Vol. 32 No. 2 A Publication of the Sino-Judaic Institute July 2017 Israel-Asia Center’s Leaders Fellowship Course Israel PM Visits China, Marking 25 Years By Larry Luxner of Diplomatic Relations Excerpted from The Times of Israel, 2 June 2017, timesofisrael.com Excerpted from Jewish Times Asia 12:1, April 2017. www.jew- Saurabh Sharma, who’s pursuing a master’s degree in environmental ishtimesasia.org studies at Tel Aviv University, wants to develop eco-friendly solutions After an historical visit to Singapore and then to Australia in Feb- to manage municipal waste in his native India. ruary, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrived back in Peter Jiang, a one-year exchange student at Jerusalem’s Hebrew Uni- Asia and made an official three-day visit to China in March, accom- versity, hopes to promote Jewish and Israel studies at Chinese univer- panied by his wife Sara. sities upon his return to Beijing. The visit followed an invitation by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Vietnam’s Linh Ha, a senior at the Eastern Mediterranean Interna- marked 25 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations be- tional School in Ramat Hasharon, is passionate about sharing Isra- tween the two countries. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with el’s startup experience with the world. She recently helped write a Prime Minister Netanyahu in Beijing on 20 March and hosted an documentary about Israeli education produced by VTV1, Vietnam’s official dinner. Netanyahu also met with his Chinese counterpart, national TV channel. Prime Minister Li Keqiang. The three are among 11 promising young leaders from eight coun- In Beijing, Netanyahu was welcomed in the Great Hall of the Peo- tries enrolled in the Israel-Asia Center’s (www.israelasiacenter.org) ple by Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang. The national anthems of 2016-17 Israel-Asia Leaders Fellowship program — a program now China and Israel were played. in its sixth year. The visit stressed the continued strengthening of economic co-op- “As a Vietnamese studying in Israel, I see a huge lack of information eration with the Chinese government, increased Israeli exports to about Israel in Asia in general, and in Vietnam in particular,” said China, attracting Chinese investments in Israel, and increased in- 18-year-old Linh, the program’s youngest fellow ever and clearly one dustrial and research co-operation between Chinese and Israeli of its most enthusiastic. companies. “People don’t know really what’s going on there, what makes Israel as a startup nation. I feel it’s my responsibility to fill this gap and Prime Minister Netanyahu was accompanied by a senior business to bring more information about this country back home,” she said. delegation of dozens of Israeli businesspeople from the various in- “There’s just so much to learn about Israel: the innovation, entrepre- dustries and companies active in China, as well as from companies neurship, mentality and the chutzpah.” interested in penetrating the Chinese market. The Prime Minister was accompanied the Environmental Protection Minister Zeev El- … Rebecca Zeffert, founder and executive director of the Israel-Asia kin; Economy and Industry Minister Eli Cohen; Science, Technology Center (IAC) [said]: “We’ve put 62 people through the program from and Space Minister Ofir Akunis; Health Minister Yaakov Litzman 12 different countries — including countries that have no diplomat- and Agricultural Minister Uri Ariel… ic ties with Israel such as Indonesia and Malaysia. Our alumni are heading up the Asia operations of Israeli companies and vice versa, The two Prime Ministers, Netanyahu and Li, held a working meet- establishing Asian accelerators in Israel, working for Israeli embassies ing that was a break-through in bilateral relations. At the meet- in Asia, and setting up Israel-Asia ventures.” ing, they agreed to hasten the establishment of a free-trade zone Collectively, she said, these alumni have organized more than 60 between Israel and China and the work of the special economic delegations of investors and journalists, launched 10 Israel-Asia ven- co-operation committee (NDRC). Prime Minister Netanyahu, Chi- tures, coordinated 51 conferences and events, and secured tens of nese Prime Minister Li and ministers in their governments signed millions of dollars of investment from Asia in Israeli companies. a series of agreements across many sectors, including the employ- ment of Chinese foreign workers in Israel, aviation co-operation and “When we first founded the Israel-Asia Center, we were thinking the establishment of joint laboratories. about how we could make a real impact,” said Zeffert, who launched the Jerusalem-based nonprofit in 2009. “If Israel is to develop long- While visiting china, Netanyahu also met with the heads of China’s term strategic partnerships with countries in Asia, we need to invest largest corporations. Among those present at the meetings were in the very people who’d be driving that relationship forward in the the chairpersons of Wanda, Alibaba, Wahaha, Lenovo and Baidu. years to come — whether in business, government, culture, educa- On 21 March, Prime Minister Netanyahu also met with Chinese tion or innovation.” Vice Premier Liu Yandong at the official guest house in Beijing, and She added: “Many Asian students who choose to come and study attended the Third Meeting of the China-Israel Joint Committee in Israel were living in foreign students’ bubbles on campus and on Innovation Co-operation. The two held a meeting (with their (continued on page 4) (continued on page 5) 2 Points East FROM THE EDITOR Points East TABLE OF CONTENTS Anson Laytner, Publisher Why do some Chinese authorities seem Points East is published by the Sino-Judaic Featured Articles: so intent on obliterating the identity of the Kaifeng Jewish descendants, this miniscule Institute, a tax-exempt, non-profit organization. Israel-Asia Center’s Leaders group of people? The opinions and views expressed by the Fellowship Course...... 1 contributors and editor are their own and do For over a thousand years, there has been a not necessarily express the viewpoints and Jewish community in Kaifeng. After China positions of the Sino-Judaic Institute. Israel PM Visits China ...... 1 opened up in the 1980s, Chinese authori- ties allowed, or at least turned a blind eye Letters to the Editor and articles for Points East From the Editor ...... 2 to, Western Jewish efforts to help resusci- may be sent to: tate the community and the Kaifeng Jewish Preferred Form: To the Editor...... 3 descendants were beginning to connect e-mail:[email protected] with their Jewish heritage in a significant or to: Rabbi Anson Laytner In the Field ...... 3 and more knowledgeable way. Unfortu- 1823 East Prospect St. nately, this was not to last. In 2015, cer- Seattle, WA 98112-3307 tain authorities began a crackdown on all aspects of Jewish life in Kaifeng. Points East is published three times a year, in Articles: March, July and November. Deadlines for Whatever the precipitating factor, China Rabbi Marvin Tokayer Honored ...4 submitting material to be included in these has a “Jewish problem” that goes back to issues are January 15th, May 15th and the early years of the People’s Republic. Come Buy with Me ...... 