20 Points East Education, Henan University. mous Region… near the Chinese border, issary who arrived in Birobidzhan in 11.Wong Yang, On the Jewish culture in the 1930s… 2002, just before the new synagogue was during the Holocaust. College of Arts, completed six years ago, said that the Henan University. The town of 80,000 is developing quickly community is going through hard times. 12.Duan Hetian, On the development of by Russian standards, and there is a newer Chabad suffered a funding crisis last year Jewish education from 6th century BC to synagogue and Jewish community center when its main donor lost a significant 2nd century AD. Arts and Science Experi- off the main square… portion of his wealth. Roman Leder, the mental Class, Henan University. head of the community that runs the new The town receives a cultural budget from synagogue and community center, said Prof. Zhang Ligang is Director of the In- the government in Moscow each year to Chabad’s funding to the city was cut in Vol. 25 No. 2 A Publication of the Sino-Judaic Institute stitute of Jewish Studies at Henan Univer- sustain Jewish activities like an Interna- half. July 2010 sity. tional Jewish Cultural Festival the week before the anniversary. In mid-September, The biggest benefactor of the Jewish com- SINIC & SEMITIC ESOTERICA: THE HONG KONG the Jewish educational organization munity there, the American Jewish Joint EXPLORING THE BRIDGE BETWEEN HERITAGE PROJECT Chinese Jewish New Limmud held a conference here. Distribution Committee, warned of im- pending cuts but they never came. The DAOISM AND KABBALAH by Amelia Allsop Year’s Cards Available Nearly 4,000 miles from Moscow, the nine community groups supported by the by Cody Bahir Jewish Autonomous Region is unique center continued unscathed, he said… The Kadoorie Family are Sephardi Jews who originally emigrated Wendy Abraham has designed a set among the patchwork of entities that Though certain affinities and similarities between both the cul- from Baghdad in 1880 to settle in the Far East. The family for- of beautiful Rosh HaShannah cards makes up the Russian Federation. All other Daniel Turk, the president of the Jewish tures of the Chinese and Jewish peoples have been documented, tunes were founded by Elly and Ellis Kadoorie, who were piv- with a Sino-Judaic motif. autonomous regions were declared inde- Community of Japan, said his group pro- only recently have there been serious studies conducted that otal players in the development of business giants such as the pendent republics with the dissolution of vided a Torah to the elderly Orthodox compare their religious and philosophical traditions. One such Hongkong & Shanghai Hotel Co. and China Light and Power, New and Renewing Members: Con- the Soviet Union. Jews in Birobidzhan out of a sense of char- area that contains unexplored parallels between the spiritual Hongtered Kong’sfor the largestgood of electricity society”, company. With the enduring tribute at the $100 level or above by ity and, in part, to provide the commu- traditions of Judaism and those of China are the forms of mys- philosophy that dictated “wealth is a sacred trust to be adminis- September and get 10 cards as our Mikhail Chlenov, the secretary general nity with a source of religious support ticism each produced. This article takes a critical look at the the Kadoories were keen and thank-you gift. of the Eurasian Jewish Congress, said other than Chabad. similarities as well as differences between Jewish and Chinese notable philanthropists throughout the twentieth century, with that Birobidzhan and its environs are mysticism as embodied in the two traditions of Kabbalah and Horace and Lawrence Kadoorie, Elly’s sons, taking up the chari- Everyone: Contribute $36 (plus $2 not strong enough to be a republic. Despite the obvious challenges, the Daoism. table mantle once their father had passed away. The Kadoorie shipping) to SJI and get 18 cards and Fearful of stepping on Israel’s toes with Jews of Birobidzhan have kept Judaism Family continues this philanthropic tradition today. munity envelopes. the creation of another Jewish state, alive in this remote corner of the earth. Jewish mysticism is most prominently represented by Kabbalah, Chlenov called the region’s status “a a title that literally means ‘that which is received’ referring to In May 2007, Sir Michael Kadoorie founded the Hong Kong Donate on-line at www.sino- delicate matter.” the belief that it consists of an esoteric doctrine received dur- Heritage Project. The Project is the first of its kind in Hong Kong judaic.org or mail your check to Prof. ing the revelation at Sinai as depicted in the Hebrew Bible. - supported and driven by business in order to preserve com- history. The Project does this by promoting new av- Steve Hochstadt, 1252 West College “It was not easy to start and it will be more Join The Sino-Judaic Though there have been numerous strains of Jewish mysticism Ave., Jacksonville, IL 62650. difficult to eliminate,” Chlenov said as his throughout time, Kabbalah, since it gained popularity in the enues of research, adding to Hong Kong’s existing archival col- car sped past the remnants of collective Institute middle ages, has remained the dominant school. Kabbalah lection, acting to encourage young people to participate in the farms where Yiddish-speaking settlers at- Membership in the Institute is became the dominant form of Jewish mysticism after the propa- collection of their community history and capturing unrepre- Birobidzhan’s 75th Birthday tempted to tame the mosquito-plagued gation of the Sefer haZohar, literally ‘The Book of Radiance’, sented voices in Hong Kong’s historical narrative. The Project By Grant Slater swamps 75 years before… open and we cordially invite you most often referred to simply as ‘The Zohar’. is housed in an archive facility which holds the Kadoorie family Excerpted from the JTA, September 25, to join in supporting our en- and business records and the largest oral history repository in Hong Kong, with 374 filmed interviews so far collected by the 2009 Today, however, the region is on the deavor. China has produced its own varying forms of mysticism, from cusp of an economic boom. By 2014 or ancient shamanic practices to certain schools of esoteric Bud- Project locally and abroad, all of which relate to Hong Kong or BIROBIDZHAN, Russia (JTA) — The di- before, a rail bridge across the Amur dhism. The particular form of Chinese mysticism that this study Shanghai’s history. As one of only two business archives in Hong minutive leader of the handful of Or- River will carry granular iron and other Benefactor $1,000+ compares is that of Daoism, arguably the most popular and Kong, the Project is uniquely placed to be intimately involved thodox Jews in this nominally Jewish metals from Russia into China, with its dominant form of Chinese mysticism as well as the only indig- in Hong Kong’s history and archival community. The archive district of Russia, 90-year-old Dov booming economy. The bridge is the first *Patron $ 500 - 999 enous form of organized mysticism in China. The belief in a was officially opened to the public in March 2009, and since Kofman, e-mailed his friend and bene- border crossing constructed together by Corporate Sponsor $ 250- 499 supreme, eternal, ineffable and incomprehensible force that is then, we have welcomed visitors from Shanghai, Israel, the U.K., factor in Tokyo to say he could go on the Russian and Chinese governments, the source of all existence referred to as the Dao is where Australia and within Hong Kong’s academic community. *Sponsor $ 100 - 499 no longer. and only the third bridge to be built Daoism gets its name. across the border. Regular membership $ 50 - 99 Arguably the most precious and unique collection in the archive Kofman was planning to return to Israel Before proceeding, a disclaimer of sorts is in order. Daoism as a are the records relating to the Jewish Community in Hong Kong Libraries $ 50 and would pass on to his protegé, It’s not clear, however, whether this will religion is extremely diverse, has never been monolithic and has and Shanghai. The collection is given added value and poi- Alexander Kleinerman, control of the bolster the region’s Jewish spirit… Academic $ 30 - 49 never had a central authority that laid claim to what Daoism truly gnancy by the fact that nearly all of the community’s records Torah scroll that the Jewish community is. The Daozang, Daoist canon, is composed of over 1400 vol- were either lost or destroyed during the War years. However, “All this is beautiful, but people have Senior citizens in Japan had provided, as well as the umes, many with entirely different teachings, methods of personal due to the Kadoorie Family’s position within the community, started to live worse,” said Igor keys to the paint-slathered lean-to where & students $ 25 cultivation and religious motifs. Kabbalah is quite similar in this records relating to the activities of the Synagogue in the early Magadenko, a retired lawyer, who relaxed his congregation worships. regard. Ever since Kabbalah became a literary genre, (i.e. it be- twentieth century were created, kept and preserved in the Fam- recently with visiting friends from Israel gan to be written down rather than simply passed along orally), it ily office in St George’s Building, miraculously surviving the on a new riverwalk built for the 75th an- Contact: The Sino-Judaic Institute, has been extremely multivocal. In order to both respect and em- Japanese Occupation. Recently rediscovered, this collection has “I am confident that the community Beit niversary. “There are no jobs, and the Prof. Steve Hochstadt, Dept. of brace the shared diversity of these traditions, this article focuses been described by some within the Jewish Community today as Tshoova will live,” Kofman wrote in his wolves in the government are hunting the “our lost records”. e-mail last week. Beit Tshoova’s shul is profits from the new bridge.”… History, Illinois College, on the most common and widely accepted themes within each. situated on the outskirts of Birobidzhan, 1101 West College Ave, the capital of Russia’s Jewish Autono- Rabbi Mordechai Sheiner, a Chabad em- (continued on page 4) (continued on page 8)

(continued on page 6) 2 Points East Points East 19 The Len Hew Essay List of prize papers in the 8th Len Hew ence in Israel. Institute of Jewish Stud- TABLE OF CONTENTS Points East Jewish Essay Competition ies, Henan University. FROM THE EDITOR Anson Laytner, Publisher Competition and Graduate Level: (18) 8. Zhang Shaohua, On the canon of To-  My brother and his family spent a year in Scholarship Program rah. Institute of Jewish Studies, Henan Featured Article: Points East is published by the Sino-Judaic New Zealand and came home with an “up- by Zhang Ligang and Zhu Xiao First prize: University. Sinic & Semitic Esoterica: Institute, a tax-exempt, non-profit organization. Song Jingjing, On the political changes 9. Xiao Wenchao, Bnei Yehuda’s thoughts side down” world map with the southern The opinions and views expressed by the Exploring the Bridge ...... 1 hemisphere at the top. The Institute of Jewish Studies at Henan after the “Six-Day War” in Israel. Insti- and practices on the Revival of Hebrew. contributors and editor are their own and do tute of Jewish Studies, Henan University. College of Politics and Administration, not necessarily express the viewpoints and University organized the eighth Len Hew Henan Normal University. Now, of course, we all know that there is positions of the Sino-Judaic Institute. Jewish Essay Award and Scholarship Pre- The Hong Kong Heritage Project .... 1 no up or down in space. North and south sentation Ceremony on June 1, 2010. Of Second prize: 10. Chengli ,On the foreign policy of Zi- are arbitrary conventions we humans have Letters to the Editor and articles for Points East these, 14 undergraduates and 18 gradu- 1. Wang Yong, On economic justice im- onism. Institute of Jewish Studies, Henan imposed on ourselves and our planet. may be sent to: ates won prizes, and 15 undergraduates plied in the Hebrew Bible. Center for Ju- University. From The Editor ...... 2 were awarded scholarships. The Essay daic and Inter-religious Studies, Shandong In the Field...... 3 So, happy summer to all of us ‘down un- Preferred Form: Competition and Scholarships are named University. Undergraduate Level: (14) e-mail:[email protected] der’ and to those of you on the other side after Mr. Len Hew, a Chinese-Canadian, 2. Li Chao, On Max Weber ‘s idea about First prize: Jewish pariah. Center for Jewish Studies, Not awarded. Articles: of the equator: “a good winter”. or to: Rabbi Anson Laytner who sponsors the program. 1823 East Prospect St. Nanjing University In Memoriam: Samuel Kotz ...... 4 This issue of “Points East” – or in keeping Seattle, WA 98112-3307 Organized by the Institute of Jewish Stud- 3. Lu Zhen, Jewish contributions to Ital- Second prize: China 2010: Building Bridges ...... 9 with my comments above – “Points West” ies, the Len Hew Jewish Essay Contest ian Renaissance. History Department, 1. Shi Yuhan, On the dialogue between – or any other point you choose – has Points East is published three Zhejiang University. Christianity and Judaism in the global Chinese Judaism: began in 2003. The aim of the contest is some interesting firsthand accounts of re- times a year, in March, July to encourage students’ academic interest 4. Cao Yin, Reconsideration of the saying context. College of History and Culture, Confucian or Jewish? ...... 10 cent visits to China, two fascinating com- and November. in Jewish history and Judaism. This con- “Jewish settlement in Kaifeng started in Henan University. Deadlines for submitting the first year of Xianping in Song dynasty”. 2. Wang Heng, On the comparison of Our Man in Harbin ...... 14 parisons of Judaism (even though there material to be included in these test has been organized successfully eight is no such entity) and Chinese faiths, and times so far. About 200 Chinese gradu- Center of Jewish Studies, Shanghai Acad- conquering grief between “Jeremiah”, A Report to the SJI on issues are January 15th, emy of Social Sciences. “Lamentations” and Yu Xin’s later work. a book review that honors the writing of May 15th and September 15th. ates and undergraduates received differ- Jewish Studies in China...... 15 one of the greats in our field: Prof. Irene ent awards of this contest since 2003. 5. Cui Yujuan, Education Status of East Arts and Science Experimental Class, Eber of Hebrew University, who turned European immigrant women in America Henan University. The Len Hew Essay Competition (1881—1914). Institute of Jewish Studies, 80 last December. Imagine: turning 80 FINANCIAL REPORT AVAILABLE With the rising reputation of the Institute and Scholarship Program ...... 19 and only entering middle age! To 120, of Jewish Studies, the scope of the con- Henan University. Third prize: Birobidzhan’s 75th Birthday ...... 20 Irene! It’s not quite “wan sui” but ac- SJI members interested in receiving a testants has been extended nationwide. 