Longmont Shabbat Group Celebrates 15 Years

On Friday, February 16, 2007, the Longmont Shabbat Group, a community-based Jewish group, celebrated its fifteen anniversary with a lively Shabbat (Jewish Sabbath) service.

The group was started in February 1992 when Longmont resident Susan Scruggs invited area Jews to an informal Shabbat service in her home. After that small beginning with seventeen people, the group quickly grew to about 100.

Soon after that first service, two members of the group, Stephanie Hilvitz and Susan Horowitz, started the Longmont Hebrew School. The parents of the students now take turns running the school. The current leader of the Longmont Hebrew School is Shari Karmen.

The Longmont Shabbat Group meets once a month for Shabbat services, which includes lighting the Shabbat candles, blessing the wine, and blessing the challah. Participatory readings, songs, and Oneg Shabbat (appetizers and socializing) follow each service. The group holds its services in a meeting room that they rent from a local church. They also conduct special services for Passover and for Chanukah.

This Jewish group, the oldest in Longmont, is one of two Jewish organizations in the Longmont area. The newest, Chabad of Longmont, was started this past fall.

In celebration of their fifteenth anniversary, the Longmont Shabbat Group has planted trees in Israel through the Jewish National Fund. The traditional phrase for congratulations in Judaism is appropriate on this occasion—mazel tov!

For more information about the Longmont Shabbat Group, see www.longmontshabbatgroup.com or e-mail shablong@comcast.net.