Join Us | Shabbat With Guest Rabbi Daniel Brenner

New Torah | Kauai Jewish Community

We welcome back Rabbi Daniel Brenner and his wife Felicia to lead services on Saturday, October 30, 2021, at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Lihue. Felicia beautifully accompanies Rabbi Brenner in music.

Ordained in May 2018 by Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles, Rabbi Brenner has served as the student rabbi of Congregation B’nai David in Visalia, CA, the rabbinic intern of Temple Emanuel of Beverly Hills, and most recently, as the rabbinic intern and assistant rabbi at Congregation B’nai B’rith in Santa Barbara.

Among other honors, Rabbi Brenner received his bachelor’s degree in Israeli and Middle East politics from American Jewish University in 2011 and has a Masters in Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College in addition to his rabbinic ordination.

We will have an Oneg Shabbat boxed lunch following the service, catered by Reouven Barzilai. In order to ensure adequate food for everyone, please RSVP no later than October 28 to jewishcommunityofkauai18@gmail.com. We will order food for only those who have sent an RSVP.

Where: St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Hardy Street, Lihue. Map.

When: Saturday, October 30, 2021.

Time: 10:00 am.

Please donate nameplates in our new books to honor loved ones! For more information please contact us. As a reminder, JCK needs sponsors for Shabbat Onegs. Please take part, as any level of participation is available.

Zoom Torah Study This Saturday

Kauai Rabbi Rob Kvidt asks that you join with him and Temple Emanu-El of Honolulu for a Torah study on Saturday morning October 16 at 9 am Hawaii time. The guest presenter is David Zinner, Executive Director of Kavod V'Nichum and the Gamliel Institute, which concerns itself with Jewish end-of-life practices. Rabbi Rob is a certification candidate at Gamliel Institute and hopes that you can join this special event.

The weekly Torah study will be Parashat Lech Lecha; a lively discussion will follow.

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89144879058

Meeting ID: 891 4487 9058

Passcode: torah

Kol Nidre & Yom Kippur | High Holy Days 2021/5782

Join the Jewish Community of Kauai for remaining High Holy Day observances. These will take place on Wednesday September 15, at 7 pm at St. Michael's and on Thursday, September 16, starting at 10 am (see details below). Thursday’s services will be followed by a catered boxed break-the-fast dinner.

L’Shanah Tovah. We look forward to continuing to worship together this year. It will be different, of course, as necessitated by COVID-19, and services will be offered both in-person and online. We are grateful to Rabbi Aryeh Azriel and our own Kauai Rabbi Rob Kvidt, who are on the Bimah this year.

JCK has distributed a press release with many details about our community and the two wonderful Rabbis. We know you’ll enjoy reading and learning more.

Be sure to read the entire post in order to make reservations and for other important details.

Here is an update for the remaining High Holy Days.

• Services will be held in-person at St. Michael’s with both indoor and outdoor limited seating by reservation only.

• Services will also be broadcast on Zoom for those not attending. See below for Zoom details, the unique meeting link required to attend each service, and how to obtain and use the free online Machzor.

• Masks will be required at all events and at all times except when actively eating or drinking. The rabbis are strongly encouraging all in attendance to be fully vaccinated. There is a Jewish precept that we all look out for one another. Being vaccinated is one way to do so. Non-vaccinated attendees are asked to reserve outdoor seating.

• For required reservations, please contact us at jewishcommunityofkauai18@gmail.com.

• Be sure to email your Yizkor name requests to jewishcommunityofkauai18@gmail.com or complete the list in person.

• Join or renew your membership.

We are using our Reform Machzor, Mishkan Hanafesh. It is fully transliterated, has many options for Torah readings, provides background and contextual information, poetry and alternative readings, commentary, multiple theological possibilities, a beautiful interpretation of Hebrew, and engaging artwork and essays.

Visitors and non-members are asked to make a donation - per service attended in-person or on Zoom - for all High Holiday services. The suggested donation is $50 per service or $180 for all services in-person, and at your discretion on Zoom. Please be generous. Click here to donate. 

Donation envelopes will also be available at services. Many Thanks.

Being fit spiritually for the High Holy Days. Rabbi Rob has written an article on Elul: Preparing for the High Holy Days.

