Celebrate the High Holidays With Us

5766 Annual Newsletter

Celebrate the High Holidays With Us!

September - October 2005

KBS Annual Meeting Sunday Sep 18 3 pm

Pavilion # 3, Old Airport Park . Potluck

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Rosh Hashana evening Monday Oct 3 6 pm

Kahalu‘u Ballroom, Outrigger Keauhou Beach Hotel (OKBR). Kiddush follows

Rosh Hashana morning Tuesday Oct 4 10 am

Kahalu‘u Ballroom, (OKBR). Kiddush follows

Shabbat Shuvah Friday eve Oct 8 5 pm

Tashlich Kalanikai Pavilion (OKBR). Potluck supper follows (no pork or shellfish)

Kol Nidre Wednesday eve Oct 12 6 pm

Calvary Community Church

Yom Kippur Thursday Oct 13 10 am

Yizkor 4:00 pm

Neilah 5:30 pm

Calvary Community Church . Bagels and break-the-fast pupus follow after Neilah, hosted by Lorraine Highkin (to honor the memory of her granddaughter, Talia Miller) and the WaKoBeS

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Build Sukkah Sunday Oct 16

Sukkot Celebration Sunday Oct 23 2 – 5 pm

The home of Debera First in Kailua-Kona. Potluck. Call 327-1333 for directions

Simchat Torah Saturday Oct 29 1 - 5 p

YMCA/Waimea Town Hall. Potluck. Music by Kona’s Traveling Jewish Wedding Band

All Big Island Jewish communities invited

Your MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION / CONTRIBUTION FORM is included with this newsletter.

Call Dr. Barry Blum at 322-6004 or Joel Gimpel at 325-4991 for more information.

Admission to all the High Holiday Services is free of charge for members of Congregation Kona Beth Shalom. There are no tickets. Non-members who wish to attend are asked to make a contribution to help defray the costs of bringing the Rabbi to Kona. No one will be turned away for inability to contribute.

Rabbi Yossi Carron was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in May 2003. It was the second most extraordinary day of his life (the first being the birth of his daughter, Jenny, in 1986). He was born in Brooklyn, attended the High School of Performing Arts , graduated from Ithaca College and moved to California .

Rabbi Carron had a successful entertainment company in Los Angeles for 22 years, supplying music and entertainment for private events: weddings, charity dinner-dances, etc. He loved singing with the band and loved being a part of so many simchas. Music remains an integral part of Rabbi Carron’s life on and off the bimah.

In 1986, he adopted his daughter, Jenny, as a single father. In 1991, Rabbi Carron was asked to serve as the cantorial soloist for the High Holy Days for the newly formed Congregation Kol Ami. Once he began studying to prepare for this totally unexpected privilege, emotional and spiritual doors began to open. They were doors he did not know were even there. Five years later, on Jenny’s 11th birthday, they both left to live for two years in Jerusalem as he began to study to become a rabbi. He was ordained at Hebrew Union College-LA in 2003.

To paraphrase the rabbis, “You are not expected to complete the task, but you Are expected to try.” Life is full of possibilities, Just as WE are full of possibilities. Martin Buber teaches that revelation is an ongoing possibility. In Buber’s references to God and the teachings of Judaism there is a lesson for all of us: that no matter where we are or who we think we may be, when we open our eyes to the possibilities around and within us, miracles happen. Rabbi Carron believes in learning, in the inherent ability of us all to live kind and ethical lives.

Rabbi Carron, in addition to lecturing, teaching and leading services in Los Angeles and in communities around the United States, works within the Los Angeles County jails with Jewish prisoners, works with interfaith clergy groups and sits on the boards of “Friends Outside” and of the interfaith Clergy association at the Men’s Central Jail. Within the jails, he holds classes, leads services and works privately with the inmates on the teshuvah necessary for them to rebuild their lives and make some sense of their place in this world.

His classes and lectures in the greater Jewish community are infused with the excitement and responsibility we all are blessed to share through the teachings of our faith. Some of the areas that Rabbi Carron teaches include a 27 week Basic Judaism course for adults, classes and lectures on the meaning of our prayers (with an emphasis on how we might utilize these daily possibilities to enrich each day) and lectures and seminars on the possibilities within the ancient teachings of Judaism that have the power to infuse our modern lives with faith and joy and pride.

His daughter, Jenny, is a freshman at Boston University and is his greatest treasure.

