Submissions for Har Shalom’s newsletters may be sent to info@har-shalom.org.

The Scribe — Fall 2017

Laurie’s Letter
On the Road to Becoming a Rabbi: Crossroad Ahead

When I began my rabbinic program in fall 2011, I knew that one day we might be having a conversation about my future at Har Shalom. Now, the time for that conversation has arrived. As a student, I have been blessed by the opportunity to use everything I learn in service to our congregation. Recently, I was awarded senior status in the ALEPH rabbinic program and anticipate that I will be ordained in January 2019.

So, now we face a new question together: Does Har Shalom have the resources to hire me as rabbi? As a student, I was able to learn much from my experiences at Har Shalom and could justify working for a modest, part-time income. The income also covered my tuition, fees, books and travel expenses. As a senior student and soon-to-be-ordained rabbi, with six years of study behind me, it is appropriate to expect more. The board kindly agreed to give me a raise this year, on the provision that we would begin a process to determine whether we can continue beyond May 2018. To that end, the board constituted an ad hoc committee composed of members-at-large and some of the elected leadership to think creatively about our resources and discern whether our community can retain me.

In truth, I have been preparing to be Har Shalom’s rabbi since 2009, even before I began in the ALEPH seminary program. I owe my desire to pursue a rabbinic path to Har Shalom’s board, who supported my participation in Union for Reform Judaism leadership seminars during 2007-2009 that catalyzed my desire to become a rabbi. I am indebted to Har Shalom for granting me leave and giving me a scholarship while I spent the 2012-2013 year at Pardes Institute in Jerusalem and for allowing me the flexibility to travel for the annual residential weeks of my ordination program. I dearly hope we can continue together beyond next May 2018. I am also aware that I might have to prepare for other possibilities.

I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has been part of our community and has helped me along my path toward ordination. I am grateful to those who made special, additional donations that will allow me to remain employed by Har Shalom this year. Last, I am thankful for the energy and time of those who are participating in the ad hoc discernment process. I am confident that through our work and with the help of the Holy Blessed One, we will reach a fitting resolution.

President Holly Kingsford’s Column

My Last Column As President

When tasked with writing a “State of the Shul” article, I wondered if I could balance my concerns with the positives. Let me explain: Our student rabbi is transitioning to full rabbi; will we be able to pay her properly? For greater accountability and continuity, we are migrating our financial management to a more costly professional bookkeeping service; will we be able to afford it? And one of our longtime members and active supporters is moving out of state! Will we have the resources to sustain ourselves? Talk about a wing and a prayer!

For the past four years, as president of the board, sometimes I have felt alone with my concerns, and yet it seems that at the 11th hour, everyone pitches in, and we are able to survive another day. Truly, we all have an indispensible role in the survival and growth of Har Shalom.

Now, it is time to pass the baton to the next president and administration, although I will remain on the board as immediate past president, as our by-laws specify. At our next annual meeting on September 10th, we will be voting in the new board.

As we approach this season of renewal and change, let’s consider some of the accomplishments of the last four years. Here are just a few:

· We still have a roof over our heads, and it doesn’t leak anymore. We have new paint, new chairs and new carpet.

· We are paying the mortgages down steadily.

· We hosted Pizmon, a concert of a capella Jewish youth, as well as the Hadassah Shabbaton.

· We have a weekly Jewish meditation group and held several monthly Rosh Chodesh observances.

· Seders, Holy Days and parties have been beautifully presented and fun.

· We have more and more children and adult B’nai Mitzva happening.

· We have consistently held weekly services, either led by Laurie or by competent lay leaders. (Such a mitzva!)

· We have a beautiful new website.

· Our library is the most comprehensive Jewish library in the state of Montana.

· We removed the rotten front canopy and redecorated the front with art and flowers in a beautiful and unique way.

· The sanctuary is more regal than ever with a Ner Tamid and a handmade Torah ark.

· Summer Camp begins (as I write this) on Monday with our Israeli counselors.

