To paraphrase the chorus of a title track from the late 90s (but still touring) Backstreet Boys: ‘The JCC is back. Alright!’ We’ve got some exciting events in the works including a Family Shabbat + Friday Night Dinner on 2/25, an in-person Saturday morning service on 3/5 and of course our big Purim bash on Wednesday, 3/16. We are looking for Purim sponsors of nosh and merriment so if you feel particularly moved by the story of Mordechai and Esther, reply to this e-mail and we can discuss. Thankfully, the internet retained a copy of the Backstreet Boys dressed up for what I can only assume was an incredible Purim party we hope to outdo. See below image for costume ideas.
Please don’t mention Passover until after Purim. We are not there yet.
Services
Family Shabbat/Friday Night Dinner in-person at the JCC
Friday, February 25th
Services: 6:00pm – 7:00pm
Dinner: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Please visit https://jccjapan.jp/shabbat-dinner-sign-up/ to book your dinner reservations by Tuesday, February 22nd at 3pm.
Shabbat Parshat Pekudei
Saturday, March 5th
Services: 10:00am – 12:00pm
We are monitoring case numbers. If the trend moves in the right direction, we will (b’ezrat Hashem) have Kiddush.
Events
Lehrhaus Lecture Series presented by Jack Halpern
The Adventures of a 12-Language Polyglot — the joys and pains of learning a new language —
Jack Halpern serves as the Founder of the CJK Dictionary Institute and Director of the Japan Yiddish Club
Date: TBD
Purim Bash – Live Klezmer music and more!
Save the date: March 16, 2022 at the JCJ (depending on the state of the pandemic)
If you have an idea for an event or a topic you would like to share with others, please reach out to Events Chair Sherry Greenfield at sherry@greenfield.net
Announcements
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.
The JCC expresses our condolences to the Fink Family on the loss of Jim’s mom, Florence Fink, on January 14th. May her soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life and the family comforted among the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.
Quarantine hotels are a horrendous experience. Let’s make them a little less horrible by setting up a Gemach. The term, short for Gemilut Chasadim, can best be translated as a Mutual Aid Society. If you are flying into Tokyo and a quarantine hotel is (unfortunately) in your future, please let me know and I will see about helping you get through it with whatever might help. For instance, if you have a baby and you need a pack and play we can drop one off. Looking forward to helping each other out!
On this 建国記念の日/Kenkoku Kinen no Hi/Foundation Day we recognize the accession of Emperor Jimmu in 660 BCE. It’s hard to imagine that our forebears nearly 2700 years ago could have envisioned the descendants of Jimmu-san and King Solomon getting together getting together in the JCC Sunday School but here we are.
Shabbat Parshat Tetzaveh
Candle Lighting: 5:00pm
Havdala: 5:58pm