Kauai Image by iStock

A Hawaiian island’s small Reform Jewish community gained a permanent rabbi for the first time, Honolulu Civil Beat reported.

The Jewish Community of Kauai community was founded 30 years ago, and it’s taken that long to employ a permanent rabbi. Rob Kvidt, a community member for 16 years who was ordained in June, will be the first to take on this role.

The congregation, which attracts around 100 people to its services in the building of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, has relied on out-of-town guest rabbis during the High Holidays and lay leaders during the rest of the year.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Kvidt converted to Judaism as an adult under the auspices of Rabbinical Seminary International, which later oversaw his ordination. He told Civil Beat that he is eager to begin but is unsure what kind of rabbi he’ll be.

“I’m really open to all these possibilities, because Judaism is not to be practiced alone,” he said. “So, I like that scholarly part, but I want to share what I know and to be part of a community because, there’s so much joy in that.”

Kauai also has a rabbi affiliated with the Orthodox group Chabad.

Alyssa Fisher is a writer at the Forward. Email her at [email protected], or follow her on Twitter at @alyssalfisher

The Forward is free to read, but it isn’t free to produce

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward.

Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.

At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and polarized discourse.

Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.

This is a great time to support independent Jewish journalism you rely on. Make a gift today!

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$90 $180

$360

Other amount