With tourism to Japan open again, we are happy to announce that the JCC has gotten back to hosting visitors from all over the world for Friday night services and dinner. They love our sanctuary, cuisine, ambience and of course Izaki-san’s famous challah rolls. The one thing missing? Y-O-U!
As much as folks from overseas enjoy tucking into a hearty Shabbat meal, what motivates them to visit us even more is the opportunity to ‘meet the Jews of Tokyo’ if quite literally every e-mail we receive from tourists is to be believed. Friday night at the JCC has a feel all its own, a little more upscale than Saturday morning kiddush but also a drop more casual following the shorter Kabbalat Shabbat service. While we request that people reserve dinner by the Wednesday before, everyone is always welcome in our sanctuary and when we make kiddush downstairs afterwards.
Think of it this way. It is your opportunity to create any version of alternate Jewish reality that people will then go home and tell their friends about. (Rabbis don’t encourage lying. It’s against the Torah.) Bar and Bat Mitzvah Ceremonies conducted in kimonos? Sure! The JCC Sisterhood provides free Geisha training? Absolutely! The Spicy Tuna roll was invented in our kitchen when some maror fell on a piece of gefilte fish at a communal Passover Seder? Ok, let’s not get carried away but the possibilities are endless. Or instead of messing with people and disregarding the 8th Commandment, you can just pop in any ol’ Friday night and meet some very gullible lovely, vacationing Jews who would love nothing more than the presence of your company, if only for an evening.
Services
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, November 4th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner with reservation: 7:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, November 11th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner with reservation: 7:00pm
Sigd Shabbat Parshat Vayera
Bat Mitzvah of Clara Kwintner
Saturday, November 12th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:00pm
Family Shabbat
Friday, November 18th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner with reservation: 7:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, November 25th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner with reservation: 7:00pm
No turkey this year. Kawaisou ne…
Events
Jewish Jazz Night Live with Selim Benba
Saturday, November 12th
7:00pm at the JCJ
Registration Details
Speaker Series: Ambassador Rahm Emanuel
Thursday, December 1st
7:00pm at the JCJ
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
Saturday night’s Zoom event with Hedy Bohm was a great success. Thank you to Joe Singer, Sherry Greenfield and the Events Committee for your diligent efforts. While the final tally is not yet complete, a significant amount of money was raised for the Tokyo Holocaust Education Resource Center.
Mazal Tov to Steve Bass on reaching Krav Maga Orange Belt, which we celebrated in our sanctuary. In his final test, Steve lifted the Torah in its current, heavily unbalanced state and Boaz-sensei completed the ceremonial wrapping. While not necessarily as impressive as Mami Alfant’s Nanadan in Kendo, an Orange Belt is certainly a very encouraging start. We look forward to celebrating Green Belt when the time comes.
We are heartbroken by the loss of Raji Krishnaswami, one of the finest Jews in Tokyo. Raji was a great friend to many, leaving an indelible mark on our community. He will be sorely missed and his absence felt for many years to come.
Thank you to Amos Sitbon, Todd Walzer and David Tropp for your beautiful reading of Parshat Noach this past Shabbat when we were beyond fortunate to call Raji up for an aliyah, his first ever at the JCC.
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 Lech Lecha
Candle Lighting: 4:25pm
Havdala: 5:22pm