JACKSON HOLEJEWISHCOMMUNITYP.O. Box 10667JACKSON, WY 83002

Phone: (307) 734-1999

Fax: Same by arrangement

info@JHJewishCommunity.org

www.JHJewishCommunity.org

The office is at 480 S. Cache St.,

Suite 6, Jackson Hole

Office hours are by arrangement.

The Jackson Hole Jewish Community

is committed to creating a diverse

Jewish presence that unites us,

celebrates our faith and promotes

tolerance in the greater Jackson

community. We strive to engage all

families and individuals in

spirituality, education, tzedakah and

the joys of Jewish life.

PAGE 4 • THE JACKSON KOL • JULY 2007

from the PresidentsOur June Shabbat was held at the beau-

tiful home of Linda and Sandy Weiner.Rabbi Jerry Weider and Chazzan JuddGrossman led the service while the sun setbehind the Tetons. Linda’s homemade chal-lah, cookies, and desserts made for a deli-cious Oneg. The next evening we had aHavdalah service at the Finkelstein-Domsky’s followed by a discussion on themultiple meanings of mitzvah led by RabbiWeider. We look forward to our nextShabbat service which will be led by CarolMann at the home of Ron and Rose Novakon July 20.

On July 11 at 7 p.m. at the TetonCounty Library, Seth Ward, professor ofreligious studies at the University ofWyoming, will be leading a discussion onKabbalah. We have had many peopleexpress an interest in gaining insight intoancient mystical Judaism. Everyone iswelcome to attend this evening of learningand there is no charge.

The summer has been filled with ideasfrom your board of directors. The boardhad a very productive meeting with RabbiWeider in June hosted by the Troxler-Thalfamily. We discussed Rabbi search,tzedakah, affiliation, congregation building,dues and fee structures, fundraising, HighHoliday tickets, community outreach, rent-ing a larger space, among other topics. Welook forward to continuing conversationson all of these topics and more. The offi-cers agree - and our survey results thus far- support that our congregation shouldbegin the process of affiliation with the

Union of Reform Judaism. The entireprocess will take many months – approxi-mately six to twelve. This pathway canopen many doors for us as a growingJewish community. We are confident thatthis is a crucial first step that will beadvantageous, leading to more opportuni-ties and resources. Rabbi Weider will bereturning to Jackson in August to continuediscussions and lend his guidance to theboard and our members. We encourage youto meet with him and ask questions.

We are delighted with the response tothe survey that we sent out last month. Weurge those of you who have not sharedyour thoughts to please take a moment tofill out the survey and return it to ouroffice. We value each of your opinions. Ifyou feel differently than your spouse orsignificant other, please fill out two sur-veys. We are inspired and directed by whatyou tell us is meaningful to you - services,tzedakah, children’s education, holiday cel-ebrations, social events, public outreach.We will be compiling the results to reviewby August 3 and will share the informationin our September newsletter.

As always we appreciate hearing yourvoices and the opportunity to have conver-sations with you. We encourage you to con-tact us or any board member. Together wewill continue to grow and build and flour-ish and celebrate being Jewish in our beau-tiful valley.

B’Shalom,Lisa and Dava, Co-Presidents

Letter Directors 2007Lisa Finkelstein, Co-President

Dava Zucker, Co-President

Rachel Ravitz Co-Vice President

Al Zuckerman Co-Vice President

David Mayers, Treasurer

Scott Stachel, Secretary

Brent Blue

Jen Daniels

Mary Grossman

Merle Lundy

Karin McQuillan

Shannon Thal

Linda Wiener

Carol Mann ex-officio

Rose Novak ex-officio

Larry Thal ex-officio

Phyllis Turtle ex-officio

Linda Weil ex-officio

JacksonKol

The

NEWSLETTER FOR THE JACKSON HOLE JEWISH COMMUNITY • JULY 2007

Newsletter design and production provided by Planet Jackson Hole and Brent Blue, MD.

JULY 2007 • THE JACKSON KOL • PAGE 1

Shabbat with Carol Mann and

Chazzan Judd Grossman

Friday, July 206:30 p.m.

at the home of Ron & Rose Novak.

Oneg to follow. Pleasecontact the office fordirections 734-1999.

