From: tichauer@valpso.hanse.de (Manfredo Tichauer)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish,soc.culture.jjapan
Subject: Re: Jews in Japan
Date: 13 Aug 92 23:14:43 GMT
Organization: "The Private site of Manfredo Tichauer"

cohen@quartz.ciw.edu (Ronald Cohen) writes:

> I will be visiting Japan in 1 1/2 weeks and am wondering about the
> history of Jews in Japan, and also about kosher food, synagogues,
> etc.  I will be in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Sendai, and possibly Kobe.
> There appear to be synagogues in Kobe and Tokyo.  Are any of the
> member japanese or are they all foreigners?  I would appreciate
> any information anyone has.
> -- 

From THE JEWISH TRAVEL GUIDE, 1992, published by The Jewish Chronicle, London
ISBN 1-870216-10-5

J A P A N
=========

Taking into account businessmen, students, and other professionals with their
families in Japan for 3-5 years the Jewish population can easily run to a
couple of thousands at any given time. Exact data on permanent residents are
not available and there are very few longtime residents who make Japan their
permanent domicile. Conservative estimate: about 600 individuals.

KOBE
----
There have been jews in Kobe for more than a century. Today's Jewish population
numbers some 30 families.
During WWII Kobe's two sinagogues were destroyed. The Ohel Shelomoh Sinagogue
(Orthodox) at the community centre was opened in 1970. There is a mikva on the
premises.
Sec.: Bruce M. Benson, Tel.(078) 222.3950 
The centre is at 12/12 Kitano-cho 4-chome, Ikuta-ku (POB 639) Tel.(078) 221.7236
M3H 3S4. Tel.: (416)

NAGASAKI
--------
There are no Jews living in Nagasaki. The old Jewish cemetery is located at 
Sakomoto Gaijin Bochi. The site of the first synagogue in Japan is Umegasaki
Machi.

OKINAWA
-------
While there is no native Jewish com. on Okinawa, there are normally 200-300
Jews serving with the U.S. military on the island. Rgular services are conduc-
ted by the Jewish chaplain at Camp Smedley D.Butler, and visitors are welcomed.

TOKYO
-----
There are 160 Jewish family members of the Jewish Com. of Japan.
Jewish Com.Centre: 8-8Hiroo, 3-Chome, Shibuya-ku, 150. Tel.: 3400-2559
Fax: (03) 3400-1827. Pres.:Saul M.Shiffman.
Beth David Syn. is in the Com.Centre premises. Services held Fri.evg., 7.00 pm;
Shabat morn., 9.30 a.m. and on High Holy-days & festivals. Rabbi Moshe Silber-
schein. Kosher meals available: advance notification requested.
Israel Embassy: 3 Niban-cho Chiyodaku. Tel.: 3264-0911

YOKOHAMA
--------
Inf. concerning the Jewish cemetery here may be obtained from the Jewish Com.
of Japan, in Tokyo

YOKOSUKA
--------
There is a Jewish chaplain at the US naval base here, and some religious ser-
vices at the base are open to visitors. Further inf. can be obtained by calling
(0468) 26-1911, Ext. 6773. Yokosuka is about 1 3/4 hours journey south of Tokyo.

******************************************************************************

I recommend this book to anybody who travels. I have this book constantly in my
travel bag. It is edited every year but I buy it only once every 5 years.It has
every kind of informations on Jewish places in almost every country of the world

NOTICE: I know that there are some "over chochems" who will grumble that this is
^^^^^^  not a place to make publicity for a book. They should better care about
        the vocabulary used by some people during the discussions in SCJ: this
        is a place to learn  and to make friends, and if somebody wants to teach
        please do it in a kindly way. I myself have a lot to learn but I want to
        be treated like a mensch and not like an idiot. This applies specially 
        to mail writers like MC.        
                 
Well, Ronald, I hope that I could help you and other jewish Japan travellers.

                                           Manfredo


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  Manfredo Tichauer M.                       EMAIL : tichauer@valpso.hanse.de
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