There are few peoples in the world who understand the concept of destruction and rebuilding as much as Yudaya-jin and Nihon-jin. On our honeymoon three years ago, nearly every Castle or Temple we visited was a replica of a replica of the original. One cannot help but simultaneously both appreciate the majesty of what is and what was when in the presence of the destroyed and subsequently rebuilt Kinkakuji/Temple of the Golden Pavilion forever immortalized in 三島 由紀夫’s z”l 1950 masterpiece. As an aside, Mishima Yukio’s son-in-law is the current Japanese Ambassador to Israel so I wonder what he must think when visiting the Western Wall in Jerusalem, the only extant remainder of our once great Temple.
Tisha b’Av begins this Saturday night immediately following Shabbat. Literally translated into the 9th day of the month of Av, many tragic events have befallen the Jewish people on this day including none more important than the destruction of both the First and Second Temples 656 years apart. To retell a ma’aseh she’haya I have shared a few times from the bimah, Napoleon heard wailing and crying coming from a synagogue he was walking past. He sent an aide to inquire as to what had happened. The aide returned and told Napoleon that the Jews were in mourning over the loss of their Temple. Napoleon was indignant. “Why wasn’t I informed? When did this happen? Which Temple?” The aide responded, “Their Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans on this date 1,700 years ago.” Napoleon stood in silence and then said, “Certainly a people which has mourned the loss of their Temple for so long will survive to see it rebuilt!”
This Saturday night on Tisha b’Av, we will make an abbreviated Havdalah followed by a chanting of Eicha / Lamentations which recalls the destruction of Jerusalem and the First Temple by the Babylonians in 586 BCE. As is customary, we will sit as mourners and reflect on our continued yearning for the Third Temple to be speedily rebuilt in our days.
Services
We invite you to Havdalah followed by the Tisha b’Av Service reading of Eicha / Lamentations at the JCC on Saturday night, July 17th at 7:30pm. Please RSVP by replying to this e-mail.
Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat will continue over Zoom at 6:00pm through July 23rd.
Schedule for Summer Shabbat morning 10am in-person services: 7/31, 8/14, 8/28
Next Kiddush available for sponsorship is July 31st.
Events
Havdala/Tisha b’Av Services
Date: Saturday, July 17th
Time: 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Mornings at the JCC
Date: Wednesday, July 28th
Time: 10:00am – Noon
In-Person Shabbat Morning Services
Date: Saturday, July 31st
Time: 10:00am – Noon
Announcements
The JCC welcomes back the following members from their summer holidays. Looking forward to reuniting in Hiro-o.
おかえりなさい (Okaerinasai) to a member of the Tischler family who will be volunteering at the Olympics. See if you can guess which one!
The JCC recognizes the following yahrtzeits this Shabbat:
Haim Agmoni, father of Eyal Agmoni
Benjamin Rosenberg, father of Jerry Rosenberg
Richard Lee Sneider, father of David Sneider.
May each of their neshamot have an aliya.
In the following weeks and months, we will roll out several new features in the newsletter including a message from the board, featured members, a Japanese column and member recipes. If you would like to volunteer for any of the above, please reply to this e-mail.
Image: Relief on the Arch of Titus, erected in 81 CE, depicting spoils brought back to Rome from the sacking of Jerusalem. The emblem of the State of Israel contains the Menorah found in the photo.
Shabbat Chazon/Parshat Dvarim
Candle Lighting: 6:38pm
Shabbat Ends: 7:40pm