“Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours” are the wise words of Sir Elton John. Join us for a performance by Ukranian-born, Berlin-based folk-pop singer Maria Raykhman for an opportunity to bring us together in unity and provide healing at this time when we...
In 1923, 40% of the proceeds from the sale of the Beth Israel synagogue in Nagasaki went to organizations helping Jews settle the Land of Israel. Thirty years later, Minister of Israel in Japan Joseph Linton went on a real estate tour of Tokyo for the new Israeli Legation. He wrote in the JCC’s 5718/1957-1958...
Whether you’re at a Long Island Shabbat dinner or a Palm Beach beauty parlor, it would not be unusual to hear a version of the following Jewish-exceptionalist trope: ‘Well just look at how many Jewish Nobel Prize winners there are. Must be something to that whole chosen people thing huh?’ Put aside the absurdity that...
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....
“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....