April 13 Rabbi David Kunin Explore Jewish traditions and beliefs

From: Peggy Kanada, moderator
Rabbi David Kunin from the Jewish Community Center of Tokyo explores Jewish traditions and beliefs  

 

April 13 3:00-5:00 PM, International House of Roppongi, 4th Floor  - open to everyone

Dear members and friends of the Fellowship,
Did you notice news of Rio's or New Orleans' "Carnival" and...
that we then entered the Christian 40 days of Lent on the next
day>>March 12 this year?
Lent is traditionally a time for reflection and abstinence in
preparation for Easter the greatest festival in the Christian year.
Lent/Easter changes every year based on the old lunar calendar
that is still maintained by Jews who inform us that Passover will
start April 15th this year. Because, of course, according to the New
Testament Jesus, a Jew and around the age of 30 , went up to the great
city and temple of Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.
And it was at Passover that Christians believe he was rounded
up, tried, executed and buried. "And on the third day rose from the
dead and later ascended into Heaven...from whence he shall come to
judge the quick and the dead".
Unitarians are part of a "living tradition..which draws from many
sources." We look to Judeo-Christian writings as an important
inspiration in our ethical and spiritual life. In particular we see in
Jewish and Christian teachings the call to us to respond to God's love
by loving our neighbors as ourselves.
In this season it is particularly appropriate to have Rabbi
David Kunin of the Jewish Community Center of Tokyo join us to talk
about the Passover and explore Jewish traditions and beliefs.

Sunday April 13 3:00-5:00 International House

Peggy Kanada, Moderator
unitarianfellowshipoftokyo@gmail.com

I hope to see many of you at our April meeting

POSTS

Nuclear Power at What Cost? Speaker Manu Mathai March 9th

Comments from our Unitarian Fellowship of Tokyo meeting March 9, 2014 with Manu Mathai talking about Nuclear Energy and how we got to where we are.

 Manu Mathai (a research fellow in Science and Technology
for Sustainable Societies at UN University's Institute of Advanced
Studies) presented a stimulating talk and discussion about "Nuclear
Power--at what cost?"...

        His choice of graphs/visuals of the dire dangers the world
faces --even since 2008--was especially sobering. And the poor will
feel the pain and destruction of climate change/ food/ water shortages
etc. far sooner than we rich elites.
Mathai inspired us all to think more about possible answers
to the dilemmas of development and eradication of poverty (basic
justice and fairness) without nuclear power. He discussed some of the
inherent risks of nuclear power --which when there is not an emergency problem is
a short-term much cleaner producer of electricity than fossil fuels.
He had some details about the big demerit of lingering pollution--the
problem of waste from the power plants that we have already generated
in 50 years of nuclear power that will linger far longer than our two
thousand years that human's have been writing.

       How can we provide energy/electricity to populations in
countries like China and India whose growth is creating tremendous
material needs coupled with rising expectations?? 

 He graphically pointed out how humans have already overwhelmed the
limits of the natural ecosystem balance in many aspects of our world
and pushed us far closer to disaster than many of us understood
(especially with our use of fossil fuels). We are in the
"anthropocene" period when the impact of humans indeed is overwhelming
the other forces of nature and geology.

Mathai, when he touched on the history of nuclear power and
its promotion by the military and nation-states seeking to maintain
power (and the status quo), was particularly informative. With the
present framework of national governance and competition between
countries (he talked about foreign relations and policy) , with our
societies pushed by capitalist economics/business profits, with
incompetent politicians and dithering government bureaucrats finding
solutions seems as he pointed out particularly difficult.

          Mathai was not without hope, pointing to the example of
Germany that is being watched by the whole world for its commitment
not to use Nuclear Power. Mathai showed (and others mentioned in the
discussion that followed) a few examples of how we could so much
better use and distribute the material goods we have now (NOT more
growth--but fairer sharing for all people's wellbeing). For example
with policy to encourage bicycles not automobiles. Thermal energy.
How to change people's ways of thinking and living?

 Peggy Kanada, moderator, March 11, 2014

Dec. 8 Seasonal Potpourri

December 8, 2013 at 3:00 pm, Sunday
Place: International House of Japan
Hosts: Miriam Levering, Mary Donovan

Join with members and non-members alike in celebrating the seasons by bringing a reading, sharing a memory, telling a joke, bringing a poem, or songs to sing. There are 5 holidays to remember at this time of year: Winter Solstice, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanza and New Year’s. Serious or humorous, there’s lots to share among these holidays. If you can bring a few copies to share (or copy in the IHJ library before the meeting) that would be great (10 if possible). Some Christmas carols, Hanukkah songs plus Truman Capote’s a Christmas Memory will be on hand. Please come and join us. Bring something or come to listen, we want to see you.