5 September 15th. At the heart of China’s “Jewish problem” The Musical Shimmer ...... 6 is a contradictory policy first set down in FINANCIAL REPORT AVAILABLE 1953 by the Central United Front of the Chinese Judaica ...... 6 Communist Party which decreed that “Kai- SJI members interested in receiving a feng Jewry should be treated as a part of copy of the annual financial report should send a self-addressed envelope to: Steve Book Nook ...... 8-9 the Han nationality” along with the cave- Hochstadt, Treasurer of the Sino-Judaic at that the authorities should “educate the Institute, Illinois College, 1101 W. College Shanghai’s Baghdadi Jews local Han population not to discriminate Ave., Jacksonville IL 62650. against or insult them. This will gradual- The Image of Jews in ly ease away the differences they might Contemporary China psychologically or emotionally feel exists Sino-Judaic Institute between them and the Han.” Howev- c/o Rabbi Arnold Mark Belzer 34 Washington Avenue Forthcoming er, simply by stating the issue in this way Savannah, GA 31405 U.S.A. showed that a distinction in identity exist- The Chinese Jews of Kaifeng ed in the authorities’ minds, just as it did SJI Officers with the Kaifeng Jews, who time and again Arnold Mark Belzer, President self-identified as Chinese Jews. Vera Schwarcz, Vice-President Steve Hochstadt, Treasurer The 1953 document legitimately denied Ondi Lingenfelter, Secretary the Kaifeng Jews ethnic minority status in Anson Laytner, Immediate Past President China. Given their tiny population, the SJI MEMBERSHIP Kaifeng Jews do not warrant ethnic minori- Managing Board ty status. That is the Government’s prerog- Denise Yeh Bresler, Joel Epstein, Bev Friend, Mary-Anne Graham, Ron Kaye, Dana Leven- Country Total ative and we must respect it. thal, David Marshall, Jim Michaelson, Art Ros- United States 141 But the Kaifeng Jews have survived for over en, Eric Rothberg, Marvin Tokayer, Tibi Weisz, a thousand years as a distinct group and so Cynthia Zeiden Canada 24 they would seem to merit some arrange- International Advisory Board China 20 ment that would enable them to reestab- Wendy Abraham, Jan Berris, Mark Cohen, Israel 16 lish and maintain a connection with their Irene Eber, Avrum Ehrlich, Fu Youde, Jonathan Goldstein, Jerry Gotel, Judy Green, Len Hew, England 7 Jewish heritage. The only way this can be accomplished initially is if they are allowed Tess Johnston, Donald Leslie, Den Leventhal, Australia 3 to connect with foreign Jews and learn Michael Li, Maisie Meyer, Mark Michael- Japan 2 from them. Ultimately more knowledge- son, Sonja Muehlberger, Gustavo Perednik, Andrew Plaks, Pan Guang, Shi Lei, Yitzhak Germany 2 able Kaifeng Jews will be able to lead their Shichor, Elyse Silverberg, Josh Stampfer, Sha- own community members in an effort to Switzerland 2 lom Wald, Xiao Xian, Xu Xin, Zhang Qian- revive the distinctive Sino-Judaic culture hong, Albert Yee, David Zweig Indonesia 1 that is their patrimony. Past Presidents South Africa 1 After Chris Buckley of the New York Times Al Dien, Leo Gabow Taiwan 1 published his major piece on the crack- down in Kaifeng, one would have hoped In Memoriam, z”I Marshall Deneberg, Leo Gabow, Phyllis Horal, that American Jewish organizations and the Total: 220 Teddy Kaufman, Rena Krasno, Michael Pollak, Israeli government might have made some Louis Schwartz inquiries on behalf of that beleaguered Points East 3 community. Either efforts are being made to Dear Sino-Judaic Institute, contest was a big success. They had more help them that demand the upmost secrecy I just discovered your website few days ago. participants and more excellent papers or no body is willing to risk troubling Jewish/ I am contacting you to inform you about my than ever before. (Details in Chinese Israeli – Chinese relations for the sake of a research because I studied both Hebrew are available at http://column.sisu.edu. thousand or so Jewish descendants. I pray and Chinese at the Institute of Oriental Lan- cn/cjis/info/1071/1118.htm.) The contest, that the former is the case but sadly suspect guages and Civilizations (INALCO) in Paris. which includes three academic salons, a it is the latter. What ever happened to kol Now I teach an introduction to history and collection of excellent papers and a DVD, Yisrael averim zeh b’zeh (all Jews are re- thought of ancient China through to the Han has been approved to continue in 2017. sponsible for one another)—or does this not Dynasty at the New Sorbonne University in Funds were also used for two lectures and apply to the Chinese Jews? Paris. a forum for graduate students. Dr. Fu thanks SJI members for their support over Anson Laytner I try to compare several texts from the He- the past 6 years. Seed money from SJI brew kabbalah such as Sepher ha-Bahir, Se- helped start the Jewish/Israel study pro- pher ha-Zohar, and Taoist texts such as Da- gram among graduates and undergradu- Letters to the Editor odejing, Zhuangzi, and some other classic ate students and made it a well-known texts. I note there are some convergences program in China and even in Israel. Dear Rabbi Laytner, or resonances between these two [modes Regarding the essay by Jordan Paper, March of] thought, particularly metaphysical reso- 2017, I agree with him that Judaism is not nances. Every year since 2011, I take part in • French Book on Kaifeng matrilineal. However I strongly object, in- a colloquium in France and I give a lecture Jews is Published deed, find it extremely offensive, that he on this subject. describes Jewish culture as “misogynist.” I have a blog in French http://voyageintem- Caroline Elisheva Rebouh writes “I’m glad Wrong. porel.wordpress.com that you might be in- to let you know that my book about Jews of Kaifeng, China has been published in Misogynist is a word bandied about these terested in reading. French by Editions Persée and is available days, (used incorrectly, in my opinion); the Kind Regards, through Amazon. Its title is Les Juifs de word sexist seems to have fallen out of fa- Muriel CHEMOUNY Chine: Histoire d’une communauté et ses vor. However, a misogynist, almost always a perspectives. She has translated it into man, is someone who hates women, some- [email protected] English and Cambridge University Press one who beats women, someone who rapes, is planning to publish that version. More even tortures women, and someone who, on this as information becomes available. will even, murder women. This is not Jewish Ms. Rebouh may be reached at caroline. culture nor does this describe Jewish men. In the Field [email protected]. In addition, if the ancient Chinese cosmology • SJI Awards Grants of yin and yang can be brought into this dis- cussion as an example of female representa- SJI awarded three grants this spring. One • Two Chapters of Interest tion in Chinese culture, than one might bring for $1000 was given to Amelia Allsop, in the kabbalistic idea of the “Shekinah,” held who has been working at the Hong Kong Jonathan Goldstein writes