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, excerptedacceptance-commandments-conversion from: http://www.jewishideas.org/articles/ a Canadian Anglican missionary in China, convened a gather- 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 Corporate Sponsor $ 250- 499 Senior citizens ultimate objective, along the way these Judeo-Christian mis- and flexibility. They ask with bewilderment how it is possible 1101 West College Ave, 1101 West College Ave, 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 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)

(continued on page 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 have been digitized, SJI scholars are us- March, July and November. Deadlines for myself thinking, “I submitting material to be included in these Articles: want to find out what ing them to recreate a nusach Kaifeng, a issues are January 15th, May 15th and 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. book offers a valuable United States 179 Managing Board contribution to the China 19 Thank you Hebrew Union College, Klau Denise Yeh Bresler, Joel Epstein, Bev Friend, fields of Holocaust and Israel 16 Library and to its Administrative Librar- Seth Garz, Mary-Anne Graham, Ron Kaye, Dana Chinese history. Leventhal, Den Leventhal, David Marshall, Jim Canada 14 ian, Laurel S. Wolfson, for doing this Michaelson, Art Rosen, Eric Rothberg, Marvin For an interview with England 4 mitzvah. And mazal tov to SJI President Tokayer, Tibi Weisz, Albert Yee, Cynthia Zeiden Rabbi Arnie Belzer for bringing years of Dr. Hochstadt and Australia 2 intermittent correspondence to such a International Advisory Board more on his book, Germany 3 Wendy Abraham, Jan Berris, Mark Cohen, Irene please visit: http:// successful conclusion. Eber, Avrum Ehrlich, Fu Youde, Jonathan Japan 2 Goldstein, Jerry Gotel, Judy Green, Len Hew, wsdata.com/redirect/ South Africa 2 Anson Laytner Tess Johnston, Donald Leslie, Michael Li, 2012-12-22/ Maisie Meyer, Mark Michaelson, Sonja stevehochstadt.com Indonesia 1 Muehlberger, Gustavo Perednik, Andrew Plaks, or stevehochstadt.com Switzerland 1 Correction: “My Two Diasporas” by So- Pan Guang, Shi Lei, Yitzhak Shichor, Elyse Han Fan was originally an Asian Jewish Silverberg, Josh Stampfer, Shalom Wald, Xiao Taiwan 1 Life article and was reprinted with per- Xian, Xu Xin, Zhang Qianhong, David Zweig Palgrave Macmillan is delighted to offer mission in the Times of Israel, Bechol Past Presidents Lashon and eJewish Philanthropy. See the Al Dien, Leo Gabow readers of Points East a 25% discount on TOTAL: 257 original at: http://asianjewishlife.org/ In Memoriam, z”l pages/articles/AJL_Issue_10_Sept2012/ Marshall Denenberg, Leo Gabow, Phyllis Horal, Steve Hochstadt’s title AJL_WritersDesk_My2Diasporas.html Teddy Kaufman, Rena Krasno, Michael Pollak, Exodus to Shanghai: Louis Schwartz 12 Points East Points East 3 “I wanted a place where I’d have an op- easy finding someone who either knows have always checked “other” when fill- Shanghai. They may also have had some portunity to go to synagogue and cel- or is studying Chinese and who has the BOOK NOOK TO THE EDITOR ing out forms. The Jews in Germany be- connection with cork carving work in the ebrate Shabbat with other Jews, while I knowledge in Jewish subjects to teach fore the mid-1930s thought of themselves Fuzhou in Fujian province. as “white” and look at what happened was studying,” he says. the community,” Barzilay explains. Exodus to Shanghai: Stories of To the Editor: The excerpt from Diane Tobin’s “Are All to them. Yet I have witnessed even in It seems that the BAUMZWEIGER origi- my own family an increasing adoption nated in Warsaw (Poland), that one of During his year in China, Barzliay be- Gershovich ended her term in Kaifeng last Escape from the Third Reich, Jews White? The Woody Allen Syn- New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012. of a racial Jewish identification, with a the ancestors (Wolf, Ze’ev) was exiled cameIsrael’s close with the community. When summer, so in the meantime, Barzilay drome” (Points East 27/3:10) indirectly 272 pages. ISBN 978-1-137-00671-4. concomitant prejudice against all those to Siberia for some crimes (circa 1850) he subsequently came home to Israel, he returned to celebrate the High Holy Days indicates that many contemporary North by Steve Hochstadt not considered “white,” including Chi- and that his descendants found their way wasn’t ready to say goodbye. Shavei last year with the community. He was American Jews have very short cultural Rabbi Hanoch Avitzedek imme- reviewed by Anson Laytner nese. This began with the inception of in and out of China subsequently. Look delighted to be back, particularly for the memories, as well as the refusal of many diately recognized Barzilay’s potential. Israel as a Jewish state; that is, since the forward to hearing from you soon. holiday of Sukkot, which comes at an to accept the history and reality of the At the request of Shavei Israel Chairman Being a friend and colleague of Dr. secular Zionist replacement of Judaism auspicious point of the year in China, Chinese Jews and Chinese Judaism. In Michael Freund, who places great impor- Hochstadt, I probably should have re- as a religion with Judaism as a race came Thank you. Barzilay explains. researching the latter topic, I repeatedly tance on assisting the Kaifeng Jews, the cused myself as a reviewer of his book, came across Jewish racial bigotry in the to the fore. two began brainstorming on ways to en- but I took on the task and hoped that I disinclination to accept the Chinese Jews, Dr. Stephen Ankier (London - England) On the very same day of the lunar calen- hance the community’s connection to would find the book favorable. Had I past as well as present, as Jews. Of I point out my far from unique experi- dar (Sukkot always begins with the full ences to indicate first the dangers of com- [email protected] Judaism. not, someone else would be writing this course, this is not likely to be pertinent moon) falls the Chinese “Mid-Autumn plaisance, of considering oneself white review rather than me. to readers of Points East. A key tool has been the newsletter, which Festival,” a national holiday when the and fully accepted by the dominant cul- many Chinese young people who travel hai ture. The climate of a half-century ago Dear Secretary, comes out twice a month and has pub- I am happy to report that Exodus to Shang- I am in my mid-70s. When I grew up in to distant cities for work or school return has never totally disappeared and could lished nearly 40 issues so