Our Leadership
Temple Emanu-El Rabbi, Peter B. Schaktman
Rabbi Peter Schaktman came to Honolulu in September 2005 to serve as the Interim Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El in. In July 2006, he became the congregation’s permanent Spiritual Leader. Rabbi Schaktman received his Rabbinic Ordination from the New York campus of the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion in 1989. Since that time, the heart of his work has been as a congregational rabbi, where he has found enormous satisfaction learning, teaching, caring for members of the community and creating new approaches to meeting the challenges of synagogue life. As a congregational rabbi, he has served congregations in Houston, TX; Lake Charles, LA; Staten Island, NY and Livingston Manor, NY. He also spent nine years working on the staff of the Union for Reform Judaism at their headquarters in Manhattan as a regional and national consultant in program development, synagogue management and the special needs of small congregations. Rabbi Schaktman is a proud graduate of Oberlin College, and is certified in Chemical Dependency and Spiritual Counseling.
Prior to becoming a rabbi, he also spent two years living in an Israeli Arab village as a community worker in Arab-Jewish relations. Whether in sacred worship or in a classroom, in committee meetings or youth group events or his pastoral work, the central goal of his rabbinate has been to study, to teach, and to help others find meaning in their lives through the traditions of Judaism. Rabbi@TempleEmanuElHawaii.com (808) 595-7521 ext 202
If you would like to make an appointment with Rabbi Schaktman, please click this link or call the Executive Director at (808) 595-7521: www.google.com/calendar/selfsched
Temple Emanu-El President, David Haymer
David Haymer is currently Professor of Genetics in the School of Medicine at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the Program Coordinator for the Hawaii State Research and Education Pipeline program. He is also the DNA analysis consultant for the Hawaii Chapter of the Innocence Project, a national organization that deals with cases of possible wrongful convictions for criminal actions. On the personal side he is the husband of Beatriz Haymer, a past president of Sisterhood and teacher in the School of Jewish Studies. Together they have 3 children (Rachel, Malka and Matthew), all of whom completed both their B'nai Mitzvah and Confirmation studies at Temple Emanu-El. For the past year, Rachel has also been serving as Cantorial Soloist for the Temple. The Haymer family first joined the Temple in 1986 after relocating to Hawaii from California.
dhaymer@hawaii.edu
1st Vice President: Eve Shere - Eve Shere graduated from the Executive MBA program from the Shidler College of Business. She is married to Reginald Worthley and mother of Megan Worthley, and is presently working as a full-time Realtor with Prudential Locations. Eve has been a member of Temple Emanuel for 26 years, and Megan attended Gan Yerushalayim pre-school. Eve has served several terms as a past Board member and has been an active member of both the Sisterhood of Temple Emanuel and a life-member of Haddassah. Eve's philosophy is to serve on the Board of Temple Emanuel to insure that the relationship with the Board and the Rabbi is a collaborative one that will enhance the Jewish experience for all members.
2nd Vice President: Rich Rosen - rnrosen@hawaiiantel.net Richard Rosen is an environmental professional currently working with the Army Reserves as Fort Shafter Flats. He has worked in environmental compliance for 30 years and has also been a safety professional. He has 2 sons, both who completed both their B'nai Mitzvah studies at Temple EmanuEl. Richard has served on the Board for the past three years, serving on the Green Committee, the Building and Grounds Committee (most recentlyworking on Temple security). He also chaired the Cantor Options Committee which selected Cantorial Soloist Rachel to fill in for Ken Aronowitz this past year. He also chaired the Cantor Committee which was tasked with coordinating the return of Ken Aronowitz. Richard has lived in Hawaii for over 34years having moved here from Fiji where, as a Peace Corps Volunteer, he worked as a teacher. Prior to that, he attended school in Michigan
Treasurer: Barry Langlieb - Barry grew up on Long Island, N.Y. After serving 2 years in the U.S. Army, he traveled to the Mexico City Olympics, and continued through Central and South America by motorcycle. He received his B.S. Degree from the State University of New York at Binghamton. In 1992 he came to Hawaii to join Royal Hawaiian Heritage Jewelry, Over 17 years he served in numerous retail management positions, including 9 years as V.P. running the retail operations. He is currently a Hawaii licensed independent insurance agent. He has served as Treasurer (9yrs) and now also President (1yr) of his condo association and past secretary of Hawaii Beekeepers Association. For Temple Emanu-El, he regularly participates in Family Promise rotations and clean-up patrol for 4th Friday Shabbat dinners. He was also a member of the Cantorial Options Committee.