Nov. 10 meeting Cybercrime - Pauline C. Reich, lawyer and professor

Pauline C. Reich is an American lawyer and has been a tenured professor at Waseda University School of Law since 1995. She is the Founder and Director of the Asia-Pacific Cyberlaw, Cybercrime and Internet Security Research Institute at Waseda, and is a member of the American Bar Association Section of Science and Technology, the International Association of Privacy Professionals, the Regional Asia Information Security Exchange and the Japan Information Law Association. Her publications include LAW, POLICY AND TECHNOLOGY: CYBERTERRORISM, INFORMATION WARFARE AND INTERNET IMMOBILIZATION (IGI Global, 2012) and the law treatise CYBERCRIME AND SECURITY (Thomson Reuters/West), now over 4000 pages in length and updated quarterly. 

 

Professor Reich will speak about the Snowden/NSA/PRISM situation with respect to its background, US law, pending and prior litigation by privacy and civil liberties groups, laws in other countries with respect to privacy and data protection, and the ethical dilemmas in balancing national security with constitutional/civil liberties and privacy protections of citizens and non-citizens.

 

We would love to see you at this event for an informative and lively talk.

 

Oct. 13 Art and Human Development - John Clammer

Please invite a friend to join us for this interesting talk from a scholar of developing economies(especially in Southeast Asia) whose recent research includes an examination of so called tribal people's cultures--what is art? what is modern? extending perhaps to thinking about what is essential to being human?

 

John, has been associated with the United Nations University for over a decade, and is now visiting professor.  He has written fifteen books, including “Diaspora and Identity: The Sociology of Culture in Southeast Asia” (2003), “Race and State in Independent Singapore: The Cultural Politics of Pluralism in a Multiethnic Society” (1998); Japan and Its Others: Globalization, Difference and the Critique of Modernity” (2001) and “Diaspora and Belief: Globalization, Religion and Identity in Postcolonial Asia” (2009).


You can read more about him at

http://unu.edu/faculty/john-clammer.html

 

John has generously spoken to us several times, and we always find his talks stimulating, informative and enjoyable.

Hope to see you at the International House of Roppongi at 3 pm October 13 on the fourth floor meeting room.   Everyone is welcome to this and all monthly meetings of the Unitarian Fellowship of Tokyo where we welcome new people and both new and old thoughts.

Sept. Talk Saigyo the Poet by Bonnie McClure

In September, Bonnie McClure spoke to us about the medieval poet Saigyo and his impact on the subsequent poetry in Japan.   Bonnie, one of our long time members, is getting her masters in Japanese literature at UW in Seattle.

Saigyo (西行）1118-1190, lived just as Japan was changing from the sedate Heian period, where poetry was written without moving off the futon, to a period where poets began to roam the countryside, capturing thier impressions, and opening up new themes.

Many of his poems are famous and Bonnie shared with us some of her translations.

道のべに清水流るる柳陰

しばしとてこそ立ち止まりつれ (SKKS 262)

 By the roadside
A willow’s shade
With clear water flowing:
Thinking “just for a moment…”
I stopped and stood

I particularly liked another one, where, although a priest, rather than wanting to have his final rest facing the Buddha, he preferred to be buried under a cherry tree.


願わくは花の下にて春死なん 

その二月の望月のころ (SKS 77)

My wish:
to die in spring
under the blossoms—
At that full moon
 of Kisaragi month

Ways his poetry foreshadowed the medeival literary era included
a more serious interest in Buddhism, close observation of nature, an honest (raw) tone, and a high presence of self/narration.   Major themes of his poetry included travel, reclusion, conflict with religious resolve, and cherry blossoms with the moon.  Japan would have been a poorer place without him. 

For further reading in English she suggested Burton Watson's translation "Saigyo, Poems of a Mountain Home."

 Thanks Bonnie.

June 9 - Death Penalty in Japan, July 14 Potluck Summer Party, Sept - Saigyo

Dear Friends and Members of the Fellowship,

  
(1) Prof Akemi Fujimoto who spoke to us last year about his project thru Tokyo Nodai to revitalize an area in Niigata sends word of a big food fair where their organic rice, soba and veggie products will be included. Let's support them.

  Shinjuku Takashimaya (11fl)  "Daigaku Tasty Products"

May 29 thru June 4

(2) Next regular meeting --June 9th - Chris Pitts - Amnesty International - Death Penalty in Japan

3:00 International House

Chris Pitts  long term Tokyoite and activist with Amnesty International will talk about some misconceptions and realities of the death penalty in the USA and Japan. He plans to include something about himself and his social justice work, as well as about Amnesty International.

Please join us and bring a friend before the summer break (no regular meetings in July and August).

 (3) July 14 Summer Party and Pot Luck

3:00 until 8pm (open house style--come and go when convenient)

Place:  Miriam Arai's home --near Inogashira station (on local JR Chuo Line--the station before Kichijo-ji).

Please RSVP to the moderator at 

 

 

 Let us know how many people and what you can bring. And as always for those too far /busy to bring food a small donation to the drinks is  welcome.

I will send detailed directions to those who can come. 

(4) September 8th Regular Meeting  - Bonnie's back - Poetry of Saigyo

International House 3:00

The Buddhist poetry of Saigyo. Bonnie McClure (temporarily back in Tokyo).   Bonnie, one of our dynmic young members, is now studying for her master's Japanese literature at the University of Washington.

from Peggy Kanada, moderator