far. The news- is delight to read. Hochstadt has as- Baltimore, Jews did not consider them- letter, which includes articles on Jewish home to be with their families. This easily return, especially considering the I understand that your society may be sembled a wonderful cast of former selves to be “white.” We lived semi-seg- law, the Parsha (weekly Torah portion), makes it much easier for the Kaifeng Jews rapid growth of fundamental Christian- able to assist me for information that may Shanghailanders to tell their collective regated lives; “semi” in the sense that it and holidays (the next issue turns the to come together without having to take ity in the U.S. connect my late father with China. My story of escape, survival and return, to was not as bad as it was for African- spotlight on the upcoming holiday of an extra day off of work. About 60 name is Michael Felton and my father which he has added his own lucid and Americans. We were restricted as to Purim), is a collaborative effort, with Kaifeng Jews sat together under the sukka where we could live and where we could Secondly, the fallacy of Jews consider- was Harry Felton - formerly Herschel insightful commentaries. some articles written by community that Barzilay helped the community build swim, etc. When I applied to universi- ing themselves “white” leads them to (Harry) Felbrodt (d.1969). In 1917 he was members in Kaifeng and some by (on the roof of one of the local Jewish ties, I discovered that almost all of those accept “white” racial prejudice and ap- one of a number of young men who had As Hochstadt notes in his introduction, ply it to other than Ashkenazi Jews, es- not acquired UK nationality and who Barzilay here in Israel. “The idea is to be school). considered the best had small quotas for a connection, a bridge between the Jews recording oral histories and using them the acceptance of Jews. I matriculated at pecially Jews from Southeast Asia (“Near were given the choice of joining UK to write history has its own unique set of East”), India, Africa and China. If we can forces; working in the coal mines or be- in Kaifeng and those who are now living Barzilay relates that he was able to bring the University of Chicago, where the challenges. Can a person remember rid ourselves of the racial bigotry in which ing returned to their country of origin. in Israel.” the “4 Species” for Sukkot to Kaifeng for undergraduate body at that time was sub- events accurately or is any memory, like we as Jews identity ourselves by an as- the holiday “And it’s not so easy to get stantially Jewish, because it was the only Barzilay is referring to the seven Kaifeng the initial experience itself, necessarily sumed superior skin color (far from a few I have two lines of enquiry: into China with a lulav!” he jokes, re- university of its caliber that did not have men who have been studying Judaism subjective? But then too, all histories Ashkenazi are actually darker than those 1. I have read a book “War or Revolu- calling certain suspicious customs offi- a quota for Jews. When I sought summer and Hebrew in Israel for the past two are subjective once one digs into causes they look down upon), then we can ac- tion” - ISBN 0-85303-707 (Cloth) - writ- cials. Other guests under the sukka in- work in Chicago, I was turned down by and a half years with Shavei Israel’s help. and effects of the facts. Not even some- well over twenty firms because I was Jew- cept all Jews as sisters and brothers, as ten by David Shuckman about the expe- cluded Shoshana Rebecca Li from Kaifeng was the case in pre-modern times, be- riences of his late father and others who Barzilay has been assisting Shavei here thing as tangible as a universally accepted ish; I ended up with a job at a Jewish who made aliyah from Kaifeng in 2006 fore the onset of late 19th-century racial were sent back to Russia towards the end too. For example, he will be accompa- event is free from interpretation. firm. I was turned down for tenure at my nying six of the seven when they im- and married Ami Emmanuel, also a new anthropology, now discredited in the of WWI. In this book a “Harry” is men- Hochstadt ultimately decided that the first faculty position at Indiana State merse in the mikveh (ritual bath) later immigrant, albeit from the United States. social sciences but not by the general tioned. He would have been about my oral histories of these former refugees University because, as my department this week, the final step towards com- The two were visiting Shoshana’s family chair stated, “We do not give tenure to public, Jewish or otherwise. If we con- father’s age at the time - 19 to 21 years. were worth preserving and sharing and pleting their formal return to Judaism and for the holidays, allowing the entire com- your kind.” I and the only other Jewish tinue to identify ourselves by race we risk The book describes in part a journey to becoming officially recognized Israeli munity to coo over their baby boy, named consequently our understanding of the colleague were the only members of the the end of Judaism when, as it must even- Vladivostok with the Czech Legion along citizens. (The seventh, Hoshea Tony Tekoa. Shanghai refugee experience is so much department ever turned down for tenure tually, the chimera of race and racial the Trans Siberian railway. Liang, did so two weeks ago.) the richer for it. who had doctorates and publications. It purity bursts as all illusory bubbles must. At one time my father told my The Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is cel- was in Indiana that I learned of the gen- younger brother that he had met the Barzilay will then be the point person ebrated by eating round moon cakes, in Hochstadt has taken the unusual step of eral American racial understanding that Dr. Jordan Paper Czechs but no detail was forthcoming. Victoria, Canada The journey to Eastern Russia and the for navigating the Israeli government bu- honor of its full moon start. Jews tradi- breaking apart the former refugees’ sto- there were, in order of rank, “whites,” [email protected] difficulties of the fighters, refugees and reaucracy for the seven, setting them up tionally eat round challot at this time of ries so that they present a kaleidoscopic Jews and “blacks;” Jews, as a racial cat- anti Bolshevik forces does not signify a with a long-term Hebrew ulpan (includ- year – coincidental? view of a number of shared experiences. egory, were almost as much a target of ing housing) and helping them get settled Chinese connection but it is inferred that The reader is thus able to view these ex- the KKK