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Page 16 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE July 27, 1979
Restaurant Francais
THERE IS A DIFFERENCE
315 W. Ponce de Leon
(First National Bank Bldg.)
Decatur
378-9861
Delicious French cuisine
served in an elegant
atmosphere
Also, Catering for Weddings
Lunch Mon
Dinner Mon
Fri 11 30 - 2:30
Sal 6 30 - 11 00
< V v <- •
ft mpUi
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3040 Piedmont Road, N.E.
261-5700
Jews in Japan
Small but close knit group
Tokyo’s Jewish Community Center.
by Rivka Kornreich
Condensed from MAARIV
Jewish Digest
Toasting L’chaim and feasting
upon gefilte fish and aromatic
challah at the Shabbat table were:
an American army officer a
solemn looking businessman
whose contacts extend worldwide,
who established himself in the
large city as a result of an unusual
hobby— breeding goldfish; an
Orthodox Israeli, representative of
an international company, whose
weekly diet is limited to fruits and
vegetables throughout his travels;
a Japanese convert to Judaism,
wearing a large “Chai” on her
neck, who observes the laws of her
religion in the strictest sense; and a
Korean priest whose skullcap
appeared out of place.
Presiding over this cosmopoli
tan crew was Avi Aviner, an
enthusiastic young Israeli, assisted
by Shoshana, his American wife,
who speaks Japanese fluently. It
was difficult to fully comprehend
the fact that we were seated around
a traditional Friday night meal in
far-off Tokyo.
ciuu, — • .... al/ , nin „ mea ] or
an institution in the
community of Tokyo since Avi
Aviner took over as spiritual
coordinator two years ago. The
dynamic Sabra has proved that
even in far-off Tokyo it is possible
to draw crowds with religious
fervor and maintain the
observance of traditional
Judaism.
Yet, the sad reality of the Friday
night gathering lies in the fact that
it takes place largely because of the
“graces” of Jewish guests who are
visiting Tokyo. Most of the local
Jews abstain from attending
synagogue services most of the
year and a Shabbat minvan
requires an infusion of Jewish
tourists. The Friday night club has
become the “in” spot for every
visiting Jew in Tokyo, especially
for those observing kashrut who
do not otherwise eat meat in that
city.
The Jewish Center in Tokyo was
founded in 1953 by community
members seeking to establish a
spiritual and social center for
Tokyo's Jewish citizens,
attempting to bring them closer to
their traditional Jewish heritage. It
was also to provide services and
functions other than those of the
synagogue. Its membership is
heterogeneous, consisting of
ninety families. Only half of the
members attend services regularly
or are actively involved in
community matters. The “High
Holy” days draw the largest
attendance.
Within the community are some
native Japanese. One of them is the
convert attending the Friday night
meal. Although her husband was
Jewish and during the years of
their marriage she had participated
'“■“‘Sb community affairs, she
and did noi
conversion.
After her husband's death, she
was suddenly alone and found it
difficult to return to her people
after living all her life amongst
Jews and severing ties with her
Japanese friends. Confronted with
this dilemma, she chose to devote
herself totally to Judaism. Her
decision to convert stemmed from
purely Jewish motives. Today she
observes kashrut as well as all the
other laws, reads from the siddur
and even speaks a halting Hebrew.
A central figure in the Jewish
community, she devotes all her
spare time to the Jewish Center.
The oldest members of the
Jewish community had originally
emigrated from Shanghai and,
having succeeded in business,
remained. Most Jewish Americans
and Israelis residing in Tokyo have
also done well financially. A small
percentage of the community
consists of Israeli shlichim
(officials) and temporary
residents.
Services in the community
synagogue are held on Friday
evenings, Saturdays and holidays.
Since it is the only synagogue, it is
difficult to categorize it as
Orthodox, Conservative or
Reform, although its services are
Orthodox in nature. Until a year
ago, an American rabbi, a former
army chaplain in the Far East, had
led the Jewish community for eight
years. Assisted by his Israeli wife
of Yemenite extraction, he, too,
was able to introduce to the Center
an Israeli "touch.”
As the Center’s coordinator, Avi
Aviner is a “jack of all trades.” He
organizes cultural activities, is
responsible for the Sunday School
whiijlj. includes approximately 40
Bible and Jewish history sTutfi^;
offers lectures upon Jewish topics
and attempts to keep the members
abreast of current Jewish and
religious events.
Most of the local Jews regard
Japan as their permanent
residence. Nearly all are fluent in
Japanese and one Jewish man, a
resident of Tokyo for over 40
years, is considered a gourmet
Japanese cook. The Jews are
citizens possessing equal rights and
are accepted by the Japanese.
While the older people have
remained as a result of post-war
economic opportunities, the youth
feel deprived of a social life.
Though they study with and
befriend Japanese adolescents,
they are always conscious of social
differences. One 17-year-old
admitted candidly: “All of my
friends are Japanese or American.
There are simply no Jewish kids
my age and I will be forced to leave
Tokyo in order to marry a Jew."
“The social loneliness is
unbearable," lamented another
teen-ager whose father is on an
extended shlichut
The very survival of the Jewish
Center appears threatened since
even many of its permanent
members conduct business on
Saturdays and holidays. Some
have never attended services. “It’s
the beginning of the end of the
community," notes Avi sadly. The
old people are its current pillars;
however, its future existence
remains tenuous as long as the
young people continue to leave
Japan
friends...
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<5^|
A Touch of Italy
ITALIAN
REGIONAL CUISINE
Owned and operated by Nino and (.iuseppe. formerl* of Vmo’t ResfmtrmH
Open 5:30-11:30 p m.
Closed on Surtdax
3Xhl Roswell Road • Atlanta. GA.
(404) 261-1220