In his teaching and in his life, he looks to the traditions within Judaism that teach, as Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel reminds us, that there is Awe and Creation in every day. Rabbi Carron is grateful to have been taught that “Im tirzu, enzo agadah.” “If you will it, it is not a dream.” And life will be an extraordinary adventure.

There will be additional events for us while Rabbi Carron is here, including discussion groups and educational programs. To receive up-to-date news of these and other events, be sure you’ve given us your e-mail address when you send in your Membership / Contribution Form. Also keep your eye on the West Hawaii Today KBS releases each Saturday and visit our website at www.konabethshalom.org.

SUNday, SEPTEMber 18, from 3 – 6 pm Pavilion #3, Old Airport Park

The KBS Annual Membership Meeting starts at 3 pm. Everyone is invited. We’ll consider how we want our Congregation to move along in the coming year and elect Trustees to our Board. If you have suggestions or if you are interested in joining our Board, call Joel Gimpel (325-4991) and be sure to come to the meeting. The KBS Board of Trustees Meeting follows when we finalize plans for Shabbat and the High Holidays. A potluck barbecue tops it all off.

Our present Board is shown below with the dates that the trustees’ terms expire. Terms are for three years. Nominations will be accepted at this meeting. The maximum number of Board members is eighteen (not including the immediate past president). So far, Vivienne Aronowitz and Marilyn Klein Anderson have been nominated for the positions that will be vacated.

* Term ending now and trustee standing for reelection. **Trustee resigning. ***Immediate past president.

Our Congregation is blessed with enormous wealth in the form of members who work hard to support our activities and also who care about their commitment to Judaism enough to choose to celebrate their Bar and Bat Mitzvot with us. This year’s Newsletter is somewhat abbreviated and does not display all the wonderful details of everyone’s activities, but it does include some of the most momentous occasions we have had the pleasure of celebrating.

Among the most significant and joyous events we can celebrate are the Bar and Bat Mitzvot of our children (and even of the adult members of our community). During this past year we celebrated with:

This program that takes advantage of visitors to Kona who are willing to share their talent, wisdom or experiences with us, continued this past year with four events on three occasions.

On December 1, 2004, pianist Rabbi Moshe Cotin offered his "Chronicles" Concert at the home of Leon Hyman & Alex Walter, including historical commentary and music beautifully performed.

On December 15, 2004, Morris Baker, our congregation’s first spiritual leader, spoke to us about the founding of Congregation Kona Beth Shalom. Immediately afterwards, Daniel Lasker, Professor of Jewish Studies at Ben Gurion University, spoke to us about Maimonides at the home of Erwin & Helen Myhre. This was on the occasion of the 800^th anniversary of Maimonides passing.

On June 21, 2005, Margit Buchhalter Feldman, Holocaust survivor and educator, spoke eloquently at the home of Erwin & Helen Myhre about her experiences growing up in a shtetl in

Hungary

. In concluding she asked us a powerful question: “Where was the rest of the world when the Holocaust was beginning and why didn’t anyone at least tell the Jews in Eastern Europe what was happening?” She then charged us with the responsibility to not be quiet when we see this occurring again, wherever and in whatever form it may reappear.

The WaKoBeS have done their usual good job for the year. Chanukah was wonderful. Passover was a success and we are now planning for the High Holidays.

We wish to thank the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Resort for their long-term commitment of support for our Congregation. Way back in 1985, it was at the original Keauhou Beach Hotel that we dedicated our precious Torah just after it arrived here from Westminster Synagogue in

England

where it was restored after having been discovered in a warehouse in Prague ,

Czechoslovakia

. Even before that, our congregation met at this wonderful local hotel, courtesy of their manager. After moving around to different locales during the 90s, we returned in January 2000 and have been happy to gather there ever since. Whenever visitors come to Kona, we never hesitate to encourage them to stay there. They are always guaranteed a warm local reception from the friendly staff and a comfortable stay.

We also want to thank the Calvary Community Church and Pastor David Rees-Thomas for their gracious offer of hospitality this year when we observe Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur. We commend them for observing the mitzvah of welcoming the stranger, in this case, us, into their holy sanctuary during this sacred time in our calendar.

Neil Soicher’s Waimea class met most Wednesdays between September and May 2005, usually with five to six students attending. Jacob Salzberg was the Bar Mitzvah from that class. The class met at the home of Sara & Charles Salzberg for the first half of the year, and at the home of Sharon & Tony Barrett for the second half. Classes resume on September 14 at the home of Sharon & Tony.

