Chabad of Hawaii blog

Rabbis visit Guam's Jewish community

2008-08-04T14:05:00.002-10:00

The Guam Jewish community is receiving a visit from two rabbis.

Visiting rabbis: Rabbi Shmulie Hecht, left, and Rabbi Dave Loksen at the Pacific Islands Club Resort garden on July 31.">

Visiting rabbis: Rabbi Shmulie Hecht, left, and Rabbi David Loksen at the Pacific Islands Club Resort garden on July 31. (Vuong Duong/For Pacific Daily News)

Rabbi David Loksen and Rabbi Shmulie Hecht, of the Brooklyn, New York-based Chabad Lubavitch Jewish Community Enrichment Program, are currently volunteers with Chabad Hawaii, which sponsored their visit to the island.

Rabbi Loksen said the goal of the organization is to reach out to Jewish communities across the globe.

"Following World War II, (Jewish people) scattered all over the world," said Loksen. "It is the mission of the Lubavitch to reach out to them and bring them back into the faith."

The rabbis arrived July 22 and will be leaving Aug. 12.

Loksen said the rabbis have been doing house visits so far.

"We've been putting up mezuzahs, what you call a 'Jewish security system,'" he said.

A mezuzah is a scroll placed on the door frame of a home containing verses from the Old Testament. The article serves as a reminder of the lamb's blood Jews in ancient Egypt used to mark their doors for protection.

"We go to homes and teach them about Jewish heritage, about the Torah," said Loksen. "We answer any concerns they may have as Jews."

"There's been a lot of discussion, a lot of shmoozing," said Hecht.

The rabbis held a Sabbath service Friday at the Pacific Islands Club Resort.

Dr. Joel Joseph, a Jewish community leader on Guam, said there are currently no rabbis on island to tend to the needs of the Jewish community.

"Hopefully, we're going to have a naming ceremony or two," said Joseph, who said the ceremonies entail religious services relating to newborn children.

With no resident rabbis on island, Joseph said he's acted as a community stand-in since his arrival.

"There was a funeral, unfortunately, not long after I arrived on island," said Joseph. "No one knew the prayers, but I did, since I attended religious school."

Hecht said it is possible the Lubavitch may assign a permanent rabbi to Guam, "depending on the needs of the community."

Shabbat in Guam!

2008-07-30T22:37:00.001-10:00

Shabbat Services & Kiddush

Please join us for an evening filled with prayer and song as we welcome in the Holy Shabbat. Experience the warm Shabbat atmosphere with inspiring services and educational Torah discussions followed by a traditional Kiddush ceremony.

Friday 1st of August 6:15pm at the P.I.C Hotel room 2643

Special thanks to Bart Jackson for the hospitality.
Project of Chabad of Hawaii 808-735-8161

Chabad going to Guam!

2008-07-22T08:57:00.003-10:00

Chabad , a (non profit) orthodox Jewish organization, opened its doors in Hawaii in 1987. For over 20 years, Chabad of Hawaii has been meeting the needs of Hawaii’s Jews with Sabbath and Holiday services and meals, child and adult education, emergency financial aid, burials, hospital visits, counseling and much more. They now extend their reach further than ever out into the Pacific.

For the first time ever the Jewish Community of Guam will have a Rabbi to attend to their religious needs. From mid July 2008 until mid August 2008, Chabad of Hawaii will be sponsoring two young, ordained, Rabbis from Brooklyn, NY, who will provide Guam’s Jewish Community with Shabbat (Religious) Services, Children’s Programs, one on one torah study sessions, Kaballa Courses and much, much, more. Rabbis Loksen and Hecht look forward to serving Jews from both the civilian and military communities. Their landmark visit to Guam follows closely on the heels of the recent Rabbi Shmulick Schneerson (another young rabbinical student interning at Chabad of Hawaii for the 2007-2008 year) to the Jewish Community on Kwajalein Atoll.

Annual hike in memory of Daniel Levey, ob"m

2008-06-30T00:52:00.007-10:00

Camp Gan Israel - Hawaii......Nature Walk & Outing in Kahalu'u!

2008-06-24T21:53:00.004-10:00

Visiting rabbi seeks out world's far corners

2008-06-24T00:17:00.003-10:00

Rabbi Shmulik Schneerson (at right), a visiting emissary for the Chabad Lubavitch in New York, has just wrapped a black leather strap called the "tefillin" around the arm of a man (at left with his son) at the recent Israeli Day Festival. A special prayer, handwritten on parchment, is placed within the tefillin, which Orthodox Jewish men put on every day.
‘Have Torah, will travel’
A young rabbi visiting Hawaii has seen the world’s remote corners as he seeks out Jews
By Pat Gee
pgee@starbulletin.com

When Rabbi Shmulik Schneerson takes his Torah on the road, there's no place he won't go to minister to Jews.