Secretary: Henry Trapido-Rosenthal - Hank Trapido-Rosenthal, Ph.D., is a research scientist at the University of Hawaii, where he is affiliated with the Center for Marine Microbial Ecology and Diversity (CMMED), the Center for Microbial Oceanography Research and Education (CMORE) and the Pacific Research Center for Marine Biomedicine (PRCMB). He is also adjunct Professor of Biology at Chaminade University. In his spare time, Hank plays trombone with several different musical groups, swims with his dog, and indulges in his favorite sport, surfing. Hank was married to Hawaii kama'aina Jean Trapido by Temple Emanu-El's Rabbi Julius Nodel in 1977. His synagogue activities include participation in the Family Promise program and activities with the Green Team. He would welcome the opportunity further contribute to the synagogue community by serving on the Board of Trustees of Temple Emanu-El.
Board Member: Katie Friedman - Katie joined Temple Emanu-El when she moved to Hawaii in 2009, and immediately became active. She attends services most Friday nights and Saturday mornings, plus Torah study and most Temple events. Her contributions the past couple of years include serving as editor of the bi-monthly Connection newsletter, preparation of the Film Festival playbill, and flyers for various events and the lay-out of the 50th Anniversary commemorative photo book. She is also Co-chair of the successful 4th Friday Seudat Shabbat Dinners, a member of the Green Team, Jewish Film Festival committee an active participant in Family Promise. In the Temple Sisterhood, she was co-chair of the 2011 Passover Seder; co-chair of Membership, serves on the oneg team and helps with most Sisterhood events. At last year's annual meeting, Katie was recognized and honored as Community Builder of the year. Katie is a Certified Optician, currently employed by EyeSight Hawaii Vision Institute, hired by Temple Emanu-El member Dr. Jonathan Etter. Prior to moving to Hawaii, she was president of the Crescenta Valley Rotary Club 2007-9, where she received the Silver Bell for outstanding contributions in all avenues of service in her district.
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Board Member: Mim Lang - lang.mim2120@gmail.com Mim and her husband, Mel, along with their 3 sons came to Hawaii in l965. Mel worked at Univ. of Hawaii and Mim taught in the primary grades until retirement in l993. She continues to volunteer in the kindergarten at the school where she taught. Their 3 sons were Bar Mitzvah at Temple EmanuEl, and two of them were married there as well. They now have 4 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. As a member of Sisterhood, Mim was membership chair for many years. She was also in charge of Meals of Consolation and was instrumental in getting 2 directories for the Sisterhood and the 50th anniversary directory put together. She has been treasurer for the Hawaii Jewish Seniors and on their planning board. Mim was given the honor of being Woman of Valor in 2009, and she is at present a continuing member of Temple Emanu-El's board of Trustees.
Board Member: Jackie Lau –jackiemildlau@gmail.com A familiar face at Temple Emanu-El's School of Jewish Studies, Jackie Mild Lau has taught art enrichment and "visual culture" to students since her own children Alena and Leah were in attendance. She is a practicing artist, specializing in sculpture and a new co-op member of The Gallery at Ward Centre. She is a current member of Hawaii Craftsmen's board of directors and continues to teach bronze casting, animal and figure sculpture for the University of Hawaii at Manoa Outreach College. Examples of her collaborations with students can be seen on the walls of the Weinberg Learning Center, Kawanakoa Middle School Cafeteria and most recently, Roosevelt High School.
