Isles’ Israeli idyll

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
The traditional Israeli dance group Hora performed yesterday at the Israel Independence Day Festival on the Honolulu Civic Center grounds. From front to back are Sharon Ahuvia, Rebecca Simmons and Annie Eckmann. This year's event marked Israel's 57th year of independence.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
Shawn Steiman, left, taught Kari Sterns how to juggle. Sterns is the drama instructor at the Temple Emanu-el school.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
Lillian Malzman, left, Harriet Weissman and Phyllis Donlin arranged some of traditional handmade Jewish crafts made by Donlin. The three are members of the Hadassah Women's Group, which supports Hadassah Hospital in Israel.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM
Yakob Borenstein, left, of New York and Fred Goldblatt of Honolulu read from the Siddur together after Borenstein performed a Tefillin Mitzvah, a special commandment performed by men to acknowledge God. Goldblatt, the recipient, described the Mitzvah as "a good deed to fulfill what God would want you to."