Putting Down Roots

JACKSON, WY — He’s young. He’s a recent transplant to Jackson from New York. He rents a house in town, he has a young family, he loves to snowboard and mountain bike, and he has a full beard.

Sound like a typical Jackson ski bum? Well, there’s a twist. He’s a Hasidic Jew, and possibly the only full-time rabbi in Wyoming.

Rabbi Zalman Mendelsohn moved with his family to Jackson May 6 as part of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, a branch of Hasidism. Chabad, based in New York, works to help Jewish communities that have limited or no infrastructure retain or regain shape, and helps Jews who may be isolated find communities. He intends to serve the entire state.

He will likely be very visible in Wyoming’s small towns, as Mendelsohn, 26, sports the traditional garb for Hasidic Jews, including dark suits, full beard and often a black fedora-style hat. He looks, as he says, “Like your Bubbies and Zadies looked,” referring to Jewish grandparents.

As Mendelsohn said, Jews were sought out during World War II in hatred, but the Chabad movement — a more traditional practice of the religion — aims to seek out Jews in love. It’s not an organization looking to “convert” people to Judaism, he said, a notion that is against the movement’s mission.

Mendelsohn first came to Wyoming several years ago, visiting bigger towns including Cheyenne, Casper, Jackson and Laramie. He has also been to smaller towns including Cody and Buffalo.

He goes to places like local chambers of commerce and other social hubs to find people practicing Judaism who may be isolated.

“It is booming,” Mendelsohn said. “There’s a growth of Jewish people living here.”

Others seek him out, too. His full beard, traditional dark suit and black hat are “free advertising, 24-7.”

Chabad elected to send an emissary to Jackson because it has the largest population of Jews, and because so many people travel through the town as tourists looking for Jewish services.

“We offer a more traditional style of Jewish ritual … but with a modern twist,” Mendelsohn said.

“Our motto is, ‘Personalized Judaism with a smile.'”

Still, being Orthodox in Jackson will have its challenges, such as a lack of Kosher restaurants. (The Mendelsohns order meat and dairy products from a Kosher plant in Iowa.)

Also, most of the Jewish population in Jackson is less Orthodox than Chabad. Chabad does not support interfaith marriages, for example — something regularly seen in the Jewish community.

Members of the Jackson Hole Jewish Community said Rabbi Mendelsohn had not contacted them about his move to Wyoming. Board member Lisa Finkelstein said Rabbi Mendelsohn was not in any way affiliated with the Jackson Hole Jewish Community and does not represent them.

Al Zuckerman, co-president of the Jackson Hole Jewish Community, said the family will be welcomed by the existing community, although Chabad is a different organization.

“The Jackson Hole Jewish Community is a strong, thriving community with some 200 members and has been in existence for over 30 years,” Zuckerman said. “We have many wonderful programs both spiritual and cultural. However, our spiritual and cultural orientation differs greatly from that of the Chabad movement which Rabbi Zalman represents. We have not been contacted by Rabbi Zalman or his family since they have arrived in Wyoming, but we welcome them to become members of our organization and participate in our activities.”

Mendelsohn said he has been busy setting up life in Jackson since his arrival just weeks ago, and there are still many people yet to call and meet.

But, he said he has some “wonderful relationships” with Jackson Hole Jewish Community board members and visiting rabbis and has participated in some of the community’s events.

Another cultural difference that could be seen in Jackson and Wyoming is that in Chabad, men and women do not shake hands unless they are related, as friendly physical contact could be seen as “intimate,” according to the Chabad Web site (www.chabad.org). Instead, men bow. Also, dress in Jackson — and in Wyoming — is far from traditional Jewish attire, with shorts and sandals being the norm in summer.

Those differences don’t faze Mendelsohn, who grew up in Miami Beach.

“I find people (here) to be very real … and you can’t beat the real thing,” he said.

When asked how people should behave around the rabbi and his family, Mendelsohn’s message is simple.

“Chill,” he said. “You should feel as comfortable as with your neighbors.”

Mendelsohn hopes to establish a Jewish community center with a synagogue and social hall, offices and classrooms in Jackson. The area would serve people from surrounding towns as well.

His wife, Raizy, 21, is also an integral part of the Mendelsohn’s mission. She hopes to establish women’s and children’s groups, as well as educational and social programs in the region.

Both Mendelsohns are excited to give 6-month-old daughter Chaya’la an upbringing in nature with outdoor opportunities.

“We want to grow, see life and be vibrant,” Raizy said.

So how has this state received the couple?

“There are more beards in Wyoming than in any other state probably,” Mendelsohn said, laughing. “I’m not, like, that far off.”

The couple has visited many states, and found the “warmest, friendliest, most accommodating people live right here.”

Partial funding for Chabad in Wyoming was made possible by a grant from the Rohr Family Foundation, but the Mendelsohns’ mission — usually a lifelong commitment — will ultimately be self-supporting. Donations from people in Wyoming will stay in the state to build the community here, he said.

The couple will travel throughout the state about four times a year. The closest other Chabad rabbis are in Bozeman, Mont., Boise, Idaho, and Salt Lake City.

“We want to build one large community of Jews living in Wyoming,” Mendelsohn said. “A Wyoming Jewish community.”