Chabad Tokyo Japan

Rice Planting, Strawberry Picking

Rabbi Binyomin Edery — Sat, 12 May 2012 12:33:28 +0000

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.

Embassy of Israel Brit at Chabad Japan

Rabbi Binyomin Edery — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 12:46:25 +0000

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.

Mazal Tov!

Rabbi Binyomin Edery — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 22:49:49 +0000

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.

Preparing the Hall for Pesach Seder

Rabbi Binyomin Edery — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 08:30:23 +0000

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.

Rabbi Binyomin Edery — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:02:34 +0000

Chabad of Japan's mitzvah mini van has a rich history of Mitzvot and good deeds. The 240,000 km that the car has driven can attest to that. Rabbi Edery drove from the most Northern to the most Southern tip of Japan, as well as the most Western tip to be of help to people. Visiting prisoners in jails, Visiting people in hospitals, emergency situtations, home visits, Bringing kosher food, organizing circumcisions, house commemoration and mezuzah fixing are just some of the many trips the Rabbi and Chabad of Japan's staff have made. A few weeks ago, the car broke down as it was on its way up to Tohoku, bringing 3 sweet potato ovens to the people in the North. We are now in the process of finding and purchasing a new Mitzvah Mobile. Anyone who would like to take part in this mitzvah, can do so through this link. May the merit of all the mitzvot done with this Mitzvah Car, be a blessing for all those who help.

New House Dedication in Nagoya

Rabbi Binyomin Edery — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:18:53 +0000

Recently Rabbi Edery was invited to put up Mezuzot and bless a new home built in Nagoya. There was a beautiful meal for the ''Hanukat Habayit''- house dedication, and words of Torah, Lechaim and well wishing from all the family and friends who arrived from around Japan and Israel. We would like to wish Avi and his family Mazal tov!

Kosher Certification on Japanese Products

Rabbi Binyomin Edery — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:18:08 +0000

Rabbi Edery's Kosher Supervision authority, are some of the many things Chabad of Japan has established in the realm of Kashrut. Recently Rabbi Edery and Muto san have been to Fukuoka, for the kosher supervision of Nori - seaweed. As you can see in the picture, the nori is taken out of the water in middle of night in order to retain its superb quality. The nori growers believe that once the sun ''touches'' the nori, it negatively affects the quality. Rabbi Edery checks a Bonito fish factory from which Katsuoboshi is made. Katshuoboshi is the ''secret'' Japanese ingredient that is used in many Japanese dishes, and gives it that unique Japanese flavor, like in Miso soup. The Bonito fish is first smoked, then dried for a long period of time, becomes hard like a rock and then ''scraped'' into any food recipe. (Similar to the Native Americans and the Buffalo) Special thanks to Muto san for his tireless efforts in making Kosher food available in Japan.

First Time in History: Public Menorah Lighting in the Heart of Tokyo

Rabbi Binyomin Edery — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 14:54:23 +0000

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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.

Preparations for the Ressurection of the Dead Jewish Cemetery in Nagasaki, Japan

Rabbi Binyomin Edery — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 01:52:02 +0000

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.

Chabad of Asia Women’s conference in Cochin, India

Rabbi Binyomin Edery — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 01:57:11 +0000

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.