A message from the Har Shalom Board and Rabbi Kula

Dear friends,

Many of you have heard about the white supremacist and anti-semitic demonstrations that took place today in several locations in Missoula. Some of you may have not yet heard this news. Several branches of the Active Club Network came together first at Har Shalom, displaying anti-Jewish and anti-refugee signs. The police were present, and no one engaged in violence. There were two people in the building, who were able to leave during the demonstration. The group of about 24 men then moved downtown to the courthouse, where there was already a pro-Palestinian rally taking place. After a while the two demonstrations separated, moving to alternate sides of the street. Anti-Israel calls came from both sides, and the pro-Palestinian group also yelled that there is no room for hate. The pro-Palestinian rally participants then walked south, and the Active Club members stayed and displayed their signs for a while longer. Then they made their way to their cars and drove to Reserve and Higgins, where they stood on the bike/pedestrian bridge.

We have not heard of anyone being hurt or attacked. We did hear that one of the Active Club demonstrators was arrested downtown. We saw shirts identifying club members as the Big Sky Active Club, and also the Evergreen Active Club. Active Clubs are extreme racist groups of men engaging in martial training and public actions, and these folks have been targeting LGBT groups and activities, and also Jews. 

We are hoping that they have left town now, but we do not know. We urge you all to be careful when you are out and about, and if you do see these people, keep your distance. They have been known to start trouble in bars after their demonstrations. 

As always, we seek to support our Jewish members, and to come together as Jews, both for all the positive aspects of our culture, traditions, and religion, and also for our mutual support and defense. We are all aware that attacks on Jews around the world have stepped up since October 7. We have heard of at least one recent incident in Missoula (not today) in which a Jewish man was accosted and subjected to a very frightening anti-semitic rant by a stranger. Please let us know if you feel at all threatened or if you witness any anti-semitic incidents.

One the positive side, we have received numerous expressions of sympathy and offers of support after the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas. We are not alone, and you are not alone.

On a practical note, we are trying to raise money to purchase a camera system to upgrade the synagogue's security. If you can possibly donate to help with that, please contribute at our PayPal link.

Looking forward to connecting with each of you.

All of us on the Har Shalom Board and Rabbi Kula