Did you know the JCJ has a Yiddish Club? Led by member Jack Halpern (of Kanji Learner’s Dictionary fame), the club is open to all levels and will be meeting in person after a long hiatus. Our classes are not just about language learning. The Yiddish language, and Yiddish culture (songs, klezmer, literature,theater, film), is truly...
If you missed the fun Hanukkah sing-along with Shari, there’s still enough time to get in your fix of Hanukkah songs and parodies. The West Side Hanukkah Story video by Six13 is a must. Rabbi Andrew, Tali and Asher will be hosting live from New York a musical Havdala and candle lighting on our Sunday...
Happy Thanksgiving to all those who celebrate. Next up, Hanukkah! Craving potato latkes or sufganiyot? Check out Tori Avey’s easy-to-follow Jewish cooking site for how to make these treats along with many others. Join us for a joyous community sing-a-long with member Shari Berman on Sunday evening just after Hanukkah begins. Details below. Link to...
It is the JCC’s distinct honor to host the Bar Mitzvah of Eli Sheldon this Friday night and Saturday. You would be forgiven, by me at least, for the family’s name not being immediately evident to you. LCDR Ben, Jessica, Eli and younger brother Josh hail from our small but very committed cohort of military...
You are not alone. A song lyric that may remind you of Michael Jackson or Dear Evan Hansen depending where you fall on the generational divide. Many JCC’ers reported a variation on the same theme after returning from their first trips since COVID: “I can’t believe how much my older my parents got.” This statement...
本音vs 建前 Honne vs Tatemae With the exception of the enduring centrality of the fax machine, there is little expats enjoy discussing more about Japanese culture than whether the aforementioned concept of separating one’s true feelings and outward behavior represents an insincere façade or, quite the opposite, an essential component in maintaining social harmony. Although...
BBYO is Launching in Japan!The Jewish Community of Japan is excited to be working with BBYO to launch a local chapter that will serve the post-B’nai Mitzvah audience (teens 13 to 18) fun and meaningful experiences. BBYO is the largest pluralistic Jewish Youth Movement in the world reaching 70,000 teens in 725 chapters across 60...
Young Professionals. The Junior League. NextGen. UJA-Generosity. Nearly every urban environment contains a cohort of folks in their 20s and 30s who will change the Jewish world. But before they do that, or maybe in order to do that, they like to get together and enjoy themselves. These are the stock of Abraham and Sarah...
As we prepare to enter 紅葉/kōyō I welcome everyone back from their summer holidays and High Holidays. The most common refrain I heard from people the past month runs something along the lines of “I cannot believe how much my parents aged.” Please do not feel alone in what can be a very draining experience...
Kabbalat Shabbat. How did a 15th-16th century innovation of the Jewish mystic Rabbi Isaac Luria in Tzfat take on such a significant role in contemporary Judaism? The answer boils down to people’s work schedules. Rabbi Luria used the precedent of Kabbalat Shabbat’s closest antecedent, the Friday night ‘Magen Avot’, which was formulated in medieval times...