Welcome to
The Jewish Community of Kansai
Kobe City
JAPAN
4-12-12 Kitano-cho
Chuo-ku
Kobe 650-0002
JAPAN
Inside Japan:
090-4297-2095
Overseas: (+81) 90-4297-2095
Fax: 078-242-7254
Overseas Fax (+81) 78-242-7254
Email: please use the contact page.
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✡ The
Jewish Community of Kansai✡
Kobe,
Japan
www.jcckobe.org
Weekly
Newsletter
Editor: Jack
Yohay
Shabbat
Kindling הדלקת נרות
at 5:14
Arvit: 6:15 p.m. (Please come early!)
Shachrit 8:45
a.m.
This Week's Torah
Reading:
Bo Exodus 10:1~13:16 "Go to Pharoh"
Greetings
This past
Shabbat, Beshalach, was sponsored by the Community.
Along with Yehoshua and Shoshanah Mayo, we were
pleased to welcome Dr. Madoka Steingart of
Toronto, Canada, as well as the Fager family from
Chicago: Doug and Janet with daughter Dana.
Nico Despopoulos and Danny Shocham came.
Devoted reader Tsur Shapir took the opportunity
to express thanks and encouragement. In
celebration of Tu b’Shevat, we partook of figs, dates, and
nuts.
Huledet
sameach—a very happy birthday—to Ziva Kimura this coming
Shabbat, 22 Shevat. We look forward b’H to
welcoming Professor Tsvi Sadan.
Looking
ahead, the next full moon will be Purim, Sunday, February
28th
(evening
Megillah Saturday the 27th);
Fast of Esther, Thursday the 25th.
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The Parshah in a
Nutshell
Parsha Yitro: Exodus 18~20
Parsha
in a Nutshell (courtesy of Chabad)
The Children of Israel camp oppositeMount Sinai, where they are told that G-d haschosen them to be His "kingdom of priests" and "holy nation." The people respond by proclaiming, "All that G-d has spoken, we shalldo."
On the sixth day of the third month (Sivan), seven weeks after theExodus, the entire nation of Israel assembles at the foot of Mount Sinai. G-ddescends on the mountain amidst thunder, lightning, billows of smoke and the blast of theshofar, and summons Moses toascend.
G-d proclaims theTen Commandments, commanding the people of Israel to believe inG-d, not to worshipidols or take G-d'sname in vain, to keep theShabbat, honor theirparents, and not tomurder, commitadultery,steal, bear falsewitness orcovet another's property. The people cry out to Moses that the revelation is too intense for them to bear, begging him to receive theTorah from G-d and convey it to them.
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Moses' father-in-law, |
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Parshah
Musings
Dvar
Torah
“.....and the people stood about Moses [to be judged] from the morning unto the evening....And Moses’ father-in-law said unto him: ‘.......Thou wilt surely wear away, both thou and this people.....[rather,] thou shalt provide able men [who] fear G-d, men who [inspire confidence and are not corrupt] and let them judge [smaller numbers of] people in every small matter [and so] bear the burden with thee....’” (excerpted from Exodus 18: 13~22)
From the hundreds of thousands who constituted the people of Israel when Yitro counseled Moses to delegate duties, to the much smaller numbers who make up a Community such as ours, Jewish people who come together regularly to worship have needed to decide who is to do what. Throughout the many decades of Jewish life in and around Kobe, we have been blessed with a remarkable succession of men and women of varying ages and backgrounds who have served with skill, devotion, and inspiration. Some have been chosen through formal election procedures; others have been appointed by someone “in charge”; and others have simply volunteered to do what at the time needs to be done.
One who took on an enormous amount of responsibility as secretary and later as president, is commemorated this week on 20 Shevat, the ninth anniversary of his passing (yahrzeit). This Shabbat, we hope, B’H minyan permitting, to say Kaddish and other prayers for the repose of his soul in Gan Eden
Bruce Murray Benson / Gershon ben Morari ha-Levi tirelessly worked to bring Jewish folk to our services and keep them coming. At the same time, he could perceive that there were certain essential tasks which would need to be delegated to someone else: a full-time, year-round resident Rabbi with the time and qualifications to perform “outreach”, give shiurim in Talmud, offer counseling, and more, along with a Rabbinat to assist women worshippers and perhaps teach young children.
During the past ten years we have had three different resident Rabbis. Each needed to work out which functions he would fulfill and which he should best leave to others. Concurrent with the term of each Rabbi and also, especially during periods, such as at present, when we are without a Rabbi, we have had dedicated lay leaders to count on to gather us faithful for prayer, to act as Chazzan, to prepare and deliver d’vrei Torah, and more. At times they have been on the governing board; at times like the present, not.
Occasionally, even in such a “small” community, there may be two or more who not only volunteer but feel that they are best for a particular job. Also, someone may perform a job with assistance from another. In some cases no acknowledgment of the assistance is required or expected, but in other cases it is. There are times when one is thanked for contributing something for which he wishes not to accept credit, either out of modesty or because he does not approve of what has been said or done in his name!
In Parashat Yitro, none of the “able men” Moses chose as “heads over the people” are mentioned by name. Accordingly, this week’s thanks to everyone who contributed are offered, and this d’var Torah and newsletter are submitted, anonymously.
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