Jews of Honolulu Have Definitely Established Themselves As a Unified Community with I.o.b.b. Lodge a

With the formation of a B’nai B’rith lodge in Honolulu, the Louis Marshall Lodge, No. 1126, which was instituted by Richard E. Gustadt of San Francisco on March 22, the Jews of Honolulu have definitely established themselves as a community. At the same time that the lodge was organized with fifty charter members a Ladies’ Auxiliary was formed with a membership of twenty-five. The vote for the presidents’ office went to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Baron who in their one year’s residence in Honolulu have been particularly active in Jewish work.

Though records show that Jews have lived in Honolulu since 1856 there has been nothing that can be termed Jewish life. There is a distinction on the islands only between the white peoples and the polyglot and mixed races. No distinction is made racially or socially against the Jews and no need has ever been felt to build up a social life apart, one that would be joined with the life of the Jews in the Diaspora.

However, the Diaspora, was concerned with the Jews of the Islands, not particularly with those who were residents of Honolulu but with the 600 soldiers stationed there as part of the permanent force of about 10,000 Americans. The Hawaiian Island have the largest post in the United States service. A permanent representative of the Jewish Welfare Board of New York from San Francisco was sent out to work among the Jewish men of the force and to maintain some sort of Jewish life. In 1901 the first Hebrew Congregation was formed and services have been held regularly for the army men. On these occasions a very beautiful and unusual ancient scroll of the law is used, borrowed from a Hawaiian woman, a direct descendant of King Kalakaua, the last native ruler.

It is said that many years ago a rabbi had come to the islands with the hope of organizing a congregation. He was unsuccessful in interesting anyone but the native king of the islands who offered land and financial assistance for the building of a synagogue. Before leaving the country the rabbi presented the Torah to King Kalakaua as a mark of his gratitude. It is greatly treasured by the present owners.

Jewish travelers returning from the islands have never failed to comment on the lack of Jewish life within the city whose population is close to 100,000. Though it is difficult to know exactly it is thought that there are about three hundred Jewish families living there not including the men in the army service.

The first public Jewish social gathering in the history of Honolulu was the testimonial dinner given last December at the Young hotel just prior to the departure of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Baron on a six week’s trip to Seattle Although this very young couple had just lived in the city six months they had already accomplished so much as to inspire this evidence of gratitude on the part of the Jews of Honolulu. Mr. Baron, former owner of the Fair Department Store in Bellingham, had been sent to Honolulu to manage the offices of M. Seller & Co.

Son of parents who have gone to make their home in Palestine, nephew of the late M. H. Wascerwitz of San Francisco, past Grand President of District No. 4, I.O.B.B. and cousin of that champion of the Jewish people, Aaron Sapiro, his first thought was to identify himself with the Jews of the community. But there was no Jewish community. He suspected many whom he met of being Jews but they were not signaled out as such nor did they feel themselves Jews. It seemed that Jews never congregated in groups here as elsewhere. Not till they attended Passover services, arranged by the representative of the Welfare Board at the Young hotel in 1929 did they have the opportunity to meet many of their Jewish fellow citizens.

Mr. Baron, as a newcomer, was asked to say a few words and he expressed himself quite strongly at how shocking he thought the lack of Jewish communal life in a city the size of Honolulu was. His suggestion that some organization be formed to promote Jewish life was met, not with expressions of contempt but with pity at the enthusiasm that was so mistakenly optomistic.

However Mr. and Mrs. Baron persevered and called several meetings at their home. It was not until the following Yom Kippur after services at which a number of visitors were present, among them Sammy Cohen, the moving picture comedian, that an organization was formed, called the “Menorah Society.”

There followed several open forum meetings which grew in numbers and enthusiasm of those present. Members of old families, who had clung to their Judaism without the help of others to inspire them, came out of curiosity and then came again through interest and faith. The love of Judaism that had almost been forgotten bloomed and flourished in the nourishment of Jewish contact.

Before another Passover came it was decided to form a B’nai B’rith Lodge. Thirty-five men paid their initiation fees and dues for a year as a sign of good faith and in March Mr. and Mrs. Richard Gustadt of San Francisco came to formally institute the new lodge, now known as the Louis Marshall Lodge, No. 1126 of Honolulu.