Rev. Takeji Otsuki of Japan Loved Israel

[Xoce]

In light of all the depressing news, I would like to share a biography of a great man, a friend of Israel.

http://www.hunews.huji.ac.il/articles.asp?artID=324&cat=2

Father Otsuki Dies at Age 98     September 14 2004

The Rev. Takeji Otsuki of Kyoto, Japan, one of Israel’s most ardent supporters in his country, died in Japan on Sept. 10. He was 98 years old.

 

Father Otsuki founded the Japan Christian Friends of Israel organization in the mid-1940s. The organization is commonly known as Beit Shalom in recognition of the houses in Japan it established by that name to host visiting Israelis. Father Otsuki also established the Mizra Society of Friends of the Hebrew University, which has provided scholarship funds for students and researchers at the University. In 1997, a chair in Bible studies was established at the University in honor of Father Otsuki. In 1994, the Hebrew University awarded Father Otsuki an honorary fellowship in recognition of his support. 

 

“The Hebrew University community mourns the death of this great man, a man of vision and faith, a true friend of the Jewish people, the State of Israel, Jerusalem and the Hebrew University,” said Prof. Menachem Magidor, president of the Hebrew University. He added, on a personal level, “we shared a love of the Bible. I have lost an admirable man and close friend.”

 

Father Otsuki was born in Ayabe, near Kyoto, in 1906 and was baptized as a Christian while attending university. After ordination as a Christian cleric and while serving as a minister in Manchuria, he felt a calling in 1938 from God, commanding him to work towards the establishment of a Jewish state.

 

With the end of World War II, Father Otsuki established the Japan Christian Friends of Israel organization, which prayed daily for the return to Zion and the peace of Jerusalem. In the 1960s, the organization began sending volunteers to kibbutzim in Israel and students to the Hebrew University, where they studied Hebrew, Bible and Jewish thought. Upon their return to Japan, these students established a theological institute training people to serve as ministers and teachers. In 1970, the organization founded its Shinonome Chrous, which has performed in Israel many times, singing in both Hebrew and Japanese. The Beit Shalom houses of the organization were established beginning in 1971, spreading to various locations in Japan and hosting visiting Israelis.

 

Father Otsuki befriended Otto Frank, the father of Anne Frank, and even established a monument to her memory in his native city of Ayabe. The Beit Shalom movement, at Father Otsuki’s urging, has established a Holocaust Museum in the Hiroshima area, where seminars are conducted for Japanese students on the Holocaust and Judaism.

 

Two books dedicated to Father Otsuki have been produced by the Hebrew University.

 

The Rev. Takeji Otsuki of Kyoto, Japan, one of Israel’s most ardent supporters in his country, died in Japan on Sept. 10. He was 98 years old.

 

Father Otsuki founded the Japan Christian Friends of Israel organization in the mid-1940s. The organization is commonly known as Beit Shalom in recognition of the houses in Japan it established by that name to host visiting Israelis. Father Otsuki also established the Mizra Society of Friends of the Hebrew University, which has provided scholarship funds for students and researchers at the University. In 1997, a chair in Bible studies was established at the University in honor of Father Otsuki. In 1994, the Hebrew University awarded Father Otsuki an honorary fellowship in recognition of his support. 

 

“The Hebrew University community mourns the death of this great man, a man of vision and faith, a true friend of the Jewish people, the State of Israel, Jerusalem and the Hebrew University,” said Prof. Menachem Magidor, president of the Hebrew University. He added, on a personal level, “we shared a love of the Bible. I have lost an admirable man and close friend.”

 

Father Otsuki was born in Ayabe, near Kyoto, in 1906 and was baptized as a Christian while attending university. After ordination as a Christian cleric and while serving as a minister in Manchuria, he felt a calling in 1938 from G_d, commanding him to work towards the establishment of a Jewish state.

 

With the end of World War II, Father Otsuki established the Japan Christian Friends of Israel organization, which prayed daily for the return to Zion and the peace of Jerusalem. In the 1960s, the organization began sending volunteers to kibbutzim in Israel and students to the Hebrew University, where they studied Hebrew, Bible and Jewish thought. Upon their return to Japan, these students established a theological institute training people to serve as ministers and teachers. In 1970, the organization founded its Shinonome Choir, which has performed in Israel many times, singing in both Hebrew and Japanese. The Beit Shalom houses of the organization were established beginning in 1971, spreading to various locations in Japan and hosting visiting Israelis.

 

Father Otsuki befriended Otto Frank, the father of Anne Frank, and even established a monument to her memory in his native city of Ayabe. The Beit Shalom movement, at Father Otsuki’s urging, has established a Holocaust Museum in the Hiroshima area, where seminars are conducted for Japanese students on the Holocaust and Judaism.

 
Two books dedicated to Father Otsuki have been produced by the Hebrew University.

[Xoce]

Members of a Japanese Christian group known as Makuya wave Japanese and Israeli flags during a
march in support of Israel in downtown Jerusalem Sunday, Feb. 29, 2004. About 75 Japanese from
the group took part in the march.(AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

http://zioneocon.blogspot.com/2004_02_29_zioneocon_archive.html

[Zelhar]

The Makuya is a different group than Otsuki's is it not ?

[Abben]

Members of a Japanese Christian group known as Makuya wave Japanese and Israeli flags during a
march in support of Israel in downtown Jerusalem Sunday, Feb. 29, 2004. About 75 Japanese from
the group took part in the march.(AP Photo/Oded Balilty)

http://zioneocon.blogspot.com/2004_02_29_zioneocon_archive.html

Wow I never knew that thanks