May 2026 News from the Jackson Hole Jewish Community

The JHJC Kol

Monthly News from the Jackson Hole Jewish Community

May 3, 2026 | 15 Iyyar 5786 | Jackson Hole, Wyoming

RSVP for Next Week

Bet Sefer Shabbat & Graduation

Friday, May 13

6 PM / Shepherd of the Mtn. Lutheran Church

RSVP HERE /

Join us for Bet Sefer Graduation and Shabbat. This week, the JHJC will provide a Dairy-Free Main course, Dessert and Drinks. Please consider bringing a Dairy-free side.

May 2026 Events

Go to the JHJC website for more

Download or View our Prayer Book for Shabbat Services HERE.

Not in Jackson Hole? Access our Kabbalat Shabbat services and major events via YouTube Live HERE or on our Website HERE.

Ongoing

Morning Prayers

7 - 7:30 AM

Monday - Friday / Zoom only

Please email HERE for Zoom link. Allow 24 hrs for response.

Shabbat Song Practice with Judd

5:30 - 6 PM Fridays / JHJC

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Kabbalat Shabbat

Friday, May 8

6 PM / JHJC or ZOOM

5:30 PM Song Practice

Weekly Friday Shabbat service with in Judd and special guests. Songs and prayer. Note: Oneg to follow, no full meal this week.

Torah Study

Saturday, May 9

10 AM / Zoom

NEW ZOOM LINK HERE

Study with Carl on Zoom this week. Go HERE for all of the links you need for this week.

It's a Mitzvah!

Spring Mitzvah Day Clean Up

Wed., May 13

5 PM / Teton Village Rd

Meet at the north side of the Lake Creek Bridge on the Teton Village Rd. and we’ll begin with a very brief safety meeting. Our portion of the highway is on Teton Village Road, just north of the Aspens. We’ll work from milepost 4 to milepost 5, both sides of the road. Children must be accompanied by adults.

RSVP!

Bet Sefer Shabbat & Graduation

Friday, May 15

6 PM / Shepherd of the Mtn. Lutheran Church / No Zoom

6 PM Dinner

RSVP HERE

Join us for Bet Sefer Graduation and Shabbat. This week, the JHJC will provide a Dairy-Free Main course, Dessert and Drinks. Please consider bringing a Dairy-free side. RSVP above.

➡ ➡ Consider supporting our semi-monthly Shabbat Dinners. Any amount is very much appreciated. Go HERE to donate.

Torah Study

Saturday, May 16

10 AM / Zoom

NEW ZOOM LINK HERE

Study via Zoom with Carl this week. Go HERE for all of the links you need for this week.

Save the date

Gwen Ripps Bat Mitzvah

Saturday, June 6

9 AM / St. John's Church

No Zoom

Join the Ripps family as Gwen is called to the Torah.Saturday morning Torah service.

Upcoming

June TBA /Shabbat in the Park

Go to the JHJC Website for more May events.

Announcements

Todah Rabah!

LizAnn Eisen for speaking at our first JHJC Women's Networking evening. Todah Rabah!

Julia Hall for helping out with Shabbat and Women's Networking Eveningt.

Sandy Ress & Susan Foster and Fonda Arbetter for supporting Shabbat Dinners in April. Todah Rabah!

Zoe Curtis for sharing her Bat Mitzvah speech with us at Shabbat.

Melanie Cohodes, Andy King and Rick Gordon for leading Bet Sefer classes.

Get Well Soon

Devorah Chaia Bat Miriam v’Tzi Dov

Miriam Chana bat Shoshannah v feivel avrum

Soro Raizel bat Miriam chana v tzvi dov

Barb Kleyman

Brahm Swirsky

Joyce Craig

Mary Seidler

Gina Sparber

The JHJC sends all of you

healing prayers.

