Edie Kort and Jim Nallick, new Jewish Mentors and educators, pose for a picture with Chaplain Chris and Janet Tatz.
This week Intermountain’s Jewish Mentor and educator, Janet Tatz, retires from nearly a decade in supporting Jewish children in residential treatment. For the last five years, I have had the pleasure of working alongside her to ensure that every child on Helena’s campus has the spiritual and cultural support needed to do the hard work of treatment while growing in their understanding of God’s unconditional love and acceptance.
Janet has taught me a great deal about humility and grace, and has become a friend as well as a colleague. It has been a joy to work alongside her and model understanding and acceptance between the Jewish and Christian faiths for our children, their families, and our staff. Our ability to work together has strengthened the Chaplain’s Program and Intermountain’s Residential services. Janet has always gone “above and beyond” her part-time status and done whatever was needed to build relationships with the Jewish families served by Intermountain. It can be most clearly seen in the response she gets from the children and families she serves.
At last week’s Recognition Day celebration, the guest Intermountain alumni speaker was able to attest to the role Janet played in his journey to healing and wholeness, both spiritually and relationally. He spoke to the “happy and much more flexible place” he’s in now as a result of “time with Janet,” who he explained was not only his Jewish educator, but also “kind of like my
Janet receives a certificate in recognition of her efforts in establishing a strong Jewish Education program over the last 10 years
grandmother!”
He continued, saying, “I really valued my special time with Janet Tatz, the Jewish Educator. She taught me a lot more about my culture and how to incorporate being Jewish into modern living. I told her what was happening in my life and she listened to me. She showed me a lot more of Montana and took me to Jewish rituals off campus. She meant and still means a lot to me!”
While Janet is retiring from Intermountain’s employment, she still plans to be around and help volunteer to support the transition to our new Jewish Educator, Jim Nallick. Additionally, Intermountain has hired a substitute teacher who will also serve as a female Jewish mentor on campus, Edith Kort.
If you’d like to congratulate Janet on her retirement, you may send your message care of Intermountain, 500 S. Lamborn Street, Helena MT 59601.
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