Welcome
April 29, 2019
To all affiliates and friends of Congregation Beth Shalom,
It is with great enthusiasm and excitement that the Board of Directors of Beth Shalom announces the hiring of Rabbi Mark Hayim Kula as the next rabbi of the congregation.
We wish to thank the members of the Search Committee and all members of the congregation who so thoughtfully engaged with us during the search process over the last 18 months. We could not be happier with the outcome.
We also wish to thank Rabbi Emeritus Ed Stafman, Rabbi Michael Lotker and Amber Ikeman for their leadership and flexibility over this transition year. Rabbi Lotker will continue to work with us through the end of June until Rabbi Kula starts July 1. Amber Ikeman has also agreed to continue her role for the next fiscal year as Program Director and Cantorial Soloist, working with Rabbi Kula. We have a wonderful team in place for the future.
Please mark your calendars for a special Shavuot celebration with Rabbi Kula, Rabbi Lotker and Rabbi Emeritus Stafman on Saturday, June 8. Place and time will be announced closer to the date.
Below please find a letter from Rabbi Kula, along with a link to the press release announcing his appointment publicly.
Sara E. Schwerin
President of the Board
Congregation Beth Shalom
Letter from Rabbi Kula
Shalom Friends!
Mazel Tov on uniting as Rabbi and community.
I am honored and delighted to join the Congregation Beth Shalom family and Bozeman community. These are exciting and challenging times. Let us take care of ourselves and others, nurture our relationships, and tap into profound Jewish wisdom. We will then surely thrive and be blessed.
With Passover concluded, I pray we know the miracle of freedom, overcoming what limits us from the fullness of life.
L’heetraot- I look forward to seeing you soon!
Rabbi Mark H. Kula
Latest Issue - News & Schmooze
Amber's Message:
There are so many beautiful teachings to be gleaned from Passover, and the one I’m currently most inspired by is about the afikomen. Now, I know that not everyone’s favorite dessert is a crumbly piece of matzah wrapped in a napkin, hidden in a couch cushion, and retrieved by the fingers of little kids. Nonetheless, the afikomen represents something deeper.
When we break the middle piece of matzah for the afikomen, it's like breaking a glass at a wedding; we acknowledge the brokenness in ourselves, our people, our world, and those who are still not free today. In a world where many present only the highlights of their lives on social media, mental illness is stigmatized, and expressing authentic emotion is not always socially acceptable, the afikomen teaches us to accept the darker parts of ourselves and of others. We don’t have to keep it together all the time. We are striving for wholeness, not perfection; broken pieces are part of what make us whole human beings.
We hide the broken piece of matzah, the way we sometimes hide the broken pieces of our hearts. The children - perhaps more open-hearted and judgment-free than adults - are the ones who search for it. We cannot complete the seder until the afikomen is found - until the broken piece is accepted and celebrated. It’s supposed to be the last taste we have in our mouths, reminding us that life isn’t always sweet, sometimes we need to sit with discomfort, and we still have work to do in the world to make freedom a reality for all. Perhaps our personal freedom work this Pesach is to release the judgment or criticism that keeps us captive, and offer compassion for the brokenness in ourselves and our loved ones.
On April 20th, we come together as a big Beth Shalom family for our Community Passover Seder. The venue is downtown (14 S. Tracy - there will be a sign on the door) so please allow a little extra time for parking; the parking garage a block north is a good option. Doors open at 4:30 so you have time to park, get settled in, and schmooze a bit. The seder will begin at 5:00. Bring extra cash if you're opting for Richard Wolff's dry Israeli wine over the sweet stuff, provided at no extra cost.
If you need a place to go for the first night of Passover, let me know and I'll connect you with someone who's hosting a seder.
A sneak peek of our next big event: our Jewish Film Festival Kickoff / Holocaust Memorial Day Commemoration on May 1st featuring acclaimed local author/speaker Mark Sullivan, author of Beneath a Scarlet Sky, with award-winning short film The Driver is Red. Mark your calendar!
Chag sameach,
Amber
Amber Ikeman, Director of Music and Community Engagement
amber@bethshalombozeman.org
(406) 556-0528 x202
Sara's Shpiel:
What a winter! While not much changes weather-wise in March, just saying the word “March” makes it seem like we are a little closer to Spring (and Purim!). We have a jam-packed weekend of events March 8-10, so I hope you are able to join us for some or all of them. As you may have noticed, a beautiful new Ark is gracing our sanctuary. The Ark is named after the Ark of the Covenant, which held the stone tablets of the Covenant that God gave to Moses on Mount Sinai over 3,000 years ago. It is a significant event to receive a new Ark, so during our March 8th Shabbat service, you will hear a few words from members of our congregation about the Ark, and Rabbi Lotker will offer a special blessing to dedicate the Ark to Congregation Beth Shalom. Please join us for an extra special Shabbat Shalom. Thank you.
Shalom,
Sara Schwerin
Board President
Congregation Beth Shalom
Upcoming Events
Please see calendar for full list.
- May 23, 2019
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Lag B'Omer
May 23, 2019
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Fork & Spoon Mitzvah Crew
May 23, 2019 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Fork & Spoon Homestyle Kitchen, 3308, 302 N 7th Ave, Bozeman, MT 59715, USA
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- May 25, 2019
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Torah Study
May 25, 2019 9:30 am - 11:00 am
2010 W Koch St, Bozeman, MT 59718, USA
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- June 1, 2019
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Torah Study
June 1, 2019 9:30 am - 11:00 am
2010 W Koch St, Bozeman, MT 59718, USA
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- June 7, 2019
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Shabbat Service
June 7, 2019 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
2010 W Koch St, Bozeman, MT 59718, USA
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- June 8, 2019
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Torah Study
June 8, 2019 9:30 am - 11:00 am
2010 W Koch St, Bozeman, MT 59718, USA
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Annual Meeting
June 8, 2019 6:45 pm - 7:00 pm
2010 W Koch St, Bozeman, MT 59718, USA
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Our Mission
Congregation Beth Shalom is a place where affiliates of all ages come together to be a learning and spiritual community who joyfully pray together and celebrate Jewish history and tradition. We cultivate in our affiliates a lifelong connection to Judaism through the lens of the Reform and Renewal movements.