Are there things we could be doing better? Sure! In a small community, there is no room for anyone to keep their light hidden. We need every gift and talent to be in play for the greater good. I would ask that you consider what part you might play and then get in touch with a member of our leadership team. Conversations have been happening. By managing our collective energy, we are free to speak our truth and are forging our unique way.

We are all stronger when we work together.

Har Shalom High Holiday and Chagim Schedule 5778

Our High Holiday services are open to all at no charge, and we don’t require tickets.

Sat Sept 16

8:30 pm – Leil Selichot candlelight service

Wed Sept 20

7 pm – Erev Rosh Hashana

Thurs Sept 21

9 am – Children’s Rosh Hashana service

10 am – Rosh Hashana I morning service for all, followed by Tashlich

Fri Sept 22

8 am – Rosh Hashana II contemplative service

6 pm – potluck at Pineview Park picnic shelter

7 pm – Shabbat Shuva service at Pineview Park picnic shelter

Sat Sept 23

9 am – Shabbat Shuva Torah on the Trail, meet at Rattlesnake Trailhead

Sun Sept 24

9 am – Pre-Yom Kippur mikveh at Lolo Hot Springs

Fri Sept 29

6:30 pm – Kol Nidre

Sat Sept 30

9 am – Children’s Yom Kippur service

10 am – Yom Kippur morning service for all

Yom Kippur menucha (rest)

3:30 pm – Cheshbon Hanefesh (Soul Accounting, a time for study and reflection)

5 pm – Yizkor/Ma’riv/Neilah

8 pm – Havdallah and Break the Fast

Sun Oct 1

11 am – Build and decorate sukkah at Har Shalom

Thurs Oct 5

8 am – Sukkot I, Contemplative service, Taking the Lulav

Fri Oct 6

5 pm – Sukkot II potluck/Taking the Lulav

6:30 pm – Sukkot service in the sukkah

Thurs Oct 12

6 pm – Sukkot Yizkor

Fri Oct 13

5 pm – Simchat Torah, Soup and Salad potluck at Har Shalom

6 pm – Simchat Torah service (unroll the Torah!)

Torah Trails:

A New Year, an Open Door,
and the Path Beyond

-Laurie Franklin

Every holiday of the Jewish calendar offers a spiritual opportunity. Each observance gives us a chance to feel awe and thanks as if they were brand new. For example, on Hanukah, we marvel at the miracle of Divine Light in dark times. On Passover, we rejoice in gratitude for our freedom. On Purim, we celebrate-with wicked humor-the mystery of Holy Presence that is never named yet saves us from devastation. On Shavuot, we feel God’s love directed toward us through the gift of Torah. And, yes, there is most certainly a connection between food and nourishment of spirit: think latkes, charoses, Hamantaschen and cheesecake!

Now, we approach Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, followed by Sukkot and Simchat Torah. The calendar is filled for nearly a month! What spiritual awakenings might this big pile-up of special observances offer? Or maybe a better question might be: What door might we open during the coming Days of Awe?

Rosh Hashanah is literally the “head of the year”. It’s a time to celebrate the world’s birthday, and along with it, our own re-birthing. What are our dreams and hopes for ourselves, our families, and our communities? Can we see a way to bring them into being? Here is our door, opened to a New Year, a year of possibility.

Yom Kippur is reflection time; we pause to make clear-eyed assessments of our actions of the past year and reach for change and healing. We apologize to each other and to God. We clean the slate, we recharge our spiritual batteries, and we renew our vision. How wide have we been able to open the door? What can we see ahead of us, on the path beyond?

On Sukkot, freed from the clutter of the past year by Yom Kippur, we harvest clarity and revel in the joy of the sukkah, the shelter-that-is-no-shelter. We are exposed. We trust God. We hang out in the sukkah with the holy folk of ages past and with all the visitors we can summon, all of us bathing in the unimpeded radiations of the Divine. We are on the path to holy living, and we are not alone.

