‘Purim in Japan’ a Twist on Jewish Holiday

Bellevue, TN — “You all deserve a T-shirt that reads ‘I survived the entire Megillah reading at Chabad!’ ” Rabbi Yitzchok Tiechtel exclaimed.

The smiles and laughter of the participants said otherwise as the Chabad Center for Jewish Awareness celebrated the Jewish holiday of Purim at its Bellevue location on Sunday.

Some 75 adults and children gathered to hear the traditional story of the Jewish people’s salvation from the plot of the wicked courtier Haman to annihilate all Jews around 356 B.C.E., as told in the Megillah, commonly known as the Book of Esther.

Quite out of place at Sunday’s ceremony were the kimonos, almost a dozen of them.

Then again, this was billed as “Purim in Japan.”

“This is the most joyous day of the Jewish calendar,” Tiechtel said. “On Purim we gather together to celebrate Jewish unity. No matter how dispersed Jews are around the world, they are unified in spirit.”

Japan included, as attested to by a Jewish-Japanese family attending the service.

The center chooses a different country each year to highlight the fact that Jews live all over the world, Tiechtel said. “This year it’s Japan.”

The participants enjoyed a Japanese-themed evening, with the children learning the art of paper folding called origami, while the adults were treated to a sushi-making demonstration before a Japanese-style dinner.
Yes, it was kosher.

So was the sake afterward.