Amazing discoveries and dancing around a bonfire with the Chinese Jews of Kaifeng
Dancing around the bonfire for L'ag B'Omer in China
Hebrew University student Shulamit Gershovich, our correspondent in Kaifeng, visits a traditional Chinese massage parlor every so often. About two weeks ago, her regular masseur realized she was from Israel and shared with her an amazing story: his grandmother was Jewish!
Shulamit told him that there is the small but thriving Jewish community in Kaifeng – he’d never heard of it. Since then, he has come to Shabbat services several times and has even participated in the lessons on Judaism that Shulamit gives via Skype. He has brought his son with him as well.
This is just one of the inspiring stories that emerge all the time in this far away community that is actively seeking to further its Jewish knowledge and commitment.
Jews have lived in Kaifeng, once one of the capitals of Imperial China, for over a thousand years, arriving originally as merchants from Persia or Iraq plying their trade along the fabled Silk Road. The community numbered as many as 5,000 at its peak in the Middle Ages, but has since dwindled to just several hundred descendants. The last synagogue closed 150 years ago and the community was forced to sell its remaining Torah scrolls and assets.
And yet, that hasn’t stopped the Kaifeng Jews’ remarkable revitalization in just the last ten years, since Shavei Israel became involved with the community.
For example, in Israel, L’ag B’Omer – the 33rd day of the period between Passover and the Jewish holiday of Shavuot – is celebrated in Israel with special prayers, visits to the graves of holy men and, for the young (and young-at-heart), bonfires!
You might not expect the Chinese Jews of Kaifeng to be toasting marshmallows and roasting potatoes in such an ever-so-Israeli tradition, but that’s exactly what happened this year. Shulamit helped organize a bus that took 43 members of the community to the banks of the Yellow River where they built a bonfire, ate, drank and danced around the flames to celebrate the holiday. Even an unexpected rain didn’t scare the participants away, Shulamit reports.
We have pictures here.
Independence Day feast - Chinese style
Shulamit also helped arrange this year’s Israel Independence Day festivities. Despite the fact that Independence Day fell on a weekday, “a lot of people came,” Shulamit writes, “all wearing blue and white. We had karaoke, snacks, beers and sang Israeli songs. I taught them the songs Kachol v’Lavan [“blue and white”] and Yerushalayim Shel Zahav [“Jerusalem of Gold” made famous by Israeli singer Naomi Shemer].”
We have pictures from the celebration here.
We will continue to post Shulamit’s updates from Kaifeng – we have no doubt that her amazing adventures will continue to inspire and astonish us.