to let us know to be the divine female aspect of God. And archive of the Kadoorie family, to support about two chapters of interest to our read- let us not forget: right from the beginning, in her research on Jewish refugees in Hong ers in a new book: Alan Steinweis, Philipp the Torah, male and female were created in Kong as part of her PhD thesis. A second, Gassert, and Jacob S. Eder, eds. Holocaust the image of God. for $2000, went to Kevin Ostoyich of Val- Memory in a Globalizing World (Gottin- gen, Germany: Wallstein Verlag, 2017). Also, an orthodox Jewish woman is protect- paraiso University, who has been work- ing on the Shanghai Jews for a number ISBN: 978-3-8353-1915-8. Beiträge zur ed (unlike some other religions) by a get, a Geschichte des 20. Jahrhunderts (ed. by contract by which she must give her consent of years, to support a group of connect- ed research and publication projects. A Norbert Frei), vol. 22, 278 p., dust jacket, to a divorce asked for by the husband. And 34,90 €. a Jewish woman can sue for a divorce in a third grant of $2000 was awarded to the rabbinical court. Center of Judaic and Chinese Studies, Si- -Yulia Egorova, “Memory of the Holo- chuan International Studies University, caust in India: A Case Study for Holo- Also, if the king of the Khazars said, let’s con- Chongqing, for its ongoing program. See caust Education,” pp. 215-27; and vert, then that is conversion; he was the king! next item. (And I bet there were rabbis in the kingdom.) -Jonathan Goldstein, “Holocaust and Jew- ish Studies in Modern China: Functions of I think the Professor Paper could have made • Report from the Center of a Political Agenda,” pp. 228-44. his point about Judaism not being matrilineal and the present requirement today for indi- Judaic and Chinese Studies, vidual conversion in a shorter essay, but he Sichuan International Studies • Shanghai Guest Speaker seemed to want to take Judaism in general University, Chongqing to task. If I am in error on this or any other Prof. David Stern, Director of the Center points, kindly correct me. Fu Xiaowei, the Center’s Director, reports for Jewish Studies at Harvard University, that in 2016 the Center began to collab- who has a longstanding interest in the Cordially, orate with the University Youth League. Kaifeng Jews, gave a talk on “The Ancient Diane Rabinowitz Because of its participation, especially Treasures of the Jewish Community of [email protected] its innovative publicity techniques and Kaifeng” on 7 June at the Shanghai Jewish activities, the Jewish/Israel study paper Center. Where should we start digging? 4 Points East Fellowship Course el and Asia. It develops and invests in the Rabbi Marvin Tokayer (continued from page 1) future leaders of Israel-Asia relations, and Honored is growing dynamic networks to maximize didn’t have access to high-level profession- their continued engagement and build By Masha Leon, z”l Excerpted from The al networks. They were going back to their new paradigms of cooperation. Scroll, Tablet Magazine, 17 February home countries, entering senior positions 2017 in their fields, but their connections to Israel Rebecca Zeffert is the Founder and Execu- were being lost.” tive Director of the Israel-Asia Center. “Good evening! Kambawa!” exclaimed Prior to founding the Israel-Asia Center, Rabbi Marvin Tokayer to a crowd of near- To remedy that situation, for the past six ly 100 guests after Japan’s Ambassador in years, the IAC has been training a select Zeffert worked for more than a decade in media, public relations and public af- New York, Reiichiro Takahashi, present- number of young Asians on an annual basis ed him with the prestigious Order of the fairs, with multinational companies, me- who show potential to be future leaders in Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays. During dia organizations, NGOs and education- their fields. The eight-month comprehen- the award ceremony, which took place al institutions in China, Japan, Israel and sive program runs in parallel to their existing at Takahashi’s Manhattan residence on the UK. Prior to that, she established and studies, she said, and includes seminars with February 6, Tokayer was lauded by the government officials, diplomats and business headed the international public relations Ambassador for having “enlightened and executives as well as skills workshops, field department at the Citizens’ Accord Forum deepened the understanding between trips, networking events, mentorships and between Jews and Arabs in Israel, an orga- the Jewish and Japanese people,” the one-on-one consultations. nization founded by Member of Knesset Ambassador concluded with a hearty Rabbi Michael Melchior to promote rela- “This program generates trust, mutual un- “mazal tov!” tions between Israel’s Jewish and Arab cit- derstanding and partnerships for life,” Zeffert izens. For six years, she also handled the “I never anticipated the highest honor af- said. “These are young people committed to Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s interna- forded by the Government of the Emper- strengthening Israel-Asia relations.” or of Japan!” beamed Tokayer, who was tional media relations. In his keynote speech, Mark Sofer, Israel’s stationed as a U.S. Air Force chaplain in Southern Japan in 1962, then returned in former ambassador to India, who became IAC currently has four programs: 1968 to serve as the only English-speak- head of the Israeli Foreign Ministry’s Asia-Pa- • Israel-Asia Leaders Fellowship ing, university-educated rabbi for Jewish cific Division after his post in India, said Is- communities in the Far East. rael took a conscious decision 15 years ago An 8-month program focused on building to “pivot toward Asia” — which accounts for future leaders in Israel-Asia relations. Tokayer recalled: “In 1967 I was about 30 percent of Earth’s land mass and 60% of 75% of our alumni are now directly en- to get married, went to the Lubavitcher its population. gaged in strengthening Israel-Asia rela- Rebbe, Menachem Schneerson, for a blessing and, out of nowhere, he said: “It’s clear to all of us that Asia is the present tions in their professional fields, across 10 countries in Asia and securing tens of ‘You’re going to Japan as the rabbi for and the future,” he said. “China and India the Jewish community.’ My reaction [was together have 2.8 billion people, but there millions of dollars in investment from Asia to Israel. that I knew it] wasn’t my cup of tea—for- are other huge countries in Asia,” like the eign language. ‘It’s your destiny,’ insisted Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia, with • Israel-Asia Events the Rebbe. ‘Japan will recognize you for hundreds of millions of people. But unlike The Israel-Asia Center holds thought your contribution to the Jewish People, Europe, which is more or less a monolithic leadership events exploring the future of to Japan; and Japan for helping the Jew- bloc, “when you hit Asia, you hit a complete Israel-Asia relations, and the biggest chal- ish people.’ That was fifty years ago. We and utter heterogeneous bloc, and it’s very lenges facing Asia in the next decade and went for two years and forgot to come difficult to find the lowest common denom- how we can work together to co-innovate home.” inator. solutions. “Israel urgently needs people who speak • Scholarships to Asian Students Mandarin, Japanese and other Asian lan- guages and Israel has still a long way to go in The Israel-Asia Center provides a limited developing its relations with these countries, number of scholarships to Asian students said Sofer, who’s been named Israel’s next to study MBAs in Israel – as part of spe- ambassador to Australia… cial tracks on the Israel-Asia Leaders Fel- lowship that also include seed funding for “We are still in the process of learning,” he Israel-Asia ventures, or employment with noted. “These relationships are fairly new; Israeli/Asian companies after the program. 25 years in the history of China or India is a blip.” • Israel-Asia Micro Grants Larry Luxner is a Tel Aviv-based journalist. Powered by Start-Up Nation Central (start- upnationcentral.org), Israel-Asia Micro Grants provide alumni of the Israel-Asia About the Israel-Asia Center Leaders Fellowship with ongoing engage- ment opportunities and seed funding for The Israel-Asia Center (Israelasiacenter. events, ventures and other initiatives con- org) is a non-profit organization dedicated necting Israel and Asia in different areas of Japanese Ambassador Reiichiro Takahashim to building a shared future between Isra- innovation and entrepreneurship. with Rabbi Marvin Tokayer Points East 5 Diplomatic Relations The New York-listed private equity fund a chemicals firm, for $600 million. The in- announced last week that it had agreed to (continued from page 1) vestment was relatively small but it brought sell European logistics firm Logicor to Chi- together Schwarzman’s firm with Bluestar’s delegations) in which they discussed the na Investment Corp (CIC), China’s sover- then chairman Ren Jianxin… importance of tight bilateral co-operation in eign wealth fund, for €12.25 billion ($13.8 Blackstone also became an advisor on promoting technological innovation. billion) including debt. The sale is the larg- est of its type in European real estate. a number of megadeals by state-owned The first such conference was held in China firms, including China Development in 2015, and the second was held last year Logicor owns and operates a portfolio of Bank’s €2.2bn investment in Barclays in in Israel with the attendance of a Chinese more than 600 warehouses and distribu- 2007. A year later the American firm would Deputy Prime Minister. The business / eco- tion centres across 17 countries. Most are set up an office in Beijing and in 2009 it nomic forum was attended by well over located along primary transport corridors launched its first fund denominated entire- 600 Israeli and Chinese businesspeople. and in close proximity to large Europe- ly in renminbi, which resonated with the an cities, and CIC’s investment is being wider push to promote international usage hailed as a bet on growth in e-commerce of the Chinese currency. and the distribution networks that support online sales – likewise by facilitating trade M&A (mergers and acquisitions) - mad Come Buy with Me: Blackstone’s it can also be positioned within the Belt insurer has proved to be another of Blackstone’s key counterparties in re- Schwarzman and Chinese M&A Deals and Road theme. cent years, giddily snapping up assets. In Blackstone has built Logicor via 50 acqui- a parallel to Japan’s financial firms in their Excerpted from Week in China (369) sitions since 2012 and seemed destined to 1980s heyday, Anbang has been hungry www.weekinchina.com, 9 June 2017 IPO the London-based property firm… for commercial property and Blackstone has had much to offer the insurer from its Backed by archaeological studies, Chi- Blackstone’s links with China own portfolio. nese historians claim that jiaozi, meaning Blackstone has taken on a more influen- “exchange paper”, are the world’s earli- tial role in Beijing since the Chinese began Anbang made its first bold foray into global est bank notes. The printed money came diversifying portions of their foreign ex- M&A in 2014 when the then little known into circulation about a thousand years change reserves away from low-yielding firm acquired the iconic Waldorf Asto- ago in Kaifeng, a city in Henan prov- US government debt a decade ago. ria hotel in New York for $2 billion from ince. According to a documentary on CIC, the sovereign wealth fund, was set Blackstone-controlled Hilton Worldwide. state television, the paper currency was up as part of that asset reallocation pro- A few months later it bought the office por- a “conduit for Chinese financial wisdom” cess and its first commercial transaction tion of 717 Fifth Avenue from Blackstone to pass along the ancient Silk Road. Oth- was to invest in Blackstone itself. for $415 million and the building is now er scholars have suggested the contrary: the Chinese insurer’s New York headquar- that jiaozi were indeed an innovation, In 2007, when China’s forex reserves ters… And in May 2016 – just three months but that they were introduced by Jewish stood at $1.2 trillion, China’s sovereign after Blackstone acquired Strategic Hotels merchants who had settled in Kaifeng, wealth fund paid $3 billion for a 10% and Resorts – the private equity giant rather than by the Han Chinese… stake in Blackstone, boosting the money flipped the portfolio of hotels to the insurer manager’s valuation ahead of a New York in a $6.5 billion sale… The Jewish community thrived for several listing. Blackstone’s founder Schwarzman centuries in China before being assimilat- described the deal as a “historic event that Schwarzman’s personal connections ed almost entirely into local society. Sev- changes the paradigm in global capital Some of Anbang’s shareholders are be- eral hundred Kaifeng residents can still flows”. lieved to be powerfully-connected rela- trace their ancestry back to Jewish roots, tives of China’s former leaders. One of its however, and some of the ‘Kaifeng Jews’ That paradigm didn’t look too promising initially, however, because CIC was soon board directors Xiaolu is the son of have emigrated to Israel over the last 15 , a legendary figure from the Peo- years. staring at a 50% paper loss after Black- stone’s stock price flopped spectacular- ple’s Liberation Army, and its chairman Wu Seven years after the first of those de- ly during the global financial crisis. CIC Xiaohui is the grandson-in-law of Deng partures, Xi Jinping took over as Chinese came under heavy fire from domestic Xiaoping. So Schwarzman has established president and proclaimed his determina- critics for making a mess of its first over- a rapport with some of the most influential tion to revive the ancient Silk Road via seas investment (in 2014 a vindicated businesspeople in the country. The Black- the Belt and Road Initiative. Schwarzman told a conference in Beijing stone billionaire helped Anbang to arrange That plan has seen a swathe of Chinese that CIC’s gross returns owning Black- a recruitment event at Harvard in 2015, for firms embark on ambitious overseas ex- stone’s shares had reached 35%)… instance, during which