as were blacks. I subsequently as they begin their new lives in the Jew- accepted a position at York University in Dear Sirs, many reached Shanghai. While Barzilay’s work for Shavei Israel periences from up to 13 perspectives as ish state. Toronto. York had begun a few years ear- with the Kaifeng Jews is only part time, his subjects reminisce about life in the Please may I ask for assistance in tracing 2. However, I have in my possession lier in the mid-1960s as a separate uni- for him it’s much more that an occupa- Third Reich, leaving home, culture shock my family who are believed to have been two extracts possibly part of a series of Shavei Israel’s scholarship project for the versity from the University of Toronto, tion. “I believe that G-d guides every- and community creation in Shanghai, liv- in China from about 1850 to about 1955. articles that were published in the Shang- Kaifeng community has been an equally instead of a separate campus, at the in- thing,” he says. “I went to China and got ing in the Designated Area, the end of hai Weekly on 9th March 1918. These important part of Barzilay responsibili- stigation of the local Jewish community, the war, after the war, deciding where to The family name is BAUMZWEIGER also describe initially the arrival of a ship, the ties and it has kept him quite busy look- to know this community and then I came because Jews, when accepted at Toronto, ing for someone to fill the shoes of the back and got to know Shavei. I will keep leave after Shanghai, beginning another spelt BAUMZVEIGER (aka, Bejmcwajger, Czaritza on 2nd November 1917 at Arch- were made to feel unwelcome. Bomwiager) and are believed to angel and the position of young men from first recipient, Shulamit Gershovich, who on doing this no matter where I work in new life, and a summing up of their refu- have lived in Harbin (the capital of the U.K. The writer of the article is un- we’ve written about before. “It’s not so the future. This is a job for my soul.” gee experiences. I never thought of myself as white, and Heilongjiang Province) and also in known but he was successful in reaching 4 Points East Points East 11 Shanghai - hence the publication of his tinctly un-Chinese faces: My wife Tania Missionaries Threaten Jewish work has largely been rediscovered in for the University of Colorado. He re- ture, but we should not use one uniform experiences. I cannot trace the Shanghai and my son David. You will also note Survival in Kaifeng China. Goldblatt hopes to write the con- tired in 2000 and married [his second expression,” he said at the 2009 Frank- Weekly but imagine that it was a local that I and everyone else are wearing plas- (continued from page 1) cluding volume and have them all trans- wife Sylvia] Chen. [They now live in furt Book Fair. “Some may want to shout paper that published in English for the tic booties over our shoes to protect the lated. South Bend, Indiana where his wife on the street, but we should tolerate those benefit of non Chinese speakers or a sec- floor of the Museum from scuffing. the help of evangelical Finnish Christians. teachesRepublic at ofthe Wine University of Notre Dame.] who hide in their rooms and use litera- tion within say a local paper of a com- But no one, save this family and their After earning his doctorate, Goldblatt ture to voice their opinions.”… mercial nature for which ‘foreigner’s If you go to the Museum’s website sponsors, know if members of the fam- returned to San Francisco State Univer- …HeWide continued Hips translating Mo Yan: The would have a need. (www.shanghaijews.org.cn ) you will ily were baptized. sity, where he taught until 1989. He Are Wearing Me Out in 2000; Big Breasts & Eran Barzilay Spearheads find a brief resumé of its fascinating his- translated several books while teaching in 2005; and Life and Death New Shavei Israel Projects It may be the Shanghai Weekly no longer tory. Click on “News” and item 2 will However, their most notable achievement a full-course load at San Francisco Uni- in 2006; along with New Shavei Israel Projects exists as such but it might have been sub- open to the announcement of my con- to date has been the establishment of the versity. Often there was so little interest a short story collection in 1999. Two for Kaifeng Jews sumed by other papers despite the po- cert. Yiceleye (Israelite)4 School, the first Jew- in Chinese writers that Goldblatt would more novels with Goldblatt’s translations excerpted from the Shavei Israel website litical change from 1935 to 1950 etc. ish school set up in Kaifeng in modern give away his translations to small pub- have just come out: Pow!, this month, 19/02/2013: http://www.shavei.org/ The website (http://www.travelchina times. lishers for free. He began enjoying trans- and Sandalwood Death, last November… communities/kaifeng_jews If your archives or records have any ma- guide.com/attraction/shanghai/jewish- lating more and more. by Brian Blum terial that may be relevant, then I ask you refugees-museum.htm) will lead to the The chief player in this endeavor is the Last month…Mo Yan won the Nobel to e-mail me. Ohel Moshe Synagogue, which was built “It’s like Bach,” Goldblatt said. “All of Prize in Literature...The prize was not founder of the school, an American Times in 1927 to serve the Jewish community Judeo-Christian named Timothy Lerner. a sudden you say: ‘I could listen to him without its share of controversy. Days If nothing turns up, then do you have of Shanghai. The synagogue is now the all day long.’ It just burrowed into the after the award, writing in the New York any information if there is (or was) an site of the Museum. The “women’s bal- According to The Virginian-Pilot, while marrows of my bones. I loved doing trans- , translator Jeffrey Yang and author English/Chinese paper/periodical pub- cony,” a fixture in traditional orthodox at Old Dominion University in the late lation.” Larry Siems accused Mo Yan of being a lisher based in Singapore or Hong Kong synagogues absorbed the overflow of the 1990s, Lerner was president of Hatikvah, party hack and criticized the lack of sup- that might have taken over the running audience which filled the main floor, as a small “messianic Jewish” student At the same time across the world, Guam port he’s shown for other dissident Chi- of the Shanghai Weekly. you will see on the video. The program group.5 The article’s author, Liz Szabo, Moye, a soldier in the Chinese army, nese writers. “Throughout his life he has was especially adapted to suit the cir- reported that Lerner kept kosher, attended began to write. Born in 1955 