A spiritual and tactical talk is Sunday

LIHUE — Hawaii’s recent missile scare unsettled many residents.

A leading expert in this field, Lieutenant Commander Adam Goldberg of the Pacific Missile Range Facility will be giving a public talk regarding the potential threat on Sunday.

With more than 20 years in the Navy, Goldberg is working on systems at PMRF and is a tactical action officer for the Missile Defense System responsible for Europe’s defense against ballistic missiles.

While responses to the false missile alert on Jan. 13 varied, some residents focused on vulnerability, mortality and the meaning of it all.

“This fake alert, regardless of what triggered it, was a strong wake up call to many who were compelled to face their immortality and life purpose very quickly,” said rabbi Michoel Goldman of Chabad Kauai.

“It has prompted a strong spiritual response to evaluating our priorities, which moments of crisis do, and what we cherish most,” he said. “So, it served a purpose, albeit very abruptly and tactlessly.”

Other residents questioned military capabilities and the effectiveness of defense systems.

“Nonetheless, while we formulate our higher response, we must also consider the ‘ground-zero’ response,” Goldman said.

The event will mostly address protection via the military/defense department and PMRF. Goldberg will share his expertise as tactical action officer in Virginia for the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense System Romania’s Team Red 2.

Recently, he has been working at PMRF preparing for a drill in a week by firing a defense missile to see that they are on target.

Goldberg will talk about his work, as well as life in the Navy as a Jew, with a question and answer session at the end of his presentation that begins 4 p.m. at the Kauai Jewish Center, 4531 Pouli Road, Wailua. Admission is $10.