Jewish Pet of the Month:Cubby Novak. Happy birthdayCubby! (If you have a pet thatyou would like featured in ournewsletter, please e-mail a pictureto info@jhjewishcommunity.org.)

Kabbalah: What is it Really?

An introduction to Kabbalah with University of WY Religious Studies Professor Seth Ward

July 11, 7:00 p.m. at the Teton County Library

Sponsored by the Jackson Hole Jewish Community

DON’T FORGET TO SEND IN YOUR SURVEY!e want your input! Help us create the future for the Jackson HoleJewish Community. Please fill out your survey and send it back to POBox 10667 Jackson, WY 83002. If you need a copy of the surveyplease contact the office at info@jhjewishcommunity.org or visit ourwebsite at www.jhjewishcommunity.org

CALENDAR

PAGE 2 • THE JACKSON KOL • ΔJULY 2007

TID BITS

JULY 2007 • THE JACKSON KOL • PAGE 3

Pre-Camp Pot-LuckCalling all campers and their fami-lies! You are invited to join the coun-selors and CITs for a pre-camp infor-mation session and pot-luck from5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at OwenBircher Park in Wilson. If your lastname begins with an A-G pleasebring a main course, H-M pleasebring a dessert, N-S please bring aside dish,T-Z please bring a salad.

Host the Rabbi for High HolidaysWe are looking for a guest house

for Rabbi Frazin and his wife whoare coming from Hollywood, FLfor High Holidays 5768. If youhave space available at your home,and would like to host the Rabbiduring this very important time ofyear, please let us know. The mitz-vah of hosting the Rabbi would bea great economic help to theJHJC.

Many Thanks:Linda and Sandy Wiener for host-

ing the June Shabbat service attheir home.

Lisa Finkelstein and MarcDomsky for hosting the JuneHavdallah service and discussion attheir home.

Eve Scofield for donating the useof her vehicle to the Spirit of theMountains Summer Camp.

Merle Lundy for donating a bookto the JHJC library.

Diann Mann for donating a DVDto the JHJC library.

Mike and Shawn Daus for hostingthe challah baking Shabbat.

Josh Kleyman and Kalen Ritz forinstructing the community on how tomake the perfect challah at ourpotluck Shabbat.Mazel Tov:

Ben Trauner and his family on hisBar Mitzvah in Jerusalem on July 12.

In Judaism, the religious obligationsthat an adult Jew assumes are calledmitzvote. This Hebrew word has a dualtranslation. It means both command-ment and good deed at the same time.In my opinion, these dual translationsand meanings are complimentary. Letme explain.

There are six hundred thirteenMitzvote- Commandments- in the Torah.Two hundred forty eight are positivecommandments (for example: “You shalleat Matzot for seven days” and “Honoryour father and your moth-er”). There are three hun-dred sixty five negative com-mandments (for example:“You shall not murder” and“You shall not curse a deafperson”, and “You shall notput a stumbling block in thepath of a blind person.”)Taken as a whole, the 613Mitzvote create a wholepathway in life for the bet-terment of body, soul, andcommunity. Here is where the compli-mentary meaning of “Mitzvah” emerges.

As individuals, we are enriched whenwe follow the commandments in the Torahas interpreted through the ages by therabbis. We are enriched because themitzvote, the commandments, lead usdown road that allows us to control ouryetzer harah, our evil inclination whileenhancing our yetzer hatov, our good incli-nation. The mitzvote give us a personalpathway in life through a list of reminderson how to check our evil impulses andreach out towards a higher good. As such,the mitzvote nourish our human propensi-ty for caring, for sharing, and for makingsure we live a life dedicated to enhancingthe humanity that resides within each andevery person on this earth.

As a community, we are also enrichedwhen we follow the commandments.That happens through the outreach toothers via good deeds that benefit every-one.The mitzvote lead us to feed thehungry, work for peace, create communalinstitutions that benefit the downtrodden

in our communities, preserve our earth,etc. In this manifestation, the mitzvoteremind us of Rabbi Hillel’s famousteaching: “If I am only for myself, whatam I?” (Pirke Avote)

So why do a mitzvah? Because, in asense, it is possible to say that themitzvote of Judaism provide us with aconnection between humanity and G-d.In my opinion, the mitzvote act as abridge between the Creator and cre-ation. That is so because when a persondoes a mitzvah, which has an individual

meaning or a communalmeaning, it is a deed of cos-mic significance and a deedof infinite value unto itself.The great medieval Jewishphilosopher and physician,Moses Maimonides intimatedthis concept when he notedthat a single person, perform-ing a single mitzvah, couldchange the world becausethat mitzvah could be thedeed that tips the scales and

brings redemption to the entire worldand all of creation.