Wu described him as a “good friend”. In another speech in pansions. And where they’ve looked to Blackstone’s other Chinese VIPs buy foreign companies and real estate, New York Wu revealed that Schwarzman’s it is coincidentally enough an influential In spite of the shaky start (occasioned by staff had offered help when his father was Jewish dealmaker that has been taking the disastrous initial performance of its seeking medical treatment in the US. their modern day jiaozi in exchange for stock after the 2007 IPO), Schwarzman Schwarzman’s dealings in China have also assets. Step forward Blackstone Group’s has struck up healthy relationships with taken on a philanthropic focus. In 2013 he chairman Stephen Schwarzman. Follow- senior figures in Chinese business and announced the $300 million Schwarzman ing a slew of sales by his private equity politics. Scholars programme. Modelled on the firm, Schwarzman has become the go-to For example, in 2007 Blackstone bought Rhodes scholarships at Oxford University, man for Chinese buyers. But why him? a 20% stake in China National Bluestar, the endowment will fund study for foreign 6 Points East students at Beijing’s Tsinghua University, Simply aggregating the deals mentioned in China and the whole world. HYX has the alma mater of Xi Jinping and other se- in this article means that Blackstone has spared no efforts in building and de- nior leaders. “The motivating reason for been involved in the sale of about $32 veloping brand culture to yield striking me is to help create leaders from around billion of assets to Chinese buyers – and achievements: it was the sponsor for the world who can learn about China and that’s just over the last two years. With 2008 Beijing Olympics, the sponsor for go back and explain China to their coun- data from Dealogic, the Wall Street Jour- Chinese Olympic Committee, and the tries,” Schwarzman told Xinhua. nal reckons that Blackstone or its portfolio only sponsor for 2015 Laureus World funds did at least $16 billion of business The Blackstone boss also admits that his Sports Awards Ceremony with Chinese buyers in property assets affiliation with Tsinghua has been an im- alone between 2014 and 2016. Indeed, portant part of his firm’s success. In partic- the newspaper classes Blackstone as one ular, he says that his position on the board of the biggest beneficiaries of “China’s of the university’s school of economics global shopping spree”. and business has served as “a feeder into Chinese Judaica the senior levels of the Chinese govern- ment”… By David Zvi Kalman The HNA Group The Musical Shimmer (A Story Excerpted from Tablet Magazine, 8 Decem- ber 2015. The -based aviation conglomerate of Jews in Shanghai) is among China’s most acquisitive firms http://www.tabletmag.com/jew- and once again Blackstone has been the In 1941, a ship fully occupied by Jews ish-life-and-religion/195557/china-dolls berths at a wharf along the Bund in counterparty on many of its deals. I learned about Chinese Judaica because Shanghai. They have escaped from the In June last year HNA bought a controlling Nazi’s persecution, landing in Shanghai. of a $25 billion IPO. This was in Septem- stake in Tysan Holdings, a thinly-traded Though the war has brought the world ber 2014, when the financials were abuzz construction company in Hong Kong, pain and separation, in the darkness, the with Alibaba’s impending public offering, from Blackstone for about $340 million. gleam of Shanghai lights the world. The which turned out to be the world’s largest. HNA has since used it as its property flag- Shanghainese and Jewish people forge Alibaba is a massive Chinese e-commerce ship in the former British colony, snapping a profound friendship, fighting together platform; its website, which looks a lot like up four sizable residential projects for against the fascists. A Jewish young man, eBay, is essentially the front page of the more than $3.5 billion. Sterne, comes across a Shanghainese girl, East Asian manufacturing sector. A few months later HNA acquired a 25% Lin Yilan, and between them a wartime Everything, I knew, was made in China. stake in Hilton Worldwide from Black- life-and-death love starts. The dim gleam That probably included Judaica. When stone for $6.5 billion. Around the same can light the darkest night. Love can pass news of the IPO brought me to Alibaba, time Blackstone agreed to sell the Chi- through the dark and heavy clouds, light- na-based IT outsourcing firm Pactera to a ening the hearts of those destitute and on a whim I typed “kippah” into the search unit of HNA’s for $675 million. homeless, letting hope sprout in a burn- bar. Up popped a page full of kippahs: suede, leather, knitted. Among them one In February, when the Jewish Museum ing land. of Manhattan held its annual ball, HNA’s style stood out: It was knitted, two shades It premiered at the Heichal Theater, Air- of brown in a swirl pattern, and I was co-founder Wang Jian was a major hon- port City, Israel, on March 29, 2017. The wearing it on my head at that moment. oree. Schwarzman presented him with a musical was followed by a conference The minimum order was 1,000 units; the crystal bowl decorated with two roosters, “Academic Exchange on Religion and while Wang called Schwarzman “a god of Culture: How does belief form culture? supply ability was 30,000 units a month. fortune” and “the key to opening up the How does religion become habitual?” on The company was called Ever Better. chest of treasures”… March 30th at Royal Beach Hotel in Tel It was past midnight on the East Coast but “How the paths of a Jewish museum Aviv. The closed conference included mid-afternoon in China. Ever Better had and a Chinese company converged is pre-invited Chinese and Israeli scholars. a phone number—why not call and ask in some ways a familiar tale: the mix of Bar Ilan University was a co-sponsor and about ordering 100 duplicates of the kip- business and culture is a pillar of philan- organizer. pah I was wearing? thropic fundraising,” Bloomberg noted at the same event, which the newswire Background about the Sponsor: Shang- “Hi, does your company make kippahs?” described as the “coming-out party” for hai HYX Drama It had taken a while to be transferred to HNA in Manhattan… In Jan. 2013, HENGYUANXIANG Group someone who spoke a little English. Other Blackstone deals in China set up Shanghai HYX Drama Devel- opment Co., Ltd and promoted a new “Yes,” said the man on the other end. In March it agreed to sell its remaining brand of drama culture: HYX Drama. 