Chabad Tokyo Japan

Breakthrough: for the first time ever in Japan, Kosher Beef made in Japan is available locally.
From last Thursday, there is kosher beef at Nissin Supermarket.

In the past Chabad of Japan organized beef slaughtering that was available for everyone however this is the first time it is accessible in a local store.

The Kosher beef is of very high quality and free range cattle. Local Jewish people are extremely pleased with the availability of kosher beef and chicken. The supermarket has thanked Rabbi Edery and Muto san for providing this much needed commodity.

It is by Divine providence that the kosher beef was made available just before the Shavuot Holiday. Before the giving of the Torah , the Jews did not know the laws of Kosher slaughtering. It was only afterwards that they became proficient with the laws of kosher meat.
No better time than to celebrate the holiday of the giving of the Torah with Kosher Beef Made in Japan.

Rabbi Yehuda Bensimchon, internationally reknowned shochet, has come to Japan for the 10th time to help Rabbi Edery make Kosher Beef and Chicken in Japan. We would like to thank him and wish him revealed blessings.

Special thanks to Muto san for his dedication and devotion for Kosher food. You are welcome to check the Kosher Japan website.

‘Cuz Kosher Meat Just Can’t Be Beat!’

 

This past Thursday, Chabad of Japan kids celebrated Lag Baomer by learning Torah and going out to the fields.

Though there were thunderstorms predicted, we were blessed with a beautiful sunny day. The group drove to Chiba, and enjoyed the planting of rice fields, which was a fascinating hands on learning experience and tons of fun.
 
The rice field workers took the kids on the rice planting traktor. It is a thin wheeled traktor with sheets of rice plants positioned diagonally. A special device pulls the plant from the sheet and ”staples” it into the very muddy, watery earth. It has a special sensor that senses if the traktor is driving ”out of the line”, since the rice is planted in perfectly straight lines, and every centimeter means more rice.
The children helped to load the traktor with the rice plants and saw first hand how much work goes into growing delicious ”Nihon Kome”- Japanese rice. The rice will be harvested in September, G-d willing.

Rice is one of the rare foods that there is a debate which blessing to make before eating. Since it is a grain, that grows from the ground, but in water. Some say ”Shehakol”, some ”Mezonot” while others eat bread before , which is an all inclusive blessing.

The next visit was to the strawberry greenhouses which were full of different types of strawberries, one sweeter, one juicier, another bigger. The Chabad House children picked and picked until their hands (and faces) were pink from strawberry juice. They also brought boxes of strawberries to the Chabad House guests back in Omori.

This past Sunday, we had the honor to organize a brit (circumcision) for a beautiful baby boy born to Adi, one of the Embassy of Israel’s personell. The Ambassador, Nissim Ben- Shitrit, and the consul, Yaakov Rachamim as well many of the embassy staff participated and were very moved by the atmosphere and the holiness of the mitzvah.

Special thanks to the Mohel, Rabbi Shimshon Eisenberger who is known for his expertise and devotion. The moment he was asked to fly from Israel to Tokyo, he agreed without any hesitation or conditions. This is truly admirable.

The family and embassy staff greatly appreciated and thanked Rabbi Edery for the beautiful meal and sponsoring the Mohel to come.

The baby’s name is Adam Ari.

This week we received a fantastic picture of a Bar Mitzvah boy sporting the Chabad Japan Kippa to his Aliya for the Torah, in Hertzeliya, Israel.

We would like to wish our dear friends Eric and Nozomi and the whole Amsalem and Badouche families a hearty Mazal tov for the Bar Mitzvah of Lidan. May you only know happiness and prosperity always, and bring him up to Torah Chuppa and Maasim Tovim.
The Amsalems have been one of the founding members and ongoing supporters of the Chabad House since its establishment 13 years ago.

The Chabad Japan Kippa has been worn all over the world, to many weddings, Bar Mitzvah’s, circumcisions, and every day use.
The Chabad Japan kippa, designed by Rabbi Edery, has the Chabad Japan Logo – Illuminating Japan with Goodness and Kindness, yellow Moshiach flag, Yechi Adoneinu and even the Chabad House email on it.

The Pesach Seders went by beautifully and Thank G-d very well organized. There were around 200 guests who joined us for the Seders.
Chabad of Japan rented a hall in the City hall, to accommodate everyone. There were families from Tokyo, tourists to Japan from overseas, students, and expats. Many children participated as well. There was a warm and special feeling among the people. The food was delicious, homemade, and especially the chicken from the Shechita this past Sunday.

The container came in earlier in the week. Many Passover packages were sent out early all over Japan.
We would like to thank all our supporters in Japan and out of Japan for making this Pesach such a success.
A big thank you to our volunteers who worked many hours preparing the Chabad House, and cooking the food for the Seders.
Mr. Muto, Masakazu Kobayashi, Bernie McLeish, Michelle Abel and the Edery kids, each and every one of them, for their dedication and ongoing energy to make this happen.

Special thanks to Rabbi Edery for all his time, effort and positive energy from the very first step in ordering the containers to the clean up after the Seders.

Rabbi Edery regularly goes to visit Jewish prisoners. Now before Pesach he brought them Matza, Hagaddah, and a smile to their faces. May they merit their personal freedom.