Rabbi Peter Schaktman, whose departure from Temple Emanu-El of Honolulu in September was the result of conflicts that divided the Jewish congregation, is offering an alternative place of worship and study on Saturday mornings for people who left the temple.
About 75 people, who informally call themselves the Oahu Jewish Community, left the temple around October’s High Holy Days and began meeting with Schaktman at various members’ homes, said Andrea L. Berez, who organized the gatherings.
"I’m sure I speak for the entire group when I say that we are all happy to be rebuilding a community for study, worship and social action," Berez, an assistant linguistics professor at the University of Hawaii, said in an interview. "Many among us have opened our homes and donated our time for regular and semiregular Jewish activities, including the weekly Torah study and Sabbath service.
"During these last few difficult months, Rabbi Schaktman has continued in his role as teacher and spiritual leader, and our community has continued to seek his guidance and scholarship in this period of transition."
The Star-Advertiser reported in August that about 60 of the 230 families in the Reform Jewish congregation left the temple in 2012. Disagreements between the rabbi and a faction of members culminated in a close vote in May not to renew Schaktman’s contract, which was supposed to expire in June 2013. A month after the election of a new board of directors in August, "my departure was precipitous — it was not expected," Schaktman said in an interview, adding that "it was by mutual agreement that I leave."
"Just because I’ve lost my position at Temple Emanu-El doesn’t mean I’ve stopped being a rabbi or caring about the community," said Schaktman, who had been the temple’s rabbi since 2006.
The Oahu Jewish Community began holding weekly meetings regularly at Schaktman’s Nuuanu condominium building in December. The meetings were attended by about 15 people, which was the usual number of people at the temple on Saturday mornings, Berez said.
The group is working toward creating a traditional Friday night service, which would fit more people’s schedules. The Jewish Shabbat, or Sabbath, begins Friday evening and ends Saturday evening, according to the lunar calendar followed, Berez explained.
The group circulates an email flier about its weekly activities, advertising "a warm, accessible opportunity to learn Torah, experience Jewish prayer, ask questions and celebrate Shabbat. A path toward uncovering, within Jewish text and ritual greater meaning in one’s own life, by way of a variety of traditional, modern, feminist and archeological sources of interpretation."
Meetings are at Nuuanu Parkside, 2047 Nuuanu Ave. Torah study is from 9 to 10 a.m., and services from 10:15 to 11:30 a.m., followed by a potluck in the sixth-floor hospitality room. People are invited to come early or stay after the meetings to swim in the pool or relax in the jacuzzi. For information, visit www.facebook.com/groups/HonoluluRabbi or email rabbischaktman@gmail.com.
