HAVE YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BE ON THE AITZ CHAIM BOARD?
Now, here’s your chance. As an Aitz Chaim board member, you can lend your voice to decisions that are made by the Board concerning this congregation, and Jewish life in general in this community. You will have a chance to get together with other passionate Jews and discuss and make decisions that directly affect you now and in the future. Topics before the Board typically include such things as the upcoming schedule for services, upkeep of the cemetery, holiday planning, and annual budget concerns. Any congregation member is encouraged to attend board meetings as a spectator, but imagine yourself being an actual participant in making decisions about matters directly affecting your Jewish life in Great Falls. You could go down in Aitz Chaim history.
The Board members who are up for re-election for two-year terms are vice president Bruce Breslauer, who has declined to run again; Treasurer Aaron Weissman, Secretary Nadyne Weissman, and board member Stuart Lewin. Elections are typically held between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, and voting is done by secret ballot.
The next board meeting will be held on September 28, 2014, at 2:00 P.M. at the Celtic Cowboy, 116 1st Ave. S.
If you are considering running for election to the Aitz Chaim board, please let President Laura Weiss president@aitzchaim.com
or any other Board member know so that we can include your name on the ballot.
ROSH HASHANAH HOSPITALITY
Todah Robah to the following Congregation members who have offered their hospitality to Cantor Ruz Gulko and to provide the oneg:
- Wednesday, 09/24/2014: Airport pickup for Ruz Gulko: Aaron Weissman
- Wednesday evening, 09/24/2014: Dinner hosts for Ruz Gulko: Don and Helen Cherry
- Wednesday evening, 09/24/2014: Oneg, hosted by Ann Grobosky. Meriam Nagel will bring round Challah.
YOM KIPPUR SCHEDULE 2014
Please mark your calendars for these upcoming events.
Yom Kippur day schedule:
- Saturday, 10/04/2014, 10:00 A.M.-12:00 P.M.: Yom Kippur Morning services led by Morah Ruz Gulko at the Bethel.
- Saturday afternoon, 10/04/2014, 12:00-3:00 P.M.: Break
- Saturday afternoon, 10/04/2014, 3:00-4:00 P.M.: Discussion.
- Saturday afternoon, 10/04/2014, 4:30-5:30 P.M.: Yizkor
- Saturday afternoon, 10/04/2014, 5:30-6:15 P.M.: Neilah
- Saturday evening, 10/04/2014, 6:30 P.M.: Break the Fast Potluck, traditionally dairy (milchig.)
The address of the Bethel is 1009 18th Avenue Southwest. click here for map and directions.
ANSWERS AND QUESTIONS BY MORAH RUZ GULKO
Shalom, y’all!
I chose to use this piece as it has a direct bearing on much of my teaching for Rosh HaShanah.
Looking so forward to meeting everyone!
Best,
Ruz
My 85-year-old mother adores the TV show Jeopardy. You get answers in different categories, and you have to guess what the questions were. It’s on from 7 – 7:30 every weekday evening, and anyone who calls during this time is treated to a hasty apology and a promise to call back. She is one smart cookie, and loves guessing the correct questions before the contestants can. And yeah, she is right about 98 % of the time!
Everyone has heard that old joke: “Why does a Jew answer a question with a question?” Answer: “Why not?” As silly as this may seem, I think we can look at it as an expression of Jewish non-binary thinking, combined with irony. After all, what do we really know? Our awareness and perceptions are clearly almost completely subjective, as has been demonstrated many times over in well-grounded scientific work. The Jewish response to this problem of knowing is to ask many questions, from different angles and approaches, turning it over and over until understanding, comprehension, and wisdom are achieved. That is why questions – sheh-eh-loht – are a critically important part of Jewish study, and, can often be more important than the answers.
Now, here’s an interesting fact: there is only one word each in Hebrew for What, When, Where, etc. But when we come to the question Why, we learn that there are two separate words: maDU-ah, and LAmah. MaDU-ah means, literally, “What is known?” Basic facts are needed. LAmah means “For what?” That’s the big existential WHY. Why do good people suffer? Why do people do terrible things? WHY ME? Obviously, the LAmah is the much harder question to answer.
Why do we need to ask so many questions? Which why?!
ROSH HASHANAH SCHEDULE 2014
Please mark your calendars for these upcoming events.
- Wednesday evening, 09/24/2014, 7:00 P.M.: Arev Rosh Hashanah Services, led by Morah Ruz Gulko, at The Bethel. Oneg to follow.
