Newsletters

Congregation Kona Beth Shalom

August 1996

Join us for our Annual Meeting

On Sunday afternoon, September 8, at 4 pm, Congregation Kona Beth Shalom holds its Annual Meeting at the home of Gloria and Barry Blum. We will bring everyone up to date on plans for the coming year. We also hold elections for the Congregation's Board of Directors. It will be followed by a pot-luck supper. All members (including new members) are invited.

Calendar of Events for September 1996 @ The Kona Surf Resort

Rosh Hashanah Eve & Shabbat Fri. Sep. 13 6:18 pm Mauna Kea Room

Annual Dinner Fri. Sep. 13 8:00 pm $25 per plate

[Prior reservations required for the dinner]

Rosh Hashanah, 1st Day & Shabbat Sat.. Sep. 14 10:00 am

Buffet lunch follows ($10)

Children's Program Sat. Sep. 14 10:30 am Moana Loa Room

Tashlich Sat. Sep. 14 after lunch At the water's edge, Mauna Kea garden

Shabbat Tshuvah (Shabbos at the Surf) Fri. Sep. 20 6:04 pm Vegetarian pot-luck supper

Sat. Sep. 21 10:00 am Buffet lunch follows ($10)

Yom Kippur Eve (Kol Nidre) Sun. Sep. 22 6:09 pm Mauna Kea Room

Yom Kippur Mon. Sep. 23 10:00 am Yizkor at 4 pm

Break the Fast Pot-luck Mon. Sep. 23 after sundown

There will be some special events scheduled while Rabbi Kirsch is here, including another

"Varieties of Jewish Experience" discussion open to the public. These will be announced at services.

Additional Events @ The Home of Scott & Sarit Reich

Call 329-2143 for details and directions.

Building the Sukkah Wed/Thu Sep. 25/26 afternoon

Several men and women are needed to help build and decorate the Sukkah.

Shabbat & Sukkot Fri. Sep. 27 6:00 pm Shabbat & Sukkot Sat. Sep. 28 10:00 am

High Holidays Observance

September is when the New Year, 5757, arrives! This year's High Holiday Services will be led by Rabbi Sheldon M. Kirsch. Rabbi Kirsch was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. He is a life-long member of the Rabbinical Assembly (the international association for Rabbis in the Conservative Movement in Judaism).

Following his ordination he served as military chaplain including service in Viet-Nam. Later he served as Rabbi for Temple Emanu El in Burbank, Temple Beth El in San Diego and Temple Sharon in Costa Mesa. Twelve years ago he left the professional rabbinate to work as an account executive and Financial Planner. He frequently fills in for colleagues at Shabbat services when they are away, he organized a Junior Congregation at his synagogue and he has conducted High Holiday Services almost every year since leaving the pulpit. Rabbi Kirsch enjoys the use of English readings in services with explanation of the prayers. In our conversations with the Rabbi, we have found him to be particularly warm, sincere and enthusiastic. He will be Kona Beth Shalom's first Conservative Rabbi to lead our services.

Rosh Hashanah (Friday evening, Saturday morning, September 13, 14)

Rosh Hashanah this year coincides with Shabbat, a most auspicious timing. Friday night services will start after candle-lighting. Saturday morning services will start at 10:00 am. Buffet lunch follows ($10 for adults, $5 for children). All services will be in the Mauna Kea Room at the Kona Surf Resort.

Building Fund Dinner (Friday night, September 13)

For many years, our congregation got together for a dinner at this time of year. Last year we re-established this event as a fund raiser for the Building Fund. Once again, you are invited to join us for this occasion. After the Eve of Rosh Hashanah services, instead of our usual Friday pot-luck we will enjoy a sit-down dinner catered by the chefs of the Kona Surf Resort. The cost is $25 per plate. Reservation with payment in advance is required.

Tashlich (Saturday, September 14)

During the ten days of repentance, the time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, traditional Jews walk to a body of water such as the ocean where they empty their pockets as if throwing away or letting go of sins. Some people carry some bread crumbs in their pockets for this purpose. We, too, will perform this tradition after our Saturday morning service and luncheon when we walk into the Mauna Kea Garden outside and go to the water's edge for these prayers.

Shabbat Tshuvah (Friday evening, Saturday morning, September 20, 21)

The Sabbath between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (September 20 and 21) is called Shabbat Tshuvah. We will meet in the Mauna Kea Room. As usual we invite everyone to bring vegetarian pot-luck food to share after the Friday evening service. The Saturday morning service is followed by a buffet lunch catered by the hotel. The cost is $10 for the lunch, $5 for children.

