Given our isolated location, the Jews of Japan have historically been disconnected from the rest of the Jewish world. There are a few exceptions, namely the nascent Nagasaki community’s late 19th century relationship with Ohel Moshe Synagogue in Shanghai and former JCJ president Anatol Ponve’s selfless work rescuing European refugees from the Shoah. But in terms of large-scale initiatives, we are usually an afterthought if people even know about us at all.
Thankfully, due to important bridge building work undertaken by many of our community members that tide seems to be turning. A stronger than ever relationship with the Embassy of Israel has brought distinguished visitors including Members of the Knesset and Cabinet Secretaries through our doors. In the past year, we have hosted delegations from every three-letter Jewish agency (UJA, WJC, AJC, etc.) and even an entire regional teen convention from the four-letter BBYO.
We continue to build on that momentum tonight as part of the Shabbat Project founded by the Chief Rabbi of South Africa Warren Goldstein in 2013. Given Japan’s ‘Land of the Rising Sun’ location, we will be the first of the 1,416 participating Jewish communities from 97 partner countries to light candles and usher in a Shabbat of global Jewish unity.
The progenitor of the Shabbat Project in Japan, Joanne Yoshida of Kyushu, writes:
Our participation this year is to offer a special prayer for the hostages that is inspired by the weekly Torah portion.
The parsha’s name, Vayera, וַיֵּרָא means ‘and He appeared’.
Abraham is sitting in front of his tent under the terebinth trees of Mamre. God appears to Abraham while he is waiting to greet guests and show hospitality just as we do year round in Tokyo.
Last Hannukah, we welcomed multiple families of captives including Alon Ohel. At a dinner in their honor, Alon’s brother played piano and his mother sang a song in hopes for her son’s return.
Alon Ohel’s name appears in two words in the first verse of this week’s parsha where Abraham is sitting outside his tent under the Terebinth tree.
אֵלוֹן Alon = Oak tree, Terebinth
אֹהֶל Ohel = Tent
With this added symbolism, we invite our entire community to pray as part of the Shabbat Project for the safe return of our hostages including Alon Ohel. May we merit to open our doors to Alon and his family as we had the privilege of welcoming Yaakov Argamani with daughter Noa back in August.
Services
Kabbalat Shabbat (Project)
Friday, November 15
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by reservation: 7:00pm
Kabbalat Shabbat
Thanksgiving Dinner
Friday, November 29
Services: 6:00pm
Dinner by reservation: 7:00pm
Shabbat Parshat Toldot – Sigd
Kiddush sponsored by Rachel and Todd Walzer celebrating the visit of Lisa Barret who was a fixture at the JCCJ in the early 1990’s
Haftarah in Amharic 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
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
In recognition of our community’s participation in the Shabbat Project, Chief Rabbi Goldstein sent us the following personalized message: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuUVh_gpCak
The JCC will be closed Shabbat November 22-23 in observance of Labor Thanksgiving Day.
Are you an American far from home worried about how you’re going to celebrate Thanksgiving? Not to worry, the JCC has you covered with our Friday night dinner on November 29. We’ve secured a kosher 18lb (chai!) turkey along with canned pumpkin, jellied cranberries and all the fix-ins.
Shabbat November 29-30 marks the Beta Israel holiday of Sigd. At Saturday morning services, Yonas Seme will chant the haftarah in Amharic as per Ethiopian Jewish tradition.
On Shabbat December 20-21 we will welcome Professor Sam Fleischacker as Scholar-in-Residence. Professor Fleishacker’s Friday night lecture ‘Between Gossip and Lashon Hara: Why Some Gossip is a Good Thing’ promises to enlighten us and challenge our conventionally held wisdom.
Our JCC ‘Getting Ready for Hanukkah’ Celebration will take place Saturday night, December 21. Considering Hanukkah starts the evening of December 25, we thought it would help to get the party started a few days early. Sign-up link will be live in the next few weeks.
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 Vayera
Candle Lighting: 4:16pm
Havdala: 5:14pm