6. Ji Zhe, Edmund Rothschild and the Zi- 1. Zhao Wanwu, American Jewish life copy of the annual financial report should cording to the Jewish counting, it will Essay entries received this year came from onist movement. Institute of Jewish Stud- status in Colonial America. College of send a self-addressed envelope to: Steve have to do, because that’s as high as we eight institutions, including Nanjing Uni- ies, Henan University. History and Culture, Henan University. Book Nook...... 17 Hochstadt, Treasurer of the Sino-Judaic go. versity, Zhejiang University, Shandong 7. Zhu Xiao, The Expansion of English 2. He Jintao, Analysis of the historical Institute, Illinois College, 1101 W Col- Jewish community in the first half of 12th causes of differences between Western lege Ave., Jacksonville IL 62650. University, Shanghai Academy of Social Anson Laytner Sciences, Tongji University and three uni- century. Institute of Jewish Studies, Henan Jews and Eastern Jews in Israel. College versities in Henan Province. The subjects University. of History and Culture, Henan Univer- sity. SJI MEMBERSHIP The Sino-Judaic Institute of papers dealt with Jewish history, Jew- Rabbi Anson Laytner ish culture, Israeli politics, international Third prize: 3. Huang Jinling, On the emancipation Chinese Jewish New 1823 East Prospect St. relations and issues in Middle East, all 1. Pang Yuanning, Improvements in of the Jews in France. College of History Country Total Year’s Cards Available Seattle WA 98112-3307 showing the diverse academic interests of education plan of American Reform Ju- and Culture, Henan University. • daism in the 20th century. Center for 4. Zhang Huanmin, Analysis on the reli- United States 188 Chinese students. North American Managing Board Judaic and Inter-religious Studies, gious factors in the Palestinian-Israel con- China 24 Wendy Abraham has designed a Anson Laytner, President; Arnie Belzer, The Sino-Judaic Institute, based in Shandong University. flicts. College of History and Culture, set of beautiful Rosh HaShannah Vice-president; Steve Hochstadt, Treasurer; 2. Liu Nanyang, Reevaluation the influ- Henan University. Israel 13 Ondi Lingenfelter, Secretary. Wendy America, put 3700 RMB into the essay cards with a Sino-Judaic motif. 5. Zhao Xiaohuan, On the causes of Jew- Canada 11 Abraham, Shelly Ehrlich, Joel Epstein, Bev competition, so the prizes were much ences of Birkat Ha-Minim on the sepa- ration of Christianity from Judaism. Cen- ish humor. College of History and Cul- England 7 Friend, Seth Garz, Mary-Anne Graham, Len higher than before. The first prize in- New and Renewing Members: Hew, Ron Kaye, Dana Leventhal, Den creased from 500RMB to 1000RMB, the ter for Jewish Studies, Nanjing Univer- ture, Henan University. Australia 6 Leventhal, David Marshall, Lily Yuan Contribute at the $100 level or second prize increased from 200RMB to sity. 6. Zhang Rui, On the difficulties of the Ninburg, Art Rosen, Vera Schwarz, Tibi Palestinian refugees. College of History Germany 2 above by September and get 10 500RMB, and the third prize increased 3. Zhang Xueli, Review of Martin Weisz, Albert Yee. Buber’s religious thought. History Col- and Culture, Henan University. Japan 2 from 100 RMB to 200RMB. cards as our thank-you gift. International Board lege, Zhengzhou University. 7. Lu Lizhen, Analysis of the inevitabil- Mark Cohen, Irene Eber, Avrum Ehrlich, France 1 4. Cheng Guili, Comparison between ity of European anti-Semitism from the Judy Green, Teddy Kaufman, Michael Li, The Len Hew Jewish Scholarships were Indonesia 1 Everyone: Contribute $36 (plus Chinese ancestral temple and Jewish Greek culture. College of History and Maisie Meyer, Mark Michaelson, Sonja set up primarily for undergraduates ma- South Africa 1 $2 shipping) to SJI and get 18 Muehlberger, Gustavo Perednik, Yitzhak synagogue. College of Liberal Arts, Culture, Henan University. cards and envelopes. Shichor, Elyse Silverberg, David Zweig. joring in history. As honorary director of Henan University. 8. Qi Bing, On the suffering of the Jews. Switzerland 1 Advisory Board the Institute of Jewish Studies, Mr. Len 5. Zhang Ying, The impact of attrition Arts and Science Experimental Class, Taiwan 1 Jan Berris, Fu Youde, Jonathan Goldstein, Hew established this scholarship program war on Israeli domestic and foreign Henan University. Donate on-line at www.sino- Jerry Gotel, Pan Guang, Tess Johnston, Rena with the aim to support excellent history Krasno, Donald Leslie, Andrew Plaks, Shi policy. College of History and Culture, 9. Zhong Yanfei, Confucian terms of judaic.org or mail your check to students and encourage them to higher Henan University. Kaifeng Jewish inscriptions. Arts and Sci- TOTAL: Lei, Josh Stampfer, Marvin Tokayer, Shalom TOTAL: Prof. Steve Hochstadt, 1252 Wald, Xiao Xian, Xu Xin, Zhang Qianhong. academia. 6. Song Taoli , High Education in Israel ence Experimental Class, Henan Univer- 258 West College Ave., Jacksonville, Past Presidents before its national founding. Institute of sity. IL 62650. Al Dien, Leo Gabow Thanks all those who helped us with this Jewish Studies, Henan University. 10.Qi Xiao, The impact of Jewish culture program. 7. Zhao Juan, Analysis of Zionist influ- on Freud’s psychoanalysis. College of 18 Points East Points East 3 modern Chinese to define arguably the most illustrious and dynamic (Wiesbaden, 2009). Choice:tarbuyot Poland, 1939–1945 Shereschewsky as a sophisticated and philosopher on the faculty of the Hebrew 3. Irene Eber, Sinim vi-yehudim: Mifgashim ben (Jerusalem, 2002). Eber’s IN THE FIELD culturally sensitive translator who did not University. Buber sought to find congru- autobiographyQuarterly has been published as The attempt literalness.7 She argues that be- ence between basic concepts of Daoism (New York, 2004).  Update from Center of Judaic and cause ‘‘omissions, changes, and vocabu- and some of the basic concepts of Juda- 4. Eber, Chinese and Jews, xvii. be required for your panel or lecture. Diaspora Affairs. 5. The bulk of this article was published in AJA Chinese Studies at SISU lary choices were made, the transposed ism. His sustained interest in Chinese 16.5 (1971): 19–23 and in Prof. Fu Xiaowei reports that her trans- text was not merely a translation into an- philosophy stands in stark contrast with Monumenta Serica 41 (1993): 231–47; Eber, Court The conference will be bi-lingual (He- The student delegation comprised Bar- lation of I.B. Singer’s In My Father’s other language. More than any other the dilettantism of Jews writing in Yiddish Chinese and Jews, xvii. brew/English). Abstracts can be submit- Ilan University students, who con- 6. Susan Naquin, ‘‘The Transmission of White came out in April and that the early scripture translator, and German in Shanghai. Most of those ted in either English or Hebrew (pref- ceived the idea of the China exhibit Lotus Sectarianism in Late Imperial China,’’ in Center and the Sichuan Arts and Lit- Schereschewsky recognized and tackled migrants (with the notable exception of erably both). during their year-long StandWithUs Popular Culture in Late Imperial China, ed. D. erature Publishing House have agreed the problem of Chinese cultural and lin- the Bundist Lazar Epstein, writing from Johnson et al. (Berkeley, CA., 1985), 255–91. Fellowship program, which annually torection: co-publish The Power a series of ofGod Jewish for Chris- cul- guistic factors in expressing foreign Tianjin) expressed a transient and super- 7. The Schereschewsky piece was previously Proposals for panels/papers, as well as identifies and trains 150 student lead- published as ‘‘Translating the Ancestors: S. I. J. ture.tians The and first Jews four books are Resur- ideas.’’ (p. 85). ficial interest in things Chinese. Many of Jewish Bishop and the Chinese Bible: Samuel all enquiries, should be submitted by ers from six Israeli universities to be Schereschewsky’sIsaac Joseph Schereschewsky 1875 Chinese , 1831–1906 Version of their writings are reproduced in transla- Genesis,’’ Bulletin of the School of Oriental and email to Prof. Gideon Shelach effective global representatives for Is- African Studies by Kevin J. Madigan Eber continues her analysis of biblical tionish Exilesin Eber’s in WartimeVoices from China Shanghai: Jew- 56.2 (1993). See also Eber, The Moses ([email protected]) with copies to rael. and Jon D. Levenson, The Slayers of translation in ‘‘Notes on the Early Recep- .10 two of the committee members: Prof. : The Emergence of Rabbinic tion of the Old Testament,’’ a broader (Leiden, 1999); Eber, Sze-kar Wan, and Knut Interpretationswers to the Questions in Modern about Literary Jewish Michal Biran ([email protected]) The exhibit, assembled by curator Iris and more theoretical discussion of Mechanical errors are few and far between Walf, Bible in Modern China: The Literary and TheoryCulture and Prof. Yuri Pines Elhanani in partnership with the Israel Intellectual Impact by Susan Handelman, An- China’s encounter with the West in gen- in this retrospective tome.11 With respect and Parallels: Selected(Sankt Stories Augustin, on the 1999); Bible andin ([email protected]). Asia Center, includes 50 photographs EberChina and Marian Galik, Influence, Translation, and Criticism by eral and with Christianity in particular. to omissions, Eber began her chronologi- by 30 of Israel’s leading artists and by Ruth Wisse, and Kabbalah In ‘‘Translation Literature in Modern cal sweep with the Jewish community of (Sankt Augustin, 2004). Conference guests are welcome to stay showcases Judaism, and modern Harold Bloom. China: The Yiddish Author and His Kaifeng and then skipped forward to the 8.Writers Eber, Voiceson Oppressed from Afar: Peoples Modern and Chinese Their at the Beit Maiersdorf Hotel, located Israel’s landscapes and natural beauty, Tale,’’ Eber notes the impact of Yiddish Baghdadi Jewish community resident in VashemLiterature Studies at the conference venue. Priority will lifestyles, ethnic groups, and architec- (Ann Arbor, MI, 1980). She further reports that, since she is writers on modern China. She provides Shanghai in the early 1840s. She omits 9. Avraham Altman and Irene Eber, ‘‘Flight to be given to foreign participants. The ture. The student delegation also dis- now in the school of International us with the remarkable insight that ap- the American Jewish traders who had be- Shanghai, 1938–1940: The Larger Setting,’’ Yad Frieberg Center for East Asian Studies tributed StandWithUs educational 28 (2000): 51–86. For the land- Relations at SISU, they plan to focus proximately forty works of Yiddish litera- gun to arrive in south China by the late at the Hebrew University will cover the materials and booklets describing borne exodus especially of Jews from Kovno, on Middle East Studies, with an em- ture were translated into Chinese. Al- 1700s. They included Benjamin (1798– accommodation costs of a limited Israel’s environmental and technologi- Lithuania,Legacies 6: see New Jonathan Currents Goldstein, in Holocaust ‘‘Motivation phasis on Sino-Israel and Sino-Ameri- though modern Chinese writers could 1875) and Horatio (1805–91) Etting, inResearch Holocaust Rescue: The Case of Jan number of foreign participants (but cal innovations, and its humanitarian can relations. The school will be the not read Yiddish, they familiarized them- Philadelphia merchants of German Jew- Zwartendijk in Lithuania, 1940,’’ in Lessons and please bear in mind that the Center will projects and diversity, all of which first to train undergraduate students selves with this literary corpus via trans- ish origin, who traded and resided in not be able to participate in the cost of were translated into Chinese for the , ed. J. M. Diefendorf (Evanston, IL, in this orientation and it intends to lations from Yiddish into Esperanto and Guangzhou (Canton) and Aomen 2004), 69–87. the flight to/from Israel). event. send students to Israel for short-term English. Eber elaborates on this extraor- (Macao). Lionel Moses (1825–95), from 10.Wartime Eber, VoicesChina from Shanghai: Jewish Exiles in (Chicago, 2009). The bulk of training or for advanced studies in dinary translation scheme in her full- New York and apparently of Spanish or Please distribute this call for papers  SJI Member Speaks at International Eber’s essay on Buber is derived from her international relations, such as He- lengthern Chinese volume WritersVoices from on OppressedAfar: Mod- Portuguese Jewish origin, also traded and introductionand Parables to and Chinese Chinese Tales, Ghost Zhuangzi: and Love Sayings among your colleagues. Both Hebrew Conference on Jewish Genealogy brew University and Tel Aviv Uni- People’s and Their Literature resided in Canton and Macao.12 Apart Stories and Non-Hebrew speakers are wel- SJI member Faith Beckerman Goldman versity. .8 from the single article on Martin Buber, (Atlantic Highlands, NJ, 1991), ix–xxiii. come. delivered a talk “Slow Boat From and See also Eber and Jonathan R. Herman, ‘‘I and th Eber makes sparse reference to substan- Tao: Martin Buber’s Encounter with Chuang To China” on Wednesday, July 14 at  Call for Papers th ‘‘Destination Shanghai: Permits and Tran- tial Sino-Israeli cultural ties. They have Tzu,’’ Bulletin of the School of Oriental and On behalf of the organizing commit- the 30 International Conference on African Studies The 10th Annual Conference of Asian sit Visas, 1938–41’’ is the result of Eber’s flourished since the establishment of full 60.3 (1997). tee, Prof. Gideon Shelach, Coordina- Jewish Genealogy, hosted by the Jew- 11. One small error of personal interest: the first Studies in Israel (East, South and Cen- long-term research collaboration with the diplomatic relations between the two tor, Prof. Yuri Pines, Prof. Michal Biran, ish Genealogical Society of Los Ange- volume of my book Jews of China was published tral Asia) will take place at the He- Hebrew University Japanologist Avraham countries in January 1992.13 Nor is there in 1999, not in 1991 (p. 180). Dr. Nissim Otmazgin, Dr. Orna les (JGSLA). brew University of Jerusalem, Wed- Altman. Drawing on a vast cornucopia reference to cultural ties between Israel 12. Benjamin Etting, ‘‘Journal of Voyages to Naftali. Canton, 1822–1837,’’ Philadelphia Maritime Thu, May 25-26, 2011. of multilingual source material, ranging and Taiwan and Israel and Hong Kong Museum; Letters: Henry McKean [Philadelphia] Part family memoir, part historical from Yad Vashem’s Jerusalem archive to before and after 1992. These omissions  Student Delegation Brings Israel to Benjamin Etting [Canton], July 8, 1836; Scholars are invited to submit a pro- narrative, her presentation is a dy- the Shanghai Municipal Police files, Eber can easily be remedied in a second edi- Richard Coe [Philadelphia] to Benjamin Etting Photographic Exhibit to Harbin posal to be considered for the Annual namic project chronicling the early provides the definitive account of the tion of this most worthwhile book. [aboard Liberty], June 25, 1825, Historical A StandWithUs student delegation Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; ‘‘Solomon Conference. Priority will be given to life of Robert Goldman’s long jour- seaborne exodus of Central European Vallentine Mitchell, a relative newcomer showcased Israel with a special pho- Moses’s Journal on a Voyage to Madras and thematic panels, but individual paper ney from the Shanghai Ghetto to the Jews to Shanghai in the late l930s and to the field of Asian studies, is to be con- Calcutta, 1798’’ and Letter: H.? Murray [Canton] tography exhibit entitled “Inside Israel” General Price Current submissions will also be considered streets of New York City. What early 1940s. She delineates the intricate gratulated for bringing out this concise to Lionel Moses [Macao], March 15, 1855, at Harbin’s world-famous International American Jewish Historical Society Library, New for inclusion into an appropriate started out as a vow to finish her late process whereby Jewish refugees ac- representative sampling of the work of the Ice and Snow Festival on January 5- York; Canton Press, September 3, 1842; China panel. The deadline for submitting husband’s story evolved into Faith’s quired the indispensable entry permits preeminent living Sino-Judaic scholar. [Canton], September 6, 10, 2010. StandWithUs is an interna- proposals for either organized panels compelling journey of self-explora- and transit visas which ultimately 1842; Chinese Repository [Canton] 8 (January tional Israel education organization or individual papers is December 19, tion from research halls to the streets brought them to Shanghai. The entire 1. See Eber’s articles ‘‘Kaifeng Jews: The 1844): 6–7. with chapters