Rabbi David Kunin, chair of the Council of Australian, New Zealander and Asian Progressive Rabbis, shares his impressions of the first Shabbat he spent with the Jewish Community of Jakarta, Indonesia.
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VAYIKRa – Calling out vs merely happening | Parashat Vayikra
What book would you use to begin teaching Judaism to a child? According to tradition, it is none other than "Leviticus." This middle book of…
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[JAPAN] Asia Progressive Judaism (APJ) Teen Shabbaton in Tokyo
The Jewish Community in Tokyo (JCJ) was excited to host the November teen shabbaton of Asian Progressive Judaism (The Asian Congregations of the UPJ of Australia, New Zealand and Asia). Eighteen young people (plus their young feeling chaperones) from Beijing, Hong Kong, Hiroshima, Shanghai and Tokyo came together to celebrate and experience both Tokyo and […]
Read MoreSupporting our Rabbis and Their Families in Times of Need
Rabbi Alfred Nathan’s infant son (United Hebrew Congregation, Singapore) had been diagnosed with serious medical issues which the local hospital insurance will not cover. The costs have been enormous. Our Singapore congregation is trying to help any way they can, and has started a more public, global fundraising campaign to cover medical expenses.
Read More[AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND] A Region Where Jews Are Prospering
The Union for Progressive Judaism (UPJ) in Australia, New Zealand and Asia is a strong supporter of the World Union for Progressive Judaism. The World Union was supportive of us 85 years ago and we believe that, as a prosperous community, we have an obligation to support the World Union in its various programs. On a per capita basis, we are the most generous financial supporters of the World Union.
Read More[HONG KONG] UJC Members Give Back to the Hong Kong Community on Mitzvah Day
Over 160 members of The United Jewish Congregation of Hong Kong (UJC) rolled up their sleeves for “hands-on Tikkun Olam” during the “UJC Make a Miracle Mitzvah Day” on December 9. The day began with breakfast at the Hong Kong Jewish Community Centre to awaken spirits with shakshuka and songs. Congregants then ventured out to locations around Hong Kong to volunteer at charities and non-profit organizations.
Read More[AUSTRALIA] Making Progress: Highlights from the UPJ Biennial in Melbourne
The UPJ Biennial, held in Melbourne, Australia on 15-18 November, hosted more than 220 attendees from around the UPJ region (which covers Australia, New Zealand and Asia), with additional representatives from the UK, Israel and the US.
Read More[HONG KONG] Teen Shabbaton of Asian Progressive Judaism (APJ) Takes Over Hong Kong
Twenty-one teens gathered from four Asian cities for the Asia Progressive Judaism (APJ) Teen Shabbaton, held in Hong Kong from 23rd- 25th November. Teens from Progressive communities in Hong Kong, Singapore, Shanghai, and for the first time, Beijing took part.
Read More[INDONESIA] High Holidays 2018—Bali Style
This is an unusual travelogue for me.
The afternoon before Rosh Hashanah, I was eating lunch at a Balinese vegan food restaurant with a Frenchman. He was telling me that he had put up a mezuzah on the door of his Balinese hotel room, when three lovely young Indonesian women, sisters from Jakarta, turn from their table and say, “I just couldn’t help but overhearing. Shanah Tova!”
This year I volunteered to serve a small and unusual kehillah (community) in Bali, Indonesia.
Read More[ASIA] Sukkot in Asia 5779
This year Sukkot was celebrated by WUPJ Communities across the Asian continent this year with much joy and in a uniquely Asian style. At the United Jewish Congregation in Hong Kong, their Sukkah frame survived the lashings of Typhoon Mangkhut which swept through the city before Yom Kippur. Luckily there was no s’kach covering on […]
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