My mom left soon before Passover, so my apartment was still passably clean. I held a seder for 13 people (plus Yuki who came by when it was winding down). I'm not sure which was more amazing - that I cooked a really good meal for that many people, or that they all fit into my apartment.
I used a trilingual Hagadah (English, Japanese, Hebrew), and wrote up a very simple version of the Passover story in English. Mary and Ben (front right and left) helped with the cooking, including grating wasabi I'd picked up at Dai-Oh.
I told everyone not to bring anything, or to bring fruit and grape juice, but that didn't work so well. We ended up with grape Fanta, and Honda-san accidentally brought bean sandwiches (I wasn't going to say anything, but Mrs. Ito had already spilled the...erm...beans).
It was really good fun. 2006 will be same time, same place - be there.
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4 comments:
HI there,
are you still living in Japan and hosting seders? If yes, may I invite myself for the 2008 edition, please?
Jessica,
I'm no longer in Japan. Perhaps contacting the synagogue in Kobe, the JCC in Tokyo, or the Chabad in Tokyo would connect you with some resources. If you are on the JET programme, there is also a Jewish listserve which would connect you to other people who might be looking for seders.
Best,
ミア
thanks for the tips. I just can't rationalize spending 8000yen to attend a seder with an organization in Tokyo. I'm not a JET, but I've gotten onto JET listserves before, so that sounds like a good route.
cheers,
Jess
Then I recommend doing what I did - host your own! And do track down that listserve - you will probably find like-minded people who might pitch in. Also, I opened it to my friends from my town and JETs in my ken, and people who wouldn't normally attend or even have access to a Seder were interested in just coming for company and the experience. I got a tri-lingual Hagaddah from the JCC (3000 yen, but a good keepsake for me, since when would I ever find another one?) and I tried to make it very inclusive. Best of luck!
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