Asian Jewish Life

01/09/2024

From the ‘China and the World: Historical Interactions’ Talk Series

Event at PolyU on the Jewish refugees in Shanghai on September 5. Please see the QR code for more information.
Note: This isn’t a JHS event.

26/03/2024

Kate Middleton’s woes cast a spotlight on Jewish Sassoon family’s Chinese history

We don't know where Kate Middleton is. But internet sleuths have located Sassoon-owned Qing Dynasty art.

22/02/2024

"'The Star on the Grave' is the story of Japanese ambassador, Chiune Sugihara, who helped Jewish refugees flee Europe. Linda Margolin Royal’s debut novel recounts the heroism of Sugihara through her own family’s story."

The Star on the Grave is a novel inspired by the 'Japanese Schindler' and the author's personal ties to his wartime actions.

19/02/2024

The Laadu Mak­ers: My Moth­er and Grandmother’s Legacy (excerpt from PB Daily)

"Even before my eyes open, my mouth starts water­ing. The air is thick with the smell of roast­ing besan and ghee. Oh my, my moth­er is mak­ing besan laadus today. Is it my birth­day? I won­der, is it my parent’s anniver­sary? I roll over and sniff the air."

https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/pb-daily/the-laadu-makers-my-mother-and-grandmothers-legacy?fbclid=IwAR34yVMcfc9zhMX4Oxg_Gs_zbbAiqLUwZIcTqE8F1NB9RdRU6O6FZ9PqZAQ

Jewish Book Council

07/02/2024

Dive into the history of first Jews who arrived in Calcutta in the late 18th century-
In her new children's book, Shalome Rides a Royal Elephant (Speaking Tiger), Baghdadi Jewish writer Jael Silliman stitches a fascinating history of the first Jews who arrived in Calcutta in the late 18th cen

https://www.mid-day.com/amp/mumbai-guide/things-to-do/article/once-upon-a-time-in-calcutta-23333820?fbclid=IwAR1Oz4pazuNL4KaG-9EVCvfQz4rHIBOe5_fwUlFreJjzSlZ2ZxJj9Ow0syM_aem_AYFC3ObiHrOXuRcWNUDFhGd-ObqUZ5n9chND5HLnQY771MpR6gS2c9mjCZHThFQ5_3g

04/02/2024

Shanghai's Jewish refugee history takes centre stage in new oratorio https://www.reuters.com/world/china/shanghais-jewish-refugee-history-takes-centre-stage-new-oratorio-2023-11-21/

25/01/2024

Cedrick Garin, Filipino IDF reservist killed in Gaza, laid to rest in Tel Aviv https://www.timesofisrael.com/cedrick-garin-filipino-idf-reservist-killed-in-gaza-laid-to-rest-in-tel-aviv/

08/01/2024

Finding joy in difficult times.

A bit of joy and hope for the future during a difficult time as Bnei Menashe and other friends and neighbors of the Thangjalam family in Nof Hagalil celebrate the chalakah of little Israel Thangjalam. Traditional Jews often wait until a boy's third birthday before giving his first haircut. This

14/12/2023

The extraordinary life of a Holocaust survivor living in Japan
As war rages in Gaza, pianist Janos Cegledy reflects on his own role as a living witness to human barbarism

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2023/12/11/our-lives/holocaust-survivor-japan-pianist/

08/12/2023

Happy Hanukkah!

Hanukkah, 1939: a party for refugee children at the Twig family home. 🕎

Photo: Yad Vashem collection

30/11/2023

“Japanese-Style Latkes for Chanukah”

Sonya Sanford The Japanese word “okonomiyaki” is derived from two words: okonomi (how you like it) and yaki (grill) Okonomiyaki is a customizable Japanese savory vegetable pancake. Like a latke, it gets cooked in oil in a fritter formation. Unlike a latke, it’s usually made into a large plate-...

