Cartago Delenda Est
Carthage Must be Destroyed
The famous quote, at least famous to those who spent time in AP European History, was spoken by Cato the Elder in the 2nd Century BCE during a debate in the Roman Senate prior to the Third Punic War. Following that pronouncement, the Carthaginians led by Hannibal’s grandson Hasdrubal suffered an ignominious defeat and immense devastation. Far from being destroyed though, Carthage has been reborn many times until arriving at today’s modern nation state of Tunisia where for centuries Jews have lived in relative peace and harmony amongst Muslim neighbors.
Tunisia’s small but mighty Jewish community is said to date back to the Babylonian Exile in 586 BCE. We are fortunate in Tokyo to enjoy the Sitbon family’s Tunisian style of Torah Reading and Franco-Maghrebi quiches which put our humble Ashkenazi potato kugels to shame. Djerba’s synagogue is the last to still hang and burn an effigy of Haman every Purim Eve, a longstanding and once global ritual that ceased for fear of antagonizing potentially misunderstanding Christian neighbors.
Tuesday’s devastating terror attack on the El Ghriba synagogue on the island of Djerba shocked not only the Jewish world but the Tunisian people. During the 2021 pilgrimage, then Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi shared that “Tunisia is the ideal place where all communities live together in peace.” La Presse, the French language paper of record in Tunis described the attack as an act of cowardice. Unfortunately, the community has been the target of terrorism twice before, in 2002’s pilgrimage and on Simchat Torah in 1985. True to the arc of Jewish history, Tunisia’s Jews persevere in celebrating their rich heritage while concurrently commemorating the tragedies. May the memories of Aviel Haddad and Benjamin Haddad be for a blessing. הי”ד
Services
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, May 12th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by Reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Parshat Behar-Bechukotai
Bar Mitzvah of Jonathan Greenberg
Saturday, May 13th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:15pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, May 19th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by Reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Parshat Bamidbar
Bar Mitzvah of Oliver Roth
Saturday, May 20th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:15pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, May 26th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by Reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat – Shavuot Second Day
Bat Mitzvah of Kayla Kleiman
Saturday, May 27th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:30pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, June 2nd
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by Reservation: 7:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, June 9th
Services: 6:00pm
Shabbat Parashat Beha’alotcha
Bat Mitzvah of Emma Brownstein
Saturday, June 10th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:15pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, June 16th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by Reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Parshat Shlach
Bar Mitzvah of Theo Daquin
Saturday, June 17th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:15pm
Events
Baby Scheer Bris
Tuesday, May 16th
5:30pm – 8:30pm
Ceremony followed by Festive Meal/Seudat Mitzvah
Registration Details
Art Show at the JCC
Sunday, May 28th
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Admission Fee: 1,000 JPY for adults and 500 JPY for kids
Registration Details
If you have an idea for an event or a topic you would like to share with others, please visit our website.
Announcements
Mazal Tov to the Greenberg Family on Jonathan’s Bar Mitzvah this Shabbat. While we were hoping to import knishes from Adelman’s Kosher Deli on Kings Highway in Brooklyn as an ode to Larry’s time as a sandwalker, we were saddened to learn that the restaurant closed ten years ago. May a branch of the 2nd Avenue Deli open in Tokyo, preferably in Hiroo or Nishiazabu, speedily in our days. Amen.
Mazal Tov to Asher Adi Scheer on the birth of his baby brother to Tali and Rabbi Andrew this week. All are welcome to join the brit milah on Tuesday, May 16th at 5:30pm.
JCC Member David Parker will be moderating an event with GRIPS on Monday, May 15, from 5:30pm-6:30pm. The topic will be “Strengthening U.S.-Japan Cooperation on Critical and Emerging Technologies” GRIPS featuring Dr. Seth Center, Deputy Envoy for Critical and Emerging Technologies at the U.S. Department of State. If you are interested in joining, the registration link is here.
Yiddish Club with Jack Halpern: Monthly meetings have been taking place for quite some time in-person at the JCJ. Please contact Jack at jack@cjki.org if you are interested. All levels are welcome, from beginner to advanced. Much more than just language, the club enjoys exploring Yiddish culture as well.
Shabbat Behar Bechukotai
Candle Lighting: 6:06pm
Havdala: 7:06pm