I would encourage everyone to look atthe glorious natural beauty all aroundJackson. That beauty stands in contrastto the finite world we human beings havemade. Look at this duality, and thenstrive to do something to bring the tworealities of our existence into harmony.How? By becoming aware of themitzvote….both for the individual andfor the community. If you can becomecognizant of the idea that each of us,through our actions (our individualmitzvote) can change the world……thennow is the time to do something! Beginwith a mitzvah — any mitzvah becauseas time goes by, its value will becomeevident to you, as a person, and to every-one else within the community in shortorder. Again, as Rabbi Hillel taught inPirke Avote: “If not now, When?”

-Rabbi Gerald I. Weider,Senior Consultant to the Rabbinic Cabinet of UJC

July 11: Kabbalah: What is itreally? An introduction to Jewishmysticism with University of WYJudaic Studies professor SethWard. Teton County Library, 7 p.m.All are welcome.

July 15: Pre-Camp Pot-Luck. 5p.m. – 7 p.m. at Owen Bircher Park.Campers and their families are invit-ed to join the counselors and CITsfor a pre-camp information sessionand pot-luck. If your last namebegins with an A-G please bring amain course, H-M please bring adessert, N-S please bring a sidedish,T-Z please bring a salad.

July 16-20 & 23-27: Spirit ofthe Mountains Summer Camp

July 20: Shabbat with CarolMann and Chazzan JuddGrossman. 6:30 p.m. at the home ofRon & Rose Novak. Oneg to follow.Please contact the office for direc-tions 734-1999.

August 14: AIPAC MeetingAugust 24: Shabbat with Rabbi

Jerry Weider.

Rabbi Frazin has been the Rabbi ofTemple Solel in Hollywood, FL sinceits inception 37 years ago. He is anative of Chicago, and was ordainedas a Rabbi from the Hebrew UnionCollege-Jewish Institute of Religionin Cincinnati, Ohio.

Before Rabbi Frazinbecame the Rabbi ofTemple Solel, he was theDirector of theSoutheast Council of theUnion of AmericanHebrew Congregations(now known as theUnion for ReformJudaism). In that position Rabbi Frazinserved 56 congregations including acongregation in Freeport, GrandBahama Island for 4 years.

Rabbi Frazin has also served asRabbinical Advisor to the Ohio ValleyFederation of Temple Youth and theSoutheast Federation of TempleYouth.The Rabbi organized the MiamiMitzvah Corps, and is a member ofthe Central Conference of AmericanRabbis. He has also served asPresident of the Inter-Faith Council ofGreater Hollywood for several terms.

Currently, Rabbi Frazin is a Vice

President of the Southeast Region ofthe American Friends of MagenDaveed Adom (ARMDI). He sits onthe Board of Directors for theSoutheast Holocaust DocumentationCenter, Diversity Advisory Council,

Broward County JewishCommunity RelationsCouncil, Regents of theHebrew University ofJerusalem, South FloridaChapter of AmericanFriends of the HebrewUniversity, Coalition forBreast Cancer Research,and Inter-Faith Council

of Greater Hollywood. He is the co-chair of the Jewish Federation ofBroward County’s Planning committeeand the co-chair of the Tikkun Olam(Repair the World) committee of theJewish Federation of Broward County.He is also an active member of the cityof Hollywood, Florida’s GreenEnvironmental team.

Rabbi Frazin and his wife Pennyare the parents of two sons, Jeffand Danny, and a daughter, Julie.They are also the proud grandpar-ents of four grandchildren.

WHO is the RABBI for HIGH HOLIDAYS 57688?

RABBI ROBERT FRAZIN

“WHY DO A MITZVAH” (A Rabbi’s Perspective)

Terry Romberg preps thechallah for braiding.

Scenes from last month’s Challah Baking and Potluck Shabbat

Josh Kleyman shows off hisskills in the kitchen.

Dillon Weiss enjoys showingLisa Finkelstein how to kneed.