throughout the United Sinification of Identity,’’ in The Jews of China, 13. On Sino-Israeli ties, Jonathan Goldstein, ed., 2010. of Shanghai. Along the 12-year path, enterprise ground to a halt in the sum- States, Israel and the UK ( vol.Jews 1, of Historical China and Comparative Perspectives, China and Israel, 1948–1998: A Fifty Year she created an archive of 46 first-per- mer of 1941 when Hitler invaded the ed. J. Goldstein (Armonk, NY, 1999), 22–35; Retrospective. (Westport, CN, 1999); Goldstein, www.standwithus.com). The proposal should include the title son refugee testimonies, collabo- Soviet Union, thereby effectively shutting ‘‘The Hebrew University’s Research Project on ed. China-Jews-Israel, 1903–2003: A Hundred JewishResearch Communities Guide, in Modern China,’’ in The Year Retrospective (in Chinese; Beijing, 2006); of the panel or the individual paper rated with journalists, academicians, down all avenues of escape.9 Hundred Years Harbin’s governor opened the exhibit , vol. 2, A Sourcebook and and Goldstein, ‘‘The Republic of China [ROC] together with a short abstract (150- ed. Goldstein, 127–34; and and Israel, 1911–2003,’’ in Israel: The First on Wednesday, January 6th at the authors, and historians to reflect the 200 words). With the exception of Eber’s final chapter, and the most contem- ‘‘China and the Jews’’ in China and the Jews, ed. , vol.4, Israel and the World, ed. Harbin Jewish Research Center, to- larger Shanghai Jewish experience in V. Gilboa (Cambridge, MA, 1992), 7–11. E. Karsh (London, 2004), 223–53. round tables, panel proposals should gether with Israel’s Ambassador to the World War II and the postwar porary in terms of its focus, concerns 2. Raoul David Findeisen, Gad C. Isay, Amira Jonathan Goldstein is a Research Associate Martin Buber (1878-1965) and Daoism. Katz-Goehr, Yuri Pines, and Lihi Yariv-Laor, eds., of Harvard University’s Fairbank Center for also include the title and abstract of China, Amos Nidai, and with a video era. For more information about the At Home in Many Worlds: Reading, Writing, Chinese Studies and a Professor of East Asian each paper. Please indicate in your message from Yuli Edelstein, Israeli conference please go to: She traces a process of reverse osmosis and Translating from Chinese and Jewish History at the University of West Georgia, whereby Chinese philosophy influenced Cultures. Essays in Honour of Irene Eber Carrollton, Georgia, U.S.A. proposal what equipment, if any, will Minister of Public Diplomacy and www.jgsla2010.com. 4 Points East Points East 17

 Shi Lei Completes North Ameri- and his group has not met on a regular can Tour In Memoriam basis for some time. The youngsters in BOOK NOOK Shi Lei, a member of SJI’s Advisory Samuel Kotz the Yiceleye School were formerly part Board, completed a hugely success- of his group. I believe that most of the funds that we sent to Shi Lei for his group ful tour of North America that took Samuel Kotz was born in Harbin, China, on August 28, 1930. After graduating Chinese and Jews of the articles in this collection deal with ($250 in 2009) have not yet been spent. the arrival and influence of Jews in China, him to Baltimore and Fulton, MD; with honors in 1946 from the Russian School in Harbin, he studied electrical reviewed by JONATHAN GOLDSTEIN A question for us is whether Shi Lei’s lec- as migrants, immigrants, and conveyors Tarrytown and New York, NY; engineering at Harbin Institute of Technology during 1947-1949. In 1949 he reprinted from The Jewish Quarterly Re- ture activities in the US, such as his cur- of ideas. Her final chapter discusses a re- Marblehead and Lexington, MA; immigrated to Israel, where he studied at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, rent tour, mean that he does not need view, Vol. 100, No. 4 (Fall 2010) Wilmette, IL; Waco and El Paso, TX; obtaining an M.A. with honors in Mathematics in 1956. Following two years at verse osmosis, namely, the Chinese influ- our financial support any more. ence on a major Western Jewish philoso- Toronto, Canada; Poway, Encino, the Israeli Meteorological Service, he entered graduate school at Cornell Uni- IRENEters Between EBER. ChineseCultures and Jews: Encoun- pher. Pasadena and Tustin, CA; Savannah, versity and obtained a Ph.D. degree in Mathematics in 1960. After research Finally I visited the Jewish Refugees Mu- . London and positions at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and the University of Portland, Oregon: Vallentine Mitchell, GA; and Wayne, NJ. The trip was co- seum in Shanghai and spoke for a long Her first article, ‘‘Jewish Communities in ordinated by the organization Kulanu, Toronto, he joined the latter institution as an Associate Professor in 1964. He time with Mr. Chen Jian, the curator. The 2008. Pp. 187. moved to Temple University, Philadelphia, in 1967 as Professor of Mathemat- China: A Brief Overview,’’ originally with support from SJI. museum is housed in the former Ohel appeared as the introduction to the afore- ics and then to the University of Maryland, College Park, in 1979 as Professor Since the demise of Harvard University Moishe synagogue and is small but im- mentioned Harvard library catalog.4 Eber in the College of Business and Management. He took early retirement and moved pressive. They offer an introductory professor Benjamin I. Schwartz over a  Trips to Jewish China contextualized some of Harvard’s rarest to George Washington University in 1997 and served there until his death on video, exhibits about the general history decade ago, Irene Eber, the Louis Frieberg th Sino-Judaic publications and photographs. SJI Board member, Dr. Wendy March 16 , 2010. Professor Emerita of East Asian Studies at of the German and Austrian refugees and She begins with Jewish merchant/adven- Abraham, is reviving her highly-re- the Hebrew University, has emerged as Kotz made substantial contributions in several areas of statistics. He was an about many individuals and their stories. turers in Tang dynasty China (608–906 garded tours to China. Two “Year of the preeminent Sino-Judaic scholar edu- author or editor of several standard reference works in statistics and probability The English translations are quite good. C.E.), continues with the nineteenth- and the Tiger” trips, led in China by Prof. cating us about both ancient and modern theory and, over the course of his career, he authored or co-authored over The guides were knowledgeable and twentieth-century arrival of Baghdadi and Xu Xin, will take place from October Chinese Jewish communities. Eber is of three dozen works in the field of statistics and quality control and over 280 well-spoken in English. Mr. Chen hopes Russian Jews, and concludes with the ar- 4-21 and November 8-25, 2010. For Galician Jewish stock, was educated in papers. to expand the exhibits to a now under- rival in China in the 1930s of Central Eu- more information, go to: http:// utilized third floor space. Sinology at the Claremont Graduate He co-founded the thirteen-volume Encyclopedia of Statistical Sciences with ropean Jews fleeing Hitler. www.kaifengtours.org School, and has both the linguistic and Norman L. Johnson and served as its senior editor-in-chief. He was an author analytical tools to describe this complex Up to this point SJI has focused our at- Eber’s second article, ‘‘Kaifeng Jews: or co-author of over one hundred and fifty articles on statistical methodology historical interaction in a nuanced and tention on supporting Xu Xin’s Glazer In- Sinification and the Persistence of Iden- and theory, twelve books in the field of statistics and quality control, three scholarly way. She is fluent in Yiddish (her stitute and the Kaifeng Jewish descen- tity,’’ was presented as a paper at the Russian-English scientific dictionaries and co-author of the often-cited four-vol- mother tongue), as well as biblical and dants. On the basis of my visit, I have Harvard conference.5 She sees Kaifeng ume Compendium on Statistical Distributions. modern Hebrew, classical and modern Readers: Visit our improved and recommended to the SJI board that we Judaism as an integration of Jewish and His contributions were recognized by the award of honorary Doctor of Science Chinese, English, German, and other lan- greatly expanded website: expand our programs of support to in- Confucian belief. According to Eber, the degrees from Harbin Institute of Technology (China) in 1988, from the Univer- guages. She delivered papers about www.sino-judaic.org. clude all 5 of the sites I visited. All are Judaism of Kaifeng was a form of Chinese sity of Athens (Greece) in 1995 and from Bowling Green State University (Ohio, Harbin, Kaifeng, Shanghai, and Tianjin viable sites of Jewish studies, and of the sectarian religion similar to that of the U.S.A.) in 1997. In 1997 a volume containing thirty-eight essays was published Jewry at Harvard University’s 1992 ‘‘Jew- SJI Members: Email info@sino- connection of Jews and China. They are ‘‘White Lotus’’ movement which persisted in honor of his sixty-fifth birthday. He was awarded membership in the Wash- ish Diasporas in China’’ conference, of judaic.org to receive the user name all in their own ways expanding knowl- over centuries in Chinese history and ington Academy of Sciences in 1998. He is a Fellow of the Royal Statistical which Professor Schwartz was the Senior and password needed to access the edge in China about Jews, and attracting which the historian Susan Naquin has ana- Society, Fellow of the American Statistical Association, Fellow of the Institute Scholar. She contributed to both pub- “members only” section. attention from Jews outside China. They lyzed.6 The persistence of memory and of Mathematical Statistics and an elected member of the International Statistical lished volumes of essays which emerged all need financial support for their pro- lineage, rather than ritual practice or even Institute. from that symposium. She also wrote the grams, as well as other kinds of help. In a widespread knowledge of Hebrew, de- introduction to the each case a little support can go a long fined the distinctly Chinese Judaism of way. exhibition catalog of rare Sino-Judaica Kaifeng. Sinic & Semitic Esoterica Part 1: The Divine which Harvard showcased at that confer- It should not be surprising that Kabbalah, became very close to employing a defini- Over the past twenty years Jewish stud- ence.1 A major commemorative volume (continued from page 1) ‘‘Translating the Ancestors: S. I. J. being a tradition within the monotheis- tive, divine pantheon in order to explain ies has grown unexpectedly into a sig- of the work of other Sinologists was pub- Schereschewsky’s 1875 Chinese Version Another point concerning this study must tic religion of Judaism, views the God of the very nature of divinity. Overtime, nificant academic discipline in Chinese lished in Eber’s honor on her eightieth of Genesis’’ is the essence of Eber’s full- be stated. The goal of this article is not to the Hebrew Bible as the source of all life however, a debate among Kabbalists arose universities. Jewish descendants in birthday, December 29, 2009. 2 length biography of the Lithuanian/Jew- uncover some universal truth that both the and truly the entire universe. What was over whether the ten sefirot were ‘pieces’ Kaifeng have begun their own program ish convert to Christianity who rose to Kabbalists and the Daoists deciphered revolutionary about Kabbalah when it of God himself, or merely vessels that held of study to recapture their heritage. SJI Eber remains vigorously productive. One become Episcopal Bishop of Shanghai. through intellectual or intuitive investiga- was first promulgated during the Middle his divine essence. Due to the theologi- has played a significant role in both of expression of that vitality is this retrospec- Unlike earlier missionaries Robert tion. Nor do I propose that there was Ages was how definitively it portrayed cal problems the former idea presented these processes, through the generosity tive anthology of some of her work which Morrison (1782–1834) and Elijah some form of communication or influence the God of the Hebrew Bible. The tran- the monotheistic religion of Judaism, the of our members and by connecting ma- was published in 2008 under the counters Between Cultures. Coleman Bridgman (1801–61), between the adherents of these traditions. scendent God, which was believed to be consensus of the tradition for the past few jor donors to Chinese scholars. I hope overarching title Chinese and Jews: En- Schereschewsky translated Genesis into Rather, the purpose of this study is to ex- above all description and portrayal, is hundred years has been the latter. that we can continue and expand our A scholar of readable colloquial guanhua (later plore the many striking similarities be- analyzed, categorized and even ‘graphed encouragement of Chinese Jewish stud- lesser ability might have shied away from tween each of these traditions as they ex- out’ in Kabbalah. This graph is structured Daoism viewed the source of life as the ies in the coming years, as the increas- as daunting a task as defining the contacts guoyu), the northern Chinese dialect ist in their own context. This is done in according to what is often referred to as Dao, which originally translates as ‘path’ ing openness of the Chinese government between two cultures on opposite sides which was becoming increasingly popu- the hope of stimulating further investiga- the Tree of Life. The Tree of Life is most or ‘way’. The Dao, much like the God provides opportunities to revive the long of Eurasia over a period of more than a lar in the late 1800s. Moreover, tion into the mystical traditions of the Jew- usually composed of ten sefirot, ‘spheres’ of the Hebrew Bible, is believed to be history of Jews in China. thousand years. The essence of seven of Schereschewsky worked directly from ish and Chinese peoples in order to find or more correctly ‘levels’ or ‘aspects’. above all description or conception; ab- the eight articles in this anthology—all but the Hebrew (p. 110). In this article as firmer common ground and understand- These sefirot were originally portrayed solutely eternal and ineffable. The most Dr. Steve Hochstadt is Professor of His- her chapter on the translation of the well as in ‘‘Several Psalms in Chinese ing between two separate, yet connected in the Zohar as being the ten dimensions foundational Daoist scripture, the tory at Illinois College and Treasurer of Psalms into Chinese—was previously pub- Translation,’’ Eber marshals her knowl- cultures and traditions. of God’s inner essence. Thus, Kabbalah Daodejing, (Tao Te Ching) opens with the Sino-Judaic Institute. lished in Hebrew.3 Seven edge of biblical Hebrew and classical and 16 Points East Points East 5 My trip was mainly financed by Profes- dents are sent to Nanjing for the PhD. of papers from his conferences. the line, “The Dao that can be spoken what embellished, though understandably ence. Much like Yin and Yang, the sor Xu Xin and the Glazer Institute of The library at Henan is much smaller, al- of is not the true Dao. The name that so, by modern, eclectic religious move- Tree of Life is divided into male and fe- Jewish Studies at Nanjing University, though Wendy Abraham just donated I also visited the community of Jewish can be named is not the true name.” ments and pop-culture spirituality. male aspects. This is the foundation of and I spent most of my trip at 3 academic $1000 for the Institute to buy books. descendants in Kaifeng, and met quite a the Kabbalistic version of creation, which institutions of Jewish studies in Nanjing, few of them. I visited the “museum” of Unlike the God of the Hebrew Bible, The dualistic, gender enriched symbology is believed to be an ongoing process, Kaifeng, and Shanghai. The Center of Jewish Studies Shanghai at the Zhao family in Teaching the Torah