As the JCC’s Monegasque Dior devotee likes to remind your fashionably challenged rabbi, the best way to spruce up an outfit is to accessorize. When you look at Jewish celebrations, it becomes apparent that the Sages of Olde have known this for thousands of years.
Jewish holidays are filled with accessories: Graggers/noisemakers on Purim, dreidels/spinning tops on Hanukkah, bows and arrows on Lag BaOmer, plush Torahs on Shavuot, little frogs on the seder table for Passover. Each holiday has its toys.
Simchat Torah has its own unique accessory, the flag. What began 500 years ago with banners created by professional painters is now mass-produced in China with the life span of a disposable cup.
Flags from mid-19th century shtetls show boys in traditional garb led by Hasidim in peyot/sidecurls wearing long coats. Religious motifs including representations of Moses and Aaron take center stage. As Zionism begins becomes a political force, Theodore Herzl in a top hat emerges alongside the Israeli flag.
With Jewish refugees streaming into the land of Israel in the early 20th century, the first change reflects children’s clothing. More muted and modest eastern European fashion morph into tee shirts and shorts with kippot in some instances replaced by the iconic kova tembel/kibbutz cap.
Following the Six-Day War, Simchat Torah flags take on more militaristic themes. Moses, Aaron and Herzl are replaced by Dayan, Rabin, and Sharon. More recently, the faces of political leaders from the Shas Party make an appearance.
In line with this contemporary Israeli tradition and given the timely nature of the holiday this year, the JCC’s Simchat Torah flags will feature both candidates in the upcoming election for the highest office in the land. In the interest of maintaining an environment where all are welcome, we ask that people please respect other’s choices in terms of which candidate’s flag they choose to fly. The decision, and flag for that matter, will be entirely in your hands.
With all that being said, half of our flags will feature the LDP’s Ishiba-san and the other half Noda-san from the CDP. We know it’s an exceptionally divisive time in our country. The government’s posture towards Article 9 and debate over whether married couples should be allowed to keep their surnames threatens to tear at the very fabric of the postwar order. We know such topics bring out the worst in people.
We humbly request during these turbulent periods in our history for people to understand that despite their radically different visions and approaches, both the LDP and CDP want what’s best for Japan. What? You were looking for American politics? Yeah, not touching that. I think it would affect our 501c3 status.
In all seriousness, we are fortunate to have received a gift of flags and plush Torahs hand carried back from Israel to the JCC by longtime members the Walzer Family, in whose honor Kiddush is sponsored this Saturday morning.
This year’s Simchat Torah program will necessarily be different than in previous years. While we commemorated the anniversary of last year’s atrocities several weeks ago on October 7th, the attack coincided with Simchat Torah and thus will tragically forever be linked with what is supposed to be one of the most joyous days in the Hebrew calendar.
Thank you to the Bavli family for organizing what promises to be a solemn, more intentional and yet still celebratory Simchat Torah this Thursday evening at 5:15pm.
Regardless of whose face graces your Simchat Torah flag, it will almost certainly contain the same four Hebrew words that have been on these holiday keepsakes going back centuries. Sisu v’Simchu b’Simchat Torah. Rejoice and be joyous on Simchat Torah.
Please sign up on our events page: https://jccjapan.jp/event-registration/
Services
Shmini Atzeret Evening
Wednesday, October 23rd
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner in the Sukkah by reservation: 7:00pm
Shmini Atzeret Morning
Thursday, October 24th
Services: 10:00am
Yizkor: 11:30am
Lunch in the Sukkah by reservation: 12:30pm
Erev Simchat Torah Service
Thursday, October 24th
Services and Dancing with the Torah: 5:15pm
Pizza, refreshments and drinks to follow
Signup on our Events Registration Page
Simchat Torah
Friday, October 25th
Services: 10:00am
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, October 25th
Services: 5:00pm
Dinner by reservation: 6:00pm
Shabbat Parshat Beresheet
Kiddush anonymously sponsored in honor of the Walzer family’s return to Tokyo
Saturday, October 26th
Services: 10:00am
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday Night Dinner is generously sponsored by Kathy Pike and family in honor of Marsha and Jerry Rosenberg and their decades of extraordinary leadership at the JCJ
Friday, November 1st
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by reservation on Events Registration Page: 7:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, November 8th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Parshat Lech Lecha
Kiddush open for sponsorship
Saturday, November 9th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, November 15th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by reservation: 7:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, November 22nd
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by reservation: 7:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, November 29th
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Parshat Toldot
Kiddush open for sponsorship
Saturday, November 30th
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:00pm
Simchat Torah Registration: https://jccjapan.jp/event-registration/
Friday Night Dinner Reservations: https://jccjapan.jp/shabbat-meals-sign-up/
Events
Silent Tears – The Last Yiddish Tango (live performance)
Sunday, December 8th Time TBD
Event Registration Page: https://jccjapan.jp/event-registration/
If you have an idea for an event or a topic you would like to share with others, please visit our website: https://jccjapan.jp/event-committee-inquiry/
Announcements
Longtime JCC member Kathy Pike and family are generously sponsoring Friday Night Dinner on November 1st in honor of Marsha and Jerry Rosenberg and their decades of extraordinary leadership at the JCJ. All JCC members are welcome to sign up on our Shabbat meals page: https://jccjapan.jp/shabbat-meals-sign-up/ Your account will not be charged. Registering through the Shabbat meals page ensures we prepare the correct number of meals.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for Sukkot. Many dutifully showed up to make the minyan multiple times. A special highlight was the presence of a Kohen who led off with the first Aliyah and duchened (how often do you read that word?) meaning led the Priestly Blessing for the first time since his Bar Mitzvah. Thank you to our Chazzan and Torah readers who chanted so melodiously.
Mazal Tov to the Leeds Family on the birth of a second granddaughter in three weeks! May both granddaughters be brough up in Torah, to the Chuppah (no rush!) and with acts of loving-kindness.
Our BBYO Teen Cohort enjoyed a great game night with lasagna in the Sukkah. As was overheard under the moonlight and origami decorations “Wow we actually hosted a good event.”
Friday night’s book talk with Eva Izsak Niimura greatly affected everyone who attended with its powerful, sometimes raw emotional depth and beauty. ‘Songs My Mother Taught Me: A Novel’ is available either from booksellers or the author herself.
Tokyo was selected as the host city for this year’s BBYO Convention of Jewish Teens in Asia. Our teens and their parents are planning a jam-packed itinerary for participants from Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taipei. If you would like to register, help, contribute or learn more please reply to this email.
Yiddish Club with Jack Halpern: 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’s monthly meetings explore Yiddish culture as well.
Sukkot Second Days and Beresheet
Candle Lighting Wednesday: 4:37pm
Candle Lighting Thursday: 5:33pm
Candle Lighting Friday: 4:35pm
Havdala: 5:31pm
Don’t forget Eruv Tavshilin