Phyllis Silverman, beloved mother of JCK member Sara Silverman, passed away on September 23, 2023. Phyllis spent many winters on Kauai and joyfully participated in JCK events while she was on the island.
May her memory be a blessing.
Phyllis Silverman, beloved mother of JCK member Sara Silverman, passed away on September 23, 2023. Phyllis spent many winters on Kauai and joyfully participated in JCK events while she was on the island.
May her memory be a blessing.
Karen Hall has been involved in music from the age of four, when she began piano studies. Cello became her primary instrument, and she graduated with high honors from the University of Illinois. She received her master’s degree from Texas Christian University, where she was already a member of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra cello section. During her forty-one years in Texas, she also performed with the Dallas Opera Orchestra and the Dallas, Houston, and Hawaii Symphonies. An avid proponent of historical performance, she was a founding member of Texas Camerata, performing on the baroque cello and the viola da gamba. She performed with these organizations in Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Paris, France (and Paris, Texas!), and numerous other cities in the U.S and Mexico.
Some of Karen’s most memorable and rewarding experiences come from performances of chamber music with her husband Kevin, a bassoonist. They formed the Hall Ensemble, which presented a series of house and small-venue concerts that appeared three times on the “Top Ten” classical music concerts of the year in Dallas-Fort Worth in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Karen and Kevin played chamber music for two raft trips through the Grand Canyon as well as several programs at Camp Denali, a wilderness resort in Denali National Park.
With The Cliburn, Karen served as a host for their elementary school education programs and has given pre-concert lectures for the Fort Worth Symphony and Kauai Concert Association. She is proud of a concert review that highlighted her “golly gee whiz attitude” and always hopes to share her excitement about music with other patrons.
After being frequent visitors to Kauai, Karen counts as one of her accomplishments moving to the island with Kevin and their two cats in June of 2020, at the height of COVID. Since then, she has enjoyed part-time retail work and volunteers as a Director on the Kauai Concert Association Board, as well as on her HOA board. She continues to perform as a cellist and enjoys singing with the Kauai Chorale.
A native of Chicago, Illinois, Rabbi Laura Schwartz Harari has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Barnard College. She completed her rabbinical studies on the Los Angeles campus of The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where she received her Master of Arts in Hebrew Letters in 2006 and rabbinic ordination in 2008.
Prior to her study for the rabbinate, Rabbi Harari had a distinguished career in Jewish Education for over twenty-five years.
Most recently, Rabbi Harari was Spiritual Leader of Temple Rodef Sholom in Waco, Texas. While in Waco, Rabbi Harari served as President of the Greater Waco Interfaith Conference, and on the Board of the Southwest Association of Reform Rabbis. She was also a member of the Ethics Committee of Providence Hospital and a regular instructor for Baylor University's Lifelong Learning Program.
Prior to that she was Rabbi of Congregation B'nai Israel in Jackson, Tennessee.
Rabbi Harari currently resides in Laguna Woods, California, and serves on the Board of the Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis.
Rabbi Harari is very proud of her daughter, Carmit, also a rabbi, who serves Congregation Shir Tikvah in suburban Chicago.
Rabbi Harari’s primary passion is helping others find meaning in being Jewish. She feels that the rabbinate is an excellent avenue for this. Her other passions include folk singing, guitar playing and Israeli folk dance.
Post updated on 9/3/2023 with additional details at the bottom.
The Holidays are quickly approaching!
We are honored to welcome Rabbi Laura Schwartz Harari to lead our congregation during the Ten days of Awe this year.
We surely hope you will join us for these holy days. The list of the services and other events is below.
All services will be at St. Michael’s and All Angels church in Lihue. Map.
Friday, September 15
7 pm - Erev Rosh Hashana service
Saturday, September 16
10 am - Rosh Hashana service
12 noon - Rosh Hashana lunch
1 pm - Taschlich
Saturday, September 23
10 am - Shabbat Shuvah service
12 noon - Shabbat Shuvah lunch
Sunday, September 24
7pm - Erev Yom Kippur service
Monday, September 25
~The sanctuary will remain open the entire day~
10 am - Yom Kippur service
3-5 pm - Discussion with the Rabbi
5 pm - Yom Kippur concluding services
7 pm - Break-the-Fast
Here are some specific details for Yom Kippur afternoon and evening:
After discussion with the Rabbi, depending on time, there will be an afternoon service, which includes readings from the Book of Jonah, Yizkor service and reading of the names of those who have died, and the Ne’ila (concluding) service.
Here is some additional information:
We are so fortunate to have cellist Karen Hall to play Kol Nidre, one of Judaism’s most poignant pieces of music. Please see the following biography of this very talented, experienced and beautiful musician.
The Yiskor service, toward the end of the Yom Kippur services, is the time to remember the names of our loved ones who are no longer with us. If you would like any names read during this service, please send them to JCK, PO Box 3749, Lihue, HI 96766 or in an email to jewishcommunityofkauai18@gmail.com
We are having three meals catered during these 10 Days of Awe. Please RSVP by September 13, at the latest, (earlier is better) if you are planning to attend any/or all of them:
Saturday, September 16, lunch, around 12pm
Saturday, September 23, lunch, around 12pm
Monday, September 25, break-the-fast, around 7pm
As a final note:
Jewish Community services is doing great work on Maui in support of the folks there who have lost so much. If you would like to contribute to their efforts, here is the contact information: www.jcs-hi.org
This site will give you several options from which to choose.
Mahalo
July 21st Friday night Shabbat at Lydgate Park in Wailua was a great success! Marty Kahn led a beautiful service, Carol made a traditional challah, and everyone shared a lovely potluck, which included kugel, salmon croquets and LOTS of delicious salads. Many thanks to all who came and shared the warmth and love of Shabbat.
