An inclusive, mindful and caring Jewish community O`ahu Jewish `Ohana Leadership President Barbara Fischlowitz-Leong Vice President Judith Goldman Secretary Hank Trapido-Rosenthal Treasurer Harvey Rackmil Steve Flanter Jill Merl Gordon Paul Gracie Nan Kaaumoana Aaron Levine Joyce Oleshansky Ken Smith Alice Tucker Debra Zeleznik PUBLISHED BY O`AHU JEWISH `OHANA PO BOX 61007 HONOLULU HI 96839-1007 www.oahujewishohana.org oahujewishohana@gmail.com PRESIDENT S MESSAGE O`AHU JEWISH `OHANA NEWSLETTER NOVEMBER 2016 A New Beginning is a Precious Gift and how fortunate we are to have begun 5777 together. Forming a new group, while being a part of the whole is no easy task. O`ahu Jewish `Ohana began its fifth year with a Birthday Celebration for the world, especially designed for our children. What a joyous celebration it was- L Shana Tovah sounded throughout the room along with many first time shofar blowers. Our High Holy Day services were led by Rabbi Mariam Burg who was joined by Cantorial Soloist Debra Winter. We joined together. All the wonders of welcoming the New Year and observing the 10 Days of Awe leading us to Yom Kippur brought first time Torah readers as well as seasoned readers together! Our amazing Torah Study Group, our Friday night Shabbat programs and our ending of Shabbat with Havdalah remind us of the importance of caring for each other and for our community. We also had the opportunity to discuss Jewish educational issues at an Open Table thanks to the leadership of our board member Paul Gracie through the work of the Interfaith Alliance Hawaii. I along with Yahna Kawa a represented our `Ohana. Educational opportunities for our children are important to all of us. We know we have a responsibility to provide the opportunities. How our broader community decides to provide educational opportunities is an open discussion My comments began about New Beginnings before election day. As I finish these comments there are more new beginnings. For some we have more new beginnings than we thought possible. The election of Donald Trump, as the 45th President, is a game changer. For some of us, for all of us, a new world view has been established through our democratic process. On 11/10, Senator Brian Schatz, through The Jewish Community Speakers Series sponsored by Temple Emanuel addressed the community. As our Senator anxiously returns to Washington, he knows that there is work to be done. He asked that we all stay involved. As our synagogue is an inclusive community, we pray for an inclusive country and world... As we recite the Prayer for Our Nation during Shabbat services, we ask G-d for guidance for ourselves and our nation, and to grant our leaders the wisdom and forbearance to govern with justice and compassion. We ask G-d to help us appreciate one another and to respect the many ways we may be faithful to the ways of righteousness, and to keep our country sound in body and spirit. Barbara Fischlowitz-Leong
TEAM UPDATE ON OUR SEARCH FOR A RABBI The latest news from the OJO Rabbi Search Team: one application of the many received stood out as a possible fit with our congregation to be our long-term half-time rabbi. There will be several opportunities to meet Rabbi Janet Madden on Shabbat week-end, January 20-22, at Friday night services, Saturday morning Torah study, Saturday evening Havdalah followed by discussion, and a families with children event. Rabbi Janet Madden lives in Santa Monica, California. She was ordained as rabbi from the accredited Academy for Jewish Religion-CA in 2011. Prior to choosing to pursue a rabbinic career, she was a college professor of literature having earned a PhD in Irish literature in Ireland. For the last seven years, during rabbinic training and since, she was spiritual leader and now rabbi of Temple Havurat Emet in Sun Lakes, Arizona, traveling there monthly for Shabbat, High Holidays, and lifecycle events. While there she trained both children and adults for bnei mitzvah. She is certified and has experience in grief counseling and hospice counseling, and currently is visiting Rabbi/Chaplain at Providence Saint John s Health Center, Santa Monica. Going beyond degrees, many published writings, affiliations and practical experience why are we taking the next step of inviting Rabbi Madden to Hawaii? Members of the search team interviewed Rabbi Janet