Four months ago, the photo accompanying the newsletter for Parshat Behar consisted of a dog wearing a bowler cap in a room on fire expressing relief at how despite a tanking market and a weak yen, Shabbat morning Kiddush at the JCC remained free. No reservations necessary. Everyone loves Kiddush especially when the noshing and kibbitzing last even longer than the services that preceded it. However, what that dog may not have been able to communicate is that little in life, besides this newsletter maybe, is truly without cost. The JCC’s ability to offer a robust Kiddush following services relies on the beneficence of those willing to sponsor in celebration or commemoration of a lifecycle event, to mark a milestone or simply just because they have some extra cash burning a hole in their pocket.
While few of us would have described May’s 127 JPY to 1 USD as appealing, in the current 143 JPY to 1 USD environment (and climbing!), sponsoring kiddush all of a sudden seems like the deal of a century especially for people with income or holdings in the almighty dollar. In other words, sponsoring kiddush not only contributes to what binds our community together. It is also great コスパ/cost performance (Japanese for value…kind of). If you’re in the neighborhood on Saturday morning, please stop by for this week’s Olive Garden Kiddush sponsored by the Andreu Family. Besides for the homemade breadsticks, why is it called the Olive Garden Kiddush? Because at the JCC, when you’re here, you’re family.
Services
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, September 16th
Services: 6:00pm
Shabbat Parshat Ki Tavo
Pizza, Breadsticks and Spiked Seltzer Kiddush (also known as the Olive Garden Kiddush) sponsored by the Andreu family in commemoration of the yahrzeits of Carlos’s mother, Elizabeth Hutton-Scheck, and father, Carlos Andreu-Aragon
Saturday, September 17th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:00pm
Erev Rosh Hashanah
Sunday, September 25th
Services: 6:30pm
Dinner with Reservation: 7:30pm
Rosh Hashanah Day 1
Monday, September 26th
Morning Service: 9:00am
Lunch with Reservation: 1:00pm
Tashlich on at Arisugawa Park (across from National Azabu Supermarket): Meet at the Bridge over the Pond by the front entrance: 16:00
Evening Service: 18:30
Dinner with Reservation: 7:30pm
Rosh Hashanah Day 2
Tuesday, September 27th
Morning Service: 9:00am
Lunch with Reservation: 1:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, September 30th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner with Reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Shuva/Parshat Vayelech
Kiddush sponsored by the Dooley family (Maureen and Parker Dooley, sons Benjamin and Joshua) in memory of Maureen’s brother Michael Joseph Contract and parents Louis and Diane Selib Contract.
Saturday, October 1st
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:00pm
Erev Yom Kippur
Tuesday, October 4th
Before-the-fast dinner with reservation: 3:45pm
Kol Nidre: 5:00pm
Yom Kippur
Wednesday, October 5th
Services: 9:00am
Yizkor: 11:30am
Mincha and Neilah: 4:00pm
Break-the-fast cakes, soft drinks, coffee and tea (all invited): 6:15pm
Break-the-fast meal with reservation: 6:30pm
Events
Stay tuned for Sukkot and Simchat Torah happenings still in the works.
Announcements
The Talmud relates the story of an 18-year-old Rabbi Eleazar Ben Azarya’s hair spontaneously turning white so that he would appear older than he was and thus gain the ability to take over leadership of an important Babylonian seminary. Implicit in the narrative is the notion that the aged possess wisdom that can only be acquired over a lifetime. With that in mind, we wish all of our more senior members a joyous 敬老の日 / Keirō no Hi / Respect for the Aged Day. Your continued support grounds our community in its past while guaranteeing its future.
While the return to weekly Kabbalat Shabbat services is off to an exciting start, as Friday September 23rd coincides with the Japanese holiday 秋分の日/Autumnal Equinox Day, our building will be closed and services postponed. We look forward to seeing everyone just two nights later on Erev Rosh Hashana September 25th at 6:30pm.
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.
Shabbat Parshat Ki Tavo
Candle Lighting: 5:29pm
Havdala: 6:24pm