IJC in Hasselt

Says Golan T ---On Sunday, June 7, some IJC friends and I spent the morning at the Japanese Garden in Hasselt. We wandered past ponds, bridges, tiny shrines and traditional buildings, discovered the elegant koto (a traditional Japanese floor harp), and admired the reflections dancing on the water.

Sarah S. on the highlights: ‘the koi carp were enormous, and one of the funniest moments was watching a duck casually walk across a group of them as if they were floating stepping stones. A quick onigiri in the garden, followed by a delicious lunch at Esaki, rounded off a lovely morning. Worth knowing: the garden was built in 1992 as a symbol of friendship between Hasselt and its Japanese sister city Itami, and that spirit of exchange is easy to feel once you're inside.

For me personally, the visit stirred something deeper. I've spent a lot of time in Japan with close Japanese friends, so walking through the garden brought back a lot of warmth and nostalgia.

There's something about a Japanese garden that brings a different presence than its European counterparts. It isn't symmetrical or obviously shaped by human hand. Water doesn't just flow, it descends over rocks and resonates. It invites tranquility, humility, reflection. Zen.

Worth a quiet mention: some of us will be familiar with the concept of the "Jewbu", a Jewish person drawn to Buddhist teachings and practice. It's more common than one might think: sociologist Emily Sigalow estimates around a quarter of American Jews have a meaningful connection to Buddhist ideas. I know of several IJC members who share that interest. A Japanese garden is a quiet, beautiful meeting point for both traditions.I'm grateful to everyone who joined and made this intimate outing possible.’

Our next one will be the Africa Museum and its park. More details to follow.