Welcoming Shabbat with Lecha Dodi in Maui, Hawaii

On November 8, Cantor Bryce Megdal of Los Angeles visited the Jewish Congregation of Maui/Beit Shalom Synagogue in Hawaii to lead a special Shabbat service followed by dinner under the stars.

Since September 2013, Cantor Megdal has been one of two B’nai Mitzvah teachers at Kehillat Israel (KI) Reconstructionist Synagogue of the Pacific Palisades. In May 2015, she received a Master’s Degree in Jewish Studies with an Emphasis in Music in Jewish Life from ARJCA, and in August 2015, she transferred into the Cantorial Program.  

The Jewish Congregation of Maui maintains a warm, friendly environment for all Jews, regardless of personal affiliation or observance level. As the only synagogue on this beautiful island, it is non-affiliated. Its doors are open for any Jew who wants to have a place to worship and connect with other Jews.

Beit Shalom has a kosher dairy kitchen, and is also a Shomer Shabbat facility. The sanctuary has both mixed and separate seating areas, with a mechitza available. The congregation welcomes visitors with a spirit of Aloha and does its best to ensure that everyone is comfortable and feels at home.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO IS NOT VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

Jewish and Arab Youth Unite in Music with Ukuleles for Peace

In 2004 Roy and Kathy Sakuma established Ukulele Festival Hawaii, a non-profit charitable organization whose mission is to bring laughter, love and hope to children and adults throughout Hawaii and the world through the music of the ukulele.

British-Israeli musician and ukulele teacher Paul Moore regularly performs for both Arab and Jewish kids, and it gave him an idea: to combine his love for the ukulele (a small and easy to learn four- string instrument) and his experience with children to create Ukuleles For Peace.

The goal of Ukuleles for Peace is to bring Jewish and Arab children together to play in an orchestra with ukuleles, kazoos and other fun instruments. Paul works with the students once a week in their own schools, and then brings them together for performances. The children sing in Hebrew, Arabic and English. The hope is that playing together will create further opportunities for communal activities, and that parents and members of the communities will get involved in the program.

In 2015 Paul and his wife Daphna Orion brought a Ukuleles for Peace group of 12 Jewish and Arab teenagers from the towns of Hod Hasharon and Tira all the way to Hawaii to participate in the 45th annual Ukulele Festival.

Here is a Hawaii TV report about the group's participation in the festival followed by the complete 18 minute performance of Ukuleles for Peace in Hawaii.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.