(click here for more)

Invitation to Be Part of the Future of Har Shalom:
Attend the Annual Membership Meeting September 10
Har Shalom sustains progressive, egalitarian, open and affirming Judaism
in Missoula

Our tradition teaches that we are to be a nation of priests. That means we are also a nation of leaders! So, all members-at-large, this is your invitation to be a nation of leaders on behalf of Har Shalom. Whether you want to join the board or one its committees or simply want to offer an opinion, idea or observation, this is a chance for all of us to take part in the governance of our community. Please join us on September 10th at noon for lunch and stay for the Annual Membership Meeting, beginning at 1pm. We will be voting in the new Board. There are lots of changes afoot.

Yahrzeits (now in the Weekly)

Todah Rabah

Volunteers do most of the work of maintaining our small community. Without willing helpers, we wouldn’t exist. Many people volunteer their time and money to sustain Har Shalom, and we are exceedingly grateful for each generous act.

In every public “thank you”, we always manage to leave someone out, and this may be a good problem to have because it is the result of having so many to thank! So, here we go, and with thanks to those who are patiently waiting for acknowledgement in the next newsletter.

Todah Rabah to:

Robin Abeshaus and Anna Kalm, for super-human effort to plan, feed, house and transport the NY a capella singing group, Pizmon, during their May visit. Thanks also to Bert and Carol Chessin, Suzanne Aboulfadl and Pat and Jack Cohen, for additional housing and chauffering. To Toba Winston and Sheehan Rosen for cataloguing and organizing the Har Shalom library. To Bert Chessin and Ilana Mcleod for coordinating the Har Shalom summer camp with our wonderful Israeli counselors, and to Dave Jolles, for being the captain of the Har Shalom summer-camp boat trip on Flathead Lake. To Lida and Paul Running Crane, Dev Harris Errecart, and Paul Kingsford for planning, designing and building the new planters that adorn our front entrance. Thanks also to Paul K. for faithful summer watering. To Sheehan Rosen and the entire Rosen family–Paul, Jeb, Eli and Caleb– for being stalwart organizers, teachers, and volunteers at Atidaynu. Thanks also to teachers Bert Chessin and Jody Jakob for inspired leadership. To Kate Soukonnikov for faithful and thorough monitoring of the info@har-shalom.org email. To Beth Jaffe, Cedar Mountain Software, and Marlene Hutchins for painstaking, time-intensive work to migrate the Har Shalom web site to a new platform. To Nina Alviar, Kate Sells and Elise Foster for a fitting and beautiful oneg following the Bat Mitzvah of Toba Winston. To David Cox, Alisa Watson and David Smith for grading and sealing the foundation of our building. To David Cox, Paul Running Crane, David Jolles, Matt Erekson and a crew of LDS helpers, who refurbished our roof fasteners and sealed the whole shebang just in time to keep us dry in winter and spring. To Marlene Hutchins and Hutchins FreeRange Creative for continuing to shape our graphic design and messaging activities. To the generous souls who contributed to our seder fund to sponsor seats. To every person and family who brought an oneg to share after our services.

Donations & Tributes

We would like to thank all members who sent in contributions ahead of regularly scheduled payments. We were able to make all necessary payments over the summer.

Laurie and Administrative Office Hours

My door is open to all who would like to visit with me about personal, spiritual matters. Office hours are Tuesday afternoons, from 2:30 to 6 pm, and at other times by special appointment. Please call 406/546-9368 or email laurief@har-shalom.org.

Office hours with our Administrator, Lisa, are Fridays. Contact her at 406-549-9595 or email admin@har-shalom.org

Board of Directors

President: Holly Kingsford 406-207-2078 | holly@har-shalom.org

Vice President: Pat Cohen 406-543-4409 | pat@har-shalom.org

Treasurer: (acting) Bert Chessin 406-531-5193 | bert@har-shalom.org

Secretary: Lida Running Crane 406-241-2566 | lida@har-shalom.org

Past President: Bert Chessin 406-531-5193 | bert@har-shalom.org

Pat Cohen, Editor | Har Shalom | 3035 South Russell Street | PO Box 3715 | Missoula, MT

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