"Every one is precious," said Schneerson, whose dictum could be "Have Torah, will travel." His job is ministering to Jews no matter where or what their station in life, he said.

For the last several months, Schneerson has been on loan to Chabad of Hawaii by Chabad Lubavitch, its New York parent organization. The rabbi has been ministering to Jews on the neighbor islands and, before leaving Hawaii last week, spent five days with 18 Jews on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. He was the first rabbi to do so in more than 10 years.

Chabad Lubavitch is a worldwide Orthodox Jewish organization that follows the strict commandments of the Torah, or first five books of the Old Testament.

In line with its mission to send "the first pioneers to go to the ends of the earth," he has journeyed to "little corners" like Tasmania or Ukraine to see just two or three elderly Jews, he said. Only 23, he has visited all but one continent since he was 18.

"I get an amazing feeling when a Jew first sees me and looks at you like you fell off the roof. He says to me, What are you doing here? And we tell him, We came to visit you. 'Wow!' is their reaction," said Schneerson, who wears a traditional beard, hat and fringed garment (tzitzit).

Everywhere he goes, "I find people always thirsting" for a visit from a rabbi - "someone to talk to" about their spiritual needs, he said. "They are all so happy to see me."

He usually performs Jewish blessing rituals and helps celebrate High Holy Days.

"The Jewish nation is compared to a body. One part of the body cannot function on its own - the heart cannot function without the head. We need every single person. We have to look after each other no matter what, no matter where they are. ... Every one is precious," he said.

Schneerson said he is carrying on the mission as Rabbi Itchel Krasnjansky and his wife, Pearl, did when they founded the Chabad of Hawaii 20 years ago. The couple sacrificed their close-knit Jewish community and all the conveniences of kosher stores, schools and temples in New York to come here, when Hawaii was considered a remote outpost, he said.

"They came to stay and knew they had to work through everything and all the problems. They couldn't leave if things didn't work out. They didn't give themselves the option of failure, only success," he said, adding, "I don't know if I could've handled that."

Pearl Krasnjansky said moving from an "insular, urban Jewish community" to the islands was "definitely culture shock" to the couple with two toddlers.

"We were the only Chasidic (Ultra-Orthodox) Jews on the island," she said.

The "plus side" was that the "people here are much more wonderful, kind and accepting," she added.

Krasnjansky does not share her husband's title of rabbi, but she has been an intrinsic part of helping him create a community for Orthodox Jews.

"We built it (Chabad) from the ground up. We held services in our home" in the beginning, attended by a handful of Jews. "But in all that doing I found myself enriched as a person. I found a purpose, a calling. ...

"When I see young children grow in their pride and knowledge of their (spiritual) identity, this is my fulfillment," she said.

She has taught their seven children and others seeking a spiritual/secular education, run the Sunday school and cooked often hard-to-find kosher food for holidays in her own kitchen.

The "monumental task" of building the Jewish community was inflated by financial struggles and the loneliness of being far from family and friends, she said. Today people can keep in touch more easily via the Internet and free or cheap long-distance calls. Back then "we nourished and cherished every call from family," she recalled.

Daniel Levey Chabad Hebrew school trip to New York 2008

2008-06-03T23:24:00.001-10:00

Chabad at Yom Ha'atzmaut 2008

2008-05-04T22:38:00.006-10:00

Speech given by one of the Bochurim!

Kashering for Pesach

2008-04-29T19:43:00.002-10:00

First Ever Tanya Printing in Kauai-Hawaii

2008-04-13T11:58:00.002-10:00

Shliach in Kauai - Hawaii Rabbi Michoel Goldman and Dovid with Baal Battim

Chabad Hebrew Sunday School outing to the North Shore

2008-03-30T19:06:00.005-10:00

This Sunday The Chabad Hebrew School went on an outing to the North Shore for some surfing lessons from the "Surfing Rabbi". Then they went to David Weisfelds house for a game of American and some European Soccer.

