The Concept of Time, by Hazzan Magalnick
- Image via Wikipedia
Dear Congregation;
Judaically or scientifically we have a concept of time. The passing of time may be viewed in at least two ways: spiral time or linear time. In spiral time we look at events at a higher level. We experience an event or we read about it, and then, as time passes, we re-enact it to bring us back emotionally to the event, and to discover or rediscover the significance of the event in our current everyday lives. In linear time, after the event happens, time passes, and passes, and passes … and as we get farther and farther away from the event, we lose our focus and our interest, and we lose the significance that the event had in our lives.
In Judaism, one way that we maintain our focus and our interest in past events of significance in our heritage and in our lives is by re-enacting our holidays. In the spiral time concept, we move in time lines that resemble elliptical circles. We keep in touch with events from our history by celebrating a Passover Seder, building and inhabiting a Succah, or engaging in repentance on Yom Kippur. It is this elliptical movement of thought in relation to events in our collective history that makes those events continue to be pertinent in our lives. Since the time line in Judaism curves backward, we do not forget- nor do we minimize the importance of our ancestors and what their deeds and their lives mean to us today.
In this season of solemnity, we reflect not only upon our recent personal history, but also upon our long Jewish history. We set goals to take more responsibility for our individual actions and those of our community — not just for our immediate benefit, but also for the benefit of those future generations who will follow after us and look back at our deeds and our lives as Jews and remember our influence in their own lives. May we remain strong and vibrant in this coming year.
Last year on Rosh Hashanah I wished that we all would come back together this year,, happy, healthy, and even more fulfilled in our Jewish lives. My wish and my blessing for this year is that we all continue to meet and pray together, that we all continue to be well, and that we all come back together again for next year.
May our children and grandchildren grow older and smarter. may we keep our health, our hair, our teeth, our sight, our hearing and our love of each other.
‘L’SHONA TOVA TIKVATENU’
Cantor Elliott
Aitz Chaim High Holy Days 5772 Schedule
High Holy Days Schedule 2011
All services are led by Cantor Elliott Magalnick
Wednesday Sept 28
- Erev Rosh Hashanah services are 7:00 P.M. at the Bethel, 1009 18th Ave SW, Great Falls
Thursday Sept 29
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.
Mel Gibson Working on Chanukah Movie??
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
URJ Webinar on Un’taneh Tokef
| Meanings and Melodies of the High Holy Days, Part 1: Un’taneh Tokef | |||||||||||||||
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PLEASE HELP UPDATE THE YIZKOR MEMORIAL LIST
- 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.
The Aitz Chaim Ram's Horn 