however, the Dao itself is never personi- of Chinese cosmology is often referred to which occurred by the coupling of God’s the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Lane. I use quotation marks because this fied, it never gets angry, jealous, sad, or as the Yin Yang theory. In a nutshell, it is male and female aspects. Thus, both SJI has a long relationship with Xu Xin directed by Professor Pan Guang, was is part of one room in the small dark apart- happy nor does it issue commandments the belief that all that exists in the per- Kabbalah and Daoism see creation and and the Glazer Institute, which appears founded in 1988 and is purely a research ment of the elderly widow of one of the or dish out punishment. But like ceivable universe is both created by and existence as the ongoing process of the to me to be the most ambitious site of site. Pan Guang and Xu Xin, both in their Zhao descendants. A few photocopies of Kabbalah, later Daoists incorporated an is composed of an amalgamation of the divine having sexual intercourse with Jewish studies I visited, and possibly in 60s, are the two leading figures in Jewish photographs hang on the walls and she extremely extensive pantheon in order to forces of yin and yang. Yin represents the itself. China. The Glazer Institute has three fac- studies in China. It appears to me that Pan has a few other artifacts. She does not explain how the Dao is made manifest in female aspects of reality and is associated ulty: Professor Xu Xin, the Director, Pro- Guang’s Center is well funded by the gov- appear to consider herself Jewish. phenomenal reality. Nevertheless, it with earth and darkness. Yang represents What exactly the universe is made of, the fessor Lihong Song, Deputy Director, ernment and Pan Guang is better known would be just as much of a misnomer to the male aspects and is associated with building blocks of creation, the primor- and Prof. Zhenhua Meng, whom I did around the world as an authority on Jews Her granddaughter, Guo Yan, however, categorize Daoism as polytheistic as it heaven and light. The belief that the world dial substance even more foundational not meet because he was in Canada. The in China. He is Director of the Shanghai identifies as Jewish and is actively trying would to say the same about Kabbalah, was created by an interaction between the than atoms or their subatomic compo- Glazer Institute offers both the MA and Center for International Studies and holds to create a more attractive site and better- which was the subject of such accusations female force of Yin and the male force of nents are explained in both Kabbalah and the PhD in Jewish Studies, and is the old- a UN appointment to the Alliance of Civi- printed materials. She is energetic and can in its earliest heyday by a number of rab- Yang is rooted in ancient Chinese mythol- Daoism. Kabbalah referred to this sub- est (1992) such teaching institute in lizations. There is less focus on the Jews speak some English. She would like sup- binic figures. Such accusations were one ogy, which attributed the creation of the stance as shefa meaning ‘outpouring’ and China. It currently has 15 graduate stu- of Kaifeng in Shanghai and more interest port from the SJI in the form of prayer of the root causes of what led Kabbalah world to a divine coupling between a su- usually translated as emanation. This dents.( in the modern history of Jews in materials that she can use to create He- to eventually curb its doctrine of the preme father and mother goddess. The shefa is the productive substance that is China. brew-Chinese translations. sefirot as mentioned above. Rather than terms Yin and Yang respectively originally subsequent to the divine coupling be- The Glazer Institute has very spacious believing that these various gods are ac- referred to the shady and sunny sides of a tween God’s male and female aspects quarters in a new building on the All of these institutions do considerable With the assistance of Eric Rothberg, I was tual divine beings in their own right, they hill. This is at the heart of the well-known and is the source of all creation. Nanjing University campus, and enjoys outreach throughout China for Jewish introduced to some descendants of the Li are viewed as being manifestations of the circular symbol of the taiji, usually sim- Dao just as every aspect of the universe ply referred to as a “Yin Yang”, which has a favored relationship with the Univer- studies. Professor Xu Xin offers an inten- family. They have a more spacious apart- In Daoism, the world is believed to be is. one black and one white half. The mar- sity administration. This is due to Xu sive summer course for teachers from ment on the outskirts of Kaifeng, which composed of qi (Chi), usually translated Xin’s extraordinary fund-raising abilities other universities so they will incorpo- contains many Jewish artifacts, such as tial art of Taiji Chuan, (Tai Chi Chuan), as ‘energy’ but also means ‘breath’ and from Jewish individuals and foundations rate more Jewish studies material into menorahs and an Israeli flag. This family, Thus, both Kabbalah and Daoism are was given its name because its circular foot ‘steam’. Qi is believed to be the sub- outside of China. The SJI acts as a fun- their courses. Professor Zhang Ligang consisting of grandparents, a daughter and founded on the view that the divine, ei- and hand movements resemble this sym- stance that emanates from the root of all nel for American donors seeking a tax runs an annual paper competition for her husband, and grandchildren, identi- ther God or the Dao, is absolutely eter- bol. The roots of this cosmological struc- write-off for donations to the Glazer In- Chinese university students on any topic fies as Jewish and proudly displays a large nal, inexplicable and incomprehensible. ture are most dramatically embodied in life and the universe, the Dao. stitute. Xu Xin hopes to add to the in Jewish studies, with a 1000 RMB prize. sign above their front door that says a Jew- Perhaps due to the fact that such divinity the book of the Yijing (I-Ching) the ancient Institute’s endowment before he retires, This year students from 10 universities ish family lives here. is quite difficult to relate to, both tradi- Chinese divinatory system and philosophi- Both Chinese and Kabbalistic cosmology which may happen in 4 years when he participated and nearly 100 papers were tions produced more comprehensible cal text. The title, Yijing translates as ‘The thus view the universe as being both the turns 65. submitted to be judged by a panel of Eric has been teaching Hebrew prayers forms to depict the divine in a way that Scripture of Change’ and is evocative of product and continuation of a form of scholars. Professor Zhang Ligang would for almost a year to more than a dozen would make it possible for religionists to the book’s divinatory qualities; for one supernatural, sexual intercourse. Though The graduate students are pursuing re- like to expand this competition and make people in the “Yiceleye School”. For my interact with. who is able to discern and interpret the such a similarity between two entirely search over a wide range of Jewish stud- it the signature activity of his Institute. The benefit they held a Shabbat service on a signs of the Yijing correctly is believed to independent and separate cosmologies ies topics, including historical and reli- prizes are donated by Len Hew, an SJI Tuesday, singing many prayers from a Part 2: The Universe be able to predict the changes in the is so striking, their differences are equally gious ones. They have learned some He- Board member who lives in Winnipeg, Hebrew Siddur, led by Mr. Gao Chao. The The cosmological paradigms, (‘maps’ of timeline and thus predict the future. interesting. brew from an Israeli student who has supplemented by $1000 from the SJI. students had made great progress and the universe) as well as the metaphysics Though the contents of the Yijing serve as been attending Nanjing University, but were very pleased with what they had by which the universe is believed to be a source of inspiration for much of In the Yin Yang theory, both the female not enough to do research in Hebrew Pan Guang will initiate a Young Scholars learned and the social contact within the governed are very similar in these two Daoism, it is not actually a Daoist work and male aspects are considered equal; sources. Some of them have spent a year Conference on Jewish Studies in Shang- class. They were mainly middle-aged, al- traditions. The cosmologies of Kabbalah as it predates any organized religious or separate and different, yet equal. They at Tel Aviv University. hai in August 2010. So far, about 40 though a few youngsters apparently also and Daoism are both built upon an al- philosophical tradition in China. are not viewed as contradictory forces, young scholars from many universities come to the class every week. most identical foundational cornerstone; which need to be appeased through com- The Glazer Institute has a fine library of have signed up to participate. He would a dualistic view of the universe based on Kabbalah, much like Chinese cosmol- promise, but harmonized through bal- the binary gender paradigm. In simple ogy, is entirely dualistic. It views all of books in Chinese and English, but it is like SJI to help support the travel expenses Eric has done this work actively as a vol- ance. Though Yang is considered to be terms, all aspects of existence were be- reality including all levels of God’s own not deep enough for serious PhD stu- for the scholars from over China. He has unteer and his year in Kaifeng is nearly dominant and Yin to be submissive, this dents. I did not ascertain whether books also organized international conferences over. The Yiceleye group needs another lieved to be of a either female or male being, the Tree of Life and all ten sefirot view is not one of value but one of func- from other Chinese libraries can be ob- on Jews in China and on the Holocaust. teacher in order to continue their progress nature, negative or positive, dark or light, except for the highest, as being an ex- tion, much like the positive and nega- tained through interlibrary loan, but I Under the auspices of the Center, school- and maintain their cohesion. They have a etc. The ‘stuff’ of which the universe is tension of either male or female. As tive poles of a battery. don’t think this is possible. children are Hebrew. solid structure through a council headed made was believed to have either one of already stated, the Tree of Life, the cos- by Gao Chao, which makes financial de- these two qualities or more commonly, a mological structure which all Kabbalah The Institute of Jewish Studies at Henan Both Xu Xin and Pan Guang support an cisions, but I am not sure that they will mixture of them. Because of this, both is based upon was originally believed Kabbalistic dualism, on the other hand, University in Kaifeng is not as old (1998), important publication program. Xu Xin be able to maintain cohesion over the long traditions perceive everything that exists to be God; they were the ten aspects of always depicts the female as an after- but currently has more faculty (5) and has written a number of books in Chinese term without a teacher. as an extension of their respective cos- God’s very own being as well as his an- thought or accident. Much like the ver- more students (about 30). The Director, and English on the Kaifeng Jews, and mological structures and to be connected thropomorphic body. Since the entire sion of the second creation story in Gen- Professor Zhang Ligang, and another fac- done significant translations into Chinese, Shi Lei was not in Kaifeng while I was through an invisible web of sorts, giving world is both a representation and ex- esis in which Adam, the male, is first cre- ulty member, Professor Hu Hao, were notably the Encyclopedia Judaica. Pan there, but I talked with a member of his everything a sympathetic relationship to tension of God, Kabbalah looks to the ated alone and then Eve, the feminine, both Xu Xin’s PhD students at Nanjing. Guang has edited collections of photo- group. I believe that Shi Lei has been very everything else. This is one aspect of structure of the Tree of Life to discern is created as an afterthought as well as Only the MA is offered and the best stu- graphs of refugee Jews in Shanghai and busy in recent months as a tour guide, these two traditions that has been some- the inherent, hidden nature of exist- an offshoot of the masculine. 6 Points East Points East 15 Part 3: Humanity are rooted in the belief in the the world is believed to be in a fallen But although Ben-Canaan participated in Jewish Harbin projects he is carrying out tan city in the world, because it was the Another striking similarity between macrocosmic/microcosmic respective state caused by Adam and Eve’s eating the planning and cataloging and says he with scholars in Toronto and Heidelberg only place that imposed no restrictions Daoism and Kabbalah is how each tra- relationship between the universe and the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of supplied about 80 percent of the and the colloquia he sponsored with on the entry of foreigners. dition views the composition of human- humanity. In simple terms both God Good and Evil, the entire universe is con- museum’s photographs, he has his scholars from Bar-Ilan University and the ity. and the Dao which, though quite dif- stantly in need of spiritual repair; an idea quibbles. One, he says, is an overempha- Hebrew University. Lastly, Ben-Canaan Even when the Japanese occupiers of and neshamah ferent, are considered to be the source similar, but not identical to, the Chris- sis on the Betar movement at the expense shows me samples of the correspondence China forced the refugees into a kind of In Kabbalah, the human soul is most of- of the universe as well as its totality and tian notion of “Original Sin”. Though of Hashomer Hatzair, which he attributes and documentation he constantly re- ghetto in Shanghai’s slums, their lives ten divided into three parts, nefesh, ruah are seen as the macrocosm, human be- usually the tikkun that the Kabbalist is to the influence of the Olmert family and ceives in the mail. were never threatened. The Jewish refu- . The nefesh is considered ings, on the other hand, are viewed as intent on enacting is a personal tikkun, of Teddy Kaufman of the gees in Shanghai survived the Holocaust to be the lowliest of souls, one that ani- the microcosm, meaning that a human it has cosmic ramifications due to the Landsmannschaft group in Israel (such “People everywhere,” he says with weary because anti-Semitism in China and Ja- mates the body and gives it life. Ani- being is believed to be much like a relationship between the micro and political carping is characteristically Is- happiness, “in the US, in Australia, in Is- pan was unfamiliar. mals are also believed to have a nefesh. smaller, distilled version of the entire macro. raeli). Another complaint is the repeated rael, are forever coming up with old dia- The ruah a word that translates as ‘wind’ universe; much like a small reproduc- theme of Harbin as a glorious welcom- ries and letters and memoirs written by After the end of the war, the foreign Jews or ‘spirit’ is considered the root of the tion, photocopy or print of a larger, Though not present in the Zohar, the doc- ing refuge for Jews, which the historian relatives who lived in Harbin. They’re in in China dispersed to the US, Israel, and intellect. The neshamah is portrayed as original piece of artwork. trine of Shevirat haKelim “The Shattering attributes to the Chinese Communist Yiddish or Russian or some other lan- across the world. During the Cultural being akin to a piece of God’s own di- of the Vessels” taught by the sixteenth- Party. “You must understand,” he