SCHEDULE FOR HIGH HOLY DAY SERVICES (Hawaii time: GMT-10. It is 3 hours earlier than west coast time and 6 hours earlier than east coast time).

• Erev Yom Kippur/Kol Nidre on Wednesday, September 15 at 7 pm. Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89441602123.

• Yom Kippur Day is on Thursday, September 16 at 10 am. Adult group discussion with Rabbi Aryeh and Rabbi Rob reconvenes at 3:00 followed by the Afternoon Service, Yizkor, Neilah, and Havdalah starting at 3:45. This concludes at 7:00 with a delicious break-the-fast boxed dinner. Zoom link (valid for the entire day): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81356489706.

Joining us in person.

Services are held at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Hardy Street, Lihue, and on Zoom. Map.

🍏 Catering for the High Holidays will be provided by Sandy Jennings of Fresh from the Garden. 🥯

In our tradition of tzedakah (charity), and in the spirit of aloha, please bring donations of non-perishable food and/or money for the Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry. This Kauai Food Pantry distributes to about one hundred people each week, is staffed by volunteers, and is supported by donations, including ours.

Joining us on Zoom.

Services will be broadcast on zoom and you are welcome to take part. The unique Zoom link required for each service is found in the schedule of events above. This will be like watching a television broadcast, it is not an interactive meeting format.

Our Machzor is available for those attending on Zoom. It is accessed here. Scroll down after accessing that link until you see the image of the prayer book for Yom Kippur. Note that for Shabbat Shuvah, there will be no prayer book available online.

If you have questions, please contact Carol Pescaia at: carolwpescaia@gmail.com or 808-651-8623.

You will receive a confirmation of your reservation status. 

Shabbat In-Person | Join Us on May 21

JCK will be holding a Friday night Shabbat Service on May 21 st . We look forward to coming together as a community to worship and reconnect.

Where: Lydgate Park ---- Large Pavilion

When: 5:30 Gathering. 6:00 Short Service lead by Marty Kahn

Light Pupus provided after service

RSVP Needed

By Kauai County rules, we are limited to 25 people at a gathering.

People’s RSVPs will be counted as received.

To ensure that we have adequate food for all attending we need you to RSVP by Sunday, May 16th.

Send RSVP to: jewishcommunityofkauai18@gmail.com.

Include your name and the number of people in your group.

Kauai COVID rules will be followed. Masks Required.

JCK Membership

We welcome all who wish to be members of our community. The suggested annual contribution is $180 for an individual membership or $360 for a family membership. The Jewish Community of Kauai welcomes you as a member, whatever amount you choose to contribute.

Hawaii Jewish Needs Assessment

If you have completed the Hawaii Jewish Needs survey, we thank you so much. If you have not, please do so now. Also, if you have any questions about the survey you can contact Sara Silverman at (808) 639-4423 or email her at slslaw@hawaii.rr.com. Also, if you have a problem completing the survey online, Sara can arrange for a hard copy to be provided.

The Jewish Community of Kauai is participating with the Weinberg Foundation and Jewish Community Services (JCS), a nonprofit agency that serves the health and human service needs of the Jewish community in Hawaii. They are conducting a study of the needs of Jewish individuals and families in Hawaii, which is being funded by the Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Foundation and carried out by Ward Research and Carolann Biederman Consulting, both in Hawaii. Sara Silverman is representing JCK with Weinberg on this exciting project.

They have asked the many Jewish congregations and organizations in Hawaii to distribute this link to their online survey as widely as possible. Participation is voluntary, of course, and is fully anonymous. But participation from the community is also crucial to determining the needs of the community and planning accordingly.

www.wardresearch.com/jcs 

It should take about 15-20 minutes to complete the survey, and they are asking for only one survey per household. If you are on the email lists for multiple organizations, you may receive the request to participate multiple times. But you need only participate once.

Note: be sure you have the time to complete the survey once you’ve begun, as you will not be able to return to it subsequently.

Thank you in advance for taking the time to participate. It is important that we all have an opportunity to identify our health and human service needs, in order ultimately to improve the quality of life for our Jewish community.

Join Temple Emanu-El: Jews and Civil Rights

Join with sister community Temple Emanu-El for their Special Tuesday Wisdom Group tomorrow, Tuesday, February 23 at 10:30 AM. As Black History Month comes to a close, Temple Emanu-El’s weekly wisdom class is pleased to present Joshua Burg of the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism.