21% stake in SeaWorld Entertainment, a Targeted at creating high-quality dramas “How many different kinds does your leading theme park operator, to China’s and musicals, the company is striving to company make?” Zhonghong Zhuoye Group for about $449 million. Last year Blackstone sealed the be the first, to be unique and to be a part He laughed. “Many, many. Which material $1.9 billion sale of its commercial prop- of history. do you want? Satin, velvet, or knit?” He ex- erty holdings in China to Vanke, at a time Founded in Shanghai, China in 1927, plained how price could differ by style, by when the Shenzhen-based developer was HENGYUANXIANG Group is so far one thickness of thread, by whether the kippah entrenched in a hostile takeover battle. of the largest consumers of wool both was made by hand or machine. He knew Points East 7 the nuances of the various designs better in China. When asked about the shift, the Hangzhouse Bodenda Tin Co. mainly than I did. younger Rosenthal was unsentimental. manufactures small metal containers, but “You can’t live in the past,” he told me. they will sell you menorahs if you order at Then he asked, “Where are you?” It’s admirable to support local business, least 10,000, or enough for every Jewish but market forces rule the day. He com- family in Cincinnati… “I’m in the United States. Philadelphia.” pared it to the rise of machine-made mat- In the course of my research, every Judai- zo. When the machines were invented, “United States,” he said approvingly. “It’s ca dealer I spoke with asked me the same there were initially protests, and many a big market.” question: Why do you care where your 19th-century rabbis condemned their kippahs are made? Rosenthal said about This is how I began investigating the scope use. Then the machines won. “Nothing buying Judaica, “It’s not a religious expe- of the Chinese Judaica market. Its role is stands in the way of progress.” somewhat hidden by imperfect labeling rience, unless you call bargains a Jewish Of course, not all Judaica can be ex- practices and Israeli middlemen. Even trait.” Why should the origins of a tallit ported. The chief obstacle is Jewish law, some Judaica retailers I spoke to weren’t bag matter any more than the origins of which mandates that certain objects— fully aware of their products’ origins. an iPhone? especially Torah scrolls, tefillin, and the The answer, I think, is that everybody To understand the market, I needed to parchment inside the mezuzah—be thinks about iPhone in basically the same talk to the distributors and importers. In made by Jews. (Tallit and tzitzit are in this way, whereas nobody who makes meno- October, I ended up on the phone with category, too, but only the strings, not rahs thinks much about them at all, except one Alex Rosenthal, the president of Rite the garment itself; the way the disparity for the end user. My anxiety around Chi- Lite, one of America’s largest distributors between the two affects tallit produc- of Judaica. Like many sellers of Jewish tion and taxation is a story for a different nese Judaica stems from the fact that the ritual objects, Rite Lite was literally a time.) Kippot can theoretically be made material artifacts of faith—the mezuzah mom-and-pop operation, established by by anyone, but some manufacturing has on the door, the menorah on the mantle, Rosenthal’s parents in 1949. Once upon stayed in America for a different reason: the candlesticks on the bureau—are not a time, such a business meant staying in logistics. If you need to order 100 cus- just artifacts of faith because they exist in touch with a network of Jewish crafts- tomized kippot for a bar mitzvah, there’s another context as well, and in that con- men, skilled in making everything from no time to get them from China; even if text a menorah is just another product candlesticks to dreidels, But Rosenthal’s you did, your order would be too small to line that happens to sell well in America. principal business travel for the past 15 be worth filling. These quirks keep four At the point of sale, a menorah has two years has been to China. or five American kippah makers, all in histories. In one, it is linked to its sev- Rosenthal suspects he’s purchased close the New York area, in business… en-branched Temple prototype, and Mac- to a million menorahs in his life—a mere A year after I first called China to inquire cabean revolt, and the story of the miracle fraction of them made in the United about kippah-making there, I called of the oil. In the other, it is a specialty tin States. American mass production of Ju- again, this time with the aid of a phone can. One history is sacred, the other pro- daica has all but evaporated, Rosenthal translator. I was able to confirm what I fane—the menorah has no opinion on the told me. It was long ago eclipsed by low- already suspected and what Judaica mer- matter. For me, being aware of Chinese er prices overseas, first in India and now chants had told me repeatedly: The peo- Judaica means being aware of the fragility in China. These two countries have a lock ple working in Chinese factories knew of holiness, of our power to choose not on “low-end” Judaica, which Rosenthal everything about the kippah market but only which history to prioritize but to add defines as items retailing for $75 or less. almost zero about what they were mak- ourselves to that very history, imbuing If an object isn’t handcrafted and it isn’t ing. “I think it’s for weddings?” one wom- those objects with memories of our own. one of the few objects that Jewish law an told me. David Zvi Kalman is a doctoral student specifically mandates be made by Jews, at the University of Pennsylvania, the it’s probably from East Asia. The Chinese indifference to the meaning of the Judaica they make is, to me, breath- director of Jewish Public Media, and How much of “low-end” Judaica in Amer- taking. Both manufacturers and distrib- the founder of an independent Jewish ica is produced in those countries? Ac- utors told me that the Chinese do not publishing house, Print-O-Craft (https:// cording to Rosenthal, three out of every care one whit about the meaning of the shabb.es/us/). four pieces of Judaica sold in America. Judaica they construct. No Chinese firm Another Judaica distributor told me the specializes in Judaica at all; objects get number was closer to nine in 10. In oth- made all over the place, always alongside er words: Unless that mezuzah case you Readers: Visit our website: a dozen other unrelated product lines. www.sino-judaic.org. bought was particularly fancy, it was like- In Qingdao, Ever Fortune makes kippot ly made on the other side of the world. alongside baseball caps, winter hats, and SJI Members: The history of Rite Lite is the history of hundreds of other kinds of headgear. In Email [email protected] the American Judaica market. Rosenthal’s Yiwu, Shangrao Knit Crochet Craft Fac- to receive the user name and company is now mainly an importer, but tory makes challah covers, kiddush cups, password needed to access the it began as a manufacturer…Today, 90 and crotched kippot alongside Muslim “members only” section. percent of Rite Lite’s menorahs are made headgear, baby bibs, and hammocks. 8 Points East the wider society and to Jewish com- ceived prior publication in English or BOOK NOOK munities worldwide?” (46) Meyer grap- Chinese academic journals and are now ples with these questions carefully in fortunately available to a wider read- the book’s introduction/overview. In ing public. Citing chapter titles offers a Shanghai’s Baghdadi Jews: A doing so, she breaks little more new glimpse into the broad scope covered, Collection of Biographical Reflections ground than she did in her 2003 study. often noting but always going far be- By Maisie Meyer. Blacksmith Books, However, in addition to her thorough yond the usual stereotypes – rich, brainy, 2016. $22.95. 