This page gets regular updates

 

Learn more about Jewish life in Hawaii. If you have something that may be of interest for this page please send an email to admin@jcs-hi.org.

LEARNING ABOUT THE JEWISH COMMUNITY IN HAWAII

Hawaii Jewish Needs Assessment 2021

Jewish Community Services is proud to present the 2021 Hawaii Jewish Needs Assessment for your reading pleasure. The survey came about in 2020 when the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation and JCS developed a partnership to gather current information about Jewish life and community needs for the State of Hawaii. Click here to download the full survey.

Community Mapping Report

Jewish Community Services and the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation have determined that a Needs Assessment Study needs to be performed to get a clear understanding of the current needs and priorities of our members. This is particularly important since our demographics have changed and the world population is adjusting to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Jewish Community Services organization has volunteered to undertake a Community Mapping exercise to develop preliminary data to be used by a consultant as the basis for their study. 

To read the full report please click here: JCS COMMUNITY MAPPING REPORT

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Social Gatherings by Jewish in Hawaii

Jewish in Hawaii is funded by JCS and aims to bring together Hawaii Jews regardless of temple affiliation, religiosity, age, or location. Join the email list at Jewishinhawaii@gmail.com and the facebook group at  https://www.facebook.com/groups/jewishinhawaii to hear about the upcoming events.

 

 

Jewy Hui

A community of Jews ages 22-40 living on O'ahu, gathering socially and creating community. Sign up for the newsletter for event announcements HERE and also make sure to follow on Instagram HERE

For more info visit Jewy Hui Online

ARTS and CULTURE

 

JBS-Jewish Broadcasting Service

JBS is a full-time nonprofit Jewish television network available on Spectrum CH 411, DIRECTV CH 388 and on the streaming services of Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and ROKU, as well as www.jbstv.org. Programming includes daily news from Israel and the JBS news desk, timely interviews and analyses on issues facing Jews in America and Israel, children’s programs, 92nd Street Y interviews, Jewish studies, Hebrew lessons, Jewish music, movies & books; national Jewish conferences; live Friday evening, Shabbat morning and holiday services.

CLICK HERE FOR INFO

 

 

 

Temple Emanu-El Levinson-Krupp Memorial Library

Come Visit Our Library 

The Temple Emanu-El Levinson-Krupp Memorial Library is open to the community, member and non-member alike. Those coming to a Temple event are also welcome to visit the Library and check out books using the sign-out sheet on the desk.  The Library is a wonderful resource for all ages so come and visit!

Hours: Mondays and Thursday 9:00am - 12noon.

Location: Temple Emanu-El, 2550 Pali Highway, Honolulu, HI 96817

 

 

Hawaii Jewish Film Festival

Tradition is a lifeline in Judaism. HJFF continues our tradition of presenting excellence in Jewish cinema, sharing Jewish life, culture, history and art with the greater Honolulu Community. We show world-class current films include dramas, documentaries, comedies, and animation. 

Along with these exceptional movies, the audience’s experience will be enhanced by expert speakers who provide background information on several films. 

HJFF honors the memory of Kirk Cashmere, a civil rights lawyer, influential in the passage of some of Hawaii’s most courageous and compassionate laws. Kirk was also a film aficionado, who envisioned bringing top-caliber films with Jewish content to our island home.

Please contact us through our website for information or film submissions at: honolulujewishfilmfest.org  or www.shaloha.com

 

Sherele Klezmer Band of Hawaii

Sherele is a quartet of musicians on Oahu who play klezmer music, the Jewish traditional music that has its origins among the Ashkenazi Jews of Central and Eastern Europe. The word klezmer is a Yiddish contraction of the Hebrew words for instrument (kley) and song (zemer). This very expressive style of music can be either slow and soulful or fast and exuberant, and is often played at Jewish weddings and other festive events. The musicians in Sherele are Lisa Gomes, (violin), Norm Foster (clarinet), Anita Trubitt (accordion), and Marcia Kemble (percussion). The band’s name means “little sher,” and is taken from an Eastern European Jewish tune and dance form of the same name.​

CLICK HERE for more information.

FOOD and BEVERAGE

Tali's Bagels & Schmear – New York-Style Bagels

Saturdays, Kakaako Farmers Market 8am-noon

Sundays, Kailua Farmers Market (Keolu Drive) 8am-noon

Wednesdays, Harbor Court (3rd floor) 7am-11am

 Ph: (516) 732-5390 | Instagram: @talisbagels 

 

Aloha Lani - Kosher Restaurant

Aloha Lani - Hawaii's only Kosher Restaurant - Israeli and American Cuisine

Click here for more information

Chabad of Hawaii - Ground Floor 2241 Kapiolani Blvd. Honolulu HI 96826

Call or email for hours, reservations and orders.