mut- guage. People don’t know what to do Revolution in the late 1960s, Jewish vine being. Thus, the Kabbalists imag- In Kabbalah, the passage from Genesis century Kabbalist Isaac Luria, further de- ters, “everything here is done for propa- with them. But fortunately they’ve graveyards were destroyed and all signs ine a human as existing primarily of three that states that “God created man in his veloped the Kabbalistic notion of tikkun. ganda purposes. Everything in China is learned to send them to me. I think of the former presence of foreigners were levels of existence, physical, mental and own image” is taken quite literally. The As Lurianic Kabbalah represents a later political.” they’re absolute treasures… removed. spiritual. human body itself is seen as a representa- phase in the development of Kabbalah, it tion of God as it is depicted as being con- did not view the sefirot as God Himself Still, the exhibits are lavish, from the re- After Mao’s death, the government initi- In much of Daoist literature, there is a structed according to the structure of the but as vessels that contain His divine es- construction of Jewish cemetery plots, A Report to the SJI on ated far-reaching economic and political similar soulful trinity, the po, hun and ten sefirot. So in essence, the universe is sence. When God created the universe, complete with what appear to be real changes, now officially referred to as the shen. The po is much like the nefesh constructed according to the ten sefirot he utilized the sefirot and the channels birch trees, to the recreations of Jewish Jewish Studies in China period of “reform and opening up”. One that gives life to the body. The hun is as is humanity. which connect them as a ‘pipeline’ of sorts households in Harbin’s past. Yet the by Steve Hochstadt door that was being reopened in the quite similar to the ruah as it is consid- to direct shefa down from His undifferen- pure-white mannequins in these tableaus 1980s was to Jews: the Jewish past in ered the root of all mental activity, In Daoism we find another striking paral- tiated divine being into phenomenal re- – a businessman at his desk, a mother Jews have lived in China for nearly 1000 China and the Jewish present, repre- though this similarity is not entirely par- lel. The human body is shown to be in- ality in order to plant the seeds of cre- and child at a piano lesson, children play- years. When traders from western Asia sented by Israel, became acceptable sub- allel or universal within Daoism. Echo- habited by and a manifestation of the pri- ation. As lofty and magnificent as the ing with blocks – are spectral and spooky traveled the Silk Road into China, Jews jects of discussion. First economic, then ing ancient Chinese beliefs that gave rise mary gods of the universe. Each of the sefirot were, they were not able to ad- and serve to reinforce the melancholy I were among them. Well before European military, and finally diplomatic ties be- to the practices associated with ancestor five organs of classical Chinese physiol- equately contain the flow of shefa and can’t shake in Harbin. The only other mu- Christians discovered the Middle King- tween China and Israel developed, until veneration, the po is believed to reside ogy is believed to be inhabited by one of “shattered”, dispersing “sparks” of divin- seum patrons who appear during my visit dom, Jews had settled in Kaifeng on the formal relations between the two were in the underworld after an individual’s these five gods. These ‘bodily gods’ play ity throughout the entire universe. The are two Chinese teenagers who are tour- Yellow River, the capital of the North- announced in 1992. death. The hun, if the individual is wor- a large role in Daoist internal alchemical goal of tikkun in the eyes of Luria was to ing the city and “just happened to wan- ern Song dynasty, and perhaps the larg- thy, is believed to ascend to a heavenly practices. repair the sefirot by uplifting these sparks der in.” est city in the world in the 12th century. At the same time, an institutional struc- realm.Shui Many rituals associated with an- through mitzvot. The small Kaifeng Jewish community ture for Jewish studies was being devel- cestor veneration and even practices that Thus, in both Daoism and Kabbalah, not Ben-Canaan and I finish the day with a survived floods and wars over many cen- oped. The Shanghai Judaic Studies As- are included in the Chinese art of Feng only are the various aspects of human soul Daoism, on the other hand, does not see visit to his Sino-Israel Research and Study turies, but was gradually absorbed into sociation (SJSA) was founded in August , literally ‘Wind and Water’, are in- believed to contain a piece of the divine, the world as fallen. Things simply are as Center at Harbin’s Heilongjiang Univer- Chinese culture. By the 19th century, 1988, with a Constitution printed in En- tended to appease the restless spirits of but even the human body is depicted as they are. The different levels of existence, sity. The university is a virtual city within there was no longer a synagogue and the glish. One of its purposes was to estab- departed family members. being a representation and embodiment whether positive or negative, are based a city, with 70,000 students and about descendants had lost their Jewish iden- lish an academic research center, and of the whole of the divine as well as the on how pure and unadulterated they are; half that number again in faculty, staff tity, although they still practiced some soon the Center of Jewish Studies Shang- The shen is much like the neshamah in entire universe. i.e. how close to communion with the and service personnel. Begun in the customs unusual in China, such as avoid- hai became the first institution in China the sense that it was considered to be ineffable Dao. In Daoism, there is a sense 1940s, the campus was built in the ing pork. Only a few inscribed stone stele to devote itself to studying Jews. From eternal and the part of the individual that Part 4: Goal of reward and punishment, though these Stalinesque style of the university that recalled the long history of Jews in China. the outset, studying Jews in China was gets admitted to an afterlife paradise. In Because of this relationship between each are sometimes depicted as being divvied perches up in the Moscow Hills. linked with trading with Jews outside of certain forms of Daoist internal alchemi- human individual and the entire cosmos, out by various deities, are in essence Heilongjiang University does have some In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, China. Among the “Academic Activities” cal practices, the aims of which are ex- both Daoism and Kabbalah place most of viewed as more the inevitable conse- sparkling new buildings, but the endless several waves of Jews again entered listed in the Constitution was the “estab- avenues of rather shabby student hous- plained later in this article, the shen is their emphasis upon the personal, inner quences of either adherence to or trans- China. Jews of Baghdadi origin accom- lishment of economic cooperation be- ing blocs are depressing. Ben-Canaan’s portrayed as the most purified form of qi spiritual life of the individual rather than gression of universal principles and laws. panied the British colonists into Shang- tween Chinese and foreign industrial and offices are on the fifth floor of a nine- hai after Her Majesty’s gunboats defeated that an individual harnesses to construct stressing external works. This is not to Rather than seeing the opposite poles of business enterprises”. a spiritual body of sorts to house his or say that neither Daoism nor Kabbalah are existence as being in opposition, they are story Soviet-style building with no eleva- the Manchu Emperor in the Opium Wars her hun in the afterlife. very much concerned with the fate and viewed as complimentary. Unlike tor and with the Office of Party Disci- of the 1840s. While 2 million Jews from Since 1988 Jewish studies have ex- well being of the world and all of its in- Kabbalah, where there is a definite aim pline just down the hall. “Every univer- the Russian Empire escaped Tsarist per- panded and flourished in China. I spent Though these categorical designations are habitants, quite the contrary. Rather, of subjugating the negative to the posi- sity department has one,” Ben-Canaan secution by going west after the 1880s, not universal, as both Kabbalah and since each human being is believed to tive, Daoism sees no struggle to be won, says in reply to my query. a few thousand Russian Jews went east two weeks in April 2010 visiting some Daoism are quite diverse and break up have a direct relationship with every as- rather a balance to be stricken. and south into China, settling in Harbin, of the most important sites of Jewish the constitution of humanity differently, pect of the created universe, if an indi- In his office, Ben-Canaan introduces me Tianjin, and Shanghai. More followed in studies and meeting the leaders of this these are their most common and better- vidual focuses on elevating his or her Part 5: Life and Death to several of his students and research the wake of the 1917 Revolution and growing discipline. My visit to China known views of humanity’s composition. spiritual state, they inevitably bring re- The very definition of what ‘goodness’ assistants, who among other things later Stalinist anti-Semitism. Finally in focused on sites of Jewish study of all demption to the entire universe. For the truly entails at its root is the same in both handle inquiries from Jews around the 1938 and 1939 a much larger wave of types. I would like to report on each of The core similarity between the goals of Kabbalist, this process is referred to as Daoism and Kabbalah: life. At face world seeking information about possible refugees from the Nazis poured into 5 sites, what they do and their relation- Daoist cultivation and Kabbalistic practice tikkun, meaning ‘fixing’ or ‘repairing’. As value, this fact may appear deceptively Harbin connections. He also discusses Shanghai, perhaps the most cosmopoli- ship to SJI. 14 Points East Points East 7 Our Man in Harbin pulously dedicated to historical accuracy. local farmers for building materials), and simple, for of course life is good. This cause death are believed to be negative. form of union with the universal Dao; a fact is true for most philosophies and This, one may assume, lies at the heart unity that truly always existed, but be- by Matt Nesvisky In books and monographs, such as his the stones one sees today are a mix of religions save for forms of nihilism as of the Daoist quest for transcendence, cause of our human limitations we have excerptedJune 21, 2010 from The Jerusalem Report, scholarly essay “Nostalgia vs. Historical old and new. One monument, erected Reality,” Ben-Canaan argues against any by Ehud Olmert, unaccountably incor- well as certain strains of Buddhism and often referred to as the quest for immor- become unaware of throughout the attempt to romanticize the Harbin Jew- porates part of a Masonic symbol with Christianity. But it is not merely that tality. In the west, this quest is often course of our lives. This is achieved life is good, but goodness is defined by portrayed as one of the defining facets through various forms of meditation Today Harbin is an anomalous city. ish experience. its Star of David (it was apparently cop- life. of the religion of Daoism, though mod- where the one who is meditating “sits Twenty million Chinese inhabit the ied by a Chinese artisan from some other ern scholars of Daoism have pointed out and forgets” his or her corporeal limita- greater Harbin district centered around “Yes, Jews found refuge here,” Ben- grave). “In fact,” says Ben-Canaan,” I’m This fact plays out in Kabbalah most that such an emphasis is a mistake. tions, banishing all forms of mental dis- an urban setting that doesn’t look in the Canaan says, “and many of them pros- pretty certain many of these graves are poignantly in its cosmology and meta- Though there are a number of strands crimination as well as physical and emo- least Chinese. Beijing’s current mad dash pered. But people tend to downplay or empty.” physics. Being that Kabbalah is wholly within the diverse religion of Daoism tional appetites and cravings. into Marxist-capitalism further confuses forget that the Jews also suffered from the dualistic, it should be of no surprise that that sought some sort of form of immor- the landscape – three Wal-Marts, agen- floods, the plagues, the political uncer- Also on the grounds is a near-full-scale mirroring the Tree of Life is the Tree of tality, for the most part, this is not nec- Though quite distinct from the cies selling Land Rovers and Audis, and tainties, the violence and, yes, poverty reproduction of Harbin’s Old Synagogue. Death, or more correctly, the “Tree of essarily the most important goal. Rather, Kabbalistic goal of uniting the different Col. Sanders peddling Kentucky Fried as well. I’ve videotaped interviews with “The Chinese,” sighs Ben-Canaan, “some- Knowledge of Good and Evil”; another communion with the ineffable Dao and aspects of the divine, both have a simi- Chicken on every other street corner. more than 100 former Harbin Jews. No how got the impression that a Jewish one remembers any bad times.” cemetery is supposed to contain a syna- motif inspired by the Book of Genesis. is the goal. Most Daoist traditions that lar aim: unity. Building upon the creation story and the place a great emphasis on the immor- Yet while Harbin today is best known for gogue.” exile of humanity from the Garden of tality of the individual, still believe that The other primary form of Daoist medi- its annual ice sculpture festival, numer- Ben-Canaan is also a determined critic Eden, mirroring the lofty realm of God’s physical death of the current body is in- tation is often referred to as ‘internal al- ous Jewish landmarks in the city are well of any physical manifestations of Jewish Never used for religious purposes, the ten sefirot is the realm of the demonic evitable. Many texts speak of a celes- chemy’, where one aims to purify and preserved, with many bearing informa- Harbin that ring false. He is quick to point building currently functions as an elabo- and the ten sefirot of evil. What truly tial body, the shen mentioned earlier, refine the energies of the body in order tive historical plaques. out, for example, the Stars of David and rate garden shed for the cemetery’s other Jewish symbology that the local groundskeepers. In all, although the Jew- defines each of these realms or trees are that the hun enters after it is ‘liberated to enter a higher level of existence. This their relationships to life. The Tree of from the corpse’. form of cultivation not only entails medi- Such preservation is thanks to the Chi- government placed on the street in front ish cemetery is nicely maintained and Life is productive, constantly emanating tation, but also prescribed rituals, physi- nese government, which hopes it might of the Old Synagogue on the occasion landscaped, the place strikes this visitor shefa and the all life giving force. The Whether a Daoist seeks a form of physi- cal practices sometimes referred to in the encourage Jewish tourism, to the Asso- of an Ehud Olmert visit…Similarly, the as a source of more than usual sadness Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil on cal immortality or spiritual transcen- west as “Daoist Yoga” and dietary restric- ciation of Former Residents of China in lobby of the grandly refurbished Mod- and melancholy. the other hand, is shown to be entirely dence, such cultivation is based on the tions. The root of these internal alchemi- Israel, headed in Tel Aviv by the octoge- ern Hotel where I stayed – built by a Jew sterile and actually parasitic in nature. belief that