Montana Rabbi Visits the White House

Bozeman, MT — One of Montana’s few rabbis visited Washington D.C to represent the state’s Jewish community.

Rabbi Chaim Bruk was one of about 200 people to attend the first ever reception for Jewish American Heritage Month held at the White House.

Attendees at the event included President Barack Obama, Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, the Israeli Ambassador, and former Jewish baseball player Sandy Koufax.

“It sends a message to the rest of the world that here in America, all religions are welcome and diversity is a blessing to this country and not a problem,” says Rabbi Chaim Bruk.

The Orthodox Rabbi is the executive director of Chabad Lubavitch of Montana. Chabad Lubavitch is based out of New York and has around 2,000 branches in the U.S. There is only one branch in Montana.

Rabbi Chaim Bruk holds a gathering at his house where many come to celebrate religious holidays, the Sabbath, and to join in community.

He estimates around 3-4,000 Jewish households in Montana and around 5-600 in Gallatin County.

Bruk says, “I felt like an ambassador from Montana to Washington, to let them know that Judaism and the people of Montana are really alive and well and enjoying a wonderful, wonderful experience.”