Email: alohalanikosher@gmail.com Phone: (808) 799-2533

 

Oahu Kosher

Oahu Kosher provides fresh, made to order food to your home or hotel anywhere on Oahu Sunday through Friday.

We deliver to all neighboring Hawaiian Islands fresh kosher meals via refrigerated cargo. 

Oahu Kosher is under the supervision of Orthodox Chef Yudi Weinbaum, serving Kosher to all of Hawaii since 2006.

We specialize in Glatt Kosher catering ranging from parties, weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and all your other needs.

We make fresh challah every Friday by advance order.

We import from Los Angles once a month kosher beef, chicken, as well as other requests rugelach, or babka etc. 

Office Hours: Sunday – Thursday 10am – 4:00pm (Hawaii Standard Time) Ph: (808) 888-4949 Email: info@oahukosher.com

 

Tamura’s Fine Wines and Liquors – Offering Kosher wines

3496 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu 96816 Ph: (808) 735-7100 www.tamurasfinewines.com          

 

Whole Foods Market at Kahala Mall – Offering Kosher wines

4211 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu 96816 Ph: (808) 738-0820 www.wholefoodsmarket.com

 

Safeway - S. Beretania St – Offering packaged Kosher and Jewish style food

1234 S. Beretania St, Honolulu 96814 Ph: (808) 535-1780 https://local.safeway.com/safeway/hi/honolulu/1234-s-beretania-st.html

 

Maui Kosher Farm – A Kosher Farm on Maui dedicated to creating a Kosher Farm Oasis

Rabbi Mendel & Chani Zirkind

Maui Kosher Farm P.O. Box 1545 Wailuku, HI Ph: (917) 440-2632 www.mauikosherfarm.com

 

Shaloha – Offering pita sandwiches, pita plates and catering.

Shaloha 3133 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu HI 96816 Ph: (808) 744-4222 https://www.shaloha4u.com

 

Veganista HI – Handcrafted Vegan Delights.

Veganista HI is a catering service that provides high quality plant based (vegan) food and baked goods for Oahu. We love supporting and providing, Jewish and Israeli Middle Eastern food to the local community and visitors on the island. Our catering service can support parties up to 50 people. Events and occasions that we support include but are not limited too small weddings, bar/bat mitzva’s, brit’s, anniversaries, Shabbat/holidays and much more!

A majority of our food revolves around several cuisines, such as, health food, Middle Eastern dishes, Indian food dishes and innovative Asian dishes. In addition, we make Challah breads, Babkas and many other baked goods. Many items are available to preorder at any time.
Please check out our website for more information or contact Tal at:  Phone number: (808) 633-0616   Email: veganistahi@gmail.com  Website: www.veganistahi.com
Instagram: @veganista_hi  Facebook: @veganistaHI
 

HELP HOTLINE

For 24 hour crisis support please call 988

 

Jewish Community Services of Hawaii

(808) 258-7121

admin@jcs-hi

 

Aloha United Way  2-1-1

2-1-1 is a confidential, toll-free help hotline for anyone in Hawaii in need of help. With 2-1-1, you can easily find information and referrals on everything from crisis intervention and counseling to job training, educational programs and child care.

ONLINE DATABASE - Visit www.auw211.org

Specialists search a database of over 4,000 government and nonprofit services and programs to find the answers you need, from basic needs (food, shelter, clothing), childcare, elderly care, disability services and more!.

HOURS OF OPERATION Monday – Friday from 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Phone: (808) 543-2262  Fax: (808) 599-7712  Email: info211@auw.org

The service is confidential, toll-free, statewide and multilingual assistance is available.

MAILING ADDRESS

Aloha United Way 2-1-1, Att: 2-1-1 Program Assistant

200 N. Vineyard Blvd. Suite 700 Honolulu, HI 96817

JUDAICA PRODUCT SHOPPING

Chai Boutique - Temple Emanu-El Sisterhood Honolulu

An all volunteer non-profit Judaica store with all proceeds supporting the School of Jewish Studies at Temple Emanu-El Honolulu. A large variety of Judaica products including many handmade Hawaii local themed items. Order online at https://www.hawaiijudaica.com/ and pickup on Sundays from 9:30-12:30 or Mondays and Thursdays 9:30-11:30. Mailing available. Gift wrapping and a personal message added at no additional charge. *Annual Fall SJS Fundraiser Sale each November

JEWISH EDUCATION

School of Jewish Studies at Temple Emanu-El

Shaloha and welcome to the School of Jewish Studies! Our PreK-12th grade youth program promotes an education that will inspire our children to become committed Jewish adults. Our educational process includes classroom time, holiday programming, speakers, family activities, adult education and more. Parents are encouraged to become involved and participate in our religious school groups, both through classroom family activities and our religious school Parent Hui.