479 pages. description of the origin, uniqueness and overwhelmingly successful. Insights and development of the Baghdadi Jew- abound. One I found most fascinating Reviewed by Gao Bei ish community in Shanghai, this portion – noted by Lihong Song in the book’s of her book introduces the biographical concluding essay – is that among all the Following a series of influential arti- accounts around which the volume is Jewish studies in China, there is no study cles on the subject, the publication of constructed and explains how they of Jewish liturgy. Maisie Meyer’s first book in 2003, From serve as evidence to support her argu- A brief overview of what is covered can the Rivers of Babylon to the Whangpoo: ment, that “Each contributor provides a A Century of Sephardi Jewish Life in only serve as an introduction. Each essay different aspect of Baghdadi Jewish life is worth a close reading. Shanghai (University Press of America), in Shanghai.” (48) secured her position as the authority • “Perceiving Jews in Modern China,” on the history of Sephardi/ Baghdadi As for the archival sources on which by Zhou Xun, offers an analysis of con- Jews in Shanghai. Meyer’s new book, the author relies, Meyer exploits ma- temporary images (positive and negative) Shanghai’s Baghdadi Jews: A Collec- terials regarding Sir Elly Kadoorie from and discusses the growth of the Jewish tion of Biographical Reflections (Black- the Hong Kong Heritage Project, which community in Beijing with its modern smith Books, 2016), takes a different was founded by the Kadoorie family in mikvah, and thriving kosher restaurants. 2007. The Hong Kong Heritage Project approach than her previous study and • “Images of Jews in Contemporary focuses on the first-hand experiences of itself has, since 2010, published several slim studies concerning the Kadoories, Books, Blogs and Films,” by co-editor people from this unique community in James R. Ross, focuses on popular cul- the modern city. Shanghai’s Baghdadi among them Shanghai, Hong Kong, the Kadoorie Family. Meyer also obtained ture examining specific authors and Jews uses personal histories to provide works that spread stereotypes and misun- readers with a vivid and accessible ac- access from the Sassoon family to Sir Victor Sassoon’s diaries from 1927 to derstandings. Are these evidence of phi- count that will complement existing lo-Semitism rather than anti-Semitism? scholarship by giving this community a 1961. Currently, Southern Methodist human face. University’s Degolyer Library houses a • “Distinctiveness: A Major Jewish collection called “Sir Ellice Victor Elias Characteristic,” by Fu Youde, examines In recent years, as the lives of wartime Sassoon Papers and Photographs.” This the differences between Chinese and European Jewish refugees in Shanghai consists of 35 diaries, correspondence Jewish ways of thinking, especially on have drawn increasing attention from and 15 photograph albums from the such topics as freedom and equality. both scholars and general public, nu- years 1928 to 1961. It would be valu- merous Shanghai survivors have pub- able to know whether this collection • “Chinese Policy toward Kaifeng Jews,” lished their stories in memoir form. has duplicated or holds different mate- by Xu Xin, traces changing historic reac- Scholars have also employed the per- rials than the one belonging to the Sas- tion from ancient times to the present, sonal and biographical approach in re- soon family. explaining why the government has de- lating their experiences. For example, nied the Kaifeng Jews recognition as an Irene Eber’s 2009 volume, Voices from In sum, Shanghai’s Baghdadi Jews is a ethnic group. It is especially interesting Shanghai: Jewish Exiles in Wartime Chi- welcome addition to the popular litera- to learn the designation “descendants” na (University of Chicago Press) trans- ture on this under-appreciated subject. rather than “Jews” was chosen because lated and edited many of the former It is lively and engaging, and the author it shifts emphasis by “denying Kaifeng’s refugees’ letters, poems, stories, and has a sharp eye for personalities and re- connection with the Jewish people and diaries. Steven Hochstadt interviewed vealing anecdotes. As the author notes, Israel as a Jewish state.” more than 100 of these Shanghai-land- we need to bear “in mind that memory is not history, but a past seen from the • “Sukkot and Mid-Autumn Festivals ers and published his transcripts in in Kaifeng: Conundrums at the Cross- Exodus to Shanghai: Stories of Escape perspective of a present, its value lies in the fact that it individualises the larg- roads of Sino-Judaic Cultural Identity,” from the Third Reich (Palgrave Macmil- by Moshe Y. Bernstein, follows and is a lan, 2012). Maisie Meyer’s Shanghai’s er historical picture, allowing readers to see events through the lives of men welcome continuation of Xu Xin’s essay Baghdadi Jews makes yet another con- as he delineates the various factions now tribution to this genre by examining and women who played a role at the time...” (51) present in the city. This description lays individual lives within a community of the groundwork for some understanding Jews who established themselves much Gao Bei is assistant professor of History of what is currently happening in Kaifeng earlier in the burgeoning metropolis. and International Studies at the Univer- and a changing government policy that In Shanghai’s Baghdadi Jews, Meyer sity of North Carolina Wilmington. She is now inhibiting Jewish life and tourism asks “To what extent did the Shang- can be reached at [email protected]. there. (For further information in this, hai Baghdadi Jews identify as Baghda- see http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/jew- di Jews and how secure were they in ish-troubles-in-kaifeng-china/) their identity? What enabled them to The Image of Jews in Contem- • “Understanding the Bible among the preserve their identity and ethnicity, in porary China. General Public in Mainland China: A spite of cultural accommodation to the Survey on the ‘Bullet Curtain’ of the Bi- Edited by James Ross and Song Lihong. British? What factors underpinned their ble,” by Meng Zhenhua, notes that Chi- Academic Studies Press, 2016. ISBN: heightened sense of community? What nese are learning more about the Bible 9781618114204. $79 USD. 256 pages was the character of their Jewish com- from television than from printed sourc- Reviewed by Bev Friend munal institutions? How did the com- es. “Bullet Curtain” refers to interaction munity contribute to the development What a wealth of fascinating informa- from viewers as they react – shooting and administration of the Treaty Port? tion is housed in these eleven varied metaphorical bullets. All Chinese trans- How did they represent themselves to contributions, many of which had re- lations are the work of Christians and in- Points East 9 clude both Old and New Testaments. Jewish StudiesStudies there. She may be reached they lived until the Song Emperor invited them back. Despite their prolonged ab- “The Changing Image of the State of