14 Points East conducted business at the race- track, program “We’ll Meet Again,” and was a British citizens, they were considered sometimes on a handshake! World War guest lecturer for several days at the Im- enemies of Japan. II abruptly terminated their privileged perial War Museum. lifestyle. In 1943, the Japanese interned So here we have a firsthand account of the Benjamins for nearly three years in a Review the enjoyment and then sudden termina- POW camp. Along with other internees Ester Benjamin Shifren’s book is unique. tion of a privileged, opulent life style. they endured great hardship and loss of Most personal journals detailing the lives We see the expected horrors of the POW all worldly possessions. In 1948, shortly of the Jews in Shanghai during World War camp and the unexpected but dismaying before the Communist takeover, the II deal with Ashkenazi refugees from Eu- anti-Semitism of the British towards the Vol. 28 No. 2 A Publication of the Sino-Judaic Institute Benjamins relocated to Hong Kong, rope forced to flee the Nazis. They be- Jews throughout and after the war in a July 2013 where the ensuing Korean War embargo come a stateless people ultimately fascinating book which starts long before eventually caused their irreparable finan- squeezed into the squalor of the Hongkew the Holocaust and extends from Shang- cial collapse. In 1951 the family immi- Ghetto. hai to Hong Kong and beyond at War’s THE ALIYAH ROADBLOCK IN ISRAEL 7 CHINESE JEWS REJOIN THE grated to Israel. Ester managed, between end. It is indeed a riveting examination by Andrew Sacks 1987 and 2004, to tape three interviews This is not the case with Shifren. Her fam- of the extremes endured by this family JEWISH PEOPLE excerpted from of her parents, which yielded 100 tran- ily was not from Europe, and not set against insights into pre and post war by Brian Blum http://www.blogs.jpost.com/users/masorti-matters scribed pages of invaluable information Ashkenazi, but Sephardi. She was born China, enhanced by many family pho- excerpted from the Shavei Israel website: http:// for use in her book. in China as her family had arrived in tos. www.shavei.org/communities/kaifeng_jews/articles- Shanghai from India in 1840, and thrived Dec 12, 2012 kaifeng_jews 13/12/2012 Ester served two years in the Israeli army, there for five generations. Her affluent Shifren is a skilled author, bringing to married a South African, and spent thirty- family — including wealthy entrepre- life all the bustle of teeming Shanghai 1. Aliyah: Converts get the run-around 1. Tony six years in South Africa. After spending neurs, diplomats, and racehorse owners and all the devastation of being a POW five years in Canada, Ester immigrated — were not stateless, but citizens of Great as she weaves her personal memoir into Imagine the Israeli government blocking a Jew from observing As he stood before the Jerusalem Rabbinical Court answering to the USA in 1997 and now lives in Los Britain. Rather than experiencing the war the larger historical picture. It is an un- Kashrut, putting on Tefilin, or lighting the Hanukah lights. the final question before completing a crucial last step on the Angeles, California. Ester Benjamin in the Hongkew Ghetto, they were se- forgettable saga, well researched, and road towards his long awaited conversion to Judaism, Tony Shifren is an author, artist, musician, and questered for three dismal years of ex- highly recommended. Sounds absurd. Even for Israel which is home to the absurd. Liang was thrown a curveball. dynamic international speaker. In 2005, treme deprivation and degradation in a in England, she was featured in the BBC1 Japanese internment camp because, as There is a Mitzvah to make Aliyah. The Mitzvah is known as “What’s the blessing on Yeshuv HaAretz. A Jew is obligated to build the land of Israel. an eggroll?” the rabbinic Yes, there are disputes as to whether the commandment is judge asked the young Torahitic or Rabbinic. There are also disagreements as to how man from Kaifeng, one may fulfill this obligation. But make no mistake – living China. Tony looked per- in Israel allows one to fulfill more Mitzvot than living else- plexed. where. It turns out that the Chi- This Mitzvah is no less an obligation for those who are Jews nese, at least those in re- by Choice than those born into Judaism. The law of the State mote Kaifeng, don’t eat Join The Sino-Judaic Institute of Israel, as interpreted by the highest court in the land, has eggrolls; it’s a western held that converts of non-Orthodox denominations must be variation on Asian food. The Sino-Judaic Institute is a non-denominational, non-profit, and non- Benefactor $1,000+ given the same rights under the Law of Return as those who The judge opened his political organization which was founded in 1985 by an international Patron $ 500 - 999 convert through the Orthodox movements and those born Jew- Hoshea (Tony) Liang at the mikveh with laptop, did a Google Corporate Sponsor $ 250- 499 ish. Rabbi Menachem Weinberg search for “eggroll,” and group of scholars and laypersons. Sponsor $ 100 showed Tony the picture. Yet our very own Interior Ministry - in the hands of an ostensi- Tony immediately got the blessing right. The judges instructed Regular Member $ 50 - 99 bly religious political party (SHAS) – has blocked far too many him to cover his eyes and recite Shema Israel. As he did so, Membership in the Institute is open and we cordially invite you to join Libraries $ 50 who wish to fulfill their obligation of Yeshuv HaAretz. At a Tony came one giant leap closer to the dream he’s nurtured in supporting our endeavor. Our annual dues structure is as follows: Academic $ 30 - 49 time when Aliyah has slowed to a trickle one would expect since childhood: to live a fully Jewish life in the Land of Is- Senior citizens & students $ 25 that we would welcome potential Olim (immigrants) with open rael. arms. With so many “religious” men, zealously Orthodox, avoid- ing military service, one might think we would embrace a Jew Tony Liang is one of seven descendants of the Kaifeng Jewish I wish to become a member of the Sino-Judaic Institute and to receive Points East. Enclosed is my check for $ . by Choice seeking to serve in the IDF. But this is just not so. community who have been studying Judaism and Hebrew in PLEASE PRINT Israel for the past two and a half years with Shavei Israel’s Name Who is at fault? I take my hat off to the fine people at the help… Jewish Agency’s Aliyah department. They work faithfully to Address fulfill their mandate to bring Jews to Israel. They do the prepa- For most of their time in Israel, the seven Chinese men have ration work and hand in completed files to the Interior Minis- been studying at Yeshivat HaMivtar, part of Rabbi Shlomo Phone # try personnel who need only issue the OK. But that OK may Riskin’s Ohr Torah Institutions in Efrat, under the supervision take a long time. A very long time. In the interim the life of the of Rabbi Menachem Weinberg. Rabbi Weinberg deemed the Mail to: The Sino-Judaic Institute, Prof. Steve Hochstadt, Dept. of History, Illinois College, potential Oleh may be put on hold as they are unable to make men to be ready for their “interviews” at the Beit Din (Rab- 1101 West College Ave, Jacksonville IL 62650 plans without the green light from this ministry. Does the Oleh binical Court) this past Thursday and “they passed with flying (continued on page 4) (continued on page 5)6) 2 Points East Points East 13 Points East of Europe, and the State Department to that plucky band of machers who staffed a refugee hospital, overcame ob- TABLE OF CONTENTS FROM THE EDITOR Anson Laytner, Publisher wasn’t keen on the rescue effort. mapped out an epic rescue over a poker stacles, and produced a vibrant commu- table. nity. The magic of oral history, with ex- By the time you read this, historic things Points East is published by the Sino-Judaic All refugees would have to possess skills cellent questions by the author, intro- will have happened in Kaifeng. Institute, a tax-exempt, non-profit organization. they could apply in the Philippines, and “It shows the capacity for human beings duces the reader to the monthly opera Featured Article: The opinions and views expressed by the none could depend on any form of gov- to do what they know in their hearts is and theater performances, daily newspa- The Aliyah Roadblock in Israel ...... 1 Acting on their own, the members of the contributors and editor are their own and do ernment welfare. right,” she said. “There’s quite a lesson pers of high quality, radio programs in Yicileye School and the Beit HaTikvah not necessarily express the viewpoints and to be learned from that.” German, English, and Yiddish, learning School have agreed to reunite and hold positions of the Sino-Judaic Institute. The Frieders raised tens of thousands of new trades, producing a Little Vienna of 7 Chinese Jews Rejoin the their classes in a new facility. Eran dollars to cover the costs; as refugees cafés, coffee shops and music, lending Barzilay, an Israeli who is familiar to Letters to the Editor and articles for Points East made their way to Manila, they found a libraries, a refugee school of 600 stu- Jewish People ........................... 1 may be sent to: readers from his reports on teaching in hospitable environment.