Board Member: Peter Hoffenberg - Peter Hoffenberg has been a Temple member since 1995. He is a Professor at UH Manoa, SJS parent and teacher, has also taught adult education classes at the Temple and chaired the education committee. Peter also served as the 8th-Grade Co-Teacher with Helene at SJS, and has been a speaker on various occasions for Adult Education classes and activities. He is also Faculty Advisor for the U H Hillel Chapter.
Board Member: Joyce Oleshansky - Joyce Oleshansky is a licensed clinical psychologist, currently practicing at the Counseling and Spiritual Care Center of Hawaii. In Maryland, she was a member of the Shaare Tefila congregation, where her oldest son, Jacob, was a Bar-Mitzvah and served on their board for a year until relocating to Hawaii. Joyce has lived in Honolulu with my family for three years. Within days of arriving in Honolulu she, along with her husband, Marvin, who works as a psychiatrist at Tripler Army Medical Center, joined Temple Emanu-El in order to introduce their three children to the Jewish community and to prepare for their son, Jamie's, Bar-Mitzvah which took place in December 2009. She has participated in the community as an SJS parent, Temple volunteer and member of the Education Committee. Entering the final stages of preparation for her daughter, Celia's, Bat Mitzvah in March 2012, she feels ready to participate more fully in the life of Temple Emanu-El.
Board Member: Trudy Schandler-Wong - In addition to previous jobs, Trudy's current and most long-running employment (43 years) is as a flight attendant for United Airlines. She has been a community volunteer all her life. Highlights of her Temple participation include: member since 1975. Chaired three successful fundraisers: "Hearts of Gold", "Honoring Rabbi Goldfarb" and "Temple Emanu-El honors OUR Legal Community". Former member of the Temple Board of Trustees and the Rabbinic Selection Committee. Currently a member of the Jewish Film Festival Committee and buyer for the Sisterhood Gift Shop. Also serves on the Oahu-wide Family Promise Board and participate in Temple Emanu-El's quarterly commitment. One of her high priorities as a Temple Board member would be to reach out to the disenfranchised and unaffiliated so that the Temple can once again become the Center for Jewish Life in Hawai'i.
Board Member: Deborah Grafton - Deborah has a Doctorate in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from UH Manoa. Her career has spanned a range of projects from virus and vaccine lab research (at a Nobel-winning NIH lab and for the FDA) to adjunct professor of epidemiology. Shehas also provided disease surveillance expertise for county, state, federal and international organizations. She is currently at work on a book about the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic.
As a military spouse, she assisted Jewish personnel with varied types of Jewish observance including preparing and sending kosher for Passover meals to sailors at sea during Passover, hosting service members for holidays and Shabbat. Upon returning to Hawaii in 1998, she rejoined Temple Emanu-El. She has served on the Sisterhood board for two terms and served on the Rabbinic Search committee in 2005-06.
Debbie has one daughter, Megan, who attended SJS and became Bat Mitzvah in 2005. A recent graduate of Punahou, Megan will be attending Brandeis University.
Board Member: Leba Tolpin-Kaufmann - I was born and raised in Wilmington, Delaware. As the granddaughter of a holocaust survivor, Judaism and the State of Israel have always been very important to me. I received a Jewish education through my family and our local temple. I spent a semester of high school in Israel learning about Jewish history. I attended Northwestern University and graduated from the School of Education and Social Policy with a major in Human Development and Psychological Services. After college, I attend law school at the University of Pennsylvania where I enjoyed child advocacy work. After law school, I received a Skadden Fellowship to represent at-risk children with disabilities, who were subject to school discipline and juvenile detention, at Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. in Wilmington, Delaware. I was awarded a grant to continue my work in the community for a third year. In 2009, I married my wonderful husband, Jonathan Kaufmann, also from Delaware, and we moved to Hawaii. Jonathan began work as a Hospitalist at Queen's Medical Center and I began work at the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii as the Fair Housing Staff Attorney. I currently represent individuals who are subject to discrimination in housing transactions. I supervise three employees in the Fair Housing Unit which includes a statewide testing program. I recently joined the Junior League and I am a lifetime member of Hadassah.
Sisterhood Council: Marcia Klompus templesisterhood@gmail.com phone: (808) 595-7521 ext 211