Mr. Burg will share the history of the RAC focusing on:

• The historic connection between Jews and the Civil Rights Movement

• How Jews today, including both the RAC and URJ are standing up for racial justice

• The launching of a movement-wide racial justice campaign

• Internal work being done by the Audacious Hospitality Department for racial equity, diversity, and inclusion opportunities

To join the class, send an e-mail to admin@shaloha.com by 9:00 AM Tuesday in order to receive a Zoom invite. Please include "Wisdom Class" in the subject line.

Join Temple Emanu-El: Shared Legacies: The African American-Jewish Civil Rights Alliance

To honor Black History Month, Temple Emanu-El presents a powerful documentary about the Civil Rights Movement which focuses on the involvement of Jews with the Black community. You can watch the movie trailer below.

How: Send an email to admin@shaloha.com with the subject line "Shared Legacies". You will receive the movie link Sunday night which will be valid from Monday, February 15 through Wednesday, February 17. Along with the film link you will receive a Zoom invitation to share your thoughts on the documentary with Rabbi Ken on Thursday, February 18 at 7:00 PM.

When: Streaming Available: Monday, Feb. 15-Wednesday, Feb. 17. Film Discussion (via Zoom): Thursday, Feb. 18 | 7:00 PM

NOTE: In accordance with the licensing agreement from Menemsha Films we must limit viewership to Hawaii residents only.

St. Michael's Holiday Food Distribution

We are very excited that St. Michael’s will be having a holiday food distribution, in memory of Pat Hillegonds, on Wednesday, December 23 from 8-10 am.

While Wednesday’s distribution will be a drive-thru system, we certainly anticipate people showing up who do not have a vehicle. They will be preparing 100 bags/boxes of food and are looking for help with the following. Please let Loretta know by this Sunday if you are available to volunteer.

Volunteers are needed for the following:

Tuesday, December 22 from 10:00 am - 12:00 pm. Assist with food preparation.

Tuesday, December 22 from 10:00 am - 4 pm. Prepare bags and boxes of food.

Wednesday, December 23 from 8:00 am - 10 am. Assist with food distribution.

Please let St. Michael’s know if you will volunteer by contacting Loretta at loretta@stmichaels-kauai.org. She will then give you details on the particulars.

We hope to see you there!

Chanukah Reminder and Membership Letter

Chanukah Reminder

Please join us on Zoom this Sunday night at 6pm to celebrate The Festival of Lights in an entirely new way. Have your menorah ready and loaded with 5 candles.

Resources.

Read Rabbi Rob’s Hanukkah blog post.

Download Hanukkah Cootie Catcher for the kids. It includes instructions for dreidel. After printing, trim the bottom and fold.

Learn Hanukkah candle blessings.

---

Membership Letter

Aloha and Shanah Tovah and Happy New Year. Jewish Community of Kauai (JCK) wishes our members and friends upcoming years filled with good health and joy.

We are excited to share news of our congregation as we enter 5781/2021; we invite you along on our journey. The time of COVID-19 has tested our resourcefulness, along with our desire to continue the continuity and traditions that are the guiding principles of Judaism. We are happy to report that our efforts have been successful, as shown by our recent Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services. 

The Hawaiian word “Imua” means to move forward toward a goal; to move forward with strength. We’re looking forward to the time when we will once again be gathered, as the “Synagogue in Residence” at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Lihue, where we share services, holiday gatherings, Jewish identity, spirituality, food, camaraderie, hugs and community. 

Please become part of our community. All are welcome and encouraged to become part of our community, to be one of the jeweled pieces of the mosaic that make us whole. Most compelling, perhaps, will be the self-satisfaction you receive from the knowledge that your participation enables an active and vital presence of Judaism on beautiful Kaua’i. 

Your membership fees and additional donations are always appreciated and will help to ensure JCK’s continuing to meet its financial obligations; the reality is money is necessary. Make you check made payable to Jewish Community of Kauai. Or donate online. Membership dues remain at $180.00 for an individual or $360.00 for a family. Membership fees are now due and payable on January 1st and run through the calendar year until December 31st. If you have already paid your dues (paid in September or October 2020), you get a bonus and are paid for the entire upcoming year, ending December 31, 2021. 