life is inherently positive and cal practices highlights a bold difference narian Harbin native Teddy Kaufman, in 1909 and now operated by a govern- Returning to the city, Ben-Canaan points All perceived struggles between good superior to death. between Jewish and Daoist mysticism re- and to New York attorney and Harbin ment concern – has photos and display out some of the villas built by Harbin’s and evil such as an individual’s personal garding the body. Though the Kabbalists descendant Paul Kerson, who presides cases celebrating Harbin in the days Jewish millionaires, this one turned into battle with sinful temptations as well as Part 6: Practice views the human body as being a smaller over the American Friends of the Sino- when Jews provided much of the city’s a Mao Zedong Museum, that one a rest violence between one person and an- Kabbalah infuses all existing Jewish ritual version of God’s own ‘body’, they em- Israel Research and Study Center at the cultural and social life… home for Communist Party bigwigs. We other are believed to be manifestations and scripture with the belief in the Tree brace a separation between the physical School of Western Studies in Harbin’s walk around the huge former Jewish of the continuous cosmic struggle be- of Life. It views the aims of every Jewish and spiritual aspects of human existence. Heilongjiang University. A certain element of ersatz history is also school, and nearby Ben-Canaan shows found in Harbin’s Jewish cemetery. First me the former Jewish hospital, welfare tween the Tree of Life and the Tree of mitzvah, commandment, as being a way Often times the body is portrayed as the Death. Related to the Kabbalistic view to subvert the forces of evil to the forces jail cell in which the loftiest level of the That research center is headed by Dr. of all, the cemetery, established in 1902, agency, pharmacy, bank, watchmaker of the feminine, the Tree of Life is always of good while at the same time facilitat- soul, the neshamah is constantly trapped Dan Ben-Canaan, Harbin’s sole Israeli is no longer in its original location, which shop, insurance office, cinema, restau- portrayed as masculine and the Tree of ing the divine intercourse between male and tormented by its physical appetites. resident (and presumably the city’s only today is the site of the city’s fairgrounds. rant, on and on. Nearby courtyards con- Death as feminine. and female aspects. Whether it be wash- Daoism views the human more holisti- Jew). Born in 1948 on Kibbutz Givat Along with other graveyards (Chinese, ceal modest and sunless apartments that ing one’s hands before breaking bread cally, with no true separation between Hashlosha, near Petah Tikva, Prof. Ben- Russian Orthodox, Protestant, Muslim), oddly recall Jerusalem’s ultra-orthodox Just as all existent phenomena in the uni- or reciting the daily liturgy; each act is the spirit and the flesh. In much of Canaan is married to a member of the Jewish cemetery was relocated to a Me’a She’arim neighborhood. But the verse are perceived as either belonging believed to bring about the emanation Daoism, such a separation is absolutely China’s Foreign Ministry and is essen- distant suburb in 1958 by local authori- main thoroughfares boast gorgeously de- to the male or female aspects of the di- of divine shefa if done correctly. The inconceivable, as the body is perceived tially the curator of Jewish Harbin. For ties for “reasons of sanitation.” All of signed and decorated buildings that vine realm, they are also viewed as mani- primary requisite for correct performance as the root of both physical and spiri- the past decade he has been conducting these cemeteries are now immediately would not be out of place in Prague or festations of either the Tree of Life or the of mitzvot is to have the correct kavanah, tual life. To explain this mindset and research, publishing books and articles, adjacent to each other, surrounded by Paris. Once again I’m staggered by the Tree of Death. These two opposing poles ‘intention’. In reality, these kavanot, ‘in- its subsequent internal alchemical prac- collecting artifacts, working to preserve vast corn fields and reached via a long footprints of a Jewish community that are referred to by many names. The side tentions’, are a form of meditation. This tices, the noted Daoist scholar Russell buildings and grave sites, advising the driveway guarded by statues of lions, suddenly thrived and just as suddenly belonging to the Tree of Life is often re- form of meditation entails having in mind Kirkland coined the term ‘biospiritual’; city’s Jewish museum, organizing sym- rams, elephants and mythical creatures evaporated. in the Chinese style; the Chinese section ferred to as ‘the right side’, ‘south’, ‘sil- the influence each particular act has on a term eloquently expressing the Daoist posia and, amid these and other duties, for cremated remains, by far the largest, Now it’s time for the museum, currently ver’, ‘the side of holiness’ and of course the Tree of Life. In order to make sure belief that each cause that has an effect serving as the unofficial tour guide to the features a handsome structure in which housed in the former New Synagogue. the masculine. The side belonging to the one has the correct intention before per- on the physical body of an individual odd Jew – such as your reporter – who burnt offerings to ancestors are made; the The Museum of the History and Culture Tree of Death goes by such terms as ‘the forming a commandment, certain incan- has equal spiritual ramifications and happens to wander into Harbin. Russian graveyard has a special plot for of Harbin Jews (admission 25 yuan, left side’, ‘north’, ‘gold’, ‘the other side’, tations are recited, usually stating that vice versa. Soviet troops who supposedly died fight- about $3.50) is at 162 Jingwei Street, just ‘the side of impurity’ and of course the one perform the ritual “for the sake of Ben-Canaan, who holds degrees from the ing the Japanese in World War II (Ben- off Harbin’s central pedestrian mall and feminine. uniting the male and female aspects” of Where Kabbalah is concerned with bring- City University of New York and from Canaan doubts any troops actually lie a block from the Holiday Inn. The exhi- the divine. Thus, every human action, ing about an outpouring of shefa from the the American University in Washington, under these tombstones). bition is in the largest synagogue, or Daoism for the most parts lacks the belief particularly religious acts, is believed to divine, Daoist biospiritual practices are D.C., is ebullient when talking about former synagogue, in China and, follow- in such a cosmic struggle but its very defi- have a cosmic effect upon the entire uni- often concerned with purifying the Jewish Harbin. According to Ben-Canaan, fewer than ing its renovation in 2004 by the munici- nition of ‘goodness’ is equally related to verse. practitioner’s qi and rectifying its circula- 700 of the original Jewish cemetery’s pality, the edifice remains a handsome life. Being that the Dao is viewed as the tion through the body. Thus the medita- But this social scientist – he teaches Re- 3,500 Jewish dead were reinterred here. and well-maintained affair with a soar- inexhaustible source of all life, it is logi- Daoist cultivation, for the most part, con- tive and ritual practices of both traditions search and Writing Methodology at Numerous tombstones disappeared (Ben- ing dome and colonnade. Its three floors cal that life and the forces of life are be- tains two distinct yet related forms of are deeply rooted in how they under- Heilongjiang University – is also scru- Canaan theorizes they were pinched by of exhibits are well presented. lieved to be positive while the forces that meditation. One is aimed at achieving a stand the construction of the universe. 8 Points East Points East 13 Conclusion ing class. Kaifeng Jews had to adapt in other ways the Chinese, the Muslims kept their own 35 Leslie, pp 24, 86; Pollak, pp 297-298 The Hong Kong 36 The core commonalities between the Leslie, p 157 in order to survive in imperial China. distinct culture, demonstrating how 37 Leslie, p 178 mystical traditions of Daoism and Being that both traditions are so diverse, Heritage Project They had to figure out how to show much stronger (and larger) the Muslim 38 Pollak, p 296; Leslie, p 86 Kabbalah are thus their metaphysics, this study has hardly crossed the entire (continued from page 1) proper reverence to the emperor— community was… 39 Leslie, pp 86-87 40 Leslie, pp 154-156 cosmologies, views of humanity and em- expanse of the bridge that lies between which meant displaying the Ming and 41 White, p 147 phases on achieving a form of cosmic Kabbalah and Daoism. Hopefully, how- The Project’s Jewish Collection includes then the Qing imperial tablets in their In its heyday, at the time of the visits by 42 White, p 171 43 unity. Their differences are primarily ever, the issues raised and facts high- the 1902 Rules and Regulations of the synagogue. These tablets were dedicated the Jesuit missionaries, the kehilla had White, p 12 Ohel Leah Synagogue, the oldest surviv- 44 White, p 172 rooted in their perceptions of the divine lighted will help lay the ground for fur- to the emperor and were set on the wall successfully combined a Confucian 45 Leslie, p 49; Pollak, p 86; White, p 116 and physical reality. ther inquiry into the shared beliefs be- ing record in this series. The Ohel Leah 46 White, p 7 above and in front of the Chair of Moses. lifestyle with a Jewish one, observing the 47 tween these two traditions as well as the Synagogue was the first formal synagogue White, pp 13, 14, 15; Pollak, p 86 Some would find it surprising that the precepts of both sets of forefathers. This 48 White, p 8 Both place a great emphasis on the per- spiritual life of the Chinese and Jewish built in Hong Kong in 1901-2, and com- Jews were praying in front of the tablet development was unprecedented in the 49 White, pp 6-8, 14-15 sonal, spiritual life of the individual for peoples. memorates Leah Sassoon, the mother of In Jewish communities around the world, Jewish world. The Jewish community be- 50 White, p 8 the Sassoon brothers. The Rules and Regu- 51 Spanish/Middle Eastern-Jewish the individual is perceived to contain ev- this front and center tablet—declaring came thoroughly Chinese and yet amaz- 52 Arab-Jews ery aspect of the universe. This emphasis Major Works Consulted and Further lations document is rare in terms of its date wansui, wansui, wanwansui, that the ingly retained its Judaism for hundreds 53 Leslie, pp 86-90; White, p 174 54 55 on the individual was not rooted in any Reading List: – as most of the collection spans from the emperor should live forever73—would of years and its Jewish identity down to Book read on Passover “Remembrance of the Daoism: Souls”—a practice for remembering the departed form of selfishness or self-centeredness, 1930s until the 1950s, such as Lord have been viewed as bordering on idola- our own day. And now, here I am, study- 56 Leslie, p 156 for the spiritual cultivation and purifica- Daoism: A Beginner’s Guide, by James Lawrence Kadoorie’s 1939 speech given 57 Service ending the Sabbath and festivals try, particularly in European communi- ing in Kaifeng and interacting with the 58 tion of the individual is believed to have Miller. Oxford: Oneworld Publications, at the Jewish Recreation Club (the JRC was Redemption of the first-born 2008. ties. However, in the minds of Kaifeng’s Jewish descendants as much as I can 59 Leslie, p 156 cosmic repercussions. Though I prima- Daoism and Chinese Culture, by Livia Kohn. conceived by Elly Kadoorie and estab- Jews, they were not worshipping the while they continue their efforts to learn 60 Booths rily discuss the personal practices of these lished as an Association in 1905, then emperor, especially since they had the more about their Jewish heritage and 61 White, p 95 Cambridge, MA: Three Pines Press, 2001. 62 White, p 116 two traditions, it would be imprudent to Taoism: Growth of a Religion, by Isabelle expanded by the Kadoories in 1909) in Shema (the most important Jewish prayer culture. 63 White, pp 141, 144 neglect the fact that both traditions place Robinet, translated and adapted by Phyllis which he described the turmoil in Europe, which declares God‘s oneness) inscribed 64 Leslie, p 58; White, p 116 a great deal of emphasis on the commu- Brooks. Stanford: Stanford University Press, the plight of Jewish communities abroad 65 Leslie, p 34 above the tablet in the synagogue. Eric Rothberg has just completed a year 66 Leslie, p 93 nal religious experience. The most adept 1997. and the actions that needed to be taken of study at Henan University in Kaifeng, 67 White, p 116 Kabbalist is still obligated to pray three Taoism: The Enduring Tradition, by Russell by the Hong Kong Jewish Community to Along with the presence of imperial tab- where he also worked with the Kaifeng 68 White, p 7 Kirkland. New York: Routledge, 2004. 69 White, p 116; Leslie, p 58 times a day with a minyan, a gathering of help relieve such suffering. Full financial lets and Chinese-style architecture, the 70 Kabbalah: Jewish community. He may be reached Only in the Ethiopian Jewish community is at least ten individuals. Communal Daoist accounts of the Synagogue in the inter- kehilla’s traditions came to resemble such a practice observed, and that may have Major Trends in Jewish Mysticism, by at [email protected]. rituals aimed at creating sacred space, war years (including 1941), also form part those of other faiths in Chinese society.74 been modeled after the Ethiopian Orthodox Gershom Scholem. New York: Schocken Church’s practices. It is not certain how this commemorating life cycle events as well of the collection – which are of particular For example, the kehilla had a black jade 1 White, p 174 Books, 1974. 2 practice originated. 75 Leslie, p 34 71 as fluctuations and flow of the earth’s qi interest in that they give the names, num- chime used to call worshippers to pray, 3 White, pp 15, 54 The Mystical Shape of the Godhead, by Leslie, p 33 72 4 White, p 116 as perceived in the changing of seasons Gershom Scholem. New York: Schocken bers and particulars of members of the something foreign to other Jewish com- Leslie, pp 35, 49 73 5 White, pp 13, 171, 176 have always been a core aspect of the re- Books, 1991. munities. Also, the aforementioned Leslie, pp 31-35 74 community at that time. 6 White, p 176 Leslie, pp 174-175 75 ligion. Reading the Zohar: The Sacred Text of the marble lions at entrances, though not ob- 7 Pollak, p 290; White, p 24 Leslie, pp 177-179 76 8 White, p 172 Kabbalah, by Pinhas Giller. Oxford: Oxford jects of worship, were traditionally meant Leslie, p 48 77 One recently unearthed file retraces the 9 White, p 173 Both traditions are also particularly con- University Press, 2001. 76 Pollak, p 88; White, p 12 78 in Chinese culture to scare away spirits. 