30/11/2023

Despite unrest in Indonesia, a Jewish community finds peace among other faith groups
https://www.jta.org/2023/11/29/global/despite-unrest-in-indonesia-a-jewish-community-finds-peace-among-other-faith-groups

13/11/2023

Japan shows support for Israel by singing an old Jewish hymn

Joining hands across cultures, the people of Japan express their solidarity with Israel through a heartfelt gesture — singing an ancient Jewish hymn. This mo...

05/10/2023

Wonderful article and an important history to preserve- The Synagogues of Kolkata https://thespace.ink/cover-story/the-synagogues-of-kolkata/

02/10/2023

19th century sketch put up online by Israeli Prof draws attention to shrinking community of India's Cochin Jews

Read more at: https://english.mathrubhumi.com/features/specials/19th-century-sketch-put-up-online-by-israeli-prof-draws-attention-to-dying-community-of-cochin-jews-1.8951046?fbclid=IwAR3CG8AY_Ik1ub2kMM2KE2uMGvlmZ2SZW0GwpJBtmi06_si4xYyaFQgMXac

27/09/2023

Why most Asian Jews use imported etrogs on Sukkot even though their countries grow the fruit

https://www.jta.org/2023/09/27/global/why-most-asian-jews-use-imported-etrogs-on-sukkot-even-though-their-countries-grow-the-fruit?utm_source=JTA_Maropost&utm_campaign=JTA_Around_the_World&utm_medium=email&mpweb=1161-62510-10634

20/09/2023

A Maharashtra rock bearing mystical imprints binds Jews & Hindus https://m.timesofindia.com/india/a-maharashtra-rock-bearing-mystical-imprints-binds-jews-hindus/amp_articleshow/103543909.cms

18/09/2023

The Closure of Mutual Fish Opens a Window into Jewish and Japanese Friendship
https://thecholent.substack.com/p/the-closure-of-mutual-fish-opens?fbclid=IwAR0nY5Q9vMSpoF124ql31CKXiFVbiKzAD0TJXTaOf3ToY-DCfiF-j052OpM_aem_Af8LNREnsxIBzlUC0Oxt-hbfrDyL0ssrXvq6FLKHgwT6UAYRQ8V260xqz9u5tLukKpo

13/09/2023

For a Chinese-Jewish Rosh Hashanah, date cookies that recall the cultural blend of the Silk Road https://forward.com/food/560751/rosh-hashanah-cookies-date-paste-chinese/

13/09/2023

A descendent of one of the Kaifeng Jewish families, born in China, is a staff sergeant in the IDF
https://www.ynet.co.il/judaism/discourse/article/bj1xajq02

12/09/2023

Where did 20,000 Jews hide from the Holocaust? In Shanghai

https://www.npr.org/2023/08/06/1192118339/jewish-refugees-shanghai-world-war-ii

12/09/2023

A Talmudic Tale Gets a 12th Century Chinese Twist
https://www.jta.org/2023/09/12/global/a-talmudic-tale-gets-a-12th-century-chinese-twist-in-childrens-book-aimed-at-diverse-jewish-readers

06/09/2023

Zhen Yu and the Snake is on shelves now and available online wherever books are sold: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Target, Bookshop.org... Request it at your local bookstore and library!

05/09/2023

Spend­ing a Fort­night in Jew Town, Kochi https://www.jewishbookcouncil.org/pb-daily/spending-a-fortnight-in-jew-town-kochi?fbclid=IwAR3-cJL6JOVPG2CfVuaIOLPttigWKh7YTH1muvZSm_LuCTmb6UGHKbI6XP4

24/08/2023

A pastrami sandwich, a Jewish American staple, is a new star of Tokyo’s hip food scene
https://www.jta.org/2023/08/22/global/a-pastrami-sandwich-is-a-new-star-of-tokyos-hip-food-scene?utm_source=JTA_Maropost&utm_campaign=JTA_Around_the_World&utm_medium=email&mpweb=1161-61148-10634A