Although the Torah was not written in chronological order, the newsletter usually is. So before we get to Simchat Torah, please help make the minyan this Shabbat morning at 10am if for no other reason than it is the only time all year that Kiddush will take place in the Sukkah.
Simchat Torah, literally translated as Rejoicing with the Torah or more accurately Rejoicing with the Hebrew Bible in its Parchment Form, represents our completion of the parsha/lectionary cycle concluding with Deuteronomy and then rolling right back to Genesis and starting all over again. In more densely populated Jewish communities, it is not uncommon for things to get rowdy after removing all the Sifrei Torah from the ark and circling the street chanting niggun after niggun, song after song. If last year is a guide, we won’t have to worry about the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department knocking on our door. The Hiroo version of Simchat Torah skews a drop more mellow than the more densely populated Jewish neighborhoods JCC members hail from like say Beachwood, Bethesda, Three Chopt, Coney Island, Forest Hills, Livingston, the Main Line, Wilmette, Burns Park, Hilltop, Germantown, Toco Hills, Aventura, Mercer Island, East Bay, Pico Robertson, Kona, Lo Barnechea, Golders Green, the Marais District, Pelikaanstraat, Mea Shearim, Rothschild, Gondar or Bondi* (deep breath) but Tokyo is no less vibrant than any of the aforementioned.
For 5783, we are pulling out all the stops. Following the completely predictable spontaneous bouts of dancing, Pizza in the Hut will be served in our beautifully appointed Sukkah with decorations created by our Sunday Schoolers just this past week. See you there and bring friends!
*Answer key: Cleveland, DC Area, Richmond, Brooklyn, Queens, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Chicago, Ann Arbor, Denver, Memphis, Atlanta, Miami, Seattle, NorCal, SoCal, Hawaii, Santiago, London, Paris, Antwerp, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Ethiopia, Sydney.
If where you grew up didn’t make the cut, my deepest apologies. I look forward to your angry e-mail’s. Better luck in 5784!
Services
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, October 14th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner with reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Chol HaMoed Sukkot
Kiddush Luncheon Sponsored by the Rosenberg, Leviton, Tischler and Yeskel Families in honor of Rabbi Shari Berman’s rabbinic ordination
Saturday, October 15th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:30pm
Simchat Torah/Pizza in the Hut
Dance with the Torah!
Pizza, Refreshments and Drinks
Monday, October 17th
Services: 6:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, October 21st
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner with reservation: 7:00pm
Family Shabbat
Friday, October 28th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner with reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Parshat (Henri) Noach
Saturday, October 29th
Kiddush Sponsored by Joanne Yoshida and Family in honor of the New Year 5783, and to give thanks to you all at JCC for being a ‘home’ to me over the holidays
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, November 4th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner with reservation: 7:00pm
Family Shabbat
Friday, November 11th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner with reservation: 7:00pm
Sigd Shabbat Parshat Vayera
Saturday, November 12th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:00pm
Events
Holocaust Survivor and Educator Hedy Bohm
English with Simultaneous Japanese Translation
Saturday, October 29th
8:00pm on Zoom
Register here
Jewish Jazz Night Live with Selim Benba
Saturday, November 12th
7:00pm at the JCJ
Speaker Series: Ambassador Rahm Emanuel
Thursday, December 1st
7:00pm at the JCJ
If you have an idea for an event or a topic you would like to share with others, please visit our website.
Announcements
Chiune Sugihara’s granddaughter Madoka will be speaking at Tokyo American Club on Wednesday, November 9th from 7-8pm. Details can be found here. If you would like to attend as a guest, please reply to this e-mail.
Condolences to the Tenenboim Family on Amnon Hanoh’s death in Japanese detention. May the family be comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
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 Chol HaMoed Sukkot
Candle Lighting: 4:49pm
Havdala: 5:44pm