Chinese Try Israeli Food for the First Time

Jews are known to have an affinity for Chinese food, but how do the Chinese feel about Israeli food?

On the occasion of 25 years of diplomatic relations between Israel and China, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs was curious to know what the Chinese think about Israeli food, so they asked some Chinese people in a restaurant in the port of Jaffa to sample and comment on Israeli foods.

Watch to find out what they had to say:
 
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Unexpected Traces in Jewish Places: A Chinese Convert to Haredi Judaism Tells His Story

This week Shabbat, which starts at sundown tonight, leads directly into the Shavuot holiday, in which the giving of the Torah is celebrated for two days around the world and one day in Israel.

One of the most distinctive customs of the Jewish holiday of Shavuot is Tikkun Leil Shavuot, an evening-long study session held on the night of Shavuot. 

Tikkun means a “set order” of something and refers to the order in which the texts are read. The custom originated with the mystics of Safed in the 16th century, and today, many Jews stay up all night on Shavuot reading and studying a variety of sacred texts. Traditionally, readings from the Torah and Talmud are included. 

Many synagogues hold a Tikkun Leil Shavuot. Some host programs that go on all night, fueled by cheesecake, sushi, and other delicacies, culminating in morning services at sunrise. Other congregations gather for a few hours of study. Whether one is planning to attend an all-night session, study for a few hours, join with others, or study on one’s own, Shavuot is a wonderful time to encounter sacred text.

On Shavuot we read the Book of Ruth, which tells the story of how Ruth the Moabite converted to Judaism and became the great-grandmother of King David. This week we found an interesting and unusual modern story of a conversion to Judaism.

It happened in China, where a young man seeking the truth followed many paths until he came to the conclusion that Judaism was the true religion. In this video he tells his personal story of how he was exposed to secularism, Chinese Communism, and Christianity, only to discover the truth in Judaism. 

To be truly Jewish, he had to journey to Israel, where he now wears Haredi clothing, which are all made in China.

We'll be spending Shabbat and Shavuot with our children and grandchildren, so there won't be any Jewish Humor Central posts until Tuesday, when we'll return with another Joke to Start the Week.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach. 

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Unexpected Traces in Jewish Places: Five Women from Ancient Chinese Jewish Community make Aliyah

This week five women from the ancient Chinese Jewish community of Kaifeng made aliyah to Israel, aided by the Shavei Yisrael organization.

Michael Freund, Founder and Chairman of Shavei Yisrael calls this Jewish history in the making. The Jewish community in Kaifeng has existed since the 7th or 8th century. Today there are about 1,000 residents of Kaifeng who are identifiable as descendants of the Jewish community via family trees. These new immigrants are among a growing number of young people who are looking to return to their Jewish roots.

They are descendants of Sephardic Jews from Iraq or Persia who traveled along the silk route and settled in the city of Kaifeng which at the time was one of the imperial capitals of China.

Their next step is studying at a religious womens' seminary preparing to undergo formal conversion by Israel's Chief Rabbinate.

Watch as they describe their emotional landing in Israel, say the Shehecheyanu blessing, sing Hatikvah in Chinese, and pray at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Enjoy!

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Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places: Chinese Chorus Sings in Yiddish and Hebrew

Would you expect a Chinese Chorus to sing the Yiddish song Oifn Pripitchik and the Hebrew song Yerushalayim Shel Zahav? Well, Jewish traces show up in the most unlikely places, and Hong Kong is no exception.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong Student Chorus performs the music of many cultures in many languages, and Yiddish and Hebrew are part of their repertoire. They also sing in Finnish, Japanese, German and Latin.

The video we're sharing today is titled Choral Selections from Schindler's List. We had forgotten that these two songs were included in the Steven Spielberg film. But here they are, preceded by a violinist playing the plaintive theme from the movie, with which he also closes the medley.

Shabbat shalom.

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.) 

Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places: Chinese Jews Return to Israel

The first Jews arrived in Kaifeng, one of the capitals of imperial China, over a thousand years ago, when Jewish merchants from Persia settled in the area.

At its height, in the Middle Ages, Kaifeng’s Jewish community numbered as many as 5,000 people, with rabbis, synagogues and various communal institutions.

But assimilation eventually began to take its toll. The last rabbi of Kaifeng died two centuries ago, and by the middle of the 19th century, the community was forced to sell the synagogue, Torah scrolls and its other remaining assets.

Until today, however, there are between 500 and 1,000 identifiable descendants of the Jewish community, and in recent years an awakening has been taking place among them, as increasing numbers of young Kaifeng Jews seek to reclaim their heritage.

In October 2009, seven young men making aliyah were interviewed at Ben Gurion airport together with three of their friends who made aliyah four years earlier. These descendants of the Kaifeng Jewish community were helped in finding their new home in Israel by Shavei Yisrael, an organization that strives to extend a helping hand to all members of the extended Jewish family and to all who seek to rediscover or renew their link with the people of Israel.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)

(A tip of the kippah to Sheila Zucker for sharing this video with us)