10 White pp 18, 19, 24, 38, 172 Studies in the Zohar, by Yehuda Leibes, history of a little known, or indeed un- Leslie, p 48 79 White, p 8 cerned with their societies, countries and Such use of statues also was very foreign 11 translated by Arnold Schwartz, Stephanie known, group of individuals during the He and other Jesuits used this fact to argue that 80 Leslie, pp 38, 108, 215 current state of the world. Daoism was to other Jewish communities. In addition, the rites were not idolatrous, which would have 81 Nakache and Penina Peli. New York: New Second World War. These were the Jew- White, p 170; Leslie, pp 35, 37, 49 often sanctioned as the state religion by the names of many of the synagogue’s made converting the Chinese much easier York State University Press, 1993. ish soldiers who were stationed in Hong (Pollak, p 88). many a Chinese emperor who was often Through a Speculum that Shines, by Elliot halls corresponded to the names of halls 12 Pollak, p 96 Kong in the summer of 1941. The records 13 coroneted via Daoist ritual performed by Wolfson. New York: State University of in other Chinese temples.77 Leslie, p 48 Daoist clergy. One key difference be- are unusual in that they focus on the so- 14 Pollak, p 96 New York Press, 1994. cial aspect of the soldier’s stay, showing 15 Leslie, p 48 “The Jews of Kaifeng” tween the two traditions in this respect is Another possible imitation of other 16 Pollak, p 96 the community pulling together and help- 17 definitely rooted in the fact that Daoism, Cody Bahir is a Ph.D. student in Philosophy temples was the synagogue’s decorative Pollak, p 96 Could Visit Your Community ing as best they could – lighting a candle 18 Pollak, p 94 until the foundation of the People’s Re- and Religion at the California Institute of floral stone carvings. If the flowers were 19 in the dark days of the War. Lawrence Pollak, p 96 The Sino-Judaic Institute’s public of China, was always primarily Integral Studies specializing in the religious meant to be lotus blossoms then they 20 Pollak, p 94 21 based and practiced in the land and coun- and philosophical traditions of China. Prior Kadoorie procured a list of soldiers of the were probably modeled after those in Pollak, p 94; Leslie, p 217; White, pp 12, 16, exhibit is a hit wherever it goes! to pursuing his doctorate he was a Guest “Jewish Persuasion” who were stationed 174 try in which it originated. Additional to Buddhist temples, because the lotus blos- 22 Lecturer at the American Jewish University Leslie, p 217; Pollak, p 94; White, pp 12, 16, Educational ~ A great community the ‘bodily gods’ mentioned earlier, with His Majesty’s Forces in Hong Kong som is a common architectural motif in 174 and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute 23 and asked a Mrs. Odell, an active mem- 78 White, p 146; Leslie, p 87 relations bridge between Jews and Daoism employs other pantheons that are Buddhism. 24 of Religion, where he respectively obtained ber of the Jewish Community and a lady Pollak, p 96 depicted as the governing forces over time his B.A. and M.A. in Jewish Studies. He is a 25 Pollak, p 96; White, p 174 Asians ~ Unique programming and 26 and nature. These external gods are com- frequent lecturer at both congregational and who had been able to stay in Hong Kong Aside from possible Buddhist influence, Leslie, p 49; Pollak, p 96 public relations opportunities for all (most women and children had been 27 Pollak, p 96 monly arranged according to a structure academic settings on the topics of Jewish the kehilla obviously took heavy influ- 28 Sketch of synagogue interior (White, p 6); age groups ~ Complementary ma- that mirrors the classical bureaucratic gov- meditation, Kabbalah, Daoism and Chinese evacuated)committee “whether… whose youduties would it would join bea ence from “secular” Chinese society. As explanation (White, p 7) 29 terials and speakers available ~ Af- ernment. Thus, Daoists saw themselves Buddhism. He can be reached via e-mail to plan and carry out a programme for the aforementioned, this was greatly ex- Sketch of synagogue exterior (White, p 2); explanation (White, p 3) fordable ~ Easy to install ~ inherently linked with the bureaucracy at: [email protected]. entertainment of these men”. pressed in their synagogue’s architecture 30 Leslie, p 178 and government structure; a structure that Such a com- and also in their prayer and philosophy. 31 Leslie, pp 118-119 32 For scheduling information, was usually the model upon which their mittee was formed and entertainment pro- Leslie, p 178 Readers: Visit our improved and greatly As illustrated by Domenge’s drawing of 33 Leslie, ch. 1 please contact: pantheon was based. Being that vided. As Lawrence wrote, the hope was 79 34 expanded website: www.sino-judaic.org. Jews reading the Torah, the Jews wore The Jews in Kaifeng claimed on their steles Rabbi Arnie Belzer Kabbalists produced their doctrines and to “make these men feel at home, more that the first Jews either arrived in the Zhou or SJI Members: Email [email protected] the same garb as other Chinese. Yet, the P.O. Box 816 ideas while living in Diaspora communi- especially as most of them are away from Jews came to be known as the “blue-hat Han dynasties, yet there are no clear historical to receive the user name and password references of Jews in China before Arab Savannah, GA 31402 ties, many a times amidst religious in- England for the first time and are feeling 80 needed to access the “members only” hui-hui,” comparing them to the Mus- travelers and geographers from the 9th to 10th 912 233 1547 tolerance and political oppression, they the separation from their relatives and 81 section. lims who wore white hats instead. In- centuries (during the Tang) telling that they [email protected] did not feel any affinity with the govern- friends”. terestingly, as much as the Jews imitated came as merchants and traders (Leslie, p 5). 12 Points East Points East 9 rah. These liturgical formats corresponded to Another similarity to mainstream Judaism cause they then walk in solemn proces- As European Jewish refugees sought ref- way out of China, prior to and after the then moving on to the scenic wonders of the traditions of Maimonides, or the was the kehilla’s reverence for the To- sion round the hall of the temple.’62 uge in Shanghai after Kristallnacht, No- founding of the People’s Republic of Guilin and a Li River Cruise. We ended Rambam, who lived in the 12th century.35 In other Jewish communities, the vember 9 1938, many organisations China. Victor Zirinsky was the agent for with what I consider the dessert — bus- That the Jews’ liturgy came from Persia, Torah scrolls are kept in a special ark in Leading these rituals were different reli- were established in Shanghai and else- the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society and the tling, thriving Shanghai, where we culmi- presupposes that there were prayer books front of all the worshippers. Likewise, the gious clerics. These positions included where to support the burgeoning refu- American Joint Distribution Committee in nated our two weeks with an exhausting following the tradition of Maimonides ex- Kaifeng Jews stored their Torah scrolls the rabbi, the “sinew-extractor” (probably gee population. Our archive holds pam- Hong Kong, which helped the refugees but exhilarating visit to the 2010 World isting in Persia, which, if they ever ex- in the “Ark of the Revered Scriptures” in the shokhet),63 and the “propagator of phlets and letters relating to this cause, with money and assistance, evidence of Expo. isted, have not survived. However, the front of the synagogue. Inside the ark, doctrines.”64 Interestingly, in Ricci’s let- suchJuden as from the Hilsfond Fuer Deutsche which can be found in his letters written Judeo-Persian rubrics common in the they stored their original twelve scrolls ter, the Jews were only allowed to eat granting, the Relief International to European Committee Refugees for to the Kadoories. Lawrence and Horace But to me, the best part was the main community’s writings hint at such a con- in cases, covering the ark with frontal animals slaughtered by the rabbi.65 This and Kadoorie paid weekly visits to the Hong course – Nanjing, the city which had been clusion.36 drapes.46 means that the positions gradually the Committee for the Assistance of Eu- Kong Immigration Department in the my initial goal in 1985 when I visited my shifted. ropean Jewish Refugees in Shanghai. In- 1940s and 1950s to ensure that those due late husband, Jim Friend, who was teach- Gaubil was the next Jesuit visitor, al- When taken out to be read, the Torah cluded in this series are meetings regard- to arrive in Hong Kong would have their ing English at Nanjing University. There, though he did not make as important a scroll was carried to the Chair of Moses.47 Not only were there these three positions ing the welfare of a group of little known necessary visas ready for resettlement to I met the man who was to change all of contribution as Domenge or Gozani did. Although constructed according to Chi- of leadership but there were defined rules European refugees who temporarily re- Israel and elsewhere. The Kadoorie broth- our lives – Professor Xu Xin – then deputy On the other hand, he did summarize nese design, this Chair of Moses was very governing the method of worship. Dis- sided in Manila, the Philippines in 1938, ers wrote thousands of letters to govern- chair of the English Department, now the four Chinese inscriptions from two of the similarrah to the bimah in most other Jew- ciples had to bathe66 in an appointed as well as pleas for help and funds to ments, NGOs and individuals to guaran- leading Judaic Scholar in China. His meet- tablets at the synagogue. His accounts ish communities. Both consist of a raised place before entering the sanctuary when overseas individuals such as Viscount tee successful repatriation, all of which are ing with Jim, the first Jew he had ever were the first to really describe the platform with a table on which the To- consecrated days came.67 In addition to Samuelmittee of the German Jewish Aid Com- stored in our archive. known, was the catalyst for all that fol- steles.37 was placed and read. From the draw- immersing in the ritual bath, congregants . As part of this effort to help the lowed, even though Jim did not live long ing provided by Domenge,48 it appears would ceremonially wash their hands Shanghai refugee community, Horace All of these materials are never before seen enough to see the aftermath. One thing is certain from these Jesuit ac- that the Chair of Moses served the same over a stone drain mouth in the syna- Kadoorie established the Shanghai Jew- and are now open to the public. An exhi- counts: the Kaifeng Jews followed rab- purpose.49Also, according to another of gogue.68 These practices date back to ish Youth Association (SJYA) in Febru- bition of the Project’s Jewish Collection, On trip number five, in 2006, my oldest binic Judaism.38 This meant that their Domenge’s drawings, the Torah was Temple times and are preserved in some ary 1937 after a visit to the Shanghai Jew- held at the Jewish Community Centre and daughter Tracy, her partner Lynn, and I prayers and traditions were not markedly placed standing vertically,50 as in Jewish communities today. In some ish Youth School in early January 1937. in conjunction with the Hong Kong Jew- stepped onto an official academic bridge different from most other Jewish commu- Sephardi51 and Mizrahi52 communities. circles, everyone goes to the ritual bath There, he found the children malnour- ish Historical Society, will showcase these between the Chinese and Jewish peoples nities around the world. Though it is not before Sabbath and festivals. ished, plagued by tuberculosis and with materials and more, in autumn 2010. If when we attended the dedication of the certain if they had tracts of the Talmud In addition, like in other Jewish commu- little to no opportunities for employment you would like more information on our Glazer Institute for Jewish Studies at (a prime characteristic of most Jewish nities, the Jews in Kaifeng observed all On these festive occasions, after the con- in Shanghai after their schooling. Soon Project as well as to view our oral history Nanjing University – the realization of after establishing the SJYA, an educa- communities), they were, however, prac- of the major festivals in Judaism and gregation entered the sanctuary, the rabbi interview clips, please visit: https:// Xu’s dream. For Xu Xin, “not to under- ticing the Talmudic traditions of prayer prayed regularly.53 They observed would sit “on an elevated position” and tional programme was in full force, in- stand the contribution of the Jews to world www.hongkongheritage.org/html/eng/ and observing festivals like Hanukkah “…Daily and Sabbath prayers, the Day “a large red satin umbrella” would be cluding business classes and an “Em- history is not to understand the world.” index.html. and Purim,39 which are primarily Talmu- of Atonement, New Year, Tabernacles, held over him.69 In other Jewish commu- ployment Bureau” at the Nieh Chih Kuei For me, “not to understand another people dic. Surprisingly, many of the Passover and Pentecost, Purim and Ha- nities, it is common for the rabbi to be School, which was loaned to the Asso- is a failed opportunity to counteract ha- community’s prayers have survived be- nukkah, the 9th of Av, the New Moon; seated in a similarly honored and height- ciation by the Shanghai Municipal Coun- Amelia Allsop is the Project Manager of tred and bigotry.” cause they were written down40 but, be- and also for the Reading of the Law (and ened position; but using an umbrella as cil until 1941 when they were com- The Hong Kong Heritage Project. She may cause they never translated their liturgy Haphtarah), Grace after Meals, and a token of honor is very uncommon in pelled to leave. be reached via the website Now I was returning with my younger Kiddush, the [reading of the] Haggadah,54 Jewish custom.70 www.hongkongheritage.org. into Chinese, when they lost the ability Fresh Air Camp”, daughter Marla, her husband Steve, their to read Hebrew, there was no way the Hazkarat Neshamot55...Evening With the tag-line “Jewish Children’s children, and my dear friend Irv Kaplan, back.41 morning, additional, afternoon and clos- Nonetheless, as in all communities, the the SJYA hosted sum- China 2010: Building to see what the Institute is achieving. mer camps to physically strengthen refu- ing prayer books were held for the Sab- Kaifeng Jews wore special garb for Sab- Bridges Another similarity that the Kaifeng kehilla bath and for almost all the festivals and bath and festivals. The reader would don gee children during the difficult summer Nothing can compare with the thrill of fasts.”56 Havdalah57 was also held. There months, when school was out and fami- by Beverly Friend sitting down with 15 graduate students to had with other Jewish communities was ha’ben festive robes and a turban consisting of their modeling of synagogue architecture aren’t any surviving texts for ceremonies a cap wound with a cloth that hung be- lies had to fend for themselves. The first learn about their current studies. Several Six times, over the past 25 years, I have after the architecture of the surrounding like the circumcision, the pidyon hind him. The turban and robes were just camp took place on July 18 to August 5 have spent a year in Israel, at Tel Aviv 58 1937. 