 

Kinder-7th grade classes are conducted on Sundays from 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM as well as Wednesday afternoons from 4:30-6:00 PM (grades 5+). View our 2021 Fall SJS Calendar here. SJS Fall registration is available now by following this link: https://www.shaloha.com/form/sjs-registration-fall2021.html Pre-Kindergarten programs (ages 0-5) occur 1x per month from 10 AM to 11 AM. View our Nevatim Fall 2021 Calendar here. If you have any general questions or need financial assistance, please contact our Education Director, Rachel Garcia, at sjs@shaloha.com.

RESOURCES FOR JEWISH PARENTS

Alexander Ben Abraham Singer Scholarship

Applications for the Alexander Ben Abraham Singer Scholarship are now available. The purpose of the scholarship is to financially assist Hawai`i’s Jewish youth to experience a Jewish camp in the U.S. Mainland or in Israel, or to travel to Israel for an educational program.  Applicants must be between the ages of 12 to 18 and/or not yet a high school graduate. Priority will be given to first time Singer Scholarship applicants. In addition, applications from those individuals who have graduated high school and are applying to the Birthright Israel Program will be considered. Please use this link to download the application. It can be completed on screen and emailed or by printing and completed by hand.

 

 

The Michael & Anita Siegel One Happy Camper Fund

JFNA is delighted to announce that, thanks to the generosity of The Michael and Anita Siegal One Happy Camper Fund, limited $1,000 incentive grants are available. Any Jewish child who would like to have a first-time experience at a Jewish overnight camp and who lives in a community that is part of JFNA’s Network of Independent Communities is eligible to apply.

To apply online for the One Happy Camper grant, click here. For a printed application, click here and follow the instructions on the application. These grants are first come, first served. Families must apply by Friday, March 12, 2021 to be considered. Applicants will be notified by Friday, April 2, 2021, if they have been awarded one of these grants. This is an incredible opportunity and we hope you will spread the word in your community.

To learn more about the One Happy Camper first-time incentive scholarship initiative of the Foundation for Jewish Camp or explore the numerous Jewish camp possibilities for children, click here.

If you have questions regarding the One Happy Camper grant application process for Network communities, please contact Edward Finkel, JFNA Network Regional Director, at (212) 284-6530 or by e-mail at edward.finkel@jfna.org.
 

WELCOME SERVICES

Jewish Welcome Wagon - for new jews to Hawaii

call JCS at (808) 258-7121 

Please call (808) 258-7121 for information on Jewish life in Hawaii. We serve as a contact for new arrivals to the Hawaii Jewish Community and welcome inquiries from the mainland for an explanation of Jewish life here.

JEWISH BURIAL SERVICES & CEMETERIES

Abraham’s Garden

Jewish Cemetery located in Hawaiian Memorial Park in Kaneohe on Oahu. 

For inquiries please contact Donald Armstrong, Sole Owner & Manager of Abraham's Garden LLC: Email: darmstrongpers@aol.com or Phone: (808) 294-3082 (cell) or (808) 263-1130 (home).

Chevra Kadisha Kavod

The Chevra Kadisha Kavod is able to perform the taharah ritual in the Oahu Jewish community and provide an opportunity for all interested members of Oahu Jewish community to perform the mitzvah of taharah. Act as a resource for the Oahu Jewish community for education about the rituals and traditions related to dying, death, and funerals.

Chevra Kadisha Kavod is available to individuals, schools, congregational committees and other community groups. Chevra Kadisha Kavod is a volunteer organization working in consultation with the Reform, Conservative, Military, and Unaffiliated communities of Oahu

For more information contact: Alice Wahl Lachman Email: alachman@hawaii.edu Phone: 808-941-7062

Kauai Jewish Memorial Garden

The Kauai Jewish Cemetary is officially called "Kauai Jewish Memorial Garden" with over 150 plots avaialble for Jewish burial open to all Jews. It is operated by an independent non-profit and can provide a full service including Chevra Kadisha.

For more information contact: Rabbi Michoel Goldman Email: info@kjmg.org

ADULT EDUCATION - JEWISH PERSPECTIVES

 

A GUIDE FOR JEWISH RITUAL WISHES AT END OF LIFE

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE GUIDE

For More Information www.Jewish-Funerals.org, the website of Kavod v’Nichum (Honor and Comfort), offers a library of information, and online training, to further the organization’s mission of supporting Jewish community-based funeral, burial and mourning practices. www.GreenBurialCouncil.org, the website of the Green Burial Council, lists cemeteries offering natural approaches.