A thriving Jewish life existed in Europe prior to the Holocaust. Jewish artists—painters, composers, authors, actors, and musicians—contributed to society and shaped its image, even while repeatedly suffering antisemitism. The Holocaust brought the unique, highly respected German-Jewish culture to a sudden end. Today many of its well-known personalities have slipped into obscurity. Friedrich Gernsheim (1839-1916),...
As we put the finishing touches on our sukkah and scramble as every other year to procure sets of lulav and etrog, let’s pull back on this frenetic High Holiday season just a bit. Historically, the ‘can’t miss’ Sukkot event at the JCC has not actually been on the holiday itself. The Sunday morning spent...
Steve and Phyllis Goldstein, $5400. Adam and Susan Schneiderman, $3600. Harry and Rachel Blumberg, $1800… On and on a typical Yom Kippur Appeal will go for 5-15 minutes depending on the size of the congregation. In what is no doubt the most peculiar institution in synagogue life, a board member ascends the bimah following Kol...
Round Challah. The unmistakable, yet subtle indicator of Rosh Hashana compared to the widely practiced apples and honey ritual or more frontal fish or in rarefied circles, sheep’s head. Many an explanation have been proffered by rabbis and bakers alike as to the symbolism behind the often oblong bread dotting many a holiday table. The...
Rahm Emanuel. Ken Weinstein (almost but not quite). John Roos. The previous three American administrations have all sent or tried to send Jewish ambassadors to Tokyo. The why behind those decisions remains a mystery. The recent move away from gefilte fish to sushi in the Jewish-American palette has been cited, at least at kiddush, as...
With the High Holidays are just around the corner, there is lots more to look forward to at the JCJ soon after! Two music events are planned for October appealing to a wide variety of interests. With Japan opening up, we are honored to have several touring artists to do exclusive events at the JCJ....
With the High Holidays are just around the corner, there is lots more to look forward to at the JCJ soon after! Two music events are planned for October appealing to a wide variety of interests. With Japan opening up, we are honored to have several touring artists to do exclusive events at the JCJ....
“Remove your sandals, for the place on which you stand is holy ground.”Exodus 3:5 While the Torah is describing a burning bush, the above verse could easily apply to Japan’s cathedral, nay Beit haMikdash of baseball, Meiji Jingu Stadium. The Okini-obsessed Osaka-ben speakers of Kansai may scoff, interjecting that Koshien’s hallowed grounds possess no equal....
The High Holidays are fast approaching. For your convenience and to help make for an orderly process, we will reserve the same synagogue seats that you booked last year. Should you wish to cancel or change your reserved seats, please let us know via the High Holidays reservation page before the reservation deadline. Otherwise, the...
Saturday’s Bar Mitzvah of Theo Daquin will round out our six B’nai Mitzvah in eight weeks extravaganza. All are welcome for what promises to be an exciting culmination of the Class of 5783. From the time of Charlemagne, the Daquin family has been tethered to Gaul. The World Cup edition of the JCC newsletter already...