strengthen our ties as a community, since we meet so few times a year and so irregularly now for religious services. Stephen Boyd offered to be our social events coordinator. We may even get together some time this winter to have a movie night. Stay tuned to your Ram’s Horn for further developments.
- Next year the second night of Passover is Saturday, April 4. We had such a fun Passover Seder last year, with several people signing up at the last minute to make up for some that weren’t able to come. We will have next year’s Passover Seder at the same place, and it will be led by Sarah, Max, and Hannah. We’ll let you know more as it gets closer.
So the tentative calendar for upcoming events looks like this:
- Tuesday, 06/24/2014, 5:30 P.M.: Cemetery cleanup and noshing.
- The week end of 07/25-27/2014: Possible visit from next year’s student Rabbi, but we’ll plan to do something anyway. TBA
- Wednesday, 09/24/2014: Erev Rosh Hashanah with Student Rabbi
- Sunday, 09/28/2014: Annual Board meeting and election of board members and officers
- Friday, 10/03/2014: Erev Yom Kippur with Student Rabbi
- November: Possible visit from Student Rabbi TBA
- Tuesday through the next Wednesday, 12/16-24/2014: Hannukah
- Wednesday, 12/24/2014: Christmas at the Mercy Home
- January and February: Possible social event(s) to be planned by our new social coordinator
- 03/05/2015: Purim, and possible visit from Student Rabbi TBA
- Friday through the next Saturday, 04/03-11/2015: Passover. Community Seder Saturday, 04/04/2015.
- May: Possible visit from Student Rabbi TBA
TREASURER’S REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
EDITOR’S NOTE: These are a few highlights from the Treasurer’s report we will be discussing at the GFHA board meeting, to be held this Sunday, June 1, at 2:00 P.M. at Washington School. Any interested members are welcome to attend. Click on “Donate” to see how you can help.
* Thus far this year, I have only made 2 of our 3 scheduled payments to HUC for the Student Rabbi program. Even if we do not schedule the third shabbos visit for the year, we likely still owe HUC some of those funds (as we have scheduled 4 of 5 services, including the High Holy Days). The third payment we owe would be in the amount of 1,175. I request board guidance on how much of that to pay (of course, some of that would depend on whether or not we schedule a June service …)
* Thus far this year, we have received dues and other contributions (excluding seder) from 16 family units, totaling 4,844.50. If asked, I believe that some regular contributors to the congregation will give again this year. If all of those individuals give, we could achieve another 2,025 in donations. Receipt of those funds would allow us to have a break even year, even if we have to pay the full amount we owe to HUC.
* We had a fun and well attended Pesach seder this year. The seder provided net support to the congregation in the amount of 281.65. Much of this was due to a number of very last minute reservations from non-members.
Please feel free to contact me at treasurer@aitzchaim.com with any questions you might have regarding this report.
Submitted by Aaron Weissman
YAHRZEITS — MAY, 2014
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 Yahrzeit 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 | GREGORIAN DATE OF PASSING | HEBREW DATE OF PASSING | DECEASED RELATIONSHIP TO CONGREGANT |
| Marvin Langsam | Oct 27, 2013 | 23 Cheshvan, 5774 | Brother of Helen Cherry |
| Natalee Holly Kelman | Jul 10, 2013 | 3 Av, 5773 | Daughter of Evelyn Kelman |
| Ada Handler | May 01, 1980 | 15 Iyyar, 5740 | Grandmother of Wendy Weissman |
| Bessie Stiegler | May 23, 1998 | 27 Iyyar, 5758 | Aunt of Nadyne Weissman |
| Bette Weissman | May 29, 2010 | 16 Sivan, 5770 | Grandmother of David Weissman, Mother of Jeff Weissman, Patricia Phillips, Ted Weissman, Sally Weissman, and Gale Rietmann |
YOM HASHOAH 2014
Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah, 2014) began on the evening of April 27, 2014, and ends on the evening of April 28. Life comes to a complete halt all over Israel to remember those murdered in the Holocaust.
WHO KNOWS ONE? (ENGLISH)
1 – who knows 1
1 – I know 1
1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth.
2 who knows 2
2 I know 2
2 are the tablets of the commandments
1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth.
3 who knows 3
3 I know 3
3 are our patriarchs
2 are the tablets of the commandments
1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth.
4 who knows 4
4 I know 4
4 are our matriarchs,
3 are our patriarchs
2 are the tablets of the commandments
1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth.
5 who knows 5
5 I know 5
5 are the books of the torah,
4 are our matriarchs,
3 are our patriarchs
2 are the tablets of the commandments
1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth.
6 who knows 6
6 I know 6
6 are the orders of the mishnah
5 are the books of the torah,
4 are our matriarchs,
3 are our patriarchs
2 are the tablets of the commandments
1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth.
7 who knows 7
7 I know 7
7 are the days in a week till Shabbat
6 are the orders of the mishnah
5 are the books of the torah,
4 are our matriarchs,
3 are our patriarchs
2 are the tablets of the commandments
1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth.
8 who knows 8
8 I know 8
8 are the days to the brit milah
7 are the days in a week till Shabbat
6 are the orders of the mishnah
5 are the books of the torah,
4 are our matriarchs,
3 are our patriarchs
2 are the tablets of the commandments
1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth.
9 who knows 9
9 I know 9
9 are the months before birth,
8 are the days to the brit milah
7 are the days in a week till Shabbat
6 are the orders of the mishnah
5 are the books of the torah,
4 are our matriarchs,
3 are our patriarchs
2 are the tablets of the commandments
1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth.
10 who knows 10
10 I know 10
10 are the commandments
9 are the months before birth,
8 are the days to the brit milah
7 are the days in a week till Shabbat
6 are the orders of the mishnah
5 are the books of the torah,
4 are our matriarchs,
3 are our patriarchs
2 are the tablets of the commandments
1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth.
11 who knows 11
11 I know 11
11 are the stars in Joseph’s dream
10 are the commandments
9 are the months before birth,
8 are the days to the brit milah
7 are the days in a week till Shabbat
6 are the orders of the mishnah
5 are the books of the torah,
4 are our matriarchs,
3 are our patriarchs
2 are the tablets of the commandments
1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth.
12 who knows 12
12 I know 12
12 are the Tribes of Israel
11 are the stars in Joseph’s dream
10 are the commandments
9 are the months before birth,
8 are the days to the brit milah
7 are the days in a week till Shabbat
6 are the orders of the mishnah
5 are the books of the torah,
4 are our matriarchs,
3 are our patriarchs
2 are the tablets of the commandments
1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth.
13 who knows 13
13 I know 13
13 are the attributes of God
12 are the Tribes of Israel
11 are the stars in Joseph’s dream
10 are the commandments
9 are the months before birth,
8 are the days to the brit milah
7 are the days in a week till Shabbat
6 are the orders of the mishnah
5 are the books of the torah,
4 are our matriarchs,
3 are our patriarchs
2 are the tablets of the commandments
1 is Our God who is in the heavens and on earth.
The Aitz Chaim Ram's Horn 