Chabad Tokyo Japan Blog

On Sunday, December 21 at the Il Barbero Restaurant (near the Chabad Tokyo)
Children’s program at 4:00 pm
Grand Chanuka Celebration at 5:00 pm
We will be having great holiday food, lots of music and wonderful entertainment and surprises.

Children’s program will include special performer, arts and crafts, games, prizes and lots of fun.

Join in the festival of Lights, victory of light over darkness, holiness over impurity, goodness over negativity.
We hope that this Chanuka we will light the Menorah in the 3rd Temple, with the Rebbe Melech Hamoshiach.

Looking forward to seeing you

Rabbi Binyomin Edery
Chabad Tokyo Japan

Rosh Hashana we celebrated in a hall near Chabad Tokyo. There were over 100 participants.Many families and local Jews, and also many visitors from abroad.
There was a wonderful atmosphere, and inspiring New Year feeling.
Many participated in the services and the blowing of the Shofar.
On Sunday before Yom Kippur we did Kaparot.This is the first time in Chabad Tokyo that Kaparot are done on chickens.
Motzei Yom Kippur a big meal was served to all the people who came to pray.
For Succot, Rabbi Binyomin Edery director of Chabad of Tokyo made a Succa mobile, and drove all around Tokyo and the outskirts.Everyone who entered blessed on the Lulav and had some refreshments. There was an overwhelming great response from the people who he met on the way.

SUCCOT
You are welcome to join us for Succot and Simchat Torah.
Succot starts this Monday evening, October 13, at 4:45 pm.
Services will start at 6:30 pm followed by a festive meal.
Tuesday- Wednesday, October 14-15, 1st and 2nd day of Succot,
services start at 10:00 am
Holiday meal at 12:30 pm
Evening services at 7:00 pm, followed by holiday meal
All Succot meals are eaten in the Succa.

During the Intermediate days of Succot (half festival), Rabbi Binyomin Edery will be driving all around Tokyo and the outskirts (Yokohama, Saitama, Chiba) with the Succa Mobile, to let people bless on the Lulav and Etrog (Palm branch and citron). Refreshments will be served.
If you are interested to be on the ‘’Succa Route’’ please emailrabbi@chabadjapan.org
To sponsor the Succa Mobile for one day, in honor of, or in memory of someone, please email info@chabadjapan.org. One day ‘’Succa Sponsor’’ is 28,000 Yen.

Every evening of the Intermediate days there will be Simchat Bet Hashoeva in Chabad Tokyo.
The Mitzvah of Succot brings unity among people. It also helps us to conquer our negative traits and habits. When one takes part in the customs and mitzvos of Succot, one is able to reveal the light of Succot in ourselves and in our daily lives.
Here are the mitvot of Succot:
Making a blessing over food in a succa, blessing on the 4 species, taking part in the happiness of Succot, praying and eating the holiday meals.

SIMCHAT TORAH
Simchat Torah starts on October 20th in the evening, at 4:45. Services will start at 6:30 pm, followed by festive meal. Hakafot, dancing with the Torah will be on Monday evening, right after the meal.
Same schedule will be on Tuesday evening, October 21st, Services, meal and dancing with the Torah.
Morning services for Tuesday and Wednesday, October 21- 22 will be at 10:00 am.
Looking forward to seeing you and celebrating together.
Chag Sameach!

Chabad Japan would like to remind you of Kaparot, an important tradition of the day of Erev Yom Kippur. On this day, in biblical times, the high priest would take a goat out to the desert, put his hands on it and confess all the intentional and unintentional sins of Israel. He would then let it go free into the desert and carry away all the sins. The purpose was to absolve Israel from ones negative acts and the resulting Heavenly decree.

Today, the Kaparot offering is still performed. Instead of a goat, one uses a chicken (a white rooster for a man, a white hen for a woman and a white rooster and two white hens for a pregnant woman), a fish or a bag filled with tzedakah. He or she swings the sacrifice above his or her head nine times, while saying the following three times:

The children of men: those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, imprisoned by suffering and (chains of) iron. He (G-d) brought them out from darkness and from the shadow of death, and He broke their chains. Afflicted because of their evil ways, tormented for their transgressions, their souls loathed food; they reached the gates of death. In their agony, they cried to G-d and He saved them from their grief. (Even now) He sends His word and heals them and rescues them from destruction. Let them praise G-d for His loving-kindness and His wondrous deeds to man. If there is an angel over him – one advocate from among a thousand – to bear witness to a man’s virtue, (then) He is gracious to him and says, “Save him from going down to the pit. I have found a ransom (to atone for him).”

Then one finishes the Kaparot, by stating: This is my substitute. This is my counterpart. This is my atonement. This rooster (fish or tzedakah) goes to (its) death, while I go to good long life and peace.

We hope to see you this Yom Kippur at the Chabad Tokyo japan .

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Chasidic thought teaches that every Jew is born with a G-dly soul. This soul is pure and always desires us to act righteously. Throughout our lives, this desire never leaves us. Although we transgress and turn away from its light, it is never tarnished or disturbed.

On Yom Kippur, regardless of the year’s actions or preparations, the G-dly soul is revealed to us and brought to the forefront of our being. On this day our evil inclination has no power, and we have the potential to mimic the behavior of the angels. It is our job to use the spiritual tides of the day to wash our minds and hearts and bring the G-dly soul to the forefront of our lives.

Along with prayer, and abstaining from eating, drinking and physical desires on the day of Yom Kippur, proper preparation is very important to inspire a powerful and long-lasting return to G-d. Proper preparation includes days of introspection and the creation of resolutions to clear negative behaviors and adopt positive behaviors. With sincere prayer and supplication on this auspicious day, we empower the G-dly soul and arouse Heaven to bless us with a fruitful year.

G-d bless you and your family and we hope to see you this Yom Kippur.

Written by Moshe Silver