Yom Kippur (Sunday evening and Monday, September 22, 23)

Kol Nidre is the solemn prayer that brings in Yom Kippur. Every year, Jews all over the world observe the ten days from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur in different ways. Whether we believe in G-d or not, the concept of forgiveness permeates this time. We are taught that we ask G-d for forgiveness for the sins that we may have committed against G-d. For any sins we may have committed against other people, this is the time for us to ask forgiveness from those people. The concept is that we must take responsibility for our actions ourselves. Prayers do not take the place of honest behavior between people

This may be the one time of the year that we start services precisely on time (at sundown). Candle lighting is at 6:09 pm, Sunday evening. Kol Nidre starts right afterwards. On Monday morning, services begin at 10:00 am. There will be an afternoon break, at which time people may stay for discussions. Then we gather again at about 4 pm for Yizkor (Memorial Service)followed by Ni'ilah, which concludes at sundown. We are all invited to break the fast together with a pot-luck (vegetarian) supper. Yom Kippur is often referred to as the Day of Atonement. It has also been described as the Day of At One-ment. When you join us, our At One-ment becomes complete.

A Pur Verter from the President of Congregation Kona Beth Shalom

This past year has been a very pleasant time for our congregation. Our services have been led by a variety of members and guests. We've used four different prayer books or booklets at one time or another. No two services were alike, and yet they were all consistently interesting, inspiring and Jewish. True, we have been told that one service was too this or not enough that. But for those of us who come back each month, each new service has always reflected some of the experience we gained from the previous month's program. Maybe food has something to do with it. We eat after Friday nights, we eat after Saturday mornings. We tell stories, we tell jokes. We also teach and learn.

Our Board of Directors meetings have also evolved into very cheerful family events. There's lots of laughter. And we're doing more things. We've enjoyed having special visitors come to Kona to teach and inspire us. Just for the pleasure of it, recall that we celebrated all these wonderful events:

High Holidays at the Kona Surf with Rabbi Leo Fettman, last September; Sukkot at Scott and Sarit Reich's home last October; Rabbi Fettman's winter classes this past December and January: The Chanukah Party was held at Morty Breier and Karen Sutherland's home. We started a lecture series called "The Varieties of Jewish Experience," with the visit of Rabbi Gunther Plaut this past February, when he spoke to us about "The Purim You Never Knew About"; our first Tu B'Shvat Seder and beach party was organized by Sharona Lomberg, also this past February; then there was the Purim Costume Party at Scott and Sarit's in March with Rabbi Itchel Krasnjansky in attendance; Yoram Ben Zeev, Consul General of Israel, came here to meet with us in March; The Community Seder was particularly beautiful because of the special participation of Arella Barlev, in April; there were two "Peace in the Middle East Concerts" at the Aloha Theatre by the Golden Gate Gypsy Traveling Jewish Wedding Orchestra and Transitions; Rabbi David Lieb came from Maui to present "Genesis as Psychodrama" for the second "Varieties of Jewish Experience" Lecture in April; On Memorial Day, Barbara Lewis once again represented the Jewish Community leading all those in attendance in the Kaddish. Helen and Erwin Myhre were presented with leis at the service for the loss of their son. Bob Rhée videotaped the event for those of you who missed it. In July, Rabbi Natan Margalit led us in a study of Jewish Mysticism, "The Pardes," for our third "Varieties of Jewish Experience" Lecture.

Many of our visitors have been hosted by Saul and Joan Binder. We appreciate their generosity, not only for their home here, but for donating the ArtScroll Siddurim we used when Rabbi Margalit was here, and for the subscriptions to the Shabbat Fax many of us receive from Chicago. The Visitor Welcoming Committee has included the services of Sharona Lomberg who does much of the e-mail communicating with these mainlanders, Doreen and Steve Heimbach, who have helped transport them to and from the airport.

We have celebrated Shabbos at the Surf on the last Friday evening and Saturday mornings of every month. Again we express our appreciation to Bill Weza, the Food and Beverage Service Director at the Kona Surf, for all his help. He's has been a real mensch. Our success is due to the contributions of everyone who attends. Our prayer leaders have included Scott Reich, Barry Blum, Sharona Lomberg, Morty Breier, Barbara Lewis, Artie Agin, Saul Lelah, Michael Zola and myself. At these services Gloria Blum, Sarah Kramer and Karen Sutherland have co-lead prayers and songs. Besides the above, Mark Cohen, Naomi Cohen, Bob Rhée and Al Beer have offered D'var Torah presentations and/or read from the Torah. Erwin Myhre gets the mailings out for the congregation as Helen and Erwin consistently enrich our Oneg Shabbats with their tasty food contributions. Bob Salzberg has remained unretired as challah baker for us. Sharona Lomberg has been conducting the Children's Program every Shabbat Morning. Rebecca Weisser was our main (wo)man arranging our Seder at the Surf. Ruth Glatt and Doreen Heimbach have served on several committees as bim kam Board members. Speaking of committees, our Rabbi Selection Committee included Ruth Glatt, Sharona Lomberg, Joan Binder and Barbara Lewis. Thanks to them, Rabbi Sheldon Kirsch will be leading High Holiday Services this year.