The class met through the spring of 2005 on Wednesday afternoons with prayer book Hebrew along with some modern vocabulary as the focus. In the fall of 2004, Harriet Lopez, Alice Bratton and Sandy Wexler spent time working on the blessing before the Torah reading for their aliyah at Shari Berman’s Bat Mitzvah. In the spring of 2005, loyal regular Harriet Lopez moved to the Mainland and classes went on hiatus for a while. Things picked up again in May with Sandy Wexler back in the group. In June, we decided to try coupling the class with a Jewish Studies group. On the first and third Saturday mornings of June we met at Sandy’s and followed basic Hebrew study at 9:30 am, with a discussion of the week’s Torah portion following at 10:30. Richard Chamberlain came all the way from the other side to join us. On June 18, David Weinberg, a Jewish studies professor from Wayne State University in Detroit , led us in discussion. In July, we moved to Shari Berman & Alice Bratton’s house and welcomed a dozen people, half adults and half children. Most recently, Yehudah Plaut led a discussion on “Why Jews Think the Way We Do.” The group plans to meet on convenient Saturdays in the future. We have created a Yahoo Groups site called KBSJewishStudies where you may look for relevant announcements. Go to “http://groups.yahoo.com/group/KBSJewishStudies/”. Shari Berman is coaching Marilyn Anderson on her Bat Mitzvah portion and welcomes other interested parties to join us for basic Hebrew reading and review on Thursday afternoons at 1 pm. Call Shari at 322-0659 for information on this and all other HATS activities.

In Memoriam

Jerry & Judy Rothstein. Jerry, a 1958 graduate in sociology from Brooklyn College , and Judy, a graduate of Smith College , moved to Hawaii in 1970. For the next 35 years they tirelessly served our island as “citizens doing citizens’ work.” At every event worthy of attendance, they were there together “doing” and thus giving of themselves. They had a unique and amazing ability to multiply their efforts by getting others involved, fighting the good fight. They were tireless in organizing and bringing others along; whether it was to stand up and testify at public hearings, to write that letter to the newspaper or congressman, to pick up trash along the highway, or to support the Library book drive. Along the way they raised two beautiful children, Natan, the Big Island ’s first Bar Mitzvah – now living in Israel , and Ann – who still lives in Hawaii . Jerry & Judy were founders of Congregation Kona Beth Shalom, were leaders of the New Thought Fellowship and were dear friends to those who knew them.

Ernest & Gearetta Wefelmeyer, two visitors to the Big Island from Minneapolis . We never met this senior couple but we mourn their passing and have faith that in their final resting place in Israel, their spirits will have met and come to make peace and friendship with Jerry & Judy Rothstein who passed in that same automobile collision.

Sarah Rosenberg. Sarah was the student body president at Kealakehe High School . She was an athlete. She was involved with the West Hawaii 4H organization since she was 7. An inspiration to her classmates, friends and family, Sarah had chosen to be an organ donor when she got her license and as a result, a man on Oahu in dire medical condition received Sarah's liver and has recovered from the transplant. A woman in Jacksonville received Sarah's kidneys. The Rosenberg family is establishing several scholarships in Sarah's name. “Sarah was happiest when she was helping people -- specifically children," Phil Rosenberg said. "We wanted everyone to know that what Sarah enjoyed doing, what she loved doing, was helping others and she will continue to do it."

Mildred Sigler. Beloved mother, grandmother and friend, Mildred passed away on ___ in ___ New York . Marrying her sweetheart Ed after he was discharged from the Army, they moved to upstate New York . After moving to Kona in the 1980s, the Siglers were active in our congregation for many years. The couple returned to New York State for several years and returned to Kona in 19__. When Ed became ill in 2001, Mildred was his strength and support. She maintained a positive outlook on life even after Ed’s passing and insisted on remaining here to enjoy her life with friends. Even after becoming ill herself and returning to New York for surgery, she came back to her beloved Kona. Earlier this year, Mildred returned to New York for the final time.

Leona Salzano. Jan Rae's mom, fondly called the "Dragon Lady," passed with Jan at her side on June 1, after a long illness. Leona, the first female mail handler employed by the U.S, Postal Service and a welder in the Brooklyn Navy Yard during World War II, had her name in many ships. Two of her recipes, "The Dragon Lady's Blintzes" and "The Dragon Lady's Rum Balls" appear in the New Millennium Edition of the KBS Shaloha Cookbook. Leona raised four successful daughters: Fran Irizarry, Jan Rae (Joel Gimpel), Karelle (Tony) Reitano, and Michelle Keappock. She is also survived by seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

May their memories always be a blessing

for their friends, their families, and for all of us.