in the done little to jeopardize his status as one Yours truly, cumstances – allowing time for the trans- synagogue and comes from a family of Shandong Province, the setting that he of the country’s most honored writers; Michael Felton lations of the introductions to the songs. Judeo-Christians—his parents are even would fictionalize in all of his novels, he is currently vice chairman of the state- 123 Wentworth Road Israeli citizens. But Lerner believes in he dropped out of school as a 10-year- run Chinese Writers Association,” they London NW11 0RJ There are three links that will lead you Christianity and actively seeks to pros- old and took the only path out of pov- wrote. Tel: 0208 731 7437 to the concert video: http:// elytize other Jews to both embrace Jesus erty in rural China for a young man: He Eran Barzilay (back row) with some of the Chi- [email protected] www.youtube.com/channel/ joined the army. He took the penname Goldblatt didn’t mince words about his as the messiah and follow Jewish cus- nese community in Kaifeng UCfk8odEd9U2v-iJOHjvUmuA/videos toms and practices as did Jesus’ first dis- Mo Yan, Chinese for “Don’t Speak,” thoughts on the article. “It was shallow, http://www.youtube.com/ ciples, all of whom were Jews. based on the advice his father gave him knee-jerk, and wrong-headed,” he said Two years ago, following the devastat- To the Editor, watch?v=bQQhMfVehmY or simply during the chaotic time of the Cultural over a plate of beet salad. “I like Yang, ing fire that ravished Israel’s Carmel On November 17, 2012 I presented my jerry silverman shanghai video which will The setting may have changed—substi- Revolution… but his expectations were that Mo Yan mountain range, the Jewish community lecture/concert program THE UNDYING lead you to the first link above. tute Kaifeng for Old Dominion Univer- should come out and tell the officials in in Kaifeng, China, decided it wanted to FLAME: BALLADS AND SONGS OF THE sity—but the issue remains the same. Goldbatt found one of his stories in a China that they should take a flying fuck. donate money to help rebuild the Yemin HOLOCAUST at the Shanghai Jewish For more information about the program 1985 anthology of Chinese writers…[T]he You don’t do that if you want to con- Orde Youth Village, which was at the Refugees Museum. This was the first time in general please go to my website In 2000, Lerner was awarded a full schol- story struck him as one of the first really tinue living and writing in China. You epicenter of the fire. Eran Barzilay, a that a program of this sort had ever been (www.jerrysilverman.org). If you have arship to study abroad in China for the authentic Chinese stories he’d read after can do it there; in Israel, in a lot of places young Israeli, had been living in Kaifeng presented in China, and I had no way of any questions or comments I would love school year in order to pursue his studies the country’s disastrous Cultural Revo- you can, but you can’t do that there.” at the time studying Chinese at the local knowing how it would be received by a to hear from you. I can be reached at at Shandong University in the city of lution. Mo Yan’s writing harked back to Goldblatt continued, “What Mo Yan had Henan University. On the community’s Chinese audience. To say that it was a [email protected]. Please Jinan. In 2002, Lerner returned to China an earlier mode of Chinese folktales. going against him is that the government behalf, he approached Shavei Israel to see memorable experience for me would be pass this along to anyone you think would and went to Kaifeng, reportedly in the really loved the idea of him winning [the if the organization could facilitate the an understatement. be interested in it. company of the same Chinese Christian “They weren’t new in Chinese literature; prize].” transfer of funds. man from Beijing as had arranged for the they were new in modern Chinese litera- To judge by the rapt attention of the au- Jerry Silverman Kaifeng Jewish family to make aliyah, and ture,” Goldblatt said. While Yang and Siems see Mo Yan as That meeting launched an on-going co- dience it would seem that it was a memo- 160 High Street was introduced by him to members of being silent, Goldblatt instead sees a operation between Barzliay, Shavei and rable experience for them as well. My Hastings on Hudson, NY 10706 the Jewish community. Lerner came back Months later, when Goldblatt visited subtle, sophisticated critique of the Chi- the Kaifeng community which today in- spoken introductions to each song were Phone & Fax: 914 478 2651 lads yet again to open the Yiceleye (Israelite) Taipei a friend handed him a magazine nese government throughout Mo Yan’s cludes a number of significant projects: translated into Mandarin, which, for me, www.jerrysilverman.org School, instructing the Jewish descen- with an excerpt of Mo Yan’s Garlic Bal- writing. Early in our conversation he a regular newsletter about Jewish topics added to the uniqueness of the proceed- dants in Hebrew, and gathering those . The book, an unflinching chronicle mentioned the Fu poets, whose seemingly entirely in Chinese; a scholarship for Jews ings. While the translations were being of a failed insurrection in a village, was simple poetry were, on occasion, interested for Shabbat dinners and festi- who speak some Chinese to maintain read by a member of the Museum staff Readers: Visit our website: initially banned in China, according to broadsided critiques of the ruling gov- val celebrations. contact with the community in Kaifeng; (known to me only as Rita; I was intro- www.sino-judaic.org. Goldblatt. Goldblatt sent a letter to Mo ernment. and soon, the launch of a platform for duced to the audience by the director Dr. Yan, addressed simply to “Mo Yan, Pe- More significantly, Lerner was able to live, interactive, virtual courses over the Jian Chen) I had the opportunity to study SJI Members: Email arrange for a number of young Kaifeng king” and the two began a correspondence “Now you know why writers of the Fu the faces of the audience. As you will that culminated in a translation of both are the first in the anthologies and why Internet on Judaism in Chinese… [email protected] to re- Jews to receive scholarships to live and see in the video it is apparent that they study in Israel with the help of the Is- The Garlic Ballads and Red Sorghum, so many of them were beheaded,” he said. Mo Yan himself has made similar Barzilay was an East Asian studies major were hanging on every word. In this au- ceive the user name and pass- rael-based organization Shavei Israel. which became a 1987 film by renowned dience of Chinese people of all ages, in- director Zhang Yimou, starring Gong Li… statements. “A writer should express criti- in 2010 when he first headed to China. word needed to access the Cooperation with Shavei Israel continued, cism and indignation at the dark side of When he heard about the Kaifeng com- cluding university students, and some “members only” section. enabling several other groups of young younger children, you will see two dis- In 1989, Goldblatt left San Francisco State society and the ugliness of human na- munity, he was immediately attracted. 