by phone. That led to inviting her to participate in a Skype interview with board and search team members. She is personable, easy to talk with, intelligent, flexible, knowledgeable, creative, and open to fitting in with the needs of our congregation while offering a fresh outlook as a rabbi. She and her husband are willing to move to Hawaii. The consensus after that Skype interview was to invite Rabbi Janet Madden to Hawaii so we can get to know each other. Save the dates, be involved, and then have your voice heard as we continue through this exciting new stage in the growth of OJO. Judy Goldman WEEKLY TORAH STUDY OJO Torah Study meets every Saturday morning from 9 a.m. until approximately 11:45 a.m. We begin at 9 a.m. by studying the Parshat of the Week. [Weekly Torah Portion]. Different members take turns preparing the weekly discussion. Some weeks, we all take turns reading and discussing what we read. No prior experience in studying Torah is necessary. ALL are welcome and encouraged to attend and to participate as much or as little as you feel comfortable! Knowing Hebrew is not a pre-requisite! Some of our Torah Study members have other obligations on some Saturdays and they attend as often as their schedules allow. Whenever they show up, we are always happy and excited to see them! At approximately 10:15 a.m. we take a short break and then resume around 10:30 a.m. with a morning service. We finish up the morning with the Hamotzi and Kiddush prayers and then an informal Kiddush snack that is brought by the attendees. If you are considering coming, but can't stay the whole morning, just come for the time you can! Torah Study takes place at 200 North Vineyard Blvd., Honolulu, Suite 430. We look forward to meeting you and sharing what has become a very positive and learning experience for many of us! Questions?? Call Melanie at 808-675-6860. Shavuatov!
MEMORIES OF THE HIGH HOLY DAYS 5777/2016 Mahalo to Lynne Rackmil and her committee for their endless work in making our High Holy Day services and related holiday activities so engaging, spiritual, inspiring, and successful!! SIMCHAT TORAH ROSH HASHANA & YOM KIPPUR HAPPY BIRTHDAY WORLD ROSH HASHANA BIRTHDAY PARTY
JEWISH COMMUNITY SERVICES VOLUNTEERS OF THE YEAR Congratulations to Barbara Fischlowitz-Leong and Michael Leong as they were honored as OJO s Volunteers of the Year at the recent Jewish Community Services Volunteers of the Year dinner. We at OJO and the entire Jewish community thank them for their many years of service to both Hawaii s Jewish community and to the many Hawaii programs they have supported for so many years. Well Deserved!! THE FIRST NIGHT OF HANUKKAH: A visit from Rabbi Devorah (née Diana) Lynn Please save the eve of Saturday, December 24 th (not Christmas Eve, but Erev Hanukkah!) for a special Havdalah service, followed by the lighting of the first Hanukkah candles on our menorahs, a timely talk on Shabbat and Hanukkah: Role Models for Climate Change Action, and ending with a dessert nosh. What a great way for OJO to start the holiday! OJO s special guests for the evening, Devorah Lynn and her scientist husband Fred Lipschultz, became Hank and Jean Trapido-Rosenthal s friends and neighbors in 1993 when they moved to Bermuda, where Hank worked at the Bermuda Biological Station for Research (BBSR). Devorah and Fred were already there, as she held the position of Elderhostel Director at BBSR and coordinated its acclaimed international program of study vacations in history, natural history, and oceanography. As she also received a Rabbinic-Aide Certification from the Union of Reform Judaism, she became the lay leader of the Jewish Community of Bermuda. Jean and Hank s arrival doubled the number of Jews living on the Kibbutz-like campus of the marine lab, and they very much enjoyed Devorah s dynamic leadership of the Jewish community. In 2001, Devorah entered Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, was ordained in 2006, and then served as Rabbi at Beth Sholom Temple in Fredericksburg, VA, a congregation of 125 families, ministering to a geographical area 100 miles in diameter. Devorah is now a chaplain for the Jewish Social Services Agency, serving Georgetown University Hospital and a variety of extended care residences. She is certified by the Institute for Jewish Spirituality and is a guest teacher and speaker at a wide variety of venues in the D.C. metropolitan area. Rabbi Lynn and Fred will be vacationing in Hawaii in late December of this year, and Devorah has graciously agreed to share her wisdom and start our Hanukkah season. Make sure to schedule this evening in your calendars. Barbara Fischlowitz-Leong and Michael Leong have once again offered their house (616 Honua Street, Kahala), at 6:45 p.m
