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Missionaries Threaten Jewish Survival in Kaifeng Zera 14 Points East Vol. 28 No. 1 A Publication of the Sino-Judaic Institute March 2013 MISSIONARIES THREATEN JEWISH ZERA YISRAEL AS THE NEW BASIS SURVIVAL IN KAIFENG FOR CONVERSION by Rabbi Anson Laytner by Rabbi Chaim Amsellem published on Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals and A little less than a century ago, Bishop William Charles White, excerpted from: http://www.jewishideas.org/articles/ a Canadian Anglican missionary in China, convened a gather- acceptance-commandments-conversion ing of Kaifeng Jews in a bid to revive the failing community. It was a noble but ultimately duplicitous effort (at least for the Jews) because White’s ultimate goal was the conversion of the [Rabbi Chaim Amsellem is an Kaifeng Jews to Christianity. He thought that by helping them Israeli politician and a former reconnect with their Jewish heritage, he would be better posi- member of the Knesset. Follow- tioned to guide them to correct the errors of their beliefs and ing a rift between him and his lead them to Christianity.1 former party, Shas, of which he was a founder, he established Fast forward to the 21st century. After a long hiatus, the Kaifeng the Am Shalem party to run for Jews are again struggling to revive their community. Credit the 2013 Knesset elections but this to a moderately more open Chinese society, the wonders failed to win any seats. His new of the internet, and the intermittent presence of visiting, knowl- political movement seeks to edgeable Western Jews. And, unfortunately, just like a century present an inclusive Judaism, ago, Christian missionaries are also present, hoping to redirect much in the spirit of his own Moroccan Sephardic forebears. the hearts and minds of Kaifeng Jews along Christian paths. Rabbi Amsellem remains an important figure in the religious and political life of the State of Israel. Among his publications The evidence is fragmentary but, given the history of Christian are two learned volumes on the topic of conversion to Juda- missionary activity vis-à-vis the Jews and the Kaifeng Jews in ism. This article appears in issue 14 of Conversations, the jour- particular, and the Chinese in general, it is highly probable nal of the Institute for Jewish Ideas and Ideals. We present his that their intent is to convert and not simply to assist, just as ideas here because of their implications for the Jews of Kaifeng was the case with Bishop White and other Protestant mission- and other “lost” Jewish groups.] aries, like the London Society for Promoting Christianity Among the Jews, who visited Kaifeng from the mid-19th century on. In the State of Israel, the topic of conversion frequently emerges at the top of the country’s agenda. The successful immigration In 1995, an American Judeo-Christian2 televangelist, Sid Roth, of Jews from the former Soviet Union, who lived for decades led an international troupe of dancers and singers to Kaifeng to behind the Iron Curtain, created a complicated halakhic situa- participate in the Chrysanthemum Flower Festival, which oc- tion regarding the identities of some of these immigrants. Ac- curred shortly after Sukkot. It was his second visit to Kaifeng cording to the plain halakha, more than 300,000 of these im- and the culmination of his efforts to contact the Kaifeng Jews. migrants are categorized as non-Jews, despite the fact that they Music, dance and witnessing/proselytizing took place at infor- descend from Jews (Jewish father, grandfather, etc.) There is mal meetings with them. According to the Israeli sinologist no doubt that, in order to solve this problem, there is a need to and film-maker Noam Urbach, eyewitnesses told him that “ru- convert these immigrants in consonance with Jewish law. mors of their generosity toward Youtai (Jewish) descendants Join The Sino-Judaic Institute willing to convert caused many poor villagers from outside of The general population in Israel doesn’t understand the halakhic Membership in the Institute is open and we cordially invite you to join in supporting our endeavor. Kaifeng to besiege their hotel, claiming to be Youtai descen- perspective, which views the conversion process as a deep trans- dants who wish to convert.”3 formational process that takes place within the convert and Benefactor $1,000+ Libraries $ 50 Contact: The Sino-Judaic demands a qualitative change in the individual’s faith, behav- Institute, Prof. Steve Hochstadt, While this outreach ended up a debacle, later efforts were more ior, and way of life. Many of those who attack the rabbinic *Patron $ 500 - 999 Academic $ 30 - 49 Dept. of History, Illinois College, successful. The ironic part is that, even if conversion is their and Torah institutions charge them with a lack of sensitivity ultimate objective, along the way these Judeo-Christian mis- Corporate Sponsor $ 250- 499 Senior citizens 1101 West College Ave, and flexibility. They ask with