CALENDAR

PAGE 2 • THE JACKSON KOL • ΔJULY 2007

TID BITS

JULY 2007 • THE JACKSON KOL • PAGE 3

Pre-Camp Pot-LuckCalling all campers and their fami-lies! You are invited to join the coun-selors and CITs for a pre-camp infor-mation session and pot-luck from5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at OwenBircher Park in Wilson. If your lastname begins with an A-G pleasebring a main course, H-M pleasebring a dessert, N-S please bring aside dish,T-Z please bring a salad.

Host the Rabbi for High HolidaysWe are looking for a guest house

for Rabbi Frazin and his wife whoare coming from Hollywood, FLfor High Holidays 5768. If youhave space available at your home,and would like to host the Rabbiduring this very important time ofyear, please let us know. The mitz-vah of hosting the Rabbi would bea great economic help to theJHJC.

Many Thanks:Linda and Sandy Wiener for host-

ing the June Shabbat service attheir home.

Lisa Finkelstein and MarcDomsky for hosting the JuneHavdallah service and discussion attheir home.

Eve Scofield for donating the useof her vehicle to the Spirit of theMountains Summer Camp.

Merle Lundy for donating a bookto the JHJC library.

Diann Mann for donating a DVDto the JHJC library.

Mike and Shawn Daus for hostingthe challah baking Shabbat.

Josh Kleyman and Kalen Ritz forinstructing the community on how tomake the perfect challah at ourpotluck Shabbat.Mazel Tov:

Ben Trauner and his family on hisBar Mitzvah in Jerusalem on July 12.

In Judaism, the religious obligationsthat an adult Jew assumes are calledmitzvote. This Hebrew word has a dualtranslation. It means both command-ment and good deed at the same time.In my opinion, these dual translationsand meanings are complimentary. Letme explain.

There are six hundred thirteenMitzvote- Commandments- in the Torah.Two hundred forty eight are positivecommandments (for example: “You shalleat Matzot for seven days” and “Honoryour father and your moth-er”). There are three hun-dred sixty five negative com-mandments (for example:“You shall not murder” and“You shall not curse a deafperson”, and “You shall notput a stumbling block in thepath of a blind person.”)Taken as a whole, the 613Mitzvote create a wholepathway in life for the bet-terment of body, soul, andcommunity. Here is where the compli-mentary meaning of “Mitzvah” emerges.

As individuals, we are enriched whenwe follow the commandments in the Torahas interpreted through the ages by therabbis. We are enriched because themitzvote, the commandments, lead usdown road that allows us to control ouryetzer harah, our evil inclination whileenhancing our yetzer hatov, our good incli-nation. The mitzvote give us a personalpathway in life through a list of reminderson how to check our evil impulses andreach out towards a higher good. As such,the mitzvote nourish our human propensi-ty for caring, for sharing, and for makingsure we live a life dedicated to enhancingthe humanity that resides within each andevery person on this earth.

As a community, we are also enrichedwhen we follow the commandments.That happens through the outreach toothers via good deeds that benefit every-one.The mitzvote lead us to feed thehungry, work for peace, create communalinstitutions that benefit the downtrodden

in our communities, preserve our earth,etc. In this manifestation, the mitzvoteremind us of Rabbi Hillel’s famousteaching: “If I am only for myself, whatam I?” (Pirke Avote)

So why do a mitzvah? Because, in asense, it is possible to say that themitzvote of Judaism provide us with aconnection between humanity and G-d.In my opinion, the mitzvote act as abridge between the Creator and cre-ation. That is so because when a persondoes a mitzvah, which has an individual

meaning or a communalmeaning, it is a deed of cos-mic significance and a deedof infinite value unto itself.The great medieval Jewishphilosopher and physician,Moses Maimonides intimatedthis concept when he notedthat a single person, perform-ing a single mitzvah, couldchange the world becausethat mitzvah could be thedeed that tips the scales and

brings redemption to the entire worldand all of creation.

I would encourage everyone to look atthe glorious natural beauty all aroundJackson. That beauty stands in contrastto the finite world we human beings havemade. Look at this duality, and thenstrive to do something to bring the tworealities of our existence into harmony.How? By becoming aware of themitzvote….both for the individual andfor the community. If you can becomecognizant of the idea that each of us,through our actions (our individualmitzvote) can change the world……thennow is the time to do something! Beginwith a mitzvah — any mitzvah becauseas time goes by, its value will becomeevident to you, as a person, and to every-one else within the community in shortorder. Again, as Rabbi Hillel taught inPirke Avote: “If not now, When?”