atthere. [email protected]. She may be reached at friend@ sence from China proper, they remained Israel in the People’s Daily, During the oakton.edu. Cold War,” by She Gangzheng, points truthful to both China and to their bibli- out how changes are linked to domestic There is a 30% discount when this cal roots. book is ordered directly from Academ- fluctuations in China, including the eco- A History of the Kaifeng Israelites is an nomic reforms of the 1980’s. ic Studies Press. Use the promotion- al code TFN95TE at www.academic- in-depth study of a small group of Isra- “The Reception of Contemporary studiespress.com elites who migrated after Exile from East Israeli Literature in China,” by Zhong to farther East, all the way to China. Ever Zhiqing, examines popular and classical since this community was discovered in works citing translation data: 114 books 1605 in Kaifeng, it generated controversy and anthologies, 74 works of prose, 5 due to lack of communication, formida- books of poetry and 27 children’s books Forthcoming: ble language barriers, misunderstandings – and doubtless even more since this and prejudiced observations. Western- writing. A highlight was the visit of Is- A History of the Kaifeng Israelites ers wrote about the Kaifeng Jews based raeli author Amos Oz in 2007. By Tiberiu Weisz, Outskirts Press, Au- on rudimentary understanding of China, gust/September 2017 while works of Chinese scholars were “China’s Relationship with Israel, based on superficial knowledge of Juda- Opportunities and Challenges: Perspec- ism. tives from China,” by Chen Yiyi, breaks The central thesis of A History of the new ground by examining the implica- Kaifeng Israelites is to identify refer- A History of the Kaifeng Israelites com- tions of China’s rapid economic growth ences associated with Judaism and Is- bines Chinese and Jewish sources, in in the past 10 years and the resulting raelites in ancient Chinese literature. conjunction with the stone inscriptions to purchases of Israeli technology in agri- Once these sections were translated in present the story of the Kaifeng Israelites culture, water purification and telecom- a joint Chinese and Jewish context, the in dual Jewish and Chinese settings. To munication. author retraced the Israelites’ presence that end, the author has translated texts in China to the earliest times. from ancient Chinese literature that attest “Holocaust Studies and Holocaust to the presence and activities of Jews in Education in China,” by Glenn Tim- This book weaves the story of the Kai- ancient China. The book also correlates merman, was one of the first studies of feng Israelites from original archives, this topic, and illustrates the increased memorials to the emperors, and local the Chinese version of the origin of the interest when coupled with studies and articles with Western sources. For the Kaifeng community with Hebrew and exhibits on such atrocities as the Nan- first time readers are exposed to the Western sources, the role of the inscrip- jing Massacre. As of now, there are no activities of the “seventy clans”, as tions in the life of the Kaifeng Israelites institutes with Holocaust Studies but a the Chinese Jews considered them- and analyses the various visual accounts study of Shoah is included in most Jew- selves “all offspring of Jacob were of Chinese travelers to Kaifeng in early ish Studies programs. seventy persons” (Ex 1:5) in dynastic 20th century. China. This small Israelite community “Reflection of Jewish Studies: A Com- believed they were the sole remnants parative Perspective,” by co-editor Song of “all Israel” (klal Yisrael). They lived The Chinese Jews of Kaifeng: A Millennium Lihong, asks a provocative question: in the outskirts of China in adminis- of Adaptation and Endurance “Should we face inward toward satisfy- trative enclaves that encouraged si- ing academic colleagues, or should we noization. Chinese sages such as Laozi Edited by Anson Laytner & Jordan Paper face outward and endeavor to leaven an quoted them, Confucius referred to Lexington Books, forthcoming. undistorted, meaningful, and accessible them while Mencius described them, knowledge of the Jewish people to a possibly had a discourse with one of broader Chinese audience?” them, and later literature treated them This volume brings together select clas- as natives. After the 2nd century CE sic essays reprinted from long out-of- Certainly, this fine volume is a first step they settled in China proper and Chi- print volumes of Sino-Judaica with new towards providing such knowledge for nese literature mentioned them in the essays written especially for this book. all potential audiences. Han, Sui, Wei, Tang and Song dy- Contributors include: Nigel Thomas, Beverly Friend, PHD, is Executive Di- nasties where they lived in monastic Donald Leslie, Mathew Eckstein, Irene rector of the China Judaic Studies Asso- anonymity. They joined the exodus Eber, Moshe Bernstein, Alex Bender, An- ciation, a Board Member of the Sino Ju- from China during the Great Religious drew Plaks, Mohammed al-Sudairi, Erik daic Institute, and has been honored by Persecution in the Tang Dynasty when Zürcher and Kong Xianyi. Anson Laytner the Diane and Guilford Glazer Institute all non-native Chinese religions were and Jordan Paper co-wrote the introduc- for Jewish and Israeli Studies at Nanjing expelled. The Israelite community re- tion and also contributed original essays University for her work in promoting turned to the Western Regions, where to the volume.

Sino-Judaica Returns with New Volume Thanks to the extraor- monograph, “Jewish Religious Obser- It is available immediately at the follow- dinary efforts of SJI vance by the Jews of Kaifeng China” ing stores: Board member Dana by Rabbi Dr. Chaim Simons of Israel. Leventhal, SJI’s aca- This work connects the actual obser- demic publication, Si- vance of the Kaifeng Jewish commu- no-Judaica, has been nity in its heyday with their sources in revived. Sino-Judaica halacha (Jewish law). Interested readers can do a Google Book Search in order to preview the Volume 5 is devoted book on Google Books. to a single academic 10 Points East 12 Points East

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The Sino-Judaic Institute is a non-denominational, non-profit, and non-political organization, founded on June 27, 1985, in Palo Alto, California, by an international group of scholars and lay persons, to promote friendship and understanding between the Chinese and Jewish peoples and to encourage and develop their cooperation in matters of mutual historical and cultural interest. Its objectives are: 1) The study of the ancient Jewish community of Kaifeng and assisting its descendents as appropriate. 2) The study of Jewish life in Shanghai, Harbin, Tianjin and elsewhere in the 19th and 20th centuries. 3) The support of Jewish studies programs in China. 4) The study of cultural intersections between Chinese and Jews, for example adoptions, literature, diasporas, etc. 5) The study of Sino-Israeli relations. 6) To cooperate with other groups whose interests lie in Sinitic and Judaic matters.

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