Chabad Tokyo Japan

This week Rabbi Edery traveled to New Delhi, India to join the Chabad of the Far East Annual Shluchim Conference. Rabbis from 14 cities all over India, Rabbis from Australia, the Phillipines, and Sri Lanka joined together as one. The excitement and happiness to see and strengthen one another was very apparent.
It was amazing to see the great work that is being done on an every day basis, every emissary in his city overcoming obstacles and creating a physical and spiritual haven for every person.

Rabbi Edery spoke about 10 years since establishing the first Chabad House in Japan, and of the great miracles from day one. Prior to Japan, Rabbi Edery was sent to help with the Chabad House of Delhi, 11 years ago for 6 months. That was a great learning experience.

All the food served was prepared wholeheartedly by the wives of the emissaries who in the suffocating heat, cooked and baked for all the guests.
In some cities in India nothing can be taken for granted. Running water and electricity are not readily available. There, in these far out villages and cities located across this enormous country, they do their holy work, assisting people with their physical and spiritual needs.

The timing of the conference was very meaningful. 18 years ago, the Rebbe said ” I have done all I can to bring Moshiach, now I give it over to you. Do all that you can to bring Moshiach now.” This was the motto of the conference. In what aspects can we add and improve our work to make Moshiach come faster.
The conference ended with good resolutions and decisions.

There was a huge crowd for the first Seder, about 200 people at the Il Barbero Restaurant, and for the second Seder we were blessed with a wonderful group of participants.

Pesach Seder Tokyo

Last evening, we had the merit to celebrate the Upshernish of Pinchas Eliyahu. It was a very happy and holy occasion. Pinchas was happy to have his hair cut, and look like ‘a Chosid’.
At age 3, a child comes to an age of understanding. This is why traditionally we wait until the child is 3 years old so that he understands that he is fulfilling a Biblical commandment of leaving the side locks. So in essence the haircut is the side point here. It is customary to have a Cohen, Levite and Israelite cut the child’s hair, then everyone else takes a turn.
On this day, G-d sends great blessings for the child .One person asked the Rebbe if he can postpone his child’s haircut, to which the Rebbe answered:
”When one pushes off this custom, the blessings from Hashem also get pushed off, and the effects will not be felt for some time”.
From this day, parents are more careful to teach mitzvot, such as blessings on food, short prayers, and washing hands.
We thank Hashem for all the blessings he bestowed upon us, and for the miracles that He did for us, since we came to establish Chabad of Japan.
The first picture is of the children cutting
The second picture is of Zvika, a cohen, cutting

24 hours of non stop activities.
Purim eve, after hearing the reading of the Megillah, Chabad House hosted a fantastic Purim feast. Many people participated and expressed their joy. As one person exclaimed: ” only such happiness can break through the spiritual coldness of Tokyo”. That is exactly Chabad House’s goal to illuminate and warm this spiritual ”freezer” with good deeds and happiness.
The next morning there was a megillah reading and breakfast for early risers. Then Rabbi Edery went on the Shalach Monos- ”gifts of food” marathon. Escorted by ”soldiers in G-d’s army”- Moshiach and Zalman, he made his way to all parts of Tokyo, to meet Jewish people who did not hear the megillah yet. This took logistics and organization, to make time frames throughout the day, all over the city. So there were Megillah groups in Ueno, Okachimachi, Shibuya, Minami Azabu (at King Falafel), Roppongi and Shinjuku. A huge box of Purim foods were prepared and distributed among all the people.

The finale was at 5:30, right before sunset, many people came to the Chabad House to hear the last Megillah reading and take part of another Purim feast, which ended late into the night. The children especially had a fantastic time, dressing up, eating hamantashen and celebrating Purim to its utmost.
We hope and pray that this Passover we will celebrate in the 3rd Temple in Jerusalem, and eat from the Passover sacrifices.

We would like to take this opportunity and thank Yelena Vachutinsky for her great help making hundreds of hamantashen.