Visiting rabbis from New York help Guam Jews keep the faith

Visiting rabbis from New York help Guam Jews keep the faith

By Heather Hauswirth
KUAM News

Published Aug 5, 2009

16-year-old Ethan Berg never imagined he would celebrate his bar mitzvah with two New York rabbis inside the walls of a military chapel on Guam. "It was very meaningful. I've never had that. Interesting experience. It was so beautiful," he said.

A local chapel was dedicated to members of Jewish faith by the US Navy and the Air Force in 1976. Now the two Rabbis that are here today from Brooklyn, New York are hoping to infuse some fire and a little spark into the Jewish community on base locally.

"In many places you see a rabbi every week, maybe even daily, but here when you have a rabbi once twice maybe three times a year, everybody comes out. People come out of the woodwork for this because it's so big," said LTJG Greg Touchton.

Rabbi Chesky Klein and Rabbi David Loksen represent the more orthodox sect of the Jewish faith, known, as the Chabad Movement, visibly distinguished by dark suits and long beards. During their three-week visit as emissaries to Guam where there is no permanent rabbi, the two rabbis hope to promote Judaism all over the island.

Klein said, "Chabad actually has a branch, which sends out young rabbis over the summer time and that sends Jewish people into far off communities for just a short period of time in order to bring Judaism to everyone. We are part of this program. We've been sent to Guam."

Although Guam boasts a small community of approximately 150 Jews on the island, the military reports that there are fifty practicing Jews currently serving here on Guam. The rabbis have made their presence known by holding events on and off the base and encourage all denominations to come to them with any questions.

Said Loksen, "The doors are always open. They are always welcome. Please whoever is out there in Guam or whatever it may be, please if you see us passing on the street, just wave and say hello or say 'Hey rabbi, can I ask you a few questions?'"

From performing mazuza ceremonies to various blessings like wrapping the tifilin and holding a ceremonial bar mitzvah for those of age, the rabbis hope to help the Jewish community in Guam keep the faith.

KUAM news

Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis visiting Guam

Guampdn.com

RELIGION - Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis visiting Guam

July 30, 2009


Two young Chabad-Lubavitch rabbis are visiting Guam from July 28 to Aug. 17 as part of a community outreach program.

Rabbis Chesky Klein and David Loksen will be distributing videos, brochures, books, Shabbat candles, mezuzahs (a religious scroll placed on doorways) and will be working closely with the local Jewish community, according to a news release. The pair will teach classes, including one on Kabbalah, and host Shabbat dinners.

The two rabbis are part of a worldwide program sometimes referred to as “the Lubavitch Summer Peace Corps,” in which some 400 young rabbis and senior rabbinical students visit thousands of locations worldwide, including countries like Bolivia, Bosnia, Cambodia, Croatia, Fiji, Guadeloupe, Ireland, Portugal, Sri Lanka and Uruguay.

From the Pacific Daily News

The Guam Jewish community is receiving a visit from two rabbis.

Rabbi David Loksen and Rabbi Shmulie Hecht, of the Brooklyn, New York-based Chabad Lubavitch Jewish Community Enrichment Program, are currently volunteers with Chabad Hawaii, which sponsored their visit to the island.

Rabbi Loksen said the goal of the organization is to reach out to Jewish communities across the globe.

“Following World War II, (Jewish people) scattered all over the world,” said Loksen. “It is the mission of the Lubavitch to reach out to them and bring them back into the faith.”

The rabbis arrived July 22 and will be leaving Aug. 12.

Loksen said the rabbis have been doing house visits so far.

“We've been putting up mezuzahs, what you call a 'Jewish security system,'” he said.

A mezuzah is a scroll placed on the door frame of a home containing verses from the Old Testament. The article serves as a reminder of the lamb's blood Jews in ancient Egypt used to mark their doors for protection.

“We go to homes and teach them about Jewish heritage, about the Torah,” said Loksen. “We answer any concerns they may have as Jews.”

“There's been a lot of discussion, a lot of shmoozing,” said Hecht.

The rabbis held a Sabbath service Friday at the Pacific Islands Club Resort.

Dr. Joel Joseph, a Jewish community leader on Guam, said there are currently no rabbis on island to tend to the needs of the Jewish community.

“Hopefully, we're going to have a naming ceremony or two,” said Joseph, who said the ceremonies entail religious services relating to newborn children.

With no resident rabbis on island, Joseph said he's acted as a community stand-in since his arrival.

“There was a funeral, unfortunately, not long after I arrived on island,” said Joseph. “No one knew the prayers, but I did, since I attended religious school.”

Hecht said it is possible the Lubavitch may assign a permanent rabbi to Guam, “depending on the needs of the community.”

Our beautiful Synagogue in Guam!

We would like to thanks Bart Jackson ad the PIC hotel for the beautiful Shul that we had and for everything else he did for us!

Visiting and donning Teffilin

Putting up Mezuzah in Guam!

A mezuzah is affixed to the doorframe of Jewish homes to fulfill the mitzvah (Biblical commandment) to inscribe the words of the Shema "on the doorposts of your house."(Deuteronomy 6:9) Many families place a mezuzah on the front door only, but observant Jews fix one on every doorway in the home apart from bathrooms, and closets too small to qualify as rooms.[1] The parchment is prepared by a qualified scribe (a "sofer stam") who has undergone many years of meticulous training, and the verses are written in indelible black ink with a special quill pen. The parchment is then rolled up and placed inside the case.

Here are some photos in a slide show of the Rabbis in Guam putting up Mezuzos.