News

Avraham as Leader

Drash on Parashah Vayeira by David Haymer

Until very recently, my wife and I participated with a very diverse Torah study group made of both Jews and non-Jews, but all people interested in reading the Bible. One day I took… Continue reading

Sof Drashes 2025

Jacob and Israel

Understanding the Origins of an Ancient People

Toldot Drash by Robert Littman

December 2025

The Hebrew Bible presents the early Israelites as a “mixed multitude,” and modern archaeology largely supports this picture. Excavations in early Israel show… Continue reading

Sof Community Events

Sof Book Group with Carolann Biederman

Group members have submitted potential books for the book group to read in 2026. Carolann will put the list together and it will be published as soon as it’s available. Please consider attending the… Continue reading

Kindness and Righteousness

Noah Drash by Stan Satz
We are told in Genesis that because Noah is a righteous man, he and his family will be spared the devastating flood that will wipe out everyone else, those depraved wretches for whom God has… Continue reading

Sof Community Events

Upcoming

Israeli Dance Honolulu via Fran Margulies

Aloha Dancers, Our schedule for the rest of the year is shown below and on our website. Donations are accepted ($10 is suggested) but not required. We want you to attend! We… Continue reading

Moses and Monotheism

Moses Was Not a Monotheist

by Robert J Littman, M.Litt., Ph.D.

Sigmund Freud wrote a work Moses and Monotheism in which he posited that Judaism got its monotheism from Moses, who was an Egyptian, a priest of Akhenaten, who fled… Continue reading

Who Was Asenath Barazani?

Used with permission from My Jewish Learning, by Renee Melamaad

Aenath Barazani (also known as Osnat or Asnat Barazani) was a highly educated Torah scholar in late 16th and early 17th century Kurdistan. After her father’s death, he passed leadership… Continue reading

High Holy Day Services

5786 (2025) High Holy Days Services at Congregation Sof Maʻarav
 

Rosh Hashanah Services

Monday, Sept. 22

7:30pm – 8:30pm

Dessert Potluck after services/bring apple slices and honey, too!

 

Day One

Tuesday, Sept. 23

9:00am – noon

Oneg afterwards,… Continue reading

Sof Maʻarav Annual Membership Dues Invoice (2025-2026)

5786

Congregation Sof Maʻarav

c/o Robert Littman,

P.O. Box 10850, Honolulu, HI 96816 

checks payable to CONGREGATION SOF MA’ARAV

or on PAYPAL at WWW.SOFMAARAV.ORG

PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS-WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD A SYNAGOGUE E-MAIL LIST FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS.… Continue reading

Congregation Sof Ma’arav Slate of Officers, Board Members, Committee Chairpersons

Congregation Sof Maʻarav Slate of Officers, Board Members, Committee Chairpersons

Annual Membership Meeting on 6/1/2025

Officers:

President: Sandra Armstrong

Vice President: Morris Rabinko

Treasurer: Robert Littman

Recording Secretary: Kate Lingley

Corresponding Secretary: Donald Armstrong

Board Members:

Morris Rabinko:… Continue reading

Calendar

Shabbat Times

  • Menachot 13
    On today’s daf, we begin the second chapter of Menachot, and the opening of its first mishnah might sound curiously ... The post Menachot 13 appeared first on My Jewish Learning.
  • Menachot 12
    We know that when a priest offers a meal offering with wrong intentions, it invalidates the offering. But not all ... The post Menachot 12 appeared first on My Jewish Learning.
  • Torah is Pedagogy
    The Torah commands animal sacrifice, and in painstaking detail  — which animals, which altars, which procedures. Yet the prophets seem ... The post Torah is Pedagogy appeared first on My Jewish Learning.