We have more students now, young and older, and have celebrated more than a few Bar and Bat Mitzvot thanks to our educational programs. Bar/Bat Mitzvah means that individuals are making the public commitment to take upon themselves the obligations of being a Jew in the world; this is a powerful statement. Our community can take pride in their intentions.

We are growing into the northern reaches of our island. The North Hawaii Chavurah led by Vivienne Aronowitz just celebrated their one year anniversary. Friends and families who cannot easily come down to Kona gather in Waimea for education and fellowship regularly. Neil Soicher teaches the HATS program there. Our Simchat Torah celebrations in Waimea or Waikoloa bring together Jews from all around the island.

Once a month observance of Shabbat is not enough even in Kona as Sandy Wexler discovered. Now, Shari Berman & Alice Bratton are hosting the in-between Shabbat Chavurah get-togethers at their home.

More individuals are reading Torah, including Barbara Lewis, Aviva Plaut, Shari Berman, Yehudah Plaut and Neil Soicher. Maybe one reason for this is that Alan Pollak so cheerfully offers blessings to each and every aliyah. More individuals are leading services, including Judi Steinman & Paul Janes.

Our Shabbat musical accompaniment has grown with Yehudah Plaut adding his sweet guitar accompaniment to Joel Gimpel's virtuoso violin during our services.

Our Congregation’s outreach into our local communities is growing. Judi Steinman & Paul Janes have organized a regular program of donations to the Hawaii Island Food Bank. Paul has also been serving as one of Hilo Medical Center ’s chaplains, an experience that he is discovering is transforming his life. Kona’s Traveling Jewish Wedding Band has been representing our congregation at Kona’s Thanksgiving Eve Interfaith Worship Services. Barbara Lewis has been representing our congregation at the Memorial Day Service at the Veterans Cemetery . Josh Green was elected as Representative to Hawaii ’s State Legislature. Our website continues to grow, reaching out to the whole world, thanks to Yehuda Plaut.

Our growth has extended even to Portland, Oregon where earlier this year, our grandson Zachary Joseph Chaim was born to Michelle “Katie” Blum & Mike Puckett, and we are all so happily grateful and proud!

I cannot tell you how gratifying it is to me when I come to services and see “the regulars” who show up month after month helping to get things set up, bringing the books, the Aron HaKodesh, the Torah, the wine, the challah, the potlucks, and most of all, their shining spirits. If I mention just a few names, I might be accused of ignoring others so I beg your forgiveness if I missed someone, but I cannot hold back from thanking Aviva, Yehudah, Ma’ayan & Ben Plaut, Alan Pollak, Erwin & Helen Myhre, Michael Jakl, Ruth & Mike Bernstone, Joel Gimpel, Shari Berman & Alice Bratton, Judi Steinman & Paul Janes, as well as Ruth Ader, Ruth Glatt, Lorraine Highkin, Moshe Rapaport, Debera First, and Jan Rae. And I could not do a mere part of what I do without the assistance, support and love of my love and my wife, Gloria Blum.

With this growth we may be getting closer to the maturity we require for Congregation Kona Beth Shalom to have our own home. The logistics of running our services, our schools and simchas are becoming more complex. We will have to move ourselves in the middle of our High Holidays because NBC Broadcasting needs our space to cover the Ironman Triathlon. Even though the good people at the Keauhou Beach Hotel did inform us well in advance, this caused considerable stress as we searched for an alternative locale. The good news is that we rediscovered our good friends at the Calvary Community Church. They welcomed us into their sanctuary with wide open hearts. But is the mere desire for convenience enough to lead us to find a permanent home for our congregation? Could it be as lovely as the Keauhou Beach Hotel setting? Could it be as convenient? And are their enough of us to do all that is required to find, or build, run and maintain and financially support a place of our own? Soon, maybe soon.

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
						Oct 1
Oct 2 KBS Board Meeting	Oct 3 Rosh Hashana eve	Oct 4 Rosh Hashana	Oct 5	Oct 6	Oct 7 Tashlich Shabbat Shuvah	Oct 8
Oct 9	Oct 10	Oct 11	Oct 12 Kol Nidre	Oct 13 Yom Kippur	Oct 14	Oct 15
Oct 16 Build Sukkah	Oct 17	Oct 18	Oct 19	Oct 20	Oct 21	Oct 22
Oct 23 Sukkot	Oct 24	Oct 25	Oct 26	Oct 27	Oct 28	Oct 29 SimchatTorah
Oct 30	Oct 31