-Rabbi Gerald I. Weider,Senior Consultant to the Rabbinic Cabinet of UJC

July 11: Kabbalah: What is itreally? An introduction to Jewishmysticism with University of WYJudaic Studies professor SethWard. Teton County Library, 7 p.m.All are welcome.

July 15: Pre-Camp Pot-Luck. 5p.m. – 7 p.m. at Owen Bircher Park.Campers and their families are invit-ed to join the counselors and CITsfor a pre-camp information sessionand pot-luck. If your last namebegins with an A-G please bring amain course, H-M please bring adessert, N-S please bring a sidedish,T-Z please bring a salad.

July 16-20 & 23-27: Spirit ofthe Mountains Summer Camp

July 20: Shabbat with CarolMann and Chazzan JuddGrossman. 6:30 p.m. at the home ofRon & Rose Novak. Oneg to follow.Please contact the office for direc-tions 734-1999.

August 14: AIPAC MeetingAugust 24: Shabbat with Rabbi

Jerry Weider.

Rabbi Frazin has been the Rabbi ofTemple Solel in Hollywood, FL sinceits inception 37 years ago. He is anative of Chicago, and was ordainedas a Rabbi from the Hebrew UnionCollege-Jewish Institute of Religionin Cincinnati, Ohio.

Before Rabbi Frazinbecame the Rabbi ofTemple Solel, he was theDirector of theSoutheast Council of theUnion of AmericanHebrew Congregations(now known as theUnion for ReformJudaism). In that position Rabbi Frazinserved 56 congregations including acongregation in Freeport, GrandBahama Island for 4 years.

Rabbi Frazin has also served asRabbinical Advisor to the Ohio ValleyFederation of Temple Youth and theSoutheast Federation of TempleYouth.The Rabbi organized the MiamiMitzvah Corps, and is a member ofthe Central Conference of AmericanRabbis. He has also served asPresident of the Inter-Faith Council ofGreater Hollywood for several terms.

Currently, Rabbi Frazin is a Vice

President of the Southeast Region ofthe American Friends of MagenDaveed Adom (ARMDI). He sits onthe Board of Directors for theSoutheast Holocaust DocumentationCenter, Diversity Advisory Council,

Broward County JewishCommunity RelationsCouncil, Regents of theHebrew University ofJerusalem, South FloridaChapter of AmericanFriends of the HebrewUniversity, Coalition forBreast Cancer Research,and Inter-Faith Council

of Greater Hollywood. He is the co-chair of the Jewish Federation ofBroward County’s Planning committeeand the co-chair of the Tikkun Olam(Repair the World) committee of theJewish Federation of Broward County.He is also an active member of the cityof Hollywood, Florida’s GreenEnvironmental team.

Rabbi Frazin and his wife Pennyare the parents of two sons, Jeffand Danny, and a daughter, Julie.They are also the proud grandpar-ents of four grandchildren.

WHO is the RABBI for HIGH HOLIDAYS 57688?

RABBI ROBERT FRAZIN

“WHY DO A MITZVAH” (A Rabbi’s Perspective)

Terry Romberg preps thechallah for braiding.

Scenes from last month’s Challah Baking and Potluck Shabbat

Josh Kleyman shows off hisskills in the kitchen.

Dillon Weiss enjoys showingLisa Finkelstein how to kneed.

JACKSON HOLEJEWISHCOMMUNITYP.O. Box 10667JACKSON, WY 83002

Phone: (307) 734-1999

Fax: Same by arrangement

info@JHJewishCommunity.org

www.JHJewishCommunity.org

The office is at 480 S. Cache St.,

Suite 6, Jackson Hole

Office hours are by arrangement.

The Jackson Hole Jewish Community

is committed to creating a diverse

Jewish presence that unites us,

celebrates our faith and promotes

tolerance in the greater Jackson

community. We strive to engage all

families and individuals in

spirituality, education, tzedakah and

the joys of Jewish life.

