Shabbat Services this evening! Rabbi Raanan will lead tonight service starting at 6:30pm Please join us in person at JCM or on Zoom We look forward to seeing you!
At JCM, we join the rest of Maui's broken hearted and mourn along those who suffered immense loss as a result of the wildfires especially the devastion in Lahaina.
As part of the Maui Community, it is our kuleana to step up and support those in need and help them rebuild. Through the kindness of gracious donors who have responded to our outreach, we have the resources to provide food, clothing, water, shelter* counseling and funding*. If you or anyone you know have been greatly affected by the fires and need support please contact us at 808-874-5397 or email at admin@mauijews.org
Mahalo to our donors near and far. We can't thank you enough for the support you have provided to help the Maui Community. For anyone that would like to contribute and be a part of our cause, we are still accepting donations at the synagogue. They can be placed on the donation table between the hours of 10am-7pm daily. Other donations can be made through https://www.mauijews.org/payment.php Please make indicate in the notes section that the donation is for the Maui Fire Relief.
Maui, we stand strong with you!
"Our purpose as human being is to be of service to human beings"
Mahalo nui loa for your kokua
Re'eh: Healing by Giving
"If there is a needy person among you, one of your kin in any of your settlements in the land that your Lord the Eternal One is giving you, do not harden your heart and shut your hand against your needy kin. Rather, you must open your hand and lend whatever is sufficient to meet the need... For there will never cease to be needy ones in your land, which is why I command you: open your hand to the poor and needy kin in your land" Deut. 15:7-8, 11.
Nachmanides discusses how the last verse (Deut. 15:11) contradicts a previous verse (Deut. 15:4-5) that says: "...there shall be no destitute among you; rather, the Eternal will surely bless you in the Land that the Eternal, your G!d, will give you as an inheritance, to possess it, only if you will hearken to the voice of the Eternal to observe, to perform this entire commandment."
The traditional answer they give to the contradiction is that verse Deut. 15:4-5 applies when Israel does the will of the Eternal. Since the Eternal knew that the people would never fully adhere to all the commandments, then "destitute people will not cease to exist," they will all be present.
Both Nachmanides and our modern ear finds such a theology deeply problematic. Rabbi Harold Kushner addresses this in his book, When Bad Things Happen to Good People (1981). His main question is why, if the universe was created and is governed by a personal God who is of a good and loving nature, there is nonetheless so much suffering and pain in it, in other words the overall problem of evil. After experiencing the loss of his own son, Rabbi Kushner seeks to offer comfort to grieving people by answering problem by saying that the Lord does his best and is with people in their suffering, but is not fully able to prevent it.
But how does that equate with a theology of the Eternal being all powerful? The Eternal purposefully restricts His ability to prevent suffering and in exchange increases His ability to be present with those who suffer. We are therefore entrusted to step up and notice the needy among us. We are to open our hands and lend whatever is sufficient to meet the need.
At this time of the devastating fires here on Maui, this is a practice we are currently experiencing on an hourly basis. I am so impressed by how Jews from around the world came together to help raise funds for emergency supplies that we have delivered to the Maui War Memorial distribution center and the Blue Water Rafting company who re-purposed their boats from tourist excursions to do deliveries to Lahaina. By giving we are healing our community.
Shabbat Shalom.
B’nai B’rith Youth Organization (BBYO) a Jewish organization bringing teens together to build relationships through engaging activities, shared religious experiences, and social action is hosting an event. Please see below for more information
Mahalo nui loa to the members who have renewed their membership for 2023/2024 and those who have donated. We are very grateful for your support.
Memberships are a large part of what sustains The Jewish Congregation of Maui. Without it we would not be able to provide services especially on High Holidays or continue the Talmud Torah for the next generation.
To help you determine the best membership for you,the following are the different levels, dues and what it include: Single $600 1 vote Family $960 2 votes Associate No vote
In addition to renewing your membership, another great way to contribute is through Give Aloha! by Foodland which starts September. More details to follow as the program nears.
If you have any questions, please contact Kalo at kalo@mauijews.org
Mahalo nui loa to our friends from the Church of Latter Day Saints and Hana Lynn who've been watering our garden. We still need volunteers to give our humble little garden some TLC so that it can really flourish! Also give our volunteers a break. Let us know how you can help Mahalo!
If you don't give today, how can we be here tomorrow?
You may not need us every day, or even every week. But when you want us, you need us to be here.
Please give a gift to JCM. We rely solely on donations/memberships to pay our bills, our salaries, and programming. Your gift now will ensure that our dynamic leadership team has the resources we need to be here for you and your Maui Jewish community.
Give with joy, give with pride, give today.
P.S. We're not spending money and using resources to send out letters, this is our ask and our reminder to you that we do not exist without you.
Pictured are items that were left behind at the congregation. If any of these items are yours,please contact Kalo. Anything that is not claimed before the high holidays,will be donated to charity. Thank you.
It is time to renew your membership for 5784: 2023-2024
Please take a moment to reflect on the value of having a pluralistic, inclusive, community-centered synagogue on our little, remote island.
What does that even mean?
Support of the Jewish life of your choosing- without judgment
We don’t talk about levels of observance
No one is “more Jewish” than anyone else
All have equal access to the Torah and lifecycle events
Welcoming to all with a flexible dues plan
Preserving meaningful traditions and open to creating new ones
A voice in the direction your community is heading
Kabbalat Shabbat Services will lead by Rabbi Raanan starting at 6:30pm
Saturday, Aug 12th
Shabbat Morning Services are suspended until further notice
Sunday, Aug 13th
Israeli Folk Dance cancelled until further notice
Refuah Schleima- Prayer For Healing
Click Hereif you or a loved one would like to be added for a prayer for healing each week. No names will be read aloud without permission... names can be said privately by the rabbi.
JCM is here to support you and your loved ones, please let us know how we can help.
Important Information Regarding our Cemetery Due to recent incidents, we have received news from the staff at the Jewish Cemetery that for safety reasons, the stones or tz'rors placed on the headstones will be removed once a week during cleaning. We understand any concerns you may have. If you would like more information, please email admin@mauijews.com or call 808-874-5397. Thank you in advance for your understanding.
Yahrzeits Aug. 6 - 12
Arthur Pitkoff Betty Chess Carl Balfour Charles Rosoff Col. Laurence H. Goldberg Esther Lieberman Goldie Smilove Herman Holstein Kathryn Solomon Leah Franklin Cole Leland Tolliver Louis Rosenberg Martin Schwab Max Garaway Raymond Leibman Reggi Marder Sasha Licht Solomon Dutka
Join us for services on Friday to recite Mourner's Kaddish
The Jewish Congregation of Maui Beit Shalom Synagogue Kihei, HI 96753
The mission of the Jewish Congregation of Maui is to support and inspire Jewish religious and cultural practices for Maui residents and visitors, provide and encourage Jewish education and life cycle services, and engage the Jewish community with religious services, classes, and events.