- Thursday morning, 09/25/2014, 10:00 A.M.: Rosh Hashanah Morning Services, led by Morah Ruz Gulko, at The Bethel.
- Tashlich at Giant Springs to follow.
- Congregation no-host lunch to follow, at Maple Gardens, 5401 9th Ave. S.
The address of the Bethel is 1009 18th Avenue Southwest. click here for map and directions.
NEW YEAR’S CARDS FOR SALE
Meriam Nagel has New Year’s cards for sale. She can be reached at 454-1123.
YAHRZEITS — SEPTEMBER, 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 |
English Date of Passing | Hebrew Date of Passing | Deceased Relationship to Congregant |
| Vicki Sherick Hawkesworth | Oct 12, 2013 | 9 Cheshvan, 5774 | Daughter of Jack and Diane Sherick |
| Marvin Langsam | Oct 27, 2013 | 23 Cheshvan, 5774 | Brother of Helen Cherry |
| William Meyer | Sep 6, 1966 | 21 Elul, 5726 | Grandfather of Diane Sherick |
| Norman Nagel | Sep 6, 1976 | 11 Elul, 5736 | Father of Meriam Nagel |
| Harriet Renne | Sep 11, 2009 | 22 Elul, 5769 | Mother of Michael Renne |
| Joe Barrett | Sep 14, 1993 | 28 Elul, 5753 | Uncle of Nadyne Weissman |
| Paralee Poplack Shapiro | Sep 20, 1999 | 10 Tishrei, 5760 | Mother of Jeff Shapiro |
| Zel Lana Jenings | Sep 21, 2006 | 28 Elul, 5766 | Niece of Diane Sherick |
| Frances Langsam | Sep 22, 1996 | 9 Tishrei, 5757 | Mother of Helen Cherry |
| Alfred Maleson | Sep 24, 2009 | 6 Tishrei, 5770 | Uncle of Wendy Weissman |
| Nathan Rapaport | Sep 27, 1925 | 9 Cheshvan, 5686 | Grandfather of Nadyne Weissman |
| Leila Rapaport Green | Sep 27, 1967 | 23 Tishrei, 5728 | Grandmother of Nadyne Weissman |
| William Semple | Sep 29, 2010 | 21 Tishrei, 5771 | father of Doug Semple |
INTRODUCING MORAH RUZ GULKO
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the bio sent to us by Morah (teacher) Ruz Gulko, who will lead our upcoming High Holy Day services.
RUZ (rhymes with buzz) GULKO
Ruz grew up in eastern Canada where she attended private Jewish day schools and universities in Toronto and Montreal. She has worked with most of the Jewish educational and religious institutions in the greater Seattle area since 1984, teaching Judaic Studies and Hebrew and leading prayer services, particularly at the Jewish Day School in Bellevue and at Herzl – Ner Tamid Congregation.
Ruz also trains teachers, writes curriculum, and lectures in the general community. She has led Rosh Hodesh (Jewish New Month) and Special Seder programs for women. Ruz’ passion is for exploring and sharing Torah’s radically humanistic teachings.
She started her free-lance teaching career in the fall of 2007, beginning a small school in her home –- GAN ARGAMAN (Purple Garden) – teaching all ages in all matters Jewish. Ruz is also a “chazzan-for-hire” on the local circuit, leading Shabbat services throughout the community.
She has served as the creator, organizer and Hazzanit for the participatory High Holiday services at Herzl-Ner Tamid Congregation since 1991.
Ruz loves to work with people of all ages, and believes that learning Torah and eating chocolate together could save the world.
Torah Readers for High Holy Days?
How is it already the month of Elul? The year is really flying by, and before you know it Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur will be upon us!
I had the opportunity for a lovely conversation with our service leader and Cantorial Soloist for our High Holy Day services this year, Ruz Gulko. Ruz comes to us on Rabbi Fine’s recommendation, and has been leading services in the Seattle area for the past 25 years.
Ruz is putting her plans together for our Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services, and would like to know if anyone would like the honor of reading from the Torah on Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur mornings. She plans on using the High Holy Day trope for the services, and will be glad to send a written copy of the text and an mp3 of the trope to any volunteers. If you are interested, please send her an email at ruzgulko@comcast.net or place a comment on this post.
If there is anything specific you would like to see done at these services, please send me and Ruz a note, or just comment below.
L’Shana Tova,
Aaron
FROM THE MIND OF A CHILD
JAMES (age 4) was listening to a Bible story.
His dad read: “The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city, but his wife looked back and was turned to salt.”
Concerned, James asked: “What happened to the flea?”
The Aitz Chaim Ram's Horn 