Naval Station could not wait to get Sean started. One week in our lovely hotel, then, thank God, we were moving into our new home. All our things and our car had arrived [after their trip through the Panama Canal]. It was Wednesday/Thursday movers and Friday- our first night at the Aloha Jewish Chapel, but as guests, an opportunity to observe a service. It was almost completely in English [They'd been functioning without a chaplain for some time.], but pretty full. Unfortunately only Friday night. The kitchen was usually dairy, but we knew there had been a treyf affair held during the summer. Well, things to set right.
The following Friday, Sean's first a rabbi, we were greeted by the incoming president of the Women's Guild and presented with leis. Sean converted most of the English back to Hebrew with not a single complaint. Most even enjoyed Jesse's antics as he ran up and down the aisles yelling "Torah, Torah" or "Amen." So when is the other shoe going to fall?
[Aloha Jewish Chapel is a community made up of active duty military from all branches, Department of Defense personnel, many military retirees, many Island residents who prefer it, and the occasional tourist. Because of the major presence on the island of the first four groups, it is a stable community even through the many transitions.]
September 8, 1998
We've been here almost three weeks, and we're finally getting into a routine. Sean's job is very eclectic: submarine visits, daily meetings with the Commodore, brig visits, plus being the only military rabbi in the area. He's the show to be seen.
For me- I'm Mom. Jesse is happy, and we've made a friend, but some day care is definitely called for. [Jesse was active in utero. His ability to move, to talk, and to surprise still amazes me today.]
Tonight was Sean's first ritual committee meeting. It was also Aloha Jewish Chapel's (AJC) first ritual committee meeting. The meeting was greeted with enthusiasm, and of course fire over the kashrut issue. I think the highlight of the meeting was an elderly doctor who stood and spoke with righteous indignation. [He had of course met Sean twice.] "I have a comment," he said, producting a list from his pocket. "First, I'm twice, if not three times your age. You've got no place coming in and making all these changes. The kashrus of the kitchen is just fine." He went on until, "Finally, when are you going to start doing services in your uniform?!"
AJC has many congregants from outside the active duty military; most are retires military, like the doctor. Still, he speaks from a different time. We did learn a valuable lesson though. Here, on Oahu, in place of shirt and tie, men were aloha shirts. When Sean thought he was dressing up for the congregation, he was actually dressing down.
Next month's meeting will focus on the final kashrut decision and the mikveh. [AJC, like many other isolated Jewish military chapels, has a mikveh built off the sanctuary, an odd spot. It has only one bor, and collects rainwater, but unfortunately no overflow valve. Upon our arrival, it was being used to store chairs.] I hope to attend as the resident expert.
AJC is interesting. They've hated their last three rabbis. Bouncing from one denomination to another, halakhic needs seem whims to them. [Denomination is set by decision of the current chaplain serving. AJC had gone from Conservative to Reform to Orthodox. Each chaplain deciding without care as to what came before.] Most of the members are ignorant. We are living in the midbar and the amei ha'aretz are wandering and murmuring at every turn. Sean is like Moshe himself, and I feel like Miriam, at least my view of Miriam, the silent partner upon whom Moshe leans heavily, the confident support, the strong shoulder, listening ear, teacher, and partner.