If you are not able to meet your financial obligation and wish to be a member of JCK, please contact our President, Carol Pescaia at carol.pescaia@hawaiiantel.net.

Shalom and aloha from the Board of Directors of Jewish Community of Kaua’i.

How To Join Us For Kol Nidre/Yom Kippur 5781

Important update for the the remaining services of the High Holy Days, beginning this Sunday at 7pm.

• See how to access the JCK Zoom services and the prayer book Mishkan Hanafesh online.

• LAST CHANCE to email your Yizkor name requests.

• Join or renew your membership below.

Rabbi Aryeh Azriel will lead the Jewish Community of Kauai again this year. He will be joining us from Omaha for our own adult discussion, sermon and Neilah service service on Zoom.

Yizkor service will be conducted by Kauai Rabbi Rob Kvidt, also on Zoom. Update your names no later than Saturday, September 26, as names from prior years will not be read.

JCK has also partnered with sister Reform community Temple Emanu-El Honolulu to offer their virtual Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur morning services to our members and guests. We are extremely grateful to Temple Emanu-El. The Jewish Community of Kauai will be live on Zoom starting at 1 pm on Yom Kippur.

Please see below for details about services and about how to renew your membership or join JCK at this time.

Yom Kippur services will consist of three unique and distinct elements.

1. Services streamed from Temple Emanu-El for Kol Nidre and Yim Kippur morning services. See how to access those below.

2. Yom Kippur services streamed from Jewish Community of Kauai. Adult education, sermon, Yizkor and Neilah will be provided by Rabbi Aryeh Azriel and Rabbi Rob Kvidt.

How To Access Services

1. Services Streamed from Temple Emanu-El.

Please join us and sister Reform community Temple Emanu-El for their live-streamed services:

Services will be streamed on Facebook Live (https://www.facebook.com/TempleEhonolulu/live) and at https://shaloha.com, at their scheduled times.

Yom Kippur Evening Service Sunday, September 27 7:00 PM. Be moved once again by the haunting melody of Kol Nidre as we usher in the holiest day on the Jewish calendar.

Yom Kippur Morning Service: Monday, September 28 10:00 AM. On this day for atonement and aspiration, we will offer our prayers while the heavenly gates are still open.

2. Yom Kippur Afternoon Service streamed directly from Jewish Community of Kauai. Monday, September 28, 1:00 PM. Adult education, sermon, and Neilah will be provided by Rabbi Aryeh Azriel. Yizkor services will be conducted by Rabbi Rob Kvidt. We will conclude services with the traditional Blasting of the Shofar.

To access the JCK Zoom services, please go to this link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88689155392?pwd=NlhtTEhyamhVbUVtMkM4RkpIdkxydz09.

Or, enter Zoom Meeting ID: 886 8915 5392 Passcode: Shofar.

When you arrive at the meeting, you will be admitted individually to the meeting. 

Important Note: This is your final chance to send names you'd like to have included in the Yizkor service to Elyse Litvack at kauaisnorkler@gmail.com. These must be received by Saturday, September 26. Only names emailed this year will be read at the service.

Donations and Membership.

Now is the time to renew your membership. Although we are not currently holding in-person services, JCK still has expenses. Donations in addition your dues and from guests are always welcome, especially at this difficult time. 

Click here to join or renew membership.

Click here to donate. 

Learn Jewish Rituals of Dying and Death

Chevra Kadisha is the traditional practice that supports and assists Jewish families and communities in dealing with the end of life.

Kauai Rabbi Rob Kvidt is an active participant in the new interisland Chevra Kadisha and is studying at the Gamliel Institute. He invites all of us to join other Jews in Hawaii for this important gathering on Zoom. Come explore and learn how Chevra Kadisha supports the Jewish community, including rituals that guide us through the most challenging times, offering a pathway for embracing life fully, accepting its inevitable losses, and doing it as a community.

Introduction to Gemilut Chasadim/Acts of Kindness on Sunday, October 4, 2020, 3:00 - 4:30 pm. Please contact rob@kauarabbi.com for Zoom Link.

Join featured speaker, Holly Blue Hawkins, Rosha (“head”) of the Santa Cruz Community Chevra Kadisha. With more than 30 years experience, she is a graduate and faculty member of the Gamliel Institute, member of the Green Burial Council Speakers Bureau, and co-founder of Natural Deathcare Initiative.