86 boys and girls were present at stood on the Great Wall of China, each non-Jewish communitiy.42 In fact, Kaifeng , or the wedding, yet they must like those the Chinese Muslims used in University, and for others this lies ahead. have been practiced at least for a few the camp, which took place in the time filled with awe. But the Wall – mag- The depth of their dedication was evident is a prime example of this phenomenon. their worship. Donning festive garb, hundred years.59 grounds of the Shanghai University. In nificent as it is – is not what brings me as we proceeded around the conference The synagogue was constructed much congregants were required to observe 1938, Summer Club Activities were back to China. I return each time not pri- table, each of them proudly announcing like any other temple or mosque in certain specifications when reading the These observances were adapted to their held. A diary was kept by Yenta Kleiman, marily to see what was intended to di- current projects. The varied studies are 43 Torah. Two other individuals would join Kaifeng, with the exception that it con- very Confucian synagogue. The Jesuits an SJYA teacher, along with photos and vide people – a wall – but to work on impressive and range from historical to the reader in the ceremony.71 tained no images, except for the two saw that the Jews erected their Sukkot60 memorabilia from the camp (all of which breaking down walls by participating in religious topics. stone lions at the entrance of the syna- for the festival of Tabernacles in the are kept in the archive). Yenta writes ea- what unites them – a bridge. My particu- 44 gogue compound and the sanctuary. courtyards.61 Therefore, although the In addition to the rituals for reading their gerly about the Fun Fair, the evening film lar bridge is the unique one provided by On the MA level, students are working synagogue’s courtyards were designed Torah scrolls, the Jews had certain prac- showings, sport heats and amateur the- the China/Judaic Studies Association, fur- on topics that include an “Analysis on Like other Jews, the Kaifeng Jews faced according to Chinese custom, they still tices for prayer. As one account describes atre productions that were enjoyed by thering the study of Judaism in China. Medieval Anti-Semitic Cartoons,” “The toward Jerusalem in prayer, although in used them for observing the festivals as that when “…calling upon God in Chi- the children. Complementing are oral Rennes Court Martial and the Reaction of China, the Jews faced west; likewise, any kehilla would. ‘On the 24th of the nese language they use the word Heaven history interviews collected by the This most recent visit fell into three neat British Society,” “A Survey on the Func- their synagogue was situated back to the (Tian).”72 Also they had specifications for Project from Jewish refugees who es- divisions. We began with what might be eighthChing ChineseChieh, month they hold a great tions of Synagogues,” “The Separation of west as well.45 Even though they con- festival…which is perhaps the Feast of performing the prayers: stepping back caped to the visa-free haven. termed the appetizers – sightseeing in Christianity from Judaism,” and “A Study structed their synagogue much like Chi- Tabernacles, called by them Chuan three steps and then stepping forward Beijing with the Tiananmen Square, the on Educational Ideology of Samson nese temples, they still maintained the the “Festival for perambu- three steps. This practice is common in In the post-war years, hundreds of refu- Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Olym- Raphael Hirsch: the Jewish Religious Edu- traditional Jewish orientation. lating round the sacred writings,” be- many Jewish communities. gees passed through Hong Kong on their pic Park, and the Temple of Heaven, and cation Facing Modernity.” 10 Points East Points East 11 Doctoral dissertations deal with “The pond and generating concentric circles. During our final morning in China, we supplemented by nineteenth century ac- same level as other Chinese.10 They took Gozani’s depictions of their practices of Status of Jewish Women in Medieval Eu- Just as an example, when Xu taught his returned to our cultural bridge, visiting an counts by Protestant missionaries and part in the same ceremonies as Confu- keeping kosher show that the Kaifeng rope,” “The Creation and the Influence first classes in Judaic Studies to 15 stu- important site where Xu takes all of his others… cians, except with offerings of sheep and kehilla observed kashrut much like other of the Promulgation of the Jewish dents, they asked questions that dealt graduate students: the Jewish Refugees oxen instead of pig, and without image, Jewish communities. As the Jesuits dis- Declaration of Vatican II of the Roman with Jewish identity, family values, anti- Museum in Shanghai. Located in the The West gradually gained understand- as that would be explicitly prohibited by covered, the rabbi insisted on slaughter- former Ohel Moishe Synagogue, the mu- Catholic Church,” “A Study of the Ber- Semitism, the connection to Israel, and ing of these observances as Jesuits met Jewish law. Gozani was surprised that the ing the animals for the community, which seum offers a well-conceived 8-minute lin Haskalah Movement,” “A Study of keys to Jewish success and contributions Chinese Jews, beginning with the Jesuit, Jews did not consider these acts idola- meant that the practice of shechitah Jew- video followed by exhibits about the his- Ahad Ha-am’s Cultural Zionism,” to science, medicine business and the tory of and artifacts from refugees who Matteo Ricci…From meeting Ai and send- trous, but the Jews rationalized that since ish ritual may have been followed ac- “Sources of Ideology of the Reform arts. At that time, over 20 years ago, I ing a Chinese Christian “brother” to meet they did not have images of these figures, cording to the Talmudic prescriptions.22 solicited answers from clergy and laymen were sheltered in the city during World Movement in Germany” and “The Battle War II. The synagogue is situated in the with three from the community, Ricci dis- they were simply honoring them and not alike and sent them all off to Xu. Later, I 11 Against the Opposition — A Study of the Hongkou ghetto district – which is now covered that the Jews preserved customs by any means worshipping them. In addition to these practices of kashrut, listed the questions on the Association 1 Jewish Peoples’ Fight Against Holocaust much smaller in area than in former years. such as circumcision and kashrut—ab- Gozani describes the Jews’ practices on web site at www.oakton.edu/~friend/ Denial” Much has been torn down to make way staining from pork, removing sinews Though these rites were not common in the Sabbath. Apparently, the Jews ob- chinajews.html. Reading these questions for new buildings. According to Xu, from slaughtered animals, and only eat- other Jewish communities, the truth is served the Sabbath like Jews throughout 2 It was equally exciting finally to meet online so many years later, American 10,000 new apartments go up in Shang- ing animals slaughtered by their rabbi. that the Jews had probably practiced the world. They abstained from lighting 23 Professor Lihong Song – who will suc- Jewish physician Eric J. Friedman was hai each month and a vast complex is They had five Torah scrolls written on Confucian rites mixed with their Jewish fires or cooking and therefore would 3 12 ceed Xu as Director of the Institute four inspired to answer. The result is the book currently being built to accommodate parchment made from sheepskin. Also, ones for quite some time. In addition cook their food for the Sabbath before 24 years from now when Xu retires at age “Seven Chinese Questions, Seven docking and shopping malls for those he learned that they were referred to as to offering incense, the Jews kept a de- its arrival. 65. I had not had the opportunity to Jewish Answers,” written in English and planning to enjoy future cruises into the the “hui-hui, who extract the sinews from tailed memorial book of their ancestors, 4 meet him during Song’s studies at the translated into Chinese by Xu Xin, and city. What remains of the ghetto itself has the meat which they eat.” However, which contained some basic prayers and Gozani also learned of some of their Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in published in a provocative dual-language been renovated and, while it gives some according to a second hand account by biblical passages as well. In a religion prayer ceremonies. Unlike most Jewish Philadelphia, last year, but had read sev- edition and one of the most recent of Xu’s idea of what life must have been like for the Christian “brother,” he learned that where lineage is of such paramount im- communities, the congregation would eral of his fine articles and knew he was many projects. (I brought back several those fleeing Europe, it has been sanitized the community’s knowledge of Hebrew portance, keeping detailed records of don transparent veils, covering their faces preparing himself for the post. We also copies and can be contacted at some and is not nearly as daunting as I and the practice of the religion were de- ancestors and honoring them with in- while the Torah was recited. This was 5 met Israeli Enav Sinshi, who has been [email protected] for further informa- recall it from earlier trips. creasing. cense is not really that different from symbolic of Moses’ covering his face teaching Hebrew at the Institute for the tion). other Jewish traditions of veneration, like when he came down from Mount Sinai past three years while completing his What lies next? I told Xu it was his turn After Ricci, other Jesuit missionaries vis- yahrzeit (memorial) candles in Ashkenazi after learning the Torah from God.25 He MA at the University. Unfortunately, we ited the Jewish community without leav- Jewish communities and the portraits of also discovered that the Jews preserved Xu has also just completed a translation now and he should plan to visit the U.S. I were not able to meet Professor believe he may do so, possibly next Oc- ing significant information. They were great rabbis that are common today. the traditional prohibition against mar- of “The Years of Extermination” by Saul Zhenhua Meng who was currently at- tober. And as for me? Will there be a sev- Nicolo Longobardi in 1619, Giulio Aleni rying with people not adhering to Juda- Friedlander and he is currently writing tending a Hebrew Bible Conference at enth trip, or an eighth? Who knows what in 1613, Rodriguez de Figueredo in Similarly, they honored their ancestors ism.26 During this period, they did not the Chinese University of Hong Kong. about the history and current state of anti- the future holds? But what I do know and 1640, and Christian Enriques around much like other Chinese did. In spring even mingle with Muslims. Another tra- Semitism, a book which he hopes to fin- hope for is the future success of the Insti- 1644, during the early years of the Qing and autumn they made solemn offerings dition that Gozani mentions is not shav- Looking at the students and faculty of ish this summer. tute. May it outlive all of us and thrive in dynasty.6 in their ancestral hall near the syna- ing one’s facial hair.27 the Institute, I could see what they had future years to be a bridge between our gogue.13 At other occasions, they per- accomplished and – even more impor- As time passes, however, both Xu and I two peoples. Though the “discovery” by Ricci was im- formed the kowtow after offering food As Gozani described the Judaism prac- tant — were planning to accomplish in are feeling our mortality: he, because of portant, the single most important period in porcelain dishes.14 They did not have ticed in Kaifeng, Jean Domenge greatly the time ahead. And I also saw the pride his recent death-threatening cerebral Dr. Beverly Friend, an SJI Board member, for understanding the Judaism of Kaifeng ancestral tablets in the ancestral hall or contributed to our knowledge of their with which the University regards the aneurism, and me simply because of ad- is Executive Director of the China Judaic came a century following Ricci’s infor- in their homes. They performed the same synagogue from his 1721 visit. In fact, Judaic Studies Program when university vancing years. As he recovered, Xu de- Studies Association. mation. In the period between 1704 and incense ceremonies as for the prophets— Domenge drew full sketches of the inte- dignitaries Vice President Ren Lijian, Di- cided to donate a considerable amount 1723, a series of three Jesuit missionar- of course, highly Confucian-influenced. rior28 and exterior29 of the synagogue and rector Zuo Chengci, and Deputy Direc- of his own earnings – including all the ies visited the community. They were Ancestors who became mandarins were described the community’s festival ob- tor Dai Zhehua, met with us formally royalties from his books – to the Insti- Chinese Judaism: Confucian Jean-Paul Gozani in 1704, Jean honored with tablets in the ancestral servances, their pronunciation of He- and then informally at a banquet, to dis- tute. In addition, I have decided to es- Domenge in 1721 and 1722, and hall.15 Gozani noted that, at the time of brew, their opinions of their geographi- cuss these future plans. tablish a James Friend Memorial Endow- or Jewish? Antoine Gaubil in 1723.7 his visit, the Jews still followed Jewish cal origin and arrival period, and their 16 30 ment to provide the much-needed schol- by Eric Rothberg burial ceremonies but later these would biblical books. He also “copied a 17 31 It is so amazing to have watched the arships for worthy students. As the school Gozani gave very telling accounts of the cease to be observed. Judaeo-Persian colophon of the growth of the Judaic Institute from its has just created a Nanjing University The Jews of Kaifeng had a rich culture, synagogue. He told of the prominent Pentateuch.” Not only did Domenge seedling days, planted when Xu met Jim thoroughly unique in that, though it had level at which the Jews had become Gozani’s letters focused on the religious keep himself close to the Jews, he also (NUJUEF) Educational Foundation, tax 8 18 – and growing through such wonderful deductable donations can be made and strong Chinese influences, they main- sinicized. As evidence of this Chinese life of the Jews. He noted some of their had a working knowledge of Hebrew and tained their Jewish identity for hundreds influence, the synagogue was con- observances: circumcision, Passover, the the Bible. In fact, until 1850, most of our projects as the translation of the Ency- sent to a U.S. address: NJUEF, 2207 of years. Preserving their Judaism meant structed so similarly to other Chinese Sabbath,19 “and other festivals of the an- information of their Hebrew liturgy came clopedia Judaica into Chinese, and Concord Pike Suite 106, Wilmington, DE adapting to Han Chinese culture while temples and inside were incense burn- cient Law.”20 He explained that their non- from Domenge.32 Nanjing’s summer institutes held for 19803. Please note ‘Judaic Studies’ on keeping unique in their own ways. Juda- ers. Gozani related that one of the Jewish countrymen referred to their reli- professors of history and world civiliza- your check. ism,Confucian as practiced in Kaifeng during the synagogue’s halls had incense bowls of gion as the “Tiaojinjiao” “the religion As Domenge and others would come to tions from other Chinese colleges and 17th and early 18th centuries, at the time various sizes in rows. They were conse- which extracts the sinew,” describing the discover, it is not certain where the Jews universities in order for them to incor- Leaving Nanjing, we travelled through of the Jesuit missionaries, was a Judeo- crated in the names of biblical figures, Jewish practice of not eating the sinews in Kaifeng came from33 or when they ar- porate this information into their own Jiangdu, Xu’s hometown and Suzhou, synthesis. which included Abraham, Isaac, Jacob of animals based on the biblical account rived in China.34 Nonetheless, as the classes. To continue the metaphor: the home of his wife Kong Defang, and in and his twelve sons, Moses, Aaron, Ezra, of Jacob wrestling with an angel. Also, Judaeo-Persian colophons from harvest is in this thriving Institute! each place experienced heart-warming In order to examine the unique Chinese- and Joshua. They were also dedicated to Gozani related that the Jews cut an Domenge show, the kehilla clearly had moments with Xu’s mother and many Jewish religious observances, this essay the matriarchs of Judaism, Confucius, and animal’s veins and nerves when they Persian Jewish influences. On the other Or with another metaphor, it can all be other family members. What a trip down will focus on Kaifeng Judaism, primarily to their immediate ancestors.9 They all killed it so that they would not consume hand, in many instances their prayers can be likened to a pebble falling into a memory lane – we are all one family! as portrayed by the Jesuit accounts and honored Confucius at pretty much the its blood, which was prohibited.21 strongly resembled Yemenite prayers.