* * *

Please send us your Mazel Tovs, Condolences, Kol HaKavods, Get Wells, and photos of your

Jewish Pets to: info@jhjewishcommunity.org

2025-26

Board of Directors

and Staff

Mike Scher Co-president

Ben Goldberg, Co-president

Rachel Stam, Treasurer

Laurie Thal, Vice President

Janet Bellis

Amira Burns

Rick Gordon

Paula Romberg

Mary Grossman, Exec. Dir.

Bradley Adams, Managing Director

Josh Kleyman, Leadership/Bet Sefer

Judd Grossman, Chazzan

Kalen Ritz Kleyman, Bet Sefer

Andy King, Bet Sefer

Mel Cohodes, Bet Sefer

Underwrite a Monthly Shabbat Dinner Here

JHJC Building

Renovations Update

May 1, 2026 -In April, we focused on final coordination and preparing the site for upcoming work. We began tree removal and landscape cleanup in advance of site work scheduled to start in May.

All exterior doors were installed, and we received deliveries of interior doors and wood flooring materials.

Over the next month, we anticipate beginning site and utility work, completing drywall installation, and installing wood and tile flooring as materials are put into place.

— Marion Thurston, Project Manager

Update from Josh Kleyman

May 1, 2026 - I just counted day 29 of the Omer. The forty-nine days of Counting the Omer is a time of transition: from redemption to revelation; from freedom to our people directly experiencing God at Mount Sinai. Counting the Omer was not a part of my Jewish upbringing. I’ve always understood celebrating Passover and our freedom, and more recently the wisdom of celebrating Shavuot and revelation at Mount Sinai. But why is it a mitzvah to count the days of the journey in-between? My re-found connection to this practice over the last few years has become even more meaningful over the last twenty-nine days.

An interpretation suggests that our people needed time for intrapersonal reflection after being freed before they were ready to encounter the Source of All Life, at Mount Sinai. This timeframe can similarly give us an opportunity today for introspection and personal growth by reflecting on our middot and through the sefirot. If not already a part of your practice, I encourage you to find one of the many Omer Counting Apps or books and give it a try (send me an email if you’d like a suggestion).

Our family has been away from home for three months and actively traveling for twenty-five days. Our arrival back to our community and our mountains is coming ever closer.

Since I last shared, we’ve had an opportunity to connect with the liberal (think Reform/Reconstructionist/Renewal/Conservative-ish) Jewish communities in London and Paris, learn about the history of Jews in England and France, visit my maternal great grandparents’ home country in the Alsace-Lorraine region, and felt back at home in the mountains of Switzerland. As we’ve headed to more rural places recently, my davening has moved from communal and individual practice, to solely individual. My Counting of the Omer continues. Perhaps most notably, this time of journeying, and this year’s Counting of the Omer, has been a moment for deep introspection.

What are my strengths? Where do I need to grow?

The wisdom of our traditions points to this time in our Jewish calendar: a time in the midst of journeying to seek growth on the path towards the mountains. May it be so for all of us.

See you back in our mountains soon. — Josh

Spirit of the Mountains Summer Camp

July 20 – 24 and July 27 – 31, 2026

Camp Director: Matt Bisk

Location: JHJC in our new building on S. Cache, Jackson

Go HERE to register and read all about it!

Early Bird Discount if you register before April 1

After a short hiatus, we're so excited to welcome everyone back to Spirit of the Mountains Camp—where summer adventures and Jewish traditions come together! SOTM is open to students of ALL religions (so yes, bring your friends! 🙌) and welcomes youth from rising 1st grade through rising 9th grade.

Each day will be packed with fun as we blend Jewish culture and crafts, cooking, folk dancing and exploring outdoor spaces through a Jewish lens. Campers will enjoy plenty of outdoor activities with hikes, classic camp games (think four-square and gaga!), and team-building challenges that build confidence and friendships. Bonus Adventure for older campers! Students rising 6th–9th grade will have the chance each week to enjoy a special overnight experience at the Gros Ventre Campground, featuring extra programming focused on connection, leadership, and time in nature under the stars - oh some S'more, too. Sign up now and get ready for an unforgettable summer full of fun and adventure!