What a catch

The Surfing Rabbi

Explaining the play

Defensive strategy

Purim Hilo - Honolulu

2008-03-28T00:37:00.005-10:00

Bob and the Fischers

The Bochurim

Purim Feast

Megilah Reading

Mendy speaking about Purim to the Jews of Hilo

The balloon man

Purim in the Kona - Big Island 2008

2008-03-28T00:13:00.007-10:00

Lecture on purim

WOW what a smile

Shana Tova

2007-09-19T11:41:00.000-10:00

Wishing the community a Shana Tova U'metuka
A happy and sweet new year.

gimmel tammuz farbrengen

2007-06-12T15:06:00.001-10:00

Shavuot in Hawaii

2007-05-19T23:36:00.001-10:00

click to see full size

Lag Ba'omer and Israeli day

2007-05-07T11:17:00.000-10:00

Yom Ha'Atzmaut and Lag b'Omer celebration held at Skygate Park. The event featured live music, entertainment, food, booths, arts and crafts in celebration of Israel's 59 years of independence. Chabad particapated with a few booths which included kosher food, arts-and-crafts and teffilin booths.

pre-purim activities!!

2007-03-11T18:55:00.000-10:00

2007-01-30T12:15:00.000-10:00

Chabad of Hawaii is action packed with activities, programs, gatherings, celebrations! See it all through our pictures!

Our program's depend on you, and your support! Please click on the following link to make a donation to Chabad of Hawaii today, and help us, continue to do our vital work!

DONATE TODAY!

2007-01-30T12:11:00.001-10:00

Wedding of the Year!

2007-01-30T12:11:00.000-10:00

2007-01-30T12:10:00.000-10:00

2007-01-30T12:08:00.000-10:00

2007-01-30T12:07:00.000-10:00

"Joy breaks all boundries!"

2007-01-30T12:06:00.000-10:00

Malaveh Malkah, Deep discussions, laughter, bonding and fun!

2007-01-30T12:04:00.000-10:00

Malaveh Malkah- Saturday Night Gathering @ Chabad

2007-01-30T12:03:00.000-10:00

FAMILY SPIRIT AT CHABAD!

2007-01-30T11:59:00.000-10:00

2007-01-30T11:58:00.000-10:00

YUDI'S DELI www.oahukosher.com

2007-01-30T11:57:00.000-10:00

Creative Learning @ DLCHS!

2007-01-30T11:55:00.000-10:00

An education like nowhere else!

2007-01-30T11:53:00.001-10:00

Happy Birthday to Max Balter!

2007-01-30T11:53:00.000-10:00

January @ Chabad!

2007-01-30T11:51:00.000-10:00

THE FRUIT OF OUR TREES!

2007-01-30T11:48:00.000-10:00

Daniel Levey Chabad Hebrew School- THE PLACE TO BE!

2007-01-30T11:46:00.000-10:00

Planting Pineapples!

2007-01-30T11:45:00.000-10:00

Trip to the Dole Plantation

2007-01-30T11:43:00.000-10:00

Hawai'i- Hashems beautiful creations!

2007-01-30T11:41:00.000-10:00

Daniel Levey Chabad Hebrew School Hike

2007-01-29T10:50:00.000-10:00

A commemorative hike up the trail in the Ko'olau Mts.,
to the "Daniel Levey Bench"
in loving memory of Daniel Cassen Levey,
in honor of Tu B'Shvat.

2007-01-29T10:49:00.000-10:00

Moshe (Matthew) Reese's Barmitzvah, Shabbos Parshat Shemot 5767

2007-01-29T10:31:00.000-10:00

The proud family!

2007-01-29T10:29:00.000-10:00

2007-01-29T10:28:00.000-10:00

it's going to be the little kinderlach...

2007-01-29T10:26:00.000-10:00

"Let the prayers ascend on High"

2007-01-29T10:24:00.000-10:00

Thursday Morning Shacharit Prayers

2007-01-29T10:23:00.000-10:00

GIANT BALLOON MENORAH- OVER TEN FEET TALL!

2007-01-09T17:24:00.000-10:00

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN HAWAII

in honor of our 20th year serving the Jewish community in Hawaii

GIANT BALLOON MENORAH DISPLAY!

Chabad hits the Big Island! Chanukah 2006!

2007-01-08T10:40:00.000-10:00

2007-01-08T10:39:00.000-10:00

WINTER DAY CAMP!

2007-01-08T10:35:00.000-10:00

Gan Yisroel of Hawaii- The greatest Jewish experience Hawaii has to offer!
Winter Fun N' Learn Program
Grand trip to Hawaii's Water Park!
Stay tuned with the latest from Chabad of Hawaii
to find out about more Chabad has to offer for your kids!

2007-01-08T10:32:00.000-10:00

Daniel Levey Chabad Hebrew School

2007-01-04T13:37:00.000-10:00

Hawaii Chanukah Celebrations!

