The JCC is swimming in Scholars-in-Residence. While other synagogues empty their treasuries hosting thought leaders, we are fortunate to exchange only a taste of Izaki-san’s challah, an Ikea mattress and a roof overhead. Who says inbound tourism doesn’t have benefits?
On Friday night December 13, we will welcome Noah Notis, Princeton alum and current PhD student at the Columbia Plasma Physics Lab. In other words, not a dum-dum!
Noah has prepared a class titled ‘Gid Hanasheh (Sciatic Nerve): A Case Study in Rationalizing the Mitzvot’. We will examine one of the more obscure commandments, the prohibition against consumption of a kosher animal’s sciatic nerve, as a jumping off point to a much larger debate on the centrality of mitzvot in Jewish life.
If the topic feels too obscure, show up for the speaker’s brilliance, mentschlichkeit (the act of being a mentsch) and fascinating life story. Noah represented the United States in Israel’s Chidon Tanach/International Bible Knowledge Contest where he met his lovely wife Atara who was representing Canada.
Sciatic nerves and mitzvot not juicy enough for you? Well do we have a story for you.
The following week on Friday night December 20, Professor Sam Fleishacker is flying in to teach a class titled ‘Between Gossip and Lashon Hara: Why Some Gossip is a Good Thing’. If the first words out of your mouth on a phone call have ever been ‘come on, dish!’ then this class is for you.
Professor Fleishacker, whose CV lists a BA, MA and PhD all from Yale University, will put in conversation the Torah, 13th century Catalonian commentator Ramban/Nachmanides and 18th century Scottish economist Adam Smith to challenge the conventionally held notion that talebearing about others is always a terrible idea, if not outright sinful.
You do not need to reserve services or dinner to attend the above lectures. Just show up at 8:00pm and enjoy the Ivy League tour de force.
Services
Kabbalat Shabbat
Thanksgiving Dinner
Friday, November 29
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Parshat Toldot – Sigd
Kiddush sponsored by the Walzer and Rosenberg Families celebrating Jerry’s 75th Birthday and the visit of Lisa Barret who was a fixture at the JCCJ in the early 1990s
መልካም የስግድ በዓል חג סיגד שמח Happy Sigd!
Haftarah in Amharic translation in honor of Sigd
Saturday, November 30
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, December 6
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Parshat Vayetze
Kiddush open for sponsorship
Saturday, December 7
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Friday, December 13
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by reservation: 7:00pm
Lecture: 8:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Scholar-in-Residence Professor Sam Fleishacker
Between Gossip and Lashon Hara: Why Some Gossip is a Good Thing
Friday, December 20
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by reservation: 7:00pm
Lecture: 8:00pm
Shabbat Parshat Vayeshev
Kiddush open for sponsorship
Saturday, December 21
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat Hanukkah
Friday, December 27
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Hanukkah Parshat Miketz
Kiddush open for sponsorship
Saturday, December 28
Services: 10:00am
Kiddush: 12:00pm
Friday Night Dinner Reservations: https://jccjapan.jp/shabbat-meals-sign-up/
Events
Silent Tears – The Last Yiddish Tango (live performance)
Sunday, December 8 3:00pm-5:00pm
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
Mazal Tov to Jerry Rosenberg on his 75th birthday and Todd Walzer on the anniversary of his Bar Mitzvah this Shabbat!
We have three upcoming unsponsored Kiddushes in December. It should not be that surprising given end-of-year holidays, travel, etc. But if you happen to have an event you want to celebrate or commemorate, now would be a pretty good time to volunteer.
Our JCC ‘Getting Ready for Hanukkah’ Celebration will take place Saturday night, December 21 at 6:00pm. Considering Hanukkah starts the evening of December 25, we thought it would help to get the party started a few days early. Signup link should be live by next week.
A JCC member’s company is looking to hire a mobile app developer. Monthly salary range of 280,000-380,000 JPY commensurate with skill level and experience. If interested, please reply to this e-mail to receive the job description with details.
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.
Shabbat Parshat Toldot
Candle Lighting: 4:10pm
Havdala: 5:09pm