Chabad Tokyo Japan

Chanuka All Over Japan

From Chanuka 5772

This Chanuka, Chabad of Japan organized many Chanuka activities. The Public Menorah Lighting near King Falafel was a great success, and many people participated throughout the evening. Celebrating and publicizing our gratitude for G-d’s miracles then and now. Many passerbys also stopped, asked and joined in.

 

 

The Edery children visited Jewish soldiers and military personell on the Yokosuka US Naval Base, lit with them menorah and brought them Chanuka foods, and happiness. Special thanks to John McBroom for offering his help on many occasions, and for his sincerity and generosity.

 

 

Many people joined for the Chanuka Party that were held every evening at the Chabad House. Thank you Bernie McLiesh for your help and efficiency.

Rabbi Edery knew of a Jewish Community that once lived in Nagasaki. With Mr. Muto’s help they located the Jewish Cemetery, and this week went to see it. The graves date back 250 years ago, and have inscriptions in Hebrew, some translated to English. It was amazing to see traditional symbols such as a hands inscribed on the grave, referring to the priestly blessing, which meant that a Cohen- priest was buried there. Some of the family names on the graves were, Goldman, Grunberg, Kaplan,

There are over 30 graves in a separate cemetery surrounded by a low concrete wall, and the entrance has an inscription that says ”Bet Olam” House of Eternity, referring to the Jewish belief, that after one passes on, only the body ceases to exist but the soul remains and lives eternally. Rabbi Edery made special prayers in their memory and hopefully we will merit the coming of Moshiach now and the resurrection of the dead.

Last week Rabbi Edery’s wife, Efrat took part in the annual ”Chabad of Asia Women’s Conference”. Chabad of Cochin, India, Rabbi Zalman and Sheindy Berenstein hosted the event. To date there are 14 Chabad Houses in India from the most Northern point to the Southern point, such as Vattakanal, Hampi, Kudli Beach, Puna, Varanasi, Delhi, Pushkar, Goa, Daramsala, Kasol. Each Chabad House does all that they can to help the people who come. It was truly an incredible experience seeing from up close the devotion, love and self sacrifice these emissaries have. The Chabad Houses are a light house for the many travelers and locals, they serve kosher meals on a daily basis to hundreds of travelers, and during the Holidays the festive meals and services can amount to over 500 people.

In Cochin, there were once two flourishing Jewish Communities, the larger one, known as the ”Dark Jews” date back to the time of the destruction of King Solomon’s Temple. The smaller community, known as the ”white Jews” came from Spain for business, around 400 years ago. There are about 8 beautiful Syangouges, in Ernakulam, where the dark Jews lived. Today only a handful remain, and only one synagouge is opened and hardly used. The remaining white Jews still pray in the only one Synagouge that they established 400 years ago, and Rabbi Zalman serves as their Rabbi and mentor.

This week Rabbi Binyomin Edery made another trip to Tohoku. He brought clothes to people who were affected by the Tsunami and are still living in caravans, temporary housing organized by the government.

During the clothes distribution, the people of the affected cities had a surprise prepared for the Rabbi. A beautiful traditional new baby gift. Every family wrote a wish and blessing in honor of the new baby, Nissim Ariel Edery that was born 3 months ago. They thanked Rabbi for all his efforts made since the Tsunami struck them.

Rabbi Edery explained to the people the reason for the baby’s name. Nissim means ”miracles”. We are thankful to G-d that he was born healthy and for us it was a miracle after all the radiation scare. Also, as a prayer to G-d for Japan for more miracles.

The people of Iwanuma said, that for them it was a miracle that Rabbi Edery came and helped so much in the most difficult time in their life, it gave them much strength and hope.

Rabbi Edery coordinated donation of irrigation system from a Israeli company to farmers in the Tohoku area and also discussed other Chabad Japan’s aid operation in the future.

We thank Iwase san who donated many boxes of clothes.

May Hashem bless all the people who have been affected by the earthquake and tsunami and May He hasten their full recovery.

Today Rabbi Binyomin Edery and Muto san visited Consular Sugihara’s Memorial Museum in Yaotsu town of Gifu. They saw replicas of visas he issued and his desk. We saw pictures and many other things. It was very special experience for them.