Mishenichnas Adar Marbin b’Simcha
At the onset of the month of Adar, our joy increases.
So teaches the Talmud in an otherwise quite dour section centering on the destruction of the Temple. Beyond dealing with the astrological and astronomical implications of such a statement, a controversy has recently arisen about the popular tune sung throughout the world.
Many popular Jewish songs possess distinctly non-Jewish origins. The recently popular Hashem Melech by Gad Elbaz? Directly sampled from Algerian singer Khaled’s C’est la vie. Mordechai Ben David’s Yidden familiar to anyone who has attended an even mildly Hasidic wedding since 1986? Copied from the German Disco Group Dschinghis Khan as performed at the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest in Jerusalem. Hannukah’s Maoz Tzur? Derivative of a 14th Century German Folk Song which then made its way into Jewish Yekke circles and far wider acceptance. Even a page on Chabad’s website is dedicated to the very Jewish sounding Napoleon’s March.
Back to Purim though, what could be so problematic about the children’s classic Mishenichnas Adar Marbin b’Simcha? Well, it turns out the tune’s origins lie in a 19th century American ditty called…Pick a Bale o’ Cotton. Before our Millennial and Gen Z members start canceling the newsletter en masse, if you click on the link you will see a distinctly multi-ethnic group singing the song in what appears to be good, non-coerced fun. Despite the title evoking the antebellum American South, artists closely identified with the civil rights movement like Harry Belafonte and Johnny Cash recorded their own versions of the song apparently untroubled by its potential origins.
Whatever side of the cultural appropriation debate you fall on, I think we can all agree that Jewish music continues to be enhanced by not closing our ears to the wonderful songs being composed in the secular world. And when the holy Canadian Jew like Leonard Cohen decides to harmonize the two, well then Hallelujah.
Services
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, February 17th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner with reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Shekalim/Parshat Mishpatim
Kiddush sponsored by the Pike-Forster Family for the warm welcome during our visit and the joy that comes with knowing that our Jewish community in Japan is thriving
Saturday, February 18th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, February 24th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner with reservation: 7:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, March 3rd
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner with reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Zachor/Parshat Tetzaveh
Kiddush Sponsored by the McCormack Family in honor of Yokota’s Jewish Community
Saturday, March 4th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, March 10th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner with reservation: 7:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, March 17th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner with reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei
Kiddush Sponsored by the Nadler Family in memory of Peter’s mother, Marta Nadler
Saturday, March 18th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, March 24th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner with reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Parshat Vayikra
Kiddush Sponsored by the Greenfield-Ichikawa Family in honor of Rina’s Tokyo Bat Mitzvah
Saturday, March 25th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:00pm
Events
Purim with Japanese Klezmer Band CICALA-MVTA
Sponsored by the Bleiweis-Fischer, Nadler, Sitbon, Tseinyev and Anonymous families for their sponsorship of our Purim festivities. Izaki-san’s famous hamantaschen sponsored by Kenden Alfond of Jewish Food Hero.
Monday, March 6th
Megillah Reading in the JCC Sanctuary
Time: 7:00pm
Donation: 1,000 yen
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
Longtime JCCer Lea Epstein is looking to interview mixed Japanese and Western families about their exposure to each respective culture and their mixed cultural identities for an ethnographic research study. If you can participate, please reply to this e-mail to be put in touch with Lea.
In an event that would almost certainly confuse the man himself, you can visit Chiune Sugihara’s hometown…in the metaverse! The Chūbu Region is putting together two tours this Monday, February 20th, the first starting at 10am and the second at 5pm. Please see their website for details.
Thank you to Ambassador Gilad Cohen of the Israeli Embassy for an enlightening evening at the JCC. We very much look forward to the imminent inauguration of direct flights between Tokyo and Tel Aviv in two weekss
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 Parshat Mishpatim
Candle Lighting: 5:06pm
Havdala: 6:04pm