10 Points East Points East 5 From Kaifeng to Beit Hatfutsot Kaifeng Jews to go to Israel.6 This greatly of the Kaifeng Jewish community. while Beit HaTikvah has a sign above its increased Lerner’s prestige among the door as a public announcement about its Kaifeng Jewish families who, owing to When I learned that the school’s rent was existence. A major reason for this is that At an official ceremony held on November 14, 2012, a blue ceramic tile was the depressed economic conditions in being paid by a Hong Kong Christian Beit HaTikvah is a center for authentic handed to Beit Hatfutsot. The tile was part of the roof of a synagogue in Kaifeng, saw Israel as the land of eco- church, I asked SJI to take over paying Jewish cultural education in Kaifeng, Kaifeng, China that ceased to exist during the 19th century. Beit Hatfutsot nomic and educational opportunity. the rent and emailed the Hong Kong group while the Yiceleye School, with the in- displays a model of this synagogue in its permanent exhibition. Lerner remained in Kaifeng for about two of our interest in cooperating. Its corre- volvement of the Hong Kong Christians, years until his visa was revoked by the spondent, a Mr. Jackie Li, responded: is in fact a proselytizing effort, something The synagogue in Kaifeng…was first built in 1163…[and] destroyed twice Chinese government for evangelizing and “I’m not under any ministry orforbidden under Chinese law—and some- following flooding of the city by the Yellow River. In the 17th century, it he was expelled. Nonetheless, he some- organisation and not supported by any thing for which Lerner has already been was restored, but by the end of the 19th century it had fallen into disrepair how still manages to return to Kaifeng church directly. My fellowship agrees expelled once. and little by little the remnants of the synagogue were sold to missionaries on a regular basis, often for weeks at a anyway what I’m doing. Our and other houses of worship in Kaifeng. time. fellowship mainly cares about the poorRothberg also reported that he had heard and the drug addicts. I have few brothersfrom two individuals attending Beit This special tile was delivered by Dr. Wendy Abraham, an American scholar Almost immediately however suspicions and sisters walking together with me inHaTikvah that one Kaifeng Jew who was of China and member of SJI’s Advisory Board, to Moti Schwartz, Acting were aroused among some of the Kaifeng same heart for the Jews in China. With-close with the Hong Kong Christians had Director of Beit Hatfutsot. “There is no question that this unique tile and the story that goes with it, have come to the right Jews about Lerner’s intentions. Shi Lei, organized a trip for some Kaifeng Jews place. The exhibits at Beit Hatfutsot, The Museum of the Jewish People, display the amazing story and heritage of a people that out HIM we can do nothing…Father God the first Kaifeng Jew ever to study in Is- showed me a dream in beginning of 2005to visit a few Hong Kong Christian dispersed throughout the world and still managed to preserve its culture and heritage…This tile will assume its rightful place in rael, both at Bar Ilan University and at a churches, where they all prayed, prob- the new exhibit,” Moti Schwartz concluded upon receiving the archaeological find from Dr. Abraham. about the KF, the bookstore street Jerusalem yeshiva, was the first to sound (ancient buildings). HE said “Don’tably not realizing that they were practic- the alarm. He blames Lerner for “creat- ing Christianity. Another bit of evidence wait anymore, go there, stand with Dr. Wendy Abraham, who came to Beit Hatfutsot accompanied by an academic colleague, Noam Urbach, currently a doctoral ing factions” with his school and for pros- reported to SJI is that, during Pesach them and bring them back to ME back to candidate at Bar Ilan University, reported with emotion, that the tile, whose color has somewhat faded, was bequeathed to her elytizing the still Jewishly-uneducated festivities of the Yiceleye group, a large the Land”. I had never been to Kaifeng by the former curator of the Kaifeng Museum for research purposes by western scholars, and was given to her during a visit to and somewhat naïve community. For a number of Hong Kong Christians were China in 1997…Dr. Abraham spoke about how moved she was by this moment at Beit Hatfutsot and how important it was to while Shi Lei sought to counter Lerner’s before this dream. My first trip to KFpresent, did all wearing kippot and saying her to deliver the tile that has been with her for over 15 years to a Jewish institution in Israel that deals with preserving the influence by operating a small school of really match the dream. I walked inthat book they believed in Judaism. heritage of the Jewish people. According to Dr. Abraham, Beit Hatfutsot is unquestionably the right place for it. In her remarks his own until his work as a travel guide street, .”my tears run down and I said to Dr. Abraham noted that items from the synagogue are exhibited at the Royal Museum in Toronto and preservation centers in took him away from Kaifeng too much. GOD “yes, yes” This is standard practice for Judeo-Chris- Kaifeng. He remains a strong critic. Despite his stated desire to work with SJI, tians and Christian missionaries who, in nonetheless, as soon as SJI and other Jew- effect are saying: “We believe in the Old In 2004, Israeli Michael Freund, head of ish groups got involved, his group stopped Testament, we support observance of Mo Yan’s Jewish drank a lot. I got D’s, C’s, and maybe an broadened it to include modern Chinese Shavei Israel, and two Orthodox Israeli paying the rent completely and we had God’s commandments, we love Jews, we F.” He managed to get a degree from a literature as well. rabbis, Shlomo Riskin, chief rabbi of to step into the breach. I wondered if love Israel. We aren’t like other Chris- Interpreter local community college and, realizing by Michael Orbach Efrat, and Eliyahu Birnbaum, a represen- his group ceased