UPCOMING EVENTS - SAVE THESE DATES November 2016 - January 2017 Friday, Nov. 18 Community Shabbat Dinner. 6:30 p.m. at Moilili Hongwanji Socail Hall. Dinner provided by O`ahu Jewish `Ohana. RSVP by Nov. 14 to oahujewishohana@gmail.com If you are willing to help set up and/or clean up, please let us know when you RSVP. Saturday, Nov. 19 and all Saturdays Torah Study and Shachrit Service. Torah Study: 9:00 10:00 a.m. followed by Shachrit (morning) Service (10:15-11:30 a.m.) at 200 N. Vineyard Blvd., Suite 430. (See newsletter article.) Saturday, Nov. 19 Dr. Littman Lecture Series: Part 3 Samaritans and Karaites: Surviving Jewish Sects. Presented by Dr. Robert Littman, Professor of Classics, UH Manoa; 6:45: Havdalah Service and PowerPoint presentation, followed by desserts and socializing at Moiliili Hongwanji. Wednesday, Nov. 30 Tikkun Olam Holiday Gift Wrapping. 2:00 4:00 p.m. at Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. RSVP by Nov. 20 to Karen.kimbrell@gmail.com (provide name, email, and phone). Friday, Dec. 16 - Community Shabbat Dinner. 6:30 p.m. at Moilili Hongwanji Socail Hall. Dinner provided by O`ahu Jewish `Ohana. RSVP by Nov. 14 to oahujewishohana@gmail.com If you are willing to help set up and/or clean up, please let us know when you RSVP. Saturday, Dec. 24 Havdalah, Lecture with Visiting Rabbi Devorah Lynn (friend of Jean & Hank Trapido-Rosenthal) and Dessert. Lecture Topic: Shabbat & Hannukah: Role Model for Climate Change Action. 6:45 p.m. at the home of Barbara Fischlowitz-Leong and Michael Leong, 616 Honua Street, Kahala. (see newsletter article.) Friday, Dec. 30 Hannukah Event. Stay tuned for more information. Sunday, Jan. 8 Ala Moana Beach Clean-up. Early morning. Stay tuned for more information. Friday, Jan. 20 Sunday, Jan. 22 Shabbat Weekend with Rabbi Janet Madden. Shabbat services, Torah Study, Havdalah & Discussion, and Family Event. Stay tuned for more information (see newsletter article.)
LEARN ABOUT OUR WEBSITE When is our next Shabbat gathering? Who are our Board of Directors? What is our mission statement? How many OJO events are planned for November and December? Are there any photos from High Holy Days? Where can I find OJO s new mailing address? Have you ever had these questions but weren t sure where to quickly find the answers? On the OJO website! The OJO website addresses these and other questions from people inside and outside of our OJO community. It has become an important tool as we define our next phase and in our Rabbi search. The website presents a quick look at our community to potential Rabbi candidates, people considering OJO membership, and congregants wanting to know what OJO is up to! You can look at our website from your computer, tablet or smartphone from anywhere you have internet access. Back to the questions. For the answers to these and other questions, go to the internet address, www.oahujewishohana.org
Q: When is our next Shabbat gathering? How many events are planned for November and December? A: Click on Worship or Calendar tab for different views of event details. Q: Who are our Board of Directors? What is our mission statement? A: Both answers can be found on the About Us page
Q: Are there any photos from High Holy Days? A: Take a look at the Photo Galleries to see what you missed! Q: What is OJO s new mailing address? A: Our new mailing address can be found at the top of every page. WELCOME TO OJO S NEWEST MEMBERS OJO is pleased to introduce our newest member families: Mitchell and Glenda Bednarsh and son Matthew ( 5) Nalani and Raphael Leonard (re-joined) Richard Wertheimer and Crystal Lee Kwok and sons Wolf (16) and Kiva (11), and daughter Red (13) MAHALO TO THE FOLLOWING DONORS SINCE JULY 2016 General Donations: Barbara Fischlowitz-Leong and Michael Leong Peter Hoffenberg and Saundi Schwartz High Holy Day Prayer Book Sponsorships: George and Sandy Apter Judy and Dennis Lind Peter Hoffenberg and Saundi Schwartz