Every week there is a very attractive display ad in West Hawaii Today thanks to Morty Breier. We thank Lee Robinson, who is Michael Zola's secretary, for handling correspondence, dues, and much more.

A new committee, or association, or agglomeration has been formed. The WAKoBeS, so far consisting of Karen Sutherland, Gloria Blum, Ruth Glatt, Sarit Reich, Sarah Kramer, Lorraine Highkin, Barbara Lewis, Doreen Heimbach, Rosemary Sevilla, Rebecca Weisser, Rutika Gaber, Helen Myhre, Eileen Gimpel and Joan Kaplan meet once a month. You'll have to ask them what their name means, but they welcome any woman in our congregation who would like to attend. Their next meeting will be on Sunday, August 25, a brunch pot-luck at Doreen Heimbach's home. Call 324-7608 for directions.

New members keep joining Kona Beth Shalom. In a small community like ours, every new presence is felt. Every new contribution of interest, energy and talent is noticed and enriches all of us.

I want to offer my heartfelt todah rabah to all the officers of the congregation: Morty Breier, Sharona Lomberg, Michael Zola and Barbara Lewis who have been unstinting in their support of all the wonderful things that Kona Beth Shalom has been able to accomplish. We couldn't do this without all of you!

Most of all, I thank my beautiful and talented wife for her love and support. Behind everything that I'm able to do is Gloria, making it easier, smoother and so much more fun!

What a fine group we have created together. Next month at our Annual Meeting we plan to change our bylaws because this past year there were too many Board members for our bylaws. What a blessing to have such a problem!

It has been my privilege to serve as President of Kona Beth Shalom this past year. It feels like we're just warming up and the best is yet to come.

Barry Blum

Children's Program

We have Sharona Lomberg to thank for providing so many special activities for the children. Every Saturday when we celebrate Shabbos at the Surf, Sharona runs a special program for young children. Last April, just before the Seder she led 12 kids in baking Matzoh at the City of Refuge, and then hosted 9 children at her home for a Children's Passover Seder. This year she plans to continue the Hebrew School. Any parents interested in enrolling their children in the Hebrew School are invited to telephone her at 328-9598. To be enrolled, the children's family must be members of Kona Beth Shalom. The $250 annual family membership contribution will be used to defray expenses for the Hebrew School. There may be minor additional expenses for special events, foods, or materials. Sharona is seeking involvement and commitment from the families. There will be a special parents meeting before the term begins. Call Sharona for these details. For the High Holidays, Sharona will conduct a special Children's Seder on the morning of Rosh Hashanah, September 14, in the Mauna Loa Room at 10:30 am. She will be showing the children all about dipping the apple in honey, blessing the fruits, and explaining the meaning of the Holy Days in entertaining and fascinating ways. Afterwards, the children can join the adults for the buffet lunch ($5 per child), and then participate in Tashlich when we all walk to the water.

Da Cookbook

Karen Sutherland is putting final touches on the Kona Beth Shalom Cookbook. All the recipes are in but there's still time to add stories, jokes, anecdotes and other pearls about food. Also, Karen welcomes your ads for the book. Call her at 325-0944 if you have anything to contribute.

Membership

Our community is diverse and vigorous. At one time or another we have shared the experiences of birth, death, illness, celebration, worship, play, fellowship, sorrow and gladness with each other. We want to continue to grow and reach out. If you have Jewish friends or acquaintances who have not yet joined Kona Beth Shalom, please encourage them to join now and come to High Holiday Services. If you have children of (soon to be) Bar or Bat Mitzvah age, Al Beer, who has just joined us, is available to teach them. Al has already been chanting the Torah portion for us on Shabbat. He has a beautiful voice and it's a pleasure for us all to have another member who knows the prayers! We will be happy to put new names on our mailing list if you notify us.

Nobody is turned away because of inability to make payments. Membership contributions defray the modest costs of maintaining the ongoing basic needs of this Jewish community. We don't "sell tickets" to attend High Holiday Services. Any Jewish person is welcome to attend. If it is difficult for you to contribute the amount we request for membership or for High Holiday attendance, please let me know (call me at 322-6004 or Michael Zola, our Treasurer, at 329-1333). If there is something more or different that we can do, we want to do it, so ask us, or join us and help us to do it together with you.

On the next page is your Membership Application. Please fill it out and send it back with your check right away. Thank you.

On behalf of Congregation Kona Beth Shalom:

May you be inscribed for a happy and a healthy New Year!

Le Shana Tovah Tikateivu!