Category Archives: Ram’s Horn

Aitz Chaim High Holy Days 5772 Schedule

High Holy Days Schedule 2011

All services are led by Cantor Elliott Magalnick

Wednesday Sept 28

Thursday Sept 29

September 9: Apples and honey

Image by gwen via Flickr

  • Rosh Hashanah services are 10:00 A.M. at the Bethel, 1009 18th Ave SW, Great Falls
  • Tashlich immediately follows morning services at about 12:30pm at Giant Springs State Park
  • No host community lunch immediately follows Tashlich at Maple Gardens

Friday October 7

  • Kol Nidre services are 7:00 P.M. at the Bethel, 1009 18th Ave SW, Great Falls

Saturday October 8

  • Yom Kippur services begin on Saturday morning, October 8 at 10:00 A.M. at the Bethel, 1009 18th Ave SW, Great Falls.
    • 10:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M. Morning Services
    • 2 hour break:  12:00 P.M.-2:00 P.M.
    • 2:00 P.M.-4:00 P.M. Adult Discussion, STORAHtelling on Jonah by Cantor Elliot Magalnick
    • 1 hour break:  4:00 P.M.-5:00 P.M.
    • 5:00 P.M.-5:45 P.M. Yizkor
    • 5:45 P.M.-6:15 P.M. Minhah
    • 6:15 P.M.-7:00 P.M. Neilah
    • Break the fast milchig (dairy) pot luck immediately follows evening services.

FROM RABBI CHAIM: 09/11 TEN YEARS LATER — A JEWISH PERSPECTIVE

To view and contemplate a Jewish perspective on 09/11 ten years later, please click on the link below.

www.jewishmontana.com/1606995

Mel Gibson Working on Chanukah Movie??

Jewilicious is reporting that actor and Catholic-fundamentalist Mel Gibson, who in 2006 made international headlines when he accused Jews of starting all the wars in the world during an anti-Semitic rant while pulled over for driving drunk, is teaming up with screenwriter Joe Eszterhas (Basic Instinct, Showgirls, Betrayed, Music Box) to produce a movie about Judah Maccabee.

Maccabee is a difficult topic for many Reform Jews.  Chanukah is our most visible holiday, even if it is not that important in our theology.  However, it celebrates what can only be regarded as a very fundamentalist and bloodthirsty part of our history.

Such a story would line up very well with many of Gibson’s other blood-spattered movies.  Do we want Chanukah’s history depicted by such a man, in such a way?  What do you think?  Your comments would be appreciated below.

The Butler

A Jewish couple in London wins twenty million pounds in the lottery. They buy themselves a magnificent mansion in Knightsbridge and surround themselves with all the material wealth imaginable.

They decide to hire a butler.  They find the perfect butler through an agency, very proper and very British, and bring him back to their home.

The day after his arrival, he is instructed to set the dining table for four, as  they are inviting the Cohens to lunch. The couple then leaves the house to do some shopping.

When they returned, they find the table set for six. Perplexed, they ask the butler why it is set for six when they have expressly asked him to set it for four.

The butler replies: “The  Cohens telephoned and said they were bringing the Blintzes.”

Recall Notice

Regardless of make or year, all units known as “human beings” are being recalled by the manufacturer. This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam” and “Eve”, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all Subsequent units. This defect is technically termed “Serious Internal Non-morality,” but is more commonly known as “SIN.”

Some of the symptoms of the SIN defect include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Depression
  • Fearfulness
  • Foul vocal emissions
  • Ingratitude
  • Jealousy
  • Lack of peace and joy
  • Loss of direction
  • Rebellion
  • Selfishness

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URJ Webinar on Un’taneh Tokef

Meanings and Melodies of the High Holy Days, Part 1: Un’taneh Tokef
 

Arguably the most challenging liturgy during the Days of Awe is the Un’taneh Tokef, recognizable to all through its decisive “who will live and who will die” refrain.  Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman, will teach us of the layers of meaning found within the text and scholarly responses it evokes. Cantor Alane Katzew will elucidate the ways in which various settings of the prayer suggest those meanings and lift up the power of the words.

 

Join us for a Webinar on September 14
Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/999158049

 

Title: Meanings and Melodies of the High Holy Days, Part 1: Un’taneh Tokef
Date: Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Time: 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM EDT

 

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

 

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server
Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

PLEASE HELP UPDATE THE YIZKOR MEMORIAL LIST

A shofar made from a ram's horn is traditional...
Image via Wikipedia

With the High Holy Days fast approaching, we would like to update the Yizkor Memorial List maintained by the Ram’s Horn.

This list has been through many hands, and as a result may contain some information that is incomplete or inaccurate.  We are looking especially to correct misspelled names or to fill in missing dates or years.  Even if you think we should have the correct information, please review the current Yizkor list and provide us with any corrections or additions.  Thank you.

Mark your calendars for the Aitz Chaim Annual Meeting

The Aitz Chaim annual congregational meeting and board meeting will be at 1pm on Sunday Sept 25 at 1015 1st Ave N. Please let me know if you have any items you would like placed on the agenda.
Thanks!
-Laura

Proposed Congregation Budget for 5772

With the ending of the month of August, Congregation Aitz Chaim is now preparing for a new year.  We will again be doing our best to bring yiddishkeit to Northcentral Montana, albeit in a more limited way than in previous years.  Since demographic changes have caused our congregation to shrink, we can no longer offer monthly services 10 times per year.

As a result, I now propose to you the following budget for the coming year.  This budget will be on the agenda for congregation approval at our upcoming Annual meeting, which will be held on Sunday, September 25 at 1:00 P.M. at 1015 1st Avenue North.

This budget proposes bringing in Hazzan Magalnick to lead High Holy Day services and flying in a Student Rabbi from HUC in Los Angeles to lead three additional services.  We are currently considering scheduling these services for November, March (Purim) and May (Lag B’Omer).  Our specific congregation calendar will also be proposed in the very near future.

In order to conduct even this limited schedule, our congregation will need to raise almost $10 thousand per year in dues and donations.  The amount that we raise shrinks each year, and we have lost money from congregation operations for each of the past two years.  Without payment of membership commitments from each and every one of our congregants, our ability to maintain an active congregational schedule will be critically impacted.  Minimum membership commitments of $250 per individual and $500 per family are requested from all congregants, and additional donations above that amount would greatly enhance our efforts.  Your membership commitment can be paid by check, cash or credit card.  To pay by credit card, simply use the link to the right of this post.

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What is Aitz Chaim’s Minhag?

A Sefer Torah, the traditional form of the Heb...

Image via Wikipedia

As we prepare to enter the year 5772 and schedule our services for the year, I think it a good idea for our community to continue to discuss our rituals and traditions.

We have a ritual committee.  Unfortunately, that committee has not had a meeting since 2005.  In the coming weeks, I am going to put together a document outlining our minhag.  In the meantime, please find after the “more” link copies of the minutes from our 2005 Ritual Committee meetings.  Please read and give us your comments!

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