This gallery contains 10 photos.
One state solution for Israel!
I don’t know how many have seen this, but it is an AWESOME video sent to me by one of my New York congregants.
2011 Montana Council Scout Shabbat
The Montana Council of the Boy Scouts of America had its Council Camporee over the previous weekend in Townsend, MT. The Scouts have a Camporee like this every four years.
In 2007, Montana Scouts had their first-ever Scout Shabbat at the Council Camporee in Townsend, led by our own Aaron Weissman. This year, Bozeman-based Beth Shalom rabbi Ed Stafman came to the Camporee to lead Shabbos Services.
The Service was well attended by interested Scouts and Scouters.
Interestingly enough, the weekend fell on Parashat Sh’lach, the only section of the Torah that discusses “Scouts!” An interesting discussion ensued about whether the “Scouts” sent by Moishe really embodied the Scout Oath and Law. (Caleb and Joshua certainly did!)
The service was sponsored by the Montana Council’s Jewish Committee on Scouting, which is chaired by Great Falls resident (and Aitz Chaim congregant) Diane Sherick. More information on the National Jewish Committee on Scouting can be found at jewishscouting.org.
Rabbi Chaim Block Visits Great Falls
Chabad Rabbi Chaim Block of San Antonio, Texas, stopped by Great Falls over the last weekend! He is pictured here with members of the Weissman family.
Longtime Northcentral Montana residents may remember the children’s Hebrew School/Camp that Rabbi Block organized and ran in Great Falls in the late 1970s.
Rabbi Block is also the father-in-law of Bozeman Chabad Rabbi Chaim Bruk.
Lecture and Performance by Dror Eydar
Dror Eydar, Ph.D., of Israel, visited Great Falls last night to give a lecture on a fascinating new archeological discovery by Professor Adam Zertal of the University of Haifa in Israel.
Zertal posits that a foot-shaped natural amphitheater on Mt. Ebal, dating back to the Iron Age, was the site of early-Jewish religious observance. He has found several other sites in Israel with similar archeological characteristics.
Zertal compares this foot shaped structure to references to feet and foot found throughout the Bible. All in all, Dr. Eydar gave us a lot to think about last night!
Many thanks to Soultrain and it’s organizer, Motti Isaak, for making this wonderful evening possible.
Please Help those in Joplin, Missouri
As we all learned today, the town of Joplin, MO has been devastated by terrible tornado. We have just heard news of the synagogue from Joplin through the URJ Small Congregations mailing list.
Per emails to that list, we now know that the synagogue is intact, and the synagogue’s president and much of the congregation is now homeless.
The URJ requests that interested donors provide aid through the URJ Disaster Relief fund. Information on how to donate and how the funds will be used is available after the link.
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!
SAD NEWS
Ann Grobosky and her husband Mark are traveling back to New York on vacation to visit family. En route, they received the news that Mark’s younger brother, Eric Grobosky, died suddenly on Monday, May 16, 2011, at the age of 42. Burial will take place in upstate New York. We extend our sincere condolences to the Grobosky family.
The Hebrews, The Time Passengers: A Journey into Spirit and Land in the path of Abraham
Once again, we are fortunate to have a stimulating program from Soul Train in Great Falls, MT. Dr. Dror Eydar will be presenting a lecture, power point presentation, and musical performance including Jewish soul music and Israeli songs. The program is entitled
The Hebrews: The Time Passengers
A Journey into Spirit and Land in the path
of Abraham, the first Hebrew
A new and fascinating archaeological find has recently been discovered in the Jordan Valley, east of Israel, an ancient site which the Hebrew tribes built around the beginning of the 12th century BCE. The site, its unique shape and its function, are deeply connected to the old ideas of the Jewish People as shaped throughout history since the time of the Patriarchs. Thus, this discovery sheds light on the past of the Jewish nation right up to the present day.
To refresh your memory concerning the birth of the Jewish nation, and to enhance your enjoyment and understanding of this presentation, Dr. Eydar recommends reading Genesis, chapters 12-22.
Please join us Wednesday, May 25 at 7 pm at the Great Falls Public Library. The event is free, with donations accepted to the Great Falls Hebrew Association. Read the rest of this entry
A Rainy Bonfire?
Well, it looks like we will be socked in with a bit of moisture this weekend. That could put a bit of a damper on our planned Lag B’Omer bonfire and shish kebab cookout.
We will have to play some of it by ear, but I think that the majority of our adult discussion will be indoors. Weather permitting, we will still light the fire and cook the shish kebab outdoors. We’ll make an announcement at services tonight with more particulars; hope to see you there!
The Aitz Chaim Ram's Horn 