Challah Bakers Club at Chabad Japan
Due to the spread of COVID-19, this program is carefully supervised by the staff of Chabad Japan and all of the participants registered to the event beforehand. This Sunday we had a fantastic time at our Challah Bakers Club. Challah Bakers Club is a family club aimed for kids to have hands-on experiences in baking challah, gardening, nature, and Jewish Holidays. The kids wore their baker hats and had a ball being ‘’chefs’’ and making many different Challah shapes. They all made a wish and a blessing on the Challah. Making a blessing on the Challah reminds us that everything we have is a blessing from G-d, and we show our appreciation by taking a piece and making a special blessing. Children learned about the importance of appreciating and giving from what they are blessed with. With sports competitions running now in Japan, we are encouraging competition of good deeds and acts of kindness. Here every child is a champion! The kids picked cherry tomatoes from Rabbi Edery’s beautiful garden and enjoyed petting the tiny two week old chicks. They were so excited to learn about what the little chicks eat and drink, and were fascinated to see how they jump excitedly around their chicken coop. We explained that the light that was lit on the coop during the day was for heating not for lighting. The children had a fabulous time on the trampoline. We all enjoyed the best falafel and watermelon and can’t wait for the next get together!
Our Message and Prayer to victims of Atami mudslide
The terrible mudslide in Atami brought death and destruction. We pray for the welfare of the people who were hurt physically and to those who lost their house and property. We are sure the Japanese government and local officials are doing their very best to insure that people are being taken care of. Now is the time for every individual to look around and see if someone might need help. It is incumbent upon us to feel socially responsible for the health and mental state of the people who live around us. May G-d protect Japan that it should never happen again.
Rabbi Edery promotes agriculture in Japan
An important mission of Chabad Japan Tokyo is to promote the beauty of Japan and it’s people. Having many Kosher certifications on traditional Japanese food products, Rabbi Edery also emphasizes the relationship with local Japanese farmers. Japan is known for its exceptional quality and taste of its produce. Over the years, Japan has been importing fruits and vegetables more than what it grows locally. Many farms close down because the younger generation prefers to work as salary men in the city. Rabbi Edery encourages and works with many farmers and factories to promote and develop their products. In Kyushu, the Rabbi visited a rice farm, that is one of the largest in Japan. The farmer so appreciated Rabbi Edery’s care and efforts for Japanese farmers, that he sent special Yellow Japanese cherries as a gift. In Japan, one can find very unique fruits and vegetables. Even usual fruits such as cherries and watermelon which normally are pink/ red, one can find then in yellow as well. His family enjoyed this delicious fruit. For further detail of Rabbi visiting orange farm in Wakayama, Please visit the article on Kosher Japan (article is in Japanese).
Kosher Japan Premium Rice made in Hokkaido
Rice. There are many different types of rice. Japanese are very particular about which rice they are using. Some are more sticky, some more firm, some are sweeter, some are good for sushi, some are good for mochi. Rabbi Edery visited a special farm in Hokkaido which produces several types of rice. A premium rice called “Yumepirika” used specially to make delicious sake. The rice farmer and his wife showed the Rabbi a huge pump that they had on their property. The pump was used to draw hot spring water from the depths of the earth 400 deep in the earth. They fill up a truck load full of water and sell it to ryokans and hotels in the area. Hokkaido burst with stunning scenery, onsens, lakes and oceans and special people of the Northern most part of Japan.
Rabbi Edery visits Natural Onsen in Hokkaido
All over Japan one can find natural geysers and hot springs. There are many that can be found in the mountains, near rivers and lakes. Some are more commercialized, using the hot spring water, pumping up to the surface into a pool, sometimes adding regular tap water. Rabbi Edery recently visited Hokkaido to check the hot springs. According to Torah law, a kosher mikveh, ritual bath, has certain requirements. No pipes or pumps may be used in order for it to be kosher. Several hot springs were kosher. However, some were too hot to bathe in. One of the hot springs was so hot, it was around 90 degrees Celsius. The smell of the sulphur was very strong. There was steam rising from the hot spring to the air. Another beautiful onsen that Rabbi Edery visited, was in Shikostsu, Hokkaido. The hot spring has water coming out from the bedrock. There is a narrow, small waterway from the hot spring connecting it to the lake. The level of the water in the hot spring and the lake is the same. When sitting in the hot spring the view is breathtaking. The lake is surrounded by five huge mountains. They rise in splendor behind the deep blue color of the lake. Just watching this G-dly miracle is invigorating. Japanese hot springs- onsens and Jewish mikvehs are another special connection between both cultures. Mikveh is the most basic necessity in the life and continuity of the Jewish people. The Mikveh is used to purify people. Japanese traditionally used hot springs from days bygone to this very day to relax, heal and get good energy.Historically, the first time we read about geysers and hot spring is when G-d Almighty brought about the Great Flood during Noah’s time. From that time on G-d did not close all of them, but allowed some to remain and continue, for us to enjoy, heal and purify ourselves.