2007-01-04T13:35:00.000-10:00

Chabad of Hawaii wishes you a Happy Chanukah!

2007-01-04T13:34:00.000-10:00

Chanukah on Kauai

2007-01-04T13:33:00.000-10:00

Daniel Levey Chabad Hebrew School performs @ the Grand Chanukah Party

2007-01-04T13:32:00.000-10:00

CHABAD OF HAWAII'S PUBLIC MENORAH LIGHTING!

2007-01-04T13:31:00.000-10:00

Been and Seen - Grand Public Menorah Lighting

2007-01-04T13:28:00.000-10:00

The Honorable Governor Linda Lingle

2007-01-04T13:27:00.000-10:00

The Honorable Governor Linda Lingle & Yudi

The Honorable Governor Linda Lingle & Mendy

The Honorable Governor Linda Lingle & Avremi

The Honorable Governor Linda Lingle lighting
the Menorah with Avremel

Giant Balloon Menorah!

2007-01-04T13:24:00.000-10:00

The Honorable Governor Linda Lingle

2007-01-04T13:21:00.000-10:00

THE TEACHERS
Chana Rivky and Doba

Much beloved Karen and Tzipporah

Chanukah Ice Skating Fun

2007-01-04T13:18:00.000-10:00

THE "ZAL"

2007-01-04T13:14:00.000-10:00

meet the family

2007-01-04T13:13:00.000-10:00

Chanukah Menorah's Light Up State Airports!

2007-01-03T16:15:00.001-10:00

Governor Linda Lingle’s Inauguration

2007-01-03T16:15:00.000-10:00

2007-01-03T16:14:00.000-10:00

2007-01-03T16:12:00.000-10:00

Day Scool- creative talents!

2007-01-03T16:11:00.000-10:00

Day Scool- Learn it! Love it! Live it!

2007-01-03T16:10:00.000-10:00

Around the Chabad House

2007-01-03T16:08:00.000-10:00

It's the smiles that say it all!

2007-01-03T16:06:00.000-10:00

JHH @ work!

2007-01-03T16:05:00.000-10:00

Daniel Levey Chabad Hebrew School- a true Jewish education

2007-01-03T16:04:00.000-10:00

Latkes! Hot Latkes! DLCHS gets a real taste of Channukah!

2007-01-03T16:03:00.000-10:00

Chanukah preperations at DLCHS!

2007-01-03T16:01:00.000-10:00

Junior Hebrew High

2007-01-03T15:59:00.000-10:00

Concentrating hard!

Learning is fun!

Ben learns the script for his star part in the play!

Hebrew School Pics Dec 2006

2007-01-03T15:58:00.000-10:00

Chabad in Kauai NOV 2006

2007-01-03T15:56:00.000-10:00

Junior Hebrew High @ work

2006-11-20T10:38:00.000-10:00

Acting out Story of Moshe in Hebrew School

2006-11-20T10:35:00.001-10:00

Challah Baking

2006-11-20T10:35:00.000-10:00

2006-11-20T10:34:00.000-10:00

Potato Kugel, deserts, challah and more

2006-11-20T10:31:00.001-10:00

cooking for shabbos

2006-11-20T10:31:00.000-10:00

"Kids make shabbos"

2006-11-20T10:30:00.000-10:00

Around the office

2006-11-20T10:29:00.000-10:00

Chabad goes to Kuai Nov 06

2006-11-20T10:10:00.000-10:00

2006-11-20T10:04:00.000-10:00

Meet The Boys

2006-11-13T19:13:00.000-10:00

What's up @ Chabad!

2006-11-02T16:42:00.000-10:00

Brit of Evgenya and Aaron newborn son- Reuven Yosef

2006-11-02T16:28:00.000-10:00

A BIG MAZAL TOV!

Sukkot in Hawaii

2006-11-02T16:27:00.000-10:00

More Sukkos Pictures

2006-11-02T16:26:00.000-10:00

2006-11-02T16:22:00.000-10:00

2006-11-02T16:21:00.000-10:00

2006-11-02T16:20:00.000-10:00

2006-11-02T16:17:00.000-10:00

Pizza In The Hut

2006-10-23T17:07:00.000-10:00

Pizza in the Hut was an amazing success, and everyone had a fantastic time. The children made their own Pizza and crafts under the Sukkah roof! They enjoyed musical entertainment from Averemel Chazanov who wowed all the kids with his musical talent on the electric guitar! The Junior Hebrew High division ended the day with a grand bowling trip- it was truly a sukkah celebration to remember!