its support because it tians, we also believe in Judaism...” all that he’d be drafted anyway, signed up Over the course of his studies, he fell in tative of the Israeli Ministry of Religions, had been found out or because we Jews the while plying the Kaifeng Jews with excerpted from Tablet Magazine, 12/10/ for officer school in the Navy. After com- love with the work of a writer by the name 2012, www.tablet.com led a delegation to visit Kaifeng and found were stepping up to support our own. gifts of fish-adorned mezuzot, calendars pleting his training, Goldblatt was sent of Xiao Hong, the pseudonym of Zhang no evidence of proselytizing materials or praising the reign of Jesus, and especially to Taipei… Naiying...Xiao Hong was the turning activities at the school. When asked di- After Lerner was expelled, Zohar the lure of going to Israel. It is a slow, [Howard] Goldblatt, 74, is the foremost point. At the time of Goldblatt’s discov- Chinese-English translator in the world. rectly, Lerner denied to their faces that Milchgrub, an Israeli Chinese Studies insinuating process but what they are When his stint was over in 1965, the signs ery, she was largely forgotten. Her life he had any Christian beliefs, tendencies major, visited Kaifeng and remained there espousing is a syncretistic Christian the- Over the course of his almost 40-year of a war in Vietnam were becoming im- had been brief and tragic. Born in Man- career, he has translated more than 50 or affiliations. to teach Hebrew for several months at ology wrapped in an outward Jewish prac- minent. The Navy asked him to continue churia in 1911; she fled an arranged the Yiceleye School. He was there when tice. This has been the constant in the books, edited several anthologies of Chi- on; he agreed so long as he could go back marriage, but her fiancé found her, im- nese writings; received two NEA fellow- When I visited Kaifeng in 2009 as presi- I visited and helped me try to heal the history of their involvement in Kaifeng to Taipei… He enrolled in Taiwan’s Nor- pregnated her, and then abandoned her. th ships, a Guggenheim grant and nearly dent of the Sino-Judaic Institute, I like- rift in the community caused by Lerner’s since the 19 century: first lure the mal Academy and met his first wife (they She narrowly avoided being sold as a wise saw nothing that would raise my Judeo-Christian theology. When Kaifeng Jews back to Judaism, then slide every other translation award. In the first have two daughters who live in San Fran- prostitute by finding work at a newspa- four years of the Man Asian Literary Prize, suspicions, but stories and rumors Milchgrub left, a young American Jew, them over to Judeo-Christianity and ulti- cisco…). During his time there he was per and beginning to write stories. She abounded. For example, one of Shi Lei’s Eric Rothberg, took his place. Working mately to Christianity plain and simple. three of the winners were translations by given the Chinese name that he still goes became a disciple of Lu Xun, considered Journal Goldblatt… students told me that he was offered a there for a year enabled Rothberg to un- by: Ge Heowen, which means “Vast Lit- to be the father of Modern Chinese lit- substantial sum of money plus the op- cover more about Lerner. Not only did According to Bob Davis, in a Wall Street erary Talent.” erature. While fleeing from the Japanese, portunity to visit Israel by some English he find a “Jesus prayer” at the school but article dated 16 August 2011, Goldblatt was born in Long Beach, Ca- she became ill and underwent unneces- lif., in 1939 to what he describes as a missionaries if he would sign up for their he became so distraught with Lerner’s Lerner “says he doesn’t try to convince “It was the best name ever given to a sary throat surgery that left her speech- 45 day crash course in Christianity. He continuing influence that he convinced a anyone to follow his religious beliefs”. “super-low middle class” Jewish family. foreigner,” he laughed. less before eventually killing her. His father worked a variety of jobs from refused. Others told stories about the large segment of the community to leave He says he set up the “Kaifeng Israel family that had moved to Israel and were and form its own school, Beit HaTikvah. School” to help Kaifeng Jews “learn the a jewelry seller to a watch repairman. When his father died in 1968, Goldblatt “She was my muse,” Goldblatt explained. Goldblatt’s grandfather had been wiped reportedly baptized. SJI, Kulanu and other Jewish groups trans- Jewish lifestyle” and move to Israel, flew back home. He had no idea what to “I wrote a lot of essays about her; I trans- ferred their support to the new school but where about a dozen of them have taken out by the Great Depression, so his fa- do with himself, and a former teacher lated a couple of her novels.” At the end ther had a conservative streak. Although SJI had been informed about Lerner’s school continues to flourish with up residence, thanks largely to funds from recommended he go to graduate school. of her life, she wrote a novel and a se- the Yiceleye School via its contacts in the support of Hong Kong Christians. Shavei Israel, the Israel-based organiza- Only one graduate school accepted him: quel about a character by the name of “He risked nothing,” Goldblatt said. “We Kaifeng, nothing had been said about the tion which is dedicated to returning “lost San Francisco State. After receiving his Ma Bole, whose journeys in the book “messianic” tendencies of the school’s Besides theology, there is another signifi- Jews” to the Jewish homeland—a Zion- always had what we needed but we never Masters he pursued a doctorate at Indi- mirrored her own. “There was no ques- had what we didn’t need.” In school, founder nor were we aware of the extent cant difference between the two schools. ist mission that coincides, pragmatically, ana University. His focus was 14th-cen- tion she wanted to make it a trilogy,” he of Christian influence and proselytizing The Yiceleye School operates in secret with that of the Judeo-Christians and their Goldblatt was a failure. “I dated a lot; I tury Chinese Drama, but he gradually said. Thanks to his efforts, Xaio Hong’s 6 Points East Points East 9 Christian supporters, who also seek the can easily connect the Kaifeng Jews in Biblical quotations and studies, Judaica, However, in order to build a general pic- These are the points that must be adopted tinuous flow of halakhic decisions of the return of all Jews to the Land of Israel. Israel with one of the estimated 120 Christianity and Kaifeng Jewish history. ture