PAGE 4 • THE JACKSON KOL • JULY 2007

from the PresidentsOur June Shabbat was held at the beau-

tiful home of Linda and Sandy Weiner.Rabbi Jerry Weider and Chazzan JuddGrossman led the service while the sun setbehind the Tetons. Linda’s homemade chal-lah, cookies, and desserts made for a deli-cious Oneg. The next evening we had aHavdalah service at the Finkelstein-Domsky’s followed by a discussion on themultiple meanings of mitzvah led by RabbiWeider. We look forward to our nextShabbat service which will be led by CarolMann at the home of Ron and Rose Novakon July 20.

On July 11 at 7 p.m. at the TetonCounty Library, Seth Ward, professor ofreligious studies at the University ofWyoming, will be leading a discussion onKabbalah. We have had many peopleexpress an interest in gaining insight intoancient mystical Judaism. Everyone iswelcome to attend this evening of learningand there is no charge.

The summer has been filled with ideasfrom your board of directors. The boardhad a very productive meeting with RabbiWeider in June hosted by the Troxler-Thalfamily. We discussed Rabbi search,tzedakah, affiliation, congregation building,dues and fee structures, fundraising, HighHoliday tickets, community outreach, rent-ing a larger space, among other topics. Welook forward to continuing conversationson all of these topics and more. The offi-cers agree - and our survey results thus far- support that our congregation shouldbegin the process of affiliation with the

Union of Reform Judaism. The entireprocess will take many months – approxi-mately six to twelve. This pathway canopen many doors for us as a growingJewish community. We are confident thatthis is a crucial first step that will beadvantageous, leading to more opportuni-ties and resources. Rabbi Weider will bereturning to Jackson in August to continuediscussions and lend his guidance to theboard and our members. We encourage youto meet with him and ask questions.

We are delighted with the response tothe survey that we sent out last month. Weurge those of you who have not sharedyour thoughts to please take a moment tofill out the survey and return it to ouroffice. We value each of your opinions. Ifyou feel differently than your spouse orsignificant other, please fill out two sur-veys. We are inspired and directed by whatyou tell us is meaningful to you - services,tzedakah, children’s education, holiday cel-ebrations, social events, public outreach.We will be compiling the results to reviewby August 3 and will share the informationin our September newsletter.

As always we appreciate hearing yourvoices and the opportunity to have conver-sations with you. We encourage you to con-tact us or any board member. Together wewill continue to grow and build and flour-ish and celebrate being Jewish in our beau-tiful valley.

B’Shalom,Lisa and Dava, Co-Presidents

Letter Directors 2007Lisa Finkelstein, Co-President

Dava Zucker, Co-President

Rachel Ravitz Co-Vice President

Al Zuckerman Co-Vice President

David Mayers, Treasurer

Scott Stachel, Secretary

Brent Blue

Jen Daniels

Mary Grossman

Merle Lundy

Karin McQuillan

Shannon Thal

Linda Wiener

Carol Mann ex-officio

Rose Novak ex-officio

Larry Thal ex-officio

Phyllis Turtle ex-officio

Linda Weil ex-officio

JacksonKol

The

NEWSLETTER FOR THE JACKSON HOLE JEWISH COMMUNITY • JULY 2007

Newsletter design and production provided by Planet Jackson Hole and Brent Blue, MD.

JULY 2007 • THE JACKSON KOL • PAGE 1

Shabbat with Carol Mann and

Chazzan Judd Grossman

Friday, July 206:30 p.m.

at the home of Ron & Rose Novak.

Oneg to follow. Pleasecontact the office fordirections 734-1999.

Jewish Pet of the Month:Cubby Novak. Happy birthdayCubby! (If you have a pet thatyou would like featured in ournewsletter, please e-mail a pictureto info@jhjewishcommunity.org.)

Kabbalah: What is it Really?

An introduction to Kabbalah with University of WY Religious Studies Professor Seth Ward

July 11, 7:00 p.m. at the Teton County Library

Sponsored by the Jackson Hole Jewish Community

DON’T FORGET TO SEND IN YOUR SURVEY!e want your input! Help us create the future for the Jackson HoleJewish Community. Please fill out your survey and send it back to POBox 10667 Jackson, WY 83002. If you need a copy of the surveyplease contact the office at info@jhjewishcommunity.org or visit ourwebsite at www.jhjewishcommunity.org