Montana Jewish Project 'perplexed,' 'saddened,' by Speaker of the House Regier

Speaker of the House Matt Regier has not communicated directly with the Montana Jewish Project since its director asked the reason Republican leadership took a rabbi off the schedule to lead prayer, according to the organization that celebrates Jewish life in Montana.

On May 4, Montana Jewish Project Director Rebecca Stanfel asked Regier in a letter to explain the reason Rep. Ed Stafman’s prayer on the House floor had been canceled. She noted Montana has seen a period of “unprecedented” levels of antisemitism.

Stafman is a rabbi emeritus and Bozeman Democrat.

The prayer cancellation drew national attention through a story published May 18 in Forward, a publication of the national Jewish nonprofit. It comes amidst a record high in national antisemitic violence and assaults as tracked by ADL — previously the Anti-Defamation League — and in state incidents tracked by the Montana Human Rights Network.

In an earlier interview with the Daily Montanan, Stafman said he had led prayer early in the session, and like some other legislators, he was set to lead it a second time. He also noted he and a minister are the only two “professional prayer leaders” in the body.


https://dailymontanan.com/2023/05/25/montana-jewish-project-perplexed-saddened-by-speaker-of-the-house-regier/