of the character of the convert, I will by anyone involved in conversion in the great teachers in later generations. Shavei Israel, it must be noted, is in no Judeo-Christian congregations, compris- It also offers the following: “If you are mention a few central and important State of Israel. Establishing the process of way a Christian or Judeo-Christian orga- ing some 10,000-15,000 believers, which Chinese Jew, We have here with us a items. As already mentioned, the court conversion in the State of Israel based on Summary nization, although it works with them to operate there. Chinese Jew you can write to: Micah” must be convinced that the candidate these points will provide a solution to the This essay has raised the following basic accomplish its own ends. ([email protected]).] accepts the following upon himself: faith conversion problems of the vast majority points: Rothberg was in Israel in autumn of in God, distancing from all forms and of the immigrants of zera yisrael who 1) According to most early halakhic au- Economic advancement is the key moti- 2012. He recalled that, while walking So here is the conundrum: Timothy any hint of idolatry including the trinity want to convert. For this to occur, we need thorities, not informing the convert about vator for the Kaifeng Jews and anyone on Jerusalem’s Ben Yehuda Street one Lerner has done good work in Kaifeng. of Christianity, as well as all three car- a strong and courageous Chief Rabbinate the mitzvoth or his not accepting the with the power to get young Kaifeng Jews evening, he had a “serendipitous” expe- He opened the first Jewish school there dinal sins—idolatry, adultery, and mur- that seeks a path to solve the problems mitzvoth do not nullify the conversion to Israel will wield significant influence rience: He had just walked past all the and taught Kaifeng Jews basic Hebrew, der; observance of the seven Laws of that lay at its doorstep. retroactively. in Kaifeng. Kaifeng Jews want their young seven students from Kaifeng attending Jewish history and Jewish culture. He Noah; minimal observance of traditional men and women to go to Israel to study Shavei Israel’s yeshiva program when he helped send a number of young Kaifeng 2) Even according to the opinion that this mitzvoth such as Kiddush on Shabbat, Without wishing to cause fear or panic, I and/or to make aliyah, because both are recognized Mr. Jackie Li, one of the lead- Jews to Israel, where they remain, either does nullify the conversion retroactively, fasting on Yom Kippur, refraining from firmly believe that if we do not follow means to economic advancement, oppor- ers of the Hong Kong Chinese Christian converted to traditional Judaism or are hametz on Pessah, and similar practices. the conversion is not conditional upon tunities for which are lacking in Kaifeng. group supporting the Yiceleye school, still learning about it. Although sup- the lenient path provided by halakha (in These are the most important elements his actual fulfillment of the mitzvoth in This accounts in large part to the draw of whom he had personally gotten to know ported by Hong Kong missionaries and the spirit of our sages, who taught that that constitute the foundations of the “the power to make things permissible is practice. Lerner’s school and contributes to the in Kaifeng. Li was talking to the whole Judeo-Christians, he seems to have soft- 3) That same opinion only requires an continued presence and influence of group, smiling, and taking pictures with pedaled his theology in Kaifeng—how- religion and are not difficult even for a better,” Gittin 41b), then we will be faced awareness that the convert will fulfill Christian missionaries in Kaifeng. Lerner, them. As Rothberg continued looking at ever what he does there and in Israel re- person who is just taking his first steps with innumerable problems relating to some of the mitzvoth after conversion. both through his evangelical Christian the group, he realized that Lerner was mains of deep concern. of living in a Jewish lifestyle. In gen- Jewish identity, marriage, and divorce. 4) We should be lenient with regard to associations in Europe and messianic there as well, “keeping a low profile as eral, it can be said that Jews who call Jewish relations in Israel, and his links usual, with his baseball cap pulled low Back in 2009, I introduced myself to themselves “traditional” fulfill these During the past several decades, policies conversions of non-Jews who live in Is- with the well-intentioned Shavei Israel as if meaning to hide his face.”7 The Lerner in an email and invited him to a) mitzvoth… on conversion have become highly publi- rael, are involved in Jewish society, speak group, has the proven ability to make this group looked rather jovial, and Rothberg write an article for Points East about his cized in the media. Rabbis and judges Hebrew, and who will choose to marry happen. did not interrupt their reunion—nor experiences teaching in Kaifeng and his What Can Be Done? who espouse the lenient view are sub- Jews. Such candidates for conversion would he have been welcomed by Lerner, observations and conclusions about the In writing my book, Zera Yisrael, I in- jected to severe pressures from those who should only be required to go through Rothberg, who now serves on the SJI who has never forgiven him for breaking community there, and b) clarify who he vested a great deal of thought and made take a stringent view. Many who favor the those aspects of the conversion process Board of Directors, believes that the only apart the Yiceleye School and exposing is and what his intentions were for the the utmost efforts to uphold the truths lenient position become intimidated, and that are absolutely mandatory and whose way to eliminate Christian influence in his Judeo-Christian agenda. public record. I expressed the hope that of halakha. The ideas in the book were choose not to oppose the needlessly strin- omission would invalidate the conver- the community is to fully support the we could work together to help the also brought before Torah sages so they gent policies that have gained credence sion. community’s wishes to send their chil- Here in the USA, Lerner maintains a Kaifeng Jewish descendants reconnect could offer their opinions. Through dis- within much of the rabbinic community. 