LIHUE, Hawaii (PRWEB) September 25, 2019
A new Torah scroll from Israel will be dedicated by the Jewish Community of Kauai (JCK) on October 5, 2019, with the participation of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. For the past thirty years, a partnership has existed between both faith communities.
The dedication will take place upon the celebration of Shabbat Shuvah, during the annual Jewish High Holiday observance. Officiating will be visiting High Holidays Rabbi Aryeh Azriel, of Omaha Nebraska, and recently ordained Kauai Rabbi Rob Kvidt. The Reverend Andrew McMullen of St. Michael’s will also participate. Members of the community, including Father Andrew, will be invited to complete the last letters on the parchment with the support of Rabbi Aryeh and Rabbi Rob.
“It is a privilege to be at St. Michael’s, one of Kauai’s most venerated and sacred houses of prayer. The Ark will become a permanent Jewish presence here, weaving a new thread into the history of Kauai,” said Carol Pescaia, JCK Board co-president.
For the past thirty years, the Jewish Community of Kauai, a progressive, liberal community, that may soon be affiliated with the Union of Reform Judaism, has held services for Shabbat and Jewish holidays at St. Michael’s. Through a generous gift received from the Mary S. Lovell Trust, the community was able to have written a beautiful new Torah.
The hand-made Kauwila wood Ark, which contains the Torah, will for the first time officially be part of the church sanctuary. The Torah arrived on Kauai from Israel in August 2018, and it has been an incredible multi-year journey. It consists of 304,805 hand-written letters on 65 pages of parchment. The Torah is the sacred text of the Jewish people containing the Five Books of Moses which are highly esteemed by both Christians and Jews.
Rabbi Rob Kvidt said, “This is a dramatic, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to complete the unique Torah, which includes hand-made wooden scrolls (Eitz Chaim) that were inlaid with Koa wood from Kauai. These were a gift to the community, as was a beautiful hand-embroidered tree of life cover.”
Father Andrew McMullen commented,, "St. Michael’s is a community of faith based upon love, compassion, relationship and service to others. We fully embrace the Jewish Community as one of our own as we honor the roots and traditions of our faith."
###
About the Jewish Community of Kauai.
The Jewish Community of Kauai has been based in Lihue since the 1980’s and is open to Jews, converts, inter-faith, LGBTQ, visitors, and the entire island of Kauai. President Emeritus Marty Kahn officiated at services and was an inspiring leader for decades; he was assisted by then vice-president Dale Rosenfeld. Service leaders include board member Marty Kahn, Rabbi Rob Kvidt and Sara Silverman. Co-presidents Carol Pescaia and Jeffrey Tucker have led the community and for the past three years. This year, long-time JCK member and service leader Rob Kvidt was ordained a Rabbi.
About St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church.
St. Michael’s, in Lihue, has been serving Kauai since 1963. It was the result of the Anglican Mission, established in Hawaii at the request of King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma, in 1862. JCK friend Reverend Jan Rudinoff led the parrish for 30 years. Father Andrew McMullen has lead the community since 2016. During his leadership, the relationship between St. Michael’s and JCK has flourished.
