Weddings
B'ruchim HaBaim B'shem Adonai ~ E ho'omaika'i ia ka mea e hele mai ana ma ka inoa 'o Akua Aponai ~ Blessed are they who come in the name of the Eternal.
Weddings are among the most joyous occasions in Jewish life. And Hawai'i, with its outstanding natural beauty and spirit of
aloha, has become an increasingly popular place to get married. The information below is meant to answer some of the more frequently asked questions regarding the availability of Temple Emanu-El, its staff and its rabbi, for weddings, commitment ceremonies and civil unions in Hawai'i:
Rabbi Peter B. Schaktman is the Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El and a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis.
He is honored to serve as m'sader kiddushin (wedding officiant) at weddings or commitment ceremonies involving members of the congregation or their children, in keeping with both the Jewish tradition and the laws of the state of Hawai'i. No honorarium is required. Members of the congregation wishing to arrange a wedding or commitment ceremony are encouraged to contact Rabbi Schaktman as soon as possible to discuss available dates and other details regarding working with him prior to the ceremony.
Schedule permitting, our Rabbi is also happy to work with couples visiting from the mainland or elsewhere who are members of a synagogue affiliated with one of the mainstream movements in Judaism. In such cases, a referral from the congregation's rabbi or spiritual leader is requested, as is an honorarium of $500.
Couples wishing a wedding ceremony in Hawai'i that includes traditional Jewish symbols may also consider contacting Temple Emanu-El member Linda Martell, licensed officiant, Martellaw1@aol.com. We wish you mazal tov and much aloha on your simcha! If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact Rabbi Schaktman at Rabbi@TempleEmanuElHawaii.com.
Do not separate yourself from the community... (Pirke Avot 2:5)
A special note for those coming from outside of Hawai'i... As with most shuls, the presence of Temple Emanu-El's clergy and staff is made possible by the ongoing support of its members. If you are about to get married and are not yet a part of a synagogue community, now is the perfect time to find one that is right for you! Many synagogues in fact have dues plans that are especially designed for younger and/or newly-married adults. You can find information about synagogues in your local area by using the following links:
Reform: http://data.urj.org/conglist/
Conservative: http://uscj.org/Synagogues5011.html
Orthodox: http://www.ou.org/synagogue_support/synagogues
Reconstructionist: http://www.jrf.org/cong
Civil Unions
Beginning in January, 2012, the state of Hawai'i will permit two eligible individuals to enter into a Civil Union with one another. Couples wishing to solemnize their relationship by way of Civil Union are encouraged to speak directly with Rabbi Schaktman, who will be happy to explain his approach to officiating at such ceremonies.
Linda Martell is also licensed to perform civil unions ceremonies.