5) All the more so, must we be lenient dren to Israel and also to support the Beit website for his Kaifeng activities, The with their Jewish roots and begin to thrive cussions with them the words were care- It is a fact that many of these rabbis lack with the conversions of those who have HaTikvah School as an alternative to the Association of Kaifeng Jews: http:// again as a community. Lerner wrote back: fully chosen and put into print. As a the courage to stand up against the rab- Jewish roots, as is the case with the over- Judeo-Christian Yiceleye School. Oth- www.theakj.org/. According to the “Dear Rabbi Laytner, I apologize for the summary of the book’s content, I under- binical, political, and media apparatus of whelming majority of immigrants from ers on the SJI Board want to create em- website, “the Association of Kaifeng Jews late response. Thank you for the oppor- scored four important points regarding the strict camp; therefore, most of them the former Soviet Union who received ployment opportunities in Kaifeng in (AKJ) is a not-for-profit, nondenomina- tunity to write for your journal, but I re- conversion as agreed upon by a majority simply fall in line and remain silent. Israeli citizenship and who are in the addition to supporting those Kaifeng Jews tional 501(c)(3) organization dedicated spectfully decline the offer.” of halakhic authorities: halakhic category of zera yisrael. who want to go to Israel, but nothing to assisting the Jews of Kaifeng, China.” 6) The court that arranges the conversions concrete has emerged (yet). SJI wants It claims, falsely, to be “the only organi- It is time for Lerner to be honest: He A situation of this kind is inimical to the 1) The convert must accept the respon- interests of the Torah world. Halakhic must be composed of Torah scholars who Kaifeng Jews to have choices: to learn zation solely dedicated to assisting the should be open and truthful about his will oversee the conversion according to about their cultural heritage in an Kaifeng Jewish community.” It has three faith and his ultimate intentions in sibility of mitzvoth. disputes must never devolve into antago- Jewish law. The conversions are valid undistorted way; to remain in China and/ goals, all laudable: it is dedicated to help- Kaifeng. Evidence of a sincere desire to 2) It must be clear that the potential nisms between people, political parties, even if done in the presence of three lay- or go to Israel to study or live. ing the Kaifeng Jews better understand help the Kaifeng Jews without ulterior convert’s true intention is to be a Jew or ideologies. Abstaining from conveying their Jewish heritage and faith; it seeks Christian motives would be the removal with belief in the unity of God, the pro- a halakhic opinion from fear of “what will men, as long as they fulfilled all the nec- One might think that once a Kaifeng Jew to help those Kaifeng Jews who wish to of all Christian-related materials and hibition of idolatry, a rejection and dis- they say?” goes against the philosophy of essary steps in the conversion process. comes to Israel that s/he is safe from the return to the Land of Israel (aliyah), and objects from the Yiceleye School, the tancing from his or her previous faith, the Torah and halakha…To withhold one’s 7) These conclusions are written based missionaries’ influence. But there is evi- their Jewish faith; and it also supports severing of relations with the Hong Kong and accepting some of the lighter and halakhic opinion, or to intimidate another on the opinion of most earlier and later dence that their proselytizing continues different religious and social activities in Chinese Christians both in Kaifeng and stricter mitzvoth that the court presents. to withhold his opinion, border on hilul halakhic authorities. The full discussion 3) It is not necessary to know at the time even in Israel. Although Lerner is not able Kaifeng in order to help foster a commu- Israel, and working cooperatively and Hashem—a desecration of God’s name. and actual sources are found in my pub- of the conversion that a potential con- to influence Kaifeng Jews now in Israel nal spirit amongst the Kaifeng Jews. openly with us. Otherwise, let him pro- lished volumes on this topic. vert plans to observe everything, nor does as directly as he does in Kaifeng, he still Nowhere is Lerner’s Christian theology claim his school as a Judeo-Christian Great thought, passion, and a feeling of a 8) The tradition of the Israeli Chief Rab- can maintain a role in their lives once on display—although he does speak regu- missionary effort so that the Kaifeng Jews the convert need to explicitly commit to complete observance. religious mission are required to fight this binate has historically been to deal le- they obtain Israeli citizenship and are free larly about the Kaifeng Jews on the U.S. can make an informed choice as to which 4) If it is evident that that the potential holy battle. One must follow the teach- niently in this era of the ingathering of to associate with him once again. Con- Judeo-Christian lecture circuit. school to attend. For now, there is convert has no intention to observe ing that “let the weak say, I am strong” the exiles. They did not check up on con- sider what one Kaifeng Jewish woman, enough evidence to show that conversion mitzvoth (for example, if one lives on a now an Israeli citizen, had to say about [There is also another Judeo-Christian is his ultimate goal, just as it was with (Joel 3:10) and “in a place where there is verts to determine if they were fulfilling secular kibbutz where one will continue no man strive to be a man” (Avot 2:5) the mitzvoth or not; as long as candi- him: “During my time in Israel a lot of website hailing from Singapore devoted Bishop White so long ago. to desecrate the Shabbat, eat non-Kosher and raise a true and clear voice without dates for conversion demonstrated the people helped us. Like Timothy and his to things Chinese and Jewish — http:// food, eat hametz on Pessah, and live wish to be Jewish and the judges were whole family, they treated us as if we www.messianic-torah-truth-seeker.org/ In 1992, Israel’s first ambassador to exactly as one did prior to the conver- fear. This voice is based on the trustwor- were a member of their family. Now, we zanmeiyeshua-Moshiach/Chinese- China, Dr. Zev Sufott arranged a trip to sion), then that person cannot be con- thy foundations of the great medieval and convinced of their sincerity, the conver- have a wonderful life in Israel.” Lerner jews.html, which is an odd pastiche of Kaifeng on his first official visit to a Chi verted. modern commentators and on the con- sions were performed without hesitation. uiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiil iiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiii lilii$iili

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