bewilderment how it is possible sionaries can do a lot of good. For example, in 1999, capping that one would place barriers in the path of a person who is *Sponsor $ 100 - 499 & students $ 25 Jacksonville IL 62650 several years’ work, a Chinese Christian based in Beijing brought prepared to endanger and sacrifice his life for the security of [email protected] Regular membership $ 50 - 99 [email protected] members of a Kaifeng Jewish family to Israel via Finland with the Jewish nation. (continued on page 4) (continued on page 7)6) 2 Points East Points East 13 Points East The way the book is written is both its Stories of Escape from the Third Reich. caping Nazi persecution. Simply visit TABLE OF CONTENTS FROM THE EDITOR Anson Laytner, Publisher strength and its weakness. On the one This moving oral history volume recounts www.palgrave.com and enter the code hand, we benefit from hearing multiple the little known experiences of German- CONF2013 at the checkout stage to Here’s an item worth a story except that Points East is published by the Sino-Judaic perspectives on common themes and speaking Jews who ended up in Shang- receive your discount*. there was no one to write it: Hebrew Institute, a tax-exempt, non-profit organization. there is even some dramatic tension as hai, China - the last option for those es- Featured Article: The opinions and views expressed by the we follow 13 indi- Union College Klau Library has digitized Missionaries Threaten Jewish contributors and editor are their own and do vidual stories from epi- its Kaifeng manuscript collection and not necessarily express the viewpoints and sode to episode to their Survival in Kaifeng .................... 1 shared it with scholars connected with the positions of the Sino-Judaic Institute. conclusion. On the Sino-Judaic Institute, who in turn are plan- other hand, some of ning on using the materials to help recon- Letters to the Editor and articles for Points East Zera Yisrael as the New Basis may be sent to: these stories are so for Conversion .......................... 1 nect the Kaifeng Jews with their own au- compelling that one thentic heritage. It’s too long for a head- Preferred Form: e-mail:[email protected] sometimes wishes to line and too short for a story, but it is read them in their en- or to: Rabbi Anson Laytner From the Editor .......................... 2 worth celebrating. HUC’s collection con- tirety without the inter- tains 64 manuscripts from Kaifeng that 1823 East Prospect St. Seattle, WA 98112-3307 ruption of another includes prayers for Shabbat and holidays, To the Editor............................... 3 person’s story. “Wait and portions of the Torah. Now that they Points East is published three times a year, in your turn,” I found March, July and November. Deadlines for have been digitized, SJI scholars are us- myself thinking, “I submitting material to be included in these Articles: ing them to recreate a nusach Kaifeng, a issues are January 15th, May 15th and want to find out what From Kaifeng to Beit way of prayer that was unique to Kaifeng. September 15th. happened to so-and-so when she got to Shang- Hatfutsot .................................. 10 (It may not be too much different from hai.” In the end, how- that of Persia, but it will be authentically FINANCIAL REPORT AVAILABLE from Kaifeng.) We also intend to share ever, everyone has his Mo Yan’s Jewish Interpreter ........... 10 the digital copies with the Kaifeng com- SJI members interested in receiving a or her turn and all the copy of the annual financial report should munity so that items may be reproduced stories get told, so it all Eran Barzilay & New Shavei send a self-addressed envelope to: Steve works out. and featured in a private museum there Hochstadt, Treasurer of the Sino-Judaic Israel Projects ........................... 11 and at the Bet HaTikvah school. The Institute, Illinois College, 1101 W Col- Kaifeng community has virtually nothing lege Ave., Jacksonville IL 62650. The book is graced by Hochstadt’s scholarly, left of its patrimony. Its artifacts and Book Nook ................................ 12 but not academic, in- manuscripts by and large were taken to Sino-Judaic Institute troduction and conclu- the West and this project by HUC repre- c/o Rabbi Arnie Belzer sion which, when sents the first giving back, albeit digital, 34 Washington Avenue Savannah, GA 31405 U.S.A. added to his prefaces to of materials to the community. Perhaps each chapter, offer a other institutions—the Jewish Theologi- SJI Officers SJI MEMBERSHIP Arnie Belzer, President concise history of the cal Seminary and the Royal Ontario Mu- Vera Schwarcz, Vice-President Jewish refugee experi- seum in Toronto, for example—will fol- Steve Hochstadt, Treasurer ence in Shanghai. All Country Total low suit, digitize their collections and Ondi Lingenfelter, Secretary in all, this remarkable Anson Laytner, Immediate Past President “return” their materials to Kaifeng.
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