Please join the Jewish Community of Kauai for an outdoor, Friday night, pot luck Shabbat on July 21 at Lydgate! Last year’s event was a wonderful gathering, so let’s go for it again. We’ll reserve a small pavilion from 5-8pm, and Marty Kahn will lead a short service. JCK will provide beverages, plates, utensils, cups, napkins, etc. We ask that you bring a salad or main dish (vegetarian if possible). In addition, desserts are, of course, welcome!
If you would like to attend and need a ride, please contact Sara Silverman at 808-639-4423.
See you there.
What: Friday night Shabbat service
Where: Lydgate Park Pavilion
When: 5:30-8pm, services to start at 6:00pm
Please join the Jewish Community of Kauai on Saturday, May 27, to celebrate the holiday of SHAVUOT! Shavuot is both a harvest festival and a commemoration of God’s giving the Ten Commandments to the Jewish people. Traditionally, the Book of Ruth is also read.
Marty Kahn will lead the service, with Carol Pescaia assisting.
The service will start at 10 am. We will enjoy an Oneg Shabbat lunch after the service.
Don’t forget to bring either non-perishable food or a monetary donation for St. Michael’s food pantry, an especially important contribution during this harvest festival holiday.
One more note: It’s never too late to make your 2023 membership contribution!
$180 for an individual, $360 for a family. JCK counts on all of us!
Aloha,
Sean & Jeanine Leitenberg invite you to join them for Dylan’s Bar Mitzvah Saturday April 15th at their home in Anahola. Please arrive by 10 am for the service and lunch to follow. Your presence will be present enough. Please don’t feel obligated to bring a gift.
4729A Aliomanu Road, Anahola (Down driveway to brown house, parking across the street in beach park)
Please RSVP by text to 808-634-3616
How to reserve: All reservations are being handled through Eventbrite via this link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/passover-2023-with-the-jewish-community-of-kauai-tickets-593294027407
If you wish to reserve/pay by a method other than credit card, email jewishcommunityofkauai18@gmail.com.
Reservations will close on March 30th at 8:30pm or when sold out. There is a limit of 70 tickets.
Where: St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Hardy Street, Lihue. Map.
When: Thursday, April 6, 2023.
Time: 5:30PM (doors open), 6:00PM (Seder begins).
The festive meal includes:
Matzoh ball soup.
Ritual Seder plate at center of each table. Feel free to bring your own Seder plates.
The Seder dinner will include the following:
Entree choice of salmon with creamy caper dill sauce, Moroccan chicken, or vegetarian/vegan stuffed peppers. Children’s option of roasted chicken, or a smaller portion of the salmon or Moroccan chicken.
Green salad with preserved lemon vinaigrette
Mashed potatoes
Chocolate matzo cookies
Water, juice, Passover wine, coffee and tea will be available. Please feel free to bring your choice of wine or another beverage.
Cost for members who have paid annual membership
Adults $65.
Children (12 years old and under) $35.
Cost for non-members
Adults $90.
Children (12 years old and under) $40.
Presented by the Jewish Community of Kauai in partnership with St. Michael's and All Angels Episcopal Church
Dates: Sundays on March 19, 26, and April 2 at 9:00 am, in the sanctuary of St. Michael's.
Led by Rabbi Rob Kvidt and Fr. Andrew McMullan.
Our world is always changing, and the truth is that communities of faith have been challenged for the past few decades in finding their way forward to be a relevant and meaningful voice in an increasingly secular world. The pandemic and its consequences have accelerated this dynamic. How do communities of faith navigate these realities and find their way?
We will begin our three-week program this week with a look to the Old Testament, specifically the story of Abraham and Isaac, to explore the challenges presented by this call to sacrifice and what it might be saying to us today.
While Rabbi Rob and Father Andrew will provide some background and context, it is also the intention of our time together to make room for reflection and discussion in small groups with Jews and Christians in each one.
We hope you will join us - and this is a great opportunity to invite neighbors and friends of any faith.
Please join the Jewish Community of Kauai when we celebrate Purim on March 11, 10 AM at St. Michael’s in Lihue. Sara Silverman will lead the Shabbat/Purim service, which will include a (short) reading of the Megillah.
YAY for Esther and Mordechai! 🎉👸🤴🎉
BOOOO Haman BOOOO 👎👎
HAMANTASCHEN? YAYAYAY!
We’ll commemorate the Jews’ survival and feel grateful for our heroes!
And BOO Haman with our groggers and voices!
Please bring your noisemakers/groggers and come dressed as Esther or Mordechai or any other festive character - it’s a celebration! ✨🎭
Sandy Jennings of Fresh From the Garden will cater a delicious Oneg luncheon.
As always, contributions to Loaves and Fishes, St. Michael’s foodbank, are greatly needed and appreciated.
Where: St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Hardy Street, Lihue. Map.
When: Saturday, March 11, 2023.
Time: 10:00 am.
The Shabbat celebration this month will be on Saturday, February 25 at 10AM at St. Michael’s in Lihue. There will also be a baby-naming ceremony for Rachel Ackerman and Nate Morrow’s son - how exciting! Rabbi Rob Kvidt will lead both the Shabbat service and the naming ceremony. Please join JCK for these joyous occasions!
The Oneg Shabbat will be catered by Sandy Jennings of Fresh From the Garden. Her luncheons and challah are always a treat!
We encourage you to make a contribution of non-perishable food or a monetary donation to St. Michael’s Loaves and Fishes, which is an important source of food for Kauai’s folks in need. JCK has been a long time supporter of this crucial community service, so please, bring your contributions to Shabbat on Saturday. MAHALO!
Where: St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Hardy Street, Lihue. Map.
When: Saturday, February 25, 2023.
Time: 10:00 am.