Kedoshim? Again? You may have noticed that this week’s newsletter subject line seems familiar. Well oddly enough, while last week’s parsha was indeed Kedoshim it was also another parsha called Acharei Mot. How is this possible? The answer depends on whether you were in Israel or the Diaspora.
Usually, the weekly parsha/lectionary cycle (SAT word) is the same throughout the world. However, each of the Shalosh Regalim/Three Festivals contain special readings which pause the cycle. Occasionally, like this year, the additional Diaspora 8th Day of Passover falls on a Saturday meaning those outside of Israel read the Passover portion. Since Passover in Israel is only 7 days, Israelis go back to the regular cycle putting even more daylight between Israeli and Diaspora Jews. Last week, I wrote the parsha was Kedoshim, true in Israel, when it was really Acharei Mot in Japan and the rest of the civilized world. QED
I wish I could tell you that I fudged up because with Yom ha’Atzmaut/Israeli Independence Day approaching I felt like the 11th century Spanish-Jewish philosopher Judah haLevi who wrote with reversed directionality “My heart is in the west, and I am at the edge of the east.” That as I yearned to live out the words we shouted at the end of the seder, L’Shana ha’baah b’Yerushalayim/Next Year in Jerusalem I metaphysically sensed that I was literally in the Land of Israel and so despite my best efforts, I posted the wrong parsha. But no. Occam’s Razor teaches a much simpler explanation. I clicked Israel Holiday Schedule instead of Diaspora Holiday Schedule on Hebcal. There you have it. How the kosher sausage of the newsletter gets made each week. And don’t worry. We’ll get back on track with Israel the last week of July when we read the combination parshiyot Matot-Masei. Mea culpa and thank you to those who wrote me concerning the error.
Services
Family Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, May 13th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner with Reservation : 7:00pm
Family Shabbat Parshat Emor
Saturday, May 14th
Mother’s Day Kiddush Sponsored by the Bodenheimer Family
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:00pm
Shabbat Parshat Behar
Sophie Leviton’s Bat Mitzvah
Saturday, May 21st
Services: 10:00am
Shabbat Parshat Bechukotai
Saturday, May 28th
Kiddush Sponsored by the Scheer Family in honor of Asher’s 1st Birthday
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:00pm
Events
Lehrhaus Lecture Series presented by Jack Halpern
The Adventures of a 12-Language Polyglot — the joys and pains of learning a new language —
Jack Halpern serves as the Founder of the CJK Dictionary Institute and Director of the Japan Yiddish Club
Date: June 9th
Venue: In-Person at the JCC
Announcements
We wish condolences to the Gilon Family and all Israelis on the passing of MK Ilan Gilon. The rare expression of grief across the famously fractious political spectrum speaks to the mentschlichkeit with which MK Gilon carried himself. Freed from communism via a $5,000 bribe paid by the JDC to the Romanian Ceaușescu regime, MK Gilon rose from being a self-described ‘Ars from Ashdod’ to one of the premier public servants in Israeli history.
Tuesday’s Zoom Yom HaShoah ceremony, led by NPO Kokoro and broadcast live from the JCC, reached 200 screens across Japan. Thank you to Director Fumiko Ishioka for her enduring commitment to Holocaust Education.
Yiddish Club with Jack Halpern: Meetings have started monthly in-person at the JCJ. Please contact Jack at jack@cjki.org if you are interested to join. All levels are welcome, from beginner to advanced. Much more than just language, the club enjoys exploring Yiddish culture as well.
Wishing all a happy Mother’s Day!
Shabbat Parshat Kedoshim
Candle Lighting: 6:13pm תרי”ג מצוות
Havdala: 7:14pm